IL316601A

IL316601A - Cooktop with illumination, having an integrated exhaust, and use of the cooktop for illumination

Info

Publication number: IL316601A
Application number: IL316601A
Authority: IL
Inventors: Urban Dirk; Jahn Andreas
Original assignee: Termacook Gmbh; Urban Dirk; Jahn Andreas
Priority date: 2023-06-02
Filing date: 2024-05-27
Publication date: 2025-01-01
Also published as: WO2024246000A1; EP4500087A1; KR20250012059A; JP2025522269A; CN119452209A; DE102023114566A1

Description

COOKTOP WITH ILLUMINATION, HAVING AN INTEGRATED EXHAUST, AND USE OF THE COOKTOP FOR ILLUMINATION The invention relates to a cooktop having an integrated exhaust and with illumination according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to use of the cooktop for illumination according to claim 13. A generic cooktop includes a generally rectangular cooktop panel with a circumferential outer edge. One or more heating units are present below the cooktop panel; for example, radiant heating units or induction heating coils that are placed against a bottom side of the cooktop panel may be provided. Furthermore, a cooktop housing, in which a cooktop controller and a power supply for the cooktop controller and the heating units are situated, is situated below the cooktop panel or rests against the bottom side. The cooktop housing may advantageously also contain the heating units or cover them at the bottom, as is known per se. A frame may be provided, advantageously circumferentially, at the outer edge of the cooktop panel, the frame being designed for connection to a countertop when the cooktop is situated at or in the countertop. These types of cooktops are previously known from the prior art in numerous embodiments. For example, a cooktop having at least one temperature sensor is known from DE 10 2019 123 703 A1. DE 10 2020 212 171 A1 relates to a cooktop having weight sensors. A sensor-controlled cooktop having a vibration sensor is known from DE 20 2005 015 553 U1. DE 10 2019 107 558 A1 relates to a method for operating a cooking area of a cooktop, preferably an induction cooktop, with cookware.

A cooktop and a method for controlling an energy supply to a heating element of a cooktop are known from DE 10 2010 064 294 A1. According to DE 10 2004 011 749 A1, a cooktop having multiple cooking areas and associated heating elements is designed in such a way that associated cooking vessel recognition sensors that are inductive or capacitive, for example, recognize as such the touching of a set-down cooking vessel by a finger or the like. This is regarded by the controller of the cooktop as a selection of the cooking area in question. A cooking surface having a downdraft exhaust hood is known from DE 20 2019 106 084 U1, which has a top side and a bottom side and includes the following: a plurality of cooking zones situated in the vicinity of the surface, and an intake line that extends in a predetermined extension direction between the top side and the bottom side, wherein the intake line has an intake opening in the vicinity of the top side and is in fluidic connection with the outer area. The cooking surface also includes a device, which together with the surface forms a mounting unit for the cooking surface, in order to service the mounting unit and downwardly exhaust cooking vapors. A device for exhausting vapors and steam, which arise during cooking, from a stove by means of a suction fan is known from DE 1 579 679 A1. A mounting unit including a cooktop and a device for operating a cooktop and for downwardly exhausting cooking vapors is known from EP 3 869 107 A1. A cooktop having a cooktop panel and light sources underneath which may be activated differently is known from DE 10 020 208 221 A1. For this purpose, light sources for radiating from the cooktop are provided which radiate, shine, or illuminate through the cooktop panel or past the side of the cooktop panel. One drawback is the comparatively high light output of the light sources for radiating from the cooktop. In addition, power loss from the light sources results due to the glass ceramic panel. Furthermore, the desired color of light is inadvertently changed due to the glass ceramic panel of the cooktop to be transilluminated, which also has esthetic drawbacks. The light sources known from the prior art, which are situated at the side of the glass ceramic panel, are not suited for homogeneous illumination of the area above the cooktop panel, since they merely radiate past the cooktop panel, in particular horizontally or at a flat angle. Proceeding from the drawbacks described above, the object underlying the invention is to provide a cooktop panel having integrated ventilation that is optimal in terms of energy and that has esthetically appealing illumination. This object is achieved by a cooktop having an integrated exhaust and with illumination according to claim 1. This object is further achieved by the use of the cooktop according to claim 13. The invention relates to a cooktop having integrated illumination, comprising a cooktop panel, in particular a glass ceramic panel, having at least one cooking area, with a top side on which cookware may be placed, and with a bottom side facing away from the top side. In addition, the cooktop has at least one heating unit, in particular an induction coil, below the cooktop panel for heating the cookware. Also provided is at least one intake opening of an intake duct, provided essentially in the plane of the surface of the cooktop panel, for downwardly drawing out and relaying cooking vapors or cooking fumes below the cooktop panel. At least one light source is used for radiating from the cooktop for the integrated illumination. According to the invention, the at least one light source is situated essentially inside at least one intake duct or intake opening. The lighting may illuminate the space as ambient lighting. The brightness and/or color may be changed via the fan stage. The lighting may also take on functionalities such as a residual heat display, for example. The brightness or color of light may be changed, depending on the temperature. A notice function is also possible, for example a blinking light after a cooking area timer or egg timer ends, as a supplement to or replacement of an acoustic signal. In addition, the lighting may implement a warning signal after a defined period of time elapses in which at least one cooking area is switched on but no further operation takes place. This may remind elderly or forgetful persons, for example, that a cooking operation has begun, as a type of "dead man's circuit," before the cooktop is possibly switched completely off. The cooktop is preferably designed as an induction cooktop, since it may be regulated very finely and directly. However, the invention likewise encompasses implementation using other heating technologies. According to a first advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one light source radiates the light from the intake duct of the cooktop by means of optical fibers, and in particular the at least one light source for indirect illumination is laterally situated inside or at the bottom of the intake duct or the intake opening. The light sources may be laterally situated inside or at the bottom in order to illuminate at an angle or also indirectly from the ventilation duct. A further advantageous variant of the invention provides that the light sources include LEDs or are made up of LEDs or LED strips. In one advantageous refinement of the invention, the at least one light source is activatable by means of a light controller, wherein a communication device is preferably connectable to the light controller and is designed for communication with an external control device/receiver, preferably wirelessly via WLAN, Bluetooth, or the like. The light controller is designed, after reception of a control signal by the communication device, to activate the light sources in such a way that they radiate from the cooktop to generate ambient or background lighting in the space around the cooktop. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, for the bidirectional transfer of data, the light controller is connected to a control and/or regulation device for controlling and/or regulating the energy of the heating unit of the cooktop. A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the at least one light source is operable by means of a control element, in particular an operating sensor, the control element being situated below the cooktop panel and preferably designed as a capacitive sensor for operation on the surface of the cooktop panel. It may likewise be provided that the brightness and/or color of light of the at least one light source are/is adjustable, in particular that the color of light is automatically adjustable, for example as a function of ambient noise. With regard to the mounting or arrangement of a light source for the cooktop according to the invention, the essential and preferred aspects of the present invention may be summarized as follows: The lighting (light source) is installed in the ventilation duct and shines into the space directly through the ventilation opening, not through the glass ceramic surface. This has the advantage that the color of light cannot be distorted by filter effects of the glass ceramic surface, or that a particular glass ceramic without such filter effects does not have to be used. In addition, the light intensity is not affected by the glass ceramic surface. The lighting may be made up of one or more light sources. The light sources may preferably be made up of individual LEDs or also LED strips. The light sources shine directly into the ventilation duct without the light having to be guided through optical fibers. As contact protection and for easy cleaning, the light sources may be protected using a transparent cover (glass or plastic, for example). The light sources may be mounted directly below the cooktop surface, or also farther below in one or more walls or in the base of the ventilation duct. Likewise advantageous is an embodiment according to the invention in which the at least one intake opening is situated in a plane that is parallel to the surface of the top side of the cooktop panel. In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the at least one intake opening is slotted, in particular designed in the form of a gap or outflow channel, wherein neighboring slotted intake openings are preferably situated approximately perpendicularly to one another. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one intake opening is situated approximately centrally at the cooktop.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the at least one intake opening is in fluidic connection with a suction chamber having a rotating impeller of a fan motor for exhausting the cooking vapors or cooking fumes. Also advantageous is an embodiment according to the invention in which a sensor system including at least one sensor is provided for temperature measurement and/or for measuring movements/vibrations and/or for weight measurement, in particular the sensor system being connected to the control and/or regulation device for signal transmission purposes. The sensor system may be situated below the cooktop panel, preferably between the bottom side of the cooktop panel and the heating unit and/or at the side of the heating unit. Optimal use may thus be made of the installation space. The lateral arrangement reduces the possible influence on the sensors from the alternating magnetic field induction cooktops. The sensor system may include at least one temperature sensor for directly determining the temperature below the cooktop panel, in particular on the bottom side of the cooktop panel, and/or at least one infrared sensor for determining the cooktop base temperature through the cooktop panel, in particular a glass ceramic panel. The energy of the heating unit for heating the cookware, necessary for a desired cooking process, is ascertainable in the control and/or regulation device as a function of this determined cooktop panel temperature and/or the determined temperature of the food being cooked. By use of the at least one heating unit that is activated by the control and/or regulation device, this energy necessary for a desired cooking process is automatically deliverable to the cooktop panel.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the processing and evaluation of the signals from the sensors of the sensor system take place in the electronics system or the control and/or regulation unit in the cooktop, which then correspondingly control(s) the cooking areas. Cooktop vessel recognition may be included for induction cooktops; without such recognition, power is not switched on and also no heating operations take place. To increase the accuracy, each sensor may also be present in multiples. An independent concept of the invention relates to the use of an above-described cooktop for illuminating a space, in which the cooktop is situated, by means of at least one light source that is situated in the cooktop. Further objectives, advantages, features, and application options of the present invention result from the following description of one exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings. All features described and/or graphically illustrated, alone or in any meaningful combination, constitute the subject matter of the present invention, also independently of their grouping in the claims or their back-references. The figures show the following, sometimes in a schematic fashion: Figure 1 shows a cooktop with an intake duct and light sources in a perspective illustration, Figure 2 shows the cooktop according to Figure 1 in a further view, Figure 3 shows a further illustration of the cooktop according to Figure 1, Figure 4 shows the cooktop according to Figure 1 in a top view, Figure 5 shows the cooktop according to Figure 1 in an illustration without a glass ceramic panel, Figure 6 shows the cooktop according to a further embodiment variant in a) a top view, b) a first side view, and c) a further side view, and Figure 7 shows the cooktop according to Figure 6 in an illustration without a glass ceramic panel. In the following illustrated figures of the drawing with reference to one embodiment, similar or functionally equivalent components are provided with reference numerals in order to improve readability. Figure 1 shows a cooktop 10 in a perspective oblique view from above, with a cooktop panel 1 which in the present case is designed as a glass ceramic panel 1, and which in the selected exemplary embodiment has four cooking areas 14. Cookware, not illustrated, may be placed on the top side 2 of the cooktop panel 1. The cooking areas 14 in the present case are provided with a marking 7 on the top side 2 of the glass ceramic panel 1 (see Figures 1 and 6). The cooktop panel 1 has a bottom side that faces away from the top side 2. Figure 2 shows the cooktop 10 in a further perspective view, likewise from above. Figure 3 shows the cooktop 10 according to Figures 1 and 2 in a view from above; however, a cover grill 32 of an intake opening 30 for an intake duct 31 is hidden in Figure 3 for better clarity. Figure 4 is an illustration of the cooktop 10 according to Figures 1 through 3 in a top view from above. Figure 5 shows the cooktop 10 according to the embodiment in Figures 1 through 4; however, for better understanding the cooktop panel 1 has been hidden to allow the components situated below the cooktop panel 1 to be clearly discerned. Apparent from Figure 5 is at least one heating unit, situated below the cooktop panel 1, for heating the cookware, and which in the present case is designed as an induction coil 4. A control and/or regulation device 6 is provided for controlling and/or regulating the energy of the heating unit 4. Figure 5 further illustrates the cooktop 10 with the four cooking areas 14. Also apparent is the control unit 8 for the control and/or regulation device 6. A sensor system 5 has at least one sensor for temperature measurement and/or for measuring movements/vibrations and/or for weight measurement, as is likewise apparent from Figure 5. The sensor system 5 is connected to the control and/or regulation device 6 for signal transmission purposes. The cooktop 10, in particular the cooktop panel 1, may have a function button, illustrated at the position 9, for activating, toggling, and switching off the light functions, in order to change, upon actuation, between the light functions and the conventional operation with a deactivated light function. Figures 1 through 5 also show an intake opening 30, provided essentially in the plane of the surface of the cooktop panel 1, for downwardly drawing out and relaying cooking vapors or cooking fumes below the cooktop panel 1. In the present case, the intake opening 30 is situated in a plane that is parallel to the surface of the top side 2 of the cooktop panel 1. The intake opening 30 is part of an intake duct 31, which may be closed by a cover grill 32 (see Figures 1 and 2). The intake opening 30 shown in the present exemplary embodiment is slotted, in particular designed in the form of a gap or outflow channel. Multiple intake openings are also conceivable, wherein neighboring slotted intake openings 30 may be situated approximately perpendicularly to one another.

In the present case the intake opening 30 is situated approximately centrally at the cooktop 10, and extends along the width of the cooktop panel 1. The intake opening 30 is in fluidic connection with a suction chamber having a rotating impeller (fan motor) for downwardly exhausting the cooking vapors or cooking fumes. In the embodiment variant according to Figures 1 through 5, a fan housing 13 which accommodates the fan motor is apparent. This housing 13 is situated below the cooktop panel 1 at a subframe 15 of the cooktop 10. In addition, Figures 1 through 5 show multiple light sources 40 for radiation from the cooktop 10 for integrated illumination. These light sources 40 are situated essentially inside the intake duct 31 or the intake opening 30. This lighting may illuminate the space as ambient illumination. The brightness and/or color may be changed via the fan stage. The illumination may also take on functionalities such as a residual heat display; the brightness or color of light may be changed, depending on the temperature. The lighting may also be used as a notice function, for example as a blinking light after a cooking area timer or egg timer ends, as a supplement to or replacement of an acoustic signal. In addition, the lighting may be designed as a warning function, for example after a defined period of time elapses in which at least one cooking area is switched on but no further operation takes place. This may remind elderly or forgetful persons, for example, that a cooking operation has begun, as a type of "dead man's circuit," before the cooktop is possibly switched completely off. In the present exemplary embodiment, the light sources 40, designed as LEDs and controlled by a light controller 41, radiate the light from the cooktop 10 by means of optical fibers. As is further apparent in particular from Figures 1 through 4, the light sources 40 for indirect illumination are laterally situated inside the intake opening 30 in the intake duct 31. The light sources 40 may therefore be situated at the side in order to illuminate directly from the intake duct 31 obliquely, or also indirectly or downwardly. In the present case, the light sources 40 are activatable via the light controller 41, apparent in Figure 5. A communication device is connected to the light controller 41, and is designed for communication with an external control device/receiver, preferably wirelessly via WLAN, Bluetooth, or the like. The light controller 41 is designed, after reception of a control signal by the communication device, to activate the light sources 40 in such a way that they radiate from the cooktop 10 to generate ambient or background lighting in the space around the cooktop 10. In the present case, for the bidirectional transfer of data, the light controller 41 is connected to a control and/or regulation device 6 for controlling and/or regulating the energy of the heating unit 4 of the cooktop 10. It is further apparent from Figure 5 that the at least one light source 40 may be operated by use of an operating sensor 9. The brightness and/or color of light of the at least one light source 40 are/is adjustable, and in particular the color of light is automatically adjustable, for example as a function of ambient noise. Figure 5 also shows that the sensor system 5, which includes sensors, is provided for temperature measurement and/or for measuring movements/vibrations and/or for weight measurement, in particular that the sensor system 5 is connected to the control and/or regulation device 6 for signal transmission purposes.

Figures 6 and 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the cooktop 10. Figure shows this exemplary embodiment in a) a top view, b) a first side view, and c) a further side view. Compared to the variant according to Figures 1 through 5, the cooktop 10 according to Figures 6 and 7 has no fan motor that is integrated into the cooktop 10. Here, the fan motor is not situated below the cooktop panel 1 at a frame 15 of the cooktop 10, but, rather, may be situated externally, for example in a separate housing at a wall or in a cabinet base. Due to the light sources 10 situated in the cooktop 10, the present cooktop 10 may be used for illuminating a space in which the cooktop 10 is situated.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS cooktop panel top side bottom side heating unit/induction coil sensor system control and/or regulation device cooking zone marking control unit operating sensor cooktop generator fan housing cooking area frame intake opening intake duct cover grill light source light controller

Claims

1. CLAIMS 1. A cooktop (10) having integrated illumination, comprising: - a cooktop panel, in particular a glass ceramic panel (1), having at least one cooking area (14), with a top side (2) on which cookware may be placed, and with a bottom side (3) facing away from the top side (2), - at least one heating unit, in particular an induction coil (4), situated below the cooktop panel (1) for heating the cookware, - at least one intake opening (30) of an intake duct (31), provided essentially in the plane of the surface of the cooktop panel (1), for downwardly drawing out and relaying cooking vapors or cooking fumes below the cooktop panel (1), - at least one light source (40) for radiating from the cooktop (10) for the integrated illumination, characterized in that - the at least one light source (40) is situated essentially inside at least one intake duct (31).

2. The cooktop (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one light source (40) radiates the light from the intake duct (31) of the cooktop (10) by means of optical fibers, and in particular the at least one light source (40) for indirect illumination is laterally situated inside the intake duct (31).

3. The cooktop (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the light sources (40) include LEDs or are made up of LEDs or LED strips.

4. The cooktop (10) according to one of claims 1 through 3, characterized in that the at least one light source (40) is activatable by means of a light controller (41), wherein a communication device is preferably connectable to the light controller (41) and is designed for communication with an external control device/receiver, preferably wirelessly via WLAN, Bluetooth, or the like.

5. The cooktop (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for the bidirectional transfer of data, the light controller (41) is connected to a control and/or regulation device (6) for controlling and/or regulating the energy of the heating unit (4) of the cooktop (10).

6. The cooktop (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one light source (40) is operable by means of a control element, in particular an operating sensor (9), the control element (9) being situated below the cooktop panel (1) and preferably designed as a capacitive sensor for operation on the surface of the cooktop panel (1).

7. The cooktop (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the brightness and/or color of light of the at least one light source (40) are/is adjustable, in particular that the color of light is automatically adjustable, for example as a function of ambient noise.

8. The cooktop (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one intake opening (30) is situated in a plane that is parallel to the surface of the top side (2) of the cooktop panel (1).

9. The cooktop (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one intake opening (30) is slotted, in particular designed in the form of a gap or outflow channel, wherein neighboring slotted intake openings are preferably situated approximately perpendicularly to one another.

10. The cooktop (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one intake opening (30) is situated approximately centrally at the cooktop (10).

11. The cooktop (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one intake opening (30) is in fluidic connection with a suction chamber having a rotating impeller of a fan motor for exhausting the cooking vapors or cooking fumes.

12. The cooktop (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sensor system (5) including at least one sensor is provided for temperature measurement and/or for measuring movements/vibrations and/or for weight measurement, in particular the sensor system (5) being connected to the control and/or regulation device (6) for signal transmission purposes.

13. Use of a cooktop (10) according to one of claims 1 through 12 for illuminating a space, in which the cooktop (10) is situated, by means of at least one light source (40) situated in the cooktop (10).