Function indicator system for electric fireplace

A method for visually displaying the control settings of an electric fireplace, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) projecting light emitted by a light source through a function indicator module comprising control status indicia;
• (b) projecting light passing through the control function indicator module onto a non-electric projection screen of an electric fireplace to create a non-video visual display of the electric fireplace's control settings on an exterior surface the non-electric projection screen;
• (c) varying the characteristics of the non-video visual display depending upon input from a user controlling the electric fireplace's control settings;
• (d) projecting the visual display onto an interior surface of the non-electric projection screen for a predetermined period of time determinable by programming of a timer-controlled dimmer;
• and
• (e) dimming the light source creating the visual display after a predetermined period of time until the light source is turned off and the non-video visual display disappears from the exterior surface of the non-electric projection screen;
• wherein the at least part of the non-video visual status display is viewable from an exterior surface of the non-electric projection screen when at least part of the function indicator module is illuminated;
• wherein the non-video visual status display comprises patterns or shapes comprised of light that passes through or around a visual display apparatus and is projected onto the interior surface of the non-electric projection screen so as to be visible on the exterior surface of the non-electric projection screen.