Time-Division Inverter for Multi-Coil Induction Cooker

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional induction heating cookers require multiple inverters to drive multiple heating coils, increasing manufacturing costs and making it difficult to reduce the overall size due to thickness and complexity.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system where multiple independent heating coils are time-divisionally driven using a single inverter, with a control unit to manage the high-frequency voltage supply and sensing units to determine the position of the container, allowing for efficient power distribution across multiple coils.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple inverters are used to drive multiple heating coils, then each heating coil can be driven independently, but manufacturing costs increase and the cooker thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent heating coil operationVSAvoidnumber of inverters

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple heating coils are merged under a single inverter system. The inverter generates a high-frequency signal that is distributed to multiple heating coils through switching elements, allowing one inverter to perform the function of multiple inverters while reducing overall system complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses periodic switching of heating coils in time-division multiplexing mode. The control unit sequentially activates different heating coils at different time intervals, creating the effect of independent operation while actually using a single shared inverter resource.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple inverters are used to drive multiple heating coils, then each heating coil can be driven independently, but the overall size of the cooker increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent heating coil operationVSAvoidcooker thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple heating coils are merged under a single inverter system. The inverter generates a high-frequency signal that is distributed to multiple heating coils through switching elements, allowing one inverter to perform the function of multiple inverters while reducing overall system complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single inverter is designed to perform multiple functions by sequentially driving different heating coils. This multi-functional approach allows the same hardware component to serve multiple heating zones, reducing the need for additional inverters and thereby reducing cooker thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If a large number of heating coils are arranged throughout the heating cooker to enable container position sensing, then the container position can be automatically detected, but the number of inverters must be increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic container position detectionVSAvoidnumber of inverters

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic switching of heating coils in time-division multiplexing mode. The control unit sequentially activates different heating coils at different time intervals, creating the effect of independent operation while actually using a single shared inverter resource.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically allocates the single inverter resource to different heating coils based on real-time needs. The control unit determines which heating coil should be active at any given moment based on container position detection, creating a dynamic, adaptive system that responds to user needs without requiring multiple static inverter units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 approach reduces the number of inverters needed, lowers manufacturing costs, and minimizes the cooker's size by enabling efficient power management and positioning of heating coils without the need for precise user placement.

Implementation Method 1

an induction heating cooker enables high-frequency current to flow through a heating coil to generate a strong high-frequency magnetic field in the heating coil and generates eddy current in a container magnetically coupled to the heating coil through the high-frequency magnetic field

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

generates eddy current in a container magnetically coupled to the heating coil through the high-frequency magnetic field such that the container is heated by Joule's heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS10004114B2Induction heating cooker

Publication Date: 2018.06.19 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An induction heating cooker includes a plurality of heating coils to heat a container, an inverter having a plurality of switching elements to be operated such that a high-frequency voltage is selectively supplied to the plurality of heating coils, and a control unit to control the operations of the plurality of switching elements such that the high-frequency voltage is time-divisionally supplied to a heating coil, on which the container is positioned, among the plurality of heating coils. By this configuration, it is possible to reduce the number of inverters and manufacturing costs. In addition, since the thickness of the cooker is reduced, it is possible to reduce the overall size of the cooker.