Induction Cookware Signal Control With Hob Presence Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inductive cooking systems face challenges in ensuring user safety and compliance with standards by preventing remote control between cookware and cooktops, while also requiring additional user interactions for function selection and parameter settings.
Innovation Solution
An inductive system that allows users to select functions and parameters directly on the cookware, using inductive power for signal transmission and energy harvesting, eliminating the need for additional energy storage and reducing the need for user interaction with the cooktop controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users can select cooking functions on cookware independently, then user convenience is improved, but safety risks increase due to potential long-distance effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification mechanism where the receiving unit on the hob confirms the presence and position of cookware before executing remote control commands. This intermediary step ensures that cookware is properly positioned on the hotplate before allowing function selection, thereby preventing long-distance effects while maintaining user convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary verification by detecting cookware presence and position before enabling the selection of cooking functions. The receiving unit validates that cookware is correctly placed on the hotplate before the control unit processes any remote control commands, preventing safety issues before they can occur.
2Device complexity
If controls are shifted to cookware, then hob design simplicity is improved, but communication reliability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the receiving unit on the hob sends confirmation signals back to the cookware to verify successful signal reception and proper cookware positioning. This two-way communication ensures reliability by confirming that commands were received and executed correctly, while maintaining the simplified hob design with controls on the cookware.
3Device complexity
If only one actuating element is used, then device complexity is reduced, but functional versatility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single actuating element on the cookware multi-functional by programming it to perform different operations based on the system state. The same button can initialize pairing, select cooking functions, adjust power levels, and control cooking programs, thereby achieving high versatility with minimal physical controls and maintaining simple hob design.
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
Enables safe and efficient operation of inductive cooking systems by allowing direct function selection on cookware, reducing energy storage requirements, and minimizing user effort, while ensuring compliance with safety standards.
Implementation Method 1
transmission of a second signal from the transmitting unit of the induction device when the induction device is inductively supplied by the induction point
Implementation Method 2
inductively operating at least the induction point of the induction device with a first predetermined power for a predetermined period of time
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating an inductive system (1), preferably an inductive cooking system (1), wherein the inductive system (1) comprises: an induction device (2), preferably a cooktop (2), with at least one first induction point (21), preferably with at least one first cooking area (21), and with at least one receiving unit (23), and at least one induction device (3), preferably at least one cooking vessel (3), with at least one actuating element (35) and with at least one transmitting unit (38), wherein the actuating element (35) is configured to allow a user to select between at least two functions of the induction device (2) and/or the induction device (3), wherein the induction device (3) is arranged on the first induction point (21) of the induction device (2), comprising at least the steps of: • Emitting (100) a first signal from the transmitting unit (38),• Receiving (150) the first signal by the receiving unit (22), • Evaluating (200) the received first signal by the induction device (2), • Inductively operating (300) at least the first induction point (21) depending on the evaluation of the received first signal, • Emitting (400) a second signal from the transmitting unit (38), • Receiving (500) the second signal by the receiving unit (23), • Evaluating (550) the received second signal by the induction device (2), • Emitting (700a) a third signal from the transmitting unit (38), • wherein the third signal contains information of the selected second function, • Receiving (800) the third signal by the receiving unit (22), • Evaluating (850) the received third signal by the induction device (2), and • Operating (900a) at least the induction device (2) depending on the information of the selected second function of the received third signal.