Induction hob with induction coils and an apparatus for determining the temperatures on the induction coils

Abstract

The present invention relates to an induction hob with a number of induction coils (12) on a cooking surface (10) and an apparatus for determining the temperatures on the induction coils (12). The induction coils (12) are arranged on the cooking surface (10) according to a predetermined scheme. At least one temperature sensor (14, 16, 18, 20; 24, 26) is arranged within an intermediate space between two or more induction coils (12). The at least one temperature sensor (14, 16, 18, 20; 24, 26) and the central portions of at least two adjacent induction coils (12) are thermally connected by heat conductor elements (22). The temperature sensors (14, 16, 18, 20; 24, 26) are electrically connected to at least one evaluation circuit for determining the temperatures of the adjacent induction coils (12).

Claims

1. An induction hob with a number of induction coils (12) on a cooking surface (10) and an apparatus for determining temperatures on the induction coils (12), wherein: the induction coils (12) are arranged on the cooking surface (10) according to a predetermined scheme, at least one temperature sensor (14, 16, 18, 20; 24, 26) is arranged within an intermediate space between two or more of the induction coils (12), at least one further temperature sensor (14, 16, 18, 20; 24, 26) is arranged within at least one further intermediate space between two or more of the induction coils (12), the at least one temperature sensor (14, 16, 18, 20; 24, 26) and the central portions of at least two adjacent coils of the induction coils (12) are thermally connected by heat conductor elements (22), and the at least one temperature sensor (14, 16, 18, 20; 24, 26) is connected to at least one evaluation circuit for determining the temperatures of the at least two adjacent induction coils (12).

2. The induction hob according to claim 1, characterized in, that at least a part of the induction coils (12) is arranged as a matrix on the cooking surface (10) or at least on a section of the cooking surface (10).

3. The induction hob according to claim 1, characterized in, that at least a part of the induction coils (12) is arranged as a honeycomb on the cooking surface (10) or at least on a section of the cooking surface (10).

4. The induction hob according to claim 1, characterized in, that the at least one evaluation circuit takes into account two of the at least one temperature sensor (14, 16, 18, 20; 24, 26) of the at least two adjacent coils of the induction coils (12) in order to determine the temperature of one of the induction coils (12).

5. The induction hob according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one temperature sensor (14, 16, 18, 20; 24, 26) is arranged within at least one intermediate space between three of the induction coils (12), wherein said three induction coils (12) form a triangle on the cooking surface (10).

6. The induction hob according to claim 1, characterized in, that at least one temperature sensor (14, 16, 18, 20; 24, 26) is arranged within at least one intermediate space between four of the induction coils (12), wherein said four induction coils (12) form a rectangle or a square on the cooking surface (10).

7. The induction hob according to claim 1, characterized in, that at least one of the heat conductor elements (22) is formed as an elongated sheet.

8. The induction hob according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one of the heat conductor elements (22) is triangular, wherein the most acute angle of said triangular heat conductor element (22) is thermally connected to the central portion of the induction coils (12).

9. The induction hob according to claim 1, characterized in, that at least one temperature sensor (28) is arranged in a central portion of one of the induction coils (12).

10. The induction hob according to claim 9, characterized in, that the at least one temperature sensor (28) arranged in the central portion of one of the induction coils is connected to an adjacent intermediate space between two or more of the induction coils (12) by a further heat conductor element (22).

11. The induction hob according to claim 10, characterized in, that the further heat conductor element (22) is an elongated triangular sheet, wherein the most acute angle of said triangular heat conductor element (22) is thermally connected to the adjacent intermediate space.

12. The induction hob according to claim 1, characterized in, that at least one of the heat conductor elements (22) is made of metal, in particular made of aluminum.

13. The induction hob according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the heat conductor elements is made of metal and is formed as a stripe.

14. An induction hob, the induction hob including: a cooking surface; a number of induction coils, the induction coils are arranged on the cooking surface according to a predetermined scheme; an apparatus for determining temperatures on the induction coils; at least one temperature sensor, the at least one temperature sensor is arranged within an intermediate space between two or more of the induction coils, wherein another of the at least one temperature sensor is arranged in a central portion of one of the induction coils; at least one further temperature sensor, the at least one further temperature sensor is arranged within at least one further intermediate space between two or more of the induction coils; a number of heat conductor elements, the heat conductor elements thermally connect the at least one temperature sensor and the central portions of at least two adjacent coils of the induction coils, wherein at least one of the heat conductor elements is made of aluminum; a further heat conductor element, the further heat conductor element connects the another of the at least one temperature sensor to an adjacent intermediate space between two or more of the induction coils; and at least one evaluation circuit, the at least one evaluation circuit is connected to the at least one temperature sensor for determining the temperatures of at least two adjacent induction coils, wherein the at least one evaluation circuit takes into account two of the at least one temperature sensor of the induction coils, wherein two of the at least one temperature sensor are adjacent to one another in order to determine the temperature of one of the induction coils.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings, in which

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic top view of an arrangement of nine induction coils within a cooking surface of an induction hob according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic top view of an arrangement of eight induction coils within the cooking surface of the induction hob according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic top view of an arrangement of ten induction coils within the cooking surface of the induction hob according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic top view of an arrangement of seven induction coils within the cooking surface of the induction hob according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic top view of an arrangement of nine induction coils 12 within a cooking surface 10 of an induction hob according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

(7) The nine induction coils 12 are arranged as a matrix with three lines and three columns. The nine induction coils 12 are denoted as C1, C2, C3, D1, D2, D3, E1, E2 and E3. The numbers 1, 2 and 3 represent the lines of said matrix. The columns of said matrix are represented by the letters C, D and E.

(8) Temperature sensors 14, 16, 18 and 20 are arranged in central positions of intermediate spaces between four induction coils 12 in each case. A first temperature sensor 14 is in the central position of the intermediate space between the induction coils C1, D1, C2 and D2. A second temperature sensor 16 is in the central position of the intermediate space between the induction coils D1, E1, D2 and E2. A third temperature sensor 18 is in the central position of the intermediate space between the induction coils C2, D2, C3 and D3. A fourth temperature sensor 20 is in the central position of the intermediate space between the induction coils D2, E2, D3 and E3.

(9) From the temperature sensors 14, 16, 18 and 20 four heat conductor elements 22 in each case extend to the centers of the neighboring induction coils 12. Four heat conductor elements 22 extend from the temperature sensor 14 to the centers of the induction coils C1, D1, C2 and D2. In a similar way, four heat conductor elements 22 extend from the temperature sensor 16 to the centers of the induction coils D1, E1, D2 and E2. Further, four heat conductor elements 22 extend from the temperature sensor 18 to the centers of the induction coils C2, D2, C3 and D3. At last, four heat conductor elements 22 extend from the temperature sensor 20 to the centers of the induction coils D2, E2, D3 and E3.

(10) The heat conductor elements 22 are made of metal and formed as stripes. In this example, the heat conductor elements 22 are formed as elongated triangles, wherein the most acute angle of said triangle is arranged in the central portion the induction coils 12. For example, the heat conductor elements 22 are made of aluminum.

(11) The four neighboring induction coils 12 of the temperature sensor 14, 16, 18 or 20 form a square or at least a rectangle.

(12) The temperature sensors 14, 16, 18 and 20, the heat conductor elements 22 and evaluation circuit, which is not shown, form an apparatus for determining the temperatures on the induction coils.

(13) The four temperature sensors 14, 16, 18 and 20 allow an approximate determination of the temperatures on each induction coil 12. The following table illustrates the relationship between the temperature sensors 14, 16, 18 and 20 and the induction coils C1, C2, C3, D1, D2, D3, E1, E2 and E3.

(14) TABLE-US-00001 Temperature sensor Induction coil 14 16 18 20 C1 X C2 X X C3 X D1 X X D2 X X X X D3 X X E1 X E2 X X E3 X

(15) If the temperature of the induction coil D1 has to be determined, then the temperature sensors 14 and 16 are taken into account. However, the temperature sensors 14 and 16 will be affected by the temperatures of the adjacent induction coils 12. The temperature sensor 14 will additionally be affected by the induction coils C1, C2 and D2. In a similar way, the temperature sensor 16 will additionally be affected by the induction coils D2, E1 and E2. However, the evaluation circuit always takes the worst case into account.

(16) FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic top view of an arrangement of eight induction coils 12 within the cooking surface 10 of the induction hob according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

(17) A first line and a third line include three induction coils 12 in each case. A second line includes two induction coils 12 arranged between intermediate spaces of the induction coils 12 of the first and third lines. Thus, the eight induction coils 12 of the second embodiment are arranged like a honeycomb.

(18) The induction coils 12 of the first line are denoted as C1, D1 and E1. The induction coils 12 of the second line are denoted as C2 and D2. The induction coils 12 of the third line are denoted as C3, D3 and E3. Thus, the numbers represent the lines and the letters represent substantially the columns.

(19) In central positions of the intermediate spaces between three induction coils 12 in each case the temperature sensors 14, 16, 18 and 20 are arranged. A first temperature sensor 14 is in the central position of the intermediate space between the induction coils C1, D1 and C2. A second temperature sensor 16 is in the central position of the intermediate space between the induction coils D1, E1 and D2. A third temperature sensor 18 is in the central position of the intermediate space between the induction coils C2, C3 and D3. A fourth temperature sensor 20 is in the central position of the intermediate space between the induction coils D2, D3 and E3.

(20) The three neighboring induction coils 12 of the temperature sensor 14, 16, 18 or 20 form a triangle.

(21) From the temperature sensors 14, 16, 18 and 20 three heat conductor elements 22 in each case extend to the centers of the neighboring induction coils 12. Three heat conductor elements 22 extend from the temperature sensor 14 to the centers of the induction coils C1, D1, C2 and D2. In a similar way, three heat conductor elements 22 extend from the temperature sensor 16 to the centers of the induction coils D1, E1 and D2. Further, three heat conductor elements 22 extend from the temperature sensor 18 to the centers of the induction coils C2, C3 and D3. At last, three heat conductor elements 22 extend from the temperature sensor 20 to the centers of the induction coils D2, D3 and E3.

(22) The heat conductor elements 22 are of the same kind as in the first embodiment. The temperature sensors 14, 16, 18 and 20, the heat conductor elements 22 and the evaluation circuit, which is not shown, form the apparatus for determining the temperatures on the induction coils.

(23) In this embodiment four temperature sensors 14, 16, 18 and 20 are sufficient for determining the temperatures on the eight induction coils 12. For example, in order to estimate the temperature on the induction coil D1, the evaluation circuit will take into account the temperature sensors 14 and 16.

(24) FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic top view of an arrangement of ten induction coils 12 within the cooking surface 10 of the induction hob according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

(25) Two induction coils 12 are arranged in a first line, three induction coils 12 are arranged in a second line, also three induction coils 12 are arranged in a third line and again two induction coils 12 are arranged in a fourth line. The induction coils 12 of the second and the third line are arranged side-by-side. The induction coils 12 of the first line are arranged beside the intermediate spaces between the induction coils 12 of the second line. The induction coils 12 of the fourth line are arranged beside the intermediate spaces between the induction coils 12 of the third line.

(26) Six temperature sensors 14, 16, 18, 20, 24 and 26 are arranged in the central positions of the intermediate spaces between three or four induction coils 12, respectively. The first temperature sensor 14 is in the central position of the intermediate space between three induction coils 12 forming a triangle. In a similar way, the second temperature sensor 16 is in the central position of the intermediate space between three induction coils 12 forming a triangle. The third temperature sensor 18 and the fourth temperature sensor 20 are in the central positions of the intermediate spaces between four induction coils 12 in each case, wherein said four induction coils 12 form a square. A fifth temperature sensor 24 and a sixth temperature sensor 26 are in the central positions of the intermediate spaces between three induction coils in each case, wherein said three induction coils 12 form a triangle.

(27) From the temperature sensors 14, 16, 24 and 26 three heat conductor elements 22 in each case extend to the centers of the three neighboring induction coils 12, respectively. From the temperature sensors 18 and 20 four heat conductor elements 22 in each case extend to the centers of the four neighboring induction coils 12, respectively.

(28) The heat conductor elements 22 are of the same kind as in the first and second embodiments. The temperature sensors 14, 16, 18, 20, 24 and 26, the heat conductor elements 22 and the evaluation circuit, which is not shown, form the apparatus for determining the temperatures on the induction coils. In this embodiment the six temperature sensors 14, 16, 18, 20, 24 and 26 are sufficient for determining the temperatures on the ten induction coils 12.

(29) FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic top view of an arrangement of seven induction coils 12 within the cooking surface 10 of the induction hob according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

(30) Two induction coils 12 are arranged in a first line, three induction coils 12 are arranged in a second line and two induction coils 12 again are arranged in a third line. The induction coils 12 of the first line are arranged beside the intermediate spaces between the induction coils of the second line. In a similar way, the induction coils 12 of the third line are arranged beside the intermediate spaces between the induction coils 12 of the second line. Thus, there are six outer induction coils 12 and one central induction coil 12 on the cooking surface 10.

(31) The four temperature sensors 14, 16, 18 and 20 are arranged in the central positions of the intermediate spaces between three induction coils 12 in each case. A central temperature sensor 28 is arranged in the center of the central induction coil 12 of the cooking surface 10.

(32) From the temperature sensors 14, 16, 18 and 20 two heat conductor elements 22 in each case extend to the centers of the two neighboring outer induction coils 12. From the central temperature sensor 28 one heat conductor element 22 extends to the intermediate space between the induction coils 12 of the first line and the central induction coil 12. In the last case the most acute angle of the heat conductor element 22 is arranged within the intermediate space between the induction coils 12 of the first line and the central induction coil 12.

(33) Also these heat conductor elements 22 are of the same kind as in the above embodiments. The temperature sensors 14, 16, 18, 20 and 28, the heat conductor elements 22 and the evaluation circuit, which is not shown, form the apparatus for determining the temperatures on the induction coils. In this embodiment the five temperature sensors 14, 16, 18, 20 and 28 are sufficient for determining the temperatures on the seven induction coils 12.

(34) There are many further constellations for the arrangement of the induction coils 12 and the temperature sensors 14, 16, 18, 20, 24, 26 and/or 28 according to the schemes of the above embodiments and/or combinations of said embodiments. The number of the induction coils 12 on the cooking surface 10 is not limited at the numbers of induction coils 12 in the above embodiments.

(35) Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanied drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(36) 10 cooking surface 12 induction coil 14 first temperature sensor 16 second temperature sensor 18 third temperature sensor 20 fourth temperature sensor 22 heat conductor element 24 fifth temperature sensor 26 sixth temperature sensor 28 central temperature sensor C1 number of an induction coil C2 number of an induction coil C3 number of an induction coil D1 number of an induction coil D2 number of an induction coil D3 number of an induction coil E1 number of an induction coil E2 number of an induction coil E3 number of an induction coil