Household appliance with a display device

• US 20040156170A1
• Filed: 10/10/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gerhard Mager, Willibald Reitmeier
• Original Assignee: Gerhard Mager, Willibald Reitmeier
• Inventors: Mager, Gerhard, Reitmeier, Willibald
• Application Number:
  US10/683,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20040156170A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/683
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4293 Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/32 characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/082 on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/00 Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the variable information is permanently attached to a movable support G09F11/00; abacus G06C1/00; slide-rules G06G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/372 the positions of the elements being controlled by the application of an electric field
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/06 Remotely controlled electronic signs other than labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/344 based on particles moving in a fluid or in a gas, e.g. electrophoretic devices electrophoretic devices per se G02F1/167

Abstract

In a household device a display unit includes a display device, which has a layer of material that can be influenced electrically pixel by pixel, i.e., picture element by picture element, so that any displays that are connected to the household appliance, can be seen on the display device.

Claims

1. In a household appliance, a display structure, comprising:

a display device, with which information concerning the household appliance can be presented, said display device being an electronic paper electrically influenced pixel-by-pixel.

2. The display structure according to claim 1, further comprising at least one unit selected from the group consisting of an operating unit, a control unit of the household appliance, and an external unit, said at least one unit generating a display on said electronic paper.

3. The display structure according to claim 2, wherein said external unit is a computer.

4. The display structure according to claim 1, wherein:

the household appliance has a curved surface; and

said electronic paper is applied on said curved surface.

5. The display structure according to claim 1, wherein:

the appliance has an operating element; and

the operating element interrupts said electronic paper.

6. The display structure according to claim 5, wherein said operating element is one of the group consisting of a program selector switch and a button.

7. The display structure according to claim 1, wherein:

the appliance has a surface of one of the group consisting of plastic, glass, wood, and metal; and

said electronic paper is adhesively attached as a film onto the surface.

8. The display structure according to claim 1, wherein:

an object external to the appliance has an outer surface;

said electronic paper is attached to said outer surface of said object; and

the object and the appliance have a connection for transmitting data therebetween.

9. The display structure according to claim 1, wherein the object is an operating device.

10. The display structure according to claim 9, wherein the connection is a wireless connection.

11. The display structure according to claim 1, wherein said display device is a membrane keyboard for operator input.

12. The display structure according to claim 1, wherein said display device is a touch screen for operator input.

13. A household appliance display structure, comprising:

a display device, with which information concerning the household appliance can be presented, said display device being an electronic paper electrically influenced pixel-by-pixel.

14. The display structure according to claim 13, further comprising at least one unit selected from the group consisting of an operating unit, a control unit of a household appliance, an external unit, and an external computer, said at least one unit generating a display on said electronic paper.

15. The display structure according to claim 13, wherein said electronic paper is to be applied on a curved surface of a household appliance.

16. The display structure according to claim 13, wherein said electronic paper is to be interrupted by an operating element of a household appliance.

17. The display structure according to claim 16, wherein the operating element is one of the group consisting of a program selector switch and a button.

18. The display structure according to claim 13, wherein:

said electronic paper adhesively attaches as a film onto a surface of a household appliance; and

the surface is one of the group consisting of plastic, glass, wood, and metal.

19. The display structure according to claim 13, wherein:

said electronic paper adhesively attaches as a film onto an outer surface of an object external to a household appliance; and

the object and the appliance have a connection for transmitting data therebetween.

20. The display structure according to claim 19, wherein the connection is a wireless connection.

21. The display structure according to claim 13, wherein said display device is a membrane keyboard for operator input.

22. The display structure according to claim 13, wherein said display device is a touch screen for operator input.

23. A household appliance, comprising:

a housing having an outer surface; and

a display device, with which information concerning the household appliance can be presented, said display device being an electronic paper electrically influenced pixel-by-pixel and being disposed at said outer surface.