Device having dispensing module and/or sensor module and energy store, and use
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers often require manual user intervention to account for varying soiling levels, leading to suboptimal cleaning results due to the lack of automatic and reliable adjustment of parameters.
Innovation Solution
A device with a housing containing a dispensing module for releasing preparations and a sensor module to determine treatment chamber conditions, both powered by an electrochemical energy store, which adjusts operations based on sensor information to enhance cleaning efficacy and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual user intervention is used to adjust parameters for varying soiling levels, then user control is maintained, but cleaning results become suboptimal due to lack of automatic adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor module automatically detects soiling levels and the control unit automatically adjusts operational parameters without user intervention. The system serves itself by using sensor information to determine and execute appropriate cleaning programs, eliminating the need for manual parameter adjustment while ensuring consistent cleaning results.
2Reliability
If appliance parameters are automatically adjusted based on detergent type, then cleaning optimization is achieved, but results still need improvement in many situations
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor module provides real-time feedback on actual soiling conditions during the cleaning process. The control unit receives this sensor information and dynamically adjusts operational parameters based on the detected soiling level, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to varying scenarios and continuously optimizes cleaning results.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static parameter adjustment based solely on detergent type to dynamic parameter adjustment that responds to real-time sensor information about soiling levels. The operational parameters are continuously adapted during the cleaning process based on actual conditions detected by the sensor module.
3Reliability
If an electrochemical energy storage device is added to power the dispensing and sensor modules, then operational reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrochemical energy storage device is integrated into the existing device housing, merging the power supply function with the structural housing. This combination approach adds the necessary energy storage capability while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity by consolidating components within the existing structural framework.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device improves cleaning results by automatically adjusting parameters based on real-time sensor data, ensuring consistent and reliable performance across different soiling scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
with at least one electrochemical energy storage device for supplying the dispensing module and/or the sensor module with electrical energy
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to, inter alia, a device (100) for use in a household appliance (108), in particular a washing machine and/or a dishwasher, said device (100) comprising at least one housing (104), wherein the housing (104) is designed to be positioned in a treatment chamber (106) of a household appliance (108), wherein the housing (104) has at least one dispensing module (110) which is designed to release at least one preparation into the treatment chamber (106) of the household appliance (108) and/or to trigger a dispensing action, and/or at least one sensor module (112) which is designed to determine characteristic sensor information for the status of the treatment chamber (106) of the household appliance (108) and/or the device (100), and comprising at least one electrochemical energy store (114) for supplying the dispensing module (110) and/or the sensor module (112) with electrical energy, wherein the energy store (114) is arranged inside the housing (104) and has temperature resistance and/or impulse stability with respect to electrical discharges.