Control device for a household appliance, household appliance and method for operating a household appliance

Abstract

Operating device (2) for a household appliance (1) comprising a display device (3) for generating a virtual image in a display area (30) in the room and an input device (4), wherein the input device (4) comprises a sensor device (40) by means of which operating commands generated by an operator (5) with a hand and / or an input aid on the virtual image in the display area can be detected, characterized in that a feedback device (8) is provided by means of which a haptically and / or acoustically perceptible signal can be output in response to a detected operating command.

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION AND PRIOR ARTThe invention relates to an operating device for a domestic appliance and to a domestic appliance having an operating device and method for operating a domestic appliance.From the prior art, generally operating devices for household appliances with rotating handles, also referred to as knobs, and / or buttons are known, wherein a user of the household appliance specifies a desired command for the household appliance by rotating the rotating handle or pressing the button. Furthermore, so-called touch control devices are known, i.e. devices with a touch-sensitive surface which make possible operation by touching with the finger.JP 2012-190573 A discloses an operating device for an induction hob, having an input device designed as an operating panel, comprising a button or the like, and having a display device comprising an optical image generating device in the form of a plate on which transmission holograms representing flames are recorded, and a light-emitting diode (LED) which is arranged behind the image generating device in the viewing direction and by means of which the optical image generating device can be illuminated for reproduction.Furthermore, EP1352301A1 discloses a method for controlling devices, machines and / or vehicles, comprising the steps of projecting a virtual operator element assigned to a specific function into the action range of an operator; detecting a movement of the operator in the direction of the virtual operator element in a contactless manner; and switching the function assigned to the virtual operator element after the movement of the operator is recognized as a switching intention.EP 3 034 948 B1 describes an oven door comprising a door glass and a door handle, wherein the door handle comprises a projection unit which is adapted to project light onto a projection surface of the door glass in order to provide a graphic representation on the door glass, and wherein the door glass is adapted to emit or reflect light towards the space in front of the oven door, based on the light provided by the projection unit, in order to provide information to a user in front of the oven door. In this case, an optical sensor device or gesture detection can also be provided on the oven door.DE 10 2017 209 123 A1 discloses a method for operating a household appliance, in which light beams are emitted with an image projector of the household appliance in such a way that recognizable, virtual three-dimensional information is generated in the environment of the household appliance, with which information about the operating state of the household appliance or an operating element is displayed, wherein in conjunction with gesture control this projected operating element can also be actuated by a corresponding gesture.OBJECT AND SOLUTIONIt is an object of the invention to provide an improved operating device for a domestic appliance in which the need to touch surfaces or input elements is dispensed with. It is further objects of the invention to provide a household appliance with a corresponding operating device and a method for operating a household appliance.According to a first aspect, an operating device for a household appliance is provided, comprising a display device for generating a virtual image in a display area in space and an input device, wherein the input device comprises a sensor device, by means of which operating commands, which are generated by an operator with a hand and / or an input aid on the virtual image in the display area, can be detected, wherein a feedback device is provided, by means of which a haptically and / or acoustically perceptible signal can be output in response to a detected operating command.In connection with the present invention, input with a hand is understood to mean any gesture carried out by an operator with a hand or a finger. The operating device allows operation commands to be input on a virtual display area without touching a real surface. This makes it possible to input operation commands without the need for the operator to clean his hand in advance of the input in order to avoid soiling of the surface.The display area is an area in space, which can be defined in a suitable manner by the person skilled in the art when developing and / or mounting the operating device, taking into account various boundary conditions, in which the virtual image of an operating element is projected.By detecting the operation commands generated by an operator on the virtual image in the display area, the display area also serves as an input area for inputting the operation commands. In contrast to known operating devices with gesture detection, in which movements are detected without touching the screen and thus spaced apart from a display area, the display area and the input area therefore do not fall apart. This creates the impression for the operator that he touches an operating element despite a contactless interaction.In embodiments of the invention, the virtual image shows an input element, such as a button, a slide, a rotating handle or the like. The selection of the input element shown can be suitably selected by the person skilled in the art as a function of an operating command to be input and as a function of the domestic appliance.In one embodiment, the operating commands detected by the sensor device are transmitted to a central control unit, wherein the operating commands can be evaluated by means of the control unit and the household appliance can be controlled accordingly. Depending on the configuration, the data can be transmitted by means of cable or wirelessly. In one embodiment, a safety check can also be carried out by means of the control device, safety-critical operating commands not being carried out.The household appliance can be any appliance, in particular it is selected from the group of hob, oven, fume hood, washing machine, dishwasher or refrigerator.The input of the operating commands on the display area in space can be effected by the operator directly by means of his hand or individual fingers. Alternatively, however, the operator can also use an auxiliary means, such as a rod or the like.In the context of the application, the words "a", "an", etc. are used merely as indefinite articles and should not be interpreted as a numerical word. In particular, in one embodiment, the operating device can comprise a plurality of sensor devices which record the input of operating commands by means of different technical methods and / or in different regions of the display region.In one embodiment, the display device comprises a light source and an optical image generating device on which a static transmission hologram is recorded. The image shows, for example, a start key or a slider for an input.In advantageous embodiments, the display device comprises an optical image generating device and a screen for reproducing static or moving images, which screen is arranged behind the optical image generating device in the viewing direction, wherein a virtual image of an image displayed on the screen can be generated in the display region by means of the optical image generating device. In one embodiment, the screen can be suitably controlled by means of a control unit in order to optically image an interaction of the operator with the input device. In one embodiment, an activation is effected by means of the central control unit of the domestic appliance. In one embodiment, the screen is a liquid crystal display (LCD). In one embodiment, the optical image generating device is a so-called holographic screen or holographic display, i.e. a disk which generates a virtual image for display on a screen by means of the physical principle of optical diffraction. The pane can be made of glass as well as plastic. The virtual image preferably corresponds to the original on the screen without distortion or the like. An optical image forming device suitable for the application purpose is described, for example, in EP 3 260 956 A1, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The image forming device is arranged in one embodiment at an angle of 45° to the screen, wherein the display area is formed on an opposite side of the image forming device. In one embodiment, the image generating device is arranged parallel to a horizontal working surface, so that a display area appears at an angle of about 45°, in particular at an angle of about 40° to about 50°, to the working surface. A working area arranged in this way has proven to be ergonomically advantageous.In one embodiment, a polarization film is provided on the screen, by means of which reflections and / or reflections on the screen are suppressed. Alternatively or additionally, in one embodiment, a lens is provided, by means of which visual errors of an operator can be corrected. An image displayed on the screen and projected onto the display area is assigned to a work station, for example a cooking zone of a hob, in one embodiment. In another embodiment, a displayed and projected image is assigned to a working device, for example a cooking pot, wherein the image can be displayed on the virtual display area in a defined area independently of an actual position of the cooking pot.In embodiments of the operating device, the sensor device of the input device comprises an infrared sensor, a camera and / or a radar sensor, by means of which gestures of an operator can be detected. In one embodiment, systems available on the market, for example systems from Neonode Inc. or Gap Motion Inc., are used for the sensor device.In one embodiment, the feedback device has an ultrasonic transducer, in particular an arrangement comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, for generating an ultrasonic pulse in the display area. This makes it possible to provide the operator with feedback that his action has been recognized by the operating device and that the household appliance is controlled accordingly.As described above, in embodiments of the operating device, an actuatable screen is provided, the display of which is projected into the display region. In one embodiment, the screen is controlled in order to visualize an interaction by the operator, i.e., to provide the operator with visual feedback about operating commands that have occurred, for example, by changing color and / or moving graphically depicted operating elements.According to a second aspect, a domestic appliance with an operating device according to the invention is provided, in particular a domestic appliance selected from the group comprising a hob, an oven, a trigger hood, a washing machine, a dishwasher or a refrigerator.In one embodiment, the household appliance comprises a plurality of operating devices. For example, in one embodiment, the household appliance is a surface cooking system which has two operating devices, wherein a first operating device serves to control the hob and a second operating device allows access to a database and / or the Internet, for example for recipe search and / or operator control. Alternatively, an operating device is provided, wherein an operating mode of the operating device can be changed, so that it selectively serves for controlling the hob or for carrying out additional functions.According to a third aspect, a method for operating a household appliance is provided, wherein a virtual image of an operating element is generated in a display area in space, and operating commands, which are generated by an operator using a hand and / or an input aid on the virtual image of the operating element in the display area, are detected by means of a sensor device.For feedback to the operator, a haptically and / or acoustically perceptible signal is output in response to an operating command detected in the display area.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFurther advantages and aspects of the invention are evident from the claims and from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are explained below with reference to the figures. The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a hob with an operating device; FIG. 2 shows an operating device in a schematic side view; FIG. 3 shows a schematic front view of the operating device according to FIG. 2 ; FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of an exemplary embodiment of an operating device according to the invention; FIG. 5 shows a schematic front view of the operating device according to FIG. 4 ; FIG. 6 shows a schematic side view of a third exemplary embodiment of an operating device; FIG. 7 shows a schematic front view of the operating device according to FIG. 6.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTSFIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a domestic appliance 1 designed as a hob with an operating device 2 according to the invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the operating device 2 in a side view and a front view. The operating device 2 allows contactless operation of the household appliance 1 by an operator 5, shown schematically, for example switching a cooking zone assigned to a pot 6 on and off or regulating the temperature of this cooking zone. The hob is, for example, an induction hob or a glass ceramic hob.The operating device 2 includes a display device 3 for generating a virtual image in a display area 30 in space.In the display device 3 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an optical image generating device 31 and a screen 32, for example an LCD screen, for reproducing static or moving images. The screen 32 is arranged behind the optical image generating device 31 in the viewing direction 50 schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 by an arrow.The optical image generating device 31 shown is a so-called holographic screen, by means of which a virtual image of an image displayed on the screen 32 can be generated in the display region 30.The operating device 2 further comprises an input device 4 with a sensor device 40 (cf. FIG. 2 ), wherein operating commands which are generated by the operator 5 with one hand in an action area 42 can be detected by means of the sensor device 40. The action range 42 is selected in such a way that it coincides with the display region 30 or is directly upstream of the display region 30 in the viewing direction 50. By means of the sensor device 40, therefore, operating commands which are generated by the operator on the virtual image in the display region 30 can be detected.The sensor device 40 shown is, for example, an optical sensor device comprising a single or a plurality of infrared sensors and / or a camera.In the exemplary embodiment shown, the sensor device 40 is connected to a control device 7 for transmitting signals. In the operating device 2 shown, the screen 32 can be controlled by means of the control device, so that it is possible to control the screen 32 in accordance with a detected operating command.FIGS. 4 and 5 show, in a schematic side view and in a schematic front view, respectively, an exemplary embodiment according to the invention of an operating device 2 similar to the operating device 2 according to FIGS. 1 to 3.In contrast to the operating device according to FIGS. 1 to 3, in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5 a feedback device 8 is provided, by means of which a haptically perceptible signal can be output in response to a detected operating command in a feedback region 80 overlapping with the display region. The feedback device 8 shown comprises for this purpose an ultrasonic transducer, by means of which ultrasonic signals perceptible by an operator can be output.FIGS. 6 and 7 schematically show an operating device 2 in a side view and a front view, respectively. The operating device 2 according to FIGS. 6 and 7 is similar to the operating device 2 according to FIGS. 2 and 3 and the same reference numerals are used for identical or similar components. For a description, reference is made above. In the operating device 2 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the sensor device 40 comprises a radar sensor, preferably an arrangement having a plurality of radar sensors, by means of which operating commands, which are generated by an operator, not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, by means of a hand or a finger in an action region 42 can be detected.In one embodiment, the sensor device 40 is likewise connected to a control device not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.The exemplary embodiments shown are merely exemplary and numerous modifications are conceivable. In particular, it is conceivable to obtain further embodiments by combinations of the components of one exemplary embodiment with components of another exemplary embodiment.

Claims

Operating device (2) for a domestic appliance (1) comprising a display device (3) for generating a virtual image in a display area (30) in space and an input device (4), wherein the input device (4) comprises a sensor device (40), by means of which operating commands, which are generated by an operator (5) with a hand and / or an input aid on the virtual image in the display area, can be detected, characterised in that a feedback device (8) is provided, by means of which a haptically and / or acoustically perceptible signal can be output in response to a detected operating command.Operating device (2) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the display device (3) has an optical image generating device (31) and a screen (32), which is arranged behind the optical image generating device (31) in the viewing direction (50), for reproducing static or moving images, it being possible for a virtual image of an image displayed on the screen (32) to be generated in the display region (30) by means of the optical image generating device (31).Operating device (2) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensor device (40) of the input device (4) comprises an infrared sensor, a camera and / or a radar sensor, by means of which gestures of an operator (5) can be detected.Operator control device (2) according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the feedback device (8) has an ultrasonic transducer (80) for generating an ultrasonic pulse in the display region (30).Domestic appliance (1) with an operating device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4.Domestic appliance (1) according to claim 5, selected from the group comprising a hob, an oven, a fume hood, a washing machine, a dishwasher or a refrigerator.Method for operating a domestic appliance (1), wherein a virtual image of an operating element is generated in a display area (30) in space, wherein operating commands which are generated by an operator (5) using a hand and / or an input aid on the virtual image of the operating element in the display area (30) are detected by means of a sensor device (40), characterized in that a haptically and / or acoustically perceptible signal is output in response to an operating command detected in the display area (30).

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