System comprised of a domestic appliance and an external device

0001The invention relates to a system referred to in the preamble portion of claim 1.

0002Such a system is known for example from DE 694 18 377 T2. The known System consists of a household appliance and an external device, in particular for Parameterization, fault diagnosis and maintenance of the household appliance. The device has a a transmitting part and the other device, a reception part, which for the exchange of electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range of visible light or infrared are formed and by actuating each of an actuating means to the respective are activated device. By activating the transmitter part is this a continuously predetermined and of stored in a memory of the transmitting part, of a plurality be emitted from mutually different codewords existing, search code. In a Processing unit of the receiving section are of the receiving section received signals with the stored in a further memory of the receiving part search code comparable. If they match the received signals to the search code is using the Receiving part a predetermined response signal can be output. The search code consists of a sequence of at least three mutually different code words and the individual Sequences are separated by a pause interval.

0003Furthermore, from DE 196 15 358 A1 a display controller for a display device of a Household appliance is known in which data from multiple simultaneously active Appliances serially or in parallel on the display device can be represented. For this purpose in a Embodiment, a wireless data transmission provided.

0004The invention thus provides a problem of a household appliance and an external Existing system device indicate in which a by the human eye recognizable marking an interface to the signal or data exchange between the Household appliance and the external device can be dispensed with on the household appliance without thereby to deteriorate while the security of the operating comfort for the user before undesired response signals with rapid response of the receiving section to improve.

0005According to the invention this problem is solved by a system having the features of Patent claim 1. Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention arising from the following dependent claims.

0006Be achieved with the invention consist in addition to the possibility to by the human eye visible marking an interface for signal or Data exchange between the household appliance and the external device to the to dispense domestic appliance without the ease of use for the user deteriorate, especially in that example, an imprint of the operating panel or the like can be omitted to identify the interface on the household appliance. Thereby, the control panel is simple and cost-effectively. In addition, the overall visual impression of the control panel improves or it is possible that Control panel without regard to a required identification of the area of ​​the to make port at the domestic appliance.

0007The search code consists of a sequence of at least three mutually different Codewords and the individual sequences are separated by a pause interval. In this way, the output of a response signal is due to possible electromagnetic Interference, for example from other electrical devices, securely prevented and at the same time a quick response of the receiving section to the received signals guaranteed. By the break interval in which the continuous transmission of search codes is briefly interrupted, which can as a receiver for electromagnetic radiation, such as For example, the response signal transmission formed part itself and receive signals process.

0008Since the comparison of the received signals with the stored search code in the received receiving part after it is received from at least five successive Codewords starts, the security against undesired response signals at the same time is fast response of the receiving section improved.

0009Basically, the response signal can be selected according to the type and duration within wide suitable limits. Appropriately, the response signal is provided as an existing of a single codeword constructed response code can be transmitted from the receiving portion of the transmission part.

0010Another advantageous development of the inventive teaching provides that the Response signal on a display and / or via a speaker at least one of the two devices a perceivable by the human senses acoustic and / or optical recognition signal triggers. This is an immediate and easily recognizable allows the user of the progress of the search information.

0011An embodiment of the invention is illustrated purely schematically in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. It shows<dl tsize="7"><dt>figure 1</dt><dd>an inventive system in partial perspective view and</dd><dt>figure 2</dt><dd>a detail view of the system of Fig. 1 in partial sectional view.</dd></dl>

0012In Fig. 1, an inventive system is partial and simplistic shown. The System consists of a in Fig. 1 indicated with only the control panel 2 Domestic appliance 4 and an unshown in Fig. 1 the external device, in particular for Paramtetrierung, fault diagnosis and maintenance of the appliance 4, in which case the external device is configured as a portable customer service computer. The transportable Customer service computer also has a speaker, not shown, via to a perceptible by the human auditory acoustic recognition signal can be emitted. In this embodiment, the external device includes a transmitting section 6 and the Domestic appliance 4 a not-shown in Fig. 1 receiving part, which for the exchange of electromagnetic radiation are formed in the wavelength range of infrared and by actuating each of an actuating means to the respective not shown Equipment, home appliance 4 and external device can be activated. In the present Embodiment, both the transmitting member 6 as well as the receiving part in each case as a transmitter and at the same time as a receiver of electromagnetic radiation, here infrared radiation, educated. This makes it possible to exchange bidirectionally signals.

0013The transmitting section 6 includes a consisting of a memory and a processing unit Unit 8, a predetermined and at least three of the memory 8 in is stored mutually different codewords existing search code. In which present embodiment, the search code from three mutually different Code words, in hexadecimal, for example F0, CC and AA. Moreover, the transmission part 6 an opto-electric converter 10, to which a transmission head 12 by means of a is the light guide 14 can be connected. In the present embodiment, the opto-electric converter is 10 by a cable 16 to the memory 8 in the signal transmission connection. Furthermore, the opto-electric converter 10, an LED, not shown, by means of of a perceptible by the human eye detection signal can be emitted. alternative to the present embodiment, here it is also conceivable that said Components of the transmitting section 6, namely, the opto-electric converter 10 and the transmission head 12 and the light guide 14 and the cable 16 together in a common unit are. The advantage of the present embodiment is an improved Operating comfort for the user, since this, as explained in more detail below, only the must support and move transmission head 12th

0014The structure of the receiving portion will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2 apparent, is behind the control panel 2 toward the interior of the household appliance 4 a Board 18 is arranged. On the board 18 is available in addition to other household appliances Components such as a display unit 20, the receiving portion arranged. The Receiving part comprises a processing unit and a further memory, the a Unit 22 are combined, a further opto-electric converter 24 and a further light guide 26. In the other n memory is closer explained above searchcode and a predetermined response signal is stored, the response signal of the the present embodiment as a of a single codeword in Hexadecimal, for example 00, of existing response code is formed. Of the Another optical waveguide 26 is required in this embodiment, the distance between the control panel 2 and to bridge the other opto-electric converter 24th alternative For this purpose, other embodiments are conceivable in which such a further light conductor 26 is not required. In order for a signal exchange between the transmitting head 12 and the Receiving part to be possible, the area of ​​the control panel connected to the other optical fiber 26 is in contact, namely section 28, for infrared radiation, ie the wavelength range the signals exchanged be made permeable.

0015Hereinafter, the operation of the above embodiment of the invention System explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2:

0016The household appliance 4 is turned on, so that the receiving portion is enabled. Of the Customer service representative on the portable customer service computer and starts a search function, which activates the transmitter section. 6 With the start of the search function sends the Transmitting part 6 known to the person skilled in the way in the memory of the module 8 stored search code continuously. by means of the transmission head 12 in the open environment Once the customer service representative that the transmitter head in the vicinity of the area 28 or in Near the arranged behind the control panel 2 receiving part moves, in the present Embodiment of about 2 to 4 cm, and that the normal to the infrared radiation than the trained search code-emitting surface of the transmission head 12 approximately in the direction of is area 28 aligned, the light emitted from the transmission head 12 of the search code is received receiving part of the further optical fiber 26 and the other opto-electric converter 24 to the person skilled in known manner arranged on the assembly 22 in the Processing unit of the receiving section passed.

0017After the receiving section has received five code words in a row, the received signals in an evaluation circuit of the processing unit of the receiving section known with the stored in the further memory search code to the skilled worker Way compared. If the received signals with the stored search code consistent with what is the case in the present example, the in the further memory stored response signal in a manner analogous to the above-mentioned search code of the Receiving part is transmitted to the transmission part. In the present embodiment, for this purpose each between the individual sequences of the search key continuously transmitted a Pause interval provided, during which the continuous transmission of search codes is temporarily interrupted. This consists of a single codeword in hexadecimal for example 00, existing response signal is analogous to the receiver and on the Manner known to those skilled in the transmitting section 6 with a predetermined and in which explained response signal compared memory of the module 8 stored above. be right receiving from the transmitting part 6 signals match the stored response signal, so known manner by means of the transmitting section 6 to the skilled worker on the one hand to the Opto-electric converter turned 10 arranged LED and the other on the Speaker of the portable customer service computer a predetermined signal output. Alternatively, provides a circuitry simpler solution that LED of the opto-electric converter 10 directly by the opto-electric converter 10 of the Receiving part toward sending part 6 passing electrical signals, ie, due to the electric current flow, is turned on. The customer service representative will accordingly informed both by the glowing LED, as well as by the signal about the fact that the transmission head 12 is in the range 28 of the control panel 2, so that a further signal or data exchange between the domestic appliance 4 and the portable Customer service computer to the skilled person can be made known manner. As an alternative to the aforementioned output of an acoustic and / or optical detection signal at the external device, it is also possible for example, existing at the domestic appliance Display unit 20 to be used to output an optical detection signal.

0018If the customer service representative the transmission head 12 again from the region 28 of the move out control panel 2, so would the light emitted from the transmission head 12 Search Code by the receiving part due to the increasing distance between the Transmitting head 12 and the receiving portion and / or the fact that the transmission head 12 with the Perpendicular to the search code radiating surface is no longer in the direction of the area 28 and the receiving part has, no longer, or at least not for the evaluation by the Receiving portion sufficiently strong signal is received.