Apparatus and method for optically sensing liquid level in cooking vessels

An apparatus for optically sensing a liquid level in a cooking vessel comprising:

• a first sensor for detecting a liquid and generating a first signal indicating a vessel level of said detected liquid above a desired liquid level in said cooking vessel;
• a second sensor for detecting said liquid and generating a second signal indicating said vessel level of said detected liquid below said desired liquid level in said cooking vessel;
• a third sensor for detecting said liquid and generating a third signal indicating said vessel level of said detected liquid at the bottom of said cooking vessel;
• a controller for receiving said signals and for determining said vessel level in said cooking vessel;
• and
• a drain pan comprising a drain pan sensor group for generating signals indicating a drain pan liquid level in said drain pan;
• wherein said controller receives said signals from said drain pan sensor group and determines the drain pan liquid level in said drain pan.

A method for optically sensing a liquid level in a cooking vessel comprising:

• sensing a vessel level of said liquid above a desired liquid level in said cooking vessel with a first sensor;
• sensing said vessel level of a liquid below said desired liquid level in said cooking vessel with a second sensor;
• and
• sensing said vessel level of a liquid at the bottom of said cooking vessel with a third sensor;
• generating at least one analog signal indicating a vessel level of said liquid at at least one of said sensors;
• processing said at least one analog signal;
• determining said vessel level of said liquid within said cooking vessel;
• and
• displaying said vessel level within said cooking vessel;
• wherein said controller determines that said vessel level is above said desired liquid level when all of said first, second, and third sensors generate said first, second, and third signals that indicate said vessel level of said liquid;
• said controller determines that said vessel level is at said desired liquid level when only said second and third sensors generate said second and third signals that indicate said vessel level of said liquid;
• said controller determines that said vessel level is below said desired liquid level when only said third sensor generates said third signal that indicates said vessel level of said liquid;
• and
• said controller determines that the cooking vessel is empty when none of said first, second, and third sensors generate said signals that indicate said vessel level.

A method for optically sensing a liquid level in a cooking vessel comprising:

• sensing a vessel level of said liquid at a plurality of locations with a plurality of sensors positioned within said cooking vessel;
• generating at least one analog signal indicating a vessel level of said liquid at at least one of said sensors;
• processing said at least one analog signal;
• determining said vessel level of said liquid within said cooking vessel;
• determining a drain pan liquid level;
• and
• displaying said vessel level within said cooking vessel;
• wherein said step of determining a drain pan liquid level comprises the steps of:
• sensing a drain level of said drain pan liquid at at least one location in said drain pan with at least one drain pan sensor;
• generating at least one analog drain pan signal indicating said drain level at said at least one sensor;
• determining a status of said at least one drain pan sensor;
• and
• determining said drain pan liquid level.