Appliance handle with automatic shutoff of input interface elements

Abstract

A method for operating an appliance having a cabinet, a door connected to the cabinet and movable in an opening direction from a closed position to an open position, and a handle connected to the door. The handle has a first side facing against the opening direction and forming a grasping surface, a second side facing along the opening direction, and an interface region having one or more input interfaces on the second side of the handle. The appliance has one or more shutoff sensors configured to disable at least one of the one or more input interfaces on the interface region when an object is detected adjacent the grasping surface.

1 . A method for operating appliance comprising: a cabinet; a door connected to the cabinet and movable in an opening direction from a closed position to an open position; a handle connected to the door, the handle having a first side facing against the opening direction and forming a grasping surface, a second side facing along the opening direction, and an interface region having one or more input interfaces on the second side of the handle; and one or more shutoff sensors, the method comprising:
 detecting via the one or more shutoff sensors, that an object is between the grasping surface of the handle and the door; and   disabling at least one of the one or more input interfaces on the interface region when the object is detected between the grasping surface of the handle and the door.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more shutoff sensors comprises one or more capacitive proximity sensors. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more shutoff sensors comprises one or more capacitive touch sensors. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more shutoff sensors comprises one or more optical sensors. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more shutoff sensors comprises one or more mechanical switches. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disabling at least one of the one or more input interfaces on the interface region when the object is detected between the grasping surface of the handle and the door comprises disabling all of the one or more input interfaces on the interface region when the object is detected between the grasping surface of the handle and the door. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disabling at least one of the one or more input interfaces on the interface region when the object is detected between the grasping surface of the handle and the door comprising disabling at least one of the one or more input interfaces on the interface region when the object is detected in contact with the grasping surface. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disabling at least one of the one or more input interfaces on the interface region when the object is detected between the grasping surface of the handle and the door comprises disabling at least one of the one or more input interfaces on the interface region when the object is detected within a predetermined distance of the grasping surface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises:
 a housing attached to the door;   a cover attached to the housing and comprising at least a portion of the interface region; and   a printed circuit board contained by the housing and the cover.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the printed circuit board has a first side facing the cover and a second side facing opposite the cover, and wherein at least one of the one or more input interfaces are mounted on the first side of the printed circuit board, and at least one of the one or more shutoff sensors are mounted on the second side of the printed circuit board. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more shutoff sensors are completely enclosed within the housing and cover. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the handle further comprises a display trim located between the first side of the printed circuit board and the cover, the display trim comprising a plurality of openings, each opening configured to surround one or more input interfaces or output interfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more shutoff sensors are mounted on the handle. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more shutoff sensors are mounted on the door. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disabling at least one of the one or more input interfaces on the interface region when the object is detected between the grasping surface of the handle and the door comprises disabling the at least one of the one or more input interfaces when an object is detected adjacent a predetermined region of the grasping surface. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disabling at least one of the one or more input interfaces on the interface region when the object is detected between the grasping surface of the handle and the door comprises disabling the at least one of the one or more input interfaces when an object is detected adjacent any portion of the grasping surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the door is movably mounted to the cabinet by a pivot, and the opening direction comprises an arcuate path centered on a rotation axis of the pivot. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the door is movably mounted to the cabinet by one or more sliders, and the opening direction comprises a linear path parallel to a travel path of the one or more sliders. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is elongated in a longitudinal direction, and is connected to the door at longitudinal ends of the handle. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is formed by a pocket or groove in the door. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is formed by a portion of the door that extends beyond a perimeter of the cabinet.