System, retrofit module and method for monitoring a current operational state of a program-controlled domestic appliance

A system for monitoring a current operational state of a program-controlled domestic appliance while the domestic appliance is carrying out an operating process, the domestic appliance having an appliance housing and a drive motor, the system comprising:

• a retrofit module;
• a communication device that is separate from said retrofit module and from the domestic appliance;
• said retrofit module including:
• a fastening arrangement for releasable fastening said retrofit module on an outer face of the appliance housing of the domestic appliance;
• a data exchange unit for wireless communication with the communication device;
• and
• a sensor arrangement with a magnetic field sensor configured for detecting a magnetic field generated by the drive motor of the domestic appliance, the magnetic field forming an emission signal penetrating outwards through the appliance housing;
• and
• wherein the system is configured to determine the current operational state of the domestic appliance by way of detected measured values of the emission signal and to output the current operational state by way of said communication device, and
• wherein the system is configured, on the basis of a comparison of the measured values of the magnetic field and/or at least one emission signal different from the magnetic field with stored reference values, to detect an operational error of the domestic appliance and to signal the error as the operational state to the communication device.

A method for monitoring a current operational state of a program-controlled domestic appliance while the domestic appliance is carrying out an operating process, the method comprising:

• providing a retrofit module with a sensor arrangement, a data exchange unit and a fastening arrangement, the retrofit module including a plausibilization device;
• mounting the retrofit module with the fastening arrangement to an outer face of an appliance housing of the domestic appliance;
• detecting with a magnetic sensor of the sensor arrangement a magnetic field generated by a drive motor of the domestic appliance while carrying out the operating process of the domestic appliance, the magnetic field forming a emission signal penetrating outwards through the appliance housing;
• using the plausibilization device of the retrofit module to check whether the emission signals originate from the domestic appliance based on a comparison of the detected magnetic field and at least one emission signal different from the magnetic field;
• determining, based on measured values of the magnetic field detected by the magnetic field sensor, the current operational state of the domestic appliance, thereby taking the emission signals as a basis for determining the current operational state only after assignment to the domestic appliance;
• and
• wirelessly communicating, by way of the data exchange unit, with a communication device separate from the retrofit module and from the domestic appliance and outputting information regarding the current operational state by way of the communication device.

A method for monitoring a current operational state of a program-controlled domestic appliance while the domestic appliance is carrying out an operating process, the method comprising:

• providing a retrofit module with a sensor arrangement, a data exchange unit and a fastening arrangement;
• mounting the retrofit module with the fastening arrangement to an outer face of an appliance housing of the domestic appliance;
• detecting with a magnetic sensor of the sensor arrangement a magnetic field generated by a drive motor of the domestic appliance while carrying out the operating process of the domestic appliance, the magnetic field forming an emission signal penetrating outwards through the appliance housing;
• determining the current operational state of the domestic appliance based a comparison of the measured values of the magnetic field and/or an emission signal different from the magnetic field with stored reference values;
• wirelessly communicating, by way of the data exchange unit, with a communication device separate from the retrofit module and from the domestic appliance and outputting information regarding the current operational state by way of the communication device and when an operational error is detected on the basis of the comparison, signaling the operational error as the operational state to the communication device.