Induction Heating Device with Concentric Sensing Coil for Low-Power Pot Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing induction heating devices require high power levels to determine if a pot is compatible for induction heating, which is inefficient and not accurate enough, as they rely on detecting eddy currents in specific metal types, limiting the types of pots that can be used and consuming excessive energy.
Innovation Solution
An induction heating device equipped with a loaded-object sensor that includes a sensing coil and a control unit to determine the compatibility of a pot by analyzing changes in inductance and current phase with a low power supply, allowing for accurate and quick identification of suitable pots while consuming less than 1 W of power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high power levels are supplied to determine pot compatibility, then the accuracy of detecting eddy currents improves, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection function into two separate coils: a sensing coil for compatibility detection and a heating coil for actual heating. This segmentation allows the sensing coil to operate at low power levels while the heating coil delivers high power only when needed, resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing coil acts as an intermediary between the user and the heating system. It first determines pot compatibility through low-power eddy current detection, and only if compatible does it activate the high-power heating coil. This intermediary approach prevents unnecessary high power consumption while maintaining accurate detection capability.
2Measurement precision
If a sensing coil is added to detect pot compatibility, then detection accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing coil is designed to serve multiple functions: it detects pot compatibility through eddy current measurement, and can also be used for actual heating when activated. This multi-functionality reduces the need for completely separate detection and heating systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while improving detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the sensing and heating functions into a unified coil system where the same coil structure can operate in detection mode or heating mode. This combining approach avoids the complexity of entirely separate detection and heating mechanisms, achieving improved detection with minimal additional structural complexity.
3Speed
If the sensing coil operates continuously, then detection responsiveness improves, but induced voltage and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing coil operates periodically rather than continuously - it is activated only when a pot is placed on the heating surface to determine compatibility. This periodic operation maintains fast detection responsiveness when needed while dramatically reducing average power consumption and induced voltage compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the presence of the pot itself to trigger the sensing operation. When a pot is placed on the surface, the system automatically activates the sensing coil to detect compatibility, then deactivates it. This self-triggering mechanism ensures responsive detection only when necessary, avoiding continuous operation and its associated power consumption and induced voltage issues.
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 solution enables accurate and rapid determination of pot compatibility with minimal power consumption, allowing for efficient and safe heating of compatible pots while preventing potential malfunctions due to reduced induced voltage in the sensing coil.
Implementation Method 1
a working coil provided below the loading plate for heating the loaded object using an inductive current
Implementation Method 2
heating the loaded object using an inductive current
Implementation Method 3
a sensing coil to inductively react with the loaded object having the inductive heating property
Implementation Method 4
a resistor circuit configured for reducing a magnitude of induced voltage generated in the sensing coil when the working coil works
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an induction heating device. A loaded-object sensor according to the present disclosure is arranged concentrically and centrally in the working coil. Thus, the sensing coil and the working coil are adjacent to each other. When a current for the heating operation is applied to the working coil, an induction voltage is generated in the sensing coil by magnetic force generated by the current applied to the working coil. According to the present disclosure, a resistor circuit is used to reduce the induction voltage generated in the sensing coil when the heating operation of the working coil is performed.