Abstract: A water-conducting electrical device having a water receiving element, an electrochemical cell having electrodes and designed to produce a bleaching agent when it contains a salt-containing solution and a DC voltage is applied to the electrodes, a pump designed to convey fluid located in the electrochemical cell out of the electrochemical cell into the water receiving element, and a control unit configured to selectively apply both DC voltage and AC voltage to the electrodes of the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A placeable cooktop utensil includes: a handle for handling the placeable utensil; a controller; a transmitter unit for transmitting signals from the placeable utensil to the cooktop; and at least one input unit having at least one input area integrated in the handle for a user of the placeable utensil to input a user command, the transmitter unit and the at least one input unit being connected in signal communication with the controller, and the cooktop being controllable by the user command. The handle has a gripping portion for gripping and manually moving the placeable utensil and at least one input portion. The at least one input area is in the at least one input portion. At least one sensor for detecting the handle being approached and/or contacted by the user, is in the gripping portion.

Abstract: A heating device for heating water, having a container having an inlet channel and an outlet channel, two spaced-apart plates which act as electrodes and each comprise an electrical connection for connection to an electrical voltage source for generating a current flow through the water located between the plates, wherein at least one plate is mounted movably in order to change the distance between the plates and thereby the volume provided between the plates. A water-conducting device such as a washing machine, dishwasher or hot beverage maker, includes a flow conducting system and a heating device arranged therein, as described above.

Abstract: A heating device for heating water having a container having an inlet and an outlet, two spaced-apart plates which act as electrodes and are each connected to an electrical voltage source for generating a current flow through the water located between the plates, and a control device for activating and deactivating a valve at the inlet and for activating and deactivating the voltage source. A water-conducting device, such as a washing machine, dishwasher or hot beverage maker, includes a flow line system and a heating device arranged therein, as described above.

Abstract: A water-bearing electrical apparatus having a water absorption element and an electrochemical cell which has a cathode arranged in a cathode space and an anode arranged in an anode space, which are spatially separated, wherein the electrochemical cell is designed to generate an alkaline partial solution in the cathode space and an acidic partial solution in the anode space when it contains a conductivity transmitter-containing medium and the DC voltage is applied to the anode and the cathode, and to heat a fluid located in the cathode and anode spaces when the AC voltage is applied to the anode and the cathode. A method includes generating an alkaline partial solution in the cathode space and an acidic partial solution in the anode space while applying DC voltage, applying AC voltage to heat fluid in the electrochemical cell, and conveying the alkaline partial solution into the water absorption element.

Abstract: A water-bearing electrical apparatus and a method of operating a water-bearing electrical apparatus having a water absorption element, an electrochemical cell, a dosing device for metering a conductivity transmitter-containing detergent and/or cleaning means into the electrochemical cell. The method includes conducting water into the electrochemical cell, dosing of the conductivity transmitter-containing washing and/or cleaning means into the electrochemical cell or into the water flowing through it, determining a conductance of the fluid in the electrochemical cell following the prior steps, and setting the determined conductance to a predetermined conductance.

Abstract: A method for operating a cooking system, the cooking system including a hob, cookware, and a mobile device, includes: transmitting a process instruction from the mobile device to the hob; receiving the process instruction from the mobile device by the hob; transmitting a confirmation request from the hob to the cookware; in response to a confirmation by a user on the cookware, transmitting a confirmation message from the cookware to the hob; and in response to the hob receiving the confirmation message from the cookware, executing the process instruction of the mobile device by the hob.

Abstract: A method for automatically correlating at least one cooktop utensil with at least one cooking zone of an inductive cooktop having a plurality of cooking zones which are inductively heated by at least one respective heating coil, includes: providing the cooktop with a cooktop controller configured to drive the heating coils with a correlation signal; providing the at least one cooktop utensil with an induction coil inductively couplable with the heating coils of the cooktop and a transmitter unit; supplying the transmitter unit with an operation power when a voltage is induced by at least one of the heating coils into the induction coil of the cooktop utensil that is placed on the cooking zone associated with this heating coil; transmitting, by the transmitter unit of the cooktop utensil, by the operating power, a response signal that identifies the cooktop utensil and correlates with the induced correlation signal.

Abstract: An inductive cooktop includes: at least one cooking zone; at least one heating coil associated with the cooking zone; and a cooktop controller for driving the at least one heating coil in an operating mode of the inductive cooktop to heat a cooktop utensil with a transmitter unit, which cooktop utensil is placed on the cooking zone. The inductive cooktop is operable in a standby mode in which driving of the at least one heating coil is disabled. The inductive cooktop is operable in a ready mode. The inductive cooktop is switchable from the standby mode to the ready mode by a wake-up signal received by a receiver unit of the cooktop controller. In the ready mode, the at least one heating coil is drivable by the cooktop controller such that, on one hand, the cooktop utensil is prevented from being effectively heated for a preparation operation.

Abstract: A method for controlling operation of an appliance by a user through voice control includes at least the steps of: detecting, by the appliance, a control action performed by the user on the appliance; activating a voice control system by the appliance; capturing, by the voice control system, a voice input from the user as a captured voice input; recognizing, by the voice control system, a piece of information and/or an instruction in the captured voice input from the user as a recognized information and/or instruction; and executing, by the voice control system, a user control action on the appliance in accordance with the recognized information and/or instruction.

Abstract: A method for operating a cooking system, the cooking system including a hob, cookware, and a mobile device, includes: transmitting a process instruction from the mobile device to the hob; receiving the process instruction from the mobile device by the hob; transmitting a confirmation request from the hob to the cookware; in response to a confirmation by a user on the cookware, transmitting a confirmation message from the cookware to the hob; and in response to the hob receiving the confirmation message from the cookware, executing the process instruction of the mobile device by the hob.

Abstract: A placeable cooktop utensil includes: a handle for handling the placeable utensil; a controller; a transmitter unit for transmitting signals from the placeable utensil to the cooktop; and at least one input unit having at least one input area integrated in the handle for a user of the placeable utensil to input a user command, the transmitter unit and the at least one input unit being connected in signal communication with the controller, and the cooktop being controllable by the user command. The handle has a gripping portion for gripping and manually moving the placeable utensil and at least one input portion. The at least one input area is in the at least one input portion. At least one sensor for detecting the handle being approached and/or contacted by the user, is in the gripping portion.

Abstract: A placeable cooktop utensil includes: a handle for handling the placeable utensil; a controller; a transmitter unit for transmitting signals from the placeable utensil to the cooktop; and at least one input unit having at least one input area integrated in the handle for a user of the placeable utensil to input a user command, the transmitter unit and the at least one input unit being connected in signal communication with the controller, and the cooktop being controllable by the user command. The handle has a gripping portion for gripping and manually moving the placeable utensil and at least one input portion. The at least one input area is in the at least one input portion. At least one sensor for detecting the handle being approached and/or contacted by the user, is in the gripping portion.

Abstract: A method for controlling operation of an appliance by a user through voice control includes at least the steps of: detecting, by the appliance, a control action performed by the user on the appliance; activating a voice control system by the appliance; capturing, by the voice control system, a voice input from the user as a captured voice input; recognizing, by the voice control system, a piece of information and/or an instruction in the captured voice input from the user as a recognized information and/or instruction; and executing, by the voice control system, a user control action on the appliance in accordance with the recognized information and/or instruction.

Abstract: A method for automatically correlating at least one cooktop utensil with at least one cooking zone of an inductive cooktop having a plurality of cooking zones which are inductively heated by at least one respective heating coil, includes: providing the cooktop with a cooktop controller configured to drive the heating coils with a correlation signal; providing the at least one cooktop utensil with an induction coil inductively couplable with the heating coils of the cooktop and a transmitter unit; supplying the transmitter unit with an operation power when a voltage is induced by at least one of the heating coils into the induction coil of the cooktop utensil that is placed on the cooking zone associated with this heating coil; transmitting, by the transmitter unit of the cooktop utensil, by the operating power, a response signal that identifies the cooktop utensil and correlates with the induced correlation signal.