Program control and display system for multiple appliance units
First Claim
1. A program control and display system for first and second, independently operable appliance units comprising:
- a control panel including a plurality of user control elements for inputting operational information, including an operational mode and an operational time, for each of the first and second appliance units;
a control unit, linked to the control elements, for receiving input signals representative of the desired operational modes and times;
an alpha-numeric display unit interconnected to the control unit for conveying the operational modes and times selected by the user, said display unit including at least first, second and third distinct display zones, with said first and second display zones being dedicated to displaying operational information solely for the first and second appliance units respectively and said third display zone representing a common display zone capable of displaying operational information for either of the first and second appliance units; and
an information link formed as part of the display unit, said information link connecting the third display zone and one of the first and second display zones.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Multiple, programmable appliance units are connected to a control unit which receives program data from a control panel including user input elements for selecting various operational parameters, such as operational modes and times, for the appliance units. The control panel also includes a display having both display zones which are dedicated to the individual appliance units and at least one common display zone. Preferably, the common display zone is centrally located and operates on priority and override bases to provide user information concerning the appliance units. In further accordance with the invention, the information provided in the common display zone is linked to a dedicated area for a corresponding one of the appliance units to clearly enable the user to relate the provided information with the respective unit. In a preferred form of the invention, the information link takes the form of a bracket provided on the display which extends across the common display zone and into a dedicated zone for the particular appliance unit.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A program control and display system for first and second, independently operable appliance units comprising:
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a control panel including a plurality of user control elements for inputting operational information, including an operational mode and an operational time, for each of the first and second appliance units;
a control unit, linked to the control elements, for receiving input signals representative of the desired operational modes and times;
an alpha-numeric display unit interconnected to the control unit for conveying the operational modes and times selected by the user, said display unit including at least first, second and third distinct display zones, with said first and second display zones being dedicated to displaying operational information solely for the first and second appliance units respectively and said third display zone representing a common display zone capable of displaying operational information for either of the first and second appliance units; and
an information link formed as part of the display unit, said information link connecting the third display zone and one of the first and second display zones. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of controlling and displaying operational mode and timing information programmed for first and second appliance units comprising:
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displaying operational information in a first display zone dedicated for the first appliance unit;
displaying operational information in a second display zone dedicated for the second appliance unit;
displaying operational information from at least one of the first and second appliance units in a third, common display zone; and
visually linking the operational information displayed in the common display zone with a respective one of the first and second display zones. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
selected a desired appliance operation by inputting operational information for at least one of the first and second appliance units through the use of operational mode and operational time control elements provided on a control panel; and
permitting the operational time for the selected operational mode to be directly adjusted during the appliance operation so long as the operational mode is currently displayed in the common display zone.
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Specification