Cooktop appliance with variable closed-loop controls
A method of operating a cooktop appliance in a precision mode includes determining a starting temperature and a set of parameters of a closed-loop algorithm for operation of a heating element corresponding to the starting temperature. The method also includes inputting a user-determined set temperature and a current temperature measurement into the closed-loop control algorithm and determining an output of the closed-loop control algorithm using the set of parameters corresponding to the starting temperature. Operation of the heating element is adjusted according to the output of the closed-loop control algorithm.
1. A cooktop appliance, comprising:
a user interface;
a heating element positioned at a cooking surface of the cooktop appliance;
a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature at a utensil heated by the heating element; and
a controller, the controller configured for:
receiving a user-determined set temperature from the user interface;
receiving a precision mode initiation signal;
receiving a temperature measurement from the temperature sensor;
determining a starting temperature;
determining a set of parameters of a closed-loop algorithm for operation of the heating element corresponding to the starting temperature;
inputting the user-determined set temperature and a current temperature measurement into the closed-loop control algorithm;
determining an output of the closed-loop control algorithm using the set of parameters corresponding to the starting temperature; and
adjusting operation of the heating element according to the output of the closed-loop control algorithm;
wherein the closed-loop algorithm comprises comparing the current temperature measurement to the user-determined set temperature and generating the output of the closed-loop algorithm based on the comparison of the current temperature measurement to the user-determined set temperature using the set of parameters of the closed-loop algorithm corresponding to the starting temperature.
2. The cooktop appliance of claim 1 , wherein the closed-loop control algorithm is a PID control loop.
3. The cooktop appliance of claim 2 , wherein the determined set of parameters are PID gains corresponding to the starting temperature.
4. The cooktop appliance of claim 1 , wherein determining the set of parameters corresponding to the starting temperature comprises selecting the set of parameters corresponding to the starting temperature from a lookup table.
5. The cooktop appliance of claim 1 , wherein determining the set of parameters corresponding to the starting temperature comprises selecting from a group comprising a first set of parameters corresponding to a first starting temperature and a second set of parameters corresponding to a second starting temperature greater than the first starting temperature.
6. The cooktop appliance of claim 1 , wherein determining the set of parameters corresponding to the starting temperature comprises comparing the starting temperature to a temperature threshold, selecting a first set of parameters when the starting temperature is less than or equal to the temperature threshold, and selecting a second set of parameters when the starting temperature is greater than the temperature threshold.
7. The cooktop appliance of claim 1 , wherein determining the set of parameters corresponding to the starting temperature comprises comparing the starting temperature to a first temperature threshold and a second temperature threshold greater than the first temperature threshold, selecting a first set of parameters when the starting temperature is less than the first temperature threshold, selecting a second set of parameters when the starting temperature is greater than the first temperature threshold and less than the second temperature threshold, and selecting a third set of parameters when the starting temperature is greater than the second temperature threshold.
8. The cooktop appliance of claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises a gas burner, and wherein adjusting operation of the heating element according to the output of the closed-loop control algorithm comprises adjusting a position of a fuel supply valve coupled to the gas burner.
9. The cooktop appliance of claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises an electric heating element, and wherein adjusting operation of the heating element according to the output of the closed-loop control algorithm comprises adjusting a level of electric power supplied to the heating element.
10. A method of operating a cooktop appliance, comprising:
receiving a user-determined set temperature from a user interface of the cooktop appliance;
receiving a precision mode initiation signal;
receiving a temperature measurement from a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature at a utensil heated by a heating element positioned at a cooking surface of the cooktop appliance;
determining a starting temperature;
determining a set of parameters of a closed-loop algorithm for operation of the heating element corresponding to the starting temperature;
inputting the user-determined set temperature and a current temperature measurement into the closed-loop control algorithm;
determining an output of the closed-loop control algorithm using the set of parameters corresponding to the starting temperature; and
adjusting operation of the heating element according to the output of the closed-loop control algorithm;
wherein the closed-loop algorithm comprises comparing the current temperature measurement to the user-determined set temperature and generating the output of the closed-loop algorithm based on the comparison of the current temperature measurement to the user-determined set temperature using the set of parameters of the closed-loop algorithm corresponding to the starting temperature.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the closed-loop control algorithm is a PID control loop.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the determined set of parameters are PID gains corresponding to the starting temperature.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining the set of parameters corresponding to the starting temperature comprises selecting the set of parameters corresponding to the starting temperature from a lookup table.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining the set of parameters corresponding to the starting temperature comprises selecting from a group comprising a first set of parameters corresponding to a first starting temperature and a second set of parameters corresponding to a second starting temperature greater than the first starting temperature.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining the set of parameters corresponding to the starting temperature comprises comparing the starting temperature to a temperature threshold, selecting a first set of parameters when the starting temperature is less than or equal to the temperature threshold, and selecting a second set of parameters when the starting temperature is greater than the temperature threshold.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining the set of parameters corresponding to the starting temperature comprises comparing the starting temperature to a first temperature threshold and a second temperature threshold greater than the first temperature threshold, selecting a first set of parameters when the starting temperature is less than the first temperature threshold, selecting a second set of parameters when the starting temperature is greater than the first temperature threshold and less than the second temperature threshold, and selecting a third set of parameters when the starting temperature is greater than the second temperature threshold.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the heating element comprises a gas burner, and wherein adjusting operation of the heating element according to the output of the closed-loop control algorithm comprises adjusting a position of a fuel supply valve coupled to the gas burner.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the heating element comprises an electric heating element, and wherein adjusting operation of the heating element according to the output of the closed-loop control algorithm comprises adjusting a level of electric power supplied to the heating element.