Rotary selection control device for a household appliance, household appliance with a rotary selection control device and method for operating a rotary selection control device

Abstract

The approach presented here relates to a rotary selection control device (105) for a household appliance (100). The rotary selection control device (105) has at least one rotatable knob (110) and a display device (115). The knob (110) is designed to adjust an operating function of the household appliance (100). The display device (115) is designed to provide a visual display (117) of information on the knob (110).

Description

The approach presented here relates to a rotary selection control device for a household appliance, a household appliance with a rotary selection control device and a method for operating a rotary selection control device.There are household appliances or commercial appliances which have knobs for setting operating functions of the appliance.DE 10 2017 218 173 A1 describes a household appliance having at least one operating element, which has an operating region projecting from an outer side of the household appliance and has an image projector for projecting at least one image, wherein an image can be projected onto an image region of the projecting operating region of at least one operating element by means of the image projector and this image is pre-distorted in accordance with a shape and / or spatial position of the image region.DE 10 2008 033 793 A1 describes an operating element which is provided for a domestic appliance, wherein the operating element has an operating surface with an end face and a lateral surface and has at least one luminous surface on its lateral surface.DE 10 2014 206 282 A1 describes an operating element for a household appliance with at least one at least partially encapsulated light-emitting film.The approach presented here is based on the object of creating an improved rotary selection control device for a household appliance, a household appliance with an improved rotary selection control device and a method for operating an improved rotary selection control device.According to the invention, this object is achieved by a rotary selection control device for a household appliance, furthermore a household appliance with a rotary selection control device and a method for operating a rotary selection control device with the features or steps of the main claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the approach result from the following dependent claims.The advantages which can be achieved with the approach presented here are that an increased flexibility in the display of information in a household appliance is created, wherein an ergonomic reading of the information on the toggle is made possible.A rotary dial control device for a household appliance has at least one rotatable knob and a display device. The toggle is designed to set an operating function of the household appliance. The display device is designed to effect a visual display of information on the toggle.The household appliance can be any household appliance which has at least one toggle, for example the household appliance can be a hob or a cooking appliance or a laundry care appliance such as a washing machine, a dryer or a washer-dryer. The toggle can be formed cylindrically. By rotating the toggle, the operating function or several different operating functions of the household appliance, for example a power stage for a hob or a washing cycle for a washing machine, can be set by a person. The toggle can be rotatably fastened to the household appliance.The display device can have a display which is arranged on a lateral surface of the toggle, wherein the display is designed to display the display. The display can extend over a portion of the lateral surface or around the entire lateral surface and can be formed, for example, as an OLED display. This allows a digital display of the information from the lateral surface of the toggle.The display can be arranged circumferentially on the lateral surface of the toggle. The display device can be designed to shift the display on the display in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction when the toggle is rotated in a first rotational direction. Thus, the display may appear stationary from the user's point of view even when the knob is being rotated.According to the invention, the display device has a display which is arranged in an interior space of the toggle, wherein the display is designed to display the display through a lateral surface of the toggle. The display is designed according to the invention to illuminate the lateral surface from the inside, for example by means of an LED display. Thus, the display can be arranged in the interior of the toggle in a manner protected from damage or dirt. The display arranged in the interior is formed in a straight manner or in a curved manner corresponding to the lateral surface.In order to promote the display through the lateral surface of the toggle, it is provided according to the invention that the lateral surface of the toggle is translucent or black transparent.It is furthermore advantageous if the toggle has a fixed toggle section and a rotatable toggle section, wherein the display can be arranged on the fixed toggle section. The fixed toggle portion is to be understood as a portion of the toggle which is non-rotatable. The display can be arranged, for example, on a lateral surface section of the solid toggle section. This enables a display which does not rotate together with actuation of the rotatable toggle section and is therefore always visible by the person at a defined position, for example at an upper side of the toggle.Alternatively to the display, the display device can also have a projection device which is designed to project the display onto a lateral surface of the toggle. Such a projection device also allows the information to be displayed at a defined position.The rotary selection control device can, for example, according to one embodiment have a work plate in which the projection device is arranged or can be arranged. Thus, the display can be made from the work surface to the lateral surface of the toggle.It is furthermore advantageous if the projection device is arranged on an underside of the work plate arranged opposite a work surface of the work plate and additionally or alternatively in an edge region of the work plate. The edge region can form a protrusion of the work plate, which protrudes beyond at least a portion of the toggle. Thus, the projection device can be protected from damage or dirt and arranged facing the toggle for optimum display.The display device can be designed to effect the display independently of a rotational angle position of the toggle on an upward-directed upper side of the lateral surface. The upper side is to be understood as a side of the toggle remote from the center of the earth or a side of the toggle facing a work plate when the rotary selection control device is arranged in an operational position. A display on the top side enables ideal visual perception of the information for a person operating the household appliance.According to one embodiment, the display device can be designed to effect the display and additionally or alternatively a further display using a position signal indicating a rotational angle position of the toggle and additionally or alternatively an operating function signal indicating the operating function of the household appliance. Thus, the display in the case of a hob can display a power level, temperature set by means of the toggle and additionally or alternatively time, for example an operating time, of the household appliance. In the case of a display designed in a revolving manner, the position signal can be used to effect a display which is stationary from the point of view of the user, that is to say, for example, a display which is always oriented upward independently of the rotational angle position of the toggle.The rotary selection control device can have at least one sensor for providing the position signal and additionally or alternatively the operating function signal. To provide the position signal, a rotation angle sensor coupled to the knob can be used.A household appliance, in particular a hob or a cooking appliance or laundry care appliance, has one of the rotary selection control devices presented above. A household appliance presented here can serve as a substitute for known household appliances, wherein the presented household appliance advantageously realizes the advantages of the rotary selection control device. A cooking appliance is understood in particular to mean an installed cooking appliance having a closable cooking chamber, for example an oven, steam oven, microwave oven or the like.A method for operating one of the rotary selection control devices presented above has a step of reading in and a step of outputting. In the step of reading in, an operating signal is read in, which represents an operation of the household appliance. In the step of outputting, a display signal is output using the operating signal, which display signal is designed to cause the information on the toggle to be displayed.In the step of reading in, an operating signal can be read in, which represents an operating stage selected by a position of the toggle or a setting of a household appliance. In the step of outputting, the display signal can be output, which is designed to cause an indication of the selected operating stage or setting on the toggle. If the display is effected using a display arranged circumferentially on the lateral surface of the toggle, the display signal can be determined using a position signal indicating a rotational angle position of the toggle. In this case, the display signal can comprise a positioning specification for positioning the display on the display.This method can be implemented, for example, in software or hardware or in a mixed form of software and hardware, for example, in a control unit of the rotary selection control device. Such a method also allows the advantages of the rotary selection control device already described to be implemented in a technically simple and cost-effective manner.Even if the described approach is described on the basis of a household appliance, the apparatus / method described here can correspondingly be used in connection with a commercial or professional appliance, for example a medical appliance, such as a cleaning or disinfecting appliance, a smallest-loss sterilizer, a large-capacity deflector or a container washing installation.Exemplary embodiments of the approach are illustrated purely schematically in the drawings and are described in more detail below. It shows FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a household appliance with a rotary selection control device according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rotary dial control device according to an embodiment; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rotary dial control device according to an embodiment; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rotary dial control device according to an embodiment; FIG. 5 is a top view of an upper side of a rotary dial control device according to an embodiment; FIG. 6 is a top view of an upper side of a rotary dial control device according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 7 is a top view of an upper side of a rotary dial control device according to an exemplary embodiment; and FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of a method for operating a rotary selection control device according to an exemplary embodiment.In the following description of advantageous exemplary embodiments of the present approach, the same or similar reference numerals are used for the elements shown in the different figures and acting in a similar manner, wherein a repeated description of these elements is omitted.FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a household appliance 100 with a rotary selection control device 105 according to an exemplary embodiment.Merely by way of example, the rotary selection control device 105 is accommodated on the household appliance 100, which is formed by way of example as a hob. According to an alternative exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 100 is a washing machine, a dryer or a washer-dryer.The rotary dial control device 105 includes at least one rotatable knob 110 and a display 115. The toggle 110 is designed to set an operating function of the household appliance 100. The display device 115 is designed to cause a visual display 117 of information on the toggle 110.According to one exemplary embodiment, the toggle 110 is formed cylindrically. Optionally, the toggle 110 is arranged retractable in a side wall of the household appliance 100 or a cabinet arranged under the household appliance 100 or a furniture front arranged under the household appliance 100. According to this embodiment, the toggle 110 is disposed at a position protruding from the side wall, at which the toggle 110 is rotatable. According to this exemplary embodiment, the display device 115 comprises a projection device 116, which is designed to project the display 117 onto a lateral surface 120 of the toggle 110. The projection device 116 is arranged separately and at a distance from the toggle 110.Furthermore, the rotation selection control device 105 according to this exemplary embodiment has a work plate 125 in which the projection device 116 of the display device 115 is arranged. According to this exemplary embodiment, the projection device 116 is arranged on an underside 130 of the working plate 125 arranged opposite a working surface of the working plate 125 and / or in an edge region of the working plate 125. The projection device 116 is designed to effect the display 117 on an upper side 132 of the lateral surface 120. For this purpose, the projection device 116 according to this exemplary embodiment is arranged facing the upper side 132 of the toggle 110, in a protrusion of the work plate 125 which protrudes beyond at least a portion of the toggle 110.According to one exemplary embodiment, the display device 115 is designed to cause the display 117 and / or a further display 117 using a position signal indicating a position of the toggle 110 and / or an operating function signal indicating the operating function of the household appliance 100. For this purpose, the rotary selection control device 105 according to this exemplary embodiment has at least one sensor for providing the position signal and / or the operating function signal. Furthermore, the display device 115 has a control device which is designed to read in the position signal and / or operating function signal and to output a display signal using the position signal and / or the operating function signal, which display signal is designed to cause the display 117 and / or the further display.According to one exemplary embodiment, the rotary selection control device 105 has at least one further rotatable knob 135 for setting an operating function of the household appliance 100, wherein the display device 115 or a further display device of the rotary selection control device 105 is designed to bring about a further visual display of further information on the further knob 135. Accordingly, the rotary selection control device 105 according to an exemplary embodiment also has three, four or more of the further toggles.According to one exemplary embodiment, the rotary selection control device 105 comprises at least one toggle 110 with a projected display 117 or alternatively with a display on the lateral surface 120, which can also be referred to as toggle lateral surface. Such a display is described in an embodiment described in FIGS. 2 and 3.The rotary selection control device 105 advantageously implements a practical digital display on a toggle 110, which can also be referred to as toggle operation. In hobs, when the toggles 110 are mounted in the furniture front as shown here, a user looks "only" at the upper lateral surface 120-all the other is concealed by the toggle 110 and / or the hand of the user. Advantageously, the display device 115 is designed to effect the display 117 on exactly this upper lateral surface 120, that is to say on the upper side 132 of the lateral surface 120.Advantages of the rotary selection control device 105 are a digital display and thus increased flexibility in the display, for example, in the case of hobs, a display of the power, temperature and / or time settings. Ergonomic reading of the information on the upper lateral surface 120 is thus made possible.According to this exemplary embodiment, a projection onto the lateral surface 120 takes place from, for example, the work plate 125, here a work plate protrusion.According to an alternative exemplary embodiment, the hob is formed as another toggle device, for example an embedded device or a laundry care device.FIG. 2 shows a perspective illustration of a rotary selection control device 105 according to an exemplary embodiment. This can be the rotary selection control device 105 described with reference to FIG. 1, with the difference that the display device 115 does not have a projection device but a display 200 which is arranged on the toggle 110. The rotary selection control device 105 does not have a working plate 125 according to this exemplary embodiment, but can be arranged in or on a corresponding working plate.According to one exemplary embodiment, the display 200 is arranged on the lateral surface 120 of the toggle 110, wherein the display 200 is designed to display the display.According to this exemplary embodiment, the display is effected with the display 200 which is arranged running circumferentially around the complete lateral surface 120 or running circumferentially in the complete lateral surface 120. According to this exemplary embodiment, the display 200 rotates with a movement 205 of the toggle 110, but the display always remains aligned upward with respect to the top side, that is to say with respect to the user. The display thus follows. The display 200 is an OLED display according to this embodiment or another suitable display according to an alternative embodiment.In order to bring about this effect, the display device 115 is designed according to one exemplary embodiment to bring about a positioning of the display on the display 200 that is adapted to a current rotational angle position of the toggle 110. When the toggle 110 is rotated in a first rotational direction, the display device 115 is thus designed to shift the display on the annular display 200 in the opposite direction to the first rotational direction, that is to say in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. In this way, the display appears stationary from the user's point of view even when the knob 110 is rotated. According to one exemplary embodiment, the display device 115 is configured, upon a rotation of the toggle 110 by a first rotation angle, in order to cause a displacement of the display by a second rotation angle, which is the same in terms of amount as the first rotation angle but opposite the first rotation angle, in time with the rotation of the toggle 110. In order to detect the rotation of the toggle 110 or a current rotational angle position of the toggle 110, the rotation selection control device 105 according to an exemplary embodiment has a suitable sensor, for example a rotational angle sensor, which is designed to continuously detect a rotational angle position of the toggle 110 and to provide a position signal indicating the rotational angle position. The display device 115 uses the position signal in accordance with one exemplary embodiment to position the display, for example, in such a way that the display is always positioned on top of the toggle 110, regardless of the rotational angle position of the toggle 110. For this purpose, the display device 115 comprises, for example, a suitable control device which is designed to read in the position signal via an interface to a suitable sensor, to determine a display signal using the position signal and a suitable determination rule and to output the display signal to an interface to the display 200 in order to effect the display. FIG. 3 shows a perspective illustration of a rotary selection control device 105 according to an exemplary embodiment. This can be the rotary selection control device 105 described with reference to FIG. 2, with the difference that the toggle 110 has a fixed toggle section 300 and a rotatable toggle section 305 and the display 200 is not arranged circumferentially on the lateral surface of the toggle 110.The display 200 is disposed on the solid toggle portion 300 at the top 132. According to this embodiment, the toggle 110 is formed as a 2-part toggle, and a front part of the toggle 110 is rotatably formed. A rear part of the toggle 110 remains stationary during a movement 205 of the rotatable toggle section 305 and the display 200 is integrated there, which provides the display to the user in the upward direction. The rotatable toggle portion 305 forms a free end of the toggle 110 according to this embodiment. The rear part of the toggle 110 can be fastened, for example, rigidly or linearly movably to a housing of the household appliance.FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of a rotary selection control device 105 according to an exemplary embodiment. This can be the rotary selection control device 105 described with reference to FIG. 2, with the difference that the display device 115 according to this exemplary embodiment has a display 400 which is arranged not on the lateral surface 120 but in an interior space 402 of the toggle 110.The display 400 is designed to display the display 117 through the lateral surface 120 of the toggle 110. Thus, the display 117 is visible, for example, on an upper side 132 of the toggle 110. The display 400 arranged in the interior 402 is formed straight according to this exemplary embodiment. According to an alternative exemplary embodiment, the display 400 is shaped in a curved manner corresponding to a curvature of the lateral surface 120. According to this exemplary embodiment, the lateral surface 120 of the toggle 110 is formed in a black transparent manner. According to the alternative exemplary embodiment with a curved display, the lateral surface 120 is translucently formed.According to this exemplary embodiment, the display device 115 is designed to illuminate the lateral surface 120 of the toggle 110, which can also be referred to as a rotary dial, from the inside with the display 117, for example using at least one LED. In this case, the display 400 oriented upward in the reading direction remains stationary on the inside, while the lateral surface 120, also referred to as a jacket, rotates about the display 400. The jacket of the rotary dial regulator is, according to this exemplary embodiment, black transparent to a straight or, according to the alternative exemplary embodiment, translucent to, for example, an LED display 117 following the shape of the jacket surface 120. Thus, when operating the toggle 110, the display 117 is also covered less with user operating fingers than in a projection.FIG. 5 shows a top view of an upper side 132 of a rotary selection control device 105 according to an exemplary embodiment. This can be one of the rotary selection control devices 105 described with reference to one of the preceding figures. As the display 117, the display device according to this exemplary embodiment displays a power level set by means of the knob, here for example the power level "5" of the household appliance.FIG. 6 shows a top view of a top side of a rotary selection control device 105 according to an exemplary embodiment. This can be the rotary selection control device 105 described in FIG. 5, with the difference that the display device according to this exemplary embodiment displays as the display 117 a temperature, for example "103° C." of the household appliance set by means of the knob.FIG. 7 shows a top view of a top side of a rotary selection control device 105 according to an exemplary embodiment. This can be the rotary selection control device 105 described in FIG. 5 or 6, with the difference that the display device according to this exemplary embodiment displays as the display 117 a power level of the household appliance set by means of the knob and a time. The time according to this embodiment is a time running up from an operation start of the household appliance. According to an alternative embodiment, the display device displays as the display 117 a temperature of the household appliance set by means of the toggle and the time.FIG. 8 shows a flow diagram of a method 800 for operating a rotary selection control device according to an exemplary embodiment. This can be a method 800 which can be activated or executed by the rotary selection control device described in one of the preceding figures.The method 800 has a step 805 of reading in and a step 810 of outputting. In step 805 of the reading-in, an operating signal is read in, which represents an operation of the household appliance. In the step 810 of outputting, a display signal is output using the operating signal, which display signal is designed to cause the information on the toggle to be displayed.In step 805 of the reading in, an operating signal and additionally or alternatively a position signal are read in according to this exemplary embodiment. The operating signal represents an operating stage selected by a position of the toggle or a setting of a household appliance. The position signal represents a current rotational angle position of the knob. In the step 810 of outputting, according to this exemplary embodiment, the display signal is output, which is designed to cause an indication of the selected operating stage or setting on the toggle.According to one exemplary embodiment, in step 805 of the reading in, additionally or alternatively, a position signal is read in, which indicates a current rotational angle position of the toggle. In the step 810 of outputting, according to this exemplary embodiment, the display signal is output, which is designed to position the display on the display using the position signal such that the display appears to be stationary from the point of view of the user. For example, steps 805, 810 are continuously carried out repeatedly, so that a shift of the display on the display is effected via the continuously provided display signals if the position signal indicates a change in the rotational angle position of the knob. This is particularly appropriate in the case of a display which is guided circumferentially around the toggle.If an exemplary embodiment comprises an "and / or" combination between a first feature and a second feature, this is to be read in such a way that the exemplary embodiment has both the first feature and the second feature according to one embodiment and either only the first feature or only the second feature according to a further embodiment.

Claims

A rotary selection control device (105) for a household appliance (100), wherein the rotary selection control device (105) has at least the following features: at least one rotatable knob (110) for setting an operating function of the household appliance (100); A display device (115) configured to cause a visual display (117) of information on the toggle (110), wherein the display device (115) comprises a display (400) arranged in an interior space (402) of the toggle (110), wherein the display (400) is configured to display the display (117) through a lateral surface (120) of the toggle (110), wherein the display (400) arranged in the interior space (402) is formed to be straight or bent corresponding to the lateral surface (120), and wherein the lateral surface (120) of the toggle (110) is formed to be translucent or black transparent.The rotary selection control device (105) according to claim 1, wherein the display device (115) comprises a display (200) arranged on a lateral surface (120) of the toggle (110), wherein the display (200) is configured to display the display (117).The rotation selection control device (105) according to claim 2, wherein the display (200) is arranged circumferentially on the lateral surface (120) of the toggle (110), wherein the display device (115) is configured to shift the display (117) on the display (200) in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction upon a rotation of the toggle (110) in a first rotational direction.The rotary dial control device (105) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the knob (110) includes a fixed knob portion (300) and a rotatable knob portion (305), the display (200; 400) being disposed on the fixed knob portion (300).The rotary selection control device (105) according to claim 1, wherein the display device (115) comprises a projection device (116) which is configured to project the display (117) onto a lateral surface (120) of the toggle (110).The rotary selection control device (105) according to claim 5, having a work plate (125) in which the projection device (116) is arranged or can be arranged.The rotary selection control device (105) according to claim 6, wherein the projection device (116) is arranged on an underside (130) of the working plate (125) arranged opposite a working surface of the working plate (125) and / or in an edge region of the working plate (125).The rotary selection control device (105) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display device (115) is configured to effect the display (117) independently of a rotational angle position of the toggle (110) on an upwardly directed upper side (132) of the lateral surface (120).The rotary selection control device (105) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display device (115) is configured to cause the display (117) and / or a further display using a position signal indicating a rotary angle position of the knob (110) and / or an operating function signal indicating the operating function of the household appliance (100).The rotary selection control device (105) according to claim 9, comprising at least one sensor for providing the position signal and / or the operating function signal.Household appliance (100), in particular a hob or laundry care appliance, having a rotary selection control device (105) according to one of the preceding claims.Method (800) for operating a rotary selection control device (105) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the method (800) comprises the following steps: reading in (805) an operating signal representing an operation of the household appliance (100); and outputting (810) an indication signal using the operating signal, wherein the indication signal is configured to cause an indication (117) of the information on the toggle (110).

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