Methods and apparatus for controlling a cooking appliance

1. A cooking appliance comprising:

a cooktop having at least one heating element for heating a cookware member on or to be placed on the cooktop, the at least one heating element being adjustable between a working-power level wherein the at least one heating element is energized to generate heat and a zero-power level wherein the at least one heating element is not energized;

a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature or rate of temperature change of a cooking element; and

a control device configured to adjust the at least one heating element from the working-power level to the zero-power level when the rate of temperature change of the cooking element is equal to or above a threshold rate of temperature change, wherein the adjustment is made irrespective of the value of power presently being applied to the at least one heating element and of the present value of temperature of the cooking element.

2. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is further configured to adjust the at least one heating element from the working-power level to the zero-power level in response to the temperature of the cooking element being equal to or above a threshold temperature, independent of the rate of temperature change of the cooking element.

3. The cooking appliance according to claim 2 , wherein the threshold temperature is at or about 371° C. (700° F.).

4. The cooking appliance according to claim 2 , wherein the threshold temperature is less than 371° C. (700° F.).

5. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the cooking element comprises a portion of the cooktop, a portion of the cookware member when placed on the cooktop, or a portion of foodstuff provided within the cookware member when placed on the cooktop.

6. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating element comprises an electric resistance element.

7. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating element comprises a gas burner.

8. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

9. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises an infrared sensor that is arranged at a side of the cooktop and aimed toward the heating element.

10. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises an infrared sensor that is arranged above the cooktop and aimed downward toward the heating element.

11. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises an infrared sensor that is arranged at a center of the heating element and aimed upward.

12. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein after the adjustment of the at least one heating element from the working-power level to the zero-power level, the control device is configured to maintain the at least one heating element at the zero-power level irrespective of the present value of the rate of temperature change of the cooking element.

13. A method of operating a cooking appliance comprising a cooktop having at least one heating element for heating a cookware member on or to be placed on the cooktop, the method comprising:

setting the at least one heating element at a working-power level wherein the at least one heating element is energized to generate heat;

detecting a temperature or rate of temperature change of a cooking element; and

adjusting the at least one heating element based on the detected temperature or rate of temperature change to a zero-power level wherein the at least one heating element is not energized,

wherein the at least one heating element is adjusted from the working-power level to the zero-power level when the rate of temperature change of the cooking element is equal to or above a threshold rate of temperature change, wherein the adjustment is made irrespective of the value of power presently being applied to the at least one heating element and of the present value of temperature of the cooking element.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one heating element is adjusted from the working-power level to the zero-power level in response to the temperature of the cooking element being equal to or above a threshold temperature, independent of the rate of temperature change of the cooking element.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the threshold temperature is about 371° C. (700° F.) or less.

16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the cooking element comprises a portion of the cooktop, a portion of the cookware member when placed on the cooktop, or a portion of foodstuff provided within the cookware member when placed on the cooktop.

17. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one heating element comprises an electric resistance element.

18. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one heating element comprises a gas burner.

19. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the temperature or rate of temperature change is detected using an infrared sensor.

20. The method according to claim 13 , wherein after the adjustment of the at least one heating element from the working-power level to the zero-power level, the at least one heating element at the zero-power level is maintained irrespective of the present value of the rate of temperature change of the cooking element.