KITCHEN AND/OR DOMESTIC APPLIANCE

• US 20110137657A1
• Filed: 12/08/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Professional SPA (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Professional SPA (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Cenedese, Claudio, Tuzzi, Omero, Pippia, Ennio, Ugel, Maurizio, Raus, Dragan
• Application Number:
  US12/962,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20110137657A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• 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 2101/00 User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/44 Opening, closing or locking of doors
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/304 for dishwashers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/31 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/312 for washing machines or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/00 Speaker identification or verification techniques

Abstract

The invention relates to a kitchen and/or domestic appliance comprising input means, which are connected to a voice-recognition system, for acoustic operator commands. The invention is characterised in that means for executing command-dependent actions are provided and that the voice-recognition system is used to identify and check the authorisation of a user.

Claims

1. A kitchen or household appliance, comprising a housing and a door and having an interior space in which groceries can be stored or from which groceries can be again removed, and comprising devices for recording the removed or stored groceries and further devices for carrying out command-dependent actions, wherein the refrigerator includes an input device for acoustic operator commands connected to a voice recognition system, wherein a device for data transmission to an external computer is provided, and wherein the appliance can be remotely controlled via the external computing device.

2. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 1, wherein data about the stored groceries can be inquired or printed.

3. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 2, wherein an indication as to an impending or already occurred lapse of the expiration date of a product can be issued automatically based on a command triggered by a control program or if required based on an inquiry command of an operator.

4. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 1, wherein an indication as to an impending or already occurred lapse of the expiration date of a product can be issued automatically based on a command triggered by a control program or if required based on an inquiry command of an operator.

5. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 1, wherein the device for recording the removed or stored groceries is configured in order to initiate a reorder procedure when a minimum number or minimum quantity of groceries is not met.

6. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 1, wherein the device for recording removed or stored groceries is configured as a reading device for groceries provided with a readable identification device.

7. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 6, wherein the reading device is configured or registering bar codes or for reading transponders.

8. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 7, wherein the reading device comprises at least one reception antenna for transponder signals.

9. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 7, wherein the reading device has several reception antennas that can be scanned via a multiplexer.

10. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 8, wherein there are several insertion or storage levels to each of which a separate reception antenna is provided.

11. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 8, wherein a control or control device is provided which accepts the signals received by the reception antenna and which processes the information content of the signal.

17. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance has a display configured as a screen, preferably a flat screen.

18. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 17, wherein the screen is configured as a touch screen for inputting operator commands.

19. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 17, wherein the screen is arranged on the front of the appliance in a raised position or on or in an appliance door.

20. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance has a computing device configured preferably as a personal computer, which is connected to the input device and, if required, to the output device.

21. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 1, wherein the voice recognition system is configured for the identification of a user.

22. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 1, wherein the voice recognition system is configured for carrying out an authorization check of a user.

23. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 1, wherein the input device is configured as a radio microphone, which coacts with a receiver arranged or on or in the kitchen or household appliance.

24. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance has a voice recognition system.

25. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 1, wherein the opening or closing of the appliance door or flap can be controlled via an operator command.

26. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 25, wherein the appliance door or flap is configured so as to automatically close after a specific opening time.

27. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance has a printing device.

28. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance has an access control system.

29. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 28, wherein the access control system is configured as a mechanical lock or as a card reader.

30. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 28, wherein the access control system is configured for inputting a numerical or alphanumerical code and the access is granted if said code coincides with a stored code.

31. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 28, wherein the access control system is configured for checking a biometric parameter.

32. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 31, wherein the access control system has a device for recording a fingerprint.

12. (canceled)

13. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 12, wherein the device consists of a modem or a GSM modem or a LAN connection.

14. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 12, wherein the data transmission takes place via a computer network or via the Internet.

16. The kitchen or household appliance of claim 12, wherein the appliance can be used as Internet terminal.

15. (canceled)