Cooking Hob Control Unit Temperature Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking appliances lack safe and reliable operation, electronic service life, and user-friendliness, particularly in managing heating power and preventing overheating or underheating during cooking processes.
Innovation Solution
A cooking appliance device with a heating unit, control unit, and sensor unit that determines cooking parameters to adjust the maximum deliverable heating power based on temperature and weight, allowing a boost mode and varying power settings to ensure safe and efficient cooking, including an induction heating unit for direct energy supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the heating power is increased to improve cooking speed, then productivity is improved, but the reliability and safety deteriorate due to overheating risks
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously receives temperature signals from the sensor unit and adjusts the heating power accordingly. When the temperature reaches a predefined threshold, the control unit automatically reduces or switches off the heating power, preventing overheating while maintaining efficient cooking speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating power is made dynamically adjustable based on real-time temperature conditions. The system transitions between different power levels (including a boost mode for rapid heating and reduced power for safety) depending on the cooking state, optimizing both cooking speed and safety throughout the cooking process.
2Reliability
If the heating power is continuously adjusted to improve safety, then reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system adjusts the heating power parameter based on temperature threshold values. By defining specific temperature thresholds and corresponding power levels in advance, the control logic remains relatively simple while achieving reliable safety control through parameter-based decision making rather than complex algorithms.
3Reliability
If the maximum heating power is limited to prevent overheating, then safety is improved, but the cooking efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic temperature monitoring and power adjustment cycles. During normal cooking, the heating operates at optimal power levels for efficiency. When temperature thresholds are approached, the system periodically switches to reduced power or boost mode as needed, maintaining cooking efficiency while preventing overheating through rhythmic control adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating power is dynamically adapted to cooking conditions rather than being continuously limited. The system allows high power delivery when safe (maintaining efficiency) and automatically restricts power only when temperature thresholds indicate potential overheating (ensuring safety), creating an optimal balance throughout the cooking process.
4Reliability
If temperature monitoring is continuously performed to improve safety, then reliability is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature monitoring is performed periodically at strategically chosen moments during the cooking process rather than continuously. The sensor unit measures temperature at intervals sufficient to detect overheating risks while allowing the heating element to operate efficiently between measurements, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining safety.
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
Enhances safe operation, extends electronic service life, and improves user-friendliness by adapting heating power to cooking conditions, preventing overheating and ensuring efficient energy use, while maintaining safety through controlled boost mode activation and power adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
A heating unit 16, in particular an induction heating unit, which is designed to convert an input energy form, preferably electrical energy, or alternatively chemical energy, into heat and/or, preferably, directed thermal radiation
Implementation Method 2
the at least one heating unit (16) is designed as an induction heating unit... designed to heat, in particular, metallic, preferably ferromagnetic, heating elements, especially cooking utensils, preferably arranged on a hob, and/or heating elements, preferably arranged in an oven
Implementation Method 3
A heating unit 16, in particular an induction heating unit, which is designed to convert an input energy form, preferably electrical energy, or alternatively chemical energy, into heat and/or, preferably, directed thermal radiation
Implementation Method 4
The sensor unit 20 is designed to determine a cooking parameter T, configured as a temperature parameter... The sensor unit 20 includes a temperature sensor 22 configured as an infrared sensor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The device (12) i.e. cooking hob device (10), has a sensing unit (20) for determining a cooking characteristic value i.e. temperature characteristic value. A control unit (18) defines maximum available heating power at one of heating units (16, 16') e.g. induction heating units, as a function of the cooking characteristic value according to an operating mode e.g. fully automatic mode. The control unit defines the maximum available heating power in a range of values of the characteristic value, which is 5% larger than the heating power in another range of values of the characteristic value. An independent claim is also included for a method for operating a cooking device.