EP2258987A2 - Household device with a touch screen - Google Patents

Abstract

The house appliance has a screen (10) with touch input units (12) on a screen surface, and a control unit (14), which is designed to evaluate the contact signals of the touch input units and to operate the house appliance depending on the touch signals. A switching element (16) is separated from the screen for activating or deactivating a function of the house appliance. The screen is switched on and off over another switching element during the operation of the house appliance.

Description

The invention relates to a household appliance with a screen with touch input means according to the preamble of claim 1.

From the DE 10 2007 008 896 A1 For example, a cooktop with a screen is known, the user interface of which includes other input means besides the screen. The screen can be designed as a touch screen. The hob also includes a controller that operates heating elements of the hob in response to inputs that it receives via a user interface. One of the user interface switching elements is an ON / OFF switch that allows the user to turn the entire hob on and off. At the same time, any other function of the hob is deactivated at the same time as the display.

Touch-sensitive screens always have a somewhat limited life, which can shorten the life of the entire appliance. The use of elaborate screens in home appliances, especially in hobs, can undoubtedly lead to a large comfort gain in certain applications. On the other hand, there are also operating states that can be used without significant loss of comfort without the use of a complex screen. High-resolution touch-sensitive screens must be powered by a powerful computer that consumes energy and takes a relatively long time to boot up. Simple functions of the domestic appliance, such as an egg timer, a timer or the like, but must be quickly and easily adjustable and activated.

The invention is in particular the object of providing a generic household appliance with a long life and with a higher ease of use.

The object is achieved in particular by the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and modifications of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

The invention relates to a household appliance with a screen with touch input means on a screen surface. The home appliance includes a control unit configured to evaluate the touch signals of the touch input means and to operate the home appliance depending on the touch signals. The domestic appliance further comprises at least one further switching element separate from the screen for activating and / or deactivating at least one function of the domestic appliance.

It is in particular proposed that the screen can be switched on or off during the operation of the domestic appliance via the at least one further switching element. The remaining, not the configuration of the user interface relevant functions of the home appliance can be continued regardless of the activation state of the screen. The core functions of the domestic appliance, in the case of a hob for example, the operation of the heating elements, can remain unaffected by the on or off of the screen. Turning off the screen in this context also means switching to a standby mode with an activated screen saver or the transition to a residual heat indicator mode of operation.

Because of the increasingly important energy efficiency and reduced by the effect of heat by the heating element life of the screen, the benefits of the invention are particularly relevant if the appliance is a cooking appliance with a heating element. In particular, the inventive idea for screens can be used in user interfaces of hobs. Because of the often comparatively complex control and regulation processes, the use of touch-sensitive screens, in particular in induction cooking fields, is advantageous. In this case, for example, in induction hobs with flexibly definable heating zones and with a grid of similar heating elements that can be summarized variable to different heating zones, the heating zones are clearly and clearly displayed on a screen.

Wear of the further switching elements can be avoided if they are designed as touch-sensitive switching elements without moving components. As a result, the cleaning properties of the household appliance can be improved. An optical feedback to the user can be done easily even with the screen off when the home appliance includes another, separate from the screen display element. This display element can be used for displaying an operating state of the household appliance with the screen switched off and / or for displaying a residual heat of the domestic appliance, in particular a residual heat of a heating zone of a hob.

It is also proposed to equip the domestic appliance with at least one acoustic signal generator for signaling an operating state or for signaling a distinctive event. An acoustic signal can allow a sufficient control of the household appliance especially when the screen is off.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is proposed to equip the domestic appliance with a temperature sensor. The control unit may in particular be designed to deactivate the screen if a temperature detected by the temperature sensor exceeds a threshold value. As a result, wear of the screen can be avoided or reduced by operation at high temperatures.

It is also proposed that the at least one further switching element or a separate switching element is designed to activate and / or deactivate a child safety device. It is conceivable, for example, that safety-relevant functions can only be activated via the touch-sensitive screen, so that switching off the touch-sensitive screen blocks these safety-relevant functions.

Both the screen and the further switching element can be arranged under a common, easy-to-clean surface, when the cover plate is made of glass or glass ceramic and the switching elements are formed as arranged under the cover plate capacitive or inductive proximity switch. The screen may also be located under the cover plate and based on the so-called "Projected Capacitive Touch" (PCT) technology.

A continuous operation of the screen is not necessary in particular when the control unit executes pre-programmed and time-limited operating programs. Such Operating programs are, in particular, various timer operating modes, in particular an egg timer, in which an acoustic signal is generated after the lapse of a predetermined time, or a standard timer in which a heating zone or another heating element is switched off after the expiry of a preset time , If the user feels disturbed by the active screen during the course of such a program, he can simply turn off the screen in the domestic appliance according to the invention. An optical feedback on the activity state can be done for example via a light emitting diode in a minimalist manner.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that simple operating programs, such as timers, egg timer or the like, which do not require complicated settings, are completely set, activated and deactivated via parts of the user interface which are separate from the screen.

The control unit may generate a signal and / or deactivate a heating element, in particular when the screen is switched off, after the lapse of a previously set time in a timer operating mode using other optical display elements or an acoustic unit. The deactivation of the heating element would therefore correspond to the standard timer function and the mere generation of a signal to the egg timer or an egg timer. Since in the preprogrammed operation, in particular a timer operating mode, a screen is usually not needed, the control unit can automatically turn off the screen after presetting a time and / or after starting the timer operation. In this case, a certain waiting time can be provided to avoid confusion of the user.

The control unit may in particular be designed to switch on the screen previously switched off if a user requests this by actuating the at least one further switching element. For example, if the user wants to receive information about the remaining time in a timer operation, this information can be provided by briefly turning on the screen.

The idea of the invention can also be used if, in more complex cooking programs, a representation on the display is necessary only in certain phases. For example, if the home appliance is an oven, the screen may be during long phases of a cooking program be turned off and only if operator inputs and / or operator intervention are necessary, be activated to represent a corresponding note.

Further advantages emerge from the following description of the drawing. In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are shown. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations.

Fig. 1

ein Induktionskochfeld mit einem Bildschirm und einem zusätzlichen Schaltelement,

Fig. 2

eine Darstellung des Bildschirms aus Fig. 1 während der Voreinstel- lung einer Zeit für eine Eieruhr-Funktion.

Fig. 3

eine Bildschirmdarstellung nach dem Aktivieren der Eieruhrfunktion,

Fig. 4

eine Bildschirmdarstellung des Bildschirms aus Fig. 1 während der Voreinstellung einer Zeit für eine Timer-Funktion,

Fig. 5

eine Bildschirmdarstellung nach dem Ablauf der Timer-Funktion,

Fig. 6

einen konstruktiven Aufbau des Kochfelds aus Fig. 1 mit abgenom- mener Abdeckplatte,

Fig. 7

eine schematische Darstellung zur Funktion des Bildschirms aus Fig. 1 und

Fig. 8

einen schematischen Aufbau des Bildschirms aus Fig. 1 mit einer Abdeckplatte des Kochfelds als Frontscheibe.

Show it:

Fig. 1

an induction hob with a screen and an additional switching element,

Fig. 2

a representation of the screen Fig. 1 while presetting a time for an egg timer function.

Fig. 3

a screen shot after activating the egg timer function,

Fig. 4

a screen image of the screen Fig. 1 while presetting a time for a timer function,

Fig. 5

a screen display after the expiration of the timer function,

Fig. 6

a constructive structure of the hob Fig. 1 with removed cover plate,

Fig. 7

a schematic representation of the function of the screen Fig. 1 and

Fig. 8

a schematic structure of the screen Fig. 1 with a cover plate of the hob as a windscreen.

Fig. 1 shows a cooking appliance designed as a household appliance in a perspective view.
The hob comprises a cover plate 26, under which a plurality of heating elements designed as inductors 18 is arranged. The inductors 18 are arranged in a grid of at least 4 × 4 or 6 × 6, preferably 8 × 8 grid points. The inductors 18 are flexible from a control unit 14 of the hob to different Heating zones are summarized so that placed on the hob pots are essentially freely positioned.

The control unit 14 detects the pots and combines the inductors 18, which are covered by more than a predetermined proportion of the bottom of the pot, together to form a heating zone. This heating zone is assigned to the corresponding cooking pot or the corresponding pan and the position and / or size of the heating zone is displayed on a screen 10 of the hob. The screen 10 is arranged below the cover plate 26 like the inductors 18 and comprises a transparent, capacitive sensor layer 28 (FIG. Fig. 8 ). In combination with suitable readout and image evaluation electronics (not shown), this sensor layer 28 forms a touch input means 12 so that the user can operate the home appliance via the touch screen 10, at least in important functions.

In addition to the screen, a further switching element 16 is arranged, which is designed as a capacitive switch without mechanical components and is essentially formed by a arranged under the cover plate 26 touch sensor. The switching element 16 is exemplified for a plurality of such switching elements, which can be occupied by the control unit 14 with different functions.

In particular, the switching element 16 can be used for switching on and off the cooktop, wherein the switching off of the cooktop can convert in particular into a standby operating mode and / or in a residual heat display operating mode, in which optical signals indicate the residual heat of certain heating zones.

To display residual heat 18 LEDs are arranged in addition to the screen and / or in alternative embodiments in the field of inductors, the display elements 20 for displaying a residual heat of the domestic appliance. Only when the residual heat has subsided completely, these display elements 20 are disabled.

Furthermore, the hob comprises an acoustic signal generator 22 which can be actuated by the control unit 14. In particular, when the hob is operated with the screen 10 off, can be made via the acoustic signal generator 22 feedback on the operating status and / or the achievement of a distinctive phase of the hob operation.

For actuating the display element 20, the hob comprises a plurality of temperature sensors 24, which are each associated with an inductor 18. For clarity, only one of the temperature sensors 24 in Fig. 1 shown. The control unit 14 may, in a conceivable embodiment of the invention, have a safety shutdown of the screen 10 when the temperature in an environment of the screen 10 exceeds a critical value.

In operating conditions of the hob, in which the operation of the screen 10 is not absolutely necessary, the control unit 14 interprets the signals of the switching element 16 such that the screen 10 can be switched off via the switching element 16. Examples of such operating conditions are the standard timer operating mode and the egg timer operating mode associated with the FIGS. 2 to 5 be explained in more detail.

To switch on the hob, the user can activate the hob together with the screen 10 via the switching element 16. The cooktop detects cookware elements, determines the shape and size of heating zones, and graphically displays the result on the screen 10. Thereafter, the user can adjust heating power to each of the heating zones via the touch input means 12 of the display 10. This can be done by incrementing or decrementing keys.

Fig. 2 shows a screen in the event that two heating zones have been detected. In both heating zones, the power level 7.0 is selected.

If the user wishes to activate an hourglass for one of the heating zones, he can do so by touching the in Fig. 3 left field shown below 30 and optionally by further selection steps to the in Fig. 2 shown screen display in which he can make a preset for the egg timer function by pressing input fields 32, 34. Via the input fields 32, 34, the user can preset an expiry time for the egg timer function. The input field 32 is used to preset the number of minutes and the input field 34 is used to preset the seconds of this expiry time. When the user touches the input field 32 for the first time, a preselected number of minutes appears highlighted in the area of the input field 32 on the screen 10, while above and below the input field 32 the one shown in FIG Number of preceding and following digits are represented with a more restrained graph. By sweeping over the input field 32 from top to bottom (from the orientation according to FIG Fig. 2 ), the preselected number is incremented and sweeping the input field 32 from bottom to top decrements the preselected number. The size of the incrementing and decrementing steps may be made dependent on the amplitude and / or speed of the brush stroking performed by the user. The number sequence of the possible values of the minute time from 0 to 59 is cyclically closed, so that the value 59 is reached by decrementing the number 0 by 1. In the same way, the number of seconds can be set via the input field 34. By touching the field 36, the in Fig. 2 displayed menu are closed. After closing this field, the control unit 14 counts backwards from the set time until the preset time has elapsed. A remaining time will be, as in Fig. 3 displayed in a field 38. When the set time has elapsed, the control unit 14 via the acoustic signal generator 22 generates a signal which signals the passage of time to the user.

During the expiration of the preset time, the user can switch off the screen 10 by actuating the switching element 16. Alternative embodiments of the invention are conceivable in which the screen 10 is automatically switched off.

In contrast to the egg timer function is the in the FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrated timer function assigned to a heating zone. By touching a corresponding field 40, which is arranged within a pictogram 42 visualizing the heating zone, a switch-off time for the corresponding heating zone can be set. To set the turn-off time, the user must touch the field 40 on the screen 10 to get to a turn-off set-up menu similar to the one shown in FIG Fig. 2 shown menu for setting the time of the egg timer function is similar and therefore should not be explained in detail to avoid repetition. After the lapse of this preset time, the control unit 14 automatically turns off the corresponding heating zone.

Fig. 5 shows a representation of the screen 10 after the expiration of this time. During operation, the control unit 14 continuously displays the time remaining until the heating zone is switched off in the field 40. When the value 0 is reached, the power level is set to 0.0 and a signal is generated via the acoustic signal generator 22. During the egg timer or timer operation, the user via the switching element 16, the screen 10 off. If he wants to read a remaining time, can be done by turning on the screen 10 via the switching element 16, a corresponding query.

Fig. 6 shows a structural design of the hob according to Fig. 1 with removed cover plate 26. The inductors 18 are each mounted on elongate supports 44 which are mounted in a metal frame 46. On the supports 44 and the screen 10 and the switching element 16 are arranged. The switching element 16 and the screen 10 are mounted on a common board, on which also more electronic components for operating the screen 10 and the switching element 16 are mounted. The board also includes the signal transmitter and display element 20 (in FIG Fig. 6 not shown).

Fig. 7 shows a schematic representation of the function of the touch-sensitive screen 10 from Fig. 1 , Under the cover plate 26, a sensor layer 28 is arranged, whose capacitance changes when a finger touches the cover plate 26. Evaluation electronics 48 evaluate the local capacitance of sensor layer 28 and compare the current two-dimensional profile of this capacitance with a stored characteristic of the capacitance from a preceding detection step. The change in capacity leads to a location-dependent voltage, which in Fig. 7 is represented as Potentialgebirge. The transmitter 48 calculates the difference between the capacitances and determines a touch point 50 in a two-dimensional plane corresponding to the surface of the screen 10. The touch point 50 is read out by the control unit 14 or determined from the measurement data and used as input.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic structure of the screen. When the user places a finger on the cover plate 26, a capacitance forms between the finger and the wires on the sensor layer 28. The evaluation electronics 48 (FIG. Fig. 7 ) detects changes in the capacitance of the wires indicating a finger position. The sensor layer 28 consists of a grid of microscopic wires laminated between two protective layers 52, 54 of glass.

reference numeral

10

screen

12

Touch input means

14

control unit

16

switching element

18

heating element

20

display element

22

signaler

24

temperature sensor

26

cover

28

sensor layer

30

field

32

input box

34

input box

36

field

38

field

40

field

42

pictogram

44

carrier

46

metal frame

48

evaluation

50

point of contact

52

protective layer

54

protective layer

Claims (15)

A home appliance having a screen (10) with touch input means (12) on a screen surface, a control unit (14) adapted to evaluate the touch signals of the touch input means (12) and operate the home appliance in response to the touch signals, and at least one of the screen (10) separate further switching element (16) for activating and / or deactivating at least one function of the domestic appliance, characterized in that the screen (10) during operation of the domestic appliance via the at least one further switching element (16) on and / or can be switched off. Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the domestic appliance is a cooking appliance with a heating element (18). Domestic appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one heating element (18) is an inductor. Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one further switching element (16) is designed as a touch-sensitive switching element (16) without moving components. Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one further, from the screen (10) separate display element (20) for displaying an operating state of the domestic appliance with the screen (10) off. Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one display element (20) separate from the screen (10) for displaying a residual heat of the domestic appliance. Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one acoustic signal generator (22) for signaling an operating state of the household appliance with the display (10) switched off. Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a temperature sensor (24), wherein the control unit (14) is adapted to deactivate the screen (10) when a temperature measured by the temperature sensor (24) exceeds a threshold value. The domestic appliance of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one further switching element (16) is adapted to enable and / or disable parental controls. Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a cover plate (26) made of glass or glass ceramic, wherein the further switching element (16) as under the cover plate (26) arranged capacitive or inductive proximity switch is formed. Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (14) is designed to execute at least one preprogrammed and time-limited operating program when the screen (10) is switched off. Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (14) is adapted to operate the domestic appliance in at least one operating mode with the screen (10) switched off depending on switching signals of at least one further switching element (16) and independent of touch signals of the touch input means (12 ) to operate. Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (14) is designed to generate a signal in a timer operating mode independently of an activity state of the screen (10) after the expiry of a preset time and / or a heating element ( 18). Domestic appliance according to claim 13, characterized in that the control unit (14) is adapted to automatically switch off the screen (10) in the timer operating mode after the expiration of a preset time. Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (14) is adapted to turn on the previously turned off screen (10) when a user requests this by operating the at least one further switching element (16).

Images