Heating apparatus with humidity sensor

An apparatus for measuring humidity of the atmosphere surrounding an object comprising:

• first sensor means, having an electrical resistance which varies with temperature, for detecting the temperature of said atmosphere;
• second sensor means, having an electrical resistance which varies with temperature, for detecting the vapor content of said atmosphere;
• means for heating said second sensor means to a predetermined temperature at a first vapor content of the atmosphere;
• means for measuring changes in temperature, as a function of changes in electrical resistance, between said second sensor means and said predetermined temperature, said changes in temperature being proportional to changes in said vapor content as compared to said first vapor content;
• and
• comparator means for comparing the temperature of said atmosphere determined by the electrical resistance of said first sensor means with said changes in temperature determined by said second sensor means and generating a signal related to the humidity of the atmosphere.

An apparatus for cooking an object for a controlled cooking cycle as a function of the humidity of a gaseous atmosphere emitted from the object comprising:

• first sensor means, having an electrical resistance which varies with temperature, for measuring the temperature of said atmosphere;
• second sensor means, having a resistance which varies with temperature, for measuring the vapor content of said atmosphere;
• means for heating said second sensor means to a predetermined temperature at a first vapor content of the atmosphere;
• means for measuring changes in temperature, as a function of changes in electrical resistance, between said second sensor means and said predetermined temperature, said changes in temperature being proportional to changes in said vapor content as compared to said first vapor content;
• comparator means for comparing the temperature of said atmosphere determined by the electrical resistance of said first sensor means with said changes in temperature determined by said second sensor means and generating a cooking cycle control signal related to the humidity of the gaseous atmosphere emitted from the object;
• and
• means responsive to said cooking cycle control signal for heating said object for said controlled cooking cycle.

An apparatus for measuring the humidity in the atmosphere surrounding an object, comprising:

• first sensor means for detecting the temperature of said atmosphere;
• second sensor means for detecting the vapor content of said atmosphere, wherein said first and second sensor means have respective resistances, the voltage characteristics of which vary at the same rate only when humidity is constant;
• means for heating said second sensor means to a predetermined temperature;
• means for applying voltages across the respective resistances of said first and second sensor means;
• and
• means for comparing a first voltage signal present across said first sensor means and a second voltage signal present across said second sensor means, wherein said means for comparing produces an output indicative of the humidity in the atmosphere.

An apparatus for heating an object for a controlled heating cycle as a function of the humidity of the atmosphere surrounding the object, comprising:

• first sensor means for detecting the temperature of said atmosphere;
• second sensor means for detecting the vapor content of said atmosphere wherein first and second sensor means have respective resistances, the voltage characteristics of which vary at the same rate only when humidity is constant;
• means for heating said second sensor means to a predetermined temperature;
• means for applying voltages across the respective resistances of said first and second sensor means;
• means for comparing a first voltage signal present across said first sensor means and a second voltage signal present across said second sensor means, wherein said means for comparing produces an output indicative of the humidity in the atmosphere;
• and
• means, responsive to said output of said means for comparing, for heating said object for said controlled heating cycle.

An apparatus for cooking an object for a controlled cooking cycle as a function of the humidity of the gaseous atmosphere emitted from the object, comprising:

• first sensor means for detecting the temperature of said atmosphere;
• second sensor means for detecting the vapor content of said atmosphere wherein first and second heat sensor means have respective resistances, the voltage characteristics of which vary at the same rate only when humidity is constant;
• means for heating said second heat sensor means to a predetermined temperature;
• means for applying voltages across the respective resistances of said first and second heat sensor means;
• means for comparing a first voltage signal present across said first heat sensor means and a second voltage signal present across said second heat sensor means, wherein said means for comparing produces an output indicative of the humidity in the gaseous atmosphere;
• and
• means, responsive to said output of said means for comparing, for cooking said object for said controlled cooking cycle.