An apparatus comprises at least two cooking devices, a control unit, an input device and an output device. The control unit is adapted to determine if at least two of the foodstuffs to be cooked can be cooked in one of the cooking devices in an at least partly concurrent manner. Depending thereon, the control unit allocates the foodstuffs to be cooked to the cooking devices and outputs, via the output device, which of the foodstuffs can be cooked in which cooking device or in which cooking devices.

A stove controller starts an unattended timer when a cooking process is started. The controller monitors whether motion is detected in the kitchen prior to the unattended timer expiring and resets the unattended timer each time motion is detected. If the unattended timer expires without any motion being detected, the controller disables the heating elements of the stove and starts a return timer. The controller monitors whether motion is detected in the kitchen prior to the return timer expiring. When motion is detected, the controller automatically re-enables the heating elements of the stove so that cooking can continue. If motion is not detected and the return timer expires, the controller locks the stove until a reset procedure is performed. Alerts of the stove activity are sent to external devices over the Internet, and the reset procedure may be performed on the controller or on one of the external devices.

A cooking apparatus is provided. The cooking apparatus includes a first manipulation part, a second manipulation part, an electric heating element for heating an object to be cooked, a switch connected with a relay that is turned on/turned off, and which is for providing power provided through the relay in a turned-on state to the electric heating element according to a user manipulation input through the first manipulation part, and a processor which, based on receiving input of a user manipulation of the second manipulation part, turns on the relay for a predetermined time period.

The present invention relates to an input and/or control system for a household appliance (21). The household appliance comprises first input means (16), operating as command receiving means, for a provision of at least one information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input for the household appliance (21), and second input means (10, 29″, 45), operating as confirmation input means, for a provision of a confirmation input in order to cause the input and/or control system or the household appliance (21) to accept and/or to execute the at least one, preferably more than one, information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input. The confirmation input means are particularly designed to accept and/or execute a confirmation input which is provided prior to the first one of at least one information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input. The present invention also relates to a method for operating a household appliance (21) and/or for providing the household appliance (21) with input. At least one information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input received from a user of the household appliance (21) is processed by the household appliance (21) or by an input and/or control system for the household appliance (21) only after a receipt of a confirmation input, in particular a one-time conformation input, the confirmation input preferably being received prior to the receipt of the at least one information input and/or function control input and/or condition control input.

A control panel assembly for an oven appliance includes an external housing and an internal housing spaced apart to define an air plenum. A display assembly is positioned in a top opening in the external housing and a cooling port is defined between a cooktop of the oven appliance and the display assembly. A fan assembly is positioned within the air plenum for drawing a flow of cooling air in through an ambient port and urging the flow of cooling air through the cooling port to create an air curtain that cools the display assembly.

A home appliance includes a cabinet, a user interface provided on the cabinet, the user interface comprising one or more light emitting diodes and at least one input button, a wireless communication module configured to receive wireless transmissions, and a controller provided within the cabinet. The controller is configured for receiving a request for a system update via the wireless communication module, displaying a predetermined sequence on the user interface via the one or more light emitting diodes indicating that the request for the system update is available, receiving a confirmation via a user input to the user interface to initiate the system update, and instructing the wireless communication module to obtain the system update.

An operator control panel for a household appliance includes an operator control front, a panel carrier supporting the operator control front and having a recess, and a haptic actuator guided through the recess of the panel carrier for coupling to the operator control front so that during an operator control procedure of the operator control panel the haptic actuator outputs a haptic signal as feedback to a user in response to the operator control procedure via the operator control front.

A system for selectively enclosing an appliance is provided. The system includes a first device and a second device. The first device detects whether a first door is in a fully open configuration. When the first door is in the fully open configuration, the first device sets the appliance into an operational mode. When the first door is not in the fully open configuration, the first device sets the appliance into a limited mode. The second device includes a locking device and detects whether the appliance is in a working mode. When the appliance is in the working mode, the second device engages the locking device to prevent a motion of the first door away from the fully open configuration. When the appliance is not in the working mode, the second device disengages the locking device to allow the motion of the first door.

A cooking appliance including a cavity for a cooking space, a socket passing through the cavity and at least partially disposed in the cooking space, and a probe detachably connected to the socket and configured to measure a temperature of the cooking space or a food item stored therein, wherein the socket includes an insulating part configured to electrically insulate a first cable from a second cable and onto which a second terminal part provided to the second cable is mounted, a first connector having a coupling projection for coupling with the insulating part, and wherein the insulating part is disposed in a portion of the hollow hole part, and the first terminal part provided to the first cable is electrically connected to an outside of the first connector, and a second connector disposed in the hollow hole part and electrically connected to the second terminal part.

A drive structure for moving an articulated control panel on a cooking appliance includes a mounting bracket fixed in position relative to the cooking appliance. A frame is movably mounted to the mounting bracket. The frame includes a guide. A curved slot is formed within the guide; the curved slot engaging the mounting bracket to travel along the mounting bracket. A control panel is affixed to the frame to move therewith. A drive mechanism is rotatably affixed to the mounting bracket and attached to the control panel. The drive mechanism includes a shaft, the shaft moveable to extend from a first, withdrawn, position to a second, extended, position in a direction substantially parallel to the control panel causing the control panel to move relative to the mounting bracket.