EP1781991A1

EP1781991A1 - System with a cooking device and several control devices and control device

Info

Publication number: EP1781991A1
Application number: EP05761581A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Holger GÄSSLER
Original assignee: EGO Elektro Geratebau GmbH
Current assignee: EGO Elektro Geratebau GmbH
Priority date: 2004-07-19
Filing date: 2005-07-19
Publication date: 2007-05-09
Also published as: DE102004036899A1; WO2006008129A1; US20070125363A1

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention relates to a cooking system, comprising a hob (11) with several cooking positions (13), provided with two control devices (20, 30). A slave control device (30) is arranged below a master control device (20) in priority, such that commands from the master control device (20) always match those of the slave control device (30).

Description

description

System with a Kochein richtunα and several control devices and control device

Field of application and state of the art

The invention relates to a cooking system with a cooking device and a plurality of heaters, which can be operated independently of each other, as well as a plurality of control devices, as well as such a control device. An example of such a cooking device is a hob with four burners.

From DE 195 45 941 B4 a hob is known, in which on two opposite sides operating and display devices are vorgese¬ hen. The hob can be used via each of these devices. The facilities are independent of each other.

From DE 295 15 421 a hob is known in which a Bedien¬ device can be arranged either directly ange¬ or with some distance from it, for example in a countertop.

It is regarded as a disadvantage here that conflicts in the unambiguousness of commands can occur with simultaneous operation of the hob from two locations, for example by two operators. This can occur in particular if contradictory or incompatible commands are entered for the same cooking surface of the hob.

Task and solution

The invention has for its object to provide an aforementioned cooking system and a corresponding control device, with which the problems of the prior art can be avoided and in particular a control of a cooking device from two places from or by two operators is designed practicable.

This object is achieved by a cooking system with the features of claim 1 and a control device having the features of claim 12. Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of further claims and are explained in more detail in the follow¬. The wording of the claims is made the subject of the description by express reference.

According to the invention, it is provided that a single control device is a main control device. The one or more other control devices are sub-control devices. This means that the main controller has a functional priority over each sub-controller. Your orders always have priority over those of a sub-controller. Furthermore, it can assign functionalities to the sub-control devices, for example with regard to the importance or classification of commands which are given to the cooking device via a sub-control device. It can be given a sub-control device limited functionalities, for example, to the effect that some funkio nen as timer or cooking programs can not be performed with it. Alternatively, cooking programs or program sequences which the cooking device executes may be contained in a sub-control device. However, it is possible by assigning the functionalities that the main control device can change or interrupt or terminate the course of this cooking program at any time.

In the context of this application, normal induction cookers are to be understood as meaning independently heated heaters. to become. Although these can be provided that in each case two induction cookers are connected to a phase of the mains connection of a Dreh¬ current connection and to avoid exceeding a permissible maximum total load, the power is slightly reduced according to certain specifications. Nevertheless, these are essentially independent of each other adjustable and thus operable.

Thus, a relatively large freedom is created by the invention, from a main control device and one or more other Un ter control devices from the operation of a cooking device from meh¬ reren bodies or control devices from practical and efficient to make. Since the assignment of functionalities to the other control devices or sub-control devices takes place from a single point, there are neither allocation problems nor problems with regard to the question of which assignments have priority. The control devices are advantageously connected to a kind of central control in the cooking device, which converts the commands and controls the heating devices or other functional devices. In the central control, for example, power switching devices or the like. to be available.

A functional priority of the main control device before the sub-control devices may, for example, be such that a control command of a sub-control device to the cooking device can be overruled by the main control device if it gives a command deviating therefrom. This means that the Kocheinrich¬ device then executes the later command of the main control device and not the earlier of the sub-control device.

This functional priority can apply at any time. Thus, it is always determined how the individual control devices relate to each other. In particular, with regard to a set power level of a Heating device, so for example, a cooking level at a Kochstel¬ le, the priority of the main control device applies. If a specific power level has been predetermined by a sub-control device and changed by the main control device, that is to say up or down, then the new setting according to the command of the main control device or the command which the operator applies to the Specifies main Steuerein¬ direction. If a certain amount of power has been input via the main control device, deviating inputs via a sub-control device can not change anything there. The settings remain as specified by the main control device.

It is possible in a further embodiment of the invention to give or grant a special status in deviation from the above-described possibility of the main control device from a sub-control device for a bestimm¬ th time period or a completed functional operation. This particular status makes it equal to either other sub-controllers in a preferred state or even the main controller itself. It can only apply to certain heating devices. Such a status change may, for example, expire or be changed back after a certain time, after the end of a certain completed functional process or, for example, by switching off the entire cooking appliance. In this case, the sub-controller is then back in the initial state.

The control devices can be designed such that, regardless of their status, they have the same or similar basic structure. In order to obtain a sub-control device, it can be provided that a control device in the basic state represents a sub-control device. It is then possible, for example, by incorporating further components, moving coding or programming switches or reprogramming, to convert such a control device into a control device. ner main controller to make. This has the great advantage that only a single basic model of control devices without a large variety of variants must be made. Furthermore, this makes it possible, for example, to make the assignment between the main control device and sub-control devices only when installing or connecting a cooking device at the end user. Thus, a large variability and flexibility to respond to Bedie¬ nerwünsche is possible.

In the functional state, the cooking system is constructed in such a way that the control devices are spatially separated from one another, wherein they can advantageously be fastened or arranged at not too great a distance from the cooking device. The control devices are in particular building units, which are formed separately from the cooking device aus¬, so are not housed in the same housing. They are particularly advantageously provided, for example, on a cooktop on opposite sides, in particular at a slight distance therefrom. It is also possible to make at least one control device mobile or portable, similar to a remote control.

In a further embodiment of the invention can be provided that ei¬ ne control device, similar to previously known for a baking oven, mounted on a front of a cabinet or oven, which carries a hob as part of the cooking system. The other Steuereinrich¬ device can then lie in the same plane as the hob, beispiels¬ sideways right next to it. Thus, the previously arranged and intuitive operation is possible due to the lower-level control device. Furthermore, this control device can also be combined with a control device for an oven or share certain functional parts. By means of the above-lying control device, which can be reached from different sides, the operation of various locations is easily possible. Furthermore, it can be provided that these two control devices, since they are arranged in fundamentally different ways, also have different operating elements. Thus, known mechanical operating elements can be provided for the lower operating device, which is only partially visible, in particular in the form of rotary knobs. These are particularly well designed for intuitive operation without a direct view of the control element. The overhead control device, which is always easily visible, can have control elements in the form of touch sensors or touch switches, ie a so-called "touch control." These can also be made very flat by the structure, for example, so that they are arranged on a work surface next to the desk Hob can be arranged.

On the one hand, it can be provided that the control devices are connected directly to one another. Then, so to speak, the main controller directly communicates with the sub-controllers. As a result, the command is given directly to the cooking device or to the heating devices present there via only one control device, which is connected to the cooking device. In this one Steuereinrich¬ device is then decided which command the various Steuer¬ facilities enjoys priority and should be executed.

It can be provided that the control devices have no direct connection to one another. This means that they are each directly connected to the cooking device. In this case, it can in turn be provided advantageously that the cooking device has a type of central control. In this case, the commands of the control devices respectively enter or come together, wherein the central control can distinguish the commands with regard to priority or to that which comes from the main control device and which from a sub-control device. Furthermore, the aforementioned object is also achieved by a Steuerein¬ direction with the features of claim 12. It can, in particular with respect to a change in the configuration of a Grund¬ state starting, be formed as described above.

These and other features are apparent from the claims and from the description and the drawing, wherein the individual features in each case alone or more in the form of Unter¬ combinations in one embodiment of the invention and on other areas ren realized and advantageous as well as for selbstfähfähi¬ ge represent versions for which protection is claimed here. The subdivision of the application into individual sections as well as subheadings does not limit the statements made thereunder in their generality.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1 is a functional diagram of a hob with several burners and two connected controls and

Fig. 2 shows a modified functional scheme with the same hob, the one control is arranged below the plane of the hob and the other control directly next to Koch¬ field.

Detailed description of the embodiments

In Fig. 1, a hob 11 is provided with a plurality of cooking zones 13a to 13d dar¬. The hotplates 13b and 13c are so-called two-circuit Cooking rings, consisting of two heating circuits. These surround themselves ein¬ other at the cooking area 13b concentric, while they are formed at the Koch¬ point 13c in an elongated extension.

The hotplates 13 are connected to a central control 15 of the hob 11. The central controller 15 has switches 17, for example power relays or corresponding semiconductor switches, with which they are connected to a supply voltage for switching on for heating operation. Furthermore, the central controller 15 may have a display 16. Verschie¬ dene operating states of the hob 11 or individual cooking zones 13 can be represented with this.

The central controller 15 is connected to a main controller 20 and a sub-controller 30. The connection can be made on the one hand via cable or a line. Alternatively, radio and other wireless connections are possible for both control devices, which is indicated in the control device 30. Where exactly the main control device 20 and the sub-control device 30 are arranged in relation to the cooktop 11 is subordinate. Beispiels¬ example, the hob can be embedded in a conventional worktop, in or on or on the control devices 20 and 30 are mounted. Alternatively, a main control device 20 may be provided near or directly to the hob 11, while a lower control device is further away from it, but still in operator-friendly proximity. It can even be made portable or removable with a separate power supply and a data-transmitting connection. For example, it can be stowed away or removed in the event of non-use.

Each of the control devices 20 and 30 has operating elements 22 and 32, respectively. With these, the operation of the hob 11 or the cooking 13 are controlled similar to known hobs with known control devices. Thus, the controls 22 and 32 may be formed as a rotary knob aus¬ with mechanical switching or actuators. Alternatively, it may be touch switches or the like.

Furthermore, the control devices 20 and 30 have displays 24 and 34, respectively. With these, similar to the display 16 of the central control 15, the state of the hob 11, individual hotplates 13 or the individual controllers 20 or 30 can be displayed. For example, the display 34 may display information about how the status of the sub-controller 30 is.

Furthermore, the control devices contain electronic components such as microcontrollers, memory or the like, in which allocations, cooking programs for the hob 11 or information about the mutual hierarchy can be stored. For example, timer functions can be implemented in the sub-control device 30, the sequence of which can be interrupted by the main control device 20 if necessary. The main control device can also be designed to be mobile so that it can be taken at any time and yet the operations on the hob 11 can be accessed.

It can be seen that the control devices 20 and 30 are similar or identical. Starting from in each case identical basic building units, a main control device 20 or a sub-control device 30 can be produced by simply changing the configuration, for example via software. Thus, the production effort is reduced to essentially one single structural unit, which is subsequently specified as intended. In the modification of the hob 111 according to FIG. 2, only the arrangement of the control devices 120 and 130 is different and their design is different. The front control device 120 is arranged below the plane of the hob 111 and frontally on a vertical surface running below or in front of the cooking hob, for example a cabinet. It is particularly advantageous if an oven is arranged underneath the cooktop or its upper panel. The operating device 120 has mechanical knobs 122 as operating elements. Above all, an instinctive operation without direct visual contact is possible.

The other control device 130 is arranged next to the hob 111 or on the same level. It can for example be arranged recessed on or in a worktop, in which also the hob is embedded. The operating elements 132 here are designed as so-called stirring sensors or touch switches, as is known per se for the person skilled in the art from the prior art. Since the operating device 130 is always easy to see at this point, the use of such touch switches is particularly advantageous here in the context of the invention.

operating procedures

Usually, the operation of the hob 11 via the main control device 20 can take place. If a further operator is to be bound, this can likewise use or control the hob 11 via the sub-control device 30. In this case, the assignment can be such as has been explained above that switching on a cooking stalk 13 via the main control device 20 proceeds via any command to this cooking position via the sub-control device 30. If, for example, the hotplate 13a is set to a specific cooking level via the main control device 20 or an operating element 22, this can not be changed via the sub-control device 30. Furthermore, it is possible, via the operating elements 22 of the main control device 20, to associate with the sub-control device 30 in relation thereto certain functionalities which go beyond a ground state. Such a temporary change in the status of the sub-control device 30 can be stored either in one of the two control devices 20 or 30 or else in the central control 15. It is of particular importance that the priority or ranking can be seen either at the commands arriving in the central controller 15 from the control devices 20 or 30 or else, for example, by the main control device 20 sel¬ ber, in the central control 15 is deposited. Likewise, a decision can be made directly in the main controller 20 when the sub-controller 30 is directly connected to it.

Furthermore, it is possible for some of the hotplates 13, for example the hotplates 13a and 13d, to be completely assigned to the sub-control device 30 via the main control device 20 for a specific time or a completed process. This means that after switching on the hob 11, these two hotplates 13a and 13d can be controlled exclusively via the sub-control device 30. If the hob is switched off in its entirety or all of its hotplates, this assignment is automatically reset.

The operation of the hob 111 with the two control devices 120 and 130 can be carried out in the same manner as for the hob 11 according to FIG. 1. The only difference here is the design and arrangement of the control devices 120 and 130. The control device Above all, 120 is suitable for standing directly in front of the hob 111 and for serving the latter, which can be done instinctively in a manner known per se. The upper lateral Steuereinrich¬ device 130 is suitable for operation from different sides, because it is very easy to reach. Again, it can be provided that the control device 120 is classified as the main control device. This is mainly due to the fact that it can only be reached from a position which is usually assumed only for carrying out a cooking process, ie for cooking, and not for other reasons.

Claims

claims

1. cooking system with a cooking device (11, 111) and a plurality of independently operable heaters (13, 113), in particular a hob (11) with a plurality of cooking zones, wherein the cooking system at least two separate control devices (20, 120, 30, 130) and with each of the control devices substantially all functions of the cooking device (11, 111) are controllable, characterized ge indicates that a single control device as the main control device (20, 120) is formed and the other Steu¬ ereinrichtungen than Sub-controllers (30, 130), wherein the main controller has a functional priority over the sub-controllers and is adapted to assign functionalities to a sub-controller.

2. Cooking system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control devices (20, 120, 30, 130) are designed such that a control command of a sub-control device (30, 130) to the cooking device (11, 111) of one of them deviating Command of the main control device (20, 120) is over-tunable and the cooking device (11, 111) executes the command of the main control device.

3. Cooking system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the main control device (20, 120) at any time functional priority over a sub-control device (30, 130), wherein in particular the functional priority is such that commands be¬ ignored the power level of a heating device (13, 113) of the cooking device (11, 111) during operation of this heating device, the originally given by the sub controller, are changeable by the main controller.

4. Cooking system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main control device (20, 120) of a sub-control device (30, 130) cut for a certain Zeitab¬ or completed function process er¬ a status that only after expiration the time period or the Funktion¬ process is changeable, in particular himself back again changes into an initial status.

5. Cooking system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control devices (20, 120, 30, 130) have a similar basic structure and a main control device (20, 120) by changing the configuration, in particular by means of installation or removal of Components, is rebuilt.

6. Cooking system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control means (20, 30) are spatially separated from one another and each close to the cooking device (11), wherein they are in particular designed as separate units and preferably opposite to the cooking device (11).

7. Cooking system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that at least one control device (20, 30) is designed to be mobile and from the cooking device (11) is removable, in particular as a separate unit is ausgebil¬ det.

8. Cooking system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the control means (120, 130) are spatially separated von¬ and at least one control device (120) is arranged directly on the cooking device, in particular the one special Control device (120) on the front side of a baking oven, which is part of the cooking system, or is arranged on a cabinet carrying a Koch¬ cooking system as a cooking system or on the vertical front and the other control device (130) next to a hob (111) as Part of the cooking system seit¬ Lich arranged next to it.

9. Cooking system according to claim 8, characterized in that the control devices (120, 130) have differently formed Be¬ serving elements, wherein preferably a Steuerein¬ direction (120) below the hob (111) mechanical Dreh¬ gag (122) and the other control device (130) has contact sensors (132) or touch switches next to the hob (111).

10. Cooking system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control devices (20, 120, 30, 130) have no direct connection to each other, in particular each with a single central control (15, 115) of the cooking device (11, 111), which distinguishes and executes the input commands according to the priority of the control device (20, 120, 30, 130).

11. Cooking system according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the control devices have a direct connection to each other, in particular, so to speak, the main control device with the sub-control devices directly kommun¬ muniziert for decision in this one control device, which command of the various control devices takes precedence and is to be executed, as a result of which only the control device which is connected to the cooking device gives the command directly to the cooking device or to the heating devices present there.

12. Control device for a cooking system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, by changing its configuration, in particular by adding further components starting from a sub-control device (30, 130) in the ground state to a main Control device (20, 120) is convertible.