Cooking Appliance Temperature Control Circuit with Single Pin Amplifier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooking appliances have limited temperature bands due to the restricted combinations of discrete elements and processing device outputs, which restricts the accuracy and resolution of temperature control.
Innovation Solution
A temperature control circuit with a temperature sensor under constant voltage, an amplification circuit, and a processor that uses a voltage divider and operational amplifier to generate a control output, allowing for increased temperature bands by reducing the number of processor pins required, thereby enhancing resolution and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional discrete elements and multiple processor outputs are used for temperature control, then temperature bands can be implemented, but the number of temperature bands is limited and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple temperature band control functions into a single processor output pin that controls a single operational amplifier. Instead of using multiple discrete processor outputs and multiple amplifiers, the invention merges all temperature band selection into one output pin that dynamically configures the operational amplifier's gain and offset to achieve different temperature bands, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The operational amplifier is designed to perform multiple functions by dynamically changing its configuration. A single operational amplifier replaces multiple dedicated amplifiers for different temperature bands, achieving multi-functionality through programmable gain and offset control from the processor, which reduces the number of components while maintaining the ability to provide multiple temperature bands
2Measurement precision
If more temperature bands are implemented using conventional methods, then temperature control resolution improves, but the number of processor pins and discrete elements must increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple temperature band control functions into a single processor output pin. By using one pin to control the operational amplifier's configuration (gain and offset), the system achieves multiple temperature bands without requiring multiple processor pins, thus improving temperature control resolution while minimizing the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational amplifier's parameters (gain and offset) dynamically based on the selected temperature band. By programmatically adjusting these parameters from a single processor pin, the invention achieves multiple temperature bands without requiring multiple dedicated pins for each band, thereby improving resolution while keeping the pin count low
3Ease of operation
If discrete elements and multiple processor outputs are used for temperature bands, then temperature control is achievable, but the control structure footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple temperature control circuits into a single operational amplifier controlled by one processor pin. This consolidation reduces the spatial footprint of the control structure by eliminating redundant components (multiple amplifiers, multiple pins, multiple discrete elements) while maintaining full temperature control functionality across multiple bands
Solution Approach 2:
A single operational amplifier is designed to perform multiple temperature band functions through programmable configuration. This universal approach allows one component to replace multiple dedicated components, significantly reducing the control structure footprint while maintaining ease of operation for temperature control
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution increases the number of temperature bands, improving the accuracy and resolution of temperature measurement and control in cooking appliances, while maintaining a compact control structure footprint.
Implementation Method 1
an amplification circuit coupled to the temperature sensor, the amplification circuit comprising an amplifier for amplifying a first input from the temperature sensor
Implementation Method 2
a voltage divider coupled to the temperature sensor, an operational amplifier coupled to a first leg of the voltage divider, and a processor coupled to a second leg of the voltage divider
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method for measuring temperature in a cooking appliance, both of which utilize a circuit for reading an input from a thermal resistive device. By including a processor and an amplifier in the circuit, embodiments reduce the number of processor pins required to modify the amplified input arising from the amplifier. In one embodiment, the processor utilizes a single processor pin, through which is distributed a control output corresponding to the input and modifying the operating parameters of the amplifier.