A cooking support method for a cooking support system, for supporting cooking by a user, connected through a network to a thermal image camera installed to take, from obliquely above the cookware, a thermal image of a region including a cookware during cooking and to a notification device capable of notifying the user of information includes: acquiring a thermal image of the region including the cookware at predetermined time intervals from the thermal image camera through the network; calculating a value indicating a change in level of a content in the cookware from the acquired thermal image; and determining whether the calculated value is not less than a predetermined threshold, determining that the content will possibly boil over the cookware when the calculated value is determined as not less than the predetermined threshold, and transmitting notification information to notify the user of the possibility of boil-over to the notification device.

Induction hob with boiling detection and induction energy control, method for heating food with an induction hob and computer program product

An induction cooking hob and a method for heating food as well as a computer program product are disclosed. Based on information of a micro-electromechanical system (1500) in combination with a temperature sensor associated to a heating zone, vibrations can be detected and a heating zone associated with the boiling substance can be properly discriminated from one supporting a pot having a non-boiling substance in it. Subsequent simmering of the substance can be automatically effected. An indication will be provided to a user (1680), and an automated function can be started (1610) including boiling and subsequent simmering, respectively indication of a boiling substance on any of the heating zones on an induction hob (1000).

The invention relates to the asymmetric structure, in terms of the layer structure, of two or more stone slabs—generally two—wherein the load-bearing bottom slab is designed to be thicker than the top slab which is to be stabilized and which forms the surface of an induction hob assembly. The thickness or stiffness of the bottom stone slab is designed in conjunction with an adequately dimensioned tension-resistant fibre layer such that the tensile stresses in the top slab resulting from the expansion of the top slab during cooking, especially on the surface, because of the bi-metal effect, that is to say from dishing up of the slab, are not exceeded to avoid any hairline crack formation. To this end, the cross-section and/or the stiffness of the bottom slab is to be designed to be so thick in the counter-stabilizing edge regions that the expansion forces of the top stone slab in the cooking zone are adequately compensated for by the compression zone beneath the tension-resistant fibre layer such that the maximum permissible tensile stress on the surface of the top stone slab, which makes up the hob, is not exceeded even if the maximum permissible cooking temperature is reached. In order to prevent deflection or dishing of the entire assembly as a result of the bi-metal effect, a sufficiently porous stone material is selected for the surface which is compressible in volume and/or preferably less resistant to compression than the bottom stabilizing slab, which provides the counter-pressure. To receive the induction coil, the slab assembly is milled out from below to close to the surface, so that the distance between the induction coil and the pan is as small as possible. The milled-out portion is designed to be domed to enhance mechanical stability against pressure and impact from above. Additional fibre reinforcement can be applied here to provide greater support. Circulating air layers are used beneath and, where necessary, on top of the stone surface to keep the surface temperatures on the hob and on the underside of the cooking zone as low as possible. These measures together serve the purpose of preventing the usual hairline cracking on the surface of the complete assembly.

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.

An induction heating cooker including a temperature sensor disposed between a plurality of working coils which are uniformly disposed below a cooking table and a heat transfer member to transfer heat from the working coils adjacent to the temperature sensor to the temperature sensor, thereby improving productivity and space utilization.

A range has burner coil elements which have temperature switches as a portion of the replaceable coils. Upon reaching a predetermined temperatures, the switch opens and power through the burner element is secured. The burner elements are preferably open coil units. Lowering the temperature in a cooking utensil below common ignition temperatures while still allowing boiling is an objective of many embodiments.

Provided is a cooking assistance device for providing information that assists cooking using a cooking appliance based on a measurement result of power consumption of the cooking appliance. The cooking assistance device includes a storage unit that stores information that relates to power consumption in cooking, an acquisition unit that acquires a measurement value that relates to power consumption of the cooking appliance, and an output unit that outputs the measurement value and the information that relates to power consumption in cooking.

An induction heating apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure includes a coil; an inverter unit configured to have a switching device turned on and off to supply power to the coil; a first controller configured to generate a first threshold current based on information about a coil current flowing in the coil and an input voltage applied to the coil, and generate a clock signal by comparing the coil current with the first threshold current; and a switch driver configured to generate a switch driving signal to turn on or off the switching device of the inverter unit by dividing a frequency of the clock signal.

Disclosed herein is a cooking appliance. A working coil is provided at a lower portion of the cooking appliance. The working coil heats a tray disposed in a cooking compartment in an IH mode. A receiver coil wirelessly receiving external power is stacked below the working coil. An electromagnetic shielding plate is installed between the working coil and the receiver coil to partition a space in which the two coils are installed. The electromagnetic shielding plate shields an electromagnetic field or electromagnetic waves such that the electromagnetic field or electromagnetic waves in one of the two partitioned spaces does not leak to the other space located across the electromagnetic shielding plate.

An induction cooktop includes: a first induction heater and a second induction heater; a control unit; a first switching current generator and a second switching current generator, operable by the control unit in subsequent control periods to energize the first induction heater and the second induction heater, respectively. The control unit configured to: operate both the first switching current generator and the second switching current generator with a first switching frequency in a first control interval of each control period; operate only the first switching current generator with at least two respective different switching frequencies in a second control interval and in a third control interval of each control period, while the second switching current generator is inactive; operate only the second switching current generator with at least two respective different switching frequencies in a fourth control interval and in a fifth control interval of each control period, while the first switching current generator is inactive.