Range and Notification System, and Associated Method

Abstract

An improved cooking range includes an improved notification system that is configured to detect an operated state of the range and to periodically output a notification representative of a duration of time that the range has remained in the operated state. The notification may include the audible outputting of an sound tag representative of one or more spoken words that indicate a duration of time that the apparatus has remained in the operated state and/or an operational level of the range. The notification system can additionally be configured to detect a predetermined condition such as a flame or an excessive ambient temperature in the vicinity of the range and output an audible and/or visible warning notification. The notification system can be built into the range or can be in the form of a system that can be retrofitted to an existing range. The system enhances operational safety.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing an indication regarding an apparatus that is structured to be switched between one state and an operated state, the method comprising:
 detecting at least one of:
 that the apparatus has been switched to the operated state, and 
 that the apparatus is in the operated state; and 
   periodically outputting a notification representative of a duration of time that the apparatus has remained in the operated state.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising outputting as at least a portion of the notification an audible sound tag representative of at least a first spoken word that corresponds with the duration of time that the apparatus has remained in the operated state. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining an operational level of the apparatus; and   outputting as at least a portion of the notification an audible sound tag representative of at least a first spoken word that corresponds with the operational level.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising detecting the operational level by detecting at least one of:
 a rotation of a rotatable device away from an initial rotational position; and   a current rotational position of the device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting in the vicinity of the apparatus an existence of a predetermined condition; and   outputting another notification representative of the predetermined condition.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 detecting as the predetermined condition a flame in the vicinity of the apparatus; and   outputting as the another notification at least a first spoken word that is representative of the existence of the flame.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising performing at least one of:
 triggering a fire extinguisher of the apparatus; and   operating a utility shutoff connected with the apparatus.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising detecting as the predetermined condition a parameter that is in the vicinity of the apparatus and that is at a level that exceeds a predetermined level. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising detecting as the predetermined condition an ambient temperature in the vicinity of the apparatus that has exceeded a predetermined temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 employing the first device in the detecting;   wirelessly communicating at least one of a signal from the first device and a signal to the second device; and   employing the second device in the outputting.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting that the apparatus is in the operated state by detecting at least one of:
 a rotation of a device away from an initial rotational position; and   a current rotational position of the device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising prior to the detecting and the outputting:
 detecting a touch input on a controller of the apparatus; and   providing an audible notification representative of an identity of the controller.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wirelessly receiving from a remote device a command representative of a change to the operated state; and   changing the operated state in accordance with the command.   
     
     
         14 . A notification system for use in conjunction with an apparatus that is structured to be switched between one state and an operated state, the notification system comprising:
 a processor apparatus comprising a processor and a storage;   an input apparatus structured to provide input signals to the processor apparatus;   an output apparatus structured to receive output signals from the processor apparatus;   the storage having stored therein a number of routines which, when executed on the processor, cause the notification system to perform operations comprising:   detecting at least one of:
 that the apparatus has been switched to the operated state, and 
 that the apparatus is in the operated state; and 
   periodically outputting a notification representative of a duration of time that the apparatus has remained in the operated state.   
     
     
         15 . The notification system of  claim 14  wherein the storage further has stored therein a number of sound tags which, when output by the output apparatus, are in the form of one or more audible spoken words, and wherein the operations further comprise outputting as at least a portion of the notification an audible sound tag representative of at least a first spoken word that corresponds with the duration of time that the apparatus has remained in the operated state. 
     
     
         16 . The notification system of  claim 15  wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining an operational level of the apparatus; and 
 outputting as at least a portion of the notification an audible sound tag representative of at least a first spoken word that corresponds with the operational level. 
 
     
     
         17 . The notification system of  claim 16  wherein the input apparatus comprises a rotatable device, and wherein the operations further comprise detecting the operational level by detecting at least one of:
 a rotation of the device away from an initial rotational position; and 
 a current rotational position of the device. 
 
     
     
         18 . The notification system of  claim 14  wherein the operations further comprise:
 detecting in the vicinity of the apparatus an existence of a predetermined condition; and 
 outputting another notification representative of the predetermined condition. 
 
     
     
         19 . The notification system of  claim 18  wherein the input apparatus comprises a flame detector, and wherein the operations further comprise:
 detecting as the predetermined condition a flame in the vicinity of the apparatus; and 
 outputting as the another notification at least a first spoken word that is representative of the existence of the flame. 
 
     
     
         20 . The notification system of  claim 18 , further comprising detecting as the predetermined condition a parameter that is in the vicinity of the apparatus and that is at a level that exceeds a predetermined level. 
     
     
         21 . The notification system of  claim 20  wherein the input apparatus comprises a temperature sensor, and wherein the operations further comprise detecting as the predetermined condition an ambient temperature in the vicinity of the apparatus that has exceeded a predetermined temperature. 
     
     
         22 . The notification system of  claim 14  wherein the input apparatus comprises a first device and the output apparatus comprises a second device, and wherein at least one of the input apparatus and the output apparatus further comprises a wireless communication device, and wherein the operations further comprise:
 employing the first device in the detecting; 
 wirelessly communicating at least one of a signal from the first device and a signal to the second device; and 
 employing the second device in the outputting. 
 
     
     
         23 . The notification system of  claim 14 , further comprising detecting that the apparatus is in the operated state by detecting at least one of:
 a rotation of a device away from an initial rotational position; and   a current rotational position of the device.   
     
     
         24 . The notification system of  claim 14  wherein the input apparatus comprises a sensor apparatus and a support, at least a portion of the sensor apparatus being disposed on the support, the support being structured to be mounted to a portion of a controller of the apparatus, at least a portion of the sensor apparatus being structured to be employed in detecting an operational level of the apparatus. 
     
     
         25 . The notification system of  claim 24  wherein the sensor apparatus comprises a rotational sensor, wherein the support is structured to be mounted on a rotatable input shaft of the controller, and wherein the processor apparatus is structured to detect as being indicative of the operational level of the apparatus at least one of:
 a current rotational position of the support, and 
 a change in rotational position of the support. 
 
     
     
         26 . The notification system of  claim 25  wherein the sensor apparatus further comprises another sensor that is structured to be employed in detecting in the vicinity of the apparatus an existence of a predetermined condition, and wherein the operations further comprise outputting another notification representative of the predetermined condition. 
     
     
         27 . The notification system of  claim 26  wherein the another sensor is at least one of:
 a temperature sensor that is structured to be employed in detecting as the predetermined condition an ambient temperature in the vicinity of the apparatus that has exceeded a predetermined temperature; and 
 a flame detector that is structured to be employed in detecting as the predetermined condition an existence of a flame in the vicinity of the apparatus. 
 
     
     
         28 . The notification system of  claim 24  wherein at least a portion of the processor apparatus is disposed on the support and at least a portion of the output apparatus is disposed on the support, the output apparatus comprising an output element that is disposed on the support and that is structured to perform the periodic outputting of the notification. 
     
     
         29 . The notification system of  claim 24  wherein the output apparatus comprises an output element and another support, the output element being disposed on the another support, the input apparatus being one of a plurality of input apparatuses that are similar to one another and that are in communication with the output apparatus, the output element being structured to perform the periodic outputting of the notification. 
     
     
         30 . The notification system of  claim 24  wherein the input apparatus comprises a plurality of the sensor apparatuses and a plurality of the supports, at least a portion of each of the plurality of sensor apparatuses being disposed on a corresponding one of the plurality of supports, the plurality of supports each being structured to be retrofitted to a portion of corresponding controller of a plurality of the controllers of the apparatus, the apparatus being structured to be simultaneously operable at a plurality of operational levels, at least a portion of each of the plurality of sensor apparatuses being structured to be employed in detecting an operational level from among the plurality of operational levels of the apparatus, the output apparatus being structure to periodically output a notification representative of a duration of time that the apparatus has remained in at least one operational level. 
     
     
         31 . The notification system of  claim 30  wherein the output apparatus comprises an output element and another support, the output element being disposed on the another support, the output apparatus being in wireless communication with each of the plurality of sensor apparatuses and being structured to output as the notification representative of the duration of time an output representative of a wireless signal originated from any of the plurality of plurality of the sensor apparatuses. 
     
     
         32 . The notification system of  claim 14  wherein at least one of the input apparatus and the output apparatus comprises a wireless transceiver apparatus that is structured to communicate wirelessly with a remote device. 
     
     
         33 . The notification system of  claim 32  wherein the output apparatus comprises an actuator apparatus structured that is to actuate an additional device responsive to a command received by the wireless transceiver apparatus. 
     
     
         34 . A cooking apparatus that comprises the notification system of  claim 14  and that is structured to be switched between one state and an operated state, the cooking apparatus being structured to generate cooking heat when in the operated state.