Cooking appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mini ovens are limited by the need for a power cable, which complicates repositioning and increases volume and weight due to power transmission requirements, and inefficient cooling of coils leads to reduced efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A mini oven design featuring an induction heating system with a working coil, a receiver coil for wireless power reception, and an electromagnetic shielding plate to minimize electromagnetic interference and facilitate efficient cooling, allowing for compact installation and easy repositioning without a power cable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless power reception components are added to eliminate the power cable, then the convenience of repositioning is improved, but the volume and weight of the mini oven increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of repositioningVSAvoidvolume of mini oven
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver coil is nested within the housing structure at the bottom surface, and the electromagnetic shielding plate is integrated into the same region. This nesting approach allows wireless power reception functionality to be incorporated without significantly increasing the external dimensions of the mini oven, thus maintaining its compact form factor while enabling cable-free repositioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The wireless power reception system is positioned in the vertical dimension at the bottom surface of the housing, utilizing the Z-axis space rather than expanding the horizontal footprint. This dimensional placement allows the receiver coil and shielding plate to be integrated into the existing volume without increasing the overall size of the appliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If wireless power reception components are added to eliminate the power cable, then the convenience of repositioning is improved, but the weight of the mini oven increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of repositioningVSAvoidweight of mini oven
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver coil and electromagnetic shielding plate are nested within the existing housing structure at the bottom surface, utilizing available space rather than adding external components. This integration minimizes the additional weight by sharing the housing structure as the mounting platform, thus reducing the overall weight increase from wireless power reception components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Volume of moving object

If the coil is disposed to reduce the volume, then the compactness is improved, but the cooling efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume of coilVSAvoidcooling efficiency of coil
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The electromagnetic shielding plate serves as an intermediary structure between the receiver coil and the external environment. It is positioned to provide thermal management by facilitating heat dissipation from the coil while maintaining the compact volume. The plate acts as a thermal conductor and radiator, mediating between the heat-generating coil and the surrounding air.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The bottom surface region where the receiver coil is positioned is given special local quality characteristics - the electromagnetic shielding plate provides enhanced thermal conduction and radiation properties in this specific area. This localized thermal management approach allows the coil to be compact while maintaining effective cooling through the specially designed plate structure at that location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 design enables a compact, efficiently cooled, and easily repositionable mini oven that maintains high heating efficiency while eliminating the need for a power cable, thus enhancing usability and reducing the appliance's overall size and weight.

Implementation Method 1

a receiver coil installed adjacent to the base and configured to wirelessly receive power for operating the cooking appliance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a working coil for inductively heating an object in the cooking compartment installed adjacent to the bottom part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInduction heating: Induction Heating

Implementation Method 3

an electromagnetic shielding plate provided between the working coil and the receiver coil and configured to shield electromagnetic waves

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic shielding: Faraday Cage

Data Source

PatentEP3681250B1Cooking appliance
Publication Date: 2021.08.18 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3681250B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3681250B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3681250B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a cooking appliance. A working coil is provided at a lower portion of the cooking appliance. The working coil heats a tray disposed in a cooking compartment in an IH mode. A receiver coil wirelessly receiving external power is stacked below the working coil. An electromagnetic shielding plate is installed between the working coil and the receiver coil to partition a space in which the two coils are installed. The electromagnetic shielding plate shields an electromagnetic field or electromagnetic waves such that the electromagnetic field or electromagnetic waves in one of the two partitioned spaces does not leak to the other space located across the electromagnetic shielding plate.