System and Method for Induction Heating of a Soldering Iron

• US 20100258554A1
• Filed: 04/08/2009
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hakko Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hakko Corporation
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Mitsuhiko
• Granted Patent: US 9,724,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/616
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 3/03 electrically heated
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 3/033 comprising means for controlling or selecting the temperature or power

Abstract

A soldering iron system includes a power assembly that provides power to an induction heater at a variable voltage and a variable frequency. A control assembly adjusts the temperature of the heater in accordance with signals from a current detector coupled to the induction heater and a selection made by the user on an operating level selector.

Claims

1. A soldering iron system comprising:

a power assembly adapted to deliver power at an output voltage and an output frequency;

a magnetic induction heater adapted to receive the power from the power assembly, the heater having a temperature dependant upon the output voltage and the output frequency of the power assembly;

a current detector adapted to determine a current flow in the heater; and

a control assembly in communication with the current detector, the control assembly adapted to change at least one of the output voltage and the output frequency in accordance with the current flow in the heater.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a temperature selector indicating a desired temperature of the heater, wherein the control assembly is in communication with the temperature selector and is adapted to change the at least one of the output voltage and the output frequency in accordance with the desired temperature and the current flow in the heater.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the heater includes a magnetic alloy and a coil adapted to induce an electrical current in the magnetic alloy when the coil receives power.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control assembly is adapted to automatically select at least one of a plurality of current ranges in accordance with the current flow in the heater, and to change at least one of the output voltage and the output frequency in accordance with the selected current range.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of ranges includes a first range and a second range, wherein when the first range is selected only the output voltage is increased, wherein when the second range is selected both the output voltage and the output frequency are increased.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control assembly is configured to have a first control mode and a second control mode, the control assembly operating in one of the first and second control modes based on the determined current flow in the heater, wherein when operating in the first control mode the control assembly controls the power assembly to increase the output voltage and maintain the output frequency the same, wherein when operating in the second control mode the control assembly controls the power assembly to increase both the output voltage and the output frequency.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the power assembly is adapted to provide the output frequency within the range of about 200 kHz to about 600 kHz.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a status indicator operatively coupled to the current detector, the status indicator adapted to provide a visual indication of the current in the heater.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an output port operatively coupled to the current detector, the output port adapted to provide data representative of the current in the heater.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the control assembly is adapted to deliver power at a duty cycle percentage, and the control assembly is further adapted to change the duty cycle percentage in accordance with any one or both of the current flow in the heater and the desired temperature.

11. A method for operating a soldering iron, the method comprising:

selecting an operation level from among a plurality of operation levels;

supplying power to a coil at a voltage and a frequency, at least one of the voltage and the frequency being dependant upon the selected operation level, the voltage and the frequency causing magnetic induction heating of the soldering iron tip;

determining a change in current flow in the coil;

adjusting at least one of the voltage and the frequency in accordance with the determined change in the current flow.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting includes varying the voltage and the frequency in accordance with the determined change in the current flow.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the change in the current flow includes determining a current range from a among plurality of current ranges, and adjusting the at least one of the voltage and the frequency is performed in accordance with the determined current range.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the voltage and frequency are sufficient to induce magnetic induction heating of a soldering iron tip to a temperature above the Curie temperature of the soldering iron tip.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the frequency is within the range of about 200 kHz to about 600 kHz.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising recording data representative of the determined change in the current flow in the coil.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein supplying the power to the coil includes supplying the power at a duty cycle percentage, and further comprising adjusting the duty cycle percentage in accordance with any one or both of the determined change in the current flow and the selected operation level.