Voice-controlled domestic device

Abstract

The invention relates to a voice-controlled domestic appliance. A domestic appliance comprises a microphone adapted to sample sound from the surrounding environment of the domestic appliance and a processing means for recognizing a voice command on the basis of the sampled sound. Furthermore, there is a front face which extends in vertical direction and a front cover which is attached to the front face such that the acoustic path from the surrounding environment to the microphone comprises a gap between the front face and the front cover.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a voice controlled domestic appliance. More specifically, the present invention relates to the placement of a microphone in a voice controlled domestic appliance. BACKGROUND

[0002] A domestic appliance is adapted to be voice controlled by a user. The appliance comprises a microphone for sampling sound from the environment and processing means for recognizing a voice command based on the sampled sound. Typically, the microphone is placed in the top surface of the appliance, preferably to one side of the surface. However, in an environment where water splashes can occur, the microphone in this position is vulnerable to negative effects of water. A water proof microphone can be used, but even a small amount of water can impair the acoustic path from the environment to the microphone, so that the sampled sound signal can be weak. The sampled sound can also be distorted by the water, so that some frequencies can be attenuated. In both cases, the voice recognition can not be optimal. SUMMARY

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved voice controlled domestic appliance, which is able to operate under splashing water conditions. The present invention solves the given object by the subject matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims outline preferred embodiments.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a domestic appliance comprises a microphone adapted to sample sound from the surrounding environment of the domestic appliance and processing means for recognizing a voice command based on the sampled sound. Furthermore, the appliance comprises a front face extending in vertical direction and a front cover attached to the front face, so that the acoustic path from the surrounding environment to the microphone comprises a gap between the front face and the front cover.

[0005] The front face can be part of a chassis or body. This part can have a complex shape to allow the mounting of elements like hand controls, displays or receptacles for detergent. The front face does not necessarily extend over the whole front of the appliance.

[0006] The cover surface can be mounted parallel to the front surface, leaving an air gap therebetween. It can not be necessary to have recesses in the front cover to permit sound to pass through the gap, which can result in a more aesthetically pleasing device. It can also leave more room for the design cover. This can be especially important if the device is able to be equipped with one of a range of different front covers. The front cover can be used to adapt the style of the device to the environment, such as a kitchen. Also, the device can be branded in different ways by different covers. Water splashes can be kept away from the microphone. Water entering the path can easily run away, so that blockage of the acoustic path can be prevented. If the water gets dirty, such as with dirt or cleaning agent, the vertical direction of the path can help prevent the dirt from sticking to the walls of the path. Thus, increasing blockage or changes in the acoustic properties of the sound path can be prevented. The path can dry quickly, so that fungal infection can be prevented.

[0007] The acoustic path preferably extends in a vertical direction between the front surface and the front cover. Thus, liquid, such as water, can flow through the path over the microphone, so that the sound processing is not affected by the water. This makes the invention particularly suitable for use in domestic devices that process water, such as any type of washing machine, or devices that can be used in a humid environment, such as the kitchen or bathroom of a home.

[0008] The acoustic path between the front surface and the front cover is preferably limited in a lateral direction. The limitation can be formed on either the front surface or in the front cover, and can be in the form of extra material forming a protrusion or ledge to interface with the path. The limitation can help to direct sound waves from the outside of the device towards the microphone. The limitation can also help to draw water or another liquid away from the microphone.

[0009] The acoustic path between the front surface and the front cover can narrow in a downward direction. Thus, the section of the acoustic path built between the front surface and the front cover can be shaped like a funnel. When viewed from the front of the device, the section can also be described as having a form similar to the letter V. The cross-section of the path can decrease further down the funnel as measured. The microphone can be placed at the lower end of the path.

[0010] The acoustic path between the front surface and the front cover can have a substantially constant thickness. The thickness can be determined by the distance between the front surface and the front cover. This can help to mount the front cover at a constant distance from the front surface. Both the front cover and the front surface can have horizontal surfaces and these surfaces can face each other. More complex shapes are also possible.

[0011] The acoustic path can comprise a horizontal section. This can help to keep liquid away from the microphone. The junction between the vertical section and the horizontal section can be at the lower end of the vertical section. The horizontal section can not substantially impair the conduction of sound along the path. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the acoustic path can extend through a recess in the front face, and the recess can act as the horizontal section. In some embodiments, the horizontal section can have a small inclination of up to about 10°. The inclination can be chosen such that water is directed away from the microphone. The recess can be formed as a through-hole through the front face or have elements of the front face. The cross-section of the recess can be circular or have the shape of a slit. Other forms are also possible.

[0012] The acoustic path between the front face and the front cover can extend vertically below the recess. If liquid flows vertically between the front face and the front cover, it can not be able to reach the microphone unless it accumulates sufficiently below the horizontal section.

[0013] The processing device can be adapted to control a domestic appliance in accordance with the recognized voice command. A spoken dialogue between the user and the domestic appliance can be possible. The spoken command can for example start or stop a program or change an operating parameter.

[0014] The device can be particularly adapted to operate in a splash environment. Such an environment can be found in a household, in particular when the device is adapted to operate in a bathroom or kitchen.

[0015] The device can perform a garment treatment, such as washing or drying. The device can therefore comprise for example a washing machine or a tumble dryer. The device can also comprise a personal hygiene article, such as an electric toothbrush or an oral irrigator. Other voice-controlled domestic appliances can also make use of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] The present invention will now be described in more detail by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Figure 1 An exemplary domestic appliance is shown;

[0018] Figure 2 and Figure 3 A partial view of the domestic appliance is shown; and

[0019] Figure 4 Details of the front face of the domestic appliance are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Figure 1An exemplary household device 100 is shown. The household device 100 can comprise any device that is controlled by a user 105 by speech in the environment 110 of the device 100, preferably electrically operated. In the present example embodiment, the household device 100 is implemented as a washing machine that can be adapted to wash garments. The household device 100 can be controlled by a control system 115 that supports voice recognition.

[0021] The control system 115 comprises a microphone 120 that is adapted to sample sound from the environment 105 and a controller 125 that is adapted to recognize a spoken command in the sound data. The control system 115 can be adapted to control the operation of the household device 100. In particular, the device 100 can be adapted to perform a main function, such as washing garments in the present case, and the controller 125 can be adapted to control one or several elements or units that serve this purpose. Such elements can for example comprise a water pump, a hydraulic valve or an electric motor.

[0022] The household device 100 can operate in a humid environment or use water for its own operation, so that a good placement of the microphone 120 is important. On the one hand, the microphone should be positioned such that it picks up sound well from the environment 105. On the other hand, the microphone 120 should be kept away from water, in particular splashing water.

[0023] The household device 100 comprises a chassis or body element that has a front face 130 that is covered by a front cover 135. The front cover 135 can be made of e.g. stainless steel, aluminum or plastic. The cover 135 can be a functional and / or design element. The appearance of the front side of the household device 100 can be determined by the front cover 135. There can be a requirement to avoid recesses in the front cover 135. This requirement can have a safety, technical or design background.

[0024] It is proposed to place the microphone 120 near the front face 130 but preferably behind the front cover and to mount the front cover 135 slightly spaced apart from the front face 130 at least in the area where the microphone 120 resides. The air gap that is then formed between the front face 130 and the front cover 135 can be used as an acoustic or sound path between the environment 105 and the microphone 120.

[0025] Figure 2 and Figure 3 A partial view of the exemplary household device 100 is shown from an oblique angle. Figure 2 The front face 130 is shown without the front cover 135, and Figure 3 The front face 130 is shown with the front cover 135 mounted. In the following, reference will be made to both figures.

[0026] The front 130 forms the frontmost surface of the body element 205. It is assumed that the household appliance 100 is roughly brick-shaped and that its front side is the side that the user will normally look at when operating the appliance 100. For a washing machine, the front side can be the side with the door for loading and unloading clothes (see Figure 1 ). In the present embodiment, the body element 205 comprises a disc-shaped manual control element 210.

[0027] Near the top of the front side, one or several microphones 120 (not visible in Figure 2 and Figure 3 ) can be placed. The microphones 120 can be connected to the environment of the household appliance 100 through a sound path 215 that fills the air with sound that is permitted to conduct. The sound path 215 can comprise a vertical section 220 and an optional horizontal section 225 (see Figure 3 ). The vertical section 220 can be shaped like a wedge or a funnel. Viewed from the front side, the vertical section 220 can appear to have a profile shape that resembles the letter V or the letter U.

[0028] The vertical section 220 can be shaped by a recess in the body element 205 and / or in the front cover 135. The vertical section 220 can be laterally limited by borders that are shaped in the body element 205 or in the front cover 135, respectively. The vertical section 220 is preferably open towards the top of the household appliance 100, where it has its widest cross-section. The width of the vertical section 220 at its top can be about 10 mm. Then, the depth of the vertical section 220 can be measured to be about 2-3 mm.

[0029] Figure 3 A schematic view showing the sound path 215 in close-up. The sound path 215 is limited by the body element 205. In the present view, the sound path 215 is open on the front side where the front cover 135 can be mounted. The horizontal section 225 is formed by a horizontal hole through the body element 205. The hole is preferably positioned slightly higher than the lowest end of the vertical section 220, so that water or another substance can accumulate in the vertical section 220 without flowing into the horizontal section 225.

[0030] Reference signs

[0031] 100 household appliance

[0032] 105 user

[0033] 110 environment

[0034] 115 control system

[0035] 120 microphone

[0036] 125 controller

[0037] 130 front face

[0038] 135 front cover

[0039] 205 body element

[0040] 210 control element

[0041] 215 sound path, acoustic path

[0042] 220 vertical section

[0043] 225 horizontal section

Claims

1. A household device (100), comprising: - a microphone (120) adapted to sample sound from a surrounding of the household device (100); - processing means for recognizing a voice command based on the sampled sound; - a front face (130) extending in a vertical direction; - a front cover (135) attached to the front face (130); - such that an acoustic path (215) from the surrounding to the microphone (120) comprises a gap between the front face (130) and the front cover (135), - wherein the acoustic path (215) extends in the vertical direction (220) between the front face (130) and the front cover (135), - wherein the acoustic path (215) between the front face (130) and the front cover (135) is bounded in a lateral direction, - wherein the acoustic path (215) between the front face (130) and the front cover (135) narrows in a downward direction, thereby building a section of the acoustic path (215) between the front face (130) and the front cover (135) into a funnel, such that water can flow away over the microphone (120) through the acoustic path (215).

2. The domestic device (100) according to claim 1, wherein The acoustic path (215) between the front face (130) and the front cover (135) has a constant thickness.

3. The domestic device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The acoustic path (215) comprises a horizontal section (225).

4. The domestic arrangement (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The acoustic path (215) extends through a recess in the front face (130).

5. The domestic device (100) according to claim 4, wherein The acoustic path (215) between the front face (130) and the front cover (135) extends vertically below the recess.

6. The domestic arrangement (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The processing means are adapted to control the household device (100) in accordance with the recognized voice command.

7. The domestic arrangement (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The device (100) is adapted to operate in a splash environment.

8. The domestic arrangement (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The device (100) comprises a washing machine or a tumble dryer.

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