Program-controlled domestic appliance

Abstract

A charging opening arranged in the front side of the housing of a household appliance and which can be sealed by means of a door. A door handle, which can be fixed to a door frame, or a handle area, which is integrated into a door frame, enables the door to be moved with the hand. An optical display can signal the state of closure of the door and controllable illuminating means, internal to said device, can characterize operational states. The device improves perceptibility of optical signals which are emitted from a domestic appliance and to facilitate interpretation of the contents thereof by a user in relation to the situation of closure of the door. The door handle is provided with at least one illuminating means or is connected optically to said means such that the light can be emitted outwards from the door handle or handle area.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A program-controlled domestic appliance comprising a charging opening which is arranged in the front side of its housing and which can be sealed by means of a door, and a door frame having a door handle fixed by which means the door can be moved with the hand, as well as a visual display for the closure state of the door and controllable illumination means internal to said device to indicate operating states, wherein the door handle is provided with at least one illuminating means so that its light can be emitted from the door handle.  
   
   
       13 . The domestic appliance according to  claim 12 , wherein the illuminating means includes light-emitting diodes.  
   
   
       14 . The domestic appliance according to  claim 12 , wherein the illuminating means are integrated in the door handle.  
   
   
       15 . The domestic appliance according to  claim 12 , wherein the illuminating means is/are arranged in the housing of the domestic appliance and is/are optically connected to windows in the door handle.  
   
   
       16 . The domestic appliance according to  claim 12 , wherein the visual signals emitted by the illuminating means via the door handle contain information whose content is connected to the closure state of the door.  
   
   
       17 . The domestic appliance according to  claim 16 , wherein the operation of the illuminating means being at least one of arranged in the door handle and connected optically to the door handle is coupled to the locking device of the door.  
   
   
       18 . The domestic appliance according to  claim 12 , wherein the illuminating means being at least one of arranged in the door handle and connected optically to the door handle are controlled by the appliance internal control system.  
   
   
       19 . The domestic appliance according to  claim 18 , comprising at least two illuminating means, wherein the operation of the illuminating means is individually controllable.  
   
   
       20 . The domestic appliance according to  claim 19 , wherein the illuminating means are differently colored or the door handle is optically connected to differently colored illuminating means.  
   
   
       21 . The domestic appliance according to  claim 12 , wherein the visual signals emitted by the illuminating means via the door handle contain information whose content is related to the program sequence of the domestic appliance.  
   
   
       22 . The domestic appliance according to  claim 12 , wherein the door handle is covered with a transparent shell at its front.  
   
   
       23 . The domestic appliance according to  claim 12 , wherein the domestic appliance includes at least one of a cooker, a washing machine, and a dryer.  
   
   
       24 . A washing machine comprising: 
 a housing having a receptacle for receiving laundry and an opening providing access to the receptacle;    a door mounted on the housing for closing the opening and including a door handle having a window;    a control system controlling operations of the washing machine; and    a light source supported by the housing adjacent the door handle and emitting light in response to signals from the control system, light emitted by the light source being visible through the window of the door handle.    
   
   
       25 . The washing machine according to  claim 24 , wherein the light source includes a light-emitting diode.  
   
   
       26 . The washing machine according to  claim 24 , further comprising multiple windows in the door handle and multiple light sources corresponding to the multiple windows and being supported by the housing adjacent the door handle.  
   
   
       27 . The washing machine according to  claim 26 , wherein the multiple light sources include light-emitting diodes.  
   
   
       28 . The washing machine according to  claim 26 , wherein the multiple light sources emit light in a pre-determined pattern in response to an operating parameter of the washing machine.  
   
   
       29 . The washing machine according to  claim 26 , wherein the multiple light sources emit light in different colors in response to an operating parameter of the washing machine.  
   
   
       30 . The domestic appliance according to  claim 24 , wherein the door handle includes a transparent shell facing outwardly from the housing.