DESCRIPTION

[TECHNICAL FIELD]

The present invention relates to a household equipment with a synchronization command.

The invention particularly relates to the synchronization of the work cycles of a washing machine and a drying machine .

[PRIOR ART]

Washing machines and drying machines are known in the art .

Household appliances are also known which can perform both washing and drying operations.

The Applicant has observed that, when these two operations are carried out by separate appliances (a washing machine and a drying machine, as mentioned above) , a number of problems may arise.

For example, when the washing machine has finished its own wash cycle, and the laundry contained therein is ready for drying, the drying machine may still be engaged in a previously set drying program. This implies a waste of time for the user, who will have to wait for the drying machine to end its own work cycle before it can dry the laundry just washed. Furthermore, it is not advisable to leave a wet load in the washing machine for a long time, waiting for the drying machine to become available again.

[OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION]

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a technique for controlling household appliances, which avoids excessive wait times and/or unpleasant effects on the laundry just washed while the drying machine is executing and completing a previously set drying cycle.

This and other objects are substantially achieved through a household equipment as described in the appended claims .

One basic idea of the present invention is to envisage an exchange of data between the washing machine and the drying machine, so that their respective control units can handle the wash cycle and/or the drying cycle in such a way that the end of the wash cycle and the end of the drying cycle will be separated by a time interval shorter than a preset threshold.

The invention relates, therefore, to a household equipment comprising a first household appliance, wherein said first household appliance comprises:

a. first operating means for executing at least one first work cycle;

b. a first control unit associated with said first operating means for controlling the execution of said first work cycle;

c. a first user interface for allowing to enter a synchronization command;

wherein said first control unit is configured for receiving said synchronization command and for executing at least one of the following operations:

receiving information about a second work cycle programmed on a second household appliance and adjusting the execution of said first work cycle in such a way that the end of said first work cycle and the end of said second work cycle will be separated by a time interval shorter than a preset threshold;

cooperating with a second control unit belonging to said second household appliance in order to control said first operating means and to control second operating means belonging to said second household appliance, and adapted to execute said second work cycle in such a way that the end of said first work cycle and the end of said second work cycle will be separated by a time interval shorter than a preset threshold . According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a system comprising:

a. a first household appliance, provided with: first operating means for executing at least one first work cycle; a first control unit associated with said first operating means for controlling the execution of said first work cycle; a first user interface for entering a synchronization command; b. a second household appliance, provided with: second operating means for executing at least one second work cycle; a second control unit associated with said second operating means for controlling the execution of said second work cycle; a second user interface for allowing to enter a synchronization command;

c. an intermediate communication device, connected to said first and second control units and configured for:

i. receiving from said first or second control unit the synchronization command entered via said first or second user interface;

ii. making a modification to said first and/or second work cycle, so that the end of said first work cycle and the end of said second work cycle will be separated by a time interval shorter than a preset threshold;

iii. sending a respective correction signal to said first and/or second control units in order to implement said modification.

Preferably, said first control unit is configured for adjusting the start of said first work cycle so that the end of said first work cycle and the end of said second work cycle will be separated by a time interval shorter than said preset threshold .

Preferably, said first control unit is configured for adjusting the duration of said first work cycle and/or of single steps thereof so that the end of said first work cycle and the end of said second work cycle will be separated by a time interval shorter than said preset threshold.

Preferably, said synchronization command is entered when said first work cycle has already begun.

Preferably, said synchronization command is entered when said second work cycle has already begun.

Preferably, said preset threshold is shorter than 5 minutes, preferably shorter than 1 minute.

Preferably, the length of said time interval is substantially null.

Preferably, said first household appliance is a laundry washing machine, and said first work cycle is a wash cycle.

Preferably, said second household appliance is a drying machine, and said second work cycle is a drying cycle.

Preferably, said first control unit and said second control unit are configured for cooperating in a manner such that said first work cycle will not end earlier than said second work cycle, in particular such that said first work cycle will end with a given delay after the end of said second work cycle.

Preferably, said first household appliance is a drying machine, and said first work cycle is a drying cycle.

Preferably, said second household appliance is a laundry washing machine, and said second work cycle is a wash cycle.

Preferably, said first control unit and said second control unit are configured for cooperating in a manner such that said second work cycle will not end earlier than said first work cycle, in particular such that said second work cycle will end with a given delay after the end of said first work cycle.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS]

Further features and advantages will become more apparent from a detailed description of a preferred and non- limiting embodiment of the invention. This description will refer to the annexed Figure 1, also supplied by way of exemplificative, and hence non- limiting, example, which shows a representative block diagram of the invention.

[DE TAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION ]

With reference to the annexed drawings, reference numeral 1 designates as a whole a household equipment in accordance with the present invention.

The equipment 1 comprises, first of all, a first household appliance 100.

The first household appliance 100 comprises first operating means 110 for executing at least one first work cycle .

The first household appliance 100 further comprises a first control unit 120 associated with said first operating means 110 for controlling the execution of at least the first work cycle.

Preferably, the first control unit 120 is configured for cooperating with the first operating means 110 for executing a plurality of work cycles, which may be, for example, selected by a user.

In one embodiment, the first household appliance 100 is a laundry washing machine.

In this case, the first operating means 110 comprise all those devices and elements of a washing machine that allow the execution of wash cycles.

In accordance with the invention, the first household appliance 100 further comprises a first user interface 130.

The first user interface 130 is configured for allowing to enter a synchronization command SC.

The first user interface 130 can be implemented as a simple push-button, suitably connected to the first control unit 120. In a different embodiment, the first user interface 130 may be implemented as a more complex control panel, comprising a keypad and/or a display, e.g. with touch-screen functionality, allowing a user to enter the above-mentioned synchronization command SC.

Preferably, the first user interface 130 also allows entering other commands, such as, for example, a selection command for selecting a work cycle to be executed, or commands for programming work cycles' execution times.

The synchronization command SC is substantially forwarded to the first control unit 120, which, depending on how it has been programmed/configured, may carry out different operations .

In a first embodiment, the first control unit 120 receives information about a second work cycle programmed on a second household appliance 200. Note that such information may also be received before the reception of the synchronization command SC and independently thereof. Such information, as will become more apparent hereafter, is preferably used upon reception of the synchronization command SC.

The first control unit 120 is configured for adjusting the execution of the first work cycle on the basis of such information, so that the end of said first work cycle and the end of said second work cycle will be separated by a time interval shorter than said preset threshold.

In particular, the first control unit 120 may anticipate/postpone the start of the first work cycle so as to synchronize the end thereof with the end of the second work cycle .

In addition or as an alternative, the first control unit may modify the total duration of the first work cycle and/or of single steps thereof so as to synchronize the ends of the two work cycles.

In a different embodiment, the first control unit 100 is configured for cooperating, upon receiving the synchronization command SC, with a second control unit 220 belonging to the second household appliance 200.

The second household appliance 200 comprises second operating means for executing the second work cycle.

The second control unit 220 acts upon the second operating means 210 to control the execution of the second work cycle.

After the synchronization command has been entered, the first and second control units 120, 220 control the first and second operating means 110, 210 in a manner such that the end of the first work cycle and the end of the second work cycle will be separated by a time interval shorter than a preset threshold .

In practice, the two control units 120, 220 exchange information and handle the respective work cycles so as to properly synchronize the completion thereof. It may also be envisaged that only one of the first and second work cycles will undergo variations because of the cooperation between the first and second control units 120, 220.

If necessary in order to coordinate the completion of the cycles, it may also be envisaged that the start time and/or the duration of both cycles can be modified.

Preferably, the above-mentioned preset threshold is shorter than or equal to about 5 minute, more preferably shorter than or equal to about 1 minute.

Preferably, the time interval that separates the end of the first work cycle from the end of the second work cycle has a substantially null length.

In other words, the two work cycles can be completed in a substantially simultaneous manner.

As aforesaid, the first household appliance 100 may be a laundry washing machine. In this case, the second household appliance 200 is preferably a drying machine, and the second work cycle is a drying cycle.

In short, the user enters the synchronization command SC for the purpose of having the drying machine ready for receiving a new load, i.e. completing its work cycle, as soon as the washing machine has completed its own wash cycle.

In other words, by means of the synchronization command SC it is attempted to avoid that the washing machine will complete its own wash cycle when the drying machine has not yet finished drying the previous load.

Note that, as aforesaid, in the above-described embodiment the first household appliance 100 is preferably a laundry washing machine and the second household appliance 200 is preferably a drying machine.

It is however conceivable that the first household appliance 100 is a drying machine and the first work cycle is a drying cycle, while the second household appliance 200 is a laundry washing machine and the second work cycle is a wash cycle .

In other words, the synchronization command SC may be entered into either the washing machine or the drying machine. In both cases, the control unit of the washing machine and/or the control unit of the drying machine will take care of controlling the work cycles as described above.

Preferably, the first and second control units 120, 220 cooperate in a manner such that the washing machine will not end its own wash cycle before the drying machine has completed its own drying cycle.

In particular, the first and second control units 120, 220 cooperate in a manner such that the wash cycle of the washing machine will end with some appropriately determined delay after the end of the drying cycle of the drying machine.

The synchronization command SC can thus advantageously be entered in one or more of the following situations:

^ the drying machine is executing a drying program; the washing machine is then programmed and the synchronization command SC is entered: the wash cycle of the washing machine will start in such a way as to end substantially at the same time as the drying cycle of the drying machine;

the washing machine has already been programmed and loaded (a start delay was set, or the wash cycle has already begun) ; the drying machine is programmed for drying the respective load, and the synchronization command CS is entered into the drying machine: the two control units will cooperate together so as to complete their respective cycles in a coordinated manner, i.e. preferably in a substantially simultaneous manner;

^ the two work cycles (the wash cycle of the washing machine and the drying cycle of the drying machine) have both already begun; the synchronization command SC is entered into either one of the two machines: the two control units will cooperate together so as to complete their respective cycles in a coordinated manner, i.e. preferably in a substantially simultaneous manner.

Preferably, the two control units 120, 220 are configured for communicating with each other by means of wireless radio-frequency technology. Some examples of usable technologies are Zigbee, Bluetooth, WiFi, etc.

One possible embodiment envisages the use of an intermediate communication device 300, to which both control units 120, 220 are connected. Said intermediate communication device or gateway 300 can advantageously provide connectivity towards a remote server 400.

In one embodiment, the intermediate communication device 300 may be assigned the task of making the necessary modifications to the cycles so as to attain the desired synchronization.

In particular, when the first or the second household appliance 100, 200 receives the synchronization command SC, it will forward it to the intermediate device 300; the latter will calculate the necessary modifications to be made to the first and/or second work cycles, and will then send respective correction signals CI, C2 to the first and/or second control units 120, 220.

The invention achieves significant advantages.

Most importantly, the invention avoids excessive wait times and/or unpleasant effects on the laundry just washed while the drying machine is executing and completing a previously set drying cycle.

In addition, the invention allows the realization of a simple control technique with low hardware/software implementation costs.