Cooktop control

• US 6,949,723 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2003
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BSH Home Appliances Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Home Appliances Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Platt, Nils, Tino, Thomas L., Staebler, Manfred W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, SANG YEOP
• Application Number:
  US10/619,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20040007566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 219/445.1, 219/446.1, 219/447.1, 219/448.11, 219/448.13, 219/518, 126/90.A, 126/92.A, 126/217
• US Class Current: 219/445.1
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/083 on tops, hot plates
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/74 Non-metallic plates , e.g. vitroceramic, ceramic or glassceramic hobs, also including power or control circuits

Abstract

A cooktop with a ceramic glass panel has a panel portion with a first indicia set for selection of a burner and a second indicia set for selection of a power level to the selected burner. Each set of indicia is associated with switches for input to a control circuit in response to manipulation by a user. In addition, each indicia set includes a display interactive with the manipulation of the other indicia set. Preferably, the control circuit includes a processor for responding only to a sequential manipulation of an indicia from the first set indicia set and a sequential manipulation of an indicia from the second set within a predetermined time period.

Claims

1. A cooktop control for a cooktop including a glass ceramic panel and a plurality of burners forming a pattern under said panel, said control, comprising:

a first set of burner indicia visible on said cooktop panel in a first control area separated from said burners, each one of said indicia separately associated with one of said burners, said indicia formed in a pattern matching said burner pattern, each one of said separate burner indicia each including a display and a switch associated therewith;

a single second set of indicia visible on said cooktop panel in a second control area separated both from said burners and said first control area, said second set of indicia including a display and a first plurality of power level switches associated therewith, said single second set of indicia formed in a substantially circular arc or ring, said second set of indicia controlling the power level of each of said burner indicia;

an inner indicia ring including a third set of indicia, said inner indicia ring located adjacent said ring of said second set of indicia, said inner ring of indicia including a display and a second plurality of power level switches associated therewith; and

a circuit controlling the specific one of said burners in response to activation of said associated first indicia and the power setting for said specific associated burner set in response to activation of one of said plurality of power lever switches.

2. The control according to claim 1, including said first set of indicia including a combined burner operating indicia including a display and a switch associated therewith associated with a pair of said burners and said circuit controlling the specific pair of said burners in response to activation of said combined burner indicia and the power setting for said pair of burners set in response to activation of one of said plurality of power lever switches.

3. The control according to claim 1, including said second set of indicia including a separate warming display and a low level warming power level switch associated therewith.

4. The control according to claim 1, including a sensor probe extending above said cooktop.

5. The control according to claim 4, including a pot sensor display activated by said sensor probe sensing a pot.

6. The control according to claim 5, including a separate warming display and a low level warming power level switch associated therewith.

7. The control according to claim 6, including said pot sensor located substantially centrally and separated from said inner ring and said warming display located substantially adjacent an open end of said inner ring.

8. The control according to claim 1, including a separate warming display and a low level warming power level switch associated therewith.

9. A cooktop control for a cooktop including a glass ceramic panel and a plurality of burners forming a pattern under said panel, said control, comprising:

a first set of burner indicia visible on said cooktop panel in a first control area separated from said burners, each one of said indicia separately associated with one of said burners, said indicia formed in a pattern matching said burner pattern, each one of said separate burner indicia each including a display and a switch associated therewith;

a single second set of indicia visible on said cooktop panel in a second control area separated both from said burners and said first control area, said second set of indicia including a display and a first plurality of power level switches associated therewith, said second set of indicia controlling the power level of each of said burner indicia, said single second set of indicia formed in a substantially circular arc or ring, said second set of indicia including a separate warming display and a low level warming power level switch associated therewith;

an inner indicia ring including a third set of indicia, said inner indicia ring located adjacent said ring of said second set of indicia, said inner ring of indicia including a display and a second plurality of power level switches associated therewith;

a circuit controlling the specific one of said burners in response to activation of said associated first indicia and the power setting for said specific associated burner set in response to activation of one of said plurality of power lever switches; and

said first set of indicia including a combined burner operating indicia including a display and a switch associated therewith associated with a pair of said burners and said circuit controlling the specific pair of said burners in response to activation of said combined burner indicia and the power setting for said pair of burners set in response to activation of one of said plurality of power lever switches.

10. The control according to claim 9, including a sensor probe extending above said cooktop panel.

11. The control according to claim 10, including a pot sensor display activated by said sensor probe sensing a pot.

12. The control according to claim 11, including said pot sensor located substantially centrally and separated from said inner ring and said warming display located substantially adjacent an open end of said inner ring.