The invention relates to an induction cooktop apparatus as claimed in the preamble of claim 1 and a method for manufacturing an induction cooktop apparatus as claimed in the preamble of claim 13.
A plurality of induction cooktops which permit a detection of kitchenware elements are already known in the prior art. Often heating inductors which are built into induction cooktops are also used at the same time for detecting kitchenware elements. A drawback here is a high susceptibility to error. Additionally, a detection is only possible outside a heating operating state of the heating inductors. The arrangement of the heating inductors additionally results in a low spatial resolution and thus an inaccurate detection.
Other known solutions from the prior art, therefore, use coils as inductive sensors which are configured separately from heating inductors. For example, an induction cooktop with sensor coils which are arranged in each case between two adjacent heating inductors is disclosed in EP 3 316 663 A1. A spatial resolution is also limited in this case due to the arrangement of the sensor coils, and a thus detection of the kitchenware elements is relatively inaccurate. Thus an induction cooktop with separate sensors for detecting kitchenware elements is proposed in EP 2 312 908 A1, said sensors being applied to a separate plate which is arranged between the heating inductors and a cover plate. It is proposed in EP 3 079 443 A1 to incorporate separate sensors for detecting kitchenware elements in a flexible support layer which is arranged between the heating elements and a cover plate and which consists of textile material. A drawback in the solutions of EP 2 312 908 A1 and EP 3 079 443 A1 is a greater expenditure in terms of time and money during manufacture and during assembly due to the additional components for fastening the sensors.
The object of the invention, in particular but not limited thereto, is to provide a generic apparatus with reduced effort in terms of manufacture and/or assembly. The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claims 1 and 13, while advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention can be derived from the subclaims.
The invention is based on an induction cooktop apparatus with at least one inductor and with at least one detection coil for object recognition, in particular of objects, for example items of cookware and/or cooking utensils, positioned and/or deposited on a positioning plate of the induction cooktop apparatus.
It is proposed that the induction cooktop apparatus has an insulating layer unit which is provided for electrically insulating the inductor and to which the detection coil is connected, in particular intrinsically.
The effort when manufacturing and/or assembling the induction cooktop apparatus can be advantageously reduced by means of such an embodiment, since no additional components are required as a support structure for the detection coil. It is also advantageously possible to achieve a cost saving thereby during the manufacture and/or assembly of the induction cooktop apparatus. In addition, advantageously a modular construction of the induction cooktop apparatus can also be made possible and a use in different types of induction cooktops can be made possible in a particularly simple manner. Moreover, a flexibility can be advantageously increased since a particularly flexible and simple adaptation of a geometry of the detection coil to a plurality of different types and/or geometries of inductors is possible when the detection coil is connected to the insulating layer unit. Moreover, relative to induction cooktops in which a heating inductor is used as a sensor at the same time, a susceptibility to error and an energy consumption during the detection can be advantageously reduced, and at the same time a particularly powerful and high-resolution object recognition can be made possible.
An “induction cooktop apparatus” is intended to be understood to mean at least a part, in particular a subassembly, of an induction cooktop, wherein in particular accessory units for the induction cooktop can be additionally encompassed thereby, such as for example a sensor unit for the external measurement of a temperature of an item of cookware and/or a food to be cooked. In particular, the induction cooktop apparatus can also comprise the entire induction cooktop. The induction cooktop apparatus has at least one inductor which in at least one operating state provides energy to at least one object, for example to an item of cookware. The inductor is provided in the operating state to provide energy in the form of an electromagnetic alternating field, advantageously for the purpose of an inductive energy transmission, to the object. The induction cooktop apparatus can have a plurality of further inductors, which in an assembled state can be arranged to be distributed, for example distributed in the manner of a matrix.
Preferably, the detection coil of the induction cooktop apparatus is provided for an inductive object recognition of metal objects, in particular of an item of cookware and/or further metal objects which can be configured differently from the item of cookware.
Preferably, the insulating layer unit is configured as a plate-shaped unit. The insulating layer unit has at least one material which is heat-resistant relative to temperatures of at least 250° C. and which is electrically insulating, for example mica and/or a plastics from the group of polyimides, and/or a different suitable heat-resistant and electronically insulating material. Preferably, the insulating layer unit is configured entirely from at least one heat-resistant and electrically insulating material. The detection coil could be selectively connected to the insulating layer unit. Preferably, the detection coil is connected intrinsically to the insulating layer unit, and namely such that at least a largest side surface of the detection coil is entirely covered by the insulating protective layer unit.
Preferably, the induction cooktop apparatus has a control unit which is provided to control the detection coil and to evaluate signals inductively detected by the detection coil for the object recognition. Preferably, in addition to controlling the detection coil, the control unit is also provided for controlling and supplying energy to the inductor and/or the further inductors of the induction cooktop apparatus. Preferably, for controlling and supplying energy to the inductor and/or the further inductors, the control unit has at least one inverter unit which can be configured, in particular, as a resonance inverter and/or as a dual half-bridge inverter. The inverter unit preferably comprises at least two switching elements which can be controlled individually by the control unit. A “switching element” is intended to be understood to mean an element which is provided between two points, in particular contacts of the switching element, to establish or disconnect an electrically conductive connection. Preferably, the switching element has at least one control contact via which it can be switched. Preferably, the switching element is configured as a semiconductor switching element, in particular as a transistor, for example as a metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) or organic field-effect transistor (OFET), advantageously as a bipolar transistor, with a preferably insulated gate electrode (IGBT). Alternatively, it is conceivable that the switching element is configured as a mechanical and/or electromechanical switching element, in particular as a relay.
“Provided” is intended to be understood to mean specifically designed and/or equipped. An object being provided for a specific function is intended to be understood to mean that the object fulfills and/or performs this specific function in at least one use state and/or operating state.
It is also proposed that the detection coil is integrated in the insulating layer unit. An electrical insulation of the detection coil by means of the insulating layer unit can be advantageously achieved thereby. Preferably, the detection coil is integrated in the insulating layer unit such that at least a large part of a total surface area of the detection coil is covered by the insulating layer. The expression “covered at least to a large part” is intended to be understood to mean in this context that at least 55%, advantageously at least 65%, particularly advantageously at least 75%, preferably at least 85% and particularly preferably at least 95% of a total surface area of an object is covered by at least one further object.
It is also proposed that the insulating layer unit has a first insulating layer element and a second insulating layer element, the detection coil being arranged therebetween. An assembly can be advantageously further simplified by means of such an embodiment. In particular, the detection coil can be advantageously integrated in the insulating layer unit by simple technical means. Preferably, the first insulating layer element is connected by a material connection, for example by means of an adhesively bonded connection, to the second insulating layer element.
It is also proposed that the detection coil is printed on the first insulating layer element. A flexibility in the manufacture can be advantageously increased by means of such an embodiment. In particular, the geometry of the induction coil can be advantageously adapted in a particularly simple and flexible manner to different types and/or geometries of inductors. Preferably, the detection coil is printed on the first insulating layer element by means of a printing method which is known by the English technical term “functional printing” and which is used, in particular, when populating printed circuit boards. Preferably, all of the materials of which the printed detection coil consists, are heat-resistant relative to temperatures of at least 250° C.
It is also proposed that the detection coil is adhesively bonded between the first insulating layer element and the second insulating layer element. As a result, a manufacture and/or assembly can be advantageously simplified. Additionally, a particularly cost-effective induction cooktop apparatus can be advantageously provided when the detection coil is adhesively bonded between the first insulating layer element and the second insulating layer element. Preferably, the detection coil is adhesively bonded between the first insulating layer element and the second insulating layer element by means of an adhesive, for example silicone or the like, which is resistant to temperatures of at least 250° C.
The first insulating layer element and the second insulating layer element could have at least substantially identical surface extensions. In an advantageous embodiment, however, it is proposed that the first insulating layer element and the second insulating layer element have substantially different surface extensions. It is advantageously possible to save material by means of such an embodiment. Preferably, the second insulating layer element has a smaller surface extension compared to the first insulating protective element. In particular, the surface extension of the second insulating layer element is at least 10%, advantageously at least 15%, particularly advantageously at least 20%, preferably at least 25% and particularly preferably at least 30% smaller than the surface extension of the first insulating layer element. As a result, a cost saving can be advantageously achieved during the manufacture of the insulating layer unit. A “surface extension” of an object is intended to be understood to mean in this case a longest extension of a largest side surface of the object.
The second insulating layer element could have a substantially larger surface extension relative to the detection coil. In an advantageous embodiment, however, it is proposed that the second insulating layer element is adapted to the detection coil relative to its surface extension. A material saving and thus a cost saving can be advantageously achieved by means of such an embodiment.
It is also proposed that the induction cooktop apparatus has a further detection coil which is connected, in particular intrinsically, to the insulating layer unit. An accuracy in the object recognition can be advantageously further improved by means of such an embodiment. In particular, an object recognition of objects having different sizes of diameters and/or a simultaneous object recognition of a plurality of objects can be advantageously made possible. The detection coil and the further detection coil can be arranged so as to be spaced apart from one another. The detection coil and the further detection coil can have at least substantially identical surface extensions. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the detection coil and the further detection coil have different surface extensions. The detection coil could be arranged, for example, in a central region of the insulating layer unit, in particular around a central point of the insulating layer unit, and the further detection coil could be arranged in an edge region of the insulating layer unit, in particular concentrically around the detection coil. Many different arrangements between the detection coil and the further detection coil, which appear expedient to the person skilled in the art, are conceivable.
It is also proposed that the further detection coil is integrated in the insulating layer unit. As a result, an assembly can be advantageously simplified. Additionally, an electrical insulation of the further detection coil can be advantageously achieved by simple technical means. Preferably, the further detection coil is integrated in the insulating layer unit such that at least a large part of a total surface area of the further detection coil is covered by the insulating layer.
It is also proposed that the induction cooktop apparatus has a connecting element, the detection coil and the further detection coil being able to be connected thereby to a control unit. The induction cooktop apparatus could have a plurality of connecting elements to form a connection of the detection coil and the further detection coil to the control unit. Preferably, the induction cooktop apparatus has exactly one connecting element, the detection coil and the further detection coil being able to be jointly connected thereby to the control unit. Preferably, the connecting element is provided for a bi-directional transmission of electrical signals between the detection coil and/or the further detection coil and the control unit. As a result, a material saving and thus a cost saving can be advantageously achieved. Additionally, an assembly can be advantageously further simplified.
It is also proposed that the induction cooktop apparatus has an inductor matrix, in particular an inductor vector, the inductor forming part thereof. A high degree of flexibility can be advantageously made possible by means of such an embodiment. An “inductor matrix” is intended to be understood to mean a two-dimensional arrangement of a plurality of at least two inductors relative to a main extension plane of the inductor. The inductor matrix is configured by at least one inductor vector. An “inductor vector” is intended to be understood to mean a two-dimensional arrangement of the inductor from at least one further inductor of the induction cooktop apparatus relative to the main extension plane of the inductor, wherein an imaginary straight line in the main extension plane runs through a central point of the surface of the inductor and a central point of the surface of the further inductor. The inductor vector can have a plurality of further inductors. Preferably, the inductor matrix is configured from at least one first inductor vector and at least one second inductor vector which is oriented within the main extension plane at right-angles to the first inductor vector, wherein the inductor and/or the further inductor can be part of the first inductor vector and the second inductor vector at the same time. A “main extension plane” of a structural unit is intended to be understood to mean a plane which is parallel to a largest side surface of a smallest imaginary cuboid which only just completely encloses the structural unit and, in particular, runs through the central point of the cuboid.
The invention further relates to an induction cooktop with an induction cooktop apparatus as claimed in one of the above-described embodiments. Such an induction cooktop is characterized, in particular, by the aforementioned advantageous properties of the induction cooktop apparatus.
The invention is also based on a method for manufacturing an induction cooktop apparatus, with at least one inductor and at least one detection coil for object recognition, in particular of objects, for example items of cookware and/or cooking utensils, positioned and/or deposited on a hotplate of the induction cooktop apparatus.
It is proposed that the detection coil is connected, in particular intrinsically, to an insulating layer unit which is provided for electrically insulating the inductor. The manufacture of the induction cooktop apparatus can be advantageously improved by means of such a method. A use of further additional components as a support structure for the detection coil can be advantageously dispensed with by the detection coil being connected to the insulating layer unit, whereby a particularly simple and or rapid and/or cost-effective manufacture of the induction cooktop apparatus is advantageously made possible. Additionally, a particularly flexible method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus can be advantageously provided when the detection coil is integrated in the insulating layer unit since a geometry of the detection coil can be particularly easily adapted to a geometry of the inductor.
In this case, the induction cooktop apparatus is not intended to be limited to the above-described use and embodiment. In particular, for fulfilling a mode of operation described herein the induction cooktop apparatus can have a number of individual elements, components and units which differs from a number mentioned herein.
Further advantages emerge from the following description of the drawings. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will also expediently consider the features individually and combine them to form further meaningful combinations.
In the drawing:
The induction cooktop 40a has a plurality of further inductors 58a. The induction cooktop 40a has a control unit 32a. The control unit 32a is provided for controlling and supplying energy to the inductor 12a and the further inductors 58a.
The induction cooktop apparatus 10a has an inductor matrix 34a. In the present case, the inductor matrix 34a is configured by a first inductor vector 26a and a second inductor vector 36a. The inductor 12a of the induction cooktop apparatus 10a is part of the inductor matrix 34a.
In the figures, in each case only one object of the objects repeatedly present is provided with a reference character.
The induction cooktop apparatus 10a has an insulating layer unit 16a. The insulating layer unit 16a is provided for electrically insulating the inductor 12a. The detection coil 14a is connected to the insulating layer unit 16a. In the present exemplary embodiment, the detection coil 14a is integrated in the insulating layer unit 16a. The detection coil 14a is integrated in the insulating layer 16a such that an upper largest side surface 52a and a lower largest side surface 54a of the detection coil 14a in each case are entirely covered by the insulating layer unit 16a.
The insulating layer unit 16a has a first insulating layer element 18a. In an assembled state of the induction cooktop apparatus 10a the first insulating layer element 18a is arranged above the inductor 12a and is provided for electrically insulating the inductor 12a. The insulating layer unit 16a has a second insulating layer element 20a. In the assembled state, the detection coil 14a is arranged between the first insulating layer element 18a and the second insulating layer element 20a. In the present exemplary embodiment, the detection coil 14a is adhesively bonded between the first insulating layer element 18a and the second insulating layer element 20a. The second insulating layer element 20a is provided for electrically insulating the detection coil 14a. The first insulating layer element 18a and the second insulating layer element 20a of the insulating layer unit 16a are configured in each case from a heat-resistant and electrically insulating material. In the present case, the first insulating layer element 18a and the second insulating layer element 20a are manufactured in each case from mica and are heat-resistant relative to temperatures of at least 250° C.
The first insulating layer element 18a and the second insulating layer element 20a have substantially different surface extensions 22a, 24a. The first insulating layer element 18a has a first surface extension 22a. The second insulating layer element 20a has a second surface extension 24a. The first surface extension 22a of the first insulating layer element 18a is substantially larger than the second surface extension 24a of the second insulating layer element 20a. The second insulating layer element 20a is adapted in terms of its surface extension 24a to the detection coil 14a. The surface extension 24a of the second insulating layer element 20a is fractionally larger than the main extension 56a of the detection coil 14a.
The induction cooktop apparatus 10a has a coil support 60a. The inductor 12a is arranged in the coil support 60a and is covered by the first insulating layer element 18a. The induction cooktop apparatus 10a has a connecting element 48a. The connecting element 48a is provided for fastening the inductor 12a to the coil support 60a. The inductor 12a can be connected in an electrically conductive manner to the control unit 32a of the induction cooktop 40a by means of the connecting element 48a (see
The induction cooktop apparatus 10a has a connecting element 30a. The connecting element 30a is connected to the detection coil 14a. The detection coil 14a can be connected to the control unit 32a of the induction cooktop 40a by means of the connecting element 30a.
Four further exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in
The induction cooktop apparatus 10b comprises a detection coil 14b. The detection coil 14b is provided for object recognition and is configured substantially identically to the detection coil 14a of the induction cooktop apparatus 10a of the above exemplary embodiment. The induction cooktop apparatus 10b has an insulating layer unit 16b to which the detection coil 14b is connected. The insulating layer unit 16b has a first insulating layer element 18b and a second insulating layer element 20b, the detection coil 14b being adhesively bonded therebetween. The first insulating layer element 18b is provided for electrically insulating the inductor 12b and the further inductor 46b, and is adapted to a geometry of the coil support 60b. The second insulating layer element 20b of the insulating layer unit 16b is configured substantially identically to the second insulating layer element 20a of the induction cooktop apparatus 10a of the previous exemplary embodiment.
A method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus 10b takes place in a substantially similar manner to the above-described method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus 10a, which is why at this point reference might be made to the description of
The induction cooktop apparatus 10c has a further detection coil 28c which is provided for object recognition. The further detection coil 28c is connected to the insulating layer unit 16c. In the present case, the further detection coil 28c is integrated in the insulating layer unit 28c.
The induction layer unit 16c has a first insulating layer element 18c and a second insulating layer element 20c, the detection coil 14c and the further detection coil 28c being adhesively bonded therebetween.
The induction cooktop apparatus 10c has a connecting element 30c. The detection coil 14c and the further detection coil 28c can be connected by means of the connecting element to a control unit (not shown).
A method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus 10c takes place in a substantially similar manner to the above-described method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus 10a, wherein in the method additionally the further detection coil 28c is connected to the insulating layer unit 16c. The connection of the further detection coil 28c in the insulating layer unit 16c takes place in a similar manner to the above-described connection of the detection coil 14a in the exemplary embodiment shown in
A method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus 10d takes place in a substantially similar manner to the above-described method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus 10a, wherein in the method additionally the detection coil 14d and the further detection coil 28d are printed on the first insulating layer element 18d of the insulating layer unit 16d and the second insulating layer element 20d is adhesively bonded to the first insulating layer element 18d.
A method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus 10e takes place in a substantially similar manner to the above-described method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus 10a which is why at this point reference might be made to the description of
10 Induction cooktop apparatus
14 Detection coil
16 Insulating layer unit
18 First insulating layer element
20 Second insulating layer element
22 First surface extension
24 Second surface extension
26 First inductor vector
28 Further detection coil
30 Connecting element
32 Control unit
34 Inductor matrix
36 Inductor vector
38 Positioning plate
40 Induction cooktop
42 Method step
44 Further method step
46 Further inductor
48 Connecting element
50 Further connecting element
52 Upper largest side surface
54 Lower largest side surface
56 Main extension
58 Further inductor
60 Coil support
62 Central region
64 Edge region
66 Outer edge
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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20382593.0 | Jul 2020 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2021/066196 | 6/16/2021 | WO |