Patent US4250370A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4250370A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital control for a cooking time and power of an electric cooking device
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1978-08-23
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Granted: 1981-02-10
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Expires: 1998-08-23
Abstract
Abstract A control device adapted to control cooking time and power of an electric cooking device. By depressing entry keys on a control panel a desired cooking time data and power level setting data are entered in first and second shift registers respectively. Next when a cooking start key is depressed the electric cooking device starts its operation at a power corresponding to the power level setting data and the down count operation of the time data in the first shift register is started. When the time data in the first shift register becomes zero due to the down count operation the cooking device stops its operation. The data in the first and second shift registers are displayed by digital indicators. The time data in the first shift register is detected whether or not it has an erroneous digit or digits and any detected erroneous digit or digits are blanked or flashed on the digital indicators.
Inventors
- 👤 Masayuki Sasaki
- 👤 Shuichi Gotou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:22
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/10; G05B19/102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
437 words
A digital control device for controlling cooking time and power of an electric cooking device comprising: keyboard means having numeral keys, timer key, power level key and cook key; entry means coupled to said keyboard means to generate in response to the depression of one of said numeral keys an output as a numerical data corresponding to the numerical value of the depressed key; first shift register means coupled to the output of said entry means having a plurality of digit stages and adapted to store in response to the depression of said timer key and numerical keys a time data on a cooking time of said cooking device which corresponds to the numerical values of the depressed numeral keys; second shift register means coupled to the output of said entry means to store in response to the depression of said power level key and numeral key a data on a power level of said cooking device which corresponds to the latter depressed numeral key; digital display means coupled to said first and second shift register means to display the data stored in said first and second shift register means; subtraction pulse generating means for generating a subtraction pulse for passage of each predetermined unit of time; subtraction means coupled to said first shift register means and said subtraction pulse generating means and adapted to subtract, for each generated subtraction pulse, a predetermined number from the time data in said first shift register means in response to the depression of said cook key; cooking device control means coupled to said first shift register means and adapted to operate said cooking device in response to the depression of said cook key after the storage in said first and second shift registers of data on the cooking time and power level and stop the operation of said cooking device when the data in said first shift register become a predetermined number through subtraction; variable power control means coupled to said second shift register means and adapted to set said cooking device to a power corresponding to the data stored in said shift register means; error entry detecting means for detecting whether the value of a time data entered by said entry means in said first shift register means is erroneous; and means responsive to said error entry detecting means for (1) causing said display means to selectively flash only an erroneous digit or digits in said time data when said time data in said first register means contains a digit or digits with erroneous values, and for (2) maintaining the constant display of any digit with a non-erroneous value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
437 words
A digital control device for controlling cooking time and power of an electric cooking device comprising: keyboard means having numeral keys, timer key, power level key and cook key; entry means coupled to said keyboard means to generate in response to the depression of one of said numeral keys an output as a numerical data corresponding to the numerical value of the depressed key; first shift register means coupled to the output of said entry means having a plurality of digit stages and adapted to store in response to the depression of said timer key and numerical keys a time data on a cooking time of said cooking device which corresponds to the numerical values of the depressed numeral keys; second shift register means coupled to the output of said entry means to store in response to the depression of said power level key and numeral key a data on a power level of said cooking device which corresponds to the latter depressed numeral key; digital display means coupled to said first and second shift register means to display the data stored in said first and second shift register means; subtraction pulse generating means for generating a subtraction pulse for passage of each predetermined unit of time; subtraction means coupled to said first shift register means and said subtraction pulse generating means and adapted to subtract, for each generated subtraction pulse, a predetermined number from the time data in said first shift register means in response to the depression of said cook key; cooking device control means coupled to said first shift register means and adapted to operate said cooking device in response to the depression of said cook key after the storage in said first and second shift registers of data on the cooking time and power level and stop the operation of said cooking device when the data in said first shift register become a predetermined number through subtraction; variable power control means coupled to said second shift register means and adapted to set said cooking device to a power corresponding to the data stored in said shift register means; error entry detecting means for detecting whether the value of a time data entered by said entry means in said first shift register means is erroneous; and means responsive to said error entry detecting means for (1) causing said display means to selectively flash only an erroneous digit or digits in said time data when said time data in said first register means contains a digit or digits with erroneous values, and for (2) maintaining the constant display of any digit with a non-erroneous value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A control device according to claim 1, further including means for clearing said first shift register means and presetting a predetermined number to said second shift register means upon switching a power supply source ON.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A control device according to claim 1, further comprising means for causing said display means to selectively blank only the erroneous digit or digits in said time data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A control device according to claim 1 further comprising means responsive to said error entry detecting means for stopping a subtraction operation by said subraction means when said time data in said first shift register means is erroneous.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A control device according to claim 1 further including means responsive to said error entry detecting means for causing said cooking device control means to prevent the operation of said cooking device irrespective of the depression of said cook key.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
A control device according to claim 1, in which said first shift register means has first and second digit stages for storing a minute data from said entry means, third and fourth digit stages for storing a second data from said entry means, and fifth and sixth digit stages to which predetermined numerical data are preset, and there is further provided means for presetting a predetermined number to the respective digit stages when the data of the respective digit stages becomes a predetermined number during the subtraction of the time data in the first shift register means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A control device according to claim 1, further including means for entering a data from said entry means in said first shift register in response to the depression of said timer key and to enter a data from said entry means in said second shift register means in response to the depression of said power level key.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A control device according to claim 1, further including means for detecting a non-significant zero or zeros in the time data in said first shift register means and causing said displaying means to blank the non-significant zero or zeros.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A control device according to claim 1, further including means for clearing said first shift register means in response to the depression of said timer key.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A control device according to claim 1, further including means for informing a user of an approach to the end of the cooking time when the time data in said first shift register means nears zero during the subtraction by said subtraction means of the time data in said first shift register means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
159 words
A control device according to claim 1, in which said subtraction pulse generating means is adapted to generate in response to a 50 or 60 Hz AC supply voltage one subtraction pulse per Hz of the AC voltage, said first shift register means includes first and second digit stages for storing a minute data from said entry means, third and fourth digit stages for storing a second data from said entry means and fifth and sixth digit stages to which predetermined numbers are preset, respectively, said subtraction means is adapted to effect the subtraction of the time data in said first shift register means comparing the content in a predetermined bit position of said sixth digit stage with said subtraction pulse and there is further provided means for presetting a different number to said sixth stage in accordance with the frequency of the AC voltage when the content of said sixth stage becomes a predetermined number during subtraction operation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A control device according to claim 1 further comprising means for causing said subtraction means to stop the subtraction of the time data in said first shift register means when the door of said cooking device is opened.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A control device according to claim 1 further comprising means for preventing data entry into said first and second shift register means during the subtraction of the time data in said first shift register means after the depression of said cook key.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
131 words
An electric cooking apparatus comprising: memory means; means accessible by a user for setting time data having a plurality of digits into said memory means; digital display means coupled to said memory means for displaying the time data in said memory means; an electric cooking device; means for operating said electric cooking device during the time interval corresponding to the time data set in said memory means; means coupled to said memory means for detecting any digit of the time data set in said memory means having an erroneous value; and means responsive to said erroneous digit detecting means for causing said digital display means (1) to selectively blank any digit having a said detected erroneous value, and (2) to maintain the constant display of any digit having a non-erroneous value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
131 words
An electric cooking apparatus comprising: memory means; means accessible by a user for setting time data having a plurality of digits into said memory means; digital display means coupled to said memory means for displaying the time data in said memory means; an electric cooking device; means for operating said electric cooking device during the time interval corresponding to the time data set in said memory means; means coupled to said memory means for detecting any digit of the time data set in said memory means having an erroneous value; and means responsive to said erroneous digit detecting means for causing said digital display means (1) to selectively blank any digit having a said detected erroneous value, and (2) to maintain the constant display of any digit having a non-erroneous value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electric cooking apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising means for disabling said means for operating said electric cooking device responsive to the detection of a said erroneous digit of time data entered into said memory means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electric cooking apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising means for causing said digital display means to selectively flash only the erroneous digit or digits.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
128 words
An electric cooking apparatus comprising: memory means; means accessible by a user for setting time data having a plurality of digits into said memory means; digital display means coupled to said memory means for displaying the time data in said memory means; an electric cooking device; means for operating said electric cooking device during a time interval corresponding to the time data set in said memory means; means coupled to said memory means for detecting any digit of the time data set in said memory means having an erroneous value; and means responsive to said erroneous digit detecting means for causing said digital display means to selectively flash any digit with a said detected erroneous value while maintaining the constant display of any digit having a non-erroneous value.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
128 words
An electric cooking apparatus comprising: memory means; means accessible by a user for setting time data having a plurality of digits into said memory means; digital display means coupled to said memory means for displaying the time data in said memory means; an electric cooking device; means for operating said electric cooking device during a time interval corresponding to the time data set in said memory means; means coupled to said memory means for detecting any digit of the time data set in said memory means having an erroneous value; and means responsive to said erroneous digit detecting means for causing said digital display means to selectively flash any digit with a said detected erroneous value while maintaining the constant display of any digit having a non-erroneous value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electric cooking apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising means for disabling said means for operating said electric cooking device from operating said cooking device responsive to the detection of a said erroneous digit of time data entered into said memory means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
153 words
An electric cooking apparatus comprising: memory means; means accessible by a user for setting time data having a plurality of digits into said memory means, the maximum time settable into said memory means being predetermined; digital display means coupled to said memory means for displaying the time data in said memory means; an electric cooking device; means for operating said electric cooking device during a time interval corresponding to the time data set in said memory means; means coupled to said memory means for detecting whether the time data set in said memory means by the user exceeds the maximum settable time; and means responsive to said detecting means for causing said digital display means to selectively flash only an erroneous digit or digits set in said memory means when the time data set in said memory means exceeds the maximum settable time and to maintain the constant display of any non-erroneous digit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
153 words
An electric cooking apparatus comprising: memory means; means accessible by a user for setting time data having a plurality of digits into said memory means, the maximum time settable into said memory means being predetermined; digital display means coupled to said memory means for displaying the time data in said memory means; an electric cooking device; means for operating said electric cooking device during a time interval corresponding to the time data set in said memory means; means coupled to said memory means for detecting whether the time data set in said memory means by the user exceeds the maximum settable time; and means responsive to said detecting means for causing said digital display means to selectively flash only an erroneous digit or digits set in said memory means when the time data set in said memory means exceeds the maximum settable time and to maintain the constant display of any non-erroneous digit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electric cooking apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising means for disabling said means for operating said electric cooking device from operating said cooking device responsive to the detection of a said erroneous digit of time data entered into said memory means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
155 words
An electric cooking apparatus comprising: a dynamic circulating shift register means; keyboard means having numeral keys and a timer key; means responsive to depression of said numeral keys after depression of said timer key for setting time data into said shift register means; digital display means coupled to said shift register means for displaying the time data in said shift register means; an electric cooking device; means for operating said electric cooking device during a time interval corresponding to the time data set in said register means; means responsive to depression of said timer key for clearing said shift register means; means coupled to said memory means for detecting any digit of time data set into said shift register means; and means responsive to said erroneous digit detecting means for causing said digital display means to visually indicate any digit with a said detected erroneous value while maintaining the constant display of any non-erroneous digit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
155 words
An electric cooking apparatus comprising: a dynamic circulating shift register means; keyboard means having numeral keys and a timer key; means responsive to depression of said numeral keys after depression of said timer key for setting time data into said shift register means; digital display means coupled to said shift register means for displaying the time data in said shift register means; an electric cooking device; means for operating said electric cooking device during a time interval corresponding to the time data set in said register means; means responsive to depression of said timer key for clearing said shift register means; means coupled to said memory means for detecting any digit of time data set into said shift register means; and means responsive to said erroneous digit detecting means for causing said digital display means to visually indicate any digit with a said detected erroneous value while maintaining the constant display of any non-erroneous digit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-02-10 | 1984-08-11 | 1985-02-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-02-10 | 1988-08-11 | 1989-02-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-02-10 | 1992-08-11 | 1993-02-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |