A control knob for an appliance deploys a round bezel region that surround a fixed electronic display panel that is touch sensitive. The appliance state or operating condition is modified by the user rotating the bezel and selecting graphic user interface (GUI) icons on the electronic display. The bezel orientation modifies the GUI to display icons that operate the appliance in different modes. In a first mode of power control, the GUI displays power levels and the bezel orientation modifies the power level. In a second mode, the GUI displays temperature settings and the bezel orientation modifies the temperature. The GUI displays icons that when activated switch between the first and second mode as well as turn off the appliance. Another icon may activate a third mode that enables control and display of other settings, such as temperature units, time and date, count down timers and the like.

A glass-ceramic cooking apparatus and a method relating to temperature limiting control of the glass heating area for preventing cooking oil ignition is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one glass surface, at least one heat source under the glass to create a heating area on the glass, one temperature sensor and one control unit for each heat source, wherein the sensor measures the temperature on the underside the glass heating area, and the control unit is electrically connected with the heat source, compares the measured glass temperature with predetermined upper and lower temperature limits that are based on a corresponding relationship between the heating area temperature and the cooking oil temperature within the cooking vessel, and then reduces or increases the output power of the heating source, so that the maximum temperature of the cooking oil in the cooking vessel can be limited in a range that is below the cooking oil ignition point while a minimum temperature can still be maintained for a desired cooking performance.

A heating appliance includes a translucent cooktop and a burner in communication with the cooktop. The burner is operable between deactive and active states. The upper surface of the cooktop defines a cooldown state after the burner is moved from the active to the deactive state. A light module includes a light source and is in an illuminated state when the burner is in the active state and when the cooktop is in the cooldown state. A light guide extends from the light module and around a portion of the burner. The light guide is positioned such that the light source directs light through the light guide. The outer surface of the light guide includes a formed surface that directs light upward and through the cooktop, wherein the light guide is visible through the cooktop when the light module is in the illuminated state.

Described is an electrical power distribution and monitoring system utilizing electrical heat tracing equipment for purposes of fault detection and maintenance forecasting, the system is intended to replace or augment an existing Electric Heat Trace Distribution Panel, and comprises components for testing, measuring, recording, and displaying a variety of sensors, parameters and components, and to forecast failures and required maintenance in electrical heat trace equipment.

A radiant burner for a cooking appliance. The radiant heater includes a heating element residing on or in an insulating base, the insulating base having a recess located in a bottom thereof. The insulating base is housed in a casing that has a recess residing in the recess of the insulating base. A part of the casing that forms the recess includes a guide. A temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature inside the radiant burner is supported by an insulating body. A portion of the insulating body is located inside the insulating base and inside the guide formed by the casing with the insulating body extending vertically through the insulating base and the guide.

A cooking system includes an operator interface configured to enable input of an identification characteristic for a placement unit for placement on a cooking surface for purpose of a heating operation, and a control unit configured to release or block a cooking function for the placement unit as a function of the identification characteristic input via the operator interface.

A hob plate above a radiant heating device and a safety temperature limiter between said radiant heating device and hob plate, which safety temperature limiter is designed to deactivate the radiant heating device when a switch-off temperature is reached. To actuate the radiant heating device, a cooking vessel is first placed on the hob plate above the radiant heating device and then the radiant heating device is activated and at the same time detection of a first switch-on time starts. When a switch-off temperature is reached at the safety temperature limiter, the radiant heating device is deactivated by said safety temperature limiter. The first switch-on time that has elapsed up to that point between activation and deactivation of the radiant heating device is detected and compared with a predefined limit switch-on time. If the first switch-on time lies below the limit switch-on time the radiant heating device is switched off.

A hob has a radiant heating device, a hob plate above said radiant heating device and a safety temperature limiter between said radiant heating device and hob plate, which safety temperature limiter is designed to deactivate the radiant heating device when a switch-off temperature is reached. In order to actuate the radiant heating device, a cooking vessel is first placed on the hob plate above the radiant heating device and then the radiant heating device is activated and at the same time detection of a first switch-on time starts. When a switch-off temperature is reached at the safety temperature limiter, the radiant heating device is deactivated by said safety temperature limiter. The first switch-on time that has elapsed up to that point between activation and deactivation of the radiant heating device is detected and compared with a predefined limit switch-on time. If the first switch-on time lies below the limit switch-on time the radiant heating device is switched off.

A cooking hob with illumination equipment. The cooking hob includes a transparent or semi-transparent top panel arranged at a top side of the hob. The cooking hob includes at least one cooking zone and at least one control element for controlling the cooking zone. The cooking hob includes at least one transparent or semi-transparent layer. Symbols or images are printed on, applied on, impressed in and/or embossed in the layer. Each symbol or image corresponds with a cooking zone, a control element and/or an operation state of the cooking hob. The cooking hob includes light source elements arranged below the top panel and the layer. Each light source element corresponds with one or more symbols or images. One or more light source elements are activated on demand by the user and, if the corresponding cooking zone is activated, the corresponding control element responds or the corresponding operation state occurs, respectively.

A method for monitoring the use of cooking a cooking hobs, using an infrared imaging system to detect and classify at least one region of the hob to ascribe a characteristic to said region, to determine relevant criteria relating to that region, and to provide responses appropriate to deviations from those criteria.