DE102011002969B4 - Domestic appliance with parameter selection using a minimum of controls and the associated setting procedure - Google Patents

Abstract

Domestic appliance, in particular a washing machine, washer-dryer, tumble dryer or the like, with an automatic process control of selectable treatment programs, which treatment programs are composed of partial treatment programs or parameters, which in turn are selected by selecting individual parameter values via a control panel with a display (10). Text and number display as well as control elements for influencing the text and number display can be changed, characterized in that a first control element (1) is provided for selecting the parameter and a second control element (2) for selecting parameter values, and wherein selectable parameter values of a parameter can be displayed on the display with reduced lighting (β-) until they are activated.

Description

The invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a washing machine, washer-dryer, tumble dryer or the like, with a control of selectable treatment programs which causes an automatic process, which treatment programs are composed of partial treatment programs or parameters, which in turn are selected by selecting individual parameter values via a control panel with a display Text and number display as well as controls for influencing the text and number display can be changed.

The invention further relates to a setting method for such a household appliance.

Through the DE 10 2009 001 784 A1 It is known to be able to initially select individual treatment programs of a household appliance, in particular a washing machine, using a rotary selector and to display the selected program with a short text in a display field. Standardized values or parameter values from, for example, individual sections of this program are assigned to the selected program. If the operator considers these values to be correct, he or she does not need to do anything else before starting the selected program. However, if these values need to be changed, a special control element or button is required for each value in order to be able to change the relevant value, usually in discrete steps. The value to be changed must also be displayed in a separate display field.

The publication DE 10 2006 042 630 A1 describes a display and operating method for electrical devices, with different categories being selected from a number of choices or operating parameters shown on a display for subsequent operation, with choices or operating parameters of a category being able to be displayed in a changeable display, highlighting or order, with one Frequency of the previously selected options or operating parameters is determined and the previously most frequently selected option or operating parameter is shown first or highlighted for selection by an operator, and it can be selected with a selection element through the smallest possible number of steps.

• - einer Speichereinrichtung zur Aufnahme von Betriebsprogrammdaten,
• - wenigstens einem Bedienelement zur Auswahl eines Betriebsprogramms aus einer vorgegebenen Auswahl von Betriebsprogrammen, denen jeweils eine Bezeichnung zugeordnet ist, und
• - einer Anzeigeeinrichtung zur Anzeige der Bezeichnung wenigstens eines Betriebsprogramms, wobei
• - wenigstens ein kundenspezifisches Betriebsprogramm und für dieses Betriebsprogramm eine Bezeichnung eingestellt und durch Abspeichern in der Speichereinrichtung in die vorgegebene Auswahl von Betriebsprogrammen aufgenommen wird.

The publication DE 199 05 533 A1 describes a method for setting up an operating device of a program-controlled household appliance

• - a storage device for recording operating program data,
• - at least one control element for selecting an operating program from a predetermined selection of operating programs, each of which is assigned a name, and
• - a display device for displaying the name of at least one operating program, where
• - At least one customer-specific operating program and a name for this operating program are set and included in the predetermined selection of operating programs by saving them in the storage device.

The publication DE 100 35 642 C1 describes a laundry treatment device with a program control device and a user interface for cursor-supported user guidance in program selection and program design with a display device for program information and with an operating device with program function keys and with a multifunction rotary selector switch with a selection function via which operating programs and program parameters that can be displayed in plain text in the display device can be selected, wherein the display device is designed as a freely definable graphic-capable display for cursor-supported navigation by means of the operating device through hierarchically structured display levels with dialog windows and display windows of different display formats, the operating device depending on the display level for equivalent and / or context-related access to the display contents of the dialog windows and display windows is formed via the multi-function rotary selector switch or the program function keys and in the dialog windows via the program function keys and / or the multi-function rotary selector switch of the operating device, operating programs and program parameters can be selected or defined in a user-guided manner and program information can be displayed in the display windows and a selected or defined operating program with a The program start button assigned separately to the operating device must be put into operation.

1. a) Aktivierung eines Dialogbetriebes zwischen dem Bediener und der Steuerung durch den Bediener mittels der Eingabemittel;
2. b) Anzeige gespeicherter, zuzubereitender Speisen auf dem Display durch die Steuerung;
3. c) Auswahl einer zuzubereitenden Speise aus den gemäß Schritt b) angezeigten Speisen durch den Bediener mittels der Eingabemittel, wobei zu der ausgewählten Speise Gar-, Koch- bzw. Backparameter in dem Speichermittel hinterlegt sind; wobei das Verfahren weiterhin die Schritte aufweist:
4. d) Aktivierung einer Sonderfunktion durch den Bediener mittels der Eingabemittel, die die Definition und/oder Verwendung alternativer Gar-, Koch- bzw. Backparameter zulässt;
5. e) Eingabe und/oder Bestätigung alternativer Gar-, Koch- bzw. Backparameter durch den Bediener mittels der Eingabemittel;
6. f) Start des Garens, Kochens oder Backens der zuzubereitenden Speise durch den Bediener mittels der Eingabemittel unter Zugrundelegung der alternativen Gar-, Koch- bzw. Backparameter.

The publication EP 1 762 787 A2 describes a method for cooking, cooking or baking a food in an oven, in particular in a household oven, which has a control with a memory element provided with input means and at least one display, with the steps:

1. a) activation of a dialog operation between the operator and the control by the operator using the input means;
2. b) display of stored dishes to be prepared on the display by the control;
3. c) selection of a dish to be prepared from the dishes displayed according to step b) by the operator using the input means, cooking, cooking or baking parameters for the selected dish being stored in the storage means; wherein the method further comprises the steps:
4. d) activation of a special function by the operator using the input means, which allows the definition and/or use of alternative cooking, cooking or baking parameters;
5. e) input and/or confirmation of alternative cooking, cooking or baking parameters by the operator using the input means;
6. f) Starting the cooking, cooking or baking of the food to be prepared by the operator using the input means based on the alternative cooking, cooking or baking parameters.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a household appliance of the type described above, in which the effort for control elements for selecting the parameters and the parameter values is kept low.

From a procedural point of view, the object of the invention is to provide an easy-to-implement setting method for such a household appliance.

The object of the invention is achieved according to the independent patent claims, which are directed to a household appliance or to a setting method for a household appliance. Furthermore, the household appliance and the adjustment method are further developed in preferred ways by the dependent patent claims that refer back to these independent patent claims. In addition, each preferred development of the household appliance corresponds to a preferred development of the method and vice versa, even if this is not explicitly stated herein.

In detail, according to the invention, in the domestic appliance specified at the outset, it is provided that a first control element is provided for selecting the parameter and a second control element for selecting parameter values, and that selectable parameter values of a parameter are displayed on the display with reduced lighting (β- ) can be displayed.

In the understanding of the invention, a parameter is a partial treatment program of an entire treatment program intended to run automatically for an item to be treated, such as in particular laundry in a washing machine. The standardized values assigned to a parameter often do not correspond to the operator's wishes. With the invention it is now possible to access the parameter with two control elements and change its assignable values. In addition, a parameter can be added or omitted with particular advantage. This also opens the way to a complete, individual treatment program.

The further development of the invention includes that a plurality of parameters can be displayed on the display, and that an at least prepared selection of an individual parameter is carried out by the first control element in that the display of the at least pre-selected parameter, which is preferably carried out in text, is illuminated Highlighting, in particular illuminated underlining, of the parameter takes place.

This makes it possible to highlight, in a very clear manner, the parameter for the operator that is pending selection and further determination of associated parameter values.

It is furthermore advantageous that of the parameters that can be displayed in a plurality on the display, a selected parameter can be displayed with reduced lighting until it is activated, in particular for a parameter value selection. The operator thus gains an additional overview of which state the setting process is currently in.

According to the invention, the overview of the setting process serves to ensure that selectable parameter values of a parameter can be displayed on the display with reduced lighting until they are activated. Preferably, selectable parameter values of a parameter can be displayed by illuminated underlining.

A subsequent state of the setting process can be indicated in an advantageous manner in that selected parameter values can be displayed by full illumination and with illuminated underlining.

A completed state of the setting process is made possible in a particularly advantageous manner in that when the parameter values of a parameter and the parameters themselves have been selected, a previously illuminated underlining is no longer necessary. However, the parameter and parameter values are displayed in full illumination.

In the invention, reduced illumination of text and numeric displays is achieved in that a single luminous element of a character of the text or numeric display reaches the surface of the display with a reduced proportion of its maximum beam intensity.

Alternatively, it is possible, on the one hand, for an individual lighting element of a character of the text or number display to be controlled in a reduced manner with reduced voltage or with pulse modulation by means of the control in order to reduce the maximum beam intensity or, on the other hand, it is possible for a single lighting element of a character The maximum beam intensity of the text or number display can be reduced by means of the control in such a way that the light conduction to the surface of the display is reduced.

In the invention, it is further advantageous that at least one of the first and/or the second operating elements can be designed by a button, in particular touch buttons, in direct association with the display.

Furthermore, it is possible that at least one of the first and/or the second control element can be designed by a jog dial input wheel.

The setting method according to the invention for a household appliance, in particular for a washing machine, a washer-dryer, a tumble dryer or the like, with an automatic sequence of selectable treatment programs, which are composed of partial treatment programs or parameters, which in turn are selected by selecting individual parameter values via a control panel with a display can be changed with text and number display, whereby selectable parameter values of a parameter can be displayed on the display with reduced illumination (β-) until they are activated, provides that in a first main method step the parameter to be influenced with regard to its parameter values is determined via a first influencing element is selected, and that in a second main method step the parameter values of the parameter selected in the first method step are set via a second influencing element.

It is provided that a parameter can be selected more easily via the display by displaying a plurality of parameters, and that the first main process step is refined by a sub-process step, after which a selected parameter is highlighted by an illuminated highlight, in particular an illuminated underline. is shown on the display.

Furthermore, it is advantageously provided that the first main process step is refined by a further sub-process step, after which the selected parameter is displayed on the display with reduced lighting until it is activated.

It is also advantageous that the parameter values to be selected are shown on the display with reduced lighting for the preparation of the second main process step.

This also includes that when the second main process step is initiated and continued, the parameter values to be selected are displayed by illuminated highlighting, in particular illuminated underlining, and that the second main process step is refined by a sub-process step, after which it is influenced how further parameter values are carried out full lighting is added.

So that further parameters and parameter values can also be selected successively, it is provided that the first main process step is refined by a sub-process step, after which an influence to call up a further parameter results in the illuminated highlighting of the previously called up parameter being omitted and the newly called parameter receives an illuminated highlighting, in particular illuminated underlining, and is available for the selection of the parameter values in a new second main method step.

Insofar as the invention is further developed by non-independent patent claims that refer back to the independent patent claims, it should be the case that an initially stated chain of references should not be seen as restrictive with regard to the overall teaching communicated, as long as other combinations of features of patent claims also apply as suitable and feasible from the point of view of the person skilled in the art.

• 1 zeigt ein Display eines Hausgerätes mit erfindungsgemäß zugehörigen Bedienelementen sowie Anzeigen im Display für einen beispielhaften Katalog von Parametern und deren beeinflussbaren Parameterwerten,
• 2 zeigt wie 1 ein Display und Bedienelemente, wobei ein Parameter vorausgewählt ist,
• 3 zeigt wie 1 ein Display und Bedienelemente, wobei ein Parameter ausgewählt ist,
• 4 zeigt wie 1 ein Display und Bedienelemente, wobei ein nächster Parameter vor- ausgewählt ist,
• 5 zeigt wie 1 ein Display und Bedienelemente, wobei ein ausgewählter Parameter zur Konkretisierung durch bestimmbare Parameterwerte ansteht,
• 6 zeigt wie 1 ein Display und Bedienelemente, wobei ein ausgewählter Parameter zur weiteren Konkretisierung durch weitere Parameterwerte ansteht,
• 7 zeigt wie 1 ein Display und Bedienelemente, wobei ein ausgewählter Parameter zur nochmaligen weiteren Konkretisierung durch weitere Parameterwerte ansteht,
• 8 zeigt wie 1 ein Display und Bedienelemente, wobei ein nächster Parameter vorausgewählt ist.

The invention is described schematically in more detail below using exemplary embodiments. The same reference numbers indicate the same or comparable parts. The figures are first briefly explained.

• 1 shows a display of a household appliance with controls associated with the invention as well as displays in the display for an exemplary catalog of parameters and their influenceable parameter values,
• 2 shows how 1 a display and controls, with a parameter preselected,
• 3 shows how 1 a display and controls, with a parameter selected,
• 4 shows how 1 a display and controls, with a next parameter being preselected,
• 5 shows how 1 a display and operating elements, whereby a selected parameter is available for specification through determinable parameter values,
• 6 shows how 1 a display and operating elements, whereby a selected parameter is available for further specification through further parameter values,
• 7 shows how 1 a display and operating elements, whereby a selected parameter is available for further specification through further parameter values,
• 8th shows how 1 a display and controls, with a next parameter preselected.

The processes in a household appliance are carried out automatically by a control of this household appliance. In the case of a washing machine, various treatment processes are carried out depending on the items to be washed. An operator selects a washing program that is tailored to the amount and type of laundry added, as well as its degree of soiling. The corresponding washing program can be entered using conventional input means or controls. This can be done using either a rotary selector or input using buttons assigned to a display. Such a treatment program in turn consists of sub-programs, hereinafter referred to as parameters, which are fundamentally very similar in all treatment programs. It has been found that washing machine operators like to align themselves with a few typical treatment programs, but then have the desire to make deviations at one point or another from the selected, i.e. typical, treatment program. Therefore, several variants of the typical treatment programs are often offered.

This is now used in such a way that it is no longer necessary to have to select from several easy-care programs or from several cooking/colorful programs, but in individual cases only the sub-programs, i.e. the parameters that are associated with the selected treatment program, have to be intervened to should. It should therefore be provided that values of the parameters or parameter values that belong to individual parameters of a program called up as a whole are changed individually or that certain parameters are not used at all in order to then have an individual treatment program available in individual cases .

In 1 shows a display 10 of a washing machine with a number of parameters in representation forms, which will be explained in detail below. The parameters are represented by an easy-to-understand text describing this parameter, i.e. the parameter name (or the part program name). The values of the parameters or the parameter values that can be selected for this parameter are identified in particular by numerical information. Parameters and parameter values, which are individualized by text and numbers, are displayed by light elements β composed in a grid-like manner, whereby it is important in the present case that it is possible to be able to highlight a trained text and number display in a special way, namely for example by an underline, for which a certain amount of combined lighting elements α is used. In order to prepare for the understanding of further explanations and the other figures, it is already included 1 pointed out that the display 10, preferably at the bottom left, is assigned a first control element or a button 1 and preferably at the bottom right, a second control element or a button 2. Key 1 is essentially intended to select the parameter and key 2 is essentially intended to assign a corresponding parameter value to this parameter previously selected via key 1.

The keys 1 or 2 are preferably designed as touch keys, so that no mechanical actuating elements such as contacts or the like are required. The physical principle for triggering a switching process by touching the button surface can be different; for example, capacitive triggering via a change in capacitance by an operator's finger is common. The change in capacity is recognized and evaluated by special electronics on the respective button.

The individual symbols of a text or a number on the display 10 are formed by the individual lighting elements β, with a light intensity corresponding to the impressed current intensity being created in the individual lighting element. As a result, an individual lighting element can not light up at all or can light up with a suitable, full light intensity or can light up with a reduced light intensity with a suitable, reduced impressed current, which is conveniently described as β-. However, they also represent a reduced glow Other options are available, for example it is possible to intervene in the light transmission between the lighting element and the surface of the display 10, that is to say not to allow part of the light from the lighting element to reach the surface of the display at all. Reference will be made below to the various options for controlling the full or reduced light intensity of lighting elements, i.e. β or β-, of a character.

The operation using buttons 1 and 2 and the resulting process will now be described. This is what is happening 1 Said referenced.

In 2 A process state is shown that occurs after selecting a specific treatment program predetermined by the manufacturer. It is now up to the operator whether a parameter with a name, such as prewash, is selected at all. If this advert, because e.g. B. not provided for in the relevant treatment program predetermined by the manufacturer, it is possible to reach this display by pressing button 1. So prewash is shown on the display with lighting elements, but not with full lighting but with reduced lighting, which is done by appropriately controlling the lighting elements β- of the individual characters of the “Prewash” lettering. At the same time, however, the operator can recognize that the parameter called prewash is pending determination by highlighting this display of “prewash”, such as: B. an illuminated underline with the lighting elements α. However, other highlighting, such as an arrow pointing to this lettering, can also be provided.

The final acceptance of the parameter called prewash is carried out by pressing button 2. This process state is in 3 shown. The word “Prewash” is displayed at full brightness. This display of the lettering “Prewash” with full luminosity on the display 10 using light elements β is retained when additional parameters and their parameter values are added to be confirmed. Only the highlighting of this lettering, as well as its illuminated underlining by luminous elements α, will be omitted, for which point see in advance 4 is referred.

If button 1 is now pressed again, a process state is reached as shown in 4 is shown. The parameter with the parameter name “Rinsing” is now available for selection. In this respect, the lettering “Rinsing” (+1, +2, +3) is displayed with reduced lighting by lighting elements β- but with highlighting, such as illuminated underlining by lighting elements α.

When you accept the parameter called Rinse by pressing button 2, the lettering Rinse +1 is displayed with full illumination and the illuminated underline is retained. This display “Rinse + 1” represents one rinse cycle, where +1 is to be considered as a parameter value of the parameter named “Rinse” for an additional rinse cycle. This expiration state is in 5 shown.

By pressing button 2 again it is possible to select two additional rinsing processes. “+2” stands as a parameter value for two additional flushing processes for the parameter named “Rinsing”. This expiration state is in 6 shown. As can be seen, the lettering “Rinse +1 +2” is displayed in full illumination. It is also possible to only display “Rinse +2”.

If you press button 2 again, it is possible to select three additional flushing processes. “+3” stands as a parameter for three additional rinsing processes in the rinsing sub-program. This expiration state is in 7 shown. The lettering “Rinsing +1 +2 +3” is shown in full illumination. It is also possible to only display “Rinse +3”.

The highlighting, in particular the illuminated underlining with the luminous elements α, is retained until the rinsing sub-program has finally been taken over. As explained above, full illumination by lighting elements β is retained.

In 8th is a too 7 possible subsequent process state is shown. It can therefore be seen that a parameter with a name such as rinsing has finally been adopted along with the associated selected parameter values and now a further parameter with a name such as “Water plus” is to be added for, for example, an additional fresh water supply. The lettering “Water plus” is highlighted, such as illuminated underlining by luminous elements α. When this parameter is selected, this lettering is transferred from the representation with reduced illumination by lighting elements β- to the representation with full illumination by lighting elements β. When it is finally adopted, the illuminated underline is removed.

If further parameters are available for individual selection and/or for their parameter value determination, these parameters will initially be displayed with reduced illumination and will be illuminated when they are pre-selected Underlined with the lighting elements α. When you select the respective parameter, its lettering is fully illuminated, including information about any selected parameter values. The illuminated underline disappears when such additional parameters are finally adopted and further subsequent parameters, including the associated parameter values, can be pending for pre-selection, for the actual selection and for their final adoption.

Although the invention has been described using exemplary embodiments for a washing machine as a household appliance, it is readily clear to the person skilled in the art that corresponding measures within the scope of the invention can of course also be adequately applied to other program-controlled household appliances, for example dishwashers or stoves.

Claims (18)

Domestic appliance, in particular a washing machine, washer-dryer, tumble dryer or the like, with an automatic process control of selectable treatment programs, which treatment programs are composed of partial treatment programs or parameters, which in turn are selected by selecting individual parameter values via a control panel with a display (10). Text and number display as well as control elements for influencing the text and number display can be changed, characterized in that a first control element (1) is provided for selecting the parameter and a second control element (2) for selecting parameter values, and wherein selectable parameter values of a parameter can be displayed on the display with reduced lighting (β-) until they are activated. household appliance Claim 1 , characterized in that a plurality of parameters can be displayed on the display (10), and that an at least prepared selection of an individual parameter is carried out by the first control element in that the display (β) of the at least pre-selected parameter is preferably carried out in text by an illuminated highlighting, in particular illuminated underlining (α), of the parameter. household appliance Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that a plurality of parameters can be displayed on the display (10), and that a selected parameter can be displayed on the display with reduced lighting (β-) until it is activated, in particular for a parameter value selection. household appliance Claim 1 , characterized in that selectable parameter values of a parameter can be displayed by illuminated underlining (α). household appliance Claim 4 , characterized in that selected parameter values can be displayed with full illumination (β) and with illuminated underlining (α). Home appliance according to one of the Claims 1 , 4 or 5 , characterized in that when the parameter values of a parameter are selected and the parameter itself is selected, these can be displayed without illuminated underlining but with full illumination (β). Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that reduced illumination (β-) of text and numeric displays takes place in that a single luminous element of a character of the text or numeric display is exposed to the surface of the display with a reduced proportion of its maximum beam intensity reached. household appliance Claim 7 , characterized in that an individual lighting element of a character of the text or number display can be controlled in a reduced manner with reduced voltage or with pulse modulation by means of the control in order to reduce the maximum beam intensity. household appliance Claim 7 , characterized in that an individual lighting element of a character of the text or number display can be reduced in terms of its maximum beam intensity by means of the control in such a way that the light conduction to the surface of the display is reduced. Domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the first and/or the second control elements can be designed by a button (1, 2), in particular touch buttons, in direct association with the display. Home appliance according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that at least one of the first and/or the second control elements can be formed by a jog dial input wheel. Setting method for a household appliance, in particular for a washing machine, a washer-dryer, a tumble dryer or the like, with an automatic sequence of selectable treatment programs, which are composed of partial treatment programs or parameters zen, which in turn can be changed by selecting individual parameter values via a control panel with a display (10) with text and number display, and selectable parameter values of a parameter are displayed on the display (10) with reduced lighting (β-) until they are activated. can be displayed, characterized in that in a first main method step the parameter to be influenced with respect to its parameter values is selected via a first influencing element, and in that in a second main method step the parameter values of the parameter selected in the first method step are set via a second influencing element. setting procedure Claim 12 , characterized in that a parameter can be easily selected via the display (10) by displaying a plurality of parameters, and that the first main process step is refined by a sub-process step, after which a selected parameter is highlighted by an illuminated highlight, in particular illuminated underline shown on the display. setting procedure Claim 13 , characterized in that the first main process step is refined by a further sub-process step, after which the selected parameter is displayed on the display with reduced lighting until activated. Setting procedure according to one of the Claims 12 until 14 , characterized in that for the preparation of the second main process step, the parameter values to be selected are shown on the display with reduced lighting. setting procedure Claim 15 , characterized in that when the second main method step is initiated and continued, the parameter values to be selected are displayed by illuminated highlighting, in particular illuminated underlining. setting procedure Claim 16 , characterized in that the second main process step is refined by a sub-process step, after which it is influenced how further parameter values are added by full illumination. Setting procedure according to one of the Claims 12 until 17 , characterized in that the first main method step is refined by a sub-method step, after which an influence to call up a further parameter results in the illuminated highlighting of the previously called parameter being omitted and the newly called parameter having an illuminated highlighting, in particular illuminated Underlining, learns and is pending for the selection of the parameter values in a new second main process step.

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