Household appliance, appliance system and method for indicating a coupling between a household appliance and a device

Abstract

The invention relates to a household appliance (102) comprising a display device (106) with at least one luminous element (108) and a control device (110) which is designed to provide a coupling signal (112) for activating the at least one luminous element (108) in response to a coupling of the household appliance (102) with at least one device (104) in order to display the coupling using the at least one luminous element (108).

Description

The invention relates to a household appliance, an appliance system and a method for indicating a coupling between a household appliance and an appliance.Household appliances can have different fields of use, for example household appliances can be cleaning appliances, such as a washing machine or a dishwasher, for example, but also cooking appliances can be household appliances, for example an oven. All such household appliances can carry out a plurality of appliance functions and generally have a display for transmitting information to a user, such as, for example, a program selected by the user or a temperature display for a program.The approach presented here is based on the object of creating an improved household appliance, an improved appliance system and an improved method for indicating a coupling between a household appliance and an appliance.According to the invention, this object is achieved by a household appliance, an appliance system and a method for indicating a coupling between a household appliance and an appliance having the features of the main claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are evident from the following dependent claims.The approach presented enables a possibility for easily understood and flexible identification of mutually coupled and / or synchronized devices, which does not restrict a customary scope of use in any way. This identification of the devices can advantageously be clearly recognizable from a greater distance. The identifiers that can be displayed spatially at different positions on the device can thereby represent an aid for the user in order to keep the overview in synchronized device operations and / or automatic programs or operations in which a plurality of devices are involved. This advantageously allows a convenient and intuitive way to be effected in order to display active connections of devices to one another and / or from household appliances to mobile devices and the status of these connections. This allows the display of devices connected or cooperating with one another.A household appliance is presented, which has a display device with at least one light element and a control device which is designed to provide a coupling signal for activating the at least one light element in response to a coupling of the household appliance with at least one appliance in order to display the coupling using the at least one light element.The household appliance can be designed, for example, as a cleaning appliance or a cooking appliance. The display device can be arranged, for example, on a device front of the household device, which in the ready-to-use state advantageously faces a user. The display device can be arranged, for example, in an operating panel and can have, for example, at least one light-emitting diode (LED), organic light-emitting diode (OLED), or else be based on other technologies such as TFT, LCD, projection, etc. For example, the display device can comprise or effect a matrix display, for example by means of an LED matrix, a segmented display, a hologram display, backlit symbols, a projection display. The luminous element can be formed, for example, as a luminous strip. For example, the luminous element as a luminous strip can illuminate uniformly throughout or, for example, illuminate with greater intensity in the direction of an edge of the device. This allows the user to be presented with device information, for example whether the household appliance is active or whether it is wirelessly coupled to another appliance. The further device can be embodied, for example, as a further household device or as a mobile terminal, such as a smartphone, tablet or smart glasses. Advantageously, the household appliance may be coupled to a plurality of appliances and this coupling may be displayed to the user using the display device. Advantageously, the user can thereby also perceive from a greater distance when or whether the household appliance is coupled.According to one embodiment, the household appliance can have an operating panel with a primary display for displaying appliance information, wherein the display device can be formed as a secondary display and wherein the at least one lighting element can be arranged on the operating panel. The control panel can be designed, for example, to set or activate device programs. Furthermore, the primary display can be formed, for example, as a touch-sensitive display. The display device as a secondary display can be designed, for example, in the form of a display area on the control panel, which can be arranged laterally next to, above or below the primary display.Alternatively, it is also possible to use a part of a correspondingly large primary display instead of a separate secondary display, i.e. the display device can be embodied as a component of the primary display.The display device can be configured to display the coupling by flashing, lighting, by a lighting intensity, by a lighting color of the lighting element and additionally or alternatively by a symbol. The different types of display advantageously make it possible to illustrate different states of the coupling. The symbol can be represented, for example, as a letter or image, which can bring about a conclusion on the coupled device by the user.The control device can be designed to ascertain coupling information of the coupling and to provide the coupling signal for activating the at least one luminous element in order to be able to display the coupling information using the at least one luminous element. The switching information can, for example, state the switching status, i.e. whether the household appliance is coupled to an appliance, or, for example, to which appliance the household appliance is coupled. For example, the coupling information may be displayed as a symbol using a plurality of light elements. This means that the plurality of light-emitting elements is formed, for example, as a plurality of LEDs or OLEDs which are controlled by the control device in order to display a corresponding symbol. For example, the control device can control the light elements depending on the situation, so that different symbols can be displayed, for example also simultaneously.According to one embodiment, the lighting element can be arranged on an edge of the household appliance. This means that the luminous element can be arranged, for example, on a device front and a length of the luminous element can be, for example, equal to a length of the household device.Furthermore, the control device can be designed to activate the lighting element on a side of the household appliance which can face the coupled appliance. This means that the display device can accordingly illuminate on mutually different sides of the household appliance depending on a position of the coupled appliance. The display device may further include a plurality of light emitting elements. The control device can accordingly also be designed to provide the coupling signal for activating a luminous element from the plurality of luminous elements. The control device can advantageously actuate a plurality of lighting elements on one and the same side of the household appliance.Furthermore, the control device can be designed to provide a further coupling signal for activating at least one further lighting element in response to a further coupling of the household appliance to a further appliance, in order to be able to display the further coupling using the further lighting element. Advantageously, the control device can thereby activate light elements on both sides of the household appliance simultaneously if the household appliance is coupled to the further appliance in addition to the appliance. The further device can, for example, likewise have such a display device, so that the coupled devices can be identified at a glance by the user.According to one embodiment, the control device can be designed to provide the further coupling signal for activating the further luminous element, which can be arranged facing the further device. The further appliance can be arranged adjacent to the household appliance and thus it can be easily indicated by the activated light element which is the further appliance coupled to the household appliance. In other words, this means that, for example, the lighting element can display connection information and the further lighting element can display further connection information simultaneously on two mutually opposite sides of the control panel when the household appliance is coupled to the appliance and to the further appliance.The control device can be designed to determine a spatial arrangement between the household appliance and the appliance and to select the luminous element facing the appliance using the spatial arrangement. The spatial arrangement can advantageously also be determined in the case of a plurality of devices. This can be initialized, for example, automatically or alternatively, for example, by the user.Furthermore, a device system is presented which has a household appliance in a variant mentioned above and at least one appliance which can be coupled to the household appliance.The appliance coupled or couplable to the household appliance can, for example, likewise have a display device in a variant mentioned above. This means that the at least one couplable appliance can be formed in the same way or in a similar way to the household appliance. For example, the household appliance and the appliance can be arranged spatially adjacent to one another or spaced apart from one another.According to one embodiment, the device can be formed as a further household device or as a mobile terminal. A mobile terminal can be, for example, a smartphone, tablet or smart glasses. The further household appliance can be designed, for example, as an built-in appliance or, for example, as a small appliance, for example a stand appliance.In addition, the device system can comprise at least one further device, which can be formed as a further household device or as a mobile terminal. Like the appliance, the further appliance can be formed, for example, as an embedded appliance or as a small appliance, which has, for example, a display device in a previously mentioned variant and can additionally or alternatively be coupled to the household appliance, that is to say comprises the possibility of a wireless connection.Furthermore, a method for displaying a coupling between a household appliance and an appliance is presented, wherein the method comprises a step of detecting a coupling of the household appliance to at least one appliance and a step of providing a coupling signal for activating at least one luminous element of a display device of the household appliance in order to display the coupling using the at least one luminous element.The method can advantageously be used in conjunction with a so-called smart home for different household appliances.An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having two devices; FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having three devices; FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having three devices; FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having three devices; FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having two devices; FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having three devices; FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having three devices; FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having three devices; FIG. 9 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having two devices; FIG. 10 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having three devices; FIG. 11 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having three devices; FIG. 12 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having three devices; FIG. 13 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having two devices; FIG. 14 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having three devices; FIG. 15 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having three devices; FIG. 16 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having three devices; FIG. 17 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having two devices arranged at a distance from one another; FIG. 18 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having two devices; FIG. 19 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having three devices; FIG. 20 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having three devices; FIG. 21 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having three devices; FIG. 22 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having two devices arranged at a distance from one another; FIG. 23 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having three devices; FIG. 24 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having three devices; and FIG. 25 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for indicating a pairing.FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 having two devices, which are referred to as household device 102 and device 104 in the following descriptions. According to this exemplary embodiment, the device 104 is likewise realized as a household device and is coupled to the household device 102. In an alternative embodiment, however, the device 104 can also be realized as a mobile terminal, such as a smartphone, a tablet or smart glasses. In addition, the device system 100 is expandable. The devices 102, 104 can be placed directly adjacent to one another, for example, or alternatively also spaced apart from one another. This means that their position is not relevant for a coupling of both devices 102, 104, as long as they are within radio range of one another or to a common connection device (e.g. router).In order to make it easier for a user to see which appliances are linked to one another, at least the household appliance 102 has a display device 106 having at least one lighting element 108 and a control device 110 which is designed to provide a coupling signal 112 for activating the at least one lighting element 108 in response to a coupling of the household appliance 102 to the at least one appliance 104. As a result, the coupling is displayed to the user using the at least one lighting element 108. Preferably, the display device 106 is arranged at a device front of the household appliance 102. For this purpose, household appliance 102 according to this exemplary embodiment has an operating panel 114 with a primary display 116 for displaying appliance information, and display device 106 as a secondary display. This means that the at least one lighting element 108 is arranged on the control panel 114. The primary display 116 is formed, for example, as a touch-sensitive display which displays program information or general device information of the household appliance 102. Furthermore, the control panel 114 is used, for example, for operating the household appliance or for setting appliance functions of the household appliance 102. According to this exemplary embodiment, the luminous element 108 is arranged laterally on the operating panel 114 and is realized or can be realized, for example, as a light-emitting diode (LED) or organic light-emitting diode (OLED).Alternatively, the luminous element 108 can be represented by means of a display or else be part of the primary display 116, if its dimensions also cover the indicated edge region of the panel. This means that the display device 106 is designed to display the coupling of the household appliance 102 to the appliance 104 by flashing, lighting, by a lighting intensity, by a lighting color of the lighting element 108 and / or by a symbol. In this case, for example, different symbols can be displayed, many small LEDs can be controlled, which represent a symbol or, for example, text can also be displayed. Alternatively, the lighting element 108 is formed as a lighting strip, as is described in more detail in at least one of the following figures, for example. The control unit 110 is designed, for example, to ascertain coupling information of the coupling and to provide the coupling signal 112. The switching information represents, for example, a switching status or indicates to which appliance 104 household appliance 102 is connected. More specifically, the coupling signal 112 causes the luminous element 108 to light up. According to this exemplary embodiment, a light element 108 is activated, which faces the coupled device 104.According to this exemplary embodiment, appliance 104 is similar to household appliance 102 and likewise has a display device 118 which can correspond, for example, to display device 106 of household appliance 102 and therefore likewise has a luminous element 120 which is activated for displaying a coupling. This means that, according to this exemplary embodiment, both coupled devices 102, 104 display the coupling by means of their respective display device 106, 118. The lighting element 120 of the appliance 104 is activated here on a side facing the household appliance 102. The control device 110 is therefore designed to determine a spatial arrangement between the household appliance 102 and the at least one appliance 104 and to select the luminous element 108 facing the appliance 104 using the spatial arrangement. Thus, a user also recognizes, for example, from a distance, an existing connection and / or communication of these two adjacent devices 102, 104.In other words, the display device 106, 118 is arranged, for example, at different positions in the device 102, 104, or behind the device panel, which was described above as the control panel 114, in order to display a clear representation of existing connections to other (home) devices or mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets and / or AR / VR devices, and the status of these connections. These representations are formed, for example, as symbol representations, texts or design elements, such as illuminated edges or decorative elements of the devices 102, 104, which are not visible to the user without an active device function. Furthermore, dynamic effects are possible in combination with the above elements as well as the use of different colors for the purpose of representing a connection status. In the case of devices 102, 104 arranged directly next to one another or one above the other, the display of these contents on the side of the device (panel) facing the adjacent device in each case can facilitate the assignment or interpretation of the display. For this purpose, a spatial arrangement of the devices with respect to one another can be placed manually in their control or can be recognized automatically by the devices.FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 having three devices 102, 104, 200. The appliance system 100 is similar to the appliance system described in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 2 additionally shows the further appliance 200 as part of the appliance system 100, which is likewise arranged adjacent to the household appliance 102. The further appliance 200 likewise has a display apparatus 202, which can correspond, for example, to the display apparatus 106 of the household appliance 102 and accordingly has a lighting element 204, which is activated on the side of the further appliance 200 facing the household appliance 102 when it is coupled to the household appliance 102. Furthermore, device system 100 is optionally expandable by any number of further devices 200. According to this exemplary embodiment, household appliance 102 is coupled to further appliance 200, but not to appliance 104. According to this exemplary embodiment, this is illustrated using a lighting element 208 which is arranged on a side of the household appliance 102 facing the further appliance 200.This also means that the control device 110 is designed to provide a further coupling signal 206 for activating at least one further lighting element 208 in response to a further coupling of the household appliance to the further appliance 200 in order to indicate the further coupling using the further lighting element 208. This is arranged facing the further device 200.The appliances 102, 104, 200 can optionally be connected to one another as desired, with the result that, for example, the appliance 104 can also be coupled to the further appliance 200, but not to the household appliance 102. An arrangement of the appliances 102, 104, 200 can likewise be changed as desired, with the result that, for example, the appliance 104 can be arranged between the household appliance 102 and the further appliance 200.FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 having three devices 102, 104, 200, which is similar to the device system described in FIG. 2, for example. According to this exemplary embodiment, household appliance 102 and appliance 104 are coupled to one another, so that light elements 108, 120 facing one another in each case illuminate. According to this exemplary embodiment, the further appliance 200 is not coupled to the household appliance 102, with the result that its luminous element and the further luminous element of the household appliance 102 are not activated.As in FIG. 2, the appliances 102, 104, 200 can optionally be connected to one another as desired, with the result that, for example, the appliance 104 can also be coupled to the further appliance 200, but not to the household appliance 102. An arrangement of the appliances 102, 104, 200 can likewise be changed as desired, with the result that, for example, the appliance 104 can be arranged between the household appliance 102 and the further appliance 200.FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a device system having three devices 102, 104, 200, which is similar to the device system described in at least one of FIGS. 2 to 3, for example. According to this exemplary embodiment, household appliance 102 is coupled to both appliances 104, 200, so that luminous elements 108, 208 of household appliance 102 are activated using coupling signals 112, 206. The lighting elements 120, 204 facing the household appliance 102 are activated on the appliances 104, 200, respectively.As in FIGS. 2 to 3, an arrangement and a coupling of the devices 102, 104, 200 to one another can be changed as desired.FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 having two devices 102, 104, which is similar to the device system described in FIG. 1, for example. According to this exemplary embodiment, the light elements 108, 120 are embodied as chain symbols in order to represent a coupling connection between the two devices 102, 104. In other words, according to this exemplary embodiment, household appliance 102 is coupled to appliance 104.As in FIGS. 2 to 4, an arrangement of the devices 102, 104 among one another can optionally be changed.FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100, which is similar to the device system described in FIG. 2, for example, having three devices 102, 104, 200. As in FIG. 5, the lighting elements 208, 204 of the household appliance 102 and of the further appliance 200 shown here are represented by a chain symbol in order to indicate the coupling. In addition, an arrangement and the coupling of the devices 102, 104, 200 to one another can optionally be changed here as well.FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 having three devices 102, 104, 200. The appliance system 100 is similar to the appliance system described in FIG. 3, wherein, according to this exemplary embodiment, the coupling of the household appliance 102 to the appliance 104 is indicated by means of a chain symbol, as has already been mentioned in FIGS. 5 to 6. As in FIG. 3, the further appliance 200 is not coupled to the household appliance 102 and / or the appliance 104.As in FIGS. 2 to 6, an arrangement and a coupling of the devices 102, 104, 200 to one another can be changed.FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 having three devices 102, 104, 200 which are all coupled to one another, as has been described, for example, in FIG. 4. An arrangement and a coupling of the devices 102, 104, 200 to one another can be changed in this case. As in FIGS. 5 to 7, the coupling by means of the light elements 108, 120, 204, 208 is indicated in the form of chain symbols.FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 having two devices 102, 104, which is similar to the device system described in FIG. 5, for example. According to this exemplary embodiment, the lighting elements 108, 120 are designed as lighting strips 900, 902 which illuminate more strongly towards the edges of the control panel 114 in order to represent a coupling connection between the two devices 102, 104. This means that the luminous element 108 is arranged as a luminous strip 900 at least partially on an edge of the household appliance 102, or as a luminous element 120 as a luminous strip 902 of the appliance 104 on an edge of the appliance 104.The light bars 902 do not extend over an entire device front of the devices 102, 104. Furthermore, household appliance 102 is coupled to appliance 104.As in FIGS. 2 to 4, an arrangement of the devices 102, 104 among one another can be changed.FIG. 10 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100, which is similar to the device system described in FIG. 6, for example, having three devices 102, 104, 200. As in FIG. 5, the lighting elements 208, 204 of the household appliance 102 and of the further appliance 200 shown here are each shown as discontinuous lighting strips 1000, 1002 in order to indicate the coupling. According to this exemplary embodiment, household appliance 102 is coupled to further appliance 200.In addition, an arrangement and the coupling of the devices 102, 104, 200 to one another can also be changed here.FIG. 11 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 having three devices 102, 104, 200. The appliance system 100 is similar to the appliance system described in FIG. 7, wherein, according to this exemplary embodiment, the coupling of the household appliance 102 to the appliance 104 is indicated on the household appliance 102 by means of a discontinuous lighting strip 900, as has already been described in FIG. 9, or on the appliance 104 by means of the lighting strip 902. As in FIG. 7, the further appliance 200 is not coupled to the household appliance 102 and / or the appliance 104.As in FIGS. 2 to 10, an arrangement and a coupling of the devices 102, 104, 200 to one another can be changed.FIG. 12 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 having three adjacent devices 102, 104, 200 which are all coupled to one another, as has been described, for example, in FIG. 8. An arrangement and a coupling of the devices 102, 104, 200 to one another can be changed in this case. As in FIGS. 9 to 11, the coupling by means of the light-emitting elements 108, 120, 204, 208 is indicated in the form of light-emitting strips 900, 902, 1000, 1002.FIG. 13 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 having two adjacent devices 102, 104 which are coupled to one another. According to this exemplary embodiment, the lighting elements 108, 120 are designed as continuous lighting strips 1300, 1302, which extend along an edge of the household appliance 102 or of the appliance 104. This means that the light bars 1300, 1302 illustrated here are each arranged at the appliance front of the appliances 102, 104 and extend over an entire width of the respective control panel. According to this exemplary embodiment, the light bars 1300, 1302 each illuminate continuously with the same intensity, so that they indicate to a user which devices 102, 104 are coupled to one another. However, it is not shown in which direction, starting from household appliance 102, for example, coupled appliance 104 is arranged.FIG. 14 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 with three adjacent devices 102, 104, 200, wherein the device system 100 is similar to the device system described in FIG. 10, for example. According to this exemplary embodiment, household appliance 102 and further appliance 200 are coupled to one another. The device 104 is not coupled to the household device 102 and / or the device 200. According to this exemplary embodiment, the coupling of the devices 102, 200 is represented by the light bars 1300, 1400, which correspond, for example, to or at least resemble the light bars described in FIG. 13.As in FIGS. 2 to 13, an arrangement and a coupling of the devices 102, 104, 200 to one another can be changed.FIG. 15 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 with three adjacent devices 102, 104, 200, wherein the device system 100 is similar to the device system described in FIG. 14, for example. According to this exemplary embodiment, only household appliance 102 and appliance 104 are coupled to one another, which is indicated as light bars 1300, 1302 by means of light elements 108, 120.However, an arrangement and a coupling of the devices 102, 104, 200 to one another can be changed.FIG. 16 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 having three adjacent devices 102, 104, 200, wherein the device system 100 is similar to the device system described in at least one of FIGS. 14 to 15, for example. However, all three devices 102, 104, 200 are coupled to one another here, which is indicated as light bars 1300, 1302, 1400 by means of the light elements 108, 120, 204.However, an arrangement and a coupling of the devices 102, 104, 200 to one another can be changed.FIG. 17 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device system 100 which is similar to the device system described in at least one of FIGS. 13 to 16, having two devices 102, 104 arranged at a distance from one another, which are coupled to one another. The coupling and thus also a communication of both devices 102, 104 with one another is indicated by means of the luminous elements 108, 120 as luminous strips 1300, 1302.FIG. 18 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 having two adjacent devices 102, 104. The device system 100 is similar to the device system described in FIG. 1, for example. This means that, in FIG. 18 as well, the lighting elements 108, 120 of the devices 102, 104 facing one another light up when the devices 102, 104 are coupled to one another. This means that the display devices 106, 118 of the appliances 102, 104 are activated on mutually facing sides of the appliance front. According to this exemplary embodiment, the light elements 108, 120 are designed as symbols in order to allow a conclusion to be drawn about a type of coupled device. For example, the lighting element 108 points by means of a symbol to the appliance 104 as a further household appliance, such as for example an oven. Conversely, the appliance 104 points to the household appliance 102, for example a steam cooker. The type of symbols and household appliances is selected here merely as an example.FIG. 19 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 having three adjacent devices 102, 104, 200. The appliance system 100 is similar, for example, to the appliance system described in FIG. 2, wherein, according to this exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 102 is coupled to the further appliance 200. In this case, the illustrated luminous elements 208, 204 are, as in FIG. 18, also embodied as symbols which indicate the type of coupled device 200. According to this exemplary embodiment, device 104 is not coupled to household device 102 and / or to further device 200. An arrangement and a coupling of the devices 102, 104, 200 to one another are also variable here.FIG. 20 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 having three adjacent devices 102, 104, 200. The device system 100 shown here is similar to the device system described in FIG. 18, wherein in FIG. 20 the device system 100 additionally comprises the further device 200. For example, the device 104 according to this exemplary embodiment is designed as a cooking appliance.FIG. 21 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 having three adjacent devices 102, 104, 200 which are all coupled to one another, as is also the case, for example, in FIG. 16. Furthermore, the device system 100 is similar to the device system described in at least one of FIGS. 18 to 20 in so far that the luminous elements 108, 208, 120, 204 indicate all the devices 102, 104, 200 coupled to one another symbolically. According to this exemplary embodiment, the luminous element 120 of the appliance 104 indicates by a plurality of symbols that it is coupled both to the household appliance 102 and to the further appliance 200. These symbols are shown in reduced form. In this case, the symbols are arranged on a side facing the household appliance 102. The household appliance 102 indicates by means of its light element 108 that it is coupled to the appliance 104. On a side opposite the lighting element 108, the household appliance 102 indicates by means of its lighting element 208 that it is additionally coupled to the further appliance 200.According to this exemplary embodiment, the further appliance 200 is likewise coupled to both appliances 102, 104, which is indicated on its luminous element 204 by a plurality of symbols on a side facing the household appliance 102.FIG. 22 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 having two devices 102, 104. The device system 100 is similar to the device system described in FIG. 18, for example, wherein, according to this exemplary embodiment, the devices 102, 104 have a spatial distance from one another. Here too, the light elements 108, 120 allow conclusions to be drawn as to the type of the respective other coupled device 102, 104.FIG. 23 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 having three devices 102, 104, 200, which is similar to the device system described in FIG. 20, for example. According to this exemplary embodiment, household appliance 102 is likewise coupled to appliance 104, and here, too, luminous element 108 represents the type of appliance 104 symbolically. According to this exemplary embodiment, the device 104 is embodied merely as a mobile terminal, such as a smartphone or tablet.FIG. 24 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a device system 100 having three devices 102, 104, 200, which is similar to the device system described in FIG. 20, for example. According to this exemplary embodiment, household appliance 102 is likewise coupled to appliance 104, and here, too, luminous element 108 represents the type of appliance 104 symbolically. According to this embodiment, the device 104 is implemented as an AR / VR device, such as smart glasses.FIG. 25 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method 2500 for indicating a coupling between a household appliance and an appliance, as described, for example, in at least one of FIGS. 1 to 24. For example, the method 2500 is carried out by a control device, as described, for example, in FIG. 1 as part of the household appliance. For this purpose, the method 2500 comprises a step 2502 of detecting a coupling of the household appliance to at least one appliance and a step 2504 of providing a coupling signal for activating at least one luminous element of a display device of the household appliance in order to display the coupling using the at least one luminous element.

Claims

Household appliance (102), comprising the following features: a display device (106) having at least one lighting element (108); and a control device (110), which is designed to provide a coupling signal (112) for activating the at least one lighting element (108) in response to a coupling of the household appliance (102) to at least one appliance (104), in order to display the coupling using the at least one lighting element (108).Household appliance (102) according to claim 1, having an operating panel (114) with a primary display (116) for displaying appliance information, wherein the display device (106) is formed as a secondary display and the at least one lighting element (108) is arranged on the operating panel (114).Household appliance (102) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display device (106) is configured to display the coupling by flashing, lighting, by a lighting intensity, by a lighting colour of the lighting element (108) and / or by a symbol.Household appliance (102) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (110) is designed to determine coupling information of the coupling and to provide the coupling signal (112) for activating the at least one lighting element (108) in order to display the coupling information using the at least one lighting element (108).Household appliance (102) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lighting element (108) is arranged at an edge of the household appliance (102).Household appliance (102) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (110) is configured to activate the lighting element (108) on a side of the household appliance (102) which faces the coupled appliance (104).Household appliance (102) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (110) is configured to provide a further coupling signal (206) for activating at least one further lighting element (208) in response to a further coupling of the household appliance (102) to a further appliance (200) in order to indicate the further coupling using the further lighting element (208).Household appliance (102) according to claim 7, wherein the control device (110) is configured to provide the further coupling signal (206) for activating the further lighting element (208) arranged facing the further appliance (200).Household appliance (102) according to one of claims 7 to 8, wherein the control device (110) is configured to determine a spatial arrangement between the household appliance (102) and the appliance (104; 200) and to select the luminous element (108; 208) facing the appliance (104; 200) using the spatial arrangement.A device system (100) comprising: a household device (102) according to any one of the preceding claims; and at least one device (104) couplable to the household device (102).Device system (100) according to Claim 10, wherein the device (104) is formed as a further household device or as a mobile terminal.Device system (100) according to one of Claims 10 to 11, having at least one further device (200) which is designed as a further household device or as a mobile terminal.Method (2500) for indicating a coupling between a household appliance (102) according to one of claims 1 to 9 and an appliance (104), wherein the method (2500) comprises the following steps: detecting (2502) a coupling of the household appliance (102) with at least one appliance (104); and providing (2504) a coupling signal (112) for activating at least one lighting element (108) of a display device (106) of the household appliance (102) in order to indicate the coupling using the at least one lighting element (108).

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