TOASTER USING THIN-FILM HEATING ELEMENT
In a toaster and method for toasting a food product, the generally includes at least one thin-film heating element, the thin-film heating element including a resistive film coupled to a substrate and extending between a pair of electrical conductors.
1 . A toaster comprising at least one thin-film heating element, the thin-film heating element comprising a resistive film coupled to a substrate and extending between a pair of electrical conductors.
2 . The toaster of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a substantially transparent substrate.
3 . The toaster of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is ceramic glass.
4 . The toaster of claim 1 , wherein the at least one thin-film heating element comprises a first thin-film heating element and a second thin-film heating element in a spaced relationship with the first thin-film heating element.
5 . The toaster of claim 4 , further comprising an additional heating element positioned between the first thin-film heating element and the second thin-film heating element.
6 . The toaster of claim 5 , wherein the additional heating element comprises a mica board with a pattern of wire filament disposed thereon.
7 . The toaster of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature control system coupled to the at least one thin-film heating element, the temperature control system configured to:
calculate an approximate temperature of the at least one thin-film heating element; and
control the at least one thin-film heating element based on the calculated approximate temperature.
8 . The toaster of claim 7 , wherein to calculate an approximate temperature, the temperature control system is configured to calculate the approximate temperature by:
measuring a current flowing through the at least one thin-film heating element; and
calculating the approximate temperature based on the measured current.
9 . The toaster of claim 7 , wherein to control the at least one thin-film heating element, the temperature control system is configured to adjust a voltage across the at least one thin-film heating element to prevent the approximate temperature from exceeding a predetermined temperature.
10 . The toaster of claim 1 , further comprising a chute positioned below the at least one thin-film heating element, wherein the chute is configured to dispense a food product from the toaster.
11 . A method of toasting a food product, the method comprising:
placing the food product in a toaster including at least one thin-film heating element, the thin-film heating element including a resistive film coupled to a substrate and extending between a pair of electrical conductors; and
toasting the food product using the toaster.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein placing the food product in a toaster comprises placing the food product in a toaster in which the substrate is a substantially transparent substrate.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein placing the food product in a toaster comprises placing the food product in a toaster in which the substrate is ceramic glass.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein placing the food product in a toaster comprises placing the food product in a toaster in which the at least one thin-film heating element includes a first thin-film heating element and a second thin-film heating element in a spaced relationship with the first thin-film heating element.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein placing the food product in a toaster comprises placing the food product in a toaster that further includes an additional heating element positioned between the first thin-film heating element and the second thin-film heating element.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the additional heating element includes a mica board with a pattern of wire filament disposed thereon.
17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
calculating, using a temperature control system, an approximate temperature of the at least one thin-film heating element; and
controlling, using the temperature control system, the at least one thin-film heating element based on the calculated approximate temperature.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein calculating an approximate temperature comprises calculating the approximate temperature by:
measuring a current flowing through the at least one thin-film heating element; and
calculating the approximate temperature based on the measured current.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein controlling the at least one thin-film heating element comprises adjusting a voltage across the at least one thin-film heating element to prevent the approximate temperature from exceeding a predetermined temperature.
20 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising dispensing the toasted food product from the toaster using a chute positioned below the at least one thin-film heating element.