WO2024147768A1

WO2024147768A1 - Mechanically controlled oven with an illuminated knob

Info

Publication number: WO2024147768A1
Application number: PCT/TR2023/050011
Authority: WO
Inventors: Metin OZTURK; Fatih ZUNGOR; Emre KUS; Hasan Bahadir BILGIC
Original assignee: Mamur Teknoloji Sistemleri San. A.S.
Priority date: 2023-01-06
Filing date: 2023-01-06
Publication date: 2024-07-11

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device (30) for an oven comprising a mechanical thermostat (36) fed with an electrical signal and a controller (32) connected to a commutator (34). The control device further comprises, a LED driver element (33) that turns on a first LED element (31) and/or a second LED element (39) to provide light to a control panel (2) and, in an operating mode, changes the light character, optionally also the color, of the first LED element (31) and/or the second LED element (39) when an electrical signal is provided from the mechanical thermostat (36) to the controller (32) upon activation of the commutator (34) in an oven open mode triggered by the controller (32) providing an electrical signal from the commutator (34) to the controller (32).

Description

MECHANICALLY CONTROLLED OVEN WITH AN ILLUMINATED KNOB

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mechanically controlled oven where operating parameters are set using a mechanical thermostat and commutator, particularly to a household oven equipped with an illuminated knob.

STATE OF THE ART

In oven operation, a user can make various settings on a control panel such as preheating, cooking, lowering, or raising the temperature. While performing these operations, they expect auditory or visual feedback from the oven. Methods of auditory and visual alerts (such as audible alarms on the control panel, lights turning on, off, and/or blinking) related to oven functions are commonly used. However, these methods can sometimes be inadequate. For example, in a scenario where food is being cooked, the likelihood of hearing the oven's auditory alert in a noisy environment where all kitchen appliances are operating simultaneously is almost nil. In such cases, methods involving the oven's lighting sources come into play.

EP2256561 B1 discloses a method for operating a domestic appliance, wherein the domestic appliance has at least one switching and/or adjusting element for switching and/or adjusting especially a main parameter of the domestic appliance when the domestic appliance is in a switched-on mode, wherein the domestic appliance has a display element by which a value especially of a main parameter of the domestic appliance can be displayed when the domestic appliance is in a switched-on mode and wherein an alarm clock function can be activated in an alarm clock operation mode in which a time or a time interval can be set till triggering an alarm. To facilitate the use of an alarm clock function of the domestic appliance, the invention is characterized in that the alarm clock operation mode is started immediately after pressing and/or activating of the at least one switching and/or adjusting element when the domestic appliance is in a switched-off mode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to provide an effective warning function in ovens equipped with a mechanical thermostat and a commutator.

In order to achieve the above objective, the invention relates to a control device for an oven comprising a mechanical thermostat fed with an electrical signal and a controller connected to a commutator. The control device further comprises, a LED driver element that turns on a first LED element and/or a second LED element to provide light to a control panel and, in an operating mode, changes the light character, optionally also the color, of the first LED element and/or the second LED element when an electrical signal is provided from the mechanical thermostat to the controller upon activation of the commutator in an oven open mode triggered by the controller providing an electrical signal from the commutator to the controller. Additionally, in an operating mode, when an electric signal is provided from the mechanical thermostat to the controller, it changes the light configuration of the first and/or second LED element, optionally including a color change. In this way, the controller drives the LED driver based on the operating signals from the mechanical thermostat or commutator to produce a visual output on the control panel. The oven's open mode and the cooking start mode are visually differentiated. Changes in light intensity or presence, aside from color changes, can also be used alone or in combination. Here, mechanical controls, namely the mechanical thermostat and the commutator, provide an electric signal to the controller as an input for operation, pre-coded for different oven states, such as white for oven open mode and color for operating mode, delivering visual messages through one or both LED elements on the control panel. These messages can be visual codes interpretable by the user in a "look and feel" manner or predefined light codes provided in the user manual. Preferably, the controller is configured to drive the first and/or second LED elements in a first color setting in the oven open mode and a different second color setting in the operating mode. This differentiates two distinct operating modes of the oven: one indicating the oven is merely powered and the other indicating the electric heaters in the cooking chamber are activated, each represented by separate visual codes to the operator.

Preferably, the controller is configured to drive the first and/or second LED elements in a third color setting, different from the second color setting, upon receiving an electric signal indicating the cooking chamber temperature has reached the set temperature in the operating mode provided by the mechanical thermostat. This adds a separate visual code for the operator, indicating not only that the oven is on and the electric heaters are activated but also that the cooking chamber has reached the set temperature. Preferably, a first input directly connected to the mechanical thermostat and a second input directly connected to the commutator is provided, both configured to transmit an electric signal to the controller. The first and second inputs facilitate the connection of the mechanical thermostat and the commutator, located at different points within the oven, to the controller.

Preferably, the controller, the first input, and the second input are provided on the same integrated circuit board. This allows for a compact structure where all functions can be executed, for example, behind the control panel area.

A preferred embodiment includes an oven containing the described control device. The oven comprises a first adjustment device with a rotary knob that activates the commutator when turned, selecting a cooking mode adapted from a setting rod to the commutator. This first adjustment device enables the setting of the desired cooking mode and the illumination of the relevant LED element by simply turning the rotary knob, facilitating operation through a knob adapted to the control panel.

Preferably, a second adjustment device with a rotary knob is provided, which activates the mechanical thermostat to set a cooking temperature when turned, adapted from an setting rod to the mechanical thermostat. In this case, the corresponding cooking mode and temperature can be separately set using two distinct rotary knobs.

Preferably, the first and second LED elements are positioned adjacent to their corresponding rotary knobs. This arrangement allows the rotary knobs to display the relevant visual code on the control panel without the need for a separate display, for example, through light leaking from their edges.

Preferably, the first LED element is connected to a circuit board that transmits an electric signal through the LED driver element. This enables the use of an LED element with multiple LED components capable of displaying different colors.

A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a control method for the described oven. The control method involves the steps of selecting a cooking mode through the rotation of the first rotary knob, which switches the oven to open mode; the controller takes the oven to open mode by illuminating the first and second LED elements in a first color through an electric signal fed from a second input via the LED driver element; setting a cooking temperature value with the rotation of the second rotary knob, which takes the oven to operating mode; and the controller changing the color configuration by illuminating the first and second LED elements in a second color through an electric signal fed from the first input via the LED driver element.

Preferably, the mechanical thermostat sends an electric signal to the first input indicating the set temperature has been reached, and the controller changes the color configuration by illuminating the first and second LED elements in a third color through the LED driver element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is a front view of the control panel of a representative configuration of the oven subject to the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a representative application of the oven subject to the invention with two rotary knobs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This detailed description explains the subject matter with references to examples, without any limitation, solely for a better understanding of the invention.

In Figure 1 , the front view of a control panel (2) of a built-in oven (1 ) is shown. The control panel (2) comprises a first and second adjustment device (10, 20) with cylindrical rotary knobs (12, 22) positioned on either side of a flat panel. Between them a display (3) extends lengthwise. The rotary knobs (12, 22) are hollow cylindrical knobs with a cap structure. Around each knob, there is a circular part with a circular hole that allows a beam of light to exit between it and the corresponding hole in the control panel (2). The first adjustment device (10) is used for selecting a cooking mode setting, and cooking mode icons are arranged around the rotary knob (12) on the control panel (2) through silkscreen printing. On the other hand, the second adjustment device (20) is used for selecting the cooking temperature, and the path of temperature increase (clockwise) is indicated around the rotary knob (22) through silkscreen printing. The display (3) is an LCD screen that shows the time and the set cooking temperature.

Figure 2 schematically shows the control device (30) of the oven (1 ). The control device (30) includes a controller (32) with a central processing unit and memory unit located on a circuit board, a first input (35), a second input (37), and an LED driver element (33) that are interconnected by electric signal transmission paths. The first input (35) is a terminal element connected to a mechanical thermostat (36) via a cable to provide an electric signal. Similarly, the second input (37) is also a terminal element connected to a commutator (34) via a cable. The LED driver element (33) is an electronic circuit connected to a circuit board (38) fixed behind the rotary knobs (12, 22) via cables that open and close a first LED element (31 ) and a second LED element (39), adjusting light characteristic parameters such as intensity and color.

The user activates the commutator (34) by turning the rotary knob (12) of the first adjustment device (10) on the control panel (2). The rotary knob (12) of the first adjustment device (10) is mounted by extending through a sleeve (not shown) behind it to a setting rod (342) that is coaxial with the front part of the commutator (34). In this way, the commutator (34) is mechanically activated by applying torque through rotation. The angular position taken by the operator's rotary knob (12) corresponds to a program that provides electric current from the mains to the relevant functional elements of the oven (1 ). Additionally, the commutator (34) provides current to the second input (37) from one of its outputs, enabling the controller (32) to take the oven to an open mode. In this case, the processor of the controller (32) activates the LED driver element (33) to emit light in a first color, for example, white, from both the first LED element (31 ) and the second LED element (39) simultaneously. The light leaks from the edges of the rotary knobs (12, 22) and is visible from the control panel (2). In this way, an external observer can visually understand that the oven (1 ) is turned on. The operator turns the rotary knob (22) of the second adjustment device (20), thereby rotating an setting rod (362) connected to the mechanical thermostat (36). Thus, the temperature is set to a specific value by the operator. In this case, the mechanical thermostat (36) sends a triggering signal from one of its outputs through an electric signal, feeding it from the first input (35) to the processor of the commutator (34) for transitioning to operating mode. The controller (32) adjusts the LED driver element (33) to change the color value of both LED elements (31 , 39) simultaneously. The RGB values of the first and second LED elements (31 , 39) are changed through the LED driver element (33) to a corresponding second color, for example, orange or red, making it visually apparent from the light on the control panel (2) that the electric heaters are heating the cooking chamber. When the cooking chamber reaches the set temperature value, the mechanical thermostat (36) alerts the first input (35) with an electric signal, and the controller (32) conveys to the control panel (2) a visual indication that pre-heating is completed by changing the color of both LED elements (31 , 39) to a third color through the LED driver element (33). For example, the color can be set to green to indicate that preheating is complete. Upon completion of the cooking process, the controller (32) can trigger the LED driver element (33) to display this with a different color or visual display through the LED elements (31 , 39). The color changes can be instant or achieved through a smooth transition over a predetermined duration. REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 Oven 33 LED driver element

2 Control panel 34 Commutator

3 Display 35 First input

10 First adjustment device 36 Mechanical thermostat

12 Rotary knob 37 Second input

14 LED lighting area 38 Circuit board

20 Second adjustment device 39 Second LED element

22 Rotary knob 342 Setting rod

30 Control device 362 Setting rod

31 First LED element

32 Controller

Claims

1 . A control device (30) for an oven comprising a mechanical thermostat (36) fed with an electrical signal and a controller (32) connected to a commutator (34), characterized in that, a LED driver element (33) turns on a first LED element (31 ) and/or a second LED element (39) to provide light to a control panel (2) and, in an operating mode, changes the light character, optionally also the color, of the first LED element (31) and/or the second LED element (39) when an electrical signal is provided from the mechanical thermostat (36) to the controller (32) upon activation of the commutator

(34) in an oven open mode triggered by the controller (32) providing an electrical signal from the commutator (34) to the controller (32).

2. A control device (30) according to claim 1 , wherein the controller (32) is configured to drive the LED driver element (33) in an oven open mode to illuminate the first and/or second LED elements (31 , 39) in a first color setting, and in an operating mode, in a second color setting different from the first color setting.

3. A control device (30) according to claim 2, wherein the controller (32) is configured to drive the LED driver element (33) to illuminate the first and/or second LED elements (31 , 39) in a third color setting different from the second color setting upon receiving an electrical signal indicating that the cooking temperature set by the mechanical thermostat (36) has been reached in the operating mode.

4. A control device (30) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a first input

(35) is set to transmit an electrical signal to the controller (32) and directly connected to the mechanical thermostat (36), and a second input (37) directly connected to the commutator (34).

5. A control device (30) according to claim 4, wherein the controller (32) is provided with the first input (35) and the second input (37) on the same integrated circuit board.

6. An oven (1) comprising a control device (30) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a first adjustment device (10) with a rotary knob (12) activates the commutator (34) in a way to select a cooking mode when turned, adapted from an adjustment rod (342) to the commutator (34).

7. An oven (1 ) according to claim 6, wherein a second adjustment device (20) with a rotary knob (22) activates the mechanical thermostat (36) in a way to set a cooking temperature when turned, adapted from an adjustment rod (362) to the mechanical thermostat (36).

8. An oven (1 ) according to claim 7, wherein the first LED element (31) and the second LED element (39) are positioned adjacent to the corresponding rotary knob (12, 22).

9. An oven (1 ) according to claim 8, wherein a circuit board (38) carries the first LED element (31) and is connected to the LED driver element (33) to transmit an electrical signal.

10. A control method for an oven (1) according to claims 7-9, comprising the steps of selecting a cooking mode from the commutator (34) by turning the first rotary knob (12), which puts the oven into an open mode; taking the oven into an open mode with the controller (32) taking an electrical signal from the second input (37) and illuminating the first and second LED elements (31 , 39) in a first color through the LED driver element (33); taking the oven into an operating mode by setting a cooking temperature value on the mechanical thermostat (36) by turning the second rotary knob (22); changing the color configuration to illuminate the first and second LED elements (31 , 39) in a second color through the LED driver element (33) with an electrical signal fed from the first input (35) by the controller (32).

11. A control method according to claim 10, comprising the step of changing the color configuration to illuminate the first and second LED elements (31 , 39) in a third color through the LED driver element (33) by the controller (32), upon receiving an electrical signal at the first input (35) indicating that the temperature value set by the mechanical thermostat (36) has been reached.