Cooking appliance interface

• US 5,043,860 A
• Filed: 05/12/1989
• Issued: 08/27/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Technology Licensing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Technology Licensing Corporation
• Inventors: Waugh, Gerald F., Koether, Bernard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUGGIERO, JOSEPH F
• Application Number:
  US07/351,021
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 364/138, 364/139, 364/400, 364/477, 364/557, 364/200, 364/900, 219/492, 219/494, 219/501, 219/506, 219/10.55 E, 219/10.55 M, 99/325, 99/328, 371/16.4, 374/170, 374/171, 374/102, 374/149
• US Class Current: 700/9
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/1266 Control devices, e.g. to control temperature, level or quality of the frying liquid
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/087 of electric circuits regulating heat
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23051 Remote control, enter program remote, detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23252 High level language HLL, basic, control language
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25178 Serial communication, data, also repeater
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25432 Multiplex
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

An interface suitable for use with a cooking computer communication system and preferably mounted on each of cooking appliances such as a baking oven, cooling unit or fryer. The interface monitors the physical characteristics of the cooking appliance through analog or digital sensors and provides information for diagnostics and quality control by a local store computer or a remote corporate mainframe computer. The interface includes a microcomputer responsive to a plurality of signals representing parameters of the cooking appliance for developing a multiplexed digital output signal representing the parameters for applying the output signal by a two-wire cable to a cooking computer communication system.

Claims

1. In a cooking computer communication system for a cooking appliance, a cooking appliance control and monitoring system including an interface and comprising:

means for supplying a plurality of signals representative of a plurality of parameters of the cooking appliance;

a local area network comprising an interface having a parameter table having programmed values including appliance identification data and data indicating normal operating tolerances of the cooking appliance and having at least one actual value of measured data of the cooking appliance and said network comprising a two-wire cable of a cooking computer serial communication system; and

microcomputer means responsive to said plurality of signals and responsive to commands from said communication system for developing an output signal representing said parameters for applying said output signal by said local area network to said cooking computer serial communication system.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for supplying a plurality of signals representative of a plurality of parameters of the cooking appliance comprises means for supplying a plurality of analog signals.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for supplying a plurality of signals representative of a plurality of parameters of the cooking appliance comprise means for supplying a plurality of signals representative of a plurality of parameters including temperature of the cooking appliance.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said interface is mounted on the cooking appliance.

3. In a cooking computer communication system for a plurality of cooking appliances, a plurality of interfaces individually included in the cooking appliances and comprising:

means for supplying a plurality of signals representative of a plurality of parameters of each of the cooking appliances;

a local area network comprising said interfaces having a parameter table having programmed values including appliance identification data and data indicating normal operating tolerances of the cooking appliances and having at least one actual value of measured data of the cooking appliances and said network comprising two-wire cables of computer controls; and

a plurality of microcomputer means included in said interfaces and including said parameter tables responsive to said plurality of signals for individually developing multiplexed digital output signals representing said parameters of each cooking appliance for developing said output signals by said local area network of computer controls.

6. A cooking computer communication system comprising:

computer means for setting a desired value of at least one parameter of a cooking appliance and for sending messages;

a local area network communications system including a bi-directional two-wire bus coupled to said computer means;

a cooking appliance control and monitoring system including an interface having a parameter table having programmed values including appliance identification data and data indicating normal operating tolerances of the cooking appliance and having at least one actual value of measured data of the cooking appliance and said interface comprising means for supplying a plurality of signals representative of a plurality of parameters of said cooking appliance, and microcomputer means included in said interface and including said parameter table responsive to said plurality of signals for developing a multiplexed digital output signal representing said parameters for applying said output signal to said bi-directional bus.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6, in which said interface means for supplying a plurality of signals representative of a plurality of parameters of the cooking appliance comprises means for supplying a plurality of analog signals.

9. The system in accordance with claim 6, in which said means for supplying a plurality of signals representative of a plurality of parameters of the cooking appliance comprises means for supplying a plurality of parameters including temperature of the cooking appliance.

10. The system in accordance with claim 6, in which said interface is mounted on the cooking appliance.

8. A cooking computer communication system comprising:

computer means for setting a desired value of at least one parameter of a plurality of cooking appliances and for sending messages;

a two-wire local area network coupled to said computer means;

a cooking appliance control and monitoring system including interfaces each having a parameter table having programmed values including appliance identification data and data indicating normal operating tolerances of the cooking appliance and having at least one actual value of measured data of the cooking appliance and said interfaces comprising means for supplying a plurality of signals representative of a plurality of parameters of each of the cooking appliances, and microcomputer means included in said interfaces and including said parameter tables responsive to said plurality of signals of each of said plurality of cooking appliances for individually developing multiplexed digital output signals representing said parameters of each of the individual cooking appliances for individually applying said output signals by individual two-wire cables to said two-wire local area network.

11. In a cooking computer communication system for a cooking appliance, a cooking appliance control and monitoring system including an interface and comprising:

an interface having a parameter table having programmed values including appliance identification data and data indicating normal operating tolerances of the cooking appliance and having at least one actual value of measured data of the cooking appliance;

microcomputer means included in said interface and including said parameter table for receiving a digital input signal representing a plurality of commands from a two-wire cable coupled to a cooking computer communication system for determining parameters of the cooking appliance; and

a plurality of means for supplying a plurality of signals representing the actual values of a plurality of parameters of the cooking appliance;

said microcomputer means being responsive to said commands for programming values for said parameters of said cooking appliance and for controlling the appliance to conform said actual values to said programmed values.

13. An interface in accordance with claim 11, in which said plurality of means for supplying a plurality of signals representing the actual values of a plurality of parameters of the cooking appliance includes means for developing a signal representing the actual value of the temperature of the cooking appliance.

14. An interface in accordance with claim 11, in which said interface is mounted on the cooking appliance.

12. In a cooking computer communication system for a plurality of cooking appliances, a cooking appliance control and monitoring system including a plurality of interfaces comprising:

a plurality of interfaces each having a parameter table having programmed values including appliance identification data and data indicating normal operating tolerances of the cooking appliances and having at least one actual value of measured data of the cooking appliances;

a plurality of microcomputer means included in said interfaces and including said parameter tables for receiving digital input signals representing a plurality of commands from a plurality of two-wire cables coupled to a cooking computer communication system for determining a plurality of parameters of the plurality of cooking appliances; and

a plurality of means for supplying a plurality of signals representing the actual values of a plurality of parameters of the plurality of cooking appliances;

said plurality of said microcomputer means being responsive to said commands for programming values for said plurality of parameters of said plurality of cooking appliances and for controlling the plurality of appliances to conform said actual values to said programmed values.