Electronic module for a domestic appliance

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic module (110) for a domestic appliance (100), wherein the electronic module (110) comprises a printed circuit board (200) and a circuit unit (201) which is arranged on the printed circuit board (200) and is designed, for example, to execute an operating program of the domestic appliance (100). The electronic module (110) also comprises N different interface units (211), where N ≥ 2, wherein the N interface units (211) are each designed to supply the electronic module (110) with electrical energy from an energy supply unit of the domestic appliance (100) and to transmit signals between the circuit unit (201) and an electronic component of the domestic appliance (100).

Description

[0001] 202401481

[0002] 1 / 16

[0003] Electronic module for a household appliance

[0004] The invention relates to an electronic module for a household appliance, as well as a household appliance with an electronic module.

[0005] Household appliances typically contain at least one electronic module. This electronic module can be, for example, a computing module with one or more processors. Furthermore, the electronic module can be designed to control the operation of the respective household appliance. Different models and / or types of household appliances may contain different electronic modules.

[0006] This document addresses the technical task of providing a cost-effective electronic module, in particular a computing module, that can be used in different models and / or types of household appliances.

[0007] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claim. Advantageous embodiments are defined in particular in the dependent patent claims, described in the following description, or illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, an electronic module, in particular a computing module, for a household appliance is described. The electronic module comprises a printed circuit board (PCB), wherein the PCB can have electrically conductive traces in one or more layers. The one or more layers can be arranged on the top, bottom, and / or between the top and bottom of the PCB.

[0009] The electronic module further comprises a circuit unit arranged on the circuit board (in particular on the top side of the circuit board). The circuit unit can be configured as a processing unit. The circuit unit can be configured to perform a specific task of the household appliance. Alternatively or additionally, the circuit unit can be configured to execute an operating program of the household appliance. Signals can be exchanged between the electronic module (in particular between the 202401481)

[0010] 2 / 16

[0011] The circuit unit transmits power to one or more electronic and / or electrical components of the appliance. Furthermore, the circuit unit can be supplied with electrical energy from a power supply unit of the appliance (located outside the electronic module). The circuit unit can include at least one processor, such as a microprocessor.

[0012] Different types and / or models of household appliances may have different requirements regarding signal transmission, power supply, and / or the mechanical mounting of the electronic module. Examples of household appliance types include: washing machines, dryers, vacuuming and / or mopping devices (such as robotic vacuums and / or mops), food processors, coffee makers, dishwashers, ovens, and / or refrigerators. One or more different models may be available for each type of household appliance. The different models within a household appliance type may have different functionalities.

[0013] The electronics module comprises N differently configured interface units, with N > 2 or N > 3 (for N different types and / or models of household appliances). The electronics module can be configured such that it operates with only one of the N interface units in each of the N different types and / or models of household appliances, and / or that only one of the N interface units is used in each of the N different types and / or models of household appliances. For example, interface unit n=1 can be used (exclusively) in type and / or model n=1, interface unit n=2 can be used (exclusively) in type and / or model n=2, and so on. For example, interface unit n=N can be used (exclusively) in type and / or model n=N.

[0014] The N interface units are each designed,

[0015] • to supply the electronic module with electrical energy from the power supply unit of the household appliance; and

[0016] • To effect signal transmission between the circuit unit and an electronic and / or electrical component of the household appliance. 202401481

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[0018] For this purpose, the N interface units can each comprise,

[0019] • one or more electrically conductive contact elements for supplying power to the electronic module;

[0020] • one or more electrically conductive contact elements for signal transmission; and / or

[0021] • at least one electrically conductive contact element to provide a reference potential, in particular ground.

[0022] This describes an electronic module that features several differently configured interface units, each of which can be used individually to integrate the electronic module into a household appliance. This allows identical electronic modules to be installed efficiently and flexibly in different types and / or models of household appliances.

[0023] The N interface units can include,

[0024] • at least one or exactly one card-edge connector located on one or more edges of the printed circuit board of the electronic module;

[0025] • at least one or exactly one Land Grid Array interconnection system based on a

[0026] layer, in particular on a layer on the underside of the printed circuit board of the electronic module; and

[0027] • at least or exactly one half-hole edge contact connection system arranged on one or more edges of the printed circuit board of the electronic module.

[0028] In a preferred example, the electronics module includes at least two of the above-mentioned different interface units, e.g.

[0029] • at least or exactly one Card-Edge connector and at least or exactly one Land Grid Array interconnection system; or

[0030] • at least or exactly one card-edge connector and at least or exactly one half-hole edge contact connection system; or

[0031] • at least one or exactly one Land Grid Array connection system and at least one or exactly one half-hole edge contact connection system. 202401481

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[0033] In a particularly preferred example, the electronics module includes all three of the above different interface units, i.e., at least or exactly one card-edge connector, at least one or exactly one land grid array interconnection system, and at least or exactly one half-hole edge contact interconnection system.

[0034] By providing two or more of the aforementioned interface units, a particularly flexible use of the electronic module in different types and / or models of household appliances can be enabled.

[0035] The N interface units can each be configured to mechanically attach the electronic module to the household appliance, in particular to a carrier board of the household appliance. Each of the N interface units can individually provide (sufficient) mechanical attachment. The N interface units can include at least one interface unit configured to connect a plug to a complementary interface unit of the household appliance in order to mechanically attach the electronic module to the household appliance, in particular to the carrier board of the household appliance. The complementary interface unit can be configured as a separate plug or socket. Alternatively, the complementary interface unit can be attached to the carrier board of the household appliance.

[0036] Alternatively or additionally, the N interface units can include at least one interface unit designed to be soldered to the appliance's circuit board in order to mechanically attach the electronic module to the circuit board. This allows for particularly flexible and stable use of the electronic module in different types and / or models of household appliances.

[0037] As previously explained, the electronic module can be designed such that it can be installed in N different types and / or models of household appliances. The N different types and / or models of household appliances can each be associated in a one-to-one relationship with the N different interface units, such that the corresponding interface unit n is used exclusively for each type and / or model n (with n=1, ..., N). 202401481

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[0039] The electronic module can thus be connected in the N different types and / or models of household appliances exclusively via exactly one of the corresponding N different interface units for power supply, signal transmission and mechanical attachment to the respective household appliance, in particular to the carrier board of the respective household appliance with which the respective type and / or model of household appliance is associated.

[0040] This allows for a dedicated interface unit for each of N different types and / or models of household appliances. This enables particularly flexible use of the electronic module in different types and / or models of household appliances.

[0041] The control unit can be configured to detect which of the N interface units the electronic module is connected to the appliance via. It can then ensure that the power supply and / or signal transmission occurs exclusively via the detected interface unit and not via the other N-1 interface units. Alternatively or additionally, the other N-1 interface units can be deactivated. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit can be configured to adapt and / or select the operating program for the appliance depending on the detected interface unit. This allows for particularly efficient and reliable operation of the electronic module in different types and / or models of household appliances.

[0042] The electronic module is preferably designed such that, when the electronic module is operated in a household appliance, only exactly one of the N interface units is used for supplying power to the electronic module and / or for transmitting signals between the electronic module and an electronic and / or electrical component of the household appliance and / or for mechanically attaching the electronic module to the household appliance, in particular to the carrier board of the household appliance. This allows for particularly efficient and reliable use of the 202401481

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[0044] Electronic modules in different types and / or models of household appliances are made possible.

[0045] According to another aspect, a household appliance is described, e.g., a washing machine, a dryer, a vacuuming and / or mopping device (such as a robot vacuum and / or mop), a food processor, a coffee machine, a dishwasher, an oven, and / or a refrigerator. The household appliance comprises a circuit board, a power supply unit (e.g., an electrical energy storage device and / or a power supply unit), and / or one or more electronic and / or electrical components (e.g., one or more sensors and / or one or more actuators).

[0046] Furthermore, the household appliance includes an electronic module configured as described in this document. The electronic module can be attached to the household appliance's carrier board by means of exactly one of the N interface units. The N-1 other interface units preferably do not provide any fastening function for attaching the electronic module to the household appliance, in particular to the carrier board of the household appliance.

[0047] Alternatively or additionally, the electronic module can be configured to be supplied with electrical energy from the power supply unit solely via the first interface unit. The N-1 other interface units preferably do not provide any power supply function for the electronic module.

[0048] Alternatively or additionally, the electronic module can be configured to transmit signals between the electronic module and the one or more electronic and / or electrical components solely via the first interface unit. The N-1 other interface units preferably do not perform a signal transmission function for transmitting signals to or from the electronic module.

[0049] The first interface unit of the N interface units of the electronic module, which is used exclusively for the mechanical mounting, power supply, and / or signal transmission of the electronic module, may differ for different types and / or models of household appliances. 202401481

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[0051] It should be noted that all aspects of the electronic module described in this document can be combined in a variety of ways. In particular, the features of the patent claims can be combined in a variety of ways.

[0052] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

[0053] Figure 1 shows exemplary household appliances, each with an electronic module; and Figure 2 shows an exemplary electronic module.

[0054] As stated at the outset, this document deals with the provision of an electronic module that can be used efficiently in different models and / or types of household appliances. In this context, Fig. 1 shows a washing machine on the left as an example of a household appliance 100 and a robotic vacuum cleaner on the right as another example of a household appliance 100. Each household appliance 100 has an electronic module 110. The electronic module 110 can be configured in various ways.

[0055] • To receive and / or evaluate sensor data from one or more sensors of the respective household appliance 110;

[0056] • To receive and / or evaluate user input from a user of the respective household appliance 110; and / or

[0057] • To determine control signals for controlling one or more actuators of the respective household appliance 110 and to send them to the one or more actuators.

[0058] The electronic module 110 can thus be configured to send signals to one or more other components of the respective household appliance 100 and / or to receive signals from one or more other components of the respective household appliance 100. For this purpose, the electronic module 110 can, as shown by way of example in Fig. 2, comprise an interface unit 211, via which the electronic module 110 can be integrated into the respective household appliance 100. The interface unit 211 can be designed such that the electronic module 110 can be mechanically connected to the household appliance 100 by means of the interface unit 211. Furthermore, the interface unit 211 can include one or more (electrically conductive) contact elements 202401481.

[0059] 8 / 16, which are designed for signal, in particular data, communication and / or power supply of the electronic module 110. The interface unit 211 can be arranged on a circuit board 200 of the electronic module 110.

[0060] The electronic module 110 further comprises at least one circuit unit 201, such as a microprocessor, which is configured to process signals (especially data) received via the interface unit 211 and / or to cause signals (especially data) to be sent via the interface unit 211.

[0061] Different types and / or models of household appliances 100 may have different boundary conditions and / or requirements regarding the connection of the electronic module 110, in particular

[0062] • with regard to how the electronic module 110 is mechanically attached in the respective household appliance 100;

[0063] • with regard to the number and / or bandwidth of contact elements for the

[0064] Data communication; and / or

[0065] • with regard to the number and / or performance of contact elements for the power supply.

[0066] The electronics module 110 can handle several different types of

[0067] Interface units 211 include, in order to accommodate the different boundary conditions and / or requirements of different types and / or models of

[0068] to fulfill the requirements of household appliances 10. In the example shown in Fig. 2, the electronic module 110 has three different types of interface units 211. Exemplary types of interface units 211 are,

[0069] • a card-edge connector located on an edge of the circuit board 200 of the electronic module 110;

[0070] • a Land Grid Array (LGA) interconnect system arranged on one side, in particular the underside, of the printed circuit board 200 of the electronic module 110; and / or

[0071] • A half-hole edge contact (castelated pads) connection system arranged on one edge of the printed circuit board 200 of the electronic module 110. 202401481

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[0073] Providing an electronic module 110 with several different interface units 211 makes it possible to integrate the electronic module 110 flexibly and efficiently into different types and / or models of household appliances 100. The individual interface units 211 can each perform the functions redundantly and / or exclusively.

[0074] • Data communication with one or more components of the respective household appliance 100;

[0075] • Power supply for electronic module 110; and / or

[0076] • Mechanical connection, in particular fastening, of the electronic module 110 to the respective household appliance 100 shall be provided.

[0077] The electronic module 110 can thus have N different (redundant) interface units 211, with N > 2. Furthermore, the electronic module 110, in particular the circuit unit 201 of the electronic module 110, can be configured to automatically detect which of the N interface units 211 the electronic module 110 has been integrated into and / or connected to a household appliance 100 via. The electronic module 110, in particular the circuit unit 201, can then deactivate the N-1 other interface units 211. Signal communication and power supply can then be provided exclusively via the detected interface unit 211.Furthermore, the electronic module 110, in particular the circuit unit 201, can be configured to adapt and / or select the functionality of the electronic module 110, such as the operating program that is executed on the circuit unit 201, depending on the detected interface unit 211.

[0078] As explained above, the same electronic module 110, in particular the same CCM (Central Computing Module), can be implemented in different household appliances 100. The different household appliances 100 may have different installation situations and / or different requirements for the electronic module 110, such as installation space, signal requirements, and / or connection requirements. As described in this document, different connection technologies (i.e., different interface units 211) can be combined in a single electronic module 110, so that in the 202401481

[0079] 10 / 16 different household appliances, each with 100 identical electronic modules, can be installed.

[0080] The various interface units 211 of the electronic module 110 can include at least one interface unit 211 that enables a plug connection between the electronic module 110 and the carrier board of the household appliance 100. Furthermore, the electronic module 110 can include at least one interface unit 211 that enables direct soldering of the electronic module 110 onto the carrier board of the household appliance 100.

[0081] The electronics module 110 can include a PCB card edge connector, in particular a Rast 2.5 connector, as an interface unit 211. The interface unit 211 can have mechanical keying (e.g., between pins 1 and 2 of the connector) to prevent damage from an incorrect connection. All pins (i.e., contact elements) can be defined on both the top and bottom layers of the printed circuit board 200, with vias being used to connect the two layers. This allows for a particularly flexible connector.

[0082] The one or more GND pins can be longer than the VCC and signal pins, thus effectively preventing ESD (electrostatic discharge) events during the assembly of the electronics module 110. The interface unit 211 can optionally have a locking mechanism.

[0083] Alternatively or additionally, the electronic module 110 can have a cast pads connection system as an interface unit 211. The electronic module 110 can be connected to the carrier board of the household appliance 100 by soldering. The connection can be made by soldering the contact elements on an edge of the circuit board 200 of the electronic module 110. Alternatively or additionally, the connection can be made by soldering pads on the bottom layer of the circuit board 200 of the electronic module 110. This provides a reliable connection that can be efficiently tested. 202401481

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[0085] Signal connection pads can be provided on each individual layer of the printed circuit board 200 of the electronic module 110. The individual half-holes can have a diameter of approximately 0.6 mm. The number of contact elements for data and / or signal transmission can correspond to the maximum possible number in a household appliance 100 (in which the electronic module 110 is to be installed). The interface unit 211 can be designed such that not all pads need to be soldered.

[0086] Alternatively or additionally, the electronic module 110 can have an LGA connection system as an interface unit 211, which can be soldered to the carrier board of a household appliance 100.

[0087] The measures described in this document enable the efficient and flexible installation of identical electronic modules 110 in different types and / or models of household appliances 100.

[0088] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the description and the figures are intended only to illustrate the principle of the proposed electronic module.

Claims

202401481 12 / 16 PATENT CLAIMS 1. Electronic module (110) for a household appliance (100); wherein the electronic module (110) comprises, - one printed circuit board (200); - a circuit unit (201) arranged on the circuit board (200); and - N differently configured interface units (211), with N>2; wherein the N interface units (211) are each configured, - to provide the electronic module (110) with electrical energy from a power supply unit of the household appliance (100); and - to effect a signal transmission of signals between the circuit unit (201) and an electronic component of the household appliance (100).

2. Electronic module (110) according to claim 1, wherein the N interface units (211) each comprise, - one or more electrically conductive contact elements for supplying power to the electronic module (110); - one or more electrically conductive contact elements for signal transmission; and / or - at least one electrically conductive contact element to provide a reference potential, in particular ground.

3. Electronic module (110) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the N interface units (211) comprise a card-edge connector arranged on an edge of the printed circuit board (200) of the electronic module (110).

4. Electronic module (110) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the N interface units (211) form a Land Grid Array (LGA) interconnect system 202401481 13 / 16 comprise, which is arranged on a layer, in particular on a layer on a bottom side, of the printed circuit board (200) of the electronic module (110).

5. Electronic module (110) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the N interface units (211) comprise a half-hole edge contact connection system arranged on an edge of the printed circuit board (200) of the electronic module (110).

6. Electronic module (110) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the N interface units (211) are each configured to mechanically attach the electronic module (110) to the household appliance (110), in particular to a carrier board of the household appliance (110).

7. Electronic module (110) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the N interface units (211) comprise - at least one interface unit (211) configured to connect a plug connection with a complementarily configured interface unit of the household appliance (100) in order to mechanically attach the electronic module (110) to the household appliance (100), in particular to the carrier board of the household appliance (100); and - at least one interface unit (211) designed to be soldered to the carrier board of the household appliance (100) in order to mechanically attach the electronic module (110) to the carrier board of the household appliance (100).

8. Electronic module (110) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic module (110) is configured such that - the electronic module (110) can be installed in N different types and / or models of household appliances (100); wherein the N different types and / or models of household appliances (100) are each associated in a one-to-one relationship with the N different interface units (211); and - the electronic module (110) in the N different types and / or models of household appliances (100) each exclusively via exactly one of the corresponding N different interface units (211) for power supply, for 202401481 14 / 16 signal transmission and for mechanical fastening to the respective household appliance (100), in particular to a carrier board of the respective household appliance (100), with which the respective type and / or model of household appliance (100) is associated.

9. Electronic module (110) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the circuit unit (201) is configured, - to identify which of the N interface units (211) the electronic module (110) is connected to the household appliance (100); and - to ensure that the power supply and / or signal transmission occurs exclusively via the detected interface unit (211) and not via the N-1 other interface units (211); and / or - to cause the N-1 other interface units (211) to be deactivated.

10. Electronic module (110) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the circuit unit (201) is configured, - to identify which of the N interface units (211) the electronic module (110) is connected to the household appliance (100); and - to adapt and / or select an operating program for the operation of the household appliance (100) depending on the detected interface unit (211).

11. Electronic module (110) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic module (110) is designed such that when the electronic module (110) is operated in a household appliance (110), only exactly one of the N interface units (211) is used for the power supply of the electronic module (110) and / or for the signal transmission of signals between the electronic module (110) and an electronic component of the household appliance (100) and / or for the mechanical attachment of the electronic module (110) to the household appliance (100), in particular to a carrier board of the household appliance (100).

12. Household appliance (100), which includes, - a carrier board; 202401481 15 / 16 - an energy supply unit; - one or more electronic components; and - an electronic module (110) configured according to one of the preceding claims; wherein - the electronic module (110) is attached to the carrier board by means of exactly one of the first N interface units (211); and / or - the electronic module (110) is supplied with electrical energy from the power supply unit solely via the first interface unit (211); and / or - the electronic module (110) alone transmits signals between the electronic module (110) and the one or more electronic components via the first interface unit (211).

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