Apparatus and method for identifying subject medium within cooking device
AssigneeHenny Penny Corporation
InventorGary L. Mercer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is directed to an apparatus for identifying a subject medium from several possible subject media within a cooking device, such as deep fat fryer. The apparatus contains one subject medium within the cooking device and has a controller, which includes a timer, and generates a conductivity signal. The apparatus also includes a conductivity measuring device which receives the conductivity signal and measures a conductivity value device in response to the conductivity signal. The controller determines the subject medium's composition by comparing the measured conductivity value to predetermined conductivity values for the known group of subject media.
Claims19
A medium identification apparatus for identifying at least one of a plurality of subject media within a cooking device, comprising:
- a cooking vessel for holding at least one subject medium within said cooking device;
- a controller, including a timer, generating a conductivity signal;
- a conductivity measuring device, which receives said conductivity signal and measures a conductivity value of said at least one subject medium surrounding said conductivity measuring device in response to said conductivity signal;
- and
- said controller determines a composition of said at least one subject medium by comparing said measured conductivity value to a plurality of predetermined conductivity values for said plurality of subject media when said conductivity signal is selected.
An apparatus for identifying at least one of a plurality of subject media within a cooking device, comprising:
- at least one subject medium within said cooking device;
- a controller, including a timer, said controller generating a conductivity signal;
- a conductivity measuring device for receiving said conductivity signal and for measuring a conductivity value of said at least one subject medium surrounding said conductivity measuring device in response to said conductivity signal;
- a conductivity comparative device, wherein said measured conductivity value is matched to a plurality of predetermined conductivity values for a corresponding plurality of subject media to said conductivity signal;
- and
- said controller determining said subject medium's composition with said matched conductivity value.
A method for identifying at least one of a plurality of subject media within a cooking device, comprising the steps of:
- providing a cooking vessel containing at least one subject medium;
- generating a conductivity signal;
- measuring a conductivity value of said at least one subject medium in response to said conductivity signal;
- comparing said measured conductivity value to a plurality of predetermined conductivity values for said plurality of subject media when said conductivity signal is generated;
- and
- matching said measured conductivity value with at least one of said plurality of predetermined conductivity values to identify said at least one subject medium when said conductivity signal is generated.
A medium identification apparatus for identifying at least one of a plurality of subject media within a cooking device, comprising:
- a cooking vessel for holding at least one subject medium within said cooking device;
- a controller, including a timer, generating a conductivity signal;
- a conductivity measuring device, which receives said conductivity signal and measures a conductivity value of said at least one subject medium surrounding said conductivity measuring device in response to said conductivity signal,
- a melt mode, wherein said controller generates a melt signal that activates said heater for a time melt period, such that the temperature of said at least one subject medium is within a melting temperature range after completion of said melt mode;
- and
- said controller determines a composition of said at least one subject medium by comparing said measured conductivity value to a plurality of predetermined conductivity values for said plurality of subject media when said conductivity signal is selected.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.