Domestic heating appliance with contactless proximity control

摘要

A heating appliance 10 with a contactless control means 24 that may comprise a proximity sensor 28. A first control function may be requested when a property of the output signal from the proximity sensor 28, which may be the amplitude of the signal, exceeds a predetermined value for a preset period of time. A second control function may be requested when a second, longer preset period of time is exceeded. The first control means may be the control of the actuation of the appliance 10 and the second control means may be the control of the heat output of the appliance 10. The proximity sensor 28 may comprise a means for transmitting 26, detecting 28 and measuring 34 the reflected signal. Infra red radiation or electromagnetic radiation may be transmitted, received and measured. The control means 24 may also be concealed. The main use is within a domestic electric flame effect fire 10 or a gas-fuelled imitation fire (Figure 3).