Methods and apparatus for controlling a cooking appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10935252-B2
Application number	US-201615255491-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2016
Priority date	Sep 4, 2015
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

A cooking appliance includes a cooktop having at least one heating element for heating a cookware member on or to be placed on the cooktop, the at least one heating element being adjustable between a working-power level wherein the at least one heating element is energized to generate heat and a zero-power level wherein the at least one heating element is not energized. The cooking appliance further includes a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature or rate of temperature change of a cooking element. The cooking appliance further includes a control device configured to adjust the at least one heating element from the working-power level to the zero-power level based on the temperature or rate of temperature change of the cooking element. The at least one heating element will remain at the zero-power level until a user intervenes to re-energize the at least one heating element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cooking appliance comprising:
a cooktop having at least one heating element for heating a cookware member on or to be placed on the cooktop, the at least one heating element being adjustable between a working-power level wherein the at least one heating element is energized to generate heat and a zero-power level wherein the at least one heating element is not energized;
a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature or rate of temperature change of a cooking element; and
a control device configured to adjust the at least one heating element from the working-power level to the zero-power level when the rate of temperature change of the cooking element is equal to or above a threshold rate of temperature change, wherein the adjustment is made irrespective of the value of power presently being applied to the at least one heating element and of the present value of temperature of the cooking element,
wherein the at least one heating element will remain at the zero-power level until a user intervenes to re-energize the at least one heating element.

2. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is further configured to adjust the at least one heating element from the working-power level to the zero-power level in response to the temperature of the cooking element being equal to or above a threshold temperature, independent of the rate of temperature change of the cooking element.

3. The cooking appliance according to claim 2 , wherein the threshold temperature is at or about 371° C. (700° F.).

4. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the cooking element comprises a portion of the cooktop, a portion of the cookware member when placed on the cooktop, or a portion of foodstuff provided within the cookware member when placed on the cooktop.

5. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating element comprises an electric resistance element.

6. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating element comprises a gas burner.

7. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

8. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises an infrared sensor that is arranged at a side of the cooktop and aimed toward the heating element.

9. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises an infrared sensor that is arranged above the cooktop and aimed downward toward the heating element.

10. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises an infrared sensor that is arranged at a center of the heating element and aimed upward.

11. A method of operating a cooking appliance comprising a cooktop having at least one heating element for heating a cookware member on or to be placed on the cooktop, the method comprising:
setting the at least one heating element at a working-power level wherein the at least one heating element is energized to generate heat;
detecting a temperature or rate of temperature change of a cooking element;
adjusting the at least one heating element based on the detected temperature or rate of temperature change to a zero-power level wherein the at least one heating element is not energized; and
maintaining the at least one heating element at the zero-power level until a user intervenes to re-energize the at least one heating element,
wherein the at least one heating element is adjusted from the working-power level to the zero-power level when the rate of temperature change of the cooking element is equal to or above a threshold rate of temperature change, wherein the adjustment is made irrespective of the value of power presently being applied to the at least one heating element and of the present value of temperature of the cooking element.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one heating element is adjusted from the working-power level to the zero-power level in response to the temperature of the cooking element being equal to or above a threshold temperature, independent of the rate of temperature change of the cooking element.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the threshold temperature is at or about 371° C. (700° F.).

14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the cooking element comprises a portion of the cooktop, a portion of the cookware member when placed on the cooktop, or a portion of foodstuff provided within the cookware member when placed on the cooktop.

15. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one heating element comprises an electric resistance element.

16. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one heating element comprises a gas burner.

17. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the temperature or rate of temperature change is detected using an infrared sensor.

Assignees

• Electrolux Home Prod Inc

Inventors

• Norman Douglas Chris
• Smith Lloyd
• Wright Jonathan
• Williams Gavin

Classifications

• H05B2213/07

  Heating plates with temperature control means · CPC title

• G01J5/0003

  for sensing the radiant heat transfer of samples, e.g. emittance meter · CPC title

• F24C3/126

  on ranges · CPC title

• F24C7/083 Primary

  on tops, hot plates · CPC title

• H05B1/0266

  Cooktops · CPC title