WO2003019526A1 - Device comprising a voice module - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the autonomous or non-autonomous performance of operations or functions and/or for the transmission of force. Said device is directly or indirectly connected to at least one voice module (1) in a wireless or wire-bound manner, or comprises the same. The voice modules (1) optionally emit voice feedback in relation to the device for the autonomous or non-autonomous performance of operations or functions and/or for the transmission of force.

Description

 Devices with speech module

The present invention relates to a device for independent or non-independent performance of work steps or activities and / or for the transmission of power, with the features specified in the preamble of claim 1.

From the prior art, for example, a device for independently performing work steps or activities in the form of a vacuum cleaner is known.

This vacuum cleaner is particularly disadvantageous because it only allows a determination of the degree of filling of the dust container after a cumbersome and time-consuming opening of the vacuum cleaner housing.

From the prior art there is also a device for independently performing work steps in the form of a vacuum cleaner, which has an optical display for the degree of filling of the dust container.

This vacuum cleaner is particularly disadvantageous because it is not possible for users who are unable to see to determine the fill level of the dust collecting container on the basis of an optical display. In addition, the visual display of the filling level of the dust collector is often confusing or attached to a barely visible area of the device. It is therefore often not even noticed. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for performing work or activities independently and / or independently and / or for transmitting force — for example in the form of a vacuum cleaner — which also enables users who are unable to see to determine operating states and the like and which enables the monitoring of characteristic operating parameters and / or the observance of handling instructions in a particularly simple, fast, effortless, - safe and unmistakably perceptible manner.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in a generic device by the features specified in the characterizing part of patent claim (1). Particularly preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in more detail with reference to the drawing. It shows:

Figure 1 is a schematic - block diagram of a device according to the invention with speech module.

As can be seen already in Figure 1, _(the inventive device (8) wirelessly to self or non-self-performing of operations or activities and / or for the transmission of force or drahtge- connected with one or more language modules (1), ittelbar or directly connected.

Alternatively, the device (8) according to the invention can be used for independent or non-independent performance of operations or activities and / or to transmit power include one or more language modules (1).

In general, these language modules (1) with respect to give ^~ the device (8) for self or non-self-performing of operations or activities and / or for the transmission of force, preferably subsequent verbal information from:

For example, information about the operating state, the level or levels ^ the temperature, the operating temperature, acceleration values, vibration data, position changes. the time, the operating time, the operating pressure, the degree of contamination, malfunctions, service times, required service measures, required operations for a designated use or for an extension of the lifespan, if necessary, actions provided for in the operating instructions and / or for the device for independent or non-independent 'performance of work steps or activities and / or ^■ physical quantities relevant and characteristic for the transmission of force and / or statements derived from the aforementioned physical quantities.

As a rule, the at least one language module (1) is designed, for example, in the form of an electronic assembly.

^• This electronic assembly can comprise, for example, one or more central data processing devices (2), which are connected to one or more memories (3), for example wirelessly or by wire. One or more identical or different audio files are preferably stored on each memory (3).

5 As a rule, the at least one memory (3) is connected wirelessly or by wire and indirectly or directly to one or more loudspeakers (4).

It can be seen from FIG. 1 that, for example, one or more digital-to-analog converters (5) and / or amplifiers (6) can be connected between the at least one memory (3) and the at least one loudspeaker (4).

The at least one memory (3) can also be integrated in the central data processing device (2) or be separate from it.

As a rule, the memory (3) is an erasable or permanent one. Memory, which may be in the form of an EPROM (erasable programmable read only ory), PR0M "s or a flash PROM.

Preferably, the at least one central data processing device (2) of the speech module (1) has one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or more sensors (7), wirelessly or by wire, or indirectly or directly connected.

30 The sensors (7) are preferably designed to measure one or more of the variables listed below:

For example, for measuring the ambient temperature and / or the operating temperature and / or the time and / or the mass and / or the current intensity and / or the light intensity. ke ^' and / or the length and / or the amount of substance and / or the physical quantities derived therefrom and / or the acceleration and / or the oscillation frequency and / or the rotational speeds and / or the liquid levels and / or the fill levels, if applicable, of dust collecting devices or washing drums and / or the pressure and / or extensive physical quantities and / or intensive physical quantities and / or undirected, direction-independent physical quantities ( ^' scalars) and / or directed,' direction-dependent physical quantities (vectors).

The ■ one or more sensors (7) are preferably completely integrated, at least partially integrated ^, or attached to the device according to the invention for the independent or non-independent performance of work steps or activities and / or for the transmission of force.

1

In particularly ^'preferred Ausführungsformen.- the advantages can trend for independent or non-independent performing of operations ode .Tätigkeiten and / or transmission of power, where appropriate, trained in the below listed • forms include:

For example in the form of a device for the household or kitchen, a lighting, heating, steam generation, cooking, baking, cooling, drying, ventilation or water supply device, a washing machine, an air conditioner, a steam cleaning device, an air purification device, a humidifier, a vacuum cleaner, a refrigerator, an oven, a microwave oven, a steam cooker, a stove, a sanitary facility, a surgical, medical, dental or veterinary instrument or apparatus, a scientific, nautical Surveying photographic Film, optical, weighing, measuring, signal,. Control, rescue or teaching apparatus or instruments, or in the form of apparatus and instruments for heavy current technology, namely for the management, conversion, storage, regulation and control or in the form of apparatus and instruments for low current technology, namely for the Communication, radio frequency and control technology or a device for recording, transmission and reproduction of sound and images or in the form of vending machines, cash registers, calculating machines, data processing equipment or computers, a machine for metal, wood or plastic processing, one Machine for the chemical industry, agriculture or mining, a textile machine, a machine for the beverage industry, a construction machine, a packaging machine, an engine, a coupling, a device for power transmission, a non-manually operated agricultural device, one hand-operated tool, one hand-operated used equipment for agricultural, horticultural or forestry purposes, a hand-operated device for machine, apparatus or vehicle construction or for construction engineering, a tool, an item of equipment, a commodity, a handicraft device, an electrical device, a mechanical device, one Accessories, a device composed of several parts, a set of all aids necessary for an activity or work, a device or tool for scientific, medical or veterinary purposes, a measuring instrument, a mechanical and / or electrical, made of movable or immovable Partly assembled device for independently performing work steps or activities, a sewing machine or a device which indicates, executes or achieves a predeterminable function or task or a predeterminable event. As a rule, the at least one central data processing unit (2) is designed in such a way that it compares the measured value determined by the respective sensor (7) with possible condition values stored pre-programmed in a central data processing device (2) and only if the determined measured value matches a predetermined status value, at which a predeterminable verbal message is to be given, emits a digital or analog signal to trigger the verbal message directly or indirectly to the loudspeaker (s) (4).

The at least one central data processing device (2) is designed, for example, in such a way that it emits a digital signal to a memory (3) on which one or more audio files are stored.

This memory (3) can preferably be in

Depending on the type of the signal received by the ^: central data processing device (2) one of these

Signal type clearly assigned and thus predeterminable

Deliver audio file as signal.

If necessary, this audio file can be

-Analog converter (5) and .a hereinafter amplifier (6) downstream of the speaker (4) ^{'to' 'Abgäb,} e; cause ve.in.er predeterminable voice message...

In summary, it can be stated that the present invention provides a device for the independent or non-autonomous performance of work steps or activities and / or for the transmission of force, which also enables users who are unable to see to determine operating states and the like by means of the Voice module allows verbal messages. The verbal output made possible by the language modules, in particular of device-specific information, also permits particularly simple, fast, effortless, safe and unmistakably perceptible monitoring of characteristic operating parameters and / or the observance of "read" handling instructions.

Another advantage of the device according to the invention can be seen in the fact that the device-specific information output by the speech module cannot be “overlooked” unintentionally, but rather cannot be overlooked and are therefore always perceived.

Claims

claims 1. Device for independent or non-independent performance of work or activities and / or for the transmission of power, characterized in that it is wireless or wired with one or more language modules (1) in direct or indirect connection or comprises, these Speech modules (1) relating to the device for the independent or non-independent performance of work steps or activities and / or for the transmission of force X if the operating status, the level or levels, the Temperature, the operating temperature, acceleration values, vibration data, changes in position, the time, the operating time, the operating pressure, the degree of pollution, malfunctions, service times, required service measures, required operations for a designated use or for an extension of the service life, if necessary actions and according to the operating instructions / or verbally output relevant and characteristic physical quantities and / or statements derived from the aforementioned physical quantities for the device for independent or non-independent performance of work steps or activities and / or for the transmission of force. 2 ,. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said ^'is formed language module (1) in the form of an electronic assembly which at least one or more central Datenverärbeitungseinrichtungen comprises (2), the wireless or ^dr' at least one ahtgebunden with one or more memories (3 ) are connected, on which one or more audio files are stored, the at least one memory (3) being wireless or wired and indirectly or directly with one or more. Speakers (4) is connected. 3. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the at least one memory (3) and the at least one loudspeaker (4) one or more digital-to-analog converter (5) and / or amplifier ( 6) ^'are switched. 4. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the memory '(3) in the central data processing device (2) is integrated or is separate therefrom, and an erasable or permanent memory optionally in the form of an EPROM s (erasable programmable read only memory), PROM ^O S or a flash PROM. 5. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one central data processing device (2) of the speech module (1) with one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or more Sensors (7) is wireless or wired and indirectly or directly connected, the sensors (7) for measuring, if necessary, the ambient temperature and / or the operating temperature and / or the time and / or the mass and / or the current intensity and / or the Luminous intensity and / or the length and / or the amount of substance and / or the physical quantities derived from it and / or the acceleration and / or the oscillation frequency and / or the rotational speeds and / or the liquid levels and / or the fill levels, if appropriate, of dust collecting devices or washing drums and / or of pressure and / or extensive physical quantities and / or intensive physical quantities and / or undirected, ric position-independent physical quantities (scalars) and / or directional, direction-dependent physical quantities (vectors) are configured. 6. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one or more sensors (7) integrated, at least partially integrated in the device for the independent or non-independent performance of operations or activities and / or for the transmission of force or attached to it. 7. Device according to one or mehreren- of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device for • employed or self-performing of operations or activities and / or for the transmission of force is formed, optionally in the ^'form of a device for household or kitchen, a lighting, heating, steam generating, cooking, baking, cooling, drying, ventilating or water supply device, a washing machine, an air conditioner, a steam cleaning device, an air cleaning device, a humidifier, a vacuum cleaner, a refrigerator, an oven, a microwave oven, a steam cooker, an oven, a sanitary facility, a surgical, medical,. dental or veterinary instrument or apparatus, scientific, nautical, surveying, photographic, film, optical, weighing, measuring, signaling, checking, rescue or teaching apparatus or instrument, or in the form of Apparatus and instruments for power engineering, namely for the management, conversion, storage, regulation and control or in the form of apparatus and instruments for low power engineering, namely for communications, radio frequency and control ^' I technik or a device for recording, transmission and reproduction of sound and images or in the form of vending machines, cash registers, calculating machines, data processing equipment or computers, a machine for metal, wood or plastic processing, a machine for the chemical industry, the Agriculture or mining, a textile machine, a machine for the beverage industry, a construction machine, a packaging machine, an engine, a clutch, a device for power transmission, a non-hand-operated agricultural implement, a- hand-operated tool, a hand-operated apparatus for agricultural, horticultural and forestry economic purposes, a hand-operated apparatus for the mechanical engineering, ^'Apparate- or automotive industry or for civil engineering, a tool , a piece of equipment, a utility object, of a hand appliance., an electrical device, a mechanical device, an accessory, a composite of several parts device, a set of all ^'necessary for activity or work tools, a device or tool for scientific, medical or veterinary purposes, a measuring instrument, a mechanical and / or electrical device composed of movable and immovable parts for the independent performance of operations or activities, a sewing machine or a device that has a predeterminable function or indicates, executes or achieves a task or a predeterminable event. 8. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one central data processing device (2) is designed such that it stores the measured value determined via the respective sensor (7) with possible pre-programmed in a central data processing device (2) Condition values are compared, and only when the measured value is too high with a predetermined status value at which a predeterminable verbal message is to be given, a digital or analog signal for triggering the verbal message. directly or directly - to the loudspeaker (s) (4). 9. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central data processing device (2) is designed such that it emits a digital signal to a memory (3) on which one or more audio files are stored, wherein this memory (3), depending on the type of signal received by the central data processing device (2), emits an audio file that is clearly assigned to this type of signal and thus predeterminable as a signal, and this audio file if necessary via a digital-to-analog converter (5) and subsequently an amplifier (6) causes the downstream loudspeaker (4) to emit a predeterminable voice message.