Disclosed is an electric range controlling heat power based on properties of a heating target. The electric range may adjust the heat power based on the properties of the heating target, when a user makes a gesture of moving the heating target in a specific direction. A unit decrease amount value of the heat power sequentially decreasing may be set based on the information related to the heating target. The information related to the heating target may include at least one of the weight of the heating target, the size of the bottom surface of the heating target or the property of contents contained in the heating target.

An inductive cooktop includes a transparent panel that supports a cookware object. An electrically actuated panel, such as a display panel, is disposed below the transparent panel. The electrically actuated panel includes two sets of lines, such as data and scan lines, disposed orthogonal to each other to form a two-dimensional matrix that is configured to operate associated elements with an addressing scheme. An array of induction coils are disposed below the electrically actuated panel that are each operable to generate an electromagnetic field that inductively couples with the cookware object supported at the transparent panel. The induction coils are operable to generate an electromagnetic field with a flux direction in general parallel alignment with one set of lines, such as the data lines, to prevent the electromagnetic field from inducing a voltage on the lines.

A method for identifying cookware on an induction cooktop having coils, includes the steps: (a) acquire a coverage factor matrix; (b) set a present level at a maximum value of the matrix; (c) count closed iso-level curves corresponding to the present level and save the result; (d) decrease the level by an amount; (e) count closed curves corresponding to the decreased level; (f) when the number of closed curves at the present level is not lower than that from the previous level, update the saved result with the present level; (g) when the number of closed curves at the present level is lower than that from the previous level, keep the previously saved result; (h) repeat steps (d) to (h), until the number decreases; (i) assign coils inside the curve to a distinct cluster; and (j) use the clustering to estimate a position, shape, size, and orientation of the cookware.

An inductive cooktop system includes a top plate that has a top surface for supporting a cookware object. A display is disposed below the top plate, and induction coils are arranged in a matrix and disposed vertically below the display. The induction coils are each operable to generate a magnetic field that partially extends above the top surface of the top plate to couple with the cookware object. A control system receives an initial input indicating a position of the cookware object on the top surface of the top plate. Data processing hardware of the control system then determines the pixels of the display corresponding to the indicated position from the input. The control system then generates a graphic at the indicated position for the cookware object by illuminating the plurality of pixels of the display.

A household appliance device includes a control unit which is designed to control an induction target repetitively with a switching frequency and to supply the induction target with energy. The control unit is designed to modulate in an operating state through frequency modulation the switching frequency within a modulation period which corresponds to an integer multiple of a half period of a mains AC voltage.

A hob apparatus includes a sensor unit configured to detect a sensor signal, an electronic signal processing unit configured to further process and/or analyze the sensor signal, and a printed circuit board, on which the sensor unit and the signal processing unit are arranged together.

In a method for a cooktop, in particular for producing and/or operating the cooktop, which has at least one variable cooking surface, the cooking surface is partitioned in an operating mode along a partitioning direction into a plurality of heating zones to which at least one heating parameter is assigned in each case in a location-dependent manner in order to heat a cooking utensil that is deposited on the heating zone. In order to ensure flexible production and/or flexible operation of the cooktop, during partitioning of the cooking surface into the heating zones in at least one peripheral region of the cooking surface, at least one cooking utensil characteristic is taken into account.

An induction heating and wireless power transferring device that includes: a first working coil and a second working coil that are coupled in parallel; a rectification unit configured to rectify alternating current (AC) power to direct current (DC) power; a first inverter unit configured to convert the DC power into resonant current, and apply the converted resonant current to the first working coil or the second working coil; a first switch coupled to the first working coil and configured to turn on or off the first working coil; a second switch coupled to the second working coil and configured to turn on or off the second working coil; and a control unit configured to control the first inverter unit, the first switch, or the second switch to detect whether a target object is located on the first working coil or the second working coil.

In a method for a cooktop, in particular for producing and/or operating the cooktop, which has at least one variable cooking surface, the cooking surface is partitioned in an operating mode along a partitioning direction into a plurality of heating zones to which at least one heating parameter is assigned in each case in a location-dependent manner in order to heat a cooking utensil that is deposited on the heating zone. In order to ensure flexible production and/or flexible operation of the cooktop, during partitioning of the cooking surface into the heating zones in at least one peripheral region of the cooking surface, at least one cooking utensil characteristic is taken into account.

An induction heating system includes a housing, a heating surface, a first power inverter disposed within the housing, a second power inverter disposed within the housing, a first plurality of working coils, and a second plurality of working coils. The first plurality of working coils is connected in series. The first plurality of working coils is disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the first power inverter. The second plurality of working coils is connected in series. The second plurality of working coils is disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the first power inverter. The first plurality of working coils and the second plurality of working coils are configured to receive power from the first power inverter and the second power inverter, respectively, to produce magnetic fields that interact with a ferrous material of cooking vessels or of the heating surface to generate heat in the ferrous material.