Abstract: An appliance using water including an incoming water valve is provided. The appliance includes a sensor disposed in-line to an incoming flow of water received from the incoming water valve and is configured to sense a degree of hardness in the incoming flow of water. The sensor includes a sensing element disposed on a substrate. The sensing element includes a sensing matrix, an indicator for one or more chemical species in flow of water, and a selectivity component that reacts reversibly with one or more chemical species in the water. The sensor also includes a light source configured to direct light through the substrate and the sensing matrix. The sensor further includes a light detector configured to receive transmitted light from the substrate and the sensing matrix and to generate a signal representative of selective wavelengths of the light indicative of one or more chemical species in flow of water.

Abstract: An appliance using water including an incoming water valve is provided. The appliance also includes a sensor disposed in-line to an incoming flow of water received from the incoming water valve and is configured to sense a degree of hardness in the incoming flow of water. The sensor includes a substrate and a sensing element disposed on the substrate. The sensing element includes a sensing matrix, an indicator for one or more chemical species in a flow of water, and a selectivity component that reacts reversibly with the one or more chemical species in the water. The sensor also includes a light source configured to direct light through the substrate and the sensing matrix. The sensor further includes a light detector configured to receive transmitted light from the substrate and the sensing matrix and to generate a signal representative of selective wavelengths of the light indicative of the one or more chemical species in the flow of water.

Abstract: A combination oven includes radiant cooking lamps and a magnetron for delivering cooking energy to a cooking cavity. The oven is operable in a speed cooking mode utilizing both radiant and microwave energy, a microwave only cooking mode utilizing only microwave energy, and a radiant only cooking mode utilizing only radiant energy. A radiant cooking element is briefly energized upon user command during microwave only cooking modes and lower power radiant cooking modes to illuminate the cooking cavity for visualization of cooking in progress. A duration of cavity illumination is limited to prevent cooking of food during cavity illumination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an oven that includes radiant cooking elements, a microwave cooking element, as well as convection cooking heating elements. The cooking elements are controlled to provide reduced cooking time as compared to known radiant ovens, yet a wide variety of foods can be cooked in the oven. The oven is operable in a speedcooking mode wherein both radiant and microwave cooking elements are utilized, a microwave only cooking mode wherein only the magnetron is utilized, and a convection/bake mode wherein radiant and convection cooking elements are utilized.

Abstract: An oven includes both radiant cooking elements and a microwave cooking element that are controlled to reduce cooking time in relation to known radiant ovens. The oven is operable in a speed cooking mode utilizing radiant and microwave cooking elements, a microwave cooking mode utilizing only the magnetron, and a radiant cooking mode utilizing only radiant lamps. In addition, and using a time adjustment algorithm, the total energy into the food is maintained constant for input voltages in a range between about 108 Volts and 132 Volts to suitably cook food even when the input voltage varies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an oven that includes both radiant cooking elements and a microwave cooking element. The cooking elements are controlled to provide reduced cooking time as compared to known radiant ovens, yet a wide variety of foods can be cooked in the oven. The oven is operable in a speed cooking mode wherein both radiant and microwave cooking elements are utilized, a microwave only cooking mode wherein only the magnetron is utilized, and a radiant only cooking mode wherein only the lamps are utilized.

Abstract: A speed cooking oven includes a combination of radiant cooking units and a microwave cooking unit manually controllable using a rotary dial input selector coupled to a control panel for user selection of desired oven features. An alphanumeric display displays prompts and information to guide users through a feature selection process. A microprocessor executes a cooking algorithm based upon user defined constants entered via the rotary dial according to prompts on the alphanumeric display.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an oven that includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a cooking cavity assembly, a controller, a halogen lamp and fan assembly, and a vent assembly. The halogen lamp and fan assembly, sometimes referred to herein as a convection module, includes one or more halogen lamps and a fan for circulating heat from the lamps into the cooking cavity. The oven can be operated in two modes, namely, thermal emulation and customized cooking. In the thermal emulation mode, the oven is pre-heated to a target temperature by lamps cycling on and off under the control of the controller. Once the target temperature is reached, the user places the food into the cooking cavity and the food is cooked for the same amount of time as in a conventional thermal oven. In the customized cooking mode, food is placed in cooking cavity for the entire cooking cycle, including pre-heat.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an oven that includes radiant cooking elements, a microwave cooking element, as well as convection cooking heating elements. The cooking elements are controlled to provide reduced cooking time as compared to known radiant ovens, yet a wide variety of foods can be cooked in the oven. The oven is operable in a speedcooking mode wherein both radiant and microwave cooking elements are utilized, a microwave only cooking mode wherein only the magnetron is utilized, and a convection/bake mode wherein radiant and convection cooking elements are utilized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an oven that includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a cooking cavity assembly, a controller, a halogen lamp and fan assembly, and a vent assembly. The halogen lamp and fan assembly, sometimes referred to herein as a convection module, includes one or more halogen lamps and a fan for circulating heat from the lamps into the cooking cavity. The oven can be operated in two modes, namely, thermal emulation and customized cooking. In the thermal emulation mode, the oven is pre-heated to a target temperature by lamps cycling on and off under the control of the controller. Once the target temperature is reached, the user places the food into the cooking cavity and the food is cooked for the same amount of time as in a conventional thermal oven. In the customized cooking mode, food is placed in cooking cavity for the entire cooking cycle, including pre-heat.

Abstract: A thermal compensation system for an oven including at least one visible light cooking element includes a thermistor in thermal communication with an oven cavity, and a microcomputer coupled to the thermistor and operatively connected to the cooking element from control thereof. When the oven cavity temperature exceeds a minimum threshold prior to cooking operation, the microcomputer reduces a power level of the cooking unit to compensate for latent heat in the oven cavity and avoid overcooking the food.