Household appliance having a display device for transmitting a status, reception apparatus and computer program product

Abstract

The invention relates to a household appliance (10) having a display device (11) and a control device (12), with a respective specific flashing frequency being assigned to multiple predefined statuses of the household appliance (10), and the invention furthermore also relates to a reception apparatus (20) having an optical acquisition device (21), a controller (22) and a display (23), wherein the controller (22) is configured and programmed to actuate the optical acquisition device (21) so as to receive the status of a household appliance (10), and also relates to computer program products in this regard.

Description

[0001] Household appliance with a display device for transmitting a status, receiving device and computer program product

[0002] The present application relates to a household appliance with a display device for transmitting a status, a receiving device and related computer program products.

[0003] It is known that many household appliances have a high-resolution display to transmit status information to operators. For example, EP 2 637 536 A1 discloses a fully automatic coffee machine with a TFT display. In a data transmission mode, e.g., when a malfunction occurs, a QR code can be displayed on the TFT display of the fully automatic coffee machine disclosed therein. This QR code can be scanned with a smartphone camera and generate an SMS that informs customer service about the corresponding error.

[0004] However, such TFT displays are, on the one hand, costly to manufacture in household appliances, and, on the other hand, prone to errors and not very robust with regard to external influences. A larger number of different QR codes to be stored also requires considerable storage space. This can result in disadvantages in terms of manufacturing costs, failure rates, and sustainability, particularly in cases where the household appliance itself does not require such a display for its basic function.

[0005] The object of the invention is therefore to improve the disadvantages mentioned, in particular to transmit status information of a household appliance to an operator in an equally simple and sustainable manner.

[0006] This object is achieved by a household appliance according to claim 1, by a receiving device according to claim 5 and by a computer program product according to one of claims 6 and 7. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims. According to the present invention, a household appliance has a display device and a control device, wherein a specific flashing frequency is each assigned to a plurality of predefined statuses of the household appliance, such as a plurality of different error codes. According to the invention, the control device of the household appliance is set up and programmed to detect when one of the predefined statuses has been reached, ie the status currently reached or occurred on the household appliance, and to control the display device to send the status to a receiving device at the flashing frequency assigned to the detected status.In particular, this means that the control device of the household appliance is configured and programmed to transmit the status to the receiving device by controlling the display device at the flashing frequency associated with the detected status. This allows many different statuses to be transmitted to an operator with minimal memory requirements, even with a very simple, cost-effective, robust, and therefore particularly sustainable display device. According to the invention, a suitably programmed, but otherwise conventional, smartphone can serve as the corresponding receiving device, as will be described in detail below. Such smartphones are accessible to almost every operator and, in most cases, are always carried with them anyway.With appropriate programming, the current status of the household appliance can be easily displayed on the smartphone's screen, particularly in plain text and with helpful hints. The memory requirements in the household appliance can also be very minimal, since only a single flashing instruction and the flashing frequencies assigned to the various statuses need to be stored.

[0007] In particular, the operator can see with the naked eye that the display device is being controlled with a specific flashing frequency. However, the operator does not need to attempt to determine the frequency visually, e.g., by counting over a defined period of time and then searching for the corresponding information in an instruction manual. The operator only needs to recognize that the display device is being controlled to transmit the status and provide a corresponding receiving device.

[0008] A specific flashing frequency within the meaning of the present invention is understood to mean, in particular, flashing at an overall constant frequency. However, a defined sequence of sequences, each with a defined length and frequency, can also be understood as such a specific flashing frequency.

[0009] In an advantageous development of the solution according to the invention, the display device of the household appliance comprises at least one LED and the control device is set up and programmed to control the at least one LED at the flashing frequency assigned to the status. The flashing frequency can particularly advantageously be in a range including 5 to 105 Hz, particularly preferably including 10 to 100 Hz, with two of the specific flashing frequencies advantageously differing by at least 4 Hz. In a very simple embodiment, the display device can comprise an LED, e.g. exactly one LED, which can also be provided for another display, e.g. to indicate readiness for operation. The design with an LED is not only simple and cost-effective, but also long-lasting, energy-saving and particularly robust. This enables a very simple and particularly sustainable solution to the problem mentioned above.The advantageous flashing frequency range should also ensure that an operator can reliably recognize with the naked eye, under normal room lighting, that a flashing frequency is being transmitted and that a receiving device is being used. The difference between two specific flashing frequencies of at least 4 Hz enables reliable differentiation even when detected with very simple optical detection devices such as cameras on very inexpensive smartphones. The particularly preferred flashing frequency range should equally ensure the recognizability that a flashing frequency is being transmitted and additionally enable the transmission of 10 different flashing frequencies at even, integer intervals of 10 Hz each.This results in a sufficient number of different statuses for many applications, which can still be clearly detected and distinguished with a receiving device even in the event of deviations or scattering caused by aging or contamination.

[0010] In a further advantageous development of the inventive solution, the control device of the household appliance is configured and programmed to control at least two of the LEDs in parallel and / or sequentially. This enables a significant increase in the number of different, transmittable and clearly detectable defined statuses with minimal additional effort in the production of the household appliance.

[0011] In a further advantageous development of the inventive solution, the household appliance is designed as a beverage maker, cleaning appliance, food maker or processor, or refrigeration appliance. Beverage makers are understood to mean, in particular, coffee machines and tea makers. Cleaning appliances within the meaning of the present invention include not only vacuum cleaners, mops, vacuum cleaning and mopping robots, but also, in particular, fabric fresheners, washing machines, tumble dryers, and dishwashers. Food makers or processors within the meaning of the present invention include not only cooking hobs, stoves, ovens, and microwave ovens, but also, in particular, all food-processing household appliances such as mixers and the like. Refrigeration appliances within the meaning of the present invention include not only refrigerators and freezers, or combinations thereof, but also ice cream makers and the like.Household appliances can also include, for example, power tools, especially for domestic use, and / or devices for domestic installations. A particular advantage for beverage makers arises with coffee machines in the so-called entry-level segment, where, in addition to a very simple display, the memory capacity of the control unit is usually very limited or already occupied for controlling the coffee preparation. For food makers and processors and refrigeration appliances, an additional advantage arises from the display unit, which enables a particularly simple or more calm and minimalist design while still meeting all requirements.A particular advantage of cleaning devices is their simple construction and, particularly in the case of battery-operated devices, their comparatively low energy consumption for sending the status to a receiving device according to the invention, and in the case of vacuum cleaners, wipers, vacuum cleaner and mop robots, their increased robustness against external influences such as impacts against a skirting board or stair step.

[0012] A solution to the problem mentioned above is also provided by a receiving device with an optical detection device, a controller and a display, wherein the controller is set up and programmed to control the optical detection device to receive the status of the said household appliance by detecting the flashing frequency sent by its display device. In one advantageous example, this can be achieved in particular by assigning a predefined status of the household appliance, in particular an error code and / or assistance note and / or a plain text message, to several specific flashing frequencies in the controller. In a particularly advantageous example, the controller can additionally or alternatively be set up and programmed to display the status of the household appliance assigned to the specific flashing frequency received by means of the optical detection device on the display.In addition to a specially manufactured household appliance status receiver, a correspondingly programmed but otherwise conventional smartphone can particularly advantageously serve as a corresponding receiving device, as is accessible to almost every operator and in most cases is always carried with the user. Such a smartphone usually comprises a camera which can be used as an optical detection device according to the present invention. By means of the programming designed according to the invention, this camera can be controlled to receive the status of the said household appliance by detecting the flashing frequency sent by its display device. The standard smartphone can be set up and programmed for this purpose in particular by downloading and installing a corresponding app which can, for example, include a flashing detection instruction and the statuses assigned to the various detectable flashing frequencies.This allows the control system to assign, among other things, a predefined status of the household appliance to the currently detected specific flashing frequency, for example, a specific error code and a specific plain-text message, representing the current status of the household appliance. The current status of the household appliance can thus be very easily recorded and displayed on the smartphone display, particularly in plain text and with assistance instructions.

[0013] A solution to the aforementioned problem is also provided by a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a control device of a household appliance, cause the control device to detect when one of various predefined states has been reached and to control a display device of the household appliance to transmit the detected status to a receiving device at a flashing frequency associated with the detected status. The instructions of this computer program product according to the invention enable all of the advantages described for the aforementioned household appliance to be achieved accordingly. In addition, this computer program product can also be transferred, for example, to household appliances that have already been manufactured and sold and, provided they have at least a simple display device and a correspondingly configurable control device, enable them to achieve the stated problem.This enables a particularly high level of sustainability. Furthermore, the computer program product according to the invention enables separate marketing of the inventive solution as a so-called "add-on" to a basic appliance or its use only in the event of a fault in the affected household appliance, e.g., by purchasing, downloading, and installing the computer program product as an app by the operator, e.g., via an existing or to-be-established internet connection.

[0014] A solution to the aforementioned problem is also provided by a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a controller of a receiving device, cause the controller to control an optical detection device of the receiving device to receive the status of the said household appliance by detecting the transmitted flashing frequency. Using the instructions of this computer program product according to the invention, for example, all common smartphones can be used very easily and sustainably as a receiving device according to the invention with a correspondingly configured and programmed controller, e.g., by an operator or by a repair service. This also allows very simply constructed household appliance status receiving devices, e.g., by a repair service, to be configured and programmed accordingly.

[0015] In an advantageous development, the computer program product comprises commands that, when the program is executed by the control of the receiving device, cause the control to display a status of the household appliance associated with the detected flashing frequency, in particular an error code and / or assistance information and / or a plain-text message on the display of the receiving device. This enables a particularly convenient and further adjustable, in particular customizable, status display. For example, a plain-text display, possibly in combination with assistance information, is of greater importance to an operator in most situations, whereas an experienced repair service prefers a concise yet clearly stated error code in most situations.

[0016] In a further advantageous development, the computer program product comprises commands which, when the program is executed by the controller of the receiving device, cause the controller to receive or retrieve an assignment instruction for several specific flashing frequencies and one of several respectively assignable statuses of the household appliance, in particular several different error codes and / or assistance instructions and / or plain text messages, from a server via an internet connection. This makes it possible, in particular, for the manufacturer to insert additional assistance instructions even after the household appliance and the receiving device have been manufactured and sold and to make them available on the receiving device.

[0017] In a further advantageous development, the computer program product comprises commands that, when the program is executed by the controller of the receiving device, cause the controller to update the assignment instruction via the internet connection from the server, in particular at predefined intervals and / or at predefined times, or prompted by receiving a status of the aforementioned household appliance. This makes it possible, in particular, for the manufacturer, for example, not only to add additional assistance instructions even after the household appliance and the receiving device have been manufactured and sold, but also to further develop and / or adapt them, and to provide the further developed or adapted assistance instructions on the receiving device.In particular, this also makes it possible to ensure that the assignment instruction does not have to be permanently stored on the receiving device and is at the same time updated when the receiving device is used.

[0018] This allows storage space to be saved or used for other purposes, even in household appliances that, for other reasons, still have a high-resolution display, such as a TFT display. Furthermore, it also enables the appliance's status information to be transmitted to the operator in a similarly simple and sustainable manner. The principle of the invention is explained in more detail below using a drawing as an example. The drawing shows:

[0019] Fig. 1: a schematic representation of a household appliance and a

[0020] Receiving device, wherein a display device of the household appliance is controlled by a control device to send a status, and

[0021] Fig. 2: a representation according to Figure 1, wherein a status of the household appliance, which is assigned to a flashing frequency which is received by means of an optical detection device of the receiving device, is displayed in a display of the receiving device.

[0022] Figure 1 shows a household appliance 10 with a display device 11 and a control device 12 shown in dashed lines. In the present case, the household appliance 10 is a beverage maker designed as a so-called fully automatic coffee machine. Not illustrated is that several predefined statuses of the household appliance 10, in this case several different error codes, are each assigned a specific flashing frequency. In any case, the control device 12 of the illustrated household appliance 10 is configured and programmed to detect when one of the predefined statuses is reached and to control the display device 11 to transmit the status to a receiving device 20 at the flashing frequency assigned to the detected status. For this purpose, the display device 11 comprises three LEDs 13, 14; 15, namely the first LED 13, the second LED 14, and the third LED 15.The control device 12 is configured and programmed to control at least one of the LEDs 13, 14; 15 at a flashing frequency, each of which is assigned to one of the various statuses of the household appliance 10. The flashing frequencies range from 10 to 100 Hz. Any two of the specific flashing frequencies differ by 10 Hz. Figure 1 shows a stylized illustration of the second LED 14 being controlled at a flashing frequency assigned to the status currently reached by the household appliance 10, in this case 40 Hz. The assigned status in this case is error code "4," since the currently reached state is detected as overheating of the household appliance 10, to which, in addition to the error code "4," a plain text message is also assigned, here "OVER-TEMP." This is not visible to an operator with the naked eye, but it is visible to the naked eye that the LED 14 is controlled at a flashing frequency.This also provides the operator with the information to use the receiving device 20, shown in Figure 1 next to the household appliance 10, to receive the status. For this purpose, the receiving device 20 includes a camera, indicated in Figure 1, as an optical detection device 21 on its rear side.

[0023] The transmission of the status is also achieved by a computer program product comprising commands that, when the program is executed by the control device 12 of the household appliance 10, cause the control device 12 to detect when the currently existing status has been reached and to control the display device 11 of the household appliance 10 with the LED 14 to transmit the detected status to the receiving device 20 at the flashing frequency of 40 Hz associated with the detected status. The computer program product is stored in the control device 12, although not visible in Fig. 1.

[0024] As can be seen in Figure 2, the operator points the receiving device 20 with the optical detection device 21 at the display device 11 of the household appliance 10 with the LED 14. The detection device 21 comprises a stylized controller 22 and a display 23. The controller 22 is configured and programmed to control the optical detection device 21 to receive the status of the household appliance 10 by detecting the flashing frequency sent by its display device 11 via the LED 14. In the present example, this is implemented by a flashing detection instruction. In the controller 22, the predefined status of the household appliance 10 is assigned as error code "4" and the plain text message "OVER-TEMP" to the specific detected flashing frequency.The controller 22 is configured and programmed to display the status of the household appliance 10 assigned to the specific flashing frequency received by the optical detection device 21 on the display 23, as is shown in stylized form in Figure 2. The controller 22 can comprise a microcontroller, like the control device 12, and can also be constructed in a similar or identical manner to the control device 12, since the different terms here primarily serve to ensure clear assignment. Examples of other statuses of the household appliance 10 not shown here relate in particular to container fill levels such as "water tank empty" or "collection container full".

[0025] Maintenance requests such as "Descale appliance" and the like. Receiving the status is also achieved by a computer program product (not visible in Figure 2), comprising commands which, when the program is executed by the controller 22 of the receiving device 20, cause the controller 22 to control the optical detection device 21 of the receiving device 20 to receive the status of the household appliance 10 by detecting the transmitted flashing frequency.

[0026] In the present example, this computer program product comprises commands which, when the program is executed by the controller 22 of the receiving device 20, cause the controller 22 to display the status of the household appliance 10 associated with the detected flashing frequency, here the error code "4" and the plain text message "OVER-TEMP," on the display 23 of the receiving device 20, since the detected status is that the household appliance 10 is overheated. This allows a conventional smartphone to be configured and programmed as the receiving device 20 via a corresponding app after downloading and installing the computer program product. Assignment instructions for all possible specific flashing frequencies and the respective associated status of the household appliance 10, including a respective error code and a plain text message or assistance hint, are obtained from a server via commands via an internet connection.For this purpose, the computer program product includes instructions that, when the program is executed by the controller 22 of the receiving device 20, cause the controller 22 to obtain the assignment instruction via the internet connection from the server, prompted by receiving the status of the aforementioned household appliance 10. This also requires very little memory space on the receiving device 20 before receiving the status, while simultaneously ensuring that the most current version of the assignment instruction is used.

[0027] This makes it particularly advantageous to transmit status information of the household appliance 10 to the operator in a simple and sustainable manner.

[0028] 10 household appliances

[0029] 11 Display device

[0030] 12 Control device

[0031] 13 first LED

[0032] 14 second LED

[0033] 15 third LED

[0034] 20 receiver

[0035] 21 optical detection device

[0036] 22 Control

[0037] 23 Display

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Household appliance (10), comprising a display device (11) and a control device (12), wherein several predefined statuses of the household appliance (10), in particular several different error codes, are each assigned a specific flashing frequency, characterized in that the control device (12) is set up and programmed to detect the attainment of one of the predefined statuses and to control the display device (11) to send the status to a receiving device (20) at the flashing frequency assigned to the detected status.

2. Household appliance (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the display device (11) comprises at least one LED (13, 14; 15) and the control device (12) is set up and programmed to control at least one LED (13, 14; 15) at the flashing frequency associated with the status, which is in particular in a range including 5 to 105 Hz, more preferably including 10 to 100 Hz, wherein each of the specific flashing frequencies differs by at least 4 Hz.

3. Household appliance (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the control device (12) is set up and programmed to control at least two of the LEDs (13, 14; 15) in parallel and / or sequentially.

4. Household appliance (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is designed as a beverage maker, cleaning appliance, food maker or processor or cooling appliance.

5. Receiving device (20), comprising an optical detection device (21), a control unit (22) and a display (23), characterized in that the control unit (22) is set up and programmed to control the optical detection device (21) to receive the status of a household appliance (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4 by detecting the flashing frequency sent by its display device (11), in particular by assigning several specific flashing frequencies in the control unit (22) to each predefined status of the household appliance (10), in particular several different error codes and / or help instructions and / or a plain text message, and / or in particular by setting up and programming the control unit (22) to display the status of the household appliance (10) assigned to the specific flashing frequency received by means of the optical detection device (21) in the display (23).

6. Computer program product comprising commands which, when the program is executed by a control device (12) of a household appliance (10), cause the control device (12) to detect that one of several predefined statuses has been reached and to control a display device (11) of the household appliance (10) to send the detected status to a receiving device (20) at a flashing frequency associated with the detected status.

7. Computer program product comprising commands which, when the program is executed by a controller (22) of a receiving device (20), cause the controller (22) to control an optical detection device (21) of the receiving device (20) to receive the status of a transmitter, in particular a household appliance (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, by detecting the transmitted flashing frequency.

8. Computer program product according to claim 7, comprising commands which, when the program is executed by the control (22) of the receiving device (20), cause the control (22) to display a status of the household appliance (10) associated with the detected blinking frequency, in particular an error code and / or a help message and / or a plain text message, in the display (23) of the receiving device (20).

9. Computer program product according to claim 8, comprising commands which, during the execution of the program by the control unit (22) of the receiving device (20), cause the control unit (22) to issue an assignment instruction for several specific flashing frequencies and one of several to be assigned statuses of the household appliance (10), in particular several different error codes and / or Help instructions and / or plain text messages to be received or obtained from a server via an internet connection. Computer program product according to claim 9, comprising commands which, during the execution of the program by the controller (22) of the receiving device (20), cause the controller (22) to update the assignment instruction via the internet connection from the server, in particular at predefined intervals and / or at predefined times, or triggered by receiving the status of a household appliance (10) according to one of claims 7 to 9.

Images