GB2302188A

GB2302188A - Oven with integral speech generating unit.

Info

Publication number: GB2302188A
Application number: GB9611728A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Hogg
Original assignee: COBOLT SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: COBOLT SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 1995-06-09
Filing date: 1996-06-05
Publication date: 1997-01-08
Also published as: AU5827596A; WO1996042185A1; GB9611728D0; GB2302188A8; GB9511748D0

Abstract

The oven gives audio information, in speech form, to the user. The oven, which may be a microwave oven, has externally situated keys 3, one of which activates the speech generating unit. Audio information produced may be instructions such as to stir or turn food, or status information such as whether the door is open or closed. A talking clock and/or timer may also be incorporated. The oven may also respond to audio commands, and may not have any conventional visual indications.

Description

OVEN Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of ovens especially - but not exclusively suitable for use by blind or other visually-impaired people.

Summarv of the Invention According to the inventive concept, such an oven, of the general kind which is otherwise knownper se, is characterised by the incorporation of an integral speech-generating unit which, in use, enables the oven to give audio information in speech form to the user. In a preferred form the oven is a microwave oven.

Specifically, the invention provides an oven in which the oven's operation is actuated and controlled by the action of a plurality of externally-situated keys, wherein at least one of the externally-situated keys is connected to an integral speech-generating unit incorporated into the oven such that, once the key is actuated, the speech-generating unit is also actuated.

Preferably, the speech-generating unit and the oven's conventional operation are, at least partially, actuable using audio (ie, vocal) commands.

Ideally, the oven is provided with a single control panel for controlling both the speech-generating unit and the oven's conventional operation.

In a preferred form, the speech-generating unit is adapted to provide audio instructions to stir and/or turn food in the oven, as necessary.

Advantageously, the speech-generating unit is adapted to provide audio information, for example regarding the status of the oven door, when the oven door is opened or closed.

Preferably, the oven further comprises an integral talking clock. Ideally, the oven further comprises an integral talking timer, independently operable from the oven's conventional operation.

In a preferred form, the speech-generating unit is adapted to provide audio information either automatically or on request, regarding the cooking time and function(s) selected.

Ideally, the oven is further provided with a tactile keypad, preferably having relatively large keys.

In a further preferred form, the oven is characterised in that it has no conventional visual indication (such as an LED display) of the status of said oven.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an oven embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram of the control system of the oven; Figure 3 is a front view of the keypad panel; Figure 4 is a side view of the keypad panel; Figure 5 is a rear view of the keypad panel.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment Figure 1 shows a microwave oven 1 having a keypad 2 by which both the microwave oven's normal cooking operation is controlled as well as the speech-generating unit's function. The entire speech-generating technology (not shown) is contained within the microwave oven's outer housing.

The keypad 2 comprises a number of tactile keys 3 which are relatively large in comparison to conventional microwave oven control keys. These easily felt keys 3 thus facilitate use of the microwave oven by a blind or other visually-impaired person. A particularly large and distinctive key 4 is used to control the opening and closing of the microwave oven door 5.

Figure 2 shows, in block diagram format, the control system for the microwave oven 1. A central processing unit ("CPU") 6 handles input data from the following sources:1. Power supply 7.

2. Reset system 17 and clock signal 18 derived from the mains supply.

3. Door switch 8 indicates the status of the microwave oven door 5 i.e whether it is currently open or closed.

4. Keypad 2 is the user interface, providing input data from the user's operation of keys 3 (or vocal commands).

CPU 6 processes this input data to provide outputs to the microwave magnetron 10 which controls the oven's cooking operation and also to the speech system, filters and amplifiers 11 which govern the oven's speech operation.

CPU 6 also controls the microwave oven's internal lamp 12, turntable motor 15 and cooling fan 16. These power outputs (including magnetron 10) use zero crossing detect opto-isolators and triacs with snubber networks etc.

Interlocks (not shown) provide further information regarding the current status of the microwave oven, for example whether the microwave power is currently activated.

The microwave oven's speech-generating function enables a blind or otherwise visually-impaired person to use the oven without assistance as the oven provides spoken advice and requests to facilitate the cooking operation.

A wide range of spoken function is envisaged, at least corresponding to conventional microwave oven functions, and including (by way of example only): Automatic spoken advice when: the door 5 is opened or closed; cooking time and power level is selected; cooking cycle starts, giving the cooking/defrost time required; the food needs to be turned and/or stirred; the selected cooking or defrosting programme is complete.

Selectable advice of: the time remaining during a cooking/defrosting programme; the actual time, from an integral clock; the currently selected power level; the currently selected programme duration; a description or title of the selected programme, for example by food type and/or weight.

The speech output is provided by loudspeaker 13 and is of adjustable volume.

An integral general-purpose talking kitchen timer (not shown) could be independently operable from the oven timer.

Figures 3-5 show a suitable keypad panel 14 for use on the exterior of microwave oven 1.

The microwave oven not only provides spoken information on request by the user, but also gives "active" instructions, such as a request to the user to stir food during the cooking operation, or instructions to close the oven door before the cooking operation can commence.

Keypad 2 with tactile keys 3 could be replaced by (or used in conjunction with) an audio user interface so that the user could control the oven using spoken commands. Other inputs methods such as mouse, light pen etc could be used.

Alternatively, the tactile keys 3 could be replaced by conventional (ie.

normally sized and shaped) keys for use by a user with normal vision. In this way, an oven of normal outward appearance could have the advantages of spoken advice and instructions to the user as outlined above to facilitate the oven's use.

Unlike a conventional microwave oven, instructions may be input by the user in any (not necessarily logical) order. Each entered instruction is stored so that, if the user inadvertently presses an incorrect button, the previously entered instructions are not lost.

Also, unlike a conventional microwave oven, the oven clock need not necessarily be set before the oven can be used. Cooking and timer functions are independent of the clock but, if the user selects the clock itself when it has not been set, spoken advice is given by the oven.

The oven of the present invention thus enables a blind or otherwise visuallyimpaired person to use it without needing assistance from a sighted person to read a, normally relatively small, visual display and controls as on a conventional microwave oven. Indeed, the oven of the present invention may not even be provided with the conventional (usually LED) visual display.

The oven is equally suitably used by a generally handicapped person, who is not necessarily visually-impaired, or an able-bodied person who prefers the convenience of spoken commands/information.

Claims

1. An oven, of the general kind which is otherwise known per se, characterised by the incorporation of an integral speech-generating unit which, in use, enables the oven to give audio information in speech form to the user.

2. An oven as claimed in Claim 1 in which the oven's operation is actuated and controlled by the action of a plurality of externally situated keys, wherein at least one of the externally-situated keys is connected to an integral speech-generating unit incorporated into the oven such that, once the key is actuated, the speech-generating unit is also actuated.

3. An oven as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the oven's operation and speech-generating unit are, at least partially, actuable using audio (ie, vocal) commands.

4. An oven as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said oven is a microwave oven.

5. An oven as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the oven is provided with a single control panel for controlling both the speech generating unit and the oven's conventional operation.

6. An oven as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the speech-generating unit is adapted to provide audio instructions to stir and/or turn food in the oven, as necessary.

7. An oven as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the speech-generating unit is adapted to provide audio information, for example regarding the status of the oven door, when the oven door is opened or closed.

8. An oven as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said oven further comprises an integral talking clock.

9. An oven as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the oven further comprises an integral talking timer, independently operable from the oven's conventional operation.

10. An oven as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the speech-generating unit is adapted to provide audio information either automatically or on request, regarding the cooking time and function(s) selected.

11. An oven as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the oven is further provided with a tactile keypad.

12. An oven as claimed in Claim 11 wherein said tactile keypad has relatively large keys.

13. An oven as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that said oven has no conventional visual indication (such as an LED display) of the status of said oven.

14. An oven substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by any appropriate combination of the accompanying drawings.