Cooktop appliance
First Claim
1. A cooktop appliance, comprising:
- an electric heating element positioned on a cooktop surface of the cooktopappliance; and
a controller operably connected to the electric heating element, the controller configured for;
generating a temperature setting;
initiating a preheat cycle, the preheat cycle comprising operating the electric heating element at a predetermined power level corresponding to the temperature setting and monitoring a temperature with a temperature sensor until the monitored temperature reaches the temperature setting;
initiating a duty cycle when the monitored temperature reaches the temperature setting, the duty cycle comprising monitoring the temperature with the temperature sensor, calculating a difference between the monitored temperature and the temperature setting, operating the electric heating element over a first period of time at multiple distinct power levels based at least in part on the calculated difference between the monitored temperature and the temperature setting, and deactivating the electric heating element for a second period of time based at least in part on the calculated difference between the monitored temperature and the temperature setting;
storing the first period of time in a memory of the controller;
storing an average of the multiple distinct power levels in the memory of the controller;
storing the second period of time in the memory of the controller;
detecting a disconnection of the temperature sensor;
after detecting the disconnection of the temperature sensoroperating the heating element at the stored average power level for a duration of time equal to the stored first period of time; and
deactivating the heating element for a duration of time equal to the stored second period of time.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cooktop appliance includes an electric heating element positioned on a cooktop surface and a controller operably connected thereto. The controller is configured for monitoring a temperature with a temperature sensor, adjusting a power level of the electric heating element based at least in part on the monitored temperature over a first period of time, and deactivating the electric heating element for a second period of time based at least in part on the monitored temperature. The controller is also configured for storing the first period of time, an average power level over the first period of time, and the second period of time in a memory. When the controller detects a disconnection of the temperature sensor, the controller operates the heating element at the stored average power level for the stored first period of time and deactivates the heating element for the stored second period of time.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A cooktop appliance, comprising:
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an electric heating element positioned on a cooktop surface of the cooktop appliance; and a controller operably connected to the electric heating element, the controller configured for; generating a temperature setting; initiating a preheat cycle, the preheat cycle comprising operating the electric heating element at a predetermined power level corresponding to the temperature setting and monitoring a temperature with a temperature sensor until the monitored temperature reaches the temperature setting; initiating a duty cycle when the monitored temperature reaches the temperature setting, the duty cycle comprising monitoring the temperature with the temperature sensor, calculating a difference between the monitored temperature and the temperature setting, operating the electric heating element over a first period of time at multiple distinct power levels based at least in part on the calculated difference between the monitored temperature and the temperature setting, and deactivating the electric heating element for a second period of time based at least in part on the calculated difference between the monitored temperature and the temperature setting; storing the first period of time in a memory of the controller; storing an average of the multiple distinct power levels in the memory of the controller; storing the second period of time in the memory of the controller; detecting a disconnection of the temperature sensor;
after detecting the disconnection of the temperature sensoroperating the heating element at the stored average power level for a duration of time equal to the stored first period of time; and deactivating the heating element for a duration of time equal to the stored second period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A cooktop appliance, comprising:
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an electric heating element positioned on a cooktop surface of the cooktop appliance; and a controller operably connected to the electric heating element, the controller configured for; monitoring a temperature with a temperature sensor; adjusting a power level of the electric heating element based at least in part on the monitored temperature over a first period of time; deactivating the electric heating element for a second period of time based at least in part on the monitored temperature; storing the first period of time in a memory of the controller; storing an average power level over the first period of time in the memory of the controller; storing the second period of time in the memory of the controller; detecting a disconnection of the temperature sensor;
after detecting the disconnection of the temperature sensoroperating the heating element at the stored average power level for a first duration of time equal to the stored first period of time; and deactivating the heating element for a second duration of time equal to the stored second period of time. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A cooktop appliance, comprising:
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an electric heating element positioned on a cooktop surface of the cooktop appliance; and a controller operably connected to the electric heating element, the controller configured for; generating a temperature setting; operating the electric heating element at a power level; monitoring a temperature with a temperature sensor; inputting the monitored temperature into a control loop; adjusting the power level of the electric heating element based at least in part on an output of the control loop; storing temperature data in a memory of the controller, the stored temperature data comprising a maximum value of the monitored temperature, a minimum value of the monitored temperature, and a time interval between the maximum value and the minimum value; detecting a disconnection of the temperature sensor;
operating the heating element at the stored average power level for a duration of time equal to the stored first period of time, after detecting the disconnection of the temperature sensor;inputting the stored temperature data into the control loop; and adjusting the power level of the electric heating element based at least in part on an output generated by the control loop in response to the stored temperature data input. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification