GB2200772A - Electronic programmers - Google Patents

Abstract

A cooker timer 1 is provided with a plurality of multi-segment displays 4 for displaying digital time information and also for displaying to a user a succession of legends corresponding to the programme details that have been set into the cooker timer 1. An audible signal may also be produced. <IMAGE>

Description

Electronic Programmers This invention relates to electronic programmers and is especially applicable to cooker timers.

Cooker timers are known which incorporate a plurality of multi-segment displays which are used, for example, for providing time of day indications and also for setting-up the timer in order that it can be used as a time switch control for the cooker in which it is fitted. Typically, such timers are incorporated into electric or gas cookers, in order to control the operation thereof in accordance with a desired programme which is entered into the timer via its associated controls and making use of the multi-segment displays. Typically, such multi-segment displays incorporate four 7-segment displays two of which are used to display hours typically on a 0-12 or 0-24 hour basis, and the other two of which are used to display 0-59 minutes.

A major problem with known forms of cooker timers is that they are passive devices that simply translate programmes that are fed into them and with the increasing sophistication of, for example, electric cookers, the programmes that are required to be inserted into the timers can be very complex, often necessitating reference to be made to operating instructions in order that the correct setting-up procedure be followed.

In the same way, the amount of programme information that is stored in the cooker timer is increasing and it is desirable that that information be made available to a user in a more readily accessible form.

According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic programmer comprising means for setting into the programmer a required operating programme and means operable when a programme has been set for conveying e.g. visually or audibly, to a user the programme that is set in said programmer.

In a preferred arrangement-in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a programmer comprising a plurality of multi-segment displays for displaying digital time information, microprocessor means for controlling the operation of said programmer, and control means for setting into said programme the required operating programme, said microprocessor means being adapted to cause the programme that is set in said programmer to be displayed on said multi-segment displays.

It may be arranged that the programme that is set in said programmer is displayed automatically after a required operating programme has been set into said programmer, or alternatively it may be arranged that the programme that is set in said programmer is displayed in response to actuation of said control means.

In carrying out the invention in accordance with the preferred arrangement, it may be arranged that said microprocessor means is adapted to store a plurality of legends corresponding to details of the operating programme and is further adapted to display successive ones of said legends on said multi-segment displays.

It may be arranged that said legends are displayed as a series of fixed words, or alternatively it may be arranged that said legends are displayed as a sequence of moving words.

The present invention is particularly applicable to electronic programmers in the form of cooker timers, but is also applicable to other forms of electronic programmer such as may be used in washing machines and the like.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1, is a front view of an electronic programmer in the form of a cooker timer in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2, is a block schematic diagram of the cooker timer of Figure 1.

The cooker timer 1 shown in Figure 1 of the drawings comprises an alpha-numeric display 2 and eight input select switches 3 which are used to set up the operating programme of the cooker timer 1. Amongst other things, the alpha-numeric display 2 comprises seven specially designed 8-segment displays 4 which are used for displaying both digital (e.g. time) information and verbal (alphabetic) information or a combination of the two.

Turning now to Figure 2 of the drawings, this depicts the block schematic diagram of the cooker timer 1 of Figure 1 and consists of a microprocessor 5 to which is applied signals 6 from the input select switches 3 of the cooker timer of Figure 1, and which affords outputs 7 to the alpha-numeric display 2 thereof and also outputs 8, via output amplifiers 9, to various output relays 10 and to a "sounder" 11, the relays 10- being used to control, for example, the operation of two ovens, "OVEN 1" and "OVEN 2" and also an "oven light". The diagram of Figure 2 also includes a power supply 12 which is fed from a 240V 50HZ AC mains supply 13 and which affords a DC voltage supply 14 to the cooker timer proper and also a 50HZ reference signal 15 which is required for timing purposes.

As will be appreciated, the operation of the cooker timer depicted in Figure 2 is basically controlled by the microprocessor 5, which is provided with details of the operating programme via the input select switches 3.

Typically, an operating programme will require that two out of three programme details be set into the microprocessor 5 in order to define that programme.

The three programme details that are usually required are START TIME, FINISH TIME and COOK TIME, and any two of these are set into the cooker timer in order to define the required operating programme. The actual START TIME, FINISH TIME and COOK TIME set into the cooker timer 1 are stored in the memory (not shown) of the microprocessor 5. It is also arranged that the microprocessor 5 is provided in its memory with a number of legends, each corresponding to one of the details of the operating programme, and these are used in conjunction with the stored programme details in order to convey to a user, using the alpha-numeric display 2, the details of the operating programme that are set into the cooker timer 1.Thus, the microprocessor 5 may be arranged to store the legends "START TIME WILL BE", "FINISH TIME WILL BE" and "COOK TIME WILL BE" and these legends are associated with the actual stored times so that after a setting up procedure has been completed or alternatively by operating one of the input select switches 3, the stored legends with the associated stored times are successively displayed on the alpha-numeric display 2, in order to inform the user of the programme that has been set into the cooker timer 1.

It may be arranged that the microprocessor 5 causes each legend to be displayed on the alpha-numeric display 2 either as a series of fixed words or more preferably as a moving character display in which the legend appears to move across the alpha-numeric display 2 from right to left as viewed in Figure 1.

If, therefore, a START TIME of, say, "10.45", a FINISH TIME of "12.15" and a COOK TIME of "01.30" had been. set into the cooker timer 1, then immediately after the setting up procedure had been completed or on actuation of one of the input select switches 3, the programme details will be displayed oh the alpha-numeric display 2 in sequence as follows: "START TIME WILL BE 10.45 - FINISH TIME WILL BE 12.15 - COOK TIME WILL BE 01.30".. The sequence may be displayed only once or it may be displayed repeatedly a number of times. - The display may also be used to display other legends as may be appropriate, such as "SET OVEN THERMOSTAT".

It will be appreciated that the precise wording of the legends and the number thereof may be adapted to any particular application.

It will also be appreciated that the multi-segment displays 4 of the alpha-numeric display 1 may take any convenient form, such as conventional 7-segment displays which are presently used in cooker timers.

However, such 7-segment displays have the capability of forming only a very restricted number of the letters of the alphabet thereby severely restricting the amount of verbal information that can be displayed. It is also possible to use conventional 12-segment displays which enable all the letters of the alphabet to be displayed, but these have the severe disadvantage that they require a large amount of microprocessor power in order to drive them.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the multi-segment displays 4 are constituted by specially designed 8-segment displays as shown in Figure 1, which are adapted to provide adequate letter and number displays and yet do not require the microprocessor power to drive them that conventional 12-segment displays require. It will be understood, however, that multi-segment displays having other than 7, 12 or 8 segments may-be used.

It is also envisaged that instead of or in addition to the sequence of legends being displayed on the alpha-numeric display 2, the cooker timer 1 may be provided with a voice output facility whereby the sequence of legends is audibly reproduced.

Although described in relation to a cooker timer, it will be appreciated that the principle of the invention may be applicable to other forms of electronic programmer, such as may be used in washing machines and the like.

Claims (10)

1. An electronic programmer comprising means for setting into the programmer a required operating programme and means operable when a programme has been set for conveying to a user the programme that is set in said programmer.

2. A programmer as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for visually conveying to a user the programme that is set in said programmer.

3. A programmer as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for audibly conveying to a user the programme that is set in said programmer.

4. A programmer as claimed in claim 2, comprising a plurality of multi-segment displays for displaying digital time information, microprocessor means for controlling the operation of said programmer, and control means for setting into said programme the required operating programme, said microprocessor means being adapted to cause the programme that is set in said programmer to be displayed on said multi-segment displays.

5. A programmer as claimed in claim 4, in which the programme that is set in said programmer is displayed automatically after a required operating programme has been set into said programmer.

6. A programmer as claimed in claim 4, in which the programme that is set in said programmer is displayed in response to actuation of said control means.

7. A programmer as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6, in which said microprocessor means is adapted to store a plurality of legends corresponding to details of the operating programme and is further adapted to display successive ones of said legends on said multi-segment displays.

8. A programmer as claimed in claim 7, in which said legends are displayed as a series of fixed words.

9. A programmer as claimed in claim 7, in which said legends are displayed as a sequence of moving words.

10. A programmer in the form of a cooker timer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.