Patent Application
20160076776
The subject matter of the present disclosure relates generally to methods and systems for locking and unlocking appliance doors, in particular the door of an oven appliance.
Oven appliances generally include a cabinet that defines a cooking chamber for baking or broiling food items therein. Oven appliances also usually include a door that, with normal use, pivots about one or more hinges between an open and a closed position to allow access to the cooking chamber of the cabinet. When in the open position, the door may be parallel to the floor and at a vertical distance above the floor such that, e.g., to a child, the door may appear to provide a step for reaching items on or near the oven appliance that may be out of reach from the floor. The door may otherwise be used abnormally, e.g., for a child to climb on or into the oven appliance. Such abnormal use of the oven door could allow a child to access potentially harmful objects or could cause the oven appliance to tip over. To prevent abnormal use of the door, it may be desirable to lock the door in the closed position when the cooking chamber is not being used for baking or broiling food items. However, typical oven appliance door locks are engaged or disengaged using one or more buttons, knobs, or the like within the reach of a child such that the door lock may be ineffectual.
Accordingly, an oven appliance with features for locking and unlocking the door of the oven appliance following a voice command by a user of the oven appliance would be beneficial. A method for operating an oven appliance to lock and unlock the door of the oven appliance following a voice command by a user also would be useful.
The present invention provides an oven appliance and for operation of an oven appliance. The oven appliance and method for operating the oven appliance include features such that the door of the oven appliance may be locked or unlocked using one or more voice commands by a user of the oven appliance. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In a first exemplary embodiment, a method for operating an oven appliance is provided. The method includes the steps of detecting an input to start a self-clean cycle of the oven appliance; prompting for a confirmation command to start the self-clean cycle; determining whether the confirmation command has been received and, if so, then locking a door of the oven appliance; starting the self-clean cycle; and determining whether the self-clean cycle has finished and, if so, then unlocking the door of the oven appliance.
In a second exemplary embodiment, a method for operating an oven appliance is provided. The method includes the steps of detecting an input to activate a door lock of the oven appliance to lock a door of the oven appliance; prompting for a confirmation command to lock the door; determining whether the confirmation command to lock the door has been received and, if so, then locking the door; detecting an input to activate the door lock to unlock the door; prompting for a confirmation command to unlock the door; and determining whether the confirmation command to unlock the door has been received and, if so, then unlocking the door.
In a third exemplary embodiment, an oven appliance is provided. The oven appliance includes a cabinet defining an opening at a front portion of the cabinet, the cabinet also defining a cooking chamber configured for receipt of food items for cooking; a door mounted to the cabinet at the opening of the cabinet, the door being selectively adjustable between an open position and a closed position to permit selective access to the cooking chamber through the opening of the cabinet; a door lock; a heating element configured to heat the cooking chamber; and a controller in operative communication with the door lock. The controller is configured for detecting an input to activate a door lock of the oven appliance to lock a door of the oven appliance; prompting for a confirmation command to lock the door; determining whether the confirmation command to lock the door has been received and, if so, then locking the door; detecting an input to activate the door lock to unlock the door; prompting for a confirmation command to unlock the door; and determining whether the confirmation command to unlock the door has been received and, if so, then unlocking the door.
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.
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, in which:
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.
Cooking surface 30 of range 12 includes heated portions 32 that may be heated by heating elements (not shown), e.g., electrical resistive heating elements, gas burners, induction heating elements, and/or any other suitable heating element or combination of heating elements. Cooking utensils, such as cooking utensil 28, may be placed on heated portions 32 to cook or heat food items. Oven range appliance 12 also includes a door 36 that permits access to a cooking chamber 42 (
Oven range appliance 12 includes a door lock 38 that, when engaged, prevents door 36 from opening. Door lock 38 may be an electromechanical lock, or other suitable locking device, positioned on cabinet 40 adjacent the front portion of cabinet 40 and may include a hook that engages door 36. Alternatively, door lock 38 may be positioned on door 36 near the front portion of cabinet 40 and include a hook that engages cabinet 40. The operation of door lock 38 is further described below, and in other embodiments, door lock 38 may be any appropriate mechanism for locking door 36 as described.
Further, oven range appliance 12 can include a seal (not shown) between door 36 and cabinet 40 that assists with maintaining heat and cooking fumes within cooking chamber 42 when door 36 is closed as shown in
A gas fueled or electric bottom heating element 50 (e.g., a gas burner or a bake gas burner) is positioned in cabinet 40, e.g., at a bottom portion 41 of cabinet 40. Bottom heating element 50 is used to heat cooking chamber 42 for both cooking and cleaning of oven appliance 12. The size and heat output of bottom heating element 50 can be selected based on the e.g., the size of oven appliance 12.
A top heating element 52 is also positioned in cooking chamber 42 of cabinet 40, e.g., at a top portion 43 of cabinet 40. Top heating element 52 is used to heat cooking chamber 42 for both cooking/broiling and cleaning of oven appliance 12. Like bottom heating element 50, the size and heat output of top heating element 52 can be selected based on the e.g., the size of oven appliance 12. In the exemplary embodiment shown in
The operation of oven appliance 12, including heating elements 50 and 52, is controlled by a processing device such as a controller 56 (
Controller 56 may include a memory and microprocessor, such as a general or special purpose microprocessor operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with a cleaning cycle. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, and/or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. Alternatively, controller 56 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. Controls 60 and other components of oven range appliance 12 may be in communication with controller 56 via one or more signal lines or shared communication busses.
Moreover, controller 56 is operatively coupled or in communication with various other components of microwave appliance 10, including controls 60 and door lock 38. For example, in response to user manipulation of controls 60, controller 56 operates the various components of oven range appliance 12 to execute selected cycles and features. Controller 56 may also be in communication with door lock 38 to lock and unlock door 36, e.g., to prevent abnormal use of door 36. For example, a child may consider door 36 of oven range appliance 12 useful as a step to reach the cooktop and/or items thereon or the surfaces in the vicinity of oven range appliance 12. In addition to providing access to potentially harmful items, abnormal use of door 36 could cause oven range appliance 12 to tip over. Accordingly, if door 36 of oven appliance 12 may be selectively locked, e.g., during particular cycles of oven appliance 12 or when oven appliance 12 is not in use, abnormal use of door 36 can be avoided, as well as other potentially harmful uses of oven appliance 12.
In an exemplary embodiment of oven range appliance 12, controller 56 activates door lock 38 to lock door 36 during, e.g., a self-clean cycle of oven appliance 12. In other embodiments, controller 56 may lock or unlock door 36 in response to inputs by a user of oven range appliance 12. For example, controller 56 may be configured to detect as inputs voice commands of a user of the oven appliance, e.g., to initiate or cancel operations of oven appliance 12. Such commands may include “Start self-clean cycle” or “GE, lock the door.” The voice commands may be authenticated, i.e., distinguished from attempts by a child operate oven appliance 12, and/or confirmed through the use of a unique spoken phrase. The unique phrase may be any phrase chosen by the user and programmed into, e.g., controller 56, and multiple users may each have a unique programmed phrase. Alternatively, the voice commands may be authenticated and/or confirmed through the use of voice biometrics, which may distinguish an adult voice from a juvenile voice, identify an exact voice, or otherwise authenticate commands such that only adults or specific persons may initiate or cancel operations of oven appliance 12.
The voice commands may be detected and utilized by controller 56 in whole or in part, as discussed. In other embodiments, the voice commands may be detected and utilized by any combination of, e.g., a stand-alone or embedded microphone, a smartphone, a tablet computer, and a cloud computing system. Other devices may also be used to detect and utilize a user's voice commands.
As a further example, controller 56 may be configured to detect gestures of a user of the oven appliance through Swept Frequency Capacitive Sensing (SFCS). In such embodiments, oven door 36 may include a conductive surface, such as front panel 70, and controller 56 may detect touch inputs to door 36 such that when a user touches door 36 with her fingers in a preprogrammed sequence, controller 56 accepts the input, e.g., to initiate or cancel operations of oven appliance 12. For example, the user may program the sequence 5-3-2-4 as, e.g., a confirmation gesture. Then, when controller 56 prompts the user to confirm the initiation or cancellation of an operation of appliance 12, and the user touches door 36 with five fingers, then three fingers, then two fingers, and finally four fingers (thereby inputting the sequence 5-3-2-4), controller 56 senses the input sequence as the confirmation gesture to initiate or cancel the operation. The user may program one or more sequences to initiate, confirm, or cancel actions of oven appliance 12 or to otherwise operate the oven.
Additionally, oven appliance 12 may include one or more controls 60 that, when utilized separately or in combination, may signal to controller 56 to start a self-clean cycle and/or to lock or unlock door 36. For example, control panel 34 may include a door lock element 62, such as, e.g., a button, knob, or the like, that a user may utilize to indicate door 36 should be locked or unlocked. Alternatively, door lock element 62 may consist of several controls 60 that, when utilized in a programmed sequence, indicate to controller 56 to lock or unlock door 36. Other configurations of door lock element 62 may be used as well. Thus, oven range 12 may include one or more features for locking door 36 such that abnormal use of door 36 can be prevented.
Referring now to
At step 304 of method 300, oven range appliance 12 prompts the user to confirm that a self-clean cycle should be started. Oven appliance 12 may prompt for confirmation of the self-clean cycle by, e.g., any audible and/or visual prompt that indicates to the user that a confirmation is needed to start the self-clean cycle. By way of example, the prompt may be a notification displayed on control panel 34 of appliance 12, a LED light, a buzzer, a verbal prompt such as “Start self-clean cycle?”, and/or any other appropriate visual and/or audible prompt. Other prompts for confirming the self-clean cycle may also be used.
After prompting for a confirmation, at step 306, controller 56 may begin counting a predetermined time tconfirm, which may be any appropriate time interval that allows the user sufficient time to confirm the self-clean cycle. At step 308, controller 56 determines whether a confirmation has been given. The user may confirm that a self-clean cycle should be started by giving a confirmation command, such as, e.g., “Yes, start self-clean cycle,” “Self-clean cycle confirmed,” or simply “Yes.” Other confirmation commands may also be used, such as a unique phrase that authenticates the user as described above. The user may also give a confirmation through other means, such as, e.g., by utilizing one of controls 60 or by utilizing one or more controls 60 in a preprogrammed sequence. In other embodiments, the user may give a confirmation gesture, such as the 5-3-2-4 touch sequence previously described. The confirmation gesture may be input on front panel 70 of door 36 or any other appropriate conductive surface of oven range appliance 12, such as, e.g., a portion of control panel 34.
If a confirmation is given before time tconfirm elapses, method 300 may proceed to step 310. However, if a confirmation is not given during time tconfirm, controller 56 may determine that the self-clean cycle should not be started. Further, in some embodiments, the confirmation step may be omitted, e.g., when a user gives a one-shot command such as, “Start self-clean and lock the door.”
At step 310, door lock 38 is activated to lock oven door 36, and at step 312, the self-clean cycle is started. As shown at step 314, controller 56 may count the time tsc elapsed during the self-clean cycle. Controller 56 may also monitor the temperature Tsc of the cooking chamber during the self-clean cycle using, e.g., temperature sensor 54. At step 316, controller 56 determines whether the self-clean cycle is finished. Controller 56 may determine that the self-clean cycle is finished if time tsc has reached at least a threshold time tthr. That is, at step 316, controller 56 may compare time tsc to time tthr, and if time tsc is at least equal to time tthr, controller 56 determines the self-clean cycle is finished. Alternatively, controller 56 may determine that the self-clean cycle is finished if temperature Tsc has reached at least a threshold temperature Tthr, i.e., controller 56 may compare temperature Tsc to temperature Tthr, and if temperature Tsc is at least equal to temperature Tthr, controller 56 determines the self-clean cycle is finished. In other embodiments, controller 56 may determine the self-clean cycle is complete if both time tsc and temperature Tsc have reached at least threshold values tthr and Tthr. Time tthr and temperature Tthr may be determined experimentally and may be, e.g., the time to complete a self-clean cycle under typical conditions and a maximum temperature reached during a self-clean cycle under typical conditions. Other ways of determining whether the self-clean cycle is finished may also be used.
If controller 56 determines at step 316 that the self-clean cycle is not finished, controller 56 continues to count time tsc and/or monitor temperature Tsc. However, if controller 56 determines at step 316 that the self-clean cycle is finished, method 300 proceeds to step 318, where door lock 38 is activated to unlock oven door 36.
At step 404, oven appliance 12 prompts the user to confirm that door lock 38 should be activated to lock door 36. As described with respect to confirming a self-clean cycle, oven appliance 12 may prompt for confirmation by, e.g., any audible and/or visual prompt that indicates to the user that a confirmation is needed to lock oven door 36. By way of example, the prompt may be a notification displayed on control panel 34, a LED light, a buzzer, a verbal prompt such as “Lock door?”, and/or any other appropriate visual and/or audible prompt. Other prompts for confirming controller 56 should activate door lock 38 to lock door 36 may also be used.
After prompting for a confirmation, at step 406, controller 56 may begin counting a predetermined time tconfirm, which may be any appropriate time interval that allows the user sufficient time to confirm that door 36 should be locked. At step 408, controller 56 determines whether a confirmation has been given. The user may confirm that door 36 should be locked by giving a confirmation command, such as, e.g., “Yes, lock door,” “Lock door,” or simply, “Yes.” Alternatively, the confirmation command may be a unique phrase that authenticates the user as described above. The user may also give a confirmation by, e.g., utilizing one of controls 60 or utilizing one or more controls 60 in a preprogrammed sequence. In other embodiments, the user may confirm activation of door lock 38 at step 406 by giving a confirmation gesture, such as the 5-3-2-4 touch sequence previously described.
If a confirmation is given before time tconfirm elapses, method 400 may proceed to step 410. However, if a confirmation is not given during time tconfirm, controller 56 may determine that door lock 38 should not be activated and door 36 remains unlocked. Further, in some embodiments, the confirmation step may be omitted.
At step 410, door lock 38 is activated to lock oven door 36, and door 36 remains locked until, at step 412, controller 56 detects an input to activate door lock 38 to unlock door 36. The unlock input may be, e.g., a voice command by the user of the oven appliance, such as, e.g., “GE, unlock the door.” Alternatively, the user may utilize one or more controls 60 to activate door lock 38 to unlock door 36, as described above with respect to locking door 36. Further, if door 36 was locked for oven appliance 12 to perform a self-clean cycle, the unlock input may be a signal generated when controller 56 determines the self-clean cycle is finished, as described with respect to method 300. In other embodiments, the unlock input may be, e.g., the initiation of a cooking cycle, such as through the voice command, “GE, set bake temperature to 350.”
Once controller 56 receives an input to activate door lock 38 to unlock door 36, at step 414 oven range appliance 12 prompts the user to confirm that door lock 38 should be activated to unlock door 36. As described with respect to locking door 36 and starting a self-clean cycle, oven appliance 12 may prompt for confirmation using, e.g., any audible and/or visual prompt that indicates to the user that a confirmation is needed to unlock oven door 36. For example, the prompt may be a notification displayed on control panel 34, a LED light, a buzzer, a verbal prompt such as “Unlock door?”, and/or any other appropriate visual and/or audible prompt. Other prompts to confirm that door 36 should be unlocked may also be used.
After prompting for a confirmation, at step 416 controller 56 may begin counting time tconfirm. At step 418, controller 56 determines whether a confirmation has been given. The user may confirm that door 36 should be locked by giving a confirmation command, such as, e.g., “Yes, unlock door,” “Unlock door,” or simply, “Yes.” The user may also give a confirmation by, e.g., utilizing one of controls 60 or utilizing one or more controls 60 in a preprogrammed sequence. In other embodiments, as described above, activation of door lock 38 may be confirmed using SFCS. In such embodiments, when prompted to confirm that door 36 should be unlocked, the user may touch an appropriate conductive surface with her fingers in a preprogrammed sequence, such as, e.g., the described 5-3-2-4 sequence, and controller 56 accepts the input as a confirmation gesture to activate door lock 38. The user may confirm activation of door lock 38 to unlock door 36 in other ways as well.
If a confirmation is given before time tconfirm elapses, method 400 may proceed to step 420. At step 420, door lock 38 is activated to unlock oven door 36. However, if a confirmation is not given during time tconfirm, controller 56 may determine that door lock 38 should not be activated and door 36 remains locked. As indicated, in some embodiments, the confirmation step may be omitted.
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 language of the claims.
