Method for determining a position of an apparatus which can be inserted into a domestic device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliance systems, such as washing machines and dishwashers, face challenges in achieving consistent cleaning results due to manual dosing of cleaning agents, which can lead to suboptimal dosing times or incorrect placement of dosing devices within the appliance, resulting in variable cleaning outcomes and reliability issues.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize location detection through signal strength analysis from wireless communication networks to determine if a dosing device is correctly placed within the appliance's treatment room, ensuring accurate dosing and improved cleaning performance by outputting treatment room information based on detected location data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a dosing device is introduced into a treatment room of a household appliance, then automatic dosing of cleaning agents is enabled, but the dosing may occur too early, too late, or when the device is not in the treatment room, resulting in variable cleaning results
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the location of the dosing device using wireless signal strength detection and provides feedback to the control unit. The control unit adjusts dosing operations based on real-time location information, ensuring dosing occurs only when the device is correctly positioned in the treatment room. This closed-loop feedback mechanism eliminates the reliability issues of premature, delayed, or misplaced dosing while maintaining automatic dosing functionality.
2Ease of operation
If manual dosing of cleaning agents is used, then the system is simpler to operate, but the cleaning results are variable and suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The dosing device is designed to autonomously monitor its own location via wireless signal strength and automatically control dosing operations without user intervention. The control unit self-regulates the dosing process based on detected location information, eliminating the need for manual dosing while ensuring consistent and reliable cleaning results. This self-service approach maintains operational simplicity while dramatically improving cleaning result consistency.
3Device complexity
If the position of the dosing device is not monitored, then the device complexity is reduced, but the dosing accuracy and cleaning efficacy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical position monitoring mechanisms with wireless signal strength detection. The control unit determines the dosing device's location by analyzing the strength of wireless signals received from external networks, eliminating the need for physical sensors, switches, or mechanical detectors. This substitution maintains low device complexity while achieving high dosing placement accuracy and cleaning efficacy.
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 solution enhances the reliability and consistency of cleaning results by ensuring the dosing device is correctly positioned, allowing for precise control and regulation of the appliance's operations, thereby improving cleaning efficacy across various scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
the detected location information is representative of a signal strength of one or more wireless communication networks, wherein the signal strength is detected based on signals transmitted by the one or more communication networks
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method, which is carried out by at least one apparatus, comprising: detecting an item of location information which is indicative of a position of an apparatus which can be introduced into a liquid- and/or gas-carrying domestic device; determining an item of treatment chamber information which is indicative of a conclusion as to whether the at least one apparatus is inserted in a treatment chamber of the domestic device or not, wherein the item of treatment chamber information is determined at least partially based on the detected location information; and outputting or allowing output of the determined item of treatment chamber information. The invention additionally relates to an apparatus and to a system.