Patent Publication Number: US-8981944-B2

Title: Interaction device

Description:
The invention relates to an interaction device comprising a first input unit with a first sensitive surface, especially a touch display, and a first sensor unit. 
     Input units with sensitive surfaces, especially touch displays, are becoming more and more popular. However, often times the surfaces are sensitive with respect to hot items, for example hot pans, as this can cause an aging of the sensitive surfaces or even a destruction of the sensitive surfaces. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the invention to find a way to protect the sensitive surfaces in a way which is producible at least relatively easy and cheap. 
     This object is solved by an interaction device according to claim  1 , a glass ceramic hob according to claim  8  and a method for protection according to claim  9 . Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims. 
     According to claim  1 , the interaction device comprises
     a) a first input unit with a first sensitive surface, especially a touch display, and a first sensor unit,   b) a second input unit with a second sensitive surface and a second sensor unit,   c) wherein the second input unit is used for protection of the first input unit, especially against overheating and/or mechanical damaging.   

     The interaction device according to the invention can be implemented in an at least relatively easy way. According to the invention, at least two input units are provided. By using the second input unit for protection of the first input unit, an effective protection of the first input unit can be achieved. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment, the interaction device comprises
     a) at least one detection unit and at least one information processing unit,   b) wherein the first input unit and the second input unit use at least substantially the same or the same type of detection unit and/or   c) wherein the first input unit and the second input unit use at least substantially the same or the same type of information processing unit.   

     The interaction device according to this advantageous embodiment can be implemented in an at least relatively easy way, as an existing detection unit and/or an existing information processing unit can be used for both input units, while either the same units are used or at least units of the same or of a similar type can be used. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment,
     a) the first and/or the second input unit is/are arranged on or at a glass surface and/or   b) the first and/or the second sensor unit is/are arranged on the one the side of the glass surface and actuated from the other side of the glass surface.   

     If the first and/or the second sensor unit is/are arranged on the one side of the glass surface and actuated from the other side of the glass surface, the protection of the input units can be improved. 
     In another advantageous embodiment,
     a) the first input unit is disengageable and/or   b) an alarm, especially an acoustical and/or optical alarm, is generable and/or   c) the interaction device is connected to a fan and the fan speed in increasable,
 
after the detection of an input exceeding a predefined threshold value by the second input unit. The detection of an input exceeding a predefined threshold value by the second input unit can mean that a critical item is at or near the first input unit. The three different procedures according to this embodiment are advantageous possibilities to prevent a damaging of the first input unit when such a threshold value has been detected.
   

     In an advantageous embodiment,
     a) the first input unit is activatable by fingers and/or   b) the second input unit is activatable by items, especially metal objects, pots, pans, grills, forks, spoons, knifes, cookware, water, milk and/or damp clothes on or close to a defined area.   

     This means that the first input unit can work as a common input unit, whereas the second input unit can be operated by items which can damage the first input unit. 
     Preferably,
     a) the second input unit is arranged next to or around the first input unit and/or   b) the second input unit is adapted to the form of the first input unit and/or   c) the second input unit is connected with the first input unit by at least one connection,   d) the second input unit has a rectangular, triangular, ellipsoid, lined, fork frame and/or comb shape and/or   e) the second input is arranged with or without distance to the first input unit and/or   f) at least one connection is arranged between the first input unit and the second input unit.   

     An appropriate arrangement of the second input unit with respect to the first input unit is a good measure to protect the first input unit in an effective way, as by an appropriate arrangement often times the potentially damaging items can be detected during approaching the first unit. 
     In an advantageous embodiment,
     a) the first and/or the second sensor unit comprises metal, especially aluminium, copper and/or nickel and/or is a capacitive sensor unit and/or   b) the first and/or the second input unit comprise or work like sensor keys and/or   c) the first input unit is formed at least substantially rectangular and/or   d) the first input unit comprises sensor keys with a display, especially an LED-display, an LCD display or a TFT-display.   

     According to claim  8 , the invention further comprises a glass ceramic hob, especially an induction cooking hob, with an interaction device according to one of the preceding claims,
     a) wherein preferably the interaction device is arranged in a side and/or edge area of the glass ceramic hob and/or arranged at the lower surface of the glass ceramic hob and/or   b) wherein preferably the glass ceramic hob comprises a fan for ventilation.   

     If a glass ceramic hob with an interaction device is used, there is an at least relatively high risk that a hot pot or other hot items get close to the interaction device, especially if the interaction device is integrated into the surface of the glass ceramic hob. Therefore, a combination of a glass ceramic hob with an interaction device according to the invention can be very advantageous. 
     According to claim  9 , the invention further comprises a method for protection of an input unit, preferably for an interaction device and/or a glass ceramic hob according to one of the preceding claims, comprising
     a) a first input unit with a first sensitive surface, especially a touch display, and a first sensor unit,   b) a second input unit with a second sensitive surface and a second sensor unit,   c) wherein the second input unit protects the first input unit,   d) wherein after an input has been detected by the second input unit, especially after a preselected threshold value has been exceeded,   e) the input value is compared with at least one preselected threshold value,   f) wherein the at least one threshold value is preferably larger than a threshold value generated by the press or the touch of a finger,   g) wherein after exceeding the at least one threshold value,   g1) the first input unit is turned off and/or   g2) the heating energy for the glass ceramic hob, especially the induction current, is turned off to decrease the temperature and/or   g3) an alarm is generated, especially an optical or acoustical alarm, to warn the operator and/or   g4) the speed of the fan is increased to decrease the temperature.   

     The use of different threshold values enables to use the same detection and/or information processing means for the first and the second input unit, so that processing of the input values is at least basically the same, only the threshold value is different. 
     Preferably, the second input unit detects when an item, especially a metal object, a pot, a pan, a grill, a fork, a spoon, cookware, water, milk and/or damp clothes is on or close to a defined area. Preferably, the detection is independent from the temperature. This makes it possible to detect also cold items which can also damage the first input unit, for example water, milk and/or damp clothes. 
    
    
     
       The invention will be now described in further details with references to the figures, in which 
         FIG. 1  describes a system according to the invention integrated into a cooking plate, 
         FIGS. 2 to 10  show different embodiments of the interaction device according to the invention and in which 
         FIG. 11  shows a block diagram of the interaction device according to the invention. 
     
    
    
       FIG. 1  shows a glass ceramic hob  22  of an induction hob with a rectangular touch display  20  in the lower right corner. The touch display  20  is designed as an LED-, LCD or TFT-display and surrounded by an also rectangular protective area  2 , which includes a sensor and will generate a cut-off of the glass ceramic hob  22  and/or an alarm signal as soon as it detects the presence of a potentially dangerous item, for example a hot pan or a hot pot  21  or an accumulation of water. 
       FIGS. 2 to 10  show different embodiments of the interaction device according to the invention, with a rectangular touch display  20 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , the touch display  20  is surrounded rectangular by a protective area  3 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the protective area  4  is at least substantially square shaped and arranged adjacent to the upper side of the touch display  20 . 
     In the embodiment according to  FIG. 4 , the protective area  5  is formed like a handle with two side parts, each along a straight line, and a connecting part connecting the side parts at their outer ends which is perpendicular with respect to the side parts. 
     The embodiment according to  FIG. 5  shows a protective area  6 , which protrudes away from the touch display  20  in a straight line and has a top part which is perpendicular to the straight line and protrudes parallel to the side of the touch display  20 , where the top part has a length which is equal to the side length of the touch display  20 . 
       FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of the invention with four bended protective areas  7 A to  7 D, which extend along the four sides of the touch display  20 , where the bend is in the centre of the protective areas  7 A to  7 D. Therefore, between the protective areas  7 A to  7 D and the sides of the touch display  20 , isosceles triangles are arranged. 
       FIG. 7  shows a protective area  8  with a form similar to a comb with teeth protruding away from the touch display  20 . 
       FIG. 8  shows another embodiment of the interaction device with a protective area  9  which is formed like a comb. However, in the embodiment according to  FIG. 8 , the teeth of the comb  9  are oriented towards the touch display  20 . 
     In  FIG. 9 , the protective area  10  is formed like an ellipse which is connected with the touch display  20  via a straight connection line. 
       FIG. 10  shows another embodiment of the interaction device according to the invention, with a rectangular protective area  11 , which is connected with the touch display  20  via a straight connection line. 
       FIG. 11  shows a block diagram of the interaction device  1  according to invention. The sensor unit of the protective area  12  is connected with the detection unit  34  via a connection line  33 , whereas the detection unit  34  is connected with an information processing unit  36  via a connecting line  35 . 
     Similarly, the sensor unit of the touch display  20  is connected with a detection unit  31  via a connection line  30 , and detection unit  31  is connected with the information processing unit  36  via a connecting line  32 . 
     The sensor unit works as a capacitive sensor and can be made of metal, copper, aluminium, nickel or other materials. 
     After an input has been detected by the sensor unit of the protective area, especially after a preselected threshold value has been exceeded, the input value is compared with at least one preselected threshold value. 
     The threshold value is preferably larger than a threshold value generated by the press or the touch of a finger. Therefore, the same processing units can be used and no additional of different evaluation hardware and/or software is necessary. 
     When a pot or another item is detected, the system can either generate an alarm, especially by a visual, flashing display or any other colour means or an acoustical signal. 
     Furthermore, the system can cut off the power that is applied to a large pot or increase a cooling fan, especially of the glass ceramic hob  22 , to a higher speed to prevent internal overheating. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           1  interaction device 
           2 - 12  protective area 
           20  touch display 
           21  pot 
           22  glass ceramic hob 
           30 ,  32 ,  33 ,  35  connection lines 
           31 ,  34  detection units 
           36  information processing unit