Cooking appliance and method for operating a cooking appliance

Abstract

Cooking appliance (1) with a cooking chamber (2) for cooking food, at least one light source (3) arranged in the cooking chamber (2) with adjustable luminous intensity (S) and / or adjustable light color (F) for illuminating the cooking chamber (2), and an adjustment means (4) coupled to the at least one light source (3) for adjusting the luminous intensity (S) and / or the light color (F) of the at least one light source (3), wherein the adjustment means (4) comprises at least one sensor (5) for determining a degree of soiling (V) of the cooking chamber (2) or a part of the cooking chamber (2), and a control means (6), wherein the control means (6) is configured to adjust the luminous intensity (S) of the at least one light source (3) to a target luminous intensity (S') depending on the determined degree of soiling (V), and / or the light color (F) of the at least one light source (3) to a target light color (F') depending on the determined degree of soiling (V). regulate.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking appliance, such as an oven, a microwave, a steamer, or a warming drawer. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a cooking appliance.

[0002] A conventional cooking appliance has a cooking chamber for cooking food, a control device for executing a plurality of predetermined cooking programs, and a user interface coupled to the control device for controlling the control device. The user can select a specific cooking program via the user interface. The control device then executes the selected cooking program.

[0003] Consequently, the user manually selects a cooking program suitable for the food in the cooking chamber via the user interface and starts the execution of the cooking program.

[0004] Furthermore, the cooking chamber is illuminated during the execution of the cooking program, so that the user has the opportunity to visually monitor the cooking process.

[0005] Traditionally, an incandescent lamp or a halogen lamp is used as the light source in the cooking chamber, which does not allow any change in its luminous intensity or light color.

[0006] The user's visual inspection may be impaired by soiling of the cooking chamber, particularly the cooking chamber door or the lamp cover. Such soiling may result in a reduction in the light intensity and color, making visual inspection difficult or even impossible.

[0007] In DE 20 2005 012 027 U1, a multi-coloured light filter is inserted between a light source and a window.

[0008] In contrast, DE 102 04 612 A1 discloses a lighting device whose beam path runs within a front flap.

[0009] DE 10 2006 034 918 A1 also describes a household cooking oven and / or baking oven with a light source for illuminating an interior space.

[0010] DE 10 2006 061 739 A1 deals with a muffle for an oven with a lighting device for illuminating the spaces located below and above a food support.

[0011] Another light source is disclosed in DE 10 2007 058 689 A1, which also serves as a heat source.

[0012] In DE 10 2009 001 093 A1, light from a light source is projected onto a shelf level of a cooking chamber by means of a projection device.

[0013] Another light source is disclosed in DE 10 2009 001 094 A1, which is arranged in a door of a household appliance.

[0014] DE 10 2009 027 900 A1 deals with a lighting device which can have different brightnesses and / or light colours.

[0015] Against this background, one object of the present invention is to improve the lighting of the cooking chamber of the cooking appliance.

[0016] According to the invention, a cooking appliance is proposed which has a cooking chamber for cooking food and at least one light source arranged in the cooking chamber for illuminating the cooking chamber. The at least one light source is designed such that its luminous intensity and / or light color can be adjusted. Furthermore, the cooking appliance has an adjustment means coupled to the at least one light source for adjusting the luminous intensity and / or light color of the at least one light source.

[0017] According to the invention, the lighting of the cooking chamber and thus the visual control of the cooking process for the user are improved by adjusting the luminous intensity and / or the light color of the lamp in the cooking chamber, in particular depending on the degree of soiling of the cooking chamber. Consequently, a change in the lighting of the cooking chamber due to soiling can be compensated for by adjusting the luminous intensity and / or the light color of the lamp. This adapts the luminous intensity and / or the light color of the lamp to the current visibility conditions, which can be impaired by soiling. Such soiling includes, in particular, deposits or coatings on the cooking chamber door and the lamp cover. Furthermore, the luminous intensity and / or the light color of the lamp can be adjusted depending on coatings on the inner and / or outer door glass of the cooking chamber door.An example of such a coating is an IR coating, which due to its properties could reduce or distort the brightness in the cooking chamber or the light color for the user.

[0018] To compensate for soiling in the cooking chamber, the control device can adjust either the light intensity, the light color, or both the light intensity and the light color. The control device selects the appropriate adjustment of the light source depending on the current level of soiling in the cooking chamber.

[0019] According to the invention, the adjustment means comprises at least one sensor for determining the degree of soiling of the cooking chamber or a part of the cooking chamber and a control means. The control means is configured to adjust the luminous intensity of the at least one illuminating means to a definable target luminous intensity depending on the determined degree of soiling and / or to adjust the luminous color of the at least one illuminating means to a definable target luminous color depending on the determined degree of soiling. Thus, the control means adjusts the luminous intensity or the luminous color or the luminous intensity and the luminous color of the illuminating means.

[0020] This allows the lighting in the cooking chamber to be regulated to a predetermined level by the lamp. Dirt therefore has little or no effect on the user's visibility.

[0021] In a further embodiment, the at least one illuminating means is designed such that its luminous intensity and light color are adjustable. The adjusting means is configured to adjust the luminous intensity and light color of the at least one illuminating means.

[0022] It is particularly advantageous to be able to adjust or regulate both parameters, namely the luminous intensity and the luminous color of the lamp.

[0023] In a further embodiment, the adjustment means comprises at least one sensor for determining the degree of soiling of the cooking chamber or a part of the cooking chamber, and a control means. The control means is configured to adjust the luminous intensity of the at least one illuminating means to a definable target luminous intensity and the luminous color of the at least one illuminating means to a definable target luminous color depending on the determined degree of soiling. Consequently, the luminous intensity and the luminous color are adjusted depending on the determined degree of soiling.

[0024] Parameters for the predetermined illumination of the cooking chamber, in particular the light intensity and color, are preferably stored in a memory device of the cooking appliance. These parameters can be adjusted, in particular, via a user interface. Thus, the illumination of the cooking chamber can be predetermined and changed.

[0025] In a further embodiment, the at least one sensor is configured to determine the degree of soiling of the cooking chamber door of the cooking appliance and / or a lamp cover of the lighting means.

[0026] In a further embodiment, the setting means comprises a user interface for determining the desired light intensity and / or for determining the desired light color.

[0027] This allows the user to set a desired, user-specific light intensity and light color of the lamp(s) in the cooking chamber.

[0028] In a further embodiment, the adjustment means comprises a user interface for adjusting the light intensity and / or the light color of the at least one light source.

[0029] In this embodiment, the user can directly adjust the desired light intensity and the desired light color of the lamp via the user interface.

[0030] In a further embodiment, a control device coupled to the user interface is provided for controlling the cooking appliance. The control device is configured to receive an input from the user via the user interface and to control the at least one lighting device depending on the received input.

[0031] In a further embodiment, the at least one luminous means is designed as a light-emitting diode (LED), as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), as a cold cathode tube or as an electroluminescent film.

[0032] The light-emitting diode can be a white light-emitting diode or an RGB light-emitting diode. A cold cathode tube is an electron tube whose cathode can emit electrons even when unheated and therefore cold. An electroluminescent film (EL film for short), also called a luminescent film, light film, or capacitor light film, is a technical electroluminescent device for converting electrical energy into light.

[0033] In a further embodiment, the at least one illuminant is arranged on the cooking chamber door, on the cooking chamber ceiling or on at least one cooking chamber side wall.

[0034] In a further embodiment, a plurality of lighting devices with adjustable luminous intensity and adjustable luminous color are arranged in the cooking chamber. The adjustment device is configured to adjust the luminous intensity and luminous color of the plurality of lighting devices.

[0035] By using a variety of light sources, the lighting of the cooking chamber can be optimized.

[0036] In a further embodiment, the plurality of illuminants comprises only illuminants of a single illuminant type.

[0037] For example, the variety of light sources can include only white LEDs or only OLEDs.

[0038] In a further embodiment, the plurality of illuminants comprises illuminants of at least two different illuminant types.

[0039] In a further embodiment, the plurality of lighting means is distributed on the cooking chamber door, on the cooking chamber ceiling and / or on at least one cooking chamber side wall.

[0040] In a further embodiment, the adjusting means adjusts the light intensity and the light color of the at least one light source depending on the current ambient brightness of the cooking appliance.

[0041] By detecting the ambient brightness of the cooking appliance and adjusting the brightness and color of the light source in the cooking chamber, visibility for the user and thus visual inspection can be further optimized. Ambient brightness refers specifically to the brightness at the location of the cooking appliance, for example, in a kitchen.

[0042] In a further embodiment, the setting means has at least one sensor for determining a coating color of the cooking chamber door and a control means, wherein the control means is configured to control the light intensity and / or the light color of the at least one light source depending on the determined coating color.

[0043] The cooking appliance is, for example, an oven, a microwave, a steamer or a warming drawer.

[0044] The respective means, adjustment means, and control means can be implemented in hardware and / or software. In a hardware implementation, the respective means can be embodied as a device or as part of a device, for example, as a computer or a microprocessor. In a software implementation, the respective means can be embodied as a computer program product, as a function, as a routine, as part of a program code, or as an executable object.

[0045] Furthermore, a method for operating a cooking appliance with a cooking chamber for cooking food and at least one illuminant arranged in the cooking chamber for illuminating the cooking chamber is proposed, in which the luminous intensity and / or the luminous color of the at least one illuminant is / is adjusted.

[0046] In one embodiment, the degree of soiling of the cooking chamber or a portion of the cooking chamber is determined. The luminous intensity of the at least one light source is then adjusted to a definable target luminous intensity and the light color of the at least one light source is adjusted to a definable target luminous color depending on the determined degree of soiling. The target luminous intensity and the target luminous color can be set and thus determined by the user, for example, via the user interface of the cooking appliance.

[0047] In a further embodiment, the light intensity and the light color of the at least one light source are adjusted, in particular regulated, depending on the current ambient brightness of the cooking appliance.

[0048] Furthermore, a computer program product is proposed which causes at least one step of a method for operating a cooking appliance as explained above to be carried out on a program-controlled device.

[0049] A computer program product or a computer program means can be provided or delivered, for example, as a storage medium, such as a memory card, USB stick, CD-ROM, DVD, or in the form of a downloadable file from a server in a network. This can be done, for example, in a wireless communications network by transmitting a corresponding file with the computer program product or the computer program means.

[0050] Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims and the exemplary embodiments of the invention described below. The invention is explained in more detail below using preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0051] They show: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a cooking appliance; Fig. 2 a schematic view of a second embodiment of a cooking appliance; Fig. 3 a schematic view of a third embodiment of a cooking appliance; Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a fourth embodiment of a cooking appliance; and Fig. 5 a schematic flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for operating a cooking appliance.

[0052] In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements have been given the same reference numerals unless otherwise stated.

[0053] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of a cooking appliance 1. The cooking appliance 1 has a cooking chamber 2 for cooking food (not shown). For example, the cooking appliance 1 is designed as an oven. In this embodiment, the cooking chamber 2 can then be referred to as an oven.

[0054] A light source 3 is arranged in the cooking chamber 2, the light intensity and light color of which can be adjusted. In the example of the Fig. 1, the light source 3 is attached to a cooking chamber side wall 10 of the cooking chamber 2. Alternatively, the light source 3 can also be attached to a cooking chamber ceiling (cf. Fig. 4) or on the cooking chamber door (not shown).

[0055] The cooking appliance 1 further comprises an adjustment means 4, which is coupled to the illuminant 3 and is configured to adjust the luminous intensity and the luminous color of the illuminant 3. For example, the adjustment means 4 is integrated into the control device of the cooking appliance. The control device is, for example, a microcontroller.

[0056] The illuminant 3 is, in particular, a light-emitting diode (LED), for example a white light-emitting diode or an RGB light-emitting diode. However, the illuminant 3 can also be designed as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a cold cathode tube, or an electroluminescent film.

[0057] Furthermore, it is possible that not a single lamp 3 - as in Fig. 1 - but a plurality of illuminants 3 are arranged in the cooking chamber 2 (not shown). Then, the adjusting means 4 can adjust the luminous intensity and the luminous color of the plurality of illuminants 3.

[0058] Here it is possible that the plurality of light sources 3 only includes light sources of a single light source type, for example white LEDs.

[0059] However, it is also possible for the plurality of light sources 3 to comprise light sources 3 of at least two different light source types, for example, white LEDs, RGB LEDs, or OLEDs. Furthermore, it is possible to combine light sources 3 whose luminous intensity and light color are adjustable with light sources in which, for example, only the luminous intensity is adjustable.

[0060] In Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the cooking appliance 1. In the second embodiment of the Fig. Figure 2 shows that the light source 3 is covered with a lamp cover 7. The lamp cover 7 is made of glass, for example.

[0061] According to the Fig. 2, the adjustment means 4 has a sensor 5 arranged in the cooking chamber 2. Furthermore, the adjustment means 4 has a control means 6 coupled to the sensor 5. The sensor 5 is configured to determine the degree of soiling V of the cooking chamber 2 or a part of the cooking chamber 2. For this purpose, the sensor 5 receives light L2 resulting from illuminating the cooking chamber 2 with a light L1 emitted by the illuminant 3. The emitted light L1 and the light L2 received by the sensor 5 are only shown schematically in the figures.

[0062] Depending on the received light L2, sensor 5 determines the degree of contamination V. For example, sensor 5 determines the degree of contamination V of the lamp cover 7. The greater the contamination of the lamp cover 7, the lower the luminous intensity of the received light L2. The degree of the determined degree of contamination V changes accordingly.

[0063] The control means 6 controls the luminous intensity S of the illuminant 3 to a target luminous intensity S' and the luminous color F to a target luminous color F' depending on the determined degree of contamination V. For example, the control means 6 has a memory device configured to store the target luminous intensity S' and the target luminous color F'. The control means 6 transmits the luminous intensity S and the luminous color F to be set as control variables to the illuminant 3.

[0064] Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment of the cooking appliance 1. The third embodiment of the Fig. 3 is based on the second embodiment of the Fig. 2 and has all the features of the second embodiment. In addition, the cooking appliance 1 of the Fig. 3 a user interface 8 for determining the target luminous intensity S' and the target light color F'. For this purpose, the user interface 8 transmits, depending on a user input, a signal E1 for setting the target luminous intensity S' and a signal E2 for setting the target light color F'. The user interface 8 can, in particular, be part of the setting means 4.

[0065] In Fig. Figure 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the cooking appliance 1. Two lighting devices 3 are arranged in the cooking chamber 2. A first lighting device 3 is attached to a cooking chamber side wall 10, whereas a second lighting device 3 is attached to the cooking chamber ceiling 11. Without limiting the generality, Fig. 4 only two lamps 3. A significantly larger number of lamps 3 is conceivable, which can be distributed on the cooking chamber door, on the cooking chamber ceiling 11 and on the cooking chamber side walls 10.

[0066] In the embodiment of the Fig. 4, the setting means 4 has a user interface 8 and a control device 9 coupled to the user interface 8. The control device 9 can also be designed as the control device of the cooking appliance, which initiates the execution of predetermined cooking programs.

[0067] The user interface 8 is configured to receive an input B from the user, potentially process it, and transmit the received user input as a control command B to the coupled control device 9. Depending on the received input B, the control device 9 can control the respective lighting means 3. In the embodiment of the Fig. 4, the control device 9 controls the first illuminant 3 with a first control signal C1, whereas the second illuminant 3 is controlled with a second control signal C2.

[0068] In Fig.Figure 5 shows a schematic flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for operating a cooking appliance 1. The cooking appliance 1 has a cooking chamber 2 for cooking food and at least one lighting device 3 arranged in the cooking chamber 2.

[0069] In step 501, the cooking chamber 2 is illuminated by means of the light source 3.

[0070] In step 502, the light intensity S and the light color F of the at least one light source 3 are set, in particular regulated, in particular as a function of the degree of soiling V of the cooking chamber 2 or a part of the cooking chamber 2.

[0071] Preferably, the luminous intensity S of the at least one illuminant 3 is regulated to a definable target luminous intensity S' and the light color F of the at least one illuminant 3 is regulated to a definable target luminous color F' depending on the determined degree of soiling V. The target luminous intensity S' and the target luminous color F' can be set and thus determined, for example, by the user via a user interface 8 of the cooking appliance 1.

[0072] Although the present invention has been described using exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in many ways. List of reference symbols: 1 cooking appliance 2 cooking chamber 3 bulbs 4 Adjustment tools 5 Sensor 6 Regulatory means 7 Light cover 8 User interface 9 Control device 10 Cooking chamber side wall 11 Cooking chamber ceiling 501, 502 process step B Input C1 first control signal C2 second control signal E1 Signal for setting the target light intensity E2 Signal for setting the target light color F Light color F' Target light color L1 emitted light L2 received light S Light intensity S' Target light intensity

Claims

[1] Cooking appliance (1) with a cooking chamber (2) for cooking food, at least one illuminating means (3) arranged in the cooking chamber (2) with adjustable light intensity (S) and / or adjustable light color (F) for illuminating the cooking chamber (2) and an adjusting means (4) coupled to the at least one illuminating means (3) for adjusting the light intensity (S) and / or the light color (F) of the at least one illuminating means (3), wherein the adjusting means (4) has at least one sensor (5) for determining a degree of soiling (V) of the cooking chamber (2) or of a part of the cooking chamber (2) and a control means (6), wherein the control means (6) is designed to adjust the light intensity (S) of the at least one illuminating means (3) to a desired light intensity (S') depending on the determined degree of soiling (V) and / or the light color (F) of the at least one illuminating means (3) to a desired light color (F') depending on the determined degree of pollution (V). [2] Cooking appliance according to claim 1, characterized by that the at least one illuminating means (3) is designed such that its luminous intensity (S) and light colour (F) are adjustable, wherein the adjusting means (4) is designed to adjust the luminous intensity (S) and the light colour (F) of the at least one illuminating means (3). [3] Cooking appliance according to claim 2, characterized by in that the setting means (4) has at least one sensor (5) for determining a degree of soiling (V) of the cooking chamber (2) or of a part of the cooking chamber (2) and a control means (6), wherein the control means (6) is designed to control the light intensity (5) of the at least one lighting means (3) to a desired light intensity (S') and the light color (F) of the at least one lighting means (3) to a desired light color (F') depending on the determined degree of soiling (V). [4] Cooking appliance according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized bythat the at least one sensor (5) is designed to determine the degree of soiling (V) of the cooking chamber door of the cooking appliance (1) and / or the lamp cover (7) of the lamp (3). [5] Cooking appliance according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the setting means (4) comprises a user interface (8) for determining the desired light intensity (S') and / or for determining the desired light color (F'). [6] Cooking appliance according to claim 1, characterized by that the adjustment means (4) comprises a user interface (8) for adjusting the light intensity (S) and / or the light color (F) of the at least one light source (3). [7] Cooking appliance according to claim 6, characterized bythat a control device (9) coupled to the user interface (8) is provided for controlling the cooking appliance (1), which control device is designed to receive an input (E) from the user entered by means of the user interface (8) and to control the at least one lighting means (3) depending on the received input (E). [8] Cooking appliance according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the at least one luminous means (3) is designed as a light-emitting diode (LED), as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), as a cold cathode tube or as an electroluminescent film. [9] Cooking appliance according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the at least one illuminant (3) is arranged on the cooking chamber door, on the cooking chamber ceiling (11) or on at least one cooking chamber side wall (10) of the cooking appliance (1). [10] Cooking appliance according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized bythat a plurality of lighting means (3) with adjustable light intensity (S) and adjustable light color (F) are arranged in the cooking chamber (2), wherein the adjusting means (4) is designed to adjust the light intensity (S) and the light color (F) of the plurality of lighting means (3). [11] Cooking appliance according to claim 10, characterized by that the plurality of lighting means (3) comprises only lighting means (3) of a single lighting means type or of at least two different lighting means types. [12] Cooking appliance according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by that the plurality of lighting means (3) are arranged on the cooking chamber door, on the cooking chamber ceiling (11) and / or on at least one cooking chamber side wall (10) of the cooking appliance (1). [13] Cooking appliance according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized byin that the setting means (4) has at least one sensor for determining a coating color of the cooking chamber door and a control means (6), wherein the control means (6) is designed to control the light intensity (S) and / or the light color (F) of the at least one light source (3) depending on the determined coating color. [14] Method for operating a cooking appliance (1) with a cooking chamber (2) for cooking food and at least one illuminant (3) arranged in the cooking chamber (2) for illuminating the cooking chamber and an adjusting means (4) coupled to the at least one illuminant (3), wherein the adjusting means (4) has at least one sensor (5) and a control means (6), wherein a degree of soiling (V) of the cooking chamber (2) or of a part of the cooking chamber (2) is determined with the at least one sensor (5), and wherein the control means (6) regulates the luminous intensity (S) of the at least one illuminant (3) to a desired luminous intensity (S') depending on the determined degree of soiling (V) and / or the light color (F) of the at least one illuminant (3) to a desired light color (F') depending on the determined degree of soiling (V).

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