COOKTOP AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A COOKTOP AND USE OF A COOKTOP FOR ILLUMINATING A SPACE

Abstract

A cooktop is designed to be operated either in a cooking operation or in a lighting operation, with the modes of operation not being able to occur together. Within cooking operation, the cooktop controller controls heating devices of the cooktop and light sources of the cooktop in a cooking lighting mode, wherein a luminosity of the light sources is limited to a cooking luminosity below the maximum luminosity in the process. Within lighting operation, the light sources are not controllable by the cooktop controller but can only be controlled by the light controller in an illumination lighting mode, wherein to this end the light controller receives the corresponding commands for the light sources from an external control apparatus by way of a communications device. In this case, a luminosity of the light sources can be maximal.

Claims

1. A cooktop comprising: a cooktop panel, a cooktop controller, a plurality light sources under said cooktop panel, a light controller in said cooktop, said light controller being designed separately from said cooktop controller and connected to at least one of said light sources, a changeover switch, said changeover switch connecting said light controller either to a communications device or to said cooktop controller, said communications device being connectable to said light controller by means of said changeover switch and being designed for communication with an external control apparatus, wherein: said light sources are designed to radiate out of said cooktop through said cooktop panel or past said cooktop panel at a lateral side, said light controller is designed in such a way that, following a reception of a control signal, it controls said light sources to emit from said cooktop, among others for a purpose of generating an ambient lighting or a background lighting in a space around said cooktop.

2. The cooktop as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reception of said control signal takes place by way of said communications device from said external control apparatus or alternatively by way of said cooktop controller.

3. The cooktop as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light sources have or include light guides or include light exits.

4. The cooktop as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cooktop is designed to be placed with said cooktop panel on a worktop, and wherein said light guides or said light exits of said light sources are arranged to said outside at at least one border of said cooktop panel.

5. The cooktop as claimed in claim 4, wherein said light guides or said light exits are arranged at a lateral outer edge of said cooktop panel or in said region of a lateral outer border of said cooktop panel on a bottom side of said cooktop panel.

6. The cooktop as claimed in claim 4, wherein said light sources are arranged below said cooktop panel and radiate said light from said cooktop by means of said light guides.

7. The cooktop as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light sources are designed to radiate substantially upward in a vertical direction.

8. The cooktop as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light sources are designed to radiate out of said cooktop substantially in a horizontal direction.

9. The cooktop as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cooktop controller and said light controller each have a microcontroller of their own or each have a controller component of their own.

10. The cooktop as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light sources have LEDs.

11. The cooktop as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cooktop has a proximity sensor, wherein said proximity sensor is connected to said light controller.

12. The cooktop as claimed in claim 11, wherein said proximity sensor is connected only to said light controller and is not connected to said cooktop controller.

13. A method for operating a cooktop with: a cooktop panel with heating devices, a cooktop controller, light sources under said cooktop panel, wherein said light sources are designed to radiate out of said cooktop through said cooktop panel or past said cooktop panel at a side, a light controller in said cooktop, which light controller is designed separately from said cooktop controller and is connected to at least one of said light sources, a changeover switch which connects said light controller either to said communications device or to said cooktop controller, a communications device being connectable to said light controller by means of said changeover switch and being designed for communication with an external control apparatus, wherein said cooktop is operated either in a cooking operation or in a lighting operation, with said modes of operation not occurring together, wherein: within said cooking operation of said cooktop, said cooktop controller controls said heating devices of said cooktop and said light sources of said cooktop in a cooking lighting mode, within said lighting operation of said cooktop, said light sources are not controllable by said cooktop controller but only controllable by said light controller in an illumination lighting mode.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said light controller receives corresponding commands for said light sources from an external control apparatus by way of said communications device.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a switchover between said cooking operation and said lighting operation is implemented on said cooktop by means of operating elements of an operating device of said cooktop.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said switchover is also possible on an external control apparatus, wherein said switchover is carried out with precedence at said cooktop before said switchover on said external control apparatus.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said switchover is initiated by an operating element or by an external control apparatus, said switchover process itself occurring physically or logically on a separate component or in a manner integrated into said cooktop controller or said light controller.

18. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said switchover on an external control apparatus from said cooking operation to said lighting operation is blocked for as long as said cooking operation lasts or for as long as one of said heating devices is activated or is programmed for its activation.

19. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein while said cooktop is operated in said lighting operation, an operation of an operating element of an operating device of said cooktop on said cooktop itself stops said lighting operation by breaking a connection between said light controller and said communications device, such that only lighting within said cooking operation by way of said cooktop controller still is possible.

20. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein a proximity sensor is arranged as an external sensor for said external control apparatus or as an external sensor on said external control apparatus, wherein said proximity sensor, when a movement of a person is identified in a region of said cooktop, prompts said external control apparatus to control said light sources in said cooktop within said lighting operation.

21. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a proximity sensor is connected to said cooktop controller, wherein said proximity sensor, when a movement of a person is identified in a region of said cooktop, prompts said cooktop controller to control said light sources in said cooktop within said lighting operation.

22. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a proximity sensor is connected to said light controller, wherein said proximity sensor, when a movement of a person is identified in a region of the cooktop, prompts said light controller to control said light sources in said cooktop within said lighting operation.

23. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein said cooktop controller is not activated or said cooktop controller remains deactivated in a case where the said sources are activated by said proximity sensor.

24. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a bus is provided between said cooktop controller and said changeover switch, a bus activity of said bus being monitored, wherein said cooktop controller is connected to said light controller and said communications device is separated from said light controller, wherein said changeover switch is actuated when said bus activity is detected between said changeover switch and said cooktop controller.

25. A use of a cooktop as claimed in claim 1 for illuminating a space in which said cooktop is arranged, by means of at least one of said light sources provided in said cooktop, independently of a cooking operation of said cooktop.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are schematically illustrated in the drawings and will be discussed in more detail below. In the drawings:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an arrangement of a cooktop according to the invention in a worktop,

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a sectional illustration through the arrangement of FIG. 1 and

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a functional illustration of the control of the light sources in the cooktop with cooktop controller, changeover switch and light controller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a cooktop 11 according to the invention. The cooktop 11 is installed in a worktop 3, which is attached to a wall 1 or abuts the latter. The cooktop 11 has a cooktop panel 13 with a top side 14 and a bottom side 15. The cooktop panel 13 advantageously consists of hard glass or a glass ceramic and although it is light transmissive, it is significantly stained red brown in the case of a glass ceramic. Consequently, it is well known that the light transmissivity is not very high.

[0040] The cooktop 11 has four cooking points 17a to 17d, each cooking point 17 being formed by at least one associated heating device. The type of heating device is as desired; these can be induction heating coils or radiation heating devices.

[0041] In the central front region, the cooktop 11 has an operating device 19 which comprises operating elements 21 and an illuminated display 23 as a type of the user interface. The operating elements 21 are advantageously designed as touch switches and the illuminated display 23 can have one or more seven-segment displays. Alternatively, the illuminated display 23 can also be a matrix display, i.e., display any desired illustrations. The operating elements 21 can be rendered identifiable by LEDs, i.e., weak light sources. Their functional or switching state can likewise be rendered identifiable.

[0042] A respective high-temperature warning display 24a to 24d, indicated here by dashed lines, is provided in front of each cooking point 17a to 17d. Such a high-temperature warning display 24 indicates that the cooktop panel 13 still is too hot in the region of the cooking point 17 for it to be touched by hand. Thus, the high-temperature warning display 24 is only illuminated if the temperature at the cooking point 17 is too high. As an alternative to an illustrated arrangement of the high-temperature warning displays 24 in front of the cooking points 17, there can also be an arrangement in the region of the operating device 19 itself, with their arrangement among themselves being able to correspond to the arrangement of the cooking points 17 among themselves. The high-temperature warning displays 24 are formed by LEDs or weak light sources, as specified above. However, they are strong enough to radiate through the cooktop panel 13.

[0043] Furthermore, three light sources 26a, 26b and 26c are illustrated in FIG. 1 using dashed lines. The light source 26a is provided on the left lateral side of the cooktop 11. As illustrated in exemplary fashion to the right in FIG. 2, it radiates horizontally or at a flat angle, possibly even slightly downward, onto the top side 4 of the worktop 3 with a light apparition 27a. This light apparition 27a then is easily visible for an operator; it can also bring about a certain illumination of the space or of the region around the cooktop 11 or, especially, thereover. Moreover, the light apparition 27a can have different colors depending on the color of the associated light source 26a. This color can also be alternated or be mixed by appropriately designed or different light sources or LEDs.

[0044] A light source 26b is provided below the cooktop panel 13 in the back central region of the cooktop 11. It radiates light substantially vertically upward; possibly it also illuminates part of the wall 1 in the process. Consequently, the light apparition 27b becomes visible to an operator above the cooktop 11 and on the wall 1.

[0045] A light source 26c is provided on the right lateral side of the cooktop 11. It radiates directly vertically upward, and so no corresponding light apparition is directly visible on the top side 4 of the worktop 3 or on the wall 1. Rather, the light source 26c can illuminate the ceiling and consequently generate indirect room lighting.

[0046] It is evident from the sectional illustration of FIG. 2 that the worktop 3 has a cutout 7 in a known manner. The cooktop 11 is embedded in this cutout 7 by way of a housing 16 fastened to the bottom side 15 of the cooktop panel 13. However, the cooktop panel 13 itself is not embedded or does not have a flush surface with the top side 4 of the worktop 3; instead, it extends above the latter.

[0047] A distance of less than 1 cm, advantageously a few mm, is provided between the bottom side 15 of the cooktop panel 13 and the top side 4 of the worktop 3. A light exit 33a, which is connected to a light source 26a by means of a light guide 32a, is arranged here. The end of the light exit 33a protruding beyond the border of the cooktop panel 13 to the right is at least partly bevelled. As a result, firstly light can radiate slightly downward to the top side 4 and bring about a light apparition 27a there, as has also been explained in relation to FIG. 1. Secondly, light can be emitted upward at an angle of approximately 70° by the light exit 33a; this likewise yields a light apparition 27a, which is directed into the room. The light exit 33a can consist of plastic, for example Plexiglas, polycarbonate or a similar material. Alternatively, it can consist of mineral glass, as a result of which it is very robust and has good optical properties.

[0048] Alternatively, a cooktop whose cooktop panel is flush with the surface of the worktop, i.e., which is embedded with a flush surface, is also conceivable. To this end, an adhesive or silicone inserted into the joint needs to be light transmissive. Thus, the light can radiate to the outside through the joint, with a light guide then reaching to the light-transmissive material in the joint from the inside and radiating light therethrough. This is easily conceivable on the basis of FIG. 2.

[0049] The light source 26a is advantageously formed by a powerful LED, particularly advantageously with a power of more than 4 W or even more than 10 W per LED. By way of one or more light guides 32a, a plurality of such LEDs can together radiate into the light exit 33a as a light source 26a. This also applies to the other light sources 26b or light exits 33b. These are illustrated to the left, with the light exit 33b being arranged on the bottom side 15 of the cooktop panel 13. It radiates substantially vertically upward through the worktop 13 and brings about a light apparition 27b. A part of this light distribution 27b also radiates at a slight angle, which may lead to the illumination on the wall 1 as described in relation to FIG. 1.

[0050] The light sources 26a and 26b are arranged on a common printed circuit board 29. By way of example, a high-temperature warning display 24, as has been explained above, is also arranged there. It also radiates upward through the cooktop panel 13; however, the high-temperature warning display 24 may not shine as strongly as the light sources 26 by a long way. In this case, the factor can be ten to at least 100. As it were, the light of the high-temperature warning display 24 should only be identifiable directly on the cooktop panel 13, as is known from the prior art.

[0051] A power supply 30 for the light sources 26 is also still illustrated on the printed circuit board 29 in schematic form. This can be realized by means of power semiconductors or correspondingly suitable LED drivers.

[0052] In FIG. 3, a cooktop 11 is illustrated in much simplified schematic fashion in respect of the control of light sources 26, one of which is illustrated far right together with its light apparition 27. The light source 26 is controlled by a light controller 37, possibly also via aforementioned power semiconductors or LED drivers (not illustrated) if corresponding electric powers should be set. Finally, the light sources 26 should be able to shine with different brightness levels or be able to be set in terms of their luminosity. In particular, this should apply to a setting between a very high luminosity for lighting operation or the illumination lighting mode. Lower luminosity levels are provided for the cooking lighting mode or a cooking luminosity. In this case, the factor can be between five or 10 to 20 or even 50. Thus, in a cooking lighting mode, the light sources 26 which should be able to generate the light apparitions 27 for ambient illumination in an illumination lighting mode can form, e.g., high-temperature warning displays 24 or can display any other information, which is identifiable and processable by an operator present, on the cooktop 11. If LEDs with a lower luminosity, i.e., different light sources, are used for the cooking lighting mode, then the luminosity levels in the two aforementioned operating cases can also be the same.

[0053] The light controller 37 has a memory 38, in which it is possible to store an ambient lighting or background lighting last set, which was prevalent within lighting operation as illumination lighting mode before an operator 46 used the cooktop 11 for cooking or in cooking operation. The light sources 26 were possibly used in the cooking lighting mode within this cooking operation. Once the operator 46 has finished with the cooking operation, the previously prevalent ambient lighting or the previously implemented lighting operation can be recalled from the memory 38 and consequently be re-established, possibly automatically. Alternatively, it is also possible to await a user input on the external control apparatus 43 for renewed lighting operation.

[0054] Such lighting operation can be set by the operator 46 by means of an external control apparatus 43. To this end, the external control apparatus 43 can have control elements 44. Thus, the operator 46 can be a few meters away from the cooktop 11 and set a lighting operation by means of the external control apparatus 43. To this end, the external control apparatus 43 establishes a connection with the communications device 41 by a wireless connection mentioned at the outset. The communications device is connected or connectable to the light controller 37 by way of a changeover switch 39. Thus, the cooktop 11 was switched off or the cooktop controller 35 was deactivated. Nevertheless, the external control apparatus 43 allows the operator 46 to set a lighting operation with an illumination lighting mode for the light sources 26 at the light controller 37. Possibly, a proximity sensor 48′ attached to the external control apparatus 43 can monitor the presence of the operator 46 in the vicinity of the external control apparatus 43.

[0055] The changeover switch 39 described can connect the light controller 37 either to the communications device 41 or to the cooktop controller 35. From the communications device 41, the light controller 37 receives commands for the lighting operation or the illumination lighting mode of the light sources 26, i.e., with high or maximum luminosity. Since this luminosity would be bothersome or too high if an operator 46 or another person approaches the cooktop 11, generally advantageously approaches to a distance of less than 2 m or less than 1 m, a proximity sensor 48 may generally be provided at a suitable point, particularly advantageously on the cooktop 11 itself. By way of example, this may be in a front region. If the proximity sensor 48 registers an approach of a person or the operator 46 to less than the aforementioned distance, it can by way of its connection to the light controller 37 bring about a reduction in the luminosity of the light sources 26, even deactivate the latter under certain circumstances.

[0056] Moreover, a switchover can be caused directly by way of an alternative or additional connection, illustrated using dashed lines, between the proximity sensor 48 and the changeover switch 39 such that the light controller 37 no longer obtains commands from the communications device 41. As a result, the lighting operation is automatically stopped or suspended and possibly restarted later, for the purposes of which the last prevalent setting can be stored in the memory 38. Consequently, the changeover switch 39 can also be actuated by the proximity sensor 48.

[0057] A further option is illustrated using dashed lines, specifically by virtue of the proximity sensor 48 being connected directly to the cooktop controller 35. If the operator 46 approaches in the aforementioned manner, the proximity sensor 48 can activate or, as it were, wake up the cooktop controller 35. This can bring about an activity, mentioned at the outset, on a bus 36 of the cooktop 35, which leads to the changeover switch 39. This can be registered by an activity monitor 40, which is connected to this bus 36. By way of a connection illustrated using dashed lines, the activity monitor 40 can switch over the changeover switch 39 and terminate the lighting operation.

[0058] In a yet further possibility, a proximity sensor 48 is dispensed with and an operation of the operator 46 on the operating device 19, which is connected to the cooktop controller 35, brings about such a bus activity in the bus 36. This is also identified, in turn, by the activity monitor 40, which can bring about a switchover at the changeover switch 39.

[0059] Moreover, provision is advantageously made for the cooktop controller 35 or the commands thereof for cooking operation to have precedence over commands from the external control apparatus 43 for the lighting operation. This also applies to operation by the operator 46 on the operating device 19, which is ultimately connected to the cooktop controller 35. This can reduce the susceptibility of errors in the communication between the external control apparatus 43 and the communications device 41, or lessen the effects thereof.

[0060] It is also particularly advantageous if the activation of the light sources 26 in the cooktop 11 by means of the light controller 37 does not bring about or require an activation or switch-on of the cooktop controller 35. For this reason, the light controller 37, precisely by means of the changeover switch 39, is directly connectable to the communications device 41 or can even always be connected thereto whenever the cooktop controller 35 is deactivated. Only an activated cooktop controller 35, which is indicated by activities on the bus 36, or a capture of a person approaching the proximity sensor 48 can then change over the changeover switch 39 and connect the cooktop controller 35 to the light controller 37. As a result, the light sources 26 can only still operate in the weaker cooking lighting mode.

[0061] The invention with the functionality as per FIG. 3 can be realized by way of an additional module on a cooktop controller 35, known per se, on a printed circuit board. The additional module then comprises a communications device 41, the changeover switch 39 and the light controller 37. Alternatively, new equipping with assemblies can be realized on a common printed circuit board with the cooktop controller 35.