Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24C—DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F24C7/00—Stoves or ranges heated by electric energy
  • F24C7/08—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
  • F24C7/082—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method for controlling a domestic appliance, particularly a cooking hob. Further, the present invention relates to a system for controlling a domestic appliance, particularly a cooking hob.
• the chief cause for a burning in a household is a fire on a cooking hob. Particularly, if the cooking hob is unattended during a cooking process, then there is a real fire danger.
• a dead man's button would confirm the presence of the user, if said dead man's button is continuously operated by the user. However, the continuous operation of the dead man's button would limit the cooking activities of the user.
• the object of the present invention is achieved by the method according to claim 1.
• a method for controlling a domestic appliance, particularly a cooking hob comprises the steps of:
• the main idea of the method according to the present invention is that the power level of the domestic appliance is reduced, if said domestic appliance has been left unattended for a certain time. This reduces the danger of a damage.
• the stopping of the timer if the user has come back in time within the threshold value, allows that the user may leave the domestic appliance for arbitrary times.
• the danger of fire is related to the temperature of food, fat and/or oil. The danger of fire increases with the power per area on the cooking hob.
• the presence or absence of the user in the environment of the domestic appliance is detected, wherein preferably the presence or absence of the user is detected by a camera and/or proximity sensor.
• the threshold value depends on the set power level, wherein said threshold value decreases with an increasing set power level.
• the threshold value is 30 minutes for a minimum set power level, while said threshold value is about three minutes for a maximum set power level is maximum.
• the threshold value of the timer may be modified by the user. If the cooking time is very long, e.g. more than 30 minutes, then the user may manually extend the threshold value of the timer.
• the timer can be started by the user.
• the possibility of the manual start increases the reliability of the system.
• the manual start of the timer may compensate a dysfunction of the sensor.
• the time counted by the timer may be displayed on the domestic appliance.
• the signal is an acoustic and/or optical signal.
• the threshold value is between 20 and 40 minutes, preferably about 30 minutes, if the set power level is minimum, while said threshold value is between one and five minutes, preferably about three minutes, if the set power level is maximum.
• a domestic appliance particularly a cooking hob
• said system comprises:
• the main idea of the inventive system is that the power level of the domestic appliance is reduced, if said domestic appliance has been left unattended for a certain time. By this way the danger of a damage is reduced.
• the system comprises at least one sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the user in the environment of the domestic appliance, wherein preferably the sensor is a camera and/or a proximity sensor.
• the threshold value depends on the set power level, wherein said threshold value decreases with an increasing set power level.
• the threshold value of the timer may be modifiable by the user. If the cooking time is relative long, then the user can manually extend the threshold value of the timer.
• the timer may be manually startable by the user. This option increases the reliability of the system. For example, the manual start of the timer may compensate a dysfunction of the sensor.
• system may include at least one display device for indicating the time counted by the timer.
• At least a part of the system may be an integrated part of the domestic appliance.
• the system is provided for controlling a cooking hob.
• the system includes at least one temperature sensor arranged on the cooking hob, wherein a temperature limit of said temperature sensor is reduced, if the timer has reached the threshold value.
• the method and system of the present invention are provided for controlling a cooking hob.
• the inventive method and system are suitable for an arbitrary domestic appliance.
• the system comprises a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a user in the environment of the cooking hob.
• the sensor is a camera and/or a proximity sensor.
• the sensor is activated, when a cooking process has been started.
• the sensor is arranged in the environment of the cooking hob.
• the sensor is arranged at a kitchen hood above said cooking hob.
• a timer is started.
• the timer is started by the user, for example by setting a power level.
• the timer is stopped.
• the power level of the cooking hob is reduced.
• a countdown time of the timer is defined. The automatic reduction of the power level of the cooking hob avoids the danger of a fire on the cooking hob.
• a signal is output, when the timer has reached the threshold value.
• said signal is an acoustic signal.
• an optical signal may be provided.
• timer may also be started manually by the user. This increases the reliability of the system.
• the manual start of the timer may compensate a dysfunction of the sensor.
• the threshold value of the timer i.e. the countdown time of said timer, depends on the set power level on the cooking hob. For example, if a low power level is set, then the threshold value and countdown time of the timer may be about 30 minutes. In contrast, if a high power level is set, then the threshold value of the timer may be only a few minutes. At the end of the countdown time, the power level is reduced. Alternatively, the dedicated cooking zone or the whole cooking hob is switched off. The danger of fire is related to the temperature of food, fat and/or oil. The danger of fire increases with the power per area on the cooking hob.
• the threshold value is about 30 minutes, if the set power level is minimum, while said threshold value is about three minutes, if the set power level is maximum.
• the threshold value of the timer may be modified by the user. If the cooking time is relative long, e.g. more than 30 minutes, then the user may manually extend the threshold value of the timer.
• the timer is stopped, if the presence of the user in the environment of the cooking hob is detected again before the threshold value has been reached.
• the user may leave the cooking hob for an arbitrary number of times.
• the system may include one or more temperature sensors arranged on the cooking hob. A temperature limit of said temperature sensors may be reduced, if the timer has reached the threshold value.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Induction Heating Cooking Devices (AREA)
• Cookers (AREA)
• Measurement Of Predetermined Time Intervals (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=67262107

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Citations (8)

• 2019
  • 2019-07-12 EP EP19185905.7A patent/EP3763999A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2020
  • 2020-06-26 WO PCT/EP2020/067982 patent/WO2021008854A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (8)

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