HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE ACTIVATION SYSTEM

Abstract

A system includes a household appliance and a sensor. The sensor is configured to output a sensor signal to the household appliance. The household appliance is configured to be activated based on the sensor signal received from the sensor.

Claims

1. A kitchen appliance system comprising: a kitchen appliance adapted for electrical activation by an evaluation unit; the kitchen appliance having at least the three functions of heating, chopping and blending a food, and having access to stored recipes for a variety of foods, which can be displayed on the kitchen appliance via an interactive touch screen display such that a user can process a recipe step by step, wherein the kitchen appliance is configured to allow processing a recipe completely self-acting to automatically prepare a food by means of heating, chopping and blending; and a sensor configured to output a sensor signal indicating a vital parameter of an organism, the evaluation unit including a processor and a memory storing instructions to be executed by the processor, the processor configured to receive the sensor signals and evaluate the received sensor signals, determine time information related to the vital parameter of the organism and a food that needs to be prepared by extrapolating a time course of the evaluated sensor signals and comparing the extrapolated time course with a predefined threshold for the extrapolated time course, compare the time information of the evaluated sensor signals to a current time, wherein the time information corresponds to a time when the user needs the prepared food at the kitchen appliance, and transmit an activation signal to the kitchen appliance to initiate an appliance operation based on a difference between the time information and the current time such that the food preparation is completed at the time when the prepared food is needed at the kitchen appliance, thereby saving the user a time to completion of the appliance operation.

2. The kitchen appliance system of claim 1, wherein the difference is a time period remaining between the current time and the time when the prepared food is needed at the kitchen appliance.

3. The kitchen appliance system of claim 2, wherein the processor transmits the activation signal only when the difference is less than or equal to a predefined time offset.

4. The kitchen appliance system of claim 3, wherein the time offset corresponds to the time period necessary to complete the appliance operation to prepare the food.

5. The kitchen appliance system of claim 4, wherein the time threshold is automatically defined based on a selection of the food by the user.

6. The kitchen appliance system of claim 5, wherein the food is baked goods.

7. The kitchen appliance system of claim 5, wherein the food is baby food.

8. The kitchen appliance system of claim 4, wherein the time offset is less than fifteen minutes.

9. The kitchen appliance system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that a user set the threshold via the touch screen display interface.

10. The kitchen appliance system of claim 9, wherein the sensor is a skin contact sensor for measuring body temperature and the vital parameter is the body temperature.

11. The kitchen appliance system of claim 10, wherein the system is configured such that the user wears a notification device comprising at least one of a display and a vibration transmitter for alerting the user based on the measured and evaluated vital parameter so that the user arrives at the kitchen appliance when the food is needed and the preparation is completed.

12. A household appliance system comprising: a household appliance adapted for electrical activation by an evaluation unit; and a sensor configured to output a sensor signal indicating a vital parameter of an organism, the evaluation unit including a processor and a memory storing instructions to be executed by the processor, the processor configured to receive the sensor signals and evaluate the received sensor signals, determine time information related to the vital parameter of the organism by extrapolating a time course of the evaluated sensor signals, compare the time information of the extrapolated time course of the evaluated sensor signals to a current time, wherein the time information corresponds to a time of arrival of a user at the household appliance, and based on a difference between the time information of the extrapolated time course and the current time, transmit an activation signal to the household appliance to initiate an appliance operation such that the appliance operation is completed prior to the time of arrival of the user thereby saving the user a time to completion of the appliance operation.

13. The household appliance of claim 12, wherein the time threshold corresponds to a time at which the appliance operation will be completed, and wherein the difference is a time period remaining between the time of arrival of the user at the household appliance and the time at which the appliance operation will be completed.

14. The household appliance of claim 13, wherein the transmitting of the activation signal is only in response to the time period remaining being less than or equal to a predefined time period.

15. The household appliance of claim 12, wherein the appliance operation is preparation of a food, and wherein the time at which the appliance operation will be completed is a time at which the food is prepared.

16. The household appliance of claim 12, wherein the appliance operation is cleaning of a floor, and the time threshold corresponds to a time to complete cleaning of the floor.

17. The household appliance of claim 12, wherein the household appliance is a robot vacuum cleaner.

18. The household appliance of claim 17, wherein the appliance operation is cleaning of a floor, and the time threshold corresponds to a time to complete cleaning of the floor

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] It is shown:

[0063] FIG. 1: Schematic illustration of a system for forecasting a time of waking up of an infant;

[0064] FIG. 2: Schematic illustration of a system with several sensors, an evaluation unit and notification devices;

[0065] FIG. 3: Schematic illustration of a diagram with a measurement curve of the activity, an extrapolated curve, a threshold and a forecasted time of the occurrence of a change of condition from sleep condition to waking up condition;

[0066] FIG. 4: Schematic illustration of a diagram with a measurement curve of the body temperature, an extrapolated curve, a threshold and a forecasted time of the occurrence of a change of condition from sleep condition to waking up condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] FIG. 1 shows an infant as the organism 5 in sleep condition. The infant has a gyrometer 1 on his wrist, particularly integrated into a bracelet. The infant has a skin contact sensor 2 which is preferably attached to the head, particularly preferred at the forehead or temple, with contact to the skin surface. In particular, the skin contact sensor 2 is attached with a plaster or is held by a headband and pressed against the skin surface. The infant lies on a movement sensor mat 3 which is equipped with force sensors such as strain gauges to measure the movement of the infant. The movement sensor mat 3 is arranged on a bed 12 in which the infant lies. A humidity sensor 4 is mounted in a diaper 10 of the infant to measure or detect leaking urine. An evaluation unit 7 can optionally be connected via a cable 11 to one of the sensors (1 to 4), preferably to the movement sensor mat 3.

[0068] The evaluation unit 7 is connected to a feedback unit 8, which can be operated by means of a head (button). If, for example, the time of waking up is forecasted, the button can be pressed during the actual waking up of the infant to provide the system with feedback on the actual time of waking up. The system can thus optimize the stored algorithms, in particular a machine learning algorithm, for forecasting the time of waking up.

[0069] The sensors 1, 2 and 4 are preferably wirelessly connected to the evaluation unit 7 for exchanging of data.

[0070] FIG. 2 shows the schematic structure of the system, in particular the system of FIG. 1. A gyrometer 1 transmits its measurement signal 6 to the evaluation unit 7 wirelessly, in particular via radio connection. A movement sensor mat 3 transmits its measurement signal 6 to the evaluation unit 7 via a cable. The optionally provided but not shown feedback unit 8 is connected to the evaluation unit 7 either via a cable or wirelessly for exchanging data. The evaluation unit 7 processes the measurement signals 6 in order to obtain one or more evaluated measurement signals k1, k2, which indicate one or more vital parameters or at least correlating characteristic values. By using an algorithm, the evaluation unit 7 determines a forecasted time t1, t2 of occurrence of a change of condition. For example, this determination can be conducted as described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. If a (point in) time is forecasted or if a forecasted time falls within a previously defined time offset (time distance/interval before) to the forecasted time of the change of condition, e.g. ten minutes, the forecasted time is transmitted to a notification device 12 and/or a household appliance 9. In particular, information about the change of condition is transmitted together with the forecasted time. These notifications to the notification device 12 or the household appliance 9 can also be sent wirelessly or by cable as shown exemplarily in FIG. 2. In particular, the evaluation unit 7, the notification device 12 and/or the household appliance 9 have a Bluetooth interface and/or a WLAN interface in order to be able to transmit data wirelessly.

[0071] FIG. 3 shows a diagram of the activity s1, plotted over the time t, measured by the gyrometer 1. As an example, the forecast of a time of waking up is illustrated in FIG. 3, particularly the time of waking up of the infant of FIG. 1. The evaluated measurement signals form a measurement curve k1, which is represented by a solid line. The algorithm stored in the evaluation unit 7, in particular a machine learning algorithm, is able to extend the curve progression, based on the course of the measurement curve, into the future in form of the extrapolated curve e1. A threshold M1 is provided, which indicates the change of condition from the sleep condition to the waking up condition, abbreviated called time of waking up. The time t1 of the change of condition from the sleep condition to the waking up condition thus results from the intersection P1 of the extrapolated curve e1 with the threshold M1. This time t1 is forecasted on the basis of the course of the measurement curve and thus based on the measured movements.

[0072] FIG. 4 illustrates a further example for forecasting, for example, a time of waking up, in particular the time of waking up of the infant in FIG. 1. The diagram shows the body temperature s2, which is plotted over time t, measured and signal processed by the skin contact sensor 2. The evaluated measurement signals form a measurement curve k2, which is represented by a solid line. The algorithm stored in evaluation unit 7, in particular a machine learning algorithm, is able to extrapolate the curve progression into the future in form of the extrapolated curve e2 based on the course of the measurement curve. A threshold M2 is provided, which indicates the time of waking up. The forecasted time t2 results from the intersection P2 of the extrapolated curve e2 with the threshold M2. The time t2 of waking up can again be forecasted by temperature measurements.

[0073] In one embodiment, a consolidation algorithm is provided, which determines a consolidated forecasted time from both forecasted times t1 and t2, if the (point in) times t1 and t2 differ from each other. In particular, the consolidation algorithm is part of the machine learning algorithm.

[0074] In one embodiment, the course of the evaluated measurement signals k1 of the gyrometer 1 is only extrapolated, if the body temperature measured by the skin contact sensor 2 has reached a certain minimum temperature. Computer capacity can thus be saved. Furthermore, a (point in) time is extrapolated only when a soon waking up can be expected to be sufficiently probable based on the measured body temperature.

[0075] In one embodiment, the extrapolation of a course of evaluated measurement signals is only carried out if a predefined course scheme or a predefined minimum signal value has been reached. Computer capacity can thus be saved.

[0076] In one embodiment, an extrapolated time is sent to a device connected to evaluation unit 7, in particular household appliance 9 or notification device 12, not before a predefined time offset (time distance/interval) to the extrapolated time is reached or if the forecasted time falls within the time offset (time distance/interval). Preferably, the predefined time offset is five to fifteen minutes, for example ten minutes.

[0077] In one embodiment, the skin contact sensor 2 is arranged to measure the electrical voltage fluctuations on the skin surface. Measurement signals for an electroencephalogram can thus be measured. During the change of condition from sleep condition to waking up condition, a measured frequency of the voltage fluctuations changes from alpha waves to beta waves. Conversely, a measured frequency of the voltage fluctuations during the change of condition from waking up condition to sleep condition changes from beta waves to alpha waves. Alpha waves refer to a frequency range between 8 and 13 Hz. Beta waves refer to a frequency range between >13 and 30 Hz. The threshold is 13 Hz.

[0078] In particular, in the event of a recognized danger to life, the system may preferably contact an ambulance service via a router connected to the system and/or send relevant measurement data to the ambulance service for first aid support.

[0079] In one embodiment, an app for a smartphone is used to display the measurement signals 6, the measurement curve k1, k2, the extrapolated curve e1, e2, the threshold M1, M2 and/or the forecasted time t1, t2. This allows the user to perform his own analyses of the historical data.

[0080] As described above, the evaluation unit 7 is in one embodiment configured in such a way that the forecasted time t1, t2 is transmitted with (sent in) a defined time offset (time distance) before the forecasted time t1, t2 to a household appliance 9 to carry out an action.

[0081] In one embodiment, the household appliance 9 is an electric kitchen appliance or a cleaning appliance with an interface to the Internet, so that the evaluation unit 7 can be connected to the household appliance 9 for exchanging data. In one embodiment, the evaluation unit 7 only sends the extrapolated time to the household appliance 9 when the predefined time offset (time distance) to the extrapolated time t1, t2 has been reached. Preferably, the household appliance 9 then carries out the action in dependency of the forecasted time t1, t2. In one embodiment, the kitchen appliance is a food processor that preferably automatically prepares food, and/or the cleaning appliance is a robot vacuum cleaner for which a cleaning plan has been defined and stored.

[0082] The forecasted time equals to the extrapolated time. The defined time offset equals to the predefined time offset. A kitchen appliance has at least three functions: heating, crushing and mixing a food. In one embodiment, the forecasted time is transmitted immediately to the household appliance if the remaining time until the forecasted time is less than the defined or predefined time offset.

[0083] The action may be an immediate deactivation of the robot vacuum cleaner or the immediate start of automatic food preparation by the kitchen appliance, in particular the food processor.

[0084] In one embodiment, the evaluation unit 7 sends the extrapolated time t1, t2 to the kitchen appliance or the cleaning appliance as soon as the extrapolated time t1, t2 has been determined by the evaluation unit 7. The kitchen appliance or cleaning device can then be configured in such a way that the action is carried out not before the defined time offset to (being subtracted from) the forecast time t1, t2. Higher efficiency can thus be achieved because, for example, it allows the robot vacuum cleaner to first of all continue cleaning and the food processor not to start preparing the food until the time of the extrapolated time minus the defined time offset has been reached. In the variant of the robot vacuum cleaner, for example, the defined time offset corresponds to the time which the robot vacuum cleaner needs to return to the charging station. In the variant of the kitchen machine, the time offset can be defined automatically based on the food previously selected or preset by the user or it can correspond to its preparation time. If, for example, the food is a baby bottle of milk, the defined time offset corresponds to the preparation time for the milk plus a cooling phase. By means of this concrete arrangements described above, the resting time of the parents can be increased.

[0085] In one embodiment, more than one person are each equipped with a notification device 12. In particular, the notification device 12 measures vital data, i.e. at least one vital parameter, of the respective person by a sensor and transmits this to the evaluation unit 7. In particular, this is carried out in analogy to the vital parameter measurement as described above. Preferably, the measured vital data is evaluated by the evaluation unit 7, preferably in analogy to the example of a baby as described above. In this way, the evaluation unit 7 can determine the sleep state and/or rest state of the respective persons. In particular, the persons are persons for the care of an organism, e.g. the parents of a baby and/or other supervisors for the baby.

[0086] Preferably, the notification device 12 comprises a display and/or a unit for alerting the person, in particular a vibration transmitter. For example, a vibration transmitter allows only one parent to be woken by the alert, while the spouse sleeping next to him/her is not woken.

[0087] In one embodiment, the evaluation unit 7 is configured such that at least one person of the plurality of persons can be selected based on the measured vital parameters and only the at least one selected person can be alerted in a defined time offset to (before) the forecasted time or when a forecasted time of occurrence of a change of condition of the organism is determined. In particular, all persons with a notification device 12 whose measured vital parameters reach a threshold value or exceed a threshold value will be selected. The lower the sleep state or rest state of a person, the lower the value of the vital parameter.

[0088] Preferably, the threshold is defined in a way that when the threshold is reached or exceeded—compared to the state with the vital parameter below the threshold—the person is suitable for selection because he or she is easier to wake up, sleeps less deeply and/or suffers less stress from being alerted by the notification device. If the values of all people's vital parameters are below the threshold, either all people can be alerted or only the person whose vital parameters are closest to the threshold can be alerted.

[0089] If the evaluation based on the measured vital parameters shows that several persons are suitable for an alarm, all these several persons of the plurality of persons can thus be selected and alerted. If always all selected persons are alerted, the risk is reduced that no alerted person has taken notice of the alert.

[0090] In one embodiment, the notification device 12 and/or the evaluation unit 7 can establish and/or control a data connection to a kitchen appliance or a robot vacuum cleaner. A person who has just been alerted of a forecasted change of condition can then, without any loss of time, e.g. from his bed, use the notification device to control the kitchen appliance to prepare a meal or the robot vacuum cleaner to change a cleaning plan. In particular, to control includes to activating a predefined action, such as deactivating the robot vacuum cleaner or to triggering automatic food preparation by the kitchen appliance.

[0091] The variant with the kitchen appliance thus enables the alerted person to remain in bed for even longer because it was possible to program the kitchen appliance easily from the bed using the notification device 12. Here, programming means selecting the food and/or selecting the completion time for the food by entering or selecting a time offset before or after the forecasted time. These few minutes of time saved in bed, however, ensure a significantly lower loss of rest when the person gets up, because this gives the circulation, the body and the head sufficient opportunity to slowly move from the resting state to the active state.

[0092] In particular, the display of the notification device 12 shows information about the current status of the food preparation conducted by the kitchen appliance, the recipe currently being conducted and/or a control command from the evaluation unit to the kitchen appliance. In this way, the loss of rest can be further reduced. Preferably, a recipe or a dish can be selected for automatic preparation using the notification device 12. Preferably, the recipes or meals with the planned time period for preparation are then displayed. In particular, the user can enter the defined time offset via the notification device.

[0093] In particular, a cleaning plan for the robot vacuum cleaner is provided. Preferably, the cleaning plan includes a driving route and/or a cleaning schedule. For example, the schedule provides for the robot vacuum cleaner to regularly drive the route to clean the floor of living areas.

[0094] In the variant with the robot vacuum cleaner and its data connection and/or control by the notification device 12, it is possible for the alerted person to change the cleaning plan promptly and on the spot based on the event of which the person was informed as a result of the alert. If, for example, a baby wakes up at night, the cleaning plan can be changed immediately by the notification device 12 so that the robot vacuum cleaner is deactivated before the forecasted time, the robot vacuum cleaner does not drive to the child's room (change of the driving route) or the robot vacuum cleaner drives the route with a time delay (change of the cleaning schedule). This is in the case of babies of essential benefit for the following reasons. Because robot vacuum cleaners are dangerous for babies being located on the floor and because the operating noises usually do not wake up sleeping babies, vacuum cleaner robots are usually programmed to clean at night. However, a waking baby is put into a higher state of activity by the sounds and/or the sight of a moving robot vacuum cleaner, which puts an actually tired baby into a waking state, from which the baby can be brought back to sleep much more difficult and with more work. This can be prevented by the embodiment described above, so that the alerted person does not have to get up immediately to deactivate the robot vacuum cleaner before the forecasted time is reached. Instead, the person can stay in bed until the circulation, the body and the head have adapted to the forthcoming getting up, for example at night because of the waking up baby. The loss of rest can thus be significantly reduced by this embodiment.

[0095] In particular, information about the current status of the robot vacuum cleaner, the cleaning plan and/or a control command from the evaluation unit to the robot vacuum cleaner is shown on the display of the notification device 12. The loss of rest can thus be further reduced.

[0096] A kitchen appliance has at least the three functions of heating, chopping and blending a food. Preferably, the kitchen appliance can access stored recipes for a variety of foods. Preferably, a recipe can be displayed on the kitchen appliance via an interactive display, e.g. touch screen display, and processed by the user step by step. In one embodiment, the kitchen appliance can process a recipe completely self-acting and thus automatically prepare a food.