Electronic Control For Range

• US 20090206070A1
• Filed: 02/11/2009
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Viking Range Corporation (Middleby Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Viking Range Corporation (Middleby Corporation)
• Inventors: Ortner, Matthew, Bailey, Brent
• Application Number:
  US12/369,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20090206070A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/398
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/124 Control panels

Abstract

An electronic control for a range including a control panel with a display surface, at least one control, and a display module. The display surface is substantially reflective, but allows transmission of light from an inside to an outside of the range. The display module includes an augmentation element to illuminate a display and transmit the illuminated display through the display surface. The display module can be disposed at an angle to the display surface. The display surface mimicking the surrounding material to allow the display surface to blend into the surface of the display module, with the surface being illuminated through designed to be camouflaged into the background. The at least one control can be a knob, a button, or a series of buttons or knobs. The display can provide function status of an item in the range.

Claims

1. An electronic control for a range, the electronic control comprising:

a control panel including a display surface, at least one control, and a display module;

the display surface being substantially reflective, but allowing transmission of light from an inside to an outside of the range; and

,

the display module including an augmentation element to illuminate a display and transmit the illuminated display through the display surface.

2. The electronic control of claim 1 wherein the augmentation element is a backlight or reflector.

3. The electronic control of claim 1 wherein the display module is disposed at an angle to the display surface.

4. The electronic control of claim 3 wherein the angle is approximately 45 degrees.

5. The electronic control of claim 3 wherein the angle is approximately 30 degrees.

6. The electronic control of claim 1 wherein the control panel is formed of a first material and wherein the display surface is formed of a second material;

wherein the second material mimics the appearance of the first material.

7. The electronic control of claim 1 wherein the control panel has an outer surface and wherein the display surface has an appearance of the outer surface of the control panel.

8. The electronic control of claim 1 wherein the display surface is one-way mirrored glass, one-way transparent glass, tinted glass, tinted plastic, or one-way transparent plastic.

9. The electronic control of claim 1 wherein the at least one control is a knob, a button, or a series of buttons or knobs.

10. The electronic control of claim 1 wherein the display displays function status of an item in the range.

11. The electronic control of claim 1 including two display surfaces disposed on both sides of a control knob with buttons disposed between each display surface and the knob.

12. A range including an electronic control, the range comprising:

an oven cavity closed on one side by an oven door;

a heating element;

the heating element being controlled by the electronic control;

the electronic control including;

a control panel including a display surface, at least one control, and a display module;

the display surface being substantially reflective, but allowing transmission of light from an inside to an outside of the range; and

,

the display module including an augmentation element to illuminate a display and transmit the illuminated display through the display surface.

13. The range of claim 12 wherein the augmentation element is a backlight or reflector.

14. The range of claim 12 wherein the display module is disposed at an angle to the display surface.

15. The range of claim 12 wherein the angle is approximately 45 degrees.

16. The range of claim 12 wherein the angle is approximately 30 degrees.

17. The range of claim 12 wherein the display surface is one-way mirrored glass, one-way transparent glass, tinted glass, tinted plastic, or one-way transparent plastic.

18. The range of claim 12 wherein the at least one control is a knob, a button, or a series of buttons or knobs.

19. The range of claim 12 wherein the display provides function status of an item in the range.

20. The range of claim 12 including two display surfaces disposed on both sides of a control knob with buttons disposed between each display surface and the knob.

21. The range of claim 12 wherein the control panel is formed of a first material and wherein the display surface is formed of a second material;

wherein the second material mimics the appearance of the first material.

22. The range of claim 12 wherein the control panel has an outer surface and wherein the display surface has an appearance of the outer surface of the control panel.