EP3518618A1 - Cooking hob with at least two heating zones - Google Patents

Abstract

It is proposed a hob device, in particular for a hob with a cover plate (16) comprising at least two heating zones (10a-10d) with a cookware sensor unit (28), wherein the cookware sensor unit (28) has at least one bridging detection unit (30) is provided to detect at least one bridging of the at least two heating zones (10a-10d) by means of at least one cookware element (18a), and wherein the bridging detection unit (30) at least one cookware sensor (22a, 22b), which is intended to a cookware element (18a) in an inactive region of the cover plate (16) between the two heating zones (10a-10d) to detect.

Description

The invention relates to a hob with a cover plate and at least two heating zones according to claim 1.

In particular, in induction hobs, it is known to arrange in the center of heating zones cookware sensors, which can detect inductively or capacitively the presence of a set up on the relevant heating zone cooking utensil.

In classic hobs with a given bowl level, for example, with two or four heating zones, each with a predetermined edge, often the inductors of the heating zone itself are used as sensors for detecting a cooking utensil. In hobs with a plurality of concentric, annular heating elements, which can be switched on and / or off depending on the diameter of the cooking utensil element, as well as in hobs with movable heating elements, for example of the in the DE 199 07 596 A1 disclosed type, arrangements with a plurality of different radii associated sensors are known, but the sensors are always located within the heating zone.

From the DE 102 07 183 B4 is an induction hob with four heating zones is known in which to dispense with a marking of the heating zone. In order to detect a cooking utensil element extending beyond the edge of a heating zone or for detecting a large cookware element which overlaps with a plurality of heating zones, sensor and control means not described in further detail are provided. The DE 102 07 183 B4 further teaches to make the induction coils so that the entire surface of the hob is filled as possible, so that inactive areas of the hob are avoided if possible.

So far it is not possible in cooktops with conventional trough mirrors to distinguish a situation in which two cooking pots are placed on adjacent heating zones from a situation in which a single elongated cooking pot, for example a casserole, both heating zones at least partially covered. In both cases, the cookware sensors of both heating zones respond in the same way.

From the European patent application EP 1 206 164 A2 An apparatus for locating cooking appliances on a hob is already known, comprising a plurality of heat cells distributed in a matrix arrangement below a heat / heat resistant surface on which the cooking appliance may be arranged at random. The determination of its location, shape and dimensions allows an energization of the underlying under the device heat cells. The same heat cells are also used individually for such a determination.

From the European patent application EP 1 542 508 A1 For example, a device for determining the location of cooking appliances on a cooktop is known which has a multiplicity of heating elements which are distributed in a matrix-like manner beneath a heat / heat-resistant surface on which the cooking appliance can be randomly placed. Each heating element can also function as a magnetic field transmitter. The device comprises loops which are arranged essentially around parts / sections of the matrix of heating elements and act as magnetic field receivers. The loops each have conductors disposed between each pair of adjacent heater-column or heater-row rows. Connection means are provided to connect each loop to a detection circuit.

The German patent application DE 102 07 183 A1 discloses a hob with a plate for receiving cookware, under which a plurality of separately operable heating surfaces are arranged, which emit energy only in those areas over which is cookware. The separately operable heating surfaces extend depending on their geometry substantially over the entire usable plate area. On the plate there are no positional marks for the placement of the cooking utensils on cooking zones or position markings, which characterize cooking zones by optically separating plate sections, each of which has a separately operable heating surface.

From the European patent application EP 2 180 760 A1 is already a method for detecting a presence of a cooking vessel on a below a glass surface arranged induction heating known. The method includes detection by a conductor electrode placed under the glass surface when a cooking appliance is placed on the induction heating element by measuring an electrical capacitance. The user is informed if the cooking appliance is present on one or more induction heating elements. Upon activation by the user, a second detection of the cooking appliance is performed by supplying power to this induction heating element and estimating at least one electrical parameter from its power circuit.

The invention is in particular the object of providing a hob with a sensor arrangement that can safely detect large cookware elements that cover at least two heating zones.

The object is achieved in particular by a hob with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and modifications of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

The invention particularly relates to a hob device, in particular for a hob with a cover plate, which comprises at least two heating zones, with a cookware sensor unit. A "cover plate" is to be understood in particular an element of the hob, which carries a cookware element in particular directly during a cooking process. Preferably, the cover plate is at least partially disposed in a cooking process between a heating element and the cookware element. A "heating zone" is to be understood in particular a region of the cover plate, which is intended to conduct energy from the heating element to the cookware element. The heating zones advantageously each have at least one predetermined outer edge, which corresponds at least substantially to the outer edge of a heating element arranged below the cover plate. This outer edge separates the active areas of the hob from the inactive areas of the hob and defines the interior of the heating zones from the outside of the heating zones. In particular, the invention relates to hobs with a classic bowl mirror with two, four or six heating zones. Each heating zone may comprise heating elements arranged concentrically or to expand the heating zone to the roasting or bridge roasting heating zone, so that the size of the heating zone depends on the size and / or shape of the cooking utensil element can take two or three values. Accordingly, the heating zone may also comprise a plurality of predetermined edges. The edges of freely definable heating zones of a matrix hob should not be considered as "predetermined" edges in this context. A "cookware sensor unit" is to be understood in particular as meaning a unit which is intended to determine at least one parameter with information about the cookware element. Preferably, the cookware sensor unit comprises at least one cookware sensor. Particularly preferably, the cookware sensor unit per heating zone on a cookware sensor. Alternatively or additionally, the cookware sensor unit could have at least one further cookware sensor outside the heating zones. Preferably, the cookware sensor unit is at least partially formed in one piece with a control and / or regulating unit of the heating zones.

The cookware sensor unit has at least one bridging detection unit, which is provided to detect at least one bridging of the at least two heating zones by means of at least one cookware element. A "bridging detection unit" should in particular be understood to mean a unit which comprises at least one evaluation unit and / or a special sensor for detecting the bridging. Preferably, the bridging detection unit is formed at least partially in one piece with the control and / or regulating unit of the two heating zones. In particular, a "bridging" is to be understood as meaning a material connection of the two heating zones by means of the cooking utensil element. By "provided" is intended to be understood in particular specially programmed, designed and / or equipped. The inventive embodiment can be determined in particular whether even outside the two heating zones, in particular between the two heating zones, arranged region of the cover plate is covered by the cookware element. If, at the same time, the two cookware sensors arranged within the heating zones respond, the two heating zones and the space are very likely to be shared by a large cookware element. On the other hand, if the two sensors located within the heating zones respond while the other sensor located outside the heating zone is unresponsive, two separate cookware elements are likely to be placed on the heating zones.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the cooktop device has a control and / or regulating unit which is designed to operate the two heating zones in a coordinated manner, at least from the cookware sensor unit, whereby a particularly convenient operation and a particularly efficient operation are achieved can. In the case of induction cooktops, the operating frequencies of the inductors may be matched to avoid destructive interference and / or humming of the cooktop. By the term "operate in a coordinated manner" is to be understood in particular that the control and / or computing unit at bridging at least one operating parameter, such as an induction frequency, a heating power, a heating period and / or another, the skilled person as meaningful appearing operating parameters, from at least one of the heating zones to another of the heating zones adapts and in particular equates.

It is also proposed that the lock-up detection unit is provided to detect a crosstalk of energy from one of the heating zones to another of the heating zones, which makes it possible to detect bridging in a structurally particularly simple manner. A "crosstalk of an energy" should in particular be understood to mean a transport of energy through a cookware element. The energy is preferably in the form of heat energy, electrical energy, magnetic energy and / or other energy that appears appropriate to the person skilled in the art. Advantageously, the cookware sensor is at least partially disposed within at least one of the two heating zones. Particularly advantageous is the same cookware sensor for detecting a set up on one of the heating zone cooking utensil provided. Each heating zone preferably has a cookware sensor associated with the heating zone, which is arranged in particular within the heating zone.

The lock-up detection unit has at least one cookware sensor which is provided to detect a cookware element in an inactive region of the cover plate between the two heating zones, whereby a particularly simple detection is possible. An "inactive region of the cover plate" should be understood in particular to mean a region which is arranged outside a heating zone. Advantageously, the control and / or regulating unit is adapted to the simultaneous response of the two arranged within the two heating zones cookware sensors and the at least one arranged between the two heating zones further cookware sensor to operate the two heating zones in a coordinated manner.

It is further proposed that the cookware sensor be spaced at least 3 or 5 cm from the edges of the heating zones. Thereby, a faulty detection of a large cookware element can be avoided, especially in cases where a cookware element is placed on both heating zones, wherein one of the cookware elements projects beyond the lateral edge of the heating zone by a few centimeters, but does not simultaneously cover both heating zones.

An asymmetry in the detection can be avoided if the at least one further cookware sensor has the same distance to the two center points of the two heating zones. A particularly reliable detection can take place when the hob is equipped with at least two other cookware sensors, which can be arranged in particular symmetrically to a connecting line of the two centers of the two heating zones in the inactive region of the cover outside the two heating zones.

It is also proposed that the further cookware sensor is elongate and is arranged transversely to a connecting line of the two centers of the two heating zones in the inactive region of the cover plate outside the two heating zones.

The invention can be used in particular in induction hobs with a conventional well mirror, for example in hobs with exactly four heating zones, each of which can be heated by an inductor.

In induction hobs, the inductors can be used as the cookware sensors located within the heating zone. The other cookware sensors outside the edges of the heating zones may also be designed as inductive sensors.

Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the figures.

In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are shown. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations.

Fig. 1

ein Kochfeld mit vier Heizzonen und einem zwei Heizzonen überdeckenden länglichen Bräter in einer schematischen Draufsicht,

Fig. 2

zwei der Heizzonen des Kochfelds aus Fig. 1 in einer Detaildarstellung mit zwei zwischen den Heizzonen angeordneten weiteren Kochgeschirrsensoren,

Fig. 3

die beiden Heizzonen aus Fig. 2 mit auf jeweils eine Heizzone aufgestellten Kochtöpfen,

Fig. 4

das Kochfeld aus Fig. 2 mit einem beide Heizzonen sowie die weiteren Kochgeschirrsensoren überdeckenden länglichen Bräter und

Fig. 5

zwei Heizzonen eines Kochfelds mit einem zwischen den Heizzonen angeordneten länglichen Sensor nach einer weiteren Ausgestaltung der Erfindung.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a hob with four heating zones and a two heating zones covering elongated roasting pan in a schematic plan view,

Fig. 2

two of the heating zones of the hob off Fig. 1 in a detailed representation with two further cookware sensors arranged between the heating zones,

Fig. 3

the two heating zones off Fig. 2 with cooking pots placed on each heating zone,

Fig. 4

the hob off Fig. 2 with a both heating zones and the other cookware sensors overlapping elongated roasting and

Fig. 5

two heating zones of a hob with an arranged between the heating zones elongated sensor according to a further embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a hob with four heating zones 10a to 10d. Under each of the heating zones 10a to 10d, a circular heating element 12a to 12d formed as an inductor is arranged. The well level of the hob is designed essentially classic, wherein the different heating zones 10a to 10d or heating elements 12a to 12d have different diameters. The edges 14a to 14d of the heating zones 10a to 10d correspond to the edges of the heating elements 12a to 12d in such a way that the edges 14a to 14d are arranged on a cover plate 16 of the hob vertically above the edges of the heating elements 12a to 12d. The edges 14a to 14d are indicated by serigraphically applied markings. A large cookware element 18a in the shape of a brewer is on the two in FIG. 1 left arranged heating zones 10a and 10b arranged such that the cookware element 18a, the two heating zones 10a, 10b largely covers.

The cooktop has a cooktop device with a cookware sensor unit 28. The cookware sensor unit 28 has cookware sensors 20 a to 20 d and a cookware sensor unit 28. The cookware sensors 20a to 20d are arranged in the center of the heating zones 10a to 10d or the heating elements 12a to 12d, which preferably comprise induction coils, but can also operate capacitively or optically in alternative embodiments of the invention. The cookware sensors 20a to 20d provide a characteristic with information about a cookware element 18a, 18c, 18d placed on the respective heating zone 10a to 10d. In addition, the cookware sensor unit 28 has a bridging detection unit 30 with signal coupling means and an evaluation unit 32. The evaluation unit 32 is partially formed in one piece with a control and / or regulating unit 26. The signal coupling means are integrally formed with the cookware sensors 20a to 20d, but could alternatively be formed separately. The signal coupling means, upon operation, couple a signal to a cookware element 18a, 18c, 18d. In this case, the signal is formed as an inductive signal. The cookware element 18a forwards the signal. When the cookware element 18a bridges two heating zones, the cookware sensor 20a to 20d of one of the heating zones 10a to 10d detects the signal of a signal coupler of another of the heating zones 10a to 10d. Alternatively or additionally, a cookware sensor of a heating zone could also detect a heat temperature of another heating zone. The evaluation unit 32 detects the overcoupling of the energy. Thus, the lock-up detecting unit 30 is provided to detect crosstalk of energy from one of the heating zones 10a to 10d to another of the heating zones 10a to 10d.

On the heating zone 10c another cookware element 18b is arranged, the diameter of which corresponds substantially to the diameter of the heating zone 10c.

Fig. 2 shows the two heating zones 10a, 10b of the hob Fig. 1 in a detailed view. In addition to the cookware sensors 20a, 20b of the hob in the center of the heating zone 10a, 10b, the bridging detection unit 30 comprises two further cookware sensors 22a, 22b. The other cookware sensors 22a, 22b are outside the Edges 14a, 14b arranged below the cover plate 16 formed of glass or glass ceramic in an inactive region of the hob. The further cookware sensors 22a, 22b have a distance of about 3 to 5 cm from the edges 14a, 14b of the heating zones 10a, 10b, so that they do not respond even if a round cookware element with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the respective heating zone 10a , 10b exceeds by less than 5 cm, is placed centrally on the relevant heating zone 10a, 10b. The distances of the other cookware sensors 22a, 22b to the edges 14a, 14b of the two heating zones are the same. If the diameter of the two heating zones 10a, 10b is also the same, the distance to the centers of the two heating zones 10a, 10b is the same. The further cookware sensors 22a, 22b are thus provided to detect a cookware element 18a in an inactive region of the cover plate 16 between the two heating zones 10a-10d.

The other two cookware sensors 22a, 22b are arranged symmetrically to a connecting line 24 between the centers of the two heating zones 10a, 10b.

Fig. 3 shows the in Fig. 2 shown section of the hob in a configuration with two cookware elements 18c, 18d, the diameter of which does not exceed the diameter of the respective heating zone 10a, 10b or only slightly and which are placed centrally on the heating zone 10a, 10b. The two other cookware sensors 22a, 22b are therefore not covered by the bottom of the cookware elements 18c, 18d so that they do not respond. In contrast, the cookware sensors 20a, 20b arranged in the center of the heating zones 10a, 10b are completely covered by the bottom of the respective cooking utensil element 18c, 18d, so that these cookware sensors 20a, 20b respond. In the Fig. 1 schematically represented control and / or regulating unit 26 picks up the signals of the cookware sensors 20a to 20d and 22a, 22b to see which of the heating zones 10a-10d a cookware element 18c, 18d is set up or possibly a large, elongated cookware element 18a from the in Fig. 1 illustrated type both heating zones 10a, 10b covered. In the in Fig. 3 In the illustrated configuration, the control unit 26 concludes from the fact that the two other cookware sensors 22a, 22b do not respond, that two separate, independent cookware elements 18c, 18d are placed on the two heating zones 10a, 10b.

In Fig. 4 shows a configuration in which an elongated, designed as a roaster cookware element 18a is placed on the hob that both heating zones 10a, 10b are covered. Both the cookware sensors 20a, 20b within the heating zones 10a, 10b and the cookware sensors 22a, 22b outside the active areas of the heating zones 10a, 10b respond. From this, the control and / or regulating unit 26 ( Fig. 1 ) that not two independent cookware elements, but only a single cookware element 18a is set up, which covers both heating zones 10a, 10b. As a result of this detection, the control and / or regulating unit 26 operates the two heating zones 10a, 10b in a coordinated manner, in particular with the same heating frequency and / or the same surface heating power. In particular, the heating power for heating the cookware element 18a may be selected by the user through a single input with a single control element. The heating zones 10a, 10b are combined in this sense to a common, large heating zone. The control and / or regulating unit 26 can visualize the assignment of the operating element to the combined heating zone, for example via a display.

The further sensors 22a, 22b may be disposed between a particular pair of heating zones 10a, 10b, or alternatively between each pair of adjacent heating zones 10a-10d.

FIG. 5 shows two heating zones 10a, 10b of a hob with an arranged between the heating zones 10a, 10b elongated sensor 22c according to another embodiment of the invention. The sensor 22c replaces the two other cookware sensors 22a, 22b from the Figures 2-4 , reference numeral 10a heating zone 18c Cookware element 10b heating zone 18d Cookware element 10c heating zone 20a Cookware Sensor 10d heating zone 20b Cookware Sensor 12a heating element 20c Cookware Sensor 12b heating element 20d Cookware Sensor 12c heating element 22a Cookware Sensor 12d heating element 22b Cookware Sensor 14a edge 22c Cookware Sensor 14b edge 24 connecting line 14c edge 26 Control and / or control unit 14d edge 28 Cookware sensor unit 16 cover 30 Bridging detection unit 18a Cookware element 18b Cookware element 32 evaluation

Claims (11)

Hob device, in particular for a hob, having a cover plate (16) comprising at least two heating zones (10a-10d) with a cookware sensor unit (28), said cookware sensor unit (28) having at least one lock-up detecting unit (30) provided therewith; at least bridging the at least two heating zones (10a-10d) by means of at least one cooking utensil element (18a), and wherein the bridging detection unit (30) comprises at least one cookware sensor (22a, 22b) intended to house a cookware element (18a) an inactive area of the cover plate (16) between the two heating zones (10a-10d) to detect. Hob device according to claim 1, characterized by a control and / or regulating unit (26) which is designed to operate at least from the cookware sensor unit (28) depending on the two heating zones (10a-10d) in a coordinated manner. Hob device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bridging detection unit (30) is arranged to detect a crosstalk of energy from one of the heating zones (10a-10d) to another of the heating zones (10a-10d). Hob device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cookware sensor (22a, 22b) has a distance of at least 3 cm from the edges (14a-14d) of the heating zone (10a-10d). Hob device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cookware sensor (22a, 22b) is equidistant from the edges (14a-14d) of the two heating zones (10a-10d). Hob device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cookware sensor (22a, 22b) symmetrical to a connecting line (24) of the two centers of the two heating zones (10a, 10b) in the inactive region of the cover plate (16) outside the two heating zones ( 10a, 10b) is arranged. Hob device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cookware sensor (22c) is elongated and transversely to a connecting line (24) of the two centers of the two heating zones (10a, 10b) in the inactive region of the cover plate (16) outside the two heating zones (10a, 10b) is arranged. Hob device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hob comprises exactly four heating zones (10a-10d). Hob device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating zones heating elements (12a-12d) which are inductors. Hob device according to claim 9, characterized in that within the heating zone (10a-10d) arranged cookware sensors (20a-20d) are the inductors. Hob device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one further cookware sensor (20a, 22b) is an inductive sensor.
Hob with a hob device according to one of the preceding claims.

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