Appliance diagnostics utilizing visible indicators

Abstract

A cooking appliance can include diagnostic information communication ability. The cooking appliance has a support for supporting a cooking vessel at a cooking location. A heating element is configured to heat the cooking vessel at the cooking location. A user interface of the cooking appliance includes a visible indicator that is operable to convey primary operational information indicative of an operational aspect of the cooking appliance to a user during normal operation of the cooking appliance. A controller receives sensed information indicative of a malfunction of the cooking appliance and controls an operation of the visible indicator to display an error signal that is incomprehensible to the user without computer assistance, but is readable by a portable code reader. The error signal comprises repeated illumination and deactivation of the visible indicator at a predetermined frequency.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 072,546 filed Oct. 30, 2014, is hereby claimed and the disclosure incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This application relates generally to a method, a domestic appliance such as a cooking appliance, and error reporting system for diagnosing an operational error, and, more specifically, to a cooking appliance that can utilize a visible indicator that serves another purpose during proper operation of the cooking appliance to convey error information, and methods and systems for conveying error information from a cooking appliance.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]Professional cooking appliances have traditionally been fabricated from durable materials such as stainless steel and included analog thermometers, possibly a simple clock and / or timer, and perhaps other such “legacy” equipment that provide the appliances ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present patent describes a cooking appliance with a diagnostic information communication ability. The appliance includes a support for supporting a cooking vessel at a cooking location, a heating element for heating the cooking vessel, and a user interface with a visible indicator for conveying operational information to the user during normal operation of the appliance. The appliance also includes a controller that receives a signal indicative of a malfunction of the appliance and controls the visible indicator to display an error signal that is incomprehensible without computer assistance, but is readable by a portable code reader. The error signal comprises repeated illumination and deactivation of the visible indicator at a predetermined frequency or illumination sequence. The technical effect of this patent is to provide a convenient and efficient way for users to diagnose and troubleshoot malfunctions of cooking appliances.

Problems solved by technology

Thus, professional cooking appliances typically lack sophisticated digital displays that are adaptable to convey much information beyond the time to users.

Even in consumer-grade appliances, to maximize the useable interior volume of an oven cavity and / or the useful surface area of cooktops, there can be a limited amount of space in certain cooking appliances for dedicated hardware that perform functions unrelated to cooking.

Diagnostic and control circuitry can be concealed within a cabinet of the cooking appliance, but digital displays with LCD screens, for example, are often too large to be included on a control panel or other location where they will not be damaged by heat.

Unlike the appliances in commercial establishments, residential appliances are often not maintained and serviced regularly by an outside service provider.

Owners of residential appliances are responsible for requesting service to repair a malfunctioning unit, but may be unable to provide an accurate description of the nature of the malfunction or the repairs needed to a repair service provider.

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