Dishwasher Optical Load Detection to Reduce Energy and Water Waste
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dishwashers often waste energy, clean water, and detergent due to inefficient loading detection, washing incompletely or fully loaded washware containers equally, which is environmentally and economically suboptimal.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher equipped with an optical unit to image washware containers and a processing unit to recognize markings, determining the loading state and optimizing resource usage by adjusting program sequences and operating parameters based on the load status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If loading detection is not implemented, then the dishwasher operates with fixed program sequences, but energy, water, and detergent are wasted on incompletely loaded containers
Solution Approach 1:
The optical unit captures an image of the washware container before the washing cycle begins. The processing unit analyzes the image to detect markings and determine loading state in advance, allowing the control unit to select an appropriate wash program before resources are consumed, thereby preventing energy waste without requiring complex real-time adjustments during washing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical loading detection systems with an optical imaging system. The optical unit captures images and the processing unit uses image analysis algorithms to detect markings and determine loading states, substituting mechanical sensors or switches with non-contact optical detection, thereby reducing mechanical complexity while enabling resource optimization
2Loss of substance
If loading detection is not implemented, then wash programs are not optimized, but incompletely loaded containers are washed the same as fully loaded ones
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects the loading state through optical imaging and autonomously selects the appropriate wash program without requiring user input. The processing unit analyzes markings on the container and self-determines the loading state, then the control unit automatically adjusts water usage and wash parameters, making the system self-optimizing while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The optical unit provides feedback about the loading state to the control unit through image analysis. The system continuously monitors the container loading condition and uses this feedback to adjust wash program selection and operating parameters, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents water waste while maintaining automatic operation
3Reliability
If markings are used for loading detection, then detection is simple and robust, but additional components are required on washware containers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses markings with different optical properties (such as color, reflectivity, or absorption characteristics) applied to washware containers to indicate loading states. These markings are passive visual indicators that can be detected by the optical unit without requiring active components on the containers, achieving reliable detection while maintaining container simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex sensors on the washware containers, the patent creates an optical copy (image) of the container and its markings using the optical unit. The processing unit analyzes this copied visual information to determine loading state, replacing physical sensing components on containers with non-contact optical imaging, thereby maintaining detection reliability without adding container complexity
4Productivity
If optical imaging is used for loading detection, then resource optimization is achieved, but image processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for loading detection from the captured images by focusing on detecting specific markings rather than analyzing the entire image. The processing unit is designed to identify predetermined marking patterns and determine loading states from these specific features, reducing processing complexity while maintaining washing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different processing approaches to different regions or features of the image based on their importance. The processing unit focuses computational resources on detecting and analyzing the predetermined markings that indicate loading state, while ignoring irrelevant image data, thereby optimizing processing efficiency without sacrificing detection accuracy
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
This approach ensures resource-saving washing operations, prevents wastage, enhances user-friendliness, and maintains system reliability and ecology by optimizing energy, water, and detergent usage based on actual load conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The optical unit (2) is attached outside the dishwasher (1) in such a way that it can receive light reflected or transmitted by the marking (4)
Implementation Method 2
The optical unit (2) is attached outside the dishwasher (1) in such a way that it can receive light reflected or transmitted by the marking (4)
Data Source
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AI summary
A dishwasher (1) comprising: an optical unit (2) designed to capture an image of a dishwashing container; and a computing unit designed to recognize at least one mark (4, 4a-4f) attached to the dishwashing container based on the image of the dishwashing container (3) captured by the optical unit and to determine the state of the dishwashing container's loading with dishwashing items based on the recognized at least one mark, wherein the computing unit (6) is designed to output the determined state of the dishwashing container's loading with dishwashing items.A method for operating a dishwasher is also described, comprising: capturing an image of a dishwashing container using an optical unit; based on the image of the dishwashing container captured by the optical unit, recognizing at least one marking attached to the dishwashing container using a computing unit; based on the recognized at least one marking, determining the state of the dishwashing container's load with dishwashing items using the computing unit; and outputting the determined state of the dishwashing container's load with dishwashing items using the computing unit.