A temperature-regulating unit includes a base, a thermal element, a contactless sensing assembly, and a controller. The base is configured to support at least one of a pan or a food product. The thermal element is positioned to thermally regulate the at least one of the pan or the food product. The contactless sensing assembly is positioned to acquire sensor data regarding the at least one of the pan or the food product. The controller is configured to receive the sensor data from the contactless sensing assembly and adaptively control the thermal element based on the sensor data.

A kitchen appliance is disclosed includes a first electrical component, a second electrical component, and a wireless power receiver system. The wireless power receiver system includes a first receiver antenna configured to couple with a first transmission antenna and receive virtual AC power signals from the first transmission antenna. A second receiver antenna is configured to couple with a second transmission antenna and receive virtual DC power signals from the second transmitter antenna. A first receiver power conditioning system is configured to receive the virtual AC power signals, convert the virtual AC power signals to AC received power signals, and provide the AC received power signals to power the first electrical component. The second receiver power conditioning system configured to receive the virtual DC power signals, convert the virtual DC power signals to DC received power signals, and provide the DC received power signals to power the second electrical component.

A method for communication between a cooking utensil and an induction cooktop, includes: a step of arrangement of a cooking utensil on an element of the induction cooktop, a step of generation of a magnetic flux by the element on which the cooking utensil is arranged, a pairing request step including a sending of at least one pairing request frame by the communication module of the cooking utensil or the sending of at least one corresponding pairing request frame by the communication device of the induction cooktop, a step of listening by the communication device of the induction cooktop or, if applicable, by the communication module of the cooking utensil, the listening step including reception of the at least one pairing request frame or, if applicable, of the at least one corresponding pairing request frame, a pairing step between the cooking utensil and the induction cooktop including an exchange of information.

A system and method for integrating inductive heating into packaging and other product vessels that allows for controlled heat distribution. The system and method provides for multidimensional heating of a packaged item on multiple sides at the same time using electromagnetic energy emitted from a single source. The inductively heated package may include a heating element having a plurality of conductive elements configured to implement a desired heating profile. The conductive elements may be arranged in layers to allow heating on different surfaces of a packaged item. Each layer of the heating element may be configured to distribute the available energy as needed for an ultimate cooking experience. The present invention provides a method of design where the sum of the available energy is distributed in accordance with the desired heating profile. The heating method enables boxes, vessels, wrappers, pouches, bags, and other containers

A method for operating a cooking system includes: providing at least one cooking hob device, at least one kitchen utensil, and at least one evaluation device, the cooking hob device including at least one placement surface on which to place kitchen utensils and at least one generator device having at least two induction devices for heating the kitchen utensil placed on the placement surface, and the kitchen utensil being heatable by at least one induction device; assigning at least one transmitting device to each of the at least two induction devices of the cooking hob device, the kitchen utensil including at least one receiving device, each transmitting device of the at least one transmitting device emitting at least one electromagnetic signal, at least intermittently, which signal is received by the receiving device of the kitchen utensil when the kitchen utensil is heated by the corresponding induction device.

A wireless power transmission apparatus including a plurality of cooking zones, a communication interface to communicate with a cooking appliance, an output interface, a wireless power transmitter comprising a plurality of working coils corresponding to the plurality of cooking zones, and an inverter circuit, and at least one processor configured to: control, upon detecting a first wireless communication signal transmitted from the cooking appliance, the inverter circuit to drive the plurality of working coils to generate a magnetic field according to a plurality of power transmission patterns; receive a second wireless communication signal from the cooking appliance, including information regarding the cooking zone detected at a location of the cooking appliance; and based on the second wireless communication signal, output, through the output interface, the information regarding the cooking zone in which the cooking appliance is located.

An inductive cooktop includes: at least one cooking zone; at least one heating coil associated with the cooking zone; and a cooktop controller for driving the at least one heating coil in an operating mode of the inductive cooktop to heat a cooktop utensil with a transmitter unit, which cooktop utensil is placed on the cooking zone. The inductive cooktop is operable in a standby mode in which driving of the at least one heating coil is disabled. The inductive cooktop is operable in a ready mode. The inductive cooktop is switchable from the standby mode to the ready mode by a wake-up signal received by a receiver unit of the cooktop controller. In the ready mode, the at least one heating coil is drivable by the cooktop controller such that, on one hand, the cooktop utensil is prevented from being effectively heated for a preparation operation.

A cooking device that includes a controller configured to, after being activated, control an operation of the cooking device; a communication unit configured to, after being activated, transmit data to a wireless power transmission device; a pickup coil configured to wirelessly receive power from a transmitting coil of the wireless power transmission device; a rectification unit configured to rectify the an alternating current (AC) of the pickup coil corresponding to the power received by the pickup coil, to produce a direct current (DC); a first capacitor configured to be charged in accordance with the DC current produced by the rectification unit to activate the communication unit; and a second capacitor, having a capacitance greater than a capacitance of the first capacitor, configured to be charged in accordance with the DC current produced by the rectification unit to activate the controller, so that the communication unit is activated before the controller.

A temperature-regulating unit includes a base, a resonant tank, and a controller. The base is configured to support a pan. The resonant tank includes a coil and a capacitor. The resonant tank has a resonant frequency that is affected by a material of the pan and a temperature of the pan. The controller is configured to receive a temperature setting, monitor the resonant frequency, determine the material of the pan based on the resonant frequency, determine the temperature of the pan based on the resonant frequency, and adaptively control a thermal element based on the temperature of the pan, the material of the pan, and the temperature setting.

There is provided an apparatus for heating a pot of food or beverage, the apparatus comprising at least one receptacle (20), each receptacle for temporarily receiving a pot of food or beverage to be heated. Each receptacle comprises a base (22), sidewalls (24), and an opening opposite from the base (22) for receiving the pot; a heater element (43) mounted to the sidewalls; a temperature sensor (45) mounted to the base; a pot sensor (40, 41) for detecting whether or not a pot is present in the receptacle; and a controller connected to the heater element, temperature sensor, and pot sensor. The controller is configured to control the heater element in response to the pot sensor and temperature sensor.