Cooktop with display elements

• US 6,376,809 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Huber, Johann, Busalt, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Paik, Sang
• Application Number:
  US09/624,446
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 219/445.1, 219/446.1, 219/447.1, 219/448.11, 219/448.12, 219/448.13, 345/173, 345/174, 345/175
• US Class Current: 219/445.1
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/0058 on electrical household appliances, e.g. on a dishwasher, a washing machine or a refrigerator
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0266 Cooktops
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/746 Protection, e.g. overheat cutoff, hot plate indicator

Abstract

A cooktop includes a printed circuit board having an upper side and operating elements on the upper side, a glass-ceramic cooking area having a plurality of cooking locations, and display elements. Each of the display elements have an illuminator and a display-symbol mask. The illuminator is assigned to one of the operating elements, is disposed underneath the glass-ceramic cooking area, and is secured on and in contact with the upper side of the printed-circuit board. The display-symbol mask is secured on the illuminator and is disposed between the glass-ceramic cooking area and the illuminator such that, when the illuminator is in operation, a display symbol corresponding to the display-symbol mask is seen through the glass-ceramic cooking area when viewed from above the glass-ceramic cooking area. The glass-ceramic cooking area can have no printed display-symbol inscription provided thereon, and/or can have no decorative printed inscription provided in a region on the surface above the illuminator. Further, the display-symbol mask can be secured on the illuminator at a distance from the underside of the glass-ceramic cooking area.

Claims

1. A cooktop, comprising:

a printed circuit board having an upper side and operating elements on said upper side;

a glass-ceramic cooking area having a plurality of cooking locations; and

display elements each having;

an illuminator assigned to one of said operating elements, disposed underneath said glass-ceramic cooking area, and secured on and in contact with said upper side of said printed-circuit board; and

a display-symbol mask secured on said illuminator and disposed between said glass-ceramic cooking area and said illuminator, for showing a display symbol corresponding to said display-symbol mask through said glass-ceramic cooking area when viewed from above said glass-ceramic cooking area while said illuminator is in operation.

2. The cooktop according to claim 1, wherein said glass-ceramic cooking area has a surface, and no printed display-symbol inscription is provided on said surface.

3. The cooktop according to claim 1, wherein said glass-ceramic cooking area has a surface, and no decorative printed inscription is provided in a region on said surface above said illuminator.

4. The cooktop according to claim 1, wherein said glass-ceramic cooking area has an underside and said display-symbol mask is secured on said illuminator at a distance from said underside.

5. In a cooktop having a glass-ceramic cooking area with a plurality of cooking locations, a display, comprising:

a printed circuit board having an upper side and operating elements on said upper side; and

display elements each having;

an illuminator assigned to one of said operating elements, disposed underneath the glass-ceramic cooking area, and secured on and in contact with the upper side of said printed-circuit board; and

a display-symbol mask secured on said illuminator and disposed between the glass-ceramic cooking area and said illuminator for showing a display symbol corresponding to said display-symbol mask through the glass-ceramic cooking area when viewed from above the glass-ceramic cooking area while said illuminator is in operation.

6. The display according to claim 5, wherein the glass-ceramic cooking area has a surface, and no printed display-symbol inscription is provided on the surface.

7. The display according to claim 5, wherein the glass-ceramic cooking area has a surface, and no decorative printed inscription is provided in a region on the surface above said illuminator.

8. The display according to claim 5, wherein the glass-ceramic cooking area has an underside and said display-symbol mask is secured on said illuminator at a distance from the underside.