Abstract
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.
Claims
1-16. (canceled)
17. An induction cooking appliance device, comprising: an independent first heating unit comprising an inductor; and a power supply unit configured to provide an alternating current for the first heating unit, said power supply unit comprising 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.
18. The induction cooking appliance device of claim 17, constructed in the form of a hob device.
19. The induction cooking appliance device of claim 17, further comprising an independent second heating unit comprising an inductor, said power supply unit being configured to supply the second heating unit simultaneously with the first heating unit.
20. The induction cooking appliance device of claim 19, wherein the configuration unit is configured to operate each of the first and second heating units simultaneously in a half-bridge topology.
21. The induction cooking appliance device of claim 19, wherein the power supply unit comprises a first supply subunit which comprises an inverter and a resonance capacitor unit for supplying the first heating unit, and a second supply subunit which comprises an inverter and a resonance capacitor unit for supplying the second heating unit.
22. The induction cooking appliance device of claim 21, wherein the configuration unit comprises a switching element which is configured to connect the first and second supply subunits electrically in series.
23. The induction cooking appliance device of claim 21, wherein the configuration unit comprises a switching element which is configured to connect the first and second supply subunits electrically cyclically in series.
24. The induction cooking appliance device of claim 21, wherein the first and second supply subunits are designed to be identical to one another.
25. The induction cooking appliance device of claim 17, further comprising a control unit configured to operate the power supply unit in a ZVS mode.
26. The induction cooking appliance device of claim 17, wherein the configuration unit comprises a two-pole changeover switch which is configured to collaborate during the configuration change.
27. The induction cooking appliance device of claim 22, wherein the configuration unit comprises a two-pole changeover switch which is configured to collaborate during the configuration change and which comprises the switching element.
28. The induction cooking appliance device of claim 17, wherein the configuration unit is configured to change a resonance capacitance of the power supply unit.
29. The induction cooking appliance device of claim 28, wherein the power supply unit comprises a resonance capacitor element which is capable of being deactivated by the configuration unit in a half-bridge configuration of the power supply unit .
30. The induction cooking appliance device of claim 28, wherein the power supply unit comprises a resonance capacitor element configured to change the resonance capacitance of the power supply unit in a full-bridge configuration.
31. The induction cooking appliance device of claim 30, wherein the resonance capacitor element is arranged for connection in parallel with an inverter of the power supply unit in order to increase the resonance capacitance.
32. The induction cooking appliance device of claim 30, wherein the resonance capacitor element is arranged for connection in series with an inverter of the power supply unit in order to reduce the resonance capacitance.
33. An induction cooking appliance, comprising an induction cooking appliance device, said induction cooking appliance device comprising an independent first heating unit comprising an inductor, and a power supply unit configured to provide an alternating current for the first heating unit, said power supply unit comprising 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.
34. The induction cooking appliance of claim 33, constructed in the form of an induction hob.
35. A method for operating an induction cooking appliance device, said method comprising configuring a power supply unit to supply an alternating current to an independent heating unit of the induction cooking appliance device between a half-bridge topology and a full-bridge topology.
Description
IN THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 shows an induction cooking appliance with an induction cooking appliance device, comprising a heating unit, a further heating unit and a power supply unit in a schematic view,
[0032] FIG. 2 shows the power supply unit with a configuration unit in a schematic electric circuit diagram,
[0033] FIG. 3 shows the power supply unit with the configuration unit in a further schematic electric circuit diagram,
[0034] FIG. 4 shows a diagram for displaying an effect of a change in a resonance capacitance of the power supply unit,
[0035] FIG. 5 shows a further schematic electric circuit diagram of the power supply unit in a configuration with a changed resonance capacitance,
[0036] FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of a method for operating the induction cooking appliance device,
[0037] FIG. 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an induction cooking appliance device with a power supply unit having a resonance capacitor element, which can be connected in parallel, in a schematic electric circuit diagram,
[0038] FIG. 8 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an induction cooking appliance device with a power supply unit having a resonance capacitor element, which can be connected in series, in a schematic electric circuit diagram and
[0039] FIG. 9 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an induction cooking appliance device with a heating unit and a further heating unit, in each case comprising two inductors, and with a power supply unit in a schematic electric circuit diagram.
[0040] FIG. 1 shows an induction cooking appliance 60a with an induction cooking appliance device 10a. The induction cooking appliance 60a is embodied as an induction hob. The induction cooking appliance device 10a has an independent heating unit 12a. The heating unit 12a comprises an inductor 14a. The induction cooking appliance device 10a has a power supply unit 16a. The power supply unit 16a is provided to supply an alternating current for the heating unit 12a. The power supply unit 12a has a configuration unit 18a (cf. FIG. 2). There is provision for the configuration unit 18a to provide a change of configuration of the power supply unit 16a between a half-bridge topology and a full-bridge topology for supplying the overall heating unit 12a.
[0041] The induction cooking appliance device 10a has an independent further heating unit 28a. The further heating unit 28a comprises a further inductor 30a. The further inductor 30a of the further heating unit 12a can be supplied with an alternating current by means of the power supply unit 16a. The further heating unit 28a can be supplied by the power supply unit 16a simultaneously with the heating unit 12a.
[0042] The induction cooking appliance device 10a has a control unit 48a. The control unit 48a is provided to actuate the power supply unit 16a. The control unit operates the power supply unit 16a in a ZVS mode (cf. FIG. 4).
[0043] The heating unit 12a and the further heating unit 28a can be operated in each case simultaneously in a half-bridge topology by the configuration unit 18a (cf. FIG. 2).
[0044] FIG. 2 shows an electrical circuit diagram of the power supply unit 16a with the configuration unit 18a. The configuration unit 18a has a first configuration element 62a with two contacts 64a, 66a and a second configuration element 68a with two contacts 70a, 72a. The power supply unit 16a has a supply subunit 32a for supplying the heating unit 12a. The supply subunit 32a has an inverter 34a and a resonance capacitor unit 36a. For a configuration of the power supply unit 16a in order to supply the heating unit 12a in a half-bridge topology, the configuration unit 18a establishes a first electrically conducting connection between the inductor 14a of the heating unit 12a and the inverter 34a by means of the first configuration element 62a by way of the contact 64a. The configuration unit 18a establishes a second electrically conducting connection between the inductor 14a of the heating element 12a and the inverter 34a by means of the second configuration element 68a by way of the contact 70a.
[0045] The configuration unit 18a has a further first configuration element 74a with two contacts 76a, 78a and a further second configuration element 80a with two contacts 82a, 84a. The power supply unit 16a has a further supply subunit 38a for supplying the further heating unit 28a. The further supply subunit 38a has a further inverter 40a and a further resonance capacitor unit 42a. For a configuration of the power supply unit 16a in order to supply the heating unit 28a in a half-bridge topology, the configuration unit 18a establishes a first electrically conducting connection between the further inductor 30a of the further heating unit 28a and the further inverter 40a by means of the further first configuration element 74a by way of the contact 76a. The configuration unit 18a establishes a second electrically conducting connection between the inductor 30a of the further heating element 28a and the further inverter 40a by means of the further second configuration element 80a by way of the contact 82a.
[0046] The supply subunit 32a and the further supply subunit 38a are embodied identical to one another.
[0047] The configuration unit 18a has a switching element 44a. In an opened state of the switching element, the heating unit 12a and the further heating unit 28a can be operated by the configuration unit 18a simultaneously in a half-bridge topology in each case.
[0048] In a closed state of the switching element 44a, the supply subunit 32a and the further supply subunit 38a are connected electrically in series.
[0049] In the closed state of the switching element 44a, it is made possible to supply power to the entire heating unit 12a by means of the power supply unit 16a in a full-bridge topology by a change of configuration by means of the configuration unit 18a. For the change of configuration, the configuration unit 18a first disconnects the electrically conducting connection, by means of the first configuration element 62a, by way of the contact 64a and establishes a new electrically conducting connection by way of the contact 66a.
[0050] The configuration unit 18a disconnects the electrically conducting connection by means of the second configuration element 68a by way of the contact 70a and establishes a new electrically conducting connection by way of the contact 72a. The configuration unit 18a disconnects the electrically conducting connection for the change of configuration by means of the further first configuration element 74a by way of the contact 76a and establishes a new electrically conducting connection by way of the contact 78a. The configuration unit 18a disconnects the electrically conducting connection by means of the further second configuration element 80a by way of the contact 82a and establishes a new electrically conducting connection by way of the contact 84a. In the full-bridge topology, the power supply unit 16a supplies the inductor 14a of the heating unit 12a with an alternating voltage by way of the inverter 34a and by way of the further inverter 40a in each case.
[0051] The configuration unit 18a has a further switching element 46a. In an opened state of the further switching element 46a, the heating unit 12a and the further heating unit 28a can be operated by the configuration unit 18a simultaneously in a half-bridge topology in each case.
[0052] In a closed state of the further switching element 46a, the supply subunit 32a and the further supply subunit 38a are connected electrically cyclically in series.
[0053] By closing the further switching element 46a, it is made possible to supply power to the entire further heating unit 12a in a full-bridge topology by means of a further change of configuration by means of the configuration unit 18a.
[0054] FIG. 3 shows the power supply unit 16a with the configuration unit 18a. The configuration unit 18a has a two-pole changeover switch 50a. The two-pole changeover switch 50a comprises the switching element 44a and the further switching element 46a. The two-pole changeover switch 50a is provided to collaborate during a change of configuration.
[0055] FIG. 4 shows a diagram for displaying an effect of a change in a resonance capacitance. A switching frequency, at which the control unit 48a operates the power supply unit 16a, is plotted on an x-axis 94a of the diagram. A heat output is plotted on a y-axis 96a. A first heat output curve 98a shows a course of a first heat output in a first operating mode of the induction cooking appliance device 10a with a first resonance capacitance. The first heat output curve 98a has a maximum with a first resonance frequency 100a. To achieve a maximum heat output 106a in the ZVS mode of the control unit, a first minimum switching frequency 108a is required. In order to reduce the heat output to a target heat output 110a, an increase in the switching frequency to a first target heat output switching frequency 112a is required. A second heat output curve 102a shows a course of a second heat output in a second operating mode of the induction cooking appliance device 10a with a lower second resonance capacitance. The second heat output curve 102a has a maximum with a higher second resonance frequency 104a. For operation in a ZVS mode, a second minimum switching frequency 114a is required. To achieve the target heat output 110a, a second target heat output switching frequency 116a is required. A first relative distance 118a between the first target heat output frequency 112a and the first resonance frequency 100a in the first operating move is greater than a second relative distance 120 between the second target heat output frequency 116a and the second resonance frequency 104a. In the second operating mode, a more efficient operation of the induction cooking appliance device 10a is made possible compared with the first operating mode.
[0056] The configuration unit 18a is provided to change at least one resonance capacitance of the power supply unit 16a.
[0057] FIG. 5 shows the power supply unit 16a with the configuration unit 18a in a half-bridge configuration 56a with an opened switching element 44a and opened further switching element 46a. In the half-bridge configuration 56a, the heating unit 12a and the further heating unit 28a can be operated in each case simultaneously and independently of one another. The resonance capacitor unit 36a of the supply subunit 32a of the power supply unit 16a has a first resonance capacitor element 86a and a second resonance capacitor element 88a. In the half-bridge configuration 56a, the first resonance capacitor element 86a or the second resonance capacitor element 88a can be deactivated by the configuration unit. FIG. 5 shows the first resonance capacitor element 86a disconnected. To reduce the resonance capacitance, the configuration unit disconnects the electrically conducting connection of the resonance capacitor element 86a by means of the first configuration element 62a by way of the contact 64a.
[0058] The further resonance capacitor unit 42a of the further supply subunit 38a of the power supply unit 16a has a further first resonance capacitor element 90a and a further second resonance capacitor element 92a. In the half-bridge configuration 56a, the further first resonance capacitor element 90a or the further second resonance capacitor element 92a can be deactivated by the configuration unit. FIG. 5 shows the further first resonance capacitor element 90a disconnected. To reduce the resonance capacitance, the configuration unit disconnects the electrically conducting connection of the further first resonance capacitor element 90a by means of the further first configuration element 74a by way of the contact 76a.
[0059] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a method for operating the induction cooking appliance device 10a. The method comprises a first method step 122a, a second method step 124a and a third method step 126a. In the first method step 122a, the power supply unit 16a supplies the entire heating unit 12a by way of the supply subunit 32a in a half-bridge topology. In the second method step 124a, the configuration unit 18a configures the power supply unit 16a from the half-bridge topology into a full bridge topology. In the third method step 126a, the power supply unit 16a supplies the entire heating unit 12a by way of the supply subunit 32 and by way of the further supply subunit 38a in the full-bridge topology.
[0060] Shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 are three further exemplary embodiments of the invention. The following descriptions are substantially restricted to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, wherein with regard to components, features and functions which remain the same, reference can be made to the description of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 6. In order to differentiate between the exemplary embodiments, the letter a in the reference characters of the exemplary embodiment is replaced in the FIGS. 1 to 6 by the letter b in the reference characters of the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 7, by the letter c in the reference characters of the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 8 and by the letter d in the reference characters of the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 9. Reference can basically also be made to the drawings and/or the description of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 6, in respect of components labeled the same, in particular in respect of components with identical reference characters.
[0061] FIG. 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an induction cooking appliance device 10b with a power supply unit 16b. The induction cooking appliance device 10b differs from the induction cooking appliance device 10a in that a power supply unit 16b has further elements compared with the power supply unit 16a. FIG. 7 shows an electrical circuit diagram of the power supply unit 16b of the induction cooking appliance device 10b. The power supply unit 16b has a resonance capacitor element 54b. The resonance capacitor element 54b is provided to change the resonance capacitance in a full bridge configuration of the power supply unit 16b in order to supply a heating unit 12b. In order to increase the resonance capacitance, the resonance capacitor element 54b is arranged such that it can be connected in parallel with an inverter 34b of the power supply unit 16b. The power supply unit 16b has a further resonance capacitor element 128b. The further resonance capacitor element 54b is provided to change the resonance capacitance in a full bridge configuration of the power supply unit 16b in order to supply a further heating unit 28b. In order to increase the resonance capacitance, the resonance capacitor element 128b is arranged such that it can be connected in parallel with a further inverter 34b of the power supply unit.
[0062] FIG. 8 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an induction cooking appliance device 10c. The induction cooking appliance device 10c differs from the induction cooking appliance device 10b only in respect of an arrangement of resonance capacitor elements which differs compared with the power supply unit 16b. The power supply unit 16c has a resonance capacitor element 54c. The resonance capacitor element 54c is provided to change the resonance capacitance in a full bridge configuration of the power supply unit 16c in order to supply a heating unit 12c. In order to reduce the resonance capacitance, the resonance capacitor element 54c is arranged such that it can be connected in series with an inverter 34c of the power supply unit 16c. The power supply unit 16c has a further resonance capacitor element 128c. The resonance capacitor element 128c is provided to change the resonance capacitance in a full bridge configuration of the power supply unit 16c in order to supply a further heating unit 28c. In order to reduce the resonance capacitance, the resonance capacitor element 128c is arranged such that it can be connected in series with a further inverter 40c of the power supply unit 16c.
[0063] FIG. 9 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an induction cooking appliance device 10d with a power supply unit 16d. The induction cooking appliance device 10d differs from the induction cooking appliance device 10a in respect of a heating unit 12d and in respect of a further heating unit 28d. The heating unit 12d has two inductors 14d, 130d. The power supply unit 16d has a supply subunit 32d for supplying the heating unit 12d. The supply subunit 32d comprises an inverter 34d and a resonance capacitor unit 36d. The resonance capacitor unit 36d comprises a first resonance capacitor element 86d and a second resonance capacitor element 88d, which form a first oscillating circuit with the inductor 14d and the inverter 34d. The resonance capacitor unit 36d comprises a third resonance capacitor element 138d and a fourth resonance capacitor element 140d, which form a second oscillating circuit with the inductor 130d. The power supply unit 16d has a configuration unit 18d, which is provided for a change of configuration of the power supply unit 16d between a half-bridge topology and a full-bridge topology for supplying the entire heating unit 12d or supplying one of the inductors 14d, 130d. The configuration unit 18d has two switching elements 44d, 130d. The inductor 14d of the heating unit 12d can be connected and/or deactivated by means of the switching element 44d. The inductor 130d can be connected and/or deactivated by means of the switching element 44d. The further heating unit 28d has two further inductors 30d, 132d. The power supply unit 16d has a further supply subunit 38d for supplying the further heating unit 28d. The supply subunit 38d comprises a further inverter 40d and a further resonance capacitor unit 42d. The further resonance capacitor unit 42d comprises a further first resonance capacitor element 90d and a further second resonance capacitor element 92d, which form a further first oscillating circuit with the further inductor 30d and the further inverter 40d. The further resonance capacitor unit 42d comprises a further third resonance capacitor element 142d and a further fourth resonance capacitor element 144d, which form a further second oscillating circuit with the inductor 132d. The configuration unit 18d is provided for a change of configuration of the power supply unit 13d between a half-bridge topology and a full-bridge topology for supplying the entire heating unit 28d or supplying one of the further inductors 30d 132d of the further heating unit 28d. The configuration unit has two further switching elements 46d, 136d. The further inductor 30d can be connected and/or deactivated by means of the further switching element 46d. The further inductor 132d can be connected and/or deactivated by means of the further switching element 46d.
REFERENCE CHARACTERS
[0064] 10 induction cooking appliance device
[0065] 12 heating unit
[0066] 14 inductor
[0067] 16 power supply unit
[0068] 18 configuration unit
[0069] 28 further heating unit
[0070] 30 further inductor
[0071] 32 supply subunit
[0072] 34 inverter
[0073] 36 resonance capacitor unit
[0074] 38 further supply subunit
[0075] 40 further inverter
[0076] 42 further resonance capacitor unit
[0077] 44 switching element
[0078] 46 further switching element
[0079] 48 control unit
[0080] 50 two-pole changeover switch
[0081] 54 resonance capacitor unit
[0082] 56 half-bridge configuration
[0083] 60 induction cooking appliance
[0084] 62 first configuration element
[0085] 64 contact
[0086] 66 contact
[0087] 68 second configuration element
[0088] 70 contact
[0089] 72 contact
[0090] 74 further first configuration element
[0091] 76 contact
[0092] 78 contact
[0093] 80 further second configuration element
[0094] 82 contact
[0095] 84 contact
[0096] 86 first resonance capacitor element
[0097] 88 second resonance capacitor element
[0098] 90 further first resonance capacitor element
[0099] 92 further second resonance capacitor element
[0100] 94 x-axis
[0101] 96 y-axis
[0102] 98 first heat output curve
[0103] 100 first resonance frequency
[0104] 102 second heat output curve
[0105] 104 second resonance frequency
[0106] 106 maximum heat output
[0107] 108 first minimum switching frequency
[0108] 110 target heat output
[0109] 112 first target heat output switching frequency
[0110] 114 second minimum switching frequency
[0111] 116 further target heat output switching frequency
[0112] 118 first relative distance
[0113] 120 second relative distance
[0114] 122 first method step
[0115] 124 second method step
[0116] 126 third method step
[0117] 128 further resonance capacitor element
[0118] 130 inductor
[0119] 132 further inductor
[0120] 134 switching element
[0121] 136 further switching element
[0122] 138 third resonance capacitor element
[0123] 140 fourth resonance capacitor element
[0124] 142 further third resonance capacitor element
[0125] 144 further fourth resonance capacitor element
