Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a cooking process by using a liquid in a cooking vessel, for example a cooking pot, upon a cooking hob (20). The method comprises a step of determining a cooking parameter of the liquid in the cooking vessel at a predetermined time (tB, tBP), a step of adjusting a heating power density (P) of a cooking zone of the cooking hob (20) for transferring a heating power (P) to the cooking vessel placed on the cooking zone; and a step of reducing the heating power density (P) transferred to the cooking vessel from an initial power (iP) to a simmering power (PS). Further, the present invention relates to a cooking vessel for the cooking hob (20). Moreover, the present invention relates to a cooking appliance for performing the cooking process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an induction cooking hob (10) including at least one cooking area (12), wherein the cooking area (12) comprises at least three induction coils (14). The induction coils (14) of at least one cooking area (12) are arranged side-by-side and in series. Each induction coil (14) of at least one cooking area (12) has an elongated shape. The longitudinal axes of the induction coils (14) within one cooking area (12) are arranged in parallel. Each induction coil (14) of the cooking area (12) is associated with a dedicated induction generator (16). The induction generators (16) are connected or connectable to at least one current line (18). The induction generators (16) are connected to and controlled or controllable by at least one control unit (20). Requested powers (rP) for each used induction generator (16) are adjusted or adjustable independent from each other by a user interface (22). Instant powers (iP) of the induction generators (16) within a cycle pattern (T1, T2, . . .

Abstract: Induction hob with boiling detection and induction energy control, method for heating food with an induction hob and computer program product An induction cooking hob and a method for heating food as well as a computer program product are disclosed. Based on information of a micro-electromechanical system (1500) in combination with a temperature sensor associated to a heating zone, vibrations can be detected and a heating zone associated with the boiling substance can be properly discriminated from one supporting a pot having a non-boiling substance in it. Subsequent simmering of the substance can be automatically effected. An indication will be provided to a user (1680), and an automated function can be started (1610) including boiling and subsequent simmering, respectively indication of a boiling substance on any of the heating zones on an induction hob (1000).

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: An induction cooking hob and a method for heating food as well as a computer program product are disclosed. Based on information of a micro-electromechanical system (1500) in combination with a temperature sensor associated to a heating zone, vibrations can be detected and a heating zone associated with the boiling substance can be properly discriminated from one supporting a pot having a non-boiling substance in it. Subsequent simmering of the substance can be automatically effected. An indication will be provided to a user (1680), and an automated function can be started (1610) including boiling and subsequent simmering, respectively indication of a boiling substance on any of the heating zones on an induction hob (1000).

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: Systems and methods are provided for an induction cooking hob. The induction cooking hob includes at least three induction coils each comprising a first shape. The induction cooking hob includes a fourth induction coil arranged lateral to the three induction coils. The fourth induction coil includes a second shape. The induction cooking hob includes one or more generators. The induction cooking hob includes a control unit that is configured to control the one or more generators to supply power to the at least three induction coils and the fourth induction coil.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for boil detection at a heating zone of an induction hob (1), the method comprising the steps of: —disabling (S110) a power control mechanism of the induction hob by setting the frequency of the AC-current provided to an induction coil of the induction hob to a fixed value; —measuring (S120) values of an electrical parameter provided within the induction hob (1); —interpolating (S130) the measured electrical parameter values by gathering a plurality of values of the electrical parameter within a time window and calculating the average value of said gathered plurality of values thereby obtaining interpolated electrical parameter values. —calculating (S140) a gradient measure indicative for the differential change of the interpolated electrical parameter values over time; —determining (S150) the boil point based on the calculated gradient measure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an induction cooking hob (10) including at least one cooking area (12), wherein the cooking area (12) comprises at least three induction coils (14). The induction coils (14) of at least one cooking area (12) are arranged side-by-side and in series. Each induction coil (14) of at least one cooking area (12) has an elongated shape. The longitudinal axes of the induction coils (14) within one cooking area (12) are arranged in parallel. Each induction coil (14) of the cooking area (12) is associated with a dedicated induction generator (16). The induction generators (16) are connected or connectable to at least one current line (18). The induction generators (16) are connected to and controlled or controllable by at least one control unit (20). Requested powers (rP) for each used induction generator (16) are adjusted or adjustable independent from each other by a user interface (22). Instant powers (iP) of the induction generators (16) within a cycle pattern (T1, T2, . . .

Abstract: The present invention relates to an induction cooking hob (10) including at least one cooking area (12), wherein the cooking area (12) comprises at least three induction coils (14). The induction coils (14) of at least one cooking area (12) are arranged side-by-side and in series. Each induction coil (14) of at least one cooking area (12) has an elongated shape. The longitudinal axes of the induction coils (14) within one cooking area (12) are arranged in parallel. Each induction coil (14) of 10 the cooking area (12) is associated with a dedicated induction generator (16). The induction generators (16) are connected or connectable to at least one current line (18). The induction generators (16) are connected to and controlled or controllable by at least one control unit (20). Requested powers (rP) for each used induction generator (16) are adjusted or adjustable independent from each other by a user interface (22). Instant powers (iP) of the induction generators (16) within a cycle pattern (T1, T2, . . .

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an induction hob (1), the induction hob (1) comprising a plurality of induction coils (3) and two or more power units (4), each power unit (4) being coupled with one or more induction coils (3), wherein a cooking zone is formed by associating one or more induction coils (3) to a coil group (6.1-6.4), the method comprising the steps of: —defining one or more coil groups (6.1-6.4), each coil group (6.1-6.4) being associated with one or more induction coils (3); —calculating a relative power value or relative electrical parameter value of each coil group (6.1-6.4) based on a maximum power value or maximum electrical parameter value, the maximum power value being the power value of the coil group with the highest power request, respectively, the maximum electrical parameter value being an electrical parameter value of the coil group (6.1-6.4) with the highest power request; —calculating, for each coil group (6.1-6.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a cooking process by using a liquid in a cooking vessel, for example a cooking pot, upon a cooking hob (20). Said method comprises a step of determining a cooking parameter of the liquid in the cooking vessel at a predetermined time (tB; tBP); a step of adjusting a heating power density (P) of a cooking zone of the cooking hob (20) for transferring a heating power (P) to the cooking vessel placed on said cooking zone; and a step of reducing the heating power density (P) transferred to the cooking vessel from an initial power (iP) to a simmering power (PS). Further, the present invention relates to a cooking vessel for the cooking hob (20). Moreover, the present invention relates to a cooking appliance for performing the cooking process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for boil detection at a heating zone of an induction hob (1), the method comprising the steps of: —disabling (S110) a power control mechanism of the induction hob by setting the frequency of the AC-current provided to an induction coil of the induction hob to a fixed value; —measuring (S120) values of an electrical parameter provided within the induction hob (1); —interpolating (S130) the measured electrical parameter values by gathering a plurality of values of the electrical parameter within a time window and calculating the average value of said gathered plurality of values thereby obtaining interpolated electrical parameter values. —calculating (S140) a gradient measure indicative for the differential change of the interpolated electrical parameter values over time; —determining (S150) the boil point based on the calculated gradient measure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an induction hob (1), the induction hob (1) comprising a plurality of induction coils (3) and two or more power units (4), each power unit (4) being coupled with one or more induction coils (3), wherein a cooking zone is formed by associating one or more induction coils (3) to a coil group (6.1-6.4), the method comprising the steps of: —defining one or more coil groups (6.1-6.4), each coil group (6.1-6.4) being associated with one or more induction coils (3); —calculating a relative power value or relative electrical parameter value of each coil group (6.1-6.4) based on a maximum power value or maximum electrical parameter value, the maximum power value being the power value of the coil group with the highest power request, respectively, the maximum electrical parameter value being an electrical parameter value of the coil group (6.1-6.4) with the highest power request; —calculating, for each coil group (6.1-6.

Abstract: A method for controlling a cooking hob with one or more induction coils covered by a cookware and forming a cooking zone. All induction coils of the cooking zone are alternately activated. The method includes setting an average power to be transferred to the cookware by a user, determining a frequency, estimating a maximum average power if all induction coils of the cooking zone would be activated with said frequency, estimating a percentage power defined as quotient between the set average power and the estimated maximum average power, estimating a calculated number of coils defined as product of the number of coils within the cooking zone and the percentage power, defining a minimum number of simultaneously activated coils within the cooking zone by an integer value of the calculated number, and defining a temporal activation of a further one of the coils by a fractional part of the calculated number.

Abstract: A method for assigning a unique identifier to a hob induction coil of an induction hob including a plurality of hob induction coils, the method including the steps of: placing one or more device induction coils of a device above one or more hob induction coils such that at least one device induction coil and at least one hob induction coil are facing each other; establishing a communication link between the device induction coil and the hob induction coil, wherein information regarding a unique identifier is transmitted to the hob induction coil by the device induction coil; and receiving information regarding the unique identifier by the hob induction coil and storing the identifier associated with the hob induction coil within a memory of the induction hob.

Abstract: An induction hob including a first heating region with a first induction coil and a second heating region with a second induction coil is provided. First and second resonant converters drive an AC current through the first and second induction coils. The first and second resonant converters form a half-bridge resonant converter that is continuously driven such that a direction of current flow through the first induction coil and the second induction coil is alternating. The half-bridge resonant converter controls the output power of the first and second heating regions by varying the frequency of the AC current through the respective induction coil. The first and second resonant converters have different resonance frequencies such that the resonance frequency of the first resonant converter is at least 1.4 times higher than the resonance frequency of the second resonant converter.