Automatic lighting control system for a cooking cavity

Abstract

A cooking appliance includes an oven cavity having an associated access door provided with a cavity viewing window, a control panel for setting both a desired cooking function and a heat source operating time period, and a light for illuminating the oven cavity of the appliance. The light is controlled so as to be automatically activated prior to the expiration of the set time period for the selected cooking operation in order to bring the attention of the user to viewing the progress of the cooking operation without unnecessarily opening the oven cavity door. If, after viewing the food being cooked, it is determined that further cooking time is warranted, then the process of adding additional cooking time will function to re-set the automatic light activating feature of the invention. In addition, if the user opens the door following activation of the cavity light but prior to the expiration of the established cooking time period, then the light will preferably remain on until after the cooking function is completed. Various provisions are also made for de-activating the light after the cooking operation is completed. Furthermore, if the light is manually activated, the light will automatically be de-activated upon opening and closing of the door.