Patent Description:
When cooking food by using a gas cooktop, a user generally needs to remove cookware from the gas cooktop to clean the cookware after completing a process. To reduce fume in a kitchen, the user rotates a gas valve for small fire while removing a pot, and then adjusts the gas valve for big fire after cookware is placed on the gas cooktop again. However, the foregoing process is complex. Many users generally do not actively close a gas valve or rotate a gas valve for small fire, but instead keep fire of gas cooktops unchanged.

<CIT> describes a gas cooktop including a gas supply control controlling flames applied to a cooking vessel through a control circuit connected to an infrared sensor that is directed at an infrared-radiation-generating outer surface region of the cooking vessel and receives temperature-related information from the surface of the vessel.

<CIT> describes a method of pot detection at a gas cooking point with a gas burner. A thermocouple is fitted at the gas cooking point for flame sensing, to be precise in such a way that with every output of the gas burner possible for a sustained period it is impinged by the flame. In order to detect whether a pot has been placed onto the gas cooking point while the gas burner is in operation or whether the pot has been taken away, the thermoelectric voltage is tapped at the sensing means and evaluated by a comparison of the signal at the time with the signal in the case where a pot has been placed on. A different flame prevails at the thermocouple when a pot has been placed on than when the pot has been taken away, and the temperature is different. The output at the gas cooking point is reduced as a reaction to detection of the taking away of the pot.

<CIT> and <CIT> describe further gas cooktops with a burner and a cooktop controller.

Therefore, a gas cooktop that can determine whether cookware is placed on a pot holder is needed, thus controlling fire of the gas cooktop, achieving automatic operation, and reducing energy consumption.

A technical problem resolved in the present invention is how to enable a gas cooktop to determine whether cookware is placed on a pot holder, thus controlling fire of the gas cooktop, achieving automatic operation, and reducing energy consumption.

The foregoing technical problem can be solved by the features of claim <NUM>. The present invention provides a gas cooktop, including: a cooktop body, where the cooktop body is provided with a burner head, and fire generated by the burner head is used for heating cookware placed on the burner head; and a control system, where the control system includes a fire detection apparatus and a control apparatus, and the control apparatus receives a signal of the fire detection apparatus to control the fire of the burner head. The fire detection apparatus is installed over the burner head and is aligned with the burner head, and the control apparatus determines, depending on whether the fire detection apparatus detects the fire of the burner head, whether cookware is placed on the burner head, wherein the fire detection apparatus is configured to be installed on a cooker hood, a cupboard, or a ceiling.

Optionally, the fire detection apparatus determines, by detecting whether the fire exists in a central area of the burner head, whether cookware is placed on the burner head.

Optionally, the fire detection apparatus is a thermal imager, configured to capture an infrared thermal image of the burner head. When the infrared thermal image captured by the thermal imager has temperature or a color corresponding to the fire in the central area of the burner head, the control apparatus determines that no cookware is placed on the burner head. When the infrared thermal image captured by the thermal imager does not have the temperature or the color corresponding to the fire in the central area of the burner head, the control apparatus determines that cookware is placed on the burner head.

Optionally, the fire detection apparatus is a fire sensor including an infrared receiver, configured to detect an infrared signal of the burner head. When the fire sensor detects that the infrared signal corresponding to the fire exists in the central area of the burner head, the control apparatus determines that no cookware is placed on the burner head. When the fire sensor does not detect that the infrared signal corresponding to the fire exists in the central area of the burner head, the control apparatus determines that cookware is placed on the burner head.

Optionally, the gas cooktop further includes: a gas pipeline, connected to the cooktop body and configured to supply gas to the cooktop body; and a gas valve, installed in the gas pipeline and rotating to control supply of the gas.

Optionally, the control system further includes a motor, where the motor is connected to the gas valve, and after the motor is turned on, the motor drives the gas valve to rotate to control the supply of the gas; and the control apparatus is connected to the motor and is configured to control turning on or off of the motor.

Optionally, when the control apparatus determines that no cookware is placed on the burner head, the control apparatus controls the motor to be turned on to drive the gas valve to rotate, so as to adjust the supply of the gas to a minimum.

Optionally, the control apparatus includes a timing unit, configured to time a time during which no cookware is placed on the burner head; and when a time result exceeds a preset time threshold, the control apparatus controls the motor to be turned on to drive the gas valve to rotate, so as to adjust the supply of the gas to a minimum.

Optionally, when the control apparatus determines that cookware is placed on the burner head, the control apparatus controls the motor to be turned on to drive the gas valve to rotate, so as to adjust the supply of the gas to a maximum.

Optionally, the control apparatus includes a memory unit, configured to store a last gas supply quantity; and when the control apparatus determines that cookware is placed on the burner head, the control apparatus controls the motor to be turned on to drive the gas valve to rotate, so as to recover the supply of the gas to the last gas supply quantity.

Optionally, the gas cooktop further includes a solenoid valve, in series with the gas valve and installed in the gas pipeline.

Optionally, the control apparatus is connected to the solenoid valve to control the solenoid valve to be opened or closed, so as to control the supply of the gas.

The present invention provides a method for controlling a gas cooktop according to the foregoing descriptions. When a fire detection apparatus detects fire of a burner head, a control apparatus determines that no cookware is placed on the burner head and controls the fire of the burner head to be adjusted to a minimum. When the fire detection apparatus does not detect the fire of the burner head, the control apparatus determines that cookware is placed on the burner head and controls the fire of the burner head to be adjusted to a maximum or recover to last fire.

Compared with the prior art, the technical solutions of the present invention have the following beneficial effects: The gas cooktop provided in the present invention includes the cooktop body and the control system, where the cooktop body is provided with the burner head, and the fire generated by the burner head is used for heating the cookware placed on the burner head; the control system includes the fire detection apparatus and the control apparatus, and the fire detection apparatus is installed over the burner head and is aligned with the burner head, and is configured to detect the fire of the burner head; and the control apparatus receives the signal of the fire detection apparatus and accordingly determines whether cookware is placed on the burner head, so as to control the fire of the burner head. When the fire detection apparatus does not detect the fire of the burner head, the control apparatus determines that cookware is placed on the burner head, and the control apparatus does not adjust the fire of the burner head. When the fire detection apparatus detects the fire of the burner head, the control apparatus determines that no cookware is placed on the burner head, and the control apparatus adjusts the fire of the burner head to a minimum. By using such a gas cooktop including the control system, the gas cooktop automatically adjusts the fire to a minimum after a user removes a pot, thus reducing fume in a kitchen and reducing gas consumption.

The present invention further provides a method for controlling a gas cooktop according to the foregoing descriptions. When a fire detection apparatus detects fire of a burner head, a control apparatus determines that no cookware is placed on the burner head and controls the fire of the burner head to be adjusted to a minimum. When the fire detection apparatus does not detect the fire of the burner head, the control apparatus determines that cookware is placed on the burner head and controls the fire of the burner head to be adjusted to a maximum or recover to last fire. By using such a method for controlling a gas cooktop, the gas cooktop automatically adjusts the fire to a minimum after a user removes a pot, thus reducing fume in a kitchen and reducing gas consumption.

The disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the disclosure, and wherein:.

To make the foregoing objectives, features, and beneficial effects of the present invention more comprehensible, the following describes in detail the specific embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to <FIG>, a gas cooktop <NUM> in this embodiment includes a cooktop body <NUM> and a control system <NUM>. The cooktop body <NUM> is provided with a burner head <NUM>. Cookware <NUM> is placed on a pot holder <NUM>. Fire generated by the burner head <NUM> is used for heating the cookware <NUM> on the pot holder <NUM>. The control system <NUM> includes a fire detection apparatus <NUM> and a control apparatus <NUM>. The fire detection apparatus <NUM> is installed over the burner head <NUM> and is aligned with the burner head <NUM>, and is configured to detect the fire of the burner head <NUM>. That is, the fire detection apparatus <NUM> may be installed on a cooker hood, a cupboard, or a ceiling that is aligned with the burner head <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> receives a signal of the fire detection apparatus <NUM> and accordingly determines whether cookware <NUM> is placed on the burner head <NUM>, so as to control the fire of the burner head <NUM>.

When the fire detection apparatus <NUM> does not detect the fire of the burner head <NUM>, the control apparatus <NUM> determines that cookware <NUM> is placed on the burner head <NUM>, and the control apparatus <NUM> does not adjust the fire of the burner head <NUM>. When the fire detection apparatus <NUM> detects the fire of the burner head <NUM>, no control apparatus <NUM> determines that the cookware <NUM> is placed on the burner head <NUM>, and the control apparatus <NUM> adjusts the fire of the burner head <NUM> to a minimum. When the fire detection apparatus <NUM> does not detect the fire of the burner head <NUM> again, the control apparatus <NUM> determines that cookware <NUM> is placed on the burner head <NUM> again, and the control apparatus <NUM> controls the fire of the burner head <NUM> to be adjusted to a maximum or recover to last fire. By using such a gas cooktop <NUM> including the control system <NUM>, the gas cooktop <NUM> automatically adjusts the fire to a minimum after a user removes a pot, thus reducing fume in a kitchen and reducing gas consumption.

After cookware <NUM> is placed on the pot holder <NUM>, a part of the fire of the burner head <NUM> spurts from a periphery of the bottom of the cookware <NUM> when heating the cookware <NUM>. To enable the control system <NUM> to accurately control the fire of the burner head <NUM> so that the fire of the burner head <NUM> will not be adjusted to a minimum when cookware <NUM> is placed on the burner head <NUM>, the fire detection apparatus <NUM> determines, by detecting whether the fire exists in a central area of the burner head <NUM>, whether cookware <NUM> is placed on the burner head <NUM>.

Specifically, the fire detection apparatus <NUM> is optionally a thermal imager. The thermal imager is configured to capture an infrared thermal image of the burner head <NUM>. The thermal imager transmits the captured infrared thermal image to the control apparatus <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> determines, depending on whether the infrared thermal image has a color or temperature corresponding to the fire in the central area of the burner head <NUM>, whether cookware <NUM> is placed on the burner head <NUM>. When the infrared thermal image captured by the thermal imager has the color or the temperature corresponding to the fire in the central area of the burner head <NUM>, the control apparatus <NUM> determines that the no cookware <NUM> is placed on the burner head <NUM>. When the infrared thermal image captured by the thermal imager does not have the color or the temperature corresponding to the fire in the central area of the burner head <NUM>, the control apparatus <NUM> determines that cookware <NUM> is placed on the burner head <NUM>.

The fire detection apparatus <NUM> is not limited to the thermal imager, but may alternatively be a fire sensor including an infrared receiver. The fire sensor is configured to detect whether an infrared signal corresponding to the fire exists in the central area of the burner head <NUM>, and transmit the signal to the control apparatus <NUM>. When the fire sensor detects that the infrared signal corresponding to the fire exists in the central area of the burner head <NUM>, the control apparatus <NUM> determines that no cookware <NUM> is placed on the burner head <NUM>. When the fire sensor does not detect that the infrared signal corresponding to the fire exists in the central area of the burner head <NUM>, the control apparatus <NUM> determines that cookware <NUM> is placed on the burner head <NUM>.

Still referring to <FIG>, the gas cooktop <NUM> further includes a gas pipeline <NUM> and a gas valve <NUM> installed in the gas pipeline <NUM>. The gas pipeline <NUM> is connected to the cooktop body <NUM> and supplies gas to the cooktop body <NUM>. The gas valve <NUM> rotates to control supply of the gas in the gas pipeline <NUM>, thus controlling the fire of the burner head <NUM>. The control system <NUM> starts to operate after the gas valve <NUM> is opened. That is, the fire detection apparatus <NUM> starts to detect the fire of the burner head <NUM> in real time. Otherwise, the control system <NUM> does not operate, and the fire detection apparatus <NUM> does not detect the fire.

The control system <NUM> further includes a motor <NUM>. The motor <NUM> is connected to the gas valve <NUM>. After the motor <NUM> is turned on, the motor <NUM> can drive the gas valve <NUM> to rotate to control the supply of the gas. The control apparatus <NUM> is connected to the motor <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> determines, according to the signal of the fire detection apparatus <NUM>, whether cookware <NUM> is placed on the burner head <NUM>, and then controls turning on or off of the motor <NUM>, thus adjusting the fire of the burner head <NUM>.

When the control apparatus <NUM> determines that no cookware <NUM> is placed on the burner head <NUM>, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the motor <NUM> to be turned on to drive the gas valve <NUM> to rotate, so as to adjust the supply of the gas to a minimum. In this way, the fire of the burner head <NUM> is also adjusted to a minimum. After the gas valve <NUM> rotates to a lowest position, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the motor <NUM> to stop operating.

Referring to <FIG>, the control apparatus <NUM> further includes a timing unit 22a. When the control apparatus <NUM> determines that no cookware <NUM> is placed on the burner head <NUM>, the timing unit 22a starts to time a time during which no cookware <NUM> is placed on the burner head <NUM>. If a time result exceeds a preset time threshold, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the motor <NUM> to be turned on to drive the gas valve <NUM> to rotate. Otherwise, the motor <NUM> is not turned on, and the original fire of the burner head <NUM> is maintained.

When the control apparatus <NUM> determines that cookware <NUM> is placed on the burner head <NUM>, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the motor <NUM> to be turned on to drive the gas valve <NUM> to rotate, so as to adjust the supply of the gas to a maximum.

Still referring to <FIG>, alternatively, the control apparatus <NUM> further includes a memory unit 22b. The memory unit 22b stores a last gas supply quantity, that is, a last position of the gas valve <NUM>. When the control apparatus <NUM> determines that cookware <NUM> is placed on the burner head <NUM>, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the motor <NUM> to be turned on to drive the gas valve <NUM> to rotate, so as to recover the gas valve <NUM> to the last position, that is, recover the supply of the gas to the last gas supply quantity. After the gas valve <NUM> is recovered to the original position, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the motor <NUM> to stop operating.

In Embodiment <NUM>, the control apparatus <NUM> adjusts the amount of gas supply by controlling the motor <NUM> to adjust the position of the gas valve <NUM>, thereby controlling the fire of the burner head <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in this embodiment, a gas cooktop <NUM> further includes a solenoid valve <NUM>. The solenoid valve <NUM> is installed at a gas inlet end close to a gas pipeline <NUM>. In addition, the solenoid valve <NUM> is in series with a gas valve <NUM>. A control system <NUM> does not include a motor <NUM>. Instead, a control apparatus <NUM> is directly connected to the solenoid valve <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> controls opening or closing of the solenoid valve <NUM> according to a signal of a fire detection apparatus <NUM>, thus controlling supply of gas to adjust fire of a burner head <NUM>.

Specifically, when the control apparatus <NUM> determines that there is cookware <NUM> on the burner head <NUM>, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the solenoid valve <NUM> to be opened. In this case, the gas can completely pass through the solenoid valve <NUM>. In this way, the amount of gas supply completely depends on the position of the gas valve <NUM>. When the control apparatus <NUM> determines that there is no cookware <NUM> on the burner head <NUM>, when the solenoid valve <NUM> is closed, only a small quantity of gas is allowed to pass through the solenoid valve <NUM>. In this way, the amount of gas supply in this case is very small regardless of the position of the gas valve <NUM>, thus adjusting the fire of the burner head <NUM> to a minimum and reducing energy consumption. When the control apparatus <NUM> determines again that there is the cookware <NUM> on the burner head <NUM>, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the solenoid valve <NUM> to be opened. Because the position of the gas valve <NUM> is not changed, in this case, a last gas supply quantity is recovered, and the fire of the burner head <NUM> is recovered to last fire.

By using a structure that the gas valve <NUM> is in series with the solenoid valve <NUM> in the gas pipeline <NUM>, when the control system <NUM> does not include the motor <NUM> and a memory unit 22b, the gas cooktop <NUM> can also achieve functions of automatically adjusting the fire of the burner head <NUM> to a minimum after a user removes the pot, and automatically recovering the fire of the burner head <NUM> to the last fire after a pot is placed, thus reducing fume in a kitchen and reducing gas consumption.

Claim 1:
A gas cooktop (<NUM>), comprising:
a cooktop body (<NUM>), wherein the cooktop body (<NUM>) is provided with a burner head (<NUM>), and fire generated by the burner head (<NUM>) is used for heating cookware (<NUM>) placed on the burner head (<NUM>); and
a control system (<NUM>), wherein the control system (<NUM>) comprises a fire detection apparatus (<NUM>) and a control apparatus (<NUM>), and the control apparatus (<NUM>) receives a signal of the fire detection apparatus (<NUM>) to control the fire of the burner head (<NUM>), characterized in that
the fire detection apparatus (<NUM>) is installed over the burner head (<NUM>) and is aligned with the burner head (<NUM>), and the control apparatus (<NUM>) determines, depending on whether the fire detection apparatus (<NUM>) detects the fire of the burner head (<NUM>), whether cookware (<NUM>) is placed on the burner head (<NUM>), wherein the fire detection apparatus (<NUM>) is configured to be installed on a cooker hood, a cupboard, or a ceiling.