Wireless Power Heating Control for Empty Pan Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Induction ranges may perform empty heating without a cooking object, causing potential damage to the heater and overheating, as users cannot easily detect heating via visual means.
Innovation Solution
A wireless power transmission apparatus with a processor that controls an inverter circuit based on temperature differences between the cooking appliance's bottom surface and internal temperature to detect empty heating and prevent overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If wireless power transmission is used to heat the cooking appliance, then energy efficiency and stability are improved, but the user cannot easily detect heating visually, leading to empty heating damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the cooking appliance continuously monitors its own temperature and communicates this information to the wireless power transmission apparatus. The apparatus receives temperature data from the cooking appliance and uses this feedback to determine whether empty heating is occurring, allowing it to adjust or stop power transmission accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system resolves the detection difficulty while maintaining energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a communication interface as an intermediary between the wireless power transmission apparatus and the cooking appliance. This intermediary enables the transfer of temperature information from the cooking appliance to the power transmission apparatus, allowing indirect detection of heating status without requiring direct visual observation by the user. The intermediary facilitates information exchange that bridges the detection gap.
2Productivity
If continuous heating operation is performed, then cooking productivity is improved, but the risk of empty heating damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary detection of empty heating conditions before damage occurs. The cooking appliance continuously monitors its temperature and communicates this status to the wireless power transmission apparatus in advance. When empty heating is detected, the system stops power transmission before the heater can be damaged, thus maintaining reliability while allowing continuous operation during normal cooking conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses real-time temperature feedback from the cooking appliance to dynamically control power transmission. The feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain continuous heating during normal operation (preserving productivity) while automatically detecting and responding to empty heating conditions (protecting reliability). The closed-loop control enables adaptive operation that balances productivity and safety.
3Reliability
If temperature monitoring is implemented to detect empty heating, then heater reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service monitoring system where the cooking appliance monitors its own temperature and communicates this information to the wireless power transmission apparatus. The cooking appliance's existing temperature sensor and communication capabilities are utilized for this purpose, rather than adding separate monitoring equipment to the power transmission apparatus. This self-service approach improves heater reliability while minimizing the increase in overall 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
Effectively prevents empty heating and overheating by accurately detecting the presence of a cooking object, ensuring safe and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a transmission coil configured to transmit power wirelessly
Implementation Method 2
an inverter circuit configured to drive the transmission coil
Implementation Method 3
heating a cooking appliance via a transmission coil
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A wireless power transmission apparatus for determining empty heating is provided. The wireless power transmission apparatus includes a processor configured to control a communication interface configured to communicate with a cooking appliance, wherein the communication interface is further configured to receive, from the cooking appliance, a temperature of a bottom surface of the cooking appliance and an internal temperature of the cooking appliance for a first time period during which a heating operation is performed and for a second time period following the first time period, during which the heating operation is stopped, and the processor controls to stop the heating operation for the second time period, and determine whether the cooking appliance undergoes empty heating based on a relationship between the temperature of the bottom surface and the internal temperature for the second time period.