DE102021214671A1 - Method for the specific brightness setting of an interior lighting of a household appliance, and household appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a household appliance (1), comprising the following steps: - Opening a door (3) of the household appliance (1); - Automatic setting of a basic lighting scenario for illuminating an interior (6) of the household appliance (1), the is opened by opening the door (3), regardless of the brightness in the area (7) surrounding the household appliance (1), the interior (6) being illuminated with a lighting device (5) of the household appliance (1); through the following steps:- detecting the brightness of the environment (7) of the household appliance (1) with a detection sensor (8) of the household appliance (1), the detection automatically starting when the door (3) is opened;- evaluating the detected brightness of the Environment (7) with an evaluation unit (9) of the household appliance (1);- generating a final lighting scenario for the interior (6) depending on the detected brightness;- illuminating the interior (6) with the final lighting scenario when the door is open ( 3).

Description

One aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating a household appliance. A further aspect of the invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a household refrigeration appliance.

In household appliances, such as a household refrigeration appliance, it is known that a lighting device is activated when the door is opened. As a result, when the door is open, the storage space for food, in particular a refrigerated compartment or a freezer compartment, is illuminated.

Household appliances can be set up in a wide variety of environments. A wide variety of environmental conditions can occur in such a way that very bright or very dark installation locations occur, at least temporarily. This can depend on the time of day. In particular, the light situation at a location where a household appliance is set up can therefore also be relatively extreme, at least temporarily or even all the time, and can therefore be relatively bright or relatively dark. For example, this applies to installation locations in the basement or in another, very dark area. Installation locations in a building that are better or worse in terms of sunlight, such as on the north or south side, can also lead to different lighting situations at the installation location in this context. The season and the time of day also have a corresponding influence on the lighting situation at the place where a household appliance is installed.

From the DE 10 2008 058 022 A1 and the DE 10 2006 040 192 A1 household refrigeration appliances are known in which the interior lighting can be varied. In particular, this can also be done depending on the brightness in the area.

It is the object of the present invention to create a method and a household appliance in which the operation, in particular of the interior lighting, is improved.

This object is achieved by a method and a household appliance according to the independent claims.

• - Öffnen einer Tür des Haushaltsgeräts;
• - automatisches Einstellen eines Basis-Beleuchtungsszenarios zum Beleuchten eines Innenraums des Haushaltsgeräts, der durch das Öffnen der Tür geöffnet wird, insbesondere unabhängig von der Helligkeit in der Umgebung des Haushaltsgeräts, wobei das Beleuchten des Innenraums mit einer Beleuchtungsvorrichtung des Haushaltsgeräts durchgeführt wird; gekennzeichnet durch folgende Schritte:
  • - Erfassung der Helligkeit der Umgebung des Haushaltsgeräts mit einem Erfassungssensor des Haushaltsgeräts, insbesondere wobei das Erfassens durch das Öffnen der Tür automatisch startet;
  • - Auswerten der erfassten Helligkeit der Umgebung mit einer Auswerteeinheit des Haushaltsgeräts;
  • - Erzeugen eines End-Beleuchtungsszenarios für den Innenraum abhängig von der erfassten Helligkeit;
  • - Beleuchten des Innenraums mit dem End-Beleuchtungsszenario bei geöffneter Tür.

One aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating a household appliance, having the following steps:

• - Opening a door of the household appliance;
• - Automatic setting of a basic lighting scenario for illuminating an interior of the household appliance, which is opened by opening the door, in particular independently of the brightness in the area surrounding the household appliance, the interior being illuminated with a lighting device of the household appliance; characterized by the following steps:
  • - Detection of the brightness of the environment of the household appliance with a detection sensor of the household appliance, in particular the detection starts automatically by opening the door;
  • - Evaluation of the detected brightness of the environment with an evaluation unit of the household appliance;
  • - Generating a final lighting scenario for the interior depending on the detected brightness;
  • - Illuminating the interior with the end lighting scenario with the door open.

Such a method now makes it possible for a household appliance to be operated in a more needs-based manner with regard to the interior lighting. The proposed method is of particular advantage precisely when a compact structure of the household appliance is provided and in this context in particular the detection sensor is at least shaded when the door is closed. Because then, when the door is closed, this detection sensor can also be arranged in a protected manner and is therefore covered towards the front, in particular by the door itself. Soiling, for example by dust or the like, can therefore be better avoided when the door is closed. Nevertheless, with the proposed method, the interior or the recording space is illuminated as required, in particular adapted to the brightness of the surroundings. In this context, the proposed method then also achieves the possibility of detecting the ambient brightness when the door is opened and in this context also takes place sufficiently quickly, so that when the user has opened the door so far that he can look extensively into the interior, the end lighting scenario is preferably activated.

Therefore, with this method it is also possible that the user is not dazzled by the lighting situation in the interior when the ambient brightness is relatively low, and on the other hand the interior is illuminated in such a way that the objects in the interior can be perceived easily and extensively. Furthermore, even in very bright surroundings, a need-based interior lighting can be adjusted.

The detection of the brightness of the surroundings is preferably only started automatically when the door is opened. This means that in this exemplary embodiment the only trigger function or the only trigger criterion to start detecting the brightness of the surroundings with the detection sensor is the opening process of the door. This also means here that the detection sensor is activated in particular when an opening process of the door is initiated. This can be done, for example, by the door being pulled away from the housing of the household appliance, starting from the closed position, and being pivoted about a vertical pivot axis, or being pulled vertically away from the housing on a linear path. If the door is therefore already slightly lifted off a front region of the housing of the household appliance on at least one side opposite the closed position, this is already considered to be the open position in one exemplary embodiment. In one exemplary embodiment, the opening of the door is therefore fulfilled at the point in time at which the door has been slightly lifted off the front area of the housing in this regard. In this regard, the door is then preferably already arranged without contact at least at this point in relation to the front area of the housing, on which the door rests directly in the fully closed state.

A door actuation detection unit, in particular a magnetic, inductive or capacitive sensor or the like, preferably detects the opening of the door. The door operation detection unit detects a door operation, the detection sensor for detecting the ambient brightness being activated depending on such a door operation. In one embodiment, the detection sensor is only activated when the door is actuated. Otherwise the detection sensor is in particular deactivated. As a result, energy-efficient operation can be achieved. Undesirable erroneous detections, which would occur when the door was closed and would entail an inaccurate detection of the ambient brightness, can also be avoided in this way. A door actuation can preferably also be detected very precisely by this door actuation detection unit. This also makes it possible to identify very precisely when the detection should start and when the lighting device of the household appliance should then be adjusted. Furthermore, the door actuation detection unit preferably transmits the opening of the door to a control unit of the domestic appliance, which activates the detection sensor and carries out the method according to the invention.

In another exemplary embodiment, opening the door can mean that the door is open so far that the detection sensor is exposed or is no longer so shaded that it could only insufficiently detect the brightness of the surroundings. If this exposure or no longer being covered has just been reached, in this exemplary embodiment the detection of the brightness of the surroundings can be started immediately.

When the door is closed, the brightness of the surroundings is not detected by the detection sensor.

In one exemplary embodiment, the detection of the brightness of the surroundings is started with a predetermined period of time, in particular between 0.5 s and 1.2 s, offset after the door has started to open. As a result, it is achieved in a particularly advantageous manner that the door is already open so far that the brightness is detected with sufficient accuracy. A falsification of the detection due to the detection sensor being shadowed too much by the door is thereby avoided. Nevertheless, this time interval is so small that the detection would start very late after the start of the opening process and the detection process would therefore still take place extensively, in particular when the door is already fully open. This would then lead to blinding again, for example, if the user looks into the interior.

In one embodiment, the detection of the brightness of the environment is performed for a specific period of time. This can be a predetermined period of time. In particular, the time period can be a maximum of two seconds, in particular a maximum of one second. This is another very advantageous embodiment. On the one hand, such a time window is large enough to carry out a more precise detection of the current brightness of the environment. It is thus possible to obtain a very representative statement on the brightness of the surroundings based on the sensor information obtained in this period of time. On the other hand, this time interval is so small that the door has not remained in the completely open state or in the almost completely open state for a long time or has not even arrived there. In this context, it can be avoided that from the point in time at which the door is opened sufficiently far for a user to be able to see all around the interior, which is usually longer than the above-mentioned period of time for detecting the brightness the environment is present, there is a long period of undesired glare, or there is too little illumination for a long period of time. This scenario, in which this period of time the detection of the brightness of the environment is less than or equal to the usual length of time that a user needs to bring the door from the closed state to such a wide open position in which he can see all the way around the interior is advantageous. This is because it can be achieved that the detection process of the brightness of the surroundings is completed, so that before the actual process of a user looking extensively into the interior, the final lighting scenario is already available and set, in particular is already set. Rather, he has already set a lighting scenario in the form of the final lighting scenario during the actual process of looking inside or during the process of observing the interior, or it is then just being set. Undesirable changes in brightness and/or color and thus an undesired observation situation for the user are also avoided as a result.

In one embodiment, in the final lighting scenario, the brightness of the light from the lighting device for illuminating the interior is increased compared to the base lighting scenario and/or a light color of the light from the lighting device for illuminating the interior is changed compared to the base lighting scenario. In an advantageous exemplary embodiment, the brightness in particular is set relatively low in the basic lighting scenario, so that this brightness of the light from the lighting device can then be increased as required and adjusted very precisely in a wide variety of ambient brightness conditions. In particular to ensure that the observer is not dazzled when looking into the interior with the door open. By possibly only or additionally also adjusting the light color of the light, the generated lighting scenario can be adjusted even better to the respective environmental situation. A very user-friendly and needs-based lighting scenario is achieved in this way, so that a very user-friendly possibility of observing the interior is given under a wide variety of environmental conditions.

In one embodiment, the brightness of the light signal of the lighting device is changed by pulse width modulation of the light signal when the lighting scenarios change. This is particularly advantageous when the at least one light source of the lighting device is a light-emitting diode. A very precise and continuous adjustment of the brightness of the light generated by the light source or of the light signal is thereby made possible.

In one exemplary embodiment, the brightness of the light from the lighting device is set to a value between 20 percent and 30 percent, in particular to 25 percent, of the maximum brightness of the lighting device in the basic lighting scenario. This is a particularly advantageous percentage value interval. This is because, on the one hand, this sets a relatively low brightness value as the base value, so that a very need-based adjustment, and thus in particular an increase, of the brightness is then made possible in a wide variety of environmental conditions. On the other hand, this base value is not so small that the interior is no longer adequately illuminated. Even with this basic value, lighting of the interior can be achieved which also enables user-friendly observation of the interior under specific ambient conditions.

In one embodiment, the brightness of the light of the lighting device is set to a value between 50 percent and 100 percent of the maximum brightness of the lighting device in the final lighting scenario. A clear difference to a basic brightness value, as is automatically set in the basic lighting scenario, is then also set in one exemplary embodiment. In particular, the brightness of the light in the final lighting scenario is set to one level of, in particular, a plurality of discrete predetermined levels, depending on the brightness of the surroundings. In one exemplary embodiment, this brightness is therefore a predefined final value, which is generally predefined in the final lighting scenario. It is also possible that the end value of the brightness can be changed continuously in the end lighting scenario. On the other hand, it is also possible that, depending on the ambient brightness, specifically predetermined brightness values or output levels are set in the final lighting scenario. For example, a number of different end values, such as 50 percent and/or 75 percent and/or 100 percent of the maximum brightness of the lighting device can be stored here as end values or end stages that are also specified and then used in each case. This increase in the brightness value from that basic brightness value in the basic lighting scenario to the brightness value in the final lighting scenario is preferably carried out within a specified period of time, preferably within a period of less than or equal to 1.5 seconds, in particular between 0.5 seconds and 1.5 seconds , set. With such a rapid change, the final lighting scenario can also be set very quickly, in particular still being achieved when the opening process of the door has reached the point of being completely open or essentially full permanently open door is reached. Such a fully open door is achieved in particular when it rotates at least 45 degrees, in particular at least 50 degrees, in particular at least 55 degrees, in particular at least 65 degrees, in particular at least 70 degrees, in particular at least 75 degrees around the pivot axis in the Was pivoted compared to the fully closed position.

In one embodiment, the brightness of the light emitted by the lighting device is changed continuously when changing from the base lighting scenario to the final lighting scenario. In particular, dimming takes place. In particular, the duration of the continuous change is between 0.7 s and 1.5 s, in particular between 0.8 s and 1.2 s. This is also very advantageous, since it prevents an abrupt or sudden change in the brightness and/or the Light color change can be avoided. A particularly advantageous and user-friendly method is achieved without scaring the user with light effects.

In one embodiment, the brightness of the surroundings is not detected when the door is closed. In particular, when the door is closed, the detection sensor is shaded by the door. This means that the door in particular does not completely cover the detection sensor, but is nevertheless arranged so close to it that detection of the brightness of the surroundings would not be possible or would be possible only very imprecisely and therefore not very helpful. This is the case, for example, when the household appliance is a built-in appliance and is arranged in a built-in niche of a furniture wall. Since in such embodiments, an additional separate design panel, for example a furniture front panel, is arranged stationary and coupled to the door in terms of movement, particularly on the front of a door leaf of the door, the built-in niche is practically completely covered by the furniture front panel. The minimal gaps between the edge of the furniture front panel and the further walls of the furniture wall delimiting the built-in niche allow at most a very small incidence of light from the surroundings of the furniture wall into the built-in niche. Therefore, in this exemplary embodiment, the detection sensor is shadowed when the door is closed.

A further aspect of the invention is provided by a household refrigeration appliance with a housing and an interior space formed therein. The domestic appliance also has a door that is movably arranged on the housing. In particular, the door can be moved about a vertically oriented pivot axis. The door closes the interior when closed. The household appliance has a lighting device for illuminating the interior. In addition, the household appliance has at least one detection sensor for detecting the brightness of the surroundings. In particular, the household appliance also has at least one control unit. The household appliance is designed in particular to carry out a method according to the aspect mentioned above or an advantageous exemplary embodiment thereof. In particular, this method is carried out with the household appliance.

When the door is closed, the detection sensor is at least shadowed by the door in such a way that it is not possible to detect the brightness of the surroundings with sufficient accuracy. In this closed state of the door, the detection sensor can therefore not detect any ambient brightness.

In one exemplary embodiment, the detection sensor is provided on the front flange between two separate doors arranged next to one another in the width direction of the household appliance. This is advantageous in a household refrigeration appliance that has two front doors as wing doors. If the detection sensor is arranged in the center between the narrow sides of the two doors facing one another, viewed in the width direction, the detection sensor can be used for the two doors. This is because the hole in the detection sensor, which is only partially covered by both doors in the closed state and through which the ambient light passes to the detection sensor, is released when a door is opened or this covering is canceled in such a way that sufficient ambient light also passes through the exposed area to the detection sensor for detection the brightness of the surroundings. This even if the second door is still closed and the other area of the hole is still covered by this second door. When the doors are closed, they are preferably in contact with a vertically oriented front strip. The interior lighting can also be operated individually and independently of one another for each recording space, in particular only depending on whether the associated door is or is being opened or not. Only one such hole and one brightness sensor is then required to control at least the two separate interior lights of the two separate receiving spaces depending on the respective door operation and the ambient light detection.

With indications "top", "bottom", "front", "back", "horizontal", "vertical", "depth direction", "width direction", "height direction" etc. are included intended use and intended arrangement of the device specified positions and orientations.

Further features of the invention result from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and/or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without the frame to abandon the invention. The invention is therefore also to be considered to include and disclose embodiments that are not explicitly shown and explained in the figures, but that result from the explained embodiments and can be generated by separate combinations of features. Versions and combinations of features are also to be regarded as disclosed which therefore do not have all the features of an originally formulated independent claim.

• 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Haushaltsgeräts mit einer vollständig geschlossenen Tür;
• 2 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Haushaltsgeräts mit einer geöffneten Tür';
• 3 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Haushaltsgeräts mit einer zu 2 weiter geöffneten Tür; und
• 4 ein Diagramm mit Beispielen für Helligkeiten der Beleuchtungsvorrichtung des Haushaltsgeräts abhängig von der Zeit.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with the aid of schematic drawings. Show it:

• 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of a household appliance according to the invention with a fully closed door;
• 2 a perspective view of an embodiment of the household appliance according to the invention with an open door ';
• 3 a perspective view of an embodiment of the household appliance according to the invention with a 2 wide open door; and
• 4 a diagram with examples of brightness of the lighting device of the household appliance depending on time.

Elements that are the same or have the same function are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

In 1 an embodiment of a household appliance is shown in a perspective view. The household appliance is a household refrigeration appliance 1 here. It can be, for example, a refrigerator or a freezer or a fridge-freezer combination appliance. The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 is therefore intended to be designed for storing and preserving food. The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 has a housing 2 . At least one receiving space for food is formed in the housing 2 . Such a receiving space can be a refrigerated compartment or a freezer compartment, for example. Furthermore, the household appliance 1 has a door 3 . This is in 1 shown in fully closed condition. The door 3 closes the receiving space at the front. The household appliance 1 also has a control unit 4 . This control unit 4 is in 1 shown only symbolically. The household appliance 1 also has a lighting device 5 . This is intended to create an interior space 6 ( 3 ) to illuminate. In this regard, the interior 6 is the receiving space for food, as has already been explained above.

The household appliance 1 is set up in an environment 7 .

In one embodiment, the interior 6 is fully closed with the door 3, as shown in 1 shown is not illuminated. In particular, therefore, this lighting device 5 is deactivated with regard to the light emission in this completely closed state of the door 3 .

Is now based on the in 1 In the situation shown, the door 3 is transferred from the fully closed state to an open state, as shown in FIG 2 is symbolically indicated, in one embodiment, the activation of the lighting device 5. In particular, therefore, this opening process of the door 3 is a starting criterion for activating the lighting device 5. In one embodiment, it can be provided that this opening of the door 3 is detected by a sensor and the related information is transmitted to the control unit 4 . Depending on this, the lighting device 5 is then controlled accordingly by the control unit 4 .

As in 3 As can be seen, the domestic refrigeration appliance 1 has at least one detection sensor 8 . This detection sensor 8 is designed to detect the brightness in the environment 7 . In one exemplary embodiment, the detection sensor 8 can be arranged on a front flange 9 of the housing 2 . In one exemplary embodiment, it is positioned in such a way that it is at least shaded by the door 3 when the door 3 is closed. This means that when the door 3 is closed, it cannot detect the brightness of the surroundings 7, or cannot do so with sufficient accuracy.

However, if the door 3 changes from the fully closed state as shown in FIG 1 opened or this opening process starts, in one exemplary embodiment the detection sensor 8 is no longer shaded by the door 3 and can then detect the brightness of the surroundings 7 . this is in 2 shown. in particular It can also be provided that, depending on where the detection sensor 8 is arranged on the front flange 9, the opening angle of the door 3 is different with regard to the detection sensor 8 no longer being covered. Provision can be made here for the detection sensor 8 to be arranged relatively laterally on the front flange 9 . This is particularly the case on that side which is the opening side with respect to the door 3 and which is first moved away from the front flange 9 when it is opened. In this regard, the opening angle from which the detection sensor 8 can automatically detect the brightness of the surroundings 7 is smaller. Furthermore, a door operation detection unit 11, for example a magnetic, inductive or capacitive sensor or the like, is also provided on the front flange 9, which is preferably provided closer to the opening side than the detection sensor 8, so that the door operation detection unit 11 detects the lifting of the door 3 from the housing 2 at an early stage detected and the opening angle of the door 3 is smaller, from which the detection sensor 8 can automatically detect the brightness of the environment 7.

In one embodiment, the detection of the brightness of the environment with the detection sensor 8 starts with a time delay to the start of the opening of the door 3. For example, the detection starts at a time of between 0.5 seconds and 1.5 seconds, in particular between 0.8 seconds and 1 .2 seconds after door 3 starts to open.

Provision is also made for the lighting device 5 to be activated automatically when the door 3 starts to open, as has already been explained above. In one exemplary embodiment, it is provided that when the lighting device 5 is started, an automatic setting of a basic lighting scenario for the interior 6 is started. This then relates in particular to illuminating the interior 6 with a basic brightness and/or a basic light color. Is then based on the in 2 The situation shown, the door 3 is opened further and thus pivoted about its pivot axis A, then the state according to FIG 3 reached as another example. In this state of the door 3, a pivoting position is reached in which a user can see the entire interior space 6 and see it all around.

Provision is made for the detection of the brightness of the surroundings 7 to be carried out with the detection sensor 8 of the domestic refrigeration appliance 1, with the detection starting automatically when the door 3 is opened. The detected brightness of the surroundings 7 is then evaluated, in particular with an evaluation unit 10 . This evaluation unit 10 of the household refrigeration appliance 1 can be part of the control unit 4 . Depending on this brightness of the environment, a final lighting scenario for the interior 6 is generated. The lighting of the interior 6 is then performed with the final lighting scenario.

In one exemplary embodiment, the detection of the brightness of the surroundings 7 is started automatically only with or after the door 3 is opened, starting from the closed state of the door 3 . The brightness of the surroundings 7 is detected for a maximum period of 2 seconds, in particular a maximum of 1 second. In particular, this detection takes place for a period of between 0.5 seconds and 1.5 seconds, in particular for 1 second. Starting from the state in 2 , at which the detection just starts or can start, up to the opening state of the door 3, as for example in FIG 3 is shown, in one exemplary embodiment, in particular, a period of time that is greater than or equal to this period of time of the detection process usually elapses. In particular, this period of time is usually longer than the period of time that is taken as a basis for detecting the brightness of the surroundings and additionally the period of time that elapses until the final lighting scenario is determined and set. This advantageously achieves the fact that, especially in a state such as that in 3 is shown and in which a door position is shown by way of example, in which a user can look comprehensively into the interior 6 from the front and can also view it comprehensively and ergonomically in its entirety, the final lighting scenario has already begun, is being set or has already been set. In one exemplary embodiment, the detection of the ambient brightness and the setting of the final lighting scenario therefore take up a total period of time that is less than or equal to the period of time until the door 3 has reached an exemplary position, as shown in FIG 3 is shown, starting from the closed position according to FIG 1 .

In 4 an exemplary diagram shows the brightness H of the light from the lighting device 5 as a function of time. As can be seen, the lighting device 5 is started a short time after the opening process and illuminates the interior 6 with a basic brightness as specified in the basic lighting scenario. In the exemplary embodiment, this is, for example, 25 percent of the maximum brightness of the lighting device 5. The brightness of the surroundings 7 is detected for a period of, for example, 1 second, with the brightness of the lighting device 5 remaining unchanged during this detection period. In particular, the staring of the detection process by about 1 second after the door opening starts. If the detection procedure and the generation of the final lighting device are then completed as a function of this detected brightness, for example within the specified time period, preferably within 2 seconds, in particular within a maximum of 1.5 seconds, in particular within 1 second, then the final Lighting scenario set. As is also shown in the diagram in 4 it can be seen that the basic brightness is increased here, for example, with the fixed percentage brightness value and increased to a final brightness value that is associated with the final lighting scenario. For example, an increase to 50 percent or to 75 percent or to 100 percent of the maximum brightness of the lighting device 5 can be set here. In one exemplary embodiment, this change, in particular dimming, lasts less than 2 seconds, in particular less than 1.5 seconds, in particular between 0.5 seconds and 1.5 seconds. Therefore, after this specific time window has elapsed, the final brightness of the final lighting scenario is set here, for example, after about two seconds after the door 3 begins to open. In addition to or instead of this, the light color can also be adjusted accordingly. A change in the light color between the basic lighting scenario and the final lighting scenario can therefore also take place here. In particular, a very fast method is therefore provided in which the ambient brightness is detected very quickly starting from a trigger criterion, namely the opening of the door through to the setting of the final lighting scenario, in particular within a time interval of less than or equal to three seconds, in particular less or equal to 2.5 seconds.

This scenario is particularly advantageous when the detection sensor 8 is installed in the shade when the door is closed and is therefore covered by the door 3 or another component part. If the household appliance, in particular the household refrigeration appliance 1, is not a free-standing appliance but, for example, a built-in appliance, then when the door 3 is closed, the detection sensor 8 can also be shaded by a furniture front panel, which is arranged on the front of the door 3, if the door 3 closed is. This covered design of such a detection sensor 8 or a brightness detection sensor means that it is better protected. On the other hand, it can also be achieved that the brightness of the surroundings is not continuously detected. This also has advantages with regard to the mode of operation of the brightness detection sensor and with regard to the longevity of the brightness detection sensor.

Reference List

1

domestic refrigeration appliance

2

Housing

3

door

4

control unit

5

lighting device

6

inner space

7

Vicinity

8th

detection sensor

9

front flange

10

evaluation unit

11

door operation detection unit

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 102008058022 A1 [0004]
• DE 102006040192 A1 [0004]

Claims (11)

Method for operating a household appliance (1), comprising the following steps: - opening a door (3) of the household appliance (1); - automatic setting of a basic lighting scenario for illuminating an interior (6) of the household appliance (1), which is opened by opening the door (3), regardless of the brightness in the area (7) of the household appliance (1), wherein the Illumination of the interior (6) is carried out with a lighting device (5) of the household appliance (1); characterized by the following steps: - detection of the brightness of the surroundings (7) of the household appliance (1) with a detection sensor (8) of the household appliance (1), the detection starting automatically when the door (3) is opened; - Evaluation of the detected brightness of the environment (7) with an evaluation unit (9) of the household appliance (1); - Generating a final lighting scenario for the interior (6) depending on the detected brightness; - Illuminating the interior (6) with the final lighting scenario with the door open (3). procedure after claim 1 , characterized in that the detection of the brightness of the environment (7) only by opening the door (3) is started automatically as a start criterion. procedure after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the detection of the brightness of the surroundings (7) is started with a predetermined period of time, in particular between 0.5 seconds and 1.2 seconds, offset after the door (3) has started to be opened. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection of the brightness of the surroundings (7) is carried out for a maximum period of 2 seconds, in particular a maximum of 1 second. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the final lighting scenario the brightness of the light from the lighting device (5) for lighting the interior (6) is increased compared to the basic lighting scenario and/or a light color of the light from the lighting device ( 5) to illuminate the interior (6) is changed compared to the basic lighting scenario. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the brightness of the light of the lighting device (5) is changed when the lighting scenarios change by pulse width modulation of the light signal. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the brightness of the light of the lighting device (5) in the basic lighting scenario is set to a value between 20% and 30%, in particular 25%, of the maximum brightness of the lighting device (5). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the brightness of the light of the lighting device (5) in the final lighting scenario is set to a value between 50% and 100% of the maximum brightness of the lighting device (5). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the brightness of the light emitted by the lighting device (5) is changed continuously when changing from the basic lighting scenario to the final lighting scenario, in particular dimming takes place, in particular the duration of the continuous change between 0 .7 seconds and 1.5 seconds, in particular between 0.8 seconds and 1.2 seconds. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the door (3) is closed, the brightness of the surroundings (7) is not detected, in particular the detection sensor (8) is at least shaded by the closed door (3). Household appliance (1) with a housing (2) and an interior (6) formed therein, and with a door (3) which is movably arranged on the housing (2) and closes the interior (6) when closed, the household appliance (1) has a lighting device (5) for illuminating the interior (6), and a detection sensor (8) for detecting the brightness of the surroundings (7), wherein the household appliance (1) is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims is.

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