Induction Hob With Dynamic Inverter–Inductor Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking appliances, particularly hobs, lack flexibility in accommodating various cookware configurations and sizes, leading to limitations in heating power distribution and user satisfaction.
Innovation Solution
A cooking appliance apparatus with multiple inverters and inductors, facilitated by a switching arrangement, allows for flexible allocation of heating power to different inductors, enabling operation with a variety of cookware configurations and sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed allocation of inductors to inverters is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different cookware configurations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic allocation of inductors to inverters through a switching arrangement that can reconfigure connections based on detected cookware configurations. The system transitions from static to dynamic inductor-inverter pairing, allowing the cooking appliance to adapt its power distribution in real-time according to the number, size, and position of cookware items on the hob.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching arrangement enables each inverter to serve multiple inductors across different operational modes. A single inverter can be dynamically connected to different inductors depending on the cookware configuration, making the inverter system universal and multi-functional rather than dedicated to specific inductors.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more inductors are allocated to each inverter, then the heating power distribution flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the inductor set into multiple groups that can be independently allocated to different inverters. This segmentation allows flexible reconfiguration where subsets of inductors can be assigned to specific inverters based on operational requirements, enabling granular control over heating power distribution without requiring complete system reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic switching arrangements that can reconfigure inductor-inverter connections in real-time. The switching arrangement transitions the system from static to dynamic allocation, allowing the number and configuration of inductors connected to each inverter to change adaptively based on detected cookware configurations and power distribution requirements.
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
Enhances flexibility and efficiency in heating power distribution, accommodating diverse cookware setups while reducing component costs and increasing user satisfaction.
Implementation Method 1
A cooking appliance apparatus, in particular a hob apparatus, has at least one inverter (12a), at least one further inverter (14a), at least one inductor (16a)
Implementation Method 2
A cooking appliance apparatus, in particular a hob apparatus, has at least one inverter (12a), at least one further inverter (14a), at least one inductor (16a)
Data Source
AI summary
A cooking appliance apparatus includes a first inverter, a second inverter, a first inductor, a set of further inductors including a first further inductor and a second further inductor, and a switching arrangement configured such as to allocate in an operating state the first inverter to the inductor and to allocate the second inverter in the operating state to an arbitrary one of the first and second further inductors of the set of further inductors.