Method and system for performing a treatment by a household appliance on a textile material item based on an automatic treatment determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining textile treatment programs using infrared scanners are not sufficiently accurate and reliable, failing to effectively recognize fabric types and stains, which is crucial for precise treatment selection in household appliances.
Innovation Solution
A method involving dual scans with near-infrared and visible electromagnetic radiation to generate signals for fabric nature and color, combined with electronic processing to determine treatment programs, and optionally including additional scans for stained areas to account for stain type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If low/medium-range infrared scanners are used for fabric recognition, then the cost is reasonable, but the measurement precision and reliability of fabric type recognition is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple scanning technologies (infrared scanning and visible light scanning) into a single integrated system. The infrared scanner detects fabric material properties while the visible light scanner captures color information, and both signals are processed together to achieve accurate fabric recognition and treatment program determination, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary signal processing system that receives signals from both infrared and visible light scanners. This intermediary processing unit analyzes and combines the signals to determine fabric type, color, and appropriate treatment programs, enabling accurate recognition without requiring overly complex individual scanning devices
2Productivity
If automatic treatment determination is implemented, then productivity is improved, but the reliability of treatment selection is insufficient due to approximate fabric recognition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the signal processing system continuously analyzes signals from both scanners and adjusts treatment program selections based on the combined information. This feedback loop ensures that automatic treatment determination is both efficient and reliable, as the system refines its decisions based on comprehensive fabric analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters used for fabric analysis by incorporating both infrared signals (for material properties) and visible light signals (for color information). This multi-parameter approach enables reliable automatic treatment determination by considering multiple fabric characteristics simultaneously, rather than relying on approximate single-parameter recognition
3Measurement precision
If dual scans with near-infrared and visible electromagnetic radiation are performed, then measurement precision for fabric nature and color is improved, but device complexity and scanning time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic scanning actions where the infrared and visible light scanners operate in coordinated sequences. The system performs scans at optimized intervals and combines the periodic data streams efficiently, achieving high measurement precision for both fabric nature and color while minimizing total scanning time through rhythmic, coordinated operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary signal processing and analysis during the scanning process itself. By preparing and pre-processing signals from both scanners concurrently with the scanning operation, the system reduces post-processing time and achieves accurate fabric nature and color recognition without significant time loss
4Reliability
If additional scans for stained areas are included, then reliability of stain type recognition is improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality analysis by performing additional scans specifically on stained areas rather than the entire fabric. The system identifies stain locations and targets those specific regions for enhanced scanning, improving stain type recognition reliability while avoiding the complexity of uniformly scanning the entire fabric with multiple systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the scanning process into different phases: initial fabric characterization scanning, stain detection scanning, and targeted stain type analysis scanning. This segmentation allows the system to focus computational and scanning resources only where needed, improving stain recognition reliability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
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
Enhances the accuracy and reliability of fabric recognition and treatment program determination, enabling precise treatment selection for both clean and stained textile materials.
Implementation Method 1
a first scan is carried out on an area R of a textile material item by means of electromagnetic radiation E1 in a near-infrared NIR band to generate a first signal S1 indicative of the nature of the textile material in the scanned area
Implementation Method 2
a second scan is carried out on an area R of the textile material item by means of electromagnetic radiation E2 in a visible band to generate a second signal S2 indicative of the color of the textile material in the scanned area
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and a corresponding system for performing a treatment on a textile material item by means of a household appliance (5), wherein the method comprises the steps of carrying out, on an area of the textile material item, a first scan by means of electromagnetic radiation (E1) in the near-infrared band, to obtain a first signal (S1) indicative of the nature of the textile material in the scanned area, and a second scan by means of electromagnetic radiation in the visible band (E2) to obtain a second signal (S2) indicative of the color of the textile material in the scanned area, the method then provides transmitting the aforesaid first signal (S1) and second signal (S2) to electronic processing means (3) to determine a treatment program which can be performed on the textile material item by processing the aforesaid first signal (S1) and second signal (S2), finally the method comprises the steps of providing information about the determined treatment program to a control unit of a household appliance (5), and performing the selected treatment on the textile material item by means of said household appliance (5).