Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed which automatically adjusts the on-time of preferably quartz lamp heating elements in an oven having both quartz lamp and electric heating elements. In such an oven having dual heating elements, the temperature of the oven's cavity increases when numerous food items (loads) are rapidly cooked in succession. The present invention allows a dual heating element oven to automatically compensate for these increases in temperature by preferably shortening a predetermined on-time of the quartz bulbs. The on-time is continuously compensated using a microcomputer, dependent upon the current oven temperature. The microcomputer preferably uses at least two clocks to shorten the predetermined on-time of the quartz bulbs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for automatically preheating an oven, such as a food oven, based upon its immediate usage history. This preheat function operates by regulating the base heating elements until the temperature of the base plate is within a specified temperature range from the pre-programmed base set point temperature, and then turning quartz lamps on until the air temperature within the oven cavity reaches a certain fixed preheat "exit" temperature. This preheat exit temperature need not be a fixed value, but can be a function of the base set point temperature or the air temperature before or during the preheat operation. In addition, the preheat function can be performed at various times during the oven's operation, and not necessarily only upon power up of the oven.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a food oven including a base heating element and quartz bulbs. The food oven is operated in a cooking cycle comprised of brown, cook, and finish intervals. The operator of the oven selects the duration of each interval and whether the quartz bulbs should be activated during each interval. The quartz bulbs are automatically activated during any interval in which they are set by the operator. The duration of the interval that the quartz bulbs are activated is adjusted depending on at least one of the oven air temperature, a load compensation factor, and a base temperature set point.