An induction cooking appliance device includes an independent heating unit including an inductor, and a power supply unit configured to provide an alternating current for the first heating unit. The power supply unit includes a configuration unit configured to provide for a change of configuration of the power supply unit between a half-bridge topology and a full-bridge topology for supplying the first heating unit.

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.

Disclosed is an electric range which provides specific functions without user intervention. The electric range adjusts the heating power if a user enacts a gesture that slides an item to be heated in a first direction. Also, the electric range provides additional functions if a user enacts a gesture that slides an item to be heated in a second direction.

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.

An induction device includes a plurality of induction areas which can be controlled independently from one another, and a control unit configured to control the plurality of induction areas within a control period from a first control interval and a second control interval repetitively with an alternating current frequency and to supply the plurality of induction areas with energy. The control unit operates in the first control interval at least two of the plurality of induction areas with a first phase shift to minimize interference.

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.

The present specification relates to heater element, device provided therewith and method for manufacturing such heater element. The heater element comprises a heater of a resistance heating metal that is provided in, at or close to a fluid path configured for heating fluid, wherein the heater comprises a conductor that is provided with a porous ceramic layer. In embodiments, the ceramic layer is provided on or at the conductor with plasma electrolytic oxidation. The ceramic layer has a thickness in the range of 5-300 μm.

Method to control a quasi-resonant inverter (13) in an induction cooking appliance (1) provided with induction heating coil (4). The quasi-resonant inverter (13) comprises a switching device (21) electrically connected to the induction heating coil (4) by a node (20) having a first voltage (VC(t)) which is indicative of the voltage across the power switching device (21). The method comprising the steps of: providing to the switching device (21) an enabling signal (K1) comprising a plurality of pulses, in order to switch-on and switch-off said switching device (21) for a switch-on period (tON) and a switch-off period (tOFF), determining a second voltage (VCmin) indicative of the minimum value of the first voltage (VC(t)) during the switch- off period (tOFF), regulating the switch-off period (tOFF) based on the second voltage (VCmin), and regulating the enabling signal (K1) based on the regulated switch-off period (tOFF).

The present invention relates to an induction heating cooker including a synchronization circuit for a plurality of inverters, comprising: a first inverter including a first switching circuit unit for applying a first power source to a first heating coil, and a first control unit for controlling the first switching circuit unit; and a second inverter including a second switching circuit unit for applying a second power source to a second heating coil, and a second control unit for controlling the second switching circuit unit, wherein the first inverter further includes a first insulated signal transfer unit for controlling an operation of the second switching circuit unit, and the first control unit may match an operating frequency of the second switching circuit unit with an operating frequency of the first switching circuit unit by using the first insulated signal transfer unit.

Method for operating a kitchen appliance (100), the kitchen appliance (100) having: a rectifier (1) for producing a DC voltage (UG) from a grid voltage (UN), a first inverter (2) which is powered by the DC voltage (UG) and which is designed to generate a first control signal (AS1) having a first frequency (f1), a first coil (3) which is controlled by means of the first control signal (AS1) and by means of which an alternating magnetic field is able to be generated for heating a cooking vessel (4) and/or for transferring energy in the direction of an electrical load (5) by means of inductive coupling, a second inverter (6) which is powered by the DC voltage (UG) and which is designed to generate a second control signal (AS2) having a second frequency (f2), and a second coil (7) which is controlled by means of the second control signal (AS2) and by means of which an alternating magnetic field is able to be generated for heating a cooking vessel (8) and/or for transferring energy in the direction of an electrical load (9) by means of inductive coupling, the method having the step of: controlling the first inverter (2) and the second inverter (6) in such a way that the first frequency (f1) and the second frequency (f2) are dependent on each other.