Domestic appliance system, and method for operating a domestic appliance system

Abstract

The invention proceeds from a domestic appliance system, in particular a hob system, comprising at least one domestic appliance (10a-c), in particular a hob (12a-c), that encompasses a light-emitting unit (14a-c), and comprising a control unit (16a-c) for controlling the light-emitting unit (14a-c). To provide a system of the type in question having improved properties in respect of convenience, it is proposed that the control unit (16a-c) be intended to change at least one luminous parameter of light emitted by the light-emitting unit (14a-c) according to at least one ambient lighting parameter.

Description

[0001] Household appliance system, method for operating a household appliance system

[0002] The invention relates to a household appliance system according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for operating a household appliance system according to the preamble of claim 15.

[0003] A household appliance system comprising at least one household appliance and a lighting unit, which is provided, for example, for visualizing an operating state, is already known from the prior art. A user manually adjusts the lighting properties of a lighting unit to achieve the best possible visualization. A disadvantage of such previously known household appliance systems is a lack of flexibility and convenience for the user, particularly with regard to changing lighting conditions, which significantly limit the visualization capability of a lighting unit of a household appliance.In addition, lighting conditions can change throughout the day depending, for example, on the time of day and / or the weather and / or room lighting and / or light absorbers, such as a drawn curtain on a window or a lowered roller shutter, which means that the lighting properties of the lighting unit must also be constantly adjusted by the user. Automatic adjustment of the visualization capabilities of a lighting unit depending on lighting conditions is already known from other technical fields, such as the automotive or mobile communications industries. For example, if a user moves their smartphone from a dark room to a bright room while using it, the brightness of the smartphone automatically adjusts.There are also already vehicles that automatically reduce the light emitted by the internal lighting unit and the infotainment display when the lights are switched on in order to improve visualization and at the same time prevent unpleasant glare for the driver.

[0004] The object of the invention is, in particular but not limited to, to provide a generic household appliance system with improved comfort features. This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claims 1 and 15, while advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the subclaims.

[0005] The invention relates to a household appliance system, in particular a hob system, with at least one household appliance, in particular a hob, which comprises a lighting unit, and with a control unit for controlling the lighting unit.

[0006] It is proposed that the control unit is provided to change at least one lighting parameter of a light emitted by the lighting unit as a function of at least one ambient lighting parameter.

[0007] Such a design can increase user comfort. By automatically adjusting at least one lighting parameter depending on at least one ambient lighting parameter, manual input and / or adjustment of a light intensity by the user can be dispensed with. Thus, setting and / or adjustment of at least the lighting parameter of a lighting unit can be performed independently of the user. Consequently, a particularly user-friendly and flexible household appliance system can be provided. Furthermore, user safety can be improved, since information visible, preferably via the lighting unit, can be transmitted to the user more reliably.In addition, annoying and / or unpleasant glare and / or dark displays, which are sometimes difficult for the user to perceive, can be reduced, thus preventing damage to the user's eyes. Furthermore, energy efficiency can be increased, as the lighting unit reduces energy consumption, especially power consumption, and increases the service life of the lighting unit.

[0008] The household appliance system is intended for use and / or arrangement in a household, in particular a kitchen. The household appliance system can comprise a plurality of units and / or devices which can be used at least for handling and / or treating and / or processing and / or storing food. The household appliance system could be designed as a cooking system, for example as an oven system, microwave system, steam appliance system, preferably as a hob system, in particular as an induction hob system, and / or grill appliance system, and / or as a household cleaning appliance system, for example as a dishwasher system and / or washing machine system and / or dryer system, and / or as a household refrigeration appliance system, for example as a refrigerator and / or freezer system.

[0009] In particular, the household appliance forms a subassembly of the household appliance system. The household appliance can be designed, without being limited thereto, as a large household appliance, for example as a large household refrigeration appliance, for example a freezer and / or a refrigerator and / or freezer and / or a beverage cooler. The household appliance designed as a household refrigeration appliance could, for example, be intended for the storage and / or preservation and / or cooling of food and / or refrigerated goods, such as beverages and / or meat and / or fish and / or dairy products and / or cosmetics and / or medications. Alternatively and / or additionally, the household appliance could be designed as a household cleaning appliance, for example as a dishwasher and / or washing machine and / or dryer, and / or as a cooking appliance, for example as an oven and / or microwave and / or grill.Furthermore, the household appliance designed as a household cleaning appliance could be intended for cleaning, for example, dishes and / or laundry and / or a room and / or a piece of furniture. The household appliance is preferably designed as a cooking appliance, for example, as a microwave and / or a grill and / or a steamer and / or an oven and / or a hob, advantageously as an induction hob.

[0010] The household appliance system could also comprise at least one further household appliance, which is designed as a large household appliance or as a small household appliance. The small household appliance is preferably a location-independent household appliance which can be positioned freely in a household by a user, and in particular without aids, in particular in contrast to the large household appliance which is fixedly positioned and / or installed in a specific position in a household, such as the oven and / or the refrigerator and / or the hob. The small household appliance can be a small kitchen appliance which, in at least one operating state, can provide at least one small household appliance function for handling and / or processing and / or analyzing food.The small household appliance could, for example, be designed as, without being limited thereto, a multifunctional food processor and / or as a mixer and / or as a stirrer and / or as a grinder and / or as a kitchen scale or as a kettle or as a coffee machine or as a rice cooker or as a milk frother or as a deep fryer, in particular an air fryer, or as a toaster or as a juicer or as a cutting machine or as a temperature measuring device, for example as a roasting spit.

[0011] The household appliance and the further household appliance could be designed as household appliances of the same type, for example, each as a hob. Alternatively, the household appliance and the further household appliance could be household appliances of different types, wherein the household appliance could be designed, for example, as a hob and the further household appliance, for example, as a household cleaning appliance. It would also be conceivable for the household appliance system to comprise at least one piece of household furniture, in particular in which at least the household appliance could be at least partially arranged. The household furniture can be designed, for example, as a cupboard, in particular as a base cabinet, a food storage cupboard and / or a spice rack or the like. The household furniture can be part of the kitchen.

[0012] The lighting unit can have at least one light source or a plurality of light sources designed to emit light. The light source can have at least one LED and / or at least one organic light-emitting diode (OLED) and / or at least one active matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) and / or an electronic paper (e-paper, ePaper) and / or liquid crystals, in particular with a TFT application technology, or the like. Other light sources known to those skilled in the art would also be conceivable. The lighting unit can be designed to illuminate and display at least one piece of information, for example, operating information relating to at least the household appliance, and / or information independent of the household appliance, such as a time of day and / or weather information or the like, so that it is / are visually visible to the user.

[0013] Particularly preferably, the control unit automatically changes at least the luminous parameter of the light emitted by the lighting unit depending on at least the ambient lighting parameter, in particular independently of user activity and / or user input and / or user settings. The control unit can change the luminous parameter in steps or continuously. Preferably, the control unit changes the luminous parameter several times, always depending on at least the ambient lighting parameter. In particular, the control unit is an electronic unit designed to control and / or regulate at least one lighting source by means of the lighting unit.

[0014] The household appliance system can additionally have at least one operating unit, such as a switch, in particular a toggle switch, and / or a push button or the like, by means of which the user can adjust the control of the lighting unit. The user can use the operating unit to manually change the lighting parameters of the light emitted by the lighting unit. It would also be conceivable for the operating element to be designed as a touch display, for example a TFT touch display. This still allows manual adjustment and / or modification of at least one lighting parameter of a light emitted by the lighting unit, thus in turn increasing user comfort and flexibility for the user. Furthermore, the user can manually adjust and change the lighting parameters individually according to their wishes using the operating unit.

[0015] The control unit advantageously has a control unit. It would also be conceivable for the control unit to be designed as a logic circuit. The control unit could be part of the household appliance, in particular the hob, and / or the further household appliance. It would be conceivable for the control unit to be a household appliance control unit for controlling and / or regulating the household appliance. The household appliance control unit can be provided to control and / or regulate at least one operation of the household appliance, for example at least one heating unit of the household appliance. The control unit could have at least one computing unit and, in addition to the computing unit, at least one memory unit in which, in particular, at least one control and / or regulating and / or monitoring program is stored, which is provided for execution by the computing unit.The storage unit can be embodied as a digital storage medium, for example, a hard disk or the like. It would also be conceivable for the control unit to access a cloud in which information relating to the control and / or regulation and / or monitoring program is stored. Alternatively or additionally, it would also be conceivable for the control unit to be integrated into a device embodied differently from the household appliance, for example, an external mobile device such as a cell phone, a laptop, a remote control, or the like, and for this to communicate with the household appliance having the lighting unit via a wireless and / or wired communication interface.

[0016] It is further proposed that the household appliance system comprise an extractor hood which includes a lighting unit for illuminating a cooking area of ​​the household appliance embodied as a cooktop, wherein the lighting unit has the ambient lighting parameter. This makes it possible to provide advantageous and comfortable lighting for a user and improve system efficiency. Viewed in the vertical direction, the extractor hood can be arranged at least partially or completely above the household appliance. The lighting unit can have at least one lamp, for example an LED or other light source. Preferably, the lighting unit has several lamps, specifically at least two lamps. The lighting unit could illuminate the cooking area of ​​the cooktop at least partially, for example at least 30%, advantageously at least 50%, and preferably at least 80% of an area of ​​the cooking area, or completely.In particular, when switched on, the lighting unit illuminates at least precisely that area of ​​the household appliance in which the lighting unit is arranged. The lighting unit could be manually switched on and / or off by the user, for example by means of a switch and / or a pressure element. Alternatively or additionally, a control unit of the extractor unit could automatically control the lighting unit and switch it on and / or off. It would also be conceivable for a timer of the control unit of the extractor unit to switch the lighting unit on and / or off, at least temporarily. The control unit could be arranged at least partially or entirely in the extractor hood and be part of it.

[0017] "Intended" should be understood as specifically programmed and / or designed and / or equipped. The idea that an object is intended for a specific function should be understood as meaning that the object fulfills and / or performs this specific function in at least one application and / or operating state. Furthermore, it is proposed that the household appliance system have a display that includes the lighting unit. This allows for an improved design, namely a compact and user-friendly household appliance system.

[0018] In particular, the display is part of the household appliance. The display is preferably a touch display, specifically a touch-sensitive display. The display could be an OLED display, in particular an AMOLED display, or a display with, for example, at least one backlight, in particular an LC display. The illuminants of the lighting unit can have a TFT matrix. Advantageously, the display has a TFT interface, in particular a thin-film transistor. The display can be designed as a TFT touch display. The use of a TFT touch display also offers the option of adjusting the backlight and contrast of the lighting unit for optimal visualization.

[0019] The display could, for example, be insertable into a recess in the household appliance. Alternatively, the display could be designed as a film and be fixable, possibly adhesively bonded, to at least one surface of the household appliance. The display could, for example, consist at least partially and / or largely of a mineral, in particular a glass, and / or a metal and / or a metal alloy and / or a plastic and / or a carbon-containing material and / or a composite material. The expression “largely” is understood here to mean, for example, at least 55%, advantageously at least 65%, preferably at least 75%, particularly preferably at least 85%, and particularly advantageously at most 95% by volume and / or mass.

[0020] The display can be part of a user interface of the household appliance. The user interface is preferably a hob user interface if the household appliance is designed as a hob. Information, for example operating information relating to at least the household appliance and / or information independent of the household appliance, such as a time of day and / or weather information or the like, can be visually displayed in a display area of ​​the display. Household appliance operating information can, for example, comprise a temperature of the household appliance, in particular a cooling temperature and / or a rinsing temperature and / or a washing temperature and / or advantageously a cooking temperature, and / or a cleaning program, such as a rinsing program and / or a washing program and / or a drying program.Particularly preferably, the household appliance operating information comprises a heating output, in particular a set one, and / or a heating zone, in particular an activated one, and / or a division of heating zones on the hob, in particular in the case of matrix hobs, and / or a cooking program, for example a recipe and / or at least one recipe step. In addition, the household appliance operating information could provide at least one piece of information for selecting and / or setting and / or changing the operating state of the household appliance. In at least the operating state, the user could call up the household appliance operating information for display in the display area of ​​the display and / or make settings for displaying at least the household appliance operating information in the display area.Furthermore, the display could be designed to display information, in particular changing information, relating to an external multimedia device, in particular a mobile phone or the like, in at least one operating state. The control unit can control and / or regulate the display of the display. Display elements available for displaying the information can advantageously be activated or deactivated when the information changes, for example, due to a user command.

[0021] It is further proposed that the lighting parameter include a brightness parameter and / or a color parameter. This allows for further increased comfort and a user-friendly household appliance system to be provided. Furthermore, the brightness and / or color of light emitted by a lighting unit for displaying information can be adjusted, in particular automatically. This allows for particularly user-friendly and comfortable lighting to be provided.

[0022] In particular, the control unit changes the brightness of the light emitted by the lighting unit depending on at least the ambient lighting parameter. The control unit preferably adapts the brightness of the light emitted by the lighting unit to at least the ambient lighting parameter. The brightness parameter is preferably embodied as a brightness. For example, the control unit increases the brightness when the ambient lighting is high and decreases the brightness when the ambient lighting is low. The control unit can change a lumen value (lm), wherein in particular the higher the lumen value, the more light the lighting unit emits per unit of time. The control unit could change the brightness parameter in a range from at least 100 lm to at least 4000 lm.

[0023] Advantageously, the control unit changes a chromaticity and / or a color of the light emitted by the lighting unit depending on at least the ambient lighting parameter. The color parameter is preferably embodied as a color of the light. The control unit can change the color of the light emitted by the lighting unit, for example, to red, green, blue, yellow, white, cold white, and / or warm white light. The control unit can change a number of Kelvins of the light emitted by the lighting unit. In particular, the lower the number of Kelvins, the warmer and yellower the color of the light. The higher the number of Kelvins, the colder and bluer the color of the light emitted by the lighting unit. The control unit can change the color parameter in a range from at least 2000K to at least 6000K.

[0024] It is further proposed that the ambient lighting parameter comprises an ambient brightness parameter and / or an ambient color parameter.

[0025] This allows for further increasing comfort and efficiency and further optimizing the adjustment and / or modification of at least one lighting parameter of a light emitted by a lighting unit and preferably responding more specifically to the ambient lighting situation.

[0026] The ambient brightness parameter is preferably a parameter relating to the brightness of the ambient light and / or the ambient lighting. The control unit can change at least the luminous parameter of the light emitted by the lighting unit depending on the brightness of the ambient lighting. For example, the brighter the ambient lighting, the brighter and more intense the light emitted by the lighting unit must be, with the control unit controlling the lighting unit accordingly. If the ambient lighting is low, the control unit can change at least the luminous parameter of the light emitted by the lighting unit, specifically such that the brightness of the light emitted by the lighting unit is also reduced in order to avoid glare, in particular damage to the eyes, of the user. In particular, the ambient color parameter is a parameter relating to the color of the ambient light.The control unit can change at least the luminous parameter of the light emitted by the lighting unit depending on the color of the ambient lighting.

[0027] In order to further improve user comfort and operating efficiency, it is proposed that the ambient lighting parameter have a switch-on state parameter. The user could manually switch at least one lighting source on and / or off. It would also be conceivable for at least the lighting source to be automatically switched on and / or off by a control unit, for example depending on the time of day. In the simplest case, the switch-on state parameter can be defined by two possible lighting states. In a first lighting state, at least the lighting unit of the extractor unit can be off. In a second lighting state, at least the lighting unit of the extractor unit can be on. The lighting unit of the extractor hood can be the aforementioned lighting source.The user could manually turn the lighting unit on and / or off, for example, using a switch and / or a pressure element. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit of the trigger unit could automatically control the lighting unit and turn it on and / or off.

[0028] Preferably, the extractor hood is designed to output a signal, in particular a voltage signal, to the control unit depending on a lighting state of the lighting unit, wherein the control unit is designed to control the lighting unit depending on the signal. This can improve system control, further increase efficiency, and provide a particularly convenient and user-friendly system. Depending on the respective lighting state, namely the first lighting state and / or the second lighting state, the extractor hood could send / output a signal to the control unit, causing it to change at least the lighting parameter of the light emitted by the lighting unit.Depending on the switch-on state parameter, the control unit can change at least the lighting parameter, for example, brightness and / or color, of the light emitted by the lighting unit. The control unit and the lighting unit could communicate with each other wirelessly and / or wired.

[0029] It is further proposed that the household appliance system comprise a sensor unit for determining the ambient lighting parameter. This can increase efficiency and, by determining an ambient parameter, provide a reliable change in a lighting parameter of a light emitted by the lighting unit that is tailored to the ambient lighting. Furthermore, user-independent, automatic detection of the ambient lighting parameter and adjustment and / or modification of at least one lighting parameter can be carried out and provided. This makes it possible to provide a particularly autonomous household appliance system. The sensor unit can comprise at least one sensor element designed to sense the ambient lighting parameter.The sensor element can be designed as an optical sensor element for measuring the brightness and / or temperature and / or color of the ambient light. The optical sensor element can be a light sensor, such as a photodiode, a phototransistor, a photoresistor, or the like. Furthermore, the sensor element can be, for example, a camera, an IR sensor, or the like. Any sensor deemed appropriate by a person skilled in the art is conceivable as the sensor element. The sensor unit can at least sense / determine the ambient lighting parameter and subsequently transmit a signal to the control unit. The sensor unit and the control unit could communicate with each other wirelessly and / or via a cable.The sensor unit can sense and determine the ambient lighting parameter repeatedly, in particular continuously, for example at intervals of no more than 10 seconds, advantageously no more than 30 seconds, particularly advantageously no more than 1 minute, and preferably no more than 5 minutes. After determining the ambient lighting parameter, the sensor unit can transmit at least one signal or the determined ambient lighting parameter itself to the control unit. Depending on the ambient lighting parameter determined by the sensor unit, the control unit can change the lighting parameter or make no change for the time being, as long as the ambient lighting remains the same.If the sensor unit senses / detects a change in the ambient lighting, for example by switching on the lighting unit on the extractor hood, the sensor unit informs the control unit so that it changes the lighting parameters of the light emitted by the lighting unit in order to continue to provide comfortable lighting for the user.

[0030] If the sensor unit is at least partially part of the household appliance, a particularly compact and integrated household appliance system can be provided. The sensor unit could be located at least partially or entirely within the cooktop and be part of it. It would also be conceivable for the sensor unit to be at least partially or entirely part of the extractor hood.

[0031] Furthermore, it is proposed that the household appliance system comprise a device which is designed separately from the household appliance and which at least partially comprises the sensor unit. This can further increase system efficiency and convenience for a user. In particular, the household appliance and the separately designed device are different objects. It would be conceivable for the device designed separately from the household appliance to be the aforementioned further household appliance of the household appliance system. The device can also be a small household appliance, such as a mixer, stirrer, coffee machine, kettle or the like. Furthermore, the device can be a device designed differently from a household appliance, such as an external unit, in particular an external mobile device.The external unit could be an end device, such as a computer, in particular a desktop computer, and / or a laptop and / or a convertible. In order to further increase flexibility and convenience, it is proposed that the external unit be designed as a mobile device. The external unit designed as a mobile device could, for example, be a remote control. Advantageously, the mobile device is, for example, a cell phone and / or a tablet and / or a phablet and / or a personal digital assistant (PDA). Preferably, the external unit is a multimedia unit. In particular, the multimedia unit is a unit which is intended to provide information and / or content from digital media.In addition, existing, advantageously mobile external units, such as the user's mobile phones and / or tablets, can be used at least to determine the ambient lighting parameter. This, in turn, can reduce costs and provide a compact and / or inexpensive household appliance system.

[0032] If the household appliance system has a communications unit designed to receive weather and / or time data from a network and provides this data to the control unit, a particularly modern, convenient, user-friendly, and efficient household appliance system can be provided. Furthermore, when changing and adjusting a lighting parameter, additional data can be taken into account, thus enabling more precise, efficient, and accurate adjustment. Preferably, the communications unit communicates wirelessly with the network. Advantageously, the network includes a database environment and can be configured at least partially as a private and / or public network, for example, as a public Internet network, and / or as a private and / or public cloud.The communication unit can collect data regarding the ambient lighting, in particular at least the ambient lighting parameter, and transmit / send at least one signal, in particular this collected data, to the control unit. The communication unit could communicate wirelessly and / or wired with at least the sensor unit. Furthermore, the communication unit can communicate wirelessly and / or wired with the control unit. The control unit can take the data transmitted by the communication unit into account when changing and / or adjusting the lighting parameter. Depending on the data transmitted by the communication unit, the control unit can change at least the lighting parameter of the light emitted by the lighting unit.

[0033] Furthermore, the invention is based on a method for operating a household appliance system, in particular the household appliance system already mentioned, with at least one household appliance, in particular the household appliance already mentioned, which comprises a lighting unit, wherein at least one lighting parameter of a light emitted by the lighting unit is changed as a function of at least one ambient lighting parameter, in particular at least partially automatically, preferably fully automatically. By means of such a method, a simple and / or compact and / or efficient adjustment of lighting can be provided and thereby comfort for a user can be increased. The descriptions and explanations already given above regarding the operation and functions of the household appliance system can also be applied to the method and formulated in procedural terms.

[0034] The household appliance system and / or the household appliance and / or the method should not be limited to the application and embodiment described above. In particular, the household appliance system and / or the household appliance and / or the method may have a number of individual elements, components, units, and method steps that differs from the number stated herein to fulfill a functionality described herein. Furthermore, within the value ranges specified in this document, values ​​within the stated limits are also to be considered disclosed and can be used arbitrarily.

[0035] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawings. The drawings illustrate three exemplary embodiments of the invention. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. Those skilled in the art will also expediently consider the features individually and combine them into useful further combinations.

[0036] They show:

[0037] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a household appliance system designed as a hob system with a hob comprising a lighting unit and with an extractor hood,

[0038] Fig. 2 is a further schematic view according to Figure 1, wherein a lighting unit of the extractor hood is switched on to illuminate the hob,

[0039] Fig. 3 is a schematically illustrated process flow diagram of a method for operating the household appliance system according to Figure 1 or 2,

[0040] Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a household appliance system designed as a hob system in a further embodiment comprising a hob and an extractor hood, wherein the hob has a sensor unit for determining an ambient lighting parameter,

[0041] Fig. 5 is a schematically illustrated process flow diagram of a method for operating the household appliance system according to Figure 4,

[0042] Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a household appliance system designed as a hob system in a further embodiment comprising a hob and an extractor hood, wherein the hob has a communication unit for receiving weather and / or time data from a network,

[0043] Fig. 7 is a schematically illustrated process flow diagram of a method for operating the household appliance system according to Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is a kitchen in which the household appliance system according to Fig. 6 is arranged, wherein a roller shutter is lowered on a window within the kitchen in order to darken the kitchen and

[0044] Fig. 9 the kitchen according to figure 8, where the window is free of the roller shutter and daylight enters the kitchen.

[0045] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a household appliance system, which in this case is designed as a hob system. The household appliance system is intended for use and / or arrangement in a household, in this case a kitchen. The household appliance system can have a plurality of units and / or devices which can be used at least for handling and / or treating and / or processing and / or storing food. The household appliance system comprises at least one household appliance 10a designed as a hob 12a. Alternatively or additionally, the household appliance 10a can also be designed as a freezer, a refrigerator and / or freezer, a beverage cooler, a household cleaning appliance and / or another cooking appliance or the like.

[0046] The household appliance 10a has a lighting unit 14a for displaying information, specifically at least operating information. Furthermore, the household appliance system has a control unit 16a for controlling the lighting unit 14a. The control unit 16a is designed to change at least one lighting parameter of a light emitted by the lighting unit 14a depending on at least one ambient lighting parameter. In the present case, the control unit 16a automatically changes at least the lighting parameter of the light emitted by the lighting unit 14a depending on at least the ambient lighting parameter, independently of a user input and / or user setting.By automatically adjusting at least one lighting parameter depending on at least one ambient lighting parameter, manual input and / or adjustment of the light intensity by the user can be dispensed with, thus providing a high level of comfort and a user-friendly system.

[0047] The aforementioned lighting parameter in this case has a brightness parameter. The control unit 16a changes at least one brightness of the lighting unit 14a, specifically a brightness of the light emitted by the lighting unit 14a, depending on at least the ambient lighting parameter. Furthermore, the lighting parameter has a color parameter. In this case, the color parameter is embodied as a color. The control unit 16a is provided to change a color of the light emitted by the lighting unit 14a. For example, the control unit 16a changes the color of the light emitted by the lighting unit 14a from cold white to warm white, yellow, green, red, blue, orange, or the like.

[0048] The household appliance system further includes a display 18a, which includes the lighting unit 14a. In this exemplary embodiment, the household appliance 10a includes the display 18a. The display 18a is configured, for example, as an OLED display and / or an LC display. In the present case, the display 18a is configured as a TFT touch display. For optimal visualization, the use of the TFT touch display also offers the possibility of adjusting the backlight and contrast of the lighting unit 14a in addition to the lighting parameters already mentioned.

[0049] The household appliance system has an operating unit 32a, by means of which a user can control the lighting unit 14a. The operating unit 32a has, for example, a switch, a toggle switch, and / or a push button or the like. In this exemplary embodiment, the operating unit 32a is part of the display 18a, specifically embodied as a TFT touch display.

[0050] Figures 1 and 2 show that the household appliance system comprises an extractor hood 24a. Viewed vertically, the extractor hood 24a is arranged above the household appliance 10a. The extractor hood 24a comprises a lighting unit 26a, which is intended to illuminate a cooking area 28a of the household appliance 10a, which is designed as a cooktop 12a. Figure 1 illustrates the state in which the lighting unit 26a is switched off and the cooking area 28a is not illuminated by the lighting unit 26a. According to Figure 1, the lighting unit 14a of the household appliance 10a has a brightness level of 3 under the given conditions. Figure 2 illustrates the situation when the lighting unit 26a is switched on and at least partially illuminates the cooking area 28a. The lighting unit 26a primarily illuminates at least that area of ​​the household appliance 10a in which the lighting unit 14a is arranged (see Figure 2).The lighting unit 26a has the ambient lighting parameter. In this case, the ambient lighting parameter is an ambient brightness parameter, specifically a brightness of the ambient lighting. The control unit 16a changes at least the luminous parameter of the light emitted by the lighting unit 14a depending on the brightness of the ambient lighting. Furthermore, the ambient lighting parameter has an ambient color parameter. The ambient color parameter is embodied as a color of the ambient lighting. The control unit 16a changes at least the luminous parameter of the light emitted by the lighting unit 14a depending on the color of the ambient lighting.

[0051] In the present exemplary embodiment, the ambient lighting parameter further comprises a switch-on state parameter. As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the switch-on state parameter is defined in the simplest case by two possible lighting states. In a first lighting state, the lighting unit 26a is off (see Figure 1) and in a second lighting state, it is on (see Figure 2). In the present case, the extractor hood 24a is provided to send / output a signal to the control unit 16a depending on the lighting state of the lighting unit 26a, which causes the control unit 16a to change at least the lighting parameter of the light emitted by the lighting unit 14a. In the present case, the control unit 16a changes at least the brightness of the light emitted by the lighting unit 14a.Figures 1 and 2 show, by way of example, that the brightness of the light emitted by the lighting unit 14a has increased from level 3 to level 5 due to the changed ambient lighting.

[0052] In this exemplary embodiment, the control unit 16a is designed as a small logic circuit that processes the signal from the lighting unit 26a and subsequently controls the lighting unit 16a. Furthermore, the control unit 16a is arranged in the household appliance 10a. Alternatively, the control unit 16a can be arranged in the extractor hood 24a. For communication between the control unit 16a and the lighting unit 26a, both units are connected by a cable. However, wireless communication between the two units would also be conceivable.

[0053] Figure 3 schematically shows a process flow diagram illustrating a method according to the invention for operating the household appliance system. In the method, the household appliance system is operated with at least the household appliance 10a, which comprises the lighting unit 14a, wherein at least the lighting parameter of the light emitted by the lighting unit 14a is changed depending on at least the ambient lighting parameter. In a method step 36a of the method, the user switches on the lighting unit 26a of the extractor hood 24a so that it illuminates the cooking area 28a. As a result of the switching-on process, a voltage signal is output / sent from the lighting unit 26a to the control unit 16a, for example via a cable. In a further method step 38a of the method, the voltage signal is processed by the control unit 16a.In a subsequent method step 40a of the method, the lighting unit 14a is controlled by the control unit 16a, whereby the lighting parameters of the light emitted by the lighting unit 14a are adjusted. In this case, at least the brightness of the light emitted by the lighting unit 14a is changed. This allows for simple and efficient adjustment of the lighting and increases user comfort.

[0054] Further embodiments of the invention are shown in Figures 4 to 9. The following descriptions are essentially limited to the differences between the embodiments, whereby with regard to identical components, in particular with regard to components with the same reference numerals, features and functions, reference can be made to the description of the embodiment in Figures 1 to 3. To distinguish the embodiments, the letter a in the reference numerals of the embodiment in Figures 1 to 3 has been replaced by the letter b in the reference numerals of the embodiment in Figures 4 and 5 and by the letter c in the reference numerals of the embodiment in Figures 6 to 9.

[0055] Figure 4 shows a household appliance system in a further exemplary embodiment. The household appliance system has a household appliance 10b designed as a cooktop 12b. The household appliance 10b has a lighting unit 14b. The household appliance system has a control unit 16b, which is intended to change at least one lighting parameter of a light emitted by the lighting unit 14b depending on at least one ambient lighting parameter. The household appliance system also has an extractor hood 24b. In contrast to the previous exemplary embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the household appliance system in the present case has a sensor unit 20b for determining the ambient lighting parameter. The sensor unit 20b is at least partially part of the household appliance 10b. In this exemplary embodiment, the sensor unit 20b is arranged entirely within the household appliance 10b.The sensor unit 20b is designed to determine the ambient lighting parameter and transmit it to the control unit 16b. The control unit 16b then processes the transmitted ambient lighting parameter and takes it into account when controlling the lighting unit 14b. This allows for the automatic detection of an ambient lighting parameter, as well as the adjustment and / or modification of at least one lighting parameter, to be carried out and provided independently of a user.

[0056] Figure 5 schematically illustrates a process flow diagram for representing a method for operating the household appliance system according to Figure 4 in a further embodiment of the invention. In a method step 36b of the method, the ambient lighting is changed; in this case, the user switches on a lighting unit 26b of the extractor hood 24b. Caused by the switch-on process, the ambient lighting around the household appliance 10b changes. The sensor unit 20b arranged in the household appliance 10b senses the change and determines the ambient lighting parameter. Subsequently, the sensor unit 20b communicates with the control unit 16b in a further method step 38b of the method and transmits a signal to the control unit, in this case the determined ambient lighting parameter. The signal is received by the control unit 16b.In a further method step 40b of the method, the control unit 16b then changes the luminous parameter of the light emitted by the lighting unit 14b depending on the ambient lighting parameter determined by the sensor unit 20b. In this case, the control unit 16b automatically changes the brightness of the light emitted by the lighting unit 14b.

[0057] Figure 6 shows a household appliance system in a further exemplary embodiment. The household appliance system has a household appliance 10c designed as a cooktop 12c. The household appliance 10c has a lighting unit 14c. Furthermore, the household appliance 14c has a sensor unit 20c. The household appliance system has a control unit 16c, which is intended to change at least one lighting parameter of a light emitted by the lighting unit 14c depending on at least one ambient lighting parameter. Furthermore, the household appliance system has an extractor hood 24c. In contrast to the previous exemplary embodiment b of Figures 4 to 5, the household appliance system has a communication unit 30c, which is intended to receive weather and / or time data from a network and which provides this data to the control unit 16c. In the present case, the communication unit 30c communicates wirelessly with the network.Furthermore, the communication unit 30c communicates wirelessly with the control unit. Figures 8 and 9 show an exemplary view of a kitchen in which the household appliance system is arranged. The household appliance system has a device 22c that is separate from the household appliance 10c. In this exemplary embodiment, the device 22c is designed as a small household appliance, specifically as a mixer. The device 22c has a further sensor unit 20c.

[0058] Figure 7 schematically illustrates a process flow diagram for illustrating a method according to the invention for operating the household appliance system according to Figure 6. In a method step 36c of the method, the ambient lighting is changed; in this case, the user switches on a lighting unit 26c of the extractor hood 24c and / or an external lamp 50c of the household appliance system. Caused by the switch-on process, the ambient lighting around the household appliance 10c changes. The sensor unit 20c arranged in the household appliance 10c and / or the further sensor unit 20'c senses the change and (each) determines at least one ambient lighting parameter. Subsequently, the sensor unit 20c and the further sensor unit 20'c communicate with a communication unit 30c of the household appliance system and, in a further method step 38c of the method, transmits at least the ambient lighting parameter to the communication unit 30c.The communication unit 30c is provided for receiving weather and / or time data from a network. The communication unit 30c collects all determined ambient lighting parameters as well as weather and / or time data from the network and transmits them to the control unit 16c. The control unit 16c then changes the lighting parameters of the light emitted by the lighting unit 14c in a further method step 40c of the method depending on the data received from the communication unit 30c. In the present case, the control unit 16c automatically changes at least a brightness of the light emitted by the lighting unit 14c. Figures 8 and 9 show, by way of example, that a brightness of the lighting unit 14c has increased from level 3 to level 5 due to the changed ambient lighting. Reference numerals.

[0059] 10 household appliances

[0060] 12 hob

[0061] 14 lighting units

[0062] 16 Control unit

[0063] 18 Display

[0064] 20 Sensor unit

[0065] 22 device

[0066] 24 Extractor hood

[0067] 26 lighting unit

[0068] 28 Cooking area

[0069] 30 Communication unit

[0070] 32 Control unit

[0071] 36 process steps

[0072] 38 process steps

[0073] 40 process steps

[0074] 50 lamp

Claims

Claims 1. Household appliance system, in particular a hob system, with at least one household appliance (10a-c), in particular a hob (12a-c), which comprises a lighting unit (14a-c), and with a control unit (16a-c) for controlling the lighting unit (14a-c), characterized in that the control unit (16a-c) is provided to change at least one lighting parameter of a light emitted by the lighting unit (14a-c) depending on at least one ambient lighting parameter.

2. Household appliance system according to claim 1, characterized by a display (18a-c) which comprises the lighting unit (14a-c).

3. Household appliance system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting parameter has a brightness parameter.

4. Household appliance system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the luminous parameter has a color parameter.

5. Household appliance system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ambient lighting parameter comprises an ambient brightness parameter.

6. Household appliance system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ambient lighting parameter comprises an ambient color parameter.

7. Household appliance system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ambient lighting parameter has a switch-on state parameter.

8. Household appliance system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a sensor unit (20b; 20c) for determining the ambient lighting parameter.

9. Household appliance system according to claim 8, characterized in that the sensor unit (20b; 20c) is at least partially part of the household appliance (10b; 10c).

10. Household appliance system according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by a device (22c) which is designed separately from the household appliance (10c) and which at least partially comprises the sensor unit (20c').

11. Household appliance system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an extractor hood (24a-c) which comprises a lighting unit (26a-c) for illuminating a cooking area (28a-c) of the household appliance (10a-c) designed as a cooking surface (12a-c), wherein the lighting unit (26a-c) has the ambient lighting parameter.

12. Household appliance system according to claim 11, characterized in that the extractor hood (24a-c) is provided to output a signal to the control unit (16a-c) depending on a lighting state of the lighting unit (26a-c), wherein the control unit (16a-c) is provided to control the lighting unit (14a-c) depending on the signal.

13. Household appliance system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a communication unit (30b; 30c) which is provided for receiving weather and / or time data from a network and which provides these data to the control unit (16b; 16c).

14. Household appliance system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an operating unit (32a-c) by means of which a control of the lighting unit (14a-c) can be adjusted by a user.

15. Method for operating a household appliance system, in particular a hob system, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, with at least one household appliance (10a-c), in particular a hob (12a-c), which comprises a lighting unit (14a-c), characterized in that at least one lighting parameter of a light emitted by the lighting unit (14a-c) light is changed depending on at least one ambient lighting parameter.

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