Operator control apparatus for a domestic appliance comprising a light guide for illuminating multiple zones of a front cap with different light intensities, domestic appliance comprising an operator control apparatus of this kind, and method for operating an operator control apparatus

Abstract

An operator control apparatus for a domestic appliance includes a carrier plate and an operator control element which is rotatably arranged on the carrier plate for setting an operating condition of the domestic appliance. The operator control element includes a front cap having a first transparent region and a second transparent region which is separate from the first transparent region. A light guide extends into the front cap to guide light from a light source such as to illuminate the first transparent region with a first light intensity of the light which is coupled out of the light guide, and to illuminate the second transparent region with a second light intensity of the light which is coupled out of the light guide, with the second light intensity of the light being different from the first light intensity.

Claims

1. An operator control apparatus for a domestic appliance, comprising: a carrier plate; an operator control element rotatably arranged on the carrier plate for setting an operating condition of the domestic appliance, said operator control element including a front cap comprising a first transparent region and a second transparent region which is separate from the first transparent region; and a light guide configured to extend into the front cap and to guide light from a light source such as to illuminate the first transparent region with a first light intensity of the light which is coupled out of the light guide, and to illuminate the second transparent region with a second light intensity of the light which is coupled out of the light guide, with the second light intensity of the light being different from the first light intensity, wherein the light guide extends through an opening into the carrier plate and includes an integrated contact flange which fits closely to an inner side of the carrier plate.

2. The operator control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light guide includes a first light coupling out region for coupling out light for illumination of the first transparent region and a second light coupling out region for coupling out light for illumination of the second transparent region.

3. The operator control apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first light coupling out region and the second light coupling out region are formed in one piece.

4. The operator control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light guide is formed separately from the front cap and has an end which faces the first and second transparent regions of the front cap at a distance thereto.

5. The operator control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light guide includes first and second light guide sections extending in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the light guide on both sides of the contact flange, respectively.

6. The operator control apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first light guide section forms an irradiation section and leads to the contact flange, and the second light guide section forms a radiation section and leads to the contact flange and has light coupling out regions for generation of coupled out light with different light intensities, with the first light guide section being configured geometrically different to the second light guide section.

7. The operator control apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first light guide section is hollow and open on both sides viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the light guide, and the second light guide section is hollow in at least one area.

8. The operator control apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first light guide section has a trapezoidal inner contour and/or a trapezoidal outer contour in a sectional plane viewed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

9. The operator control apparatus of claim 5, wherein the light guide includes a first light coupling out region for coupling out light for illumination of the first transparent region, and a second light coupling out region for coupling out light for illumination of the second transparent region, said second light guide section being closed on a coupling out end facing away from the contact flange and including a coupling out structure comprising the first light coupling out region and the second light coupling out region.

10. The operator control apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first light coupling out region is a polygonal structure that is inwardly oriented in a direction of the first light guide section, and the second light coupling out region is a scattered light zone on a casing side of the second light guide section which encompasses at least one area of the polygonal structure.

11. The operator control apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first light coupling out region has a pyramid shape.

12. The operator control apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second light guide section has a trapezoidal configuration.

13. The operator control apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first light guide section has a T-shaped configuration.

14. The operator control apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second light guide section has an annular section as a second light coupling out region and a pin which is cylindrical or angular in cross-section as a first light coupling out region.

15. The operator control apparatus of claim 14, wherein the pin has in the direction of the longitudinal axis a length which is longer than a length of the annular section.

16. A domestic appliance, comprising an operator control apparatus, said operator control apparatus comprising a carrier plate, an operator control element rotatably arranged on the carrier plate for setting an operating condition of the domestic appliance, said operator control element including a front cap comprising a first transparent region and a second transparent region which is separate from the first transparent region, and a light guide configured to extend into the front cap and to guide light from a light source such as to illuminate the first transparent region with a first light intensity of the light which is coupled out of the light guide, and to illuminate the second transparent region with a second light intensity of the light which is coupled out of the light guide, with the second light intensity of the light being different from the first light intensity, wherein the light guide extends through an opening into the carrier plate and includes an integrated contact flange which fits closely to an inner side of the carrier plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to diagrammatic drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a domestic appliance according to the invention for preparing food;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of subcomponents of an exemplary embodiment of an operator control apparatus according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a further perspective view of the components according to FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a partial view in a further perspective of the embodiment according to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a light guide of the operator control apparatus;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a further perspective view of the light guide according to FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a further exemplary embodiment of a light guide of the operator control apparatus; and

(9) FIG. 8 shows a further perspective view of the light guide according to FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(10) In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference characters.

(11) FIG. 1 shows a domestic appliance 1 which is designed for preparing food and is, in particular, a cooking appliance such as an oven. The domestic appliance 1 comprises a housing 2 in which a preparation chamber 3, in particular a cooking chamber, is designed for food. This preparation chamber 3 can be closed at the front by means of a door 4 which can be swiveled around an axis relative to the housing 2 and is arranged on the housing 2. The domestic appliance 1 furthermore comprises an operator control apparatus 5 which has a plurality of operator control elements 6 by way of example. At least one operator control element 6 is an operating toggle or a rotary knob which is rotatable around an axis of rotation perpendicular to the figure plane, whereby the operating conditions of the domestic appliance 1 are set by means of various rotational positions.

(12) FIG. 2 shows a partial cut-out view of subcomponents of the operator control apparatus 5. In this context, the operator control apparatus 5 comprises a carrier plate 7 which, in particular, can be formed by a frontal control panel 8 shown in FIG. 1. However, the carrier plate 7 can also be a separate carrier plate arranged behind the control panel 8. The carrier plate 7 is designed to accommodate the operator control elements 6. To this end, it is provided that the carrier plate 7 has bushings 9 through which a pin having an axis of rotation can be guided, wherein the pin can be coupled in the housing 2 with an electronics assembly for detecting the rotational position. However, the rotational position can also be detected by way of a gear shift drum which closes or does not close a switch, after which the rotational position is detected from the switching position by means of a simple switching element.

(13) Furthermore, an operator control element 6 also comprises a cap or a front cap 10 which is connected to said operator control element by the pin guided through the openings 9. This front cap 10 forms the front and frontal end of the operator control element 6 and can be accessed by a user in order to perform the rotational movement relative to the carrier plate 7.

(14) Furthermore, the operator control apparatus 5 comprises a light guide, wherein an exemplary embodiment of a light guide 11 still separated from the carrier plate 7 is shown in FIG. 2. The carrier plate 7 comprises an opening 12 through which the light guide 11 extends in an assembled state and extends on both sides of the carrier plate 7. Furthermore, the operator control apparatus 5 comprises an adapter part 13 which is designed separately from the carrier plate 7 and separately from the light guide 11. The adapter part 13 comprises a plate 14 on which at least one light source, in particular a light-emitting diode, is assembled. The light which is emitted by this light source is then coupled into the light guide 11 and emitted from behind by the light guide 11 into the front cap 10 such that the interior of the front cap 10 is illuminated accordingly. The front cap 10 has, as will be explained below, at least one transparent region which is illuminated by the light emitted by the light guide 11.

(15) FIG. 3 shows the illustration of the components according to FIG. 2 in a different perspective. FIG. 2 shows the view of a reverse side 7a facing the housing interior. The illustration in FIG. 3, on the other hand, shows a view from obliquely above onto a front side 7b of the carrier plate 7. The front side 7b is facing a front cap 10.

(16) FIG. 4 shows a further section in which the light guide 11 is illustrated in its position on the carrier plate 7 and in its position extending through the opening 12.

(17) The front cap 10 is still shown in a disassembled state. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the front cap 10 is cylindrically designed and comprises a front wall 10a and a casing wall 10b by means of which a cavity of the front cap 10 open to the carrier plate 7 is delimited. In the exemplary embodiment, the front cap 10 comprises a plurality of transparent regions 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 15e in the front wall 10a which particularly show symbols of operating functions of the domestic appliance 1 and for example, are embodied in an arc at a distance from one another. In the exemplary embodiment, the operator control element 6 is therefore a function selector. A first transparent region is one of these regions 15a to 15e, whereas the others then each form the second transparent regions. In particular, this depends on the rotational position of the front cap 10 relative to the light guide 11 arranged in a fixed position on the carrier plate 7. The light guide 11 is arranged such that the region 15a to 15e which is arranged at a 12 o'clock position is always illuminated with coupled out light with a first light intensity. At least some of the other respective regions are then illuminated with a different darker second light intensity from the coupled-out light of the light guide 11. Further transparent regions 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e explained below and arranged in an arc are not present.

(18) The front cap 10 is hollow in design on the side facing the light guide 11 and arranged without contacting the light guide 11 in an assembled state. The front cap 10 terminates with its end facing the carrier plate 7, which is formed by the edge of the casing wall 10b facing away from the front wall 10a, viewed in the direction of the axis of rotation in front of the carrier plate 7.

(19) In FIG. 5, the exemplary embodiment of the light guide 11 is shown in a first perspective view. The one-piece light guide 11 made of plastic, for example, PMMA or PC, comprises a contact flange 17 which extends on a plane and is completely circumferential in design. It has an angular, in particular rectangular, shape. The light guide 11 fits closely to the contact flange 17 in the interior or reverse side 7a of the carrier plate 7 in an assembled state. The light guide 11 comprises a first light guide section 18 and a second light guide section 19. These extend along a longitudinal axis A of the light guide 11 on opposite sides of the contact flange 17. A coupling element 20 arranged on a side of the contact flange 17 facing away from the second light guide section 19 is provided for coupling with the adapter part 13. This coupling element 20 is a plate-like support which extends perpendicular to the extension plane of the contact flange 17.

(20) The first light guide section 18 is hollow in design over its entire length, viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis A. The first light guide section 18 leads to the contact flange 17. Accordingly, the second light guide section 19 also leads to the contact flange 17. As is shown, the two light guide sections 18 and 19 are geometrically different to one another in design. Viewed in the direction of the axis A, the first light guide section 18 is shorter than the second light guide section 19. The first light guide section 18 has a trapezoidal inner contour 21 which extends on a plane perpendicular to the axis A. This trapezoidal inner contour 21 is preferably embodied over the entire length of the first light guide section 18.

(21) Furthermore, viewed on a plane perpendicular to the axis A, the first light guide section 18 also has a trapezoidal outer contour 22. Preferably, this outer contour 22 is designed such that, viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis A, it is conically widened from a coupling in end 23 to the contact flange 17.

(22) Furthermore, it is provided that the second light guide section 19 is only hollow in some areas, viewed along the longitudinal axis A.

(23) In particular, the second light guide section 19 is hollow in design, starting from an end leading to the contact flange 17 up to a coupling out structure 24. The coupling out structure 24 completes this hollow area on the side facing away from the contact flange 17 and thus a coupling out end 25. The second light guide section 19 comprises a first light coupling out region 39 and a second light coupling out region 40 in its coupling out structure 24.

(24) As shown in FIG. 6, the first light coupling out region 39 is designed as a polygonal structure, particularly with a pyramid shape. This polygonal structure is designed in the direction of the contact flange 17 and is thus inwardly oriented and thus not projecting forwards facing away from the contact flange 17.

(25) Preferably, the second light guide section 19 also has a trapezoidal inner contour viewed on a sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A. In particular, an outer contour 26 of the second light guide section 19 is also trapezoidal, viewed on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A, in particular over the entire length of the second light guide section 19.

(26) Preferably, it is provided that the hollow area in the second light guide section 19, which has a trapezoidal inner contour on a plane perpendicular to the axis A, is of a tapered design starting from the contact flange 17 to the coupling-out structure 24.

(27) The second light coupling out region 40 is designed as a scattered light zone 42 on a casing wall 41 of the second light guide section 19 on the coupling out end 25. The scattered light zone 42 is designed circumferentially in the form of a strip and thus encompasses the polygonal structure around the axis A circumferentially. The scattered light zone 42 has a different surface roughness in relation to the other surface areas, particularly a greater surface roughness. With the polygonal structure, particularly the first light intensity is generated and with the scattered light zone 42, the second light intensity is generated.

(28) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a further exemplary embodiment of a light guide 27 which is likewise designed in one piece and for example, of a plastic, particularly PMMA or PC. In this embodiment, the first light guide section 18 is T-shaped in design. A top 28 of the T-shape is curved in design. Furthermore, viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis A, the T-shape is flared in design, viewed from a coupling in end 23 to the contact flange 17.

(29) At the coupling in end 23 of the T-shape, a coupling in surface 29 of a base 30 of the T-shape spans a plane or extends on a plane which is at an angle to a plane on which a coupling in surface 31 of the top 28 extends. The two coupling in surfaces 29 and 31 therefore do not extend on a common plane. Furthermore, the coupling in surface 29 of the base 30 leads to the coupling in surface 31.

(30) The second light guide section 19 comprises an annular section 32 and a pin 33 which in cross section is cylindrical or preferably angular, in particular rectangular. The annular section 32 forms a second light coupling out region 44, whereas the pin 33 forms a first light coupling out region 43.

(31) As can be seen in FIG. 8, in which a perspective of the light guide 27 different to FIG. 7 can be seen, viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis A the pin 33 extends further than the annular section 32. Furthermore, starting from the contact flange 17 to a coupling out end 34, the cylindrical pin 33 is designed in a tapering manner. Furthermore, the pin 33 has a connecting region 36 integrally preformed on a casing wall 35 which engages in a receptacle 37 of the annular section 32. The receptacle 37 is designed on an arc maximum 38 of the annular section 32.

(32) The light guide 27 is preferably present in an operator control element 6 in which the operator control element is designed as an operating parameter value selector, for example, as a temperature value selector. It can thus be provided that the first transparent regions 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d and 16e are then formed on a front wall 10a of the front cap 10, as is also shown in FIG. 4 by way of example. These are arranged in an arc or circle and embodied at a distance from one another. Furthermore, the second transparent regions 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d and 15e which are values of the temperature are embodied on the front wall 10a. A punctiform, bright illumination and thus an illumination with a first light intensity of a marking zone which is formed by a first transparent region 16a to 16e can now take place with the pin 33 and an associated value which is embodied on a smaller arc or circle on the front wall 10a is illuminated more dimly and thus with a lower light intensity with the annular section 32. Also, only one region 16a to 16e in particular is then brightly lit and the other first regions are illuminated more dimly for this purpose. The number of transparent regions 16a to 16e is preferably greater than the number of transparent regions 15a to 15e. Here too then, particularly the region of the transparent regions 16a to 16e in the 12 o'clock position is brightly lit.

(33) In general and in a pan exemplary embodiment manner, a dynamic alteration of the illumination with different light intensities is also achieved by means of the relative rotatability of the front cap 10 to the light guide 11 or the light guide 27, which generates a dynamic switching effect of the illumination when considering the moved front cap 10, without the position of the light guide being changed or the light emission at the light source possibly changing, which simplifies the control of the light source as it is only activated.

(34) Preferably, the surfaces of the light guide 11 or the light guide 27 into which the light is guided are burnished. It is preferably provided that the front cap 10 is designed from fiberglass material on an inner side 10c facing the light guide 11 or the light guide 27, at least in some areas.

(35) Both embodiments of the light guide 11 or the light guide 27 are designed with the contact flange 17 such that this fits positively to the inner side or reverse side 7a.

(36) The light intensity in the illumination of transparent regions of an operator control element can be varied individually and in a targeted manner and thus locally requested and defined by means of the light guide 11 and the light guide 27.