EXTRACTOR HOOD AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN EXTRACTOR HOOD

Abstract

An extractor hood includes a functional unit, a control unit designed to control the functional unit, a hood body, a flap pivotably fastened to the hood body, and a sensor arranged on the flap and designed to detect a state of the flap. The sensor is embodied as an acceleration sensor and connected to the control unit such that the functional unit is controlled by the control unit based on the detected state of the flap.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. An extractor hood, comprising: a functional unit; a control unit designed to control the functional unit; a hood body; a flap pivotably fastened to the hood body; and a sensor arranged on the flap and designed to detect a state of the flap, said sensor embodied as an acceleration sensor and connected to the control unit such that the functional unit is controlled by the control unit based on the detected state of the flap.

12. The extractor hood of claim 11, wherein the sensor is a 3g acceleration sensor.

13. The extractor hood of claim 11, further comprising a microcontroller arranged on the flap, said sensor being connected to the microcontroller.

14. The extractor hood of claim 11, further comprising a control panel arranged on the flap, said sensor being integrated in the control panel.

15. The extractor hood of claim 11, wherein the flap is mounted on a front end of the hood body so as to be pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis.

16. The extractor hood of claim 15, wherein the flap is sized to extend over an entire width of the hood body.

17. A method for operating an extractor hood which comprises a hood body and a flap pivotably fastened to the hood body, said method comprising: monitoring a state of the flap via an acceleration sensor; and when a predetermined state of the flap is detected, controlling a functional unit of the extractor hood by a control unit of the extractor hood based on the detected state of the flap.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the state of the flap is a position of the flap relative to the hood body.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the state of the flap is an inclination angle of the flap relative to the hood body.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the state of the flap is a speed of movement and/or a direction of movement of the flap.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the functional unit is a fan of the extractor hood or a lighting unit of the extractor hood.

Description

[0029] The invention is described again hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0030] FIG. 1: shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of the extractor hood according to the invention in a first operating state,

[0031] FIG. 2: shows a schematic side view of the embodiment of the extractor hood according to the invention according to FIG. 1 in a second operating state, and

[0032] FIG. 3: shows a schematic front view of the embodiment of the extractor hood according to the invention according to FIG. 1 in the second operating state.

[0033] In FIG. 1 an embodiment of the extractor hood 1 according to the invention is shown in side view. In the embodiment shown, the extractor hood 1 consists of a hood body 10 and an extractor housing 11 extending upwardly from the hood body 10. A fan 150 which represents a functional unit 15 of the extractor hood 1 is arranged in the extractor housing 11 of the extractor hood 1. The hood body 10 has a box shape so that the extractor hood 1 may also be denoted as a box chimney hood. A further functional unit 15 of the extractor hood 1 is arranged in the rear region of the hood body 10. This functional unit 15 represents a lighting device 151 via which for example a hob (not shown) located below the extractor hood 1 may be illuminated. At the front end of the hood body 10 a flap, which in the embodiment shown represents an air guidance element 12, is shown on the lower face of the hood body 10. In the first operating state shown in FIG. 1, the air guidance element 12 bears against the lower face of the hood body 10. The front end of the air guidance element 12 is flush with the front face of the hood body 10. The air guidance element 12, which is also denoted as a flap, is pivotably fastened to the hood body 10. The pivot axis, about which the air guidance element 12 may be pivoted, is located in the horizontal plane and extends along the lower edge of the front face of the hood body 12. The position of the air guidance element 12, which is shown in FIG. 1, may also be denoted as the folded-in or closed position. The air guidance element 12 thus may be moved in the pivoting direction S shown in FIG. 1.

[0034] If the air guidance element 12 is pivoted to the front from the operating state of the extractor hood 1, shown in FIG. 1, this air guidance element may be moved into the position shown in FIG. 2. This position is also denoted as a folded-out or open position. The air guidance element 12 may also be pivoted further forward beyond the position shown in FIG. 2.

[0035] As is also revealed in FIG. 2, a control panel 13 is arranged on the inner face of the air guidance element 12. The side of the air guidance element 12 which is oriented upwardly in the position in FIG. 1 is denoted as the inner face.

[0036] Additionally, a sensor 14 is arranged on the air guidance element 12. The sensor 14 represents an acceleration sensor. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the sensor 14 is integrated in the control panel 13.

[0037] As is revealed from the front view of the extractor hood 1, which is shown in FIG. 3, the air guidance element 12 extends over the entire width of the hood body 10. In the embodiment shown, the control panel 13 is arranged offset to the side relative to the center of the air guidance element 12. The control panel 13 may, however, also be arranged in the center of the width of the air guidance element 12.

[0038] By means of the present invention it is possible to detect the position or the inclination angle of the flap, which may also be denoted as a glass screen or vapor capture flap, of an extractor hood. According to the inclination/position, i.e. depending on whether this is open, closed or in another position, various actions such as for example switching the light of the appliance on or off or further actions may be triggered without having to use an electromechanical or contactless switch (limit switch, microswitch, reed contact switch or the like) therefor.

[0039] Preferably, the control panel of the extractor hood is equipped with an acceleration sensor (3g sensor) which is evaluated by means of a microcontroller or the existing control panel microcontroller. In particular, a control panel-electronics with an integrated 3g sensor, by which different angular positions of the glass screen/vapor capture flap may be detected and evaluated, may be provided on the glass screen/vapor capture flap. By means of the detected acceleration values, it is possible to calculate the location, in particular the position or the inclination angle, of the control panel which is fastened to the glass screen/vapor capture flap, and thus also the inclination angle of the glass screen/vapor capture flap. By means of this information, therefore, according to the inclination/position of the glass screen/vapor capture flap, various functions/actions, for example switching the light on and off, changing the fan setting, may be performed as a function of the flap position.

[0040] The present invention has a series of advantages. In particular, an additional switch is not required for detecting the glass screen/vapor capture flap position. This means that additional cable routing is not required and thus a cost saving is achieved. Moreover, additional mechanical parts, such as for example actuating tappets, magnets for reed switches and the like, are not required. The sensor, for example a 3g sensor, may be integrated in the control electronics and evaluated by the control panel microcontroller. Additionally, different angular positions of the glass screen/vapor capture flap may be detected. An evaluation of the speed of movement or acceleration is also possible. Thus, for example, with a sudden movement of the flap, a specific action may be additionally performed.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0041] 1 Extractor hood
10 Hood body
11 Extractor housing
12 Flap/air guidance element
13 Control panel

14 Sensor

[0042] 15 Functional unit

150 Fan

[0043] 151 Lighting unit
S Pivoting direction