Cooktop appliance

Abstract

A cooktop appliance includes an electric heating element positioned at a cooktop surface and a controller operably connected to the electric heating element. The controller is configured for generating a temperature setting and operating the electric heating element at a first power level. The controller is also configured for monitoring a temperature with a temperature sensor and inputting the monitored temperature into a closed control loop. The controller is further configured for operating the electric heating element at a second power level based at least in part on an output of the closed control loop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooktop appliance, comprising:
 an electric heating element positioned at a cooktop surface of the cooktop appliance; and   a controller operably connected to the electric heating element, the controller configured for:
 generating a temperature setting; 
 initiating a first cycle, the first cycle comprising applying a first voltage across the electric heating element and monitoring a temperature with a temperature sensor until the monitored temperature reaches a threshold temperature, the threshold temperature less than or equal to the temperature setting; and 
 performing a second cycle when the monitored temperature reaches the threshold temperature, the second cycle comprising monitoring the temperature with the temperature sensor, calculating a difference between the monitored temperature and the temperature setting, applying a second voltage across the electric heating element over a first period of time, the second voltage less than the first voltage, and deactivating the electric heating element for a second period of time, wherein a duration of the first period of time is based on the calculated difference between the monitored temperature and the temperature setting. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a first relay coupled to a first terminal of the electric heating element and a second relay coupled to the second terminal of the electric heating element, the first relay configured to selectively connect the first terminal of the electric heating element to one of a neutral electrical conduit and a first electrical conduit configured to operate at a third voltage with respect to ground, the second relay configured to selectively connect the second terminal of the electric heating element to one of a second electrical conduit configured to operate at a fourth voltage with respect to ground, wherein applying the first voltage across the electric heating element comprises connecting the first terminal of the electric heating element to the first electrical conduit and connecting the second terminal of the electric heating element to the second electrical conduit, wherein applying the second voltage across the electric heating element comprises connecting the first terminal of the electric heating element to the neutral conduit and connecting the second terminal of the electric heating element to the second electrical conduit, and wherein deactivating the electric heating element comprises connecting the second terminal of the electric heating element to the open circuit. 
     
     
         3 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a relay coupled to a first terminal of the electric heating element, the relay configured to selectively connect the first terminal of the electric heating element to one of a neutral electrical conduit and a first electrical conduit configured to operate at a third voltage with respect to ground, and a second terminal of the electric heating element connected to a second electrical conduit configured to operate at a fourth voltage, wherein applying the first voltage across the electric heating element comprises connecting the first terminal of the electric heating element to the first electrical conduit, and wherein applying the second voltage across the electric heating element comprises connecting the first terminal of the electric heating element to the neutral conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the relay is a first relay, further comprising a second relay coupled to the second terminal of the electric heating element, the second relay configured to selectively connect the second terminal of the electric heating element to one of the second electrical conduit and an open circuit, and wherein deactivating the electric heating element comprises connecting the second terminal of the electric heating element to the open circuit. 
     
     
         5 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the monitored temperature is a temperature associated with a cooking utensil positioned on the electric heating element. 
     
     
         6 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is wirelessly connected to the controller. 
     
     
         7 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface operatively connected to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to generate the temperature setting in response to a user input received via the user interface. 
     
     
         8 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the user interface comprises a remote user interface on a remote user interface device operatively connected to the controller via a wireless connection. 
     
     
         9 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the electric heating element is a resistance heating element. 
     
     
         10 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured for performing a third cycle after the second cycle, the third cycle comprising applying the first voltage across the electric heating element. 
     
     
         11 . A cooktop appliance, comprising:
 an electric heating element positioned at a cooktop surface of the cooktop appliance; and   a controller operably connected to the electric heating element, the controller configured for:
 generating a temperature setting; 
 operating the electric heating element at a first power level; 
 monitoring a temperature with a temperature sensor; 
 inputting the monitored temperature into a closed control loop; and 
 operating the electric heating element at a second power level based at least in part on an output of the closed control loop. 
   
     
     
         12 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 11 , wherein operating the electric heating element at the first power level comprises applying a first voltage across the electric heating element for a first duration, and wherein operating the electric heating element at the second power level comprises applying a second voltage across the electric heating element for a second duration, the second voltage less than the first voltage. 
     
     
         13 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured for operating the electric heating element at the first power level until the monitored temperature reaches a threshold temperature, the threshold temperature less than or equal to the temperature setting, and inputting the monitored temperature into the closed control loop after the monitored temperature reaches the threshold temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the closed control loop is a proportional-integral control loop. 
     
     
         15 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the closed control loop is a proportional-integral-derivative control loop. 
     
     
         16 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 11 , further comprising a user interface operatively connected to the controller, wherein the controller is configured for generating the temperature setting in response to a user input received via the user interface. 
     
     
         17 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the user interface comprises a remote user interface on a remote user interface device operatively connected to the controller via a wireless connection. 
     
     
         18 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the monitored temperature is a temperature associated with a cooking utensil positioned on the electric heating element. 
     
     
         19 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the temperature sensor is wirelessly connected to the controller. 
     
     
         20 . The cooktop appliance of  claim 11  wherein the electric heating element is a resistance heating element.