Energy saving cooktop

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment, energy savings is achieved in a cooktop by reducing the energy supplied to a burner when no cooking vessel is present. A sensor communicates the presence or absence of the cooking vessel to a controller. When the cooking vessel is present, the controller signals a valve by means of a digital-to-analog converter to allow energy to flow to burner unrestricted. When the cooking vessel is not present, the controller signals valve to restrict the flow of energy to burner.

1 . A method of achieving energy savings in a cooktop, comprising:
 a. detecting whether a cooking vessel is present on a burner of said cooktop,   b. reducing the flow of energy to said burner when said cooking vessel is not present on said burner, and   c. restoring the normal flow of energy to said burner when said cooking vessel is present on said burner.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method of detecting whether said cooking vessel is present on said burner of said cooktop is selected from the group consisting of:
 a. detecting a change in the electric field surrounding said burner due to movement of said cooking vessel within the vicinity of said burner,   b. detecting ultrasonic energy reflected from the lower surface of said cooking vessel,   c. detecting electromagnetic energy reflected from said lower surface of said cooking vessel, and   d. detecting infrared energy emanating from said lower surface of said cooking vessel.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said burner is fueled by a flammable gas and the method of reducing the flow of energy to said burner when said cooking vessel is not present on said burner is selected from the group consisting of:
 a. activating an electronic valve to reduce the flow of said flammable gas to said burner, and   b. activating an electromechanical device that controls a manual valve to reduce the flow of said flammable gas to said burner.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said burner is powered by electricity and the method of reducing the flow of energy to said burner when said cooking vessel is not present on said burner comprises activating an electronic valve to reduce the flow of said electricity to said burner. 
   
   
       5 . An energy saving cooktop, comprising:
 a. a burner over which a cooking vessel can be placed,   b. a sensor that can detect whether said cooking vessel is present on said burner,   c. a valve that can reduce the flow of energy to said burner, and   d. means for controllably reacting to inputs from said sensor to modify the state of said valve,   e. said means for controllably reacting to inputs from said sensor being connected to said sensor and said valve,   f. said valve being connected to said burner,   whereby said cooktop effects energy savings by causing said valve to reduce the flow of said energy to said burner when said cooking vessel is not present on said burner.   
   
   
       6 . The energy saving cooktop of  claim 5 , wherein said sensor is selected from the group consisting of:
 a. electric field sensors,   b. infrared detectors,   c. ultraviolet detectors,   d. laser range finders,   e. optical detectors, and   f. ultrasonic range finders.   
   
   
       7 . The energy saving cooktop of  claim 5 , wherein said means for controllably reacting to inputs from said sensor to modify the state of said valve is an electronic component selected from the group consisting of:
 a. programmable microcontrollers,   b. programmable microprocessors,   c. field programmable gate arrays,   d. application-specific integrated circuits,   e. digital signal processors,   f. programmable logic devices, and   g. complex programmable logic devices.   
   
   
       8 . The energy saving cooktop of  claim 5 , wherein said burner is fueled by a flammable gas and said valve controls the flow of said flammable gas. 
   
   
       9 . The energy saving cooktop of  claim 8 , wherein said valve is electronically controlled. 
   
   
       10 . The energy saving cooktop of  claim 8 , wherein said valve is a mechanically operated valve that is coupled to a means of generating mechanical force. 
   
   
       11 . The energy saving cooktop of  claim 10 , wherein said means of generating mechanical force is a motor. 
   
   
       12 . The energy saving cooktop of  claim 8 , further including a flow restrictor connected in parallel with said valve thereby causing said flammable gas to continue to flow at a predetermined rate to said burner when said valve is in its closed position. 
   
   
       13 . The energy saving cooktop of  claim 5 , wherein said burner is powered by electricity and said valve controls the flow of said electricity. 
   
   
       14 . The energy saving cooktop of  claim 13 , wherein said valve is an electronic valve selected from the group consisting of:
 a. transistors,   b. relays,   c. triacs,   d. thyristors,   e. semiconductor-controlled rectifiers,   f. Darlington pairs, and   g. insulated gate bipolar transistors.   
   
   
       15 . The energy saving cooktop of  claim 5 , wherein said burner is fueled by a flammable gas, said sensor is an electric field sensor, said valve is a solenoid-controlled valve, and said means for controllably reacting to inputs from said sensor is a programmable microcontroller. 
   
   
       16 . The energy saving cooktop of  claim 5 , wherein said burner is fueled by a flammable gas, said sensor is an ultrasonic range finder, said valve is a manually-controlled valve coupled to a motor, and said means for controllably reacting to inputs from said sensor is a field programmable gate array. 
   
   
       17 . The energy saving cooktop of  claim 5 , wherein said burner is fueled by a flammable gas, said sensor is an optical sensor, said valve is a solenoid-controlled valve, and said means for controllably reacting to inputs from said sensor is an application-specific integrated circuit. 
   
   
       18 . The energy saving cooktop of  claim 5 , further including a keypad and display whereby a desired lag time can be entered to define a delay between the removal of said cooking vessel from said burner and the operation of said valve to reduce the flow of said energy to said burner. 
   
   
       19 . The energy saving cooktop of  claim 5 , further including a keypad and display whereby a desired lag time can be entered to define the maximum delay between the removal of said cooking vessel from said burner and the replacement of said cooking vessel onto said burner that will cause the operation of said valve to restore the flow of said energy to said burner. 
   
   
       20 . A method of manufacturing an energy saving cooktop, comprising:
 a. providing a means of detecting whether a cooking vessel is present on a burner of said cooktop, and   b. providing a means of reducing the flow of energy to said burner when said cooking vessel is not present on said burner, and   c. providing a means of restoring the flow of energy to said burner when said cooking vessel is present on said burner.