Control device for an oven

Abstract

A control assembly for an oven that includes an actuator configured to select a function of an oven and to generate an electrical signal identifying the function of the oven selected, and a control unit in communication with the actuator configured to receive the electrical signal generated and identify from the electrical signal the function of the oven selected. The control assembly also includes a rotary position switch configured to be positioned in a plurality of discrete positions, one of the discrete positions being a reference position, so that in each of the positions the rotary position switch activates at least one function of the oven and in the reference position the rotary position switch does not activate any function of the oven. The control device further includes an electric motor configured to rotate the rotary position switch and position it in one of the discrete positions, the control unit being configured to actuate the electric motor until the rotary position switch is positioned in the position corresponding to the selected function.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control assembly for an oven having a control panel, the control assembly comprising:
 an actuator located in or on the control panel, the actuator being configured to select a first function of the oven and to generate a first electrical signal identifying the first function of the oven;   a control unit configured to receive the first electrical signal generated by the actuator and to identify from the first electrical signal the first function of the oven selected by means of the actuator;   a rotary position switch configured to rotate and to be positioned in a plurality of discrete positions, the plurality of discrete positions including a first discrete position corresponding to a reference position and a second discrete position corresponding to the first function of the oven, when in the first discrete position the rotary position switch does not activate any function of the oven, when in the second discrete position the rotary position switch activates the first function of the oven; and   an electric motor configured to rotate the rotary position switch between the first and second discrete positions, the electric motor being actuated by the control unit to place the rotary position switch in the second discrete position upon the control unit receiving the first electrical signal.   
     
     
         2 . The control assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to select a second function of the oven and to generate a second electrical signal identifying the second function of the oven, the control unit configured to receive the second electrical signal generated by the actuator and to identify from the second electrical signal the second function of the oven selected by means of the actuator, the rotary position switch configured to rotate and to be positioned in the plurality of discrete positions, the plurality of discrete positions including a third discrete position corresponding to the second function of the oven, when in the third discrete position the rotary position switch activates the second function of the oven, the electric motor configured to rotate the rotary position switch between the first, second and third discrete positions, the electric motor being actuated by the control unit to place the rotary position switch in the third discrete position upon the control unit receiving the second electrical signal. 
     
     
         3 . The control assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to identify when the rotary position switch is in the first discrete position and when the rotary position switch is in the second discrete position, the second discrete position being identified based on a number of discrete positions the rotary position switch has been rotated by the electric motor with respect to the first discrete position. 
     
     
         4 . The control assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the control unit comprises a memory that stores data corresponding to one or more of the plurality of discrete position in which the rotary position switch is positioned. 
     
     
         5 . The control assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein after an interruption in power the control unit is configured to first actuate the electric motor until the rotary position switch is positioned in the first discrete position, and thereafter to actuate the electric motor until the rotary position switch is positioned in the second discrete position. 
     
     
         6 . The control assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a position sensor coupled to the rotary position switch and in communication with the control unit, the position sensor configured to provide to the control unit a current position of the rotary position switch, the control unit being configured to actuate the electric motor to cause the rotary position switch to move from the current position to the second discrete position. 
     
     
         7 . The control assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the position sensor is integrated in the rotary position switch. 
     
     
         8 . The control assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the position sensor is integrated in the electric motor. 
     
     
         9 . The control assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the position sensor is a potentiometer. 
     
     
         10 . The control assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the position sensor is a rotary encoder. 
     
     
         11 . The control assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is directly attached to the rotary position switch. 
     
     
         12 . The control assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is coaxially attached to the rotary position switch. 
     
     
         13 . The control assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a push button. 
     
     
         14 . The control assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a capacitive touch sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The control assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a rotary knob. 
     
     
         16 . The control assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the control panel includes a touch screen, the actuator being an area of the touch screen. 
     
     
         17 . The control assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to receive a second electrical signal identifying a temperature inside a cavity of the oven, the second electrical signal generated by a temperature sensor, the control unit configured to identify from the second electrical signal the temperature inside the cavity of the oven, the rotary position switch including a plurality of switches, each switch being associated with a circuit into which a load corresponding to a function of the oven is fed, the control assembly comprising at least one input relay arranged in series with and before at least one of the plurality of switches, the control unit being configured to open the input relay when the temperature inside the cavity of the oven is greater than a maximum temperature and to close the input relay when the temperature inside the cavity of the oven is less than a minimum temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The control assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the maximum temperature is equal to a target temperature selected through a temperature actuator plus a higher differential, and the minimum temperature being equal to the target temperature minus a lower differential. 
     
     
         19 . The control assembly according to  claim 17 , further comprising an output relay arranged in series with and after the at least one of the plurality of switches of the rotary position switch, the control unit being configured to open the output relay upon detecting an anomalous operation of the control assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The control assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein upon the temperature inside the cavity of the oven being close to the target temperature, the control unit is configured to actuate the electric motor until the rotary position switch is positioned in a position other than the second discrete position, and to thereafter actuate the electric motor until the rotary position switch is positioned in the second discrete position when the temperature inside the cavity of the oven is close to the target temperature.