ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL FOR COOKTOP HEATERS

• US 20070108186A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Fisher, Gary, Blackson, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 7,589,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/486
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0266 Cooktops
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2213/07 Heating plates with temperature control means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/68 Heating arrangements specially adapted for cooking plates or analogous hot-plates
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/74 Non-metallic plates , e.g. vitroceramic, ceramic or glassceramic hobs, also including power or control circuits

Abstract

In one aspect, a cooktop heating system that include a first cooktop heating element, a second cooktop heating element, and an interface device. The system also includes a controller for selectively associating the interface device with any one or both of the first cooktop heating element and the second cooktop heating element. In another aspect, the system includes at least one cooktop heating element, a potentiometer, and controller arrangement operatively connected between the potentiometer and the at least one cooktop heating element to determine heating of the at least one cooktop heating element responsive to the input provided by the potentiometer and control power provision to the at least one cooktop heating element responsive to the determination.

Claims

1. A cooktop heating system, comprising:

a cooktop heating element;

a first user interface device for receiving a variable first heating element setting from a user;

a second user interface device for receiving a variable second heating element setting from the user;

a third user interface device for receiving a variable third heating element setting from the user; and

a controller for selectively associating the cooktop heating element with at least one of the first user interface device, the second user interface device, and the third user interface device.

2. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a selective association of the cooktop heating element with at least one of the first user interface device, the second user interface device, and the third user interface device is based on an input from the user.

3. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller includes a processor.

4. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the controller is programmed to obtain a heating element power setting from the first user interface device and select a heating element power level that corresponds to the heating element power setting from one of a first heating profile and a second heating profile.

5. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 4, wherein a duty cycle of power output to the cooktop heating element corresponds to the heating element power level.

6. A cooktop heating system, comprising:

a first cooktop heating element;

a second cooktop heating element;

a third cooktop heating element;

a user interface device for receiving a heating element setting from a user; and

a controller for selectively associating the user interface device with any one or more of the first cooktop heating element, the second cooktop heating element, and the third cooktop heating element.

7. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 6, wherein a selective association of the user interface device with any one or more of the first cooktop heating element, the second cooktop heating element, and the third cooktop heating element is based on an input from the user.

8. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 6,

further comprising an additional user interface device, wherein the controller can selectively associate the additional user interface device with any one or more of the first cooktop heating element, the second cooktop heating element, and the third cooktop heating element.

9. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 6,

further comprising a first additional user interface device and a second additional user interface device, wherein the controller can selectively associate any of said user interface devices with any one or more of the first cooktop heating element, the second cooktop heating element, and the third cooktop heating element.

10. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the controller includes a processor.

11. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the controller is programmed to obtain a heating element power setting from the user interface device and select a heating element power level that corresponds to the heating element power setting from one of a first heating profile and a second heating profile.

12. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 11, wherein a duty cycle of power output to one or more of the first cooktop heating element, the second cooktop heating element, and the third cooktop heating element corresponds to the heating element power level.

13. A cooktop heating system, comprising:

a first cooktop heating element;

a second cooktop heating element;

a first user interface device for receiving a first heating element setting from a user;

a second user interface device for receiving a second heating element setting from the user; and

a controller for selectively associating both of the first cooktop heating element and the second cooktop heating element with either one of the first user interface device and the second user interface device.

14. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 13, further comprising a third user interface device for receiving a user input, wherein the selective association is based on the user input.

15. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 13, further comprising a third user interface device, wherein the controller can selectively associate both of the first cooktop heating element and the second cooktop heating element with the third user interface device.

16. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 13, further comprising means for controlling an auxiliary device.

17. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 13, further comprising means for sensing the presence of a cooking receptacle at the first cooktop heating element, wherein a power output to the first cooktop heating element is provided only when the cooking receptacle is present at the first cooktop heating element.

18. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the controller includes a processor.

19. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 18, wherein the controller is programmed to obtain a heating element power setting from the first user interface device and select a heating element power level that corresponds to the heating element power setting from one of a first heating profile and a second heating profile.

20. A cooktop heating system as set forth in claim 19, wherein a duty cycle of power output to both of the first cooktop heating element and the second cooktop heating element corresponds to the heating element power level.