Patent ID: 6018150
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: G05D

Abstract:
A temperature control system for a heating apparatus comprising:input means for establishing a setpoint temperature for a medium;heating means for heating said medium;sensing means for determining the temperature of the medium;control means for controlling the amount of heat provided to the medium by the heating means, said control means including a move-to-idle mode of operation for initiating a single pulse of heat to move the temperature of the medium from a temperature below said setpoint temperature to a temperature above said setpoint temperature, wherein during said move-to-idle mode said control means causes said heating means to generate a move-to-idle pulse of heat having a move-to-idle pulse duration sufficient to bring said medium to a temperature above said setpoint temperature from a move-to-idle temperature which is below said setpoint temperature, said control means deriving said move-to-idle pulse duration from thermal characteristics of said heating apparatus and said medium obtained during an earlier operating mode.