Hob device

Abstract

A hob device, in particular induction hob device, includes a placement plate configured for placement of an item of cookware, at least two heating units for heating the item of cookware, and an illumination strip including a lighting unit and assigned in an operating state to the at least two heating units for marking the at least two heating units.

Claims

1. A hob device, comprising: a placement plate configured for placement of an item of cookware; at least two heating units for heating the item of cookware; and an illumination strip including: a lighting unit; a housing unit, the lighting unit being arranged at least largely in the housing unit; and a seal unit, the seal unit configured to seal off a lighting region between the housing unit and the placement plate; wherein the illumination strip is assigned in an operating state to the at least two heating units for marking the at least two heating units.

2. The hob device of claim 1, constructed in the form of an induction hob device.

3. The hob device of claim 1, wherein the illumination strip has a longitudinal extension of at least 200 mm.

4. The hob device of claim 1, wherein the illumination strip is configured to indicate in an operating state, in relation to a direction, a heating output which varies in the direction.

5. The hob device of claim 1, wherein the illumination strip extends at least substantially over an entire depth extension of the placement plate.

6. The hob device of claim 1, wherein the illumination strip includes a circuit board arranged at least largely within the housing unit, said lighting unit being arranged on the circuit board.

7. The hob device of claim 1, wherein the illumination strip includes a diffusion unit configured to scatter light emitted by the lighting unit.

8. The hob device of claim 7, wherein the illumination strip includes a housing unit, said diffusion unit being arranged on the housing unit.

9. The hob device of claim 1, wherein the seal unit is configured to enclose at least one section of a housing section of the housing unit.

10. The hob device of claim 1, wherein the illumination strip includes a further lighting unit and a light separating unit, which in the operating state at least partially separates light portions from the lighting unit and light portions from the further lighting unit.

11. The hob device of claim 1, wherein the illumination strip includes a keep-clear element configured to prevent penetration of an object into a lighting region which is at least partially defined by the illumination strip during assembly.

12. The hob device of claim 1, further comprising a hob outer housing unit, said illumination strip including a fastening element configured to fasten the housing unit of the illumination strip to a hob housing base of the hob outer housing unit.

13. A hob, comprising a hob device, said hob device comprising a placement plate configured for placement of an item of cookware, at least two heating units for heating the item of cookware, and an illumination strip including: a lighting unit, a housing unit wherein the lighting unit is arranged at least largely in the housing unit, and a seal unit, the seal unit being configured to seal off a lighting region between the housing unit and the placement plate, wherein the illumination strip is assigned in an operating state to the at least two heating units for marking the at least two heating units.

14. The hob of claim 13, constructed in the form of an induction hob.

Description

(1) Further advantages result from the following description of the drawing. The drawing shows exemplary embodiments of the invention. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them to form useful further combinations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(2) In the drawing:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a cooking system with a hob, which has a hob device, and with two items of cookware in an operating state in a schematic plan view,

(4) FIG. 2 shows a hob housing unit, a placement plate and two illumination strips of the hob device in a schematic exploded representation,

(5) FIG. 3 shows one of the illumination strips in a perspective representation,

(6) FIG. 4 shows the illumination strip from FIG. 3 in a perspective exploded representation,

(7) FIG. 5 shows a housing subelement of a housing unit, a circuit board and a diffusion unit of the illustration strip from FIG. 3 in a perspective representation,

(8) FIG. 6 shows an enlarged portion of FIG. 5,

(9) FIG. 7 shows a portion of the hob housing unit and the illumination strip from FIG. 3 in a perspective representation,

(10) FIG. 8 shows a portion of the illumination strip from FIG. 3 in a perspective representation,

(11) FIG. 9 shows the illumination strip from FIG. 3 in a partial sectional representation,

(12) FIG. 10 shows the illumination strip from FIG. 3 and a control unit of the hob device in a schematic representation,

(13) FIG. 11 shows the cooking system with the hob and with an item of cookware in an operating state in a schematic plan view,

(14) FIG. 12 shows the cooking system with the hob and with an item of cookware in an operating state in a schematic plan view,

(15) FIG. 13 shows the cooking system with the hob and with an item of cookware in an operating state in a schematic plan view,

(16) FIG. 14 shows the cooking system with the hob and with an item of cookware in an operating state in a schematic plan view,

(17) FIG. 15 shows the cooking system with the hob and with an item of cookware in an operating state in a schematic plan view,

(18) FIG. 16 shows the cooking system with the hob and with an item of cookware in an operating state in a schematic plan view,

(19) FIG. 17 shows the cooking system with the hob and with an item of cookware in an operating state in a schematic plan view,

(20) FIG. 18 shows an illumination strip of an alternative hob device in a perspective representation,

(21) FIG. 19 shows an illumination strip of an alternative hob device in a perspective representation,

(22) FIG. 20 shows an illumination strip of an alternative hob device in a perspective representation and

(23) FIG. 21 shows an illumination strip of an alternative hob device in a perspective representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(24) FIG. 1 shows a cooking system 82a with a hob 48a and with two items of cookware 14a. The hob 48a is embodied as an induction hob. The hob 48a has a hob device 10a, which is embodied as an induction hob device.

(25) The hob device 10a has a placement plate 12a. In the present exemplary embodiment, the placement plate 12a is embodied as a hob plate. In an assembled state, the placement plate 12a embodies part of a hob outer housing, specifically in particular of a hob outer housing of the hob 48a in particular. The placement plate 12a is provided for a placement of items of cookware 14a (see FIGS. 1 and 11 to 17).

(26) The hob device 10a has a large number of heating units 16 for heating items of cookware 14a. Only one of the objects present repeatedly in the figures is provided with a reference character in each case. In the present exemplary embodiment, the hob device 10a has thirty six heating units 16a. The heating units 16a are arranged below the placement plate 12a in an installed position. The heating units 16a are provided to heat items of cookware 14a placed on the placement plate 12a above the heating units 16a. In the present exemplary embodiment, the heating units 16a are embodied as induction heating units.

(27) The hob device 10a has a user interface 50a for inputting and/or selecting operating parameters, for example a heating output and/or a heating output density and/or a heating zone. The user interface 50a is provided for outputting a value of an operating parameter to a user.

(28) The hob device 10a has a control unit 52a. The control unit 52a is provided to carry out actions and/or to vary settings as a function of operating parameters input by means of the user interface 50a. The control unit 52a regulates an energy supply to the heating units 16a in a heating operating state.

(29) The hob device 10a has a hob outer housing unit 40a (see FIGS. 2 and 7). In an operating state, the hob outer housing unit 40a embodies part of the hob outer housing. The hob outer housing unit 40a embodies the hob outer housing together with the placement plate 12a in an operating state. The hob outer housing unit 40a partially defines a storage space 42a. In an operating state, the hob outer housing unit 40a defines the storage space 42a together with the placement plate 12a.

(30) In the present exemplary embodiment, the hob device 10a has two illumination strips 20a (see FIGS. 1 to 9). Just one of the illumination strips 20a is described in the following. The illumination strip 20a has a lighting unit 22a (see FIG. 4). In addition to the lighting unit 22a, the illumination strip 20a has a large number of further lighting units 38a. Just one of the further lighting units 38a is described in the following.

(31) Each lighting unit 22a, 38a is able to be actuated independently of other lighting units 22a, 38a. The further lighting unit 38a is able to be actuated independently of the lighting unit 22a. In the following, in place of all lighting units 22a, 38a, only the lighting unit 22a is described. An analogous description could also be performed for the further lighting unit 38a.

(32) The lighting unit 22a is embodied as a colored lighting unit 22a. In an operating state, the lighting unit 22a emits light with different colors. The lighting unit 22a is provided for emitting light with at least two colors. In the present exemplary embodiment, the lighting unit 22a is provided for emitting light with 256 colors.

(33) In an operating state, the illumination strip 20a is assigned to a large number of heating units 16a. In the present exemplary embodiment, for marking half of all the heating units 16a, the illumination strip 20a is assigned to said half of all the heating units 16a. For marking eighteen heating units 16a, the illumination strip 20a is assigned to the eighteen heating units 16a.

(34) In the present exemplary embodiment, the illumination strip 20a has a longitudinal extension 24a of substantially 445 mm. In an operating state, the illumination strip 20a is arranged in parallel with a depth direction 54a. The illumination strip 20a has a longitudinal extension direction 56a, which is oriented in parallel with the depth direction 54a in an operating state.

(35) In the present exemplary embodiment, the illumination strip 20a extends substantially over an entire depth extension 26a of the placement plate 12a. The placement plate 12a has a depth extension 26a of substantially 480 mm. The illumination strip 20a extends over substantially 93% of an entire depth extension 26a of the placement plate 12a.

(36) The illumination strip 20a has a housing unit 28a (see FIGS. 2 to 9). In an operating state, the lighting unit 22a is largely arranged within the housing unit 28a. In an operating state, the lighting unit 22a is largely surrounded by the housing unit 28a.

(37) The illumination strip 20a has a circuit board 30a (see FIGS. 4 to 6 and 9). In an operating state, the circuit board 30a is largely arranged within the housing unit 28a. In an operating state, the lighting unit 22a is arranged on the circuit board 30a. In an operating state, the lighting unit 22a is in electrical contact with the circuit board 30a.

(38) The illumination strip 20a has a diffusion unit 32a (see FIGS. 2 to 9). The diffusion unit 32a is provided for scattering light emitted by the lighting unit 22a. In an operating state, the diffusion unit 32a scatters light emitted by the lighting unit 22a. In the present exemplary embodiment, the diffusion unit 32a has a cuboid shape in a cross-sectional plane, which in particular is oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal extension direction of the diffusion unit 32a.

(39) In an operating state, the diffusion unit 32a is arranged on the housing unit 28a. In the present exemplary embodiment, the diffusion unit 32a is largely arranged within the housing unit 28a in an operating state.

(40) The illumination strip 20a has at least one diffusion unit retaining element 58a. In the present exemplary embodiment, the illumination strip 20a has two diffusion unit retaining elements 58a, which in particular are arranged in mutually opposing end regions of the illumination strip 20a in relation to the longitudinal extension direction 56a of the illumination strip 20a. Just one of the diffusion unit retaining elements 58a is described in the following.

(41) The diffusion unit retaining element 58a is arranged on the housing unit 28a. The diffusion unit retaining element 58a is connected to the housing unit 28a in one piece. In the present exemplary embodiment, the housing unit 28a is embodied in a two-piece manner. The housing unit 28a has a first housing subelement 60a and a second housing subelement 62a. In an operating state, the first housing subelement 60a and the second housing subelement 62a are fastened to one another.

(42) The illumination strip 20a has at least one fastening means 64a. In the present exemplary embodiment, the illumination strip 20a has five fastening means 64a. Just one of the fastening means 64a is described in the following. In an operating state, the fastening means 64a fastens the first housing subelement 60a and the second housing subelement 62 to one another. In the present exemplary embodiment, the fastening means 64a is embodied as a screw.

(43) The illumination strip 20a has a seal unit 34a (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 to 9). In an operating state, the seal unit 34a largely seals off a lighting region 36a between the housing unit 28a and the placement plate 12a. The seal unit 34a is provided for sealing off the lighting region 36a between the housing unit 28a and the placement plate 12a.

(44) In an operating state, the housing unit 28a is partially arranged within the seal unit 34a. In an operating state, the seal unit 34a encloses a housing section of the housing unit 28a, in sections (see FIG. 9 in particular). The housing section of the housing unit 28a is arranged on a region of the housing unit 28a close to the placement plate 12a in an operating state.

(45) The illumination strip 20a has a light separating unit 66a (see FIGS. 4 to 6). In an operating state, the light separating unit 66a is arranged on the housing unit 28a and in particular is connected to the housing unit 28a in one piece.

(46) The light separating unit 66a has at least one light separating element 68a. The light separating unit 66a has a large number of light separating elements 68a in the present exemplary embodiment. Just one of the light separating elements 68a is described in the following. The light separating element 68a is embodied in a web-like manner. In an operating state, the light separating element 68a extends substantially in parallel with a vertical direction 70a.

(47) In an operating state, the light separating unit 66a partially separates light portions from the lighting unit 22a and light portions from the further lighting unit 38a, in particular by means of the light separating element 68a. The light separating unit 66a is provided for at least partially separating light portions from the lighting unit 22a and light portions from the further lighting unit 38a, in particular by means of the light separating element 68a.

(48) In the present exemplary embodiment, the illumination strip 20a has a large number of keep-clear elements 72a (see FIGS. 2 to 4 and 7 to 9). Just one of the keep-clear elements 72a is described in the following. During assembly, the keep-clear element 72a is provided for preventing a penetration of at least one object into the lighting region 36a partially defined by the illumination strip 20a.

(49) In the present exemplary embodiment, the keep-clear element 72a is embodied in a tab-shaped manner. In an operating state, the keep-clear element 72a is arranged on the seal unit 34a and in particular is connected to the seal unit 34a in one piece.

(50) In an operating state, the illumination strip 20a is largely arranged within the hob outer housing unit 40a. In an operating state, the illumination strip 20a is largely arranged within the storage space 42a.

(51) In an operating state, the illumination strip 20a is fastened to a hob housing base 46a of the hob outer housing unit 40a (see FIGS. 2 and 7). The illumination strip 20a has two fastening elements 44a in the present exemplary embodiment. Just one of the fastening elements 44a is described in the following. In an operating state, the fastening element 44a fastens the housing unit 28a of the illumination strip 20a to the hob housing base 46a of the hob outer housing unit 40a. The fastening element 44a is provided for fastening the housing unit 28a to the hob housing base 46a of the hob outer housing unit 40a.

(52) The illumination strip 20a is provided for actuation by the control unit 52a (see FIG. 10). The illumination strip 20a has at least one actuation connection 84a. In the present exemplary embodiment, the illumination strip 20a has two actuation connections 84a. In relation to the longitudinal extension direction 56a of the illumination strip 20a, the actuation connections 84a are arranged in mutually opposing end regions of the illumination strip 20a. This makes it possible for the illumination strip 20a to be assembled flexibly on any side of the hob, these in particular being arranged in mutually opposing end regions of the hob outer housing unit 40a in relation to a transverse direction.

(53) In a method for operating the hob device 10a, half of all the heating units 16a are marked by means of a single illumination strip 20a in an operating state (see FIGS. 1 and 11 to 17).

(54) For example, in an operating state, two items of cookware 14a are placed on the placement plate 12a (see FIG. 1). In an operating state, the illumination strip 20a indicates an extension 74a, 86a of each item of cookware 14a of the items of cookware 14a in relation to a direction 18a. In an operating state, the illumination strip 20a indicates an extension 74a of a first item of cookware 14a of the items of cookware 14a in the direction 18a. In an operating state, the illumination strip 20a indicates an extension 86a of a second item of cookware 14a of the items of cookware 14a in the direction 18a. The extension 74a of the first item of cookware 14a in the direction 18a is smaller than the extension 86a of the second item of cookware 14a in the direction 18a.

(55) In addition to the extension 74a, 86a of the item of cookware 14a in relation to the direction 18a, in an operating state the illumination strip 20a indicates a position of each item of cookware 14a of the items of cookware 14a in relation to the direction 18a.

(56) In an operating state, the illumination strip 20a indicates a heating state of the item of cookware 14a (see FIG. 1). In an operating state, the illumination strip 20a indicates the heating state of the item of cookware 14a, in particular embodied as a heating output, with varying colors. For example, the illumination strip 20a indicates a high heating state, in particular embodied as heating output, with a different color than a low heating state, in particular embodied as heating output. The different colors are characterized in FIG. 1 by different densities of hatch markings, wherein a dense hatch marking is assigned a high heating output and a broad hatch marking is assigned a low heating output.

(57) For example, starting from the configuration from FIG. 1, an item of cookware 14a of the items of cookware 14a is removed from the placement plate 12a (see FIG. 11). In an operating state, the illumination strip 20a indicates a heating state embodied as residual heat. The illumination strip 20a indicates the heating state, in particular embodied as residual heat, even after the item of cookware 14a has been removed from the placement plate 12a, specifically in particular until a residual heat falls below a threshold value. For example, the illumination strip 20a indicates a high heating state, in particular embodied as residual heat, with a different color than a low heating state, in particular embodied as residual heat.

(58) In an operating state, the illumination strip 20a indicates a movement of the item of cookware 14a from a first placement position 78a to a second placement position 80a (see FIGS. 12 and 13). In an operating state, the illumination strip 20a indicates the movement of the item of cookware 14a by deactivating the illumination of the first placement position 78a and activating an illumination of the second placement position 80a. Before activating the illumination of the second placement position 80a, in an operating state, the illumination strip 20a indicates an operating prompt by changing an illumination property. In an operating state, before activating the illumination of the second placement position 80a, the illumination strip 20 indicates an animation, in order to transmit the operating prompt to the user in particular. In the present exemplary embodiment, the operating prompt is a prompt for confirming a movement of the item of cookware 14a from the first placement position 78a to a second placement position 80a.

(59) In an operating state, the illumination strip 20a indicates a direction of movement 76a, in which the item of cookware 14a can be moved (see FIGS. 14 to 16). In an operating state, the illumination strip 20a indicates the direction of movement 76a by means of an intensity curve, specifically in particular by means of an intensity gradient. If, for example, an item of cookware 14a is placed in a rear region of the placement plate 12a, then the illumination strip 20a indicates the direction of movement 76a in the direction of a front region of the placement plate 12a (see FIG. 14). If, for example, an item of cookware 14a is placed in a front region of the placement plate 12a, then the illumination strip 20a indicates the direction of movement 76a in the direction of a rear region of the placement plate 12a (see FIG. 15). In the case of an item of cookware 14a, which is arranged in a central region of the placement plate 12a, the illumination strip 20a indicates the direction of movement 76a in the direction of a rear region of the placement plate 12a and in the direction of a front region of the placement plate 12a (see FIG. 16).

(60) In a method for operating the hob device 10a, in an operating state, an extension 74a of the item of cookware 14a in relation to the direction 18a is indicated by means of the illumination strip 20a.

(61) In an operating state, the illumination strip 20a indicates an in particular predefined heating output, which varies in the direction 18a, in particular in addition or as an alternative to the extension 74a of the item of cookware 14a, in relation to the direction 18a (see FIG. 17). If, for example, an in particular predefined heating output in a front region of the placement plate 12a is greater than in a rear region of the placement plate 12a and the heating output decreases, in particular monotonically, from the front region in the direction of the rear region, then the illumination strip 20a indicates, in relation to the direction 18a, the in particular predefined heating output, which varies in the direction 18a, by means of an intensity curve and/or by means of a color curve and/or by means of a brightness curve.

(62) FIGS. 18 and 21 show further exemplary embodiments of the invention. The following descriptions are essentially restricted to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, wherein with regard to components, features and functions which remain the same, reference can be made to the description of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 17. In order to differentiate the exemplary embodiments, the letter a in the reference characters of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 17 is replaced by the letters b to e in the reference characters of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 18 to 21. With regard to parts that remain the same, in particular with regard to parts with the same reference characters, in principle, reference can also be made to the drawings and/or the description of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 17.

(63) FIG. 18 shows an illumination strip 20b of an alternative hob device 10b. The illumination strip 20b has a diffusion unit 32b, which is provided for scattering light emitted by lighting units 22b of the illumination strip 20b. In the present exemplary embodiment, the diffusion unit 32b is U-shaped in a cross-sectional plane, which in particular is oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal extension direction of the diffusion unit 32b.

(64) The illumination strip 20b has a housing unit 28b. In the present exemplary embodiment, the housing unit 28b is embodied in a two-piece manner. The housing unit 28b has a first housing subelement 60b and a second housing subelement 62b. In an operating state, the first housing subelement 60b and the second housing subelement 62b are fastened to one another. In an operating state, the first housing subelement 60a is arranged on a side of the illumination strip 20b close to a placement plate 12b. In an operating state, the second housing subelement 62a is arranged on a side of the illumination strip 20b remote from the placement plate 12b.

(65) The diffusion unit 32b is embodied in one piece with the illumination strip 20b, specifically in particular with the first housing subelement 60b of the illumination strip 20b. In the present exemplary embodiment, the illumination strip 20b largely consists of plastic. The illumination strip 20b is free of a light separating unit.

(66) In an operating state, a circuit board 30b of the illumination strip 20b is arranged within the housing unit 28b, specifically in particular within the second housing subelement 62b of the illumination strip 20b. The illumination strip 20b has a receiving groove (not shown), which in particular is arranged on the second housing subelement 62b. The receiving groove is provided for retaining and/or storing the circuit board 30b. During assembly, the circuit board 30b is introduced and/or inserted into the receiving groove in an insertion direction 88b. The insertion direction 88b is substantially oriented in parallel with a longitudinal extension direction 56b of the illumination strip 20b. In an operating state, the circuit board 30b is retained and/or stored in the receiving groove.

(67) FIG. 19 shows an illumination strip 20c of an alternative hob device 10c. The illumination strip 20c has a light separating unit 66c. In an operating state, the light separating unit 66c is arranged within a housing unit 28c of the illumination strip 20c. In an operating state, the light separating unit 66c is arranged on a circuit board 30c of the illumination strip 20c. The light separating unit 66c and the housing unit 28c are embodied as separate objects.

(68) The light separating unit 66c has a large number of light separating elements 68c. One light separating element 68c is arranged between two lighting units 22c of the illumination strip 20c arranged adjacent to one another, in relation to a longitudinal extension direction 56c of the illumination strip 20c, in each case. The light separating elements 68c are embodied in a web-like and/or small plate-like manner. In an operating state, the light separating unit 66c, in particular the light separating elements 68c of the light separating unit 66c, embodies light chambers with the housing unit 28c, in particular with the second housing subelement 62c of the housing unit 28c. A number of light chambers and a number of lighting units 22c are substantially identical.

(69) FIG. 20 shows an illumination strip 20d of an alternative hob device 10d. The illumination strip 20d has a light separating unit 66d. In an operating state, the light separating unit 66d is arranged within a housing unit 28d of the illumination strip 20d. In an operating state, the light separating unit 66d is arranged at a distance from a circuit board 30d of the illumination strip 20d in relation to a vertical direction 70d. In an operating state, the light separating unit 66d is retained and/or stored by the housing unit 28d, specifically in particular in a second housing subelement 62d of the housing unit 28d.

(70) The light separating unit 66d has a large number of light separating elements 68d. Just one of the light separating elements 68d is described in the following. The light separating element 68d is assigned to a lighting unit 22d of the illumination strip 20d. In the present exemplary embodiment, the light separating unit 66d is embodied in one piece. The light separating unit 66d has a base body 90d. The base body 90d is plate-shaped. The base body 90d has an elongated shape. The light separating element 68d is embodied as a recess and/or as an opening and/or as a hole in the base body 90d. An embodiment of the light separating unit 66d of this type is referred to as a “pinhole application”.

(71) FIG. 21 shows an illumination strip 20e of an alternative hob device 10e. The illumination strip 20e has a light separating unit 66e. In an operating state, the light separating unit 66e is arranged within a housing unit 28e of the illumination strip 20e. In an operating state, the light separating unit 66e is arranged on a circuit board 30e of the illumination strip 20e in relation to a vertical direction 70e. In an operating state, the light separating unit 66e is retained and/or stored by the circuit board 30e, specifically in particular indirectly or directly.

(72) The light separating unit 66e has a large number of light separating elements 68e. In the present exemplary embodiment, the light separating unit 66e is embodied in multiple pieces. A number of light separating elements 68e and a number of lighting units 22e of the illumination strip 20e are identical. Just one of the light separating elements 68e and just one of the lighting units 22e is described in the following.

(73) The light separating element 68e is assigned to the lighting unit 22e of the illumination strip 20e. In an operating state, the light separating element 68e is largely arranged above the lighting unit 22e in relation to a vertical direction 70e. In the present exemplary embodiment, the light separating element 68e is embodied as a collimator.