US Patent 6995344 Cooking appliance

The appliance has a cooking plate (10) and a radiant electric heater (2) having multiple heating zones (12, 14, 16) arranged substantially side-by-side. A temperature sensing assembly (34) incorporates an electrical component (42) located in a position confined within a first heating zone (12) and having an electrical parameter which changes as a function of temperature. Electronic control apparatus (30) is connected to the electrical component (42) by means of electrical leads (44), the electronic control apparatus being adapted to detect the number of heating zones that are energised and to control energisation of the heater in dependence thereon.