Domestic electrical appliance

Claim 1

A domestic electrical appliance comprising, a solid state processor arranged to control the operation of the appliance by selecting an optionally-variable number of operating steps from N such steps in accordance with any one of a number of programs selectable by the user, a power supply, a switch for connecting the power supply to the processor, a non-volatile memory, writing means which--prior to the processing of any said operating step--writes data into the memory identifying the selected program and which--during the processing of the steps--writes data into the memory identifying the last operating step processed, reading means arranged to read the memory contents whereby, on removal and subsequent reconnection of the power supply to the processor, the memory contents read enable the processor to continue with the program if that program had not been completed at the instant of removal of the power supply, signal means for generating a clock signal only so long as the processor is functioning correctly, and timing means which, in the absence of said clock signal for a time duration greater than the clock period, causes the switch to disconnect and then reconnect the power supply to the processor.