Patent ID: 6140617
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: H05B

Abstract:
A system for detecting properties of a cooking utensil on a solid-surface cooktop of a type having at least one controllable energy source coupled thereto for providing energy for heating the cooking utensil and any contents thereof, the system comprising:at least one optical radiation source for emitting radiation toward the cooktop and the cooking utensil;at least one sensor positioned below the cooktop for detecting the radiation emitted from the at least one optical radiation source, the detected radiation being affected by the cooking utensil and passing through the cooktop, the at least one sensor having a predetermined sensitivity range depending on the material composition of the cooktop, the at least one sensor generating detector signals indicative of the detected radiation; anda processor connected to the at least one sensor and receiving the detector signals, the processor providing processor signals indicative of at least one property of the cooking utensil from at least the detector signals.