Appliance system

Abstract

The invention is based on an appliance system (10), in particular a household appliance system (20), having an appliance device (12) for providing at least one appliance function and having a portable operating unit (14) for wirelessly operating the appliance device (12). In order to improve safety, it is proposed that the appliance system (10) has a control unit (16) which is intended to determine an existence of a line of sight between the appliance device (12) and the operating unit (14) on the basis of at least three determined signal strengths between the appliance device (12) and the operating unit (14) and to enable or at least restrict control of the appliance device (12) by the operating unit (14) on the basis of at least the determined existence.

Description

[0001] Device system

[0002] The invention relates to a device system according to the preamble of claim 1, a device device according to claim 10, an operating unit according to claim 11, a method for operating the device system according to claim 12 and a computer program according to claim 13.

[0003] EP 3236709 A1 is already known from the prior art, in which a mobile device can control a cooking appliance based on a determined distance between the mobile device and the cooking appliance, which depends in particular on a measured signal strength. Control of the cooking appliance via the mobile device is permitted as long as the signal strength is above a signal strength threshold.

[0004] The object of the invention is, in particular but not limited to, to provide a generic device with improved safety properties. This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1, while advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the subclaims.

[0005] The invention is based on a device system, in particular a household appliance system, with a device device for providing at least one device function and with a portable operating unit for wirelessly operating the device device.

[0006] It is proposed that the device system has a control unit which is provided to determine the existence of a line of sight between the device device and the operating unit based on at least three determined signal strengths between the device device and the operating unit and to enable or at least restrict control of the device device by the operating unit based on at least the determined existence.

[0007] Such a configuration can, in particular, increase safety, wherein the existence of the line of sight can be determined in a particularly reliable manner. Advantageously, the existence of the line of sight can be determined independently of the distance between the device and the operating unit. In particular, unsafe control with an interrupted line of sight can be avoided, even if the device and the operating unit are arranged close to one another, in particular at a distance of a few meters, for example on opposite sides of a wall. The device system can advantageously be used for a portable operating unit for controlling a device for which a safety standard and / or safety regulation exists according to which at least one change in the operating state of the device and / or every change in the operating state must be monitored by an operator.

[0008] The operating unit can be transported, in particular, manually by the operator. In particular, the operating unit is provided for wireless operation of the device in more than one relative position to the device. Preferably, the operating unit has at least one communication unit for wireless communication with the device, in particular at least for wireless operation of the device. In particular, the operating unit, in particular the communication unit, is provided to wirelessly transmit at least one operating signal for operating the device to the device. The operating unit preferably has at least one operating element for operating the device.The operating element is preferably designed to be contacted directly by an operator, whereby a touch of the operating element is sensed and / or an actuating force exerted on the operating element is sensed and / or mechanically transmitted to actuate a unit. The operating element can be designed mechanically or digitally, in particular as a touch-sensitive button, for example on a touch control and / or a touchpad. The operating element can be designed, for example, as a switch and / or a knob and / or a push-button. Alternatively, another design of the operating element that appears appropriate to a person skilled in the art is conceivable, for example as a voice-controlled operating element.

[0009] The operating element preferably has at least one output unit for outputting at least one item of information, in particular at least relating to a setting state of the at least one operating element. The output unit is preferably provided to display the information visually. The output unit preferably has at least one display. Alternatively or additionally, it would be conceivable for the output unit to have at least one display element other than a display, for example a lamp. Alternatively or additionally, it would also be conceivable for the output unit to be provided to output the at least one item of information haptically and / or acoustically. It would be conceivable for the output unit, in particular in an embodiment as a touchpad, to be formed at least partially in one piece with the operating element.The control unit is preferably designed as a smart device and / or a mobile device, in particular as a smartphone and / or as a tablet.

[0010] The device device is preferably at least a part, in particular a subassembly, of a device, in particular one mentioned above, and / or designed as a device accessory for use with the device. The device device can in particular be designed as the device. The device function is in particular a function of the device, wherein the device device can in particular execute the device function directly and / or control the device to execute it. Preferably, the operating unit is provided for wireless operation of the device, in particular of the device function of the device, in particular through wireless operation of the device device. The device device preferably has a further communication unit for wireless communication with the operating unit, in particular with the communication unit. In particular, the signal strengths are signal strengths between the communication unit and the further communication unit.Preferably, the device device and / or the further communication unit is / are connected at least in terms of data technology to at least one functional unit of the device. The device device can have the functional unit. The functional unit is preferably provided for executing the device function in a functional area in at least one operating state. The operating unit is in particular provided for controlling the functional unit via the control of the device device. The device device and / or the communication unit is / are, at least in an assembled state, preferably at a distance of at most 1 m, preferably at most 0.5 m, particularly preferably at most 0.2 m, and particularly advantageously at most 0.1 m from the functional unit and / or the functional area. The device device and / or the communication unit can be connected to the functional unit by wire, in particular at a fixed distance from one another.Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the device and / or the communication unit is / are wirelessly connected to the functional unit, wherein the device and / or the communication unit is / are in particular fixed at a fixed distance from the functional unit and / or the connection is provided by means of NFC or another communication method deemed appropriate by a person skilled in the art, which has a limited range, in particular with respect to the above-mentioned maximum distance from the functional unit and / or the functional area. This can advantageously increase the security of controlling the functional unit. In particular, monitoring of the functional area can advantageously be ensured.

[0011] The device is, in particular, a device for which a safety standard specifies safety monitoring of the device and / or the functional area, in particular for at least one change in the operating state of the device, in particular of the functional unit, controlled by the operator. The device function provided by the device device is, in particular, designed as a device function to be monitored, in particular a safety-relevant device function, for example heating and / or cutting and / or sawing and / or chopping and / or pressure generation and / or the like. It is conceivable that the device is designed as a gardening tool, for example as a shredder or a mower or the like. Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the device is intended for use on a construction site. Alternatively or additionally, another design of the device that appears reasonable to a person skilled in the art is conceivable.

[0012] The device system is preferably designed as a household appliance system. Preferably, the device is designed as a household appliance and the device in particular as a household appliance. In particular, the control of the device can be provided particularly reliably in a household environment in which there are often comparatively small distances, in particular of a few meters, between the device and the control unit, but no line of sight between the two, for example when the device and the control unit are arranged on opposite sides of an interior wall of a house. The household appliance can, for example, be designed as an ironing machine or a dryer or a cutting machine or the like. Advantageously, however, the device, in particular the household appliance, is a cooking appliance.The appliance system is preferably designed as a cooking appliance system and the appliance device as a cooking appliance device. An appliance designed as a cooking appliance could, for example, be an oven and / or a microwave and / or a grill and / or a steamer or the like. The cooking appliance is advantageously designed as a hob and preferably an induction hob. The appliance system is preferably designed as a hob system, in particular an induction hob system, and the appliance device as a hob device, in particular an induction hob device. The functional unit is preferably designed as a heating unit, which advantageously has at least one heating coil, in particular an induction coil. The functional unit, in particular the heating unit, is preferably provided for heating at least one item of cooking utensil. The appliance function is preferably designed as a heating process.Preferably, the functional area is designed as at least one heating zone. Advantageously, a safety standard, such as IEC 60335, can be met and / or a fire risk reduced.

[0013] The signal strengths are, in particular, signal strengths of at least one signal between the operating unit, in particular the communication unit, and the device, in particular the further communication unit. The signal strengths are to be understood, in particular, as the signal strengths, in particular a number of signal strengths, of the one window, which are used, in particular, to determine the existence of the line of sight. The signal strengths can be signal strengths of just one, in particular contiguous, signal or of at least two signals. The signal is preferably embodied as a radio signal. The signal is preferably embodied as a UHF signal and / or as a microwave signal. The signal preferably has a frequency of at least 300 MHz. The signal can, in particular, be embodied as a Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, or the like.Advantageously, an installation efficiency and in particular a cost efficiency, in particular of a hardware, of the device system can be advantageously increased, in particular if the device device and / or the operating device each already have a corresponding communication unit for communication by means of such a signal.

[0014] Preferably, an emission signal strength of the at least one signal, in particular prior to attenuation by propagation, is constant, in particular at least during operation of the device system. Advantageously, the signal strengths can be provided in a particularly comparable manner. The emission signal strength is preferably stored in a memory unit, whereby, in particular, signal attenuation can be determined particularly advantageously. Alternatively, it would be conceivable for the emission signal strength of the at least one signal to be variable, wherein the respective emission signal strength of a signal is communicated to the control unit, in particular in addition to the signal strength.

[0015] Preferably, the operating unit, in particular the communication unit, is provided to receive the signal originating from the device, in particular originating from the further communication unit. The device, in particular the further communication unit, is preferably provided to wirelessly transmit the signal to the operating unit, in particular the communication unit, and in particular to emit it. This advantageously allows the emission signal strength, in particular, to be controlled and / or regulated. Alternatively, the device, in particular the further communication unit, can be provided to wirelessly receive the signal originating from the operating unit, in particular originating from the communication unit.The operating unit, in particular the communication unit, can be provided to transmit and in particular to emit the signal wirelessly to the device, in particular the further communication unit.

[0016] The signal strengths are, in particular, the signal strengths determined at the device or the operating unit upon receipt of the signal, in particular one emitted by the operating unit or device. The signal strength depends, in particular, on the emission signal strength and the attenuation due to propagation of the signal between the device and the operating unit. The signal strengths are, in particular, each formed as an RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) value. The signal strength of the signal strengths and, in particular, the attenuation of the emission signal strength depends, in particular, on the distance between the device and the operating unit, as well as other physical effects, such as reflection, refraction, diffraction, scattering, and / or fading.

[0017] It is conceivable that the signal is intended solely to provide the signal strengths between the control unit and the device. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the signal contains at least one further piece of information, particularly one that appears useful to a person skilled in the art. For example, it is conceivable that the signal is designed as the control signal and, in particular, contains at least one control command.

[0018] The control unit is, in particular, an electronic unit, which preferably has a computing unit and, in particular, a memory unit, in particular as mentioned above, with a control program stored therein, which is intended to be executed by the computing unit. The control unit can have at least one microcontroller. The device system and / or the control unit can have a sensor unit, which is intended to determine and, in particular, measure the signal strengths, in particular at the communication unit or the further communication unit. In particular, the sensor unit is arranged on a part of the device system that receives the signal.The sensor unit and the control unit or a remainder of the control unit can be arranged on the same part or on a further part of the device system arranged separately from the part, wherein the sensor unit in the latter is provided in particular to wirelessly transmit the determined signal strengths to the control unit or the remainder of the control unit. Preferably, the device device and / or the operating unit comprises / comprises the control unit at least partially. In particular, the device device and / or the operating unit can comprise / comprise the control unit completely. The control unit is preferably connected at least for data purposes to the operating unit, in particular the communication unit, and / or the device device, in particular the further communication unit. It would be conceivable for the control unit to be formed at least partially outside the device device and / or the operating unit.For example, the control unit could be provided at least partially for remote access, in particular via an Internet connection, to the device and / or the operating unit.

[0019] The control unit is preferably provided to at least restrict the control of the device by the operating unit for a determined interrupted line of sight. When restricting the control, the control unit can in particular be provided to block the control, in particular any control, or at least to block a control that increases the power of the functional unit. The control unit is preferably provided to enable the control of the device by the operating unit for a determined existing line of sight and in particular for an additionally fulfilled condition regarding a distance between the device and the operating unit.

[0020] "Intended" should be understood as specifically programmed, designed, and / or equipped. The fact 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.

[0021] It is further proposed that the control unit is provided to determine a statistical property of the signal strengths in order to determine the existence of the line of sight. In this way, the signal strengths can advantageously be combined into one property which is in particular provided for comparison. Advantageously, the existence of the line of sight can be determined on the basis of the one comparison and in particular in a particularly simple manner. The control unit, in particular the computing unit, is preferably provided to calculate the statistical property. Preferably, the control unit, in particular the computing unit, is provided to compare the statistical property with a reference value in order to determine the existence of the line of sight. Preferably, the control unit, in particular the storage unit, is provided to store the reference value.The reference value can be specified during manufacture of the device system and, in particular, stored and / or calibrated by an installer of the device system and / or an operator. The control unit is preferably provided to determine the existence of the line of sight based on a result of the comparison of the statistical property. The comparison of the statistical property is, in particular, a size comparison. Preferably, the control unit is provided to determine the line of sight as interrupted if the statistical property is greater than the reference value. The control unit is preferably provided to determine the line of sight as present if the statistical property is smaller than the reference value.

[0022] It is also proposed that the statistical property be a dispersion parameter of the signal strengths. The dispersion parameter is, in particular, a measure of a deviation between the signal strengths. This advantageously allows at least the deviation, in particular a fluctuation, between the signal strengths to be determined. The deviation between the signal strengths depends, in particular, on multipath propagation of the signal. In addition to attenuating the signal, multipath propagation of the signal causes, in particular, different beams of the signal to reach the receiver simultaneously with different phase and / or amplitude values, as a result of which the signal strengths, in particular, deviate from one another. For the line of sight to be present, a direct beam, in particular a line-of-sight signal of the signal, is, in particular, dominant in the signal.The signal is formed for the interrupted line of sight, for example, by a wall and / or a body and / or another obstacle, in particular solely from a combination of indirect rays, in particular reflected echo signals, of the signal. In particular, the combination of the indirect rays generates the deviation of the signal strengths from one another due to different conditions in the signal's environment. The scattering parameter is in particular a measure of the existence of the line of sight. In particular, the scattering parameter for the interrupted line of sight is greater than a scattering parameter for an existing line of sight. The reference value is preferably designed as a reference scattering parameter.

[0023] It is conceivable that the dispersion parameter is designed as a range or a standard deviation of the signal strengths. However, it is advantageously proposed that the statistical property be a variance of the signal strengths, which can advantageously increase the reliability of determining the existence of the line of sight. In particular, the variance exhibits an advantageous increase for an increasing deviation of the signal strengths from one another. The reference value is preferably designed as a reference variance.

[0024] It is further proposed that the signal strengths be signal strengths at different points in time, with the signal strengths being transmitted and preferably determined, in particular, at the different points in time. In particular, the signal strengths differ from signal strengths determined by a triangulation measurement. In particular, the statistical property, in particular the scatter parameter, can be determined advantageously and in particular in a particularly simple manner.

[0025] It is also proposed that a time interval between temporally adjacent points in time be at least 10 ms. Preferably, the time interval is at least 25 ms, more preferably at least 50 ms, and more preferably at least 75 ms. This makes it possible to provide an advantageous deviation of the signal strengths from one another. In particular, a hardware and / or software requirement with regard to a speed of measurements and / or calculations for determining the existence of the line of sight can be advantageously reduced. Furthermore, it is proposed that a time interval, in particular as mentioned above, between temporally adjacent points in time be at most 1 s. Preferably, the time interval is at most 800 ms, preferably at most 500 ms, and more preferably at most 200 ms. This makes it possible, in particular, to advantageously reduce the total duration of the determination of the existence of the line of sight.Advantageously, comparable signal strengths can be provided, which are determined in particular under comparable environmental conditions, for example, with regard to an ambient temperature and / or the presence of a reflection source, in particular a cooking utensil, in the vicinity of the signal and / or the like. The time interval is advantageously at least substantially 100 ms, wherein the time interval deviates from 100 ms in particular by preferably a maximum of 20 ms and preferably a maximum of 10 ms.

[0026] Preferably, the control unit is provided to determine at least one further existence of a line of sight between the device and the operating unit, which is determined in particular before and / or after the determination of the existence of the line of sight. It is further proposed that the statistical property be designed as a sliding statistical property. In particular, the variance is designed as a sliding variance. As a result, an advantageous number of signal strengths can be provided respectively for determining the existence of the line of sight and the at least one further determination of the existence of the line of sight. Preferably, the control unit is provided to provide the determinations of the existence of the lines of sight, in particular in at least one operating state, at least on the basis of a continuously measured plurality of signal strengths of the signal and in particular continuously.The control unit is preferably provided to determine the statistical property of the respective determination of the existence of the line of sight, in particular iteratively, across a respective window of the plurality of signal strengths of the signal. The plurality of signal strengths should be understood to mean, in particular, signal strengths of different windows and, in particular, a total set of measured signal strengths in an operating state of the device system. Two adjacent windows can, apart from a single signal strength, have an overlap of signal strengths, whereby, in particular, an advantageous number of different signal strengths can be provided for the respective determination of the existence of the line of sight. Alternatively, another overlap of the windows that appears reasonable to a person skilled in the art is conceivable. The windows preferably each have a constant number of signal strengths, in particular adjacent to one another.The window, in particular for determining the existence of the line of sight, has a number of at least three signal strengths, whereby in particular advantageous convergence and noise resistance of the statistical property can be achieved. Preferably, the window has a number of at least 5 and preferably at least 8 signal strengths. The window preferably has a number of at most 100, preferably at most 50, and particularly preferably at most 20 signal strengths. Advantageously, the window can have a number of at least substantially 10 signal strengths, wherein the window preferably deviates by a maximum of 3 and preferably at most 2 signal strengths from 10 signal strengths. As a result, the statistical property can be provided with advantageous precision and, in particular, the total time for determining the existence of the line of sight and / or the amount of signal strengths stored can be advantageously reduced.

[0027] Preferably, the control unit is configured to preprocess the signal strengths before determining the statistical property, thereby eliminating, in particular, outliers and / or abnormal signal strength data, for example, triggered by hardware failures and / or an error in an operating system and / or temporary errors in a detection process for at least one respective signal strength, where, for example, the RSSI value is not read and thus zero is returned. Advantageously, the stability of determining the existence of the line of sight can be increased, particularly when the determination is carried out on different hardware platforms.Preferably, the control unit is provided to ignore and in particular eliminate signal strengths that are greater than an upper threshold value or less than a lower threshold value, wherein a respective threshold value is based in particular on a standard deviation of the signal strengths, in particular of at least one window. Preferably, the control unit is provided to ignore signal strengths that lie outside a standard deviation of the signal strengths, in particular of the at least one window, multiplied by a factor, in particular a constant factor. The upper threshold value is preferably determined by adding a mean value of the signal strengths to the standard deviation multiplied by the factor. The lower threshold value is preferably determined by subtracting the standard deviation multiplied by the factor from the mean value of the signal strengths. The mean value is in particular a moving average.The control unit can be configured to determine the standard deviation, which is in particular designed as a moving standard deviation, from the square root of the determined variance, in particular the moving variance. The factor is preferably a gain to control which signal strengths are considered abnormal.

[0028] Preferably, the control unit, in particular the computing unit, is provided to determine and in particular to calculate an additional statistical property, in particular to determine a distance, in particular as mentioned above, between the device and the operating unit. The control unit is preferably provided to enable or at least restrict the control depending on the additional statistical property. The further statistical property is preferably designed to be sliding. Furthermore, it is proposed that the control unit is provided to determine the distance between the device and the operating unit based on at least one position parameter of the signal strengths and to enable or at least restrict the control depending on the distance. The additional statistical property is designed in particular as the position parameter.This can advantageously increase the safety of the device system. In particular, the control can be further restricted when the line of sight is present if there is a large distance between the device and the operating unit. Preferably, the control unit is only provided to determine the distance when the line of sight has been determined to be present. The control unit is preferably provided to compare the distance for enabling or restricting the control with a reference distance. Preferably, the control unit, in particular the memory unit, is provided to store the reference distance. The reference distance can be specified during manufacture of the device system and in particular stored and / or calibrated by an installer of the device system and / or an operator. The comparison of the distance is in particular a size comparison.The control unit is preferably provided to restrict the control if the distance is greater than the reference distance. The control unit is preferably provided to enable the control if the distance is smaller than the reference distance. Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the control unit is provided to restrict or enable the control by comparing the additional statistical property, in particular the position parameter, with a further reference value, in particular a reference position parameter. It would be conceivable for the position parameter to be designed as a modal value. Alternatively, the position parameter can be designed as an average value. However, the position parameter is preferably designed as a median, in particular as a moving median. The median is preferably a median of the, in particular preprocessed, signal strengths of the one window.By determining the position parameter, in particular the median, the signal can be smoothed, wherein in particular rapid fading and / or rapid fluctuations in the signal due to multipath propagation can be advantageously eliminated. The control unit is preferably provided to determine the distance based on the attenuation of the signal between the device and the operating unit. The determined distance preferably corresponds at least substantially to an actual distance between the device and the operating unit and / or has at least the same order of magnitude, wherein the precision is particularly dependent on a model used for the determination. The control unit is preferably provided to determine the distance based on a known model of the path loss. The control unit can in particular be provided to determine the distance based on a known equation. where RSS / is the signal strength, in particular the median of the signal strengths, in decibel milliwatts, Ptx is the emission signal strength in decibel milliwatts, L to tai is the total attenuation in decibels, d is the distance between the device and the control unit in meters, N is a coefficient of distance loss, d0 is a reference distance in meters, L(do) is a basic transmission loss at the reference distance do in decibels, L f the attenuation factor for a floor penetration in decibels and n the number of floors between the device and the control unit, where Lf = 0 dB for n = 0. For the basic transmission loss L(d0), a free space attenuation FSPL in decibels, in particular at a reference distance of 0 = 1 m, can be calculated according to a known model, in particular according to a known equation

[0029] REPLACEMENT LEAF (RULE 26) can be assumed, where f is the frequency of the signal in Hertz and c is the speed of light. Considering a field of application of the invention, the control unit is preferably arranged to determine the distance based on the following simplified equation

[0030] RSSI s P fc¥ [dBm] - (L o + AHog 10 d) in particular, the reference distance do is set to a value of 1 m and the attenuation factor for floor penetration is neglected, assuming that the device and the control device are located on the same floor.

[0031] In addition, a method for operating a device system, in particular as mentioned above, is proposed, comprising a device device, in particular as mentioned above, for providing at least one device function, comprising a portable operating unit, in particular as mentioned above, for wirelessly operating the device device, wherein, based on at least three determined signal strengths between the device device and the operating unit, a line of sight, in particular as mentioned above, between the device device and the operating unit is determined, and based on at least the determined existence, control of the device device by the operating unit is enabled or at least restricted. This can advantageously increase at least security.

[0032] The method preferably comprises a method step, in particular a detection step, in which at least one signal strength is detected. Preferably, in a further method step of the method, in particular in a first comparison step, a number of already detected signal strengths is compared with a predetermined minimum number of signal strengths, which in particular corresponds to a number of signal strengths of a window, in particular as mentioned above. Preferably, the detection step is repeated if the number of already detected signal strengths is less than the predetermined minimum number. Preferably, the method comprises a further method step, in particular a preprocessing step. The preprocessing step takes place in particular after the first comparison step and in particular only if the number of already detected signal strengths is greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum number.Signal strengths are preferred.

[0033] REPLACEMENT LEAF (RULE 26) below a lower threshold or above an upper threshold in the preprocessing step. The detection step is preferably repeated after the preprocessing step at least according to the number of eliminated signal strengths. The method preferably has a further method step, in particular a determination step, in which a statistical property of the signal strengths, in particular one mentioned above, is determined. The determination step takes place in particular after the preprocessing step. In a further method step of the method, in particular a second comparison step, taking place in particular after the determination step, the statistical property is preferably compared with a reference value.The method preferably comprises a further method step, in particular a restriction step, in which the control of the device by the operating unit is restricted. In the restriction step, in particular prior to the restriction, a status of the device system can be determined which specifies the absence of the line of sight between the device and the operating unit. The method preferably comprises a further method step, in particular a filtering step, in which an additional statistical property, in particular a position parameter and preferably a median, of the signal strengths is determined. Preferably, either the restriction step or the filtering step takes place immediately after the second comparison step, in particular depending on a result of the comparison in the second comparison step.The restriction step preferably takes place when the statistical property is greater than the reference value. The filtering step preferably takes place when the statistical property is smaller than the reference value. The method preferably has a further method step, in particular a distance determination step, which takes place after the filtering step. In the distance determination step, a distance between the device and the operating unit is preferably determined, in particular as a function of the additional statistical property. The distance determination step takes place in particular after the filtering step. In a further method step, in particular a third comparison step of the method, the determined distance between the device and the operating unit is preferably compared with a reference distance.Preferably, either the restriction step or an enabling step takes place after the third comparison step, in particular depending on a result of the comparison in the third comparison step. Preferably, the restriction step takes place when the determined distance is greater than the reference distance, wherein in particular a status of the device system can be determined which specifies that the device device and the operating unit are too far apart for safe control. The enabling step preferably takes place when the determined distance is smaller than the reference distance, wherein in particular a status of the device system can be determined which specifies that the device device and the operating unit are close and within line of sight of one another. In the enabling step, the control of the device device by the operating unit is preferably enabled.

[0034] The method is preferably repeated at least once for a further determination of the existence of the line of sight and in particular a further determination of safe control conditions, wherein signal strengths of a window adjacent to the window are preferably determined and in particular used for the repetition.

[0035] Furthermore, a computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, in particular at least the control unit, cause the computer to execute the method is proposed. The computer program can be embodied at least partially as an app, in particular for the control unit configured as a smart device. The computer program can, in particular, have an algorithm that causes the computer to execute the method.

[0036] The device system, the device device, the operating unit, the method for operating the device system, and the computer program are not intended to be limited to the application and embodiment described above. In particular, the device system, the device device, the operating unit, the method for operating the device system, and the computer program may have a number of individual elements, components, and units that differs from the number stated herein to fulfill a functionality described herein.

[0037] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawings. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. Those skilled in the art will also conveniently consider the features individually and combine them into useful further combinations. They show:

[0038] Fig. 1 A schematic representation of a device system with an operating unit and with a device device,

[0039] Fig. 2 a schematic representation of the device system for different positions of the control unit,

[0040] Fig. 3 is a diagram of an exemplary statistical property of signal strengths of a signal between the control unit and the device device over a number of signal strengths and

[0041] Fig. 4 is a flowchart of a method for operating the device system.

[0042] Figure 1 shows a device system 10 with a device device 12 and a portable control unit 14.

[0043] The operating unit 14 is designed as a smart device 24, in this case a smartphone. The operating unit 14 is provided for wireless operation of the device 12. The operating unit 14 has a communication unit 44 for wireless communication with the device 12.

[0044] The device device 12 is designed here as a device accessory for use with a device 30. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the device device 12 is at least part of the device 30 and / or is designed as this. The device device 12 is provided to provide at least one device function. The device 30 is provided to execute the device function. The device device 12 is provided to control the device 30 to execute the device function depending on the operation. The device 30 has a functional unit 34 for executing the device function. The device device 12 can communicate with the functional unit 34 in a wired or wireless manner.

[0045] The appliance device 12 and the operating unit 14 are provided for wireless communication with one another. The appliance device 12 preferably has a further communication unit 46 for wireless communication with the communication unit 44. The further communication unit 46 can communicate with the functional unit 34 via a wired or wireless connection. The appliance system 10 is designed as a household appliance system 20. The appliance 30 is designed as a household appliance 32. The appliance device 12 is designed as a household appliance device 22. The appliance system 10 is designed as a cooking appliance system, in this case as a cooktop system. The appliance 30 is designed as a cooking appliance, in this case as a cooktop. The appliance device 12 is designed as a cooking appliance device, in this case as a cooktop.Alternatively, another configuration of the appliance system 10, the appliance 30, and the appliance device 12 that would be deemed appropriate by a person skilled in the art is conceivable. The functional unit 34 is designed as a heating unit 36 ​​for heating a cooking utensil 36. The appliance function is designed as a heating process.

[0046] The device system 10 has a control unit 16. The device device 12, for example, has the control unit 16. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the operating unit 14 or the device 30 at least partially comprise the control unit 16, and / or that the control unit 16 is at least partially arranged and / or formed outside the device device 12, the device 30, and the operating unit 14.

[0047] The device system 10 has a sensor unit 28. The operating unit 14 has the sensor unit 28 by way of example. Alternatively, the sensor unit 28 can be part of the device device 12. The sensor unit 28 is provided for determining at least three signal strengths of at least one signal between the device device 12 and the operating unit 14. The operating unit 14 is provided for transmitting the measured signal strengths to the device device 12, for example, via the same channel via which the signal is transmitted.

[0048] The sensor unit 28 is designed to determine signal strengths as RSSI values. The signal is embodied as a Bluetooth signal. Alternatively, another signal type, particularly in a UHF and / or microwave range, is conceivable.

[0049] The device 12 is provided to emit the signal. The device 12 is provided to transmit the signal wirelessly to the operating unit 14. The further communication unit 46 is provided to transmit the signal wirelessly to the communication unit 44. The operating unit 14 is provided to receive the signal. Alternatively, for example, the operating unit 14 can be provided to transmit the signal to the device 12. The control unit 16 is provided to determine the existence of a line of sight between the device 12 and the operating unit 14 based on the at least three determined signal strengths between the device 12 and the operating unit 14 and to enable or at least restrict control of the device 12 by the operating unit 14 based on at least the determined existence.The control unit 16 is provided to at least restrict the control of the device 12 by the operating unit 14 for a determined interrupted line of sight. The control unit 16 is provided to enable the control of the device 12 by the operating unit 14 for a determined existing line of sight and for an additionally fulfilled condition regarding a distance 18 between the device 12 and the operating unit 14.

[0050] The signal strengths are signal strengths at different times. Sensor unit 28 is designed to measure the signal strengths at different times. The signal strengths are transmitted at different times.

[0051] The time interval between adjacent points in time is a minimum of 10 ms and a maximum of 1 s. The time interval can be at least substantially 100 ms.

[0052] The control unit 16 is provided to determine a statistical property of the signal strengths in order to determine the existence of the line of sight. The control unit 16 is provided to compare the statistical property with a stored reference value in order to determine the existence of the line of sight. The comparison of the statistical property with the reference value is a size comparison. The control unit 16 is provided to determine the line of sight as interrupted if the statistical property is greater than the reference value. The control unit 16 is provided to determine the line of sight as present if the statistical property is smaller than the reference value. The control unit 16 is provided to at least restrict the control of the device 12 by the operating unit 14 if the statistical property is greater than the reference value.

[0053] The statistical property is designed as a sliding statistical property. The control unit 16 is provided to determine a plurality of statistical properties from a plurality of signal strengths according to a sliding window method for multiple, temporally offset determinations of the existence of the line of sight. The control unit 16 is provided to determine the statistical property for determining the existence of the line of sight from signal strengths of a window with a fixed number of signal strengths. The control unit 16 is provided to determine at least one further statistical property for at least one further determination of the existence of a line of sight from signal strengths of a further window. The window and the further window are adjacent and partially overlap.

[0054] The statistical property is designed as a dispersion parameter of the signal strengths. The reference value is designed as a reference dispersion parameter. The statistical property is designed as a variance of the signal strengths. The reference value is designed as a reference variance. Alternatively, it would be conceivable for the dispersion parameter to be designed as a range or a standard deviation of the signal strengths.

[0055] The control unit 16 is provided to determine an additional statistical property. The control unit 16 is provided to determine the distance 18 between the device 12 and the operating unit 14 based on the additional statistical property. The control unit 16 is provided to enable or at least restrict the control of the device 12 by the operating unit 14 depending on the additional statistical property. The additional statistical property is designed to be sliding. The additional statistical property is determined from signal strengths within the same window as the statistical property.

[0056] The control unit 16 is designed to determine the distance 18 between the device 12 and the operating unit 14 based on at least one position parameter of the signal strengths and to enable or at least restrict the control depending on the distance 18. The additional statistical property is embodied as the position parameter. The position parameter is embodied as an average of the signal strengths.

[0057] The control unit 16 is only intended to determine the distance 18 when the line of sight is determined to be present. The control unit 16 is intended to compare the distance 18 with a stored reference distance to enable or restrict the control. The comparison of the distance 18 with the reference distance is a size comparison. The control unit 16 is intended to restrict the control if the distance 18 is greater than the reference distance. The control unit 16 is intended to enable the control if the distance 18 is less than the reference distance.

[0058] Figure 2 shows a schematic kitchen with the appliance system 10, wherein the operating unit 14 can be arranged in exemplary positions A, B, or C in the kitchen at a different distance 18 from the appliance device 12. The line of sight exists between the operating unit 14 and the appliance device 12 when the operating unit 14 is arranged in position A or B. The line of sight between the operating unit 14 and the appliance device 12 is interrupted when the operating unit 14 is arranged in position C.

[0059] Figure 3 shows a graph of an axis 50 of a variance over an axis 52 of a number of measured signal strengths. The variance at a given signal strength is, in this case, a sliding variance of the nine previous signal strengths and the current signal strength. The sliding variance is, for example, a variance over ten signal strengths. The window, for example, has ten signal strengths. The window and the further window each have nine overlaps of the signal strengths. The variance shown in Figure 3 is a variance averaged over 19 different control units 14.

[0060] The graph has a first curve 54, which corresponds to the variance of the signal when the control unit 14 is arranged in position A (see Figure 2). The graph has a second curve 56, which corresponds to the variance of the signal when the control unit 14 is arranged in position B (see Figure 2). The graph has a third curve 58, which corresponds to the variance of the signal when the control unit 14 is arranged in position C (see Figure 2).

[0061] The variance of the signal strengths for position C of the control unit 14 (see Figure 2) clearly differs from the variance of the signal strengths for positions A and B. The variance of the signal strengths is greater for an interrupted line of sight between the device 12 and the control unit 14 than the variance of the signal strengths for an existing line of sight between the device 12 and the control unit 14.

[0062] Figure 4 shows a flowchart for a method for operating the device system 10, wherein based on the at least three determined signal strengths between the device device 12 and the operating unit 14, the existence of the line of sight between the device device 12 and the operating unit 14 is determined and based on at least the determined existence, the control of the device device 12 by the operating unit 14 is enabled or at least restricted.

[0063] The method comprises a detection step 100 in which at least one signal strength is detected. The method comprises a first comparison step 102 in which a number of previously detected signal strengths is compared with a predetermined minimum number of signal strengths. Detection step 100 is repeated if the number of previously detected signal strengths is less than the predetermined minimum number.

[0064] The method includes a preprocessing step 104. Preprocessing step 104 occurs when the number of already detected signal strengths is determined in the first comparison step 102 to be greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum number. In preprocessing step 104, outlier signal strengths are eliminated. Signal strengths below a lower threshold or above an upper threshold are eliminated in preprocessing step 104. After preprocessing step 104, detection step 100 is repeated at least according to the number of eliminated signal strengths.

[0065] The method comprises a determination step 106 in which the statistical property of the signal strengths is determined. In a second comparison step 108 of the method, the statistical property is compared with the reference value. A restriction step 118 of the method takes place if the statistical property is determined to be greater than the reference value in the second comparison step 108. In the restriction step 118, the control of the device 12 by the operating unit 14 is restricted.

[0066] A filtering step 110 of the method takes place if the statistical property in the second comparison step 108 is determined to be less than or equal to the reference value. In the filtering step 110, the additional statistical property of the signal strengths is determined.

[0067] The method includes a distance determination step 112, in which the distance 18 between the device 12 and the operating unit 14 is determined based on the additional statistical property. In a third comparison step 114 of the method, the determined distance 18 between the device 12 and the operating unit 14 is compared with the reference distance. The restriction step 118 of the method occurs if the determined distance 18 is determined to be greater than the reference distance in the third comparison step 114.

[0068] An enabling step 116 of the method occurs when the determined distance 18 in the third comparison step 114 is determined to be less than or equal to the reference distance. In the enabling step 116, the control of the device 12 by the operating unit 14 is enabled. The method is executed at least partially by a computer program. The computer program includes commands that, when executed by a computer 26, cause the computer to execute the method. The computer 26 is formed at least partially from the control unit 16 (see Figure 1).

[0069] Of multiple objects, only one is provided with a reference symbol in the figures.

[0070] Reference symbol

[0071] 10 device system

[0072] 12 Device device

[0073] 14 Control unit

[0074] 16 Control unit

[0075] 18 distance

[0076] 20 household appliance system

[0077] 22 Household appliance device

[0078] 24 Smart Device

[0079] 26 computers

[0080] 28 Sensor unit

[0081] 30 devices

[0082] 32 household appliances

[0083] 34 functional unit

[0084] 36 Heating unit

[0085] 44 Communication unit

[0086] 46 additional communication units

[0087] 50 axle

[0088] 52 Axis

[0089] 54 Curve

[0090] 56 Curve

[0091] 58 Curve

[0092] 100 recording steps

[0093] 102 first comparison step

[0094] 104 Preprocessing step

[0095] 106 Determination step

[0096] 108 second comparison step

[0097] 110 filtering step

[0098] 112 Distance determination step third comparison step release step restriction step

Claims

Claims 1. Device system (10), in particular a household appliance system (20), with a device device (12) for providing at least one device function and with a portable operating unit (14) for wirelessly operating the device device (12), characterized by a control unit (16) which is provided to determine the existence of a line of sight between the device device (12) and the operating unit (14) based on at least three determined signal strengths between the device device (12) and the operating unit (14) and to enable or at least restrict control of the device device (12) by the operating unit (14) based on at least the determined existence.

2. Device system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (16) is provided to determine a statistical property of the signal strengths in order to determine the existence of the line of sight.

3. Device system (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the statistical property is designed as a sliding statistical property.

4. Device system (10) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the statistical property is a scatter parameter of the signal strengths.

5. Device system (10) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the statistical property is a variance of the signal strengths.

6. Device system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal strengths are signal strengths at different times.

7. Device system (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that a time interval between temporally adjacent points in time is at least 10 ms.

8. Device system (10) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a time interval between temporally adjacent points in time is a maximum of 1 s.

9. Device system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (16) is provided to determine a distance (18) between the device device (12) and the operating unit (14) based on at least one position parameter of the signal strengths and to enable or at least restrict the control depending on the distance (18).

10. Device device (12) of a device system (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

11. Control unit (14) of a device system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9.

12. A method for operating a device system (10), in particular according to one of claims 1 to 9, with a device device (12) for providing at least one device function, with a portable operating unit (14) for wirelessly operating the device device (12), characterized in that based on at least three determined signal strengths between the device device (12) and the operating unit (14), an existence of a line of sight between the device device (12) and the operating unit (14) is determined and based on at least the determined existence, control of the device device (12) by the operating unit (14) is enabled or at least restricted.

13. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer (26), cause the computer (26) to carry out the method according to claim 12.

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