DE3403487C2 - - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an electrical household appliance with voice output, in which a program control unit, a control panel for manual program input and a Program input storage means for storing manual program input be and a voice memory for voice information are provided, the Ab question inputs with the program input storage device and its output conclusions are connected to an analog amplifier, at the output of an elek tromechanical transducer is connected.

For example, in a washing machine according to DE-OS 20 36 111, the Be servant on sensible possibilities from individual steps to be entered to Compiled a program pointed out. This is done through optical Notes that are assigned to the buttons or other operating handles, their Specify further sensible program variants. This can also result can be concluded that program variants are entered, which run when the Program would cause damage in any way.

Although this almost automatically leads to the correct pro is still uncertainties regarding the choice of temperature and / or time, the peculiarities of treatment  programs (e.g. with / without prewash / pre-rinse, laundry stains, laundry sensitivity, drying of leftovers etc.) or the applicable son treatment program. In addition, many operators have the not recognize optical information clearly enough or interpret it incorrectly may or may not be meaningful enough via the optical information channel are receptive.

From DE-OS 31 18 790 a voting device is known, the acousti gives correct operating instructions to the correct order of operating actions with an electronic cash register. Operators for In contrast to operators for household appliances, cash registers are one especially trained. On the other hand, these operators can acousti The operating instructions do not provide any information about incorrect operating actions or possible malfunctions in the device and how to rectify them remove.

From DE-OS 31 20 723 it is also known in kitchen appliances that spoked secured, synthetic voice signals via status information or warning signals from one Microprocessor control to be given to the user. Generally can an untrained operator with such information does not do much catch when, for example, certain conclusions about appropriate operating actions or troubleshooting must be inferred from this without any deeper Knowledge of the necessary operating steps are not common.

These persons still have the printed operating instructions attached to the device line available to you in addition to the absolutely necessary instructions for Operation of the device still further notes and explanations, e.g. B. for troubleshooting side, can give. After a not very old investigation, the However, operating instructions are only available from around 2% of end consumers of household appliances at all. On the one hand, this leads to the vast majority of Cases with a low degree of utilization, measured by the technical possibilities device. On the other hand, it has long been a form of  Operating instructions searched, the content of which without lengthy searching and without size awareness of the effort of a far higher number of operators that can, so that the aforementioned technical possibilities of the device better can be used and the number of customer service calls that are made on it is reduced decline that an operator due to lack of knowledge of the content of the Operating instructions individual operating or maintenance actions wrong or not executes and this leads to a malfunction.

The invention has for its object in a household advises the above-mentioned type of malfunction due to lack of knowledge of the operating instructions by the operator to avoid and the operator in easy hand available during the series of operations if necessary relevant information about other necessary and incorrect operating instructions actions and malfunctions from the operating instructions, without having to read a printed instruction manual, and the Error information is still noticeable enough to keep the operator notices are not available.

According to the invention, the above object is achieved in a household appliance of the type mentioned at the outset in that the voice output contains operating instructions and error messages, the error messages on the one hand relating to faulty operating functions and, on the other hand, faulty device functions which are detected by sensors for faulty operating actions and for faulty device functions, that in the control panel ( 1 ) handle ( 5 and 6 ) for the ineffective voice output and / or for the manual retrieval of operating instructions are arranged and that by the handle ( 5 ) for the ineffective switch the faulty device functions and / or faulty Operating instructions relating to error messages cannot be suppressed.

This makes it possible to operate the household appliance in each case only use keywords to which the spoken text refers can be taken. The spoken text is essentially intended to be a brief one Operating instructions included, which are not en bloc but after each individual loading service action is performed piece by piece, so that the operator by the acoustic information is led to a program compilation that the each  because it meets current requirements exactly. To do this, the memory for Speech information then in each case to deliver a respectively assigned, briefly ten operating instructions if a single program entry step is full has been pulled. Such operating instructions are due to a special operating action can be called up or suppressed so that it is already routine in operation te operator can switch off the output of the operating instructions if they bothered by the recurring identical operating instructions feels. Since information relating to errors cannot be suppressed, fault radio can occur that would affect the desired program execution of the device, not be overlooked.

Further features and developments of the invention are in the subclaims specified. They will be used in part in connection with that in the drawing illustrated embodiment explained in more detail. It shows

Fig. 1 the control panel area of a washing machine and

Fig. 2 is a schematic block circuit diagram according to the invention.

In the illustrated fragmentary in FIG. 1 washing machine is one with an electronic program control unit CPU and an electronic program input rule storage means M 1 gram entries for storing manual Pro. The manual entry is carried out on the control panel 1 by means of buttons (handle) 2 , whose optical indicators 3 are assigned. As a result, program compilations can be sensibly produced by step-by-step input of individual program parts that are assigned to special treatment requirements by visual guidance of the operator.

In the household appliance - here in the control panel of the washing machine in FIG. 1 -, z is behind a sound outlet grille 4, an electromechanical transducer LS. B. a speaker arranged. In addition to the known keys 2 described above, a further key 5 is arranged in the control panel 1 , by pressing which a voice output can be switched on or off.

However, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if important information such. B. a malfunction message, by the key 5 can not be switched off; otherwise the operator would only be dependent on an optical signal.

Furthermore, a button 6 is also arranged, by means of which additional acoustic operating instructions can be activated in the manner explained below. Keys 5 and 6 can also be combined with optical indicators.

In addition to the memory device M 1 for storing a manual program input and for the electronic program control CPU , the electrical equipment of a household appliance according to the invention includes a voice memory M 2 for voice information. This memory is set up in its department M 21 so that the acoustic word patterns of brief operating instructions can be stored and called up digitally. For this purpose, its query inputs are connected via a query network B 21 to the program input storage device M 1 . The query network B 21 organizes the call of the speech output. The output connections of the speech memory M 2 are connected via a transmission network BA to an analog amplifier AMP , to the output of which an electromechanical sound converter LS is connected. The transmission network BA converts, among other things, the digital information into analog signals. The input commands from the control panel 1 are transmitted to the program input storage device M 1 via an input network B 1 . There they also trigger the corresponding operator guidance in the form of the optical signals via the optical indicators 3 in the control panel 1 in a manner not shown here and, if the voice output is not blocked by the key 5 , via the query network B 21 Query signals to the speech memory M 21 . This transmits the Wortmu ster applicable to the interrogation signals via the transmission network BA to the amplifier, which brings the short operating instructions formed therefrom through the loudspeaker LS . The optical operator guidance is interrupted until the acoustic information has died down, ie visual information on continuing operations is only activated after the announcement has been completed.

In the event that the key 6 has been pressed, the memory department M 22 is activated for further operating instructions via a further query network B 22 , which go beyond the brief operating instructions which are absolutely necessary for operating the household appliance, so that the operator further explanations can be given about the respective operation, z. B. whether a slight deviation in the temperature of the brief operating instructions up or down is possible if certain laundry fabrics are present. These further explanations can also u. U. adverse consequences of not following the brief operating instructions included.

The storage department M 21 can also contain voice information for information on the correct installation and installation of the device. So that this language information is not repeated, e.g. B. after turning on the household appliance, can be annoyingly output, the storage department M 21 can be designed and connected to internal device devices that the information about the installation and installation containing language information can be deleted from the memory after execution of the respective information or at least temporarily not available are. For this purpose, in particular sensors can be provided in the device, which monitor the execution of the information and emit an acknowledgment signal to the memory department M 21 . Such a sensor can be, for example, an electrical connection between the vibrating unit (swinging suspended tub system) and / or the housing (supporting frame or floor) on the one hand and the transport securing means (screws, clamps, rods) for fixing the unit relative to the housing on the other . Such an electrical connection can, for example, consist of a thin wire that must be severed to remove the port securing means.

Another possible sensor to monitor the proper Installation of a washing machine, dryer or a dishwasher can contain a pressure switch, the between the or the electrically controlled inlet valves til (s) and the inlet hose (s) is coupled.  

Then the information about the installation of the device must also contain the note that after the installation for testing the faucet must be opened so that the pressure switch of the sensor can send the acknowledgment signal to the memory department M 21 .

If one of the sensors is in a dishwasher, for example machine contains an adjusting device, e.g. B. an election switch through which the dosing amount of softener in a fresh water softening system depending on the existing water hardness can be specified, can be the water softening system after connecting the machine set the acoustically presented instructions once and no longer needs to be changed. After that, this could Setting instructions are disabled, z. B. thereby that the selector switch inevitably from a Zero position must be moved with the output of the acoustic instruction is coupled.

There may also be a sensor that detects the water automatically senses the hardness of the incoming fresh water and then also automatically sets the dosing quantity.

Furthermore, a sensor can contain an electrical scale that issues an acknowledgment signal when the assigned household according to the acoustically transmitted instruction has been set up.

Furthermore, the memory department M 21 can contain voice information for information about the maintenance of the device or about malfunctions in the device. This voice information can be activated by signals from sensors within the household appliance that monitor certain functions in the appliance. Such voice information is expediently issued after the operating action following the activation by the sensor signals or immediately after a fault has occurred until it is eliminated or until the device or the message is switched off.

Such acoustic fault messages or maintenance requests In contrast to the operator, the operator optical messages advantageously even if they are still in acoustic but not in optical anymore Range is. So that the acoustic message is not in a sphere that may already be overflowing with speech noises about setting, you can get an acoustic attention signal upstream, such as a melodic gong or a Fanfare.

Such a function monitoring sensor can be in a wash machine, a tumble dryer or a dishwasher, a facility to monitor proper work of the electrically controlled inlet valve (s) included. For example, this monitoring device can consist of a Pressure sensor exist in the drain channel of the inlet valve arranged and can only be activated together with the inlet valve is. If there is no "pressure present" signal, the sensor can the voice information "Solenoid valve defective, please contact customer service call "activate.

For example, one of the sensors can be or washing machine one in a recess in the floor pan arranged level measuring device. This is about watch for leaks in the machine and can fail lerfall trigger a corresponding voice information, z. B. "in There is a leak in the device; please check that Hose connections behind the maintenance flap ". Additional Information could indicate further leakage options.  

Another sensor can be in a washing machine, a laundry dryer, dishwasher or stove Current monitor included when the radiator is on is activated and the target current through the radiator or radiators supervised. Similar to the case described above, a Failure to prompt "Call customer service".

Furthermore, a sensor in a washing machine, a tumble dryer, a dishwasher, a stove or a cooling device can contain a device for monitoring the closed door position. Such devices are known and used in washing machines, dryers, dishwashers and stoves, e.g. B. as a limit switch that close a circuit when the door is closed. If such a switch is not closed on the household after starting the program, this can activate the voice information "please close the door" in the memory section M 21 . This is also possible with refrigerators and freezers, even if the means for monitoring the closed door position work without contact.

A pressure switch used above for a sensor in the fresh water supply channel in front of the supply valve of a washing machine, a tumble dryer or a dishwasher can also be used operationally to monitor the opening of the tap. If there is no pressure at the pressure switch and the device program is started, the sensor can activate the voice information "open water tap" in the memory section M 21 .

According to a combination of the above possibilities for pressure monitoring in the inlet channel, one of the sensors can contain pressure switches in front of and behind the sieve in the fresh water inlet channel, which sieve is usually arranged on the inlet connection of the solenoid valve. If this sieve is clogged and the solenoid valve is switched on at the same time, the possible language information "please clean the inlet sieve" is obtained from the storage department M 21 .

Furthermore, one of the sensors in a washing machine or dishwasher can contain a monitoring device for the proper functioning of the drain or circulation pump. Such a monitoring device can also be a pressure switch coupled to the pressure side of the pump. In the absence of the required pressure monitoring signal while the drive motor of the drain or circulating pump is live, the voice prompt "please check the drain pump" can again result. In this example, additional voice information from the memory department M 22 - activated by the button 6 - could contain information about how the check of the drain pump is to be carried out and that customer service should be called in the event that the pump itself cannot be easily removed Error can be determined.

Furthermore, one of the sensors in a washing or Ge dishwasher a monitoring device for the Filling level of addition agent storage containers included. There in increasingly such storage containers - e.g. Currently only for Stock of fabric softener, regenerating salt or rinse aid - the operator should also use one Receive notice, e.g. B. "Detergent supply is running low" when a corresponding reservoir is almost empty.  

We would also recommend calling customer service, if the washing drum of a washing machine or laundry dryer does not turn despite the drive motor being switched on. For this purpose, one of the sensors could be a monitoring device included for the rotation of the laundry drum, for example se is that a rotatably connected to the drum Rotating body with alternating magnetic and non-conductive areas against a magnetic field sensitive sensor is arranged above.

In a washing machine it is also important that the laundry in the laundry drum for the spin cycle has been distributed as evenly as possible around the drum circumference so that the unbalance during the spin cycle can be kept sufficiently small. If in a special case the spinning process set up for even distribution does not achieve a sufficiently small unbalance, an unbalance monitoring device provided for this purpose can trigger the switching off of the centrifugal drive and voice information from the memory department M 21 , with which the operator prompts to arrange the laundry elsewhere becomes.

In a tumble dryer, one of the sensors can contain a pressure monitoring device in the flow direction upstream and / or downstream of the lint filter in the exhaust air duct. This also applies to an extractor hood in relation to its grease filter. If this pressure monitoring device detects a predetermined pressure difference, the assigned sensor in the memory department M 21 triggers, for example, the voice information "please clean the fluff filter".

In a dishwasher, one of the sensors can contain a rotational movement monitoring device for the spray arm (s). A magnetic field sensor can also be used for this purpose, which is connected to a magnet attached to the spray arm. The assigned sensor then triggers, for example, the voice information in the storage department M 21 "the lower spray arm is blocked; please open the door and rearrange the dishes under the spray arm".

In a refrigerator or freezer, one of the sensors can contain a temperature monitoring device for at least one inadmissibly high cooling temperature. If the temperature rise was caused not by leaving the door open (which can also be reported - as described above), but by icing or by failure of the cooling unit, the sensor provided for this purpose from the storage department M 21 can in turn trigger voice information, e.g. B. "please defrost the refrigerator (freezer)".

Further operating instructions stored in the memory section M 22 for further explanation of certain operating actions can - as already explained above - be called up manually by pressing a button. However, it is also possible to automatically classify such further operating instructions when entering incorrect commands. Corresponding input errors via the program input storage device M 1 and alternate feedback with the program control device CPU then automatically lead to an output request to the storage department M 22 .

In a freezer, an explanation for further loading operating instructions may be provided as follows, for example:

To prepare to freeze fresh frozen food the cooling unit first by operating a handle Continuous operation can be set to freeze shock is possible and the quantity of fresh goods inserted with your relatively high temperature the interior temperature of the freezer device not increased unacceptably.

As soon as one is taken into account by the computing unit entered data about the type and weight of the fresh produce nete low temperature is reached, the operator should Stop the temperature reduction (by triggering the handle) and be prompted to insert the fresh produce. This can - as known - by an optical and a uniform acoustic signal, e.g. B. a signal tone of constant height, can be achieved. The constant beep can do anything mix into a sequence of notes (music) unnoticed, especially if the freezer is not in permanent residence operator's room (e.g. kitchen), but instead maybe even locked behind in the basement doors.

Here it is suggested the signal about the freezer advance notice at the start of continuous cooling, and through the voice output via an also from the Re unit of time calculated when the freezer temperature tur will be reached. The signal itself should then be on repeated melodic signal with spoken in between Be indications - for example: "Freezing temperature has now been reached, please switch back to normal operation and put the Fresh produce on the top shelf ".  

An arranged in a control panel display can also be set up to show an alphnumeric error display, for. B. F 1 , F 2 . . . Such error displays can be referred to when the relevant error is announced. For example, the request to call customer service may include a message to notify customer service of the error display (e.g. F 1 ).

In Fig. 2 there is also an adaptation circuit D / A which is connected between the electronic program control device CPU and the peripherally distributed sensors and functional elements in the household appliance. However, this can be a common measure, which need not be explained in more detail here. The characters R , p, n denote sensors for temperature, pressure (level) and speed; the designations MV and TS stand for solenoid valve and door switch. All other symbols are obvious and therefore do not need to be explained in particular.

In Fig. 1 it is shown that the speech output speaker LS is arranged behind the sound grille 4 in the control panel. Under certain circumstances, it may be more advantageous for technical reasons if this sound transducer is arranged in the base area to the front or in the cover area of the device to emit upwards.

The output of the amplifier AMP is advantageously connected to a connection socket C for connection to a sound transducer arranged outside the device. Should it happen that the sound opening is unfavorable to the operator when the device is not installed, a good acoustic coupling can be restored by connecting a free-standing, additional speaker.

It will also be advisable to add another in the control panel Operating handle to be provided for adjusting the volume and / or the sound image of the speech information to the Site conditions.

For easy adaptability of household appliances to as many export variants as possible, the memory M 2 and the query networks B 21 and B 22 and the transmission network BA can be arranged on an exchangeable module board. In the event that this circuit board in a room accessible to the operator, in a washing machine or dishwasher z. B. is arranged behind the maintenance flap, a line interface made of a two-core copper line or a single-core light line with appropriate converters at the input and output of the line is recommended to save lines and reduce interference. This makes the interchangeability of modules with different languages much easier.

Claims (27)

1. Electrical household appliance with voice output, in which a program control unit advises, a control panel for manual program input and a program input storage device for storing a manual program input and a voice memory for voice information are provided, the query inputs with the program input storage device and its output Connections are connected to an analog amplifier, at the output of which an electromechanical sound transducer is connected, characterized in that the voice output contains operating instructions and error messages, the error messages on the one hand relating to incorrect operating functions and, on the other hand, faulty device functions which can be caused by sensors for incorrect operating actions and for faulty device functions are found that in the control panel ( 1 ) have a hand ( 5 and 6 ) for the ineffectiveness of the voice output and / or for the manual retrieval of operating instructions n are arranged and that the faulty device functions and / or incorrect operating actions cannot be suppressed by the handle ( 5 ) for the ineffective switching. 2. Household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that in the program input device ( 1 ) an alphanumeric display is arranged and the speech memory (M 2 ) contains memory locations for storing error messages relating to all alphanumeric displays, which memory locations at Activation of the alphanumeric display can be queried. 3. Household appliance according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the program input device ( 1 ) for the output of the optical signals is assigned a delay device, the delay function when receiving a signal from the speech memory (M 2 ) after the end the information sequence is resolvable. 4. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the voice information regarding information about installation and installation after execution of the information from the memory (M 21 ) can be deleted or at least temporarily not be retrieved. 5. Household appliance according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that sensors are provided which monitor the execution of the information and emit an acknowledgment signal to the memory (M 21 ). 6. Household appliance according to claim 5, namely washing machine, characterized net that one of the sensors an electrical connection between the vibrating unit and / or the housing on the one hand and transport securing means for fixing the unit to the housing and others on the other hand contains. 7. Household appliance according to claim 5, for. B. washing machine, washer dryer or Ge Dishwasher, characterized in that one of the sensors has a Pressure switch between the electrically controlled inlet valve (s) and contains the inlet hose (s). 8. Household appliance according to claim 5, for. B. dishwasher, characterized records that one of the sensors is an adjustment device for the metered amount depending on softener in a fresh water softening system from a measured or entered water hardness of the fresh water holds. 9. Household appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that one of the Senso Ren an automatic measuring and comparison device for water hardness of fresh water contains. 10. Household appliance according to claim 5, characterized in that one of the Senso Ren an electrical scale to determine the vertical installation of the Device.   11. Household appliance according to one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that a number of memory locations (z. B. with information regarding the information about the maintenance of the device) of the voice information memory (M 2 ) can be called up by separate commands from sensors which monitor certain functions in the device. 12. Household appliance according to claim 11, for. B. washing machine, dryer or Dishwasher, characterized in that one of the sensors has a Facility to monitor the proper functioning of the contains electrically controlled inlet valve (s). 13. Household appliance according to claim 11, for. B. washing machine or dishwasher, because characterized in that one of the sensors has a moisture indicator or contains a level measuring device on the bottom of the device. 14. Household appliance according to claim 11, for. B. washing machine, dryer, Ge Dishwasher or stove, characterized in that one of the sensors contains a current monitor for the radiator (s). 15. Household appliance according to claim 11, for. B. washing machine, dryer, Ge dishwasher, stove, refrigerator or freezer, characterized net that one of the sensors is a device for monitoring the closed contains a door position. 16. Household appliance according to claim 11, for. B. washing machine, dryer or Dishwasher, characterized in that one of the sensors has a Contains pressure switch in the fresh water supply channel. 17. Household appliance according to claim 11, for. B. washing machine or dishwasher, because characterized in that one of the sensors is a pressure monitoring device in the feed direction in front of and behind the sieve in the fresh water inlet channel contains.   18. Household appliance according to claim 11, for. B. washing machine or dishwasher, because characterized in that one of the sensors is a monitoring device for the proper functioning of the drain or circulation pump. 19. Household appliance according to claim 11, for. B. washing machine or dishwasher, because characterized in that one of the sensors is a monitoring device for the degree of filling of additive storage containers. 20. Household appliance according to claim 11, namely washing machine or clothes dryer ner, characterized in that one of the sensors is a monitor contains direction for the rotation of the laundry drum. 21. Household appliance according to claim 11, for. B. washing machine, characterized in that one of the sensors is a monitoring device for the unbalance of a contains rotatable component in the device. 22. Household appliance according to claim 11, for. B. tumble dryer or extractor hood, characterized in that one of the sensors has a pressure monitoring on Direction in the direction of flow in front of and / or behind a particle filter contains in the exhaust duct. 23. Household appliance according to claim 11, namely dishwasher, thereby ge indicates that one of the sensors is a rotary motion monitoring device device for the spray arm (s). 24. Household appliance according to claim 11, namely refrigerator or freezer, thereby characterized in that one of the sensors is a temperature monitoring device device for at least one impermissibly high cooling temperature. 25. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sound transducer (LS) is arranged in the base region of the device. 26. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that the sound transducer (LS) is installed in the cover area of the device upward radiating. 27. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the output of the amplifier (AMP) is connected to a connection socket (C) for connection to a transducer arranged outside the device.