Patent ID: 6812437
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: G05D,H05K

Abstract:
A cooking apparatus comprising:a housing; a heating element positioned within the housing; a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature at the housing, wherein the temperature sensor and the heating element are in thermal contact with the housing; and an electronic control circuit electrically coupled to the heating element, and adapted to provide power thereto, the electronic control circuit comprising a single switch to turn on operating power to the cooking apparatus and to set a mode of operation to one of manual mode and automatic mode, wherein the single switch sets a plurality of pre-determined power levels of operation in manual mode, and further wherein the single switch selects a pre-set temperature value in automatic mode, the electronic control circuit further including means for comparing the pre-set temperature value to the temperature at the housing, sensed by the temperature sensor, wherein the electronic control circuit provides power to the heating element to substantially achieve the pre-set temperature value and terminates power to the heating element when the pre-set temperature value is substantially attained when set in automatic mode.