Dual-Coil Induction Cooker Control for Uniform Vessel Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing induction heating cookers fail to provide uniform heating and smooth operation without additional sensing components, and they struggle to maintain homogeneous heat distribution and power transmission across different vessel sizes and electromagnetic characteristics.

Innovation Solution

The induction heating cooker employs a dual concentric coil structure with separate power control circuits and a processing means to control the coils based on scanning and generating a data set of power and phase differences, allowing for uniform heating by selecting appropriate frequencies and phase differences to ensure homogeneous heating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If dual coils are controlled separately based on sensed temperature, then uniform heating is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensing components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating uniformityVSAvoidsensing components
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses itself to detect vessel characteristics through impedance sensing of the coils, eliminating the need for separate temperature sensors. The control unit analyzes the electrical characteristics of the coils to infer heating conditions and automatically adjusts coil control accordingly, making the system self-diagnosing and self-regulating without additional sensing components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If coils are driven at common frequency and constant phase difference, then power transmission stability is improved, but heating adaptability to different vessel sizes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transmission stabilityVSAvoidheating adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the phase difference between inner and outer coils based on detected vessel characteristics. While the coils operate at a common frequency to maintain stability, the phase difference is variable rather than constant, allowing the system to adapt to different vessel sizes and electromagnetic properties. The control unit modifies the phase relationship in real-time to optimize heating performance for each specific cooking scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the phase difference parameter according to the detected vessel characteristics. By varying this electrical parameter while maintaining common frequency operation, the system achieves both stable power transmission and adaptive heating performance across different cooking conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If set power level is not less than common maximum total power, then heating capability is improved, but operational smoothness deteriorates due to need for alternating coil operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating capabilityVSAvoidoperational smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

When high power levels are required, the system employs periodic alternating operation of the inner and outer coils. Instead of attempting to operate both coils simultaneously at maximum power (which would cause instability), the control unit alternates between the inner coil and outer coil in periodic cycles. This periodic action maintains the required high average power output while ensuring smooth and stable operation by allowing each coil to operate within its optimal range during its active period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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 ensures uniform heating and stable operation across various cooking vessels and power levels without the need for additional sensing components, enhancing cooking performance and customer satisfaction.

Implementation Method 1

a heater with an inner coil (3) and an outer coil (4) disposed concentrically in dual structure arranged to apply magnetic energy for heating a vessel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

arranged to apply magnetic energy for heating a vessel placed on a heating zone (Z)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInduction heating: Induction Heating

Data Source

PatentEP4391721B1Induction heating cooker and heating method
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 ARCELIK AS
  • EP4391721B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4391721B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4391721B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to an induction heating cooker (1) and a heating method for the induction heating cooker (1). The induction heating cooker (1) comprises a heater (2) with an inner coil (3) and an outer coil (4) disposed concentrically in dual structure arranged to apply magnetic energy for heating a vessel placed on a heating zone (Z), two power control circuits (5) for separately driving the inner coil (3) and the outer coil (4), and a processing means (6) for controlling the operation of the power control circuits (5).