Hob

Abstract

A hob comprises a hob plate, heating devices thereunder, a receptacle for a controller, a power supply for the heating devices and an operator control device and also at least one acoustic signal transmitter for outputting acoustic signals. The receptacle and the hob plate define a receiving volume between them. The acoustic signal transmitter is in the form of a structure-borne sound source and is arranged in the receiving volume, the structure-borne sound source being arranged on and attached to a flat component, and the flat component for the structure-borne sound source being electrically passive. The flat component can be, for example, a support plate for the heating devices.

Description

[0001] hob

[0002] Area of ​​application and state of the art

[0003] The invention relates to a hob with a hob plate, heating devices underneath, a holder for functional devices and at least one acoustic signal generator with which acoustic signals such as beeps can be emitted to confirm or indicate an error.

[0004] It has long been known that hobs are equipped with acoustic signaling devices to facilitate operation. For example, hobs with touch-sensitive controls can feature, in addition to an illuminated display indicating the setting, an operation, or a current status, a beep signaling or acknowledgment of correct entries or operations. Such a beep can be relatively short. Error messages, problems, or incorrect operations can be indicated or signaled by a considerably longer beep. Piezo buzzers or similar devices can be used to generate such beeps.

[0005] DE 10 2018 208 719 A1 discloses a cooktop comprising a cooktop plate and a housing underneath, in which functional devices such as heating devices, controls, and power supplies are located. Here, a structure-borne sound transducer is mounted on the underside of the cooktop plate as an acoustic signal generator. This has the major disadvantage that the sound generation and thus the sound quality fluctuate significantly depending on what is placed on or on the cooktop plate.

[0006] Task and solution

[0007] The invention is based on the object of creating a hob as mentioned above, with which problems of the prior art can be solved and in particular it is possible to improve operation or interaction with the hob and make it more convenient, as well as to design it in a more diverse manner and to equip the hob with better possibilities for interaction.

[0008] This object is achieved by a hob with the features of claim 1. Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the further claims and are explained in more detail below. The wording of the claims is incorporated into the content of the description by express reference. The hob is provided with an aforementioned hob plate, beneath which heating devices are arranged, in particular a plurality of heating devices, for example four to six or up to eight heating devices. Furthermore, a receptacle for functional devices of the hob is provided beneath the hob plate. These can be, for example, a controller, a power supply for the heating devices and an operating device. Furthermore, at least one acoustic signal generator is provided, which serves to emit acoustic signals.The holder and the hob plate define a holder volume between them, i.e. a holder space or a spatial area in which at least one acoustic signal generator is to be arranged.

[0009] According to the invention, the acoustic signal generator is designed as a structure-borne sound source and is arranged in the aforementioned receiving volume or space. The structure-borne sound source is arranged and fastened to a flat component, preferably fastened non-detachably. Finally, the flat component is electrically passive for the structure-borne sound source, which means that it does not directly carry any electrically operating components, conductor tracks, or the like. This means above all that the flat component is not a circuit board, but rather metallic or made of plastic. This makes it possible in particular to ensure that the oscillations or vibrations generated by the acoustic signal generator do not disturb or impair the functionality of conductive components arranged directly on the flat component, such as microcontrollers. Other components which are arranged on the flat component but are not provided with electrical conductor tracks or the like can also be used.are connected directly to the flat component are then not affected by the activity of the acoustic signal generator.

[0010] In a first embodiment of the invention, the flat component to which the acoustic signal generator is attached comprises metal or is metallic, for example as a metal sheet. This makes it possible to achieve particularly good acoustic properties, for example to transmit the vibrations of the signal generator to a metallic flat component so that this then emits or generates a correspondingly good and amplified acoustic signal. Good elastic properties such as those of a metal sheet can be used here, in particular. One advantageous option for such an arrangement is a support plate or carrier plate which is arranged within the receptacle or receptacle housing. The heating devices, in particular all of the heating devices, are arranged on this support plate or carrier plate. They are pressed thereby against the underside of the aforementioned hob plate.Such a plastic support plate or a metal support plate is sufficiently stable for the support function. At the same time, such support plates are typically very large in a hob; a support plate can occupy between 80% and 98% of the surface area of ​​the mount; a flat component for an acoustic signaling device in the hob cannot be much larger. Such a support plate can be made of metal sheet with a thickness between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, preferably 1 mm to 1.5 mm. A plastic support plate can be 10% to 100% thicker.

[0011] Advantageously, the structure-borne sound source can be arranged on top of such a support plate, particularly to the side of a heating device. The distance should be at least 1 cm or at least 0.5 cm. By arranging it on top, the existing installation space can be utilized. A power supply for the heating devices is advantageously provided below the support plate, so that less installation space may be available there.

[0012] In a second embodiment of the invention, the flat component for the structure-borne sound source is made of plastic and is not metallic. For example, it can be a control housing on which the structure-borne sound source is located. Such a control housing can at least partially contain a control unit for the cooktop, in particular a circuit board with control components mounted thereon. The control housing can be trough-shaped with a control housing base and surrounding lateral side walls. This control housing can also be well suited for exciting vibrations.

[0013] By arranging the acoustic signal generator on such a flat component and at the same time by removing circuit boards or the like, greater freedom in the arrangement of an acoustic signal generator is achieved. Furthermore, with a larger flat component, which can be significantly larger than a conventional circuit board in a hob, for example for its control, a significantly larger flat component can be used for a better acoustic effect. The electrical connection to the structure-borne sound source can preferably be made with a freely running connection cable, which can be led to an aforementioned control system and can either run freely or be partially fixed, for example by means of a cable holder or adhesive.

[0014] In an embodiment of the invention, the aforementioned receptacle for the functional devices can be designed as a receptacle tray. It can thus advantageously have a flat or planar receptacle tray base, which is in particular completely flat. This receptacle tray base is laterally surrounded by upwardly projecting receptacle walls, which are in particular arranged integrally and in one piece on the receptacle tray base. The receptacle tray can particularly advantageously be made of plastic. Due to the prior definition of the receptacle volume, the structure-borne sound source can also be arranged directly on the receptacle or on a receptacle tray. However, it is advantageously not arranged on the receptacle tray, but rather above it.

[0015] In a further development of the invention, it is possible for the flat component to have cuts, slits, or openings that pass through it. This allows not only its functional requirements but also its acoustic properties and thus its acoustic output or sound to be influenced.

[0016] In a similar way to the previously described, the flat component can be provided with special structural features such as at least one embossing. The structure-borne sound source can be arranged and attached on or in such an embossing. Apart from that, the flat component can be flat. Such an embossing can easily define a location for attaching the structure-borne sound source. Furthermore, it may be possible to create sufficient or better accommodation space for the structure-borne sound source. Finally, lateral movement of the structure-borne sound source can be prevented under certain circumstances.

[0017] As yet another alternative embodiment of the invention, the hob can have an air duct, which is preferably designed as an exhaust air duct. Such an air duct opens into the area defined by the hob plate or has an inlet opening there. Such an inlet opening or opening of an air duct can advantageously be provided in a central region or middle area of ​​the hob plate, which here has a breakthrough or simply an opening. Such hobs are known as downdraft hobs. The structure-borne sound source can also be attached to the said air duct or exhaust air duct. Its surface area is also relatively large, so that a sufficiently good and large resonance body is provided for good sound or good output of an acoustic signal. Such an exhaust air duct can be made of plastic and can advantageously be formed as a single piece.

[0018] The exhaust air duct can lead from the aforementioned inlet opening in the cooktop to a filter and, behind it, to an extraction fan. The structure-borne sound source is preferably arranged between the inlet opening and the extraction fan, i.e., relatively close to the inlet opening, so that the sound it generates is easily audible to an operator. The structure-borne sound source is particularly advantageously arranged in front of the aforementioned filter. It can preferably be arranged on an outer side of the exhaust air duct or the component forming it. In this way, it does not reduce or negatively affect the duct cross-section and is also not exposed to the contaminants present there. By appropriately designing the exhaust air duct, its shape can potentially achieve particularly good amplification of generated sound or acoustic signals.

[0019] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the cooktop can be provided with a heat sink. Such a heat sink can be provided, in particular, in the power supply to cool electrical components located there, such as power semiconductors. This is particularly the case with induction cooktops, for their inverters. Thus, the structure-borne sound source can possibly also be arranged on the heat sink, which can also form a good resonator.

[0020] In one possible embodiment of the invention, the structure-borne sound source can comprise a piezo element. It is also possible to arrange several such piezo elements in the cooktop to emit acoustic signals.

[0021] Advantageously, the structure-borne sound source is not located on the hob plate and is not pressed against it. For this purpose, there is preferably no material connection between the structure-borne sound source and the hob plate, or there is an air gap or a distance, preferably of more than 5 mm, between the structure-borne sound source and the hob plate. The structure-borne sound source is advantageously mounted or attached elsewhere, so that, in particular, no direct vibrations or oscillations are transmitted to the hob plate.

[0022] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the structure-borne sound source is designed as an exciter with an electromagnet and a moving body moved by it. This essentially corresponds to a structure similar to a conventional loudspeaker, with which good and, above all, very loud or clearly audible acoustic signals can be generated. For example, even large, flat components such as the aforementioned carrier plates or support plates with heating devices on them can be vibrated or excited to emit clearly audible acoustic signals.

[0023] In an advantageous development of the invention, the structure-borne sound source can be glued to the flat component for attachment. Adhesive or double-sided adhesive tape are advantageous for this purpose, both of which are preferably non-removable.

[0024] Alternatively, or in addition to adhesive, the structure-borne sound source can be attached to the flat component using a form-fitting mount. This can include, for example, a support arm and / or a receiving chamber and / or a receiving recess. This allows the precise mounting location for the structure-borne sound source to be specified for quick and easy installation.

[0025] In one embodiment of the invention, the structure-borne sound source can be attached directly to the flat component, advantageously glued as previously explained.

[0026] In another embodiment of the invention, the structure-borne sound source can be indirectly attached to the flat component, wherein a transmission element can be provided between it and the flat component. Such a transmission element can have a larger surface area than the structure-borne sound source itself. The structure-borne sound source can be attached directly to the transmission element, and the transmission element is then in turn attached directly to the flat component. In this way, the vibrations from the structure-borne sound source can be transmitted to the flat component both better and in a more precisely defined manner. Such a transmission element can, for example, have elongated regions or fingers or the like protruding from a central region to which the structure-borne sound source can be attached. They can preferably protrude in directions distributed around the central region, wherein they preferably each have different lengths.They are attached to the flat component with their end area, preferably glued as previously explained.

[0027] In a further development of the invention, it can be provided that at least one structure-borne sound source is arranged in a corner area of ​​the hob or in a corner area within the receptacle or a receptacle housing. This makes it possible for further structure-borne sound sources to be arranged in other areas, in particular in a central area or other corner areas of the hob. For example, two structure-borne sound sources can be arranged in diagonally opposite corner areas and thus as far apart as possible. In this way, the flat component, which in this case is advantageously a previously mentioned support plate for the heating devices of the hob, can be excited as effectively as possible to vibrate and emit acoustic signals. This makes it possible to achieve good output of acoustic signals.

[0028] In a further development of the invention, the hob can have a plurality of structure-borne sound sources, but these are arranged on different flat components, as mentioned above. In this way, the respective structure-borne sound sources, including their attachment, can be optimized differently depending on the type, volume, or pitch of the acoustic signals to be generated. This allows different acoustic signals to be generated as effectively as possible. These and other features emerge not only from the claims, but also from the description and the drawings, wherein the individual features can be implemented individually or in combination in the form of sub-combinations in an embodiment of the invention and in other fields, and can represent advantageous and individually protectable embodiments, for which protection is claimed here.The division of the application into subheadings and individual sections does not limit the general validity of the statements made under these headings.

[0029] Brief description of the drawings

[0030] Embodiments of the invention are illustrated schematically in the drawings and explained in more detail below. The drawings show:

[0031] Fig. 1 is an oblique view of an exploded view of a hob according to the invention with hob plate, support plate for heating devices and receiving tray,

[0032] Fig. 2 a plan view of the arrangement of the support plate with the heating devices in the receiving trough,

[0033] Fig. 3 is a sectional view from the side through the hob from Fig. 1 in the assembled state,

[0034] Fig. 4 a side view of the mounting of a structure-borne sound source using an adhesive layer directly on the supporting plate,

[0035] Fig. 5 is a side view of an alternative mounting of a structure-borne sound source by means of an adhesive layer on a slightly larger support, which is glued to the support plate with an adhesive layer, and

[0036] Fig. 6 is a side view of a modification of a hob according to the invention with an extraction device which sucks air through the hob plate and by means of an extraction shaft on which two structure-borne sound sources are arranged.

[0037] Detailed description of the implementation examples

[0038] Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a hob 11 according to the invention, viewed obliquely from above. This illustration is very simple, and many unimportant parts have been omitted. However, these will be familiar to those skilled in the art from conventional hobs. A hob plate 12 is rectangular and is advantageously made of glass ceramic. In the finished hob, a support plate 15 is arranged beneath this, on which four heating devices 16a to 16d are arranged. They can advantageously be fastened thereto, for example by means of snap-in connections. The heating devices 16a to 16d can in principle be designed in any desired manner; here they are advantageously designed as so-called radiant heating devices in accordance with EP 590 315 A1. The support plate 15 can be made of thin galvanized sheet metal with a thickness of approximately 1 mm.This support plate 15 could also be replaced by a support plate made of plastic, in particular in the case where induction heating coils are used as heating devices, which cause lower temperatures inside the cooking surface 11.

[0039] The support plate 15 with the heating devices 16a to 16d thereon is arranged in a receiving tray 20, which is advantageously made of plastic. Advantageously, it can be spring-mounted therein so that the heating devices 16a to 16d are pressed against an underside of the cooktop plate 12. An operating receptacle 24, which is also trough-shaped, is arranged in the receiving tray 20 toward a front edge. It can also be spring-mounted in the receiving tray 20 so that an operating device arranged therein, for example, with capacitive sensor elements for forming touch switches, is spring-mounted against an underside of the cooktop plate 12. The operating receptacle 24, similar to the receiving tray 20, can also be made of plastic.

[0040] According to the invention, two structure-borne sound sources 27a and 27b are arranged on the support plate 15. A first structure-borne sound source 27a is attached to the front left of the support plate 15. The exact type of attachment will be explained in more detail below with reference to Figs. 4 and 5. A second structure-borne sound source 27b, advantageously of identical design, is attached to the rear right of the support plate 15, preferably in the same manner.

[0041] These two structure-borne sound sources 27a and 27b can be designed as so-called exciters, with an electromagnet and a movably mounted oscillator. This can excite the support plate 15 to vibrate relatively strongly, thereby generating the aforementioned acoustic signals with high sound quality. The large surface area of ​​the support plate 15 also allows a sufficiently high volume to be generated.

[0042] A look at Figs. 2 and 3 together shows that the initially mentioned receiving volume within the cooktop 11 is delimited at the sides by the receiving tray 20 and its side walls. According to the sectional view in Fig. 3, it is delimited at the bottom by the base of the receiving tray 20. At the top, the receiving volume is delimited by the cooktop plate 12 and its underside. Thus, the structure-borne sound sources according to the invention, in particular also the structure-borne sound sources 27a and 27b, are arranged within this receiving volume and thus also within the cooktop 11. This allows a defined influence on their sound. Furthermore, this results in easier installation with a lower risk of damage to the structure-borne sound sources.Due to the arrangement on top of the support plate 15, the signals or noises generated by it can also be heard better by an operator located above the hob plate 12, as there are no other obstacles between the operator and the structure-borne sound source 27 other than the hob plate 12.

[0043] Instead of the two structure-borne sound sources 27a and 27b shown here, additional or more structure-borne sound sources could be arranged on the support plate 15. To achieve this, they could possibly be somewhat smaller or less powerful. This can be decided on a case-by-case basis. To further improve sound quality, recesses, slots, indentations, or the like can also be provided in the support plate 15.

[0044] In the invention, the structure-borne sound source should not be located on the underside of the cooktop plate 12, either directly or indirectly via a holder or the like. In particular, there should be at least an air gap or a distance between them. This is because the sound quality on the cooktop plate 12 would be highly influenced by pots or other objects placed on it, depending on their type, position, and, above all, weight, and would therefore not be consistent.

[0045] Further possible and, in particular, alternative mounting locations for two structure-borne sound sources 27c and 27d are shown on the control mount 24, specifically on the short lateral sides to the left and right. These are free here, so that in the illustrated embodiment, there is sufficient space for the attachment or arrangement of the two structure-borne sound sources 27c and 27d. The control mount 24 also forms a sufficiently large, flat component or surface part, which ensures good sound quality after excitation by the vibrating structure-borne sound sources 27c and 27d.

[0046] The lateral sectional view of Fig. 3 shows the position of the two structure-borne sound sources 27a and 27b on the upper side of the support plate 15 next to the heating devices 16d and 16c. The structure-borne sound source 27d can also be seen on the right lateral side of the control receptacle 24.

[0047] A further or alternative structure-borne sound source 27e is provided on the underside of the support plate 15. This can also directly excite the support plate 15 to vibrate, similar to the two structure-borne sound sources 27a and 27b arranged above. For design reasons, the arrangement on the underside may be more advantageous, for example, because more installation space is available there.

[0048] Another possible location for a structure-borne sound source 27f is on top of the floor of the receiving tray 20. This floor, or the entire receiving tray 20, is also a large, flat component that can easily be excited to vibrate and is therefore generally well-suited for producing satisfactory sound. However, the upward propagation of sound is negatively affected by the support plate 15 with the heating devices 16 on it, as well as any other functional units in the receiving tray 20. Therefore, this position is considered less suitable.

[0049] Fig. 4 shows a side view of how a structure-borne sound source 27 is glued directly to the support plate 15 as an example of a flat component by means of an adhesive layer 29. There are therefore no other components, functional units, or the like in between. The adhesive layer 29 can either be an adhesive that is applied to the underside of the structure-borne sound source 27 and / or the top side of the support plate 15, for example using a dispenser, a glue gun, or the like. Alternatively, it can be a double-sided adhesive tape that is attached or glued to the structure-borne sound source 27, for example in its delivered state. The outward-facing, free adhesive surface is covered, as usual, with a protective film or the like, which is only removed when the structure-borne sound source 27 is to be connected to the support plate 15 or another flat component for fastening the structure-borne sound source 27 thereto.

[0050] Fig. 5 shows how the structure-borne sound source 27 is bonded to the support plate 15 as an exemplary flat component by means of an intermediate support 30. Two adhesive layers 29a and 29b are used for this purpose, one or both of which can be designed as previously described for Fig. 4. The support 30 can be a geometric base surface, for example, a circle, ellipse, rectangle, or square. Alternatively, it can be finger-shaped. It serves to improve the transmission of vibrations from the structure-borne sound source 27 to the flat component 15.

[0051] Fig. 6 shows another cooktop 111 with a cooktop plate 112 and a receiving tray 120 underneath. An extraction shaft 132 is arranged at a central opening in the cooktop plate 112, the opening of which can be covered at the top by a cover grille 133. The extraction shaft 132 leads to an extraction device 135 with a fan, filter, and the like, as is known from the prior art. Two structure-borne sound sources 127g and 127h are arranged, for example, on the extraction shaft 132, which runs through the receiving tray 120. They are thus also located within the aforementioned receiving volume, i.e., within the cooktop 111, or in the space between the cooktop plate 112 and the receiving tray 120. Since such an extraction shaft 132 also has certain surface areas or a certain areal extent, it can also be used as a resonance surface.Due to the design as a shaft, sound signals can be generated particularly well and carried upwards past the cover grille 133 to the outside.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Hob with: a hob plate, Heating devices arranged beneath the hob plate, a receptacle for functional devices of the hob such as control, power supply for the heating devices and operating device, at least one acoustic signal generator for emitting acoustic signals, wherein the receptacle and the hob plate define a receptacle volume between them, the acoustic signal generator is designed as a structure-borne sound source and is arranged in the receptacle volume, characterized in that the structure-borne sound source is arranged and fastened to a flat component, the flat component is electrically passive for the structure-borne sound source, the flat component comprises metal or is metallic or is a component made of plastic.

2. Hob according to claim 1, characterized in that the receptacle is designed as a receptacle tray, in particular with a flat and / or planar receptacle tray base and with upwardly projecting receptacle walls surrounding the latter on the sides.

3. Hob according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flat component has incisions, slots or openings which each pass through the flat component.

4. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flat component is a carrier plate which is arranged within the receptacle or the receptacle housing, wherein the heating devices are arranged on the carrier plate, wherein in particular the structure-borne sound source is arranged laterally next to a heating device on the carrier plate, preferably on an upper side of the carrier plate towards the hob plate.

5. Cooking hob according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a Control housing which at least partially contains a control of the hob and which is arranged within the receptacle, wherein the control housing forms the planar component and the structure-borne sound source is arranged on the control housing, wherein preferably the structure-borne sound source is arranged on a lateral side wall of the control housing.

6. Hob according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it has an air duct as a flat component, preferably an exhaust air duct, which opens into the area defined by the hob plate or whose inlet opening is located in the surface of the hob plate, preferably in a central region of the hob plate and designed as an opening in the hob plate, wherein the structure-borne sound source is arranged on the air duct or exhaust air duct.

7. Hob according to claim 6, characterized in that the air duct leads from the inlet opening to a filter and to an extraction fan, wherein the structure-borne sound source is arranged on the air duct between the inlet opening and the extraction fan, in particular on an outer side of the air duct.

8. Hob according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it has a heat sink as a flat component, in particular in the power supply, in order to cool components there, wherein the structure-borne sound source is arranged on the heat sink.

9. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the structure-borne sound source is not arranged on the hob plate and is not pressed against the hob plate, wherein preferably no material connection is formed between the structure-borne sound source and the hob plate or there is an air gap between the structure-borne sound source and the hob plate.

10. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the structure-borne sound source is designed as an exciter with an electromagnet and a moving body moved thereby.

11. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the structure-borne sound source is glued for fastening, in particular by means of a double-sided adhesive tape.

12. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the structure-borne sound source is fastened by means of a form-fitting holder, wherein in particular the holder is designed as a holding arm and / or as a receiving chamber and / or as a receiving recess, preferably in addition to being glued.

13. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the structure-borne sound source is attached directly to the flat component, in particular is glued.

14. Hob according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the structure-borne sound source is attached indirectly to the flat component by means of a transmission element, wherein the transmission element has a larger area than the structure-borne sound source, wherein preferably the structure-borne sound source is attached directly to the transmission element and the transmission element is attached directly to the flat component.

15. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one structure-borne sound source is arranged in a corner region of the hob or within the receptacle or a receptacle housing.

16. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that several structure-borne sound sources are arranged in the hob, preferably far apart from each other, in particular in a rectangular hob in diagonally opposite corner areas of the hob or within a receiving housing.

17. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that several structure-borne sound sources are arranged in the hob on different flat components.

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