U.S. patent application number 14/446521 was filed with the patent office on 2016-02-04 for oven appliance with interior cleanliness sensor.
The applicant listed for this patent is General Electric Company. Invention is credited to William Guy Morris, Nandini Nagraj, Manuel Alfredo Palacios, Todd-Michael Striker, Zhexiong Tang, Stanton Earl Weaver, JR..
Application Number | 20160033140 14/446521 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55179642 |
Filed Date | 2016-02-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160033140 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Weaver, JR.; Stanton Earl ;
et al. |
February 4, 2016 |
OVEN APPLIANCE WITH INTERIOR CLEANLINESS SENSOR
Abstract
An oven appliance with a sensor for sensing gases in the cooking
chamber is provided. One or more features and methods are provided
for detecting the gas levels in the cooking chamber to determine if
the cooking chamber is clean or unclean. Features for initiating
and terminating an oven cleaning cycle are also provided.
Inventors: |
Weaver, JR.; Stanton Earl;
(Broadalbin, NY) ; Nagraj; Nandini; (Clifton Park,
NY) ; Morris; William Guy; (Rexford, NY) ;
Striker; Todd-Michael; (Ballston Lake, NY) ; Tang;
Zhexiong; (Niskayuna, NY) ; Palacios; Manuel
Alfredo; (Clifton Park, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
General Electric Company |
Schenectady |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55179642 |
Appl. No.: |
14/446521 |
Filed: |
July 30, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
99/342 ;
126/273R; 219/393 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 14/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24C 14/00 20060101
F24C014/00 |
Claims
1. A method for operating a sensor of an oven appliance, the oven
appliance having a cooking chamber configured for receipt of food
items for cooking, the method comprising the steps of: employing
the sensor to detect a current gas level within the cooking
chamber; comparing the current gas level to a baseline gas level;
determining, from the step of comparing, whether the cooking
chamber is unclean and, if so, then providing a signal to a user of
the oven appliance to indicate the cooking chamber is unclean.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
repeating the steps of employing, comparing, and determining if the
cooking chamber is found to be clean by the step of
determining.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of employing is
performed during a preheat cycle of the oven appliance.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
operating the sensor to detect a gas level of the cooking chamber
in a clean state; and storing the gas level of the cooking chamber
in a clean state as the baseline gas level.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining comprises
determining whether the difference between the current gas level
and the baseline gas level is at least a predetermined amount.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of selecting
the predetermined amount.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing comprises
indicating a self-cleaning cycle of the oven appliance should be
initiated.
8. A method for operating a sensor of an oven appliance, the oven
appliance having a cooking chamber configured for receipt of food
items for cooking, the method comprising the steps of: initiating a
self-cleaning cycle of the oven appliance; using the sensor to
detect a current gas level within the cooking chamber; comparing
the current gas level to a baseline gas level; establishing, from
the step of comparing, whether the cooking chamber is clean and, if
so, then terminating the self-cleaning cycle.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:
repeating the steps of employing, comparing, and determining if the
cooking chamber is not found to be clean by the step of
establishing.
10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:
operating the sensor to detect a gas level of the cooking chamber
in a clean state; and storing the gas level of the cooking chamber
in a clean state as the baseline gas level.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the steps of using and storing
are performed after the step of terminating.
12. An oven appliance, comprising: a cabinet, the cabinet defining
a cooking chamber configured for receipt of food items for cooking;
a heating element configured to heat the cooking chamber; at least
one sensor; and a controller in operative communication with the at
least one sensor, the controller configured for employing the at
least one sensor to detect a current gas level within the cooking
chamber; comparing the current gas level to a baseline gas level;
determining, from the step of comparing, whether the cooking
chamber is unclean and, if so, then providing a signal to indicate
the cooking chamber requires cleaning to a user of the oven
appliance.
13. The oven appliance of claim 12, wherein the controller is
further configured for initiating a self-cleaning cycle of the oven
appliance; using the at least one sensor to detect the current gas
level within the cooking chamber; establishing whether the cooking
chamber is clean and, if so, then terminating the self-cleaning
cycle.
14. The oven appliance of claim 13, wherein the controller
determines whether the cooking chamber is clean by comparing the
current gas level to the baseline gas level.
15. The oven appliance of claim 12, wherein the controller
determines whether the cooking chamber is unclean by determining
whether the current gas level exceeds the baseline gas level by a
predetermined amount.
16. The oven appliance of claim 12, further comprising: a vent for
exhausting gases and fumes generated during cooking from the
cooking chamber; and a duct connected to the vent, wherein the at
least one sensor is positioned in the duct.
17. The oven appliance of claim 12, wherein the controller is
further configured for operating the at least one sensor to detect
a gas level of the cooking chamber in a clean state; and storing
the gas level of the cooking chamber in a clean state as the
baseline gas level.
18. The oven appliance of claim 12, wherein the controller is
further configured for performing the step of employing during a
preheat cycle of the oven appliance.
19. The oven appliance of claim 12, wherein the step of providing
comprises indicating a self-cleaning cycle of the oven appliance
should be initiated.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The subject matter of the present disclosure relates
generally to an oven appliance with features for detecting the
cleanliness of the interior of the oven and methods for operating
an oven appliance to detect the cleanliness of the oven
interior.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Oven appliances generally include a cabinet that defines a
cooking chamber for baking or broiling food items therein. Food
items placed in the cooking chamber may fall or spill over onto the
floor of the cooking chamber. During baking or broiling operations,
food items on the floor of the cooking chamber may char or burn
from the heat generated in the cooking chamber by one or more
heating elements. Also, gases and fumes generated during cooking
may cause residue to build up on the surfaces of the cooking
chamber. As a result, the cooking chamber may become unclean.
[0003] With conventional oven configurations, a user of the oven
appliance must rely on the visual appearance or the smell of the
cooking chamber to determine when the cooking chamber should be
cleaned. However, to avoid potential health issues and odors
associated with an unclean oven, it may be desirable to clean the
cooking chamber before it looks or smells unclean to the user.
[0004] Oven appliances also generally include a self-cleaning
feature for cleaning the cooking chamber. A self-cleaning cycle of
an oven appliance typically lasts a predetermined period of time,
although the cooking chamber may be clean before the predetermined
period has expired. If the self-cleaning cycle continues after the
cooking chamber is clean, the oven appliance is unavailable for
cooking operations for longer than is necessary and uses more
energy than is necessary to clean the cooking chamber. Further, if
the self-cleaning cycle occurs during peak energy usage hours, the
self-cleaning cycle interrupts the availability of the oven
appliance for cooking operations and may lead to increased
operational costs.
[0005] Accordingly, an oven appliance with features for detecting
the cleanliness of the cooking chamber would be useful. In
particular, an oven appliance with features for indicating to a
user of the oven appliance that the cooking chamber is unclean
would be advantageous. Further, an oven appliance with features for
terminating a self-cleaning cycle when the cooking chamber is clean
would also be useful. Additionally, an oven appliance with features
for initiating a self-clean cycle during non-peak energy usage
hours would be beneficial.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides an oven appliance with a
sensor for sensing gases in the cooking chamber. One or more
features and methods are provided for detecting the gas levels in
the cooking chamber to determine if the cooking chamber is clean or
unclean. Features for initiating and terminating an oven cleaning
cycle are also provided. Additional aspects and advantages of the
invention will be set forth in part in the following description,
may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through
practice of the invention.
[0007] In a first exemplary embodiment, a method for operating a
sensor of an oven appliance having a cooking chamber configured for
receipt of food items for cooking includes the steps of employing
the sensor to detect a current gas level within the cooking
chamber; comparing the current gas level to a baseline gas level;
determining, from the step of comparing, whether the cooking
chamber is unclean and, if so, then providing a signal to a user of
the oven appliance to indicate the cooking chamber is unclean.
[0008] In a second exemplary embodiment, a method for operating a
sensor of an oven appliance having a cooking chamber configured for
receipt of food items for cooking includes the steps of initiating
a self-cleaning cycle of the oven appliance; using the sensor to
detect a current gas level within the cooking chamber; comparing
the current gas level to a baseline gas level; establishing, from
the step of comparing, whether the cooking chamber is clean and, if
so, then terminating the self-cleaning cycle.
[0009] In a third exemplary embodiment, an oven appliance includes
a cabinet defining a cooking chamber configured for receipt of food
items for cooking; a heating element configured to heat the cooking
chamber; at least one sensor; and a controller in operative
communication with the at least one sensor. The controller is
configured for employing the at least one sensor to detect a
current gas level within the cooking chamber; comparing the current
gas level to a baseline gas level; determining, from the step of
comparing, whether the cooking chamber is unclean and, if so, then
providing a signal to indicate the cooking chamber requires
cleaning to a user of the oven appliance.
[0010] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following description and appended claims. The accompanying
drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this
specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention,
including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill
in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes
reference to the appended figures, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 provides a front view of an exemplary embodiment of
an oven appliance of the present subject matter.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the oven appliance of
FIG. 1 taken along the 2-2 line of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the bottom of a
duct of an exemplary embodiment of an oven appliance.
[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates a method of operating a sensor of an oven
appliance in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the
present subject matter.
[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates a method of operating a sensor of an oven
appliance in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the
present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the
invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the
drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the
invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and
variations can be made in the present invention without departing
from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features
illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with
another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is
intended that the present invention covers such modifications and
variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and
their equivalents.
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, for this exemplary embodiment,
oven appliance 100 includes an insulated cabinet 102 with an
interior cooking chamber 104 defined by a top wall 112, a bottom
wall 114, a back wall 116, and opposing side walls 118, 120.
Cooking chamber 104 is configured for the receipt of one or more
food items to be cooked. Oven appliance 100 includes a door 108
pivotally mounted, e.g., with one or more hinges (not shown), to
cabinet 102 at the opening 106 of cabinet 102 to permit selective
access to cooking chamber 104 through opening 106. A handle 110 is
mounted to door 108 and assists a user with opening and closing
door 108. For example, a user can pull on handle 110 to open or
close door 108 and access cooking chamber 104.
[0019] Oven appliance 100 can include a seal (not shown) between
door 108 and cabinet 102 that assists with maintaining heat and
cooking fumes within cooking chamber 104 when door 108 is closed as
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Multiple parallel glass panes 122 provide
for viewing the contents of cooking chamber 104 when door 108 is
closed and assist with insulating cooking chamber 104. A baking
rack 142 is positioned in cooking chamber 104 for the receipt of
food items or utensils containing food items. Baking rack 142 is
slidably received onto embossed ribs or sliding rails 144 such that
rack 142 may be conveniently moved into and out of cooking chamber
104 when door 108 is open.
[0020] A heating element at the top, bottom, or both of cooking
chamber 104 provides heat to cooking chamber 104 for cooking or
other operations of oven appliance 100. Such heating element(s) can
be gas, electric, microwave, or a combination thereof. For example,
in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, oven appliance 100 includes a
top heating element 124 and a bottom heating element 126.
[0021] Oven appliance 100 includes a user interface 128 having a
display 130 positioned on an interface panel 132 and having a
variety of controls 134. Interface 128 allows the user to select
various options for the operation of oven 100 including, e.g.,
temperature, time, and/or various cooking and cleaning cycles.
Operation of oven appliance 100 can be regulated by a controller
136 that is operatively coupled, i.e., in communication with, user
interface 128, heating elements 124, 126, and other components of
oven 100 as will be further described.
[0022] For example, in response to user manipulation of the user
interface 128, controller 136 can operate the heating element(s).
Controller 136 can receive measurements from a temperature sensor
(not shown) placed in cooking chamber 104 and, e.g., provide a
temperature indication to the user with display 130. Controller 136
can also be provided with other features as will be further
described herein.
[0023] Controller 136 may include a memory and one or more
processing devices such as microprocessors, CPUs, or the like, such
as general or special purpose microprocessors operable to execute
programming instructions or micro-control code associated with
operation of oven appliance 100. The memory may represent random
access memory such as DRAM or read only memory such as ROM or
FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executes programming
instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate
component from the processor or may be included onboard within the
processor.
[0024] Controller 136 may be positioned in a variety of locations
throughout oven appliance 100. In the illustrated embodiment,
controller 136 is located next to user interface 128 within
interface panel 132. In other embodiments, controller 136 may be
located under or next to the user interface 128 otherwise within
interface panel 132 or at any other appropriate location with
respect to oven appliance 100. In the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 1, input/output ("I/O") signals are routed between controller
136 and various operational components of oven appliance 100 such
as heating elements 124, 126, controls 134, display 130, sensors,
alarms, and/or other components as may be provided. In one
embodiment, user interface 128 may represent a general purpose I/O
("GPIO") device or functional block.
[0025] Although shown with touch type controls 134, it should be
understood that controls 134 and the configuration of oven
appliance 100 shown in FIG. 1 is provided by way of example only.
More specifically, user interface 128 may include various input
components, such as one or more of a variety of electrical,
mechanical, or electro-mechanical input devices including rotary
dials, push buttons, and touch pads. The user interface 128 may
include other display components, such as a digital or analog
display device designed to provide operational feedback to a user.
User interface 128 may be in communication with controller 136 via
one or more signal lines or shared communication busses.
[0026] Further, while oven 100 is shown as a wall oven, the present
invention could also be used with other cooking appliances such as,
e.g., a stand-alone oven, an oven with a stove-top, or other
configurations of such ovens.
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 2, oven appliance 100 includes a vent
140 in top wall 112 of cooking chamber 104. Vent 140 is in fluid
communication with the exterior of cooking chamber 104 through duct
142. Vent 140 and duct 142 thereby form an exhaust for fumes and
gases generated in cooking chamber 104, i.e., an exhaust for fumes
and gases given off by food items and residues in cooking chamber
104.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, a printed circuit board ("PCB") 144 used
in certain functions of oven appliance 100 may be mounted to duct
142. Generally, a PCB such as PCB 144 is electrically powered and
generates heat during operation. Thus, mounting PCB 144 to duct 142
separates PCB 144 from the heat generated in cooking chamber 104 to
help prevent damage to PCB 144. PCB 144 and vent 140 may have other
configurations and locations as well.
[0029] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, PCB 144
is a double-sided PCB and includes sensors 146 protruding into duct
142. Sensors 146 measure the level, i.e., the concentration, of an
off-gas or several off-gases exhausting from cooking chamber 104
through duct 142. Such gases may include gases typically given off
by cooking foods, such as, e.g., organic solvent vapors, inorganic
vapors, organic-nonpolar vapors, organic polar vapors, amines, and
sulfur-containing compounds. As a further example, these vapors may
include alcohols, inorganic acids, organic acids, aldehydes,
heterocyclic compounds, pyrazines, and thiazoles. In other
embodiments, sensors 146 may measure additional or different
gases.
[0030] In certain embodiments, sensors 146 may be a metal oxide
semiconductor ("MOS") sensor array, which measures gas levels
through changes in resistance when a voltage is applied to the
sensor array. Thus, the voltage readouts from sensors 146 from
various cycles of oven appliance 100 or baseline measurements may
be compared using, e.g., controller 136, an op-amp comparator, or
the like, to indicate changes in gas levels within cooking chamber
104. As an example, the voltage readouts from sensors 146 during a
cooking cycle may be compared to a baseline voltage readout to
determine, based on the difference in the current gas level and the
baseline gas level, whether the food item is sufficiently cooked.
In alternative embodiments, sensors 146 may be any sensor
appropriate for measuring gases generated in cooking chamber 104,
such as a near infrared ("NIR") gas detector, radio frequency
("RF") sensor, optical sensor, multimodal sensor platform, or the
like. Further, it should be understood that in various embodiments,
one or more sensors 146 may be used to measure the level of gases
given off by food items or residues in cooking chamber 104.
Additionally, sensors 146 may be positioned in other locations with
respect to cooking chamber 104, such as within cooking chamber 104
or in another location outside cooking chamber 104.
[0031] The gas level measured by sensors 146 can indicate whether
cooking chamber is clean or unclean. For example, sensors 146 may
measure the level or concentration of the gases given off from
cooking chamber 104 when the cooking chamber is in a known clean
state, and this gas level value may be stored by controller 136 as
a baseline gas level. During a preheat cycle of oven appliance 100,
heating elements 124, 126 are operated to heat cooking chamber 104
to a set temperature, and as the cooking chamber is heated, any
gases generated in cooking chamber 104 from, e.g., foods that have
fallen to the bottom of the cooking chamber, may exhaust through
duct 142. To determine the cleanliness of cooking chamber 104,
sensors 146 may measure the level or concentration of gases given
off during the preheat cycle, and controller 136 may compare the
current gas level to the baseline gas level. If the current gas
level exceeds the baseline gas level by a predetermined amount,
controller 136 may determine cooking chamber 104 is unclean. For
example, controller 136 may find the difference between the current
gas level and the baseline gas level, and if the difference is at
least a threshold value, then controller 136 may determine cooking
chamber 104 is unclean. If cooking chamber 104 is determined to be
unclean, controller 136 may provide a signal to a user of oven
appliance 100 that cooking chamber 104 requires cleaning. As an
example, the signal may indicate a self-cleaning cycle of oven
appliance 100 should be initiated.
[0032] Additionally, if the user selects to initiate a
self-cleaning cycle, the self-cleaning cycle may be delayed until
an off-peak period of energy usage to optimize availability of oven
appliance 100 and minimize energy costs. For example, the user may
select to delay the self-cleaning cycle by a predetermined period
of time or to delay the self-cleaning cycle until a specific time.
Alternatively, if the user selects to initiate a self-cleaning
cycle, controller 136 may determine whether the user has selected
to initiate a self-cleaning cycle during a peak energy usage time.
If so, controller 136 may delay the self-cleaning cycle until an
off-peak time, without input from the user as to when to initiate
the self-cleaning cycle. In other embodiments, if cooking chamber
104 is determined to be unclean, controller 136 may initiate a
self-cleaning cycle without input from the user. In such
embodiments, controller 136 may delay the self-cleaning cycle until
a time of off-peak energy usage.
[0033] The gas level may be monitored during other cycles of oven
appliance 100 as well. For example, during a self-cleaning cycle of
oven appliance 100, sensors 146 may measure the level or
concentration of gases given off from, e.g., food particles and
residue built up in the cooking chamber, and controller 136 may
compare the current gas level to the baseline gas level. If the
current gas level has been reduced to at least the baseline gas
level, controller 136 may terminate the self-cleaning cycle. After
the self-cleaning cycle is terminated, controller 136 may operate
sensors 146 to measure the level or concentration of gases given
off from cooking chamber 104 because, after the self-cleaning
cycle, the cooking chamber is in a known clean state. Controller
136 may then store the measured gas level value as the baseline gas
level.
[0034] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary method for operating oven
appliance 100. As shown, method 200 includes step 202 of operating
sensors 146 to obtain a baseline gas level when cooking chamber 104
is in a known clean state, such as, e.g., during a preheat cycle or
other heating cycle before oven appliance 100 is first used for
cooking operations after the oven appliance has been assembled. As
a further example, sensors 146 may be operated to obtain a baseline
gas level during a preheat cycle or other heating cycle before oven
appliance 100 is first used for cooking operations after a
self-cleaning cycle has been completed. At step 204, the baseline
gas level is stored, e.g., by controller 136. Thus, a baseline gas
level may be obtained and stored once, e.g., before oven appliance
100 is first used for cooking operations after assembly;
periodically, e.g., after oven appliance 100 has completed a
certain number of self-cleaning cycles; or after each self-cleaning
cycle, before oven appliance 100 is used for a cooking cycle. Steps
202 and 204 also may be performed at other times when cooking
chamber 104 is in a known clean state.
[0035] The method also includes step 206 of employing sensors 146
to obtain a current gas level. At step 208, the current gas level
is compared to the baseline gas level. The method also includes
step 210 of determining whether the cooking chamber is unclean
based on the comparison of the current gas level to the baseline
gas level. For example, if the current gas level exceeds the
baseline gas level by at least a predetermined amount, the cooking
chamber may be determined to be unclean. The predetermined amount
may be a percentage of the baseline gas level, e.g., about 25% of
the baseline gas level, such that when the difference between the
current gas level and the baseline gas level is at least the
predetermined amount, the cooking chamber may be determined to be
unclean. As a further example, for certain sensors 146 described
above, changes in gas level are detected as changes in resistance
when a voltage is applied to the sensor or sensors. Thus, if the
change in resistance from the baseline gas level to the current gas
level is at least a threshold value, i.e., the difference between
the current and the baseline gas levels is at least a threshold
value, cooking chamber 104 may be determined to be unclean. Other
values of the predetermined amount or any other appropriate measure
to properly detect that cooking chamber 104 requires cleaning may
be used as well.
[0036] Steps 206, 208, and 210 may be performed during, e.g., a
preheat cycle of oven appliance 100 when gases or vapors from
cooking food items are not also exhausting through duct 142. In
this way, sensors 146 can detect the gases given off from cooking
chamber 104, rather than the gases or vapors given off by cooking
foods, to determine whether the cooking chamber is unclean.
Alternatively, steps 206, 208, and 210 may be performed during
another heating cycle of oven appliance 100 where the gases given
off from cooking chamber 104, rather than another source, may be
obtained and compared to a baseline.
[0037] If it is determined at step 210 that cooking chamber 104 is
clean, method 200 may return to step 206 and repeat steps 206, 208,
and 210 throughout, e.g., the preheat or other heating cycle of
oven appliance 100 as described. If, at step 210, cooking chamber
104 is found to be unclean, method 200 proceeds to step 212, where
a signal is provided to a user of oven appliance 100 to indicate
cooking chamber 104 is unclean. The signal may be, e.g., any
audible and/or visual signal that indicates to the user that
cooking chamber 104 requires cleaning. By way of example, the
signal may be a notification displayed on user interface 128 of the
appliance, an LED light, a buzzer, and/or any other appropriate
visual and/or audible signal. In certain embodiments, the signal
may indicate to the user that a self-cleaning cycle of oven
appliance 100 should be initiated.
[0038] FIG. 5 illustrates another exemplary method for operating
oven appliance 100. As shown, method 300 includes step 302 of
operating sensors 146 when the cooking chamber is in a known clean
state to obtain a baseline gas level. Cooking chamber 104 may be in
a known clean state, e.g., before oven appliance 100 is first used
for cooking operations after the oven appliance has been assembled.
At step 304, the baseline gas level is stored, e.g., by controller
136. The method also includes step 306 of initiating a
self-cleaning cycle of oven appliance 100. At step 308, sensors 146
are used to obtain a current gas level, and at step 310, the
current gas level is compared to the baseline gas level. The method
also includes step 312 of establishing whether cooking chamber 104
of oven appliance 100 is clean based on the comparison of the
current gas level to the baseline gas level. For example, if the
current gas level is less than or equal to the baseline gas level,
the cooking chamber may be established to be clean.
[0039] If it is established at step 312 that cooking chamber 104 is
unclean, method 300 may return to step 308 and repeat steps 308,
310, and 312. If, at step 312, cooking chamber 104 is found to be
clean, method 300 proceeds to step 314, where the self-cleaning
cycle is terminated. Because after the self-cleaning cycle cooking
chamber 104 is in a known clean state, steps 302 and 304 may be
repeated after step 314, before oven appliance 100 is used for a
cooking cycle, to obtain and store a baseline gas level.
Alternatively, the baseline gas level may be established once and
used as the baseline gas level throughout the life of oven
appliance 100; that is, steps 302 and 304 are performed once, and
method 300 begins at step 306. In other embodiments, steps 302 and
304 may be performed periodically, e.g., after oven appliance 100
has completed a certain number of self-cleaning cycles without
repeating steps 302 and 304, a new baseline is obtained and
stored.
[0040] This written description uses examples to disclose the
invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person
skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and
using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated
methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the
claims and may include other examples that occur to those skilled
in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope
of the claims if they include structural elements that do not
differ from the literal language of the claims or if they include
equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from
the literal language of the claims.
* * * * *