Cooking Appliance and Method for Limiting Cooking Utensil Temperatures Using Dual Control Modes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018010804-A1
Application number	US-201615206366-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 11, 2016
Priority date	Jul 11, 2016
Publication date	Jan 11, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Cooking appliances and methods for operating cooking appliances are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a method for operating a cooking appliance is provided. The method includes providing power to the heating source according to a first control mode; determining whether to transition from the first control mode to a second control mode and, if so, then providing power to the heating source according to the second control mode. The method further includes determining whether to transition to the first control mode and, if so, then returning to providing power to the heating source according to the first control mode. The cooking appliances and methods include features for limiting cooking utensil temperatures using dual control modes.

First claim

1 . A method for operating a cooking appliance, the method comprising:
providing power to the heating source according to a first control mode; determining whether to transition from the first control mode to a second control mode and, if so, then
providing power to the heating source according to the second control mode;
determining whether to transition to the first control mode and, if so, then
returning to providing power to the heating source according to the first control mode.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first control mode utilizes a non-linear proportional control algorithm.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first control mode utilizes a temperature of a cooking utensil positioned on the heating source.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein a temperature sensor contacts a bottom surface of the cooking utensil to sense the temperature of the cooking utensil.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein determining whether to transition to the second control mode comprises comparing the temperature of the cooking utensil to a target temperature limit.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether to transition to the second control mode comprises comparing a timer to a threshold time interval.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether to transition to the first control mode comprises comparing a temperature of a cooking utensil positioned on the heating source to a threshold temperature.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the power provided to the heating source is modulated by an energy control device.

9 .- 15 . (canceled)

16 . A cooking appliance, comprising:
a heating source; a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor positioned to sense the temperature of a bottom surface of a cooking utensil when the cooking utensil is placed on or adjacent to the heating source; an energy control device for modulating the power provided to the heating source; a controller, the controller in operative communication with the temperature sensor and the energy control device, the controller configured for
providing power to the heating source according to a first control mode,
determining whether to transition from the first control mode to a second control mode and, if so, then
providing power to the heating source according to the second control mode,
determining whether to transition to the first control mode and, if so, then
returning to providing power to the heating source according to the first control mode.

17 . The cooking appliance of claim 16 , wherein the temperature sensor is a spring-loaded temperature sensor.

18 . The cooking appliance of claim 16 , wherein the temperature sensor is positioned to contact the bottom surface of the cooking utensil.

19 . The cooking appliance of claim 16 , wherein the second control mode utilizes a linear proportional or proportional-integral control algorithm.

20 . The cooking appliance of claim 16 , wherein the first control mode utilizes a non-linear proportional control algorithm.

21 . The cooking appliance of claim 16 , wherein the first control mode utilizes a temperature of a cooking utensil positioned on the heating source.

22 . The cooking appliance of claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured for comparing the temperature of the cooking utensil to a target temperature limit to determine whether to transition to the second control mode.

23 . The cooking appliance of claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured for comparing a timer to a threshold time interval to determine whether to transition to the second control mode.

24 . The cooking appliance of claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured for comparing the temperature of the cooking utensil to a threshold temperature to determine whether to transition to the first control mode.

25 . The cooking appliance of claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured for, to determine whether to transition to the second control mode,
determining whether the power provided according to the first control mode is less than a minimum power level and, if so, then
incrementing a timer, and
determining whether the timer has surpassed a threshold time interval and, if so, then
providing power to the heating source according to the second control mode.

26 . The cooking appliance of claim 25 , wherein, if the power provided according to the first control mode is greater than a minimum power level, the controller is configured for
resetting the timer, determining whether the temperature of the cooking utensil is at least equal to a target temperature limit and, if so, then
providing power to the heating source according to the second control mode.

27 . The cooking appliance of claim 26 , wherein if the temperature of the cooking utensil is less than the target temperature limit, the controller is configured for
continuing to provide power to the heating source according to the first control mode.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Bach James Carter

Classifications

• F24C7/088 Primary

  on stoves · CPC title

• H05B1/0266 Primary

  Cooktops · CPC title

• F24C7/083

  on tops, hot plates · CPC title

• F24C3/126

  on ranges · CPC title