COOKING DEVICE

Abstract

A cooking appliance apparatus includes a first inverter, a second inverter, a first inductor, a set of further inductors including a first further inductor and a second further inductor, and a switching arrangement configured such as to allocate in an operating state the first inverter to the inductor and to allocate the second inverter in the operating state to an arbitrary one of the first and second further inductors of the set of further inductors.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A cooking appliance apparatus, comprising: a first inverter; a second inverter; a first inductor; a set of further inductors including a first further inductor and a second further inductor; and a switching arrangement configured such as to allocate in an operating state the first inverter to the inductor and to allocate the second inverter in the operating state to an arbitrary one of the first and second further inductors of the set of further inductors.

13. The cooking appliance apparatus of claim 12, constructed in the form of a hob apparatus.

14. The cooking appliance apparatus of claim 12, wherein the set of further inductors includes a third further inductor.

15. The cooking appliance apparatus of claim 14, wherein the switching arrangement is configured to allocate the second inverter in the operating state simultaneously to the first, second and third further inductors of the set of further inductors.

16. The cooking appliance apparatus of claim 14, wherein the switching arrangement is configured to allocate any two adjacent ones of the first inductor and the first, second and third further inductors to different ones of the first and second inverters.

17. The cooking appliance apparatus of claim 14, wherein the switching arrangement includes a configuration switching unit which is configured to individually electrically disconnect each one of the first inductor and the first, second and third further inductors from the first and second inverters.

18. The cooking appliance apparatus of claim 17, wherein the configuration switching unit includes a configuration switching element and a further switching element, said configuration switching element being arranged schematically between the further switching element and at least one of the first inductor and the first, second and third further inductors.

19. The cooking appliance apparatus of claim 12, wherein the switching arrangement includes a parallel switching unit which is configured to connect the first inverter and the second inverter in parallel.

20. The cooking appliance apparatus of claim 19, wherein the parallel switching unit includes a parallel switching element arranged schematically between at least one of the first and second inverters and a further switching element of the switching arrangement.

21. The cooking appliance apparatus of claim 14, wherein the switching arrangement is configured to allocate an arbitrary number of the first inductor and the first, second and third further inductors to each of the first and second inverters.

22. The cooking appliance apparatus of claim 14, wherein the switching arrangement is configured to allocate at least one of the first inductor and the first, second and third further inductors simultaneously or alternately to each of the first and second inverters.

23. A household appliance, comprising a cooking appliance apparatus, said cooking appliance apparatus comprising a first inverter, a second inverter, a first inductor, a set of further inductors including a first further inductor and a second further inductor, and a switching arrangement configured such as to allocate in an operating state the first inverter to the inductor and to allocate the second inverter in the operating state to an arbitrary one of the first and second further inductors of the set of further inductors.

24. The household appliance of claim 23, constructed in the form of a hob.

Description

[0030] In the drawings:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a hob having a cooking appliance apparatus, which is designed as a hob apparatus, in an in part transparent plan view, FIG. 2 shows in a schematic illustration the cooking appliance apparatus having an inverter, having a further inverter, having an inductor, having a set of further inductors and having a switching arrangement, FIG. 3 shows an overview of possible switching elements of the switching arrangement, FIG. 4 shows an overview of possible operating states of the cooking appliance apparatus, FIG. 5 shows in a schematic illustration a further exemplary embodiment of a cooking appliance apparatus having a switching arrangement, FIG. 6 shows an overview of possible switching elements of the switching arrangement in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 shows in a schematic illustration a further exemplary embodiment of a cooking appliance apparatus having a switching arrangement, FIG. 8 shows an overview of possible switching elements of the switching arrangement in FIG. 7, FIG. 9 shows in a schematic illustration a further exemplary embodiment of a cooking appliance apparatus having a switching arrangement and FIG. 10 shows in a schematic illustration a further exemplary embodiment of a cooking appliance apparatus having a switching arrangement.

[0032] Of the objects that are provided multiple times in the figures, in each case only one of them is provided with a reference character.

[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates a household appliance 42a, in particular a cooking appliance, which is designed as a hob 44a, in particular as an induction hob. In the illustrated example, the hob 44a has two cooking appliance apparatuses 10a that are designed as hob apparatuses. In the illustrated example, the hob apparatuses are designed as induction hob apparatuses. In particular, parts of the cooking appliance apparatus 10a are further illustrated with the aid of a schematic illustration in FIG. 2.

[0034] The cooking appliance apparatus 10a has an inverter 12a. Moreover, the cooking appliance apparatus 10a has a further inverter 14a. The cooking appliance apparatus 10a has an inductor 16a. The cooking appliance apparatus 10a has a set of further inductors 18a. The set of further inductors 18a in the illustrated example has a first further inductor 20a, a second further inductor 22a and a third further inductor 24a.

[0035] A first connection of the inductor 16a is connected to a first resonance capacitance 70a of the cooking appliance apparatus 10a. A first connection of the first further inductor 20a is connected to the first resonance capacitance 70a. A first connection of the second further inductor 22a is connected to a second resonance capacitance 72a. A first connection of the third further inductor 24a is connected to the second resonance capacitance 72a.

[0036] The cooking appliance apparatus 10a has a switching arrangement 26a. In the operating state that is illustrated by way of example, the switching arrangement 26a allocates the inverter 12a to the inductor 16a.

[0037] In the operating state that is illustrated by way of example, it is possible to allocate the further inverter 14a by means of the switching arrangement 26a to an arbitrary further inductor 20a, 22a, 24a of the set of further inductors 18a. It is possible by means of the allocation by the switching arrangement 26a for the further inverter 14a to operate an arbitrary further inductor 20a, 22a, 24a of the set of further inductors 18a. In the operating state that is illustrated by way of example, it is possible by means of the switching arrangement 26a for the further inverter 14a to be allocated simultaneously to all the further inductors 20a, 22a, 24a of the set of further inductors 18a.

[0038] It is possible by means of the switching arrangement 26a to allocate two arbitrary adjacent inductors 16a, 20a, 22a, 24a in each case to different inverters 12a, 14a. Moreover, it is possible by means of the switching arrangement 26a to allocate one of the inductors 16a, 20a, 22a, 24a simultaneously or alternately to each of the inverters 12a, 14a. Moreover, it is possible by means of the switching arrangement 26a to allocate an arbitrary number of inductors 16a, 20a, 22a, 24a to each of the inverters 12a, 14a.

[0039] In the illustrated example, the switching arrangement 26a has a configuration switching unit 28a and it is possible by means of said configuration switching unit to individually electrically disconnect each of the inductors (16a, 20a, 22a, 24a) from the inverters (12a, 14a).

[0040] The configuration switching unit 28a has a configuration switching element 30a. Moreover, in the illustrated example the configuration switching unit 28a has a second configuration switching element 46a, a third configuration switching element 48a and a fourth configuration switching element 50a.

[0041] In the illustrated example, the switching arrangement 26a has a parallel switching unit 36a and it is possible by means of said parallel switching unit to connect the inverter 12a and the further inverter 14a in parallel. The parallel switching unit 36a has a parallel switching element 38a. Moreover, the parallel switching unit 36a has a second parallel switching element 56a.

[0042] A first connection of the configuration switching element 30a is electrically connected to the inductor 16a. A second connection of the configuration switching element 30a is connected to the second configuration switching element 46a, to the second parallel switching element 56a and to the inverter 12a. A first connection of the second configuration switching element 46a is electrically connected to the first further inductor 20a and to the parallel switching element 38a. A second connection of the second configuration switching element 46a is connected to the configuration switching element 30a and to the inverter 12a.

[0043] A first connection of the third configuration switching element 48a is electrically connected to the second further inductor 22a and to the second parallel switching element 56a. A second connection of the third configuration switching element 48a is connected to the fourth configuration switching element 50a and to the further inverter 14a. A first connection of the fourth configuration switching element 50a is electrically connected to the third further inductor 24a. A second connection of the fourth configuration switching element 50a is connected to the third configuration switching element 48a, to the parallel switching element 38a and to the further inverter 14a.

[0044] FIG. 3 illustrates an overview of possible switching elements, in particular relays, that can form in particular the configuration switching elements 28a and/or the parallel switching elements 36a of the switching arrangement 26a. For the sake of clarity, the possible switching elements can be grouped into a first group 76a, into a second group 78a and into a third group 80a of switching elements. In particular, the first group 76a comprises toggle switches that can be designed in each case as a normally closed embodiment or normally open embodiment and can be installed in an arbitrary direction. In particular, the second group 78a comprises on/off switches. The third group 80a comprises in particular toggle switches having a bridging connection.

[0045] The switching elements, which are illustrated in this exemplary embodiment, in particular in FIG. 2, of the configuration switching unit and the parallel switching unit can be designed in each case as a switching element of the first group 76a and/or as a switching element of the second group 78a.

[0046] The cooking appliance apparatus has a control unit 40a that is illustrated schematically in FIG. 2. The control unit 40a is provided so as to control the switching arrangement 26a in dependence upon a cookware configuration 82a, 84a, 86a. FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary selection of possible cookware configurations 82a, 84a, 86a in each case in the operating state. In the respective exemplary cookware configurations 82a, 84a, 86a in each case a first item of cookware 88a and a second item of cookware 90a is placed on the hob 44a. In dependence upon the cookware configuration 82a, 84a, 86a, the control unit 40a controls the switching arrangement 26a with regard to the respective required allocation of inductors and inverters.

[0047] The first cookware configuration 82a illustrates a first item of cookware 88a that is heated in the illustrated operating state by three further inductors of the set of further inductors (not further illustrated) that are all allocated to the further inverter (schematized by the hatching). Moreover, the first cookware configuration 82a illustrates a second item of cookware 90a that is heated in the illustrated operating state by the inductor (not further illustrated) that is allocated to the inverter (schematized by the hatching).

[0048] The second cookware configuration 84a illustrates a first item of cookware 88a that is heated in the illustrated operating state by the inductor (not further illustrated) that is allocated to the inverter (schematized by the hatching). Moreover, the second cookware configuration 82a illustrates a second item of cookware 90a that is heated in the illustrated operating state by two further inductors of the set of further inductors (not further illustrated) that are all allocated to the further inverter (schematized by the hatching).

[0049] Four further exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 12. The subsequent descriptions are limited essentially to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, wherein in relation to components, features and functions that remain the same it is possible to refer to the description of the other exemplary embodiments, in particular FIGS. 1 to 4. In order to differentiate the exemplary embodiments, the letter a in the reference characters of the exemplary embodiment of the FIGS. 1 to 4 is replaced by the letters b, c, d and e in the reference characters of the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 12. In relation to components that remain the same, in particular in relation to components having identical reference numerals, it is possible in principle to also refer to the drawings and/or the description of the other exemplary embodiments, in particular FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0050] FIG. 5 illustrates a further exemplary embodiment of a cooking appliance apparatus 10b. The cooking appliance apparatus 10b has a configuration switching unit 28b and a parallel switching unit 36b.

[0051] The configuration switching unit 28b has a configuration switching element 30b, a second configuration switching element 46b, a third configuration switching element 48b, a fourth configuration switching element 50b, a fifth configuration switching element 52b and a sixth configuration switching element 54b.

[0052] The configuration switching element 30b, the second configuration switching element 46b, the third configuration switching element 48b, the fourth configuration switching element 50b, the fifth configuration switching element 52b and the sixth configuration switching element 54b are arranged in each case schematically between an inductor 16b, 20b, 22b, 24b of the cooking appliance apparatus 10b and a further switching element 32b of the switching arrangement 26b.

[0053] The parallel switching unit 36b has a parallel switching element 38b and a second parallel switching element 56b. The parallel switching element 38b and the second parallel switching element 56b are arranged schematically between one of the inverters 12b, 14b of the cooking appliance apparatus 10b and at least one further switching element 34b of the switching arrangement 26b.

[0054] FIG. 6 illustrates an overview of possible switching elements, in particular relays, that can form in particular the configuration switching elements of the configuration switching unit 28b and/or the parallel switching elements of the parallel switching unit 36b of the switching arrangement 26b. For the sake of clarity, the possible switching elements can be grouped into a first group 76b, into a second group 78b and into a third group 80b of switching elements. In particular, the first group 76b comprises toggle switches that can be designed in each case as a normally closed embodiment or a normally open embodiment and can be installed in an arbitrary direction. In particular, the second group 78b comprises on/off switches. The third group 80b comprises in particular toggle switches having a bridging connection.

[0055] The parallel switching elements of the parallel switching unit 36b are in each case designed as one of the possible switching elements of the first group 76b and/or as one of the possible switching elements of the third group 80b. The configuration switching elements of the configuration switching unit 28b are in each case designed as one of the possible switching elements of the first group 76b and/or as one of the possible switching elements of the second group 78b.

[0056] FIG. 7 illustrates a further exemplary embodiment of a cooking appliance apparatus 10c. The cooking appliance apparatus 10c has a configuration switching unit 28c and a parallel switching unit 36c. The configuration switching unit 28c has a configuration switching element 30c, a second configuration switching element 46c, a third configuration switching element 48c and a fourth configuration switching element 50c. The parallel switching unit 36c has a parallel switching element 38c and a second parallel switching element 56c.

[0057] The configuration switching element 30c is arranged schematically between an inverter 12c of the cooking appliance apparatus 10c. The fourth configuration switching element 50c is arranged schematically between a further inverter 14c of the cooking appliance apparatus 10c. The second configuration switching element 46c is arranged schematically between the parallel switching element 38c and a first further inductor 20c of the cooking appliance apparatus 10c. The third configuration switching element 48c is arranged schematically between the second parallel switching element 56c and a second further inductor 22c of the cooking appliance apparatus 10c.

[0058] FIG. 8 illustrates an overview of possible switching elements, in particular relays, that can form in particular the configuration switching elements of the configuration switching unit 28c and/or the parallel switching elements of the parallel switching unit 36c of the switching arrangement 26c. For the sake of clarity, the possible switching elements can be grouped into a first group 76c, into a second group 78c and into a third group 80c of switching elements. In particular, the first group 76c comprises toggle switches that can be designed in each case as a normally closed embodiment or a normally open embodiment and can be installed in an arbitrary direction. In particular, the second group 78c comprises an on/off switch. The third group 80c comprises in particular toggle switches having a bridging connection.

[0059] The parallel switching elements 38c of the parallel switching unit 36c are in each case designed as one of the possible switching elements of the first group 76c. The configuration switching elements 30c of the configuration switching unit 28c are in each case designed as one of the possible switching elements of the first group 76c and/or as one of the possible switching elements of the second group 78c.

[0060] FIG. 9 illustrates a further exemplary embodiment of a cooking appliance apparatus 10d having a switching arrangement 26d in a schematic illustration. The switching arrangement 26d in addition has a third parallel switching element 58d and a fourth parallel switching element 60d. The cooking appliance apparatus 10d is in particular a generalization of the previous exemplary embodiments, in particular with regard to the switching arrangement 26d, that in particular renders possible an arbitrary number of further inductors of a set of further inductors 18d of the cooking appliance apparatus 10d (illustrated by the points).

[0061] FIG. 10 illustrates a further exemplary embodiment of a cooking appliance apparatus 10e having a switching arrangement 26e in a schematic illustration. The switching arrangement 26e in addition has a fifth parallel switching element 62e, a sixth parallel switching element 64e, a seventh parallel switching element 66e and an eighth parallel switching element 68e. Moreover, the cooking appliance apparatus 10e has a third resonance capacitance 74e. Moreover, the cooking appliance apparatus 10e has two further inverters 14e.

[0062] The cooking appliance apparatus 10e is in particular a generalization of the previous exemplary embodiment, in particular with regard to the switching arrangement 26e, that in particular renders possible an arbitrary number of further inductors of a set of further inductors 18e of the cooking appliance apparatus 10e and/or further inverters (illustrated by the points).

REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0063] 10 Cooking appliance apparatus [0064] 12 Inverter [0065] 14 Further inverter [0066] 16 Inductor [0067] 18 Set of further inductors [0068] 20 First further inductor [0069] 22 Second further inductor [0070] 24 Third further inductor [0071] 26 Switching arrangement [0072] 28 Configuration switching unit [0073] 30 Configuration switching element [0074] 32 Further switching element [0075] 34 Further switching element [0076] 36 Parallel switching unit [0077] 38 Parallel switching element [0078] 40 Control unit [0079] 42 Household appliance [0080] 44 Hob [0081] 46 Second configuration switching element [0082] 48 Third configuration switching element [0083] 50 Fourth configuration switching element [0084] 52 Fifth configuration switching element [0085] 54 Sixth configuration switching element [0086] 56 Second parallel switching element [0087] 58 Third parallel switching element [0088] 60 Fourth parallel switching element [0089] 62 Fifth parallel switching element [0090] 64 Sixth parallel switching element [0091] 66 Seventh parallel switching element [0092] 68 Eighth parallel switching element [0093] 70 First resonance capacitance [0094] 72 Second resonance capacitance [0095] 74 Third resonance capacitance [0096] 76 First group [0097] 78 Second group [0098] 80 Third group [0099] 82 First cookware configuration [0100] 84 Second cookware configuration [0101] 86 Third cookware configuration [0102] 88 First item of cookware [0103] 90 Second item of cookware