KR20190066853A - Smart induction heating device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a smart induction heating device. The smart induction heating device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a plurality of working coils provided to heat an object to be heated; a sensing module for sensing the size of the object to be heated; a control module for receiving information on the size of the object to be heated which is sensed by the sensing module, and driving at least one of the plurality of working coils based on the received information on the size of the object to be head; a selection module which receives information on the number of the working coils driven by the control module, and selects a cooking mode suitable for the object to be heated based on the received information about the number of the working coils; and an interface panel for receiving information on the cooking mode selected by the selection module, and visually providing the received information on the cooking mode to a user. Thus, unnecessary power consumption is reduced.

Description

{SMART INDUCTION HEATING DEVICE}

The present invention relates to a smart induction heating apparatus improved in user convenience.

Various types of cooking utensils are used to heat food in homes and restaurants. Conventionally, gas ranges using gas as a fuel have been widely used and used. Recently, however, there has been a proliferation of apparatuses for heating cooking vessels such as pots using a gas without using gas .

The method of heating the object to be heated by electricity is divided into resistance heating method and induction heating method. The electrical resistance method is a method of heating the object to be heated by transferring heat generated by flowing a current to a non-metallic heating element such as metal resistance wire or silicon carbide to the heating object through spinning or conduction. In the induction heating method, when a high-frequency power of a predetermined magnitude is applied to a coil, an eddy current is generated in a heating object (for example, a cooking container) made of a metal component using a magnetic field generated around the coil, So that the heating body itself is heated.

Such an induction heating apparatus is generally provided with a working coil in a corresponding region for heating each of the plurality of heated bodies.

In recent years, however, an induction heating apparatus (that is, an induction heating apparatus of the ZONE FREE system) for simultaneously heating one heating target with a plurality of working coils is widely spread. In this zone free type induction heating apparatus, the heating target can be inductively heated regardless of the size and position of the heating target in a region where a plurality of working coils exist.

However, in the case of the conventional induction heating apparatus (including the induction heating apparatus of the zone free system), unnecessary working coils can be activated as well, and it is difficult to estimate the actual thermal power. Therefore, there is a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a smart induction heating apparatus capable of selectively driving only a working coil necessary for heating a heating target by automatically detecting the size of a heating target.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a smart induction heating device that recommends a cooking mode suitable for a heating target based on the size of the heating target.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects and advantages of the present invention which are not mentioned can be understood by the following description and more clearly understood by the embodiments of the present invention. It will also be readily apparent that the objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The smart induction heating apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a sensing module for sensing the size of a heating target and information on the size of the heating target detected by the sensing module, And a control module for driving at least one of the plurality of working coils. Therefore, it is possible to selectively drive only the working coil necessary for heating the heating target by automatically detecting the size of the heating target.

The smart induction heating apparatus according to the present invention further includes a selection module for receiving information on the number of working coils driven by the control module and selecting a cooking mode suitable for the heating target based on information about the number of working coils provided, And an interface panel that is provided with information on the cooking mode selected from the selection module and visually provides information on the cooking mode that is provided to the user by providing the cooking mode suitable for the heating body based on the size of the heating body, .

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The smart induction heating apparatus according to the present invention can automatically select only the size of a heating target and selectively drive a working coil necessary for heating the heating target, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption. In addition, since the user does not have to select and operate the working coil to be driven separately in accordance with the size of the heating target, the usability can be improved.

Further, the smart induction heating apparatus according to the present invention recommends a cooking mode suitable for the heated object based on the size of the heating target, thereby improving the cooking efficiency of the user. In addition, the user does not need to separately control the fire power according to the kind of food to be cooked, so that user convenience can be improved. Further, since the shape of the crater is changed according to the cooking mode, the user can constantly remind the user of what he / she is cooking, so that the user can smoothly cook while doing different tasks.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.

1 is a view for explaining a smart induction heating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the sensing module and the control module of FIG. 1;
Fig. 3 is a view for explaining a working coil selectively driven based on the size of the heating target. Fig.
4 is a view for explaining the selection module and the interface panel of FIG.
5 is a view for explaining the interface panel of Fig.
FIG. 6 is a view for explaining information on a cooking mode displayed on the touch screen of FIG. 5; FIG.
FIGS. 7 to 10 are views for explaining the relationship between the size of the heating target and the cooking mode.
11 and 12 are views for explaining the shape of a firebox displayed on the display unit of FIG.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, which are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same or similar elements.

Hereinafter, a smart induction heating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

1 is a view for explaining a smart induction heating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the sensing module and the control module of FIG. 1; Fig. 3 is a view for explaining a working coil selectively driven based on the size of the heating target. Fig. 4 is a view for explaining the selection module and the interface panel of FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the interface panel of Fig. FIG. 6 is a view for explaining information on a cooking mode displayed on the touch screen of FIG. 5; FIG. FIGS. 7 to 10 are views for explaining the relationship between the size of the heating target and the cooking mode. 11 and 12 are views for explaining the shape of a firebox displayed on the display unit of FIG.

For reference, it is assumed that the smart induction heating apparatus 1 is a zone free induction heating apparatus. Of course, the smart induction heating apparatus 1 may be an induction heating apparatus other than the zone free method.

1, a smart induction heating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of working coils WC1 to WC4, a sensing module 100, a control module 200, a selection module 300 An interface panel 400, and a proximity sensor 500.

The plurality of working coils WCG may be provided for heating the heating target.

Here, the plurality of working coils WCG are shown as including four working coils, but are not limited thereto. That is, although the plurality of working coils WCG may include four or more working coils, for convenience of explanation, in the embodiment of the present invention, the smart induction heating apparatus 1 includes four working coils WC1 to WC4) will be described as an example.

Further, the plurality of working coils WCG may be installed in a case (not shown). The case of the smart induction heating apparatus 1 is provided with various devices related to the driving of the plurality of working coils WCG (for example, a power supply unit for supplying AC power, a rectifying unit for rectifying the AC power of the power supply unit by DC power, An inverter unit which converts the DC power rectified by the switching coil WCG into a resonance current through a switching operation and supplies the resonance current to at least one of the plurality of working coils WCG, a relay which turns on or off at least one of the plurality of working coils WCG, Semiconductor switches, etc.) may be provided, but a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The sensing module 100 can sense the size of the heating target and the control module 200 can receive the information about the size of the heating target detected from the sensing module 100, It is possible to drive at least one of the plurality of working coils WCG.

1 and 2, the sensing module 100 senses the size of the heating target and provides the control module 200 with information about the size of the target to be heated. The detection module 100 may include a detection unit 130 and an analysis unit 160.

Here, the detection unit 130 can detect which of the plurality of working coils WCG is positioned above the working coil. The detection unit 130 may also provide the analysis unit 160 with information about the detected position of the heated body.

For reference, the detecting unit 130 can detect which of the working coils is located above the heating coil based on the change in the magnitude of the resonant current flowing through each of the plurality of working coils WCG. Further, the detecting unit 130 may detect whether the object to be heated is eccentric or eccentric (that is, whether the heating target is located in the center of the upper portion of the working coil or over only a part of the working coil) have.

For example, when the heating target is placed on the first working coil WC1, the total resistance may increase due to the resistance of the heating target, so that the degree of attenuation of the resonant current flowing through the first working coil WCl Can be increased. Therefore, the detecting unit 130 can sense whether the heating target is located above the first working coil WC1 by detecting the degree of magnitude change due to the attenuation of the resonance current, and furthermore, .

The analysis unit 160 may receive information on the position of the heating target from the detection unit 130 and analyze the size of the heating target based on the position of the heating target. The analysis unit 160 may also provide the control module 200 with information about the size of the analyzed object to be analyzed.

For example, when the object to be heated is placed on the upper portion of both the first working coil WC1 and the second working coil WC2 in an accurate manner, the analyzer 160 can detect the size of the heated body (for example, (For example, the width of two working coils in the horizontal direction) of the two working coils can be analyzed.

In the case where the heating target is positioned on the upper portion of the first working coil WC1 and eccentrically located on the upper portion of the second working coil WC2, (For example, the width in the lateral direction) is larger than the size of one working coil (for example, the width in the lateral direction of one working coil) and the size of two working coils (for example, It can be interpreted as a smaller size.

Of course, although not shown in the drawing, the sensing module 100 may include an infrared sensor for sensing the size of the object to be heated. In this case, a plurality of infrared sensors may be provided according to the number of working coils, or only one sensor capable of sensing a large area (for example, the entire upper portion of the working coil) may be provided.

However, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the detection module 100 includes the detection unit 130 and the analysis unit 160 in the embodiment of the present invention.

On the other hand, the control module 200 can drive at least one of the plurality of working coils WCG based on information about the size of the heating target, and transmits information about the number of working coils driven to the selection module 300 .

In addition, the control module 200 can refer to not only the size of the heating target but also the position of the heating target when driving the working coil. That is, the information about the size of the heating target object provided from the sensing module 100 may include information about the position of the heating target object. The control module 200 controls the heating target Only the working coil necessary for heating the heating target can be selectively driven based on the information about the size and position of the heating coil.

The control module 200 may receive information on whether the user is accessing from the proximity sensor 500 or receive input (for example, user input) from the interface panel 400, (I.e., start and stop driving, thermal power control, and the like) of at least one of the plurality of working coils WCG based on information or information as to whether or not the working coils WCG can be operated.

Accordingly, when the control module 200 receives an input regarding the cooking mode other than the cooking mode selected by the selection module 300 from the interface panel 400, the control module 200 selects one of the plurality of working coils WCG At least one drive can be controlled.

That is, even if the working coil that is being driven is the first and second working coils WC1 and WC2 based on the information about the size of the heating target, the input is an input that is not related to the information about the size of the heating target 1 to the fourth working coils WC1 to WC4), the control module 200 maintains the driving of the first and second working coils WC1 and WC2, and the third and fourth The working coils WC3 and WC4 can be further driven.

Of course, the control module 200 may control driving of at least one of the plurality of working coils WCG by integrating the information provided from the proximity sensor 500 and the input provided from the interface panel 400. [

Thus, when the control module 200 is provided with input from the interface panel 400 (e.g., input relating to the 'dining' mode) and the user is located proximate the interface panel 400 from the proximity sensor 500 The user can determine that the user is still eating food, so that the heating power of the driving coil in operation can be controlled to keep the food warm continuously.

The proximity sensor 500 may be mounted on the interface panel 400 to sense whether the user is approaching the control panel 200. The control module 200 may control the operation of various devices in the smart induction heating device 1 Can be controlled.

As described above, the sensing module 100 can sense the size of the heating target, and the control module 200 can selectively select only the working coils necessary for heating the heating target on the basis of the size of the heating target. Can be driven.

3, when the user U puts the heating target HO on the display unit 430 of the interface panel 400, the temperature of the heating target HO The number of working coils (for example, two; WC2, WC3) driven depending on the size can be changed.

That is, when the first heated object HO1 is placed on the display unit 430, the three working coils WC2, WC3 and WC4 can be driven, and the second heated object HO2 can be driven by the display unit 430 , The four working coils WC1 to WC4 can be driven.

1 and 4, the selection module 300 receives information on the number of working coils driven by the control module 200, and based on information about the number of working coils provided, Can be selected.

Specifically, the selection module 300 can select a cooking mode suitable for a heating target object based on information about the number of working coils to be driven, and can provide information on the selected cooking mode to the interface panel 400. [

That is, the selection module 300 may include information on a plurality of cooking modes (for example, a teatime mode, a dining mode, a brunch mode, etc.) set differently according to the number of working coils to be driven. In addition, the selection module 300 can select a cooking mode corresponding to information on the number of working coils provided from the control module 200 during a plurality of cooking modes.

The interface panel 400 is provided with information on the cooking mode selected from the selecting module 300 and can visually provide information on the cooking mode to the user. The interface panel 400 may also be coupled to the top of the case (not shown).

Specifically, the interface panel 400 may include a touch screen 460 for displaying information on the cooking mode, and a display unit 430 for displaying the shape of the cooking cavity on the basis of information on the cooking mode.

That is, the touch screen 460 is provided with information on the cooking mode selected from the selecting module 300, and can display the information on the cooking mode so that the user can visually confirm the information. In addition, the touch screen 460 may receive input from a user and provide the input to the control module 200 and the display unit 430. Accordingly, the control module 200 can control driving of at least one of the plurality of working coils WCG based on the input provided from the touch screen 460. [

The display unit 430 is also provided with information on the cooking mode selected from the selection module 300. The display unit 430 receives the input provided by the user from the touch screen 460. Based on the input information and the cooking mode information, Shape can be displayed.

That is, when the user touches (i.e., inputs) the specific cooking mode displayed on the touch screen 460 (i.e., the cooking mode selected by the selecting module 300), information on the specific cooking mode It is possible to maintain the shape of the crane that is displayed on the basis of.

However, when the user touches (i.e., inputs) a cooking mode other than the specific cooking mode displayed on the touch screen 460 (i.e., the cooking mode selected by the selecting module 300) It is possible to display the shape of the culvert with respect to the other cooking modes that the user has touched by inputting the information based on the cooking mode information.

Also, the display unit 430 may be provided on a plurality of working coils WCG, and the heating target may be disposed on the upper portion of the display unit 430.

Here, referring to FIG. 5, a concrete example of the interface panel 400 can be confirmed.

That is, as described above, the display unit 430 may be provided on a plurality of working coils WCG, and the touch screen 460 may be provided with input from a user, Can be displayed for confirmation.

Specifically, the touch screen 460 includes a thermal power adjustment window 461 through which a user can provide inputs (e.g., input relating to a thermal power (i.e., power level)) through a touch, a number of working coils A first information window 463 for displaying information on the cooking mode, a second information window 465 for displaying information about the cooking mode, and the like.

Here, when the second information window 465 can display the 'tea time' mode, the 'dining' mode, and the 'brunch' mode, information about the actually selected cooking mode (for example, May be activated and displayed to the user.

Each of these cooking modes can be appropriately used in different situations, as shown in Fig.

Specifically, in the case of the 'tea time' mode, it is an appropriate mode when it is necessary to maintain an optimal temperature (for example, green tea -60 degrees, coffee -90 degrees, (Eg, egg frying power level - '4', toast firing power level - '6'), pancake ('pancake') level, 7 ') can be set automatically.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, the touch screen 460 may further include a power button, a lock button, a timer control button (+, -), etc., in addition to the above-described components. These buttons can be implemented in a form capable of touch input.

For example, if the user touches the power button provided on the interface panel 400 for a predetermined time while the smart induction heating apparatus 1 is not driven, the operation of the smart induction heating apparatus 1 may be started . Conversely, if the user touches the power button for a predetermined time while the smart induction heating apparatus 1 is being driven, the operation of the smart induction heating apparatus 1 may be terminated.

Also, when the user touches the lock button for a predetermined period of time, all of the other buttons can not be operated. Thereafter, when the user touches the lock button again for a predetermined time, all of the other buttons can be operated.

Then, the user can set the driving time of the smart induction heating apparatus 1 by touching the timer adjustment buttons (+, -). For reference, the control module (200 of FIG. 1) may terminate the operation of the smart induction heating apparatus 1 when the driving time set by the user has elapsed.

However, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the touch screen 460 includes the thermal power control window 461, the first information window 463, and the second information window 465 in the embodiment of the present invention do.

As described above, the selection module 300 can select a cooking mode suitable for the heating target object based on the information about the number of working coils to be driven, and the interface panel 400 can visually inform the user of the cooking mode information .

7, when the number of working coils to be driven is one (for example, the fourth working coil WC4), the to-be-heated body HO is a small-sized heating target such as a kettle The selection module 300 selects the 'tee time' mode, and the interface panel 400 can display only information on the 'tee time' mode on the touch screen 460. [

8, when the number of working coils to be driven is four (for example, the first to fourth working coils WC1 to WC4), the heating target HO is a large The selection module 300 selects the 'brunch' mode, and the interface panel 400 displays only the information related to the 'brunch' mode on the touch screen 460.

9, when the number of working coils to be driven is two (for example, third and fourth working coils WC3 and WC4), the to-be-heated object HO is the same as a pot The selection module 300 selects the 'dining' mode, and the interface panel 400 displays only the information related to the 'dining' mode on the touch screen 460. [

10, when the number of working coils to be driven is four but the two working coils are driven separately (for example, when the user moves the first heated object HO1 first and second The heating targets HO1 and HO2 are set to 2 (the case where the second heating target HO2 is placed on the third and fourth working coils WC3 and WC4 after putting the second heating target HO2 on the working coils WC1 and WC2) The selection module 300 selects the 'dining' mode, and the interface panel 400 displays the information about the 'dining' mode, and the temperature of the object to be heated HO1 'and HO2' Only the touch screen 460 can be displayed.

Also, as shown in FIG. 11, the display unit 430 can display various shapes of the cooking pot on the basis of the information about the cooking mode, and when the cooking mode is not selected as shown in FIG. 12, May not be displayed.

As described above, the smart induction heating apparatus 1 according to the present invention can automatically select only the working coil required for heating the heating target by automatically sensing the size of the heating target, Can be reduced. In addition, since the user does not have to select and operate the working coil to be driven separately in accordance with the size of the heating target, the usability can be improved.

Further, the smart induction heating apparatus 1 according to the present invention recommends a cooking mode suitable for the heating object based on the size of the heating target, thereby improving the cooking efficiency of the user. In addition, the user does not need to separately control the fire power according to the kind of food to be cooked, so that user convenience can be improved. Further, since the shape of the crater is changed according to the cooking mode, the user can constantly remind the user of what he / she is cooking, so that the user can smoothly cook while doing different tasks.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, But the present invention is not limited thereto.

100: detection module 200: control module
300: Selection module 400: Interface panel
500: proximity sensor

Claims (10)

A plurality of working coils for heating the heating target;
A sensing module for sensing a size of the heating target;
A control module that receives information about the size of the sensed heating object from the sensing module and drives at least one of the plurality of working coils based on information about the size of the provided heating object;
A selection module that receives information on the number of working coils driven from the control module and selects a cooking mode suitable for the heating target based on information about the number of the provided working coils; And
And an interface panel for receiving information on the selected cooking mode from the selection module and visually providing information on the provided cooking mode to the user,
Smart induction heating device.
The method according to claim 1,
The interface panel includes:
A touch screen for displaying information on the cooking mode,
And a display unit for displaying the shape of the culvert on the basis of the information about the cooking mode
Smart induction heating device.
3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the touch screen provides an input from a user to the control module and the display unit,
Wherein the display unit is provided on the plurality of working coils,
Smart induction heating device.
The method of claim 3,
Wherein the control module controls driving of at least one of the plurality of working coils based on the input provided from the touch screen
Smart induction heating device.
The method according to claim 1,
The sensing module includes:
A detecting unit for detecting which one of the plurality of working coils is located above the working coil;
And an analyzer for analyzing the size of the heating target based on the position of the heating target detected by the detecting unit
Smart induction heating device.
6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein:
Based on a change in magnitude of a resonance current flowing through each of the plurality of working coils, detects which of the working coils is located above the working coil
Smart induction heating device.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the sensing module includes an infrared sensor for sensing a size of the heating target
Smart induction heating device.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the selection module comprises:
And information on a plurality of cooking modes set differently according to the number of working coils to be driven,
And a cooking mode corresponding to information on the number of working coils provided from the control module during the plurality of cooking modes
Smart induction heating device.
The method according to claim 1,
And a proximity sensor mounted on the interface panel for sensing whether the user is approaching
Smart induction heating device.
10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the proximity sensor provides the control module with information about whether the sensed user is approaching,
Wherein the control module controls driving of at least one of the plurality of working coils based on information about whether or not the user is provided from the proximity sensor
Smart induction heating device.

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