The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 16, 2007
Filed:
Aug. 26, 2004
Rüdiger Eiermann, Syrgenstein, DE;
Helmut Jerg, Giengen, DE;
Rüdiger Eiermann, Syrgenstein, DE;
Helmut Jerg, Giengen, DE;
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH, Munich, DE;
Abstract
An apparatus allows monitoring the formation of scale. The apparatus makes it possible to determine the degree of water hardness or a tendency of the degree of water hardness to change over time and to take measures for adjusting the desired degree of water hardness accordingly. A translucent or transparent element has two end surfaces, at least one element emitting an optical signal, and at least one element receiving an optical signal. The element emitting the optical signal and the element receiving the optical signal are directly adjacent to the end surfaces of the transparent element, and the end surfaces are disposed such that they remain free of scale build-up at all times.