Patent Publication Number: US-10788220-B2

Title: Determining cookware location on a cooktop appliance based on temperature response

Description:
FIELD 
     The present subject matter relates generally to cooktop appliances, or more particularly to methods for operating cooktop appliances. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Cooktop appliances generally include heating elements for heating cooking utensils, such as pots, pans and griddles. A user can select a desired heating level, and operation of the heating elements is modified to match the desired heating level. For example, certain cooktop appliances include electric heating elements. During operation, such a cooktop appliance operates the electric heating elements at a predetermined power output corresponding to a selected heating level. As another example, some cooktop appliances include gas burners as heating elements. In operation of such example cooktop appliances, a predetermined flow rate of gas to the burner may correspond to the selected heating level. 
     Operating the heating elements at the predetermined level, e.g., power output, fuel flow rate, etc., corresponding to the selected heating level poses certain challenges. For example, the predetermined level is only an indirect measurement of the actual cooking temperature. Some cooktop appliances employ a temperature sensor to directly measure the temperature of a cooking utensil and/or articles contained within the cooking utensil. The measured temperature may then be used to adjust the heating level above or below the predetermined level in order to achieve a cooking temperature closer to the selected heating level. 
     However, in some instances the cooking utensil with the temperature sensor may be misplaced. For example, the cooking utensil with the temperature sensor may be located on a heating element other than the heating element which is adjusted based on the measured temperature. Further, the cooking utensil with the temperature sensor may be a first cooking utensil and a second cooking utensil may be located on the heating element which is adjusted based on the measured temperature of the first cooking utensil. In such cases, the articles in the first cooking utensil may not be heated as desired and the power output of the heating element which is adjusted based on the measured temperature may be adjusted to a level that is unsuitable for the second cooking utensil and/or articles therein, which can degrade the cooking performance of the cooktop appliance. 
     Accordingly, a cooktop appliance with features for avoiding such degraded cooking performance would be useful. In particular, a cooktop appliance with features for determining or verifying that a cooking utensil with a temperature sensor corresponds to or is correctly located on the heating element of the cooktop appliance which is controlled based on measurements from the temperature sensor would be particularly beneficial. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     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 an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a cooktop appliance is provided. The cooktop appliance includes first heating element and a second heating element. The first and second heating elements are positioned at a cooktop surface of the cooktop appliance. The cooktop appliance also includes a controller operably connected to the first and second heating elements. The controller is configured for receiving a signal from a temperature sensor associated with a cooking utensil located on one of the first heating element and the second heating element. The signal is indicative of a temperature associated with the cooking utensil. The controller is also configured for activating the first heating element for a testing period and monitoring the temperature associated with the cooking utensil during the testing period. The controller is further configured for determining that the cooking utensil is located on the first heating element when a value of the monitored temperature is greater than a predefined threshold. 
     In another exemplary aspect, a method of operating a cooktop appliance is provided. The cooktop appliance has a first heating element and a second heating element positioned at a cooking surface of the cooktop appliance. The method includes receiving a signal from a temperature sensor associated with a cooking utensil located on one of the first heating element and the second heating element. The signal is indicative of a temperature associated with the cooking utensil. The method also includes activating the first heating element for a testing period and monitoring the temperature associated with the cooking utensil during the testing period. The method further includes determining that the cooking utensil is located on the first heating element when a value of the monitored temperature is greater than a predefined threshold. 
     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 perspective view of a range having a cooktop appliance according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 2  provides a top, schematic view of the exemplary cooktop appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  provides a schematic diagram of a control system as may be used with the exemplary cooktop appliance of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  provides an additional top, schematic view of the exemplary cooktop appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  provides a flow chart of an exemplary method of operating a cooktop appliance. 
         FIG. 6  provides a graph of an example temperature response of a cooking utensil over a testing period according to one or more embodiments 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. 
     As used herein, terms of approximation, such as “generally,” or “about” include values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value. When used in the context of an angle or direction, such terms include within ten degrees greater or less than the stated angle or direction, e.g., “generally vertical” includes forming an angle of up to ten degrees in any direction, e.g., clockwise or counterclockwise, with the vertical direction V. 
       FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of a range appliance, or range  10 , including a cooktop  12 . Range  10  is provided by way of example only and is not intended to limit the present subject matter to the arrangement shown in  FIG. 1 . Thus, the present subject matter may be used with other range  10  and/or cooktop  12  configurations, e.g., double oven range appliances, standalone cooktop appliances, cooktop appliances without an oven, etc. 
     A cooking surface  14  of cooktop appliance  12  includes a plurality of heating elements  16 . For the embodiment depicted, the cooktop  12  includes five heating elements  16  spaced along cooking surface  14 . The heating elements  16  are generally positioned at, e.g., on or proximate to, the cooking surface  14 . In certain exemplary embodiments, cooktop  12  may be a radiant cooktop with resistive heating elements or coils mounted below cooking surface  14 . However, in other embodiments, the cooktop appliance  12  may include any other suitable shape, configuration, and/or number of heating elements  16 . For example, in various embodiments, the cooktop appliance  12  may include any other suitable type of heating element  16 , such as an induction heating element or gas burners, etc. Each of the heating elements  16  may be the same type of heating element  16 , or cooktop appliance  12  may include a combination of different types of heating elements  16 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a cooking utensil  18 , such as a pot, pan, or the like, may be placed on a heating element  16  to heat the cooking utensil  18  and cook or heat food items placed in cooking utensil  18 . Range appliance  10  also includes a door  20  that permits access to a cooking chamber (not shown) of range appliance  10 , e.g., for cooking or baking of food items therein. A control panel  22  having controls  24  permits a user to make selections for cooking of food items. Although shown on a backsplash or back panel  26  of range appliance  10 , control panel  22  may be positioned in any suitable location. Controls  24  may include buttons, knobs, and the like, as well as combinations thereof, and/or controls  24  may be implemented on a remote user interface device such as a smartphone, as described below. As an example, a user may manipulate one or more controls  24  to select a temperature and/or a heat or power output for each heating element  16 . The selected temperature or heat output of heating element  16  affects the heat transferred to cooking utensil  18  placed on heating element  16 . 
     As will be discussed in greater detail below, the cooktop appliance  12  includes a control system  50  ( FIG. 3 ) for controlling one or more of the plurality of heating elements  16 . Specifically, the control system  50  may include a controller  52  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) operably connected to the control panel  22  and controls  24 . The controller  52  may be operably connected to each of the plurality of heating elements  16  for controlling a heating level each of the plurality of heating elements  16  in response to one or more user inputs received through the control panel  22  and controls  24 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a top, schematic view of the cooktop  12  of  FIG. 1 , or more specifically of the cooking surface  14  of the cooktop  12  of  FIG. 1 , is provided. As stated, the cooking surface  14  of the cooktop  12  for the embodiment depicted includes five heating elements  16  spaced along the cooking surface  14 . A cooking utensil  18 , also depicted schematically, is positioned on a first heating element  16  of the plurality of heating elements  16 . For the embodiment depicted, a cookware temperature sensor  28  and a food temperature sensor  30  are also associated with the cooking utensil  18 . 
     In some example embodiments, the cookware temperature sensor  28  may be in contact with, attached to, or integrated into the cooking utensil  18  and configured to sense a temperature of, e.g., a bottom surface of the cooking utensil  18  or bottom wall of the cooking utensil  18 . For example, the cookware temperature sensor  28  may be embedded within the bottom wall of the cooking utensil  18  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, cookware temperature sensor  28  may be embedded within a side wall of the cooking utensil  18 , e.g., proximate to the bottom surface or bottom wall of the cooking utensil  18 . 
     Additionally, the food temperature sensor  30  may be positioned at any suitable location to sense a temperature of one or more food items  32  (see  FIG. 3 ) positioned within the cooking utensil  18 . For example, the food temperature sensor  30  may be a probe type temperature sensor configured to be inserted into one or more food items  32 . Alternatively, however, the food temperature sensor  30  may be configured to determine a temperature of one or more food items positioned within the cooking utensil  18  in any other suitable manner. 
     In certain exemplary embodiments, one or both of the cookware temperature sensor  28  and the food temperature sensor  30  may utilize any suitable technology for sensing/determining a temperature of the cooking utensil  18  and/or food items  32  positioned in the cooking utensil  18 . The cookware temperature sensor  28  and the food temperature sensor  30  may measure a respective temperature by contact and/or non-contact methods. For example, one or both of the cookware temperature sensor  28  and the food temperature sensor  30  may utilize one or more thermocouples, thermistors, optical temperature sensors, infrared temperature sensors, resistance temperature detectors (RTD), etc. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the cooktop appliance  12  additionally includes at least one receiver  34 . In the illustrated example of  FIG. 2 , the cooktop appliance  12  includes a plurality of receivers  34 , each receiver  34  associated with an individual heating element  16 . Each receiver  34  is configured to receive a signal from the food temperature sensor  30  indicative of a temperature of the one or more food items  32  positioned within the cooking utensil  18  and/or from the cookware temperature sensor  28  indicative of a temperature of the cooking utensil  18  positioned on a respective heating element  16 . In other embodiments, a single receiver  34  may be provided and the single receiver  34  may be operatively connected to one or more than one of the sensors. In at least some exemplary embodiments, one or both of the cookware temperature sensor  28  and the food temperature sensor  30  may include wireless transmitting capabilities, or alternatively may be hard-wired to the receiver  34 , e.g., through a wired communications bus. 
       FIG. 3  provides a schematic view of a system for operating a cooktop appliance  12  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically,  FIG. 3  provides a schematic view of a heating element  16  of the exemplary cooktop appliance  12  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  and an exemplary control system  50 . 
     As stated, the cooktop appliance  12  includes a receiver  34  associated with one or more of the heating elements  16 , for example a plurality of receivers  34  each associated with a respective heating element  16 . For the embodiment depicted, each receiver  34  is positioned directly below a center portion of a respective heating element  16 . Moreover, for the embodiment depicted, each receiver  34  is configured as a wireless receiver  34  configured to receive one or more wireless signals. Specifically, for the exemplary control system  50  depicted, both of the cookware temperature sensor  28  and the food temperature sensor  30  are configured as wireless sensors in wireless communication with the wireless receiver  34  via a wireless communications network  54 . In certain exemplary embodiments, the wireless communications network  54  may be a wireless sensor network (such as a Bluetooth communication network), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a point-to point communication networks (such as radio frequency identification (RFID) networks, near field communications networks, etc.), a combination of two or more of the above communications networks, or any suitable wireless communications network or networks. 
     Referring still to  FIG. 3 , each receiver  34  associated with a respective heating element  16  is operably connected to a controller  52  of the control system  50 . The receivers  34  may be operably connected to the controller  52  via a wired communication bus (as shown), or alternatively through a wireless communication network similar to the exemplary wireless communication network  54  discussed above. The controller  52  may generally include a computing device  56  having one or more processor(s)  58  and associated memory device(s)  60 . The computing device  56  may be configured to perform a variety of computer-implemented functions to control the exemplary cooktop appliance  12 . The computing device  56  can include a general purpose computer or a special purpose computer, or any other suitable computing device. It should be appreciated, that as used herein, the processor  58  may refer to a controller, a microcontroller, a microcomputer, a programmable logic controller (PLC), an application specific integrated circuit, and other programmable circuits. Additionally, the memory device(s)  60  may generally comprise memory element(s) including, but not limited to, computer readable medium (e.g., random access memory (RAM)), computer readable non-volatile medium (e.g., a flash memory), a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM), a magneto-optical disk (MOD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), and/or other suitable memory elements. The memory  60  can store information accessible by processor(s)  58 , including instructions that can be executed by processor(s)  58 . For example, the instructions can be software or any set of instructions that when executed by the processor(s)  58 , cause the processor(s)  58  to perform operations. For the embodiment depicted, the instructions may include a software package configured to operate the system, e.g., to execute the exemplary methods described below. 
     Referring still to  FIG. 3 , the control system  50  additionally includes a user interface  62  operably connected to the controller  52 . For the embodiment depicted, e.g., in  FIG. 3 , the user interface  62  is configured in wired communication with the controller  52 . However, in other exemplary embodiments, e.g., as shown in  FIG. 2 , the user interface  62  may additionally or alternatively be wirelessly connected to the controller  52  via one or more suitable wireless communication networks (such as the exemplary wireless communication network  54  described above). In certain exemplary embodiments, user interface  62  may be configured as the control panel  22  and plurality of controls  24  on the cooktop appliance  12  (see  FIG. 1 ). Additionally, or alternatively, the user interface  62  may be configured as an external computing device or remote user interface device, such as a smart phone, tablet, or other device capable of connecting to the controller  52  of the exemplary control system  50 . For example, in some embodiments, the remote user interface may be an application or “app” executed by a remote user interface device such as a smart phone or tablet. Signals generated in controller  52  operate the cooktop  12  in response to user input via the user interface  62 . 
     Further, the controller  52  is operably connected to each of the plurality of heating elements  16  for controlling a heating level of each of the plurality of heating elements  16  in response to one or more user inputs through the user interface  62  (e.g., control panel  22  and controls  24 ). In various embodiments, controlling the heating level of the heating elements may include controlling a supply of electric power to the heating elements, a supply of fuel to the heating elements, etc. For example, wherein one or more of the heating elements  16  are configured as electric resistance heaters, the controller  52  may be operably connected to respective relays controlling a supply of power to such electrical resistance heaters. Alternatively, in embodiments wherein one or more of the heating elements  16  are configured as induction heating elements, the controller  52  may be operably connected to respective current control devices. As another example, in embodiments wherein one or more of the heating elements  16  are configured as gas burners, the controller  52  may be operably connected to a valve in a fuel supply line of each gas burner and/or an actuator of such fuel supply valve to control a supply, e.g., a flow rate, of fuel to the respective burner. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , a first cooking utensil  18 A is illustrated, which may include one or both of the cookware temperature sensor  28  and the food temperature sensor  30 , e.g., as in any one or combination of the above-described examples. Also shown in  FIG. 4  is a second cooking utensil  18 B. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the heating element which is controlled in response to measured temperature by the temperature sensor(s)  28  and/or  30 , may be a first heating element  16 A, and the cooktop  12  may also include a second heating element  16 B. With such exemplary cooktops  12 , one or more cooking utensils may be misplaced. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the first and second cooking utensils  18 A and  18 B are both misplaced. The first cooking utensil  18 A is not placed on the first heating element  16 A, which is controlled in response to temperature measurements from the temperature sensor(s)  28  and/or  30  located in first cooking utensil  18 A, such that the intended responsive heating is not provided to first cooking utensil  18 A and articles therein. As used herein and as is generally understood in the art, a utensil “on” a heating element is positioned in close proximity to the heating element sufficient to be heated by the heating element, e.g., in thermal communication in embodiments including a resistance heating element or a gas burner heating element, or within the magnetic field of an induction heating element in some embodiments, but the utensil is not necessarily in direct physical contact with the heating element to be “on” the heating element. The second cooking utensil  18 B is also misplaced in that the second cooking utensil  18 B and articles therein may be heated by the first heating element  16 A at a level which is responsive to a temperature other than the actual temperature of the second cooking utensil  18 B and any food articles  32  therein, e.g., the temperature measured by the sensor(s)  28  and/or  30  in the first utensil  18 A. 
     In some embodiments, the controller  52  may be configured to receive a signal from a temperature sensor associated with the first cooking utensil  18 A when the first cooking utensil  18 A is located on one of the first heating element  16 A and the second heating element  16 B. For example, the signal may be received from the sensor via the receiver  34  as described above. The temperature sensor may be associated with the cooking utensil  18  in that the temperature sensor is positioned and configured to sense a temperature of the cooking utensil  18  itself, such as the cookware temperature sensor  28 , and/or a temperature of the contents of the cooking utensil, such as the food temperature sensor  30 . In order to confirm that the first cooking utensil  18 A is located on the first heating element  16 A, the controller  52  may further be configured to determine the location of the first cooking utensil  18 A based on the temperature response measured via the temperature sensor(s)  28  and/or  30 . 
     For example, in some embodiments, the controller  52  may be configured to activate the first heating element at a first heating level, e.g., at a heating level that is higher than a heating level of the second heating element  16 B, for a testing period. In various embodiments, the second heating element  16 B may be deactivated or activated at a low heating level during the testing period. The first heating level may advantageously be the ordinary heating level corresponding to a user-selected heating level. In such embodiments, the location of the first cooking utensil  18 A can be determined or confirmed with a minimal or no interruption in the desired cooking operation. The controller  52  may also be configured to monitor the temperature associated with the first cooking utensil  18 A, e.g., the temperature of the first cooking utensil  18 A itself and/or a temperature of the contents of the first cooking utensil  18 A during the testing period. Thus, the controller  52  may determine that the cooking utensil is located on the first heating element when a value of the monitored temperature is greater than a predefined threshold. In various embodiments, the value of the monitored temperature may be one or more of a net increase in the monitored temperature, a rate of increase in the monitored temperature, and/or an integral of the monitored temperature. For example, the integral of the monitored temperature may represent the area under a time/temperature curve, such that the integral of the monitored temperature greater than the predefined threshold indicates that the monitored temperature has reached at least a threshold temperature and/or has remained at or above the threshold temperature for a minimum amount of time. 
     Once it has been determined that the first cooking utensil  18 A and the associated temperature sensor(s)  28  and/or  30  are located on the first heating element  16 A, the controller  52  may then operate the first heating element  16 A in response to the measured temperature, e.g., by adjusting a heating level of the first heating element  16 A based on the received signal from the temperature sensor(s)  28  and/or  30 . In some embodiments, when the value of the monitored temperature is less than the predefined threshold, e.g., where the monitored temperature never reaches the predefined threshold before the testing period elapses, the controller  52  may also be configured to deactivate the first heating element  16 A. In such cases, the controller  52  may further be configured to provide a notification such as an error message or alert, e.g., via user interface  62 , when the value of the monitored temperature is less than the predefined threshold. 
     As mentioned above, the first heating level may advantageously be the ordinary heating level corresponding to a user-selected heating level. In general, it may be advantageous to operate the heating element(s) at or as close as possible to an ordinary level during the testing period. One of skill in the art will recognize that the “ordinary” heating level is the level at which the heating element would be operated when each intended cooking utensil is placed on the intended heating element. For example, the ordinary heating level may be the heating level provided for cooking operation in response to the user-selected heating level. In such examples, the controller  52  may be further configured for generating a temperature setting. For example, the cooktop appliance  12  and/or a controller  52  thereof may be configured to generate the temperature setting in response to a user input received via the user interface  62  ( FIG. 3 ). In such embodiments, activating the first heating element  16 A at the first level during the testing period may include setting a heating level of the first heating element  16 A to an ordinary level associated with the generated temperature setting. In other embodiments, the first heating level during the testing period may also or instead include a variable heating level based on the measured temperature, e.g., using a closed control loop such as a PI or PID control. For example, the first heating level during the testing period may initially include the ordinary level which may then be modified or varied based on the PID control. Thus, in some embodiments, the ordinary level may include a variable level which is adjusted based on the output of a closed control loop. 
     In some embodiments, activating the first heating element  16 A for the testing period may include setting a heating level of the first heating element  16 A to an ordinary level corresponding to a user-selected low setting. As mentioned, the second heating element  16 B (and any additional heating elements, such as the third, fourth, and fifth heating elements illustrated, e.g., in  FIG. 2 ) may be deactivated for the testing period, in particular when user-selected setting for the first heating element  16 A is a low or medium setting. In various embodiments, any suitable combination of heating levels may be applied, e.g., where the difference between heating levels is large enough to provide a measurable temperature response. 
     The testing period may comprise any suitable duration which is sufficient to distinguish whether the measured temperature response of the first cooking utensil  18 A does or does not correspond to the expected temperature response. For example, the necessary time to make such a determination may depend on the heating level of the first heating element  16 A, e.g., it may be possible to more quickly determine that the first cooking utensil  18 A is not being heated by the first heating element  16 A when the first heating element  16 A is operating at a high heating level. Accordingly, in various embodiments, the duration of the testing period may correspond to the first heating level, e.g., the duration may be shorter when the generated temperature setting is a high setting. For example, the duration of the testing period may be determined from a lookup table where the first heating level, e.g., the generated temperature setting, can be looked up in the table to determine a corresponding duration of the testing period. 
     As used herein with respect to user selections, terms such as “low,” “medium,” and “high” are understood relative to one another and in the context of a maximum possible heat output or heating level of the heating element. For example, the user may select a high setting, and the corresponding ordinary heating level may include operating the heating element at or above about sixty-seven percent (67%) of its heat output capacity, such as about seventy-five percent (75%) or more, such as about eighty-five percent (85%) or more, such as about ninety-five percent (95%) or more. In various embodiments, such percentages or levels may correspond to a power level, such as voltage applied or current supplied to the heating element, or a fuel supply rate. For example, a user-selectable low setting may correspond to an ordinary heating level of about one thousand eight hundred Watts (1800 W), a user-selectable medium setting may correspond to an ordinary heating level of about two thousand five hundred Watts (2500 W), and a user-selectable high setting may correspond to an ordinary heating level of about three thousand seven hundred Watts (3700 W). As another example, in the case of a gas burner, a low setting may correspond to a heating level with a fuel supply valve position of about thirty-three percent (33%) open or less, such as about ten percent (10%) open or less, a medium setting may correspond to a heating level with a valve position of between about thirty-three percent (33%) and about seventy-five percent (75%) open, and a high setting may correspond to a heating level with a valve position of about seventy-five percent (75%) open or more. 
     In various embodiments, the duration of the testing period may be less than about ten seconds, such as about five seconds or less, such as about three seconds or less. In such embodiments, it may be advantageous to provide a short duration for the testing period to avoid or minimize disruption of cooking operations on the second heating element  16 B (and/or other heating elements than the first heating element  16 A, such as a third, fourth, etc. heating element). A short duration of the testing period, e.g., about five seconds or less, may be particularly advantageous when the second heating element  16 B is deactivated during the testing period. Moreover, where the second heating element  16 B is deactivated and in other embodiments where there is a large difference between the heating level of the first heating element  16 A and the heating level of the second heating element  16 B, the determinative value of the measured temperature may reach the predefined threshold, if at all, in a relatively short time. For example, a determination whether the measured temperature more closely matches a temperature response of a cooking utensil on the first heating element  16 A or a temperature response of a cooking utensil on the second heating element  16 B may be quickly and easily made when there is a large difference between the heating level of the first heating element  16 A and the heating level of the second heating element  16 B. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary method  200  of operating a cooktop appliance, such as the exemplary cooktop  12 . In some embodiments, the controller  52  may be configured to perform some or all of the steps of method  200 . The method  200  may initially include receiving a signal  202 , the signal  202  received from the control panel or one or more controls of a plurality of controls. The signal  202  may be indicative of an intent to perform a closed-loop controlled cooking operation on a specific burner, e.g., first heating element  16 A, with a specific item of cookware, e.g., first cooking utensil  18 A. The method  200  may also include a step  204  of activating the first heating element  16 A for a testing period and a step  205  of deactivating all other heating elements for the testing period. 
     The method  200  may further include a step  206  of monitoring the temperature associated with the cooking utensil during the testing period, e.g., with a temperature sensor. The temperature may be monitored with one or both of the cookware temperature sensor  28  and the food temperature sensor  30 , e.g., temperature values may be continuously measured by the temperature sensor(s)  28  and/or  30  over the testing period. Thus, it should be understood that “monitored,” “monitoring,” or other cognates thereof as used herein include continuous or repeated measuring or sampling of data, e.g., temperature, over a period of time. Further, in various embodiments, the temperature sensor used in the monitoring steps, e.g., step  206 , may be one or both of the cookware temperature sensor  28  and the food temperature sensor  30 , and the monitored temperature may be one or both of a temperature of the first cooking utensil  18 A and a temperature of food item  32 . 
     The method  200  may also include, at step  208 , determining whether a value of the monitored temperature is greater than a predefined threshold. If so, it may be determined that the cooking utensil is located on the first heating element. After determining that the cooking utensil is located on the first heating element  16 A, the method  200  may include a step  210  of adjusting a heating level of the first heating element  16 A based on the received signal from the temperature sensor, e.g., by inputting the temperature signal into a closed control loop and adjusting the heating level based on the output of the control loop. When the value of the monitored temperature is less than the predefined threshold, the method  200  may include a step  212  of deactivating the first heating element and providing a notification. 
       FIG. 6  provides a graph of an example temperature response of a cooking utensil over a testing period. In some embodiments, the testing period may be five seconds (5 s, as noted in  FIG. 6 ).  FIG. 6  illustrates various embodiments wherein the temperature response indicates that the cooking utensil  18 A is located on the first heating element  16 A. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the value of the monitored temperature may be a temperature rise over the testing period. In various embodiments, the predefined threshold may depend on the heating level. For example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the temperature rise which indicates the cooking utensil  18 A is located on the intended first heating element  16 A is relatively small when the heating level, e.g., the ordinary power level of the heating element  16 A which may in this embodiment be a resistance heating element, is set to power level  1 , for example, corresponding to a user-selected low setting. Also shown in  FIG. 6  are power level  5 , which may correspond to a user-selected medium setting, and a power level  10 , which may correspond to a user-selected high setting. As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the predefined threshold may be correspondingly higher when the heating level is higher. 
     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.