Apparatus for marking the operation of an induction coil by illumination

• US 20030111460A1
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Original Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Inventors: Schilling, Wilfried, Stoeffler, Michael, Boegel, Joerg
• Granted Patent: US 6,828,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/622
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/1218 with arrangements using lights for heating zone state indication

Abstract

An illuminating apparatus for an induction coil of an induction cooking field is in the form of a ⅓ circular ring segment and carries conducting tracks, which form turns of a coil, which is connected to several LEDs. During induction coil operation an alternating voltage is induced in the coil and consequently the LEDs are supplied. With such an illuminating apparatus it is possible without additional wiring expenditure to illuminate an induction coil under a glass ceramic cooking field.

Claims

1. Apparatus for marking the operation or position of an induction coil by illumination, said induction coil has a magnetic field and is part of an inductive cooking field, wherein said apparatus has a support and said support has at least one electric illumination means, said apparatus further having a transformatory receiving coil for placing in said magnetic field of said induction coil, and said receiving coil is connected to said illumination means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there are several of said illumination means per one said receiving coil, and wherein said illumination means are LEDs and are connected in alternately oppositely poled manner to said receiving coil.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said receiving coil is located on said support, said support being a printed circuit board, and wherein said receiving coil has conducting tracks, conducting tracks being applied to said printed circuit board.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said receiving coil passes round near to an outer rim of said support and is located on both sides of said support.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said support is substantially flat and thin with two surfaces, said receiving coil being located on both said surfaces of said support.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there are voltage limiting means provided for said illumination means, said voltage limiting means being constituted by series resistors for said illumination means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said voltage limiting means are located on said support as said illumination means, wherein they are located in the vicinity of said illumination means.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said induction coil is flat and circular, said support having essentially a circular ring sector-shape.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the radius of said circular ring sector-shaped support is such that said support, in accordance with the shape of said induction coil, is to be positioned with a specific spacing of 1 to 5 cm from said induction coil.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein light distributing means are associated with said at least one illumination means for producing an elongated distributed light phenomenon from the light of an at least substantially punctiform light source.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said light distributing means are located over at least one said light source and are made from transparent plastic.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the path of said light distributing means as a light phenomenon roughly corresponds to said shape of said induction coil.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is situated underneath a translucent, thermal insulation.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is constructed for the retrofitting of a random induction coil.

15. Inductive heating device with an induction coil and a cover positioned above said induction coil, said cover for example being a cooking field, wherein an apparatus according to claim 1 is positioned close to said induction coil.

16. Inductive heating device according to claim 15, wherein one or more supports substantially surround said induction coil with a spacing of a few centimetres, and wherein there are at least four illumination means per induction coil.

17. Inductive heating device according to claim 15, wherein a translucent, thermal insulation is provided between one said support and said cover and shields said support completely at least up to said cover.

18. Inductive heating device according to claim 17, wherein said thermal insulation is provided with an IR-reflecting coating.

19. Inductive heating device according to claim 18, wherein said coating is of glass.

20. Inductive heating device according to claim 15, wherein said induction coil is fixed to a base holder and said at least one support is fixed to said same base holder.