DE4230358A1 - Logging of fault and operational data for household appliances e.g. washing machine, spin drier - using built in memory to store data that can be displayed or used for statistical processing - Google Patents

Abstract

Items of domestic equipment are fitted with monitoring and data logging facilitates that allow the usage of different components and faults to be logged. The machines have built in processors and memories. Operating conditions, such as particular cycles, operational periods of components, number of switching cycles can be entered into areas of memory that can be accessed by service personnel. The memories can also be in the form of exchangeable items, such as EEPROM devices, that can be removed and the data accessed by the manufacture to be processed to generate statistical trend information. ADVANTAGE - Allows operational data to be logged.

Description

The invention relates to a method for setting information maintenance or manufacturer personnel about the condition and the way of using a household appliance with an electronic controller that uses a microcomputer and a read-write type non-volatile memory stops, with the microcomputer distributed over in the household appliance te sensors all program-relevant physical states supervised.

Both in the event of maintenance and development household appliances, it can be essential be system errors, operating errors and / or typical or general behavior of operators to register to help with maintenance or future development of household appliances to consider.

So far, there has been awareness of consumer awareness his or consumer behavior in statistical surveys Form of surveys served, their proximity to representative Groups are more or less dubious. In addition, the like surveys with enormous effort and  still do not provide accurate results. They also fall only very sporadically, so that a continuous overview cannot exist about a market situation.

The invention has for its object to be an introduction to specify the written procedure, which with machine technology means is feasible and at the request of the manufacturer lers or maintenance service in more or less long in the results of the survey.

According to the invention this object is achieved in that the Memory for storing error data, operating and / or Malfunction data on the sensors and / or in the house distributed functional elements, such as switching and Control modules, drive motors, heating, solenoid valves and the like.

Such a memory can be used by maintenance personnel or by employees workers of the manufacturer are queried from customers and Data that are used, for example, for statistical purposes waste, absorb and utilize.

The method according to the invention is thereby advantageously white educated that the error data also includes incorrect operation sen. Such customer behavior is also important for stati Analysis in the maintenance service and at the manufacturer of Appliances important.

Another very advantageous further development of the invention according to the method is characterized in that the Spei cher also for storing data about the respective ku mulated operating time of the individual functional elements is directed. The manufacturer Progno  the expected lifespan of certain individuals Functional elements derive from the life expectancy such functional elements to coordinate better. Each according to the frequency of operation of certain functional elements, depending on the respective, individual choice of certain The program sequences are average lifespan maintenance determines when a household appliance due to egg ner from the life expectancy of all functional elements resulting 100% wear offers itself for replacement.

In a further development of the method according to the invention, at which is the memory for storing data about that of the Operator selected program sequences set up is, the manufacturer can think about it for a long time changing customer behavior provide certainty so that he for future developments on such customer behavior due to suitable machine-technical requirements can come in.

A similar statement gives further training of the procedure rens, in which the data is an indication of the frequency of its er seemingly included.

The appropriate form of recording such data is provided hen that the data on demand from outside on the control panel of the Household appliance can be displayed differently. In such In such cases, the maintenance staff can place the Household appliance the information on statistically recordable Record data immediately and use it in the maintenance service or forward to the manufacturer for recycling.  

Another suitable form of recording the data is according to an advantageous development of the method rin that at least a specific part of the data in one removable memory that is stored by the war personnel against a blank memory is interchangeable. The replaced memory can be from the war personnel in the maintenance center or at the manufacturer can be read out and evaluated.

Non-volatile suitable for the process according to the invention Read-write memories are, for example, EEPROM memories, their use in electronic circuits already today is common. The application of the method according to the invention is particularly suitable for washing and drying machines and with automatically controlled dishwashers. The for Statistical evaluation of suitable data belong to the fol data groups: error distribution, type of error, system condition, operating hours or frequency of switching on of Senso and functional elements as well as selected program sequences. The error distribution indicates how often certain errors occur. Your system state is through certain steps marked within program sequences. With help This data allows conclusions to be drawn about the suitability and draw the quality of certain equipment technology.

Knowledge of the accumulated operating times or the Frequency of switching on individual electrical consumption cher allows a prediction of the expected lifespan certain sensors or functional elements (e.g. heating, Motor, pump). The acquisition of program sequences will by counting and registering the programs used enough. The statistical evaluation of this data enables the estimation of the operating times of individual consumptions cher. In addition, the customer behavior is evolving  interesting for the further development of household appliances with regard to the installation of certain programs ment.

Claims (7)

1. A method of informing maintenance or manufacturing personnel of the condition and manner of use of a home appliance with an electronic controller containing a microcomputer and a read-write type non-volatile memory, the microcomputer via sensors distributed in the home appliance monitors all program-relevant physical conditions, characterized in that the memory for storing error data and / or operational and / or malfunction data on the sensors and / or on functional elements distributed in the household appliance, such as switching and control modules, drives, motors, heating , Solenoid valves and the like. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the error data also include operating errors. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized net that the memory further for storing data over the respective cumulative operating time of the individual NEN functional elements is set up. 4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the memory for storing of data on those chosen by the operator Program sequences is set up. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 4, characterized characterized that the data is an indication of the frequent contained in their appearance.   6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the data is on demand from outside differentiated on the control panel of the household appliance are showable. 7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that at least one specific Part of the data in a removable memory is saved, which is easily countered by the maintenance personnel a blank memory is removable.