DE102006039235A1 - Domestic appliance with an operating device and method for using a household appliance with an operating device - Google Patents

Abstract

A cooking system (10) has an operating device (14) with a control unit, an input device (18) and an output device (20). The input device (18) has at least one input area with touch switch, touch sensors and / or proximity sensors, and the output device (20) is designed as a display (22) for outputting image information. It is envisaged that in the cooking system (10), the input device (18) has a detection area in addition to the input area, and the display (22) integrates the input device (18) and the output device (20) in a touch screen-like manner.

Description

Field of application and status of the technique

The The invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a cooking system Like., With an operating device, a control unit, a Input device and an output device has. The input device has at least one input area with touch switch, touch sensors and / or Proximity sensors on and the output device is as a display for outputting image information or the like. Educated. Likewise, the invention relates to a method for Application or operation of such a household appliance.

Household appliances of this kind are for example from the WO 03/031 876 A1 known. Therein is described a cooking device having a display and a processor connected to an interface, such as an infrared interface. A control device, for example a so-called handheld computer, can pass control signals to the processor by means of the interface.

Of the Processor then gives in dependence these control signals information on the display as well as over loudspeakers to a user.

Out Press Releases LCDB 04 248 or 5615 / A by Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd. For example, a touchscreen is known as the TFT LC display is formed. The display comes with a so-called SOG technology ("System on glass "). The display shows next to the normal, light-emitting areas still areas on which a position of a (fictitious) projection an object determined on the display and scans or the like. can be made.

Task and solution

task The invention is an apparatus and a method of the input to create said type, with which a compact and inexpensive to produce household appliance is realized that a user as well as a developer of household appliances a big flexibility allows.

Is solved This object is achieved by a household appliance having the features of the claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 14. Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention are Subject of further claims and will be closer in the following explained. Of the Wording of the claims is by express reference to the content of the description. Some of the following, however not exhaustive enumerated Features and properties apply to both the home appliance as well on the procedure too. They are sometimes described only once, however, they are independent each other for both the household appliance as well as for the procedure. Furthermore, the order of the listed features not binding, but rather can be optimized according to an optimized Household appliance or an application method for the optimized home appliance changed become.

According to the invention is a household appliance provided in which the input device in addition to the input area having a recognition area, wherein in the display the input device and the output device in the manner of a touch screen or so-called Touch screen combined are integrated. As a household appliance will be here equipment which can be used in a household, for example Cooking systems, cleaning systems such as washing machines or dishwashers, coolers It is also conceivable, however, for the invention to be used industrially devices with approximate same functions are used, for example, commercial kitchens. When Cooking system is considered here a system with the food and Including luxury food Water or the like heated and / or cooked. Exemplary here are flocks, microwave ovens, ovens and steamer, so called steamer etc.

The Operating device of the household appliance is the interface between an operator and the household appliance. By means of the operating device can the operator make settings or inputs, by means of the home appliance is controlled. The inputs are processed in a control unit and / or recycled. For this purpose, the control unit, for example be a micro processor. Also possible and within the scope of the invention conceivable comparatively simple control units such as Relay circuits or the like, PLC circuits and all other controls that make sense for a home appliance are.

Of the Input area in which the inputs are made, for example at least one touch switch, at least one touch sensor and / or have at least one proximity sensor.

But also any other device with a switching pulse or the like. can be triggered, is conceivable within the scope of the invention. For example, the proximity sensor can operate by means of an optical system, a magnetic field and / or an electric field, with input aids such as so-called pointers possibly being provided for this purpose. Such touch switches are also called Berüh known switch.

When Display here is viewed every device with the image information can be represented. Image information is understood to mean all images in addition to images, which can be displayed by means of a display, in particular text and graphics.

With the detection area according to the invention Any type of detection can be made in the input area the for the invention is advantageous. For example, a movement and / or a position of an operating object, such as a finger an operator, are detected, so depending on In this detection, the control unit is controlled by the operator can be.

Out an embodiment of the invention of a household appliance results advantageous that only a comparatively small Surface of the household appliance is occupied by a control and display device. Components like for example, knobs, Switch, toggle or the like are no longer necessary because their function by the input device can be realized. Thus, therefore, stand no components, but at least only to a small extent, on the surfaces of the household appliance. Next the space savings by dispensing with protruding operating devices or the like. The design of the household appliance can be further changed and no longer has to take the operating devices into account. By the combination of display device and input device in the display also simplifies assembly work when assembling the household appliance, There are more functional assemblies in a component, namely the Display, united.

In In one embodiment of the invention, the detection area is at least in sections, a subarea of the input area. This subarea is preferably an elongated one or line or line-like border area of the input area. Depending on what type of detection is to be made only one such detection area or two line-like ones Detection areas provided, which are preferably aligned perpendicular to each other are arranged, in particular in edge regions of the input area. With only one detection area in the edge area of the input area let yourself then only the position of an object, for example, relative to detect an end portion of the detection area. To this Way you can for example, so-called one- or multi-dimensional barcodes or the like. to be read. For the determination of the position of a (fictional) projection of an object on a defined area, that of the perpendicular to each other detection areas at least two detection areas are provided.

It is possible, too, to design the entire input area as a recognition area. This could the positioning of the operating object simplified and more accurate be made and thus necessary Computing power can be reduced. The position of the operating object must be namely can not be calculated from a few detection points, with it being there also in addition necessary, changing Environmental conditions such as lighting conditions or the like. to take into account. Rather, when using the large area detection area, for example a center of gravity of a projection surface can be calculated as an operating range or for example by means of an edge detection algorithm or the like. the operating object can be clearly recognized.

In According to one embodiment of the invention, the detection area at least a CCD chip with at least one CCD line or a CCD array on. A CCD chip, a so-called "Charged-Couple-Device-Chip", can, depending on the above Design of the recognition area, for example as a line array with only one column or as a matrix array with several rows and several Be formed columns. The CCD chip can be on, under or in the Output device to be integrated. Is the CCD chip as a matrix array formed, with the chip, for example, an illustration or the like. be detected by the operating device.

In An embodiment of the invention may be an input at the input area both by means of a touch the display as well as contactless, preferably by approach to the display. As a touch becomes a physical one here Understood contact between at least two objects. As approach becomes here the relative movement of at least one object on one other object to or understood along its extension, without it however to a touch between the two objects comes.

It can for example, by the combination of touching and non-contact Input various functions are triggered. It is conceivable for example, that by means of non-contact input on the dispenser shown pointer is moved and means a touch that represented by a symbol on the output device Function triggered on which the pointer shown is at the moment of contact.

From the possibility of non-contact Input, wherein, for example, the triggering described can be done by means of non-contact input, it is advantageous that the display is not odgl by fingerprints. can be polluted or destroyed. A wear of a coating that is applied to the display, so can also be prevented, or at least reduced.

In An embodiment of the invention is the detection area for Capture images such as bar codes and / or fingerprints or the like educated. By entering bar codes, for example, standardized operations be entered into the operating device. These can be, for example Cooking times for certain foods or cooking programs for certain foods. By the possibility fingerprints to detect, for example, a child safety lock or the like. realized become.

In An embodiment of the invention processes the control unit the information entered by means of the input device or Data and optionally outputs control signals to parts to be controlled of the household appliance out. For example, changes the control unit illustrations such as icons or the like on the display are shown, wherein the control unit, the illustrations in dependence changes from an input. The input is made at least partially by means of the touch switches, Touch sensors or Proximity sensors in the input area, whereby the control unit determines the position and / or the appearance of the touch area in the input area and / or an input made by means of the contact surface changed depending on the previous input. This way you can the display is changing Be adapted to circumstances, for example in the course of a Input or a cooking process. Also conceivable, for example Reminder functions that are triggered by the operating device.

In According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit controls different programmable processes. The processes can freely programmed by a user or committed to the controller be stored. Such a process may, for example, the Course of a heat supply while a cooking process or, for example, different speeds a washing drum of a washing machine during a washing process.

In an embodiment of the invention, the control unit with the Output device processing steps, such as cooking recipes or the like. This, for example, achieved advantageous that a User in the area of a cooking surface no objects made of paper like cooking recipes. These could be because of the generally essentially smooth surface of the cooking system or be damaged by heat or overcooking food or start burning, for example.

In In one embodiment of the invention, the display is a TFT LC display, wherein the TFT-LC display comprises SOG components and the TFT-LC display comprises a low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) TFT LC display is.

The The object underlying the invention is also provided with a method for the application or operation of a household appliance described above an operating device solved. According to the inventive method is an illustration with contact surfaces with the output device, one by means of the input device transacted Input detected, the input processed by means of the control unit, a control signal issued by the control unit and a modified illustration especially with contact surfaces with the Output device shown.

These and other features go out the claims also from the description and the drawings, wherein the individual features each for alone or too many in the form of subcombinations an embodiment of the invention and in other fields be realized and advantageous also for protectable versions can represent for the protection is claimed here. The subdivision of the application in individual sections and intermediate headings restrict the not in its generality among these statements.

Brief description of the drawings

Various embodiments The invention are shown schematically in the drawings and will be closer in the following explained. The embodiments shown in the individual figures are partially Features on which the other embodiments of the invention do not have. The features can however, without departing from the scope of the invention, with each other be combined. In the drawings show:

1 a hob with an integrated therein, operating device according to the invention,

2 an oven having an operating device according to the invention integrated in a veneer of the oven,

3 a microwave oven having a control device according to the invention connected to the oven by means of a signal line,

4 a refrigerator with an operating device according to the invention, IR control signals transmitted to the oven,

5 a sectional partial view of an operating device according to the invention and

6 a detailed view of an operating device according to the invention with visible detection and output ranges.

Detailed description the drawings

In the in 1 shown hob 10 For example, a glass ceramic hob, is in a view in accordance with 1 lower area 12 of the hob 10 an operating device 14 arranged. The operating device 14 is at the level of consideration of 1 behind the glass ceramic plate 16 arranged. To the representation of image information, the operating device 14 can spend, not through the glass ceramic plate 16 Darken is the area 12 the glass ceramic plate 16 , provided the glass ceramic plate 16 is colored, less or not colored. The operating device 14 has an input device 18 , an output device 20 as well as an in 1 not shown control unit. The input device 18 and the dispenser 20 are like a touch screen in a display 22 the operating device 16 integrated. By means of the operating device 14 can all the functions of the hob 10 be controlled, for example, heating times or automatic switching on and off.

The in 2 illustrated oven 24 indicates at its front 26 a closable and locked oven door 28 on. In the view according to 2 is above the oven door 28 an operating device according to the invention 14 in a front veneer 30 arranged. The position of the operating device 14 is shown only by way of example and can, for example, according to a height of the oven 24 vary.

With the operating device 14 can the oven 24 be controlled in full. So the operating device 14 For example, run a cooking program with different cooking temperatures and varying cooking times, which was previously adjusted by means of a manual input of an operator to the amount to be cooked.

A microwave oven 32 with an operating device according to the invention 14 is in 3 illustrated, wherein the operating device 14 by means of a control line 34 with the microwave oven 32 connected is. The control line 34 connects a dashed control unit shown 36 the operating device 14 with a likewise dashed line shown control unit 38 of the microwave oven 32 , The control unit 36 the operating device 14 evaluates the inputs made by the input device 18 have been made by an operator and gives these inputs corresponding control signals by means of the control line 34 to the control unit 38 of the microwave oven 32 further.

The control unit 36 the operating device 14 can control all the control functions of the control unit 36 of the microwave oven 32 take over and control, for example, the output power of the microwave radiation or the duration of their action on a food. The operating device 14 can by means of a connector, not shown on the control line 34 from the controller 38 to be separated from the microwave. Indicates the microwave oven 32 an own, integrated operating device, the operating device can be used for example as an accessory to the household appliance, wherein the operating device 14 then, for example, for several different, independent household appliances can be used.

A fridge 40 , as in 4 shown, has a front side facing 42 on, at the one receiver 44 For example, an infrared receiver, a radio receiver or the like. is arranged. The operating device 14 has a corresponding transmitter 46 on, with the signals 48 to the recipient 44 be transmitted. The transmitter 46 is with the control unit 36 and the receiver 44 with a control unit 50 of the refrigerator 40 connected.

With the operating device 14 , in their display 22 a detection area 52 is arranged, for example, the contents of the refrigerator 40 be monitored. For this example, the bar code, which can be found on the packaging of a good to be cooled, with the detection area 52 when storing the goods to be cooled in the refrigerator 40 be recorded. The scanned data is then linked to a sell-by date, so that shortly before, at the time or after the date, a corresponding warning on the display 22 is issued. When a product to be chilled is removed from the refrigerator, it is scanned again and deleted from an inventory list created from the in-put scans. For example, a shopping list can be created.

From the in 5 shown sectional partial view of an operating device 14 shows that an input to the operating device 14 can be done without contact. Non-contact here means that an operating object when entering always at least one distance h to the display surface 56 having. According to 5 the operating object is a finger 54 an operator, including everyone different item compared to the display surface 56 small end can be used as a control object. Of course, the input can also be done by touching the display surface 56 be made, which then also to the contact surface 57 becomes.

The display surface 56 limits the display 22 in the housing, not shown, of the operating device 14 , In the display 22 are an input device 18 and an output device 20 integrated, the input device 18 has a detection area. In the view according to 5 below the display 22 is the control unit 36 arranged by means of a control line 58 with the input device 18 and by means of a control line 60 with the output device 20 connected is. In addition, the control unit 36 with a control line 62 with through the control unit 36 connected to active components connected. The control lines 58 . 60 . 62 For example, as individual wires 64 or be designed as a data bus.

How out 6 can be seen, represents the drawn by solid lines detection area 66 a subarea of the input area 68 the operating device 14 dar. The input area 68 extends over the entire display surface 56 , The detection area 66 is from two CCD line arrays 70 . 72 formed, which are arranged perpendicular to each other. With the CCD line array 70 may be movements of an operating object near and / or on the display surface 56 be recognized, which is parallel to the arrow 74 run. With the CCD line array 72 can move an object near or on the display surface 56 be recognized, which is parallel to the arrow 76 run. If the two detected movements are mathematically superimposed, each position can be a projection of an object onto one of the CCD line arrays 70 . 72 defined rectangle, that is, if it is above it.

the display 22 is except as an input device 18 also as an output device 20 used. For this purpose, the display is designed as a TFT LC display. To the input device 18 with the output device 20 The display is produced in a so-called "system-on-glass" (SOG) technique, so that the liquid crystals of the TFT-LC display can be arranged in a known manner between two thin glass plates and on the surface one of the glass plates, the CCD line arrays are applied.

Alternatively to the above with reference to 6 explained embodiment of the operating device 14 with two mutually perpendicular CCD line arrays 70 . 72 as a detection area 66 can the detection area 66 also a matrix-like CCD array 78 have, from the volllinierten CCD elements 80 and dotted illustrated CCD elements 82 consists. This is not just a detection area 68 with which the position of an operating object can be determined, but a surface whose extent substantially that of the display surface 56 corresponds and with the coherent image information can be detected reproducible. This image information may be, for example, a bar code or even a fingerprint.

In a further possible embodiment, based on 6 is representable, assigns the detection area 66 two CCD line arrays 70 . 72 and additionally a CCD matrix array 84 on. This CCD matrix array 84 is exemplary in a corner area 86 of the display 22 arranged. With this arrangement, on the one hand, the position of an object over the display 22 be recognized. On the other hand, with the in the corner area 86 arranged CCD matrix array 84 a fingerprint or the like be recognized. This embodiment is advantageous because of the comparatively smaller corner area 86 of the display 22 also a smaller number of CCD elements on the display 22 must be provided, thereby resulting in a cost savings.

With the detection area 66 However, it is not only possible to statically determine the position of an object, but also dynamically the course of a movement of the operating object. This history can then be used, for example, to enter letters for a text.

Claims (14)

Household appliance, in particular a cooking system, with an operating device ( 14 ), which is a control unit ( 36 ), an input device ( 18 ) and an output device ( 20 ), wherein the input device ( 18 ) at least one input area ( 68 ) with touch switches, touch sensors and / or proximity sensors, and wherein the output device ( 20 ) as display ( 22 ) for the output of image information or the like is formed, characterized in that the input device ( 18 ) in addition to the input area ( 68 ) a detection area ( 66 ) and that in the display ( 22 ) the input device ( 18 ) and the output device ( 20 ) are combined in the manner of a touch screen combined. Domestic appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the detection area ( 66 ) at least partially a sub-area of the input area ( 68 ). Domestic appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the detection area ( 66 ) at least one CCD chip with at least one CCD line ( 70 . 72 ) or a CCD array ( 78 . 84 ) having. Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an input at the input area ( 68 ) by means of a touch of the display ( 22 ) and can be done without contact, preferably by approaching the display ( 22 ). Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection area ( 66 ) for capturing images such as bar codes or the like and / or fingerprints is formed. Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit ( 36 ) by means of the input device ( 18 ) is processed and optionally control signals to be controlled parts of the household appliance ( 10 . 24 . 32 . 40 ). Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the display ( 22 ) Illustrations like symbols or the like are shown, wherein the control unit ( 36 ) changes the images depending on an input. Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the input at least partially with the touch switches, touch sensors or proximity sensors in the input area ( 68 ), the control unit ( 36 ) the position and / or the appearance of the contact surface ( 57 ) in the input area ( 68 ) and / or one by means of the contact surface ( 57 ) input changed depending on the previous input. Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit ( 36 ) controls various programmable processes. Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit ( 36 ) with the output device ( 20 ) Outputs processing steps, such as cooking recipes or the like. Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display ( 22 ) is a TFT LC display. household appliance according to claim 11, characterized in that the TFT-LC display SOG components having. household appliance according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the TFT LC display is a low-temperature polysilicon TFT LC display is. Method for the application or operation of a domestic appliance with an operating device according to the preceding claims, comprising the steps of - representing an image with contact surfaces by means of the dispensing device ( 20 ), - recognition by means of the input device ( 18 ) input, - processing the input by means of the control unit ( 36 ), - output of a control signal by the control unit ( 36 ), - presenting a modified image, in particular with contact surfaces, by means of the output device ( 20 ).