Household appliance

Abstract

The invention relates to a household appliance (1; 2) with an image acquisition unit (13; 23) which is designed and configured to sensorially detect a detection area (A; B) in front of the household appliance (1; 2). The household appliance (1; 2) is characterized by a UWB module which is designed and configured to perform at least one-way, preferably two-way, UWB communication with a UWB-enabled mobile device (4) of a user (5).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a household appliance.

[0002] Household appliances such as washing machines, tumble dryers, washer-dryers, wet vacuum cleaners, vacuum cleaners, and the like have long been known for carrying out or supporting household activities such as washing, drying, cleaning (e.g., wiping or vacuuming), and the like. This also applies to kitchen appliances, which are also classified as household appliances. For example, a user can be assisted in preparing meals by a hand mixer, a hand blender, a kettle, and in particular by cooking appliances such as an oven, a steamer, a combination oven and steamer, a microwave, and the like. Kitchen appliances also include, for example, extractor hoods, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, chest freezers, and the like.

[0003] Some household appliances, such as vacuum cleaners and hand mixers, are guided and moved by hand during use and are therefore considered mobile. Other household appliances, such as washing machines, tumble dryers, ovens, steamers, refrigerators, and the like, are placed and used in a specific location in the home, such as the kitchen or pantry, due to their intended use and their size and weight, and are therefore considered stationary.

[0004] Such stationary household appliances usually have in common that they have an outer casing which essentially encloses the household appliance on the outside and protects its individual components and elements, as well as making them easier to handle together. An interior space is formed within the household appliance which represents the handling space and is essentially enclosed by an inner casing which acts as an inner casing. Between the inner casing and the outer casing, a housing space is formed as an intermediate space in which functional elements of the household appliance, such as a controller or control unit, an electrical power supply and other components which serve the intended use of the household appliance, can be arranged. In depth from the front, i.e. viewed from the user's perspective, the outer casing ora panel in the form of a furniture material or in the form of a control panel and the like together with the inner housing closes off the housing space so that the housing space is not accessible to the user.

[0005] The interior of the household appliance has a through-opening at the front in depth as an access opening, through which the interior of the household appliance is accessible to the user in order to insert items to be treated, such as laundry to be washed or dried, food to be cooked or cooled, or the like, into the interior of the household appliance and arrange them there, and to remove them from the interior of the household appliance after treatment has been completed. The access opening can be opened by the user by means of a closure element, for example in the form of a door that can be pivoted sideways, a flap that can be pivoted downwards, or the like, in order to access the interior of the household appliance, as described above, or to close the interior of the household appliance and carry out the treatment process.Such a closure element can be designed to be closed or to have a viewing window to allow the user, for example in the case of a washing machine or an oven, to see into the closed interior of the household appliance.

[0006] With household appliances, it is now common practice for the appliance to attempt to recognize a user in general, and in particular a specific user, i.e., to distinguish between multiple people. This is intended to increase the convenience of operating the household appliance for the person as user by enabling certain functions or operating states of the household appliance to be activated or made available or not depending on the presence or absence of the user or a specific user. For example, a "waking up" from standby mode to operating mode can occur as soon as a person is recognized by the appliance, for example, in the area directly in front of the appliance.

[0007] For this method of user recognition, it is known to use an image capture unit or a camera system that is integrated into the household appliance and faces the user or the area in front of the appliance. In particular, the image capture unit or camera can be arranged in a panel of the household appliance. Examples of image capture units or cameras that can be used include 2D cameras, 3D cameras, stereo cameras, or time-of-flight cameras.

[0008] A camera system can be used to recognise the user and, in part, their intention, for example, the intention to use the household appliance by the user approaching the household appliance.

[0009] The disadvantage, however, is that this can only be done within a specific field of view, i.e., within the detection range of the optical system, which is usually only in the area directly in front of the household appliance or its aperture. If the user is outside the detection range or outside the field of view of the image capture or camera system, this function of the household appliance cannot be used.

[0010] Another disadvantage is that user recognition requires a sufficiently high resolution of the image capture unit or camera system. Such an image capture unit can result in high acquisition costs and require a large amount of space, which may be particularly limited in the area behind the appliance's panel. Processing the captured image data can also result in a correspondingly high level of effort on the part of the image capture control unit or camera system, or the control unit of the household appliance, which can also lead to corresponding acquisition costs. In any case, this can also increase electrical energy consumption.

[0011] The invention addresses the problem of improving the capabilities for recognizing people or users in household appliances, particularly for distinguishing them. In particular, the ability to locate or determine the position of the person or user should be improved. In any case, this should be done as simply, cost-effectively, reliably, and / or energy-efficiently as possible. At the very least, an alternative to the known methods should be created.

[0012] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a household appliance having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention emerge from the following dependent claims.

[0013] The invention thus relates to a household appliance with an image capture unit designed and configured to sensor-capture a detection area in front of the household appliance. The household appliance can be any household appliance, and in particular any kitchen appliance. In particular, the household appliance can be a stationary household appliance, and in particular a built-in household appliance. For example, the stationary household appliance can be a washing machine, a dryer, a refrigerator, a cooktop, an oven, a steamer, and the like.

[0014] In any case, the household appliance according to the invention is characterized by a UWB module designed and configured to carry out at least one-way, preferably two-way, UWB communication with a user's UWB-capable mobile device. The mobile device can be a wearable, in particular a smartphone, a smartwatch, or a tablet.

[0015] The present invention is based on the finding that previously known user recognition and / or user location based solely on the image data captured by an image capture unit of a household appliance may be inadequate in terms of the quality of the result. Furthermore, this is inherently limited to the detection range or field of view of the image capture unit.

[0016] According to the invention, in addition to the image capture unit, the household appliance therefore has the capability for UWB communication with a UWB-enabled mobile device of the user of the household appliance. Thus, the properties of UWB technology can also be used to identify and / or locate the user who carries or uses the UWB-enabled mobile device. This can improve or expand the possible uses of the household appliance, as will be described in more detail below.

[0017] UWB stands for Ultra Wideband and describes the use of a broadband radio signal with a minimum width of 500 MHz in a frequency range from 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz. The generated radio signals have a time delay in the nanosecond range. This enables high data rates and also allows for time-of-flight measurements, which enable precise distance measurements between two UWB participants of less than 10 cm. Depending on the antenna design or when using multiple antennas, the directions of the radio signals can also be determined with an accuracy of around 3° using a time-of-flight difference. Typical measurement methods here are two-way ranging and PDoA (phase difference of the incoming signals).

[0018] IEEE802.15.4z can be used as the technical basis. This is a radio protocol for UWB communication that is only permitted to use low spectral power. This low spectral power limits its range. The high bandwidth (500 MHz) allows for very short pulses, which can be used for precise time-of-flight measurements.

[0019] A "wearable," also called a "wearable computer," refers to electronic devices such as a smartwatch, data glasses, or the like, which are worn on the user's body during use. Wearables can also be integrated into clothing, including shoes. The aforementioned wireless communication standards can also be used with wearables.

[0020] Wearables can be used, in particular, for mobile data processing. On the other hand, wearables are essentially used to make the person wearing or using the wearable discoverable or trackable, which can be referred to as tracking. During tracking, information about the user can be collected and wirelessly transmitted to other electronic devices or to an electrical network, which show the person's position in a room and, in particular, in relation to a device. Additionally or alternatively, information relating to the person's activities and / or physiological state, such as body temperature, heart rate, and the like, can also be transmitted in this way. Wearables can also interact or communicate with each other, for example to identify people or their wearables, and the like.

[0021] According to one aspect of the invention, the household appliance, preferably the UWB module and / or a control unit of the household appliance, is designed and configured to identify the UWB-capable mobile terminal. In other words, the UWB-capable mobile terminal with which the household appliance is currently communicating can be distinguished from other such UWB-capable mobile terminals, for example by comparing identification data of the UWB-capable mobile terminal with identification data that is available to the household appliance, for example stored there, or that can be made available, for example, via the Internet.

[0022] In any case, the household appliance can react specifically to the specific identified UWB-capable mobile device or be operated depending on the specific identified UWB-capable mobile device, as will be described in more detail below.

[0023] According to a further aspect of the invention, the household appliance, preferably a control unit of the household appliance, is designed and configured to assign the identified UWB-capable mobile terminal to a user. This allows the identified UWB-capable mobile terminal and its carrier to be linked as the user, for example, also by comparing them with corresponding information, as described above. This can make it possible to operate the household appliance depending on a specific identified user, as will be described in more detail below.

[0024] According to a further aspect of the invention, the household appliance, preferably the UWB module and / or a control unit of the household appliance, is designed and configured to locate the UWB-enabled mobile terminal. This can make it possible to use or take into account the position of the UWB-enabled mobile terminal relative to the household appliance, in particular the distance and / or orientation of the UWB-enabled mobile terminal relative to the household appliance, in order to operate the household appliance, as will be described in more detail below.

[0025] In particular, functions or the operation of the household appliance as a whole can be made dependent on the proximity of the UWB-enabled mobile device. This can, in particular, prevent remote operation—i.e., operation or influencing of the operation of the household appliance using the UWB-enabled mobile device without sufficient proximity and thus without the presumed presence of the respective user—which can increase the security of the household appliance.

[0026] According to a further aspect of the invention, the household appliance, preferably the image capture unit and / or a control unit of the household appliance, is designed and configured to further identify the user based on captured image data from the image capture unit. This includes associating the user relative to the located position of the UWB-enabled mobile device. This can increase the accuracy of locating the identified user, since the location of the UWB-enabled mobile device worn or used by the user can only be used to a certain extent to determine the user's position. Thus, the position of the user's left wrist, on which the user wears, for example, a smartwatch as a UWB-enabled mobile device, can be located rather than the center of the user's body.This can lead to inaccurate user position information if the user is standing directly in front of one of two adjacent household appliances according to the invention, but their left wrist with the smartwatch is located between the two household appliances according to the invention. In this case, image capture of the user by the household appliance being operated can clarify whether the user is actually facing or can be assigned to this household appliance.

[0027] Image capture by the household appliance according to the invention can also offer additional functions. This can include, for example, the recognition of the user's orientation or their face. The image data can also be used to infer the user's intention, for example, to use the household appliance and, for this purpose, to turn toward it or to direct their gaze toward it.

[0028] According to a further aspect of the invention, the household appliance, preferably a control unit of the household appliance, is designed and configured to be operated depending on a sufficient proximity of the identified UWB-capable mobile device of the user. This can preclude remote action, as already mentioned.

[0029] According to a further aspect of the invention, the household appliance, preferably a control unit of the household appliance, is designed and configured to be operated further depending on a user object recognized based on captured image data from the image capture unit. Such an object can be an object that is related to the operation of the household appliance or can be used for this purpose or is required for this purpose. For example, this can be a basket filled with laundry that is carried by the user. It can also be, for example, a baking tray or a pot or pan.

[0030] In any case, the object can be detected, assigned to the user, and the household appliance can react, for example, by automatically opening a respective treatment chamber, such as a washing machine drum, a cooking chamber, or the like. This allows this step of the treatment process to be taken away from the user, which can be particularly helpful if the user is carrying or has to carry the object with both hands.

[0031] According to a further aspect of the invention, the household appliance, preferably the image capture unit and / or a control unit of the household appliance, is designed and configured to recognize a user's intention based on image data captured by the image capture unit. This can represent a concrete implementation or use of the captured image data, as already mentioned above.

[0032] According to a further aspect of the invention, the household appliance, preferably the image capture unit and / or a control unit of the household appliance, is designed and configured to recognize only the user, preferably including objects handled by the user, of the identified UWB-capable mobile terminal based on the captured image data of the image capture unit. In other words, the processing of the captured image data can be limited to those information or sections of the detection area of ​​the image capture unit where the user is located. This can reduce the amount of data to be processed and thus simplify and / or accelerate the process. It can also prevent other persons from being recognized and taken into account with regard to the operation of the household appliance.

[0033] According to a further aspect of the invention, the household appliance, preferably a control unit of the household appliance, is designed and configured to operate the image capture unit depending on the sufficient proximity of the identified UWB-capable mobile device of the user. In particular, operation of the image capture unit can be omitted if the user is too far away from the household appliance to be recognized in the captured image data. This can prevent unnecessary operation of the image capture unit. This can save energy. It can also prevent or reduce the unwanted detection of other people. According to a further aspect of the invention, the image capture unit is a time-of-flight camera. This can keep costs, effort, and energy consumption for implementing an image capture unit low, although it can limit the information that can be obtained from the captured image data.

[0034] According to a further aspect of the invention, the image capture unit is a high-resolution camera. This can increase the quality of the captured image data and thus also the information that can be obtained from the captured image data, although this may increase the costs, effort, and energy consumption for implementing an image capture unit.

[0035] In other words, a wearable device with a UWB chip built into it can be used to identify and / or determine the user's position. A user wearing a wearable device with such a chip can be recognized by an ID via a UWB radio module in the household appliance. Furthermore, their position in the room can be determined. This alone allows for the implementation of numerous user-tailored assistance functions.

[0036] Using optical sensors in the household appliance, for example a camera system or a higher-resolution time-of-flight sensor (ToF sensor), the user's intentions in front of the household appliance can be detected and linked to the user using UWB user recognition.

[0037] A ToF sensor can have 8x8 zones, each of which outputs a distance value as depth information about an object. These 64 zones are sufficient to detect the outline of a user, hand gestures, and objects such as a baking tray. The more zones the sensor has, the more precise the information becomes. In any case, the acquisition costs and installation space can be kept low.

[0038] If a high-resolution camera system is used instead, detailed information can be available in the field of view. People, movements, objects, and viewing directions can be detected. However, this typically results in higher acquisition costs and increased space or installation space requirements.

[0039] The possibilities will be illustrated by two examples: In the first example, UWB is linked to the ToF sensor with 8x8 zones.

[0040] The user selects a recipe on their smartphone in the living room that they want to cook using the Cook Assist option on their oven. They enter the kitchen and are recognized by the oven via UWB, as their smartphone has a UWB chip, which the UWB module in the oven recognizes. The oven wakes up and displays the recipe's program parameters.

[0041] In the assisted cooking process, the user is explained the recipe step by step. For one step, they need a utensil located in the cupboard above the oven. They approach the oven and are detected via UWB. The oven waits for the baking tray to be inserted, but cannot detect a baking tray via the ToF sensor and does not react despite the user's proximity being detected.

[0042] The user can take something out of the cupboard above. While the user prepares the baking tray, his partner approaches the oven with a washed baking tray to store it in the cupboard above. The ToF sensor detects a baking tray, but not the user with UWB. The oven doesn't respond.

[0043] Now the user has finished preparing and wants to place the baking tray in the oven. They approach and are identified as a cook via UWB. The ToF sensor detects the baking tray and automatically opens the oven door, allowing the user to easily insert it. In the second example, UWB is linked to a camera in the household appliance.

[0044] The user has configured the camera to activate as soon as they are detected in the room via UWB and have previously activated a cooking process via their app or voice assistant. They are the primary user of this feature.

[0045] The other family members don't want the camera to monitor them. It also saves energy, as the camera is only turned on when the user needs it for assistance during a cooking process.

[0046] During the cooking process, the camera recognizes the user's gestures and movement patterns and also knows to only pay attention to those belonging to the user, whose position is detected via UWB. This way, the oven doesn't react to other family members who might be in the camera's field of view during the cooking process.

[0047] The combination of UWB and optical sensors combines the advantages of both systems.

[0048] UWB can be used to identify the user within a very large area, typically extending beyond the detection range of an optical sensor or camera. It is also possible to identify a user within the detection range of the optical sensor or camera.

[0049] The user can be recognized robustly and reliably by the camera, even if the lighting conditions in the room make this difficult or the user's posture makes recognition via the camera impossible.

[0050] The optical sensors or camera, on the other hand, can recognize the user and their intentions and, depending on the resolution, obtain detailed information. For example, if two adjacent household appliances are located next to each other, the sensors can detect which device the user is actually standing in front of and intends to use, even if the UWB wearable is located in an area between the appliances, either as a smartphone in a trouser pocket or as a smartwatch on the wrist.

[0051] In any case, the invention described here can combine the advantages of both user recognition methods (identification chip, camera system). This allows the user to be recognized over a large area, and their position in the room and relative to a household appliance can be determined very precisely. Furthermore, the camera system can be used to infer their intentions, thus offering improved assistance functions and more convenient operation.

[0052] An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a kitchen diagonally from above at the front with two household appliances according to the invention arranged directly next to each other in a first situation; and Figure 2 shows the representation of the Figure 1 in a second situation.

[0053] The figures above are viewed in Cartesian coordinates. There is a longitudinal axis X, which can also be referred to as depth X or length X. Perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X extends a transverse axis Y, which can also be referred to as width Y. Perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis X and the transverse axis Y extends a vertical axis Z, which can also be referred to as height Z and corresponds to the direction of gravity. The longitudinal axis X and the transverse axis Y together form the horizontal X, Y, which can also be referred to as the horizontal plane X, Y.

[0054] The Figures 1 and 2 both show a perspective view of a kitchen 0 from diagonally above at the front with two household appliances 1, 2 according to the invention arranged directly adjacent to each other. The first household appliance 1 according to the invention is an oven 1. The second household appliance 2 according to the invention to the right is a steamer 2.

[0055] The kitchen 0 has a cooking island 01 with a cooktop (not labeled) in the foreground. A first person 5 stands in front of the cooking island 01, wearing a UWB-capable mobile device 4 in the form of a UWB wearable 4 as a UWB smartwatch 4 on their left wrist. The first person 5 can therefore be considered a user 5 of the household appliances 1, 2 according to the invention.

[0056] In the background, the kitchen 0 has a transverse kitchen unit 02, which has several pieces of kitchen furniture 03. A voice assistance system 3 is arranged on one of the pieces of kitchen furniture 03. The oven 1 according to the invention and the steam cooker 2 according to the invention are arranged as built-in appliances in the kitchen furniture 03. A second person 6 stands in front of the kitchen unit 02 as a non-user 6 of the household appliances 1, 2 according to the invention.

[0057] Both household appliances 1, 2 according to the invention each have an outer housing (not labeled), which can also be referred to as an outer casing and essentially closes off or encloses the respective household appliance 1, 2 to the outside. The outer casing terminates in the upper region along the longitudinal axis at the front, i.e., toward the kitchen 0, with a panel 10, 20. The panel 10, 20 each has a display / control element 12, 22 in the form of a display 12, 22.

[0058] Within the outer housing is a cooking chamber (not shown), which is accessible to the user 5 from the front along the longitudinal axis X through an access opening (not shown) located below the panel 10, 20. The access opening can be closed and opened by means of a closure element 11, 21 in the form of a flap 11, 21.

[0059] In the right-hand area of ​​the panel 10, 20, an image capture unit 13, 23 is arranged and directed forward into the kitchen 0 with its respective detection area A, B or image capture area A, B in order to capture the area directly in front of the household appliance 1, 2. The image capture units 13, 23 can each be designed as a time-of-flight camera 13, 23 or as a high-resolution camera 13, 23. Each household appliance 1, 2 further comprises a UWB module in order to be able to communicate with UWB-capable mobile devices 4 in both transmission directions. Each household appliance 1, 2 further comprises a control unit (not shown) for operating the respective components and modules.

[0060] In general, the UWB communication between the respective household appliance 1, 2 and a UWB-enabled mobile device 4 of a user 5 can be used to identify the UWB-enabled mobile device 4 and assign it to a user 5, whereby the user 5 can also be identified. The UWB-enabled mobile device 4, and thus at least roughly the user 5, can also be located by the respective household appliance 1, 2, which enables the determination of an orientation and a distance between the respective household appliance 1, 2 and the UWB-enabled mobile device 4.

[0061] In order to more accurately locate the user 5, who can wear the UWB-enabled mobile terminal 4 almost anywhere on the body, the user 5 can further be identified based on captured image data from the image capture unit 13; 23, and thus his UWB-enabled mobile terminal 4 can be assigned to a more precise position on the body of the user 5, or the user 5 can be assigned to an exact actual position.

[0062] The location of the UWB-capable mobile terminal 4 and thus at least approximately also of its user 5 can also be used to operate the household appliance 1, 2 based on the corresponding distance information only when the user 5 is in sufficient or immediate proximity to the household appliance 1, 2, which can exclude a remote effect.

[0063] The respective image capture unit 13, 23 can also be used to detect an object such as a baking tray in the hands of the user 5 and to be operated depending on the object of the user 5 detected based on the image data captured by the image capture unit 13; 23, for example to automatically open the flap 11, 21, since the user 5 is carrying the baking tray with both hands and therefore does not have a free hand for this purpose.

[0064] From the image data captured by the image capture unit 13; 23, an intention of the user 5 can also be recognized, such as an orientation or a gaze toward the household appliance 1, 2, which can be understood as an intention to use the respective household appliance 1, 2. In response to this, the corresponding household appliance 1, 2 can switch from a standby mode to an operating mode.

[0065] Likewise, the evaluation of the captured image data of the image acquisition unit 13, 23 can also be directed or limited to detecting only the user 5 and objects handled by the user 5, such as a baking tray. This can minimize the image processing effort and prevent other persons 6 from being detected.

[0066] In any case, the location of the user 5 or the resulting distance determination between the respective household appliance 1, 2 and the user 5 or their identified UWB-capable mobile device 4 can be used to operate the image capture unit 13, 23 only at sufficiently close proximity or at a sufficiently close distance, or to transfer it from a standby mode to an operating mode. This can save energy.

[0067] Within the scope of these possibilities, as described in the Figure 1As shown, the actual user 5 with his smartwatch 4 as an identified UWB-capable mobile device 4 is outside the detection range A of the oven 1 as the first household appliance 1 according to the invention. Control of the oven 1 by the user 5, for example by means of the voice assistance system 3, is thus ignored by the oven 1 or its control unit because the user 5 is too far away from the oven 1.

[0068] The oven 1 cannot be controlled by the non-user 6 either, because the non-user 6 does not carry a UWB-capable mobile device 4 and has therefore not been identified by the oven 1 or its control unit and thus authorized to give instructions to the oven 1.

[0069] If, however, the user 5 enters the detection area B of the steamer 2 as a second household appliance 2 according to the invention, the steamer 2 can be controlled by the user 5, for example by means of the voice assistance system 3. List of reference symbols (part of the description)

[0070] ADetectivity or image capture area of ​​the first household appliance 1 BDetectivity or image capture area of ​​the second household appliance 2 X Longitudinal axis; Depth; Length Y Transverse axis; Width Z Vertical axis; Height X, Y Horizontal; Horizontal plane 0Kitchen 01Kitchen island 02Kitchen unit 03Kitchen furniture 1 (first) household appliance; oven 10 panel 11 locking element; flap 12 display / control element; display 13 image capture unit; time-of-flight camera; high-resolution camera 2 (second) household appliance; steamer 20 aperture 21 locking element; flap 22 display / control element; display 23 image capture unit; time-of-flight camera; high-resolution camera 3Voice assistance system 4UWB-capable mobile device; UWB wearable; UWB smartwatch 5first person; user 6second person; non-user

Claims

1. Household appliance (1; 2) with an image capture unit (13; 23) which is designed and configured to sensor-capture a detection area (A; B) in front of the household appliance (1; 2), characterized by a UWB module which is designed and configured to carry out at least one-sided, preferably two-sided, UWB communication with a UWB-capable mobile terminal (4) of a user (5).

2. Household appliance (1; 2) according to claim 1, wherein the household appliance (1; 2), preferably the UWB module and / or a control unit of the household appliance (1; 2), is designed and configured to identify the UWB-capable mobile terminal (4).

3. Household appliance (1; 2) according to claim 2, wherein the household appliance (1; 2), preferably a control unit of the household appliance (1; 2), is designed and configured to assign the identified UWB-capable mobile terminal (4) to a user (5).

4. Household appliance (1; 2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the household appliance (1; 2), preferably the UWB module and / or a control unit of the household appliance (1; 2), is designed and configured to locate the UWB-capable mobile terminal (4).

5. Household appliance (1; 2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the household appliance (1; 2), preferably the image capture unit (13; 23) and / or a control unit of the household appliance (1; 2), is designed and configured to further identify the user (5) based on captured image data of the image capture unit (13; 23).

6. Household appliance (1; 2) according to claim 2 or 3 and according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the household appliance (1; 2), preferably a control unit of the household appliance (1; 2), is designed and configured to be operated depending on a sufficient proximity of the identified UWB-capable mobile terminal (4) of the user (5).

7. Household appliance (1; 2) according to claim 6, wherein the household appliance (1; 2), preferably a control unit of the household appliance (1; 2), is designed and configured to be operated further as a function of an object of the user (5) recognized on the basis of captured image data of the image capture unit (13; 23).

8. Household appliance (1; 2) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the household appliance (1; 2), preferably the image capture unit (13; 23) and / or a control unit of the household appliance (1; 2), is designed and configured to recognize an intention of the user (5) based on captured image data of the image capture unit (13; 23).

9. Household appliance (1; 2) according to one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the household appliance (1; 2), preferably the image capture unit (13; 23) and / or a control unit of the household appliance (1; 2), is designed and configured to recognize only the user (5), preferably including objects handled by the user (5), of the identified UWB-capable mobile terminal (4) based on the captured image data of the image capture unit (13; 23).

10. Household appliance (1; 2) according to one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the household appliance (1; 2), preferably a control unit of the household appliance (1; 2), is designed and configured to operate the image capture unit (13; 23) depending on a sufficient proximity of the identified UWB-capable mobile terminal (4) of the user (5).

11. Household appliance (1; 2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the image capture unit (13; 23) is a time-of-flight camera (13; 23).

12. Household appliance (1; 2) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the image capture unit (13; 23) is a high-resolution camera (13; 23).

Images