Drag-and-set user interface for appliances

1. An appliance comprising:

a control unit;

a plurality of components configured to operate under control of the control unit; and

a touchscreen configured to operate under control of the control unit, the control unit being configured to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) for display by the touchscreen, the GUI including graphical control elements for respective components of the plurality of components,

wherein the touchscreen is configured to detect a touch gesture to drag a graphical control element of the graphical control elements, the graphical control element being for a component of the respective components,

wherein the control unit is configured to adjust a mode or setting of the component in response to the touch gesture, and

wherein the mode or setting is selectable from a plurality of modes or settings of the component based on a direction in which the graphical control element is dragged, and for at least two of the graphical control elements for at least two components of the respective components, the same direction is used for selection of different modes or settings of the at least two components.

2. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the touch gesture initially includes a selection of the graphical control element, and in response, the control unit is configured to remove one or more other graphical control elements from the GUI, or alter a color or size of the graphical control element in the GUI, to confirm the selection.

3. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the touch gesture initially includes a selection of the graphical control element, and in response, the control unit is configured to activate the component.

4. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the touch gesture initially includes a selection of the graphical control element, and in response, the control unit is configured to add to the GUI, a plurality of additional graphical control elements for a respective plurality of functions of the component.

5. The appliance of claim 4 , wherein the touchscreen being configured to detect the touch gesture includes being configured to detect another touch gesture to select an additional graphical control element of the plurality of additional graphical control elements and thereby select a function of the respective plurality of functions, and in response, the control unit is configured to include in the GUI, only the additional graphical control element for the function so selected.

6. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the control unit being configured to adjust the mode or setting further includes the control unit being configured to include in the GUI, indicia that corresponds to adjustment of the mode or setting.

7. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the component is a timer, and the control unit being configured to adjust the mode or setting includes control unit being configured to add a readout of the timer to the GUI, the readout being partially transparent and superimposed over one or more of the graphical control elements.

8. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the control unit being configured to adjust the mode or setting includes being configured to selectively increase or decrease a power level of the component when the graphical control element is dragged in respectively a first direction or an opposing, second direction.

9. The appliance of claim 1 further comprising a proximity sensor configured to detect a presence of a nearby user, and in response, the control unit is configured to activate the touchscreen to display the GUI.

10. A method for controlling an appliance, the method comprising at the appliance:

generating a graphical user interface (GUI) for display by a touchscreen, the GUI including graphical control elements for respective components of a plurality of components of the appliance;

detecting by the touchscreen, a touch gesture to drag a graphical control element of the graphical control elements, the graphical control element being for a component of the respective components; and

adjusting a mode or setting of the component in response to the touch gesture,

wherein the mode or setting is selectable from a of a plurality of modes or settings of the component based on a direction in which the graphical control element is dragged, and for at least two of the graphical control elements for at least two components of the respective components, the same direction is used for selection of different modes or settings of the at least two components.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the touch gesture initially includes a selection of the graphical control element, and the method further comprises in response thereto, removing one or more other graphical control elements from the GUI, or altering a color or size of the graphical control element in the GUI, to confirm the selection.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the touch gesture initially includes a selection of the graphical control element, and the method further comprises in response thereto, activating the component.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the touch gesture initially includes a selection of the graphical control element, and the method further comprises in response thereto, adding to the GUI, a plurality of additional graphical control elements for a respective plurality of functions of the component.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein detecting the touch gesture includes detecting another touch gesture to select an additional graphical control element of the plurality of additional graphical control elements and thereby select a function of the respective plurality of functions, and the method further comprises in response thereto, including in the GUI, only the function so selected.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein adjusting the mode or setting further includes including in the GUI, indicia that corresponds to adjustment of the mode or setting.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the component is a timer, and adjusting the mode or setting includes adding a readout of the timer to the GUI, the readout being partially transparent and superimposed over one or more of the graphical control elements.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein adjusting the mode or setting includes being configured to selectively increase or decrease a power level of the component when the graphical control element is dragged in respectively a first direction or an opposing, second direction.

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising detecting by a proximity sensor, a presence of a nearby user, and in response, activating the display to present the GUI.