Abstract: An appliance with a glass control panel is provided with a membrane touch control panel assembly which simulates the appearance of a glass capacitive touch panel, and which can tolerate relatively harsh temperature environments such as on the backsplash of a range.

Abstract: A start circuit arrangement for a microwave oven including a power control relay circuit which is independently responsive to a user actuable momentary start switch and to a programmed electronic controller to facilitate operation in a delay start mode. The relay circuit includes a start latch circuit, a door switch and an arm switch. User actuation of the momentary start switch sets the latch circuit. A signal from the electronic controller resets the latch circuit. The door switch is closed by closure of the oven door. The arm switch is closed by an arm signal from the electronic controller when an actual cooking cycle is to begin. The arm signal is removed upon expiration of the cooking cycle. The arm switch, start latch means and door switch are all operatively coupled to the relay such that the relay only enables energization of the power circuit for the oven when the arm switch and door switch are closed and the start latch is set.

Abstract: A temperature control system for an electronically-controlled thermal cooking oven having a single oven temperature sensor, which system facilitates varying the calibration set point in the field for normal cooking modes, without affecting the self-cleaning temperature calibration which is factory preset. A sensor-developed analog voltage is employed to control self cleaning temperature in the oven, with the oven temperature during normal cooking modes, such as bake and broil, controlled by the same voltage modified by an independently developed offset value or signal. The required summing of the sensor voltage and the offset voltage preferably is done by means of a suitably-programmed microprocessor-based control system. With this arrangement, the offset can be changed to vary the set point for normal cooking modes without affecting the self-cleaning temperature which is detected solely by the sensor, and cannot be readily varied by field adjustment.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for an induction heating apparatus which monitors the position of a cooking utensil on a work surface and disables an inverter circuit powering a work coil if the utensil is located at an off-center position with respect to the coil, or if no utensil is present upon the cooking surface. The sensor arrangement comprises a plurality of sets of sensors at successively larger distances from the center of the work surface. Each set comprises a plurality of sensors arranged on an imaginary circle substantially equidistant from each other. Each sensor operates to provide an indication of the presence or absence of a utensil directly above the sensor. The sensors are monitored by a logic arrangement which indicates whether a utensil is properly centered, based on the fullness or degree of activation of the various sets. If the utensil is not properly positioned, the inverter is disabled and a signal advises the user of this condition.