Open-loop self-cleaning oven temperature control

Abstract

A nominal closed-loop temperature control system and method for a self-cleaning oven is adapted, upon recalibration of the bake temperature of the oven, to operate in an open-loop manner during the CLEAN mode of operation of the oven, Specifically, prior to recalibration of the oven, an average value of the duty cycle of the oven heating elements used during a self-cleaning operation is measured and stored. Subsequently, upon a positive recalibration or increase in the nominal values of the bake temperatures of the oven, the duty cycle of the heating elements during a self-cleaning operation is slightly increased to increase the average value of the self-cleaning temperature of the oven. Correspondingly, upon a negative recalibration or decrease in the nominal values of the bake temperatures, the duty cycle of the heating elements during a self-cleaning operation is slightly decreased to decrease the average value of the self-cleaning temperature of the oven. For safety and performance reasons, any such temperature increase or decrease occurs in an open-loop manner by being limited to a value less than that capable of being detected by the closed-loop operation of the oven temperature control system.