Abstract: A cooking device includes a main oven, a controller for controlling the main oven, a mini-oven, and a control for controlling the mini-oven, wherein the control is in communication with the controller.

Abstract: The invention may be broadly conceptualized as an approach in which a microwave oven receives a plurality of program recipes from a network that are executed by scanning with a scanner a symbol and associating the scanned symbol with one of the plurality of program recipes while keeping a real-time clock synchronized and correctly set by receiving period time synchronization messages.

Abstract: A method and safety control are provided for a free standing kitchen range which reduces the likelihood that the range will tip due to a child climbing onto the oven door. The safety control is configured to cause the oven door to be heated whenever a cooktop burner or element is on or is hot. The oven door heating can be achieved by turning on the oven burner or by energizing a door heating element that can be provided for that purpose. If the oven is in use or otherwise hot, any additional heating by the safety control is disabled. The safety control can be disabled manually for energy conservation when there are no children to protect. Electric and gas ranges can be provided with the feature.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a heating system which is preferably capable of combining radiant, convection, microwave and conduction heating techniques to perform a cooking operation. The cooking appliance includes a convection fan and at least one heating device. A controller is provided to regulate a triac to create a variable fan speed and variable heater intensity through phase angle firing. Essentially, an AC waveform provided to the fan motor and/or the heater resistor travels through the triac which is turned on by the controller at predetermined points in the AC waveform, with the delay from a zero point waveform crossing functioning to reduce the amount of power sent to the heater resistor and fan motor. When the signal from the controller is removed, the triac advantageously turns off at the next zero crossing of the AC waveform such that an operationally and economically effective control system is provided.

Abstract: A door assembly for a microwave oven is provided. The door assembly includes a door panel at one side of the door, with a push bar and a latch each projecting toward a body portion of the microwave oven. A latch board including levers each rotatably coupled thereto contact either the latch or the push bar to operate switches which contact the levers. The door assembly provides a simple and convenient assembly structure for a door of a microwave oven.

Abstract: Multiple microcontrollers are used in controlling operation of an appliance thereby providing enhanced safety. User input deactivating the appliance is received and processed by a first and second microcontrollers, which separately and independently act to remove power from the appliance upon receipt of user input. Failure of one microcontroller in processing user input does not result in the appliance entering into an unsafe mode. Further, a third processor in a power supply module is used to control power into, and out of, the power supply module, so that under certain conditions, power may be remove from the system entirely or to certain components.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus having heaters and a cooking chamber defined in the cooking apparatus, the heaters are provided in the cooking chamber, and two or more buttons are provided representing different cooking temperatures. A temperature of the cooking chamber is set by pushing one of the two or more buttons. One of a plurality of cooking modes is selected depending on a kind of food, and each of the cooking temperatures is represented by one of the two or more buttons corresponds to each of the cooking modes. Therefore, setting various cooking temperatures depending on the kind of food is possible.

Abstract: An operating device for an electrical and/or electronic apparatus is adapted to the operating behavior of a user. The apparatus has a plurality of operating states which can be chosen or set by way of the operating device. The selection and/or setting, by the user, of the operating states is stored in a memory. A number of how often a given user input is implemented is ascertained and, for the next selection and/or setting of an operating state, that one which is implemented most frequently is suggested. An operating device for carrying out the method has a memory for storage of the implemented selections and/or settings of operating states, a counter for ascertaining the number of how often a selection and/or a setting is implemented, a calculator for ascertaining the frequency of a selection and/or setting and a comparator for ascertaining the most frequently implemented selection and/or settings.

Abstract: A multi-functional electric oven structure capable of roasting, sauté, steaming and deep-frying functions, includes a detachable panel at front and upper portions thereof, respectively; an electrothermal tube at lower and upper portions of an interior thereof, respectively; a roast net above the lower electrothermal tube, and a support frame above the upper electrothermal tube, wherein the support frame is for placing a sauté utensil and a deep-frying utensil, and thereby providing the electric oven with roasting, sauté, steaming and deep-frying functions; and a micro-tuning switch on the support frame. When the sauté utensil and the deep-frying utensil are removed from the support frame, the micro-tuning switch is activated, so as to cut off electric connection of the electric oven and to prevent operational hazards.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling heater element operation in an oven includes a proportional heater signal generator that is mounted in associated with an oven operational mode switch. The signal generator operates in a sub-interval about a mode indicator to generate a proportional signal for controlling a heater element. The proportional signal may be used to alter the input voltage or timing control of the heater element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a toaster in which the housing (1) comprises: a toasting chamber (2); a toast rack (5), which can move vertically inside said chamber (2) between an eject position and a toasting position; a driver (6), which is linked to the toast rack (5), is slide mounted on a vertical column (7) and is used to lower the toast rack (5) from the eject position, in which the driver (6) is returned by an elastic means (9), to the toasting position, in which the driver (6) is held in place by an unlockable means (10); and a rising damping device comprising a piston (16) which can slide vertically along a determined path in a housing (17) that is solidly connected to the drive and the upper face of which can come into contact with a stop end (19) located in the top part of the housing (1).

Abstract: A multi-functional cabinet for warming and adding fragrance to an infant's towel and clothing for a predetermined duration as well as providing soothing music. The cabinet is a box-shaped enclosure with a removable lid having an upper compartment for receiving towels and clothing with a sidewall pocket for receiving a fragrance such as baby powder or baby lotion, and a pair of lower compartments for housing a heating element/blower fan and a music source, such as a music box, a compact disc player or tape player. A timer is connected to the heating element, and may also be connected to the music source.

Abstract: The invention may be broadly conceptualized as an approach in which an oven (122) receives a plurality of program recipes from a network that are executed by scanning with a scanner (1216) a symbol and associating the scanned symbol with one of the plurality of program recipes while keeping a real-time clock (1224) synchronized and correctly set by receiving period time synchronization messages.

Abstract: A counter-top electric oven includes a base, an oven housing supported on the base, and a power head detachably connected to the oven housing. The power head includes a heating unit for generating and directing heat into the oven housing. At least one handle is formed on the power head, and a power interrupting device is operatively provided in the handle for disconnecting power to the power head. The power interrupting device is activated when the handle is grasped by a user.

Abstract: A rotisserie grill includes a control device that alternates heat generation by a plurality of heating elements disposed at the periphery of a cooking chamber. The alternating heat evenly cooks food in a manner similar to a traditional rotisserie, while eliminating the need for food-rotating apparatus. The control device is a timer, which rotates a cam having a profile that actuates a switch. Heating elements are connected to the switch such that when one is energized, the other is not energized. The on/off cycle produced by the rotating cam repeats every 1 to 2 minutes. The rotisserie grill may be provided with multiple heating elements controlled by multiple switches. More than one cam may be employed to actuate the multiple switches in a complex pattern to simulate relative movement between the heating elements and the food.

Abstract: An oven temperature control circuit utilizes one or more light emitting diodes to establish a clamping voltage that limits the voltage at the input of a circuit component, such as an analog-to-digital converter, when a sensor, such as a thermistor, is connected to the input of the circuit component and the sensor is subjected to an EMI pulse. A method is provided for continued execution of a heating process after an unavoidable and unintentional interruption.

Abstract: An electronically controlled cooking apparatus for preparing and cooking food, such as a roaster oven, includes a main body having a bottom portion or base with sidewalls extending upwardly therefrom, a cover for covering the main body of the cooking apparatus, and a control assembly for controlling operation of the cooking apparatus that is mounted to the bottom of the base in a recessed pocket formed therein. The control assembly is mounted in the recessed pocket in a spaced apart relationship such that there is a gap between the control assembly and the recessed pocket, allowing air to circulate around the control assembly for keeping the control assembly and its internal circuitry cool. The control assembly includes a control panel covering the front of the recessed pocket and extending outwardly therefrom.

Abstract: An electric appliance control comprising an electromagnet; an electrical switch assembly; a ferromagnetic section movable with a contact of the switch assembly towards the electromagnet; and a user actuated member adapted to move the ferromagnetic section and the contact towards the electromagnet. When the electromagnet is energized and the ferromagnetic section and contact are moved by the user actuated member to an actuated position, the electromagnet can retain the contact at the actuated position by magnetically holding the ferromagnetic section at the actuated position.

Abstract: A safety and/or control device for an electric cooking appliance, the appliance having a case defining a cooking enclosure and a component for heating the enclosure. The device includes: at least one switch arranged to close a circuit for supplying current to the heating component, this switch including a case and an actuating button, at least one sensing element which is movable between a safe position, corresponding to a predetermined configuration for placing the appliance into operation, and an unsafe position, corresponding to another configuration in which the appliance should not be placed into operation, and, optionally, a control unit accessible from outside the case and movable between an on position and an off position. The switch can be operated to close the current supply circuit in response to the sensing element and the control unit, or in response to two sensing elements, when the element and the control unit or both sensing elements are each in a defined position.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a control system which is programmable to enable multiple, successive cooking operations to be performed in sequence, with an alphanumeric display being provided to convey information concerning the successive cooking operations, such as the amount of time until the start of a subsequent cooking operation while an initial cooking operation is proceeding. Furthermore, the control system can be used to alter factory established set-up parameters such that the appliance can be conveniently customized by the consumer.

Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of an oven during preheating wherein the oven includes an oven cavity having an interior with at least one heating element for raising the temperature within the oven cavity and a temperature sensor provided for sensing the temperature within the oven cavity. The method of the present invention includes the steps of sensing the temperature within the oven cavity a plurality of times during the preheating period of the oven cycle, calculating the temperature rise within the oven cavity during the preheating period, and cycling the at least one heating element on and off during the preheating period such that the temperature rise within the oven cavity during the preheating period is controlled to match a predetermined temperature rise slope.

Abstract: A control system for a glass touch cooktop includes a control panel including a plurality of touch control areas with touch toggle controls that correspond to a plurality of surface heater elements, and a toggle lock control that disables the touch controls areas when activated. The toggle lock control is separated from the touch control, identified with a conspicuous icon, and includes an integral indicator to readily alert a user that the system is locked. Graphical icons and integral indicators are incorporated into touch controls for user-friendly operation of the heating elements.

Abstract: A device for disconnecting an electric appliance or a component thereof from a source of electricity including a circuit connecting the appliance or component thereof to a power source through a relay or other component to open the circuit; and a timer circuit connected to the relay. The timer circuit includes a processor for setting the timer circuit, and a manually operated switch in communication with the processor. The timer circuit is activated for a predetermined time increment by closing the switch, and the relay is closed while the timer circuit is activated. When the switch is closed again while the timer circuit is activated, an additional time increment is added to the activation period.

Abstract: A safety device for use in conjunction with an electric cooking stove includes a relay unit having a plug having two live pins and a neutral pin for insertion in a stove receptacle, a receptacle receiving a similar plug of a stove, a relay arrangement for interrupting connections between the live pins of the plug, and corresponding live sockets of the receptacle; and a control unit connected to the relay arrangements, the control unit generating signals to activate said relay arrangement; the relay arrangement is configured to interrupt only one at a time of the connections between the live pins and the live sockets, and the relay arrangement further includes preset switch or jumper to select which of said connections is interrupted.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting a condition indicative of fire or elevated potential for fire, broadcasting a signal in response to its detection and for operating various controlling devices in response to the broadcast signal in order to enable or disable valves or appliances connected to a power supply through the controllers. Also disclosed is a system having a sensor, a transmitter responsive to the sensor, a receiver for receiving signals from the transmitter and controllers responsive to a signal from the receiver for controlling devices in accordance with the method of the invention. Each of the controllers is shifted from its normal position to a second position upon the receipt of a signal from any one of the sensors, and more than one controller device may be controlled by a given receiver.

Abstract: An electric toaster comprising a heating element; and a combined user actuation and thermostat switch assembly connected to the heating element. The switch assembly comprises a thermostat having a bi-metal electrical contact blade and a snap-acting electrical contact blade, and a user actuated member for moving the snap-acting blade towards the bi-metal blade. The switch assembly provides an electrical path between the heating element and an electrical power supply cord without an additional separate user actuated power switch along the path.

Abstract: An electric range override timer unit including an electrically controllable power interrupt circuit positioned between a conventional male power plug adapted for connection with an existing electrical wall socket and a socket assembly adapted for receiving the male plug from an existing electric range; a timer unit in electrical connection with the power interrupt circuit, the timer unit having a timing mechanism having a predetermined maximum time period for sending a control signal to the power interrupt circuit for causing the power interrupt circuit to conduct electrical current between the conventional male power plug and the socket assembly; and a mounting bracket having a first portion secured to the timer unit and a second portion adapted for multiple connecting modes to an existing electric range.

Abstract: A toaster oven with a modular control assembly. The assembly has a frame, an electrical switch assembly, a solenoid, and two levers. The electrical switch assembly is connected to the frame and has multiple sets of electrical switch contact blades. The two levers are directly pivotably connected to the frame. A first lever is connected to the solenoid to be moved by the solenoid. The second lever is adapted to move one of the sets of contact blades to a closed position. The two levers have portions adapted to engage and lock against each other. The toaster oven has a rotatable control shaft with two fins extending from a main section of the shaft in general offset radial directions. The control shaft is supported on the electrical switch assembly and is connected to a thermostat. The thermostat has a cam surface and two raised areas on opposite ends of the cam surface.

Abstract: An oven assembly having a housing enclosing a cooking compartment and a blower compartment, and having a blower for circulating air within the cooking compartment, a door mounted to the housing, and a failsafe switch that is capable of deactivating the blower when the door is opened beyond a set point in the range between at least about 10% to 50%.

Abstract: A convection oven includes a plurality of modular control panels which can be interchanged with one another to change the functional capability of the oven. The base unit contains the basic structural and mechanical components of the convection oven including a heating element and blower. Each of the individual control panels can control the operation of the heating element and blower in the base unit. Each control panel will include a different group of controls. All of the available control panels plug into a standard interface on the base unit. Therefore, the functional capabilities of the oven can be changed by removing the existing control panel on the base unit and reinstalling a different control panel.

Abstract: An appliance control circuit comprising dual processor control for enhanced control operation and agency safety redundancy. A first processor is disposed in operative communication with operator control switches for primarily controlling the supply of power for principal appliance functions. A second processor is in operative communication with the first processor and disposed for primarily monitoring appliance safety detection circuits and for controlling agency circuitry redundancy through a second switch in series with the first switch. The first and second switches comprise agency circuitry for enabling said supply of power when said first switch is directly enabled by the first processor and the second switch is directly enabled by the second processor for safety redundancy of said power supply.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes a self-contained control module consisting of the electronics necessary to the control the various operations of the cooking appliance in which the module is installed, preferably including the high voltage control electronics. The control module is easily accessible and removable from the front panel without the risk of exposure to high voltage due to the presence of a safety interlock that automatically cuts the high voltage to the control module and, if desired, to other subassemblies the instant the control module is removed. In addition, the control module is housed within an electrically conductive liner to control EMI emissions. Once the control module is removed, the interior of the appliance is sufficiently sealed off by a perforated cage to prevent further access to power lines or any high voltage circuits interior to the appliance which may have not been wired through the safety interlock.

Abstract: A cooking appliance is disclosed which comprises an oven intended to be built into a space of predetermined volume in a kitchen unit. Controls for the oven are mounted externally of the space in order to maximise the volume available for the oven cavity. In preferred embodiments, the oven has a partition to divide its cavity into a plurality of cooking spaces. In a further preferred embodiment, the oven has a door assembly having a plurality of leaves which can be opened individually or together to give access to the whole cavity.

Abstract: A stove having a plurality of burners (1) which is under the control of a computer that has one or more cooking control programs to control the activation, time of operation and heat output of a selected burner. The user of the stove, a utensil and the stove have components of a transmitter/receiver system that permits burner actuation through the computer only when the user and utensil are authorized.The stove includes subsystems that supply information to the computer: a flame sensing system (C); a time regulating system "timer" (41); a weight checking system of the food to be cooked; a nearness sensing and identifying system of authorized users and utensils to operate the stove; a sound and/or visual alarm system; a voice synthesizer system associated with the other systems.

Abstract: The present invention is a cooking appliance or an electronic control for a cooking appliance and method of controlling the same. A remote control unit having a built-in temperature sensor, positional switch and low-battery detection circuit is in two-way intermittent wireless communication with the appliance control unit of the present invention. The appliance control unit includes a switch means for controlling the heating elements of the cooking appliance wherein the switch means for each heating element includes two power switches connected in series and coupled with a redundancy detection circuit for the detection of a failure of one of the two power switches. Two-way communication between the two control units of the present invention is constantly monitored to ensure proper operation of the cooking appliance and to provide a mechanism to report errors to the user or to shut down the cooking appliance, as appropriate, soon after an error is detected.

Abstract: A device for controlling electrical consuming devices in ovens includes a function control device which can be adjusted for the control of function cycles, an evaluation circuit, a manually operated function selector switch for adjusting the function control device through a binary code connection, special manually operated input elements directly assigned to the function control device also operating for adjusting the function control device, the evaluation circuit being disposed in the function selector device for receiving the binary signals provided by the function selector switch which, upon the change of at least one of the binary codes, causes a resetting criterion for the function commands entered through the input elements.

Abstract: A switching and control apparatus, comprising: a stepping switch with a rotatable controller barrel; a regulator having a rotatable setting shaft drivable by the controller barrel; a clutch, including a regulator-side coupling member fixed for rotation together with the setting shaft, effective over a predetermined range of angular regulator settings, in which the controller barrel drives the setting shaft, and ineffective at angular settings beyond the predetermined range, during which the setting shaft is not driven by the controller barrel; and, a spring-loaded arrangement for restraining rotational movement of the regulator-side coupling member during movement of the controller barrel beyond the predetermined angular range.

Abstract: An electric oven toaster construction wherein an interrupt mechanism is provided for interrupting operation of a toast timer controller when the oven toaster door is opened. An interrupt lever is positioned between a door operated rod and a heat-up/cool-down bi-metal timer controller so that when the door is opened the interrupt lever moves the toasting period controller to its off position. Thus, when the door is opened during a toasting cycle operation, the toasting period controller is returned to its off position so that a user is required to reset a new full-toast cycle when the door is reclosed. This arrangement prevents undertoasted bread that could result if fresh bread is inserted in the middle of a toasting cycle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the heating of toast in a toaster oven broiler. The adjustment shaft for the thermostat which controls the baking and broiling modes receives a circular dial having toast color indications thereon corresponding to light, medium and dark toast colors. The dial is rotatable on the thermostat shaft under the control of a bimetal strip which responds to temperature changes in the oven cavity. As the oven temperature increases during each successive toasting cycle, the dial rotates and at the end of the cycle indicates the thermostat setting that will achieve the desired toast color for the next toasting cycle.

Abstract: A latch control arrangement for a self-cleaning oven or similar thermostatically controlled apparatus is provided to efficiently and safely control the locking and unlocking of the oven door. The self-cleaning oven is of the type that includes an oven temperature control circuit having a sensing element arranged to sense the temperature of the oven cavity. The oven temperature control circuit is responsive to manually operable selector arrangements of the oven including oven temperature and oven mode selection arrangements. In one arrangement, the oven controls are provided by a rotatable selector control. The latch control arrangement in one embodiment includes a locking member to lock a manually operable oven door latch. A locking member verification switch is provided to sense the portion of the locking member that extends into interfering relationship with the latch member.

Abstract: A latch control arrangement for a self-cleaning oven or similar thermostatically controlled apparatus is provided to efficiently and safely control the locking and unlocking of the oven door. The self-cleaning oven is of the type that includes an oven temperature control circuit having a sensing element arranged to sense the temperature of the oven cavity. The oven temperature control circuit is responsive to manually operable selector arrangements of the oven including oven temperature and oven mode selection arrangements. In one arrangement, the oven controls are provided by a rotatable selector control. The latch control arrangement in one embodiment includes a locking member to lock a manually operable oven door latch. A locking member verification switch is provided to sense the portion of the locking member that extends into interfering relationship with the latch member.

Abstract: An electrically heated oven has three heater elements, two of which are used together for broiling. Switches provide for connecting selected heating elements in different parallel, series or series-parallel arrangements to provide different temperature levels and heat distribution for broiling, baking or cleaning, all from a single-voltage power source.

Abstract: An electric oven toaster construction wherein a terminal assembly is provided for mounting a U-shaped temperature sensing device on an oven toaster wire rack so that the rack may be removably inserted in the oven toaster and the sensing device will be readily electrically connected in a control circuit of the oven toaster when the rack is positioned in the oven toaster.

Abstract: An electric oven toaster construction wherein a unique inverted L-shaped lever is provided for controlling operation of an oven toaster switch and a toaster timer. The lever is pivotally mounted at the intersection of its legs and a generally horizontal leg extends outwardly from the oven toaster to a position where it may be manually actuated. The other leg extends downwardly for moving the toaster timer to its on position. The generally horizontal leg of the lever includes a downwardly extending latch arm which is movable into engagement with a solenoid armature for holding the lever and the switch in a closed position during a toasting cycle. Thus, at the end of a toasting cycle, the toaster timer actuates the solenoid to release the latch arm and a spring bias of the switch moves the switch and the inverted L-shaped lever to an open position.

Abstract: An electric barbecue grill comprises a cooking vessel and a housing connected centrally thereof. Electric heating means are provided and include a heating elements mechanically mounted on a hollow member of the housing in relative positions for different cooking modes and an electrical cord disposed in the hollow member for protection. A grillwork is provided for supporting a refractory bed adjacent the heating element unit, and electric controls for selectively energizing the heating elements for different cooking modes are disposed in the hollow member to be thermally protected from heat emanating from the heating element unit and the refractory bed.