Patent ID: 6381518
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: G05D

Abstract:
An oven temperature controller for regulating temperature to a temperature setpoint over a temperature range in an oven compartment, the oven temperature controller having a temperature setpoint line formed in a stepwise linear manner between temperature setpoints as the temperature setpoint is varied over the temperature range, the oven having an oven heating means to controllably heat the oven and an oven compartment temperature indication means to provide an indication of oven compartment temperature, the temperature controller comprising:a microprocessor having an output heat control signal controlling an oven heating means an input setpoint signal for receiving a user settable temperature setpoint and an input temperature line for receiving an indication of oven temperature from the oven heating means; memory storage means in communication with said microprocessor; said memory storage means storing temperature setpoint related information for temperature setpoints over the temperature range, said setpoint related information used by said microprocessor for establishing an upper control limit and a lower control limit that vary from the temperature setpoint; said upper control limit and said lower control limit forming an upper control limit curve and a lower control limit curve as the temperature setpoint is varied over the temperature range, said upper control limit curve and said lower control limit curve having no discontinuities over a majority of the temperature range, at least one of said upper control limit curve and said lower control limit curve being non-parallel to the temperature setpoint line over a majority of a temperature range; said microprocessor providing said memory storage means with the temperature setpoint, said microprocessor thereby acquiring said setpoint related information relative to the temperature setpoint; and said microprocessor thereby regulating the oven compartment temperature to temperatures between said upper control limit curve and said lower control limit curve in response to the temperature setpoint and the oven compartment temperature indication means.