An induction hob uses induction heating to provide safe, energy efficient and flexible heating of vessels by using multiple coils and a controllable magnetic fluid. In addition, the hob provides increased control over electromagnetic (EM) field spatial distribution in the vicinity of the hob by guiding the EM field through the controllable magnetic fluid, and allows for more precise tuning of each load (which varies with vessel geometry, material properties, and placement) by controlling the volume and spatial distribution of magnetic fluid at each load coil, effectively acting as a tunable inductance in each load.

An induction heating device includes a casing, a cover plate coupled to a top of the casing, and a first induction heating module located within the casing and configured to heat an object on the cover plate. The first induction heating module includes: a working coil; an inverter configured to apply a resonant current to the working coil; a light guide located outside of the working coil, where the light guide includes a light-emission surface that is located at a top of the light guide, that is configured to indicate whether the working coil is driven, and that is configured to indicate an intensity of the working coil; a light emitting element vertically located below the light guide and configured to emit light to the light guide; and a control module configured to control the inverter and the light emitting element.

An induction heating device includes: a casing; a cover plate coupled to a top of the casing, where the cover plate has a surface configured to seat an object; a first induction heating module located within the casing and configured to heat the object; a first wiring substrate that is configured to couple to a bottom of the first induction heating module and that extends in a first direction, where the first wiring substrate includes at least one of a power line or a signal line; and a first connector that is configured to couple the first wiring substrate to the bottom of the first induction heating module, where the first connector includes a pogo pin.

A thermal system includes a base member, a two-phase fluid, a tuning heater, and a chuck. The base member includes at least one fluid passageway. The two-phase fluid is disposed within the fluid passageway. A pressure of the two-phase fluid is controlled such that the two-phase fluid provides at least one of heating and cooling to the base member. The tuning heater is secured to the base member. The chuck is secured to the tuning heater opposite to the base member. The tuning heater includes a plurality of zones to fine tune a heat distribution provided by the base member to the chuck.

The present invention relates to an illumination device (12) for a heating zone (10) of a cooking hob, in particular of an induction cooking hob. The illumination device (12) comprises at least one light source element (14) and at least one reflecting element (18). Further, the illumination device (12) comprises at least one insulating layer (18) horizontally arrangeable or arranged on the heating zone (10). Said insulating layer (18) includes at least one light channel (20) formed as a cut-out. The illumination device (12) comprises at least one reflecting, diffusing and/or refracting layer covering at least the light channel (20). The light source element (14) and the reflecting element (16) are arranged that a light beam from said light source element (14) is redirected by the reflecting element (16) into the light channel (20).

An induction hob uses induction heating to provide safe, energy efficient and flexible heating of vessels by using multiple coils and a controllable magnetic fluid. In addition, the hob provides increased control over electromagnetic (EM) field spatial distribution in the vicinity of the hob by guiding the EM field through the controllable magnetic fluid, and allows for more precise tuning of each load (which varies with vessel geometry, material properties, and placement) by controlling the volume and spatial distribution of magnetic fluid at each load coil, effectively acting as a tunable inductance in each load.

The invention relates to a power module, preferably induction module for powering one, two, three, four, at least one, at least two, at least three or at least four heating element (s), preferably electrical, radiant and/or induction heating elements, more preferably induction coils (3), of a cooking appliance, preferably a cooking hob, more preferably a radiant or induction hob (1), the power module (10) at least comprising: —one, two or at least two heating power units (11), in particular three or at least three heating power units, more in particular four or at least four heating power units, preferably heating frequency units and/or induction generators (11), each for providing power, in particular electrical power, to one, two, three, at least one, at least two or at least three heating elements (3); —one or at least one controller (12) for controlling the heating power unit(s) (11); —a communication interface (13) for coupling the power module (10) with one or at least one user interface (5); —wherein, in particular in a first configuration mode, the power module (10) is adapted to be operated either according to a master module configuration or a slave module configuration and/or—wherein, in particular in a second configuration mode, the power module (10) is configured to directly communicate with the at least one user interface, a corresponding cooking appliance as well as a corresponding method for operating a cooking appliance.

An induction energy transmission system includes a supply unit having a supplying induction element for supplying energy, and a receiving unit having a receiving induction element that receives energy from the supplying induction element when in an operational state a shortest connection between the supplying induction element and the receiving induction element is minimal. The supplying induction element has a sub-region which, in the operational state, is oriented at an angle relative to a plane that is at least substantially perpendicular to the shortest connection between the supplying induction element and the receiving induction element.

An illustrative induction warming range capable of heating one or more multiple-sized servers and/or pots at any location on the range top using a plurality of preconfigured heating settings including low (145-155 F), low-med (156-165 F), med-high (166-175 F), and high (176-185 F). The illustrative induction warming range may be configured for automatically switch off 2 minutes after pans are removed. The induction warming range is compatible with all induction ready servers and pans and may include a durable, easy to clean tempered glass top. The illustrative warming range may be configured as a portable unit for countertop use, as a built-in unit for installation in a countertop or other surface, and/or the unit may be configured for both countertop or drop-in use.

A hob apparatus, in particular an induction hob apparatus includes a hob panel, a heating element, a light supply unit arranged at least in part on a side of the heating element remote from the hob panel and supplying light in at least one operating condition, and a waveguide unit transporting in the operating condition light from the light supply unit to a side of the heating element facing the hob panel.