Induction Cooktop Infrared Sensor Preheating Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional induction heat cooking devices struggle to accurately control the temperature of cooking containers with thin bottom plates, leading to inefficient preheating times and potential overheating, especially when cooking stir-fried food with a small amount of oil, due to poor temperature detection and control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An induction heat cooking device equipped with an infrared sensor that detects temperature through a transparent top plate, allowing for high-frequency heating and precise control of heating power, including a preheating mode that uses a high initial heating output and transitions to lower outputs based on temperature increments, ensuring accurate temperature detection and prevention of excessive heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a heat sensitive element detects temperature through the top plate, then the device can detect temperature of the cooking container, but the temperature detection accuracy deteriorates when the bottom plate is thin or warping occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an infrared sensor as an intermediary detection device that directly measures the infrared radiation emitted by the bottom surface of the cooking container. This mediator bypasses the indirect heat conduction method through the top plate, enabling accurate temperature detection even when the bottom plate is thin or warped, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal conduction-based temperature detection system (heat sensitive element through top plate) with an optical-based infrared detection system. This substitution eliminates the dependency on thermal conduction through the plate structure, achieving reliable temperature detection independent of the bottom plate's physical condition
2Productivity
If high heating power is applied to preheat quickly, then the preheating speed improves, but the risk of overheating increases when the load is small
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where the infrared sensor continuously monitors the bottom surface temperature and feeds this information back to the control unit. The control unit adjusts the heating power in real-time based on the detected temperature, enabling rapid preheating while preventing overheating by reducing power when the target temperature is approached, thus resolving the contradiction between preheating speed and overheating risk
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic heating power adjustment rather than fixed power levels. The heating power transitions from high initial power for rapid preheating to lower power as the temperature approaches the target, creating a dynamic control system that adapts to the real-time thermal state of the cooking container, thereby achieving both fast preheating and overheating prevention
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 device achieves rapid and accurate preheating of cooking containers, preventing overheating and maintaining the target temperature, thus ensuring safe and efficient cooking, even with thin-bottomed containers and small oil loads.
Implementation Method 1
an infrared sensor for detecting an infrared light that is emitted from a bottom surface of the cooking container
Implementation Method 2
a heating coil for receiving a high frequency current to heat a cooking container placed on the top plate by induction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An induction heat cooking device is provided that finishes preheating in a short time and maintains the temperature obtained at the finish of the preheating. When a preheating heating mode is selected as an operation mode, a control unit (8) arranged in the induction heat cooking device starts operation in a preheating mode in which a cooking container is heated with a first heating output. When an increment of an output value of an infrared sensor exceeds a first predetermined increment since the heating starts with the first heating output, the control unit causes a notification unit to notify a user that the preheating is finished, and the operation mode is changed to a waiting mode for performing heating with a second heating output that is lower than the first heating output. Further, when the user sets a heating power by means of a heating power setting unit in the preheating mode, the control unit prohibits changing to the heating power set by the user. When the user sets a heating power by means of a heating power setting unit in the waiting mode, the control unit permits changing to the heating power set by the user, and the operation mode is changed to a heating mode for performing heating with a third heating output corresponding to the heating power set by the user.