KR20210046403A - Electric kettle and operating method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric kettle according to the present invention comprises: a body forming a space in which water is accommodated; a heater provided in the body and heating the space; a wireless power receiver for receiving a wireless power signal from a wireless power transmitter to provide power to the heater; a humidity sensor installed on the body to be exposed to the space of the body; and a controller determining whether the content exists in the space of the body on the basis of the humidity measured by the humidity sensor.

Description

Electric kettle and its operating method{ELECTRIC KETTLE AND OPERATING METHOD THEREFOR}

The present invention relates to an electric kettle and a method of operation.

Recently, electronic products using wireless power transfer (WPT) technology have been developed. Wireless power transmission technology is a technology that wirelessly transfers power between a power source and an electronic device. For example, the wireless power transmission technology allows the battery of the wireless terminal to be charged by simply placing a wireless terminal such as a smartphone or tablet on the wireless charging pad, which is more than a wired charging environment using a wired charging connector. It can provide excellent mobility, convenience and safety. It is attracting attention that it will replace the existing wired power transmission environment in various fields such as electric vehicles, Bluetooth earphones and 3D glasses, various wearable devices, home appliances, furniture, underground facilities, buildings, medical devices, robots, and leisure. have.

The wireless power transmission method is also referred to as a contactless power transmission method, a no point of contact power transmission method, or a wireless charging method. The wireless power transmission system includes a wireless power transmission device that supplies electrical energy through a wireless power transmission method, and a wireless power reception that supplies power to a power receiving device such as a battery cell by receiving electrical energy wirelessly supplied from the wireless power transmission device. It can be configured as a device.

Wireless power transmission technology is a method of transmitting power through magnetic coupling, a method of transmitting power through a radio frequency (RF), a method of transmitting power through a microwave, and supersonic sound. There are various ways such as the way power is transmitted through waves.

Methods based on magnetic coupling are further classified into magnetic induction methods and magnetic resonance methods. The magnetic induction method is a method of transmitting energy by using a current induced in the receiving coil due to a magnetic field generated in the transmitting coil battery cell according to the electromagnetic coupling between the transmitting coil and the receiving coil. The magnetic resonance method is similar to the magnetic induction method in that it uses a magnetic field. However, in the magnetic resonance method, resonance occurs when a specific resonance frequency is applied to the coil on the transmitting side and the coil on the receiving side, and as a result, energy is transferred by the phenomenon that the magnetic field is concentrated at both ends of the transmitting side and the receiving side. There is a difference from self-induction.

In addition to wireless charging of wireless terminals, such a wireless power transmission system is also applied to small household appliances. An electric kettle powered by a wireless power transmission system is being developed.

An electric kettle is a device that heats water contained in a body by an electric supply with a heating element such as a heater. An electric kettle to which a wireless power transmission system is applied includes a wireless power receiver that receives power transmitted from the wireless power transmitter, and a heater that heats water inside the body with power from the wireless power receiver.

When the body is seated on the deck, the electric kettle that is connected to the commercial power supply through the deck by wire is primarily used to prevent overheating with SW using a thermister, and secondly, between the deck and the body. The electric kettle is protected by a thermostat.

However, electric kettles employing a wireless power transfer system have a problem in that the internal temperature cannot be known because there is no thermister. For this reason, it is difficult for the WPT that supplies power to detect whether or not there is water inside the electric port, and because it continues heating even when there is no water, there is a possibility of a safety problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electric kettle for determining whether or not contents such as water are present using a humidity sensor, and a method of operating the same.

The problems of the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems that are not mentioned will be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from the following description.

According to an embodiment, the electric kettle includes a body forming a space in which water is accommodated; A heater provided on the body and heating the space; A wireless power receiving device receiving a wireless power signal from a wireless power transmitting device and providing power to the heater; A humidity sensor installed in the body to be exposed to the space of the body; And a controller that determines whether or not contents are present in the space of the body based on the humidity measured by the humidity sensor.

When heating of the heater starts, the controller may compare the humidity with a first threshold value and stop the heating operation of the heater when the humidity is less than a first threshold value.

When the humidity is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the controller may compare the humidity and the second threshold value after a predetermined period of time, and maintain the heating operation of the heater when the humidity is greater than the second threshold value.

The controller may stop the heating operation of the heater when the humidity is less than or equal to the second threshold.

The controller may determine whether the heating operation of the heater is completed, and if the heating operation is not completed, compare the humidity with a second threshold value, and maintain the heating operation of the heater when the humidity is greater than the second threshold value.

The first threshold value may be a temperature value determined in the range of 40°C to 60°C.

The second threshold value may be a temperature value of 30°C.

The predetermined time may be a time period determined in the range of 10 seconds to 30 seconds.

The humidity sensor may be installed on the side of the body.

According to another embodiment, a method of operating an electric kettle including a body forming a space in which water is accommodated, a heater heating the space, and a humidity sensor installed on the body to be exposed to the space of the body is heating the heater. When it starts, comparing the humidity measured by the humidity sensor with a first threshold value; And stopping the heating operation of the heater when the humidity is less than the first threshold value.

The method of operating the electric kettle may include comparing the humidity and a second threshold value after a predetermined period of time when the humidity is greater than or equal to a first threshold value; And maintaining the heating operation of the heater when the humidity is greater than the second threshold value.

The method of operating the electric kettle may further include stopping the heating operation of the heater when the humidity is less than or equal to a second threshold.

The operating method of the electric kettle includes determining whether the heating operation of the heater is completed; And returning to comparing the humidity and the second threshold value if the heating operation is not completed.

The electric kettle according to the present invention has the following effects.

The electric kettle according to an embodiment of the present invention can quickly detect that there is no water in the wireless electric pot.

The electric kettle according to an embodiment of the present invention can prevent damage to the container by preventing continued heating when there is no water inside.

1 is a perspective view of an electric kettle employing a wireless power transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a front perspective view of an electric kettle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a cross-sectional view of the electric kettle of FIG. 2.
4 is a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the electric kettle of FIG. 2.
5 is a block diagram of an electric kettle according to an embodiment of the present invention,
6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating an electric kettle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail together with the drawings. However, the present invention cannot be said to be limited to the exemplary embodiments in which the spirit of the present invention is presented, and other degenerate inventions or other embodiments included within the scope of the present invention can be easily implemented by adding, changing, or deleting other elements. Can be suggested.

1 is a perspective view of an electric kettle employing a wireless power transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The electric kettle 100 includes a wireless power receiving device 140 (refer to FIG. 3 ). The wireless power receiver 140 (refer to FIG. 3) of the electric kettle 100 receives power from the wireless power transmitter 200 according to a magnetic induction method. The electromagnetic induction method uses an induction phenomenon between the primary and secondary coils of a transformer and uses a frequency of several MHz, the transmission distance is several mm or less, and the transmission efficiency is about 90% at the transmission distance less than 1 mm. Accordingly, in the case of using the magnetic induction method, the wireless power receiving device 140 and the wireless power transmitting device 200 may each include a coil.

In this case, when the electric kettle 100 is disposed close to the wireless power transmission device 200 within a certain distance, a current is applied to the coil of the wireless power transmission device 200 to form a magnetic field according to the current flow.

When the coil of the wireless power receiving device 140 of the electric kettle 100 is positioned in the magnetic field range of the wireless power transmitting device 200, a current is induced in the coil of the wireless power receiving device, and accordingly, the wireless power receiving device 140 ) May obtain AC power, convert it into DC power, and supply it to the components of the electric kettle 100. The wireless power transmission method has been described using a magnetic induction method as an example, but a magnetic resonance (MR) method and a long-distance microwave method may be used.

2 is a front perspective view of an electric kettle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the electric kettle of FIG. 2. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the electric kettle of FIG. 2.

2 to 4, the body 10 may be formed in a cylindrical shape. A heater (not shown) is installed on the lower surface 20 of the body 10. The heater may generate heat by receiving power provided from the wireless power receiving device 140. The handle 40 may be configured to protrude from one side of the body 10.

The body 10 may contain contents such as water, and the lower surface 20 of the body 10 may be heated by a heater.

The body 10 is composed of an inner body 12 and an outer body 11, and a space is formed between the inner body 12 and the outer body 11, so that the insulation performance is significantly improved compared to the single wall structure. It can have a structure.

Both the inner body 12 and the hour body 10 may be formed of the same stainless material, and the outer body 11 forms the exterior of the body 10, and the inner body 12 contains water. It forms a space. The inner body 12 has a smaller diameter than the outer body 11, and thus the inner body 12 may be provided in a form accommodated inside the outer body 11. Accordingly, a space 102 may be formed between the outer body 11 and the inner body 12.

In the space 102 between the outer body 11 and the inner body 12, an air layer is formed so that heat can be prevented from being directly transferred to the outer body 11, and thus the space 102 is an insulating space. You can also call it (102). In addition, even when the water contained in the inner body 12 is heated and hot, the outer body 11 may maintain a relatively low temperature.

The body 10 may be formed by combining the upper and lower ends of the outer body 11 and the inner body 12 formed in a cylindrical shape. For example, the upper and lower ends of the outer body 11 and the inner body 12 may be connected to each other by welding in a superimposed state. At this time, portions of the outer body 11 and the inner body 12 except for the upper and lower ends of the outer body 11 and the inner body 12 may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval to have an insulating structure.

Looking at the structure of the upper end of the body 10 in more detail, an outer lower end 13 may be formed at the lower end of the outer body 11. The outer lower end 13 may extend downward to form the lower end of the outer body 11 but may be formed in a stepped shape inward.

An inner lower end 14 may be formed at the lower end of the inner body 12. The inner lower end 14 may extend downward to form the lower end of the inner body 12. In addition, the inner lower end 14 may be in surface contact with the outer lower end 13. In a state in which the outer lower end 13 and the inner lower end 14 are coupled to each other, the coil 142 of the wireless power receiving device 140 may be installed in the space between the outer lower end 13 and the inner lower end 14. have.

As described above, as the coil 142 of the wireless power receiving device 140 is closer to the coil of the wireless power transmitting device 200, the power transmission efficiency increases. Accordingly, when the coil 142 of the wireless power receiving device 140 is placed on the wireless power transmitting device 200, the outer lower end 13 and the inner lower end 14 close to the coil of the wireless power transmitting device 200 It is placed in the space between.

In addition, a humidity sensor 110 is installed in the space between the outer lower end 13 and the inner lower end 14. The humidity sensor 110 is installed to be exposed to a space in which water in the body 10 is accommodated. Specifically, the humidity sensor 110 is installed on a side portion of the inner lower end 14 so as to be exposed to a space in which water in the body 10 is accommodated. Accordingly, the humidity sensor 110 may measure the humidity of a space in which water in the body 10 is accommodated.

Hereinafter, a configuration for determining whether or not a content exists in the space of the body based on the humidity measured by the humidity sensor in the electric kettle configured as described above, and an operating method thereof will be described.

5 is a block diagram of an electric kettle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating an electric kettle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The electric kettle 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a humidity sensor 110, a controller 120, a heater 130, and a wireless power receiving device 140.

When water is accommodated in the body 10 of the electric kettle 100, high humidity is indicated, so the humidity measured by the humidity sensor 110 has a high value. If a small amount of water is not evaporated inside the body 10, or when the body 10 is heated by a heater in a completely dry state, the internal humidity may gradually decrease. The electric kettle 100 may determine whether or not the contents are present in the space of the body based on the humidity measured by the humidity sensor.

The heater 130 may heat water contained in the body 10. Specifically, the heater 130 may be located under the bottom of the body 10. The heater 130 may receive power from the wireless power receiving device 140.

The wireless power receiving device 140 may receive a wireless power signal from the wireless power transmitting device 200 and provide power to the heater 130. The heater 130 receives power from the wireless power receiving device 140 and generates heat. When the heater 130 generates heat, the heat of the heater 130 heats contents such as water accommodated in the space of the body 10. Accordingly, water accommodated in the space of the body 10 may boil.

The humidity sensor 110 is installed on the body 10 so as to be exposed to the inner space of the body 10 of the electric kettle 100 as described above. Therefore, the humidity sensor 110 may measure the humidity of the internal space of the body 10. The humidity sensor 110 may be an electronic humidity sensor. The electronic humidity sensor may include an electrical resistance humidity sensor and a capacitive humidity sensor. The embodiments are not limited thereto, and the humidity sensor 110 may be implemented with any humidity sensor that is obvious to those skilled in the art.

The humidity measured by the humidity sensor 110 is output or provided to the controller 120. The controller 120 may determine whether or not the contents are present in the space of the body 10 based on the humidity measured by the humidity sensor 110.

According to an embodiment, when the heating operation of the heater starts, the controller 120 determines whether the humidity is greater than or equal to a first threshold value, and stops the heating operation of the heater when the humidity is less than a first threshold value.

The first threshold value may be determined in a range of 40 to 60% humidity. Humidity 40-60% may generally be the indoor average humidity.

That is, the controller 120 acquires the humidity measured by the humidity sensor 110 after heating of the heater starts, and when the measured humidity is less than the first threshold, contents such as water are stored in the space of the body 10. It judges that there is no and stops heating operation. For example, the controller 120 may cut off power supplied from the repair power receiving device 140 to the heater 130 through, for example, a switch 142. The first threshold may be affected by external weather. Therefore, the first threshold may be changed according to the season.

If the measured humidity is equal to or greater than the first threshold value, the controller 120 determines the elapse of a predetermined time while maintaining the heating operation. The controller 120 determines whether the humidity measured by the humidity sensor 110 is greater than a second threshold value after a predetermined time has elapsed. For example, the controller 120 determines whether a small amount of water inside the body 10 of the electric kettle 100 has been evaporated or is completely dry, and the heating operation is performed, so that the internal humidity gradually decreases and falls below a specific humidity. It is to do.

The second threshold may be, for example, 30% humidity. That is, the controller 120 stops the heating operation of the heater when the measured humidity is less than or equal to the second threshold. Accordingly, when a small amount of water inside the body 10 of the electric kettle 100 has not been evaporated or is completely dry, the heating operation is performed and the internal humidity is less than 30%, the controller 120 ), it can be judged that there is no water in the space.

The controller 120 maintains the heating operation when the measured humidity is greater than the second threshold. That is, even after performing the heating operation for a predetermined period of time, the controller 120 determines that there is water in the internal space of the body 10 if the internal humidity of the body 10 is greater than the second threshold value and maintains the heating operation. .

The controller 120 continuously determines whether the measured humidity is less than or equal to the second threshold value until the heating operation is completed, and continues to perform the heating operation when the internal humidity of the body 10 is greater than the second threshold value. .

6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating an electric kettle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, first, the electric kettle 110 determines whether the heating operation starts in step 301. The heating operation may be started when a predetermined condition is satisfied. For example, the user may select to heat water inside the body 10 of the electric kettle 100 until it reaches a predetermined temperature. Alternatively, the heating operation may be started by a predetermined reservation operation.

When the heating operation starts, the electric kettle 100 measures the humidity through the humidity sensor 110 in step 303. Subsequently, the electric kettle 100 determines whether the humidity measured in step 305 is equal to or greater than a first threshold value, and stops the heating operation of the heater in step 313 when the humidity is less than the first threshold value.

As described above, the electric kettle 100 acquires the humidity measured by the humidity sensor 110 after the heating operation of the heater starts, and when the measured humidity is less than the first threshold, the space of the body 10 is It is determined that there is no content such as water, and the heating operation is stopped.

The electric kettle 100 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed in step 307. The predetermined time can be, for example, several tens of seconds. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and a predetermined time may be experimentally determined by a person skilled in the art.

The electric kettle 100 determines whether the humidity measured by the humidity sensor 110 in step 309 is greater than a second threshold value after a predetermined time has elapsed.

For example, in the electric kettle 100, a small amount of water in the body 10 of the electric kettle 100 is not evaporated or the heating operation is performed in a completely dry state to determine whether the internal humidity gradually decreases and falls below a specific humidity. To judge.

The electric kettle 100 stops the heating operation of the heater in step 313 when the measured humidity is less than or equal to the second threshold. Accordingly, when a small amount of water inside the body 10 of the electric kettle 100 is not evaporated or is completely dry, the heating operation is performed so that the internal humidity is 30% or less, the electric kettle 100 is It can be determined that there is no water in the space of 10).

The electric kettle 100 maintains the heating operation in step 311 when the measured humidity is greater than the second threshold value. That is, even after performing the heating operation for a predetermined period of time, the controller 120 determines that there is water in the internal space of the body 10 if the internal humidity of the body 10 is greater than the second threshold value and maintains the heating operation. .

The electric kettle 100 returns to the step of determining whether the measured humidity is less than or equal to the second threshold value until the heating operation is completed. Accordingly, the electric kettle 100 continuously performs the heating operation when the internal humidity of the body 10 is greater than the second threshold value.

The electric kettle according to an embodiment of the present invention can quickly detect that there is no water in the wireless electric pot.

The electric kettle according to an embodiment of the present invention can prevent damage to the container by preventing continued heating when there is no water inside.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but may be manufactured in various different forms, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. It will be understood that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative and non-limiting in all respects.

10: body 40: handle
100: electric kettle 110: humidity sensor
120: controller 130: heater
140: wireless power receiving device 200: wireless power transmitting device

Claims (16)

A body forming a space in which water is accommodated;
A heater provided on the body and heating the space;
A wireless power receiving device receiving a wireless power signal from a wireless power transmitting device and providing power to the heater;
A humidity sensor installed on the body to be exposed to the space of the body; And
An electric kettle comprising a controller that determines whether or not contents are present in the space of the body based on the humidity measured by the humidity sensor. The method of claim 1,
When heating of the heater starts, the controller compares the humidity with a first threshold value and stops the heating operation of the heater when the humidity is less than a first threshold value. The method of claim 2,
The controller compares the humidity and a second threshold value after a predetermined period of time when the humidity is greater than or equal to a first threshold value, and maintains the heating operation of the heater when the humidity is greater than a second threshold value. The method of claim 3,
The controller stops the heating operation of the heater when the humidity is less than or equal to a second threshold. The method of claim 3,
The controller determines whether the heating operation of the heater is completed, and if the heating operation of the heater is not completed, compares the humidity with a second threshold value, and maintains the heating operation of the heater when the humidity is greater than the second threshold value. Electric kettle. The method of claim 2,
The first threshold value is a temperature value determined in the range of 40 ℃ to 60 ℃ electric kettle. The method of claim 3,
The second threshold is an electric kettle that is a temperature value of 30°C. The method of claim 3,
The predetermined time is an electric kettle that is a time period determined in the range of 10 seconds to 30 seconds. The method of claim 3,
The humidity sensor is an electric kettle installed on the side of the body. A method of operating an electric kettle comprising a body forming a space in which water is accommodated, a heater heating the space, and a humidity sensor installed on the body to be exposed to the space of the body,
When heating of the heater starts, comparing the humidity measured by the humidity sensor with a first threshold value; And
And stopping the heating operation of the heater when the humidity is less than a first threshold value. The method of claim 10,
Comparing the humidity with a second threshold value after a predetermined period of time has elapsed when the humidity is greater than or equal to the first threshold value; And
If the humidity is greater than the second threshold value, the operation method of the electric kettle further comprising the step of maintaining the heating operation of the heater. The method of claim 11,
And stopping the heating operation of the heater when the humidity is less than or equal to the second threshold value. The method of claim 11,
Determining whether the heating operation of the heater is completed; And
If the heating operation of the heater has not been completed, returning to the step of comparing the humidity and the second threshold value. The method of claim 10,
The first threshold value is a temperature value determined in the range of 40 ℃ to 60 ℃ operating method of the electric kettle. The method of claim 11,
The second threshold is a method of operating an electric kettle that is a temperature value of 30°C. The method of claim 12,
The predetermined time is a time period determined in the range of 10 seconds to 30 seconds, the operating method of the electric kettle.

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