Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a self-closing user control for a cooking element that is capable of automatically returning to an off position whenever it is released by a user in a portion of the movable range of positions for the self-closing user control, yet also is capable of maintaining its position in another portion of the movable range of positions for the self-closing user control.

Abstract: A cooking appliance and method generate an audible and/or visual indication to a user while an igniter is activated during ignition of a gas burner to notify the user that the igniter is active.

Abstract: A system for a two-step activation for a valve includes at least one valve control selector having an output representative of a valve position and a touch sensor having an output representative of a permission to operate said valve.

Abstract: A digital gas cooking appliance is disclosed. The digital gas cooking appliance has the ability of self-initiating an automatic calibration process to determine an optimum valve position to be used for an electromechanical valve when igniting a gas cooking element by performing a plurality of ignition sequences for the gas cooking element at a plurality of respective valve positions of the electromechanical valve. During each of the plurality of ignition sequences, a respective ignition duration between a start of the respective ignition sequence when an igniter is active and the electromechanical valve is open, and a flame is detected by a flame detector, may be determined.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes: a gas cooking element; an igniter disposed adjacent to the gas cooking element to ignite the gas cooking element; a gas valve for regulating gas flow to the gas cooking element; a burner control mechanically coupled to the gas valve to vary the gas flow to the gas cooking element; a sensor for detecting the positioning of the burner control in an ignition range of positions; and a control circuit coupled to the igniter and the sensor and to activate the igniter in response to detected movement of the burner control into the ignition range of positions, the control circuit further configured to maintain activation of the igniter for a predetermined minimum length of time once activated.

Abstract: A cooking appliance that includes: a gas cooking element; an igniter located next to the gas cooking element to ignite the gas cooking element; a gas valve for regulating gas flow to the gas cooking element; a burner control coupled to the gas valve to vary the gas flow to the gas cooking element; and a control circuit coupled to the burner control and for activating the igniter when the burner control is positioned within a predetermined range of positions, where the control circuit detects when the burner control has been moved through the predetermined range of positions in less than a predetermined time, and in response to determining that the burner control has been moved through the predetermined range of positions in less than the predetermined time, generate an alert to a user.

Abstract: An over-the-range microwave appliance includes a pot filler water dispenser for dispensing water to a vessel situated on a cook top below the microwave. The microwave includes a pot filler housing adjacent a cooking cavity that creates a recess into which the pot filler is housed that is not visible from the front of the appliance. The pot filler includes a dispensing hose or conduit that is retractable or retractably mounted within the pot filler housing recess. The dispensing hose is biased into a stowed position and can be pulled against the bias to place the dispensing hose into a deployed condition, thereafter returning to its stowed position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a cooking appliance having an alert for energization of one or more burners. The cooking appliance may include an ignition enable control. The cooking appliance may include a locked mode and an unlocked mode. The cooking appliance may include one or more alarms to alert the user.

Abstract: A cooking appliance and system therefor utilize a burner group capable of operating in multiple modes such that gas cooktop burners disposed in the burner group may be collectively or individually controlled in different modes.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a secondary venting arrangement within an oven cavity to supplement a primary venting arrangement with localized venting of combustion products adjacent a flame detector that detects a flame emitted by a gas burner disposed under the oven cavity. Doing so may assist with stabilizing the flame generated by the gas burner prior to establishment of steady state flow pattern within the oven cavity.

Abstract: A system for controlling digital gas valves of an appliance utilizing a configurable duty cycle that includes a configurable ON time, a configurable cycle period and one or more configurable burner power level variables. In some instances, the configurable duty cycle may be configured at least in part by operation of a control knob, and in some instances, multiple burner power levels may be specified such that cycling may be performed between multiple burner power levels.

Abstract: A sheet panel assembly includes a gap formed in a corner region which is covered with a corner cap member. The corner cap may include various retention mechanisms, such as snaps or spring clips, pin and slots, swaged/flared pins, bendable tabs, and adhesives, to retain the corner cap once installed to cover the gap.

Abstract: A system for controlling an appliance having a plurality of gas cooktop burners operated by a plurality of digital gas valves includes a plurality of control selectors that include illuminated displays on faces thereof for indicating to which gas cooktop burner each control selector is assigned.

Abstract: A cooking appliance and method may generate one or more audible and/or visual indications to a user of various gas burner states during the operation of a gas burner, including, for example, states that are associated with different types of ignition operations, such as initial ignition operations, programmed re-ignition operations and/or flame loss re-ignition operations and/or states that are associated with ignition operations, normal operating conditions, and/or failure conditions.

Abstract: A cooking appliance and method generate an audible and/or visual indication to a user when a user control for a gas burner is in a position within which an igniter is active and a gas valve is supplying sufficient gas flow to the gas burner to support ignition and thereby assist a user in properly positioning the user control during ignition of the burner.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a gas valve mounting assembly for mounting a gas valve for a gas cooktop burner to a control panel of the appliance. The gas valve mounting assembly includes a valve attachment plate that secures to and generally circumscribes the gas valve and extends generally transversely to an actuation axis of the gas valve, as well as multiple standoffs having respective first and second ends and extending generally parallel to the actuation axis of the gas valve to secure the valve attachment plate to the control panel.

Abstract: A cooking appliance such as a range or stovetop incorporates cooking container sensing for controlling burner ignition and/or triggering events in programmed cooking sequences.

Abstract: A system for indicating the burner assignments of a plurality of burners operated by a plurality of digital gas valves to a plurality of control selectors that are configurably assigned to a specified burner or burners.

Abstract: A cooking appliance may use a sensor to sense a rate of movement of a user control and generate an alert when the rate of movement meets an alert criterion, thereby enabling detection of potential inadvertent movements of a user control.

Abstract: A system for controlling digital gas valves of an appliance utilizing a configurable duty cycle that includes a configurable ON time, a configurable cycle period and one or more configurable burner power level variables. In some instances, the configurable duty cycle may be configured at least in part by operation of a control knob, and in some instances, multiple burner power levels may be specified such that cycling may be performed between multiple burner power levels.