Household dishwasher and method for operating a household dishwasher

Abstract

A household dishwasher includes a washing compartment receiving items to be washed, a control device configured to carry out a washing program selected from a number of washing programs for washing the items to be washed in the washing compartment, an optical sensor configured to acquire an optical sensor signal of the washing compartment, a receiving unit configured to receive a start signal from an external control unit for starting the washing program remotely, and an evaluation unit configured to identify a safe operating state of the household dishwasher as a function of the acquired optical sensor signal and to block or release a start of the washing program initiated by the received start signal as a function of the identified safe operating state.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A household dishwasher, comprising:
 a washing compartment receiving items to be washed;   a control device configured to carry out a washing program selected from a number of washing programs for washing the items to be washed in the washing compartment;   an optical sensor configured to acquire an optical sensor signal of the washing compartment;   a receiving unit configured to receive a start signal from an external control unit for starting the washing program remotely; and   an evaluation unit configured to identify a safe operating state of the household dishwasher as a function of the acquired optical sensor signal and to block or release a start of the washing program initiated by the received start signal as a function of the identified safe operating state.   
     
     
         14 . The household dishwasher of  claim 13 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured to carry out a predetermined action as a function of the identified safe operating state. 
     
     
         15 . The household dishwasher of  claim 13 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured to block or release a start of the washing program as a function of the identified safe operating state. 
     
     
         16 . The household dishwasher of  claim 13 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured to identify a living creature in the washing compartment as a function of the acquired optical sensor signal. 
     
     
         17 . The household dishwasher of  claim 13 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured to block the start of the washing program when the evaluation unit identifies the presence of a living creature in the washing compartment. 
     
     
         18 . The household dishwasher of  claim 13 , wherein the optical sensor is embodied as an optical motion sensor for detecting a movement in the washing compartment, said evaluation unit configured to identify the safe operating state as a function of the detected movement. 
     
     
         19 . The household dishwasher of  claim 13 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured to block the start of the washing program when the optical sensor detects a movement in the washing compartment. 
     
     
         20 . The household dishwasher of  claim 13 , further comprising a lighting device configured to illuminate the washing compartment during acquisition of the optical sensor signal. 
     
     
         21 . The household dishwasher of  claim 13 , wherein the optical sensor comprises a camera, with the optical sensor signal comprising an image and/or a video of the washing compartment. 
     
     
         22 . The household dishwasher of  claim 21 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured to carry out an image analysis of the acquired image and/or video. 
     
     
         23 . A method for operating a household dishwasher, comprising:
 acquiring a start signal for starting a washing program selected from a number of washing programs for washing items to be washed arranged in a washing compartment of the household dishwasher;   acquiring by an optical sensor an optical sensor signal of the washing compartment; and   identifying by an evaluation unit a safe operating state of the household dishwasher as a function of the acquired optical sensor signal of the washing compartment.   
     
     
         24 . A computer program product for operating a household dishwasher, comprising a program-controlled device having stored therein a computer program embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein the computer program, when loaded into the program-controlled device and executed by the program-controlled device, causes the program-controlled device to execute the steps of:
 acquiring a start signal for starting a washing program selected from a number of washing programs for washing items to be washed arranged in a washing compartment of the household dishwasher;   acquiring by an optical sensor an optical sensor signal of the washing compartment; and   identifying by an evaluation unit a safe operating state of the household dishwasher as a function of the acquired optical sensor signal of the washing compartment.