Sanitary shower / washing device with shower and washing programs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sanitary shower/washing facilities lack the ability to dynamically adapt to a user's current needs and conditions, providing a fixed showering/washing experience that may not align with their current state or preferences.

Innovation Solution

A sanitary shower/washing facility equipped with a water delivery unit, situation detection unit, and user identification unit that collects and analyzes user data to generate a variable shower/washing program, allowing for real-time adjustments to parameters such as water temperature, pressure, and ambiance based on user status and preferences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed shower program is provided, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to user needs deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to user needsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting user presence and status before the shower program begins, then pre-configures the optimal shower program based on detected parameters. The control unit stores multiple shower programs and automatically selects the appropriate one based on user identification and current status, preparing the shower experience in advance without requiring manual user input during the shower process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If manual intervention is required to adjust shower parameters, then the automation level is reduced, but the ease of operation is improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation levelVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shower system performs self-service by automatically detecting user presence through sensors, identifying the user, determining their current status (such as time of day, weather conditions, or physiological state), and autonomously selecting and executing the appropriate shower program without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by making all configuration decisions based on detected parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of time

If shower parameters are manually adjusted, then the loss of time for configuration is reduced, but the productivity of the shower process is improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime for configurationVSAvoidproductivity of shower process
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring user status parameters (such as time of day, weather conditions, or physiological data) and using this feedback information to automatically adjust and select the optimal shower program. The control unit receives feedback from sensors and other data sources, then dynamically configures shower parameters to match current conditions, eliminating configuration time while optimizing the shower experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3705642B1Sanitary shower / washing device with shower and washing programs
Publication Date: 2023.07.26 HANS GROHE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3705642B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

Sanitary shower/washing unit capable of providing the user with a variable and, in particular, situational shower/washing program. The shower/washing unit comprises a water dispensing unit (1) configured to dispense water at a shower/washing location, a situation detection unit (2) configured to detect shower/washing situation data (Dsd), a user identification unit (2a) configured to identify a user at the shower/washing location, and a user state detection unit (2b) that detects at least one user state parameter indicative of the user's current state at the shower/washing location, wherein the shower/washing situation data includes corresponding user identification data (Bid) and user state data (Bzd), and a shower/washing process control unit (3).which is configured to provide shower/wash program suggestion data variably depending on the shower/wash situation data recorded by the situation detection unit, to store shower/wash program data, to define a current shower/wash program and to control each activated shower/wash process with the water delivered by the water delivery unit according to the defined current shower/wash program.