JP2002039538A - Appliance door - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an effective usage environment by providing a home network display apparatus, such as microwave oven. SOLUTION: A display (LCD) is provided on a domestic appliance provided at a position at which a user can easily look as in the case of an electronic oven for example, and displays an information, such as recipes, stock prices retrieval service, or video or television images received via a home network. A display control device controls suitable information displayed on the display and receives any display information from a proper home network receiver device. Thereupon, the home network receiver device employs a wired network (e.g. Home PNA) or a radio network (e.g. piconet network such as BLUETOOTH).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to household appliances. More particularly, it relates to kitchen appliances, such as microwave ovens, for displaying recipes or other text or graphic information to kitchen users.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Microwave ovens that are familiar to most people are commonplace in homes and office kitchens. Microwave ovens provide users with the convenience of fast and efficient cooking.

[0003]

To cook using a microwave oven or a conventional oven or range, the cook will typically have a note card recipe at hand. Occasionally, the cook will pull out the note card if he wants to refer to the recipe, and keep it on the counter while cooking. Other common ways of referring to a recipe include, for example, those displayed on a book page, a file, and / or a personal computer (PC). Unfortunately, note cards, books, and files quickly become dirty in a cooking environment, and PCs are not in the kitchen in a location easily accessible to cooks. PC users can print out specific recipes and bring them to the kitchen, but this is a waste of paper and can easily become dirty and / or cluttered.

There is a need for a method and apparatus that is more efficient and reduces environmental waste for users of common household appliances such as microwave ovens, conventional ovens and / or microwave ovens.

[0005]

According to the principles of the present invention,
The device door includes a display, a structural frame including a display installed on the device, and a receiving device configured to be able to communicate with an external device via a home network. The display allows a user to visually observe information received by the receiving device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of displaying information on a household appliance, the method comprising the steps of displaying information on a display of a household appliance door, and allowing a user to view an item (article) in the household appliance via the display. And so on.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In accordance with the principles of the present invention, an equipment door includes a liquid crystal display (LC) that displays textual and / or graphical information (eg, recipes).
D) It also functions as a screen.

[0008] The device door also functions as a normal door by allowing the user to look inside the device. LCD
The screen is preferably transparent, at least when the appliance door display is not in operation, and preferably allows a user to view the inside of the household appliance through the display. Further, even when the LCD screen is operating and displaying information related to the user's desire, the displayed information (eg, textual information) allows the user to view the food item through the display. As such, it can be placed on a transparent background.

Within the scope of the principles of the present invention, a wired network (eg, a HomePNA) or a wireless network (eg, a piconet network such as a BLUETOOTH network) communicates appropriate information from other network devices to the display of a home appliance. Used to

[0010] Household appliances most suitable as display devices are those relating to the kitchen, those relating to the bathroom, or those which have a place in the home or have other functions. Further, the home appliance is ideally located in a place where the user can easily see it. For example, a microwave placed under a cupboard can be seen at eye level,
The sink is typically in an easily observable position, both with respect to the position in the triangular cooking area, typically defined by three points of the range.

As the network providing device for communicating with the adaptive display on the home appliance door, any processor device suitable for the particular application can be used. For example, the network providing device can be located anywhere within the home network. In this way, the network providing device can be located anywhere in the home, not limited to the microwave oven itself or other home kitchen appliances that have access to the home network. As an example, the network providing device can be stored as an application program in a home PC, providing flexibility in frequent updating of recipes and / or other information to be displayed on the home appliance. .

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a home appliance (eg, a microwave oven) with an adaptive display and the ability to participate in a home network, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Referring specifically to FIG. 1, a microwave oven 190 having an adaptive display includes conventional components. For example, a microwave oven 190 with an adaptive display includes a microwave generator (eg, a magnetron) housed in a shielded enclosure.
The microwave generator is controlled by a suitable microwave controller (e.g., a microcontroller, microprocessor or digital signal processor). Microwave oven with adaptive display 19
0 includes a keypad operation unit that allows the user to select an operation mode and an operation amount, and a timer that measures the time of the cooking mode of the selected operation.

A microwave oven door with an adaptive display is provided, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, for textual or graphical information on an adaptive display that is otherwise integrated within the viewing window of a conventional microwave oven. It is particularly adapted to make it possible to view the food item there at the same time as observing the information.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, an otherwise conventional household appliance (eg, a microwave oven) includes a substantially transparent display 100 otherwise mounted on ordinary viewing glass. In. Display 100 is preferably an LCD display, but any suitable display that is substantially transparent can be used.

The LCD display 100 has a suitable LC
Any of the D display formats can be used. For example, in the simplest form, the LCD display 100
May have a fixed number of alphanumeric arrangements set in advance for displaying text information.
Alternatively, the LCD display 100 may include a single color dot that adds flexibility in textual information (and / or rough graphic information) that can be displayed thereon.
It may be a matrix display. LCD
Display 100 may also include a color dot matrix display similar to that used in overhead projectors and / or laptop computers.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components corresponding to an adaptive home appliance, including an appliance door display and a home network receiver, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the adaptable household appliance includes the appliance door display 100 and the home network receiving device 220 also shown in FIG. The display control module 200 receives the information transmitted to the home appliance 190 serving as a host, and arranges the appearance so as to be suitable for display on the display 100 of the appliance door.

A home appliance having an adaptive display preferably allows a user to interactively participate, even if the displayed information is independent of the operation of the home appliance including the adaptive display. . For example, a home device with an adaptive display is a home network (piconet, such as BLUETOOTH).
It is preferable to have the user interact in any or all devices communicating over a network or HomePNA).

For example, when using a microwave oven door as an example, the keys on the microwave oven keypad may be used to advance or return a cooking procedure for a particular recipe to obtain general cooking information and the like. It can be used to communicate with other network devices (eg, personal computers (PCs)).

The user can select an appropriate keypad operation unit 170
Can be used to provide configuration information, page information, scroll information, and the like. The keypad operating section 170 may or may not have multiple functions, depending on the particular application and / or the home appliance on which the appliance door display 100 is provided. .

The display control module 200 can include any suitable processor, for example, a microprocessor, microcontroller, or digital signal processor (DSP).

As the home network receiving device 220, any device suitable for a wired or wireless home network can be used. For example, the home network receiving device 220 is connected to another home device (for example, P
C, range, telephone, refrigerator, etc.) to establish a wireless piconet. Suitable as a wireless network technology for forming a piconet network is one called Bluetooth (BLUETOOTH).

BLUETOOTH network technology is:
A published specification for wireless data and voice communications, based on low cost, narrow range wireless links.
Optimal sources for the BLUETOOTH protocol are available, for example, at www.bluetooth.org.

Using the BLUETOOTH network technology, the home network receiver 200 of the adaptive home appliance 190, as well as any other home device including a compatible network interface, is a part of the piconet wireless network. Department. A piconet is a collection of devices connected via BLUETOOTH network technology. The piconet also includes non-microwaves associated with a processor, for example, a user's home computer.

Alternatively, the home network can be a wired network. For example, current telephone lines can be used to form a HomePNA ^™ network. HomeP
Information about the protocols and interfaces of the NA is already known. A suitable source for such information is, for example, www.homepna.org.

[0027] HomePNA networks utilize frequency bands at the upper level of telephone lines typically used for voice and data services such as DSL.
Currently, the HomePNA network standard utilizes frequencies between about 4 MHz and about 10 MHz on current telephone lines. Of course, the present invention is equally applicable to non-telephone lines based on wiring between network devices.

FIG. 3 is a representative cross-sectional side view of a layer of a window portion of a typical home appliance combined with an LCD display for displaying information obtained from a home network, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. .

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a glass layer 302 and a conductive microwave shielding layer 3 of a normal microwave oven are used.
Numeral 04 constitutes a normal window in the door of the household appliance in other respects. Importantly, however, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the LCD display layer 100 additionally has an additional feature to form a substantially transparent display otherwise covered by a normal window 302, 304. Combined with normal windows 302, 304.

The LCD display 100 is separable from the window layers 302, 304 at least in the visible portion, but is mounted on the frame structure 108 (FIG. 1), fixing the glass layer 302 and the microwave shielding layer 304. Is preferred. Of course, an LCD display structure is provided within the glass layer 302 of the microwave oven in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a real-time such as a stock quote (stock quote search service) obtained by a PC or other processing device and transmitted to an adaptive home appliance via a home network in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 1 illustrates an adaptive home appliance including a display capable of providing information.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a dot matrix display (color or black and white) 100
Can be easily viewed by home cooks and used to provide frequently updated stock prices. The user of the home appliance may display text and / or text displayed on the adaptive display 100.
Or it is preferable to be able to look around the graphic.

FIG. 5 illustrates an "avi" configured by a user to be displayed in a desired portion of a larger adaptive display area of a home appliance having an adaptive display in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Shown is the display of a video image, such as a video stream or a television image.

As shown in detail in FIG. 5, the present invention can extend the display of any desired information transmitted to the adaptive display 100 of the home appliance 190 via the home network. . For example, the PC monitor of the network providing device projects the appropriate information transmitted from the PC to the display control module 200 of the home appliance 190 having the adaptive display on the home appliance adaptive display using the appropriate information. be able to. This allows anything displayed on a stock quote, video stream, DVD and / or PC monitor to be conveniently viewed through a viewing port (port) of a home appliance such as a microwave oven. . In this way, animated images, such as television, cooking lesson videos, etc., can be easily and conveniently viewed when the user is near a suitable home appliance, such as a microwave oven 190 having an adaptive display. .

If a large area at the door of a household appliance 190 with an adaptive display includes a corresponding large display 100, the user may be able to use picture-in-picture (PI) using television technology.
P) Similar to the action, the smaller windowed image can be moved to a more comfortable position on the range door.

FIG. 6 illustrates communication between home appliances capable of multiple wireless home networks and adaptability based on information received from one of the other home appliances 610, 620 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 9 shows an image displayed on a microwave oven 190 having a certain display.

As shown in detail in FIG. 6, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, a plurality of household appliances 610, 620 can communicate with a microwave oven 190 having an adaptive display.

There is virtually no limit on the information passed from the home device to the home device 190 having an adaptive display. For example, status information can be passed between devices that allow coordinated operation on several separate home devices. For example, if the range is not switched on to preheat at a predetermined point in the recipe, the recipe will
The alert status can be indicated as interrelated (interactively).

More specifically, status information can be used interactively with recipes displayed on a display of an adaptive home appliance to assist a cook reading the display. For example, if the recipe requires preheating the range to 375 °, a warning signal or the actual internal temperature of the range can be displayed on the display of the adaptive home appliance along with the visible recipe. .

The principles of the present invention relate to the use of a home appliance as a display of information, whether or not the information is used to operate a home appliance provided with an adaptive display. I have. For example, microwave oven 19
The zero-adaptive display 100 not only performs the function of a microwave oven, but can also display recipe information having cooking items with a stove.

While the disclosed embodiments relate to providing an adaptive display that forms at least a window portion of a microwave oven, the principles of the present invention are equally relevant to providing in other household appliances. For example, an adaptive display can be mounted on the door of the refrigerator and provide the appropriate information (eg, recipe, range temperature, television,
Advertisements received from local grocery stores via communication using a network device including a modem).

Although the present invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, those skilled in the art will be able to modify the described embodiments in various ways without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Would.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a home appliance (eg, a microwave oven) having a display and home network participation capabilities in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components corresponding to an adaptive home appliance including an appliance door display and a home network receiver in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a representative cross-sectional side view of a layer of a window portion of a conventional home appliance combined with an LCD display for displaying information obtained from a home network, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. is there.

FIG. 4 illustrates a stock quote (stock quote search service) obtained by a PC or other processing device and transmitted over a home network to adaptive home appliances in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 1 illustrates an adaptive home appliance including a display capable of providing real-time information.

FIG. 5 illustrates an “avi” configured by a user to be displayed on a desired portion of a larger adaptive display of a home appliance having an adaptive display in accordance with the principles of the present invention. "Shows the display of a video image, such as a video stream or a television image.

FIG. 6 illustrates communication between home appliances capable of multiple wireless home networks, in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 18 shows an image displayed on a microwave oven 190 having an adaptive display based on information received from one of the other household appliances 610, 620. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 display, 108 frame, 170 keypad operation unit, 190 household equipment (microwave oven),
200: display control module, 220: home network receiving device, 302: glass layer, 304: shielding layer, 610, 620: external device.

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor John P. Bessie United States 18051, Pennsylvania, Vogelsville, Oak Knoll Street, 8468 F-term (reference) 3L086 AA01 BC01 CC30 DA05 DA22 DA24 DA30

Claims (27)

[Claims] 1. A display, comprising: a structural frame including the display installed in a device; and a home network interface device configured to be able to communicate with an external device via a home network. The device door, wherein the display enables visual observation of information received by the receiving device. 2. The display is arranged in an observation window (port) of the device such that an item (article) behind the device door is observed by observation through the display. The device door according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The apparatus door according to claim 1, wherein the information includes a recipe. 4. The equipment door according to claim 1, wherein the information includes text information. 5. The device door according to claim 1, wherein the information includes graphic information. 6. The equipment door according to claim 1, wherein the home network includes a wireless home network. 7. The equipment door according to claim 6, wherein the wireless home network is a piconet network. 8. The door of claim 7, wherein the piconet network is substantially in accordance with the Bluetooth protocol. 9. The equipment door according to claim 1, wherein the home network includes a wired home network. 10. The door of claim 9, wherein the wired home network substantially conforms to the Home PNA (HomePNA) standard. 11. The equipment door according to claim 1, wherein the display allows visual observation of the food item while the food item is being cooked. 12. A home use system comprising the steps of: displaying information on a display of an appliance door; and allowing a user to visually recognize an item (article) in the household appliance through the display. Information display method on the device. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the displayed information relates to a recipe. 14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising receiving the displayed information via a home network. 15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the home network is a wireless home network. 16. The wireless home network according to claim 1, wherein the wireless home network is a piconet network.
6. The method for displaying information on a home appliance according to 5. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the piconet network substantially conforms to the Bluetooth protocol. 18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the home network is a wired home network. 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the wired home network substantially complies with the Home PNA protocol. 20. Means for displaying information on a display at a door of a household appliance, and means for allowing a user to visually recognize an item (article) in the household appliance through the display. Information display device in household equipment 21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the displayed information relates to a recipe. 22. The information display apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for receiving the displayed information via a home network. 23. The information display apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the home network is a wireless home network. 24. The wireless home network according to claim 2, wherein the wireless home network is a piconet network.
4. The information display device in a household appliance according to 3. 25. The information display device according to claim 24, wherein the piconet network substantially conforms to a Bluetooth protocol. 26. The information display apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the home network is a wired home network. 27. The information display apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the wired home network substantially conforms to a home PNA protocol.