Cook top assembly having a monitoring system and method of monitoring a cooking process

Abstract

A cook top assembly includes a cooking surface. A monitoring system is configured to monitor and control a cooking process on the cooking surface. The monitoring system includes at least one temperature sensor disposed at a distance from the cooking surface and configured to sense a first temperature change at the cooking surface. A controller operatively coupled to the temperature sensor is configured to receive from the temperature sensor a signal indicating the first temperature change and activate a timing module operatively coupled to the controller for a first predetermined time period based at least in part on the first temperature change sensed by the temperature sensor.

1 . A cook top assembly, comprising:
 a cooking surface;   a monitoring system configured to monitor and control a cooking process on the cooking surface, the monitoring system comprising:
 a temperature sensor disposed at a distance from the cooking surface, the temperature sensor configured to sense a first temperature change at the cooking surface; and 
 a controller operatively coupled to the temperature sensor, the controller configured to:
 receive from the temperature sensor a first signal indicating the first temperature change; and 
 activate a timing module operatively coupled to the controller for a first predetermined time period based at least in part on the first temperature change sensed by the temperature sensor. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The cook top assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a notification module operatively coupled to the controller, the notification module configured to generate a second signal that the first predetermined time period has elapsed; and   an indicator module operatively coupled to the notification module, the indicator module configured to receive the second signal from the notification module and output a first instructional signal for instructing an operator of the cook top assembly to perform a first action.   
     
     
         3 . The cook top assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to confirm that the first action has been completed by the operator. 
     
     
         4 . The cook top assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 confirm that the second action has been completed by the operator; and   reset the timing module.   
     
     
         5 . The cook top assembly of  claim 2 , wherein, once the first action is completed, the temperature sensor is configured to sense a second temperature change; and the controller is configured to:
 receive from the temperature sensor a third signal indicating the second temperature change;   activate the timing module for a second predetermined time period; and   activate the notification module and the indicator module to generate and output a second instructional signal for instructing the operator to perform a second action.   
     
     
         6 . The cook top assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first instructional signal comprises a first color light indicating the first action should be performed and the second instructional signal comprises a second color light different from the first color light indicating the second action should be performed. 
     
     
         7 . The cook top assembly of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first instructional signal and the second instructional signal further comprises an audible warning tone that the respective first action or the respective second action has not been completed after an elapsed time. 
     
     
         8 . The cook top assembly of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first color light and the second color light flashes periodically to warn the operator that the respective first action or the respective second action has not been completed after an elapsed time. 
     
     
         9 . The cook top assembly of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first instructional signal and the second instructional signal comprises a text field including textual information displayed on at least one of the cooking surface, a range hood positioned over the cooking surface, and a user interface. 
     
     
         10 . The cook top assembly of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first instructional signal and the second instructional signal includes at least one of the following: a visual signal and an audio signal. 
     
     
         11 . The cook top assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cooking surface includes a plurality of cooking areas and the temperature sensor is configured to sense a temperature change at the cooking surface in each cooking area of the plurality of cooking areas. 
     
     
         12 . The cook top assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cooking surface includes a plurality of cooking areas and the temperature sensor is configured to sense the first temperature change in a first cooking area of the plurality of cooking areas. 
     
     
         13 . The cook top assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a heating source disposed under the cooking surface, the heating source configured to heat the cooking surface to a determined temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The cook top assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the cooking surface includes a plurality of cooking areas, and the heating source is associated with a first cooking area of the plurality of cooking area. 
     
     
         15 . The cook top assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the heating source, the controller configured to control a thermal output of the heating source based at least in part on the first temperature change sensed by the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The cook top assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is disposed in a range hood positioned over the cooking surface. 
     
     
         17 . The cook top assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cooking surface includes a plurality of cooking areas, the cook top assembly comprising a plurality of temperature sensors, each temperature sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors is associated with a respective cooking area of the plurality of cooking areas. 
     
     
         18 . A monitoring system for a cook top assembly including a cooking surface having a plurality of cooking areas, the monitoring system comprising:
 a temperature sensor disposed at a distance from the cooking surface, the temperature sensor configured to sense a first temperature change at the cooking surface within a first cooking area of the plurality of cooking areas; and   a controller operatively coupled to the temperature sensor and including a timing module, the controller configured to:
 receive from the temperature sensor a first signal indicating the first temperature change; and 
 activate the timing module for a first predetermined time period based at least in part on the first temperature change sensed by the temperature sensor. 
   
     
     
         19 . The monitoring system of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that the first predetermined time period has elapsed; and   output a second signal to instruct an operator of the cook top assembly to perform a first action.   
     
     
         20 . The monitoring system of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 confirm that the first action has been completed by the operator;   receive from the temperature sensor a third signal indicating a second temperature change at the cooking surface;   activate the timing module for a second predetermined time period;   determine that the second predetermined time period has elapsed; and   output a fourth signal to instruct the operator to perform a second action.   
     
     
         21 . The monitoring system of  claim 20 , wherein the second signal comprises a first color light illuminating a first portion of the first cooking area indicating the first action should be performed and the fourth signal comprises a second color light different from the first color light illuminating the first portion of the first cooking area indicating the second action should be performed. 
     
     
         22 . The monitoring system of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the second signal and the fourth signal further comprises an audible warning tone that the respective first action or the respective second action has not been completed after an elapsed time. 
     
     
         23 . The monitoring system of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first color light and the second color light flashes periodically to warn the operator that the respective first action or the respective second action has not been completed after an elapsed time. 
     
     
         24 . The monitoring system of  claim 20 , wherein the second signal comprises a text field including textual information displayed on a first portion of the first cooking area indicating the first action should be performed and the fourth signal comprises a text field including textual information displayed on the first portion of the first cooking area indicating the second action should be performed. 
     
     
         25 . The monitoring system of  claim 20 , wherein the second signal comprises a first color light illuminating a first half of the first portion of the first cooking area and a second color light different from the first color light illuminating a second half of the first portion of the first cooking area indicating the first action should be performed. 
     
     
         26 . The monitoring system of  claim 20 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 confirm that the second action has been completed by the operator; and   reset the timing module.   
     
     
         27 . A method for monitoring and controlling a cooking process on a cooking surface of a cook top assembly, the cooking surface including a plurality of cooking areas, the method comprising:
 sensing, with a temperature sensor disposed at a distance from the cooking surface, a first temperature change at the cooking surface within a first cooking area of the plurality of cooking areas; and   activating, by a controller, a timing module for a first predetermined time period based at least in part on the first temperature change sensed by the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising generating, by the controller, a first signal that the first predetermined time period has elapsed and instructing an operator of the cook top assembly to perform a first action. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising confirming by the controller that the first action has been completed by the operator. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising, once the first action is completed:
 sensing, by the temperature sensor, a second temperature change at the cooking surface within the first cooking area;   activating, by the controller, the timing module for a second predetermined time period; and   generating, by the controller, a second signal that the second predetermined time period has elapsed and instructing the operator to perform a second action.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 confirming, by the controller, that the second action has been completed by the operator; and   resetting the timing module.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising generating, by the controller, a warning signal indicating that the cooking process is completed.