Patent ID: 8168923

Claim:
A heated food system comprising: a resistive film disposed between terminals of an AC power supply and terminals of a DC power supply, current from the terminals of the AC power supply going across the entire resistive film, and current from the terminals of the DC power supply being dispersed into subsections of the entire resistive film, the subsections collectively being smaller in area than the entire resistive film, such that the power consumed by the resistive film is substantially equal regardless of whether AC or DC power is applied; a thermal conductor disposed above the resistive film, configured to receive and distribute heat generated by the resistive film when current flows though the film; a thermal insulator disposed beneath the resistive film, to thereby limit heat transfer from the resistive film to areas below the resistive film; a non-stick enclosure at least partially enclosing the resistive film, the thermal conductor, and the thermal insulator; and a DC power connector and an AC power connector connected to the terminals of the DC power supply and the terminals of the AC power supply, respectively.