WO2004109005A1

WO2004109005A1 - Device for selecting functonalities and method for controlling an electrical appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2004109005A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/006095
Authority: WO
Inventors: Josef Weiss; Rainer Münzner
Original assignee: E.G.O. Control Systems Gmbh
Priority date: 2003-06-10
Filing date: 2004-06-05
Publication date: 2004-12-16
Also published as: DE10326948A1

Abstract

The invention relates to the example of the embodiment of an display (11, 111) for a washing machine which makes it possible to select a washing program. The inventive display (11, 111) is provided with several DEL buttons (14) characterised by labels (15) arranged near said buttons (14) which can be directly actuated for carrying out a selection, all selection options being available. Said invention is characterised in that the DEL buttons (14) are designed and embodied in such a way that they are connected to the light function thereof and to the label (15).

Description

, _

description

Device for the selection of functional sequences and procedures for

Control of an electrical device

Field of application and state of the art

The invention relates to a device for the selection and implementation of functional sequences according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for operating an electrical device according to the preamble of claim 5.

For example, in washing machines with a large number of options for the operating parameters, it is known to select certain operating parameters by pressing a button assigned to a specific operating parameter. However, this is complex since, by repeatedly pressing a single key, a group of operating parameters must be used to switch through until the desired operating parameter is selected.

Task and solution

The invention has for its object to provide a device mentioned at the beginning and a method mentioned at the beginning with which problems of the prior art can be avoided, in particular the selection of program-determining operating parameters is simplified.

This object is achieved by a device with the features of claim 1 and a method with the features of claim 5. Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of further claims and are explained in more detail below. The wording of the claims is made the content of the description by express reference.

According to the invention, a display is provided in the aforementioned device. Furthermore, the device or the electrical device has several operating elements. These control elements can advantageously be combined in separate groups or blocks. In the case of a washing machine, for example, it can be the type of laundry, temperature, spin speeds and other soiling or laundry-specific parameters. A display can have multiple display elements. The display is connected to a control of the device or of the household appliance in order to control the respective functional sequences or program sequences determined by the operating parameters. Each control element is structurally and creatively connected to the functionally associated display element of the display, in particular spatially close.

In this way, the associated functionality or the corresponding operating parameters can be selected by means of one control element. The associated display element can be used to directly display the status of the control element or the selection of an operating parameter.

In the case of the invention, there is advantageously no separate switching element for controlling the individual operating elements in the context of a aforementioned group or a aforementioned block. This means that the functional sequence is determined only with the control elements. This can save further effort.

With the display elements of the display it is possible that they are a constructive or creative unit with the control elements or form a construction or actuation unit. For this purpose, they can be arranged inside or on the circumference of the control element, so that the assignment can be clearly and quickly detected by a user.

An operating element can consist of a sensor element or a sensor, which can be capacitive or infrared-based. Such controls are also known as touch switches. They trigger a signal when a finger is placed on or approached. This signal is evaluated by a controller as a switching signal.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by the method having the features of claim 5. According to the invention, various control programs can be selected with the control in a previously described electrical device. The control programs have various features which, for example in a washing machine, can be the temperature, types of washing or spin speeds and can thus correspond to the aforementioned operating parameters. At the beginning or before the selection, all features can be offered by marking, for example lighting or display at all, and are available for selection. Each feature can be selected directly by a single actuation of a functionally assigned and spatially close control element, whereby this feature is intended for operation. Furthermore, it is provided that, depending on a first selection of a feature, at least one or advantageously several features are no longer marked or their marking is deleted. This means that these features are also excluded from a selection and therefore cannot be selected for an establishment. It is thus possible according to the invention to select an operating sequence or a control program very quickly and directly. It is possible to avoid having to navigate through complex menus with just a few buttons. It is advantageous if each feature in the display of the electrical device has its own display element. This can either be a completely separate display element, for example an LED. Likewise, a separate display element can also be a separate segment of an LC display or the like. In any case, it is advantageous if this display element is not also occupied by other features.

The features can be shown on the display at specified positions, which is particularly important for an LC display or touch screen. For example, they can be arranged laterally next to an operating element to make the spatial assignment clear. A display element and an operating element, which lie directly next to one another, are then connected to the functional assignment.

It is possible to display information about the particular control program on the display. This can be, for example, the sum and sequence of the selected features, an operating time or a remaining term. By means of the display, particularly advantageously by means of an LC display, the operating state or the feature can currently be shown.

In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the control can be used to carry out several different operating sequences as so-called control programs. For example, in the case of a washing machine, this can be a washing program which has certain process features. The operational process can be composed of individual process groups, the sequence of these process groups being at least partially defined. A run-off group can be spin speed or washing temperature in a washing machine, for example. An execution group can have several execution points as alternative possibilities, from which the entire operational sequence or the control program for it is composed. The run-off points correspond to the aforementioned features. For example, in the case of a washing machine, this can mean that a value is selected as the run-off point or feature from the various run-off groups, such as spin speed or wash temperature. This spin speed or wash temperature is then determined for the wash program.

In a basic mode at the beginning or before a selection, all process points can be offered. A selection can be used to determine an execution point for the operational sequence, advantageously depending on a first selection of an execution point of an execution group in at least one execution group, at least one or more execution points being excluded from a selection. This is particularly advantageous if the execution points of different execution groups for a particular device contradict each other or can only be associated with disadvantages. For a washing machine, for example, it makes little sense to enter "wool" as the type of laundry, as high as possible at the spin speed and 90 ° C as the washing temperature. These absurd choices, features or process points can be avoided as described above.

Depending on a first selection of a characteristic or process point, one or more characteristics in the case of several process groups, in particular most other process groups, can be excluded from a selection or their markings can be deleted. In the case of a washing machine, for example, a user can select “wool” as the type of laundry, and a large number of points in the sequence program have thus already been determined Spin speeds or too high washing temperatures can be excluded. The deletion of the marking of a run-off point visually indicates that it can no longer be selected.

It is possible to define at least one runtime group as a so-called preferred runtime group. This means that flow points of this preferred runtime group are displayed or selected first. Alternatively, a selection of a run point from the preferred run group in most other or any other run group can rule out at least one run point of a selection.

Furthermore, it is possible to define at least one preferred process point in some or advantageously each process group. This preferred sequence point can be marked in a particularly striking manner, for example by a flashing or brighter display.

It is possible to offer exactly one preferred process point for each additional process group for different operational processes or process points, which can still be selected after selecting a first process point or process point of the preferred process group. As mentioned above, this can be done by a special type of display. In connection with the above-mentioned example, this means that in a washing machine after selecting the "wool" type of laundry, a low spin speed and a washing temperature of 30 ° Celsius are displayed and offered in a special way. This particular process point can either be selected directly by the user Alternatively, after a certain time has elapsed without selecting a run point of a run group, the preferred run point of the run group can be regarded as selected and intended for the operating sequence that all preferred expiry points of the Run groups should be considered selected for the operational process. Thus, with such a preferred operating procedure, a user can, for example in a washing machine, only select the “wool” type of laundry and then press “start” and the operating procedure is clearly determined and begins.

For this purpose, a so-called fuzzy logic can be provided in the control, for example. In this, the manufacturer can specify certain operating sequences, which can be dependent, for example, on the selection of a feature or sequence point from a preferred sequence group. This control with fuzzy logic can, however, also adapt to operating processes that are frequently carried out by a user. In the case of a washing machine, for example, it recognizes how the user would like the laundry type "wool" to be washed with a predominant frequency and then, when the laundry type "wool" is selected, appropriately sets a new operating sequence for the other sequence points. Manufacturer-specific specifications can be made for this, but these can also be changed using fuzzy logic.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is possible to combine the display and operating elements in such a way that a selection of the features is possible via the display itself. This is possible, for example, using a so-called touch screen or touch screen. On the one hand, this enables an attractive display with very good usability to be created. Above all, however, space can be saved on an operating panel of an electrical device.

These and further features emerge from the claims and also from the description and the drawings, the individual features being implemented individually or in groups in the form of sub-combinations in one embodiment of the invention and in other fields and being advantageous and protectable per se - ge representations for which protection is claimed here.

Brief description of the drawings

Two embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. The drawings show:

1 shows a display with a large number of LED keys, with all selection options being able to be displayed at any time by means of own LED keys, FIG. 2 shows the display from FIG. 1 after a selection has been made, FIGS. 3 to 8 show an alternative display in the form of a touch Screens on which a selection made is made clear by changing the display as a whole.

Detailed description of the exemplary embodiments

In Figure 1, a display 11 is shown in a basic state. The display 11 is designed for a washing machine and is used to determine a washing program. The display 11 has a display field 12, which can be provided, for example, in a panel in the washing machine. It can also be a separate component.

An on / off switch 13 is provided on the bottom right of the display panel 12, with which the washing machine can be switched on or off. Thus, the on / off switch 13 also actuates the display 11. Furthermore, a plurality of LED keys 14 are provided, behind which a label 15 is attached. The LED buttons 14 are constructed in such a way that on the one hand they have an illuminable LED head or the like. Furthermore, they are provided with a switch (not shown) in such a way that the switch is actuated by pressing the LED button 14. This can be a pressure switch, for example, which is located behind the display 11. A selection can thus be made by pressing an LED button 14, the function of which is illustrated by the inscription 15 next to it.

The LED buttons 14 and labels 15 are arranged in columns 17. Each column 17 is provided with a column label 18 arranged below it. This column label 18 characterizes the respective column 17 with regard to an individual runtime group of a selectable operational flow. The individual LED buttons 14 together with their inscription 15 form a process point. A complete washing program can be put together by one run point from each of the run groups of columns 17. Only one run point or only one LED button can be selected for the final selection from each run group or column 17.

Furthermore, the display 11 has a start button 20 at the bottom right. This can be used to start a sequence program or washing program after the selection has been completed. A 7-segment display 21 is provided in the top right of the display 11. As shown, this can be used, for example, to display a start time.

FIGS. 3-8 show an alternative embodiment of a display 111, also for a washing machine. The display 111 is here as

Touch screen 112 formed. On the one hand, this is designed to display any representation like a normal screen, which can be programmed. Furthermore, the touch screen 112 is provided with touch sensors in such a way that an actuation by placing a finger on any point can be evaluated. In this case, the location of the finger can also be located in such a way that the touch screen 112 can detect which point has been actuated. Since it is known at the same time in a control system which label is displayed at this point and thus also wanted to be actuated by a user, actuation of a specific sequence point or the like can be determined in each case.

A screen heading 116 is provided in each case on the touch screen 112. Above all, this shows at which point of the menu navigation a user is currently. Inscriptions 115 are also shown. These can be selected by pressing on them. The labels 115 are arranged in the form of columns 117. A type of column label 118 is provided to the left of the columns 117. The column inscription 118 can either be arranged to the left of a column, as in FIGS. 3 and 4. Furthermore, as in FIGS. 5 and 6, it can be arranged above it.

Furthermore, it is possible to display a start button 120 within the screen heading 116 or at the top right in the touch screen 112.

function

On the one hand, the function of the exemplary embodiment of the invention according to FIGS. 1 and 2 will be explained below. Starting from the basic state of the display 11 according to FIG. 1, various LED buttons 14 can be selected by a user as the sequence points. This is how a washing program can be put together. It is It should be noted that a run point must be selected from each of the run groups formed by columns 17. In this case, however, it can be provided that not all sequence points or LED buttons 14 have to be actuated separately for this.

On the one hand, it is possible, for example, to actuate all of the LED buttons 14, which are shown with lines in FIG. 2, individually to define a washing program. After the washing program has been defined, the start button 20 can be pressed and the washing program begins and runs with the selected sequence points.

Alternatively, it is possible to design the control of the washing machine or the display 11 in such a way that the actuation of certain LED buttons 14 or the corresponding process points influences other process points or LED buttons 14 in other process groups or columns 17, in particular of excludes a selection. For example, it is possible to exclude the temperatures "60" and "95" from a further selection by pressing the LED button 14 "wool" in the column "type of laundry" on the far left. Likewise, the possibility of "strong" and "normal" is excluded in the "Washing" column, as are the speeds "800", "1200" and "1600" for "Spin". These selections would make no sense for a washing program for wool In this respect, they can also be blocked from another selection immediately after selecting "Wool". This enables, as it were, sensible or thoughtful menu control.

Furthermore, it is possible to design the LED buttons 14 or, correspondingly, the touch screen 112 in such a way that they are selected after a single actuation, as is the sequence point represented thereby. By pressing or pressing an LED button 14 again, it can be deactivated again, as can the corresponding sequence point. In the second exemplary embodiment of the invention according to FIGS. 3-8, the function is designed differently. It is assumed that a certain selection type or runtime group is offered or displayed first, which is decisive for the further selection. In the selected embodiment of a washing machine, this is sensibly the type of laundry. Thus, the column label "type of laundry" is shown with the individual labels 115 or run-off points. If the display in columns 117 is not sufficient, a label "further" can be used to add another column 117, as can be seen in FIG other types of laundry are shown.

After selecting a type of laundry, namely “colored laundry”, a user comes to the display according to FIG. 5. In the previous selection 119, which is shown below the screen heading 116, various previously selected sequence points are shown. Here, “colored laundry 40 ° C normal 1600rpm ". This means that after selecting the “colored laundry” type of laundry, the other sequence points, ie so-called preferred sequence points, with which the “colored laundry” type of laundry is generally washed, are preselected or are offered as a preselection. It can be seen that a start button 120 is now also displayed in order to start the preselected washing program directly.

Columns with column inscriptions 118 "Temperature" and "Contamination" are still available. This means that both the temperature and the degree of contamination can still be changed. It can be seen here that the preselected “40 ° C.” is no longer displayed when possible temperatures are displayed. By pressing “Options” in the right column “contamination”, the display 111 according to FIG. 6 is reached "Rinse" and "Spin" runtime groups can still be changed. As can be seen in FIG _

For the "Rinse" drain group, the "Light" drain point has been selected instead of the preselected "normal" setting.

In FIG. 7, the display 111 is shown after a change in the selection compared to the pre-selection according to FIG. 5. With the exception of the “colored laundry” type of laundry, all the sequence points have been changed or adapted in relation to the pre-selection as the user wishes for the washing program to be carried out a program start and a program end are also selected by a type of time control. These can also be changed by pressing the “h” and “min” buttons. The user then presses the start button 120 and the washing program is carried out. This is shown by a display 111 according to Figure 8. On the one hand, the start button 120 has been converted into the "stop" function. Furthermore, it is shown which program section has been reached. Finally the expected end of the program is displayed.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that a preselection, as shown in FIG. 5, can be reprogrammed by a user. For this purpose, a variety of programming options are available, particularly with a touch screen 112. However, it is easy for a person skilled in the art to carry out such programming options and to present them in each case, starting from the preceding description and therefore need not be explained in more detail.

A great advantage of the invention in an exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is that all selectable deselection points or parameters of a washing program are displayed directly and offered for selection. Furthermore, it is also not necessary for a user to use a single key to cycle through several sequence points of a sequence group or column 117 until the desired one is reached. A sequence point is selected by pressing an LED button 14 once. By pressing the LED button 14 again, this selection can be undone, for example in order to select a different sequence point.

A particular advantage of the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 3 to 8 can be seen in the fact that the functions of the switch or key are also directly combined or assigned with the display of the respective sequence point. For example, in FIG. 3, by pressing the “colored laundry” label, this can be selected using the switching function of the touch screen 112. A selection is therefore also very convenient for a user.

Furthermore, it is possible to exclude other flow points, in particular also in other flow groups, from a selection after selection of certain flow points if this does not make sense according to certain stored rules.

Claims

claims

Device for electrical appliances or large household appliances, such as washing or drying appliances or dishwashers, for selecting, implementing and displaying the functional sequences required for processing objects, the electrical appliance comprising a plurality of operating elements (14), which are advantageously in separate groups (17, 117) or blocks are summarized, for example in the case of a washing machine, laundry type, temperature, spin speeds and other soiling and laundry-specific parameters and a display (11, 111) with a plurality of display elements (14, 112), which is used with the control in the household appliance Realization of the functional sequence, characterized in that each control element (14) is structurally and creatively connected to the associated display element (14, 112).

Device for electrical devices according to claim 1, characterized in that there is no separate switching element for controlling the individual operating elements (14) in the context of a group (17, 117) or a block.

Device for electrical appliances according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the display elements (14, 112), which form a constructive and design unit with the control elements (14), are arranged inside or on the circumference of the control element.

Device for electrical devices according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control element (14), which is structurally connected to the display element (14, 112), consists of a capacitive or an infrared-based switching element.

5. A method for operating an electrical appliance, preferably a household appliance such as a washing machine, in particular with a device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical appliance has a display (11, 111) with a plurality of display elements (14, 112) and a plurality of control elements (14) and has a control connected to it, with the control being able to select different control programs and the control programs having different features, for example temperature, prewashing or spin speed in a washing machine, and all features being offered and available by marking at the start of the selection, thereby characterized in that each characteristic can be selected directly by a single actuation of a functionally assigned and spatially close control element (14) and is thus intended for operation, with at least one, preferably several, measurements depending on a first selection of a characteristic Features are no longer marked and are excluded from a selection.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that each feature in the display is represented by a separate display element (14, 112).

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that on the display (11, 111), the features are displayed at respectively defined locations and the controls (14) are arranged laterally adjacent to the display, the controls for selecting each directly adjacent part of the Display or the feature shown thereby are formed.

8. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that on the display (11, 111) information about the particular control program is displayed, preferably feature, operating time or remaining time, in particular by means of the display currently the operating state or the feature are displayed.

9. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the control can be used to carry out several different operating sequences as control programs and the operating sequences are composed of individual runtime groups (17, 18, 117, 118), the sequence of the runtime groups at least partially is set, with each runtime group having a plurality of runtime points (15, 115) as alternative options for forming the entire operational flow and the runtime points corresponding to the features, with all runtime points being offered in a basic mode at the beginning of the selection, with a runout point for the user being selected Operating sequence is determined, depending on a first selection of an execution point in at least one other execution group, at least one, preferably several, execution points are excluded from a selection.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that depending on a first selection of a feature or process point (15, 115) in each case at least one, preferably several, features in several process groups (18, 118), in particular in most, of a selection are excluded and are no longer marked.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that at least one runtime group (18, 118) is defined as a preferred runtime group, wherein either flow points (15, 115) of this preferred runtime group are first displayed and / or selected.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that in some, preferably each, of the runtime groups (18, 118), at least one preferred runtime point is defined, which is particularly offered to an operator by one of the display of the other runtime points Different type of display, in particular a flashing or brightly lit display.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that in the case of operational processes, which can still be selected after selecting a process point (15, 115) of the preferred runtime group, for each further runtime group (18, 118) exactly one preferred process point by special type the display is preferably offered to a user, preferably after a certain time has elapsed without selecting a run point of a run group, the preferred run point of the run group is selected as selected and selected for the operating process, or by pressing a start button (20, 120), all preferred - Flow points of the runtime groups are considered selected for the operational flow.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized by a control with fuzzy logic, in which certain operational procedures are specified by the manufacturer, in particular depending on a selection of a feature from a preferred runtime group, the control often being based on one user certain operational processes, depending on the selection of an operational point (15, 115) of the preferred operational group, independently of a manufacturer's specification.