Systems and methods for providing variable output feedback to a user of a household appliance

• US 7,069,090 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2004
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Original Assignee: E.G.O. North America Inc. (Blanc & Fischer Familienholding GmbH)
• Inventors: Harkcom, Alton, Huffington, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US10/910,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20060025874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 700/21, 700/45, 700/79, 700/17, 700/83, 700/80, 700/81, 700/82, 700/33, 700/44, 340/693.12, 340/815.4, 340/500, 340/825.36, 340/825.39, 714/57, 714 7- 8
• US Class Current: 700/45
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/104 characterised by physical layout of switches; switches co-operating with display; use of switches in a special way
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23023 Control knobs, levers integrated into display, display parameters near knobs
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23057 Position of knob, pedal detected by encoder, addresses memory for functions

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention uses an on-board microcontroller of a household appliance to receive signals from a directionless encoder attached to a knob for receiving user input and processing the signals from the direction encoder according to a control algorithm. The microcontroller may increase the output to an electric heating element on the appliance based on a variety of criteria, including either direction of rotation, current heating element setting, or a change in directional rotation. Alternatively, or in addition, the microcontroller may provide various types of graduate visual or aural feedback to the user regarding the output provided by the microcontroller.

Claims

1. A system for providing user feedback comprising:

an input device operated by a user to indicate a desired operational status of a household appliance;

a microcontroller controlling a household appliance, the microcontroller receiving input from the input device, the microcontroller providing in response a first output signal and a second output signal;

a plurality of heating elements operatively connected to the microcontroller, at least one of the plurality of heating elements activated to generate heat in response to the first output signal; and

a plurality of discrete LEDs controlled by the second output signal, the microcontroller activating a number of the plurality of discrete LEDs in proportion to the first output signal.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a multi-segment LED display operatively connected to the microcontroller and displaying a numerical indication to the user associated with the first output signal.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the number of the plurality of discrete LEDs activated is equal in number to the numerical indication displayed by the multi-segment LED display.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of discrete LEDs are arranged in an arc-shape around the perimeter of the heating element.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of discrete LEDs are arranged in an arc-shape in proximity to the input device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the input device comprises a rotational directionless encoder.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein all of the plurality of discrete LEDs are activated when the first output signal results in the heating element generating maximum heat.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the household appliance is a cooktop.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the heating element generates heat by induction.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of discrete LEDs are of different wavelengths generating different visible light.

11. A method of providing visual feedback to a user of a household appliance comprising:

receiving input regarding a operational status of the household appliance from the user at a microcontroller controlling the operation of the household appliance;

determining in the microcontroller a variable output control signal controlling the operational status of a heating element;

generating at least one signal in the microcontroller activating a number of a plurality of discrete LEDs in proportion with a level of the variable output control signal, the number of discrete LEDs activated indicating the operational status of the heating element.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving the variable output control signal at the heating element of the household appliance.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the variable control signal causes the heating element to generate heat by induction.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

generating in the microcontroller a digital signal determined in part by the variable output control signal; and

providing the digital signal to a multi-segment LED indicating a numerical value associated with the operational status of the heating element.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the numerical value indicated on the multi-segment LED associated with the operational status of the heating element is equal to the number of discrete LEDs activated.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the input regarding the operation status of the household appliance is provided by the user to turn on one of a plurality of heating elements.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of generating one sound from a group of sounds associated with a level of the variable output control signal.

18. A system for providing user feedback comprising:

an input device operated by a user generating a user determined input signal to indicate a desired operational status of a household appliance;

an audible sound generator receiving a variable input signal and capable of generating a sound of one of a plurality of frequencies in response to the variable input signal;

a microcontroller controlling the household appliance, wherein the microcontroller is configured for;

receiving the user determined input signal from the input device, and

generating an appliance control signal and the variable input signal, wherein the appliance control signal controls a heating element on the household appliance, and

wherein the variable input signal is determined in part by the user determined input signal, and wherein further, the variable input signal is of a characteristic to generate the sound correlated with the appliance control signal.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the frequency produced by the audible sound generator is a tone based on the American Standard Pitch tonal progression.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

a burner receiving the appliance control signal and generating heat in response thereto.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the frequency generated by the audible sound generator is in proportion to the appliance control signal.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the audible sound generator produces a first frequency followed by a second frequency in proportion to a change in the user determined input signal.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the first frequency followed by the second frequency is determined in part by the appliance control signal,

wherein the appliance control signal is increased or decreased based on the user determined input signal.

24. A system for providing user feedback comprising:

an input device operated by a user to indicate a desired operational status of a household appliance;

a microcontroller controlling the household appliance, the microcontroller receiving input from the input device, the microcontroller providing in response a first output signal and a second output signal;

one of a plurality of heating elements operatively connected to the microcontroller and generating heat in response to the first output signal; and

an audible sound generator controlled by the second output signal, the microcontroller determining the second output signal based in part on the first output signal and causing the audible sound generator to generate one frequency selected from a set of frequencies based on the first output signal.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the microcontroller further causes the audible sound generator to generate a sound of a defined frequency that is associated with the one of the plurality of hearing elements.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the audible sound generator is a piezoelectric buzzer.

27. The system of claim 24 wherein the household appliance is a cooktop.

28. The system of claim 24 wherein the second output signal is a pulse width modulated signal.

29. The system of claim 24 wherein the microcontroller is capable of selecting the one frequency to be produced by the audible sound generator from a set of at least nine frequencies.

30. A method of providing audible feedback to a user of a household appliance comprising:

receiving input at a microcontroller from the user altering the operational status of a burner on the household appliance;

determining from a plurality burners the burner of which the operation status is to be altered;

determining one signal from a plurality of audio control signals that is associated with the burners and in proportion to power provided to the burner; and

providing the audio control signal determined to an audio output device.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

determining whether the input from the user increases or decreases the output level of the burners; and

determining one signal from a plurality of audio control signals based in part on whether the power provided to the burner is increased or decreased.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the step of providing the audio control signal to an audio output device comprises providing the audio control signal to an audio output device to generate a tone.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the tone is based on the American Standard Pitch series of tones.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein the audio output device is a piezoelectric audio device.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the audio output device is accompanied by a varying visual indicator.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the varying visual indicator is comprised of a plurality of discrete LEDs.