Patent Description:
<CIT> describes an oven door for closing an oven cavity comprising a door glass being at least partially transparent for enabling a user to look into the oven cavity, wherein the door glass comprises at least a first and a second glass pane, the first glass pane constituting the outer glass pane and said glass panes being arranged at a distance from one another, wherein an electronic transparent display is arranged in the space between the first glass pane and the second glass pane.

In general, an oven refers to a device for heating and cooking food disposed in a predetermined space. The oven may be divided into an electric type, a gas type, an electronic type and the like according to the heat source thereof. For example, the electric oven uses an electric heater as a heat source, a gas oven uses heat generated by gas as a heat source, and an electronic oven (microwave oven) uses friction heat of water molecules generated by a high frequency as a heat source.

When food is cooked using such an oven, a relatively long time is consumed. Accordingly, a user may put food into the oven and then move to another place or perform another task.

A conventional oven is provided with a display panel for visualizing information on a cooking temperature and a cooking time to a user. The display panel has a limited size in terms of an installation space and thus has a relatively small size. Accordingly, the user cannot confirm the information visualized on the display panel at a relatively long distance.

In addition, in order to close a cooking chamber in which food is accommodated, the door of the oven is provided with a plurality of glass plates having a relatively large thickness. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to easily know the cooking process of the food in the oven through the door.

In addition, when the user opens the cooking chamber and checks the state of the food in order to know the cooking process of the food, heat in the cooking chamber may be discharged to the outside. Therefore, the cooking time may be increased and thermal efficiency may be lowered.

An object of the present disclosure devised to solve the problem lies in an oven including a display for visualizing predetermined cooking information on a door.

Another object of the present disclosure devised to solve the problem lies in an oven including a display having an adjustable size and capable of providing cooking information on a relatively wide screen and outputting an image of the inside of a cooking chamber.

Another object of the present disclosure devised to solve the problem lies in an oven including a first display for always providing cooking information according to ON/OFF of the oven and a second display for selectively providing cooking information during a cooking process.

An oven according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a case, a cooking chamber formed inside the case, and a door installed at one side of the case to open and close the cooking chamber. The door includes an outer plate forming appearance, an inner plate spaced apart from the outer plate by a predetermined distance and being in contact with the cooking chamber, and a door display disposed between the outer plate and the inner plate to display predetermined information on the outer plate.

The door display is provided as a projection module for projecting a predetermined image.

The door display may be installed to project an image in a direction from the cooking chamber to the door.

The door display may include a driver configured to adjust a projection angle to change a size and position of a projected image.

The door display may include a reflector configured to change a direction of projected light such that a predetermined image is displayed on the outer plate.

An air passage, through which predetermined air flows, may be provided between the outer plate and the inner plate, and the door display may be disposed in the air passage.

An intermediate plate may be disposed between the outer plate and the inner plate, and the air passage may include a first air passage formed between the outer plate and the intermediate plate and a second air passage formed between the intermediate plate and the inner plate.

The door display may project a predetermined image on one surface of the outer plate forming the first air passage.

An intermediate plate may be disposed between the outer plate and the inner plate, and the door display may be disposed below the intermediate plate.

The oven may further include a camera disposed at one side of the cooking chamber to photograph the inside of the cooking chamber, and the door display may project an image photographed by the camera.

The door display may be turned off when the door opens the cooking chamber and may be turned on when the door closes the cooking chamber.

The oven may further include a case display installed at one side of the case, and predetermined information may be displayed on at least one of the case display or the door display.

According to the present invention, as predetermined cooking information is visualized on a door, it is possible to provide cooking information on a relatively wide screen.

In addition, a user can easily check cooking information even at a relatively long distance.

In addition, since an image of a camera for photographing the inside of a cooking chamber is visualized on the door, the user can easily check the internal state of the cooking chamber.

In addition, as a predetermined image is projected and visualized, predetermined information can be displayed by changing a size and position thereof.

In addition, since an input panel is provided in the door, there is no need to provide a separate button and display screen on a front surface of a case.

Therefore, since the door can be entirely provided on the front surface of the case, it is possible to provide cleaner appearance.

In addition, since both a case display installed in the case and a door display installed in the door are provided, it is possible to more conveniently visualize information to the user.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as much as possible even though they are shown in different drawings. In describing the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations will be omitted when it may obscure the subject matter of the present disclosure.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used herein to describe various elements of the present disclosure, these terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element and essential, order, or sequence of corresponding elements are not limited by these terms. It will be understood that when one element is referred to as being "connected", "coupled", or "linked" to another element, one element may be "connected", "coupled", or "linked" to another element via a further element although one element may be directly connected to or may be directly linked to another element.

<FIG> is a view showing an oven according to an embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a view showing a state of opening the door of an oven according to an embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of <FIG>. For convenience, <FIG> show the configuration of the oven <NUM>.

<FIG>, the oven <NUM> according to the invention includes a case <NUM> forming appearance thereof and a door <NUM> attached to one surface of the case <NUM>.

The case <NUM> has an internal space and a front side thereof is opened. The case <NUM> may be formed in a predetermined box shape and may include a power supply <NUM>, an input unit <NUM> and a display <NUM> provided to a user at the outside thereof.

The power supply <NUM> may have various shapes to allow a user to turn on/off the oven <NUM>. In addition, the input unit <NUM> is provided with a plurality of buttons to allow the user to select various modes, a temperature, a time and the like.

The display <NUM> may be understood as a component for visualizing predetermined information such that the user determines the state of the oven <NUM>. In particular, the display <NUM> may be turned on/off according to ON/OFF of the power supply <NUM> and may be provided in the form of a predetermined panel. The display <NUM> will be described in detail below.

A cooking chamber <NUM> in which food is accommodated is formed in the case <NUM>. A grill <NUM>, on which food is placed, may be provided in the cooking chamber <NUM>. In addition, grill mounting portions <NUM> may be provided on inner sidewalls of the cooking chamber <NUM> such that the grill is detachably installed. The number and shape of grills <NUM> and the grill mounting portions <NUM> may be variously changed.

In addition, a heating unit <NUM>, a fan <NUM> and a fan motor <NUM> for providing driving force to the fan <NUM> are disposed inside the case <NUM> and outside the cooking chamber <NUM>. The heating unit <NUM> heats the inside of the cooking chamber <NUM> and the fan <NUM> is understood as a component for flowing air in the cooking chamber <NUM>.

The heating unit <NUM> may include an electric heater for dissipating heat by electric input and may be installed at one side of the case <NUM>. In addition, the heating unit <NUM> may be installed at one side of the fan <NUM> and may be configured integrally with the fan <NUM>. The fan <NUM> receives driving force from the fan motor <NUM> to flow air heated by the heating unit <NUM> in the cooking chamber <NUM>.

That is, the heating unit <NUM> and the fan <NUM> may be understood as components for cooking food in the cooking chamber <NUM>, and the shapes thereof are merely exemplary and may be variously changed. In addition, the oven <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to the electric oven using electricity using a heat source and may cook food using various heat sources such as gas- or electronic-type heat source.

The door <NUM> is disposed on the open front surface of the case <NUM> to open and close the cooking chamber <NUM>. That is, the cooking chamber <NUM> may be opened and closed by the door <NUM>. For convenience of description, the configuration related to the installation structure and locking device of the door <NUM> may be omitted.

As shown in <FIG>, the door <NUM> is installed on the front surface of the case <NUM> to be rotatable forward. In addition, the door <NUM> may be provided with a handle <NUM> capable of being gripped and rotated by the user.

In addition, the oven <NUM> may be provided with a predetermined detector capable of detecting the internal state of the cooking chamber <NUM>. The detector may include a camera <NUM> capable of photographing the inside of the cooking chamber <NUM>. The camera <NUM> may be disposed at one side of the cooking chamber <NUM> to provide the image of the inside of the cooking chamber <NUM>.

<FIG> exemplarily illustrates the camera <NUM> disposed on the outer upper side of the cooking chamber <NUM>. The number and positions of cameras <NUM> may be variously changed to photograph the inside of the cooking chamber <NUM>, thereby generating the internal image of the cooking chamber <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the display of the oven <NUM> according to the invention will be described in detail.

<FIG> is a view showing operation of a display installed in an oven according to the invention.

As shown in <FIG>, the door <NUM> is formed of a plurality of plates.

The plates include an outer plate <NUM> forming the appearance of the oven <NUM>, an inner plate <NUM> in contact with the cooking chamber <NUM> and an intermediate plate <NUM> disposed between the outer plate <NUM> and the inner plate <NUM>.

At this time, the intermediate plate <NUM> may be omitted or a plurality of intermediate plates may be provided. Hereinafter, assume that one intermediate plate <NUM> is provided.

The outer plate <NUM>, the inner plate <NUM> and the intermediate plate <NUM> have predetermined thicknesses such that heat in the cooking chamber <NUM> is not transmitted to the outside. In addition, the plates <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are composed of transparent glass plates such that the user views the cooking chamber <NUM> via the door <NUM>.

The plates may be spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals to form an air passage for minimizing heat transmission. Specifically, a first air passage <NUM> is formed between the outer plate <NUM> and the intermediate plate <NUM> and a second air passage <NUM> is formed between the intermediate plate <NUM> and the inner plate <NUM>.

For example, air introduced from the lower portion of the door <NUM> is discharged to the upper portion of the door <NUM> via the air passages <NUM> and <NUM>, thereby preventing heating of the door <NUM>.

Due to the structure of the door <NUM>, it is difficult for the user to observe the inside of the cooking chamber <NUM>. That is, even if the plurality of plates has the predetermined thicknesses and the door <NUM> is provided with the transparent glass plates such that light is reflected according to the distance between the plates, it is difficult for the user to view the inside of the cooking chamber <NUM>.

Since the above-described display <NUM> is provided in the case <NUM> and thus the size thereof is limited, it is difficult for the user to know information shown thereon at a long distance.

Accordingly, the oven <NUM> according to the invention is provided with the display <NUM> installed in the door <NUM> to visualize predetermined information to the user. Hereinafter, in order to distinguish the display <NUM> from the above-described display <NUM>, the display installed in the case <NUM> is referred to as a case display <NUM> and the display installed in the door <NUM> is referred to as a door display <NUM>.

That is, the oven <NUM> according to the invention includes the display for visualizing predetermined information to the user, and the display may include the case display <NUM> and includes the door display <NUM>. At this time, the case display <NUM> may be omitted (see <FIG>).

The door display <NUM> is provided to project the image having predetermined information. That is, the door display <NUM> is understood as a projection module for projecting an image as a type of a head up display (HUD).

According to embodiments not covered by the claims, in addition, the door display <NUM> may be at least one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a flexible display, a third-dimensional (3D) display or an e-ink display.

As shown in <FIG>, the door display <NUM> is installed inside the door <NUM>. That is, the door display <NUM> is disposed between the outer plate <NUM> and the inner plate <NUM>. In addition, the door display <NUM> may be disposed below the intermediate plate <NUM>.

The door display <NUM> displays an image on the outer plate <NUM>. Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the door display <NUM> projects the image onto the inner surface of the outer plate <NUM>, that is, one surface forming the first air passage <NUM>.

At this time, the outer plate <NUM> is made of a transparent material such as glass, such that the image displayed by the door display <NUM> can be viewed at the outer surface of the outer plate <NUM>, that is, the outside of the oven <NUM>.

In particular, the door display <NUM> may display the image of the inside of the cooking chamber <NUM> photographed by the camera in addition to the predetermined image. Therefore, the user may intuitively check the state of the cooking chamber <NUM> without observing the cooking chamber <NUM> via the door <NUM>.

In addition, although not shown, the door display <NUM> may be provided in various shapes. For example, the door display <NUM> may include a driving unit to adjust a projection angle. Therefore, the size and position of the image projected onto the door <NUM> may be changed.

In addition, the door <NUM> may be provided with a predetermined input panel, such that the user inputs a predetermined command by touching an image projected by the door display <NUM>.

In addition, if a sufficient projection angle is not secured inside the door <NUM> or the image is not projected at a required position with a required size, a reflector may be further provided. The reflector may be a prism to reflect projected light at a predetermined angle with a predetermined size.

Comparison between the case display <NUM> and the door display <NUM> is as follows.

<NUM>) The case display <NUM> is provided as a predetermined display panel and thus the position and size of the displayed image are fixed. In contrast, the door display <NUM> is provided as a module for projecting a predetermined image and thus information may be displayed at various positions with various sizes.

In general, since the upper and side surfaces of the oven are in contact with another device or a wall, the display and the door are disposed on the front surface of the oven.

Therefore, <NUM>) since the case display <NUM> is provided in the case <NUM>, information with a relatively small size is visualized. That is, the size of the case display <NUM> may be limited by the door <NUM>. In contrast, the door display <NUM> projects the predetermined image onto the door <NUM> and thus visualizes the information with a relatively large size.

Hereinafter, the display state of the door display <NUM> will be described.

<FIG> are views showing the display state of an oven according to the invention.

As shown in <FIG>, the predetermined information is visualized on the front surface of the door <NUM> by the door display <NUM>. As described above, the outer plate <NUM> is made of a transparent material such that the image projected inside the outer plate <NUM> is visualized to the outside.

Referring to <FIG>, information on the internal temperature and cooking time of the cooking chamber is displayed on the door <NUM> by the door display <NUM>.

In general, a time required to cook predetermined food in the cooking chamber <NUM> is relatively long and user's actions are not relatively often required. Accordingly, the user does not need to stay near the oven <NUM> and move to a relatively distance place.

For example, the user may allow food to be cooked in the cooking chamber <NUM> of the oven <NUM> located in the kitchen and then move to a living room to watch TV. In addition, the user may see, in the living room, the oven <NUM> located in the kitchen, but may not read the information visualized on the case display <NUM>.

At that time, the door display <NUM> is provided such that cooking information is checked at a long distance, thereby increasing convenience of the user. That is, the door display <NUM> may provide the cooking information with a larger size to intuitively deliver information to the user.

In addition, the image of the inside of the cooking chamber <NUM> may be displayed on the door <NUM> by the door display <NUM>. That is, the image photographed by the camera <NUM> may be displayed on the door <NUM> via the door display <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the user can conveniently check the state of cooking predetermined bread in the cooking chamber <NUM>. For example, if cooking is completed when the bread rises, the user can easily check the extent of the rise of the bread via the image.

In addition, since the cooking degree of the food can be easily determined by color change and size change of the food, it is possible to determine the state of the food even at a relatively long distance.

<FIG> is a view showing the control configuration of an oven according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The oven <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a controller <NUM> for controlling the above-described components.

The user may transmit a predetermined command to the controller <NUM> using the power supply <NUM> and the input unit <NUM>. At this time, the power supply <NUM> and the input unit <NUM> may be provided outside the case <NUM> as described above or may be provided in the mobile device <NUM> of the user.

For example, the controller <NUM> and the mobile device <NUM> are connected via Bluetooth, etc. to exchange predetermined information. That is, the user may input a command for controlling the oven <NUM> at a long distance. For example, the user may preheat the oven <NUM> using the mobile device <NUM> and approach the oven <NUM> to put food into the oven after preheating is completed.

In addition, the controller <NUM> may receive information detected by a predetermination detector. The detector may include the above-described camera <NUM> and a temperature sensor <NUM> for measuring the internal temperature of the cooking chamber <NUM>. Specifically, the camera <NUM> photographs the inside of the cooking chamber <NUM> and transmit the generated image to the controller <NUM>, and the temperature sensor <NUM> may transmit the internal temperature information of the cooking chamber <NUM> to the controller <NUM>.

In addition, the controller <NUM> may be provided with a timer <NUM> for measuring a predetermined time. For example, the controller <NUM> may transmit a command to the timer <NUM> to measure a cooking time when cooking starts or turn on the oven <NUM> according to a reservation time.

The controller <NUM> may operate the heating unit <NUM> and supply power to the fan motor <NUM> to drive the fan <NUM>.

In addition, the controller <NUM> may transmit predetermined information to the display or the mobile device <NUM> to visualize the predetermined information. For example, the temperature transmitted by the temperature sensor <NUM> and the cooking time measured by the timer <NUM> may be visualized.

The display includes the above-described case display <NUM> and the door display <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may visualize information on at least one of the case display <NUM>, the door display <NUM> or the mobile device <NUM>.

Hereinafter, an example of controlling the display will be described along with operation of the oven <NUM>. For convenience of description, the description of the mobile device <NUM> will be omitted.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an oven according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in <FIG>, the oven <NUM> is turned on according to input of the power supply <NUM> (<NUM>). When the oven <NUM> is turned on, the case display <NUM> is turned on (<NUM>) and the user may determine that the oven <NUM> is turned on.

The heating unit <NUM> and the fan <NUM> are operated, in order for the user to put predetermined food into the oven <NUM> or to preheat the oven before putting food into the oven. Such a process may be understood as "start cooking <NUM>".

When cooking starts, whether the door display <NUM> operates is determined (<NUM>). For example, when the user continues to watch the oven <NUM>, operation of the door display <NUM> may not be selected. In addition, the controller <NUM> may not operate the door display <NUM> upon determining that power saving is required.

When operation of the door display <NUM> is selected, the door display <NUM> is turned on to project predetermined image onto the door <NUM> (<NUM>). At this time, temperature and time information or image information of the camera <NUM> may be visualized on the door <NUM>.

When cooking is completed(<NUM>), the door display <NUM> is turned off (<NUM>). In addition, when cooking is no longer performed, the oven <NUM> is turned off (<NUM>), and the case display <NUM> is also turned off.

As such, the case display <NUM> may be turned on/off according to ON/OFF of the oven <NUM>, and the door display <NUM> may be turned on/off only in certain circumstances.

<FIG> illustrates that the door display <NUM> is turned on during cooking. This is because, while cooking is performed by the oven <NUM>, the user moves away from the oven <NUM>. Therefore, the door display <NUM> provides information such that the information is visualized at a relatively long distance.

In addition, only when the door <NUM> closes the cooking chamber <NUM>, the door display <NUM> may be turned on and operated. This is because, when the door <NUM> is opened, the user cannot view the information on the door display <NUM>.

In addition, the case display <NUM> may be omitted and information may be visualized only by the door display <NUM>. In addition, the power supply <NUM> and the input unit <NUM> provided in the case <NUM> may be omitted and an input unit may be provided in the door <NUM>.

Therefore, the door <NUM> may be entirely formed on the front surface of the oven <NUM>. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an oven <NUM> having cleaner appearance to the user.

<FIG> is a view showing an oven according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in <FIG>, an oven 1a according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a case 10a, a door 20a, a power supply 14a and an input unit 15a.

At this time, the oven 1a may be provided as a handless oven having the door 20a, in which a handle is omitted. The door 20a is provided with a door pocket <NUM> capable of being gripped by the user.

The door pocket <NUM> is formed to be recessed downward from the upper surface of the door 20a. Therefore, the door pocket <NUM> may not be visualized in the front exterior of the oven 1a, thereby providing an oven having cleaner appearance to the user.

In addition, a display (not shown) for projecting a predetermined image is provided inside the door 20a, such that an image projected onto the door 20a is checked by the display. For the display, refer to the description of the above-described door display.

Claim 1:
An oven comprising:
a case (<NUM>);
a cooking chamber (<NUM>) formed inside the case (<NUM>); and
a door (<NUM>) installed at one side of the case (<NUM>) to open and close the cooking chamber (<NUM>), wherein the door (<NUM>) includes:
an outer plate (<NUM>) forming appearance;
an inner plate (<NUM>) spaced apart from the outer plate (<NUM>) by a predetermined distance and being in contact with the cooking chamber (<NUM>); and
a door display module (<NUM>) disposed between the outer plate (<NUM>) and the inner plate (<NUM>) to display predetermined information on the outer plate (<NUM>),
characterized in that the door display module (<NUM>) is provided as a projection module for projecting a predetermined image having the predetermined information on the outer plate (<NUM>).