OVEN APPLIANCE

An oven appliance is provided. The oven appliance includes a light emitting device with a plurality of light emitters. Light emitters of the plurality of light emitters can be selectively activated and deactivated in order to provide visual information regarding various operations of the oven appliance to a user of the oven appliance.

Skip to: Description  ·  Claims  · Patent History  ·  Patent History
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to oven appliances, such as oven appliance with light emitting devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Oven appliances generally include a cabinet that defines a cooking chamber for receiving food for cooking. A heating element, such as an electric resistance heating element or a gas burner, provides heat to the cooking chamber in order to cook food items within the cooking chamber. Certain oven appliances also include a control panel having user inputs, such as buttons, a touch screen, switches, etc. A user can utilize the user inputs on the control panel in order to operate the oven appliance. In particular, the user can activate the oven appliance's heating element with the user inputs.

Certain oven appliances also include a display on the control panel. The display can provide visual information to a user of the oven appliance. For example, the display can include seven-segment displays or dot matrix displays for presenting information to the user, such as a current temperature within the cooking chamber or a current time. However, such displays generally present information in Arabic numerals and can be small. Thus, viewing information on such displays from a distance can be difficult. For example, certain buildings have open floor plans that can permit the user to see the oven appliance from adjoining rooms, but the user may need to be in close proximity to the oven appliance in order to view the display and its associated information.

Accordingly, an oven appliance with features for assisting a user with viewing information regarding operating of the oven appliance would be useful. In particular, an oven appliance with features for assisting a user with viewing information regarding operating of the oven appliance from a distance or an adjacent room would be useful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter provides an oven appliance. The oven appliance includes a light emitting device with a plurality of light emitters. Light emitters of the plurality of light emitters can be selectively activated and deactivated in order to provide visual information regarding various operations of the oven appliance to a user of the oven appliance. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

In a first exemplary embodiment, an oven appliance is provided. The oven appliance defines a lateral direction. The oven appliance includes a cabinet that defines a cooking chamber for receipt of articles for cooking and a heating element for heating the cooking chamber of the cabinet. The oven appliance also includes a control panel having a plurality of user inputs and a light emitting device mounted to the cabinet. The light emitting device extends between a first end portion and a second end portion. The first and second end portions of the light emitting device are spaced apart from each other along the lateral direction. The light emitting device has a plurality of light emitters. The light emitters are spaced apart from one another between the first and second end portions of the light emitting device. A controller is in communication with the heating element, the control panel, and the light emitting device. The controller is configured for receiving a preheat activation input from the control panel, activating the heating element in order to increase a temperature of the cooking chamber of the cabinet from a first temperature to a second temperature based at least in part on the preheat activation input of the step of receiving, operating the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device intermittently during the step of activating such that the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device pulsate, and working the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device continuously after the step of activating such that the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device emit light constantly.

In a second exemplary embodiment, an oven appliance is provided. The oven appliance defines a lateral direction. The oven appliance includes a cabinet defining a cooking chamber for receipt of articles for cooking and a heating element for heating the cooking chamber of the cabinet. The oven appliance also includes a control panel having a plurality of user inputs and a display. The oven appliance further includes a light emitting device mounted to the cabinet. The light emitting device extends between a first end portion and a second end portion. The first and second end portions of the light emitting device are spaced apart from each other along the lateral direction. The light emitting device has a plurality of light emitters. The light emitters are spaced apart from one another between the first and second end portions of the light emitting device. A controller is in communication with the heating element, the control panel, and the light emitting device. The controller is configured for receiving a timer activation input from the control panel and activating a timer function on the display of the control panel based at least in part on the timer activation input of the step of receiving. The timer function counts down a time interval. The controller is also configured for operating the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device during the step of activating such that a number of active light emitters of the plurality of light emitters corresponds to an elapsed proportion of the time interval.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.

FIG. 1 provides front, perspective view of an oven range appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.

FIG. 2 provides a schematic view of certain elements of the exemplary oven range appliance of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 provide partial, elevation views of a control panel and a light emitting device of the exemplary oven range appliance of FIG. 1 with light emitters of the light emitting device shown in various states.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method for operating an oven appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method for operating an oven appliance according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of an oven range appliance 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. FIG. 2 provides a schematic view of certain components of oven range appliance 100. Oven range appliance 100 includes an insulated cabinet 110 that extends between a first side portion 102 and a second side portion 104, e.g., along a lateral direction L. Cabinet 110 defines an upper cooking chamber 112 and a lower cooking chamber 114. Thus, oven range appliance 100 is generally referred to as a double oven range appliance. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, oven range appliance 100 is provided by way of example only, and the present subject matter may be used in any suitable oven appliance, e.g., a single or double wall oven appliance or a single oven range appliance. Thus, the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is not intended to limit the present subject matter in any aspect.

Upper and lower cooking chambers 112 and 114 are configured for the receipt of one or more food items to be cooked. Oven range appliance 100 includes an upper door 116 and a lower door 118 rotatably attached to cabinet 110 in order to permit selective access to upper cooking chamber 112 and lower cooking chamber 114, respectively. Handles 120 are mounted to upper and lower doors 116 and 118 to assist a user with opening and closing doors 116 and 118 in order to access cooking chambers 112 and 114. As an example, a user can pull on handle 120 mounted to upper door 116 to open or close upper door 116 and access upper cooking chamber 112. Glass window panes 122 provide for viewing the contents of upper and lower cooking chambers 112 and 114 when doors 116 and 118 are closed and also assist with insulating upper and lower cooking chambers 112 and 114.

An upper heating element 146 (FIG. 2) and a lower heating element 148 (FIG. 2) are positioned within or adjacent upper cooking chamber 112 and lower heating chamber 114 of cabinet 110, respectively. Upper and lower heating elements 146 and 148 are used to heat upper cooking chamber 112 and lower heating chamber 114, respectively, for both cooking and cleaning of oven range appliance 100. The size and heat output of upper and lower heating elements 146 and 148 can be selected based on the e.g., the size of oven range appliance 100. Upper and lower heating elements 146 and 148 can include any suitable mechanism for heating oven range appliance 100. For example, upper and lower heating elements 146 and 148 may include electric resistance heating elements, gas burners, microwave heating elements, halogen heating elements, or suitable combinations thereof

Operation of the oven range appliance 100 is regulated by a controller 150 that is operatively coupled to various components of oven range appliance 100, including a control panel 160. Control panel 160 includes a plurality of user inputs 162 and a display 164. Control panel 160 may be in communication with controller 150 via one or more signal lines or shared communication busses. Control panel 160 provides selections for user manipulation of the operation of oven range appliance 100. For example, a user can actuate user inputs 162 and signal controller 150. In response to user manipulation of user inputs 162, controller 150 operates various components of the oven range appliance 100. For example, controller 150 is operatively coupled or in communication with upper and lower heating elements 146 and 148. User inputs 162 of control panel 160 can be any suitable user input. For example, user inputs 162 may include various input components, such as one or more of a variety of touch-type controls, electrical, mechanical or electro-mechanical input devices including rotary dials, push buttons, and touch pad.

Controller 150 is also in communication with a thermal sensor 152, e.g., a thermocouple or thermistor. Thermal sensor 152 may be positioned in one of upper and lower heating chambers 112 and 114. Controller 150 may receive a signal from thermal sensor 152 that corresponds to a temperature of upper heating chamber 112 and/or lower heating chamber 114.

Controller 150 includes memory and one or more processing devices such as microprocessors, CPUs or the like, such as general or special purpose microprocessors operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with operation of oven range appliance 100. The memory can represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. The processor executes programming instructions stored in the memory. The memory can be a separate component from the processor or can be included onboard within the processor. Alternatively, controller 150 may be constructed without using a microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND gates, and the like) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software. Controller 150 may be positioned in a variety of locations throughout oven range appliance 100. Input/output (“I/O”) signals may be routed between controller 150 and various operational components of oven range appliance 100, e.g., via one or more signal lines or shared communication busses.

Oven range appliance 100 also includes various features for providing a user with information regarding operation of oven range appliance 100. For example, display 164 can present information to an appliance user. In particular, display 164 can show the current time or the operating temperature of upper and/or lower cooking chambers 112 and 114, e.g., in Arabic numerals. Display 164 can be a liquid crystal display, a dot matrix display, a series of seven-segment displays, etc.

Oven range appliance 100 also includes a light emitting device 170 mounted to cabinet 110, e.g., below control panel 160. Light emitting device 170 extends, e.g., linearly, between a first end portion 174 and a second end portion 176. First and second end portions 174 and 176 of light emitting device 170 are spaced apart from each other, e.g., along the lateral direction L. In particular, first end portion 174 of light emitting device 170 may be positioned at or adjacent first side portion 102 of cabinet 110. Conversely, second end portion 176 of light emitting device 170 may be positioned at or adjacent second side portion 104 of cabinet 110. Thus, light emitting device 170 can extend across cabinet 110, e.g., along the lateral direction L, between first and second side portions 102 and 104 of cabinet 110. In particular, cabinet 110 defines a width Wc, e.g., along the lateral direction L, between first and second end portions 102 and 104 of cabinet 110. Light emitting device 170 also defines a width WI, e.g., along the lateral direction L, between first and second end portions 174 and 176 of light emitting device 170. Width Wc of cabinet 110 may be substantially equal to width WI of light emitting device 170 such that light emitting device 170 extends across cabinet 110.

Light emitting device 170 includes a plurality of light emitters 172. Light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 are spaced apart from one another, e.g., along the lateral direction L, between first and second end portions 174 and 176 of light emitting device 170. Thus, light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 are distributed or dispersed, e.g., consecutively or linearly, between first and second end portions 174 and 176 of light emitting device 170 in order to form a series of light emitters 172 that extends across cabinet 110. Light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 can be any suitable light emitter. For example, light emitters 172 may be light emitting diodes, incandescent bulbs, combinations thereof, etc. As discussed in greater detail below, controller 150 is in operative communication with light emitting device 170 and can selectively operate light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 in order to provide information to a user of oven range appliance 100.

FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 provide partial, elevation views of control panel 160 and light emitting device 170 of oven range appliance 100 with light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 shown in various operation states. In FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 are shown in one of three states: (1) deactivated or off; (2) activated or on; or (3) dimmed or reduced. In FIG. 3, all light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 are deactivated or turned off Thus, when one of light emitters 172 is shown as a dashed circle, the one of light emitters 172 is deactivated or off In FIG. 4, all light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 are dimmed or operating with a reduced light output. Thus, when one of light emitters 172 is shown as a solid circle, the one of light emitters 172 is dimmed or reduced. In FIG. 6, all light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 are activated or turned on. Thus, when one of light emitters 172 is shown as a filled in circle, the one of light emitters 172 is activated or on. In FIG. 5, some of light emitters 172 are activated or turned on and others of light emitters 172 are deactivated or turned off

When one of light emitters 172 is in the deactivated or off state, a user of light emitting device 170 cannot perceive or see light from the one of light emitters 172. Conversely, a user of light emitting device 170 can perceive or see light emitted from one of light emitters 172 when the one of light emitters 172 is in the activated or on state. Similarly, a user of light emitting device 170 can also perceive or see light emitted from one of light emitters 172 when the one of light emitters 172 is in the dimmed or reduced state. However, in the dimmed or reduced state, light emitters 172 emit light with an intensity that is less than an intensity of light emitted by light emitters 172 when light emitters 172 operate in the activated or on state. As discussed in greater detail below, controller 150 can provide information regarding operation of oven range appliance 100 to a user of oven range appliance 100 by selectively switching or changing light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 between the deactivated, activated, and dimmed states.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method 700 for operating an oven appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. Method 700 can be used to operate any suitable oven appliance. For example, method 700 may be used to operate oven range appliance 100 (FIG. 1). Controller 150 (FIG. 2) may be programmed to implement method 700. Utilizing method 700, controller 150 can provide information to a user of oven range appliance 100 regarding operation of oven range appliance 100.

At step 710, controller 150 receives a preheat activation input from control panel 160. As an example, a user can actuate one of user inputs 162 on control panel 160 in order to signal controller 150 at step 710. The preheat activation input can correspond the user actuating one of user inputs 162 in order to initiate a bake or broil cooking operation in upper cooking chamber 112 and/or lower cooking chamber 114 of oven range appliance 100.

At step 720, controller 150 activates upper heating element 146 and/or lower heating element 148 in order to increase a temperature of upper cooking chamber 112 and/or lower cooking chamber 114, respectively. As an example, controller 150 can activate upper heating element 146 in order to increase the temperature of upper cooking chamber 112 from a first temperature to a second, e.g., higher, temperature. Controller 150 activates upper heating element 146 and/or lower heating element 148 at step 720 based at least in part on the preheat activation input from step 710. Thus, when a user of oven range appliance 100 actuates one of user inputs 162, controller 150 can activate at least one of upper heating element 146 and lower heating element 148. In particular, if the user selects a bake operation in upper cooking chamber 112 with user inputs 162 of control panel 160, controller 150 can activate upper heating element 146 in order to heat upper cooking chamber 112.

At step 730, controller 150 operates light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 intermittently. In particular, controller 150 can operate light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 intermittently during step 720 such that the light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 pulsate, e.g., with a predetermined frequency. As an example, controller 150 can operate light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 such that light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 alternate between two of the three states described above. Thus, at step 730, light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 can alternate between: (1) the deactivated or off state shown in FIG. 3 and the activated or on state shown in FIG. 6; (2) the deactivated or off state shown in FIG. 3 and the dimmed or reduced state shown in FIG. 4; or the dimmed or reduced state shown in FIG. 4 and the activated or on state shown in FIG. 6.

By operating light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 intermittently at step 730, light emitting device 170 can indicate to a user of oven range appliance 100 that oven range appliance 100 is preheating one of upper and lower cooking chambers 112 and 114 from the first temperature to the second temperature. Thus, while oven range appliance 100 is preheating, light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 can pulsate in order to inform the user of oven range appliance 100 that oven range appliance 100 is still preheating.

At step 740, controller 150 works light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 continuously. In particular, controller 150 can work light emitter 172 of light emitting device 170 continuously after step 720 such that light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 emit light constantly. As an example, at step 740, controller 150 can work light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 such that light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 emit light in the dimmed or reduced state shown in FIG. 4 or the activated or on state shown in FIG. 6.

By operating light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 constantly at step 740, light emitting device 170 can indicate to a user of oven range appliance 100 that oven range appliance 100 is finished preheating at least one of upper and lower cooking chambers 112 and 114 from the first temperature to the second temperature. Thus, after oven range appliance 100 is finished preheating, light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 can emit light constantly or continuously in order to inform the user of oven range appliance 100 that oven range appliance 100 is finished preheating.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, a user of oven range appliance 100 can perceive light emitted by light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 as constant when light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 emit pulsate at high frequencies. Thus, controller 150 can work light emitter 172 of light emitting device 170 intermittently at step 740 such that the user of oven range appliance 100 perceives light from light emitters 172 as constant or continuous, and the present subject matter is intended to include working light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 such that light from light emitters 172 appears constant or continuous to the user of oven range appliance 100 at step 740. Conversely, at step 730, the present subject matter is intended to include operating light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 such that light from light emitters 172 appears intermittent or discontinuous to the user of oven range appliance 100.

Utilizing method 700, light emitting device 170 can inform a user of oven range appliance 100 regarding operation of oven range appliance 100. In particular, light emitting device 170 can flash while oven range appliance 100 is preheating, and light emitting device 170 can emit light constantly after oven range appliance 100 has finished preheating. During preheating, the temperature of upper cooking chamber 112 and/or lower cooking chamber 114 can be also be displayed on display 164 (FIG. 1) of oven range appliance 100, e.g., in Arabic numerals. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, display 164 can be difficult to read from a distance or an adjacent room. By operating oven range appliance 100 according to method 700, a user of oven appliance 100 can more easily perceive or monitor the progress of oven range appliance 100 during the preheating of oven range appliance 100.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method 800 for operating an oven appliance according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. Method 800 can be used to operate any suitable oven appliance. For example, method 800 may be used to operate oven range appliance 100 (FIG. 1). Controller 150 (FIG. 2) may be programmed to implement method 800. Utilizing method 800, controller 150 can provide information to a user of oven range appliance 100 regarding operation of oven range appliance 100.

At step 810, controller 150 receives a timer activation input from control panel 160. As an example, a user can actuate one of user inputs 162 on control panel 160 in order to signal controller 150 at step 810. The timer activation input can correspond to the user actuating one of user inputs 162 in order to initiate a timer function of oven range appliance 100.

At step 820, controller 150 activates the timer function on display 164 of control panel 160. In particular, the timer function can be presented to a user of oven range appliance 100 on display 164 at step 820. The timer function counts down a time interval on display 164, e.g., in Arabic numerals. As an example, if a food item requires one hour to cook, the user can input a one hour time interval on the timer function and the timer function can count down the one hour time interval on display 164. In such a manner, the user of oven range appliance 100 can monitor the progress of the time interval on display 164.

At step 830, controller 150 operates light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 during step 820 such that a number of active light emitters of light emitters 172 corresponds, e.g., directly or inversely, to an elapsed proportion of the time interval. As an example, during step 830, a minimum number of light emitters of light emitters 172 may be activated at a start of the time interval, and a maximum number of light emitters of light emitters 172 may be activated at an end of the time interval. Thus, at the start of the time interval, all light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 may be in the deactivated or off state as shown in FIG. 3. Conversely, at the end of the time interval, all light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 may be in the activated or on state as shown in FIG. 6. Between the beginning and end of the time interval, the number of active light emitters of light emitters 172 corresponds to the elapsed proportion of the time interval, e.g., as shown in FIG. 4.

As another example, during the time interval, controller 150 operates light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 such that at least one light emitter at first end portion 174 of light emitting device 170 is activated at the start of the time interval . As the time interval elapses, light emitters 172 between first end portion 174 of light emitting device 170 and second end portion 176 of light emitting device 170 are sequentially activated during the time interval. Thus, all light emitters of light emitters 172 may be in the deactivated or off state as shown in FIG. 3 prior to step 820. During step 830, light emitters 172 are sequentially activated during the time interval. With a sixth of the time interval elapsed, some of light emitters 172 are in the activated or on state, e.g., about a sixth of the light emitters 172, and others of light emitters 172, e.g., about five sixths of the light emitters 172, are in the deactivated or off state as shown in FIG. 5. Further, with the time interval elapsed or almost elapsed, all or about all of the light emitters 172 are in the activated or on state as shown in FIG. 6.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 may be operated in batches or groups rather than individually. Thus, during step 830, controller 150 may sequentially activate groups or batches of light emitters 172 rather than individual light emitters 172. The present subject matter is intended to include operating light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170, either individually or in groups, such that the number of active light emitters of light emitters 172 corresponds to an elapsed proportion of the time interval.

Utilizing method 800, light emitting device 170 can inform a user of oven range appliance 100 regarding operation of oven range appliance 100. In particular, light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 can be sequentially activated as the time interval elapses in order to permit the user of oven range appliance 100 to monitor the progress of the timer function with light emitting device 170. During cooking operations, the timer function is also displayed or presented on display 164, e.g., in Arabic numerals. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, display 164 can be difficult to read from a distance or an adjacent room. By operating oven range appliance 100 according to method 800, a user of oven appliance 100 can more easily perceive or monitor the progress of the timer function during the operation of oven range appliance 100.

Methods 700 and 800 can also include additional features or steps. For example, in certain exemplary embodiments, controller 150 deactivates light emitting device 170 based at least in part on a self-clean activation input received from control panel 160. Similarly, controller 150 can dim light emitting device 170 based at least in part on the self-clean activation input received from control panel 160.

During self-cleaning operations, upper cooking chamber 112 and/or lower cooking chamber 114 reach high temperatures. Operating light emitting device 170 can also generate additional heat. By deactivating or dimming light emitting device 170, such additional heat is not generated and/or is reduced. Further, deactivating or dimming light emitting device 170 can assist with preventing or hindering potential damage to oven range appliance 100, e.g., due to oven range appliance 100 exceeding an allowed or permitted current at a particular temperature rating.

As an example, a user can actuate one of user inputs 162 on control panel 160 in order to signal controller 150 to initiate the self-cleaning operation. Controller 150 can activate upper heating element 146 and/or lower hearing element 148 in response to the self-clean activation input. During the self-cleaning operation, controller 150 can deactivate light emitting device 170, e.g., such the light emitters 172 are in the deactivated or off state as shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively, controller 150 can dim light emitting device 170, e.g., such the light emitters 172 are in the dimmed or reduced state as shown in FIG. 4.

As another example, in certain exemplary embodiments, controller 150 monitors the temperature of upper cooking chamber 112 and/or lower cooking chamber 114 and utilizes light emitting device 170 to signal a user of oven range appliance 100 when upper cooking chamber 112 and/or lower cooking chamber 114 has cooled. In such exemplary embodiments, controller 150 deactivates upper heating element 146 and/or lower hearing element 148 based at least in part on a deactivation input received from control panel 160. Controller 150 also monitors the temperature of upper cooking chamber 112 and/or lower cooking chamber 114, e.g., with thermal sensor 152 (FIG. 2). As controller 150 monitors the temperature of upper cooking chamber 112 and/or lower cooking chamber 114, controller 150 also works light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 intermittently such that the light emitters 172 pulsate or flash. Controller 150 deactivates light emitting device 170 when the temperature of upper cooking chamber 112 and/or lower cooking chamber 114 drops below a predetermined temperature. In such a manner, a user of oven range appliance 100 can determine when upper cooking chamber 112 and/or lower cooking chamber 114 have cooled to below the predetermined temperature by viewing light emitting device 170. In particular, when light emitting device 170 stops flashing, upper cooking chamber 112 and/or lower cooking chamber 114 may, e.g., be safely opened. In addition, rather than pulsating or flashing, light emitting device 170 can, e.g., continuously, shift from the activated or on state shown in FIG. 6 to the deactivated or off state shown in FIG. 3 during cooling of upper cooking chamber 112 and/or lower cooking chamber 114. Thus, when light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 are deactivated, the user of oven range appliance 100 can determine that upper cooking chamber 112 and/or lower cooking chamber 114 have cooled to below the predetermined temperature by viewing light emitting device 170

As yet another example, in certain exemplary embodiments, controller 150 works light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 intermittently during a fault code mode of oven range appliance 100. Thus, if a component of oven range appliance 100 is malfunctioning or improperly set, controller 150 can flash light emitters 172 of light emitting device 170 to inform the user of oven range appliance 100 of the malfunction.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Claims

1. An oven appliance defining a lateral direction, the oven appliance comprising:

a cabinet defining a cooking chamber for receipt of articles for cooking;
a heating element for heating the cooking chamber of the cabinet;
a control panel having a plurality of user inputs;
a light emitting device mounted to the cabinet, the light emitting device extending between a first end portion and a second end portion, the first and second end portions of the light emitting device spaced apart from each other along the lateral direction, the light emitting device having a plurality of light emitters, the plurality of light emitters spaced apart from one another between the first and second end portions of the light emitting device; and
a controller in communication with the heating element, the control panel, and the light emitting device, the controller configured for receiving a preheat activation input from the control panel; activating the heating element in order to increase a temperature of the cooking chamber of the cabinet from a first temperature to a second temperature based at least in part on the preheat activation input of said step of receiving; operating the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device intermittently during said step of activating such that the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device pulsate; and working the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device continuously after said step of activating such that the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device emit light constantly.

2. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the cabinet extends between a first side portion and a second side portion along the lateral direction, the first end portion of the light emitting device positioned at the first side portion of the cabinet, the second end portion of the light emitting device positioned at the second side portion of the cabinet.

3. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the cabinet defines a width along the lateral direction, the light emitting device also defining a width along the lateral direction, the width of the cabinet being substantially equal to the width of the light emitting device.

4. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device pulsates with a predetermined frequency during said step of operating.

5. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured for deactivating the light emitting device based at least in part on a self-clean activation input received from the control panel.

6. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured for dimming the light emitting device based at least in part on a self-clean activation input received from the control panel.

7. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured for:

deactivating the heating element based at least in part on a deactivation input received from the control panel;
monitoring the temperature of the cooking chamber of the cabinet;
working the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device intermittently during said step of monitoring such that the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device pulsate; and
deactivating the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device when the temperature of the cooking chamber drops below a predetermined temperature.

8. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured for working the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device intermittently during a fault code mode of the oven appliance.

9. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured for dimming the light emitting device after a time interval elapses.

10. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitters comprise light emitting diodes.

11. An oven appliance defining a lateral direction, the oven appliance comprising:

a cabinet defining a cooking chamber for receipt of articles for cooking;
a heating element for heating the cooking chamber of the cabinet;
a control panel having a plurality of user inputs and a display;
a light emitting device mounted to the cabinet, the light emitting device extending between a first end portion and a second end portion, the first and second end portions of the light emitting device spaced apart from each other along the lateral direction, the light emitting device having a plurality of light emitters, the plurality of light emitters spaced apart from one another between the first and second end portions of the light emitting device; and
a controller in communication with the heating element, the control panel, and the light emitting device, the controller configured for receiving a timer activation input from the control panel; activating a timer function on the display of the control panel based at least in part on the timer activation input of said step of receiving, the timer function counting down a time interval; and operating the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device during said step of activating such that a number of active light emitters of the plurality of light emitters corresponds to an elapsed proportion of the time interval.

12. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the cabinet extends between a first side portion and a second side portion along the lateral direction, the first end portion of the light emitting device positioned at the first side portion of the cabinet, the second end portion of the light emitting device positioned at the second side portion of the cabinet.

13. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the cabinet defines a width along the lateral direction, the light emitting device also defining a width along the lateral direction, the width of the cabinet being substantially equal to the width of the light emitting device.

14. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein a minimum number of light emitters of the plurality of light emitters are activated at a start of the time interval and a maximum number of light emitters of the plurality of light emitters are activated at an end of the time interval during said step of operating.

15. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein said step of operating comprises operating the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device such that at least one light emitter at a first end portion of the light emitting device is activated at a start of the time interval and light emitters between the first end portion of the light emitting device and a second end portion of the light emitting device are sequentially activated during the time interval.

16. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured for deactivating the light emitting device based at least in part on a self-clean activation input received from the control panel.

17. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured for dimming the light emitting device based at least in part on a self-clean activation input received from the control panel.

18. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured for:

deactivating the heating element based at least in part on a deactivation input received from the control panel;
monitoring the temperature of the cooking chamber of the cabinet;
working the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device intermittently during said step of monitoring such that the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device pulsate; and
deactivating the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device when the temperature of the cooking chamber drops below a predetermined temperature.

19. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured for working the plurality of light emitters of the light emitting device intermittently during a fault code mode of the oven appliance.

20. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured for dimming the light emitting device after the time interval elapses.

Patent History
Publication number: 20150001203
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 28, 2013
Publication Date: Jan 1, 2015
Inventors: Justin Tyler Brown (Louisville, KY), Jonathan Michael Cepress (Louisville, KY), William C. Herweh, III (Louisville, KY), Shawn Michael Stover (Prospect, KY), Patrick Ryan Cox (River Bluff, SC), Eric Xavier Meusburger (Louisville, KY)
Application Number: 13/930,002
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Oven Type (219/391)
International Classification: F24C 15/00 (20060101);