Dishwasher Door Auto-Hold During Drying with Deviation Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to ensure that a dishwasher program runs correctly even when the door is open during the drying phase, while also increasing customer safety and energy efficiency, as customers may mistakenly interpret the open door as an error or the end of the cycle, leading to incorrect interactions with the dishwasher.
Innovation Solution
The dishwasher automatically adjusts the door to a slightly open position during the drying phase, using sensors to detect deviations in the door opening and alert the user through communication outputs, allowing for automatic correction of the program sequence and ensuring safe operation by monitoring door movements and changes in the opening width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the door is opened during the drying phase to improve energy efficiency, then energy consumption is reduced, but customer safety and understanding of the process deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors door opening status during the drying phase and provides feedback to the communication output unit. When the door is opened beyond the predefined angle, the system communicates this status to the customer through the display or audio output, explaining that this is normal operation and not an error condition. This feedback loop maintains customer understanding and prevents unnecessary interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication output unit acts as an intermediary between the door opening mechanism and the customer. It translates the mechanical action of door opening into meaningful information for the customer, explaining the purpose and status of the drying process. This intermediary prevents misinterpretation of the open door as an error condition.
2Reliability
If sensors and communication outputs are added to monitor and communicate door status, then customer safety and process monitoring improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs multiple functions: it controls the door opening mechanism, monitors door position via sensors, manages the drying phase timing, and coordinates communication outputs. By making the control unit universal and multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved monitoring and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the door position sensor, control logic, and communication functionality into an integrated system managed by the control unit. Rather than having separate independent systems for sensing, controlling, and communicating, these functions are merged into a coordinated workflow within the control unit, reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a dishwasher (1), more particularly a household dishwasher, comprising a washing compartment (2) for receiving the load such as, crockery, glasses, cutlery or similar, and comprising at least one moveable door (3) for opening or closing the washing compartment (2), wherein, when the dishwasher (1) is on, the door (3) can be at least temporarily automatically held open in an only slightly open drying position, during a phase of at least one program cycle for drying the load. The dishwasher is designed so that in this drying position of the door (3) a deviation of the door opening from the automatically set opening width (W) of the drying position, caused by external forces, and/or a change in the on state of the dishwasher, and/or a change to the set phase of a program cycle of the dishwasher (1) can be detected and so that the dishwasher (1) can automatically react to such deviations or changes.