EP3244694B1 - Cooking system with cooking plate and cooking vessel - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cooking system according to the preamble of claim 1 and a cookware for such a cooking system according to claim 14.

In the area of domestic cooking processes, the trend continues towards simpler and more convenient execution of the cooking processes. In particular, automatic programs are to be made available which are intended to relieve the user of part of the implementation of the cooking process. The cooktops should also optically disappear from the kitchen. This also includes making the control elements of the cooktops more inconspicuous or making them disappear completely. This can lead to shifting the controls of the cooktops onto the cookware. It may therefore be necessary or at least desirable that information can be exchanged between the cookware and the hob. This can include the transmission of instructions as well as measured variables.

From the US 6,953,939 B2 a system and a method for providing a plurality of cooking modes and an ability to automatically heat cooking utensils and other objects by means of the system is known, a data transmission from a cookware to a control unit of the system being effected by means of RFID technology. The dishes include an RFID tag and a temperature sensor.

From the DE 197 29 662 A1 is known an information transmission system for automatically operated cooking vessels on a heating device of a hotplate, which transmits information from sensors, which are located inside the cooking vessel, to receiving means of the heating device. For this purpose, there is a transmitter coil on the cooking vessel or its cover for sending out the signals.

The publication DE 10 2004 008 739 A1 shows a sensor device for a hob, in which the acoustic signal of a mechanical pulse is detected and a control command for the hob is generated depending on the sensor signal.

From the DE 10 2009 003 105 A1 a transponder, in particular an RFID tag, is known for a cookware and a cookware with such a transponder, the transponder being resistant to high temperatures and having at least one temperature sensor. Due to its high-temperature resistant design, the transponder can be attached to the cookware at a location that is close to the food to be heated.

A disadvantage of the systems and devices described above is that communication between cookware and hob or hob or the like via radio transmission, e.g. using transponder technology. This can be a long-distance effect, i.e. a control and / or regulation of a device by a command that can be carried out outside the range of vision of a device. Communication between the participants and thus a mutual or at least one-sided influence can thus take place, even if they are not in their intended use. In other words, e.g. the cookware can also be operated by the cookware, even though the cookware is not at all on the hob or on the cooker. Since this can endanger the safety of the user, such remote effects in the household must be prevented in accordance with the standard DIN EN 60335-01 (VDE 0700-1). The systems and devices described above could therefore not conform to standards, which can prevent their use.

From the DE 197 54 851 A1 an induction cooking system is known, the cookware is temperature-controlled by a temperature-dependent permanent magnet and is located in a heat-insulated planter. The permanent magnet is moved by a bimetal, which is arranged in an air gap between the bottom of the cookware and the bottom of the pot. The controller construction is pushed so far under the bottom of the cookware that it lies completely inside the planter jacket. The bimetal is not ferromagnetic. The reed contact, which is arranged under the hotplate and is affected by the permanent magnet, is located in a tube made of ferromagnetic material that is open at the top to shield the induction field.

With this cooking system, communication by radio transmission can be dispensed with. It is disadvantageous, however, that this requires a great deal of effort, since a very special and complex pot is used as the cookware and the hotplate has to be designed accordingly. Furthermore, only one can Communication from the cookware to the hotplate takes place. This communication can also be used to transmit only a single predetermined measurement variable, namely a temperature value. Communication in the opposite direction and the transmission of other data is not possible due to the design. The pot must also be positioned appropriately over the reed contact of the hotplate so that the cooking system can function as intended.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cooking system of the type described in the introduction, so that secure communication between the cookware and the hotplate can be made possible in a simple manner. In particular, a versatile and flexible possibility for secure communication between the cookware and the hotplate is to be created in a simple manner. Secure communication should in particular be standardized, i.e. exclude a long-distance effect safely. At least an alternative way of communication between the cookware and the hotplate is to be provided.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1, by the features of claim 14 and by the features of claim 15. Advantageous further developments are described in the subclaims.

The present invention thus relates to a cooking system with at least one first hotplate and at least one cookware. Several hobs can be referred to as a hob. The hotplate can preferably be a hotplate of an induction hob, but also a hotplate of a gas hob or an electric hob.

The present invention is characterized in that the first hotplate and the cookware are designed to be able to communicate between them using structure-borne noise signals. Structure-borne noise signals or corresponding communication are understood to mean sound that propagates in a solid. Sound represents the propagation or the audible vibrations in the form of sound waves from the smallest pressure and density fluctuations in an elastic medium, as in this case in a solid body.

The present invention is based on the knowledge that by means of structure-borne noise transmission between a hotplate and a cookware, a new, simple and convenient operating options for the user can be created, for example by operating the hotplate via the cookware. This can enable versatile and flexible operation and use of such cooking systems. In this case, the user can essentially maintain his usual operation because the user is used to placing the cookware on the hotplate before the cooking process can be operated. If the operation of the hotplate is made possible by operating the cookware which is located on the hotplate, the user can maintain this sequence of operating steps. This can lead to simple and intuitive operation of the cooking system according to the invention for the user.

It is also advantageous that secure communication can be made possible in this way. Because the transmission of structure-borne noise between the hotplate and cookware requires a contact between these communication partners, there can be no long-distance effect between the hotplate and cookware. Because if the cookware is removed from the hotplate, this reliably interrupts communication by means of structure-borne noise and prevents long-distance effects. The hotplate can also recognize this and react to it, e.g. with shutdown. Thus, communication between the hotplate and cookware using structure-borne noise can represent secure communication in the sense of the standard DIN EN 60335-01 (VDE 0700-1). Furthermore, electromagnetic radiation, which would occur during communication by means of radio transmission, can be avoided in this way. This can avoid EMC problems and electrosmog for the user.

Communication using structure-borne noise can only take place in one direction from the cookware to the hotplate or from the hotplate to the cookware. As a result, a transmitter and a receiver can be provided only on one side of the communication path, which can make the communication system of the cooking system simpler, cheaper and more compact than with bidirectional communication. The transmitters and receivers can also be made simpler, which can make them cheaper and more compact.

By means of communication in one direction, it is possible, for example, to register cookware at the hotplate. It is also possible to transmit a switching pulse or switching state from the cookware to the hotplate by actuating an operating element arranged on the cookware.

Furthermore, a measurement variable such as transfer a temperature from the cookware to the hotplate and e.g. can be used to regulate the temperature of the cooking process. An operation on the cookware e.g. an automatic program for the hotplate is selected or the power level of the hotplate can be set. In the opposite direction of communication e.g. the selected power level of the hotplate is transmitted from there to the cookware in order to be displayed to the user on a display of the cookware.

The switching state to be transmitted can be generated, for example, by a bimetal element. It is thus possible in an astonishingly simple manner to operate a semi-automatic operation, for example a kettle, consisting of a kettle and a hob, without actuating the hob.

For example, the set-up sound of the kettle can be detected by the hob and put it in operational readiness and / or start with a pan detection.

Furthermore, the actuation of a switch on the kettle can be detected by the hob, whereupon this controls the heating device for heating the kettle.

Finally, the switching noise of the bimetallic element is detected by the hob and the heating device is switched on. According to a supplementary embodiment, it is possible that the bimetal element resets the switch and thus also visually indicates the switching state to the user.

The placement of the kettle on the hob and / or the actuation of the switch and / or the movement of the bimetallic element can generate structure-borne noise, which is transmitted to the hob and received and evaluated. In addition or as an alternative to this, it is also possible for an electrical voltage to be generated when the kettle is placed on the hob and / or the switch is actuated and / or the bimetal element is moved. Although this will be relatively low and only occur briefly, it will still send a radio signal to the hob with the energy obtained in this way.

The radio signal and / or the structure-borne sound signal can also contain further information than just the changes in state mentioned. For example, this Time of the fill level in the kettle or an identifier, such as for the pot bottom diameter, are transferred to the hob.

The generation of such small amounts of energy is also referred to as energy harvesting. The above explanation of the invention is not limited to water boilers. The kettle is used here as an example for cookware. Another synonymous term for cookware is cookware.

The transmission of a particularly complex structure-borne sound signal makes it possible to exchange changeable data. A complex structure-borne sound signal is understood to mean a signal which comprises several pulses or exhibits a significant change in at least one characteristic property, for example the pulse width and / or the frequency and / or the amplitude, over a period of time. When using several successive pulses, the individual pulses can differ in their characteristic properties.

Communication using structure-borne noise is also possible on both sides. In this way, more extensive and more convenient operating options can be created. For example, the functions described above can be used in combination, e.g. the setting of the power level of the hotplate on the cookware and the return of the set power level from the hotplate to the cookware in order to be displayed to the user there.

The communication between the hotplate and cookware using structure-borne noise can also be used to locate the cookware on a hotplate from several hotplates of a hob, so that the instructions that are sent by the cookware can be assigned to the correct hotplate for implementation. A cookware can also be identified by the hotplate, for example in order to determine a specific type of cookware and to specify the selection of the automatic programs and their available power levels. By identifying an individual cookware, for example, an interrupted cooking process can be continued again if the identified cookware has been removed from the hotplate in the meantime. Furthermore, regular communication such as a periodic structure-borne noise signal from the cookware to the hotplate can be used, for example, to monitor the presence of cookware on the hotplate during the cooking process.

Various mechanisms and elements can be used to operate the functions described above both on the part of the hotplate and on the part of the cookware or to trigger the structure-borne noise signals. On cookware, this can e.g. Via a push button, a rotary knob, a slider, a thumbwheel, a rotary handle, a toggle, a lever, a jog dial (control element with functions, press, push, slide horizontally and vertically) etc., each of which is simple or can exist more than once. These elements can each be arranged on the handle of the cookware, on the lid of the cookware or on the cookware itself. The operation or triggering of structure-borne noise signals at the hotplate can e.g. via a push button, a rotary knob, a slider, a thumb wheel, a jog dial etc.

Communication can preferably be implemented by means of structure-borne noise signals between the hotplate and cookware such that the first hotplate is designed to transmit at least one structure-borne noise signal to the cookware, and that the cookware is designed to receive the structure-borne noise signal from the first hotplate, and / or that the cookware is designed to emit at least one structure-borne noise signal to the first hotplate, and that the first hotplate is designed to receive the structure-borne noise signal from the cookware. The structure-borne sound signal can be transmitted by means of a structure-borne sound source as the structure-borne sound transmitter, and the reception can be carried out by means of a structure-borne sound receiver.

The structure-borne sound source and / or the structure-borne sound receiver can preferably be arranged in the bottom of the cookware so that it can be used as close as possible to the cooking area. This can keep the route of the signal transmission short and thereby improve the quality of the signal transmission or reduce the energy required for this. For the same reasons, the structure-borne sound source and / or the structure-borne sound receiver can preferably be arranged on the side of the hotplate close to the surface of the hotplate facing the cookware.

Furthermore, the structure-borne sound source and / or the structure-borne sound receiver can preferably be arranged centrally in the area facing the communication partner both on the side of the hotplate and on the side of the cookware. As a result, the structure-borne sound source and / or the structure-borne sound receiver can generally be used as close as possible to the communication partner, because the cookware is usually operated in the center of the hotplate. This can also lead to the shortest possible communication path.

The structure-borne sound source and / or the structure-borne sound receiver can be arranged on the side of the cookware as vertically as possible downwards towards the hotplate. This preferably also applies to the arrangement of the structure-borne sound source and / or the structure-borne sound receiver on the side of the hotplate, i.e. towards the cookware. This can favor directional communication using structure-borne noise in this direction and avoid communication in other directions as far as possible. This enables communication to take place with the lowest possible energy. Furthermore, identification of the cookware on the hotplate compared to other hotplates can be simplified because the signal transmission in the directional direction is significantly stronger than in the other directions and can thus be identified more easily and reliably. Alternatively, several structure-borne sound receivers can also be arranged around the hotplate or around a cooktop with several hotplates, e.g. to recognize cookware by means of triangulation of the structure-borne sound signal communication or to assign the cookware to a hotplate.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the first hotplate is designed to make a hotplate setting as a function of a structure-borne noise signal received from the cookware, in particular to start a predetermined cooking program and / or to set a predetermined power level. In this way, the hotplate can be operated using structure-borne noise signals from the cookware, so that controls on the hotplate can be partially or completely dispensed with. This can lead to simple, intuitive and comfortable operation of the cooking process for the user.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the first hotplate and / or the cookware has or have at least one first structure-borne sound source, which is or are designed to generate a structure-borne sound signal by means of electrical energy. For example, a structure-borne sound signal can be generated at the hotplate and / or on the cookware using a piezoelectric actuator that can be operated with electrical energy. The piezoelectrically generated vibrations can be detected at the hotplate and / or on the cookware by means of a structure-borne noise sensor or a plurality of structure-borne noise sensors. The structure-borne noise sensor is preferably an acceleration sensor. Since piezoelectric actuators have been tried and tested as vibration generators, a safe and reliable way of generating a structure-borne noise signal can thereby be provided. A defined and reliably reproducible structure-borne noise signal can also be generated in this way. The electrical required for this Energy can be provided at the hotplate via its electrical supply. The electrical energy on the cookware can be provided by a fixed or exchangeable electrical energy store such as a battery, an accumulator or a capacitor, or can be generated directly if required.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the first hotplate and / or the cookware further have at least one electrical generator which is or are designed to generate the electrical energy for the first structure-borne sound source. This allows separate supply of electrical energy e.g. by electrical storage such as a built-in or replaceable battery or a corresponding accumulator. Rather, the generation of electrical energy to the extent and at the moment can take place directly at the hotplate and / or on the cookware when it is needed.

Electrical energy generation can take place by means of so-called energy harvesting, e.g. by generating electrical energy on the cookware by moving the cookware, e.g. by turning the cookware, lifting the cookware and placing the cookware on the hotplate. The generation of electrical energy can also be done by actuating elements such as e.g. via push button, rotary knob, slide, thumb wheel, rotary handle, toggle, lever, jog dial etc. Such elements can each be arranged on the handle, on the lid or on the pot. In all cases there is no need for an energy store, in particular on the cookware, which, if necessary, would have to be used up and then charged or exchanged externally.

Another way of generating electrical energy is to use the kinetic energy of a bimetal.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the first hotplate and / or the cookware further comprises at least one electrical energy store, which is or are designed to provide the electrical energy for the first structure-borne sound source. In this way, the electrical energy for generating the structure-borne sound signal can be made available by means of electrical energy storage at the hotplate and / or on the cookware, so that it is not necessary to generate electrical energy at the hotplate and / or on the cookware. This can be easier and cheaper. The electrical energy storage can be rechargeable and / or interchangeable. For example, a battery or an accumulator can be used as the electrical energy store.

However, there can also be an electrical energy store in combination with an electrical generator in order to temporarily store energy between the generation by the electrical generator and the use by the structure-borne sound source. Alternatively or additionally, this electrical energy store can be fed and charged at any time by an electrical generator in order to release the stored electrical energy again at any later time. This is advantageous because the electrical energy store does not have to be accessible either through electrical connections or for external exchange, which protects the electrical energy store and the rest of the electrical system from e.g. Moisture can simplify. Visible electrical connections or an exchange option such as a flap of a battery compartment can be avoided, because this could impair the visual impression of the hotplate or the cookware for the user.

Alternatively, such an electrical energy store can be exchangeable and / or additionally rechargeable from the outside. This can be easier and cheaper because an electrical generator can be dispensed with. Furthermore, this can be more reliable and more familiar to the user, because if necessary, a fully charged electrical energy store can be used or can be brought about by charging from the outside.

The electrical energy store can also be a short-term energy store such as be a capacitor which e.g. by moving the cookware such as by rotating the cookware, lifting the cookware and placing the cookware on the hob for a timely use with electrical energy.

If a plurality of structure-borne noise sources are present at the hotplate and / or on the cookware, at least several and preferably all structure-borne noise sources can be supplied by a common electrical energy store and / or by a common electrical generator. At least one structure-borne sound source can also be supplied by an electrical energy store and at a time offset or at the same time another structure-borne sound source by an electrical generator. This can make electrical power supply simpler and therefore cheaper. This applies mutatis mutandis to other electrical consumers of the hotplate and / or cookware such as display elements, sensors, control units, control units, etc.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the first hotplate and / or the cookware has at least one first structure-borne sound source, which is or are designed to generate the structure-borne sound signal without electrical energy. This enables communication by means of structure-borne noise signals without any electrical energy in the cooking system. This can simplify the generation of the structure-borne sound signal and make the structure-borne sound source simpler and cheaper as a transmitter, because electrical lines, electrical insulation, electrical generators and / or electrical energy stores can be dispensed with. This can be very advantageous, especially on cookware. Such a structure-borne sound source can be a bimetal element, for example.

In this case, structure-borne noise generation can e.g. by means of mechanical deformation as with a click frog button or by means of magnetic attraction or repulsion. Such a structure-borne sound signal can be received by means of a vibration sensor. The generation of such a structure-borne sound signal can e.g. by pressing a button, by sliding a slide, by turning a handle, etc. Here, the structure-borne noise signal can be generated directly without going through electrical energy. It is particularly advantageous when using this type of structure-borne noise generation on the cookware that purely passive elements can be used there, which can be simple and robust, so that they can have a long service life.

According to the invention, the first hotplate and / or the cookware has at least one first control element which is designed to trigger the generation of a structure-borne sound signal when actuated. If the structure-borne sound source works with electrical energy, electrical energy can be conducted from an electrical energy store to the structure-borne sound source by the first operating element or generated by means of a generator and used directly by the structure-borne sound source. If the structure-borne sound source works without electrical energy, the structure-borne sound signal can be generated or triggered directly by the first operating element.

The structure-borne sound source can be designed for a specific structure-borne sound signal, so that the specific first structure-borne sound signal can be triggered by actuating the first operating element of the electrical or non-electrical structure-borne sound source. This can simplify the design of the first control element, the first structure-borne sound source and their connection and thus make them cheaper and possibly more compact. The The control element can be, for example, a push button, a rotary knob, a slide, a thumb wheel, a rotary handle, a toggle, a lever, a jog dial, etc.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the first operating element is designed to trigger the generation of a group of identical structure-borne noise signals, which form a resulting structure-borne noise signal, by multiple actuation within a predetermined time period. By pressing the control element several times, e.g. of a push button, as with Morse code, a signal group of identical structure-borne noise signals can be generated, e.g. by multiple actuation of the same control element in quick succession within a predefined period, so that different resulting structure-borne noise signals can be generated. In this case, a structure-borne noise signal is also understood to mean a sequence of individual structure-borne noise signals, which together form a resulting structure-borne noise signal. In this way e.g. by operating the cookware between different automatic programs of the hotplate and / or the power level of the hotplate can be set.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the first operating element is designed to trigger the generation of different structure-borne noise signals. The distinction can e.g. according to the frequency and / or according to the amplitude into different individual structure-borne sound signals. Different structure-borne noise signals can also be made possible by signal sequences, i.e. several individual signals that are the same or different in frequency and / or amplitude can contain a signal word such as form when Morse. These can e.g. are generated by different positions of a control element, each with a different structure-borne sound signal, e.g. by moving the control element to the next position, e.g. with a rotary knob, a slider, a thumbwheel, a rotary handle etc. This enables extensive communication between the hotplate and cookware using different structure-borne noise signals.

Different structure-borne noise signals can also be used to differentiate between the cookware and the hotplate. For example, different types of cookware such as kettles, frying pans etc. can indicate their type by means of a different structure-borne sound signal according to frequency and / or amplitude.

A preferred signal for detecting the cooking state is the noise that a bimetallic element generates when it is reset. When the water reaches the boiling state, the bimetal element is heated accordingly and changes its shape. This change in shape is used in a conventional kettle to prevent the supply of electrical energy to the radiator installed in the kettle. When the shape changes, the bimetal element also generates a clearly perceptible noise. Due to its amplitude and noise behavior, this noise is much easier to detect than a boiling noise. In particular, however, the change in shape is accompanied by a brief vibration in the kettle. Vibration and noise can be detected very well via structure-borne noise, possibly even by means of an external sensor, that is to say a sensor installed in another device, for example a microphone.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide a plurality of bimetal elements which react at different temperatures and to record a temperature profile through their different reset noises.

For the purposes of this invention, the term bimetal is not to be understood as limited to the use of metal as a construction material. Basically, the bimetal effect can also be achieved with other, non-metallic materials. The bimetal effect only requires a laminated body composed of two elastic layer materials with different thermal expansion. A bimetal element can therefore consist, for example, of a ceramic and / or a plastic and / or a metal alloy.

Likewise, different hotplates of a hob can be identified by a different structure-borne sound signal according to frequency and / or amplitude. Likewise, a program selection and a selection of the power level of a program can be made possible by different structure-borne noise signals. The different structure-borne noise signals can be generated with the same control element, which can save space at the hotplate or on the cookware.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the first hotplate and / or the cookware has at least one second control element, the first control element and the second control element being designed to trigger the generation of a different structure-borne sound signal when actuated in each case. As a result, the functions, as described above, can be triggered by means of at least two different operating elements, each of which has a different structure-borne sound signal can generate. The distinction can be made by frequency and / or amplitude and / or signal sequence.

This can improve and simplify the differentiability of the different structure-borne noise signals and thus also their recognizability. The assignment of the different structure-borne noise signals and their different effects to different operating elements can simplify handling for the user, because e.g. A type of structure-borne sound signal can be used to select an automatic program of the hotplate via a first control element and another type of structure-borne sound signal can be used to select the power level of the selected automatic program via a second control element.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the cooking system further has a second hotplate, which is designed to carry out communication with the cookware by means of structure-borne noise, the first hotplate and / or the second hotplate being designed or being the same structure-borne noise signal of the cookware to receive and to assign the cookware to one of the two hotplates from a time difference and / or from an amplitude difference of the respectively received structure-borne sound signal. This function can also be performed by a hob to which both hotplates can be assigned.

This allows the cookware to be automatically assigned to the hotplate on which the cookware is located. This can e.g. by detecting the structure-borne noise signal at both hotplates and then assigning the cookware to the hotplate where the structure-borne noise signal was most clearly received. This enables structure-borne noise communication to be established independently between the correct communication partners. This automatism can also relieve the operator of the need to bring about such an assignment of cookware to the hotplate. Furthermore, a safety function can also be implemented in this way such that only the correct hotplate on which the cookware is located can be activated or activated.

Likewise, the cookware can be used flexibly on several hotplates, for example within a hob, since the hotplate used in each case is automatically recognized or communication can be established with it. This can also make it possible for the cookware to move from the first hotplate to the second hotplate during a cooking process and after the change in the hotplates has been detected or the cooktop, the hotplate settings of the first hotplate can be set at the second hotplate, so that the cooking process can be continued at the second hotplate without having to make any new settings.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the cookware has at least one second structure-borne sound source, which is designed to generate a structure-borne sound signal, the first hotplate being designed to receive the structure-borne sound signals of both structure-borne sound signal sources of the cookware and from a transit time difference and / or from a To detect the difference in amplitude of the structure-borne sound signal received in each case, a position and / or orientation of the cookware on the first hotplate. This allows a position of the cookware on the hotplate e.g. can be recognized from the center of the hob in the horizontal plane. Alternatively or additionally, an orientation of the cookware on the hotplate can e.g. can be recognized by rotating around the vertical axis of the cookware. This can be used to make adjustments to the hotplate by moving and / or rotating the cookware on the hotplate. This can e.g. Automatic programs are selected and / or their power level is set.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the cooking system has a hotplate with a coil device for transmitting an alternating magnetic field. The cookware is designed to emit an individual, characteristic structure-borne sound through such a changing magnetic field. Such a humming and buzzing is known in induction dishes. Since these noises depend on individual manufacturing tolerances, the noise of each piece of tableware is individual and characteristic. Furthermore, the hotplate is set up to receive this individual, characteristic structure-borne noise and to detect a change in this individual structure-borne noise.

This makes it possible for the temperature of the cookware, for example, to be determined without further devices. Because the temperature has an influence on the speed of sound and / or the frequency and / or the amplitude of the sound. If the individual, characteristic structure-borne noise of the cookware changes with the temperature and this change in structure-borne noise is recorded and evaluated, a conclusion can be drawn about the temperature of the cookware.

The determination of the temperature is also possible without an alternating magnetic field or also in the case of dishes which, excited by an alternating magnetic field, emit no or only extremely weak noises. This requires a structure-borne sound source on the cookware as described in detail above. Since this structure-borne sound signal is equally influenced by the temperature of the cookware, the signal from the cookware detected in the hob - more precisely its change over time - can also be used to draw conclusions about the temperature of the cookware. Communication through structure-borne noise can itself be used to determine the temperature.

The present invention also relates to a cooktop with at least one cooktop for use in a cooking system as described above, the cooktop and / or the cooktop being designed to carry out communication with a cookware using a structure-borne sound signal.

The present invention also relates to cookware for use in a cooking system as described above, the cookware being designed to carry out communication with a hotplate and / or a hob by means of a structure-borne noise signal.
The term cookware is also understood to mean mobile devices which have their own energy converter and are intended for treating foods. This can be, for example, a kettle, a toaster, an egg cooker, a waffle iron or a blender. These devices receive electrical energy by inductive transmission from the hotplate and convert it into thermal energy and / or kinetic energy. Due to the possibility of transmitting a desired power level, such a device can use structure-borne noise to call up the energy required for operation from the hotplate. Devices of this type offer the user a great advantage as an accessory with the aforementioned communication with the hob. The devices are supplied wirelessly and energy is only transferred when required. The usual operation on the device - for example pressing a button on the toaster - and the provision of the right energy by the cooktop would be much easier than before.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Kochsystems in einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 2

eine seitliche schematische Schnittdarstellung der Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine seitliche schematische Schnittdarstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Kochsystems in einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 4

eine seitliche schematische Schnittdarstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Kochsystems in einem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 5

eine perspektivische schematische Darstellung eines Kochgeschirrs eines erfindungsgemäßen Kochsystems in einem vierten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 6

eine perspektivische schematische Darstellung eines Kochgeschirrs eines erfindungsgemäßen Kochsystems in einem fünften Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 7

eine perspektivische schematische Darstellung eines Kochgeschirrs eines erfindungsgemäßen Kochsystems in einem sechsten Ausführungsbeispiel; und

Fig. 8

eine perspektivische schematische Darstellung eines Kochgeschirrs eines erfindungsgemäßen Kochsystems in einem siebten Ausführungsbeispiel.

Several exemplary embodiments and further advantages of the invention are explained below in connection with the following figures. It shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective schematic representation of a cooking system according to the invention in a first embodiment;

Fig. 2

a side schematic sectional view of the Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a side schematic sectional view of a cooking system according to the invention in a second embodiment;

Fig. 4

a side schematic sectional view of a cooking system according to the invention in a third embodiment;

Fig. 5

a perspective schematic representation of a cookware of a cooking system according to the invention in a fourth embodiment;

Fig. 6

a perspective schematic representation of a cookware of a cooking system according to the invention in a fifth embodiment;

Fig. 7

a perspective schematic representation of a cookware of a cooking system according to the invention in a sixth embodiment; and

Fig. 8

a perspective schematic representation of a cookware of a cooking system according to the invention in a seventh embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective schematic representation of a cooking system 1 according to the invention in a first embodiment. Fig. 2 shows a side schematic sectional view of the Fig. 1 .

The cooking system 1 has a hob 2. The hob 2 has a first hotplate 20 and a second hotplate 22. There are other hotplates, but they will not be considered or described in detail. Both the first hotplate 20 and the second hotplate 22 each have a structure-borne sound sensor 21, 23, which is arranged in the middle below the hotplate 20, 22 and is oriented upwards. The structure-borne noise sensors 21, 23 are acceleration sensors 21, 23.

A cookware 3 in the form of a saucepan 3 is arranged on the first hotplate 20. The saucepan 3 has a saucepan body 30 in which a food to be cooked etc. can be accommodated. The saucepan body 30 has a handle 31 on the side with which the saucepan 3 can be gripped and lifted by a user.

In this first exemplary embodiment, the saucepan 3 has a first structure-borne sound source 32 in the center of its base, which is oriented downward towards the first cooking zone 20. This orientation can favor a directional communication by means of structure-borne noise between the cooking pot 3 and the first hotplate 20. In this exemplary embodiment, the first structure-borne sound source 32 is a piezoelectric actuator 32, which supplies electrical energy from an electrical energy store 35 in the form of a battery 35 can be. On the handle 31 there is also a first control element 36 in the form of a push button 36 which can be pressed by the user.

If the push button 36 is pressed by the user, the first structure-borne sound source 32 is supplied with electrical energy by the battery 35, so that this causes a predetermined structure-borne sound signal to be emitted. This structure-borne noise signal can be received by the structure-borne noise sensor 21 of the first hotplate 20 and processed by the structure-borne noise sensor 21 itself, by the first hotplate 20 or by the hob 2 or its control and / or regulation. This can e.g. identification of the saucepan 3 e.g. as a "kettle" on the first hotplate 20, which means that a corresponding automatic program such as "Water boiling" can be started. Then e.g. the user selects the power level of the selected automatic program by repeatedly pressing the push button 36.

In this way, the user can be relieved of these steps in part because certain information is automatically exchanged between the saucepan 3 and the first hotplate 20. Operation can also be easier and faster for the user, because he no longer has to take his hand off the handle 31 of the saucepan 30 to start the cooking process at the desired power level. Furthermore, this operation can take place via secure communication in the sense of excluding a possible remote effect between the cooking pot 3 and the first hotplate 20, since the communication can only take place if the cooking pot 3 is at all on the first hotplate 20 or on the hob 2 located.

Fig. 3 shows a side schematic sectional view of a cooking system 1 according to the invention in a second embodiment. In this case, the saucepan 3 has the Fig. 2 Instead of an electrical energy store 35, an electrical generator 34, which can be actuated by the first operating element 36. As a result, the electrical energy which the first structure-borne sound source 32 needs to generate a structure-borne sound signal can be generated directly and without storage as soon as the first operating element 36 is actuated.

Fig. 4 shows a side schematic sectional view of a cooking system 1 according to the invention in a third embodiment. In this exemplary embodiment, electrical generation of structure-borne noise signals is dispensed with, so that there is also no first structure-borne noise source 32 in the form of a piezoelectric actuator 32. Rather is A click frog button 32 is arranged on the first control element 36, which can emit a structure-borne noise signal by mechanical deformation as soon as the click frog button 32 is actuated by the first control element 36.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective schematic representation of a cookware 3 of a cooking system 1 according to the invention in a fourth embodiment. Here, a first control element 36 and a second control element 37 are arranged on the handle 31 of the saucepan 3. Both operating elements 36, 37 are push buttons 36, 37, which can actuate the same structure-borne sound source 32 or different structure-borne sound sources (not shown). The structure-borne noise sources 32 can be electrical and / or non-electrical.

In any case, a first type of structure-borne noise signal is triggered by the first control element 36 and a second type of structure-borne noise signal is triggered by the second control element 37. The structure-borne noise signals of the two operating elements 36, 37 can differ in terms of their frequency, their amplitude and / or their signal sequence. This distinction can be recognized by the first hotplate 20.

In this way, a type of structure-borne noise signal can be brought about by the first operating element 36, which signal e.g. the selection of an automatic program of the first hotplate 20 is used. By e.g. Repeated actuation of the first control element 36 can be switched through by the user through the available automatic programs until the desired automatic program is selected or the selection starts again from the beginning. A different type of structure-borne sound signal can be brought about by the second control element 37, e.g. can select the power level of the selected automatic program of the first hotplate 20. Here too, e.g. by repeatedly pressing the second control element 37, the power level e.g. be increased until the desired power level is reached or the selection of the power levels starts again.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective schematic representation of a cookware 3 of a cooking system 1 according to the invention in a fifth embodiment. In this case, the first control element 36 is arranged in the form of a rotary knob 36 on the saucepan body 30, so that by rotating the rotary knob 36 different structure-borne noise signals can be triggered, each of which can communicate the selected automatic program or its power level to the first hotplate 20. The selected setting can be read by the user by means of a marking 38 on the saucepan body 30.

Fig. 7 shows a perspective schematic representation of a cookware 3 of a cooking system 1 according to the invention in a sixth embodiment. In this exemplary embodiment, the rotatable end of the handle 31 represents the first operating element 36 in the form of a rotary handle 36. The rotary handle 36 can be rotated about its longitudinal axis in relation to a handle holder 39. The rotary handle 36 has a marking 38 which shows the user the selected setting.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective schematic representation of a cookware 3 of a cooking system 1 according to the invention in a seventh embodiment. There is a first structure-borne sound source 32 and a second structure-borne sound source 33 on the cooking pot 3, which can be recognized in their position by the first hotplate 20 in such a way that the first hotplate 20 recognizes an orientation of the cooking pot 3 in the form of a rotation about its vertical axis can. In this way, the first hotplate 20 can be operated by rotating the saucepan 3. The selected setting can be recognized by the user through markings 38 on the saucepan body 30 and a marking 24 on the first hotplate 20.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST (part of the description)

1

Cooking system

2nd

Cooktop

20

first hotplate

21

Structure-borne noise sensor such as Accelerometer of the first hotplate 20

22

second hob

23

Structure-borne noise sensor such as Accelerometer of the second hotplate 22

24th

Marking a hotplate 20, 22

3rd

Cookware, saucepan

30th

Cookware body, saucepan body

31

Handle

32

first structure-borne sound source, piezoelectric actuator, click frog

33

second structure-borne sound source, piezoelectric actuator, click frog

34

electric generator

35

electrical energy storage, battery, accumulator, capacitor

36

first control element, first push button, first push button, rotary button, rotary handle

37

second control element, second push button, second push button

38

Marking on the cookware body 30 or on the saucepan body 30

39

Handle holder

Claims (15)

1. Cooking system (1), comprising at least one first hotplate (20) and at least one item of cookware (3), the first hotplate (20) and the cookware (3) being designed to transmit an electromagnetic signal and/or structure-borne noise signal generated in or on the cookware (20) from the cookware (20) at least to the first hotplate (20), characterised in that the cookware (20) has an operating element (36, 37) which is designed to trigger the generation of the structure-borne noise signal when actuated, and/or the cookware (20) has an operating element (36, 37) which is designed to generate the electromagnetic signal when actuated by means of a conversion device.
2. Cooking system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first hotplate (20) is designed to implement a hotplate setting on the basis of a structure-borne noise signal received from the cookware (3), in particular to start a predetermined cooking program and/or to set a predetermined power level.
3. Cooking system (1) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first hotplate (20) and/or the cookware (3) has/have at least one first structure-borne noise source (32) which is/are designed to generate a structure-borne noise signal by means of electrical energy.
4. Cooking system (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first hotplate (20) and/or the cookware (3) further has/have at least one electrical generator (34) which is/are designed to generate the electrical energy for the first structure-borne noise source (32).
5. Cooking system (1) according to either claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the first hotplate (20) and/or the cookware (3) further has/have at least one electrical energy store (35) which is/are designed to provide electrical energy for the first structure-borne noise source (32).
6. Cooking system (1) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first hotplate (20) and/or the cookware (3) has/have at least one first structure-borne noise source (32) which is/are designed to generate the structure-borne noise signal without electrical energy.
7. Cooking system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first hotplate (20) has at least one operating element (36) which is designed to trigger the generation of a structure-borne noise signal when actuated.
8. Cooking system (1) according to claim 7, wherein the first operating element (36) is designed to trigger the generation of a group of identical structure-borne noise signals, which form a resulting structure-borne noise signal, by repeated actuation within a predetermined period of time.
9. Cooking system (1) according to either claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the first operating element (36) is designed to trigger the generation of different structure-borne noise signals.
10. Cooking system (1) according to claim 7, wherein the first hotplate (20) and/or the cookware (3) has/have at least one second operating element (37), wherein the first operating element (36) and the second operating element (37) are designed to trigger the generation of a different structure-borne noise signal when actuated in each case.
11. Cooking system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cookware (3) has at least one second structure-borne noise source (33) which is designed to generate a structure-borne noise signal, wherein the first hotplate (20) is designed to receive the structure-borne noise signals from both structure-borne noise signal sources (32, 33) of the cookware (3) and to identify a position and/or orientation of the cookware (3) on the first hotplate (20) from a propagation time difference and/or from an amplitude difference of the relevant received structure-borne noise signal.
12. Cooking system (1) according to claim 6, wherein the hotplate (20) has a coil device for emitting an alternating magnetic field and the cookware (3) is designed to emit an individual, characteristic structure-borne noise by means of an alternating magnetic field and the hotplate (20) is designed to receive the individual, characteristic structure-borne noise and to detect a change in said individual structure-borne noise.
13. Cooking system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first operating element (36) and/or the second operating element (37) and/or the first structure-borne noise source (32) and/or the second structure-borne noise source (33) is coupled to a conversion device by means of which electrical energy is generated when the at least one structure-borne noise source (32, 33) and/or the at least one operating element (36, 37) is actuated in each case.
14. Cookware (3) for use in a cooking system (1) according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the cookware (3) is designed to transmit an electromagnetic signal and/or structure-borne noise signal generated in or on the cookware (20) from the cookware (20) at least to a hotplate (20) and/or a hob (2), characterised in that the cookware (20) has an operating element (36, 37) which is designed to trigger the generation of the structure-borne noise signal when actuated, and/or the cookware (20) has an operating element (36, 37) which is designed to generate the electromagnetic signal when actuated by means of a conversion device.
15. Cookware (3) according to claim 14, wherein the cookware (3) has a conversion device for generating electrical energy from an actuation of a structure-borne noise source (33, 34) and/or an operating element (36, 37) of the cookware (20).

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