Method for automatically controlling dishwasher, dishwasher and computer program product

Abstract

A method includes starting cleaning program stored in memory of control device of dishwasher by start signal triggered on input device of the dishwasher, detecting current actual value of state variable in the dishwasher by sensor, comparing the detected actual value with reference value of relevant state variable stored in the control device, determining parameter and/or parameter value associated with the parameter based on the comparison, outputting output signal associated with the parameter and/or the parameter value on output device, detecting adjustment signal associated with the output signal, generated in response to input on the input device or on input device associated with the dishwasher, and associated with the parameter and/or the parameter value, and continuing to run the cleaning program with original program configuration, modified program configuration, or suspend strategy for ending the cleaning program, according to the adjustment signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for automatically controlling a dishwasher comprising:
 automatically starting a cleaning program stored in a memory of a control device of the dishwasher by a start signal triggered on an input device of the dishwasher, the start signal being associated with the cleaning program;   automatically detecting a current actual value of at least one state variable in the dishwasher by at least one sensor of the dishwasher to obtain a detected actual value;   automatically comparing the detected actual value with a reference value of a relevant state variable stored in the control device;   automatically determining at least one of a parameter or a parameter value associated with the parameter based on a comparison of the detected actual value with the reference value;   automatically outputting an output signal on an output device associated with the dishwasher, the output signal being associated with the at least one of the parameter or the parameter value;   automatically detecting, by the control device, an adjustment signal associated with the output signal, the adjustment signal being generated in response to an input on the input device of the dishwasher or on another input device associated with the dishwasher, and the adjustment signal being associated with the at least one of the parameter or the parameter value; and   automatically continuing to run the cleaning program with an original program configuration, a modified program configuration, or a suspend strategy for ending the cleaning program, according to the adjustment signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the output signal conveys at least one of:
 a type of the parameter,   an amount of the parameter value,   at least one manner of adjusting the cleaning program, or   a process-related result of an automatically recommended manner of adjusting the cleaning program.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the output signal is an acoustic output signal output by at least one of a loudspeaker of the dishwasher or a loudspeaker of an external apparatus connected to the dishwasher via a communication interface of the dishwasher. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the output signal is a visual output signal output by at least one of a display of the dishwasher or a display of an external apparatus connected to the dishwasher via a communication interface of the dishwasher. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment signal is generated by a manual input on the input device on the dishwasher and transmitted to the control device to directly adjust the cleaning program that is running. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the another input device associated with the dishwasher is an input device on an external apparatus connected to the dishwasher via a communication interface, and the adjustment signal is generated by a manual input on the input device on the external apparatus and transmitted to the control device to directly adjust the cleaning program that is running. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment signal is generated by a manual input on the input device on the dishwasher and stored in a memory of the control device to be read out at a later point in time when a subsequent cleaning program is started. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the another input device associated with the dishwasher is an input device on an external apparatus connected to the dishwasher via a communication interface, and the adjustment signal is generated by a manual input on the input device on the external apparatus and stored in a memory of the control device to be read out at a later point in time when a subsequent cleaning program is started. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one state variable is selected from a group consisting of:
 a turbidity of rinse liquid,   a cleanliness state of dishes and/or cutlery in the dishwasher,   a temperature of rinse liquid,   a temperature of tap water entering the dishwasher,   a type of cleaning agent added,   an added amount of cleaning agent,   a type of rinse agent added,   an added amount of rinse agent, and/or   a running time so far of the cleaning program.   
     
     
         10 . A dishwasher comprising:
 a control device including a memory storing a cleaning program;   an input device connected to the control device; and   at least one sensor connected to the control device and configured to automatically detect a current actual value of at least one state variable in the dishwasher;   wherein the control device is configured to:
 automatically start the cleaning program in response to a start signal triggered on the input device, the start signal being associated with the cleaning program; 
 automatically control the at least one sensor to detect the current actual value of the at least one state variable to obtain a detected actual value; 
 automatically compare the detected actual value with a reference value of a relevant state variable stored in the control device; 
 automatically determine at least one of a parameter or a parameter value associated with the parameter based on a comparison of the detected actual value with the reference value; 
 automatically output an output signal on an output device associated with the dishwasher, the output signal being associated with the at least one of the parameter or the parameter value; 
 automatically detect an adjustment signal associated with the output signal, the adjustment signal being generated in response to an input on the input device of the dishwasher or on another input device associated with the dishwasher, and the adjustment signal being associated with the at least one of the parameter or the parameter value; and 
 automatically continue to run the cleaning program with an original program configuration, a modified program configuration, or a suspend strategy for ending the cleaning program, according to the adjustment signal. 
   
     
     
         11 . The dishwasher according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect the at least one state variable each selected from a group consisting of:
 a turbidity of rinse liquid,   a cleanliness state of dishes and/or cutlery in the dishwasher,   a temperature of rinse liquid,   a temperature of tap water entering the dishwasher,   a type of cleaning agent added,   an added amount of cleaning agent,   a type of rinse agent added,   an added amount of rinse agent, and/or   a running time so far of the cleaning program.   
     
     
         12 . The dishwasher according to  claim 10 , wherein the control device further includes a comparator configured to:
 receive the detected actual value;   compare the detected actual value with the reference value; and   automatically output the output signal associated with at least one of a specific parameter or a specific parameter value to the output device in response to the detected actual value deviating from the reference value by more than a predetermined tolerance range.   
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher according to  claim 10 , wherein the control device further includes a data memory configured to store the adjustment signal as a data record, to be automatically read out at a later point in time when a subsequent cleaning program is started. 
     
     
         14 . The dishwasher according to  claim 13 , wherein the adjustment signal is generated by a manual input on the input device of the dishwasher. 
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher according to  claim 13 , wherein the another input device associated with the dishwasher is an input device on an external apparatus associated with the dishwasher, and the adjustment signal is generated by a manual input on the input device on the external apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The dishwasher according to  claim 15 , wherein the external apparatus is connected to the dishwasher via a communication interface. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that, when executed by a control device of a dishwasher, cause the dishwasher to:
 automatically start a cleaning program stored in a memory of the control device by a start signal triggered on an input device of the dishwasher, the start signal being associated with the cleaning program;   automatically detect a current actual value of at least one state variable in the dishwasher by at least one sensor of the dishwasher to obtain a detected actual value;   automatically compare the detected actual value with a reference value of a relevant state variable stored in the control device;   automatically determine at least one of a parameter or a parameter value associated with the parameter based on a comparison of the detected actual value with the reference value;   automatically output an output signal on an output device associated with the dishwasher, the output signal being associated with the at least one of the parameter or the parameter value;   automatically detect an adjustment signal associated with the output signal, the adjustment signal being generated in response to an input on the input device of the dishwasher or on another input device associated with the dishwasher, and the adjustment signal being associated with the at least one of the parameter or the parameter value; and   automatically continue to run the cleaning program with an original program configuration, a modified program configuration, or a suspend strategy for ending the cleaning program, according to the adjustment signal.