Abstract:
A cooking appliance can include a cooking chamber and an imaging device for capturing an image of a food item inside the chamber. The appliance can include a transparent, touchscreen display for displaying the interior contents of the cooking appliance to a user without requiring the user to open the cooking appliance, as well as providing for the user controlling, operating, and interacting with the cooking appliance.
Abstract:
Example human-machine interface (HMI) assemblies are disclosed. An example HMI assembly includes a fascia, a touch film having a first raised contact, a printed circuit board (PCB) having a second raised contact, and a backer having an extending member and attached to the fascia, the member configured to press the first contact against the second contact by applying a force to the PCB at substantially the second raised contact.
Abstract:
Integrated user interfaces having decorative, touch and lighting elements are disclosed. An example integrated user interface includes a base formed of an opaque material defining a cavity, the cavity having a light output at the top of the cavity, a panel disposed on the top of the base, a touch sensitive pad disposed within the panel above the light output, a light source disposed on the bottom of the panel at least partially within the cavity, and a material containing phosphor substantially filling the cavity and encompassing at least a portion of the light source.
Abstract:
A method of cooking a food item in a cooking appliance having a cooking chamber and a user interface with a selector that allows a user to set a target degree of browning includes imaging, by an imaging device for capturing a real-time image, the food item inside the cooking chamber. A computing device in communication with the imaging device, and having a software module that receives the captured image, receives the captured real-time image from the imaging device.
Abstract:
An oven can include an oven body having a peripheral wall at least partially defining a cooking cavity with a top wall comprising spaced interior panels and exterior panels defining a channel therebetween. Furthermore, the oven can include insulation located in the channel and an imaging device with a field of view including at least a portion of the cooking cavity.
Abstract:
A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door, a cooling system, an indicator configured to indicate a door-ajar condition and a door-ajar switch. The cabinet includes a liner that defines a refrigerated compartment, and the door is movable between an open position and a fully closed position to selectively seal the refrigerated compartment. The cooling system is configured to generate cool air and circulate the cool air within the refrigerator. The door-ajar switch includes a switch portion and a damper portion, with the portions located adjacent to one another in a common housing mounted to the cabinet or the door.
Abstract:
Example human-machine interface (HMI) assemblies are disclosed. One example HMI assembly includes a printed circuit board (PCB) and a backer selectively flexible between a first curved state and a second flexed state, and attached to the fascia in the second flexed state to bias the PCB against the fascia.
Abstract:
A laundry treating appliance and method of initiating a sanitization cycle in a laundry treating appliance includes sensing at least one of a presence of an article within a sanitizing compartment, an identification of the article within the sanitizing compartment, or a chemical property within the sanitizing compartment, and determining, in a controller, a need for initiating a sanitization cycle.
Abstract:
A user interface assembly for a household appliance is designed and adapted to provide good lighting execution maintaining a directly coupled touch field unit. The user interface includes a decorative overlay, a structural light box, and a printed circuit board with an integrated touch field unit and plurality of top-fire LED. The printed circuit board is mounted to a mounting frame extending from the inner surface of the structural light box without the use of adhesive. The structural light box is box includes a conical light aperture and dimensioned to maximize thickness to improve lighting diffusion, but keeping the overall thickness of the structural light box within the maximum range acceptable for optimal functionality and sensitivity of the touch field unit through direct coupling.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for operating a touch input device and a lighting device coupled with a circuit, includes generating, in a signal combiner, an operational signal configured to identify a touch input device state for the touch input device, interpreting, in a touch core module, the identified touch input device state for the touch input device, in response to the interpreting of the touch input device state, generating, in a light core module, a lighting device state for the lighting device, providing the operational signal and the lighting device state, and controlling the touch input device and the lighting device via the operational signal and the lighting device state.