Cooking hob device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hob devices lack features for enhanced comfort and safety, particularly in monitoring and managing cooking parameters during and after the cooking process, including residual heat detection and maintaining serving temperatures, which can lead to operator safety risks and inefficient cooking experiences.
Innovation Solution
An induction hob device with a contact module, sensor unit, and control unit that monitors and adjusts cooking parameters, including temperature, during cooking and cooling processes, using wireless communication and output units for visual and acoustic feedback, allowing for target temperature settings and automatic reactivation of the heating unit to maintain desired temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hob device only monitors cooking parameters during the cooking process, then the device complexity is reduced, but the safety and comfort for operators deteriorates due to lack of residual heat monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously receives temperature data from the sensor unit during the cooling process and provides feedback to determine when residual heat warnings should be displayed. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables safety monitoring without requiring complex additional hardware, as it utilizes the existing sensor and control infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit and control unit work autonomously to monitor the cooking vessel temperature and automatically generate residual heat warnings when necessary. The system self-manages the safety monitoring function without requiring external intervention or complex additional components, as the existing control unit is programmed to evaluate temperature data and trigger appropriate warnings.
2Reliability
If the control unit monitors cooking parameters during the cooling process, then the comfort and safety are improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit monitors temperature data at periodic intervals during the cooling process rather than continuously, reducing energy consumption while still effectively detecting residual heat conditions. The system activates monitoring based on predefined criteria such as when the heating element is turned off and temperature exceeds a threshold, rather than operating continuously.
3Measurement precision
If the contact module is arranged in direct contact with the cooking utensil, then the measurement precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the need for physical contact
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor unit is extracted from the hob device and integrated into the cooking vessel itself, allowing the sensor to be positioned optimally for direct contact with the food or vessel bottom for precise temperature measurement. This extraction enables the sensor to be placed where it can best perform its function without constraining the hob device design or user operation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the hob device includes wireless transmission of cooking parameters, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it processes temperature data from the sensor unit, controls the heating element, displays cooking information, and transmits data wirelessly. By making the control unit multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high adaptability and versatility.
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
The solution provides improved comfort and safety by warning operators of residual heat, maintaining food at desired serving temperatures, and enhancing cooking process planning, while reducing the risk of injury and ensuring a pleasant eating experience through efficient temperature management.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor element has at least one thermocouple and/or at least one thermistor
Implementation Method 2
the sensor element has at least one thermocouple and/or at least one thermistor, in particular an NTC resistor
Implementation Method 3
the heating unit is designed at least as an induction heating unit
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a cooktop device (10), in particular an induction cooktop device, with at least one contact module (12) designed to be arranged on at least one cooking vessel (14), and which has at least one sensor unit (16) designed to determine at least one cooking parameter. To provide a generic device with improved user-friendliness, it is proposed that the cooktop device (10) have at least one control unit (18) designed to monitor the cooking parameter, at least during a cooling process.