WO2018197221A1

WO2018197221A1 - Display of information on a refrigeration appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2018197221A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/059362
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christoph Becke; Max Eicher; Klaus Försterling; Philipp Kleinlein; Christine RIEDER; Ralph Staud; Thomas Tischer; Marco Reitwiessner; Andreas Kessler; Andreas Korte; Robert Sachon; Kiran Pal Sagoo
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2017-04-28
Filing date: 2018-04-12
Publication date: 2018-11-01
Also published as: CN110546445B; CN110546445A; DE102017207220A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigeration appliance (21) comprising at least one cold compartment (4) that can be closed by means of at least one door (5) and at least one projection device that illuminates the cold compartment (4) when the door (5) is open. At least one projection device comprises a laser projector (14) designed to project information onto at least one reflective projection surface (16, 30, 43, 56) in the cold compartment (4). The invention also relates to a method for displaying information (A, B) on a refrigeration appliance (21), according to which at least one projection device in the form of a laser projector (14) projects the information at least into the cold compartment (4). The invention can be applied particularly advantageously to household dual refrigerators.

Description

Presentation of information on a cooling unit

The invention relates to a cooling device which has at least one cooling chamber closable by means of at least one door and at least one projection device illuminating the cooling space when the door is open. The invention also relates to a method for displaying information on a cooling device. The invention is particularly applicable to household refrigerators such as refrigerators, freezers, freshness preserving appliances or combinations thereof. The invention is particularly applicable to household double refrigerators.

It is known that refrigerators may have lighting devices in the form of LED spotlights for interior lighting. In particular, an LED emitter disposed in a ceiling of a cold room can be used as a so-called "spotlight" to illuminate the refrigerator compartment or refrigerator interior in addition to other lamps. The light cone of the LED spotlight shines from the top center into the refrigerator interior and also slightly beyond. In addition to the supporting illumination of the refrigerator interior so also opened drawers of the refrigerator and a narrow area can be illuminated in front of a refrigerator. Also, refrigerators are known which have on an outside of their door or on a refrigerator top panels panels. The panels may include screens, e.g. LCD or TFT screens. The panels may have separate buttons or touch-sensitive buttons. Touch-sensitive keys can be fields of a touch-sensitive screen. For example, a temperature of a refrigerator and a temperature of a freezer compartment can be set via the control panels. It is disadvantageous that such panels are expensive, have to be cabled consuming and occupy a non-negligible space.

DE 20 2007 008 843 U1 discloses cooling and / or freezing apparatus with means for displaying one or more information, in particular for displaying one or more operating parameters of the apparatus, wherein the means comprise projection means and a projection surface and the projection means are arranged and designed such that the information can be projected onto the projection surface by means of the projection means. The pro- jektionsfläche can be located on the inner container and / or on the housing of the device. The projection means can be located in the interior of the device. It is provided that information, for example device-related information, such as a temperature value, an alarm state, a user menu, etc., is projected onto a projection screen.

WO 201 1/101252 A1 discloses a refrigeration device which has a body with a coolable interior, a door leaf provided for opening and closing the interior, a plurality of storage compartments, in particular separated by shelves and arranged inside the cooling space, and a projection device for projecting an image onto a projection surface having. The projection device is set up to project one image at a time onto projection surfaces of the individual storage compartments. The respective images have information about the respective storage compartment and / or information about refrigerated goods to be stored and / or stored in the respective storage compartment.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, at least in part, and in particular to provide an inexpensive and easily mountable cooling device with an improved user-friendliness. This object is achieved according to the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are in particular the dependent claims.

The object is achieved by a cooling device comprising at least one cooling chamber which can be closed by at least one door and at least one projection device illuminating the cooling chamber when the door is open, wherein at least one projection device has a laser projector which is set up to display information on at least one reflecting projection surface in the cooling space to project.

This cooling device provides the advantage that a user can read information in the area of the refrigerator compartment with the door open, while also having the contents of the refrigerator compartment in view. This significantly increases a coherent perception of the refrigerator or stored therein content and the displayed information, which in turn significantly increases user-friendliness. The information projected onto a projection surface can be read or recognized by a user or user, in particular by a user the refrigerator standing users. In addition, the projection device requires only a small space and also a low wiring. It is also very cheap compared to screens. In addition, the projection allows a particularly high degree of design flexibility.

The use of the laser projector allows the further advantage that the image generated by him due to the narrow and low-divergent laser beams is particularly sharp, even if the angle of incidence of a radiated by him at least one laser beam on a projection not constant or very oblique are. By means of a laser projector, therefore, a particularly high image sharpness can be achieved even on uneven and / or highly obliquely oriented projection surfaces. This is particularly advantageous for projection into the cold room on there typically existing multi-shaped surfaces. As a result, the laser beam requires no elaborate optics for beam focusing and can be constructed very compact. In particular, the laser projector can also project the laser light without focus.

The laser projector is in particular able to project information onto at least one projection surface provided by laser radiation. In other words, the projection device can project at least one information-bearing image onto the projection surface. The projection surface can also be referred to as a display surface or image surface.

The fact that a projection surface is designed to be reflective comprises, in particular, that there is no or no noticeable propagation of light through the projection surface ("transmitting light propagation"). A backlight of a window or display with laser light for reading the information by a user on the other side of the window or display is thus not meant in particular.

In particular, the fact that the laser projector can project information into the cold room means that it can project information onto an inner wall of the cold room and / or onto at least one inner part of the cold room.

The laser projector can emit one or more laser beams. The laser beams may have laser light of the same color or different color. The laser In principle, the jector thus also makes it possible to display or reproduce colored information. It is therefore a further development that the laser projector is a monochromatic light-emitting laser projector, for example red or green light. It is still a development that the laser projector is a multi-colored light emitting laser projector. The multicolored light can be colorful or achromatic (eg white) light. The laser projector can also be called a laser beamer.

The refrigerator may have at least one refrigerator, at least one freezer compartment, a fresh food compartment or a combination thereof. The refrigerator is in particular a household refrigerator.

The refrigerator has a coolable refrigerator or interior having a closable through the door feed opening. The fact that at least one projection device has a laser projector or is a laser projector may include that the cooling device additionally has at least one further illumination device that is not a projection device. Such a further illumination device may be, for example, a lamp or a radiator for illuminating the cooling space.

The projection surface is designed in particular diffuse light-reflecting, which is advantageous for good readability at different angles. The projection surface is in particular a white surface. That a projection surface is intended to serve as a surface for the incident laser radiation of the laser projector may include that the cooling device is adapted to use the projection surface for information presentation. The area which can basically be irradiated by the projection device can be larger than the projection area actually used to display the information. This targeted use of the projection surface for displaying information can be achieved by a corresponding control of the laser projector.

The information may include at least one graphical element such as a graphic character (eg, a symbol, a letter, a number, etc.), at least one abstract geometric Object (eg a circle, a rectangle, etc.) and / or at least one objective object (eg a landscape, a scale, ice cubes, etc.) include.

The laser projector can project the information onto the screen without moving (e.g., as a still picture) and / or moving (e.g., as a picture of time-varying information such as moving and / or color-changing image areas, etc.).

It is a development that the laser projector is coupled to a control device of the refrigerator. The control device can transmit control data to the laser projector so that the laser projector projects the desired information or generates the desired at least one image on the basis of this control data. This can also be expressed by the fact that the at least one laser projector is programmable, e.g. by means of the control device. When the door is closed, the laser projector is advantageously switched off to save energy and extend its service life.

It is an embodiment that at least one projection surface provided for illumination by the projection device is designed as a control panel or user interface. As a result, at least one optically represented user interface can be generated or provided. This user interface has a particularly high level of user-friendliness due to its position in the cold room or in the vicinity of the cold room. In addition, it is very durable and prone to interference, because no screens are needed. Also, this embodiment is particularly inexpensive and compact with few components implemented. In addition, this can achieve a particularly high level of functionality and design flexibility. For this embodiment, another projection device can be used as a laser projector, such as an LED projector. This embodiment is therefore not limited to laser projectors. It is a development that the laser projector is provided to visually design one or more surface areas of the control panel as actuators. An approach to a surface area and / or a contact of the surface area is detectable in the sense of an actuation of this actuating element by the cooling device. The cooling device can for this purpose have at least one sensor for detecting an actuation. point. Upon detection of an actuation of at least one actuating element, the cooling device can trigger at least one associated action, for example incrementing or decrementing a device parameter such as a temperature. An actuating element may be designed, for example, as a push button, linear slider, circular slider, etc., or act as such an actuating element. The projected control panel may in particular have a keyboard. Projection keyboards are known, eg a projection keyboard Laserkey CL800BT from Celluon. It is a further development that the control panel is set up to recognize gestures executed on the control panel or near the control panel.

Such a control panel may also be referred to as a visually illustrated control panel. An operating methodology and / or user guidance of the visually displayed control panel is basically not limited and may also include operating methodologies conventionally rather control panels, for example with regard to the use of menu controls, application programs ("apps"), display of advertising, etc.

It is still a further development that the laser projector is provided to project at least one display, in particular at least one display field or display area, onto a projection surface. Thus, user can set useful information for setting the refrigerator, e.g. a refrigerator temperature. A display area can be represented in particular in the form of an alphanumeric display. It is also a further development that the projection device is provided to project at least one combined control and display panel on a projection surface.

It is yet another embodiment that the cooling device has at least one non-contact position and / or motion sensor for detecting an actuation of an operating element of the control panel projected by means of the laser projector. This gives the advantage that the control panel does not require any wiring ("virtual control panel"). This in turn allows a particularly inexpensive construction, and a particularly inexpensive installation. The non-contact position and / or movement tion sensor may be an optical sensor (eg, a camera), an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, etc. In particular, the non-contact sensor can detect a finger, a hand or another body part of the user. In particular, the non-contact sensor can detect a position of the body part, a direction of movement of the body part and / or a distance of the body part from a projection surface. In a further development, the non-contact sensor can also detect a position and / or movement of at least one inner part of the cooling device.

It is a development that the laser projector and the non-contact position and / or motion sensor are integrated in one unit (e.g., as a laser projector / sensor module). Alternatively, the position and / or motion sensor may be a separate component from the laser projector.

It is an alternative or additional development that at least one projection surface is assigned a (physical) touch-sensitive surface ("touch field"). The touch-sensitive surface may e.g. a capacitive, inductive or resistive surface. The touchpad may e.g. be implemented by means of a touch-sensitive film or "touch foil" whose surface corresponds to a projection surface. An optical design of the touch panel is provided by the laser projector.

The laser projector can be located in the cold room. Alternatively, the projection device may be located in a region of the refrigerator covered by the door when the door is closed. It is furthermore an embodiment that at least one laser projector is arranged in the region of a ceiling of the cooling space (or a ceiling area covered by the door) ("projection from above"). This allows a particularly simple light projection (irradiation of projection surfaces) over a large width of the cooling space and over a large height of the cooling space. At least one laser projector can be arranged centrally in the refrigerator when viewed from the front.

It is an alternative or additional embodiment that at least one laser projector is arranged in the region of a side wall of the cooling space (or a side area covered by the door) ("projection from one side"). This gives the advantage that Light is particularly easy to project on an opposite side wall. This opposite side wall can thus also provide at least one projection surface or serve as at least one projection surface. It is also an embodiment that at least two provided for illumination by the laser projector projection surfaces are spatially separated. This makes possible a location-dependent projection of information that is particularly easy for a user to recognize. It is a development that two adjacent projection surfaces are separated by a depression. This reinforces for a user the impression of a spatial separation. The recess may for example be a storage compartment. The recess may also be a lateral gap to a side wall, for example between an intermediate floor and a side wall, a storage space, etc.

It is also an embodiment that at least two provided for illumination by the projection device projection surfaces are arranged on different vertical planes. This allows a particularly clear presentation of information.

It is a development that disposed on different vertical planes or provided projection surfaces respective shelves or shelves of the refrigerator are assigned or assigned. This further facilitates an information presentation. In particular, individually assigned information for a user can thus be clearly displayed at a particular level.

It is also an embodiment that in each case at least one projection surface of the cooling space can be provided on: at least one intermediate floor, at least one partition plate, at least one drawer and / or a bottom of the cooling space. Intermediate floors and partition plates can also be referred to as shelves. Intermediate floors, partition plates and drawers can also be referred to as internal parts. A projection surface provided on a shelf can be mounted on a plate of the false bottom and / or on a front strip attached to the front of the plate be provided. This embodiment is particularly suitable in the presence of a ceiling mounted laser projector.

In particular, if at least one projection surface is located on a plate of a false bottom and / or a separating plate and the intermediate bottom and / or the separating plate has a glass plate, the glass plate can have an opaque, reflecting surface at least in the region of the projection surface. This can e.g. by an appropriate coating or treatment (e.g., roughening) of the glass plate.

It is a further development that at least one laser projector is located in front of (i.e., more frontally compared to) at least one intermediate floor. This facilitates an unshaded illumination of located under an intermediate floor projection surfaces. It is still a development that at least one laser projector is behind at least one false floor. A projection surface located under this intermediate floor can then be illuminated through a transparent area of the false floor.

It is an additional or alternative development that the projection surfaces arranged on different vertical planes are located on a side wall, in particular at the level of a respective compartment level or a respective storage space. This development is particularly suitable in the presence of a arranged in an opposite side wall of the refrigerator laser projector. It is also an embodiment that at least two provided for illumination by the projection device projection surfaces are arranged in different horizontal areas. This further improved the clarity of the projected information. For example, two or more laterally or horizontally separated projection surfaces can be provided on a vertical plane.

It is a development that the refrigerator is a multiple refrigerator with several separate cold rooms. Each of the cooling chambers can be closed in particular by means of a respective door. The cold rooms can be assigned to independent refrigerators or cooling units. It is also an embodiment that the cooling device is a multiple cooling device with adjacently arranged cooling chambers and the one of the cooling chambers associated projection device (which can project information in this refrigerator) is set up and arranged information to a closed door of an adjacent Projecting refrigerator, in particular on a door edge. The door or the edge of the door is then designed to be reflective at least on the projection surface.

The multiple cooling device can be, for example, a double device with two superposed cooling chambers (floor device). Thus, the upper refrigerator may be a refrigerator of a refrigerator, while the lower refrigerator is a refrigerator of a freezer, food storage compartment, etc. A laser projector associated with the upper cooling space can then project, with the door of the upper cooling compartment open, onto a top edge of the closed door of the lower cooling compartment. An indication of a lower refrigerator operating parameter (e.g., a refrigerator temperature) may then be displayed on the top edge. Alternatively, a projection surface designed as a control panel can be provided on the top edge. This can be used in particular for operating the lower cooling device. This principle can be applied analogously to side by side arranged cooling chambers.

It is a further development that the laser projector can be operated in an illumination mode in which laser light emitted by the laser projector into at least one spatial area is illuminating light. Illuminating light can be understood to mean, in particular, light which is not used for the projection of information, in particular for illuminating the spatial area, for example, similar to a spotlight or a refrigerator lamp. The room area to be illuminated has a noticeable solid angle. The solid angle can in particular be dimensioned such that an opened area of a drawer (eg a freshness-keeping drawer) of the cooling space can be illuminated over virtually its entire width and depth. The area to be illuminated can also extend to the cold room. In the illumination mode, in a variant, the at least one laser projector additionally projects information into another spatial area. In an alternative or additional illumination mode, no information is projected by the at least one laser projector. It is also an embodiment that the at least one laser projector in a user interface mode or "Ul mode" is switchable, for example, starting from an illumination mode or from an off state of the at least one laser projector. Switching on or off can be triggered by the user. In the Ul mode, the at least one laser projector can project information onto at least one projection surface and optionally use at least one projection surface as a control panel.

It is a development that the Ul mode can be switched off. The switch-off can include switching off the at least one laser projector or switching the at least one laser projector into an illumination mode. The shutdown can be triggered by the user.

It is a development that the refrigerator by switch, gesture, voice control, sensor switch in the Ul mode can be switched and / or the Ul mode on and off.

It is a further development that the laser projector is also set up or driven in the illumination mode to project information onto at least one projection surface, which projection surface is located outside the room area to be illuminated.

The object is also achieved by a method for displaying information on or at a cooling device, in which at least one projection device in the form of a laser projector projects information into the cooling space onto at least one reflecting projection surface. The method can be designed analogously to the cooling device and has the same advantages.

The above-described characteristics, features and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more clearly understood in connection with the following schematic description of an embodiment which will be described in detail in conjunction with the drawings. shows a sectional side view of a cooling device according to a first embodiment;

shows a sectional side view of a cooling device according to a second embodiment;

shows the refrigerator according to the second embodiment in front view;

shows the cooling device according to the second embodiment in an oblique view in partial transparent representation with a first light projection; shows an oblique view of a section of the refrigerator according to the second embodiment;

shows an oblique view in partially transparent representation of the cooling device according to the second embodiment with a second light projection; shows an oblique view of a section of the refrigerator according to a third embodiment; and

shows an oblique view of a section of a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment.

1 shows a sectional side view of a cooling device 1, the like as a double cooling device with an upper refrigerator 2 and a lower freezer compartment 3 or similar. is designed. A refrigerator 4 of the refrigerator 2 is closed by means of a front side mounted, laterally pivotable door 5, which is shown here open towards the front. A cold room (not shown) of the freezer compartment 3 can be closed by means of a laterally pivotable door 6, which is shown here closed. In the refrigerator 4 are - from top to bottom - on different vertical levels: an upper shelf 7, a middle shelf 8, a lower shelf 9, a partition plate 10, an upper drawer 1 1 and a lower drawer 12. On the shelves 7 to 9, on the partition plate 10 and in the drawers 1 1 and 12 objects can be stored. The shelves 7 to 9 are the same depth. The partition plate 10 protrudes forward over the shelves 7 to 9 and covers the drawers 1 1, 12. For example, more or less shelves 7 to 9 and drawers 1 1, 12 may be present. In the area of a ceiling 13 of the cooling space 4, the refrigerator 2 has a projection device in the form of a laser projector 14. The laser projector 14 radiates - monochrome or multicolor - laser light L down. A Lichtabstrahlöffnung the laser projector 14 is located in front of the shelves 7 to 9. When the door 5 is closed, the light-emitting aperture is not covered, but the laser projector 14 is turned off. Alternatively, with the door 5 closed, the light emission opening may be covered by the door 5.

When the door 5 is open, the laser projector 14 can project laser light L onto a front-side section 15 of the separating plate 10, to image information on this section 15. The section 15 thus provides at least one projection surface 16 and is reflective-in particular diffuse reflective - designed, for example, as a matte white or light surface. The projection surface 16 may extend over the entire width of the portion 15 or over only a portion of the portion 15.

The projection surface 16 may optionally be designed as a control panel B or serve. The refrigerator 2 may then comprise a non-contact position and / or motion sensor (not shown) for detecting actuation of an operating element projected by the laser projector 14 (e.g., a virtual button, a virtual slider, etc.) of the control panel B. The sensor may also be integrated in the laser projector 14; the laser projector 14 may then be referred to as a laser projector / sensor module or panel projector. The control panel B may have at least one alphanumeric display area. By means of the control panel B, for example, a temperature of the refrigerator compartment 4 of the refrigerator 2, a possibly deviating temperature in the drawers 11, 12 and a temperature of the refrigerator compartment of the freezer compartment 3 can be read off. Also, the temperature of the cooling space 4, the temperature of the cooling space of the freezing compartment 3 and possibly the temperature in at least one of the drawers 1 1, 12 can be adjusted. Optionally, it is also possible to display and, if necessary, adjust humidities, etc.

The laser projector 14 is connected to a control device 17 of the refrigerator 1, which regulates the temperatures and possibly humidities and uses the laser projector 14 as a control panel projector. The control device 17 may be configured to be programmed, for example, to control the laser projector 14. 2 shows a sectional side view of a cooling device 21 according to a second embodiment. The cooling device 21 differs from the cooling device 1 in that the projection device 14 can illuminate or generate a plurality of projection surfaces 16, 24, 26, 28, 30 arranged on different vertical planes. This can be achieved by constructive adaptation of the projection device 14 and / or by a different activation of the laser projector 14. With different control, the controller 17 may be programmed accordingly. In a variant, the cooling device 21 corresponds to the cooling device 1 and can be operated in the two modes shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

While the already described projection surface 16, which can also be configured as a control panel B, is produced or provided on a front-side section 15 of the separating plate 10, the projection surface 24 can be produced on a front-side section 23 of the upper intermediate bottom 7, the projection surface 26 are produced on a front side portion 25 of the middle shelf 8, the projection surface 28 are generated on a front side portion 27 of the lower shelf 9 and the projection surface 30 on an upper edge 29 (corresponding to a top) of the closed door 6 of the freezer compartment 3 are generated.

The projection surfaces 16, 24, 26, 28, 30 arranged on different vertical planes have the advantage that information can be displayed particularly close to the spatial regions which have a content-related relationship to the information. Thus, information about the freezer compartment 3 can be displayed on the upper edge 29 of its door 6. Information about the refrigerator 4, the drawers 1 1, 12 and a storage space 31 provided by the partition 10 can be displayed on the partition 10, and information about a storage space 32, 33 and 34 provided by the shelves 7 to 9 can be provided on the sections 23, 25 and 27, respectively. The projection surfaces 16, 24, 26, 28, 30 may be formed as panels B, but do not need it. Thus, for example, the projection surface 16 can be set up as a control panel B for setting a temperature etc. of the cooling space 4 and the projection surface 30 can be set as the control panel B for setting a temperature of the freezing compartment 3. be judged. The projection surfaces 24, 26 and 28, however, may be formed as pure display areas A.

In another variant, information can also be projected onto a floor in front of the cooling device 21.

3 shows the cooling device 21 in a frontal view without door 5 with a view into the opened cooling space 4. The projection surfaces 16, 24, 26, 28, 30 are shown here as surfaces that are continuous over a width. In a variant, at least two projection surfaces can also be arranged in different horizontal areas (not shown), e.g. in a left region and in a right region of the sections 15, 23, 25, 27 and / or 29. The different horizontal regions can therefore also lie in a common vertical plane. In addition or as an alternative to the laser projector 14, the cooling device 21 may include a laser projector 36 disposed on a side wall 35, which may also be configured as a panel projector (e.g., as a laser projector / sensor module). In particular, the laser projector 36 can also project information onto projection surfaces (not shown) on the opposite side wall 37. In general, the laser projector 14 and the laser projector 36 can project information to the projection surfaces 16, 24, 26, 28, 30 as well as to the projection surfaces of the opposite side wall 37. However, e.g. only projection surfaces 37 may be provided on a side wall. The projection surfaces provided on a side wall 37 may, in particular, be located at the level of respective storage spaces 31 to 34 and, for example, indicate information relating to these storage spaces 31 to 34.

4 shows the cooling device 21 in an oblique view in a partially transparent representation with an indicated first light projection LP1. The first light projection LP1 is used here only to display information. This can also be called a first UI mode.

5 shows a view from obliquely above a section of the cooling device 21 in the region of the partition plate 10th On the projection surface 16 of the portion 15 of the partition plate 10, a control panel B1 is projected, which is a thermometer shaped display area A1 for a temperature of the refrigerator 4, also formed as a thermometer display area A2 for the fresh-food drawer 1 1, a display area A3 for displaying typical on the partition plate 10 or in the storage space 31 stored food or other refrigerated goods, an actuating element in the form of a virtual rotary switch BE1 for selecting setting and display options (eg for setting temperatures, for setting basic settings, for recalling recipes, for retrieving of tips for retrieving instructions for use, etc.), an actuator in the form of a virtual slider BE2 or Linearsliders for adjusting a temperature of the refrigerator 4 and an actuator in the form of a virtual slide BE3 for setting a temperature of the fresh-food drawer 1 1 has. The control panel B1 also shows background objects C in the form of food.

The actuators BE1 to BE3 can be monitored for approach or contact by a hand H, e.g. If an "actuation" of the actuators BE1 to BE3 is detected, at least one action can be triggered, for example a change in a setpoint temperature can be carried out by means of the laser projector also serving as position and / or motion sensor.

On the projection surface 28 of the portion 27 of the lower shelf 9, a display area A4 is projected, which displays typical stored on the lower shelf 9 food. In this case, the lower intermediate bottom 9 has a transparent glass plate 38, on whose front edge a front strip 39 is attached. The projection surface 28 can be located on the front strip 39, which is designed to be light-reflecting, for example has a white surface as a diffusely reflecting front strip 39. The front panel 39 may be made of white plastic. This can apply analogously to the other shelves 7 and / or 8. The control panel B1 may be context sensitive, that is, its appearance, display areas, and actuators may change depending on a selected context. The context can be set, for example, by means of the virtual rotary dial BE1 by selecting the setting and display options. For example, with a "Temperature" option selected as shown, the temperature-related display conditions A1 and A2 and the actuators BE2 and BE3 are projected and possibly monitored for approach by the hand H (or a finger thereof). If another option is selected on the rotary selector BE1, the actuators BE2 and BE3 or both the actuators BE2 and BE3 as well as the display areas A1 and A2 can be hidden. For example, with a choice of the (menu) option recipes on the rotary selector BE1, the entire projection area 16 to the right of the rotary selector BE1 can be used to display recipes.

By means of the control panel B1, information displayed in the display areas A3 and A4 can also be changed, for example under the option or the menu item Settings of the rotary selector BEL Thus, the display area A3 for displaying typical foodstuffs stored on the separating plate 10 shows a lettering for fish and meat as well to the right of this corresponding symbols S2. The display area A4 displays a lettering S3 for cold cuts and to the right corresponding symbols S4. Under the option Settings of the rotary selector BE1 this information or contents can be changed, e.g. be freely determined and / or selected from a group of preselected contents.

On the projection surface 30 of the upper edge 29 of the door 6, a control panel B2 is projected, which has an alphanumeric display area A5 in the form of a temperature display for the temperature of the freezer compartment 3 and two trained as virtual buttons BE4 and BE5 actuators. By means of the virtual buttons BE4 and BE5, the temperature of the freezer compartment 3 can be set or changed. In addition, the control panel B2 has further virtual keys BE6 for setting different cooling modes of the freezer compartment 3, e.g. "Holidays", "Super" and "Eco".

6 shows an oblique view, partially in a transparent representation, of the cooling device 21 with a second light projection LP2 of the light L. The second light projection LP2 differs from the first light projection LP1 in that it uses a (projection) component PR of the projection used for the projection of information Light L and a used for illumination (illumination) portion AL of the light L, which radiate in different spatial areas. The illumination portion AL serves to radiate into an open area of the drawer 1 1 pulled out to illuminate the drawer there. The illumination portion AL generates for this purpose, in particular with regard to its brightness and Color spatially homogeneous light L, especially white light. On the upper edge 29 of the door 6 of the freezer compartment 3 no information is then projected, and also a position and / or motion detection of the hand H can not be performed there.

The change between the light projection LP1 and the light projection LP2 can be effected by means of the control device 17 when an extraction of the drawer 11 or 12 is detected. With retraction of the drawer 1 1 or 12 can be switched back to the light projection LP1.

Also in the light projection LP2, the projection device 14 is in a (second) UI mode. In a variant, the projection device 14 can be switched to a pure illumination mode in which it emits only light L for illumination. 7 shows an oblique view of a section of a cooling device 41 according to a fourth embodiment. The cooling device 41 differs from the cooling device 21 in that it has only one laterally arranged laser projector 36. The projection surface 43 is provided only on the opposite side wall 37, on a located in front of the shelves 7 to 9 section 42 of the side wall 37. The projection 43 may be formed as a control panel B3, for example, for displaying and setting of temperatures, etc. , The control panel B3 may include a virtual rotary selector BE1 actuator for selecting setting and display options, a first virtual slider BE7 for displaying and setting a temperature of the freezing compartment, a second virtual slider BE8 for displaying and setting a temperature of the fresh-food holding drawer 1 1 and a third virtual slide BE9 for indicating and setting a temperature of the refrigerator 4. The slides BE7 to BE 9 thus combine display and operating functions. Also objects C are projected. On the upper edge 29 of the door 6 of a freezer compartment 23 is not projected. In particular, the cooling unit 41 in a variant can not be a double unit and therefore also no freezer 3, fresh-keeping device or the like. exhibit. The description for FIG. 7 can be applied analogously to the cooling device 21 if the laser projector 36 is used there. The laser projector 12 of the cooling device 21 can - in principle or in at least one operating mode - be used in addition to the information projection. The laser projector 12 can - in principle or in at least one further operating mode - be used only for room illumination. The laser projector 12 may be switched off in at least one further operating mode.

8 shows an oblique view of a section of a cooling device 51. The cooling device 51 is constructed similarly to the cooling device 21 and in particular has a laser projector 12 arranged on the ceiling side. In contrast to the cooling unit 21, the cooling unit 51 has two drawers 52 and 53 arranged next to one another (alternatively only a single drawer). In addition, the drawers 52, 53 have such a small depth that a front portion 55 of a bottom 54 of the cooling space 4 is exposed and can be used as a projection surface 56, in particular as a control panel B1.

For this, the projection surface 16 on the drawers 52, 53 overlapping partition plate 57 is smaller. The partition plate 57 may in particular be designed analogously to the intermediate floors 7 to 9, e.g. by having the same depth and a glass plate 38, on the front side, a front bar 39 is attached. The projection surface 16 is then located on the front strip 39 and may be a pure display area A6. For example, information regarding a content of the underlying drawers 52, 53 may be projected onto the display area A6.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

Thus, features of the various embodiments can also be exchanged or combined. In addition, projection surfaces can also be present on a door inside. Also, a fresh-keeping device can be used instead of a freezer. Generally, "on", "an", etc. may be taken to mean a singular or a plurality, in particular in the sense of "at least one" or "one or more", etc., as long as this is not explicitly excluded, eg by the expression "exactly a "etc.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 cooling unit

2 fridge

3 freezer

4 refrigerator of the refrigerator

5 door of the refrigerator

6 door of the freezer compartment

7 Upper intermediate floor

8 Middle intermediate floor

9 lower intermediate floor

10 separating plate

1 1 Upper drawer

12 Lower drawer

13 ceiling of the refrigerator

14 laser projector

15 Front section of the partition plate

16 projection surface

17 Control device of the refrigerator

21 cooling unit

23 Front section of the upper intermediate floor

24 projection surface

25 Front section of the middle shelf

26 projection surface

27 Front section of the lower shelf

28 projection surface

29 Upper edge of the freezer compartment door

30 projection surface

31 -34 traffic jams

35 side wall of the refrigerator

36 laser projector

37 Opposite side wall of the refrigerator

38 glass plate 39 front panel

41 cooling unit

42 Section of the side wall

43 projection surface

51 cooling unit

52 drawer

53 drawer

54 bottom of the refrigerator

55 Front section of the floor 56 Projection surface

57 separating plate

A display area

A1 -A6 display areas

AL Illuminance component of light B Control panel

B1 -B3 control panels

BE1 rotary selector

BE2 slider

BE3 slider

BE4-BE6 buttons

BE7-BE9 slider

C background object

H hand

L laser light

LP1 First light projection

LP2 Second light projection

PR Projection of light

S1 -S4 logos

Claims

claims

Cooling device (1; 21; 41; 51), comprising at least one cooling chamber (4) which can be closed by at least one door (5) and at least one projection device illuminating the cooling space (4) when the door (4) is open, characterized in that at least one projection device a laser projector (14, 36) adapted to project information onto at least one reflective projection surface (16, 30, 43, 56) in the cooling space (4).

Cooling device (1; 21; 41; 51) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one projection surface (16, 30, 43, 56) provided for illumination by the laser projector (14, 36) serves as a control panel (B, B1 -B3 ) is trained.

Cooling device (1; 21; 41; 51) according to claim 2, characterized in that the cooling device (1; 21; 41; 51) at least one non-contact position and / or motion sensor (14, 36) for detecting an actuation of one by means of Laser projector (14, 36) projected actuator (BE1 -BE9) of the control panel (B, B1 -B3).

Cooling device (1; 21; 41; 51) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one laser projector (14) is arranged in the region of a ceiling (13) of the cooling space (4).

Cooling device (21; 41; 51) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one laser projector (36) is arranged in the region of a side wall (35) of the cooling space (4).

Cooling device (21; 41; 51) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two projection surfaces (16, 24, 26, 28, 30, 43, 56) provided for illumination by the at least one laser projector (14, 36) spatially are separated from each other.

7. Cooling device (21; 41; 51) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two projection surfaces (16, 24, 26, 28, 30, 43, 56) provided for illumination by the at least one laser projector (14, 36) are provided ) are arranged on different vertical planes.

8. Cooling device (1; 21; 41; 51) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in each case at least one projection surface (16, 24, 26, 28, 30, 43, 56) of the cooling space (4) can be provided at least one intermediate bottom (7-9), a separating plate (10, 57), at least one drawer and / or a bottom (54).

9. Cooling device (1; 21; 41; 51) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two projection surfaces provided for illumination by the at least one laser projector (14, 36) are arranged in different horizontal regions.

10. Cooling device (1; 21; 51) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling device is a (1; 21; 51) multiple cooling device with adjacently arranged cooling chambers (4) and one of the cooling chambers (4) associated Laser projector (14) is arranged and arranged to project information on a closed door (6) of an adjacent refrigerator.

1 1. Cooling appliance (1; 21; 41; 51) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one laser projector (14, 36) can be switched into an Ul mode.

12. A method for displaying information (A, A1-A6, B, B1 -B3, BE1 -BE9, C) on a cooling device (1; 21; 41; 51), in which at least one projection device in the form of a laser projector (14 , 36) projects the information onto at least one reflecting projection surface (16, 30, 43, 56) at least into the cooling space (4).