KR20060127176A - Device with a central unit for actuating a domestic appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device comprising a central unit (10), which is designed to actuate a domestic appliance, in particular a cooking device (11), in accordance with at least one pressure signal and a rotary signal of a rotary selector switch (12) comprising an integrated pushbutton function in an operating mode that can be selected using the rotary selector switch (12). The aim of the invention is to provide a device of this type, which can be operated simply and intuitively. To achieve this, the central unit (10) is configured to process at least one parameter (D) for a temporal signal response.

Description

Device with a central unit for actuating appliances

The present invention relates to an apparatus comprising a central unit for operating a household appliance according to the introduction of claim 1.

An apparatus comprising a central unit (comprising of a computer unit) for operating a washing machine is described in European patent EP 898,003 A2. The device comprises a jog shuttel type rotation selector with a pushbutton function, which can generate one or more rotation signals and one or more pressure signals. The central unit operates a household appliance implemented as a washing machine according to these signals.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which is operable in a simple manner and intuitively.

The object of the invention is realized by the features of claim 1, while the preferred embodiments and refinements of the invention can be derived from the dependent claims.

The present invention operates an appliance such as cooking appliance 11 in an operation mode selected by rotation selector 12 in accordance with one or more pressure signals and rotation signals of rotation selector 12 having a push button function. The central unit 10 is included.

The central unit 10 processes the characteristic value D for the time signal course. The user may generate a plurality of different control signals using the rotation selector. For example, pressing and holding the rotation selector may generate a control signal different from a control signal issued when the rotation selector is shortly pressed. In addition, if the rotation selector is rotated quickly, a different effect than when rotating slowly may occur. Overall, the rotation selector can be implemented to have a high degree of functional integration, and in particular, the appliance can be operated simply and intuitively. Without other knobs and / or switches, only a rotary selector with a push function can be used to conveniently control the appliance.

The expression "provided" may be understood as expressions "designed" and "equipped". The household appliance may be formed of a household appliance that can be implemented by those skilled in the art. By increasing the degree of functional integration of the rotation selector, the number of control means, knobs, levers, or switches can be reduced, thereby providing a neat implementation. In particular, this advantage is valid for kitchen utensils and cooking utensils (eg cookers, baking ovens, electronic ovens). In this case, the rotary selector may be the only means of operation or other control means, such as a control switch, may be used auxiliary.

The course of a signal over time may be given as a course of a single signal, or may be a series of signals. For example, the pause length between two signals may be detected and processed. The central unit may be designed as a control and / or adjustment unit and may in particular be an integrated, programmable computer unit.

In one embodiment of the invention, the characteristic magnitude is given by the duration of the pressure signal. Accordingly, a specific relationship between the pressure signal and the control signal according to the duration of the pressure signal is established. In addition, the user can optionally generate different control signals (differentiated by the sustained time of the pressure signal) in a simple manner.

Certain intuitive relationships can be established when the central unit performs the switching process in one operating state when the duration of the pressure signal exceeds a stored value. In this case, the switching-on and / or switching-off process is preferably carried out according to the pressing length (ie, long pressing or short pressing). The stored value may vary depending on the operating state. Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, the central unit may perform the first switching process at a first time point at which the duration exceeds the first stored value, and wherein the duration is greater than the second stored value. The second switching process may begin at two time points. It is also possible to increase or decrease the program parameters for the duration of the pressure signal.

In the case where the central unit selects one of a plurality of data sets stored in the memory unit and associated with an individual operating program, in an operating state according to a time signal course, the household appliance is connected to a large number of operating programs. Can be operated by In this case, the user can intuitively preselect by the rotation selection signal and confirm it by the pressure signal.

In the case where the signal of the rotation selector does not occur over a specified time interval, if the central unit automatically performs the control steps in the operating state, it is possible to simply control the household appliance. In this case, the user can influence the control phase via the signal, but this is not so important. The control unit may select the initially designated designation data set, for example, when no signal is generated for a specific time.

The central unit may also display one or more user guide information items using the display device. Therefore, it is possible to conveniently control the household appliance, and to provide appropriate feedback on the control step performed.

When the central unit, in the setting mode, determines one or more program parameters in accordance with the rotation signal of the rotation selector, it is convenient to apply the stored operating program for each particular (designation).

If the central unit extends the selectable program parameter to increase the proposed program parameter in accordance with a first rotational signal related to the first direction of rotation and to decrease the parameter in accordance with a second rotational signal related to the second direction of rotation. Program parameters can be set intuitively and quickly. In this case the proposed program parameter is given as the expected appropriate value for that program parameter.

If the central unit selects a selectable program parameter in the event that no signal occurs after the designated time, further operational convenience is provided. This is because no additional control operation is necessary to select the program parameters.

The central unit also highlights the program parameters selectable by the pressure signal using the display device. The central unit can report on the selectable values of the program parameters in its current state in a very convenient way for the user. When a plurality of program parameters are represented on the display device, one of the highlighted or automatically highlighted program parameters may be displayed. The display of program parameters may be indicated by symbols or in plain text. Program parameters represent parameters (e.g., temperature) that are selectable for a program type or a particular program type.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the display device comprises an imaging surface disposed parallel to the applicant surface and parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotation selector. Therefore, the appliance can be intuitively controlled. In particular, the surface area of the rotation selector having a tangential plane extending parallel to the image screen moves in a direction extending from the image screen (flat), whereby the image represented on the image screen moves ( Make-up parallel to the movement). If the axis of rotation extends, for example, horizontally from the instrument surface, the surface area of the rotational selector having a vertical tangential plane moves in the vertical direction above or below. By the appropriate program of the central unit, the image content or the emphasis content can be moved up or down and scrolled simultaneously with the movement of the screen.

The features of the invention are clearly represented in the following figures. One embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings, such as three programs that may be performed by the device. The drawings, the description and the claims contain various features in combination with each other. Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains may consider these features individually and may combine these features in other feasible combinations.

1 is a diagram illustrating a cooking appliance including a rotation selector having a push button function.

2 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus including a central unit for operating a cookware and a rotation selector having a push button function.

3 is a flowchart showing a program for operating a cooking utensil using the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 according to the first embodiment.

4 is a flow chart showing a program for operating the early mechanism using the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a program for operating the early mechanism using the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 according to the third embodiment.

*reference mark*

10 central unit 11 cookware

12 rotary selector 13 control steps

14 Switching Process 15 Memory Units

16 Display Devices 17 User Guide Information

18 Video Screen 19 Front of Instrument

20-23 switch 24 rotary shaft

25 permanent magnets 26 magnetic sensors

27 sensor lines 28, 29 pressure sensor

30, 31 signal lines 32 hours detection unit

33 Standby mode 34 Operating status

35 Selection Mode 36-37 Operation Status

39-41 Sub selection mode 42 Special function selection mode

43-54 Control Step 55 Step

56 Startup Steps 57 Temperature Indicator

58 time indicator 59 signal line

D0 value D1, D2 time interval

D Duration T Program Parameter

TV suggestion program parameters

1 shows a household appliance 11, which is implemented as a cooking appliance and includes a central unit 10. The central unit 10 is shown in FIG. 2 and consists of a computer unit for operating cooking appliance 11. A rotary selector 12 with a push button function, first to fourth switches 20-23 and display device 16 are arranged on the appliance front 19 of the cooking appliance 11 and engage with the control surface. The first switch 20 is for quick selection of the general operating program, the second switch 21 is for quick selection of the grill program, the third switch 23 is for quick selection of the special program, and the fourth switch 24 is for quick selection of the hot air program. It is for. In addition, the temperature indicator 57 is located in the upper left area of the instrument front face 19 and the time indicator 58 is located in the upper right area. Individual symbols for the operating program associated with the switches are indicated on switches 20-23. Switches 20-23 are implemented with sensor surfaces on glass-ceramic surfaces.

Rotation selector 12 is a device mounted to rotate about a rotation axis 24 that extends horizontally from the front face of the instrument, and has a spheroid shape comprising a magnet sensor 26 and a permanent magnet 25 to detect rotational movement of the rotation selector 12. Device. Central unit 10 may drive a rotation signal of rotation selector 12 (FIG. 2) via sensor line 27 from magnetic sensor 26. The rotation signal includes data about the rotation speed and the rotation direction of the rotation selector 12. The rotation selector 12 also has pressure sensors for detecting axial loads 28, 29 in the region of axial mountings located at the crest point of the rotationally mounted rotation unit. The axial rod is generated in a direction perpendicular to the instrument front face 19 by the pressure applied to the rotating unit. Here, the pressure sensors 28, 29 operate in response to the case where the axial rod exceeds the threshold of certain Newtons, whereby the rotation selector 12 has a push button function. The central unit 10 may detect the response of the pressure sensors via the signal lines 30, 31. In addition, the central unit 10 is connected via temperature control 57 and time indicator 58 via additional control lines (not shown).

The central unit 10 includes a memory unit 15 for storing data sets, each of which is connected to an individual operating program and includes proposed program parameters applied to the respective operating program. The central unit 10 also includes a time detection unit 32 for detecting and processing signal characteristic values for the time signal course and train of signals of the rotation selector 12. The characteristic value is specified by the duration D of the pressure signal. In this case the central unit 10 checks at one specified time whether one of the pressure sensors 28 and 29 responds. If there is a response, the central unit sets the logical variable to one (1) and increments the time counter value. If there is no response, check the logical variable. If the logical variable has a value of one, the logical variable and time counter are read out and set to zero, and a switch signal is generated. If the logical variable has a value of zero, no action is taken. The value of the time counter is always proportional to the duration D (the time the user presses the rotary switch).

 In this case, the switch signal can have two different values, especially depending on the value read from the time counter. If the detected duration D is less than the stored value D0, the central unit 10 generates an enter signal that allows the user to confirm the preselection. If the detected duration D is approximately 5 seconds longer than the stored value D0, the central unit 10 causes the cooker in standby mode 33 to be switched on by the switch process 14 and the cooker in switch-on mode is Generates an on-off signal that causes 11 to be switched to standby mode 33 by switch process 14 '.

The second time counter analogously measures the time interval D2 at which the pressure signal of the rotary selector 12 does not occur in various operating states, and in this operating state when the time interval D2 exceeds the preset time interval D1. Control steps 13, 43, 46, 49 and 52 are performed automatically.

3 schematically shows a flowchart of an operation program that may be performed in the central unit 10. Starting from standby mode 23, the user can switch cookware 11 to operating state 34 by pressing and holding rotation selector 12 as described above. In operation state 34, the central processing unit 10 shows the user information item 17 of the general text "selector function" on the display device 15 using the signal line 59 for a time interval of several seconds as shown in FIG. 2. When this time interval passes or the central unit 10 receives the rotation signal from the magnetic sensor 26 through the center line 27, the central unit 10 enters the first operating state 36 of the first selection mode 35. In the first selection mode 35, the central unit 10 displays on the display device 16 in plain text the name "hot air program" which is connected to the hot air program stored in the memory unit 15. In the selection mode 35, the central unit 10 may be disposed in the second operating state 37 and the third operating state 38. The second operating state 37 is connected with the grill program and the plain text "grill program" is displayed on the display device 16. The third operating state 38 is associated with a general operating program and the plain text "normal" is displayed on the display device 16. By turning the rotation unit of rotation selector 12, the user can change the operating states 36-38 periodically or according to the direction of rotation via the central unit 10. In Fig. 3, the rotation signal corresponds to an arrow having two points each time.

The video screen 18 of the display device 16 extends parallel to the front of the appliance of the cooking appliance 11 and to the axis of rotation 24 of the rotary selector 12. Upon changing the representation associated with each operating state, the central unit 10 visually moves each of the displays on the display device 16 in a direction away from the viewing window of the display device 16, thus, Facing the user, a similar effect occurs as the surface of the rotating unit (rotation mounted configuration) of the rotation selector 12 moves.

When the control unit 10 receives the switching signals from the switches 20-22 via the signal line at some point in time, the central unit 10 enters one of the three operating states 36-39. Specifically, the signal from switch 20 enters operating state 38, the signal from switch 21 enters operating state 37, and the signal from switch 22 enters operating state 36. In the case of the signal from the switch 23, the central unit 10 selects the special function selection mode 42.

When the user presses the rotation selector 12 as described above to generate a switching signal with a duration D less than D0, the central unit 10 enters from the selection mode 35 to one of the three sub-selection modes 39-41, The controller enters one of the lower selection modes according to the current operating state 36-38 at the input point of the switching signal.

In the present operating state 36, the central unit 10 is selected to proceed to the lower selection mode 39. In sub-selection mode 39, the user can select one of three control steps 43-35 via a rotation signal via rotation selector 12 and by pressing rotation selector 12. Control step 43 corresponds to the general hot air program selection, control step 44 corresponds to the selection of the bread baking program and control step 45 corresponds to the return to the selection mode 35.

When in the current operating state 37, the central unit 10 proceeds to the lower selection mode 40. In sub-operation mode 40, the user can select one of three control steps 46-48 via a rotation signal via rotation selector 12 and by pressing rotation selector 12. Control step 46 corresponds to a general grilling program selection that includes a lower grill, control step 47 corresponds to selection of a pizza baking program, and control step 48 to return to selection mode 35.

When in the current operating state 38, the central unit 10 proceeds to the low selection mode 41. In sub-operation mode 41, the user can select one of three control steps 49-51 via a rotation signal via rotation selector 12 and by pressing rotation selector 12. Control step 49 corresponds to a general operating program selection including lower heating (low temperature heating), control step 50 to selection of a general control program including upper and lower heat, and control step 50 Corresponds to the return to the selection mode 35.

In addition, in the special function selection mode 42, the user can select one of three control steps 52-54 via the rotation signal via the rotation selector 12 and by pressing the rotation selector. Control step 52 corresponds to the heating lamp program, control step 53 corresponds to the selection of the cooking state program and control step 54 corresponds to the selection of the cleaning program.

In the selection mode 35 and the sub selection mode 39-41 and the special function selection mode 42, the central unit 10 detects a time interval D2 in which neither the pressure signal nor the rotation signal is input each time. When the time interval D2 exceeds the set time interval D1, the central unit 10 automatically performs a control step. Specifically, the central unit 10 switches over to the sub-selection mode 39 in the selection mode 35, the control step 43 in the sub-selection mode 39, the control step 46 in the sub-selection mode 40, and the control step 49 in the sub-selection mode 41. In the special function selection mode 42, a control step 52 is performed.

If the user has selected a program characteristic via the rotary selector 12 and the central unit 10 in one of the sub-selection modes 39-41 or the special function selection mode 42, or when the program setting is automatically selected by the method described above, the central unit 10 is stored in memory. Different program-characteristic program parameters (especially proposed program parameter Tv) are read out from unit 15. The proposed program parameter Tv is embodied as the proposed temperature and is suitable as a default value for the settable target temperature obtained in the selected program. The temperature is set by program parameter T. The proposed program parameter Tv is represented by the central unit 10 as a selectable program parameter T on the temperature indicator 57 in step 55. At the same time, the central unit 10 presents the user guide information "select temperature" on the display device 16 in flashing plain text.

When the central unit 10 receives the rotation signal from the rotation selector 12 in the upward direction, the central unit 10 increases the temperature or the selectable program parameter T, and the temperature in the case of receiving the rotation signal in the downward direction. Or reduce the program parameter T. Specifically, in each case the speed is increased or decreased in proportion to the rotation speed of the rotation signal.

When the central unit 10 receives the short switching signal generated by the pressing operation, at that moment the selectable temperature displayed on the temperature indicator 57 is stored as the program parameter T, and the selected program is started by this program parameter T. Activated at 56

In addition, the central unit 10 detects the time interval D2 (the time interval at which neither the pressure signal nor the rotation signal is input to the central unit) in step 55. If the time interval D2 exceeds the set time interval D1, the central unit 10 proceeds from the control step 13 which is automatically performed to the start step 56.

4 and 5 show flowcharts of still other programs that may be performed by the apparatus of the present invention. In the following description, differences from the program shown in FIG. 3 will be briefly described. For the same feature, refer to the description of FIG. 3. Program examples having the same steps or the same effect are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the program shown in FIG. 4, switching between selection mode 35 and sub-selection modes 39-431 is such that, after the selection made in selection mode 35 is confirmed, the central unit 10 inputs the signal of switch 23 for a period of several seconds. Only under conditions of receipt. If not, the central unit 10 immediately enters step 55. In step 55 the suggested actions are performed each time. Sub-operation modes 39-41 are only called at the request of the user.

In the program shown in FIG. 5, selection mode 35 is extended by control steps 46, 44, 47 and 49, whereby sub-selection modes 39-41 can be omitted and a direct switch between selection mode 35 and step 55 is achieved. It is possible.

Claims (13)

In accordance with one or more pressure signals and rotation signals of the rotation selector 12 having a push button function, in the operation mode selected by the rotation selector 12, a central unit for operating a household appliance such as the cooking appliance 11 ( 10), The central unit (10) is characterized in that for processing the characteristic value (D) for the time signal course. The method of claim 1, The characteristic value is a duration (D) of the pressure signal. The method of claim 2, In the operating state, the central unit (10) performs a switching process (14) when the duration (D) of the pressure signal exceeds a stored value (D0). The method of claim 1, wherein In the operating state, the central unit 10 is characterized in that it selects one of a plurality of data sets stored in the memory unit 15 and associated with the individual operating program according to the time signal course. Appliances. The method according to claim 1, wherein In the operating state, the central unit 10 automatically performs the control steps 13, 42, 46, 49, 52 when the signal of the automatic selector 112 does not occur during the set time interval D1. Household appliance, characterized in that. The method according to any one of claims 4 and 5, The central unit (10) is characterized in that for selecting a set of data set when no signal is generated during the set time interval (D1). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The central unit (10) is characterized in that it uses the display device (16) to represent one or more items of user guide information (7). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The central unit (10) in the setting mode, characterized in that for determining one or more program parameters (T) in accordance with the rotation signal of the rotation selector (12). The method of claim 8, The central unit 10 increases the selectable program parameter T from the proposed program parameter Tv by a first rotational signal related to the first direction of rotation and to a second rotational signal related to the second direction of rotation. By reducing the home appliance. The method of claim 9, The central unit (10) selects a selectable program parameter (T) when no signal is generated after a designated time. The method of claim 7, wherein The central unit (10) is characterized by highlighting the program parameter (T) selectable by the pressure signal via the display device (16). The method of claim 7, wherein The display device (16) is characterized in that it comprises an image screen (18) parallel to the rotation axis (24) of the rotation selector (12) and arranged parallel to the instrument front face (19). In a method of operating a household appliance 11 such as a cooking appliance comprising a rotary selector 12 having a push button function, The household appliance (11) is operated according to the characteristic value (D) for the time signal course.

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