Claims
- 1. A controller for a heating unit, the heating unit having a temperature sensor, a heating element, and a cooking surface, the heating unit capable of generating heat to a utensil located on the cooking surface, the controller comprising:
a means for measuring a temperature of a cavity within the heating unit; a means for controlling the application of power to the heating element; a means for determining whether to control the application of power to the heating element in an overdrive state based on a type of utensil that is located on the heating unit.
- 2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the means for measuring the temperature of the cavity includes receiving a signal generated from the temperature sensor.
- 3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the means for controlling the application of power to the heating element includes the generation of a duty cycle signal to a power source that is electrically connected to the heating element.
- 4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the means for determining whether to control the application of power to the heating element in an overdrive state includes a measurement of a temperature profile of the cavity temperature.
- 5. A temperature control system for a heating unit in a cooktop, the heating unit having a heating element disposed below a cooking surface, the heating unit capable of generating heat to a utensil located on the cooking surface, the temperature control system comprising:
a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature within a cavity of the heating unit; and a controller capable of receiving a signal from the temperature sensor reflecting the measured temperature within the cavity, the controller capable of controlling the application of power to the heating element; wherein the controller is capable of determining a type of utensil that is located on the heating unit and is capable of controlling the application of power to the heating element in an overdrive state based on the type of utensil that is located on the heating unit.
- 6. The temperature control system of claim 5, wherein the temperature control system further includes a power source that is electrically connected to the heating element and is electrically connected to the controller.
- 7. The temperature control system of claim 5, wherein the temperature control system further includes a control knob to enable a user to select a temperature setting.
- 8. The temperature control system of claim 5, wherein the controller has a means for measuring a temperature profile of the cavity.
- 9. The temperature control system of claim 5, wherein the controller has a means for measuring a first period of time that it takes the measured temperature of the cavity to travel from a first temperature to a second temperature.
- 10. The temperature control system of claim 9, wherein the controller has a means for measuring a second period of time that it takes the measured temperature of the cavity to travel from a third temperature to a fourth temperature.
- 11. A method of operating a heating unit at a first temperature setting, the heating unit having a heater element that radiates infrared energy and a temperature sensor adapted to measuring a sensed temperature in the heating unit, the method comprising:
measuring a first period of time from a first temperature to a second temperature; measuring a second period of time from a third temperature to a fourth temperature; comparing the first period of time to the second period of time; determining whether to increase the first temperature setting to a second temperature setting in the heating unit; and increasing the first temperature setting to a second temperature setting if it is determined that the first temperature setting may be increased from the first temperature setting to the second temperature setting.
- 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method is performed in a controller, the controller capable of receiving the sensed temperature from the temperature sensor, the controller electrically connected to the heater element to maintain the first and second temperature settings.
- 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the temperature sensor is a platinum RTD.
- 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the second temperature setting is greater than the first temperature setting.
- 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining step further includes determining whether a utensil on the heating unit is concave.
- 16. A method of operating a heating unit at a first temperature setting, the heating unit having a heater element that radiates infrared energy and a temperature sensor adapted to measuring a sensed temperature in the heating unit, the method comprising:
measuring a first increase in the sensed temperature during a first period of time; measuring a second increase in the sensed temperature during a second period of time; comparing the first increase in the sensed temperature to the second increase in the sensed temperature; determining whether to increase the first temperature setting to a second temperature setting in the heating unit; and increasing the first temperature setting to a second temperature setting if it is determined that the first temperature setting may be increased from the first temperature setting to the second temperature setting.
- 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the method is performed in a controller, the controller capable of receiving a sensed temperature from the temperature sensor, the controller electrically connected to the heater element to maintain the first and second temperature settings.
- 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the temperature sensor is a platinum RTD.
- 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the second temperature setting is greater than the first temperature setting.
- 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the determining step further includes determining whether a utensil on the heating unit is concave.
Parent Case Info
[0001] The present application claims priority from Provisional Application Serial No. ______ entitled “Modular Heating Unit For Cooktops And Methods of Operating Same” filed Dec. 22, 2000, which is commonly owned and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Moreover, this patent application is related to co-pending, commonly assigned patent application entitled “Controller For A Heating Unit In A Cooktop And Methods Of Operating Same” by Jeffrey Bates et al., Ser. No.______ filed concurrently herewith and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.