An intelligent heating system and method for providing varied heating experiences to food product packages and their contents in connection with pick-up food service, delivery food service, or both. The intelligent heating system dynamically controls energy provided to food packages and their contents in order to provide different heating experiences. The system can use location information to heat the food just before pick-up or delivery to enhance the consumption experience. The system can also control temperature to reduce the amount of condensation that forms within the package.

The invention relates to a method for determining properties of the electrical current provided to an induction heating element (2) of an induction cooking appliance (1). The induction cooking appliance (1) has a heating power energy unit (3) including a heating power generator (4) with at least one switching element (5) adapted to provide pulsed electric power to said induction heating element (2). The induction cooking appliance (1) also has an oscillating circuit (6) with at least one resonance capacitor (6.1, 6.2). The induction heating element (2) is electrically coupled with the heating power generator (4) and the oscillating circuit (6). The induction cooking appliance (1) also has a control entity (8), wherein an input of a measurement circuit (9) is coupled with a node of the heating power energy unit (3).

A temperature-regulating appliance includes a top portion, a base, a temperature sensor, and a mounting adapter. The top portion has an upper surface and a lower surface. The base includes a housing defining an internal compartment and a thermal element disposed within the internal compartment of the housing. The temperature sensor is positioned outside of the internal compartment, between the housing and the lower surface of the top portion. The mounting adapter extends between the top portion and the housing. The mounting adapter detachably couples the base to the top portion.

An induction cooktop includes a ceramic cooking surface in connection with a housing. A plurality of inductors is disposed in the housing and each of the inductors is in communication with a controller. The controller is configured to selectively activate each of the inductors in response to an input received at the user interface identifying an active inductor of the plurality of inductors to activate. The controller is further configured to detect a presence of a pan proximate the active inductor in response to a detection signal and identify a small pan condition in response to a phase angle detected for the active inductor of the plurality of inductors.

An induction heating device includes an induction heating circuit, a sensor configured to measure current applied to the induction heating circuit, and a controller. The controller includes: a switch driving unit configured to control operation of an inverter unit and to allow a resonance of the current, a container sensing unit, and a control unit. The container sensing unit is configured to: convert a first current value before the resonance into a first voltage value; control the switch driving unit to charge a working coil; compare the first voltage value with a resonance reference value; convert a second current value after the resonance into a second voltage value; generate one or more output pulses; and compare the second voltage value with a count reference value. The control unit is configured to determine whether an object is present on the working coil based on the one or more output pulses.

An induction cooking system in accordance with the principals of the present invention includes an induction cooking appliance and custom cookware. The induction cooking appliance includes a cooktop surface, an induction heating system contained below the cooktop surface, and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor sensing temperature above the cooktop surface. The induction heating system includes a coil positioned immediately below the cooktop surface. The coil is configured to produce an electromagnetic field when the coil is energized. The custom cookware is configured to be placed on the cooktop surface above the coil. The custom cookware includes an inner shell and an outer shell. The inner shell is comprised of a metallic material to heat a food material. The outer shell is comprised of a thermally insulative material that is substantially transparent to magnetic flux. The outer shell includes an underside configured to rest on the cooktop surface above the coil during cooking. The underside defines a thermal-insulation aperture through which the temperature sensor extends temperature sensing above the cooktop surface to the inner shell.

An induction cooker includes a top plate on which a cooking container is placed; a heating coil placed below the top plate and that heats the cooking container; an infrared sensor placed below the heating coil and that detects infrared radiation emitted from the cooking container; a sensor casing that houses the infrared sensor; and a magnetic path forming member placed on a top face of the sensor casing. The magnetic path forming member guides magnetic flux passing above the infrared sensor by being generated from the heating coil.

The present disclosure relates to a cooking apparatus and a method of controlling the same, and more particularly, to a technology for reducing stress caused by a current flowing through a diode included in the cooking apparatus. The cooking apparatus includes a coil on which a vessel is mounted, configured to form a magnetic field upon application of a current; a first switch and a second switch configured to change a direction of the current flowing through the coil; a first diode connected in parallel to the first switch or a second diode connected in parallel to the second switch; and a controller configured to alternately control a turn-on operation of the first switch and the second switch, and when a maximum value of the current flowing through the first diode or a maximum value of the current flowing through the second diode exceeds a predetermined value, to increase an operating frequency of turning on the first switch and the second switch to limit the maximum value of the current flowing through the first diode or the second diode to less than or equal to the predetermined value.

An induction heating apparatus according to one embodiment comprises a working coil disposed in a position corresponding to a heating zone, an inverter circuit that comprises a plurality of switching elements and supplies current to the working coil, a driving circuit that supplies a switching signal to each of the switching elements included in the inverter circuit, a current sensor that measures a resonance current value, magnitude of resonance current flowing in the working coil, and a controller that supplies a control signal for adjusting a duty ratio and a frequency of the switching signal to the driving circuit, to drive the working coil.

An induction heating device includes a case, working coils, a cover plate, an input interface, a first control module configured to detect one or more of the working coils at a position of an object seated on the cover plate, a second control module configured to receive information on the position of the object and control the input interface to display an image of a heating zone, and light emitting elements disposed below a periphery of each of the plurality of working coils. The second control module is configured to analyze an arrangement form of the one or more of the working coils based on the information on the position of the object, and control driving of at least one of the light emitting elements based on a result of analyzing the arrangement form.