Plasma Garment Cleaning with Visual Feedback for Coverage Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing clothing cleaning devices lack visibility into the cleaning process, making it difficult for users to ensure comprehensive cleaning or refreshment, leading to potential over-cleaning or under-cleaning of certain areas.

Innovation Solution

A plasma cleaning device equipped with a plasma source, acceleration sensor, and communication unit, which allows users to select clothing items, determine cleaning paths, and visually track cleaned areas on an external display unit, ensuring optimal coverage and feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a plasma device is used to clean clothing, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the user cannot see where the garment has already been cleaned leading to potential over-cleaning or under-cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning coverage accuracyVSAvoidvisibility of cleaned areas
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color changes by displaying cleaned areas on an external display unit (such as a smartphone screen) using visual indicators like checked patterns or color coding. This allows users to see which areas have been cleaned, preventing over-cleaning or under-cleaning of garment regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary component - an external display unit - that acts as a mediator between the plasma cleaning device and the user. The display unit receives data from the device's sensors and presents visual feedback about cleaned areas, bridging the information gap.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the user manually tracks cleaned areas, then no additional hardware is needed, but the user must memorize cleaning status which leads to incomplete or repeated cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidcleaning completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically tracking and recording cleaned areas through sensors and processors, eliminating the need for user memory or manual tracking. The device autonomously monitors its own operation and provides feedback without requiring cognitive effort from the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by providing real-time visual information about cleaned areas through the external display unit. This feedback loop allows users to see the current cleaning status and adjust their cleaning path accordingly, ensuring complete coverage without repetition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If visual feedback is provided through an external display unit, then cleaning coverage is improved, but the device requires additional components for tracking and communication

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning path accuracyVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by using a multi-functional external display unit (such as a smartphone) that serves multiple purposes: displaying cleaned areas, providing navigation guidance, showing cleaning statistics, and communicating with the plasma device. This consolidates multiple functions into a single component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The external display unit acts as an intermediary that handles the complex tasks of data processing and visual presentation, allowing the plasma cleaning device itself to remain relatively simple while still providing advanced tracking and feedback capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The solution provides users with real-time visual feedback on cleaned areas, preventing over-cleaning or under-cleaning, and ensuring efficient use of the plasma cleaning device, while also offering statistical evaluations and treatment suggestions.

Implementation Method 1

a plasma source, in particular for deodorizing large surface areas, in particular of textiles or similar materials

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlasma: Plasma

Implementation Method 2

at least one acceleration sensor which detects a direction of movement and/or speed of movement of the plasma device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcceleration sensor detection: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentEP4008232B1Method for cleaning articles of clothing
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP4008232B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

A method for cleaning and/or refreshing garments (1) using a plasma device (2) is described, comprising the following steps: the user selecting a garment (1) to be cleaned or scanning the garment (1) to be cleaned using an external display unit, defining a starting point (4) of a desired cleaning area (3) and/or cleaning path (5), commencing the cleaning and/or refreshing of the garment (1), and displaying the cleaned and/or refreshed areas (3) of the garment (1) on the external display unit. A plasma device (2) used for such a method is also described.