Abstract: A method for operating a domestic appliance to reduce consumption of one or more operating resources includes receiving data about a temporal cost profile of the operating resources, having a first time interval with low costs and a second time interval with high costs, comparing a operating time period with the first time interval and determining a point in time for starting operation as a function of a result of the comparison, when the operating time period is longer than the first time interval, determining a temporal program segment with a higher consumption than other program segments based on a temporal consumption profile that describes consumption as a function of time during operation, and determining the point in time for starting the operation such that the program segment with the higher consumption falls within the first time interval.

Abstract: A method for supplying internal consumers in a domestic appliance from a low voltage supply network, for example a photovoltaic power station or wind power station, includes classifying the internal consumers commensurate with a stored energy requirement of each internal consumer and supplying the internal consumers with energy commensurate with the classification. This protects against low voltage and excessive electric loads and against partial interruption of a treatment program for items when the low voltage supply is interrupted due to a temporary overload. The energy supply of the internal consumers is switched off in stages depending on their energy requirement and on their classification, when the energy available from the low voltage supply network is insufficient for supplying all internal consumers, and is switched back on again in stages, when the energy available from the low voltage supply network is once again sufficient for supplying all internal consumers.

Abstract: A method for operating a domestic appliance to reduce consumption of one or more operating resources includes receiving data about a temporal cost profile of the operating resources, having a first time interval with low costs and a second time interval with high costs, comparing a operating time period with the first time interval and determining a point in time for starting operation as a function of a result of the comparison, when the operating time period is longer than the first time interval, determining a temporal program segment with a higher consumption than other program segments based on a temporal consumption profile that describes consumption as a function of time during operation, and determining the point in time for starting the operation such that the program segment with the higher consumption falls within the first time interval.

Abstract: A method for supplying internal consumers in a domestic appliance from a low voltage supply network, for example a photovoltaic power station or wind power station, includes classifying the internal consumers commensurate with a stored energy requirement of each internal consumer and supplying the internal consumers with energy commensurate with the classification. This protects against low voltage and excessive electric loads and against partial interruption of a treatment program for items when the low voltage supply is interrupted due to a temporary overload. The energy supply of the internal consumers is switched off in stages depending on their energy requirement and on their classification, when the energy available from the low voltage supply network is insufficient for supplying all internal consumers, and is switched back on again in stages, when the energy available from the low voltage supply network is once again sufficient for supplying all internal consumers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a washing machine which operates using a method for adding solid or liquid detergent active ingredients in portions and comprises an electronic programme control unit (12) in addition to devices (13) for entering and/or determining information concerning the desired or required composition of a treatment programme, for determining and/or entering washing-related parameters, i.e. the type of washing introduced into the washing machine (15), the degree of soiling and/or the weight of said washing. Information concerning the detergent active ingredients and the washing is read in from automatically readable information carriers (20) by means of a read device (10, 18) and the programme control unit (12) calculates and issues recommendations for the addition of a particular type of a detergent active ingredient and the amount of said ingredient in conjunction with this information, the chosen treatment programme and the washing-related parameters.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling a household appliance controlled using an internal control unit, and also a control system that improves current control of the household appliances includes connecting the household appliance to a local area network and, following a request by a user, receiving a control information item from a network, the control information item being evaluated and/or converted at a location of the household appliance to control the household appliance.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling a household appliance controlled using an internal control unit, and also a control system that improves current control of the household appliances includes connecting the household appliance to a local area network and, following a request by a user, receiving a control information item from a network, the control information item being evaluated and/or converted at a location of the household appliance to control the household appliance.

Abstract: A programmable control panel includes handles for executing at least a part of the program sequence, and memory cells for controlling an appliance and for storing software codes. The handles are, particularly, push-buttons and switches. The handles are used for inputting individual functions of an individual operating program sequence. Each of the individual functions is assigned to a specific one of the software codes stored in a specific one of the memory cells. The handles are linked to a specific one of the individual functions and to an associated one of the memory cells. A controller includes memory cells that are permanently assigned to the corresponding push-buttons, and operation of the push-buttons results in specific functions being included in the program sequence of the main program for the household appliance. The control panel can be part of a programmable household appliance.

Abstract: Actuators on a control panel for entering single functions of an individual operating program cycle which can be invoked under a given name and can be properly executed under microprocessor control are also used for setting particular operating program sequences or particular parameter values of program functions. The actuators can be actuated in at least one sequence of function entries such that the sequence of function entries is a code for particular update functions.

Abstract: A method and an electronic control unit for determining and optionally displaying the remaining time in a treatment program in a household appliance include superposing an initializing test program segment on the treatment programs in order to determine an "installed heating capacity" parameter that determines a gradient. To that end, a defined quantity of the medium is heated with an electrical heater for a predetermined period of time. The "installed heating capacity" parameter and/or a comparison value corresponding to its magnitude is calculated from the attained temperature increase, the defined quantity of the medium and the known period of time and is stored as an operand in a nonvolatile memory for later remaining-time determinations.

Abstract: An automatically controlled washing machine includes a laundry drum and a drive motor which drives the laundry drum at a plurality of different speeds for washing, rinsing and spinning. The speed of the drive motor is adjustable with an rpm control circuit and is determinable in accordance with set-point and actual rpm values. A control circuit of the washing machine can receive a signal during a spin cycle, which is a measure for an undesired braking of the drum (for instance from suds production) and is determined by a mutual ratio of the following operating parameters of the drive motor: the set-point rpm, the actual rpm, and a load-dependent electrical variable, such as a motor current.

Abstract: A method for determining an amount of laundry in an at least approximately horizontally supported drum for laundry being driven by a universal drive motor at a washing and drying rpm is performed on the basis of observations of parameters of an operation in a laundry handling machine. A drive moment at the drum drive motor is determined during a drum startup phase, for operating the drum at a controlled handling rpm at which the laundry is not held against a wall of the drum by centrifugal force.

Abstract: A method for determining a mass of wet laundry in a washing machine drum being driven by an rpm-controlled universal motor is performed with the aid of controller variables. The drum is operated before and/or during a spin cycle within first, second and third phases in a mass determining segment. The drum is operated in the first phase with a delayed rpm rise up to a final rpm above an application rpm at which the laundry is applied to a wall of the drum, and near but below a resonant rpm of a drive system. The drum is operated in the second phase with a constant command rpm equal to the final rpm of a ramp. The drum is operated in the third phase with an rpm running down to a minimum rpm without being driven, and with the rpm still being high enough to prevent a previously developed ring of laundry from separating or more than slightly separating from the drum wall.