Abstract: There is described an induction cooking hob (1, 1?, 1?) comprising at least one cooking zone (2) for heating a cooking vessel. The cooking zone (2) comprises at least a first induction coil (3) and a second induction coil (4), the first induction coil (3) and the second induction coil (4) being configured to heat the cooking vessel alone or in collaboration with one another. The induction cooking hob (1, 1?, 1?) further comprises a power unit (6) operatively connected to and configured to power the first induction coil (3) and the second induction coil (4) and a control interface (5) configured to receive a requested power from a user, the requested power defining and/or being indicative about the power to be delivered to the cooking vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit device (1) for a cooking device, in particular cooking hob, more in particular induction cooking hob, comprising —at least two power units (P1, P2, . . . PN), each power unit supplied with electrical power by a different mains current phase (L1, L2, . . . LN) —wherein each power unit comprises frequency converting means (G11 . . . GNM), each for supplying at least one induction element with electrical power to generate heating power, •wherein each power unit comprises at least one current pot conversion unit (C1 . . .

Abstract: The invention relates to an oscillation unit, in particular oscillation circuit (2), more in particular quasi-resonant oscillation circuit, for generating heating power for an induction cooking appliance (1), in particular for a domestic induction cooking appliance and/or an induction hob, the oscillation unit comprising a resonant tank (30), in particular a resonant circuit, for generating an electrical and/or magnetic field and/or heating power, the resonant tank (30) in particular connected to a first node (21), an, in particular single, switching element (35) connected to the resonant tank (30), in particular by the first node (21), and driven with switching signals for oscillating the resonant tank (30), a measuring unit (40) for measuring a first electrical parameter of the resonant tank (30), in particular for measuring a voltage (VCE)t more in particular for measuring a node voltage (VCE) of the first node (21), and an estimating unit (45) for estimating a second electrical parameter, in particular an

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining properties of the electrical current provided to an induction heating element (2) of an induction cooking appliance (1). The induction cooking appliance (1) has a heating power energy unit (3) including a heating power generator (4) with at least one switching element (5) adapted to provide pulsed electric power to said induction heating element (2). The induction cooking appliance (1) also has an oscillating circuit (6) with at least one resonance capacitor (6.1, 6.2). The induction heating element (2) is electrically coupled with the heating power generator (4) and the oscillating circuit (6). The induction cooking appliance (1) also has a control entity (8), wherein an input of a measurement circuit (9) is coupled with a node of the heating power energy unit (3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor means (11, 35, 49, 71) or module for determining a particularly elastic displacement or deflection or bending of a panel (3), in particular a glass panel, or of a section of a panel or of an insert in relation to the panel (3). The sensor means (11, 35, 49, 71) or module and the panel (3) or said section thereof forming a weighing means, in particular a scale. The sensor means (11, 35, 49, 71) or module is adapted to be integrated in or allocated to a household appliance (1), in particular a cooking hob, more in particular an induction cooking hob, and comprises or is connected to at least one processing and/or interpretation and/or compilation means, preferably for providing a particular high sensor sensitivity and/or evaluation unit accuracy. Further, a household appliance (1) is disclosed which comprises an at least approximately horizontal panel (3), in particular a glass panel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a household appliance (1), in particular to a cooking hob, which comprises or is connected to an acceleration detection and/or measuring means (11) and a control unit (23) for controlling operating processes. The acceleration detection and/or measuring means (11), which may be an acceleration sensor and particularly a gravity sensor, is adapted for a detection of an acceleration of a section or a reference point of a wall or a panel (3) of the household appliance (1). The household appliance (1) may comprise a user interface (9) for providing information to a user, particularly status information, and/or for receiving input, particularly of control commands or data input, from the user. The acceleration detection and/or measuring means (11) is connected to the control unit (23) and/or, if applicable, to the user interface (9) for an exchange of data, and forms a trigger element for the control unit (23) and/or, if applicable, for the user interface (9).

Abstract: Method to control a quasi-resonant inverter (13) in an induction cooking appliance (1) provided with induction heating coil (4). The quasi-resonant inverter (13) comprises a switching device (21) electrically connected to the induction heating coil (4) by a node (20) having a first voltage (VC(t)) which is indicative of the voltage across the power switching device (21). The method comprising the steps of: providing to the switching device (21) an enabling signal (K1) comprising a plurality of pulses, in order to switch-on and switch-off said switching device (21) for a switch-on period (tON) and a switch-off period (tOFF), determining a second voltage (VCmin) indicative of the minimum value of the first voltage (VC(t)) during the switch- off period (tOFF), regulating the switch-off period (tOFF) based on the second voltage (VCmin), and regulating the enabling signal (K1) based on the regulated switch-off period (tOFF).

Abstract: The invention relates to an induction-based cooking appliance comprising multiple heating power transferring elements (3a, 3b) and multiple heating power energy units (5a, 5b) for powering said heating power transferring elements (3a, 3b), each heating power energy unit (5a, 5b) comprising one or more power switching devices, in particular power transistors, for providing electrical power to the heating power transferring elements (3a, 3b), wherein: —said power switching devices, in particular power transistors, included in said multiple heating power energy units (5a, 5b) are wide bandgap power switching devices, in particular wide bandgap transistors, comprising more in particular semiconductor materials with a bandgap greater than 2 eV, and/or are configured to be operated in a first frequency range (FR1) and in a second frequency range (FR2) different or at least essentially identical, in particular identical, to the first frequency range (FR1); or—a first heating power transferring element (3a) is powere

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling an induction cooking hob, wherein said method comprises an operation mode for estimating the energy efficiency (EE), and wherein said operation mode includes the steps of: a) estimating (12) the dissipated electric energy (ED) of the induction cooking hob, b) comparing (14) the dissipated electric energy (ED) with a threshold value (EDthr) for said dissipated electric energy (ED), c) maintaining (16) the current working parameters of the induction cooking hob, if the dissipated electric energy (ED) is not bigger than the threshold value (EDthr), d) changing (18) the current working parameters, if the dissipated electric energy (ED) is bigger than the threshold value (EDthr), and e) repeating the steps a) and b) and then c) or d), respectively, after a predetermined time period.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining properties of the electrical current provided to an induction heating element (2) of an induction cooking appliance (1), the induction cooking appliance (1) comprising a heating power energy unit (3) including a heating power generator (4) with at least one switching element (5) adapted to provide pulsed electric power to said induction heating element (2), the induction cooking appliance (1) further comprising an oscillating circuit (6) comprising at least one resonance capacitor (6.1, 6.2), said induction heating element (2) being electrically coupled with said heating power generator (4) and said oscillating circuit (6), the induction cooking appliance (1) further comprising a control entity (8), wherein an input of a measurement circuit (9) is coupled with a node of the heating power energy unit (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the provision of electric power to an inductive element, in particular an induction coil (L), of an induction cooking appliance (1), the induction cooking appliance (1) comprising a circuitry (10) with an input (11), at least one switching element (S) for providing pulsed electric power to the inductive element, in particular the induction coil (L) and a capacitive element, in particular a capacitor (C) being connected in parallel, in particular in series, to the switching element (S), the method comprising the steps of: —receiving rectified AC-voltage (Vin) at the input (11) of the circuitry (10); —discharging, in particular during a first section/phase (P1), the capacitive element, in particular the capacitor (C) in order to reduce the voltage provided to the switching element (S), in particular during a first period of rectified AC-voltage (Vin); —after at least partially discharging the capacitive element, in particular the capacitor (C), starting, in part

Abstract: The invention relates to a power supply circuit (1, 2) for a cooking device, in particular for an induction cooking device, more particularly for an induction hob (80), wherein the power supply circuit is comprising—a, in particular a single, frequency adapting unit (20), in particular filtering unit, for adapting at least one external supply signal (11, 12) into a single or at least one internal AC supply signal (15, 16; 17, 18),—and at least one, at least two, two, at least three or three DC signal generating units (25, 30, 35), each for converting the one or at least one internal AC supply signal (15, 16; 17, 18) into at least one signal component, in particular one or two signal components, of an internal DC supply signal (40, 41, 42, 43, 44; 45, 46) and —at least one, at least two, in particular two, least three, three, at least four or four, heating frequency generating units (50, 55), each for converting one or at least one DC supply signal (40, 41; 42, 43; 44, 46; 45, 46) supplied by at least one DC s

Abstract: Induction hob comprising an AC power input (2) and a power conversion entity (3) adapted to provide high frequency electric current to an induction coil, wherein an electromagnetic filtering section (1) is provided between said AC power input (2) and said power conversion entity (3), said electromagnetic filtering section (1) comprising common mode filtering means and differential mode filtering means, wherein said electromagnetic filtering section (1) comprises a closed magnetic core element (4) around which at least two coils (5, 6) are provided, said closed magnetic core element (4) and said coils (5, 6) providing said common mode filtering means, and wherein said differential mode filtering means are adapted to enable a direct magnetic flux between the coil ends (5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2) of each coil (5, 6) in order to obtain differential mode filtering effect.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for calibrating a power control loop of an induction hob (1), the induction hob (1) comprising a power stage (10) including at least one induction element (21), a measurement unit (12) and a control unit (11), the method comprising the steps of: —coupling the at least one induction element (21) with a reference load; —powering the power stage (10) at predefined working conditions by means of said control unit (11); —deriving a measurement value being indicative for the power transferred from the power stage (10) to the reference load by means of said measurement unit (12); —providing the measurement value to the control unit (11); —calculating a correction value based on the measurement value and a reference value; —storing the correction value in a storage entity in order to modify measurement values provided by the measurement unit (12) based on the correction value when operating the induction hob (1).

Abstract: A method for checking functions of fans includes starting a normal operation mode, evaluating a fan monitoring signal depending on the fans' speeds, and starting a dynamic fan checking routine. If the monitoring signal is smaller than a lock threshold value, normal operation proceeds. If the monitoring signal is bigger than the lock threshold value, a multiple-fan checking routine is started. During each fan test the corresponding fan is activated for a predetermined time period, while the other fans are deactivated during the time period, and the monitoring signal is compared with the lock threshold value and a disconnecting threshold value. If the monitoring signal is bigger than the lock threshold value, the corresponding fan is locked and an error is detected. If the monitoring signal is smaller than the disconnecting threshold value, the corresponding fan is disconnected and an error is detected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for calibrating one or at least two power control loops of an induction hob (1), the induction hob (1) comprising one or at least two power stages (10) including one or at least two induction elements (21) and one or at least two measurement units (12), the method comprising the steps of: —deriving one or at least two measurement values being indicative for the power transferred from the one or at 10 least two power stages (10) to one or at least two reference loads by means of said one or at least two measurement units (12); —storing one or at least two correction values in one or at least two storage entities in order to modify measurement values provided by the one or at least two measurement units (12) based on the one or at least two correction values when operating the induction hob (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly unit for an induction hob with at least one induction element has a) at least one carrying element for carrying the circuits and/or devices for supplying the at least one induction element. The at least one carrying element has a base area and side areas protruding upwards from the base area. The at least one carrying element is connectable with at least one further carrying element along a side area. The side areas have connection elements for connection with the at least one further carrying element, preferably at least one power wire slot for inserting at least one power supply wire and/or preferably at least one signal wire slot for inserting at least one signal wire. Furthermore, the invention a method for manufacturing an assembly unit is described.

Abstract: A method for checking functions of fans includes starting a normal operation mode, evaluating a fan monitoring signal depending on the fans' speeds, and starting a dynamic fan checking routine. If the monitoring signal is smaller than a lock threshold value, normal operation proceeds. If the monitoring signal is bigger than the lock threshold value, a multiple-fan checking routine is started. During each fan test the corresponding fan is activated for a predetermined time period, while the other fans are deactivated during the time period, and the monitoring signal is compared with the lock threshold value and a disconnecting threshold value. If the monitoring signal is bigger than the lock threshold value, the corresponding fan is locked and an error is detected. If the monitoring signal is smaller than the disconnecting threshold value, the corresponding fan is disconnected and an error is detected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for calibrating a power control loop of an induction hob (1), the induction hob (1) comprising a power stage (10) including at least one induction element (21), a measurement unit (12) and a control unit (11), the method comprising the steps of:—coupling the at least one induction element (21) with a reference load;—powering the power stage (10) at predefined working conditions by means of said control unit (11);—deriving a measurement value being indicative for the power transferred from the power stage (10) to the reference load by means of said measurement unit (12);—providing the measurement value to the control unit (11);—calculating a correction value based on the measurement value and a reference value;—storing the correction value in a storage entity in order to modify measurement values provided by the measurement unit (12) based on the correction value when operating the induction hob (1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an induction hob with a cooking surface (10) and a number of induction coils (12; 16, 18) within said cooking surface (10). The induction coils (12; 16, 18) are arranged on the cooking surface (10) according to predetermined scheme, so that at least two induction coils (12; 16, 18) can be covered by a standard cooking vessel (14). Each induction coil (12; 16, 18) is connected to at least one induction generator being switched or switchable between a high power and a low power. Each induction generator is separately controllable, so that the induction coils (12; 16, 18) are switched or switchable between the high power and the low power. At least one control unit is provided for controlling the individual induction coils (12; 16, 18) according to a predetermined time pattern. Further, the present invention relates to a corresponding method for controlling the induction hob.