DE102012222150A1 - Household appliance e.g. cooking appliance, determines the contact location of user finger, based on input signal and output signals that are output according to the input of an input signal to a different position of the handle - Google Patents

Abstract

The household appliance comprises a handle (101) which is designed to be electrically conductive, in which the input signal at two positions of the handle can be placed alternately. The handle is a door handle. The input signal is an alternating current signal. The output signals which are output from the handle according to the input of any one of the input signals to a different position of the handle are measured. Based on the input signal and the measured output signals, a contact location (102) of user's finger (103) is determined. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) a circuit for controlling a household appliance; and (2) a method for controlling a household appliance.

Description

The invention relates to a household appliance and a circuit and a method for controlling the household appliance.

Domestic appliances have different user interfaces (also referred to as "user interfaces") on the basis of which a user can make a setting. For example, the user may select different parameters within a predetermined range of values. For example, the user can set a predetermined temperature or an operating mode of the household appliance.

In conventional household appliances, the setting of such parameters via a rotary knob, buttons or via a touch-sensitive surface (a so-called touch screen).

The object of the invention is to provide an alternative possibility for a user interface.

This object is achieved according to the features of the independent claims. Further developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

• – mit einem Griff, wobei der Griff elektrisch leitend ausgeführt ist,
• – wobei ein Eingangssignal abwechselnd an zwei Positionen des Griffs anlegbar ist,
• – wobei ein durch das Eingangssignal an der jeweils anderen Position des Griffs hervorgerufenes Ausgangssignal messbar ist,
• – wobei anhand des Eingangssignals und der Ausgangssignale ein Berührungsort ermittelbar ist.

To solve the problem, a household appliance is proposed

• - With a handle, wherein the handle is designed to be electrically conductive,
• Wherein an input signal can be applied alternately at two positions of the handle,
• - wherein an output signal caused by the input signal at the respective other position of the handle is measurable,
• - Based on the input signal and the output signals a touch location can be determined.

The handle is preferably carried out at least partially electrically conductive. In particular, the handle has a (predetermined) ohmic resistance.

The place of touch results from the touch of the handle with the finger or a body part of the user. Based on the touch location along the handle, it is possible, for. B. to select a parameter or operating mode of the household appliance and to operate the household appliance accordingly.

The home appliance may be a large household appliance (eg, a cooking appliance, a laundry treating appliance, a refrigerator, etc.) or a household appliance (eg, a toaster, a coffee maker, etc.). The cooking appliance may in particular be an oven, a steam cooker, a microwave oven or a combination thereof, for example an oven / microwave combination appliance.

A further development is that the handle is a door handle or a handle of a flap.

The handle can also be a dummy, d. H. the handle may be provided on a (fixed) surface, the surface z. B. must not be part of an openable door or flap.

Another development is that the input signal is an alternating signal, in particular a rectangular signal or a triangular signal.

The input signal has a predetermined frequency, e.g. In a range of 10 kHz to 10 MHz.

In particular, it is a development that the two positions of the handle are opposing positions of the handle, in particular ends of the handle.

The positions can z. B. be arranged at the end regions of the handle.

It is also a development that different capacitive loads are compensated at the touch location by switching feed and measuring point cyclically (repeatedly alternately) between the two positions of the handle and the ratio of the two measured values is formed.

This results in a cyclic permutation of the feed point and measuring point, so that depending on the cycle ever an output signal at the different positions can be determined. This can be z. B. by means of a controller, for. As a microcontroller, carried out, which determines the output signals by means of an analog-to-digital conversion and further evaluates.

wobei

l

eine Länge des Griffs,

x

einen Abstand von einem Ende des Griffs,

R = R1 + R2

den Widerstandswert des Griffs,

u_e(t)

das Eingangssignal,

u_a1(t)

ein erstes Ausgangssignal, wenn das Eingangssignal an der ersten Position anliegt,

u_a2(t)

ein zweites Ausgangssignal, wenn das Eingangssignal an der zweiten Position anliegt,

t_m

einen Zeitpunkt der Messung

bezeichnen.Furthermore, it is a development that the touch location can be determined based on

in which

l

a length of the handle,

x

a distance from one end of the handle,

R = R1 + R2

the resistance of the handle,

u _e (t)

the input signal,

u _a1 (t)

a first output signal when the input signal is at the first position,

u _a2 (t)

a second output signal when the input signal is at the second position,

t _m

a time of measurement

describe.

From the relationship shown above, it can be seen that the position of touching the handle can be determined independently of the capacity of the user.

In the context of an additional development, a parameter is determined for controlling or adjusting the household appliance depending on the specific touch location.

Thus, depending on the position of the touch (eg the finger on the handle), a value (operating mode, temperature, or the like) can be determined by means of which the domestic appliance is adjusted or activated. For example, it is possible for the grip to be subdivided into areas so that the touch in such an area gives a predetermined value or performs a predetermined action (associated with the area).

A next development is that several touch locations of a movement over time can be determined.

Thus, a movement of the touch (a gesture) on the handle is detectable. Depending on the gesture, the control of the household appliance can take place.

One embodiment is that a direction of movement on the handle can be determined.

In this way, a swipe can be associated with one direction. For example, this can be used to detect a user's desire to increase or reduce a parameter (eg a temperature) of a cooking appliance.

An alternative embodiment is that a speed of movement on the handle can be determined.

By evaluating the speed of the touch or the gesture, it is z. For example, it may be possible to detect a user's desire to quickly set a high or low parameter value (eg, temperature value) of a cooking appliance (depending on the stroke direction of the gesture).

It should be noted that over the length of the handle different scales can be implemented. For example, the handle can be divided into equidistant or different lengths areas, where z. B. smaller areas correspond to such choices that the user seldom chooses. Also, z. For example, a temperature range may be mapped to areas of the handle of different lengths, d. H. in a first area, the user has a large adjustment length available to specify a few degrees of temperature difference, and in a second area, a short area of the grip is available for setting a large temperature difference. Also, the scaling of the setting of a range of values on the handle z. B. sections linear or non-linear, z. As logarithmic.

• – mit einem Controller anhand dessen ein Eingangssignal abwechselnd an zwei Positionen eines elektrisch leitenden Griffs des Haushaltsgeräts anlegbar ist,
• – wobei ein durch das Eingangssignal an der jeweils anderen Position des Griffs hervorgerufenes Ausgangssignal messbar ist,
• – wobei anhand des Eingangssignals und der Ausgangssignale ein Berührungsort ermittelbar ist,
• – wobei das Haushaltsgerät anhand eines mit dem Berührungsort verknüpften Wertes oder einer mit dem Berührungsort verknüpften Aktion ansteuerbar ist.

The above object is also achieved by a circuit for controlling a household appliance

• With a controller by means of which an input signal can alternately be applied to two positions of an electrically conductive handle of the household appliance,
• - wherein an output signal caused by the input signal at the respective other position of the handle is measurable,
• Wherein a touch location can be determined on the basis of the input signal and the output signals,
• - Wherein the household appliance can be controlled by a value associated with the touch location or an action associated with the touch location.

The controller may be a controller or multiple controllers. For example, the controller may be part of a controller present in the household appliance.

• – bei dem ein Eingangssignal abwechselnd an zwei Positionen eines elektrisch leitendenden Griffs des Haushaltsgeräts angelegt wird,
• – bei dem ein durch das Eingangssignal an der jeweils anderen Position des Griffs hervorgerufenes Ausgangssignal gemessen wird,
• – bei dem anhand des Eingangssignals und der Ausgangssignale ein Berührungsort ermittelt wird,
• – bei dem das Haushaltsgerät anhand eines mit dem Berührungsort verknüpften Wertes oder einer mit dem Berührungsort verknüpften Aktion angesteuert wird.

The above object is also achieved by means of a method for controlling a household appliance,

• In which an input signal is alternately applied to two positions of an electrically conductive handle of the household appliance,
• In which an output signal caused by the input signal at the respective other position of the handle is measured,
• In which a touch location is determined on the basis of the input signal and the output signals,
• - In which the household appliance is driven by a value associated with the touch location value or associated with the touch location action.

Both for the circuit and for the method, the above statements regarding the household appliance apply accordingly.

The above-described characteristics, features, and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they will be achieved, will become clearer and more clearly understood in connection with the following schematic description of exemplary embodiments which will be described in detail in conjunction with the drawings. In this case, the same or equivalent elements may be provided with the same reference numerals for clarity.

Show it:

1 a door handle of length l, wherein the door handle is touched in place by a finger;

2 an equivalent circuit diagram of the door handle according to 1 whose resistance R is divided into two resistors R1 and R2 by contact with the finger;

3 a square wave signal as an exemplary input signal and an equivalent circuit diagram for an arrangement in which the square wave signal is applied to the handle, the handle not being touched in this example;

4 on 3 based equivalent equivalent circuit with the resistors R1 and R2 when touched by the user's finger, wherein the user has the capacity C;

5 a schematic course of an output voltage u _a1 over time t based on the contact according to 4 ;

6 the switched case of the signal source, so one to 4 according to dual picture;

7 a schematic course of an output voltage u _a2 over the time t based on the touch according to 6 ;

8th an exemplary circuit arrangement with a controller having two terminals for alternately controlling the door handle and measuring points.

It is proposed to use a handle, in particular a door handle of a household appliance, as an operating element of the user interface. For example, a sliding actuator (also referred to as a touch-sensitive slider or "touch slider") for controlling the household appliance can be realized in this manner: If the user brushes with a finger over the door handle in a predetermined direction, a parameter currently to be set is increased; if it touches in a different direction, the parameter is reduced.

For this purpose, the door handle is preferably made electrically conductive and has a certain resistance value R. Touching the door handle results in an RC low pass due to the human capacitance C.

1 illustrates a door handle 101 the length l, with the door handle 101 in one place 102 from a finger 103 is touched. The distance of the place 102 from the left end of the door handle 101 is with x and the distance of the place 102 from the right end of the door handle 101 results in l - x.

2 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of the door handle 101 whose resistance R by the touch of the finger 103 is divided into two resistors R1 and R2. C denotes the capacity of the human body. The resistance of the door handle is determined by R = R1 + R2.

The resistance ratio R1 / R2 corresponds to the relationship R = ρ · l / q the ratio of the handle lengths left and right of the place 102 the touch of the finger 103 , Thus follows: R1 / R2 = x / l - x

At the example left end of the door handle 101 a high frequency square wave u _{e is} applied. Without touching the door handle is the same signal u _a = u _e at the right end of the door handle.

3 illustrates this relationship, wherein the square wave signal u _e via an internal resistance R _{i of} a signal source G (also referred to as a generator) to the door handle 101 with the resistor R is applied. The internal resistance R _{i of} the signal source is neglected for the sake of simplicity in the following calculations.

By touching the door handle 101 an RC low pass is formed. 4 shows one up 3 based equivalent equivalent circuit with the resistors R1 and R2, the touch by the finger 103 the user and the capacity C of the user. The output voltage u _a1 is different from the applied square wave u _e . 5 shows the course of the output voltage u _a1 on the Time t and can be determined at a time t _m as follows:

The smaller the distance x of the contact point, the steeper the slope of u _a1 (t) increases, ie, the greater the voltage at the time t _m . This voltage can be detected, for example, by means of an analog-to-digital converter.

Depending on the contact surface of the body part, z. As fingers, and depending on the user and external conditions resulting in a touch of the door handle different capacitive loads.

To be able to make a qualified statement about where the user the door handle 101 touched, measuring point and feed point of the signal z. B. cyclically switched.

According to shows 6 the switched case of the signal source, so that too 4 accordingly dual image. The course of an output voltage u _a2 (t) is in 7 shown and results in:

From the above formulas for u _a1 (t = t _m ) and u _a2 (t = t _m ), the resistances R1 and R2 can be determined according to:

The aspect ratio of the contact point to the door handle ends is equal to the resulting resistance ratio; this results in:

By forming the ratio, the capacitance C shortens and the touch point is thus independent of the user.

8th shows an exemplary circuit arrangement with a controller 801 , the two terminals Pin1 and Pin2 for the alternating control of the door handle 101 and measuring points (marked "AD"). Thus, at the handle ends of the door handle 101 alternately the square wave signal are fed in and it can be a measurement of the values u _e , u _a1 and u _a2 required for the above calculation by means of the controller 801 be performed. The controller 801 preferably has one or more analog-to-digital converters, by means of which the signals present at the measuring points AD can be converted into analog signals. These analog signals can be used to set or control the home appliance.

For detecting touches on the handle ends themselves, an internal resistance Ri of the signal source is utilized. This internal resistance influences the above-described resistance ratio.

If the handle does not have a homogeneous resistance value, it is possible to compensate for this by means of a calibration. Preferably, a calibration can be carried out before the first startup of the household appliance.

If necessary, the user also adds a (variable) ohmic resistance at the point of contact. If the resistance values of R _i and the door handle R can not be dimensioned so that this resistance caused by the user's touch can be neglected, it would be possible to determine the qualitative change in the resistance ratio in the direction in which the user Door handle strips.

Other advantages:

The presented solution enables the saving of operating elements (keys or rotary knob). Also, new operating concepts can be implemented flexibly in the proposed way. Another advantage is that a range of values can be specified differently depending on the application (eg in the middle or in the upper third of the setting range); Also, by directly touching the handle at a corresponding point, a certain value can be "jumped". As a result, it is possible to set values flexibly, comfortably and quickly.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

101

Handle, z. B. door handle of a household appliance

102

Place of touch with the finger 103

103

Finger of the user

x

Distance from one end of the handle

l

Length of the handle

R1

Resistance according to the length x of the handle

R2

Resistance according to the length l - x of the handle

C

Capacity of the user

R

Resistance of the handle

u _e (t)

input

u _a (t)

output

u _a1 (t)

output

u _a2 (t)

output

G

Signal source (generator)

R _i

Internal resistance of the signal source G

t _m

Measuring time

801

Controller (microcontroller)

AD

measuring point

Pin1

connection

Pin2

connection

Claims (12)

Household appliance - with a handle ( 101 ), wherein the handle is made electrically conductive, - wherein an input signal (u _e ) alternately at two positions of the handle ( 101 ) can be applied, - wherein an output signal (u _a1 , u _a2 ) caused by the input signal (u _e ) at the other position of the handle is measurable, - based on the input signal (u _e ) and the output signals (u _a1 , u _a2 ) a place of contact ( 102 ) can be determined. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the handle is a door handle or a handle of a flap. Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the input signal is an alternating signal, in particular a rectangular signal or a triangular signal. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two positions of the handle are opposed positions of the handle, in particular ends of the handle. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein different capacitive loads at the touch location are compensated for by cyclically switching the input signal between the two positions of the handle. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the touch location is determinable based on

where l is a length of the handle, x is a distance from one end of the handle, R = R1 + R2 is the resistance of the handle, u _e (t) is the input signal, u _a1 (t) is a first output if the input signal is at the first position is applied, u _a2 (t) a second output signal when the input signal is at the second position, t _m indicate a time of measurement. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein depending on the specific touch location, a parameter is determined for controlling or adjusting the household appliance. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of touch locations of movement over time are determinable. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a direction of movement on the handle is determinable. Device according to one of claims 8 or 9, wherein a speed of movement on the handle can be determined. Circuit for controlling a household appliance With a controller by means of which an input signal can alternately be applied to two positions of an electrically conductive handle of the household appliance, - wherein an output signal caused by the input signal at the respective other position of the handle is measurable, Wherein a touch location can be determined on the basis of the input signal and the output signals, - Wherein the household appliance can be controlled by a value associated with the touch location or an action associated with the touch location. Method for controlling a domestic appliance, - in which an input signal is applied alternately to two positions of an electrically conductive handle of the domestic appliance, In which an output signal caused by the input signal at the respective other position of the handle is measured, in which a touch location is determined on the basis of the input signal and the output signals, in which the household appliance uses a value linked to the touch location or one with the touch location Linked action is controlled.

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