Patent ID: 8344296

Claim:
An apparatus for measuring and controlling the temperature of a heat retention object used in connection with an induction heating control unit to warm or to keep warm a food item, comprising: a trivet in contact with the heat retention object, the trivet resting on a countertop, the countertop is positioned above a cooktop of the induction heating control unit, wherein the trivet acts as an insulator to limit the amount of heat transferring from the heat retention object through the trivet to the countertop, and wherein the trivet is readily useable with different heat retention objects in a variety of shapes and sizes; and a tag associated with the trivet, the tag being capable of communication with a reader associated with an induction heating control unit located below the countertop, enabling controlled heating of the heat retention object; wherein the trivet includes electronic circuitry to facilitate the indication of its proper positioning on the countertop within the magnetic field range of the induction heating control unit, so as to allow controlled heating of an object by the induction heating control unit, and further comprising means for indicating to a user when the trivet is properly positioned, wherein the indicating means is located on the trivet, is powered by the magnetic field of the induction heating control unit, and is in electrical communication with the trivet electronic circuitry.