Method for identifying a jet regulator

A computer-implemented method for automatically identifying a jet regulator (1), which has a housing (2) on which an outlet structure (3) having a hole pattern (4) is formed on an outlet side, the method comprising:

• in a recording step, recording a photo of the hole pattern (4) using a camera;
• in an evaluation step,
• a computer evaluating the photo for characteristics of the hole pattern (4), the hole pattern (4) being initially identified by the computer using image recognition and isolated from the remainder of the jet regulator (1) by the computer,
• the computer ascertaining a hole pattern type (15) of the hole pattern (4) by comparing the isolated hole pattern (4) to different stored hole pattern types (15),
• the computer ascertaining at least one deviation between the isolated hole pattern (4) and the ascertained hole pattern type (15) based on the photo, and
• the computer obtaining further information about the relative arrangement of the at least one deviation by ascertaining at least one relative position of the at least one deviation by way of a comparison to the ascertained hole pattern type (15),
• wherein, in the evaluation step, the at least one deviation is determined by isolating the hole pattern (4) in the photo as an image region (20) and subsequently carrying out a subtraction between the image region (20) and the hole pattern type (15),
• wherein the ascertained at least one relative position relates to at least one of
• (i) the isolated hole pattern (4),
• (ii) the at least one deviation in relation to one another,
• (iii) the outlet structure (3), or
• (iv) the housing (2),
• wherein the ascertained at least one deviation is selected from the group consisting of
• (i) a thickness or a length of a web of the hole pattern (4), wherein the web comprises a radial web (6) or a circular web (19),
• (ii) a relative radial alignment of radial webs (6) of two circular rings of the hole pattern (4),
• (iii) an orientation or alignment of radial webs (6) of the hole pattern (4) in relation to one another or in relation to a marking (13) of the outlet structure (3),
• (iv) a relative position between radial webs (6) of the hole pattern (4) and markings (13) of the outlet structure (3) formed by the housing (2) of the jet regulator (1),
• (v) relative radial lengths or orientations of radial webs (6) of an inner cell (18c) and an outer cell (18a) of the hole pattern (4), or
• (vi) a combination thereof;
• in an identification step, the computer determining, based on a result of the evaluation, identification information for the jet regulator (1) based on the ascertained at least one deviation and the ascertained at least one relative position;
• and
• in an output step, the computer outputting the identification information.