EP2662629A1 - Domestic appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

The domestic appliance (1) has a treatment chamber (2) that is operatively connected with the antenna (3) through a connecting unit (5). A coupling unit (4) is provided in the treatment chamber and is provided an arbitrarily shaped coupling element. A transmitting and/or receiving unit (11) is arranged in the coupling unit used for electromagnetic waves. The matching elements of different areas are arranged in the coupling unit. An insulator (7) is arranged between the coupling unit and the antenna.

Description

The present invention relates to a domestic appliance with at least one treatment room, which is assigned at least one antenna. For example, the domestic appliance can be designed as a cooking appliance and have a treatment space designed as a cooking space. When preparing food, the temperature of the food is often important. For wireless detection of the temperature can serve a radio transmission system in which the temperature signals are wirelessly coupled into the antenna of the household appliance to monitor the preparation, to control the cooking process or the like.

Also in other household appliances, such as refrigerators or freezers or other household appliances, it may be of interest to monitor wirelessly, for example, the temperature of an imported goods.

For example, cooking appliances have become known in the prior art which detect the temperature of a food item in the cooking chamber via a radio sensor. In this case, both the sensor signal and the electrical energy required for measuring can be transmitted by radio. In all cases, it is necessary that the antenna of the domestic appliance reliably detects the signal radiated by a sensor. When the energy for measurement is wirelessly transmitted to the wireless sensor, sufficient active power must be transmitted to the wireless sensor. Since such a radio sensor can be arranged at various points in the treatment room and since its location, for example, when turning a food can also change, the antenna must be adjusted accordingly sensitive and / or a correspondingly homogeneous and sufficiently high active power transmission in the treatment room ,

This is possible with the devices in the prior art in principle, but requires a correspondingly high active power transfer and / or a correspondingly high cost.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a domestic appliance with at least one treatment room, with which a reliable function can be ensured.

This object is achieved by a domestic appliance with the features of claim 1. Preferred developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the general description and the description of the embodiments.

A domestic appliance according to the invention has at least one treatment room to which at least one antenna is assigned. In this case, a coupling arrangement is provided in the treatment room, which is in operative connection with the antenna via a connecting device.

The domestic appliance according to the invention has many advantages, since it allows reliable operation with little technical effort. By provided in the treatment room coupling arrangement of the technical complexity can be reduced because the coupling arrangement is connected via a connecting device in operative connection with the antenna and thus for a correspondingly more homogeneous distribution of z. B. irradiated active power provides. Conversely, even weak transmission signals can be reliably detected from the treatment room, so that an effectively and reliably working domestic appliance is provided.

The connection device ensures a reliable coupling of the antenna with the coupling arrangement. Thus, high-frequency electrical radiation can be coupled into the coupling arrangement via the antenna or it is possible to couple high-frequency radiation from the coupling arrangement into the antenna. In particularly preferred embodiments, the coupling arrangement is provided in the treatment room in particular both for coupling and for decoupling electromagnetic radiation.

Preferably, the coupling arrangement has at least one arbitrarily shaped coupling element. It is possible and preferred that the coupling arrangement comprises two or more arbitrarily shaped coupling elements which are coupled together.

A coupling element can, for. B. be designed as a wire loop, rod or other element. A coupling element may be formed partially elongated. Also, a plurality of coupling elements may each be at least partially elongated formed. But it is also possible that at least one coupling element is formed bent at least partially. It is also possible that at least one coupling element is partially formed rod-shaped and partially curved. In particular, the coupling arrangement as a whole can have a more meandering structure. At least one coupling element of the coupling arrangement is in particular at least partially metallic.

The coupling arrangement or at least one coupling element has at least partially a non-linear course.

The coupling arrangement can serve as a transmitting and / or receiving device for electromagnetic waves. But it is also possible in particular that the coupling arrangement serves even more functions.

Preferably, the coupling arrangement is expanded overall areally and is designed in particular as a planar transmitting and / or receiving device. Such a coupling arrangement can serve, for example, as a surface radiator and / or surface receiver.

By means of such a coupling arrangement, such an active power distribution can be set in the treatment space that, independent of the location in the treatment space, an active power transmission which is sufficient, for example, for measurement purposes is ensured.

In all embodiments, at least one matching element is preferably provided on the coupling arrangement. Such an adapter element may be formed partially elongated, but may also be bent, serpentine or otherwise configured. Preferably, the matching element is at least partially rod-shaped and / or at least partially metallic.

Such an adaptation element on the coupling arrangement can be used very advantageously since this makes it possible to optimize an on or coupled-out electromagnetic radiation in the treatment space. In particular, when the coupling arrangement is no longer part of the transmitting and / or receiving device but also fulfills at least one other function, a sufficient distribution of the active power transmitted into the treatment space can be achieved via a suitable matching element or via a plurality of suitable matching elements.

It is possible and preferred for at least one matching element to connect at least two different regions of the coupling arrangement to one another. In this case, an adapter element can connect two different regions of a single coupling element with one another, or else an adapter element connects different coupling elements of the coupling arrangement with one another.

About the position or the location and the orientation or direction and the size and shape of a matching element, a suitable improvement of the active power transmission of the coupling arrangement in the transmission and / or reception case can be achieved. It is possible to specify a sufficiently homogeneous distribution of the active power transmission within the treatment space, so that a sensor device used in the treatment room can be reliably operated.

Preferably, the connection means comprises at least one isolator between the coupling arrangement and the antenna. Such an isolator is advantageous since it can provide, for example, thermal insulation between the coupling arrangement and the antenna. Particularly preferably, an electrical insulator is provided on the connecting device, so that a high DC resistance is present between the antenna and the coupling arrangement.

Particularly preferably, the antenna is capacitively connected or coupled to the coupling arrangement by means of the connecting device. Such a capacitive connection of the coupling arrangement with the antenna via the connection device allows the line of high-frequency current from the antenna into the coupling arrangement and back again. Although there is no electrically conductive connection for DC, the connection means connects the antenna to the coupling arrangement via the capacitive connection.

Preferably, the antenna and the connection device are arranged in the treatment room. The connecting device is preferably provided at an end region of the antenna. Particularly preferably, the connecting device surrounds the antenna with play. A radial distance between the antenna and the connection device ensures mechanical decoupling of the antenna from the connection device, which in turn is in particular connected to the coupling arrangement. Particularly preferably, the arrangement of the connection device takes place on the antenna in such a way that an efficient operative connection is ensured. An efficient and optionally even optimal transmission of the active power offers considerable advantages, since a reliable working domestic appliance can be provided with little effort. An efficient operative connection is made possible in particular via the matching elements. If possible, the shape and shape of the coupling arrangement is included to allow an advantageous distribution of the transmitted active power in the treatment room.

Particularly preferably, the coupling arrangement is at least partially formed by a fixed or movable in the treatment room arranged functional component. The coupling arrangement can be designed, for example, as a radiator, grate, insert, food support, Garblech or other functional component. By using a functional component as a coupling arrangement, the structure of the domestic appliance according to the invention is even easier. If the functional component can be designed as desired, the shape of the functional component can be adapted to the requirements of the coupling arrangement in order to ensure a sufficiently homogeneous distribution of the electromagnetic radiation in the treatment space. Otherwise, a sufficiently secure function can be made possible via corresponding matching elements.

Particularly preferably, the coupling arrangement comprises a radiator or is designed as such. This is particularly advantageous for household appliances that have a heating function, such as cooking appliances. Similarly, dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerators and / or freezers or other household appliances can be equipped accordingly.

Preferably, at least one sensor device is provided which comprises a radio transmission system for wireless signal transmission. Such a sensor device can be arranged for example in the treatment room. It is possible to operate such sensor devices via an energy store, such as a capacitor or a battery. It is also possible that the energy required for the operation of the sensor device is made available via the antenna and the coupling arrangement.

Advantageously, the antenna with the coupling device serves for signal transmission from an evaluation device to the sensor device and / or vice versa. In this case, the evaluation device initiates, for example, the measurement of a sensor value and subsequently evaluates the detected signal. Such a temperature detection process can be referred to overall as an evaluation process. Preferably, in such an evaluation process or when detecting a temperature, the sensor device is first excited by the antenna with the coupling arrangement. Subsequently, the sensor signal is transmitted back and evaluated by radio.

In particularly preferred embodiments, the domestic appliance has a housing and the treatment chamber can be closed via a door. In cooking appliances at least one treatment room is designed as a cooking chamber. The treatment room can be assigned at least one heat source.

Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the embodiments, which are explained below with reference to the accompanying figures.

Figur 1

eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht eines ersten Hausgeräts;

Figur 2

eine schematische Vorderansicht eines zweiten erfindungsgemäßen Hausgeräts;

Figur 3

einen schematischen Schnitt durch den Behandlungsraum des Hausgerätes nach Fig. 1 oder 2;

Figur 4

die Halteplatte zur Befestigung der Koppelanordnung des Hausgerätes nach Fig. 2;

Figur 5

einen Querschnitt durch die Koppelanordnung gemäß Fig. 3;

Figur 6

die Ortskurve eines Behandlungsraumes mit dem zugehörigen Reflexionsfaktorverlauf; und

Figur 7

einen vergrößerten Querschnitt durch die Verbindungseinrichtung und die Koppelanordnung nach Fig. 5.

In the figures show:

FIG. 1

a schematic perspective view of a first domestic appliance;

FIG. 2

a schematic front view of a second domestic appliance according to the invention;

FIG. 3

a schematic section through the treatment room of the household appliance according to Fig. 1 or 2 ;

FIG. 4

the retaining plate for fastening the coupling arrangement of the domestic appliance according to Fig. 2 ;

FIG. 5

a cross section through the coupling arrangement according to Fig. 3 ;

FIG. 6

the locus of a treatment room with the associated reflection factor curve; and

FIG. 7

an enlarged cross section through the connecting device and the coupling arrangement according to Fig. 5 ,

In FIG. 1 a trained as a cooking appliance 100 domestic appliance 1 is shown in a schematic perspective view.

The cooking device 100 has a housing 25 and a cooking space designed as a treatment room 2, which is closed by a door 26.

Several control buttons 46 are used to set the desired operating conditions. A display 47 informs about the current cooking program or the current state. In addition to the cooking chamber 2, the cooking appliance 100 according to the embodiment Fig. 1 also via a hob 41 with several cooking stoves 42.

Fig. 2 shows another cooking appliance 100 in a front view. The cooking appliance in turn has a housing 25 and a door 26 closing the cooking chamber 2, as well as control buttons 46 and a display 47.

In the cooking chamber 2, at least one radiator 10 is arranged, which is designed here as a top heat radiator. For heating a steam inlet 27 is further provided, via which the steam of a steam generator 24 can be supplied to the cooking chamber. Excess steam may exit via an outlet port 28.

In the cooking chamber, a food support 29 is shown very schematically, on which a food to be cooked 36 is also drawn in a highly schematic form here. In the food 36 here a sensor device 21 is partially inserted, which may be formed here, for example, as a core spit. The sensor device 21 here has at least one temperature sensor and a radio transmission device 37, which transmits the measured signals by radio to an evaluation device 23. The evaluation device 23 may be part of the control device 22 or provided separately.

Here in the exemplary embodiment, the sensor device 21 is supplied via the cooking appliance 100 with the energy required for measuring. At least exactly when a temperature in the cooking chamber 2 or in the food 36 is to be determined, is triggered by evaluation 23 a temperature detection process. For this purpose, high-frequency electromagnetic radiation is applied via a coaxial connection and here a coaxial cable to the antenna 3, which is arranged in the cooking chamber 2. The antenna 3 is here rod-shaped and is received at an end portion 18 of a connecting device 5. The connecting device 5 here comprises a hollow cylindrical insulator 7, through which the antenna 3 is pushed.

The connection device 5 connects or couples the antenna 3 capacitively to the coupling arrangement 4. In particular, the connection device 5 capacitively couples high-frequency current from the antenna 3 to the coupling arrangement 4 and / or vice versa. The coupling assembly 4 is here a functional component 20 of the domestic appliance 1. The coupling assembly 4 serves not only for coupling with the antenna 3, but also as a radiator 10 for heating the cooking chamber 2. The radiator 10 is a functional component 20 of the cooking appliance 100 and fulfilled in addition to the heating purposes also the function of the coupling arrangement for coupling and decoupling electromagnetic radiation in the treatment room.

The insulator 7 serves for the electrical and thermal decoupling of the antenna 3 from the coupling arrangement 4, wherein a capacitive connection of the antenna 3 with the coupling arrangement 4 is provided.

The coupling arrangement here has a plurality of matching elements 13 and 14 which connect at suitable locations 15 as coupling elements 8, 9 different regions of the coupling arrangement 4 with each other. The overall length 17 of the individual matching elements 13, 14 or the projections 31 or their lengths 32 are determined by the fact that a suitable active power transmission into the treatment chamber 2 is made possible and ensured.

It is possible to design the functional component 20 as a coupling arrangement 4 in such a way that a sufficiently high active power is available at all points in the treatment space. This is preferred if the functional component can be designed as desired. It is also possible, via the shape, shape, position or location 15 and the alignment 16 of the matching elements 13 and 14, to ensure a desired homogenization and optimization of the coupling and decoupling of electromagnetic waves or radiation into the treatment space 2. This is preferred if the shape and shape of the functional component is predetermined or not easily changed.

The radiator 10 as a functional component 20 is attached either directly or indirectly via at least one of the matching elements 13 or 14 and at least one fastening element 30, for example on the ceiling wall of the treatment chamber 2.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of the holding plate 33 to which the coupling elements 8, 9 and the radiator 10 and the antenna 3 are attached. The holding plate 33 is fastened in particular to the rear wall of the treatment space.

Fig. 5 shows a cross section through the coupling assembly 4 and the antenna 3 in the region of the connecting device 5. The radiator 10 as a coupling assembly 4 and its coupling elements 8 and 9 are visible from the side, while in between the antenna 3 can be seen, which is surrounded by the insulator 7 of the connecting device , About a retaining tab 6, the connecting device 5 is held. Although the insulator 7 is made of an electrically non-conductive material, there is a capacitive coupling of the antenna 3 with the coupling arrangement 4th

Fig. 6 shows the locus 34 of the treatment room 2 with the reflection factor curve 35 for the in Fig. 3 illustrated embodiment. The central point for the reflection factor is zero, while the outermost circle stands for 100% reflection.

It can be clearly seen that the reflection factor 35 remains well below 0.6, so that a sufficient coupling of electromagnetic waves or radiation into the treatment space 2 is made possible and guaranteed. The arrangement and the shape of the coupling arrangement 4 and the adjusting bars 13, 14 has ensured a sufficient quality of the reflection factor curve 35 in the diagram 34.

Fig. 7 shows an enlarged cross section through the connecting device 5, the antenna 3 and a matching element 13 of the coupling assembly 4. Between the antenna 3 and the insulator 7, a radial gap 19 is provided. The radial gap 19 prevents mechanical stresses due to different thermal expansions, facilitates assembly and additionally provides for a thermal decoupling. Although the antenna 3 is surrounded by a gap 19 and an insulator 7, the antenna 3 is capacitively connected or coupled via the matching element 13 with the coupling arrangement 4.

Overall, the invention provides an advantageous domestic appliance 1 and in particular an advantageous cooking appliance 100, in which, for example, the antenna 3 is capacitively coupled via a connecting device 5 to a coupling arrangement 4, wherein the coupling arrangement 4 simultaneously serves as a ceiling heater 10. The radiator 10 is fixed under the ceiling of the treatment room 2, for example via retaining tabs 30 or the like.

The antenna 3 is connected, for example, to the core of a coaxial cable, while the shield of the coaxial cable is connected to the housing of the treatment space 2.

In a region of the end of the antenna 3, a connecting device 5 is provided which comprises, for example, an insulator 7 designed as a ceramic sleeve. The ceramic sleeve may be glued to the antenna 3 and held loosely in a retaining tab 6. It is also possible that the insulator 7 is held firmly in the retaining tab 6 and a radial distance 19 is inside the antenna 3.

For an effective active power transmission from a high frequency source via the coaxial cable to the antenna 3, the reflection factor at the interface between the high frequency source and the system is chosen as low as possible.

Since due to different in the treatment room 2 incorporated materials such as food, the electrical properties and thus the active power transmission in the treatment room can change, a corresponding active power transmission must be ensured for the different conceivable load cases. By a suitable adaptation of the coupling arrangement 4 via the shape of a functional component 20 or the type, number and arrangement of the matching elements 13, 14, a suitable form of the coupling arrangement can be selected. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the antenna 3, the coupling elements 8, 9 and the matching elements 13, 14 have a sufficiently high conductivity. In addition to a capacitive coupling of the coupling arrangement 4 with the antenna 3, a direct metallic connection is also possible.

It has been found in experiments that the necessary dynamic range can be provided reliably with an operative connection according to the invention of the coupling arrangement 4 with the connection device 5.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

household appliance

2

Treatment room, cooking space

3

antenna

4

coupling arrangement

5

connecting device

6

retaining tab

7

Insulator, insulating body

8, 9

coupling element

10

radiator

11

Transmitting and / or receiving device

13, 14

matching element

15

place

16

direction

17

Size, length

18

end

19

distance

20

functional component

21

sensor device

22

control device

23

evaluation

24

steam generator

25

casing

26

door

27

steam inlet

28

outlet

29

food support

30

fastener

31

Got over

32

length

33

Retaining plate

34

diagram

35

Reflectance curve

36

be cooked

37

Radio transmission device

41

hob

42

cooking

46

control knob

47

display

100

Cooking appliance

Claims (19)

Domestic appliance (1) having at least one treatment room (2) to which at least one antenna (3) is assigned,
characterized,
that a coupling arrangement (4) in the treatment chamber (2) is provided, which communicates with the antenna (3) via a connecting means (5) in operative connection. Domestic appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling arrangement (4) comprises at least one arbitrarily shaped coupling element (8, 9). Domestic appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one coupling element (8, 9) of the coupling arrangement (4) at least partially has a non-linear course. Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling arrangement (4) at least also serves as a transmitting and / or receiving device (11) for electromagnetic waves. Domestic appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the coupling arrangement (4) is extensively extended and forms a planar transmitting and / or receiving device (11). Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one matching element (13, 14) is provided on the coupling arrangement (4). Domestic appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one matching element (13, 14) connects different areas (16, 17) of the coupling arrangement (4) with each other. Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that to improve the active power transmission of the coupling arrangement (4) in the transmission and / or reception case, the location (15) and the direction (16) of at least one matching element (13, 14) is selected. Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting device (5) has at least one insulator (7) between the coupling arrangement (4) and the antenna (3). Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the antenna (3) is capacitively coupled to the coupling arrangement (4) by means of the connecting device (5). Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the antenna (3) and the connecting device (5) are arranged in the treatment space (2). Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting device (5) is arranged on an end region (18) of the antenna (3). Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting device (5) surrounds the antenna (3) with play. Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arrangement of the connecting device (5) on the antenna (3) takes place in such a way that an efficient operative connection is ensured. Domestic appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling arrangement (4) is at least partially formed by a fixed or movable in the treatment chamber (2) arranged functional component (20). Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling arrangement (4) comprises a radiator (10) or is designed as such. Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one sensor device (21) is provided which comprises a radio transmission device (37) for wireless signal transmission. Domestic appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the antenna (3) with the coupling device (4) for signal transmission from an evaluation device (23) to the sensor device (11) and / or vice versa is used. Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a housing (25) is provided and / or that the treatment chamber (2) has a door (26) and / or that the treatment chamber (2) is designed as a cooking chamber and / or that the treatment chamber (2) is associated with at least one heating source (10).

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