Programmable appliance controller
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsMartin W. Hamilton, Michael Baran, Todd King, Denis Leverque
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A programmer for an appliance having a line power switch and a plurality of program switches sequentially actuated by a cyclic cam mechanism. The program switches are latched to the actuated condition and uplatched independently of the cyclic mechanism by electrically energized release mechanisms, individually controlled by an electronic controller having a microcomputer which employs a user selected programmed sequence.
Claims13
A programmable controller for an appliance comprising:
- (a) base structure adapted for attachment to an appliance to be controlled;
- (b) cam means mounted for cyclic movement on said base structure;
- (c) motor means operative upon energization to effect said cyclic movement;
- (d) a line power switch series connected with said motor means having a movable contact blade means disposed for movement by said cam means to effect opening and closing of said switch;
- (e) at least one program function switch having a movable contact blade means disposed for movement from an unactuated to an actuated condition by said cam means independently of said movement of said line power switch blade means;
- (f) latching means operative to maintain said program switch blade means in said actuated position;
- (g) actuator means operative upon electrical energization to release said latching means to enable said program switch blade means to return to the unactuated condition;
- (h) circuit means including microcomputer means connected to said actuator means and operable to selectively energize said actuator means in accordance with a selected program;
- and,
- (i) input means operable for user programming for said microprocessor.
A method of controlling the sequence of operation of a plurality of electrical switches for appliance program functions comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a plurality of switches for said program functions each having a movable member for affecting actuation and deactuation thereof;
- (b) moving each of said members to the actuated positions;
- (c) latching each of said members in the actuated position;
- and,
- (d) selectively releasing said latching in electrically programmed sequence independently of said moving;
- and,
- (e) biasing said member for deactuation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.