DE102012201629B4 - Household appliance and method for displaying energy consumption - Google Patents

Abstract

Household appliance, with at least a first display (16), which is designed as a display for a predeterminable heating output and a second display (60), which is designed as a display for a timer, the two displays (16; 60) being independently controllable and are arranged spatially separated from one another, and the household appliance is designed to determine energy consumption, characterized in that the energy consumption can be displayed by a display field (Dg), which is composed of at least the first display (16) and the second display (60). .

Description

The invention relates to a household appliance according to the preamble of patent claim 1, and a method according to the preamble of patent claim 15.

From the republished DE 10 2010 039 070 A1 a household appliance is known which can determine and display the energy consumption of at least one cooking zone.

Integrated energy consumption displays are known for electric heaters or instantaneous water heaters (e.g. of the Stiebel-Eltron DHE 21 SL electronic comfort type). Energy efficiency ratings (e.g. from 'A' to 'F') are known for refrigerators, which give a user a rough estimate of relative energy consumption.

It is the object of the present invention to increase environmental awareness and/or cost awareness when operating household appliances with little effort.

The task is solved by a household appliance with the features of patent claim 1. Furthermore, the task is solved by a method which has the features of patent claim 15. Advantageous refinements can be found in the subclaims individually or in combination.

According to the characterizing part of patent claim 1, the energy consumption can be displayed by a display panel which is composed of at least the first display and the second display. This means there is no need for an additional display to show energy consumption. Existing displays are used. The first display is designed to display a power level and the second display is designed to display a time period. The two displays are combined or controlled in such a way that the energy consumption of the household appliance can be displayed. Each display only shows part of an energy consumption value. The energy consumption value is, for example, provided as a 3-digit numerical value, of which the first display shows the first digit and the second display shows the second and third digits of the numerical value. Decimal places of the energy consumption are preferably identified by a dot that can be shown on the display, a dot printed on an area between the displays or by the distance between the displays. The household appliance has the advantage that a user receives precise information about the energy consumption that occurs during use and the corresponding costs. The user can also determine for themselves which configurations consume how much energy and thus learn how to use the household appliance in a particularly energy-friendly manner. For example, with a household appliance designed as a hob, the user can clearly and without much effort compare energy consumption for a cooking process with a cooking vessel with and without a lid, or compare a cooking process with a cooking vessel on a large and a small cooking zone

In a preferred embodiment, the displays are designed as digital displays for displaying at least one digit each. The displays have a distance from one another that is greater than one digit width, in particular greater than two digit widths, with the smaller digit width being decisive if the displays have different digit widths. A digital display means, for example, a seven-segment display or an alphanumeric display and can be designed, for example, using LED or LCD technology. A digit is a location on the display that is designed to display at least one character, such as a number or a letter. For example, one digit of a seven-segment display can represent the numbers 0 to 9, as well as some letters. The digit width is the maximum extent from left to right of all characters that can be displayed in a digit. The distance between the displays is to be understood as the distance between the last digit of the first display and the first digit of the second display.

In a further embodiment, it is proposed that the display field has three digits. This means that a three-digit number, such as 3.75 kWh, can be displayed. The point or comma is not understood as a digit.

Because there are no active display elements between the displays, the energy consumption value of the household appliance can be clearly read. An active display element is to be understood as meaning, for example, a self-illuminating display or a symbol that changes shape and appearance, the symbol or display being able to be activated by a control unit of the household appliance. A passive display element, on the other hand, is understood to be, for example, printing.

It is preferred if the first display is intended to display a number of kilowatt hours of energy consumption. In particular, at least one place before the decimal point of the energy consumption, with kilowatt hours as the place before the decimal point and watt hours as the decimal place shown in the first display.

Preferably, the second display is intended to display a number of watt-hours of energy consumption. In particular, the second display displays at least one decimal place of the energy consumption, with the energy consumption being displayed in kilowatt hours and watt hours separated by a comma.

A preferred development is that a third display shows a unit of energy consumption. The third display, for example, is designed as an illuminated symbol that shows the letter combination “kWh” for kilowatt hours when the energy consumption display is activated.

Because the first display and the second display are aligned with one another along a line, it is easier for a user of the household appliance to read the energy consumption value compiled across the two displays. The two displays are preferably arranged flush in a common plane.

The first display is designed as a display for a predeterminable heating output. A user of the household appliance selects a desired heating output, which is shown in the first display. For a hob, for example, the predetermined heating output is represented as a power level that can have values between zero and nine. Each power level is stored with defined relay cycle times for activating a cooking zone.

According to the invention, the second display is designed as a display for a timer. The second display shows, for example, a period of time remaining until the end of a program run of the household appliance.

The household appliance is preferably designed as a hob and has at least one cooking zone.

The energy consumption can, for example, be electrical energy consumed by the at least one cooking zone. The energy consumption can be determined and/or displayed in particular in kWh, which advantageously represents a quantity known to many users and which can be easily compared.

The determining may include measuring the energy, for example using one or more sensors, such as an ammeter. Determining may also include calculating (instead of measuring) the energy, for example by combining known relay cycle times to activate a cooking zone with associated known current levels. Determining by means of calculation has the advantage that there are no costs for a measurement setup.

It is an embodiment that the hob is set up to determine and display the energy consumption for each of the at least one cooking zone. This allows a user to easily find out about the energy consumption of a specific cooking zone and the food prepared on it. The energy consumption can be displayed for a switching time of the hob and/or for the lifespan of the hob.

It is another embodiment that the hob is set up to determine and display a common (added or cumulative) energy consumption of all cooking zones. This means that a user can easily find out about the energy consumption of all cooking zones and of all the dishes prepared on them, which, for example, form part of a menu sequence. The energy consumption can be displayed for a switching time of the hob and/or for the lifespan of the hob.

It is also an embodiment that the hob is set up to determine and display energy consumption during a previous switch-on period of the hob. This means a user can easily find out about the energy consumption of a defined cooking process. It is a further development that the energy consumption of a user can be saved in a memory and retrieved again at any later time.

It is also an embodiment that the hob is set up to determine and display energy consumption for the lifespan of the hob. This allows a user to get a feel for the energy consumption of the household appliance, especially in comparison to other household appliances.

It is also an embodiment that the hob is set up to design a display of the cooking zone display area for the cooking zone whose energy consumption is currently displayed differently from the displays of the cooking zone display areas for the other cooking zones, in particular through a different brightness. For example, a display of energy consumption of a first cooking zone can be visually highlighted in that the digit which is located in the cooking zone display area associated with the first cooking zone is displayed noticeably brighter or darker than the digits of the others (e.g. two th to fourth) cooking zone display areas. This means that energy consumption is clearly visible and at the same time the associated cooking zone can be easily identified. This embodiment can also be designed easily, for example using known dimmable segment displays.

It is a particularly visually distinguishable development that a display of the cooking zone display area for the cooking zone whose energy consumption is currently displayed can be designed using a color that is different from the displays of the cooking zone display areas for the other cooking zones.

It is a development that is also visually easily distinguishable, that a display of the cooking zone display area for the cooking zone whose energy consumption is currently displayed can be designed by flashing differently from the displays of the cooking zone display areas for the other cooking zones, which are continuously illuminated. This further development also has the advantage that the display does not need to be set up for a change in brightness or for a color change.

To display energy consumption accumulated across the cooking zones, a display of energy consumption can be displayed in the same way, at least for the cooking zone display areas, in particular with the same, in particular increased, brightness.

It is a particularly easy to implement and readable development that a display of the cooking zone display area for the cooking zone whose energy consumption is currently displayed by previously displaying a predetermined, in particular alphanumeric, character string in this cooking zone display area in contrast to the displays of the cooking zones -Display areas for the other cooking zones can be designed. This further development also has the advantage that the display does not need to be set up for a change in brightness or for a color change. The temporal separation of the identification of the cooking zone from the display of energy consumption makes it easier to understand. The character string can contain one or more characters. The character string is advantageously designed to be particularly accessible to a user for displaying energy, e.g. as “E”, “En” or “EnEr”, etc. For example, before the energy consumption of the first cooking zone is displayed in the associated cooking zone display area, a “ E” are displayed while the other cooking zone display areas do not display a character string.

It is also an embodiment that the hob is set up to display the energy consumption (in particular a specific energy consumption, e.g. of a cooking zone or all cooking zones cumulative) in the display composed by the first display and the second display, as well as a display identifying the associated cooking zone to display an alphanumeric and/or symbolic character string. Such a character string can be, for example, “E1” for the first cooking zone, “E2” for the second cooking zone, etc.

The task is also solved by a method for displaying energy consumption on a household appliance, the household appliance comprising a hob with at least one cooking zone and, due to the hob being switched off, energy consumption for each cooking zone is determined and displayed individually and/or cumulatively for all cooking zones.

• 1 zeigt ein Kochfeld in einer Draufsicht und
• 2 zeigt die Darstellung einer Energieverbrauchsanzeige des Kochfelds aus 1.

In the following figures, the invention is described schematically in more detail using an exemplary embodiment.

• 1 shows a hob in a top view and
• 2 shows the representation of an energy consumption display of the hob 1 .

This in 1 The hob shown can be, for example, a single device or part of a stove. The hob includes four cooking zones 10, 20, 30, 40, which are characterized by printed surfaces on a glass ceramic plate 2. Below the printed surfaces, 2 heating elements of different performance classes are arranged on the back of the glass ceramic plate. A display area 4 with ring-shaped cooking zone displays 14,24,34,44 is arranged in front of the cooking zones 10,20,30,40. The cooking zone displays 14,24,34,44 reflect the arrangement of the cooking zones 10,20,30,40. A display 16,26,36,46 is arranged to the side of each cooking zone display 14,24,34,44, which is intended to display a power level of the associated cooking zone 10,20,30,40. The four displays 16,26,36,46 are each designed as a seven-segment display with a dot. A cross-shaped print 6 on the glass ceramic plate 2 divides the display area 4 corresponding to the four cooking zones 10, 20, 30, 40 into four cooking zone display areas 12, 22, 32, 42, each of which has a cooking zone display 14, 24, 34, 44 and a Display include 16,26,36,46. This makes it easier for a user of the hob to assign the cooking zone display 14, 24, 34, 44 or display 16, 26, 36, 46 to the respective cooking zone 10, 20, 30, 40. A display 60 for a timer is arranged at a distance to the right of the display 16. In front of the display area 4 is a control panel 50 with four sensor buttons 52,54,56,58 arranged, which are designed as capacitive touch buttons. The sensor button 52 is designed as a main switch. The sensor buttons 54 (plus button) and 56 (minus button) are designed to adjust the value of a heating power level or a time setting. Sensor button 58 has a clock symbol and, when pressed, activates the timer with the associated display 60. A display symbol 62 designed as a clock is arranged near the display 60, which is activated or illuminated after the sensor button 58 is pressed. Within the ring-shaped cooking zone displays 14,24,34,44, 2 capacitive touch sensors are arranged below the glass ceramic plate. When the glass ceramic plate is touched in the area of a cooking zone display 14,24,34,44, the associated cooking zone 10,20,30,40 is released for changing operating parameters by controlling the hob. The selected cooking zone 10,20,30,40 is displayed as a light ring by the corresponding cooking zone display 14,24,34,44. Using the sensor buttons 54 and 56, a value for a power level from 0 to 9 can be set for the previously selected cooking zone 10,20,30,40. When you touch the sensor button 58, a time period or operating time for the selected cooking zone 10, 20, 30, 40 can be set using the sensor buttons 54 and 56. The selected time period in minutes is shown on display 60.

2 shows display area 4 in a detailed view 1 . The display area 4 shows an energy consumption of the cooking zone 10 located at the front right. The cooking zone display 14 is activated in the form of a light ring and the display 26 to the left of the cooking zone display 14 shows the letter “E” for “energy consumption”. The numerical value of the energy consumption is displayed using a display Dg, which is composed of a first display 16 for the power level of the cooking zone 10 and a second display 60 for the timer. The display 16 shows the place before the decimal point, i.e. the kilowatt hours of energy consumption, as well as the decimal point in the form of a point. The display 60, which is arranged along a virtual line 66 starting from the display D1 and has a distance a greater than one digit width b from the display 16, shows the watt-hours of energy consumption in the form of two decimal places. A third display 64 shows “kWh” as the unit of energy consumption when the energy consumption display is activated. The energy consumption display is automatically activated for a set period of time after the respective cooking zone 10,20,30,40 has been switched off and the energy consumption is shown on the display Dg.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown.

This means that the ad areas are not limited to use with segment ads. For example, liquid crystal screens can also be used.

Reference symbol list

2

Glass ceramic plate

4

Display area

6

imprint

10

Cooking zone (front right)

12

Cooking zone display area (front right)

14

Cooking zone display (front right)

16

Display (power cooking zone, front right)

20

Cooking zone (front left)

22

Cooking zone display area (front left)

24

Cooking zone display (front left)

26

Display (power cooking zone, front left)

30

Cooking zone (rear left)

32

Cooking zone display area (rear left)

34

Cooking zone display (rear left)

36

Display (power cooking zone, rear left)

40

Cooking zone (rear right)

42

Cooking zone display area (rear right)

44

Cooking zone display (rear right)

46

Display (power cooking zone, rear right)

50

Control panel

52

Sensor button (main switch)

54

Sensor button (“plus” button)

56

Sensor button (“minus” button)

58

Sensor button (timer)

60

Display (timer / timer)

62

Display symbol

64

Display (unit)

66

Line

a

Distance

b

Digit width

Dg

display

Claims (15)

Household appliance, with at least a first display (16), which is designed as a display for a predeterminable heating output and a second display (60), which is designed as a display for a timer, the two displays (16; 60) being independently controllable and are arranged spatially separated from one another, and the household appliance is designed to determine energy consumption, characterized in that the energy consumption can be displayed by a display field (Dg), which is composed of at least the first display (16) and the second display (60). . household appliance Claim 1 , characterized in that the displays (16, 60) are designed as digital displays for displaying at least one digit each and the displays (16, 60) have a distance (a) from one another that is greater than a digit width (b), in particular is larger than two digit widths (b), with different digit widths (b) of the displays (16, 60) being the smaller digit width. household appliance Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the display field (Dg) has three digits. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that no active display elements are arranged between the displays (16, 60). Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first display (16) is provided for displaying a number of kilowatt hours of energy consumption. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second display (60) is provided for displaying a number of watt-hours of energy consumption. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a third display (64) shows a unit of energy consumption. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first display (16) and the second display (60) are aligned with one another along a line (66). Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the household appliance is designed as a hob and has at least one cooking zone (10,20,30,40). household appliance Claim 9 , characterized in that the hob is set up to determine and display the energy consumption for each of the at least one cooking zone (10,20,30,40). household appliance Claim 9 or 10 , characterized in that the hob is set up to determine and display a common energy consumption of all cooking zones (10,20,30,40). Household appliance according to one of the Claims 9 until 11 , characterized in that the hob is set up to determine and display energy consumption during a switch-on period of the hob. Household appliance according to one of the Claims 9 until 12 , characterized in that the hob is set up to determine and display energy consumption for the lifespan of the hob. Household appliance according to one of the Claims 9 until 13 , characterized in that the hob is set up to display a cooking zone display area (12,22,32,42) for the cooking zone (10,20,30,40) whose energy consumption is currently displayed, different from the displays of the To design cooking zone display areas (12,22,32,42) for the other cooking zones (10,20,30,40), in particular by - a different brightness, - a different color, - flashing and / or - a previous display of one predetermined alphanumeric character string. Method for displaying energy consumption on a household appliance according to one of the previous ones Claims 9 until 14 , characterized in that when the hob is switched off, energy consumption is determined and displayed for each cooking zone (10,20,30,40) individually and/or cumulatively for all cooking zones (10,20,30,40).

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