Induction Hob Coil Conflict Resolution via Power Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Induction hobs with multiple coils face conflicts when two cooking vessels are placed over a common coil with different desired heating powers, leading to inadequate heating for one vessel, potentially causing over-heating and food burning.

Innovation Solution

A method where the common induction heating coil operates at a reduced power, signaled to the operator, allowing for a decision time to resolve the conflict by adjusting vessel placement or power settings, ensuring both vessels are heated without significant disadvantage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the induction heating coil operates at the higher target power level to satisfy the cooking vessel with higher power demand, then the higher power vessel is heated adequately, but the lower power vessel is overheated causing food burning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating power for high-power vesselVSAvoidoverheating and food burning

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit detects the conflict situation before significant overheating occurs and preemptively reduces the power to a safe level, preventing the harmful effect rather than correcting it after occurrence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit acts as an intermediary that mediates between the two conflicting power demands by selecting a reduced power level that is safe for both vessels, and communicates the conflict to the user through visual/audible signals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the induction heating coil operates at the lower target power level to satisfy the cooking vessel with lower power demand, then overheating is prevented, but the higher power vessel is underheated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverheating preventionVSAvoidheating power for high-power vessel

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the power level based on the detected conflict situation, transitioning from normal operation to conflict resolution mode with reduced power, and provides temporal information to the user about the duration of the reduced power state

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the system immediately resolves the conflict by reducing power without user notification, then safety is ensured, but the user is not informed of the power reduction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverheating preventionVSAvoiduser awareness of power reduction

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit provides feedback to the user through visual and audible signals when a conflict is detected and when power is reduced, keeping the user informed about the system state and the reason for power reduction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Ease of operation

If the system provides extensive user guidance and decision time, then user awareness and control are improved, but the cooking process is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser control and awarenessVSAvoidcooking time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of the conflict situation and automatically initiates the power reduction and user notification process without requiring user initiation, saving time while maintaining user awareness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary 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

Prevents overheating and burning by reducing the common coil's power to a level acceptable for both vessels, allowing operators to address conflicts promptly, maintaining safe cooking processes.

Implementation Method 1

induction heating coils of an induction hob

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

induction heating coils

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEddy currents: Eddy Currents

Data Source

PatentEP3606285B1Method for controlling induction heating coils of an induction cooking hob

Publication Date: 2021.09.29 E G O ELEKTRO GERAETEBAU GMBH

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AI summary

To control the induction heating coils of an induction cooktop, the system first detects whether two cooking vessels, each with different target heating power levels, are placed on the cooktop above a shared heating coil. The shared heating coil is then operated at a reduced power level, which is signaled to the operator. A timer begins counting down the decision time, which is also signaled. In the first scenario, the operator does not respond during the decision time, in which case the shared heating coil continues to operate at the reduced power level. In the second scenario, the operator responds during the decision time; either they remove one of the cooking vessels, in which case the previously shared heating coil resumes operating at its originally set power level to heat the remaining cooking vessel.Or it changes one of the specified target performance levels.