Staggered Induction Heating Elements for Flexible Hotplate Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing induction cooking hobs with fixed cooking zones and non-staggered heating elements are limited in flexibility and efficiency, lacking a cost-effective design that optimizes cooking surface area and heat distribution.
Innovation Solution
A variable cooking surface area defined by an arrangement of offset, elongated induction heating elements with a staggered pattern, equipped with sensors to detect utensils and control heating zones, allowing for adaptable cooking zones and improved heat distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If fixed cooking zones with non-staggered heating elements are used, then the device structure is simple, but the cooking surface area is limited and flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heating surface is divided into multiple independent elongated heating elements (at least two) that can be individually controlled. This segmentation allows the cooking surface to be divided into multiple independently controllable cooking zones, increasing flexibility and effective cooking area while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The heating elements are arranged in a staggered pattern offset from their longitudinal axes, creating a two-dimensional offset arrangement rather than a simple linear or grid pattern. This dimensional offset maximizes the cooking surface area by utilizing space more efficiently without significantly increasing structural complexity
2Temperature
If non-offset heating elements are used, then the manufacturing is simple, but the heat distribution is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The heating elements are deliberately arranged asymmetrically with offsets from their longitudinal axes in a staggered pattern. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes heat distribution across the cooking surface by ensuring more uniform thermal coverage, while the offset distance is designed to be within manufacturing tolerances to maintain ease of production
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed cooking zones are used, then the control system is simple, but the adaptability to different cooking utensils is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cooking zones are made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The control system can individually control each elongated heating element, allowing cooking zones to be dynamically configured based on the size and shape of placed cooking utensils. This dynamic adaptability enhances versatility while the modular heating element design keeps the control system manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The arrangement of elongated heating elements with offset longitudinal axes creates a universal cooking surface that can accommodate various types and sizes of cooking utensils. The same heating element arrangement serves multiple functions: creating different cooking zone configurations, providing uniform heat distribution, and adapting to different cookware dimensions, thereby enhancing versatility without proportionally increasing control system complexity
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 solution provides a large, flexible cooking surface with optimal heat distribution and cost-effective design, enhancing user comfort and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The induction heating element is designed to convert electrical energy into an alternating magnetic field, which is designed to induce eddy currents and/or magnetic reversal effects in a metallic, preferably at least partially ferromagnetic, heating medium
Implementation Method 2
The induction heating element is designed to convert electrical energy into an alternating magnetic field, which is designed to induce eddy currents and/or magnetic reversal effects in a metallic heating medium
Implementation Method 3
The induction heating element is designed to convert electrical energy into an alternating magnetic field, which is designed to induce eddy currents and/or magnetic reversal effects in a metallic, preferably at least partially ferromagnetic, heating medium
Implementation Method 4
The induction heating element is designed to cause heating of the heating medium
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The induction cooking field device has several variable cooking surface regions (12c,50c), and several elongated heating elements (14c',14c'',14''',14c'''',52c). The elongated heating elements are arranged offset with respect to the longitudinal axes (16c), and provided with several longitudinal extensions (18c) and several transverse extensions (20c). The elongated heating elements are arranged around a track (22c).