ES2328550A1 - Household device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a household device having a control unit (10) for operating a plurality of performance elements (12) and a user interface (14), wherein the control unit (10) comprises a chronometer (16) and a memory unit (18) for storing at least one variable for a shutdown time interval (Toff), and wherein the control unit (10) is configured such that it performs a safety shutdown autonomously if an uninterrupted period of operation of the heating element reaches the shutdown time interval (Toff). In order to make a safety shutdown function more flexible, the invention proposes that the control unit (10) comprise an adjustment means (28) that can be operated by means of the user interface (14) to change the shutdown time interval (Toff).

Description

Cooking field.

The invention relates to a cooking field according to the general concept of claim 1.

It is known from the state of the art to provide Cooking fields of a safety shutdown function. For this, the control unit of the cooking field is provided with a means of recording time for recording a duration of uninterrupted operation of individual heating zones  or of the entire cooking field. The time recording medium measures the time in which the heating zones are activated without a change of the operating parameters with a power of constant heating, that is, in a degree of power of constant heating The control unit determines Dependent on stored parameters a time interval of disconnection that may be dependent on the power of heating adjusted, and performs a safety shutdown if the recorded operating time reaches the interval of disconnection time

The disconnection time interval is not user-influenced in known cooking fields with a safety shutdown function of such type. This can lead to the safety disconnection occurring too much fast and therefore act annoyingly for users who often use especially expensive recipes for weather. On the other hand, users with a need for security especially high or users that, for example, due to a lack of concentration caused by age, forget with special frequency turn off the cooking field can perceive the interval of disconnection time as too long.

The task of the invention consists especially of make available a cooking range according to gender with a safety disconnection function that is satisfactory for Each type of user.

According to the invention, the task is solved by the features of claim 1, while of the secondary claims can be extracted advantageous configurations and improvements of the invention.

The invention relates in particular to a field of cooking with a control unit to drive a plurality of heating elements and a user interface, in which the control unit comprises a means of recording time and a storage unit for storage at less than one parameter during a disconnection time interval, and in what the control unit is configured in such a way that automatically performs a safety shutdown if a duration of uninterrupted operation of the element of heating reaches the disconnection time interval.

It is especially proposed that the command unit Understand a controllable actuation means through the interface of user for the modification of the time interval of disconnection The user can use the adjustment means to modify the safety shutdown function parameters in such a way that the safety disconnection function satisfies their needs, that is, on the one hand, it does not disturb a process of cooking through a disconnection too early and, for other side, disconnect soon enough to avoid dangers such as flameless fires. The adjustment means can  therefore guarantee a safety disconnection function that It is satisfactory for each type of user.

Especially if the heating elements are configured as induction heating elements, The adaptive safety shutdown function can be advantageous Since induction cooking fields radiate naturally scarce amounts of heat in comparison, if the  inductors are running without a piece of battery from cooking is on the heating zone heated by the inductor, a heating zone can be overlooked lit easily. On the other hand, through a continuous uncontrolled operation damage may occur due to  electronics overheating. Therefore, the function of Safety shutdown is, despite the development of low heat compared to the heating zone in cooking fields by induction, usable advantageously.

A disconnection function can be performed safety adapted to an expected degree of overheating to through which the control unit is configured to determine a disconnection time interval dependently on a heating power rating adjusted.

An appropriate dependence on the intervals of shutdown time of the heating power rating adjusted determined for example empirically can be implemented easily if the storage unit is configured to storing a list, assigning the list each time a disconnection time interval at a power rating of heating.

The user can go during the adjustment to standard values if the adjustment medium is configured for the increase and / or reduction of at least a time interval of default standard disconnection. In this way, in comparison with a completely free adjustment capacity, the complexity of handling can be reduced and comfort of use can be increased.

If the adjustment means is configured for doubling and / or halving at least an interval of default standard disconnection time, with an amount little possible adjustments can be achieved flexibility satisfactory for virtually all users, without increasing considerably the complexity of handling the cooking field at this happen.

Since the critical components of the field of cooking or objects arranged on it are usually overheat more quickly in case of a power of higher heating, it is proposed that the time interval of disconnection be in a monotonously decreasing functional relationship  with an adjusted heating power of an area of heating. The functional relational term must be understood here in the sense of a mathematical function. Through this, it prevents premature disconnection in case of power scarce heating. Consequently, this is especially desirable since cooking processes are often carried out that require a lot of time with heating powers Few

It is also proposed that the command unit reset the time recording medium for the measurement of the operating time of a heating zone if a user modifies through the user interface a heating power of the heating zone concerned. Through user intervention, the control unit recognizes that it cannot be an operation of the zone of uncontrolled or unwanted relative heating, so that an interruption of the cooking process and / or of kitchen carried out by the user.

Similar advantages can be achieved through of a sensor arrangement for the detection of elements of cooking battery arranged on a cooking surface, the control unit can then reset the medium of time recording for the measurement of operating time of a heating zone if the control unit detects through of the sensor arrangement a movement of a battery element of cooking arranged on the heating zone concerned. TO Through the movement, the command unit recognizes an intervention of the user, so that it cannot be an operation uncontrolled or unwanted heating zone concerning.

Other advantages are taken from the following Description of the drawings. In the drawing they are represented Examples of embodiment of the invention. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The expert will consider the characteristics so advantageous also separately and will bring them together in other combinations reasonable.

It shows:

Fig. 1 a cooking field with a unit of remote and a user interface,

Fig. 2 a first menu of a program of operation implemented in the control unit,

Fig. 3 another menu of the operating program implemented in the control unit for the selection of a safety shutdown function,

Fig. 4 a flow chart for the determination of a disconnection time interval and

Fig. 5 a flow chart for surveillance of a duration of operation of the cooking field.

Figure 1 shows a cooking field with a control unit 10 for actuating a plurality of heating elements 12 and a user interface 14, in that the control unit 10 comprises a time recording means 16 represented here only schematically and a unit of storage 18 configured as RAM or ROM for the storage of at least one parameter during an interval of T_ {off} disconnection time. Heating elements 12 are configured as induction heating elements and The cooking field is an induction cooking field. Unit of command 10 comprises a freely programmable processor, and is configured in such a way that it automatically performs a safety shutdown if a duration of operation uninterrupted heating element reaches the interval of T_ {off} disconnection time. The control unit 18 determines the T_ {off} disconnection time interval.

The control unit 10 comprises an interface of input and output not shown here graphically for the command of the user interface 14 configured as a touch screen. He user can request through user interface 14 a series of menu functions.

A menu depicted in figure 2 comprises several entries that are relative to basic settings of the field cooking, such as language, an available network power and network protection, an insurance function for children, and even The safety shutdown. The user can select the inputs touching the corresponding panels 20-26 on the touch screen, and more menus appear with which the User can modify the selected basic setting.

If the user selects in the represented menu in figure 2 panel 26 relating to safety shutdown, the menu shown in figure 3 appears, in which the user you can choose by touching a corresponding 20-24 panel between maximum security, high security and normal security.

The storage unit 18 comprises a storage space 28 for a floating point variable p, that in operation it can adopt the values 0'25, 0'5 and 1'0. The value of floating point variables p is a parameter for A chosen level of security. Through the choice of the maximum security, the floating point variable p is set at 0.25, through the choice of high security, the variable of floating point p is set at 0.5 and, through the choice of normal security, the floating point variable p is set to 1'0.

The control unit 18 also has an interface for actuating three light-emitting diodes arranged under a hob of the cooking field, which are a means 46 for displaying a selected safety level. Each of the light emitting diodes is assigned to one of the possible values of the floating point variables p, and a screen print on the cooking surface visualizes the meaning of the light emitting diodes, for example, through printed characters such as " maximum " (maximum), " high " (high) and " norm " (normal). The control unit 18 drives each time only the LED of the medium 46 corresponding to the chosen safety level.

The control unit 10 is provided through the floating point variable p modifiable from an adjustment means 28 operable through user interface 14 for modification of the disconnection time interval T_ {off}.

The control unit 10 is provided with a software that, depending on a degree of power of heating P set, determines the time interval of T_ {off} disconnection. The storage unit 18 comprises also storage spaces for the storage of a list, assigning the list each time a time interval of standard disconnection T_ {off, 0} at a power rating of heating P. An ordinal number of the power rating of P heating can be here in clear relation to a number of list row.

100

In alternative embodiments, the command unit can determine the time interval of standard disconnection T_ {off, 0} through a simple function Mathematics, which can be for example a linear function. The Function parameters can then be stored in the storage unit 18.

The adjustment means 28 is configured for reduction of standard disconnection time intervals T_ {off, 0} default, stored in the list, and in fact for halving or a quarter of the interval of standard disconnection time T_ {off, 0} predetermined so dependent on the degree of heating power P set.

Figure 4 shows a flow chart for the determination of the disconnection time interval T_ {off}, for a given heating zone. In a first step 30, the control unit 10 determines the degree of power of heating P adjusted in the heating zone. In a second step 32, the control unit 10 reads from the list the interval of standard disconnection time T_ {off, 0} assigned to the degree of heating power P. In a third step 34, the unit of command 10 reads the floating point variable p of the unit of storage 18, and multiply the time interval of standard disconnection T_ {off, 0} assigned to the power rating of heating P with the floating point variable p to obtain the T_ {off} disconnection time interval.

T_ {off} = p * T_ {off, 0}

Since the time intervals of standard disconnection T_ {off, 0} stored in the list are in a monotonously decreasing functional relationship with a power adjusted heating of a heating zone, this is applies in case of default floating point variables p also for disconnection time intervals T_ {off}.

The control unit 10 uses the means of 16 time register for operating time measurement Uninterrupted T of a heating zone. When this happens, that returns to zero the time recording medium 16 if a user modifies through the user interface 14 a degree heating power P of the heating zone concerning. Also, the cooking field comprises a sensor arrangement for the detection of battery elements of cooking arranged on a cooking surface. The disposition sensor is composed especially of heating elements 12, which are used for inductive battery detection of cooking. The control unit 10 resets the means of 16 time register for operating time measurement T of a heating zone also then if the unit of control 10 detects a movement through the sensor arrangement of a cooking battery element arranged on the area of relative heating.

Through the detection of the intervention of user in the user interface, or through the movement of the cooking battery element, the control unit 10 recognizes that it is not an uncontrolled cooking field operation, accidental, but of a controlled process with the participation of user in which a security disconnection would be annoying.

By a periodic comparison of the time of operation T captured by time recording means 16, which it can be configured for example as a counter, with the interval of disconnection time T_ {off} determined according to the procedure illustrated in figure 4, the operating time T of each heating zone is monitored so permanent.

In figure 5 a corresponding procedure In a decision instance 36, the operating time T is compared with the time interval T_ {off}. If the operating time T is longer brief that the disconnection time interval T_ {off}, in a Step 40 examines whether a user intervention has occurred, that is, a change in the degree of heating power P or a displacement of the cooking battery element. If it was detected a user intervention, in a step 42 a counter representing the operating time T. If the time operating T is longer than the time interval of T_ {off} disconnection, the counter that represents the time of operation T is increased by an increment step 38. Of on the contrary, the command jumps to a process 44, in which it takes Make the safety disconnection. The operating time T and the  T_ {off} disconnection time interval are measured in time units that correspond to the monitoring period of the interaction according to figure 5.

The choice of the maximum degree of security consequently causes the safety shutdown to produce after a quarter of the disconnection time interval standard T_ {off, 0}, while the safety shutdown, in case of the choice of the high degree of security, it is already produced after the expiration of one half of the time interval of standard disconnection T_ {off, 0}.

The idea of the invention is applicable both in induction cooking fields as in cooking fields with radiation heating bodies. If the control unit 10 of the cooking field can store various user settings for multiple users, also the security disconnection can be configured specifically for the user. The invention is equally applicable in relation to cooking fields by induction with freely definable heating zones, the called matrix cooking fields.

Reference symbols

10

Control unit

12

Heating element

14

User interface

16

Time recording medium

18

Storage unit

twenty

Panel

22

Panel

24

Panel

26

Panel

28

 Adjustment means

30

He passed

32

He passed

3. 4

He passed

36

Decision Instance

38

Step of increase

40

He passed

42

He passed

44

Process

46

Means, medium

P

Heating power rating

p

Floating point variable

T_ {off}

Disconnection time interval.

Claims (10)

1. Cooking range with a control unit (10) for actuating a plurality of heating elements (12) and a user interface (14), where the control unit (10) comprises a time recording means (16) and a storage unit (18) for storing at least one parameter during a disconnection time interval (T_ {off}), and where the control unit (10) is configured in such a way that it performs automatic safety shutdown if an uninterrupted operating time (T) of the heating element reaches the disconnection time interval (T_ {off}), characterized in that the control unit (10) comprises an adjustment means (28) operable through the user interface (14) for the modification of the disconnection time interval (T_ {off}). 2. Cooking field according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating elements (12) are configured as induction heating elements. 3. Cooking field according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (10) is configured to determine a switch-off time interval (T_ {off}) in a manner dependent on a parameter (p) for a level of eligible security. 4. Cooking field according to claim 3, characterized by means (46) for displaying a chosen safety level. 5. Cooking field according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (10) is configured to determine a switch-off time interval (T_ {off}) in a manner dependent on a degree of heating power (P ) tight. 6. Cooking field according to claim 5, characterized in that the storage unit (18) is configured for the storage of a list, in which the list assigns each time a disconnection time interval (T_ {off}) to a degree of heating power (P). 7. Cooking field according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the setting means (28) is configured for the increase and / or reduction of at least a standard switch-off time interval (T_ {off, 0}) predetermined. 8. Cooking field according to claim 7, characterized in that the setting means (28) is configured for duplication and / or halving at least a predetermined standard cut-off time interval (T_ {off, 0}) . 9. Cooking field according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (10) is configured to reset the time recording means (16) for measuring the operating time (T) of a heating zone if a user modifies through the user interface a degree of heating power (P) of the heating zone concerned. 10. Cooking field according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a sensor arrangement for the detection of cooking battery elements arranged on a cooking surface, in which the control unit (10) is configured to return to reset the time recording means (16) for measuring the operating time (T) of a heating zone if the control unit (10) detects a movement of a battery element through the sensor arrangement of cooking arranged on the heating zone concerned.