A household appliance system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dishwasher control systems require manual selection of washing programs by users, which can lead to suboptimal performance due to the lack of automatic detection of load type and dirt type, potentially resulting in inefficient washing and drying.

Innovation Solution

A control method that uses a mobile device to record and process images of dishwasher contents, comparing them to prerecorded data on a server to automatically select the most suitable washing program based on load type and dirt type, while also providing layout suggestions and overload warnings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If automatic image processing is implemented to detect load type and dirt type, then washing performance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewashing performanceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary component that handles the complex image processing and program selection algorithms. The mobile device captures images and transmits them to the server, which then analyzes the images, determines load and dirt types, and selects appropriate washing programs. This mediator approach allows the dishwasher system to achieve automatic detection capabilities without embedding complex processing hardware directly in the appliance, thus improving washing performance while managing device complexity through distributed system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If manual program selection is replaced by automatic detection, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of information increases due to potential detection errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of useVSAvoidinformation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the server analyzes captured images using image processing algorithms to determine load type and dirt type, then selects washing programs accordingly. The system can provide feedback to users through the mobile device application, showing detected load characteristics and suggested programs. This feedback loop allows the system to operate automatically while maintaining information accuracy through continuous analysis and user verification capabilities, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and information loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3551024B1A household appliance system
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 ARCELIK AS
  • EP3551024B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3551024B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a control method that is suitable for use in a household appliance systenn (1) comprising a dishwasher (2), a network card (3) that is provided on the dishwasher (2) and that enables the dishwasher (2) to connect to the Internet, a control card (4) that is in communication with the network card (3) and that controls the dishwasher (2) programs, a mobile device (5) that can control the dishwasher (2) by accessing the dishwasher (2) via the Internet and a server (6) in communication with the mobile device (5) and/or the network card (3).