Extractor hood with illumination device, and method for controlling the illumination device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an extractor hood, which has an illumination device (2) having at least one light source (22, 23). The extractor hood is characterised in that the illumination device (2) is designed to output coloured light (20) and white light (21) and the extractor hood (1) has a control unit (4) for automatically switching between the output of coloured light (20) and white light (21). The invention also relates to a method for controlling such an illumination device (2) of the extraction hood (1).

Description

[0001] Extractor hood with lighting device and method for controlling the lighting device

[0002] The present invention relates to an extractor hood with a lighting device and a method for controlling the lighting device.

[0003] It is common practice to install a light on an extractor hood to illuminate the hob located below the hood. This light emits white light. A disadvantage of this type of extractor hood is that the light can only illuminate a limited area, or rather, the quality of the illumination is limited by the light output.

[0004] It's also common to install lighting on an extractor hood, which can be used to illuminate, for example, an edge of the hood or a logo on the hood in color. A disadvantage of this type of extractor hood is that the lighting can only be used for decorative purposes.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to eliminate or at least mitigate the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a solution is to be created that allows for a simple improvement in the lighting emitted by an extractor hood.

[0006] According to a first aspect, the object is achieved by an extractor hood comprising a lighting device with at least one light source. The extractor hood is characterized in that the lighting device is designed to emit colored light and white light, and the extractor hood comprises a control unit for automatically switching between the output of colored light and white light.

[0007] An extractor hood is particularly the term used to describe an extractor device that is installed above a cooktop in a kitchen. The extractor hood draws in and preferably cleans fumes and vapors created during cooking. For this purpose, the extractor hood preferably has an extractor housing that houses a fan and has an inlet opening for the fumes and vapors to enter. A filter is preferably provided in or on the inlet opening to filter out particles from the fumes and vapors. Furthermore, a baffle plate can be arranged upstream of the inlet opening in the direction of flow. An extraction gap can thus be formed between the baffle plate and the inlet opening. In the case of an extractor hood with an inlet opening that is vertical or at an angle between horizontal and vertical, the baffle plate can also be referred to as a front panel.In an embodiment in which the front plate is movable relative to the inlet opening, the baffle plate may also be referred to as a front flap.

[0008] The extractor hood has a lighting device. The lighting device has at least one light source. The light source can preferably consist of several lighting elements through which light is emitted.

[0009] The extractor hood is characterized by the fact that the lighting device is designed to emit colored light and white light, and the extractor hood has a control unit for automatically switching between the output of colored light and white light. The colored light can also be referred to as non-white light.

[0010] To generate colored light and white light, the lighting device can have one or more light sources. Preferably, the light source is a light-emitting diode (LED). The LED can consist of one light-emitting element or have multiple light-emitting elements. The light-emitting element(s) can each be an LED.

[0011] The control unit can be integrated into the lighting device or connected to the lighting device. In addition to the at least one light source, the lighting device can have a housing and / or a support for the at least one light source. By using a lighting device according to the invention that can emit both colored light and white light and can automatically switch between them, the extractor hood can flexibly illuminate the extractor hood and / or a hob and / or a work surface using the lighting device. The light is switched by means of the control unit, preferably based on ambient conditions.

[0012] The present invention thus makes it possible to create bifunctional lighting in an extractor hood. In particular, the functions of "hob lighting" and "colorful atmospheric lighting (ambient lighting)" for generating emotions can be combined in one lighting device, and automatic switching between these functions can be realized. The two functions of the lighting device can also be referred to as modes of the lighting device.

[0013] Ambient lighting can, for example, illuminate an extraction gap, the incoming fumes, or a logo or design element. The colored light emitted by ambient lighting can also be used to display information to the user.

[0014] The function of hob lighting can also be referred to as functional lighting. Functional lighting can illuminate the hob, including dishes and food. Functional lighting can also provide indirect lighting for the work surface adjacent to the hob and / or wall lighting.

[0015] Preferably, the light source is formed by four discretely adjustable light elements, which can be set to four individual colors. At least one of the light elements is preferably a white LED.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the lighting device comprises a light source that represents a red, green, blue, and white LED (RGBW LED). By using an RGBW LED, white light with a color rendering index (CRI) of more than 80 can be emitted in addition to colored light. Furthermore, the use of an RGBW LED can simplify the design of the extractor hood.

[0017] However, it is also within the scope of the invention for the lighting device to have two light sources, one of which is a red, green, blue LED (RGB LED) and one of which is a white LED. According to the invention, one RGB LED and several white LEDs can also be used.

[0018] In contrast to the state of the art, in which colored light sources in the form of RGB LEDs are used as standard, high-quality white light can be generated by using RGBW LEDs or RGB LEDs with white light LEDs.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the extractor hood has at least one functional lighting device that emits white light. The functional lighting device can also be referred to as the main light source or main lighting device. The functional lighting device is provided, for example, in the underside of the extractor hood, in particular the extractor housing. A functional lighting device is a lighting device that is provided for illuminating or illuminating a cooking surface arranged below the extractor hood. The functional lighting device preferably has a white light LED.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the user can freely adjust the light emitted by the functional lighting device in the range from warm white to cool white in order to adapt the lighting of his kitchen or preferred settings.

[0021] When the lighting device is switched to the “hob lighting for cooking” function, the light produced by the lighting device should be able to correspond to the desired light temperature.

[0022] If the lighting device is the only lighting device on the extractor hood, the white light produced should preferably be adjustable through user settings. If the lighting device is an additional lighting device to a functional lighting device, the white light produced by the lighting device should match the light emitted (under given user settings) by the existing functional lighting device, taking into account the spectral characteristics of this light source.

[0023] By having a functional lighting device and an additional lighting device designed to emit colored light and white light, the extractor hood's lighting can be designed flexibly. In particular, the lighting of the hob provided by the functional lighting device can be supported or enhanced by the lighting device. Alternatively, the area illuminated by the functional lighting device can be expanded. For example, an area in front of or next to the hob can be illuminated by the functional lighting device.Preferably, when switching the function of the lighting device to the function of "illuminating the hob for cooking," the light, and in particular the color temperature of the light emitted by the lighting device, is adapted to the light, and in particular the color temperature, of the light emitted by the functional lighting device. This allows for homogeneous illumination.

[0024] The lighting device is preferably arranged so that it is directed towards the hob in at least one position.

[0025] Preferably, the white light emitted by the lighting device can be switched to the same color temperature as that set by the user for a discrete functional light spot emitted by the functional lighting device.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the control unit is connected to a position detection unit of a movable part of the extractor hood for receiving a position signal. The part of the extractor hood whose position can be detected by the position detection is preferably a part of the extractor hood that can be moved relative to the extractor housing of the extractor hood. For example, this movable part can be an extendable vapor screen or a pivoting front flap. The front flap is also referred to below as the front panel and can be made of glass or plastic, for example. In this case, the front flap is also referred to as a glass panel. However, the front flap can also be made of metal. The front flap can be attached to the extractor housing via a joint and can be pivoted open via the joint.By pivoting the front panel, the hood's extraction opening and thus the airflow into the extractor hood can be increased. The open or pivoted-open position of the front panel is therefore also referred to as the boost position or boost state.

[0027] By connecting the control unit to the position detection unit and receiving a position signal from the moving part via this connection, the light output of the lighting device can be changed depending on the position of the moving part. This can optionally enable, improve and / or increase the illumination of the area beneath the extractor hood. If no functional lighting device is provided, the lighting device can emit colored light when a vapor screen is retracted or a front flap is closed, for example, to illuminate a logo, an edge, or a gap in the extractor hood. When the vapor screen is pulled out or the front flap is opened, the output can switch from colored light to white light.

[0028] The position detection unit can have at least one sensor or be connected to a sensor. The sensor can, for example, be a gravity sensor or acceleration sensor attached to the front flap. This can, for example, be provided in a user interface on the front flap. The user interface can be used to operate the extractor hood.

[0029] Alternatively, or in addition to the connection to a position detection unit, the control unit can be connected to the extractor hood's control device to receive a signal related to the extractor hood's fan speed. This allows the control unit to control the lighting device differently at different fan speeds. For example, a different color can be set or white light can be emitted at a higher fan speed.

[0030] Alternatively or additionally, the control unit can have an interface for communicating with a device connected to the extractor hood to receive information signals from the connected device. The device connected to the extractor hood can be a household appliance, such as a hob, or a communications device, such as a mobile phone. The information signal received via the communication interface can, for example, be the setting of one or more cooking zones of the hob or represent a user input entered on the communications device.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the lighting device is attached to the rear of a movable front flap of the extractor hood. A movable front flap is a panel arranged in front of an inlet opening of the extractor hood, which typically houses a filter, in the direction of air flow.

[0032] According to one embodiment, a recess is provided in the front of the extractor housing, in which the inlet opening is located, the bottom of which is formed by the inlet opening. This creates an inlet space between the inlet opening and the front panel, into which the vapors and fumes enter via the gap between the front of the extractor housing and the front flap. The inlet opening and preferably also the front of the extractor housing are preferably located in a plane that is inclined to the horizontal. In this embodiment, the extractor hood is also referred to as a sloped hood.

[0033] The front panel is attached to the extractor housing in such a way that a gap exists between the front panel and the inlet opening through which fumes and vapors can flow to the inlet opening. The front panel is preferably larger than the size of the inlet opening.

[0034] The front panel is movably, preferably pivotably, attached to the extractor housing. In particular, the front flap can be pivotably attached to the extractor housing in the upper area so that the underside of the front panel can be removed from the extractor housing, i.e. can be folded open. This can increase the amount of fumes and vapors that can reach the inlet opening. This position of the front flap, in which it is folded open, can therefore also be referred to as the boost position. The position in which the front flap is parallel to the front of the extractor housing and preferably parallel to the inlet opening and in which fumes and vapors can only enter via the gap between the front panel and the extractor housing or inlet opening, is also referred to as the operating position or normal operating position.

[0035] In extractor hoods with a movable front flap, the lighting device is preferably attached to the rear of the front flap. The rear can also be referred to as the inside of the front flap.

[0036] By arranging the lighting device on the inside of the front flap, it can be used in the normal operating position to illuminate the extraction gap with colored light or to illuminate a logo formed in the front panel by recessed parts of a print on a front panel made of transparent material. If the front flap is moved to the boost position, the light output of the lighting device can be changed from colored light to white light. This can be used to illuminate the front area below the extractor hood, in particular the front area of ​​the hob or an area in front of the hob. Any illumination of the hob provided by a functional lighting device is thereby intensified, providing the user with a visual indication of the extractor hood's increased extraction rate.

[0037] According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for controlling the lighting device of an extractor hood according to the invention. The method is characterized in that the color of the light emitted by the lighting device is automatically adjusted depending on ambient conditions. Advantages and features described with respect to the extractor hood according to the invention apply - where applicable - correspondingly to the method according to the invention, and vice versa.

[0038] According to the invention, an ambient condition is defined as a condition that prevails on a part of the extractor hood or on a device connected to the extractor hood.

[0039] By automatically adjusting the color of the light emitted by the lighting device depending on ambient conditions, the extractor hood's lighting device can be used flexibly.

[0040] Preferably, the ambient condition is the position of a part of the extractor hood, in particular the position of a front flap of the extractor hood. By varying the positions of the front flap or a vapor screen of the extractor hood, the color of the light emitted by the lighting device can be adjusted, thereby improving the user experience.

[0041] According to one embodiment, when the front flap is opened, the light output of the lighting device is changed from a colored light output to a white light output.

[0042] According to another embodiment, the ambient condition is the fan speed of the extractor hood. For example, increasing the fan speed can change the light output from colored light to white light.

[0043] According to a further embodiment, the ambient condition is the operating state of a device connected to the extractor hood. The connected device can be, for example, a hob or a communications device.

[0044] According to a further embodiment, the ambient condition is the light output of a functional lighting device of the extractor hood. In this embodiment, the color of the light emitted by the lighting device can be adjusted to the color of the light emitted by the functional lighting device. In particular, the color temperature of the light can be adjusted. For example, if the functional lighting device emits a warm white light, the light emitted by the lighting device can also be adjusted to this color temperature.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the adaptation to the light output of the functional lighting device is carried out by converting the WW / CW setting (warm white / cold white setting) (0-100%) of the functional lighting device into RGB setting (0-255) by means of calculation or an assignment table.

[0046] According to a further embodiment, the determined RGB setting is converted into RGBW PMW settings.

[0047] The invention is described again below with reference to the accompanying figures. They show:

[0048] Figure 1: a schematic, side sectional view of an embodiment of an extractor hood according to the invention in a first state;

[0049] Figure 2: a schematic, side sectional view of the embodiment of the

[0050] Extractor hood according to Figure 1 in a second state;

[0051] Figure 3: a schematic block diagram of a first embodiment of a

[0052] lighting device;

[0053] Figure 4: a schematic block diagram of a second embodiment of a

[0054] lighting device; and

[0055] Figure 5: a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the

[0056] Extractor hood.

[0057] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of an extractor hood 1 according to the invention. In the embodiment shown, the extractor hood 1 has an extractor housing 10 and a front flap 11. The front of the extractor housing 10 is inclined upwards from the horizontal. An inlet opening 12 is provided in the front, into which a filter (not shown) can be inserted. In the embodiment shown, the inlet opening 121 is formed by the bottom of a recess in the front of the extractor housing 10. This creates an extraction chamber 14 in the front of the extractor housing 10. The extraction chamber 14 is partially delimited at the front by the front flap 11. In the operating position shown in Figure 1, the front flap 11 is arranged parallel to the front of the extractor housing 10 and also parallel to the inlet opening 121.The underside of the front flap 11 is offset upwards relative to the underside of the extractor housing 10 and in particular relative to the underside of the extraction chamber 14. In the embodiment shown, the front flap 11 is lower in height than the extractor housing 10. The upward offset of the lower edge of the front panel 11 creates an intake gap 13 through which vapors and fumes can enter the extraction chamber 14 and in particular to the inlet opening 12. A gap for the intake of vapors and fumes can also be formed on the sides of the front panel 11, between the front of the extractor housing 10 and the rear of the front panel 11. For this purpose, the front panel 11 can be arranged at a distance from the front of the extractor housing 10. The width of the front panel 11 preferably corresponds to the width of the extractor housing 10 and can also be greater than the width of the extractor housing 10.

[0058] In the embodiment according to Figure 1, a lighting device 2 is arranged on the rear side of the front flap 11. The lighting device 2 is oriented so that the light emitted by it is directed downward. This allows the lower area of ​​the extraction chamber 14 and thus also the intake gap 13 to be illuminated. If the front panel 11 is made of a transparent material, the lower area of ​​the front panel 11 can also be illuminated by the lighting device 2.

[0059] In addition to the lighting device 2, the extractor hood 1 has a functional lighting device 3. In the embodiment shown, the functional lighting device 3 is provided on the underside of the extractor housing 10 in the rear area. The functional lighting device 3 emits light downwards and thereby illuminates at least the rear area of ​​a cooking surface K that is mounted below the extractor hood 1. In the embodiment shown, the extractor hood 1 is mounted on a room wall above the cooking surface K. The light output 30 from the functional lighting device 3 is a white light output.

[0060] The light output 20 from the lighting device 20 is a colored light output in the state shown in Figure 1 in which the front flap 11 is folded in.

[0061] Figure 2 shows the embodiment of the extractor hood 1 of Figure 1 in a second state. In this second state, which can also be referred to as the boost state, the front flap 11 is opened. In this state, the light 21 emitted by the lighting device 2 is white light.

[0062] In the embodiment of the extractor hood 1 shown, the switching of the light output 20 of the lighting device 2 from colored light to the light output 21 of the lighting device 2 from white light can be carried out by detecting the movement or the relative position of the front flap 11 to the extractor housing 10.

[0063] If the lighting device 2 is configured as an RGBW LED, switching occurs by controlling the LEDs of the RGBW LED differently. If the lighting device 2 has an RGB LED and at least one white light LED, switching can occur by controlling the white light LED and switching off the RGB LED, or by connecting the white light LED to the RGB LED.

[0064] Figure 3 shows a first embodiment of a lighting device 2 which has an RGBW LED 22 as the light source.

[0065] Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of a lighting device 2 which has a REG LED and an additional white light LED as light sources.

[0066] Figure 5 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the extractor hood 1 according to the invention. The extractor hood 1 has a control unit 4, which serves to control the lighting device 2. In the embodiment shown, the extractor hood 1 has, in addition to the lighting device 2, a functional lighting device 3. The functional lighting device 3 can be connected to the control unit 4 for transmitting information about the light emitted by the functional lighting device 3.

[0067] In the embodiment shown, the extractor hood 1 also has a position detection unit 40. In the embodiment shown, the position detection unit 40 is connected to a sensor 400, which can be attached, for example, to the front flap 11 of the extractor hood 1. The sensor 400 and the position detection unit 40 can be combined into a single unit, as indicated in Figure 5 by the dot-dash line. The sensor 400 can, for example, be a gravity sensor attached to the front flap 11. This can, for example, be provided in a user interface (not shown) on the front flap 11. The user interface can be used to operate the extractor hood.

[0068] The position detection unit 40 is connected to the control unit 4 for transmitting position data, based on which the lighting device 2 can be controlled depending on the detected position.

[0069] In addition, Figure 5 shows, as further optional units, the control device 41 of the fan stage of the extractor hood 1 and an interface 42 for communication with a device connected to the extractor hood 1 (not shown).

[0070] The control device 41 and the interface 42 are connected to the control unit 4 for transmitting information to the control unit 4, on the basis of which the lighting device 2 can be controlled accordingly.

[0071] The control unit 4 can be integrated into or connected to a central control unit of the extractor hood (not shown), in which the control device 41 of the extractor hood and a control of the functional lighting device 3 can also be integrated.

[0072] According to one embodiment, the range hood is equipped with a functional lighting device, which can also be referred to as a task light. A lighting device with colored ambient light is attached to the back of the front panel, which can be a glass panel, and illuminates the glass panel and the inlet opening design elements. When the glass panel is moved to the boost position, the light of the lighting device is changed from the colored ambient light to white light and directed back onto the cooktop, mixing with the light of the functional lighting device.

[0073] The present invention has a number of advantages.

[0074] In particular, different use scenarios can be generated with the present invention.

[0075] For example, the color of the light can be automatically switched after the user moves the front panel, which can also be called a glass panel, to the boost position. This allows the user to visually visualize the operating status of the extractor hood.

[0076] If an additional functional lighting device, which can also be referred to as an existing light source, is provided on the extractor hood, in particular the extractor housing, which can also be referred to as the backend, the color temperature set for the functional lighting device can also be used for the light output of the lighting device. This enables uniform illumination of a larger area below the extractor hood, especially on the hob.

[0077] In addition, the additional, possibly brighter, lighting of the hob in boost mode provides perfect visualization of the increased air flow due to the enlarged intake opening in boost mode.

[0078] Finally, the user is not irritated by colored light when setting the boost mode.

[0079] 1 extractor hood

[0080] 10 extractor hood housing

[0081] 11 Front flap

[0082] 12 Inlet opening

[0083] 13 Intake gap

[0084] 14 Extraction room

[0085] 2 lighting device

[0086] 20 colored light output

[0087] 21 white light output

[0088] 22 RGBW LEDs

[0089] 23 RGB and white light LEDs

[0090] 3 Functional lighting device

[0091] 30 white light output

[0092] 4 Control unit

[0093] 40 Position detection unit

[0094] 400 sensors

[0095] 41 Control device fan speed extractor hood 42 Interface

[0096] K Hob R Red LED

[0097] G Yellow LED

[0098] B Blue LED

[0099] W white light LED

Claims

Patent claims 1. Extractor hood comprising a lighting device (2) with at least one light source (22, 23), characterized in that the lighting device (2) is designed to emit colored light (20) and white light (21) and the extractor hood (1) has a control unit (4) for automatically switching between the output of colored light (20) and white light (21).

2. Extractor hood according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device (2) has a light source which is an RGBW LED (22).

3. Extractor hood according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lighting device (2) has at least two light sources, one of which is an RGB LED and one of which is a white LED.

4. Extractor hood according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the extractor hood has at least one functional lighting device (3) which emits white light.

5. Extractor hood according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit (4) is connected to a position detection unit (40) of a movable part of the extractor hood (1) for receiving a position signal.

6. Extractor hood according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit (4) is connected to the control device (41) of the extractor hood (1) for receiving a signal to the fan level of the extractor hood (1).

7. Extractor hood according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit (4) has an interface (42) for communication with a device connected to the extractor hood (1) for receiving information signals from the connected device.

8. Extractor hood according to one of claims 1 to 7, the lighting device (2) is attached to the back of a movable front flap (11) of the extractor hood (1).

9. Method for controlling the lighting device (2) of the extractor hood (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the color of the light emitted by the lighting device (2) is automatically adjusted depending on ambient conditions.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the ambient condition is the position of a part of the extractor hood (1), in particular the position of a front flap (11) of the extractor hood (1).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein when the front flap (11) is opened, the light output of the lighting device (2) is changed from a colored light output (20) to a white light output (21).

12. Method according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the ambient condition is the fan level of the extractor hood (1).

13. Method according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the ambient condition is the operating state of a device connected to the extractor hood (1).

14. Method according to one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the ambient condition is the light output (30) of a functional lighting device (3) of the extractor hood (1).

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the adaptation to the light output (30) of the functional lighting device (3) is carried out by converting the WW / CW setting of the functional lighting device (3) into RGB setting by means of calculation or an assignment table.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the determined RGB setting is converted into RGBW PMW settings.

Images