Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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RANGE AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD
BACKGROLND
Field
[00011 The disclosed and claimed concept relates generally to notification
systems and, more particularly, to a notification system for use in
conjunction with a
cooking range, and an associated method.
Related .Art
pm] 'Numerous types of devices are employed in the cooking and
preparation of food and drink. .any such devices generate heat from an
energy
source such as natural gas, electricity, biomass, and the like. Devices of
this type can
include ovens, cooktops, ranges (which typically include both an oven and a
coo.ktoo,
grilles, and 'hotplates, by way of example. A cooktop typically includes a
number of
burners that are employed to heat pots, pans, and the like. NVhik such cooking
devices have been generally effective for their intended purposes, the.y have
not been
without limitation.
[00031 For devices that generate heat, dangers have always existed with
regard to the itse of such heat. For example, kitchen towels, wooden spoons,
and
other combustible material can come into contact with a burner and can be
ignited.
Another danger exists due to the prolonged application of such heat which can
cause
the drying of an otherwise non-combustible food, such as if pasta is boiled in
an
amount of water which., if boiled for a very extended period of time, may
completely
evaporate and allow combustion of the dried pasta in the environment. of the
operating
burner. Other danger ex.ists from the prolonged application of heat, such as
the
possible burning of food and the resultant generation of smoke, Which can
cause
respiratory distress and damage. Such. burning can also arise merely through
the
application of an inappropriate high level of heat for a relatively short
period of time
to an article being cooked. .Another danger exists with the. splattering of
grease, by
way of example, such as when cooking bacon, whereb3r the grease is highly.
combustible 1,vhen in a liquefied or evaporated state and may come into
contact with
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an operating burner and cause a fire. Other dangers associated with cooking
will be
apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art. Such possible dangers
are
exacerbated due to iriattention by the cook or distraction of the cook. The
dangers can
also be exacerbated if the cook is hearing impaired, vision impaired, or is
otherwise
impaired, even if only temporarily.
NOM Since the cooking of food is an activity typically engaged in regularly
by nearly everyone, it would be desirable to mitigate at least some of the
dangers
inherent in such activities.
SUMMARY
[00051 An improved cooking range includes an improved notification. system
that is configured to detect an operated state of the range and to
periodically output a
notification representative of a duration of time that the range has remained
in the
operated. state. The notification may include the audible outputting of an
sound tag
representative of one or more spoken words that indicate a duration of time
that the
apparatus has remained in the operated state andfor an operational level of
the range.
The notification system can additionally be configured to detect a
predetemined
condition such as a flame or an excessive ambient temperature in the vicinity
of the
range and output an audible and/or visible warning notification. The
notification.
system can be built into the range or can be in the form of a system that can
be
retrofitted to an existing range. The system enhances the operational safety
of a
range.
[0006] Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosed and claimed concept is to
provide an improved method of providing an indication regarding an. operated
state of
an apparatus such as a cooking range by detecting the existence of the
operated state
and periodically outputting a notification representative of the duration of
time that
the apparatus has remained in the operated state.
(0007] Another aspect of the disclosed and claimed concept is to provide a
notification system that performs such a method.
[0008] Another aspect -of the disclosed and claimed concept is to provide a
cooking range or other device that includes such a notification system.
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[00091 Other aspects of the disclosed and claimed concept are provided by an
improved method of providing an indication regarding an appratus that is
structured
to be switched between one state and an operated state. The method can be
ton:wally
stated as including detecting that the apparatus has been switched to the
operated state
and/or detecting that the apparatus is in the operated state, and periodically
outputting
a notification representative of a duration of time that the apparatus has
remained in
the operated state,
[0010] Other aspects of the disclosed and claimed concept are provided by an
improved notification system for use in conjunction with an apparatus that is
stmctumd to be switched between one state and an operated state. The
notification
system can be generally stated as including a processor apparatus, an input
apparatus:,
and an output apparatus. The processor apparatus can be generally stated as
including
a processor and a storage. The input apparatus is structured to provide input
signals to
the processor apparatus, and the output apparatus is structured to receive
output
signals from the pressor apparatus. The storage has stored therein a. number
of
routines whieh, when executed on the processor, cause the notification system
to
perform certain operafions. The operations can be generally stated as
including
detecting that the apparatus has been switched to the operated state and"or
detecting
that the apparatus is in the operated state, arid periodically outputting a
notification
representative of a duration of time that the apparatus has remained in the
operated
state,
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
100111 A further 'understanding of the diselosed and claimed concept can be
gained from the following Description when mad in conjunction. with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[00121 :Fig. I is a perspective depiction of an exemplary cooking range M
accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept that includes a
.notification system.
in accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept;
[00131 Fig,. 2 is a schematic depiction of the notification system
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[0014] Fig. 3 is a flowchart depicting certain aspects: of an improved method
that can be performed on the range of Fig. 1 using the notcation system of
Fig. 2;
[0015] Fig. 4 is a perspective depiction of an improved range in accordance
with a second embodiment of the disclosed and claimed concept;
[0016] Fig, 5 is a depiction of an existing range retrofitted. with an
improved
notification system in accordance with a third embodiment of the disclosed and
claimed concept;
[0017] Fig. 6 is a schematic depictiori of a portion of the notification
system of
Fig. 5;
fool 81 Fig. 7 is a view of an improved notifkation system in accordance with
a fourth embodiment of the disclosed and claimed concept that can he
retrofitted to an
existing range;
pol 93 Fig. 8 is a schematic depiction of a portion of the notification system
of
Fig. 7; and
[NA Fig, 9 is a schematic depiction of another portion of the notification
system of Fig, 7.
[00211 Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the specification.
DESCRIPTION
[0022] An improved range 4 in accordance with a first embodiment of the
disclosed and claimed concept is depicted .generally in Fig I_ The range 4 is
a
cooking range used for the cooking of food and the like, and it advantageously
includes a notification system 8 in accordance with the disclosed and claimed
concept, which is depicted in a schematic fashion in Fig, 2,. In the exemplary
fiat
embodiments of Figs. 1 and -2, the notification system 8 is incorporated -into
the range
4 and thus is not depicted in Fig. 1 as -being a separate component. Ile
notification
system 8 advantageously outputs on at least a periodic basis a notification
that is
representative of at least: a duration of time that the raw 4 has remained in
an
operated state.
[0023] Specifically, and as is genenilly understood in the relevant an, the
range 4 can be switched between one state, such as an OFF state or an IDLE or
4
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PILOT state, and an. OPERATED state wherein the range 4 is capable of heating
or
cooking food, boiling water, etc. The exemplaty range 4 includes a cooktop 12
havinu a plurality of burners 16A, -168, 16C, and 16D, and further includes an
oven
20_ The burners IA-D are operated by a corresponding set of controllers 24A-D,
and
the oven 20 is operated by a. controller 28. The controllets 24A-D are each in
the
exemplary form of a rotatable knob that is mounted on a rotatable input shaft
of a
control element such as a natural as valve, a rotational input sensor, a
rheostat, a
variable capacitor, etc., and the like which enable the user to control the
operational
level of the burners 16A-D and the oven 20. In !.3.eneral, the controllers 24A-
D enable
the operational level of the burners 16A-D to be controlled among levels such
as
WW, MEDIUM, and HIGH and at levels therebetween_ The controller 28 typically
enables a user to C011trel au operating temperature of the .interior of the
oven 2.0 in
degrees Fahrenheit or Centigrade. Depending upon the rotational position of
the
controllers 24A-C and 28, the corresponding burners: 16A-D andfor the oven 20
operate at specific operational levels, and it is understood that the range 4
thus can
simultaneously operate at multiple operational levels when one or more of the
burners
16A-D are operating at different levels andior when the oven 20 is operated at
a given
temperature while one or more of the burners I 6A.-D is also operated.
[00241 As can be seen in Fig 2, the notification system 8 can be said to
include an input apparatus 32, a processor apparatus 36, and an output
apparatus 40.
The input apparatus 32 provides input signals to the processor apparatus 36,
and the
processor apparatus 36 provides output signals to the output apparatus 40. The
exemplary notification system 8 further includes a wireless transceiver
apparatus 42
that is connected with the processor apparatus 36 and is in communication with
any of
a variety of wireless devices remote thereto, as will be set. forth in greater
detail
below_ Depending upon the particular implementation, a transmitter component
of
the wireless transceiver apparatus 42 can be considered to be a part of the
output
apparatus 40, and a receiver component of the wireless transceiver apparatus
42 can
be considered to be a part. of the input. apparatus 32,
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[00251 in the exemplary depicted embodiment, the input apparatus 32 includes
a plurality of rotational position sensors 44A, 44, 44C, and 44E) which each
correspond with a corresponding one of the controllers 24A-D, and the input
apparatus 32 additiomdly includes a rotational position sensor 44E with
corresponds
the controller 28. The rotational position sensors 44A-E can be any of a wide -
variety
of known devices which enable the processor apparatus 36 to determine a
current
rotational position of one of -the controllers 24.A-E) and 28 or to detect a
rotational
movement of one of the controllers 24A-D and 28 from a first rotational
position to a
second -rotational position, or both. The detection of such a rotational
liosition andlor
rotational movement. enable the processor apparatus 36 to determine a. current
operational level of the burners I 6A-1) andlor the oven 20.
[0026] The exemplary input apparatus 32 further includes a plurality of
physical contact sensors 46A, 461, 46C, and 46D which each correspond with a
corresponding one of the controllers 24A-0, and the input apparatus 32
additionally
includes a physical contact sensor 46E with corresponds the controller 28. The
physical contact sensors 46A, 46B, 46C, 46D, and 46E can be any of a wide
variety of
known devices which enable the pmessor apparatus 36 to detect that someone
such
as a cook has physically touched or otherwise physically contacted one of the
controllers 24A-D andlor the controller 28. By way of example, the physical
contact
sensors 46A-E .might each include a capacitive element whiclì detects a touch
contact
or other contact.
[0027] The -input apparatus 32 -further includes a temperature sensor 48 and a
flame detector 52. The temperature sensor 48 can be any of a wide variety of
temperature-sensitive devices such as a thermocouple, a thermister, or any of
a wide
variety of such devices. The flame detector 52 can likewise be any of a
variety of
flame detection devices such as a klV flame detector, an IR. flame detector,
and the
like without limitation. The temperature sensor 48 and the flame detector 52
are
depicted in Fig, t as being situated at an exterior surface of the range 4 in
order to
detect in the vicinity a the range 4 the existence of a predetermined
condition such as
an ambient temperature in excess of a predetemined value or a fire, by way of
6
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example. It is noted, however, that the temperature sensor 48 and the flame
detector
52 -may be hidden &Yin view in other embodiments that are not expressly
depicted
herein,
[0028] The pressor apparatus 36 can be seen th :Fig. .2 as including a
processor 56 and a storap, 60 that are in operative communication with one
another.
The processor 56 can he any of a wide variety of processors such as a
microprocessor,
and the like, and the storage 60 can be any type of electronic or other type
of memory
such as, without limitation, RAM, ROM., :EPROM, RASH, and the like that can
have
stored therein data andfor instnictions that are executable on the processor
56, The
storage 60 has one or more routines 64 wired therein whichõ when executed on
the
processor 56, cause the notification system 8 and the range 4 to perform
certain
operations such as detecting an operated state of the range 4 and outputting
an
indication of a duration of time that the range 4 has been in the operated
state. The
notification can also includ.e the operational level of the range 4 and/or
other
information. Other operations can include detecting a touch input on one or
more of
the controllers 24A-D and 28 and providing a responsive output as described
below.
[0029] The storage 60 further has stored therein one or more sound tags that
are indicated generally at the numeral 68 and that are representative of one
or more
spoken words when audibly output by the output apparatus 40. That is, the smut
tags
68 are stored in the form of data and include various sound tags 68 that are
representative of the spoken words that correspond with numbers such as
"three",
"Immired", 'My% "ninety", and the like, and spoken words such as yhmr,
"lift", "right", "burner", "(Awe, "OFF" "1-01r, "MEDIUM", "degrees.",
"minuireeõ
"warning", ".fire"õ "temlierature", and the :like. The routines 64 can combine
the
sound tags 68 in any combination to fonn expression such as "oven, three
hundred
mr degrees, ninety minutes" which can be output in an audible fashion by the
output
apparatus 40 and which the user pen:elves as spoken words..
[0030] By way of thither example, the processor 56 can detect with one of the
physical contact sensors 46A-E a touch input on one of the controllers 24A-D
and 28,
and the -routines 64 can cause the audible outputting of a string of sotmd
tags 68 that
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are representative of the operational stat.us of the one of the controllers
24A-D and 28
that was the subject of the touch input For instance, in response to a touch
input, the
output apparatus 40 may output a string of sound tags 68 that. are
representative of
words such as "right front burner, OFF'. This will assist a visuaily impaired
individual in operating the range 4 because it enables the individual to know
the
identity of a given controller 24A4) or 28 without having to turn on the
controller
24A-D or 28 to ascertain its identity. Moreover, if the given controller 24A-D
or 28 is
in an operational state, the output apparatus 40 could indicate this with a
string of
sound tags 68 in response to a touch input. :For exam.ple, in response to a
touch input
the output apparatus 40 might provide an audible output of "kii rear burner,
LOW,
two minutes". Such audible outputs in response to touch inputs of the
controllers
24A-D and 28 helps an individual to know the operational statti5.t of the
range 4 and
the identities of its control elements merely by touching the controllers NA-D
and 38,
1003 l I In the exemplary embodiment depicted herein, the output apparatus 40
includes a loudspeaker 72, although other types of output elements such as
visual
display elements including warning lights, numerical displays, etc., and other
types of
audible output elements such as sirens, alarm bells, and the like can be
employed
depending upon the needs of the particular application. As suggested above,
the
sound =tags 68 can be processed on the processor apparatus 36 to cause the
speaker 72
to provide audible output that is representative of one or more spoken words
which
are representative of an operated state and/or an operational level of the
range 4.
[00321 The output apparatus 40 .further includes an actuator apparatus 74 that
includes a number of actuators that can operate various connected devices. As
einployed herein, the expression "a number or and variations thereof Shall
refer
broadly to any non-zero quantity, including a quantity of one. By way of
example,
the range 4 further includes a utility shutoff 78 and a fire extinguisher 82
that are
connected with the actuator apparatus 74 and can be triggered by the actuators
of the
actuator apparatus 74 in response to any of a number of predetermined events.
The
range 4 may additionally be set up such that actuators of the actuator
apparatus 74 can
control the controllers 24A-D and 28,
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[00331 or instance, the utility shutoff 74 may include a gas shutoff valve
if
the range 4 operates on gas andlor can include an electrical shutoff switch if
the range
4 operates on eleetricity. It is understood that some ranges include both gas
burners
and an electrically heated oven, by way of example, and thus might employ both
a gas
shutoff valve and an electrical shutoff switch. The utility shutoff 74 may
include
powered structures, such as an electrically or otherwise powered gas valve
that can be
closed to stop the low of gas to the range 4 or a powered set of electrical
contacts that
can be separated to stop the delivery of electrical power to the range 4.
Alternatively
or additionally, such a utility shutoff 74 might employ a spring-energized
system that
employs one or more deflected springs which, when released, will stop the flow
of gas
andior the delivery of electrical power to the range 4. Such springs could he
released
on command by an actuator of the actuator apparatus 74 in response to any a a
number of predetermined conditions. 13y way of further example, the range 4
may be
set. up such that the springs are retained in their deflected. condition by
electrie,a1
power that is provided to the range 4 but are releaseci in response to an
interruption of
the supply of electrical power, such as in the form of a fail-safe type of
system. The
springs can potentially be configured to be released in response to any type
of .failure
condition. These shutoffs can be provided in die vicinity of the range 4, or
they
alternatively could be located deeper in the infrastructure of a dwelling,
such as be
providing a system that switches off a circuit breaker that controls the
electrical
circuit that supplies the range, or by providing a gas shutoff valve mechanism
in the
vicinity of a gas manifold -that supplies gas to VariOUS appliances in the
dwelling.
Other variations will be apparent.
[00341 The fire extinguisher 82 can be any of a variety of fire extinguishers
that are configured to supply materials that are intended to extinguish a fire
on the
range 4 in the vieinity of the burners 16ABC3 and/or the vicinity of the over
20.
These materials can include any of a wide variety of materials such as carbon
dioxide,
sodium bicarbonate, halon, and the like without limitation. An actuator a the
actuator apparatus 74 is conneeted with the -fire extinguisher 82 and can
trigger its
operation in response to any of a variety of predetermined conditions.
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[003,9 During operation, the notification system 8 detects an operated state
of
the range 4 and, in tesponse thereto, the notification system 8 anther
executes one or
more of the sound tags 68 on the processor apparatus 36 to provide audible
output
signals that are. representative of one or more spoken words which can be
audibly
discerned by a user upon being output by the loudspeaker 72. With regard to
detecting the operated state, the notification system 8 can, lbr instance,
detect with the
rotational position sensors 44A-E that one or more of the controllers 24A-L)
andlor 28
is in a particular rotational position an/or can detect that one or more of
the
controllers 24A-D .andior 28 has been moved from one rotational position to
another
rotational 1..iosition..
[00361 By way of example, the notification system 8 may detect that the
controller 24C has been moved from an. OFF rotational position to a rotational
position that cottesponds with MED1UM-LOW. In so doing, the notification
system
8 and, more particularly, the routines 64, would employ a signal from the
rotational
position sensor 44C to detect the operational level at which the user has set
the burner
16C, i.e., the MENUM-:LOW operational level. Similarly, the rotational
position
sensor 44E "night be employed to determine that the user has rotated the
controller 28
to a rotational position that. corresponds with three hundred seventy-five
degrees
Fahrenheit, which is the intended operational level of the oven 20.
[0031 Upon detecting that such controllers 24C and 28 have been placed at
such operational levels, the routines 64 may retrieve sound tags 68 for
execution on
the piocessor 36 to cause the loudspeaker 72 to output sounds representative
of
spoken words such as "burner set to MEDIUM-LOW' and/or "own set to three
hundred seventy:five degrees", and the like. That is, the tontines 64 may
output an
audible confirmation of the operational level at Which the range 4 has been
set.
Further audible confirmations can be output iflwhen the user changes the
operational
level of the range 4.
[00381 Advantageously, the notification system 8 periodically outputs a
notification that is representative of a. duration of time that one or more of
the burners
16A-D and/or the oven 20 has remained in its operated state. For example,
after
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twenty minutes of operation, the notifieation. system 8 may retrieve from the
stone
60 a number of sound tags 68 which, Svhen executed on the processor 56, cause
the
loudspeaker 72 to output sounds representative of words such as "burner ON,
twenty
minutes" or "burner at MEDIUM-LOWõ twetn:v minutes", it being noted that the
latter
notification is indicative of both an operational level of the cooktop 12 and
the
duration of time that the cooktop 12 has remained at that operational IeveL
Likewise,
after two hours of the oven 20 operating at three hundred seventy-five
degrees, the
routines 64 may retrieve from the storage 60 and execute on the processor 56
sound
tags 68 for outputting on the loudspeaker 72 audible sounds that are
representative of
the wording "oven at three hundred seventylive degrees, two bum." or "own ON,
e.me &oared twxnuy nthndes", etc.
[00391 Such notifications are periodically repeated, except with the duration
of time being updated. That. is, the next notifications 0c:outing every ten
minutes
after the aforementioned notification might be, for example, "burner w MEDIUM-
LOW, thirty minutes" and "burner at MEDIUM-LOW, Pro, minutes", etc. The period
of repetition may be greater or shorter, depending upon the needs of the
application,
and the period -may be user-configurable. Also, the nofifications may be
configured to
only be output after a predetermined period of time, say, thirty minutes, and
then be
periodically output every, say, ten minutes thereafter. These are examples of
periods
that may be employed in configuring the range 4 and the notification system 8
and are
not intended to be limiting.
[0040j Since the range 4 can be simultaneously operated in. a plurality of
operated states, the notification system 8 may periodically output numerous
audible
notifications such as mentioned above. However, the routine &I may employ some
logic to maximize its effectiveness. For example, if one of the burners 16A -
ID is
switched into operation at a first time and the oven 20 is switched into
operation three
minutes later, the periodic outputting of notifications of continued operation
of the
one of the burners I 6A-l) and the oven 20 might occur regtilarly albeit at
three
.minutes apart, lithe notification system 8 is configured to provide such a.
notification
every ten minutes, it can be seen that if all of the burners l6A-D or
additional
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burners, depending upon the configuration of the range 4) and the oven 20 were
started at different times, a. large number of notifications might be output
on a
seemingly continuous basis.
[00413 The aforementioned logic employed by the routine 64 thus might
minimize the number of notifications by providing only a single notification
regarding
the cooktop 12, such as whichever of the notifications would relate to the
highest
operational level of one of the burners 16A-D or the greatest duration of
operation of
one of the burners 16A-1 or a combination of both, by way &example. As such,
the
notification system 8 -might limit the notifications to a single notification
related to the
cooktop 12, regardless of the number of simultaneous operational levels of the
cooktop 12, with the notification being limited to What is most likely to be
the
notification in which the user is most interested. Also, a notification
regarding the
oven 20 could be output at substantially the same time as the -notification
for the
cooktop 12 in order to enable all of the notifications to be provided at
substantially
one time. For example, the notifications might. be "cooktop AIEDIUWOW, twenty
minutes; ovvn three hundred seventy-five degrees, setwnteen minutes". Such a
coordination of notifications advantageously recognins the potential for the
user to
begin to ignore the notifications if they are provided too fitquently.
Motrover, it is
possible that notifications provided .regarding an operated state of one or
more of .the
burners 16A.-D may occur with greater frequency than a notification regarding
the
oven 20. For example, it may be possible that flames, overcooki4,t, and other
possible undesirable situations are less likely to occur due to extended
cooklitg in the
oven 20 com.pared with cooking on one of the -burners I6A-D. As such, the
notification system 8 may pnavide notifications for an operated state of one
or more of
the burners 16A-D afier every ten minutes of operation whereas the
notification of the
operation of the oven 20 might be performed only every twenty minutes, by way
of
example.
[00421 Further logic might be employed depending upon other factors. For
example, the notifications might. be output relatively more fkquently, say,
every five
minutes for one of the burners 1.6A-D being operated at the HIGH operational
level or
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for the oven. 20 on a MOIL setting. As a further example, the sound volume
that is
output by the loudspeaker 72 he might increased with each succ.essive
notification
depending on factors such as whether the duration of time exceeds a
pedetermined
amount. For instance, if one of the burners I 6A-D is operated at MEDIUM for
more
than two hours, or if one of the burners I(A-I) is operated at HIGH for more
than
twenty minutes, the sound volume from the loudspeaker 72 might incrementally
increase with each notification andior the notcations may themselves be output
more frequently. The input apparatus 32 mien also include a notification reset
feature whereby such increased sound level and/or .41creased notification
frequency
.may be reset, such as when the user is fully aware (Stile operational
parameters of the
range 4 and intends that the range 4 be operated in such a fashion.
[00431 In this regard, it therefore can be understood that the notification
ste.in 8 advantageously provides the aforementioned notifications in order to
make
the user aware that the range .4 has 'been operated for a certain duration of
time in
order to avoid a dangerous operational condition if, for instance, a user has
.forgotten
that the range 4 is in operation or has been distracted from the. fact of such
operation,
such as due to one or inore external events. Also, the increased sound levels
and
increased frequency of audible outputs are helpful for persons whose hearing
or vision
is impaired because they increase the likelihood that such a person will
eventually
hear the audible outputs..
[00441 The aforementioned wifeless transceiver apparatus 42 provides ftirther
versatility because it enables wireless communication with other devices. Such
other
devices can serve not. only to provide the various notifications to a. user,
but at least
some can also be used to control the range 4. Niforeover, they enable alarm
notifications to be communicated to remote locations. 'Example of wireless
devices
that are remote to the range 4 and that can be used in such a filshion would
include
mobile telephones, televisions, home security systems, laptop and desktop
computers,
and other devices.
[00451 For instance, a cellular telephone could have an application deployed
thereon that wilI provide the audible notifications set forth above, and that
can also
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provide visual notifications on its display. and 'tactile notifications
through its vibration
system. The application further can enable the user to reduce au operating
temperature or operational level of the range 4. For example, a notification
might
include a string of sound tags 68 as set forth above that are wireless!),
communicated
to the cellular telephone and are output thereon. Alternatively, the various
sound tags
68 may already be stored on the cellular telephone, and the notification from
the range
4 may be in the nature of a command to output certain of the stored sound tags
68 in a
certain order.
[0046) The application may also give .the user an option to adjust an
operating
temperature or operational level of the range 4. If the usa interacts with the
cellular
telephone in such a fashion and enters a command to, say, reduce an oven
temperature, the command will be wirelessly communicated frOM the cellular
telephone to the range 4. Responsive to the received command to reduce the
oven
temperature, the routines 64 on the ranee 4 will cause an actuator of the
actuator
apparatus 74 to operate the controller 28 to reduce the over temperature in
accordance
with the command. Depending upon the parameters detected by the temperature
sensor 48 or the flame detector 52, the user may also be given an option to
activate the
utility shutoff 78 or the fire extinguisher 82, andlor the user may be given
an
opportunity to have the cellular telephone dial nine-one-one or dial the local
fire
department, by way of example.
[0047.) Further logic may he employed with respect to cellular
communications depending upon the needs of the particular application. For
instance,
in order to communicate with a remote cellular telephone, the wireless
transceiver
apparatus 42 likely will include its own cellular telephone system Which will
communicate with a cellular network in order to interact with the user's
remote
cellular telephone. As such, the routines 64 may include a feature of
automatically
telephoningõ nine-one-one or the local fire department in any of a number of
predetermined situations, such as if the flame detector 52 detects the
presence of a
flatne. Further logic may cause other operations to be performed, such as
automatically operating the fire extinguisher 82 and/or the utility shutoff
78õ if the
14
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routine 64 has automatically dialed or is about to dial nine-one-one or the
local fire
department.
[00481 Alternatively, the routines 64 may be configured to be customized so
that the system provides notifications to the user's remote cellular telephone
only in
emergency situations. In such a configuration, for example, the user may
configure
the system such that the various strings of sound tags 68 might not be output
on the
user's remote cellular telephone, and rather only emergency notifications such
as
"EIRE!" would be output. The user may then be given the opporttmity to dial
nine-
one-one or the local -fire department, or the user may be informed that such a
call was
already automatically made and further infomied that, say, the fire
extinguisher 82 has
already been deployed.
[0049] .As suggested a.bove, notifications can also be provided with a
television.. That is, audible and visual notifications as described above can
be output
on a television set, in such a. situation, the wireless transceiver apparatus
42 may
wirelessly communicate with the television or .may communicate with a cable
.eti via
a remote transceiver that is in communication with the cable :feed. Depending
upon
whether the remote contro/ that is being used with the television also has an
ability to
interface wirelessly with the range 4, such a remote control potentially can
be used to
control the range 4 in a fashion similar to the cellular telephone and other
devices
mentioned herein.
[0050) Moreover, a laptop computer or desktop computer may be employed to
output the notifications mentioned by providing visual outputs on the display
of the
computer and by providing audible outputs with the speakers of the computer.
In
such a. situation, the wireless transceiver apparatus 42 ma.y provide wireless
communications that follow, for instance, the IEEE 802.11 protocol to enable
wireless
interfacing with wireless computer networks of a type that many homeowners
employ
in their homes. In such an implementation, the notifications that are
generated by the
processor apparatus 36 may be communicated via the wireless tansceiver
apparatus
42 to a device such as a wireless router or other such 'emote wireless device
which
communicates the signals between the range 4 and the computer. Potentially,
the
CA 02868792 2014-09-26
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wireless transeeiver appamus 42 may wirelessly communicate directly with a
wireless communication system on the computer.
[0051] The wireless transceiver apparatus 42 may also be configured to
communicate wirelessly with a security system that is configured to receive
wireless
signals. For example, instead of the routines 64 being configured to
automatically
dial nine-one-one or the local fire department, the routines can be configured
to
communicate an alarm condition to a home security system, for instance, which
triggers its own fire alarm. This may result in a loud horn being sounded in
the house
andlor an automatic. telephone call to a dispatching company which may
telephone the
user at. home or may telephone the local fire department. Depending upon the
configuration of the security system, the wireless transceiver apparatus 42
may
additionally provide a wired output that can be directly wired to the
.security system.
in this regard, such a wired output could be configured to alternatively be
conneenxl
-with the aforementioned television, computer,. or wireless router, or with
another
remote device.
[0052] 11 is to be understood that the cellular telephone, television,
computers,
sectuity system, and other remote devices -mentioned herein are intended to be
exemplary in nature and not limiting. As such, 'virtually any remote
electronic device
that is designated by the user to interact with the range 4 can be employed to
receive
signals from the range 4 and/or to send control or other signals to the range
4 for
purposes of providing notifications on the remote device and/or controlling
the range
4 using the remote device. 'While examples of wireless devices have been
presented
herein, it is understood that other wired arid 'wireless devices and systems
that are
physically remote from the range 4 can still be used to output. the
notifications from
the range 4 and to control the range 4.
[0053] Certain of the operations mentioned above are depicted in a flowchart
that is Shown in Fig.. 3. Processing may begin, as at 80, where it is
determined
whether the range 4 is in an operated state.. If yes, processing continues, as
at 82,
where a notification is output if the notification complies with whatever
notification
logic may be employed by the routine 64. For example, the ionic might require
that
CA 02868792 2014-09-26
WO 2013/148430 PCT/US2013/033102
the duration of um he of a particular period, say, ten or twenty or thirty
minutes, by
way of example, from the time it an the
operated state, and/or according to any
other logic that may be employed by the routine 64, examples of whieh have
been set
firth above. Processing then continues to 84 where it is determined whether a
predetermined condition is determined to exist. The examples presented herein
are.
the existence of a flame detected by the flame detector 52 or the existence in
the
vicinity of the range 4 of an ambient temperature above a predetermined
temperature
as detected by the. temperature sensor 48. If such a condition exists, an
alarm
notification such as the audible emergency notification "FIRE!" is output, as
at. So.
however, it is determined that the predetermined condition does not exist,
processing
returns to SO.
[9054] It thus can be seen that the improved range 4 with its improved
notification system 8 provides .periodic various notifications, including the
outputting
of notifications that are representative of a duration of time that the range
4 has been
in an operated state Other notifications are provided in response to touch
inputs with
the use of the physical contact sensors 46A-E. The wireless transceiver
apparatus 42
and the actuator apparatus 74 enable the notifications to occur and for
control to be
provided with a remote device. The notifications can be tailored by a user in
terms of
the frequency of notifications, the amount of infonnation in each
notification, the
sound volume of each notification, and the like_ The
notifications thus
advantageously advise the user of the continued operation of the range 4 and
help to
avoid unintended prolonged operation of the range 4, which thus resists the
creation
of dangerous situations_ The notification system 8 additionally includes
components
such as the temperature sensor 48 and the flame detector 52 which can enable
the
detection of one or .more predetermined conditions such as an excessive
ambient
temperature or a fire, Which would be an emergency condition, and can
correspondingly provide an emergency notification such as "FIRE!" in the event
of
such an emergency condition. Other features such as the utility shutoff 78 and
the fire
extinguisher 82 enable a dangerous situation to be ameliorated at the range 4.
'Variations of the foregoing will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the
relevant art.
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[0055] An impmved range 104 in ncordance with a second embodinient of
the disclosed and claimed concept is depicted generally in F. 4. The range 104
includes a notification system 108 that. is similar to the notification system
8.
However, the range 1114 includes a cooktop 112 having burners .116A-D that are
electronically actuated rather than being mechanically actuated. Likewise, the
range
104 includes an oven 120 that is electronically actuated.
[00561 More specifically, the range 104 includes a plurality of controllers
124A-D that each control one of the burners 116A-D, and further includes a
controller
128 that controls the oven 120. .Each of the controllers 124A-1) and 128
includes a
number of electronk buttons or other actuators rather than having physically
rotatable
lambs and rotational position sensors 44A-..E as in. the notification system
8.
[0057] More specifically, each atilt controllers 124A-1) and 128 includes an
ON/OFF button 146, an 'INCREASE button 150 having an arrow depicted thereon,
and a DECREASE button 154. having another arrow depicted thereon that points
in an
opposite direction. It is noted that. in other embodiments not expressly
depicted
herein, the controller 128 may additionally or alternatively include a numeric
keypad
for directnumeric input of a target te.mperature.
[0581 The controllers 124A-D and .128 each include a visual display 176
which, in the depicted exemplary embodiment, 'visually outputs a. numeric
representation of the operational level of the corresponding portion of the
range 104.
.By way of example, the visual display 176 for each of the controllers 124A-D
which
each control one of the burners 116A-D, the visual display 176 displays a
single digit
between "I" and "9", by way of example. The visual display 176 for the
controller
128 outputs a three digit nianiber ivpresentative of a temperature of the
overt 120
whith can he the temperature to which the oven 120 is set, the actual
temperature, or a
conibirtation of the two,
[0059] The notification system 108 is otherwise the same as the notification
system 8. That is, the controllers .124A-D and 128 provide input to the range
/04 to
dictate its operational levels andfintht...r provide input cif such
operational levels to tlw
notification system 108, In turn, the notification system 108 provides
periodic
18
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WO 2013/148430 PCT/US2013/033102
notifications that are representative of a duration of time that a portion of
the range
104 has been in its operated state. The notifications can be the same as those
set tbrth
above with regard to the notification system 8, or they potentially can be
different
based upon the needs of the configuration.
[006(1 A notification system 208 in accordance with a third embodiment of
the disclosed and claimed concept is depicted generally in Fig. 5 as being
capable of
being retrofitted onto an existing range 204. `fhe range 204 includes a
plurality of
controllers 224A-I) and 228 which are depicted herein as being in the
exemplary -form
of rotatable input shafts such as might 1)e_ connected with gas flow valves,
rotational
position sensors, rheostats, variable capacitors, and the like and which
control the
burners andSor oven of the range 204.
[00611 As mentioned, the notification system 208 is configured to enable it to
be retrofitted to range 204, which is a conventional range. Fig. 5 depicts
that the
original control knobs of the ranee 204 haw already been removed, thus
exposing the
controllers 224A-0 and 228, to which the notification system 208 is tnounted.
More
particularly, the notification system 208 is in the form of a plurality of
burner knobs
22A-f) which are each connected with one of the controllers 224A-D which coma-
A
the burners of the range 204. The notification system 208 further includes an
oven.
knob 2:41 .that numnted to the controller 228, which is in control of the oven
of .the
range 204,
[00621 The 'burner knobs 226A-D and the oven knob 230 can each be said to
include a support 210 and to further include a notification component 214
situated on
the support 210. The support 210 is generally in the form of a knob-shaped
pit.,,,ce of
.material, such as injection molded plastic material or other material The
notification
components 214, one of which is depicted schematically in fig. 6, are each
similar to
the notification system 8, except that an individual notification component
214 is
incorporated into each of the burner knobs 226A-I) and the oven knob 230. Fig.
6
schematically depicts the bunter knob 226A by showing the schematically
depicted
notification. component. 214 situated on a schematically depicted support.
210.
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WO 2013/148430 PCT/US2013/033102
[00631 Each notification component 214 includes an input apparatus :232, a
processor apparatus 236, and an output apparatus 240. :Each input apparatus
232 of
the exemplary depicted embodiment includes a rotational position sensor 244, a
temperature sensor 248, and a flame detector 252. Each processor 236 includes
a
processor 256 and a storage 260 upon which are stored one or more -routines
264 and
a plurality of sound tag.s 268. Each output apparatus 240 includes a
loudspeaker 272
and may optionally also include a visual display 276.
[0064) In operation, the burner knobs 226A-1') and the oven knob 230 each
operate independently to detect that their corresponding controllers 224A-D
and 228
are in positions (or have been rotated to positions) that are indicative of an
operated
state of a corresponding portion of the range 204. Responsive thereto, the
bunter
knobs 226A-D and the oven knob 230 each periodically output a notification
that is
representative of a. duration of time that the corresponding portion of the
range 204
has been in the operated state. As before, the notifications can be
representative of
spoken words that are audibly output by the loudspeaker 272 and can have the
other
features mentioned. above. Moreover, each of the controllets 224A-D and 228
can
detect in the vicinity of the range 204 a predetermined condition such as a
fire or an
ambient temperature that has exceeded a predetermined level, although in
alternative
embodiments it may be desirable to have only one of the controllers 224A-D and
228
include such features.
[0065] The notification system 208 thus can advantageously be retrofitted to
an existing range 204 to form an improved range that provides the safety -and
emergency notifications set forth above..
[00661 An improved notification system 308 in accordance with a. fourth
embodiment of the disclosed and claimed concept is depicted in Fig. 7. The
notification system 308 is similar to the notification system 208 and can be
retrofitted
onto an existing range such as the range 204 of Fig. S. The notification
system 308
likewise includes a plurality of burner knobs 326A-D and an oven knob 330,
each of
which includes a support 310. However, the notification system 308 is
difierent fiom
the notification system 208 since the notification system 308 -further
includes a base
CA 02868792 2014-09-26
WO 2013/148430 PCT/US2013/033102
unit 334 M communication with the burners knobs 326.A-D and the oven knob 330.
The base unit 334 advantageously includes certain components of the
notification
system 308, which avoids duplication of such components on each of the burner
knobs 326A-D and the oven knob 330.
[00671 More specifically, the notification system 308 can be said to include
an
input apparatus 332 that is distributed across die burner knobs 326A-D and the
oven
knob 330. The notification unit 308 limber includes a processor apparatus 336
mid an
output apparatus 340 that are situated on. the base unit 334, hi the depicted
exemplary
embodiment, the base unit 334 is in wireless communication with the burner
knobs
326A-D and the oven knob 330, although other types of communication systems
can
be employed without departing .from the present concept.
[00681 For instance, the burners knobs .32A-I3 and the oven knob 330 each
include the aforementioned support- 310 and further include an input component
318
disposed on the support 310. An exemplary schematic depiction of one of the
input
connxments 318 is shown in Fig, 8 as being disposed on the. support 310 to
form the
exemplary burners knob 326A. It is understood that the input components 318 of
the
burners knobs 326A-D and the oven knob 330 together forn't the input apparatus
332,
as is schematically depicted in Fig. 7,
[00691 As can be seen in Fig. 8õ the input component 318 includes a rotational
position sensor 344, a temperature sensor 348, and a flame detector 352,
although it is
understood that the temperature sensor 348 and the flame detector 352
potentially
need not be provided on each of the input components 318. The -input component
318
additionally includes a processor 354 which is in communication with the
rotational
position sensor 344, the temperature sensor 348, and the iia.me detector 35:2
in order
to receive input signals therefrom and to generate output signals that are
inovided to a
wireless communication system 358 of the input component 318. Each wireless
communication system 358 of the burners knobs 32A-l) and the oven knob 330 is
in
wireless communication with the base unit 334,
[00701 More particularly, and as is depicted generally in Fig. 9, the base
unit
334 has the processor apparatus 336 and. the output apparatus 340 disposed
thereon.
21
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WO 2013/148430 PCT/US2013/033102
The processor apparatus 336 includes a processor 356 and a. storage 360
havinir a
number of routines 3(4 and a plurality of sound tap 368 stored therein. The
processor apparatus 336 further includes a wireless communication system 362
that. is
in wireless communication with each of the wireless communication systems 358
and
that provides to the processor 356 input signals representative of the signals
that were.
generated and output by the processor 354
[0071 As before, the routines 364 are executable on the processor 356 to
provide output signals to the loudspeakers 372 in the fonn of periodic audible
notifications that are representative of a duration of time that an apparatus
(such as a
range to which the notification system 308 has been retrofitted) has been in
an
operated state. An optional visual display 376 can provide on the base unit
334 and
cart include warning lights, numeric displays, and the like that reflect the
operational
level of such a range. By providing the processor apparatus 336 and the output
apparatus 340 on the base unit 334, these components can be shared by the
burners
knobs 326A-1) and the oven knob 330 rather than having to be separately
provide
such components on each of the burners knobs 326A-.t) and the oven knob 330,
which
can result in a cost savings. Also, by providing all of the notifications on
the base unit
334, the aforementioned logic can be advantageously employed to output the
various
audible notifications in a fashion that is tailored to avoid a user eventually
ignoring
the notifications.
[00721 It thus can be seen that several embodiments of the notification sstern
8, 108, 208, and 308 advantageously provide .periodic outputs of notifications
that are
representative of a. duration of time that an apparatus such as a range .has
been in an
operated state. The notifications can be in of any of a variety of forms and
advantageously reduce the risks that are inherent in operating the apparatus,
such as
when operating the apparatus for an extended period of time, by informing a
user of a
continued operated state of the apparatus,
[00731 Although the foregoing discussion has presented specific
embodiments, persons skilled in the art will mognize that changes may be made
in
form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments
to
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WO 2013/148430 PCT/US2013/033102
achieve. .sitnilar functionality and utility to the.. exemplary embodiments.
disclosed
he. More.ovorõ, .it :ghould 'be appreciated tbat feat:tires:from a.particular
embodiment
may be implemented in ?another embodiment disclosed .ere nt to achieve a
desired
functionality. .Accordirigly, the specific embodiments described herein should
be
understood as examples and not limiting the scope of the disclosure,
23
