WO2021052903A1

WO2021052903A1 - Residual heat prompting method for cooktop and cooktop

Info

Publication number: WO2021052903A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/075630
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lei Zhang; Ye LU; Tong Xie; Junjie Fu
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2019-09-18
Filing date: 2020-09-14
Publication date: 2021-03-25
Also published as: CN112524648A; EP4031811A1

Abstract

A residual heat prompting method for a cooktop and a cooktop is provided, the method including: obtaining a first duration of the last time of working of a heating module of the cooktop; determining a second duration according to at least the first duration; and starting prompting when the heating module finishes the last time of working until the second duration expires. The solutions provided in the present invention can prompt the residual heat of the cooktop after the cooktop is turned off, effectively preventing a user from being burned.

Description

RESIDUAL HEAT PROMPTING METHOD FOR COOKTOP AND

COOKTOP

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the technical field of cooktops, and in particular, to a residual heat prompting method for a cooktop and a cooktop.

Related Art

A cooktop is one of essential appliances in daily family life of people, and provides a heating function for users to cook food.

During working, the cooktop produces high heat to heat pots placed on the cooktop, and usually requires a long time to cool naturally after use. Especially a surface of the cooktop in contact with the pots is usually at an extremely high temperature for a long time to effectively heat the spots. In addition, because the cooktop surface is usually directly exposed, if a user cleans the cooktop surface after turning off the cooktop but before the cooktop is completely cooled, the user is certainly burned by the cooktop surface.

For example, a burner head is still at a relatively high temperature for a period of time after a gas cooktop is turned off. If a user cleans the burner head during this period of time, the user is certainly burned.

The prior art cannot provide an effective solution to resolve the burning problem for users.

SUMMARY

A purpose of embodiments of the present invention is to provide an improved cooktop and a residual heat prompting method for the cooktop. Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention provide a residual heat prompting method for cooktop, including: obtaining a first duration of the last time of working of a heating module of the cooktop; determining a second duration according to at least the first duration; and starting prompting when the heating module finishes the last time of working until the second duration expires.

In the solutions in the embodiment of the present invention, residual heat of the cooktop can be effectively prompted after the cooktop is turned off, effectively preventing a user from being burned. Specifically, the second duration for prompting the residual heat is determined according to the first duration of the last time of working of the heating module. Compared with disposing a temperature sensor on a surface of the cooktop to indicate the residual heat, influence of factors such as an ambient temperature and a high temperature generated during working of the cooktop on the temperature sensor can be effectively avoided, and an estimated residual heat prompting duration is more accurate.

Further, the second duration matches a cooling time of the heating module, so that when the second duration expires and the prompting is stopped, the residual heat of the heating module and the entire cooktop can be naturally cooled to a relatively proper temperature. At this time, a user is not burned even if the user directly touches the heating module.

Optionally, the heating module includes a burner, and the obtaining a first duration of the last time of working of a heating module of the cooktop includes: obtaining a first duration of the last time of burning of the burner. In this way, for a gas cooktop, the first duration can be accurately determined according to a burning duration of the burner.

Optionally, the cooktop includes a flame detection module, and the obtaining a first duration of the last time of burning of the burner includes: obtaining flame burning information of the burner detected by the flame detection module; when the flame burning information is ignition, starting timing; when the flame burning information is extinction, ending the timing; and determining a duration from the start of the timing to the end of the timing as the first duration. In this way, the flame burning information of the burner is detected by using the flame detection module, and a duration from the last time of flame burning to the last time of flame extinction is determined as the first duration. Since the flame burning is a direct cause of temperature increase of the cooktop, a more proper second duration can be obtained based on the first duration of the flame burning of the burner.

Optionally, the burner includes a burner head. The flame detection module is disposed in a burning hole of the burner head to start timing in time when the cooktop starts to work, so as to obtain an accurate first duration. For example, the flame detection module may be disposed at an inner side of a burning hole.

Optionally, the cooktop includes a valve body control module, where the valve body control module is configured to control a gas valve body of the cooktop to be opened or closed; and the obtaining a first duration of the last time of burning of the burner includes: obtaining control information of the valve body control module; when the control information is that the gas valve body is opened, starting timing; when the control information is that the gas valve body is closed, ending the timing; and determining a duration from the start of the timing to the end of the timing as the first duration. In this way, by using an association between an opening duration of the gas valve body and a flame burning duration, the first duration can be determined by recording the opening duration of the gas valve body, and the first duration can also more accurately reflect the flame burning duration of the burner.

Optionally, the determining a second duration according to at least the first duration includes: querying a preset association table according to the first duration, where the preset association table records a plurality of candidate first durations and a plurality of candidate second durations, and an association between the candidate first duration and the candidate second duration; and determining a candidate second duration associated with the first duration as the second duration. In this way, by predetermining the candidate second durations associated with the different candidate first durations, a suitable second duration can be determined according to a current obtained first duration, so as to obtain a second duration relatively suitable for current residual heat of the cooktop.

Optionally, before the determining a second duration according to at least the first duration, the method further includes: obtaining a third duration, where the third duration is a duration of prompting after the heating module finishes the second last time of working. Optionally, the determining a second duration according to at least the first duration further includes: determining a larger one of the candidate second duration associated with the first duration and the third duration as the second duration. In this way, the second duration can be determined according to a longer one of a heating duration of the last time of heating and a heating duration of the second last time of heating, so as to properly extend the residual heat prompting duration, thereby ensuring that the residual heat of the heating module and the cooktop does not harm a human body when the prompting is stopped.

Optionally, the second duration is proportional to the first duration. In other words, a longer heating duration of the heating module brings a longer cooling duration required after the heating module finishes working and a corresponding longer residual heat prompting duration.

Optionally, the heating module includes a heating coil, and the obtaining a first duration of the last time of working of a heating module of the cooktop includes: obtaining a first duration of the last time of heating of the heating coil. In this way, for an induction range, the first duration can be accurately determined according to a working duration of the heating coil.

The embodiments of the present invention further provide a cooktop, including: a heating module; a timing module configured to obtain a first duration of the last time of working of the heating module; a master control module coupled to the timing module to receive the first duration and configured to determine a second duration according to at least the first duration; and an alarm prompting module coupled to the master control module to receive the second time duration and configured to start prompting when the heating module finishes the last time of working until the second duration expires.

In the solutions in the embodiment of the present invention, under control of the master control module, residual heat of the cooktop can be effectively prompted through the alarm prompting module after the cooktop is turned off, effectively preventing a user from being burned. Specifically, the second duration for prompting the residual heat is determined according to the first duration of the last time of working of the heating module. Compared with disposing a temperature sensor on a surface of the cooktop to indicate the residual heat, influence of factors such as an ambient temperature and a high temperature generated during working of the cooktop on the temperature sensor can be effectively avoided, and an estimated residual heat prompting duration is more accurate. Further, the second duration matches a cooling time of the heating module, so that when the second duration expires and the prompting is stopped, the residual heat of the heating module and the entire cooktop can be naturally cooled to a relatively proper temperature. At this time, a user is not burned even if the user directly touches the heating module.

Optionally, the heating module includes a burner, and the timing module includes: a first timing sub-module configured to obtain a first duration of the last time of burning of the burner. In this way, for a gas cooktop, the first timing sub-module can accurately determine the first duration according to a burning duration of the burner.

Optionally, the cooktop further includes: a flame detection module configured to detect flame burning information of the burner, where the master control module is coupled to the flame detection module to receive the flame burning information; and when the flame burning information is ignition, the master control module controls the first timing sub- module to start timing; and when the flame burning information is extinction, the master control module controls the first timing sub-module to end the timing, and determines a duration from the start of the timing to the end of the timing as the first duration. In this way, the flame burning information of the burner is detected by using the flame detection module, and a duration from the last time of flame burning to the last time of flame extinction is determined as the first duration. Since the flame burning is a direct cause of temperature increase of the cooktop, a more proper second duration can be obtained based on the detected first duration of the flame burning of the burner.

Optionally, the burner includes: a burner head base having an air outlet; and a burner head located on the burner head base and having an air inlet fitting the air outlet, where the air inlet is configured to introduce gas into the burner head, and the flame detection module is disposed in a burning hole of the burner head to start timing in time when the cooktop starts to work, so as to obtain an accurate first duration.

Optionally, the cooktop further includes: a valve body control module configured to control a gas valve body of the cooktop to be opened or closed and coupled to the master control module to send control information, where when the control information is that the gas valve body is opened, the master control module controls the first timing sub-module to start timing; and when the control information is that the gas valve body is closed, the master control module controls the first timing sub-module to end the timing, and determines a duration from the start of the timing to the end of the timing as the first duration. In this way, by using an association between an opening duration of the gas valve body and a flame burning duration, the master control module and the first timing sub-module can determine the first duration by recording the opening duration of the gas valve body, and the first duration can also more accurately reflect the flame burning duration of the burner.

Optionally, the master control module includes: a querying sub-module configured to query a preset association table according to the first duration, where the preset association table records a plurality of candidate first durations and a plurality of candidate second durations, and an association between the candidate first duration and the candidate second duration; and a determining sub-module configured to determine a candidate second duration associated with the first duration as the second duration. In this way, by predetermining the candidate second durations associated with the different candidate first durations, a suitable second duration can be determined according to a current obtained first duration, so as to obtain a second duration relatively suitable for current residual heat of the cooktop.

Optionally, the master control module further includes: an obtaining sub-module configured to obtain a third duration before the second duration is determined according to at least the first duration, where the third duration is a duration of prompting after the heating module finishes the second last time of working.

Optionally, the master control module further includes: a selecting sub-module configured to determine a larger one of the candidate second duration associated with the first duration and the third duration as the second duration. In this way, the second duration can be determined according to a longer one of a heating duration of the last time of heating and a heating duration of the second last time of heating, so as to properly extend the residual heat prompting duration, thereby ensuring that the residual heat of the heating module and the cooktop does not harm a human body when the prompting is stopped. Optionally, the second duration is proportional to the first duration. In other words, a longer heating duration of the heating module brings a longer cooling duration required after the heating module finishes working and a corresponding longer residual heat prompting duration.

Optionally, the alarm prompting module includes: an LED indicator; and a buzzer. In this way, the user can be clearly and intuitively prompted that the current residual heat of the cooktop is relatively high, so that the user is prevented from being burned as a result of touching the cooktop.

Optionally, the heating module includes a heating coil, and the timing module includes: a second timing sub-module configured to obtain a first duration of the last time of heating of the heating coil. In this way, for an induction range, the second timing sub-module can accurately determine the first duration according to a working duration of the heating coil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a residual heat prompting method for a cooktop according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a specific implementation of step S102 in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a partial schematic structural diagram of a cooktop according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a working principle of a cook according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings:

1-Cooktop; 10-Heating module; 11-Timing module; 111-First timing sub-module; 12- Master control module; 121-Querying sub-module; 122-Determining sub-module; 123- Obtaining sub-module; 124-Selecting sub-module; 13-Alarm prompting module; 14- Burner; 141-Burner head; 142-Burning hole; 142a-lnner-ring burning hole 142b-Outer-ring burning hole; 144-Ignition needle; 15-Panel; 16-Flame detection module; 17-Valve body control module; 18-Ignition module; 19-Ignition triggering module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As mentioned in the background, the prior art cannot provide an effective solution for prompting residual heat of a cooktop. Since current residual heat of a cooktop is not known, a user is easily burned during daily use.

In order to resolve the above technical problem, embodiments of the present invention provide a residual heat prompting method for cooktop, including: obtaining a first duration of the last time of working of a heating module of the cooktop; determining a second duration according to at least the first duration; and starting prompting when the heating module finishes the last time of working until the second duration expires.

In the solutions in the embodiment of the present invention, residual heat of the cooktop can be effectively prompted after the cooktop is turned off, effectively preventing a user from being burned. Specifically, the second duration for prompting the residual heat is determined according to the first duration of the last time of working of the heating module. Compared with disposing a temperature sensor on a surface of the cooktop to indicate the residual heat, influence of factors such as an ambient temperature and a high temperature generated during working of the cooktop on the temperature sensor can be effectively avoided, and an estimated residual heat prompting duration is more accurate. Further, the second duration matches a cooling time of the heating module, so that when the second duration expires and the prompting is stopped, the residual heat of the heating module and the entire cooktop can be naturally cooled to a relatively proper temperature. At this time, a user is not burned even if the user directly touches the heating module.

To make the objectives, the features, and the advantages of the present invention clearer, the following further describes specific embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a residual heat prompting method for a cooktop according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, referring to FIG. 1, the residual heat prompting method for a cooktop in this embodiment may include the following steps.

Step S101: Obtain a first duration of the last time of working of a heating module of the cooktop.

Step S102: Determine a second duration according to at least the first duration.

Step S103: Start prompting when the heating module finishes the last time of working until the second duration expires.

In one or more embodiments, the cooktop may be selected from a gas cooktop, an induction cooktop, and an induction-gas cooktop.

Specifically, different types of cooktops may have heating modules with different working principles.

For example, a heating module of a gas cooktop may include a burner to provide heat by burning gas. For another example, a heating module of an induction cooktop may include a heating coil to achieve a heating effect based on electromagnetic radiation generated when the heating coil is energized.

For another example, at least one induction cooktop and at least one gas cooktop may be integrated in an induction-gas cooktop, and correspondingly, a heating module may include at least one burner and at least one heating coil.

In one or more embodiments, when the heating module includes a burner, step S101 may include a step of obtaining a first duration of the last time of burning of the burner. In this way, for a gas cooktop or an induction-gas cooktop in which a burner is used for heating, the first duration can be accurately determined according to a burning duration of the burner.

Specifically, a duration from the last time of ignition of the burner to the last time of extinction of the burner may be determined as the first duration.

Correspondingly, step S103 may include: starting prompting upon the last time of extinction of the burner until the second duration expires.

In one or more embodiments, the cooktop may include a flame detection module to detect flame burning information of the burner.

For example, the burner may include a burner head. The flame detection module may be disposed at an inner side of a burning hole of the burner head to start timing in time when flame starts to burn on the burner, so as to obtain an accurate first duration.

In a specific implementation, the obtaining a first duration of the last time of burning of the burner may include a step of obtaining flame burning information of the burner detected by the flame detection module; when the flame burning information is ignition, start timing; when the flame burning information is extinction, ending the timing; and determining a duration from the start of the timing to the end of the timing as the first duration. For example, the flame detection module may detect in real time whether the burner is ignited or extinguished, and starts timing when the ignition is detected until the burner is extinguished.

In this way, the flame burning information of the burner is detected by using the flame detection module, and a duration from the last time of flame burning to the last time of flame extinction is determined as the first duration. Since the flame burning is a direct cause of temperature increase of the cooktop, a more proper second duration can be obtained based on the first duration of the flame burning of the burner.

Further, based on a detection result of the flame detection module, the opening or closing of the gas valve body of the cooktop can be more accurately controlled to avoid gas leakage and improve safety.

In a specific implementation, there may be a plurality of flame detection modules distributed in different areas of the burning hole. Each of the flame detection modules independently performs timing according to detected flame burning information, and generates the first duration based on respective timing results of the plurality of flame detection modules.

For example, a timing result with a largest value may be selected from the respective timing results of the plurality of flame detection modules as the first duration, so as to avoid timing errors caused by accidental extinction of flames of some burning holes during burning.

For another example, an average value of the respective timing results of the plurality of flame detection modules may be determined as the first duration.

In a specific implementation, when the burner includes a plurality of rings of burning holes, the flame detection module may be disposed beside an inner-ring burning hole in the plurality of rings of burning holes.

In a specific implementation, when the burner includes a plurality of rings of burning holes, a corresponding flame detection module may be disposed in each ring of burning holes. Each of the flame detection modules independently performs timing according to detected flame burning information, and generates the first duration based on respective timing results of the plurality of flame detection modules.

For example, a timing result with a largest value may be selected from the respective timing results of the plurality of flame detection modules as the first duration, so as to eliminate influence on the timing results of adjustment of a fire amount of the burner by a user during burning and accidental extinction of flames on a part of the ring.

Further, positions and numbers of flame detection modules disposed on different rings of burning holes may be the same or different.

In one or more embodiments, the cooktop may include a valve body control module configured to control a gas valve body of the cooktop to be opened or closed.

In a specific implementation, the obtaining a first duration of the last time of burning of the burner may include a step of obtaining control information of the valve body control module; when the control information is that the gas valve body is opened, start timing; when the control information is that the gas valve body is closed, ending the timing; and determining a duration from the start of the timing to the end of the timing as the first duration.

In this way, by using an association between an opening duration of the gas valve body and a flame burning duration, the first duration can be determined by recording the opening duration of the gas valve body, and the first duration can also more accurately reflect the flame burning duration of the burner.

In one or more embodiments, when the heating module includes a heating coil, step S101 may include a step of obtaining a first duration of the last time of heating of the heating coil. In this way, for an induction cooktop or an induction-gas cooktop in which a heating coil is used for heating, the first duration can be accurately determined according to a working duration of the heating coil. Specifically, a duration of the last time of energization of the heating coil may be determined as the first duration.

Correspondingly, step S103 may include: starting prompting upon the last time of deenergization of the heating coil until the second duration expires.

In one or more embodiments, with reference to FIG. 2, step S102 may include the following steps:

Step S1021: Query a preset association table according to the first duration, where the preset association table records a plurality of candidate first durations and a plurality of candidate second durations, and an association between the candidate first duration and the candidate second duration.

Step S1022: Determine a candidate second duration associated with the first duration as the second duration.

In this way, by predetermining the candidate second durations associated with the different candidate first durations, a suitable second duration can be determined according to a current obtained first duration, so as to obtain a second duration relatively suitable for current residual heat of the cooktop.

In a specific implementation, Table 1 exemplarily shows possible forms of the preset association table. The candidate first durations may be numeric intervals, and when the first duration determined in step S101 falls within one of the numeric intervals, a candidate second duration corresponding to the numeric interval is determined as the second duration for prompting the current residual heat.

Table 1: Preset association table

The specific values of the candidate first duration and the corresponding candidate second durations in Table 1 may be determined through experiments, etc. In actual application, a number of candidate first durations in Table 1 and a numerical interval of each candidate first duration may be flexibly adjusted as required. For example, the specific values of the candidate first duration and/or candidate second duration in Table 1 may be adjusted according to an ambient temperature of a position at which the cooktop is disposed.

In one or more embodiments, the second duration is proportional to the first duration. In other words, a longer heating duration of the heating module brings a longer cooling duration required after the heating module finishes working and a corresponding longer residual heat prompting duration (that is, the second duration).

In one or more embodiments, before the step S102, the residual heat prompting method in this embodiment may further include the following step: obtaining a third duration, where the third duration is a duration of prompting after the heating module finishes the second last time of working.

For example, when the heating module is a burner, the third duration may be a second duration for prompting residual heat when the burner is turned off for the second last time.

For another example, when the heating module is a heating coil, the third duration may be a second duration for prompting residual heat when the heating coil is deenergized for the second last time.

In a specific implementation, the cooktop may include a storage module configured to store a historical second duration for prompting residual heat for the last time. When the heating module works again, with respect to the candidate second duration determined according to the first duration after the heating module finishes current working, the data stored in the storage module is the third duration.

Further, step S102 may further include a step of determining a larger one of the candidate second duration associated with the first duration and the third duration as the second duration. In this way, the second duration can be determined according to a longer one of a heating duration of the last time of heating and a heating duration of the second last time of heating, so as to properly extend the residual heat prompting duration, thereby ensuring that the residual heat of the heating module and the cooktop does not harm a human body when the prompting is stopped.

For example, when a duration of the second last time of burning of the burner is relatively long, and the last time of burning is actually re-ignition and then extinction immediately, it is determined according to a duration of the last time of flame burning of the burner that the second duration is very short. However, in fact, since the burner is at a relatively high temperature during the long duration of the last second time of burning, in this embodiment, the respective second durations corresponding to the last two working durations of the burner are comprehensively considered, and a longer duration is selected as the second duration used in actual prompting of the residual heat.

Further, after the second duration is selected from the candidate second duration and the third duration, the newly selected second duration may be updated to the storage module, for example, to overwrite the data originally stored in the storage module, so as to be used in next time of working of the heating module.

In one or more embodiments, in step S103, a prompt may be issued in a form of sound, light, electricity, etc., so that a user can intuitively understand current residual heat of the cooktop.

For example, a light emitting diode (LED for short) indicator may be mounted on the gas valve body, and the LED indicator may be controlled to flash at a specific frequency to issue a prompt. When the second duration expires, the LED indicator is turned off. Further, during the second duration, as time evolves, the LED indicator may flash at an increasingly slow frequency. Further, one LED indicator light may be mounted on each of a left gas valve body and a right gas valve body of the cooktop.

For another example, a buzzer may be mounted on the cooktop to issue a sound prompt. When the second duration expires, the buzzer is turned off. FIG. 3 is an external schematic structural diagram of a cooktop according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an internal schematic structural diagram of a cooktop according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Specifically, referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a cooktop 1 may include: a heating module 10; a timing module 11 configured to obtain a first duration of the last time of working of the heating module 10; a master control module 12 coupled to the timing module 11 to receive the first duration and configured to determine a second duration according to at least the first duration; and an alarm prompting module 13 coupled to the master control module 12 to receive the second time duration and configured to start prompting when the heating module 10 finishes the last time of working until the second duration expires.

In the solutions in the embodiment of the present invention, under control of the master control module 12, residual heat of the cooktop 1 can be effectively prompted through the alarm prompting module 13 after the cooktop 1 is turned off, effectively preventing a user from being burned. Specifically, the second duration for prompting the residual heat is determined according to the first duration of the last time of working of the heating module 10. Compared with disposing a temperature sensor on a surface of the cooktop 1 to indicate the residual heat, influence of factors such as an ambient temperature and a high temperature generated during working of the cooktop 1 on the temperature sensor can be effectively avoided, and an estimated residual heat prompting duration is more accurate. Further, the second duration matches a cooling time of the heating module 10, so that when the second duration expires and the prompting is stopped, the residual heat of the heating module 10 and the entire cooktop 1 can be naturally cooled to a relatively proper temperature. At this time, a user is not burned even if the user directly touches the heating module 10.

In a specific implementation, the modules shown in FIG. 4 may be integrated into an igniter (not shown) of the cooktop 1.

In a specific implementation, the master control module 12 may include a memory (not shown) and a processor (not shown). A computer program is stored on the memory. When the computer program is executed by the processor, the steps of the technical solutions of the method shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are implemented. Correspondingly, for explanation of terms in this embodiment, refer to the related descriptions in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and details are not described herein again.

In a specific implementation, the master control module 12 may be a microcontroller unit (MCU for short).

In a specific implementation, the timing module 11 may be a timer.

In a specific implementation, the timing module 11 and the master control module 12 may be coupled in a wired or wireless manner. Alternatively, the timing module 11 and the master control module 12 may be integrated in the same integrated circuit chip. Alternatively, the timing module 11 may be a part of the master control module 12.

In a specific implementation, in response to that the heating module 10 stops working, the master control module 12 may issue a start instruction to the alarm prompting module 13 to instruct the alarm prompting module 13 to issue a prompt. Further, the start instruction may include the second duration, and a duration for starting the alarm prompting module 13 is the second duration. in one or more embodiments, during alarming of the alarm prompting module 13, if the heating module 10 works again, the alarm prompting module 13 may stop the alarming, and the master control module 12 may control the timing module 11 to retime to obtain a new first duration.

Further, when the heating module 10 stops working, the master control module 12 determines a candidate second duration according to the new first duration, compares the candidate second duration with the second duration of the previous alarming (that is, the third duration), and determines a duration with a larger value as the second duration for current alarming.

In one or more embodiments, still with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the heating module 10 may include a burner 14.

Specifically, the burner 14 may include: a burner head base (not shown) that may have an air outlet (not shown), and a burner head 141 located on the burner head base and having an air inlet (not shown) fitting the air outlet, where the air inlet is configured to introduce gas into the burner head 141.

In a specific implementation, the cooktop 1 may include a panel 15. The burner head base and the burner head 141 may be located on two sides of the panel 15 respectively. A through hole is provided on the panel 15 for communication between the air outlet and the air inlet. In actual use, the burner head 141 is exposed, and the burner head base is covered by the panel 15 and is in an invisible state.

In a specific implementation, the burner head 141 may include at least one ring of burning holes 142. FIG. 4 exemplarily shows a furnace head 141 including an inner-ring burning hole 142a and an outer-ring burning hole 142b as an example.

In one or more embodiments, the timing module 11 may include a first timing sub-module 111 configured to obtain a first duration of the last time of burning of the burner 14. In this way, for a gas cooktop, the first timing sub-module 111 can accurately determine the first duration according to a burning duration of the burner 14.

In one or more embodiments, still with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the cooktop 1 may include a flame detection module 16 configured to detect flame burning information of the burner 14, where the master control module 12 is coupled to the flame detection module 16 to receive the flame burning information.

For example, the flame detection module 16 may be disposed in an inner-ring burning hole 142a of the burner head 141 to start timing in time when the cooktop 1 starts to work, so as to obtain an accurate first duration.

For example, the flame detection module 16 may be disposed near an ignition needle 144.

In a specific implementation, the flame detection module 16 may detect flame burning information of the inner-ring burning hole 142a, and send the detected flame burning information to the master control module 12. When the flame burning information is ignition, the master control module 12 may control the first timing sub-module 111 to start timing; and when the flame burning information is extinction, the master control module 12 may control the first timing sub-module 111 to end the timing, and determine a duration from the start of the timing to the end of the timing as the first duration.

In this way, the flame burning information of the burner 14 is detected by using the flame detection module 16, and a duration from the last time of flame burning to the last time of flame extinction is determined as the first duration. Since the flame burning is a direct cause of temperature increase of the cooktop 1, a more proper second duration can be obtained based on the detected first duration of the flame burning of the burner 14.

In a specific implementation, there may be a plurality of flame detection modules 16 distributed at different positions on the inner-ring burning hole 142a and the outer-ring burning hole 142b.

In a specific implementation, the flame detection module 16 may detect a flame state of the burner 14 in real time, and send the flame burning information when the flame state changes. For example, when the flame state of the burner 14 changes from an extinction state to a burning state, flame burning information with content of ignition is sent. For another example, when the flame state of the burner 14 switches from the burning state to the extinction state, flame burning information with content of extinction is sent.

The flame detection module 16 may regularly monitor the flame state of the burner 14 to reduce power consumption.

In one or more embodiments, still with reference to FIG. 4, the cooktop 1 may further include a valve body control module 17 configured to control a gas valve body (not shown) of the cooktop 1 to be opened or closed and coupled to the master control module 12 to send control information.

When the control information is that the gas valve body is opened, the master control module 12 may control the first timing sub-module 111 to start timing; and when the control information is that the gas valve body is closed, the master control module 12 may control the first timing sub-module 111 to end the timing, and determine a duration from the start of the timing to the end of the timing as the first duration.

For example, at the same time of/before/after controlling the gas valve body to be opened, the valve body control module 17 may send, to the master control module 12, control information with content that the gas valve body is opened. In response to receiving the control information, the master control module 12 may instruct the first timing sub-module 111 to start timing. Further, at the same time of/before/after controlling the gas valve body to be closed, the valve body control module 17 may send, to the master control module 12, control information with content that the gas valve body is closed. In response to receiving the control information, the master control module 12 may instruct the first timing sub-module 111 to stop timing. In this way, the first timing sub-module 111 can continuously record the flame burning duration of the burner 14 to obtain the first duration.

In this way, by using an association between an opening duration of the gas valve body and a flame burning duration, the master control module 12 and the first timing sub- module 111 can determine the first duration by recording the opening duration of the gas valve body, and the first duration can also more accurately reflect the flame burning duration of the burner 14.

In one or more embodiments, still with reference to FIG. 4, the cooktop 1 may further include an ignition module 18 configured to generate a high-voltage pulse required for ignition.

Further, the cooktop 1 may further include: an ignition triggering module 19 configured to start an ignition sequence.

In one or more embodiments, still with reference to FIG. 4, the master control module 12 may include a querying sub-module 121 configured to query a preset association table according to the first duration, where the preset association table records a plurality of candidate first durations and candidate second durations, and an association between the candidate first duration and the candidate second duration; and a determining sub-module 122 configured to determine a candidate second duration associated with the first duration as the second duration. In this way, by predetermining the candidate second durations associated with the different candidate first durations, a suitable second duration can be determined according to a current obtained first duration, so as to obtain a second duration relatively suitable for current residual heat of the cooktop 1.

In a specific implementation, after determining the second duration, the determining sub- module 122 may send the second duration to the timing module 11. Further, after the burner 14 is turned off, the master control module 12 may control the alarm prompting module 13 to start prompting. At this time, the timing module 11 can function as a timer. The timing starts when the prompting starts and a duration is the second duration. When the second duration expires, the master control module 12 controls the alarm prompting module 13 to end the prompting. Alternatively, when the second duration expires, the alarm prompting module 13 automatically stops prompting.

In one or more embodiments, still with reference to FIG. 4, the master control module 12 may further include an obtaining sub-module 123 configured to obtain a third duration before the second duration is determined according to at least the first duration, where the third duration is a duration of prompting after the heating module 10 finishes the second last time of working.

In a specific implementation, the cooktop 1 may further include a storage module (not shown) configured to store the third duration. The obtaining sub-module 123 may be coupled to the storage module to read the third duration. Further, each time the burner 14 is turned off, the master control module 12 may update a current determined second duration to the storage module as the third duration for next residual heat prompting.

For example, the storage module may be a memory.

In a specific implementation, the storage module may be integrated in the master control module 12. Alternatively, the storage module may be independent of the master control module 12 and coupled to the master control module in a wired or wireless manner.

In a specific implementation, the storage module may be outside the cooktop 1. For example, the storage module may be a cloud, and the master control module 12 may communicate with the cloud to obtain the third duration. In one or more embodiments, still with reference to FIG. 4, the master control module 12 may further include a selecting sub-module 124 configured to determine a larger one of the candidate second duration associated with the first duration and the third duration as the second duration. In this way, the second duration can be determined according to a longer one of a heating duration of the last time of heating and a heating duration of the second last time of heating, so as to properly extend the residual heat prompting duration, thereby ensuring that the residual heat of the heating module 10 and the cooktop 1 does not harm a human body when the prompting is stopped.

In a specific implementation, after determining the second duration, the selecting sub- module 124 may send the second duration to the timing module 11. Further, after the burner 14 is turned off, the master control module 12 may control the alarm prompting module 13 to start prompting. At this time, the timing module 11 can function as a timer. The timing starts when the prompting starts and a duration is the second duration. When the second duration expires, the master control module 12 controls the alarm prompting module 13 to end the prompting. Alternatively, when the second duration expires, the alarm prompting module 13 automatically stops prompting.

In one or more embodiments, the second duration is proportional to the first duration. In other words, a longer heating duration of the heating module 10 brings a longer cooling duration required after the heating module 10 finishes working and a corresponding longer residual heat prompting duration.

In one or more embodiments, the alarm prompting module 13 may include an LED indicator; and a buzzer. In this way, the user can be clearly and intuitively prompted that the current residual heat of the cooktop 1 is relatively high, so that the user is prevented from being burned as a result of touching the cooktop.

In one or more embodiments, the heating module 10 may include a heating coil (not shown), and the timing module 11 may include a second timing sub-module (not shown) configured to obtain a first duration of the last time of heating of the heating coil. In this way, for an induction range, the second timing sub-module can accurately determine the first duration according to a working duration of the heating coil. It should be understood that in this embodiment of the present invention, the processor may be a central processing unit (CPU), or the processor may be another general- purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or another programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, or the like. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like.

It should be further understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present invention may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM for short), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM), used as an external cache. By way of examples but of no limitation, many forms of RAM are available, for example, a static random access memory (SRAM), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), a double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDRSDRAM), an enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), a synchronous connection to dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and a direct rambus random access memory (DRRAM).

Although specific implementation solutions have been described above, these implementation solutions are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, even if only a single implementation solution is described with respect to specific features. The feature examples provided in the present invention are intended to be illustrative instead of limitation, unless different expressions are made. In specific implementations, the technical features of one or more dependent claims may be combined with the technical features of the independent claims, and the technical features from the corresponding independent claims may be combined in any appropriate manner, rather than only through the specific combinations listed in the claims.

Although the present invention is disclosed as above, the present invention is not limited thereto. A person skilled in the art may make variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be subject to the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A residual heat prompting method for a cooktop, characterized by comprising: obtaining a first duration of the last time of working of a heating module of the cooktop; determining a second duration according to at least the first duration; and starting prompting when the heating module finishes the last time of working until the second duration expires.

2. The residual heat prompting method according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating module comprises a burner, and the obtaining a first duration of the last time of working of a heating module of the cooktop comprises: obtaining a first duration of the last time of burning of the burner.

3. The residual heat prompting method according to claim 2, characterized in that the cooktop comprises a flame detection module, and the obtaining a first duration of the last time of burning of the burner comprises: obtaining flame burning information of the burner detected by the flame detection module; when the flame burning information is ignition, starting timing; when the flame burning information is extinction, ending the timing; and determining a duration from the start of the timing to the end of the timing as the first duration.

4. The residual heat prompting method according to claim 3, characterized in that the burner comprises a burner head, wherein the flame detection module is disposed in a burning hole of the burner head.

5. The residual heat prompting method according to claim 2, characterized in that the cooktop comprises a valve body control module, wherein the valve body control module is configured to control a gas valve body of the cooktop to be opened or closed; and the obtaining a first duration of the last time of burning of the burner comprises: obtaining control information of the valve body control module; when the control information is that the gas valve body is opened, starting timing; when the control information is that the gas valve body is closed, ending the timing; and determining a duration from the start of the timing to the end of the timing as the first duration.

6. The residual heat prompting method according to claim 1, characterized in that the determining a second duration according to at least the first duration comprises: querying a preset association table according to the first duration, wherein the preset association table records a plurality of candidate first durations and a plurality of candidate second durations, and an association between the candidate first duration and the candidate second duration; and determining a candidate second duration associated with the first duration as the second duration.

7. The residual heat prompting method according to claim 6, characterized in that before the determining a second duration according to at least the first duration, the method further comprises: obtaining a third duration, wherein the third duration is a duration of prompting after the heating module finishes the second last time of working.

8. The residual heat prompting method according to claim 7, characterized in that the determining a second duration according to at least the first duration further comprises: determining a larger one of the candidate second duration associated with the first duration and the third duration as the second duration.

9. The residual heat prompting method according to claim 1, characterized in that the second duration is proportional to the first duration.

10. The residual heat prompting method according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating module comprises a heating coil, and the obtaining a first duration of the last time of working of a heating module of the cooktop comprises: obtaining a first duration of the last time of heating of the heating coil.

11. A cooktop (1), characterized by comprising: a heating module (10); a timing module (11) configured to obtain a first duration of the last time of working of the heating module (10); a master control module (12) coupled to the timing module (11) to receive the first duration and configured to determine a second duration according to at least the first duration; and an alarm prompting module (13) coupled to the master control module (12) to receive the second time duration and configured to start prompting when the heating module (10) finishes the last time of working until the second duration expires.

12. The cooktop (1) according to claim 11 , characterized in that the heating module (10) comprises a burner (14), and the timing module (11) comprises: a first timing sub-module (111) configured to obtain a first duration of the last time of burning of the burner (14).

13. The cooktop (1) according to claim 12, characterized by further comprising: a flame detection module (16) configured to detect flame burning information of the burner (14), wherein the master control module (12) is coupled to the flame detection module (16) to receive the flame burning information; and when the flame burning information is ignition, the master control module (12) controls the first timing sub-module (111) to start timing; and when the flame burning information is extinction, the master control module (12) controls the first timing sub- module (111) to end the timing, and determines a duration from the start of the timing to the end of the timing as the first duration.

14. The cooktop (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the burner (14) comprises: a burner head base having an air outlet; and a burner head (141) located on the burner head base and having an air inlet fitting the air outlet, wherein the air inlet is configured to introduce gas into the burner head (141), and the flame detection module (16) is disposed in a burning hole (142) of the burner head (141).

15. The cooktop (1) according to claim 12, characterized by further comprising: a valve body control module (17) configured to control a gas valve body of the cooktop (1) to be opened or closed and coupled to the master control module (12) to send control information, wherein when the control information is that the gas valve body is opened, the master control module (12) controls the first timing sub-module (111) to start timing; and when the control information is that the gas valve body is closed, the master control module (12) controls the first timing sub-module (111) to end the timing, and determines a duration from the start of the timing to the end of the timing as the first duration.

16. The cooktop (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the master control module (12) comprises: a querying sub-module (121) configured to query a preset association table according to the first duration, wherein the preset association table records a plurality of candidate first durations and a plurality of candidate second durations, and an association between the candidate first duration and the candidate second duration; and a determining sub-module (122) configured to determine a candidate second duration associated with the first duration as the second duration.

17. The cooktop (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that the master control module (12) further comprises: an obtaining sub-module (123) configured to obtain a third duration before the second duration is determined according to at least the first duration, wherein the third duration is a duration of prompting after the heating module (10) finishes the second last time of working.

18. The cooktop (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that the master control module (12) further comprises: a selecting sub-module (124) configured to determine a larger one of the candidate second duration associated with the first duration and the third duration as the second duration.

19. The cooktop (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the second duration is proportional to the first duration.

20. The cooktop (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the alarm prompting module (13) comprises: an LED indicator; and a buzzer.

21. The cooktop (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the heating module (10) comprises a heating coil, and the timing module (11) comprises: a second timing sub-module configured to obtain a first duration of the last time of heating of the heating coil.