Intelligent Retrofittable Sensor Unit for Enhanced Dosing Device Control

An advanced retrofittable sensor unit that integrates AI-powered analysis for real-time soiling degree prediction, modular sensor design, and energy harvesting capabilities to optimize dosing device performance, ensuring improved cleaning efficiency and reduced resource consumption.

The original patent disclosed a retrofittable sensor unit for controlling a dosing device of a cleaning machine. However, the existing design had limitations in terms of real-time analysis, sensor flexibility, and energy efficiency. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing AI-driven analysis, modular sensor architecture, and energy harvesting capabilities to enhance the overall performance of the dosing device.

The intelligent retrofittable sensor unit comprises an acquisition module with a viscosity sensor, turbidity sensor, and optical sensors. The acquisition module is integrated with an AI-powered analysis module for real-time soiling degree prediction, enabling the dosing device to adapt to changing washing conditions. The modular design of the acquisition module allows for easy replacement or upgrade of individual sensors, accommodating varying cleaning machine configurations. Additionally, the sensor unit features an energy harvesting system that converts vibrational energy of the washing drum into electrical energy, which is then optimized by a power management module for extended battery life. The communication unit is configured for secure, encrypted data transmission and reception, ensuring protection of sensitive user data and preventing unauthorized access to the dosing device.

The new inventive concept introduces AI-powered analysis for real-time soiling degree prediction, modular sensor design, and energy harvesting capabilities, which are not present in the original patent. These features provide a significant improvement in dosing device performance, energy efficiency, and user data security, making the new concept novel and non-obvious compared to the original patent.

Alternative embodiments of the intelligent retrofittable sensor unit could include variations in sensor types, AI algorithms, and energy harvesting mechanisms. For example, the sensor unit could be designed with different types of sensors, such as acoustic or thermal sensors, to accommodate various cleaning machine configurations. Additionally, the AI-powered analysis module could be integrated with cloud-based machine learning algorithms to enable real-time data analysis and customized dosing recommendations.

The intelligent retrofittable sensor unit has significant commercial potential in the cleaning industry, particularly in industrial and commercial laundry applications. The improved dosing device performance, energy efficiency, and user data security features make it an attractive solution for companies seeking to reduce resource consumption, enhance cleaning efficiency, and ensure data protection.