EP2337424A2 - Electronic control for a cooking device and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

The system (13) has a heating device for a cooking field (11), and comprising operating elements (17) i.e. touch control switches, a controller (18) and a power switch for the heating device. The controller disconnects the heating device after adjustment of a lower power stage as a high heating stage for preset pause time. The pause time is lower in the power stage than in the high heating stage. The pause time depends on heating time such that long heating time exhibits a long pause time during power interruption and shorter heating time exhibits a shorter pause time. An independent claim is also included for a method for controlling a cooking device.

Description

Field of application and state of the art

The invention relates to an electronic control for a cooking appliance with at least one heating device and a method for controlling a cooking appliance in a corresponding manner.

In electromechanical control devices or energy controllers, such as from the DE 19833983 A1 As is known, for a heater of an electric hob, a clocking operation is performed with either full or no power. By adjusting the clock ratio between "on" and "full power" on the one hand and "off" or "no power" on the other hand, the energy ultimately supplied to the heater is set or controlled permanently. The switching of the controller is carried out by a snap-action switch, is influenced by a bimetallic release arm, as is known in the art.

There is a so-called parboiling function, in which the control unit can be set or switched on. In this parboiling function is a particularly high power level of the heating power, also called cooking stage, applied for a certain cooking time to the heater, resulting in the so-called Ankochstoß. This serves to bring the heater and a cooking vessel placed thereon as quickly as possible to high temperature, for example to bring a larger amount of water to a boil.

When the boil-up is completed, the heater is no longer supplied with power for some time. This is due to the fact that the power stage after the cooking stage is usually considerably lower and the bimetal tripping arm therefore only moves back a considerable or larger distance before it can again cause it to be switched on by means of the snap-action switch. This time can be up to five minutes, which has proven to be very advantageous in practice to keep the most quickly heated cooking vessel at a desired temperature.

In the increasingly used electronic controls for a cooking appliance or hob, especially with touch switches, where the power supply to a heater of the cooking appliance via directly controlled relay, this effect is not possible. Because of this, often, usually after switching back from a cooking level to a cooking level, power is restored to the heater in less than a minute, and because this is too much for the cooking process, the heater is then completely turned off by an operator for a short time Cooking vessel pulled away from it. If the heater does not restart in time, the cooking process is unsatisfactory. The continued operation of the heater with weggehemem cooking vessel also wastes energy unnecessarily.

Task and solution

The invention has for its object to provide an aforementioned control and a corresponding method for controlling a cooking appliance, with which problems of the prior art can be eliminated and in particular an optimized or energy-saving cooking process can be achieved.

This object is achieved by an electronic control with the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 7. Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention are contained in the further claims and are explained in more detail below. Some of the following features are described only for the controller or just the method. However, they should be able to apply independently to both the controller and the method. The wording of the claims is incorporated herein by express reference.

It is envisaged that the electronic control has operating elements, advantageously touch switches or the like, as well as a controller and at least one power switch for the heating device. Such a circuit breaker is advantageously a named relay, but may also be a semiconductor component. The controller is designed to carry out a so-called boost function on the heating device with a high power level of the heating power as a boosting step. This warm-up or warm-up step is carried out for a certain warm-up time and forms the known boil-up. Furthermore, the controller is adapted to switch off the heater after setting a power level lower than the cooking level after the power stroke for a certain predetermined pause time, and then turn it on again after the pause time has elapsed. This break time is or lasts longer, the lower the new power level is in comparison to the previous power level or to the cooking level. The break time is determined so to speak variable. This ensures that the controller or the electronic control after the butting of the heater for a certain time no longer supplies power or leaves it off.

The said pause time can be considerably longer than a usual off-time when clocking operation of the heater at the new power level, for example, something three times as long. This can be used in a cooking process in which, for example, water for noodles are first brought to a boil and then only slightly boiling, the heat surplus can be used to maintain this boiling, so that only after a long time or just this break time again Heating power is supplied, and that at the now lower new power level. Although this means a somewhat higher circuit engineering or programming effort in the design of the controller. At the same time, however, an advantageous function can be achieved in a new way, which is practicable and, above all, can even save energy.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the length or duration of the pause time does not depend on the amount of the butt joint or on the difference of the new power level to that before, but of the cooking time, ie the length or duration of the Ankochstoßes. This dependency can be such that a long warm-up period results in a long pause time with power interruption and a short warm-up time resulting in a short pause time. It is therefore possible to make the break time dependent either on the height of the cooking stage or particularly advantageously on the length of the cooking time. Ultimately, however, the break time depends on the properties of the buttock. Also in the dependence on the cooking time is considered that after the expiry of the Ankochstoßes probably more heat in the system or in the cooking vessel as necessary and desired for the fort cooking or the further operation.

In an advantageous further embodiment of the invention, the cooking stage is the highest power level for the heater. So it's a fixed performance level. Furthermore, it can be provided that the cooking time is fixed, for example, three to ten minutes, advantageously four to seven or just over five minutes. Since in cooking appliances such as hobs, the heaters are usually different sizes, the size of the heater can play a role. Since the size of the heater is influenced by the size or volume of an attached cooking vessel or the volume of cooking material usually contained therein, and a surface of the heater with the second order of the diameter, the volume of the cooking material but with the third order of the diameter increases, the duration of the cooking time should be longer for larger heaters than for smaller ones.

In an embodiment of the invention can be provided that the break time contained in the control with the power interruption during downshift is designed so that in the case of switching back to the lowest power level about twice to four times, more preferably about three times as long as when switching back to the second highest performance level. The pause time can therefore be at the lowest power level about the above five minutes, at an average power level about three minutes and at the second highest power level just over a minute, for example about one and a half minutes. This still achieves a significantly longer pause time than currently used controls in which the heater is usually supplied again at the latest after 45 seconds or one minute, even when returning to the lowest power level, power again or it is turned on again. The controller or the controller contained therein and the control method are advantageously designed so that the power interruption according to the invention for a certain pause time on the heater also takes place when the heater is not switched directly after the cooking stage to a lower power level, but is turned off. If it is then switched on again soon, then the controller or the controller has memorized the previous state and then necessarily provides the corresponding pause time adapted to the new power level.

It may be provided in a further development of the invention that the controller or the controller remember this previous state even when the entire cooking appliance is turned off, at least for a short time and then turned on again and especially the corresponding heater is turned on again. Thus, according to the invention, operating sequences can also be detected in which switching back to a very low power level does not take place by stepwise reducing the power level of operating elements, but by switching off the heating or cooking area or even switching off the entire cooking appliance. In fact, in some cases, operators tend to perform this turn-off and then just turn on the heater again, starting with the lowest power level or, if desired, with exactly that one.

Thus, in the method according to the invention, it is determined how high the boiled meal was or at what level of performance it occurred or how long the cooking time was. Then, taking into account the then set, usually lower power level for the heater, the pause time is calculated and just kept by not turning on the heater.

These and other features will become apparent from the claims but also from the description and drawings, wherein the individual features each alone or more in the form of sub-combinations in an embodiment of the invention and in other fields be realized and advantageous and protectable Represent embodiments for which protection is claimed here. The subdivision of the application into individual sections as well as intermediate headings does not restrict the general validity of the statements made thereunder.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

Eine Funktionsdarstellung eines Kochfeldes mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Steuerung und

Fig. 2

ein Diagramm der zeitlichen Verläufe von Wassertemperatur und Leistung einer Heizeinrichtung des Kochgeräts in einem Kochgefäß auf dem Kochgerät nach Fig. 1 und nach dem Stand der Technik.

An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

A functional representation of a hob with a control according to the invention and

Fig. 2

a diagram of the time courses of water temperature and power of a heater of the cooking appliance in a cooking vessel on the cooking appliance according to Fig. 1 and the state of the art.

Detailed description of the embodiments

In Fig. 1 is a plan view of a functionally illustrated hob 11 included, which has in its front region a controller 13 with a plurality of controls 17, for example, known touch switch, so called touch control. The hob 11 has four distributed cooking zones 15a to 15d. Furthermore, the Control 13 to a controller 18, which contains the control functions, so to speak.

The controller 13 is connected to a switching device 20 for supplying power to the cooking zones 15. In this case, each of the cooking zones 15 can be switched on and off via the switching device 20 in any desired manner within certain functional or program-technical functions. Thus, therefore, in this hob 11 with the controller 13 no function-related specification of on and off times given as in an aforementioned electromechanical energy controller. Depending on a cooking level set by means of the operating elements 17 or, in particular, also on a set boiling rate, the controller 13 with the controller 18 via the switching device 20 sets the corresponding on times and off times at a cooking position 15 for a cycle operation.

In Fig. 2 is shown in the diagram both for the temperature of water in a saucepan, which has been placed on one of the cooking zones 15, as well as the power P over the time t, the respective time course. It is shown in dashed line the one in known or conventional electronic controls with separately controlled switches and solidly the one according to the invention. At time t = 0, a hotplate is turned on with a raised saucepan containing water, with the setting of a boil with the highest heat setting. This boil then takes a little over 5 ½ minutes until the water temperature is above 80 ° C. This means that for this particular hotplate in the controller 13 and in the controller 18, a correspondingly long Ankochstoß is programmed.

Thereafter, the controller 13 switches either automatically, because the predetermined end of the Ankochstoßes is reached, or by an operator controlled down to a lower cooking level, for example via the intermediate cooking stages to the cooking level 4. This means that then at a time interval of a little less than a minute, the cooking is turned on or clocked for a short time. This clocking actually starts right after the end of the push, as there is the first short on-time just one minute after the end of the push. However, there is just the disadvantage that heat should not be supplied again so quickly after the end of the Ankochstoßes, especially when the cooking should be done with the relatively low cooking level 4. This clocking then proceeds evenly with short on-times at a time interval of a little less than a minute, as can be seen in the diagram.

Therefore, it is provided according to the invention, as the solid curve shows that after the end of the Ankochstoßes after about 5 ½ minutes once for about 3 ½ minutes, no power is given to the hotplate or it remains off. Only then does the cooking area be switched on again for a short time each time, the time interval initially being approximately 2½ minutes and then, after a relatively long period of time, similar to the previously described known method, at intervals of approximately one minute. Times come.

This means that it is deposited in the controller 13 or in the controller 18 that after the end of the Ankochstoßes only for a few minutes no heating power is generated. This time depends on the duration of the boiled boulder as well as the height after the following cooking level.

Even if the high and lasting performance at the beginning does not have a so-called boil-down as a preprogrammed function of the Control 13 is generated, but just at the beginning for a certain time with maximum heating power is heated, it can be provided that the controller 13 and the controller 18 recognize this as well. Then, after switching back to a lower cooking level, they implement the same functionality, namely the somewhat longer waiting time before the heater or hob is switched back on.

Even if the respective hob or even the entire hob 11 are turned off for a short time, it may be stored in the controller 13 or in the controller 18 that only a certain time, namely the said pause time, is waited for and no heat output is emitted. Then the clocking takes place again with initially slightly larger time intervals.

Claims (12)

Electronic controller for a cooking appliance with at least one heating device, in particular for a hob, wherein the controller has controls and a controller and at least one circuit breaker for the heater, wherein the controller has a parboiling function with high power level of heating as a cooking stage on the heater for a certain cooking time as a boost, characterized in that the controller is adapted to turn off the heater after a lower power level than the cooking level for a certain predetermined pause time for a restart after this pause time, the pause time is longer the lower the new power level is as the previous cooking stage or where the break time depends on the cook time such that a long cook time includes a long pause time with a power cut and a short warm time a short pause time Episode has. Controller according to claim 1, characterized in that it is designed such that the cooking level is the highest power level. Control according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pause time with power interruption when switching back to the lowest power level is about twice to four times as long as when switching back to the next lower power level. Control according to claim 3, characterized in that the pause time is about five minutes. Control according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power interruption control on the heater is formed even when the heater is turned off after the boost stage before setting a lower power level. Control according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power interruption control device is formed on the heating device even when the entire cooking appliance is switched off. A method of controlling a cooking appliance with a controller, in particular a controller according to claim 1, wherein the controller has a high-level heating power boosting function as a boosting step on the heater for a certain boiling time as a boost, characterized in that after setting a lower power level the heating device is switched off for a certain predetermined pause time and is switched on again after the pause time has elapsed, the length of the pause time increases the lower the new power level is than the cooking level or the length of the pause time depends on the cooking time such that a long warm-up time, a long break with interruption of service and a short warm-up time result in a short break time. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the cooking level is the highest power level. A method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the pause time with power interruption when switching back to the lowest power level about twice to four times, preferably three times, as long as when switching back to the next lower power level. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the pause time is about five minutes. Method according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized by a power interruption to the heater even if the heater is switched off after the boost stage before setting a lower power level. Method according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized by a power interruption of the heater even if the entire cooking appliance is turned off.

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