DE102012204545A1 - Cooking appliance is adapted to misplacement of dish above hob plate and to output warning signal in response to automatic action - Google Patents

Abstract

The cooking appliance (H) has a hob (1) comprising hob plate (2) with several cooking zones (3-6). A board (14) is arranged below the hob plate beside the cooking zones. The cooking appliance is adapted to a misplacement of dish (G) above the plate and to output a warning signal in response to an automatic action. An independent claim is included for method for operating cooking appliance.

Description

The invention relates to a cooking appliance, comprising a hob equipped with a hob plate with at least one cooking point and at least one below the hob plate next to the at least one cooking plate arranged board.

There are known cooking appliances of the type mentioned, the hob has four arranged in a 2 × 2 matrix arrangement cooking zones. At an operator front edge of the cooktop between the front two burners is a control panel with sensor buttons and at least one display unit. Below the control panel is a sensor board, which sensor elements of the sensor keys, which has at least one display unit and associated electronics. It is also known that the sensor board has a temperature sensor for overheating protection. If a temperature measured value detected by the temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined switch-off threshold value, the cooktop is switched off. This can prevent overheating of the sensor board, which can be effected either by a long-lasting operation of a cooking utensil on a cooking surface or by placing a hot cooking utensils on the hob plate above the board ("misplacement"). The shutdown of the hob may be accompanied by a display of an associated error code in the at least one display unit.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved, in particular user-friendly, possibility for dealing with overheating of a board arranged below the hob plate.

This object is achieved according to the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are in particular the dependent claims.

The object is achieved by a cooking appliance having a hob equipped with a hob plate with at least one cooking point and at least one below the hob plate next to the at least one cooking plate arranged board, wherein the cooking device is adapted to misplacement of a cooking utensil on the hob plate above the board to recognize and perform in response to at least one automatic action. It is here so dedicated misplacement detected, and this misplacement can be distinguished, for example, from a long-lasting operation of a cooking utensil on a hotplate. Since the misplacement can be corrected by an operator quickly by moving the Gargeschirrs and also a drop in temperature on the board is relatively steep, the operator can advantageously be given the opportunity to correct the misplacement without or seriously affecting a cooking process.

It is a further development that the at least one automatic action comprises an output of at least one warning signal. Thus, an operator can be made aware in particular early on a misplacement. The warning signal can also be understood as a warning notification or warning.

The board may be, for example, the sensor board of the hob.

The hob plate may be, for example, a glass ceramic plate.

It is an embodiment that the cooking appliance has at least one pan detection device for detecting the misplacement. As a result, a misplacement is directly and clearly recognizable. The at least one pot detection device may, for example, have at least one capacitive sensor, inductive sensor and / or IR sensor, etc.

It is an embodiment that the cooking device for detecting the misplacement has at least one arranged on the board Temperatursenor. The temperature sensor can thus serve in particular as a pan detection device for hot cooking utensils or represent a part thereof. The use of the at least one temperature sensor arranged on the board has the advantage that overheating can also be detected for other reasons, e.g. by a long-lasting operation of a cooking utensil. As a result, components can be saved.

The temperature sensor may in particular be a thermistor or NTC resistor.

It is still an embodiment that the cooking appliance has a plurality of arranged on the board temperature sensors. This allows a spatially resolved detection of a misplacement and thereby, for example, a more targeted implementation of the at least one action.

It is an embodiment of this that the cooking appliance has a plurality of (from the perspective of an operator) side by side arranged cooking zones and juxtaposed on the board temperature sensors and is adapted to turn off when detecting a misplacement by means of one of the temperature sensors at least one appropriately arranged cooking area. Under one correspondingly arranged cooking point can be understood in particular a cooking position, which has a position corresponding to a position of the responsive temperature sensor. This has the advantage that each not correspondingly arranged cooking zones can continue to operate and not the whole hob needs to be turned off. This considerably increases user-friendliness.

For example, the cooking appliance may have two (from the perspective of an operator) left and right juxtaposed cooking zones, e.g. if the cooking appliance has two cooking zones or four cooking zones in a 2 × 2 matrix arrangement. In particular, two temperature sensors (or other pan detection devices) can then be arranged on the left and right on the board. If the left or the right temperature sensor detects a misplacement, the left or right cooking zones can be switched off. The other (s) cooking station (s) need / need not be switched off.

It is an embodiment of the cooking appliance having a plurality of cooking zones arranged next to one another and behind one another (for example in a 2 × 2 matrix arrangement) and being set up to switch off a correspondingly arranged nearest cooking area if one of the temperature sensors detects a misplacement. As a result, only one hob is turned off, which further increases user-friendliness.

For example, if the cooking appliance has four hotplates in a 2x2 matrix array and the left or right temperature sensor detects misplacement, the left and right front cookers may be turned off while the rear cookers remain active.

In general, when detecting a misplacement by a plurality of temperature sensors (or other pan detection devices), several cooking zones can be switched off.

Also, a redundant design of pot detection means for detecting a misplacement is possible. Thus, for example, at least one hotplate may only be switched off when a temperature sensor and another sensor of a pan detection device detect the misplacement.

It is also an embodiment using the at least one temperature sensor that the detection of the misplacement can be carried out in that a gradient of a temperature profile detected by at least one temperature sensor reaches or exceeds a predetermined gradient threshold value. It is exploited that a misplacement of a hot cookware above the board causes a steep rise in temperature, while a long-lasting operation of a cookware causes a significantly lower temperature rise on the board. Consequently, a reliable detection of a misplacement is possible by means of the at least one temperature sensor.

It is also an embodiment that the cooking appliance is adapted to initiate at least one action, e.g. output at least one warning signal before a detected by at least one temperature sensor temperature reading a Abschaltschwellwert (for example, of 100 ° C) for switching off or reducing a power (hereinafter referred to as 'shutdown') has reached or exceeded at least one cooking surface. This provides an opportunity for an operator of the cooking appliance to remove the misplaced cooking utensil from the area above the board before shutting down at least one hotplate. In particular, this at least one action may be triggered upon reaching or exceeding a predetermined warning threshold (e.g., 80 ° C).

It is a further development that the at least one action comprises outputting at least one audible and / or visual warning signal, which changes with a changing approach to the switch-off threshold value, in particular is more clearly perceptible with a stronger approximation. As a result, an action pressure on an operator with increasing approach to the Abschaltschwellwert can be increased.

It is also an embodiment that the cooking appliance is adapted to output at least one (audible and / or visual) warning signal after a detected by at least one temperature sensor temperature reading has reached or exceeded a Abschaltschwellwert for switching off at least one cooking position. This further enhances informing an operator. The associated at least one warning signal may, in particular, comprise at least one warning signal identifying the cause of the error, which allows an operator to troubleshoot and correct errors, e.g. by a repositioning of the misplaced Gargeschirrs, relieved. This in turn, for example, prevents a rapid further increase in temperature and a shutdown (or power reduction) of the hotplate be repealed faster.

It is still an embodiment that the cooking appliance is configured to perform the at least one action only after a detected by at least one temperature sensor Temperature reading has reached or exceeded a minimum temperature threshold. The cooking appliance is therefore in particular configured to detect or treat as such a misplacement only after reaching or exceeding a minimum temperature threshold value. This can suppress false alarms at low temperatures (eg, 40 ° C or less) but high relative temperature variations.

It is yet a further embodiment that the at least one warning signal comprises at least one acoustic warning signal and / or optical warning signal. An audible warning signal can alert an operator to the misplacement even at a greater distance. The visually perceptible or visual warning signal can in particular also give a reason for the warning to an operator. It is thus a particularly preferred embodiment that at least one warning signal is a warning signal identifying the fault location. This simplifies troubleshooting and may be e.g. also simplify a service.

The visual warning signal may be displayed, for example, at a display (e.g., 7-segment display) or display area (e.g., a pixel LCD display) associated with the hotplate to be shut down or shut down.

The visual warning signal may, for example, be designed as a unique symbol, letter or digit, e.g. as a letter "u", which should symbolize a pot.

In a variant, the letter "u" may be alternately subscripted and superscripted, e.g. in a 7-segment display, e.g. as an invitation to remove the cooking utensils from the area above the board.

In another variant, the letter "P" or "p" may be displayed as the initial letter for "Pot" or "Pan". Also, the letter "H" or "h" may be displayed as the initial letter for "hot".

In yet another variant, a particular error code may be displayed, e.g. "F3". For example, in the case of a 7-segment display, this display may alternately display "F" and "3". By contrast, for example, an error code generated by a slow increase in temperature (low slope), e.g. for a long-lasting operation of a cookware, be different, e.g. "F2".

In general, the visual warning signal can be configured, for example, statically or flashing, alternately with a set cooking level and / or with a time limit or repetitive.

The at least one warning message can also be output when the associated cooking area is switched off.

It is a development that the cooking appliance is a Haushaltsgargerät.

It is still a development that the cooking appliance is a separate hob or stove (oven / hob combination).

The object is also achieved by a method for operating a cooking appliance comprising a hob equipped with a hob plate with at least one cooking point and at least one arranged below the hob plate next to the at least one cooking plate, wherein detected a misplacement of a cooking utensil on the hob plate above the board is performed and in response to at least one automatic action (including triggered), in particular at least one warning signal is issued.

The task yields the same advantages as the cooking appliance and can also be configured analogously.

In the following figures, the invention will be described schematically with reference to an embodiment schematically. In this case, the same or equivalent elements may be provided with the same reference numerals for clarity.

1 shows in plan view a hob with a cooking utensil placed on a hob;

2 shows in top view the hob 1 with the now misplaced cooking utensils;

3 shows a plot of a sensed at a temperature sensor of a sensor board of the hob temperature over time; and

4 shows a possible flow chart for the operation of the hob 1 ,

1 shows a cooking field in plan view 1 , eg a cooker H, with a hob plate 2 with four cooking zones arranged in a 2 × 2 matrix arrangement 3 to 6 , On a front right cooker 6 is a cooking utensil G filed, for example, a pot, a pan or similar. On a front side V of the hob 1 before and between the front cooking zones 3 and 6 there is a control panel 7 , The control panel 7 has several touch-sensitive controls in the form of touch keys, such as hotplate selection buttons 8a -D, an on / off switch 9 , a linear slider 10 , a zone switch 11 or a child safety lock 12 , The Hotplate selection keys 8a -D are the hotplates 3 . 4 . 5 respectively. 6 assigned. Next to each of the hob selection buttons 8a -D is a respective 7-segment display 13a D arranged, which an operating information of the so-called hotplates 3 . 4 . 5 respectively. 6 indicates, for example, a set cooking level or a warning. In the embodiment shown, the hotplate is 3 set to a cooking level "7", the hotplate 4 set to a cooking level "1", the hotplate 4 switched off or deactivated and the cooking area 6 set to a cooking level "5".

In the area of the control panel 7 below the hob plate 2 (eg made of glass ceramic) is a circuit board in the form of a sensor board 14 which at least part of the sensor of the sensor keys 8a -d, 9 to 12 , the 7-segment display 13a -D and an operating electronics. On the sensor board 14 In addition, a temperature sensor in the form of an NTC sensor is left and right 15l respectively. 15r arranged. The NTC sensors 15l respectively. 15r So are arranged left and right side by side and therefore according to the cooking zones 3 and 6 respectively. 4 and 5 arranged.

The NTC sensors 15l and 15r are intended to misplacement of the cooking utensil G on the hob plate 2 above the board 14 to recognize how they respect the cooking utensils G in 2 is shown. This can be done by the NTC sensors 15l and 15r For example, with the electronics of the sensor board 14 be connected, which provides electronics, for example, a suitable evaluation function.

Upon detection of a misplacement by means of the here right NTC sensor 15r a correspondingly arranged front burner is switched off or reduced in their performance, namely here the front right cooking 6 , which also a nearest hotplate of the right NTC sensor 15r equivalent. The other hobs 3 to 5 are not affected by this and can, for example, continue to run at the same cooking level or power level, if activated. Switching off the front right cooking area 6 can eg through the sensor board 14 to be triggered.

In response or with the shutdown of the front right-hand cooking 6 gives the cooking appliance 1 In addition, at least one warning signal, namely an audible warning signal (eg a beep) and an optical warning signal.

3 shows a plot of one of the exemplified NTC sensor 15r sensed temperature T in ° C over an operating time t. 4 shows a possible associated flow chart for the operation of the hob 1 ,

At an initial time t0, to which the hotplate 6 is activated (eg on a cooking level 5 according to 1 is set) corresponds to that at the NTC sensor 15r sensed temperature T, for example, at least approximately the room temperature Rt. At the initial time t0 the monitoring is already active on a misplacement, eg with switching on the hob 1 has been activated (step S1 in FIG 4 ). In this case, the sensor board monitors a slope M of a curve of the temperature T at reaching (M = Mref) and / or exceeding (M> Mref) a predetermined gradient threshold value Mref (step S2 in FIG 4 ).

With operation of the hob 6 This warms your environment or the cooking utensils G slowly, so that the temperature T at the NTC sensor 15r increased only slowly, so a slope M of a curve of the temperature T has a low value M1, as shown in section I.

At a time t1, an operator slides the cooking utensil G over the sensor board 14 , as in 2 shown. The temperature T at the NTC sensor 15r is about 70 ° C at this time by way of example. Due to the close proximity of the hot cooking utensil G to the NTC sensor 15r the temperature T now rises significantly faster, as shown in section II of the trace. In other words, the course of the temperature T now has a high gradient M = M2, which is higher than the gradient threshold value Mref. By reaching or exceeding the gradient threshold value Mref, it is therefore possible to detect an incorrect placement, which can also be regarded as a pan detection. The question as to whether the gradient threshold value Mref is reached or exceeded may in particular also depend on the temperature and / or type of the cooking utensil G and its content. For example, in one variant, a pot filled with boiling water may not suffice to reach or exceed the gradient threshold value Mref, whereas a hot pan filled with oil may already be sufficient.

The sensor board 14 detects the reaching or exceeding of the gradient threshold value Mref (step S2 in FIG 4 , Branch 'J'), but still triggers no action, since the temperature T has not yet reached a warning threshold Tw of here 80 ° C (step S3 in 4 ). Only when the warning threshold value Tw is reached or exceeded (step S3, branch 'J', in 4 ), a first audible warning signal and a first visual warning signal are output (step S4 in FIG 4 ).

For example, the audible signal may include a beep, and the optical signal may include a "u" in the 7-segment display 13d , as in 2 shown. Displaying the "u" may be alternately displaying in a lower and an upper portion of the 7-segment display 13d which may indicate to an operator, for example, to remove the cooking utensil G.

If the cooking utensil G at a time t2 of the area above the sensor board 14 removed, the temperature T decreases relatively quickly, as in section III the temperature profile shown. Alternatively, however, the temperature T may also increase slightly (due to a resumed long-lasting cooking process).

In particular, if the cooking utensil G is not from the area above the sensor board 14 is removed, the temperature T increases comparatively strong, as in section IV the temperature profile shown. If it is recognized that a switch-off threshold value Td (eg of approximately 100 ° C.) has been reached or exceeded (step S5 in FIG 4 , Branch 'J'), which is the location of the right NTC sensor 15r correspondingly positioned front cooker 6 switched off or reduced in their performance, as in step S6 in 4 shown. However, if the switch-off threshold value Td has not yet been reached or exceeded (step S5 in FIG 4 , Branch 'N'), the process proceeds to step S2.

In order to increase the pressure on the operator to act, the first acoustic signal may change as the temperature T approaches the switch-off threshold Td, in particular acting more 'urgently', e.g. by increasing a volume or a tone pulse rate.

Upon reaching the switch-off threshold Td, in particular a second acoustic warning signal and / or a second optical warning signal can be output. The second audible warning signal may be configured, for example, by a continuous tone, the second optical warning signal, for example, as an error message "F3" by alternately displaying "F" and "3" in the 7-segment display 13d , This error message is clearly assigned to the exceeding of the switch-off threshold Td due to a misplacement. On the other hand, exceeding the cut-off threshold value Td may be due to a long-term (correct) operation of the hotplate 6 (not shown) are identified by an error message "F2".

With the removal of the cooking utensil G, a cooking operation of the cooking place may be desired 6 For example, again after reaching or falling below the Abschaltschwellwerts Td (or another, especially lower reclosing value) automatically recorded. Alternatively like a cooking operation of the cooking area 6 After reaching or falling below the Abschaltschwellwerts Td by an operator consciously controlled or activated resumed.

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

Thus, to detect the misplacement, e.g. also other sensors are used.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 hob

2

 Hotplate

3

 cooking

4

 cooking

5

 cooking

6

 cooking

7

 Control panel

8a-d

 Hobs selection key

9

 On / off switch

10

 linear Slider

11

 zone activation

12

 childlock

13a-d

 7-segment display,

14

 sensor board

15l

 NTC sensor

15r

 NTC sensor

G

 cooking containers

H

 stove

M1

 pitch

M2

 pitch

M3

 pitch

M ref

 Steigungsschwellwert

Rt

 Rauntemperatur

S1-6

 steps

T

 temperature

td

 turnoff

tw

 Warning threshold

t

 uptime

t0

 Start time

t1

 time

t2

 time

V

 front

I

 Section of a temperature profile

II

 Section of a temperature profile

III

 Section of a temperature profile

IV

 Section of a temperature profile

Claims (13)

Cooking appliance (H), comprising one with a hob plate ( 2 ) equipped hob ( 1 ) with - at least one hotplate ( 3 - 6 ) and - at least one below the hob plate ( 2 ) next to the at least one hotplate ( 3 - 6 ) arranged board ( 14 ), characterized in that - the cooking appliance (H) is adapted to misplacement of a cooking utensil (G) on the hob plate ( 2 ) above the board ( 14 to recognize and In response to this, perform at least one automatic action, in particular to output at least one warning signal (S4). Cooking appliance (H) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooking appliance (H) for detecting the misplacement at least one pan detection device ( 15l . 15r ) having. Cooking appliance (H) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooking appliance (H) for detecting the misplacement at least one on the board ( 14 ) arranged temperature sensor ( 15l . 15r ) having. Cooking appliance (H) according to claim 3, characterized in that the cooking appliance (H) more on the board ( 14 ) arranged temperature sensors ( 15l . 15r ) having. Cooking appliance (H) according to claim 4, characterized in that the cooking appliance (H) - several juxtaposed cooking zones ( 3 - 6 ) and - side by side on the board ( 14 ) arranged temperature sensors ( 15l . 15r ) and is set up, upon detection of a misplacement by means of one of the temperature sensors ( 15l . 15r ) at least one appropriately arranged hotplate ( 3 - 6 ) shut down. Cooking appliance (H) according to claim 5, characterized in that the cooking appliance (H) several juxtaposed and successively arranged cooking zones ( 3 - 6 ) and is adapted, upon detection of a misplacement by means of at least one of the temperature sensors ( 15l . 15r ) a correspondingly arranged nearest cooking area ( 3 - 6 ) shut down. Cooking appliance (H) according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the detection of the misplacement is feasible by a slope (M) of a by at least one temperature sensor ( 15l . 15r ) detected temperature profile reaches or exceeds a predetermined gradient threshold value (Mref). Cooking appliance (H) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooking appliance (H) is adapted to carry out at least one automatic action before a detected by at least one temperature sensor temperature reading (T) a Abschaltschwellwert (Td) for switching off at least one hotplate ( 3 - 6 ) has reached or exceeded. Cooking appliance (H) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooking appliance (H) is adapted to output at least one warning signal, after a by at least one temperature sensor ( 15l . 15r ) detected temperature measured value (T) a Abschaltschwellwert (Td) for switching off at least one hotplate ( 3 - 6 ) has reached or exceeded. Cooking appliance (H) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooking appliance (H) is adapted to perform the at least one action only after a by at least one temperature sensor ( 15l . 15r ) detected temperature reading (T) has reached or exceeded a Mindesttemperaturschwellwert. Cooking appliance (H) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one warning signal comprises at least one acoustic warning signal and / or optical warning signal. Cooking appliance (H) according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one warning signal is a misplacement identifying the warning signal. Method for operating a cooking appliance (H), comprising a cooking plate ( 2 ) equipped hob ( 1 ) with at least one hotplate ( 3 - 6 ) and at least one below the hob plate ( 2 ) next to the at least one hotplate ( 3 - 6 ) arranged board ( 14 ), characterized in that - a misplacement of a cooking utensil (G) on the hob plate ( 2 ) above the board ( 14 ) is detected and - in response, at least one warning signal is output.

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