Heater control for countertop appliance

A countertop appliance having improved cooking surface temperature control, the countertop appliance comprising:

• a cooking surface;
• a resistive heating element configured to heat the cooking surface;
• and
• a temperature controller including—
• an electrical output operably coupled to the resistive heating element;
• a user input configured to receive a desired temperature setpoint for the cooking surface;
• a noncontact temperature sensor configured to receive temperature information directly from the cooking surface;
• and
• a thermostat configured to adjust the electrical output to minimize a difference between the desired temperature setpoint and a perceived actual temperature of the cooking surface based on the received temperature information.

A countertop appliance temperature controller configured to provide improved temperature control of a resistive heating element of a countertop appliance, the temperature controller comprising:

• a pair of electrical output contacts selectively coupleable to the resistive heating element of the countertop appliance;
• a user input configured to receive a desired temperature setpoint for the resistive heating element;
• a conductive temperature sensor in conductive heating communication with at least one electrical output contacts of the pair of electrical output contacts, so as to receive temperature information from the resistive heating element;
• and
• a thermostat configured to adjust an electrical output of the pair of electrical output contacts to minimize a difference between the desired temperature setpoint and a measure temperature of the resistive heating element based on the received temperature information.

A countertop appliance having improved cooking surface temperature control, the countertop appliance comprising:

• a cooking surface in conductive heating communication with a projecting rib;
• a resistive heating element configured to heat the cooking surface and projecting rib;
• and
• a temperature controller including—
• an electrical output operably coupled to the resistive heating element;
• a user input configured to receive a desired temperature setpoint for the cooking surface;
• a temperature sensor configured to receive temperature information from the projecting rib;
• and
• a thermostat configured to adjust the electrical output to minimize a difference between the desired temperature setpoint and the actual temperature of the cooking surface based on the received temperature information.