阅读说明：本技术 具有输出模块和/或传感器模块的设备 (Device having an output module and/or a sensor module ) 是由 A·凯斯勒 L·齐希纳 R·鲁伊斯埃尔南德斯 I·哈达克 于 2019-03-07 设计创作，主要内容包括：公开了一种用于家用电器(300)的设备(100),所述设备(100)包括：至少一个壳体(104),其中所述壳体(104)被配置为放置在家用电器(300)的处理室(310)中；其中所述壳体(104)包括至少一个输出模块(110),其被配置为输送和/或触发输出至少一种制剂到所述家用电器(300)的所述处理室(310)中；以及至少一个传感器模块(112),其被配置为确定反映所述家用电器(300)的所述处理室(310)和/或所述设备(100)的状况的特征的传感器数据；其中所述传感器模块(112)包括至少一个传感器,其中所述传感器数据至少部分地表示借助于所述至少一个传感器(115b)确定的信息；其中由所述传感器(115b)获取的数据至少部分地指示所述家用电器(300)的所述处理室(310)的负载状况；并且其中通过所述至少一个输出模块(110)对所述制剂的输送和/或触发输出至少部分地基于所述传感器数据。(A device (100) for a household appliance (300) is disclosed, the device (100) comprising: at least one housing (104), wherein the housing (104) is configured to be placed in a processing chamber (310) of a household appliance (300); wherein the housing (104) comprises at least one output module (110) configured to deliver and/or trigger an output of at least one agent into the processing chamber (310) of the household appliance (300); and at least one sensor module (112) configured to determine sensor data reflecting characteristics of a condition of the treatment chamber (310) of the household appliance (300) and/or of the device (100); wherein the sensor module (112) comprises at least one sensor, wherein the sensor data represents at least partially information determined by means of the at least one sensor (115 b); wherein the data acquired by the sensor (115b) is at least partially indicative of a load condition of the processing chamber (310) of the household appliance (300); and wherein the delivery and/or trigger output of the agent by the at least one output module (110) is based at least in part on the sensor data.)

1. Device (100) for a household appliance (300), the device (100) comprising:

-at least one housing (104),

-wherein the housing (104) is configured to be placed in a treatment chamber (310) of a household appliance (300);

-wherein the housing (104) comprises:

-at least one output module (110) configured to deliver and/or trigger the output of at least one agent into the treatment chamber (310) of the household appliance (300);

and

-at least one sensor module (112) configured to determine sensor data reflecting characteristics of a condition of the treatment chamber (310) of the household appliance (300) and/or of the device (100);

-wherein the sensor module (112) comprises at least one sensor (115b), wherein the sensor data is at least partially representative of data acquired by means of the at least one sensor (115b), wherein the at least one sensor (115b) is a magnetic field sensor;

-wherein the data acquired by the sensor (115b) are at least partially indicative of a load condition of the processing chamber (310) of the household appliance (300); and

-wherein the delivery and/or trigger output of the agent by the at least one output module (110) is based at least in part on the sensor data.

2. The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the data acquired by the at least one sensor (115b) is at least partially indicative of a status of a cleaning procedure performed by the household appliance (300).

3. The apparatus (100) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the data acquired by the at least one sensor (115b) is at least partially indicative of a liquid level of the processing chamber of the device (100).

4. The apparatus of one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sensor data is an oscillating behavior of a magnetic flux density measured by the magnetic field sensor, and wherein a load condition of the process chamber is determined by an analysis of the oscillating behavior, wherein harmonic sinusoidal oscillations are identified as indicating a drum load of more than 50% and non-harmonic sinusoidal oscillations are identified as indicating a drum load of less than 50%.

5. The device of one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sensor data further represents, at least in part, data acquired by means of one or more other sensors (115c, 115d, 115e), wherein the one or more other sensors are one or more of the following sensors: a temperature sensor (115e), an optical sensor (115c), a conductivity sensor, and an acceleration sensor (115 d).

6. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the output module (110) and/or the sensor module (112) are configured to communicate with the household appliance (300), in particular to communicate wirelessly with the household appliance (300).

7. The device (100) according to claim 6, wherein the output module (110) and/or the sensor module (112) is configured to perform and/or prevent communication with the household appliance (300) at least based on sensor data acquired by the sensor module (112).

8. The device (100) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the communication with the household appliance (300) comprises transmitting feedback data, wherein the feedback data is indicative of feedback to the household appliance (300) regarding at least one parameter characterizing the process chamber (310) of the household appliance (300).

9. The device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the output module (110) and/or the sensor module (112) is configured to perform a communication with at least one server (400), wherein the communication is in particular usable for transmitting the feedback data.

10. The apparatus (100) of claim 9, wherein a user profile is generated based at least in part on the feedback data, wherein the user profile comprises one or more items of information specifying the user.

11. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein it is determined whether the device is placed in the processing chamber (310) of the domestic appliance (300) at least partly on the basis of the sensor data, wherein the determination may in particular be performed by means of an artificial neural network.

12. The device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the temperature range set for the treatment chamber (310) of the household appliance (300) during treatment is 20 ℃ to 150 ℃, in particular 20 ℃ to 75 ℃ or 30 ℃ to 60 ℃.

13. The device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the output module (110) is configured to perform and/or prevent an output and/or cause an output of an agent by the output module (110) based at least on sensor data acquired by the sensor module (112).

14. System (1) comprising a device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 13, the system (1) further comprising at least one household appliance (300).

15. Use of a sensor (115b), in particular a conductivity sensor or a sensor (115b) and one or more further sensors (115c, 115d, 115e), in particular an optical sensor (115c), a temperature sensor (115e), an acceleration sensor (115d) or a combination thereof, in a dosing device and/or a sensor device, in particular a device (100) for a domestic appliance (300) according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the sensor (115b) or the sensor (115b) and the one or more further sensors (115c, 115d, 115e) are configured to determine sensor data reflecting characteristics of a condition of a treatment chamber (310) of the domestic appliance (300) and/or the device (100), wherein the sensor data represents at least partially sensor data representing a condition of the device (100) or of the device (115b) and the one or more sensors (115b ) Data acquired by other sensors (115c, 115d, 115e), and wherein the data acquired by the sensor (115b) is at least partially indicative of a load condition of the processing chamber (310) of the household appliance (300).

Technical Field

The invention relates to a device for a household appliance, comprising at least one output module and at least one sensor module.

Background

Apparatuses and methods for controlling and/or regulating a household appliance, such as a washing machine or a tumble dryer, are known from the prior art. The aim of operating such household appliances is generally to achieve a high degree of user-friendliness while achieving the best possible result (in particular, in the case of a washing machine, the best possible cleaning result).

For example, if increased soiling is to be considered, the user must manually consider and select, for example, an appropriate program or detergent. Some methods of automatically adjusting the parameters of a household appliance to obtain the best possible result are well known. For example, the parameters of the household appliance are configured as parameters defined by the detergent used. For example, a washing program of a washing machine is configured as a detergent to be used.

A disadvantage is that in many cases and scenarios, there is still a need to improve the results to be achieved.

Disclosure of Invention

Within the context of the presented prior art, the task of the present invention is to variably improve the results to be achieved by the household appliance with respect to many possible situations and scenarios and to ensure the highest reliability of the devices used.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a device for a household appliance is disclosed, the device comprising

-at least one housing which is,

-wherein the housing is configured to be placed in a treatment chamber of a household appliance;

-wherein the housing comprises:

-at least one output module configured to deliver and/or trigger the output of at least one agent into the treatment chamber of the household appliance;

and

-at least one sensor module configured to determine sensor data reflecting characteristics of a condition of the treatment chamber and/or the device of the household appliance;

-wherein the sensor module comprises at least one sensor, the sensor data being at least partially representative of data acquired by means of the at least one sensor;

-wherein the data acquired by the sensor is at least partially indicative of a load condition of the treatment chamber of the household appliance; and

-wherein the delivery and/or trigger output of the agent by the at least one output module is based at least in part on the sensor data.

For the purposes of the present invention, "household appliance" denotes a household appliance for textile treatment, in particular a textile washing machine, a tumble dryer or an ironing apparatus. Dishwashers such as dishwashers are not household appliances in the sense of the present invention.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed an apparatus for a household appliance, the apparatus comprising: at least one housing configured to be placed in a processing chamber of a household appliance; the housing includes: at least one sensor module configured to determine sensor data reflecting characteristics of a condition of the treatment chamber and/or the device of the household appliance; wherein the sensor module comprises at least one sensor, wherein the sensor data is at least partially representative of data acquired by means of the at least one sensor; wherein the data acquired by the sensor is at least partially indicative of a load condition of the processing chamber of the household appliance; and wherein the delivery and/or trigger output of the agent by the at least one output module is based at least in part on the sensor data.

According to a first and/or second aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed an apparatus for a household appliance, the apparatus comprising: at least one housing configured to be placed in a processing chamber of a household appliance; wherein the housing includes: at least one output module configured to deliver and/or trigger the output of at least one agent into the processing chamber of the household appliance; and/or at least one sensor module configured to determine sensor data reflecting characteristics of a condition of the treatment chamber and/or the device of the household appliance; wherein the sensor module comprises at least one sensor, wherein the sensor data is at least partially representative of data acquired by means of the at least one sensor; wherein the data acquired by the sensor is at least partially indicative of a load condition of the processing chamber of the household appliance; and wherein the delivery and/or trigger output of the agent by the at least one output module is based at least in part on the sensor data.

The device according to the first aspect of the invention is for example a dispensing device for dispensing a formulation comprising a treatment agent, a fragrance, a detergent and/or a cleaning agent. The device according to the second aspect of the invention is for example a sensor device for detecting sensor data relating to a process (e.g. a cleaning program) in the domestic appliance. The device according to the first and second aspects is for example a combination of a dispensing device and a sensor device comprising at least one sensor, in particular in a common housing.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is also disclosed a method of using one or more apparatus according to the first aspect, the method comprising: detecting and/or obtaining output data (e.g., including sensor data) at the output module; and determining output control data and/or performing said determination at least partly depending on said output data, said output control data being in particular indicative of at least one property of a storage container for a formulation, an application specification of a formulation comprised in said storage container and/or a property of a formulation comprised in said storage container, said output control data being configured to control said output of said formulation by said output module at least partly.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is also disclosed a method of using one or more apparatus according to the second aspect, the method comprising: detecting and/or obtaining sensor data on the sensor module that reflects a characteristic of a condition of a processing chamber of the household appliance; determining output data and/or performing the determination at least partly in dependence on the sensor data; and outputting and/or triggering output of the output data.

According to the first and second aspects of the invention, a method of using one or more devices according to the first aspect and one or more devices according to the second aspect is also disclosed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a system is disclosed comprising the apparatus according to the first and/or second aspect of the present invention, said system further comprising at least one household appliance, such as a washing machine or a tumble dryer. The system according to the third aspect may comprise other devices and/or apparatuses, such as a communication network and/or a server.

The apparatus of the device according to the first and/or second aspect of the invention and the system according to the third aspect of the invention may comprise hardware and/or software components. The apparatus may comprise, for example: at least one memory including computer program instructions; and at least one processor configured to execute the program instructions from the at least one memory. Thus, according to the first and second aspects of the invention, it is to be understood that a device is also disclosed, the device comprising at least one processor and at least one memory having program instructions, wherein the at least one memory and the program instructions are adapted to cause the method according to the first and second aspects of the invention to be performed and/or controlled, respectively, together with the at least one processor, the output module and the sensor module, respectively.

Alternatively or additionally, the apparatus of the device according to the first and/or second aspect may further comprise one or more other sensors and/or one or more communication interfaces.

A communication interface should be understood to mean, for example, a wireless communication interface and/or a wired communication interface.

The wireless communication interface is for example a communication interface according to a wireless communication technology. Examples of wireless communication technologies are local radio network technologies such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and/or Near Field Communication (NFC) and/or bluetooth (e.g., bluetooth version 2.1 and/or 4.0) and/or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). For example, RFID and NFC are specified in accordance with ISO standards 18000, 11784/11785 and ISO/IEC standards 14443-A and 15693. For example, WLANs are specified in the IEEE802.11 family of standards. Another example of a wireless communication technology is a super-local radio network technology, such as a mobile radio technology, e.g. global system for mobile communications (GSM) and/or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and/or Long Term Evolution (LTE). The GSM, UMTS and LTE specifications are maintained and developed by the 3 rd generation partnership project (3 GPP).

The wired communication interface is, for example, a communication interface according to a wired communication technology. Examples of wired communication techniques are Local Area Networks (LANs) and/or bus systems, such as controller area network buses (CAN buses) and/or Universal Serial Buses (USB). For example, the CAN bus is specified according to ISO standard ISO 11898. For example, the LAN is specified in the IEEE 802.3 series of standards. It should be understood that the output module and/or the sensor module may also include other devices not listed.

Furthermore, according to the first, second and/or third aspect of the present invention, a computer program is disclosed comprising program instructions adapted to cause an apparatus to perform and/or control a method according to the first and/or second aspect or a system according to the third aspect when the computer program is executed by a processor.

Furthermore, a computer readable storage medium containing a computer program according to the first, second and/or third aspect of the invention is disclosed. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, in the form of magnetic, electronic, electromagnetic, optical, and/or other types of storage media. This computer-readable storage medium is preferably tangible (i.e., "tangible"), e.g., designed as a data storage device. This data storage device is for example portable or permanently installed in the device. Examples of such data storage devices are volatile or non-volatile Random Access Memory (RAM) such as NOR flash memory or sequential access memory such as NAND flash memory and/or Read Only Memory (ROM) or read and write memory. Computer-readable should be understood to mean, for example, that the storage medium can be read and/or written to by a computer or server device, such as a processor.

In the following, features of the apparatus and method according to the first and second aspects of the invention or the system according to the third aspect of the invention are described, some of which are examples.

A household appliance is to be understood to mean, in particular, a washing machine, in particular also a (laundry) dryer and/or an ironing appliance. A corresponding household appliance may have a treatment chamber equipped to receive objects such as textiles and to subject them to a treatment, for example cleaning, drying and/or ironing, inside the treatment chamber.

The housing is designed to be placed in a treatment chamber of a household appliance and in particular has suitable dimensions that allow the housing or device to be at least partially removed from the treatment chamber. In particular, the housing or device may be placed loosely and/or without fasteners in the process chamber. For example, in the case of a washing machine or dryer, the housing or device will be placed in and/or removed from the treatment chamber together with the object to be cleaned. The housing of the device may in particular partially or completely enclose some or all of the devices of the device. In particular, the housing is designed to be waterproof such that some or all of the devices of the apparatus are not in contact with water when the apparatus is placed in a treatment chamber (e.g. a treatment chamber of a washing machine) and especially during treatment.

The device or housing mentioned in the first and/or second aspect is in particular a mobile device and/or a portable device and/or a device other than a domestic appliance. A mobile device and/or a portable device should be understood to mean a device having for example external dimensions of less than 30cm x 30cm, preferably less than 15cm x 15 cm. Devices other than household appliances are, for example, devices which are not functionally connected to the household appliance and/or components which are not permanently connected to the household appliance. For example, a device that is mobile and/or portable and that is different from a household appliance is a device that is placed (e.g., plugged in) by a user in a washing area and/or a cleaning area (e.g., a washing drum of a washing machine) in the household appliance for the duration of a treatment process (e.g., a cleaning program). Examples of such mobile and/or portable devices and devices other than domestic appliances are dispensing devices and/or sensor devices, which are placed in the washing drum of a washing machine before the washing process begins. For example, the output module and/or the sensor module are components of such a dispensing device and/or sensor device according to the first and/or second aspect of the invention.

The housing can have at least one output module which is designed to deliver and/or trigger the output of at least one preparation into a treatment chamber of the domestic appliance. The output of a formulation, for example comprising a detergent and/or a cleaning agent, is to be understood as meaning, for example, that the formulation is output to the output module and/or to the surroundings of a storage container for the formulation. The output is performed, for example, by an output module. Alternatively or additionally, the output may be caused by an output module, for example the output module causes the formulation to be output through a storage container. For example, the output module causes the agent to be output to the surroundings of the output module and/or the storage container via an output opening of the output module and/or the storage container.

The housing has at least one sensor module configured to determine at least one sensor data reflecting a characteristic of a condition of the treatment chamber and/or the device of the household appliance. This sensor data may for example be at least one parameter of the electrical conductivity (e.g. a substance in the process chamber, such as water and/or a washing or cleaning solution or liquor).

The sensor data includes, for example, data acquired by at least one sensor. Thus, the sensor data may include, among other things, other data acquired, for example, by other one or more sensors included in the sensor module (e.g., temperature sensors, optical sensors, acceleration sensors, or combinations thereof, to name a few non-limiting examples).

The data acquired by the at least one sensor is at least partially indicative of a load condition of the processing chamber of the household appliance. The load condition is characterized by an amount of load of an object that may be placed in a processing chamber of the household appliance, for example. The load condition of the processing chamber of the household appliance is represented, for example, by the fact that: the acquired data indicate that the processing chamber of the household appliance is full, one quarter full, one half full, three quarters full or empty. Additionally or alternatively, the load condition may be represented by a percentage (e.g., from 0% to 100%).

The delivery and/or trigger output of the agent by the at least one output module is based at least in part on the sensor data. If the data acquired by the sensor indicates that the treatment chamber of the household appliance, for example, is empty, the delivery and/or triggering of the output preparation may be prevented, for example, until the household appliance exceeds a threshold value of the load capacity of the treatment chamber, for example. The threshold value may, for example, reflect an energy cost analysis, wherein, for example, the energy and/or water consumed by the household appliance for running the cleaning program justifies running the cleaning program.

In one embodiment according to all aspects of the invention, the data acquired by the at least one sensor is at least partially indicative of a status of a cleaning program performed by the household appliance.

The state of the cleaning program executed by the household appliance represents, for example, an identification of said state of the cleaning program, said identification corresponding, for example, to the current step and to the executed step of the cleaning program executed by said appliance. This may be performed at least partly on the basis of data acquired by the sensor or on the basis of several items of information acquired by the acceleration sensor, reflecting or comprising one or more parameters characterizing the condition of the treatment chamber of the household appliance. The parameters characterizing the condition of the treatment chamber of the household appliance also represent, for example, the temperature, the level of liquid (for example water), the number of revolutions of the treatment chamber of the household appliance designed as a washing machine, to name a few non-limiting examples.

Based at least in part on the determined state of the cleaning program executed by the household appliance, the device may be controlled and/or adjusted or a possible control and/or adjustment intended to be performed on the device is determined, for example. For example, control and/or adjustment may be performed on the device, or possible control and/or adjustment intended to be performed on the device, an optimal point in time (date, time, step, etc. of the cleaning program) at which at least one agent (e.g. detergent) should be delivered or triggered to be delivered, considerations of the nature and/or type of the household appliance (e.g. manufacturer and appliance identification number), and/or whether at least one agent (e.g. detergent) should be delivered or triggered to be delivered when a step of the cleaning program (e.g. rotation of a treatment chamber in a household appliance designed as a washing machine) should or should not occur may be determined.

For this purpose, for example, a database can be queried in which, for example, relevant historical data are stored. Based on the historical data, control and/or adjustments may be performed on the device, or possible controls and/or adjustments intended to be performed on the device may be determined. The use of historical data may be particularly combined with the use of artificial neural networks. More details regarding the use of artificial neural networks are described below.

For example, according to the first and/or second aspect of the invention, the method comprises: acquiring and/or obtaining sensor data on a sensor module, which sensor data reflects a characteristic of a condition of a process chamber of a household appliance; and determining output data and/or performing said determination at least partly in dependence on the sensor data. The sensor data also represent, for example, measured values of one or more physical and/or chemical variables, which are characteristics of the condition of the process chamber and/or the apparatus (e.g. the washing and/or cleaning process), such as the temperature of the washing and/or cleaning liquid, the duration of the washing and/or cleaning process and/or the concentration of the washing and/or cleaning agent in the washing and/or cleaning liquid. From these measured values, for example, the state of a cleaning program executed by the household appliance can be derived at least in part. If, for example, water, washing and/or cleaning liquid is present in the treatment chamber, the domestic appliance has not yet completed the execution of the cleaning program.

In another embodiment according to all aspects of the invention, the data acquired by the at least one sensor is at least partially indicative of a liquid level of a treatment chamber by the appliance.

The data acquired by the at least one sensor indicate, for example, whether a treatment chamber of the household appliance is filled with a liquid, such as water, washing liquid and/or cleaning liquid. In addition, the data acquired by the at least one sensor may indicate how much liquid is contained in the treatment chamber, e.g. whether further liquid may be added to the treatment chamber, and/or may be an indication of the percentage of the maximum possible capacity of the household appliance to absorb liquid into the treatment chamber. The amount of liquid used to perform the cleaning procedure may affect the quality of the cleaning of, for example, articles placed in the process chamber.

For example, in a training situation, a low liquid level and associated cleaning results may be given as well as such a liquid level in the process chamber, which is completely filled with fluid, and then the sensor may be used to acquire data characterizing the respective condition. This data may be stored, for example, as a reference value in a database. Furthermore, for example, depending on the condition of the treatment chamber of the household appliance, recommendations for delivering and/or triggering an output preparation into the treatment chamber can be defined in the database, which ensures particularly reliable cleaning results. Additionally or alternatively, for example, depending on the condition of the treatment chamber of the household appliance, a recommendation for a cleaning program to be performed by the household appliance may be included in the database. The data stored in the database or comprised in the database may for example be used for controlling and/or regulating both the device and the household appliance.

An embodiment according to all aspects of the invention is characterized in that the at least one sensor is a magnetic field sensor.

The sensor data may be determined or acquired by at least one magnetic field sensor, for example. This magnetic field sensor is also referred to as magnetometer. Magnetic field sensors are in particular sensor devices for measuring magnetic flux densities. The magnetic flux density is measured in tesla (T).

For example, if the determined sensor data represents a substantially uniform harmonic oscillation behavior (e.g., a curve represented by the sensor data is equal or similar to this oscillation behavior), this for example corresponds to a rotation of a processing chamber of the household appliance. If the magnetic field sensor determines this curve progression independently of the spatial axis (e.g. x-axis, y-axis and/or z-axis), it can for example be clearly recognized that the treatment chamber of the household appliance is moving (e.g. the rotation of the drum of the washing machine). Thus, it may be determined that, for example, a cleaning program has started to be executed by the household appliance, and therefore the device is certainly located within the processing chamber of the household appliance.

If, for example, the determined sensor data represents one or more pauses by which, for example, a uniform harmonic oscillation behavior (for example, a curve equal or similar to this oscillation behavior) is interrupted, the determined sensor data may be characteristic of a specific cleaning program executed by the household appliance, so that the executed cleaning program may be identified. These pauses may occur, for example, at certain intervals, also referred to as pause behavior, whereby these certain intervals of the pause are characteristic of one of many possible cleaning procedures that may be performed by the household appliance. In this way, the identification of the cleaning program executed by the household appliance can be ended based at least in part on this pause behavior (e.g. by means of analysis and a database query in a so-called look-up table).

For example, in order to determine whether a spin-drying process occurs during a cleaning program executed by a household appliance designed as a washing machine, or in order to determine the rotational speed of the treatment chamber (for example in the case of washing machines, washer-dryers and dryers), the data acquired by the magnetic field sensor can be evaluated in order to determine the above. Here, for example, the rotational speed of the process chamber is at least approximately determined or specified (e.g., calculated) based at least in part on a duration of the oscillation amplitude (e.g., from a first zero-crossing to a second zero-crossing or a frequency of such oscillation amplitude, to name a few non-limiting examples).

The course of the curve represented by the data can also be evaluated, for example, as follows: for example, in the case of a household appliance designed as a washing machine, the filling quantity or filling degree is determined (for example, as a percentage of the maximum possible filling quantity of the treatment chamber (set to 100%).

For example, without a harmonic sine wave, this behavior is characteristic of a process chamber load that is less than 50% of the maximum possible process chamber load. When the larger load amounts are up to 100% of the maximum possible load of the process chamber, the behavior (or motion) of the apparatus changes. This is represented, for example, by a curve of the determined sensor data. Inside the process chamber, the motion of the apparatus is varied, whereby this is represented by a curvilinear progression representing the oscillation behavior as harmonic oscillations (e.g. sinusoidal progression).

The sensor data is the oscillatory behavior of the magnetic flux density measured by the magnetic field sensor. The load condition of the process chamber is determined by analyzing the oscillation behavior, wherein detection of harmonic sinusoidal oscillations indicates a load of the drum of more than 50% and detection of non-harmonic sinusoidal oscillations indicates a load of the drum of less than 50%.

The magnetic field sensor may be configured to detect deviations of several gaussians. Such variations are of the same order of magnitude or less than the value of the earth's magnetic field.

An embodiment according to all aspects of the invention is characterized in that the at least one sensor is a conductivity sensor.

A conductivity sensor is to be understood as a sensor which in particular acquires data indicative of the conductivity of a liquid, in particular an aqueous solution or an electrolyte or water of different purity. In addition, the conductivity sensor may be used, inter alia, to indicate whether liquid is present in the environment of the conductivity sensor.

The conductivity depends on one or more of the following parameters i) to iii):

i) a concentration of a dissolved species in a liquid of a process chamber, a nature of dissociation and/or a degree of dissociation of the dissolved species;

ii) the valency and mobility of the anion or cation formed in the liquid; and

iii) the temperature of the liquid, the conductivity increasing regularly with increasing temperature.

For example, based on the knowledge of the data acquired by the conductivity sensor, e.g. whether a liquid is placed in a treatment chamber of a household appliance, the (e.g. optimal) point in time at which the agent is outputted and/or triggered to be outputted may be controlled and/or adjusted. Furthermore, based on knowledge of the data acquired by the conductivity sensor (e.g., the concentration of the liquid (e.g., water) to which the cleaning and/or wash liquor has been added), it may be determined whether, for example, other liquids (e.g., water) or other agents should be added to the processing chamber to increase the concentration of the cleaning and/or wash liquor.

Additionally or alternatively, the liquid level in the treatment chamber of the domestic appliance may be determined, for example by means of a comparison with the active substance concentration determined (e.g. measured) by the conductivity sensor. For example, this may result in improved cleaning of objects in the processing chamber based at least in part on a dosage of the formulation that determines a dilution of the formulation (e.g., dilution of the formulation by water in the processing chamber of the household appliance).

Furthermore, the sensor module may comprise more than one conductivity sensor. For example, this may result in determining one or more of the following data based, at least in part, on data acquired by more than one conductivity sensor:

the degree of soiling of objects in the treatment chamber can be determined by, for example, a first item of information representing the liquid detected by one of the conductivity sensors when it is added to the treatment chamber of the household appliance and a second item of information representing the liquid detected by the other conductivity sensor when it leaves the treatment chamber of the household appliance. From a certain difference between the first data and the second data, for example, a degree of fouling of the object in the process chamber can be deduced. This principle can also be used to determine the rinsing properties of the household appliance. If, for example, a cleaning program has been completely performed by the household appliance, fresh water can be injected into the treatment chamber, for example, which fresh water flows around the objects in the treatment chamber. The water leaving the treatment chamber can then be measured again by means of the conductivity sensor. For example, if no degree of fouling is found in the water flowing out of the treatment chamber, the cleaning process is successfully performed by the cleaning procedure.

In addition, it can be determined, for example, by means of data acquired from the conductivity sensor, whether the cleaning program has been completed or ended. For example, the data acquired by the conductivity sensor may be used to count the number of rinse cycles that have been performed. For example, these can be compared to the number of rinse cycles planned by the cleaning program. For example, if there is a difference in the results, the home appliance has not completely performed the cleaning procedure, or an error has occurred. In addition, this type of data acquired by the conductivity sensor may be used, for example, to determine whether a final rinse cycle to be performed by the cleaning program is being performed. In this case, for example, the output of an agent such as a detergent may be suppressed or the output may be triggered.

Another embodiment according to all aspects of the invention is characterized in that the sensor data further at least partly represents data acquired by means of one or more other sensors, said one or more other sensors being one or more of the following sensors: temperature sensors, optical sensors and acceleration sensors.

For example, the sensor module also includes an acceleration sensor (accelerometer) and a temperature sensor (e.g., thermocouple). The sensor module may also include, for example, a mechanical sensor (e.g., a pressure sensor) and/or an optical sensor (e.g., a CCD sensor). In addition to the optical sensor, the sensor module may also comprise a light emitting device adapted to generate light in the visible and/or invisible range. An example of a light emitting device is a Light Emitting Diode (LED). For example, the sensor module may also include more than one type of sensor (e.g., a temperature sensor or an acceleration sensor).

An acceleration sensor is a sensor that measures the acceleration thereof. This can be done, for example, by determining the inertial force acting on the mass of the acceleration sensor. Thus, for example, it can be determined whether the speed is increasing or decreasing.

The acceleration sensor may for example represent a motion sensor. For example, this type of motion sensor can detect a change in position. For example, the movement can be detected by means of an acceleration sensor in the following manner: the motion is calculated as an integral of the detected data (e.g., measured values) from the acceleration sensor. For example, the determination of the position of a device, for example in a processing chamber of a household appliance, can be performed in this way.

The data acquired by the acceleration sensor represents, for example, the acceleration and/or movement of the device. Furthermore, the data acquired by the acceleration sensor represents, for example, a specific location of the device.

The data acquired by the acceleration sensor may for example be at least partially indicative of a load state of the household appliance. The data acquired by the acceleration sensor indicate, for example, whether a process chamber of the home appliance is loaded. In addition, the data acquired by the acceleration sensor may indicate how full (e.g., as a percentage of the maximum possible capacity) the processing chamber of the household appliance is loaded (or filled). If the data acquired by the acceleration sensor characterize relatively frequent movements of the device (e.g. few movements within a time interval of e.g. 5 seconds; e.g. more than one movement per second), it may for example be determined that the load of the processing chamber of the household appliance is correspondingly low. If the data acquired by the acceleration sensor characterize relatively infrequent movements of the device (e.g. only one movement per second), it may for example be determined that the treatment chamber of the household appliance is full. In a training situation, for example, there may be lightly loaded and fully loaded process chambers, and by means of the acceleration sensor, corresponding data characterizing the respective condition may be acquired. For example, the data may be stored as a reference value in a database. In addition, for example, depending on the condition of the treatment chamber of the household appliance, recommendations for delivering and/or triggering an output preparation into the treatment chamber can be defined in the database, which recommendations ensure particularly reliable cleaning results. Additionally or alternatively, for example, depending on the condition of the treatment chamber of the household appliance, a recommendation for a cleaning program to be executed by the household appliance may also be included in the database. The data stored in the database or comprised in the database may for example be used for controlling and/or regulating both the device and the household appliance.

An optical sensor is a sensor capable of detecting optical data such as light as data. For example, an LED as an optical sensor may both emit light and detect light. The load condition of the processing chamber of the household appliance can be determined by means of at least one transmitter LED and an optical sensor comprising at least one receiver LED. If the transmitter LED and the receiver LED are identical in design, the transmission or attenuation of the radiation due to the main load of the treatment chamber of the household appliance can be determined in a particularly simple and straightforward manner. The receiver LED may for example be located outside the device, for example in a treatment chamber of a household appliance. Also, it may be desirable to configure the transmitter LED and receiver LED in reflection or emission measurements.

Furthermore, an optical sensor is to be understood in particular as a sensor which can determine the intensity of incident radiation, in particular electromagnetic radiation in the visible range and alternatively or additionally in the invisible range. The optical sensor may comprise an image sensor, in particular a digital image sensor. In particular, at least one semiconductor element, diode, CCD element (e.g. a bayer sensor) or CMOS element (e.g. a Foveon X3 type sensor) may be used to determine the radiation intensity. The optical sensor may comprise a filter, in particular a spectrometer. It is also conceivable to use a monochrome sensor without color resolution. Optical sensors limited to certain wavelength ranges may also be used. For example, the optical sensor may be based on at least one photodiode and/or at least one LED element. A single element or an array of elements may be used, for example a photodiode or a light sensitive component such as an LED. It may be advantageous to optimize the size of the individual sensors (e.g. individual photodiodes) in terms of dynamics, resolution and/or sensitivity.

For example, an optical sensor includes at least one camera-like element and provides image data. Thus, the digital camera may be used as an optical sensor of the device.

By means of the optical sensor, in particular data can be acquired which are indicative of the turbidity, the degree of soiling and/or the colour of objects in the treatment chamber of the domestic appliance.

A temperature sensor is a sensor that acquires data indicative of the temperature in the vicinity of the temperature sensor.

For example, depending on the data acquired by the temperature sensor, which data represent the prevailing temperature in the treatment chamber of the device, a (optimal) point in time for outputting and/or triggering the output of the preparation into the treatment chamber of the household appliance may be determined. For example, the formulations exhibit particularly effective cleaning action, especially at predetermined temperatures.

If several sensors are included in the sensor module, said sensors may be dedicated or included together, for example by the sensor module, i.e. they may be designed as one unit, for example together with the sensor module, or they may at least be electrically connected to the sensor module, so that data acquired in particular by the respective sensor (i.e. temperature sensor, conductivity sensor, optical sensor or a combination thereof) may be transmitted to the sensor module and the sensor module may determine the sensor data accordingly.

The sensor module may further comprise one or more of the following sensors (i) to (iv): i) a pH sensor;

ii) a surfactant sensor;

iii) a surface sensor; and

iv) an acoustic sensor.

The pH sensor is an electrochemical sensor that can, for example, quantitatively determine ions in a liquid. This is done, for example, by means of a current potential, so that, for example, a change in the existing pH of the liquid can be detected (for example, when the liquid is injected into and removed from a treatment chamber of a household appliance).

The surfactant sensor is, for example, a sensor capable of detecting the surface tension of a liquid (e.g., water) as data.

A surface sensor is understood to be a sensor which is configured on a surface of a sensor module to detect data indicative of stress, strain, elasticity and/or friction acting on equipment in a process chamber.

An acoustic sensor is understood to be a sensor that is capable of detecting acoustic data. This acoustic sensor comprises or is for example a microphone. The data acquired by the acoustic sensor may for example represent sound. The data acquired by the acoustic sensor indicate, for example, the mechanical condition of the device and/or the household appliance, in particular of the treatment chamber of the household appliance. The abnormal noise may, for example, indicate a defect in the device and/or the household appliance. Furthermore, the data acquired by the acoustic sensor may be indicative of a load condition of the treatment chamber and/or a liquid level in the treatment chamber of the household appliance.

The above-mentioned sensor or at least one of these above-mentioned sensors (acceleration sensor, optical sensor, temperature sensor, pH sensor, surfactant sensor, surface sensor and/or acoustic sensor) can be used, inter alia, for verifying the data acquired by the at least one sensor.

It can be verified, for example, by means of the acceleration sensor whether a cleaning program, which has been carried out, for example, on the household appliance, is complete, since in this case, for example, the data acquired by the acceleration sensor indicate that the device is not (further) moving.

An embodiment according to all aspects of the invention provides that: the output module and/or the sensor module are configured to communicate with the household appliance, in particular to communicate wirelessly with the household appliance.

Another embodiment according to all aspects of the invention provides that: the output module and/or the sensor module is configured to perform and/or prevent communication with the household appliance based at least on the sensor data acquired by the sensor module.

The output module and/or the sensor module adapted to communicate with the household appliance may communicate with the household appliance, for example by means of a communication interface covered by the device. The communication interface is designed in particular to communicate wirelessly with the household appliance. The output module may also be configured to communicate with the sensor module, in particular wirelessly.

In a further embodiment of the device according to the first and/or second aspect, the output module and/or the sensor module is arranged to perform and/or prevent communication with the domestic appliance at least based on sensor data acquired by the sensor module.

In one embodiment according to all aspects of the present invention, the communication with the household appliance comprises transmitting feedback data, wherein the feedback data is indicative of feedback to the household appliance regarding at least one parameter characterizing a treatment chamber of the household appliance.

The feedback data comprises or represents, for example, one or more of the following parameters i) to iii):

i) data indicative of a mechanical condition of the appliance;

ii) data indicative of a load condition of a processing chamber of the household appliance; and

iii) data indicating a recommendation for a cleaning program to be executed or a modification of a program executed by the household appliance.

The feedback data can trigger a control and/or regulation, for example a delivery of the at least one preparation into a treatment chamber of the household appliance, or such a delivery. This can be done, for example, in such a way that the household appliance takes the feedback data into account. For example, this cleaning program of the household appliance may be selected, or the already selected cleaning program of the household appliance may be adapted, taking into account the load condition of the process chamber. For example, if, for example, the process chamber is particularly full, a cleaning program may be selected that performs a particularly intensive cleaning.

Alternatively or additionally, the suggestion for the cleaning program to be performed may be given, for example, via a display device on the household appliance, or to a display or an integrated electronic device (e.g., a mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet computer, or wearable device, to name a few non-limiting examples). Based on the output, the user may, for example, manually select an appropriate cleaning program or change an already selected cleaning program (e.g., change temperature, duration, or other particular parameters (e.g., speed of rotation of the washing machine, type of household appliance, to name a few non-limiting examples)). This makes it possible in particular to use the device with household appliances which cannot be automatically controlled and/or adjusted.

The feedback data may also for example result in controlling and/or adjusting the household appliance, such as switching on and/or off the household appliance. With regard to switching on and/or off the household appliance, this may for example influence whether (at all) the household appliance is switched on and/or off and/or at what time (time, date or e.g. immediately) the household appliance is switched on and/or off. For example, feedback data based on particular sensor data may generate feedback to the home appliance such that the home appliance knows, for example, that the processing chamber of the home appliance is full (or nearly full). In addition, the feedback data may additionally provide data to the household appliance regarding the nature of the load (e.g. the color of the laundry, the laundry or a combination thereof, to name a few non-limiting examples) such that the cleaning program to be performed by the household appliance and/or the selection, composition and/or dosing of the cleaning agent to be used in the household appliance may be influenced. For example, the amount to be dosed (e.g., the amount of detergent in a washing machine), the time of dosing, the product to be dosed or the individual ingredients (e.g., soil release polymers, bleach, enzymes, hygienic rinse aids in a washing machine, to name a few non-limiting examples), or combinations thereof may be affected. Compatibility of the combination of ingredients may also be considered, for example to avoid incompatibility (e.g. bleaching agents and enzymes).

Influencing the operating mode of the household appliance may for example consist of selecting a specific (e.g. pre-programmed) program, running an additional program, influencing the program time (e.g. extending or shortening), changing various parameters of the cleaning program (in the case of a washing machine, such as temperature, rotational speed or the like).

In addition or alternatively, not only can the household appliance be automatically controlled and/or adjusted, in particular taking into account the data acquired by the acceleration sensor, but also suggestions can be given to the user. For example, in addition to automatic adjustment of the household appliance, manual pre-treatment may be required (e.g., manual pre-treatment of clothes). This suggestion may be indicated or communicated to the user, for example by means of a display device as described above.

In another embodiment according to all aspects of the present invention, the output module and/or the sensor module is configured to perform a communication with the at least one server, whereby said communication may be used in particular for transmitting feedback data (e.g. indicating a state of the device, such as a mechanical condition and/or a cleaning program performed by the household appliance).

At least one of the servers is, for example, a remote server. The at least one remote server is connected to a communication network (e.g., the internet), for example. The output module and/or the sensor module may communicate with a server, for example, via the communication network. The communication between the output module and/or the sensor module and the at least one server is in particular a bidirectional communication. To enable communication with the server, the communication interface of the device is configured to establish a connection, for example, with the communication network (e.g., the internet).

An embodiment according to all aspects of the invention provides that: a user profile may be generated based at least in part on the feedback data, whereby the user profile includes one or more types of information specifying the user.

One or more information specifying the user indicates, for example, one or more of the following parameters i) to ix):

i) one or more items of information relating to the cleaning product used by the user;

ii) one or more items of information about the degree of use (frequency, regularity, rate, etc.) of the household appliance by the user;

iii) one or more items of information about the amount of each load during a cleaning operation of the user's household appliance;

iv) one or more items of information relating to the time (date, time, day of the week) at which the user used the home appliance;

v) one or more items of information about the amount of detergent used;

vi) one or more items of information about the type of cleaning program selected by the user of the household appliance;

vii) one or more items of information on suggesting to the user a detergent to be used;

viii) one or more items of information on the cost of energy generated using the household appliance; and

ix) one or more items of information regarding optimizing the cleaning strategy to achieve improved cleaning results.

Another embodiment according to all aspects of the invention provides that: it may be determined, at least partially on the basis of the sensor data, whether the device is arranged in a treatment chamber of a household appliance, whereby the determination may be performed, in particular, by means of an artificial neural network.

For example, the sensor data may be transmitted (e.g., transmitted) to a server that includes or is connected to an artificial neural network. It can then be determined, for example by means of an artificial neural network, whether the device is located in a process chamber of a domestic appliance. The results may then be transmitted to the device and/or e.g. a household appliance.

The artificial neural network comprises, for example, an evaluation algorithm, so that, for example, training cases can be learned from the examples and, after the learning phase is complete, these cases can be summarized as a basis for determining the result. This means that the example does not simply learn from memory, but rather recognizes patterns and regularity in the learned data. Different methods can be used for this. For example, supervised learning, partially supervised learning, unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning, and/or active learning may be used. Supervised learning can be performed, for example, using an artificial neural network (e.g., a recurrent neural network) or a support vector machine. Unsupervised learning may also be performed by means of an artificial neural network (e.g., an auto-encoder). The learning data is, for example, sensor data received a plurality of times or output variables (or results) of the artificial neural network determined after one run.

Repeated receipt and/or determination of sensor data or output variables may also be used for machine learning. Thus, for example, a user profile or one or more items of information included in a user profile may be determined based at least in part on machine learning.

These measures can improve the reliability of the determination of the open-loop and/or closed-loop control of the device and/or the household appliance and of the subsequent treatment, in particular for removing dirt, in particular by the household appliance.

Each of the training cases may be given by an input vector, sensor data, and an output vector of the artificial neural network.

Each of the training cases may be generated, for example, by: converting control and/or adjustment of devices and/or appliances associated with the training case; and converting the delivery or trigger output of the agent into a predetermined state (e.g. a fouling defined in the treatment chamber of the household appliance); and then generates sensor data representing a characteristic of the condition of the processing chamber and simultaneously performs an analysis (e.g., manually performs an analysis) of the condition of the processing chamber of the household appliance. The determined sensor data are transmitted as input vectors and the (actual) condition of the processing chamber of the household appliance is transmitted as output vectors of the training case.

For example, the artificial neural network may be used to derive or determine other data from particular sensor data (e.g., whether a cleaning program has completed or terminated), count the number of rinse cycles performed, gauge the number of rinse cycles included in a cleaning program performed, etc., to name a few non-limiting examples. Based at least in part on data derived from the artificial neural network, for example, control and/or adjustment of the home appliance and/or data may be communicated to, for example, the home appliance for distribution to a user.

In one embodiment incorporating all aspects of the invention, the temperature range envisaged for the treatment chamber of the domestic appliance during treatment is 20 ℃ to 150 ℃, in particular 20 ℃ to 75 ℃ or 30 ℃ to 60 ℃.

In a further embodiment of the device according to the first and/or second aspect, the output module is designed to perform and/or prevent an output and/or cause an output of the agent by the output module at least based on sensor data acquired by the sensor module.

Storage container data may also be detected and/or obtained. The detection of the storage container data (of the preparation stored by the device) should be understood, for example, to mean that the storage container data is acquired by or by means of the output module. For example, detection of storage container data may be based on sensor data.

For example, obtaining storage container data should be understood as receiving and/or reading storage container data through an output module or a communication interface of an output module.

The storage container data represents, for example, characteristic attributes of the storage container. The storage container data (characteristic of an attribute of the storage container) represents, for example, data representing and/or containing one or more details about the longest usage date of the storage container, about the spatial configuration of the storage container, about the volume and/or fill volume of the storage container, and/or for identifying the storage container or the type of storage container.

Further, the storage container data may represent application specifications for the formulation contained in the storage container. For example, the application specification may contain and/or represent one or more indications of suggested dosages for a formulation for a particular application. Alternatively or additionally, storage container data representing an application specification of a formulation contained in a storage container should also be understood as representing data identifying output control data and/or representing and/or containing, at least in part, output control data.

Alternatively or additionally, the storage container data represents properties of the formulation contained in the storage container, such as detergent and/or cleaning agent. This storage container data (characteristic of a property of the preparation contained in the storage container) should be understood as data representing and/or containing, for example, a chemical and/or physical property of the preparation, a type of preparation and/or one or more indications for identifying the preparation. The chemical and/or physical property represents, for example, a chemical and/or physical composition of the agent and/or a physical state (e.g., solid, liquid, or gaseous) of the agent. For example, the storage container data represents values of one or more physical and/or chemical quantities (e.g., values of one or more physical and/or chemical quantities that describe one or more properties of the formulation). An indication of the type of formulation comprising a detergent and/or a cleaning agent indicates, for example, whether it is a heavy-duty detergent, a mild detergent, a coloured detergent, a disinfectant and/or another type of detergent and/or cleaning agent and/or what ingredients and/or builder composition the detergent and/or cleaning agent has. Examples of indications for identifying the preparation are, for example, identifiers for identifying the preparation, such as a product name and/or a product number.

The apparatus also includes, for example, a storage container. This storage container is configured, for example, to contain a formulation (e.g., a quantity of detergent and/or cleaning agent). For example, the storage container has one or more storage chambers to contain the formulation. If the storage container has several storage chambers, each of the storage chambers may for example contain different formulations, such as different detergents and/or cleaning products and/or different mixtures of detergents and/or cleaning agents. For example, the storage container may have a particular spatial shape (e.g., a cubic shape, a spherical shape, and/or a plate shape). For example, the storage container may be at least partially dimensionally stable. Alternatively or additionally, the storage container may, for example, be at least partially flexible, for example as a flexible packaging material (e.g. as a tube and/or bag). It is to be understood that the storage container may also be designed as an at least partly flexible container surrounded by an at least partly dimensionally stable container, for example as a bag in a substantially dimensionally stable frame.

The formulations, in particular the washing and/or cleaning agents, are contained in the storage container, for example in solid, liquid and/or gaseous form. For example, the formulation is a pure substance and/or a mixture of substances. Solid formulations (such as detergents and/or cleaners) may be contained in a storage container, for example, in powder, tablet and/or tablet form. The liquid formulation may be contained in a storage container, for example, in the form of a gel, a concentrated and/or a diluted solution. It is to be understood that the formulation may also be contained in the storage container as a foam, rigid foam, emulsion, suspension and/or aerosol. A non-exhaustive list of formulations or detergents and/or cleaners and/or their ingredients is a group of components comprising: surfactants, bases, builders, graying inhibitors, optical brighteners, enzymes, bleaches, soil release polymers, fillers, plasticizers, perfumes, dyes, care substances, acids, starches, isomaltulose, sugars, cellulose derivatives, carboxymethylcellulose, polyetherimides, silicone derivatives, and/or polymethylimines. Other non-exhaustive examples of exemplary ingredients are: bleach activators, complexing agents, builders, electrolytes, non-aqueous solvents, pH adjusting agents, perfume carriers, fluorescers, hydrotropes, silicone oils, bentonites, anti-redeposition agents, shrink prevention agents, anti-wrinkle agents, dye transfer inhibitors, anti-microbial agents, bactericides, fungicides, antioxidants, preservatives, corrosion inhibitors, antistatic agents, bittering agents, ironing aids, liquid openers and impregnants, leavening and slip agents and/or UV absorbers.

The storage container is for example connected and/or connectable to the output module. Preferably, the storage container is detachably connected and/or can be detachably connected to the output module. A detachable connection is for example a connection in which the storage container and the output module can be connected and disconnected non-destructively. For example, more than one storage container may be connected to and/or connectable to the output module at the same time. For example, the storage container may be mechanically connected and/or connectable to the output module. For example, the output module and the storage container have corresponding connection means for establishing a connection between the storage container and the output module. The connection may for example be positive, for example in the form of a locking mechanism. Alternatively or additionally, the connection may be non-positive, for example in the form of a screw and/or velcro connection. Alternatively or additionally, the connection may be a material-locking connection, for example in the form of an adhesive connection.

Furthermore, the connection between the storage container and the output module may be used for transporting the preparation from the storage container to the output module. For example, the connecting means are designed to provide a liquid-tight, gas-tight and/or gas-tight connection for transporting the formulation from the storage container to the output module. Examples of connection means for making this connection are a tube (e.g. of a storage container) and a septum (e.g. of an output module) and/or a luer connector and/or a luer coupling.

If more than one storage container is connected and/or connectable to the output module at the same time, the storage containers may alternatively or additionally also be connected and/or connectable to each other. For example, at least those storage containers connected to the output module may also be connected and/or connectable to each other.

For example, the output control data specifies one or more output parameters. Examples of output parameters are output quantity, output time, output temperature and/or output duration. For example, the output parameters specify an output quantity, an output time, an output temperature, and/or an output duration. The output control data is configured to at least partially control the output of the output module, for example it should be understood that the output control data causes the output module to output the formulation in accordance with the output parameters specified by the output control data.

Determining that the output control data depends at least partly on the storage container data should be understood as e.g. meaning that the output control data is selected and/or calculated at least partly depending on the storage container data. For example, the output control data is determined by the output module, the sensor module, and/or another device (e.g., a server device). For example, the determination of the output control data is based at least in part on the sensor data.

Thus, performing a determination of output control data should be understood to mean, for example, that the output module causes the output control data to be determined by a device other than the output module (e.g., a server device). For example, the storage container data is sent by the output module to the server device to cause the server device to determine the output control data.

As disclosed above, the output control data may specify one or more output parameters. For example, the output module is configured to output the formulation contained in the storage container in accordance with the output parameters specified by the output control data and/or to cause (e.g., via the storage container) the formulation contained in the storage container to be output in accordance with the output parameters specified by the output control data when the storage container is connected to the output module.

For example, the output module comprises a control unit and at least one actuator, wherein the control unit is configured to control the actuator. For example, the control unit is configured to control the actuator in such a way that the movement of the actuator is influenced. For example, movement of the actuator causes the dispensing agent to be dispensed. For example, the control unit is configured to control the actuator in the following manner: the formulation is dispensed according to the output parameters specified by the output control data and/or the output of the formulation contained in the storage container is performed (e.g. by the storage container) according to the output parameters specified by the output control data.

An actuator should be understood as a movable part of the output module. For example, the actuator is configured to be configured in the following manner: when it is moved and the storage container is connected to the output module, a dispensing agent results. Examples of actuators are pumps (e.g., peristaltic pumps), valves, and/or motors (e.g., linear motors). If the actuator is a pump, the control unit controls the pump to output the formulation, for example, in the following manner: the pump transports the formulation from the storage container to an output port (e.g., an output port of the storage container and/or the output module). If the actuator is a valve, the valve is configured to close an output port (e.g., an output port of a storage container and/or an output module), for example. For the purpose of delivering the preparation, the control unit controls, for example, a valve such that the valve is opened so that the preparation can flow out of the delivery opening.

Furthermore, a use of an acceleration sensor in a dispensing device and/or a sensor device, in particular a device for a household appliance according to a first aspect of the invention, is disclosed, wherein the acceleration sensor is configured to determine sensor data reflecting characteristics of a condition of a treatment chamber and/or a device of the household appliance, and wherein the sensor data at least partially represents data acquired by means of at least one acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor or the device comprising the acceleration sensor may be designed according to each or several of the features described above.

In particular, the previous or following description of the method steps according to preferred embodiments of the method shall also disclose corresponding means for performing said method steps by preferred embodiments of the device. Likewise, by disclosing means of the apparatus for performing the method steps, corresponding method steps will also be disclosed.

In the following detailed description of some exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which other advantageous exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. However, these drawings are intended to be illustrative only, and not to determine the scope of the invention. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the general concepts of the invention. In particular, the features included in the drawings are not intended to be considered essential elements of the present invention.

Drawings

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a system according to the invention;

fig. 2 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention for performing an embodiment of a method according to the invention;

fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the device 100 according to fig. 1 in a perspective view;

fig. 4 shows a first item of sensor information determined by a magnetometer comprised, for example, by the device 100 according to fig. 1, said first item of sensor information representing a curve in the present case;

fig. 5 shows a second item of sensor information determined by a magnetometer comprised, for example, by the device 100 according to fig. 1, which second item of sensor information currently represents a curve progression;

fig. 6 shows a third item of sensor information determined by a magnetometer comprised, for example, by the device 100 according to fig. 1, said third item of sensor information currently representing a curved shape; and

fig. 7 shows a fourth item of sensor information, which in this case represents a curve, determined by a magnetometer comprised, for example, by the device 100 according to fig. 1.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 first shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a system 1 according to the invention, comprising devices 100, 200, 300 and 400. The system 1 is configured to perform an exemplary method according to the present invention. The device 100 is an exemplary mobile device 100, in which case the device may be placed in a processing chamber 310 of a household appliance 300 (here illustratively configured as a washing machine). Both the device 100 and the washing machine 300 may each be a device according to the present invention. Furthermore, the system 1 comprises a mobile device 200 (here exemplarily configured as a smartphone) in the form of a smartphone, tablet, wearable device, etc. as another device. The mobile device 200 may also be a device according to the invention or may perform various steps of an exemplary method according to the invention. However, the device 200 may also be a computer, a desktop computer, or a portable computer, such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). In addition to or instead of the devices 300 and 200, the system may also include a server 400. It is also contemplated that the system 1 may include fewer or more than three devices.

Although the examples described herein are described in particular in connection with a household appliance 300 in the form of a washing machine, the explanations apply analogously to other types of household appliances.

Each of the devices 100, 200, 300, 400 may have a communication interface to communicate and/or exchange data with one or more of the other devices, e.g. directly via a wireless (bluetooth, WLAN, ZigBee, NFC, to name a few non-limiting examples) and/or via a wired (LAN) connection and/or via a communication network 118, such as the internet and/or a local area network covering the devices 100, 200, 300.

Fig. 2 shows a block diagram 20 of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention for performing an embodiment of a method according to the invention. The block diagram 20 in fig. 2 may be an example of the device 100 shown in fig. 1, the washing machine 300 shown, the mobile device 200 shown (or a part thereof) or the server 400 shown.

The processor 210 of the device 20 is designed as a microprocessor, microcontroller unit, microcontroller, Digital Signal Processor (DSP), Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) or Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), among others.

Processor 210 executes program instructions stored in program memory 212 and stores, for example, intermediate results in working or main memory 211. The program memory 212 is, for example, a non-volatile memory, such as a flash memory, a magnetic memory, an EEPROM memory (electrically erasable programmable read only memory) and/or an optical memory. The main memory 211 is, for example, a volatile or non-volatile memory, in particular a Random Access Memory (RAM), such as a static RAM memory (SRAM), a dynamic RAM memory (DRAM), a ferroelectric RAM memory (FeRAM) and/or a magnetic RAM memory (MRAM).

Program memory 212 is preferably a local data storage medium that is securely connected to device 20. The data storage medium permanently connected to the device 20 is, for example, a hard disk built in the device 20. Alternatively, the data storage medium may also be a data storage medium detachably connected to the device 20, for example.

Program memory 212 contains, for example, the operating system of device 20, which is at least partially loaded into main memory 211 when device 20 is booted up and executed by processor 210. In particular, when device 20 is booted, at least a portion of the operating system's kernel is loaded into main memory 211 and executed by processor 210.

In particular, the operating system allows the device 20 to be used for data processing. For example, it manages resources such as the main memory 111 and program memory 212, communication interface 213, input and output devices 214, provides basic functions to other programs through the programming interfaces, and controls the execution of the programs.

The processor 210 further controls a communication interface 213, which may be, for example, a network interface and may be designed as a network card, network module and/or modem. The communication interface 213 is especially configured to establish a connection of the device 100 with other devices and to communicate with them, especially via a (wireless) communication system, e.g. a network. The communication interface 213 may, for example, receive data (via a communication system) and forward the data to the processor 210 and/or receive data from the processor 210 and transmit the data (via a communication system). Examples of communication systems are Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), wireless networks (e.g. according to the IEEE802.11 standard, the bluetooth (LE) standard and/or the NFC standard), wired networks, mobile networks, telephone networks and/or the internet. For example, communication interface 213 may be used to communicate with the Internet and/or other devices. In the case of the devices 100, 200, 300, 400, the communication interface 213 may be used to communicate with other devices 100, 200, 300, 400 or the internet.

Via this communication interface 213, in particular, sensor data can be obtained (received) which characterize the condition and load condition of a process chamber of a household appliance (for example, the laundry washing machine 300 according to fig. 1). Furthermore, the components shown (and other components, if required) may be used for controlling and/or adjusting the household appliance (e.g. the laundry washing machine 300 according to fig. 1) and/or the device (e.g. the device 100 according to fig. 1) after taking into account the received sensor data.

Further, the processor 210 may control at least one input/output device 214. The input/output device 214 is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a display unit, a microphone, a touch-sensitive display unit, a speaker, a reader, a driver, and/or a camera. For example, input/output device 214 may receive input from a user and forward the input to processor 210, and/or receive and output data for the user from processor 210.

Finally, the apparatus 20 may include at least one conductivity sensor 215, and optionally one or more additional sensors 216. One of the one or more additional sensors is for example an acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor and/or an optical sensor, to name a few non-limiting examples. The other sensors disclosed in the general description of the present specification may of course also represent one or more of the other sensors 216.

Fig. 3 now shows a schematic illustration of the device 100 according to fig. 1 in a perspective view. The apparatus 100 is a separate apparatus from the washing machine 300. The device 100 has a substantially spherical watertight housing made at least in part of a non-rigid or elastic material. The apparatus 100 includes, for example, a batch of formulations, such as detergents or individual detergent components combined as desired (not shown). During operation of the washing machine 300, detergent or individual detergent components may be dispensed to the interior of the washing machine 300 (the process chamber 310) via the outlet 115a by means of the pump unit 115. This is because the device 100 is designed to be placed in the washing drum of the washing machine 300 and to be freely mixed with the laundry therein.

The device 100 may also be designed to send control signals to the laundry washing machine 300 for control and/or regulation, for example to influence the program sequence of the laundry washing machine.

The device 100 has a housing 104, whereby the housing 104 is designed to be placed in a treatment chamber 310 of a household appliance 300. In fig. 1, the device is not shown to scale, particularly the size of the housing 104 or device 100 to allow insertion and removal of the housing 104 or device 100 from the process chamber 310.

The housing 104 of the device 100 has an output module 110 which is designed to deliver and/or trigger the output of at least one preparation into a treatment chamber 310 of the household appliance 300. For example, the preparation is dispensed via the outlet opening of the outlet module 110 and/or the storage container to the surroundings of the outlet module 110 and/or the storage container and thus in particular to the process chamber 310.

The housing 104 of the device 100 comprises a sensor module 112 configured to determine sensor data reflecting characteristics of a condition of the treatment chamber 310 of the household appliance 300 and/or the device 100. Furthermore, the sensor module 112 is configured to determine sensor data, which is further indicative of a load condition of the processing chamber 310 of the household appliance 300. The sensor module 112 comprises a sensor 115b, which is designed, for example, as a conductivity sensor. Further, the sensor module may include one or more additional sensors 115 c-115 e, each included by and/or electrically connected to the sensor module 112, such as an optical sensor 115c, an acceleration sensor 115d, and a temperature sensor 115 e.

The device 100 communicates wirelessly with the household appliance 300, for example, via the communication network 118. Other devices may be integrated into the communication, such as a server (e.g. server 400 according to fig. 1), which, among other things, controls and/or regulates individual or several method steps of the processing in the domestic appliance 300.

For example, the cleaning process is monitored based at least in part on sensor data acquired by the sensor module 112. In particular, the cleaning program is controlled and/or influenced at least partially on the basis of the sensor data. The cleaning program may, for example, comprise initiating the dispensing of the preparation by the output module, in particular via the storage container. For example, detergent and/or cleaning agent is output depending on the sensor data.

To conserve power or capacity of an energy storage device (not shown in fig. 3), the output module 110 and/or the sensor module 112 may be configured to communicate with the household appliance 300 based at least on sensor data acquired by the sensor module 112. Further, the output module 110 may be configured to perform dispensing of the formulation by the output module 110 and/or performing output of the formulation by the output module based at least on sensor data acquired by the sensor module 112. For example, communication and/or output may be performed only when the motion (e.g., acceleration and/or velocity) of the process chamber 310 and/or the apparatus 100 is within a respective allowable range. This may be performed, for example, via reference values stored in a database (e.g., comprised by or connected to the server 400 according to fig. 1). For example, if the respective parameter is outside an allowable range (defined by a reference value), communication and/or output may be prevented.

The following exemplary embodiments according to all aspects of the invention should also be understood as being disclosed:

fig. 4 shows (sensor) data determined by a magnetic field sensor covered by a dispensing device (e.g. device 100 according to fig. 1) or a curve progression thereof. The curve represented by the data is determined for a household appliance (for example, household appliance 300 according to fig. 1) designed as a washing machine, the drum of which (for example, treatment chamber 310 according to fig. 1) is fully loaded (i.e. maximum filling; 100%). It can be seen that the curve represents a uniform harmonious vibration behaviour (corresponding to the rotation of the drum, for example, in the case of a cleaning programme performed by the washing machine). If the magnetic field sensor detects this curve, it is apparent that it is possible to determine or recognize that the drum is rotating and that a washing or drying course has been started, regardless of the spatial axis (e.g., x-axis, y-axis, and/or z-axis). Since the data is acquired over a certain time (period), the acquired data may also be associated with a point in time (e.g., a timestamp). Depending on, for example, the dosing base, the corresponding detergent may be dosed by the dosing device.

Furthermore, the curve shown in fig. 4 also clearly shows the interruption of the movement. The drum is stationary and therefore the dosing unit does not move relative to the drum or at all. These pauses can occur at certain intervals, which are also referred to as pause behaviors, whereby these certain intervals can be characteristic of many cleaning programs of the household appliance (in this case the washing machine) and can thus be used to identify the cleaning program executed by the household appliance (for example by means of analysis and database queries in a so-called look-up table).

Fig. 5 shows (sensor) data determined by a magnetic field sensor covered by a dispensing device (e.g. device 100 according to fig. 1) or a curve progression thereof. The curve represented by said data is determined for a household appliance (for example, household appliance 300 according to fig. 1) designed as a washing machine, whereby the drum (for example, treatment chamber 310 according to fig. 1) is loaded by only one third (for example, a maximum load of 6kg, and only 2kg of laundry, to name a non-limiting example).

For example, in order to determine whether a spin-drying process takes place as part of a cleaning program executed by the washing machine, or in order to determine the rotational speed of the treatment chamber, the data acquired by the magnetic field sensor may be evaluated in order to determine the above. This is not possible, for example, with acceleration sensors, since the centrifugal force is too high and exceeds the measurement range of the acceleration sensor. For example, in a conventional washing machine having a load of 6kg of laundry (e.g., drum diameter of 47cm), acceleration of about 42G is achieved at a rotation speed of about 400rpm, and acceleration of about 378G is achieved at a rotation speed of 1200 rpm. This cannot be measured by MEMS (micro electro mechanical system) based accelerometers. Magnetic field sensors (such as MEMS-based magnetometers) on the other hand are able to detect even minimal changes with respect to the earth's magnetic field. This allows any speed in the washing machine or dryer to be detected. In addition to determining absolute velocity, changes in velocity may also be determined.

For example, in FIG. 5, it can be seen that harmonic sinusoidal oscillations are clearly related to the speed of the drum. The time window shown in fig. 5 is 1 second, from which the curve is determined at a sampling rate of 20 Hz. A certain sampling rate is required for a correct determination and thus a determination (e.g. calculation) of the drum speed, since particularly high drum speeds can only be clearly determined with a sufficient amount of information (e.g. data volume). For example, to determine a full revolution of the drum, at least two, preferably three, particularly preferably four measured values of the acquired data should be acquired at regular intervals. For example, at 1600rpm, the drum may rotate 26.667 revolutions per second. Thus, the sinusoid resulting from a drum speed of 1600rpm at a sampling rate of, for example, at least 50Hz, preferably at most 110Hz, can be reliably described.

Fig. 6 shows data acquired by a magnetic field sensor comprised in a dosing unit (e.g. the device 100 according to fig. 1) or a curve progression thereof. The curve represented by the data can also be evaluated, for example, in the following manner: in the case of a household appliance designed as a washing machine, for example household appliance 300 according to fig. 1, the filling degree (for example, expressed in%) is determined.

The curve shown in fig. 6 is determined on the basis of a drum with a maximum possible load capacity of 6kg load, which is only 2kg during the main wash cycle of the cleaning program, which is close to 50 to 55 rpm.

The dispensing device (e.g., of spherical design) is free to move within the drum of the washing machine. There is no harmonic sinusoidal oscillation. This behavior is characteristic of loads less than 50% of the maximum possible load of the drum. Since the large load amount is at most 100% of the maximum possible load amount of the drum, the behavior (or movement) of the dosing unit inside the drum may vary and the oscillating behavior may become harmonious, whereby this is for example represented by a sinusoidal curve.

Fig. 7 shows further (sensor) data determined by a magnetometer comprised, for example, by the device 100 according to fig. 1, which data in this case represents a curve. The curve shown in fig. 7 is determined on the basis of a drum with a maximum possible load capacity of 6kg of laundry, which is present during the main wash cycle of the cleaning program at about 50 to 55rpm (currently about 6kg of laundry). It can be seen that a change towards a sinusoidal (harmonic) curve has occurred compared to fig. 6.

Although the data acquired in this way do not allow to accurately determine the filling quantity of the treatment chamber of the household appliance at least partly on the basis of the devices that can be placed in said treatment chamber, the acquired data are nevertheless indicative, for example in order to adapt the dose of the preparation to the load quantity of the treatment chamber. Furthermore, the determined (sensor) data may be combined with further acquired data, e.g. with data acquired by an acceleration sensor, e.g. determined by one or more other sensors comprised in the device, in order to ensure, confirm or correct the determined magnetic field sensor data.

The embodiments of the invention described in the description and the optional features and characteristics mentioned in each case are also to be understood as being disclosed in all combinations with one another. In particular, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the description of features included in the embodiments should not be read in the present context to imply that the features are indispensable or indispensable to the function of the example. The order of the method steps described in the various flow diagrams in this specification is not mandatory; alternative sequences of method steps may be envisaged. The method steps may be implemented in various ways, for example in software (by program instructions), hardware or a combination of both.

The use of terms such as "comprising", "having", "including" and the like in the claims does not exclude other elements or steps. The expression "at least partially" covers both the "partially" case and the "completely" case. The wording "and/or" should be understood to mean that alternatives and combinations should be disclosed, i.e. "a and/or B" means "(a) or (B) or (a and B)". The use of the indefinite article does not exclude a plurality. A single device may perform the functions of several units or devices mentioned in the claims. Reference signs indicated in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the means and steps used.