Verification of the addition of cleaning chemicals in a self-cleaning oven

Abstract

A system for controlling initiation of a cleaning process of an interior of an appliance can include a detection sensor and a processor in communication with the detection sensor. The detection sensor can be configured to generate detection sensor data based on a sensed condition in a detection field of the detection sensor, which can include one or more predetermined locations. The processor can control initiation of an appliance cleaning process. The appliance cleaning process can include receiving detection sensor data representing a first time and a second time, generating an initial condition based on the received detection sensor data representing the first time, and generating a new condition based on the received detection sensor data representing the second time. The processor can be further configured to compare the initial condition to the new condition and determine whether a cleaning product is present.

Description

[0001] Related matters

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 906,997, filed on September 27, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure generally relates to automated cleaning devices, systems, and methods. More specifically, this disclosure relates to systems and methods for initiating a cleaning process targeting the interior of an appliance. Background Technology

[0004] Poor maintenance of ovens such as grill ovens can cause solidified fats or grease to accumulate throughout the oven's interior. Excessive buildup of these particles can lead to uneven cooking or unwanted particles blowing across the oven's interior and settling on the food.

[0005] Regularly cleaning your oven can help offset or even eliminate such problems. Consistent and consistent cleaning helps ensure the oven's lifespan. Unfortunately, most cleaning practices can be quite inconsistent, such as varying amounts of cleaning products used and placement of the products in different locations. Inconsistent cleaning practices can lead to improper oven cleaning. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Generally, this document discloses various embodiments of systems and methods relating to initiating a cleaning process for controlling the interior of appliances. Such embodiments can be used in exemplary applications to facilitate thorough cleaning and / or sterilization of appliances, such as the interior of an oven.

[0007] One embodiment includes a system for initiating a cleaning process for the interior of an appliance. In this embodiment, the system includes a detection sensor and a processor. The detection sensor is configured to generate detection sensor data based on a condition sensed in a field of detection (FOD) of the detection sensor. The FOD of the detection sensor may include one or more predetermined locations within the interior of the appliance, and each predetermined location may also be designed to receive cleaning products to be used during the cleaning process. The processor may be operatively coupled to the detection sensor and may be configured to control the initiation of the appliance cleaning process. The initiation of the appliance cleaning process may include receiving detection sensor data representing a first time; generating an initial condition based on the received detection sensor data representing the first time; receiving detection sensor data representing a second time; generating a new condition based on the received detection sensor data representing the second time; comparing the initial condition with the new condition; and determining whether cleaning products are present at one or more predetermined locations at the second time. In some cases, the first time may be a time when cleaning products are not present under the one or more predetermined conditions, and the second time may be a time different from the first time.

[0008] In another embodiment, the detection sensor may be placed below the device. In some cases, at least one of the one or more predetermined locations may include a window (e.g., a sapphire window). In some embodiments, the detection sensor may be at least one of a reflective sensor, a mass sensor, and a dual-pointed detection mechanism.

[0009] Another embodiment may include a method for initiating a cleaning process inside an appliance. The method may include receiving sensor data from a detection sensor representing a first time. The first time may be a time when no cleaning product is present within the detection sensor's field of view (FOD). The FOD of the detection sensor may include one or more predetermined locations within the appliance's interior, and each predetermined location may be designed to receive cleaning products used during the cleaning process. The method may further include generating an initial condition based on the received detection sensor data representing the first time. Additionally, the method may include receiving sensor data from the detection sensor representing a second time different from the first time, and generating a new condition based on the received detection sensor data representing the second time. The method may then further include determining whether cleaning product is present at the one or more predetermined locations at the second time based on a comparison between the initial condition and the new condition.

[0010] Details of one or more examples are set forth in the accompanying drawings and description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description, drawings, and claims. Attached Figure Description

[0011] The accompanying drawings illustrate specific embodiments of the invention and therefore do not limit the scope of the invention. The drawings are intended to be used in conjunction with the explanations in the following description. Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same numerals denote the same elements.

[0012] Figure 1 The figure illustrates an example of a self-cleaning oven using a sensor that detects the presence and / or absence of cleaning products in the oven.

[0013] Figure 2 The flowchart illustrates an example process by which sensors can detect the addition of cleaning chemicals to an oven during oven cleaning.

[0014] Figure 3 This is an example bar chart that shows data from sensors used in a self-cleaning oven. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The following detailed description is exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides some practical illustrations for implementing various embodiments of the invention. Examples of construction, materials, dimensions, and manufacturing processes are provided for selected elements, and all other elements use construction, materials, dimensions, and manufacturing processes known to those skilled in the art. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many of the examples mentioned have various suitable alternatives. For simplicity, embodiments of the invention are described in relation to self-cleaning oven systems. Other uses of the invention have been contemplated, such as uses in various other appliances (e.g., laundry applications, dishwashing applications, commercial cleaning operations, food preparation, healthcare applications, vehicle care applications, and other applications known in the art) that could implement self-cleaning systems similar to those described for self-cleaning ovens.

[0016] Figure 1This is a diagram illustrating an example self-cleaning oven system 100. The self-cleaning oven system 100 includes an oven 110, a detection sensor 120, and a controller 130. The oven 110 may include a door 170 for inserting a cleaning product 150 and a pad 140 as a designated location for the cleaning product 150. The oven 110 may additionally include auxiliary sensors, such as a proximity sensor 175 and an ambient temperature sensor 185. The detection sensor 120 may be configured to detect the addition of the cleaning product 150 to the oven 110, preferably located on the pad 140. The cleaning product 150 may be a variety of cleaning products, such as block, powder, or liquid cleaning products for cleaning ovens.

[0017] Controller 130 may include processor 132, memory 134, user interface 136, and notification 138. Controller 130 communicates with oven 110 via connection 160. Connection 160 may include, for example, a standard I2C connection, a 4-20mA signal, a LoRa gateway, or a wireless connection such as via Bluetooth. However, any suitable connection / communication channel known in the art may be used. In some embodiments, detection sensor 120 is directly connected to controller 130; however, other embodiments may include a controller or transmitter on oven 110 for communicating with controller 130. In embodiments where oven 110 includes auxiliary sensors such as ambient temperature sensor 185 and proximity sensor 175, the auxiliary sensors may communicate directly with controller 130 or may indirectly transmit data, such as through a controller or transmitter located on oven 110.

[0018] Memory 134 may store software for running system controller 130 and may also store data generated or used by processor 132. Memory may contain any fixed or removable magnetic, optical, or electrical medium, such as RAM, ROM, CD-ROM, hard disk or floppy disk, EEPROM, etc. Memory may also include removable memory portions that can be used to provide memory updates or increase memory capacity. Removable memory may also allow image data to be easily transferred to another computing device or removed before using the self-cleaning oven system for another application. Processor 132 may be configured to run software stored in memory 134 to manage the operation of self-cleaning oven system 100. Processor 132 may also be implemented as a system-on-a-chip that integrates some or all components of a computer or other electronic system onto a single chip. Processor 132 (processing circuitry system) may then send any processed data to a display, such as user interface 136, or other output / control device. User interface 136 may be as simple as a few user-actuable buttons or may include a display, keyboard or keypad, mouse, or other suitable mechanisms for communication with the user. Although the processor 132, memory 134, and user interface 136 are represented as a single block in a single controller 130, in some embodiments, there may be multiple processors, memories, and user interfaces, as well as multiple controllers, for the self-cleaning oven system 100.

[0019] Notification 138 may include visual notifications, audible indications, etc. For example, notification 138 may be an ongoing notification such as a light on controller 130 or oven 110, or an ongoing notification such as a notification displayed on a display. Alternatively, notification 138 may include momentary notifications such as controller 130 or oven 110 generating a tone or vibrating a component.

[0020] Pad 140 may be the final use location for the cleaning product or may be some other intermediate location. In some embodiments, the cleaning product may be placed on one or more pads 140, which are designated as locations for fully cleaning the oven during a cleaning cycle. Alternatively or additionally, one or more locations required for fully cleaning the oven may be difficult to reach or dangerous. For such embodiments, pad 140 may be an intermediate location such that after the cleaning product is detected on pad 140, it is moved to a second location. The cleaning product 150 may also be placed on pad 140 using a chute or tube. In some embodiments, a detection mechanism (e.g., a double-pointed detection mechanism 190) may be used to determine the presence of cleaning product 150 on pad 140. In such embodiments, a circuit is completed between the two points of the detection mechanism 190 when the two points come into contact with the cleaning product 150. The completion of the circuit between the two points of the detection mechanism 190 can be used to indicate the presence of cleaning product 150.

[0021] The placement of cleaning chemical 150 can be accomplished using any method known in the art. Example placement methods may include using a dispenser mechanism or placement by the user. For simplicity and not limitation, the placement method will be referred to herein as user placement. For example, when using a self-cleaning oven system 100 in a grill oven application, cleaning product 150 can be placed on a pad 140 located near the liquid inlet for cleaning, such as at the rear of the oven. In this example, cleaning product 150 may comprise tablets, blocks, or powders of cleaning agents, such as Ecolab oven cleaning tablets; retail CIP oven cleaner; or other products known in the art.

[0022] The pad 140 may be located at a known location inside the oven, such as on the bottom plate of oven 110. Preferably, the pad 140 will be located within the detection field of view (FOD) of the detection sensor 120. The FOD of the detection sensor 120 is the portion of the scene that the sensor can detect. Essentially, the FOD is a rectangle or circle extending outward from the center of the sensor. For some sensors, the FOD will additionally depend on the distance from the sensor. The FOD of a sensor can be compared to the field of view (FOV) of an optical sensor; however, it is understood that the detection sensor 120 may include an optical sensor. In some embodiments, the pad 140 may be the entire FOD of the detection sensor 120. Alternatively, the pad 140 may be partially located within the FOD of the detection sensor 120.

[0023] The detection sensor 120 may comprise an optical sensor, a mass sensor, a capacitive sensor, or any other sensor known to those skilled in the art. In embodiments where the detection sensor 120 includes an optical sensor, the detection sensor 120 may include a photodetector, a proximity detector, an infrared sensor, or any other optical sensor known in the art. Regarding optical sensors, the detection sensor 120 may detect the presence of cleaning product based on a comparison of the reflectivity of the cleaning product with the reflectivity of the pad 140, as discussed herein. The detection sensor 120 may additionally or alternatively include mass-based sensors, such as load cells and / or capacitive sensors. When the cleaning product 150 is placed on the pad 140, the cleaning product 150 may be sensed based on changes in mass and / or force detected by the sensor.

[0024] In some embodiments, the detection sensor 120 may include a dual-pointed detection sensor similar to the dual-pointed detection mechanism 190 described herein. In such embodiments, the electrical connection between the two points may be affected by the distance between the two points and the medium between them. When the medium between the two points changes (e.g., by adding cleaning product 150), the detection sensor 120 may detect the presence of cleaning product based on the change in the electrical connection between the two points.

[0025] The pad 140 may simply be a known location on a surface inside the oven, or it may be specified, for example, by using a separate material. In some embodiments, the pad 140 may be specified by markings such as contours, X's for marking points, etc., and may be recessed or able to bulge to provide contrast with the oven surface. The pad 140 may be specified using any method known to those skilled in the art. In embodiments where the pad 140 includes a material separate from the material of the oven surface, the pad 140 may include a translucent or transparent material, such as a sapphire window, that allows the detection sensor 120 to generate sensor data without needing to be positioned inside the oven. However, it has been envisioned that the detection sensor 120 be placed inside the oven. The pad 140 may additionally or alternatively include a material or coating that makes the pad 140 less susceptible to soiling or dulling from oven use. In some embodiments, the FOD of the detection sensor 120 may simply be the pad 140, such as part of the oven floor.

[0026] The detection sensor 120 can be placed inside or outside the oven cavity, allowing the sensor to detect the presence or absence of cleaning product 150 on the mat 140. The detection sensor 120 can send sensor data related to the sensor's FOD (Foreign Object Demand) to the controller 130. Alternatively, the detection sensor 120 may be able to withstand the operating temperature of the oven 110, such as 500℉. However, the detection sensor 120 can be placed in a protective device to limit high-temperature exposure so that it can still function properly. When the detection sensor 120 is exposed to the internal features of the oven 110, it may need to withstand harsh detergents, hard water levels of up to 20 gpg, and greasy dirt.

[0027] exist Figure 1In the illustrated example, the detection sensor 120 is positioned below the oven 110 to detect the presence and / or absence of cleaning product 150 on the pad 140. In one aspect of the design, the pad 140 includes a transparent protective surface 180 that allows the detection sensor 120 to generate data about the interior of the oven through a sapphire window. In a preferred embodiment, the transparent protective surface 180 is a sapphire window. The oven cleaning process can be initiated using a controller 130. In some instances, a user can initiate the oven cleaning process using a user interface 136. In some embodiments, data from auxiliary sensors can be used when the oven cleaning process is initiated. For example, a sensor positioned on the door 170 can be used to determine whether the door 170 is open or closed. Alternatively or additionally, an ambient temperature sensor can be used to determine whether the heating element in the oven has been disconnected or has been sufficiently cooled after disconnection. In such embodiments, the oven cleaning process can only be initiated when the door 170 is closed. In other embodiments, a separate device can initiate the oven cleaning process. In some instances, the oven cleaning process can be initiated automatically, such as once daily, after a certain amount of product has been used, or when a threshold of grease buildup exists in the oven.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating an example process (200) through which sensor 120 determines the presence or absence of cleaning product in oven 110. Prior to the oven cleaning cycle, the oven can be pre-cleaned as shown in step 202. Step 202 can be performed manually by the user or automatically. In some embodiments, the heating element of the oven (e.g., oven 110) is disconnected, and the interior of the oven is pre-cleaned of the grease film by scraping the interior of the oven. Although in Figure 2 The process is described, but pre-cleaning in step 202 is not required. In some instances, the oven may not contain excessive build-up of unwanted materials such as grease due to cooking the product in the oven, the frequency of oven cleaning, or the type of oven, or pre-cleaning may be part of a different process. In contrast, some instances may require pre-cleaning to ensure the oven's lifespan, increase the efficiency of cleaning cycles, or comply with health, safety, or other regulations.

[0029] After optionally performing step 202, a cleaning cycle is initiated in step 204. In some instances, step 204 can be initiated automatically if the oven's heating element is disconnected and the oven door 170 is open. In some embodiments, the oven 110 can transmit the status of the oven's heating element and oven door 170 to the controller 130 (e.g., via connection 160). Alternatively or additionally, auxiliary sensors can be used to determine the operating status of the heating element and oven door, such as... Figure 1The ambient temperature sensor 185 and proximity sensor 175 are shown. Furthermore, step 204 can be initiated automatically, such as once daily, after a certain amount of usage, or when a threshold of grease buildup exists in the oven. In other instances, the cleaning cycle in step 204 can be initiated manually, such as by a user through user interface 136.

[0030] Once the oven cleaning process is initiated in step 204, the system can optionally check whether the oven was pre-cleaned in step 206. In some embodiments, step 206 may be a simple prompt via user interface 136, where the user inputs whether to perform the pre-cleaning process, such as a selection button or icon. If it is found that the oven pre-cleaning process was not performed (e.g., "No" in step 206), a prompt for pre-cleaning the oven can be provided (step 208). Step 208 can be performed via controller 130, such as by alerting the user via notification (e.g., notification 138) or using user interface 136. In such cases, the prompt alerts the user to perform oven pre-cleaning.

[0031] Similar to step 202, steps 206 and 208 are optional. Steps 202, 206, and 208 do not need to be performed if the oven has not been pre-cleaned or if the oven has not been checked for pre-cleaning. Furthermore, even if the pre-cleaning in step 202 is performed, the system does not need to check whether the oven has been pre-cleaned (step 206) or prompt for pre-cleaning (step 208). In some embodiments, after the cleaning cycle is initiated in step 204, the user is prompted to pre-clean the oven as a reminder, regardless of whether the oven has been pre-cleaned. In another instance, the process will query whether the oven has been pre-cleaned and will not revert to steps 202 or 204, but will simply store the information for later use, for example, in memory 134.

[0032] Once the oven's pre-cleaning process has optionally been checked, the initial condition is determined in step 210. In some embodiments, step 210 can be performed as soon as the oven's heating element is off and the oven door is open. The initial condition determined in step 210 can be aggregated using data from sensors (e.g., detection sensor 120). In some embodiments, the initial condition will come from multiple sensors. The multiple sensors may be similar to the sensors described with respect to detection sensor 120. In such instances, multiple sensors may be present, each with a complementary pad 140. Such embodiments can be used when cleaning product 150 is placed in multiple locations, or when various types of cleaning product 150 are used. Alternatively or additionally, multiple pads may be present for each sensor, or multiple sensors may be present for each pad. In some embodiments, the FOD of the sensors may be large enough to detect the presence or absence of cleaning product on multiple pads. In embodiments using multiple sensors, each sensor does not have to be identical. For example, reflective sensors may be used to determine the presence or absence of cleaning product 150 on pad 140 with the additional assistance of ambient light or ambient temperature sensors for more accurate results. Alternatively, various sensors can be used based on the type of pad 140, the location of pad 140, the type of cleaning product 150, or the amount of cleaning product 150.

[0033] As discussed herein, an initial condition can be determined based on data generated by the detection sensor 120. The initial condition may simply be a single value from the sensor. Alternatively, the initial condition may be a rolling average over a period of time. This period may be between 1 second and 30 seconds, preferably about 20 seconds, although other periods, such as less than 1 second and greater than 30 seconds, are contemplated. Furthermore, statistical analysis methods, such as confidence intervals, probability intervals, standard deviations, or any other statistical analysis methods known to those skilled in the art, may be applied to the data. In some embodiments, statistical analysis is used to remove outliers. Once the initial condition is determined in step 210, the system may optionally prompt the user to place the cleaning product in the oven (step 212). Step 212 can be performed via control 130, such as by alerting the user via alarm 138 or using user interface 136. Alternatively or alternatively, step 212 may prompt the automatic cleaning system to place the cleaning product in the oven via controller 130.

[0034] In some embodiments, step 212 is omitted, and the process proceeds directly to determining the new condition (step 214). Step 214 is similar to step 210 because the new condition is determined based on data generated by the detection sensor 120. The new condition may simply be a single value from the sensor. In other instances, the new condition is a rolling average over a certain period of time. This period of time may be between 1 second and 30 seconds, preferably 20 seconds, although other periods, such as less than 1 second and greater than 30 seconds, are contemplated. In other embodiments, other statistical analysis methods, such as those discussed herein, may be used. In a preferred embodiment, the same statistical measures are used when determining the initial and new conditions. In such embodiments, using the same statistical measures yields more accurate results.

[0035] Once the new condition is determined (step 214), it is compared to the initial condition in step 216. Step 216 can utilize any comparison method known in the art, such as calculating the difference between the new and initial conditions. In embodiments where the new and initial conditions are represented numerically, these values ​​can be compared by determining the difference. Comparing the new and initial conditions in step 216 is used to determine whether the cleaning product has been placed in the oven (step 218). In a preferred embodiment, step 218 determines whether the cleaning product has been placed in the oven at a designated location (e.g., mat 140). The new and initial conditions can be compared using any method known to those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, a lookup table is used to compare the new and initial conditions. In embodiments where the new and initial conditions are numerical, their difference can be calculated as a comparison.

[0036] Once the new condition has been compared to the initial condition in step 216, the comparison is used to determine whether cleaning products have been placed in the oven (step 218). Step 218 can use the comparison from step 216 to determine whether cleaning products are present in the oven, such as a threshold difference between the new and initial conditions. Alternatively, other data can be used to determine whether cleaning products have been placed in the oven. For example, if a sensor is present on the oven door and the oven door has not been opened, it can be inferred that no cleaning products have been placed in the oven.

[0037] If it is determined that the cleaning product has been placed in the oven (e.g., "Yes" in step 218), the oven can proceed to step 220, in which the oven cleaning process is initiated. The oven cleaning process can be any oven cleaning process known to those skilled in the art, such as adding warm water. Other exemplary oven cleaning processes may include one or more cleaning sprays, a series of rinses, and / or steaming the oven. The oven cleaning process may be initiated after other requirements are met, such as closing the oven door or a specified time. If it is determined that the cleaning product has not been placed in the oven (e.g., "No" in step 218), the process can revert to step 214 to determine the next new condition. Optionally, the system can revert to step 212 and prompt again to place the cleaning product in the oven. In such embodiments, the prompt does not need to be performed every time, but can occur after a specified comparison amount (e.g., step 216) or a specified amount of time. The prompt in step 212 can serve as a reminder to the user or automated device to place the cleaning product in the oven. In some embodiments, a process similar to that used for new conditions is used to determine the next new condition. For example, new sensor data from detection sensor 120 can be used to determine the next new condition, which can then be compared with the initial condition in step 216. Alternatively, the new sensor data can be compared with a new condition instead of the initial condition, such that the previous new condition becomes the initial condition and the next new condition becomes the new condition. The process is repeated until it is determined in step 218 that the cleaning product has been placed in the oven, or the process is terminated otherwise. The process can be terminated manually by the user, by the processor (e.g., processor 132) after a specified amount of time, or by any other means known to those skilled in the art.

[0038] Ideally, the oven (e.g., oven 110) will always remain clean throughout its entire lifespan. In such cases, the sensor (e.g., sensor 150) will consistently provide accurate and consistent measurements with each use. Unfortunately, ovens typically corrode over time, causing inconsistent sensor readings between cleaning cycles. Ovens may become soiled or dull due to improper cleaning, overuse, excessive use of corrosive cleaning chemicals, resin buildup from products cooked in the oven, or various other reasons known to a person skilled in the art. Because the condition of the oven can change continuously, the initial and new conditions used to indicate the presence or absence of cleaning products may also change over time. Alternatively, changes in sensor data (e.g., due to corrosion or dulling in the oven) can be monitored to determine if the oven's condition has changed over time, for example, due to lack of cleaning.

[0039] Figure 3 It shows about Figure 2The exemplary example 300 for determining the initial and new conditions is described in sections 210 and 214. The sensor used in this embodiment is a QRD1114 reflective object sensor, which consists of an infrared light-emitting diode and an NPN silicon phototransistor. The phototransistor only responds to radiation emitted from the diode when the reflective object or surface is within the sensor's FOD (FOD). Although this embodiment relates to a specific reflective object sensor, those skilled in the art will understand that various other contact and non-contact sensors, as described herein, can be used.

[0040] Figure 3 The document describes two test cases, Test Case A and Test Case B. In one exemplary embodiment, Test Case A is at the initial installation of the oven, and Test Case B may be after a period of time, such as 5 years. Initial-A and New-A are associated with Test Case A, and Initial-B and New-B are associated with Test Case B. (See reference...) Figure 2 Initial-A is the initial state determined as shown in step 210, and New-A is the new state determined as shown in step 214. Similarly, Initial-B is the initial state determined as shown in step 210, and New-B is the new state determined as shown in step 214. Those skilled in the art will understand that before determining the new state of New-A or New-B, many new states can be gathered and compared with the initial state (i.e., Figure 2 The comparison is performed in the loop of steps 214-218.

[0041] like Figure 3 As shown, although Initial-A and Initial-B refer to the initial condition, and New-B and New-B refer to the new condition, the oven lost its shine between test cases, resulting in significant variations in values. The higher value shown in Test Case B may be because pad 140 became soiled due to oven use, or pad 140 had excessive grease due to an improper pre-cleaning process. If predetermined initial conditions, such as values ​​when the oven is new, are used, the aggregated data may incorrectly determine the presence or absence of cleaning products in the oven. Figure 3 In this example, initial-A and new-B have relatively similar values. In systems using predetermined initial conditions, initial-A and new-B may be incorrectly considered to be the same condition because they have relatively similar values, as described in this article. Figure 2 The method helps to identify such errors by: determining the initial condition (e.g., initial-A or initial-B); prompting the user to place the cleaning product in the oven (e.g., prompting the user via a user interface); determining the new condition (e.g., new-A or new-B); and then comparing the new condition with the initial condition to determine if the cleaning product is present in the oven. About Figure 3Even if the values ​​from test case A and test case B are different, the values ​​within test case A and test case B will remain relatively the same. In other words, when comparing initial-A with new-A or initial-B with new-B, the processor (e.g., processor 132) can accurately determine the presence of the cleaning product in the two test cases by the relative decrease in the values ​​between initial-A and new-A, and between initial-B and new-B.

Claims

1. A system for initiating a cleaning process inside a control appliance, the system comprising: A non-contact detection sensor, configured to generate detection sensor data based on conditions sensed in the field of detection (FOD) of the non-contact detection sensor, wherein... The FOD of the non-contact detection sensor includes one or more predetermined locations on the interior of the appliance, each predetermined location including a pad designed to receive cleaning products used during the cleaning process, the pad being at least partially located within the FOD of the non-contact detection sensor, wherein the non-contact detection sensor is positioned below the appliance to detect the presence and / or absence of the cleaning products on the pad, and the pad includes a transparent protective surface that allows the non-contact detection sensor to generate data about the interior of the appliance; as well as A processor, operatively coupled to the non-contact detection sensor, is configured to control the initiation of the cleaning process, the control of initiation of the cleaning process including: Receive detection sensor data representing a first time, where the first time is the time when no cleaning product is present at the one or more predetermined locations; An initial state is generated based on the received sensor data representing the first time interval; Receive detection sensor data representing a second time different from the first time; A new status is generated based on the received sensor data representing the second time. Compare the initial state with the new state; and Based on the comparison between the initial condition and the new condition, it is determined whether cleaning products are present at the one or more predetermined locations at the second time. The processor is configured to iteratively generate an initial state representing the interior of the appliance, and The initial state generated iteratively can be a previously generated new state.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the appliance is an oven; and the oven includes at least one heating element, and the system further includes a first auxiliary sensor configured to sense whether the at least one heating element is turned on or off, and wherein the processor receives detection sensor data representing the first time when the first auxiliary sensor indicates that the at least one heating element of the oven is off.

3. The system of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a second auxiliary sensor configured to sense whether the door of the appliance is open or closed, wherein the processor receives detection sensor data representing the first time when the second auxiliary sensor indicates that the door of the appliance is open.

4. The system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the FOD of the non-contact detection sensor includes a portion of the bottom of the device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the one or more predetermined locations include a sapphire window.

6. The system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the non-contact detection sensor is a reflective sensor.

7. The system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the non-contact detection sensor is an optical sensor.

8. The system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the non-contact detection sensor is a dual-pointed detection mechanism.

9. The system according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising: user interface; and The processor is further configured to receive instructions for initiating the cleaning process via the user interface.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to: Determine whether the appliance pre-cleaning process has been performed; If the processor determines that the appliance pre-cleaning process has not yet been performed, it prompts the user interface to initiate the appliance pre-cleaning process; and wherein The processor receives detection sensor data representing the first time when the processor determines that the appliance pre-cleaning process has been performed.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to prompt a user via the user interface to place the cleaning product at the one or more predetermined locations after receiving detection sensor data representing the first time.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein if the processor determines that the cleaning product is not present at the second time, it prompts the user via the user interface to place the cleaning product at the one or more predetermined locations after receiving sensor data representing the second time.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein if the processor determines that the cleaning product is present at the second time, the cleaning process inside the appliance is initiated.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the system includes a dual-pointed detection mechanism configured to sense whether the cleaning product has been placed at the one or more predetermined locations; and wherein The processor determines the presence of the cleaning product at the second time by receiving a signal from the bi-pointed detection mechanism indicating that the cleaning product has been placed at one or more predetermined locations.

15. The system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: Generating the initial state based on the received sensor data representing the first time interval includes performing statistical analysis on the sensor data; and Generating the new situation based on the received sensor data representing the second time includes performing statistical analysis on the sensor data.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein: The sensor data at the first time point includes sensor data over a first time period; and The sensor data representing the second time period includes sensor data that has passed through the same second time period as the first time period; in The statistical analysis of the sensor data used to generate the initial state includes averaging the sensor data over the first time period, and the statistical analysis of the sensor data used to generate the new state includes averaging the sensor data over the second time period; and wherein Each of the first and second time periods is between 5 and 30 seconds.

17. The system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cleaning product is composed of one or more blocks, or the cleaning product is composed of powder.

18. A method for initiating a cleaning process inside a control appliance, the method comprising: Sensor data representing a first time is received from the non-contact detection sensor, where the first time is the time when no cleaning product is present in the field of detection (FOD) of the non-contact detection sensor. The FOD of the non-contact detection sensor includes one or more predetermined locations on the interior of the appliance, each predetermined location including a pad designed to receive the cleaning product used during the cleaning process, the pad being at least partially located within the FOD of the non-contact detection sensor, wherein the non-contact detection sensor is positioned below the appliance to detect the presence and / or absence of the cleaning product on the pad, and the pad includes a transparent protective surface that allows the non-contact detection sensor to generate data about the interior of the appliance; An initial state is generated based on the non-contact detection sensor data received at the first time. Receive sensor data representing a second time different from the first time from the non-contact detection sensor; A new situation is generated based on the received non-contact detection sensor data representing the second time; and Based on a comparison of the initial condition and the new condition, it is determined whether cleaning products are present at the one or more predetermined locations at the second time. The initial state is generated iteratively, and The initial state generated iteratively can be a previously generated new state.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: Receive sensor data from the first auxiliary sensor indicating whether the heating element is on or off, based on the sensor data received from the first auxiliary sensor, wherein The heating element is configured to heat the interior of the appliance; Determine whether the heating element is on or off, and if it is determined that the heating element is off, initiate the cleaning process inside the appliance.

20. The method according to claim 18 or claim 19, further comprising: Receive sensor data from the second auxiliary sensor indicating whether the door of the appliance is open or closed; in The door of the appliance can be opened to access the interior of the appliance, and can be closed to isolate the interior of the appliance; as well as Based on sensor data received from the second auxiliary sensor, it is determined whether the door of the appliance is open or closed, and if it is determined that the door of the appliance is closed, the cleaning process inside the appliance is initiated.

21. A system for controlling the initiation of a cleaning process inside an oven, the system comprising: oven; At least one heating element; A non-contact detection sensor, configured to generate detection sensor data based on conditions sensed in the field of detection (FOD) of the non-contact detection sensor, wherein... The FOD of the non-contact detection sensor includes one or more predetermined locations on the interior of the oven, each predetermined location including a pad designed to receive cleaning products used during the cleaning process, the pad being at least partially located within the FOD of the non-contact detection sensor, wherein the non-contact detection sensor is positioned below the oven to detect the presence and / or absence of the cleaning products on the pad, and the pad includes a transparent protective surface that allows the non-contact detection sensor to generate data about the interior of the oven; A first auxiliary sensor, configured to sense whether the at least one heating element is on or off; and A processor, operatively coupled to the non-contact detection sensor, is configured to control the initiation of a pre-cleaning process and a cleaning process, the pre-cleaning process comprising: Receive data from the first auxiliary sensor; Determine whether the heating element is on or off, and if it is determined that the heating element is off, initiate the cleaning process inside the oven; the cleaning process includes: Receive detection sensor data representing a first time from the non-contact detection sensor, where the first time is the time when no cleaning product is present at the one or more predetermined locations; An initial state is generated based on the received sensor data representing the first time interval; Receive detection sensor data representing a second time different from the first time from the non-contact detection sensor; A new status is generated based on the received sensor data representing the second time. Compare the initial state with the new state; and Based on the comparison between the initial condition and the new condition, it is determined whether cleaning products are present at the one or more predetermined locations at the second time. The processor is configured to iteratively generate an initial state representing the interior of the oven, and The initial state generated iteratively can be a previously generated new state.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising: An oven door, which is connected to the oven and can be opened to access the interior of the oven and closed to isolate the interior of the oven; A second auxiliary sensor is configured to sense whether the oven door is open or closed; and The pre-cleaning process further includes: Receive data from the second auxiliary sensor; Determine whether the oven door is open or closed, and if the oven door is determined to be closed, initiate the cleaning process inside the oven.

23. Use of a system according to any one of the preceding claims for controlling the initiation of a cleaning process inside an appliance.

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