Dishwasher Power Cutoff With External End-of-Cycle Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances, such as dishwashers, continue to consume energy after the completion of a treatment process due to remaining connected to the power supply until manually switched off, leading to increased energy consumption in the annual energy balance.
Innovation Solution
A household dishwasher is designed to automatically disconnect from the power supply network after a treatment process, using a transmission interface to signal an external display device to indicate process completion, thereby eliminating standby losses without user intervention, and utilizing a self-retaining contact circuit to ensure complete shutdown.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the household appliance remains connected to the power supply network after the end of a treatment process, then the optical display means can continue to display operating information, but energy consumption increases due to standby losses
Solution Approach 1:
The display function is segmented from the main appliance body and relocated to an external display device. The control unit of the household appliance communicates with the external display via a transmission interface, allowing the appliance to be disconnected from the power supply while the display continues to show operating information externally.
Solution Approach 2:
A transmission interface acts as an intermediary between the control unit of the household appliance and the external display device. This intermediary enables communication and data transfer while allowing the appliance to be completely disconnected from the power supply, as the external display can be powered separately.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the household appliance is automatically disconnected from the power supply network after a treatment process, then energy consumption is reduced by eliminating standby losses, but the user loses direct visual feedback about treatment completion on the appliance itself
Solution Approach 1:
The display function is moved from the spatial dimension of the appliance body to an external dimension, allowing the display to be located elsewhere in the kitchen or living space. This dimensional relocation enables the appliance to be disconnected while maintaining visual feedback availability in another location.
3Ease of operation
If optical display means remain activated after the end of a treatment process until manual switching off, then users can see treatment status, but noticeable energy consumption increases in the annual energy balance
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service by automatically managing the display function through the external display device. The control unit automatically communicates treatment status and completion information to the external display without requiring the appliance to remain powered or the user to manually check the appliance, eliminating the need for continuous power supply to display components.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a household appliance (HG), in particular a household dishwashing machine, at least having a communication interface (U) which can be brought into signal contact (SV) with an external indicator means (EA). According to the invention, after completion of a treatment process, the household appliance (HG) is disconnected from a power supply network supplying the household appliance (HG) with electrical energy and before separating the household appliance (HG) from the power supply network, in particular promptly after the completion of the treatment process, a signal (SEnde) can be transferred via the communication interface (U) to activate the external indicator means (EA) to indicate at least the end of the treatment process.