INDUCTION COOKING APPLIANCE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an induction cooking device according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for operating an induction cooking device according to the preamble of claim 13.

[0002] US 6,528,770 B1 already discloses an induction hob with a first heating unit with a first inductor and an additional first inductor, a second heating unit with a second inductor, and a power supply unit with two inverters for supplying the heating units. In a half-bridge topology, the first heating unit with the first inductor and the second heating unit with the second inductor can each be supplied separately via one of the inverters. To provide a higher heating output, the first heating unit with the first inductor and with the additional first inductor can be operated simultaneously in a full-bridge configuration via the two inverters, while the second heating unit cannot be operated simultaneously. The second heating unit cannot be operated in a full-bridge topology.The entire first heating unit with the first inductor and the additional first inductor cannot be operated in a half-bridge topology.

[0003] EP 2 066 013 A2 (HITACHI LTD [JP]) 3 June 2009 (2009-06-03) describes a heating unit that can be operated either in a full-bridge topology or a half-bridge topology.

[0004] The object of the invention is, in particular but not limited to, to provide a generic device with improved properties in terms of flexibility and / or efficiency. This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claims 1 and 13, while advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the subclaims.

[0005] The invention relates to an induction cooking appliance device, in particular an induction hob device, with at least one independent heating unit, comprising at least one inductor, and with a power supply unit for providing an alternating current for the heating unit.

[0006] It is proposed that the power supply unit has a configuration unit which is provided for changing the configuration of the power supply unit between a half-bridge topology and a full-bridge topology for supplying the entire heating unit.

[0007] Such a configuration, in particular, makes it possible to provide an induction cooking device with improved properties in terms of flexibility and / or efficiency. In particular, the configuration unit advantageously allows the entire heating unit to be operated both in a half-bridge topology, providing low to medium heating outputs, and in a full-bridge topology, providing high to very high heating outputs. Furthermore, additional heating units can advantageously also be operated in a half-bridge topology or in a full-bridge topology. This provides a high degree of flexibility for the user.Furthermore, particularly efficient operation of an induction cooking appliance can be advantageously achieved at low to medium heating outputs, while also providing the option of operation in a boost mode at high to very high heating outputs. Furthermore, there is the advantageous option of changing the resonance capacitance of the power supply unit, whereby switching frequencies close to the resonance frequency can be achieved in different operating situations and reactive power losses can thus be minimized. By switching off individual resonance capacitors, efficiency in a half-bridge topology can be advantageously further improved. By optionally switching on additional resonance capacitors, efficiency in a full-bridge topology can be advantageously increased.Advantageously, the induction cooking device can be operated in both the full-bridge and half-bridge topologies in a ZVS mode, which advantageously reduces switching losses and, in particular, further improves energy efficiency. Furthermore, costs can be advantageously reduced and / or a particularly compact design achieved by replacing two single-pole changeover switches of the configuration unit with a single double-pole changeover switch.

[0008] An "induction cooking appliance," in particular an "induction hob device," is understood to mean at least one part, in particular a subassembly, of an induction cooking appliance, in particular an induction hob. The induction cooking appliance could, for example, be designed as an induction grill and / or as an induction oven and / or as a combination appliance with an additional microwave function. Preferably, the induction cooking appliance is designed as an induction hob. It is particularly conceivable for the induction hob to be designed as a matrix induction hob. In particular, the induction cooking appliance, in particular the induction hob device, can also comprise the entire induction cooking appliance, in particular the entire induction hob.

[0009] A "heating unit" is understood to mean, in particular, a unit that can comprise a plurality of inductors and is intended to supply energy, in particular in the form of an alternating magnetic field, to at least one receiving element. For this purpose, the heating unit has at least one inductor. The heating unit can, in particular, have precisely one inductor. Alternatively, it is conceivable for the heating unit to comprise a plurality of inductors, which can, in particular, be arranged in a matrix-like manner and / or can, in particular, be individually and / or jointly controlled. An "independent" heating unit is understood to mean, in particular, a heating unit that can be operated independently of other heating units, in particular independently of one and / or more further heating units. In particular, a heating power provided by the heating unit can be adjustable independently of a heating power provided by other heating units.The term "entire heating unit" shall be understood to mean, in particular, all inductors assigned to the heating unit.

[0010] An "inductor" is understood here, in particular, to mean an element that has at least one induction coil and / or is designed as an induction coil and is intended to supply energy, in particular in the form of an alternating magnetic field, to at least one receiving element in at least one operating state. The receiving element is designed, in particular, as a part and / or a subassembly of a receiving unit and is intended, in particular, to receive the energy provided by the heating unit, in particular by the at least one inductor of the heating unit. The receiving unit can, in particular, be part of the induction cooking device. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the receiving unit is designed as a unit independent of the induction cooking device and / or as part of another device independent of the induction cooking device.The receiving unit can, in particular, be designed to be placed in an area above the heating unit and / or another heating unit. The receiving unit could, for example, be designed as a cooking utensil and, in particular, have at least one secondary coil as a receiving element for receiving the energy provided by the inductor of the heating unit and / or another inductor of the other heating unit. Alternatively or additionally, the receiving element could also be designed as a metallic heating means, in particular as an at least partially ferromagnetic heating means, for example as a ferromagnetic base of a cooking utensil, in which, when the heating unit is in operation, eddy currents and / or magnetization reversal effects are induced by the inductor, which are converted into heat.

[0011] A "power supply unit" is understood to mean, in particular, a unit which, in at least one operating state, provides a particularly high-frequency alternating current for the at least one heating unit, in particular for the inductor of the heating unit. The power supply unit comprises at least one inverter. The inverter comprises at least two inverter switching elements. An inverter switching element has at least one control contact via which it can be controlled, in particular by a control unit. In particular, the inverter switching element is designed as a semiconductor switching element, in particular as a transistor, advantageously as a bipolar transistor with a preferably insulated gate electrode (IGBT). Alternatively, the inverter switching element can be designed as a mechanical and / or electromechanical switching element, in particular as a relay.For example, the switching element can be designed as a FET, as a MOSFET, preferably as an RC-IGBT and particularly preferably as a HEMT transistor.

[0012] A "configuration unit" is understood, in particular, to be a unit of the power supply unit that has at least one configuration element with at least one electrical pole and at least two electrical contacts. Via the configuration element of the configuration unit, a first configuration of the power supply unit can be achieved by establishing a first electrically conductive connection via a first electrical contact of the two electrical contacts, and a further configuration of the power supply unit can be achieved by establishing a further electrically conductive connection via a second electrical contact of the two electrical contacts. Advantageously, the configuration unit has a plurality of configuration elements, which are designed to be controllable, in particular, independently of one another.It is also conceivable, in particular, for at least two of the configuration elements to be formed by a common switch, for example, a two-pole changeover switch, and to be controlled jointly and simultaneously. The configuration unit can, in particular, be formed at least partially in one piece with the power supply unit. In this context, "at least partially in one piece" is to be understood in particular as meaning that the configuration unit and the power supply unit are electrically connected to one another in at least one operating state and, in particular, form at least one common circuit.

[0013] A "half-bridge topology" is understood in particular to mean a power supply unit topology in which the heating unit can be supplied with alternating current via exactly one inverter comprising two inverter switching elements. In the half-bridge topology of the power supply unit, in particular, the provision of low to medium heating powers by the heating unit is provided. A "full-bridge topology" is understood in particular to mean a power supply unit topology in which the heating unit can be supplied with alternating current via exactly two inverters connected in parallel, each with two inverter switching elements. In the full-bridge topology of the power supply unit, in particular, the provision of high to very high heating powers by the heating unit is provided.

[0014] "Intended" should be understood in particular to mean specifically programmed, designed, and / or equipped. The fact that an object is intended for a specific function should be understood in particular to mean that the object fulfills and / or performs this specific function in at least one application and / or operating state.

[0015] It is further proposed that the induction cooking device have an independent additional heating unit, comprising at least one additional inductor, which can be supplied by the power supply unit simultaneously with the heating unit. This can, in particular, increase flexibility for a user. In particular, both the heating unit and the additional heating unit can advantageously be operated in a half-bridge topology and a full-bridge topology, respectively.

[0016] It is also proposed that the heating unit and the additional heating unit be operated simultaneously in a half-bridge topology by the configuration unit. In particular, the entire heating unit and the entire additional heating unit can be operated simultaneously in a half-bridge topology by the configuration unit. This advantageously increases flexibility for a user. In particular, the heating unit and the additional heating unit can also be operated simultaneously and particularly efficiently.

[0017] Furthermore, it is proposed that the power supply unit comprise a supply subunit, which comprises at least one inverter and at least one resonant capacitor unit for supplying the heating unit, and a further supply subunit, which comprises at least one further inverter and at least one further resonant capacitor unit for supplying the further heating unit. A "supply subunit" is to be understood in particular as a subunit of the power supply unit that provides at least one circuit for independently supplying at least one heating unit. A "resonant capacitor unit" is to be understood in particular as a unit of the supply subunit that comprises at least one resonant capacitor.The at least one resonance capacitor of the resonance capacitor unit forms, in at least one operating state of the induction cooking appliance device, a resonant circuit with an inverter switching element of the inverter of the supply unit and at least one inductor of at least one heating unit which is supplied with an alternating current by the supply unit.

[0018] Furthermore, it is proposed that the power supply unit and the further power supply unit be electrically connected in series via at least one switching element of the configuration unit. This advantageously enables a particularly simple configuration change of the power supply unit. Furthermore, this advantageously provides a particularly high level of operating convenience for a user.

[0019] It is further proposed that the supply subunit and the further supply subunit be electrically cyclically connected in series via at least one further switching element of the configuration unit. In this context, "cyclically" should be understood in particular to mean that the supply subunit and the further supply subunit can be alternately connected in series via the switching element and the further switching element. This advantageously further simplifies a configuration change. In particular, a rapid configuration change from a configuration for supplying the heating unit in a full-bridge topology to another configuration for supplying the further subunit in a full-bridge configuration is advantageously enabled.

[0020] Furthermore, it is proposed that the supply subunit and the further supply subunit be designed identically to one another. This advantageously simplifies a manufacturing process. Furthermore, production costs can be reduced, particularly due to economies of scale. This also advantageously provides a particularly inexpensive induction cooking device with advantageous properties in terms of flexibility and / or efficiency.

[0021] Furthermore, it is proposed that the induction cooking appliance device comprise a control unit that operates the power supply unit in a ZVS mode. A "ZVS mode" is to be understood, in particular, as an operating mode in which the control unit operates the power supply unit, in particular at least one inverter of the power supply unit, with at least one essentially voltage-free switching operation, known in English as "zero voltage switching (ZVS)." An "at least essentially voltage-free switching operation" is to be understood, in particular, as a switching operation in which a voltage that is present and / or dropped across an inverter switching element, in particular during the switching operation, is at least essentially vanishingly small, in particular essentially zero.A "negligible value" is understood to mean, in particular, a value that is lower than a maximum operating value by at least a factor of 10, advantageously by a factor of 50, preferably by a factor of 100, and particularly preferably by a factor of 500. The control unit preferably operates the power supply unit in ZVS mode using a special control strategy known in English as "Asymmetrical Voltage Cancelation (AVC) Control." This advantageously allows the control unit to be operated in ZVS mode over a particularly wide frequency range, thereby advantageously minimizing switching losses over a wide heating power range. Alternatively, it is conceivable for the control unit to operate the power supply unit in ZVS mode using another special control strategy known in English as "Phase Shift (PS) Control."It would also be conceivable for the control unit to operate the power supply unit in a ZCS mode, applying a suitable special control strategy. A "ZCS mode" is understood, in particular, to mean an operating mode in which the control unit operates the power supply unit, in particular at least one inverter of the power supply unit, with at least one essentially current-free switching operation, i.e., a switching operation in which, particularly during the switching operation, a current flowing through the inverter switching element to be switched assumes a vanishingly small value, and which is known in English under the term "zero current switching (ZCS)."

[0022] It is further proposed that the configuration unit comprise at least one two-pole changeover switch, which is intended to at least participate in the configuration change and which, in particular, comprises the switching element. In particular, the two-pole changeover switch can comprise the switching element and the further switching element. This can advantageously reduce the number of components and / or costs. Furthermore, a particularly space-saving and / or compact arrangement of components can advantageously be enabled. Alternatively, the switching element and / or the further switching element could each be designed as a single-pole changeover switch.A "single-pole double-throw (SPDT)" switch is understood to mean, in particular, an electrical switch known in English by the term "Single Pole Double Throw" (SPDT) and having at least one pole and at least two terminals for establishing and / or breaking an electrically conductive connection, and is particularly intended to open a first circuit and simultaneously close a second circuit. A "double-pole double-throw (DPDT)" switch is understood to mean, in particular, an electrical switch known in English by the term "Double Pole Double Throw" (DPDT) and having, in particular in contrast to a single-pole double-throw switch, at least two poles, each with at least two terminals. A double-pole double-throw switch can be understood in particular as a switch having two single-pole double-throw switches that can be switched simultaneously and jointly.

[0023] It is also proposed that the configuration unit be provided to modify at least one resonance capacitance of the power supply unit. This advantageously allows energy efficiency to be further increased. In particular, the resonance capacitance can be advantageously adapted to different operating situations, whereby reactive power losses in the respective operating situations of the power supply unit can be advantageously reduced and preferably minimized. A "resonance capacitance" is understood to mean the capacitance of a capacitor and / or multiple capacitors which, in at least one operating state of the induction cooking device, form a resonant circuit with at least one inverter switching element and at least one inductor of the heating unit.At a specific switching frequency of the inverter, the so-called resonant frequency, the heating power provided by the inductor is maximized and, in particular, no reactive power losses occur. If the value of the resonant capacitance of the resonant circuit changes, the value of the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit also changes. For particularly efficient operation, a switching frequency close to the resonant frequency is therefore desirable. This is possible in various operating situations by changing the resonant capacitance using the configuration unit.

[0024] Furthermore, it is proposed that the power supply unit have at least one resonant capacitor element, which can be switched off by the configuration unit in a half-bridge configuration of the power supply unit. This advantageously allows flexibility to be further increased. In particular, the resonant capacitance of at least one resonant circuit in the half-bridge configuration of the power supply unit can be advantageously reduced, whereby in particular a relative distance between a switching frequency and a resonant frequency can be reduced and thus reactive power losses can be reduced. By reducing the number of resonant capacitor elements to be operated, further losses of resonant capacitor elements, caused by parasitic effects such as ohmic conduction losses and / or dielectric polarity reversal losses, can also be advantageously reduced.Thus, the induction cooking device can advantageously be operated particularly energy-efficiently in operating modes in which low to medium heating outputs are provided by the heating unit and / or the further heating unit in the half-bridge configuration, whereby in particular a high added value for a user can be achieved, for example through savings in energy costs.

[0025] Furthermore, it is proposed that the power supply unit have at least one resonant capacitor element, in particular a further resonant capacitor element, which is provided for changing the resonant capacitance of the power supply unit in a full-bridge configuration. This advantageously increases efficiency. In particular, the resonant capacitance of the power supply unit in the full-bridge configuration of the power supply unit can advantageously be adapted to a specific operating situation.

[0026] It is also proposed that the resonant capacitor element be arranged in a manner that can be connected in parallel with an inverter of the power supply unit to increase the resonant capacitance. This advantageously increases flexibility. Furthermore, energy efficiency can be increased. In particular, a relative difference between a resonant frequency and a switching frequency can be minimized, particularly in operating modes of the induction cooking device in which high to very high heating powers are provided by the heating unit in the full-bridge configuration, thereby reducing reactive power losses.

[0027] Alternatively or additionally, it is proposed that the resonant capacitor element, in particular a further resonant capacitor element, be arranged in a manner that can be connected in series with an inverter of the power supply unit to reduce the resonant capacitance. This advantageously increases flexibility. Furthermore, energy efficiency can be advantageously increased. In particular, a relative difference between a resonant frequency and a switching frequency can be advantageously minimized, particularly in operating modes of the induction cooking device in which medium to high heating powers are provided by the heating unit in a full-bridge configuration, thereby reducing reactive power losses.

[0028] The invention further relates to a method for operating an induction cooking device with at least one independent heating unit, comprising at least one inductor, and with a power supply unit for providing an alternating current for the heating unit.

[0029] It is proposed that the power supply unit for supplying the entire heating unit be configured between a half-bridge topology and a full-bridge topology. This advantageously provides a particularly flexible and / or efficient method for operating the induction cooking device.

[0030] The induction cooking device is not intended to be limited to the application and embodiment described above. In particular, the induction cooking device may have a number of individual elements, components, and units that differs from the number stated herein to fulfill a functionality described herein.

[0031] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawings. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. Those skilled in the art will also expediently consider the features individually and combine them into useful further combinations.

[0032] They show: Fig. 1 shows an induction cooking appliance with an induction cooking appliance device, comprising a heating unit, a further heating unit and a power supply unit in a schematic view, Fig. 2 shows the power supply unit with a configuration unit in a schematic electrical circuit diagram, Fig. 3 shows the power supply unit with the configuration unit in a further schematic electrical circuit diagram, Fig. 4 shows a diagram illustrating an effect of a change in a resonance capacitance of the power supply unit, Fig. 5 shows a further schematic electrical circuit diagram of the power supply unit in a configuration with changed resonance capacitance, Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of a method for operating the induction cooking appliance device, Fig.Fig. 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an induction cooking appliance with a power supply unit having a resonance capacitor element that can be connected in parallel, in a schematic electrical circuit diagram, Fig. 8 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an induction cooking appliance with a power supply unit having a resonance capacitor element that can be connected in series, in a schematic electrical circuit diagram, and Fig. 9 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an induction cooking appliance with a heating unit and a further heating unit, each comprising two inductors, and with a power supply unit, in a schematic electrical circuit diagram.

[0033] Figure 1shows an induction cooking appliance 60a with an induction cooking appliance device 10a. The induction cooking appliance 60a is designed as an induction hob. The induction cooking appliance device 10a has an independent heating unit 12a. The heating unit 12a comprises an inductor 14a. The induction cooking appliance device 10a has a power supply unit 16a. The power supply unit 16a is provided for providing an alternating current for the heating unit 12a. The power supply unit 12a has a configuration unit 18a (cf. Figure 2 ). The configuration unit 18a is provided for changing the configuration of the power supply unit 16a between a half-bridge topology and a full-bridge topology to supply the entire heating unit 12a.

[0034] The induction cooking device 10a has an independent additional heating unit 28a. The additional heating unit 28a includes an additional inductor 30a. The additional inductor 30a of the additional heating unit 12a can be supplied with an alternating current by the power supply unit 16a. The additional heating unit 28a can be supplied with power by the power supply unit 16a simultaneously with the heating unit 12a.

[0035] The induction cooking device 10a has a control unit 48a. The control unit 48a is provided for controlling the power supply unit 16a. The control unit operates the power supply unit 16a in a ZVS mode (see. Fig. 4 ).

[0036] The heating unit 12a and the further heating unit 28a can each be operated simultaneously in a half-bridge topology by the configuration unit 18a (cf. Fig. 2 ).

[0037] Figure 2shows an electrical circuit diagram of the power supply unit 16a with the configuration unit 18a. The configuration unit 18a has a first configuration element 62a with two contacts 64a, 66a and a second configuration element 68a with two contacts 70a, 72a. The power supply unit 16a has a supply subunit 32a for supplying the heating unit 12a. The supply subunit 32a has an inverter 34a and a resonant capacitor unit 36a. To configure the power supply unit 16a to supply the heating unit 12a in a half-bridge topology, the configuration unit 18a establishes a first electrically conductive connection between the inductor 14a of the heating unit 12a and the inverter 34a by means of the first configuration element 62a via the contact 64a.The configuration unit 18a establishes a second electrically conductive connection between the inductor 14a of the heating unit 12a and the inverter 34a by means of the second configuration element 68a via the contact 70a.

[0038] The configuration unit 18a has a further first configuration element 74a with two contacts 76a, 78a and a further second configuration element 80a with two contacts 82a, 84a. The power supply unit 16a has a further supply sub-unit 38a for supplying the further heating unit 28a. The further supply sub-unit 38a has a further inverter 40a and a further resonant capacitor unit 42a. To configure the power supply unit 16a to supply the further heating unit 28a in a half-bridge topology, the configuration unit 18a establishes a first electrically conductive connection between the further inductor 30a of the further heating unit 28a and the further inverter 40a by means of the further first configuration element 74a via the contact 76a.The configuration unit 18a establishes a second electrically conductive connection between the inductor 30a of the further heating unit 28a and the further inverter 40a by means of the further second configuration element 80a via the contact 82a.

[0039] The supply subunit 32a and the further supply subunit 38a are identical to each other.

[0040] The configuration unit 18a has a switching element 44a. When the switching element is open, the heating unit 12a and the further heating unit 28a can each be operated simultaneously in a half-bridge topology by the configuration unit 18a.

[0041] In a closed state of the switching element 44a, the supply subunit 32a and the further supply subunit 38a are electrically connected in series.

[0042] In the closed state of the switching element 44a, a power supply to the entire heating unit 12a is enabled by the power supply unit 16a in a full-bridge topology by a configuration change using the configuration unit 18a. To effect the configuration change, the configuration unit 18a first disconnects the electrically conductive connection via contact 64a using the first configuration element 62a and establishes a new electrically conductive connection via contact 66a.

[0043] The configuration unit 18a uses the second configuration element 68a to break the electrically conductive connection via contact 70a and establish a new electrically conductive connection via contact 72a. For the configuration change, the configuration unit 18a uses the further first configuration element 74a to break the electrically conductive connection via contact 76a and establish a new electrically conductive connection via contact 78a. The configuration unit 18a uses the further second configuration element 80a to break the electrically conductive connection via contact 82a and establish a new electrically conductive connection via contact 84a. In the full-bridge topology, the power supply unit 16a supplies the inductor 14a of the heating unit 12a with an alternating voltage via the inverter 34a and the further inverter 40a.

[0044] The configuration unit 18a has a further switching element 46a. When the further switching element 46a is open, the heating unit 12a and the further heating unit 28a can each be operated simultaneously in a half-bridge topology by the configuration unit 18a.

[0045] In a closed state of the further switching element 46a, the supply sub-unit 32a and the further supply sub-unit 38a are electrically cyclically connected in series.

[0046] By closing the further switching element 46a, a power supply of the entire further heating unit 28a in a full-bridge topology is enabled by a further configuration change using the configuration unit 18a.

[0047] Figure 3shows the power supply unit 16a with the configuration unit 18a. The configuration unit 18a has a two-pole changeover switch 50a. The two-pole changeover switch 50a comprises the switching element 44a and the additional switching element 46a. The two-pole changeover switch 50a is intended to participate in a configuration change.

[0048] Figure 4shows a diagram illustrating the effect of changing a resonance capacitance. A switching frequency at which the control unit 48a operates the power supply unit 16a is plotted on an abscissa 94a of the diagram. A heating power is plotted on an ordinate 96a. A first heating power curve 98a shows a profile of a first heating power in a first operating mode of the induction cooking device 10a at a first resonance capacitance. The first heating power curve 98a has a maximum at a first resonance frequency 100a. To achieve a maximum heating power 106a in the ZVS mode of the control unit, a first minimum switching frequency 108a is required. To reduce the heating power to a target heating power 110a, an increase in the switching frequency to a first target heating power switching frequency 112a is required.A second heating power curve 102a shows a profile of a second heating power in a second operating mode of the induction cooking device 10a at a lower second resonance capacitance. The second heating power curve 102a has a maximum at a higher second resonance frequency 104a. A second minimum switching frequency 114a is required for operation in a ZVS mode. A second target heating power switching frequency 116a is required to achieve the target heating power 110a. A first relative distance 118a between the first target heating power frequency 112a and the first resonance frequency 100a in the first operating mode is greater than a second relative distance 120 between the second target heating power frequency 116a and the second resonance frequency 104a. Consequently, more efficient operation of the induction cooking device 10a is possible in the second operating mode compared to the first operating mode.

[0049] The configuration unit 18a is provided to change at least one resonance capacitance of the power supply unit 16a.

[0050] Figure 5 shows the power supply unit 16a with the configuration unit 18a in a half-bridge configuration 56a with the switching element 44a and the further switching element 46a open. In the half-bridge configuration 56a, the heating unit 12a and the further heating unit 28a can each be operated simultaneously and independently of one another. The resonant capacitor unit 36a of the supply subunit 32a of the power supply unit 16a has a first resonant capacitor element 86a and a second resonant capacitor element 88a. In the half-bridge configuration 56a, the first resonant capacitor element 86a or the second resonant capacitor element 88a can be switched off by the configuration unit. Figure 5The first resonant capacitor element 86a is shown switched off. The configuration unit disconnects the first configuration element 62a by electrically connecting the resonant capacitor element 86a via contact 64a to reduce the resonant capacitance.

[0051] The further resonant capacitor unit 42a of the further supply subunit 38a of the power supply unit 16a has a further first resonant capacitor element 90a and a further second resonant capacitor element 92a. In the half-bridge configuration 56a, the further first resonant capacitor element 90a or the further second resonant capacitor element 92a can be switched off by the configuration unit. Figure 5The further first resonant capacitor element 90a is shown switched off. To reduce the resonant capacitance, the configuration unit uses the further first configuration element 74a to disconnect the electrically conductive connection of the further first resonant capacitor element 90a via the contact 76a.

[0052] Figure 6shows a schematic view of the method according to the invention for operating the induction cooking device 10a. The method comprises a first method step 122a, a second method step 124a, and a third method step 126a. In the first method step 122a, the power supply unit 16a supplies the entire heating unit 12a via the supply subunit 32a in a half-bridge topology. In the second method step 124a, the configuration unit 18a configures the power supply unit 16a from the half-bridge topology to a full-bridge topology. In the third method step 126a, the power supply unit 16a supplies the entire heating unit 12a via the supply subunit 32 and via the further supply subunit 38a in the full-bridge topology.

[0053] In the Figures 7 to 9Three further embodiments of the invention are shown. The following descriptions are essentially limited to the differences between the embodiments, whereby with regard to the same components, features and functions, reference is made to the description of the embodiment of the Figures 1 to 6 To distinguish the embodiments, the letter a in the reference numerals of the embodiment in the Figures 1 to 6 by the letter b in the reference numerals of the embodiment of the Figure 7 , by the letter c in the reference numerals of the embodiment of the Figure 8 and by the letter d in the reference numerals of the embodiment of the Figure 9 With regard to components with the same designation, in particular with regard to components with the same reference numerals, reference can generally also be made to the drawings and / or the description of the embodiment of the Figures 1 to 6 be referred to.

[0054] In Figure 7 A further embodiment of an induction cooking device 10b with a power supply unit 16b is shown. The induction cooking device 10b differs from the induction cooking device 10a in that a power supply unit 16b has additional elements compared to the power supply unit 16a. Figure 7shows an electrical circuit diagram of the power supply unit 16b of the induction cooking device 10b. The power supply unit 16b has a resonant capacitor element 54b. The resonant capacitor element 54b is provided to change the resonant capacitance in a full-bridge configuration of the power supply unit 16b to supply a heating unit 12b. To increase the resonant capacitance, the resonant capacitor element 54b is arranged in parallel with an inverter 34b of the power supply unit 16b and can be connected. The power supply unit 16b has a further resonant capacitor element 128b. The further resonant capacitor element 128b is provided to change the resonant capacitance in a full-bridge configuration of the power supply unit 16b to supply a further heating unit 28b.To increase the resonance capacitance, the resonance capacitor element 128b is arranged in parallel with another inverter 40b of the power supply unit.

[0055] In Figure 8A further embodiment of an induction cooking device 10c is shown. The induction cooking device 10c differs from the induction cooking device 10b only with respect to an arrangement of resonant capacitor elements that is different from that of the power supply unit 16b. The power supply unit 16c has a resonant capacitor element 54c. The resonant capacitor element 54c is provided to change the resonant capacitance in a full-bridge configuration of the power supply unit 16c for supplying a heating unit 12c. To reduce the resonant capacitance, the resonant capacitor element 54c is arranged so that it can be connected in series with an inverter 34c of the power supply unit 16c. The power supply unit 16c has a further resonant capacitor element 128c.The resonant capacitor element 128c is provided to change the resonant capacitance in a full-bridge configuration of the power supply unit 16c to supply a further heating unit 28c. To reduce the resonant capacitance, the resonant capacitor element 128c is arranged to be connectable in series with a further inverter 40c of the power supply unit 16c.

[0056] In Figure 9A further embodiment of an induction cooking device 10d with a power supply unit 16d is shown. The induction cooking device 10d differs from the induction cooking device 10a with regard to a heating unit 12d and with regard to a further heating unit 28d. The heating unit 12d has two inductors 14d, 130d. The power supply unit 16d has a supply subunit 32d for supplying the heating unit 12d. The supply subunit 32d comprises an inverter 34d and a resonant capacitor unit 36d. The resonant capacitor unit 36d comprises a first resonant capacitor element 86d and a second resonant capacitor element 88d, which form a first resonant circuit with the inductor 14d and the inverter 34d.The resonant capacitor unit 36d comprises a third resonant capacitor element 138d and a fourth resonant capacitor element 140d, which form a second resonant circuit with the inductor 130d. The power supply unit 16d has a configuration unit 18d, which is provided for changing the configuration of the power supply unit 16d between a half-bridge topology and a full-bridge topology to supply the entire heating unit 12d or to supply one of the inductors 14d, 130d. The configuration unit 18d has two switching elements 44d, 130d. The inductor 14d of the heating unit 12d can be switched on and / or off by means of the switching element 44d. The inductor 130d can be switched on and / or off by means of the switching element 134d. The additional heating unit 28d has two additional inductors 30d, 132d. The power supply unit 16d has a further supply subunit 38d for supplying the additional heating unit 28d.The supply subunit 38d comprises a further inverter 40d and a further resonant capacitor unit 42d. The further resonant capacitor unit 42d comprises a further first resonant capacitor element 90d and a further second resonant capacitor element 92d, which form a further first resonant circuit with the further inductor 30d and the further inverter 40d. The further resonant capacitor unit 42d comprises a further third resonant capacitor element 142d and a further fourth resonant capacitor element 144d, which form a further second resonant circuit with the inductor 132d. The configuration unit 18d is provided for changing the configuration of the power supply unit 16d between a half-bridge topology and a full-bridge topology to supply the entire heating unit 28d or to supply one of the further inductors 30d, 132d of the further heating unit 28d.The configuration unit has two additional switching elements 46d, 136d. The additional inductor 30d can be switched on and / or off by means of the additional switching element 46d. The additional inductor 132d can be switched on and / or off by means of the additional switching element 136d. Reference symbol

[0057] 10 Induction cooking appliance device 12 Heating unit 14 Inductor 16 Power supply unit 18 Configuration unit 28 Further heating unit 30 Further inductor 32 Supply unit 34 Inverter 36 Resonance capacitor unit 38 Further supply unit 40 Further inverter 42 Further resonance capacitor unit 44 Switching element 46 Further switching element 48 Control unit 50 Double-pole changeover switch 54 Resonance capacitor element 56 Half-bridge configuration 60 Induction cooking appliance 62 First configuration element 64 Contact 66 Contact 68 Second configuration element 70 Contact 72 Contact 74 Further first configuration element 76 Contact 78 Contact 80 Further second configuration element 82 Contact 84 Contact 86 First resonance capacitor element 88 Second Resonance capacitor element 90 further first resonance capacitor element 92 further second resonance capacitor element 94 abscissa 96 ordinate 98 first heating power curve 100 first resonance frequency 102 second heating power curve 104 secondResonance frequency 106 Maximum heating power 108 First minimum switching frequency 110 Target heating power 112 First target heating power switching frequency 114 Second minimum switching frequency 116 Further target heating power switching frequency 118 First relative distance 120 Second relative distance 122 First process step 124 Second process step 126 Third process step 128 Further resonant capacitor element 130 Inductor 132 Further inductor 134 Switching element 136 Further switching element 138 Third resonant capacitor element 140 Fourth resonant capacitor element 142 Further third resonant capacitor element 144 Further fourth resonant capacitor element

Claims

1. Induction cooking appliance device (10a-d), in particular induction hob device, having at least one independent heating unit (12a-d), comprising at least one inductor (14a-d), having a power supply unit (16a-d) for providing an alternating current for the heating unit (12a-d), and having an independent further heating unit (28a-d), comprising at least one further inductor (30a-d), which is supplied by the power supply unit (16a-d) simultaneously with the heating unit (12a-d), wherein the power supply unit (16a-d) has a supply subunit (32a-d), which comprises at least one inverter (34a-d) and at least one resonance capacitor unit (36a-d) for supplying the heating unit (12a-d) and a further supply subunit (38a-d), which comprises at least one further inverter (40a-d) and at least one further resonance capacitor unit (42a-d) for supplying the further heating unit (28a-d), wherein the power supply unit (16a-d) has a configuration unit (18a-d), which is provided for a change of configuration of the power supply unit (16a-d) between a half-bridge topology, in which the heating unit (12a-d) is operated via the supply subunit (32-d) and the further heating unit (28a-d) is operated via the further supply subunit (32-d) in each instance simultaneously and independently of one another respectively, and a full-bridge topology, in which the heating unit (12a-d) is operated via the supply subunit (32a-d) and the further supply subunit (38a-d), for supplying the entire heating unit (12a-d).

2. Induction cooking appliance device (10a-c) according to claim 1, characterised in that the supply subunit (32a-c) and the further supply subunit (38a-c) are connected electrically in series by way of at least one switching element (44a-c) of the configuration unit (18a-c).

3. Induction cooking appliance device (10a-c) according to claim 2, characterised in that the supply subunit (32a-c) and the further supply subunit (38a-c) are connected electrically cyclically in series by way of at least one further switching element (46a-c) of the configuration unit.

4. Induction cooking appliance device (10a-d) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the supply subunit (32a-d) and the further supply subunit (40a-d) are designed to be identical to one another.

5. Induction cooking appliance device (10a-d) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by a control unit (48a), which operates the power supply unit (16a-d) in a ZVS mode.

6. Induction cooking appliance device (10a-d) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the configuration unit (18a-d) has at least one two-pole changeover switch (50a), which is provided to at least collaborate during the configuration change and which has in particular the switching element (44a-d).

7. Induction cooking appliance device (10a-d) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the configuration unit (18a-d) is provided to change at least one resonance capacitance of the power supply unit (16a-d).

8. Induction cooking appliance device (10a-d) according to claim 7, characterised in that the power supply unit (16a-d) has at least one resonance capacitor element (86a-d, 88a-d, 90a-d, 92a-d) which can be deactivated by the configuration unit (18a-d) in a half-bridge configuration of the power supply unit (16a-d) .

9. Induction cooking appliance device (10b-c) according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the power supply unit (16b-c) has at least one resonance capacitor element (54b-c, 128b-c), which is provided for changing the resonance capacitance of the power supply unit (16b-c) in a full-bridge configuration.

10. Induction cooking appliance device (10b) according to claim 9, characterised in that the resonance capacitor element (54b, 128b) is arranged such that it can be connected in parallel with an inverter (34b, 40b) of the power supply unit (16b) in order to increase the resonance capacitance.

11. Induction cooking appliance device (10b) according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the resonance capacitor element (54b, 128b) is arranged such that it can be connected in series with an inverter (34b, 40b) of the power supply unit (16b) in order to reduce the resonance capacitance.

12. Induction cooking appliance (60a), in particular an induction hob, with an induction cooking appliance device (10a; 10b; 10c) according to one of the preceding claims.

13. Method for operating an induction cooking appliance device (10a-d) according to one of claims 1 to 11, with at least one independent heating unit (12a-d), comprising at least one inductor (14a-d), and with a power supply unit (16a-d) for providing an alternating current for the heating unit (12a-d), characterised in that the power supply unit (16a-d) is configured to supply the entire heating unit (12a-d) between a half-bridge topology and a full-bridge topology.