Abstract: The invention relates to a system for storing liquids, in particular for a household appliance, comprising at least one container for storing a liquid and at least one level measuring device, wherein the level measuring device comprises at least one radiation source device which emits electromagnetic radiation and at least one detection device for electromagnetic radiation, wherein the at least one container has a reflective element which has only one boundary surface with a fluid located in the container.

Abstract: A household appliance with a sensor device, wherein the sensor device is designed and intended to obtain information about the chemical and physical properties of a liquid on the basis of the (spectral) measurement data signature. For example, the turbidity of a liquid can be determined with the aid of the measurement data signature, wherein the sensor device has a light transmitter side and a light receiver side, wherein light can be transmitted from the light transmitter side to the light receiver side and can be received after transmission by means of one or more light receivers, wherein the sensor device is further provided and designed to detect a color of the liquid.

Abstract: A sensor system for a liquid-carrying household appliance, in particular a washing machine, wherein the sensor system comprises at least one detection element for detecting a heat flow and is designed to arrange the at least one detection element in the household appliance next to a room area designed to hold a liquid in such a way that the at least one detection element can detect a heat flow between the at least one detection element and the room area, which indicates a fill level of liquid, in particular washing liquid, in the room area.

Abstract: A capacitive proximity control device (28) for a domestic washing machine (10) or other domestic electrical appliance is proposed. In some embodiments, the proximity control device comprises two planar sensor electrodes (34, 36) arranged on a door (20) of the washing machine at a spatial distance from one another. An electronic assembly is connected to the two sensor electrodes, which electronic assembly is adapted to generate, in association with each of the two sensor electrodes, an electrical sensor signal which is representative of a change in a capacitance associated with the sensor electrode in question. By mutual correlation of the two sensor signals, the electronic assembly is able to determine a proximity operation of the control device. A shielding electrode can be arranged in the spatial region between the two sensor electrodes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for detecting an input and controlling at least one downstream device, wherein the system comprises at least one sensor device and an evaluation and control device connected to the sensor device for signalling purposes, wherein the at least one sensor device detects an input signal which varies at least over time in the form of a movement, wherein the evaluation and control device evaluates at least the time profile of the detected input signal, wherein at least one evaluation condition is specified, and wherein the downstream device is activated when the at least one evaluation condition is met.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for particle sizing of particles distributed in a fluid within a household appliance, comprising at least one first emission means emitting a first electromagnetic radiation along a first optical axis into the fluid present in a test volume, at least one first measuring means detecting at least one characteristic of a second electromagnetic radiation emerging from the fluid an evaluation means provided and adapted to evaluate the characteristics of the second electromagnetic radiation, whereby particle sizes can be detected using reference characteristics, wherein the emitted first electromagnetic radiation is quasi-monochromatic or is a sequence of predetermined wavelengths within a predetermined time interval, the first measuring means being arranged off the first optical axis

Abstract: A light sensor device is disclosed for installation in a heat-using domestic electrical appliance such as, for example, a washing machine or a dishwasher and permits the implementation of a touch-free operating function, for example an automatic door opening function. The light sensor device includes in some embodiments: a window element which is formed of light-permeable material and is arranged with space on a first window side for hand movements; a first light source arrangement arranged to radiate visible light into the window element; a second light source arrangement which is arranged to radiate infrared light through the window element from a second window side opposite the first window side; and a photodetector arrangement which is sensitive to infrared light of the second light source arrangement and is arranged on the second window side, for detecting infrared light which strikes the photodetector arrangement from the window element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a household appliance, in particular selected from a group consisting of a dishwasher, a washing machine, and an oven, with a light beam projection device for projecting light beams onto a room floor surface located outside the household appliance, wherein the light beam projection device comprises as light source a laser light source which is arranged directly in a floor area of the household appliance facing the room floor surface in such a way that its laser light beams emit the laser light source output is directed directly onto the room floor surface.

Abstract: An ice maker for a domestic refrigeration device with an ice-making tray having a plurality of freezing cavities, a support structure installed in the refrigeration device and rotatably supporting the ice-making tray, a rotational drive unit arranged on the support structure for driving the ice-making tray in rotation relative to the support structure, and at least one pair of electrodes arranged spaced apart from one another and having an electrical capacitance which is influenced by the contents of at least some of the freezing cavities. In addition, an electric measuring and control circuit is adapted to determine a capacitance measurement variable which is representative of the electrical capacitance of the electrode pair and to activate the rotational drive unit for rotation of the ice-making tray relative to the support structure in dependence on the fulfilment of at least one condition relating to the capacitance measurement variable.

Abstract: Device for detecting substance groups in a fluid within a household appliance, comprising an emission apparatus that emits a first electromagnetic radiation, characterized by an emission spectrum, into a test volume present with the fluid, further comprising a first measuring apparatus that detects a first spectrum of a second electromagnetic radiation led out of the test volume present with the fluid, further comprising an evaluation apparatus that is provided and designed to evaluate the first spectrum, whereby substance groups can be identified by using reference spectra, with the emission spectrum comprising a wavelength range of visible light and infrared radiation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for detecting an input and controlling at least one downstream device, wherein the system comprises at least one sensor device and an evaluation and control device connected to the sensor device for signalling purposes, wherein the at least one sensor device detects an input signal which varies at least over time in the form of a movement, wherein the evaluation and control device evaluates at least the time profile of the detected input signal, wherein at least one evaluation condition is specified, and wherein the downstream device is activated when the at least one evaluation condition is met.

Abstract: A light sensor device is disclosed for installation in a heat-using domestic electrical appliance such as, for example, a washing machine or a dishwasher and permits the implementation of a touch-free operating function, for example an automatic door opening function. The light sensor device includes in some embodiments: a window element which is formed of light-permeable material and is arranged with space on a first window side for hand movements; a first light source arrangement arranged to radiate visible light into the window element; a second light source arrangement which is arranged to radiate infrared light through the window element from a second window side opposite the first window side; and a photodetector arrangement which is sensitive to infrared light of the second light source arrangement and is arranged on the second window side, for detecting infrared light which strikes the photodetector arrangement from the window element.

Abstract: A capacitive proximity control device (28) for a domestic washing machine (10) or other domestic electrical appliance is proposed. In some embodiments, the proximity s control device comprises two planar sensor electrodes (34, 36) arranged on a door (20) of the washing machine at a spatial distance from one another. An electronic assembly is connected to the two sensor electrodes, which electronic assembly is adapted to generate, in association with each of the two sensor electrodes, an electrical sensor signal which is representative of a change in a capacitance associated with the sensor electrode in question. By mutual correlation of the two sensor signals, the electronic assembly is able to determine a proximity operation of the control device. A shielding electrode can be arranged in the spatial region between the two sensor electrodes.