USER-CONFIGURABLE INTERFACE FOR A COOKING APPLIANCE

• US 20080110875A1
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Fisher, Gary W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,053,708 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/483
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/082 on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination

Abstract

A cooking appliance includes a plurality of heating elements and a plurality of user interface devices for receiving heating element settings. An input device for allows a user to arbitrarily selectively associate any one or more of the heating elements with any one or more of the user interface devices.

Claims

1. A cooking appliance, comprising:

a plurality of heating elements;

a plurality of user interface devices for receiving heating element settings; and

an input device for allowing a user to arbitrarily selectively associate any one or more of the heating elements with any one or more of the user interface devices.

2. A cooking appliance as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an indicator for providing a common indication for indicating a selective association of one or more of the heating elements with one or more of the user interface devices.

3. A cooking appliance as set forth in claim 2, wherein the common indication includes at least one of a common color indication, a common numbering indication, a common crosshatching indication, a common symbol indication, a common flashing light indication, and an interconnected line indication.

4. A cooking appliance as set forth in claim 1, wherein the input device includes an interactive display.

5. A cooking appliance as set forth in claim 4, wherein the interactive display provides a common color indication for indicating a selective association of one or more of the heating elements with one or more of the user interface devices.

6. A cooking appliance as set forth in claim 4, wherein the interactive display and the plurality of user interface devices provide a common color indication for indicating a selective association of one or more of the heating elements with one or more of the user interface devices.

7. A cooking appliance as set forth in claim 4, wherein the interactive display includes a graphical icon for indicating a selective association of one or more of the heating elements with one or more of the user interface devices.

8. A cooking appliance as set forth in claim 4, wherein the interactive display is configured to display a selection menu comprising a plurality of user-selectable heating element control configurations.

9. A cooking appliance as set forth in claim 8, wherein the plurality of user-selectable heating element control configurations includes a default configuration.

10. A cooking appliance, comprising:

a first heating element;

a second heating element;

a first user interface device for receiving a first heating element setting from a user;

a second user interface device for receiving a second heating element setting from the user;

a controller for selectively associating any one or both of the first heating element and the second heating element with any one or both of the first user interface device and the second user interface device based on an arbitrary selection by the user; and

an indicator for indicating a selective association of any one or both of the first element and the second heating element with any one or both of the first user interface device and the second user interface device.

11. A cooking appliance as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first heating element and the second heating element are cooktop heating elements.

12. A cooking appliance as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first heating element is one of a cooktop element, a bake element, a broil element, and a warmer drawer element.

13. A cooking appliance as set forth in claim 10, wherein the indicator provides a common color indication for indicating said selective association.

14. A cooking appliance as set forth in claim 10, wherein the indicator, the first user interface device, and the second user interface device provide a common color indication for indicating said selective association.

15. A cooking appliance as set forth in claim 10, wherein the indicator comprises an interactive display for receiving at least a part of the arbitrary selection by the user.

16. A cooking appliance as set forth in claim 15, wherein the interactive display includes a graphical icon for indicating said selective association.

17. A cooking appliance as set forth in claim 15, wherein the interactive display is configured to display a selection menu comprising a plurality of user-selectable configurations.

18. A cooking appliance as set forth in claim 17, wherein the plurality of user-selectable configurations includes a default configuration.

19. A cooktop heating system, comprising:

a first cooktop heating element;

a second cooktop heating element;

a third cooktop heating element;

a fourth cooktop heating element;

a user interface device for receiving a heating element setting from a user;

a controller for selectively associating the user interface device with any one or more of the first cooktop heating element, the second cooktop heating element, the third cooktop heating element, and the fourth cooktop heating element based on an arbitrary user selection; and

an indicator for indicating a selective association of the user interface device with any one or more of the first cooktop heating element, the second cooktop heating element, the third cooktop heating element, and the fourth cooktop heating element.

20. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the indicator provides a common color indication for indicating said selective association.

21. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the indicator and the user interface device provide a common color indication for indicating said selective association.

22. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the indicator comprises an interactive display for receiving at least a part of the arbitrary selection by the user.

23. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 22, wherein the interactive display includes a graphical icon for indicating said selective association.

24. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 22, wherein the interactive display is configured to display a selection menu comprising a plurality of user-selectable control configurations.

25. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 24, wherein the plurality of user-selectable control configurations includes a default configuration.

26. A method of configuring a heating element control system, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of heating elements;

providing a user interface device for receiving a heating element setting from a user;

selectively associating the user interface device with any one or more of the heating elements based on an arbitrary selection by the user; and

indicating a result of the step of selectively associating.

27. A method of configuring a heating element control system as set forth in claim 26, wherein the step of selectively associating includes the steps of:

selecting any one or more of the heating elements; and

selecting the user interface device.

28. A method of configuring a heating element control system as set forth in claim 26, wherein the step of selectively associating includes the steps of:

displaying a selection menu comprising a plurality of user-selectable configurations; and

selecting one of the user-selectable configurations.

29. A method of configuring a heating element control system as set forth in claim 26, wherein the step of indicating includes the step of providing a common color indication.