User programmable control system for toaster oven appliance
First Claim
1. A countertop toaster oven appliance capable of performing the functions of TOAST, BAKE and BROIL, comprising:
- (a) a compartment in which the food items to be heated are placed;
(b) heating elements for heating said compartment;
(c) sensing means for sensing the temperature within said compartment externally to the food items to be heated;
(d) a keyboard having a plurality of user actuatable keys including a plurality of numeric and function entry keys for entering numerical and functional data and for selecting one of a plurality of modes of operation;
(e) display means for displaying numerical and functional operating data;
(f) heater control means for controlling said heating elements;
(g) function selection means connected to said keyboard for establishing a set of control parameters for each selected mode of operation;
(h) heat requirement-determining means connected to said sensing means and to said function selection means for determining the heat input requirements into said compartment to satisfy the predetermined relationships for each selected mode of operation and for controlling said heater control means as a function of the actual temperature in said compartment and the temperature and mode of operation selected on said keyboard; and
(i) an interactive data entry means connected to said function selection means and to said display means for activating said display means with a signal indicating the type of numerical data to be entered before said numerical data is entered and displaying the numerical data as it is entered.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A toaster-oven appliance has a control circuit which enables a user to program the operation of the appliance through a keyboard with audible feedback and which includes functional keys for selecting one mode of operation from available BAKE, BROIL, SLOW COOK, TIMER and TOAST modes, and numerical keys for entering a temperature, time interval and toast color. The BAKE and BROIL functions may be used with the TIMER function to provide TIME-BAKE and TIME-BROIL functions. An interactive digital display is provided to display a user selected function, temperature, time interval, or an error indication in the event that an impermissible entry is made. In the presently preferred embodiment that is described, the control circuit includes microprocessor-based programmable digital logic. The microprocessor operates under the direction of a master program. The control circuit, under the direction of the microprocessor, periodically checks the control signals and the operation of the appliance to establish that operation is normal. Information stored in the memory of the microprocessor is periodically updated. An audible signal is generated when the timer time interval has expired, when the selected temperature has been reached in the BAKE mode and when a number of alarm conditions occur. The digital logic together with a digital-to-analog converter provides enhanced temperature control and repeatability.
136 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A countertop toaster oven appliance capable of performing the functions of TOAST, BAKE and BROIL, comprising:
-
(a) a compartment in which the food items to be heated are placed; (b) heating elements for heating said compartment; (c) sensing means for sensing the temperature within said compartment externally to the food items to be heated; (d) a keyboard having a plurality of user actuatable keys including a plurality of numeric and function entry keys for entering numerical and functional data and for selecting one of a plurality of modes of operation; (e) display means for displaying numerical and functional operating data; (f) heater control means for controlling said heating elements; (g) function selection means connected to said keyboard for establishing a set of control parameters for each selected mode of operation; (h) heat requirement-determining means connected to said sensing means and to said function selection means for determining the heat input requirements into said compartment to satisfy the predetermined relationships for each selected mode of operation and for controlling said heater control means as a function of the actual temperature in said compartment and the temperature and mode of operation selected on said keyboard; and (i) an interactive data entry means connected to said function selection means and to said display means for activating said display means with a signal indicating the type of numerical data to be entered before said numerical data is entered and displaying the numerical data as it is entered. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A user programmable control system for a countertop toaster oven appliance capable of performing the functions of TOAST, BAKE and BROIL, comprising:
-
(a) a compartment in which the food items to be heated are placed; (b) heating elements for heating the toaster oven appliance; (c) sensing means for sensing the temperature within the toaster oven appliance externally to the food items to be heated; (d) a keyboard having a plurality of user actuatable keys including a plurality of number and function entry keys for entering numerical and functional data and for selecting one of a plurality of modes of operation; (e) electronic display means for displaying numerical and functional operating data; (f) programmed processor means responsive to said keyboard and to said sensing means for controlling said heating elements to heat said compartment as a function of the user-selected mode of operation and for applying selected data to said electronic display means; and (g) an interactive data entry means connected to said keyboard and said electronic display means for activating said electronic display means with a signal indicating the type of numerical data to be entered before said numerical data is entered and displaying the numerical data as it is entered. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
Specification