Dishwasher clean/dirty indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dishwasher status indicators are unreliable, often requiring manual intervention and failing to accurately determine whether dishes are clean or dirty, especially in multi-user households or when the dishwasher door is partially open, leading to potential contamination and resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
An automatic electronic indicator using sensors to determine door openness and cycle completion, along with user input, to provide a clear clean/dirty status through light-emitting diodes, eliminating the need for manual resetting and improving reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical device is used to collect water and activate an element to indicate cleanliness, then the indicator can show dish cleanliness status, but the reliability is affected by water patterns, device placement, and dishwasher water conservation settings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical water-collection device with an electronic sensor-based system. The sensor detects whether the dishwasher has completed a cycle through electronic means rather than mechanical water accumulation, eliminating the reliability issues associated with varying water patterns and placements while reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicator system automatically detects cycle completion and updates the cleanliness status without requiring manual intervention or resetting. The system serves itself by continuously monitoring the dishwasher state and autonomously providing accurate cleanliness indication.
2Measurement precision
If a time-based indicator is used to mark dishes as dirty after a set period, then the indicator can show dish cleanliness status, but it cannot accurately handle partial door openings where only the top rack is accessible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements different detection thresholds or sensitivity levels for different door opening scenarios. The sensor can distinguish between a door opened slightly (top rack only) versus a door opened fully (all racks accessible), allowing it to accurately determine whether dishes should be marked as dirty based on the actual degree of access provided.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a cycle-complete indicator light is used that turns off when the door is closed, then the indicator can show cycle completion, but it becomes useless for subsequent door openings and closings until another cycle is run
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains continuous functionality of the cleanliness indicator across multiple door operations. Unlike the cycle-complete light that resets with each door closure, this system continuously monitors and updates the cleanliness status, providing uninterrupted useful action for all users regardless of how many times the door is opened or closed between cycles.
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 solution provides accurate and automatic indication of dish cleanliness, reducing the risk of contamination and resource wastage by accurately tracking the cleanliness state of dishes without manual intervention, even when the door is partially open.
Implementation Method 1
a clean/dirty status indicator controlled by electronic logic
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic indicating device for showing the clean or dirty state of items in a dishwasher using a cycle sensor, a sensor to detect the openness of the dishwasher door, user input for toggling states, and logic to determine the correct state to display.