ES2363698B1 - DOMESTIC APPLIANCE WITH A SCREEN WITH MEANS OF INTRODUCTION BY CONTACT. - Google Patents

Abstract

Household appliance with a screen with contact introduction means. # The invention starts from a household device with a screen (10) with contact introduction means (12) on a screen surface, a control unit (14), which is configured to evaluate the contact signals of the contact input means (12), and to operate the household appliance in a manner dependent on the contact signals, and with at least one other connecting element (16) separated from the screen ( 10) to activate and / or deactivate at least one function of the household appliance. # To avoid unnecessary energy consumption through the screen (10) and / or undesired operation of the screen (10), it is proposed that the screen (10) is connectable and / or disconnectable during operation of the domestic appliance through the at least one other connecting element (16).

Description

Domestic appliance with a screen with means of introduction by contact.

The invention starts from a domestic appliance with a screen with contact introduction means according to the general concept of claim 1.

From DE 10 2007 008 896 A1 a cooking field with a screen is known, whose user interface includes other means of introduction next to the screen. The screen can be set as a touch screen. The cooking field further comprises a control unit, which activates heating elements of the cooking field in a manner dependent on inputs that it receives through a user interface. One of the connection elements of the user interface is an on / off switch, through which the user can connect and disconnect the entire cooking field. In this case, any other function of the cooking field is also deactivated simultaneously with the display.

Contact-sensitive screens always have a limited service life in some way, through which the life of the household appliance as a whole can be shortened. The use of complex screens in household appliances, especially in cooking fields, in certain application cases can undoubtedly lead to a large increase in comfort. On the other hand, there are also operating states that, without loss of noticeable comfort, can also be used without the use of a complex screen. Contact sensitive screens with a high resolution should be put into operation by a high-power computer, which consumes energy and requires an extensive time compared to initialize. However, the simple functions of the home appliance, for example, a warning timer, a timer, or the like, must be quickly and easily adjustable and activated.

The invention is based in particular on the task of making available a generic household appliance with an extended useful life and greater comfort of use.

The task is solved in particular through the features of the independent claim 1. Advantageous con fi gurations and refinements of the invention are extracted from the secondary claims.

The invention is based on a household appliance with a screen with means of contact introduction on a screen surface. The household appliance comprises a control unit that is configured to evaluate the contact signals of the contact introduction means, and to operate the household appliance in a manner dependent on the contact signals. The household appliance further comprises at least one other connecting element, separate from the screen, to activate and / or deactivate at least one function of the domestic appliance.

It is especially proposed that the screen be connectable or disconnectable during operation of the household appliance through the at least one other connecting element. The remaining domestic appliance functions, not referring to the configuration of the user interface, can be continued in this case independently of the activation status of the screen. The central functions of the household appliance, in the case of a cooking field, for example, the operation of the heating elements, may remain unaffected by the connection or disconnection of the screen. How to disconnect the screen must also be called in this context a transition to a standby mode of operation with a screensaver activated, or the transition to a mode of operation for residual heat indication.

Due to the energy efficiency that is becoming more and more important, and to the useful life of the screen reduced by the action of heat through the heating element, the advantages of the invention are effective especially then if the domestic appliance is an appliance of cooking with a heating element. The idea of the invention is especially useful for screens in user interfaces of cooking fields. Due to the often complex control and regulation processes in comparison, the use of contact-sensitive screens is especially advantageous in induction cooking fields. In this case, by way of example, in induction cooking fields with definable heating zones fl exibly and with a grid of heating elements of the same type, which can be combined in different heating zones in different ways, the heating zones They can be represented through a screen in a clear and schematic way.

The wear of the other connection elements can be avoided if they are configured as contact sensitive connection elements without moving components. In this way, the cleaning properties of the household appliance can also be improved.

An optical response to the user can also be produced without further disconnecting the screen, if the domestic appliance comprises another indicator element, separate from the screen. This indicator element can be used to indicate a state of operation of the domestic appliance with a disconnected display and / or to indicate a residual heat of the domestic appliance, in particular a residual heat of a heating zone of a cooking field.

Likewise, it is proposed to equip the domestic appliance with at least one emitter of acoustic signals to signal a state of operation or to signal an outstanding result. An acoustic signal can, in particular, also enable a sufficient control of the domestic appliance with the screen switched off.

In an improvement of the invention, it is proposed to provide the home appliance with a temperature probe. The control unit can be specially configured to deactivate the display if a temperature picked up by the temperature probe exceeds a threshold value. Through this, you can avoid, or reduce, wear on the screen by operating at high temperatures.

Likewise, it is proposed that the at least one other connection element or a separate connection element be configured to activate and / or deactivate a child safety lock. As an example, it is conceivable that security-relevant functions can only be activated through the contact-sensitive screen, so that disconnecting the contact-sensitive screen blocks these security-relevant functions.

Both the screen and the other connection element can be arranged under a common upper surface, easy to clean, if the cover plate is made of glass or ceramic hob, and the connection elements are configured as capacitive or inductive proximity switches arranged under the cover plate. The screen can also be arranged under the cover plate, and based on the so-called "projected capacitive contact" (PCT) technology.

Continuous operation of the screen is not necessary, especially if the control unit executes previously programmed and temporarily limited operating programs. Such operating programs are in particular different modes of timer operation, especially a warning timer, in which, after a predetermined time, an acoustic signal, or a standard timer, is generated in which after a preset time has elapsed. a heating zone, or another heating element, is disconnected. If the user feels disturbed through the active screen during the course of such a program, the screen can easily be disconnected from the home appliance according to the invention. An optical response on the state of activity can take place in a minimalist way, for example, through a light-emitting diode.

Likewise, it is conceivable that simple operating programs, such as timers, warning timers, or the like, that do not require costly adjustments are set, activated and deactivated completely through separate user interface parts of the screen.

The control unit can generate a signal and / or deactivate a heating element in particular with a display disconnected after a period of time previously set in a timer operating mode using other optical indicator elements or an acoustic unit. Accordingly, the deactivation of the heating element would correspond to the standard timer function, and the mere generation of a signal with the alarm timer (egg-timer). Since in preprogrammed operation, especially a timer operation mode, a screen is usually not required, the control unit can automatically disconnect the screen after presetting a time and / or after the start of timer operation . When this happens, a certain waiting time can be provided to avoid user confusion.

The control unit can be specially configured to connect the previously disconnected screen if a user requires it by actuating the at least one other connecting element. If the user wishes to obtain, by way of example, in a timer operation, information on the remaining time, this information can be made available by a brief connection of the screen.

The idea of the invention is also applicable then if in more complex cooking programs a representation in the display is necessary only in certain phases. As an example, if the home appliance is a cooking oven, the screen can be disconnected during long phases of a cooking program and, only then if user inputs and / or user interventions are necessary, be connected to represent a corresponding indication.

Other advantages are taken from the following description of the drawing. Examples of embodiment of the invention are shown in the drawing. The drawing, description and claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will consider the characteristics advantageously also separately, and will gather them in other reasonable combinations.

They show:

Fig. 1 an induction cooking field with a screen and an additional connection element,

Fig. 2 a representation of the screen of Figure 1 during presetting a time for a timer function.

Fig. 3 a representation of the screen after activating the timer function,

Fig. 4 a screen representation of the screen of Figure 1 during presetting a time for a timer function,

Fig. 5 a screen representation after the course of the timer function, Fig. 6 a con fi guration of the construction of the cooking field of Figure 1 with the cover plate removed,

Fig. 7 a schematic representation of the operation of the screen of Figure 1 and

Fig. 8 a schematic configuration of the screen of Figure 1 with a cooking field cover plate as a front plate.

Figure 1 shows a household appliance set as a cooking field in a perspective view. The cooking field comprises a cover plate 26, below which a plurality of heating elements arranged as inductors 18 are arranged. The inductors 18 are arranged in a grid of at least 4x4 or 6x6, preferably 8x8, grid points. The inductors 18 can be assembled in different heating zones by a control unit 14 of the cooking field in a flexible way, so that pots placed on the cooking field are essentially freely positionable.

The control unit 14 detects the pots, and gathers in a heating zone the inductors 18 that are covered by the base of the pot in more than a predetermined portion. This heating zone is assigned to the corresponding cooking pot, or the corresponding pan, and the position and / or size of the heating zone is represented on a screen 10 of the cooking field. The screen 10 is arranged, like the inductors 18, under the cover plate 26, and comprises a transparent, capacitive sensor layer 28 (Figure 8). In combination with a reading and image evaluation electronics (not shown), this sensor layer 28 forms a contact insertion means 12, so that the user can operate the household appliance at least in important functions through the Contact sensitive screen 10.

Next to the screen, another connection element 16 is arranged, which is configured as a capacitive switch without mechanical components, and is essentially formed by a contact sensor disposed under the cover plate 26. The connection element 16 is represented in a manner exemplary for a plurality of connection elements of this type, which can be used by the control unit 14 with different functions.

The connection element 16 can be used in particular to connect and disconnect the cooking field, in which the disconnection of the cooking field can become especially a standby mode of operation and / or a mode of heat indication operation residual, in which optical signals indicate the residual heat of certain heating zones.

For the indication of residual heat, next to the screen and / or in alternative embodiments, in the area of the inductors 18, LEDs are provided that form indicator elements 20 to indicate a residual heat of the domestic appliance. Not before the residual heat is completely extinguished, these indicator elements 20 are deactivated.

Likewise, the cooking field comprises an emitter of acoustic signals 22, which can be operated by the control unit 14. Especially if the cooking field is operated with a display 10 disconnected, through the emitter of acoustic signals 22 can occur response on the operation status and / or the scope of a prominent phase of the cooking field operation.

To drive the indicator element 20, the cooking field comprises several temperature probes 24, each of which is assigned to an inductor 18. For reasons of clarity, only one of the temperature probes 24 is shown in Figure 1. In a conceivable embodiment of the invention, the control unit 14 may have a safety switch-off of the screen 10, if the temperature exceeds a critical value in the vicinity of the screen 10.

In operating states of the cooking field in which the operation of the display 10 is not necessarily necessary, the control unit 14 interprets the signals of the connecting element 14 such that the display 10 can be disconnected through the control element. connection 16. Examples for such operating states are the standard timer operating mode and the warning timer operating mode, which are explained in more detail in relation to Figures 2-5.

To connect the cooking field, through the connection element 16 the user can activate the cooking field together with the screen 10. The cooking field detects cooking battery elements, determines the shape and size of heating zones, and It represents the result graphically on the screen 10. Next, the user can adjust a heating power for each of the heating zones through the contact insertion means 12 of the screen 10. This can be done by means of increase or decrease.

Figure 2 shows a screen in case two heating zones were detected. In both heating zones the power rating 7’0 is chosen.

If the user would like to activate a warning timer for one of the heating zones, by touching the field 30 shown in Figure 3 on the left and, if necessary, through other selection steps, you can reach the screen representation shown in Figure 2, in which a preset timer function can be carried out by actuating input fields 32, 34. Through input fields 32, 34, the user can preset a time of Expiration for the timer function. The input field 32 serves to preset the number of minutes, and the input field 34 serves to preset the number of seconds of this expiration time. If the user first touches the input field 32, in the area of the input field 32 a preselected number of minutes is highlighted on the screen 10, while above and below the input field 32 are represented with a graph more closed the figures before and after the figures represented. By covering the input field 32 from the top down (from the orientation according to Figure 2), the preselected number is increased, and by covering the input field 32 from the bottom up, the preselected number is reduced. The magnitude of the steps of increase and decrease can be made dependent on the amplitude and / or speed of the covering movement performed by the user. The sequence of numbers of the possible time values in minutes from 0 to 59 is closed cyclically, so that by decreasing the number 0 in 1 the value 59 is reached. Similarly, the number of seconds can be adjusted through of input field 34. By touching field 36, the menu shown in Figure 2 can be closed. After closing this field, the control unit 14 counts backwards from the set time, until the preset time has expired. A remaining time remaining, as represented in Figure 3, is indicated in a field

38. If the set time is expired, the control unit 14 generates through the emitter of acoustic signals 22 a signal that signals the user the expiration of time.

During the preset time, the user can disconnect the screen 10 by actuating the connecting element 16. Alternative configurations of the invention are conceivable in which the screen 10 is automatically disconnected.

Unlike the warning timer function, the timer function illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 is assigned to a heating zone. By touching a corresponding field 40, which is arranged within a pictogram 42 that displays the heating zone, a disconnection time can be set for the corresponding heating zone. To set the disconnection time, the user must touch the field 40 on the screen 10 to arrive at a menu for setting the disconnection time, which is the same as the menu shown in Figure 2 for the adjustment of the function time of warning timer and that, therefore, should not be explained in more detail to avoid repetitions. After this preset time has elapsed, the control unit 14 automatically disconnects the corresponding heating zone.

Figure 5 shows a representation of screen 10 after this time has elapsed. During the course, the control unit 14 continuously represents the remaining time until the heating zone is switched off in field 40. If the value 0 has been reached, the power rating is set at 0'0, and a signal through the emitter of acoustic signals 22. During the operation of the timer or timer, the user can disconnect the screen 10 through the connection element 16. If he would like to read a remaining time, a corresponding query can be made by connecting the screen 10 through of the connection element 16.

Figure 6 shows a configuration of the construction of the cooking field according to Figure 1 with cover plate 26 removed. The inductors 18 are each mounted on elongated supports 44, which are fixed in a metal frame 46. On the supports 44 the screen 10 and the connecting element 16 are also arranged. The connection element 16 and the screen 10 are mounted on a common stage, on which other electronic components are also mounted to actuate the display 10, or the connecting element 16. The stage also includes the signal emitter and the indicating element 20 (not shown in Figure 6).

Figure 7 shows a schematic representation of the operation of the touch-sensitive screen 10 of Figure 1. A sensor layer 28 is arranged beneath the cover plate 26, whose capacitance is modified if a finger touches the cover plate 26. An evaluation electronics 48 evaluates the local capacitance of the sensor layer 28, and compares the current two-dimensional evolution of this capacitance with a stored evolution of the capacitance of a previous detection step. The change in capacitance leads to a location dependent voltage, which is represented in Figure 7 as a potential peak. The evaluation electronics 48 calculates the difference between the capacitances, and determines a contact point 50 in a two-dimensional plane, corresponding to the surface of the screen 10. The contact point 50 is read by the control unit 14, that is, determined from the measurement data and used as input.

Figure 8 shows a schematic configuration of the screen. If the user places a finger on the cover plate 26, a capacitance is formed between the finger and the wires on the sensor layer 28. The evaluation electronics 48 (Figure 7) detects changes in the capacitance of the wires, which indicate One finger position The sensor layer 28 is composed of a grid of microscopic wires, which are laminated between two protective layers 52, 54 of glass.

Reference symbols

10 Display

12 Contact introduction medium

14

Control unit

16

Connection element

18

Heating element

twenty

Indicator element

22

Signal emitter

24

Temperature probe

26

Cover plate

28

Sensor layer

30

Countryside

32

Input field

3. 4

Input field

36

Countryside

38

Countryside

40

Countryside

42

Pictogram

44

Support

46

Metal frame

48

Evaluation electronics

fifty

Contact point

52

Protection layer

54

Protection layer

Claims (16)

one.

Home appliance with a screen (10) with contact introduction means (12) on a screen surface, a control unit (14), which is configured to evaluate the contact signals of the contact introduction means (12 ), and operate the household appliance in a manner dependent on the contact signals, and with at least one other connecting element (16) separated from the screen (10) to activate and / or deactivate at least one function of the domestic appliance, characterized in that The screen (10) is connectable and / or disconnectable during operation of the domestic appliance through the at least one other connecting element (16).

2.

Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the domestic appliance is a cooking appliance with a heating element (18).

3.

Domestic appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one heating element (18) is an inductor.

Four.

Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one other connection element (16) is configured as a contact sensitive connection element (16) without moving components.

5.

Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one other indicator element (20), separated from the screen (10), to indicate a state of operation of the domestic appliance with a display (10) disconnected.

6.

Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one indicator element (20) separated from the screen (10) to indicate a residual heat of the domestic appliance.

7.

Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one emitter of acoustic signals (22) for signaling a state of operation of the domestic appliance with a display (10) disconnected.

8.

Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a temperature probe (24), wherein the control unit (14) is configured to deactivate the display (10) if a temperature measured by the temperature probe (24) exceeds a threshold value

9.

Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one other connecting element (16) is configured to activate and / or deactivate a child safety lock.

10.

Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a cover plate (26) of glass or ceramic hob, where the other connection element (16) is configured as a capacitive or inductive proximity switch arranged under the cover plate ( 26).

eleven.

Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (14) is configured to execute at least one previously programmed operating program and temporarily limited with the display (10) disconnected.

12.

Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (14) is configured to operate the domestic appliance in at least one operating mode with display (10) disconnected in a dependent manner from connection signals to at least one other connecting element (16) and independently of contact signals of the contact introduction means (12).

13.

Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (14) is configured to generate a signal and / or deactivate a heating element (18) in a timer operating mode independently of a state of screen activity (10) after a preset time.

14.

Domestic appliance according to claim 13, characterized in that the control unit (14) is configured to automatically switch off the display (10) in the timer operating mode after a preset time.

fifteen.

Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (14) is configured to connect the previously disconnected screen (10), if a user requires it by actuating the at least one other connecting element (16).

SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application no .: 200930111 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 04.29.2009 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE 51 Int. Cl.: H05B6 / 12 (2006.01) RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

Documents cited Claims Affected

Y

JP 2002215078 A (TOSHIBA HOME TECH CORP) 31.07.2002, summary; figure 2. 1,2,5,6,8,11-15

Y

EP 1255420 A2 (BSH BOSCH SIEMENS HAUSGERAETE) 06.11.2002, paragraphs [0009] - [0011]; Figure 1. 1,2,5,6,8,11-15

TO

JP 2001176652 A (MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND CO LTD) 29.06.2001, summary. one

TO

EP 1632878 A1 (BSH BOSCH SIEMENS HAUSGERAETE) 08.03.2006, summary; Figure 1. one

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims • for claims no:

Date of realization of the report 29.07.2011

Examiner M. Pérez Moreno Page 1/4

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Application number: 200930111 Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols) H05B Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, terms of search used) INVENES, EPODOC, wpi State of the Art Report Page 2/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 200930111 Date of Written Opinion: 29.07.2011 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims Claims 1-15 IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims Claims 1-15 IF NOT

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published. State of the Art Report Page 3/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 200930111 1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

JP 2002215078 A (TOSHIBA HOME TECH CORP) 07/31/2002

D02

EP 1255420 A2 (BSH BOSCH SIEMENS HAUSGERAETE) 06.11.2002

2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement Of all the documents recovered from the state of the art, document D01 is considered to be the closest to the request being analyzed. This document describes a procedure to save energy by reducing the consumption of light emitting elements or LEDS. For this, the operations are shown on the display by LED elements and non-LED elements, and when the time set for each operation elapses, the display can be turned off by means of a switch arranged outside the display or screen. On the other hand, in document D02 a device with a counter is described, so that the display or screen can be turned off by the counter, a time after the main voltage source has been turned off. When the meter is in operation, a visual and / or auditory residual heat indicator is also in operation, even if the display is off. In view of what is known from documents D1 and D2 it is not considered that it requires any inventive effort for a person skilled in the art to develop a system as described in claim 1-15. Therefore, the invention claimed in claims 1-15 does not imply inventive activity, nor novelty according to articles 6 and 8 of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents State of the Art Report Page 4/4