INPUT AND/OR CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE, METHOD FOR OPERATING A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE AND/OR FOR PROVIDING A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE WITH INPUT AND HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

Abstract

The present invention relates to an input and/or control system for a household appliance (21). The household appliance comprises first input means (16), operating as command receiving means, for a provision of at least one information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input for the household appliance (21), and second input means (10, 29″, 45), operating as confirmation input means, for a provision of a confirmation input in order to cause the input and/or control system or the household appliance (21) to accept and/or to execute the at least one, preferably more than one, information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input. The confirmation input means are particularly designed to accept and/or execute a confirmation input which is provided prior to the first one of at least one information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input. The present invention also relates to a method for operating a household appliance (21) and/or for providing the household appliance (21) with input. At least one information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input received from a user of the household appliance (21) is processed by the household appliance (21) or by an input and/or control system for the household appliance (21) only after a receipt of a confirmation input, in particular a one-time conformation input, the confirmation input preferably being received prior to the receipt of the at least one information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input.

Claims

1. An input and/or control system for a household appliance, comprising: first input means, operating as command receiving means, for provision of at least one information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input for the household appliance, and second input means, operating as confirmation input means, for provision of a confirmation input in order to cause the input and/or control system or the household appliance to accept and/or to execute the at least one information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input, wherein the input and/or control system and/or the household appliance is configured to accept and/or to process and/or to execute the at least one information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input which is provided via the first input means after or concurrently with the confirmation input.

2. The input and/or control system according to claim 1, wherein the confirmation input is a local input, wherein the input and/or control system is configured to accept the confirmation input from a user while located near by the household appliance.

3. The input and/or control system according to claim 1, wherein the second input means is a button or a touch element, the button or touch element being located on a user interface of the household appliance.

4. The input and/or control system according to claim 1, wherein the second input means is a near field communication means and/or a camera and/or a microphone located in or on or close by the household appliance.

5. The input and/or control system according to claim 1, wherein the household appliance and/or the input and/or control system comprises a physical key, or a touch element, and/or a signal provider, wherein current flow to and/or voltage application at a heating element or a control unit is enabled only when the physical key is or has been pressed and/or activated and/or when the signal provider is or has been providing an enabling signal.

6. The input and/or control system according to claim 1, wherein the first input means and the second input means are connected to or acting on a relay and/or to a comparator and/or a logic element.

7. The input and/or control system according to claim 1, wherein the first input means is a remote control means being or comprising a voice-operated and/or gesture-operated input or control means.

8. The input and/or control system according to claim 1, wherein the first input means is an apparatus or an uncoupled or stand-alone device connected to the household appliance via local area network connection means or via Wi-Fi connection means, the first input means being a or being connected to a digital assistant device.

9. The input and/or control system according to claim 1, wherein the first input means is or comprises a component or a device or an electric circuit integrated in the household appliance.

10. The input and/or control system according to claim 1, further comprising: a first said first input means and a second said first input means, the first first input means, operating as local command receiving means, for a provision of at least one locally provided information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input for the household appliance, and the second first input means being a button or key for a switch-on of the household appliance; a first said second input means and a second said second input means, the first second input means operating as remote command receiving means, for a provision of at least one remotely provided information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input for the household appliance, and the second second input means, operating as confirmation input means, for a provision of a confirmation input in order to cause the input and/or control system or the household appliance to accept and/or to execute the at least one remotely provided information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input.

11. A method for operating a household appliance and/or for providing a household appliance with input, wherein at least one information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input received from a user of the household appliance is processed by the household appliance or by an input and/or control system for the household appliance only after a receipt of a confirmation input, the confirmation input being received prior to or at the latest concurrently with the first one of the at least one information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the confirmation input is received from and/or provided by a user of the household appliance who is located near by the household appliance while providing the confirmation input.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the confirmation input is operating for and/or controlling more than one said information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input, the confirmation input being a one-time input.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the confirmation input is operating and/or controlling for a predefined or predefinable period of time or until a further user action is provided.

15. A household appliance comprising the system according to claim 1.

16. A household cooking appliance comprising a control system adapted to execute a cooking function of the appliance based on a series of inputs; said series of inputs comprising: a command input to execute the cooking function that is received via a first input means, and a confirmation input that confirms a user is within proximity to the cooking appliance and which is received via a second input means; said first input means being a remote control or other stand-alone device that is in wireless communication with the control system of the appliance; said second input means comprising: a button, key, switch or touch element on the appliance, or a sensor adapted to detect a presence of a user at a location that is within a defined proximity of the appliance; wherein said control system is programmed to execute said cooking function only: after receiving said command input, and concurrently with or after receiving said confirmation input.

17. The household cooking appliance according to claim 16, said second input means being selected from the group consisting of a camera, a microphone, a vibration sensor, an infrared sensor, and a digital virtual assistant, which is disposed so that it is adapted to detect said user within said predefined proximity of the appliance, whereupon the second input means is further configured to transmit a corresponding signal comprising said confirmation input to the control system of the appliance, thereby confirming said proximity of said user.

18. The household appliance according to claim 16, said second input means comprising an ON switch of the household appliance, whereupon a user actuating the ON switch to activate the appliance communicates said confirmation input to said control system, thereby confirming said proximity of said user.

19. The household appliance according to claim 16, said first input means and said second input means both being connected to an AND logic element, which is physically comprised by said control system of the household appliance.

20. The household appliance according to claim 16, said control system being programmed to execute said cooking function only within a predetermined time period following receipt of said confirmation input, after expiration of which said confirmation input must be re-received in order to continue executing or to re-execute said cooking function.

Description

[0032] The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings, in which

[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of an input and/or control system for a household appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a cooking arrangement comprising a cooking hob and an exhaust hood and a remote control device according to another preferred embodiment of the invention; and

[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of an input and/or control system for an arrangement modified over the embodiment of FIG. 2.

[0036] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of an input/and/or control system for a household appliance HA according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] The input and/or control system comprises an acoustic sensor device 10, a voice recognition device 12 and a user recognition device 14 comprising the acoustic sensor device 10 and the voice recognition device 12. For example, the acoustic sensor device 10 is a microphone. Instead of the acoustic sensor 10 another sensor type may be used for detection of a presence of a user, e. g. an infrared sensor or a camera.

[0038] Further, the input and/or control system may comprise an audio output device, e.g. a loudspeaker, for communicating with the user. The input and/or control system further comprises a control unit of the household appliance HA (indicated by a double arrow in FIG. 1).

[0039] A voice control communication device 16 is provided and adapted to receive vocal input from the user and to perform acoustic output to the user. Both the voice control communication device 16 and the household appliance HA are able to communicate with the internet 18, in particular they are able to communicate with each other via the internet 18. Preferably, the input and/or control system, or any part thereof, is a part, e.g. an integrated part, of a control unit of the household appliance HA.

[0040] The input and/or control system is provided for activating the connection of the household appliance HA to the voice control communication device 16 and/or to the internet 18. “Activating” in that sense means that particularly inputs, i. e. control commands or other types of information or data provisions, are only received or processed by the household appliance HA when granted by the input and/or control system.

[0041] The voice recognition device 12 and/or the user recognition device 14 is or are configured to sense the presence of a user, in particular of an authorised user. In particular, the voice recognition device 12 and/or the user recognition device 14 is or are configured such that the presence of the person adjacent to the domestic appliance DA is detected (i. e. whatever user or person) and/or specified (i. e. only authorized user).

[0042] Further, the acoustic sensor device 10 is capable of detecting and/or receiving a user generated input signal, for example the voice of the user, another audio signal from the user or noise generated by the user. For example, the acoustic sensor device 10, the voice recognition device 12 and/or the user recognition device 14 may be or comprise a decibel sensor.

[0043] The user recognition device 14 is configured to compare a parameter of the user generated input signal, e.g. the frequency, amplitude, frequency pattern and/or amplitude pattern, with a predetermined threshold value. Said predetermined threshold value is chosen in such a way that it is assigned to a certain amplitude of the user specific noise or reflects said certain amplitude, e.g. the loudness of the voice. For a proper operation, this assignment will have to be a matter of training or calibration at the moment of implementation of the household appliance HA. Alternatively, the producer of the household appliance HA may set it before the delivery to the user.

[0044] For example, the input and/or control system is capable of recognising, if the person adjacent to the sensor is speaking loudly. The acoustic sensor device 10 may be also replaced by another type of presence detection sensor, in particular a near field sensor, a touch sensitive sensor, an optical sensor, a camera and/or a vibration sensor.

[0045] The input and/or control system is configured in such a way that a communication of the voice control communication device 16 with the household appliance HA is possible only, if the user inputs a certain input signal recognised by the user recognition device 14. For example, the user recognition device 14 detects, if the user is speaking with certain loudness, or if the user outputs certain sequence of words, signals, tapping, knocking or the like.

[0046] The user detection or recognition may be activated permanently. However, the present embodiment is designed in that way that a one-time confirmation input or signal is provided to the input and/or control system directly after the user's switch-on of the household appliance HA. In this situation, the user is located next to the household appliance HA because of an ON/OFF switch is positioned on a user interface of the household appliance HA. After receipt of this confirmation input, the user's attendance and potential intervention in case of uncontrolled operation of the household appliance HA is assumed and the user is enabled to provide the household appliance HA with commands and/or inputs via the voice control communication device 16 and the internet 18.

[0047] FIG. 2 illustrates an input/and/or control system for a household appliance HA according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The figure shows a schematic perspective view of a cooking arrangement comprising a cooking hob 21 and an exhaust hood 23. The cooking hob 21 comprises a cooking area with four cooking zones 25 and an operator control panel comprising a user interface 27. The user interface 27 is equipped with operating buttons 29 and a display unit 31. In the interior of the operator control panel, a microcontroller 33 is arranged for controlling the operation of the cooking hob 21. The user interface 27 is internally connected with the microcontroller 33 for data exchange between these two components.

[0048] The exhaust hood 23 is arranged above the cooking hob 21 by fully covering the cooking area of the cooking hob 21 with its suction area 35. The vapour and/or fume which is/are resulting from the cooking processes are sucked by an exhaust fan (not shown) arranged inside the exhaust hood 23 and removed from the kitchen, in which the cooking arrangement is installed, to the environment by means of an exhaust tube 37. Hood operating buttons 39 are positioned on a front face of the exhaust hood 23 for the operation thereof by the user.

[0049] The operation of the cooking hob 21 can be performed manifold. According to a first way of operation, a conventional, direct operation may be realized by the user manipulating the hob operating buttons 29 arranged on the user interface 27 in order to set or modify the power level of the respective cooking zone 25. In a similar way, the exhaust hood 23 may be operated also directly in a conventional way by the user manipulating the hood operating buttons 39, thereby controlling the speed of the exhaust fan.

[0050] In another way of operation, both the cooking hob 21 and the exhaust hood 23 may be operated by the user using a remote control device 41. Via a first transmission path 43 (in FIG. 2 only illustrated for the connection to the cooking hob 21), the remote control device 41 transmits the information signals to either the cooking hob 21 or to the exhaust hood 23. The first transmission path 43 may be a Wi-Fi or a near field connection. A switch button (not explicitly shown) is comprised by the remote control device 41 for selecting either control of the cooking hob 21 or control of the exhaust hood 23 by the remote control device 41. The user inputs the commands for the control of either the cooking hob 21 or the exhaust hood 23 by means of universal operating buttons 29′ arranged on the remote control device 41.

[0051] While the exhaust hood 23 may be controlled via the remote control device 41 without any limitation, the operation of the cooking hob 21 is only allowed, following safety standards, in case of the user of the cooking hob 21 being in close distance to the cooking hob 21 in order to be in a position to intervene in case of any unexpected or dangerous situation resulting from the cooking hob operation.

[0052] Therefore, even though the microcontroller 33 will receive a control command transmitted via the first transmission path 43 and forwarded by the user interface 27, the microcontroller 33 will not readily process the received control command. Rather, the microcontroller 33 only processes the command in case of having received a confirmation input or signal indicating the presence of the user in close distance to the cooking hob 21.

[0053] Said confirmation signal indicating the user's presence is provided by a microphone 45, also arranged at the front face of the exhaust hood 23. The microphone 45 is connected to the user interface 27 of the cooking hob 21 by means of a second transmission path 47, which may be an infrared signal connection. The microphone 45 may be designed as a directional microphone in order to filter out or reduce the operational noise, sourcing from the operation of the exhaust fan or its driving motor.

[0054] The microphone 45 is adapted for receiving any sound or noise created by a user being in close distance to the cooking hob 21. Such sound or noise may be a vocal sound, a snipping with fingers or the like. The sound or noise may be also created by the user working on the kitchen, in particular handling with specific devices, e. g. bumping with a pot 49 positioned on a cooking zone 25 of the cooking hob 21, toggling with a lid 51 of the pot 49, operating a water tap (not shown) in the kitchen, etc.

[0055] Another embodiment of the present invention, modified vs. the arrangement as illustrated with FIG. 2 and as described above, is shown in FIG. 3. In line with the embodiment of FIG. 1, a voice control communication device 16 is provided and adapted to receive vocal input from the user and to perform acoustic output to the user. Both the voice control communication device 16 and the cooking hob 21 are able to communicate with the internet 18, in particular they are able to communicate with each other via the internet 18.

[0056] Also in this embodiment an input and/or control system is provided for activating the connection of the cooking hob 21 to the voice control communication device 16 and/or to the internet 18. But contrary to the solution of FIG. 1, a confirmation input or signal is not received by acoustic sensor, voice recognition and user recognition devices 10, 12, 14. Rather, user's closeness and/or attendance is recognized by the system by way of a near field communication means, in particular via an infrared or Bluetooth signal sent by remote control device 41, which confirmation input or signal, after having been received by the cooking hob 21 and/or the user interface 27 thereof, enables the user to provide commands and/or information or data inputs via the voice control communication device 16 and/or to the internet 18. Alternatively, a confirmation input may be also realized by the user directly switching on the cooking hob 21 using the ON/OFF switch 29″. In that situation it is clear that the user is positioned in close proximity to the cooking hob 21 and user's attendance and immediate intervention, when necessary, can be expected, which is in line with legal safety requirements.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0057] 10 acoustic sensor [0058] 12 voice recognition sensor [0059] 14 user recognition device [0060] 16 voice control communication device [0061] 18 internet [0062] 21 cooking hob [0063] 23 exhaust hood [0064] 25 cooking zone (s) [0065] 27 user interface [0066] 29 hob operating buttons [0067] 29′ universal operating buttons [0068] 31 display unit [0069] 33 microcontroller [0070] 35 suction area [0071] 37 exhaust tube [0072] 39 hood operating buttons [0073] 41 remote control device [0074] 43 first transmission path [0075] 45 microphone [0076] 47 second transmission path [0077] 49 pot [0078] 51 lid [0079] HA household appliance