A hot water dispenser and a method for determining a boiling point of water in the same. The hot water dispenser contains a reservoir, a heating element, and a sensor. The method includes heating water in the reservoir with a first power value of the heating element during a first period of time until a value indicative of a threshold temperature of water is determined; upon reaching the threshold temperature, heating the reservoir water with a second power value of the heating element, which is lower than the first power value, during a second period of time until a water-temperature-rise-per-time value is lower than a first predetermined value; subsequently, increasing the power value of the heating element to a third power value during a third period of time; determining the boiling-point temperature of water by determining the highest temperature of water between the first and third periods of time.

An electric kettle having a handle coupled to one end of a body is proposed. The electric kettle includes: a body receiving water or food therein; a lid configured to shield an open upper side of the body; a base provided at a lower side of the body and configured to support the body; a spout provided on an upper end of the body and guiding a discharge of the water or food contained inside the body; and a handle fastened to the upper end of the body and configured to be held by hand. According to the configuration of the electric kettle, there are advantages of providing a compact and aesthetic appearance and improving assemblability.

A domestic liquid heating apparatus includes a liquid heating chamber and an electrical heating arrangement arranged to heat, in use, a liquid contained in the liquid heating chamber. The apparatus further includes a handle, for lifting the apparatus, and a user interface, arranged on the handle. The user interface comprises a rotatable dial, operable to select at least one operational parameter of the apparatus, and a display, arranged to display the selected operational parameter.

An actively heated or cooled mug has a body with a chamber that can receive and hold a beverage and a heating or cooling system disposed at least partially in a cavity below the chamber. The heating or cooling system has a heating or cooling element to actively heat or cool the chamber, power storage devices, and circuitry that controls the operation of the heating or cooling elements. A user interface is electrically connected to the circuitry and has one or more selection members actuatable a) to turn off the one or more heating or cooling element or b) to adjust a temperature setting to one of multiple temperature settings configured to control the one or more heating or cooling elements to heat or maintain the liquid at a user selected temperature.

An actively heated drinkware container includes a vessel with a chamber that receives and holds a volume of liquid. The drinkware container includes a heating module with a first heating element operable to heat one portion of the chamber and a second heating element operable to heat another portion of the chamber, the second heating element spaced from the first heating element. Operation of the first and second heating elements generates a circulation current in the volume of liquid in the chamber that mixes the liquid and diffuses a temperature of the liquid to thereby reduce temperature stratification of the liquid in the chamber and so that a temperature of the liquid throughout the volume of liquid in the chamber is approximately uniform.

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to utilizing a sonication probe. In some embodiments, there is provided a rice cooker utilizing a sonication probe to cook rice including a rice cooker housing; a pH sensor; a temperature sensor; a viscosity sensor; a sonication probe; and a control circuit configured to control an operation of the sonication probe that causes the sonication probe to stop emitting one or more sound waves to substantially halt breakdown of amylose of the rice based on a pH value, a temperature value, and a viscosity value associated with the rice.

An actively heated or cooled cup or mug has a body with a chamber that can receive and hold a beverage and a heating or cooling system disposed in a cavity below the chamber. The heating or cooling system has a heating or cooling element to actively heat or cool the chamber, power storage devices, and circuitry that controls the operation of the heating or cooling elements. A sensor can detect a presence of a liquid in the chamber, the circuitry configured to turn on power to the heating or cooling elements after said liquid is detected and further configured to automatically turn off power to the heating or cooling elements upon receiving a signal indicating that the liquid in the chamber has dropped below a predetermined liquid level or been depleted completely.

An electric kettle may include: a body receiving water or food therein; a lid configured to shield an open upper side of the body; a base provided at a lower side of the body and configured to support the body; a heating module provided in a side of the body and configured to apply heat to the body such that the content contained in the body is heated; and a handle provided at a side of the body and configured to be held by hand, wherein a control means is provided in the handle, the control means being configured to control power supplied to the heating module or to control a temperature of the content contained in the body. According to such a configuration of the electric kettle, there is an advantage in that the malfunction or failure of the electric kettle is prevented.

An actively heated mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container is provided. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can include a body that receives a liquid therein and a heating or cooling system at least partially disposed in the body. The heating or cooling system can include one or more heating or cooling elements that heat a surface of the receiving portion of the body and one or more energy storage devices. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can include a wireless power receiver that wirelessly receives power from a power source and control circuitry configured to charge one or more power storage elements and to control the delivery of electricity from the one or more power storage elements to the one or more heating or cooling elements. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container also can have one or more sensors that sense a parameter of the liquid or sense a parameter of the heating or cooling system and communicates the sensed information to the control circuitry. The control circuitry can turn on, turn off, and/or operate the heating or cooling element to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the body to maintain the liquid in a heated or cooled state generally at a user selected temperature setting based at least in part on the sensed parameter information. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can also be paired with a remote device or mobile electronic device to send or receive communications or commands.

An actively heated or cooled food container can have a lid movable between an open and a closed position and an insulated body to which the lid can be attached. The insulated body can have a sidewall that defines a perimeter of the container body and a base, the sidewall and base defining one or more chambers that can be sealed by the lid. The food container can have a temperature control system that can include one or more heating or cooling elements in thermal communication with one or both of the sidewall and the base and operable to heat or cool one or both of the sidewall and the base to thereby heat or cool the one or more chambers in the food container.