Abstract: A hob comprising a plurality of heating elements further comprises a support for a plurality of illuminating means, said support being of elongate construction and typically arcuate in shape. In one embodiment, two rows of illuminaries in the form of LEDs are provided wherein a cover with light zones is positioned thereover. The cover may indicate various symbols and letters to a user of the hob. Separate light zones may be defined to prevent light from one illuminary zone spilling over to the next illuminary zone. A controller may illuminate one row of illuminaries indicating the heating element is hot, even after power is removed from the heating element, and illuminate another row indicating a level of operation of the heating element. The hob may comprise a plurality of heating elements each having an associated illuminating means located in front of the heating area facing the operator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an induction heating device. The induction heating device comprises an induction coil and a frequency converter for producing a control voltage for the induction coil. The frequency converter comprises a rectifier rectifying an alternating supply voltage (UN), an intermediate circuit capacitor, looped in between output terminals of the rectifier and equalizing the rectified voltage (UG), and at least one controllable switching element, looped in between the output terminals of the rectifier. According to the invention, in a predetermined discharge interval (INT) before a zero crossing (ND) of the alternating supply voltage (UN), the intermediate circuit capacitor is discharged to a threshold value by controlling the at least one switching element before the induction coil is controlled in order to produce an adjustable heating capacity.