DE9411694U1 - Pre-start protection for household appliances - Google Patents

Description

Bosch-Siemens Household Appliances Qmöii^' ^: --~ ⁱ --^i^-9'"'iSilri*chfen, 19.07.1994

Hochstrasse 17

ZTP94P621 Thi/hu

Switch-on protection for household appliances

The invention relates to a switch-on protection device for * household appliances, in particular for cooking surfaces, which is suitable for preventing unauthorized and childishly playful operation, wherein independent, sensor-monitored switch-on input elements are arranged, which are connected to an evaluation unit, which only releases the switch-on and function sequence of the household appliance if the operator routine has been decoded as permissible.

Household appliances can be dangerous for inexperienced users and small children and should therefore be protected against accidental switching on. With stoves and hobs in particular, the risk of burns or fires caused by incorrect operation or childish playful switching on is relatively high.

It is therefore sensible to install an automatic child safety lock and operator protection device on household appliances of the type mentioned, which prevents unauthorized and childish operation of the household appliances.

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ZTP94P621

Previously known solutions concerning similar precautions, in particular the problem of child safety locks, have been solved by a main switch technology.

The object of the invention is therefore to bring about a further improvement...:, of switch-on fuses for household appliances.

The arrangement according to the invention for solving this problem is characterized in that a sensor system in logical AND connection with the switch-on input elements is arranged on or in the vicinity of the cooking surface, for example a glass _ceramic cooking surface, and provides a small child detection function.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are contained in the subclaims. An embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1 a sensor-monitored cooking surface with associated built-in oven,

Fig. 2 a sensor-monitored cooking surface without built-in oven.

According to Fig. 1, 2, a stove 1, an infrared sensor 2, a work surface 3, a cooking surface 4 and recess control elements 5, for example switch-on input elements, can be seen.

When adults operate household appliances, e.g. cooking surfaces, it can be assumed that the household appliance is operated in accordance with its intended purpose. To ensure that small children can operate it, it is therefore sufficient if

ZTP94P621

the household appliance recognises that no adult is attempting to operate the switch front at the time of switching on. In order to prevent unauthorized adults from operating the appliance, it may be advisable to logically link the switch-on input elements with the sensor signals and to feed this signal combination to an evaluation unit so that only trained adults can carry out valid operation. In general, the sensor system 2 is formed by at least one infrared sensor whose area of effect is defined by an opening angle, with one opening angle leg ****. being directed in the direction of the extended cooking surface plane. This means that, as shown in Fig. 1, detection by the infrared sensor of children is excluded. An economical variant for switching on household appliances using an infrared sensor is provided by an infrared sensor arranged in the vicinity of the cooking surface which not only detects small children but also detects pots. The infrared sensor used to detect small children can, if positioned appropriately, also control the heat output of a cooking zone and detect the presence of a pot on that cooking zone. It can be useful to logically link the sensor monitoring with a coded switch-on input element combination so that children are safely prevented from operating the cooking surface. If the infrared sensor cannot detect the body of the cooker user within a specified distance and height, then the operation of the cooking surface can only be a child playing. In this case, the evaluation electronics prevent the cooking surface heating from being switched on.

Claims (4)

See report. Papforoiionsdeiwrii ; &Zgr;&Tgr;&Rgr;94&Rgr;621 PROTECTION CLAIMS 1. Switch-on protection for household appliances, in particular for cooking surfaces, which is suitable for preventing unauthorized and childish operation, whereby independent, sensor-monitored switch-on input elements are arranged, which are connected to an evaluation unit . . " which only activates the switch-on and radio signals if the operator routine has been decoded as permissible. function sequence of the household appliance, characterized in that a sensor system in logical AND-linkage with the switch-on input elements is arranged on the cooking surface (4) or in its vicinity and provides small child detection. **I 2. Switch-on protection for a household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor system is formed by at least one infrared sensor (2), the effective range of which is defined by an opening angle wherein one leg of the opening angle according to Fig. 1 is designed in the direction of the extended cooking surface plane. 3. Switch-on protection for household appliances according to claim 1, characterized in that an infrared sensor (2) arranged in the vicinity of the cooking surface (4) provides not only small child detection but also pot detection. 4. Switch-on safety device for household appliances according to claim 1, characterized in that an infrared sensor (2) serving for small child detection has a multiple function, a signal for controlling the heating power of _a selected cooking zone of the cooking surface (4) and a pot detection for the same.