Cooking system temperature management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Countertop cooking systems occupy significant counter space when not in use, making them inconvenient for users with limited kitchen space, as they need to be stored elsewhere, reducing accessibility and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A cooking system with an alternating current bus, heating elements, and a controller that uses zero-crossing circuitry and modulation schedules to efficiently manage energy distribution, allowing the system to be compactly stored vertically and easily rotated for nesting under cabinets while maintaining efficient heating performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the countertop cooking system is designed to be compact for storage, then storage convenience is improved, but heating performance and uniformity may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into multiple independent heating zones with separate heating elements, allowing each zone to be controlled independently. This segmentation enables uniform heating distribution across the compact cooking surface while maintaining compact overall dimensions for convenient storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic control of heating elements through zero-crossing circuitry and modulation schedules that adjust energization timing and duration. This dynamic adjustment allows the compact heating system to achieve uniform temperature distribution by varying the heating pattern rather than relying solely on physical size.
2Speed
If the cooking system uses high power heating elements, then heating speed is improved, but energy management complexity and potential overheating risks worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action by synchronizing heating element energization with AC power cycles through zero-crossing detection. High power is delivered in controlled periodic bursts rather than continuously, achieving fast heating while simplifying energy management through natural power cycle synchronization and reducing overheating risks.
3Measurement precision
If the cooking system is designed with precise temperature control, then heating precision is improved, but device complexity and cost worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback through temperature sensors that continuously monitor heating compartment temperature and feed this information back to the controller. The controller adjusts heating element energization based on this feedback, achieving precise temperature control through a relatively simple feedback loop that leverages the existing AC power cycle synchronization.
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 system achieves efficient and uniform heating while being compactly designed, allowing for easy storage and improved accessibility, ensuring that the cooking system remains convenient and functional in kitchens with limited space.
Implementation Method 1
heating elements comprising a first heating element disposed in the heating compartment and associated with the alternating current bus to conduct alternating current through the first heating element
Data Source
AI summary
According to one or more implementations, a method is disclosed for operating heating elements disposed in a heating compartment of a cooking system. The method includes receiving a zero-crossing indication based on an alternating current and defined by zero-crossing circuitry. The method includes energizing a first heating element of the heating elements with the alternating current based on the zero-crossing indication and according to a modulation schedule.