Control of self-test feature for appliances or electronic equipment operated by microprocessor
First Claim
1. Apparatus having a plurality of electrically operated devices including electrically operated visible indicia, a plurality of manually operable input means for entering functional commands, microprocessor means connected to the devices and receiving inputs from the input means via input terminals, said microprocessor means containing a permanently-programmed read-only-memory for storing instruction words which define operating sequences to operate the devices in response to commands from the input means, the microprocessor means selectively activating the devices through output terminals which are connected to the devices, the microprocessor means having self-contained test control means operable in response to actuation thereof to energize at least some of said electrically operated devices in sequence, operation of the test control means being initiated by contact means separate from the input means, the contact means selectively connecting at least one of the output terminals to at least one of the input terminals, the test control means including a sequence of said instruction words in the read-only-memory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microwave oven is disclosed as a typical appliance controlled by a microprocessor device. The oven has an LED digital display, a number of indicator LED'"'"'s, and a capacitive touch keyboard, along with circuits for controlling a magnetron, a broiler unit, and a blower. A "self-test" feature causes the system to sequence through test routines whereby all LED'"'"'s are lighted in a set order, each digit of the display counts up from 0 through 9, keyboard inputs entered are displayed as a code, and the magnetron and broiler are turned on. The test is initiated by control switches separate from the keyboard so that the keyboard can be bypassed.
63 Citations
10 Claims
- 1. Apparatus having a plurality of electrically operated devices including electrically operated visible indicia, a plurality of manually operable input means for entering functional commands, microprocessor means connected to the devices and receiving inputs from the input means via input terminals, said microprocessor means containing a permanently-programmed read-only-memory for storing instruction words which define operating sequences to operate the devices in response to commands from the input means, the microprocessor means selectively activating the devices through output terminals which are connected to the devices, the microprocessor means having self-contained test control means operable in response to actuation thereof to energize at least some of said electrically operated devices in sequence, operation of the test control means being initiated by contact means separate from the input means, the contact means selectively connecting at least one of the output terminals to at least one of the input terminals, the test control means including a sequence of said instruction words in the read-only-memory.
- 6. An electrical apparatus in a self-contained housing without external control equipment, the apparatus having a plurality of electronic devices including means for performing operating functions and also including a plurality of visible indicia providing indications of the operating functions and information relating to operation thereof, the electrical apparatus having logic control means for energizing the electric devices including the visible indicia in response to functional commands from manually-operable input means, the logic control means including a fixed-program read-only-memory for storing instruction words and logic means for sequentially executing the instruction words to energize the electronic devices, the logic control means having output terminals coupled to the electronic devices and having input terminals coupled to the input means, the improvement comprising self-contained test means wholly included in the logic control means within the housing and operable to actuate the electric devices including the visible indicia in a pattern, the test means having an input control for initiating operation thereof separate from the input means, the input control including means for connecting at least one of the output terminals to at least one of the input terminals.
Specification