In order to operate an induction cooktop with a cooktop plate, at least two induction heating coils thereunder, a cooktop controller, and a power unit for supplying power to the induction heating coils, the two induction heating coils are jointly supplied with power and operated with in each case one power density spectrum with precisely one maximum. In a first operating mode, the power density spectra are measured and it is established how their respective maxima are located relative one another, and the sum thereof is formed. The difference in power density between a local minimum of the sum, which is located between the two maxima of the sum, and the two maxima of the sum is then reduced. To this end, the switch-on time and/or the switch-off time of at least one of the circuit-breakers is varied in order to actively modify the power density spectrum of the power supply.

A cooking vessel sensor and an induction heating device including a cooking vessel sensor is provided. The cooking vessel sensor may include a cylindrical hollow body having a first receiving space defined therein; a hollow cylindrical magnetic core received in the first space and having a second receiving space defined therein; and a sensing coil wound on an outer face of the side wall by a predetermined number of winding counts. The cylindrical hollow body may have a side wall having a coil outlet defined therein, and the sensing coil may pass though the coil outlet out of the body. The cooking vessel sensor may further include a controller that applies a current to the sensing coil and determines, based on a sensing result of the cooking vessel sensor, whether the cooking vessel is inductive or has an inductive heating property.

An electric resistance heating coil assembly, as provided herein, may include a spiral would sheathed heating element, a thermostat, and a shroud cover. The spiral wound sheathed heating element may have a first coil section and a second coil section. The thermostat may be connected in series between the first and second coil sections of the spiral wound sheathed heating element. The thermostat may include a base and a top cap. The base may extend axially between a first end and a second end. The top cap may be held on the base at the first end. The shroud cover may be mounted to the thermostat below the top cap.

An electric resistance heating coil assembly, as provided herein, may include a spiral would sheathed heating element, a thermostat, and a shroud cover. The spiral wound sheathed heating element may have a first coil section and a second coil section. The thermostat may be connected in series between the first and second coil sections of the spiral wound sheathed heating element. The thermostat may include a base and a top cap. The base may extend axially between a first end and a second end. The top cap may be held on the base at the first end. The shroud cover may be mounted to the thermostat below the top cap.

There is provided a cooker having at least one heating element (200). The cooker also has a supporting structure for supporting a cooking vessel above the heating element (200) and a bi-metallic element (202). The bi-metallic element (202) drives the heating element (200) to move based on a temperature of the bi-metallic element (202).

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 cooktop appliance and heating element, as provided herein may define a heating zone having a thermostat positioned therein. The thermostat may include a base, a bimetallic disk, and a conductive spring. The base may extend axially between a first end and a second end. The bimetallic disk may be disposed within the base. The conductive spring may be disposed within the base in biased engagement with the bimetallic disk to motivate the bimetallic disk towards the first end within the base. The conductive spring may include a first layer and a second layer. The first layer may extend from a contact end proximal to the bimetallic disk to a joinder end connected to the first terminal. The second layer may extend from a biasing end proximal to the bimetallic disk to a secured end fixed within the base.

A cooking apparatus is provided. The cooking apparatus includes heating coils, an input apparatus receiving input of output levels for each of the heating coils, inverters providing driving power to each of the heating coils separately, and a processor controlling the inverters based on the inputted output levels. The processor is configured to predict the power consumption of each of the heating coils based on the inputted output levels, and based on the sum of the predicted power consumption being greater than a predetermined power value, determine a subject heating coil based on the predicted power consumption for each heating coil and history information on power adjustment of the heating coils, and control an inverter corresponding to the subject heating coil such that the subject heating coil operates at a smaller output level than a current output level.

A cooking vessel sensor and an induction heating device including a cooking vessel sensor is provided. The cooking vessel sensor may include a cylindrical hollow body having a first receiving space defined therein; a hollow cylindrical magnetic core received in the first space and having a second receiving space defined therein; and a sensing coil wound on an outer face of the side wall by a predetermined number of winding counts. The cylindrical hollow body may have a side wall having a coil outlet defined therein, and the sensing coil may pass though the coil outlet out of the body. The cooking vessel sensor may further include a controller that applies a current to the sensing coil and determines, based on a sensing result of the cooking vessel sensor, whether the cooking vessel is inductive or has an inductive heating property.

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.