Electric Kettle Control for Multi-Mode Heating and Boil Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrically powered liquid heating vessels lack the ability to integrate additional functionalities into their designs, limiting their capabilities beyond basic boil and dry boil controls.
Innovation Solution
An electronic control apparatus for liquid heating vessels is introduced, featuring a user interface in a remote control device that provides status indication and control functions, along with an intermediate device that communicates with the vessel and remote control, offering additional functionalities such as power switching and sensing capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electronic controls are introduced to provide additional functionality, then the functionality and versatility of the liquid heating vessel is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is divided into distinct functional modules: a microprocessor unit for control logic, electrical sensors for detection, and electronic switching components. This modular segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, making the complex electronic control system more manageable and easier to integrate into existing liquid heating vessel designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic control system is designed to perform multiple functions including boil detection, dry boil protection, temperature monitoring, and various heating modes (keep warm, sub-boil, prolonged boil). By creating a universal control platform that can handle diverse functions, the system achieves high versatility without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same hardware foundation supports multiple operational modes.
2Ease of manufacture
If electromechanical controls are used, then the manufacturing cost is reduced and reliability is maintained, but the functionality is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Traditional electromechanical controls with thermal actuators and mechanical switches are replaced with an electronic control system using a microprocessor, electrical sensors, and electronic switching components. This substitution eliminates moving parts and thermal lag, enabling more precise control and additional functionality while maintaining reliability through solid-state components.
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 solution enhances the functionality of liquid heating vessels by enabling features like keep warm, sub-boil, and prolonged boil modes, improved boil detection, and energy efficiency through remote control operation, while maintaining user convenience and safety.
Implementation Method 1
an element plate 12 forming the base of the reservoir 5, and including a heating element on the underside
Implementation Method 2
A sensor 14 is arranged to sense the temperature of water in the reservoir 5 through the element plate 12
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A liquid heating vessel includes an electronic control arranged to perform one or more of: boil or sub-boil temperature detection and/or control; volume/level detection; ultrasonic scale detection and/or inhibition; determining a usage efficiency rating; self-descaling; lighting control. Various advantageous illumination arrangements are provided. A halogen lamp may be used as a keep warm heater. Multiple halogen lamps may be controlled so as to provide variable heating and lighting.