Induction Cooktop Current Sensing for Automatic Vessel Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Induction heat cooking apparatuses face challenges in determining whether a cooking vessel is present, leading to inefficient energy use and user confusion regarding burner controls.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a power supply, rectifier, switching units, a comparison unit, and a controller that alternately applies DC voltage to the working coil, senses current, and outputs pulses to determine if a cooking vessel is present based on predetermined reference values, thereby controlling current flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the induction heat cooking apparatus operates without automatic vessel detection, then the heating function is always available, but energy is wasted when no cooking vessel is present and users cannot intuitively distinguish active burners
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection by sensing current in the working coil before initiating full heating operation. The controller detects whether a cooking vessel is present by measuring current flow characteristics, and only activates heating when a vessel is confirmed present, preventing wasted energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors current flow in the working coil and provides feedback to the controller. Based on this feedback, the controller determines whether a cooking vessel is present and adjusts the heating operation accordingly, enabling automatic energy management without user intervention.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple burners are provided in the induction heat cooking apparatus, then cooking versatility is improved, but it becomes difficult for users to intuitively distinguish between buttons for respectively adjusting the burners
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses visual indication through lighting elements that change color or illuminate to indicate which burner is currently active or selected. This visual feedback helps users intuitively identify which button controls which burner, improving ease of operation while maintaining multi-burner versatility.
3Measurement precision
If the apparatus continuously monitors current to detect cooking vessels, then detection accuracy is improved, but additional control complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing current flow in the working coil for dual purposes: both for heating operation and for vessel detection. By analyzing the current characteristics that already exist during normal operation, the system achieves accurate vessel detection without requiring separate detection hardware or complex additional control circuits.
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
This solution allows for accurate detection of a cooking vessel, optimizing energy use by preventing heating in its absence and enhancing user convenience by clearly identifying active burners.
Implementation Method 1
a rectifier configured to rectify the supplied AC voltage into a direct current (DC) voltage
Implementation Method 2
first and second switching units configured to control switching such that the DC voltage from the rectifier is alternately applied to a working coil
Implementation Method 3
When high-frequency current flows in the working coil or the heating coil, strong lines of magnetic force are generated. The lines of magnetic force generated in the working coil or the heating coil generate eddy current upon passing through a cooking vessel.
Implementation Method 4
a comparison unit configured to sense current flowing in the working coil and to compare the sensed current with a predetermined reference value to output pulses
Implementation Method 5
The lines of magnetic force generated in the working coil or the heating coil generate eddy current upon passing through a cooking vessel. Accordingly, heat is generated in the cooking vessel according to flow of Eddy current to heat the cooking vessel.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an induction heat cooking apparatus including a power supply configured to supply an alternating current (AC) voltage, a rectifier configured to rectify the supplied AC voltage into a direct current (DC) voltage, first and second switching units configured to control switching such that the DC voltage from the rectifier is alternately applied to a working coil, a comparison unit configured to sense current flowing in the working coil and to compare the sensed current with a predetermined reference value to output pulses, and a controller configured to determine whether a cooking vessel is present on the working coil based on the output pulses.