H - Electricity – 01 – H
Patent
H - Electricity
01
H
309/82
H01H 9/56 (2006.01) H01H 9/50 (2006.01) H05B 1/02 (2006.01) H02H 1/00 (2006.01)
Patent
CA 1310053
RELAY CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Abstract of the Disclosure A relay control for a cooking appliance having a heating element includes a sensor for detecting the occurrence of an arc upon a change of state of a relay coupled between the heating element and a power supply. Upon detecting an arc, the sensor provides a timing signal which is coupled to a microprocessor that controls the energization and deenergiza- tion of the relay. The microprocessor is responsive to the timing signal from the sensor to determine the time delay between the last energization/deenergization of the relay and the changing of the relay's state. From the time delay, the microprocessor determines a delay constant. Subsequently, the microprocessor energizes the relay at a time after the detection of a zero crossover point of the power supply signal, wherein the time is equal to the determined delay constant to cause the relay to change state at or slightly before a zero crossover point of the power supply signal. The sensor may take the form of an optical sensor, such as a phototransistor, mounted inside the housing of the relay or outside of, but within optical range of, the housing, in which case the housing would be transparent to the optical wavelength of an arc. Alternatively, the sensor may include an electromagnetic or RF pick-up coil for sensing an electromagnetic or RF signal in the radio frequency (RF) range radiated upon the generation of an arc. Such an RF pick-up coil may be mounted inside the housing of the relay or outside of the housing but within the range of the housing, in which case the housing would be formed of materials that would not interfere with the RF signal from an arc. Alternatively, the sensor may be a vibration sensor, such as a piezoelectric transducer, capable of detecting vibra- tions associated with the opening or closing of the relay contacts.
605925
Corporation Whirlpool
Kirby Eades Gale Baker
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