Method and apparatus for controlling a cooking device, in particular an induction hob

• US 8,779,338 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2008
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation NV (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation NV (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Jeanneteau, Laurent, Christiansen, Erik Svend, Rogolle, Thibaut, Zangoli, Massimo, Barocci, Mario
• Primary Examiner(s): Everhart, Caridad
• Application Number:
  US12/744,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20100252549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,106 Days
• Field of Search: 219/620, 219/660, 219/485, 219/486, 700/306, 700/299
• US Class Current: 219/660
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/105 Constructive details concerning the regulation of the temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/087 of electric circuits regulating heat
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/062 for cooking plates or the like

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a cooking device, in particular an induction hob. The method comprises the steps of activating an overload power (P_OVER) for at least one electric or electronic component of the cooking device by using at least two synchronized generators, which overload power (P_OVER) is greater than a standard maximum power (P_MAX), deactivating the overload power (P_OVER) after a predetermined period (Δt), and operating the cooking device at a power (P), which is at most the standard maximum power (P_MAX). The standard maximum power (P_MAX) is provided for a permanent operation of the cooking device. The overload power (P_OVER) and/or the period (Δt) are determined by a function depending on at least the overload power (P_OVER) and the period (Δt). The present invention relates further to a corresponding apparatus for controlling a cooking device, in particular an induction hob.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a cooking device, in particular an induction hob, which method comprises the following steps:

activating an overload power (P_OVER) for at least one electric or electronic component of the cooking device by using at least two synchronized generators, which overload power (P_OVER) is greater than a standard maximum power (P_MAX);

deactivating the overload power (P_OVER) after a predetermined period (Δ

t); and

operating the cooking device at a power (P), which is at most the standard maximum power (P_MAX);

wherein

the standard maximum power (P_MAX) is provided for a permanent operation of the cooking device,

the overload power (P_OVER) and/or the period (Δ

t) are determined by a function depending on at least the overload power (P_OVER) and the period (Δ

t), and

no additional components are required during activation of the overload power (P_OVER).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the standard maximum power (P_MAX) is determined by the properties of a voltage source that is associated with the cooking device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the overload power (P_OVER) and/or the period (Δ

t) are determined by an integral of the overload power (P_OVER) over the period (Δ

t).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the overload power (P_OVER) and/or the period (Δ

t) depend on at least one maximum temperature (T_MAX).

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the maximum temperature (T_MAX) depends on the properties of the at least one electric or electronic component of the cooking device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the overload power (P_OVER) is limited by an extended maximum power (P_EXMAX).

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the period (Δ

t) is limited by a maximum period (Δ

t_MAX).

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein a minimum period (Δ

t_MIN) between the step of deactivating the overload power (P_OVER) and a later step of activating an overload power (P_OVER) again is provided.

9. A computer program product stored on a computer usable medium, comprising computer readable program means for causing a computer to perform a method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8.

10. An apparatus for controlling a cooking device, in particular an induction hob, which apparatus is provided for:

activating an overload power (P_OVER) for at least one electric or electronic component of the cooking device by using at least two synchronized generators, which overload power (P_OVER) is greater than a standard maximum power (P_MAX), with the standard max power (P_MAX) being a function of the voltage source associated with the cooking device;

deactivating the overload power (P_OVER) after a predetermined period (Δ

t); and

operating the cooking device at a power (P), which is at most the standard maximum power (P_MAX);

wherein

the standard maximum power (P_MAX) is provided for a permanent operation of the cooking device,

the overload power (P_OVER) and/or the period (Δ

t) are determined by a function depending on at least the overload power (P_OVER) and the period (Δ

t), and

no additional components are required during activation of the overload power (P_OVER).

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus is realized in hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software.

12. A method for controlling a cooking device, in particular an induction hob, which method comprises the following steps:

activating an overload power (P_OVER) for at least one electric or electronic component of the cooking device by using at least two synchronized generators, which overload power (P_OVER) is greater than a standard maximum power (P_MAX), with the standard max power (P_MAX) being a function of the voltage source associated with the cooking device, wherein no additional components are required during activation of the overload power (P_OVER);

deactivating the overload power (P_OVER) after a predetermined period (Δ

t) which is less than a (Δ

t_MAX), and

operating the cooking device at a power (P), which is at most the standard maximum power (P_MAX), wherein

the standard maximum power (P_MAX) is provided for a permanent operation of the cooking device and the overload power (P_OVER) and/or the period (Δ

t) are determined by a function depending on at least the overload power (P_OVER) and the period (Δ

t).

13. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the generators are high power generators.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the operating step involves operating the cooking device at the power (P) for a minimum period of time (Δ

t_MIN), and further comprising;

reactivating an overload power (P_OVER); and

deactivating the overload power (P_OVER) after a predetermined period (Δ

t).

15. A method for controlling a cooking device, in particular an induction hob, which method comprises the following steps:

activating an overload power (P_OVER) for at least one electric or electronic component of the cooking device by using at least two high power synchronized generators, which overload power (P_OVER) is greater than a standard maximum power (P_MAX), wherein no additional components are required during activation of the overload power (P_OVER);

deactivating the overload power (P_OVER) after a predetermined period (Δ

t); and

operating the cooking device at a power (P), which is at most the standard maximum power (P_MAX) for a minimum period of time (Δ

t_MIN);

reactivating an overload power (P_OVER); and

deactivating the overload power (P_OVER) after a predetermined period (Δ

t), wherein

the standard maximum power (P_MAX) is provided for a permanent operation of the cooking device and the overload power (P_OVER) and/or the period (Δ

t) are determined by a function depending on at least the overload power (P_OVER) and the period (Δ

t).