Induction module and induction hob

Abstract

An induction module powers one or more induction coils. It includes an induction generator; a controller; and a communication interface for coupling with a user interface. The controller is adapted to operate the induction module according to first and a second configuration modes, wherein in the first configuration mode the induction module is configured to directly communicate with the user interface, and in the second configuration mode, the induction module is adapted to be operated either according to a master module or a slave module configuration. In the master module configuration, the induction module is configured to receive user interface information from the user interface and provide operation information to a slave induction module. In the slave module configuration, the induction module is configured to receive operation information from a master induction module and operate the induction generator according to that operation information.

Claims

1. An induction module for powering one or more induction coils of an induction hob, the induction module at least comprising: an induction generator for providing electrical power to an induction coil; a controller for controlling the induction generator; a communication interface for coupling the induction module with a user interface; wherein the controller is adapted to operate the induction module at least according to a first and a second configuration mode, wherein in the first configuration mode, the induction module is configured to directly communicate with the user interface, and wherein in said second configuration mode, the induction module is adapted to be operated either according to a master module configuration or a slave module configuration, wherein in the master module configuration, the induction module is configured to receive user interface information from the user interface and provide operation information to one or more slave induction modules based on said user interface information, and wherein in the slave module configuration, the induction module is configured to receive operation information from a master induction module and operate the induction generator according to said operation information.

2. The induction module according to claim 1, wherein in said slave module configuration, the induction module does not consider information directly provided by the user interface.

3. The induction module according to claim 1, wherein the communication interface is configured to couple the induction module with the user interface and one or more further induction modules.

4. The induction module according to claim 1, wherein the communication interface is a bus interface for coupling the induction module with a communication bus.

5. The induction module according to claim 1, comprising storage means for storing information regarding operating the induction module according to said master module configuration or said slave module configuration.

6. An induction hob comprising: two or more induction coils; two or more hardware-identical induction modules, each said induction coil being coupled with a said induction module, the induction modules being configured to provide electrical power to one or more of the induction coils; and a user interface for receiving user input; wherein each induction module comprises a communication interface in order to couple the induction module with a communication bus, wherein each induction module comprises a controller adapted to operate the induction module according to a master-slave-concept, wherein one of said induction modules is configured as a master induction module and one or more of said induction modules is configured as a slave induction module, wherein the master induction module is adapted to receive user interface information from the user interface and provide operation information to said one or more slave induction modules based on said user interface information and wherein the one or more slave induction modules is configured to receive operation information from said master induction module and operate the induction generator according to said operation information.

7. The induction hob according to claim 6, wherein the user interface is adapted to provide user interface information to said one or more slave induction modules and said one or more slave induction modules are adapted to reject or ignore said user interface information.

8. The induction hob according to claim 6, wherein a single communication bus is used for communication between the master induction module and the user interface and for communication between the master induction module and the one or more slave induction modules.

9. The induction hob according to claim 6, wherein the master induction module is configured to serve as a central controller for grouping induction coils associated with one or more of said slave modules in order to form a common cooking area based on said group of induction coils.

10. The induction hob according to claim 6, wherein the master induction module is configured to determine operation information including target power and/or operating frequency of said one or more slave induction modules based on said user interface information.

11. The induction hob according to claim 6, wherein the master induction module is configured to determine operation information including target power and/or operating frequency of said one or more slave induction modules based on a noise reduction algorithm.

12. The induction hob according to claim 6, wherein the master induction module is configured to transmit information regarding the induction coils to be activated, the target power and/or the operating frequency to said one or more slave induction modules.

13. The induction hob according to claim 12, wherein the one or more slave induction modules are configured to process the information received from the master induction module and operate the one or more induction coils coupled with said one or more slave modules according to said received information.

14. The induction hob according to claim 6, wherein the one or more slave induction modules is adapted to provide feedback information to said master induction module in order to inform the master induction module about the operation state of the one or more slave induction modules.

15. A method for operating an induction hob, the induction hob comprising two or more induction coils, two or more hardware-identical induction modules, each induction coil being coupled with an induction module in order to provide electrical power to one or more of said induction coils and a user interface for receiving user input, the method comprising the steps of: configuring one induction module of said hardware-identical induction modules as a master induction module and at least one further said induction module as a slave module; after receiving a user input at the user interface, receiving user interface information at the master induction module; processing the user interface information at the master induction module and deriving operation information for said one or more slave induction modules based on said user interface information; transmitting said operation information from the master induction module to said one or more slave induction modules; and operating the induction coil coupled with said one or more slave induction modules based on said operation information.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The various aspects of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an example schematic top view of an induction hob comprising an induction coil array;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an example schematic block diagram of an induction module;

(4) FIG. 3 shows an example arrangement of two induction modules coupled with induction coils and a user interface; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram illustrating the information flow in a master-slave configuration of multiple induction modules.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. However, this invention should not be construed m as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Throughout the following description similar reference numerals have been used to denote similar elements, parts, items or features, when applicable.

(7) FIG. 1 shows an induction hob 1 according to an embodiment. The induction hob 1 comprises a cooking surface 2, e.g. a glass ceramic plate and a plurality of induction coils 3 which are placed beneath the cooking surface 2. The induction coils 3 may be arranged in a matrix-like manner in order to build an induction coil array. The induction coils 3 form heating elements being adapted to heat a piece of cookware 4 placed on the cooking surface 2 by induction heating. By means of said multiple induction coils 3, an induction hob 1 with adjustable heating areas is achieved because by activating a certain subset of said induction coils 3, the size and/or shape of the cooking area can be varied. Said variation of cooking area may be obtained based on user input at a user interface 5 (e.g. touch sensible area, buttons etc.) or based on an automatic pot detection process.

(8) According to said automatic pot detection process, the induction coils 3 are not only used to cook or heat the food contained in the piece of cookware 4, but also to identify the position of the overlying piece of cookware 4. When a piece of cookware 4 is disposed in any position on the induction hob 1, its position is identified, with consequent determination of which induction coils 3 lie below said piece of cookware (according to FIG. 1, induction coils 1 to 7 are placed below the cookware). Only the induction coils 3 being occupied by the piece of cookware 4 will be activated during heating the piece of cookware 4.

(9) In order to provide electrical power to said induction coils 3, the induction hob 1 comprises multiple induction modules 10. Each induction module 10 may be coupled with one or more induction coils 1 in order to provide electrical power to said induction coils 1. FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of an induction module 10. The induction module 10 comprises one or more induction generators 11. Each induction generator 11 may be adapted to power an induction coil 3. According to embodiments, the induction module 10 may comprise multiple induction generators 11 (e.g. two or four induction generators 11) for powering multiple induction coils 3. In addition, the induction module 10 may comprise a controller 12 (e.g. a microcontroller or microprocessor). Said controller 12 may be adapted to control said one or more induction generators 11 (e.g. the electrical power provided to the induction coils 3 and/or the frequency of the AC current provided to said induction coils 3).

(10) Furthermore, the induction module 10 comprises a communication interface 13 for coupling the induction module 10 with the user interface 5 and one or more further induction modules 10. For example, the communication interface 13 may be adapted to be coupled with a communication bus 14 (e.g. serial line, SP, I2C, RS485 etc.) in order to exchange information between the user interface 5 and the induction modules 10. Based on said communication interface 13, the induction modules 10 may also be able to exchange information between each other.

(11) For example, an induction module 10 may further comprise a bridge rectifier to supply the induction generator 11 with electrical power, a heat sink for removing heat from the electrical power elements (IGBTs or other powers switching elements, bridge rectifier, etc.). In addition, each induction module 10 may comprise a housing or enclosure in which upper-mentioned elements are arranged. Said housing may be adapted such that multiple induction modules 10 can be assembled side-by-side in order to form an induction module array (required for powering a plurality of induction coils of an induction coil array). Preferably, each induction module 10 may comprise a fan for cooling down the elements included in the induction module 10. Alternatively, an external fan may be used to cool down elements included in multiple induction modules 10.

(12) According to embodiments, an induction module 10 may comprise all components required for powering one or more induction coils 3. So, when coupling the induction module 10 with one or more induction coils 3 and a user interface 5, a fully functional induction hob 1 is obtained.

(13) FIG. 3 shows an induction hob 1 comprising two induction modules 10. Each induction module may be coupled with a pair of induction coils 3 in order to provide electric power to said induction coils 3. Furthermore, the induction modules 10 are coupled with a user interface 5. More in detail, the communication interface 13 of the respective induction modules 10 is coupled with the user interface 5 via a communication bus 14. It is worth mentioning that the number of induction modules 10 and induction coils 3 is a mere example, i.e. according to other embodiments the induction hob 1 may comprise more induction modules 10 an/or the induction modules 10 may be configured to drive more or less induction coils 3 (e.g. 1 or 4).

(14) The induction modules 10 included in the induction hob 1 are identical in view of their hardware. However, in order to improve the flexibility of usage of the induction modules 10, the induction modules 10 are software-configurable in order to be operated according to at least the first and a second configuration mode. The induction modules 10 may comprise a storage, register or similar means (e.g. a jumper) for defining the configuration mode according to which the respective induction module 10 is operated.

(15) According to the first configuration mode, each induction module 10 included in the induction hob 1 is configured to communicate with the user interface 5 and directly receive information from said user interface 5 regarding the powering of the one or more induction coils 3 coupled with the induction module 10. In other words, all induction modules 10 are on the same hierarchical level and have the same functionality (no master-slave configuration). In said configuration, the user interface 5 directly transmits operating commands to each of said induction modules 10 by means of said communication bus 14. By using one or more induction modules 10 being configured according to said first configuration mode, an induction hob 1 can be obtained in which each induction coil 3 is associated with a certain fixed heating zone.

(16) In order to use the same (i.e. hardware-identical) induction module 10 in a more sophisticated induction hob 1, e.g. an induction hob 1 with free configurable heating zones, the induction module 10 is adapted to be configured according to a second configuration mode. In said second configuration mode, a respective induction module 10 can be operated as a master induction module or a slave induction module in order to obtain a master-slave configuration of multiple induction modules 10 included in the induction hob 1.

(17) In said master-slave configuration, one induction module 10 of the induction modules 10 included in an induction hob 1 is configured as master induction module and the further induction modules are configured as slave induction modules. Similar to the embodiment described before, the master induction module, the slave induction modules and the user interface 5 are connected with each other by means of a single communication bus 14. However, the slave induction modules do not directly exchange information with the user interface 5 but the information exchange is provided via the master induction module. Said master induction module directly communicates with the user interface 5 thereby receiving information regarding the heating zones requested by the user and the heating power to be provided to said heating zones. The master induction module is adapted to process the information received by the user interface 5 and provide operating information to each of said slave induction modules. Said operating information may comprise information regarding which induction coil 3 has to be activated, the electric power to be provided to the respective induction coil 3 and/or the AC current frequency to be applied to the respective induction coil 3. It is worth mentioning thatdue to the usage of the communication bus 14the master induction module as well as the slave induction modules receive the information provided by the user interface 5 via said communication bus 14. However, the slave induction modules do not process information received directly from the user interface 5, i.e. reject said information and do only process information received by said master induction module. In other words, from the viewpoint of the slave induction modules, the master induction module represents a central controlling module, i.e. an additional central controller (independent controller separate from the master induction module) for handling said master-slave configuration can be avoided.

(18) The master induction module may be adapted to provide operation information to said slave induction modules based on a noise reduction algorithm. Said noise reduction algorithm may be configured to reduce acoustic noise by an appropriate selection of operating frequency and/or operating power of the respective induction coils 3. So, in other words, the master induction module is adapted to assign operating frequencies and/or operating power to the respective induction coils 3 coupled with the slave induction modules by calculating appropriate operating frequencies and/or operating power for the respective induction coils 3 and providing information regarding said appropriate operating frequencies and/or operating power to the respective slave induction modules using the communication bus 14.

(19) In order to be able to control the slave induction modules by means of the master induction module, a periodic or regular information exchange between the master induction module and the slave induction modules may be performed. In other words, the master and slave induction modules exchange information using a message loop.

(20) FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram illustrating the information flow between the user interface 5, the master induction module and the slave induction modules. In a first step (S100), a power request is received at the user interface 5. Said power request may be initiated by a user input at the user interface 5. Said user input may trigger a message transmitted from the user interface 5 to the master induction module via the communication bus 14. The message may comprise information regarding the target power to be provided at a respective heating zone (also referred to as user interface information). As mentioned before, said message is received at the master induction module as a well as the one or more slave induction modules. However, said message is only processed at the master induction module. The slave induction modules may ignore the message directly provided by the user interface 5.

(21) After the receiving the user interface information, the master induction module provides operation information to said one or more slave induction modules (master set message, S110). The operation information may be a broadcast message sent to all slave induction modules at the same time. According to other embodiments, different operation information may be provided to the respective slave induction modules.

(22) The operation information may include information regarding which induction coil 3 has to be activated, the operating power of the respective induction coil 3 and/or the AC current frequency to be provided to the respective induction coil. As already mentioned before, said operation parameters may be determined by the master induction module according to an acoustic noise reduction mechanism.

(23) The slave induction modules may process the received operation information (S120). In case that a broad cost message is used for providing operation information to the slave induction modules, a respective slave induction module may extract information which is addressed to it and may operate the one or more induction generators 11 according to said information. More in detail, each slave induction module may be adapted to activate an induction coil 3 based on said received information and choose the operating power and/or the AC current frequency according to said received information. In addition, the slave induction modules may be adapted to transmit a status message back to the master induction module (also referred to as feedback message) (S130). Said status message may comprise information regarding the AC current frequency provided to the respective induction coils, the reached (electric) power, regulation parameters and/or zone status flags.

(24) The master induction module receives said feedback message and may defineaccording to the acoustic noise reduction algorithmthe active coils, the target (electrical) power and/or the AC current frequency for the next message loop cycle. Said updated information may be provided to the slave induction modules using a further operation information message transmitted by the master induction module to the slave induction modules via said communication bus 14 (S140). Thus, the message exchange between the master induction module and the slave induction module(s) may be repeated.

(25) In order to avoid a transmission bottleneck at the communication bus 14, the timing of the message is choosing by taking care of the communication bus load.

(26) In case that the master induction module does not receive feedback messages of all slave induction modules, or the slave induction module's do not receive the operating information message provided by the master induction module after a defined timeout, the induction modules 10 are switched off.

(27) Above, embodiments of an induction module according to the present invention as defined in the appended claims have been described. These should be seen as merely non-limiting examples. As understood by a skilled person, many modifications and alternative embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(28) 1 induction hob 2 cooking surface 3 induction coil 4 piece of cookware 5 user interface 10 induction module 11 induction generator 12 controller 13 communication interface 14 communication bus