METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR OPERATING A MOBILE COOKING VAPOR EXHAUST DEVICE FOR A COOKTOP, AND COOKING VAPOR EXHAUST DEVICE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

Priority is claimed to Chinese Patent Application No. DE 10 2024 138 802.1, filed on Dec. 19, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The invention relates to a method and a control unit for operating a mobile cooking vapor exhaust device for a cooktop, as well as a cooking vapor exhaust device.

BACKGROUND

Exhaust hoods are usually positioned near sources of cooking vapors. During a cooking process, the moist cooking vapors are very warm, so that contact with a surface results in a large temperature gradient and condensation of the cooking vapors.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for operating a mobile cooking vapor exhaust device for a cooktop, the mobile cooking vapor exhaust device having an interior space for conducting cooking vapors, an air mover for generating an air flow, and a base plate for placement on the heated cooktop, the method comprising: issuing a user prompt for action representing moving the mobile cooking vapor exhaust device onto the heated cooktop in response to an operation signal representing a turning off of the air mover and/or in response to a sensor signal representing a humidity level in the interior space, so as to dry humidity in the interior space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Subject matter of the present disclosure will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. All features described and/or illustrated herein can be used alone or combined in different combinations. The features and advantages of various embodiments will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate the following:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a mobile cooking vapor exhaust device;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a mobile cooking vapor exhaust device;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a mobile cooking vapor exhaust device;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a mobile cooking vapor exhaust device;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for operating a mobile cooking vapor exhaust device;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control unit according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In an embodiment, the present invention provides an improved method and an improved control unit for operating a mobile cooking vapor exhaust device for a cooktop, as well as an improved cooking vapor exhaust device.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method and a control unit for operating a mobile cooking vapor exhaust device for a cooktop and a cooking vapor exhaust device having the features described herein.

The presented approach can provide a simple and cost-effective way of removing condensate from a cooking vapor exhaust device.

Presented is a method for operating a mobile cooking vapor exhaust device for a cooktop, the mobile cooking vapor exhaust device having an interior space for conducting cooking vapors, an air mover for generating an air flow, and a base plate for placement on the heated cooktop. The method includes a step of issuing, to a user, a prompt for action representing moving the mobile cooking vapor exhaust device onto the heated cooktop in response to an operation signal representing a turning off of the air mover of the cooking vapor exhaust device, and, additionally or alternatively, in response to a sensor signal representing a humidity level in the interior space of the cooking vapor exhaust device, in order to dry any humidity present in the interior space of the cooking vapor exhaust device.

The cooking vapor exhaust device may also be referred to, for example, as an exhaust hood, which can be advantageously used for common household cooktops. The method can improve the hygiene of the cooking vapor exhaust device because any humidity present in the cooking vapor exhaust device can be easily removed. The air mover may, for example, be configured as a fan whose direction of rotation allows it to generate an airflow and guide the direction thereof. Cooking vapors can advantageously be carried by the air flow, so that odor formation can be reduced. The prompt for action may, for example, be issued as a visual or audible signal, so that the attention of the user can be drawn to moving the cooking vapor exhaust device onto the still warm cooktop. The air mover may, for example, remain on for a certain run-on time after an operation is completed. When this run-on time has elapsed, the air mover may turn off automatically and issue the prompt for action accordingly. Advantageously, the presented approach makes it possible, for example, to effectively use residual heat of the cooktop.

In accordance with an embodiment, the method may include a step of activating a heating device based on the operation signal and, additionally or alternatively, based on the sensor signal. In particular, in the activation step, the heating device may be activated to heat air in the interior space when the sensor signal represents a humidity level greater than a threshold. The heating device may advantageously be disposed on or in the base plate. The heating device may advantageously be configured (for example, as a heating element) to heat the air in the interior space and thus dry any residual humidity in the interior space. The threshold may be used to determine when to activate the heating device. Alternatively, the operation signal or the sensor signal may act as an activation trigger to start the heating device.

In the activation step, in addition, the air mover may be activated to permit reversal of the flow direction of the air mover compared to a cooking vapor exhaust operation. Advantageously, the air mover can be activated to dry components disposed in the cooking vapor exhaust device, such as a filter of the cooking vapor exhaust device.

Furthermore, in the issuing step, the prompt for action may be issued to the user via a display device, a light source, and, additionally or alternatively, wirelessly to a mobile terminal device. The display device may, for example, take the form of an appliance display. The light source may, for example, take the form of a light-emitting diode (LED). The mobile terminal device may be, for example, a smartphone or a tablet of the user, which is coupled or couplable to the cooking vapor exhaust device.

The approach presented here also provides a control unit which is adapted for performing, controlling, and implementing the steps of a variant of a method presented here in corresponding devices. Advantages of the invention can also be achieved rapidly and efficiently by this embodiment variant of the invention in the form of a device.

The control unit may be adapted to read input signals and determine and provide output signals based on the input signals. An input signal may be, for example, a sensor signal which can be read via an input interface of the control unit. An output signal may be a control signal or a data signal which can be provided at an output interface of the control unit. The control unit may be adapted to determine the output signals using a processing instruction implemented in hardware or software. For this purpose, the control unit may, for example, include a logic circuit, an integrated circuit or a software module, and may, for example, be implemented as a discrete device or may be included in a discrete device.

Also advantageous is a computer program product or computer program having program code which may be stored on a machine-readable carrier or storage medium, such as a semiconductor memory, a hard-disk memory, or an optical memory. If the program product or program is executed on a computer or a control unit, then the program product or program can be used to perform, implement, and/or control the steps of the method according to any of the embodiments described herein.

Also presented is a mobile cooking vapor exhaust device for a cooktop, the mobile cooking vapor exhaust device having an interior space for conducting cooking vapors, an air mover disposed in the interior space and configured for generating an air flow for exhausting cooking vapors, and a base plate for placement on a heated cooktop. The base plate is configured as a supporting foot for heating air in the interior space in order to dry components of the cooking vapor exhaust device in the interior space.

The cooking vapor exhaust device can be made very compact, thereby advantageously allowing a user to stow it away. The cooking vapor exhaust device may advantageously be used for a household appliance, but the approach described herein may also be used accordingly in connection with a commercial or professional appliance. The cooktop for which the cooking vapor exhaust device can be used, may, for example, be configured as a glass-ceramic cooktop or alternatively as an induction cooktop. One component of the cooking vapor exhaust device may be, for example, a filter which may be configured to filter particles and, additionally or alternatively, odoriferous substances out of the cooking vapors. Advantageously, convection heat can be used to dry the interior space and the filter or filters.

In accordance with an embodiment, the mobile cooking vapor exhaust device may include a sensor unit for detecting a humidity level in the interior space and, additionally or alternatively, a heating device for drying the components present in the interior space, or a control unit according to a previously mentioned variant, which is coupled to the air mover, the sensor unit and, additionally or alternatively, to the heating device. The sensor unit may, for example, be configured to measure the humidity present in the interior space and to provide a corresponding signal as the sensor signal.

The heating device may include a thermally conductive material for conducting residual heat of the cooktop into an interior space of the mobile cooking vapor exhaust device and may in particular be disposed in or on the base plate. Advantageously, components of the cooking vapor exhaust device can be dried by convection. The heat required for this can advantageously be residual heat of the cooktop, which is conducted by the heating device into the interior space.

Furthermore, the heating device may include a heating element for generating heat to allow the interior space to be dried. The heating element can advantageously assist the drying of the interior space. In this way, humidity can advantageously be removed in a controlled manner and the hygiene of the device can be improved, since microbial growth and odor formation can be prevented.

In accordance with an embodiment, the air mover may be configured as an axial air mover. The axial flow design of the air mover advantageously makes it possible to change the direction of the air flow.

FIG. 1 shows, in schematic view, an exemplary embodiment of a mobile cooking vapor exhaust device 100 for a cooktop 105. Cooktop 105 is, for example, configured as a glass-ceramic cooktop having resistive heating elements and/or inductive heating elements. Mobile cooking vapor exhaust device 100 will hereinafter also be referred to more simply as cooking vapor exhaust device 100 and may also be referred to as an exhaust hood. Cooking vapor exhaust device 100 has an interior space 110 for conducting cooking vapors 115, an air mover 120 disposed in interior space 110, as well as a base plate 125. Air mover 120 is configured to generate an air flow for exhausting cooking vapors 115. Air mover 120 is, for example, configured as an axial air mover. Base plate 125 is configured for placement of cooking vapor exhaust device 100 on a heated cooktop 105. Base plate 125 is configured as a supporting foot for heating air in interior space 110 in order to dry components 130 of cooking vapor exhaust device 100 in interior space 110.

In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, components 130 include air mover 120, but also, for example, a filter 135 of cooking vapor exhaust device 100 for filtering drawn-in air, such as cooking vapors 115. When exhausting cooking vapors 115 containing water vapor, evaporated liquid condenses, for example, on filter 135, so that filter 135 is wetted during operation of cooking vapor exhaust device 100. Thus, in addition to its primary function of exhausting cooking vapors 115, cooking vapor exhaust device 110 is configured to dry components 130 present in interior space 110.

In order to achieve this, the cooking vapor exhaust device 100 according to this exemplary embodiment includes a sensor unit 140 for detecting a humidity level in interior space 110, and/or a heating device 145 for drying the components 130 present in interior space 110, or a control unit 150, which is, in particular, coupled to air mover 120, sensor unit 140, and/or to heating device 145. Accordingly, sensor unit 140 is, for example, configured as a humidity sensor, which is disposed adjacent to filter 135. In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, filter 135 is disposed obliquely in cooking vapor exhaust device 100. Heating device 145 includes, for example, a thermally conductive material for conducting the residual heat of cooktop 105 into interior space 110 of mobile cooking vapor exhaust device 100 when cooking vapor exhaust device 100 is located on cooktop 105, as described, for example, in at least one of the following figures. In particular, heating device 145 is disposed in or on base plate 125. In addition or alternatively, heating device 145 includes a heating element for generating heat to dry interior space 110 when cooking vapor exhaust device 100 is located on cooktop 105, as is shown also in FIG. 4.

Control unit 150 is, for example, configured for controlling and/or performing a method for operating mobile cooking vapor exhaust device 100, such as is described in greater detail, for example, in FIG. 5.

In other words, mobile cooking vapor exhaust device 100, which is also referred to as exhaust hood unit, is moved onto hot cooktop 105 after a cooking operation. The supporting foot, here described as a base plate 125, is, for example, configured to be thermally conductive so that the residual heat of cooking zone 105 passes into mobile cooking vapor exhaust device 100 and rises through natural convection. This dries cooking vapor exhaust device 100 and filter 135. Additionally or alternatively, cooking vapor exhaust device 100 includes a heating element above supporting foot 125.

More specifically, after switching off air mover 120, the user is prompted to place mobile cooking vapor exhaust device 100 onto a cooking zone 105 that is still warm. The prompt for action is issued, for example, from the user manual, by an LED, or via an app. Sensor unit 140, which is configured as a humidity sensor and disposed in mobile cooking vapor exhaust device 100, monitors the success of the drying process. For example, the user or, alternatively, an automatic mechanism turns on the heating element after air mover 120 has been turned off or after sensor 140 has been analyzed. If, for example, an axial air mover is used in mobile cooking vapor exhaust device 100, this axial air mover can be rotated by 180° for drying, so that the direction of air flow is reversed. This makes it possible to assist the convection of the heat.

FIG. 2 shows, in schematic view, an exemplary embodiment of a mobile cooking vapor exhaust device 100 equivalent to the cooking vapor exhaust device 100 described in FIG. 1. In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, cooking vapor exhaust device 100 is located next to cooktop 105 in the same position as in FIG. 1. In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, a cooking operation has been completed and a cooking vessel located on the cooktop has been removed. Residual heat 200 of cooktop 105 can be used to remove the humidity present in cooking vapor exhaust device 100. In order to be able to perform this drying process, a user is prompted to take action and move cooking vapor exhaust device 100 onto cooktop 105, which is shown symbolically in this exemplary embodiment for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 3 shows, in schematic view, an exemplary embodiment of a mobile cooking vapor exhaust device 100 equivalent to the cooking vapor exhaust device 100 described in FIGS. 1 through 2. In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, mobile cooking vapor exhaust device 100 is located on the cooktop, so that residual heat 200 is conducted through base plate 125 into interior space 110 of cooking vapor exhaust device 100.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiment described in FIGS. 1 through 3, mobile cooking vapor exhaust device 100 is located on the cooktop, so that residual heat 200 is conducted through base plate 125 into interior space 110 of cooking vapor exhaust device 100, where it dries components 130 of cooking vapor exhaust device 100.

FIG. 4 shows, in schematic view, an exemplary embodiment of a mobile cooking vapor exhaust device 100 with a heating device 145 that includes a heating element for generating heat to dry interior space 110 and thus all components 130 in interior space 110, in particular filter 135.

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a method 500 for operating a mobile cooking vapor exhaust device which is, for example, equivalent to the cooking vapor exhaust device described in at least one of FIGS. 1 through 4. Method 500 includes a step 505 of issuing, to a user, a prompt for action representing moving the mobile cooking vapor exhaust device onto the heated cooktop in response to an operation signal representing a turning off of the air mover of the cooking vapor exhaust device and/or in response to a sensor signal representing a humidity level in the interior space of the cooking vapor exhaust device, in order to dry any humidity present in the interior space of the cooking vapor exhaust device.

In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, method 500 optionally includes a step 510 of activating a heating device of the cooking vapor exhaust device based on an air mover signal and/or based on a sensor signal. In particular, the heating device is activated to heat air in the interior space when the sensor signal represents a humidity level greater than a threshold. In activation step 510, in addition and also optionally, the air mover is controlled to reverse the flow direction of the air mover compared to a cooking vapor exhaust operation.

In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, in issuing step 505, the prompt for action is issued to the user via a display device, a light source, and/or wirelessly to a mobile terminal device.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a control unit 150 according to an exemplary embodiment, such as was described, for example, in FIG. 1 as part of the cooking vapor exhaust device. Control unit 150 includes an issuing unit 600 configured to issue, to a user, a prompt for action 605 representing moving the mobile cooking vapor exhaust device onto the heated cooktop in response to an operation signal 601 representing a turning off of the air mover of the cooking vapor exhaust device and/or in response to a sensor signal 615 representing a humidity level in the interior space of the cooking vapor exhaust device, in order to dry any humidity present in the interior space of the cooking vapor exhaust device. Prompt for action 605 is issued to the user, for example, via a display device 620, a light source (LED) 625, and/or wirelessly to a mobile terminal device 630. In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, control unit 150 additionally includes an activation unit 635 configured to additionally activate a heating device 145 of the cooking vapor exhaust device to heat air in the interior space based on operation signal 610 and/or based on sensor signal 615, in particular when sensor signal 615 represents a humidity level greater than a threshold. In addition, activation unit 635 is optionally configured to additionally control air mover 120 of the cooking vapor exhaust device to reverse the flow direction of air mover 120 compared to a cooking vapor exhaust operation.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below. Additionally, statements made herein characterizing the invention refer to an embodiment of the invention and not necessarily all embodiments.

The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article “a” or “the” in introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of “or” should be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of “A or B” is not exclusive of “A and B,” unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is intended. Further, the recitation of “at least one of A, B and C” should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C, regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of “A, B and/or C” or “at least one of A, B or C” should be interpreted as including any singular entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B and C.