Food preparation system with inductive power

• US 7,355,150 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2006
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips IP Ventures B.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stien, Nathan P., Baarman, David W., Lord, John J., Bachman, Wesley J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leung; Philip H
• Application Number:
  US11/388,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20070221668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 219620-627, 219663-668, 219/506, 219/518, 219/702, 219/714, 994/51, 993/25
• US Class Current: 219/620
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/321 the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2437 Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/00 Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2213/06 Cook-top or cookware capable of communicating with each other
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/062 for cooking plates or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/1236 adapted to induce current in a coil to supply power to a device and electrical heating devices powered in this way
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A food preparation system includes a non-contact power supply for energizing a cooking appliance. The food preparation system includes a communication system for enabling communication between a food appliance and the system. The appliance transmits an identifier to the system. If the appliance does not have a transmitter, the system attempts to determine the type of appliance from a characterization of the power consumption by the appliance. If the appliance cannot be characterized, the food preparation system can be operated manually.

Claims

1. A food preparation system for use with a food preparation appliance having an inductive secondary, the system comprising:

a power supply including an inductive primary and being capable of driving the inductive primary at a plurality of frequencies;

measuring means for measuring a response of the inductive secondary to each of the frequencies, the plurality of responses forming a frequency response profile;

memory means for storing a plurality of appliance identifiers each associated with one of the frequency response profiles, the appliance identifiers including information regarding the use of the appliance; and

a processor means operatively coupled to the power supply, the measuring means, and the memory means, the processor means being for compiling the frequency response profile, for selecting from the memory means the appliance identifier and the associated use information as a function of the frequency response profile, and for controlling the power supply in accordance with the associated use information.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an alignment means for retaining the food preparation appliance in alignment with the first inductive primary, the alignment means including a magnet.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for measuring a response includes a means for measuring a voltage.