household appliance

Abstract

Household appliance (1) comprising at least one first subassembly (2) and at least one optical device (3) with at least one radiation source device (4) which emits a first electromagnetic radiation (5), characterized in that at least one optical intermediate emitter (6) is arranged on or in the at least one first subassembly (2), wherein the first electromagnetic radiation (5) strikes the at least one optical intermediate emitter (6), whereby the at least one optical intermediate emitter (6) emits a second electromagnetic radiation (7).

Description

The invention relates to a household appliance comprising at least one first subassembly and at least one optical device having at least one radiation source device which emits a first electromagnetic radiation.Typical household appliances are, for example, washing machines, tumble dryers or the like. Such first subassemblies can be, for example, closure devices in the form of doors or flaps, containers for holding liquids or the like. Such first subassemblies are usually movable, replaceable or change position relative to the second subassembly relative to a second subassembly, for example the housing of the domestic appliance, over time.Often, such first subassemblies are not electrified or electrification of the first subassemblies introduces other disadvantages. For example, coils would have to be provided for inductive energy transmission. However, there is a need to detect certain parameters associated with the first sub-assembly or to integrate illumination or display into the first sub-assembly.It is an object of the present invention to provide a household appliance which solves the aforementioned problems.This object is achieved by the subject matter of the present patent claim 1.According to the invention, a household appliance is provided comprising at least one first sub-assembly and at least one optical device having at least one radiation source device which emits a first electromagnetic radiation, wherein at least one optical intermediate emitter is arranged on or in the at least one first sub-assembly, wherein the first electromagnetic radiation impinges on the at least one optical intermediate emitter, as a result of which the at least one optical intermediate emitter emits a second electromagnetic radiation.The intermediate emitter is advantageously optically pumped by the first electromagnetic radiation. The at least one radiation source device is separated from the at least one optical intermediate emitter. Preferably, the at least one radiation source device and the at least one optical intermediate emitter are not installed together in a single closed optical component.According to a preferred embodiment, the household appliance comprises at least one second subassembly. Preferably, the at least one first subassembly is arranged on or in the at least one second subassembly. Preferably, the at least one first subassembly is arranged movably on or in the at least one second subassembly. It would also be conceivable for the at least one first subassembly to be arranged removably in the at least one second subassembly. Alternatively or cumulatively, the at least one first subassembly changes its position relative to the at least one second subassembly over time. The at least one second subassembly can be, for example, the housing of the domestic appliance or a housing of a metering device in the domestic appliance. The at least one first subassembly is preferably a closure device, for example a door or a flap. The first subassembly could preferably also be a container, for example for holding liquids, bulk material or the like. This could be, for example, a container for holding detergents, washing additives or the like.An optical connection can advantageously be established between the first subassembly and the second subassembly. An optical link generally comprises at least one transmitter and one receiver. For a reliable optical connection, an accurate alignment of the transmitter and the receiver is necessary. Such accurate alignment is often difficult to implement because the first subassemblies have large tolerances with respect to their movement. Such tolerances are often wanted for user-friendliness reasons. Minimizing mechanical tolerances can mean, for example, an undesired greater exertion of force by the user during the movement of the subassembly. Such problems are solved by using the intermediate emitter.The at least one optical intermediate emitter is preferably activated by first electromagnetic radiation and thereby emits the second electromagnetic radiation.According to a further preferred embodiment, the first electromagnetic radiation has a wave length range which corresponds to a Gaussian or Lorentz distribution around a peak wavelength. Preferably, the second electromagnetic radiation has a wave length range which corresponds to a Gaussian or Lorentz distribution around a peak wavelength. It is also conceivable for the second electromagnetic radiation to have a non-Gaussian wavelength dependence. Such advantageous radiation could be an emission due to a transition between two energy levels in a material of the intermediate emitter.According to a further preferred embodiment, the first electromagnetic radiation comprises a wavelength range in the invisible range. For example, the first electromagnetic radiation can be UV radiation (100 nm-400 nm). Advantageously, the second electromagnetic radiation can comprise a wavelength range in the invisible range. Preferably, the wavelength of the second electromagnetic radiation is higher than the wavelength of the second electromagnetic radiation.According to a further preferred embodiment, the at least one intermediate emitter comprises spatially distinguishable materials. Alternatively, the at least one intermediate emitter comprises spatially indistinguishable materials.According to a further preferred embodiment, the at least one intermediate emitter is designed to emit a plurality of second radiations which can be distinguished in time.According to a further preferred embodiment, the second electromagnetic radiation is luminescence. Energy is thus supplied to the intermediate emitter by the first electromagnetic radiation. This supply of energy results in excitation. During the transition, for example, into the ground state, photons, or the second electromagnetic radiation, are emitted. Luminescence includes phosphorescence and fluorescence. Fluorescence is an immediate consequence of the excitation, since the ground state is reached again almost instantaneously after the excitation by emission of photons. During phosphorescence, the system remains in the excited state for some time, as a result of which a time-shifted emission of photons takes place. This is also called backlighting.Preferably, the at least one intermediate emitter comprises at least one phosphorescent material. The phosphorescent material may be a phosphorescent layer. The use of phosphorescent polymers would also be conceivable. Advantageously, the at least one intermediate emitter comprises a phosphorescent film element. It would also be conceivable for the at least one intermediate emitter to be designed as a white light LED (light emitting diode) comprising a phosphorating layer. The connections of this white light LED are advantageously short-circuited, so that only an emission of the second electromagnetic radiation takes place on account of the incoming first electromagnetic radiation.The first electromagnetic radiation is preferably designed and provided for exciting a luminescence in the at least one intermediate emitter. Accordingly, the wavelength of the first electromagnetic radiation lies in a range which enables excitation of the luminescence in the at least one intermediate emitter. It would be conceivable, for example, for the wavelength of the first electromagnetic radiation to be in a range between 400 nm and 490 nm. Thus, the at least one radiation source device could advantageously comprise at least one blue light LED. However, other radiation sources would also be conceivable, wherein the selection of the first electromagnetic radiation is dependent on the selection of the intermediate emitter, or vice versa.It would also be conceivable for the second electromagnetic radiation to be generated by a radiative transition of a semiconductor. The first electromagnetic radiation is preferably designed and provided for exciting a corresponding excitation of the semiconductor in the at least one intermediate emitter.Advantageously, the first electromagnetic radiation propagates along a first beam path. The first beam path is preferably designed in such a way that even if the position of the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly changes, the first electromagnetic radiation can still strike the optical intermediate emitter. For this purpose, a correspondingly large opening angle can be provided. It would be conceivable for at least one optical component to be positioned in the first beam path. Such optical components can be mirrors, lenses, gratings, light guides and / or the like, for example.Since the at least one optical intermediate emitter is arranged on or in the first subassembly, a change in the position of the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly, for example caused by mechanical tolerances, is harmless with regard to an optical connection between the at least one radiation source device and a further device.According to a further preferred embodiment, the at least one intermediate emitter comprises a combination of a plurality of phosphorescent and / or fluorescent materials. By means of such a configuration, a plurality of second radiations which can be distinguished in time can be emitted by the at least one intermediate emitter.According to a further preferred embodiment, the domestic appliance comprises a plurality of first radiation source devices. Preferably, the first radiation source means emit first electromagnetic radiations in substantially different wavelength ranges. Here, substantially different wavelength ranges are understood to mean that the first electromagnetic radiations have different peak wavelengths. In this case, there may certainly be intersections of the wavelengths in the advantageous Gaussian or Lorentz distribution in addition to the peak wavelengths. By means of the essentially different peak wavelengths, for example, different phosphorescent and / or fluorescent materials or layers can be excited in the at least one intermediate emitter. Consequently, a plurality of second electromagnetic radiations can be emitted, which differ with regard to the emission spectrum and / or with regard to the emission time. It would also be conceivable for the different radiation source devices to be arranged on different second subassemblies.According to a further preferred embodiment, the at least one intermediate emitter serves as an illumination device on or in the at least one first subassembly. The second electromagnetic radiation thus preferably serves as illumination and thus has a wavelength range in the visible spectrum. Alternatively or cumulatively, the at least one intermediate emitter can serve as a display device on or in the at least one first subassembly. The second electromagnetic radiation thus preferably serves as a display and thus has a wavelength range in the visible spectrum. Advantageously, the at least one intermediate emitter can be activated only by the first electromagnetic radiation. Advantageously, this is also to be understood as meaning that no electrical energy supply is provided for the at least one intermediate emitter. The necessary energy supply is effected solely by the first electromagnetic radiation. Electrification of the at least one first subassembly would therefore not be necessary.According to a further preferred embodiment, the household appliance comprises at least one detector device. The at least one detector device preferably comprises at least one photodiode and / or at least one phototransitor and / or at least one similar device. Preferably, the at least one detector device is arranged on or in the first subassembly. Alternatively or cumulatively, the at least one detector device could be arranged on or in the second subassembly.Advantageously, an indirect optical connection between the at least one radiation source device and the at least one detector device can thus be established via the at least one intermediate emitter. This optical connection can advantageously be used for optical data transmission within the domestic appliance. However, it is also conceivable for the optical connection to be used in sensor arrangements. Such a sensor arrangement can be, for example, a sensor arrangement for determining a fill level in a container or a proximity sensor.By means of the at least one intermediate emitter, a change in the position of the first subassembly relative to the second subassembly, on account of mechanical tolerances, is harmless. The first electromagnetic radiation impinges on the intermediate emitter and thereby activates the latter. The second electromagnetic radiation impinges either directly or indirectly on the at least one detector device. In this case, the at least one detector device can be arranged on or in the first subassembly or on or in the second subassembly.According to a further preferred embodiment, the second electromagnetic radiation propagates along at least one second beam path. Preferably, at least one optical component is arranged in the at least one second beam path. Such optical components can be mirrors, lenses, gratings, light guides and / or the like, for example.According to a further preferred embodiment, the second electromagnetic radiation propagates along a plurality of second beam paths. Preferably, the second electromagnetic radiation is spatially divided between the second beam paths, for example by different emission angles of the second electromagnetic radiation. Alternatively or cumulatively, the second electromagnetic radiation is divided between the second beam paths in time, for example by arranging different phosphorescent and / or fluorescent materials in the at least one intermediate emitter. Alternatively or cumulatively, the second electromagnetic radiation is divided between the second beam paths by at least one optical component. Such an optical component could be, for example, an optical filter.According to a further preferred embodiment, a plurality of intermediate emitters are provided. Advantageously, the intermediate emitters form an optical transmission chain. Preferably, a first intermediate emitter is activated by the first electromagnetic radiation. Advantageously, each further intermediate emitter is activated by the second electromagnetic radiation of the preceding intermediate emitter. A second intermediate emitter is thus preferably activated by the second electrometric radiation of the first intermediate emitter. An advantageous third intermediate emitter is activated by the second electrometric radiation of the second intermediate emitter. This can preferably be continued for corresponding further intermediate emitters. It would also be conceivable for the further intermediate emitters to be activated by a third or a further electrometric radiation.According to a further preferred embodiment, a plurality of intermediate emitters are provided. Preferably, the respective intermediate emitters are arranged laterally spaced apart from one another on the first subassembly. Preferably, the at least one radiation source device emits a first electromagnetic radiation having a correspondingly broad wavelength range in order to activate the intermediate emitters. A correspondingly broad wavelength range is understood here to mean that the first electromagnetic radiation comprises a combination of peak wavelengths. It would also be conceivable for a plurality of radiation source devices to be provided, which activates the plurality of intermediate emitters.According to a further preferred embodiment, the at least one radiation source device and / or the at least one intermediate emitter comprises a movable covering device for avoiding contamination of the at least one radiation source device and / or of the at least one intermediate emitter. Advantageously, the covering device can be actuated automatically, so that, if necessary, the at least one radiation source device and / or the at least one intermediate emitter can be released.Further advantages, objects and properties of the present invention will be explained with reference to the following description of the attached figures. Like components may have like reference numerals in the various embodiments.The figures show: FIG. 1 shows an optical device according to one embodiment; FIG. 2 shows an optical device according to one embodiment; FIG. 3 shows an optical device according to an embodiment; FIG. 4 shows an optical device according to an embodiment; FIG. 5 shows a sensor device for measuring a fill level from the prior art; FIG. 6 shows a sensor device for measuring a fill level from the prior art; FIG. 7 shows an optical device according to an embodiment; FIG. 8 shows an excitation and emission spectrum; FIG. 9 shows a household appliance according to an embodiment; FIG. 10 shows a household appliance according to one embodiment.FIGS. 9 and 10 show a domestic appliance 1, comprising at least one first sub-assembly 2 and at least one optical device 3 with at least one radiation source device 4 which emits a first electromagnetic radiation 5, wherein at least one optical intermediate emitter 6 is arranged on or in the at least one first sub-assembly 2, wherein the first electromagnetic radiation 5 impinges on the at least one optical intermediate emitter 6, whereby the at least one optical intermediate emitter 6 emits a second electromagnetic radiation 7.The household appliance 1 further comprises at least one second sub-assembly 8, wherein the first sub-assembly 2 is arranged on or in the second sub-assembly 8. The first sub-assembly 2 can be, for example, a container for the exception of liquids or bulk material, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6. According to the embodiment in Figures 8 and 9, the first sub-assembly 2 is a door. As a rule, it is preferred that the first sub-assembly 2 is not electrified. The second subassembly 8 can be a housing of the domestic appliance 1 or of a dosing device of the domestic appliance 1.The second electromagnetic radiation 7 can be luminescence. The second electromagnetic radiation 7 propagates along at least one second beam path. The first electromagnetic radiation 5 propagates along a first beam path and is designed and provided for exciting a luminescence in the at least one intermediate emitter 6. A corresponding example is shown in FIG. 8. The emission of the first electromagnetic radiation 5 is in this exemplary case from the LED having a peak wavelength of 450 nm. The second electromagnetic radiation 7 of a phosphorescent material has a peak wavelength of about 560 nm. It would also be conceivable for the at least one intermediate emitter 6 to comprise a combination of a plurality of phosphorescent and / or fluorescent layers.According to an embodiment not shown, the household appliance 1 comprises a plurality of first radiation source devices 4. As a result, different luminescent layers can be excited in the at least one intermediate emitter 6 or different intermediate emitters.According to the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the at least one intermediate emitter 6 serves as an illumination device on or in the at least one first subassembly 2. The intermediate emitter is only optically activated in this case. The energy supply is also effected by the first electromagnetic radiation. Thus, a corresponding electrification can be dispensed with.The household appliance 1 can comprise at least one detector device 9 which detects the second electromagnetic radiation 7. This is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 7. According to the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the at least one detector device 9 is arranged on or in the second subassembly 8. The second electromagnetic radiation 7 thus impinges directly on the at least one detector device 9. For this purpose, at least one optical component 10 is arranged in the at least one second beam path. The optical component 10 can comprise an interface arrangement at which a corresponding refraction of the second electromagnetic radiation 7 takes place towards the at least one detector device.Of course, other or further optical components 10 can also be arranged in the one second beam path. At least one optical component 10 can also be arranged in the first beam path.According to a further embodiment, the emission of the optical intermediate emitter 6 is configured such that the second electromagnetic radiation 7 propagates along a plurality of second beam paths. In order to divide the second electromagnetic radiation 7 onto these beam paths, optical components can be provided. A temporal (phosphor-detected and fluorescent layers) or spatial (different emission angles) division would also be conceivable.According to the embodiment according to FIG. 4, a plurality of intermediate emitters 6 are provided. The intermediate emitters 6 form an optical transmission chain. A first intermediate emitter 6, 6 ais activated by the first electromagnetic radiation 5 (for example in the blue spectral range). The second intermediate emitter 6, 6 bis activated by the second electromagnetic radiation 7 (for example yellow spectral range) of the first intermediate emitter 6, 6 a. The third intermediate emitter 6, 6 cis activated by the second electromagnetic radiation 7 (for example NIR near infrared) of the second intermediate emitter 6, 6 b. Each further intermediate emitter 6 is activated by the second electromagnetic radiation 7 of the preceding intermediate emitter 6.FIGS. 5 to 7 show an application of the intermediate emitter 6. A first sub-assembly 2 is shown in the form of a container for a liquid, for example a washing agent. In order to determine the fill level in the container, an optical fill level measurement is carried out. For this purpose, two windows are arranged on the container at a predetermined angle to one another. Preferably, the arrangement is triangular. The windows each form an interface with the medium located in the container. When first electromagnetic radiation impinges on an interface between materials having different refractive indices, a portion of the radiation is reflected and a portion of the radiation enters the adjacent material. If the container is not filled, the medium is air. In the filled state, the liquid is the corresponding medium. The reflection at the boundary surfaces depends on which of the media is present at the boundary surface. As shown in FIG. 5, the electromagnetic radiation of the first radiation source device 4 is reflected twice in order finally to strike the at least one detection device 9. A fill level can be determined on the basis of the reflected electromagnetic radiation 5.If the liquid container is now tilted, for example due to tolerances or due to inaccurate insertion of the user in the case of a removable container, it may be possible that the reflected electromagnetic radiation 5 no longer impinges on the at least one detection element 9. This is illustrated in FIG. 6. An installation error α≈1° can be assumed. The error after the first reflection would then be 2*1°=2°. The error after the second reflection would be 2*2*1° = 4°. After n reflections, the error would be 2 n* α.By providing the intermediate emitter 6 on the first subassembly 2 or the container, it is ensured that the at least one detection device 9 detects radiation reflected at the two boundary surfaces and a fill level can thus be determined. The determination of the fill level can be effected independently of any tilting or tolerances of the container relative to the second subassembly 8, for example the housing of a metering device. This is illustrated in FIG. 7.FIGS. 9 and 10 show a household appliance 1 in the form of a washing machine. The washing machine is provided with a door which closes the opening to the washing tub and is movably disposed on the cabinet. As the service life of washing machines increases, the door falls relative to the housing, resulting in tolerances. In these FIGS. 8, 9, a corresponding optical device 3 is shown. The intermediate emitter 6 serves as an illumination device and / or display device. The at least one radiation source device 4, which emits a first electromagnetic radiation 5, is arranged on or in the second subassembly 8, in the form of the housing of the domestic appliance 1. The intermediate emitter 6 is arranged on or in the first subassembly 2 in the form of the door. As a result of this arrangement, electrification of the door is not necessary.According to FIG. 9, the intermediate emitter 6 is arranged in the region of the door handle. After the end of a washing program, the region of the door handle can be illuminated by the intermediate emitter 6. This on the one hand displays the end of the washing program and on the other hand facilitates the opening of the door to the user by the illumination.According to FIG. 10, the intermediate emitter 6 is likewise arranged in the door. At the end of the program, a corresponding region in the door is illuminated. An area is displayed in which the user must apply a pressing force to allow door opening.Position tolerances of a subassembly 2 (reference system 1) installed in a domestic appliance (reference system 2), which subassembly is optionally movable overall with respect to the environment (reference system 3), can be minimized. The reference system 1 has at least one degree of freedom with respect to reference system 2 (lateral and or angle). The reference system 2 has at least one degree of freedom with respect to reference system 3 (lateral and or angle).Furthermore, the optical device 3 can enable a functional test during the production of the first subassemblies 2. Suppliers who however do not produce the entire household appliance 1 the first sub-assemblies 2 can very easily perform a functional test of the optical device, since the first sub-assembly is substantially independent of the entire household appliance 1.The applicant reserves the right to claim all the features disclosed in the application documents as essential to the invention, provided they are novel, individually or in combination, compared with the prior art. It is also pointed out that features have also been described in the individual figures, which features may be advantageous per se. The skilled person directly recognizes that a specific feature described in a figure can also be advantageous without the adoption of further features from this figure.Furthermore, the skilled person recognizes that advantages can also result from a combination of a plurality of features shown in individual figures or in different figures.List of reference characters1 Household appliance 2 First sub-assembly 3 Optical device 4 Radiation source device 5 First electromagnetic radiation 6 Optical intermediate emitter 6 aFirst intermediate emitter 6 bSecond intermediate emitter 6 cThird intermediate emitter 7 Second electromagnetic radiation 8 Second sub-assembly 9 Detector device 10 Optical component

Claims

Domestic appliance (1) comprising at least one first sub-assembly (2) and at least one optical device (3) with at least one radiation source device (4) which emits a first electromagnetic radiation (5), characterised in that at least one optical intermediate emitter (6) is arranged on or in the at least one first sub-assembly (2), wherein the first electromagnetic radiation (5) impinges on the at least one optical intermediate emitter (6), as a result of which the at least one optical intermediate emitter (6) emits a second electromagnetic radiation (7).Household appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the household appliance (1) comprises at least one second sub-assembly (8), wherein the first sub-assembly (2) is arranged on or in the second sub-assembly (8).Domestic appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the second electromagnetic radiation (7) is luminescence, wherein the first electromagnetic radiation (5) propagates along a first beam path and is designed and provided for exciting a luminescence in the at least one intermediate emitter (6).Household appliance (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that the at least one intermediate emitter (6) comprises a combination of a plurality of phosphorescent and / or fluorescent materials.Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the household appliance (1) comprises a plurality of first radiation source devices (4), wherein the first radiation source devices (4) emit first electromagnetic radiations (5) in substantially different wavelength ranges.Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one intermediate emitter (6) serves as an illumination device on or in the at least one first sub-assembly (2) or as a display device on or in the at least one first sub-assembly (2), wherein the at least one intermediate emitter (6) can be activated only by the first electromagnetic radiation (5).Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the domestic appliance (1) comprises at least one detector device (9) which detects the second electromagnetic radiation (7), wherein the at least one detector device (9) is arranged on or in the first subassembly (2) or on or in the second subassembly (8).Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second electromagnetic radiation (7) propagates along at least one second beam path, wherein at least one optical component (10) is arranged in the at least one second beam path, wherein the second electromagnetic radiation (7) propagates along a plurality of second beam paths, wherein the second electromagnetic radiation (7) is spatially divided between the second beam paths and / or temporally divided and / or takes place by at least one optical component (10).Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a plurality of intermediate emitters (6) are provided, wherein the intermediate emitters (6) form an optical transmission chain, wherein a first intermediate emitter (6) is activated by the first electromagnetic radiation (5) and each further intermediate emitter (6) is activated by the second electromagnetic radiation (7) of the preceding intermediate emitter (6) or a further electromagnetic radiation.Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one radiation source device (4) and / or the at least one intermediate emitter (6) comprise a movable covering device for avoiding contamination of the at least one radiation source device (4) and / or the at least one intermediate emitter (6).

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