DE202011000985U1 - Cooking appliance with structure-borne sound excitation - Google Patents

Abstract

Cooking device with a housing for accommodating at least one cooking space, a heating device, an input device, an output device and a control device, wherein at least one acoustic signal can be output via the output device that can be controlled by the control device, characterized in that the output device has at least one on a housing part ( 2, 10) attached exciter (1), via which the housing part (2, 10) can be excited to emit structure-borne noise for the purpose of outputting the signal.

Description

The present invention relates to a cooking appliance with a housing for accommodating at least one cooking chamber, a heating device, an input device, an output device and a control device, wherein at least one acoustic signal can be output via the output device that can be controlled by the control device.

Such a cooking appliance is for example from the WO 2007/080046 A2 known. In this case, a loudspeaker is arranged in a recess of a housing behind a control module.

Electrodynamic transducer means are known over which surfaces can be excited to produce an acoustic signal. Use find such converter devices so far, for example, in motor vehicles for suggestions of body surfaces, see this example WO 2011/038824 A1 ,

Object of the present invention is to further develop the generic cooking appliance such that in a simple and cost-effective manner acoustic signals can be emitted.

This object is achieved in that the output device has at least one mounted on a housing part of the exciter, via which the housing part for emitting structure-borne noise for the purpose of outputting the signal can be excited.

It can be provided that the exciter comprises an electrodynamic transducer device and / or is connected to the control device for generating sound adjustable amplitude and / or frequency.

According to the invention, it is preferred that the housing part, in particular via the control device, is adjustable to the sound design.

Embodiments of the cooking appliance according to the invention may be characterized in that the surface of the housing part which can be excited via the exciter is variable, in particular with regard to its dimension, its shape and / or its rigidity.

It can be provided that for changing the dimension, the housing part has at least two relatively movable elements.

It is also proposed that the housing part is deformable for changing the geometry, in particular via at least one movable member, via which preferably pressure can be exerted on at least one region of the housing part.

In addition, it can be provided that the housing part can be braced by means of a bracing device in order to change the rigidity.

According to the invention, cooking devices can also be characterized by at least one limiting means which can be introduced at least temporarily into the vibration region of the housing part for sound design.

It is also proposed according to the invention, at least one movement means, via which the relative position of the exciter to the housing part to the sound design is changeable provided.

It is also proposed that a plurality of exciters is provided, wherein the exciters are preferably individually controllable via the control device and / or preferably individually movable via the movement means.

According to the invention, it is preferred that the, in particular, each, exciter, in particular each element, the member, the clamping device, the limiting means and / or the movement means is / are controllable via the control device, preferably as a function of a work program, an operating time , a place of installation, an operating language and / or a user of the cooking appliance.

Finally, it is also proposed with the invention that the housing part is formed from a sheet metal and / or is covered by a front panel.

The invention is thus based on the surprising finding of being able to use a cooking appliance itself as a sounding body, namely by stimulating a housing part for generating an acoustic signal. The housing part may around the front panel of a control panel of a cooking appliance, such as a cooking appliance sold under the trade name VarioCooking Center ^®, acting, for example. In this case, the body sound which can be emitted via the housing part can be varied in a variety of ways, for example as a function of an operator of the cooking appliance, namely via a change in the stimulable surface of the housing part. Said surface is variable in terms of their dimensions, their shape and / or their rigidity. Likewise, however, the number and position of exciters can be changed to summon a sound design.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment. It shows

1 a perspective view of a cooking appliance according to the invention with a stimulatory body sound emission front panel of a control panel;

2 a schematic view of the front panel from the rear;

3a and 3b Views of the front panel of the 1 , from the back and from the front.

In 1 is a VarioCooking Center ^® with a central front panel 10 a control panel shown. The control panel carries, two crucibles 20 , offers a control device 30 and communicates with two cabinets 40 below the crucible 20 , In the control panel also a control device, not shown, is arranged, which with not shown heaters of the crucible 20 , the operating device 30 and one with regard to the 2 to 3b is connected closer to the sound generating means described. Before going into the sound generating means, it should also be pointed out that the same is part of an output device which also has a display in the region of the operating device 30 having. It should also be noted that the cooking appliance of 1 comprises two cooking chambers, namely each within a crucible 20 , It should also be noted that the housing of the cooking appliance of 1 has a variety of parts, so not only provided for the control panel front panel 10 , but also parts for the crucible 20 and the cabinets 40 ,

The front panel 10 is in detail in the 2 . 3a and 3b shown. In the figures is an exciter 1 to recognize the front panel 10 is attached, so that the same a sound body 2 represents. In addition, in the front panel 10 a plastic insert 3 used for a hand shower and a socket.

The exciter 1 is in different places on the back of the front panel 10 ( 2 and 3a ) attachable and thus from the outside ( 3b ) not visible. In particular, the front panel has 10 no opening for emitting acoustic signals, which not only offers more design freedom for the housing or the cooking appliance itself, but also avoids the risk of contamination of such an opening.

The front panel 10 can be formed from a thin sheet metal part, said sheet metal part in turn can be deformed by, for example, a not shown member can be moved against the back of the front panel, over the contact surface of the front panel 10 a sound design is possible with the link and the pressure applied via the link.

In the in 1 shown cooking appliance can different food in the two crucibles 20 be prepared. Thus, for example, noodles can be prepared in one crucible and sliced in the other crucible. To indicate to an operator whether the noodles or the sliced are ready cooked, can be audible signals by controlling the exciter 1 be generated via the control device of the cooking appliance. In this case, different acoustic signals for the two crucibles 20 be used. The signals can be transmitted via the exciter 2 be adjustable differently, or be different in that only in one of the two cases, the member not shown against the front panel 10 suppressed. Thus, as an exciter 2 On the one hand a very simple electrodynamic transducer can be used, which can only be used to excite sound with a frequency and an amplitude. On the other hand, the Exciter 2 but also be variable with respect to the excitation amplitude and / or frequency, namely via the control device. Thus, a corresponding variation itself can lead to auxiliary instructions being able to be output during operation of the cooking appliance to an operator of the same in speech form. More specifically, concrete operating instructions in different operating languages across the front surface 10 in the form of acoustic signals in a kitchen in which the cooking appliance is arranged to be send out.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, the claims and the drawings may be essential both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Exciter

2

orchestras

3

Plastic insert

10

front panel

20

crucible

30

operating device

40

cabinet

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been 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.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2007/080046 A2 [0002]
• WO 2011/038824 A1 [0003]

Claims (12)

Cooking appliance with a housing for accommodating at least one cooking chamber, a heating device, an input device, an output device and a control device, wherein at least one acoustic signal can be output via the output device that can be controlled by the control device, characterized in that the output device has at least one housing part ( 2 . 10 ) mounted exciters ( 1 ), over which the housing part ( 2 . 10 ) for the emission of structure-borne noise for the purpose of output of the signal is excitable. Cooking appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the exciter ( 1 ) comprises an electrodynamic transducer means and / or is connected to the control means for generating sound of adjustable amplitude and / or frequency. Cooking appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing part ( 2 . 10 ), in particular via the control device, to the sound design is adjustable. Cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that via the exciter ( 1 ) stimulable surface of the housing part ( 2 . 10 ) is variable, in particular with regard to its dimension, its shape and / or its rigidity. Cooking appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that for changing the dimension of the housing part ( 2 . 10 ) has at least two relatively movable elements. Cooking appliance according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that for changing the geometry of the housing part ( 2 . 10 ) is deformable, in particular via at least one movable member via which preferably pressure on at least a portion of the housing part is exercisable. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that for changing the rigidity of the housing part ( 2 . 10 ) is clamped by a bracing device. Cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one limiting means, at least temporarily in the vibration region of the housing part ( 2 . 10 ) can be introduced to the sound design. Cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one movement means, via which the relative position of the exciter ( 1 ) to the housing part ( 2 . 10 ) is changeable to sound design. Cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of exciters ( 1 ), the exciters ( 1 ) can preferably be controlled individually via the control device and / or are preferably movable individually via the movement means. Cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in particular each, exciter ( 1 ), which, in particular, each element, the member, the bracing device, the limiting means and / or the movement means via the control means is or are controllable, preferably in dependence on a work program, an operating time, a site, a control language and / or a User of the cooking appliance. Cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing part ( 2 . 10 ) is malleable from a sheet metal and / or from a front panel ( 10 ) is included.

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