Method and means for indicating an appliance condition
First Claim
1. Apparatus for displaying changes between first and second operating conditions in an appliance comprising:
- sensing circuit for sensing said changes in operating conditions of said appliance, said sensing circuit being adapted to create a first signal in response to sensing said first condition in said appliance and to create a second signal in response to sensing said second condition in said appliance;
a first heater connected to said sensing circuit and being actuatable in response to said first signal to generate heat, said first heater being deactuatable in response to receiving said second signal;
an elongated thermally conductive substrate mounted in heat transmitting relation to and adjacent said first heater for receiving and conducting thermal energy produced by said first heater;
a temperature sensitive material overlying said substrate and being capable of changing appearance in response to changes in the temperature of said conductive substrate;
a second heater adjacent and in heat transmitting relation to said conductive substrate; and
a timer circuit connected to said first and second heaters for causing said second heater to be actuated to heat said conductive substrate for a predetermined time after deactuation of said first heater.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A display is provided for indicating changes between first and second operating conditions in an appliance such as a clothes dryer. A sensing circuit senses changes in operating conditions within the appliance. A heater is connected to the sensing circuit and is responsive to various signals produced by the sensing circuit to generate heat. An elongated thermally conductive substrate is mounted adjacent to the heater for receiving and conducting thermal energy produced by the heater. A layer of thermochromic material overlies the substrate and is capable of changing colors in response to changes in the temperature of the conductive substrate.
67 Citations
21 Claims
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1. Apparatus for displaying changes between first and second operating conditions in an appliance comprising:
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sensing circuit for sensing said changes in operating conditions of said appliance, said sensing circuit being adapted to create a first signal in response to sensing said first condition in said appliance and to create a second signal in response to sensing said second condition in said appliance; a first heater connected to said sensing circuit and being actuatable in response to said first signal to generate heat, said first heater being deactuatable in response to receiving said second signal; an elongated thermally conductive substrate mounted in heat transmitting relation to and adjacent said first heater for receiving and conducting thermal energy produced by said first heater; a temperature sensitive material overlying said substrate and being capable of changing appearance in response to changes in the temperature of said conductive substrate; a second heater adjacent and in heat transmitting relation to said conductive substrate; and a timer circuit connected to said first and second heaters for causing said second heater to be actuated to heat said conductive substrate for a predetermined time after deactuation of said first heater. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for displaying the dryness level of fabrics being dried in a fabric dryer comprising:
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a moisture sensing circuit for detecting the relative dryness condition of said fabrics being dried, said sensing circuit being adapted to create a dry signal in response to sensing a dry condition of said fabrics and an intermittent wet signal of varying frequency in response to sensing a moist condition of said fabrics; a first heater connected to said sensing circuit and being actuated in response to said intermittent wet signal to generate heat continuously at a predetermined temperature, said first heater being deactuated in response to said dry signal; a thermally conductive substrate mounted adjacent said first heater for receiving and conducting heat produced by said first heater; a thermochromic member being of a first color and being positioned to receive heat from said substrate, said thermochromic member being capable of changing from said first color to a second color in response to being heated to a temperature above a threshold temperature, said thermochromic member being adapted to return to said first color when cooled to a temperature below said threshold temperature. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Apparatus for displaying changes between first and second operating conditions in an appliance comprising:
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a sensing circuit for sensing said changes in operating conditions of said appliance, said sensing circuit being adapted to create a first signal in response to sensing said first condition in said appliance and to create a second signal in response to sensing said second condition in said appliance; a thermistor connected to said sensing circuit and being responsive to said first signal to be actuated to generate heat, said thermistor being deactuated in response to said second signal; an elongated thermally conductive substrate mounted adjacent said thermistor for receiving and conducting thermal energy produced by said thermistor; a temperature sensitive material overlying said substrate and being capable of changing appearance in response to changes in the temperature of said thermally conductive substrate; a resistor adjacent and in heat transmitting relation to said conductive substrate; and a timer circuit connected to said thermistor and said resistor for causing said resistor to be actuated to heat said conductive substrate for a predetermined period of time after deactuation of said thermistor. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method for sensing and displaying changes between first and second operating conditions in an appliance comprising:
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using a sensing circuit to sense said changes between said first and second operating conditions of said appliance; heating a temperature sensitive member above a threshold temperature in response to sensing said first operating condition of said appliance; continuing to heat at least a portion of said temperature sensitive material above said threshold temperature for a predetermined time period after sensing said second operating condition; cooling said temperature sensitive member below said threshold temperature in response to expiration of said predetermined time period, said temperature sensitive member having the characteristic of being a first color when heated above said threshold temperature and being a second color when cooled below said threshold temperature. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification