Dehumidifying a cooking chamber

Abstract

In a method to dehumidify a cooking chamber of a domestic cooking appliance, a condensation formation in the cooking chamber is ascertained. A dehumidification message connected to a dehumidification process is displayed when the condensation formation is detected, and a user action is awaited when the message is displayed. The dehumidification process is either performed or terminated depending on the user action. A domestic cooking appliance includes a cooking chamber and a display device and is configured to ascertain a condensation formation in the cooking chamber and to start a dehumidification process when the condensation formation is ascertained. The domestic cooking appliance is additionally configured to display a drying message connected to a dehumidification process on the display device prior to starting the dehumidification process, to await a user action when the dehumidification message is displayed, and either to perform or terminate the dehumidification process depending on the user action.

Claims

1. A method for dehumidifying a cooking chamber of a household cooking appliance, said method comprising: determining a condensate formation in a cooking chamber of the household cooking appliance; displaying a dehumidification message associated with a dehumidification process, when the condensate formation is determined; awaiting a user action, when the dehumidification message is displayed; and performing or terminating the dehumidification process as a function of the user action.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user action comprises actuation of an operating element of the household cooking appliance.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user action comprises opening a cooking chamber door of the household cooking appliance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the condensate formation is determined optically.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the condensate formation is determined by a precipitation of moisture on a sensor field of a humidity sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the condensate formation is determined based on a cooking chamber temperature.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the condensate formation is determined based on an operating duration of a preceding cooking process.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the condensate formation is determined based on an operating mode of a preceding cooking process.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the condensate formation is determined based on whether the operating mode is a microwave operating mode.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating and/or ventilating the cooking chamber during the dehumidification process.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising heating the cooking chamber by emission of heat radiation from an electrically operated heating facility during the dehumidification process.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically performing the dehumidification process in the absence of receiving a user action within a predefined time period.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically terminating the dehumidification process in the absence of receiving a user action within a predefined time period.

14. A household cooking appliance, comprising: a cooking chamber; a microwave facility configured to apply microwaves to the cooking chamber; at least one resistance heater configured to emit heat radiation into the cooking chamber; and a display facility configured to display information, said household cooking appliance being configured to determine a condensate formation in the cooking chamber, to start a dehumidification process when the condensate formation is determined, to display a drying message associated with a dehumidification process in the display facility before the dehumidification process starts, to await a user action when the dehumidification message is displayed, and to perform or terminate the dehumidification process as a function of the user action.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The properties, features and advantages of the present invention described above and the manner in which these are achieved will become clearer and more readily comprehensible in conjunction with the following schematic description of an exemplary embodiment, which is explained in more detail below in conjunction with the drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a household cooking appliance designed to perform the method;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a first segment of a flow diagram for performing the method; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a second segment of a flow diagram for performing the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows a household cooking appliance 1 designed to perform the method in the form of a combined oven/microwave appliance. The household cooking appliance 1 has a cooking chamber 2, which is delimited by a muffle 3. The cooking chamber 2 and muffle 3 have a front loading opening 4, which can be closed by a door 5. The door 5 here is shown as horizontally pivotable but it can also be vertically pivotable. The household cooking appliance 1 also has a microwave facility 6 for applying microwaves to the cooking chamber 2 and at least one resistance heater 7 for emitting heat radiation into the cooking chamber 2. The resistance heater 7 can have a bottom heating unit, a top heating unit and/or a ring heating unit. The household cooking appliance 1 can have a circulating air blower (not shown) located for example in proximity to the ring heating unit, to allow air to circulate in the cooking chamber, for example to provide a hot air function. The household cooking appliance 1 also has a display facility 8 for displaying information, for example a touchscreen in the region of a front panel. The household cooking appliance 1 also has a vapor extraction facility 9 for ventilating the cooking chamber 2. The household cooking appliance 1 also has a control facility 10 for controlling the microwave facility 6, the resistance heater 7 and the vapor extraction facility 9. The control facility][19]] 10 can receive user inputs by way of the display facility 8. The control facility 10 is also connected to at least one sensor 11, for example a temperature sensor for measuring a cooking chamber temperature.

(6) The household cooking appliance 1, in particular its control facility 10, is designed to determine condensate formation in the cooking chamber 2 and, when condensate formation is positively determined or ascertained, to start a dehumidification process.

(7) FIG. 2 shows a first segment of a flow diagram for performing a possible method for dehumidifying or drying the cooking chamber 2 of the household cooking appliance 1.

(8) In a step S0 a user has performed a microwave cooking operation for cooking food (not shown) present in the cooking chamber 2, by activating the microwave facility 6. The resistance heater 7 was deactivated during this process by way of example.

(9) In a first step S1 of the method following termination of the microwave cooking operation the control facility 10 checks whether an operating duration of the microwave cooking operation from S0 has reached or exceeded a predefined value, in this instance for example one minute.

(10) If not (“n”), a dehumidification process is not performed; instead in a step S2 the household cooking appliance 1 is switched to a mode in which no dehumidification process is performed. For example in step S2 the household cooking appliance 1 can display any selection menu when the timer has run down or can be switched to a standby mode by pressing an on/off button, etc.

(11) If yes (“y”), in a step S3 it is checked whether a cooking chamber temperature detected by the at least one sensor 11 has reached or exceeded a predefined value, for example 80° C.

(12) If yes (“y”), a dehumidification process is not performed; instead in a step S4 the household cooking appliance 1 is switched to a mode in which no dehumidification process is performed. For example the household cooking appliance 1 can be switched to a standby mode by pressing an on/off button, etc.

(13) If not (“n”), in a step S5 fan operation is started.

(14) In a step S6 it is detected that a user is opening the door 5, for example to remove the cooked food from the cooking chamber 2.

(15) In a subsequent step S7 it is checked whether the door 5 has been closed again within a predefined time period, for example two minutes.

(16) If not (“n”), a dehumidification process is not performed; instead in a step S8 the household cooking appliance 1 is for example switched to a standby mode. Use is made of the fact here that the cooking chamber 2 can be dried out without a dedicated dehumidification process when the door 5 is open.

(17) If yes (“y”), in a step S9 it is checked whether a door opening and door closing operation 5 was performed within a further predefined time period, for example six minutes, after termination of step S0. This verifies whether the user has removed the food, before the dehumidification process starts. Removal can only have taken place if the door has been opened and closed. The time period of six minutes was selected in view of the fact that the user might feel perturbed if the household cooking appliance 1 were to try to perform a dehumidification process after longer than six minutes.

(18) If not (“n”), a dehumidification process is not performed; instead in a step S10 the household cooking appliance 1 is switched to a standby mode for example.

(19) If yes (“y”), the method continues with a step S11 as shown in FIG. 3.

(20) FIG. 3 shows a second segment of the flow diagram for performing the method.

(21) In step S11 it is checked whether the household cooking appliance 1 has already been switched to a standby mode by the user, for example by pressing an on/off button. In standby mode the household cooking appliance 1 remains connected to a power supply and the control facility 10 can continue to operate the microwave facility 6, the resistance heater 7 and/or the vapor extraction facility 9. The display facility 8 and a cooking chamber light (not shown) for example can be deactivated when the switch is made to standby mode, the control facility 10 being able to activate these two appliance components again when required. It is taken into account here that when the on/off switch is actuated (for example to terminate a microwave operation or in some instances thereafter), the household cooking appliance 1 advantageously does not automatically start a heating operation. A user request is therefore provided at this point.

(22) If not (“n”), in a step S12 a dehumidification message is displayed in the display facility 8, asking a user to open the door 5, for example by displaying the text “Open door to dry”. The display can be shown for a predefined time period, for example six seconds. It is assumed here that, if the user is in front of the household cooking appliance 1 and paying attention to the display, a time period of several seconds is sufficient. Equally this is a compromise so as not to confuse the customer with one display after another, if said customer is not interested in drying once the food is “ready”.

(23) In a subsequent step S13 it is checked whether the door 5 has been opened within a further time period, e.g. 30 seconds from the display or from cancelation of the dehumidification message from step S12.

(24) If this is so (“y”), in a step S14 the household cooking appliance 1 is switched for example to a standby mode. Use is also made here of the fact that that the cooking chamber 2 can also dry out without a dedicated dehumidification process when the door 5 is open.

(25) If not (“n”), in a step S15 the dehumidification process or dehumidification function per se is started. The dehumidification process can take place with the microwave facility 6, the resistance heater 7, the circulating air blower and/or the vapor extraction facility 9 activated or switched on.

(26) If in step S11 the user has already switched the household cooking appliance 1 to a standby mode (“y”), in a subsequent step S16 a further dehumidification message is displayed in the display facility 8, asking a user to indicate whether the dehumidification process should be started, for example by displaying the text “Start drying? Yes/No”. A user can input his/her choice by way of the display facility 8. If the household cooking appliance 1 detects that the user has input agreement (“y”), in step S15 the dehumidification process is started. If the household cooking appliance 1 detects that the user has input rejection (“n”), in a step S14 the household cooking appliance 1 is switched for example to a standby mode. If no user input takes place, the household cooking appliance 1 or the control facility 10 can (a) continue with step S14, (b) continue with step S15 or (c) remain in request mode, depending on the embodiment.

(27) During step S15 the household cooking appliance 1 or the control facility 19 checks in a (sub)step S17 whether a user is actuating the on/off button (e.g. a separate button or a corresponding touch field of the display facility 8).

(28) If so (“y”), in a step S18 interruption of the dehumidification process is displayed (for example by displaying the text “Drying interrupted”) in the display facility 8 and in a step S19 the household cooking appliance 1 interrupts step S15 and switches to a standby mode or state.

(29) If not (“n”), the household cooking appliance 1 or the control facility 10 checks in a (sub)step S20 whether a user has actuated any other operating element (e.g. a separate button, a rotary actuator or a corresponding field of the display facility 8).

(30) If so (“y”), in a step S21 interruption of the dehumidification process is displayed (for example by displaying the text “Drying interrupted”) in the display facility 8 and in a step S22 a menu, e.g. a main menu, is displayed in the display facility 8 while step S15 is interrupted.

(31) If not (“n”), the household cooking appliance 1 or the control facility 10 terminates the dehumidification process after a predefined time period (e.g. six minutes) in a step S23.

(32) An instruction text is then displayed in the display facility 8 in a step S24, for example asking that the door 5 be opened for two minutes. This can be associated with the outputting of an instruction tone. The instruction text may only be displayed for a predefined time period, for example two minutes. An oven light (not shown) can always be deactivated when the door 5 is open.

(33) In a step S25 the household cooking appliance 1 is then switched to standby mode.

(34) During the method sequence described above condensate formation is determined, or more specifically estimated or assumed, by means of the steps S1, S3, S7 and optionally S9.

(35) The present invention is of course not restricted to the illustrated exemplary embodiment.

(36) As an addition or alternative to steps S1, S3, S7 and/or S9 condensate formation can be measured directly or indirectly quantitatively and/or qualitatively by means of a sensor, e.g. the sensor 11. Such a sensor can be an optical sensor.

(37) Generally “one” can refer to one or a number, in particular in the sense of “at least one” or “one or more”, unless this is specifically excluded, for example by the expression “just one” etc.

(38) A number can comprise precisely the specified number as well as a standard tolerance range, unless this is specifically excluded.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

(39) 1 Household cooking appliance 2 Cooking chamber 3 Muffle 4 Loading opening 5 Door 6 Microwave facility 7 Resistance heater 8 Display facility 9 Vapor extraction facility 10 Control facility 11 Sensor S0-S25 Process steps