A control unit for a domestic appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018180293-A1
Application number	US-201615737526-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 10, 2016
Priority date	Jul 10, 2015
Publication date	Jun 28, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control unit ( 10 ) for a domestic appliance, in particular for a cooking appliance. The control unit ( 10 ) comprises at least one display ( 12 ) formed as an input-output device. At least a part of the display ( 12 ) is touch-sensitive and/or formed as a touch screen. The display ( 12 ) is switchable between a control mode and an information mode. The display ( 12 ) includes at least one area ( 16 ). In the control mode the area ( 16 ) illustrates symbols and/or touch switches for controlling the domestic appliance by a user. In the information mode the area ( 16 ) illustrates information as a two-dimensional representation for the user. The representation of information on the at least one area ( 16 ) is controlled or controllable by symbols and/or touch switches on said area ( 16 ). The control unit ( 10 ) includes a switch button ( 20 ) for switching over between the control mode and the information mode.

First claim

1 . A control unit for a domestic appliance, wherein
the control unit comprises at least one display formed as an input-output device, at least a part of the display is touch-sensitive and/or formed as a touch screen, the display is switchable between a control mode and an information mode, the display includes at least one area, in the control mode the area illustrates symbols and/or touch switches for controlling the domestic appliance by a user, in the information mode the area illustrates information as a two-dimensional representation for the user, the representation of information on the area is controlled or controllable by at least one symbol and/or touch switch on said area, and the control unit includes a switch button for switching over between the control mode and the information mode.

2 . The control unit according to claim 1 , wherein the display includes at least one further area representing at least one symbol and/or touch switch for controlling the control unit and/or the domestic appliance by the user in the control mode and in the information mode.

3 . The control unit according to claim 2 , wherein the further area of the display remains unchanged when the display is switched between the control mode and the information mode.

4 . The control unit according to claim 1 , wherein the switch button is a touch switch arranged within the further area of the display.

5 . The control unit according to claim 1 , wherein the two-dimensional representation of information includes text, one or more pictures and/or one or more symbols.

6 . The control unit according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises at least one slide function, so that the two-dimensional representation of information is moveable upwards, downwards and/or sidewards within the area.

7 . The control unit according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises at least one zoom function, so that the two-dimensional representation of information is enlargeable and/or scalable within the area.

8 . The control unit according to claim 1 , wherein information representable on the area is stored or storable in at least one memory of the control unit or of the domestic appliance.

9 . The control unit according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is connected or connectable to the internet, so that information is downloadable or downloaded from the internet to the control unit via a local area network (LAN) and/or a wireless local area network (WLAN).

10 . The control unit according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is connected or connectable to a mobile computer device, so that information is transferable from said mobile computer device to the control unit.

11 . The control unit according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises an on-off switch arranged outside and/or besides the display.

12 . The control unit according to claim 1 , wherein the domestic appliance is a cooking appliance, wherein the display is switchable between a cooking mode and a recipe mode, and wherein the switch button is a recipe button for switching over between the cooking mode and the recipe mode, and wherein the recipe button is arranged within the further area of the display.

13 . The control unit according to claim 12 , wherein the domestic appliance is a cooking hob, wherein the display is an integrated part of a cooking panel.

14 . The control unit according to claim 1 , wherein the display is formed as a touch screen.

15 . A domestic appliance, comprising at least one control unit according to claim 1 .

16 . A cooking appliance comprising a heating element for cooking food and a control unit for controlling the heating element, said control unit comprising a touch-screen interface having a first area and a further area, a recipe touch button disposed in said further area for switching said first area between a cooking mode and a recipe mode, wherein in said cooking mode said first area displays symbols representing features of the cooking appliance that can be controlled by a user touching the corresponding symbol on said first area, and wherein in said recipe mode said first area displays a digital cookbook comprising a plurality of recipes, each said recipe being selectable by a user touching an associated recipe name in a list of recipes displayed in said first area to thereby call up the associated recipe to be displayed in said first area, the associated recipe comprising a first page displayable in said first area listing a table of condiments and their amounts for said recipe, and a second page displayable in said first area containing instructions for preparation of said recipe from said condiments, said recipe further comprising control data for adjusting said heating element to cook food according to said recipe, said control unit being configured to automatically adjust said heating element according to said control data based on said recipe, said first area in said recipe mode comprising a slide function so that a representation of said recipe can be moved upwards and downwards and/or side-to-side, and a zoom function so that said representation of said recipe can be enlarged in said first area, wherein said further area continues to display buttons and/or information pertaining to the operation of said cooking appliance, including said recipe button, in both said cooking mode and said recipe mode, said first area being switchable between said cooking mode and said recipe mode at any time by actuating said recipe button.

17 . The cooking appliance according to claim 16 , said control unit being connectable to the internet and/or to a mobile computer device to download additional recipes into said digital cookbook.

18 . The cooking appliance according to claim 16 , said control data comprising power-level and cooking-time data for operating said heating element to prepare food according to said recipe, wherein said automatic adjustment of said heating element is started by a user actuating a touch button on said touch-screen interface.

19 . The cooking appliance according to claim 16 , said touch-panel interface being formed as an integral part of a cooking panel of a cooking hob of the appliance.

Assignees

• Electrolux Appliances AB

Inventors

• Holzinger Jochen
• Hoffmann Harald
• Leikam Juergen

Classifications

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• F24C7/085

  on baking ovens · CPC title

• G06F3/04886

  by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus · CPC title

• F24C7/086 Primary

  touch control · CPC title

• G06F2203/04806

  Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation · CPC title