Control device for an electric cooking appliance, electric cooking appliance and method for operating an electric cooking appliance with a control device

Abstract

A control device for an electric cooking appliance, which is installed in a worktop on a piece of furniture, wherein the control device is arranged on a front of the furniture, comprises a control unit, a control panel, and at least one operating element projecting beyond the control panel. The operating element has a front with a display device and a surrounding surface, including a rotating ring surrounding this surface. The display device is an illuminated indicator and has an illuminated display area. A movement device is provided on the front of the operating element, which is movable and designed to pivot the illuminated display area between a display position and a stowed position. In the display position, the display area is at an angle between 0° and 60° to the horizontal, and in the stowed position, it is at an angle between 60° and 90° to the horizontal.The illuminated display surface can be illuminated by the light display and its projected image can be reflected or displayed as a backlight.

Description

Application area and state of the art

[0001] The invention relates to a control device for an electric cooking appliance, for example a cooktop or an oven. Furthermore, the invention relates to an electric cooking appliance with such a control device and a method for operating such an electric cooking appliance.

[0002] Operating devices are known from DE 102 12 953 A1 and DE 102 12 954 A1, featuring a rotatable, two-part rotary control knob, which may itself contain an indicator light. The rotary control knob is rotatably mounted on a base that does not rotate with it.

[0003] From DE 10 2009 022 339 A1, operating devices are known with a rotatable control knob, in which light can be shone through a control panel into and through the control knob. This allows for an indicator light and / or illumination at the front of the control knob. Task and solution

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of creating a control device mentioned above, an electric cooking appliance equipped therewith, and a method for operation, with which problems of the prior art can be solved and, in particular, it is possible to have a light indicator or a display on a control element that is suitable for practical use.

[0005] This problem is solved by an operating device with the features of claim 1, by an electric cooking appliance with the features of claim 12, and by a method with the features of claim 13. Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of further claims and are explained in more detail below. Some of the features are mentioned only for the operating device, only for an electric cooking appliance equipped with it, or only for one of the methods of operation. However, they should be able to apply independently and separately to such an operating device, such an electric cooking appliance, and a method of operation. The wording of the claims is made part of the description by express reference.

[0006] The control device for the electric cooking appliance, which is built into a worktop on a piece of furniture or into the furniture itself, has a control panel, the control device being at least partially located on the front of the furniture. The control panel is preferably formed on or by the front of the furniture on which the electric cooking appliance is located. Advantageously, the control panel extends vertically. The control device has at least one control element projecting beyond the control panel, this control element having a front surface and a surrounding surface. Preferably, there are two to four control elements. The surrounding surface can extend around or encircle the front surface. The control element also has a display on its front surface and a rotating ring that at least partially occupies the surrounding surface.The rotary ring is either rotatable relative to the other control element for operating the electric cooking appliance, as is known from the aforementioned prior art. Or the rotary ring is fixed or cannot be rotated, but has at least two touch sensors designed to detect touching or stroking with a finger or hand and to use the control system to detect this touching or stroking via the touch sensors and to recognize it as a rotary operating action corresponding to a rotation, and to use it to operate the electric cooking appliance.

[0007] According to the invention, the rotating ring has a fixed or unalterable axis of rotation, which preferably runs horizontally and is advantageously unalterable. The display device is an illuminated display and produces or has an illuminated display area. The illuminated display area can be located directly at the front of the illuminated display or on a corresponding display or the like; alternatively, it can be located elsewhere, in particular on a projection surface.

[0008] A movable mechanism is provided on the front of the control element. This mechanism is designed to position the illuminated display area in two different stowable positions: one for display and the other for storage. It can be pivoted between these two positions. In the stowable position, for example, it can be as unobtrusive and visually compact as possible. In the display position, the illuminated display area is optimally visible for operating the electric cooking appliance, especially when viewed from above. In the display position, the display device, or at least its illuminated display area, is angled between 0° and 60° to the horizontal, and in the stowable position, at an angle between 60° and 90° to the horizontal. In the stowable position, the operator has a direct view of the illuminated display.

[0009] In an embodiment of the invention, the movement device can be designed such that the display device is held or attached to it, and can be moved or pivoted between the storage position and the display position by a movement of the movement device. This movement is advantageously a rotation, and one axis of rotation preferably runs horizontally.

[0010] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the moving device can have a light-transmitting, in particular translucent or nearly transparent, projection carrier that has a stowable position and a display position, or can be moved into these two positions. In the display position, the projection carrier can be positioned at an angle between 30° and 70° to the horizontal. It can, in particular, be rotated about a horizontal axis of rotation between the display position and the stowable position, so that in the display position the indicator light illuminates a rear side of the projection carrier or shines onto it in such a way that a front side of the projection carrier forms the indicator light surface. Due to the angular position of the projection carrier, an operator can see and clearly recognize the indicator light surface from a position above it.Here, the operator sees or perceives the display of the illuminated indicator as a projection through the projection surface. This allows the operator to redirect their gaze, as if through the projection surface itself.

[0011] In a further development of the invention, the projection carrier can be designed as a flat disc, preferably being planar and at least partially or predominantly round. The flat design allows for optimal projection. The round shape allows the disc to be moved within the space of the rotating ring of the control element, thus ensuring it is neatly stored in its stowed position.

[0012] In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, the motion device can have a projection carrier with a projection surface that is provided or formed on a surface of the projection carrier. The projection carrier has a stow position and a display position. In the display position, the projection surface can be oriented at an angle between 0° and 30° to the horizontal, and in particular, the projection carrier can be rotated about a horizontal axis of rotation between the display position and the stow position. This can advantageously be such that, in the display position, the indicator light illuminates the projection surface in such a way that the projection surface forms the indicator light surface. Thus, due to the angular position of the projection carrier, the indicator light can be seen as a reflection from a position arranged above it, for which purpose the projection surface is advantageously mirrored.Here, the operator indirectly sees the display of the light as a reflection, although the reflection itself can be clearly seen.

[0013] In a further development of the invention, the projection carrier can be curved with a curvature that corresponds approximately to the radius of the rotating ring or is up to 10% smaller. Thus, the projection surface does not have to be flat, but curved, which, however, does not interfere with the projection or reflection onto it. The projection carrier can advantageously be pivotally attached to the movement device in its upper region and, in particular, can be largely pivoted into the control element in the stowed position.

[0014] In one embodiment of the invention, the projection surface can be roughened on its back side. This makes the projection as visible as possible. The front side can be as smooth or reflective as possible.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the movement device can lock into the display position or be held in the display position by spring force, so that this position is defined and stable. This can also be provided in the stowed position.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the invention, the movement device can be designed without a separate electrical drive for movement between the stowed position and the display position, i.e., it can be essentially manually operated, which is very simple without a power supply. Preferably, a triggerable spring mechanism can be provided, as is implemented in handles for furniture doors. Such a spring mechanism can move the illuminated display area from the stowed position to the display position after being triggered, with triggering being, in particular, pressing on the display device or the projection carrier in the direction of the furniture.

[0017] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the movement device can have an electric drive, in particular an electric motor drive and / or an electromagnet. The electric drive can include a push rod connected to the movement device to move the projection surface between the display position and the storage position. In a further development of the invention, the electric drive can be activated by a control command from the operating device, preferably by a control element on the electric cooking appliance. Alternatively, the approach of a hand or operator can be detected, triggering the movement of the operating element.

[0018] In one embodiment of the invention, the control element can be connected to a control unit of the operating device by means of an electrical conductor, preferably a foil conductor or a flat conductor. Thus, it does not need its own power supply or wireless signal transmission.

[0019] In an embodiment of the invention, the holding device can include a sensor for distinguishing between the operating position and the storage position. This can preferably be achieved by detecting the angular orientation of the projection carrier or the display device; such sensors are known.

[0020] In an embodiment of the invention, the holding device can have a switch that can be automatically switched between the operating position and the storage position, or is switched by moving the control element from the operating position to the storage position. Advantageously, the switch can be in the storage position to deactivate at least one heating element or other functional unit of the electric cooking appliance that can be operated by the control element.

[0021] In this embodiment of the invention, the electric cooking appliance can have a housing, wherein the operating device or at least the control element is arranged outside the housing and is connected to the housing by means of electrical conductors. A part of the operating device, and in particular the control unit, can advantageously be arranged inside the housing, so that only the control elements and an electrical supply line extend from it.

[0022] An electric cooking appliance is advantageously a cooktop with a cooking zone, preferably divided into several smaller cooking zones, each with its own heating element. Alternatively, the electric cooking appliance can be an oven, steam cooker, or microwave oven.

[0023] In an embodiment of the invention, the method for operating the electric cooking appliance as described above can be provided that, after switching on the electric cooking appliance, for the first operating operation, this control element is activated by turning the rotary ring or by moving the movement device out of the stowable position.

[0024] These and other features are evident not only from the claims but also from the description and the drawings, whereby the individual features, either alone or in combination, may be implemented in one embodiment of the invention and in other fields, and may represent advantageous and individually protectable embodiments for which protection is claimed here. The division of the application into subheadings and individual sections does not limit the general validity of the statements made therein. Brief description of the drawings

[0025] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. The drawings show: Fig. 1. A front view of a hob arrangement on a piece of furniture with rotary controls on the front of the furniture. Fig. 2 a side view of the rotary control element accordingly Fig. 1 with folded-in display device or indicator light, Fig. 3 the rotary control element Fig. 2 with extended display device or indicator light, Fig. 4 an alternative embodiment of a rotary control element with a fixed display device or light display and a folded-in flat projection disc, Fig. 5 the rotary control element Fig. 4 with projection screen unfolded and Fig. 6 an oblique view of the rotary control element similar Fig. 5 showing the projection image, which can be seen when viewed from above at the angle of the lower part of a curved projection disc. Detailed description of the exemplary implementations

[0026] In the Fig. Figure 1 shows an arrangement 10 of a cooktop 11 as an electric cooking appliance mounted on a worktop 14 of a piece of furniture 16. The cooktop 11 has a cooking surface 12 and rotary knobs 13 or other conventional touch switches for various functions arranged on the front of the cooking surface 12. It has a cooktop housing arranged in a known manner beneath the cooking surface 12, in which conventional functional units such as heating elements are arranged. The installation on or in the worktop 14 is also known.

[0027] The furniture 16 can be a kitchen front made up of several individual parts. In front of the cooktop 11, the furniture 16 has a front panel 17, for example made of wood or a similar material, especially lacquered. The front panel 17 usually extends over the entire height. However, it can also be divided vertically into an upper fixed section and a lower movable section, for example for a door or a drawer.

[0028] For the cooktop 11, a control device 18 according to the invention is provided, which has an abstract control unit 20 (shown in dashed lines) and four rotary controls 22a to 22d. The control unit 20 is part of the cooktop 11 and can be arranged in the cooktop housing. The rotary controls 22 are electrically connected to it. Furthermore, the rotary controls 22a to 22d are fixed and immovably attached to the front panel. They can have their own additional control panel or, alternatively, be mounted directly onto, for example, a painted front panel of the furniture 16. They can be independent of each other and each be connected separately to the control unit 20.

[0029] In the Fig. Figure 2 shows a side view of a rotary control element 22, which is arranged on a front panel 17 of the furniture 16, forming the aforementioned control panel. The rotary control element 22 has a base sleeve 35 that is fixedly connected to the front panel 17 or the furniture 16 and projects to the right beyond the front panel 17. A rotary ring 32 is rotatably mounted on this projecting area, without showing further details. The rotary ring 32 is rotatably mounted in such a way, for example as known from the prior art described above, that rotation is possible but it cannot be removed. A rotary detent or the like may also be provided, as is known per se. As an example, rotary sensors 33 with a connecting cable 34 are arranged inside the base sleeve 35, which can detect the rotation of the rotary ring 32, for example inductively or capacitively.

[0030] At the top of one front face of the base sleeve 35, a motion joint 37 with a horizontally extending axis of rotation is arranged, radially within the rotary ring 32. An OLED display 29 is arranged on this motion joint 37 and can be electrically connected to the control unit 20 via a flat conductor 25. The OLED display is essentially round, corresponding to the round shape within the rotary ring 32. It forms an illuminated indicator 26 as well as the front face 24 of the rotary control element 22.

[0031] In the Fig. In the vertical position shown in Figure 2, the OLED display 29 can indeed display information about a cooking process on the cooktop 11 in the usual way, but, as explained earlier, this is difficult for an operator to see. Therefore, a drive 40 can extend a push rod 41, which rests against the inside of the OLED display 29. The push rod 41 thus moves the OLED display 29 from the vertical position to an inclined position at an angle α to the horizontal. It is now clearly angled, and it is easy to imagine that an operator, even when standing close to the cooktop 11, can now easily see and read the indicator light 26 from above. At the same time, operating the cooktop 11 by turning the rotary ring 32 remains easily possible, so the extended OLED display 29 does not interfere. In fact, it can still be conveniently read from above.

[0032] The drive 40 with the push rod 41 can be designed in any way, for example as an electrically driven rack, an electromagnet, or the like, i.e., actively. Alternatively, it can be a type of spring-driven mechanism that, when the push rod 41 is pressed in to fold back the OLED display 29, pre-tensions and locks a spring. By gently pressing against the OLED display 29 again, the lock is released, and the spring can move the push rod 41 from the position of the Fig. 2 into the one of Fig. Press 3 and the OLED display 29 will automatically unfold.

[0033] An alternative embodiment of a rotary control element 122 is described in the Fig. Figure 4 shows that a base sleeve 135 is also attached to the front 117 of a piece of furniture 116. A rotatable rotating ring 132 is again rotatably mounted on the area projecting beyond the front 117; for its design and the detection of its rotational movement, reference is made to the preceding descriptions.

[0034] Radially within the rotating ring 132 and in the projecting area of ​​the socket sleeve 135, an OLED display 129 is arranged vertically, emitting light horizontally to the right. This OLED display 129 begins relatively high up inside the socket sleeve 135 and has a certain distance from it downwards, as can be seen from the Fig. 5 can be seen. The OLED display 129 is surrounded and surmounted by a circumferential curved projection disc 143, which is rotatably mounted at its upper end on the joint 137. The exact shape of the projection disc 143 is made of Fig. 6 can be seen. As can the side views of the Fig. 4 and Fig. As shown in Figure 5, it is relatively narrow at the top towards the attachment to the joint 137. At the bottom, towards a lower area 144, it is maximally wide, for example 40% to 50% of the diameter.

[0035] The projection screen 143 can be installed inside or on the wall. Fig. The surface visible from above must be designed to be mirrored or reflective in such a way that the illuminated indicator 126 of the OLED display 129, which actually runs vertically, is projected onto it. Thus, for an operator looking downwards from a relatively vertical angle, the resulting projection image 145 appears as if it is floating in the air slightly in front of the rotary control element 122, or as if it is running approximately horizontally. In fact, this projection image 145 is depicted on the lower area 144 of the projection disc 143 by reflection.

[0036] It can be seen from this that even in the embodiment of the invention with the rotary control element 122, the following applies: Fig. 4, Fig. 5 to Fig. 6. A display position for the aforementioned illuminated display area can be achieved according to projection image 145, which runs at a slight angle to the horizontal. Therefore, it is not absolutely necessary to use the OLED display 29 according to the Fig. 3 must be swivelled so that the light indicator it forms can be seen and read from vertically above it.

[0037] Instead of the swiveling 29-inch OLED display Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. A flat, translucent projection screen can be provided, on the back of which an OLED display similar to that in Fig. 5 lights up. This is then visible from above through the tilted projection screen, since it corresponds to a reflection due to the projection angle or deflection. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 102 12 953 A1

[0002] DE 102 12 954 A1

[0002] DE 10 2009 022 339 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Control device for an electric cooking appliance, wherein the electric cooking appliance is built into a worktop on a piece of furniture or into a piece of furniture and the control device is arranged on a front of the furniture, the control device comprising: - a control panel, preferably formed on or through the front of the furniture on which the electric cooking appliance is arranged, - at least one control element on the control panel, wherein the control element: - has a front surface and a cladding surface surrounding the front surface, - has a display device on the front, - has a rotating ring that at least partially occupies the outer surface, wherein the rotating ring is rotatable relative to the other control element for an operating operation to operate the electric cooking appliance, or the rotating ring is immovable and has at least two touch sensors designed to detect a touch or a swipe with a finger or hand and to use the control system to detect a touch or a swipe with a finger or hand over the touch sensors and to recognize this as an operating operation and to use it to operate the electric cooking appliance, characterized by , that: - the rotating ring has an unchangeable or fixed axis of rotation, preferably with the axis of rotation running horizontally, - the display device is a light display and produces or has a light display area, - a movement device is provided on the front of the control element, which is movable and designed to arrange the illuminated display area in a display position and in a different stowing position and to pivot it between these positions, - the display device or at least the illuminated display area in the display position runs at an angle between 0° and 60° to the horizontal, - the display device, in the stowed position, runs at an angle between 60° and 90° to the horizontal. [2] Operating device according to claim 1, characterized by that the movement device is designed in such a way that the display device is held to it and can be moved or pivoted between the storage position and the display position by a movement of the movement device as a rotation, wherein preferably one axis of rotation runs horizontally. [3] Operating device according to claim 1, characterized by, that the moving device has a translucent, in particular almost transparent, projection carrier which has the stow position and the display position, wherein the projection carrier in the display position extends at an angle between 30° and 70° to the horizontal and is in particular rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation between the display position and the stow position such that in the display position the light indicator illuminates a back of the projection carrier such that a front of the projection carrier forms the light indicator surface in order to be seen from a position arranged above it due to the angular position of the projection carrier. [4] Operating device according to claim 3, characterized by that the projection carrier is a flat disk, wherein preferably the flat disk is flat and at least partially or predominantly round. [5] Operating device according to claim 1, characterized by The motion device comprises a projection carrier with a projection surface on a surface of the projection carrier, wherein the projection carrier has a stow position and a display position, wherein preferably the projection surface in the display position extends at an angle between 0° and 30° to the horizontal, and in particular the projection carrier is rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation between the display position and the stow position such that in the display position the light indicator illuminates the projection surface, such that the projection surface forms the light indicator surface in order to see the light indicator as a reflection from a position arranged above it due to the angular position of the projection carrier, wherein preferably the projection surface is mirrored. [6] Operating device according to claim 5, characterized bythat the projection carrier is curved with a curvature that corresponds approximately to the curvature of the rotating ring or is up to 10% smaller, wherein preferably the projection carrier is pivotally attached to the movement device in the upper area and, in particular, is largely pivoted into the operating element in the stowed position. [7] Operating device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized by that the projection surface is roughened on its back. [8] Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the movement device locks into the display position or is held in the display position by spring force, preferably also in the stow position. [9] Operating device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the movement device is designed without a separate electrical drive for movement between the stow position and the display position, preferably a triggerable spring device is provided which moves the illuminated display area from the stow position to the display position after triggering, wherein in particular the triggering is a pressing on the display device or the projection carrier in the direction of the furniture. [10] Operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the motion device has an electric drive, in particular an electric motor and / or an electromagnet, wherein preferably the electric drive has a push rod which is connected to the motion device to move the projection surface between the display position and the stow position. [11] Operating device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the movement device has a switch which automatically switches between the display position and the storage position, wherein preferably in the storage position the switch is open to deactivate at least one heating device of the electric cooking appliance. [12] Electric cooking appliance with an operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the electric cooking appliance has an electric cooking appliance housing, wherein the operating device or at least the control element is arranged outside the electric cooking appliance housing and is connected to the electric cooking appliance housing by means of electrical conductors. [13] Method for operating an electric cooking appliance with an operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by, that after the electric cooking appliance is switched on, for the first operation of a control element, this control element is activated by turning the rotary ring or by moving the movement device out of the storage position.

Images