Programmable cooking appliance

• US 20060065263A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Barritt, William D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,057,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/41.R
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/082 on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination

Abstract

A control system for a cooking appliance can operate in first or second modes of operation. In the first mode, a consumer is required to input both a temperature parameter and a time parameter before initiating a cooking operation. Once the cooking operation has completed, the control system operates the cooking appliance in a low temperature mode for a predetermined period. In this manner, a cooked food item is maintained at a reduced temperature so that the food item does not burn. In the second mode, the consumer can choose to bypass the required temperature input parameter so as to operate the cooking appliance based solely on the temperature parameter.

Claims

1. A cooking appliance comprising:

an oven cavity;

at least one heating element positioned to direct heat into the oven cavity;

a door mounted for movement relative to the oven cavity for selectively closing the oven cavity;

a control panel including a plurality of input members for programming at least time and temperature parameters for a cooking operation in the oven cavity and a mode selector input member; and

means for controlling said at least one heating element in a first mode, wherein the controlling means initiates a cooking operation only after both time and temperature parameters are input through the control panel, and in a second mode as determined through the mode selector input member, wherein the controlling means can initiate a cooking operation based on only a temperature parameter input through the control panel.

2. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein said controlling means establishes a cook time in the second mode.

4. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, further comprising:

a timer adapted to count down a time remaining for the time parameter; and

a door switch adapted to initial operation of the timer, wherein said timer does not begin until a food item is placed in the oven cavity as sensed by the door switch.

5. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein the controlling means operates said at least one heating element in a reduced, warming power level upon completion of the time parameter.

6. The cooking appliance according to claim 5, wherein the controlling means operates said at least one heating element at the reduced power level for a defined period so as to prevent a food item from becoming burned.

3. The cooking appliance according to claim 3, wherein the established cook time is based upon a type of food item placed in the oven cavity.

7. In a cooking appliance including an oven cavity, at least one heating element disposed inside said oven cavity, and a control panel having a plurality of input members for programming at least time and temperature parameters for a cooking operation into a control system, a method of performing the cooking operation comprising:

selecting a temperature parameter for the cooking operation through the control panel;

inputting a time parameter through the control panel, said time parameter establishing a duration for the cooking operation;

initiating the cooking operation after both the temperature parameter and time parameter have been input to the control system; and

providing an input member to bypass a requirement for the time parameter wherein, upon bypassing the requirement for the time parameter, the control system performs the cooking operating based on the temperature parameter.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

automatically operating the at least one heating element at a reduced power level at a termination of the time parameter.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the control system performs a preheat cycle if the input member for bypassing the time requirement is selected.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

automatically establishing a time parameter for the cooking operation if the input member for bypassing the time requirement is selected.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

initiating a timer to begin counting down the time parameter upon sensing a door opening.