Method and apparatus for appliance control and status display
AssigneeWolf Appliance, Inc.
InventorsBrian D. Wylie, Mark Straub, Shawn O. Barrett, Curtis L. Cruver IV, Raymond Bambule, Jim Johncock, Todd Kercher
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for an appliance control knob incorporating a microprocessor and a status display built into the control knob housing. Such a control knob gives the appliance a clean and uncluttered appearance, and allows a user of the appliance both to control the appliance, for example by adjusting the oven temperature setpoint, and to be informed of the status of the appliance, for example the actual oven temperature, in a way that is easy to understand and to use.
Claims38
A control knob for an appliance comprising:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) a microprocessor within the housing;
- and
- (c) a status display within the housing.
A control knob for an appliance comprising:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) a status display within the housing;
- and
- (c) an electrical connector forming a rotational axis for the control knob and wherein both data and power are transmitted over the electrical connector.
A method of controlling an appliance comprising:
- (a) providing a control knob having a housing, a microprocessor and a status display within the housing, a shaft assembly, and an electrical connector that forms an axis of rotation for the control knob;
- (b) providing a socket having a shaft assembly receiver;
- (c) inserting the shaft assembly into the socket;
- (d) rotating the control knob about the axis of rotation;
- (e) transmitting status information on the electrical connector;
- (f) receiving the status information;
- and
- (g) displaying the status information on the status display.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.