초록 ▼

A cooking appliance includes a heating unit (10) for cooking food. The unit has a heating element (34) to which electrical current is supplied for generating heat used to cook food such as chocolate and sauces set upon the heating unit. A programmable controller (16) controls the application of curr

A cooking appliance includes a heating unit (10) for cooking food. The unit has a heating element (34) to which electrical current is supplied for generating heat used to cook food such as chocolate and sauces set upon the heating unit. A programmable controller (16) controls the application of current to the heating element to control the heating element temperature as a function of a time and temperature profile established for cooking the food in a particular manner. A temperature sensor (38) senses the heating element temperature and supplies a signal (St) to the controller. The characteristics of this signal are a function of the sensed cooking temperature. The controller is responsive to this signal, and other inputs (24,26) such as desired cooking time, and the amount and quantity of food, to vary the amount of current supplied to the heating element. The appliance is particularly useful in being able to heat chocolate, sauces, and the like without scorching them.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] An appliance for cooking food, comprising:a heating unit including a heating element to which electrical power is supplied for generating heat to cook food placed upon the heating unit;a power source for supplying power to the heating element;a closed loop temperature control syste

[ We claim:] [1.] An appliance for cooking food, comprising:a heating unit including a heating element to which electrical power is supplied for generating heat to cook food placed upon the heating unit;a power source for supplying power to the heating element;a closed loop temperature control system for actively controlling the temperature of the heating element by controlling operation of the power source, including a temperature sensor in thermal communication with the heating element for sensing instantaneous heating element temperature and generating a signal representative thereof, and a programmable controller in communication with the temperature sensor for controlling power supplied to the heating element by the power source based upon the signal generated by the temperature sensor, said power source supplying a first peak voltage to the heating element to rapidly increase the temperature of the heating element from an ambient temperature to a desired temperature during a first initial time period commencing when the appliance is turned on, and supplying a second reduced voltage having a voltage level less than the first peak voltage to the heating element after expiration of the first initial time period, said heating element being maintained at the desired temperature when the voltage level supplied to the heating element is reduced from the first initial voltage to the second reduced voltage.