Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for a cooking appliance having a built-in smoke detector is disclosed. The disclosed apparatus includes a housing with a heating cavity, a door, a heating element, a controller, and a detection module. The detection module includes an energy source directing energy toward a first direction, and in communication with the controller, a detector unit receiving energy from a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and in communication with the controller, and an aperture for allowing entrance of air into the detection module from the cooking appliance, wherein the detector unit detects a level of smoke in the air from the cavity of the cooking appliance based on an amount of energy scattered from the first direction toward the second direction, and an alarm condition is identified based on the level of smoke. The disclosed method includes the steps of obtaining detection readings at predetermined intervals of time corresponding to an amount of scattered light in a detection module, comparing the obtained detection reading to a first smoke detection threshold and a second smoke detection threshold, determining whether an alarm condition exists based on said comparisons, and decreasing said intervals of time if an obtained detection reading is between said first and said second smoke detection thresholds.

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First Claim