Cooking device having a cooking vessel and a ceramic heater

Abstract

A cooking device according to one example embodiment includes a base having a top surface positioned to contact a cooking vessel configured to hold food during cooking. The base includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and an electrically resistive trace on an exterior surface of the ceramic substrate. The heater is positioned to supply heat generated by applying an electric current to the electrically resistive trace to the top surface of the base for heating the cooking vessel to heat food in the cooking vessel. In some embodiments, the electrically resistive trace includes an electrical resistor material thick film printed on the exterior surface of the ceramic substrate. In some embodiments, the electrically resistive trace is positioned on a top surface of the ceramic substrate that faces upward toward the top surface of the base.

1 . A cooking device, comprising:
 a base having a top surface positioned to contact a cooking vessel configured to hold food during cooking; and   the base includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and an electrically resistive trace on an exterior surface of the ceramic substrate, the heater is positioned to supply heat generated by applying an electric current to the electrically resistive trace to the top surface of the base for heating the cooking vessel to heat food in the cooking vessel,   wherein the electrically resistive trace is positioned on a top surface of the ceramic substrate that faces upward toward the top surface of the base.   
     
     
         2 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically resistive trace includes an electrical resistor material thick film printed on the exterior surface of the ceramic substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , wherein the heater includes a thermistor that is positioned on the ceramic substrate and in electrical communication with control circuitry of the heater for providing feedback regarding a temperature of the heater to the control circuitry of the heater. 
     
     
         4 . The cooking device of  claim 3 , wherein the thermistor is positioned on a bottom surface of the ceramic substrate that faces away from the top surface of the base. 
     
     
         5 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a heating plate that forms the top surface of the base, the heating plate is positioned in contact with the heater to transfer heat from the heater to the top surface of the base for heating the cooking vessel to heat food in the cooking vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The cooking device of  claim 5 , wherein the heating plate includes a domed top surface for contacting a concave bottom surface of the cooking vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic substrate has a polygonal shape. 
     
     
         8 . The cooking device of  claim 7 , wherein the ceramic substrate has an octagonal shape. 
     
     
         9 . The cooking device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically resistive trace extends in a serpentine pattern across the exterior surface of the ceramic substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The cooking device of  claim 9 , wherein the serpentine pattern of the electrically resistive trace has a generally circular outer perimeter. 
     
     
         11 . A cooking device, comprising:
 a housing having a receptacle and a base positioned along a bottom of the receptacle;   a cooking vessel removably positionable within the receptacle for containing food to be cooked, the cooking vessel contacts the base when the cooking vessel is positioned within the receptacle; and   the base includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and an electrical resistor material thick film printed on a surface of the ceramic substrate, the heater is positioned to supply heat generated by applying an electric current to the electrical resistor material to the cooking vessel when the cooking vessel is positioned within the receptacle.   
     
     
         12 . The cooking device of  claim 11 , wherein the electrical resistor material is positioned on a top surface of the ceramic substrate that faces upward toward the receptacle. 
     
     
         13 . The cooking device of  claim 11 , wherein the heater includes a thermistor that is positioned on the ceramic substrate and in electrical communication with control circuitry of the heater for providing feedback regarding a temperature of the heater to the control circuitry of the heater. 
     
     
         14 . The cooking device of  claim 13 , wherein the thermistor is positioned on a bottom surface of the ceramic substrate that faces away from the receptacle. 
     
     
         15 . The cooking device of  claim 11 , wherein the base includes a heating plate that forms a top surface of the base that contacts the cooking vessel when the cooking vessel is positioned within the receptacle, the heating plate is positioned in contact with the heater to transfer heat from the heater to the cooking vessel when the cooking vessel is positioned within the receptacle. 
     
     
         16 . The cooking device of  claim 15 , wherein the heating plate includes a domed top surface and the cooking vessel includes a concave bottom surface that contacts the domed top surface of the heating plate when the cooking vessel is positioned within the receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . The cooking device of  claim 11 , wherein the ceramic substrate has a polygonal shape. 
     
     
         18 . The cooking device of  claim 17 , wherein the ceramic substrate has an octagonal shape. 
     
     
         19 . The cooking device of  claim 11 , wherein the electrical resistor material extends in a serpentine pattern across the surface of the ceramic substrate. 
     
     
         20 . The cooking device of  claim 19 , wherein the serpentine pattern of the electrical resistor material has a generally circular outer perimeter.