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The present invention is in the field of kitchen appliances and relates to a control device for a hob and a hob with a control device.
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An increasing number of units and modules in control devices for hobs due to increasing requirements and functions sometimes also increases the power demand of control devices.
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However, on the other side, control devices and furthermore hobs need to be designed or configured cost effective, space saving and easy to assemble. For example, the more efficient a power supply for a control device is, the lower the manufacturing and product costs for such a control device and in the further for a hob will be.
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From the prior art, for example, control devices for hobs are known which have their own and separate external power supply in order to realize desired functionality and to operate the control device fulfilling the demand of power.
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For example, US patent application No.
US 2019/0137109 A1 relates to a control device for a modular hob system and a downdraft fume extraction device that comprises the control device. The control device has at least two interfaces for connection of modularly configured hobs. The control device is connected to a separate external power supply unit of an electrical power supply system that decouples the power circuit of the hobs from the control circuit and supplies the control device with the needed electrical power.
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It is hence an object of the present invention to provide an improved control device that can be, despite above all increased functionality and/or an increased number of units and modules for realization of increased functionality, supplied with increased power in a simplified manner and would preferably not require extensive modifications or changes.
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It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hob with such a control device.
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The object is achieved by the control device according to claim 1 and the hob according to claim 10. Further examples and applications of the present invention result from the dependent claims and are explained in the following description with partial reference to the figure.
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A first general aspect of the present invention relates to a control device, preferably a user control device, for a hob with at least one first hob power unit and at least one second hob power unit, wherein for supply of power of the control device, preferably with electrical power, the control device comprises at least one first interface being configured for connection with the at least one first hob power unit and/or at least one second interface being configured for connection with the at least one second hob power unit.
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The at least one first interface is preferably a power interface and/or the at least one second interface is preferably a power interface. It is possible that in one example of the present invention, the control device may comprise exactly two power interfaces, that is, a first power interface and a second power interface. Alternatively, the control device may comprise more than two power interfaces.
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The at least one first interface and the at least one second interface may be preferably configured independently from each other.
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The presence of at least one first interface and at least one second interface for suppling the control device, comprising an increased number of units and modules, with power ensures, for example, that an increased demand of power, i.e. energy demand, of the control device can be met.
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In other words, the control device of the present invention is configured such that it can be supplied with power by at least two different power sources. The at least two different power sources may be electrical power sources and can supply electrical power, i.e. electrical current in the form of alternating current (AC), at an identical phase angle or, alternatively, at a different phase angle.
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For example, the at least one first interface may be configured to be supplied with electrical current of essentially 5V voltage by the at least one first hob power unit in order to operate, for example, a user interface of the control device comprising a display unit and/or lighting units, and the at least one second interface may be configured to be supplied with electrical current of essentially 5V voltage by the at least one second hob power unit to operate, for example, a radio unit of the control device for wireless communication.
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According to a further aspect of the present invention, the at least one first interface and the at least one second interface may be galvanically isolated from each other, or may be connected with each other by means of a resistor, capacitor or inductor. The at least one first interface and the at least one second interface may be connected, preferably directly connected, to different isolated hob power units. The different isolated hob power units may preferably use or may be connected to the (same) earth potential. The resistor may comprise, for example, a resistance value of 10MegaOhm.
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This allows, for example, that power being supplied via the at least one first interface and the at least one second interface can be distributed accordingly depending on the demand of power, i.e. energy, and a destruction of units and modules of the control device can be prevented.
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The at least one first interface and the at least one second interface can be preferably galvanically isolated by means of an opto-isolator. This allows, for example, a compact design of the control device and avoids an overloading.
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It is alternatively possible, that the at least one first interface and the at least one second interface may be galvanically isolated from each other by inductive means or by capacitive means.
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It is possible that the at least one first interface can comprise or can be connected to at least one first connector of the control device, and the at least one second interface can comprise or can be connected to at least one second connector of the control device, wherein the at least one first connector and/or the at least one second connector may be configured for transmission of power to the control interface, and/or for transmission of communication signals to the control interface and vice versa.
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It is, for example, possible that the at least one first connector is configured for transmission of both power and communication signals and that the at least one second connector is configured for transmission of power, only.
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The control device according to the present invention may comprise a display unit, a radio unit, at least one lightning unit, at least one actuation unit and/or at least one sensor unit, wherein at least one unit may be configured to be supplied with power via the at least one first interface, and at least one further unit may be configured to be supplied with power via the at least one second interface.
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Hence, the present invention provides a control device that is characterized by a variety of different units and/or modules but can be supplied with power efficiently.
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It is possible that the control device may comprise a central processing unit for controlling the at least one first hob power unit and the at least one second hob power unit, and that the central processing unit can be configured to be supplied with power via the at least one first interface and can be configured to control at least one unit, preferably a radio unit, being supplied with power via the at least one second interface.
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The control device may comprise a printed circuit board unit, wherein the printed circuit board unit may be configured to be connected to the at least one first interface and to the at least one second interface to be supplied with power via the at least one first interface and the at least one second interface. Hence, it is possible that the printed circuit board unit may be powered by at least two different power units.
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According to a further aspect of the present invention, the control device may comprise a transformer unit for transforming at least the power being supplied via the at least one second interface.
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This allows, for example, a conversion and/or adjustment of the power required for units and/or modules of the control device.
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A second general aspect of the present invention relates to a hob with at least one first hob power unit and at least one second hob power unit, wherein the hob comprises at least one control device as disclosed herein, wherein the at least one first hob power unit and/or the at least one second hob power unit is/are configured to be supplied with power, preferably electrical current, by an external power source, wherein, for supplying power to the at least one control device, the at least one first hob power unit is connected to the at least one first interface to supply a first power to the at least one control device and the at least one second hob power unit is connected to the at least one second interface to supply a second power to the at least one control device.
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The present invention thus provides further a hob with at least two hob power units and a control device with two separate power interfaces or power connections. This ensures, for example, that existing hob power units of a hob do not have to be modified, or modified even larger, with regard to the load circuit being responsible for transmission or distribution of power.
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It is possible that the first power and the second power may be different to each other or may be essentially identical.
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For example, the first hob power unit may provide electrical power, i.e. electrical current with 5V voltage and the second hob power unit may provide electrical power, i.e. electrical current with 13V voltage.
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It is further possible that the first power and/or the second power may be an electrical power and may lie in a range between 1V and at least 20V or 30V voltage and/or between 10mA and at least 10A amperage. It is also possible, for example, that the voltage may be higher than at least 20V or 30V, and/or the amperage may be higher than 10A.
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Hence, the present invention provides a control device and a hob with a control device with increased functionality and an increased number of units and modules, whereas a more powerful source of power can be avoided. Due to the present invention and preferably with regard to the control device, it is possible that more or less standard hob power units with smaller power supply can be used, which will also be effective with regard to costs.
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The previously described examples and features of the present invention can be combined with each other in any way.
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Further or other details and advantageous effects of the present invention are described in more detail below with reference to the attached figure:
- Fig. 1
- illustrates schematically an example of a control device and a hob according to the present invention.
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The following detailed description of the examples shown in the figure serves as a closer illustration or exemplification and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
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Figure 1 illustrates schematically an example of the control device 100 according to the present invention and an example of the hob 200 according to the present invention.
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The hob 200 comprises four cooking units 221, 222, 223, 224. Each of the cooking units 221, 222, 223, 224 may be preferably configured as an induction cooking unit 221, 222, 223, 224 with each a resonant circuit comprising, for example, at least one resonant capacitor and at least one induction coil. The first cooking unit 221 and the second cooking unit 222 are operated by the first hob power unit 201, and the third cooking unit 223 and the fourth cooking unit 224 are operated by the second hob power unit 202. The cooking units 221, 222, 223, 224 are at least partially arranged or integrated in the cooktop plate 210 of the hob 200.
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It is possible that the first hob power unit 201 and/or the second hob power unit 202 is each connected to more than two cooking units 221, 222, 223, 224 as disclosed herein. It is, in the alternative, possible that the first hob power unit 201 and/or the second hob power unit 202 is each connected to one cooking unit 221, 222, 223, 224 as disclosed herein.
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Both the first hob power unit 201 and the second hob power unit 202 are each configured as or comprise a power board, i.e. power electronics.
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The first hob power unit 201 is supplied with power P, i.e. electrical energy P, by an external power supply 300 and the second hob power unit 202 is supplied with power P, i.e. electrical energy P, by the external power supply 300.
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For example, the external power supply 300 may supply electrical energy, i.e. electrical current with an operating voltage in a range between 127V and 400V, or preferably 560V, and an amperage of, for example, at least 10A.
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The hob 200 comprises the control device 100. It is possible that in an alternative example of the present invention, the hob 200 may comprise more than one, i.e. several control devices 100 as disclosed herein.
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The control device 100 is preferably configured at least partially as hardware and comprises several units and/or modules (e.g. central processing unit, storage units,) comprising, for example, integrated circuits of which essential ones will be described in further detail below.
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The control device 100 of the present invention is preferably configured as a user control device or a user interface device.
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The control device 100 is configured for connection, and/or for integration in or for arrangement at the hob 200, for example in the area of the cooktop plate 210.
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The control device 100 is configured to control both the first hob power unit 201 and thus the first and second cooking unit 221 and 222 as well as the second hob power unit 202 and thus the third and fourth cooking unit 223 and 224 in a closed-loop manner or, in the alternative, in an open-loop manner. Alternatively, it is possible that the control device 100 is configured to control more than two hob power units 201, 202, for example, three hob power units 201, 202. It is further possible that the control device 100 is configured to control a fan of a fume extraction device.
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The controlling of the first hob power unit 201 and the second hob power unit 202 is realized via a signal communication, i.e. a signal connection S (control circuit) between the control device 100 and the first and second hob power unit 201, 202.
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For the power supply P, i.e. the supply with electrical power P of the control device 100, the control device 100 comprises a first interface 101 and a second interface 102. The first interface 101 may be configured differently to the second interface 102. The first interface 101 is configured for connection with the first hob power unit 201 and the second interface 102 is configured for connection with the second hob power unit 202.
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It should be noted at this point, that for supply of power P of the control device 100 the control device 100 may comprise at least one third interface or more interfaces, and may be configured for connection, for example, with a third hob power unit or more hob power units.
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In other words, the control device 100 comprising the first interface 101 and the second interface 102 is configured to be supplied with electrical power P by the first hob power unit 201 and the second hob power unit 202 via two interfaces.
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Hence, the control device 100 of the present invention is configured accordingly with regard to power supply such a separate or an additional external power supply for the control device 100 is not needed.
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This allows, for example, a configuration of the control device 100 with preferably increased number of further units and/or modules whereby the control device 100 can be conveniently and/or sufficiently supplied with electrical power P via the respective hob power units 201, 202 of the hob 200 due to the two separate interfaces 101, 102 of the control device 100.
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More specifically, the control device 100 of the present invention is further characterized in that the first interface 101 and the second interface 102 are galvanically isolated from each other. It is, in the alternative, possible that the first interface 101 and the second interface 102 are connected with each other by means of a resistor, capacitor or inductor. In such a case, the first interface 101 and the second interface 102 may be connected to different and/or isolated hob power units 201, 202 using or being connected to the earth potential. The resistor may comprise, for example, a resistance value of 10MegaOhm.
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This ensures, for example, that components or modules of the control device 100 are not destroyed, since the occurrence of an overvoltage or overloading, for example, can be avoided.
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The first interface 101 and the second interface 102 can be preferably galvanically isolated from each other by means of an opto-isolator 103. The opto-isolator 103 may be configured as an opto-isolator as known from the prior art.
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It is alternatively possible that the first interface 101 and the second interface 102 are galvanically isolated from each other by inductive means or by capacitive means.
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In order to supply the control device 100 with power P, i.e. transmission of electrical power P, via connection with the first and second hob power unit 201, 202 as power sources for the control device 100, the first interface 101 comprises or is connected to a first connector 101C and the second interface 102 comprises or is connected to a second connector 102C. The first connector 101C and/or the second connector 102C can be configured as a plug-in connector comprising several contact pins (not shown in figure 1 for the sake of clarity) for transmission of power P and/or signals S, preferably communication signals S for controlling the first hob power unit 201 and/or the second hob power unit 202 via the control device 100.
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It is further possible that the first connector 101C and/or the second connector 102C is/are configured for transmission of communication signals S to the first and second hob power unit 201, 202 and vice versa. Regarding the example as illustrated in figure 1, only the first connector 101C is configured for transmission of communication signals S to both the first hob power unit 201 and the second hob power unit 202.
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As stated above in the course of the first interface 101 and the second interface 102, the first connector 101C and the second connector 102C may be configured differently. For example, the first connector 101C may be configured for transmission of power P and signals S, preferably communication signals S, whereas the second connector 102C may be configured for transmission of power P only. Thus, for example, the control device 100 can be provided with connectors 101C and 102C optimized for the respective purpose.
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The control device 100 may further comprise a display unit 110 for providing information to a user and/or receiving information from the user. Hence, the display unit 110 may be configured as a touch screen and may comprise touch sensitive sensors to allow a user, for example, to control the hob 200 and thus the cooking units 221, 222, 223, 224 via the first and second hob power units 201, 202 by the control device 100 in an open loop manner. However, it is additionally or alternatively possible that the control device 100 is configured to control the cooking units 221, 222, 223, 224 of the hob 200 in a closed-loop manner.
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The display unit 110 can be supplied with electrical power P via the first interface 101, i.e. the first connector 101C. In other words, the display unit 110 is configured to be supplied with power P via the first interface 101, i.e. the first connector 101C.
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The control device 100 may further comprise a radio unit 120. The radio unit 120 may be configured for wireless communication and may comprise, for example, a send-and-receive module (not shown in figure 1) for at least wireless transmission of communication signals S, for example, to a mobile communication device of a user. Via the radio unit 120, it is possible, for example, to interact wirelessly with the control unit 100. The radio unit 120 and preferably the send-and-receive module may be based on near field communication technology such as Bluetooth®, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) or infrared.
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Since the radio unit 120 represents a further optional or additional consumer of power P, the control device 100 is configured to supply and/or the radio unit 120 is configured to be supplied with power P, via the second interface 102, i.e. the second connector 102C.
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It is possible that the supply of power P, i.e. a first power P, for the display unit 110 is different than the supply of power P, i.e. a second power P, for the radio unit 120. In the alternative, it is possible the first power P and the second power P are essentially equal.
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The control device 100 further comprises a central processing unit 104. The central processing unit 104 may be preferably configured for controlling the first hob power unit 201 and the second hob power unit 202, i.e. to process and/or transmit corresponding communication signals S relevant for operation and adjustment of operation of the respective cooking unit 221, 222, 223, 224.
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The central processing unit 104 is configured to be supplied with power P via the first interface 101 and/or is connected to the first interface 101 for supply of power P to the central processing unit 104.
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The central processing unit 104 is further configured, for example, to control the radio unit 120 that is supplied with power P via the second interface 102.
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In order to be able to handle different levels of power P being supplied by the first hob power unit 201 and the second hob power unit 202, the control device 100 may further comprise a transformer unit 105 for transforming at least the power P being supplied via the second interface 102. The transformer unit 105 may be preferably controlled by the central processing unit 104. The transformer unit 105 may comprise a DC-DC-transforming module or, in the alternative, an AC-DC-transforming module.
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It is possible that the sensor device 100 may comprise or may be connected to further units and/or modules such as at least one lightning unit 130 like an LED, at least one actuation unit 140 like a turn knob or a push knob and/or at least one sensor unit 150 like a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor.
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Depending on the respective demand of power P, the control device 100 is configured to supply the at least one lightning unit 130, the at least one actuation unit 140 and the at least one sensor unit 105 via the first interface 101 or via the second interface 102.
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It is further possible that the control device 100 is configured to control a fume extraction device that is, for example, at least partially integrated in the hob 200, i.e. in the cooktop plate 210 (not shown in figure 1).
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It is understood that both the control device 100 itself and the hob 200 have other technical features and/or are characterized by further technical features, but their description is omitted in the context of the present invention.
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The present invention is not limited to the examples described above. Rather, a large number of variants and modifications are possible, which also make use of the inventive idea and therefore fall within the scope of protection.
List of reference signs
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- 100
- control device
- 101
- first interface
- 101C
- first connector
- 102
- second interface
- 102C
- second connector
- 103
- opto-isolator (optocoupler)
- 104
- central processing unit
- 105
- transformer unit
- 110
- display unit
- 120
- radio unit
- 130
- lightning unit
- 140
- actuation unit
- 150
- sensor unit
- 200
- hob
- 201
- first hob power unit
- 202
- second hob power unit
- 210
- cooktop plate
- 221
- cooking unit
- 222
- cooking unit
- 223
- cooking unit
- 224
- cooking unit
- 300
- external power supply
- P
- power/energy
- S
- signal
