Domestic appliance apparatus

Abstract

In order to increase ease of use and safety, the invention proposes a domestic appliance apparatus (10a; 10c), in particular an induction hob apparatus (20a; 20c), having at least one compensating unit (12a; 12c) for compensating for a drop in power across at least one electrical load (14a; 14b).

Description

[0001] Household appliance device

[0002] The invention relates to a household appliance device according to claim 1, a small household appliance unit according to claim 6, a large household appliance unit according to claim 9, a household appliance system according to claim 10, a method for operating a household appliance device according to claim 11 and a computer program according to claim 12.

[0003] From WO 2022233660 A1 an induction energy transmission system is already known in which an electrical consumer is supplied with electricity by means of an induction hob to provide power.

[0004] The object of the invention is, in particular but not limited to, to provide a generic device with improved properties regarding ease of use and safety. 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] A household appliance device, in particular an induction hob device, is proposed, comprising at least one compensation unit for compensating a power drop in at least one electrical consumer.

[0006] Such a design can, in particular, increase operating comfort when the consumer is used by an operator. Advantageously, an acoustically and / or visually noticeable drop in power at the consumer can be avoided or reduced, which in particular results in particularly uniform operation of the consumer. Furthermore, safety can be increased, in particular by providing a change with regard to the consumer, in particular by a switching operation with regard to the at least one consumer, during an interruption or throttling of a power supply to the consumer, which in particular causes the drop in power. Furthermore, simultaneous operation of the consumer and at least one other consumer, for example with regard to a simultaneous rotation function and heating function, can advantageously be provided.The household appliance device is in particular at least one part, in particular a subassembly, of at least one household appliance. It would be conceivable for the household appliance device to comprise the entire at least one household appliance. The household appliance can be designed as a small household appliance or as a large household appliance. The small household appliance preferably comprises a small household appliance unit, which is in particular designed as at least one subassembly of the small household appliance. The small household appliance unit can be designed as the entire small household appliance or merely comprise a part of the small household appliance. The large household appliance preferably comprises a large household appliance unit, which is in particular designed as at least one subassembly of the large household appliance.The large household appliance unit can be designed as the entire large household appliance or comprise only a part of the large household appliance. The household appliance device is preferably designed as at least one part, in particular a subassembly, of the small household appliance unit, in particular of the small household appliance, and / or of the large household appliance unit, in particular of the large household appliance. The household appliance device is preferably part of a household appliance system. The household appliance system preferably comprises the small household appliance unit and / or the large household appliance unit. The household appliance system preferably comprises the small household appliance and the large household appliance.The household appliance system is preferably designed as an induction energy transmission system, which is particularly designed for wireless energy transmission, in particular of up to 2200 W, from the large household appliance to the at least one small household appliance. Advantageously, the space and / or operating convenience of the household appliance system can be increased by the wireless, in particular cordless, supply of the small household appliance, in particular by increasing cleaning efficiency and / or by increasing flexibility with regard to positioning and / or mobility of the small household appliance and / or by enhancing aesthetics.The large household appliance preferably has at least one induction unit, which can be operated in particular for the energy transfer of inductive energy from the induction unit to the small household appliance, in particular to a further induction unit of the small household appliance, advantageously for an inductive energy supply and / or an inductive heating of the small household appliance. The induction unit preferably has at least one induction coil, above which the small household appliance, in particular a further induction coil of the further induction unit, can be arranged for the energy transfer. The induction unit preferably has more than one induction coil, wherein in particular at least one induction coil can be assigned to at least one transmission zone, for example precisely one transmission zone of the large household appliance, on which the small household appliance can be arranged for the energy transfer.The small household appliance and the large household appliance preferably communicate bidirectionally, which makes it particularly advantageous to provide intelligent functions for energy transfer.

[0007] The household appliance system is preferably designed as an induction cooking system with at least one additional main function that differs from a pure cooking function, in particular at least for supplying energy to operate the small household appliance, preferably the at least one electrical consumer. The large household appliance, in particular the large household appliance unit, is preferably designed as a cooking appliance, in particular as a cooking appliance unit. The household appliance system is preferably designed as a kitchen energy supply system. For example, the household appliance system could be designed as an induction oven system and / or as an induction grill system. In particular, the large household appliance could be designed as an induction oven and / or as an induction grill. The household appliance system is preferably designed as an induction hob system.Advantageously, a particularly intelligent and / or safe and / or practical power supply for the small household appliance can be provided. The large household appliance, in particular the large household appliance unit, is preferably designed as a hob and preferably as an induction hob. Alternatively, a configuration of the household appliance system, in particular as an energy transmission system, outside a kitchen is conceivable, for which a brief drop in power to the consumer would be particularly visible and / or audible, for example for a power supply to a lighting device and / or a device with an electric motor, in particular a fan, and / or the like. The small household appliance can preferably be heated by means of the large household appliance, in particular by means of the induction unit, and / or supplied with energy to operate the small household appliance, in particular the consumer.The small household appliance is preferably designed to be portable and, in particular, can be transported manually by the operator. The small household appliance is preferably designed as a small cooking appliance, in particular as a small cooking appliance. The small household appliance can, for example, be designed as a food processor, a rice cooker, an air fryer, a blender, a juicer, a kettle, a coffee machine and / or the like. Alternatively, it is conceivable for the small household appliance to be designed as a lighting appliance or as a fan or as another small household appliance that appears appropriate to a person skilled in the art and which, in particular, has at least one electrical consumer with a function sensitive to the power drop. In addition to the household appliance device, the small household appliance unit preferably has the at least one consumer.The electrical consumer is in particular intended to provide at least one function by consuming an electrical current. The consumer is preferably intended to provide a function, in particular one different from heating, in particular by means of the energy transfer. The consumer preferably has at least one electric motor or is designed as such. The electric motor is preferably intended to provide a rotational movement, in particular a stirring function and / or mixing function or the like of the consumer. Alternatively, the electric motor can be intended for a different type of movement, for example a linear movement, for example a tamping and / or pressing function or the like of the consumer.Alternatively, a design of the consumer different from an electric motor would be conceivable, the function of which is particularly sensitive to the drop in power, wherein the drop in power can be particularly visible and / or audible based on the function, for example in a design of the consumer as at least one lighting element or the like, and / or can falsify a measurement, for example in a design of the consumer as at least one sensor element or the like.

[0008] The small household appliance, in particular the small household appliance unit, preferably has at least one further consumer, which can be operated in particular simultaneously with the consumer. The further consumer is preferably provided for providing heating, in particular by means of the energy supply or energy transfer. The further consumer preferably has at least one heating element, in particular a resistance heating element and / or induction heating element, for heating. The consumer and in particular the at least one further consumer are preferably electrically connectable to the further induction unit, in particular the further induction coil, at least in at least one operating state, in particular for a wired energy transfer from the further induction unit at least to the consumer and in particular to the further consumer.The small household appliance, in particular the small household appliance unit, preferably has at least one switching element for interrupting or forming an electrical connection between the further induction unit and the further load in a respective switching state. The switching element is preferably interposed between the further induction unit and the further load, wherein the switching element and the further load are in particular connected in series. Preferably, a voltage supply to the further load can be adjusted by means of the switching element independently of a voltage supply to the load. The switching element and / or the further load is / are preferably connected in parallel to the load.The switching element is preferably designed as an electromechanical relay, which in particular has a particularly high level of reliability, especially even at temperatures typically achievable for induction hobs, and / or advantageously increases the cost-effectiveness of the small household appliance. Alternatively, any other configuration of the switching element that appears appropriate to a person skilled in the art, for example, as any semiconductor switching element, is conceivable. Preferably, the small household appliance, in particular the small household appliance, has at least one control unit, which is preferably provided for controlling at least the at least one switching element, in particular depending on a set operating state of the small household appliance.The control unit of the small household appliance, in particular of the small household appliance unit, is preferably provided for periodically repeated switching of the switching element within an operating state of the small household appliance. The control unit is preferably provided for setting a total load applied to the further induction unit, in particular by means of the at least one switching element. The control unit is preferably provided for periodically switching the total load applied to the further induction unit between a load of the further consumer and a sum of a load of the further consumer and a load of the consumer. The consumer is preferably always electrically connected to the further induction unit, at least within the operating state.The control unit of the small household appliance is preferably provided to periodically disconnect and, in particular, reconnect at least an electrical connection between the further consumer and the further induction unit within the operating state by means of the switching element, in particular to adjust the power to each of the consumers depending on the set operating state. Advantageously, particularly uniform operation of the consumer, embodied, for example, as an electric motor, can be provided. For the exemplary embodiment of the further consumer as the heating element, a periodic interruption of the power supply to the further consumer due to thermal inertia of a heating process of the heating element is particularly advantageously undetectable to the operator. A period duration for the periodic switching operation of the switching element can, for example, be 2 s to 40 s.Preferably, the control unit of the small household appliance unit is designed to communicate an equivalent load connected to the further induction unit to the large household appliance unit for adjusting the energy transfer. The small household appliance unit is preferably designed to communicate manufacturing parameters stored in the small household appliance unit, in particular relating to resistances and / or inductances and / or capacitances of the small household appliance unit, to the large household appliance unit. Communication between the small household appliance unit and the large household appliance unit can take place according to the disclosure in WO 2022233660 A1, in particular depending on a coupling factor and the connected total load.

[0009] The power drop is, in particular, a power drop at the consumer with respect to a basic power of the consumer in a set operating state, which in particular is present for at least a large part of the duration of the operating state and / or describes a power desired in the set operating state. The compensation unit is preferably provided to increase at least an average value of the power at the consumer during the power drop compared to a design without a compensation unit and / or to shorten a period of time in which the power is reduced due to the power drop. The compensation unit is preferably provided to at least approximate the power at the consumer during the power drop to the basic power, in particular at least on average.The compensation unit can be provided to increase a minimum power during the power drop, in particular compared to a minimum power in an embodiment without a compensation unit, and in particular to approach a value of the base power. The power drop is caused in particular by a reason for the power reduction. The reason for the power reduction is preferably short-term and in particular has a duration of a maximum of 5 s, preferably a maximum of 1 s, advantageously a maximum of 500 ms, preferably a maximum of 200 ms, particularly preferably a maximum of 100 ms and particularly advantageously a maximum of 55 ms. The reason for the power reduction can, for example, have a duration of at least substantially 50 ms, wherein the duration of 50 ms deviates in particular by less than 25%, preferably less than 10% and particularly preferably less than 5% from 50 ms.The power drop is preferably embodied as a brief power drop, which is caused in particular by the brief reason for the power reduction. Preferably, the reason for the power reduction is embodied as a voltage reduction at the consumer. The reason for the power reduction is preferably embodied as or caused by a, particularly brief, throttling or interruption of the energy supply, in particular a voltage supply, at least of the consumer, in particular for the above-mentioned period of time and / or during the switching operation of the switching element. Preferably, an energy supply, in particular the voltage supply, at least of the consumer and in particular of the further consumer, is interrupted or throttled during the switching operation of the switching element. Advantageously, a particularly reliable switching operation of the switching element can be provided.Preferably, a power supply to the small household appliance unit and in particular a power transfer to the further induction unit is interrupted or throttled during the switching operation of the switching element. The large household appliance, in particular the large household appliance unit, preferably a control unit of the large household appliance unit, is preferably provided for throttling or interrupting the power transfer, in particular by means of the induction unit, during the switching operation of the switching element. The control unit of the large household appliance unit is preferably provided for changing modulation conditions, for example a frequency, a duty cycle and / or with regard to a burst mode, of at least one inverter of the large household appliance unit in order to adapt the power transfer.The base power corresponds, in particular, to a power output of the consumer outside the influence of the reason for the power reduction, in particular the throttling and / or interruption of the energy transmission to the consumer, and in particular to a power output of a respective operating state free of the power drop. The large household appliance is preferably designed to periodically repeat the throttling and / or interruption of the energy supply within an operating state, in particular for a set operating mode of the small household appliance. The power drop is preferably designed to be periodically repeated within a set operating state of the small household appliance.Alternatively, any other embodiment of the reason for the reduction in performance is conceivable, for example as a short-term and / or periodic, in particular for the above-mentioned period, increased load of the consumer, for example by an increase in material strength in a stirring area during an exemplary stirring operation of the consumer.

[0010] Alternatively, it would be conceivable that the household appliance device is part of a single household appliance which is and / or can be supplied with power without an inductive energy supply.

[0011] The balancing unit preferably has at least one power electronics unit. The balancing unit preferably has at least one control unit, in particular at least for controlling the power electronics unit to compensate for the power loss at the consumer. The control unit of the balancing unit can at least partially comprise and / or be designed as the control unit of the small household appliance and / or the large household appliance. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the control unit of the balancing unit is designed separately from the control unit of the small household appliance and / or the large household appliance.The balancing unit can be formed entirely within a single household appliance, in particular entirely within the small household appliance unit or the large household appliance unit, wherein the control unit of the balancing unit is provided, in particular, to control the power electronics unit only via a wired connection. Alternatively, the balancing unit can be formed in the small household appliance unit and the large household appliance unit, wherein, for example, the control unit and the power electronics unit can be formed separately from one another and, in particular, can communicate with one another wirelessly. A "control and / or regulating unit" is to be understood, in particular, as a unit with at least one control electronics unit.Preferably, the control unit comprises a computing unit and, in particular, in addition to the computing unit, a memory unit with a control and / or regulating program stored therein, which is intended to be executed by the computing unit. Alternatively, it is conceivable for the balancing unit to comprise only the power electronics unit, which can be controlled, in particular, by means of the control unit of the large household appliance and / or the small household appliance.

[0012] "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.

[0013] It is further proposed that the compensation unit is provided to compensate for the power drop by means of a power increase with respect to a base power, in particular the above-mentioned base power, shortly before and / or after a power reduction reason, in particular the above-mentioned reason, causing the power drop. Advantageously, the power drop can be compensated for by means of a power increase outside of the power reduction reason, in particular outside of the switching operation of the switching element, whereby safety can be increased in particular. In particular, the power increase can be provided by energy transfer outside of an interval in which the power supply to the consumer is throttling or interrupted. By increasing the power shortly before the power increase reason, the power drop can be particularly advantageously prevented.Advantageously, the very beginning of the power drop can be compensated for, thereby reducing, in particular, a power difference during a transition from the consumer's operation at base power to the consumer's operation during the power drop, thus achieving a particularly smooth, particularly unobtrusive, transition. By increasing the power shortly after the reason for the power increase, a period of power drop, during which the consumer's power is reduced relative to the base power, can be advantageously reduced.The fact that the performance increase is provided shortly before or after the reason for the reduction in performance should be understood in particular to mean that the temporal separation between the performance increase and the reason for the reduction in performance is less than 20%, advantageously less than 15%, preferably less than 10%, particularly preferably less than 5%, and particularly advantageously less than 1% of the period of the periodically repeated reason for the reduction in performance. Preferably, the temporal separation between the performance increase and the reason for the reduction in performance is less than 40%, preferably less than 25%, advantageously less than 15%, preferably less than 10%, particularly preferably less than 5%, and particularly advantageously less than 2% of the period of the reduction in performance and / or the reason for the reduction in performance and / or the performance increase.The compensation unit can be provided to compensate for the power drop by means of the power increase immediately before and / or after the reason for the power reduction. The power increase is preferably designed as a short-term power increase and preferably has a duration that corresponds to the duration of the reason for the power reduction by a multiplication factor of 0.05 to 2. The compensation unit is preferably provided to compensate for the power drop by means of the power increase at least shortly before and / or during the power reduction, wherein a temporal spacing of the power increase and the power drop is designed, in particular, in accordance with the above-mentioned specification of the temporal spacing of the power increase and the reason for the power reduction.

[0014] It is further proposed that the compensation unit is provided to compensate for the power drop by generating at least one voltage pulse. Advantageously, the power increase can be provided in a particularly efficient manner, wherein in particular losses can be advantageously reduced. The power increase is preferably designed as an increase in a voltage applied to the load with respect to a base voltage at the load, wherein the base voltage correlates in particular to the base power. Preferably, the power increase is caused by the at least one, in particular unipolar, voltage pulse and in particular is designed as such, wherein the voltage pulse in particular has a voltage greater than the base voltage.The compensation unit is particularly designed to compensate for the power drop by means of at least one voltage pulse shortly before and / or after the reason for the power reduction. The compensation unit can be designed to generate a voltage pulse shortly before the reason for the power reduction and a further voltage pulse shortly after the reason for the power reduction to compensate for the power drop. The compensation unit is preferably designed to compensate for the power drop by means of the voltage pulse at least shortly before the power drop. The voltage pulse can, for example, be designed as a rectangular pulse. Alternatively, any other pulse shape of the voltage pulse that appears appropriate to a person skilled in the art, in particular a unipolar one, is conceivable. For example, the voltage pulse can be designed as at least a unipolar component of a sine pulse, a triangular pulse, a sawtooth pulse, or the like.The compensation unit is preferably designed to repeat the voltage pulse periodically, in particular with a periodicity that corresponds to the periodicity of the reason for the power reduction. The compensation unit is preferably designed to compensate for a particularly periodically recurring power drop at the load by generating at least one voltage pulse comprising a plurality of voltage pulses. The voltage pulse is particularly unidirectional.

[0015] Alternatively, a different type of increase in the power of the consumer, particularly a short-term one, which would appear sensible to the person skilled in the art, would be conceivable, for example by increasing the current intensity at the consumer, for example by means of a variable resistance element connected in parallel with the consumer or the like.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the compensation unit is provided for accelerating the electric motor to compensate for the power drop. In particular, the power increase, in particular the voltage pulse, correlates with an acceleration of the electric motor or is designed as such. Advantageously, a particularly uniform speed, in particular rotational speed, of the electric motor and, in particular, a particularly uniform noise level emanating from the electric motor can be achieved, particularly even during the power drop. In particular, a deceleration of the motor caused by the power drop can be compensated for particularly advantageously.

[0017] It is also proposed that the voltage pulse have a duration that corresponds at least to a single period and / or at most to ten times half the period of a main voltage. Advantageously, an increase in power at the consumer, for example at the electric motor, can be achieved, the duration of which is long enough to advantageously compensate for the drop in power and short enough not to be noticeable to the operator, in particular visible and / or audible. In particular, a ratio between the increase in power, for example an acceleration of the motor, and the drop in power, for example a deceleration of the motor, can be optimized, in particular to increase energy efficiency and / or make any deviation of the consumer from uniform operation particularly invisible to the operator.The main voltage is embodied as a mains voltage, in particular with a country-specific frequency, for example, 50 Hz or 60 Hz. At least the large household appliance, in particular the large household appliance unit, is preferably designed to be operated by the main voltage. Half the period of the main voltage is, in particular, a typical discrete time with respect to an induction hob.

[0018] It is further proposed that the compensation unit comprise at least one inverter, in particular at least for compensating for the power drop. The inverter is preferably provided for generating the power increase, in particular the voltage pulse. Advantageously, the power increase, in particular the voltage pulse, can be provided by means of a particularly cost-efficient and / or precisely controllable component. In particular, the time precision of generating the power increase, in particular the voltage pulse, before and / or after the reason for the power reduction, can advantageously be increased. The at least one inverter is preferably part of the power electronics unit or designed as such. The inverter can, for example, be designed as a transistor or any other inverter that appears appropriate to a person skilled in the art.The compensation unit, in particular the control unit, can be provided, for example, to generate the power increase, in particular the voltage pulse, by adjusting a duty cycle of the inverter. Alternatively or additionally, an output frequency of the inverter can be adjusted and / or a boost controller of the power electronics unit can be used to generate the voltage pulse. The inverter can be designed as an inverter, in particular an existing inverter, of the large household appliance unit and / or the small household appliance unit, to which at least one further function other than compensating for the power drop is assigned.A particularly cost-effective design of the balancing unit can advantageously be achieved if a large household appliance unit and / or a small household appliance unit can provide a balancing function of the balancing unit, for example, solely by means of a software update, in particular comprising a computer program mentioned below. Alternatively, the inverter can be provided solely for compensating the power loss.

[0019] Alternatively or additionally, any other power electronics elements that appear appropriate to the person skilled in the art, for example switching elements, are conceivable for generating the power increase, in particular the voltage pulse.

[0020] Furthermore, a method for operating a household appliance, in particular the one mentioned above, is proposed, wherein a compensation unit, in particular the one mentioned above, compensates for a drop in power, in particular the one mentioned above, at an electrical consumer, in particular the one mentioned above. Ease of use and safety can advantageously be increased. The method preferably has at least one method step, in particular at least one power increasing step, in which in particular a power of the consumer, in particular a voltage at the consumer, is increased compared to a basic power, in particular the one mentioned above, in particular a basic voltage, in particular the one mentioned above. Preferably, in particular in the power increasing step, a voltage pulse, in particular the one mentioned above, is generated and applied to the consumer.Preferably, the compensation unit generates the power increase, in particular the voltage pulse, to compensate for the power drop. The method can comprise a further method step, in particular a power drop step, in which a power, in particular at least an applied voltage, at the consumer decreases. Preferably, in particular in the power drop step, a power transmission to the consumer is throttled or interrupted. Preferably, a large household appliance, in particular the one mentioned above, interrupts or throttles a power transmission to a small household appliance, in particular the one mentioned above, in particular in the power drop step. The power drop step takes place in particular shortly after the power increase step.The method can have a further method step, in particular a further power increase step, which in particular takes place shortly after the power decrease step. The further power increase step takes place in particular shortly after and / or immediately after a repeated application of the base voltage to the load. Preferably, the power of the load, in particular the voltage at the load, is increased in the further power increase step compared to the base power, in particular the base voltage. Preferably, in particular in the further power increase step, a further voltage pulse, in particular the one mentioned above, is generated and applied to the load. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the method only has a single power increase step, which takes place before or after the power decrease step.Preferably, the method is repeated periodically, in particular during an operating state of the consumer.

[0021] In addition, a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method is proposed. The computer is preferably designed at least partially as a control unit, in particular the above-mentioned control unit, in particular at least as a computing unit, of the balancing unit and / or of the large household appliance and / or of the small household appliance. The control unit, in particular a memory unit, of the balancing unit and / or of the large household appliance and / or of the small household appliance, in particular has a computer-readable storage medium for storing at least the computer program. The household appliance device, the small household appliance unit, the large household appliance unit, the household appliance system, the method for operating the household appliance device and the computer program are not intended to be limited to the application and embodiment described above.In particular, the household appliance device, the small household appliance unit, the large household appliance unit, the household appliance system, the method for operating the household appliance device, and the computer program may have a number of individual elements, components, units, and method steps that differs from a number stated herein in order to fulfill a functionality described herein.

[0022] 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 expediently consider the features individually and combine them into useful further combinations.

[0023] They show:

[0024] Fig. 1 A schematic representation of a household appliance system with a large household appliance and a small household appliance, which has a consumer,

[0025] Fig. 2 A simplified circuit diagram of the household appliance system with a household appliance device which has a compensation unit for compensating a power drop at the consumer,

[0026] Fig. 3 exemplary graphs of a voltage supply of the consumer (a) and a consequent non-inventive unbalanced power drop at the consumer (b) for comparison,

[0027] Fig. 4 exemplary graphs of an inventive voltage supply of the consumer (a) and a consequent balanced power loss at the consumer (b), as well as an enlargement of the two graphs (c),

[0028] Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a method for operating the household appliance, Fig. 6 is an exemplary graph of an alternative embodiment of a voltage supply according to the invention for a consumer and a consequent balanced power loss at the consumer in an enlarged scale,

[0029] Fig. 7 is a flowchart of a method for operating a household appliance according to the embodiment in Figure 6 and

[0030] Fig. 8 shows a simplified circuit diagram of a household appliance system with an alternative embodiment of the household appliance device.

[0031] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a household appliance system 50a with a large household appliance unit 40a and a small household appliance unit 30a. Alternatively, it would be conceivable for the household appliance system 50a to comprise only the large household appliance unit 40a or the small household appliance unit 30a.

[0032] In this case, the household appliance system 50a comprises a large household appliance 42a, which in particular comprises the large household appliance unit 40a. In this case, the household appliance system 50a comprises a small household appliance 32a, which in particular comprises the small household appliance unit 30a. In this case, the large household appliance unit 40a is designed as the large household appliance 42a and the small household appliance unit 30a is designed as the small household appliance 32a. Alternatively, it would be conceivable for the small household appliance unit 30a to comprise only a part of the small household appliance 32a and / or for the large household appliance unit 40a to comprise only a part of the large household appliance 42a.

[0033] The household appliance system 50a is designed as an induction energy transmission system. The large household appliance unit 40a is provided for inductive energy transmission to the small household appliance unit 30a, in particular for an inductive energy supply to the small household appliance unit 30a. In the present case, the household appliance system 50a is designed as an induction hob system 52a. The large household appliance unit 40a, in particular the large household appliance 42a, is designed as an induction hob 44a.

[0034] The small household appliance 32 is designed for energy transmission above the

[0035] The large household appliance 42a, in particular the

[0036] Large household appliance unit 40a has a support plate 58a for supporting the small household appliance 32, in particular at least for power transmission. The support plate 58a can be designed as a kitchen worktop, a hob plate, or a table.

[0037] The small household appliance 32a is designed to be portable. The small household appliance unit 30, in particular the small household appliance 32a, can be supplied with voltage inductively by means of the large household appliance unit 40a. The small household appliance unit 30a, in particular the small household appliance 32a, is designed here as a small kitchen appliance and is particularly intended for carrying out at least one cooking process. The small household appliance unit 30a, in particular the small household appliance 32a, is designed here as a food processor 34a. Alternatively, any other configuration of the small household appliance 32a, in particular the small household appliance unit 30a, that appears appropriate to a person skilled in the art would be conceivable, for example, as a blender, a rice cooker, an air fryer, a juicer, a kettle, a coffee machine, and / or the like.

[0038] Figure 2 shows a simplified circuit diagram of the household appliance system 50a.

[0039] The large household appliance 42a, in particular the large household appliance unit 40a, has an induction unit 46a at least for emitting inductive energy for energy transmission. The small household appliance 32a, in particular the small household appliance unit 30a, has a further induction unit 36a at least for receiving the inductive energy for energy transmission.

[0040] The small household appliance unit 30a has at least one electrical load 14a. The load 14a is shown in Figure 2 in a simplified form as a resistance element to represent its load. The load 14a is operable using inductive energy. The load 14a is connected by wire to the further induction unit 36a and, in particular, can be supplied with power by means of the latter. The load 14a is provided to provide a function, in particular a cooking function.

[0041] In the present embodiment, the load 14a has at least one electric motor 24a. The load 14a is embodied here as the electric motor 24a. The electric motor 24a is provided, for example, for performing a stirring operation in the small household appliance 32a, in particular in the food processor 34a.

[0042] The small household appliance unit 30a has at least one further electrical load 28a. The further load 28a is shown in Figure 2 in a simplified manner as a resistance element to represent its load. The further load 28a is connected by wire to the further induction unit 36a and can be supplied with power by means of the latter. The load 14a and the further load 28a are connected in parallel.

[0043] The additional load 28a is embodied here as a heating unit, in particular a resistive one. Alternatively, a different configuration of the electrical load 14a and / or the additional electrical load 28a would be conceivable, wherein an identical voltage and / or power drop at the electrical load 14a and the additional electrical load 28a would have a greater perceptible impact on the operation of the electrical load 14a than on the operation of the additional electrical load 28a.

[0044] The household appliance system 50a comprises a household appliance 10a. The household appliance 10a has at least one compensation unit 12a for compensating for a power drop at the at least one electrical load 14a. The household appliance 10a is embodied here as an induction hob device 20a.

[0045] In the present exemplary embodiment, the household appliance device 10a is at least part of the large household appliance unit 40a. The large household appliance unit 40a completely comprises the household appliance device 10a. Alternatively, it would be conceivable, for example, for the household appliance device 10a to be part of the large household appliance unit 40a and the small household appliance unit 30a, or to be entirely part of at least the small household appliance unit 30a (see Figure 8).

[0046] The small household appliance unit 30a has at least one switching element 38a for controlling a power supply to at least the further consumer 28a. The switching element 38a is connected between the further induction unit 36a and the further consumer 28a. The switching element 38a and the consumer 14a are connected in parallel. The switching element 38a is designed as an electromechanical relay 48a. Alternatively, any other configuration of the switching element 38a that appears appropriate to a person skilled in the art, for example, as any semiconductor switching element, is conceivable.

[0047] By means of the switching element 38a, a total load of the small household appliance unit 30a can be adjusted, in particular between a load of only the consumer 14a and a sum of the load of the consumer 14a and a load of the further consumer 28a.

[0048] The small household appliance unit 30a has at least one further switching element 54a. The further switching element 54a can be used to control a power supply to at least the load 14a. The further switching element 54a is intended to simultaneously control the power supply to the load 14a and the power supply to the further electrical load 28a, in particular to enable or, for example, to disable them in a standby mode.

[0049] The switching element 38a can be switched to adjust the power, in particular according to a set operating state, at the load 14a and the additional load 28a, in particular relative to one another. The switching element 38a can be switched periodically to adjust the power at the load 14a and the additional load 28a.

[0050] The household appliance system 50a, in this case the large household appliance unit 40a, is designed to interrupt the power supply to at least the load 14a during a switching operation of the switching element 38a, in particular a periodic one. The household appliance system 50a, in this case the large household appliance unit 40a, is designed to interrupt the power supply to at least the load 14a, in particular the small household appliance unit 30a. The household appliance system 50a, in this case the large household appliance unit 40a, is designed to reduce the voltage at least at the load 14a, in particular a periodic one.

[0051] Alternatively, it is conceivable that the interruption of the energy supply, in particular the voltage supply, is merely designed as a throttling of the energy supply, in particular the voltage supply. Alternatively or additionally, it would be conceivable that a structural unit (not shown) of the small household appliance unit 30a is provided for throttling or interrupting the energy supply to at least the consumer 14a.

[0052] The voltage reduction causes the power loss, especially a periodically repeated one. One reason for the power reduction is the voltage reduction. The reason for the power reduction is periodically repeated (see Figures 3a and 4a).

[0053] The reason for the power reduction, in particular the voltage reduction, is brief. In this case, the reason for the power reduction has a duration of at least substantially 50 ms (see Figure 4c). Alternatively, a different duration for the reason for the power reduction, advantageously at least less than 1 s, would be conceivable. The duration is at least greater than or equal to the duration of the switching process of the switching element 38a.

[0054] The reason for the reduction in performance is the reduction in performance compared to a basic performance to the consumer 14a.

[0055] Alternatively, it would be conceivable that the drop in performance is based on another reason for the reduction in performance, for example a short-term, particularly periodic, increase in the load of consumer 14a.

[0056] The compensation unit 12a is designed to compensate for the power drop by increasing the power relative to a base power shortly before the power reduction reason causing the power drop. In this case, the compensation unit 12a is designed to compensate for the power drop by increasing the power only shortly before the power reduction reason. Alternatively, the compensation unit 12a can be designed to compensate for the power drop by increasing the power only shortly after, or shortly before and shortly after (see Figure 7) the power reduction reason.

[0057] In this case, the compensation unit 12a is intended to compensate for the power drop by increasing the power immediately before the reason for the power reduction. The compensation unit 12a is intended to compensate for the power drop by increasing the power shortly before the power drop. The compensation unit 12a is intended to increase the power outside of the switching operation of the switching element 38a.

[0058] The balancing unit 12a has a power electronics unit 16a for generating the power increase. The balancing unit 12a has at least one inverter 18a. The power electronics unit 16a has the inverter 18a. In this case, the power electronics unit 16a is designed as the inverter 18a. The inverter 18a is provided for generating the power increase.

[0059] In the present embodiment, the inverter 18a of the balancing unit 12a is part of the large household appliance unit 40a. The inverter 18a of the balancing unit 12a is designed as an inverter 60a of the large household appliance 42a, which is provided for at least one further function other than compensating for the power drop. The inverter 60a of the large household appliance 42a is provided for controlling and / or regulating the energy transfer to provide at least the base voltage.

[0060] Alternatively, it would be conceivable that the inverter 18a of the compensation unit 12a is only intended to compensate for the power loss and is designed separately from the inverter 60a of the large household appliance 42a.

[0061] Alternatively or additionally, any other power electronics elements of the power electronics unit 16a that appear appropriate to the person skilled in the art are conceivable for generating the power increase.

[0062] The balancing unit 12a has a control unit 26a. The control unit 26a of the balancing unit 12a is intended to control the power electronics unit 16a, in particular the at least one inverter 18a. In this case, the control unit 26a of the balancing unit 12a is intended to control the energy transmission from the large household appliance unit 40a, in particular from the induction unit 46a. In this case, the control unit 26a of the balancing unit 12a is intended to control the base power, in particular the base voltage, at least at the load 14a, in particular in the small household appliance unit 30a, in addition to controlling the energy transmission to control the power increase.Alternatively, it would be conceivable that the control unit 26a of the balancing unit 12a is provided only for controlling the power increase, wherein the large household appliance 42a in particular has a further separate control unit (not shown) for controlling the energy transmission for providing the basic power.

[0063] Figures 3a and 3b show, by way of comparison, a curve 74a and a curve 78a of a non-inventive embodiment in which the power loss is unbalanced.

[0064] Figure 3a shows curve 74a of a voltage at load 14a on an axis 70a of a voltage in volts versus an axis 72a of a time in seconds. The periodically repeated cause of the power reduction, in particular the voltage reduction at load 14a, is evident.

[0065] Figure 3b shows, by way of example, the unbalanced power loss caused by the power reduction reason on curve 78a of the rotational speed of the load 14a, embodied as an electric motor 24a, on an axis 76a of the rotational speed in rad per second versus the axis 72a of the time in seconds. The unbalanced power loss is visible and audible to the operator.

[0066] Figures 4a to 4c show, by way of example, a compensation of the power loss according to the invention by means of the household appliance device 10a.

[0067] The compensation unit 12a is designed to compensate for the power loss by generating at least one voltage pulse 22a. The power electronics unit 16a is designed to generate the voltage pulse 22a. The inverter 18a is designed to generate the voltage pulse 22a (see Figure 2).

[0068] In the present exemplary embodiment, the large household appliance unit 40a is provided for generating the voltage pulse 22a. The voltage pulse 22a can be generated by adjusting at least one parameter, for example, a frequency and / or a duty cycle and / or a burst mode, of the inverter 18a. It is conceivable that the small household appliance unit 30a is provided for requesting the adjustment of the parameter of the inverter 18a via communication. Alternatively, the large household appliance unit 40a can be provided for independently generating and, in particular, requesting the voltage pulse 22a.

[0069] Figure 4a shows the voltage pulse 22a using a curve 84a of the voltage at the consumer 14a, which is shown on an axis 80a of a voltage in volts versus an axis 82a of a time in seconds.

[0070] The power increase is caused by the voltage pulse 22a at the load 14a. The compensation unit 12a is designed to compensate for the power drop by means of the voltage pulse 22a shortly before the cause of the power reduction. In the present embodiment, the voltage reduction is implemented as a reduction of the voltage at least at the load 14a to 0 V.

[0071] The voltage pulse 22a has at least a voltage greater than a base voltage at the load 14a of the respective operating state. The voltage pulse 22a has voltage values ​​only greater than the base voltage. The voltage pulse 22a is unipolar. The voltage pulse 22a is embodied, for example, as a rectangular pulse.

[0072] The voltage pulse 22a has, for example, an amplitude of 200 V, in particular an additional amplitude of 100 V relative to the base voltage, in particular of 100 V. The amplitude of the voltage pulse 22a can be a multiple of the base voltage with a multiplication factor at least greater than 1 and, for example, of a maximum of 5. In the present case, the multiplication factor is, for example, 2. Alternatively, another value of the amplitude of the voltage pulse 22a that appears reasonable to a person skilled in the art is conceivable, in particular between a value of the base voltage and a value of a voltage corresponding to a maximum rotational speed of the electric motor 24a.

[0073] The compensation unit 12a is designed to periodically repeat the voltage pulse 22a, whereby only one voltage pulse 22a is designated here. The periodicity of the repetition of the voltage pulse 22a corresponds to the periodicity of the reason for the power reduction. The reason for the power reduction has, for example, a period of 2 s. Alternatively, a different type of, particularly short-term, power increase at the load 14a would be conceivable, which would appear appropriate to a person skilled in the art.

[0074] The voltage pulse 22a has a duration that corresponds at least to a single period and at most to ten times half the period of a main voltage. Optimization for a particularly uniform rotation of the electric motor 24a for such a duration has been empirically confirmed for various media to be mixed by the electric motor 24a, for example, air, water, water with cornstarch, and the like.

[0075] The main voltage is embodied as a mains voltage, in this case with a frequency of 50 Hz, and in particular has a period of 20 ms. The large household appliance 42a is designed to rectify the main voltage to a frequency of 100 Hz, which has a period corresponding to half the period of the main voltage.

[0076] The voltage pulse 22a has a minimum duration of 10 ms and a maximum duration of 100 ms. In the present case, the voltage pulse 22a has a maximum duration of 50 ms. The voltage pulse 22a has, for example, a duration of at least substantially 20 ms.

[0077] Figure 4b shows a curve 88a of a rotational speed of the consumer 14a designed as an electric motor 24a on an axis 86a of the rotational speed in wheels per second over the axis 82a of the time in seconds.

[0078] Figure 4c shows a section of curve 84a of Figure 4a and curve 88a of Figure 4b enlarged, in particular with a higher resolution with respect to time on axis 82a.

[0079] The compensation unit 12a is provided for accelerating the electric motor 24a to compensate for the power drop. The acceleration of the electric motor 24a is caused by the power increase, in particular by the voltage pulse 22a. The power increase, in particular the voltage pulse 22a, causes the acceleration of the electric motor 24a. The power drop causes the electric motor 24a to decelerate. Figure 5 shows a flowchart of a method for operating the household appliance device 10a.

[0080] The method includes a power increase step 100a, in which the power of the load 14a is increased relative to the base power. In the power increase step 100a, the voltage applied to the load 14a is increased, in particular to increase the power of the load 14a. In the power increase step 100a, the voltage pulse 22a is generated and applied to the load 14a, in particular to increase the power. The compensation unit 12a generates the voltage pulse 22a.

[0081] The method includes a power reduction step 102a, in which the power at the load 14a drops below the baseline power. In the power reduction step 102a, the voltage applied to the load 14a drops below a baseline voltage, which in particular causes the power reduction. Energy transmission to the load 14a is throttled or interrupted in the power reduction step 102a. The large household appliance unit 40a, in particular by means of the inverter 60a of the large household appliance unit 40a, throttles or interrupts the energy transmission in the power reduction step 102a. In the power reduction step 102a, the switching element 38a switches. The power reduction step 102a ends with the removal of the reason for the power reduction.

[0082] The power reduction step 102a takes place shortly after the power increase step 100a. In this case, the power reduction step 102a takes place immediately after the power increase step 100a. Throttling or interrupting the energy transmission to the load 14a takes place shortly after the voltage pulse 22a is applied to the load 14a, in particular immediately after the voltage pulse 22a is applied to the load 14a.

[0083] Alternatively, it would be conceivable that the power increase step 100a takes place shortly after the power decrease step 102a.

[0084] The method is repeated periodically during an operating state of the consumer 14a. The method can be executed using a computer program. The computer program comprises instructions that, when executed by a computer 56a, cause the computer 56a to execute the method. In this case, the computer 56a is embodied as the control unit 26a of the balancing unit 12a (see Figure 2). Alternatively, the computer 56a could be embodied at least partially outside the control unit 26a of the balancing unit 12a.

[0085] Of multiple objects, only one is provided with a reference symbol in the figures.

[0086] Figures 6 to 8 each show two further embodiments of the invention. The following descriptions are essentially limited to the differences between the embodiments, whereby with regard to identical components, features and functions reference can be made to the description of the embodiment in Figures 1 to 5. To distinguish the embodiments, the letter a in the reference numerals of the embodiment in Figures 1 to 5 is replaced by the letter b in the reference numerals of the embodiment in Figures 6 and 7, and by the letter c in the reference numerals of the embodiment in Figure 8. With regard to components with the same designation, in particular with regard to components with the same reference numerals, reference can in principle also be made to the drawings and / or the description of the embodiment in Figures 1 to 5.

[0087] Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a control system for a household appliance (not shown) with a compensation unit (not shown). The compensation unit is designed to compensate for a power drop by increasing the power relative to a base power shortly before and after a power reduction event that caused the power drop. The power increase is caused by at least one voltage pulse 22b, 62b.

[0088] A curve 94b of a voltage applied to a load (not shown) is plotted on an axis 90b, which describes a voltage in volts and a rotational speed in rad per second, versus an axis 92b of a time in seconds. A curve 96b shows a rotational speed of the load embodied as an electric motor. The compensation unit is provided to apply a voltage pulse 22b to the load shortly, in particular immediately in this case, before the reason for the power reduction, in particular a voltage reduction. The compensation unit is provided to apply a further voltage pulse 62b to the load shortly, in particular immediately in this case, after the reason for the power reduction, in particular the voltage reduction.

[0089] The voltage pulse 22b and the further voltage pulse 62b are, for example, identical in design. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the shape and / or duration and / or amplitude of the voltage pulse 22b and the further voltage pulse 62b are different from one another.

[0090] Figure 7 shows a flowchart of a method for operating the household appliance. The method includes a power increase step 100b and a power decrease step 102b, which correspond to the aforementioned power increase step 100a and a power decrease step 102a of the method of Figure 5.

[0091] In the present case, the method comprises a further power increase step 104b. The further power increase step 104b takes place shortly after, in particular immediately after, the power decrease step 102b. In the further power increase step 104b, the power supplied to the load (not shown) is increased relative to a base power. In the further power increase step 104b, a voltage is increased relative to a base voltage. The further voltage pulse 62b is generated in the further power increase step 104b and applied to the load.

[0092] Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment of a household appliance system 50c with a household appliance device 10c. A small household appliance 32c comprises the household appliance device 10c in this case, in particular in its entirety. A small household appliance unit 30c comprises the household appliance device 10c. The small household appliance unit 30c comprises the household appliance device 10c in its entirety.

[0093] The small household appliance unit 30c has a balancing unit 12c, in particular a complete unit. The balancing unit 12c has a power electronics unit 16c, which in the present case is embodied, for example, as an inverter 18c. The inverter 18c of the balancing unit 12c differs from an inverter 60c of a large household appliance 42c and is, in particular, embodied separately therefrom. In the present exemplary embodiment, the small household appliance unit 30c is provided for generating the at least one voltage pulse (not shown), in particular shortly before and / or after a reason for a power reduction, to compensate for a power drop.

[0094] The power electronics unit 16c, in particular the inverter 18a of the balancing unit 12c, is connected in series with a load 14c. The power electronics unit 16c, in particular the inverter 18c of the balancing unit 12c, is connected upstream of the load 14c. The inverter 18a of the balancing unit 12c is connected directly upstream of the load 14c.

[0095] The small household appliance unit 30c has a control unit 26c for controlling at least the power electronics unit 16c, in particular completely. The balancing unit 12c has the control unit 26c. Alternatively, it would be conceivable for the large household appliance unit 40c to have at least partially the control unit 26c for controlling the power electronics unit 16c.

[0096] Reference symbol

[0097] 10 household appliance device

[0098] 12 compensation unit

[0099] 14 consumers

[0100] 16 Power electronics unit

[0101] 18 inverters

[0102] 20 Induction hob device

[0103] 22 voltage pulse

[0104] 24 electric motor

[0105] 26 Control unit

[0106] 28 other consumers

[0107] 30 small household appliance units

[0108] 32 small household appliances

[0109] 34 food processor

[0110] 36 additional induction units

[0111] 38 switching element

[0112] 40 large household appliances unit

[0113] 42 large household appliances

[0114] 44 Induction hob

[0115] 46 Induction unit

[0116] 48 relays

[0117] 50 household appliance system

[0118] 52 induction hob system

[0119] 54 additional switching element

[0120] 56 computers

[0121] 58 mounting plate

[0122] 60 inverters

[0123] 62 further voltage pulse

[0124] 70 Axis Axis

[0125] curve

[0126] axis

[0127] curve

[0128] axis

[0129] axis

[0130] curve

[0131] axis

[0132] curve

[0133] axis

[0134] axis

[0135] curve

[0136] curve

[0137] Performance improvement step

[0138] Performance decline step further performance increase step

Claims

Claims 1. Household appliance device (10a; 10c), in particular an induction hob device (20a; 20c), with at least one compensation unit (12a; 12c) for compensating for a power drop in at least one electrical consumer (14a; 14c).

2. Household appliance device (10a; 10c) according to claim 1, characterized in that the compensation unit (12a; 12c) is provided to compensate for the power drop by means of a power increase with respect to a basic power shortly before and / or after a power reduction reason causing the power drop.

3. Household appliance device (10a; 10c) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the compensation unit (12a; 12c) is provided to compensate for the power drop by generating at least one voltage pulse (22a; 22b, 62b).

4. Household appliance device (10a; 10c) according to claim 3, characterized in that the voltage pulse (22a; 22b, 62b) has a duration which corresponds at least to a single and / or at most to ten times half the period duration of a main voltage.

5. Household appliance device (10a; 10c) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the balancing unit (12a; 12c) has at least one inverter (18a; 18c).

6. Small household appliance unit (30a; 30c), characterized by a household appliance device (10a; 10c) according to one of the preceding claims and by the at least one consumer (14a; 14c).

7. Small household appliance unit (30a; 30c) according to claim 6, characterized in that the consumer (14a; 14c) has at least one electric motor (24a; 24c).

8. Small household appliance unit (30a; 30c) according to claim 7, characterized in that the compensation unit (12a; 12c) is provided for accelerating the electric motor (24a; 24c) to compensate for the power drop.

9. Large household appliance unit (40a; 40c), in particular an induction hob (44a; 44c), characterized by a household appliance device (10a; 10c) according to one of claims 1 to 5.

10. Household appliance system (50a; 50c), with a household appliance device (10a; 10c) according to one of claims 1 to 5, with a small household appliance unit (30a; 30c) and / or with a large household appliance unit (40a; 40c).

11. A method for operating a household appliance (10a; 10c), in particular according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a compensation unit (12a; 12c) compensates for a power drop at an electrical consumer (14a; 14c).

12. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer (56a; 56c), cause the computer (56a; 56c) to carry out the method according to claim 11.

Images