GB2313924A - Control device for domestic appliances - Google Patents

Control device for domestic appliances Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2313924A
GB2313924A GB9611518A GB9611518A GB2313924A GB 2313924 A GB2313924 A GB 2313924A GB 9611518 A GB9611518 A GB 9611518A GB 9611518 A GB9611518 A GB 9611518A GB 2313924 A GB2313924 A GB 2313924A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
appliance
human
control device
message
messages
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9611518A
Other versions
GB9611518D0 (en
Inventor
Mark Daniel Sheldon
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB9611518A priority Critical patent/GB2313924A/en
Publication of GB9611518D0 publication Critical patent/GB9611518D0/en
Publication of GB2313924A publication Critical patent/GB2313924A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/64—Heating using microwaves
    • H05B6/6435—Aspects relating to the user interface of the microwave heating apparatus
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F34/28—Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B19/00—Programme-control systems
    • G05B19/02—Programme-control systems electric
    • G05B19/04—Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers
    • G05B19/042—Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers using digital processors
    • G05B19/0426—Programming the control sequence
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/58—Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
    • D06F2105/60—Audible signals
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B2219/00—Program-control systems
    • G05B2219/20—Pc systems
    • G05B2219/23—Pc programming
    • G05B2219/23068—Give instructions, messages to operator
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B2219/00—Program-control systems
    • G05B2219/20—Pc systems
    • G05B2219/25—Pc structure of the system
    • G05B2219/25128—Transmission with higher frequency than the processing frequency
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B2219/00—Program-control systems
    • G05B2219/20—Pc systems
    • G05B2219/25—Pc structure of the system
    • G05B2219/25289—Energy saving, brown out, standby, sleep, powerdown modus for microcomputer

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Electric Ovens (AREA)

Abstract

A domestic appliance has a CPU A which serves to control the operating cycles of the appliance and also to initiate the delivery of audible messages, such as voice messages by way of synthesiser C, amplifier D and speaker F. Such messages indicate that human intervention and response is required before the next cycle can take place. If no such human response takes place, the appliance adopts a quiescent state until proximity sensor B senses the presence of a human in the vicinity of the appliance. The sensor B then re-activates the CPU to re-deliver the previous message and alert the human to intervene.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN DOMESTIC APPLIANCES AND CONTROL DEVICES THEREFOR.
This invention relates to domestic appliances such as microwaves, computers,ovens,washing machines,tumble driers and the like where there is a need for human intervention during operative cycles.
In particular the invention relates to appliances of the type having an in-built voice synthesiser to provide an audible message,usually signifying that human intervention is needed.
In such circumstances a person can be absent or out of vicinity and earshot of the appliance immediatly after an audio message has been given by the appliance for attention and the appliance remains neglected ,even if the message is repeated periodically.
There is thus a real need for an improved control of appliances which need such human intervention and which would otherwise remain in some intermediate state in their operative cycle awaiting the human intervention.
According to the present invention there is provided a control device for use with an appliance which device employs a proximity sensor which senses the presence of a human in the vicinity of the appliance and means for automatically initiating the re-delivery of a message previously put out by the appliance and signifying human intervention is needed in the operation of the appliance when the sensor senses the presence of a human after the message has first been delivered and no response by such a human has been made to the first message.
The control device can be incorporated directly into the existing control means of the appliance or in part of such a control means or connected thereto.
Thus the sensor can be connected to an existing control means to trigger the latter to re-deliver the message previously given out in known manner.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a block schematic representation of a control device constructed in accordance with the invention.
As shown the control means is composed of a CPU. A , programmed to control operative cycles and coupled to a voice synthesiser C which drives a loudspeaker F via an amplifier D.
In accordance with the invention a proximity sensor in the form of a passive infra red detector B is connected to the CPU A to trigger the latter to re-activate the message delivery function.
The detector B can be of conventional type used in burglar alarms and is conveniently disposed on the front panel of the appliance to sense the presence of a human in proximity to the appliance.
The CPU A would normally control the appliance through some operation cycle which wculd halt at some stage while the CPU A causes the sytheslss; 6 to deliver an audible message from the loudspeaker F. This may be repeated at intervals but if a human fail s to respond and activate some control button for example, the appliance will adopt a quiescent state. As soon as a human is detected by the sensor B the CPU A will be triggered to re-activate the message and the human is now alerted to intervene.
Further preferred features of the invention are depicted in the drawings.A selectable actuable control knob G is provided to select different languages for the message,to initiate a test sequence and to mute the message delivery capability.
Where the appliance is sited in a noisy environment the message ma not always be heard even when there are humans in the vicinity of the appliance. In such circumstances a further detector E is provided to detect the ambient noise level and this detector E is coupled to the amplifier D to control the gain of the amplifier D in accordance with the sensed ambient noise level.

Claims (8)

1. A control device for use with a domestic appliance which requires human intervention at some stage during its operation after delivery of a message signifying that such intervention is needed; said device comprising a proximity sensor adapted to sense the presence of a human in the vicinity of the appliance and means for automatically initiating the re-delivery of the message when the sensor senses the presence of a human after the message has been delivered and no response has occurred.
2. A control device according to claim 1 wherein the proximity sensor is an infrared detector.
3. A control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensor is connected to a programmable control means which serves to control the operation of the appliance and to initiate the delivery of the messages.
4. A control device according to claim 3 wherein the messages are audible messages.
5. A control device according to claim 4 and further comprising a detector for detecting the ambient noise level in the vicinity of the appliance and a variable gain amplifier controlled by the detector for varying the level of the audible messages.
6. A control device substantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompany drawing.
7. A domestic appliance incorporating a control device according to any one or more of the preceding claims.
8. A method of controlling a domestic appliance which performs operative cycles requiring human intervention and response; said method comprising delivering a message one or more times to signify that human intervention is required before the next operative cycle is commenced, adopting a quiescent state in the event that human intervention and response does not take place, sensing the next presence of a human in the vicinity of the appliance during the quiescent state and re-delivering the message once the presence of a human has been sensed.
GB9611518A 1996-06-03 1996-06-03 Control device for domestic appliances Withdrawn GB2313924A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9611518A GB2313924A (en) 1996-06-03 1996-06-03 Control device for domestic appliances

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9611518A GB2313924A (en) 1996-06-03 1996-06-03 Control device for domestic appliances

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9611518D0 GB9611518D0 (en) 1996-08-07
GB2313924A true GB2313924A (en) 1997-12-10

Family

ID=10794660

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9611518A Withdrawn GB2313924A (en) 1996-06-03 1996-06-03 Control device for domestic appliances

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2313924A (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001069331A1 (en) * 2000-03-15 2001-09-20 Luxmate Controls Gmbh System and control device for the control of several actuators in a room
WO2002023295A1 (en) * 2000-09-13 2002-03-21 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft System with a process element provided with a screen with an activating element for remote-controlled cancellation of the screen saver function and an activating element for said system
EP1276351A2 (en) * 2001-07-11 2003-01-15 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Microwave oven with proximity detector
US11182123B2 (en) 2019-04-30 2021-11-23 Whirlpool Corporation User-interface system for a laundry appliance
US11252490B2 (en) 2019-08-21 2022-02-15 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Appliance suite equipped with a synced sound system
US11686032B2 (en) 2019-04-30 2023-06-27 Whirlpool Corporation User-interface system for a laundry appliance

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4508948A (en) * 1984-01-16 1985-04-02 Amana Refrigeration, Inc. Microwave cooking method
GB2146821A (en) * 1983-09-20 1985-04-24 Thorn Emi Ferguson Display apparatus
US4853678A (en) * 1987-02-05 1989-08-01 Bishop Jr Chester O Advertising device
US4912457A (en) * 1988-12-21 1990-03-27 Ladd Electronics Detector and message annunciator device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2146821A (en) * 1983-09-20 1985-04-24 Thorn Emi Ferguson Display apparatus
US4508948A (en) * 1984-01-16 1985-04-02 Amana Refrigeration, Inc. Microwave cooking method
US4853678A (en) * 1987-02-05 1989-08-01 Bishop Jr Chester O Advertising device
US4912457A (en) * 1988-12-21 1990-03-27 Ladd Electronics Detector and message annunciator device

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001069331A1 (en) * 2000-03-15 2001-09-20 Luxmate Controls Gmbh System and control device for the control of several actuators in a room
WO2002023295A1 (en) * 2000-09-13 2002-03-21 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft System with a process element provided with a screen with an activating element for remote-controlled cancellation of the screen saver function and an activating element for said system
US6763272B2 (en) 2000-09-13 2004-07-13 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft System having a process element with a screen and an activation element for remote-controlled cancellation of a screen saver function
EP1276351A2 (en) * 2001-07-11 2003-01-15 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Microwave oven with proximity detector
EP1276351A3 (en) * 2001-07-11 2004-01-02 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Microwave oven with proximity detector
US11182123B2 (en) 2019-04-30 2021-11-23 Whirlpool Corporation User-interface system for a laundry appliance
US11686032B2 (en) 2019-04-30 2023-06-27 Whirlpool Corporation User-interface system for a laundry appliance
US11782677B2 (en) 2019-04-30 2023-10-10 Whirlpool Corporation User-interface system for a laundry appliance
US11252490B2 (en) 2019-08-21 2022-02-15 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Appliance suite equipped with a synced sound system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9611518D0 (en) 1996-08-07

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6873254B2 (en) Multicondition detection apparatus and method providing interleaved tone and verbal warnings
US5422629A (en) Alarm silencing circuitry for photoelectric smoke detectors
US8890696B2 (en) Fire detector
US20090134993A1 (en) Thermostat With Audible Interconnect To Threat Detectors
US20020135476A1 (en) Sound and motion activated light controller
US20100302045A1 (en) Interface for a fire alarm system
GB2313924A (en) Control device for domestic appliances
US5473167A (en) Sensitivity test system for photoelectric smoke detector
US6642849B1 (en) Hush disable feature for photoelectric smoke alarm
JP3504017B2 (en) Detection device
GB2469984A (en) Fire alarm system for a plurality of dwellings
KR200322205Y1 (en) Fire-warning facilities with electronic nose
KR100424558B1 (en) Apparatus for automatically controlling called melody volume of home automation terminal, and method for controlling the same
JP3775807B2 (en) air purifier
JPH0973957A (en) Tremor-sensing type receptacle
KR200375161Y1 (en) A alarm control apparatus for gas range
KR970001338B1 (en) Keyboard pressed state displaying apparatus for a washing machine
KR102657235B1 (en) Fire Prevention Range Hood System and Operating Method using Roasting Smell
KR970005071A (en) Control device and method of grain dryer using fuzzy inference
JP3651542B2 (en) Fire detector
JP2001116254A (en) Flame monitor
JPH11154284A (en) Light emission calling chime
JP3182652B2 (en) Fire detector
KR100204816B1 (en) Gas alarm device
JPH0456569A (en) Av equipment controller

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)