Patent Description:
In generic terms, the household appliances referred to in the invention comprise:.

In household appliances of the known art, the user interface is formed in one or more fixed areas of the housing or of the treating seat (refrigerator) and comprises a plurality of buttons or handles or capacitive touch sensors and, possibly, visual indicators, e.g. warning lights or a liquid crystal display (TFT) or OLED.

The user interfaces of the household appliances of the known art were satisfactory at a time in which the development of treatment strategies and parameters of the household objects (e.g. clothes or dishes), of data communication and electronic control strategies and parameters were in pace with the development of the treatment equipment, with the evolution of the design of the household appliance housings and with the average duration of the household appliances. D1 (<CIT>), D2 (<CIT>), D3 (<CIT>), D4 (<CIT>), D5 (<CIT>), D6 (<CIT>), D7 (<CIT>), D8 (<CIT>), D9 (<CIT>), D10 (<CIT>), cited in the European Search Report for the present patent application describe prior art household appliance systems, in which D1, D2, D3, D8 are indicated by the European Search Report as closest prior art for the invention, disclosing household appliances comprising user interfaces with user inputs for selecting a treatment program and being connectable in a wireless communication manner to an external electronic device, such as a Smartphone, for selecting and setting treatment parameters of a versatile treatment program of the household appliance.

Currently, the treatment strategies of the household products, the electronic control and data communication technology, the amount of data and of treatment parameters available and potentially usable for controlling the household appliances and the aesthetical design of the household appliance housings are quickly evolving and frequently one is in conflict with the other or is "delayed" with respect to the other.

A reason for dissatisfaction with the known household appliances is the impossibility of providing sufficiently large and extensive user interfaces for displaying the increased amount of treatment control information without spatially interfering with other components of the household appliance.

A further reason for dissatisfaction with the known household appliances is the conflict between the need to have very large access openings or doors or hatches to facilitate the loading of the household products into the household appliance and the need to provide - often on the same front walls of the household appliance - free spaces for mounting the user interface, overall reduced outer sizes of the household appliances being equal.

A further need not met to date is the one of providing a minimalist household appliance, from a functional, structural and comma design viewpoint, with just as minimalist a user interface in terms of the appearance and functionality thereof.

A further need is to provide a household appliance that can be manufactured at very contained costs, is versatile in terms of the program selection and treatment parameters (e.g. of the clothes) and can be easily and quickly set and used for a treatment operation (e.g. clothes washing) conventionally used by the user.

The aforesaid needs in particular refer to a household washing machine or washer-dryer for washing clothes. Subordinately, at least some of the aforesaid needs also refer to other types of household appliances.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a household appliance, in particular a washing machine or washer-dryer, having such a user interface as to obviate the drawbacks indicated with reference to the known art.

These and other objects are achieved by a combination of a household appliance, in particular a washing machine or washer-dryer, with a user interface and an external electronic device, according to claim <NUM>. The dependent claims relate to advantageous and preferred embodiments.

According to an aspect of the invention, the user interface of the household appliance comprises an ON and OFF button, a first execution button of a preset fixed treatment program with preset and invariable treatment parameters, a second execution button of a versatile treatment program preset by the user with settable treatment parameters, a coupling (pairing) button, the activation of which carries out a wireless communication connection of the electronic control system with an electronic device that is external to the household appliance, for selecting and setting settable treatment parameters of the versatile treatment program by means of the external electronic device.

Thereby, the total number of keys or buttons of the household appliance may be minimized, the space occupied by the user interface may be considerably reduced, the production costs of the household appliance may be reduced, in particular the costs for the pushbutton panel of the user interface, the quantity of mechanical and electronical components of the user interface potentially subject to wear or breakdown may be reduced, and therefore possible maintenance and repair operations may be minimized.

In particular, the at least one preset fixed treatment program may be a treatment program prescribed by legislation or a treatment program used very frequently based on statistics on the use of the specific type of household appliance.

Further advantageous aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which:.

With reference to the drawings, a household appliance <NUM> comprises:.

According to the invention, the user interface <NUM> comprises:.

In this way, the total number of keys or buttons of the household appliance <NUM> may be reduced, the space occupied by the user interface <NUM> may be considerably reduced, the production costs of the household appliance <NUM> may be reduced, in particular the costs for the pushbutton panel of the user interface <NUM>, the quantity of mechanical and electronical components of the user interface <NUM> potentially subject to wear or breakdown may be reduced, and therefore possible maintenance and repair operations may be minimized.

In particular, the at least one preset fixed treatment program may be a treatment program prescribed by legislation or a treatment program used very frequently, based on statistics on the use of the specific type of household appliance <NUM>.

More than one preset fixed treatment program, for example two fixed programs prescribed by legislation on the subject of household appliances, may be provided for certain household appliances. Here, the user interface <NUM> may comprise a third execution button <NUM> of a further fixed treatment program which is preset with preset and invariable treatment parameters.

According to an embodiment, the external electronic device <NUM> comprises a computer program which is adapted to a remote control of the household appliance <NUM> using the wireless communication connection between the electronic control system <NUM> of the household appliance <NUM> and the external electronic device <NUM>, which is activated by operating the coupling button <NUM>.

By means of the computer program of the external electronic device <NUM>, the following is possible:.

For this purpose, the electronic control system <NUM> receives, from the external electronic device <NUM>, a signal which encodes the treatment parameters selected by the user, stores the selected treatment parameters in an internal memory thereof and, in response to operating the second execution button <NUM>, executes the versatile treatment program with the selected and stored treatment parameters.

In the absence of programming of the versatile treatment program by means of the external electronic device <NUM>, the versatile treatment program uses preset factory treatment parameters.

Even if the electronic control system <NUM> does not find the selected treatment parameters stored in the internal memory thereof, instead of signaling an error, the electronic control system <NUM> restores the preset factory treatment parameters for the versatile treatment program.

According to an embodiment, the electronic control system <NUM> is configured to communicate to the external electronic device <NUM> the versatile treatment program with the treatment parameters currently stored in the internal memory thereof.

This allows the computer program of the external electronic device <NUM> to display the treatment parameters currently set for the versatile treatment program so as to facilitate and speed up possible small modifications to the versatile treatment program.

According to the preferred embodiment, the user interface <NUM> itself does not allow any selecting and setting of the settable treatment parameters of the versatile treatment program.

This allows a use of the household appliance <NUM> in expert mode, by selecting, programming and setting treatment parameters by means of the external electronic device <NUM> as well as a highly simplified use of the household appliance <NUM> by means of the execution buttons <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> alone and without any involvement of the external electronic device <NUM> and dedicated computer program.

According to a further embodiment, in the absence of new programming by means of the external electronic device <NUM>, the versatile treatment program which can be activated by means of the second execution button <NUM> is automatically identical to the last treatment program executed by the household appliance <NUM>.

Thereby, an individual who is to repeatedly execute a same treatment program on an increased number of household objects, for example a same washing program on an increased quantity of clothes of the same type, may start the treatment program (e.g. washing) several times by operating the second execution button <NUM> without any need to select or set individual treatment parameters (e.g. washing parameters).

According to a still further embodiment, in the absence of new programming by means of the external electronic device <NUM>, the versatile treatment program which can be activated by means of the second execution button <NUM> is automatically identical to the last treatment program executed by means of the operation of the second execution button <NUM>.

This advantageously allows the fixed treatment program or the further fixed treatment program to be executed without influencing the settable treatment parameters of the versatile treatment program.

Advantageously, the user interface <NUM> comprises less than six buttons. Moreover, it is preferable for the user interface not to comprise any individual member for selecting a plurality of treatment programs or treatment parameters. This considerably simplifies the use of the user interface <NUM>, obviates the need to install multiple selection members, e.g. selection knobs, increases the life of the user interface <NUM> and reduces the manufacturing costs and the need for maintenance.

According to embodiments, the ON and OFF button <NUM> is a mechanical pressure button (pushbutton), for example a button which may take on a pressed position (in activated configuration), and a protruding position (in deactivated configuration), while the first <NUM>, second <NUM>, third <NUM> program execution buttons and the coupling button <NUM> may be configured as touch keys, e.g. capacitive touch keys. This obviates the risk of turning the household appliance <NUM> ON and OFF by only touching the ON button <NUM>, allows the program execution buttons <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the coupling button <NUM> to be moved close to each other and to the mechanical ON and OFF button <NUM> in order to globally reduce the space occupied by the user interface <NUM>.

According to an advantageous embodiment, all the (five) buttons <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the user interface <NUM> are configured as touch buttons, e.g. as capacitive buttons, the outer surface of which (which is pressed by the user) may be pressed against the elastic resistance of an elastic element arranged at each of the buttons <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

This reconciles the advantages of the touch technology with the need for the tactile perception of having triggered a treatment process.

According to a preferred embodiment, the user interface <NUM> has no alphanumeric display within the view of a rigorous simplification of the start process of the treatment program.

Advantageously, the user interface <NUM> may comprise two warning lights (preferably LEDs) having different colors, for example a first warning light <NUM> having a first color (e.g. green) and a second warning light <NUM> having a second color (e.g. blue), which is different from the first color. Both warning lights <NUM>, <NUM> are disabled when the household appliance <NUM> is OFF or in standby. The second warning light <NUM> (e.g. blue) is ON when the household appliance <NUM> is ON and pending activation of one of the first <NUM>, second <NUM>, third <NUM> (when provided) execution buttons or the coupling button <NUM>. The first warning light <NUM> (e.g. green) is ON after the activation of one of the first <NUM>, second <NUM>, third <NUM> (when provided) execution buttons and during the execution of one of the respective fixed or versatile treatment programs.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first warning light <NUM> and the second warning light <NUM> are obtained in a single optical warning area which lights up with the first color and with the second color, for example by means of a single multicolor LED. The user interface <NUM> may further comprise an audible warning device <NUM> which emits an acoustic signal:.

According to an embodiment, the settable program parameters of the versatile wash program may be selected and input only by means of the external electronic device <NUM> and not also by means of the user interface <NUM> of the household appliance <NUM>. This further contributes to a simplification and minimalist perception of the use of the household appliance <NUM>.

According to the invention, the electronic control system <NUM> of the household appliance <NUM> is connectable to the external electronic device <NUM> by means of a wireless communication connection or network, for example by means of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

According to an embodiment, the user interface <NUM> is connected to a motherboard of the electronic control system <NUM> by means of an I2C (I12C bus) communication protocol. The electronic control system <NUM> may comprise an integrated micro-controller (system on a chip) with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module for the wireless connection to the external electronic device <NUM>.

According to embodiments, the treatment devices <NUM> of the household appliance <NUM> may comprise one or more of:.

According to embodiments, the treatment detectors <NUM> may comprise one or more of:.

According to embodiments, the anomaly detectors <NUM> are also in signal connection with the electronic control system <NUM> and may comprise one or more of a temperature sensor, a water presence sensor, a smoke presence sensor, a no water sensor, a position/presence sensor of movable or detachable parts of the household appliance (e.g. door <NUM>, auxiliary door <NUM>, detergent drawer <NUM>, filter <NUM>, filter holder <NUM>, dust bag <NUM>).

According to embodiments, the electronic control system <NUM> controls the one or more treatment devices <NUM> also depending on anomaly signals generated by the anomaly detectors <NUM>.

The household appliance <NUM> for example, is one of:.

According to embodiments, the household products which are treated by means of the household appliance <NUM> may comprise one or more of:.

The washing machine <NUM> (<FIG>) comprises a laundry drum <NUM>' forming the treating seat <NUM> and which can be closed by a door <NUM>, as well as a hydraulic system <NUM>, a water heating system <NUM>, a dispensing system <NUM>, a moving system 29a.

The user interface <NUM> of the washing machine <NUM> comprises:.

According to an embodiment, the washing machine <NUM> or washer-dryer comprises a support and housing structure <NUM>, inside which a washing tub <NUM> is housed, provided with a front opening which can be closed by means of a porthole door <NUM> hinged on the front of housing <NUM>. A drum <NUM>' (which forms the treating seat <NUM>) is rotatably accommodated about a horizontal or inclined axis inside the washing tub <NUM> to receive the clothes to be washed. Also the drum <NUM>' delimits a front opening placed at the opening of the washing tub <NUM> in order to load and unload the clothes.

The washing tub <NUM> is adapted to contain the washing liquid during the clothes washing steps.

A hydraulic system <NUM> connectable to the water supply network is provided to allow the loading of tub <NUM> with mains water. The hydraulic system <NUM> may comprise a plurality of ducts extending, for example from one or more, e.g. two, supply solenoid valves <NUM>, directly or through detergent compartments of a detergent tray <NUM> (optional), up to the washing tub <NUM>.

On the bottom of the washing tub <NUM> is connected a drainage duct with associated drain pump <NUM> which removes the washing liquid from the washing tub <NUM> and which, together with the supply solenoid valves <NUM>, controls the level of liquid in the washing tub <NUM>.

A heating system <NUM> may be provided to heat the washing liquid contained in tub <NUM>, for example an electrical resistance, arranged inside the washing tub <NUM>, in particular on the bottom of the washing tub <NUM>, in the gap between the wall of the washing tub <NUM> and the laundry drum <NUM>',
The laundry drum <NUM>' may be activated in rotation by means of handling system <NUM> A, for example an electric motor and a drive, for example, to shake and mix the clothes with the washing liquid.

The operation of the washing machine <NUM> is controlled by the electronic control system <NUM> which is operatively connected to the user interface <NUM>. In response to the selections made by the user by means of the user interface <NUM> and/or by means of the external electronic device <NUM>, the electronic control system <NUM> controls the various components of the washing machine <NUM> to automatically wash the clothes.

The washing machine <NUM> may further comprise a dispensing system <NUM> of the "multiple dose" type for dispensing clothes treatment substances.

According to an embodiment, the washing machine <NUM> has no dedicated detergent container so that a detergent and/or other additives or treatment substances are to be placed by the user directly in the treating seat <NUM>, i.e. in the laundry drum <NUM>', together with the clothes themselves. In this case, the hydraulic system <NUM> may comprise a single solenoid valve <NUM> for the connection to the water supply network, as well as a duct extending from the single solenoid valve <NUM> directly into the washing tub <NUM>.

This allows obviating the installation of a second solenoid valve which directs a water flow into the detergent container.

This configuration further simplifies the mechanical and hydraulic structure of the washing machine <NUM> and further reduces the manufacturing costs.

Detailed description of further types of household appliances.

The dryer <NUM> (<FIG>) comprises a basket or laundry drum forming the treating seat <NUM> and which can be closed by a door <NUM>, as well as a ventilation system <NUM>, an air heating system <NUM>, a dehumidifying system <NUM>, a moving system 29a.

The washer-dryer <NUM> (<FIG>) comprises a laundry drum forming the treating seat <NUM> and which can be closed by a door <NUM>, as well as a hydraulic system <NUM>, a water heating system <NUM>, a dispensing system <NUM>, a moving system 29a, a ventilation system <NUM>, an air heating system <NUM>, a dehumidifying system <NUM>.

The dishwasher <NUM> (<FIG>) comprises a receiving cavity forming the treating seat <NUM> and which can be closed by a door <NUM>, as well as a hydraulic system <NUM>, a water heating system <NUM>, a dispensing system <NUM>, and optionally, a dehumidifying system <NUM>.

The household oven <NUM> (<FIG>) comprises a cooking cavity forming the treating seat <NUM> and which can be closed by a door <NUM>, as well as a ventilation system <NUM>, a heating system <NUM> for heating the food products, optionally a moving system <NUM> A (e.g. for turning meat to be roasted), optionally a steam generator 31a for generating steam in the treating position <NUM>, optionally a gas burner <NUM> adapted to heat food in the treating position <NUM>.

The microwave oven <NUM> (<FIG>) comprises a cooking cavity forming the treating seat <NUM> and which can be closed by a door <NUM>, as well as a microwave generator 30a for generating microwaves in the treating position <NUM>, a moving system 29a, optionally a ventilation system <NUM>.

The resistive cooktop <NUM> (<FIG>) comprises a pot support structure forming the treating seat <NUM>, as well as a resistive heating system <NUM> for heating pots or food in the treating position <NUM>.

The induction cooktop <NUM> (<FIG>) comprises a pot support structure forming the treating seat <NUM>, as well as a generator (e.g. an induction coil) <NUM> of a varying electromagnetic field in the treating position <NUM>.

The gas cooktop <NUM> (<FIG>) comprises a pot support structure forming the treating seat <NUM>, as well as a gas burner <NUM> adapted to heat pots or food in the treating position <NUM>.

The refrigerator <NUM> (<FIG>) comprises a cooling cavity forming the treating seat <NUM> and which can be closed by a door <NUM>, as well as a cooling and/or freezing system <NUM> adapted to cool and/or freeze the household products in the treating position <NUM> and optionally, a ventilation and/or air circulating system <NUM> for aerating the household products in the treating position <NUM>.

The freezer <NUM> (<FIG>) comprises a freezing cavity forming the treating seat <NUM> and which can be closed by a door <NUM>, as well as a freezing system <NUM> adapted to freeze the household products in the treating position <NUM>.

The vacuum cleaner <NUM> (<FIG>) comprises a suction mouth for a furnishing surface forming the treating seat <NUM>, as well as a ventilation system <NUM>, in particular a suction system, of air from the furnishing surface in the treating position <NUM>, and optionally, a mechanical moving 29a or agitation system for moving the treating seat <NUM>.

The ironing system <NUM> (<FIG>) comprises a heatable plate forming the treating seat <NUM>, as well as a heating system <NUM> for heating the heatable plate and a steam generator 31a for generating steam in the treating position <NUM>.

Each of the household appliances <NUM>, <NUM>. <NUM> described in greater detail may selectively comprise one or more of the treatment detectors <NUM> and selectively one or more of the anomaly detectors <NUM>, in conjunction with the signal connections thereof with the electronic control system <NUM>, described above and not repeated herein for brevity.

Claim 1:
A combination of a household appliance (<NUM>) and an external electronic device (<NUM>), said household appliance (<NUM>) comprising:
- a housing (<NUM>) with an outer wall (<NUM>) forming an outer surface (<NUM>) of the household appliance (<NUM>),
- a treating seat (<NUM>) formed in or at the housing (<NUM>) and adapted to accommodate or support household products in a treating position (<NUM>),
- at least one treatment device (<NUM>) arranged inside the housing (<NUM>) and operable for carrying out a treatment at the treating position (<NUM>) and subjecting the household product to said treatment,
- at least one treatment detector (<NUM>) at least partially arranged inside the housing (<NUM>) and configured to detect a value of a treatment parameter of the treatment carried out by the treatment device (<NUM>),
- optionally, at least one anomaly detector (<NUM>) at least partially arranged inside the housing (<NUM>) and configured to detect a quantity indicating an operating anomaly of the household appliance (<NUM>),
- an electronic control system (<NUM>) arranged in the housing (<NUM>) and in signal connection with the treatment device (<NUM>) and with the treatment detector (<NUM>) and configured to control the treatment device (<NUM>) depending on a treatment program and depending on the value detected by the treatment detector (<NUM>),
- a user interface (<NUM>) in signal connection with the electronic control system (<NUM>), said user interface (<NUM>) comprising:
- a button (<NUM>) for turning ON and OFF the household appliance (<NUM>),
- a first execution button (<NUM>), the activation of which starts a fixed treatment program which is preset with preset and invariable treatment parameters,
- a second execution button (<NUM>), the activation of which starts a versatile treatment program which is preset with treatment parameters which can be set by the user,
- a coupling button (<NUM>), the activation of which carries out a wireless communication connection of the electronic control system (<NUM>) with said external electronic device (<NUM>), which is separate from the household appliance (<NUM>), for example a smartphone or a tablet computer, for selecting and setting said settable treatment parameters of the versatile treatment program by means of the external electronic device (<NUM>).