EP2709422B2 - Hotplate device - Google Patents

Description

The invention is based on a hob device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Matrix hobs with variable cooking surfaces are known, each of which has an operating unit formed by control panels or buttons and/or touch-sensitive screens.

From the Japanese pamphlet JP 2009 099 299 A an induction hob with a hob plate for setting up a cookware is already known. A large number of induction coils are arranged underneath the hob plate and form a common cooking surface. The induction hob also includes a control unit that supplies the induction coils with high-frequency alternating current in order to heat the cookware.

The object of the invention is in particular to provide a generic device with improved properties in terms of convenient operation. The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of patent claim 1, while advantageous configurations and developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on a hob device, in particular an induction hob device, with at least one variable cooking surface, at least one operating unit that has at least two operating modules, and at least one control unit that is intended to control the variable cooking surface depending on inputs via the operating unit .

It is proposed that the hob device has an allocation unit which is provided for allocating one of the at least two operating modules selected by an operator to at least one cooking zone of the variable cooking surface as a function of operator inputs. A "variable cooking surface" is to be understood in particular as a cooking surface which is intended to form at least one cooking zone adapted to at least one set of cooking utensil. The variable cooking surface is preferably provided to supply at least two, in particular at least three, advantageously at least four, preferably at least five, independent cooking zones in at least one operating state. In particular, the variable cooking surface differs from a cooking surface whose cooking zones are fixed, in particular by markings on the cooking surface. In particular, the variable cooking surface is formed by at least one heating element matrix and/or at least one movable heating element, in particular an induction heating element. An "induction heating element" is to be understood in particular as a heating element which is provided for transferring at least 100 W, in particular at least 500 W, advantageously at least 1000 W, preferably at least 2000 W, of electrical heating power into an electromagnetic radiation field, preferably with a frequency of between 10 kHz and 150 kHz, in particular between 20 kHz and 100 kHz, which is intended to be converted into heat in at least one cooking utensil, in particular at least its base, by magnetic reversal and eddy current effects. Alternatively, resistance heaters, radiant heaters and/or the like are conceivable. A “heating element matrix” is to be understood in particular as a preferably two-dimensional, advantageously regular arrangement, in particular in a square or hexagonal pattern, of at least four, in particular at least ten, advantageously at least twenty, heating elements, in particular induction heating elements. A "movable" heating element is to be understood in particular as a heating element which is intended to be moved within at least a partial area of the variable cooking surface by means of at least one actuator of the variable cooking surface. Advantageously, the variable cooking surface has at least one sensor unit, which is formed in particular by the heating elements themselves, which is intended to detect positioned cooking utensils, in particular by measuring at least one inductance and/or at least one capacitance. In particular, the variable cooking surface is provided for assigning a cooking zone that is adapted in terms of shape, size and/or position to a cooking utensil that has been detected. In particular, the variable cooking surface has at least one control unit, which is preferably provided to evaluate measured values from the sensor unit, to calculate at least one cooking zone and to set heating elements that form this cooking zone. According to the invention, the control unit of the variable cooking surface is provided to control power electronics and to set a required heat output for a cooking zone. A "control module" is to be understood in particular as an individual control element and/or a group of control elements which are intended to control a common cooking zone. In particular, all operating elements of the operating unit that are intended to control a specific cooking zone should be understood as belonging to a specific operating module. An “operating element” is to be understood in particular as an input means which is provided for converting an operator action into a preferably electrical signal which can be interpreted by the control unit. The fact that a control element is provided to "control" a specific cooking zone should be understood in particular to mean that the control unit is provided to change only operating parameters, in particular a heating power, of the specific cooking zone depending on signals from the control element. In particular, an operating module has at least one operating means, as a function of which the control unit for a cooking zone activates an operating mode, in particular a cooking program, a switch-off time and/or a boost mode. A “control unit” should be understood to mean, in particular, an electronic unit which is preferably at least partially integrated in a control and/or regulation unit of a hob and which is preferably provided for controlling and/or regulating at least the variable hob. Preferably, the control unit comprises an arithmetic unit and, in particular, in addition to the arithmetic unit, a memory unit with an operating program stored therein, in particular a control and/or regulation program, which is intended to be executed by the arithmetic unit. In particular, the control unit of the hob device is designed in one piece with the control unit of the variable cooking surface. In particular, the allocation unit is provided to allocate an operator-selected operating module to a cooking zone selected by an operator, or vice versa, as a function of operator inputs. The fact that an operating module and a cooking zone are assigned to one another is to be understood in particular to mean that the control unit is intended to adjust a heating output of the cooking zone when the operating module is operated at least once. In particular, the assignment unit has at least one control unit, which is in particular designed in one piece with the control unit of the hob device and/or is at least linked to it. In particular, the assignment unit has at least one operating module that is provided for accepting operator inputs and forwarding them to the control unit. “Provided” should be understood to mean, in particular, specially programmed, designed and/or equipped. In particular, a high level of flexibility and/or a high level of operating convenience can be achieved. In particular, an operator can freely determine which cooking zone he would like to operate with which operating module. In particular, failure resistance to failure of at least one of the operating modules can be achieved.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the hob device has at least one indication unit, which is intended to display an assignment between operating modules of the operating unit and cooking zones of the variable cooking surface. In particular, the indication unit has at least one first display module, which is provided for assigning at least one indicator, in particular at least one color, at least one pattern and/or at least one number, to at least one cooking zone. The fact that an indicator is “assigned” to a cooking zone is to be understood in particular to mean that the display module displays the indicator at a position that correlates with a position of the cooking zone. A display module is preferably at least essentially, in particular at least 50%, advantageously at least 70%, preferably at least 90%, formed by active, state-variable display elements, in particular light-emitting elements. In particular, the first display module is intended to visualize each active cooking zone. In particular, the first display module is intended to visualize different active cooking zones with different colors and/or different patterns. Advantageously, the indicator unit has at least one second display module, which is provided for assigning at least one indicator to each of the two operating modules. In particular, the indication unit has at least one control unit that is provided to control displays of the indication unit. The control unit of the indication unit is preferably linked to the control unit of the hob device and/or is designed in one piece with it. In particular, the indication unit is intended to highlight a cooking zone whose assigned operating module is currently being operated in an operating mode. In particular, comfortable handling can be achieved.

It is advantageously proposed that the indication unit has at least one screen. A "screen" is to be understood in particular as a display unit which is intended to display a variable image, in particular with a resolution of at least 60x80 separately controllable pixels and preferably with a pixel density of at least 20 dpi, in particular at least 40 dpi, advantageously at least 80 dpi , to display. In particular, at least the first display module has a screen. The screen is preferably designed as a multicolor screen. In particular, the screen is designed as an LC and/or OLED screen. The control unit is preferably provided to display a representation of the variable cooking surface, in particular at least one size and/or position of detected cooking zones, on the screen in at least one display mode. In particular, the screen differs from a touch-sensitive screen. In particular, a simple and/or convenient display can be achieved. Alternatively and/or additionally, it is conceivable that the first display module is designed as an LED matrix, which is arranged in particular below a hob plate of the hob device and is provided, for example, to at least frame the cooking utensil that has been set up, which advantageously achieves cost savings by eliminating the display can be. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the first display module has at least one, preferably several, differently colored, steerable and/or aimable lighting units, in particular at least one pivotable laser pointer.

Furthermore, it is proposed that at least one of the operating modules has at least one rotary control. A "rotary controller" is to be understood in particular as an input element which is intended to convert a rotary movement effected by an operator into a signal for the control unit. In particular, the rotary control is designed as a free rotary control. A "free" rotary control is to be understood in particular as a rotary control without a fixed start and end point. In particular, the control unit is provided to differences in positions of the free Knob to use for control and / or regulation. The control knob is advantageously designed as a fixed control knob. A “fixed” rotary control is to be understood in particular as a rotary control that has a fixed start and end point. The at least one rotary control is advantageously designed as a mechanical rotary control. A "mechanical" control knob should be understood to mean, in particular, a control knob that has at least one movable, preferably rotatably mounted, element. In particular, the mechanical control knob has predetermined, in particular magnetic, latching points. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the mechanical control knob can be rotated freely. In particular, the control unit is provided to assign a specific value of a variable to be set to specific positions of the fixed rotary control. In particular, the control unit is provided to assign a minimum or a maximum of the variable to be set to the start or end point. The control unit is preferably provided to change a heating power of the cooking zone assigned to the operating module as a function of inputs via the rotary control. The fact that the control unit is intended to "change" a heating output of the cooking zone assigned to the operating module as a function of inputs via the rotary control is to be understood in particular as meaning that the control unit is intended to change a heating output when a rotation is carried out in a first direction of rotation , in particular clockwise, to increase as long as a maximum of a heating output to be set is not reached and/or to reduce the heating output when performing a rotation in a second direction of rotation, in particular counterclockwise, as long as a minimum of the heating output is not reached. In particular, the control unit is provided to switch from the maximum to the minimum value and vice versa in the event of over-rotation, ie rotation beyond a point at which a maximum or minimum heating output is reached. In particular, an intuitive operation comparable to classic hobs can be achieved. In particular, a cost-saving configuration can be achieved.

It is also proposed that the allocation unit has at least one touch-sensitive control surface. A "touch-sensitive control surface" is to be understood in particular as a control element which is intended to send at least one signal to the control unit when a part of the operator's body, for example a finger, approaches and/or touches it lightly. In particular, the touch-sensitive control surface is provided to generate different input signals depending on a point of contact. In particular, the touch-sensitive control surface is provided to reproduce at least two signals, which correspond in particular to touch coordinates, when it is actuated. The touch-sensitive control surface is advantageously designed as a touch-sensitive screen together with a screen of the indication unit. In particular, the assignment unit is intended to use a sliding movement over the touch-sensitive control surface, for example by means of an operator's finger, from a displayed cooking zone to one of the at least two control modules representing partial area of the screen for assignment of the cooking zone and the control module. In particular, intuitive operation can be achieved.

Further advantages result from the following description of the drawings. Two exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing. 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 further meaningful combinations.

Fig. 1

ein erstes erfindungsgemäßes Kochfeld,

Fig. 2

eine Indikationseinheit eines zweiten erfindungsgemäßen Kochfelds in einem ersten Anzeigezustand und

Fig. 3

die Indikationseinheit aus Figur 2 in einem weiteren Anzeigezustand.

They show in a schematic representation:

1

a first hob according to the invention,

2

an indication unit of a second hob according to the invention in a first display state and

3

the indication unit figure 2 in another display state.

figure 1 shows a hob 10a designed as an induction hob with a hob device 12a designed as an induction hob device. The hob device 12a has a variable cooking surface 14a, which is formed by heating elements arranged under a hob plate 16a. Furthermore, the hob device 12a has an operating unit 20a and a control unit 18a, which is provided to control the variable cooking surface 14a as a function of inputs via the operating unit 20a. The operating unit 20a has four operating modules 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a. The operating modules 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a each have a rotary control. The knobs are designed as mechanical knobs. The control unit 18a is intended to change the heating power of up to four cooking zones 42a, 44a of the variable cooking surface 14a as a function of inputs via the operating modules 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a. The operating unit 20a is arranged in a separate operating bar. Examples are in figure 1 two cooking utensils shown, each forming a cooking zone 42a, 44a.

The hob device 12a also has an assignment unit 50a, which is provided for assigning an operating module 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a selected by an operator to a new cooking zone 42a, 44a as a function of operator inputs. The assignment unit 50a is provided to assign one of the operating modules 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a to a cooking zone 42a, 44a that is first operated by an operator after it has been identified.

Furthermore, the hob device 12a has an indication unit 30a, which is provided to indicate an assignment of the operating modules 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a to the up to four cooking zones 42a, 44a. The indication unit 30a has a first display module 32a and a second display module 34a. The first display module 32a is formed by a screen which is intended to display an image of the variable cooking surface 14a. The first display module 32a is arranged under the hob plate 16a in a recess in the variable cooking surface 14a. The second display module 34a is integrated into the operating unit 20a. The second display module 34a is formed by light sources configured as LEDs, one of the light sources being integrated into one of the operating modules 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the light source assigned to an operating module 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a is arranged in lateral proximity to the respective operating module 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a, in particular as a ring around it, or that the second display module 34a is only colored plaques or the like is formed. The second display module 34a is intended to assign different colors, for example red, yellow, blue and green, to different operating modules 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a (indicated by different hatching). Also, for example in an adjustable operating mode for color blind people, in particular multicolored patterns are conceivable. The first display module 32a is intended to show the display areas 43a, 45a representing the cooking zones 42a, 44a in a color that corresponds to that of the assigned operating module 22a, 24a, 26a, 28a. Furthermore, the control unit 18a is provided to activate only the lamps whose associated operating module 24a, 26a is associated with a cooking zone 42a, 44a.

Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that an operating module has a group of touch-sensitive operating surfaces or other alternative operating elements. Furthermore, an alternative assignment unit is conceivable, which is equipped without a touch-sensitive screen but with a camera and corresponding processing software.

In the Figures 2 and 3 another embodiment of the invention is shown. The following descriptions are essentially limited to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, with regard to components, features and functions that remain the same on the description of the exemplary embodiment of FIG figure 1 can be referred. To distinguish between the exemplary embodiments, the letter a is in the reference numerals of the exemplary embodiment in FIG figure 1 by the letter b in the reference numerals of the embodiment of FIG Figure 2 and 3 replaced. With regard to components with the same designation, in particular with regard to components with the same reference symbols, reference can in principle also be made to the drawing and/or the description of the exemplary embodiment of FIG figure 1 to get expelled.

figure 2 shows an indication unit 30b of a hob device with a variable cooking surface, which is analogous to FIG figure 1 is formed, in a first display state. The indication unit 30b is formed by a touch-sensitive screen. The indication unit 30b has a first and a second display module 32b, 34b, which are each formed by different partial areas of the touch-sensitive screen. The first display module 32b is intended to display an image of the variable cooking surface. The second display module 34b is intended to display symbolic images 23b, 25b, 27b, 29b of four operating modules of an operating unit of the hob device. The second display module 34b is formed by a strip at a bottom edge of the touch-sensitive screen. The hob device 12b also has an assignment unit 50b. The assignment unit 50b has a touch-sensitive control surface, which is part of the touch-sensitive screen of the indication unit 30b. An assignment unit 50b of the hob device is provided to assign the cooking zone to the operating module of the operating unit selected by the operator as a function of an operator input 52b, a swiping movement from a display area 43b assigned to a cooking zone to an image 25b of a selected operating module ( figure 3 ). The indication unit 30b is provided for displaying mutually associated display areas 43b, 45b representing cooking zones and images 23b, 25b, 27b, 29b representing operating modules in the same color.

Alternatively, it is conceivable that images representing operating modules are kept abstract. In particular, it is conceivable that the second display module is divided into partial areas of equal size, each of which represents one of the operating modules.

Reference sign

10

hob

12

hob device

14

variable cooking surface

16

hob plate

18

control unit

20

operating unit

22

operating module

23

image

24

operating module

25

image

26

operating module

27

image

28

operating module

29

image

30

indication unit

32

display module

34

display module

42

cooking zone

43

display area

44

cooking zone

45

display area

50

allocation unit

52

operator input

Claims (7)

1. Hotplate device having at least one variable cooking surface (14), at least one operating unit (20), which has at least two operating modules (22, 24, 26, 28), and at least one control unit (18), which is provided to control the variable cooking surface (14) as a function of inputs by way of the operating unit (20), wherein all operating elements of the operating unit (20), which are provided to control a specific cooking zone, are understood as belonging to a specific operating module, characterised by an allocation unit (50), which is provided to allocate one of the at least two operating modules (22, 24, 26, 28) selected by an operator to at least one cooking zone (42, 44) of the variable cooking surface (14) as a function of operator inputs (52).
2. Hotplate device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by at least one indication unit (30), which is provided to indicate an allocation between operating modules (22, 24, 26, 28) of the operating unit (20) and cooking zones (42, 44) of the variable cooking surface (14).
3. Hotplate device according to claim 2, characterised in that the indication unit (30) has at least one screen.
4. Hotplate device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of the operating modules (22, 24, 26, 28) has at least one rotary controller.
5. Hotplate device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the allocation unit (50) has at least one touch-sensitive operating surface.
6. Hotplate having a hotplate device (12) according to one of the preceding claims.
7. Method for operating a hotplate device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, having at least one variable cooking surface (14), at least one operating unit (20), which has at least two operating modules (22, 24, 26, 28) and having an allocation unit (50), wherein the variable cooking surface (14) is controlled as a function of inputs by way of the operating unit (20), wherein all operating elements of the operating unit (20), which are provided to control a specific cooking zone, are understood as belonging to a specific operating module and wherein one of the at least two operating modules (22, 24, 26, 28) selected by an operator is allocated by the allocation unit (50) to at least one cooking zone (42, 44) of the variable cooking surface (14) as a function of operator inputs (52).

Images