COOKING DEVICE WITH INTERACTIVE DISPLAY

• US 20180188947A1
• Filed: 12/29/2016
• Published: 07/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Granted Patent: US 10,691,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0664 Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/082 on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6435 Aspects relating to the user interface of the microwave heating apparatus

Abstract

A cooking device is provided herein. The cooking device includes a touch-sensitive display configured to register user-input via one or more touch events to enable a user to make selections related to the operation of the cooking device. The user-input is provided to a controller, and in response, the controller controls the operation of the cooking device based on the user-input.

Claims

1. A cooking device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display configured to display a virtual timeline spanning a period of time, and a virtual track positioned relative to the virtual timeline, the virtual track being populated with one or more instance blocks that each represent an operation of the cooking device and each having a start time and a duration that is visually related to the virtual timeline, wherein the touch-sensitive display is further configured to register one or more touch events on at least one of the virtual timeline and the virtual track for specifying a delay to the start time of each operation, and in response, shifts the one or more instance blocks along a length of the virtual track such that the one or more instance blocks are positioned relative to the virtual timeline in accordance with the delay; and

a controller in communication with the touch-sensitive display and configured to control the operation of one or more heating elements of the cooking device based on the delay.

2. The cooking device of claim 1, wherein the one or more touch events comprises a single touch event on the virtual track at a point corresponding to a desired start time inside the time period of the virtual timeline, and wherein the touch-sensitive display registers the touch event and responds by shifting the one or more instance blocks along the length of the virtual track such that the start time of at least one of the instance blocks coincides with the desired start time.

3. The cooking device of claim 1, wherein the one or more touch events comprises a first and second touch event, wherein the first touch event is performed on a later point of the virtual timeline and is registered by the touch-sensitive display, which responds by advancing the virtual timeline and the virtual track such that the time period of the virtual timeline now includes times previously unavailable, and wherein the second touch event is performed on a point corresponding to a desired start time previously outside the time period and is registered by the touch-sensitive display, which responds by shifting the one or more instance blocks along the length of the virtual track such that the start time of at least one of the instance blocks coincides with the desired start time.

4. The cooking device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the instance blocks represents one of a bake operation, a broil operation, and a proof operation.

5. The cooking device of claim 1, wherein the one or more instance blocks are positioned along the virtual track in a predetermined order.

6. The cooking device of claim 1, configured to operate in a showroom mode, whereby the controller is prevented from controlling the operation of the one or more heating elements, and wherein the touch-sensitive display remains operational to allow the delay to be specified for demonstration and viewing purposes.

7. The cooking device of claim 1, wherein the operation represented by each instance block is defined by settings associated with a favorite operation or a recently used operation selected by the user.

8. A touch-sensitive display for displaying an operation tracking screen for a cooking device, comprising:

a virtual timeline spanning a period of time;

at least one virtual progress bar comprising one or more instance blocks positioned relative to the virtual timeline and each representing an operation of the cooking device; and

a virtual progress indicator configured to move across the virtual timeline and the at least one virtual progress bar in real time to indicate the progress of the operation represented by each of the instance blocks.

9. The touch-sensitive display of claim 8, wherein the virtual progress indicator comprises a vertical bar.

10. The touch-sensitive display of claim 8, wherein the one or more instance blocks are displayed concurrently.

11. The touch-sensitive display of claim 8, wherein each of the instance blocks is progressively displayed based on the position of the virtual progress indicator.

12. The touch-sensitive display of claim 11, wherein an instance block is only displayed when the virtual progress indicator reaches a scheduled start time of the instance block.

13. The touch-sensitive display of claim 8, configured to be presented on a webpage for viewing purposes.

14. A method of controlling a cooking device, comprising the steps of:

displaying a virtual timeline spanning a period of time, and a virtual track positioned relative to the virtual timeline, the virtual track being populated with one or more instance blocks that each represent an operation of the cooking device and each having a start time and a duration that is visually related to the virtual timeline;

registering one or more touch events on at least one of the virtual timeline and the virtual track for specifying a delay to the start time of each operation;

in response to registering the one or more touch events, shifting the one or more instance blocks along a length of the virtual track such that the one or more instance blocks are positioned relative to the virtual timeline in accordance with the delay; and

controlling the operation of one or more heating elements of the cooking device based on the delay.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of registering comprises:

registering a single touch event on the virtual track at a point corresponding to a desired start time inside the time period of the virtual timeline; and

shifting the one or more instance blocks along the length of the virtual track such that the start time of at least one of the instance blocks coincides with the desired start time.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of registering comprises:

registering a first touch event on a later point of the virtual timeline;

in response to registering the first touch event, advancing the virtual timeline and the virtual track such that the time period of the virtual timeline now includes times previously unavailable;

registering a second touch event on a point corresponding to a desired start time previously outside the time period; and

in response to registering the second touch event, shifting the one or more instance blocks along the length of the virtual track such that the start time of at least one of the instance blocks coincides with the desired start time.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the instance blocks represents one of a bake operation, a broil operation, and a proof operation.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more instance blocks are positioned along the virtual track in a predetermined order.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of operating the cooking device in a showroom mode, whereby operation of the one or more heating elements is disabled, and wherein the delay is specified for demonstration and viewing purposes.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the operation represented by each instance block is defined by settings associated with a favorite operation or a recently used operation selected by the user.