Load Sensing Patents (Class 219/626)
  • Patent number: 11895759
    Abstract: An induction heating apparatus is provided. The induction heating apparatus includes a heating coil configured to heat an object to be heated, a full-bridge type inverter configured to supply power to the heating coil, a capacitor provided between an intermediate node of one arm of the inverter and one end of the heating coil, and a first relay provided between the intermediate node and the other end of the heating coil 30. An intermediate node of the other arm of the inverter and an intermediate point of the heating coil are connected through a first wire. The induction heating apparatus includes a processor configured to open or close the first relay based on an impedance of the object to be heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Sasagawa, Masaki Ono, Masayuki Otawara, Nobuharu Nishikoori, Taro Yoshida, Tomoyuki Kanagawa, Yutaka Yagi
  • Patent number: 11895758
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes: a working coil, an inverter configured to output a resonant current to the working coil, a current detector configured to detect the resonant current and output a detection value corresponding to the resonant current, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the inverter to flow a first resonant current through the working coil, control the inverter to flow, through the working coil, a second resonant current having a frequency different from the first resonant current, and determine, based on a difference between a first detection value for the first resonant current and a second detection value for the second resonant current, whether a target object that is located adjacent to the working coil is a predetermined object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Euisung Kim, Jaewoo Lee, Hyunwook Moon
  • Patent number: 11818824
    Abstract: An induction heating cooking apparatus includes a plurality of heating coils aligned in at least one row on a flat surface, a plurality of inverter circuits each configured to supply a high-frequency current to the corresponding one of the plurality of heating coils, and a controller configured to control driving of the plurality of inverter circuits. The plurality of heating coils include a first heating coil and a second heating coil that are adjacent to each other. The controller is configured to, when a material forming a heating target loaded on an upper part of the first heating coil is a magnetic material, and a material forming the heating target loaded on an upper part of the second heating coil at least includes a nonmagnetic material, set a frequency of the high-frequency current supplied to the second heating coil higher than a frequency of the high-frequency current supplied to the first heating coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hayato Yoshino, Jun Bunya, Takeshi Iida, Ikuro Suga
  • Patent number: 11774107
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooking hob (10) comprising at least one cooking area (12) and at least one user interface (14), wherein the cooking area (12) is subdivided into cooking zones, each cooking zone is activatable at a predefined power level and the user interface (14) comprises a position indicator device (18) for indicating a position of at least one cooking vessel on the cooktop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Juergen Leikam, Simone Probst, Lukasz Wasinkiewicz
  • Patent number: 11743976
    Abstract: A cooktop appliance apparatus for use in cooking includes a controller for controlling operation of the fan system based on an average power level supplied to a heating system, and based on a temperature measure associated with one or more subsystems. The appliance includes a hardware-implemented safety module having two or more temperature actuated safety circuits. The appliance includes a user interface adapted to receive a user input with respect to operating parameters of the heating system, the user input including a heating control mode and a set temperature. The appliance includes a controller adapted to identify a cooking vessel on an induction cooktop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: BREVILLE PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Lichan Meng, Marian Silviu Rosian, Richard Hoare, Brendan John Foxlee, Vyvyan Rose, David Davenport, Tibor Hegedis
  • Patent number: 11678410
    Abstract: Induction cooktops and operational methods are provided herein. A method of determining presence of compatible cookware on an induction cooktop can include receiving a request to heat the induction cooktop, controlling at least one switching device to induce a current within an assumed piece of cookware with an induction coil of the induction cooktop, sensing a voltage associated with the at least one switching device, the voltage being proportional to current flowing in the induction coil, determining that the sensed voltage includes one or more voltage spikes above a first threshold, and determining that the assumed piece of cookware is absent when the sensed voltage includes the one or more voltage spikes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Isaac Nam
  • Patent number: 11672053
    Abstract: Disclosed are an induction heating device and a vessel sensing method of the induction heating device. The induction heating device determines whether a vessel is present in a heating region corresponding to a working coil using two sensing methods. In more detail, the induction heating device determines whether a vessel is present in the heating region by sequentially performing first vessel sensing based on a resonance current value of the working coil and second vessel sensing based on a sensing value obtained by a vessel sensor. It is possible to precisely sense a vessel by applying the two sensing methods as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Shinjae Jeong
  • Patent number: 11653423
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an induction cooking hob (10) comprising at least one cooking zone (12) including one induction coil (14). The induction cooking hob (10) comprises at least one user interface (22) including at least one display with at least one indicator corresponding with one cooking zone (12, 28, 30, 32). The induction coil (34, 36, 38, 40) is provided for detecting at least one parameter related to the power of the electromagnetic field generated by said induction coil (34, 36, 38, 40). The induction cooking hob (10) comprises a memory for storing a maximum value of the parameter detected by the induction coil (14) of the cooking zone (12) when a cooking pot (26) is arranged upon said cooking zone (12). The indicator corresponding with the cooking zone (12) indicates a signal related to an incorrect position of the cooking pot (26), if the currently detected value of the parameter is lower than the maximum value of said parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Harald Hoffmann, Gerhard Klein, Richard Turek
  • Patent number: 11460348
    Abstract: An induction cooker includes a microcrystal panel and at least three temperature sensors scattered on a bottom surface of the microcrystal panel, and the induction cooker is configured to heat a container to be measured. The method includes: obtaining temperature data collected by the at least three temperature sensors and position data of each temperature sensor relative to the microcrystal panel; obtaining an actual position of the container on the microcrystal panel according to the temperature data and the position data; obtaining a preset temperature curve matching the induction cooker according to the temperature data, and extracting a peak value of the preset temperature curve; and calculating an actual temperature of the container to be measured according to the actual position and the peak value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: FOSHAN SHUNDE MIDEA ELECTRICAL HEATING APPLIANCES MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaohui Li, Zhao Wang, Shuai Wang, Wei Chen, Shaohua He
  • Patent number: 11405990
    Abstract: Provided is an induction cooking apparatus including a heating part including a working coil forming a heating region and configured to heat a container placed in the heating region, an inverter configured to supply a driving voltage to the working coil, a plurality of sensing coils arranged along a circumferential portion of the working coil and sensing the container placed in the heating region, and a controller configured to determine whether to drive the inverter on the basis of information acquired from the plurality of sensing coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Jeashik Heo
  • Patent number: 11382184
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cooking apparatus and a control method thereof. The cooking apparatus includes first and second coils arranged in a first column, third and fourth coils arranged in a second column, a plurality of inverters configured to supply a drive current to the first, second third and fourth coils, a plurality of rectifiers configured to supply direct current (DC) power to the plurality of inverters, a plurality of switches configured to connect each of the plurality of rectifiers to any one of a first external power supply and a second external power supply, and a controller configured to control the plurality of switches wherein the first external power supply supplies power to at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth coils and the second external power supply supplies power to at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Sun Yun, Dong Oh Kang, Byung Hwan Ko
  • Patent number: 11374391
    Abstract: An electrical AC/DC converter arrangement includes: an AC circuit breaker; a rectifier; at least one smoothing capacitor; at least one first isolating relay for electrical isolation; at least one first current sensor; and a control and monitoring unit. An input of the AC circuit breaker forms an AC input of the arrangement. An output of the AC circuit breaker is connected, at least indirectly by a circuit, to an input of the rectifier. The at least one smoothing capacitor connects a first output of the rectifier to a second output of the rectifier. The first output of the rectifier is connected, at least indirectly by a circuit, to an input of the at least one first isolating relay. An output of the at least one first isolating relay forms a first DC output of the arrangement and connects a DC network to at least one first DC load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Kenan Askan
  • Patent number: 11212880
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an induction cooking top comprising a system adapted to modify the control of the presence of the pan on the induction cooking top, upon a command by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool EMEA S.p.A.
    Inventors: Davide Altamura, Diego Bariviera, Alessio Beato
  • Patent number: 11153939
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an induction hob (1), the induction hob (1) comprising a power circuit portion (2) with at least one switching element adapted to provide pulsed electric power to an induction coil (3) and a control entity (4) for controlling operating parameters of the switching element, the method comprising the steps of: performing a control loop with control cycles in order to detect coupling changes between the induction coil (3) and a piece of cookware, said control cycles comprising the steps of: o receiving frequency information (fcurr) and power information (Pcurr) at said control entity (4); o calculating at least one relation coefficient (Ds?, Ds?) based on said frequency information (fcurr) and said power information (Pcurr); and o comparing said relation coefficient (Ds?, Ds?) with a relation coefficient boundary, thereby de-riving a comparison result; deciding, based on the comparison result, whether to: o perform a new control cycle of said control loop or whether
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Laurent Jeanneteau, Alex Viroli, Massimo Nostro, Federico Balest
  • Patent number: 11064573
    Abstract: Systems and methods of quasi-resonant induction heating are provided. In particular, a method for evaluating the resonant frequency of a quasi-resonant induction cooking device can be provided. The method can include generating a startup pulse, receiving multiple feedback pulses from a resonant frequency feedback circuit, measuring a pulse width of each of the feedback pulses, calculating an average pulse width based upon the feedback pulses and determining the resonant frequency based at least in part on the average pulse width and a transfer function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Victoria Steele, Meher P. Kollipara, Isaac Nam
  • Patent number: 11013071
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cooking apparatus including a cooking plate, induction heating coils installed under the cooking plate, a vessel sensor configured to detect a cooking vessel while the cooking vessel is placed on the cooking plate, a driving assembly including a driving circuit configured to generate a driving current and distribute the driving current to each of the induction heating coils, and a sub assembly including a vessel sensing circuit configured to determine one or more of the induction heating coils overlapping the cooking vessel based on an output of the vessel sensor. The sub assembly may be separated from the driving assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chang Sun Yun
  • Patent number: 10925126
    Abstract: A circuit for driving a cooker includes a sensing unit configured to sense a movement of a user of a cooker. The circuit further includes a contact unit configured to switch a power circuit to which power is supplied from the outside, and perform a closing operation on the basis of a sensing result from the sensing unit to allow power to be supplied to the cooker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Honggyu Kim
  • Patent number: 10813176
    Abstract: In a method for operating a cooking zone of a cook top, wherein the cooking zone is formed by at least two cooking sub-zones and each cooking sub-zone can be heated by at least one heating unit, with the heating units arranged adjacent to each other without overlapping such that a cohesive heatable surface is formed during a joint operation of the cooking sub-zones, detection of an occupancy of a cooking sub-zone by at least one food preparation vessel is activated in a first operating mode and a same electrical power is supplied to all activated cooking sub-zones occupied by a food preparation vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Sandra Aranda Vazquez, Ignacio Garde Aranda, Oscar Gracia Campos, Sergio Llorente Gil, Oscar Lucia Gil, Carlos Vicente Mairal Serrano, Ignacio Millan Serrano, Paul Muresan
  • Patent number: 10690705
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally describes a system that includes a heater, a power converter including a power switch, and a controller. The power converter is in communication with the heater and is operable to apply an adjustable voltage to the heater. The controller is in communication with the power switch to control the voltage output of the power converter based on at least one of a load current and a detected voltage at the heater. The controller operates the power switch to adjust the voltage output of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Stanton H. Breitlow, John Lemke, James Hentges, Keith Ness, Eric Ellis, William Bohlinger, Matthew Yender, Dean R. McCluskey
  • Patent number: 10679797
    Abstract: Provided is a ripple current generating circuit, which comprises an indicating circuit based on an existing ripple current generating circuit. The indicating circuit comprises a resistor, a capacitor, a diode, and a light-emitting diode (LED). The indicating circuit is formed by connecting the LED and the diode that are reversely connected in parallel first to the resistor in parallel and then to the capacitor in series. The capacitor is low in capacity and serves to block direct current while allowing high frequency to pass. With increasing ESR of a tested capacitor, a high-frequency ripple voltage generated by a high-frequency exciting current across the ESR may rise accordingly. Since the capacitor is capable of allowing high frequency to pass, the LED will emit light when the high-frequency ripple voltage reaches a particular threshold that can be adjusted by adjusting the resistance of the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: MORNSUN GUANGZHOU SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Baojun Wang
  • Patent number: 10517148
    Abstract: An electronic induction heat cooking apparatus is provided. The 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 cooling fan for cooling the plurality of switching elements, a plurality of heating coils for heating a cooking utensil by controlling the plurality of switching elements, and a controller for controlling the plurality of switching elements according to a plurality of operation modes. In an operation mode for generating maximum heat among the plurality of operation modes, a switching element for generating maximum heat among the plurality of switching elements is arranged closer to the cooling fan than at least one of the other switching elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyunwook Moon, Byungkyu Park, Seungbok Ok
  • Patent number: 10455646
    Abstract: When an inverter circuit is driven with a predetermined driving frequency, an amount of current change of an input current or a coil current in a set period is detected, and high frequency power to be supplied from the inverter circuit to a heating coil is adjusted in accordance with the amount of current change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Home Appliance Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koshiro Takano, Hayato Yoshino, Yuichiro Ito, Kenichiro Nishi
  • Patent number: 10433375
    Abstract: An induction hob has a hob plate, a plurality of induction heating coils arranged under the hob plate and a plurality of sensor coils arranged under the hob plate. The induction heating coils are rectangular, wherein at least two induction heating coils are arranged one behind the other and at least three induction heating coils are arranged one next to the other. Two adjacent induction heating coils form an adjacent region with one another in which the two induction heating coils lie with their adjacent sides. At least one sensor coil is arranged in each adjacent region, wherein precisely a single sensor coil is provided in a spacing direction from the one induction heating coil to the adjacent induction heating coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: E.G.O. Elektro-Geraetebau GmbH
    Inventors: Stephane Lomp, Michael Rupp, Timo Dalaker, Michael Stoeffler, Hartmut Friedrich, Christian Egenter, Wolfgang Mohr, Michael Eberle, Thorsten Grunow
  • Patent number: 10374520
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a control circuit and a method of controlling a resonant converter comprising a full-bridge configuration in the following manner: during each half period of a plurality of periods of a resonant current of the resonant converter, starting from an initial state (500) in which a diagonal pair are conductive, turning off (510) a first switch member of the diagonal pair on the basis of the voltage control signal; turning on (520), after the turn-off of the first switch member, a switch member in series connection with the first switch member prior to a zero crossing (E5) of the resonant current; turning off (530), after the turn-off of the first switch member, a second switch member of the diagonal pair prior to the zero crossing (ES); and turning on (540), after the turn-off of the second switch member, a switch member in series connection with the second switch member prior to the zero crossing event of the resonant current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Bernhard Wagner, Yuhang Cui, Jilong Han
  • Patent number: 10305393
    Abstract: This invention relates to current-fed resonant inverters for electrical power applications to change direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). One application of the invention is to power supplies for inductive power transfer (IPT) systems. There is provided a resonant inverter including an input for supply of current from a DC power source, a resonant circuit including two coupled inductive elements and a tuning capacitance, the inductive elements being arranged to split current from the power source; a first switching means comprising two switching devices operable in substantially opposite phase to alternately switch current from the power source into the inductive elements; and a second switching means to selectively switch one or more control capacitances into or out of the resonant circuit dependent on a power factor of the resonant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Auckland Uniservices Limited
    Inventors: John Talbot Boys, Grant Anthony Covic
  • Patent number: 10159118
    Abstract: A method for determining the suitability of a cookware for a corresponding induction coil of an induction cooking hob is provided. The method includes detecting current through the induction coil, detecting the phase difference between the voltage and current of the induction coil, and detecting the frequency at the induction coil. The method further includes comparing the detected current with a stored maximum value of the current, comparing the detected phase difference with a stored maximum value of the phase difference, comparing the detected frequency with a stored maximum frequency, calculating the power transfer from the detected current, phase difference and/or frequency, estimating the suitability of the cookware in dependence of the power transfer and at least one of the compared parameters, and outputting at least one optical and/or acoustic signal corresponding with the suitability of the cookware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Michael Herzog, Claus Meider, Birgit Wiesend, Uwe Kallert, Ulrich Häutle
  • Patent number: 10136478
    Abstract: A cooktop apparatus, in particular an induction cooktop apparatus, includes a switching unit configured to interrupt and establish current flow from a current supply, a first switching element receiving the current flow during an operating process, a control apparatus, which controls the switching unit during the operating process such that the switching unit interrupts the current supply during a first time interval which has a duration of less than of half a period of the power supply voltage. The control apparatus causes the current supply to be connected during the operating process immediately before and immediately after the first time interval. The first switching element begins switching and ends switching during the first time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Anton Falcon, Jose Ignacio Artigas Maestre, Luis Angel Barragan Perez, Carlos Bernal Ruiz, José Miguel Burdio Pinilla, Claudio Carretero Chamarro, Jose Maria De la Cuerda Ortin, Jose-Ramon Garcia Jimenez, Pablo Jesus Hernandez Blasco, Oscar Jimenez Navascues, Sergio Llorente Gil, Oscar Lucia Gil, Arturo Mediano Heredia, Ignacio Millan Serrano, Fernando Monterde Aznar, Daniel Moros Sanz, Denis Navarro Tabernero, Jose Joaquin Paricio Azcona, Diego Puyal Puente, Isidro Urriza Parroque
  • Patent number: 10136477
    Abstract: A method for controlling an induction heating system, particularly an induction heating system of a cooktop on which a cooking utensil with a certain contents is placed for heating/cooking purposes, comprises the steps of carrying out a predetermined number “n” of electrical measurements of a first electrical parameter of the heating system on the basis of a predetermined electrical value of a second electrical parameter, “n” being ?2, repeating the above set of measurements at a predetermined time after the first measurements, and estimating at least one thermal parameter of the heating system, particularly of the contents of the cooking utensil, on the basis of the above set of measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jurij Paderno, Francesco Del Bello, Davide Parachini, Gianpiero Santacatterina, Diego Neftali Gutierrez, Brian P. Janke
  • Patent number: 10098187
    Abstract: A system and method for induction cooking using an induction cooking unit, an interface adapted to receive, store, and execute a plurality of instructions of a multistage programmable recipe using the induction cooking unit, a power supply, a controller coupled to said power supply, said interface, and said induction cooking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: NuWave, LLC
    Inventors: Jung S. Moon, Byung G. Choi, Jennifer E. Dawes, Mikale K. Kwon, Cathy Rosch, Terry Puerzer, Eunjung Huh, Teng Jin Lian, Kim Jong Rok, Zeng Qing Ping
  • Patent number: 10085304
    Abstract: A cooktop device includes at least one heater arrangement, and at least one control unit configured to define in at least one operating mode a number of virtual heating zones with different heat output densities depending on a size of the cookware. The virtual heating zones are formed by adjacently arranged heating elements of the heater arrangement of a number or size sufficient to heat the cookware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Ignacio Garde Aranda, Estefania Gella Lopez, Oscar Gracia Campos, Javier Herrera Rodriguez, Ramon Peinado Adiego, Alberto Ignacio Sin Use, Demetrio Torrubia Marco
  • Patent number: 10063227
    Abstract: A level shifting circuit has an input configured to receive an input signal, wherein the input signal has symmetrical maximum and minimum voltages. The level shifting circuit further includes an output configured to provide an output signal, wherein the output signal has asymmetrical maximum and minimum voltages. The output signal is generated in response to the input signal. The output signal is applied to drive a gate terminal of a SiC MOSFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics KK
    Inventors: Luca Bartolomeo, Kazuo Eguchi, Giuseppe Davide Bruno
  • Patent number: 9974118
    Abstract: A heating apparatus, in particular a hob heating apparatus, with at least one heating connection for at least one heating element and at least one frequency unit. In order to provide a heating apparatus of the generic type with relatively high operational reliability, it is proposed that the heating apparatus comprises a protective unit, which is provided for determining the existence of a conducting path between the frequency unit and the at least one heating connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Anton Falcon, José Miguel Burdio Pinilla, Claudio Carretero Chamarro, Jose Maria De la Cuerda Ortin, Pablo Jesus Hernandez Blasco, Oscar Jimenez Navascues, Sergio Llorente Gil, Denis Navarro Tabernero, Jose Joaquin Paricio Azcona, Diego Puyal Puente, Magdy Saoudi Abdelfatah Saoudi
  • Patent number: 9967923
    Abstract: A cooker, a method for controlling power of a cooker, and a power control system including the same are provided. A high power cooking device can be used without making an additional power construction work or causing a power circuit breaker installed in an input terminal of a household power source to be opened. Driving power of a burner is controlled or distributed by using a current flowing in a power circuit breaker or an overcurrent breaker installed in a load end, whereby power operation efficiency of an input power source can be enhanced and the input power source cannot be broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyunwook Moon, Byeongwook Park, Yangkyeong Kim
  • Patent number: 9941811
    Abstract: A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load includes a thyristor, a first current path for conducting current through a gate terminal of the thyristor, and a control circuit for controlling the first current path to conduct a pulse of current through the gate terminal to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a present half cycle. The first current path is able to conduct at least one other pulse of current through the gate terminal between the firing time, and a second time that occurs before an end of the present half-cycle, but is prevented from conducting pulses of current between the second time and the end of the present half-cycle. The load control device includes a second current path for conducting current through the electrical load if the thyristor becomes and remains non-conductive during the present half-cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Newman, Jr., Daniel F. Camen, Christopher J. Salvestrini, Matthew V. Harte
  • Patent number: 9893629
    Abstract: A control method for a switching power supply circuit, the control method causing a processor to execute a process, the process includes: calculating a differential value between an output voltage of the switching power supply circuit and a target voltage; multiplying the differential value by a first coefficient to calculate a correction value; correcting a first detection value of an output current of the switching power supply circuit, which is detected by a current transformer circuit, based on the correction value, to generate a second detection value; comparing the second detection value with a threshold current value to determine whether or not an overcurrent has occurred; and reducing, when it is determined that the overcurrent has occurred, the output voltage of the switching power supply circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yu Yonezawa, Tomotake Sasaki, Hisato Hosoyama, Yoshiyasu Nakashima
  • Patent number: 9867235
    Abstract: In a method for operating a cooking zone of a cook top, wherein the cooking zone is formed by at least two cooking sub-zones and each cooking sub-zone can be heated by at least one heating unit, with the heating units arranged adjacent to each other without overlapping such that a cohesive heatable surface is formed during a joint operation of the cooking sub-zones, detection of an occupancy of a cooking sub-zone by at least one food preparation vessel is activated in a first operating mode and a same electrical power is supplied to all activated cooking sub-zones occupied by a food preparation vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Sandra Aranda Vazquez, Ignacio Garde Aranda, Oscar Gracia Campos, Sergio Llorente Gil, Oscar Lucia Gil, Carlos Vicente Mairal Serrano, Ignacio Millan Serrano, Paul Muresan
  • Patent number: 9867234
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining and regulating the temperature of an article with inductive properties which is heated inductively by means of an induction device, wherein the induction device contains an induction coil, means for producing an induction resonant circuit and a support element arranged above the induction coil and having a first side, which acts as support face for the article, and a second side, which is directed towards the inductive coil. At least one temperature sensor is fitted to the second side. The resonant frequency of the induction resonant circuit is measured via detection means and the temperature of the article is calculated from the measured resonant frequency, wherein the resonant frequency is related to the temperature of the article by virtue of a mathematical function, and the function is determined by determining at least two absolute temperature calibration values of the article at respectively different resonant frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: GARLAND COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIES LLC
    Inventors: Albert Thomann, Andreas Vogel, Chirstian Fuchs
  • Patent number: 9844099
    Abstract: An induction heating apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure includes a coil; an inverter unit configured to have a switching device turned on and off to supply power to the coil; a first controller configured to generate a first threshold current based on information about a coil current flowing in the coil and an input voltage applied to the coil, and generate a clock signal by comparing the coil current with the first threshold current; and a switch driver configured to generate a switch driving signal to turn on or off the switching device of the inverter unit by dividing a frequency of the clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang Sun Yun, Ki Hyeon Park, Chung-Wook Roh, Sang Eon Kim
  • Patent number: 9825522
    Abstract: A DC to DC power converter includes a switching circuit and an LC filter configured to reduce parasitic inductance. The LC filter includes an inductor, capacitor, and a coil positioned and oriented relative to and electrically connected with the capacitor. The coil positioned with the capacitor provides the ripple current caused by operation of the switching circuitry to flow through the capacitor and coil with opposite direction. The ripple current flowing through the coil attenuates a magnetic field generated by the capacitor while reducing parasitic inductance of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohamed Elshaer, Chingchi Chen
  • Patent number: 9801237
    Abstract: An electronic induction heating cooker is provided. The electronic induction heating cooker may include a rectifier that rectifies an input voltage into a direct current (DC) voltage and output the DC voltage, an inverter including first, second and third switches connected in series between a positive power source terminal and a negative power source terminal to generate an alternating current (AC) voltage by switching the DC voltage, a first heater driven by the AC voltage so as to heat a first cooking container, a second heater connected in parallel to the first heater and driven by the AC voltage so as to heat a second cooking container, and a switching controller that generates a switching signal for controlling the first and second heaters in accordance with a set of operating conditions input thereto and adjusts a duty cycle of the switching signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Dooyong Oh, Heesuk Roh, Byeongwook Park
  • Patent number: 9800147
    Abstract: The invention relates to a choke circuit and a bus power supply incorporating same. Such a coil choke circuit includes an inductor connected between a first input terminal and a first output terminal, a boost circuit connected between a second input terminal and a second output terminal for increasing the voltage level that is output by the second output terminal. A switching element is connected in parallel to the boost circuit for bypassing the boost circuit. Additionally, a comparator is connected between the first input terminal and the first output terminal for detecting a potential difference across the inductor; wherein in case the comparator detects a potential difference higher than a threshold, the switching element is controlled to be in an OFF state; and in case the comparator detects a potential difference lower than or equal to the threshold, the switching element is controlled to be in an ON state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: FRIWO Gerätebau GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Hagemeyer, Ingolf Bonkhoff
  • Patent number: 9769883
    Abstract: There is provided a placement position determining part that calculates a rising gradient of an output value of the infrared sensor every after passage of a first predetermined time and performs a placement position determining operation of determining that a placement position of a cooking vessel is improper when the rising gradient is smaller than a first threshold value, and the placement position determining part performs the placement position determining operation after a lapse of a second predetermined time from the start of heating, thereby accurately determining that the cooking vessel is improperly placed on a top plate and preventing overheating of the cooking vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Hashimoto, Kenji Watanabe, Shintaro Noguchi, Taizo Ogata
  • Patent number: 9699834
    Abstract: An induction heating cooker includes a top plate on which an object to be heated is placed, a plurality of heating coils disposed adjacent to one another below the top plate to generate inductive magnetic fields to heat the object to be heated, a plurality of temperature detectors operable to detect a temperature of the object to be heated; and a controller operable to control operating states of the heating coils based on detection results of the temperature detector, wherein the plurality of temperature detectors are disposed widely below the top plate, and the number of the temperature detectors is less than the number of the heating coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuuji Nagata, Katsuyuki Aihara, Kazuyoshi Shichi, Takahiro Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 9668305
    Abstract: A hob having at least one inductor, at least one inverter, a switching apparatus and a detection circuit for detection of cooking utensils. The switching apparatus is arranged in a circuit between the inductor and the inverter and switchable between a first switch position in which a connection between the inverter and the inductor is established and a second switch position in which the connection between the inverter and the inductor is interrupted. In order to allow an energy-saving detection mode, the switching apparatus is connected to the detection circuit such that the switching apparatus connects the inductor to the detection circuit when it is in the second switch position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Jose-Ramon Garcia Jimenez, Ignacio Garde Aranda, Pablo Jesus Hernandez Blasco, Fernando Monterde Aznar, Daniel Palacios Tomas, Ramon Peinado Adiego
  • Patent number: 9596721
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for protecting switching elements in an induction heating system. A switching power loss associated with a switching element of the induction heating system can be calculated and an operating frequency of the induction heating system can be adjusted based upon the switching power loss. According to one aspect, the switching power loss can be classified into one of a plurality of threat zones based upon the magnitude of the switching power loss and the operating frequency can be adjusted based upon the threat zone into which the switching power loss is classified. According to another aspect, the switching power loss can be calculated based at least in part on a duty cycle of an output signal. The duty cycle of the output signal can provide an indication of the proximity of the operating frequency of the induction heating system to resonance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Mingwei Shan, Gregory Francis Gawron, Sr., Daniel Vincent Brosnan, John Michael Kulp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9572201
    Abstract: Provided is an induction heat cooking apparatus. The induction heat cooking apparatus includes a rectifying part rectifying an input voltage to output a DC voltage, an inverter switching the DC voltage outputted through the rectifying part to generate an AC voltage, a first heating part operated by the AC voltage applied from the inverter, a second heating part connected to the first heating part in parallel, the second heating part being operated by the AC voltage applied from the inverter, and a switching signal generation part controlling an operation state of each of the first and second heating parts from the inverter according to an operation mode inputted from the outside. The switching signal generation part includes an inverter driver including a bootstrap circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Dooyong Oh, Heesuk Roh, Byeongwook Park
  • Patent number: 9564858
    Abstract: A parallel resonant circuit with excellent distortion and saturation characteristics is provided at low power consumption. A first power-supply voltage is applied to the parallel resonant circuit. In the parallel resonant circuit, a variable resistor includes one or more parallel-connected branches. Each of the branches includes a series circuit of a resistor and a MOS switch. A second power supply supplies power of control signals applied to respective gates of the MOS switches, and supplies back gate voltages to the MOS switches. A power-supply voltage of the second power supply is higher than the first power-supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: SOCIONEXT INC.
    Inventors: Takafumi Nasu, Shinichiro Uemura, Atsushi Ohara
  • Patent number: 9554426
    Abstract: Provided is an induction heat cooking apparatus. The induction heat cooking apparatus includes a rectifying part rectifying an input voltage to output a DC voltage, an inverter switching the DC voltage outputted through the rectifying part to generate an AC voltage, a first heating part operated by the AC voltage applied from the inverter, a second heating part connected to the first heating part in parallel, the second heating part being operated by the AC voltage applied from the inverter, and a switching signal generation part controlling an operation state of each of the first and second heating parts from the inverter according to an operation mode inputted from the outside. The switching signal generation part includes a photo coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Dooyong Oh, Heesuk Roh, Byeongwook Park
  • Patent number: 9554424
    Abstract: A method for heating a cooking vessel utilizing an induction heating device is provided. According to various aspects, the induction heating device includes a resonant circuit with an induction heating coil. A specified amount of energy may be supplied to the cooking vessel with the induction heating device depending on a heating power level selected by a user and/or on a cooking vessel type selected by the user. A parameter value of the resonant circuit which is dependent on a temperature of the cooking vessel, in particular of the bottom of the cooking vessel, may be determined and stored. The parameter value may be regulated to a setpoint which is dependent on the stored parameter value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: E.G.O. ELEKTRO-GERÄTEBAU GMBH
    Inventors: Wilfried Schilling, Christian Egenter, Werner Kappes, Stefan Westrich
  • Patent number: 9549437
    Abstract: A method for controlling a cooking process on an induction cooking hob (10). The method includes setting a temperature value or parameter value corresponding with the temperature by a user. A control unit of the induction cooking hob (10) sets a maximum power (Pmax) for a corresponding cooking zone, calculates an average slope value (S1, S2, ASP) of a temperature-time-diagram (20, 22, 24) of the cooking process, compares the average slope value (S1, S2, ASP) with a corresponding threshold value (THR1, THR2, THR3), and indicates that the temperature or parameter has obtained the set temperature value or parameter value, respectively, if the average slope value (S1, S2, ASP) is equal with or smaller than the corresponding threshold value (THR1, THR2, THR3). The method and control unit are provided for controlling a boiling process and a frying process on an induction cooking hob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION N.V.
    Inventors: Svend Erik Christiansen, Laurent Jeanneteau, Massimo Nostro, Filippo Martini, Alex Viroli