Patent Publication Number: US-2015060435-A1

Title: Cooktop appliance and a method for operating the same

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present subject matter relates generally to cooktop appliances and methods for operating cooktop appliances. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain cooktop appliances include radiant heating elements for heating pots, pans and other containers with food items therein. The radiant heating elements can be operated at various settings. For example, the radiant heating elements can be operated at a low heat setting to simmer food items, or the radiant heating elements can be operated at a high heat setting to boil water or fry food items. When simmering certain food items, such as delicate cream sauce or tomato sauce, heat is preferably applied to such food items at a low and consistent power. The low and consistent power can prevent such food items from spattering, sticking and/or or discoloring when simmered. 
     Cooktop appliances can also include radiant heating elements of various sizes. For example, cooktop appliances can include large area radiant heating elements having a greater heating area than small area radiant heating elements. Large area radiant heating elements can have higher power densities relative to small area radiant heating elements. The large area radiant heating elements&#39; high power densities can assist with quickly boiling water; however, the large area radiant heating elements&#39; high power densities can also make simmering food items difficult. 
     Accordingly, a cooktop appliance with features for assisting with simmering of food items would be useful. In particular, a cooktop appliance having a radiant heating element and features for assisting simmering of food items with the radiant heating element would be useful. 
     In addition, certain large area radiant heating elements include multiple concentrically positioned zones and relays for selectively activating each zone of the radiant heating elements. Rapidly and/or frequently cycling the relays of such radiant heating elements can be undesirable because relays generally have an expected lifetime defined by the number of cycles such relays are expected to perform. Thus, a design goal for cooktop appliances can include reducing the number of cycles for radiant heating elements and increasing duty cycles of such radiant heating elements. However, longer duty cycles can hinder or obstruct application of low, even heat to containers on the cooktop appliance because of an associated temperature rise of food items in the containers that occurs with each duty cycle. In particular, long duty cycles can cause relatively large temperature amplitudes in food items within the containers compared to shorter duty cycles. 
     Accordingly, a cooktop appliance with a radiant heating element and features for assisting with simmering of food items while limiting cycling of the radiant heating element would be useful. Also, a cooktop appliance with a radiant heating element and features for assisting with simmering of food items while avoiding increasing a duty cycle of the radiant heating element would be useful. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present subject matter provides a cooktop appliance. The cooktop appliance includes a heating assembly with a first heating zone and a second heating zone that are radially spaced apart from each other. During a simmer or low heat mode of the cooktop appliance, the first heating zone is operated during a first portion of a time interval, and the second heating zone is operated during a second portion of the time interval. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. 
     In a first exemplary embodiment, a cooktop appliance is provided. The cooktop appliance defines a radial direction. The cooktop appliance includes a first heating element and a second heating element positioned concentrically relative to the first heating element. The first and second heating elements are spaced apart from each other along the radial direction. A controller is in operative communication with the first heating element and the second heating element. The controller configured for initiating a low heat mode. The low heat mode has a plurality of cycles, and each cycle of the plurality of cycles has a time interval. The controller is also configured for operating the first heating element during a first portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles, deactivating the first heating element after the step of operating the first heating element, operating the second heating element during a second portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles, and deactivating the second heating element after said step of operating the second heating element. 
     In a second exemplary embodiment, a method for operating a cooktop appliance is provided. The method includes initiating a low heat mode. The low heat mode has a plurality of cycles, and each cycle of the plurality of cycles has a time interval. The method also includes operating a first heating element of the cooktop appliance during a first portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles, deactivating the first heating element after the step of operating the first heating element, operating the second heating element during a second portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles, and deactivating the second heating element after the step of operating the second heating element. 
     In a third exemplary embodiment, a method for operating a cooktop appliance is provided. The cooktop appliance includes a heating assembly with a first heating zone and a second heating zone that are radially spaced apart from each other. The method includes activating a low heating mode of the cooktop appliance, retrieving a predetermined on time and a predetermined off time in a lookup table of the cooktop appliance, operating the second heating zone of the heating assembly for the predetermined on time, the first heating zone of the heating assembly being in a deactivated state during the step of operating the second heating zone, deactivating the second heating zone after the step of operating the second heating zone, maintaining the second heating zone and the first heating zone in the deactivated state for the predetermined off time after the step of deactivating the second heating zone, operating the first heating zone of the heating assembly for the predetermined on time after the step of maintaining the second heating zone and the first heating zone in the deactivated state, the second heating zone being in the deactivated state during the step of operating the first heating zone, deactivating the first heating zone after the step of operating the first heating zone, and keeping the second heating zone and the first heating zone in the deactivated state for the predetermined off time after said step of deactivating the first heating zone. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures. 
         FIG. 1  provides a top, plan view of a cooktop appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 2  provides a top, plan view of a two element, radiant heating assembly of the exemplary cooktop appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  provides a top, plan view of a three element, radiant heating assembly of the exemplary cooktop appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  provides a schematic view of certain components of the exemplary cooktop appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a method for operating a cooktop appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a graph of an operating state of a heating assembly over time according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a method for operating a cooktop appliance according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
       FIG. 1  provides a top, plan view of a cooktop appliance  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. Cooktop appliance  100  can be installed in various locations such as in cabinetry in a kitchen, with one or more ovens to form a range appliance, or as a standalone appliance. Thus, as used herein, the term “cooktop appliance” includes grill appliances, stove appliances, range appliances, and other appliances that incorporate cooktops. 
     Cooktop appliance  100  includes a top panel  110  for supporting cooking utensils, such as pots or pans, thereon. Radiant heating assemblies  120 ,  122  and  124  are mounted below top panel  110  such that heating assemblies  120 ,  122  and  124  are positioned below top panel  110 , e.g., along a vertical direction V. While shown with four heating assemblies  120 ,  122  and  124  in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , cooktop appliance  100  may include any number of heating assemblies  120 ,  122  and  124  in alternative exemplary embodiments. Heating assemblies  120 ,  122  and  124  can also have various diameters. For example, each heating assembly of heating assemblies  120 ,  122  and  124  can have a different diameter, the same diameter, or any suitable combination thereof. 
     As discussed in greater detail below, heating assembly  120  includes one heating element or zone. Conversely, heating assemblies  122  include two heating elements or zones, and heating assembly  124  includes three heating elements or zones. However, cooktop appliance  100  is provided by way of example only and is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, a cooktop appliance having one or more heating assemblies in combination with one or more electric or gas burner heating elements can be provided. In addition various combinations of number of heating assemblies, position of heating assemblies and/or size of heating assemblies can be provided. 
     A user interface  130  provides visual information to a user and allows a user to select various options for the operation of cooktop appliance  100 . For example, displayed options can include a desired heating assemblies  120 ,  122  and  124 , a desired cooking temperature, and/or other options. User interface  130  can be any type of input device and can have any configuration. In  FIG. 1 , user interface  130  is located within a portion of top panel  110 . Alternatively, user interface  130  can be positioned on a vertical surface near a front side of cooktop appliance  100  or anywhere convenient for a user to access during operation of cooktop appliance  100 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , user interface  130  includes a capacitive touch screen input device component  132 . Capacitive touch screen input device component  132  can allow for the selective activation, adjustment or control of any or all heating assemblies  120 ,  122  and  124  as well as any timer features or other user adjustable inputs. One or more of a variety of electrical, mechanical or electro-mechanical input devices including rotary dials, push buttons, toggle/rocker switches, and/or touch pads can also be used singularly or in combination with capacitive touch screen input device component  132 . User interface  130  also includes a display component  134 , such as a digital or analog display device designed to provide operational feedback to a user. 
       FIG. 2  provides a top, plan view of heating assembly  122  of cooktop appliance  100  ( FIG. 1 ). As may be seen in  FIG. 2 , heating assembly  122  includes a first or inner heating element  200  and a second or outer heating element  210 . Outer heating element  210  of heating assembly  122  is positioned concentrically relative to inner heating element  200  of heating assembly  122 . In particular, inner heating element  200  of heating assembly  122  and outer heating element  210  of heating assembly  122  are spaced apart from each other, e.g., along a radial direction R. Operation of inner and outer heating elements  200  and  210  of heating assembly  122  is discussed in greater detail below. 
       FIG. 3  provides a top, plan view of heating assembly  124  of cooktop appliance  100  ( FIG. 1 ). As may be seen in  FIG. 3 , heating assembly  124  includes an inner heating element  300  and an outer heating element  310 . Outer heating element  310  of heating assembly  124  is positioned concentrically relative to inner heating element  300  of heating assembly  124 . In particular, inner heating element  300  of heating assembly  124  and outer heating element  310  of heating assembly  124  are spaced apart from each other, e.g., along the radial direction R. 
     Heating assembly  124  also includes a middle heating element  320 . Middle heating element  320  of heating assembly  124  is positioned between inner heating element  300  of heating assembly  124  and outer heating element  310  of heating assembly  124 , e.g., along the radial direction R. In particular, middle heating element  320  of heating assembly  124  is spaced apart from inner and outer heating elements  300  and  310  of heating assembly  124 , e.g., along the radial direction R. Operation of inner, outer and middle heating elements  300 ,  310  and  320  of heating assembly  124  is discussed in greater detail below. 
       FIG. 4  provides a schematic view of certain components of cooktop appliance  100 . As may be seen in  FIG. 4 , cooktop appliance  100  includes a controller  140 . Operation of cooktop appliance  100  is regulated by controller  140 . Controller  140  is operatively coupled or in communication with various components of cooktop appliance  100 , including user interface  130 . In response to user manipulation of the user interface  130 , controller  140  operates the various components of cooktop appliance  100  to execute selected cycles and features. 
     Controller  140  may include a memory and microprocessor, such as a general or special purpose microprocessor operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with a cleaning cycle. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. Alternatively, controller  140  may be constructed without using a microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND gates, and the like) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software. User input  130  and other components of cooktop appliance  100  may be in communication with controller  140  via one or more signal lines or shared communication busses. 
     Controller  140  is also in operative communication with heating assemblies  122  and  124  of cooktop appliance  100 . As may be seen in  FIG. 4 , heating assembly  122  includes relays  202  and  212 . Relays  202  and  212  of heating assembly  122  are each coupled to a respective one of inner heating element  200  of heating assembly  122  and outer heating element  210  of heating assembly  122 . Utilizing relays  202  and  212  of heating assembly  122 , controller  140  can selectively activate and deactivate inner heating element  200  of heating assembly  122  and outer heating element  210  of heating assembly  122 . 
     Heating assembly  124  includes similar features. As may be seen in  FIG. 4 , heating assembly  124  includes relays  302 ,  312  and  322 . Relays  302 ,  312  and  322  of heating assembly  124  are each coupled to a respective one of inner heating element  300  of heating assembly  124 , outer heating element  310  of heating assembly  124  and middle heating element  320  of heating assembly  124 . Utilizing relays  302 ,  312  and  324  of heating assembly  124 , controller  140  can selectively activate and deactivate inner heating element  300  of heating assembly  124 , outer heating element  310  of heating assembly  124  and middle heating element  320  of heating assembly  124 . Cooktop appliance  100  also includes features for controlling operation of heating assemblies  122  and  124  during a low or simmer heat mode as discussed in greater detail below. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a method  500  for operating a cooktop appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. Method  500  can be used to operate any suitable cooktop appliance. As an example, method  500  may be used to operate cooktop appliance  100  ( FIG. 1 ). Controller  140  ( FIG. 4 ) may be programmed to implement method  500 . Utilizing method  500 , a low or simmer heat mode of cooktop appliance  100  can be performed or implemented. 
     At step  510 , controller  140  determines whether a low or simmer heat mode has been activated. As an example, a user can actuate user interface  130  to activate the simmer heat mode of cooktop appliance  100 . In particular, the user can set cooktop appliance  100  to a low power setting, such as a level one or level two power setting on a scale of one to ten with level one being the lowest power setting, to activate the simmer heat mode of cooktop appliance  100 . Controller  140  terminates method  500  if the simmer heat mode is not activated at step  510 . 
     At step  520 , controller  140  retrieves a predetermined on time and a predetermined off time in a lookup table of cooktop appliance  100  at step  520  if the simmer heat mode is activated at step  510 . Controller  140  also looks up a number of heating elements in the lookup table at step  520 . The lookup table can be stored in the memory of controller  140  or in any other suitable component of cooktop appliance  100 . 
     As discussed in greater detail below, the predetermined on time and the predetermined off time correspond to time intervals during which each heating element of heating assemblies  122  and  124  are activated and deactivated, respectively. A respective predetermined on time and a respective predetermined off time can be stored in the lookup table for each heating element of heating assemblies  122  and  124  or a respective predetermined on time and a respective predetermined off time can be stored in the lookup table for the heating elements of heating assemblies  122  and  124 . The predetermined on time and the predetermined off time for each heating element of heating assemblies  122  and  124  can be equal to one another or different from one another. For example, the predetermined on time and the predetermined off time for each heating element of heating assemblies  122  and  124  can be defined as a ratio of power outputs of each heating element of heating assemblies  122  and  124 . 
     At step  530 , controller  140  determines whether a double element heating assembly, e.g., heating assembly  122 , or a triple element heating assembly, e.g., heating assembly  124 , was activated at step  510 . If controller  140  determines that heating assembly  124  was activated at step  510 , controller  140  initiates a triple element simmer heating control loop  540 . Conversely, controller  140  initiates a double element simmer heating control loop  550  if controller  140  determines that heating assembly  122  was activated at step  510 . Loops  540  and  550  are configured for operating heating assemblies  124  and  122 , respectively, during the simmer heat mode. It should be understood that inner, outer and middle heating elements  300 ,  310  and  320  may be operated in any suitable order during loop  540  in alterative exemplary embodiments. Similarly, it should be understood that inner and outer heating elements  200  and  210  may be operated in any suitable order during loop  550  in alternative exemplary embodiments. 
     During loop  540 , controller  140  turns on or operates outer heating element  310  of heating assembly  124  using relay  212  for the predetermined on time at step  542 . During step  542 , inner heating element  300  and middle heating element  320  of heating assembly  124  are in a deactivated state (e.g., turned off or operating with negligible heat output). After operating outer heating element  310  of heating assembly  124  for the predetermined on time at step  542 , controller  140  deactivates outer heating element  310  of heating assembly  124  using relay  312  and maintains inner heating element  300 , outer heating element  310  and middle heating element  320  in the deactivated state for the predetermined off time. 
     At step  544  of loop  540 , controller  140  turns on or operates inner heating element  300  of heating assembly  124  using relay  302  for the predetermined on time. During step  544 , outer heating element  310  and middle heating element  320  of heating assembly  124  are in the deactivated state. After operating inner heating element  300  of heating assembly  124  for the predetermined on time at step  544 , controller  140  deactivates inner heating element  300  of heating assembly  124  using relay  302  and maintains inner heating element  300 , outer heating element  310  and middle heating element  320  in the deactivated state for the predetermined off time. 
     At step  546  of loop  540 , controller  140  turns on or operates middle heating element  320  of heating assembly  124  using relay  322  for the predetermined on time. During step  546 , inner heating element  300  and outer heating element  310  of heating assembly  124  are in the deactivated state. After operating middle heating element  320  of heating assembly  124  for the predetermined on time at step  546 , controller  140  deactivates middle heating element  320  using relay  322  of heating assembly  124  and maintains inner heating element  300 , outer heating element  310  and middle heating element  320  in the deactivated state for the predetermined off time. 
     Loop  540  continues to operate heating assembly  124  according to steps  542 ,  544  and  546  until the simmer heat mode of cooktop appliance  100  is terminated. As an example, a user of cooktop appliance  100  can actuate user interface  130  to terminate the simmer heat mode of cooktop appliance  100 . As discussed above, it should be understood that steps  542 ,  544  and  546  need not be conducted in the order shown in  FIG. 5  and may be performed in any suitable order in alternative exemplary embodiments. As discussed in greater detail below, loop  550  operates in a similar manner to loop  540  to operate heating assembly  122 . 
     During loop  550 , controller  140  turns on or operates outer heating element  210  of heating assembly  122  using relay  212  for the predetermined on time at step  552 . During step  552 , inner heating element  200  of heating assembly  122  is in the deactivated state. After operating outer heating element  210  of heating assembly  122  for the predetermined on time at step  552 , controller  140  deactivates outer heating element  210  of heating assembly  122  using relay  212  and maintains inner heating element  200  and outer heating element  210  in the deactivated state for the predetermined off time. 
     At step  554  of loop  550 , controller  140  turns on or operates inner heating element  200  of heating assembly  122  using relay  202  for the predetermined on time. During step  554 , outer heating element  210  of heating assembly  122  is in the deactivated state. After operating inner heating element  200  of heating assembly  122  for the predetermined on time at step  554 , controller  140  deactivates inner heating element  200  of heating assembly  122  using relay  202  and maintains inner heating element  200  and outer heating element  210  in the deactivated state for the predetermined off time. Loop  550  continues to operate heating assembly  122  according to steps  552  and  544  until the simmer heat mode of cooktop appliance  100  is terminated. As discussed above, it should be understood that steps  552  and  554  need not be conducted in the order shown in  FIG. 5  and may be performed in an opposite order in alternative exemplary embodiments. 
     Method  500  can assist with applying heat evenly to a container on cooktop appliance  100  during the heat simmer mode. For example, by sequentially activating the various heating elements of heat assemblies  122  and  124 , method  500  can assist with applying heat evenly such that tomato sauces do not boil and/or spatter and white or cream sauces do not adhere to a bottom of a container and are smooth during the simmer heat mode of cooktop appliance  100 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a method for operating a cooktop appliance according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. Method  700  can be used to operate any suitable cooktop appliance. As an example, method  700  may be used to operate cooktop appliance  100  ( FIG. 1 ). Controller  140  ( FIG. 4 ) may be programmed to implement method  700 . Utilizing method  700 , a simmer heat mode of cooktop appliance  100  can be performed or implemented.  FIG. 6  illustrates a graph of an operating state of heating assembly  124  over time while controller  140  operates heating assembly  124  according to method  700 . It should be understood that inner, outer and middle heating elements  300 ,  310  and  320  may be operated in any suitable order during method  700  in alternative exemplary embodiments. 
     At step  710 , controller  140  initiates a simmer heat mode of cooktop appliance  100 . The simmer heat mode has a plurality of cycles, and each cycle of the plurality of cycles having a time interval.  FIG. 6  illustrates a single cycle of simmer heat mode. It should be understood that controller  140  can operate heating assembly  124  such that the single cycle illustrated in  FIG. 6  is repeated during the simmer heat mode of cooktop appliance  100 . 
     At step  720 , controller  140  turns on or operates a first heating element, such as inner heating element  300  of heating assembly  124  using relay  302 . In particular, controller  140  operates inner heating element  300  of heating assembly  124  during a first portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles during step  720 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 6 , controller  140  maintains inner heating element  300  of heating assembly  124  in an activated state during the first portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles, and controller  140  also maintains outer heating element  310  and middle heating element  320  of heating assembly  124  in a deactivated state during the first portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles at step  720 . A power output of inner heating element  300  of heating assembly  124  may be about a maximum power output of inner heating element  300  during step  720 . 
     At step  730 , controller  140  deactivates inner heating element  300  of heating assembly  124  using relay  302  after step  720 . In particular, controller  140  can deactivate inner heating element  300  of heating assembly  124  immediately after the first portion of the time interval has elapsed. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 6 , inner heating element  300 , outer heating element  310  and middle heating element  320  of heating assembly  124  are deactivated after step  720  and during step  730 . 
     At step  740 , controller  140  turns on or operates a second heating element, such as outer heating element  310  of heating assembly  124  using relay  312 . In particular, controller  140  operates outer heating element  310  of heating assembly  124  during a second portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles during step  740 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 6 , controller  140  maintains outer heating element  310  of heating assembly  124  in the activated state during the second portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles, and controller  140  also maintains inner heating element  300  and middle heating element  320  of heating assembly  124  in the deactivated state during the second portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles at step  740 . A power output of outer heating element  310  of heating assembly  124  may be about a maximum power output of outer heating element  310  during step  740 . 
     At step  750 , controller  140  deactivates outer heating element  310  of heating assembly  124  using relay  312  after step  740 . In particular, controller  140  can deactivate outer heating element  310  of heating assembly  124  immediately after the second portion of the time interval has elapsed. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 6 , inner heating element  300 , outer heating element  310  and middle heating element  320  of heating assembly  124  are deactivated after step  740  and during step  750 . 
     Controller  140  can also operate heating assembly  122  according to method  700 . In particular, controller  140  can be programmed to operate heating assembly  122  according to steps  710 ,  720 ,  730 ,  740  and  750 . 
     The first and second portions of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles can be any suitable periods of time. For example, the first and second portions of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles may be about equal to each other. In particular, the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles may be about one minute, the first portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles may be about one second and the second portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles may also be about one second. 
     Method  700  can also include operating a third heating element, such as middle heating element  320  of heating assembly  124 . For example, after step  750 , controller  140  can turn on or operate middle heating element  320  of heating assembly  124  during a third portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles using relay  322 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 6 , controller  140  maintains middle heating element  320  of heating assembly  124  in the activated state during the third portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles, and controller  140  also maintains inner heating element  300  and outer heating element  310  of heating assembly  124  in the deactivated state during the third portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles. 
     Controller  140  can also deactivate middle heating element  320  of heating assembly  124  using relay  322 . In particular, controller  140  can deactivate middle heating element  320  of heating assembly  124  immediately after the third portion of the time interval has elapsed. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 6 , inner heating element  300 , outer heating element  310  and middle heating element  320  of heating assembly  124  are deactivated after the third portion of the time interval has elapsed. The first, second and third portions of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles may be about equal to each other. 
     Method  700  can assist with applying heat evenly to a container on cooktop appliance  100  during the heat simmer mode. For example, by sequentially activating the various heating elements of heat assemblies  122  and/or  124 , method  700  can assist with applying heat evenly such that tomato sauces do not boil and/or spatter and white or cream sauces do not adhere to a bottom of a container and are smooth during the simmer heat mode of cooktop appliance  100 . 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.