WO2018051178A1

WO2018051178A1 - System for automating the switching on, adjustment and/or switching off of one or more accessories for cooktops

Info

Publication number: WO2018051178A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/001094
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrea CENNIMO; Paolo CENNIMO
Original assignee: P.G.A. Srl
Priority date: 2016-09-13
Filing date: 2017-09-11
Publication date: 2018-03-22
Also published as: ES1228444Y; DE212017000161U1; IT201600092209A1; ES1228444U

Abstract

Automation system (3) for the automatic switching on, adjustment and/or switching off of at least one accessory (2) for cooktops (1), in accordance with the operating condition of the cooktop (1) to which said accessory (2) is associated, comprising: - at least one accessory (2) associated to a cooktop (1); characterised in that: - it is provided with at least one sensor means adapted to detect at least one physical quantity distinctive and indicative of the status and activity of the said cooktop (1); - it controls and determines the switching on, adjustment and/or switching off of said accessory (2) in accordance with the operating condition of the said cooktop (1), detected by said sensor means; and in that said physical quantity: - is subject to detectable variations between the standby status and operating status of the cooktop (1); - is uni vocally associable to the cooktop (1), depends and varies from the status of the same; - is directly indicative of the activity of the said cooktop (1).

Description

SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATING THE SWITCHING ON, ADJUSTMENT AND/OR SWITCHING OFF OF ONE OR MORE ACCESSORIES FOR COOKTOPS.

DESCRIPTION

The object of the present invention is a system for automating the switching on, adjustment and/or switching off of accessories for cooktops or the like.

The invention therefore falls within the field of automation of cooktops and of the accessories associated thereto, particularly in the field of the household kitchens or the like.

Nothing obviously prevents the application of the invention to be extended also to fields other than the domestic one, such as for example industrial, catering or in general for all those fields or applications requiring a cooking device for the preparation of food.

A cooktop allows cooking food through an apparatus that burns fuels of various types or uses electrical energy.

Currently the most used cooktops are gas, electric or induction ones and are advantageously provided with a plurality of accessories adapted to facilitate their use.

Such accessories may comprise, for example, suction hoods, lighting means, air exchange means, automated window fixtures or the like.

The problem that is intended to be resolved concerns the automation of the various devices, in particular the activation, adjustment and/or deactivation of said accessories based on the operativity of the cooktop to which they are associated. Currently, the switching on, adjustment, and/or switching off of said accessories takes place manually through controls located on the same accessories or in the proximity of the cooktop and/or its controls.

Once the cooktop is switched on, then the user proceeds with the activation of the various accessories.

Such a problem and drawback has long been known and felt and the solutions known to the prior art are based on the use of apparatuses and accessories capable of communicating with each other.

Such solutions are proposed by several manufacturers of cooktops and accessories, offering a single package that allows facilitating the user.

In such a case the cooktop communicates with the accessories through:

- an electrical connection, substantially one or more electrical cables;

- wireless data transmission means such as for example wireless, Bluetooth, radio frequency, infrared networks or the like.

Said solutions envisage several constructive systems including:

- keeping the controls of the accessory in the proximity of the same;

- place the controls of the accessory in the proximity of the control panel of the cooktop, so that the user may easily control them both;

- integrate the controls of the accessory within the control panel of the cooktop. Such systems do not achieve an actual automation, but facilitate the control and the adjustments of the operating parameters of both devices (cooktop and accessory) to the user.

In fact, the user interacts with a single control area, wherefrom he/she can control the functions and operating parameters of the different accessories and of the cooktop.

Moreover, the solutions employing wireless data transmission means envisage providing all the devices (cooktop and accessories) of the same electronics so as to be able to interface smoothly; for example if the cooktop uses a Bluetooth data transmission, also the accessory or the accessories will have to use Bluetooth systems. Said variant, in addition to not making the cooktop-accessory combination automatic, which continue to be independently controlled by the user, limits to use products of the same manufacturer or with the same electronics.

This reduces the freedom of choice of the user, limiting his/her preferences and options.

For example, the user may prefer a particular model of suction hood that unfortunately can not cooperate and interface with the cooktop and its electronics, as they use different software and/or communication protocols. In this case, interface means capable of making all the devices communicate with each other must be set up, with increased costs and the onset of potential compatibility and interoperability drawbacks among different models and apparatuses.

Alternatively, accessories exist capable of determining the activity of the cooktop, for example by detecting the presence of cooking fumes or vapours, and of switching on or off based on the activity of the said cooktop.

Such a solution obviously has the drawback of activating the accessory only after said fumes or vapours have already spread to the environment, creating discomforts or inconveniences.

The solutions proposed from the prior art, therefore, do not allow automation of the switching on, adjustment and/or switching off of the cooktop-accessory combination, which are independently controlled from one another by the user.

Also, as illustrated, some systems limit the choice of the end user or interior decorators or interior designers, reducing such possible combinations.

The main object of the present invention is to obviate the drawbacks outlined above by providing a system capable of automating the activation, adjustment and/or deactivation of accessories for cooktops or the like based on the operativity of the cooktop to which they are associated.

A further object of the present invention, at least for one or more executive variants, is to provide an automation system that facilitates the user during the use of a cooktop. Another object of the present invention, at least for one or more executive variants, is to provide an automation system capable of improving the compatibility, interoperability and communication among devices and apparatuses for cooktops using electronics or data transmission networks different from each other.

Another object of the present invention, at least for one or more executive variants, is to provide an automation system capable of offering the user greater freedom of choice of components and accessories for cooktops.

Another object of the present invention, at least for one or more executive variants, is to activate said accessories for cooktops immediately after receiving information about the status change of the same.

This and other objects, which shall appear clear hereinafter, are achieved with an automation system, illustrated in the following description and in the annexed claims that constitute an integral part of the same description.

Further features of the present invention shall be better highlighted by the following description of a preferred embodiment, in accordance with the patent claims and illustrated, only by way of a non-limiting example, in the accompanying Figure 1 , showing a schematic view of a cooktop equipped with an accessory, provided with the automation system according to the present invention, in accordance with a possible executive variant.

The features of the invention are now described, using the references in the figure.

It is also noted that any dimensional and spatial term (such as "lower", "upper", "inner", "outer", "front", "rear", vertical, horizontal and the like) refers to the position according to which substantially the elements are arranged in real conditions.

Without any limiting intent, for descriptive simplicity, hereinafter the term cooktop is to be understood as any type of cooktop, whether it is fuel, gas, electric, induction or the like, while the term accessory is to be understood as any device associable to a cooktop adapted to improve the usage conditions or the conditions of the kitchen room, such as suction hoods, lighting means, acoustic means, air treatment units, or the like.

In general, therefore, accessory is to be understood as a device the activity status whereof should change when the activity status of at least one cooktop changes. The system 3 according to the present invention enables the automatic switching on, adjustment and/or switching off of at least one accessory 2 for cooktops 1 , in accordance with the operating condition of the cooktop 1 to which said accessory is associated.

For example, when said cooktop 1 is switched on by the user, the system 3 provides for activating one or more accessories 2 based on the operating instructions and directives previously set forth by the manufacturer or programmed by the same user.

These operating instructions contain the information necessary for the activation, operation and control of the said accessory 2.

In the description the term associated is to be understood as both an accessory originally set up and combined with the cooktop by the manufacturer, and an accessory subsequently equipable and combinable with the cooktop.

The system 3 according to the present invention comprises:

- at least one accessory 2 associated to a cooktop 1 ;

- at least one sensor means adapted to detect at least one physical quantity distinctive and indicative of the status and activity of the said cooktop 1 ;

- at least one processing and control unit capable of processing the signals of the said sensor means, and equipped with suitable transmitting/receiving means;

- suitable data transmission means;

- at least one data receiving unit associated to said at least one accessory 2. Said system 3 may further comprise one or more actuator means capable of activating or deactivating the accessory 2, where said accessory 2 is not provided with it.

Said data transmission means puts in communication the sensor means with the processing and control unit and may comprise electrical or wireless connections (wireless, Bluetooth, radio frequency, or the like).

Said data receiving unit puts in communication said processing and control unit with said accessory 2, in particular the data receiving unit receives the signals/commands output by the processing and control unit and communicates them to said accessory 2, in particular to its control unit.

Said data receiving unit communicates with the processing and control unit via electrical or wireless connections (wireless, Bluetooth, radio frequency, or the like) and may advantageously be integrated on said accessory 2.

The system 3 may further comprise a container body 30 wherein at least the processing and control unit is housed.

The sensor means may:

- be housed inside a container body 30 (see Fig. 1 );

- be positioned outside the said container body 30 (the sensor means communicates data detected through said data transmission means).

The processing and control unit is advantageously equipped with memory means, wherein one or more reference values and one or more operating instructions are stored, and a suitable software or algorithm capable of processing and comparing data detected with one or more reference values. Said reference values and said operating instructions may be entered, preset and subsequently modified, for example, by the manufacturer or the user.

If the acquired value deviates from the reference value by a given quantity, the processing and control unit outputs, by said transmitting/receiving means, a control signal to the said accessory 2.

The size of the reference value(s) is defined and established in such a way as to determine and distinguish the status of the cooktop and its possible various operating conditions (on, off, or delivered power output).

Said accessory 2, through the data receiving unit, receives, processes and/or decodes said control signal and executes the operating instructions contained therein or associated thereto. In particular, based on the operating conditions of the cooktop 1 , said control signal may switch on, adjust, and/or switch off the accessory 2.

For example, assuming that said accessory 2 is a suction hood, when the cooktop 1 is switched on, the sensor detects a variation of the monitored physical quantity; the processing and control unit processes said variation and if it is higher than a reference value, outputs a specific switch-on control signal to the suction hood.

The hood, through the data receiving unit, receives and optionally decodes said switch-on control signal, and activates in accordance with instructions contained in the signal or with instructions associated thereto and previously set.

In the first case, the switch-on control signal specifies the value of the operating parameters by which the hood must activate (such as revolution speed of the motor, suction section opening, etc.).

In the second case the switch-on control signal informs the hood that it must switch on; in such a case the values of the operating parameters have been previously set and defined by the manufacturer or the user.

In case of a switch-off control signal, the hood, through the data receiving unit, receives and optionally decodes said signal, and deactivates in accordance with instructions contained in the signal or with instructions associated thereto and previously set.

The physical quantity, distinguishing and identifying the status and the activity of the said cooktop, may be chosen and determined based on the type of the same cooktop.

In particular, said physical quantity:

- is subject to detectable variations between the rest status (off or standby) and the operating status (on, delivered power output) of the cooktop;

- is uniquely associable to the cooktop, i.e. depends on the status of the same,

- is directly indicative of the activity of the said cooktop, i.e. it is not substantially influenced by factors outside the cooktop or its operation, being chosen so as to be insensitive to factors outside the same. For example:

- if the cooktop is electric or induction, said quantity may be identified by the electrical current or power absorbed by the cooktop;

- if the cooktop is gas, said quantity may be identified with the fuel gas flow rate, or with the position of the knobs regulating the cookers and their intensity.

In fact, said quantities (electrical current or power, fuel gas flow rate) characterise the activity of the cooktop, i.e. are intrinsically related to the thermal power developed in the heat generation zone.

From the examples made, to be understood as not exhaustive, it may be understood that the measured quantity should substantially be a direct and unequivocal indication of the status and activity of the cooktop. i.e being substantially not influenced and altered by external factors.

The control and measurement of said physical quantity allow precise and accurate monitoring of the operation of the cooktop, allowing the reduction or elimination of false positives due to the presence and conditioning of external factors (e.g. heat sources placed in the proximity of the cooktop).

It should be noted that said physical quantity, as it will be seen below, may advantageously be controlled and measured upstream of the cooktop, thus avoiding any modification of the data detected.

By "upstream" it is to be understood that the thermal power of the cooktop, provided in the heat generation zone (electric plate, cooker, burner, induction plate, etc.), is determined by measuring the current or electric power or flow rate of the fuel gas.

The measurement of said quantities takes place advantageously in the proximity of the (electrical or gas) supply or adjustment means arranged, as is known, upstream of the heat generation zone (thus upstream of the cooktop).

This measurement is thus difficult to be influenced and/or altered by external factors, being both the current or electrical power and the fuel gas flow rate quantities directly related to the activity of the cooktop and thus difficult to be influenced and/or altered by external factors.

For example, instead, the measurement of the air temperature in the proximity of the cooktop, is not directly and unequivocally indicative of the activity of the cooktop, as it is modifiable and alterable by external factors, such as for example the proximity to a heat source (electric oven, microwave oven, etc.); the measurement of the temperature, therefore, could create false positives and activate the accessory 2 even when the cooktop is switched off.

Nothing prevents the system according to the present invention from being provided with a plurality of sensors, each dedicated to measuring and monitoring a specific physical quantity; this allows better accuracy and more accurate control of the said system, allowing reducing or eliminating possible false positives.

For example, temperature sensors, flame sensors, such as thermocouples, thermopiles, pyrometers or the like, may be used.

In the case of an electric cooktop, the control of the temperature of the plates may be added to the control of the electrical current/power absorbed; if there is a small current dispersion detected by the current sensor (potentially, sufficient condition to consider the cooktop as switched on), the temperature detected by the plates will confirm whether the cooktop is in operation or not and possibly what power level it delivers (generally the operation of a cooker may vary between a minimum power and a maximum power condition),

in this case, the processing and control unit will consider both data (electrical current and temperature) to determine whether the cooktop is in operation and to activate or not the accessory.

Depending on the type of sensor used or the type of application, the system 3 may be equipped with an analog-to-digital signal conversion unit, so as to discretise an analog signal and obtain a binary signal.

Moreover, in accordance with possible constructive variants, the processing and control unit, once the accessory is activated, may further adjust its operating parameters based on the physical quantity values acquired after the switching on of the cooktop.

For example, in the case of an electric cooktop, the processing and control unit adjusts the revolution speed of the suction hood according to the electrical current/power absorption of the said cooktop.

The system according to the present invention is advantageously applicable also to existing cooktops.

The application of the system according to the present invention to an induction cooktop to which a suction hood is associated, which serves as an accessory, is now described by way of example and without any limiting intent.

In this case the physical quantity monitored is the current or electrical power required by the cooktop and the sensor detects the absorption of said electrical current/power; said sensor may therefore comprise voltmeters, ammeters, inductive sensors, capacitive sensors, resistive sensors, Hall effect sensors, amperometric transformers, Rogowski coils or the like.

In accordance with a possible constructive variant, the system according to the present invention may be plugged into the power supply socket to which the cooktop is connected (upstream measure), so as to directly control the electrical current/power required by the cooktop.

Said system may be installed by means of an insertion upstream of the cooktop, and is advantageously configured in such a way as:

- to be able to plug into and couple to the power supply socket;

- to receive and power the electrical plug of the cooktop.

In particular, said container body 30 may be provided with means for the coupling with said electrical socket and means for the coupling with said plug, so as to guarantee the passage of current, and houses therein also the relative electrical current or power sensor means.

Said system, therefore, being arranged between the electrical power source and the cooktop, is capable of determining the electrical current/power required and absorbed by said cooktop (as said the electrical current/power is indicative of the status of the cooktop). Such constructive variant allows installing and using the system according to the present invention on new or existing cooktops, avoiding complex electrical connections or cutting and splicing of the power cables of the cooktop.

In accordance with possible different constructive variants, the system according to the present invention may be connected in series or in parallel to the power supply means of the cooktop.

Said sensor communicates the data detected to the processing and control unit which, through said algorithm, processes the data and compares it with the reference values so as to provide commands and/or operating instructions to the hood.

If the detected current/power value is greater than the pre-stored threshold value, the processing unit outputs a switch-on control signal to the hood.

The hood activates and draws air according to pre-set operating modes and parameters, such as the revolution speed of the motor or the amount of air drawn (for example, the hood turns on the lighting means and works with the number one gear).

Such parameters may be adapted and modified according to the user needs or preferences.

When the detected current/power value returns to be less than the pre-stored threshold value, the processing unit outputs a switch-off signal to the hood, which will remain switched off until the absorbed current/power value exceeds the threshold value.

Moreover, in accordance with possible constructive variants, the processing and control unit may adjust the operating parameters of the hood according to the electric current/power absorbed by the cooktop.

For example, the more electrical current/power is absorbed, the higher is the revolution speed of motor of the hood, so as to draw more air; in fact an increase in the absorption of electric current/power is indicative of an increase in the number of cookers in operation and thus of a greater amount of fumes and vapours potentially produced. The processing and control unit may be provided with a series of reference values, each indicative of a given status of the cooktop: switched off, only one cooker on, two cookers on, three cookers on, etc., or indicative of the consumption of a specific cooker, so as to judge whether the largest or the smallest cooker is on.

These reference values allow accurate and fully automated accessory adjustment of the accessory, so as to meet the user's needs.

Alternatively the system may be equipped with additional and appropriate sensors, so as to determine how many and which cookers are still active, by adjusting the operating parameters of the suction hood.

In such a case, in fact, the processing and control unit beside considering the electrical current/power absorption, also knows the number of active cookers and thus can adjust the suction hood more effectively and efficiently.

Finally, nothing prevents the user from intervening directly on the switching on, adjustment or switching off of the hood, or in general of the accessory, regardless of the status of the cooktop, or setting independently the operating parameters of said hood, or in general of the said accessory.

What illustrated is widely extensible, with devices within reach of the man skilled in the art, to different accessories applicable to cooktops such as, for example, in addition to suction hoods, lighting means, air exchange means, automated window fixtures or the like.

For example, in the case of automated window fixtures, the automation system according to the present invention interacts and cooperates with the actuating means controlling the opening and closing of said window fixtures.

Such an accessory may also be an air treatment unit, adapted to guarantee environmental parameters, such as temperature, relative and/or absolute humidity, capable of satisfying the thermo-hygrometric wellness within the kitchen room.

In short, the essential general features of the automation system according to the present invention may be summarised as follows: - determining the distinctive and indicative physical quantity of the specific cooktop;

- determining the sensor suitable for measuring and detecting said physical quantity;

- processing the acquired data and comparing it with one reference value;

- activating, adjusting and/or deactivating one or more accessories associated to the cooktop, in accordance with the operating condition of the said cooktop, based on preset operating instructions and directives.

It is clear that in the practical embodiment of the invention several modifications and further variants may be provided, all falling within the same inventive concept; all the various components and details previously described may also be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

For example, the automation system according to the present invention may also be applied to gas cooktops.

In this case, the physical quantity monitored is identifiable with the fuel gas flow rate, either by the position of the knobs regulating the cookers, or by the presence of flames.

The sensor may thus comprise optical means, position detection means, flow or flow rate sensors, flame sensors, thermocouples, temperature sensors, thermopiles, pyrometers or the like.

Once the physical quantity is determined and measured, the operation of the automation system operates in accordance with what previously illustrated.

Other constructive variants are viable and inferable by the man skilled in the art, without this limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

For example, the processing and control unit of the automation system 3 may correspond to that of the cooktop or of the accessory associated thereto, where said devices are conveniently provided with processing and control units.

The system according to the present invention, may thus envisage a processing and control unit:

- independent and dedicated, independent of those of the accessory 2 and/or of the cooktop 1 ;

- it consists of and corresponds to that of the cooktop 1 ;

- it consists of and corresponds to that of the accessory 2.

In the last two cases, therefore, the intelligence of the automation system 3 lies and consists in the electronics of the cooktop 1 or of the accessory 2.

In particular, the processing and control unit of the accessory 2 or of the cooktop 1 , besides managing the operating parameters of the said accessory 2 or cooktop 1 , is provided and equipped with the means previously described, such as transmitting/receiving means, memory means, algorithms, so as to implement the functions and operations of the automation system according to the present invention.

Said processing and control unit, then communicates with said sensor means and operates and works according to what illustrated.

Moreover, according to a possible embodiment variant, the system according to the present invention may send the data acquired by the sensor means and/or processed by the processing and control unit to a server or to a remote device. This variant allows storing and/or remotely controlling the status of the cooktop, so as to be able to check its operation and optionally process notification, warning, alarm or similar signals, such as for example sms (Short Message Service), emails or the like.

Claims

Automation system (3) for the automatic switching on, adjustment and/or switching off of at least one accessory (2) for cooktops ( 1 ), in accordance with the operating condition of the cooktop ( 1) to which said accessory (2) is associated, comprising:

- at least one accessory (2) associated to a cooktop ( 1 );

characterised in that:

- it is provided with at least one sensor means adapted to detect at least one physical quantity distinctive and indicative of the status and activity of the said cooktop ( 1 );

- it controls and determines the switching on, adjustment and/or switching off of said accessory (2) in accordance with the operating condition of the said cooktop (1 ), detected by said sensor means;

and in that said physical quantity:

- is subject to detectable variations between the standby status and operating status of the cooktop ( 1 );

- is uni vocally associable to the cooktop ( 1 ), depends and varies from the status of the same;

is directly indicative of the activity of the said cooktop ( 1 ).

Automation system (3) according to claim 1 , wherein said automation system (3) further comprises:

at least one processing and control unit capable of processing the signals of the said sensor means, being provided with receiving/transmitting means, memory means wherein one or more reference values and one or more operating instructions are preset and stored, a suitable algorithm capable of processing and comparing data detected with said one or more reference values;

- data transmission means;

at least one data receiving unit; the switching on, adjustment and/or switching off of said accessory (2) being determined and controlled by the processing and control unit in accordance with the operating condition of the said cooktop ( 1 ), based on the operating instructions stored in said processing and control unit. Automation system (3) according to claim 2, wherein said processing and control unit may correspond to that of the cooktop ( 1 ), where said cooktop (1 ) is provided with it.

Automation system (3) according to claim 2, wherein said processing and control unit may correspond to that of said accessory (2), where said accessory (2) is provided with it.

Automation system (3) according to the previous claims, wherein said automation system (3) further comprises a container body (30) wherein at least said processing and control unit is housed.

Automation system (3) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said receiving unit may be positioned on said accessory (2). Automation system (3) according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 6, wherein said cooktop ( 1) is an electric cooktop and said physical quantity is identifiable with the electrical current or power absorbed by the cooktop.

Automation system (3) according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 6, wherein said cooktop ( 1) is an induction cooktop and said physical quantity is identifiable with the electrical current or power absorbed by the cooktop.

Automation system (3) according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 6, wherein said cooktop ( 1 ) is a fuel gas cooktop and said physical quantity is identifiable with the fuel gas flow rate, or with the position of the knobs regulating the cookers and the intensity thereof.

Automation system (3) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said accessory (2) comprises a suction hood or the like.

Automation system (3) according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 9, wherein said accessory (2) comprises lighting means or the like. Automation system (3) according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 9, wherein said accessory (2) comprises an air treatment unit.

Method for the automatic switching on, adjustment and/or switching off of at least one accessory (2) for cooktops ( 1 ), said accessory (2) and cooktop ( 1 ) defining the automation system (3) according to the previous claims 1 to 12,

characterised in that the following steps are provided:

determining the distinctive and indicative physical quantity of the cooktop ( 1 );

determining the sensor suitable for measuring and detecting said physical quantity;

acquiring the data detected by the sensor means;

- processing the acquired data and comparing it with at least one reference value;

activating, adjusting and/or deactivating one or more accessories (2) associated to the cooktop ( 1 ), in accordance with the operating condition of the said cooktop ( 1), based on preset operating instructions.