Method for automatically controlling dishwasher, dishwasher and computer program product

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for automatically controlling a dishwasher, comprising the following steps: automatically detecting, by a control device of the dishwasher, an adjustment signal associated with an output signal that is output, the adjustment signal is generated by input on an input device of the dishwasher or on another input device associated with the dishwasher, and the adjustment signal is associated with a parameter and / or a parameter value; and according to the detected adjustment signal, automatically continuing to run the started cleaning program by using the original program configuration, the changed program configuration or an abortion strategy for ending the cleaning program. The invention also relates to an associated dishwasher and an associated computer program product.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for automatically controlling a dishwasher, as well as a dishwasher and a related computer program product. Background Art

[0002] WO2020160745A1 describes a water-conducting household appliance, in particular a dishwasher, having: control means for performing one of a plurality of programs, where each program has a series of sub-program steps, where each sub-program step is determined by a plurality of parameters; input means for detecting a user input to select one of the plurality of programs, where the control means is configured to determine an optimized state based on the current operating state of the water-conducting household appliance and the selected program, determine an optimization measure based on the determined optimized state, where the optimization measure includes optimizing a parameter value of one of the plurality of parameters of at least one sub-program step of the selected program, using the optimization measure to provide an optimized program and execute the optimized program; and output means for outputting the optimized state, the optimization measure, and / or the optimized parameter value to the user. Summary of the Invention

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for automatically controlling a dishwasher, a dishwasher, and / or a related computer program product, where the dishwasher can in particular be operated in a user-specified manner.

[0004] This object is solved by a method for automatically controlling a dishwasher, the method comprising the steps of:

[0005] - automatically starting, by a start signal triggered on an input means of the dishwasher, a cleaning program stored in a memory of a control means of the dishwasher, the start signal being associated with the cleaning program;

[0006] - automatically detecting, by at least one sensor of the dishwasher, a current actual value of at least one state variable in the dishwasher;

[0007] - automatically comparing the detected actual value of the at least one state variable with a reference value of the relevant state variable stored in the control means;

[0008] - automatically determining, for further operation of the dishwasher according to the cleaning program, a parameter and / or a parameter value associated with the parameter based on a comparison of the detected actual value of the at least one state variable with the stored reference value of the relevant state variable;

[0009] - automatically outputting, on an output means associated with the dishwasher, at least one output signal associated with the determined parameter and / or the determined parameter value;

[0010] - The control device automatically detects an adjustment signal associated with the output signal output, the adjustment signal being generated by an input on an input device of the dishwasher or on another input device associated with the dishwasher, and the adjustment signal being associated with the parameter and / or the parameter value;

[0011] - Depending on the detected adjustment signal, the started cleaning program is automatically continued in the original program configuration, a changed program configuration or an abort strategy for ending the cleaning program.

[0012] An important feature of modern household appliances is that the household appliances can operate as economically and efficiently as possible and, at the same time, use water and cleaning agents in as efficient and environmentally friendly a manner as possible. In dishwashers, it is known to provide a plurality of different cleaning programs from which the user of the dishwasher can selectively choose. For this purpose, there may be a plurality of different input devices on the dishwasher, such as electronic buttons or a touch screen with a touch-sensitive touch area, so that the user can select a specific cleaning program during operation, the cleaning program being applied to the subsequent rinsing process. The different cleaning programs may vary, for example, in the water temperature used during the rinsing process. For example, if there is less dirt on the dishes and / or cutlery to be rinsed in the dishwasher, the user can select a lower water temperature, for example 40 degrees instead of 50 degrees or 65 degrees, mainly to save the electrical energy used to heat the water in the dishwasher.

[0013] It is also known that a so-called automatic program is implemented in the dishwasher, and when the user selects the automatic program, the control device of the dishwasher automatically determines an appropriate temperature for the water or for the rinsing liquid. For example, this can be achieved by detecting and evaluating the turbidity of the rinsing liquid during the running rinsing program using a suitable sensor. The rinsing liquid generally includes fresh water supplied from a pipe network to the dishwasher, a cleaning agent, and dirt dissolved, dispersed and / or carried by the dishes and / or cutlery located in the dishwasher during the cleaning process. For example, in the case of a very turbid rinsing liquid, a high degree of contamination can be expected, and therefore the temperature of the rinsing liquid can be automatically set higher accordingly. However, if the turbidity is very low, the control device of the dishwasher can automatically set a lower temperature of the rinsing liquid, thereby helping to reduce the power consumption. In addition to automatically controlling the temperature of the rinsing liquid, the control device of the dishwasher can also automatically adjust, for example, the duration of the rinsing process, the amount of cleaning agent and / or the amount of rinse aid (Klarspülmittel) in different ways during the rinsing process in the automatic program if necessary.

[0014] However, the disadvantage of such an automatic program is that, in some cases, the user of the dishwasher is not satisfied with the form and manner in which the automatic program automatically controls the rinsing process. Therefore, the control device of the dishwasher may indeed not automatically select the optimal operating mode. For example, one possible situation is that the white rice residue on the dishes to be cleaned only results in a relatively low turbidity of the rinsing liquid, which may be understood by the automatic program as a low contamination state, and the cleaning temperature (i.e., the temperature of the rinsing liquid) is automatically set to be relatively low, which in turn may cause the white rice residue to not be completely removed from the dishes. Thus, when emptying the dishwasher, the user will notice that the rinsing process has not been performed in an optimal manner and will hope for a higher cleaning temperature for this type of contaminant in future rinsing processes.

[0015] To solve such problems, according to the present invention, on the one hand, although an automatically variable cleaning program is to be executed, on the other hand, once necessary, the user can still influence, in a personal way, the form and manner in which the cleaning program should be executed. By the method according to the present invention, a certain degree of communication can be carried out between the control device of the dishwasher and the user, such that the control device can also consider the personal wishes of the user when automatically executing the cleaning program.

[0016] After the user has placed the dishes and / or tableware in the dishwasher in a conventional manner and selected a cleaning program and, for example, manually operated the corresponding input device (such as a button), in the method according to the present invention, first, due to the start signal triggered on the input device of the dishwasher by manually operating the input device, the cleaning program stored in the memory of the control device of the dishwasher will be automatically started. This start signal can be associated with, for example, a certain button as the input device, and thus also with the corresponding specific cleaning program. Therefore, it can also be set that the user of the dishwasher presses, for example, the automatic button to start the automatic program. In some embodiments, the user can start any other optional cleaning program by operating the input device. The input device does not necessarily have to be mechanically arranged on the dishwasher, but if necessary, the input device can be arranged on a device separated from the dishwasher, and this device is connected to the dishwasher by control technology. In this regard, such a separated device can be used as a remote control, where, due to its connection to the control device of the dishwasher via control technology, the input device of the separated device can be regarded as part of the dishwasher in the sense of control technology.

[0017] When the automatic program is executed, the current actual value of at least one state variable in the dishwasher is automatically detected by at least one sensor of the dishwasher. The monitored state variables can be the turbidity of the rinsing liquid, the cleaning state of the dishes and / or tableware located in the dishwasher, the temperature of the rinsing liquid, the temperature of the tap water entering the dishwasher, the type of detergent added, the amount of detergent added, the type of rinse aid added, the amount of rinse aid added, and / or the running time of the cleaning program so far. For example, the state variable can also be just the presence of a dishwasher tablet (Spülmaschinentab) in the cleaning chamber of the dishwasher. In this case, the state variable will have only two possible values, namely, whether the dishwasher tablet is present in the cleaning chamber or whether the dishwasher tablet is not present in the cleaning chamber. In this regard, the output signal can also request adding a dishwasher tablet to the cleaning chamber. Here, the adjustment signal can include the user confirming that they have placed the dishwasher tablet in the cleaning chamber.

[0018] It can be set to detect only one of these state variables. In some embodiments, it can be set to detect two or more different state variables. The multiple state variables can be detected simultaneously or at different times in a selectable manner during the cleaning program or during the rinsing process.

[0019] After at least one state variable is automatically detected, according to the method of the present invention, the actual value of the at least one detected state variable is automatically compared with the reference value of the relevant state variable stored in the control device.

[0020] In order to further operate the dishwasher according to the cleaning program, a parameter and / or a parameter value associated with the parameter are automatically determined based on the comparison between the actual value of the at least one detected state variable and the stored reference value of the relevant state variable.

[0021] For example, if the turbidity of the rinsing liquid is used as the state variable, it can be automatically determined by comparison with the turbidity reference value whether there is a high pollution level, an average pollution level, or a low pollution level. At this time, for example, the temperature of the rinsing liquid and / or the duration of the rinsing process can be associated with the pollution level as parameters.

[0022] Therefore, a high pollution level determined by comparison can prompt the control device to increase the temperature of the rinsing liquid, for example, to a parameter value of 65 degrees. An average pollution level determined by comparison can prompt the control device to, for example, maintain the temperature of the rinsing liquid at the current parameter value of, for example, 50 degrees. In contrast, a low pollution level determined by comparison can prompt the control device to lower the temperature of the rinsing liquid, for example, to a parameter value of 45 degrees.

[0023] In a similar manner, the determined high degree of contamination can cause the control device to extend the duration of the flushing process, for example, by 30 minutes longer than the normal duration of the flushing process. The determined average degree of contamination can cause the control device to maintain, for example, the normal duration of the flushing process. In contrast, the determined low degree of contamination can cause the control device to shorten the duration of the flushing process, for example, by 30 minutes shorter than the normal duration of the flushing process.

[0024] According to the invention, it is now provided in this method that at least one output signal associated with the determined parameter and / or the determined parameter value is automatically output to an output device associated with the dishwasher.

[0025] In the sense of the example described in more detail above, the output signal can thus be associated with information for the user, which can be directly or indirectly notified to the user, as long as the control device receives a corresponding adjustment signal via an input device on the dishwasher, what changes the control device will automatically make to the currently running cleaning program.

[0026] Thus, in a first embodiment, the output signal can be associated with information for the user, such as "Due to the determined high degree of contamination, it is recommended to increase the temperature of the flushing process. However, this may increase power consumption", or "Due to the determined low degree of contamination, it is recommended to reduce the temperature of the flushing process. This helps to reduce power consumption". In a second embodiment, the output signal can be associated with information for the user, such as "Due to the determined high degree of contamination, it is recommended to extend the duration of the flushing process by 30 minutes. However, this may increase power consumption", or "Due to the determined low degree of contamination, it is recommended to shorten the duration of the flushing process by 30 minutes. This can help to reduce power consumption".

[0027] Thus, in the case of automatically outputting the output signal, not only the reason for the output operation recommendation and the operation recommendation itself can be conveyed, but also the impact of the corresponding operation recommendation on, for example, power consumption, on water, detergent and / or rinse aid consumption can be informed.

[0028] The automatic output of the output signal can be accomplished in different ways. For example, a dishwasher may have a display on which the described statement is shown, such as "Due to the low determined degree of contamination, it is recommended to shorten the duration of the rinsing process by 30 minutes". In the case of a larger display, the display of the described statement can be carried out statically in full text. In the case of a smaller display, the display of the described statement can be carried out dynamically, for example, in the form of scrolling text. In another output variant, the dishwasher may have a speaker, and the output signal can be output through the speaker in the form of spoken text. The speaker does not necessarily have to be integrated into the dishwasher. For example, the speaker can be a device separate from the dishwasher, i.e., part of an external device. The separate device can be, for example, a tablet computer, a mobile phone (especially a smartphone), or a cloud-based voice service device. In order for the control device of the dishwasher to output to the separate device, the dishwasher can have a communication interface that can establish a connection between the control device of the dishwasher and the separate device. The communication interface can be, for example, an Internet connection, a WLAN network connection, or a short-range radio connection. The output signal can be output not only as spoken text at the speaker of the separate device but also visually displayed in text form on the display of the separate device.

[0029] In the method according to the invention, the control device is configured to, optionally after displaying the output signal on the dishwasher and / or the separate device, wait and automatically detect an adjustment signal associated with the output output signal, which is generated by an input at an input device of the dishwasher or at another input device associated with the dishwasher, and which is associated with the parameter and / or the parameter value. Thus, the control device does not autonomously and automatically change the program configuration of the started cleaning program, but requests the user's reaction to the program configuration of the started cleaning program with the output of the output signal. The control device can automatically determine and detect the user's reaction by detecting the adjustment signal triggered by the input.

[0030] The input can be made by a person, for example, through an input device on the dishwasher and / or through an input device on a separate device. The input device can be, for example, a button or a switch for manual input by a person, and by operating it, for example, with a finger of a human hand, the desired adjustment signal can be transmitted to the control device. Thus, by pressing a certain button or a certain switch, the operation recommendation output on the display device can be accepted, for example, or rejected when another button or another switch is pressed. Similarly, the input can be made by a person speaking an operation command, which can be automatically recorded, evaluated, and further processed as an adjustment signal by the microphone of the dishwasher and / or the separate device so that the adjustment signal can be imported into the control device.

[0031] According to the actual adjustment signal received from the control device, the method according to the invention is set to automatically continue the started cleaning program according to the detected adjustment signal, with the original program configuration, the changed program configuration or an abort strategy for ending the cleaning program.

[0032] Therefore, the user can, for example, by means of a corresponding input, reject the extension of the duration of the flushing process automatically recommended by the control device due to the high turbidity of the flushing liquid. After manually or by voice inputting the corresponding command, a relevant adjustment signal can be generated, causing the control device to continue executing the cleaning program without change and without extending the duration of the flushing process.

[0033] However, if the user agrees to the recommended extension of the duration of the flushing process by means of a corresponding input, a corresponding adjustment signal can be generated, which causes the control device to change the cleaning program and extend the duration of the flushing process.

[0034] In another embodiment, the user can, for example, by means of a corresponding input, reject the reduction of the flushing liquid temperature automatically recommended by the control device due to the low turbidity of the flushing liquid. After manually or by voice inputting the corresponding command, a relevant adjustment signal can be generated, which causes the control device to continue executing the cleaning program without change, keep the flushing liquid at the temperature planned so far, and possibly not achieve energy savings due to the necessary reheating.

[0035] However, if the user agrees to the recommended reduction of the temperature of the flushing liquid by means of a corresponding input, a relevant adjustment signal can be generated, which causes the control device to change the cleaning program and thereby reduce the temperature of the flushing liquid, because no reheating or only less reheating is carried out, so that energy can be saved compared to the original process of the cleaning program.

[0036] If, after the control device has automatically output an output signal, the control device cannot detect an adjustment signal within a predetermined waiting time, the control device can be configured such that the control device automatically starts the recommended adjustment and changes the cleaning program accordingly after the end of the predetermined waiting time, or the control device can be configured such that the control device does not perform the recommended adjustment after the end of the predetermined waiting time and continues to execute the originally specified cleaning program without change. In the case of a lack of timely feedback from the user, it can be specified in the configuration data record in the control device whether the control device automatically performs the recommended adjustment of the cleaning program or rejects it. If necessary, such a specification can be configured by the user.

[0037] In a supplementary extended version of this method, it can be set that after the cleaning program ends, the control device outputs together the adjustments made as needed during the cleaning program and / or the savings in electrical energy, water, detergent, and / or rinse aid achieved due to the adjustments made, for example, visually on a display or automatically acoustically via the dishwasher or a separate device.

[0038] The output signal can convey the type of parameter, the amount of the parameter value, at least one adjustment method of the cleaning program, and / or the process-related results of the automatically recommended adjustment method.

[0039] As mentioned before, the output signal can be visually conveyed to the user of the dishwasher in text form on a display or also auditorily conveyed to the user as a voice output via a speaker. In some embodiments, the output signal can also be conveyed in other ways. For example, the corresponding parameter, parameter value, adjustment method, and / or process-related results can be displayed on the display in a characteristic graphical representation (e.g., a symbol), and this characteristic graphical representation can be understood by the user accordingly. For example, the representation of a thermometer symbol combined with the representation of a downward arrow can indicate that the control device recommends lowering the temperature of the rinse liquid. For example, the representation of a banknote symbol or a coin symbol can indicate the process-related results of saving electrical energy and saving costs.

[0040] To execute this method, the output signal can be an acoustic output signal, which is output via the speaker of the dishwasher and / or via the speaker of an external device connected to the dishwasher via the communication interface of the dishwasher, or the output signal can be a visual output signal, which is output via the display of the dishwasher and / or via the display of an external device connected to the dishwasher via the communication interface of the dishwasher.

[0041] The external device can, for example, be a tablet computer or a smartphone configured for remotely controlling the dishwasher.

[0042] The adjustment signal can be generated by manually inputting on an input device on the dishwasher and / or by manually inputting on another input device on an external device connected to the dishwasher via the communication interface, and this adjustment signal is transmitted to the control device to directly adjust the ongoing cleaning program.

[0043] Therefore, if the user wishes to apply the adjustment method of the cleaning program automatically recommended by the control device, the corresponding input can be directly made on the dishwasher or a separate external device. Based on the input made by the user, a corresponding adjustment signal is then optionally generated in the dishwasher or on the external device, and the adjustment signal is transmitted to the control device of the dishwasher so that the control device can automatically and immediately make a change to the cleaning program corresponding to the recommended adjustment method.

[0044] The adjustment signal can be generated by manual input on an input device on the dishwasher and / or by manual input on another input device on an external device connected to the dishwasher via a communication interface, and the adjustment signal is stored in the memory of the control device for reading at a later time point when restarting a subsequent cleaning program.

[0045] Thus, if the user wishes to apply the adjustment method automatically recommended by the control device not only to the currently running cleaning program but also to determine it as a standard for the operation of subsequent cleaning programs, the user can make the corresponding input directly on the dishwasher or on a separate external device and simultaneously specify that the adopted adjustment method should also be applied to the operation of subsequent cleaning programs. Thus, the user can make persistent changes to the stored cleaning program, i.e., reprogram the cleaning program in a permitted manner.

[0046] In the method according to the invention, the state variable to be detected is selected from at least one of the group of the following state variables:

[0047] - The turbidity of the rinse liquid,

[0048] - The cleaning state of the dishes and / or cutlery in the dishwasher,

[0049] - The temperature of the rinse liquid,

[0050] - The temperature of the tap water entering the dishwasher,

[0051] - The type of detergent added,

[0052] - The amount of detergent added,

[0053] - The type of rinse aid added,

[0054] - The amount of rinse aid added, and / or

[0055] - The elapsed running time of the cleaning program.

[0056] This object is also achieved by a dishwasher having: a control device with a memory in which at least one cleaning program is stored; at least one input device connected to the control device and at least one sensor connected to the control device, the sensor being designed to automatically detect the current actual value of at least one state variable in the dishwasher, wherein the control device is designed and equipped to perform the method according to one of the described embodiments.

[0057] Thus, the embodiments described so far for this method can be correspondingly implemented in a dishwasher, particularly in the control device of the dishwasher. As long as useful, one or more steps of the method can also be implemented outside the dishwasher, for example, in an application of an external device (such as a tablet or smartphone) communicating with the dishwasher. The dishwasher can also be connected to a network service via the Internet, for example, within the scope of cloud computing, so that one or more steps of the method can be executed on an external platform.

[0058] The dishwasher can have at least one sensor, which is designed and equipped to detect at least one state variable from the group of the following state variables:

[0059] - The turbidity of the rinse fluid,

[0060] - The cleaning state of the dishes and / or utensils in the dishwasher,

[0061] - The temperature of the rinse fluid,

[0062] - The temperature of the tap water entering the dishwasher,

[0063] - The type of detergent added,

[0064] - The amount of detergent added,

[0065] - The type of rinse aid added,

[0066] - The amount of rinse aid added, and / or

[0067] - The elapsed running time of the cleaning program so far,

[0068] Wherein, the sensor is connected to the control device and configured such that the actual value detected by the sensor can be fed to a comparator set in the control device, and the comparator 12 is configured to compare the actual value received by the sensor with a reference value stored in the memory of the control device. If the actual value deviates from the reference value by more than a predetermined tolerance range, an output signal associated with the at least one specific parameter and / or specific parameter value is automatically output to an output device associated with the dishwasher.

[0069] The dishwasher can have a control device, and the control device has a data memory, which is configured such that an adjustment signal associated with a parameter and / or parameter value is stored as a data record in the data memory for automatic reading at a later time point when restarting a subsequent cleaning program, wherein the adjustment signal is generated by manual input through an input device of the dishwasher or through another input device on an external device associated with the dishwasher.

[0070] This object is also achieved by a computer program product having a machine-readable carrier storing program code which can be electronically read by a control device of a dishwasher according to one of the embodiments, and the program code is designed and / or configured such that when the program code is executed by the control device, the control device performs the method according to one of the embodiments.

[0071] In the following description, specific embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. The specific features of these exemplary embodiments may constitute the general features of the present invention, regardless of the specific context in which they are mentioned, and may be considered separately or in a further combination if necessary. Description of the Drawings

[0072] Figure 1 A step flowchart showing a method for automatically controlling a dishwasher according to some embodiments of the present disclosure,

[0073] Figure 2 Schematically showing a flowchart of a cleaning program according to some embodiments of the present disclosure,

[0074] Figure 3 Exemplarily showing a perspective view of a dishwasher according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, and

[0075] Figure 4 Schematically showing a control device of a dishwasher with exemplary connections of related components according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[0076] In Figure 1 a method for automatically controlling a dishwasher 1 according to the present invention is schematically shown by means of a flowchart.

[0077] In the first step S1 of the method, a cleaning program stored in the memory 2 of the control device 3 of the dishwasher 1 is automatically started by a start signal triggered on the input device 4 of the dishwasher 1, and the start signal is associated with the cleaning program.

[0078] In the second step S2 of the method, the current actual value of at least one state variable in the dishwasher 1 is automatically detected by at least one sensor 11 of the dishwasher 1.

[0079] In the third step S3 of the method, the actual value of the at least one detected state variable is automatically compared with a reference value of the relevant state variable stored in the control device 3.

[0080] In the fourth step S4 of the method, in order to further operate the dishwasher 1 according to the cleaning program, parameters and / or parameter values associated with the parameters are automatically determined based on a comparison of the actual value of at least one detected state variable with the stored reference value of the associated state variable.

[0081] In the fifth step S5 of the method, at least one output signal associated with the determined parameters and / or the determined parameter values is automatically output on the output device 6 associated with the dishwasher 1.

[0082] In the sixth step S6 of the method, an adjustment signal associated with the output output signal is automatically detected by the control device 3, the adjustment signal being generated by an input at the input device 4 of the dishwasher 1 or at another input device 4a associated with the dishwasher 1, and the adjustment signal being associated with the parameters and / or the parameter values.

[0083] In the seventh step S7 of the method, based on the detected adjustment signal, the started cleaning program is automatically continued with the original program configuration, a changed program configuration or an abort strategy for ending the cleaning program.

[0084] The output signal can indicate the type of parameter, the amount of the parameter value, at least one adjustment manner of the cleaning program and / or the process-related result of the automatically recommended adjustment manner.

[0085] As Figure 4 Schematically shown, the output signal can be an acoustic output signal, which is output through the speaker 7.1 of the dishwasher 1 and / or through the speaker 7.2 of an external device connected to the dishwasher 1 via the communication interface 8 of the dishwasher 1.

[0086] In some embodiments, the output signal can be a visual output signal, which is output through the display 10.1 of the dishwasher 1 and / or through the display 10.2 of an external device connected to the dishwasher 1 via the communication interface 8 of the dishwasher 1.

[0087] The adjustment signal is generated by a manual input on the input device 4 on the dishwasher 1 and / or by a manual input on another input device 4a on an external device connected to the dishwasher 1 via the communication interface 8, and is transmitted to the control device 3 to directly adjust the ongoing cleaning program.

[0088] In some embodiments, the adjustment signal can be generated by a manual input on the input device 4 on the dishwasher 1 and / or by a manual input on another input device 4a on an external device connected to the dishwasher 1 via the communication interface 8, and is stored in the memory 2 of the control device 3 for reading at a later time point when restarting a subsequent cleaning program.

[0089] The state variables to be detected are selected from at least one of the group of the following state variables:

[0090] - The turbidity of the rinse liquid,

[0091] - The cleaning state of the dishes and / or tableware in the dishwasher,

[0092] - The temperature of the rinse liquid,

[0093] - The temperature of the tap water entering the dishwasher,

[0094] - The type of detergent added,

[0095] - The amount of detergent added,

[0096] - The type of rinse aid added,

[0097] - The amount of rinse aid added, and / or

[0098] - The running time of the cleaning program so far.

[0099] Figure 2 An exemplary flow chart of the cleaning program is shown. In the first program part P1, the program waits for the input of the user who wants to select the cleaning program. This cleaning program can be a cleaning program different from the fully automatic cleaning program. In the second program part P2, the cleaning program starts after the input. In the third program part P3, at least one state variable is detected and evaluated.

[0100] In the fourth program part P4, it is automatically determined by the control device 3 whether the cleaning program can be improved. If the cleaning program cannot be improved (path N), the fifth program part P5 is continued, and thus no changes are made to the cleaning program.

[0101] In the sixth program part P6, the control device or the program determines whether further detection of the state variables is to be performed, and if additional detection is to be performed, it returns to the third program part P3 (path Y). If no additional detection should be performed (path N), the cleaning program so far is continued in the seventh program part P7 without further detecting the state variables and the cleaning program proceeds to the end.

[0102] In contrast, if an improvement can be made according to the fourth program part P4 (path Y), the program continues with the eighth program part P8, and it is automatically determined accordingly whether a data record is stored in the data memory 2.1 for automatic reading at a later time point when the cleaning program is started. If this is the case, the content of the data record is automatically used without asking the user, and the cleaning program is adjusted accordingly by the subsequent tenth program part P10.

[0103] If the data record provides that the cleaning program shall not be adjusted, the program jumps back to the fifth program part P5.

[0104] If neither a data record for automatic adjustment is set nor is it indicated that the cleaning program shall not be adjusted, in the new program part P9, the user is asked whether a recommended change to the cleaning program is to be made.

[0105] The user can then decide whether to reject a recommended change to the cleaning program according to decision P9.1, whether to accept the recommended change according to decision P9.3, or whether the user ignores this query and the program then continues automatically with decision P9.2.

[0106] If the user accepts the recommended change according to decision P9.3, the program continues with the tenth program part P10 and adjusts the cleaning program accordingly.

[0107] Figure 3 A perspective view of an exemplary dishwasher 1 is schematically shown according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0108] The dishwasher 1 includes a washing chamber 13 in which, for example, an upper dish rack 14 and a lower dish rack 15 are arranged. At least one spray arm 16 rotates within the washing chamber 13. As Figure 3 shown, a dish rack 17 can be placed in the lower dish rack 15. Below the lower dish rack 15, a tap 18 for accessing the inlet to the salt storage chamber can be provided. In addition, a strainer 19 is placed below the lower dish rack 15.

[0109] The dishwasher 1 has a control device 3 with a memory 2 ( Figure 4 ), in which at least one cleaning program is stored. The dishwasher 1 also includes at least one input device 4 connected to the control device 3 and at least one sensor 11 connected to the control device 3, the sensor 11 being designed to automatically detect the current actual value of at least one state variable in the dishwasher 1, wherein the control device 3 is designed and equipped to execute a method according to Figure 1 .

[0110] The at least one sensor 11 can be designed and equipped to detect at least one state variable from the group of the following state variables:

[0111] - the turbidity of the rinse liquid,

[0112] - the cleaning state of the dishes and / or utensils in the dishwasher,

[0113] - the temperature of the rinse liquid,

[0114] - the temperature of the tap water entering the dishwasher,

[0115] - The type of detergent added,

[0116] - The amount of detergent added,

[0117] - The type of rinse aid added,

[0118] - The amount of rinse aid added, and / or

[0119] - The running time of the cleaning program so far,

[0120] wherein the sensor 11 is connected to the control device 3 and configured such that the actual value detected by the sensor 11 can be fed to a comparator 12( Figure 4 ) provided in the control device 3, the comparator being equipped to compare the actual value received by the sensor 11 with a reference value stored in the memory 2 of the control device 3 and, if the actual value deviates from the reference value by more than a predetermined tolerance range, automatically output an output signal associated with at least one specific parameter and / or specific parameter value to an output device 6 associated with the dishwasher 1.

[0121] The control device 3 can have a data memory 2.1 which is configured such that an adjustment signal associated with a parameter and / or parameter value is stored as a data record in the data memory 2.1 for automatic reading at a later point in time when restarting a subsequent cleaning program, wherein the adjustment signal is generated by a manual input on the input device 4 of the dishwasher 1 or on another input device 4a associated with an external device associated with the dishwasher 1.

Claims

1. A method for automatically controlling a dishwasher, comprising: - Automatically starting a cleaning program stored in a memory of a control device of the dishwasher by a start signal triggered on an input device of the dishwasher, the start signal being associated with the cleaning program; - Automatically detecting a current actual value of at least one state variable in the dishwasher by means of at least one sensor of the dishwasher; - Automatically comparing the detected actual value of the at least one state variable with a reference value of a relevant state variable stored in the control device; - In order to further run the dishwasher according to the cleaning program, automatically determining a parameter and / or a parameter value associated with the parameter based on a comparison of the detected actual value of the at least one state variable with the stored reference value of the relevant state variable; - Automatically outputting at least one output signal on an output device associated with the dishwasher, the output signal being associated with the determined parameter and / or the determined parameter value; - Automatically detecting, by the control device, an adjustment signal associated with the output signal output, the adjustment signal being generated by an input on the input device of the dishwasher or on another input device associated with the dishwasher, and the adjustment signal being associated with the parameter and / or the parameter value; - Continuing to run the started cleaning program automatically in an original program configuration, a changed program configuration, or an abort strategy for ending the cleaning program according to the detected adjustment signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The output signal conveys the type of the parameter, the amount of the parameter value, at least one adjustment manner of the cleaning program, and / or a process-related result of an automatically recommended adjustment manner.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The output signal is an acoustic output signal, the acoustic output signal being output through a speaker of the dishwasher and / or through a speaker of an external device connected to the dishwasher via a communication interface of the dishwasher, or The output signal is a visual output signal, the visual output signal being output through a display of the dishwasher and / or through a display of an external device connected to the dishwasher via a communication interface of the dishwasher.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The adjustment signal is generated by a manual input on an input device on the dishwasher and / or by a manual input on another input device on an external device connected to the dishwasher via a communication interface, and the adjustment signal is transmitted to the control device to directly adjust the ongoing cleaning program.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The adjustment signal is generated by a manual input on an input device on the dishwasher and / or a manual input on another input device on an external device connected to the dishwasher via a communication interface, and the adjustment signal is stored in a memory of the control device to be read at a later time point when restarting a subsequent cleaning program.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The state variable to be detected is selected from at least one of the group of the following state variables: - Turbidity of the rinse liquid, - Cleaning state of dishes and / or tableware in the dishwasher, - Temperature of the rinse liquid, - Temperature of tap water entering the dishwasher, - Type of detergent added - The amount of detergent added, - The type of rinse aid added, - The amount of rinse aid added, and / or - The running time of the cleaning program so far.

7. A dishwasher, comprising: A control device with a memory, in which at least one cleaning program is stored; At least one input device connected to the control device and at least one sensor connected to the control device, the sensor being designed to automatically detect the current actual value of at least one state variable in the dishwasher, It is characterized in that The control device is designed and equipped to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The dishwasher according to claim 7, characterized in that, At least one sensor is designed and equipped to detect at least one state variable from the group of the following state variables: - The turbidity of the rinse liquid, - The cleaning state of the dishes and / or tableware in the dishwasher, - The temperature of the rinse liquid, - The temperature of the tap water entering the dishwasher, - The type of detergent added, - The amount of detergent added, - The type of rinse aid added, - The amount of rinse aid added, and / or - The running time of the cleaning program so far, wherein the sensor is connected to the control device and configured such that the actual value detected by the sensor can be fed to a comparator, the comparator being provided in the control device and being equipped to compare the actual value received by the sensor with a reference value stored in the memory of the control device, and if the actual value deviates from the reference value by more than a predetermined tolerance range, an output signal associated with at least one specific parameter and / or specific parameter value is automatically output to an output device associated with the dishwasher.

9. The dishwasher according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The control device has a data memory, the data memory being configured such that an adjustment signal associated with the parameter and / or the parameter value is stored as a data record in the data memory for automatic reading when restarting a subsequent cleaning program at a later time point, wherein the adjustment signal is generated by a manual input on an input device of the dishwasher or on another input device associated with the dishwasher on an external device.

10. A computer program product, having a machine-readable carrier, on which program code of a program is stored, the program code being electronically readable by a control device of a dishwasher according to any one of claims 7 to 9, and the program code, when executed by the control device, causes the control device to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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