EP1706673B1 - Cooking device with a predetermined parameter, programme and/or mode of operation - Google Patents

Abstract

A cooking device has at least one pre-set parameter for at least one predetermined programme, such as a cooking programme and/or cleaning programme, and/or for at least one predetermined mode of operation, such as a cooking mode of operation or a cleaning mode of operation. The preset parameter can be modified by means of at least one modification function element of a control element of the cooking device. During a particular time period, the modification can be confirmed, accepted and/or stored by means of at least one confirmation and/or storage function element of the control element of the cooking device, and after the particular time period has elapsed, the modification can be confirmed, accepted and/or stored automatically by the cooking device.

Description

The present invention relates to a cooking appliance according to the preamble of claim 1.

Cooking appliances are known from the prior art, which are already provided by the manufacturer with predetermined programs or operating modes. Within these programs or operating modes, the parameters are also preset accordingly. Under a program for a cooking appliance is to be understood in the following a generic term, can be classified under the various modes that run sequentially.

Preset operating modes or cooking programs usually have cooking parameters that are usually set in the middle in the possible setting range. Preset operating modes or cooking programs allow a user to easily and efficiently use a cooking appliance, as such cooking appliances provide a tremendous amount of work and save time.

A disadvantage of the known cooking appliances, however, that, as stated above, the default settings are very flat and are usually in a standard range. An individual setting of cooking parameters to operate very specific cooking process or to cook certain food, is only very limited or not possible with the known cooking appliances. This considerably limits the usability of such cooking appliances with predetermined operating modes or cooking programs.

From the DE 198 32 757 A1 a generic cooking appliance is known in which individual parameters of a cooking program are preset. However, the parameters can be changed via change function elements. The acceptance or storage of the parameter thus changed takes place either by confirmation via a confirmation element or automatically after the expiry of a certain period of time.

The DE 101 48 897 A1 discloses a control device for controlling a baking oven with an operating element and a sensor device for detecting an actuation of the operating element and for dispensing control signals in accordance with the actuation of the operating element. An associated display device is used to display a selection menu, which includes several operating modes of the oven and the operating modes associated operating parameters. The control device is configured so that only one control element has to be actuated for a menu-driven selection of an operating mode and also a menu-driven setting of an operating parameter assigned to the operating mode.

From the EP 0 971 173 A1 a control program for a programmable home appliance with a display is known, with an input unit for selecting a desired country program list, the various sequentially stored control programs or control descriptors descriptive to explain the control programs are displayed, which input unit is also used to select a single control program from the selected country list, and a memory element in which the country program lists are stored with the respective control programs and the control program descriptors.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a cooking appliance, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and in particular has a high flexibility and a variety of uses, while easy to use.

This object is achieved in that the parameter country-specific for each site and / or specifically for each selectable operating language of the cooking device is preset, preferably all the parameters of at least one program and / or at least one operating mode for the respective installation site and / or the selectable operating language are preset.

It can be provided that the specific period of time is adjustable, preferably via the operating element, and in particular about 1 to about 30 seconds after the last actuation of the control element.

It is also preferred that at least one change within given, unchangeable limits is feasible, the limits are preferably country-specific for the respective site and / or the selectable operating language preset.

It can be provided that the default setting is automatically carried out in dependence on a, in particular a location system, detected site and / or a selected operating language.

Finally, an embodiment is proposed according to the invention, which is characterized by a control and / or regulating unit in operative connection with the change function element, the confirmation and / or memory function element, the location system and / or the sinking device.

The invention is based on the surprising finding that preset parameters for predetermined programs and / or operating modes can be changed in a simple manner and then confirmed and / or stored in order to increase the flexibility and the possible applications of a cooking appliance, without compromising the complexity of the To increase operability as well. In the context of the present application, the term "confirmation" is understood to mean a transfer of changed parameters merely for the program or the current operating mode currently to be carried out, while the term "storage" includes a transfer of the changed parameters into a memory that is future-proof programs or operating modes to be used as the basis for the corresponding parameters. Both confirmation and storage are either active, namely by actuation of a control element, or automatically, namely after the lapse of a certain period of time.

The term "bar graph", as used in the present application, is to be understood as a bar of a touch screen, which comprises a type of scaling on which a desired parameter value can be set by sweeping the user's finger.

Interlocking or co-operating controls save space. Retractable controls are not only aesthetics, but facilitate operation, especially when they emerge programmatically, namely only when they are operated or actuated.

The cooking appliance according to the invention is characterized by a country-specific specification of parameters and / or limits of the same, especially if this automatically adjusts to the site, which further simplifies the operation of the cooking appliance according to the invention.

Also characteristic of the cooking devices according to the invention is a language-specific specification of parameters and / or limit values as a function of a selected operating language. Such a language-specific presetting allows the operation of the cooking appliance regardless of a site at which a different language is spoken than the one with which the cooking appliance is to be operated. The variation of the default settings of parameters and / or limits on the site and / or the operating language increases the flexibility of the cooking appliance according to the invention. With a language-specific specification, the cooking appliance according to the invention can therefore be variably adapted to any user by the user enters his preferred operating language for the cooking appliance. Thus, for example, it is possible that an English-speaking user of the cooking appliance according to the invention who wants to eat a steak completely cooked, the cooking appliance can use without problems, although this is set up in France, where a steak should be cooked rather "medium" in the rule. For this purpose, the English-language user only sets English as the operating language, so that the preset parameters for the English operating language for the specified program can be called in the cooking appliance. By using the change function element of the cooking appliance according to the invention, the user can then optimize the preset parameters according to his wishes.

For storing changed parameters, programs and / or operating modes, a not-block function is preferably provided, which is particularly preferably provided as a touch element on a touchscreen of the operating element of the cooking appliance. This notepad function allows structured storage to be made in different operating menu levels. For example, the operation of the notepad function may result in termination of the input operation (that is, the change of parameters or the like), or may also result in switching to the next mode of operation.

• Figur 1 einen Ausschnitt einer Hauptmenüebene eines Bedienelements bei Inbetriebnahme eines erfindungsgemäßen Gargeräts;
• Figur 2 einen Ausschnitt einer ersten Untermenüebene, die aus der Hauptmenüebene aus Figur 1 hervorgeht;
• Figur 3 einen Ausschnitt einer zweiten Untermenüebene, die aus der ersten Untermenüebene aus Figur 2 hervorgeht; und
• Figur 4 die zweite Untermenüebene aus Figur 3 bei Betrieb eines Garverfahrens im erfindungsgemäßen Gargerät.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description in which an embodiment of the invention with reference to a schematic drawing is explained in detail. Showing:

• FIG. 1 shows a detail of a main menu level of an operating element when a cooking appliance according to the invention is put into operation;
• FIG. 2 shows a detail of a first submenu level, which results from the main menu level of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 shows a section of a second submenu level, which results from the first submenu level of FIG. 2; and
• FIG. 4 shows the second submenu level of FIG. 3 during operation of a cooking method in the cooking appliance according to the invention.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, a main menu level of an operating element 1 for a cooking device according to the invention comprises a multiplicity of actuating elements 2 which, for example, when the cooking appliance is switched on, offer a selection of cooking programs for which the cooking appliance corresponding operating modes and cooking parameters by default offers. According to FIG. 1, such cooking programs may include, for example, "large roast", "short roast", "poultry", "fish", "baking", "side dishes" or "finishing". These cooking programs are preferably shown in the form of pictograms on the actuating elements 2. In particular, it is also preferred if the actuating elements 2 are touch elements of a touchscreen. The actuator 2 "F" represents a function key, with the other functions of the cooking appliance can be selected, such as a programming lock, a start time input, a cleaning program, a descaling program or the like, which therefore do not concern cooking.

Below the actuating elements 2, a rotary knob 4 is provided in FIG. 1 in addition to a program key element 3, which can be rotated in the directions of the arrows in order to change preset cooking parameters, as will be described below. The rotary 4 further includes a push button 5, by the operation of example changed cooking parameters can be confirmed and / or stored.

Starting from the main operating level, which is shown in fragmentary form in FIG. 1, the first submenu level shown in detail in FIG. 2 is obtained, for example, by actuating the actuating element 2 "large roast". Also, this first submenu level again includes a plurality of actuators 2 ', which offer the possible under the cooking program "large roast" cooking programs. These are, for example, the cooking programs "universal roast", "roast with crust", "soft roast", "soft cooking", "overnight roast" and "overnight cooking" shown in FIG. 2.

For example, by actuation of the actuating element 2 '"universal roast" one automatically reaches a second submenu level shown in FIG. This second submenu level offers the possibility of modifying individual operating modes or cooking parameters of the cooking process for the "universal roasting" cooking program. By way of example, actuating elements 2 "for setting cooking parameters with regard to the browning of the roast or with regard to the core temperature of the roast are provided in Figure 3. It is readily conceivable that many other actuating elements can be provided for other cooking parameters.

The actuation elements 2 "comprise a first touch element 7a or 8a and respectively a bar graph 7b or 8b as the second touch element With the one bar graph 7b, for example, the desired browning of the roast can be set between the threshold values" light "and" dark "by the user sets his finger over the bargraph 7b and adjusts the parameter accordingly The set value is highlighted by a frame 9. In the same way, the cooking parameter for the core temperature of the frying can be set via the other bar graph 8b. pink "and" by "corresponding core temperature values are stored.

The set cooking parameters regarding the tan and the core temperature of the roast can also be changed or fine-tuned as follows:

On the second sub-operating level of FIG. 3, by way of example, the cooking parameter with respect to the browning of the roast is to be changed. For this purpose, first the touch element 7a is actuated, which activates the actuation element 2 "so that a change is possible." If the actuation element 2 "is activated, the corresponding cooking parameter can be adjusted either by corresponding turning of the rotary wheel 4 or by stroking over the bar graph 7b be set as desired. In the case shown in FIG. 4, the parameter is set in a middle position between "light" and "dark", which is indicated by the frame 9.

A confirmation or storage of the set Garparamters with respect to the tanning can be done for example by pressing the push button 5. However, it is also conceivable that the changed cooking parameter is automatically taken after a predetermined period of time after the last input or change by the cooking appliance. An acknowledgment can also be made by finally pressing the touch element 7a.

Finally, in the second sub-operating level, there is also provided a storage element 10 which makes it possible to store the changed cooking parameter via a notepad function, as has been described above.

Preferably, it is also provided that a confirmation or storage of set cooking parameters is connected to an acoustic signal of the cooking appliance or a color change in the control of the cooking appliance.

To change the core temperature, the touch element 8a can be actuated in an analogous manner and the parameter can then be changed via the bar graph 8b or the rotary wheel 4.

As can be seen from the touch element 8a, the adjustment of the core temperature requires the insertion of a temperature sensor into a roast. Preferably, it is provided that the cooking appliance emits a request or a signal when it detects that the temperature sensor is not plugged into the roast.

The adjustment of the cooking parameters via the rotary wheel 4 or the bar graphs 7b, 8b is preferably substantially continuously possible. As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, suitable temperature values are stored as outer end values for the cooking parameters shown in FIG. The corresponding presetting can be country-specific, ie depend on the place of installation. For example, in Germany the selection of "pink" when setting the core temperature corresponds to a desired core temperature of, for example, 65 ° C, while for the setting "through" a core temperature of 78 ° C is to be achieved. For example, in France, these values may be preset differently. The site is automatically detected, for example, a location system of the cooking appliance, so that a country-specific default of the parameters can be done automatically.

FIG. 4 shows the second submenu level in the operation of a cooking process. In this submenu level further information can be displayed, such as a remaining time 11 of the cooking process or a present actual core temperature 12 of the roast.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

operating element

2, 2 ', 2 "

actuator

3

Program key element

4

rotating wheel

5

push-button

7a, 8a

touch element

7b, 8b

Bar graph

9

frame

10

storage element

11

Remaining time display

12

Actual core temperature display

Claims (5)

1. Cooking device in which at least one parameter for at least one predefined program, such as in the form of a cooking program and/or cleaning program, and/or for at least one predefined mode of operation, such as in the form of a cooking mode of operation or cleaning mode of operation, is preset, the preset parameter can be changed by means of at least one change function element (4, 7b, 8b) of an operator control element (1) of the cooking device and the change can be automatically confirmed, accepted and/or stored during a specific time period by means of at least one confirmation and/or store function element (5, 7a, 8a) of the operator control element (1) of the cooking device and can be automatically confirmed, accepted and/or stored by the cooking device after this specific time period elapses, characterized in that the parameter is preset in a country-specific manner for the respective installation site and/or specific to a respectively selectable operator control language of the cooking device, with all the parameters of at least one program and/or at least one mode of operation preferably being preset for the respective installation site and/or the selectable operator control language.
2. Cooking device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the specific time period can be set, preferably by means of the operator control element (1), and in particular lasts for approximately 1 to approximately 30 seconds after the last operation of the operator control element (1).
3. Cooking device according to Claim 2, characterized in that at least one change can be carried out within prespecified fixed limits, with the limits preferably being preset in a country-specific manner for the respective installation site and/or the selectable operator control language.
4. Cooking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the presetting operation can be carried out automatically as a function of an installation site, which is in particular detected by means of a position-identification system, and/or a selected operator control language.
5. Cooking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit in operative connection with the change function element, the confirmation and/or store function element, the position-identification system and/or the lowering device.

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