Detecting improper positioning of a removable bottom panel of an oven appliance

Abstract

A method of operating an oven appliance may include a step of initiating a cook cycle of the oven appliance. The method may also include a step of measuring, with a temperature sensor, a first temperature of a cooking chamber, wherein the first temperature is measured at a first predetermined time. The method may further include a step of measuring, with the temperature sensor, a second temperature of the cooking chamber, wherein the second temperature is measured at a second predetermined time. The method may also include a step of calculating, based on the first temperature and the second temperature, a heating rate. The method may further include a step of determining, based on the calculated heating rate, a position of a bottom panel assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating an oven appliance comprising:
 measuring, with a temperature sensor, a first temperature of a cooking chamber during a cook cycle, wherein the first temperature is measured at a first predetermined time;   measuring, with the temperature sensor, a second temperature of the cooking chamber during the cook cycle, wherein the second temperature is measured at a second predetermined time;   calculating, based on the first temperature and the second temperature, a heating rate; and   determining, based on the heating rate, a position of a bottom panel assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising comparing the calculated heating rate to a reference heating rate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the position of the bottom panel is determined to be an improper position. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising suspending the cook cycle and providing a first user notification based on the determined improper position. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising setting a fault condition within memory of a controller of the oven appliance based on the determined improper position. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising continuing the cook cycle and providing a second user notification based on the determined improper position. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising adjusting the cook cycle, wherein adjusting the cook cycle comprises adjusting a cook time of the cook cycle, adjusting cook temperature of the cook cycle, adjusting cook mode of the cook cycle, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the position of the bottom panel is determined to be a proper position. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising proceeding with the cook cycle based on the determined proper position. 
     
     
         10 . An oven appliance comprising:
 a temperature sensor positioned within a cooking chamber of the oven appliance;   a bottom panel assembly removably provided within the cooking chamber; and   a controller operable for:
 measuring, with the temperature sensor, a first temperature of the cooking chamber during a cook cycle, wherein the first temperature is measured at a first predetermined time; 
 measuring, with the temperature sensor, a second temperature of the cooking chamber during a cook cycle, wherein the second temperature is measured at a second predetermined time; 
 calculating, based on the first temperature and the second temperature, a heating rate; and 
 determining, based on the heating rate, a position of a bottom panel assembly. 
   
     
     
         11 . The oven appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further operable for comparing the calculated heating rate to a reference heating rate. 
     
     
         12 . The oven appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the position of the bottom panel is determined to be an improper position. 
     
     
         13 . The oven appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further operable for suspending the cook cycle and providing a first user notification based on the determined improper position. 
     
     
         14 . The oven appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is further operable for setting a fault condition within memory of a controller of the oven appliance based on the determined improper position. 
     
     
         15 . The oven appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further operable for continuing the cook cycle and providing a second user notification based on the determined improper position. 
     
     
         16 . The oven appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further operable for adjusting the cook cycle, wherein adjusting the cook cycle comprises adjusting a cook time of the cook cycle, adjusting cook temperature of the cook cycle, adjusting cook mode of the cook cycle, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The oven appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the position of the bottom panel is determined to be a proper position. 
     
     
         18 . The oven appliance of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is further operable for proceeding with the cook cycle based on the determined proper position.