Apparatus for limiting temperature

• US 6,586,712 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Glaser, John Stanley, Mathews, Harry Kirk Jr., Schnore, Austars Raymond Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCHALL, MARK H
• Application Number:
  US09/683,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20030106887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 219/501, 219/505, 219/497, 219/499, 219/494, 219/481, 219/413, 219/412, 219/414, 307/117, 236/68.B, 236/91.R, 236/1.R
• US Class Current: 219/505
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/24 the sensing element having a resistance varying with temperature, e.g. a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0252 Domestic applications

Abstract

A temperature limiting user interface comprises a potentiometer for providing a reference signal to an electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus being adapted to generate heat as a function of the reference signal; and a temperature-sensitive impedance, thermally coupled to the electronic apparatus so as to receive at least a portion of the heat, and electrically coupled to the potentiometer so as to alter the reference signal as a function of temperature.

Claims

1. A cooking appliance comprising:

a temperature limiting user interface adapted to provide a power reference signal;

a power controller adapted to generate electrical power as a function of the power reference signal; and

a cooking element for generating heat from the electrical power,

said temperature limiting user interface comprising;

a potentiometer adapted to provide the power reference signal; and

a temperature-sensitive impedance thermally coupled to said cooking element and electrically coupled to said potentiometer so as to alter the power reference signal as a function of temperature.

2. The cooking appliance of claim 1 wherein said temperature-sensitive impedance is electrically coupled in series with said potentiometer.

3. The cooking appliance of claim 2 wherein said temperature-sensitive impedance is electrically coupled in series with a body impedance of said potentiometer.

4. The cooking appliance of claim 1 wherein said temperature-sensitive impedance is electrically coupled in parallel with said potentiometer.

5. The cooking appliance of claim 1 wherein said temperature-sensitive impedance comprises a positive temperature coefficient device.

6. The cooking appliance of claim 1 wherein said temperature-sensitive impedance comprises a negative temperature coefficient device.

7. A cooking appliance comprising:

a temperature limiting user interface adapted to provide a power reference signal;

a power controller adapted to generate electrical power as a function of the power reference signal; and

a cooking element for generating heat from the electrical power,

said temperature limiting user interface comprising;

a potentiometer adapted to provide the power reference signal; and

a positive temperature coefficient device thermally coupled to said cooking element and electrically coupled to said potentiometer so as to alter the power reference signal as a function of temperature.

8. The cooking appliance of claim 7 wherein said positive temperature coefficient device is electrically coupled in series with said potentiometer.

9. The cooking appliance of claim 8 wherein said positive temperature coefficient device is electrically coupled in series with a body impedance of said potentiometer.

10. The cooking appliance of claim 7 wherein said positive temperature coefficient device is electrically coupled in parallel with said potentiometer.