Abstract: The present disclosure describes devices and methods for improving the power efficiency and control of an induction heating system. In particular, the induction heating system includes a series resonant bridge inverter circuit and a control circuit. The inverter circuit includes one or more induction coils that are structured to inductively couple to the cookware to heat the cookware and a current sensor structured to sense a coil current signal across the one or more inductor coils. In particular, the current sensor is structured to generate a positive sensed voltage signal corresponding to a positive portion of the coil current signal and a negative sensed voltage signal corresponding to a negative portion of the coil current. The control signal is structured to control switching of a first and a second set of switches based on the positive and negative sensed voltage signals.

Abstract: An induction warmer station includes a housing, a cooktop coupled to the housing, an induction coil positioned in the housing adjacent the cooktop, and a controller configured to adjust the frequency of a current input to the induction coil based on an indication of a response of an output current from the induction coil to a change in surface area of load material placed on the cooktop.

Abstract: A temperature regulation device for positioning in a well of food service equipment, the temperature regulation device including a housing and a support coupled to the housing. The housing includes a top surface and a bottom surface and the support includes a connector having a connector axis, an outer surface, and an inner surface. The support is rotatable about the connector axis between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position of the support, the housing is positioned in a first position relative to the well, and in the retracted position of the support, the housing is positioned in a second position relative to the well.

Abstract: A method of arranging an induction coil in a food service well includes supporting, by supports in an extended position, the induction coil at a first height in the food service well, rotating the supports from the extended position to a retracted position, and supporting, with the supports in the retracted position, the induction coil at a second height in the food service well, the first height different than the second height.

Abstract: A probe used with food preparation, rethermalization, storage, transportation, and/or service includes a head portion with a display, and a shaft portion that is coupled to the head portion and is configured to be at least partially immersed in a foodstuff. The probe further includes a sensing unit configured to collect data including the temperature of the foodstuff and a wireless device configured to transmit data collected by the sensing unit to a supervisory control device.

Abstract: An improved system for connecting a DC bus cable and a remote motor drive includes a capacitance module and an extension module that may each be mounted adjacent to the remote motor drive. The capacitance module includes a first DC bus connector and a second DC bus connector. The first DC bus connector includes a terminal block configured to receive a pair of conductors for the DC bus. The first DC bus connector further includes a pair of intermediate bus bars where each of the intermediate bus bars are connected at a first end to the terminal block and at a second end to a circuit board contained within the capacitance module. Traces on the circuit board are routed between the second ends of the intermediate bus bars and the second DC bus connector. The second DC bus connector is configured to be connected to DC bus bars.

Abstract: A temperature regulation device for food items includes a food pan, a heating device configured to provide regulated heating of the food pan, a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the food pan, and a control system. The control system is configured to control the heating device in response to at least the temperature of the food pan detected by the temperature sensor by providing a gradual warming control mode in response to the temperature sensor detecting the temperature of the food pan below a minimum preset temperature and providing a normal control mode in response to the temperature sensor detecting the temperature of the food pan above the minimum preset temperature.

Abstract: A temperature regulation device for warming or maintaining the temperature of food items includes a food pan configured to hold a food item, an induction coil configured to warm the food item via inductive heating of the food pan, a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the food pan, a temperature control system coupled to the induction coil and the temperature sensor. The temperature control system is configured to control the induction coil in response to at least the temperature of the food pan detected by the temperature sensor and initiate a soft start control mode in response to pan placement on the device and detecting the temperature of the food pan below a minimum preset temperature.

Abstract: An improved system for connecting a DC bus cable and a remote motor drive includes a capacitance module and an extension module that may each be mounted adjacent to the remote motor drive. The capacitance module includes a first DC bus connector and a second DC bus connector. The first DC bus connector includes a terminal block configured to receive a pair of conductors for the DC bus. The first DC bus connector further includes a pair of intermediate bus bars where each of the intermediate bus bars are connected at a first end to the terminal block and at a second end to a circuit board contained within the capacitance module. Traces on the circuit board are routed between the second ends of the intermediate bus bars and the second DC bus connector. The second DC bus connector is configured to be connected to DC bus bars.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes devices and methods for improving the power efficiency and control of an induction heating system. In particular, the induction heating system includes a series resonant bridge inverter circuit and a control circuit. The inverter circuit includes one or more induction coils that are structured to inductively couple to the cookware to heat the cookware and a current sensor structured to sense a coil current signal across the one or more inductor coils. In particular, the current sensor is structured to generate a positive sensed voltage signal corresponding to a positive portion of the coil current signal and a negative sensed voltage signal corresponding to a negative portion of the coil current. The control signal is structured to control switching of a first and a second set of switches based on the positive and negative sensed voltage signals.

Abstract: An improved system for connecting a DC bus cable and a remote motor drive includes a capacitance module and an extension module that may each be mounted adjacent to the remote motor drive. The capacitance module includes a first DC bus connector and a second DC bus connector. The first DC bus connector includes a terminal block configured to receive a pair of conductors for the DC bus. The first DC bus connector further includes a pair of intermediate bus bars where each of the intermediate bus bars are connected at a first end to the terminal block and at a second end to a circuit board contained within the capacitance module. Traces on the circuit board are routed between the second ends of the intermediate bus bars and the second DC bus connector. The second DC bus connector is configured to be connected to DC bus bars.

Abstract: A probe used with food preparation, rethermalization, storage, transportation, and/or service includes a head portion with a display, and a shaft portion that is coupled to the head portion and is configured to be at least partially immersed in a foodstuff. The probe further includes a sensing unit configured to collect data including the temperature of the foodstuff and a wireless device configured to transmit data collected by the sensing unit to a supervisory control device.

Abstract: A temperature regulation device for warming or maintaining the temperature of food items includes a food pan configured to hold a food item, an induction coil configured to warm the food item via inductive heating of the food pan, a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the food pan, a temperature control system coupled to the induction coil and the temperature sensor. The temperature control system is configured to control the induction coil in response to at least the temperature of the food pan detected by the temperature sensor and initiate a soft start control mode in response to pan placement on the device and detecting the temperature of the food pan below a minimum preset temperature.

Abstract: An improved system for connecting a DC bus cable and a remote motor drive includes a capacitance module and an extension module that may each be mounted adjacent to the remote motor drive. The capacitance module includes a first DC bus connector and a second DC bus connector. The first DC bus connector includes a terminal block configured to receive a pair of conductors for the DC bus. The first DC bus connector further includes a pair of intermediate bus bars where each of the intermediate bus bars are connected at a first end to the terminal block and at a second end to a circuit board contained within the capacitance module. Traces on the circuit board are routed between the second ends of the intermediate bus bars and the second DC bus connector. The second DC bus connector is configured to be connected to DC bus bars.

Abstract: An improved system for connecting a DC bus cable and a remote motor drive includes a capacitance module and an extension module that may each be mounted adjacent to the remote motor drive. The capacitance module includes a first DC bus connector and a second DC bus connector. The first DC bus connector includes a terminal block configured to receive a pair of conductors for the DC bus. The first DC bus connector further includes a pair of intermediate bus bars where each of the intermediate bus bars are connected at a first end to the terminal block and at a second end to a circuit board contained within the capacitance module. Traces on the circuit board are routed between the second ends of the intermediate bus bars and the second DC bus connector. The second DC bus connector is configured to be connected to DC bus bars.

Abstract: A temperature regulation device for positioning in a well of food service equipment, the temperature regulation device including a housing and a support coupled to the housing. The housing includes a top surface and a bottom surface and the support includes a connector having a connector axis, an outer surface, and an inner surface. The support is rotatable about the connector axis between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position of the support, the housing is positioned in a first position relative to the well, and in the retracted position of the support, the housing is positioned in a second position relative to the well.

Abstract: An improved system for connecting a DC bus cable and a remote motor drive includes a capacitance module and an extension module that may each be mounted adjacent to the remote motor drive. The capacitance module includes a first DC bus connector and a second DC bus connector. The first DC bus connector includes a terminal block configured to receive a pair of conductors for the DC bus. The first DC bus connector further includes a pair of intermediate bus bars where each of the intermediate bus bars are connected at a first end to the terminal block and at a second end to a circuit board contained within the capacitance module. Traces on the circuit board are routed between the second ends of the intermediate bus bars and the second DC bus connector. The second DC bus connector is configured to be connected to DC bus bars.

Abstract: Integrated AC regenerative motor drives and operating methods are presented in which a precharging circuit is provided with an IGBT, a diode and a parallel current limiting component in an intermediate DC circuit between a switching rectifier and an output inverter, and the drive is operated in one of three modes for motoring, regenerating and precharging.

Abstract: Motor drives, signal conditioning systems and configurable circuit boards are presented in which diode blocking circuits are provided for contemporaneous opening of programming fuses in multiple programmable impedance circuits using a single configuration input signal during manufacturing and for mitigating interference between impedance circuits during system operation.

Abstract: Motor drives, signal conditioning systems and configurable circuit boards are presented in which diode blocking circuits are provided for contemporaneous opening of programming fuses in multiple programmable impedance circuits using a single configuration input signal during manufacturing and for mitigating interference between impedance circuits during system operation.