Hob Weight-Sensing Design for Multi-Vessel Cooking Process Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hob devices struggle to monitor low power levels and adjust heat output accurately, especially when cooking multiple vessels or adding cold food, due to limitations in structure-borne noise measurements and imprecise chemical potential determination.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating weighing devices and a cooking vessel identification system to detect weight changes and vessel positions, allowing for precise control of heating based on weight data and vessel characteristics, enabling continuous adjustment of heat output and monitoring of cooking processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If structure-borne noise measurements are used for boiling point detection, then reliable monitoring of boiling processes is achieved, but monitoring of low power levels and continuous adjustment of heat output cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces structure-borne noise measurements (acoustic/mechanical method) with weight measurements (gravitational method). The weighing device continuously measures the weight of the cooking vessel and its contents, enabling detection of weight changes that occur during heating, boiling, and evaporation processes across all power levels, not just during vigorous boiling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from acoustic noise intensity to weight. By measuring weight changes over time, the system can detect various cooking states including low-power heating (where evaporation is minimal), boiling (where evaporation increases), and the effect of adding cold food (which temporarily reduces weight). This parameter change enables continuous monitoring and adjustment across the full range of power levels.
2Productivity
If chemical potential determination is used to monitor food state, then continuous weight-based monitoring is achieved, but the system becomes complex and imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the weight measurement aspect from the complex chemical potential determination method. Instead of measuring multiple parameters (weight, temperature, chemical composition) to determine chemical potential, the system uses only weight measurements from a simple weighing device. This extraction maintains continuous monitoring capability while dramatically reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex chemical/physical measurement system (chemical potential determination requiring multiple sensors and calculations) with a simple mechanical weighing system. The weighing device provides continuous weight data that, when combined with heating power information, enables inference of cooking state without requiring complex measurements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cooking vessels are placed on the hob, then cooking versatility is improved, but monitoring and control of individual vessels becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement system by associating each weighing device with a specific cooking zone and vessel. The control device can independently evaluate weight changes for each vessel based on data from its dedicated weighing device, enabling precise monitoring and control of multiple vessels simultaneously without interference between them.
Solution Approach 2:
The weighing device serves multiple functions: it measures the total weight of the vessel and contents, detects weight changes due to evaporation, detects when cold food is added, and provides data for calculating cooking state. This multi-functionality enables comprehensive monitoring of multiple vessels using a relatively simple device.
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
Provides enhanced user support and precise control of cooking processes, allowing for optimal heat management and energy savings by accurately monitoring weight changes and vessel states, even during low power operations and with multiple vessels.
Implementation Method 1
The weighing devices are configured to detect a weight force acting on the mounting plate in the installation position of the hob
Implementation Method 2
at least one heating device, by means of which cooking vessels standing on the mounting plate can be heated
Implementation Method 3
The heating device can preferably comprise at least one induction coil
Implementation Method 4
From the change in the weight of the food, depending on the chemical potential of the food, conclusions can be drawn about the state of the food
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
Hob device (1) comprising a housing device (2), a frame device (3) and a mounting plate (4). Two weighing devices (5) are arranged on the frame device (3), on which the mounting plate (4) rests. Furthermore, a cooking vessel identification device (50) is assigned to the support plate (4). When the hob device is operated, conclusions are drawn about the status of a cooking container and/or about the status of at least one cooking process in at least one cooking container via weight detection using the weighing devices (5) and cooking container identification using the cooking container identification device (50).