An operating mechanism for a household appliance includes a rotatable operating element having a display area, and a first display panel configured touch-sensitive and having display areas associated with at least two different functions of the household appliance to enable a user to select one of the functions by touching a corresponding one of the display areas of the display panel. The selected function is defined by a parameter. A display in the display area of the operating element is coupled to the selected function displayed in the corresponding one of the display areas of the display panel, so that the operating element, when actuated, is able to change the parameter of the selected function to thereby set a parameter value which is displayed in the display area of the operating element.

A control panel assembly for an appliance with features for securing a backing plate to a control panel frame to maintain a high quality fit, feel, and finish of the control panel assembly is provided. In particular, the backing plate includes a plurality of securing tabs for securing the backing plate against the control panel frame. The backing plate also may include a plurality of spring tabs for securing the backing plate against the control panel frame.

An oven includes a cooking chamber for receiving food product to be cooked, a door movable between an open condition and a closed condition relative to the cooking cavity, a heating system for generating heat and a fan system for moving heated air through the cooking cavity. A controller is configured for controlling the heating system and the fan system. The controller includes an associated memory storing a first set of operating parameter values and a second set of operating parameter values. The controller is configured to identify whether the oven is in the cook state or the idle state. The controller uses the first set of operating parameter values to control the heating system and the fan system during the cook state, and uses the second set of operating parameter values to control the heating system and the fan system during the idle state.

A hob device, in particular an induction hob device, includes a variable cooking surface, a user interface and a control unit which in the presence of a heating type divides the cooking surface into a plurality of heating zones in at least one dividing direction, associates heating parameter to each of the heating zones, in a manner dependent on location, for heating at least one cooking pot placed on the heating zone, and forms a cooking zone that is associated with the cooking pot and is heated using the heating parameter. In the event of a request of the heating type for the cooking pot, the control unit is provided to wait for at least one operating action by a user by way of the user interface.

A modular hob system includes a control device for controlling all components of the hob system.

A cooktop for a cooking appliance includes a cooking panel that has a first edge. A support feature is coupled to the cooking panel proximate the first edge. The cooking panel is disposed on the support feature. The support feature and the cooking panel define a cavity. A human-machine interface is coupled to an underside of the cooking panel. The human-machine interface is disposed within the cavity and adjacent to the support feature. A magnet assembly is coupled to the cooking panel and the human-machine interface. The magnet assembly is configured to retain the human-machine interface in a selected position on the underside of the cooking panel.

Disclosed herein is an induction heating device that provides improved user experience and user interface, the induction heating device including a case, a plurality of working coils provided in the case, a cover plate which is coupled to an upper end of the case and where an object subject to heating heated by at least one of the plurality of working coils is placed on an upper surface thereof, an input interface flatly buried into the upper surface of the cover plate, configured to receive a touch input from a user, and configured to display a specific image, a first control module configured to sense which one of the plurality of working coils has the object subject to heating at an upper side thereof, and a second control module supplied with information on a position of the sensed object subject to heating from the first control module, supplied with the touch input from the input interface, and configured to control the specific image displayed on the input interface on the basis of at least one of the received information on the position of the object subject to heating and the received touch input, wherein, in case the touch input indicates a touch input to a small object subject to heating guide image, the second control module controls the input interface such that an image for guiding an optimal heating position of the small object subject to heating is displayed in one area of the input interface, which does not overlap with the position of the sensed object subject to heating.

A cooking appliance can include a cooking chamber and an imaging device for capturing an image of a food item inside the chamber. The appliance can include a transparent, touchscreen display for displaying the interior contents of the cooking appliance to a user without requiring the user to open the cooking appliance, as well as providing for the user controlling, operating, and interacting with the cooking appliance.

The present invention is a method for operating a cooking oven comprising: a cooking chamber; a heating device for heating foodstuff contained in the cooking chamber; a database wherein cooking cycles are stored; a control unit operatively connected to the database and to the heating device, configured for activating/deactivating the heating device according to the cooking cycles; and a user interface operatively connected to the control unit. The method comprises the following phases: (a) selecting, by the user interface, a new list of two or more of cooking cycles stored in the database, to be executed in sequence; (b) sorting, by the control unit, the cooking cycles of the new list, using a sorting algorithm that calculates the order of the cooking cycles of the new list and (c) displaying, via the user interface, a sorted list containing the cooking cycles of the new list.

A system and apparatus utilize integrated touch sensing controls to operate a cooking appliance. Among other benefits, one or more touch sensors integrated on control knobs may be used in combination with one or more position sensors and/or one or more ignition detectors to detect and signal an alert in response to different operating scenarios of the cooking appliance, to enable energization of the cooking appliance, and/or to activate/deactivate a control lock feature.