Device comprising an output module and/or a sensor module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11814772-B2
Application number	US-201916976985-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2019
Priority date	Mar 9, 2018
Publication date	Nov 14, 2023
Grant date	Nov 14, 2023

Abstract

A device for use in a household appliance is disclosed, the device comprising: at least one casing, wherein the casing is configured to be placed in a treatment chamber of a household appliance; wherein the casing comprises at least one output module, which is configured to dispense at least one preparation into the treatment chamber of the household appliance and/or to trigger an output; and at least one sensor module, which is configured to determine sensor data characteristic of the condition of the treatment chamber of the household appliance and/or of the device; wherein the sensor module comprises at least one sensor, wherein the sensor data at least partially represents information determined by employing the at least one sensor; wherein the data determined by sensor is at least partially indicative of a load condition of the treatment chamber of the household appliance.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for use in a household appliance, the device comprising:
at least one casing,
wherein the casing is configured to be placed in a treatment chamber of a household appliance;
wherein the casing comprises:
at least one output module configured to dispense an amount of at least one preparation into the treatment chamber of the household appliance and/or to trigger an output of the preparation;
and
at least one sensor module in operable communication with the at least one output module and configured to sense a condition of the treatment chamber of the household appliance and/or the device and supply sensor data indicative thereof,
wherein said sensor module comprises at least one magnetic field sensor configured to supply magnetic field sensor data;
wherein the sensor data includes the magnetic field sensor data supplied by the magnetic field sensor, wherein the output module or the sensor module are further configured to analyze the magnetic field sensor data to determine a load condition of the treatment chamber of the household appliance, wherein the load condition represents a load quantity of objects placed in the treatment chamber of the household appliance; and
wherein the dispensing and/or the triggering of the output of the preparation by the at least one output module, the amount of the preparation, and a composition of the preparation are at least partially based on the load condition determined by the output module or the sensor module.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor data supplied by the at least one sensor module further includes data that is at least partially indicative of a status of a cleaning program performed by the household appliance.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the sensor data supplied by the at least one sensor module further includes data that is at least partially indicative of a liquid level of the treatment chamber of the apparatus.

4. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the magnetic field sensor data is an oscillation behavior of the magnetic flux density measured by the magnetic field sensor, wherein the load condition of the treatment chamber is determined by an analysis of the oscillation behavior, wherein a harmonic sinusoidal oscillation is recognized as indicative of a drum loaded over about 50%, and a disharmonic sinusoidal oscillation is recognized as indicative of a drum loaded less than about 50%.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor data supplied by the at least one sensor module further includes data that is at least partially indicative of a liquid level of the treatment chamber of the apparatus.

6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the magnetic field sensor data is an oscillation behavior of the magnetic flux density measured by the magnetic field sensor, wherein the load condition of the treatment chamber is determined by an analysis of the oscillation behavior, wherein a harmonic sinusoidal oscillation is recognized as indicative of a drum loaded over about 50%, and a disharmonic sinusoidal oscillation is recognized as indicative of a drum loaded less than about 50%.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field sensor data is an oscillation behavior of the magnetic flux density measured by the magnetic field sensor, wherein the load condition of the treatment chamber is determined by an analysis of the oscillation behavior, wherein a harmonic sinusoidal oscillation is recognized as indicative of a drum loaded over about 50%, and a disharmonic sinusoidal oscillation is recognized as indicative of a drum loaded less than about 50%.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor data further includes data that is supplied by one or more further sensors, wherein the one or more further sensors are one or more of the following sensors: temperature sensor, optical sensor, conductivity sensor, and acceleration sensor.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the output module and/or the sensor module are further configured to communicate with the household appliance.

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the output module and/or the sensor module are further configured to perform and/or prevent communication with the household appliance at least based on the magnetic field sensor data acquired by the sensor module.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the communication with household appliance comprises transmitting feedback data, wherein the feedback data is indicative of a feedback to the household appliance regarding at least one parameter related to the treatment chamber of the household appliance.

12. The device according to claim 11 , wherein a user profile is generated at least partially based on the feedback data, wherein the user profile comprises one or more items of information specifying the user.

13. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the output module and/or the sensor module are further configured to perform communication with at least one server.

14. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the output module and/or the sensor module are further configured to determine, at least partially based on the sensor data, whether the device is placed in the treatment chamber of the household appliance.

15. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature range provided for the treatment chamber of the household appliance during a treatment is from about 20° C. to about 150° C.

16. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the output module is further configured to perform and/or prevent dispensing and/or causing output of a preparation by the output module at least partially based on the sensor data acquired by the sensor module.

17. A system comprising a device according to claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises at least one household appliance.

Assignees

• Henkel Ag & Co Kgaa

Inventors

• Kessler Arnd
• Zuechner Lars
• Hernandez Robert Ruiz
• Hardacker Ingo

Classifications

• D06F33/37 Primary

  of metering of detergents or additives · CPC title

• D06F39/024

  mounted on the agitator or the rotating drum; Free body dispensers · CPC title

• D06F2103/04

  Quantity, e.g. weight or variation of weight · CPC title

• D06F2103/18

  Washing liquid level · CPC title

• D06F2105/42

  Detergent or additive supply · CPC title