Patent ID: 6903311
Filing Date: 2005-06-07
Classification: H05B

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling an electric cooking appliance whereby at commencement of a recurrent cooking cycle a boost condition is selected such that an operating temperature of the appliance is boosted above a predetermined safe long term maximum operating temperature ( 30 ) to a boost temperature ( 32 ) which is a predetermined safe short term maximum operating temperature, the appliance including energy regulating means ( 24 ) for controlling power level of one or more electric heating means ( 2 ) in the appliance, and temperature sensing means ( 14 ) for monitoring the operating temperature of the appliance, the method comprising the steps of: initiating the boost condition by increasing the power level of the one or more electric heating means ( 2 ) to a maximum power level from a previous lower power level; monitoring elapsed time ( 38 ) since an end of an immediately previous period at the maximum power level and during which cooling of the appliance occurs; monitoring difference in power levels between the maximum power level and the previous lower power level; and setting duration ( 34 ) of the boost condition according to one of the elapsed time ( 38 ) and the difference in power levels and correspondingly setting a level ( 36 ) of temperature boost in the boost condition according to one of the difference in power levels and the elapsed time, respectively.