Appliance combination lock for special modes

• US 20060155390A1
• Filed: 01/11/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Corbett, Mitchell N.
• Application Number:
  US11/033,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20060155390A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/54 Changing between normal operation mode and special operation modes, e.g. service mode, component cleaning mode or stand-by mode
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/30 characterised by mechanical features, e.g. buttons or rotary dials
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/106 for selecting a programme, variable or parameter
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23066 Same knob starts two different functions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24052 Set switch on for diagnostic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2633 Washing, laundry

Abstract

An appliance is provided with special software modes for diagnostic or testing purposes. The appliance includes an electronic control panel with a rotary dial for actuating the special modes. The dial operates like a combination lock. The dial is rotated clockwise so as to twice pass a reference point, then rotated counterclockwise to pass the reference point once, and then again rotated clockwise to the selected special mode, as indicated by a plurality of LED lights extending around the dial.

Claims

1. An appliance, comprising:

a plurality of special software modes for diagnostic purposes;

electronic controls for actuating the special modes, including a rotary dial to select one of the modes and LED extending around the dial to indicate the selected mode.

2. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the rotary dial is a combination lock which is rotated in opposite directions before the mode is selected.

3. The appliance of claim 2 wherein the dial is rotated in a first direction past a reference point, then in the opposite direction past the reference point, and then again in the first direction to the selected mode.

4. The appliance of claim 3 wherein the dial is rotated initially in the first direction two times past the reference point.

5. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the dial is operatively connected to a rotary encoder.

6. The appliance of claim 1 wherein there is one LED for each mode.

7. A method of actuating special software modes in an appliance, comprising:

rotating a dial on the appliance in a first direction past a reference point;

then

rotating the dial in an opposite second direction past the reference point; and

then

rotating the dial in the first direction to a desired mode indicated around the dial, whereby the selected mode is actuated.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the dial is first rotated in the first direction twice past the reference point.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising illuminating one of a plurality of LED around the dial to designate the selected mode.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising storing information about each mode on a tip sheet.

11. A control panel for an appliance, comprising:

a rotary dial which is rotated in opposite directions past a reference point before being rotated to select from a plurality of operational modes of the appliance.

12. The control panel of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of LED surrounding the dial, with each of the appliance modes corresponding to one of the LED.

13. The control panel of claim 11 wherein the dial includes a rotary encoder.

14. The control panel of claim 11 further comprising a tip sheet containing information about the modes of the appliance.