INDUCTION COOKING APPLIANCE

Abstract

An induction cooktop apparatus includes an inductor, an insulating layer unit electrically insulating the inductor, and a detection coil for object recognition, said detection coil connected to the insulating layer.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. An induction cooktop apparatus, comprising: an inductor; an insulating layer unit electrically insulating the inductor; and a detection coil for object recognition, said detection coil connected to the insulating layer.

15. The induction cooktop apparatus of claim 14, wherein the detection coil is integrated in the insulating layer unit.

16. The induction cooktop apparatus of claim 14, wherein the insulating layer unit includes a first insulating layer element and a second insulating layer element, said detection coil being arranged between the first insulating layer element and the second insulating layer element.

17. The induction cooktop apparatus of claim 16, wherein the detection coil is printed on the first insulating layer element.

18. The induction cooktop apparatus of claim 16, wherein the detection coil is adhesively bonded between the first insulating layer element and the second insulating layer element.

19. The induction cooktop apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first insulating layer element and the second insulating layer element have substantially different surface extensions.

20. The induction cooktop apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second insulating layer element has a surface extension which is adapted to the detection coil.

21. The induction cooktop apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a further detection coil connected to the insulating layer unit.

22. The induction cooktop apparatus of claim 21, wherein the further detection coil is integrated in the insulating layer unit.

23. The induction cooktop apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a connecting element configured to connect the detection coil and the further detection coil to a control unit.

24. The induction cooktop apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an inductor matrix, said inductor forming part of the inductor matrix.

25. The induction cooktop apparatus of claim 24, wherein the inductor matrix is an inductor vector.

26. An induction cooktop, comprising an induction cooktop apparatus, said induction cooktop apparatus comprising an inductor, an insulating layer unit electrically insulating the inductor, and a detection coil for object recognition, said detection coil connected to the insulating layer.

27. A method for manufacturing an induction cooktop apparatus, said method comprising: electrically insulating an inductor by an insulating layer unit; and connecting a detection coil for object recognition to the insulating layer unit.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the detection coil is integrated in the insulating layer unit.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising arranging the detection coil between a first insulating layer elements and a second insulating layer element of the insulating layer unit.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising printing the detection coil on the first insulating layer element.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising adhesively bonding the detection coil between the first insulating layer element and the second insulating layer element.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising adapting a surface extension of the second insulating layer element to the detection coil.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising: integrating a further detection coil in the insulating layer unit; and connecting the detection coil and the further detection coil to a control unit.

Description

[0028] In the drawing:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows an induction cooktop with an induction cooktop apparatus,

[0030] FIG. 2 shows the induction cooktop apparatus comprising an inductor, a detection coil and an insulating layer unit in a schematic exploded view,

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram to illustrate a method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus,

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an induction cooktop apparatus in a schematic exploded view,

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an induction cooktop apparatus in a schematic plan view,

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an induction cooktop apparatus in a schematic plan view and

[0035] FIG. 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an induction cooktop apparatus in a schematic plan view.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows an induction cooktop 40a. The induction cooktop 40a is configured as a matrix induction cooktop. The induction cooktop 40a has an induction cooktop apparatus 10a. The induction cooktop apparatus 10a comprises at least one inductor 12a which in FIG. 1 is shown simplified as a rectangular box. The inductor 12a is provided for heating items of cookware (not shown) which can be placed on a positioning plate 38a of the induction cooktop 40a.

[0037] The induction cooktop 40a has a plurality of further inductors 58a. The induction cooktop 40a has a control unit 32a. The control unit 32a is provided for controlling and supplying energy to the inductor 12a and the further inductors 58a.

[0038] The induction cooktop apparatus 10a has an inductor matrix 34a. In the present case, the inductor matrix 34a is configured by a first inductor vector 26a and a second inductor vector 36a. The inductor 12a of the induction cooktop apparatus 10a is part of the inductor matrix 34a.

[0039] In the figures, in each case only one object of the objects repeatedly present is provided with a reference character.

[0040] FIG. 2 shows an induction cooktop apparatus 10a in a schematic exploded view. The induction cooktop apparatus 10a comprises the detection coil 14a. The detection coil 14a is provided for object recognition. The detection coil 14a is provided, for example, for detecting an item of cookware (not shown) positioned on the positioning plate 38a of the induction cooktop 40a (see FIG. 1) or incorrectly positioned metal objects (not shown).

[0041] The induction cooktop apparatus 10a has an insulating layer unit 16a. The insulating layer unit 16a is provided for electrically insulating the inductor 12a. The detection coil 14a is connected to the insulating layer unit 16a. In the present exemplary embodiment, the detection coil 14a is integrated in the insulating layer unit 16a. The detection coil 14a is integrated in the insulating layer 16a such that an upper largest side surface 52a and a lower largest side surface 54a of the detection coil 14a in each case are entirely covered by the insulating layer unit 16a.

[0042] The insulating layer unit 16a has a first insulating layer element 18a. In an assembled state of the induction cooktop apparatus 10a the first insulating layer element 18a is arranged above the inductor 12a and is provided for electrically insulating the inductor 12a. The insulating layer unit 16a has a second insulating layer element 20a. In the assembled state, the detection coil 14a is arranged between the first insulating layer element 18a and the second insulating layer element 20a. In the present exemplary embodiment, the detection coil 14a is adhesively bonded between the first insulating layer element 18a and the second insulating layer element 20a. The second insulating layer element 20a is provided for electrically insulating the detection coil 14a. The first insulating layer element 18a and the second insulating layer element 20a of the insulating layer unit 16a are configured in each case from a heat-resistant and electrically insulating material. In the present case, the first insulating layer element 18a and the second insulating layer element 20a are manufactured in each case from mica and are heat-resistant relative to temperatures of at least 250° C.

[0043] The first insulating layer element 18a and the second insulating layer element 20a have substantially different surface extensions 22a, 24a. The first insulating layer element 18a has a first surface extension 22a. The second insulating layer element 20a has a second surface extension 24a. The first surface extension 22a of the first insulating layer element 18a is substantially larger than the second surface extension 24a of the second insulating layer element 20a. The second insulating layer element 20a is adapted in terms of its surface extension 24a to the detection coil 14a. The surface extension 24a of the second insulating layer element 20a is fractionally larger than the main extension 56a of the detection coil 14a.

[0044] The induction cooktop apparatus 10a has a coil support 60a. The inductor 12a is arranged in the coil support 60a and is covered by the first insulating layer element 18a. The induction cooktop apparatus 10a has a connecting element 48a. The connecting element 48a is provided for fastening the inductor 12a to the coil support 60a. The inductor 12a can be connected in an electrically conductive manner to the control unit 32a of the induction cooktop 40a by means of the connecting element 48a (see FIG. 1).

[0045] The induction cooktop apparatus 10a has a connecting element 30a. The connecting element 30a is connected to the detection coil 14a. The detection coil 14a can be connected to the control unit 32a of the induction cooktop 40a by means of the connecting element 30a.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram to illustrate a method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus 10a. In the method, the detection coil is connected to an insulating layer unit which is provided for electrically insulating the inductor. In a method step 42a of the method, the detection coil 14a is connected to the first insulating layer element 18a of the insulating layer unit 16a, for example adhesively bonded or printed thereon. In a further method step 44a, the second insulating layer element 20a of the insulating layer unit 16a is adhesively bonded to the first insulating layer element 18a so that the detection coil 14a is arranged between the first insulating layer element 18a and the second insulating layer element 20a and is integrated in the insulating layer unit 16a.

[0047] Four further exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in FIGS. 4 to 7. The following descriptions are substantially limited to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, wherein relative to components, features and functions remaining the same, reference can be made to the description of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3. In order to differentiate between the exemplary embodiments, the letter a in the reference characters of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 3 is replaced by the letters b to e in the reference characters of the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 4 to 7. Relative to components which are denoted the same, in particular with reference to components having the same reference characters, in principle reference can be made to the drawings and/or the description of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an induction cooktop apparatus 10b in a schematic exploded view. The induction cooktop apparatus 10b has an inductor 12b and a further inductor 46b. The inductor 12b and the further inductor 46b are arranged jointly in a coil support 60b of the induction cooktop apparatus 10b. The inductor 12b is arranged in a central region 62b of the coil support 60b. The further inductor 46b is arranged in an edge region 64b of the coil support 60b concentrically around the inductor 12b. The inductor 12b is fastened by means of a connecting element 48b to the coil support 60b and can be connected in an electrically conductive manner to a control unit (not shown). The further inductor 46b is connected by means of a further connecting element 50b to the coil support 60b and can be connected in an electrically conductive manner to the control unit. The inductor 12b can be operated independently of the further inductor 46b. The further inductor 46b can be switched to the inductor 12b in order to heat an item of cookware (not shown) having a larger diameter.

[0049] The induction cooktop apparatus 10b comprises a detection coil 14b. The detection coil 14b is provided for object recognition and is configured substantially identically to the detection coil 14a of the induction cooktop apparatus 10a of the above exemplary embodiment. The induction cooktop apparatus 10b has an insulating layer unit 16b to which the detection coil 14b is connected. The insulating layer unit 16b has a first insulating layer element 18b and a second insulating layer element 20b, the detection coil 14b being adhesively bonded therebetween. The first insulating layer element 18b is provided for electrically insulating the inductor 12b and the further inductor 46b, and is adapted to a geometry of the coil support 60b. The second insulating layer element 20b of the insulating layer unit 16b is configured substantially identically to the second insulating layer element 20a of the induction cooktop apparatus 10a of the previous exemplary embodiment.

[0050] A method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus 10b takes place in a substantially similar manner to the above-described method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus 10a, which is why at this point reference might be made to the description of FIG. 3 in this regard.

[0051] FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an induction cooktop apparatus 10c in a schematic plan view. The induction cooktop apparatus 10c has an inductor 12c. The induction cooktop apparatus 10c comprises a detection coil 14c. The detection coil 14c is provided for object recognition. The induction cooktop apparatus 10c has an insulating layer unit 16c. The insulating layer unit 16c is provided for electrically insulating the inductor 12c. The detection coil 14c is connected to the insulating layer unit 16c. In the present exemplary embodiment, the detection coil 14c is integrated in the insulating layer unit 16c.

[0052] The induction cooktop apparatus 10c has a further detection coil 28c which is provided for object recognition. The further detection coil 28c is connected to the insulating layer unit 16c. In the present case, the further detection coil 28c is integrated in the insulating layer unit 28c.

[0053] The induction layer unit 16c has a first insulating layer element 18c and a second insulating layer element 20c, the detection coil 14c and the further detection coil 28c being adhesively bonded therebetween.

[0054] The induction cooktop apparatus 10c has a connecting element 30c. The detection coil 14c and the further detection coil 28c can be connected by means of the connecting element to a control unit (not shown).

[0055] A method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus 10c takes place in a substantially similar manner to the above-described method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus 10a, wherein in the method additionally the further detection coil 28c is connected to the insulating layer unit 16c. The connection of the further detection coil 28c in the insulating layer unit 16c takes place in a similar manner to the above-described connection of the detection coil 14a in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

[0056] FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an induction cooktop apparatus 10d in a schematic plan view. The induction cooktop apparatus 10d substantially differs from the induction cooktop apparatus 10c of the above exemplary embodiment regarding a design of a detection coil 14d and a further detection coil 28d. The induction cooktop apparatus 10d has an insulating layer unit 16d. The insulating layer unit 16d has a first insulating layer element 18d and a second insulating layer element 20d, the detection coil 14d and the further detection coil 28d being arranged therebetween. The detection coil 14d is printed on the first insulating layer element 18d. The further detection coil 28d is printed on the first insulating layer element 18d. The induction cooktop apparatus 10d has a connecting element 30d. The detection coil 14d and the further detection coil 28d can be connected by means of the connecting element 30d to a control unit (not shown).

[0057] A method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus 10d takes place in a substantially similar manner to the above-described method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus 10a, wherein in the method additionally the detection coil 14d and the further detection coil 28d are printed on the first insulating layer element 18d of the insulating layer unit 16d and the second insulating layer element 20d is adhesively bonded to the first insulating layer element 18d.

[0058] FIG. 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an induction cooktop apparatus 10e in a schematic plan view. The induction cooktop apparatus 10e has an inductor 12e, a detection coil 14e and an insulating layer unit 16e. The detection coil 14e is connected to the insulating layer unit 16e. The insulating layer unit 16e has a first insulating layer element 18e and a second insulating layer element 20e, the detection coil 14e being arranged therebetween. The detection coil 14e is printed on the first insulating layer element 18e of the insulating layer unit 16e. The detection coil 14e is printed around the periphery of the first insulating layer element 18e. In an assembled state, the detection coil 14e has a uniform spacing from an outer edge 66e of a coil support 60e in which the inductor 12e is arranged.

[0059] A method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus 10e takes place in a substantially similar manner to the above-described method for manufacturing the induction cooktop apparatus 10a which is why at this point reference might be made to the description of FIG. 3 in this regard.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0060] 10 Induction cooktop apparatus

12 Inductor

[0061] 14 Detection coil
16 Insulating layer unit
18 First insulating layer element
20 Second insulating layer element
22 First surface extension
24 Second surface extension
26 First inductor vector
28 Further detection coil
30 Connecting element
32 Control unit
34 Inductor matrix
36 Inductor vector
38 Positioning plate
40 Induction cooktop
42 Method step
44 Further method step
46 Further inductor
48 Connecting element
50 Further connecting element
52 Upper largest side surface
54 Lower largest side surface
56 Main extension
58 Further inductor
60 Coil support
62 Central region
64 Edge region
66 Outer edge