Display device with illuminating device for a domestic electric heating apparatus

• US 6,924,465 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2003
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Original Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Inventors: Fischer, Alfred, Gremm, Oliver, Katzenmayer, Juergen, Schilling, Wilfried, Egenter, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, SANG YEOP
• Application Number:
  US10/693,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20040089466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 219/443.1, 219/445.1, 219/446.1, 219/448.11, 219/448.12, 219/460.1, 219/461.1, 219/462.1, 219/483, 126/39.J, 126/39.H, 126/90.A, 126/92.AC, 126/92.A
• US Class Current: 219/445.1
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/083 on tops, hot plates
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/746 Protection, e.g. overheat cutoff, hot plate indicator
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/1218 with arrangements using lights for heating zone state indication

Abstract

The invention provides according to one example a display device for a domestic electric heating appliance, such as for example a glass ceramic hob, the electric heating appliance having at least one heating device. The latter is subdivided into several flat heating areas, which can be activated at least partly independently of one another and/or singly for heating operation. The display device optically displays the heating operation or the activation of individual heating areas. For this purpose it has individually activatable illuminating devices. The illuminating devices are constructed as separate segments of a geometrical basic shape, such as a rectangle or preferably a circle. For each display device there are two basic shapes of the same nature, but different size and having a concentric arrangement.

Claims

1. A display device for a domestic electric heating apparatus, the electric heating apparatus having at least one heating device subdivided into several flat heating areas, wherein the several flat heating areas can be activated at least partly independently of one another and/or singly for heating operation,

said display device comprising:

individually activatable illuminating devices to optically display the heating operation or the activation of the individual heating areas,

wherein said illuminating devices are constructed as separate segments of a geometrical basic shape,

wherein for each said display device there are two basic shapes of the same nature, the two basic shapes being of different sizes and being concentrically arranged, and

wherein said display device is separate from the heating device.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein there is provided at least one additional illuminating device with at least one segment, and is positioned laterally and with limited spacing alongside said basic shapes.

3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein said additional illuminating device is constructed in the manner of a half or half-divided basic shape of said aforementioned basic shapes.

4. The display device according to claim 2, wherein said additional, laterally positioned illuminating device is constructed in the same way with at least one segment and corresponding to one of said segments of said basic shapes.

5. The display device according to claim 1 wherein an additional, third, concentric, similar basic shape is provided, whose size differs from that of the two said basic shapes.

6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said segments are constructed as angular portions of said basic shape either flat or linearly along their circumference.

7. The display device according to claim 6, wherein said segments extend over an angle of 90°

.

8. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said segments are separated from one another by unilluminated bridges or separating areas.

9. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said illuminating devices are constructed in such a way that they represent hearing devices of different sizes, as well as heating devices with heating areas positioned laterally alongside the same.

10. The display device according to claim 1, wherein light emitting means are provided for said illuminating devices, one said light emitting means illuminating at least one said segment.

11. The display device according to claim 10, wherein a single light emitting means illuminates two said segments in the manner of half a basic shape.

12. The display device according to claim 10, wherein said light emitting means are LEDs.

13. The display device according to claim 10, wherein said light emitting means have a body in segmental form, said light emitting means with said body farming one said illuminating device.

14. The display device according to claim 10, wherein said light emitting means are positioned beneath a mask or a cover having openings or transparent areas with the shape of said segments.

15. The display device according to claim 10, wherein light distributing or light conducting parts made from transparent or coloured plastic are positioned above said light emitting means.

16. The display device according to claim 8, being constructed as a module and having a casing with several electrical terminals for said light emitting means and a covering mask with openings corresponding to the shape of said segments.

17. The display device according to claim 8, wherein there is a module having openings or transparent areas corresponding to the shape of said segments, the module being fittable by means of separate light emitting means and is mechanically retained by the same.

18. The display device according to claim 1, wherein it is connected to a control and for each said heating device forming a cooking point there is one said display device and said control is constructed for representing the operation of said individual beating areas by means of said illuminating devices of said display device.

19. The display device according to claim 18, wherein said control has a printed circuit board which, in addition to circuitry components and electronics, has at least one said display device.

20. The display device according to claim 19, wherein, for each said heating device, said printed circuit board has at least one control element, alongside which there is one said display device.