Capacitance Grid Cooktop Burner Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooktop appliances face challenges in determining when a burner is active, especially for electric heating elements, and in detecting objects on the surface to prevent damage, as well as monitoring temperature effectively without bulky sensors.
Innovation Solution
A cooktop appliance equipped with a capacitance grid and a controller that receives capacitance signals to identify engaged burners and detect objects, allowing for responsive actions such as alerts or temperature measurement without dedicated sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If LED indicators are incorporated apart from the burners, then burner status can be indicated, but the indicators are difficult to see or determine which burner is hot
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the indicator function with the burner structure itself by incorporating transparent or translucent materials into the burner assembly. This allows the burner to serve dual purposes: heating and visual status indication, eliminating the need for separate LED indicators and solving the visibility problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color change materials or thermochromic substances that change color or transparency in response to temperature changes. This provides intuitive visual feedback about burner status and heating state, making it easier for users to determine which burner is hot without requiring additional lighting components.
2Measurement precision
If temperature sensors are incorporated into certain systems, then temperature detection is possible, but the sensors add bulk to the system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical temperature sensors with optical or electrical detection methods. By using capacitive sensing, optical sensors, or electrical resistance measurements through the burner structure, the system achieves temperature detection without adding bulky mechanical sensors, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the burner structure itself serve multiple functions: heating, temperature sensing, and visual indication. By integrating sensing capabilities into the burner assembly rather than adding separate components, the system achieves temperature detection while maintaining a compact design.
3Ease of operation
If objects are placed on the cooktop surface, then cooking can be performed, but the objects may become damaged due to heat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates detection systems that monitor the cooktop surface for the presence of objects and provide feedback to the control system. When objects are detected, the system can adjust heating parameters, reduce power delivery, or alert the user, thereby preventing heat damage to cooking utensils while maintaining cooking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preventive measures by detecting objects on the cooktop surface before significant heat damage can occur. Through capacitive sensing or optical detection, the system identifies potential hazards and takes preemptive action to protect objects from excessive heat exposure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate detection of burner status and object presence, providing user alerts and temperature monitoring across multiple locations, enhancing safety and usability while reducing bulk and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The controller may include receiving one or more capacitance signals from the capacitance grid, detecting a capacitance increase based on the capacitance signals
Data Source
AI summary
A cooktop appliance may include a cooktop plate, a capacitance grid, a plurality of burners, and a controller. The cooktop plate may define an upper cooking surface. The capacitance grid may be mounted to the cooktop plate. Each burner of the plurality of burners may include an electric heating element mounted below the cooktop plate. The controller may be operatively coupled to the capacitance grid and the plurality of burners. The controller may be configured to direct a cooking operation. The controller may include receiving one or more capacitance signals from the capacitance grid, detecting a capacitance increase based on the capacitance signals, identifying an engaged burner based on the detected capacitance increase, and directing a responsive action on the cooktop based on identifying the engaged burner.