Induction Heating Cooker Sensor Placement for Cost Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost and complexity of using infrared sensors in induction heating cookers, particularly when multiple induction heating coils are involved, lead to increased costs and the need for expensive microcomputers with large storage and processing capacity for accurate heating control.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a configuration where only one infrared sensor is provided for each induction heating unit, with strategic placement to ensure effective temperature detection and control, allowing for cost-effective high-accuracy heating control without the need for infrared sensors on all coils.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If infrared sensors are provided in association with each of the plurality of induction heating coils, then temperature detection accuracy and responsiveness are improved, but device cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature detection accuracyVSAvoiddevice cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by providing infrared sensors for only one induction heating unit (first induction heating unit) while omitting them from other induction heating units. This selective deployment achieves adequate temperature detection functionality without the prohibitive cost of equipping all induction heating coils with infrared sensors, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Measurement precision

If infrared sensors are provided for each induction heating coil, then heating control accuracy is improved, but the controller requires large storage capacity and high processing capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating control accuracyVSAvoidcontroller processing capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial action by limiting infrared sensor deployment to only the first induction heating unit. This reduces the volume of temperature data that requires processing and storage, thereby allowing the use of a more cost-effective controller with moderate processing capacity while still maintaining adequate heating control accuracy for the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Area of stationary object

If multiple infrared sensors are deployed across multiple induction heating units, then overall temperature monitoring coverage is improved, but total system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature monitoring coverageVSAvoidtotal system cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by providing infrared sensors in only one induction heating unit rather than distributing them across all induction heating units. This selective approach achieves a balance between temperature monitoring coverage and total system cost, ensuring that the monitored area is sufficient for typical cooking requirements without incurring the high costs associated with comprehensive multi-unit sensor deployment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 configuration enables a lower-cost induction heating cooker with high-accuracy temperature detection and responsive heating control, optimizing the use of infrared sensors to reduce overall system costs while maintaining performance.

Implementation Method 1

Induction heating coil 30 generates an induction field for inductively heating cooking container 10

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

induction heating coil 30 generates an induction field for inductively heating cooking container 10

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInduction heating: Induction Heating

Implementation Method 3

Infrared sensor 80 includes a photodiode, receives an infrared ray emitted from cooking container 10 through top plate 20, and detects temperature information of cooking container 10

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 4

Infrared sensor 80 includes a photodiode, receives an infrared ray emitted from cooking container 10

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3013121B1Induction heating cooker
Publication Date: 2017.10.11 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3013121B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3013121B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3013121B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An induction heating cooker of the present invention includes first and second induction heating units (61, 62), each of first and second induction heating units (61, 62) including: a plurality of induction heating coils (31, 32, 33, 34); a plurality of inverters (41, 42, 43, 44) that individually drive a plurality of induction heating coils (31 to 34); a temperature detector that detects a temperature of cooking container (11, 12); and power supply and controller (51, 52) that supplies power to inverters (41 to 44), and controls inverters (41 to 44) in accordance with an output of the temperature detector. In first induction heating unit (61), one infrared sensor (81) of the infrared sensors included in the temperature detector is provided in association with one of induction heating coils (31) provided at a foremost position. In second induction heating unit (62), one infrared sensor (82) of the infrared sensors included in the temperature detector is provided in association with one of induction heating coils (34) provided at a rearmost position. According to the present invention, it is possible to configure a lower cost induction heating cooker enabling high accurate heating control by temperature detection with good responsiveness.