Cooktop

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017339751-A1
Application number	US-201515523676-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 2, 2015
Priority date	Nov 7, 2014
Publication date	Nov 23, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cooktop appliance apparatus for use in cooking. The appliance including a controller for controlling operation of the fan system based on an average power level supplied to a heating system, and based on a temperature measure associated with the one or more subsystems. The appliance including a hardware-implemented safety module comprising two or more temperature actuated safety circuits. The appliance including a user interface adapted to receive a user input with respect to operating parameters of the heating system, the user input including a heating control mode and a set temperature. The appliance including a controller adapted to identify a cooking vessel on an induction cooktop.

First claim

1 .- 10 . (canceled)

11 . A cooktop appliance apparatus having a cooking surface for use in cooking, the apparatus including:
a heating subsystem associated with the cooking surface; a controller for controlling operation of the heating subsystem; a hardware-implemented safety module comprising two or more electronic safety circuits, each safety circuit having:
a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature associated with a heating subsystem, and
a comparator adapted to compare the sensed temperature with a threshold safety temperature, and
an electronic switch for activating operation of the heating sub-system;
wherein temperature sensors of the respective safety circuits are located beneath a sensor cap that is biased into a raised position above the cooking surface; wherein electronic switches of the respective safety circuits together effect operation of the heating sub-system only when at least two safety circuits determine that the sensed temperature is below a predetermined threshold safety temperature.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the safety module is electrically isolated from circuitry driving the heating subsystem.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the temperature sensors provide temperature measurements to the controller for used in controlling the heating subsystem.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , the apparatus further including:
a user interface adapted to receive a user input with respect to operating parameters of the heating system, the user input including a set temperature; wherein the controller controls operation of the heating system based on the user selected set temperature and on a heating control mode.

15 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the controller selects the heating control mode from one or more predetermined heating control modes based on the user selected set temperature.

16 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the heating control mode defines a power level associated with the operation of the heating subsystem.

17 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the heating control mode defines a heating rate effected by the heating subsystem.

18 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the user selects the heating control mode from one or more predetermined heating control modes, and each of the one or more predetermined heating control modes is indicative of a respective heating rate.

19 . The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein each of the one or more predetermined heating control modes is further associated with a respective temperature overshoot.

20 . The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein:
the one or more predetermined heating control modes are configured to be separately associated with a selectable temperature range; and the one or more predetermined heating control modes are configured to be separately associated with a selectable power range.

21 . (canceled)

22 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein: the user selected set temperature determines a user selected temperature range, and the selected heating control mode is configured for the user selected temperature range.

23 . The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein configuration of the selected heating control mode determines a maximum applied power that is a fraction of any predetermined power limit.

24 . The apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the selected heating control mode is a default setting.

25 . (canceled)

26 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , the apparatus further including an external probe temperature sensor coupled to the controller.

27 .- 32 . (canceled)

33 . The application according to claim 11 , the apparatus further including:
a fan system for cooling one or more electronic circuitry subsystems; and a fan controller for controlling operation of the fan system; wherein the fan controller controls the fan system based on an average power level supplied to the heating system, and based on a temperature measure associated with the one or more subsystems; a range of the average power level supplied to the heating system is mapped to a first range of fan speeds according to a first mapping, and a range of appliance subsystem temperatures is mapped to a second range of fan speeds according to a second mapping; the controller controls the fan system by selecting a highest fan speed resulting from both the first mapping and the second mapping.

Assignees

• Breville R & D Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Meng Lichan
• Rosian Marian Silviu
• Hoare Richard
• Foxlee Brendan John
• Rose Vyvyan
• Davenport David
• Hegedis Tibor

Classifications

• G01K1/143

  for measuring surface temperatures · CPC title

• H05B1/0266

  Cooktops · CPC title

• H05B2213/07

  Heating plates with temperature control means · CPC title

• H05B6/062 Primary

  for cooking plates or the like · CPC title