EP0994306A1 - Control device for a gas burner by tracking a finger of the user - Google Patents

Abstract

The system comprises a gas tap (1) and a motor (4) that is controlled by a command unit (14). The unit is controlled by an optical unit (11) that detects the movement of a finger in either a left or a right direction.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for controlling a gas burner by optical tracking of the user's finger. It applies in particular for domestic gas cooking appliances.

In new domestic gas cooking appliances generation, the gas could be delivered to the burners by means of a valve controlled by a setpoint, makes it a solenoid valve. Food in gas from each burner therefore passes through an intake valve which controls, by opening, the flow of gas supplied to the burner, the valve being closed when the burner is supposed not to be on. Of known electromechanical means, for example based on potentiometers, resistance and switch sets provide the valve with a setpoint current I, the opening of the latter being a function of the current value I. This current I can itself be controlled by a or even better by an electronic device. A calibration is then carried out on all the chain of control of the gas flow of each burner, this chain comprising in particular the electromechanical means for producing a setpoint current and the gas inlet valve including the opening is a function of the setpoint current. Calibration allows adjust the gas flow rate supplied by the valve to a burner according to the position of a joystick or the status of an electronic control.

The previous gas intake control chain has some disadvantages. A first drawback lies in particular in the difficulty in obtaining good reproducibility given the displacements linear very small strokes required in these types of technology. Another drawback lies in the variation of the adjustment of the chain in temperature function, so that a joystick or electric control set for a given flow at a temperature given, no longer corresponds to the same flow at a different temperature.

The lack of reproducibility comes mainly from characteristics of the control means of the valve itself having regard the cost constraints imposed by the products concerned. As example, it is still possible to get potentiometers at very well reproducible characteristics, in particular by means of very sorting pushed, but at prices incompatible with the sale of a cooking intended for a large audience. This example also applies to the case of the gas inlet valve.

For example, the temperature variations are mainly due to the gas inlet valve, although elements like a potentiometer or a resistance are also sensitive to temperature variations. Regarding the valve, its opening comes in particular from the displacement of a magnetic core inside of a coil traversed by the current I for controlling the gas flow. The opening of the valve is therefore a function of the position of this core which is itself a function of current I. Now, the magnetic characteristics of this nucleus and consequently its displacement are a function of temperature. In addition to variations in ambient temperature, the proximity of the burner causes significant temperature variations at the core magnetic. This then results in variations in the adjustment of the gas flow in depending on the temperature, whether user control is by grip or sensitive for example. More generally, physical characteristics of materials are difficult to master and undergo large variations in temperature, whatever the type of valve.

To avoid the aforementioned drawbacks due to the solenoid valve, it can be interesting to use a conventional gas valve. The gas flow supplied to the burner is then a direct function of the opening of the tap, which is a function of the angular position of its opening axis. The rotation of this axis is then controlled directly by a rotary button or a controller attached to it, either directly or through transmission organs. There is then no longer a problem of variation in temperature or reproducibility, because the gas flow authorized by the valve faithfully follows the opening angle imposed by the joystick or rotary knob handled by the user, regardless of temperature or tap used.

Such a gas tap solution, however, has at least one disadvantage. Since there is no control current or all other electrical control quantity involved, as in the case using a solenoid valve, it is not possible to get rid of a mechanical transmission to activate the opening of the tap. This transmission can only be done by means of a joystick or a rotary knob for example, in fact by gripping the user share. However, users accept less and less presence of gripping devices to control their plates cooking, whether electric or gas powered. Indeed, controllers or rotary knobs, and more generally all gripping devices, do not facilitate the maintenance and cleaning of cooking appliances. In in particular, the dirt encrusted between these organs and the plate is difficult to dislodge. Users therefore prefer commands of the type electronics, such as touch controls for example, which allow to order the plates by applying or scanning their fingers on these commands. This allows for smooth smooth surfaces maintenance and having a favorable aesthetic appearance which constitutes elsewhere a very effective selling point.

An object of the invention is in particular to allow an implementation a control of a burner supplied by a gas tap which does not require no grip on the part of a user.

To this end, the invention relates to a control device a gas burner, characterized in that it comprises a gas tap, connected upstream to a gas supply circuit and supplying gas downstream to the burner, a motor for rotating the opening axis of the tap, a member whose rotation represents the rotation of the opening axis, a circuit for controlling the engine and the transmission and reception, attached to the organ that interact with the finger of a user of so that when the finger moves to the right, a receiver sends a signal to the circuit to control the rotation of the motor to the right, and when the finger moves to the left, a receiver sends a signal to the circuit to control the rotation of the motor to the left.

The main advantages of the invention are that it is simple to implement, that it is economical and that it reproduces the movement a joystick or a rotary knob.

• la figure 1, un exemple de mode de réalisation possible d'un dispositif selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2, une vue de dessus partielle de la figure 1, mettant en évidence des moyens d'émission et de réception ;
• les figures 3a et 3b, une illustration de l'interaction des moyens d'émission et de réception précités avec le doigt d'un utilisateur ;
• la figure 4, une illustration d'une mise en évidence possible du trajet angulaire suivi par le doigt d'un utilisateur qui glisse sur une plaque de verre pour commander l'ouverture ou la fermeture d'un brûleur à gaz.

Other characteristics or advantages of the invention will become apparent with the aid of the description which follows given with reference to the appended drawings which represent:

• Figure 1, an exemplary possible embodiment of a device according to the invention;
• Figure 2, a partial top view of Figure 1, showing means of transmission and reception;
• Figures 3a and 3b, an illustration of the interaction of the aforementioned transmission and reception means with the finger of a user;
• Figure 4, an illustration of a possible highlight of the angular path followed by the finger of a user who slides on a glass plate to control the opening or closing of a gas burner.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an embodiment possible of a device according to the invention. The device according to the invention has a gas tap 1, for example of conventional technology, which is connected upstream to a gas inlet pipe and downstream to a pipe or conduit which supplies gas to an associated burner. These pipes or conduits do not are not shown, but arrows 2, 3 represent the direction of the flow of gas before and after the tap. A motor 4 drives the opening axis 5 of the tap in rotation. The rotation of this axis 5 in one direction and in the other causes the tap to open and close. In particular, the degree valve opening, and therefore the gas flow it allows, depends on the angular position of its opening axis 5. The motor 4 drives by example the axis of the tap through a set of pinions 6, 7, 8, 9. This advantageously allows to multiply the torque provided by the engine and therefore to reduce its dimensions and its cost. For exemple, driving the valve opening axis 5 may require a couple of about 2000 grams x centimeter while the engine used may not provide only a couple of the order of 20 grams x centimeter. The first pinion 6, of smaller diameter is integral with motor 4 and is directly driven by him in rotation. It in turn drives a second pinion 7 of larger diameter, which drives a third pinion 8 and so on up to the last pinion 9 which is mechanically integral with the axis opening 5 of the tap, the pinions being successively of diameter increasing. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, four pinions are represented. It is of course possible to envisage a reduction of the couple with a different number of sprockets, lower or higher. Advantageously, the motor 4 can be of the DC type, therefore good market and can operate in both directions of rotation.

A member 10 is integral with the opening axis 5 of the valve 1. It therefore rotates with this axis. The rotation of this member 10 therefore reproduces the rotation of the opening axis 5 which controls the closing or opening of the valve, the valve opening depends on the angular position of the axis opening hours. The member 10 is for example a disc. Subsequently, when he reference will be made to this organ, a disc will be mentioned.

The device according to the invention further comprises, for example, a or two supports 15, 16 for carrying its various components. Both supports 15, 16 are for example opposite and for example separated by spacers, one or more of which can, for example, serve as an axis of rotation for some gables. A bottom support 15 supports for example the drive motor 4. For this purpose, the motor is for example glued or screwed on the outer wall of the bottom support, a hole is provided in this last to let pass the axis driven by the motor and which is integral mechanically for example of the first pinion 6, which is located between the two supports, like all the other pinions 7, 8, 9. The tap 1 and the disc 10 are for example located opposite to all of the two supports 15, 16. The tap 1 is for example held in position by fixing means not shown and integral with a structure mechanical itself not shown.

Transmitting and receiving means 11, for example of a light signal, such as a walking indicator on the disc 10 opposite a protective glass 12, which is in fact by example the protective glass of a cooking plate. These means transmission and reception 11 interact with the finger 13 of a user. The interaction of the transmission and reception means with this finger causes a control signal transmitted to a circuit 14 for controlling and engine control. In fact, the means of transmission and reception fixed on the disc 10 interact with the finger so that when the finger moves right, receiver sends signal to control circuit motor 14 to control the rotation of the motor to the right, and when the finger moves to the left, a receiver sends a signal to the circuit 14 to control the rotation of the motor to the left.

FIG. 2 illustrates the position of these transmission and reception 11 on the disk 10. This figure is a partial top view, along F, from the assembly of figure 1. In its center for example, the disc 10 is integral with the opening axis 5 of the valve 1, which is located in below the disc 10, and even below for example the support of the bottom 15 described above. On the periphery of the disc 10 preferably, the transmission and reception means 11 are placed. consist of at least three elements. These three elements are a transmitter E, an RD receiver located to the right of this transmitter and an RG receiver located to the left of the transmitter. These last two will be called later RD right receiver and RG left receiver respectively. They're from preferably located near the transmitter E. The transmitter E is intended for send a signal to the user's finger, which reflects and returns it to the left and / or right receivers. A travel indicator 21, for example a light emitting diode, is placed near these means of transmission and reception. It is not only an indicator of operation of the device but of an indicator of the position of the means transmission and reception, in particular to indicate to the user where to place his finger to interact with these transmission and reception means. These last, as well as the light-emitting diode 21 move in rotation with disc 10. The transmitter E preferably emits a signal not visible and remains hidden, as well as the associated RD, RG receptors, for aesthetic reasons. Preferably the transmitter emits an infrared wave. Through elsewhere, the glass 12 is covered, on its inner face, with a paint transparent to infrared. Only an angular sector remains frosted, do not comprising no paint, for example, this angular sector i corresponding to the displacement of the light-emitting diode 21, or of any other position indicator. In this way, a user can follow the path of the light-emitting diode 21 or of any other indicator. Over there below, the signal emitted by the transmitter E will be considered, for example, as an infrared signal.

• tant que le circuit de traitement reçoit un signal du récepteur droit RD sans recevoir de signal du récepteur gauche RG, la rotation du moteur 4 est commandée vers la droite ;
• tant que le circuit de traitement reçoit un signal du récepteur gauche RG sans recevoir de signal du récepteur droit RD, la rotation du moteur 4 est commandée vers la gauche.

Figures 3a and 3b illustrate the interaction of the transmission means E and reception RG, RD with the finger 13 of a user. FIG. 3a shows a finger 13 which comes to rest on the glass 12 near the transmission and reception means. For this, the finger has been guided beforehand, for example by a light-emitting diode 21, not shown and located near the aforementioned means. The emitter E emits an infrared signal 31 to the finger 13 which reflects it. Part 32 of the reflected signal is here retransmitted to the right receiver RD and another part 33 of this signal is retransmitted to the left receiver RG. On receipt of an infrared signal, each receiver sends an electrical signal to a processing circuit, for example arranged in the command and control circuit 14 of the motor 4. The processing circuit sends according to the signals received from the two RD, RG receivers one of three possible orders for motor control. The three possible orders are an engine control order on the left, an engine control order on the right and an engine stop order. These orders are defined as follows by the processing circuit, as a function of the signals received:

• as long as the processing circuit receives a signal from the right receiver RD without receiving a signal from the left receiver RG, the rotation of the motor 4 is controlled to the right;
• as long as the processing circuit receives a signal from the left receiver RG without receiving a signal from the right receiver RD, the rotation of the motor 4 is controlled to the left.

• tant que le circuit de traitement reçoit un signal venant à la fois du récepteur droit RD et du récepteur gauche RG, le moteur 4 est commandé à l'arrêt ;
• en cas d'absence de signal reçu, le moteur 4 est commandé à l'arrêt.

These orders are, for example, completed as follows:

• as long as the processing circuit receives a signal from both the right receiver RD and the left receiver RG, the motor 4 is commanded to stop;
• in the absence of a received signal, the motor 4 is ordered to stop.

It might be possible to consider stopping or putting rotation of the motor 4 by an annex control independent of the state of the receivers.

FIG. 3b illustrates as a function of the movement of the finger 13 of the user, controlling the direction of rotation of the motor. In this figure, the motor control is for example for the rotation of the motor towards the right. The emitter E always emits its infrared signal 31, part of which is reflected on finger 13. Since the finger moves towards the right, so to the right receiver RD, only the right receiver receives a signal reflected infrared 32. The left receiver RG, from which the finger moves away, does not receive a reflected infrared signal. Consequently, only the right receiver RD sends a signal to the processing circuit which, according to the definition of the previous orders, controls the rotation of the motor at right. As long as finger 13 moves to the right, only the right receiver RD receives a reflected infrared signal. As a result, the engine drives the opening axis 5 of tap 1 to the right. Which corresponds by example in the sense of closing the tap and reducing its flow. When the finger moves away, to freeze the command, the receivers do not receive more reflected signal, and therefore engine shutdown is controlled. The valve opening then remains in the state with a fixed flow rate defined by the user. A movement of the finger to the right, until the end of the stroke corresponds for example to the closing of the gas tap. The interaction between the finger and the transmission and reception means is therefore as follows:

The finger 13 moves to the right RD, so that only the right receiver receives a reflected signal, the rotation of motor 4 is then controlled to the right, which drives the opening axis 5 of the valve towards the right. Since the disc 10, on which is fixed the right receiver RD, is integral with this axis 5, it moves at the same speed to the right. Consequently, the means of transmission and reception, and in particular the emitter E and the right receiver RD follow the movement of the finger which can therefore continue to receive a signal from the transmitter and reflect it towards the right receiver RD. There is optical tracking between the system transmission / reception and the user's finger. In this way, the movement of rotation is maintained, until the finger withdraws or changes direction of rotates or freezes, balancing the signals received by the receivers RD, RG. In this case, the left receiver RG takes over and a rotation towards the left can then in turn be maintained. A control on the left, in the direction of opening the tap for example, is obtained in a similar way to what has been described for a rotation to the right. In this case, the left receiver RG receives the signal reflected, the right receiver receiving no signal.

The position indicator 21, which is for example a diode light-emitting, which is fixed on the disc 10, rotates with it in motor control function 4. Thus, the user, seeing the diode electroluminescent turn with his finger has the impression of acting on a rotary joystick, which allows it advantageously to make a gesture natural. Advantageously still, this action can be done with a simple sliding your finger on the glass of a baking sheet, and more generally on the interface area, with a user, of any device domestic gas cooking. The interface plate 12 is for example not absorbing visible and infrared electromagnetic radiation. he there is therefore no longer a gripping device, such as a joystick or a button rotary for example, and maintenance of the cooking appliance is then easy. The absence of such a device also improves an aesthetic aspect which responds to the needs of a clientele more and more concerned with this aspect aesthetic.

To orient the finger stroke, the path of the position 21, or light-emitting diode, can for example be represented on the glass as illustrated in figure 4. On the glass plate 12 is drawn an angular sector 41 which corresponds to the path of the diode light emitting 21 between the opening, when it is on the far left for example, and closing when it is on the far right. While a paint, transparent to infrared, covers the internal surface of the glass plate, in particular for hiding the emission and reception, the angular sector 41 lets visible light pass. That sector angular is for example frosted. To make the route of the diode 21, a line 42, clearly visible, borders the frosted sector. Pictograms may possibly accompany the presentation as illustrated by the figure 4.

In the embodiment presented relative to FIG. 1, the disc 10 is directly secured to the opening axis 5 of the valve. This mechanical link has the particular advantage of being simple. However, it can exist cases where such a connection is not possible, for example for reasons for congestion. It suffices for example to provide means transmission so that the rotation of the disc 10 represents the rotation of valve opening axis 5. For this purpose, it is possible to provide that the axis opening 5 drives a pinion which itself drives another pinion which is mechanically secured to the disc 10, the two pinions being in the report 1.

The engine command and control circuit 14 comprises so for example the signal processing circuit from receivers left and right. These processing means are for example based on microcontroller, the same commanding microcontroller, via interfaces appropriate power and known to those skilled in the art, the rotation at left and right of the engine and its stop. Circuit 14 can be by example located on disk 10. The latter can be a printed circuit comprising for example the circuit 14 and the transmission and reception E, RD, RG, as well as the position indicator 21. It can be a disc, because it is a form that is naturally considered for a rotational movement. However, this organ 10 can have all the possible shapes, depending in particular on its manufacturing constraints, especially if it is a printed circuit. The circuit 14 can be arranged in another place, it can in particular be placed on one of the two supports 15, 16.

The power supply to disk 10, as well as the transmissions signals from the RD, RG receivers or the control circuit 14 and can be done simply by means of electrical wires. The rotation of the disk 10 does not in fact pose a problem since it is limited to a reduced angular sector. It is then enough to provide a game sufficient in the length of the wires to absorb displacements disc angles.

Electronic safety circuits can be added to the engine command and control circuit 14. These safety circuits are for example associated with a flame sensor on the burner depending on tap 1. If there is no flame, a command is then sent to motor 4, for example via the same power interface than that provided for rotation control. This command causes the motor to rotate to the end of its travel ipso facto causing the tap to close.

The invention is simple to implement, and it is economical. It does not require complex and expensive components to get a command from the gas valve of a burner, this command does not advantageously not requiring gripping on the part of a user.

Claims (17)

Control device for a gas burner, characterized in that it includes a gas tap (1), connected upstream to an incoming circuit gas and supplying the gas downstream to the burner, a motor (4) for driving in rotation of the valve opening axis (5), a member (10) whose rotation represents the rotation of the opening axis (5), a control circuit (14) the engine (4) and the transmission and reception means (11, E, RD, RG) attached to the member (10) which interact with the finger (13) of a user of so that when the finger moves to the right, a receiver (RD) sends a signal to the circuit (14) to control the rotation of the motor towards the right, and when the finger moves to the left, another receiver (RG) sends a signal to the circuit (14) to control the rotation of the motor towards the left. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission and reception means comprise a transmitter (E), a receiver (RD) placed to the right of the transmitter and a receiver (RG) placed at left of the transmitter, a receiver (RD, RG) receiving a signal reflected by the finger (13) following a signal emitted by the transmitter (E). Device according to claim 2, characterized in that: as long as the receiver on the right (RD) receives a reflected signal and the receiver on the left (RG) does not receive a signal, the motor is controlled to rotate to the right; as long as the receiver on the left (RG) receives a reflected signal and the receiver on the right (RD) does not receive a signal, the motor is controlled to rotate to the left. Device according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that: as long as the receiver on the right (RD) and the receiver on the left (RG) receive a reflected signal together, the motor is commanded to stop; in the absence of a signal received by both receivers (RD, RG), the motor is ordered stopped. Device according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that a position indicator (21) is fixed on the member (10) near the transmission and reception means. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the position indicator is a light emitting diode (21). Device according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that the member (10) is placed under a plate electromagnetic radiation non-absorbing interface (12) visible and infrared. Device according to any one of the claims above, characterized in that the transmitter (E) emits an infrared signal. Device according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the interface plate (12) is covered with a paint transparent to infrared rays. Device according to any one of claims 5 or 6 and according to claim 9, characterized in that the interface plate (12) is frosted on an angular sector (41) disposed opposite the path of the position indicator (21). Device according to any one of Claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the interface plate (12) is that of a device for cooking. Device according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that the member (10) is integral mechanically from the opening axis (5) of the valve (1). Device according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that the valve opening axis (5) is mechanically secured to a pinion which rotates a pinion mechanically secured to the member (10). Device according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that the motor (4) drives the opening axis (5) from the tap via a set of pinions (6, 7, 8, 9) which multiplies the torque supplied by the engine. Device according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that the member (10) is a printed circuit which includes the engine control circuit (14) (4). Device according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that the motor control circuit (14) includes a circuit for processing the signals supplied by the receivers (RD, RG), a receiver sending a signal when it itself receives a signal thoughtful and not sending a signal otherwise. Device according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that the member (10) is substantially a disk.

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