HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

Description

[0001] One aspect of the invention relates to a household appliance with an ambient light detection unit. The ambient light detection unit comprises a sensor housing and a brightness sensor that detects the brightness of the ambient light. The brightness sensor is arranged in the sensor housing.

[0002] US patent 6804974 B1 discloses an interior lighting system for a household refrigerator. This interior lighting can be adjusted to different brightness levels depending on the ambient light level of the refrigerator.

[0003] WO 2011 / 040026 A1 discloses a refrigeration appliance in which an illuminance detection device, such as a light sensor, is installed on a door surface to detect the ambient brightness.

[0004] WO 2019 / 194508 A1 comprises an electronic device with a housing that includes a sensing area, a light-emitting unit that emits light through the sensing area, a light-receiving unit that collects reflected light reflected from an external object in contact with the sensor surface after the light has been emitted by the light-emitting unit, and a first Fresnel lens arranged between the light-receiving unit and the scanning area.

[0005] From DE 10 2014 205727 A1 a household appliance according to the preamble of claim 1 is known.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to create a household appliance with an ambient light detection unit in which the accuracy of the determination of the ambient brightness is improved.

[0007] This problem is solved by a household appliance according to claim 1. Further embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[0008] One aspect of the invention relates to a household appliance with an ambient light detection unit. The ambient light detection unit has a sensor housing. It also has at least one brightness sensor that detects the brightness of the ambient light. This is the light in the surrounding area outside the sensor housing. The brightness sensor is arranged in the sensor housing. The ambient light detection unit has at least one optical imaging element, in particular a lens, with which the ambient light incident on the sensor housing is focused towards the brightness sensor. With such an embodiment of an ambient light detection unit, the ambient light can be directed more comprehensively and precisely onto the brightness sensor inside the sensor housing. This improves, and in particular increases, the accuracy of the determination of the ambient light brightness.By explicitly using a lens that focuses the light, and thus a.

[0009] By using a converging lens, which is particularly convex on at least one side, the ambient light can be focused onto the brightness sensor.

[0010] According to the invention, the household appliance has a housing. Furthermore, the household appliance has a front panel. This panel is attached to the housing, specifically to the front of the housing. In one embodiment, the ambient light detection unit is attached directly to the rear of the front panel. It can be attached to the rear of the front panel by a detachable mechanical connection. For example, such a detachable mechanical connection can be at least a snap-fit ​​connection. This achieves a particularly advantageous installation of the sensor housing. On the one hand, a mechanically stable mounting is enabled, and on the other hand, a concealed design is possible. Thus, the sensor housing is not exposed at the front. Nevertheless, this allows the ambient light incident on the front of the front panel to reach the brightness sensor.

[0011] According to the invention, the household appliance has a door. The door comprises an inner and outer surface, between which a thermal insulation layer, in particular insulating foam, is preferably provided. The door can be pivotally mounted on the housing, for example with respect to a vertical pivot axis, a so-called swing door. The door can also be a drawer door guided linearly by telescopic rails. Furthermore, the door has a door seal, which is provided for sealing at an upper or lower edge of the door in the vertical direction of the household appliance. In one embodiment, the ambient light detection unit is arranged on an upper or lower door seal, in particular directly on the rear or inner surface of the upper door seal. It can be attached to the rear or inner / insulated surface of the door seal by a detachable mechanical connection.The door seal extends along its length in the width direction of the appliance and is typically advantageously positioned in the aforementioned installation position. For example, an existing space within the housing above a sensor compartment, where other electronic components are also located, can be utilized. This space is then additionally occupied by the ambient light detection unit. This allows the volume of the sensor compartment to be maintained, and this area, primarily for electronic components above the sensor compartment, can also be used to position the ambient light detection unit. This offers corresponding advantages in terms of avoiding modifications to other areas of the appliance, particularly the refrigerator. Nevertheless, the design ensures that the ambient light level can be detected very precisely when the door is open.This is particularly sufficient to allow for very quick and needs-based adjustment of the interior lighting to the detected ambient brightness, without causing unwanted glare or insufficient illumination of the interior, depending on the ambient brightness.

[0012] In one embodiment, the lens is convex on at least one side. It can be spherical or aspherical. This allows a particularly high proportion of the incident ambient light to be directed precisely and precisely to the brightness sensor.

[0013] In one embodiment, the brightness sensor is arranged in a focus of the lens. This ensures that the ambient light entering the sensor housing arrives at the brightness sensor in a particularly localized manner.

[0014] In one embodiment, the lens can be designed as a separate component from the sensor housing. It can then also be arranged directly on the sensor housing. In particular, the sensor housing can have a hole in which, or adjacent to which, the lens is arranged.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment, the lens is formed integrally with the sensor housing. This reduces the number of components. It also enables a particularly precise positioning of the lens relative to the sensor housing, a position that can be maintained permanently. A one-piece design also facilitates a simple manufacturing process. For example, an injection-molded component can be used. Alternatively, this component can be a two-component (2K) part. This allows, for instance, the sensor housing and the lens to be made from different materials, particularly by injection molding.

[0016] It is also possible that the sensor housing is at least partially transparent. This means that it is at least partially permeable to light in the visible spectrum. In particular, the sensor housing can be transparent at the point where the lens is located.

[0017] In one embodiment, the lens is arranged with at least one outer surface exposed to the environment on the sensor housing. This allows ambient light to fall directly onto the outer surface of the lens. Extensive alternative light paths that the ambient light must first travel, particularly within the sensor housing, to reach the lens and be focused there, are thus eliminated. This also enables a short path from the lens to the brightness sensor within the sensor housing. Undesirable light losses of the ambient light incident on the sensor housing are thereby avoided.

[0018] In one embodiment, the ambient light detection unit has a light guide that is distinct from a lens. This light guide is intended to direct the light entering the sensor housing. In particular, it can be directed to the brightness sensor.

[0019] In one embodiment, the lens and the light guide are coupled together. Specifically, the lens is positioned in the path of the incident ambient light, in front of the light guide. This allows the light to be focused and, at the same time, directed precisely to the brightness sensor via the light guide. This further reduces light loss, even within the sensor housing. A particularly high proportion of the incident ambient light is then guided very precisely and accurately to the brightness sensor.

[0020] In one embodiment, the lens is designed as one end of the light guide. In particular, it is formed integrally with the light guide. Such an integrated design of the light guide and lens allows for a reduction in the number of components and enables particularly precise steering and guidance of the incident ambient light to the brightness sensor.

[0021] In particular, the lens and light guide are manufactured as a single unit. For example, this can be a one-piece plastic component.

[0022] In one embodiment, the ambient light detection unit comprises a circuit board. The brightness sensor is mounted on this circuit board. In another embodiment, a humidity sensor may also be mounted on this circuit board. This allows the single circuit board to accommodate several different sensors.

[0023] In one embodiment, the sensor housing is designed in multiple parts. It comprises a front sensor housing part and a rear sensor housing part.

[0024] The household appliance can be, in particular, a household refrigeration appliance. In this respect, it can be intended for storing and preserving food. The household refrigeration appliance can be, for example, a refrigerator or a freezer.

[0025] The household appliance features ein The appliance has a housing. This housing contains at least one storage compartment for food. This compartment can be a refrigerator or a freezer. The appliance has at least one door that can be used to close the storage compartment from the front. The door may be hinged on the housing. An appliance with an ambient light sensor is particularly advantageous if this storage compartment is to be illuminated by the appliance's interior light, at least when the door is open. Since an appliance can be installed in a wide variety of environments, very different levels of ambient light can occur at the installation site.For example, in very dark rooms or under very dark ambient conditions, a user opening the door and looking into the recording area might be blinded if the interior lighting is too bright. Conversely, under other ambient conditions, the interior lighting might be too dim or insufficient, or there might not be enough contrast with the ambient brightness. The invention described above is particularly advantageous in order to accommodate all these very different installation conditions and the associated varying ambient brightness levels, and to adjust the interior lighting accordingly. This is because it enables a particularly precise determination of the ambient brightness. Based on this, the interior lighting of the household appliance can then be adjusted very precisely.When the door is opened, or when the interior lighting is activated, this recording room can then be illuminated very efficiently and depending on the detected ambient brightness.

[0026] The front panel can be horizontally or vertically oriented. It can also be a crossbar. This can be beam-like. The front panel can be covered with thermal insulation, especially insulating foam, on the back, or it can be free of it.

[0027] According to the invention, the front strip or door seal has a hole through which the ambient light detection unit detects the incident ambient light. The rest of the ambient light detection unit is then covered and protected by the front strip. Nevertheless, sufficient ambient light can still enter the sensor housing or onto the lens through this hole.

[0028] When the door is closed, the hole is at least partially shaded, so that ambient light reaches it only in a reduced amount. Therefore, when the door is closed, the detection of ambient light, and consequently the evaluation of its brightness, is limited or insufficient. This is particularly important because the appliance is a built-in unit with a separate design panel on one side of the door. This design panel could, for example, be a furniture front panel. Viewed vertically, the hole in the front of the appliance overlaps the design panel. In the depth of the appliance, there is only a minimal gap between the hole and the design panel, so the design panel shades the hole, at least to some extent, from ambient light.Especially with built-in appliances or appliances where the closed door doesn't completely cover the hole in the front panel, but is positioned close enough to shade the ambient light, this is still an advantageous installation position. This allows for a space-saving installation of the ambient light detection unit, while still enabling very accurate detection of the ambient brightness even when the door is at least partially open and the hole in the front panel is no longer shaded. Although, in one embodiment, the ambient brightness cannot be detected, or not sufficiently detected, when the door is closed due to the shade, the aforementioned installation position remains advantageous. For example, an existing free space in the housing above the sensor area, where other electronic components are also located, can be utilized.This space is then also occupied by the ambient light detection unit. This allows the volume of the recording compartment to be maintained, and the area for the electronic components, particularly above the recording compartment, can be used to also position the ambient light detection unit. This offers corresponding advantages in terms of avoiding modifications to other areas of the household appliance, especially the refrigerator. Nevertheless, the design ensures that the ambient brightness can be detected very precisely even when the door is open. This is sufficient, in particular, to quickly and efficiently adjust the interior lighting to the detected ambient brightness, without causing unwanted glare or insufficient illumination of the interior depending on the ambient light level.

[0029] In one embodiment, the appliance has two separate doors arranged side by side in the width of the appliance, with the opening, particularly centrally located, between the two doors on the front panel. This is advantageous for a household refrigerator with two hinged front doors. If the opening is positioned centrally between the facing narrow sides of the two doors, this ambient light detection unit can be used for both doors. This is because, when one door is opened, the opening, which is only partially covered by both doors when closed, is thus exposed, allowing sufficient ambient light to reach the brightness sensor through the exposed area of ​​the opening.This applies even if the second door is still closed and the remaining area of ​​the opening is still covered by this second door. When closed, the doors preferably rest against a vertically oriented front edge. This allows the interior lighting for each recording room to be operated individually and independently, specifically depending solely on whether the corresponding door is open or not. Only one such opening and one brightness sensor are then required to control at least the two separate interior lights of the two separate recording rooms based on the respective door operation and the ambient light level.

[0030] In one embodiment, the household appliance has a door operation detection unit. This unit is designed to detect when the door is opened, and depending on such door operation, the detection unit can be activated to measure ambient brightness. In this embodiment, the detection unit is only activated when the door is opened. Otherwise, the detection unit is deactivated. This allows for energy-efficient operation. It also prevents unwanted false detections that would occur with a closed door and result in inaccurate ambient brightness measurements. Preferably, this door operation detection unit can also detect door operation very precisely.This allows for very precise detection of when the detection should begin, and consequently, an adjustment of the appliance's interior lighting. The door activation detection unit can be, for example, a magnetic, capacitive, or inductive sensor, or something similar.

[0031] In one embodiment, the household appliance is provided with a control unit. This control unit controls the components of the household appliance. In particular, it can also process the signals from the detection unit.

[0032] In one embodiment, the sensor unit for detecting ambient brightness is activated, particularly by the control unit, only after a predetermined time interval has elapsed following the detection of door operation. This time interval is a maximum of one second. In this embodiment, this also means that, depending on door operation, especially the initiation of the door opening process, the sensor unit only begins to detect the ambient brightness after this time delay. This prevents the ambient brightness from being determined when the door is still slightly open, which could lead to incorrect or inaccurate results. In particular, it allows the control unit to adjust the interior lighting very quickly.This means that even if the door is already open, the adjustment process, which adapts the interior lighting based on the detected ambient brightness, occurs very quickly. This allows the user to see that the device intelligently reacts to the ambient brightness and automatically adjusts the interior lighting as needed. This adjustment is also readily observable by the user. Thanks to the aforementioned timeframes, in which the measurement process is completed within one second of the start of the measurement and the interior lighting is immediately adjusted, unwanted glare for the observer is avoided, as excessively bright lighting in the recording area is prevented from the moment the door opens.

[0033] In one embodiment, the household appliance has a door operation detection unit, in particular a magnetic, inductive, or capacitive sensor, or the like. This unit is designed to automatically detect when the door is opened, and depending on such door operation, the detection unit can be activated to measure the ambient light level. Thus, in one embodiment, the detection unit is only activated when the door is opened. Otherwise, the detection unit is deactivated. This allows for energy-efficient operation. It also prevents unwanted false detections that would occur with a closed door and result in inaccurate ambient light measurement. Preferably, this door operation detection unit can also detect door operation very precisely.This allows for very precise detection of when the detection should begin, and consequently, an adjustment of the appliance's lighting system. Furthermore, the door operation detection unit preferably transmits the opening of the door to a control unit of the appliance, which activates the detection sensor and carries out the method according to the invention.

[0034] Since, especially with built-in appliances, practically no or only minimal ambient light can enter through gaps between the cabinet front panel and adjacent cabinet walls when the door is closed due to the front-mounted design panel, measuring the ambient brightness with the door closed is not practical for accurately determining the actual brightness of the surrounding area. Therefore, in such situations, it is particularly advantageous to begin measuring the ambient brightness only when the door is slightly opened. The invention described above is especially useful in precisely these situations.

[0035] Another unclaimed aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating a household appliance, comprising the following steps: Opening a door of the household appliance; automatically setting a basic lighting scenario to illuminate a recording compartment of the household appliance, which is opened by opening the door, in particular regardless of the brightness in the vicinity of the household appliance, wherein the illumination of the recording compartment is carried out with a lighting device of the household appliance; characterized by the following steps: Detection of the ambient brightness of the household appliance using an ambient light detection unit of the household appliance, in particular wherein the detection starts automatically when the door is opened; evaluation of the detected ambient brightness using an evaluation unit of the household appliance; generation of a final lighting scenario for the recording room depending on the detected brightness; illumination of the recording room with the final lighting scenario when the door is open.

[0036] This method now makes it possible to operate a household appliance more efficiently with regard to its lighting system. The proposed method is particularly advantageous when the appliance has a compact design and, in this context, the ambient light detection unit is at least partially shaded when the door is closed. This is because, when the door is closed, the ambient light detection unit can be positioned in a protected location and is thus concealed from the front, especially by the door itself. Contamination, for example by dust, can therefore be better prevented when the door is closed. Nevertheless, the proposed method ensures that the detection area is illuminated as needed, specifically adapted to the ambient brightness.In this context, the proposed method also achieves the possibility of capturing the ambient brightness when the door is opened, and this occurs quickly enough so that when the user has opened the door far enough to fully view the recording room, the final lighting scenario is preferably already activated.

[0037] Therefore, this method also allows the user to avoid being dazzled by the lighting conditions in the recording room when the ambient light is relatively low, while simultaneously ensuring that the lighting in the recording room allows for easy and comprehensive perception of the objects within it. Furthermore, even in very bright environments, a lighting device can be adjusted as needed.

[0038] Preferably, the ambient light detection is only automatically started when the door is opened. This means that, in this embodiment, the only trigger function or trigger criterion for initiating ambient light detection with the ambient light sensor is the opening of the door. Therefore, the ambient light sensor is activated specifically when the door is opened. This can occur, for example, when the door is pulled away from the appliance housing from the closed position and pivoted around a vertical axis. If the door is already slightly lifted from the front of the appliance housing, at least on one side, compared to the closed position, this is considered an open position in one embodiment.In one embodiment, the door is considered opened when it has lifted slightly from the front of the housing. At this point, the door is preferably positioned without contact with the front of the housing, where it rests directly against the housing when fully closed. This slight lifting is typically triggered by a door sensor, particularly a magnetic sensor. The door sensor is designed to detect when the door lifts from the appliance housing and to transmit this information to the ambient light detection unit, either via the appliance's control unit or directly. The door opening is preferably detected automatically by a door actuation detection unit, particularly a magnetic, inductive, or capacitive sensor, or the like.This unit is designed to detect door operation, and depending on such door operation, the ambient light detection unit can be activated. In one embodiment, the ambient light detection unit is only activated when the door is opened. Otherwise, the ambient light detection unit is deactivated. This allows for energy-efficient operation. It also prevents unwanted false detections that would occur with a closed door and result in inaccurate ambient light readings. Preferably, this door operation detection unit can also detect door operation very precisely. This allows for precise determination of when detection should begin and, consequently, an adjustment of the appliance's lighting system.Furthermore, the door actuation detection unit preferably transmits the opening of the door to a control unit of the household appliance, which activates the detection sensor and carries out the method according to the invention.

[0039] In another embodiment, opening the door can mean that the door is open far enough that the ambient light detection unit is exposed or no longer shaded to such an extent that it could only inadequately detect the ambient brightness. Once this exposure or uncovering is achieved, the detection of ambient brightness can begin immediately in this embodiment.

[0040] When the door is closed, the ambient light detection unit does not measure the brightness of the surroundings.

[0041] In one embodiment, the ambient brightness measurement is initiated after a predetermined time, particularly between 0.5 and 1.2 seconds, following the start of the door opening process. This has the particular advantage of ensuring that the door is already open far enough for the brightness measurement to be sufficiently accurate. This prevents the measurement from being distorted by excessive shading of the ambient light detection unit by the door. However, this time interval is so short that the measurement would start very late after the opening process begins, and therefore the measurement process would continue extensively even when the door is already fully open. This could potentially lead to glare, for example, if the user looks into the recording area.

[0042] In one embodiment, the ambient brightness is measured for a specific duration. This can be a predetermined time. In particular, the duration can be a maximum of two seconds, and more specifically, a maximum of one second. This is another very advantageous embodiment. Such a time window is, on the one hand, large enough to allow for a more accurate measurement of the current ambient brightness. Thus, a very representative statement about the ambient brightness can be obtained based on the sensor information acquired during this time period. On the other hand, this time interval is so short that the door has not remained in the fully or nearly fully open position for an extended period, or has not yet reached that position.In this context, it can be avoided that, from the moment the door is opened sufficiently for a user to have a full view into the recording room—a period that is typically longer than the aforementioned time required to assess the ambient brightness—prolonged unwanted glare or insufficient illumination occurs. This scenario, in which the time required to assess the ambient brightness is less than or equal to the usual time a user needs to open the door from a closed position to a wide enough position to allow a full view into the recording room, is advantageous.This ensures that the ambient brightness measurement process is completed, so that before the user actually begins to look into the recording space, the final lighting scenario is already in place and set, or even fully configured. Instead, the user will already have the final lighting scenario set, or it will be set in the process of doing so, when they actually begin looking into the recording space. This also prevents unwanted changes in brightness and / or color, and thus avoids creating an undesirable viewing situation for the user.

[0043] In one embodiment, the brightness of the light from the lighting device illuminating the recording room is increased in the final lighting scenario compared to the base lighting scenario, and / or the color temperature of the light from the lighting device is changed. In an advantageous embodiment, the brightness of the light from the lighting device is set relatively low in the base lighting scenario, allowing it to be increased and precisely adjusted as needed for a wide range of ambient light levels. This ensures that the observer is not dazzled when looking into the recording room with the door open. By adjusting the color temperature of the light, either alone or additionally, the resulting lighting scenario can be even better adapted to the specific environmental conditions.This results in a very user-friendly and needs-based lighting scenario, so that a very user-friendly observation option of the recording room is provided under a wide variety of environmental conditions.

[0044] In one embodiment, the brightness of the light signal from the lighting device is changed by pulse-width modulation of the light signal when the lighting scenarios are changed. This is particularly advantageous when at least one light source of the lighting device is a light-emitting diode (LED). This enables very precise and continuous brightness adjustment of the light generated by the light source, or of the light signal itself.

[0045] In one embodiment, the brightness of the lighting device is set to a value between 20 percent and 30 percent, particularly 25 percent, of its maximum brightness in the basic lighting scenario. This is a particularly advantageous percentage range. On the one hand, it establishes a relatively low baseline brightness value, allowing for precise adjustments, and thus, in particular, increases in brightness, to suit a wide range of environmental conditions. On the other hand, this baseline value is not so low as to insufficiently illuminate the recording area. Even with this baseline value, sufficient illumination of the recording area can be achieved to allow for user-friendly observation under specific environmental conditions.

[0046] In one embodiment, the brightness of the lighting device in the final lighting scenario is set to a value between 50 percent and 100 percent of the maximum brightness of the lighting device. This results in a significant difference from a base brightness value, which is automatically set in the base lighting scenario. Specifically, in the final lighting scenario, the brightness of the light is adjusted to one of several discrete, predefined levels, depending on the ambient brightness. Therefore, in one embodiment, this brightness is a predefined final value that is generally specified for the final lighting scenario. It is also possible for the final brightness value in the final lighting scenario to be continuously variable.Alternatively, it is also possible to set specific brightness values ​​or final stages in the final lighting scenario, depending on the ambient brightness. For example, several different final values, such as 50 percent, 75 percent, and / or 100 percent of the maximum brightness of the lighting device, can be stored as predefined final values ​​or final stages and used accordingly. Preferably, this increase in brightness from the base brightness value in the base lighting scenario to the brightness value in the final lighting scenario is set within a predetermined time period, preferably within a time period of less than or equal to 1.5 seconds, and in particular between 0.5 seconds and 1.5 seconds.Such a rapid change allows the final lighting scenario to be set very quickly, especially even when the door has been fully or substantially opened. A fully opened door is considered to have been reached when it has been pivoted at least 45 degrees, at least 50 degrees, at least 55 degrees, at least 65 degrees, at least 70 degrees, or at least 75 degrees around its pivot axis compared to the fully closed position.

[0047] In one embodiment, the brightness of the light emitted by the lighting device is continuously changed when switching from the basic lighting scenario to the final lighting scenario. Specifically, dimming occurs. The duration of this continuous change is between 0.7 s and 1.5 s, and more specifically between 0.8 s and 1.2 s. This is also very advantageous because it avoids abrupt or sudden changes in brightness and / or color. This results in a particularly advantageous and user-friendly method without startling the user with sudden lighting effects.

[0048] In one embodiment, the ambient light level is not detected when the door is closed. Specifically, when the door is closed, the ambient light detection unit is shaded by the door. This means that the door does not completely cover the ambient light detection unit, but is nevertheless positioned so close to it that detection of the ambient light level would be impossible or very inaccurate, and therefore of little use. This is the case, for example, when the appliance is a built-in unit and is installed in a recess in a cabinet. Since, in such embodiments, an additional, separate design panel, such as a cabinet front panel, is fixed to the front of one of the door leaves and linked to the door's movement, the cabinet front panel practically covers the entire recess.The design panel can extend beyond the door at its side edges, so that the ambient light detection unit can be covered or shaded solely by the design panel. The minimal gaps between the edge of the furniture front panel and the other walls of the furniture unit that define the installation niche allow only a very small amount of light from the surrounding area into the installation niche. Therefore, in this embodiment, the ambient light detection unit is shaded when the door is closed.

[0049] Another aspect of the invention relates to a household appliance with the ambient light detection unit according to the aspect mentioned above, or with an ambient light detection unit. The ambient light detection unit or ambient light detection unit comprises a sensor housing and a circuit board. The circuit board is, in particular, a single, continuous circuit board, especially a printed circuit board, on which at least two separate sensors are arranged, wherein one sensor detects a first ambient parameter, and another sensor detects a second ambient parameter that is different from the first. This makes the ambient light detection unit or ambient light detection unit more multifunctional. It can compactly accommodate several sensors on a single circuit board, and thus several different environmental parameters can be detected.

[0050] A sensor can be a brightness sensor. This allows the ambient brightness or ambient light to be detected.

[0051] A sensor can be a humidity sensor. This can detect the ambient humidity. A sensor can be a temperature sensor. This can detect the ambient temperature.

[0052] A sensor can be a door position sensor. This can, for example, detect when a door is opened. The door position sensor can be a magnetic sensor. In particular, this enables the detection of the positions of two adjacent doors, such as the hinged doors of a household refrigerator, especially when the door position sensor is positioned centrally between the two doors. It also enables the detection of the positions of drawer doors in a household refrigerator.

[0053] The ambient light detection unit has a communication interface that allows the information collected by at least two sensors to be transmitted. This means that only one such interface is needed to transmit information from multiple sensors.

[0054] Specifically, the communication interface is a D-Bus or an I2C bus. These are highly advantageous communication interfaces for transmitting information from various sensors. Information can be transmitted quickly and without loss. Robust communication is possible even with many different sensors. In particular, information from multiple sensors can be transmitted simultaneously.

[0055] In particular, the circuit board features at least one mounting area, especially solder pads, to which various sensor types that detect the same environmental parameter can be selectively attached. This means that a single circuit board allows for the attachment of either a first or a second sensor type to the mounting area. The mounting area, which can also be referred to as the sensor area, is therefore highly compatible with these different sensor types.

[0056] In particular, the environmental sensing unit comprises a sensor housing and a brightness sensor. The brightness sensor detects the brightness of the ambient light surrounding the appliance. The brightness sensor is located within the sensor housing. The appliance has a housing with a front panel. The environmental sensing unit is positioned on the front panel, specifically directly on the rear. This allows the environmental sensing unit to be positioned in a space-saving manner and protected from mechanical or other influences. Furthermore, it utilizes existing space within the appliance, eliminating the need to reduce or redesign other areas of the appliance.

[0057] The environmental sensing unit is attached to the rear of the front panel with at least one snap-fit ​​connection. This type of detachable connection is mechanically stable, yet very easy to disconnect and reconnect. This facilitates reversible assembly and disassembly.

[0058] In particular, the aforementioned front panel is an upper front panel when viewed in the vertical direction of the household appliance.

[0059] In one embodiment, the sensor housing is made up of multiple parts. It has a front sensor housing part and a rear sensor housing part.

[0060] In one embodiment, the ambient light detection unit comprises at least one optical imaging element, in particular a lens, which focuses the ambient light incident on the sensor housing towards the brightness sensor. Such an embodiment of an ambient light detection unit allows the ambient light to be directed more comprehensively and accurately onto the brightness sensor inside the sensor housing. This improves, and in particular increases, the accuracy of the ambient light brightness determination. By explicitly using a light-focusing lens, and thus a converging lens, which is in particular convex on at least one side, the ambient light can be focused onto the brightness sensor.

[0061] In one embodiment, the lens is convex on at least one side. It can be spherical or aspherical. This allows a particularly high proportion of the incident ambient light to be directed precisely and precisely to the brightness sensor.

[0062] In one embodiment, the brightness sensor is arranged in a focus of the lens. This ensures that the ambient light entering the sensor housing arrives at the brightness sensor in a particularly localized manner.

[0063] In one embodiment, the lens can be designed as a separate component from the sensor housing. It can then also be arranged directly on the sensor housing. In particular, the sensor housing can have a hole in which, or adjacent to which, the lens is arranged.

[0064] In an advantageous embodiment, the lens is formed integrally with the sensor housing. This reduces the number of components. It also enables a particularly precise positioning of the lens relative to the sensor housing, a position that can be maintained permanently. A one-piece design also facilitates a simple manufacturing process. For example, an injection-molded component can be used. Alternatively, this component can be a two-component (2K) part. This allows, for instance, the sensor housing and the lens to be made from different materials, particularly by injection molding.

[0065] It is also possible that the sensor housing is at least partially transparent. This means that it is at least partially permeable to light in the visible spectrum. In particular, the sensor housing can be transparent at the point where the lens is located.

[0066] In one embodiment, the lens is arranged with at least one outer surface exposed to the environment on the sensor housing. This allows ambient light to fall directly onto the outer surface of the lens. Extensive alternative light paths that the ambient light must first travel, particularly within the sensor housing, to reach the lens and be focused there, are thus eliminated. This also enables a short path from the lens to the brightness sensor within the sensor housing. Undesirable light losses of the ambient light incident on the sensor housing are thereby avoided.

[0067] In one embodiment, the environmental sensing unit has a light guide that is distinct from a lens. This light guide is intended to direct the light entering the sensor housing. In particular, it can be directed to the brightness sensor.

[0068] In one embodiment, the lens and the light guide are coupled together. Specifically, the lens is positioned in the path of the incident ambient light, in front of the light guide. This allows the light to be focused and, at the same time, directed precisely to the brightness sensor via the light guide. This further reduces light loss, even within the sensor housing. A particularly high proportion of the incident ambient light is then guided very precisely and accurately to the brightness sensor.

[0069] In one embodiment, the lens is designed as one end of the light guide. In particular, it is formed integrally with the light guide. Such an integrated design of the light guide and lens allows for a reduction in the number of components and enables particularly precise steering and guidance of the incident ambient light to the brightness sensor.

[0070] In particular, the lens and light guide are manufactured as a single unit. For example, this can be a one-piece plastic component.

[0071] In one embodiment, the environmental sensing unit comprises a circuit board, in particular a printed circuit board. The brightness sensor is arranged on this circuit board. In another embodiment, a humidity sensor may also be arranged on this circuit board. This allows the single circuit board to be used to accommodate several different sensors.

[0072] Another aspect of the invention relates to a household appliance. This appliance has an environmental sensing unit according to the aspect mentioned above or an advantageous embodiment thereof. The household appliance can, in particular, be a household refrigeration appliance. In this respect, it can be intended for storing and preserving food. The household refrigeration appliance can, for example, be a refrigerator or a freezer.

[0073] In one embodiment, the household appliance has a housing. This housing contains at least one storage compartment for food. This compartment can be a refrigerator or a freezer. In another embodiment, the household appliance has at least one door with which the storage compartment can be closed from the front. The door can be movably mounted on the housing. A household appliance with an ambient light sensor is particularly advantageous if this storage compartment is to be illuminated by a lighting device within the appliance, at least when the door is open. Since a household appliance can be installed in a wide variety of environmental conditions, very diverse and varying light levels can also occur at the installation location.For example, in very dark rooms or under very dark ambient conditions, a user opening the door and looking into the recording area might be blinded if the interior lighting is too bright. Conversely, under other ambient conditions, the interior lighting might be too dim or insufficient, or there might not be enough contrast with the ambient brightness. The invention described above is particularly advantageous in order to accommodate all these very different installation conditions and the associated varying ambient brightness levels, and to adjust the interior lighting accordingly. This is because it enables a particularly precise determination of the ambient brightness. Based on this, the interior lighting of the household appliance can then be adjusted very precisely.When the door is opened, or when the interior lighting is activated, this recording room can then be illuminated very efficiently and depending on the detected ambient brightness.

[0074] In one embodiment, the household appliance has a housing. In particular, the household appliance has a front panel. This panel is arranged on the housing, specifically on the front of the housing. In one embodiment, the environmental sensing unit is arranged on the front panel, particularly directly on the rear. It can be attached to the rear of the front panel by a detachable mechanical connection. For example, such a detachable mechanical connection can be at least a snap-fit ​​connection.

[0075] This results in a particularly advantageous installation of the sensor housing. On the one hand, it allows for a mechanically stable mounting, and on the other hand, a concealed design. The sensor housing is therefore not exposed at the front. Nevertheless, this still allows ambient light falling on the front panel to reach the brightness sensor.

[0076] The front panel can be horizontally or vertically oriented. It can also be a crossbar, which can be beam-like.

[0077] In one embodiment, the front panel has a hole through which the ambient light sensor detects the incident ambient light, particularly with its brightness sensor. The rest of the ambient light sensor is then covered and protected by the front panel. Nevertheless, sufficient ambient light can still enter the sensor housing and / or reach the lens through this hole.

[0078] In one embodiment, the appliance has at least one door which, when the door is closed, at least partially shades the hole, so that ambient light reaches the hole only in a reduced amount. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the door is closed, the detection of ambient light, and consequently the evaluation of its brightness, is limited or insufficient. This is particularly true if the appliance is a built-in unit and a separate design panel is attached to the front of one of the door panels. Such a design panel could, for example, be a furniture front panel. Viewed vertically, the hole in the front panel overlaps the design panel.In the depth direction of the appliance, a minimal gap is maintained between the hole and the design plate, so that the hole is at least partially shaded from ambient light by the design plate. This is an advantageous installation position, especially for built-in appliances or appliances where the closed door, while not completely covering the hole in the front panel, is positioned close enough to shade the ambient light. This allows for a space-saving installation of the ambient light sensor unit, while still enabling very accurate detection of the ambient brightness even when the door is at least partially open and the hole in the front panel is no longer shaded. Although, in one embodiment, the ambient brightness cannot be detected, or not sufficiently detected, when the door is closed due to the existing shading, the aforementioned installation position remains advantageous.For example, an existing free space in the housing above the recording compartment, where other electronic components are also located, can be utilized. This space is then additionally occupied by the ambient light sensor. This allows the volume of the recording compartment to be maintained, and this area, currently occupied by electronic components, particularly above the recording compartment, can be used to position the ambient light sensor. This offers corresponding advantages in terms of avoiding modifications to other areas of the household appliance, especially a refrigerator. Nevertheless, the design ensures that the ambient light level can be detected very precisely even when the door is open.This is particularly sufficient to allow for very quick and needs-based adjustment of the interior lighting to the detected ambient brightness, without causing unwanted glare or insufficient illumination of the interior, depending on the ambient brightness.

[0079] In one embodiment, the appliance has two separate doors arranged side by side in the width of the appliance, with the opening, particularly centrally located, between the two doors on the front panel. This is advantageous for a household refrigerator with two hinged front doors. When closed, the doors rest against a vertically oriented front panel. If the opening is positioned centrally between the narrow sides of the two doors when viewed in the width direction, this ambient light sensor can be used for both doors. This is because, when one door is opened, the opening, which is only partially covered by each door when closed, is exposed, allowing sufficient ambient light to reach the light sensor through the exposed area of ​​the opening.This applies even if the second door is still closed and the rest of the opening is still covered by this second door. This allows the interior lighting for each recording room to be operated individually and independently, specifically depending solely on whether the corresponding door is open or not. Only one such opening and one brightness sensor are then required to control at least the two separate interior lights of the two separate recording rooms based on the respective door operation and the ambient light level.

[0080] In one embodiment, the household appliance has a door operation detection unit, in particular a magnetic, inductive, or capacitive sensor, or the like. This unit is designed to detect when the door is opened, and depending on this, the ambient light sensor can be activated. Thus, in one embodiment, the light sensor is only activated when the door is opened. Otherwise, the light sensor is deactivated. This allows for energy-efficient operation. It also prevents unwanted false detections that would occur with a closed door and result in inaccurate ambient light readings. Preferably, this door operation detection unit can also detect door operation very precisely.This also makes it possible to determine very precisely when the recording should start and subsequently adjust the interior lighting of the household appliance.

[0081] In one embodiment, the household appliance is provided with a control unit. This control unit controls the components of the household appliance. In particular, it can also process the signals from the detection unit.

[0082] In one embodiment, the sensor unit for detecting ambient brightness is activated, particularly by the control unit, only after a predetermined time interval has elapsed following the detection of door operation. This time interval is a maximum of one second. In this embodiment, this also means that, depending on door operation, especially the initiation of the door opening process, the sensor unit only begins to detect the ambient brightness after this time delay. This prevents the ambient brightness from being determined when the door is still slightly open, which could lead to incorrect or inaccurate results. In particular, it allows the control unit to adjust the lighting device very quickly.This means that even if the door is already open, the adjustment process, which adapts the interior lighting based on the detected ambient brightness, occurs very quickly. This allows the user to see that the device intelligently reacts to the ambient brightness and automatically adjusts the interior lighting as needed. This adjustment is also readily observable by the user. Thanks to the aforementioned timeframes, in which the measurement process is completed within one second of the start of the measurement and the interior lighting is immediately adjusted, unwanted glare for the observer is avoided, as excessively bright lighting in the recording area is prevented from the moment the door opens.

[0083] Since, especially with built-in appliances, practically no or only minimal ambient light can enter through gaps between the cabinet front panel and adjacent cabinet walls when the door is closed due to the front-mounted design panel, measuring the ambient brightness with the door closed is not practical for accurately determining the actual brightness of the surrounding area. Therefore, in such situations, it is particularly advantageous to begin measuring the ambient brightness only when the door is slightly opened. The invention described above is especially useful in precisely these situations.

[0084] Since, especially with built-in appliances, practically no or only minimal ambient light can enter through gaps between the cabinet front panel and adjacent cabinet walls when the door is closed due to the front-mounted design panel, measuring the ambient brightness with the door closed is not practical for accurately determining the actual brightness of the surrounding area. Therefore, in such situations, it is particularly advantageous to begin measuring the ambient brightness only when the door is slightly opened. The invention described above is especially useful in precisely these situations.

[0085] In particular, the aforementioned front panel is an upper front panel when viewed in the vertical direction of the household appliance.

[0086] The terms "top", "bottom", "front", "back", "horizontal", "vertical", "depth direction", "latitude direction", "height direction" indicate the positions and orientations given when the device is used and positioned as intended.

[0087] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household appliance according to the invention with an embodiment of an ambient light detection unit according to the invention; Fig. 2 a perspective view of the household appliance according to Fig. 1 in the upper area; Fig. 3 an enlarged partial view of a section in Fig. 2 Fig. 4 a perspective sectional view of a front panel with a sensor housing of an ambient light detection unit arranged on its rear side; Fig. 5 a perspective sectional view through the arrangement according to Fig. 4 ; Fig. 6 a perspective view of an embodiment of a partial element of a sensor housing of an ambient light detection unit; Fig. 7 the sensor housing according to Fig. 6 in a to Fig. 6 different perspectives; and Fig. 8 an embodiment of an optical component of an ambient light detection unit; Fig. 9 a front view of another embodiment of a household appliance; Fig. 10 a perspective view of the embodiment according to Fig. 9 with an open door; and Fig. 11 a representation of a circuit board with a multi-sensor array, wherein the circuit board is part of an ambient light detection unit. Fig. 12 a perspective view of the household appliance according to the invention with a fully closed door; Fig. 13 a perspective view of an embodiment of the household appliance according to the invention; Fig. 14 a perspective view of an embodiment of the household appliance according to the invention with a Fig. 13 door opened further; and Fig. 15 a diagram with examples of brightness levels of the household appliance's lighting device depending on time.

[0088] In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements are given the same reference symbols.

[0089] In Fig. 1 A household appliance 1 is shown. It could be, in particular, a household refrigeration appliance. This could be designed for storing and preserving food. It could be a refrigerator, a freezer, or a fridge-freezer combination. However, the household appliance 1 could also be, for example, a dishwasher. Other household appliances are also possible, especially those that can be installed as built-in units in a wall unit.

[0090] The household appliance 1 described here is designed, in one embodiment, to be such a built-in appliance. The household appliance 1 has a housing 2. At least one receiving compartment 3 is formed in the housing 2. The receiving compartment 3 is specifically intended for receiving food.

[0091] The household appliance 1 also has a door 4. The door 4 is movable and attached to the housing 2. It is designed to close the interior, or receiving chamber 3, from the front. The door 4 is shown here in the closed position. The receiving chamber 3 is bounded by the walls of a container 5. The container 5 can, for example, be an inner container made of plastic. This is a common design feature in household refrigerators.

[0092] A space can be formed between the container 5 and an outer housing 6. This space can be filled, at least partially, with thermally insulating material. This is the case, for example, in a household refrigerator. A space 7 is formed in the vertical direction (y-direction) above the container 5 and the outer housing 6. This space can also be referred to as an electronics compartment. Electronic modules of the household appliance 1 can be installed in this electronics compartment. In the exemplary embodiment, an ambient light detection unit 8 of the household appliance 1 is also arranged in this space 7. This unit is designed, at least in part, to detect the brightness in the environment 9 of the household appliance 1. Thus, the brightness of the ambient light around the household appliance 1 is detected by this ambient light detection unit 8.

[0093] Door 4 has a door leaf 10. This plate-shaped or cuboid component also has an outer wall 11 and a Fig. 1 The interior wall or lining is not readily apparent. In particular, a space between the outer wall 11 and this interior lining may be filled with thermally insulating material, as is the case, for example, with a household refrigerator.

[0094] In particular, if the household appliance 1 is a built-in appliance, in one embodiment a design panel 12 is also additionally included ( Fig. 2 ) present. This separate design panel 12, which is separate from the door leaf 10, can, for example, be a furniture front panel. It covers the door leaf 10 from the front, in particular completely. The design panel 12 is in particular firmly connected to the door leaf 10 and in particular coupled to its movement. In the case of a built-in appliance, it is also provided that this household appliance 1 is arranged in a recess in a furniture wall. This recess is usually bounded by walls, in particular wall elements. In addition, further areas of this furniture front panel can adjoin it laterally and vertically. When the door 4 is closed, there is then only a very small gap between the edges of the furniture front panel 12 and the adjoining furniture panels of this furniture wall.Therefore, in this state and with this particular embodiment, ambient light from the area 9 of the furniture wall can practically not reach the installation niche, or not to a sufficient degree, when the door 4 is closed. Consequently, in this state and with the door 4 closed, adequate detection of the ambient brightness is not possible.

[0095] In Fig. 2 Figure 1 is an embodiment of the household appliance 1, shown in partial view and from above. As can be seen, the housing 2 has a front strip 13 in a front area viewed in the depth direction (z-direction). The front strip 13 extends in a plate-like or strip-like shape in the width direction (x-direction). The front strip 13 is, in particular, a separate component. It is arranged, in particular, on a front flange of the housing 2, especially the outer housing 6. In this embodiment, it is an upper front strip 13. This means that it is arranged on the upper front edge area of ​​the housing 2, especially the outer housing 6. In the illustrated embodiment, a sensor housing 14 of the ambient light detection unit 8 is arranged on this front strip. In particular, this sensor housing 14 is arranged directly on a rear side 15 of this front strip 13.In one embodiment, a detachable mechanical connection can be implemented here. As illustrated, for example, in... Fig. 4 As can be seen, a snap connection 16 is formed. The sensor housing 14 is snapped onto this rear side 15 by means of this connection.

[0096] The front panel 13 is preferably made of plastic. It is particularly likely to be manufactured in one piece. For example, it can be an injection-molded component. As in Fig. 2 and in an enlarged partial view of a section of Fig. 2 in Fig. 3 As can be seen, the back side 15 in one embodiment is formed with a stiffening structure 17. This can, for example, be a honeycomb structure.

[0097] In Fig. 3 The enlarged view shows the sensor housing 14. Here, a sensor housing 14 is implemented, which is constructed from several sensor housing parts. Fig. 3 Here, a front sensor housing part 18 is shown. This is located directly against the rear 15.

[0098] In one embodiment, the sensor housing 14 also has a further second sensor housing part 19. This is shown in Fig. 4 The two sensor housing parts 18 and 19 are shown. In one embodiment, they are connected to each other by a detachable connection, for example, a snap-fit ​​connection. It is also possible that the snap-fit ​​connection 16, with which the sensor housing 14 is attached to the rear 15, is also the snap-fit ​​connection with which the two sensor housing parts 18 and 19 are held together.

[0099] The sensor housing parts 18 and 19 create an interior 20 ( Fig. 3 ) realized. In this, a circuit board 21 of the ambient light detection unit 8 is arranged. In one embodiment, a brightness sensor 22 is mounted on this circuit board 21 ( Fig. 5 ) arranged. In one embodiment, a humidity sensor 23 can also be arranged on the common circuit board 21.

[0100] As in Fig. 5 , in which a perspective sectional view of arrangement 24 in Fig. 4 As can be seen, the front strip 13 has a continuous hole 25. Ambient light from the surroundings 9 can enter the sensor housing 14 through this hole, particularly also through the front strip 13. It is specifically provided that the ambient light detection unit 8 has at least one optical imaging element, in particular a lens 26. The lens 26 is a lens that focuses incident ambient light. It can be convexly curved on at least one optical surface. In particular, the lens 26 is a converging lens. In one embodiment, the lens 26 has at least one outer surface 26a ( Fig. 8 ) exposed towards the environment 9 on the sensor housing 14.

[0101] In one embodiment, the lens 26 is arranged such that incident ambient light is focused onto the brightness sensor 22. The lens 26 can be a separate component from the sensor housing 14, in particular from the front sensor housing part 18. It is also possible for the lens 26 to be formed integrally with the front sensor housing part 18.

[0102] In Fig. 6 In one embodiment, a perspective view of the front sensor housing part 18 is shown. It can be seen that an optical element 27 is integrated into this sensor housing part 18. Such a one-piece design can be realized, for example, using plastic. This entire component can, for instance, be injection-molded. The optical element 27 can, for example, be the lens 26. It is also possible that this optical element 27 is a cylindrical light guide. Such a light guide can be an additional component of the ambient light detection unit 8 in another embodiment. In particular, if the ambient light detection unit 8 has both a lens 26 and a light guide, the lens 26 can be arranged in the beam path of the incident ambient light in front of the light guide.A lens 26 and a light guide can be used to bundle the light rays on the one hand and to direct the light rays to the brightness sensor 22 on the other hand.

[0103] In Fig. 7 The front sensor housing part 18 is in a Fig. 6 The illustration shows different perspectives. In particular, the snap-fit ​​elements 28 provided in one example are also shown, of which only some are marked with a reference symbol. These snap-fit ​​elements 28 allow direct snapping into the rear sensor housing part 19 and / or the front strip 13.

[0104] In Fig. 8 In one embodiment, a light guide 29 is shown. Additionally, the lens 26 is shown. In another embodiment, the lens 26, which is convexly curved at least on its front side, can also be formed integrally with the light guide 29, and in particular, manufactured in one piece. In this embodiment, the lens 26 is then the front end of this overall part 30. The lens 26 can be arranged at least partially within the hole 25. It is also possible for the lens 26 to be arranged recessed relative to the hole 25.

[0105] Even the one in Fig. 8 The example shown of the one-piece overall part 30 can be formed separately from the front sensor housing part 18 or in one piece with it.

[0106] In one embodiment, the household appliance 1 has an interior light 31, as shown in Fig. 1 This interior lighting 31 is symbolically represented. It is arranged to illuminate at least one recording space 3. This interior lighting 31 is activated, in particular, when the door 4 is open.

[0107] A control unit 32 of the household appliance 1 is provided. The control unit 32 can be used to control functional components of the household appliance 1. In particular, the control unit 32 can also be used to control the interior lighting 31. This is specifically dependent on the ambient brightness detected by the ambient light detection unit 8. Thus, the illumination of the interior 3 with this interior lighting 31 can be very precisely tailored to the needs and adapted to the ambient brightness in the surrounding area 9.

[0108] In particular, it is provided that the activation of the ambient light detection unit 8 is dependent on the actuation of the door 4. A door actuation detection unit 33 can be provided for this purpose. Thus, in one embodiment, this door actuation can also be detected automatically. A door actuation is, for example, the initiation of an opening process starting from the closed state of the door 4. If, for example, the door 4 is opened from the closed state, the detection of the ambient light and the evaluation of its brightness are started via the control unit 32. In one embodiment, it can be provided that a defined time delay is specified between the start of the door actuation and the start of the detection of the ambient light brightness. This delay can, for example, be a maximum of one second.This means that after the door is opened and the specified time delay has elapsed, the ambient light detection unit 8 begins recording the ambient light. In one embodiment, the duration of this detection process can be predefined. In another embodiment, this detection time can be between 0.5 and 1.5 seconds. After evaluating the ambient light information, the control unit 32 then individually controls the interior lighting 31 to create a specific lighting scenario in the recording room 3. This ensures that a user looking into the recording room 3 with the door 4 open is not dazzled or confronted with insufficient or excessive illumination. In particular, the user also perceives this demand-based adjustment of the lighting scenario in the recording room 3 by the interior lighting 31 when opening the door 4.Preferably, this adjustment of the lighting in the recording room 3 is carried out when the door 4 is already partially open, so that the user consciously perceives this change in the lighting scenario. In this context, it is also possible that the interior lighting 31 is illuminated with a predefined base brightness and / or a predefined base light color as soon as the door is opened. Once the ambient light has been detected and its brightness determined, this basic setting of the interior lighting 31 is immediately adjusted as needed in one embodiment. For example, the brightness can then be successively increased from a base value, such as 25 percent of the maximum brightness of the interior lighting 31, particularly within a predefined time interval. This time interval can be, for example, between 0.5 and 1.5 seconds.For example, depending on the detected ambient light brightness, the brightness can be set to a value between 50 percent and 100 percent of the maximum brightness of the interior lighting 31. In this regard, discretely predefined percentage brightness settings can also be set depending on the maximum brightness of this interior lighting 31.

[0109] In Fig. 9 Another embodiment of a household appliance 1 is shown. This is a household refrigerator. It is shown in a front view. The household appliance 1 has two separate doors 4a and 4b. These are front doors. They can also be described as hinged doors. In the closed position shown, they are arranged side by side in the width direction (x-direction). They are arranged at the same height and depth. In one embodiment, the doors 4a and 4b each close off a storage compartment or interior space for food. The storage compartments are separate from each other. In particular, the household appliance 1 has two separate lighting devices 31. One is provided for illuminating each of the two storage compartments. The lighting of the storage compartments with the associated lighting devices 31 can be independent of each other.In particular, the activation of a lighting device is carried out in accordance with the explanations given above for the other embodiments.

[0110] When doors 4a and 4b are closed, a gap 35 can form between the facing surfaces of the doors 4a and 4b. A vertical front strip 34 is also visible. Doors 4a and 4b rest against this strip when closed. The ambient light detection unit 8 is arranged on this vertically oriented front strip 34. In particular, the ambient light detection unit 8 is located on the rear side of the front strip 34. The design of the ambient light detection unit 8 can be as described in the previous embodiments. The vertical front strip 34 has a hole 25 through which ambient light can enter and reach the brightness sensor 22. As in Fig. 1 As can be seen, the hole 25 is preferably located centrally between the doors 4a and 4b, in particular centrally between the narrow sides of the doors 4a and 4b facing each other. Since the gap 35 is small, insufficient ambient light enters through the hole 25 when both doors 4a and 4b are closed. Therefore, no ambient brightness is detected when the doors 4a and 4b are closed. In particular, when both doors 4a and 4b are closed, the ambient brightness detection unit 8 is deactivated, at least to the extent that the ambient brightness would otherwise be measured by the brightness sensor 22.

[0111] When doors 4a and 4b are closed, hole 25 is partially covered by them.

[0112] If a door 4a, 4b is opened, for example door 4a, as shown in Fig. 2 As shown, the portion of the opening 25 that was covered by door 4a is then uncovered. Even if the other door, here door 4b, remains closed, the opening 25 is sufficiently large to allow enough ambient light to enter and for the brightness sensor 22 to accurately detect the ambient light level. Depending on this, the lighting device 31 that is intended to illuminate only the recording chamber that can be closed off at the front by the open door, here door 4a, is then activated and operated.

[0113] In Fig. 11 A top view of an embodiment of a circuit board 21 is shown. This single, continuous circuit board 21 is thus formed in one piece. This circuit board 21 is designed as a multi-sensor board. This means that at least two different sensors are arranged on this circuit board 21. One sensor can detect a first environmental parameter, and the second sensor can detect a different second environmental parameter. One sensor can be a brightness sensor 22. One sensor can be a humidity sensor 23. Another sensor can be a temperature sensor.

[0114] In one embodiment, the ambient light detection unit 8 has a communication interface 36, which is shown here by way of example. The communication interface 36 is, in particular, a D-Bus interface. The communication interface 36 can also be an I2C bus. Thus, information from several different sensors can be transmitted via just one such specific communication interface 36. This information acquired by the sensors can then be transmitted to a control unit, in particular the control unit 32, via this communication interface 36. For example, a lighting device 31 and / or a heater of the household appliance 1 can be controlled in this way.

[0115] In one embodiment, the circuit board 21 has recording areas 37 ( Fig. 11 ) which are designed to accommodate different sensor types, whereby the different sensor types detect the same environmental parameter. This creates flexibility for mounting different sensor types, and the same circuit board 21 can always be used for this purpose. This means that the layout of the circuit board 21 is the same, regardless of which sensor type is mounted on it. In particular, the mounting points are designed as specific solder pads. This embodiment can also be provided in addition to the embodiment with the multi-sensor arrangement with different sensors that detect different physical environmental parameters.

[0116] In Fig. 12 An embodiment of the household appliance according to the invention is shown in a perspective view. The household refrigerator 1 has a housing 2. The housing 2 contains at least one storage compartment 3 or interior space for food. Such a storage compartment 3 can, for example, be a refrigerator compartment or a freezer compartment. Furthermore, the household appliance 1 has a door 4. The door 4 has a door seal 4c on its upper edge or side, on which the ambient light detection unit 8 can also be arranged on the rear side. This is in Fig. 1 Shown in the fully closed position. Door 4 closes off the aforementioned recording compartment at the front. The household appliance 1 also has a control unit 32. This control unit 32 is in Fig. 1 shown only symbolically. The household appliance 1 also has a lighting device 31. This is intended to illuminate a recording space 3 ( Fig. 3 ) to illuminate. In this regard, reception room 3 is the reception room for food, as already explained above.

[0117] Household appliance 1 is located in an environment 9.

[0118] In one embodiment, the receiving space or interior space is fully closed when door 4 is closed, as shown in Fig. 12 As shown, it is not illuminated. In particular, this lighting device 31 is therefore deactivated with respect to light emission in this fully closed state of the door 4.

[0119] Starting from the point in Fig. 1 In the situation shown, door 4 is moved from a fully closed state to an open state, as shown in Fig. 13 As symbolically indicated, in one embodiment the lighting device 31 is activated. In particular, the opening of the door 4 is a starting criterion for activating the lighting device 31. In one embodiment, this opening of the door 4 can be detected by a sensor, and the relevant information is transmitted to the control unit 32. Depending on this, the lighting device 31 is then controlled accordingly by the control unit.

[0120] As in Fig. 14 As can be seen, the household refrigeration appliance 1 has at least one ambient light detection unit 8. This ambient light detection unit 8 is designed to detect the brightness in the surroundings 9. In one embodiment, the ambient light detection unit 8 can be arranged on a front strip 13 or front flange of the housing 2. Furthermore, the ambient light detection unit 8 can also be arranged on the rear of the door seal 4c of the door 4. In one embodiment, the front strip 13 is positioned such that, when the door 4 is closed, it is at least partially shaded by the door 4. This means that, when the door 4 is closed, it cannot detect the brightness of the surroundings 9, or not with sufficient accuracy. The door 4 can have a decorative panel 12 extending beyond the side edges of the door 4 ( Fig. 2 ) be.

[0121] However, if door 3 is moved from the fully closed state as shown in the illustration in Fig. 12 Once the door is opened or this opening process starts, in one embodiment the ambient light detection unit 8 is no longer shaded by the door 4 and can then detect the brightness of the surroundings 9. This is in Fig. 13 As shown. In particular, it can be provided that, depending on where the ambient light detection unit 8 is arranged on the front panel 13, the opening angle of the door 4 differs with regard to whether the ambient light detection unit 8 is covered. It can be provided that the ambient light detection unit 8 is arranged relatively laterally on the front panel 13. This is particularly the case on the side that is the opening side with respect to the door 4 and that is moved away from the front panel 13 first when the door is opened. In this respect, the opening angle from which the ambient light detection unit 8 can automatically detect the brightness of the surroundings 9 is then smaller.Furthermore, a door actuation detection unit 33, for example a magnetic, inductive or capacitive sensor or the like, is provided on the front strip 13, which is preferably located closer to the opening side than the ambient light detection unit 8, so that the door actuation detection unit 33 detects the lifting of the door 4 from the housing 2 at an early stage and the opening angle of the door 4 is smaller, from which the ambient light detection unit 8 can automatically detect the brightness of the surroundings 9.

[0122] In one embodiment, the ambient light detection unit 8 starts detecting the ambient brightness at a time delay after the door 3 starts opening. For example, the detection starts at a time between 0.5 seconds and 1.5 seconds, in particular between 0.8 seconds and 1.2 seconds, after the door 4 starts opening.

[0123] Furthermore, it is provided that the lighting device 31 is automatically activated when the door 4 is opened, as already explained above. In one embodiment, it is provided that the activation of the lighting device 31 initiates the automatic setting of a basic lighting scenario for the recording room 3. This then specifically concerns illuminating the recording room 3 with a basic brightness and / or a basic light color. Starting from the... Fig. 13 In the situation shown, if door 4 is opened further and thus pivoted about its pivot axis A, the state will then be as follows: Fig. 14 This is achieved as another example. In this state of door 4, a pivot position is reached in which a user can fully see into and view recording room 3.

[0124] It is intended that the ambient light level 9 is measured using the ambient light detection unit 8 of the household refrigeration unit 1, with measurement starting automatically when the door 4 is opened. The measured ambient light level 9 is then evaluated, in particular using an evaluation unit 37. This evaluation unit 37 of the household refrigeration unit 1 can be part of the control unit 32. Depending on this ambient light level, a final lighting scenario is generated for the recording room 3. The recording room 3 is then illuminated according to this final lighting scenario.

[0125] In one embodiment, the ambient brightness 9 is automatically detected only when or after the door 4 is opened, starting from the closed state of the door 4. The ambient brightness 9 detection is performed for a maximum duration of 2 seconds, particularly a maximum of 1 second. Specifically, this detection is performed for a duration between 0.5 seconds and 1.5 seconds, particularly for 1 second. Starting from the state in Fig. 13 , at which point the detection process is just starting or can start, up to the opening state of door 3, as is the case, for example, in Fig. 14 As shown, in one embodiment, a time period typically elapses that is greater than or equal to the duration of the detection process. In particular, this time period is typically greater than the time used to detect the ambient brightness and, in addition, the time required to determine and set the final lighting scenario. This advantageously ensures that, especially in a situation such as that described in Fig. 14 The figure shows an exemplary door position in which a user can see fully into the recording space 3 from the front and can easily and ergonomically view it completely, and in which the final lighting scenario has already begun to be set or has already been set. Therefore, in one embodiment, the detection of the ambient brightness and the setting of the final lighting scenario take a total duration that is less than or equal to the time it takes for the door 4 to reach an exemplary position, as shown in the figure. Fig. 14 shown, starting from the closed position according to Fig. 12 .

[0126] In Fig. 15 An exemplary diagram shows the brightness H of the light from the lighting device 31 as a function of time. As can be seen, the lighting device 31 is activated shortly after the opening process and illuminates the recording space 3 with a base brightness as specified in the base lighting scenario. In this embodiment, this is, for example, 25 percent of the maximum brightness of the lighting device 31. The ambient brightness 9 is then measured for a period of, for example, 1 second, during which time the brightness of the lighting device 31 remains unchanged. Specifically, the measurement process begins approximately 1 second after the door opening process starts.Once the detection procedure and the generation of the final lighting device are completed, depending on the detected brightness, for example within the specified time period, preferably within 2 seconds, particularly within a maximum of 1.5 seconds, and especially within 1 second, the final lighting scenario is then set. This is done as shown in the diagram in [reference]. Fig. 15 As can be seen, the base brightness is increased by a fixed percentage brightness value, for example, and then raised to a final brightness value corresponding to the final lighting scenario. For example, the brightness can be increased to 50 percent, 75 percent, or 100 percent of the maximum brightness of the lighting device 31. This change, in particular dimming, takes less than 2 seconds in one embodiment, more specifically less than 1.5 seconds, and more specifically between 0.5 and 1.5 seconds. Therefore, after this specific time window has elapsed, for example, approximately two seconds after the door 4 begins to open, the final brightness of the final lighting scenario is set. Additionally or instead, the light color can also be adjusted accordingly.Thus, a change in light color between the basic lighting scenario and the final lighting scenario is also possible here. In particular, a very fast method is provided in which the ambient brightness is detected very quickly, starting from a trigger criterion (the opening of the door) and continuing until the final lighting scenario is set, specifically within a time interval of less than or equal to three seconds, and especially less than or equal to 2.5 seconds.

[0127] This scenario is particularly advantageous if the ambient light detection unit 8 is installed in a shaded position when the door is closed and is thus protected from the door 4 or another component part, especially design panel 12 ( Fig. 2 ), is concealed. If the household appliance, in particular the household refrigerator 1, is not a freestanding unit but, for example, a built-in unit, the ambient light detection unit 8 may also be shaded by a furniture front panel attached to the front of the door 4 when the door 4 is closed. This concealed design of such an ambient light detection unit 8, or brightness detection sensor, provides improved protection. Furthermore, it prevents the ambient brightness from being continuously monitored. This also offers advantages regarding the operation and lifespan of the brightness detection sensor. Bezugszeichenliste

[0128] 1 Household appliance 2 Housing 3 Recording chamber 4 Door 4a Door 4b Door 4c Door end strip 5 Container 6 Outer housing 7 Free space 8 Ambient light detection unit 9 Environment 10 Door leaf 11 Outer wall 12 Design panel 13 Front strip 14 Sensor housing 15 Rear 16 Snap connection 17 Reinforcing structure 18 Sensor housing part 19 Sensor housing part 20 Interior 21 Circuit board 22 Brightness sensor 23 Humidity sensor 24 Arrangement 25 Hole 26 Lens 26a Exterior 27 Optical element 28 Snap element 29 Light guide 30 Complete part 31 Interior lighting 32 Control unit 33 Door actuation detection unit 34 Front strip 35 Gap 36 Communication interface 37 Evaluation unit x Lateral direction yVertical direction zValley direction ALongitudinal axis

Claims

1. Household appliance (1) with an ambient light detection unit (8), with a sensor housing (14) and a brightness sensor (22), which detects the brightness of the ambient light in the environment (9), which is arranged in the sensor housing (14), wherein the household appliance (1) has a housing (2) with a front strip (13) and a door (4) connected to the housing (2), the ambient light detection unit (8) being arranged on the front strip (13) or on a door end strip (4c) of the door (4), which, in the height direction of the household appliance (1), is provided on an upper or lower edge of the door (4), characterised in that the ambient light detection unit (8) has a lens (26) with which the ambient light incident on the sensor housing (14) is bundled towards the brightness sensor (22), that the front strip (13) or door end strip (4c) has a hole (25), through which the ambient light detection unit (8) detects ambient light, that in the closed state of the door (4) the hole (25) is at least shadowed so that at best ambient light reaches the hole (25) to a reduced extent and that the household appliance (1) is a built-in unit (1) and a design board (12) which is separate from the door leaf (10) is arranged on a front side of a door leaf (10) of the door (4), wherein viewed in the height direction (y) of the household appliance (1) the hole (25) is arranged so as to overlap with the design board (12) and in the depth direction (z) of the household appliance (1) a minimum distance (d) is at most formed between the hole (25) and the design board (12) so that the hole (25) is at least shadowed by the design board (12).

2. Household appliance (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the lens (26) has a lens (26) shaped in a convex manner at least on one side.

3. Household appliance (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the brightness sensor (22) is arranged in a focus of the lens (26).

4. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lens (26) is embodied in one piece with the sensor housing (14).

5. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sensor housing (14) and the lens (26) is an injection moulded part.

6. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lens (26) with at least one outer face (26a) toward the environment (9) is arranged in an exposed manner on the sensor housing (14).

7. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ambient light detection unit (8) has a light conductor (29), with which the incident ambient light is routed.

8. Household appliance (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that the lens (26) and the light conductor (29) are coupled to one another, in particular the lens (26) is arranged upstream of the light conductor (29) in the beam path of the incident ambient light, in particular the lens (26) as an end of the light conductor (29) is embodied in one piece with the light conductor (29).

9. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ambient light detection unit (8) has a printed circuit board (21), on which the brightness sensor (22) is arranged, in particular wherein a humidity sensor (23) is additionally arranged on the printed circuit board (21).

10. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ambient light detection unit (8) is arranged with at least one snap-fit connection (16) thereon.

11. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the household appliance (1) has a door actuation detection unit (33), with which an actuation, in particular an opening, of the door (4) can be detected, wherein the ambient light detection unit (8) can be activated as a function of a door actuation for the purpose of detecting the ambient brightness.