EP2488091B1 - Household appliance, in particular a household dishwashing machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a domestic dishwasher, at least comprising a transmission interface, which can be brought into signal connection with an external display means.

In the evaluation of household appliances by consumer organizations, the energy consumption of the household appliance, in particular its annual energy balance, plays an important role. Domestic appliances have an operation display with at least optical display means, for example LEDs, with which during operation of the household appliance operating parameters, etc., and after completion of a treatment process according to a program can be displayed that the treatment process has been completed. However, the household appliance remains at the end of the program on the power grid until the customer actively intervenes and turns off the household appliance by pressing the main switch. The DE 10 2007 058382 A1 discloses a dishwasher, with a control device which supplies at least one display element for displaying an operating state and / or other data with electrical energy upon actuation of a control element of the household appliance, which control device reduces or interrupts the power supply to the display element after a predetermined period of time. The household electrical appliance of DE 102 36 937 A1 has a device for controlling device functions and a device for communicating with a user. In this case, a motion detector is arranged on the household appliance and operatively connected to the device for controlling and / or the device for communicating. The device for communicating can be effectively switched only upon receipt of a signal from the motion detector.

The object of the invention is to provide a household appliance, in particular household dishwasher, in which the energy consumption is further reduced.

According to the invention it is provided that after completion of a treatment process, the household appliance is separated from a household appliance with electrical power supply network, and before disconnecting the household appliance from the power supply network, in particular promptly completion of the treatment process, a signal via the transmission interface for activating the external display means is transmittable to indicate at least the end of the treatment process. In this case, corresponding to the separation of the household appliance from the power supply network Switching means provided which separate the household appliance automatically, ie without intervention of a user from the power supply, so that the household appliance is turned off and in particular no stand-by losses occur more. For this purpose, for example, the switching means may have a self-holding contact circuit. Before the switching means causes the completion of a treatment process towards the separation from the supply network, a signal is generated, for example, by a control of the household appliance, via the

Transmission interface to be transmitted to activate an external display means. This can be done promptly at the time of completion of the treatment procedure, i. for example, before or even after the completion of the treatment process. Thus, after completion of the treatment process, the disconnection from the supply network can be delayed, for example, by a period of 1 second to 1 minute in order to generate the signal in this time span and to transmit it via the transmission interface. However, it can also take place almost simultaneously with completion of the treatment process or even in a period of e.g. 1 second to 5 minutes before completion of treatment. In these two cases, the energy consumption is reduced by the amount that is in the o.g. Time is incurred. Furthermore, it is advantageous in this case that an operator is informed by the lead time in such a timely manner from the conclusion of a treatment process that they can go to the household appliance that is, for example, in another room of a flat or house, in which case the external display means is used to transfer information concerning the household appliance to other places. The external display means may be, for example, a display on a stove, a refrigerator and / or a radio. The signal connection between the transmission interface of the household appliance and the external display means can be done for example by radio, WLAN, Bluetooth, Powerline, etc. By means of the transmission interface of the household appliance, the external display means is activated to display at least the end of the treatment process at the end of the treatment process. Since according to the invention, the end of the treatment process is displayed on the external display means, the display of a completed treatment process is unnecessary directly on the household appliance.

The invention is based on investigations, according to which a period of time between the conclusion of the actual treatment process and a subsequent treatment process can be in the range of hours or days. In the event that after the end of the treatment process, the main switch is not turned off, therefore, in particular the optical display means indicating the end of the program, remain activated until the subsequent treatment process. As a result, the energy consumption of the household appliance can be markedly increased in the annual energy balance. The invention is particularly applicable to a household appliance, which is set automatically after the end of the treatment process and in particular after already successful activation of the external display means out of order to prevent energy consumption of the household appliance after completion of the treatment process.

In such a complete shutdown of the household appliance, the user would receive no information from the household appliance itself, whether the appliance has completed the treatment process properly, or if there is a power failure or other defect. According to the invention, therefore, the external display means is activated immediately before such a shutdown of the household appliance, so that when taken from the power supply household appliance on the external display means the end of the treatment process can be displayed.

To reduce the energy consumption of the external display means this can be disabled during the treatment process or before and activated only with appropriate control by the household appliance. In turn, the home appliance may have visual indicators that merely indicate operating conditions before and during the treatment process, but do not indicate the end of the treatment process. Accordingly, the optical status indicator can be deactivated after the end of the treatment process.

The external display means may remain activated after the end of the treatment process for a predetermined period of time or until actuation with a trigger signal. After this period of time, the external display means can be automatically deactivated.

Alternatively or additionally, the control of the household appliance may detect, for example, a door of a appliance door. In such a case, the controller of the household appliance recognizes that the user is informed of the end of the treatment process. In this case, the controller can generate a trigger signal with which the external display means is deactivated via the transmission interface. When using such a trigger signal to switch off the external display means, the control device remains of the household appliance after a program end is activated, while only the optical display means are deactivated.

The external display means can be activated as follows and indicate the program end of the household appliance: Thus, at the end of the treatment process, a control device can generate a program end signal with which the external display means is activated via the transmission interface. Together with the generation of the program end signal, the control device can automatically generate a switch-off signal with which at least the optical display means arranged in the control panel of the household appliance are automatically deactivated.

In an energy-saving embodiment, the controller of the household appliance may have a self-holding contact circuit. The self-holding contact circuit can be deactivated by the switch-off signal and open a switching element with which a power supply unit of the household appliance can be switched without current.

The self-holding contact circuit may have at least one power switch. This can be designed as a pushbutton, which is open in the unactuated state and closes electrical contact points when actuated. The push-button can be actuated as a microswitch in the control panel of the household appliance by an operator and can be connected in parallel to the above-mentioned switching element.

The self-holding contact circuit may preferably have a bistable relay with which a relay contact acting as a switching element can be switched. Such a bistable relay is characterized above all by the property that it can assume two different stable switching states when de-energized. A relay contact of the bistable relay may be connected as a switching element in a power supply line of the household appliance. Provided the bistable relay is energized with the turn-off signal, it switches the relay contact from a stable de-energized open state to a stable de-energized closed state, or vice versa, whereby the household appliance is completely decoupled from the mains.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the power switch and a circuit breaker are arranged in parallel. The power supply network can eg at a microswitch trained switch and abut parallel to the switching element connected. When put out of service home appliance, both the power switch and the switching element are open. By pressing the microswitch, the deactivated, that is open switching element of the self-holding contact circuit can be bypassed, whereby the control device is acted upon by a voltage pulse. The voltage pulse is passed via the control device to the self-holding contact circuit, whereby the self-holding contact circuit closes the switching element. In this way, current flows from the network via the now closed switching element to the self-holding contact circuit, so that the switching element remains stable while the power switch is open again. As soon as the control device conducts the switch-off signal to the self-hold contact circuit, this opens the switching element, whereby the power supply to the household appliance is interrupted.

It is preferably provided that an equally high electrical voltage is applied to the power switch and the off switch. This allows a particularly simple structure.

It is preferably provided that the power switch and the off switch an input and / or off-pulse are transmitted to the control device. It is further preferably provided that the power supply with the power switch and the circuit breaker is arranged forming a series circuit. In addition, it is preferably provided that the control device is connected to the power supply with electrical energy supplied. It is further preferably provided that the operating display is connected to the power supply with electrical energy supplied. Finally, it is preferably provided that the self-holding contact circuit is assigned to a controllable by the controller control.

The self-holding contact circuit may preferably have a bistable relay with which a relay contact acting as a switching element can be switched. Such a bistable relay is characterized above all by the property that it can assume two different stable switching states when de-energized. A relay contact of the bistable relay may be connected as the switching element in the main supply line of the household appliance. If the bistable relay is supplied with the switch-off signal, it switches the relay contact from a stable currentless open state into stable de-energized closed state or vice versa, whereby the household appliance is completely decoupled from the network or connected to it. Instead of a relay, a flip-flop, in particular an RS flip-flop, can also be used.

Finally, it is preferably provided that the self-holding contact circuit is connected to the circuit breaker such that the circuit breaker can be brought into an open state, so that a separation of the supply voltage is possible in a simple way.

Furthermore, the object of the invention is achieved by a method according to claim 8. Advantageous developments are specified in the subclaims.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying figures will be described.

Fig. 1

in einer schematischen Perspektivdarstellung ein aus einer Haushalts-Geschirrspülmaschine und einer Dunstabzugshaube bestehendes Haushaltsgerätenetzwerk; und

Fig. 2

eine Schaltungsanordnung der Haushalts-Geschirrspülmaschine.

Show it:

Fig. 1

in a schematic perspective view of a household appliance network consisting of a domestic dishwasher and an extractor hood; and

Fig. 2

a circuit arrangement of the household dishwasher.

In the Fig. 1 a domestic appliance network is shown, which has a domestic dishwasher and a hood DUH in the present embodiment. The domestic dishwasher is equipped with a transmission interface U, which is in signal communication with an optical display means EA of the hood DUH, as indicated by the dashed arrow SV. The display means EA of the hood DUH can be about a display with known 7-segment displays. As described in detail later, the display means AE of the hood DUH in double function can display both operating parameters of the hood and a program end after an expired rinse cycle of the household dishwasher.

The household dishwasher has a front door GT, which is pivotable about a bottom-side horizontal pivot axis in a known manner and with which a feed opening of the washing compartment BR can be opened or closed for loading and / or unloading. The feed opening is bounded above by a control panel B, which carries a micro-switch ES and only indicated optical display means AZ a power indicator BA. In addition, input means E are provided with which operating parameters for a rinse cycle of the domestic dishwasher can be entered.

The Indian Fig. 1 provided in the left area of the control panel B micro switch ES is exemplified here as a key switch. In a press of the microswitch ES, the household dishwasher can be switched to standby, while in a subsequent printing operation, the household dishwasher is decoupled from the power grid.

In the Fig. 2 a circuit arrangement is shown, in which inter alia, the micro switch ES and the operation indicator BA are integrated. In the circuit arrangement shown, the domestic dishwasher is connected to the power supply network via a main supply line H. In the main supply line H, a later-described switching element AS and a power supply NT are connected in series.

The power supply unit NT converts the mains voltage of, for example, 230 V into a low voltage of 12 V. The low voltage 12V is converted into a low voltage of 5 V by means of a regulator RG connected in series with the power supply NT, with which a control device SE is supplied. The power supply unit NT also supplies additional device components via additional outputs and also the operating indicator BA of the household dishwasher with low voltage.

The control device SE is integrated in a control module not shown in detail and controls during the execution of a wash program via a first signal line SL1 the optical display means AZ of the operating display BA and other device component, such as the drain pump or the circulation pump, by means of control signals S _E.

Like from the Fig. 2 Furthermore, the control device SE is connected via a second signal line SL2 to a bistable relay RE of a self-holding contact circuit SKS. The bistable relay RE is assigned as a relay contact the aforementioned switching element AS, which is connected instead of a mechanical main switch in the main supply line H and as such assumes a main switch function with which the domestic dishwasher can be decoupled from the power supply network or connected. The control device SE of the domestic dishwasher is with the interposition of the transmission interface U in signal communication SV with the optical display means EA of the hood DUH, which is assigned here as an external display means and the household dishwasher. The signal connection SV between the transmission interface U of the domestic dishwasher and the external display means EA can be a radio connection by way of example here.

The control device SE is also associated with a door opening sensor TS, which can detect a closing or opening state of the appliance door GT and forward it to the control device SE.

When put out of service domestic dishwasher both the micro switch ES and the switching element AS is open. The commissioning of the household dishwasher switched off by means of a pressure actuation of the microswitch ES, in which the initially open switching element AS is bridged. By the pressure actuation of the microswitch ES a voltage pulse is betreitgestelltt, which is passed via the power supply unit NT and the controller RG to the control device SE.

The control unit SE then forwards a switch S to _a further the bistable relay RE, after which the relay coil is energized and the switching member is moved from the AS normally stable open state into a normally stable closed state. In this way, after the pressure actuation again open microswitch ES is bridged by the now closed switching element AS, whereby the mains voltage is applied to the power supply NT.

The household dishwasher and in particular its operating display BA is thus switched to ready, so that subsequently by means of the input means E a Rinse program can be started. During the wash program, as well as before the start of the wash program, the optical display means AZ of the domestic dishwasher can display the operating status as well as set parameters. In contrast, the external display means EA of the extractor hood DUH with respect to the domestic dishwasher can operate independently of the domestic dishwasher. After the end of the washing program, the control device SE switches off the device components, such as a lye pump or a circulating pump.

Immediately after the end of the wash program, the control device SE also generates a further voltage pulse, which activates the bistable relay RE as the switch-off signal S _off via the second signal line SL2. Subsequently, the relay RE switches the switching element AS from the closed position to the open position, whereby the household dishwasher is completely disconnected from the power supply network.

Consequently, therefore, the optical display means AZ of the domestic dishwasher are disabled. The switching element AS of the relay RE thus acts as a main switch, which automatically disconnects the power supply NT of the domestic dishwasher from the power supply network after completion of the rinse cycle. In this way it is achieved that after the end of the program in particular a power supply via the power supply unit NT is interrupted to the optical display means AZ of the power indicator BA.

Simultaneously with the generation of the switch-off signal S _out , the control device SE generates a program _end signal S _end , which is conducted by means of the transmission interface U to the display means EA of the extractor hood DUH. In this case, the display means EA displays, for example, the program end of the household dishwasher for a limited time, while the household dishwasher is already completely decoupled from the power supply network.

In addition to or as an alternative to such a limited program end display, upon detection of an opening operation of the appliance door GT, the control device SE can trigger the external display means EA with a trigger signal at the program end display to disable. For this purpose, in a modification of the circuit arrangement of Fig. 2 by way of example, the circuit breaker AS is not arranged in the main supply line H, but between the power supply NT and the operating display BA of the household dishwasher. As a result, the control device SE can control the external display means EA of the extractor hood DUH with the trigger signal after the end of the program in order to effect a shutdown of the external display means EA.

Like from the Fig. 2 Furthermore, the microswitch ES is in signal connection via an input line EL directly to the control device SE. The voltage pulse provided by a manual pressure actuation of the microswitch ES is therefore also conducted directly to the control device SE, which detects and evaluates the pulse.

Upon detection of such a voltage pulse, the control device SE checks whether the power supply NT is already activated during the pressure actuation of the microswitch ES. When the power supply unit NT has not yet been activated, the control device SE detects a switch-on operation of the user and, as described above, controls the switch RE with the switch-on signal Sein. When already activated power supply NT recognizes the controller SE in the microswitch pressure actuation a shutdown of the user, so that the controller SE a corresponding switch-off signal S _out to the relay RE. In this case, the household dishwasher is put out of action. An optionally currently running wash program is thus interrupted.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

IT

microswitch

AS

switching element

H

Main supply line

B

control panel

AZ

display means

BA

Power indicator

EL

input line

RG

regulator

SE

control device

RE

bistable relay

SKS

Holding contact circuit

ST

control

HG

household appliance

SL1, SL2

signal lines

MORON

Hood

SV

signal connection

U

Transmission interface

TS

Door opening sensor

BR

treatment room

S _end

Program end signal

Claims (14)

1. Household appliance (HG), in particular a household dishwasher, at least having a transmission interface (U), which can be connected for signal transmission purposes (SV) to an external display means (EA), characterised in that a switching means (RE) is provided, which isolates the household appliance (HG) from a power supply network supplying said household appliance (HG) with electrical energy after completion of a treatment cycle and a controller (SE) is provided which, before the switching means (RE) effects the isolation of the household appliance (HG) from the power supply network, in particular very close to the time of completion of the treatment cycle, transmits a signal (S_end) by way of the transmission interface (U) to activate the external display means (EA) to display at least the end of the treatment cycle.
2. Household appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the household appliance (HG) has a controller (SE), which puts the household appliance out of operation after the end of the treatment cycle, in particular after activation of the external display means (EA).
3. Household appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the external display means (EA) is deactivated during the treatment cycle or before it.
4. Household appliance according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the household appliance (HG) has an operating display (BA) to display operating states of the household appliance (HG), which is activated during the treatment cycle or before it.
5. Household appliance according to claim 4, characterised in that the operating display (BA) of the household appliance is deactivated after the end of the treatment cycle.
6. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the external display means (EA) are configured to display the end of the treatment cycle for a predefined time period.
7. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the household appliance (HG) has a controller (SE), which is configured to detect the opening of an appliance door of the household appliance, with the controller (SE) generating the signal (S_end) when opening of the appliance door is detected.
8. Method for operating a household appliance (HG), in particular a household dishwasher, wherein the household appliance (HG) has at least one transmission interface (U), which is connected for signal transmission purposes (SV) to an external display means (EA), characterised in that the household appliance (HG) is isolated from a power supply network supplying said household appliance (HG) with electrical energy after completion of a treatment cycle and before the household appliance (HG) is isolated from the power supply network, in particular very close to the time of completion of the treatment cycle, a signal (S_end) is transmitted by way of the transmission interface (U) to activate the external display means (EA) to display at least the end of the treatment cycle.
9. Method according to claim 8, characterised in that a controller (SE) of the household appliance (HG) puts the household appliance out of operation after the end of the treatment cycle, in particular after activation of the external display means (EA).
10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the external display means (EA) is deactivated during the treatment cycle or before it.
11. Method according to claim 8, 9 or 10, characterised in that operating states of the household appliance (HG) are displayed using an operating display (BA) of the household appliance (HG), which is activated during the treatment cycle or before it.
12. Method according to claim 11, characterised in that the operating display (BA) of the household appliance is deactivated after the end of the treatment cycle.
13. Method according to one of the preceding claims 8 to 12, characterised in that the external display means (EA) display the end of the treatment cycle for a predefined time period.
14. Method according to one of the preceding claims 8 to 13, characterised in that the opening of an appliance door of the household appliance is detected using a controller (SE) of the household appliance (HG) and the controller (SE) generates the signal (S_end) when opening of the appliance door is detected.

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