U.S. patent application number 12/882288 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-17 for household appliance having a dispenser for beverages and/or ice.
This patent application is currently assigned to MIELE & CIE. KG. Invention is credited to Dominic BEIER, Alexander NEUFELD.
Application Number | 20110061766 12/882288 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43662547 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110061766 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BEIER; Dominic ; et
al. |
March 17, 2011 |
HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE HAVING A DISPENSER FOR BEVERAGES AND/OR ICE
Abstract
A household appliance having a dispenser for beverages and/or
ice. The appliance includes a recess with a supporting surface for
a container and a rear wall. A dispenser for a product including at
least one of a beverage and ice is disposed in the recess. A user
control and display unit configured for selection and display of
the type of product being dispensed is included on the appliance. A
trigger that is operable to dispense the product includes at least
one sensor array configured to detect the container. The at least
one sensor array has a sensor range and is disposed on the rear
wall of the recess. A controller coupled to the user control and
display unit is operable to control the dispensing process such
that selection of at least one of the product and the amount to be
dispensed is determined by movement of the container relative to
the dispenser within the sensing range of the at least one sensor
array.
Inventors: |
BEIER; Dominic; (Guetersloh,
DE) ; NEUFELD; Alexander; (Bielefeld, DE) |
Assignee: |
MIELE & CIE. KG
Guetersloh
DE
|
Family ID: |
43662547 |
Appl. No.: |
12/882288 |
Filed: |
September 15, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/192 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 29/00 20130101;
F25D 23/126 20130101; F25D 2400/361 20130101; F25C 5/22 20180101;
F25D 2700/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/192 |
International
Class: |
B65B 3/28 20060101
B65B003/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 17, 2009 |
DE |
10 2009 044 032.1 |
Claims
1: A household appliance comprising: a recess including a
supporting surface for a container and a rear wall; a dispenser for
a product including at least one of beverages and ice, the
dispenser being disposed in the recess; a user control and display
unit configured for selection and display of a type of product
being dispensed; at least one trigger operable to dispense the
product, the at least one trigger including at least one sensor
array configured to detect the container and having a sensor range,
the at least one sensor array being disposed on the rear wall of
the recess; and a controller coupled to the user control and
display unit and operable to control a dispensing process such that
selection of at least one of the product and an amount to be
dispensed is determined by movement of the container relative to
the dispenser within the sensing range of the at least one sensor
array.
2: The household appliance recited in claim 1, wherein the at least
one sensor array includes at least one ultrasonic transmitter and
at least one ultrasonic receiver.
3: The household appliance recited in claim 1, wherein the rear
wall of the recess includes a shape of a semicircle and surrounds
the supporting surface, and wherein the at least one sensor array
is disposed on the rear wall.
4: The household appliance recited in claim 2, wherein the rear
wall of the recess includes a shape of a semicircle and surrounds
the supporting surface, and wherein the at least one sensor array
is disposed on the rear wall.
5: The household appliance recited in claim 1, wherein the recess
is bordered by wall portions having a shape of a U, the wall
portions including the rear wall and at least one side wall, and
wherein the at least one sensor array is disposed on the rear wall
and at least one additional sensor array is disposed on the side
wall.
6: The household appliance recited in claim 2, wherein the recess
is bordered by wall portions having a shape of a U, the wall
portions including the rear wall and at least one side wall, and
wherein the at least one sensor array is disposed on the rear wall
and at least one additional sensor array is disposed on the side
wall.
7: The household appliance recited in claim 1, wherein the at least
one sensor includes at least one ultrasonic transmitter disposed in
a plane perpendicular to a filling axis of the dispenser.
8: The household appliance recited in claim 7, wherein the at least
one sensor includes at least one ultrasonic receiver associated
with the ultrasonic transmitter and disposed to a right or a left
side of the ultrasonic transmitter.
9: The household appliance recited in claim 1, wherein the control
and display unit is configured to display the at least one product
selected by the movement of the container.
10: The household appliance recited in claim 1, wherein the at
least one sensor array includes a light barrier system.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to German Patent
Application No. DE 10 2009 044 032.1, filed on Sep. 17, 2009, which
is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a household appliance
having a dispenser for beverages and/or ice, and further having a
user control and display unit which is coupled to a controller for
controlling the dispensing process and used to select and display
the type of product to be dispensed (beverages and/or ice), the
dispenser being disposed in a recess of the household appliance,
said recess including a supporting surface for a container to be
filled and having provided therein at least one trigger for causing
the dispensing of the product.
BACKGROUND
[0003] European Patent Application EP 1 607 700 A1 describes a
refrigerator having a dispenser for ice and water, in which
triggers are disposed in the dispensing area, and in which the
amount of ice or water dispensed is determined by the actuation of
a trigger.
[0004] German Patent Application DE 103 17 386 A1 describes a
refrigerator having a dispenser in which two separate actuating
levers are disposed in the dispensing area and can be used to
activate the dispensing of water or ice, respectively.
[0005] Further, some beverage preparing devices have a user control
and display unit in which the type of beverage is selected by
pressing a button in a corresponding button field in the user
control and display unit. The beverage selected is indicated by a
highlighted indicator field.
[0006] German Patent Application DE 10 2007 062 001 A1 describes
beverage preparing devices with sensors for container
recognition.
SUMMARY
[0007] An aspect of the present invention is to provide a household
appliance having a dispenser for beverages and/or ice as well and a
user control and display unit for the household appliance that are
advantageous over conventional systems.
[0008] In an embodiment, the present invention provides a household
appliance having a dispenser for beverages and/or ice. The
appliance includes a recess with a supporting surface for a
container and a rear wall. A dispenser for a product including at
least one of a beverage and ice is disposed in the recess. A user
control and display unit configured for selection and display of
the type of product being dispensed is included on the appliance. A
trigger that is operable to dispense the product includes at least
one sensor array configured to detect the container. The at least
one sensor array has a sensor range and is disposed on the rear
wall of the recess. A controller coupled to the user control and
display unit is operable to control the dispensing process such
that selection of at least one of the product and the amount to be
dispensed is determined by movement of the container relative to
the dispenser within the sensing range of the at least one sensor
array.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described
in more detail below and are shown schematically in the drawings,
in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispensing area 1 of a
household appliance;
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a user control and display unit 5 corresponding
to the dispenser;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic top view showing and embodiment of a
dispensing area 1 in accordance with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional side view showing
dispensing area 1 of FIG. 3;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of a dispensing area 1 in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
one-handed selection of the product is possible by moving the
container within the recess. This allows control to be effected
using only one hand, namely the hand holding the container. It is
no longer absolutely necessary to press a button in order to select
the product via the user control and display unit.
[0016] However, in another embodiment of the present invention, the
selection of the product may also be done by pressing a button in
the user control and display unit as an alternative way of
control.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a dispensing area 1 of an appliance, such as a
refrigerator, a beverage dispensing device, or a fully automatic
coffee maker. The exemplary embodiment shown here illustrates the
ice and water dispensing area 1 of a refrigerator. Dispensing area
1 may be disposed on the door of the refrigerator. Dispensing area
1 includes a recess in which a container 2 may be positioned to
receive the product to be dispensed. A supporting surface for
container 2 is provided below dispenser 3 in the recess.
[0018] Dispensing area 1 has associated therewith a user control
and display unit 5, in which the type of product selected can be
displayed. The user control and display unit is provided with
control buttons for selecting the product to be dispensed and/or
the amount to be dispensed.
[0019] The user control and display unit 5 shown in FIG. 2 allows
selection of water and ice. User control and display unit 5
includes a glass panel with touch-sensitive buttons which are
backlit differently, depending on the particular state. In the
standby state, the buttons are not backlit at all, so that the
button regions are not visible. In the active mode, the individual
buttons are backlit white (button inactive) or yellow (button
active). In the normal state, the buttons are backlit white.
[0020] Using a user control and display unit 5 of this kind, a
product can be selected by touching the respective area and holding
the buttons "cubes", "crushed" or "water". The product is dispensed
as long as the button is held. Releasing the button stops the
dispensing process. Embodiments of the present invention further
improve such button-based control by providing the option of
one-handed operation, where the selection of the product is
determined by the user's movement of container 2 within the recess
of dispensing area 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, three
ultrasonic sensors 6 are disposed in dispensing area 1 to
facilitate such interactive control in order to allow a product to
be dispensed without having to push a button. At least one
ultrasonic transmitter 6.1 of the ultrasonic sensor array is
positioned in a plane perpendicular to the vertical filling axis of
dispenser 3 (see the left-hand area of the figure). Ultrasonic
transmitter 6.1 has associated therewith at least one ultrasonic
receiver 6.2 on each of the right and left sides. In the exemplary
embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the rear wall of the recess surrounds
the supporting surface for container (2) in the form of a
semicircle. Sensor array (6.1, 6.2) is disposed on the rear wall
portion of the recess.
[0021] Ultrasonic transmitter 6.1 emits an ultrasonic signal, which
is reflected by container 2 and received by the two ultrasonic
receivers 6.2. These sensors 6.1, 6.2 make it possible to detect
the insertion of container 2 into dispensing area 1. Moreover, it
is also possible to detect the direction of movement of container 2
within dispensing area 1; i.e., within the sensing range. As can be
seen in the top view of FIG. 3, it is possible to detect movements
of container 2 toward sensors 6.1, 6.2 and away from sensors 6.1,
6.2. Lateral movements to the left or right can also be detected.
With this information, the interactive control is intended to work
as follows:
[0022] When the user inserts a container 2 into dispensing area 1
of the refrigerator, as is shown in FIG. 4, the product dispensed
last (e.g., "cubes") is displayed in user control and display unit
5. When container 2 is held below the dispenser funnel of dispenser
3 without changing its position, the dispensing process starts
after a few seconds. Moving container 2 forward (closer to sensors
6.1, 6.2) and back, or in a rearward direction (away from sensors
6.1, 6.2), stops the dispensing process.
[0023] The product selection can be changed by moving container 2
within the sensing range. Moving container 2 to the right moves the
indicator in user control and display unit 5 one field to the
right, and the field next to the previous product selection will be
highlighted (here "crushed"). If container 2 is not moved any
further, the dispensing of the product starts after a few seconds.
The dispensing process can be stopped by a further movement of
container 2 within the sensing range.
[0024] The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5 illustrates a
recess having wall portions arranged in the shape of a U. At least
one sensor array (6.1, 6.2) is disposed on the rear wall of the
recess. At least one additional sensor array (6.1, 6.2) is disposed
on a side wall.
[0025] The arrangement of sensors in the recess of the dispensing
area can be freely selected, depending on the configuration of the
recess. For example, the sensors may also be disposed in the
ceiling of the recess, or in the region of the supporting surface
for container 2.
[0026] The selection of the sensor array is not limited to an
ultrasonic sensor system. For example, it is also possible to use a
light barrier system for detecting the movement of the container
within the dispensing area of the recess.
[0027] As an alternative to moving the container within the sensing
range, the amount of selected product to be dispensed may also be
monitored and controlled using standard methods for fill level
monitoring.
[0028] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in
form and details may be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *