The following description relates to cooktops. More particularly, the following description relates to replacement modules for cooktops.
Conventional electrical-resistance conduction heating cooktops are less energy efficient than induction and radiant heating cooktops. Unfortunately, in the past, an entire conduction heating cooktop, which often is in working condition, may have to be replaced with an induction or a radiant heating cooktop to obtain the benefits of such induction or radiant heating cooktop.
An apparatus relates generally to a cooktop. In such an apparatus, an induction heating module has an electrical connector. The electrical connector is configured for coupling to a socket for an electrical resistance heating coil of a conduction heating cooktop for receiving an electrical input. The induction heating module is configured for interchange with the electrical resistance heating coil associated with the conductive heating cooktop.
An apparatus relates generally to a cooktop. In such an apparatus, a radiant heating module has an electrical connector. The electrical connector is configured for coupling to a socket for an electrical resistance heating coil of a conductive heating cooktop for receiving an electrical input. The radiant heating module is configured for interchange with the electrical resistance heating coil associated with the conductive heating cooktop.
A method relates generally to a cooktop. In such a method, an electrical resistance heating coil is unplugged from a socket of a conductive heating cooktop. The electrical resistance heating coil is replaced with a replacement module. The replacement module is either an induction heating module or a radiant heating module. Each of the induction heating module and the radiant heating module has an electrical connector for engagement with the socket. The replacing includes plugging-in the electrical connector of either the induction heating module or the radiant heating module into the socket.
Other features will be recognized from consideration of the Detailed Description and Claims, which follow.
Accompanying drawings show exemplary apparatus(es) and/or method(s). However, the accompanying drawings should not be taken to limit the scope of the claims, but are for explanation and understanding only.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough description of the specific examples described herein. It should be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other examples and/or variations of these examples may be practiced without all the specific details given below. In other instances, well known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the description of the examples herein. For ease of illustration, the same number labels are used in different diagrams to refer to the same items; however, in alternative examples the items may be different.
Conventional electrical-resistance conduction heating coils 15 respectively of electric burners 14 are not as energy efficient as induction or radiant burners. Heating level of electric burners 14 may be controlled, such as via corresponding control knobs 13 or other control interface. As stovetop 10 is well known, it is not described in unnecessary detail herein for purposes of clarity and not limitation.
As describe below in additional detail, electric burner 14 may be replaced with an induction heating module or a radiant heating module having an electrical connector 20.
Radiant heating module 100 includes a housing 101, an insert 102, a thermostat 103, an inner heating element loop 105, an outer heating element loop 106, a source terminal 107, a source terminal 108, a common return terminal 109, an optional pot/pan sensor 121, an electrical interface block 110, a temperature sensor 111, a controller 120, and an electrical connector 20. For example, housing 101 may be a metal housing, and insert 102 may be a ceramic insert. Ceramic insert 102, as well as housing 101, may have a bowl shape to provide a “ceramic bowl 102” located in housing 101.
One or more radiant heating coils, such as inner heating element loop 105 and outer heating element loop 106 for example, may be located in ceramic bowl 102. Terminals 107, 108 and 109 may be coupled to conversion block 110 through housing 101 and insert 102. Additionally, thermostat 103 may be coupled to housing 101 and to electrical interface block 110, and a temperature sensor 111, located in ceramic bowl 102, may be coupled to thermostat 103 through housing 101 and ceramic bowl 102. Sensor 121 may be in electrical communication with conversion block 110 and/or controller 120. Sensor 121 may be positioned for detecting absence of a pan or pot on cooktop platform 130 of
Electrical connector 20 may be coupled to controller 120, and controller 120 may be coupled to terminals inside of electrical interface block 110. Electrical connector 20 is configured for coupling to a socket for an electrical resistance heating coil of a conduction heating stovetop for receiving an AC electrical input. Along those lines, radiant heating module 100 may be configured for interchange with electric burner 14, or more particularly an electrical resistance heating coil 15 of conductive heating stovetop 10 may be exchanged for a more energy efficient radiant heating module 100.
Electrical interface block 110 may be coupled to one or more radiant heating coils, such as inner heating element loop 105 and outer heating element loop 106 for example. Thermostat 103 may be coupled to electrical interface block 110 and temperature sensor 111 for providing feedback control of heating by heating inner heating element loop 105 and outer heating element loop 106 for example.
Controller 120 may be coupled to electrical connector 20 for receiving an AC electrical input associated with a conventional electrical resistance heating coil and may be coupled to electrical interface block 110 for providing an AC electrical output to electrical interface block 110 for controlling heating by such one or more radiant heating coils. Electrical interface block 110, as well as thermostat 103, may operate with AC electrical output provided from controller 120. Additionally, controller 120 may be coupled to thermostat 103, including coupling through electrical interface block 110, to receive a temperature signal from thermostat 103 for additional feedback control for providing AC output to electrical interface block 110.
Induction heating module 200 includes a housing 201, an insert 202, an optional sensor 121, induction element spiral coil 205, a source terminal 204, a return terminal 203, an electrical interface block 210, a controller 220, and an electrical connector 20. Controller 220 may be used to convert an AC input for a conventional electric burner 14 to an AC input for an induction burner for input to an EMI filter of electrical interface block 210. Electrical interface block 210 may include inductors, diodes, and capacitors, as well as other components known for powering induction element spiral coil 205. As many details regarding insert 202, induction element spiral coil 205, source terminal 204, return terminal 203, and electrical interface block 210 are conventional, such components are not described in unnecessary detail for purposes of clarity and not limitation.
Terminals 203 and 204 may be coupled to conversion block 210 through housing 201. Additionally, optional sensor 121 may be in electrical communication with conversion block 210 and/or controller 220. Sensor 121 may be positioned for detecting absence of a pan or pot on cooktop platform 130 for a threshold amount of time for automatically turning off induction heating module 200.
Electrical connector 20 may be coupled to controller 220, and controller 220 may be coupled to terminals inside of electrical interface block 210. Electrical connector 20 is configured for coupling to a socket for an electrical resistance heating coil of a conduction heating stovetop for receiving an AC electrical input. Along those lines, induction heating module 200 may be configured for interchange with electric burner 14, or more particularly an electrical resistance heating coil 15 of conductive heating stovetop 10 may be exchanged for a more energy efficient induction element spiral coil 205 of induction heating module 200.
Electrical interface block 210 may be coupled to an induction heating coil, such as induction element spiral coil (“induction heating coil”) 205 for example. Controller 220 may be coupled to electrical connector 20 for receiving an AC electrical input associated with a conventional electrical resistance heating coil and may be coupled to electrical interface block 210 for providing an AC electrical output to electrical interface block 210 for controlling heating by an induction heating coil 205. Electrical interface block 210 may operate with AC electrical output provided from controller 220.
Controller 220 may be configured for converting an AC electrical input associated with a conventional electrical resistance heating coil to a DC electrical output for induction heating module 200. Electrical interface block 210 may be coupled to receive such a DC electrical output to control heating by induction heating coil 205. A cooktop platform, such as previously described, may be supported by housing 201. Housing 201 may have therein vents 225 for venting heat away from induction heating module 200. Housing 201 may have a bowl-like shape for fitting into a drip-bowl cavity defined in a conventional conductive heating stovetop 11 associated with a conventional electrical resistance heating coil 15. Induction heating module 220 may include a sensor 226 in electrical communication with electrical interface block 210 and/or controller 220 and positioned for detecting magnetic force in a magnetic field passing through a pot or pan on a cooktop platform 130 for magnetic-conductivity and/or electro-conductivity thereof.
Though it has been assumed that either induction heating modules 200 or radiant heating modules 100 are used, a combination of one or more induction heating modules 200 and one or more radiant heating modules 100 may be used as replacement modules for a cooktop. Therefore, benefits associated with both types of these modules may be obtained in a single cooktop.
While the foregoing describes exemplary apparatus(es) and/or method(s), other and further examples in accordance with the one or more aspects described herein may be devised without departing from the scope hereof, which is determined by the claims that follow and equivalents thereof. Claims listing steps do not imply any order of the steps. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.