Method for operating dishwasher and corresponding dishwasher

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of dish-washing machines, and particularly discloses a method for operating a dish-washing machine, the method at least comprises the following steps: acquiring an environment temperature and an environment humidity which at least can reflect the temperature and the humidity of an environment where the dish-washing machine (1) is located; and introducing the ambient temperature and the ambient humidity to control the operation of the dishwasher (1). The invention also discloses a corresponding dishwasher (1), comprising: an air duct system, the air duct system comprising a circulating air duct (121) and a fan (126) arranged in the circulating air duct (121); and a controller (13) configured to be able to perform or assist in performing the method. According to some embodiments of the invention, optimal drying parameters can be intelligently selected for the current user, the current environment condition can be matched, and different storage modes, namely an energy-saving storage mode and an antibacterial storage mode, can be provided for the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of dishwashers, and more specifically to a method for operating a dishwasher and a corresponding dishwasher. Background Technology

[0002] With technological advancements and social development, dishwashers have become commonplace in ordinary households. The drying and storage performance of a dishwasher directly affects the final washing condition of the dishes and the user experience.

[0003] However, the drying and storage performance of dishwashers is largely affected by several uncontrollable factors, such as the load capacity, the material of the tableware, the storage time, the amount of rinse aid used, and the surface tension differences between the dishwasher's inner drum and rack. Therefore, for the same dishwasher, different user habits can lead to different drying results. Currently, however, there is no operating logic or algorithm that reflects the drying status based on these factors.

[0004] Furthermore, almost all drying technologies are affected by ambient humidity and temperature, leading to variations in drying performance of the same dishwasher in different regions and seasons. Different dishwasher installation methods (such as built-in or freestanding) and variations in heat and moisture exchange in the environment also affect drying results.

[0005] Currently, dishwasher performance parameters are always designed based on a specific state (such as a specific load capacity and temperature and humidity state), so there will be some over-design and under-design in different usage scenarios.

[0006] Therefore, further improvements are still needed. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In order to overcome one of the above-mentioned disadvantages and / or other possible disadvantages in the prior art not mentioned herein, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for operating a dishwasher and a corresponding dishwasher.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a dishwasher is provided, the method comprising at least the following steps: acquiring an ambient temperature and ambient humidity that at least reflect the temperature and humidity of the environment in which the dishwasher is located; and incorporating the ambient temperature and ambient humidity to control the operation of the dishwasher.

[0009] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, an ambient dew point temperature is obtained based on the ambient temperature and ambient humidity, and the operation of the dishwasher is controlled by incorporating the ambient dew point temperature; and / or the ambient temperature and ambient humidity are obtained before the start of the dishwasher's washing program, for example, within the first 3 minutes; and / or the ambient temperature and ambient humidity are obtained during the dishwasher's drying program and / or storage program.

[0010] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the ambient temperature and humidity are introduced to control the final rinsing program of the dishwasher; and / or the ambient temperature and humidity are introduced to control the drying program and / or storage program of the dishwasher.

[0011] According to an optional embodiment of the invention, the ambient temperature and humidity are introduced to control the final rinsing temperature; and / or the ambient temperature and humidity, preferably combined with the cavity temperature, are introduced to control the condensation time immediately following the final rinsing; and / or the ambient temperature and humidity are introduced to control at least one of the following in the drying and / or storage programs: mixed circulation operating characteristics, external circulation operating characteristics, and internal circulation operating characteristics.

[0012] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the ambient temperature and humidity are introduced to control the timing of external dehumidification; and / or the ambient temperature and humidity are introduced to control the timing of internal circulation activation; and / or the ambient temperature and humidity are introduced to control at least one of the following when external circulation, internal circulation, and mixed circulation are controlled: fluid flow characteristics of the duct system, temperature characteristics within the duct system, and humidity characteristics within the duct system, such as the rotation characteristics of the fan in the duct system and / or the operating characteristics of the heater in the duct system.

[0013] According to an optional embodiment of the invention, the ambient temperature and humidity control is introduced: the fan speed and / or operating time; and / or the heater operating time and / or start / stop mode and / or target temperature.

[0014] According to an optional embodiment of the invention, the level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the environment is detected before the start of the dishwasher's washing program, for example, within the first 3 minutes; and / or during the drying and / or storage programs, especially during their internal circulation, the level of VOCs in the dishwasher's air duct system and / or washing chamber is detected, wherein the filter self-cleaning function is controlled based on the VOC levels, especially during the mixed circulation and / or external circulation.

[0015] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, in the storage program, an internal circulation is performed, in particular periodically, and a dehumidification operation involving ventilation and dehumidification is determined, at least based on the drying status during the internal circulation.

[0016] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the storage program performs the following cyclic operation at least once: first dehumidification; obtaining the drying state achieved after performing the first dehumidification; and determining, at least based on the drying state, whether a second dehumidification involving ventilation and dehumidification operation needs to be performed.

[0017] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, an ambient temperature and / or ambient humidity are also introduced to determine whether a second dehumidification needs to be performed; and / or the drying state includes the characteristic of changes in cavity humidity, such as cavity dew point temperature; and / or the first dehumidification and / or the second dehumidification includes at least one of the following: mixed circulation dehumidification, external circulation dehumidification, condensation and static dehumidification, and internal circulation.

[0018] According to an optional embodiment of the invention, the drying state is obtained by running the internal circulation for a first predetermined duration, for example, 10-20 minutes, when the heater is not in operation; and / or the first dehumidification and / or the second dehumidification further include activating the heater for heating.

[0019] According to an optional embodiment of the invention, the drying state includes the cavity dew point temperature increment during internal circulation and / or the current cavity dew point temperature.

[0020] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the storage procedure includes at least: an accelerated drying stage for the internal components; and a drying state holding stage following the accelerated drying stage for the internal components, wherein the cyclic operation is performed in the accelerated drying stage for the internal components and / or the drying state holding stage.

[0021] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the accelerated drying stage of the intracavity component includes a first cyclic operation stage and a second cyclic operation stage following the first cyclic operation stage, wherein the first cyclic operation stage and / or the second cyclic operation stage performs the cyclic operation at least once; and / or the drying state maintenance stage includes an energy-saving storage mode and an antibacterial storage mode, wherein the energy-saving storage mode and / or the antibacterial storage mode performs the cyclic operation at least once; and / or the accelerated drying stage of the intracavity component is performed for a second predetermined duration, for example, 10-14 hours; and / or the drying state maintenance stage is performed for a third predetermined duration, for example, 10-14 hours.

[0022] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the energy-saving storage mode and the antibacterial storage mode are configured to be suitable for manual selection and / or automatic selection by the dishwasher; and / or the drying state in the energy-saving storage mode is based on the same logical judgment as the drying state in the first cycle operation stage and / or the second cycle operation stage; and / or there is a condensation and static dehumidification stage between the first cycle operation stage and the second cycle operation stage; and / or the cycle operations in the first cycle operation stage and the second cycle operation stage are different; and / or the cycle operations in the energy-saving storage mode and the antibacterial storage mode are different.

[0023] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the process proceeds from the first cycle operation stage to the condensation and dehumidification stage only when the drying state meets the predetermined condensation and dehumidification conditions; and / or the condensation and dehumidification stage is performed for a fourth predetermined duration, for example, 15-25 minutes.

[0024] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, it is determined whether to activate the heater in the first dehumidification and / or second dehumidification of the first cyclic operation phase based on predetermined heater activation conditions; and / or the heater is activated only in stages during the first dehumidification and / or second dehumidification.

[0025] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the first dehumidification and the second dehumidification in the first cycle operation stage both involve mixed cycle dehumidification; and / or the first dehumidification in the second cycle operation stage is condensation-based dehumidification, and the second dehumidification is mixed cycle dehumidification.

[0026] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, a first dehumidification is performed for a predetermined duration, for example, 1.5-2.5 hours, starting from the beginning of the accelerated drying phase of the cavity components. Then, a drying status detection is performed to determine whether a second dehumidification should be performed or the drying status detection should continue, based at least on the relationship between the cavity dew point temperature increment and a first increment threshold, for example, 3°C. If the cavity dew point temperature increment is less than the first increment threshold, the next drying status detection is performed until the final value of the cavity dew point temperature in the current drying status detection is higher than the first increment threshold in the first drying status detection, at which point the second dehumidification is performed. If the cavity dew point temperature increment is greater than or equal to the first increment threshold, the second dehumidification is performed. The above operations are repeated until the condensation and static dehumidification conditions are met, for example, when the cavity and interior reach equilibrium, the condensation and static dehumidification phase or the second cyclic operation phase is entered.

[0027] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, if the first dehumidification and / or the second dehumidification in the first cycle operation phase is a mixed cycle dehumidification, a sixth predetermined duration, such as 20-40 minutes, is first performed while the heater is not operating. Then, it is determined whether to start the heater based on the relationship between the relative humidity of the current mixed gas and a relative humidity threshold, such as 70%: if the relative humidity is greater than or equal to the relative humidity threshold, the heater is started; if the relative humidity is less than the relative humidity threshold, the heater is turned off.

[0028] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the first dehumidification and the second dehumidification of the cyclic operation in the first cyclic operation phase both involve external circulation dehumidification; and / or at least one of the first dehumidification and the second dehumidification of the cyclic operation in the second cyclic operation phase is a combination of external circulation dehumidification and / or mixed circulation dehumidification with subsequent condensation and settling dehumidification.

[0029] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, a first dehumidification is performed for a predetermined duration, for example, 2.5-3.5 hours, starting from the beginning of the accelerated drying phase of the cavity components. Then, a drying status detection is performed to determine whether a second dehumidification needs to be performed or the drying status detection should continue, based on the relationship between the cavity dew point temperature increment and a second increment threshold, for example, 3°C, and the relationship between the cavity dew point temperature and the ambient dew point temperature. If the cavity dew point temperature is higher than the ambient dew point temperature and the cavity dew point temperature increment is greater than or equal to the second increment threshold, a first type of second dehumidification is performed, and then the process returns to perform the next drying status detection. If the cavity dew point temperature is equal to the ambient dew point temperature, then it is determined, based on the range of the cavity dew point temperature increment, whether to perform a second type of second dehumidification, preferably different from the first type of second dehumidification, or to enter the condensation and static dehumidification phase or the second cycle operation phase.

[0030] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, in the first dehumidification of the first cycle operation phase, only external circulation dehumidification is performed, wherein, firstly, external circulation dehumidification for an eighth predetermined duration, such as 20-40 minutes, is performed while the heater is not operating; then, it is determined whether to start the heater based at least on the ambient temperature, and whether to shut down the heater based on whether the inlet air temperature after heating by the heater reaches a first predetermined inlet air temperature threshold, such as 50°C; and / or in the second dehumidification of the first type, internal circulation is first performed while the heater is operating until the internal circulation temperature reaches a predetermined internal circulation temperature threshold, such as 60°C, and then... When the heater is working, external circulation dehumidification is performed until the intake air temperature after being heated by the heater reaches a second predetermined intake air temperature threshold, such as 50°C, at which point the heater is turned off; and / or in the second type of second dehumidification, if the increase in the cavity dew point temperature is greater than or equal to a third increment threshold, such as 4°C, external circulation dehumidification is performed when the heater is working; if the increase in the cavity dew point temperature is less than the third increment threshold but greater than a fourth increment threshold, such as 2°C, external circulation dehumidification is performed when the heater is not working; and / or if the increase in the cavity dew point temperature is less than or equal to the fourth increment threshold, the condensation and static dehumidification stage is entered.

[0031] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, in the first dehumidification during the first cycle operation phase, it is additionally determined whether to activate the heater based on the washing zone temperature of the dishwasher. If the washing zone temperature is less than a predetermined washing zone temperature threshold, for example, 40°C and the ambient temperature is less than a predetermined ambient temperature threshold, for example, 15°C, the heater is activated. If the intake air temperature after being heated by the heater reaches a third predetermined intake air temperature threshold, for example, 50°C, the heater is turned off, and then the external cycle is executed for a ninth predetermined duration, for example, 3-7 minutes, and then the cycle is executed again until the seventh predetermined duration.

[0032] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the determination of whether to enter the energy-saving storage mode or the antibacterial storage mode is based on the relationship between the ambient humidity and a predetermined ambient humidity threshold, such as 60%: if the ambient humidity is less than the predetermined ambient humidity threshold, the energy-saving storage mode is entered; and if the ambient humidity is greater than or equal to the predetermined ambient humidity threshold, the antibacterial storage mode is entered.

[0033] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, in the energy-saving storage mode, the heater is not working, and at least one of the first dehumidification and the second dehumidification of the cyclic operation includes external circulation dehumidification; and / or in the antibacterial storage mode, the first dehumidification and / or the second dehumidification of the cyclic operation includes at least one of the following: internal circulation when the heater is working and mixed circulation when the heater is working.

[0034] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, in the energy-saving storage mode, after external circulation dehumidification, if the drying status indicates that external circulation dehumidification is not required, then condensation and static dehumidification is performed; otherwise, external circulation dehumidification is performed cyclically. And / or in the antibacterial storage mode, first dehumidification is performed in the order of internal circulation under heater operation, mixed circulation dehumidification under heater operation, and condensation and static dehumidification. If the drying status indicates that ventilation dehumidification is not required, then condensation and static dehumidification is performed; otherwise, first dehumidification is performed cyclically.

[0035] According to another aspect of the present invention, a dishwasher is provided, comprising: an air duct system including a circulating air duct and a fan disposed within the circulating air duct; and a controller configured to perform or assist in performing the method according to any one of claims 1-27.

[0036] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the air duct system further includes a heater disposed within the circulating air duct, a sensor disposed within the circulating air duct to allow acquisition of ambient temperature and ambient humidity, and an adjustment device disposed on the circulating air duct to controllably realize internal circulation, external circulation, and mixed circulation.

[0037] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, optimal drying parameters can be intelligently selected for the current user. Besides improving drying performance, offering flexible program times, or providing energy savings, it also avoids damage to cabinets caused by excessively high dehumidification temperatures under certain conditions, as well as the risk of users slipping due to condensation on the floor. Furthermore, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, different storage modes can also be provided to the user, namely an energy-saving storage mode and an antibacterial storage mode. The advantage of the antibacterial storage mode is that it artificially creates a high-temperature, low-humidity environment inside the dishwasher cavity when encountering harsh conditions (such as high humidity), providing the user with a better storage experience. The energy-saving storage mode maintains a good drying state inside the cavity with minimal energy consumption. Attached Figure Description

[0038] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which will provide a better understanding of its principles, features, and advantages. The drawings include:

[0039] Figure 1 A flowchart of a method for operating a dishwasher according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0040] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a dishwasher according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the dishwasher is in external circulation mode.

[0041] Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 The dishwasher's internal circulation mode is shown.

[0042] Figure 4 It shows Figure 2 The dishwasher shown has a hybrid circulation mode, which is between the external circulation mode and the internal circulation mode.

[0043] Figure 5 A method for maintaining the drying state during the storage program of a dishwasher according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0044] Figure 6 A flowchart of the first cyclic operation phase according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0045] Figure 7 A flowchart of the first cyclic operation phase according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0046] To make the technical problems to be solved, the technical solutions, and the beneficial technical effects of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and several exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this invention. Various embodiments may share the same view or multiple views for description, but not all features appearing in the same view should be interpreted as features that an embodiment must possess. Instead, they can be combined in any suitable manner as long as they are not technically mutually exclusive. Moreover, for the sake of brevity, different embodiments of different aspects may be presented in the same specific design; however, such presentation does not mean that embodiments of these aspects should appear together. The disassembly and / or combination of all possible embodiments and / or technical features should also take into account the description in the specification and what a person skilled in the art can directly and unambiguously determine based on the description in the specification.

[0047] Figure 1 A flowchart of a method for operating a dishwasher according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0048] like Figure 1 As shown, the method includes at least the following steps: S11) acquiring ambient temperature and humidity that reflect the temperature and humidity of the environment in which the dishwasher is located; and S12) using the ambient temperature and humidity to control the operation of the dishwasher. Those skilled in the art will understand that ambient temperature and humidity can characterize the environmental conditions of the dishwasher to a certain extent. By considering the specific environmental conditions and controlling the operation of the dishwasher, efficient, energy-saving, and stable operation can be achieved, especially to achieve the desired drying and storage performance. For example, matching appropriate drying parameters based on the ambient temperature and humidity obtained from sensors can improve the drying and antibacterial storage performance of tableware and the dishwasher's interior in cold and humid seasons or regions, while in hot and dry seasons or regions, it can reduce energy consumption and noise while ensuring drying performance.

[0049] Specifically, after the washing process, the dishwasher needs to be dried before entering the storage process. The drying process, or dehumidification process, often requires the removal of moisture. During storage, the external environment will eventually affect the dishwasher's internal cavity. For example, without intervention, the dishwasher's internal cavity will eventually tend to reach an equilibrium with the external environment. In other words, the dishwasher operates under specific environmental conditions, and ambient temperature and humidity are mutually influential, interrelated, or mutually restrictive. Therefore, simultaneously considering the control of ambient temperature and humidity in the dishwasher's operation makes intelligent, energy-saving, and precise control of the dishwasher possible.

[0050] Below, we will describe the embodiments in detail with more specific examples.

[0051] It is understandable that ambient temperature and / or humidity change over time and are easily affected by the surrounding environment, objects or equipment, and even the dishwasher itself. Therefore, it is crucial to choose the appropriate time to obtain ambient temperature and / or humidity based on the operation to be performed.

[0052] Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the ambient temperature and ambient humidity are acquired before the dishwasher's washing program begins, for example, within the first 3 minutes.

[0053] Of course, depending on the situation and the operation to be performed, ambient temperature and humidity can also be obtained during the dishwasher's drying and / or storage programs.

[0054] For example, ambient temperature and humidity can be acquired during storage. It's understandable that dishwashers, especially during the drying process, may release moisture, thus altering the ambient temperature and / or humidity around the dishwasher. While the altered ambient temperature and / or humidity may accurately reflect the surrounding environmental conditions, inappropriate sensor placement may result in an unreliable or incomplete reading, such as directly detecting humidity near the vent. Therefore, determining when and where to acquire ambient temperature and humidity is crucial. For a specific dishwasher, this can be determined through experiments or simulations.

[0055] It is understandable that the device for collecting ambient temperature and humidity can be part of the dishwasher itself, such as its own sensors, or any other source that can provide the dishwasher with ambient temperature and / or humidity data, or even local weather forecast data.

[0056] Ambient temperature and ambient humidity together determine the ambient dew point temperature. Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the ambient dew point temperature is obtained based on the ambient temperature and ambient humidity, and the operation of the dishwasher is controlled by introducing the ambient dew point temperature.

[0057] In the operation of a dishwasher, a final rinse cycle is typically performed before the drying process; therefore, the final rinse cycle is the starting point for the subsequent drying process. Certain parameters of the final rinse cycle inevitably affect the control of the subsequent drying process. Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, ambient temperature and humidity are incorporated into the control of the dishwasher's final rinse cycle.

[0058] Of course, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the ambient temperature and humidity may also be incorporated into the control of the dishwasher's drying and / or storage programs.

[0059] An important parameter of the final rinsing process is the final rinsing temperature. Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, ambient temperature and ambient humidity are introduced to control the final rinsing temperature.

[0060] Typically, after the final rinse, dishwashers condense moisture from the dishwasher cavity and dishes or allow water to drip off the cavity walls and dishes over a period of time. This condensation method is a static operation and does not require any special additional measures. This condensation process is related to the temperature inside the cavity and also to the subsequent drying operation. Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the ambient temperature and humidity are introduced, and preferably, the condensation time immediately following the final rinse is controlled in conjunction with the cavity temperature.

[0061] Figure 2A schematic diagram of a dishwasher 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 2 As shown, the dishwasher 1 includes a chamber 11 for containing items to be processed, such as tableware, and a drying system 12. The drying system 12 includes an air duct system comprising: a circulating air duct 121 for circulating gas in the chamber 11 as return air, a fresh air inlet 122 for introducing gas outside the chamber 11 as fresh air into the circulating air duct 121, and a regulating device 123 for regulating the fresh air flow characteristics, such as the fresh air flow rate, of the fresh air introduced into the circulating air duct 121 from the fresh air inlet 122.

[0062] like Figure 2 As shown, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the drying system 12 may further include a heater 124 for heating the gas flowing through it, a sensor 125 for measuring the temperature and / or humidity of the gas flowing through it, a fan 126 for causing the gas to flow in the circulation duct 121, and a condenser 127 thermally coupled to the circulation duct 121.

[0063] Also from Figure 2 As can be seen, the dishwasher 1 also includes a controller 13 (shown schematically only) for controlling the operation of the dishwasher 1, and preferably also for controlling the operation of the drying system 12. In addition, the dishwasher 1 also includes a filter 14.

[0064] Figure 2 The arrows in the diagram indicate the airflow pattern, which corresponds to the external circulation mode. The regulating device 123 completely closes the circulation duct 121, allowing only fresh air to enter the circulation duct 121 through the fresh air inlet 122 and drive the gas in the chamber 11 of the dishwasher 1 to exhaust, for example, dehumidify.

[0065] Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 The dishwasher 1 shown is in internal circulation mode. The regulating device 123 closes the fresh air vent 122, allowing only internal air circulation within the dishwasher 1. For simplicity... Figure 3 The corresponding parts are not labeled with the attached figures; please refer to them when needed. Figure 2 .

[0066] Figure 4 It shows Figure 2 The dishwasher shown features a mixed circulation mode, which is between an external circulation mode and an internal circulation mode. The ratio of fresh air to circulating air can be controlled by adjusting the position of the regulating device 123. The regulating device 123 can be controlled by the controller 13.

[0067] Correspondingly, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the following can be introduced into the drying and / or storage program for controlling ambient temperature and humidity: a mixed-cycle operating characteristic, an external-cycle operating characteristic, and an internal-cycle operating characteristic. Operating characteristics refer to any relevant variables of the corresponding cycle, such as, but not limited to, execution timing, execution method, execution parameters, etc. The present invention does not impose any limitations on this.

[0068] For example, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, ambient temperature and humidity are introduced to control the timing of moisture discharge. Typically, moisture discharge is only permitted when the dew point temperature of the gas inside the cavity reaches the ambient dew point temperature; otherwise, condensation will occur.

[0069] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the timing of the start-up of the internal circulation is introduced to control the ambient temperature and ambient humidity.

[0070] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when controlling at least one of the external circulation, internal circulation, and mixed circulation using ambient temperature and humidity, at least one of the following is introduced: the fluid flow characteristics of the duct system, the temperature characteristics within the duct system, and the humidity characteristics within the duct system, such as the operating characteristics of the fan 126 in the duct system, especially the rotational characteristics, and / or the operating characteristics of the heater 124 in the duct system. Those skilled in the art will also understand that the operating characteristics of the fan 126 can be any characteristic reflecting the operating state of the fan 126, or even its operating characteristics determined by another parameter or variable affected by it; the operating characteristics of the heater 124 should also be interpreted in the same way.

[0071] For example, the operating characteristics of the fan 126 can be the operating duration of the fan 126, while the rotational characteristics of the fan 126 can be the rotational speed of the fan 126. Similarly, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the operating characteristics of the heater 124 include, but are not limited to, the operating duration and / or start-stop mode and / or target temperature of the heater 124, wherein the target temperature of the heater 124 is itself a result of the action of the heater 124, and the heater 124 is controlled in reverse by this result, for example, by measuring the temperature of the air heated by it to determine whether the heater 124 continues to heat.

[0072] The hygiene of a dishwasher is crucial, and the odor inside the cavity is one of the important indicators. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) inside the dishwasher cavity, such as the concentration, exceeds a predetermined value, the dishwasher automatically activates the self-cleaning function of the filter 14 to prevent bacterial growth in the sink and ensure that the cavity is odor-free. The filter 14 is preferably a low-maintenance filter.

[0073] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the environment is detected before the start of the dishwasher's washing program, for example, during the first 3 minutes. The device for detecting VOCs may be arranged adjacent to sensor 15 or integrated as a sensor module.

[0074] Alternatively, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the level of volatile organic compounds in the dishwasher's air duct system and / or washing chamber may also be detected during the drying and / or storage processes, particularly during their internal circulation.

[0075] As mentioned above, there is a possibility of introducing fresh air from outside during external circulation and mixed circulation. Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the filter self-cleaning function is controlled based on the level of volatile organic compounds, especially during mixed circulation and / or external circulation.

[0076] In the storage state, the atmosphere inside the dishwasher cavity changes due to the evaporation of moisture in certain parts or areas of the cavity and changes in the external environment. Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in the storage program, an internal circulation process is performed, particularly periodically, and a dehumidification operation involving ventilation and dehumidification is determined, at least based on the drying status during the internal circulation. This dehumidification ensures that the dishwasher cavity remains in the required dry state at all times, greatly improving the user experience of the dishwasher.

[0077] Figure 5 A method for maintaining the drying state during a storage program of a dishwasher 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 5 As shown, in step S21, a first dehumidification is performed; in step S22, the drying state achieved after the first dehumidification is obtained; in step S23, it is determined, at least based on the drying state, whether a second dehumidification involving ventilation and dehumidification is required. If a second dehumidification is required (determined as Y1), then the second dehumidification is performed in step S24. Through the second dehumidification involving ventilation and dehumidification, there is a possibility of expelling excess moisture from the cavity, providing an opportunity to maintain the drying state. During the storage process, Figure 5 The illustrated operation process can be repeated multiple times in a loop.

[0078] If the drying state inside the dishwasher cavity requires a second dehumidification after the first dehumidification, but the ambient temperature and / or humidity of the dishwasher are unfavorable or unable to help achieve the purpose of the second dehumidification, for example, the external environment of the dishwasher 1 is cold and humid, therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an ambient temperature and / or ambient humidity is also introduced to determine whether the second dehumidification needs to be performed.

[0079] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the drying state can be determined based on the characteristics of the change in humidity inside the dishwasher, such as the change in dew point temperature inside the dishwasher.

[0080] The first and second dehumidification methods can be the same or different. In principle, any suitable dehumidification method can be used. Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first and / or second dehumidification methods may include at least one of the following: mixed circulation dehumidification, external circulation dehumidification, condensation and static dehumidification, and internal circulation.

[0081] To more reliably determine the drying state, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the drying state is obtained by running the internal circulation for a first predetermined duration, such as 10-20 minutes, while the heater 124 is not operating. Internal circulation makes the atmosphere within the dishwasher cavity more uniform, and the inactivity of the heater 124 also allows for a better reflection of the true drying state within the dishwasher cavity. According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the drying state includes the cavity dew point temperature increment during internal circulation and / or the current cavity dew point temperature. It is understood that the cavity dew point temperature increment reflects the change in the drying state within the cavity and can indicate the stage of the drying process. In principle, the introduction of other additional conditions to determine the drying state is not excluded, and the invention does not limit this.

[0082] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first dehumidification and / or the second dehumidification further includes activating the heater 124 for heating.

[0083] In the storage program, the primary goal in the initial stage is to accelerate the drying of the dishwasher's internal components, such as the inner drum and dish rack, while the primary goal after this stage is to maintain their dryness and prevent them from becoming damp again. Therefore, the operating logic of the storage program can be divided into two stages, with a certain point in time, such as 12 hours (the 12th hour after the storage program starts), as the dividing point.

[0084] Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the storage procedure may include at least: an accelerated drying stage for the internal components and a drying state holding stage following the accelerated drying stage for the internal components. In principle, the above-described cyclical operation can be performed during the accelerated drying stage and / or the drying state holding stage for the internal components, i.e. Figure 5 The operation is shown. In principle, any other suitable stage may be included between the accelerated drying stage and the drying state maintenance stage of the internal components.

[0085] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the accelerated drying stage of the internal components is performed for a second predetermined duration, for example, 10-14 hours.

[0086] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the drying state maintenance phase is performed for a third predetermined duration, for example, 10-14 hours.

[0087] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the accelerated drying stage and the drying state maintenance stage of the internal components can be performed for a total of 24 hours, preferably 12 hours each.

[0088] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the accelerated drying stage of the intracavity component may include a first cyclic operation stage and a second cyclic operation stage following the first cyclic operation stage, wherein the first cyclic operation stage and / or the second cyclic operation stage perform the cyclic operation at least once, i.e. Figure 5 The operation shown.

[0089] Depending on specific requirements, the drying state maintenance phase may include an energy-saving storage mode and an antibacterial storage mode, wherein the energy-saving storage mode and / or the antibacterial storage mode perform the cycle operation at least once, i.e. Figure 5 The operation shown.

[0090] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the user can manually select whether to use an energy-saving storage mode or an antibacterial storage mode in the storage program. If the user does not make a selection, the dishwasher can intelligently select a storage mode for the user based on the current environmental conditions. This enhances the intelligence of the dishwasher 1.

[0091] The antibacterial storage mode is designed primarily to handle high-humidity environments. In energy-saving mode, when encountering high humidity (such as during the rainy season when relative humidity can reach 90%), the dishwasher's optimal state is when it's in equilibrium with the ambient humidity. Therefore, if the user reports a relative humidity of at least 90% inside the cavity, they might perceive poor drying performance. However, in antibacterial storage mode, even with relative humidity exceeding 90%, the dishwasher can create a high-temperature, low-humidity cavity, providing excellent antibacterial storage conditions for the tableware.

[0092] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the drying state in the energy-saving storage mode can be based on the same logical judgment as the drying state in the first cycle operation stage and / or the second cycle operation stage.

[0093] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a condensation and settling dehumidification stage is provided between the first cycle operation stage and the second cycle operation stage. Of course, in principle, any other possible stages may also be included.

[0094] Those skilled in the art will understand that the first and second cycle operation stages are performed sequentially, and the atmosphere inside the dishwasher cavity may have changed. Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned cycle operation in the first and second cycle operation stages, i.e. Figure 5 The operations shown are different.

[0095] Those skilled in the art will also understand that the primary objectives of the energy-saving storage mode and the antibacterial storage mode are different. Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the cyclic operation in the energy-saving storage mode and the antibacterial storage mode, i.e. Figure 5 The operations shown are different.

[0096] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the process proceeds from the first cycle operation stage to the condensation and dehumidification stage only when the drying state meets predetermined condensation and dehumidification conditions. The condensation and dehumidification stage may be performed for a fourth predetermined duration, for example, 15-25 minutes.

[0097] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is determined whether to activate the heater in the first dehumidification and / or second dehumidification of the cyclic operation in the first cyclic operation phase based on predetermined heater activation conditions.

[0098] The necessity of using the heater is related to factors such as the humidity of the gas inside the cavity or the humidity after mixing the gas inside the cavity with the ambient gas, or other factors. Therefore, in order to reduce energy consumption, the heater is only activated when necessary. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the heater is activated only in stages during the first dehumidification and / or the second dehumidification.

[0099] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first dehumidification and the second dehumidification in the first cycle operation phase both involve mixed cycle dehumidification.

[0100] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first dehumidification in the second cycle operation stage is condensation and static dehumidification, and the second dehumidification is mixed cycle dehumidification.

[0101] Figure 6 A flowchart of the first cyclic operation phase according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0102] As an example, the starting point of the first cycle operation phase is also the starting point of the accelerated drying phase of the internal components. The following description uses this as an example. In step S31, a first dehumidification is performed for a predetermined duration, for example, 1.5-2.5 hours, starting from the beginning of the accelerated drying phase of the internal components. Then, in step S32, a drying status detection is performed to determine whether to perform a second dehumidification or continue the drying status detection, based at least on the relationship between the increase in the internal dew point temperature and a first increment threshold, for example, 3°C. In step S33, if the increase in the internal dew point temperature is less than the first increment threshold (the judgment result is denoted as N), the process returns to perform the next drying status detection until the final value of the internal dew point temperature in the current drying status detection is higher than the initial value of the internal dew point temperature in the first drying status detection by the first increment threshold (the judgment result is denoted as Y2), then proceeds to step S34 to perform the second dehumidification. If the increase in the internal dew point temperature is greater than or equal to the first increment threshold (the judgment result is denoted as Y3), the process proceeds directly to step S34. The above operations are repeated until the conditions for condensation and static dehumidification are met, such as when equilibrium is reached inside and outside the cavity, at which point the process enters the condensation and static dehumidification stage or the second cycle operation stage. Specifically, in step S35, it is determined whether the conditions for condensation and static dehumidification are met. If the conditions for condensation and static dehumidification are met (the determination result is represented as Y4), the process proceeds to step S36, entering either the condensation and static dehumidification stage or the second cycle operation stage. If the conditions for condensation and static dehumidification are not met (the determination result is represented as Y5), the process returns to step S32 for drying status detection.

[0103] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, if the first dehumidification and / or the second dehumidification in the first cycle operation phase is a mixed cycle dehumidification, a sixth predetermined duration, e.g., 20-40 minutes, is first performed while the heater 124 is not operating. Then, based on the relationship between the relative humidity of the current mixed gas and a relative humidity threshold, e.g., 70%, it is determined whether to activate the heater: if the relative humidity is greater than or equal to the relative humidity threshold, the heater 124 is activated; if the relative humidity is less than the relative humidity threshold, the heater 124 is deactivated. "Mixed cycle dehumidification" implies an exchange between the gas inside the dishwasher 1 cavity and the outside air; therefore, there is a possibility of increased humidity. For this reason, changes in the relative humidity of the mixed gas can be monitored to determine whether to activate the heater 124.

[0104] According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, both the first dehumidification and the second dehumidification in the first cyclic operation phase involve external circulation dehumidification. According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the first dehumidification and the second dehumidification in the second cyclic operation phase is a combination of external circulation dehumidification and / or mixed circulation dehumidification with subsequent condensation and settling dehumidification.

[0105] Figure 7A flowchart of the first cyclic operation phase according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0106] In step S41, the first dehumidification is performed for a predetermined duration, such as 2.5-3.5 hours, starting from the accelerated drying stage of the cavity components. Then, the process proceeds to step S42, where a drying status detection is performed. Based on the relationship between the cavity dew point temperature increment and a second increment threshold, such as 3°C, and the relationship between the cavity dew point temperature and the ambient dew point temperature, it is determined whether to perform a second dehumidification or continue the drying status detection: If the cavity dew point temperature is higher than the ambient dew point temperature and the cavity dew point temperature increment is greater than or equal to the second increment threshold (judgment result is Y6), the first type of second dehumidification is performed in step S43, and then the process returns to perform the next drying status detection; if the cavity dew point temperature is equal to the ambient dew point temperature (judgment result is Y7), the process proceeds to step S44, where it is determined, based on the range of the cavity dew point temperature increment, whether to perform a second type of second dehumidification that is preferably different from the first type of second dehumidification, or to enter the condensation and static dehumidification stage or the second cycle operation stage.

[0107] Below, we will focus on Figure 7 The embodiments shown provide further exemplary embodiments.

[0108] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in the first dehumidification of the first cycle operation phase, only external circulation dehumidification is performed. Specifically, external circulation dehumidification is first performed for an eighth predetermined duration, such as 20-40 minutes, while the heater 124 is not working. Then, it is determined whether to start the heater 124 based at least on the ambient temperature, and whether to shut down the heater 124 is determined based on whether the intake air temperature after being heated by the heater 124 (which can be measured by a temperature sensor located downstream of the heater 124) reaches a first predetermined intake air temperature threshold, such as 50°C.

[0109] According to a further exemplary embodiment, in the first dehumidification during the first cycle operation phase, it is additionally determined whether to activate the heater 124 based on the washing zone temperature (temperature of a specific area within the cavity) of the dishwasher 1. If the washing zone temperature is less than a predetermined washing zone temperature threshold, such as 40°C, and the ambient temperature is less than a predetermined ambient temperature threshold, such as 15°C, then the heater 124 is activated. If the intake air temperature after being heated by the heater 124 reaches a third predetermined intake air temperature threshold, such as 50°C, then the heater 124 is turned off, and then the external cycle is executed for a ninth predetermined duration, such as 3-7 minutes, and then the cycle is executed again until the seventh predetermined duration.

[0110] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in the second dehumidification of the first type, an internal circulation is first performed while the heater 124 is working until the internal circulation temperature reaches a predetermined internal circulation temperature threshold, such as 60°C, and then an external circulation dehumidification is performed while the heater 124 is working until the intake air temperature after being heated by the heater 124 reaches a second predetermined intake air temperature threshold, such as 50°C, and then the heater 124 is turned off.

[0111] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in the second type of second dehumidification, if the increase in the dew point temperature inside the cavity is greater than or equal to a third increment threshold, for example 4°C, external circulation dehumidification is performed when the heater 124 is working; if the increase in the dew point temperature inside the cavity is less than the third increment threshold but greater than a fourth increment threshold, for example 2°C, external circulation dehumidification is performed when the heater 124 is not working.

[0112] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, if the increase in the dew point temperature inside the cavity is less than or equal to the fourth increment threshold, the process enters the condensation and static dehumidification stage.

[0113] The energy-saving storage mode and antibacterial storage mode mentioned earlier will be described in further detail below.

[0114] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method for determining whether to enter an energy-saving storage mode or an antibacterial storage mode is based on the relationship between ambient humidity and a predetermined ambient humidity threshold, such as 60%: if the ambient humidity is less than the predetermined ambient humidity threshold, the method enters the energy-saving storage mode; if the ambient humidity is greater than or equal to the predetermined ambient humidity threshold, the method enters the antibacterial storage mode.

[0115] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in energy-saving storage mode, the heater 124 is not operational, and at least one of the first and second dehumidification cycles includes external circulation dehumidification. This fully utilizes the characteristics of the ambient humidity around the dishwasher, enabling energy savings. Of course, those skilled in the art will understand that including external circulation dehumidification does not preclude the introduction of other dehumidification operations.

[0116] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in the antibacterial storage mode, the first dehumidification and / or the second dehumidification of the cyclic operation includes at least one of the following: internal circulation when the heater 124 is operating and mixed circulation when the heater 124 is operating. Those skilled in the art will understand that "when the heater 124 is operating" means that the heater 124 has been activated during the internal circulation and / or mixed circulation, or that the activation time of the internal circulation and / or mixed circulation overlaps with that of the heater 124.

[0117] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in the energy-saving storage mode, after external circulation dehumidification, if the drying status indicates that external circulation dehumidification is not required, the system enters the condensation and static dehumidification stage; otherwise, external circulation dehumidification is performed cyclically.

[0118] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in the antibacterial storage mode, the first dehumidification is performed in the following order: internal circulation when the heater 124 is working, mixed circulation dehumidification when the heater 124 is working, and condensation and static dehumidification. If the drying status indicates that ventilation and dehumidification are not required, condensation and static dehumidification is performed; otherwise, the first dehumidification is performed in a cyclical manner.

[0119] According to another aspect of the present invention, a dishwasher is provided, comprising: an air duct system including a circulating air duct 121 and a fan 126 disposed within the circulating air duct 121; and a controller 13 configured to perform or assist in performing the method according to any of the above embodiments.

[0120] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the air duct system further includes a heater 124 disposed in the circulating air duct 121, a sensor 125 disposed in the circulating air duct 121 to allow acquisition of ambient temperature and ambient humidity, and an adjustment device 123 disposed on the circulating air duct 121 to controllably realize internal circulation, external circulation and mixed circulation.

[0121] The dishwasher of the present invention can be a ventilated storage dishwasher, a zeolite dishwasher, an automatic door-opening drying dishwasher, a hot air drying dishwasher, etc.

[0122] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, optimal drying parameters can be intelligently selected for the current user. Besides improving drying performance, offering flexible program times, or providing energy savings, it also avoids damage to cabinets caused by excessively high dehumidification temperatures under certain conditions, as well as the risk of users slipping due to condensation on the floor. Furthermore, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, different storage modes can also be provided to the user, namely an energy-saving storage mode and an antibacterial storage mode. The advantage of the antibacterial storage mode is that it artificially creates a high-temperature, low-humidity environment inside the dishwasher cavity when encountering harsh conditions (such as high humidity), providing the user with a better storage experience. The energy-saving storage mode maintains a good drying state inside the cavity with minimal energy consumption.

[0123] Although specific embodiments have been described above, these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, even when only a single embodiment is described with respect to a particular feature. The feature examples provided in this disclosure are intended to be illustrative and not limiting, unless explicitly stated otherwise. In practice, multiple features may be combined with each other as needed and where technically feasible. Various substitutions, alterations, and modifications are conceived without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for operating a dishwasher (1), the method comprising at least the following steps: Obtain at least the ambient temperature and humidity that reflect the environment in which the dishwasher (1) is located; and The ambient temperature and humidity are used to control the operation of the dishwasher (1).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The ambient dew point temperature is obtained based on the ambient temperature and humidity, and the operation of the dishwasher (1) is controlled by incorporating the ambient dew point temperature; and / or The ambient temperature and humidity are obtained, for example, within the first 3 minutes before the washing program of the dishwasher (1) begins; and / or The ambient temperature and humidity are obtained during the drying and / or storage programs of the dishwasher (1).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The ambient temperature and humidity are used to control the final rinsing cycle of the dishwasher (1); and / or The ambient temperature and humidity are used to control the drying and / or storage programs of the dishwasher (1).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein, Incorporate the ambient temperature and humidity to control the final rinsing temperature; and / or Incorporating the ambient temperature and humidity, and preferably also incorporating cavity temperature control immediately following the final rinsing condensation time; and / or Incorporate at least one of the following in the ambient temperature and humidity control drying and / or storage program: mixed cycle operation characteristics, external cycle operation characteristics, and internal cycle operation characteristics.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, Introducing the aforementioned ambient temperature and humidity to control the timing of external moisture removal; and / or Introducing the ambient temperature and humidity to control the start timing of the internal circulation; and / or When the ambient temperature and humidity are introduced to control at least one of the external circulation, internal circulation, and mixed circulation, at least one of the following is considered: the fluid flow characteristics of the duct system, the temperature characteristics within the duct system, and the humidity characteristics within the duct system, such as the rotational characteristics of the fan (126) in the duct system and / or the operating characteristics of the heater (124) in the duct system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, Introducing the aforementioned ambient temperature and humidity control: The speed and / or operating time of the fan (126); and / or The operating time and / or start / stop mode and / or target temperature of the heater (124).

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein, Detect the level of volatile organic compounds in the environment before the washing program of the dishwasher (1) begins, for example, within the first 3 minutes; and / or The levels of volatile organic compounds in the air duct system and / or washing chamber of the dishwasher (1) are detected during the drying and / or storage programs, especially during its internal circulation. The filter self-cleaning function is controlled based on the level of volatile organic compounds, especially during mixed circulation and / or external circulation.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein, In the storage procedure, internal circulation is performed, especially periodically, and the decision on whether to perform dehumidification operations involving ventilation and dehumidification is based at least on the drying status during internal circulation.

9. The method of any one of claims 1-8, wherein, The stored procedure executes the following loop operation at least once: First, dehumidify; Obtain the drying state achieved after performing the first dehumidification; and At least based on the drying status, it is determined whether a second dehumidification operation involving ventilation and dehumidification needs to be performed.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein, It also incorporates ambient temperature and / or ambient humidity to determine whether a second dehumidification is needed; and / or The drying state includes the characteristics of changes in cavity humidity, such as the cavity dew point temperature; and / or The first dehumidification and / or the second dehumidification includes at least one of the following: mixed circulation dehumidification, external circulation dehumidification, condensation and static dehumidification, and internal circulation.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, The drying state is obtained by running the internal circulation for a first predetermined duration, for example, 10-20 minutes, while the heater (124) is not operating; and / or The first dehumidification and / or the second dehumidification also includes activating the heater (124) for heating.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The drying status includes the cavity dew point temperature increment during internal circulation and / or the current cavity dew point temperature.

13. The method of any one of claims 9-12, wherein, The stored procedure includes at least: Accelerated drying stage for internal components; and The drying state maintenance stage is located after the accelerated drying stage of the internal components. The cyclic operation is performed during the accelerated drying phase and / or the drying state maintenance phase of the internal components.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein, The accelerated drying phase for the internal components includes a first cyclic operation phase and a second cyclic operation phase following the first cyclic operation phase, wherein the first cyclic operation phase and / or the second cyclic operation phase perform the cyclic operation at least once; and / or The drying state maintenance phase includes an energy-saving storage mode and an antibacterial storage mode, wherein the energy-saving storage mode and / or the antibacterial storage mode perform the cycle operation at least once; and / or The accelerated drying phase of the internal components is performed for a second predetermined duration, for example, 10-14 hours; and / or The drying state maintenance phase is performed for a third predetermined duration, for example, 10-14 hours.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein, The energy-saving storage mode and the antibacterial storage mode are configured to be suitable for manual selection and / or automatic selection by the dishwasher (1); and / or The drying state in the energy-saving storage mode is based on the same logical judgment as the drying state in the first cycle operation stage and / or the second cycle operation stage. and / or There is a condensation and dehumidification phase between the first and second cycle operation phases; and / or The loop operations in the first loop operation phase and the second loop operation phase are different; and / or The cyclic operation differs between the energy-saving storage mode and the antibacterial storage mode.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, The process proceeds from the first cycle operation stage to the condensation and dehumidification stage only when the drying state meets the predetermined condensation and dehumidification conditions; and / or The condensation and static dehumidification stage is performed for a fourth predetermined duration, for example, 15-25 minutes.

17. The method according to any one of claims 14-16, wherein, Determine whether to activate the heater (124) during the first dehumidification and / or second dehumidification of the first cycle operation phase based on predetermined heater activation conditions; and / or The heater (124) is activated only in stages during the first and / or second dehumidification.

18. The method according to any one of claims 14-17, wherein, The first and second dehumidification operations in the first cyclic operation phase both involve mixed cyclic dehumidification; and / or The first dehumidification in the second cycle operation stage is condensation and static dehumidification, and the second dehumidification is mixed cycle dehumidification.

19. The method according to any one of claims 14-17, wherein, The first and second dehumidification operations in the first cyclic operation phase both involve external circulation dehumidification; and / or In the second cycle operation phase, at least one of the first and second dehumidification operations is a combination of external circulation dehumidification and / or mixed circulation dehumidification with subsequent condensation and settling dehumidification.

20. A dishwasher (1), comprising: The air duct system includes a circulating air duct (121) and a fan (126) disposed within the circulating air duct (121); and A controller (13) configured to perform or assist in performing the method according to any one of claims 1-19.

21. The dishwasher (1) according to claim 20, wherein, The air duct system also includes a heater (124) disposed in the circulating air duct (121), a sensor (125) disposed in the circulating air duct (121) to allow acquisition of ambient temperature and ambient humidity, and an adjustment device (123) disposed on the circulating air duct (121) to controllably realize internal circulation, external circulation and mixed circulation.

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