Patent ID: 6350968
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: G05D,H05B

Abstract:
An apparatus for rapidly heating a cooktop, the apparatus comprising:a radiant heating element positioned below the cooktop; a controller connected to the radiant heating element, the controller comprising: a first switching device connected to the radiant heating element; a fast heat-up circuit connected to the first switching device, the fast heat-up circuit comprising: a proportional-plus-integral (PI) controller connected to the first switching device; a minimum selector having a minimum selector output, the minimum selector connected to the PI controller and the minimum selector output connected to the first switching device; and an anti-wind up controller connected to the PI controller and the minimum selector output; a second switching device connected to the PI controller; and a look-up table connected to the second switching device, the look-up table comprising a plurality of user power levels wherein each of the plurality of user power levels correlates to a respective user-selected temperature; a user power input device connected to the controller and allowing selection of at least a first of the plurality of user power levels wherein the first user power level corresponds to a first respective user-selected temperature in the look-up table; and a temperature sensor connected to the controller to measure a temperature of the cooktop.