Dishwasher Optical Loading Detection for Late-Cycle Wash Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional household dishwashers often face issues with incomplete cleaning and improper rinse-aid addition when users load items late or inappropriately during a wash cycle, leading to soiling and inefficient drying.
Innovation Solution
A household dishwasher equipped with an optical sensor and evaluating unit that captures and analyzes optical sensor signals to detect subsequent loading, determining the point in time of loading and adjusting the wash program accordingly to ensure a predetermined cleaning result, including adjusting detergent and rinse-aid addition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the door is opened for subsequent loading during a wash cycle, then the user can add more items to be washed, but the adding unit is reset causing insufficient rinse-aid addition
Solution Approach 1:
The controller receives feedback from the optical sensor detecting door opening events and subsequently adjusts the rinse-aid addition timing and quantity to compensate for the reset adding unit, ensuring sufficient rinse-aid is always added regardless of door opening interruptions
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the rinse-aid addition strategy based on the detected loading behavior, changing the addition timing from a fixed schedule to a flexible schedule that adapts to user actions and ensures proper drying conditions
2Productivity
If items are loaded late in the wash cycle, then the wash program can proceed without interruption, but complete cleaning of the newly loaded items is no longer ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor provides real-time feedback on loading events during the wash cycle, enabling the controller to detect when items are added late and automatically adjust subsequent wash parameters to ensure proper cleaning of all items
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of loading events using the optical sensor before the wash program completes, allowing it to prepare and execute compensatory actions such as extending wash time or adjusting detergent distribution to ensure complete cleaning
3Measurement precision
If the adding unit is reset upon door opening, then the system can track new loading events, but detergent and rinse-aid addition timing becomes misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary detection of door opening events and loading quantities using the optical sensor, then proactively adjusts the detergent and rinse-aid addition timing in advance to compensate for the reset adding unit, preventing timing misalignment before it affects the wash cycle
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically recalibrates the adding unit's operation schedule based on detected door opening events, adjusting the timing and quantity of detergent and rinse-aid addition to match the actual loading pattern while minimizing extension of the overall wash program duration
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
Ensures a consistent cleaning result, saves energy, time, and costs by preventing the need for re-washing or hand-drying, and optimizing the wash program to account for late or excessive item loading.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor (110) for capturing an optical sensor signal of the washing chamber (4) during a performance of the wash program
Data Source
AI summary
A household dishwasher includes a washing chamber, a controller apparatus configured to perform a wash program from a number of wash programs for washing items to be washed arranged in the washing chamber, an optical sensor configured to capture an optical sensor signal of the washing chamber during performance of the wash program, and an evaluating unit configured to ascertain a subsequent loading of items to be washed by a user as a function of the captured optical sensor signal of the washing chamber, to determine a point in time of the subsequent loading in the wash program, and to perform a predetermined action as a function of the ascertained subsequent loading and the determined point in time.