Device for detecting deposits on surfaces, in particular, in washing machines and/or dishwashers
First Claim
1. A device for controlling deposits on surfaces, comprising:
- at least one body having two opposite longitudinal end surfaces and a surface on an outside of said body on which deposits occur and influence reflection properties of said surface to electromagnetic radiation inside said body;
at least one transmitter for transmitting electromagnetic radiation to said at least one body and reflecting the electromagnetic radiation off said surface inside said body, said at least one, transmitter disposed at one of said opposite longitudinal end surfaces and being connected to said at least one body;
at least one detector for detecting a presence of the deposits at said surface, said at least one detector disposed at one of said opposite longitudinal end surfaces and being connected to said at least one body and measuring electromagnetic radiation received from said at least one transmitter after reflection at said surface, said at least one detector generating signals based upon the presence of deposits detected at said surface; and
at least one ion exchanger connected to said detector for controlling the deposits at said surface, said at least one ion exchanger controlling the deposits in dependence on the signals generated by said at least one detector.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device and a method for detecting deposits on surfaces includes a body having a surface on which deposits occur and influence reflection properties of the surface to electromagnetic radiation. A transmitter transmits electromagnetic radiation to the body and a detector detects the presence of the deposits at the surface. The detector measures electromagnetic radiation received from the transmitter after reflection at the surface. Preferably, the device and method are used in a liquid-conveying machine, particularly, a washing machine and/or a dishwasher. Particularly, light is introduced into the light-guiding body to detect the presence of the deposits. The light is internally reflected by the surface and is guided to a sensor. If deposits occur on the surface, the deposits affect the light-reflecting properties of the surface, and the affect is detected by the sensor.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A device for controlling deposits on surfaces, comprising:
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at least one body having two opposite longitudinal end surfaces and a surface on an outside of said body on which deposits occur and influence reflection properties of said surface to electromagnetic radiation inside said body;
at least one transmitter for transmitting electromagnetic radiation to said at least one body and reflecting the electromagnetic radiation off said surface inside said body, said at least one, transmitter disposed at one of said opposite longitudinal end surfaces and being connected to said at least one body;
at least one detector for detecting a presence of the deposits at said surface, said at least one detector disposed at one of said opposite longitudinal end surfaces and being connected to said at least one body and measuring electromagnetic radiation received from said at least one transmitter after reflection at said surface, said at least one detector generating signals based upon the presence of deposits detected at said surface; and
at least one ion exchanger connected to said detector for controlling the deposits at said surface, said at least one ion exchanger controlling the deposits in dependence on the signals generated by said at least one detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for controlling deposits on surfaces, which comprises:
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providing at least one body having two opposite longitudinal end surfaces and a surface on an outside of the body on which deposits occur and influence reflection properties of the surface to electromagnetic radiation inside the body;
providing at least one transmitter at one of the opposite longitudinal end surfaces and connecting the transmitter to the at least one body;
providing at least one detector at one of the opposite longitudinal end surfaces and connecting the detector to the at least one body;
transmitting electromagnetic radiation from the at least one transmitter to the at least one body;
reflecting the electromagnetic radiation off the inside surface of the body on which deposits occur influencing reflection properties for the electromagnetic radiation;
detecting the reflected electromagnetic radiation with the at least one detector;
generating signals with the detector based upon the deposits at the surface of the body; and
controlling the deposit at the surface with an ion exchanger in dependence on receipt of the signals generated by the at least one detector. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification