Patent ID: 7022949

Claim:
A multiple-zone power control system for controlling power distribution to electric heating elements, the system comprising: a power control unit comprising a plurality of control zones for controlling the delivery of power to respective electric heating elements; and a touch-sensitive key for alternately activating and deactivating a designated one of the plurality of control zones when the touch-sensitive key is touched by a user; the system has a configuration such that when all of the plurality of control zones are deactivated, the touch-sensitive key must be touched for at least a predetermined first time period in order to activate the designated one of the plurality of control zones; and the system has a configuration such that when at least one of the plurality of control zones is activated, the touch-sensitive key must be touched for at least a minimum key-touch duration predetermined second time period in order to activate the designated one of the plurality of control zones, the second time period being shorter than the first time period.