COOKING DEVICE

• US 20080105248A1
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Young Woo, Kim, Hyun, Kim, Wan
• Granted Patent: US 8,796,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/19R
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/02 Doors specially adapted for stoves or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/082 on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination

Abstract

An appliance including a cabinet having a first PCB located therein, a door connected to the cabinet, the door being moveable between an open position and a closed position to open and close the cabinet, and a second PCB located in the door. In addition, at least one first connector is connected to the first PCB. At least one second connector is connected to the second PCB and is electronically connectable to the first connector. In particular, the second connector is electrically connected to the first connector when the door is in a substantially closed position.

Claims

1. An appliance, comprising:

a cabinet having a first PCB located therein;

a door connected to the cabinet, the door being moveable between an open position and a closed position to open and close the cabinet;

a second PCB located in the door;

at least one first connector connected to the first PCB; and

at least one second connector connected to the second PCB and electronically connectable to the first connector, the second connector being electrically connected to the first connector when the door is in a substantially closed position.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the first connector includes a housing in the cabinet, and the second connector has a wafer structure that is electrically connectable to the first connector

3. The appliance of claim 1, further comprising a connector entrance located at a portion of the cabinet corresponding to the first connector, the connector entrance allowing the second connector to pass therethrough.

4. The appliance of claim 1, further comprising a connector entrance switching unit located in the cabinet to open and close the connector entrance.

5. The appliance of claim 4, wherein the connector entrance switching unit includes:

a cover that is pivotally attached to the cabinet; and

an elastic member that biases the cover to close the connector entrance.

6. The appliance of claim 5, wherein the cover is made of silicone.

7. The appliance of claim 4, wherein the connector entrance switching unit includes a cover member having a cutout portion formed therein, the cutout portion is elastically deformable to be opened/closed by the insertion/removal of the second connector.

8. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the second controller includes a power source unit that provides power to the second controller when the second connector is not electrically connected to the first connector.

9. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the second controller includes memory to store information.

10. The appliance of claim 1, further comprising:

a first wireless communication unit connected to the first controller;

a second wireless communication unit connected to the second controller, the first and second wireless communication units being configured to provide wireless communication between the first and second PCBs.

11. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the first connector includes one of a latch board and a latch located on the cabinet, and the second connector includes the other of the latch board and the latch located on the door.

12. The appliance of claim 11, wherein the first connector includes the latch board located on the cabinet and the second connector includes the latch located on the door.

13. The appliance of claim 11, wherein the latch includes:

a data transmission portion;

a power transmission portion; and

an insulation portion separating the data transmission portion from the power transmission portion.

14. The appliance of claim 13, wherein, when the latch is electrically connected to the latch board, data is transmitted between the first and second PCBs via the data transmission portion and power is transmitted from the first PCB to the second PCB via the power transmission portion.

15. The appliance of claim 11, wherein the first connector includes at least a second of a latch board and a latch located on the cabinet and the second connector includes at least a second of the other of the latch board and the latch located on the door.

16. The appliance of claim 15, wherein the second latch board and the second latch are configured to transmit power from the first connector to the second connector.

17. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the at least one first connector includes a plurality of first connectors, the at least one second connector includes a plurality of second connectors.

18. The appliance of claim 17, wherein at least a first portion of the first and second connector parts are configured to transmit data between the first and second PCBS, and a second portion of the first and second connector parts are configured to transmit power from the first PCB to the second PCB.

19. An appliance, comprising:

a cabinet having a first PCB located therein;

a door connected to the cabinet, the door being moveable between an open position and a closed position to open and close the cabinet;

a second PCB located in the door;

a first communication unit connected to the first PCB; and

a second communication unit connected to the second PCB, the first communication unit and second communication unit being configured to provide wireless communication between the first PCB and the second PCB.

20. The appliance of claim 19, wherein the second controller includes a power source unit that provides power to the second controller when the second connector is not electrically connected to the first connector.

21. The appliance of claim 19, wherein the second controller includes memory to store information.

22. An appliance, comprising:

a cabinet having a first PCB located therein;

a door connected to the cabinet, the door being moveable between an open position and a closed position to open and close the cabinet;

a second PCB located in the door;

a first connector connected to the first PCB;

a second connector connected to the second PCB and electronically connectable to the first connector, the second connector being electrically connected to the first connector when the door is in a substantially closed position;

a first communication unit connected to the first PCB; and

a second communication unit connected to the second PCB, the first communication unit and second communication unit being configured to provide wireless communication between the first PCB and the second PCB.

23. The appliance of claim 22, wherein the first connector includes one of a latch board and a latch located on the cabinet, and the second connector includes the other of the latch board and the latch located on the door.