Cooktop appliance and methods of burner level response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooktop appliances face difficulties in determining when a burner is active and its temperature level, especially with electric heating elements, as existing solutions like LED indicators are hard to see and temperature sensors have limited detection coverage or add bulk.
Innovation Solution
A cooktop appliance with a capacitance grid mounted to the cooktop plate, where a controller receives capacitance signals to detect capacitance deltas and identify burner levels, allowing for responsive actions such as alerts or adjustments based on the detected burner status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If LED indicators are used to show burner status, then burner activity can be indicated, but the indicators are difficult to see and determine which burner is hot
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the cooktop plate itself as an intermediary to display burner status. The capacitance grid is embedded within the cooktop plate, and the plate's visual properties (such as color changes or light emission) directly indicate which burners are active, eliminating the need for separate LED indicators and improving visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the burner status indication function with the cooktop plate structure. The capacitance grid and display elements are integrated into the plate, merging the structural component with the information display function, thereby eliminating the need for separate LED indicators.
2Measurement precision
If temperature sensors are incorporated to detect burner temperature, then temperature information can be obtained, but the sensors have limited detection coverage or add bulk to the system
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitance grid serves multiple functions: it detects the presence of cookware, determines burner activity status, and measures temperature levels. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate temperature sensors, reducing system complexity while maintaining detection accuracy across the entire cooktop surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooktop plate itself performs the temperature detection function through the embedded capacitance grid. The plate's electrical properties change in response to temperature variations, allowing the system to self-monitor without requiring external temperature sensing components.
3Measurement precision
If multiple temperature sensors are distributed across the cooktop to improve detection coverage, then temperature monitoring is enhanced, but the system bulk and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitance grid provides universal detection capability across the entire cooktop surface. By measuring capacitance changes at multiple grid points, the system achieves comprehensive temperature and presence monitoring without requiring multiple separate sensor components, thereby maintaining full coverage while minimizing system complexity.
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 and alerting of burner status and temperature levels without the need for dedicated temperature sensors, improving user interaction and appliance efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The controller may be configured to direct a cooking operation including receiving a plurality of capacitance signals from the capacitance grid, detecting a capacitance delta based on the plurality of 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 including receiving a plurality of capacitance signals from the capacitance grid, detecting a capacitance delta based on the plurality of capacitance signals, identifying a burner level of an engaged burner of the plurality of burners based on the detected capacitance delta, and directing a responsive action on the cooktop appliance based on the identified burner level.