System and methods of improving the performance, safety and energy efficiency of a cooking appliance
First Claim
1. A method for improving the performance, safety, and energy efficiency of a cooking appliance with one or more heating elements operably connected with a burner controller controlling an amount of energy flowing to the one or more heating elements, said controller operably connected to one or more emission sensors located in a ventilation apparatus above the cooking unit and adapted to detect one or more emissions selected from the group of heat, smoke, carbon monoxide, humidity, noise, and combinations thereof, as well as a source of cooking information either internal or connected;
- the method comprising;
receiving a selected cooking mode and an intervention level from a user via a system controller;
establishing one or more emission reference levels for the burner controller and the ventilation apparatus via the system controller based on the selected cooking mode and the intervention level;
measuring one or more emissions with said one or more sensors generated in the operation of the cooking appliance;
comparing measured levels of the one or more emissions with said one or more emission reference levels to detect a condition requiring action or as a measure of cooking progress;
sending an activation control signal from said system controller as directed by one or more cooking control algorithms to the cooking appliance based on the cooking mode and the intervention level; and
adjusting the amount of energy flowing to the one or more heating elements of the cooking appliance through an energy control mechanism associated with the burner controller in response to said activation control signal, wherein the amount of energy is continuously adjustable between a first amount corresponding to a fully on level and a second amount corresponding to a fully off level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System and method for improving the performance, safety, and energy efficiency of a cooking appliance with one or more heating elements operably connected with a burner controller controlling an amount of energy flowing to the one or more heating elements. First, a user or a system controller establishes one or more reference levels. The system controller is operably associated with one or more sensors, which measures levels of one or more emissions generated in the operation of the cooking appliance. Afterwards, the system controller compares the measured levels of the one or more emissions with the reference levels and in response to the measured levels of the emissions exceeding reference levels, sends an activation control signal to the cooking appliance. Then, an energy control mechanism associated with the burner controller adjusts the amount of energy flowing to the heating elements in response to the activation control signal.
36 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for improving the performance, safety, and energy efficiency of a cooking appliance with one or more heating elements operably connected with a burner controller controlling an amount of energy flowing to the one or more heating elements, said controller operably connected to one or more emission sensors located in a ventilation apparatus above the cooking unit and adapted to detect one or more emissions selected from the group of heat, smoke, carbon monoxide, humidity, noise, and combinations thereof, as well as a source of cooking information either internal or connected;
- the method comprising;
receiving a selected cooking mode and an intervention level from a user via a system controller; establishing one or more emission reference levels for the burner controller and the ventilation apparatus via the system controller based on the selected cooking mode and the intervention level; measuring one or more emissions with said one or more sensors generated in the operation of the cooking appliance; comparing measured levels of the one or more emissions with said one or more emission reference levels to detect a condition requiring action or as a measure of cooking progress; sending an activation control signal from said system controller as directed by one or more cooking control algorithms to the cooking appliance based on the cooking mode and the intervention level; and adjusting the amount of energy flowing to the one or more heating elements of the cooking appliance through an energy control mechanism associated with the burner controller in response to said activation control signal, wherein the amount of energy is continuously adjustable between a first amount corresponding to a fully on level and a second amount corresponding to a fully off level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- the method comprising;
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16. A method for configuring a system for improving the performance, safety, and energy efficiency of a cooking appliance with one or more heating elements operably connected with a burner controller controlling an amount of energy flowing to the one or more heating elements, the method comprising:
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providing a burner controller for capable of responding to electronic signals for controlling the amount of energy flowing to the one or more heating elements of the cooking appliance; providing a means for establishing one or more reference levels via a system controller, enabling said system controller to alert a user or adjust the amount of energy flowing to the one or more heating elements of the cooking appliance; providing one or more sensors located in a ventilation appliance above the cooking unit, operably connected to said system controller to sense levels of one or more emissions generated in the operation of the cooking appliance, to detect a condition requiring action or as a measure of cooking progress; providing said system controller for operating in association with the cooking appliance, said system controller comprising means for reading said one or more reference levels and comparing the measured levels of the one or more emissions with said one or more reference levels; providing a heat level actuator connected to said system controller and operably connected to said burner controller of the cooking appliance, said actuator for adjusting said burner controller of the cooking appliance in response to the measured levels of the one or more emissions exceeding one more reference levels and as directed by one or more cooking control algorithms, using cooking information from an internal or connected source, and a current state of cooking progress as indicated by the sensors, wherein said burner controller is continuously adjustable between a first amount corresponding to a fully on level and a second amount corresponding to a fully off level; and enabling said system controller to alert a user of current conditions, cooking progress, actions required and actions being taken. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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17. A system for improving the performance, safety, and energy efficiency of a cooking appliance with one or more heating elements operably connected with a burner controller controlling an amount of energy flowing to the one or more heating elements, the system comprising:
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a means for establishing one or more reference levels via a system controller, enabling said system controller to alert a user or adjust the amount of energy flowing to the one or more heating elements of the cooking appliance; one or more sensors located in a ventilation appliance above the cooking unit, operably connected to said system controller and adapted for measuring levels of one or more emissions generated in the operation of the cooking appliance; emission levels being further used to identify the state of progress of food being cooked, said system controller for operating in association with the cooking appliance, said system controller comprising means for accessing cooking information from an internal or connected source; an actuator connected to said system controller and operably connected to said burner controller of the cooking appliance, said actuator adapted for adjusting said burner controller of the cooking appliance in response to the measured levels of the one or more emissions, and as directed by at least one of;
one or more cooking control algorithms, cooking information from an internal or connected source, and a current state of cooking progress as indicated by the one or more sensors, wherein said burner controller is continuously adjustable between a first amount corresponding to a fully on level and a second amount corresponding to a fully off level; andan interface adapted for enabling said system controller to alert a user of current conditions, cooking progress, actions required and actions being taken and adapted for providing a means for the user to select from a variety of assisted cooking modes. - View Dependent Claims (18, 20)
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Specification