EP0974329A2 - Control apparatus for sanitary installations - Google Patents

Abstract

The bath functions are controlled by a unit (2), which is in turn controlled by a computer (8) which receives signals from microphones positioned to receive user speech (6) or background noise (7) and a calibration unit (10). Filters (14) cut out unwanted frequencies and sound levels.

Description

The invention relates to a control device for sanitary objects according to the features specified in the preamble of claim 1.

So far, keyboards, pneumatic switches, Remote controls or other sensors are used so that the user has a defined one Press or touch the button. The feedback on the respective Operating states take place, if necessary by means of LEDs, LCD display or similar. That's from the EP 0 722 707 A1 a control device is known which an operating unit with Contains buttons for controlling at least one function of a whirlpool. The control unit is particularly movable in this way with respect to the edge of the whirlpool arranged that they are in a first retracted position and in a second extended Position can be brought. This increases the risk of damage to the control device reduced, especially when the whirlpool is not in use Operating unit is protected in the first recessed position and by towels, bathrobes or the like put on the spa tub carelessly or Damage to the control unit can be avoided during cleaning work. A Control unit, be it the one mentioned with respect to the whirlpool or in Form of a remote control device to be taken in hand, which wirelessly the necessary Transmitting signals is disadvantageous in that a user has to recognize exactly what he does where. This leads to visually impaired users who e.g. when using Of your whirlpool do not use your visual aid (e.g. glasses) or their Glasses fogged up due to the indoor climate, not infrequently under fault conditions. Is too recognizing the selected operating state is sometimes associated with difficulties. When using remote controls, the required batteries or Batteries (limited life) problematic.

Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is the control device to further develop that simple and yet functionally reliable operation the control device is made possible. The control device should be in be easily adaptable to the respective conditions of use and furthermore itself safe operation in the event of changing boundary conditions during operation enable the desired functions.

This object is achieved in accordance with that specified in claim 1 Characteristics.

The invention solves the problems addressed in that the user does not more on a stationary keypad or remote control Must search button, but simply emits an acoustic signal and in particular only speaks the desired command. By means of the control device according to the invention the signal or the desired command is in particular via at least one Microphone recorded and to operate the desired functional element implemented, for example by means of a pump in the tub through nozzles water and / or supply air, increase the supply pressure or the like. The feedback takes place at most through language. The control device is used in the Sanitary items, e.g. Whirlpools, whirlpools or similar devices, the operating state of individual or all components in spoken language the way desired by the user. I.e. the user of the sanitary ware can the sanitary object or its functional groups by spoken commands such as pumps, valves or the like.

It is known that voice controls e.g. in the field of word processing and also tested in the automotive industry and partly also used. in the There is a sanitary area, especially when used in whirlpools and similar devices Problem that the devices to be controlled themselves cause a relatively high level of noise. This problem is taken into account in this invention by that not all of the sound picked up by the microphone is processed further, but certain frequencies are hidden by suitable filters, so that a good separation between useful sound (spoken commands from the user) and Disturbing sound (e.g. whirling whirlpool sound) is reached.

In a special embodiment of the control device, calibration is carried out on background noise. On the one hand, the calibration takes place after the start or switching on the control device, the background noise in particular is detected by means of a microphone and as a function of the detected level the noise, the sensitivity of the control device for the user emitted signals, in particular its voice signals, is set. this happens in particular by means of a suitable filter. The calibration is preferably carried out in each case after the execution of a user signal which is sent via the control device leads to the actuation of a functional element. For example, if Pump turned on and as a result, be it by the pump noise itself or due to water or air flowing into the tub, the background noise level increases, the sensitivity to the user signal is changed accordingly in particular, with the consequence that a user signal in turn subsequently increases can be clearly recognized and processed. The speech recognition and / or the Calibration is preferably carried out under program control. In an expedient way is only after a change in the functional state of a functional element the calibration is carried out again at a predeterminable time, for example only to suppress or ignore briefly occurring switch-on noises. Due to the calibration according to the invention depending on changes in Operating state, such as switching on or off, increasing or decreasing the performance of individual functional elements or aggregates, is a reliable detection and processing of the user signals, in particular their voice input. It advantageously takes place when the operating state changes automatically recalibrate the detection device for the user signals, in an advantageous manner via the same microphone via which the user signals be supplied to the control device. It has been shown that at Use of the calibration proposed according to the invention only a single microphone especially for the detection of the user signals as well as the background noise is advantageous.

A further improvement in the useful signal is achieved by using one or several microphones with directional characteristics that are close to the user's head (e.g. on the tub edge) are reached. Due to the directional characteristic, a filtered out a significant proportion of the noise or background noise. It has emphasized that in whirlpools, the lying positions due to their geometry allow a rotating, swiveling or other variable attachment of the microphone or the microphones are beneficial.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the loudspeaker is used for the feedback the spoken commands and for the linguistic representation of the operating states is used, used for the audio playback of radio receivers or others Realize sound carriers. The transmission of the necessary signals can also wireless, i.e. done via radio.

The control device for the sanitary object can freely available channels Control of electrical equipment that does not belong to the sanitary object (e.g. electric roller shutter drives, lighting devices, etc.). This electrical equipment can then also be controlled via voice.

The control device can also have a telephone connection, so that the User specific functions (e.g. filling the whirlpool with water) certain temperature) from a distance (e.g. using a mobile phone).

The control device can also have several "command files" for different User groups from different language areas, and in particular automatically recognize which "command file" is to be assigned to a user.

The control device has an interface to a PC, so that functions how setup, update and error diagnosis are possible with a laptop.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the control device is "learnable", i.e. the user can assign different command words to the various functions.

The controller can also interface to a "learnable" remote control for e.g. Consumer electronics devices, i.e. a bathing in the whirlpool Through spoken texts, the user can see a television set in the room serve.

In a further embodiment of the invention, two microphones are on the tub edge mounted, with one microphone near the user's head, the other The microphone is spatially separated. The controller "subtracts" the signals from the microphones from each other, i.e. the noise that is present on both microphones is optimally filtered out, so that only the useful signal is processed further.

Fig. 1

schematisch ein Blockschaltbild der Steuerungseinrichtung,

Fig. 2

ein Funktionsdiagramm der Kalibrierung.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

schematically a block diagram of the control device,

Fig. 2

a functional diagram of the calibration.

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of the control device for sanitary elements, in particular Whirlpools, with at least one functional element 2, which or which as a pump, nozzles for water or air, massage elements, valves, lighting fixtures or the like can be formed. Via in particular electrical control signals 4, the control of the functional elements 2. Acoustic signals 5, in particular Voice signals from a user are recorded by means of a microphone in an evaluation unit 8 analyzed and evaluated. The microphone 6 is particularly useful A directional characteristic that predominantly the useful signals of the User detected and noise or background noises are hidden. The Evaluation unit 8 is also equipped with a speech analysis system and with a filter function equipped, which is a preferably changeable evaluation of the received microphone signals enables. By means of the calibration unit 10, those with the only one Microphone 6 detected signals in combination with the evaluation unit 8 of a level-dependent Subject to evaluation. Thus, the noise or background noise appropriately taken into account according to the volume or level and the actual command signals of the user clearly recognized. It will be especially in a change in the operating state of the whirlpool depending on a control signal 4 acts on the calibration unit 10 and automatically recalibrates the Evaluation unit carried out.

The evaluation unit 8 contains an in particular program-controlled speech recognition system, which is preferably a program-controlled recalibration is subjected. As for the calibration and for the user signals, especially the Voice signals, the same microphone 6 is used, not only the installation effort reduced to a minimum, but only those become automatic Interference signals taken into account, which are the user signals detected by the microphone overlay. Furthermore, a storage unit 12 is provided for command files, which is an assignment for different user groups in different languages enable and / or automatic detection and assignment to the respective Allow users or the respective language of the user. It is also more convenient Assignment unit 14 is provided, which the adaptation and Assignment of command signals to the desired function signals for control the functional elements 2 enables.

Although the arrangement of a single microphone 6 is particularly useful has proven, a second microphone 7 can also be provided within the scope of the invention be, the two microphones 6, 7 being spatially separated. By means of the Evaluation unit 8 can preferably communicate the microphone signals with one another in this way be correlated and in particular subtracted from each other that the noise as a result, at least approximately hidden or filtered out and largely only the acoustic user signal emitted by the user further processing is supplied. Finally, there is an output unit 16, in particular in the form of a loudspeaker, provided, for example, for the commands repetition of the user or this one accepted or unaccepted Command to report back or if necessary music from a radio, CD player or to reflect the like.

2 shows a functional diagram of the calibration according to the invention. After this Switching on or strengthening the control device according to block 20 takes place according to Block 22 calibrates for background noise. For this purpose, the means of preferably only sound microphones detected sound signals, in particular in terms of sound level and frequency. Subsequently arrives from the user issued command via the same microphone to the detection unit according Block 24, taking into account the calibrated background noise Useful signal evaluated according to block 26 and as a valid signal rated "yes" forwarded as a signal to the desired functional element. Otherwise, with a "no" rating there is a return in order to be repeated by means of the recognition unit 24 Make detection. After passing on the recognized command according to block 27 a functional element is checked according to block 28 whether the execution of the control signal has an influence on the level of the background noise. According to block 30, an assessment is now made as to whether a predefinable function has started was or not, especially whether an automatic or a massage program has been started. If there is a "no" evaluation, then in accordance with block 32 Predefinable time delay of at least half a second, especially in of the order of two seconds, a new calibration according to block 22 a "yes" evaluation becomes another predefinable time delay according to block 34, in particular in the order of five seconds, given by one recalibrate according to block 22.

Although the evaluation made according to block 30 is particularly advantageous Way to the different operating conditions and associated background noise is turned off, it is essential according to the invention, that after executing a command and changing the Operating state of a functional element and a resulting change the level of the background noise after a predeterminable time delay, in particular of at least half a second, a new calibration is carried out becomes. The evaluation according to block 30 is particularly expedient Way a decision to take into account the fact that changes certain Functional elements after, for example, a comparatively short time two seconds or after a slightly longer time, for example five seconds lead to a stable, even level of background noise. Because of this assessment according to different functional elements in noise behavior the effectiveness of the calibration is improved in a particularly expedient manner.

Reference numerals

2nd

Functional element

4th

Control signal

6, 7

microphone

8th

Evaluation unit

10th

Calibration unit

12th

Storage and / or recognition unit

14

Allocation unit

16

Output unit

20th

Starting block

22

Calibration block

24th

Block for recognition unit

26

Validation block

27

Block for generating and forwarding the control signal

28

Block for checking whether the command or control signal corresponds to the level of the Background noise affected

30th

Program query block

32, 34

Block for time delay

Claims (11)

Control device for sanitary objects, in particular whirlpools or whirlpools, containing at least one functional element (2) which can be controlled by a user,
characterized in that the control takes place as a function of acoustic signals (5) and / or of spoken commands from a user. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that a Evaluation unit (8) contains a speech recognition system and for controlling the operating state individual or all functional elements (2) of the sanitary object is designed using spoken language. Control device, in particular according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that a background noise calibration is performed and / or that after output of a control signal (4) to the functional element (2) a calibration for recording the noise level changed by means of the functional element (2) is carried out. Control device according to claim 3, characterized in that the of the actuation of a functional element (2) dependent calibration according to a specifiable Time delay is carried out and / or that the time delay in Dependency of the respectively activated functional element (2) with different time periods and / or that the time delay is at least half a second, preferably at least two seconds. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that that when actuating definable functional elements, which are no change of the noise level, such as switching on or off Light, no recalibration is performed. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that that at least one filter for damping in predetermined frequency ranges of strength signals are provided such that an improved separation of the useful signal from the strength signal, in particular the whirlpool noise. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that that two microphones (6, 7) are provided, one of which is close to the head the user is arranged, the signals of the microphones (6, 7) from one another such be subtracted that the useful signal is optimally processed and / or that at least one microphone (6), in particular with directional characteristic, and preferably in Proximity of the user, in particular on the tub edge, is arranged and / or that the microphone (6, 7) is adjustable, in particular rotatable and / or pivotable, is arranged. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that that a storage unit (12) with command files for different languages and / or different user groups and / or a recognition unit automatic detection of a user group is provided and / or that a Unit with spoken commands is provided and / or a setup unit depending on the user's spoken words. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that that an output unit (16), preferably with a suitable loudspeaker, especially for voice output and / or other tasks such as in particular Music playback is provided and / or that means for feedback to the Users are provided to report an accepted or not accepted Command. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that that a receiving unit for signals from a transmitter is provided, in particular Audio signals from a spatially separate stereo system, and that a speaker is provided for output of these signals. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that that it is designed to control other functions, in particular for Control of the light, an electric roller shutter or the like and / or that one Interface for connecting a computer, especially a personal computer, is provided.

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