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.

A cooking plate includes a metal plate for cooking; a heating element, which is in contact with the metal plate and is configured to heat the metal plate; and a temperature sensing element which is integrated with the metal plate and which is configured to sense a temperature of the metal plate and outputs a sensing signal for control heating of the heating element.

The invention relates to a method for operating a heating element (210), in particular in a food processor (1) for the at least partially automatic preparation of foodstuffs, wherein the following steps are performed: a) detecting an electrical resistance of the heating element (210) such that at least one resistance value is determined, b) performing a heating operation on the heating element (210) based on the at least one determined resistance value to perform the heating operation depending on a temperature of the heating element (210).

A toaster oven comprising a housing defining a food cavity, an opening defined in the housing, a door movably affixed to the housing, a cooking grid selectively mountable within the housing, one or more heating elements within the housing, a timer controlling activation of the heating elements, and a timer control knob engaged with the timer. The timer control knob is selectively rotatable in a second direction from the off position to a third position to activate at least one of the one or more heating elements until the timer control knob is selectively rotated in the first direction back to the off position. The timer control knob has a selectively movable button, such that the timer control knob is only selectively rotatable in the second direction from the off position to the third position when the button is moved from a first position to a second position.

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.

A cooktop appliance includes a bimetallic switch is positioned adjacent an electrical heating element. A first electrical conduit is coupled to a first terminal of the electrical heating element and is configured to operate at a first voltage, L1, with respect to ground. A second electrical conduit is configured to operate at a second voltage, L2, with respect to ground. A relay is configured such that the relay connects the second electrical conduit to a second terminal of the electrical heating element when the bimetallic switch is in the first configuration and is also configured such that the relay connects a neutral electrical conduit to the second terminal of the electrical heating element when the bimetallic switch is in the second configuration.

A cooking device safety system includes a stovetop cooking device with a first sensor to detect the presence of an object on or adjacent to a burner; a second sensor to detect a condition of the burner; a transceiver to send a signal from the first and/or the second sensor to a remote device; a microcontroller with a timer; and a signal output device. A method for providing a safe cooking device environment includes detecting a status of a cooking device and detecting the presence of an object on or in the cooking device. When the cooking device has an activated status and an object is detected, the system detects whether a threshold cooking time has been exceeded. If the threshold has been exceeded, the system produces an alert via a signal output device; and/or sends an alert to a remote device; and/or inactivates the cooking device.

A kitchen appliance (10) is disclosed for cooking a meat product (1). The kitchen appliance comprises a heating element (11) adapted to heat a medium (13) for transferring heat to the meat product; a sensor (15, 25) for detecting loss of water from a contact surface of the meat product with the medium; and a controller (17) conductively coupled to the sensor. The controller is adapted to process a sensor signal produced by the sensor; and generate a control signal indicative of the meat product reaching a defined cooking state in response to the processed sensor signal being indicative of a loss of water associated with the desired cooking state from the contact surface of the meat product. A method of monitoring cooking of a meat product by such a kitchen appliance is also disclosed.

A method for data communication with a domestic appliance by a mobile computer device. The domestic appliance and the mobile computer device are interconnected or interconnectable via a wireless data connection. The wireless data connection is adapted for transferring signals between the domestic appliance and the mobile computer device. Further, the present invention relates to application software for the mobile computer device. Moreover, the present invention relates to a domestic appliance. Additionally, the present invention relates to a mobile computer device including a display or touch screen.

Disclosed is a cooking appliance. The present invention includes a plurality of loads connected in parallel with each other, a plurality of load relays configured to be connected in series to a plurality of the loads in order to selectively supply commercial electricity supplied from a power supply unit to a plurality of the loads, respectively and be driven selectively in ON or OFF state, a safety relay configured to be connected in series to a plurality of the loads and be driven selectively in ON or OFF state, a detecting unit configured to sense a voltage applied to both ends of the safety relay by being connected to the safety relay, and a controller configured to control a plurality of the load relays, the safety relay and the detecting unit and determine a presence or non-presence of malfunction of a plurality of the load relays based on a signal from the detecting unit.