A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE OPERATED IN ENCRYPTED MODE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a household appliance operated in encrypted mode.

[0002] In household appliances, for example in washing machines, key lock functions in various types are used in order that the user interface functions such as program cancellation, program pause or new program start can be deactivated. In the state of the art, the key lock function is activated or deactivated as a result of using the key combination determined during the production of the appliance or by the service personnel. The user activates the key lock function by entering the key combination generally determined by the service personnel and changes the key lock function from the active mode to the passive mode again by the same key combination. However, sometimes it is desired that these key combinations are not known by other people. In such situations, the key lock function is activated or deactivated in an uncontrolled manner. In the state of the art Japanese Patent Application No JP2000082352, in a household appliance, a child lock switch enables the operation switches to change from the unlocking mode to the locking mode or from the locking mode to the unlocking mode, and even when the child lock is activated, this does not affect the main power switch, and on - off functions of the machine are performed.

[0003] European Patent Application EP 978 773 A1 discloses a washing machine with a front panel that has a number of manual inputs that are used to select and activate the programme. The inputs are received by a built in controller and have a second mode of operation. The second mode is used to enter an access code. Only when this code is entered can the machine system be activated.

[0004] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a household appliance that is enabled to be operated in a controlled and safe manner and that can be used in the encrypted mode.

[0005] The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof comprises a control panel; an on/off button that is situated on the control panel and that has the function of turning on/turning of the household appliance; a program selection knob that is situated on the control panel and that is used to select programs such as cotton washing, wool washing, synthetic washing, etc.; more than one auxiliary function button that enables the auxiliary functions such as washing temperature, spin-drying speed, etc. of the selected program to be determined; a start/pause button that enables the selected program to be paused or started when desired and a display that allows the user to control the household appliance.

[0006] The household appliance of the present invention comprises an encrypted mode button that is used for activating the encrypted mode and disposed on the control panel and a control unit that allows the character (1, 2, 3, A, B, C..) combinations selected by means of the program selection knob after the encrypted mode button is triggered to be defined as codes.

[0007] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises a control unit that enables the user to be warned by different audio tones while determining letters (A, B, C, ..) or numbers (1, 2, 3, ..) defined by the program selection knob in order to determine the code. Thus, the user can sense audibly which letters (A, B, C, ..) or numbers (1, 2, 3, ..) he/she selects.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit allows the definition of a new code after the encrypted mode button is pressed again when the code has been defined. Thus, the household appliance can be operated by more than one code.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises a control unit that allows the number of utilization of the code to be defined again by means of the program selection knob after the code is defined.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance comprises a control unit that allows the encrypted mode to be cancelled if the predetermined code is entered twice successively after the encrypted mode button is triggered while the encrypted mode is active.

[0011] The household appliance realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a household appliance.

Figure 2 - is the schematic view of a control panel and a control unit in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Household appliance

2. Control panel

3. On/off button

4. Program selection knob

5. Start/pause button

6. Auxiliary function button

7. Display

8. Encrypted mode button

9. Control unit

[0013] The household appliance (1) comprises a control panel (2), an on/off button (3) that enables the household appliance (1) to be turned on and turned off, a rotary-type program selection knob (4) that has a program (P1, P2, ...) selection function, for example the programs including cotton, wool, synthetic washing programs in a washing machine, a start/pause button (5) that enables the selected program (P1, P2, ...) to be started and paused if desired, more than one auxiliary function button (6) that determines the auxiliary functions to be executed, such as washing temperature, spin-drying speed, etc. in a washing machine, and a display (7) that enables the functions of the household appliance (1) to be monitored and controlled.

[0014] The household appliance (1) of the present invention comprises an encrypted mode button (8) that is disposed on the control panel (2) and that enables the household appliance (1) to be operated in the encrypted mod, the program selection knob (4) whereon each of the marked programs (P1, P2, ...) symbolizes a character (1, 2, 3, A, B, C, ..) such as numbers or letters and a control unit (9) that provides that after the encrypted mode button (8) is pressed in order to operate the household appliance (1) in the encrypted mode the user defines a code by turning the program selection knob (4) to select the programs (P1, P2, ...) and arranging the characters (1, 2, 3, A, B, C, ..) symbolized by the programs (P1, P2, ...) on the display (7).

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises the control unit (9) that enables the user to be warned by different audio tones while selecting numbers (1, 2, 3, ..) or letters (A, B, C, ..) by means of the program selection knob (4) in order to determine the code.

[0016] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises the control unit (9) that enables the defining of a new code when the encrypted mode button (8) is pressed again after defining the code, thus enabling the household appliance (1) to be operated by entering more than one code. Thus, in case the household appliance (1) is used commercially, different codes are defined for different users and thereby the use of the household appliance (1) is kept under control.

[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) comprises the control unit (9) that allows the number of utilization of the code to be entered again on the display (7) by means of the program selection knob (4) after the code is defined. Thus, in the household appliances (1) produced for commercial and semi-commercial purposes, unwanted uses are prevented without requiring the use of tokens by enabling the definition of codes.

[0018] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (9) provides that in the household appliance (1) operated in the encrypted mode the code defined previously after pressing the encrypted mode button (8) is cancelled by entering the same twice successively by means of the program selection knob (4).

[0019] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is a dishwasher.

[0020] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is a washing machine.

[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is a dryer.

[0022] In an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance (1) is an oven.

[0023] In the household appliance (1) of the present invention, the user determines the code by himself/herself and can change it whenever desired. Thus, in case the code is decoded by children or in case the household appliance (1) is used commercially, a new code can be defined for a new user.

Claims

1. A household appliance (1) comprising

- a control panel (2),

- an on/off button (3),

- a program selection knob (4) that has a program (P1, P2, ..) selection function,

- a start/pause button (5) that enables a selected program (P1, P2, ..) to be started and paused if desired,

- more than one auxiliary function button (6) that enables auxiliary functions to be executed,

- a display (7),

- an encrypted mode button (8) that is disposed on the control panel (2) and that enables operation of the household appliance (1) in an encrypted mode,

- a control unit (9) that enables that after the encrypted mode button (8) is pressed, the user can define a code by turning the program selection knob (4), characterized in that

- on the program selection knob (4) each of the marked programs (P1, P2, ...) symbolizes a character (1, 2, 3, A, B, C, ..) such as numbers or letters,
such that

- the user defines a code by turning the program selection knob (4) to select the programs (P1, P2, ...) and arranging the characters (1, 2, 3, A, B, C, ..) symbolized by the programs (P1, P2, ...) on the display (7).

2. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (9) enables the user to be warned by different audio tones while selecting numbers (1, 2, 3, ..) or letters (A, B, C, ..) by means of the program selection knob (4) in order to determine the code.

3. A household appliance (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unit (9) allows the definition of a new code when the encrypted mode button (8) is pressed again after a code has been defined, thus enabling the household appliance (1) to be operated by entering more than one code.

4. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that the control unit (9) provides that after pressing the encrypted mode button (8), the code defined previously is cancelled if entered twice successively by means of the program selection knob (4).

5. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the above claims, which is a dishwasher.

6. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, which is a washing machine.

7. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, which is a dryer.

8. A household appliance (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, which is an oven.

Ansprüche

1. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1) umfasst

- einen Bedienungsfeld (2),

- einen Ein-/Ausschalter (3),

- einen Programmauswahlknopf (4), der eine Programmauswahlfunktion (P1, P2, ...) besitzt,

- einen Start-/Pauseknopf (5), welches es ermöglicht den ausgewählten Programm (P1, P2, ...) bei Bedarf zu starten oder zu pausieren

- mehr al seine Hilfsfunktionstaste (6), die die Hilfsfunktion für die auszuführenden Funktionen aktiviert,

- einen Bildschirm (7),

- eine für den verschlüsselten Modus vorgesehene Taste (8), die auf dem Bedienungsfeld (2) angeordnet ist und den Betrieb des Haushaltsgeräts in einem verschlüsselten Modus ermöglicht,

- eine Steuereinheit (9), die es ermöglicht, dass der Benutzer nach dem Drücken der Taste (8) für den verschlüsselten Modus einen Code durch das Drehen des Programmauswahlknopfs (4) definieren kann, gekennzeichnet ist es dadurch,

- dass auf dem Programmauswahlknopf (4) jedes der markierten Programme (P1, P2, ...) mit einem Zeichen wie Zahlen oder Buchstaben (1, 2, 3, A, B, C, ...) symbolisiert ist, so dass

- der Benutzer definiert einen Code, indem er eine Drehung an dem Programmwauswahlknopf (4) durchführt, um die Programme (P1, P2, ....) auszuwählen und die Zeichen (1, 2, 3, A, B, C, ...) anzuordnen, die durch die Programme (P1, P2, ...) auf dem Display (7) erscheinen.

2. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 1 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Steuereinheit (9) es dem Benutzer ermöglicht, durch unterschiedliche Audiotöne gewarnt zu werden, während Zahlen (1, 2, 3, ...) oder Buchstaben (A, B, C, ..) mit dem Programmauswahlknopf (4) ausgewählt werden, um den Code zu ermitteln.

3. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 1 oder 2 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Steuereinheit (9) eine Definition eines Codes ermöglicht, wenn die Taste (8) im verschlüsselten Modus erneut gedrückt wird, nachdem ein Code definiert ist, wodurch es ermöglicht wird, dass das Haushaltsgerät (1) durch die Eingabe von einem oder mehreren Codes betrieben werden soll.

4. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in einem der vorher aufgeführten Ansprüche ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Steuereinheit (9) es vorsieht, dass nach dem Drücken der Taste für den verschlüsselten Modus (8), der davor definierte Code gelöscht wird, wenn die Taste zweimal nacheinander durch das Programmauswahlknopf (4) eingegeben wird.

5. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in einem der vorher aufgeführten Ansprüche ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es eine Geschirrspülmaschine ist.

6. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 1 oder 4 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es eine Waschmaschine ist.

7. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 1 oder 4 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es ein Trocknet ist.

8. Ein Haushaltsgerät (1), wie in Anspruch 1 oder 4 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es ein Ofen ist.

Revendications

1. Un appareil électroménager (1) comprenant

- un panneau de contrôle (2),

- une touche marche/arrêt (3),

- un bouton de sélection de programme (4) qui possède une fonction de sélection de programme (P1, P2, ..),

- une touche de démarrage/pause (5) qui permet de démarrer un programme sélectionné (P1, P2, ..) et de le mettre en pause si nécessaire,

- plus d'une touche de fonction auxiliaire (6) qui permet d'exécuter des fonctions auxiliaires,

- un écran (7),

- une touche de mode crypté (8) qui est disposée sur le panneau de commande (2) et qui permet le fonctionnement de l'appareil ménager dans un mode crypté,

- une unité de commande (9) qui permet à l'utilisateur de définir un code en tournant le bouton de sélection de programme (4) après avoir appuyé sur la touche de mode crypté (8), est caractérisé en ce que

- sur le bouton de sélection de programme (4), chacun des programmes marqués (P1, P2, ....) symbolise un caractère (1, 2, 3, A, A, B, C, ...) tel que des chiffres ou des lettres, de sorte que

- l'utilisateur définit un code en tournant le bouton de sélection de programme (4) pour sélectionner les programmes (P1, P2, ....) et disposer les caractères (1, 2, 3, A, B, C, ...) symbolisés par les programmes (P1, P2,...) sur l'écran (7).

2. Un appareil ménager (1) selon la déclaration 1, est caractérisé en ce que l'unité de commande (9) permet à l'utilisateur d'être averti par différentes tonalités audio lors de la sélection de chiffres (1, 2, 3, ..) ou de lettres (A, B, C, ..) au moyen du bouton (4) de sélection de programme afin de déterminer le code.

3. Un appareil ménager (1) selon la déclaration 1 ou 2, est caractérisé en ce que l'unité de commande (9) permet la définition d'un nouveau code lorsque la touche (8) du mode crypté est de nouveau actionnée, une fois le code défini, permettant ainsi de faire fonctionner l'appareil ménager (1) en entrant plus d'un code.

4. Un appareil ménager (1) comme dans l'une quelconque des déclarations ci-dessus, est caractérisé en ce que l'unité de commande (9) prévoit qu'après avoir appuyé sur la touche de mode crypté (8), le code défini précédemment est annulé s'il est entré deux fois successivement au moyen du bouton (4) de sélection de programme.

5. Un appareil électroménager (1) comme dans l'une quelconque des déclarations ci-dessus, qui est un lave-vaisselle.

6. Un appareil ménager (1) comme dans l'une quelconque des déclarations 1 à 4, qui est une machine à laver.

7. Un appareil ménager (1) comme dans l'une quelconque des déclarations 1 à 4, qui est un sèche-linge.

8. Un appareil ménager (1) comme dans l'une quelconque des déclarations 1 à 4, qui est un four.

Drawing