Extraction device and extraction system as well as methods for operating

Abstract

Extractor hood (50) with at least one extractor unit (1) with at least one fan unit (2), at least one operating unit (3) for user inputs (8), at least one control unit (4) for controlling an operating setting (5) of the extractor unit (1), and at least one evaluation unit (6) with which operating activities (101) of at least one cooking appliance (100) assigned to the extractor unit (1) can be evaluated in order to automatically generate and set a default setting (7) for the operating setting (5) with the control unit (4), wherein the control unit (4) is suitable and designed to change the operating setting (5) by means of at least one user input (8), characterized in that the evaluation unit (6) registers user inputs (8) for changing the operating setting (5) and takes them at least partially into account in a future setting of the default setting (7).so that the evaluation unit (6) is designed to learn with respect to the user inputs (8), and that the evaluation unit (6) is suitable and designed to change the default setting (7) after exceeding a predetermined number of user inputs (8) during the same operating activity (101) of the cooking appliance (100).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a ventilation device with a ventilation unit according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for operating such a ventilation device as well as a ventilation system with at least one ventilation device and with at least one cooking appliance.

[0002] With WO 2009 / 127 379 A2, a system consisting of a cooktop and a functionally integrated extractor hood became known, in which the fan intensity is adjusted in response to the operation of the cooktop. For this purpose, both the cooktop and the extractor hood are equipped with a communication module that enables the transmission of device data and operating states via the power grid. For example, during frying, an initially high power setting on the cooktop is typically reduced to a lower power level after the initial searing. However, when such a frying process is detected, the fan intensity is not necessarily reduced, unlike during other cooking processes. This allows for the effective extraction of the fumes produced during frying.

[0003] Further relevant prior art is disclosed in DE 10 2015 104 631 A1.

[0004] Therefore, analyzing the cooking processes on the hob is crucial for reliable automatic operation of the extractor hood. However, it has been found that in some cases users manually adjust the automatically set fan speeds.

[0005] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an improved extractor fan that enables higher user satisfaction.

[0006] This problem is solved by a fume hood with the features of claim 1 and by a fume hood system with the features of claim 11, as well as by a method with the features of claim 12. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the general description and the description of the exemplary embodiment.

[0007] An extractor hood according to the invention comprises at least one extractor unit with at least one fan unit, at least one operating unit for user input, and at least one control unit for controlling an operating setting. Furthermore, the extractor unit includes at least one evaluation unit. The evaluation unit evaluates the operating activities of at least one cooking appliance assigned to the extractor unit. The control unit automatically generates and sets a default operating setting. The control unit is also suitable and configured to change the operating setting by at least one user input. The evaluation unit registers user inputs for changing the operating setting. In particular, the evaluation unit stores user inputs for changing the operating setting.The evaluation unit takes user input for changing the operating settings into account, at least partially and especially temporarily, when setting the default settings in the future. The evaluation unit can also take user input for changing the operating settings into account completely when setting the default settings in the future. In particular, the evaluation unit is designed to learn from user input.

[0008] The extractor hood according to the invention has many advantages. A significant advantage is that the evaluation unit is designed to learn from user input. This allows for significantly improved user satisfaction. For example, the process of automating the extractor hood can be adapted to manual operation. This is made possible, for instance, by registering user input and integrating it into the default settings. This allows for the integration of various user preferences for diverse cooking processes into the default settings.

[0009] Another advantage is that the design of the extractor hood's control panel can be simplified. For example, adjusting the preset settings only requires increasing or decreasing the fan speed. Precise adjustment of the speed in different increments is then no longer necessary. In contrast, prior art systems reverted manual adjustments of the power levels by the user to an automatic setting after a certain period if no further manual input was recorded during that time. If this occurred repeatedly, it could hinder user acceptance of the automation process and lead to confusion. With this prior art, manual operation and automation of the extractor hood are only partially coordinated.In some cases, this led to the user disabling this function.

[0010] The extractor hood is preferably interconnected with the cooking appliance. Operating data from the cooking appliance can be transmitted to the extractor hood and used for its automatic operation. Preferably, the evaluation unit enables a learning process that provides intelligent, automatic generation of the default settings. In particular, the evaluation unit allows the fan speed to be increased or decreased by one or more levels.

[0011] The default setting is preferably determined in all configurations by evaluating the selected power levels of the cooking appliance. This can also take into account multiple simultaneous, independent cooking processes. Furthermore, user input is evaluated to modify the default setting appropriately.

[0012] Preferably, the default setting for the operating mode is automatically generated and set by the evaluation unit. It is possible to modify the fan speed settings via user input. If user input changes become frequent during the same or comparable operation of the cooking appliance, the automatically generated default setting can be adjusted based on the user input stored in or evaluated by the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit can also be designed and configured to account for user input changes during varying operation of the cooking appliance. For example, such changes can be taken into account if they occur within a specific time period and / or with a specific frequency, even if the cooking appliance is performing different operating activities during these periods.For example, user preferences can be recognized, such as those preferred for both cooking and frying processes.

[0013] Changes resulting from user input are preferably recorded in at least one change indicator. This change indicator is stored, in particular, in the evaluation unit. For example, the evaluation unit uses the change indicator to integrate user input into the automatic generation of the default setting. The evaluation unit's ability to learn results from the adjustment of the default setting in relation to the change indicator.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the control device is suitable and configured to control the operation of at least one fan unit. The control device is particularly suitable and configured to control the operation of at least one lighting unit. It is also possible to control other functions via this device, such as a self-cleaning process of the extractor hood.

[0015] In all embodiments, it is preferred that the evaluation unit is suitable and designed to automatically generate and set the default operating parameters for the fan and / or lighting systems. If the user does not change the fan speeds, the extractor hood preferably operates in an automated mode and independently controls the fan speeds and lighting during cooking processes.

[0016] The evaluation unit is particularly preferably designed and configured to determine at least one change indicator after evaluating the registered user inputs. This change indicator can include changes in fan intensity by one or more steps. The change indicator can also include a preferably stepless increase or decrease in fan intensity. In a preferred embodiment, the change indicator can include the time and / or duration of a user input. The change indicator can also include the number and / or frequency of a sequence of user inputs.

[0017] Preferably, the default settings are changed when the change indicator exceeds at least a predetermined threshold. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the evaluation unit can consider the number of changes made, the frequency of the changes, and / or the intensity of the changes when determining the threshold. This is advantageous because it allows various parameters, such as the timing of user input, to be incorporated into the change of the default setting. For example, the frequency and / or number of user inputs can be used to assign a priority to the change indicator. This allows specific user preferences to be better accommodated during control.

[0018] In all embodiments, it is preferred that the evaluation device includes at least one storage device that is designed and suitable for storing the user inputs and / or the default settings.

[0019] The evaluation unit is particularly preferably designed and configured to record the number of user inputs and, if a predetermined number of user inputs is exceeded while the cooking appliance is operating in the same manner, to change the default setting. It is also possible for the evaluation unit to recognize a pattern of user inputs. This allows the default setting to be changed differently, for example, after three user inputs within a short period, compared to after three inputs within a longer period.

[0020] The predetermined number of user inputs required to change the default settings preferably includes at least three repetitions for all operating functions of the cooking appliance. However, a higher number of repetitions, for example, more than seven, allows for better differentiation from exceptional user inputs. Nevertheless, the learning process of the cooking appliance then takes a correspondingly longer period, and the user is less aware of the learning process. Therefore, it has proven particularly advantageous to base changes to individual default settings for specific operating functions of the cooking appliance on four to six repetitions.

[0021] The number of repetitions can be uniformly specified for all operating functions of the cooking appliance. However, it has proven beneficial to make the number of repetitions dependent on the individual operating functions of the cooking appliance. This allows for better differentiation between similar operating functions. At the same time, easily distinguishable operating functions can be learned quickly.

[0022] According to a further development of the invention, the learning capability of the cooking appliance can be adjusted by the customer by adjusting the required number of repetitions.

[0023] In this context, the change might involve, for example, increasing or decreasing the intensity of the fan. However, it's also possible that the change affects other parameters, such as the direction of airflow.

[0024] Preferably, the evaluation unit is designed and configured to change the default setting after a predetermined number of user inputs that alter the fan speed have been exceeded. The evaluation unit is preferably designed and configured to disregard a smaller number of deviations from the predefined user inputs when the associated cooking appliance is operating under the same conditions. In particular, user inputs that deviate from a pattern are disregarded when the associated cooking appliance is operating under the same conditions. To illustrate this with an example: With comparable operation of the cooking appliance, the user sets the fan speed one level higher in each of four different cooking processes and accidentally lowers it in a single cooking process.In that case, the default setting is preferably increased anyway, since the one-time reduction is disregarded.

[0025] In all embodiments, it is preferred that the cooking appliance associated with the extractor hood includes or is designed as at least one cooktop with at least one cooking zone. It is also possible that the cooking appliance is designed as or includes at least one other household appliance, such as a steam cooker, a conventional oven, a microwave oven, a dishwasher, a waffle iron, a sandwich maker, and / or a deep fryer, or the like.

[0026] Preferably, the evaluation unit is suitable and designed to record the operating activities of the cooking zone. Furthermore, it is possible for the evaluation unit to record the position of one or more cooking zones on the cooktop, the number of active cooking zones, and the relative position of the active cooking zones to one another. The evaluation unit can also record different operating activities of the individual cooking zones, such as their heating power.

[0027] In particular, the evaluation unit is designed and suitable for recognizing patterns across multiple operating activities. This pattern can be further categorized into different cooking levels on a single cooking zone and / or across different cooking zones, the temporal progression of various cooking processes, and combinations of different cooking zones with varying cooking levels. This ensures, in particular, the differentiation of various cooking processes such as frying, boiling, or steaming. The number and positions of the cooking zones used are specifically taken into account. In a highly advantageous implementation, the pattern of operating activities can then be compared with the pattern of user settings. This ensures both an even more precise recognition of the cooking scenario and a better adaptation of the default settings to the user's preferences.

[0028] The extractor hood system according to the invention comprises at least one extractor hood and at least one cooking appliance, in particular a cooktop. The extractor hood includes at least one extractor unit with at least one fan unit, at least one operating unit for user input, and at least one control unit for controlling an operating setting. Furthermore, the extractor unit includes at least one evaluation unit. The evaluation unit is suitable and configured to evaluate the operating activities of the cooking appliance in order to automatically generate and set a default operating setting with the control unit. The control unit is suitable and configured to change the operating setting by means of at least one user input. The evaluation unit registers user inputs for changing the operating setting.In particular, the evaluation unit stores user input for changing the operating settings. The evaluation unit takes these user inputs into account, at least partially and in particular completely, when setting the default settings in the future. Specifically, the evaluation unit is designed to learn from the user inputs.

[0029] Such a system, consisting of a range hood and a cooking appliance, offers particular advantages in terms of user-friendliness. One advantage is that the control panel of the range hood can be integrated into the control panel of the cooking appliance. Another advantage of such a system is that it is possible to optimally match the style and structure of both components. Preferably, the range hood and the cooking appliance of the system are designed as previously described for the range hood according to the invention.

[0030] The method according to the invention enables the operation of a range hood with at least one range hood unit comprising at least one fan unit, at least one operating unit for user inputs, and at least one control unit for controlling an operating setting. Furthermore, the range hood unit includes at least one evaluation unit. The evaluation unit analyzes the operating activities of at least one cooking appliance assigned to the range hood unit in order to automatically generate and set a default operating setting using the control unit. The operating setting is then changed by at least one user input via the control unit.

[0031] The evaluation unit registers and, in particular, stores user inputs for changing the operating settings. These user inputs are at least partially, and in particular fully, taken into account when the default settings are subsequently adjusted, meaning that the evaluation unit processes the user inputs.

[0032] The method according to the invention has the significant advantage that user input can be incorporated into an intelligent, automatic creation of the default setting. This makes it possible for the user-modified default setting to be applied in the future without the user having to enter any further input to change the operating setting.

[0033] Preferably, at least one change indicator is determined by evaluating the registered user input, and the default settings are changed depending on this change indicator. If necessary, the change indicators are read by the service, and the default settings in the delivery state are adjusted with respect to these change indicators.

[0034] In all configurations, it is possible to implement the evaluation unit of the extractor hood using a neural network for the automatic generation of the default settings and their adjustment based on user input. Other algorithms for the automatic generation of the default settings and their adjustment based on user input can also be used, e.g., fuzzy logic or similar.

[0035] Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the exemplary embodiment, which is explained below with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0036] The figures show: Fig. 1 a highly schematic perspective view of a range hood and an associated cooking appliance; Fig. 2. A schematic sequence of how the default setting is changed by user input; and Fig. 3. An exemplary cooking process with adjustment of the default settings by user input.

[0037] With reference to the accompanying figures, an exemplary embodiment is explained, wherein in Fig. Figure 1 shows a cooker extraction system 300 with a cooker extraction device 50 and an associated cooking appliance 100.

[0038] The extractor hood 50 is operable according to the method of the invention and comprises an extractor hood unit 1. The extractor hood unit 1 includes at least one fan unit 2 and at least one operating unit 3 for user inputs 8, as well as a control unit 4 for controlling an operating setting 5 of the extractor hood unit 1. Furthermore, the extractor hood unit 1 includes an evaluation unit 6 with which operating activities 101 of the associated cooking appliance 100 can be evaluated. In addition, at least one lighting unit 9 can be controlled via the evaluation unit 6 as well as via the operating unit 3.

[0039] The cooking appliance 100 is a cooktop unit 102, which has several cooking zones 103. The heating element can be an electric resistance heating element and / or an induction element or a gas heating element.

[0040] During cooking on the cooktop 102, the extractor hood 1 is preferably controlled by an intelligent, automatic generation of a default setting 7 for operating mode 5. For this purpose, the evaluation unit 6 analyzes the operating activity 101 of the cooktop 102 and controls the intensity 13 of the fan 2 via the control unit 4. If the user manually changes the set intensity 13 via the operating unit 3 according to their preferences, this change is stored and evaluated in the evaluation unit 6. If these changes occur frequently while the operating activity 101 of the cooktop 102 remains constant, a change indicator 10 is determined by the evaluation unit 6. During a subsequent, comparable operating activity 101 of the cooktop 102, this change indicator 10 is then included in the default setting 7 and used for operating mode 5.

[0041] Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic sequence of changes to the default setting 7 through user input 8. Here, an initial cooking process 200 is depicted, in which the initial operating activity 101 of the cooktop unit 102 is increased after some time. For example, cooking begins at a cooking level "3" and later increases to a cooking level "10". The default setting 7 of the operating setting 5 of the extractor hood 1 follows this progression with a time delay. After an initial low intensity 13 of the fan 2, this intensity is also increased as a consequence of the increased operating activity 101 of the cooktop unit. In this example, the user perceives this increase as too strong and therefore reduces the intensity 13 after a short time by means of a user input 8 on the control unit 3. The change parameter 10 is shown here as an example of a measure of intensity reduction.

[0042] During a second cooking process 201 with the same operating activity 101, the user again makes the change and reduces the intensity 13. The change is saved and evaluated by the evaluation unit 6. In addition, the operating setting 5 is adjusted according to the newly determined default setting 7. In this example, the changes made have reached a threshold value and are stored by the evaluation unit 6 in a newly learned default setting 7.

[0043] In a subsequent cooking process 202, the previously learned change parameter 10 is now transferred to the default setting 7 without requiring any user input 8. Therefore, subsequent identical or similar cooking processes will directly use the learned default setting 7. Similarly, the operating setting 5 for the lighting or other functions of the extractor hood 1 can also be adjusted.

[0044] In another cooking process, such as frying, the cooktop unit 102 initially operates at a high level (e.g., maximum power) followed by a lower level (e.g., at one-quarter of its maximum power). The default setting 7 can follow this progression with a time delay, reducing the intensity 13 of the fan 2 after an initial high intensity 13. If the user finds this reduction insufficient and increases the intensity 13 several times during such frying processes, this increase is incorporated into the default setting 7, ensuring that the appropriate fan speed and / or lighting are automatically set for subsequent frying processes.

[0045] The user inputs 10 and / or the operating activities 101 of the cooktop device 102, and in particular patterns of the user inputs 10 and / or the operating activities 101 of the cooktop device 102 (cooking scenarios), can be registered and stored here in the evaluation unit 6, in particular in a non-volatile data memory. The evaluation unit 6 is suitable and designed to compare the two patterns with each other and / or with settings specified by the manufacturer.

[0046] The user input pattern 10 can then be adopted into the manufacturer's default settings, and the data of the corresponding user input pattern 10 in the evaluation unit 6 can be deleted. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the evaluation unit 6 can contain at least one microcontroller. In conjunction with the non-volatile memory, this microcontroller handles the adjustment of the default setting 7. The adjustment can also be performed using a neural network.

[0047] In the Fig.In the operating sequence shown in Figure 3, the user prepares, for example, pasta at cooking level "8" on one cooking zone 103 and fried eggs at cooking level "5" on a second cooking zone 103. The evaluation unit 6 of the extractor unit 1, in this case a range hood, evaluates these cooking levels and sets the intensity 13 of the fan unit 2 to level "2" 14 based on stored parameters. The user then increases the intensity 13 to level "3" 15 by means of a user input 8. This process is repeated several times, for example, three, four, five, or six times within a specific period. The evaluation unit 6 recognizes this cooking scenario and, on the fourth preparation of pasta with fried eggs, directly sets the intensity 13 of the fan unit 2 to level "3" 15. The user benefits from the range hood's operation being tailored to their needs.

[0048] Overall, the invention increases the user-friendliness of a range hood 50 in automatic mode. This is achieved by adapting the automatic operation to the user's wishes and preferences. This adaptation is accomplished primarily through a learning process. User inputs are incorporated into the intelligent, automatic creation of the default settings. Thus, the user-modified default setting can be used in the future without the user having to make any further input to change the operating settings. Reference symbol list 1 extractor hood unit 2 fan setup 3 Control unit 4 Control unit 5. Operating settings 6 Evaluation unit 7. Default setting 8 User inputs 9 Lighting equipment 10 Change indicator 12 Storage device 13 Intensity Level 14 Level 15 50 Extractor hood 100 Cooking appliance 101 Business activities 102 Cooktop equipment 103 cooking zones 200 cooking process 201 Cooking process 202 Cooking process 203 Performance Level 204 performance level 300 extractor hood system

Claims

[1] Extraction device (50) with at least one extraction unit (1) with at least one fan device (2), at least one operating device (3) for user inputs (8), at least one control device (4) for controlling an operating setting (5) of the extraction unit (1) and at least one evaluation device (6) with which operating activities (101) of at least one cooking appliance (100) assigned to the extraction unit (1) can be evaluated in order to automatically generate and set a default setting (7) for the operating setting (5) with the control device (4), wherein the control device (4) is suitable and designed to change the operating setting (5) by means of at least one user input (8), characterized by, that the evaluation unit (6) registers user inputs (8) for changing the operating setting (5) and takes them at least partially into account when setting the default setting (7) in a future setting, so that the evaluation unit (6) is designed to be capable of learning with regard to the user inputs (8), and that the evaluation unit (6) is suitable and designed to change the default setting (7) after exceeding a predetermined number of user inputs (8) with the same operating activity (101) of the cooking appliance (100). [2] Extractor hood (50) according to the preceding claim, characterized by , that the control device (4) is suitable and designed to control the operation of the fan device (2) and / or at least one of the lighting devices (9) associated with the extractor hood unit (1). [3] Extractor hood (50) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the evaluation unit (6) is suitable and designed to automatically generate and set the default setting (7) for the operating setting (5) of the fan unit (2) and / or the lighting unit (9). [4] Extractor hood (50) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the evaluation unit (6) is suitable and designed to determine at least one change indicator (10) after evaluating the registered user inputs (8). [5] Extractor hood (50) according to the preceding claim, characterized by , that the evaluation device (6) is suitable and designed to change the default settings (7) when the change indicator (10) exceeds at least a predetermined threshold. [6] Extractor hood (50) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the evaluation unit (6) is suitable and designed to record the number of user inputs (8) made. [7] Extractor hood (50) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the evaluation device (6) is suitable and designed to change the default setting (7) after exceeding a predetermined number of user inputs (8) while maintaining the same operating activity (101) of the cooking appliance (100). [8] Extractor hood (50) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the evaluation device (6) is suitable and designed to change the default setting (7) after exceeding a predetermined number of user inputs (8) which change intensities (13) of the fan device (2), while maintaining the same operating activity (101) of the associated cooking device (100), while neglecting a smaller number than the predetermined number of deviating user inputs (8) while maintaining the same operating activity (101) of the associated cooking device (100). [9] Extractor hood (50) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the cooking appliance (100) associated with the extractor hood unit (1) comprises at least one hob unit (102) with at least one cooking zone (103). [10] Extractor hood (50) according to the preceding claim, characterized by , that the evaluation device (6) is suitable and designed to register the operating activity (101) of the cooking zone (103). [11] Extraction system (300) with at least one extraction device (50) according to one of the preceding claims and with at least one cooking appliance (100), in particular a cooktop appliance (102), wherein the extraction device (50) comprises at least one extraction unit (1) with at least one fan unit (2), at least one operating device (3) for user inputs (8), at least one control unit (4) for controlling an operating setting (5) of the extraction unit (1), and at least one evaluation unit (6) with which operating activities (101) of the cooking appliance (100) can be evaluated in order to automatically generate and set a default setting (7) for the operating setting (5) with the control unit (4), wherein the control unit (4) is suitable and configured to change the operating setting (5) by means of at least one user input (8). characterized by, that the evaluation unit (6) registers user inputs (8) for changing the operating setting (5) and takes at least part of them into account when setting the default setting (7) in the future, so that the evaluation unit (6) is designed to be capable of learning with regard to the user inputs (8). [12] Method for operating a range hood (50) with at least one range hood unit (1) with at least one fan unit (2), at least one operating unit (3) for user inputs (8), at least one control unit (4) for controlling an operating setting (5) of the range hood unit (1) and at least one evaluation unit (6) with which operating activities (101) of at least one cooking appliance (100) assigned to the range hood unit (1) are evaluated in order to automatically generate and set a default setting (7) for the operating setting (5) with the control unit (4), wherein the operating setting (5) is changed by means of the control unit (4) as a result of at least one user input (8), characterized by, that user inputs (8) made to change the operating setting (5) are registered by the evaluation unit (6) and are at least partially taken into account in a future setting of the default setting (7), so that user inputs (8) made are evaluated by the evaluation unit (6) in a learning-capable manner, wherein the evaluation unit (6) is suitable and designed to change the default setting (7) after exceeding a predetermined number of user inputs (8) with the same operating activity (101) of the cooking appliance (100). [13] Method according to the preceding claim, characterized by , that after evaluating the registered user inputs (8) at least one change indicator (10) is determined and depending on the change indicator (10) the default settings (7) are changed.

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