Glass-ceramic cooking apparatus and a method relating to temperature limiting control for preventing cooking oil ignition

An apparatus comprising:

• a glass-ceramic surface configured to support a cooking vessel;
• a heating element below the glass-ceramic surface and configured to generate heat radiation to heat the glass-ceramic surface;
• a temperature sensor below the glass-ceramic surface and configured to measure a glass temperature of a heating area of the glass-ceramic surface;
• and
• a control circuit configured to adjust an output power of the heating element;
• wherein the control circuit is configured to compare the glass temperature of the heating area with an upper temperature limit and a lower temperature limit;
• wherein the control circuit is configured to reduce the output power of the heating element when the temperature of the heating area reaches the upper temperature limit, and to increase the output power of the heating element when the glass temperature of the heating area reaches the lower temperature limit;
• wherein the temperature sensor includes a temperature probe, an insulation material and a ceramic casing, such that the temperature probe is enclosed in the ceramic casing, and surrounded by the insulation material;
• wherein the insulation material is compressed between the glass-ceramic surface and the ceramic casing to bring the temperature probe in direct contact with an underside surface of the glass-ceramic surface, thereby generating a heating insulation area in the heating area to block the heat radiation from the heating element to the temperature probe and the heating insulation area, and
• wherein the glass temperature is obtained by the temperature probe measuring heat source transferred through the heating insulation area of the glass ceramic surface from the cooking vessel.