Patent ID: 6462316
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: H05B

Abstract:
A system for detecting properties of a cooking utensil on the cooking surface of a solid-surface cooktop having at least one controllable energy source for providing energy for heating the utensil and any contents thereof, said detected properties being parameters for controlling said at least one controllable energy source, the system comprising:a radiation source for emitting radiation toward the cooktop and the utensil; a detector for detecting a parameter indicative of the temperature of a portion of said cooktop and passing through the cooktop and for generating detector signals indicative of at least one property of the cooking utensil, the at least one property being selected from a group of properties consisting of utensil absence, utensil presence, utensil placement, utensil removal, utensil size, utensil warpage, utensil type, utensil temperature, and utensil load; at least one power signal indicative of the level of power supplied to at least one controllable energy source having a power configuration; and processor means for receiving the detector signals and the at least one power signal and for providing signals indicative of the at least one property of the cooking utensil.