COOKTOP-INTERFACE, COOKTOP-PANEL, COOKING DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPERATING A COOK-TOP-INTERFACE

• US 20130038840A1
• Filed: 04/21/2011
• Published: 02/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation NV (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation NV (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Hoffmann, Harald, Pojda, Armin, Edenharter, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 9,140,458 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/28
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/124 Control panels
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/082 on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/086 touch control
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2006 characterised by the light source

Abstract

The present application in particular is directed to a cooktop-interface 2 comprising at least one display device 5, a display sign layer 3 comprising at least one display sign provided in connection with the display device 5 and a back illumination lighting 4 for projecting the at least one display sign to a lower side of a cooktop-panel 1 arranged upstream the back illumination lighting 4 and display sign layer 3.

Claims

1. Cooktop-interface (2) comprising at least one display device (5), a display sign layer (3) comprising at least one display sign (8) provided in connection with the display device (5) and at least one back illumination lighting (4) for projecting the at least one display sign (8) on a cooktop-panel (1) arranged upstream the back illumination lighting (4) and display sign layer (3).

2. Cooktop-interface (2) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one switching element (11) provided with the cooktop-panel (1) and at least a switching element sign (10) relating to at least one of switching operation, switching status and position of the switching element (11).

3. Cooktop-interface (2) according to claim 1, comprising at least one further sign (9) for providing additional information.

4. Cooktop-interface (2) according to claim 1, the cooktop-panel (1) being a glass, ceramic, particularly glass ceramic panel.

5. Cooktop-interface (2) according to claim 1, the back illumination lighting (4) comprising at least one illumination foil (4), in particular a phosphoric illumination foil, at least one thin film transistor back lighting and/or at least one light guide.

6. Cooktop-interface (2) according to claim 1, at least the display sign layer (3) comprising a mask, preferably a printed foil mask, in particular a black printed foil mask;

the at least one display sign (8), switching element sign (10) and further sign (9), respectively, being defined by transparent sections (7) of the display sign layer (3).

7. Cooktop-interface (2) according to claim 1, the display sign layer (3) being applied to a lower face of the cooktop-panel (1), the back illumination lighting (4) being arranged at a display device layer (3) side averted from the cooktop-panel (1), and display device electronics of the display device (5) preferably being arranged at a side of the back illumination lighting (4) averted from the display sign layer (3).

8. Cooktop-interface (2) according to claim 1, the back illumination lighting (4) comprising at least one of colored and color change lighting elements, and/or the transparent sections (7) of at least the display sign layer (3) comprising at least one of colored and color change elements.

9. Cooktop-interface (2) according to claim 1, at least the display sign layer (3), in particular the mask, and the back illumination lighting (4), respectively, at least one of having cutouts (6, 7) and being transparent in areas (6, 7) in which display sites (12) of the at least one display device (5) face the cooktop-panel (1).

10. Cooktop-interface (2) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor element, in particular at least one capacitive sensor element, for sensing cooking utensils placed on the cooktop-panel (1).

11. Cooktop-panel (1) comprising at least one cooktop-interface (2) according to claim 1.

12. Cooking device comprising a cooktop-panel (1) according to claim 11.

13. Method of operating a cooktop-interface (2) according to claim 1, comprising the steps of projecting at least one of a display sign (8), switching element sign (10) and further sign (9) to a lower side of a cooktop-panel (1) by illuminating a display sign layer (3), in particular a mask, with a back light illumination lighting (4) and displaying information via at least one display device (5), wherein a display site (12) thereof facing the cooktop-panel (1) through transparent sections (6, 7) of the display design layer (3) and/or back light illumination (4).

14. Method according to claim 13, the cooktop-interface (2) being basically fully inactivated upon cooktop hub regions of the cooktop-panel (1) being switched off, and being at least partially activated upon at least one cooktop hub region of the cooktop-panel (1) is switched on.