With Support Patents (Class 219/622)
  • Patent number: 10893579
    Abstract: A method for operating an induction cooking hob including a plurality of inductors in association with induction resonant inverters operating in load-dependent frequency ranges includes a simultaneous activation of inductors, in at least one phase of the control period, independently from their association to one or more overlying cooking utensils but only according to at least partial overlapping of associated operating frequency ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Carlo Calesella, Andrea Gallivanoni, Davide Parachini, Cristiano Vito Pastore
  • Patent number: 10788221
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an advantageously interactive item of furniture and/or appliance comprising: at least one worktop formed from at least one substrate made of a monolithic glazing material and of area larger than 0.7 m2, said substrate having a lightness L* lower than 10, a haze lower than 30% and a light transmission TL lower than 10%; at least one heating element; at least one light source, in particular intended to light up one or more zones or one or more elements or displays of the substrate, this source in particular being located under the substrate and being hidden thereby when said source is at rest; and at least one interface for communicating with at least one element of the worktop such as the one or more light sources and/or the one or more heating elements and/or if needs be wirelessly with at least one external element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: EUROKERA S.N.C.
    Inventors: Bertrand Charpentier, Javier Fernandez, Michel Lismonde, Michael Ravel, Nicolas Roux, Pablo Vilato
  • Patent number: 10734845
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission apparatus according to the present invention includes a coil which generates a high-frequency magnetic field upon reception of a high-frequency current, a support which supports the power receiving device within the high-frequency magnetic field, an inverter circuit which supplies the high-frequency current to the coil, and a controller which controls the driving of the inverter circuit. The controller performs a power transmission operation to transmit power to the power receiving device, if the impedance on the output side of the inverter circuit exhibits a resonant characteristic as the driving frequency of the inverter circuit is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Home Appliance Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuro Suga, Jun Bunya, Miyuki Takeshita
  • Patent number: 10728961
    Abstract: A thermal composite which can be used in induction heating or cooking devices. The composite comprises a surface layer made of a food-safe material, an induction layer made of a carbon-based material, an insulation layer, and an induction heating element. The heating element heats the induction layer directly, through the insulation layer, which in turn heats the surface layer. There can also be a structural support layer between the insulation layer and the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Garland Commercial Industries LLC
    Inventor: Arnel Corda
  • Patent number: 10681780
    Abstract: An electronic induction heat cooking apparatus includes a rectifier for rectifying an input voltage and outputting a direct current (DC) voltage; a plurality of switching elements for switching the DC voltage output through the rectifier; a plurality of heating coils for heating a cooking utensil by controlling the plurality of switching elements; a controller for controlling the plurality of switching elements according to a plurality of operation modes; and a supporting member in which at least one of the plurality of heating coils is mounted. The supporting member includes a coil insertion part, into which the heating coils are inserted, and the magnetic member is inserted into the supporting member to directly face the heating coils at the lower side of the heating coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dooyong Oh, Hyunwook Moon, Seungbok Ok, Byeongwook Park
  • Patent number: 10667333
    Abstract: An electronic induction heat cooking apparatus includes a rectifier for rectifying an input voltage and outputting a direct current (DC) voltage, a plurality of switching elements for switching the DC voltage output through the rectifier, a plurality of heating coils for heating a cooking utensil by controlling the plurality of switching elements, a controller for controlling the plurality of switching elements, and a support member including grooves, into which the heating coils are inserted. A width of a cross section of each of the grooves decreases toward an entrance of each of the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dooyong Oh, Hyunwook Moon, Seungbok Ok, Byeongwook Park
  • Patent number: 10660163
    Abstract: An induction humidification system is disclosed. The induction humidification system includes a base having a circumferential induction coil and a removable and replaceable cartridge received within the interior space defined by the induction coil. The canister has a nonmetallic housing, such as a plastic housing, within which a ferromagnetic member having a circumferential sidewall is disposed. When the canister is received within the base, the ferromagnetic member sidewall and the induction coil are radially overlapping such that a current applied to the induction coil causes the ferromagnetic member to be heated which in turn causes water held within the canister to be converted to steam. Once the ferromagnetic member has reached the end of its useful life, the canister can be simply replaced with a new canister that can be received by the original base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: DRI-STEEM Corporation
    Inventor: Sukru Erisgen
  • Patent number: 10660164
    Abstract: A cooktop device, in particular an induction cooktop device, includes a base component and an articulated arm having a first arm part and a second arm part, with the articulated arm bearing exactly one heating element. A joint supports the second arm part for movement relative to the first arm part, and a suspension connects the first arm part to the base component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Manuel Carmona Martinez, Juan Llado Paris, Sergio Llorente Gil, Jesús Ricardo Ruiz Gracia, Beatriz Sanchez Tabuenca, Julen Urdangarin Garcia
  • Patent number: 10602572
    Abstract: Provided is a cooking device capable of being provided with a radio communication device so that the radio communication device establishes a satisfactory communication, instead of (i) further providing any special configuration in which the radio communication device is provided and (ii) making any change in structure of the cooking device. According to a cooking device (1), a space for providing a radio communication adapter is secured in a frame (3b) of a door (3) or in a circuit storing section (50), made of a nonmetal, which is configured to store a driving circuit of a display operation section (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Takimoto, Tadanori Sugimura, Akihiro Okazaki
  • Patent number: 10591167
    Abstract: A method for operating a cooktop appliance is provided. The method includes determining a temperature of a cooking utensil positioned on a heating element of the cooktop appliance, as well as determining a temperature of a food in the utensil positioned on the heating element of the cooktop appliance. The method also includes calculating a temperature differential between the temperatures of the food in the cooking utensil and of the cooking utensil itself. Subsequently, the method includes controlling a heating temperature of the heating element to reduce the temperature differential when the temperature differential is greater than a predetermined threshold to, e.g., reduce a risk of burning a portion of the food in the utensil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Scott Johnson, Jeremy Davidson Mahaney
  • Patent number: 10546819
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, and a first shield member provided on or in the substrate. The device further includes a semiconductor chip provided on the first shield member, and a first wire electrically connected to the semiconductor chip and the substrate. The device further includes a second wire electrically or magnetically connected to the first shield member, and a second shield member provided above the semiconductor chip, electrically insulated from the first wire, and electrically or magnetically connected to the second wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoru Takaku
  • Patent number: 10448461
    Abstract: In a method for operating a cooktop, a process of removal and placement of a cookware element with respect to a starting position and an end position is detectable by a detection arrangement. A control unit forms a heating zone to match a detected cookware element. The process can be independently associated by the control unit in one of two ways, a first way in which the process involves a movement of cookware element from the starting position into the end position and a movement of the heating zone into an area of the end position, with a target temperature, set by a user interface, being carried over to the area of the end position, a second way in which the process involves removal of cookware element from the starting position and placement of another cookware element in the end position, with a target temperature set to a default value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Carlos Franco Gutierrez, Teresa Del Carmen Marzo Alvarez, David Paesa García, Beatriz Villanueva Valero
  • Patent number: 10405377
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cooking vessel for induction cooktops. The cooking vessel comprises at least one movable magnetic material base plate provided at heat conducting zone of the cooking vessel, wherein the movable magnetic material base plate transfers heat from the induction cooktop to contents in the cooking vessel. The cooking vessel further comprises at least one non-magnetic material base plate, placed adjacent to the at least one movable magnetic material base plate, wherein the non-magnetic material base plate blocks transfer of heat from induction cooktop to the contents. Further, an insulation pocket, placed adjacent to the at least one movable magnetic material base plate, is configured to house the at least one movable magnetic material base plate. Furthermore, an actuator is configured to displace the at least one movable magnetic material base plate from the heat conducting zone to the insulation pocket based on a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Wipro Limited
    Inventors: Vijay Kumar, Ramya Kolli, Shagun Rai
  • Patent number: 10321521
    Abstract: A hob apparatus includes a configuration unit having at least two input connections for connection to at least two inverters in one-to-one correspondence, at least two output connections for connection to at least two heating elements in one-to-one correspondence, and at least one switch operably connected to a first one of the at least two input connections and operably connected to at least a first one of the at least two output connections. The configuration unit operates the at least two inverters in at least one operating state in parallel to at least one of the at least two heating elements. The configuration unit includes at least one bridging element to connect the first one of the at least two input connections and a second one of the at least two output connections to one another independently of a switching position of the at least one switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Anton Falcon, Ignacio Garde Aranda, Oscar Gracia Campos, Ignacio Millan Serrano, Daniel Palacios Tomas, Oscar Pallares Zaera
  • Patent number: 10237927
    Abstract: This contrivance model discloses a coil panel consisting of the body, the base used for sealing the body as well as the magnetic stripe and the magnetic vane located at the base bottom from top to bottom. The magnetic vane is a cyclic structure. This contrivance model also discloses an induction cooker. This contrivance model not only can effectively reduce electromagnetic radiation arising from operation of the induction cooker and the coil panel and improve heat emission efficiency, but also features easy installation and disassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: FOSHAN SHUNDE YA IN ELECTRIC APPLIANCE MANUFACTURE CO., LTD
    Inventor: Ouyang Foqiang
  • Patent number: 10197288
    Abstract: A combination type cooker may include a top plate with a surface, a case that is configured to define a space shielded by the top plate, a gas burner that is provided inside the case, and in which a heat plate is heated by combustion of a fuel gas, an induction burner that is provided inside the case, and that is configured to heat a cooking container by induction, and a barrier that is provided between the gas burner and the induction burner, and that is configured to partition an inside of the case into a first space where the gas burner housed, and a second space where the induction burner is housed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyunwoo Park, Dongjae Lee, Seungyoun Kim
  • Patent number: 10159117
    Abstract: An induction heating system includes induction heating apparatuses, each including a high-frequency current transformer, a low-frequency current transformer and a heating coil, a high-frequency input switch connected to the high-frequency current transformer, a low-frequency input switch connected to the low-frequency current transformer, a first power source to output a high-frequency electric power and a low frequency electric power, a second power source, a first power source output switch connectable to the first power source, a second power source output switch connectable to the second power source, and a switch controller. Each induction heating apparatus includes a heater controller to send a signal to the switching controller to turn on one of the first power source output switch and the second power source output switch, to turn off the other, and to switch on or off each of the high-frequency input switch and the low-frequency input switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: NETUREN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ono, Masato Sugimoto, Yutaka Kiyosawa, Toshihiro Aiba, Kazutomi Oka, Fumiaki Ikuta, Kazuhiro Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 10148127
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wireless power transmitting apparatus to wirelessly transmit power to a wireless power receiving apparatus through a transmission resonance coil by using resonance. An AC power generating unit generates quasi square-wave AC power having quasi square-wave voltage. A transmission induction coil transmits the quasi square-wave AC power to the transmission resonance coil through electromagnetic induction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Su Ho Bae
  • Patent number: 10085307
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an induction coil for an induction heating appliance, in particular for an induction cooking hob. The induction coil comprises at least one base plate (10) and at least one winding arrangement (12). The winding arrangement (12) includes at least one portion of high winding concentration (18) and at least one portion of low winding concentration (20). The base plate (10) is arranged above one or more winding arrangements (12). The base plate (10) includes at least one conductive portion (14) and at least one non-conductive portion (16). At least one conductive portion (14) of the base plate (10) is arranged above at least one portion of high winding concentration (18) of the winding arrangement (12). At least one non-conductive portion (16) of the base plate (10) is arranged above at least one portion of low winding concentration (20) of the winding arrangement (12). The conductive portion (14) of the base plate (10) is made by at least one conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Laurent Jeanneteau, Filippo Milanesi, Alex Viroli
  • Patent number: 10085303
    Abstract: An induction heating device comprises a frequency converter that generates a high-frequency drive voltage from an intermediate circuit voltage generated at least temporarily as a function of an AC mains voltage, a resonant circuit having an induction heating coil, with the drive voltage applied to the resonant circuit, and a temperature detection device that determines a temperature of a cooking vessel base which is heated by means of the induction heating coil. An auxiliary voltage source generated the intermediate circuit voltage over predefined time periods at a constant level. The frequency converter generates the drive voltage over time periods such that the resonant circuit oscillates at a natural resonant frequency in a substantially de-attenuated manner, and the temperature detection device further measuring at least one oscillation parameter over the time periods, and to evaluate the at least one measured oscillation parameter in order to determine the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: E.G.O. Elektro-Geraetebau GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Schilling, Tobias Schönherr, Werner Kappes, Martin Volk
  • Patent number: 10028580
    Abstract: A glass-ceramic cooktop is provided that is made of glass-ceramic material with a flat upper side and an underside. The glass-ceramic material has transmittance values of greater than 0.1% in the visible light range in the total wavelength region greater than 420 nm, a light transmittance in the visible range of 0.8-2.5%, and a transmittance of 0-85% in the infrared at 1600 nm, and wherein the glass-ceramic material has high quartz mixed crystals as the prevalent crystal phase. The underside is flat, unstructured, and coplanar with the upper side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Birgit Doerk, Evelin Weiss, Thomas Zenker, Ulf Hoffmann, Silke Knoche, Martin Taplan, Friedrich Siebers, Thomas Kraus, Lutz Klippe, Wolfgang Schmidbauer
  • Patent number: 9867236
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooking hob with a mobile upper part and a stationary or mobile lower part. The upper part includes at least one panel (10) arranged at its top side. The upper part includes at least one induction coil (12) arranged below the panel (10). The upper part includes at least one rechargeable battery (14). The upper part includes at least one inverter circuit for generating the alternating current for the induction coil (12). The lower part includes a base plate (18). The lower part includes a power supply circuit (16) arranged on the base plate (18) and connected or connectable to the grid. The upper part is attachable on and removable from the lower part by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Karl Leidig, Kersten Kaiser, Thomas Fich Pedersen, Florian Ruther, Filippo Tisselli, Francesco Corleoni, Evi Hessenauer
  • Patent number: 9848462
    Abstract: An induction heating cooker including a temperature sensor disposed between a plurality of working coils which are uniformly disposed below a cooking table and a heat transfer member to transfer heat from the working coils adjacent to the temperature sensor to the temperature sensor, thereby improving productivity and space utilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Ho Lee, Jong Chull Shon, Ha Na Kim
  • Patent number: 9788687
    Abstract: One variation of a system for cooking food includes: a griddle module including a lower plate configured to receive a food product and an upper plate arranged over the lower plate and configured to contact the food product; a set of induction stations, each induction station including a lower coil configured to inductively couple to the lower plate when the griddle module is arranged in the induction station and an upper coil configured to inductively couple to the upper plate when the griddle module is arranged in the induction station; a hub configured to support the lower plate and the upper plate between the upper and lower coils of the induction stations and to sequentially position the griddle module through the set of induction stations; and a controller configured to drive the upper and lower coils to heat the food product between the lower plate and the upper plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Momentum Machines Company
    Inventors: Steven Frehn, Alexandros Vardakostas, Michael Balsamo, Noe Esparza, Matthew Williams
  • Patent number: 9693398
    Abstract: A cooking system for using a non-ferromagnetic pot to cook on an induction cooker includes an induction cooker that has a heating surface. A panel is positioned to abut the heating surface. The panel is constructed of a ferromagnetic material wherein the panel is placed in thermal communication with the induction cooker when the panel is positioned on the heating surface. Thus, the induction cooker heats the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Inventor: Roberta J. Kamaunu
  • Patent number: 9581845
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a liquid crystal panel; a backlight that illuminates the liquid crystal panel; a display cover that covers a display surface of the liquid crystal panel; a housing case that houses the backlight; a display cover support case to whose inside the housing case is fixed and whose outer circumferential surface serves as a pasting surface pasted to the display cover; pressure-sensitive adhesive members that are arranged between the pasting surface of the display cover support case and the display cover, and join together the display cover and the display cover support case with a pressure-sensitive adhesive force; and an adhesive that is arranged in an area located on the pasting surface and interposed between the pressure-sensitive adhesive members in the longitudinal direction of the pasting surface, and that bonds together the display cover and the display cover support case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Yuichi Tsubaki, Satoru Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9532407
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an induction cooking hob (10) including a number of heating zones (12, 14, 16, 18). Each heating zone (12, 14, 16, 18) comprises or corresponds with at least one induction coil. Each induction coil is connected to a generator. Two or more heating zones (12, 14, 16, 18) are linked or can be linked into a cooking area by a user. The linked heating zones (12, 14, 16, 18) are controlled by a common power setting. An operator interface is provided for operating the heating zones (12, 14, 16, 18). A control unit is provided for controlling the heating zones (12, 14, 16, 18). The operator interface includes actuating elements corresponding with predetermined links (20) between the heating zones (12, 14, 16, 18). The control unit is provided for synchronizing the generators of the linked heating zones (12, 14, 16, 18) by one common controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION N.V.
    Inventors: Alex Viroli, Svend Erik Christiansen, Laurent Jeanneteau, Luca Zannoni
  • Patent number: 9491809
    Abstract: An induction cooktop appliance is provided. The induction cooktop appliance includes an induction heating element and a metal top panel positioned above the induction heating element for supporting cooking utensils thereon. The metal top panel defines an opening above the induction heating element. The opening can limit or regulate eddy currents within the metal top panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Shaffer, John Stanley Glaser
  • Patent number: 9490647
    Abstract: A capacitance discharge limiter in which a DC transition protection circuit is provided in a circuit that includes a discharge circuit (which may be a power limiter) between a source and a receiver, with a capacitor situated between the source and the discharge circuit. The DC transition protection circuit is coupled to a reference voltage and to the control voltage input of the discharge circuit, and also between the capacitor and the discharge circuit at a node. The DC transition protection circuit detects the existence of an excess DC or low frequency (typically less than about 1 MHz) voltage potential at the node caused by charge on the capacitor, and regulates the control voltage so as to enable the discharge circuit to discharge the capacitor to protect the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Hojung Ju, Jianhua Lu
  • Patent number: 9295110
    Abstract: An inductive heating device is structured such that a coil base and ferrites placed under a heating coil in the vertical direction are flushed with each other at their lower surfaces and are directly placed on a heat dissipation plate. A heat conductive member is charged between the ferrites and an electrical insulating member sandwiched between the heating coil and the ferrites, at least at a portion thereof, so that thickness variations in the ferrites are absorbed thereby, which realizes a state where they are thermally coupled to each other from the heating coil to the heat dissipation plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Matsui, Akira Kataoka, Takehiko Shigeoka
  • Patent number: 9204499
    Abstract: An induction heating cooker and a control method thereof that stably adjust power of a cooking coil when a plurality of containers having different cooking conditions is placed on the cooking coil includes a plurality of heating coils disposed below a cooking plate and a controller to determine whether a container is placed on the heating coils, wherein the controller determines whether a plurality of containers is placed on one of the heating coils and, when the containers are placed on one of the heating coils, adjusts a power of the heating coil on which the containers are placed based on powers of other heating coils occupied by the containers. Cooking using a plurality of containers is stably performed based on user intention even when cooking conditions of the containers placed on a heating coil differ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ha Na Kim, Jong Chull Shon, Sung Ho Lee, Min Gyu Jung
  • Patent number: 9144116
    Abstract: In an induction heating device having an induction coil for an induction hob, the induction coil may be of flat or planar design and have at least one peripheral coil turn comprising coil wire. The outer contour of the induction coil or the outermost coil turn may be approximately trapezoidal having two sides of equal length which are situated opposite one another and may be straight, and having two short sides of differing length between the sides of equal length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: E.G.O. Elektro-Gerätebau GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Stöffler, Sebastian Stadtmüller
  • Patent number: 9113502
    Abstract: A cook-top or hob includes multiple inductors and at least three heating zones which are operated by the inductors. A single power electronics subassembly supplies the inductors with heating current and includes a common rectifier which is operably connected to the inductors for rectifying an alternating current supplied by a single phase of a household electrical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Anton Falcon, José Miguel Burdio Pinilla, Jose-Ramon Garcia Jimenez, Sergio Llorente Gil, Oscar Lucia Gil, Fernando Monterde Aznar, Diego Puyal Puente
  • Patent number: 9006621
    Abstract: A hob includes at least one heating zone having several heating elements, a user interface for setting a heating capacity of the heating zone, and a control unit for operating the heating elements and for distributing the heating capacity among the heating elements according to a heating capacity distribution. In order to improve the efficiency of the hob, the control unit is configured to distribute the heating capacity among a larger number of heating elements when the heating capacity is below a threshold value than in the case, when the heating capacity is above the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Maria Carmen Artal Lahoz, Jose-Ramon Garcia Jimenez, Ignacio Garde Aranda, Pablo Jesus Hernandez Blasco, Ignacio Millan Serrano, Daniel Palacios Tomas, Ramon Peinado Adiego
  • Patent number: 9006620
    Abstract: A transparent or translucent glass-ceramic plate, capable of covering or receiving at least one underlying heating element. The plate has a coating which at least partly masks the underlying heating element(s), while still allowing the heating element(s) and optional displays to be detected. At least 90% of the coating is on the face of the plate to be turned toward the heating element(s) and optional displays in the use position. The coating has a region or a group of regions known as a background region(s), wherein the background region(s) occupy most of the surface of the coating. The coating also has a region or a group of regions known as indicating region(s), wherein the indicating region(s) making it possible to display, relative to the background region(s), a pattern, a sign and/or the location of functional elements while also making it possible to detect if the elements are in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Eurokera S.N.C.
    Inventors: Pablo Vilato, Franck Demol
  • Patent number: 9000335
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a consumer appliance that uses RF energy to heat foods stored in a container that is suitable for RF heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ameritherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Rosenbloom, Leslie L. Thompson, Brian Louis Teachout, Ian Alan Paull
  • Publication number: 20150069048
    Abstract: A method of optimizing performance of a cooktop with a plurality of adjacent heating zones includes indicating a point for each heating zone; placing a cooking vessel on the cooktop, the cooking vessel being sufficiently large to cover at least two of the points simultaneously; and adjusting the cooking vessel so that the cooking vessel covers the maximum number of the points possible for the size of the cooking vessel. A cooktop includes at least three induction heating elements; and a persistent indicator for each heating element. The cooktop is adapted to instruct a user to cover a maximum possible number of the at least three persistent indicators with a cooking vessel to optimize use of the cooktop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: BSH Home Appliances Corporation
    Inventor: Lindsay Eng
  • Patent number: 8952303
    Abstract: A cooking device having an electrical heating element is arranged on a carrier element. At least one electrical wire is connected with the carrier element. The connection is facilitated by a reception element having two recesses forming undercuts and a connection member with a basis structure and an electrical contact for engagement with the wire. The connection member has two protrusions extending from the basis structure of the connection member and can be inserted into the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Bernd Buck, Reiner Arnold, Laurent Jeannatau
  • Publication number: 20150028022
    Abstract: An induction cooktop may include: a cooking surface; an induction coil; electronic circuitry coupled to said induction coil; and a housing surrounding at least a portion of said induction coil and at least a portion of said electronic circuitry, and said housing comprising a fan chamber comprising: a fan; at least one ribbed wall; and a fan cover covering at least a portion of said fan so as to direct airflow over said electronic circuitry. According to various exemplary embodiments, various preset operating ranges, precise temperature control using discrete increments may be used, as well as power calibration, noise reduction, ultra wide temperature range cooking, flexible programming, extensive multi-stage long duration cooking and memories, including selectable delays, pause features, high temperature searing, low temperature cooking, ultra high frequency high temperature operation, immediate fan shutoff, multiple temperature unit convertible display, multi-stage, and/or multi-step cooking, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Nuwave LLC
    Inventors: Jung S. MOON, Eung Yub Cha, Byung G. Choi, Jian Jiang Liu, Zeng Qing Ping, Teng Jin Lian, Xiaoliang Hui, Mikale K. Kwon
  • Patent number: 8916808
    Abstract: The present invention provides an inductive heating cooking device capable of detecting a temperature of a bottom of a pan instantly without delay in detection of temperature, and precisely keeping a temperature of a cooking container constant, and control method thereof, and control program thereof. The inductive heating cooking device includes a top plate (103) on which a cooking container is placed, a heating coil (104) to which a high-frequency current is applied to generate an induction magnetic field for heating the cooking container, an input unit (114) configured to receive a command for keeping a temperature of the cooking container at a constant temperature, a control unit (105) configured to control a heating of the cooking container by controlling the high-frequency current to be applied to the heating coil, and an infrared ray sensor (106) configured to detect an infrared ray energy radiated from the cooking container through the top plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Sunao Okuda, Tomoya Fujinami, Naoaki Ishimaru, Akira Kataoka
  • Patent number: 8912471
    Abstract: A heating cooker of the present invention includes a plurality of light emitting indicator units. The light emitting indicator units each have a temperature sensing unit that senses an ambient temperature of a light emission source. Therefore, deterioration of the light emission source of each of the light emitting indicator units can be suppressed to realize a further reduction in thickness, and to improve visibility of the indicator sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takehiko Shigeoka, Akira Kataoka, Eiji Matsui
  • Patent number: 8890041
    Abstract: A device wherein food can be warmed by means of induction, said device comprising at least one secondary coil which is formed from a current conductor, whereon at least one heating element is connected. The invention also relates to a device which is used to transfer energy in a device in order to warm food by means of induction, said device comprising a primary coil which is connected to a voltage source and which is formed from a current conductor. According to the invention, the primary and secondary coil is cast into a coil body by casting means, and the insulating casting means exhibits a coefficient of thermal expansion which essentially corresponds to the coil body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Dan Neumayer, Wolfgang Schnell, Eckhard Wolfgang, Günter Zschau
  • Patent number: 8884197
    Abstract: An indoor or outdoor induction cook top with a heat management system is disclosed. The cook top controls heat generated by various components, including the electronic controller, mechanical controls, and the induction generators. The heat management system provides precise temperature control and an efficient way of removing heat from the cooktop. The cook top construction provides the ability to incorporate a smooth ceramic glass cook top and a number of induction hobs in multiple arrangements. The cook top also features a reduction in the number of components, the efficient removal of generated heat, the reduction of noise, an increase in performance and a barrier airflow director. Consequently, the cook top may be installed in a countertop without the need for venting above the counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Western Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Gagas, Scott A. Jonovic, Richard C. Hochschild, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8878108
    Abstract: An induction heating cooker in which a size of heating coils can be freely set without being restricted by a size of an opening of a cabinet of a kitchen unit. The induction heating cooker has an outer casing including a flange extending in an outward direction from a top portion of a container receptacle, with a heating coil container space being provided between the flange and a plate, such that one portion of each of the heating coils is disposed in the heating coil container space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Kitaizumi, Naoaki Ishimaru, Yoichi Kurose, Masafumi Sadahira, Yuichi Shimizu, Masayo Haji
  • Patent number: 8872077
    Abstract: An induction cook top may include a heat management system. The heat management system controls heat produced both internally by the electronic components within the cook top as well as heat produced above the cook top when cooking. The heat management system provides improved air flow past and around the internal electronic components. The cook top features an efficient removal of generated heat and may optionally provide a vented housing and direct airflow into and out of the housing or provide a thermoelectric cooling device which permits a ventless housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Western Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Gagas, Scott A. Jonovic, Richard C. Hochschild, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8853599
    Abstract: An induction heating cooking apparatus includes a magnetic flux-shielding plate 28 to restrain magnetic flux leakage from a heating coil 24 and define a cooling air trunk 33, through which cooling air from a fan 32 passes. An infrared sensor 26 for detecting infrared rays emitted from a cooking container 22 and a control circuit 27 for controlling an output of a heating coil 24 depending on an output from the infrared sensor 26 are accommodated within the same space with respect to the magnetic flux-shielding plate 28 to thereby enhance assemblage. Also, the infrared sensor 26 is mainly cooled by cooling air passing through a cooling air trunk 33 to thereby enhance the cooling efficiency of the infrared sensor 26 and conduct correct temperature detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Kusaka, Akira Kataoka, Kazunori Takechi
  • Patent number: 8791399
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to accurately detect a state of an object to be heated in a cooking vessel and effectively avoid cooking failure. An induction heating section (13) inductively heats a cooking vessel (11). A vibration detecting section (14) detects a vibration of the cooking vessel (11) via a top plate (12). A vibration waveform extracting section (15) extracts a vibration waveform of a frequency component having a frequency equal to a predetermined multiplication product of an induction heating frequency, from a waveform of the vibration detected by the vibration detecting section (14). A determining section (16) determines a state of an object to be heated, based on the vibration waveform extracted by the vibration waveform extracting section (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Sachio Nagamitsu, Makiko Noda
  • Patent number: 8772684
    Abstract: Operability of a heating cooker having a heating unit in a top plate is improved. After power-on, a light emission control unit causes the operation unit light-emitting element of an operable operation inhibition releasing key to be lit so that only the key is displayed and the other keys are less visible. Thus, the heating cooker is changed into a lock state. When the operation inhibition releasing key is operated in the lock state, at least one electrostatic touch key other than the operation inhibition releasing key is made operable and the operation unit light-emitting element is lit. Alternatively, in the above structure, the operation unit light-emitting element of the operable operation unit is lit in a first light-emission color, and the operation unit light-emitting elements of the inoperable operation units are lit in a second light-emission color different from the first light-emission color. Thus effective operation can be guided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Keiko Isoda, Ryuuji Nagata, Chikashi Satou, Tsuyoshi Inada
  • Patent number: 8766147
    Abstract: An induction stove assembly that utilizes pads between the cook-top of the stove and cooking vessels placed on the stove for heating. The pads are easily removable and interchangeable with other similar pads. The pads help protect the cook-top from damage, make clean-up more efficient, and insulate the cook-top from excessive heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Kenyon International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Reischmann, Phillip Williams
  • Patent number: 8766148
    Abstract: A baking oven for producing baked molded products. The baking oven has an input station, a baking area and an output station. In addition, the oven has baking plates, which are arranged along a circulation path passing through the baking area, and a conveying device for the baking plates. The baking plates are in the form of susceptor plates, which can be heated inductively without contact. An induction heating device is provided in the baking area. This device includes at least one elongated inductor, which is arranged parallel to the circulation path of the baking plates and extends along the circulation path over a plurality of susceptor plates. The elongated inductor produces a large-area, broad magnetic field, which simultaneously inductively heats a plurality of baking plates in the form of susceptor plates without any contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Franz Haas Waffel- und Keksanlagen-Industrie GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Haas, Stefan Jiraschek, Johannes Haas, Josef Haas, Erich Koletnik, Fritz Obermaier, Marcus Pickart