System, retrofit module and method for monitoring a current operational state of a program-controlled domestic appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10012971-B2
Application number	US-201415022276-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2014
Priority date	Sep 16, 2013
Publication date	Jul 3, 2018
Grant date	Jul 3, 2018

Abstract

A current operational state of a program-controlled domestic appliance is monitored while it carries out an operating process. The monitoring system includes a retrofit module and a communication device separate from the retrofit module and from the domestic appliance. The retrofit module has a fastening arrangement for releasable fastening on an outer face of an appliance housing, a data exchange unit for wireless communication, and a sensor arrangement with a magnetic field sensor that detects a magnetic field that is generated by a drive motor of the domestic appliance and that penetrates outwards through the appliance housing. The system determines the current operational state of the domestic appliance with the aid of detected measured values of the magnetic field and outputs the state via the communication device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for monitoring a current operational state of a program-controlled domestic appliance while the domestic appliance is carrying out an operating process, the domestic appliance having an appliance housing and a drive motor, the system comprising:
a retrofit module;
a communication device that is separate from said retrofit module and from the domestic appliance;
said retrofit module including:
a fastening arrangement for releasable fastening said retrofit module on an outer face of the appliance housing of the domestic appliance;
a data exchange unit for wireless communication with the communication device;
a sensor arrangement with a magnetic field sensor configured for detecting a magnetic field generated by the drive motor of the domestic appliance, the magnetic field forming an emission signal penetrating outwards through the appliance housing; and
a plausibilization device configured to check whether the emission signals originate from the domestic appliance based on a comparison of the detected magnetic field and at least one emission signal different from the magnetic field, and to take the emission signals as a basis for determining the current operational state only after assignment to the domestic appliance; and

wherein the system is configured to determine the current operational state of the domestic appliance by way of detected measured values of the emission signal and to output the current operational state by way of said communication device.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said sensor arrangement of said retrofit module comprises at least one further sensor configured to detect an emission signal different from the magnetic field of a component of the domestic appliance carrying out the operating process, and wherein the system is configured to determine the operational state of the domestic appliance also taking into consideration measured values detected by the at least one further sensor.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein said further sensor is an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration as an emission signal, and wherein the system is configured to determine the operational state of the domestic appliance while also taking into consideration the acceleration.

4. The system according to claim 2 , wherein said further sensor is an acoustic sensor for detecting a structure-borne sound and/or an airborne sound forming an emission signal, and wherein the system is configured to determine the operational state of the domestic appliance while also taking into consideration one or both of the structure-borne sound and the airborne sound.

5. The system according to claim 2 , wherein said further sensor is a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature to which the outer face of the appliance housing is exposed as an emission signal, and wherein the system is configured to determine the operational state of the domestic appliance while also taking into consideration the temperature.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said retrofit module is configured to:
transmit the measured values of the emission signal by way of said data exchange unit to said communication device and/or to an Internet server, wherein the communication device and/or the Internet server is configured to determine the current operational state of the domestic appliance with the aid of the measured values received thereby; and/or
determine the operational state of the domestic appliance by way of the measured values of the at least one emission signal and to transmit the operational state of the domestic appliance to said communication device.

7. The system according to claim 1 , which further comprises a plausibilization device configured to check whether the emission signals originate from the domestic appliance based on a comparison of the detected magnetic field and at least one emission signal different from the magnetic field, and to take the emission signals as a basis for determining the current operational state only after assignment to the domestic appliance.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said communication device is a portable terminal.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to determine the current operational state of the domestic appliance on the basis of a comparison of the measured values of the magnetic field and/or at least one emission signal different from the magnetic field with stored reference values.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the system is configured, on the basis of the measured values of the magnetic field and/or at least one emission signal different from the magnetic field, to:
detect a currently selected operating program of the domestic appliance as an operational state; and/or
detect completion of the operating process as an operational state; and/or
determine a progress of a program and/or a remaining time of the operating process as an operational state.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said fastening arrangement comprises a magnet and/or a suction cup for releasably fastening the retrofit module on the domestic appliance.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said magnet is a permanent magnet.

13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the domestic appliance is a device for laundry care or a dishwasher.

14. A retrofit module for a system according to claim 1 , the module comprising:
a fastening arrangement configured for releasably fastening the retrofit module on an outer face of an appliance housing of a domestic appliance;
a sensor arrangement configured to detect at least one emission signal from a component of the domestic appliance carrying out the operating process of the domestic appliance, the signal penetrating outwards through the appliance housing, said sensor arrangement having a magnetic field sensor disposed to detect a magnetic field, generated by a drive motor as the component of the domestic appliance, as an emission signal;
a data exchange unit for wireless communication with an external appliance that is separate from the retrofit module and from the domestic appliance;
a plausibilization device configured to check whether the emission signals originate from the domestic appliance based on a comparison of the detected magnetic field and at least one emission signal different from the magnetic field, and to take the emission signals as a basis for determining the current operational state only after assignment to the domestic appliance; and
the retrofit module being configured:
to transmit detected measured values of the magnetic field by way of said data exchange unit to the external appliance to determine the current operational state of the domestic appliance; and/or
to determine, with the aid of the measured values of the magnetic field, the operational state of the domestic appliance and to transmit information regarding the operational state to the external appliance.

15. A retrofit module for a system according to claim 1 , the module comprising:
a fastening arrangement configured for releasably fastening the retrofit module on an outer face of an appliance housing of a domestic appliance;
a sensor arrangement configured to detect at least one emission signal from a component of the domestic appliance carrying out the operating process of the domestic appliance, the signal penetrating outwards through the appliance housing, said sensor arrangement having a magnetic field sensor disposed to detect a magnetic field, generated by a drive motor as the component of the domestic appliance, as an emis

Assignees

• Bsh Hausgeraeete Gmbh
• Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh

Inventors

• Pietsch Ingo
• Winde Mirco
• Garbe Thomas

Classifications

• A47L15/0063

  using remote monitoring or controlling of the dishwasher operation, e.g. networking systems · CPC title

• A47L2401/12

  Water temperature · CPC title

• D06F39/12

  Casings; Tubs · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• G05B2219/2633

  Washing, laundry · CPC title