Method and control unit for operating a household appliance and household appliance

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a household appliance (100), wherein the household appliance (100) has a sensor device (105). The method comprises a step of reading a basket signal. The basket signal represents a basket (115) carried by a user (110) approaching the household appliance (100) within the detection range (120) of the sensor device (105). The method further comprises a step of controlling the household appliance (100) using the basket signal.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method and a control unit for operating a household appliance and to a household appliance.

[0002] Laundry care appliances are equipped with assistance functions for greater ease of use.

[0003] The approach presented here aims to create an improved method and an improved control unit for operating a household appliance, and an improved household appliance.

[0004] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a method and a control unit for operating a household appliance and a household appliance with the features of the main claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0005] The advantages achievable with the invention consist in particular of creating a method that reliably detects a basket, for example a laundry basket, and advantageously controls the operation of a household appliance accordingly.

[0006] A method is provided for operating a household appliance, wherein the household appliance has a sensor device. The method comprises a step of reading a basket signal. The basket signal represents a basket carried by a user approaching the household appliance within the detection range of the sensor device. The method also comprises a step of controlling the household appliance using the basket signal.

[0007] The household appliance in question could be a laundry care device, which can be equipped with assistance functions for greater ease of use. This can be achieved using a sensor device that can recognize the user's intention and the context of the situation. The sensor can also identify the user attempting to operate the laundry care device. The sensor device can be manufactured inexpensively and consume little energy. It can operate in standby mode and also meet the user's privacy requirements.

[0008] The approach presented here allows for context differentiation, enabling the sensor device to trigger only when a specific user, with or without a laundry basket, enters the detection area and triggers the distance thresholds. Furthermore, the sensor device can be positioned on the appliance at a height that allows for efficient and reliable user detection.

[0009] During the initial setup phase, the basket's carrying height can be determined. After a certain learning period, the user's carrying height can be inferred from this data.

[0010] During the reading phase, the carried basket can be detected by a change in the distance between the sensor device and the user. The sensor device can comprise a sensor with multiple zones. The approach presented here can therefore also be understood as laundry basket detection with a multi-zone ToF sensor.

[0011] The procedure may include a step of identifying the user using the basket signal. In particular, the user may be identified by determining the basket's carrying height.

[0012] During the control phase, the appliance can be controlled using a user profile that depends on the basket signal. This can increase user satisfaction.

[0013] The process can include a step of linking the basket signal with the identified user to create a user profile. This user profile can represent a typical operating mode of the household appliance for that user. This can increase user satisfaction, as, for example, a cleaning program can be displayed directly to the user after they have been identified by the sensor device.

[0014] The reading process can be triggered by a proximity signal, which can represent the user approaching the sensor device. This saves energy.

[0015] The approach presented here further creates a control unit designed to execute, control, and implement the steps of a variant of the method presented here in appropriate devices. This embodiment of the invention, in the form of a device, also allows the underlying problem to be solved quickly and efficiently.

[0016] The control unit can be configured to read input signals and use these input signals to determine and provide output signals. An input signal can, for example, be a sensor signal readable via an input interface of the control unit. An output signal can be a control signal or a data signal that can be provided at an output interface of the control unit. The control unit can be configured to determine the output signals using a processing instruction implemented in hardware or software. For example, the control unit can include a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, or a software module and may be implemented as a discrete component or comprised of a discrete component.

[0017] A household appliance comprises an embodiment of a control unit and a sensor device mentioned herein.

[0018] The sensor device can include at least one time-of-flight sensor.

[0019] A computer program product or computer program with program code that can be stored on a machine-readable medium such as semiconductor memory, hard disk memory, or optical memory is also advantageous. If the program product or program is executed on a computer or control unit, it can be used to carry out, implement, and / or control the steps of the method according to one of the embodiments described herein.

[0020] Although the described approach is based on a household appliance, the approach described here can be used accordingly in connection with a commercial or professional device, for example a medical device, such as a cleaning or disinfection device, a small sterilizer, a large-capacity disinfector or a container washing system.

[0021] An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows Fig. 1 a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a household appliance; Fig. 2 a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a household appliance; Fig. 3 a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a household appliance; Fig. 4 a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a household appliance; Fig. 5 a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a household appliance; and Fig. 6 A block diagram of a control unit for operating a household appliance.

[0022] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a household appliance 100.

[0023] The household appliance 100, for example, is designed as a laundry care appliance and has a sensor device 105. The sensor device 105 includes, by way of example, a time-of-flight sensor and is designed to detect the environment of the household appliance 100.

[0024] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a user 110 carrying a basket 115 and approaching the household appliance 100 with the basket 115. As soon as the user 110 and the basket 115 are within the detection range 120 of the sensor device 105, the basket 115 and the user 110 are at least partially detected by the sensor device 105.

[0025] In other words, the approach presented here implements the detection of basket 115, which can also be called a laundry basket, and user 110 using the simplest possible means. For this purpose, sensor device 105 is used with a time-of-flight sensor, which can also be called a motion-react sensor. The sensor is already capable of recognizing a contextual situation such that a user 110, with or without basket 115, is approaching the household appliance 100, which can also be called a laundry appliance, and after a certain learning period, can also roughly identify which user 110 from the household is involved.

[0026] The Time-of-Flight sensor, which can also be called a multi-zone ToF sensor, includes, for example, 64 zones; see Fig. The system, with its 64 zones, can detect, based on distance and intensity measurements, whether a user (110) is approaching with a large object, such as a basket (115), or without one. Baskets (115) are typically cuboids with a rectangular, planar front that approaches the Time-of-Flight sensor. As the object approaches, a portion of the sensor area is obscured. Depending on the height at which the user (110) is carrying the basket (115), the sensor will cover either a portion at the bottom, the entire sensor area, or a portion at the top, depending on the distance. Horizontally, an approaching basket (115) occupies the entire width of the sensor. Within the portion of the Time-of-Flight sensor not obscured by the basket (115), the user's legs (below) or torso (above) can be detected at a characteristic distance. This is analogous to the detection of baking trays for automatic door opening in a hot appliance.

[0027] Furthermore, based on a characteristic carrying height of basket 115, the user 110 is identified after a certain learning period. For example, in a household, several people use the household appliance 100, each with different favorites or UI settings. The household appliance 100 uses its time-of-flight sensor to determine the characteristic carrying height upon approach and recognizes which settings are subsequently changed on the appliance 100. If similar settings are consistently used, these are compiled into a profile and linked to the carrying height.

[0028] After a certain period, different profiles are learned if different settings are found when various carrying heights are detected, but these settings recur for the same carrying height. The resolution of the sensor device 105 is also increased if necessary to make the detection even more robust.

[0029] A relatively inexpensive presence sensor, such as the 64-zone Time-of-Flight Sensor L8, enables relatively good user and context recognition, which increases ease of use and enables assistance and personalization. The sensor is inexpensive compared to a camera system, consumes less energy, can also be operated in standby mode, and protects the user's privacy. Due to the sensor's low installation height in a floor-standing unit and the resulting small field of view, the user is identified based on the height of the basket rather than the person's height, let alone facial recognition. This maintains the advantage of a Time-of-Flight sensor over an aperture camera, which, due to its low installation height, rarely recognizes the user's face and, lacking depth information, cannot reliably determine the basket's height.

[0030] Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a household appliance 100. The household appliance 100 resembles or corresponds to the household appliance from [reference missing]. Fig. 1, except that a top view is shown.

[0031] For illustrative purposes only, basket 115 is completely within the detection range 120 of sensor device 105. The detection range 120 of sensor device 105 is shown adjacent to the household appliance 100, where sensor device 105 comprises, for example, 64 zones 200.

[0032] Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a household appliance 100. The household appliance 100 resembles or corresponds to the household appliance from [reference missing]. Fig. 1, except that the user 110 is detected by the sensor device 105 without a basket.

[0033] Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a household appliance 100. The household appliance 100 resembles or corresponds to the household appliance from [reference missing]. Fig. 2, except that the user 110 is detected by the sensor device 105 without a basket.

[0034] Fig. Figure 5 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 500 for operating a household appliance. The household appliance is, for example, the household appliance from one of the figures described above.

[0035] Method 500 comprises a step 505 of reading a basket signal. The basket signal represents a basket carried by a user approaching the household appliance within the detection range of the sensor device. According to one embodiment, step 505 of the reading process is executed depending on a proximity signal that represents the user approaching the sensor device. For example, in step 505 of the reading process, the carrying height of the basket is determined. According to one embodiment, in step 505 of the reading process, the carried basket is detected by a change in the distance between the sensor device and the user.

[0036] Additionally, method 500 includes a step 510 for controlling the household appliance using the basket signal. According to one embodiment, in step 510 the household appliance is controlled using a user profile that depends on the basket signal.

[0037] Optionally, the procedure 500 includes a step 515 of identifying the user using the basket signal, in particular using a determined carrying height of the basket by the user.

[0038] Optionally, procedure 500 also includes step 520 of linking the basket signal with the identified user to create a user profile. The user profile represents a typical operating mode of the household appliance for the user.

[0039] Fig. Figure 6 shows a block diagram of a control unit 600 for operating a household appliance. The control unit 600 is designed to execute the process from Fig. 5 or a similar procedure to target and / or execute.

[0040] The control unit 600 includes a unit 605 for reading a basket signal 608 and a unit 610 for controlling the household appliance using the basket signal 608. Optionally, the control unit 600 includes a unit 615 for identification and a unit 620 for linking.

[0041] The basket signal 608 represents a basket being carried by a user approaching the household appliance within the detection range of the sensor device. According to one embodiment, the unit 605 is configured to read the basket signal 608 using a proximity signal 612. The proximity signal 612 represents the user approaching the sensor device. For example, the unit 605 determines the carrying height of the basket. According to another embodiment, the carried basket is detected by a change in the distance between the sensor device and the user.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the unit 610 is designed for control in order to control the household appliance using a user profile dependent on the basket signal 608.

[0043] The identification unit 615 is designed to identify the user using the basket signal 608, in particular using a determined carrying height of the basket by the user.

[0044] Unit 620 is designed to link the basket signal 608 with the identified user in order to create a user profile. The user profile represents a typical operating mode of the household appliance for that user.

Claims

[1] Method (500) for operating a household appliance (100) wherein the household appliance (100) has a sensor device (105) wherein the method (500) comprises the following steps: Reading (505) a basket signal (608) representing a basket (115) carried by a user (110) approaching the household appliance (100) within the detection range (120) of the sensor device (105); and Controlling (510) the household appliance (100) using the basket signal (608). [2] Method (500) according to claim 1, wherein in step (505) of reading a carrying height of the basket (115) is determined. [3] Method (500) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in step (505) of reading the carried basket (115) is detected by a jump in distance from the sensor device (105) to the user (110). [4] Method (500) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a step (515) of identifying the user (110) using the basket signal (608), in particular using a determined carrying height of the basket (115) by the user (110). [5] Method (500) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in step (510) of controlling the household appliance (100) is controlled using a user profile dependent on the basket signal (608). [6] Method (500) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a step (520) of linking the basket signal (608) with the identified user (110) to create a user profile that represents a typical operating mode of the household appliance (100) for the user (110). [7] Method (500) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the reading step (505) is performed depending on a proximity signal (612) representing the user (110) approaching the sensor device (105). [8] Control unit (600) configured to perform and / or control the steps (505, 510, 515, 520) of the method (500) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 7 in corresponding units (605, 610, 615, 620). [9] Household appliance (100) comprising a control unit (600) according to claim 8 and a sensor device (105). [10] Household appliance (100) according to claim 9, wherein the sensor device (105) comprises at least one time-of-flight sensor. [11] Computer program product with program code for carrying out the method (500) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, when the computer program product is executed on a control unit (600) according to claim 8.

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