EP3399239B1 - Domestic appliance with an operating device with determination of absolute position of a control element in the room - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a household appliance with an operating device with an operating element receptacle and with a separate operating element which can be placed on and detachably positioned on the operating element receptacle. The operating device also has at least one static acceleration sensor which is arranged in the operating element.

From the EP 2 983 149 A1 an operating unit for a household appliance is known. The plate-shaped operating unit has an acceleration sensor. Depending on its information, a relative reference position and also relative movements of the operating unit to the household appliance can be determined. The control unit is placed horizontally on the household appliance or on an adjacent worktop.

From the EP 2 251 762 A2 an operating device for an electrical device is known. The operating device has an operating unit which is designed as a rotary control. This operating unit can be detachably removed from an operating element receptacle in a non-destructive manner and put back on again. An operating condition of the electrical device can only be set by specific actuation of the control unit when it is attached. Acceleration sensors, which are designed to detect a rotary movement or a sliding movement, can be arranged in the operating unit. The acceleration sensors there are therefore only designed to detect a specific dynamic type of movement in the direction of rotation, so that only angular accelerations are recorded. They are not static acceleration sensors that record the accelerations in spatial directions and thus axially.

The problem with these separate operating elements, which can be detachably attached to an operating element receptacle in a non-destructive manner, is that only these dynamic movements can be recognized. Other movements or positions cannot be detected there with the available means. This leads, among other things, to the fact that when the operating unit there is placed on the operating element receptacle there is no information about how this operating unit is oriented. As a result, the basic operating variability of these operating devices there is restricted.

The object of the present invention is to design an operating device of a household appliance with an acceleration sensor in such a way that the operating functionality of the operating device is improved on the basis of the information from the acceleration sensor.

This object is achieved by a household appliance according to the independent claims.

One aspect of the invention relates to a household appliance with an operating device. The operating device has an operating element receptacle and a separate operating element. The operating element is designed in such a way that it can be placed on and removed from the operating element receptacle. In particular when the operating element is placed on the operating element receptacle, operating conditions of the domestic appliance can then be set by specifically actuating the operating element. The operating device has at least one static acceleration sensor which is arranged in the operating element. The operating element is designed as a flat body and is arranged vertically oriented in space with a plane in which the flat body extends. A vertical arrangement also includes a deviation from the mathematically unambiguous vertical, in particular within a tolerance angle, which thus also includes an essentially vertical arrangement, and in particular can have up to +/- 10 °. The operating device also has an evaluation unit which, when the operating element is placed on the operating element receptacle, is designed to determine an absolute position of the operating element in space as a function of the axial acceleration values of the acceleration sensor occurring in the spatial directions. With such a configuration of an operating device, this specific orientation of the operating element in operative connection with the information from the acceleration sensor allows this absolute position of the operating element to be determined and thus a position can be determined independently of the control element holder. The operating variability can be increased by such an absolute position determination, which is now made possible, of such a specifically oriented operating element. This is because this absolute position can thus be determined, in particular in each specific position of the operating element, independently of the position of the operating element for receiving the operating element. This specific information on how the control element is oriented in the room itself and independently of other components of the control device results in a wide variety of additional control functions and options for setting and / or then displaying the operating conditions.

It is provided that, in order to determine this absolute position, a reference coordinate system, in particular a three-dimensional reference coordinate system with spatial directions perpendicular to one another, is defined. The acceleration of the operating element is then recorded in relation to this reference coordinate system. In each position of this operating element relative in the coordinate system, an individual and predeterminable definition for acceleration values in the respective three spatial directions is preferably formed. With such a configuration, the respective individual absolute position of the operating element can then be easily determined.

In the event of a deviation from strict verticality, the acceleration sensor can also be calibrated.

It is provided that when the operator control element is placed on the operator control element receptacle, the operator control element has a contact position and the absolute position is determined in this contact position. This is a further very advantageous embodiment that the situation described above always occurs precisely with these specific operating devices with operating elements that can be removed and re-attached. Once an operating element has been removed from the operating element receptacle, it can be placed back onto the operating element receptacle in any other way and thus in particular with any orientation about a longitudinal axis of the operating element. Such a position is usually the one when the operating element is placed back onto the operating element receptacle is assumed, different from that position which the control element had when it was removed from the control element receptacle. The ability to determine the absolute position even when the control element has assumed the touch-down position enables subsequent, reliable, immediate and precise assignment to other positions of the control device and thus to other components of the control device . In this way, too, very precise and resulting further variabilities for operating the operating device can then be achieved.

It is preferably provided that the evaluation unit is designed to determine a local assignment of an operating element area of the operating element to an area of the operating element receptacle as a function of the detected absolute position of the operating element viewed in the direction around a longitudinal axis of the operating element. This is a further, very advantageous embodiment, since an exact assignment to local specifications of areas of the control element mount is always given even with the most varied of individual absolute positions, which can occur in particular when a control element is placed on the control element mount. In this way, a functional assignment between the respective areas can also easily take place in a locally reliable manner. This is particularly advantageous if, for example, optical representations are to be linked between the operating element and the operating element receptacle and, as it were, locally assigned optical displays are to take place between the operating element and the operating element receptacle. This can be the case, for example, when an optical display is provided at a specific local point on the operating element receptacle and a corresponding further optical display is to be provided on the operating element immediately adjacent. In order to be able to achieve a local and thus local proximity between these optical displays, the above-mentioned advantageous embodiment is very helpful. Because regardless of how the control element is placed on this control element mount relative to the control element mount, the absolute position of the control element recognizes which control element area of the control element has to be activated for visual display in order to be assigned locally corresponding to the visual display on the control element mount.

This is particularly advantageous if a display is formed on the operating element receptacle which, when the operating element is placed on the operating element receptacle, displays optical information immediately adjacent to the operating element.

If the operating element has at least two touch-sensitive buttons on an upper side, different functions can be assigned to them depending on the local assignment of the operating element to an area of the operating element receptacle. Thus, regardless of a touch-down position or a rotary position of the control element, the touch-sensitive button which is closest to a defined area of the control element holder can be assigned a specific function, such as the activation of a timer. The time value can then be set, for example, by rotating the control element. The touch-sensitive keys can be capacitive, optical or piezoelectric. The buttons can respond when touched with a finger or when the finger is approaching. The keys are preferably arranged concentrically to the longitudinal axis of the operating element and they are equidistant from one another. In order to enable a key to be assigned as precisely as possible to a defined area of the operating element receptacle, at least 4 touch-sensitive keys are preferably arranged on the upper side of the operating element facing a user.

In particular, it is provided that, depending on the absolute position of the operating element, that operating element area can be illuminated by the light emitting device of the operating device which is at the same azimuth position in the direction of rotation around the longitudinal axis as an area of the operating element receptacle designed for illumination. In this embodiment, a specific segment of the operating element can be illuminated as an operating element area which is located in the same rotational position around the longitudinal axis as an area of the operating element receptacle when viewed around this longitudinal axis of the operating element.

It is preferably provided that the acceleration sensor is a 3-axis acceleration sensor and thus a 3D acceleration sensor. As a result, the detection of the absolute position can be recognized particularly precisely in space.

It is preferably provided that the operating device has a wireless energy supply for the acceleration sensor. This is particularly advantageous when an energy supply unit of the operating device is arranged externally to the operating element.

It can also be provided that an energy supply unit for supplying energy to the acceleration sensor is arranged in the operating element itself.

The operating element is thus in particular supplied with voltage, this energy supply being effected inductively, for example via an air transformer, or capacitively. It is also possible to supply energy via an energy supply unit designed as a rechargeable battery, which is located in the control element itself, or via an additional environmental sensor in the control element, which is designed to supply the electronics in the control element through so-called "energy harvesting".

The operating element preferably has at least one holding magnet, which is designed to generate a magnetic holding force when the operating element is placed on the operating element receptacle. In particular, in this attached state, a magnetic interaction then occurs between the holding magnet in the operating element and an operating element external magnet, which can be a holding magnet of the operating element receptacle.

The acceleration sensor of the operating unit is preferably arranged on a circuit board in the operating element, in particular arranged flat on it. As soon as this acceleration sensor is supplied with energy, it is designed to detect acceleration values which change depending on the position of the operating element.

In this way, the placement of the operating element on the operating element receptacle can also be detected by this acceleration sensor. By means of the acceleration when positioning or placing the control element on the Control element mount, the absolute position of the control element in space can be determined in particular via trigonometric functions.

In particular, it is also made possible that, depending on the side on which the acceleration sensor is arranged on the board, different definitions for the acceleration values in the three spatial directions are specified.

In an advantageous embodiment it is provided that it is specified as a defined relationship that the acceleration values in the three spatial directions result in a resulting acceleration reference value. For example, it can be provided that the sum of the squares of the acceleration values in the three spatial directions is equal to the square of this acceleration reference value.

In particular, the acceleration sensor supplies these acceleration components or these acceleration values in particular in the three spatial directions, these acceleration values then being evaluated by the evaluation unit.

The evaluation unit can be a unit separate from the acceleration sensor, but it can also be part of the acceleration sensor.

In particular, the evaluation unit is designed to determine an angle of rotation of the operating element or a placement angle of the operating element on the operating element receptacle from a trigonometric relationship, in particular the following formula 1: $$\beta =\arctan \left(\frac{{\mathrm{A.}}_Y}{\sqrt{{\left({\mathrm{A.}}_x\right)}^2+{\left({\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="A.\; z"\; filenames="imgf0001.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">A.</figure-callout>}}_z\right)}^2}}\right)$$

This formula 1 is an example of a coordinate system in which the control element extends as a flat body in the xy plane and the z direction is oriented perpendicular to it. Of course, the coordinate system can also be spanned otherwise, in which case the formula changes accordingly.

In particular, it is provided that the absolute position is thus determined relative to a reference position, this reference position being in particular a spatial direction, in particular a spatial direction of these three spatial directions of the referenced coordinate system that are perpendicular to one another.

In particular, the acceleration values in the respective spatial directions are specified as components of an acceleration reference value.

In particular, with a specific coordinate system position, formula 1 given above makes it possible to identify in which quadrant the operating element or the acceleration sensor is located, depending on a positive or negative value of this contact angle β. Due to the algebraic signs of the partial accelerations, the absolute angles can be clearly determined when positioning or placing the control element.

It is also possible for the evaluation unit to be designed in such a way that, depending on a desired angular resolution, a table is stored in a memory unit when it is placed, in which the respective angles are stored with the corresponding accelerations of the individual spatial directions. Since an acceleration sensor, as provided here, can detect even the smallest changes in acceleration and the resulting smallest vibrations on the absolute touchdown angle, it is advantageous to determine the measured values, which can be done, for example, via a sliding mean value formation.

In particular, an angular position of the operating element relative to the reference position is determined as an absolute position.

In particular, the angular position is determined as an angle which is functionally dependent on proportional acceleration values in all three spatial directions, the proportional acceleration values each being related to a maximum reference acceleration value or an acceleration reference value, as has already been explained above. This creates the possibility of determining the absolute position in a particularly precise and quick manner.

In a further embodiment it is provided that the evaluation unit is designed as a function of acceleration values of the acceleration sensor for evaluating a tapping operation of the operating element and / or a tilting movement of the operating element relative to a longitudinal axis of the operating element. Thus, not only can a basic absolute position be determined when the operating element is placed on the operating element receptacle, but also very specific dynamic types of movement, specifically in the respective axial directions or spatial directions, can be recognized in this context using the information from the acceleration sensor.

In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the operating device has an evaluation unit which, when the operating element is placed on the operating element receptacle, is dependent on acceleration values of the acceleration sensor for determining or evaluating or recognizing a tapping operation of the operating element and / or a longitudinal axis of the operating element occurring tilting movement of the operating element is formed.

In particular, it is provided that the operating element has at least two different contact points on an upper side, whereby an individual first number of different types of tilting movements, in particular a tilting movement and a rolling movement, can be initiated by operating the operating element at the first contact point, and by operating the operating element on the second contact point, an individual second number of a type of tilting movement that is different from the first number, in particular only one rolling movement, can be initiated. The evaluation unit is also designed to recognize, as a function of the acceleration values of the acceleration sensor generated in the spatial directions during the actuations at the contact points, at which of the contact points an actuation has taken place.

In particular, a determination of a tilt angle and a roll angle is also made possible here as a function of trigonometric functions. Here, too, is therefore perpendicular to two different reference positions, the one created by two superimposed one on top of the other Spatial directions oriented to one another are defined in each case, these respective absolute positions can then be determined in the case of such an individual tilting movement.

A roll angle Φ can preferably be determined by the formula 2: $$O=\mathit{arctan}\left(\frac{{\mathrm{A.}}_{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="x\; A.\; Y"\; filenames="imgf0001.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">x</figure-callout>}}}{\sqrt{{\left({\mathrm{A.}}_Y\right)}^{}}}\right)$$

In contrast, an angle of inclination or a pitch angle ϕ is determined by the following formula 3: $$\mathrm{\phi }=\mathit{arctan}\left(\frac{{\mathrm{A.}}_Y}{\sqrt{{\left({\mathrm{A.}}_x\right)}^2+{\left({\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="A.\; z"\; filenames="imgf0001.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">A.</figure-callout>}}_z\right)}^2}}\right)$$

The control element extends with its particularly intended design as a flat body, in particular as a flat cylinder, in a plane that is spanned by the two spatial directions around which the roll angle and the pitch angle can be determined, here the x-axis and the y-axis. Here, too, the coordinate system can be spanned differently, which means that formulas 2 and 3 also change accordingly. In particular, at least one contact point is thus arranged on one of these two spatial directions or along these spatial directions, so that when this contact point is actuated, only one type of tilting movement results from only one of the two movements, namely a rolling movement or a nodding movement. Another contact point is not formed directly along such a spatial direction, but lies in between, so that when this further contact point is actuated, these at least two different types of tilting movement, namely a rolling movement and a nodding movement or a tilting movement, result.

In particular, the operating device also has a detection unit which is designed to detect a rotary movement of the operating element about the axis which is perpendicular to the plane in which the operating element extends substantially. This can in particular be an optically operating detection unit.

With information "top", "bottom", "front", "back," horizontal "," vertical "," depth direction "," width direction "," height direction "etc. of the cooking device and given positions and orientations given to an observer then in particular standing in front of the operating device or the cooking device and looking in the direction of the operating device or the cooking device.

Further features of the invention emerge from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Haushaltsgeräts;

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht von oben auf das Innere eines Bedienelements eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Bedienvorrichtung;

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf ein Bedienelement eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Bedienvorrichtung;

Fig. 4-7

vereinfachte Darstellungen des Bedienelements in unterschiedlichen Absolutpositionen im Raum bezogen auf ein Koordinatensystem; und

Fig. 8

eine weitere Darstellung eines Bedienelements in spezifischer Position in einem Koordinatensystem.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of an embodiment of a household appliance;

Fig. 2

a view from above of the interior of an operating element of an embodiment of an operating device;

Fig. 3

a plan view of an operating element of an embodiment of an operating device;

Fig. 4-7

simplified representations of the control element in different absolute positions in space based on a coordinate system; and

Fig. 8

another representation of a control element in a specific position in a coordinate system.

Identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

In Fig. 1 an embodiment of a household appliance is shown in a schematic representation, which is designed here as a cooking appliance. In the exemplary embodiment, this is an oven 1. The cooking device can, however, also be, for example, a microwave cooking device or a steam cooking device. The household appliance 1 has a housing 2 in which a receiving space for preparing food is formed and which in this regard is a cooking space. The cooking space can be closed by a front door (not shown in detail).

The household appliance 1 also has an operating device 3 with which operating conditions of the household appliance 1 can be set. The operating device 3 has an operating element receptacle 4. The operating device 3 also has an operating element 5 that is separate from the operating element receptacle 4. The operating element 5 can be placed on the operating element receptacle 4 in a non-destructive and detachable manner and can be removed again and can thus be repetitively positioned thereon and removed again. Operating conditions of the household appliance 1 can only be set by actuating the operating element 5 when the operating element 5 is in the placed state on the operating element receptacle 4. The operating device 3 also has a display unit 6 on which optical information can be displayed electronically. For this purpose, the operating element receptacle 4 has several areas which are designed for the corresponding optical display. An example is in Fig. 1 such a region 7 of the operating element receptacle 4 is shown symbolically. This is embodied in a specific local position on the control element receptacle 4. In addition, the operating element 5 is also designed with operating element areas that can be illuminated by a light emitting device of the operating element. As an example, operating element areas 8a and 8b are shown here, which can be illuminated individually by this light emitting device of operating element 5.

The operating element 5 also has at least one internal acceleration sensor 9, which is a static acceleration sensor. This means that it does not detect angular accelerations, but rather acceleration values in the spatial directions.

In addition, the operating device 3 has an evaluation unit 10. This can be formed externally to the control element 5. However, it can also be formed internally of the operating element 5, in particular it can also be part of the acceleration sensor 9.

As in Fig. 1 can be seen, the operating element 5 is preferably a flat body. In this regard, it can be designed like a disk or as a flat cylinder. An angular plate-like configuration in this regard can also be provided.

In the execution according to Fig. 1 the operating element 5 is in particular oriented vertically, which also includes a substantially vertical orientation. This means that it is oriented vertically with the plane in which the flat body extends. This means that the operating element 5 with its plane in which it extends is spanned in the xy plane. A longitudinal axis A of the operating element 5 is oriented horizontally here and in particular in the depth direction (z-direction) of the household appliance 1.

It is provided in particular that the operating element 5 has an internal holding magnet. This holding magnet enables a magnetic interaction with a further holding magnet external to the operating element. This additional holding magnet external to the operating element is in particular part of the operating element receptacle 4. The holding of the operating element 5 on the operating element receptacle 4 in the state arranged thereon is thus preferably formed by magnetic holding forces generated by the magnetic interaction between the aforementioned holding magnets.

The evaluation unit 10 is designed to determine an absolute position of the operating element 5 in space as a function of at least one acceleration value of the acceleration sensor 9 when the operating element 5 is placed on the operating element receptacle 4.

In particular, when the control element 5 is placed on the control element receptacle 4, the control element 5 is placed in a placement position, the absolute position of the control element 5 in space being determinable in this placement position. This absolute position of the operating element 9 in space can be determined by the acceleration values that occur when touching down.

In addition, it is then also made possible that the evaluation unit 10 is designed, depending on the detected absolute position of the operating element five, viewed in the direction around the longitudinal axis A of the operating element 5, a local assignment of an operating element area 8a, 8b of the operating element 5 to an area 7 of the control element holder 4 to be determined. This means that especially when two corresponding and locally adjacent to each other to be illuminated areas of the control element 5 on the one hand and the control element receptacle 4 on the other hand are desired, depending on the absolute position of the control element 5, for example, the locally assigned control element area 8a directly adjacent to the area 7 for optical display is illuminated. There is thus not complete lighting, for example by a circumferential ring around the longitudinal axis A on the operating element 5, but only in a locally assigned operating element area 8a which is only segmented in the direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis A and which is illuminated accordingly. It is therefore possible that a previously defined area of the operating element 5 is not illuminated when the functionally assigned area 7 is illuminated, which could lead to the lighting of an operating element area of the operating element 5 in an azimuthal direction around the longitudinal axis A other local point than at the azimuth position of the area 7 takes place. Rather, the configuration of the operating device 3 according to the mentioned aspect of the invention makes it possible to determine which operating element area 8a, 8b needs to be illuminated on the basis of this specific absolute position of the operating element 5 and the knowledge of the area 7 illuminated, in particular with regard to the azimuth position and with regard to the azimuth position at which an operating element area 8a, 8b must be illuminated in order to enable the locally corresponding, adjacent lighting of these areas 7, 8a, 8b, as shown in FIG Fig. 1 is shown.

The light emitting device can have one or more light sources, for example light-emitting diodes, which are arranged in the direction of rotation around the axis A and thus in the azimuthal direction in this regard.

Depending on the determined absolute position of the control element 5, that control element area 8 can be illuminated by the light emitting device which is at the same azimuth position in the direction of rotation around the longitudinal axis A as an area 7 of the control element receptacle 4 designed for illumination.

In particular, the acceleration sensor 9 is a 3-axis acceleration sensor.

In Fig. 2 the control element 5 is shown in the open state in a top view, which means that it is possible to look into the interior 11. In this interior 11 of the operating element 5, a circuit board 12 is arranged, on which the acceleration sensor 9 is arranged. Further electronics in particular are arranged on this circuit board 12. This can be designed, for example, to operate the light sources of the light emitting device. However, it can also be the electronics of the evaluation unit 10, for example. The electronics can also have a power supply unit 20.

In Fig. 3 the operating element 5 is shown in a schematic representation with a view of an upper side 13. In Fig. 3 the control element 5 is shown in the closed state.

In principle, the operating element 5 can be designed in one piece, which means that it can only be moved as a whole relative to the operating element receptacle 4. The operating element 5 can, however, also be designed in several parts with respect to its housing, to the effect that the two parts can be moved relative to one another. In such a configuration, a first part can then be held on the operating element receptacle 4 in the arranged state, for example by the magnetic holding force already explained above. The second part of the control element, in particular the second part of a housing of the control element 5, in particular a cover, can then be relative to this first part, in particular a first part of the Housing to be moved, in particular rotated. As a result, the operating conditions of the household appliance 1 can then be set.

In Fig. 4 a schematic representation of the operating element 5 is shown in an exemplary reference coordinate system. The reference coordinate system is spanned here by three spatial directions perpendicular to one another, namely the x direction, the y direction and the z direction. If, for example, the operating element 5 is placed in a placement position on the operating element receptacle 4, as shown in FIG Fig. 4 is shown, the absolute position of the operating element 5 is recognized here. This to the effect that the acceleration values of the acceleration sensor 9 recognize the corresponding position on the basis of the acceleration values in the three spatial directions. In particular, the absolute position is specified here in relation to a reference position, which is the horizontal here and is thus the y-direction.

The acceleration components or acceleration values in the three spatial directions always specified as a function of the acceleration due to gravity then enable the absolute position of the operating element 5 to be determined.

In particular, it is provided that the sum of the squares of the acceleration _{value components A x} , A _y and A _z corresponds to the square of a reference acceleration value, for example 1g.

In the FIGS. 5 to 7 further schematic representations are shown in which the operating element 5 in FIG Fig. 4 different absolute positions in space and is thus arranged in this defined coordinate system.

There are in the FIGS. 4 to 7 Positions offset by 90 ° to each other are shown. Of course, every further position of the operating element 5 lying in between can also be determined as an absolute position.

The in FIGS. 5 to 7 The resulting, different acceleration values in the spatial directions can then also be the precisely defined absolute position let determine. This can also take place in relation to the reference position, here the y-direction. An angle β can be determined according to formula 1.

In addition to this absolute position, a rotary movement of the operating element 5 about the longitudinal axis A and thus also a dynamic movement can be recorded absolutely on the basis of the acceleration values. This can be detected with a further detection unit of the operating device 3. This detection unit can preferably be designed for optical detection, for example by infrared.

It is also possible that, in addition to or instead of this, a tap actuation of the operating element 5 and / or a tilting movement of the operating element 5 can be determined as a function of axial acceleration values of the acceleration sensor 9. An example of this is in Fig. 8 a representation of a control element 5 is shown. With regard to the example already explained in Fig. 3 It can be provided here that several separate contact points 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 are formed by way of example. These lie in the azimuthal direction around the longitudinal axis A at specific azimuth positions. For example, in Fig. 8 the contact point 14 is shown, which is formed along the longitudinal spatial direction. If this contact point 14 is tapped or acted with such a force that the operating element 5 moves downwards or tilts downwards with a specific tilting movement, namely with a nodding movement around the y-spatial direction, the operating element 5 only performs a single one here Type of tilting movement, namely this tilting movement.

On the other hand, reference is also made to the also exemplified in Fig. 8 Another contact point 19 drawn in, which can be a second contact point, tapped or acted on with such force from above that the operating element 5 tilts downwards and is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis A and thus to the longitudinal axis A, the acceleration sensor 9 performs a tilting movement or nodding movement around the y-spatial direction and a rolling movement around the x-spatial direction. As a result, when this further contact point 19, which is not arranged along the x spatial direction and not along the y spatial direction, is touched, a movement is carried out that includes at least two different types of tilting movement, namely this tilting movement and this rolling movement.

The evaluation unit 10 can in turn evaluate these different acceleration values in the respective spatial directions when the contact point 14 is actuated or when the contact point 19 is actuated, and the contact point actually touched can also be recognized. As a result, the operating condition of the household appliance 1 associated with this actuation of the contact point which then takes place can be selected and / or set.

List of reference symbols

1

Home appliance

2

casing

3

Control device

4th

Control element mount

5

Control element

6th

Display unit

7th

area

8a, 8b

Control areas

9

Accelerometer

10

Evaluation unit

11

Inner

12th

circuit board

13th

Top

14th

Contact point

15th

Contact point

16

Contact point

17th

Contact point

18th

Contact point

19th

Contact point

20th

Power supply unit

A.

Longitudinal axis

Claims (13)

1. Household appliance (1) with a control apparatus (3) with a control element receptacle (4) and with a control element (5) separate therefrom, which can be attached to the control element receptacle (4) and can be positioned so as to be removable and with which operating conditions of the household appliance (1) can be adjusted by specific actuation in the state attached to the control element receptacle (4), and with at least one acceleration sensor (9), which is arranged in the control element (5), wherein the control element (5) is embodied as a flat structure, characterised in that in the state attached to the control element receptacle (4) with a plane in which the flat structure extends with its larger dimensions, the control element (5) is arranged oriented vertically in the room, when the control element (5) is attached to the control element receptacle (4) the control element (5) has an attachment position and in the attachment position the absolute position is determined, and the control apparatus (3) has an evaluation unit (10), which, in the state of the control element (5) attached to the control element receptacle (4) and thus in the attachment position, is embodied to determine an absolute position of the control element (5) in the space (x, y, z), which is independent of the position of the control element (5) in relation to the control element receptacle (4), as a function of acceleration values of the acceleration sensor (9), wherein a reference coordinate system with spatial directions (x, y, z) aligned at right angles to one another is defined in order to determine this absolute position.
2. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the evaluation unit (10) is embodied to determine a local assignment of a control element region (8) of the control element (5) to a region (7) of the control element receptacle (4), viewed in the direction about a longitudinal axis (A) of the control element (5), as a function of the identified absolute position of the control element (5).
3. Household appliance (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the control element (5) has at least two touch-sensitive keys on a top side (13), to which different functions can be assigned as a function of the spatial assignment.
4. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control element (5) has a light-emitting facility, with which a first control element region (8a) can be illuminated and with which at least one second control element region (8b) which differs therefrom can be illuminated independently of the illumination of the first control element region (8a).
5. Household appliance (1) according to claim 2 and 4, characterised in that as a function of the absolute position, that control element region (8a, 8b) which, in the peripheral direction about the longitudinal axis (A), is at the same azimuth position as a region (7) of the control element receptacle (4) embodied for illumination purposes can be illuminated by the light radiation facility.
6. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the acceleration sensor (9) is a 3-axis acceleration sensor.
7. Household appliance (1) according to the preceding claims, characterised in that the control apparatus (3) has a wireless energy supply for the acceleration sensor (9).
8. Household appliance (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that an energy supply unit is arranged external to the control element in order to supply energy to the acceleration sensor (9).
9. Household appliance (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that an energy supply unit (20) is arranged in the control element (5) in order to supply energy to the acceleration sensor (9).
10. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the absolute position is determined relative to a reference position, in particular relative to a spatial direction.
11. Household appliance (1) according to claim 10, characterised in that an absolute position is determined as an angular position of the control element (5) relative to the reference position.
12. Household appliance (1) according to claim 11, characterised in that the angular position is determined as an angle which is functionally dependent upon proportionate acceleration values in all three spatial directions (x, y, z), wherein the proportionate acceleration values are each related to a maximum reference acceleration value.
13. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the evaluation unit (10) is embodied as a function of the acceleration values of the acceleration sensor (9) in order to evaluate a touch actuation of the control element (5) and/or a tilting movement of the control element (5) in relation to a longitudinal axis (A) of the control element (5).

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