Abstract:
U.S. Ser. No. 2002009312A cooking appliance having an electric resistance heater is connected to a multiple phase external power source and includes a system for compensating for whether the cooktop is connected to 240V split phase system wherein the two phases are 180° out of phase with each other or a 208V three phase system which has two phases that are only 120° out of phase. In particular, the cooktop includes a system for distinguishing whether the multiple phases of the external power source are 180° out of phase such that the electric resistance heater is compensated against whether it is connected to a three phase external power supply.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to identifying electrical power supply systems with different nominal voltages, and more particularly, to identifying electrical power supply systems with different nominal voltages for the purpose of varying the control of an electric resistance heater, for example, such as in electrical cooking apparatus. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
   The most common approach to temperature control is to use a closed-loop control wherein the temperature of the heating element or area near the heating element is determined using a sensor, and an automatic control is used to adjust the power to the heating element in order to reach and maintain the desired temperature. A thermostat may be used for this purpose. Although closed-loop temperature control is effective, it is not easy or practicable for some applications, such as in an electric cooktop applications. 
   In apparatus employing resistive heating elements powered by an external source of electric power or electrical power supply, it is desirable to know the nominal voltage of power supply. For a heating element with a fixed resistance, the power dissipated in the element is proportional to the voltage-squared such that different nominal voltages can result in large changes in element power and heat output. 
   It is known that household appliances in the U.S. are typically connected to one of two common power supply systems either a 208V three phase system or a 240V split phase system. The 240V split phase system is the more common system and appliance manufacturers normally design and test their appliances to operate using this power system. When cooking appliances having electric heating elements designed for a 240V spilt phase system are connected to a 208V three phase system, the power output of the heating elements is substantially lowered causing foods to cook differently than they would if the appliance was used on the 240V split phase system. 
   Accordingly, for cooking appliances, it would be desirable to sense which type of power system is connected to the appliance and then modify the operation of the heating element such that such that an appropriate heat output is achieved, regardless of the power system connected to the appliances. In this way, it may be possible for a cooking apparatus or appliance to have proper operation even in systems with different nominal voltages. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   A cooking appliance having an electric resistance heater is connected to a multiple phase external power source and includes a system for compensating for whether the cooktop is connected to a 240V split phase system wherein the two phases are 180° out of phase with each other or a 208V three phase system which has two phases that are only 120° out of phase. In particular, the cooktop includes a system for distinguishing whether the multiple phases of the external power source are 180° out of phase such that the electric resistance heater is compensated against when it is connected to a three phase external power supply. 
   Still more specifically, the present invention relates to a system for converting the positive portion of each of the two phases from the external power supply into a square wave signal and evaluating these square waves signals to determine whether the external power supply system is a 240V split system wherein the two phases are 180° out of phase with each other or a 208V three phase system which has two phases that are 120° out of phase and modifying the duty cycle of the heating element accordingly. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cooktop embodying the power system identification system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the basic elements of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a detection circuit in accord with the present invention; 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  are graphical representations of a 208V three phase power system and a 240V split phase system, respectively; and 
       FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of the control routine of the present invention for distinguishing between the 208V three phase power system and a 240V split phase system and selecting the appropriate duty cycle routine; and 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of an alternative embodiment of the detection circuit in accord with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a cooktop  10  having a top, planar surface  12 . The cooktop surface is preferably glass or glass/ceramic material such as sold under the tradename Ceran®. Generally circular patterns  14   a,    14   b,    14   c,    14   d  and  14   e  identify the locations under which are located heating element  16   a,    16   b,    16   c,    16   d  and  16   e  (FIG.  2 ). The heating elements  16   a - 16   e  may be resistive elements, the simplest case comprising a constant resistance. A plurality of user interface devices  18   a,    18   b,    18   c,    18   d  and  18   e  are provided for allowing users to energize and set the desired temperature of the heating elements  16   a - 16   e.  These user interface devices  18   a - 18   e  can be of any known type including rotary knobs, touch control keys or other type of systems for inputting control to a heating element. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates in block figure form the control arrangement of the present invention. Each of the heating elements  16   a - 16   e  are coupled to an AC power supply  20  through one of a plurality of power transfer elements  22   a,    22   b,    22   c,    22   d  and  22   e . The power supply system may be either a 208V three phase system or a 240V split phase system, plus neutral N. 
   The operation of the power transfer element  22   a - 22   e  is controlled by a controller or microprocessor  40  to control the fraction of time that the power source is connected to the heating elements  16   a - 16   e,  such as by known pulse-width modulation or cycle-skipping methods. The power transfer elements may be triacs or relays or other known devices. 
   The microprocessor  40  receives input from the input devices  18   a - 18   e  regarding the user selected or desired temperature for the heating elements  16   a - 16   e  via user interface circuit  42  which inputs a user commanded fraction of rated power for the selected heating element. The microprocessor  40  then operates to control the duty cycle of the heating elements  16   a - 16   e  in accord with the user selected temperature, taking into account the sensed power supply system, as determined by detection circuit  44  and described further herein. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 3-5 , the operation of a detection circuit  44  can be understood. As discussed above, a 208V three phase system includes two phases that are only 120° out of phase with each other (as shown on FIG.  4 ). A 240V split phase system has two phases that are 180° out of phase with each other (as shown in FIG.  5 ). The detection circuit  44  operates to exploit this difference to distinguish between the two power systems. 
   In particular, the detection circuit  44  receives input from L 1 , L 2  and neutral (N), and operates to convert the power signal or wave appearing on lines L 1  and L 2  into square wave signals SW A  and SW B . These signals, SW A  and SW B , are input into the microprocessor  40  and compared. The microprocessor  40  increments a counter for periods of time when the signals SW A  and SW B  are equal. This occurs during periods when there is an overlap of the signals and during periods where there is no signal, as shown on signal lines  50  and  52  (FIG.  4 ). 
   Comparing  FIGS. 4 and 5 , it is possible to appreciate differences between a 208V three phase system and a 240V split phase system. In  FIG. 4 , the 208V three phase system is shown in which the different power signals or wave forms appearing on L 1  and L 2  are 120° out of phase with each other. As a result, the microprocessor increments a counter during periods of time when the signals SW A  and SW B  are equal when the signals overlap and when there is no signal on either line. 
   In  FIG. 5 , the 240V split phase system is shown wherein the different signals SW A  and SW B  are 180° out of phase with each other such that, under ideal theoretical conditions, there are no periods of time wherein the signals overlap or wherein there is no signal present. Accordingly, the microprocessor  40  does not increment a counter because the signals SW A  and SW B  are never equal. In actual conditions, there may be some slight overlap of the signals but the total value or number of samples incremented during a period of operation with 240 V split phase power system will be significantly less than then the number of samples incremented under operation with a 208 V three phase system. Accordingly, the microprocessor  40  can readily distinguish between a 208V three phase power system and a 240V split phase system. 
     FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating the control routine implemented within the microprocessor  40 . Upon connection of the cooking appliance  10  to a power source, the microprocessor  40  enters into a power system check routine. Initially, in steps  60  and  62 , the counters C 1 , C 2 , C 3  and C 4  are cleared. At predetermined intervals, such as at every 250 μsec shown by PAUSE step  64 , the signals SW A  and SW B  are analyzed and compared to see if they are equal, shown at step  66 , as discussed above. If yes, counter C 1  is incremented at step  68  and if no, the routine does not increment counter C 1 . At steps  70  and  72 , counter C 2  is incremented and compared to a predetermined VALUE to determine if steps  64 ,  66  and  70  have been iterated a predetermined number of times. In this fashion, the control routine operates to count or sample when signals SW A  and SW B  are equal. 
   After a predetermined number of iterations occur, control passes to step  74  and inquires whether counter C 1  is greater than some predetermined MIN values but less than a predetermined MAX value. This inquiry is designed to account for the fact that even with a 240V split phase system, counter C 1  may be incremented occasionally because the signals SW A  and SW B  may not be perfectly shaped in real world environments. The upper limit is utilized to select the default control in the case of erroneous operation. 
   If counter C 1  is between the predetermined values, the counter C 3  is incremented at step  76  and if not, the counter C 3  is not incremented. The routine then loops back to step  62  to again count and determine if signals SW A  and SW B  are equal, as shown at steps  78  and  80 . After a predetermined number of loops, for example 10, shown at step  80 , the routine passes onto control step  82  wherein inquiry is made as to whether counter C 3  is greater than a predetermined value, such as 7. If yes, the controller  40  implements a duty cycle Table A suitable for use with a 208V three phase power system. If no, the controller implements a duty cycle Table B suitable for use with a 240V split phase system. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 7 , an alternative embodiment of the detection circuit can be understood. The detection circuit  90  operates to convert the power signal or wave appearing on lines L 1  and L 2  into a single square wave signal SW COMB . The signal SW COMB  is input into the microprocessor  40  and evaluated to determine if the external power supply is a split phase or three phase power system. This evaluation may be performed in different ways, for example by counting the period of time when no signal is present. 
   As can be understood by one skilled in the art, the detection circuit  44  and detection circuit  90  can be used to distinguish between a three phase and split phase system. Moreover, the applicant appreciates that there may be other detection circuit possibilities. All power system identification circuits that take advantage of the different phase angles of the respective power systems to distinguish between the two systems a 240V split phase system and a 208V three phase system are within the scope of this invention. 
   While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those of skill in the art without departing from the invention herein. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.