GB2112554A

GB2112554A - Program selection keyboard for a program-controlled domestic appliance

Info

Publication number: GB2112554A
Application number: GB08227959A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Erhard Schafer; Richard Graf
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-12-15
Filing date: 1982-09-30
Publication date: 1983-07-20
Also published as: IT8224611A0; DE3149702C1; FR2518277B1; FR2518277A1; GB2112554B; IT1153365B

Abstract

In a program selection input keyboard for a program-controlled domestic appliance with a number of element groups of alternatively operating program parts and variable program data, which are individually selectable by the keyboard when an associated program selection optical indicator (7 to 20) is activated, the number of the input keys is to be reduced without the number of the element groups and thereby the number of the elements being restricted. Accordingly, optical indicators of different groups (7 to 11; 12 to 15; 16 to 20; i.e. rows) form an indicator column (7, 12, 16; 8, 13, 17; 9, 14, 18; 10, 15, 19; or 11, 20) with which a selecting key (1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) is associated, and the indicators are activated a group at a time to indicate readiness for selection. The keyboard is suitable for, for example, a washing machine, laundry drier or dishwashing machine. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Program selection keyboard for a program-controlled domestic appliance The present invention relates to a program selection input keyboard for a domestic appliance, for example a washing machine.

An input keyboard of that kind is described in DE-OS 20 36 111, in which a number of element groups of alternatively operating program parts, namely different kinds of laundry, temperatures and loadings, and a number of element groups of variable program data, namely degree of soiling, withlwithout preliminary wash, full and half loading, etc., are provided. These program parts and program data are individually selectable through input keys when an associated program selection optical indicator is activated. Such an optical indicator consists in the known washing machine of a back illumination of a respective selectable program field.

The input keyboard of the known washing machine requires an individual key for each program part and for each program variable. As a result, the number of the elements housable in an operating field of a washing machine are limited and the composable programs have little diversity. Moreover, an operating field structured in such a manner suffers in not providing a clear viewing format.

There is accordingly a needfor a keyboard in which the individual elements of alternatively operating program parts and variable program data are ordered into groups, the elements of which are selectable with fewer keys in clearly visible manner.

According to the present invention there is provided a program selection keyboard for a domestic appliance controlled by a program having a plurality of groups of alternatively operating program parts and variable program data which are individually selectable to influence operation of the appliance, the keyboard comprising a plurality of optical indicators each associated with a respective element of the groups and each activatable to indicate readiness for selection of the associated element, the indicators being arranged in columns each comprising indicators associated with elements from different ones of the groups and the indicators being activatable in such a manner that those associated with elements of the same group are activated simultaneously and that such simultaneous activations take place sequentially for each group in turn, and a respective key associated with each column and actuable to effect individual selection of the elements associated with the indicators of that column.

Preferably, each of the indicators is arranged to flash when activated. Flashing optical indicators particularly attract the attention of the operating person.

Expediently, the indicators are activatable in such a manner that each activated indicator associated with a selected element is caused to provide continuous indication after the selection and each activated indicator associated with a non-selected element of the same group is deactivated after the selection. Optical indicators continuously activated after their selection give an acknowledgement of the selected program parts and variables when the not-selected- optical indicators are deactivated. In addition, the keyboard may comprise further optical indicators activatable to indicate respective stages of the program course, each said indicator associated with a selected element being adapted to provide said continuous indication after starting of the program.Optical indicators associated with the individual program parts can bring the respectively processed program part to notice during the rundown of the program.

For preferance, the keys associated with the columns can be constructed as sensor fields of large area, which are handy and can be found without a lengthy search. Particularly large and thereby easily locatable sensor fields result when the area of the associated column with an associated lettering field is embraced by the sensor area.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. lisa view of an operating panel of a washing machine with a first program selection input keyboard embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a view of an operating panel of a washing machine with a second program selection input keyboard embodying the invention; Fig. 3 is a view of an operating panel of a washing machine with a third program selection input keyboard embodying the invention; Fig. 4 is a view of an operating panel of a washing machine with a fourth program selection input keyboard embodying the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 an input keyboard comprising three element groups of alternatively operating program parts and variable program data. One element group of alternatively operating program parts contains the elements "boiling wash", "coloureds wash", "easycare", "wool" and "partial programs". The second group comprises the variable program data "temperature 95"C", "60"C", "40"C", and "30"C".

The third element group comprises the variable program data elements "function 1" to "function 5", wherein these functions, as in the group concerned in Fig. 4, can be "with preliminary wash", "stained", "slightly soiled", "sensitive" or "economy 1/2".

Through the arrangement of the individual groups one above the other, vertical columns of the group elements result, for example "boiling wash", "95"C" and "function 1". Associated with each column of elements is a respective one of keys 1 to 5, through which one of the program data given in the column can be selected.

The upper element group is selectable initially by means of an internal circuit arrangement after actuation of an onloff switch or key 6. Program selection optical indicators 7 to 11 are associated with the individual elements of the upper group and as a sign that these program parts are selectable, the indicators can advantageously blink or flash.

Through actuation of one of the keys 1 to 5, the associated program part, for example on actuation of the key 1 the program part "boiling wash", can be stored in program control equipment of the appliance.

Thereafter, the indicators 8 to 11 extinguish and the indicator 7 shows continuous light. At the same time, the element group lying thereunder is switchend to be selectable. However, because "boiling wash" was selected, only the temperatures "95"C" and "60"C" are selectable, because the other two temperatures of this element group would not be appropriate to "boiling wash". The readiness for selection of the temperatures "95"C" and "60"C" is indicated by blinking of the indicators 12 and 13. The indicators 14 and 15forthe remaining temperatures remain dark. The operator selects, for example, the temperature "60"C"; thereby, the indicator 13 shows permanent light and the indicator 12 extinguishes.

The third element group is now switched to be selectable and the indicators 16 to 20 blink in the same rhythm to indicate that the functions 1 to 5 can be selected. If, for example, the operator selects the function 4 for "sensitive" through actuation of the key 4, this function is stored in the program control equipment. At the same time, the indicator 19 is switched over to continuous light. The indicators 16 to 18 and 20 do not extinguish, however, because the other functions 1 to 3 and 5 must remain selectable. If the operator also selects, because of low laundry loading, the function 5 "economy 1/2" through actuation of the key 5, the storage of this function is acknowledged through continuous light at the indicator 20. The indicators 16 to 18 continue to blink even then, because the associated functions must still remain selectable.They need not, however, necessarily be selected, so that the program selected up to then, i.e. "boiling wash", "60"C", "senstive", "economy 1/2", can be started through actuation if the key 21 "start", an indicator 22 of which also blinksfromthe switching-on of the third element group. Then, the indicators 16 to 18 and 22 are extinguished, while the indicators 7, 13, 19 and 20 can continue to show continuous light in order that the selected program remains recognisable to the operator for the duration of the program.

After starting of the program, an indicator column 23 shows which program part is in progress at any onetime. Since the selected program contains no preliminary wash, the indication begins in the indicator column 23 with the program part "washing" indicated by the second indicator from the top.

During the course of the selected program, the indication in the column 23 steps down at the conclusion of each program part. The operator can, however, actuate a key 24 to interrupt a program part in progress and advance to the next program part.

Sensor fields 25 to 32 are provided in Fig. 2 in place of the keys 1 to 5 for the selection of the elements. Correspondingly, sensor fields 33 to 35 are provided for the starting and stopping of the program as well as for program advance. Furthermore, two keys 61 and 60 are provided for the switching on and off as well as two indicators 36 and 37 for fault indication in respect of the loading window, and the water feed. The indicators of the first and second element groups correspond to those of the same groups in Fig. 1. The third and fourth element groups can be selectably switched and operated similarly to the function element group in Fig. 1. The indicator column 23, too, operates as in Fig. 1.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the indicator column 23 is arranged horizontally at the upper edge of the operating field. Moreover, a four-digit indicator display 38, which can be operated by means of sensor keys 39 to 44, is arranged to the left below mains keys 61 and 60. For example, through keys 39, a certain starting time for the selected program can be indicated at the display 38 and set through repeated actuation of the key 39. In similar manner, the keys 40 to 44 serve according to their actuation to indicate or to vary corresponding program data at the display 38.

In Fig. 4, an operating field is illustrated with a different ordering of the element groups and additional actuating and indicating members, the input keys being arranged in two rows at the lower edge of the operating field.

In all the described embodiments of the invention, only as many input keys are required as indicator columns are formed from the elements arranged in groups.

Claims

1. A program selection keyboard for a domestic appliance controlled by a program having a plurality of groups of alternatively operating program parts and variable program data which are individually selectable to influence operation of the appliance, the keyboard comprising a plurality of optical indicators each associated with a respective element of the groups and each activatable to indicate readiness for selection of the associated element, the indicators being arranged in columns each comprising indicatorsassociated with elements from different ones of the groups and the indicators being activatable in such a manner that those associated with elements of the same group are activated simultaneously and that such simultaneous activations take place sequentially for each group in turn, and a respective key associated with each column and actuable to effect individual selection of the elements associated with the indicators of that column.

2. A keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the indicators is arranged to flash when activated.

3. A keyboard as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the indicators are activatable in such a mannerthateach activated indicatorassociated with a selected element is caused to provide continuous indication after the selection and each activated indicator associated with a non-selected element of the same group is deactivated after the selection.

4. A keyboard as claimed in claim 3, comprising further optical indicators activatable to indicate respective stages of the program course, each said indicator associated with a selected element being adapted to provide said continuous indication after starting of the program.

5. A keyboard as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the keys compris es a sensor zone of large area.

6. A keyboard as claimed in claim 5, wherein each sensor zone comprises the area of the associated column of indicators and a region carrying markings associated with those indicators.

7. A program selection keyboard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.