Domestic appliance, and method and control unit for operating a domestic appliance

Abstract

The invention relates to a domestic appliance which has an interior (110) for receiving textiles (105) and a door (115) for closing the interior (110). The domestic appliance additionally has a treatment unit, a storage device (135), a receiving device (140), a drawer device (130), and a sensor (145). The treatment device is designed to treat textiles (105) in the interior (110) using freshwater from the storage device (135) and / or by dispensing service water into the receiving device (140). The storage device (135) is designed to store freshwater, and the receiving device (140) is designed to receive service water. The drawer device (130) is arranged or can be arranged adjacently to the interior (110) of the domestic appliance and is designed to receive the storage device (135) and the receiving device (140). The drawer device is additionally designed to detect a parameter relating to the storage device (135) and / or the receiving device (140).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Household appliance, method and control unit for operating a household appliance

[0003] The invention relates to a household appliance, a method and a control unit for operating a household appliance.

[0004] EP 3666963 B1 discloses a fabric treatment device with sensors that can have a measuring point in each water tank. One measuring point can be located above the other. In a fresh water tank, the measurement can be taken at the bottom to detect an empty level, and in a waste water tank, the measurement can be taken at the top to prevent overflow.

[0005] The approach presented here aims to create an improved household appliance, an improved method and an improved control unit for operating a household appliance.

[0006] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a household appliance, a method, and a control unit for operating a household appliance having the features of the main claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are set forth in the following subclaims.

[0007] The advantages achievable with the invention are that a household appliance is created that can incorporate a sensor. This can enable reliable operation of the household appliance.

[0008] A household appliance having an interior for accommodating textiles and a door for closing the interior, comprises a treatment unit, a storage device, a receiving device, a pushing device, and a sensor. The treatment unit is designed to treat textiles in the interior using fresh water from the storage device and / or by discharging used water into the receiving device. The storage device is designed to store fresh water, and the receiving device is designed to receive used water. The pushing device is arranged or can be arranged adjacent to the interior of the household appliance and is designed to accommodate the storage device and the receiving device. The sensor is designed to detect a parameter relating to the storage device and / or the receiving device.

[0009] The parameter can, for example, be a fill level of the storage device and / or the receiving device. Additionally or alternatively, the parameter can represent the presence of the storage device and / or the receiving device, as well as a program forecast. The storage device and / or the receiving device can be manually removed from the drawer and inserted by a user. The household appliance can be designed as a laundry care cabinet. The laundry care cabinet can clean and dry various textiles such as bed linen, shoes, and gloves. In this way, the textiles can be freed of contaminants such as bacteria and germs. The textiles can be treated, for example, with steam, a heat pump device, or cold plasma.

[0010] The sensor can have a first sensor surface and a second sensor surface. The first sensor surface and / or the second sensor surface can be configured to contact the sensor with the storage device and / or the receiving device in order to be able to detect the parameter with respect to the storage device and / or the receiving device. The first sensor surface can contact the storage device, and the second sensor surface can contact the receiving device. Thus, the parameter can be reliably detected.

[0011] The sensor may have a contact surface that may be configured to detect a state of the pusher. The contact surface may be a reed contact. The detected state may represent an open and a closed pusher.

[0012] The contact surface can be arranged between the first sensor surface and the second sensor surface. This allows the sensor to be manufactured with optimized installation space.

[0013] The sensor can be configured to detect a closed state of the sliding device when the contact surface is arranged at a maximum distance from a partition unit. The partition unit can represent a partition wall, for example, to a utility room of the household appliance.

[0014] The drawer device can have a recessed portion that can be configured to accommodate the storage device and the receiving device. The recessed portion can reliably and easily accommodate the storage device and the receiving device. The storage device and the receiving device can be easily inserted into and removed from the recessed portion by a user. The sensor can be arranged or can be arranged on an inner side of the recessed portion. In this way, the sensor can be protected from contamination and damage. Furthermore, the sensor can be arranged in a space-saving manner within the household appliance.

[0015] The sensor can be designed to detect the parameter using a capacitance measurement. The approach presented here can therefore also be understood as a capacitive water level measurement.

[0016] The household appliance can be designed as a laundry cabinet. Even with such a design, the advantages of the approach described here can be realized very efficiently.

[0017] A method for operating an embodiment of a household appliance mentioned herein comprises an evaluation step and a dispensing step. In the evaluation step, a parameter signal read in from the sensor via an interface is evaluated to detect a parameter relating to the storage device and the receiving device. In the dispensing step, the parameter signal is output to a display device via an interface. The advantages of the approach described here can also be realized very efficiently through such an embodiment.

[0018] In the outputting step, the parameter signal can be output to a display device of the household appliance and / or to a display device of a mobile device external to the household appliance. The mobile device can be, for example, a smartphone or a tablet.

[0019] The approach presented here further provides a control unit configured to perform, control, or implement the steps of a variant of a method presented here in corresponding devices. This embodiment of the invention in the form of a device also allows the problem underlying the invention to be solved quickly and efficiently.

[0020] The control unit can be designed to read in input signals and to determine and provide output signals using the input signals. An input signal can, for example, represent a sensor signal that can be read in via an input interface of the control unit. An output signal can represent a control signal or a data signal that can be provided at an output interface of the control unit. The control unit can be designed to determine the output signals using a processing rule implemented in hardware or software. For example, the control unit can comprise a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, or a software module and can, for example, be implemented as a discrete component or be comprised of a discrete component.

[0021] Also advantageous is a computer program product or computer program with program code that can be stored on a machine-readable carrier or storage medium such as a semiconductor memory, a hard disk memory, or an optical memory. If the program product or program is executed on a computer or a control unit, the program product or program can be used to carry out, implement, and / or control the steps of the method according to one of the embodiments described here.

[0022] Although the approach described is based on a household appliance, the approach described here can be used accordingly in the context of a commercial or professional appliance.

[0023] An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows

[0024] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a household appliance;

[0025] Figure 2 shows an illustration of an embodiment of a household appliance;

[0026] Figure 3 shows a partial representation of an embodiment of a household appliance;

[0027] Figure 4 is a plan view of a pushing device for an embodiment of a household appliance;

[0028] Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a pushing device for an embodiment of a household appliance;

[0029] Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a pushing device for an embodiment of a household appliance;

[0030] Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a pushing device for an embodiment of a household appliance;

[0031] Figure 8 shows a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for operating a household appliance; and

[0032] Figure 9 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a control unit for operating a household appliance.

[0033] Figure 1 shows an illustration of an embodiment of a household appliance 100. The household appliance 100 is designed, for example, as a laundry care cabinet and is configured to treat textiles 105. For this purpose, the household appliance 100 has an interior space 110 designed to accommodate the textiles 105. Furthermore, the household appliance 100 has a door 115 for closing the interior space 110. In Figure 1, the door 115 is shown in an open state, so that the interior space 110 and the textiles 105 are visible. In the interior space 110, for example, clothes hangers 120 are arranged, on which textiles 105, here merely a towel by way of example, are arranged or can be arranged. On an inner side of the door 115, a hanging device 150 for hanging, for example, trousers is arranged, merely by way of example. The door 115 can be opened electrically, for example, and a clothes rack 155, for example, is arranged below the textile 105.

[0034] Adjacent to the interior space 110 is a pusher device 130. The pusher device 130 is configured to accommodate a storage device 135 and a receiving device 140. The storage device 135 is configured to store fresh water, and the receiving device 140 is configured to receive service water. The fresh water is used to treat the textiles 105.

[0035] For this purpose, the household appliance 100 has a treatment unit 125. The treatment unit 125 is designed to treat the textiles 105 and uses the fresh water from the storage device 135 for this purpose. The textiles 105 are treated, for example, using steam. During and / or after the treatment of the textiles 105, the used water is generated and flows into the receiving device 140.

[0036] The treatment unit 125 is arranged, merely by way of example, in the interior 110 adjacent to the pusher 130. More precisely, the treatment unit 125 is arranged at a floor of the interior 110, above the pusher 130.

[0037] For reliable treatment of the textiles 105, it is advantageous if the storage device 135 always stores a sufficient amount of fresh water and if the receiving device 140 has sufficient capacity to receive the used water.

[0038] For this purpose, the household appliance 100 has a sensor 145. The sensor 145 is arranged, for example, within the pusher device 130 and is designed to detect a parameter relating to the storage device 135 and the receiving device 140. In other words, the sensor 145 detects a fill level of the storage device 135 and / or a fill level of the receiving device 140. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor 145 detects whether the storage device 135 and / or the receiving device 140 are arranged in the pusher device 130. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor 145 determines a program forecast depending on the fill level of the devices 135, 140, i.e., whether a selected treatment program is sufficient for the textiles 105.

[0039] In other words, the household appliance 100, which can also be referred to as a laundry care cabinet, indicates that the receiving device 140, which can also be referred to as the used water tank, is empty or that the storage device 135, which can also be referred to as the fresh water tank, needs to be refilled. It must be ensured that the receiving device 140 does not overflow and that the storage device 135 is not drained dry, causing the fresh water pump to pump air. In addition, before the program starts, it is possible to predict whether the remaining capacity in the devices 135, 140 is sufficient for the selected program, so that the program probably does not have to be aborted. Furthermore, the fill level in the devices 135, 140 can be displayed in an app.In addition to detecting the water level, it is also possible to determine whether devices 135, 140 are actually in use, so that, for example, domestic water does not flow into the thrust device 130. The approach presented here thus enables continuous water level measurement, which fulfills all of the described requirements. Furthermore, the presence of devices 135, 140 can be detected even when empty, i.e., without water in the devices 135, 140.

[0040] Figure 2 shows an illustration of an embodiment of a household appliance 100. The household appliance 100 is similar to or corresponds to the household appliance in Figure 1.

[0041] An interior view of the household appliance 100 is shown. The household appliance 100 has, for example, a holding device 235 for holding textile items such as gloves and / or shoes.

[0042] The treatment unit 125 is arranged between the interior 110 and a heat pump 200. The heat pump 200 has a condenser 205 and an evaporator 210. A fan 215, for example, is arranged between the condenser 205 and the evaporator 210. Another fan 220 is arranged, for example, above the textile 105, with a filter unit 225 arranged adjacent to the additional fan 220. A control unit 230 for operating the household appliance 100 is arranged in the interior 110 of the household appliance 100 merely by way of example.

[0043] When the household appliance 100 is ready for operation, air is directed through the interior 110 to the textile 105, for example by means of the additional fan 215. The textile 105 is, for example, moist. As the air from the additional fan 215 is directed through the textile 105, the water evaporates from the textile 105 and is absorbed by the air. The air becomes moist and flows into the heat pump 200. In the heat pump, the moist, warm air is first directed past the evaporator 210 and cooled there. The cooled air is then directed to the condenser 205 by means of the fan 215. The condenser 205 heats the cooled air and feeds it back into the interior 110. An arrow direction 240 merely shows the path of the air flowing through the interior 110 by way of example.

[0044] Figure 3 shows a partial representation of an embodiment of a household appliance 100. The household appliance 100 is similar to or corresponds to the household appliance from one of the figures described above.

[0045] The door 115 of the household appliance 100 is open, so that the interior 110 is visible. Below the interior 110, the drawer 130 is also shown in an open state, so that the storage device 135 and the receiving device 140 are visible. The devices 135, 140 each have a handle, allowing them to be easily and quickly removed and inserted by a user. According to one embodiment, the drawer 130 has a recessed section 300. The recessed section 300 is designed to accommodate the storage device 135 and the receiving device 140.

[0046] Figure 4 shows a top view of a pusher device 130 for an exemplary embodiment of a household appliance. The pusher device 130 is similar to or corresponds to the pusher device shown in one of the previously described figures.

[0047] The storage device 135 and the receiving device 140 are arranged in the recessed section 300. The sensor 145 is also arranged in the recessed section 300, with the sensor 145 being arranged adjacent to the devices 135, 140 to detect the parameter. More specifically, the devices 135, 140 are arranged between a drawer front 305 of the pusher device 130 and the sensor 145.

[0048] Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of a drawer assembly 130 for one embodiment of a household appliance. The drawer assembly 130 is similar to or corresponds to the drawer assembly from one of the previously described figures. More specifically, the drawer assembly 130 is similar to the drawer assembly from Figure 4, except that a frontal view in the direction of the drawer front 305 is shown.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the sensor 145 has a first sensor surface 500, a second sensor surface 505, and a contact surface 510 arranged between the sensor surfaces 500, 505. The sensor surfaces 500, 505 are designed, for example, to contact the sensor 145 with the storage device 135 and / or the receiving device 140 in order to detect the parameter relating to the storage device 135 and / or the receiving device 140. The first sensor surface 500 contacts, for example, the storage device 135, and the second sensor surface 505 contacts the receiving device 140. The contact surface 145 is designed, for example, as a reed contact and is designed to detect a state of the pushing device 130, i.e., whether the pushing device 130 is open or closed. This can also be referred to as status sensing of the pushing device 130.

[0050] In other words, the sensor 145, which can also be referred to as a sensor board, is positioned in the recessed section 300, which can also be referred to as the water container receptacle. In principle, all positions of the sensor 145 are possible, from which both devices 135, 140 are accessible: between the devices 135, 140, between the front and devices 135, 140, or on the inside of the drawer 130, which can also be referred to as a drawer. This position has the advantage that the contact surface 145, which can also be referred to as a reed contact, can detect the status of the drawer 130 via its proximity to a separating unit, which can also be referred to as a separating plate (see Figure 6).

[0051] Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of a pusher device 130 for an embodiment of a household appliance. The pusher device 130 is similar to or corresponds to the pusher device in one of the figures described above.

[0052] The sensor 145 is arranged, for example, on an inner side of the recessed section 300. The sliding device 130 is shown in a closed state and arranged adjacent to a partition unit 600. The partition unit 600 is, for example, a partition wall to a technical compartment of the household appliance. The contact surface of the sensor 145 is designed, for example, to detect, in the closed state of the sliding device 130, when the contact surface is arranged at a maximum distance from the partition unit 600.

[0053] Figure 7 shows a schematic representation of a pusher device 130 for an embodiment of a household appliance. The pusher device 130 is similar to or corresponds to the pusher device in one of the figures described above.

[0054] The thrust device 130 is shown in a side view, illustrating the functional principle of a capacitive water level measurement. The sensor 145 is designed to detect the parameter using a capacitance measurement. The sensor 145, which can also be referred to as a capacitive sensor, is arranged, for example, outside the storage device 140. The sensor 145 generates an electric field 705 in the direction of the storage device 140. The sensor surfaces extend over the entire height of possible fill levels 700. The sensor 145 is connected to the control unit 230 for signal transmission.

[0055] The change in capacitance is then measured. The capacitance depends primarily on the dielectric constant of the medium located in the electric field 105, or, in the case of a capacitor, between the circuit boards.

[0056] Where: C = £ * A / d, C: capacity, £ : dielectric constant, A: area of ​​the capacitor, d: distance between the capacitor plates

[0057] The dielectric constant of air and water differs greatly, meaning that the capacitance changes with the water level. However, the material of the reservoir 140 also influences the capacitance, so it can be determined whether the reservoir 140 is even present.

[0058] Figure 8 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 800 for operating a household appliance. The household appliance is similar to or corresponds to the household appliance from one of the figures described herein.

[0059] The method 800 comprises an evaluation step 805 and an output step 810. In evaluation step 805, a parameter signal read in from the sensor via an interface is evaluated to detect a parameter relating to the storage device and the receiving device. In output step 810, the parameter signal is output to a display device via an interface. According to one embodiment, in output step 810, the parameter signal is output to a display device of the household appliance and / or to a display device of an external mobile device.

[0060] Figure 9 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a control unit 230 for operating a household appliance. The control unit 230 is configured to execute the method of Figure 8 or a similar method.

[0061] The control unit 230 has an evaluation unit 905 and an output unit 910. The evaluation unit 905 is configured to evaluate a parameter signal 915 read from the sensor via an interface. The output unit 910 is configured to output the parameter signal 915 to a display device via an interface.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A household appliance (100), wherein the household appliance (100) has an interior space (110) for accommodating textiles (105) and a door (115) for closing the interior space (110), wherein the household appliance has the following features: a treatment unit (125) for treating textiles (105) in the interior space (110) using fresh water from a storage device (135) and / or by dispensing used water into a receiving device (140); the storage device (135) for storing fresh water; the receiving device (140) for receiving used water; a pushing device (130) which is arranged or can be arranged adjacent to the interior space (110) of the household appliance (100) and is designed to accommodate the storage device (135) and the receiving device (140); and a sensor (145) configured to detect a parameter relating to the storage device (135) and / or the receiving device (140).

2. Household appliance (100) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (145) has a first sensor surface (500) and a second sensor surface (505), wherein the first sensor surface (500) and / or the second sensor surface (505) is designed to contact the sensor (145) with the storage device (135) and / or the receiving device (140) in order to detect the parameter relating to the storage device (135) and / or the receiving device (140).

3. Household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor (145) has a contact surface (510) which is designed to detect a state of the pushing device (130).

4. Household appliance (100) according to claim 3, wherein the contact surface (510) is arranged between the first sensor surface (500) and the second sensor surface (505).

5. Household appliance (100) according to one of claims 3 to 4, wherein the sensor (145) is designed to detect a closed state of the pushing device (130) when the contact surface (510) is arranged at a maximum distance from a separating unit (600).

6. Household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pushing device (130) has a recessed portion (300) which is designed to receive the storage device (135) and the receiving device (140).

7. Household appliance (100) according to claim 6, wherein the sensor (145) is arranged or can be arranged on an inner side of the recessed portion (300).

8. Household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor (145) is designed to detect the parameter using a capacitance measurement.

9. Household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the household appliance (100) is designed as a laundry care cabinet.

10. A method (800) for operating a household appliance (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, wherein the method (800) comprises the following steps: Evaluating (805) a parameter signal (915) read in via an interface from the sensor (145) in order to detect a state of the storage device (135) and the receiving device (140); and Outputting (810) the parameter signal (915) via an interface to a display device.

11. The method (800) according to claim 10, wherein in the step (810) of outputting, the parameter signal (915) is output to a display device of the household appliance (100) and / or to a display device of a mobile device external to the household appliance (100).

12. Control unit (230) which is designed to carry out and / or control the steps (805, 810) of the method (800) according to one of the preceding claims 10 to 11 in corresponding units (905, 910).

13. Computer program product with program code for carrying out the method (800) according to one of claims 10 to 11, when the computer program product is executed on a control unit (230) according to claim 12.

Images