Electric cooking range having multiple-zone power control system and wipe resistant control panel
First Claim
1. A multiple-zone power control system for controlling power distribution to electric heating elements, the system comprising:
- a power control unit comprising a plurality of control zones for controlling the delivery of power to respective electric heating elements; and
a touch-sensitive key for alternately activating and deactivating a designated one of the plurality of control zones when the touch-sensitive key is touched by a user;
wherein when all of the plurality of control zones are deactivated, the touch-sensitive key must be touched for at least a cold start duration in order to activate the designated one of the plurality of control zones; and
wherein when at least one of the plurality of control zones is activated, the touch-sensitive key must be touched for at least a minimum key-touch duration in order to activate the designated one of the plurality of control zones, the minimum key-touch duration being shorter than the cold start duration.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple-zone power control system for controlling electric heating elements, including a power control unit having multiple control zones, a touch-sensitive fuinction key, and a touch-sensitive on/off key for activating and deactivating one of the control zones. When all of the control zones are deactivated, the touch-sensitive key must be touched for at least a cold start duration in order to activate the designated control zone. Alternatively, the designated control zone is prevented from being activated if the touch-sensitive fuinction key is touched while the touch-sensitive on/off key is being touched. The control system also includes two power controllers connected by a communication bus. When one of the power controllers initiates a lockout condition, the other power controller initiates a corresponding lockout condition. Multiple heating elements can be controlled together using a single set of control keys. A element size key toggles between different combinations of heating elements to control.
52 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A multiple-zone power control system for controlling power distribution to electric heating elements, the system comprising:
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a power control unit comprising a plurality of control zones for controlling the delivery of power to respective electric heating elements; and
a touch-sensitive key for alternately activating and deactivating a designated one of the plurality of control zones when the touch-sensitive key is touched by a user;
wherein when all of the plurality of control zones are deactivated, the touch-sensitive key must be touched for at least a cold start duration in order to activate the designated one of the plurality of control zones; and
wherein when at least one of the plurality of control zones is activated, the touch-sensitive key must be touched for at least a minimum key-touch duration in order to activate the designated one of the plurality of control zones, the minimum key-touch duration being shorter than the cold start duration. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3-4. -4. (Cancelled).
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5. A method of reducing inadvertent power activation during a wiping/cleaning operation of a touch-sensitive power control input panel, comprising steps of:
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sensing that a touch-sensitive on/off key has been touched by a user;
after the step of sensing, activating a power control zone that corresponds to the touch-sensitive on/off key if at least one other power control zone is activated and the on/off key remains touched for at least a minimum key-touch duration; and
after the step of sensing, activating a power control zone that corresponds to the touch-sensitive on/off key if the on/off key remains touched for at least a cold start duration, the minimum key-touch duration being shorter than the cold start duration. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A multiple-zonepowercontrol system for controlling power distribution to electric heating elements, the system comprising:
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a power control unit comprising a plurality of control zones for controlling the delivery of power to respective electric heating elements;
a touch-sensitive on/off key for alternately activating and deactivating a designated one of the plurality of control zones when the touch-sensitive on/off key is touched by a user; and
a touch-sensitive function key for controlling a function of the designated one of the plurality of control zones when the touch-sensitive function key is touched by a user;
wherein the designated one of the plurality of control zones is prevented from being activated if the touch-sensitive function key is touched while the touch-sensitive on/off key is being touched. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A power control system for controlling power to electrical heating elements, the system comprising:
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a communication bus;
a first power controller for controlling power to a heating element of an oven, the first power controller being connected to the communication bus;
a second power controller for controlling power to a heating element of a cooktop, the second power controller being connected to the communication bus; and
a user interface controller for inputting and displaying control data for controlling the second power controller, the user interface controller being connected to the communication bus;
wherein when one of the first power controller and the second power controller initiates a lockout condition, the other one of the first power controller and the second power controller initiates a corresponding lockout condition in response to a lockout signal being provided on the communication bus. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A cooktop for a cooking appliance, the cooktop comprising:
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a first heating element;
a second heating element at least partially surrounding the first heating element;
a third heating element at least partially surrounding the second heating element;
a power controller for selectively providing power at a selected level according to three operating modes, the three operating modes comprising;
a first operating mode in which the power controller provides power at the selected level to the first heating element, a second operating mode in which the power controller simultaneously provides power at the selected level to the first heating element and the second heating element, and a third operating mode in which the power controller simultaneously provides power at the selected level to the first heating element, the second heating element and the third heating element; and
a touch-sensitive mode selection key for selecting each of the three operating modes, wherein the power controller selects a next one of the three operating modes according to a predetermined sequence each time the mode selection key is touched. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A cooktop for a cooking appliance, the cooktop comprising:
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a first heating element;
a second heating element;
a third heating element;
a first user interface controlling the first heating element individually in a first operating mode of the first user interface, controlling the first heating element and the second heating element together in a second operating mode, and the first heating element, the second heating element, and the third heating element together in a third operating mode;
a second user interface controlling the third heating element individually in the first operating mode; and
a touch-sensitive mode selection key provided to the first user interface for selecting each ofthe three operating modes, wherein the first user interface selects a next one of the three operating modes according to a predetermined sequence each time the mode selection key is touched. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification