WO2017211380A1

WO2017211380A1 - Oven with an improved user-interface

Info

Publication number: WO2017211380A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/062791
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yagiz TEZEL; Yusuf KUYUMCU; Ahmet SOZEN
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-06-06
Filing date: 2016-06-06
Publication date: 2017-12-14

Abstract

The present invention relates to an oven (1) comprising: a main body (2) which comprises a cavity (3) for cooking the food; a door (4) for opening/closing the cavity (3); a handle (5) for manipulating the door (4); and a user-interface (6) which comprises a touch button area (7) and a printed circuit board (8).

Description

OVEN WITH AN IMPROVED USER-INTERFACE

The present invention relates to an oven. The present invention more particularly relates to the user-interface of the oven.

Ovens are commonly known in the art. An oven generally comprises: a main body which comprises a cavity for cooking the food; a door for opening/closing the cavity; a handle for manipulating the door; and a user-interface which comprises a touch-button area and a printed circuit board. The touch-button area generally comprises screen-prints which are indicative of the positions of the touch buttons of the printed circuit board respectively. In the prior art oven the touch-button area is generally disposed onto the upper front surface of the door. The user places the food to be cooked into the cavity, and selects the desired cooking mode and adjusts the settings through the touch-button area, and takes the oven into operation.

JP2005265216 (A) discloses a prior art oven.

A problem with the prior art oven is that the aforementioned screen-prints of the touch-button area in the upper front surface of the door generally obscures the view into the cavity, and thus the user encounters difficulties in conducting the cooking.

An objective of the present invention is to provide an oven that solves the aforementioned problems of the prior art in a cost effective way and which enables an improved usability.

This objective has been achieved by the oven as defined in claim 1. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.

In the oven of the present invention the handle is disposed onto the front surface of the door in close proximity to either the left side or the right side of the door; and the touch-button area is disposed onto the front surface of the door and between the handle and the respective one of the left side or the right side of the door which is closer to the handle.

A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the aforementioned screen-prints on the upper front surface of the door can be eliminated or reduced as much as possible, and thus the view into the cavity can be improved. Thereby, the user can more easily conduct the cooking. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the front surface utilization efficiency of the door has been improved by way exploiting for the touch button area the front surface between the handle and the respective one of the left side or the right side of the door which is closer to the handle. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the usability of the user-interface on the door has been improved.

In an embodiment, the door is vertically pivotably linked to the main body. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the user can easily access the touch button area also when the door is open.

In another embodiment, the printed circuit board is disposed onto the inner surface of the door and behind the touch button area and the handle. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the space behind the handle is exploited for the installation of the printed circuit board, and thus the view into the cavity can be improved.

In another embodiment, the handle and the printed circuit board are jointly attached to the door through an attachment means. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the assemblage can be improved both in terms of labor and material. Moreover the touch-buttons of the printed circuit board can be more easily and correctly aligned with the touch button area.

In another embodiment, the attachment means comprises one or more screw connections. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the assembly operator can jointly screw the handle and the printed circuit board onto the opposite surfaces of door.

In another embodiment, the electrical components on the rear surface of the the printed circuit board are covered through a protective cover on the attachment means. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as these electrical components can be easily and securely protected.

In another embodiment, the attachment means is provided in form of an elongated metal member such as metal profile comprising a cut-out that covers the electrical components on the rear surface of the printed circuit board and screwably connects to handle. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the handle and the printed circuit board can be securely held in place, and protected against overheating.

In another embodiment, the rear surface of the printed circuit board which is exposed to the main body is covered with a protective shield, preferably made from a heat-resistant electrically insulating material. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the printed circuit board can be protected from being touched by the user or the metallic main body. Thereby, the printed circuit board can be prevented from short-circuiting and malfunctioning.

The distance of the printed circuit board to the metallic main body changes as the door is opened or closed. Therefore, in another embodiment, the parameters for the sensitivity of the touch buttons are accordingly adjusted through the user-interface per software in accordance with the opening/closing of the door which is sensed through a sensing unit. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the touch buttons can be activated by the user with a uniform tactility regardless of the opening/closing of the door.

In another embodiment, the door is made of a glass pane. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the user can easily clean the front and inner surfaces of the door.

In another embodiment, the glass pane of the door has a transparent area. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the user can view into the cavity, and conduct the cooking more easily.

In another embodiment, a transparent display is disposed onto the transparent area in the glass pane of the door. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the need for a display on the main body can be obviated, and thus the production costs can be reduced.

In another embodiment, a first screen print which slightly darkens the view through the door is formed onto the border of the glass pane around the transparent area. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the wall sections of the main body are concealed, and thus the appearance of the oven can be improved.

In another embodiment, second screen-prints which are indicative of the positions of the touch buttons of the printed circuit board are formed into the touch button area on the glass pane. Alternatively the printed circuit board may be provided with light sources instead of the second screen-prints.

Additional features and additional advantageous effects of the oven according to the present invention will become more apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 – is a schematic perspective view of an oven according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the door has been partly opened;

Figure 2 – is a schematic rear view of the door of the oven in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 – is a schematic rear view of the door of the oven in Fig. 1, wherein the dashed lines show the positions of the protective shield and the attachment means which have been omitted for exposing the printed circuit board.

The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

Oven
Main body
Cavity
Door
Handle
User-interface
Touch button area
Printed circuit board
Touch button
Electrical component
Attachment means
Protective cover
Screw hole
Attachment hole
Elongated metal member
Protective shield
Sensing unit
Glass pane
Transparent area
First screen-print
Transparent display
Switch
Second screen-print

The oven (1) comprises: a main body (2) which comprises a cavity (3) for cooking the food; a door (4) for opening/closing the cavity (3); a handle (5) for manipulating the door (4); and a user-interface (6) which comprises a touch button area (7) and a printed circuit board (8) (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3).

In the oven (1) of the present invention, the handle (5) is disposed onto the front surface of the door (4) in close proximity to either the left side or the right side of the door (4); and the touch-button area (7) is disposed onto the front surface of the door (4) and between the handle (5) and the respective one of the left side or the right side of the door (4) which is closer to the handle (5) (Fig. 1).

In an embodiment, the door (4) is vertically pivotably linked from either its left side or its right side to the main body (2); and the handle (5) is disposed onto the front surface of the door (4) in close proximity to either the right side or the left side of the door (4) respectively (Fig. 1).

In another embodiment, the printed circuit board (8) comprises: a plurality of touch buttons (9) which are associated with the touch button area (7); and one or more electrical components (10) which protrude from the printed circuit board (8) (Fig. 3). In this embodiment, the printed circuit board (8) is disposed onto the inner surface of the door (4) and behind the touch button area (7) and the handle (5) (Fig. 3).

In another embodiment, the oven (1) further comprises: an attachment means (11) which is disposed onto the rear surface of the printed circuit board (8) and adapted to jointly attach the handle (5) and the printed circuit board (8) to the door (4) and to align the touch buttons (9) with the touch button area (7) (Fig. 1 to Fig. 3).

In another embodiment, the attachment means (11) comprises one or more screw holes (13) (Fig. 2). In this embodiment, the printed circuit board (8) comprises one or more attachment holes (14) which are aligned with the screw holes (13) respectively (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3). In this embodiment, the attachment means (11) comprises one or more screws (not shown) which jointly pass through the attachment holes (14), and link the screw holes (13) with the handle (5).

In another embodiment, the attachment means (11) comprises a protective cover (12) which protectively covers the electrical components (10) which protrude from the printed circuit board (8) (Fig. 2 and Fig 3).

In another embodiment, the attachment means (11) comprises: an elongated metal member (15) (Fig. 2). In this embodiment, the screw holes (13) and the cover (12) are formed into the elongated metal member (15) (Fig. 2).

In another embodiment, the oven (1) further comprises: a protective shield (16) which is disposed onto the rear surface of the printed circuit board (8) which is exposed to the main body (2) (Fig.2 and Fig. 3).

In another embodiment, the protective shield (16) comprises a heat-resistant electrically insulating material.

In another embodiment, the oven (1) further comprises a sensing unit (17) for sensing the opening/closing of the door (4) (Fig. 1).

In another embodiment, the user-interface (6) is adapted to determine the activation of the touch button area (7) based on the sensing result of the sensing unit (17). Herein the distance of the touch buttons (9) to the metallic main body (2) changes as the door (4) is opened or closed (Fig. 1). Therefore, the parameters for the sensitivity of the touch buttons (9) are accordingly adjusted through the user-interface (6) in accordance with the opening/closing of the door (4) in order to attain a uniform tactility.

In another embodiment, the oven (1) further comprises: a glass pane (18) which defines the front surface and the inner surface of the door (4) (Fig. 1 to Fig. 3).

In another embodiment, the glass pane (18) comprises a transparent area (19) (Fig. 1).

In another embodiment, the oven (1) further comprises: a transparent display (21) which is disposed onto the transparent area (19) of the glass pane (18) (Fig. 1).

In another embodiment, the glass pane (18) comprises: a first screen-print (20) which at least slightly darkens the view through the door (4) (Fig. 1). In this embodiment, the first screen print (20) is formed onto the border of the glass pane (18) and surrounds the transparent area (19) (Fig. 1).

In another embodiment, the sensing unit (17) comprises a switch (22) (Fig. 1).

In another embodiment, the touch button area (7) comprises one or more second screen-prints (23) which are indicative of the positions of the touch buttons (9) of the printed circuit board (8) respectively (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3).

A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the aforementioned screen-prints on the upper front surface of the door (4) can be eliminated or reduced as much as possible, and thus the view into the cavity (3) can be improved. Thereby, the user can more easily conduct the cooking. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the front surface utilization efficiency of the door (4) has been improved by way exploiting for the touch button area (7) the front surface between the handle (5) and the respective one of the left side or the right side of the door (4) which is closer to the handle (5). Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the usability of the user-interface (6) on the door (4) has been improved. Other advantageous effects of the present invention can be taken from the above-described embodiments.

Claims

An oven (1) comprising: a main body (2) which comprises a cavity (3) for cooking the food; a door (4) for opening/closing the cavity (3); a handle (5) for manipulating the door (4); and a user-interface (6) which comprises a touch button area (7) and a printed circuit board (8), characterized in that the handle (5) is disposed onto the front surface of the door (4) in close proximity to either the left side or the right side of the door (4); and the touch button area (7) is disposed onto the front surface of the door (4) and between the handle (5) and the respective one of the left side or the right side of the door (4) which is closer to the handle (5).
The oven (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the door (4) is vertically pivotably linked from either its left side or its right side to the main body (2); and the handle (5) is disposed onto the front surface of the door (4) in close proximity to either the right side or the left side of the door (4) respectively.
The oven (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the printed circuit board (8) comprises: a plurality of touch buttons (9) which are associated with the touch button area (7); and one or more electrical components (10) which protrude from the printed circuit board (8), wherein the printed circuit board (8) is disposed onto the inner surface of the door (4) and behind the touch button area (7) and the handle (5).
The oven (1) according to claim 3, characterized by further comprising: an attachment means (11) which is disposed onto the rear surface of the printed circuit board (8) and adapted to jointly attach the handle (5) and the printed circuit board (8) to the door (4) and to align the touch buttons (9) with the touch button area (7).
The oven (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the attachment means (11) comprises: one or more screw holes (13), wherein the printed circuit board (8) comprises one or more attachment holes (14) which are aligned with the screw holes (13) respectively; and one or more screws which jointly pass through the attachment holes (14), and link the screw holes (13) with the handle (5).
The oven (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the attachment means (11) comprises a protective cover (12) which protectively covers the electrical components (10) which protrude from the printed circuit board (8).
The oven (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the attachment means (11) comprises: an elongated metal member (15), wherein the screw holes (13) and the protective cover (12) are formed into the elongated metal member (15).
The oven (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by further comprising: a protective shield (16) which is disposed onto the rear surface of the printed circuit board (8) which is exposed to the main body (2).
The oven (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the protective shield (16) comprises a heat-resistant electrically insulating material.
The oven (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by further comprising: a sensing unit (17) for sensing the opening/closing of the door (4).
The oven (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the user-interface (6) is adapted to determine the activation of the touch button area (7) based on the sensing result of the sensing unit (17).
The oven (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by further comprising: a glass pane (18) which defines the front surface and the inner surface of the door (4).
The oven (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the glass pane (18) comprises a transparent area (19).
The oven (1) according to claim 13, characterized by further comprising: a transparent display (21) which is disposed onto the transparent area (19) of the glass pane (18).
The oven (1) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the glass pane (18) comprises: a first screen print (20) which at least slightly darkens the view through the glass pane (18), wherein the first screen print (20) is formed onto the border of the glass pane (18) and surrounds the transparent area (19).