Induction Cooktop Coil Clustering for Multi-Cookware Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cookware detection techniques on induction cooktops fail to accurately determine the position, size, shape, and orientation of multiple cookware items when they are placed closely together, leading to inaccurate identification and power control.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilizes a coverage factor matrix to identify local maxima, calculate centroids, and cluster coils based on distance to estimate the position, shape, and orientation of cookware items, allowing for precise power control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional cookware detection techniques are used, then the system is simple to operate, but the measurement precision of cookware position, size, shape, and orientation deteriorates when multiple items are placed closely together
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cooktop surface into multiple discrete coil regions, each with its own coverage factor measurement. By dividing the detection area into individual coil zones and analyzing coverage patterns separately for each coil, the system can distinguish between multiple cookware items even when they are closely placed together. This segmentation approach transforms a complex multi-item detection problem into manageable per-coil measurements that can be processed independently and then integrated.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of analysis by using coverage factor matrices that represent spatial relationships across multiple coils. Instead of relying on single-point or simple area measurements, the system creates a two-dimensional matrix representation where each element corresponds to a coil's coverage factor. This dimensional transformation enables the detection of patterns, shapes, and orientations by analyzing the spatial distribution of coverage factors across the matrix, thereby improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing physical device complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple cookware items are placed closely together, then the cooking capacity increases, but the reliability of individual item identification deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the coverage factor measurements from each coil are continuously analyzed to identify local maxima and update the identification of cookware items. The system uses the coverage factor matrix to provide feedback about the spatial distribution and intensity of cookware presence across different coil zones. This feedback loop enables the system to reliably distinguish between multiple items by tracking how coverage factors vary across coils and updating item identification based on the accumulated spatial pattern information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality analysis by examining coverage factors individually for each coil rather than treating the entire cooktop surface uniformly. Each coil's coverage factor provides localized information about cookware presence in its specific region. By analyzing these local measurements and identifying local maxima in the coverage factor matrix, the system can determine which specific coils are most strongly coupled with each cookware item, thereby reliably identifying individual items even when multiple items occupy the same general area.
3Productivity
If conventional detection methods are used, then the device complexity is low, but the productivity of power control deteriorates due to inaccurate cookware identification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing coverage factor matrices for each coil before actual cookware detection occurs. The system预先 establishes the spatial relationships and coupling characteristics of each coil with different positions on the cooktop surface. This preliminary preparation of coverage factor data enables rapid and accurate cookware identification during operation, as the system only needs to compare real-time measurements against the pre-established coverage patterns, thereby improving power control productivity without proportionally increasing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the coverage factor matrix as an intermediary representation that mediates between the physical coil configurations and the logical cookware identification process. Instead of directly analyzing complex electromagnetic coupling patterns, the system uses coverage factors as an intermediate metric that simplifies the relationship between coils and cookware items. This intermediary representation enables more efficient processing and more accurate identification, improving power control productivity while managing system complexity through abstraction.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method is provided for identifying cookware items (30, 32, 34) placed on top of an induction cooktop (10) having a plurality of coils (201-20n). The method includes the following steps: acquire coverage factor information for each coil (201-20n) and collect it into a matrix; identify all local maxima in the matrix; find the coordinates of each of the local maxima as follows: when the local maxima is a single coil (201-20n), the coordinates are those of the coil center, and when the local maxima is a region of contiguous coils (201-20n), the coordinates are those of a centroid of the region; calculate distances from each coil (201-20n) to each of the coordinates of the identified local maxima; determine a minimum among the distances; classify the coils (201-20n) in clusters, based on the distances from the local maxima; and use the identified coil (201-20n) clustering to estimate the position, shape, size, and orientation of the cookware items (30, 32, 34).