U.S. patent application number 14/484339 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-17 for voice latching of appliance door.
The applicant listed for this patent is General Electric Company. Invention is credited to James Lee Armstrong, Jay Andrew Broniak, William Everette Gardner, Keith Wesley Wait, Joshua Stephen Wiseman.
Application Number | 20160076776 14/484339 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55454386 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160076776 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gardner; William Everette ;
et al. |
March 17, 2016 |
VOICE LATCHING OF APPLIANCE DOOR
Abstract
The present invention provides an oven appliance and for
operation of an oven appliance. The oven appliance and method for
operating the oven appliance include features such that the door of
the oven appliance may be locked or unlocked using one or more
voice commands by a user of the oven appliance.
Inventors: |
Gardner; William Everette;
(Louisville, KY) ; Armstrong; James Lee;
(Louisville, KY) ; Broniak; Jay Andrew;
(Louisville, KY) ; Wait; Keith Wesley;
(Louisville, KY) ; Wiseman; Joshua Stephen;
(Elizabethtown, KY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
General Electric Company |
Schenectady |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55454386 |
Appl. No.: |
14/484339 |
Filed: |
September 12, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/197 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 7/085 20130101;
F24C 14/00 20130101; F24C 15/022 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24C 15/02 20060101
F24C015/02; F24C 14/00 20060101 F24C014/00 |
Claims
1. A method for operating an oven appliance, the method comprising
the steps of: detecting an input to start a self-clean cycle of the
oven appliance; prompting for a confirmation command to start the
self-clean cycle; determining whether the confirmation command has
been received and, if so, then locking a door of the oven
appliance; starting the self-clean cycle; and determining whether
the self-clean cycle has finished and, if so, then unlocking the
door of the oven appliance.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is a voice command by a
user of the oven appliance.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is use of a control
element of the oven appliance by a user of the oven appliance.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein prompting for a confirmation
command to start the self-clean cycle comprises a verbal prompt by
the oven appliance.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of counting a
predetermined time t.sub.confirm during the step of determining
whether the confirmation command has been received.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether
the self-clean cycle is finished comprises comparing a time
t.sub.sc of operation of the self-clean cycle to a threshold time
t.sub.thr.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether
the self-clean cycle is finished comprises comparing a temperature
T.sub.sc of the cooking chamber using a temperature sensor of the
oven appliance to a threshold temperature T.sub.thr.
8. A method for operating an oven appliance, the method comprising
the steps of: detecting an input to activate a door lock of the
oven appliance to lock a door of the oven appliance; prompting for
a confirmation command to lock the door; determining whether the
confirmation command to lock the door has been received and, if so,
then locking the door; detecting an input to activate the door lock
to unlock the door; prompting for a confirmation command to unlock
the door; and determining whether the confirmation command to
unlock the door has been received and, if so, then unlocking the
door.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the input to activate the door
lock to lock the door is a voice command by a user of the oven
appliance.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the input to activate the door
lock to unlock the door is a voice command by a user of the oven
appliance.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein prompting for a confirmation
command to lock the door comprises a verbal prompt by the oven
appliance.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein prompting for a confirmation
command to unlock the door comprises a verbal prompt by the oven
appliance.
13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of counting
a predetermined time t.sub.confirm during the step of determining
whether the confirmation command to lock the door has been
received.
14. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of counting
a predetermined time t.sub.confirm during the step of determining
whether the confirmation command to unlock the door has been
received.
15. An oven appliance, comprising: a cabinet defining an opening at
a front portion of the cabinet, the cabinet also defining a cooking
chamber configured for receipt of food items for cooking; a door
mounted to the cabinet at the opening of the cabinet, the door
being selectively adjustable between an open position and a closed
position to permit selective access to the cooking chamber through
the opening of the cabinet; a door lock; a heating element
configured to heat the cooking chamber; and a controller in
operative communication with the door lock, the controller
configured for detecting an input to activate a door lock of the
oven appliance to lock a door of the oven appliance; prompting for
a confirmation command to lock the door; determining whether the
confirmation command to lock the door has been received and, if so,
then locking the door; detecting an input to activate the door lock
to unlock the door; prompting for a confirmation command to unlock
the door; and determining whether the confirmation command to
unlock the door has been received and, if so, then unlocking the
door.
16. The oven appliance of claim 15, wherein the input to activate
the door lock to lock the door is a voice command by a user of the
oven appliance to start a self-clean cycle of the oven
appliance.
17. The oven appliance of claim 16, wherein the input to activate
the door lock to unlock the door is a signal that the self-clean
cycle is finished.
18. The oven appliance of claim 15, wherein the input to activate
the door lock to lock the door is a voice command by a user of the
oven appliance to lock the door.
19. The oven appliance of claim 15, wherein the input to activate
the door lock to unlock the door is a voice command by a user of
the oven appliance to unlock the door.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The subject matter of the present disclosure relates
generally to methods and systems for locking and unlocking
appliance doors, in particular the door of an oven appliance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Oven appliances generally include a cabinet that defines a
cooking chamber for baking or broiling food items therein. Oven
appliances also usually include a door that, with normal use,
pivots about one or more hinges between an open and a closed
position to allow access to the cooking chamber of the cabinet.
When in the open position, the door may be parallel to the floor
and at a vertical distance above the floor such that, e.g., to a
child, the door may appear to provide a step for reaching items on
or near the oven appliance that may be out of reach from the floor.
The door may otherwise be used abnormally, e.g., for a child to
climb on or into the oven appliance. Such abnormal use of the oven
door could allow a child to access potentially harmful objects or
could cause the oven appliance to tip over. To prevent abnormal use
of the door, it may be desirable to lock the door in the closed
position when the cooking chamber is not being used for baking or
broiling food items. However, typical oven appliance door locks are
engaged or disengaged using one or more buttons, knobs, or the like
within the reach of a child such that the door lock may be
ineffectual.
[0003] Accordingly, an oven appliance with features for locking and
unlocking the door of the oven appliance following a voice command
by a user of the oven appliance would be beneficial. A method for
operating an oven appliance to lock and unlock the door of the oven
appliance following a voice command by a user also would be
useful.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides an oven appliance and for
operation of an oven appliance. The oven appliance and method for
operating the oven appliance include features such that the door of
the oven appliance may be locked or unlocked using one or more
voice commands by a user of the oven appliance. 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.
[0005] In a first exemplary embodiment, a method for operating an
oven appliance is provided. The method includes the steps of
detecting an input to start a self-clean cycle of the oven
appliance; prompting for a confirmation command to start the
self-clean cycle; determining whether the confirmation command has
been received and, if so, then locking a door of the oven
appliance; starting the self-clean cycle; and determining whether
the self-clean cycle has finished and, if so, then unlocking the
door of the oven appliance.
[0006] In a second exemplary embodiment, a method for operating an
oven appliance is provided. The method includes the steps of
detecting an input to activate a door lock of the oven appliance to
lock a door of the oven appliance; prompting for a confirmation
command to lock the door; determining whether the confirmation
command to lock the door has been received and, if so, then locking
the door; detecting an input to activate the door lock to unlock
the door; prompting for a confirmation command to unlock the door;
and determining whether the confirmation command to unlock the door
has been received and, if so, then unlocking the door.
[0007] In a third exemplary embodiment, an oven appliance is
provided. The oven appliance includes a cabinet defining an opening
at a front portion of the cabinet, the cabinet also defining a
cooking chamber configured for receipt of food items for cooking; a
door mounted to the cabinet at the opening of the cabinet, the door
being selectively adjustable between an open position and a closed
position to permit selective access to the cooking chamber through
the opening of the cabinet; a door lock; a heating element
configured to heat the cooking chamber; and a controller in
operative communication with the door lock. The controller is
configured for detecting an input to activate a door lock of the
oven appliance to lock a door of the oven appliance; prompting for
a confirmation command to lock the door; determining whether the
confirmation command to lock the door has been received and, if so,
then locking the door; detecting an input to activate the door lock
to unlock the door; prompting for a confirmation command to unlock
the door; and determining whether the confirmation command to
unlock the door has been received and, if so, then unlocking the
door.
[0008] 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
[0009] 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:
[0010] FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of an oven range
appliance received within a set of kitchen cabinets according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0011] FIG. 2 provides a cross-section view of the oven range
appliance of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 provides a chart illustrating an exemplary method for
operating an oven appliance according to the present subject
matter.
[0013] FIG. 4 provides a chart illustrating another exemplary
method for operating an oven appliance according to the present
subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] 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.
[0015] FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of an oven range
appliance 12 received within a set of kitchen cabinets. Oven range
appliance 12 is provided by way of example only and is not intended
to limit the present subject matter in any aspect. Thus, the
present subject matter may be used with other oven appliance
configurations, e.g., that define one or more interior cavities for
the receipt of food and/or that are wall mounted. Further, the
present subject matter may be used in any other suitable
appliance.
[0016] FIG. 1 also illustrates a microwave appliance 10, commonly
referred to as an over-the-range microwave, mounted to an upper set
of kitchen cabinets 14 above oven range appliance 12, e.g., along a
vertical direction V. Upper set of kitchen cabinets 14 is
positioned above a base set of kitchen cabinets 16, e.g., along the
vertical direction V. Base set of kitchen cabinets 16 includes
countertops 18 and drawers 17. Oven range appliance 12 is received
within base set of kitchen cabinets 16 below microwave appliance 10
such that a cooking surface 30 of oven range appliance 12 is
positioned, e.g., directly below microwave appliance 10 along the
vertical direction V. Microwave appliance 10 can include features
such as an air handler or fan (not shown) that can draw cooking
vapors and/or smoke away from cooking surface 30 and out of the
kitchen containing microwave and oven range appliances 10 and
12.
[0017] Cooking surface 30 of range 12 includes heated portions 32
that may be heated by heating elements (not shown), e.g.,
electrical resistive heating elements, gas burners, induction
heating elements, and/or any other suitable heating element or
combination of heating elements. Cooking utensils, such as cooking
utensil 28, may be placed on heated portions 32 to cook or heat
food items. Oven range appliance 12 also includes a door 36 that
permits access to a cooking chamber 42 (FIG. 2) of oven range
appliance 12, e.g., for cooking or baking of food items therein.
One or more controls 60 on a control panel 34 of oven range
appliance 12 can permit a user to make selections for cooking of
food items, e.g., a duration of a cooking cycle of oven range
appliance 12 and/or a power setting for the cooking cycle of oven
range appliance 12.
[0018] FIG. 2 provides a cross-section view of oven range appliance
12. As illustrated, oven range appliance 12 includes an insulated
cabinet 40 with an interior cooking chamber 42 defined by an
interior surface 44 of cabinet 40. Cooking chamber 42 is configured
for the receipt of one or more food items to be cooked. Range
appliance 12 includes a door 36 pivotally mounted to cabinet 40,
e.g., with one or more hinges (not shown). A handle 37 is mounted
to door 36 and assists a user with opening and closing door 36 to
access cooking chamber 42. For example, a user can pull or push on
handle 37 to open or close door 36 and access cooking chamber
42.
[0019] Oven range appliance 12 includes a door lock 38 that, when
engaged, prevents door 36 from opening. Door lock 38 may be an
electromechanical lock, or other suitable locking device,
positioned on cabinet 40 adjacent the front portion of cabinet 40
and may include a hook that engages door 36. Alternatively, door
lock 38 may be positioned on door 36 near the front portion of
cabinet 40 and include a hook that engages cabinet 40. The
operation of door lock 38 is further described below, and in other
embodiments, door lock 38 may be any appropriate mechanism for
locking door 36 as described.
[0020] Further, oven range appliance 12 can include a seal (not
shown) between door 36 and cabinet 40 that assists with maintaining
heat and cooking fumes within cooking chamber 42 when door 36 is
closed as shown in FIG. 2. Multiple parallel glass panes 39 assist
with insulating cooking chamber 42 and provide for viewing the
contents of cooking chamber 42 when door 36 is closed. A baking
rack 46 is positioned in cooking chamber 42 for the receipt of food
items or utensils containing food items. Baking rack 46 is slidably
received onto embossed ribs or sliding rails 48 such that rack 46
may be conveniently moved into and out of cooking chamber 42 when
door 36 is open.
[0021] A gas fueled or electric bottom heating element 50 (e.g., a
gas burner or a bake gas burner) is positioned in cabinet 40, e.g.,
at a bottom portion 41 of cabinet 40. Bottom heating element 50 is
used to heat cooking chamber 42 for both cooking and cleaning of
oven appliance 12. The size and heat output of bottom heating
element 50 can be selected based on the e.g., the size of oven
appliance 12.
[0022] A top heating element 52 is also positioned in cooking
chamber 42 of cabinet 40, e.g., at a top portion 43 of cabinet 40.
Top heating element 52 is used to heat cooking chamber 42 for both
cooking/broiling and cleaning of oven appliance 12. Like bottom
heating element 50, the size and heat output of top heating element
52 can be selected based on the e.g., the size of oven appliance
12. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, top heating
element 52 is shown as an electric resistance heating element.
However, in alternative embodiments, a gas, microwave, halogen, or
any other suitable heating element may be used instead of electric
resistance heating element 52. Additionally, other heating
elements, such as a convection heating element, also may be
included in the oven appliance to be used during cooking and
cleaning cycles of the oven appliance.
[0023] The operation of oven appliance 12, including heating
elements 50 and 52, is controlled by a processing device such as a
controller 56 (FIG. 1), which may include a microprocessor or other
device that is in communication with such components. Such
controller 56 also may be in communication with a temperature
sensor 54 that is used to measure temperature inside cooking
chamber 42 and provide such measurements to the controller 56.
Temperature sensor 54 is shown in the top and rear of cooking
chamber 42. However, other locations may be used and, if desired,
multiple temperature sensors may be applied as well.
[0024] Controller 56 may include a memory and microprocessor, such
as a general or special purpose microprocessor operable to execute
programming instructions or micro-control code associated with a
cleaning cycle. The memory may represent random access memory such
as DRAM, and/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.
Alternatively, controller 56 may be constructed without using a
microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or
digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators,
comparators, flip-flops, AND gates, and the like) to perform
control functionality instead of relying upon software. Controls 60
and other components of oven range appliance 12 may be in
communication with controller 56 via one or more signal lines or
shared communication busses.
[0025] Moreover, controller 56 is operatively coupled or in
communication with various other components of microwave appliance
10, including controls 60 and door lock 38. For example, in
response to user manipulation of controls 60, controller 56
operates the various components of oven range appliance 12 to
execute selected cycles and features. Controller 56 may also be in
communication with door lock 38 to lock and unlock door 36, e.g.,
to prevent abnormal use of door 36. For example, a child may
consider door 36 of oven range appliance 12 useful as a step to
reach the cooktop and/or items thereon or the surfaces in the
vicinity of oven range appliance 12. In addition to providing
access to potentially harmful items, abnormal use of door 36 could
cause oven range appliance 12 to tip over. Accordingly, if door 36
of oven appliance 12 may be selectively locked, e.g., during
particular cycles of oven appliance 12 or when oven appliance 12 is
not in use, abnormal use of door 36 can be avoided, as well as
other potentially harmful uses of oven appliance 12.
[0026] In an exemplary embodiment of oven range appliance 12,
controller 56 activates door lock 38 to lock door 36 during, e.g.,
a self-clean cycle of oven appliance 12. In other embodiments,
controller 56 may lock or unlock door 36 in response to inputs by a
user of oven range appliance 12. For example, controller 56 may be
configured to detect as inputs voice commands of a user of the oven
appliance, e.g., to initiate or cancel operations of oven appliance
12. Such commands may include "Start self-clean cycle" or "GE, lock
the door." The voice commands may be authenticated, i.e.,
distinguished from attempts by a child operate oven appliance 12,
and/or confirmed through the use of a unique spoken phrase. The
unique phrase may be any phrase chosen by the user and programmed
into, e.g., controller 56, and multiple users may each have a
unique programmed phrase. Alternatively, the voice commands may be
authenticated and/or confirmed through the use of voice biometrics,
which may distinguish an adult voice from a juvenile voice,
identify an exact voice, or otherwise authenticate commands such
that only adults or specific persons may initiate or cancel
operations of oven appliance 12.
[0027] The voice commands may be detected and utilized by
controller 56 in whole or in part, as discussed. In other
embodiments, the voice commands may be detected and utilized by any
combination of, e.g., a stand-alone or embedded microphone, a
smartphone, a tablet computer, and a cloud computing system. Other
devices may also be used to detect and utilize a user's voice
commands.
[0028] As a further example, controller 56 may be configured to
detect gestures of a user of the oven appliance through Swept
Frequency Capacitive Sensing (SFCS). In such embodiments, oven door
36 may include a conductive surface, such as front panel 70, and
controller 56 may detect touch inputs to door 36 such that when a
user touches door 36 with her fingers in a preprogrammed sequence,
controller 56 accepts the input, e.g., to initiate or cancel
operations of oven appliance 12. For example, the user may program
the sequence 5-3-2-4 as, e.g., a confirmation gesture. Then, when
controller 56 prompts the user to confirm the initiation or
cancellation of an operation of appliance 12, and the user touches
door 36 with five fingers, then three fingers, then two fingers,
and finally four fingers (thereby inputting the sequence 5-3-2-4),
controller 56 senses the input sequence as the confirmation gesture
to initiate or cancel the operation. The user may program one or
more sequences to initiate, confirm, or cancel actions of oven
appliance 12 or to otherwise operate the oven.
[0029] Additionally, oven appliance 12 may include one or more
controls 60 that, when utilized separately or in combination, may
signal to controller 56 to start a self-clean cycle and/or to lock
or unlock door 36. For example, control panel 34 may include a door
lock element 62, such as, e.g., a button, knob, or the like, that a
user may utilize to indicate door 36 should be locked or unlocked.
Alternatively, door lock element 62 may consist of several controls
60 that, when utilized in a programmed sequence, indicate to
controller 56 to lock or unlock door 36. Other configurations of
door lock element 62 may be used as well. Thus, oven range 12 may
include one or more features for locking door 36 such that abnormal
use of door 36 can be prevented.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 3, an exemplary method for operating
oven range appliance 12 is illustrated. Method 300 or portions
thereof may be performed by controller 56 or any other suitable
device or devices. At step 302, controller 56 detects an input to
start a self-clean cycle of oven appliance 12. The self-clean cycle
input may be a voice command by a user of the appliance. For
example, the user could voice the command "GE, start self-clean
cycle" or "GE, start self-clean cycle and lock the door until it is
over." Alternatively, the self-clean cycle input may be the use of
one or more controls 60 by the user. For example, oven range
appliance 12 may include a button control element that, when
depressed, signals controller 56 to start the self-clean cycle.
Other ways of indicating a self-clean cycle should be started may
be used as well.
[0031] At step 304 of method 300, oven range appliance 12 prompts
the user to confirm that a self-clean cycle should be started. Oven
appliance 12 may prompt for confirmation of the self-clean cycle
by, e.g., any audible and/or visual prompt that indicates to the
user that a confirmation is needed to start the self-clean cycle.
By way of example, the prompt may be a notification displayed on
control panel 34 of appliance 12, a LED light, a buzzer, a verbal
prompt such as "Start self-clean cycle?", and/or any other
appropriate visual and/or audible prompt. Other prompts for
confirming the self-clean cycle may also be used.
[0032] After prompting for a confirmation, at step 306, controller
56 may begin counting a predetermined time t.sub.confirm, which may
be any appropriate time interval that allows the user sufficient
time to confirm the self-clean cycle. At step 308, controller 56
determines whether a confirmation has been given. The user may
confirm that a self-clean cycle should be started by giving a
confirmation command, such as, e.g., "Yes, start self-clean cycle,"
"Self-clean cycle confirmed," or simply "Yes." Other confirmation
commands may also be used, such as a unique phrase that
authenticates the user as described above. The user may also give a
confirmation through other means, such as, e.g., by utilizing one
of controls 60 or by utilizing one or more controls 60 in a
preprogrammed sequence. In other embodiments, the user may give a
confirmation gesture, such as the 5-3-2-4 touch sequence previously
described. The confirmation gesture may be input on front panel 70
of door 36 or any other appropriate conductive surface of oven
range appliance 12, such as, e.g., a portion of control panel
34.
[0033] If a confirmation is given before time t.sub.confirm
elapses, method 300 may proceed to step 310. However, if a
confirmation is not given during time t.sub.confirm, controller 56
may determine that the self-clean cycle should not be started.
Further, in some embodiments, the confirmation step may be omitted,
e.g., when a user gives a one-shot command such as, "Start
self-clean and lock the door."
[0034] At step 310, door lock 38 is activated to lock oven door 36,
and at step 312, the self-clean cycle is started. As shown at step
314, controller 56 may count the time t.sub.sc elapsed during the
self-clean cycle. Controller 56 may also monitor the temperature
T.sub.sc of the cooking chamber during the self-clean cycle using,
e.g., temperature sensor 54. At step 316, controller 56 determines
whether the self-clean cycle is finished. Controller 56 may
determine that the self-clean cycle is finished if time t.sub.sc
has reached at least a threshold time t.sub.thr. That is, at step
316, controller 56 may compare time t.sub.sc to time t.sub.thr, and
if time t.sub.sc is at least equal to time t.sub.thr, controller 56
determines the self-clean cycle is finished. Alternatively,
controller 56 may determine that the self-clean cycle is finished
if temperature T.sub.sc has reached at least a threshold
temperature T.sub.thr, i.e., controller 56 may compare temperature
T.sub.sc to temperature T.sub.thr, and if temperature T.sub.sc is
at least equal to temperature T.sub.thr, controller 56 determines
the self-clean cycle is finished. In other embodiments, controller
56 may determine the self-clean cycle is complete if both time
t.sub.sc and temperature T.sub.sc have reached at least threshold
values t.sub.thr and T.sub.thr. Time t.sub.thr and temperature
T.sub.thr may be determined experimentally and may be, e.g., the
time to complete a self-clean cycle under typical conditions and a
maximum temperature reached during a self-clean cycle under typical
conditions. Other ways of determining whether the self-clean cycle
is finished may also be used.
[0035] If controller 56 determines at step 316 that the self-clean
cycle is not finished, controller 56 continues to count time
t.sub.sc and/or monitor temperature T.sub.sc. However, if
controller 56 determines at step 316 that the self-clean cycle is
finished, method 300 proceeds to step 318, where door lock 38 is
activated to unlock oven door 36.
[0036] FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary method for operating
oven appliance 12. Method 400 or portions thereof may be performed
by controller 56 or any other suitable device or devices. As shown,
method 400 includes step 402 of detecting an input to activate door
lock 38 to lock door 36. The lock input may be a voice command by a
user of the appliance. For example, the user could voice the
command "GE, lock the door." In alternative embodiments, the lock
input may be the use of one or more controls 60 by the user. For
example, oven range appliance 12 may include a door locking element
62 that, when depressed, creates the lock input that may be
detected by controller 56. In still other embodiments, the user
could voice the command "GE, start self-clean cycle" or utilize one
or more of controls 60 to indicate a self-clean cycle should be
started. Controller 56 may detect such self-clean cycle input as
the input to activate door lock 38 to lock door 36. Other ways of
indicating door lock 38 should be activated to lock door 36 may be
used as well.
[0037] At step 404, oven appliance 12 prompts the user to confirm
that door lock 38 should be activated to lock door 36. As described
with respect to confirming a self-clean cycle, oven appliance 12
may prompt for confirmation by, e.g., any audible and/or visual
prompt that indicates to the user that a confirmation is needed to
lock oven door 36. By way of example, the prompt may be a
notification displayed on control panel 34, a LED light, a buzzer,
a verbal prompt such as "Lock door?", and/or any other appropriate
visual and/or audible prompt. Other prompts for confirming
controller 56 should activate door lock 38 to lock door 36 may also
be used.
[0038] After prompting for a confirmation, at step 406, controller
56 may begin counting a predetermined time t.sub.confirm, which may
be any appropriate time interval that allows the user sufficient
time to confirm that door 36 should be locked. At step 408,
controller 56 determines whether a confirmation has been given. The
user may confirm that door 36 should be locked by giving a
confirmation command, such as, e.g., "Yes, lock door," "Lock door,"
or simply, "Yes." Alternatively, the confirmation command may be a
unique phrase that authenticates the user as described above. The
user may also give a confirmation by, e.g., utilizing one of
controls 60 or utilizing one or more controls 60 in a preprogrammed
sequence. In other embodiments, the user may confirm activation of
door lock 38 at step 406 by giving a confirmation gesture, such as
the 5-3-2-4 touch sequence previously described.
[0039] If a confirmation is given before time t.sub.confirm
elapses, method 400 may proceed to step 410. However, if a
confirmation is not given during time t.sub.confirm, controller 56
may determine that door lock 38 should not be activated and door 36
remains unlocked. Further, in some embodiments, the confirmation
step may be omitted.
[0040] At step 410, door lock 38 is activated to lock oven door 36,
and door 36 remains locked until, at step 412, controller 56
detects an input to activate door lock 38 to unlock door 36. The
unlock input may be, e.g., a voice command by the user of the oven
appliance, such as, e.g., "GE, unlock the door." Alternatively, the
user may utilize one or more controls 60 to activate door lock 38
to unlock door 36, as described above with respect to locking door
36. Further, if door 36 was locked for oven appliance 12 to perform
a self-clean cycle, the unlock input may be a signal generated when
controller 56 determines the self-clean cycle is finished, as
described with respect to method 300. In other embodiments, the
unlock input may be, e.g., the initiation of a cooking cycle, such
as through the voice command, "GE, set bake temperature to
350."
[0041] Once controller 56 receives an input to activate door lock
38 to unlock door 36, at step 414 oven range appliance 12 prompts
the user to confirm that door lock 38 should be activated to unlock
door 36. As described with respect to locking door 36 and starting
a self-clean cycle, oven appliance 12 may prompt for confirmation
using, e.g., any audible and/or visual prompt that indicates to the
user that a confirmation is needed to unlock oven door 36. For
example, the prompt may be a notification displayed on control
panel 34, a LED light, a buzzer, a verbal prompt such as "Unlock
door?", and/or any other appropriate visual and/or audible prompt.
Other prompts to confirm that door 36 should be unlocked may also
be used.
[0042] After prompting for a confirmation, at step 416 controller
56 may begin counting time t.sub.confirm. At step 418, controller
56 determines whether a confirmation has been given. The user may
confirm that door 36 should be locked by giving a confirmation
command, such as, e.g., "Yes, unlock door," "Unlock door," or
simply, "Yes." The user may also give a confirmation by, e.g.,
utilizing one of controls 60 or utilizing one or more controls 60
in a preprogrammed sequence. In other embodiments, as described
above, activation of door lock 38 may be confirmed using SFCS. In
such embodiments, when prompted to confirm that door 36 should be
unlocked, the user may touch an appropriate conductive surface with
her fingers in a preprogrammed sequence, such as, e.g., the
described 5-3-2-4 sequence, and controller 56 accepts the input as
a confirmation gesture to activate door lock 38. The user may
confirm activation of door lock 38 to unlock door 36 in other ways
as well.
[0043] If a confirmation is given before time t.sub.confirm
elapses, method 400 may proceed to step 420. At step 420, door lock
38 is activated to unlock oven door 36. However, if a confirmation
is not given during time t.sub.confirm, controller 56 may determine
that door lock 38 should not be activated and door 36 remains
locked. As indicated, in some embodiments, the confirmation step
may be omitted.
[0044] 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.
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