Patent Description:
Cooking appliances can comprise an electrical circuit, e.g. as disclosed in <CIT> or <CIT>, in particular with at least one power supply circuit and/or an interface circuit. For such an electrical circuit there is an increasing need for cost-effectiveness. However, at the same time, there is also a need in particular for monitoring, controlling and displaying of operating parameters, in particular conveniently, precisely, safely, modularly and flexibly.

However, current cooking appliances and corresponding electrical circuits do not meet an adequate number of these requirements in combination satisfyingly.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved electrical circuit and an improved cooking appliance which is both flexible and precise.

The object is solved by the invention according to the independent claims, in particular according to claim <NUM>. Improvements are provided in the dependent claims.

The invention relates to a electrical circuit, in particular distributed and/or modular electrical circuit, for a cooking appliance, in particular for a hob and/or for an induction cooking appliance, more particularly for an induction hob,
wherein the electrical circuit comprises.

The interface circuit comprises means for receiving temperature parameters from the measurement device and for transmitting power to the measurement device and/or the interface circuit comprises means for receiving temperature parameters from the measurement device and for transmitting temperature parameters to the operating device.

The invention in particular relates to an electrical circuit, in particular distributed and/or modular electrical circuit, for an induction hob, wherein the electrical circuit comprises a power supply circuit, in particular power board, for supplying one, two, at least one or at least two heating units with a first electrical power by means of a first power supply unit and for supplying an interface circuit with a second electrical power by means of a second power supply unit, the second power supply unit being electrically isolated from the first power supply unit, the power supply circuit comprising a first connection unit for receiving commands from, submitting parameters to and/or supplying power to the interface circuit, the interface circuit, in particular interface board, with at least a second connection unit for receiving power from the power supply circuit, submitting commands to and/or receiving parameters from the power supply circuit, a third wireless connection unit for transmitting parameters to and/or for receiving commands from a mobile and/or external operating device and a fourth connection unit, in particular connector, for submitting power to and/or for receiving parameters from an external measurement device.

By using a power supply circuit, in particular power board, for supplying power and, in addition, an interface circuit, in particular interface board, for the communication with an operating device and preferably with a measurement device, it is possible to develop and/or produce and/or place both circuits, in particular both boards, independently from each other. This makes it easier and cheaper to adapt the power supply circuit to specific heating units and/or to specific cooking appliances and/or to adapt the interface circuit to specific requirements.

In particular, the invention makes it possible to transfer monitoring and/or controlling of the heating units in a flexible way, independent from the actual power circuit, to an external operating device like a mobile phone. At the same time, a precise temperature control and monitoring, in particular of multiple different parameters, is possible, also by using external measurement devices. Therefore, the costs for an operating device can decrease, as existing external operating devices can be used.

A connection unit is intended to establish and maintain a connection with another connection unit. The connection can be a wired connection or a wireless connection. A wireless connection unit can enable in particular a connection wirelessly with multiple measurement devices. This enables to monitor and control a variety of parameters. For establishing a wireless connection, established communication protocols can be used which easily and flexibly enable the usage of multiple measurement devices. A connection unit can in particular be understood as an interface unit.

In an embodiment, the interface circuit comprises a user interface, the user interface in particular at least comprising a display unit and an input unit, more in particular a touch-sensitive display.

In an embodiment, the interface circuit comprises means for receiving commands from the operating device and for transmitting commands to the power supply circuit, in particular means for receiving control commands for controlling the at least one heating unit from the operating device and for transmitting the commands to the power supply circuit.

In an embodiment, the at least one measurement device comprises a temperature measuring unit, in particular temperature probe and/or at least one measuring unit for humidity, weight, vibration or chemical composition.

In an embodiment, the at least one measurement device is a food probe and/or is a device for measuring the temperature of at least one item to be cooked on the at least one heating unit.

In an embodiment, the at least one measurement device comprises a fifth connection unit for exchanging temperature parameters with and/or receiving power from the fourth connection unit.

In an embodiment, the interface circuit comprises at least one fourth wireless connection unit for receiving parameters from multiple, in particular external, measurement devices, wherein the measurement devices comprise a temperature measuring unit, in particular temperature probe, and/or at least one measuring device for humidity, weight, vibration or chemical composition of the items to be cooked.

The usage of an external measurement device can make it possible to use the measurement device for different cooking devices, for example for a cooking hob and for an oven. The usage of multiple, in particular external, measurement devices makes it possible to measure different and/or multiple parameters. This option can increase the options for cooking significantly, as a larger number of parameters can be measured. In particular, when an external operating device is used, the control algorithm software can be adapted to consider the amended parameters.

In particular, the operating device can be configured to transmit commands to the power supply circuit. Transmitting the commands to the power supply circuit in the operating device can be based preferably on a software or application, whereas the software or application can more preferably be adaptable to the at least one parameter as provided by at least one measuring unit. The adaption can preferably be performed directly by the user, for example by selecting manually or automatically the provided parameters and/or by obtaining and/or downloading an adequate software, in particular an adequate application or app.

In an embodiment, the operating device is a mobile phone.

In a further embodiment, the operating device can be a mobile device, for example a tablet or a similar operating device. The operating device can in particular comprise a display unit and/or an input unit, more in particular a touch screen.

In an embodiment, the at least one power supply circuit is supplied with power by at least one external supply signal.

In an embodiment, the at least one external supply signal is provided as an AC voltage signal and/or mains voltage with a voltage between <NUM> V and <NUM> V, in particular between <NUM> V and <NUM> V, and/or with a single voltage phase. Preferably, the external supply signal is provided by only two wires.

In an embodiment, at least one internal DC supply signal is provided by at least one DC signal generating unit for supplying at least one DC-Bus with electrical power.

In an embodiment, the second power supply unit comprises a power conversion circuit for converting an external supply signal into different, in particular DC and/or isolated, output voltages.

In an embodiment, the second power supply unit supplies the interface circuit and/or at least one unit of the first power supply unit with an, in particular isolated, power.

In an embodiment, the second power supply unit supplies at least a first voltage, in particular DC voltage, and a second voltage, in particular DC voltage, different from the first voltage, wherein in particular the first DC voltage is 5V and/or the second DC voltage is 18V.

A power supply can in particular be an electrical power supply and/or a supply with electrical energy.

If an isolated 5V DC supply voltage is supplied, preferably a Class II or double insulation is used. Preferably, the or a supply voltage, in particular the first and/or the second voltage, is supplied in such a way that it does not require a safety connection to electrical earth or ground. This is in particular advantageous for supplying one or more external measurement devices with electrical power.

In particular, at least two layers of insulating material are used for the insulation of the voltage supply unit. By this insulation, it can preferably be achieved that a single failure will not result in a dangerous voltage becoming exposed to the user so that it might avoid an electric shock for the user. In an embodiment, this can preferably be achieved without relying on an earthed metal casing.

In an embodiment, the at least one power supply circuit, in particular the first power supply unit, comprises a relay, a frequency adapting unit, at least one DC signal generating unit, one, at least one or at least two heating frequency generating units and/or a microcontrol unit.

In an embodiment, the frequency adapting unit is a filter, wherein the filter is constituted in particular by an LC filter.

In an embodiment, the at least one DC signal generating unit is a rectifier, wherein the rectifier in particular is a bridge rectifier and/or is constituted by diodes, wherein the at least one DC signal generating unit preferably comprises a surge protection unit and/or a bus voltage detection unit.

In an embodiment, the or each heating frequency generating unit comprises an inverter, in particular generator, in particular using IGBT's and/or a half bridge and/or using a quasiresonant signal.

In an embodiment, the first electrical power is supplied to the at least one heating unit by means of at least one heating frequency generating unit, in particular by means of at least one heating frequency signal.

In an embodiment, the or each heating frequency generating unit comprises a current detection unit, an IGBT voltage detection unit, an IGBT temperature detection unit and/or an IGBT driver unit.

In an embodiment, the first connection unit and the second connection unit are interconnected by a serial communication interface, in particular a galvanically isolated serial communication interface, preferably by means of at least one opto-coupling device.

In an embodiment, the third connection unit comprises means for transmitting parameters to the operating device and/or for receiving commands from the operating device, in particular means for transmitting temperature parameters to and/or for receiving temperature parameters from the operating device.

In an embodiment, the fifth connection unit is connected with the fourth connection unit by a cable and/or a wireless connection, in particular using a wireless communication protocol, more in particular Bluetooth and/or IEEE <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the first connection unit is connected with the second connection unit by a cable and/or a wireless connection.

In an embodiment, the third connection unit is connected with the operating device by a cable and/or a wireless connection.

In an embodiment, one, at least one or each board, in particular the power board and/or the interface board, is a printed circuit board, PCB.

The invention also relates to a cooking appliance, in particular hob and/or induction cooking appliance, more particularly induction hob, with an electrical circuit according to the invention.

In an embodiment, the cooking appliance comprises one, at least one, in particular at least two, at least three or at least four heating units, wherein each heating unit preferably comprises at least one inductor, more preferably at least one coil.

In an embodiment, the cooking appliance comprises the operating device and/or the at least one measurement device.

The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings, in which
<FIG> shows an electrical circuit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Even though the figure shows, as an example, two heating units <NUM>, <NUM>, an, in particular second, embodiment of the invention can also comprise an electrical circuit for supplying only one heating unit <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an electrical circuit, in particular distributed and/or modular electrical circuit <NUM>, for a cooking appliance, in particular for an induction cooking appliance, more particularly for an induction hob.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, the electrical circuit <NUM> comprises a power supply circuit <NUM>, in particular power board, for supplying two heating units <NUM>, <NUM> with a first electrical power <NUM>, <NUM> by means of a first power supply unit <NUM>.

In a second embodiment, the electrical circuit <NUM> comprises a power supply circuit <NUM>, in particular power board, for supplying a single heating unit <NUM> with a first electrical power <NUM> by means of a first power supply unit <NUM>.

In addition, the power supply circuit <NUM> is configured for supplying an interface circuit <NUM> with a second electrical power <NUM> by means of a second power supply unit <NUM>.

The second power supply unit <NUM> is electrically isolated from the first power supply unit <NUM>. The power supply circuit <NUM> comprises a first connection unit <NUM> for receiving commands from, submitting parameters to and/or supplying power to the interface circuit <NUM>.

The electrical circuit <NUM> comprises, furthermore, the interface circuit <NUM>, in particular interface board, with at least a second connection unit <NUM> for receiving power from the power supply circuit <NUM>, submitting commands to and/or receiving parameters from the power supply circuit <NUM>. The electrical circuit <NUM> also comprises a third, in particular wireless, connection unit <NUM> for transmitting parameters to and/or for receiving commands from a, in particular mobile and/or external, operating device <NUM>.

In addition, the interface circuit <NUM> comprises a fourth connection unit <NUM>, in particular connector, for submitting power to and/or for receiving parameters from at least one, in particular external, measurement device <NUM>. In particular, the interface circuit <NUM> can comprises a fourth connection unit <NUM>, in particular connector, for submitting power to and/or for receiving parameters from multiple external measurement devices <NUM>.

The interface circuit <NUM> comprises a user interface, the user interface at least comprising a display unit and an input unit, more in particular a touch-sensitive display.

The interface circuit <NUM> comprises means for receiving parameters from the measurement device <NUM> and for transmitting power to the measurement device <NUM>, in particular means for receiving temperature parameters from the measurement device <NUM> and for transmitting power to the measurement device <NUM>.

The interface circuit <NUM> comprises means for receiving parameters from the measurement device <NUM> and for transmitting parameters to the operating device <NUM>, in particular means for receiving temperature parameters from the measurement device <NUM> and for transmitting temperature parameters to the operating device <NUM>.

The interface circuit <NUM> comprises means for receiving commands from the operating device <NUM> and for transmitting commands to the power supply circuit <NUM>, in particular means for receiving control commands for controlling the heating units <NUM>, <NUM> from the operating device <NUM> and for transmitting the commands to the power supply circuit <NUM>.

In a second embodiment, the interface circuit <NUM> comprises means for receiving commands from the operating device <NUM> and for transmitting commands to the power supply circuit <NUM>, in particular means for receiving control commands for controlling the single heating unit <NUM> from the operating device <NUM> and for transmitting the commands to the power supply circuit <NUM>.

The measurement device <NUM> comprises a temperature measuring unit <NUM>, in particular temperature probe and/or at least one measuring unit for humidity, weight, vibration or chemical composition.

The measurement device <NUM> can in particular be a food probe. The measurement device <NUM> can be a device for measuring the temperature of at least one item to be cooked on the at least one heating unit <NUM>, <NUM>.

The measurement device <NUM> comprises a fifth connection unit <NUM> for exchanging temperature parameters with and/or receiving power from the fourth connection unit <NUM>.

In a further embodiment, the interface circuit <NUM> can comprise at least one fourth wireless connection unit <NUM> for receiving parameters from multiple, in particular external, measurement devices <NUM>, wherein the measurement devices <NUM> comprise a temperature measuring unit <NUM>, in particular temperature probe, and/or at least one measuring device for humidity, weight, vibration or chemical composition of the items to be cooked.

In the embodiment, the operating device <NUM> is a mobile phone <NUM>. The operating device can be also a different mobile device, for example a tablet or a similar device.

In particular, the operating device <NUM> is configured to transmit commands to the power supply circuit <NUM>. Transmitting the commands to the power supply circuit <NUM> in the operating device <NUM> can be based on a software or application, whereas the software or application is preferably adaptable to the at least one parameter as provided by at least one measuring unit <NUM>. The adaption can preferably be performed directly by the user, for example by selecting manually or automatically the provided parameters and/or by obtaining and/or downloading an adequate software, in particular an adequate application or app.

The at least one power supply circuit <NUM> is supplied with power by at least one external supply signal <NUM>.

The at least one external supply signal <NUM> is provided as an AC voltage signal and/or mains voltage <NUM> with a voltage between <NUM> V and <NUM> V, in particular between <NUM> V and <NUM> V and with a single voltage phase. The external supply signal is provided by only two wires.

The at least one internal DC supply signal <NUM> is provided by at least one DC signal generating unit <NUM>, in particular for supplying at least one DC-Bus with electrical power.

The second power supply unit <NUM> comprises a power conversion circuit <NUM> for converting an external supply signal into different isolated DC output voltages <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

The second power supply unit <NUM> supplies the interface circuit <NUM> and at least one unit of the first power supply unit <NUM> with an isolated power.

The second power supply unit <NUM> supplies at least a first voltage, in particular DC voltage, and a second voltage, in particular DC voltage, different from the first voltage. In particular, the first DC voltage is 5V and/or the second DC voltage is 18V. In particular, an isolated 5V DC supply voltage is supplied to the interface circuit.

The power supply circuit <NUM> comprises a relay <NUM>, a frequency adapting unit <NUM>, at least one DC signal generating unit <NUM>, one, at least one or at least two heating frequency generating units <NUM>, <NUM> and a microcontrol unit <NUM>.

In particular, the external supply signal <NUM> in fed into the relay <NUM>. The output of the relay <NUM> is fed into the frequency adapting unit <NUM>. The output of the frequency adapting unit <NUM> is fed into at least one DC signal generating unit <NUM>.

In a first embodiment, the output of the at least one DC signal generating unit <NUM> is fed into at least two heating frequency generating units <NUM>, <NUM>. The output of the at least two heating frequency generating units <NUM>, <NUM> is fed into the at least two heating units <NUM>, <NUM>.

In a second embodiment, which does not comprise the heating frequency generating unit <NUM> and the heating unit <NUM>, the output of the at least one DC signal generating unit <NUM> is fed into the heating frequency generating unit <NUM>. The output of the heating frequency generating units <NUM> is fed into the heating unit <NUM>.

The frequency adapting unit <NUM> is a filter, wherein the filter is constituted in particular by an LC filter.

The at least one DC signal generating unit <NUM> is a rectifier, wherein the rectifier in particular is a bridge rectifier and/or is constituted by diodes, wherein the at least one DC signal generating unit <NUM> preferably comprises a surge protection unit <NUM> and a bus voltage detection unit <NUM>.

In a first embodiment, the at least two heating frequency generating units <NUM>, <NUM> are inverters, in particular generators, in particular using IGBT's and/or a half bridge and/or using a quasiresonant signal.

The first electrical power is supplied to the heating units <NUM>, <NUM> by means of e heating frequency generating units <NUM>, <NUM>, in particular by means of heating frequency signals <NUM>, <NUM>.

The at least two heating frequency generating units <NUM>, <NUM> comprise a current detection unit <NUM>, an IGBT voltage detection unit <NUM>, an IGBT temperature detection unit <NUM> and an IGBT driver unit <NUM>.

In a second embodiment, the heating frequency generating unit <NUM> is an inverter, in particular generator, in particular using one or at least one IGBT and/or a half bridge and/or using a quasiresonant signal.

The first electrical power is supplied to the heating unit <NUM>, <NUM> by means of the heating frequency generating unit <NUM>, <NUM>, in particular by means of a heating frequency signal <NUM>, <NUM>.

In the second embodiment, the heating frequency generating unit <NUM> comprises a current detection unit <NUM>, an IGBT voltage detection unit <NUM>, an IGBT temperature detection unit <NUM> and an IGBT driver unit <NUM>.

The current detection unit <NUM>, the IGBT voltage detection unit <NUM>, the IGBT temperature detection unit <NUM> and the IGBT driver unit <NUM> as well as the fan driver unit <NUM> are supplied with power by means of a DC voltage supply of the power conversion circuit <NUM> and are in interaction with the microcontrol unit <NUM>.

The first connection unit <NUM> and the second connection unit <NUM> are interconnected by a serial communication interface, in particular a galvanically isolated serial communication interface, preferably by means of at least one opto-coupling device.

The third connection unit <NUM> comprises means for transmitting parameters to the operating device <NUM> and/or for receiving commands from the operating device <NUM>, in particular means for transmitting temperature parameters to and/or for receiving temperature parameters from the operating device.

The fifth connection unit <NUM> is connected with the fourth connection unit <NUM> by a cable and/or a wireless connection, in particular using a wireless communication protocol, more in particular Bluetooth and/or IEEE <NUM>.

The first connection unit <NUM> is connected with the second connection unit <NUM> by a cable and/or a wireless connection.

One, at least one or each board <NUM>, <NUM>, in particular the power board and/or the interface board, is a printed circuit board, PCB.

The cooking appliance according to the embodiments can be an induction hob as shown in <FIG> and comprises one, at least one, in particular at least two, at least three or at least four heating units <NUM>, <NUM>, wherein each heating unit preferably comprises at least one inductor, more preferably at least one coil.

Claim 1:
Electrical circuit, in particular distributed and/or modular electrical circuit (<NUM>), for a cooking appliance, in particular for a hob or for an induction cooking appliance, more particularly for an induction hob,
wherein the electrical circuit (<NUM>) comprises
- at least one power supply circuit (<NUM>), in particular power board, for supplying one, two, at least one or at least two heating units (<NUM>, <NUM>) with a first electrical power (<NUM>, <NUM>) by means of a first power supply unit (<NUM>) and for supplying an interface circuit (<NUM>) with a second electrical power (<NUM>) by means of a second power supply unit (<NUM>), the second power supply unit (<NUM>), in particular being electrically isolated from the first power supply unit (<NUM>), the power supply circuit (<NUM>) comprising a first connection unit (<NUM>) for receiving commands from, submitting parameters to and/or supplying power to the interface circuit (<NUM>),
- an interface circuit (<NUM>), in particular interface board, with at least a second connection unit (<NUM>) for receiving power from the power supply circuit (<NUM>), submitting commands to and/or receiving parameters from the power supply circuit (<NUM>);
characterized in that the interface circuit (<NUM>) further comprises a third wireless connection unit (<NUM>) for transmitting parameters to and/or for receiving commands from a mobile and/or external, operating device (<NUM>) and a or at least one fourth wireless connection unit (<NUM>) for submitting power to and/or for receiving parameters from at least one external measurement device (<NUM>);
wherein the interface circuit (<NUM>) comprises means for receiving temperature parameters from the measurement device (<NUM>) and for transmitting power to the measurement device (<NUM>); and/or
wherein the interface circuit (<NUM>) comprises means for receiving temperature parameters from the measurement device (<NUM>) and for transmitting temperature parameters to the operating device (<NUM>).