US4413175A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat level indication method and apparatus
Assignee: EGO Regeltechnik GmbH
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Filing: 1981-01-22
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Granted: 1983-11-01
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Expires: 2001-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A method for indicating the thermal state of cooking appliances with an optical and/or acoustic signalling device, comprising the steps of: counting forward from a starting number in response to the heating means of the cooking appliance being switched on; and, counting backwards after the heating means of the cooking appliance has been switched off, the signalling device being switched on when the count exceeds a first number and being switched off when the count falls below a second number. An apparatus for indicating the thermal state of cooking appliance with an optical and/or acoustic signalling device, comprising: an electronic bidirectional counter; clock generating logic for controlling clock pulses to the counter; a detector connected to the logic for determining the switching on and off of the heating means of the cooking appliance, the counter being clocked upwardly after the switching on, and being clocked downwardly after the switching off; and, at least one count recognition circuit connected to the counter, which on reaching predetermined numbers switches the signalling device on and off. In both the method and apparatus the rate of forward and backward counting can be made proportional to the actual heating and cooling characteristics of the cooking appliances.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilfried Schilling
- 👤 Siegberg Lorenz
- 👤 Friedrich Koch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:12
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B1/00; H05B1/02; H05B1/0227; H05B1/0252; H05B1/0258; H05B1/0261; H05B1/0266; G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; H05B3/00; H05B3/68; H05B3/74; H05B3/746
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for indicating the thermal state of cooking appliances with an optical and/or acoustic signalling device, comprising the steps of: continuously counting forward from a starting number in response to the heating means of the cooking appliance being switched on; and, continuously counting backwards only after the heating means of the cooking appliance has been switched off, the signalling device being switched on when the count exceeds a first number and being switched off when the count falls below a second number.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for indicating the thermal state of cooking appliances with an optical and/or acoustic signalling device, comprising the steps of: continuously counting forward from a starting number in response to the heating means of the cooking appliance being switched on; and, continuously counting backwards only after the heating means of the cooking appliance has been switched off, the signalling device being switched on when the count exceeds a first number and being switched off when the count falls below a second number.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein different counting rates are used in the forward and backward directions.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
19 words
A method according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the forward count is interrupted on reaching a maximum number.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the rate of backward counting is dependent on the number reached at the end of forward counting and on the number of heating means on the cooking appliance which have been switched on.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
24 words
A method according to claims 1 or 4, wherein the rate of forward counting is dependent on the number of heating means switched on.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the rates of forward and backward counting are constant within predetermined counting zones.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the signalling device is switched off on reaching the number zero.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for indicating the thermal state of cooking appliances with an optical and/or acoustic signalling device, comprising: an electronic bidirectional counter; clock generating logic for controlling clock pulses to the counter; a detector means connected to the logic for determining the switching on and off of the heating means of the cooking appliance, the counter being continuously clocked upwardly after the switching on, and being continuously clocked downwardly only after the switching off; and, at least one count recognition circuit connected to the counter, which on reaching predetermined numbers switches the signalling device on and off.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for indicating the thermal state of cooking appliances with an optical and/or acoustic signalling device, comprising: an electronic bidirectional counter; clock generating logic for controlling clock pulses to the counter; a detector means connected to the logic for determining the switching on and off of the heating means of the cooking appliance, the counter being continuously clocked upwardly after the switching on, and being continuously clocked downwardly only after the switching off; and, at least one count recognition circuit connected to the counter, which on reaching predetermined numbers switches the signalling device on and off.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the clock generating logic includes means for presetting the counter to a starting number and enabling the counter upwardly at a predetermined frequency.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claims 8 or 9, further comprising a staged pre-counter, acting as a time base divider, for providing the clock generating logic with a plurality of pulse trains, the clock generating logic being connected at least to the final stages of the precounter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a circuit in one of the pre-counter and the clock generating logic for preventing upward and downward counting of the counter when the counter reaches its maximum and minimum count respectively, in response to a carry-out output signal generated by the counter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the pre-counter is controllable by the mains frequency.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, on switching off the heating means of the cooking appliance, the clock generating logic enables the counter to count downward at a frequency dependent on the momentary state of one of the counter and the pre-counter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the at least one count recognition circuit switches on the signalling device when the count differs from zero.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the starting number is the same as the maximum number which can be stored in the counter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the pre-counter is an 11 to 15-stage asynchronous counter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the counter is a four-stage binary counter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the clock generating logic sets the counter to a number between 1 and 5 after a switchingon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the clock generating logic enables the upward counting in four intervals each lasting 0.2 to 0.8 minutes, the logic supplying the counter with 3 to 9 pulses in the first interval, 2 to 6 pulses in the second interval, 1 to 4 pulses in the third interval and 1 to 2 pulses in the fourth interval.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, comprises a microprocessor, for performing the control and counting functions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, on switching on the heating means of the cooking appliance, the clock generating logic enables the counter to count upward with a frequency dependent on the momentary state of one of the counter and a pre-counter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, on switching off the heating means of the cooking appliance, the clock generating logic enables the counter to count downward with a frequency dependent on the state of one of the counter and a pre-counter at the time of switching off.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
37 words
A method according to claims 1 or 2, wherein counting in one direction takes place at a rate dependent on the momentary count result, and counting in the other direction takes place at a constant predetermined rate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3601586A
Cited
USRE30619E
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-10-31 | 1987-05-02 | 1987-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-10-31 | 1991-05-02 | 1991-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-10-31 | 1995-05-02 | 1995-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |