Cooking hob for preparing food and method and control unit for operating a cooking hob

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooktop (100) for preparing food, wherein the cooktop (100) has a hotplate (105) with at least one coupling interface (110) for wireless coupling with a device (115) placed on the hotplate (105) in order to activate a device function of the cooktop (100).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cooking surface for preparing food, as well as a method and a control unit for operating a cooking surface.

[0002] Household appliances can have a wide variety of functions. There is particular potential for optimization in the context of the so-called smart home, where devices are controlled via mobile devices, for example.

[0003] The approach presented here aims to create an improved cooktop for preparing food, as well as an improved method and control unit for operating a cooktop.

[0004] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a cooktop for preparing food, as well as a method and a control unit for operating a cooktop with the features of the main claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are described in the following dependent claims.

[0005] The approach presented here creates a way for a device with multiple functions to perform all or at least two of them simultaneously. This allows for more convenient handling of the device for the user, for example, during cooking or when using a small appliance.

[0006] A cooking hob for preparing food is presented, wherein the cooking hob has a hotplate with at least one coupling interface for wireless pairing with a device placed on the hotplate in order to activate a device function of the cooking hob or to communicate with a placed device and supply it with energy.

[0007] The cooktop can be designed as a household appliance or, alternatively, as a professional appliance, and thus used in private homes or in the catering industry. The cooktop can be a ceramic cooktop, for example, or, advantageously, an induction cooktop. For instance, a heating element of the cooktop can be located beneath the cooktop surface to advantageously heat at least one cooking area or zone on or adjacent to the cooktop. In particular, the cooktop can be fully integrated into a worktop. The connection interface can be located within or adjacent to the cooking area, or an additional function can be part of the cooking zones. The cooktop itself can advantageously be a single unit.Advantageously, the device can be a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet, or a small kitchen appliance, such as a blender, toaster, or kettle. Advantageously, the cooktop can establish a wireless connection to the device and activate its functions, for example, to charge the device or supply it with power during operation, and additionally or alternatively, to communicate with the device and thus advantageously enable data transmission.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the cooktop can be configured to transmit at least one piece of information to the device connected to the cooktop via the coupling interface, and additionally or alternatively from the device to the cooktop, and additionally or alternatively to supply the device connected to the cooktop with electrical energy. Advantageously, by transmitting the information to the device, the information can be displayed to a user, for example, on a display of the device. The information can be, for example, device information of the cooktop, such as a cooking level, or additional information, instructions, or recipe suggestions. Additionally or alternatively, the device can be inductively powered via the coupling interface, or a battery of the device can be electrically charged, for example, by inductive energy transfer.

[0009] Furthermore, the cooktop can have at least one additional connection interface for pairing with another device placed on it. Advantageously, in such a case, several devices can be paired with the cooktop simultaneously, allowing them to be wirelessly linked. For example, these devices could be a mobile device and a kitchen appliance, which could also have a display unit.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the cooktop can be shaped to connect the coupling interface to the other coupling interface, in particular to enable the transfer of information from the device to the other device via the coupling interface and the other coupling interface. Advantageously, both devices can communicate with each other, allowing the cooktop to function as a data transmitter. Furthermore, the cooktop can optionally supply both devices with electrical energy simultaneously.

[0011] The cooktop can have a first cooking zone and at least one second cooking zone, wherein the first and second cooking zones can be spaced apart from each other on the cooktop, and in particular, wherein the coupling interface is located within a predefined area around the first cooking zone. Cooking zones can be defined as those areas on the cooktop that are heated for the purpose of preparing food. The number of cooking zones on the cooktop can depend on the size of the cooktop. For example, a standard cooktop can have between one and six cooking zones, which can also be of different sizes. The predefined area can, for example, be located 15 cm to 30 cm around the cooking zone.

[0012] Furthermore, the coupling interface can be located at the first cooking zone, and the second coupling interface at the second cooking zone. Advantageously, the position of the coupling interfaces at the cooking zones allows signals to be transmitted between the appliances or between the cooktop and the appliances. This embodiment also allows a signal to be transmitted from one appliance to another via the first and second coupling interfaces. These signals can advantageously both be sent to and received by the appliances.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the cooktop can be designed as an induction cooktop. Advantageously, an induction cooktop allows for faster food preparation. Furthermore, an induction cooktop can improve user safety by, for example, reducing the risk of burns.

[0014] Furthermore, a method for operating a cooktop in a previously mentioned variant is presented, wherein the method comprises a step of wirelessly pairing the cooktop with the device in response to a placement signal representing a device placed at the at least one pairing interface of the cooktop, and a step of activating at least one device function of the cooktop using an activation signal after pairing the cooktop with the device.

[0015] The method can advantageously be carried out in a cooktop, as previously described. Advantageously, the method allows devices to be linked to the cooktop, or to each other, using the cooktop, for example, to display information. Furthermore, these devices can advantageously be electrically charged.

[0016] According to one embodiment, during the activation step, a communication connection can be established with the device as a device function, and additionally or alternatively, the device can be supplied with electrical energy. Advantageously, at least one piece of information from the cooktop can be transmitted to the device connected to the cooktop via the coupling interface and displayed on the device. Additionally or alternatively, the device can be supplied with electrical energy. Advantageously, the wireless communication connection can be established as a Bluetooth connection, a Wi-Fi connection, or an NFC connection.

[0017] According to one embodiment, a predetermined time interval of up to 45 seconds, in particular 30 seconds, can be provided for the activation step after the pairing step (405). Advantageously, the predefined time can serve as a waiting period, for example, to search for other devices that can be paired with the cooktop.

[0018] The process can include a step of querying the cooktop's pairing status after the pairing step, in order to identify another device connected to at least one other pairing interface of the cooktop. In the activation step, at least one function of the cooktop can be controlled using a further activation signal, responding to the cooktop's pairing with the other device. Data transmission can be enabled as a primary function of the device in the activation step. Advantageously, data can be exchanged between the devices paired by the cooktop and, additionally or alternatively, between the cooktop itself and the devices connected to it.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the preceding design, the connection status is queried in order to identify additional devices placed at at least two further connection points of the cooktop. A display selection can be provided for these additional devices, allowing the user to select on which additional device the device functions are to be activated.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the method can include a step of outputting a display signal to an interface of a display device on the cooktop in order to show information to a user on the cooktop, or the display signal is output to the coupling interface in order to display the information to the user on the device. Advantageously, this allows the cooktop display to be extended. Furthermore, it is advantageous that an image to be displayed can be extended or duplicated on different devices.

[0021] Furthermore, the method can include a step of reading a device control signal provided by the device via the coupling interface, whereby in the activation step the device function of the cooktop can be activated using the device control signal. Additionally or alternatively, another device can be coupled to a further coupling interface and controlled using the device control signal. Advantageously, this allows the further device to be controlled via the device. Furthermore, the device can determine what is to be displayed on the further device. Conversely, this can also be done.

[0022] The approach presented here further creates a control unit designed to execute, control, and implement the steps of a variant of the method presented here in appropriate devices. This embodiment of the invention, in the form of a device, also allows the underlying problem to be solved quickly and efficiently.

[0023] The control unit can be configured to read input signals and use these input signals to determine and provide output signals. An input signal can, for example, be a sensor signal readable via an input interface of the control unit. An output signal can be a control signal or a data signal that can be provided at an output interface of the control unit. The control unit can be configured to determine the output signals using a processing instruction implemented in hardware or software. For example, the control unit can include a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, or a software module and may be implemented as a discrete component or comprised of a discrete component.

[0024] A computer program product or computer program with program code that can be stored on a machine-readable medium such as semiconductor memory, hard disk memory, or optical memory is also advantageous. If the program product or program is executed on a computer or control unit, it can be used to carry out, implement, and / or control the steps of the method according to one of the embodiments described herein.

[0025] The present invention can also be implemented for worktops with an integrated coupling interface, without the need for cooking zones in the immediate vicinity. In particular, according to the invention, several devices can communicate via a single coupling interface in order to activate a function of one of these devices.

[0026] An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a cooktop; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a cooktop; Figure 3 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a cooktop; Figure 4 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for operating a cooktop; and Figure 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a control unit.

[0027] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a cooktop 100, which is, for example, an induction cooktop and is designed, for example, as a household appliance. The cooktop 100 has a cooking plate 105 with at least one coupling interface 110 for wireless pairing with a device 115 placed on the cooking plate in order to activate a device function of the cooktop 100. According to this embodiment, the cooking plate 105 is configured to transmit, as a device function, at least one piece of information via the coupling interface to the device 115 paired with the cooktop 100 and / or from the device 115 to the cooktop 100, and / or to supply the device 115 paired with the cooktop 100 with electrical energy and thereby, for example, charge it inductively. The device 115 is designed as a mobile device, such as a smartphone or a tablet.According to this embodiment, the cooktop with its cooking zones is depicted on a display 120 of the device 115. More precisely, four cooking zones 125, 130, 135, 140 are arranged on the cooktop 105, of which at least one first cooking zone 125 and optionally at least one second cooking zone 130 of the cooking zones 130, 135, 140 are equipped with a further coupling interface, as described in more detail in at least one of the further figures. According to this embodiment, the coupling interface 110 is arranged within a predefined area around the first cooking zone 125. This area is, by way of example, 15 cm to 30 cm around the cooking zone 125. The individual cooking zones 125, 130, 135, 140 are also optionally arranged at a distance from one another.Alternatively, the cooktop 100 can also have a large cooking area on the hotplate 105, on which cooking vessels for food preparation can be placed as desired. According to this embodiment, however, only the four cooking zones 125, 130, 135, 140 are provided for this purpose.

[0028] In other words, the cooktop 100 enables extended functionality by using the coupling interface 110 as a charging and operating zone for inductive power supply and simultaneously as a Near-Field Communication (NFC) interface. Such an NFC interface is also located on or integrated into the device 115, for example. In particular, the extended display allows a cooktop that currently displays, for example, numerical sequences, to be transformed into a display cooktop.

[0029] According to this embodiment, the cooktop 100 additionally includes a control unit 145, which is configured to control and / or execute a method for operating a cooktop. Such a method is described in Figure 4 The control unit 145 is described in more detail below. Figure 5 The control unit 145 is described in more detail below. For example, it is connected to at least one coupling interface 110 and also, for example, to a display unit 150 of the cooktop 100, which is optionally designed as a touch-sensitive display. Typically, the user interface (UI) of small appliances is limited to a few buttons due to space constraints. In contrast, the approach presented here allows for expanded display options and thus new design possibilities for more complex UIs.

[0030] The cooktop 100 described here features an integrated NFC interface as a coupling interface 110 for devices. For example, a mobile device 115 can be placed on the coupling interface 110, transforming the standard cooktop with a number line into a display cooktop to show, for example, extended operating functions or recipes in the form of so-called guided cooking.

[0031] If multiple coupling interfaces 110 are available, placing another device or the device 115 on top of it puts the device with the coupling points, for example, the cooktop 100 or power supply units installed under a worktop, into a search mode. In this search mode, the individual available coupling interfaces are addressed via the respective coupling interface 110, and a suitable partner for the placed device 115 is sought. Multiple devices can also be paired with a display device, such as a smartphone or tablet, and displayed in a single app within a shared user interface. Another small device with a display can also be used as a display device, such as a food processor or a blender, which, for example, displays toaster settings on its screen and thus has a borrowed display.

[0032] In addition to the 110 interface, a second NFC unit can also be integrated into a small device, which is used to pair a display device. The small device then forwards the control commands for power supply to the 110 interface. The display device can also be paired with multiple small devices simultaneously and then adjust its UL (ultra-wide display) in the corresponding app by holding it against each device.

[0033] Another pairing option is a time-delayed connection. First, device 115 is placed on the pairing interface 110, which is then put into a standby state for, for example, 30 seconds. If another device is placed on the interface during this time, device 115 and the other device are paired with each other. Information is then exchanged between the paired devices via an additional communication channel, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or a second NFC interface.

[0034] Figure 2shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a cooktop 100, which is, for example, the one described in Figure 1 The described cooktop can correspond to or at least resemble it. According to this embodiment, the cooktop described in Figure 2 The aforementioned additional coupling interface 200 is arranged at the second cooking zone 130. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, another device 205 is placed at the additional coupling interface 200. According to this embodiment, the coupling interfaces 110 and 200 are connected to each other by the cooking zone 105, in order to transmit information from device 115 to the additional device 205 via the coupling interface 110 and the additional coupling interface 200. Optionally, the information displayed on device 115 is also displayed on a display of the additional device 205. For example, the additional device 205 can be controlled via device 115.

[0035] Figure 3shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a cooktop 100, as it is found, for example, in at least one of the Figures 1 to 2 As described above, according to this embodiment, the additional device 205 is located on the second cooking zone 130 and is, for example, connected to the additional coupling interface 200. The device 115 is not located at the first cooking zone 125. Nevertheless, at least the device 115 has an NFC interface integrated into it, at least optionally, so that the device 115 can communicate with or control the additional device 205.

[0036] Figure 4 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 400 for operating a cooktop, as is found, for example, in at least one of the Figures 1 to 3The method 400 comprises a step 405 of wirelessly pairing the cooktop with the appliance in response to a placement signal representing an appliance placed at the at least one pairing interface of the cooktop, and a step 410 of activating at least one appliance function of the cooktop using an activation signal after pairing the cooktop with the appliance.

[0037] For example, in step 410 of the activation process, a communication connection is established with the device and / or the device is supplied with electrical energy. This is done, for example, via the pairing interface to transmit at least one piece of information from the cooktop to the device paired with the cooktop and / or to display it on the same device. Optionally, the communication connection is established via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or NFC. According to one embodiment, step 410 of the activation process is executed after a predefined time of up to 45 seconds following step 405 of the wireless pairing process, particularly after 30 seconds. This puts the cooktop into a search state, for example, to find other devices that can be paired with it.

[0038] Method 400 optionally includes step 415 of outputting a display signal to an interface of a display device of the cooktop in order to display information to a user on the cooktop, or outputting the display signal to the coupling interface in order to display the information to the user on the device. Method 400 also optionally includes step 420 of querying the coupling status of the cooktop after step 405 of coupling in order to identify another device placed at at least one other coupling interface of the cooktop, wherein in step 410 of activation, the at least one device function of the cooktop is controlled using another activation signal in response to the coupling 405 of the cooktop with the other device.In an optional step 425 of the reading process, a device control signal provided by the appliance is read via the coupling interface. In step 410, the activation process, the appliance function of the cooktop is activated using this device control signal. Additionally or alternatively, another appliance connected to a separate coupling interface is controlled using its device control signal.

[0039] Figure 5 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a control unit 145, which is arranged or built into a cooktop, for example, as is the case in at least one of the Figures 1 to 3The control unit 145 has a coupling unit 500 configured to wirelessly couple the cooktop to the appliance in response to a placement signal 505, which represents an appliance placed at the cooktop's at least one coupling interface. Furthermore, the control unit 145 has an activation unit 510 for activating at least one appliance function of the cooktop using an activation signal 515 after the cooktop has been coupled to the appliance. The activation unit 510 is also configured to control the at least one appliance function of the cooktop using a further activation signal 520 in response to the cooktop being coupled to the other appliance.The control unit 145 optionally includes a query unit 520, which is configured to query the coupling status of the cooktop after coupling in order to identify any further device placed at least one other coupling interface of the cooktop. According to this embodiment, the control unit 145 also includes an output unit 525 for outputting a display signal 530 to an interface to a display device 150 of the cooktop in order to display information to a user on the cooktop, or alternatively, for outputting the display signal 530 to the coupling interface in order to display the information to the user on the device.Optionally, the control unit 145 has a reading unit 535 for reading a device control signal 540 provided by the device via the coupling interface, whereby the device function of the hob is activated using the device control signal 540, and / or whereby another device is coupled to another coupling interface and is controlled using the device control signal 540.

Claims

1. A cooking hob (100) for preparing food, the cooking hob (100) having the following feature: - a cooking plate (105) with at least one coupling interface (110) for wireless coupling with a device (115) placed on the cooking plate (105) in order to activate a device function of the cooking hob (100).

2. Hob (100) according to claim 1, wherein the cooking plate (105) is designed to transmit, as a device function, via the coupling interface (110) at least one piece of information to the device (115) coupled to the hob (100) and / or from the device (115) to the hob (100), and / or to supply the device (115) coupled to the hob (100) with electrical energy.

3. Hob (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooking plate (105) has at least one further coupling interface (200) for coupling to a further device (205) placed on the cooking plate (105).

4. Hob (100) according to claim 3, wherein the cooking plate (105) is shaped to connect the coupling interface (110) to the further coupling interface (200), in particular to transmit information from the device (115) via the coupling interface (110) and the further coupling interface (200) to the further device (205).

5. Hob (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooking plate (105) has a first cooking point (125) and at least one second cooking point (130), wherein the first cooking point (125) and the second cooking point (130) are arranged at a distance from one another on the cooking plate (105), in particular wherein the coupling interface (110) is arranged within a predefined area around the first cooking point (125).

6. Hob (100) according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the coupling interface (110) is arranged or assigned to the first cooking point (125) and wherein the further coupling interface (200) is arranged or assigned to the second cooking point (130).

7. Hob (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the hob (100) is designed as an induction hob.

8. A method (400) for operating a cooktop (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the method (400) comprises the following steps: - wirelessly coupling (405) the cooktop (100) to the appliance (115) in response to a placement signal (505) representing a appliance (115) placed on the at least one coupling interface (110) of the cooking plate (105); and - activating (410) at least one appliance function of the cooktop (100) using an activation signal (515) after coupling the cooktop (100) to the appliance (115).

9. The method (400) according to claim 8, wherein in the step (410) of activating as a device function, a communication connection with the device (115) is established and / or the device (115) is supplied with electrical energy.

10. The method (400) according to any one of claims 8 to 9, wherein a predetermined time interval of up to 45 seconds after the coupling step (405) is provided for the activation step (410), in particular of 30 seconds.

11. Method (400) according to one of claims 8 to 10, comprising a step (420) of querying a coupling status of the hob (100) after the coupling step (405) in order to determine a further device (205) placed on at least one further coupling interface (200) of the cooking plate (105), wherein in the activation step (410) the at least one device function of the hob (100) is controlled using a further activation signal (520) in response to the coupling (405) of the hob (100) with the further device (205).

12. Method (400) according to one of claims 8 to 11, comprising a step (415) of outputting a display signal (530) to an interface to a display device (150) of the hob (100) in order to display information on the hob (100) to a user, or outputting (415) the display signal (530) to the coupling interface (110) in order to display the information on the device (115) to the user.

13. Method (400) according to one of claims 8 to 12, with a step (425) of reading in a device control signal (540) provided by the device (115) via the coupling interface (110), wherein in the step (410) of activation the device function of the hob (100) is activated using the device control signal (540), and / or wherein a further device (205) is coupled to a further coupling interface (200) and is controlled using the device control signal (540).

14. Control unit (145) which is designed to carry out and / or control the steps (405, 410, 415, 420, 425) of the method (400) according to one of claims 8 to 13 in corresponding units (500, 510, 520, 525, 535).

15. Computer program product with program code for carrying out the method (400) according to one of claims 8 to 13, when the computer program product is executed on a control unit (145) according to claim 14.

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