# US 12,111,061 B2 · Oven appliances and methods for displaying pre-cooking progress > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,061 B2 - Document ID: US12111061B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/682,424 - Filed: 2022-02-28 - Published: 2023-08-31 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2022-02-28 - Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Eric Scott Johnson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111061B2 ## CPC - F24C 7/085: {on baking ovens} - F24C 7/04: with heat radiated directly from the heating element - F24C 7/088: {on stoves} - F24C: DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES (exclusively for solid fuels F24B); DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION ## Abstract An oven appliance or method may provide for directing a pre-cooking setting of a first heating element and receiving a first-sensor temperature signal from a first temperature sensor. Receiving the first-sensor temperature signal may occur during the pre-cooking setting of the first heating element. The method may also include determining a first progress value based on the first-sensor temperature signal and a first fractional constant. The first fractional constant may be a predetermined proportion of a pre-cooking phase. The method may further include receiving a second-sensor temperature signal from a second temperature sensor and determining a second progress value based on the second-sensor temperature signal and a second fractional constant. The second fractional constant may be a predetermined proportion of the pre-cooking phase. The method may still further include directing display of a progress icon based on the first progress value and the second progress value. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An oven appliance comprising: a cabinet; a plurality of chamber walls mounted within the cabinet, the plurality of chamber walls defining a cooking chamber, the plurality of chamber walls comprising a back wall, a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom wall; a first heating element mounted within the cooking chamber; a first temperature sensor disposed within the cabinet to detect a temperature proximal to the first heating element; a second heating element mounted within the cooking chamber and spaced apart from the first heating element; a second temperature sensor disposed within the cabinet to detect a temperature proximal to the second heating element; and a controller in operative communication with the first heating element, the first temperature sensor, the second heating element, and the second temperature sensor, the controller being configured to initiate a cooking operation comprising directing a pre-cooking setting of the first heating element, receiving a first-sensor temperature signal from the first temperature sensor, receiving the first-sensor temperature signal occurring during the pre-cooking setting of the first heating element, determining a first progress value based on the first-sensor temperature signal and a first fractional constant, the first fractional constant being a predetermined proportion of a pre-cooking phase, receiving a second-sensor temperature signal from the second temperature sensor, determining a second progress value based on the second-sensor temperature signal and a second fractional constant, the second fractional constant being a predetermined proportion of the pre-cooking phase, and directing display of a progress icon based on the first progress value and the second progress value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the cooking operation further comprises determining a first-element pre-cooking threshold is reached prior to receiving the second-sensor temperature signal, and directing the first heating element to an inhibited state based on determining the first-element pre-cooking threshold is reached. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The oven appliance of claim 2, wherein cooking operation further comprises activating the second heating element based on determining the first-element pre-cooking threshold is reached. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the first fractional constant is greater than the second fractional constant. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein determining the first progress value comprises calculating a first-sensor variable based on the first-sensor temperature signal and a first-element pre-cooking threshold, and modifying the first-sensor variable using the first fractional constant. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The oven appliance of claim 5, wherein the cooking operation further comprises receiving a first preliminary signal from the first temperature sensor prior to receiving the first-sensor temperature signal, and wherein the first-sensor variable is further based on the first preliminary signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the cooking operation further comprises directing a pre-cooking setting of the second heating element following directing the pre-cooking setting of the first heating element, and wherein determining the second progress value comprises calculating a second-sensor variable based on the second-sensor temperature signal and a second-element pre-cooking threshold, and modifying the second-sensor variable using the second fractional constant. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The oven appliance of claim 7, wherein cooking operation further comprises receiving a second preliminary signal from the second temperature sensor prior to receiving the second-sensor temperature signal, and wherein the second-sensor variable is further based on the second preliminary signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the first heating element is a bottom heating element, and wherein the second heating element is a top heating element disposed above the bottom heating element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the first heating element is a top heating element, and wherein the second heating element is a bottom heating element disposed below the top heating element. ### Claim 11 A method of operating an oven appliance comprising a plurality of chamber walls mounted within a cabinet and defining a cooking chamber, a first heating element mounted within the cooking chamber, and a second heating element mounted within the cooking chamber and spaced apart from the first heating element, the method comprising: directing a pre-cooking setting of the first heating element; receiving a first-sensor temperature signal from a first temperature sensor, receiving the first-sensor temperature signal occurring during the pre-cooking setting of the first heating element; determining a first progress value based on the first-sensor temperature signal and a first fractional constant, the first fractional constant being a predetermined proportion of a pre-cooking phase; receiving a second-sensor temperature signal from a second temperature sensor; determining a second progress value based on the second-sensor temperature signal and a second fractional constant, the second fractional constant being a predetermined proportion of the pre-cooking phase; and directing display of a progress icon based on the first progress value and the second progress value. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, the method further comprising: determining a first-element pre-cooking threshold is reached prior to receiving the second-sensor temperature signal; and directing the first heating element to an inhibited state based on determining the first-element pre-cooking threshold is reached. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, the method further comprising: activating the second heating element based on determining the first-element pre-cooking threshold is reached. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first fractional constant is greater than the second fractional constant. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein determining the first progress value comprises calculating a first-sensor variable based on the first-sensor temperature signal and a first-element pre-cooking threshold, and modifying the first-sensor variable using the first fractional constant. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, the method further comprising: receiving a first preliminary signal from the first temperature sensor prior to receiving the first-sensor temperature signal, and wherein the first-sensor variable is further based on the first preliminary signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, the method further comprising: directing a pre-cooking setting of the second heating element following directing the pre-cooking setting of the first heating element, and wherein determining the second progress value comprises calculating a second-sensor variable based on the second-sensor temperature signal and a second-element pre-cooking threshold, and modifying the second-sensor variable using the second fractional constant. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, the method further comprising: receiving a second preliminary signal from the second temperature sensor prior to receiving the second-sensor temperature signal, wherein the second-sensor variable is further based on the second preliminary signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first heating element is a bottom heating element, and wherein the second heating element is a top heating element disposed above the bottom heating element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first heating element is a top heating element, and wherein the second heating element is a bottom heating element disposed below the top heating element.