Apparatus and method for determining properties of a cooktop using ultrasound techniques

An apparatus for determining at least one property of a cooktop having a cooktop surface with a top and bottom and a vessel selectively positioned on the top of the cooktop surface, the apparatus comprising:

• an ultrasound transmitter contacting the bottom of the cooktop surface at a first position and transmitting an ultrasound waveform within the cooktop surface creating an excitation in the cooktop surface;
• an ultrasound receiver contacting the bottom of the cooktop surface at a second position wherein the first position is different from the second position, the ultrasound receiver receiving a resultant ultrasound waveform in response to the ultrasound waveform produced by the ultrasound transmitter and the ultrasound receiver producing a receiver output signal based on the resultant ultrasound waveform;
• and
• a processor connected to the ultrasound receiver for receiving the receiver output signal and producing a processor output signal in response to the receiver output signal, the processor output signal being indicative of the at least one property of the cooktop.

A method for determining at least one property of a cooktop having a cooktop surface and a vessel selectively positioned on the cooktop surface, the method comprising the steps of:

• contacting a transducer to the cooktop surface;
• providing an ultrasound waveform to the cooktop surface from a transmitter of the transducer;
• creating an excitation in the cooktop surface from the provided ultrasound waveform;
• receiving a resultant ultrasound waveform using a receiver of the transducer, the resultant ultrasound waveform being in response to the excitation;
• producing a receiver output signal in response to the resultant ultrasound waveform;
• and
• determining a processor output signal based on the receiver output wherein the processor output signal corresponds to the at least one property of the cooktop.

A method for determining at least one property of a cooktop having a cooktop surface with a top and bottom and a vessel selectively positioned on the top of the cooktop surface, the method comprising the steps of:

• contacting an ultrasound transmitter to the bottom of the cooktop surface at a first position;
• transmitting an ultrasound waveform to the cooktop surface from the transducer;
• creating an excitation in the cooktop surface from the provided ultrasound waveform;
• contacting an ultrasound receiver to the bottom of the cooktop surface at a second position, the first position being different from the second position;
• receiving a resultant ultrasound waveform using the ultrasound receiver, the resultant ultrasound waveform being in response to the excitation;
• producing a receiver output signal in response to the resultant ultrasound waveform;
• and
• determining a processor output signal based on the receiver output wherein the processor output signal corresponds to the at least one property of the cooktop.