Dishwasher and control method thereof

Abstract

The present disclosure belongs to the technical field of dishwashers, and provides a dishwasher and a control method thereof. The dishwasher comprises a water softener and a controller. The water softener is configured to soften the water inlet of the dishwasher, and the resin cavity of the water softener contains ion exchange material. The controller is connected to the water softener and is configured to obtain the water hardness of the water outlet of the water softener and the health degree of the ion exchange material, wherein the health degree is used to represent the degree of retention of the softening capacity of the ion exchange material relative to the brand-new state. If the water hardness of the water outlet is greater than a preset hardness threshold, the first regeneration gear is determined according to the hardness interval in which the water hardness is located, and the second regeneration gear is determined according to the health degree interval in which the health degree is located. The target regeneration gear is determined as the one with higher regeneration intensity from the first regeneration gear and the second regeneration gear, and the water softener enters the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration gear. The regeneration control timing of the water softener can be automatically determined without manual setting of the water hardness gear by the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure pertains to the field of dishwasher technology, and more specifically, relates to a dishwasher and a method for controlling the dishwasher. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the regeneration control of water softeners in dishwashers mostly adopts the method of users manually setting the water hardness level. Different levels correspond to different regeneration water volumes, and regeneration is triggered when the cumulative water intake reaches the corresponding regeneration water volume.

[0003] However, this method relies on the user's accurate judgment of the local water quality. Setting the setting too high will lead to frequent regeneration and waste of regeneration salt, while setting the setting too low will cause the water softener to still use hard water for washing after it is actually saturated. This can easily cause limescale to form inside dishes and dishwashers. Furthermore, the cumulative water intake is an indirect judgment, and the timing of regeneration control is prone to deviation. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a dishwasher and its control method, which aims to solve the technical problem of inaccurate regeneration control of water softeners in existing dishwashers.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, in a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a dishwasher, which includes a water softener and a controller; The water softener is configured to soften the inlet water of the dishwasher, and the resin chamber of the water softener contains ion exchange material. The controller, connected to the water softener, is configured to: acquire the hardness of the water output from the water softener and the health status of the ion exchange material, wherein the health status characterizes the degree to which the softening capacity of the ion exchange material is maintained relative to its virgin state; if the hardness of the output water is greater than a preset hardness threshold, a first regeneration level is determined based on the hardness range in which the output water hardness falls, and a second regeneration level is determined based on the health status range in which the health status falls, wherein the hardness range corresponds one-to-one with the regeneration level, the health status corresponds one-to-one with the regeneration level, and the health status is inversely proportional to the regeneration intensity corresponding to the regeneration level; the higher regeneration intensity of the first regeneration level and the second regeneration level is determined as the target regeneration level, and the water softener is controlled to enter the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration level.

[0006] Secondly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a control method for a dishwasher, wherein the dishwasher is equipped with a water softener, and the resin chamber of the water softener contains an ion exchange material; including: The water hardness of the water from the water softener and the health of the ion exchange material are obtained, wherein the health is used to characterize the degree to which the softening ability of the ion exchange material is maintained relative to its virgin state. If the hardness of the effluent is greater than a preset hardness threshold, a first regeneration level is determined based on the hardness range in which the effluent hardness is located, and a second regeneration level is determined based on the health range in which the health is located. The hardness range corresponds one-to-one with the regeneration level, the health range corresponds one-to-one with the regeneration level, and the health is inversely proportional to the regeneration intensity corresponding to the regeneration level. The higher regeneration intensity between the first regeneration setting and the second regeneration setting is determined as the target regeneration setting, and the water softener is controlled to enter the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration setting.

[0007] Thirdly, embodiments of this disclosure provide an electronic device specifically configured as: a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein when the processor executes the computer program, the electronic device performs the method as described in any of the second aspects.

[0008] Fourthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the method as described in any of the second aspects.

[0009] Fifthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a computer program product that, when run on an electronic device, causes the electronic device to perform the method described in any one of the second aspects above.

[0010] The beneficial effects of the embodiments disclosed herein compared to the prior art are as follows: The controller acquires the hardness of the water outlet from the water softener and the health status of the ion exchange material. When the water hardness exceeds a preset hardness threshold, the first regeneration level is determined based on the hardness range of the water outlet, and the second regeneration level is determined based on the health status range. The regeneration level with the higher regeneration intensity is then selected as the target regeneration level. The water softener is controlled to enter the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration level, achieving adaptive control of regeneration based on both water hardness and health status. By independently judging these two dimensions and selecting the one with higher regeneration intensity, the water softener is ensured to receive sufficient regeneration even if either dimension is abnormal. This avoids insufficient regeneration caused by judging only the water hardness, and also avoids regeneration timing deviations and mismatches in regeneration intensity caused by judging only the cumulative water volume or the user's manual setting. Without requiring users to manually set the water hardness level, the dishwasher can automatically determine the regeneration level and timing of the water softener. This avoids premature regeneration that wastes regeneration salt or late regeneration that uses hard water, ensuring that the dishwasher continuously uses soft water for washing and thus inhibiting the deposition and formation of limescale on dishes and internal dishwasher components. Attached Figure Description

[0011] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic block diagram of the structure of a dishwasher provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 2 This is a schematic flowchart of a dishwasher control method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a water collection tank and a sensing component provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 4 This is a schematic flowchart of a dishwasher control method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 5 This is a schematic flowchart of a dishwasher control method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a dishwasher control device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0013] In the following description, specific details such as particular system architectures and techniques are set forth for illustrative purposes and not for limitation, so as to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of this disclosure. However, those skilled in the art will understand that this disclosure may also be implemented in other embodiments without these specific details. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known systems, apparatuses, circuits, and methods have been omitted so as not to obscure the description of this disclosure with unnecessary detail.

[0014] It should be understood that, when used in this disclosure and the appended claims, the term "comprising" indicates the presence of the described features, integrals, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components and / or collections thereof.

[0015] It should also be understood that, in the description of this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, the " / " used in this specification and the appended claims indicates that the related objects are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B can mean A or B. The "and / or" in this disclosure is merely a description of the relationship between the related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. Furthermore, in the description of this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0016] Furthermore, to facilitate a clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure, the terms "first" and "second" are used in the embodiments of this disclosure to distinguish identical or similar items with substantially the same function and effect. Those skilled in the art will understand that the terms "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity or execution order, but are only used for distinguishing descriptions, and the terms "first" and "second" are not necessarily different, nor should they be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0017] As used in this disclosure and the appended claims, the term "if" may be interpreted, depending on the context, as "when," "once," "in response to determination," or "in response to detection." Similarly, the phrase "if determined" or "if [the described condition or event] is detected" may be interpreted, depending on the context, as "once determined," "in response to determination," "once [the described condition or event] is detected," or "in response to detection of [the described condition or event]."

[0018] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" as described in this disclosure mean that one or more embodiments of this disclosure include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," "in still other embodiments," etc., appearing in different parts of this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and variations thereof mean "including, but not limited to," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0019] First, the relevant technologies in the embodiments of this disclosure will be explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0020] Dishwashers require hot water during washing and rinsing. If the incoming water hardness is high, calcium and magnesium ions in the water can easily adhere to the dishes and the inside of the dishwasher during heating, forming limescale. Therefore, dishwashers are usually equipped with a water softener to soften the incoming water. The water softener uses ion exchange materials to adsorb calcium and magnesium ions in the water to reduce water hardness. Once the ion exchange materials are saturated, they lose their softening ability and need to be regenerated through a process of salt water replacement and rinsing with clean water to restore their softening capacity.

[0021] Currently, the regeneration control of dishwasher water softeners usually adopts the method of users manually setting the water hardness level. Different levels correspond to different regeneration water volumes. Regeneration is started when the cumulative water intake reaches the corresponding regeneration water volume. The regeneration level or trigger timing is adjusted by detecting the hardness of the incoming water.

[0022] However, the water hardness setting is manually set by the user, relying on the user's accurate understanding of the local water quality. Setting it too high leads to wasted regeneration salt, while setting it too low results in the use of hard water for washing and the formation of scale. The triggering method based on the cumulative water intake is an indirect judgment, which cannot accurately correspond to the actual saturation state of the ion exchange material, making it easy for the regeneration timing to be inaccurate. The detection accuracy of the inlet water sensor is affected by the environment, and the inlet water hardness can only reflect the inlet water quality, not the actual saturation state of the ion exchange material. Therefore, it is still necessary to combine the cumulative water intake to determine the regeneration timing.

[0023] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this disclosure provides an example of a dishwasher; please refer to... Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 This disclosure shows a schematic block diagram of a dishwasher, and provides an example of a dishwasher. Please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 A schematic block diagram of a dishwasher 100 provided in this disclosure is shown. The dishwasher 100 includes a water softener 102 and a controller 104.

[0024] Water softener 102 is configured to soften the incoming water to the dishwasher. The resin chamber of water softener 102 contains ion exchange material. Controller 104, connected to water softener 102, is configured to perform actions such as… Figure 2 The steps shown are as follows: S201. Obtain the hardness of the water output from the water softener, as well as the health of the ion exchange materials.

[0025] Among them, health is used to characterize the degree to which the softening ability of ion exchange materials is maintained relative to their brand-new state. The higher the health, the closer the ion exchange material is to its brand-new state and the stronger its softening ability. The lower the health, the more severe the decline in the softening ability of the ion exchange material.

[0026] S202. If the hardness of the output water is greater than the preset hardness threshold, the first regeneration level is determined according to the hardness range in which the output water hardness is located, and the second regeneration level is determined according to the health range in which the health is located.

[0027] Among them, the hardness range corresponds one-to-one with the regeneration level, the health range corresponds one-to-one with the regeneration level, and the health level and the regeneration intensity corresponding to the regeneration level are inversely proportional.

[0028] S203. The higher regeneration intensity between the first regeneration setting and the second regeneration setting is determined as the target regeneration setting, and the water softener is controlled to enter the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration setting.

[0029] The regeneration process is used to restore the water softener's ability to soften incoming water.

[0030] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the dishwasher can be a device that uses a spray arm to spray water with a certain pressure and temperature to repeatedly rinse the built-in tableware to complete the cleaning. Since hot water is required for both washing and rinsing processes, if the hardness of the incoming water is too high, the calcium and magnesium ions in the water are easy to adhere to the tableware and the surface of the dishwasher inner tub during the heating and spraying process to form scale. Therefore, the incoming water is softened.

[0031] In some embodiments, the water softener can be a component that softens the incoming water to the dishwasher. It contains ion exchange material, which adsorbs calcium and magnesium ions as water flows through it, thereby reducing the hardness of the output water. The water softener may also include a resin chamber, a brine chamber, a regeneration valve, and an inlet valve. The resin chamber can contain the ion exchange material, the brine chamber can store a sodium-containing regenerant, the regeneration valve can control the passage between the brine chamber and the resin chamber, and the inlet valve can control the entry of external water into the water softener.

[0032] In some embodiments, after obtaining the outlet water hardness, the controller can combine it with the health status of the ion exchange material to jointly determine the regeneration level and timing of the water softener. Outlet water hardness characterizes the calcium and magnesium ion content in the outlet water, reflecting the softening effect of the water softener on the incoming water. Higher outlet water hardness indicates that the calcium and magnesium ions adsorbed by the ion exchange material are closer to saturation, and the softening effect is worse. Health status characterizes the degree to which the softening capacity of the ion exchange material is maintained relative to its pristine state, reflecting the long-term aging status of the ion exchange material. By independently determining the regeneration level using two dimensions—outlet water hardness reflecting the current saturation level and health status reflecting the long-term aging level—and selecting the higher regeneration intensity as the target regeneration level, it ensures that the water softener is fully regenerated even if either dimension is abnormal, avoiding insufficient or excessive regeneration caused by a single-dimensional judgment.

[0033] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the controller can automatically determine the regeneration level and control the water softener to enter the regeneration process directly based on the hardness and health of the output water without relying on the water hardness level information input by the user, thus avoiding the deviation in regeneration timing and the mismatch in regeneration intensity caused by inaccurate manual setting of the level by the user.

[0034] In some embodiments, the preset hardness threshold can be the sum of the reference water hardness of the water softener in its new state and the preset margin. The preset margin can be used to characterize the margin by which the softening capacity of the water softener is allowed to decline. For example, the water hardness of the water softener in its new state can be less than 50 mg / L. When the water hardness rises to exceed the preset hardness threshold, it indicates that the softening capacity of the ion exchange material has decreased to the point where regeneration is required.

[0035] The controller obtains the hardness of the water output from the water softener and the health status of the ion exchange material. When the hardness of the output water exceeds a preset hardness threshold, the first regeneration level is determined based on the hardness range of the output water, and the second regeneration level is determined based on the health status range of the ion exchange material. The higher regeneration intensity of the two regeneration levels is then determined as the target regeneration level. The water softener is controlled to enter the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration level. This achieves adaptive regeneration control based on the combined dimensions of water hardness and health status. The regeneration level and timing of the water softener are automatically determined without the user having to manually set the water hardness level. This avoids premature regeneration that wastes regeneration salt or premature regeneration that uses hard water for washing due to inaccurate water hardness settings. It ensures that the dishwasher continuously uses soft water for washing operations, thereby inhibiting the deposition and formation of scale on tableware and internal components of the dishwasher.

[0036] In some embodiments, it is still as follows Figure 1 As shown, the dishwasher 100 may further include a water collection tank 101 and a sensing component 103; the sensing component 103 is disposed on the water collection tank 101, which is connected to the outlet of the water softener 102; the sensing component 103 is configured to acquire the outlet water temperature and outlet water conductivity of the water softener; the controller acquires the outlet water hardness of the water softener, specifically configured to: determine the outlet water hardness of the water softener based on a pre-stored correspondence between conductivity and outlet water hardness, according to the outlet water temperature and outlet water conductivity; wherein, the correspondence between conductivity and outlet water hardness is a mapping relationship between conductivity and outlet water hardness calibrated by the reaction of sodium ions replacing calcium and magnesium ions through the ion exchange material of the water softener under stable conditions of inlet water ion composition.

[0037] In some embodiments, the dishwasher's water inlet can sequentially pass through the inlet valve and internal water pipes to the water softener. After being softened by the water softener, the water then passes through a flow meter and a breather before entering the dishwasher's water collection tank. The water collection tank, also known as a water cup, is a sealed water collection cavity integrated inside the dishwasher. It is used to collect washing return water and, in conjunction with the pump, to achieve washing water circulation and wastewater discharge. It also houses water path sensing components.

[0038] In some embodiments, the dishwasher may further include a water collection tank and a sensing component. The water collection tank, also known as a water cup, is specifically a sealed water collection chamber integrated inside the dishwasher, located downstream of the water softener's outlet. It is used to collect the softened incoming water and the return water during the washing process, and works with the washing pump and drain pump to achieve washing water circulation and wastewater discharge. The water inlet of the water collection tank is connected to the outlet of the water softener. After the water softener softens the incoming water, the softened water flows into the water inlet of the water collection tank through the outlet. The outlet of the water softener and the inlet of the water collection tank can be connected via a pipe. The drain outlet of the water collection tank can be connected to a drain pipe, and the drain chamber of the water collection tank can be connected to a drain pump.

[0039] like Figure 3 As shown, the sensing component is mounted on the water collection tank and in contact with the water inside, used to collect the water quality parameters of the softened water in the tank in real time. The sensing component can integrate a temperature sensor and a conductivity sensor, or it can be a three-in-one sensor integrating a temperature sensor, a turbidity sensor, and a conductivity sensor. The temperature sensor is used to detect the water temperature of the water outlet from the water softener, and the conductivity sensor is used to detect the conductivity of the water outlet from the water softener.

[0040] Since the water collection tank is connected to the outlet of the water softener, after the water softener softens the incoming water, the softened water flows into the inlet of the water collection tank through the outlet. The water in the water collection tank is the softened water output by the water softener. Therefore, the water temperature and conductivity detected by the sensing component correspond to the outlet water temperature and outlet water conductivity of the water softener.

[0041] In some embodiments, the sensing component can integrate a temperature sensor and a conductivity sensor, or it can integrate a temperature sensor, a turbidity sensor, and a conductivity sensor. The sensing component can acquire the outlet water temperature and outlet water conductivity of the water softener. When the controller acquires the outlet water hardness of the water softener, it can determine the outlet water hardness of the water softener based on the pre-stored correspondence between conductivity and outlet water hardness, according to the outlet water temperature and outlet water conductivity collected by the sensing component. It should be noted that the conductivity of water reflects the total conductivity of all ions in the water. In general water bodies, conductivity and water hardness are not necessarily the same. However, in the specific scenario of water from a water softener, the two have a stable correlation: when a dishwasher is used in the same area, the composition of the influent water ions is relatively stable. Anions do not participate in the ion exchange reaction and pass directly through the water softener. The water softener replaces calcium and magnesium ions in the water with sodium ions through ion exchange materials. Moreover, calcium, magnesium, and sodium ions are replaced by sodium ions in an equivalent manner. Since the molar conductivity of calcium, magnesium, and sodium ions is different, the conductivity of the outlet water will change predictably when the amount of calcium and magnesium ions penetrating increases during the resin saturation process. This change has a stable positive correlation with the hardness of the outlet water.

[0042] For example, the correlation between conductivity and water hardness was verified experimentally. Multiple water samples with known hardness were prepared at a reference temperature of 25°C, and the conductivity of each sample was measured. The experimental results showed that within the range of conductivity from 100 μS / cm to 680 μS / cm and water hardness from 2.3°dH to 11.5°dH (approximately 41 mg / L to 205 mg / L as CaCO3), a good linear positive correlation was observed between conductivity and water hardness. The experimental data points were closely distributed on both sides of the linear fitting curve, indicating a high degree of linearity. Therefore, within the typical hardness range of water from a water softener, the linear correlation between conductivity and water hardness is stable and reliable, and the water hardness calculated from conductivity based on this correlation has sufficient detection accuracy.

[0043] Therefore, under stable influent ionic composition conditions, the mapping relationship between conductivity and effluent hardness can be pre-calibrated experimentally and stored in the controller in the form of a reference data table or conversion formula. The controller can then calculate the effluent hardness based on the real-time detected effluent conductivity. Since conductivity is easily affected by water temperature and can drift, the controller can incorporate temperature compensation during the conversion to eliminate the influence of water temperature fluctuations on conductivity detection and improve the accuracy of effluent hardness detection.

[0044] In some embodiments, the controller determines the water hardness of the water softener based on a pre-stored correspondence between conductivity and water hardness, according to the water temperature and conductivity. Specifically, it is configured to perform actions such as... Figure 4 The steps shown are as follows: S401. Obtain the preset reference temperature, wherein the preset reference temperature is the calibration temperature of the preset correspondence between conductivity and water hardness.

[0045] S402. Based on the difference between the outlet water temperature and the preset reference temperature, temperature compensation is performed on the outlet water conductivity to obtain the conductivity at the reference temperature.

[0046] S403. Based on the relationship between conductivity and water hardness, convert the conductivity at the reference temperature into the water hardness of the water softener.

[0047] In some embodiments, firstly, a preset reference temperature is obtained. This preset reference temperature is the calibration temperature for the preset correspondence between conductivity and water hardness, i.e., the reference water temperature used in the experimental determination of the correspondence between conductivity and water hardness, for example, 25°C. Since conductivity varies with water temperature, water of the same hardness will have different conductivity measured at different water temperatures. Therefore, it is necessary to calibrate the correspondence between conductivity and water hardness at a fixed water temperature, and use this fixed water temperature as the preset reference temperature.

[0048] Secondly, based on the difference between the outlet water temperature and the preset reference temperature, temperature compensation is applied to the outlet water conductivity to obtain the conductivity at the reference temperature. The purpose of temperature compensation is to eliminate the influence of water temperature fluctuations on conductivity detection, uniformly converting the conductivity measured at different water temperatures to the conductivity at the preset reference temperature. Specifically, when the outlet water temperature is higher than the preset reference temperature, the increased ionic activity in the water leads to a higher conductivity, and the measured conductivity can be corrected downwards to the conductivity level corresponding to the preset reference temperature; when the outlet water temperature is lower than the preset reference temperature, the decreased ionic activity leads to a lower conductivity, and the measured conductivity can be corrected upwards to the conductivity level corresponding to the preset reference temperature. The dishwasher's inlet water is usually cold water, and the water temperature can fluctuate within the range of 5℃ to 30℃. Within this temperature range, conductivity and temperature maintain a good linear relationship, so temperature compensation can adopt a linear conversion method, and the conductivity temperature coefficient used for temperature compensation can be taken as 0.018℃. - ¹ Up to 0.022℃ - The preset values ​​between ¹.

[0049] Finally, based on the pre-stored correspondence between conductivity and water hardness, the conductivity at the reference temperature is converted into the water hardness of the water softener. This correspondence is a mapping determined by the reaction of sodium ions replacing calcium and magnesium ions through ion exchange materials under stable ion composition conditions in the water softener's influent. It can be represented by a reference data table or a conversion formula, pre-stored in the controller. After eliminating temperature drift, the conductivity at the reference temperature has a stable correspondence with water hardness. The controller can obtain the corresponding water hardness value by consulting the reference data table or substituting it into the conversion formula.

[0050] By acquiring a preset reference temperature and compensating for the outlet water conductivity based on the difference between the outlet water temperature and the preset reference temperature, and then calculating the outlet water hardness based on the correspondence between conductivity and outlet water hardness, the influence of water temperature fluctuations on conductivity detection is eliminated. This ensures that accurate outlet water hardness values ​​can be obtained at different inlet water temperatures, thereby accurately determining the regeneration control timing of the water softener based on the outlet water hardness, and avoiding misjudgment of hardness and deviation in regeneration timing caused by conductivity temperature drift.

[0051] In some embodiments, the correspondence between conductivity and effluent hardness is a preset linear conversion relationship, which includes a conversion slope and a conversion intercept; the controller is also configured to perform self-learning calibration on the linear conversion relationship, specifically configured as follows: During the preset number of water inlet cycles after the water softener completes the regeneration process, multiple sets of water temperature and water conductivity samples are collected, and the average value of the water hardness is calculated as the calibration benchmark hardness. If the deviation between the calibration reference hardness and the reference output hardness of the water softener in its new state exceeds the preset deviation threshold, the conversion slope and conversion intercept will be self-learned and updated according to the deviation. The preset hardness threshold will be adjusted accordingly based on the updated conversion slope and conversion intercept to ensure that the regeneration triggering timing remains consistent before and after calibration.

[0052] In some embodiments, the correspondence between conductivity and water hardness can be a preset linear conversion relationship. The linear conversion relationship includes a conversion slope and a conversion intercept, that is, the water hardness and the conductivity at the reference temperature satisfy a linear relationship, and the water hardness is equal to the conversion slope multiplied by the conductivity at the reference temperature plus the conversion intercept.

[0053] The dishwasher's inlet water is cold water, and the water temperature can fluctuate within the range of 5℃ to 30℃. Within this temperature range, conductivity and water hardness maintain a good linear correlation. Therefore, a linear conversion relationship can meet the accuracy requirements for measuring the outlet water hardness. The conductivity at the reference temperature can be obtained by temperature compensation of the conductivity at the measured temperature. During temperature compensation, a preset reference temperature is used as the benchmark, and the measured conductivity is corrected based on the difference between the measured outlet water temperature and the preset reference temperature. When the outlet water temperature is higher than the preset reference temperature, the measured conductivity is corrected downwards; when the outlet water temperature is lower than the preset reference temperature, the measured conductivity is corrected upwards, thereby eliminating the influence of water temperature fluctuations on conductivity.

[0054] The preset reference temperature is the reference water temperature used when calibrating the relationship between conductivity and water hardness, for example, it can be 25℃, or other temperature values ​​can be selected according to the calibration conditions; the conductivity temperature coefficient used for temperature compensation can be 0.018℃. - ¹ to 0.022℃ - The preset values ​​between ¹.

[0055] For example, the formula for converting water hardness can be: H=k·κ_T0+b; Where H represents the effluent hardness, in mg / L (calculated as CaCO3); k is the conversion slope, in mg / L. L - ¹ / (μS cm - ¹); b is the conversion intercept, in mg / L; κ_T0 is the conductivity converted to the preset reference temperature T0, in μS / cm.

[0056] Among them, κ_T0 can be obtained by temperature compensation of the measured conductivity. The temperature compensation formula is: κ_T0=κ_T / [1+α(T-T0)]; Where κ_T is the conductivity at the measured temperature T, in μS / cm; T is the measured water temperature, in °C; T0 is the preset reference temperature, for example, 25 °C; and α is the conductivity temperature coefficient, in °C. - ¹, The preset value can be between 0.018 and 0.022 within the range of 5℃ to 30℃.

[0057] The conversion slope k and conversion intercept b can be preset values ​​uniformly calibrated according to standard water quality at the factory, or they can be dynamically updated by the controller after self-learning calibration based on local water quality during user operation. Due to differences in the composition of influent ions in different regions, the linear conversion relationship calibrated at the factory may deviate in some areas, resulting in inconsistencies between the converted hardness of the effluent and the actual value, thus affecting the accuracy of the regeneration trigger timing.

[0058] Therefore, the controller can perform self-learning calibration on the linear conversion relationship, and the specific process is as follows: During the preset number of water inflow cycles after the water softener completes its regeneration process, the ion exchange material is in a newly regenerated state, and its softening capacity is close to its optimal level. At this time, the outlet water hardness should be at a low level. During this stage, the controller collects multiple sets of outlet water temperature and conductivity samples, calculates the corresponding outlet water hardness for each sample based on the current linear conversion relationship, and then calculates the average of the multiple outlet water hardness samples as the calibration benchmark hardness. The calibration benchmark hardness reflects the converted outlet water hardness level immediately after the water softener has completed regeneration, under the current linear conversion relationship.

[0059] The controller compares the calibration reference hardness with the reference output hardness of the water softener in its new state. If the deviation exceeds a preset deviation threshold, it indicates that the current linear conversion relationship does not match the local water quality, and the conversion result of the output hardness has a systematic deviation. The controller then performs self-learning calibration and updates the conversion slope and conversion intercept based on this deviation, making the calibrated linear conversion relationship more consistent with the actual local water quality. During calibration updates, the goal can be to reduce the deviation between the calibration reference hardness and the new state reference output hardness, iteratively adjusting the conversion slope and conversion intercept until the deviation falls within the preset deviation threshold range.

[0060] Because the conversion slope and conversion intercept will change the calculated hardness of the effluent for the same conductivity after the conversion slope and intercept are updated, the regeneration triggering timing will shift with calibration if the preset hardness threshold remains unchanged. Therefore, after the controller performs self-learning calibration and updates the conversion slope and conversion intercept, it can also adjust the preset hardness threshold accordingly to ensure that the regeneration triggering timing remains consistent before and after calibration, avoiding premature or delayed regeneration due to changes in the conversion relationship. For example, if the conversion slope increases after calibration, the effluent hardness calculated for the same conductivity will increase. If the preset hardness threshold remains unchanged, regeneration will be triggered earlier. In this case, the preset hardness threshold can be increased accordingly to ensure that the actual conductivity level at regeneration triggering remains consistent with that before calibration.

[0061] By adopting a linear conversion relationship and supporting self-learning calibration, the simplicity and real-time nature of the output water hardness conversion are ensured, and the water softener can be adapted to the influent water quality of different regions, avoiding deviations in output water hardness detection and regeneration timing caused by mismatch between factory calibration and local water quality; after calibration, the preset hardness threshold is adjusted synchronously to further ensure the stability and consistency of regeneration trigger timing.

[0062] In some embodiments, the controller is also configured to perform anomaly verification on the detection results of the sensing components to avoid distortion of the effluent hardness detection due to sensor component drift, scaling, or malfunction, thereby affecting the accuracy of regeneration control. The specific process is as follows: Figure 5 As shown: S501. Obtain the single-process water volume between two adjacent regeneration processes, and determine the inlet water hardness of the water softener based on the ratio of the preset maximum adsorption capacity of the ion exchange material to the single-process water volume.

[0063] S502. Based on the influent hardness and the ion exchange capacity of the water softener, determine the theoretical curve of the change in effluent hardness with the cumulative treated water volume since the completion of the last regeneration process.

[0064] S503. Compare the hardness of the effluent with the theoretical hardness at the corresponding cumulative treated water volume on the theoretical curve. If the deviation between the two exceeds the preset range, it is determined that the sensing component has a detection abnormality and a calibration prompt message is output.

[0065] In S501, the single-cycle water treatment volume is the volume of water softened by the water softener from the completion of the previous regeneration process to the triggering of the current regeneration process. This volume can be accumulated using a flow meter on the water softener's inlet pipe. The preset maximum adsorption capacity of the ion exchange material is the maximum total amount of calcium and magnesium ions that the ion exchange material can adsorb. This is determined by the amount of ion exchange material loaded and its properties, and can be a fixed value calibrated at the factory.

[0066] Since the total amount of calcium and magnesium ions adsorbed by the ion exchange material in one regeneration cycle is equal to the product of the influent hardness and the single-process water volume, regeneration is triggered when the ion exchange material is saturated with adsorption. Therefore, the preset maximum adsorption capacity is equal to the influent hardness multiplied by the single-process water volume. Thus, it can be determined that the influent hardness is equal to the preset maximum adsorption capacity divided by the single-process water volume.

[0067] The controller calculates the hardness of the water entering the water softener based on the ratio of the preset maximum adsorption capacity of the ion exchange material to the volume of water treated per cycle. This method eliminates the need for an additional water hardness sensor and utilizes the existing water volume measurement data from the water softener.

[0068] In some embodiments, a water hardness sensor disposed at the inlet of the water softener can also be controlled to detect the hardness of the inlet water of the water softener.

[0069] After the controller calculates the influent water hardness, it determines a theoretical curve showing the change in effluent water hardness with the cumulative treated water volume since the last regeneration process, based on the influent water hardness and the ion exchange capacity of the water softener. Ion exchange capacity is the ability of a unit amount of ion exchange material to perform ion exchange, and together with the amount of ion exchange material loaded, it determines the total adsorption capacity of the water softener.

[0070] In this embodiment, the theoretical curve is constructed as follows: Under the condition of a fixed influent hardness, after the last regeneration, the ion exchange material is in its optimal state after regeneration, and the effluent hardness is close to zero in the initial stage. As the cumulative treated water volume increases, the total amount of calcium and magnesium ions adsorbed by the ion exchange material gradually accumulates. When the product of the cumulative treated water volume and the influent hardness approaches the total adsorption capacity of the water softener, the ion exchange material gradually becomes saturated, and the effluent hardness begins to increase. When the product of the cumulative treated water volume and the influent hardness exceeds the total adsorption capacity, the effluent hardness approaches the influent hardness. Therefore, a theoretical curve can be constructed showing that the effluent hardness gradually increases from near zero to the influent hardness with the cumulative treated water volume. This theoretical curve characterizes the expected pattern of effluent hardness change with the cumulative treated water volume under the current influent hardness conditions.

[0071] The controller compares the real-time acquired water hardness with the theoretical hardness at the corresponding cumulative treated water volume on the theoretical curve. If the deviation exceeds a preset range, it indicates that the water hardness detected by the sensor deviates from the theoretical expectation based on the ion exchange principle. This may indicate an anomaly such as electrode scaling, conductivity sensor drift, or temperature sensor malfunction. The controller then determines that the sensor has an anomaly and outputs a calibration prompt. The calibration prompt can be displayed as text or flashing indicator lights on the dishwasher panel, or it can be pushed to the user's mobile device to remind the user to clean, calibrate, or replace the sensor.

[0072] In some embodiments, the controller controls the water softener to enter the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration level. Specifically, it is configured such that if the hardness of the effluent is greater than a preset hardness threshold and no abnormality is detected in the sensing component, the controller controls the water softener to enter the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration level.

[0073] When the sensing component malfunctions, the water hardness detection result is unreliable. If regeneration is still triggered based on this result, it may lead to misjudgment of the regeneration timing. Therefore, when the controller controls the water softener to enter the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration level, it needs to simultaneously meet two conditions: the water hardness is greater than the preset hardness threshold and no malfunction is detected in the sensing component.

[0074] If an anomaly is detected in the sensor component, the controller can pause the regeneration control based on the hardness of the effluent and switch to a degraded regeneration control mode based on the cumulative treated water volume. That is, regeneration is triggered when the cumulative treated water volume reaches the preset regeneration water volume threshold to ensure that the water softener can still receive necessary regeneration maintenance during the period of sensor component malfunction. After the sensor component malfunction is resolved and the detection results return to normal, the controller can switch back to the regeneration control mode based on the combined dimensions of effluent hardness and health.

[0075] By calculating the hardness of the inlet water and constructing a theoretical curve for the hardness of the outlet water, the real-time detected hardness of the outlet water is compared with the theoretical value, realizing self-diagnosis of the sensor component detection results. This enables timely detection of sensor component drift, scaling, or malfunction, avoiding misjudgment of regeneration timing due to detection distortion. In case of an anomaly, the system switches to a degradation control mode based on the cumulative treated water volume, ensuring that the water softener can still work normally during sensor anomalies, thus improving the reliability and fault tolerance of the dishwasher's water softening system.

[0076] In some embodiments, the preset hardness threshold can be the sum of the baseline output hardness of the water softener in its new state and a preset margin. The new state refers to the state where the water softener is being used for the first time and the ion exchange material has not yet degraded; at this time, the adsorption capacity of the ion exchange material is strongest, and the output water hardness is lowest. The baseline output hardness can be the output water hardness measured by the water softener in its new state, representing the output water quality level of the water softener in its optimal state, for example, it can be below 50 mg / L, such as 30 mg / L. The preset margin can be the margin by which the softening capacity of the water softener begins to decline from its new state, corresponding to the allowable range for the output water hardness to fluctuate upwards from the baseline output hardness. A larger preset margin indicates a deeper degree of degradation of the ion exchange material, while a smaller preset margin indicates stricter requirements for output water quality.

[0077] For example, if the baseline effluent hardness is 30 mg / L and the preset margin is 20 mg / L, then the preset hardness threshold can be 50 mg / L. Regeneration is triggered when the effluent hardness exceeds 50 mg / L. The preset margin can be set according to factors such as washing water quality requirements, ion exchange material loading, and local influent water hardness. In areas with high influent water hardness, the preset margin can be appropriately increased to avoid overly frequent regeneration. In scenarios with high washing water quality requirements, the preset margin can be appropriately decreased to ensure timely regeneration. The preset margin can be set uniformly at the factory or adjusted by the user according to local water quality and washing needs.

[0078] The preset hardness threshold is set as the sum of the hardness of the new state benchmark outlet water and the preset margin. This ensures that the regeneration trigger threshold takes into account both the initial performance of the water softener and allows for a reasonable decay margin. This avoids the situation where the threshold is set too high, resulting in untimely regeneration and the use of hard water for washing. It also avoids the situation where the threshold is set too low, resulting in frequent regeneration and wasted regeneration salt.

[0079] In some embodiments, when the controller controls the water softener to enter the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration level, the regeneration process can be executed in the first rinsing stage after the outlet water hardness exceeds a preset hardness threshold. The rinsing stage can be the stage in the dishwasher's washing program where dishes are rinsed with clean water. The dishwasher's washing program may include stages such as pre-wash, main wash, rinsing, and drying. The first rinsing stage can be the first rinsing stage after the outlet water hardness exceeds the preset hardness threshold. If the hardness exceeds the standard at the end of the washing cycle and there is no rinsing stage in the current cycle, then the first rinsing stage can be the first rinsing stage of the next washing cycle.

[0080] The reason for choosing to perform the regeneration process in the first rinse stage is that the regeneration process requires water inlet and drainage operations, while the rinse stage itself has these capabilities. Performing regeneration in the rinse stage allows for the reuse of the water inlet and drainage operations from the rinse stage, avoiding additional water circuit switching and minimizing interference with the normal washing process. When the regeneration process is performed in the first rinse stage, the regeneration valve can be opened first to allow the sodium ion-containing regeneration solution to enter the resin chamber for ion exchange. Then, the water inlet valve can be opened to allow rinsing water to enter the resin chamber for rinsing and to drain water containing calcium and magnesium ions. The regeneration process can be synchronized with the water inlet and drainage of the rinse stage. The rinsing water can share the same water inlet pipe as the rinse water, and the high-hardness water after rinsing can be discharged outside the dishwasher through the drain pump of the rinse stage.

[0081] By controlling the water softener to enter the regeneration process during the first rinse stage after the water hardness exceeds the preset hardness threshold, the regeneration process is coordinated with the dishwasher's rinse stage. The water inlet and outlet operations of the rinse stage are reused, reducing interference with the normal washing process and avoiding interruption of washing during the main wash stage for regeneration, which would affect the washing effect and improve the user experience.

[0082] In some embodiments, when the controller acquires the health status of the ion exchange material, it can calculate the health status by recording the single-process water volume at each regeneration trigger and comparing the subsequent single-process water volume with the initial processed water volume. The specific process is as follows: The controller first determines the initial water volume to be treated by the water softener. This initial water volume characterizes the maximum softening capacity of the ion exchange material in its pristine state, representing the maximum amount of water the ion exchange material can soften within one regeneration cycle when its adsorption capacity is optimal. The initial water volume can be the single-cycle water volume corresponding to the first triggering of the regeneration process, i.e., the single-cycle water volume recorded when the regeneration process is triggered for the first time after the water softener is put into use; or it can be the average of the single-cycle water volumes corresponding to each of the previous preset number of regeneration processes. Using the average of the previous few cycles can reduce the impact of single-measurement errors, making the initial water volume more representative.

[0083] For example, the specific number of consecutive preset times can be set according to actual needs, such as 3 times, 5 times, or 10 times. The more times, the more representative the initial treated water volume, but the longer the calculation time. The single treated water volume is the water volume softened by the water softener from the completion of the previous regeneration process to the triggering of the current regeneration process, that is, the total water volume softened by the water softener between two adjacent regeneration processes. This water volume reflects the total amount of calcium and magnesium ions adsorbed by the ion exchange material in one regeneration cycle, which can be obtained by accumulating the flow rate through the flow meter on the water softener's inlet pipe. The inlet flow rate is accumulated from the completion of the previous regeneration process until the current regeneration process is triggered, and the accumulated value is the single treated water volume corresponding to this regeneration process.

[0084] After determining the initial water volume, the controller divides the current single-cycle water volume by the initial water volume each time a regeneration process is triggered. This yields the health level, which is equal to the ratio of the water volume processed in each subsequent regeneration process to the initial water volume. The health level can be expressed as a percentage and stored in the controller. For example, 100% represents that the ion exchange material is in a brand-new state, and 0% represents that the ion exchange material has completely lost its softening ability.

[0085] For example, if the initial treated water volume is 60L and a single treated water volume in a regeneration process is 48L, then the health level can be 80%. If the single treated water volume drops to 30L, the health level can be 50%. A higher health level indicates that the subsequent single treated water volume is closer to the initial treated water volume, and the softening ability of the ion exchange material is maintained better, closer to its new state. A lower health level indicates that the subsequent single treated water volume is more significantly lower than the initial treated water volume, and the softening ability of the ion exchange material is more severely degraded, and the aging is more severe. The initial treated water volume can vary depending on the region and the hardness of the influent. For example, when the influent hardness is approximately 300mg / L, the initial treated water volume can be approximately 60L to 70L; when the influent hardness is approximately 500mg / L, the initial treated water volume can be approximately 30L.

[0086] In some embodiments, if the single-process water volume when the regeneration process is first triggered is too low, for example only 8L to 10L, which is far below the normal range, the controller can directly determine that the ion exchange material does not meet the usage requirements or that the water softener is abnormal, and output a prompt message without having to perform subsequent health calculations.

[0087] In some embodiments, the calculated health level can be used to determine the corresponding regeneration level. The health level range can be multiple continuous numerical ranges divided according to the health level value. The health level range corresponds one-to-one with the regeneration level, and the health level and the regeneration intensity corresponding to the regeneration level are inversely proportional. That is, the lower the health level, the higher the corresponding regeneration level and the stronger the regeneration intensity; the higher the health level, the lower the corresponding regeneration level and the weaker the regeneration intensity.

[0088] For example, three health status ranges and three regeneration levels can be preset. The high health status range can be 80% to 100%, corresponding to the low regeneration level; the medium health status range can be 50% to 80%, corresponding to the medium regeneration level; and the low health status range can be below 50%, corresponding to the high regeneration level. Ion exchange materials with high health status have strong adsorption capacity and can be fully restored in one regeneration cycle, requiring less regenerant volume, lower regenerant concentration, and shorter rinsing time. Ion exchange materials with low health status are severely aged, with decreased adsorption capacity, requiring more regenerant volume, higher regenerant concentration, and longer rinsing time to fully replace calcium and magnesium ions and rinse them clean. The inverse relationship between health status and regeneration intensity can be reflected in the fact that for every certain percentage decrease in health status, the regenerant volume or regenerant concentration increases accordingly. The number of health status ranges and regeneration levels can be set according to actual needs, and is not limited to three. The method of obtaining health status is not limited to calculation through the softened water volume ratio; it can also be obtained through other sensors or estimation methods. This embodiment is only illustrative and does not limit this.

[0089] By determining the initial treated water volume of the ion exchange material in its pristine state as a baseline, and determining the health status based on the ratio of subsequent single-treatment water volume to the initial treated water volume, a quantitative assessment of the softening capacity retention of the ion exchange material is achieved. This method does not require additional sensors and can be calculated using the existing water volume measurement data of the water softener. The corresponding regeneration level is determined based on the health status range, enabling adaptive adjustment of the regeneration intensity according to the aging degree of the ion exchange material. Severely aged ion exchange materials are regenerated with stronger parameters to ensure full recovery of softening capacity, while newer ion exchange materials are regenerated with weaker parameters to save regeneration salt and water. This extends the service life of the ion exchange material and ensures the softening effect of the water softener. Together with the regeneration level adjustment based on the hardness of the output water, this constitutes a two-dimensional adaptive regeneration control.

[0090] In some embodiments, when the controller controls the water softener to enter the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration level, it may specifically include two stages: regeneration fluid replacement and clean water rinsing. The regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration level may include at least one of the following: regeneration fluid dosage, regeneration fluid concentration, regeneration time, and rinsing time. Different regeneration levels correspond to different combinations of regeneration parameters. Levels with higher regeneration intensity correspond to a larger regeneration fluid dosage, a higher regeneration fluid concentration, and a longer rinsing time.

[0091] The first stage is the replacement stage. The controller opens the regeneration valve of the water softener according to the regenerant dosage and concentration corresponding to the target regeneration level, allowing the sodium-ion-containing regenerant to enter the resin chamber. The regeneration valve controls the passage between the brine chamber and the resin chamber; when open, the brine chamber and resin chamber are connected, allowing the regenerant to flow into the resin chamber. The sodium-ion-containing regenerant can be a solution used to regenerate ion exchange materials, providing the sodium ions needed to replace calcium and magnesium ions. The regenerant can be a sodium chloride aqueous solution, a saturated sodium chloride brine solution, or a sodium chloride solution of a preset concentration. After entering the resin chamber, the regenerant can fully contact the ion exchange materials. The sodium ions in the regenerant react with the calcium and magnesium ions adsorbed on the ion exchange materials, eluting the calcium and magnesium ions from the materials and dissolving them in the regenerant, thus restoring the ion exchange materials' ability to adsorb calcium and magnesium ions. After the regeneration valve opens, the regenerant in the brine chamber can flow into the resin chamber by gravity or under the pressure of the inlet water. The replacement process can continue for the regeneration time corresponding to the target regeneration level to ensure thorough replacement.

[0092] The second stage is the rinsing stage. After the replacement is complete, the controller opens the water inlet valve of the water softener, allowing rinsing water to enter the resin chamber for rinsing before being discharged outside the dishwasher. The water inlet valve controls the entry of external water into the water softener. The rinsing water is clean water, which flushes out the calcium and magnesium ions and residual regeneration solution displaced from the resin chamber. The hard water containing a high concentration of calcium and magnesium ions is then discharged from the dishwasher via a drain pump. The rinsing time can be determined based on the target regeneration level or adjusted according to the health of the ion exchange materials. Ion exchange materials with lower health are more severely aged and can be rinsed for a longer time to ensure thorough cleaning.

[0093] In some embodiments, a short settling time can be set between the replacement stage and the rinsing stage to allow the regenerated solution to fully contact the ion exchange material and ensure a more complete replacement reaction. Alternatively, the process can be performed continuously without an interval. The regeneration process can be performed during the rinsing stage of the dishwasher, reusing the water inlet and drainage operations of the rinsing stage. The rinsing water can share the same inlet pipe as the rinsing water. The amount, concentration, and rinsing duration of the regenerated solution can be factory-preset fixed parameters, or they can be adaptively adjusted according to the hardness range of the effluent or the health of the ion exchange material, in conjunction with the method for determining the target regeneration level.

[0094] By first controlling the opening of the regeneration valve to allow sodium-ion-containing regeneration solution to enter the resin chamber and replace calcium and magnesium ions, and then controlling the opening of the water inlet valve to allow rinsing water to enter the resin chamber for rinsing and discharge to the outside of the dishwasher, this two-stage process of replacement followed by rinsing ensures that the calcium and magnesium ions adsorbed on the ion exchange material are fully washed away and discharged, restoring the ion exchange material's ability to adsorb calcium and magnesium ions. Simultaneously, the rinsing step prevents residual regeneration solution and high-hardness water from entering the washing water path and affecting the quality of subsequent washes. The regeneration parameters are adaptively adjusted according to the target regeneration level, matching the regeneration intensity with the dual-dimensional judgment results of water hardness and health, avoiding incomplete regeneration or waste of regeneration salt caused by fixed regeneration parameters.

[0095] In some embodiments, the controller can also adaptively set a preset health threshold based on the hardness of the influent water, and output a replacement prompt when the health level is lower than the preset health threshold. The preset health threshold can be a critical value for replacing the health of the ion exchange material. When the health level is lower than this critical value, it indicates that the softening ability of the ion exchange material has deteriorated to the point that it can no longer meet the requirements of the washing water quality, and it needs to be replaced.

[0096] The controller can obtain the inlet water hardness of the water softener in two ways: The first method involves calculating the influent hardness based on the single-cycle water volume between two adjacent regeneration processes. The preset maximum adsorption capacity of the ion exchange material is the maximum total amount of calcium and magnesium ions that the ion exchange material can adsorb, which is determined by the amount of ion exchange material and its properties, and can be a fixed value calibrated at the factory. Since the total amount of calcium and magnesium ions adsorbed by the ion exchange material in one regeneration cycle is equal to the product of the influent hardness and the single-cycle water volume, regeneration is triggered when the ion exchange material is saturated. Therefore, the influent hardness is equal to the preset maximum adsorption capacity divided by the single-cycle water volume. This method does not require additional hardware and can be achieved using the existing water volume metering data of the water softener.

[0097] The second method involves installing a water hardness sensor at the inlet of the water softener. This sensor directly detects the hardness of the incoming water and sends the data to the controller. This method provides more direct results, and the inlet water temperature is relatively stable, resulting in higher detection accuracy without the need for temperature compensation. Both methods can be used individually or configured simultaneously and cross-validated.

[0098] After acquiring the influent water hardness, the controller sets a preset health threshold based on this hardness. The preset health threshold is directly proportional to the influent water hardness; that is, the higher the influent water hardness, the higher the preset health threshold. This is because in areas with higher influent water hardness, the ion exchange material adsorbs more calcium and magnesium ions per regeneration cycle, leading to faster aging and degradation. Therefore, a higher replacement threshold is set to promptly remind the user to replace the material. The controller can set the preset health threshold using a direct linear relationship, such as increasing the preset health threshold by a certain percentage for every 100 mg / L increase in influent water hardness. Alternatively, it can use a table showing the correspondence between preset influent water hardness and preset health thresholds. For example, when the influent water hardness is approximately 300 mg / L, the preset health threshold can be set to approximately 15%, meaning a replacement reminder is given when the health level falls below 15%; when the influent water hardness is approximately 500 mg / L, the preset health threshold can be set to approximately 33%, meaning a replacement reminder is given when the health level falls below 33%. The preset health threshold is not only directly proportional to the influent water hardness, but also inversely proportional to the initial treated water volume. A larger initial treated water volume indicates a higher amount of ion exchange material, stronger maximum adsorption capacity, a larger allowable decay margin, and a lower corresponding preset health threshold. The influent water hardness and preset health threshold can be stored locally on the controller or synchronously uploaded to the cloud.

[0099] When the water softener's health level falls below a preset threshold, the controller outputs a notification message, indicating a need to replace the ion exchange material or the entire water softener. This notification can be displayed on the dishwasher's control panel or by flashing indicator lights. It can also be pushed to the user's mobile device or uploaded to the cloud for remote monitoring by after-sales personnel. Users or after-sales personnel can check the health level of the ion exchange material via the dishwasher's control panel or mobile device. When the health level falls below the preset threshold, it should be replaced promptly. Replacement can be done by replacing only the ion exchange material within the resin chamber or by replacing the entire water softener. After-sales personnel can check the water softener's health level in advance via the cloud. If the health level is below the preset threshold, spare ion exchange material can be prepared before the on-site maintenance visit, allowing for direct replacement and avoiding a second visit due to lack of spare parts.

[0100] By providing two methods for obtaining inlet water hardness—water volume estimation and sensor detection—and setting a preset health threshold in a direct proportional relationship with the inlet water hardness, the preset health threshold adaptively adjusts with the inlet water hardness. A higher preset health threshold corresponds to higher inlet water hardness to promptly remind replacement, while a lower preset health threshold corresponds to lower inlet water hardness to avoid premature replacement, overcoming the shortcomings of fixed thresholds that cannot adapt to different inlet water hardness scenarios. At the same time, it supports displaying health information through multiple channels such as panels, mobile terminals, and the cloud, making it convenient for users and after-sales personnel to obtain it in a timely manner. After-sales personnel can remotely check the health status through the cloud and prepare spare parts in advance, improving maintenance efficiency and reducing maintenance costs.

[0101] This disclosure also provides a control method for a dishwasher, which can be applied to or operated in any of the dishwashers described above. The dishwasher includes a water softener, and the resin chamber of the water softener contains ion exchange material. The method may include the following steps: First, the hardness of the water output from the water softener and the health of the ion exchange material are obtained. The health is used to characterize the degree to which the softening ability of the ion exchange material is maintained relative to its virgin state.

[0102] In this step, the hardness of the outlet water can be used to characterize the content of calcium and magnesium ions in the water softener's outlet water, reflecting the softening effect of the water softener on the incoming water. The higher the hardness of the outlet water, the closer the calcium and magnesium ions adsorbed by the ion exchange material are to saturation, and the worse the softening effect. The health status can be used to characterize the degree to which the softening capacity of the ion exchange material is maintained relative to its pristine state. The higher the health status, the closer the ion exchange material is to its pristine state, and the stronger its softening capacity. The lower the health status, the more severe the decline in the softening capacity of the ion exchange material, and the higher its aging degree. The outlet water hardness and health status can be obtained in real time by the dishwasher's controller. The outlet water hardness can be calculated by detecting the outlet water temperature and conductivity using a sensor component located downstream of the water softener's outlet. The health status can be calculated by recording the single-process water volume between two adjacent regeneration processes and comparing it with the initial processed water volume. Specific acquisition methods can be found in the aforementioned embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0103] Secondly, if the hardness of the output water is greater than the preset hardness threshold, the first regeneration level is determined according to the hardness range in which the output water hardness is located, and the second regeneration level is determined according to the health range in which the health is located. The hardness range corresponds one-to-one with the regeneration level, the health range corresponds one-to-one with the regeneration level, and the health and regeneration intensity are inversely proportional.

[0104] In this step, the preset hardness threshold can be the critical value of the outlet water hardness that triggers the regeneration of the water softener. When the outlet water hardness exceeds this critical value, it indicates that the softening capacity of the ion exchange material has decreased to the point where regeneration is necessary. The hardness range can be multiple continuous numerical ranges divided according to the outlet water hardness value. Different hardness ranges reflect different levels of water hardness, and each hardness range corresponds to a regeneration level. The higher the outlet water hardness, the higher the regeneration level and the stronger the regeneration intensity. The health range can be multiple continuous numerical ranges divided according to the health value. Each health level corresponds to a regeneration level, and health level and regeneration intensity are inversely proportional; that is, the lower the health level, the higher the regeneration level and the stronger the regeneration intensity, and vice versa. When the outlet water hardness exceeds the preset hardness threshold, the controller independently judges both outlet water hardness and health level to determine the first and second regeneration levels, respectively.

[0105] Next, the higher regeneration intensity between the first and second regeneration levels is determined as the target regeneration level, and the water softener is controlled to enter the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration level.

[0106] In this step, the controller compares the first and second regeneration levels obtained independently from two dimensions, and selects the one with higher regeneration intensity as the target regeneration level. This ensures that the water softener can achieve sufficient regeneration even if either dimension is abnormal: when the output water hardness is high but the water health is high, the hardness dimension provides a higher level, and regeneration is performed at that higher level; when the health is low but the output water hardness has not significantly exceeded the standard, the health dimension provides a higher level, and regeneration is also performed at that higher level, thus avoiding insufficient regeneration caused by single-dimensional judgment. The regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration level may include at least one of the following: regeneration liquid dosage, regeneration liquid concentration, regeneration time, and rinsing time. The controller controls the water softener to execute the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration level. The regeneration process may include two stages: regeneration liquid replacement and clean water rinsing, as detailed in the aforementioned embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0107] Using the above method, when the hardness of the outlet water exceeds the preset hardness threshold, the dishwasher independently determines the regeneration level based on two dimensions: the current saturation state reflected by the outlet water hardness and the long-term aging degree reflected by the health status. It then uses the higher regeneration intensity level as the target regeneration level to control the water softener's regeneration, achieving dual-dimensional adaptive control of regeneration. This eliminates the need for users to manually set the water hardness level, automatically determining the regeneration level and timing. It avoids insufficient or excessive regeneration caused by single-dimensional judgment, ensuring that the dishwasher continuously uses soft water for washing operations and inhibiting the deposition and formation of limescale on tableware and internal dishwasher components.

[0108] It should be understood that the sequence number of each step in the above embodiments does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0109] Corresponding to the dishwasher control method described in the above embodiments, Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a dishwasher control device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. The device can be implemented as part or all of a computer device by software, hardware, or a combination of both. This computer device can be... Figure 7 The electronic device shown.

[0110] In this embodiment, the dishwasher is equipped with a water softener, and the resin chamber of the water softener contains ion exchange material; see reference. Figure 6 The dishwasher control unit 600 includes: The acquisition unit 601 is used to acquire the hardness of the water output from the water softener and the health of the ion exchange material, wherein the health is used to characterize the degree to which the softening ability of the ion exchange material is maintained relative to its virgin state. The determining unit 602 is used to determine the first regeneration level according to the hardness range of the effluent hardness if the effluent hardness is greater than the preset hardness threshold, and to determine the second regeneration level according to the health range of the health. The hardness range corresponds one-to-one with the regeneration level, the health range corresponds one-to-one with the regeneration level, and the health and regeneration intensity are inversely proportional. The control unit 603 is used to determine the target regeneration level between the first regeneration level and the second regeneration level, which has a higher regeneration intensity, and to control the water softener to enter the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration level.

[0111] It is understood that the dishwasher control device embodiments and any implementation thereof correspond to the dishwasher control method embodiments and any implementation thereof. The technical effects corresponding to the dishwasher control device embodiments and any implementation thereof can be found in the aforementioned technical effects corresponding to the dishwasher control method embodiments and any implementation thereof, and will not be repeated here.

[0112] It should be noted that the dishwasher control device provided in the above embodiments is only illustrated by the division of the above functional modules. In actual applications, the above functions can be assigned to different functional modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.

[0113] The functional units and modules in the above embodiments can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional unit. Furthermore, the specific names of the functional units and modules are only for easy differentiation and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0114] It should be noted that the information interaction and execution process between the above-mentioned devices / units are based on the same concept as the method embodiments of this disclosure. For details on their specific functions and technical effects, please refer to the method embodiments section, and they will not be repeated here.

[0115] This disclosure also provides an electronic device, which includes one or more processors and a memory; The memory is coupled to one or more processors. The memory is used to store computer program code, which includes computer instructions. One or more processors call the computer instructions to cause the electronic device to perform the aforementioned control method for the dishwasher.

[0116] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. The electronic device 700 can be a mobile phone, smart screen, tablet computer, wearable electronic device, in-vehicle electronic device, augmented reality (AR) device, virtual reality (VR) device, laptop computer, ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC), netbook, personal digital assistant (PDA), projector, or a communication device such as a server, storage device, or base station, or a smart car, etc. This disclosure does not limit the specific type of electronic device.

[0117] The memory 701 can be used to store computer programs 702 and modules. The processor 703 executes various functional applications and data processing of the electronic device by running the software programs and modules stored in the memory 701. The memory 701 may mainly include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store the operating system, application programs required for at least one function (such as sound playback function, image playback function, etc.), etc.; the data storage area may store data created according to the use of the electronic device (such as audio data, telephone directory, etc.). In addition, the memory 701 may include high-speed random access memory, and may also include non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device, flash memory device, or other volatile solid-state storage device.

[0118] The processor 703 may include one or more processors such as a central processing unit (CPU), an application processor (AP), and a baseband processor. The processor can serve as the nerve center and command center of the electronic device. The processor 703 can generate operation control signals based on instruction opcodes and timing signals to control instruction fetching and execution. The memory 701 can be used to store executable program code, including instructions. The processor 703 executes various functional applications and data processing of the electronic device by running the instructions stored in the memory. The memory 701 may include a program storage area and a data storage area, such as storing data for audio signals to be played. For example, the memory may be Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDR) or Flash memory.

[0119] This disclosure also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions; when the computer-readable storage medium is used on an electronic device, it causes the electronic device to execute the aforementioned dishwasher control method.

[0120] The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or can include one or more data storage devices such as servers or data centers that can be integrated with media. The available medium can be magnetic media (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media, or semiconductor media (e.g., solid-state disks (SSDs)).

[0121] This disclosure also provides a computer program product containing computer instructions, which, when run on an electronic device, enables the electronic device to execute the aforementioned dishwasher control method.

[0122] The computer storage medium and computer program product provided in the above-described embodiments are used to execute the methods provided above. Therefore, the beneficial effects they can achieve can be referred to the beneficial effects corresponding to the methods provided above, and will not be repeated here.

[0123] In the above embodiments, implementation can also be achieved, in whole or in part, through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, it can be implemented, in whole or in part, as a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this disclosure are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible to a computer, or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The storage medium can be a magnetic disk, optical disk, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, hard disk drive (HDD), or solid-state drive (SSD), etc., and the storage medium can also include combinations of the above types of memory.

[0124] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts that are not described in detail or recorded in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0125] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments claimed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this disclosure.

[0126] In the embodiments provided in this disclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed devices / electronic devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device / electronic device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of modules or units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be through some interfaces; indirect couplings or communication connections between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0127] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0128] The technical features of the various embodiments described above in this disclosure can be combined arbitrarily without conflict. For the sake of brevity, this specification does not describe all possible combinations, but as long as these combinations do not violate the technical spirit of this disclosure, they should all be considered within the scope of this disclosure. Based on the content disclosed in this disclosure, those skilled in the art can reasonably combine, delete, or replace the technical features of the above embodiments according to actual needs, and such modifications and variations all fall within the protection scope of this disclosure.

[0129] The above-described embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this disclosure, and are not intended to limit it. Although this disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure, and should all be included within the protection scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A dishwasher, characterized in that, The dishwasher includes a water softener and a controller; The water softener is configured to soften the inlet water of the dishwasher, and the resin chamber of the water softener contains ion exchange material. The controller, connected to the water softener, is configured to: The water hardness of the water from the water softener and the health of the ion exchange material are obtained, wherein the health is used to characterize the degree to which the softening ability of the ion exchange material is maintained relative to its virgin state. If the hardness of the effluent is greater than a preset hardness threshold, a first regeneration level is determined based on the hardness range in which the effluent hardness is located, and a second regeneration level is determined based on the health range in which the health is located. The hardness range corresponds one-to-one with the regeneration level, the health range corresponds one-to-one with the regeneration level, and the health is inversely proportional to the regeneration intensity corresponding to the regeneration level. The higher regeneration intensity between the first regeneration setting and the second regeneration setting is determined as the target regeneration setting, and the water softener is controlled to enter the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration setting.

2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dishwasher also includes a water collection tank and a sensing component; The sensing component is disposed on the water collection tank, which is connected to the water outlet of the water softener. The sensing component is configured to acquire the water outlet temperature and water conductivity of the water softener. The controller acquires the hardness of the water from the water softener, specifically configured to: determine the hardness of the water from the water softener based on a pre-stored correspondence between conductivity and hardness, according to the water temperature and the water conductivity; wherein, the correspondence between conductivity and hardness is a mapping relationship between conductivity and hardness determined by the reaction of sodium ions replacing calcium and magnesium ions through the ion exchange material of the water softener under stable conditions of the influent ion composition of the water softener.

3. The dishwasher according to claim 2, characterized in that, The controller, based on a pre-stored relationship between conductivity and water hardness, determines the water hardness of the water softener according to the water temperature and the water conductivity, specifically configured as follows: Obtain a preset reference temperature, wherein the preset reference temperature is a calibration temperature that defines the preset relationship between conductivity and water hardness. Based on the difference between the outlet water temperature and the preset reference temperature, the outlet water conductivity is temperature compensated to obtain the conductivity at the reference temperature; Based on the relationship between conductivity and water hardness, the conductivity at the reference temperature is converted into the water hardness of the water softener.

4. The dishwasher according to claim 3, characterized in that, The relationship between conductivity and effluent hardness is a preset linear conversion relationship, which includes a conversion slope and a conversion intercept; the controller is also configured to perform self-learning calibration on the linear conversion relationship, specifically configured as follows: During the preset number of water inlet cycles after the water softener completes the regeneration process, multiple sets of water temperature and water conductivity samples are collected, and the average value of the water hardness is calculated as the calibration benchmark hardness. If the deviation between the calibration reference hardness and the reference output hardness of the water softener in its new state exceeds a preset deviation threshold, the conversion slope and the conversion intercept are self-learned and calibrated and updated according to the deviation, and the preset hardness threshold is adjusted accordingly based on the calibrated and updated conversion slope and conversion intercept to ensure that the regeneration triggering timing remains consistent before and after calibration.

5. The dishwasher according to claim 2, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to: The volume of water treated in a single cycle between two adjacent regeneration processes is obtained, and the hardness of the inlet water of the water softener is determined based on the ratio of the preset maximum adsorption capacity of the ion exchange material to the volume of water treated in a single cycle. Based on the influent hardness and the ion exchange capacity of the water softener, a theoretical curve is determined showing the change in effluent hardness with the cumulative treated water volume since the completion of the last regeneration process. The hardness of the effluent is compared with the theoretical hardness at the corresponding cumulative treated water volume on the theoretical curve. If the deviation between the two exceeds a preset range, it is determined that the sensing component has a detection abnormality and a calibration prompt message is output. The controller controls the water softener to enter the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration level. Specifically, it is configured that if the hardness of the effluent is greater than a preset hardness threshold and no abnormality is detected in the sensing component, the controller controls the water softener to enter the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration level.

6. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The preset hardness threshold is the sum of the baseline output hardness of the water softener in a brand new state and the preset margin. The preset margin is used to characterize the margin that allows the water softener's softening capacity to decay. The controller controls the water softener to enter the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration level. Specifically, it is configured to control the water softener to enter the regeneration process in the first rinsing stage after the hardness of the effluent exceeds the preset hardness threshold, according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration level.

7. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The controller acquires the health status of the ion exchange material, specifically configured as follows: The initial water volume of the water softener is determined, wherein the initial water volume is used to characterize the maximum softening capacity of the ion exchange material in a brand new state, the initial water volume is the single water volume corresponding to the first triggering of the regeneration process, or the average value of the single water volume corresponding to each regeneration process within a consecutive preset number of times, and the single water volume is the water volume softened by the water softener from the completion of the previous regeneration process to the triggering of the current regeneration process. The health of the ion exchange material is determined by the ratio of the single-process water volume corresponding to each subsequent regeneration process to the initial water volume.

8. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The controller controls the water softener to enter the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration level, and is specifically configured as follows: The regeneration valve of the water softener is opened to allow sodium-containing regeneration solution to enter the resin chamber of the water softener, wherein the regeneration solution is used to provide sodium ions to replace calcium and magnesium ions; The water inlet valve of the water softener is opened so that rinsing water enters the resin chamber for rinsing and then is discharged outside the dishwasher.

9. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to: The volume of water processed in a single cycle between two adjacent regeneration processes is obtained, and the hardness of the inlet water of the water softener is determined based on the ratio of the preset maximum adsorption capacity of the ion exchange material to the volume of water processed in a single cycle; or, the hardness of the inlet water of the water softener is detected by controlling a water hardness sensor installed at the inlet of the water softener. Based on the influent hardness, a preset health threshold is determined, wherein the preset health threshold is directly proportional to the influent hardness; When the health level is lower than the preset health level threshold, a prompt message is output, which is used to prompt the replacement of the ion exchange material or the water softener.

10. A method for controlling a dishwasher, characterized in that, The dishwasher includes a water softener, and the resin chamber of the water softener contains ion exchange material; comprising: The water hardness of the water from the water softener and the health of the ion exchange material are obtained, wherein the health is used to characterize the degree to which the softening ability of the ion exchange material is maintained relative to its virgin state. If the hardness of the effluent is greater than the preset hardness threshold, then the first regeneration level is determined according to the hardness range in which the effluent hardness is located, and the second regeneration level is determined according to the health range in which the health is located. The hardness range corresponds one-to-one with the regeneration level, the health range corresponds one-to-one with the regeneration level, and the health and regeneration intensity are inversely proportional. The higher regeneration intensity between the first regeneration setting and the second regeneration setting is determined as the target regeneration setting, and the water softener is controlled to enter the regeneration process according to the regeneration parameters corresponding to the target regeneration setting.

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