U.S. patent application number 16/006953 was filed with the patent office on 2019-12-19 for oven appliances and methods of operation for updating default temperatures.
The applicant listed for this patent is Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.. Invention is credited to James Lee Armstrong.
Application Number | 20190383495 16/006953 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 68839807 |
Filed Date | 2019-12-19 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190383495 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Armstrong; James Lee |
December 19, 2019 |
OVEN APPLIANCES AND METHODS OF OPERATION FOR UPDATING DEFAULT
TEMPERATURES
Abstract
An oven appliance and methods of operating an oven appliance are
provided herein. The oven appliance may include a cabinet defining
a cooking chamber, a heating element within the cabinet to heat the
cooking chamber, a user interface attached to the cabinet, and a
controller operably coupled to the heating element and the user
interface. The controller may be configured to initiate a cooking
operation that includes establishing a preferred default
temperature.
Inventors: |
Armstrong; James Lee;
(Louisville, KY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. |
Wilmington |
DE |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
68839807 |
Appl. No.: |
16/006953 |
Filed: |
June 13, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 7/088 20130101;
F24C 7/085 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24C 7/08 20060101
F24C007/08 |
Claims
1. A method of operating an oven appliance comprising: recording a
plurality of historic heating cycles for the oven appliance, each
historic heating cycle comprising an input temperature setting
received at a user interface of the oven appliance; determining a
preferred temperature setting based on the input temperatures of
the plurality of historic heating cycles; comparing the preferred
temperature setting to a previous default temperature setting;
establishing the preferred temperature setting as a current default
temperature setting in response to the preferred temperature
setting diverging from the previous default temperature setting;
receiving an activation signal from the user interface; and
directing a cooking chamber of the oven appliance to the current
default temperature setting in response to receiving the activation
signal.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein recording includes transmitting
the plurality of historic heating cycles to a remote server spaced
apart from the oven appliance.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of historic heating
cycles comprises a plurality of heating cycles performed during a
dynamic time period.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of historic heating
cycles comprises a minimum number of heating cycles.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein each historic heating cycle
comprises receiving an activation signal for a cooking chamber of
the oven appliance, and receiving a cancellation signal for the
cooking chamber of the oven appliance.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the preferred
temperature setting comprises identifying a median temperature
setting of the plurality of historic heating cycles, wherein the
preferred temperature setting is the median temperature
setting.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the preferred
temperature setting as the current default temperature setting
comprises detecting the preferred temperature setting diverges from
the previous default temperature setting by a predetermined
percentage.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing the
previous default temperature setting as the current default
temperature setting in response to the preferred temperature
setting failing to diverge from the previous default temperature
setting.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the
preferred temperature setting from a remote server spaced apart
from the oven appliance.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation signal is
initiated in response to engagement of a bake input at the user
interface.
11. An oven appliance comprising: a cabinet defining a cooking
chamber; a heating element within the cabinet to heat the cooking
chamber; a user interface attached to the cabinet; and a controller
operably coupled to the heating element and the user interface, the
controller being configured to initiate a cooking operation
comprising recording a plurality of historic heating cycles for the
oven appliance, each historic heating cycle comprising an input
temperature setting received at the user interface, determining a
preferred temperature setting based on the input temperatures of
the plurality of historic heating cycles, comparing the preferred
temperature setting to a previous default temperature setting,
establishing the preferred temperature setting as a current default
temperature setting in response to the preferred temperature
setting diverging from the previous default temperature setting,
receiving an activation signal from the user interface, and
directing a cooking chamber of the oven appliance to the current
default temperature setting in response to receiving the activation
signal.
12. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein recording includes
transmitting the plurality of historic heating cycles to a remote
server spaced apart from the oven appliance.
13. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the plurality of
historic heating cycles comprises a plurality of heating cycles
performed during a dynamic time period.
14. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the plurality of
historic heating cycles comprises a minimum number of heating
cycles.
15. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein each historic heating
cycle comprises receiving an activation signal for the cooking
chamber, and receiving a cancellation signal for the cooking
chamber.
16. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein determining the
preferred temperature setting comprises identifying a median
temperature setting of the plurality of historic heating cycles,
wherein the preferred temperature setting is the median temperature
setting.
17. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein establishing the
preferred temperature setting as the current default temperature
setting comprises detecting the preferred temperature setting
diverges from the previous default temperature setting by a
predetermined percentage.
18. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the cooking operation
further comprises establishing the previous default temperature
setting as a current default temperature setting in response to the
preferred temperature setting failing to diverge from the previous
default temperature setting.
19. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the cooking operation
further comprises receiving the preferred temperature setting from
a remote server spaced apart from the oven appliance.
20. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the activation signal
is initiated in response to engagement of a bake input at the user
interface.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to oven
appliances, and more particularly to oven appliances and methods
with features for updating a default temperature setting.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Conventional residential and commercial oven appliances
generally include a cabinet that defines a cooking chamber for
receipt of food items for cooking. Heating elements are positioned
within the cooking chamber to provide heat to food items located
therein. The heating elements can include, for example, radiant
heating elements, such as a bake heating assembly positioned at a
bottom of the cooking chamber or a broil heating assembly
positioned at a top of the cooking chamber.
[0003] In some conventional oven appliances, a user interface is
provided on or adjacent to the oven appliance. Typically, once the
oven is activated or a heating operation is selected (e.g., a bake
operation), the user interface provides a default temperature
setting for the cooking chamber. For instance, a temperature
setting of 350.degree. Fahrenheit is the default temperature
setting for many oven appliances sold within the United States.
Without further selection or input, the oven appliance may then
heat the cooking chamber to the value (i.e., temperature) of the
default temperature setting. If the user wishes to have the cooking
chamber operate at a temperature setting that is different from the
default temperature setting, the user must often press or select a
new temperature setting after the oven has been activated or a
heating operation has been selected.
[0004] Typically, any default temperature setting is programmed
within the oven appliance during its manufacture and may not be
changed. Although the default temperature setting may be the
temperature at which most cooking operations are performed for many
or most consumers, there may be consumers or instances where the
default temperature setting is rarely used. This may lead to
frustration for some consumers, since they will be required to
routinely adjust the temperature setting for the oven appliance.
Some consumers may wish to change the default temperature setting,
but may not readily know what an appropriate temperature setting
would be. Moreover, in many instances it is difficult, if not
impossible, for a consumer or user to change any of the default
settings of an oven appliance.
[0005] Therefore, further improvements would be useful for
adjusting a default temperature setting in an oven appliance. In
particular, it may be advantageous to provide an oven appliance or
methods that permit adjustments to the settings of an oven
appliance without the need for direct controller input from a
user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in
part in the following description, or may be obvious from the
description, or may be learned through practice of the
invention.
[0007] In one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a method
for operating an oven appliance is provided. The method may include
recording a plurality of historic heating cycles. Each historic
heating cycle may include an input temperature setting received at
a user interface of the oven appliance. The method may include
determining a preferred temperature setting based on the input
temperatures of the plurality of historic heating cycles. The
method may further include comparing the preferred temperature
setting to a previous default temperature setting. The method may
further include establishing the preferred temperature setting as a
current default temperature setting in response to the preferred
temperature setting diverging from the previous default temperature
setting. The method may still further include receiving an
activation signal from the user interface. The method may also
include directing a cooking chamber of the oven appliance to the
current default temperature setting in response to receiving the
activation signal.
[0008] In another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an
oven appliance is provided. The oven appliance may include a
cabinet defining a cooking chamber, a heating element within the
cabinet to heat the cooking chamber, a user interface attached to
the cabinet, and a controller operably coupled to the heating
element and the user interface. The controller may be configured to
initiate a cooking operation. The cooking operation may include
recording a plurality of historic heating cycles for the oven
appliance, determining a preferred temperature setting based on an
input temperature of the plurality of historic heating cycles,
comparing the preferred temperature setting to a previous default
temperature setting, establishing the preferred temperature setting
as a current default temperature setting in response to the
preferred temperature setting diverging from the previous default
temperature setting, receiving an activation signal from the user
interface, and directing a cooking chamber of the oven appliance to
the current default temperature setting in response to receiving
the activation signal. Each historic heating cycle may include an
input temperature setting received at the user interface.
[0009] 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
[0010] 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.
[0011] FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of an oven appliance
according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 2 provides a section view of the exemplary oven
appliance of FIG. 1, taken along the line 2-2.
[0013] FIG. 3 provides a schematic view of a servicing system
according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 4 provides a flow chart illustrating a method of
operating an oven appliance according to exemplary embodiments of
the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] 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.
[0016] It is noted that, for the purposes of the present
disclosure, the terms "includes" and "including" are intended to be
inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprising." Similarly,
the term "or" is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., "A or B"
is intended to mean "A or B or both").
[0017] FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of an oven appliance 10
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 provides a section view of oven appliance 10 taken along the
2-2 line of FIG. 1. As may be seen, oven appliance 10 defines a
vertical direction V, a lateral direction L and a transverse
direction T. The vertical direction V, the lateral direction L and
the transverse direction T are mutually perpendicular and form an
orthogonal direction system. Oven appliance 10 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 or having different
pan or rack arrangements than what is shown in FIG. 2). Further,
the present subject matter may be used in a stand-alone cooktop,
range appliance, or any other suitable appliance.
[0018] Oven appliance 10 generally includes a cooking assembly. In
particular, the cooking assembly may include one or more heating
elements. For example, in some embodiments, the cooking assembly,
and thus the oven appliance 10 includes an insulated cabinet 12
with an interior cooking chamber 14 defined by an interior surface
15 of cabinet 12. Cooking chamber 14 is configured for the receipt
of one or more food items to be cooked. Oven appliance 10 includes
a door 16 rotatably mounted to cabinet 12 (e.g., with a hinge--not
shown). A handle 18 may be mounted to door 16 and assists a user
with opening and closing door 16 in order to access cooking chamber
14. For example, a user can pull on handle 18 to open or close door
16 and access cooking chamber 14.
[0019] In some embodiments, oven appliance 10 includes a seal (not
shown) between door 16 and cabinet 12 that assists with maintaining
heat and cooking fumes within cooking chamber 14 when door 16 is
closed as shown in FIG. 2. Multiple parallel glass panes 22 may
provide for viewing the contents of cooking chamber 14 when door 16
is closed and assist with insulating cooking chamber 14. A baking
rack 24 is positioned in cooking chamber 14 for the receipt of food
items or utensils containing food items. Baking rack 24 is slidably
received onto embossed ribs or sliding rails 26 such that rack 24
may be conveniently moved into and out of cooking chamber 14 when
door 16 is open.
[0020] In certain embodiments, a gas fueled or electric bottom
heating element 40 (e.g., a gas burner, a radiant heating element,
microwave heating element, or a resistive heating element) is
positioned in cabinet 12, for example, at a bottom portion 30 of
cabinet 12. Bottom heating element 40 is used to heat cooking
chamber 14 for both cooking and cleaning of oven appliance 10. The
size and heat output of bottom heating element 40 can be selected
based on, for example, the size of oven appliance 10.
[0021] In additional or alternative embodiments, a top heating
element 42 (e.g., a gas burner, a radiant heating element, or a
resistive heating element) is positioned in cooking chamber 14 of
cabinet 12, for example, at a top portion 32 of cabinet 12. Top
heating element 42 is used to heat cooking chamber 14 for both
cooking/broiling and cleaning of oven appliance 10. Like bottom
heating element 40, the size and heat output of top heating element
42 can be selected based on for example, the size of oven appliance
10.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, in certain embodiments, a cooling air
flow passageway 28 can be provided within cabinet 12 between
cooking chamber 14 and cooktop 100. For example, a portion of
passageway 28 may be between cooking chamber 14 and cooktop 100
along a vertical direction V. Passageway 28 is shown schematically
in the figures. As will be understood by one of skill in the art
using the teachings disclosed herein, cooling air flow passageway
28 may have a variety of configurations other than as shown. Air
flowing through passageway 28 can provide convective cooling.
[0023] In optional embodiments, the oven appliance 10 additionally
includes a cooktop 100. Cooktop 100 may be disposed on the cabinet
12 such that the total volume of cabinet 12 is generally divided
between the cooking chamber 14 and cooktop 100. As shown, cooktop
100 may include a top panel 104. By way of example, top panel 104
may be constructed of glass, ceramics, enameled steel, and
combinations thereof. Heating assemblies 106 (e.g., induction
heating elements, resistive heating elements, radiant heating
elements, or gas burners) may be mounted, for example, on or below
the top panel 104. While shown with four heating assemblies 106 in
the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, cooktop appliance 100 may
include any number of heating assemblies 106 in alternative
exemplary embodiments. Heating assemblies 106 can also have various
diameters. For example, each heating assembly of heating assemblies
106 can have a different diameter, the same diameter, or any
suitable combination thereof.
[0024] As shown, oven appliance 10 includes a user interface panel
120, which may be located as shown, within convenient reach of a
user of the oven appliance 10. User interface panel 120 is
generally a component that allows a user to interact with the oven
appliance 10 to, for example, turn various heating elements (such
as heating elements 40, 42, 106) on and off, adjust the temperature
of the heating elements, set built-in timers, etc. Although user
interface panel 120 is shown mounted to a backsplash fixed to
cabinet 102, alternative embodiments may provide user interface
panel 120 at another suitable location (e.g., on a front portion of
cabinet 102 above door 16).
[0025] In some embodiments, a user interface panel 120 may include
one or more user-interface inputs 122 and a graphical display 124,
which may be separate from or integrated with the user-interface
inputs 122. The user-interface element 122 may include analog
control elements (e.g., knobs, dials, or buttons) or digital
control elements, such as a touchscreen comprising a plurality of
elements thereon. Various commands for a user to select through the
engagement with the user-interface inputs 122 may be displayed
(e.g., by touchscreen at the inputs 122 or by the graphical display
124), and detection of the user selecting a specific command may be
determined by the controller 50, which is in communication with the
user-interface inputs 122, based on electrical signals therefrom.
Additionally or alternatively, graphical display 124 may generally
deliver certain information to the user, which may be based on user
selections and interaction with the inputs 122, such as whether a
one or more heating elements 40, 42 within cooking chamber 14 are
activated or the temperature at which cooking chamber 14 is set. In
certain embodiments, a discrete bake input is included with the
inputs 122. User engagement of the bake input may activate the oven
appliance 10 or initiate heating within cooking chamber 14 (e.g.,
such that cooking chamber 14 is directed to a default temperature
setting).
[0026] Turning now to FIG. 3, a schematic view is provided of a
servicing system 200, including oven appliance 10, according to
exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Generally, oven
appliance 10 includes a controller 50 that controls operation of
the various components of the oven appliance 10. Controller 50 may
include a memory (e.g., non-transitive media) 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 RAM, ROM, EEPROM, EPROM, flash memory devices, magnetic
disks, etc., and combinations thereof. The memory devices can store
data and instructions that are executed by the processor to cause
oven appliance 10 to perform various operations. For example,
instructions could be instructions for directing activation of one
or more of the heating elements 40, 42. Instructions could further
be for receiving/transmitting log data signals (e.g., signals
corresponding to performance or activation of the oven appliance
10, such as past or historic temperature settings that have been
selected for cooking cycles within the cooking chamber 14),
recording log data as one or more log data sets over time (e.g.,
within memory), etc. User interface panel (e.g., inputs 122 and
display 124) and other components of oven appliance 10 may be in
communication with controller 50 via one or more signal lines or
shared communication busses.
[0027] In some embodiments, controller 50 includes a network
interface 140 such that oven appliance 10 can connect to and
communicate over one or more networks (e.g., network 210) with one
or more network nodes. Network interface 140 can be an onboard
component of controller 50 or it can be a separate, off board
component. Controller 50 can also include one or more transmitting,
receiving, or transceiving components for transmitting/receiving
communications with other devices communicatively coupled with oven
appliance 10. Additionally or alternatively, one or more
transmitting, receiving, or transceiving components can be located
off board controller 50.
[0028] Network 210 can be any suitable type of network, such as a
local area network (e.g., intranet), wide area network (e.g.,
internet), low power wireless networks [e.g., Bluetooth Low Energy
(BLE)], or some combination thereof and can include any number of
wired or wireless links. In general, communication over network 210
can be carried via any type of wired or wireless connection, using
a wide variety of communication protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, HTTP,
SMTP, FTP), encodings or formats (e.g., HTML, XML), or protection
schemes (e.g., VPN, secure HTTP, SSL).
[0029] In some embodiments, a remote server 220, such as a web
server, is in operable communication with oven appliance 10. The
remote server 220 can be used to host a service platform or
cloud-based application. Additionally or alternatively, remote
server 220 can be used to host an information database (e.g.,
recorded log data, historic heating cycles, temperature settings,
or other relevant data). Remote server 220 can be implemented using
any suitable computing device(s). Remote server 220 may include one
or more processors and one or more memory devices (i.e., memory).
The one or more processors can be any suitable processing device
(e.g., a processor core, a microprocessor, an ASIC, a FPGA, a
microcontroller, etc.) and can be one processor or a plurality of
processors that are operatively connected. The memory device can
include one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage
mediums, such as RAM, ROM, EEPROM, EPROM, flash memory devices,
magnetic disks, etc., and combinations thereof. The memory devices
can store data and instructions which are executed by the
processors to cause remote server 220 to perform operations. For
example, instructions could be instructions for
receiving/transmitting files related to log data, historic heating
cycles, temperature settings, etc.
[0030] The memory devices may also include data, such as log data,
historic heating cycles, temperature settings, etc., that can be
retrieved, manipulated, created, or stored by processors. The data
can be stored in one or more databases. The one or more databases
can be connected to remote server 220 by a high bandwidth LAN or
WAN, or can also be connected to remote server 220 through network
210. Optionally, the one or more databases can be split up so that
they are located in multiple locales.
[0031] Remote server 220 includes a network interface 240 such that
interactive remote server 220 can connect to and communicate over
one or more networks (e.g., network 210) with one or more network
nodes. Network interface 240 can be an onboard component or it can
be a separate, off board component. In turn, remote server 220 can
exchange data with one or more nodes over the network 210. In
particular, remote server 220 can exchange data with oven appliance
10. Although not pictured, it is understood that remote server 220
may further exchange data with any number of client devices over
the network 210. The client devices can be any suitable type of
computing device, such as a general purpose computer, special
purpose computer, laptop, desktop, integrated circuit, mobile
device, smartphone, tablet, or another suitable computing device.
Information or signals (e.g., relating log data, historic heating
cycles, temperature settings, etc.) may thus be exchanged between
oven appliance 10 and various separate client devices through
remote server 220.
[0032] Referring now to FIG. 4, various methods (e.g., method 400)
may be provided for use with oven appliance 10 or system 200 in
accordance with the present disclosure. In general, the various
steps of methods as disclosed herein may, in exemplary embodiments,
be performed by the controller 50 as part of an operation that the
controller 50 is configured to initiate (e.g., one or more cooking
operations). During such methods, controller 50 may receive inputs
and transmit outputs from various other portions of the system 200.
For example, controller 50 may send signals to and receive signals
from user interface 120, inputs 122, heating elements 40, 42,
remote server 220, as well as other suitable components.
Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the recited steps may
be performed with, or in part by, the remote server 220.
[0033] The present methods may advantageously permit selection and
use of a common or preferable default temperature setting.
Moreover, the methods may advantageously occur automatically
without direct user input or selection of the default
temperature.
[0034] FIG. 4 depicts steps performed in a particular order for
purpose of illustration and discussion. Those of ordinary skill in
the art, using the disclosures provided herein, will understand
that (except as otherwise indicated) the steps of any of the
methods disclosed herein can be modified, adapted, rearranged,
omitted, or expanded in various ways without deviating from the
scope of the present disclosure.
[0035] At 410, the method 400 includes recording a plurality of
historic heating cycles for the oven appliance. Generally, the
historic heating cycles represent past operations or instances of
use of the oven appliance. Each historic heating cycle includes an
input temperature setting received at a user interface of the oven
appliance. In other words, each recorded instance of a historic
heating cycle includes data or recorded information regarding what
the temperature setting was for a corresponding historic heating
cycle. The input temperature setting may be a temperature value
(e.g., in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius). Moreover, the input
temperature setting for one or more of the historic heating cycles
may be an adjusted or altered temperature that the user selected
after the default temperature setting was presented or
initiated.
[0036] In certain embodiments, each heating cycle can be delineated
or marked by an instance of activation, followed by deactivation,
of one or more heating elements. In other words, a single heating
cycle may include raising the cooking chamber to a selected
temperature (e.g., for a cooking operation) before subsequently
deactivating the heating elements (or otherwise halting heat
generation within cooking chamber). In some such embodiments, a
heating cycle includes receiving an activation signal for a cooking
chamber of the oven appliance, and then receiving a cancellation
signal for the cooking chamber of the oven appliance.
[0037] Optionally, each time a heating cycle is performed (e.g.,
such that one or more of the heating elements within cooking
chamber are activated), the temperature setting for that
corresponding heating cycle may be recorded as a historic heating
cycle. Additionally or alternatively, each heating cycle may
include relevant chronological information regarding, for instance,
how long the heating cycle was performed, when the heating cycle
was performed (e.g., time of day or date), etc.
[0038] In some embodiments, 410 includes transmitting the plurality
of historic heating cycles to a remote server, as described above.
In particular, the remote server may be spaced apart from the oven
appliance. Communications may thus occur through a network and the
corresponding network interfaces of the oven appliance and remote
server. In some such embodiments, each historic heating cycle
(e.g., the selected temperature setting or other relevant
information pertaining to the heating cycle) is transmitted to the
remote server automatically in real time (e.g., whenever a new
heating cycle is initiated). In other embodiments, one or more of
the heating cycles are transmitted after the heating cycle(s)
is/are finished (e.g., such that multiple heating cycles are
transmitted simultaneously at a later date).
[0039] In certain embodiments, the plurality of historic heating
cycles includes heating cycles performed during a dynamic time
period. Thus, the plurality of historic heating cycles may include
or be formed by only heating cycles that are performed within the
dynamic time period. As a dynamic time period, the plurality of
historic heating cycles may be updated regularly (e.g., daily,
weekly, monthly, etc.). Optionally, the dynamic time period may
include a set amount of time in the past relative to a current day
or week. As an example, the dynamic time period may include a
period of two months back from the current day. As another example,
the dynamic time period may include a period of six months prior to
the current day. As yet another example, the dynamic time period
may include a predefined span of tie or season (e.g., winter,
spring, summer, or fall). Moreover, any other suitable period of
time may be provided.
[0040] In additional or alternative embodiments, the plurality of
historic heating cycles includes a minimum number of historic
heating cycles. In other words, minimum number of heating cycles
may be required before one or more subsequent steps of the method
400 may be performed. For example, the minimum number of historic
heating cycles may be ten heating cycles or twenty heating cycles.
Optionally, the plurality of historic heating cycles may be updated
with each new heating cycle. Additionally or alternatively, each
new heating cycle may replace a previous (i.e., older) historic
heating cycle. The plurality of historic heating cycles may thus
include only a select number of the most recent historic heating
cycles.
[0041] At 420, the method 400 includes determining a preferred
temperature setting based on the input temperatures of the
plurality of historic heating cycles. In other words, the preferred
temperature setting may be ascertained using the input temperatures
of the plurality of historic heating cycles.
[0042] Optionally, the preferred temperature setting may be a
median temperature setting (e.g., value) of the plurality of
historic heating cycles. In such embodiments, 420 thus includes
identifying a median temperature setting.
[0043] At 430, the method 400 includes comparing the preferred
temperature setting to a previous default temperature setting.
Thus, a determination may be made as to whether the preferred
temperature setting from 420 diverges from or, alternatively,
matches the previous default temperature setting. The previous
default temperature setting is generally understood to be a default
temperature setting for the oven appliance at the time that the
comparison 430 is made.
[0044] Optionally, the previous default temperature setting may be
a temperature setting value programmed or recorded on the
controller of the oven appliance (e.g., during assembly, or
subsequent to installation and use). If the preferred temperature
setting does diverge or differ from the previous default
temperature setting, 430 may include calculating the difference
(e.g., as a magnitude value or a percentage) of the preferred
temperature setting to the previous default temperature
setting.
[0045] At 440, the method 400 includes establishing the preferred
temperature setting as a current default temperature setting. In
particular, 440 may occur in response to the preferred temperature
setting diverging from the existing default temperature setting.
The previous default temperature setting is thereby replaced with
preferred temperature setting. The preferred temperature setting
may then serve as the default temperature setting for the oven
appliance during future operations. The preferred temperature
setting may thus be the temperature setting that the oven appliance
first presents or initiates when the oven appliance is activated or
a specific cooking operation is selected at the user inputs.
[0046] Optionally, 440 may require that the preferred temperature
setting diverges from the previous default temperature setting by a
predetermined percentage (e.g., 2%, 5%, 10%, or another suitable
percentage).
[0047] In certain embodiments, one or more steps of method 400 may
be repeated (e.g. as a closed loop). If the preferred temperature
setting fails to diverge (i.e., does not diverge) from the previous
default temperature setting (e.g., at all or by the predetermined
percentage), the method 400 may include establishing the previous
default or setting has the current default temperature setting
(e.g., in response to such a determination).
[0048] In optional embodiments, one or more determinations or
calculations are performed at a remote server. In particular, the
comparison of 430 or the establishing of 440 may be performed, at
least in part, at 440. In some such embodiments, the preferred
temperature setting of 440 is received from the remote server.
[0049] At 450, the method 400 includes receiving an activation
signal from the user interface. For instance, the activation signal
may be initiated or transmitted in response to a selection of a
certain cooking operation or engagement of a specific user input on
the user interface. Optionally, the activation signal may be
initiated in response to engagement of a bake input at the user
interface.
[0050] At 460, the method 400 includes directing the cooking
chamber of the oven appliance to the current default temperature
setting in response to receiving the activation signal. Thus, the
oven appliance will present the current default temperature setting
at the display or initiate heating of the cooking chamber (e.g., by
activating one or more heating elements therein) to the current
default temperature setting, as described above.
[0051] 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 languages of the claims.
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