Rotary selector

• US 20050190029A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Mucke, Wolfgang, Dietrich, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 7,609,138 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 335/205
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/30 characterised by mechanical features, e.g. buttons or rotary dials
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06

Abstract

The invention concerns a rotary selector as control device for switching on and off and automatic control of a number of different program steps of electrical appliances such as washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and the like. The rotary selector in the invention functions as a control device for switching on and off and automatic control of a number of different program steps of electrical appliances such as washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and the like. This is done by connecting a pivoted actuator (3) via an operating shaft (4) with a magnetic rotary field sensor (5) in Hall sensor technology. An interface is integrated into the rotary field sensor (5), via which an angle-dependent code is transmitted to an electronic evaluation and control unit. In addition there is a device for positioning the actuator (3) at a precise angle, whereby a particular program cycle is assigned to each setting of the rotary field sensor (5) and each switch position of the actuator (3).

Claims

1-5. -5. (canceled)

6. A rotary selector for controlling a household appliance, the selector switching the appliance on and off and controlling multiple program sequences for the appliance, the selector comprising:

a magnetic rotary field sensor;

a pivoted actuator connected to the rotary field sensor in Hall sensor technology;

an interface integrated into the rotary field sensor and transmitting an angle-dependent code;

an electronic evaluation and control unit connected to the interface and receiving the angle-dependent code, and

a positioning device for positioning the actuator at a precise angle in relation to the rotary field sensor representing a setting, a particular program sequence being assigned to each setting of the rotary field sensor and each switch position of the actuator, the Hall technology providing non-contact positions.

7. The rotary selector of claim 6, wherein the rotary field sensor allows the encoding of 256 positions and the positioning device has positions corresponding to the number of program steps required.

8. The rotary selector of claim 6, further comprising a display unit connected to the electronic evaluation and control unit for displaying data.

9. The rotary selector of claim 6, wherein the allocation of the program sequences to the positions of the magnetic rotary field sensor is programmable.

10. The rotary selector of claim 6, wherein the interface for transfer and input of data from the magnetic rotary field sensor to the electronic evaluation and control unit for programming and control of the appliance includes a serial interface.

11. The rotary selector of claim 6, wherein the household appliance includes a washing machines.

12. The rotary selector of claim 6, wherein the household appliance includes a dryer.

13. The rotary selector of claim 6, wherein the household appliance includes a dishwasher.

14. The rotary selector of claim 6, wherein the household appliance has a housing, an operating shaft extending through the housing and connecting the actuator and the rotary field sensor to one another, the actuator and the rotary field sensor being disposed on opposite sides of the housing.

15. A washing machine comprising:

a housing;

a drum at least partially disposed within the housing and mounted for rotation with respect to the housing;

a rotary selector supported by the housing and for controlling the washing machine, the rotary selector having a magnetic rotary field sensor;

a pivoted actuator connected to the magnetic rotary field sensor in non-contacting Hall sensor technology, the rotary selector having multiple settings representing the position of the actuator in relation to the rotary field sensor;

an interface integrated into the rotary field sensor and transmitting an angle-dependent code indicating the setting;

a control unit connected to the interface and receiving and evaluating the angle-dependent code, the control unit storing multiple pre-set program sequences for controlling operation of the washing machine; and

a positioning device for positioning the actuator at a specific setting, at least one particular program sequence being assigned to at least one corresponding setting of the rotary field sensor.

16. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the rotary selector has 256 settings.

17. The washing machine of claim 15, further comprising a display unit supported by the housing and connected to the control unit for displaying data.

18. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the allocation of the program sequences to the corresponding settings of the rotary selector is programmable.

19. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the interface for transfer and input of data from the magnetic rotary field sensor to the control unit for programming and control of the appliance includes a serial interface.

20. The washing machine of claim 15, further comprising an operating shaft extending through the housing and connecting the actuator and the rotary field sensor to one another, the actuator and the rotary field sensor being disposed on opposite sides of the housing.

21. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the program sequences control movement of the drum.

22. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the program sequences control the volume and temperature of a liquid within the drum.

23. A method of controlling a household appliance having an electronic control unit, the method comprising the following acts:

providing a rotary selector having a pivoted actuator and a magnetic field rotary sensor connected to the pivoted actuator in non-contacting Hall sensor technology;

providing an interface electrically connecting the rotary selector and the control unit for transmitting data;

moving the actuator to a desired position;

sensing the position of the actuator in relation to the rotary field sensor with the rotary field sensor;

transmitting a signal to the control unit with the interface indicating the position of the actuator in relation to the rotary field sensor;

determining a specific program sequence corresponding to the signal; and

performing the specific program sequence to control operation of the appliance.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the act of displaying data on a display unit electrically connected to the control unit.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the act of programming the control unit to allocate specific program sequences to the corresponding settings of the rotary selector.