Movable Induction Coil Aligns with Vessel Position
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Induction cookers face challenges in ensuring accurate positioning of cooking vessels over heating coils, leading to inconsistent heating due to imprecise placement, which existing technologies fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
An induction cooker with a mechanical system and array of sensors beneath the cooking surface that detects the presence and position of vessels, automatically moving the induction cooking coil to align its center with the detected position, allowing for precise positioning regardless of vessel size and preventing coil conflicts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cooking vessel is not accurately positioned over the induction heating coil, then heating effectiveness deteriorates, but providing movable induction cooking coils increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The induction cooking coil is made movable through a mechanical system with actuators that enable dynamic repositioning of the coil within a predetermined region beneath the cooking surface, allowing the system to adapt to imprecise vessel placement and maintain effective heating
Solution Approach 2:
An array of sensors detects the position of the cooking vessel and provides feedback to the controller, which then actuates the mechanical system to move the induction coil to the correct position, creating a closed-loop control system that ensures reliable heating
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to detect vessel position, then positioning precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing function is divided into multiple discrete sensors arranged in an array beneath the cooking surface, with each sensor detecting vessel presence at its specific position, allowing the system to determine overall vessel location through combination of individual sensor signals
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor array serves multiple functions: detecting vessel presence, determining vessel position, and providing information for coil positioning control, making the sensor system multi-functional and reducing the need for separate detection mechanisms
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
Ensures consistent heating by automatically adjusting the induction coil's position to match the vessel's center, accommodating various vessel sizes and preventing coil conflicts, thus maintaining intended power levels and efficient cooking.
Implementation Method 1
an induction cooking coil mounted upon a mechanical system to enable movement of the induction cooking coil within a predetermined region beneath a cooking surface
Implementation Method 2
induction heating coil
Implementation Method 3
the plurality of sensors comprise a plurality of light sensors for sensing light incident at a respective position on the cooking surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
There is provided an induction cooker (5), a controller (70) and a method for controlling the induction cooker (5). The induction cooker (5) has an induction cooking coil (10, 15, 20, 25) mounted upon and movable by a mechanical system (75, 80, 85, 90) within a predetermined region beneath a cooking surface (30) of the cooker (5). The cooker (5) comprises a plurality of sensors (50), each positioned to sense the presence of a cooking vessel when placed at a respective position upon the cooking surface (30). A controller (70) is configured: to receive from any of the plurality of sensors (50) an indication of the presence of a cooking vessel at a respective position of the sensor (50); to determine from the received indications a position of the cooking vessel upon the cooking surface (30); and to control the mechanical system (75, 80, 85, 90) to move the induction cooking coil (10, 15, 20, 25) to a position beneath the cooking surface (30) corresponding to the determined position of the cooking vessel.