Cooktop control

• US 20020190057A1
• Filed: 06/19/2001
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BSH Home Appliances Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Home Appliances Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Staebler, Manfred W., Platt, Nils, Tino, Thomas L.
• Application Number:
  US09/884,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20020190057A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/506
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/083 on tops, hot plates
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/74 Non-metallic plates , e.g. vitroceramic, ceramic or glassceramic hobs, also including power or control circuits

Abstract

A cooktop with a ceramic glass panel has a panel portion with a first indicia set for selection of a burner and a second indicia set for selection of a power level to the selected burner. Each set of indicia is associated with switches for input a control circuit in response to manipulation by a user. In addition, each indicia set includes a display interactive with the manipulation of the other indicia set. Preferably, the control circuit includes a processor for responding only to a sequential manipulation an indicia from the first indicia set and a sequential manipulation of an indicia from the second indicia set within a predetermined time.

Claims

1. A cooktop control for a cooktop with a glass ceramic panel, the control comprising:

a first set of indicia on said cooktop panel for displaying a control for each at least one burner of one cooktop,

a second set of indicia on said cooktop panel for selecting a power level for actuation of a selected burner,

a circuit associated with said first set and said second set, comprising a processor selectively actuating each of said at least one burner in response to sequential manipulation of said first and said second indicia, and deactivating a selectively actuated burner in response to manipulation of either one of said first and second sets; and

at least one switch for coupling each said first set and each said second set to said circuit.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said first set of indicia includes a tactile demarcation.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said first set of indicia includes a display.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said display is responsive to said at least one switch for coupling said second set to said circuit.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said display includes illumination.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said second set of indicia includes a display.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said display includes illumination.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said illumination is selectively visible in response to an operating condition of said control.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said operating condition is a sensor response.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said sensor response is a temperature sensor response.

11. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said sensor response is a proximity sensor response.

12. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said switch for coupling said second set of indicia is at least one incremental selector.

13. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said switch for coupling said second set of indicia is at least one incremental selector.

14. The invention as defined in claim 13 wherein said switch is adjacent said display.

15. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second indicia se t s are visibly separate on said con t rol panel.

16. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said sequential manipulation of said first indicia comprises generating an intermittent display at said second indicia.

17. The invention as defined in claim 16 wherein said intermittent display terminates after a predetermined time elapses when said sequential manipulation of said second indicia exceeds a predetermined time.

18. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said second indicia set includes a warm portion that signals said processor to generate a cyclic actuation of at least one said burner.

20. The invention as defined in claim 19 wherein said method includes displaying an operating status at each said control after manipulation of said first control.

21. The invention as defined in claim 20 wherein said method comprises displaying an operating status at said first control in response to manipulation of said second control.

19. A method for controlling a cooktop including at least one burner for surface heating of a glass ceramic panel comprising:

indicating a first control on said cooktop panel for selecting a burner to be operated,

indicating a second control on said cooktop panel for selecting a power level for actuation of said burner to be operated,

locating a switch for actuation by said manipulation at each said first and second control indicated,

selectively actuating said burner to be operated by processing compliance with a predetermined sequential manipulation of said first control and said second control; and

deactivating said burner to be operated by processing compliance with a manipulation of either one of said first and second controls.