EP3653937B1

EP3653937B1 - Method and system for controlling a household appliance, in particular a cooking appliance

Info

Publication number: EP3653937B1
Application number: EP18205952.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ulrich Häutle; Jennifer KLING; Harald Hoffmann; Kurt Reul
Original assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Current assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Priority date: 2018-11-13
Filing date: 2018-11-13
Publication date: 2023-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2038-11-13
Also published as: EP3653937A1; WO2020099196A1

Description

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a household appliance, in particular a cooking appliance, e.g. a cooking hob. Further, the invention relates to a system for controlling a household appliance, in particular a cooking appliance, e.g. a cooking hob.
A remote control of many household appliances is not generally allowed due to legal safety requirements. In particular, the remote control of a cooking hob is not allowed. However, the control of household appliances by remote device, e.g. smartphones or tablets, and/or by using human voice is increasing and desired by many users. The control of the household appliance by the remote device could be allowed, if the distance between the user and the household appliance would be controlled to be within a safe value in order to allow a manual control or intervention of the household appliance.
CN 108488850 A discloses an induction cooker provided with a heating module for heating a pan, a wireless transceiver module, a temperature detecting module and a control module. The wireless transceiver module is connected to the mobile terminal through a wireless network and is configured to receive a cooking instruction sent from a mobile terminal. The control module is connected to the wireless transceiver module through a wireless network. The mobile device may be a device such as a mobile phone or a tablet computer. After a user clicks on an application and sends a cooking command to the induction cooker, the control module receives and stores the cooking command. After receiving and storing the cooking instruction sent by the mobile terminal, the control module will wait to receive a second confirmation command. When the user presses a first confirmation key, the control module receives the second confirmation command. If the second confirmation command is not accepted within a pre-set time, the control module clears the stored cooking instruction and controls the induction cooker to enter the manual control state. The second confirmation key is provided on the induction cooker.
US 2016/0076777 A1 discloses an oven range appliance of which the operation is controlled by a processing device such as a controller. In a method for operating the oven range appliance, the controller detects an input to start a self-clean cycle of the oven appliance. The input may be a voice command by a user of the appliance. Voice commands may be authenticated and/or confirmed through the use of a unique spoken phrase. The unique phrase may be any phrase chosen by the user and programmed into e.g. the controller. Alternatively, the voice commands may be authenticated and/or confirmed through the user of voice biometrics, which may distinguish an adult voice from a juvenile voice, identify an exact voice or otherwise authenticate commands. The voice commands may be detected and utilised by any combination of e.g. a stand-alone or embedded microphone, a smartphone, a tablet computer and a cloud computing system. In the illustrated method, the oven range prompts the user to confirm that a self-clean cycle should be started. The oven appliance may prompt for confirmation of the self-clean cycle by e.g. any audible and/or visible prompt that indicates to the user that a confirmation is needed to start the self-clean cycle. After prompting for confirmation, the controller may begin counting a predetermined time, which may be any appropriate time interval that allows the user sufficient time to confirm the self-clean cycle. The user may also give a confirmation through other means, e.g. by utilising one or more controls. In other embodiments, the user may give a confirmation gesture, such as a touch sequence. The confirmation sequence may be input on a front panel of a door or any other appropriate conductive surface of the oven range appliance.
US 2010/0073174 A1 discloses a safety device that is a self-contained unit comprising of a male plug on the back side of the safety device and a female receptacle on the front side of the safety device. A remote command key transmitter is used for remote control of the safety device. The safety device is designed to prevent operation of the heating elements of a cooking appliance except when the user activates a timing function, which enables their operation for a pre-set time period. The user must reset the timing function before expiration of the time period to keep the heating elements operating. The timer is wirelessly controlled by a remote command key transmitter.
US 2017/0329358 A1 discloses a system including a switch selectively limiting a flow of a power source to an appliance according to a control signal, a controller coupled to the switch and generating the control signal, a sensor coupled to the controller and detecting a presence of a user in a proximity of the appliance, and a network interface of the controller coupled to a computer network. The controller starts an unattended timer after heat generation is started by the appliance. The controller restarts the unattended timer each time the sensor detects the user is within the proximity of the appliance while heat generation by the appliance is enabled. In response to the unattended timer reaching a pre-determined expiry duration while heat generation by the appliance is enabled, the controller controls the control signal to disable heat generation by the appliance and sends one or more alert notifications via the computer network.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and/or a system for controlling a household appliance, wherein the distance between the household appliance and a user is reliably controlled by low complexity.
With respect to the method, the object is achieved by the features of claim 1. With respect to the system, the object is achieved by the features of claim 4.
According to the present invention a method for controlling a household appliance, in particular a cooking appliance, for example a cooking hob, is provided, comprising the following steps:

transmission of an information signal, in particular a command signal, to a control unit and/or a user interface of the household appliance by a user of the household appliance with the help of a remote control device,
starting a time period for waiting for a confirmation signal from the user,
receiving the user's confirmation signal via a confirmation key or confirmation trigger arrangement,
processing the information signal by a control unit of the household appliance, wherein the information signal is not processed by the control unit as long as the confirmation signal has not been received.

The invention also provides that the confirmation signal, sourcing from the user, indicates the user's presence close by or next to the household appliance, and that the confirmation signal is a presence detection signal in the form of an infrared signal, a camera signal, a photo sensor signal, a light beam signal, a modulated or unmodulated electromagnetic signal, identifying a user's, presence close by the household appliance and ensuring a line of sight of the user to the household appliance.
The main idea of the present invention is that the household appliance, in particular the cooking hob, is controlled by the remote control device and respective user's commands are processed only, if not only the command signal for the control of the household appliance, but also the confirmation signal for confirming the user's presence near by the household appliance is received by the household appliance, in particular by its control unit and/or its user interface. A predefined value for the user's distance to the household appliance may be set.
The control unit is not processing the information signal, in particular the command signal, as long as not having received the confirmation signal. Preferably after receipt of the information signal, or alternatively by simultaneous receipt, the control unit is waiting for receiving the confirmation signal. The method comprises starting a timer period for waiting for a confirmation signal from the user and provides a predefined time interval, in the space thereof the confirmation signal is accepted by the control unit or the user interface.
The time interval is defined as a period with a duration of 1 to 300 seconds, preferably with a duration of 5 to 180 seconds and more preferably with a duration of 10 to 300 seconds.
In order to increase the safety of the controlling of the household appliance, a further step may be comprised which provides a communication of the received information signal, in particular the command signal, by the control unit or the user interface after the receipt thereof. The communication may be performed by displaying the information signal on a display on the control unit or the user interface or a voice output of the received information signal by means of a loudspeaker.
The confirmation signal is triggered by the presence of the user merely by his physical presence close by the household appliance.
The confirmation signal is a presence detection signal, which identifies a user's, particularly an authorized user's, presence close by the household appliance. Such a presence detection and indication is realized by an infrared signal, a camera signal, a photo sensor signal and/or a light beam signal The confirmation signal ensures confirmation of line of sight of the user to the hob.
For receiving a confirmation signal in the form of a gesture signal a confirmation signal input means may comprise a light path, which may be interrupted to generate the confirmation signal.
According to the present invention a system for controlling a household appliance, in particular a cooking appliance, for example a cooking hob, is provided. The system comprises

a control unit controlling the operation of the household appliance and processing commands issued by a user of the household appliance,
a control unit or the user interface of the household appliance receiving the user's commands and transmitting the commands to the control unit ,
a first transmission path for transmitting the user's commands to the control unit or the user interface by means of remote control,
a remote control device connected to the transmission path and receiving the user's commands,
a second transmission path for transmitting a confirmation signal from the user to the control unit or the user interface, wherein the system is arranged such that at least commands of a specific type are processed only after transmission of the confirmation signal,
a confirmation trigger arrangement connected to the second transmission path and receiving the user's confirmation signal
a timer controlling a time period which depends on the receipt of the user's command by the user interface and/or the control unit.

The inventive system is further characterized in that the first and/or the second transmission path/paths is/are wired or wireless and that the confirmation signal indicates or suggests the user's presence close by the household appliance and in that the confirmation signal is a presence detection signal in the form of an infrared signal, a camera signal, a photo sensor signal, a light beam signal or a modulated or unmodulated electromagnetic signal, identifying a user's, presence close by the household appliance and ensuring a line of sight of the user to the household appliance.
Furthermore, a time interval is predefined, in the space of which the confirmation signal is accepted by the control unit or the user interface. The time interval is a period with a duration of 1 to 300 seconds, preferably with a duration of 5 to 180 seconds, more preferably with a duration of 10 to 120 seconds.
The first transmission path and the second transmission path may be congruent or identical. But preferably, in order to increase the system security, the first transmission path is different and independent from the second transmission path.
In a preferred embodiment, the remote control device is a voice control, which enables the user to provide the information signal, particularly a command, to the household appliance, in particular the control unit and/or the user interface thereof. The voice control may be connected to or implemented in a digital or virtual assistant, for example "Google Home" (trademark, registered by Google LLC with effect for many countries), "ALEXA" (trademark, registered by Amazon Technologies, Inc. with effect for many countries) or "SIRI" (trademark, registered by Apple Inc. with effect for many countries), or the like. Additionally or alternatively, the remote control device may be a near field remote control device, in particular an infrared or Bluetooth remote control device.
Preferably, the voice control arrangement, in particular the digital or virtual assistant, is positioned next to the household appliance. In such arrangement, it sends a position identification signal to the household appliance.
A further embodiment provides for the confirmation trigger arrangement being arranged in and/or monitoring the installation location, in particular the installation room, of the household appliance.
In a more preferred embodiment, the confirmation trigger arrangement is or is allocated to a camera, a microphone, a vibration sensor, an infrared sensor and/or a light beam monitoring the environment or surroundings of the household appliance. In that, the confirmation key or confirmation trigger arrangement is arranged next to the household appliance.
The confirmation trigger arrangement is capable of receiving and optionally operating a presence detection signal, capable of identifying a user or a user's presence, in particular an authorized user's, presence close by the household appliance. The presence detection signal is in the form of an infrared signal, a camera signal, a photo sensor signal, a light beam signal, a modulated or unmodulated electromagnetic signal.
The invention may be specifically designed for a household appliance, which is a cooking hob, wherein the confirmation key or the confirmation trigger arrangement is arranged at an appliance, in particular another household appliance, which may be an oven or an exhaust hood.
Further, a specific embodiment of the invention may provide a system with different types of commands, wherein not all types are designated for being processed only after transmission of a confirmation signal, rather, only specific commands, for example starting the household appliance, need to be confirmed by a confirmation signal.
Novel and inventive features of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims.
The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawing, in which

FIG 1: illustrates a schematic perspective view of a cooking arrangement comprising a cooking hob and an exhaust hood and a remote control device.

FIG 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a cooking arrangement comprising a cooking hob 1 and an exhaust hood 3. The cooking hob comprises a cooking area with four cooking zones 5 and an operator control panel comprising a control unit or the user interface 7. The control unit or the user interface 7 is equipped with operating buttons 9 and a display unit 11. In the interior of the operator control panel, a micro control unit 13 is arranged for controlling the operation of the cooking hob 1. The control unit or the user interface 7 is internally connected with the micro control unit 13 for data exchange between these two components.
The exhaust hood 3 is arranged above the cooking hob 1 by fully covering the cooking area of the cooking hob 1 with its suction area 15. The vapour and/or fume which is/are resulting from the cooking processes are sucked by an exhaust fan (not shown) arranged inside the exhaust hood 3 and removed from the kitchen, in which the cooking arrangement is installed, to the environment by means of an exhaust tube 17. Hood operating buttons 19 are positioned on a front face of the exhaust hood 3 for the operation thereof by the user.
The operation of the cooking hob 1 can be performed twofold. On the one hand, a conventional, direct operation may be realized by the user manipulating the hob operating buttons 9 arranged on the control unit or the user interface 7 in order to set or modify the power level of the respective cooking zone 5. In a similar way, the exhaust hood 3 may be operated also directly in a conventional way by the user manipulating the hood operating buttons 19, thereby controlling the speed of the exhaust fan.
On the other hand, both the cooking hob 1 and the exhaust hood 3 may be operated by the user using a remote control device 21. Via a first transmission path 23 (in FIG. 1 only illustrated for the connection to the cooking hob 1), the remote control device 21 transmits the information signals to either the cooking hob 1 or to the exhaust hood 3. The first transmission path may be a WIFI or a near field connection. A switch button (not explicitly shown) is comprised by the remote control device 21 for selecting either control of the cooking hob 1 or control of the exhaust hood 3 by the remote control device 21. The user inputs the commands for the control of either the cooking hob 1 or the exhaust hood 3 by means of universal operating buttons 9' arranged on the remote control device 21.
While the exhaust hood 3 may be controlled via the remote control device 21 without any limitation, the operation of the cooking hob 1 is only allowed, following safety standards, in case of the user of the cooking hob 1 being in close distance to the cooking hob in order to be in a position to intervene in case of any unexpected or dangerous situation resulting from the cooking hob operation.
Therefore, even though the micro control unit 13 will receive a control command transmitted via the first transmission path 23 and forwarded by the control unit or the user interface 7, the micro control unit 13 will not immediately process the received control command. Rather, the micro control unit is waiting for also receiving a confirmation signal indicating the presence of the user in close distance to the cooking hob 1.
In an example which is not part of the claimed invention, said confirmation signal indicating the user's presence is provided by a microphone 25, also arranged at the front face of the exhaust hood 3. The microphone 25 is connected to the control unit or the user interface 7 of the cooking hob 1 by means of a second transmission path 27, which may be an infrared signal connection. The microphone 25 may be designed as a directional microphone in order to filter out or reduce the operational noise, sourcing from the operation of the exhaust fan or its driving motor.
The microphone 25 is adapted for receiving any sound or noise created by a user being in close distance to the cooking hob 1. Such sound or noise may be a vocal sound, a snipping with fingers or the like. The sound or noise may be also created by the user working on the kitchen, in particular handling with specific devices, e. g. bumping with a pot 29 positioned on a cooking zone 5 of the cooking hob 1, toggling with a lid 31 of the pot 29, operating a water tap (not shown) in the kitchen, etc.
According to the invention, the microphone 25 is replaced in its function as a user's presence detector by a camera or another type of kitchen observation system monitoring the user moving around, by a light beam device indicating the user passing the kitchen door or by another household appliance arranged next to the cooking hob 1 which other household appliance is directly operated by the user and is in a communication interlocking with the cooking hob 1.

List of reference numerals

1: cooking hob
3: exhaust hood
5: cooking zone(s)
7: control unit or the user interface
9: hob operating buttons
9': universal operating buttons
11: display unit
13: micro control unit
15: suction area
17: exhaust tube
19: hood operating buttons
21: remote control device
23: first transmission path
25: microphone
27: second transmission path
29: pot
31: lid

Claims

A method for controlling a household appliance (1), in particular a cooking appliance, for example a cooking hob, comprising the following steps
- transmission of an information signal, in particular a command signal, to a control unit (7) and/or a user interface (7) of the household appliance (1) by a user of the household appliance (1) with the help of a remote control device (21),

- starting a time period for waiting for a confirmation signal from the user,

- receiving the user's confirmation signal via a confirmation trigger arrangement (25),

processing the information signal by a control unit (13) of the household appliance (1), wherein the information signal is not processed by the control unit (7) as long as the confirmation signal has not been received and a time interval is predefined, in the space of which the confirmation signal is accepted by the control unit (13) or the user interface (7),

wherein the confirmation signal indicates the user's presence close by the household appliance (1) and ensures a line of sight of the user to the household appliance (1),

the method being characterized in that

the time interval is a period with a duration of 1 to 300 seconds, preferably with a duration of 5 to 180 seconds, more preferably with a duration of 10 to 120 seconds,

the confirmation signal is a presence detection signal in the form of an infrared signal, a camera signal, a photo sensor signal, a light beam signal or a modulated or unmodulated electromagnetic signal, identifying a user's, presence close by the household appliance (1).
The method according to claim 1,
characterized by the further step
- communicating the information signal, in particular the command signal, by the user interface (7) after receipt of the information signal.
The method according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that
the confirmation signal is activated or triggered by the user.
A system for controlling a household appliance (1), in particular a cooking appliance, for example a cooking hob, comprising
- a control unit (13) controlling the operation of the household appliance (1) and processing commands issued by a user of the household appliance (1),

- a user interface (7) of the household appliance (1) receiving the user's commands and transmitting the commands to the control unit (13),

- a first transmission path (23) for transmitting the user's commands to the user interface (7) by means of remote control,

- a remote control device (21) connected to the first transmission path (23) and receiving the user's commands,

- a second transmission path (27) for transmitting a confirmation signal from the user to the user interface (7), wherein the system is arranged such that at least commands of a specific type are processed only after transmission of the confirmation signal,

- a confirmation trigger arrangement (25) connected to the second transmission path (27) and receiving the user's confirmation signal,

- a timer controlling a time period that depends on the receipt of the user's command by the user interface (7) and/or the control unit (13);

wherein the first (23) and/or the second (27) transmission path/paths is/are wired or wireless, and wherein the confirmation signal indicates or suggests the user's presence close by the household appliance (1) and ensures a line of sight of the user to the household appliance (1), wherein a time interval is predefined, in the space of which the confirmation signal is accepted by the control unit (13) or the user interface (7),

characterised in that

the confirmation signal is a presence detection signal in the form of an infrared signal, a camera signal, a photo sensor signal, a light beam signal or a modulated or unmodulated electromagnetic signal, identifying a user's, presence close by the household appliance (1); and

wherein the time interval is a period with a duration of 1 to 300 seconds, preferably with a duration of 5 to 180 seconds, more preferably with a duration of 10 to 120 seconds.
The system according to claim 4,
characterized in that
the first transmission path (23) is different and/or independent from the second transmission path (27).
The system according to claim 4 or 5,
characterized in that
the remote control device (21) is a voice control, in particular using a digital assistant, and/or a near field remote control device.
The system according to claim 6,
characterized in that
the voice control arrangement, in particular the digital assistant, is positioned next to the household appliance (1) sending a position identification signal to the household appliance (1).
The system according to any one of claims 4-7,
characterized in that
the confirmation trigger arrangement is arranged in and/or monitors the installation location, in particular the installation room, of the household appliance (1) .
The system according to any one of claims 4-8,
characterized in that
the confirmation trigger arrangement is or is allocated to a camera, a vibration sensor, an infrared sensor and/or a light beam, arranged close to the household appliance (1).
The system according to any one of claims 4-9,
characterized in that
the household appliance (1) is a cooking hob and the confirmation trigger arrangement is arranged at an oven or an exhaust hood (3) close to the cooking hob.