DE102009020905A1 - Hob for use in cookware, has multiple heating elements, which are arranged in or below hot plate for cooking zone, such that each heating element is assigned detection unit for pan detection - Google Patents

Abstract

The hob (10) has a hot plate and a cooking zone (12). Multiple heating elements (14) are arranged in or below the hot plate for a cooking zone, such that each heating element is assigned a detection unit for pan detection. A control unit (18) is provided, which is formed to switch the heating element. The detection unit detects a cooking utensil (16) on the hot plate above the heating element.

Description

The The present invention relates to a hob with a cooking plate and with at least one cooking zone.

at Cooktops it is standard in practice, the desired Cooking zone and the desired heating capacity of this cooking zone for a cookware by means of appropriate switching elements on a control panel of the hob select by the user. Selected cooking zone and heating power then become the user usually displayed by means of appropriate display elements in the control unit.

Further, various pan detection mechanisms for detecting the presence and / or size of cookware on a cooking zone are known in the prior art (see, for example, U.S. Pat DE 199 45 297 A1 . DE 197 00 753 A1 ), which are based for example on an inductive, capacitive or optical measuring principle.

Next discloses the DE 32 09 260 A1 a cooking station with at least three arranged around the cooking area sensors for detecting the position of a cookware. The heating power of the cooking zone is set automatically depending on the detected position of the cookware between the three sensors, ie the user does not have to press any switching element to select the desired cooking level. A disadvantage of this conventional cooking is, however, that the cookware must be significantly larger than the heated surface of the hob, so that the adjustment of the heating power can be performed in the desired shape.

From the DE 40 07 680 A1 a hob is known in which the cooking zone has a plurality of closely juxtaposed heating elements, a control always turns exactly those heating elements, which are covered by a cookware on the hotplate. Since the heating powers of the individual heating elements are set differently, by selecting the position of the cookware on the hotplate, ie via the heating elements, the user can change the heating power without having to operate any switching element once the desired temperatures have been set via the central control have been. A disadvantage of this conventional arrangement is the relatively large space required for a cooking zone for the different adjustable temperature ranges.

The DE 198 25 321 C1 describes a cooktop with a cooking zone and two sensors for detecting the presence and position of a cookware. The two sensors serve as a plus or minus button to change the heating power of the cooking zone. Ie. by moving the cookware in the direction of one of the two sensors, the user can change the heating power, wherein the power level is determined as a function of the time of the presence or absence of the cookware at the location of the sensor elements. The current set power level is displayed to the user via a seven-segment display in the control panel of the hob. Depending on the arrangement and distance of the sensor elements and in particular the size of the cookware, the setting of the desired heating power for the user may prove difficult.

It The object of the present invention is a hob with a Cooking plate and at least one cooking zone to provide the user with a simple, fast and accurate setting of a desired Cooking level allows.

These Task is solved by a hob with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and developments The invention is the subject of the dependent claims.

at the hob with a hotplate and at least one cooking zone is in and / or below the cooking plate for the at least a cooking zone is arranged a plurality of heating elements and is Each of the plurality of heating elements, a detection device is assigned to pan detection. Next is a control device provided, which is adapted to only those heating elements of the plurality of heating elements, their respective detection device a cookware on the hotplate above this heating element has detected, and the power levels of the heating elements so turned on as a function of the detection devices controlled position of the cookware.

at the user can create a desired cooking field Cooking level or heating power for a cookware in one Cooking zone on the cooking plate simply by an appropriate positioning of the cookware within the cooking zone without this to operate a separate switching element. Since each of the plurality of heating elements, a detection device assigned to pan detection, can be selected by the user Position of the cookware can be detected very accurately, creating a very precise adjustment of the heating power is possible.

Since the heating powers of the plurality of elements can be controlled by the control device, in comparison to the conventional hob described above with heating elements with different, fixedly assigned heat outputs at the same number of different possible cooking stages a smaller footprint for the cooking zone required or can be provided with the same space a larger number of different possible cooking levels.

For the hob can all usually be available standing cookware are used. In particular, there is no special restrictions regarding form and / or Size of suitable cookware.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention can the heating elements are each designed as induction heating elements be.

In In this case, the induction coils of the heating elements preferably in each case at the same time part of their assigned Be detecting devices. In this embodiment of the hob are no separate detection device in the form of additional Sensors (optical, inductive, capacitive, etc.) required.

In In another embodiment of the invention, the position of a Cookware on the hob, for example, as a position of his Center be detected.

In a still further embodiment of the invention, the hob comprise a plurality of cooking zones and it may be provided a switching device be, with the optional a division of the hob in this several cooking zones or in a common cooking zone selectable is. In this way, the hob can be used by the user for example as needed for several pots or for to use a larger pot.

Further For example, the at least one cooking zone may have a mark for position marking have the adjustable power levels. This measure allows the user to set the desired heating power facilitate.

After all may also be a display device for displaying a current heating power be provided for the cooking zone (s). By this measure can give the user a control over his attitude the desired heating power can be provided.

Above and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred, non-limiting Embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings better understandable. Show:

1A a schematic plan view of a hob of the invention with a cooking zone and a placed thereon cookware at a set cooking level 1;

1B a schematic plan view of the hob of 1A and a cookware placed on it at a set cooking level 5; and

2 a schematic plan view of a hob of the invention with four cooking zones.

Referring to 1A and 1B First, a hob according to a first embodiment will now be described in detail.

The stove top 10 includes a cooking plate, for example made of glass ceramic and exactly one cooking zone 12 , Below the glass ceramic plate is a plurality of induction coils as heating elements 14 arranged. In the embodiment shown here, a total of 18 × 15 = 270 heating elements are provided; Of course, the present invention is not limited to this number of heating elements.

On the hotplate, the user can cook within the cooking zone 16 (eg pot, pan and the like). The induction coils are charged in a known manner with alternating current, so in a cookware 16 be induced above the heating elements eddy currents that cause heating of the cookware.

The individual heating elements 14 the cooking zone 12 be from a controller 18 driven. The power levels of the heating elements 14 are doing according to a desired cooking level or heating power for the cookware 16 set.

Induction coils of heating elements 14 simultaneously serve as detection device for pot detection. Since such a pan detection method from the prior art is well known, can be dispensed with further explanation at this point.

Every heating element 14 or each detection device detects at regular intervals, whether on the hotplate above the respective heating element 14 a cookware 16 located. The detection devices are connected to the control device 18 coupled based on the detected pan detection signals the position of a cookware 16 within the cooking zone 12 determined on the hotplate.

The position of the cookware 16 within the cooking zone 12 can for example be the geometric center of the cookware 16 be determined in its plan view.

The positions in the cooking zone 12 of the hob 10 have been assigned in advance cooking levels or heating outputs (for example, 1 to 9). The Steuerein direction 18 then determines depending on the determined position of the cookware 16 on the hotplate a corresponding heating power. In other words, the user can by choosing the position of the cookware 16 in the cooking zone 12 adjust the desired heating power, without having to operate a switching element for this purpose. Similarly, the cooking level by the user by simply moving the cookware 16 to be changed.

For clarity shows 1B the same hob 10 with a cooking zone 12 on which a cookware 16 is positioned so that the cooking level 5 is set.

After determining the heating power in this way, the control device controls the power of the heating elements 14 above which are the cookware 16 is located according to the determined heating power. All other heating elements 14 over which there is no cookware 16 is located by the control device 18 switched off.

The user's by means of the positioning of the cookware 16 set cooking level, the user preferably by a display device 20 are displayed. This display device 20 is for example with the control device 18 coupled and in the control unit of the hob 10 integrated.

Alternatively, this display device can 20 but also be waived since the user the set cooking level by the position of the cookware 16 in the cooking zone 12 is shown.

To facilitate the user to set the desired cooking level, is the cooking zone 12 For example, provided with a suitable mark for position marking. In the example of 1A and 1B For example, this mark consists of the number sequence from 1 to 9 according to the possible cooking levels that can be set.

2 illustrates a hob of the invention according to a second embodiment. The same components are identified by the same reference numerals as in the above first embodiment.

The hob of 2 differs from that of the first embodiment described above in that the hob a total of four cooking zones 12 has, which are arranged like a matrix in the example shown. In the same way, the hob can only have two or three or more than four cooking zones 12 include and / or these may alternatively be arranged along a line.

Each of the four cooking zones 12 of the hob 10 from 2 is analogous to the one cooking zone 12 of the first embodiment of 1A and 1B built up. In particular, each cooking zone 12 a plurality of juxtaposed heating elements 14 on and is each of the heating elements 14 associated with a detection device for pot detection.

This way you can on this hob 10 four cooking zones 12 be used simultaneously. Ie. it can hold up to four cookware 16 on the four cooking zones 12 be distributed and the cooking levels of the four cooking zones 12 depend on the positioning of the cookware 16 in the respective cooking zone 12 from.

Incidentally, the operation of this hob corresponds 10 that of 1A and 1B ,

In a further embodiment, the hob 10 from 2 additionally via a switching device 22 equipped with the control device 18 is coupled and by the operation of the user can switch between two or more modes of operation.

In a first operating mode, the four cooking zones 12 of the hob 10 as separate cooking zones for up to four cookware 16 used, as in 2 illustrated. In another operating mode, these four cooking zones 12 Also used as a common cooking zone, for example, a much larger cookware 16 to be able to use. This configuration corresponds to the end result of the embodiment of 1A and 1B , Optionally, other operating modes are conceivable, for example, the interconnection of two cooking zones 12 to a common cooking zone.

The The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments limited. The skilled person will numerous modifications and recognize variations that are within the bounds of the attached Claims defined scope lie.

So the invention has been described above using the example of an induction hob, having induction coils as heating elements described. alternative can for the heating elements for example though also resistance heaters and other types of heating can be used.

In In the examples described above, the induction coils served simultaneously as part of the detection devices. Alternatively, it is also possible each of the plurality of heating elements, a separate detection device to assign to pan detection, for example, on an inductive, capacitive and / or optical measuring principle can be based. Of course this applies also for hobs that do not use induction coils as heating elements have.

The Hobs of the above embodiments had for each cooking zone a mark of possible cooking stages in the form of numbers 1 to 9, at the bottom of each Cooking zone are arranged. Of course you can also other position markings can be provided.

Especially Of course, the position labels hang on the number of possible heating outputs to be set from. The location labels can also instead of or in addition to the numbers also symbolic and / or color markings. Also, the positioning is the markings are not limited to the lower edge of the cooking zones; they can also be inside the cooking zone, on the right or left edge of the cooking zone, at the upper edge of the cooking zone, at an angle pass through the cooking zone, etc.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - DE 19945297 A1 [0003]
• DE 19700753 A1 [0003]
• - DE 3209260 A1 [0004]
• - DE 4007680 A1 [0005]
• - DE 19825321 C1 [0006]

Claims (7)

Hob ( 10 ) with a cooking plate and with at least one cooking zone ( 12 ), characterized in that in and / or below the cooking plate for the at least one cooking zone ( 12 ) a plurality of heating elements ( 14 ) is arranged; that each of the plurality of heating elements ( 14 ) is associated with a detection device for pot detection; and that a control device ( 18 ) is provided, which is designed to only those heating elements ( 14 ) from the plurality of heating elements ( 14 ) whose respective detection device is a cookware ( 16 ) on the cooking plate above this heating element ( 14 ) and the power levels of the heating elements ( 14 ) in dependence on the position of the cookware detected by the detection devices ( 16 ) head for. Hob according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating elements ( 14 ) are each formed as induction heating elements. Hob according to claim 2, characterized in that the induction coils of the heating elements ( 14 ) are each simultaneously part of the associated detection means. Hob according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the position of a cookware ( 16 ) on the hob ( 10 ) is detectable as the position of its center. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hob ( 10 ) several cooking zones ( 12 ); and that a switching device ( 22 ) is provided with the optional a division of the hob in these multiple cooking zones or in a common cooking zone is selected. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one cooking zone ( 12 ) has a mark for position identification of the adjustable power levels. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a display device ( 20 ) is provided for displaying a current heating power for the cooking zone (s).