Abstract: A method is provided for controlling average power delivered to coils of a flexible induction cooktop having a plurality of coils that are arranged adjacent to one another in a non-overlapping manner to form an array. The method includes: a) identifying a group of the plurality of coils that are underlying one or more cookware items; b) providing power to at least one coil of the group of coils underlying one or more cookware items; and c) at the same time, not providing power to coils of the group of coils underlying the cookware items that are adjacent to the at least one coil to which power is provided to prevent interaction between adjacent coils of the group of coils.

Abstract: An induction cooking apparatus including a coil beam assembly, an inverter assembly, and a heatsink. The coil beam assembly includes one or more induction coils. The inverter assembly includes a first circuit board that is electrically connected to the induction coil(s) such that the inverter assembly is configured to supply electricity to the induction coil(s). The heatsink has a beam-like structure and is attached to both the coil beam assembly and the inverter assembly. The heatsink is positioned above the inverter assembly and below the coil beam assembly such that the heatsink is the sole support structure for the inverter assembly. A method for assembling the induction cooking apparatus is also described.

Abstract: A cooking appliance having a cabinet including an insert within the cabinet to define cooking chamber with an access opening and a door selectively closing/opening the access opening, the cooking appliance comprising at least one of a first cooling flow path through a back wall of the cabinet, over a top wall of the insert, and out a side wall of the cabinet, a second cooling flow path through a bottom wall of the cabinet, along the bottom wall of the cabinet, and out a side wall of the cabinet, and a third cooling flow path through a bottom wall of the cabinet, out a front wall of the cabinet, into the door, out of the door, into a front wall of the cabinet, and out of a side wall of the cabinet.

Abstract: An automatic oven having a controller and a sensor assembly for automatically determining a food type for a food item placed in a cooking chamber of the automatic oven, and cooks the automatically determined food item according to a cooking profile selected based on the determined food type, while optionally accommodating a user input on the determining of the food type, and the cooking profile, including an optional degree of doneness.

Abstract: Operations such as adding food or flipping or otherwise manipulating food in an item of cookware being heated may be detected by comparing with a threshold the time derivative of a sensed temperature and/or of heating power absorbed by an item of cookware, wherein the heating power is provided by an induction cooktop operated in order to keep constant the temperature value sensed by the sensors coupled to the item of cookware.

Abstract: A switching converter, such as for an induction cooktop, that can be operated to deliver a power level smaller than the minimum power level for having a soft-switching. Input AC terminals are disconnected from the DC-bus capacitor to prevent it from being charged, so that the DC voltage exhibited by the DC-bus is null or smaller than a minimum nominal value when a next ON time interval T1 begins. The switching converter helps prevent ticking noise.

Abstract: A ticking noise that can be heard when the QR converter is operated to deliver a power level smaller than the minimum power level for having a soft-switching can be due to the fact that during the OFF interval there is no power delivery and the DC-bus capacitance is charged at the peak of rectified main line voltage. This drawback may be overcome by discharging purposely the DC-bus capacitor during an OFF interval of the QR converter until the DC-bus capacitor is substantially discharged when a new ON interval of the QR converter is started.

Abstract: A method for calculating the humidity level in a cooking apparatus is disclosed. The method includes heating a food load in a cooking cavity of the cooking apparatus and selectively activating a convection fan in the cooking cavity. The method further includes monitoring a humidity signal detected by a humidity sensing apparatus in response to the activation of the convection fan. As a result of the activation of the convection fan, the method may determine an actual humidity level from a plurality of humidity levels based on a change in the humidity signal.

Abstract: A cooking appliance can include a cooking chamber and an imaging device for capturing an image of a food item inside the chamber. The appliance can include a transparent, touchscreen display for displaying the interior contents of the cooking appliance to a user without requiring the user to open the cooking appliance, as well as providing for the user controlling, operating, and interacting with the cooking appliance.

Abstract: A method for identifying cookware on an induction cooktop having coils, includes the steps: (a) acquire a coverage factor matrix; (b) set a present level at a maximum value of the matrix; (c) count closed iso-level curves corresponding to the present level and save the result; (d) decrease the level by an amount; (e) count closed curves corresponding to the decreased level; (f) when the number of closed curves at the present level is not lower than that from the previous level, update the saved result with the present level; (g) when the number of closed curves at the present level is lower than that from the previous level, keep the previously saved result; (h) repeat steps (d) to (h), until the number decreases; (i) assign coils inside the curve to a distinct cluster; and (j) use the clustering to estimate a position, shape, size, and orientation of the cookware.

Abstract: A cooking assistance appliance can include a body, at least one camera, at least one sensor, and an imaging device for capturing an image of a cooking appliance. The cooking appliance can provide for monitoring use of the cooking appliance, as well as assisting the user in operating the cooking appliance. Additionally, the cooking assistance appliance can be integrated into a hood or a microwave oven and vent combination above a stovetop.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling average power delivered to coils of a flexible induction cooktop having a plurality of coils that are arranged adjacent to one another in a non-overlapping manner to form an array. The method includes: a) identifying a group of the plurality of coils that are underlying one or more cookware items; b) providing power to at least one coil of the group of coils underlying one or more cookware items; and c) at the same time, not providing power to coils of the group of coils underlying the cookware items that are adjacent to the at least one coil to which power is provided to prevent interaction between adjacent coils of the group of coils.

Abstract: An induction cooking apparatus includes an induction coil forming a top surface and a bottom surface. The induction coil includes a plurality of conductive windings. A temperature sensor protrudes through the top surface of the induction coil. An electrical circuit is in communication with the temperature sensor. The electrical circuit is disposed on a substrate, which may form a chassis configured to support a plurality of conductive connections. The substrate forms a spring mechanism in connection with the temperature sensor.

Abstract: An induction cooking apparatus includes a plurality of induction coils arranged in at least one array. At least one beam structure is configured to support the at least one array of induction coils. At least one electrical circuit is in connection with the at least one beam structure and in communication with each of the plurality of induction coils forming the at least one array. At least one inverter assembly is configured to drive the induction coils. The electrical circuit and the inverter assembly form a connection interface including a plurality of mating connectors. The mating connectors of the connection interface electrically connect the array with the inverter assembly.

Abstract: A cooking appliance can include a cooking chamber and an imaging device for capturing an image of a food item inside the chamber. The appliance can include a transparent, touchscreen display for displaying the interior contents of the cooking appliance to a user without requiring the user to open the cooking appliance, as well as providing for the user controlling, operating, and interacting with the cooking appliance.

Abstract: An induction cooking apparatus including a coil beam assembly, an inverter assembly, and a heatsink. The coil beam assembly includes one or more induction coils. The inverter assembly includes a first circuit board that is electrically connected to the induction coil(s) such that the inverter assembly is configured to supply electricity to the induction coil(s). The heatsink has a beam-like structure and is attached to both the coil beam assembly and the inverter assembly. The heatsink is positioned above the inverter assembly and below the coil beam assembly such that the heatsink is the sole support structure for the inverter assembly. A method for assembling the induction cooking apparatus is also described.

Abstract: An induction cooking apparatus includes a plurality of induction coils arranged in an array. The induction coils include conductive windings and at least one foil. The at least one foil includes magnetically permeable material extending beneath the plurality of induction coils.

Abstract: An induction cooking apparatus including a cooktop panel, induction coil, controller, and temperature sensor assembly. A temperature sensor and guiding support are positioned in sliding engagement in an opening in the center of the induction coil where an upper end of the temperature sensor sits above a top surface of the induction coil. The controller includes a first circuit board that supplies electricity to the induction coil. A second circuit board, separate from the first circuit board, is electrically connected to the temperature sensor and includes a cantilevered leaf-spring structure that supports the temperature sensor. The guiding support is a load bearing structure that transmits a biasing force created by deflection of the cantilevered leaf-spring structure to the temperature sensor, which operates to hold the temperature sensor in contact with a lower surface of the cooktop panel.

Abstract: A cooking appliance can include a cooking chamber and an imaging device for capturing an image of a food item inside the chamber. The appliance can include a transparent, touchscreen display for displaying the interior contents of the cooking appliance to a user without requiring the user to open the cooking appliance, as well as providing for the user controlling, operating, and interacting with the cooking appliance.

Abstract: A method is provided for identifying cookware items placed on top of an induction cooktop having a plurality of coils. The method includes the following steps: acquire coverage factor information for each coil and collect it into a matrix; identify all local maxima in the matrix; find the coordinates of each of the local maxima as follows: when the local maxima is a single coil, the coordinates are those of the coil center, and when the local maxima is a region of contiguous coils, the coordinates are those of a centroid of the region; calculate distances from each coil to each of the coordinates of the identified local maxima; determine a minimum among the distances; classify the coils in clusters, based on the distances from the local maxima; and use the identified coil clustering to estimate the position, shape, size, and orientation of the cookware items.