Cooking Appliance Power Control with Pulsed Heating Regulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current electromechanical cooking appliances are limited to energy efficiency class A due to their temperature-controlled heating mechanisms, which result in high energy consumption and inefficient power management.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a power control unit with a monitoring entity, control entity, and switching entity to provide pulsed electrical power to the heating element based on temperature sensor data, allowing for reduced average heating power and optimized duty cycles to minimize energy usage, especially during prolonged cooking times and when using power efficiency programs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If electromechanical switch is used for temperature control, then temperature regulation is achieved, but energy efficiency is limited to class A
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely electromechanical switch with an electronic power control unit that uses pulse-width modulation (PWM) to control the heating element. The microcontroller-based system substitutes mechanical temperature control with electronic control, achieving superior energy efficiency (class A+) while maintaining temperature regulation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic pulsed power delivery to the heating element through PWM control. The power control unit switches power in controlled pulses rather than continuous operation, allowing precise energy management and improved efficiency while maintaining effective heating through thermal inertia.
2Productivity
If continuous maximum power is provided to heating element, then heating speed is maximized, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power control unit delivers power to the heating element in periodic pulses rather than continuously. The duty cycle of these pulses is dynamically adjusted based on temperature feedback, allowing rapid heating when needed while reducing energy consumption during maintenance phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic power adjustment where the power control unit continuously adapts the power delivery to the heating element based on real-time temperature measurements. The system transitions from high-power rapid heating to lower-power maintenance heating, optimizing both productivity and energy efficiency throughout the cooking process.
3Reliability
If electromechanical switch operates frequently, then temperature control is maintained, but wear and reliability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electromechanical switch with an electronic power control system using solid-state switching components. This eliminates mechanical wear while maintaining precise temperature control through electronic PWM regulation and microcontroller-based feedback control.
Solution Approach 2:
The power control unit acts as an intermediary between the temperature sensor and the heating element. It processes temperature feedback and controls power delivery through electronic switching, eliminating the need for frequent electromechanical switch operations while maintaining precise temperature regulation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple heating elements are used, then cooking versatility is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single heating element multi-functional through electronic control. The power control unit can deliver various power levels and pulse patterns to the same heating element, enabling different cooking modes (rapid heating, gentle warming, baking, grilling) without requiring multiple physical heating elements, thus reducing manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves cooking versatility by changing the parameters of power delivery (pulse width, duty cycle, frequency) to a single heating element rather than using multiple elements. The microcontroller adjusts these parameters dynamically to provide different cooking functions, eliminating the need for additional hardware.
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
This approach enhances energy efficiency by reducing energy consumption, allowing for precise temperature regulation without relying solely on electromechanical switch operations, and supports reduced manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for multiple heating elements.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor being adapted to derive a temperature associated with the cooking appliance
Implementation Method 2
an electromechanical switch, said electromechanical switch being coupled with the temperature sensor for switching the electric power provided to the heating element depending of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor
Implementation Method 3
a heating element... providing pulsed electrical power to the heating element
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a cooking appliance comprising: - a heating element (2); - a temperature sensor (3) being adapted to derive a temperature (T) associated with the cooking appliance (1); - an electromechanical switch (4), said electromechanical switch (4) being coupled with the temperature sensor (3) for switching the electric power provided to the heating element (2) depending of the temperature (T) measured by the temperature sensor (3); and - a power control unit (5) comprising: • a monitoring entity (5.1) being adapted to receive information regarding the switching operation of the electromechanical switch (4); • a control entity (5.2) being adapted to establish switching information based on information provided by the monitoring entity (5.1), said switching information indicating that a switching operation has been performed by the electromechanical switch (4); and • switching entity (5.3) comprising switching means (5.3.1) being electrically coupled with the heating element (2) for providing pulsed electrical power to the heating element (2) based on said switching information provided by the control entity (5.2).