Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a plurality of heating means that heat a heated object, a temperature measuring means that measures temperatures of some of the plurality of heating means, a heated object information storing means that stores, in a coordinate manner, heated object identification names, target heating temperatures at the heating means, and sets of heating ratios respectively assigned to the heating means, a heating information storage means that defines a relationship between temperatures during heating of the heating means up to the target heating temperatures and heating intensities at the temperatures, a heated object identification name obtaining means that obtains one of the heated object identification names, a heated object information reading-out means that reads out one of the target heating temperatures and one of the sets of heating ratios respectively assigned to the plurality of heating means, corresponding to the heated object identification name from the heated object information st

Abstract: An electrical heating device is disclosed that is suitable to vaporize air treatment chemicals from an impregnated substrate. The device is provided with a PCT heater held between electrical contacts and a spring that is compressed between the housing of the heating device and one of the electrical contacts to maintain pressure thereon in spite of thermal expansion of the housing, ensuring good electrical contact between the PCT heater and the electrical contacts.

Abstract: A heatable container suitable for material such as bitumen. The container includes a vessel for holding a flowable material having side wall zones, end wall zones and a base wall zone. The container also includes a heating system for transferring heat to at least the base wall zone as well as a zone disposed along a central longitudinal axis of the vessel. The heating system may also included at least two internal heating ducts for conveying a heat transfer medium, wherein the ducts are disposed substantially parallel relative to the central longitudinal axis of the vessel, and are vertically and horizontally spaced apart relative to one another.

Abstract: A compact, portable resistance heating device that takes a source of alternating current electricity and through a series of connections and circuitry splits the alternating current electricity into a plurality of circuits. The compact, portable resistance heating device is capable of heating a plurality of cartridge heaters at one time, individually or a combination thereof. The compact, portable resistance heating device is controlled by at least one controller that controls three (3) power output receptacles. The controller is capable of producing 0-100% output power to each respective cartridge heater. Each cartridge heater may be individually controlled by an on/off switch, and an indicator light may be provided and illuminate when each cartridge heater is energized. The cartridge heaters of the compact, portable resistance heating device do not require close tolerances with an axial bore of a stud or threaded bolt and are further capable of being bent to suit the particular operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a measuring system to determine the quality of the heat pipe, comprising a heat pipe comprising a first end connected to a first temperature sensor and a second end connected to a second temperature sensor, a heater being connected to said first end and being connected to a multi-function heater controller; a multi-function heater controller being electrically connected to said heater and said one of the first or second temperature sensor, a thermal-electric cooler (TEC) module being connected to said second end; and a TEC controller being electrically connected to said TEC module and said one of the first or second temperature sensor, wherein said TEC controller comprises a proportional-integral-derivative controller, and said multi-function heater controller comprises both constant heating power and constant temperature control modes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control system for a bathing unit that comprises a heating module, a thermal element and a heating module controller. The heating module includes a body that defines a passage through which water can flow, that has an inner surface and an outer surface. The heating module further includes a heating device that is operative for heating the water that flows through the body. The thermal element is mounted to the outer surface of the body such that the thermal element is in thermally conductive communication with water flowing through the body. The heating module controller is operative for obtaining temperature information associated with the thermal element for detecting at least in part on the basis of the temperature information the sufficiency of water flow through the body.

Abstract: A window defroster system that includes a heater grid and a controller. The controller includes a pulse width modulator configured to provide a driving signal to the heater grid. The driving signal has an initial heating portion and a pulsed portion. The initial heating portion provides an initial voltage that is greater than an optimal operating voltage of the heater grid, the pulsed portion provides a pulsed signal with a pulsed high voltage that is greater than the optimal operating voltage.

Abstract: A method of thermally coupling a flow tube or like component to a thermal sensor comprises bonding the component to the thermal sensor such that thermally conductive portions formed on the component are thermally coupled to corresponding sensing/heating elements disposed on the thermal sensor. The method can be employed to form a capillary mass flow sensor system. Thermally conductive portions, such as metal bands, can be formed on the outer surface of a capillary tube for bonding with corresponding resistive heat sensing and heating elements disposed on the substrate of a micro mass flow sensor. Bonding metal pads can be formed on the sensor surface preparatory to solder bonding the tube metal bands to the resistive sensing and heating elements.

Abstract: An analytical furnace includes a predictive temperature control which is trained to model crucible temperature during analysis by employing a pair of temperature sensors, with one sensor being mounted in the furnace in fixed relationship and a second sensor which can be positioned within a crucible for training and tuning a crucible temperature profile, such that the crucible temperature in which a sample is placed is modeled and its response to the application of energy to the furnace in accordance with the furnace's dynamic thermal characteristics is known. By modeling the temperature profile within a crucible, the furnace can be controlled to provide a faster, more accurate analysis and prevent excessive overshooting of temperature as desired temperature plateaus are approached.

Abstract: In the present invention, a thermal plate of a heating unit is divided into a plurality of thermal plate regions, and a temperature can be set for each of the thermal plate regions. A temperature correction value for adjusting a temperature within the thermal plate can be set for each of the thermal plate regions of the thermal plate. The line widths within the substrate which has been subjected to a photolithography process are measured, and, from an in-plane tendency of the measured line widths, an in-plane tendency improvable by temperature correction and an unimprovable in-plane tendency are calculated using a Zernike polynomial. An average remaining tendency of the improvable in-plane tendency after improvement obtained in advance is added to the unimprovable in-plane tendency to estimate an in-plane tendency of the line widths within the substrate after change of temperature setting.

Abstract: A cooking appliance is provided. The cooking appliance is coupled to a power supply that includes a first hot wire, a second hot wire and a ground wire. The cooking appliance includes a cabinet and a cavity defined within the cabinet. The cooking appliance also includes at least one heating assembly having two electrical heating elements positioned with respect to the cavity. A first electrical heating element is electrically coupled to the first hot wire and the ground wire. A second electrical heating element is electrically coupled to the second hot wire and the ground wire.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a plurality of heating elements and a plurality of user interface devices for receiving heating element settings. An input device for allows a user to arbitrarily selectively associate any one or more of the heating elements with any one or more of the user interface devices.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to record the registration of the connection of a household appliance to a bus line configuration to which a plurality of household appliances is to be, or is, connected, for the transmission of data. To this end, the household appliance in question is provided with an intrinsic interface that can be connected to the cited bus line configuration, and by which data can be transmitted into and/or from the household appliance. The household appliance also contains at least one display device for displaying operating states and/or operating data of the household appliance, the display device also being used to visualize the course and/or state of the registration of the connection of the household appliance to the bus line configuration.

Abstract: A roller-equipped annealing lehr for flat glass, having a roller conveyor inside a lehr housing, with heating units arranged in pairs above and below the roller conveyor, in rows situated one after another and extending transversely to the feed direction. Temperature regulators are provided with predetermined desired values and actual temperature values that are measured in a position-dependent fashion. In order to achieve a desired stable temperature distribution and to prevent stresses in the flat glass, a feedback loop arrangement for at least one pair of heating units situated at a particular position in the row, presets as a control variable the heating output required to predetermine the temperature distribution in the region of this position as a predetermined portion of a heating output, which is calculated based on at least one actual temperature value measured at a different position in the row.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a plurality of heating means that heat a heated object, a temperature measuring means that measures temperatures of some of the plurality of heating means, a heated object information storing means that stores, in a coordinate manner, heated object identification names, target heating temperatures at the heating means, and sets of heating ratios respectively assigned to the heating means, a heating information storage means that defines a relationship between temperatures during heating of the heating means up to the target heating temperatures and heating intensities at the temperatures, a heated object identification name obtaining means that obtains one of the heated object identification names, a heated object information reading-out means that reads out one of the target heating temperatures and one of the sets of heating ratios respectively assigned to the plurality of heating means, corresponding to the heated object identification name from the heated object information st

Abstract: An electronic control circuit, for use in connection a hot melt adhesive dispensing system having a relatively large applicator head, has a plurality of heater circuits and a plurality of temperature sensors disposed upon different regions of the relatively large applicator head, wherein the electronic control circuitry can effectively interface between the plurality of heater circuits and the plurality of temperature sensors, and the adhesive supply unit (ASU) hose and head connector, so as to control individual ones of the plurality of heater circuits and thereby ensure that all of the heater circuits will maintain the same temperature setting throughout all regions of the applicator head.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a substrate processing equipment that can predict a temperature of a substrate and easily control temperature of the substrate. Formed in a reactor (processing chamber) 3 are four temperature adjustment zones, of which setting and adjustment of temperature can be made by zone heaters 340-1 to 340-4. A temperature controller 4 mixes temperatures detected by inner thermocouples 302-1 to 302-4 and outer thermocouples 342-1 to 342-4 to calculate predicted temperatures of substrates by means of the first-order lag calculation on the basis of time constants of temperatures of substrates heated by the zone heaters 340-1 to 340-4. Also, the temperature controller 4 calculates electric power values (operating variables) for the zone heaters 340-1 to 340-4 with the use of predicted temperatures of substrates to output the same to the zone heaters 340-1 to 340-4.

Abstract: A system for detecting temperature of a cooking utensil over a radiant cooktop includes a cooktop having an upper surface and a lower surface and a radiant heating element adapted to heat the cooktop. A temperature detector is disposed adjacent the lower surface of the cooktop and is adapted to detect temperature of the lower surface of the cooktop. The system also includes a thermal insulation barrier disposed intermediate the temperature detector and the radiant heating element.

Abstract: A sensor element arrangement beneath a control surface is provided with an electroluminescent foil with a lower electrode and an upper electrode for activating the electroluminescent foil. The upper electrode also serves as a capacitive sensor element in order to detect as a control or operation when a finger is applied to the control surface above the electroluminescent foil or the capacitive sensor element, respectively. For this purpose, a suitable control and evaluating circuit is provided with a control in a full bridge circuit for detecting a sensor current flowing out across the upper electrode and the finger.

Abstract: An electric cooking assembly includes a cooking surface having supported under the surface an electric heater incorporating an electric heating element and a temperature limiter including a thermally responsive assembly incorporating only a single switch, the switch being adapted to open at a predetermined sensed temperature. A control is provided, adapted to energise the electric heater from a power supply through the switch of the temperature limiter. A modular electronic monitoring device is provided, separate from the control, adapted to monitor energising of the electric heater and to activate a signal device when the cooking surface is too hot to touch.

Abstract: A heater controlling apparatus for controlling a heater that heats a sensing element of a gas sensor provided in an exhaust system of a diesel engine includes a device that changes a reference condition for controlling the heater after a start of the engine in a first operation based on an operational state before a stop of the engine in a second operation, which precedes the first operation.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus and method thereof capable of performing a cooking process based upon a cooking condition corresponding to the amount of food introduced into a cooking chamber when the cooking process is performed using a bar code printed on a food package to be cooked.

Abstract: A substrate holder for supporting a substrate in a processing system and controlling the temperature thereof is described. The substrate holder comprises a first heating element positioned in a first region for elevating the temperature of the first region. A second heating element positioned in a second region is configured to elevate the temperature in the second region. Furthermore, a first controllably insulating element is positioned below the first heating element, and is configured to control the transfer of heat between the substrate and at least one cooling element positioned therebelow in the first region. A second controllably insulating element is positioned below the second heating element and is configured to control the transfer of heat between the substrate and at least one cooling element positioned therebelow in the second region.

Abstract: An electric heating structure of a domestic appliance includes at least one first electric heating track (23) having a positive temperature coefficient and at least one additional electric heating track (27, 28). A control structure (22, 25, 29) is provided for controlling electric power supply to said first and additional heating tracks (23, 27, 28) and is sensitive to the heating of said at least one first heating track (23) for switching on said at least one additional electric heating track (27, 28) in parallel and in addition to said at least one first heating track (23) when said at least one first heating track (23) has been heated to at least a predetermined extent.

Abstract: A heating device of the invention comprises a heater, a main power supply, and an auxiliary power supply. The heater includes a main heating element which generates heat with power supplied from the main power supply, and an auxiliary heating element which has a resistance different from a resistance of the main heating element and generates heat with power supplied from the auxiliary power supply. The auxiliary power supply is provided to supply to the auxiliary heating element a current that is different from a current supplied from the main power supply to the main heating element.

Abstract: A heater system is provided with a layered heater in communication with a two-wire controller, wherein a resistive layer of the layered heater is both a heater element and a temperature sensor. The two-wire controller thus determines temperature of the layered heater using the resistance of the resistive layer and controls heater temperature through a power source. Furthermore, a heater system using a layered heater in communication with a two-wire controller for a specific application of a hot runner nozzle in an injection molding system is provided by the present invention.

Abstract: In one aspect, a cooktop heating system that include a first cooktop heating element, a second cooktop heating element, and an interface device. The system also includes a controller for selectively associating the interface device with any one or both of the first cooktop heating element and the second cooktop heating element. In another aspect, the system includes at least one cooktop heating element, a potentiometer, and controller arrangement operatively connected between the potentiometer and the at least one cooktop heating element to determine heating of the at least one cooktop heating element responsive to the input provided by the potentiometer and control power provision to the at least one cooktop heating element responsive to the determination.

Abstract: A programmable vapor generator forms a volatilized liquid by supplying a material in liquid form to a flow passage and heating the flow passage, such that the material volatilizes and expands out of an outlet of the channel. The volatilized material, if desired, mixes with ambient air such that volatilized material condenses to form the aerosol. An apparatus and method for generating such a volatilized liquid, as well as the control and methods of heating, are disclosed as an analytical tool useful for experimental use, a tool useful for production of commercial products or an inhaler device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mitigating a cold edge effect within a lithography mirror is presented. The apparatus includes a heated annular zone formed on a substrate and a heated optical aperture zone formed on the heated annular zone, where each zone includes a resistive layer, and where the resistive layer of at least one zone is produced such that electrical conductivity varies by increasing from the center of the resistive layer to the periphery of the resistive layer. A wiring layer in each zone includes an insulating sublayer and contacts for coupling to a power supply. A time-constant heat load on the lithography mirror is maintained by placing additional electrical heat loads on the mirror according to the actinic heat load on the mirror. Maintaining the time-constant heat load can reduce or eliminate variation in image distortion that occurs as a result of changes in the actinic heat load.

Abstract: Improved adhesion, electrical connection, and thermal connection between an electrical heater and a wax motor element are obtained by using multiple zones of different adhesives optimized for different properties. The location of the zones and the area of the zones may be a controlled to effect a trade off between different properties and to limit the expression of the conductive adhesive.

Abstract: A resistance heating system is provided which includes a resistance heater, a source of alternating current electricity connected by conductors to the resistance heater, and a controller comprising a timer arranged to connect the source of alternating current electricity to the resistance heater for a selected time period and to disconnect the source from the resistance following the selected time period. In an embodiment, the resistance heating system is provided with a controller configured to be connected to a source of alternating current electricity and having a plurality of cable plug receptacles arranged to receive electricity. An electricity conducting cable having a cable plug at one end is configured to be received in the receptacles and has a resistance heater provided at an opposite end. A master timer may be connected with a communication arrangement to the controller. The master timer is arranged to control an electric output of a plurality of the receptacles.

Abstract: Food heating operations and manual manipulations associated with a cooking appliance are controlled by a computer system connected to displays and input switches which arranged in physically associated pairs, each pair having a display and a switch and the pairs are physically located at diverse locations on the grill in proximity to the location of the performance of the manual operations they signal. Other inputs provide data inputs for appliance attributes, food heating attributes and mode selections. Control of cooking and staging occurs and the work product is tracked beginning from entry of raw food work product onto the grill all the way through removal of the work product for assembly into a sandwich or diversion to holding for subsequent chili preparation.

Abstract: A temperature control system for a bathing unit that includes a water holding receptacle and a heating module. The temperature control system comprises a plurality of actuators associated to the heating module and a temperature regulation device in communication with the actuators. The plurality of actuators are adapted for acquiring a first set of actuation patterns for causing the heating module to acquire a non-heating state and a second set of actuation patterns for causing the heating module to acquire a heating state. The temperature regulation device is operative for controlling the plurality of actuators to cause the heating module to acquire either one of the heating state or the non-heating state and for selecting a configuration from the first set of actuation patterns for causing the heating module to acquire the non-heating state. Alternatively, the temperature control system includes a solid state device associated with the heating module.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a heating system which is preferably capable of combining radiant, convection, microwave and conduction heating techniques to perform a cooking operation. The cooking appliance includes a convection fan and at least one heating device. A controller is provided to regulate a triac to create a variable fan speed and variable heater intensity through phase angle firing. Essentially, an AC waveform provided to the fan motor and/or the heater resistor travels through the triac which is turned on by the controller at predetermined points in the AC waveform, with the delay from a zero point waveform crossing functioning to reduce the amount of power sent to the heater resistor and fan motor. When the signal from the controller is removed, the triac advantageously turns off at the next zero crossing of the AC waveform such that an operationally and economically effective control system is provided.

Abstract: An electronic control circuit for use with a heater, a fan, a humidifier, a cooking apparatus, or any device utilizing a power mode switch and a condition sensor, and optionally time-automated switching of modes of operation. The circuit includes a single control switch to switch between operational modes and to select a level of operation. The circuit preferably includes an application-specific integrated circuit, to provide circuit logic. The single control switch, preferably a push-button switch, selects a mode of operation for a household appliance controlling a local environment, e.g., a humidifier or a heater, and the level of operation. The unit operates in the selected operational mode at the selected level, as indicated by either an energized light-emitting diode or a digital display. Operational modes may include a timed mode, a manual mode, and/or automatic mode for regulation of the environmental condition with a sensor included in the circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer heat treatment apparatus and method, which can carry out a heat treatment to suppress variations in line widths within a surface on a semiconductor wafer and the like, includes: a heating plate for heating a semiconductor wafer to a predetermined temperature; a temperature measuring unit for measuring temperatures when heating the semiconductor wafer or a semiconductor wafer equivalent placed on the heating plate, at portions divided into a plurality of regions; and a controller for controlling the temperatures of the semiconductor wafer, and based on the temperature measurement result of the temperature measuring unit, the controller controls the temperature in heating the semiconductor wafer, for each of the plurality of regions. In cooling after the heating process, based on the temperature measurement result, the controller controls the temperature in cooling the semiconductor wafer, for each of the plurality of regions.

Abstract: An aircraft hot water supply system (10) comprising a group of water-use stations (14a–14f) each including a hot water line having a heater (40a–40f) which heats water at a heating rate dependent upon power provided thereto. A power manager (44) allocates different non-zero percentages of heater-dedicated power to different heaters (40) depending upon conditions at the corresponding water-use stations (14). A network (46) is provided to establish peer-to-peer communication among the heaters' controllers (48a–48f).

Abstract: The oven includes a lower electrical heating element which is located below a support member. Two laterally spaced apart upper electrical heating elements are supported above the support member and the food to be cooked. An electrical system is provided for supplying electrical power to the lower electrical heating element and to the two upper electrical heating elements. A controller is provided for controlling electrical power applied to the lower heating element and to the two upper electrical heating elements. By way of a thermocouple, the controller senses the temperature in the oven and controls the lower heating element to maintain a set point temperature, i.e. 550° F., in the oven. When any of the upper heating elements is activated, and is in a broiling sequence the controller disables these upper heating elements if the temperature in the oven rises above an upper temperature level of i.e. 585° F.

Abstract: A system for minimizing thermal reactor temperature overshoot and stabilization during a boat push. In one embodiment, the setpoint temperatures are reduced to a minimum value. As the temperature in the thermal reactor begins to increase, the setpoint temperatures are ramped back to the original setpoint temperature.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooktop having at least one heating zone having first and second heating elements and a control element for setting a desired cooking temperature for the heating zone. When the control element is rotated in a first direction, only the first heating element will be activated and, when rotated in a second direction, both the first and second heating elements are activated. The control element includes a variable resistor that changes resistance as the control element is rotated through nearly 360° to alter the operational state of the heating element(s). A controller senses the change in resistance and determines in which direction the control element is rotated so as to activate the appropriate heating element(s).

Abstract: A gas-powered water heater includes means for stepping down a line voltage from a receptacle remote from the tank, means for using the stepped down voltage to provide a low voltage, and means for using the low voltage to sense conditions pertaining to the heater and to control heater operation based on the sensed conditions. Using a plug-in transformer to provide power for microprocessor control makes it unnecessary to install a line voltage line to the heater.

Abstract: A controller system for a bathing installation such as a spa is disclosed. The system distributes line voltage from a line voltage service to one or more line voltage loads and controls operation of a service system for the bathing installation. The system includes a housing structure, with a controller printed circuit board mounted within the housing. The board includes a plurality of line voltage output terminals for connection to respective line voltage loads via line voltage wiring connections, a set of circuit board line voltage contact surfaces, a plurality of circuit conductors for providing circuit connections between the contact surfaces and respective ones of the line voltage from the circuit board line voltage contact surfaces to the output terminals.

Abstract: An adaptive real time thermal processing system is presented that includes a multivariable controller. Generally, the method includes creating a dynamic model of the thermal processing system; incorporating reticle/mask curvature in the dynamic model; coupling a diffusion-amplification model into the dynamic thermal model; creating a multivariable controller; parameterizing the nominal setpoints into a vector of intelligent setpoints; creating a process sensitivity matrix; creating intelligent setpoints using an efficient optimization method and process data; and establishing recipes that select appropriate models and setpoints during run-time.

Abstract: A multiple-zone power control system for controlling electric heating elements, including a power control unit having multiple control zones, a touch-sensitive function key, and a touch-sensitive on/off key for activating and deactivating one of the control zones. When all of the control zones are deactivated, the touch-sensitive key must be touched for at least a cold start duration in order to activate the designated control zone. Alternatively, the designated control zone is prevented from being activated if the touch-sensitive function key is touched while the touch-sensitive on/off key is being touched. The control system also includes two power controllers connected by a communication bus. When one of the power controllers initiates a lockout condition, the other power controller initiates a corresponding lockout condition. Multiple heating elements can be controlled together using a single set of control keys. A element size key toggles between different combinations of heating elements to control.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling temperature of a plant comprising plural temperature control zones, wherein an effective control parameter for a first zone for which a signal representing measured temperature is available is produced according to an algorithm relating measured temperature, a desired temperature and a control parameter associated with a device affecting temperature in the first temperature control zone, the effective control parameter is summed with an offset value representing a proportional offset of the effective control parameter of a second temperature control zone relative to the effective control parameter of the first temperature control zone and the result is applied to control a device affecting temperature in the second temperature control zone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a forced-air electric heater control system for HVAC systems. One embodiment utilizes two heat sensors which are positioned upstream and downstream, equidistant from the heating element(s). The control system, in this embodiment, takes the difference between the temperature signals, thereby eliminating any radiant heat factor, and the resulting signal is used to control the heater. In other embodiments, the method senses upstream and downstream temperatures, determines air velocity in the duct, determines the amount kilowatts (KW) or other heat per unit time or power based thereon, and enables the power control switch when the resultant is less than a predetermined value. Alternate systems initially test for air velocity by application of nominal power, and then use the measured velocity and the downstream temperature to obtain a control signal for the heater. A pressure differential may be used. The systems compensate for radiant heat factor.

Abstract: A hybrid cascade Model-Based Predictive control (MBPC) and conventional control system for thermal processing equipment of semiconductor substrates, and more in particular for vertical thermal reactors is described. In one embodiment, the conventional control system is based on a PID controller. In one embodiment, the MBPC algorithm is based on both multiple linear dynamic mathematical models and non-linear static mathematical models, which are derived from the closed-loop modeling control data by using the closed-loop identification method. In order to achieve effective dynamic linear models, the desired temperature control range is divided into several temperature sub-ranges. For each temperature sub-range, and for each heating zone, a corresponding dynamic model is identified. During temperature ramp up/down, the control system is provided with a fuzzy control logic and inference engine that switches the dynamic models automatically according to the actual temperature.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling the output power to DC electric heater elements to reduce the input current ripple and to fine-tune the output power to meet the fine-tuning percentage requirement. In one embodiment, a method is performed for controlling output power to heater elements in an electric heater system. The process includes receiving a power request by the heater system, providing output power controls for each heater element, and determining a particular output power control based on output power controls provided for each heater element and the power requested. Further, the heater system selectively controls the output power to one or more of the heater elements to meet the power request.

Abstract: An electric cooking apparatus and a method of controlling the same are disclosed. The electric cooking apparatus includes heating units, a switching unit, a current detecting unit and a control unit. The heating units each having a heating element and electrodes connected to the heating element. The switching unit switches power to be applied to the electrodes. The current detecting unit detects values of current output from the heating units. The control unit operates a predetermined number of the heating units, which are determined according to the values of current detected from the current detecting unit after operating the heating units.

Abstract: The appliance has a cooking plate (10) and a radiant electric heater (2) having multiple heating zones (12, 14, 16) arranged substantially side-by-side. A temperature sensing assembly (34) incorporates an electrical component (42) located in a position confined within a first heating zone (12) and having an electrical parameter which changes as a function of temperature. Electronic control apparatus (30) is connected to the electrical component (42) by means of electrical leads (44), the electronic control apparatus being adapted to detect the number of heating zones that are energised and to control energisation of the heater in dependence thereon.