EP2445310B1 - Method for detecting at least one cooking area in a cooktop - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for detecting at least one cooking zone in a hob.

It also relates to a hob suitable for implementing the detection method according to the invention.

It generally relates to a hob in which a container can be placed and heated at any location on a hob of this hob.

This type of table includes heating means arranged in a two-dimensional grid in the hob.

Thus, this type of table does not have predefined cooking zones, as described in the document FR 2 863 039 in the name of the Applicant.

The heating means are of a sufficiently small size for a cooking container of conventional size to cover several heating means.

In this type of table, a cooking zone is created on a case-by-case basis, depending on the position and size of the container placed on the hob.

Thus, a cooking zone is constituted by a set of heating means covered at least partially by a container placed on the hob. Only the heating means constituting a cooking zone associated with a detected container are activated for heating the container.

Therefore, before and during the heating of the containers, it is necessary to know the cooking zones present in the hob.

For this purpose, a detection loop of the cooking vessels placed on the hob makes it possible to identify a set of heating means covered at least partially by a container, each means of heating of this assembly being adjacent to at least one other means of heating the assembly.

Thus, each cooking zone is characterized by each set of identified heating means. The detection of cooking zones constituted by a set of heating means covered by a container is disclosed in the document. WO 2009/016124 .

In existing cooktops, sometimes two cookware placed side by side on the cooktop at the same time are not considered to be two separate cookware, i.e. only one cooking zone is detected.

Indeed, at least one heating means covered by a first container is adjacent to at least one heating means covered by a second container.

Thus, a single set of heating means is identified, and therefore, a single cooking zone is characterized.

The cooktop user must move the cookware until the two cookware are detected as two separate cookware, i.e. until two cooking zones are detected.

We also know in the document EP 2,242,328 a method of detecting cooking zones using a separation algorithm, by recognition of symmetry, to identify two cooking zones in a set of adjacent heating means.

The object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose a method for detecting the cooking zones in a hob allowing the identification of each container placed on the hob.

To this end, the present invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a method of detecting at least one cooking zone in a hob, the hob comprising heating means distributed in a two-dimensional grid under a plane of cooking, a cooking zone being associated with a container placed on the hob and comprising a group of heating means covered at least in part by the container.

The invention is defined by the features of claim 1.

Thus, at least two cooking zones associated respectively with at least two containers placed on the cooking surface in a set of identified heating means can be characterized.

Consequently, even two or more containers placed side by side at the same time are considered to be two or more separate containers.

For each set of heating means identified, the heating means separating or constituting a border between at least two cooking zones are determined.

By determining the heating means constituting a border or separation between at least two cooking zones, the heating means can be distributed in said at least two cooking zones.

According to another characteristic, the determining step comprises a step of comparing the value of a parameter for the presence of a first heating means belonging to the set of heating means identified with the values of the parameters for the presence of a second and third heating means belonging to the set of means of identified heating, the second and third heating means being adjacent to the first heating means and the first, second and third heating means being aligned.

The heating means are thus compared two by two in order to determine whether they are part of the heating means constituting a border between at least two cooking zones.

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a hob having heating means distributed in a two-dimensional frame in a hob.

The hob includes means adapted to implement the detection method described above.

In practice, this hob comprises means for identifying at least one set of heating means covered at least in part by at least one container placed on the hob, each means for heating said set being adjacent to the less a means for heating said assembly, and a microprocessor implementing the detection method described above.

For example, the heating means are inductors.

This hob has characteristics and advantages similar to those described above in relation to the detection method.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in the description below.

• la figure 1 représente une table de cuisson conforme à un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• les figures 2a et 2b illustrent des moyens de chauffage répartis selon une trame bidimensionnelle sous un plan de cuisson ;
• la figure 3 représente le procédé de détection selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention ; et
• la figure 4 représente des sous étapes des étapes de la figure 3.

In the accompanying drawings, given by way of nonlimiting example:

• the figure 1 shows a hob according to an embodiment of the invention;
• the figures 2a and 2b illustrate heating means distributed in a two-dimensional grid under a cooking surface;
• the figure 3 represents the detection method according to an embodiment of the invention; and
• the figure 4 represents sub steps of the steps of the figure 3 .

We will first describe, with reference to the figure 1 , a hob in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, adapted to implement the method for detecting the configuration of use according to an embodiment of the invention.

The hob 50 has a hob 51 for receiving containers on the hob 50.

This hob 50 comprises heating means 100 distributed in a two-dimensional frame under the hob 51 of the hob 50.

In one embodiment, the heating means 100 can consist of inductors 100 distributed in the cooking surface 51.

These inductors are arranged side by side so as to cover the entire surface of the cooking surface 51.

In this example, the inductors are staggered as illustrated in the figure 1 , as well as figures 2a and 2b which will be described later.

In other embodiments, the inductors can be arranged in a distribution in rows and columns, that is to say in a matrix arrangement.

Each inductor 100 of the hob 50 is independently controlled and put into operation only when a container covers at least part of this inductor 100.

In this example, the inductors 100 constitute both heating means and means for detecting the presence of a container.

Thus, in the following description, it is considered that the heating means are inductors constituting both heating means and detection means.

Of course, the present invention could also be implemented for other types of heating means, for example, for radiant elements also arranged in a two-dimensional grid under the hob. In this case, each radiant element must be associated with a system allowing the detection of the presence of a container, such as for example a sensor or an inductor.

By way of non-limiting example, we have illustrated in figure 1 , three cooking vessels R1, R2, R3 arranged on the cooking surface 51 of the hob 50.

Thus, in this example, three cooking zones Z1, Z2, Z3 are formed, each cooking zone Z1, Z2, Z3 corresponding respectively to each container R1, R2, R3.

Each cooking zone Z1, Z2, Z3 is constituted by a set of heating means covered at least partially by a container R1, R2, R3.

Thus, for example, if a user controls the heating of a first container R1, the inductors covered by the first container R1, constituting a first cooking zone Z1, are activated.

The hob 50 further comprises a control and display panel 52 for the control of the hob 50 by the user.

In this exemplary embodiment, the control and display panel 52 is placed near a front edge 50a of the hob 50, intended to be placed facing the user standing in front of the table cooking 50.

In one embodiment, when the hob 50 is put into operation, the containers R1, R2, R3 placed on the hob 50 are shown on the control and display panel 52.

Thus, the user, recognizing on the control and display panel 52 the containers placed on the hob 50, can control the heating of each container R1, R2, R3.

The hob 50 also includes a microprocessor suitable for implementing the method for detecting at least one cooking zone in a hob according to the invention, as well as storage means.

We will then describe, with reference to figures 2a , 2b , 3 and 4 , the method for detecting at least one cooking zone in the hob according to an embodiment of the invention.

The process begins ( figure 3 ) by an identification step E10 of at least one set of heating means 200, 300; 400, 500 covered at least in part by at least one container placed on the hob.

At least one inductor which is not covered by a container is disposed between two sets of heating means 200, 300; 400, 500 identified.

For example, in the figure 2a , the inductors numbered 12 or 20 are inductors which are not covered by a container and which are arranged between two sets of identified heating means 200, 300.

Thus, the sets of heating means (here inductors) identified during the identification step E10 are formed by adjacent heating means, that is to say that each inductor of the set of inductors identified is adjacent to at least one other inductor in the set.

Consequently, all the heating means belonging to a set of identified heating means are covered at least in part by at least one container.

This identification step E10 of the assemblies of the heating means 200, 300; 400, 500 separated from each other by heating means not covered by a container, can be implemented independently of the implementation of the steps which will be described below.

On the figure 2a , three receptacles R10, R11, R12 are placed on the cooking surface 11. A first receptacle R10 is placed on the inductors numbered 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, 25 and 26, a second receptacle R11 is arranged on the inductors numbered 10, 11, 18 and 19, and a third container R12 is placed on the inductors numbered 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 30 and 31.

Thus, in the identification step E10, two sets of heating means 200, 300 are identified.

A first set of heating means 200 comprises the inductors numbered 8 to 11, 16 to 19, 25 and 26, and a second set of heating means 300 comprises the heating means numbered 13, 14, 21 to 23, 30 and 31 .

Then, for each set of heating means 200, 300 identified, a characterization step E20 is implemented which consists in characterizing at least two cooking zones Z10, Z11, Z12 in the set of heating means 200, 300.

Of course, this characterization step E20 could be implemented in order to characterize a single cooking zone covered by a single container.

The characterization step E20 comprises a determination step E30, heating means constituting a border between at least two cooking zones Z10, Z11 associated respectively with at least two containers R10, R11 (the representations of the containers R10, R11, R12 and cooking zones Z10, Z11, Z12 are superimposed on the figure 2a ).

This determination step E30 will be described in more detail with reference to the figure 4 .

Once the heating means which constitute a border are known, for the first set of heating means 200 identified, a step of distributing the heating means of the set 200 is implemented in at least two zones of cooking Z10, Z11.

Thus, the characterization step E20 is implemented for each set of heating means identified 200, 300.

The figure 4 shows in more detail the method for detecting at least one cooking zone in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

As described above, a detection loop for the cooking vessels placed on the hob makes it possible to identify the set of heating means covered at least partially by a container.

During this container detection loop, the recovery rate of each heating means by the container is determined.

This detection loop for the cooking vessels placed on the hob 50 is described in the document. FR 2 863 039 .

Conventionally, in order to detect the containers placed on the hob 50, each heating means 100 is analyzed one by one.

In practice, during this analysis, a presence parameter is measured, the value of this presence parameter being dependent on the rate of recovery of the heating means 100 by the container or containers R10, R11, R12.

In one embodiment, the presence parameter is a power measured at the level of the heating means considered.

It will be noted, as described above, that in the embodiment described, the heating means are inductors, and therefore also constitute means for detecting the containers placed on the hob.

Of course, other parameters can be used, such as for example effective currents passing through the inductor, the mean current or the peak current, or even a combination of different parameters associated with the inductor 100.

In all cases, the value of the presence parameter is dependent on the recovery rate or on the surface of the inductor 100 covered by the container (s).

The determination of the recovery rate of the inductors 100 is known to a person skilled in the art and will not be described in more detail in this document. For example, the determination of the recovery rate is described in the document FR 2 863 039 .

Thus, each inductor 100 or heating means 100 belonging to a set of identified heating means, has a value of the associated presence parameter.

These values are stored in the storage means of the hob.

Once the sets of heating means 200, 300 have been identified, a first selection step E21 of a set of heating means identified during the identification step E10, is implemented.

For the set of heating means 200, 300 selected in the first selection step E21, the characterization step E20 is implemented.

The characterization step E20 comprises a determination step E30 and a distribution step E31 which will be described below.

The determination step E30 begins with a second step of selection E22 of a configuration formed by a first, second and third heating means.

In the embodiment described, the first, second and third heating means or inductors are aligned, adjacent and belong to the set of identified heating means which was selected in the first selection step E21. The first heating means is located between the second and third heating means.

Thus, in this example, several combinations formed by three inductors having the conditions described above are possible.

Thus, in the second selection step E22, one is selected from among combinations formed by the inductors numbered 8, 9 and 10; 9, 10 and 11; 16, 17 and 18; 17, 18 and 19; 9, 17 and 25; 8, 17 and 26; and 10, 18 and 26.

The step of determining E30 of the heating means 100 constituting a border between two cooking zones Z10, Z11 associated respectively with two containers R10, R11 comprises a step of comparison E23 of the value of the parameter of the presence of a first heating means belonging to the set of heating means identified with the value of the parameters for the presence of a second and third heating means belonging to the set of heating means identified, the second and third heating means being adjacent to the first means of heating, and the first, second and third heating means being aligned.

Thus, the comparison step is implemented for all the possible configurations formed by said first, second and third heating means, said first heating means being located between the second and third heating means.

Consequently, for each combination selected in the second selection step E22, the comparison step E23 is implemented for the first and second inductors and for the first and third inductors of each combination.

By way of example, the first set of identified heating means 200 is selected in the first selection step E21, and the combination formed by the inductors numbered 8, 9 and 10 is selected in the second selection step E23. In this selected combination, the first inductor corresponds to inductor # 9, the second to inductor # 8 and the third to inductor # 10.

In this embodiment, when in the comparison step E23, the value of the presence parameter of the first heating means is lower (respectively greater in an alternative embodiment) than the value of the presence parameter of the second or third heating means, the first heating means is determined as being a heating means constituting a border between at least two cooking zones Z10, Z11 respectively associated with two containers R10, R11.

Here, as described above, the presence parameter is a power.

Thus, when in said comparison step, the value of the power measured at the first heating means is less than the value of the power measured at the second or third heating means, the first heating means is determined as being a means of heating constituting a border between at least two cooking zones Z10, Z11 associated respectively with two containers R10, R11.

On the contrary, when in the comparison step E23, the value of the parameter of presence of the first heating means is greater than or equal (respectively less or equal in the alternative embodiment) to the value of the parameter of the second and third means heating, the first heating means is determined not to be part of the heating means constituting a border between the two cooking zones Z10, Z11.

In this example, a value of the power of the first inductor (inductor # 9) is less than the power value of the third inductor (inductor # 10). Consequently, the first inductor (inductor no. 9) is determined to be an inductor constituting a border between at least two cooking zones Z10, Z11 respectively associated with two containers R10, R11.

Then, during a verification step E24, it is checked whether the last combination formed by a first, second and third heating means has been selected for the set of selected heating means.

In the negative case, we return to the second selection step E22 in order to select the following combination.

Once we know the heating means or inductors which constitute a border between two cooking zones Z10, Z11 for the set of heating means or set of inductors identified (positive case in the first verification step E24) , the step E31 of the heating means is carried out in the cooking zones Z10, Z11, Z12.

This distribution step E31 consists in distributing the heating means belonging to each set of heating means identified 200, 300 into at least two cooking zones Z10, Z11 respectively associated with two containers R10, R11. This distribution is implemented taking into account the heating means constituting a border between said at least two cooking zones Z10, Z11.

Thus, during this distribution step E31, the heating means belonging to the set of heating means 200 selected are divided into two cooking zones Z10, Z11.

Thus, by way of nonlimiting example, for all of the heating means 200, the adjacent inductors of a first part of this assembly are grouped together so as to form a first cooking zone Z10 associated with a first container R10 and the adjacent inductors of a second part of this assembly are grouped together so as to form a second cooking zone Z11 associated with a second container R11.

These two cooking zones Z10, Z11 are limited by the heating means constituting a border between at least two cooking zones Z10, Z11 associated respectively with two containers R10, R11.

Thus, for the first set of heating means 200 identified, taking into account the heating means constituting a border between at least two cooking zones Z10, Z11 associated respectively with two containers R10, R11 (inductors n ° 9 and 18), the cooking zones Z10, Z11 are formed.

Thus, a first cooking zone Z10 is formed by the inductors numbered 8, 16, 17, 25 and 26, and a second cooking zone Z11 is formed by the inductors numbered 10, 11 and 19.

Thus, in this example, the inductors determined as being inductors constituting a border between at least two cooking zones Z10, Z11 associated respectively with two containers R10, R11 (the inductors numbered 9 and 18) are arranged between the inductors of the first cooking zone Z10 and the inductors of the second cooking zone Z11, and form a separation between the two groups of inductors Z10, Z11.

Consequently, the heating means of the assembly 200 apart from the heating means constituting a border (here, inductors n ° 9 and 18), are divided into two cooking zones Z10, Z11.

Then, according to one embodiment, during the distribution step E31, the heating means constituting a border between at least two cooking zones Z10, Z11 associated respectively with two containers R10, R11 are assigned to a cooking zone Z10 , Z11.

Thus, in this example, the inductors numbered 9 and 18 are assigned to the first cooking zone Z10 or to the second cooking zone Z11.

According to one embodiment, for each inductor constituting a border between at least two cooking zones Z10, Z11 associated respectively with at least two containers R10, R11, the number of inductors adjacent to the heating means corresponding to the zones of determination is determined. cooking Z10, Z11.

Thus, for example, if we take inductor n ° 9 as an example, for inductors corresponding to the first cooking zone Z10, two inductors are adjacent to inductor n ° 9 (inductors numbered 8 and 17), and for inductors corresponding to the second cooking zone Z11, a single inductor is adjacent to inductor no. 9 (inductor numbered 10).

For example, inductor no. 9 is associated with the cooking zone which includes the maximum number of inductors adjacent to inductor 9.

Thus in this example, the inductor n ° 9 is associated with the first cooking zone Z10.

It is the same for the second inductor constituting a border between at least two cooking zones Z10, Z11 associated respectively with two containers R10, R11 (inductor n ° 18).

In the case where the number of inductors adjacent to a heating means constituting a border is identical for each cooking zone, the inductor constituting a border is allocated to one of the cooking zones arbitrarily, and for example the cooking zone having the highest rank in the list of cooking zones managed by the microprocessor.

In another embodiment, for each inductor constituting a border, it is analyzed whether it is adjacent to at least one inductor of each cooking zone Z10, Z11. If the inductor analyzed is adjacent to at least one inductor of a cooking zone Z10, Z11, it is assigned to this cooking zone Z10, Z11.

In this example, the inductor no. 9 is adjacent to several inductors of the first cooking zone Z10. Consequently, inductor no. 9 is assigned to the first cooking zone Z10.

For the inductors being adjacent to inductors of the two cooking zones Z10, Z11 (case of inductor no. 18), the procedure is as in the previous embodiment, that is to say by determining the number of adjacent inductors for each cooking zone, and assigning it to the cooking zone which has the maximum number of adjacent inductors.

Sometimes, according to another embodiment, the inductors constituting a border between at least two cooking zones Z10, Z11 associated respectively with two containers R10, R11, are assigned to a third cooking zone.

If we take as an example, the arrangement of containers R20, R21, R22, R23 of the figure 2b , a first set of heating means 400 is identified.

In this example, the inductors determined as constituting a border are the inductors 9, 10, 11, 18, 19 and 20.

Thus, during the distribution step E31, the remaining inductors 7, 8, 15, 16, 17, 24, 25, 26, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 21 and 22 are divided into two zones Z20, Z22.

Then, the inductors constituting a border are analyzed in order to be allocated to a cooking zone.

According to one embodiment, it is analyzed whether these inductors 9, 10, 11, 18, 19 and 20 are adjacent to inductors distributed in the cooking zones Z20, Z22. The inductors 10 and 19 are not adjacent to any of the inductors of the cooking zones Z20, Z22. Thus, it is deduced that these inductors constitute a third cooking zone Z21 associated with a third container R21.

Concerning the inductors 9 and 18, and 11 and 20, the procedure is described above during the description of the figure 2a .

Thus, the cooking zones formed for the first set of heating means identified 200, 400 are characterized.

A second verification step E25 is then carried out in order to verify whether the set of heating means 200, 300; 400, 500 selected corresponds to the last set of heating means 200, 300; 400, 500 identified in the identification step E10.

In the negative case, we return to the first selection step E21 in order to select the following set of heating means identified.

In the example described with reference to the figure 2a , the set 300 is selected.

In the positive case at the second verification step E25, the process is terminated. Consequently, the cooking zones Z10, Z11, Z12; Z20, Z21, Z22, Z23 were characterized.

Once the cooking zones Z10, Z11, Z12; Z20, Z21, Z22, Z23 are characterized, a user can control the heating of each of the containers located on each of the cooking zones.

Thus, thanks to the invention, it is possible to determine the different cooking zones associated respectively with the different containers, even when the containers are placed at the same time side by side.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

In particular, the heating means could consist of radiant elements, as soon as a system for detecting the presence of a container is associated with the induction detection means.

Claims (7)

1. Method for detecting at least one cooking zone (Z10, Z11, Z12; Z20, Z21, Z22, Z23) in a hob, the hob comprising heating means (100) distributed according to a two-dimensional grid beneath a hotplate (51), a cooking zone (Z10, Z11, Z12; Z20, Z21, Z22, Z23) being associated with a receptacle (R10, R11, R12; R20, R21, R22, R23) placed on the hotplate (51) and comprising a group of heating means at least partly covered by the receptacle, the method comprising the following steps:

   - identifying (E10) at least one group of heating means (200, 300; 400, 500) at least partly covered by at least one receptacle (R10, R11, R12; R20, R21, R22, R23) placed on the hotplate (51), each heating means of said group being adjacent to at least one heating means of said group, and

   - defining (E20) at least two cooking zones (Z10, Z11; Z20, Z21, Z22) within said at least one identified group of heating means (200; 400), characterised in that the defining step comprises the following steps:

   - determining (E30) which heating means form a boundary between at least two cooking zones (Z10, Z11; Z20, Z21, Z22) respectively associated with at least two receptacles (R10, R11; R20, R21, R22, R23); and

   - dividing (E31) the heating means of said at least one identified group of heating means into at least two cooking zones (Z10, Z11; Z20, Z21, Z22) on the basis of said heating means that form a boundary,

   said dividing step comprising:

   - dividing said heating means of said at least one identified group of heating means into at least two cooking zones (Z10, Z11; Z20, Z21, Z22), except for the heating means that form a boundary, and

   - allocating said heating means that form a boundary to one cooking zone (Z10, Z11; Z20, Z21, Z22), said allocation comprising the following for each heating means that forms a boundary between at least two cooking zones (Z10, Z11; Z20, Z21, Z22):

   - determining the number of heating means that are adjacent to the heating means that respectively correspond to said at least two cooking zones (Z10, Z11; Z20, Z21, Z22), and

   - allocating the heating means that forms a boundary to the cooking zone (Z10, Z11; Z20, Z21, Z22) that comprises the maximum number of adjacent heating means.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that said determining step (E30) comprises a step of comparing (E23) the value of a presence parameter of a first heating means belonging to the identified group of heating means (200; 400) with the values of the presence parameters of a second and third heating means belonging to the identified group of heating means (200; 400), the second and third heating means being adjacent to the first heating means, and the first, second and third heating means being aligned with one another.
3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that the comparing step (E23) is implemented for all possible configurations formed by said first, second and third heating means belonging to the identified group of heating means (200; 400), said first heating means being positioned between the second and third heating means.
4. Method according to any of claims 2 or 3, characterised in that said presence parameter is a power.
5. Method according to claim 4, characterised in that when, during said comparing step (E23), the power value measured at the first heating means is lower than the power value measured at the second or third heating means, the first heating means is determined to be a heating means that forms the boundary between at least two cooking zones (Z10, Z11; Z20, Z21, Z22) respectively associated with at least two receptacles (R10, R11; R20, R21, R22).
6. Hob (50) comprising heating means (100) distributed according to a two-dimensional grid beneath a hotplate (51), said hob being characterised in that it comprises means for identifying at least one group of heating means at least partly covered by at least one receptacle (R10, R11, R12; R20, R21, R22, R23) placed on the hotplate (51), each heating means of said group being adjacent to at least one heating means of said group, and a microprocessor that executes the method for detecting at least one cooking zone (Z10, Z11; Z20, Z21, Z22) according to any of claims 1 to 5.
7. Hob (50) according to claim 6, characterised in that the heating means (100) are inductors.

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