An illumination element for an oven

Abstract

The invention relates to an oven comprising a casing (10), a muffle (20) defining a cooking chamber (1 ) provided within the casing (10), and a illumination element (30) provided within the casing (10). The oven includes a control unit (40) configured to adjust the operation of the illumination element (30) within the cooking chamber (1).

Description

[0001] AN ILLUMINATION ELEMENT FOR AN OVEN

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present invention relates to an illumination element provided within a cooking device, specifically within an oven.

[0004] STATE OF THE ART

[0005] Traditional ovens notify the user with visual or auditory alerts when the heating elements are turned on or shortly after a cooking process has been completed. For example, such alerts could be provided through light indicators placed on an illuminated oven or through an audible warning system located on the oven, informing the user. However, known alert systems sometimes fail to accurately inform the user whether the cooking process inside the oven has been completed.

[0006] EP1299678B1 discloses an oven comprising illumination for a cooking compartment. Said illumination is continuously reduced by a dimmer device of a control unit, not in an immediate manner, but over a period of time in which the user optically perceives the weakening illumination. In a preferred embodiment, the light intensity is also continuously increased upon switching on the cooking compartment illumination, a solution related to the change in light produced by an illumination element on the oven according to the oven mode.

[0007] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The objective of the invention is to provide a means for notifying the user about changes in the internal temperature of the oven or the cooking mode.

[0009] To achieve the mentioned objective, the invention relates to an oven comprising an casing, a muffle within the casing that defines a cooking chamber, and a illumination element within the casing. The oven includes a control unit configured to intermittently operate the illumination element within the cooking chamber. This allows for various alerts related to the oven's usage scenarios, such as reaching the set temperature, warnings for the cooking progress, timer settings, and completion of cooking, through illumination. Thus, clearer communication between the oven and the user is established.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured to intermittently flash the illumination element within the cooking chamber at regular intervals. This facilitates the user's understanding of the completion of the cooking process.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the control unit includes a memory unit that stores the oven operation modes. This ensures accurate control of the illumination element by the control unit

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the control unit contains a controller that is connected to the memory unit and configured to drive the illumination element according to the oven operation mode. This allows for control over the turning on and off and operation of the illumination element.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the control unit is configured to provide auditory alerts according to the oven operation modes through an auditory alert unit. This enables the user to audibly learn information about the oven operation modes.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the casing includes a speaker connected to the auditory alert adapter. This allows the speaker to convey information to the user at an audible level when the oven operation mode is complete.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the auditory alert adapter and the illumination element are provided to operate simultaneously. This way, the completion of the oven cooking process is communicated to the user both visually and audibly.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the illumination element is provided on an upper wall of the muffle. This prevents any obstruction in the transmission of light from the illumination element to the cooking chamber.

[0017] In a preferred application of the invention, the process steps include the controller within the control unit detecting the oven operation mode, driving the illumination element intermittently according to the information corresponding to the operation mode in the memory unit, and flashing the illumination element within the cooking chamber. This ensures that the completion of cooking is communicated to the user both audibly and visually through the periodic flashing of the lighting lamp inside the oven. In a preferred application, the process step includes driving the illumination element for a duration stored in the memory unit of the controller. This prevents energy waste by the illumination element, thus contributing to energy savings.

[0018] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a frontal view of the oven subject to the invention.

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] This detailed description explains the subject development of the invention without any limitation and is illustrated with references only for better understanding.

[0022] In Figure 1 , a schematic front view of the oven subject to the invention is shown. The oven contains a cooking chamber (1). The oven comprises a muffle (20) that surrounds the cooking chamber (1 ) and a casing (10) that surrounds the muffle (20). On a front wall (12) of the casing (10), there is a control panel (14) that regulates the internal temperature of the oven and its operating modes. An illumination element (30) is provided on an upper wall (22) of the muffle (20) to illuminate the cooking chamber (1). The illumination element (30) allows the light produced in an operating mode of the oven to spread inside the cooking chamber (1 ). Inside the control panel (14), there is a control unit (40) connected to the illumination element (30). The control unit (40) includes a memory unit (44) that stores information about the oven's operating modes. The control unit (40) is connected to a controller (42) that communicates with the memory unit (44). The controller (42) is configured to drive the illumination element (30). The control unit (40) also includes a sound warning unit (46) that is connected to the controller (42) and the memory unit (44). A speaker (50) connected to the sound warning unit (46) is provided on the front wall (12) of the casing (10).

[0023] In the lighting operation method of the cooking chamber (1 ) inside the oven, the controller (42) within the control unit (40) detects the oven's operating mode. The information corresponding to the detected operating mode is transmitted from the memory unit (44) to the controller (42). Based on the received information, the controller (42) ensures that the illumination element (30) inside the cooking chamber (1) blinks periodically when the oven's operation ends. At the same time, the controller (42) sends a signal to the sound warning unit (46), which triggers a sound alert to the user through the speaker (50). The controller (42) drives the illumination element (30) for a duration recorded in the memory unit (44). In an example scenario, when the oven completes its cooking process, the illumination element (30) inside the cooking chamber (1) starts blinking periodically, and simultaneously, a warning sound is emitted through the speaker (50) to inform the user that the cooking process is complete. The controller (42) drives the illumination element (30) to blink twice per second for a duration of 10 seconds.

[0024] REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0025] 1 - Cooking Chamber

[0026] 10 - Casing

[0027] 12 - Front Wall

[0028] 14 - Control Panel

[0029] 20 - Muffle

[0030] 22 - Top Wall

[0031] 30 - Illumination Element

[0032] 40 - Control Unit

[0033] 42 - Controller

[0034] 44 - Memory Unit

[0035] 46 - Audible warning Unit

[0036] 50 - Speaker

Claims

CLAIMS1. An oven comprising a casing (10), a muffle (20) defining a cooking chamber (1) provided within the casing (10), and an illumination element (30) provided within the casing (10), characterized in that a control unit (40) configured to intermittently operate the illumination element (30) within the cooking chamber (1).

2. An oven according to Claim 1 , wherein the control unit (40) is configured to drive the illumination element (30) so as to flash at regular intervals within the cooking chamber (1)-3. An oven according to Claim 2, wherein the control unit (40) has a memory unit (44) storing oven operation modes.

4. An oven according to Claims 2-3, wherein a controller (42) is connected to the memory unit (44) and configured to drive the illumination element (30) according to the oven operation mode.

5. An oven according to Claims 2-4, wherein the control unit (40) has an audible warning unit (46) configured to provide audible alerts according to the oven operation modes.

6. An oven according to Claims 2-5, wherein a speaker (50) is connected to the audible warning unit (46) on the casing (10).

7. An oven according to Claims 2-6, wherein the audible warning unit (46) and the illumination element (30) are provided to operate simultaneously.

8. An oven according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the illumination element (30) is provided on an upper wall (22) of the muffle (20).

9. A method of controlling interior lighting of an oven according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of detecting the oven operation mode by a controller (42) within the control unit (40), driving the illumination element (30) intermittently according to the information corresponding to the operation mode stored in the memory unit (44) by the controller (42); the process steps including the flashing of the illumination element (30) within the cooking chamber (1 ).

10. A method of controlling interior lighting of an oven according to Claim 9, further comprising the process step of driving the illumination element (30) for a duration stored in the memory unit (44) by the controller (42).

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