Electric Range Power Sharing Using Surface Element Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household ranges often limit power to ovens and surface heating elements when both ovens are used simultaneously, leading to unnecessary power reduction and potential restrictions in appliance usage due to limited available power supply.
Innovation Solution
An electric cooking appliance with sensors monitoring the operational status of surface heating elements and an electronic control system that shares power between ovens by operating in reduced power modes, such as using only one heating element or limiting heating coils, to optimize power distribution within the appliance's limited power supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If power is limited when both ovens are used simultaneously, then the available power supply constraints are addressed, but the surface heating elements are unnecessarily restricted even when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power management by continuously monitoring the operational status of surface heating elements through feedback loops and adjusting power distribution to ovens in real-time. The control system dynamically switches between different power distribution modes: when surface elements are in use, power is allocated accordingly; when not in use, full power is available to ovens. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making power distribution flexible rather than statically limited.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback loops that monitor the operational status of surface heating elements and use this information to adjust power distribution to the ovens. The control system receives feedback about which surface elements are active and automatically modifies oven power allocation based on this feedback, ensuring optimal power utilization while maintaining appliance versatility.
2Device complexity
If feedback loops assume all surface heating elements are in use, then power distribution is simplified, but power is unnecessarily limited when fewer elements are actually in use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback loops that provide accurate information about the actual operational status of surface heating elements. This feedback mechanism allows the control system to adjust power distribution based on real conditions rather than assuming all elements are in use, thereby increasing power availability to ovens when appropriate while maintaining manageable control complexity through automated monitoring.
3Power
If power is reduced to operate within building power limits, then the appliance can function with limited power supply, but the usability of surface heating elements is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts power distribution based on actual usage conditions. When surface heating elements are in use, the control system allocates appropriate power to them and adjusts oven power accordingly. When surface elements are not in use, full power is available to the ovens. This dynamic power management allows the appliance to operate within building power limits while maintaining ease of operation for all functions as needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric cooking appliance is provided. The electric cooking appliance includes a plurality of surface heating elements and a plurality of sensors configured to monitor an operational status of a corresponding surface heating element. The electric cooking appliance also includes a first cooking unit, a second cooking unit and an electronic control to facilitate sharing power between the first cooking unit and the second cooking unit based on the operational status of the plurality of surface heating elements.