dishwasher
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwasher technologies face challenges in accurately detecting the position and quantity of dishes due to the placement of position indicators on every area of the storage portion, leading to reduced accuracy and energy inefficiency, as well as difficulties in identifying dish material and shape, which affects washing and rinsing operations.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher equipped with a basket position estimating apparatus using a camera and feature points, such as handles or identification patterns, to estimate the basket position without the need for numerous indicators, improving appearance and accuracy of storage information while selectively controlling washing operations based on detected dish locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If position indicators are installed on every certain area of the storage portion, then the position of stored objects can be detected, but the appearance of the storage portion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the detection function from multiple distributed position indicators and concentrates it into a single detection indicator. This single indicator, combined with feature point detection technology, enables position detection without requiring numerous indicators across the storage portion, thus preserving appearance while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/visual system of multiple physical position indicators with an optical/image processing system. By using a camera to capture images and detect feature points (corners, edges, etc.), the system determines basket position without relying on numerous physical markers, thereby improving appearance while maintaining detection accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If position indicators are installed on every certain area of the storage portion, then position information can be acquired, but the number of indicators increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential detection function from multiple indicators and implements it through a single detection indicator combined with feature point detection. This reduces the number of indicators from multiple to one, significantly simplifying the device while maintaining the ability to acquire accurate storage information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feature points (corners, edges, intersections) of the basket structure itself as detection markers, eliminating the need for separate physical indicators. The basket's own geometric features are copied and utilized for detection purposes, reducing component count while maintaining detection capability.
3Reliability
If the entire area of the storage basket is washed, then all possible dishes are cleaned, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by washing only the specific areas where dishes are actually stored rather than the entire storage basket. By detecting the position of the storage basket and identifying areas containing dishes, the system concentrates washing resources on relevant locations, reducing energy consumption while ensuring complete cleaning of occupied areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by performing washing operations only on the necessary portions of the storage basket where dishes are present. Instead of washing the entire basket area, the system selectively treats only the occupied regions, reducing unnecessary energy expenditure while maintaining washing effectiveness.
4Ease of operation
If temperature increase time is used to identify dish amount, then the method is simple, but accuracy decreases due to material and shape variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal method (temperature increase time measurement) with an optical/image processing method. By using a camera to capture images of the storage basket and analyzing feature points, the system directly determines dish presence and quantity without relying on thermal properties, thereby improving accuracy while maintaining operational simplicity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is useful as a stored object detector and a method of detecting stored objects configured to capture an image a movable storage portion, and objects stored in the storage portion, and configured to acquire storage information including at least one of position, size and quantity of the stored object based on the captured image. In addition, disclosed herein is a dishwasher configured to identify at least storage area of dish stored in a dish storage basket. It is possible to estimate a position of a basket, although the number of feature points is small. Therefore, when installing a detection indicator corresponding to the feature point, which is separated from the general configuration, to the basket, it is not required to install a large number of detection indicator, and thus it is possible to improve the appearance of the dishwasher. In addition, since it is possible to use the configuration that is generally installed in the basket, as the feature point, it is not required to additionally install the detection indicator and thus it is possible to improve the appearance of the dishwasher.