Control for an electrical appliance

• US 6,198,079 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Original Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Inventors: Essig, Willy
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCHALL, MARK H
• Application Number:
  US09/425,634
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 219/714, 219/506, 219/497, 219/412-414, 219/483-486, 219/494, 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/825.16, 340/825.36, 340/588, 340/589, 340/582, 340/557, 364/474.08, 364/474.06
• US Class Current: 219/497
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/082 on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output

Abstract

The invention provides a control (15) for an electrical appliance (11) with at least one electrical operating device (13) contained in the appliance (11), the control (15) containing at least one power switching device (17). According to the invention the control (15) has a control unit (21) separate from the electrical appliance (11) and which is connected to the latter in wireless, signal-transmitting manner and essentially contains the control and regulating part for the electrical appliance. In this way an operating and control unit (21) separate or separable from the electrical appliance (11) is obtained and which when necessary can be easily inter-changed as a separate part. A basic version of an electrical appliance (11) can be upgraded with different control units (21) to a final appliance with differing operational scope. Preferably the electrical appliance is an electric cooker, particularly a hob. As a further function the external control unit (21) must be fitted in a specific position, particularly on the electrical appliance (11), in order to permit operation.

Claims

1. A control for an electrical appliance with at least one electric operating device contained in said electrical appliance, said control containing at least one power switching device, wherein:

said power switching device is contained in said electrical appliance for supplying power to said electric operating device;

said control has a control unit separate from said electrical appliance;

said control unit is connected to said electrical appliance in a wireless, signal-transmitting manner; and

said control unit entirely contains said control and regulating part for said electrical appliance so that there is a spatial subdivision of said control into a power switching part located in said electrical appliance containing said at least one power switching device, and said control and regulating part located in said separate control unit.

2. The control according to claim 1, wherein said control unit can be freely manipulated.

3. The control according to claim 1, wherein with said control unit are associated input means for inputting control instructions.

4. The control according to claim 3, wherein said control unit with said input means is housed in a control part.

5. The control according to claim 1, wherein said control has a memory, in which said memory it is possible to store different program sequences for said control or parameters of evaluating functions.

6. The control according to claim 5, wherein said memory is located in said control unit.

7. The control according to claim 1, wherein there is in each case one transmitting device for wireless signal transmission for said control and for said electrical appliance.

8. The control according to claim 7, wherein said transmitting devices are constructed in bidirectionally functioning manner.

9. The control according to claim 1, wherein said control and said electrical appliance have a position determination device for determining the spatial association of said control unit with said electrical appliance.

10. The control according to claim 9, wherein said spatial association is predetermined as at least one specific position of said control unit on the basis of direction and distance in relation to said electric appliance or said position determination device.

11. The control according to claim 10, wherein said at least one specific position of said control unit is on said electrical appliance.

12. The control according to claim 9, wherein there is provided a contactless position determination device with a transmitting device and a receiving device.

13. The control according to claim 12, wherein said position determination device operates on an inductive basis.

14. The control according to claim 1, wherein holding means are provided for the toolless, detachable fixing of said control unit to said electrical appliance in a specific position.

15. The control according to claim 14, wherein said holding means form part of a position determination device for said control unit and an activation of said holding means for fixing said control unit is a determination of said specific position of said control unit in relation to said electrical appliance or said position determination device.

16. The control according to claim 1, wherein with said control unit is associated a power supply to which said control unit is detachably connectable.

17. The control according to claim 16, wherein said connection of said control unit to said power supply gives a specific spatial association of said control unit with respect to said electrical appliance or said position determination device.

18. The control according to claim 1, wherein there is provided a power switching device for the cooperation with several different said control units incorporated into said electrical appliance, said different control units containing the control and regulating part for said electrical appliance and have different functional features with respect to equipment, control possibilities, etc. for said electrical appliance.

19. The control according to claim 1, wherein said control is incorporated into an electrical heating appliance with a hob, said separate control unit being positionable at a predetermined location on said hob and said electrical heating appliance is only operable when said control unit is in said location.

20. A remotely controllable electrical appliance, with at least one electric operating device contained in said electrical appliance, wherein:

said electrical appliance contains at least one power switching device for supplying power to said electric operating device;

said electrical appliance is free from at least one of (a) operating elements and (b) control and regulating parts;

said electrical appliance is controllable with different separate control units by wireless signal transmission,

said separate control units are constructed separately from said electrical appliance; and

said separate control units contain all control and regulating parts for said electrical appliance.