Wireless Cooktop Empty-Heating Detection Using Dual Temperature Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Induction ranges can perform empty heating without an object to be cooked, leading to potential damage to the heater and overheating, as users cannot easily determine if the appliance is being heated due to wireless power transfer, necessitating a method to detect and prevent this issue.

Innovation Solution

A wireless power transmission apparatus with a transmission coil, inverter circuit, processor, and communication interface that monitors the temperature of the cooking appliance's bottom surface and internal temperature during and after heating to determine if empty heating is occurring, and adjusts the heating operation accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If wireless power transmission is used to heat the cooking appliance, then energy efficiency and stability are improved, but the user cannot easily determine if the appliance is being heated, leading to empty heating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoiddetectability of heating state

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs visual indicators (such as LED lights or display elements) that change color or illuminate to indicate the heating state of the cooking appliance. This allows users to easily determine whether the appliance is being heated despite the wireless power transmission being invisible, thereby preventing empty heating while maintaining the energy efficiency benefits of wireless power transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Productivity

If heating operation continues without detection, then productivity is maintained, but the heater may be damaged due to empty heating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating operation continuityVSAvoidheater durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where temperature sensors continuously monitor the cooking appliance's temperature and provide real-time data to the control system. The system compares the detected temperature with expected values and automatically adjusts or stops the heating operation when empty heating is detected, thus protecting the heater while maintaining productivity during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs preventive measures by detecting the absence of a cooking object before significant heating occurs. The system uses temperature monitoring and load detection to identify empty heating conditions early and immediately terminates the heating operation, preventing damage to the heater before it can occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Reliability

If temperature monitoring is implemented to detect empty heating, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveempty heating detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the cooking appliance to self-monitor its own heating state through integrated temperature sensors and control circuits. The appliance autonomously detects empty heating conditions and communicates with the wireless power transmission system to terminate heating when needed, eliminating the need for complex external monitoring systems while maintaining high detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Effectively prevents empty heating by accurately determining when a cooking appliance is being heated without an object, thereby protecting the heater and preventing overheating, enhancing user safety and appliance longevity.

Implementation Method 1

An induction range as a wireless power transmission apparatus is a heating apparatus for cooking using the principle of inductive heating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of a bottom surface of the cooking appliance and an internal temperature of the cooking appliance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation detection: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS20230389132A1Home appliance and power transmission apparatus for detecting empty heating

Publication Date: 2023.11.30 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A wireless power transmission apparatus for determining empty heating is provided. The wireless power transmission apparatus includes at least one processor configured to control a communication interface configured to communicate with a cooking appliance, wherein the communication interface is further configured to receive, from the cooking appliance, a temperature of a bottom surface of the cooking appliance and an internal temperature of the cooking appliance for a first time period during which a heating operation is performed and for a second time period following the first time period, during which the heating operation is stopped, and the at least one processor is further configured to stop the heating operation for the second time period, and determine whether the cooking appliance undergoes empty heating based on a relationship between the temperature of the bottom surface and the internal temperature for the second time period.