Induction cooker

Abstract

This invention discloses an induction cooker. The induction cooker includes a heating module, a power inverter, and a power module. The heating module generates eddy currents in the cookware. The power inverter outputs high-frequency power to drive the heating module. The power module includes an AC port, a diode bridge, a battery cell, a power switch, and a control unit. The AC port outputs AC power via mains power. The diode bridge converts the AC power into a first DC power. The battery cell outputs a second DC power. The control unit controls the power switch to output either the first or second DC power to the power inverter to generate high-frequency power.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a furnace, and more particularly to an induction cooker. [Previous Technology]

[0002] Existing induction cookers offer great convenience in daily life, enabling rapid heating or cooking of food. However, because existing induction cookers are designed to use only mains power, they cannot be used outdoors. In other words, existing induction cookers rely on a fixed power supply. Therefore, existing induction cookers are limited in their usage scenarios (e.g., camping, picnics, or long trips).

[0003] Therefore, the inventor believed that the above-mentioned defects could be improved, and thus devoted himself to research and applied scientific principles, and finally proposed an invention that is reasonably designed and effectively improves the above-mentioned defects. [Summary of the Invention]

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an induction cooker that addresses the shortcomings of the prior art.

[0005] One embodiment of the present invention discloses an induction cooker, comprising: a heating module capable of generating eddy currents on a cooker; a power inverter capable of outputting a high-frequency power supply to drive the heating module; and a power module connected to the power inverter, the power module comprising: an AC power port capable of outputting AC power through mains power; a diode bridge connected to the AC power port, the diode bridge capable of converting the AC power supply into a first DC power supply; a battery unit capable of outputting a second DC power supply; and a power switch connected to the diode bridge and the battery unit. The power switch is capable of switching between the first DC power supply and the second DC power supply for input to the working inverter; and a control unit is connected to the power switch and the working inverter, the control unit being capable of controlling the power switch to input either the first DC power supply or the second DC power supply to the working inverter to generate the high-frequency power supply; wherein the first DC power supply has an operating voltage sufficient to be converted into the high-frequency power supply to drive the heating module, and a difference between the voltage of the second DC power supply and the operating voltage is less than or equal to 5% of the operating voltage.

[0006] In summary, the induction cooker disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention can use AC power or DC power simultaneously, and switch between AC power and DC power as needed, through the design that "the control unit can control the power switch to input the first DC power or the second DC power to the working inverter to generate the high-frequency power" and "the first DC power has a working voltage sufficient to be converted into the high-frequency power to drive the heating module, and the difference between the voltage of the second DC power and the working voltage is less than or equal to 5% of the working voltage".

[0007] To further understand the features and technical content of the present invention, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings of the present invention. However, these descriptions and drawings are only used to illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention in any way.

Implementation Method

[0011] The following specific embodiments illustrate the implementation of the "induction cooker" disclosed in this invention. Those skilled in the art can understand the advantages and effects of this invention from the content disclosed in this specification. This invention can be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can also be modified and changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the concept of this invention. In addition, the accompanying drawings of this invention are only simple schematic illustrations and are not depictions based on actual dimensions, as stated in advance. The following embodiments will further describe the relevant technical content of this invention in detail, but the disclosed content is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this invention.

[0012] It should be understood that although terms such as “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used herein to describe various components or signals, these components or signals should not be limited by these terms. These terms are primarily used to distinguish one component from another, or one signal from another. Furthermore, the term “or” as used herein may, as appropriate, include any combination of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0013] In addition, if in the following description it is indicated that you refer to a specific figure or as shown in a specific figure, it is only to emphasize that most of the relevant content in the following description appears in that specific figure, but it does not limit the following description to refer only to that specific figure.

[0014] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, this embodiment provides an induction cooker 100, which includes a heating module 1, a working inverter 2 connected to the heating module 1, and a power module 3 connected to the working inverter 2. The working inverter 2 can output a high-frequency power from an AC power supply or a DC power supply to provide power to the power module 3, so that the heating module 1 can be driven to generate eddy currents in the cookware.

[0015] In other words, any induction cooker that cannot be powered by AC or DC power is not the induction cooker referred to in this invention.

[0016] As shown in Figure 1, the heating module 1 in this embodiment includes an induction coil (not shown) and a magnetic core (not shown) disposed within the induction coil. Specifically, the induction coil may be a coil wound with copper wire. When the high-frequency current passes through the induction coil, the induction coil generates a changing magnetic field. The changing magnetic field induces eddy currents at the bottom of the cookware to heat the cookware. The magnetic core is surrounded by the induction coil to concentrate and enhance the magnetic field.

[0017] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the inverter 2 can output the high-frequency power supply to drive the heating module 1.

[0018] Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, the power module 3 provides both AC and DC power to generate the high-frequency power. Specifically, the power module 3 includes an AC port 31, a diode bridge 34, a battery unit 32, a power switch 35, and a control unit 33. The AC port 31 can output AC power through the mains power supply, and the diode bridge 34 is connected to the AC port. The diode bridge 34 receives the AC power from the AC port 31 and converts the AC power into DC power. The battery unit 32 can output the second DC power.

[0019] The power switch 35 is connected to the diode bridge 34 and the battery cell 32, and the power switch 35 can switch the first DC power supply and the second DC power supply to be input to the working inverter 2.

[0020] The inverter 2 can receive the first DC power supply and the second DC power supply, and convert one of the first DC power supply or the second DC power supply into AC power with a high frequency (i.e., high-frequency power supply). Therefore, the inverter 2 causes a change in the magnetic field of the induction coil through the high-frequency power supply.

[0021] The control unit 33 is connected to the power switch 35 and the working inverter 2, and the control unit 33 can control the power switch to input the first DC power or the second DC power to the working inverter 2 to generate the high-frequency power.

[0022] In detail, the control unit 33 may include a power supply 331, a microcontroller unit (MCU) 332, a power controller 333, and an input source switch 334.

[0023] The power supply 331 is connected to the AC port 31 or the battery cell 32, and the power supply 331 can generate a low-voltage DC power supply from the AC power supply or the battery cell 32. The microcontroller unit 332 is connected to the power supply 331, and the microcontroller unit 332 is powered and operates by the low-voltage DC power supply.

[0024] The input source switcher 334 is connected between the microcontroller unit 332 and the inverter 2, and under the control of the microcontroller unit 332, the input source switcher 334 can create an open circuit or a closed circuit between the battery cell 32 and the power switcher 35. When the input source switcher 334 creates the open circuit, the first DC power supply is input to the inverter 2 to generate the high-frequency power supply. Conversely, when the input source switcher 334 creates the closed circuit, the second DC power supply is input to the inverter 2 to generate the high-frequency power supply. In other words, under the control of the input source switcher 334, only one of the first DC power supply or the second DC power supply can enter the inverter 2, and not both simultaneously.

[0025] Furthermore, the induction cooker 100 may also include two voltage dividers 8 connected in parallel to the AC power port 31 and the battery unit, respectively. The two voltage dividers 8 are connected in series to the microcontroller unit 332, and the two voltage dividers 8 can sample the voltage of the first DC power supply and the voltage of the second DC power supply to the microcontroller unit 332. The microcontroller unit 332 can control the input source switch 334 according to the voltage of the first DC power supply and the voltage of the second DC power supply sampled by the two voltage dividers 8, thereby creating the open circuit or the closed circuit.

[0026] For example, when the microcontroller unit 332 determines that the battery unit 32 has insufficient power based on the information from the second DC power supply, the microcontroller unit 332 controls the input source switch 334 to create the open circuit, allowing the first DC power supply to be used. Conversely, when the microcontroller unit 332 determines that the AC port 31 cannot supply power (e.g., during a power outage) based on the information from the first DC power supply, the microcontroller unit 332 controls the input source switch 334 to create the closed circuit, allowing the second DC power supply to be used.

[0027] Furthermore, the power controller 333 is connected to the microcontroller 332 and the inverter 2, and the power controller 333 can control the high-frequency power generated by the inverter 2 based on a control command from the microcontroller 332 and input from a user interface 5 of the induction cooker 100, thereby adjusting the intensity of the eddy currents. In practice, the control command can be input by the user through the user interface 5 connected to the microcontroller 332.

[0028] Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that the AC power supply and DC power supply used to generate the high-frequency power supply in the inverter 2 have almost the same voltage. Specifically, the first DC power supply has an operating voltage sufficient to be converted into the high-frequency power supply to drive the heating module 1, and the difference between the voltage of the second DC power supply and the operating voltage is less than or equal to 5% of the operating voltage.

[0029] In fact, the voltage of the second DC power supply from the battery cell 32 can be achieved by connecting multiple batteries in series (i.e., the battery cell 32 includes multiple batteries, and the multiple batteries are connected in series with each other), but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0030] For example, the induction cooker 100 may include a boost module 4 connected to the battery unit 32 and the inverter 2, and the boost module 4 can increase the voltage of the DC power supply (as shown in Figure 3).

[0031] Preferably, in order to avoid unstable heating when the induction cooker 100 uses the AC power supply, the induction cooker 100 may include a line filter 6 connected between the AC power port 31 and the diode bridge 34, so that noise from the AC power supply can be filtered out by the line filter 6 before entering the diode bridge 34.

[0032] In addition, the induction cooker 100 may include a temperature sensor 7 connected to the microcontroller 332, and the temperature sensor 7 may detect the temperature of at least one induction coil or the temperature of an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) Z to generate temperature information and send the temperature information to the microcontroller 332 for use.

[0033] [Technical Effects of the Embodiments of the Invention]

[0034] In summary, the induction cooker disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention can use AC power or DC power simultaneously, and switch between AC power and DC power as needed, through the design that "the control unit can control the power switch to input the first DC power or the second DC power to the working inverter to generate the high-frequency power" and "the first DC power has a working voltage sufficient to be converted into the high-frequency power to drive the heating module, and the difference between the voltage of the second DC power and the working voltage is less than or equal to 5% of the working voltage".

[0035] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent technical changes made based on the description and drawings of the present invention are included within the protection scope of the present invention. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0008] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the circuit block of the induction cooker of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of the induction cooker of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 3 is another circuit diagram of the induction cooker of the present invention.

Claims

1. An induction cooker, comprising: a heating module capable of generating eddy currents on a cooker; a power inverter capable of outputting a high-frequency power supply to drive the heating module; and a power module connected to the power inverter, the power module comprising: an AC power port capable of outputting AC power via AC mains power; a diode bridge connected to the AC power port, the diode bridge capable of converting the AC power supply into a first DC power supply; a battery cell capable of outputting a second DC power supply; a power switch connected to the diode bridge and the battery cell, the power switch capable of switching the first DC power supply and the second DC power supply for input to the power inverter; and a control unit connected to the power switch and the power inverter, the control unit capable of controlling the power switch to input either the first DC power supply or the second DC power supply to the power inverter to generate the high-frequency power supply; wherein... The first DC power supply has an operating voltage sufficient to be converted into the high-frequency power supply to drive the heating module, and the voltage difference between the second DC power supply and the operating voltage is less than or equal to 5% of the operating voltage; wherein the control unit includes: a power supply connected to the AC port or the battery cell, the power supply being able to generate a low-voltage DC power supply from the AC power supply or the battery cell; a microcontroller connected to the power supply and powered by the low-voltage DC power supply, the microcontroller being able to issue a control command; a power controller connected to the microcontroller and the inverter, the power controller being able to control the high-frequency power supply generated by the inverter according to the control command to adjust the intensity of the eddy current; and an input source switch connected between the battery cell and the power switch, the input source switch being controllable by the microcontroller to create an open circuit and a closed circuit between the battery cell and the power switch; Specifically, when the input source switch creates the open circuit, the first DC power supply is input to the operating inverter to generate the high-frequency power supply; when the input source switch creates the closed circuit, the second DC power supply is input to the operating inverter to generate the high-frequency power supply; and two voltage dividers are respectively connected to the diode bridge and the battery cell, the two voltage dividers are connected to the microcontroller unit, and the two voltage dividers can respectively sample the voltage of the first DC power supply and the voltage of the second DC power supply to the microcontroller unit; the microcontroller unit can control the input source switch to create the open circuit or the closed circuit based on the voltage of the first DC power supply and the voltage of the second DC power supply sampled by the two voltage dividers.

2. The induction cooker as described in claim 1, wherein, The battery cell comprises multiple batteries connected in series, such that the difference between the voltage of the second DC power supply and the operating voltage is less than or equal to 5% of the operating voltage.

3. The induction cooker as described in claim 1, wherein, The induction cooker also includes a boost module connecting the battery unit and the working inverter. The boost module can increase the voltage of the second DC power supply so that the difference between the voltage of the second DC power supply and the working voltage is less than or equal to 5% of the working voltage.

4. The induction cooker as described in claim 1, wherein, The induction cooker also includes a line filter connected between the AC power port and the diode bridge, which can filter out noise from the AC power supply before it enters the diode bridge.

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