Patent Description:
A cooking apparatus, such as a gas cooktop or gas oven, includes a heat source that generates heat by burning gas in a main body. In order to supply gas to the heat source, a gas supply pipe is connected. In addition, a valve must be provided in the gas supply pipe to adjust a gas supply amount. The valve rotates within a predetermined angular range through a valve rotation axis, and the amount of gas supplied to the heat source is adjusted by rotation of the valve. The amount of gas supplied to the heat source determines a heating power of the heat source. The valve rotation shaft provided inside the main body of the cooking apparatus is interlocked with a knob provided outside the main body. Therefore, a user can ignite the heat source and adjust the heating power by operating the knob from the outside of the main body of the cooking apparatus. <CIT> discloses the preamble of claim <NUM>, <CIT> discloses a control device for gas taps including a display, <CIT> discloses an oven having control knobs on a panel, <CIT> discloses a timer for a gas stove, <CIT> discloses an indicator device for providing an announcement of the status of a burner control knob, <CIT> discloses an auxiliary button system configured to communicate through a network, <CIT> discloses an intelligent home cooking appliance that interprets wirelessly received interactive content.

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a display on a knob for setting a function of a cooking apparatus and to display status information of the cooking apparatus through the display of the knob, so that a user can easily and conveniently check the status information of the cooking apparatus.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention there is provided a cooking apparatus according to claim <NUM>. The present invention provides a cooking apparatus including: a knob comprising a fixing member fixed to a main body of the cooking apparatus, a rotating member supported by the fixing member and rotatably installed on the main body, and a display provided on the fixing member to display status information of the cooking apparatus; and a controller configured to transmit the status information of the cooking apparatus displayed on the display through a wireless communication network, wherein the fixing member and the display are configured to form a curved surface, wherein the curvature of the display is equal to or similar to the curvature of the fixing member, and wherein the display is disposed at the curved surface of the fixing member.

The status information of the cooking apparatus displayed on the display may include at least one of cooking time information and cooking heating power information.

The cooking time information may include information of a time counted through a timer.

When a cooking time is set through a user interface for setting the time, a timer based on the set cooking time may be configured to be displayed through the display.

The curvature of the display may be configured to coincide with a curvature of a fixing member.

The display may be made of electronic paper.

The status information of the cooking apparatus displayed through the display may be at least one of numbers and text.

The status information of the cooking apparatus may be configured to be displayed on the display in at least one of numbers, text, icons, and animation.

The controller may be configured to transmit the status information of the cooking apparatus displayed on the display to a mobile device at a remote location.

At least one communication method among Bluetooth and Wi-Fi may be used to transmit the status information of the cooking apparatus to the mobile device.

A method of controlling a cooking apparatus not falling within the scope of the present invention will be disclosed hereafter, wherein the cooking apparatus including a knob comprising a fixing member fixed to a main body of the cooking apparatus, a rotating member supported by the fixing member and rotatably installed on the main body, and a display provided on the fixing member to display status information of the cooking apparatus, the method including: receiving a user setting; starting a count reflecting the user setting in response to an operation of the knob when the operation of the knob occurs; displaying the status information of the cooking apparatus according to the user setting on the display; initializing the count when the count reflecting the user setting ends; and displaying an off state of the knob on the display when the knob is turned off before the count reflecting the user setting ends.

The method may further include initializing the count and then ending the operation of the cooking apparatus corresponding to the knob.

The method may further include displaying the off state of the knob on the display, then initializing the count and ending the operation of the cooking apparatus corresponding to the knob.

The present invention may be based on a cooking apparatus including: a plurality of heat sources configured to generate heat by burning fuel; and a plurality of knobs provided to correspond to each of the plurality of heat sources. Each of the plurality of knobs may include a fixing member fixed to a main body of the cooking apparatus, a rotating member supported by the fixing member and rotatably installed on the main body, and a display provided on the fixing member. Status information of the plurality of heat sources corresponding to each of the plurality of knobs may be configured to be displayed for each display of the corresponding knob.

The present invention provides a knob of a cooking apparatus including: a fixing member fixed to a main body of the cooking apparatus; a rotating member supported by the fixing member and rotatably installed on the main body; and a display provided on the fixing member to display status information of the cooking apparatus.

The fixing member and the display are configured to form a curved surface.

A curvature of the display may be configured to coincide with a curvature of the fixing member.

An aspect of the disclosure not covered by the present invention provides a home appliance including: a knob comprising a fixing member fixed to a main body of the home appliance, a rotating member supported by the fixing member and rotatably installed on the main body, and a display provided on the fixing member to display status information of the home appliance; and a controller configured to transmit the status information of the home appliance displayed on the display through a wireless communication network.

In this aspect mentioned above, the home appliance may include at least one of a refrigerator, a washing machine, an air conditioner, a vacuum cleaner, a robot cleaner, a humidifier, and a dryer.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a display is provided on a knob for setting a function of a cooking apparatus, and status information of the cooking apparatus is displayed through the display of the knob, so that a user can easily and conveniently check the status information of the cooking apparatus.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a cooking apparatus according the present invention.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a structure of a knob according to different embodiments, wherein the embodiment (II) corresponds to the present invention.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a structure of a knob of a cooking apparatus according to the present invention.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a control system of a cooking apparatus.

<FIG> is a view illustrating that status information of a cooking apparatus is displayed on a mobile device.

<FIG> is a view illustrating various display modes of a display provided on a knob of a cooking apparatus according to the present invention.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a cooking apparatus.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a cooking apparatus according to the present invention. A cooking apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may be a type in which a gas cooktop <NUM> and an oven <NUM>, which are a plurality of heat sources, are combined.

A plurality of the gas cooktops <NUM> may be provided on the upper surface of a main body of the cooking apparatus <NUM>. Each of the plurality of gas cooktops <NUM> may include the plurality of heat sources that burn gas to generate heating power. An electric cooktop using electricity as an energy source may be provided in place of the gas cooktop <NUM>.

In the cooking apparatus <NUM>, the oven (cooking chamber) <NUM> may be provided below the gas cooktop <NUM>. A plurality of racks may be provided inside the oven <NUM>, and a tray may be mounted to each of the plurality of racks. The tray holds food to be cooked.

A user interface <NUM> may be provided on the front of the cooking apparatus <NUM>. The user interface <NUM> may display operation status information of the cooking apparatus <NUM>. In addition, the user interface <NUM> may be provided to input setting values necessary for cooking.

A knob <NUM> may be provided for setting a function of the gas cooktop <NUM> or the oven <NUM>. For example, a user may operate the knob <NUM> to set functions such as turning on / off the gas cooktop <NUM> or the oven <NUM>, setting a temperature, and setting a time. The knob <NUM> may be provided to correspond to the number of the plurality of heat sources provided in each of the gas cooktop <NUM> and the oven <NUM>. Accordingly, the user may perform independent setting functions for each of the plurality of heat sources using a plurality of the knobs <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a structure of a knob of a cooking apparatus according to different embodiments. The knob <NUM> includes a fixing member <NUM>, a display <NUM>, and a rotating member <NUM>.

The fixing member <NUM> of the knob <NUM> is fixed to the main body of the cooking apparatus <NUM>. The display <NUM> is installed on the upper surface of the fixing member <NUM>. The rotating member <NUM> is supported by the fixing member <NUM> and installed to be rotatable on the main body of the cooking apparatus <NUM>. The structures of the fixing member <NUM>, the display <NUM>, and the rotating member <NUM> according to the embodiment covered by the present invention will be described in more detail in the description of <FIG> described later.

The embodiment shown in <FIG> is not covered by the present invention. <FIG> is a case where the display <NUM> is a flat panel. That is, the display <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may have a flat plate structure irrespective of a curved surface formed by a surface of the fixing member <NUM>. Since the flat panel is relatively cheaper than a flexible panel described later, it provides an advantage of implementing the display <NUM> at a lower cost.

The embodiment of <FIG> corresponds to the present invention. <FIG> is a case where a display <NUM> is the flexible panel. A curved panel of the display <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may have a curvature equal to or similar to the curvature formed by the curved surface of the fixing member <NUM>. When the curved panel is applied, since it can be configured to have the curved surface equal to the curvature of the fixing member <NUM>, it can be designed to fit well with each other by reducing the heterogeneity between the fixing member <NUM> and the display <NUM>.

The display <NUM> may be implemented as a monochrome liquid crystal display (LCD) or a color liquid crystal display (LCD). In addition, the display <NUM> may be implemented by a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFLCD) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED). In addition, the display <NUM> may be implemented as a passive matrix organic light emitting diode (PMOLED). Also, the display <NUM> may be implemented with electronic paper or electronic ink (e.g., E-Ink).

The embodiment shown in <FIG> is not covered by the present invention. Further, fig. <FIG> is a view illustrating an operation (movement) of the rotating member <NUM> in the knob <NUM>, independent on the embodiment of <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the rotating member <NUM> may be involved in setting the function of the gas cooktop <NUM> or the oven <NUM> while rotating a predetermined angle in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction by the user's operation to set the function of the heat source. The function settings may include turning on the heat source and adjusting the heating power. When an 'OFF' mark of the rotating member <NUM> in <FIG> is located at <NUM> o'clock, the gas cooktop <NUM> or the oven <NUM> may be turned off.

When the cooking apparatus <NUM> includes the plurality of heat sources, the same number of the knobs <NUM> as the heat source may be provided in the cooking apparatus <NUM>. For example, when the cooking apparatus <NUM> according to the embodiment includes four of the gas cooktops <NUM> and one of the ovens <NUM>, five knobs corresponding to five heat sources may be provided. The cooking apparatus <NUM> according to the embodiment may be provided with the display <NUM> for every one of the knobs <NUM>. The status information of the gas cooktop <NUM> or the oven <NUM> corresponding to each of the knobs <NUM> may be independently displayed on the display <NUM> provided for each of the knobs <NUM>. Due to the display of independent status information of each of the plurality of knobs <NUM>, the user may individually check and manage cooking conditions of each of the plurality of heat sources (the gas cooktop <NUM> or the oven <NUM>).

The application of the knob <NUM> according to the present invention illustrated in <FIG> is limited to the cooking apparatus <NUM>. In embodiments not covered by the present invention, an equivalent knob <NUM> may be applied to other home appliances, including at least one of a refrigerator, a washing machine, an air conditioner, a vacuum cleaner, a robot cleaner, a humidifier, and a dryer.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a structure of a knob of a cooking apparatus according to the present invention. The structure of the knob <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is an example of the display <NUM> to which the flexible panel illustrated in <FIG> described above is applied. The structure of the knob <NUM> of <FIG> may be equally applied to the display <NUM> to which the flat panel is applied.

A rectangular display mounting hole <NUM> may be formed on the fixing member <NUM>. A shape and size of the display mounting hole <NUM> may be determined according to a shape and size of a flexible panel module <NUM>. The flexible panel module <NUM> of the display <NUM> may be inserted and fixed in the display mounting hole <NUM> from the bottom to the top of the display mounting hole <NUM>. In an upper portion of the display mounting hole <NUM>, a transparent material protecting member <NUM> may be inserted and fixed to protect the flexible panel module <NUM> from impact and contamination. The protecting member <NUM> may be tempered glass. That is, the flexible panel module <NUM> and the protecting member <NUM> may be inserted and fixed at the top and bottom of the display mounting hole <NUM>, respectively, so that the display <NUM> and the fixing member <NUM> are integrated.

A rotating member fastening hole <NUM> may be provided in a central portion of the fixing member <NUM>. The rotating member <NUM> may have a rotating shaft <NUM> for the rotating member <NUM> to rotate. The rotating shaft <NUM> of the rotating member <NUM> may be inserted into the rotating member fastening hole <NUM> of the fixing member <NUM> and be mechanically fastened to a structure (for example, a valve rotating shaft provided in a gas pipe) located behind the fixing member <NUM>. When the user rotates the rotating member <NUM>, the rotating member <NUM> may rotate counterclockwise or clockwise about the rotating shaft <NUM>. The function setting of the gas cooktop <NUM> or the oven <NUM> may be achieved by the rotation of the rotating member <NUM>. The function settings may include turning on and off the heat source and adjusting the heating power.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a control system of a cooking apparatus. Said control system not forming part of the present invention. Referring to <FIG>, the cooking apparatus <NUM> may be a structure in which a cooking apparatus controller <NUM> and a display controller <NUM> are connected to communicate with each other.

The cooking apparatus controller <NUM> may be provided on a main board, and may be involved in the overall operation of the cooking apparatus <NUM>. That is, the cooking apparatus controller <NUM> may be involved in the overall control operations of the gas cooktop <NUM>, the oven <NUM>, the user interface <NUM>, and the knob <NUM> of the cooking apparatus <NUM>.

The cooking apparatus controller <NUM> may communicate with a mobile device <NUM> at a remote location through a short-range communicator <NUM>. The cooking apparatus controller <NUM> may transmit the status information of the cooking apparatus <NUM> to the mobile device <NUM> in response to a request from the mobile device <NUM>.

The short-range communicator <NUM> may be at least one of wireless communication methods such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Near Field Communication (NFC).

Based on the communication between the cooking apparatus <NUM> and the mobile device <NUM>, the user may check a state of the cooking apparatus <NUM> through the mobile device <NUM>. For example, when the user requests the status information from the cooking apparatus <NUM> using an application (app) for the cooking apparatus installed on the mobile device <NUM>, the cooking apparatus controller <NUM> of the cooking apparatus <NUM> may transmit information about a current state of the cooking apparatus <NUM> to the mobile device <NUM> through the short-range communicator <NUM> in response to the request from the mobile device <NUM>.

In addition, the user may perform the function settings such as turning on and off of the gas cooktop <NUM> and the oven <NUM> of the cooking apparatus <NUM> and adjusting the heating power at the remote location using the app installed on the mobile device <NUM>.

The cooking apparatus controller <NUM> may be communicatively connected to a temperature sensor <NUM>. The temperature sensor <NUM> may measure a current temperature of the gas cooktop <NUM> and the oven <NUM>, and provide the temperature measurement result to the cooking apparatus controller <NUM>.

The cooking apparatus controller <NUM> may be communicatively connected to a memory <NUM>. The cooking apparatus controller <NUM> may store information related to the cooking apparatus <NUM> in the memory <NUM>. The information related to the cooking apparatus <NUM> stored in the memory <NUM> may include the status information of the cooking apparatus <NUM>. In particular, the information related to the cooking apparatus <NUM> stored in the memory <NUM> may include information having the same content as that displayed through the displays <NUM> and <NUM> of the knob <NUM>.

The display controller <NUM> may be provided in a form of a printed circuit board (PCB). The display controller <NUM> may be involved in a control of the displays <NUM> and <NUM>. The displays <NUM> and <NUM> of the knob <NUM> may be built-in driver ICs.

The display controller <NUM> may be communicatively connected to a setting device <NUM>. The setting device <NUM> may be provided to allow the user to input various setting values necessary for using the cooking apparatus <NUM>. For example, the user may set a desired target temperature and target time through the setting device <NUM>. The setting device <NUM> may be a separate switch provided on the knob <NUM> so that the user sets the target temperature and target time. Alternatively, the setting device <NUM> may be part of the user interface <NUM> of the cooking apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating that status information of a cooking apparatus is displayed on a mobile device, wherein said embodiment does not form part of the present invention.

Reference numeral <NUM> denotes a model name of the cooking apparatus <NUM>. That is, it indicates that the currently selected cooking apparatus <NUM> is a 'Gas Slide-In' model.

Reference numeral <NUM> denotes 'Knob information' of the currently selected knob <NUM>. When the plurality of knobs <NUM> are included like the cooking apparatus <NUM> of <FIG> described above, it can be seen from the 'Knob information' of the reference numeral <NUM> of <FIG> that the knob <NUM> corresponding to the current heat source is selected.

Reference numeral <NUM> denotes information of a setting heating power. A 'weak' mark currently illustrated in <FIG> indicates that the setting heating power of the heat source corresponding to the knob <NUM> indicated by the 'Knob information' of the reference numeral <NUM> corresponds to 'weak' among 'strong / medium / weak.

Reference numeral <NUM> denotes information of an automatic cooking menu. The cooking apparatus <NUM> according to the embodiment may provide various types of pre-programmed automatic cooking menus. For example, the reference numeral <NUM> in <FIG> may be an automatic cooking menu for boiling spaghetti noodles, and a remaining time is <NUM> minute and <NUM> seconds. The user can easily and comfortably set an appropriate time and temperature (heating power) to boil the spaghetti noodles by simply selecting the automatic cooking menu for boiling the spaghetti noodles.

<FIG> is a view illustrating various display modes of a display provided on a knob of a cooking apparatus according to the present invention. In the case of <FIG>, the display <NUM> to which the flat panel is applied is exemplified, but the same display mode as that illustrated in <FIG> may be applied to the display <NUM> to which the flexible panel according to the present invention is applied.

<FIG> is an aspect of displaying information of the current setting heating power through the display <NUM> as 'text. ' The display <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may display the current setting heating power of the gas cooktop <NUM> or the oven <NUM> corresponding to the corresponding knob <NUM> through the text 'strong.

<FIG> is an aspect of displaying information of the current setting heating power through the display <NUM> as an 'icon. ' The display <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may display the current setting heating power of the gas cooktop <NUM> or the oven <NUM> corresponding to the corresponding knob <NUM> through the number of icons. The icon illustrated in <FIG> indicates that the heating power of 'medium' among 'strong / medium / weak' is displayed by displaying two flame shapes of three flame shapes in different colors.

<FIG> is an aspect of displaying current time-related information as a "number" through the display <NUM>. The display <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may display the current remaining time of the gas cooktop <NUM> or the oven <NUM> corresponding to the corresponding knob <NUM> through the number '<NUM>:<NUM>. ' That is, <FIG> indicates that the time remaining until cooking is completed is <NUM> minute <NUM> seconds.

<FIG> is an aspect of displaying current time-related information as an 'animation (sand clock)' through the display <NUM>. The display <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may display the current remaining time of the gas cooktop <NUM> or the oven <NUM> corresponding to the corresponding knob <NUM> through the animation in a 'sand clock' shape. That is, <FIG> indicates that the time remaining until cooking is completed is approximately half or more of the entire initial setting time.

<FIG> is an aspect of displaying current time-related information as the 'animation (slide bar)' through the display <NUM>. The display <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may display the current remaining time of the gas cooktop <NUM> or the oven <NUM> corresponding to the corresponding knob <NUM> through the animation of a 'slide bar' shape. That is, <FIG> indicates that the remaining time until cooking is completed is approximately <NUM>% of <NUM>% of the entire set time. The set time may be a specific time set by the user, or may be a variable time according to the cooking menu.

<FIG> is an aspect of displaying current temperature-related information as the "number" through the display <NUM>. The display <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may display the current set temperature of the gas cooktop <NUM> or the oven <NUM> corresponding to the corresponding knob <NUM> through the number '<NUM>.

<FIG> is an aspect of displaying current temperature-related information as the 'animation (slide bar)' through the display <NUM>. The display <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> displays the current set temperature of the gas cooktop <NUM> or the oven <NUM> corresponding to the corresponding knob <NUM> through the animation of the 'slide bar' shape. That is, <FIG> indicates that the current set temperature is about <NUM>% of the entire temperature range. The entire temperature section may be a specific temperature section set by the user or a temperature section variable according to the cooking menu.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a cooking apparatus. Said method not forming part of the present invention.

The cooking apparatus controller <NUM> receives the setting of the cooking time or cooking temperature generated through the user interface <NUM> or the setting device <NUM> (<NUM>).

The cooking apparatus controller <NUM> may identify whether the operation of the knob <NUM> occurs while the cooking time or cooking temperature is set (<NUM>). The operation of the knob <NUM> may be that the user turns on the gas cooktop <NUM> or the oven <NUM> and operates the knob <NUM> to set the heating power.

When the operation of the knob <NUM> occurs while the cooking time is set, the cooking apparatus controller <NUM> may count the cooking time (<NUM>).

In addition, the cooking apparatus controller <NUM> may display at least one of the current counting time, set temperature, and current heating power information on the displays <NUM> and <NUM> of the knob <NUM> (<NUM>). What to display among the information of the counting time, the set temperature, and the current heating power may be determined by the user's selection or may be determined according to a cooking progress based on a preset algorithm.

When the set time has elapsed (YES in <NUM>), the cooking apparatus controller <NUM> may end the count and initialize the display content of the displays <NUM> and <NUM> (<NUM>).

Subsequently, the cooking apparatus controller <NUM> may end the operation of the gas cooktop <NUM> or the oven <NUM> corresponding to the corresponding knob <NUM> (<NUM>).

When the set time has not yet elapsed (NO in <NUM>) and the knob <NUM> is switched to an off state by the user's operation (YES in <NUM>), the cooking apparatus controller <NUM> may display text such as 'OFF' on the displays <NUM> and <NUM> of the knob <NUM> (<NUM>). It is also possible to display the off state of the knob <NUM> in the form of the icon or graphic instead of the text 'OFF.

Subsequently, the cooking apparatus controller <NUM> may end the count and initialize the display contents of the displays <NUM> and <NUM> (<NUM>).

Claim 1:
A cooking apparatus comprising:
a knob (<NUM>) comprising a fixing member (<NUM>) fixed to a front surface of a main body of the cooking apparatus, a rotating member supported by the fixing member (<NUM>) and rotatably installed on the main body, and a display (<NUM>) provided on the fixing member (<NUM>) to display status information of the cooking apparatus;
the cooking apparatus further characterised by comprising:
a controller (<NUM>) configured to transmit the status information of the cooking apparatus displayed on the display (<NUM>) through a wireless communication network,
wherein the fixing member (<NUM>) and the display (<NUM>) are configured to form a curved surface,
wherein the curvature of the display (<NUM>) is equal to or similar to the curvature of the fixing member (<NUM>), and
wherein the display (<NUM>) is disposed at the curved surface of the fixing member (<NUM>).