Water-bearing domestic appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers using sensor-controlled washing programs struggle to accurately assess the degree of soiling with newer detergents, leading to inadequate cleaning performance as the relationship between detected washing liquor soiling and actual item soiling is lost, resulting in inappropriate program control.
Innovation Solution
A water-bearing household appliance with actuators, a user interface, sensors, a determination unit, a control unit, and an adaptation unit that allows for manual selection of sensor settings and detergent type, enabling adaptive signal processing to correct detected soiling levels and adjust washing parameters accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensor-controlled washing programs are used with conventional detergents, then accurate assessment of item soiling is achieved, but the system fails to accurately assess soiling when newer detergents are used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptability by allowing the sensor setting to be changed based on the detergent type used. The control unit stores multiple sensor settings corresponding to different detergent types and selects the appropriate setting dynamically. This enables the measurement system to adapt its characteristics to match the specific detergent being used, maintaining measurement precision across different detergent formulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the sensor setting parameters depending on the detergent type. Different detergents have different optical properties that affect sensor readings, so the system adjusts sensor parameters (such as wavelength, integration time, or threshold values) to compensate for these variations. This ensures that the sensor accurately assesses soiling levels regardless of which detergent formulation is being used.
2Device complexity
If a uniform sensor-controlled washing program is applied, then the washing program can be simplified, but cleaning performance deteriorates when detergent effectiveness varies
Solution Approach 1:
The washing program is made dynamic by linking it to the selected detergent type and corresponding sensor setting. The control unit automatically adjusts washing parameters (temperature, cycle duration, rinsing phases) based on the detergent's cleaning performance characteristics. This maintains program simplicity from the user perspective while internally adapting to ensure reliable cleaning performance across different detergent formulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensor feedback during the washing cycle to monitor soiling levels and adjust the washing program accordingly. Based on the sensor setting selected for the specific detergent type, the control unit interprets sensor signals and modifies washing parameters in real-time to ensure optimal cleaning performance, compensating for variations in detergent effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If sensor settings are fixed for conventional detergents, then the control system remains simple, but the degree of soiling detection becomes inaccurate with newer detergent formulations
Solution Approach 1:
The control system implements dynamic sensor setting selection based on detergent type. Instead of fixed settings, the system stores multiple pre-calibrated sensor settings in the control unit and automatically selects the appropriate one based on which detergent is being used. This maintains relatively simple control logic while dramatically improving measurement precision across different detergent formulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary configuration by storing multiple sensor settings in advance, each optimized for specific detergent types. Before the washing cycle begins, the user selects the detergent type, and the control unit pre-loads the appropriate sensor setting. This preliminary preparation ensures accurate soiling detection from the start of the cycle without requiring complex real-time adjustments.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a water-bearing domestic appliance (100), in particular a dishwasher, having a number of actuators (110, 111, 112) for carrying out a plurality of dishwashing programs (P), a user interface (113) for selecting one of the plurality of dishwashing programs (P), a sensor (114) for providing a sensor signal (S) for specifying a parameter of a dishwashing liquor which is used for washing washware, a determination unit (115) for determining a sensor setting (E) from amongst a plurality of predetermined sensor settings for the sensor (114), a control unit (116) which is designed to drive the actuators (110, 111, 112) for carrying out the selected dishwashing program (P) by means of a signal processing system which uses the sensor signal (S), and an adjustment unit (117) for adjusting the signal processing system depending on the specific sensor setting (E).