SYSTEM COMPRISING A DISHWASHER, METHOD FOR OPERATING A DISHWASHER, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT

Abstract

A system includes a dishwasher having a receptacle for items to be washed, an image capturing facility configured to capture an image of the receptacle of the dishwasher for items to be washed, and an image processing facility configured to determine in dependence upon the captured image a map of an arrangement of the items to be washed. The map includes a division of the receptacle into a number of regions, with each region having a predetermined arrangement of items to be washed from a number of predetermined arrangements of items to be washed. An allocation unit determines a cleaning matrix including an allocation of a treatment specification to each of the regions in the map, and outputs the cleaning matrix. A control apparatus executes a wash program based on the cleaning matrix.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A system, comprising: a dishwasher including a receptacle for items to be washed; an image capturing facility configured to capture an image of the receptacle; an image processing facility configured to determine in dependence upon the captured image a map of an arrangement of the items to be washed, with the map comprising a division of the receptacle into a number of regions, each said region comprising a predetermined arrangement of items to be washed from a number of predetermined arrangements of items to be washed; an allocation unit configured to determine a cleaning matrix, which comprises an allocation of a treatment specification to each of the regions in the map, and to output the cleaning matrix; and a control apparatus configured to execute a wash program based on the cleaning matrix.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the dishwasher is a household dishwasher.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising a transformation unit configured to transform the captured image and to output a transformed image and/or to generate an image in dependence upon the captured image and to output the generated image, said image processing facility configured to determine the map based on the transformed image or the generated image.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the transformation unit comprises a neural network.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the neural network is a generating generic network.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the image capturing facility is arranged on the dishwasher in such a manner that the image capturing facility captures the image of the receptacle of the dishwasher from an upper hemisphere with regard to the receptacle.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the transformation unit is configured to generate an image of the receptacle, with the image corresponding to a view of the receptacle from a lower hemisphere.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the image corresponds to a view in a perpendicular manner from below.

24. The system of claim 18, further comprising a pattern recognition unit configured to recognize a pattern present in the captured image, in the transformed image or in the generated image, and to output a pattern image that comprises the recognized pattern, said image processing facility configured to determine the map based on the pattern image.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the image processing facility is configured to determine a type of items to be washed, a form of items to be washed and/or a material of items to be washed.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein the map comprises at each point information relating to a type of items to be washed, a material of items to be washed, a form of items to be washed and/or a spatial orientation of the items to be washed at the point.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein the dishwasher includes a spray apparatus that is allocated to the receptacle for spraying washing liquor onto the items to be washed arranged in the receptacle, said spray apparatus being configured to allow adjustment of a position of the spray apparatus relative to the receptacle.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the spray apparatus includes a spray arm.

29. The system of claim 16, wherein the dishwasher includes a hydraulic system that comprises at least one intensive wash zone that is selectively activatable in dependence upon the map.

30. The system of claim 16, wherein treatment specifications are allocated to the regions, respectively, with each treatment specification establishing a parameter value from a predetermined value range and/or a temporal variation of the parameter value for one or multiple treatment parameters comprising a washing liquor spraying pressure, a washing liquor temperature, a spray apparatus position, a spray apparatus orientation and/or a duration during which the washing liquor is sprayed.

31. The system of claim 16, wherein a specific treatment specification is allocated to a respective predetermined arrangement of items to be washed of the number of predetermined arrangements of items to be washed.

32. The system of claim 22, further comprising a facility external to the dishwasher and configured to integrate at least the image processing facility, said dishwasher including a communication unit configured to transmit the captured image to the external facility and to receive the map from the external facility.

33. A method for operating a dishwasher, said method comprising: capturing an image of a receptacle of the dishwasher for items to be washed; determining a map of an arrangement of the items to be washed in dependence upon the captured image, with the map having a division of the receptacle into a number of regions, wherein each said region comprises a predetermined arrangement of items to be washed from a number of predetermined arrangements of items to be washed; determining a cleaning matrix, which comprises an allocation of a treatment specification to each of the regions in the map; outputting the cleaning matrix; and executing a wash program based on the cleaning matrix.

34. The method of claim 33 for operating a household dishwasher.

35. A computer program product, comprising a computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising commands which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method as set forth in claim 33.

Description

[0070] Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the invention are subject matter of the subordinate claims and of exemplary embodiments of the invention described below. Furthermore, the invention is explained in detail with the aid of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures.

[0071] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a system having a dishwasher;

[0072] FIG. 2 shows schematically how an exemplary cleaning matrix is determined from an exemplary image of a dishwasher;

[0073] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary number of predetermined arrangements of items to be washed;

[0074] FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of an arrangement for training a neural network;

[0075] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a system having a dishwasher having a spray apparatus;

[0076] FIG. 6 shows schematically a system comprising a dishwasher;

[0077] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a system having a dishwasher and an external facility; and

[0078] FIG. 8 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a dishwasher.

[0079] In the figures, like or like-functioning elements are provided with the same reference characters, unless otherwise stated.

[0080] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a dishwasher 1 that is designed here as a household dishwasher. The household dishwasher 1 comprises a dishwasher cavity 2 that can be sealed by a door 3, in particular in a water-tight manner. For this purpose, a sealing facility is provided between the door 3 and the dishwasher cavity 2. The dishwasher cavity 2 is preferably cube-shaped. The dishwasher cavity 2 can be arranged in a housing of the household dishwasher 1. The dishwasher cavity 2 and the door 3 can form a dishwasher interior 4 for washing items to be washed 21-25 (cf. FIG. 2 or 6).

[0081] The door 3 is illustrated in its open position in FIG. 1. The door 3 can be closed or opened by pivoting about a pivot axis 5 that is provided on a lower end of the door 3. A loading opening 6 of the dishwasher cavity 2 can be closed or opened with the aid of the door 3, The dishwasher cavity 2 has a base 7, a ceiling 8 that is arranged opposite the base 7, a rear wall 9 that is arranged opposite the closed door 3 and two side walls 10, 11 that are arranged mutually opposite one another. The base 7, the ceiling 8, the rear wall 9 and the side walls 10, 11 can be manufactured for example from a stainless steel sheet. Alternatively, the base 7 can be manufactured by way of example from a plastics material.

[0082] The household dishwasher 1 has moreover at least one receptacle 12 to 14 for items to be washed. It is preferred that multiple, by way of example three, receptacles 12-14 for items to be washed can be provided, wherein the receptacle 12 for items to be washed can be a lower receptacle for items to be washed or a lower basket, the receptacle 13 for items to be washed can be an upper receptacle for items to be washed or an upper basket and the receptacle 14 for items to be washed can be a cutlery drawer. As is furthermore illustrated in FIG. 1, the receptacles 12-14 for items to be washed are arranged one above the other in the dishwasher cavity 2. Each receptacle 12-14 for items to be washed can be moved selectively into or out of the dishwasher cavity 2. In particular, each receptacle 12-14 for items to be washed can be pushed or moved in an insertion direction E into the dishwasher cavity 2 and withdrawn or moved out of the dishwasher cavity 2 in a withdrawal direction A opposite to the insertion direction.

[0083] An image capturing facility 110 is arranged in an upper region of a dishwasher cavity flange that surrounds the loading opening 6 of the dishwasher cavity 2. The image capturing facility 110 is designed as a digital camera. The digital camera 110 is placed centrally with regard to the loading opening 6 and has by way of example a wide-angle lens (not illustrated) that renders it possible to completely capture in one image IMG (cf. FIG. 2 or 7) each of the receptacles 12-14 for items to be washed if said receptacles are in the withdrawn state.

[0084] Furthermore, an image processing facility 120, an allocation unit 130 and a control apparatus 140 are arranged on the door 3. These are illustrated here separately from one another but they can also be jointly integrated in one element. In addition, the arrangement on the door 3 is only exemplary.

[0085] The image processing facility 120 is configured so as to determine a map MAP of the arrangement of items to be washed (cf. FIG. 2 or 7) in dependence upon the captured image IMG. The map MAP of the arrangement of items to be washed comprises a division of the respective receptacle 12-14 for items to be washed into a number of regions A1-A5 (cf. FIG. 2) wherein a respective region (A1-A5) comprises a predetermined arrangement D1-D9 (cf. FIG. 3) of items to be washed from a number of predetermined arrangements D1-D9 of items to be washed. The allocation unit 130 is configured so as to determine a cleaning matrix MX (cf. FIG. 2) which comprises an allocation of a treatment specification T1-T5 (cf. FIG. 2) to each of the regions A1-A5 in the map MAP of the arrangement of items to be washed and so as to output the cleaning matrix MX. The control apparatus 140 is configured so as to execute a wash program on the basis of the cleaning matric MX.

[0086] FIG. 2 illustrates schematically how a cleaning matrix MX is determined from an image IMG of a receptacle 12 for items to be washed, said image having been captured by way of example by the digital camera 110 (cf. FIG. 1) of the household dishwasher 1 in FIG. 1. The image IMG illustrates the receptacle 12 for items to be washed with the items to be washed 21-25 arranged thereon. The image IMG has a specific perspective which is why the items to be washed 21-25 are overlapping in part. The item to be washed 21 is by way of example a lid of a pot, the items to be washed 22 are by way of example three large drinking glasses, the item to be washed 23 is by way of example a storage box for food, the item to be washed 24 is by way of example a pot and the items to be washed 25 are by way of example multiple plates that are arranged one behind the other.

[0087] The image processing facility 120 (cf. FIG. 1) determines a map MAP of the arrangement of items to be washed which comprises a division of the receptacle 12 for items to be washed into regions A1-A5 having a predetermined arrangement D1-D9 of items to be washed (cf. FIG. 3). In this example, the map MAP of the arrangement of items to be washed corresponds to a view from below of the receptacle 12 for items to be washed. By way of example, the image processing facility 120 generates for this purpose in dependence upon the captured image IMG an image that illustrates from below the receptacle 12 for items to be washed and subsequently in this generated image allocates each pixel to a predetermined arrangement D1-D9 of items to be washed. The different regions A1-A5 are formed in this manner. The predetermined arrangements D1-D9 of items to be washed can differ from one another in the type, the form and the orientation of the items to be washed 21-25 but a material of items to be washed 21-25 can also be taken into consideration.

[0088] Each of these regions A1-A5 in the map MAP of the arrangement of items to be washed is allocated a treatment specification T1-T5. The respective allocated treatment specification T1-T5 is selected so that the items to be washed 21-25 that are arranged in the region A1-A5 are particularly efficiently cleaned. By way of example, the drinking vessels 22 are made of glass which is why a relatively low washing liquor spraying pressure and a relatively low washing liquor temperature are advantageous for said drinking vessels, since otherwise the glass wears out more. In contrast, an increased spraying pressure can be advantageous in the case of the plates 25 in order to completely spray washing liquor 154 (cf. FIG. 6) into the intermediate spaces. In the case of a pot lid 21 that is arranged in a slightly tilted manner, an oblique spraying direction (oblique with regard to a vertical axis) can be advantageous in order to efficiently wet all areas of the pot lid 21 with the washing liquor 154.

[0089] The cleaning matrix MX has by way of example the allocation that is indicated in Table 1.

[0090] Table 1: Allocation of parameter values for different treatment parameters to different regions. A respective line corresponds thereby to a treatment specification.

TABLE-US-00001 Region Spray pressure Spray angle Duration Temperature A1 60 (+30°, −30°) 1 min 60° C. A2 40 0° 1 min 45° C. A3 60 +10°  1 min 45° C. A4 80 0° 2 min 60° C. A5 100 0° 4 60° C.

[0091] In Table 1, the spray pressure is indicated by way of example as a percentage regarding a maximum spray pressure. The spray angle relates by way of example to a tilting of a spray arm 150, 152 (cf. FIG. 5 or 6) out of a horizontal orientation, wherein a spray angle of 0° represents a vertical spraying direction. The spray angle specification regarding region A1 is an interval, wherein the spray arm 150, 152 is preferably pivoted in this region multiple times. The duration relates to the period of time during which washing liquor 154 is sprayed into the respective region in the case of the quoted treatment parameter values. The temperature relates to the washing liquor temperature while it is being sprayed into the respective region.

[0092] The control apparatus 140 executes the wash program on the basis of the cleaning matrix MX, that means that each of the regions A1-A5 is treated in accordance with the allocated treatment specification T1-T5.

[0093] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a number of predetermined arrangements D1-D9 of items to be washed. The arrangements D1-D9 that are illustrated here for items to be washed differ in particular in the orientation and the form of the items to be washed. It can be said that the illustrated arrangements D1-D9 of items to be washed each correspond to a basic type on the basis of which by way of example a preferred spraying direction can be determined for the washing liquor 154 (cf. FIG. 6). Such a basic type can be determined by way of example by pattern recognition. Further treatment parameters can be determined in dependence upon further characteristics of the items to be washed, such as a type and a material of items to be washed. In this respect there can be a plurality of different predetermined arrangements of items to be washed for a respective basic type.

[0094] It is to be noted that the number of predetermined arrangements D1-D9 of items to be washed is not limited to nine but rather can also be provided up to thirty, up to fifty, up to hundred or also more than a hundred different predetermined arrangements of items to be washed.

[0095] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic block diagram of an arrangement for training a neural network 122, 124. The neural network 122 is by way of example trained to the extent that it generates an image gIMG on the basis of a captured image IMG. The neural network 122 is an example of a transformation unit 122. By way of example, it is the image IMG of a receptacle 12 for items to be washed (cf. FIG. 2) that has been captured inclined from above and therefore has perspective distortions and the like, and the generated image gIMG is intended to illustrate in a view from below the receptacle 12 for items to be washed with the items to be washed 21-25 arranged therein (cf. FIG. 2).

[0096] This is for example a GAN (Generative Adversarial Network). In this case, two neural networks 122, 124 are trained. Image pairs are provided as training data, wherein in each case the image IMG of the receptacle 12 for items to be washed together with a further image IMG* which illustrates from below the receptacle 12 for items to be washed form a pair. The training data is preferably true images, wherein the arrangement of items to be washed is the same in both images. The neural network 122 is also called a generator, since it generates an artificial image gIMG. The generated image gIMG and the true image IMG* from below of the receptacle 12 for items to be washed are supplied to the neural network 124. The neural network 124 is also called a discriminator. The discriminator 124 decides which of the two supplied images IMG*, gIMG is the true image and outputs a corresponding result R. The generator 122 and the discriminator 124 are in a competitive situation: the generator 122 attempts to generate an image gIMG that the discriminator 124 considers to be the real image IMG*. In the case of a sufficiently large quantity of training data, the generator 122 is put in the position of generating an image gIMG that corresponds to an actual view from below of the receptacle 12 for items to be washed. The explained training method is known by way of example as a Pix2Pix model.

[0097] The generator 122 is by way of example a component of the image processing facility 122. It is advantageous to determine the map MAP of the arrangement of items to be washed (cf. FIG. 2 or 6) on the basis of the generated image gIMG, since then additional transformations or the like are not necessary in order to determine the cleaning matrix MX based on the map MAP of the arrangement of items to be washed (cf. FIG. 2).

[0098] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic view from above of a system 100 having a dishwasher 1 having a spray apparatus 150. This is by way of example the household dishwasher from FIG. 1. The spray apparatus 150 is by way of example designed as a spray arm, on the tip of which a satellite spray arm 152 is arranged. The spray arm 150 is by way of example arranged on a base 7 of the dishwasher 1 and is configured so as via the spray arm 150 to spray washing liquor onto the items to be washed 21-25 that are arranged in a receptacle 12 for items to be washed (cf. FIG. 1, 2 or 6). It is possible using a motor (not illustrated) to move the spray arm 150 into a predetermined rotational position and hold it there and/or it can be moved by the motor in accordance with a specific movement sequence. The satellite spray arm 152 can be arranged on the spray arm 150 in such a manner so as to be able to freely rotate, wherein by way of example the rebound of the sprayed washing liquor 154 (cf. FIG. 6) drives the satellite spray arm 152. By virtue of controlling the angle of rotation of the spray arm 150, each region of the receptacle 12 for items to be washed can be washed individual, in other words can be treated with a specific treatment specification.

[0099] An intensive wash zone is created in the region of the satellite spray 152 in that the spray arm 150 is moved into a specific rotational position and the spray arm 150 comprising the satellite spray arm 152 is charged with washing liquor 154. It is preferred that the spray arm 150 is in addition mounted so as to be able to rotate about an axis that extends in the radial direction regarding the direction of rotation, which is explained in detail below with the aid of FIG. 6.

[0100] FIG. 6 illustrates schematically a system 100 comprising a dishwasher 1. This is by way of example the household dishwasher from FIG. 1. A spray arm 150 that can be rotated by means of a motor and that has a satellite spray arm 152 on its tip is arranged on a base 7 of the dishwasher 1, as explained above with the aid of FIG. 5. A receptacle 12 for items to be washed that has items to be washed 21-25 arranged therein is arranged above the spray arm 150. The image processing facility 120 (cf. FIG. 1) has already determined a map MAP of the arrangement of items to be washed (cf. FIG. 2 or 7) and the allocation unit 130 (cf. FIG. 1) has already determined a cleaning matric MX (cf. FIG. 2). For the region of the plates 25, the treatment specification of the cleaning matrix MX comprises the specification that the spray arm 150 is to be tilted by an angle α with the result that the washing liquor 154 is sprayed at this angle α onto the items to be washed 25 in this region. This angle renders it possible for the washing liquor 154 to penetrate into an intermediate space between the plates 25 more efficiently and consequently the cleaning of the plates 25 is improved. The control apparatus 140 (cf. FIG. 1) controls the spray arm 150 according to the specification of the treatment specification for this region.

[0101] FIG. 7 illustrates schematically a system 100 having a dishwasher 1 and an external facility 200. This is by way of example the household dishwasher 1 from FIG. 1. The external facility 200 can be designed as a server or as a mobile device. The dishwasher 1 comprises a communication unit 160 by means of which it is possible to produce a communication connection with a communication unit 202 of the external facility 200. In this example, the external facility 200 integrates the image processing facility 160.

[0102] The dishwasher 1 transmits the captured image IMG by means of the communication unit 160 to the external facility 200 that determines the map MAP of the arrangement of items to be washed in dependence upon the received image IMG. Subsequently, the dishwasher 1 receives via the communication unit 160 the determined map MAP of the arrangement of items to be washed.

[0103] This can be advantageous since the determination of the map MAP of the arrangement of items to be washed in dependence upon the captured image IMG can be a CPU-intensive procedure. In this case, it is not necessary that the dishwasher 1 has this computing power itself which is why this can be designed in a less complex manner.

[0104] In addition, the external facility 200 can also integrate the allocation unit 130 (cf. FIG. 1) and in lieu of the map MAP of the arrangement of items to be washed can determine the cleaning matrix MX (cf. FIG. 2) directly and send it to the dishwasher 1.

[0105] The presence of the external facility 200 does not exclude that the dishwasher 1 has an image processing facility 160.

[0106] FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a dishwasher 1, by way of example the household dishwasher from FIG. 1. In a first step S1, an image IMG (cf. FIG. 2 or 7) of a receptacle 12-14 for items to be washed (cf. FIG. 1, 2 or 6) is captured. In a second step S2, a map MAP of the arrangement of items to be washed (cf. FIG. 2 or 7) is determined in dependence upon the captured image IMG, wherein the map MAP of the arrangement of items to be washed comprises a division of the receptacle 12-14 for items to be washed into a number of regions A1-A5. A respective region A1-A5 comprises a predetermined arrangement D1-D9 of items to be washed (cf. FIG. 3) from a number of predetermined arrangements D1-D9. In a third step S3, a cleaning matrix (MX (cf. FIG. 2) is determined which comprises an allocation of a treatment specification T1-T5 (cf. FIG. 2) to each of the regions A1-A5 in the map MAP of the arrangement of items to be washed. In a fourth step S4, the cleaning matrix MX is output, and in a fifth step S5 a wash program is executed on the basis of the cleaning matrix MX.

[0107] Although the present invention has been described with the aid of exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in numerous ways.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS USED

[0108] 1 Dishwasher [0109] 2 Dishwasher cavity [0110] 3 Door [0111] 4 Dishwasher interior [0112] 5 Pivot axis [0113] 6 Loading opening [0114] 7 Base [0115] 8 Ceiling [0116] 9 Rear wall [0117] 10 Side wall [0118] 11 Side wall [0119] 12 Receptacle for items to be washed [0120] 13 Receptacle for items to be washed [0121] 14 Receptacle for items to be washed [0122] 21 Item to be washed [0123] 22 Item to be washed [0124] 23 Item to be washed [0125] 24 Item to be washed [0126] 25 Item to be washed [0127] 100 System [0128] 110 Image capturing facility [0129] 120 Image processing facility [0130] 122 Transformation unit [0131] 124 Neural network [0132] 130 Allocation unit [0133] 140 Control apparatus [0134] 150 Spray apparatus [0135] 152 Spray apparatus [0136] 154 Washing liquor [0137] 160 Communication unit [0138] 200 External facility [0139] 202 Communication unit [0140] a Angle [0141] A Withdrawal direction [0142] A1 Region [0143] A2 Region [0144] A3 Region [0145] A4 Region [0146] A5 Region [0147] D1 Arrangement of items to be washed [0148] D2 Arrangement of items to be washed [0149] D3 Arrangement of items to be washed [0150] D4 Arrangement of items to be washed [0151] D5 Arrangement of items to be washed [0152] D6 Arrangement of items to be washed [0153] D7 Arrangement of items to be washed [0154] D8 Arrangement of items to be washed [0155] D9 Arrangement of items to be washed [0156] E Insertion direction [0157] gIMG Generated image [0158] IMG Image [0159] IMG* Image [0160] R Result [0161] S1 Method step [0162] S2 Method step [0163] S3 Method step [0164] S4 Method step [0165] S5 Method step [0166] T1 Treatment specification [0167] T2 Treatment specification [0168] T3 Treatment specification [0169] T4 Treatment specification [0170] T5 Treatment specification