Claims
- 1. A device for heating food in a container comprising:
an induction source external to the container; and a circuit located within the container, the circuit inductively powered by the induction source.
- 2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a heating element wherein the heating element is heated by the induction source.
- 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the induction source comprises a first induction source and a second induction source, the first induction source heating the heating element and the second induction source powering the circuit.
- 4. The device of claim 3 wherein the first induction source and the second induction source are electrically connected.
- 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the circuit comprises a power supply.
- 6. The device of claim 5 wherein the power supply comprises an induction coil charged by the induction source.
- 7. The device of claim 2 wherein the circuit comprises a power supply.
- 8. The device of claim 7 wherein the power supply comprises an opening on the heating element, a first lead and a second lead wherein the opening creates a voltage differential transferred to the first lead and the second lead.
- 9. The device of claim 1 wherein the circuit comprises a feedback loop formed between the circuit and the induction source.
- 10. The device of claim 9 wherein the feedback loop comprises a communication link between the circuit and the induction source.
- 11. The device of claim 2 wherein the circuit comprises a controller having a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the heating element and a feedback loop formed between the temperature sensor and the first induction source.
- 12. The device of claim 11 wherein the controller further comprises a temperature indicator.
- 13. The device of claim 11 wherein the feedback loop comprises a communication link between the first induction source and the controller.
- 14. The device of claim 1 additionally comprising a backup power supply, wherein the backup power supply is charged by the circuit.
- 15. The device of claim 14 wherein the backup power supply comprises a battery.
- 16. The device of claim 14 wherein the backup power supply comprises a capacitor.
- 17. The device of claim 1 wherein the container is thermally insulated.
- 18. The device of claim 17 wherein the container comprises a cavity, the cavity defined by a top surface, a bottom surface and a side wall, the side wall attaching an outer edge of the top surface with an outer edge of the bottom surface and wherein a portion of the side wall is moveably attached to the top surface and the bottom surface.
- 19. The device of claim 2 wherein the heating element is formed of a Curie point metal.
- 20. The device of claim 1 wherein the induction source comprises a ferrite material.
- 21. A method for monitoring the temperature of an inductively heated device comprising:
providing a first induction source, a second induction source, an inductive heating element heated by the first induction source, a circuit having a temperature sensor attached to the heating element, a temperature monitor and a power supply energized by the second induction source; placing the heating element within a magnetic field generated by the first induction source; placing the power supply for the circuit within a magnetic field generated by the second induction source; heating the heating element from the first induction source; energizing the circuit from the second induction source; and monitoring a temperature of the heating element.
- 22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:
providing a backup power supply; charging a backup power supply from the power supply; removing the heating element and circuit from the magnetic fields; allowing the backup power supply to power the temperature sensor and temperature monitor; and monitoring the temperature of the heating element.
- 23. A method of controlling the temperature of an inductively heated device comprising:
providing a first induction source, a second induction source, a heating element heated by the first induction source, a circuit energized by the second induction source, the circuit having a temperature sensor attached to the heating element and a feedback loop formed between the temperature sensor and the first induction source; placing the heating element within a magnetic field generated by the first induction source; placing the circuit within a magnetic field generated by the first induction source; measuring the temperature of the heating element with the temperature sensor and controller; and communicating to the first induction source to adjust the strength of the magnetic field of the source.
- 24. The method of claim 23 further comprising increasing the power of the magnetic field of the first induction source to increase the temperature of the heating element.
- 25. The method of claim 24 further comprising turning off the magnetic field of the first induction source when the temperature of the heating element reaches a predetermined temperature.
- 26. A method of powering a circuit within a heated food container comprising:
providing a food container having a power supply energized by an induction source and a circuit powered by the power supply; p1 placing the food container in proximity to an induction source thereby energizing the power supply.
- 27. The method of claim 26 further comprising:
providing a heating element within the food container; and heating the heating element with the induction source.
- 28. A device for heating food in a container comprising:
a first induction source external to the container; a second induction source external to the container; and a circuit located within the container, the circuit inductively powered by the first induction source.
- 29. The device of claim 28 further comprising a heating element wherein the heating element is heated by the second induction source.
- 30. The device of claim 28 wherein the first induction source and the second induction source are electrically connected.
- 31. The device of claim 28 wherein the circuit comprises a power supply.
- 32. The device of claim 28 wherein the circuit comprises a feedback loop formed between the circuit and the first induction source.
- 33. The device of claim 28 wherein the circuit comprises a controller having a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the heating element and a feedback loop formed between the temperature sensor and the first induction source.
- 34. The device of claim 33 wherein the controller further comprises a temperature indicator.
- 35. The device of claim 28 additionally comprising a backup power supply wherein the backup power supply is charged by the circuit.
- 36. The device of claim 29 wherein the heating element is formed of a Curie point metal.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/694,069, filed Oct. 20, 2000 which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application No. 09/678,723, filed Oct. 4, 2000, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/211,562, filed Jun. 15, 2000, and the entire teachings of which are each incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60211562 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09694069 |
Oct 2000 |
US |
Child |
09881647 |
Jun 2001 |
US |
Parent |
09678723 |
Oct 2000 |
US |
Child |
09694069 |
Oct 2000 |
US |