Handheld scanner for improved stain detection, system comprising such a handheld scanner, and method for operation thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10989592-B2
Application number	US-201816757491-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2018
Priority date	Nov 8, 2017
Publication date	Apr 27, 2021
Grant date	Apr 27, 2021

Abstract

A handheld scanner contains an IR spectrometer with a radiation source and a radiation detector, a control unit, an interface for wireless data communication, and a RGB sensor. The handheld scanner is configured to detect soiling on a laundry item. Additionally, the handheld scanner can be integrated into a system, and used in a method for operating the system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A handheld scanner, comprising:
an infrared (IR) spectrometer having a radiation source and a radiation detector;
a controller;
an interface for wireless data communication;
a red, green, blue (RGB) sensor;
the handheld scanner being configured for detecting soiling on a laundry item; and
the handheld scanner being configured to:
record a dark spectrum D when the radiation source of the IR spectrometer is switched off;
scan at least one laundry item with the handheld scanner at a reference point, and record an IR spectrum and/or RGB sensor signals;
transmit the IR spectrum obtained in step (a) and/or the RGB sensor signals obtained in step (a) as first data to an external server;
scan the at least one laundry item of step (a) with the handheld scanner at a stain point of the at least one laundry item having soiling;
transmit an IR spectrum obtained in step (c) and/or RGB sensor signals obtained in step (c) as second data to the external server; and
receive third data from the external server, said third data regarding a type and/or quantity of soiling, determined based on an evaluation of the IR spectrum and/or the RGB sensor signals by the server.

2. The handheld scanner according to claim 1 , further comprising an optical and/or acoustic display device for displaying evaluated data from said IR spectrometer and/or said RGB sensor.

3. The handheld scanner according to claim 1 , further comprising an input for entering inputs from a user.

4. The handheld scanner according to claim 2 , wherein:
said controller is configured for communication with the external server via said interface for wireless data communication, in the communication first data and/or second data of said IR spectrometer and/or said RGB sensor relative to laundry items measured by the handheld scanner at a reference point and at a stain point is transmitted to the external server, the first data and the second data being evaluated in the external server regarding a type and/or quantity of soiling, and results of evaluations are then transmitted as third data to the handheld scanner and/or a laundry treatment appliance.

5. The handheld scanner according to claim 4 , wherein the third data transmitted to the handheld scanner is displayed on said optical and/or acoustic display device.

6. The handheld scanner according to claim 5 , wherein a user may make additional inputs based on the third data relative to soiling.

7. The handheld scanner according to claim 4 , wherein the first data and the second data being evaluated in the external server regarding a fiber material, a fiber component and/or a visual color and results of evaluations are then transmitted as part of the third data to the handheld scanner and/or the laundry treatment appliance.

8. The handheld scanner according to claim 6 , wherein a user may make additional inputs based on the third data relative to measured laundry items.

9. A system for treating laundry items, the system comprising:
an external server;
a laundry treatment appliance; and
a handheld scanner having an infrared spectrometer with a radiation source and a radiation detector, a controller, an interface for wireless data communication with said external server and a red, green, blue sensor, said handheld scanner further configured to detect soiling on the laundry items;
said handheld scanner configured to:
record a dark spectrum D when the radiation source of the IR spectrometer is switched off;
scan at least one laundry item with the handheld scanner at a reference point, and record an IR spectrum and/or RGB sensor signals;
transmit the IR spectrum obtained in step (a) and/or the RGB sensor signals obtained in step (a) as first data to an external server;
scan the at least one laundry item of step (a) with the handheld scanner at a stain point of the at least one laundry item having soiling;
transmit an IR spectrum obtained in step (c) and/or RGB sensor signals obtained in step (c) as second data to the external server; and

said server configured to:
evaluate the IR spectrum and/or the RGB sensor signals regarding a type and/or quantity of soiling as third data; and
transmit the third data to the handheld scanner and/or the laundry treatment appliance.

10. A method for operating a system for treating laundry items, the system having a handheld scanner, an external server and a laundry treatment appliance, wherein the handheld scanner having an infrared spectrometer with a radiation source and a radiation detector, a controller, an interface for wireless data communication with the external server and a red, green, blue sensor, which comprises the steps of:
(a1) recording a dark spectrum D when the radiation source of the IR spectrometer is switched off;
(a) scanning at least one laundry item with the handheld scanner at a reference point, and recording an IR spectrum and/or RGB sensor signals;
(b) transmitting the IR spectrum obtained in step (a) and/or the RGB sensor signals obtained in step (a) as first data to the external server;
(c) scanning the at least one laundry item of step (a) with the handheld scanner at a stain point of the at least one laundry item having soiling;
(d) transmitting an IR spectrum obtained in step (c) and/or RGB sensor signals obtained in step (c) as second data to the external server;
(e) evaluating the IR spectrum and/or the RGB sensor signals regarding a type and/or quantity of soiling as third data; and
(f) transmitting the third data to the handheld scanner and/or the laundry treatment appliance.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein in step (f), transmitting the third data to the handheld scanner and displaying the third data on an acoustic and/or optical display device of the handheld scanner.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein in step (a) at the reference point and in step (c) at the at least one stain point three color values, namely a red, a green and a blue value, and a clear value which corresponds to a total light reflected, are recorded as the RGB sensor signals.

13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein in step (e) RGB values measured at the stain point and at the reference point are subtracted from one another.

14. The method according to claim 10 , wherein in order to obtain a reflection spectrum R of the stain, a reflection spectrum I recorded in step (c) at the stain point is compared with a reflection spectrum I c measured in step (a) at the reference point, wherein by considering the dark spectrum D, the following formula is used for determining the reflection spectrum R:
R =( I−D )/( I c −D ).

15. The method according to claim 10 , wherein laundry treatment programs are assigned to the third data in the laundry treatment appliance according to an input of mechanical energy into the laundry items.

16. The method according to claim 10 , wherein at least one laundry treatment program is assigned to the third data in the laundry treatment appliance according to the type and/or quantity of soiling.

Assignees

• Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh

Inventors

• Neumaier Philipp
• Pourziaei Ramona

Classifications

• G01N21/359 Primary

  using near infrared light · CPC title

• G01J3/0272 Primary

  Handheld · CPC title

• D06F33/36

  of washing · CPC title

• D06F2101/06

  Type or material · CPC title

• D06F2103/02

  Characteristics of laundry or load · CPC title