Information display system for an appliance incorporating electronic interface screen

• US 20030025733A1
• Filed: 08/02/2001
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Broker, John F., Ness, Brian L., Wright, Kim L., Gardner, Douglas W., Neubauer, Alan V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,136,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/765
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/00 User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/32 characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/145 related to small screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/30 Control of display attribute

Abstract

A display system for an appliance incorporates an electronic interface screen, such as an LCD touch screen, through which a wide range of information concerning operational, diagnostic and other data concerning the appliance can be displayed. The screen is divided into a number of panels for displaying different sets of information. Selecting one of the panels results in the panel becoming enlarged so as to fill the entire LCD screen while, at the same time, displaying an additional layer of detailed information.

Claims

1. A method of conveying information on a display screen of an appliance comprising:

dividing the screen into a plurality of zones;

displaying a first set of information in one of the plurality of zones; and

causing said one of the plurality of zones to become enlarged so as to substantially, entirely encompass the screen, while automatically presenting a second set of information representing additional details concerning the first set of information on the screen.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the first set of information in the form of codes.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

providing the additional details to define the codes.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein diagnostic codes are presented as the first set of information.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of zones are divided into substantially equally sized areas.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining the first and second sets of information in a hierarchical format.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

physically touching the screen to enlarge said one of the plurality of zones.

8. In an appliance including a display screen for conveying operational and control information, a method of conveying the information comprising:

displaying a first set of information in one of a plurality of zones of the screen; and

enlarging said one of the plurality of zones to substantially, entirely encompass the screen, while automatically presenting a second set of information representing additional details concerning the first set of information on the screen.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

presenting the first set of information in the form of codes.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

providing the additional details to define the codes.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein diagnostic codes are presented as the first set of information.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of zones are divided into substantially equally sized areas.

13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

maintaining the first and second sets of information in a hierarchical format.

14. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

physically touching the screen to enlarge said one of the plurality of zones.

15. An information display system for an appliance comprising:

a display device including a screen divided into a plurality of display zones;

means for displaying a first set of information in one of the plurality of display zones; and

means for enlarging said one of the plurality of display zones to substantially, entirely encompass the screen while automatically presenting a second set of information representing additional details concerning the first set of information on the screen.

16. The information display system according to claim 15, wherein the first set of information constitutes codes.

17. The information display system according to claim 16, wherein the second set of information defines the codes.

18. The information display system according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of display zones are substantially, equally sized.

19. The information display system according to claim 15, wherein the screen constitutes a touch screen.

20. The information display system according to claim 15, wherein the appliance constitutes a laundry appliance.