Control unit for controlling an automatic device for preparing beverages

Abstract

A control unit for an automatic device for preparing a beverage, which control unit is provided with a display panel and an input wherein the control unit is provided furthermore with an operating unit for displaying by the display panel a visually observable reaction to designations provided by the user, and for controlling a preparation unit of the automatic device, wherein the display panel has selection fields for mutually exclusive settings for formulations of the beverage to be prepared, wherein the control unit enables the user to select one of the settings by designation of one of the selection fields, wherein a collecting field with at least one setting field shows the chosen setting of the formulation, and wherein the non-designated selection fields remain visible and selectable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control unit for an automatic device for preparing a beverage by a user, the control unit comprising:
 a display panel and an input which enables the user by designations of image elements shown on the display panel to choose from a plurality of formulations a formulation for the beverage to be prepared;   an operating unit to display by the display panel a visually observable reaction to designations provided by the user, and to control a preparation unit of the automatic device, with an operating condition in which the display panel has selection fields for mutually exclusive settings for formulations of the beverage to be prepared, wherein the control unit enables the user through designation of one of the selection fields to select one of the settings, wherein a collecting field with at least one setting field shows the chosen setting of the formulation, and wherein the non-designated selection fields remain visible and selectable, and wherein the control unit enables the user to confirm a choice made, by making a dragging movement from the designated selection field to the collecting field.   
     
     
         2 . The control unit of  claim 1 , wherein the collecting field has a single setting field, wherein designation of one of the selection fields results in selection of a setting shown in the respective selection field, and wherein the collecting field shows an indication of the formulation of the beverage composed by the user. 
     
     
         3 . The control unit of  claim 2 , wherein selection fields for settings that are excluded by the selected setting are displayed in a manner deviating with respect to the selected selection field. 
     
     
         4 . A control unit for an automatic device for preparing a beverage for a user, the control unit comprising:
 a display panel and an input which enables a user by designations of image elements shown on the display panel to choose from a plurality of formulations a formulation for the beverage to be prepared;   an operating unit to display by the display panel a visually observable reaction to designations provided by the user, and to control a preparation unit of the automatic device, with an operating condition in which the display panel has mutually hierarchically interrelated selection fields which are representative of a formulation of the beverage to be prepared, with at least one selection field of a first, highest, level and at least two selection fields of a second, lower, level, wherein each lower ranked selection field is representative of a further specification of the formulation specified by the associated higher ranked selection field, and   wherein the display panel only after designation of a selection field displays the designated selection field's directly lower ranked selection fields associated with the designated selection field.   
     
     
         5 . The control unit of  claim 4 , wherein the display panel after designation of a selection field continues to display the associated higher level selection fields as well. 
     
     
         6 . The control unit of  claim 4 , further comprising a detection device, which detection device upon detection of presence of a user deliver a signal which causes the hierarchically highest level selection field to be displayed. 
     
     
         7 . A control unit for an automatic device for preparing a beverage for a user, the control unit comprising:
 a display panel and an input which enables the user by designations of image elements shown on the display panel to choose from a plurality of formulations a formulation for the beverage to be prepared;   an operating unit for displaying by the display panel a visually observable reaction to designations provided by the user, and for controlling a preparation unit of the automatic device, with an operating condition in which the display panel has selection fields for mutually exclusive settings for formulations of the beverage to be prepared, wherein designation of one of the selection fields enables the user to select one of the settings;   wherein the display panel shows an elongate collecting field with mutually juxtaposed setting fields for the formulation of the beverage to be prepared, and transversely to the collecting field an associated series of selection fields for these settings, wherein a respective one of the selection fields of each of these series coincides with a respective setting field, wherein the setting fields show the chosen setting of the formulation and wherein the non-designated selection fields remain visible and selectable; wherein designating a selection field has as a result that the respective setting of the setting field associated with the designated selection field is replaced with the alternative setting belonging to the selection field and the image shown in that selection field is displayed in the respective setting field.   
     
     
         8 . The control unit of  claim 7 , wherein the setting fields are displayed with enhanced contrast and/or brightness compared to the selection fields. 
     
     
         9 . The control unit of  claim 7 , wherein the setting fields are arranged on a connecting element which extends through the collecting field. 
     
     
         10 . The control unit of  claim 9 , wherein the connecting element shown extends from the collecting field in the direction of a beverage outlet for pouring the beverage after preparation. 
     
     
         11 . The control unit of  claim 10 , furthermore provided with an activation field for starting the preparation of the beverage, which activation field is placed on the connecting element between the collecting field and an end point of the connecting element which extends to the beverage outlet. 
     
     
         12 . An automatic device for preparing a beverage provided with the control unit of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A method for controlling an automatic device for preparing a beverage for a user, the method comprising:
 enabling the user to choose from a plurality of formulations a formulation for the beverage to be prepared by designations of shown image elements;   providing a visually observable reaction to designations provided by the user; displaying selection fields and enabling the user to choose one of the formulations   by designation of one of the selection fields;   wherein in a collecting field with at least one setting field, displaying the chosen setting of the formulation, and wherein the non-designated selection fields remain visible and selectable; and   enabling the user to confirm a choice made, by making a dragging movement from the designated selection field to the collecting field.   
     
     
         14 . A method for controlling an automatic device for preparing a beverage for a user, the method comprising:
 enabling a user, by designations of image elements shown to choose from a plurality of formulations, a formulation for the beverage to be prepared,   displaying a visually observable reaction to designations provided by the user; displaying selection fields and hierarchically interrelated selection fields which   are representative of a formulation of the beverage to be prepared, with at least one selection field of a first, highest, level and at least two selection fields of a second, lower, level, wherein each lower ranked selection field is representative of a further specification of the formulation specified by the associated higher ranked selection field; and wherein only after designation of a selection field, displaying the designated selection field's directly lower ranked selection fields associated with the designated selection field.   
     
     
         15 . A method for controlling an automatic device for preparing a beverage for a user, the method comprising:
 enabling a user, through designations of displayed image elements, to choose, from a plurality of formulations, a formulation for the beverage to be prepared;   displaying a visually observable reaction to designations provided by the user; wherein selection fields are shown, wherein the user is enabled to select one of the formulations by designation of one of the selection fields, wherein an elongate collecting field is shown with mutually juxtaposed setting fields for the formulation of the beverage to be prepared, and transversely to the collecting field shows an associated series of selection fields for these settings, wherein a respective one of the selection fields of each of these series coincides with a respective setting field, wherein the setting fields show the chosen setting of the formulation and wherein the non-designated selection fields remain visible and selectable and wherein designating a selection field has as a result that the respective setting of the setting field associated with the designated selection field is replaced with the alternative setting belonging to the selection field and the image shown in that selection field is displayed in the respective setting field.