WO2010051609A2

WO2010051609A2 - Burner identification system

Info

Publication number: WO2010051609A2
Application number: PCT/BR2009/000365
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cesário ZIMMARMANN JÚNIOR; Eduardo Kazumi Yamakawa; André OLIVEIRA PIRES
Original assignee: Whirlpool S.A.
Priority date: 2008-11-06
Filing date: 2009-11-06
Publication date: 2010-05-14
Also published as: WO2010051609A3; BRPI0804821A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a burner identification system for use in cooking appliances (5) comprising at least one button (30) assigned to at least one burner (20) of said cooking appliance (5), each button having a sensor (40), as well as an electronic circuit connected to said button (30) and to both an identification element (10) and the at least one burner (20) assigned to the button (30). The identification element (10) can be a visual or acoustic identification element that is actuated separately or simultaneously with the burner (20). Alternatively, a sensor (60) can be provided in each burner (20), instead of in the button, making it possible to detect a cooking utensil approaching the burner and to indicate to the consumer which burner (20) and hence which button (30) must be actuated.

Description

"BURNER IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM"

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a burner identification system and more particularly to a burner utilization identification system of the cooking apparatus which the user wishes to operate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Demand for a burner utilization identification system making the user interface and the cooking appliance easier and more comfortable has been steadily increasing in the consumer market. There is also a growing desire to overcome the currently used solution of providing images on the surface of the cooker that relate the position of the burner to be turned on with the knob being pressed. Examples of prior art burner identification systems are described in US patents 2,346,237, 2,450,399, 2,735,924 and 2,492,100.

U.S. Patent 2,346,237 describes an electric cooker having a lamp attached to each burner, so that when the burner is on, this fact will be immediately apparent to the user upon lighting of said lamp.

With respect to U.S. Patent 2,450,399, it describes a lamp system similar to that described above, however, making it difficult to identify the powered burner as the lamps are located on a stove bulkhead, making it impossible to quick identification of the burner that has been activated.

U.S. Patent 2,735,924 illustrates a burner drive visual indicating device also located on a stove bulkhead, making it difficult to see the powered burner immediately. To alleviate this disadvantage, the position of the burner under the lens of the device has been inscribed so that when it is lit, the burner that has been activated can be better identified. Finally, U.S. Patent 2,492,100 illustrates a burner trigger indicating device having a lamp that is energized when its corresponding knob on the stove is operated. When energized, the lamp emits a beam of light illuminating the entire burner being used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention consists of a burner identification system which is actuated by detecting the use of any of the burners of a cooking appliance in use by a consumer, each identification system being associated with an appliance burner.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a burner identification system that enables a quick and efficient visualization of the user-operated cooking appliance burner.

Another object of the present invention is to operate both the burner and the identification system simultaneously, without requiring the response of the burner to which it has been activated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a burner identification system that is actuated upon perception of any movement of the user to engage said burner.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide the user with the possibility of knowing which burner to ignite before actually igniting it, enabling the activation of the dissociated burner identification system from the burner activation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a burner identification system that is actuated by bringing the appliance closer to the burner.

The objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a burner identification system for use in cooking appliances comprising at least one button designated for at least one burner of said cooking appliance, each button having a sensor, an electronic circuitry and a - said identification element and both an identification element and at least one burner assigned to the button.

The objects of the present invention are further achieved by providing a burner identification system for use in cooking apparatus comprising at least one knob designated for at least one burner of said cooking apparatus, an electronic circuit connected to said knob and a both an identification element and at least one button-assigned burner, each burner having a sensor that senses the approach of an appliance to said burner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described in conjunction with the exemplary related drawings below of the invention in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a cooking apparatus depicting the burner identification system of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the drive mechanism of the burner identification system of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic block diagram of the burner identification system object of the present invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a schematic block diagram of the alternative burner identification system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As can be seen from a joint analysis of FIGURES 1 and 3 of the present invention, at the moment the consumer 15 activates the knob 30 of the cooking appliance 5, simultaneously the burner 20 associated with that knob 30 and the identification element 10 associated with the respective one burner 20 are activated. This prevents the identification element 10 from waiting for any information feedback from the burner 20, thereby giving the burner identification system of the present invention greater accuracy and speed.

As further detailed by FIGURE 3, consumer 15 triggers the so that it comprises a sensor 40. Said sensor may, for example, detect a rotational or pressing movement of the button 30 by the consumer. Alternatively, however, such a sensor may also be a touch sensor if the burner is triggered by a single touch without the need for any rotation or pressure, or simply the touch detection serving to alert the consumer which burner will be triggered if he burns it. proceed with the action.

When the button 30 is pressed and the associated sensor 40 detects user action 15, the electronic circuit 50 is triggered by sending two simultaneous signals: a control / return signal to activate the burner 20 and an additional signal to activate the identification element 10.

At the moment the consumer presses button 30 to turn off burner 20, the burner sends a return signal to the electronic circuit 50 which then sends a signal to the identification element 10, causing it to be switched off.

Referring to the identification element 10, this may be a visual, audible identification element or any other element that may provide an identification interface with the user. Thus, the identification element 10 may be, for example, an LED in the case of a visual identification element, or a sound player reproducing a recording indicating the burner that has been activated in the case of an identification element. sound

Still with respect to the identification element 10, it may be located in any area of the surface 25 of the cooking appliance 5 that allows a quick identification of the burner 20 which has been activated or, in the event of being a sound identification element, this one it may be located anywhere in the cooking appliance 5. In view of the above, the identification element 10 may be of varying size and shape.

In case the display element 10 is visual, it may be of the type that changes color based on temperature. This will allow the consumer to press the button 30, thereby activating the burner and obtaining a certain color in the identification element. By increasing the temperature, the still lit visual identification element may provide a different color, indicating to the consumer that the temperature of the burner 20 has been raised. Such a color range may be predefined by the manufacturer and / or defined by the consumer himself.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, it illustrates the drive mechanism of the burner identification system of the present invention. Sensor 40 associated with button 30 detects the presence of the consumer's hand in contact with the button.

For example, such a system may comprise the button having a ring sensor connected via a cable to the electronic circuit board 50 and to a dedicated digital circuit or additional electronic circuit which will be responsible for measuring the capacitance variation between the sensor in ring and the earth. When the consumer's hand comes into contact with the knob and therefore is very close to the ring sensor, the sensor's capacitance to ground value is changed and the electronic circuit is able to measure this change and will make the requested decision. be it to ignite, turn off the burner or increase the temperature of the burner.

As mentioned above, one of the possible methods to be used in the present invention is capacitance measurement, but other detection methods can be employed using photosensors, ultrasonic sensors among others.

Said sensor, for example, may be, as mentioned above, a capacitive sensor capable of measuring the capacitance of sensor 40 on knob 30 which changes capacitance at the touch of the user's hand and then provides a feedback to the consumer by alerting them. which burner will fire if it proceeds with the action. Here it is noteworthy that the capacitance of the sensor refers to the earth potential and its value changes with the touch or even the user's approach to that sensor.

The system response (indication) can be programmed to respond different positions for touch and approach. In this case, only the identification element would be activated, without the burner firing, meaning a preview of the action that will occur.

Taking FIGURES 1 and 4 of the present invention together, a second embodiment of the present invention is observed. In this embodiment, the consumer receives the identification of which button 30 activates when approaching a utensil to a burner 20.

As the consumer 15 approaches an appliance to at least one burner, the identification element 10 associated with that burner 20 is actuated, readily identifying the knob 30 of the cooking appliance 5 which must be actuated to turn on the burner. This allows the consumer to quickly and accurately identify which button to press when placing a tool on the burner.

As further detailed by FIGURE 4, consumer 15 approaches the appliance to at least one of the burners 20, each burner having a sensor 60 for detecting the presence of such a appliance. Alternatively, such a sensor may also be a touch sensor in the event that the consumer rests the utensil on the burner.

Upon detecting the presence of the appliance, the burner sensor 60 will emit a signal through the electronic circuit 50 to the identification element 10 which in turn is associated with a particular knob 30 of the apparatus. At this time, the detection of the appliance may initiate an automatic mode, for example, where the burner would be automatically triggered together with the identification element, alerting the user which burner was triggered.

As in the previous embodiment, the identification element 10 of the present embodiment may be a visual, audible identification element or any other element that may realize an identification interface with the user, besides having varying size and shape.

Referring further to identification element 10, the same can be be located on any front area of the cooking appliance 5 or even on the push button 30 to enable rapid identification of the burner 20 which has received the appliance.

Alternatively, the visual indicating element may be of the color changing type based on the burner receiving the utensil, allowing the consumer to press the button 30, thereby activating the burner based on the perception of this color emitted by the identifying element. Colors can be predefined by the manufacturer and / or defined by the consumer himself.

Referring to button 30 of the system of the present invention, it should be noted that the button can be either an analog button or a digital button.

Although the above description refers to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the above teachings.

It will be appreciated that variations, modifications and changes of the invention described herein are possible to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention or equivalents thereof, encompassed by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. Burner identification system for use in cooking appliances (5), characterized by the fact that it comprises:

at least one button (30) designated for at least one burner (20) of said cooking appliance (5), each button having a sensor (40);

an electronic circuit connected to said button (30) and both an identification element (10) and at least one burner (20) assigned to the button (30).

Burner identification system according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (40) drives the electronic circuit and, in turn, the identification element (10) as it approaches the consumer's hand (15). .

Burner identification system according to claim 2, characterized in that the sensor (40) additionally drives the at least one burner (20) designated for the button (30) comprising said sensor (40).

Burner identification system according to claim 1, characterized in that the identification element (10) is a visual identification element.

Burner identification system according to claim 1, characterized in that the identification element (10) is a sound identification element.

Burner identification system according to claim 4, characterized in that the visual identification element is located on the surface (25) of the cooking appliance (5).

Burner identification system according to claim 5,

CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the visual identification element is located anywhere in the cooking appliance (5).

Burner identification system according to claim 5, characterized in that the audible identification element is located in any location of the cooking appliance (5).

Burner identification system according to claim 5, characterized in that the visual identification element varies the color or color intensity as the temperature of the burner (20) increases.

Burner identification system according to claim

9, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the color variation or color intensity is performed by the consumer, the manufacturer or both.

Burner identification system according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the knob (30) is one of an analog knob and a digital knob.

12. Burner identification system for use in cooking appliances (5), characterized by the fact that it comprises:

at least one knob (30) designated for at least one burner (20) of said cooking apparatus (5);

an electronic circuit connected to said knob (30) and both an identification element (10) and at least one burner (20) assigned to the knob (30), each burner having a sensor (60).

Burner identification system according to claim

12, characterized by the fact that the sensor (60) drives the electronic circuit (50) and, in turn, the identification element (10) with the approach of the utensil.

Burner identification system according to claim

13, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the sensor (60) automatically ignites at least one burner (20) associated with it.

Burner identification system according to claim 12, characterized in that the identification element (10) is a visual identification element.

Burner identification system according to claim 12, characterized in that the identification element (10) is a sound identification element.

Burner identification system according to claim

15, characterized in that the visual identification element is located on the front of the cooking appliance (5).

Burner identification system according to claim 15, characterized in that the visual identification element is located on the knob (30) of the cooking appliance (5).

Burner identification system according to claim

16, characterized in that the audible identification element is located anywhere in the cooking appliance (5).

Burner identification system according to claim

16, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the visual identification element varies the color or color intensity according to the burner (20) activated.

Burner identification system according to claim 20, characterized in that the color variation or color intensity is performed by the consumer, the manufacturer or both.

Burner identification system according to claim 12 or 18, characterized in that the button (30) is one of an analog button and a digital button.