Home appliances provided with control systems which may be actuated from a remote location

• US 6,121,593 A
• Filed: 08/19/1998
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1998
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Viking Range Corporation (Middleby Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Duck Creek Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Landry, Kenneth D., Mansbery, David I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): PWU, JEFFREY C
• Application Number:
  US09/136,723
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 340/638, 340/310.01, 340/870.02, 165/12, 165/48.1, 165/63, 165/64, 99/419, 99/484, 219/679, 219/678, 219/702, 219/714, 219/720, 219/495, 219/506, 364/131
• US Class Current: 219/679
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/32 Time-controlled igniting mechanisms or alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/08 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6435 Aspects relating to the user interface of the microwave heating apparatus

Abstract

A self-contained refrigerator and oven, for refrigerating and cooking food in the same enclosed chamber, which can be actuated by the operator from a variety of remote locations around the world via telephone or the internet. The heating element may be a microwave unit and the refrigerating means may be a thermoelectric heat pump.

Claims

1. A combination refrigerator and cooker comprising:

a compartment provided with refrigerating means for keeping foods cold,

said compartment also being provided with cooking means for cooking said food when said refrigerating means is turned off,

a first means for controlling the operation of said refrigerating means and said cooking means,

a second means for sending and receiving data concerning said refrigerating means and said cooking means to and from a remote location via telephone or the internet,

whereby an individual may evaluate said data concerning said refrigerating means and said cooking means received through said second means thus enabling said individual to direct and control said first means through said second means.

2. A combination refrigerator and cooker of claim 1 wherein said refrigerating means is a thermoelectric heat pump and wherein said cooking means is a microwave oven.

3. The combination refrigerator and cooker of claim 1 wherein said second means of actuating said first means from a remote location include software run by home server capable of being able to communicate by using CEBUS protocol via network media.

4. The combination refrigerator and cooker of claim 3 wherein said communication is through a powerline interface.