HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE AND ITS LENS ASSEMBLY

Description

Area of ​​registration

[0001] The present application relates to a lens assembly of a household appliance, as well as to a household appliance that is equipped with a lens assembly. Technical background

[0002] Devices for preventing the adhesion of foreign bodies and cleaning the camera lens are known from JP 2012168457 A and CN 102081232 A. These devices can be attached to the camera.

[0003] Due to scientific and technological advancements, there is a trend toward greater technological sophistication in the field of household appliances. Many appliances are equipped with a lens for image capture or projection. For example, a range hood often has a camera that captures images of cooking taking place below it or detects user movements to generate corresponding control commands. However, a kitchen differs from other environments in that cooking produces fumes, inevitably containing grease in the air, especially around the range hood. The lens of the camera mounted on the range hood is often coated with this grease, negatively impacting the image quality.Furthermore, the lens, which is mounted on a household appliance, emits a lot of heat during operation, which must be effectively dissipated, thus posing an urgent problem that needs to be solved.

[0004] In WO 2018 / 163001 A1, a cooker hood with an image processing apparatus is described, comprising a camera, an airflow generating apparatus and an air duct.

[0005] US Patent 2015 / 257591 A1 describes a device with a sensor directed at a cooking surface positioned below the sensor. One or more functions are provided to direct an airflow over the sensor end to protect or shield it during the cooking process.

[0006] US Patent 2017 / 134652 A1 discloses a system and a method for imaging an object while the object is heated in an RF environment. Preferred embodiments of the present invention operate with an RF device comprising a power source and a housing with an opening. The housing has a viewing aperture that allows an imaging device to image the object while it is being heated. The viewing aperture also includes an RF suppressor and an air purge system for cooling various components and / or reducing condensation, at least on the lens portion of the imaging device.

[0007] The above description of the prior art does not imply that this prior art was already generally known to the average person skilled in the art before the filing date of the present application, unless sufficient evidence is provided to the contrary. Disclosure of the invention

[0008] Starting from at least one of the problems mentioned above, it is an objective of the embodiments of the present application to propose an improved household appliance and an associated lens assembly.

[0009] The invention relates to a lens assembly of a household appliance with the features of claim 1. An embodiment of the present application relates to a lens assembly of a household appliance comprising a lens, an airflow generating device, an air duct, and a protective cover. The protective cover comprises an inner wall and an outer wall, with an airflow duct formed between the inner wall and the outer wall. An air outlet opening into the airflow duct is provided in the inner wall. The inner wall is annular and at least partially encloses the lens. An airflow generated by the airflow generating device enters the airflow duct after exiting the outlet of the air duct and then flows out through the air outlet opening of the inner wall. In this way, the adhesion of grease to the lens can be reduced and heat dissipation can be supported.

[0010] In one possible embodiment, the air outlet hole in the inner wall is arranged such that the airflow from the outlet hole creates an air curtain in front of the lens. This helps to reduce the adhesion of grease to the lens.

[0011] In one possible embodiment, the inner wall has the shape of a horn mouth. This allows the airflow from the air outlet hole in the inner wall to create an air curtain in front of the lens.

[0012] In one possible embodiment, the inner wall has the shape of a truncated cone. This allows the airflow from the air outlet hole in the inner wall to create an air curtain in front of the lens.

[0013] In one possible embodiment, several air outlet holes are provided, arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction of the inner wall. This allows the airflow from the air outlet hole in the inner wall to create an air curtain in front of the lens.

[0014] In one possible embodiment, the lens assembly further comprises a filter screen arranged in the air duct. The inclusion of the filter screen increases the cleanliness of the airflow exiting the air outlet hole in the inner wall, thus helping to reduce the adhesion of grease to the lens.

[0015] In one possible embodiment, the airflow generating device comprises a blower located in the air duct and positioned between the filter screen and the outlet of the air duct.

[0016] In one possible embodiment, the lens is an image-taking lens and / or a projection lens.

[0017] According to the invention, the protective hood further comprises a mounting section designed for attaching the lens, wherein the inner wall of the protective hood is connected at one end to the outer wall of the protective hood and at the other end to the mounting section, while the outer wall of the protective hood is connected at one end to the inner wall of the protective hood and forms an air inlet opening at the other end, to which the outlet of the air duct is connected. This ensures that an airflow generated by the airflow-generating device, after exiting the outlet of the air duct, first enters the air inlet opening and then the airflow duct, before subsequently exiting through the air outlet hole in the inner wall.

[0018] Another embodiment of the present application relates to a household appliance with a lens assembly according to one of the preceding embodiments.

[0019] In one possible embodiment, the household appliance is a cooker hood equipped with a cooker hood, wherein the protective hood and the lens are arranged on a bottom wall of the cooker hood, while the inlet of the air duct is located on a top wall of the cooker hood.

[0020] The above embodiments of the present application do not serve to describe all possible embodiments of the present application. Throughout the application, several examples are listed as guidelines, which can be used for various possible combinations. Presentation of the illustrations

[0021] The following drawings do not constitute a limitation of the scope of the present application, but merely serve to schematically illustrate and explain the present application. They show: FIG 1 schematic representation of the functioning of a lens assembly of an embodiment of a cooker hood according to the present application, FIG 2 schematic representation of the structure of a protective cover of a lens assembly of an embodiment of a cooker hood according to the present application, FIG 3 a sectional view of the protective hood according to FIG 2 and FIG 4 The schematic representation shows the structure of an exemplary embodiment of a cooker hood according to the present application. Reference symbol list

[0022] 1 Filter screen 2 Blower 3 Air duct outlet 4 Protective hood 5 Lens 6 Inner wall of the protective hood 7 Outer wall of the protective hood 8 Air outlet hole 9 Housing 10 Fume collection hood 11 Top wall of the fume collection hood 12 Bottom wall of the fume collection hood 13 Airflow duct 14 Mounting groove 15 Air inlet opening Specific embodiments

[0023] To better understand the task, the embodiments and the advantageous effects of the present application, it will be described in more detail below with reference to preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0024] The present application proposes an embodiment of a cooker hood which, as in FIG 4The system comprises a housing 9, a fume hood 10, and a lens assembly. The lens assembly is fixed to the fume hood 10. Specifically, the lens assembly is embedded within the fume hood 10. This is an upward-extracting fume hood, in which the fume hood 10 is suspended below the housing 9, giving the entire fume hood an inverted T-shape. FIG 4 has.

[0025] The lens assembly comprises a camera, a filter screen 1, an airflow generating device, an air duct, and a protective cover 4. The camera includes a lens 5. The filter screen 1 is arranged in the air duct. Specifically, the filter screen 1 is located at the inlet of the air duct. The airflow generating device comprises a fan 2, which is designed as a centrifugal fan and is arranged in the air duct. The fan 2 is located between the filter screen 1 and the outlet 3 of the air duct.

[0026] The protective hood 4 comprises an inner wall 6, an outer wall 7, and a fastening section, with an airflow channel 13 formed between the inner wall 6 and the outer wall 7. As shown in FIG 2As shown, several air outlet holes 8 opening into the airflow channel 13 are provided on the inner wall 6. The inner wall 6 is annular, shaped like a horn mouth, and surrounds the objective lens 5. Specifically, the inner wall 6 is shaped like a truncated cone, i.e., it has the form of a truncated cone shell. It should be noted that FIG 3 A sectional view of the protective hood 4 shows that the protective hood 4 is cut into two symmetrical parts by a corresponding cutting plane. FIG 3 The air outlet holes 8 are not shown. FIG 3It becomes apparent that the inner wall 6 of the protective cover 4 is connected at one end to the outer wall 7 of the protective cover 4 and at the other end to the mounting section. The mounting section is designed for attaching the lens 5. Specifically, the mounting section is provided with a receiving groove 14, one surface of which serves to attach the lens 5 (in the present embodiment, the entire camera, including the lens 5, is attached to this surface of the receiving groove 14), while the other, opposite surface of the receiving groove 14 is used to introduce an airflow into the airflow channel 13; see [reference to relevant section]. FIG 3 .

[0027] The outer wall 7 of the protective hood 4 is cylindrical in shape, wherein the outer wall 7 of the protective hood 4, as in FIG 3 shown, connected at one end to the inner wall 6 of the protective hood 4 and forming an air inlet opening 15 at the other end. How FIG 2 As can be seen, the outer wall 7 of the protective hood 4 encloses both the mounting section and the inner wall 6 of the protective hood 4. The outlet 3 of the air duct connects to the air inlet opening 15 of the outer wall 7 of the protective hood 4 in such a way that an airflow exiting the outlet 3 of the air duct flows back into the air inlet opening 15, and then can only escape through the air outlet holes 8 of the inner wall 6. The air outlet holes 8 of the inner wall 6 are arranged such that the airflow exiting the air outlet holes 8 of the inner wall 6 creates an air curtain in front of the lens 5.

[0028] In this embodiment of the extractor hood, the airflow generation device of the lens assembly generates an airflow during operation, which, after flowing out of the outlet 3 of the air duct, enters the airflow channel 13 via the air inlet opening 15 and subsequently flows out through the air outlet holes 8 of the inner wall 6, the direction of the airflow being essentially determined by the arrows in FIG 1 It is shown. It should be noted that FIG 1 merely shows a schematic representation of the functionality, in which the protective hood 4 is shown in a cutaway view.

[0029] Several air outlet holes 8 are provided, arranged one behind the other in the circumferential direction of the inner wall 6, i.e., all air outlet holes 8 are arranged in total around the lens 5. FIG 2It can be seen that all air outlet holes 8 are arranged from top to bottom in five circumferential rings in order to create an evenly distributed air curtain. Each individual air outlet hole 8 is designed as a round hole.

[0030] Furthermore, the protective cover 4 is arranged on a bottom wall 12 of the extractor hood 10, and the air duct inlet is located on a top wall 11 of the extractor hood 10. The lens 5 is located on the bottom wall 12 of the extractor hood 10 and is oriented downwards to capture images of a cooking process taking place on a cooking appliance located below the extractor hood, thus creating a cooking video. The lens 5 is also suitable for capturing an image of the fumes produced during the operation of the cooking appliance located below the extractor hood in order to determine the fume concentration. During operation of the airflow generation device of the lens assembly according to this embodiment of the extractor hood, the airflow moves essentially downwards, as is indicated essentially by the arrows in FIG 1 is shown.

[0031] The above description represents only one embodiment of the present application, and further embodiments can be derived from some features by additions, omissions, modifications, or substitutions. For example, the air outlet holes need not necessarily be circular, but can also be triangular, oval, five-pointed star-shaped, or square. Moreover, the individual air outlet holes can be arranged differently than in the present embodiment, provided that this achieves the objective of the present design. For instance, the individual air outlet holes can be arranged in any desired, evenly distributed manner on the inner wall. It is also conceivable to replace the camera of the lens assembly with a projection device, in which case the lens would have a corresponding projection function.Furthermore, the camera of the lens assembly can also be replaced by an image acquisition and projection device, whereby the lens accordingly has both an image acquisition function and a projection function. An axial fan can also be used as the blower. In addition, the mounting section can also be designed differently than in the present embodiment, provided this is suitable for mounting the lens. Furthermore, the design of the lens assembly disclosed in the preceding embodiment is not limited to use in upward-extracting cooker hoods, but can also be used in other types of cooker hoods, such as side-extracting cooker hoods or cooker hoods with both side and upward extraction.Furthermore, the design of the lens assembly disclosed in the preceding embodiment can be used not only in extractor hoods but also in other household appliances, such as ovens, steam cookers, combination cooking appliances or refrigerators.

Claims

1. Lens assembly of a household appliance, comprising a lens (5), an air flow generation apparatus, an air duct and a protective hood (4), wherein the protective hood (4) comprises an inner wall (6) and an outer wall (7), wherein an air flow duct (13) is embodied between the inner wall (6) and the outer wall (7) and an air outlet hole (8) which opens into the air flow duct (13) is provided on the inner wall (6), wherein the inner wall (6) is embodied to be ringshaped and encloses the lens (5) at least in part, wherein an air flow generated by the air flow generation apparatus enters the air flow duct (13) after flowing out of the outlet (3) of the air duct and then flows out through the air outlet hole (8) of the inner wall (6), wherein the protective hood (4) also comprises a fastening section, which is designed to fasten the lens (5), wherein the inner wall (6) of the protective hood (4) is connected to the outer wall of the protective hood (4) at one end and to the fastening section at the other end, while the outer wall (7) of the protective hood (4) is connected to the inner wall (6) of the protective hood (4) at one end and forms an air inlet opening (15) with the other end, to which air inlet opening (15) the outlet (3) of the air duct connects.

2. Lens assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the air outlet hole (8) of the inner wall (6) is arranged such that the air flow flowing out of the air outlet hole (8) of the inner wall (6) generates an air curtain in front of the lens (5).

3. Lens assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the inner wall (6) has the shape of a horn mouth.

4. Lens assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the inner wall (6) has the shape of a truncated cone casing.

5. Lens assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a number of air outlet holes (8) are provided, which are arranged one behind the other in the peripheral direction of the inner wall (6).

6. Lens assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it further comprises a filter sieve (1) which is arranged in the air duct.

7. Lens assembly according to claim 6, characterised in that the air flow generation apparatus comprises a fan (2), which is located in the air duct and arranged between the filter sieve (1) and the outlet (3) of the air duct.

8. Lens assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lens is an image acquisition lens and / or a projection lens.

9. Household appliance, characterised in that it is provided with a lens assembly according to one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Household appliance according to claim 9, characterised in that the household appliance is an extractor hood, which is provided with a vapour collection hood (10), wherein the protective hood (4) and the lens (5) are arranged on a base wall (12) of the vapour collection hood (10), whereas the inlet of the air duct is located on an upper wall (11) of the vapour collection hood (10).