Patent ID: 12234993

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1depicts a hob11with a hob plate12in a first configuration of the invention, as has been explained previously. The hob11has four induction heating coils H1, H2, H3, H4below the hob plate12, which are in a distributed arrangement. They can be of different size; alternatively, they can also be of identical size. Their distance from one another is relatively distinct; advantageously, it is at least 4 cm. Four dashes like a cross also each depict the centers of the induction heating coils H1to H4, which in practice do not need to be marked on the hob plate12, however. Advantageously, however, there can be provision for a ring marking thereon according to the size of the respective induction heating coil H1to H4, as is known from hobs. These induction heating coils H1to H4are also simultaneously provided, as is known, with a pan detection function, which means that they form the pan detection device mentioned at the outset.

In the front area, the hob11has an operator control device14, advantageously with touch switches and an indicator or an indicator display. The operator control device14has a hob controller16connected to it, which has a microcontroller. This hob controller16, together with the induction heating coils H1to H4, forms the mentioned pan detection device.

Arranged in the rear area of the hob11is a main connector18, specifically below the hob plate12, advantageously inside an ordinary hob housing situated beneath. The position of the main connector18is chosen arbitrarily, as will become clear from the description ofFIG.3below. This main connector18is the main communication device explained previously. It has a transmitter and a receiver, which can advantageously operate using a wireless or Bluetooth communication protocol or, better still, using a BLE communication protocol, and therefore transmit and receive according to the BLE standard. In particular, the main connector18is designed to measure a distance, which will be explained in more detail below.

FIG.2depicts a pan22with a pan base23, the surface of which forms its contact surface mentioned at the outset. This surface is advantageously round. The pan22has a lid24, which, centrally, has a remote communication device25integrated in an attachment module26. The symbolic antenna of the remote communication device25is not present in practice.

The pan22with the attachment module26is a so-called smart or intelligent pan, as is known from the aforementioned US 2016/095169 A1, for example. This is because the attachment module26has not only the remote communication device25but also a power supply, a separate small controller or separate microcontroller and, by way of example, a temperature sensor and/or a pressure sensor. The two sensors monitor the inside of the pan22, the temperature sensor being designed to detect the temperature of a product being cooked in the pan22. Cooking processes can therefore be controlled using automatic programs, as is known from the prior art. These automatic programs are executed in the hob controller16and use the data from the sensors of the attachment module26, in particular temperature data from a temperature sensor. Depending on the desired temperature, the hob controller16can then appropriately actuate the induction heating coil H1to H4over which the pan22has been put on. The remote communication device25also operates using the same communication protocol as the main connector18, that is to say advantageously BLE.

For clarification purposes, above the hob11,FIG.3again depicts the distances D1to D4between the centers of the induction heating coils H1to H4, marked in dashes by a cross, and the main connector18. In the projection from above, these are straight lines, the gradation of the distances D1to D4in relation to one another being relatively distinct and therefore rendering them clearly distinguishable. For a normal width of the hob11of 60 cm, the distance D1is approximately 40 cm, and the gradation between the individual distances is then approximately 8 cm, which means that the distance D3is still approximately 16 cm.

FIG.4depicts how the pan22has been put onto the hob plate12over the induction heating coil H1. From the comparison of the attachment module26with the center of the induction heating coil H1, it can be seen that the pan22is almost centrally over the latter and is just slightly displaced toward the bottom right, for example by 1 cm in practice. A distance measurement is then performed from the main connector18to the attachment module26, which is representative of the pan22so to speak. This distance measurement is performed, as described previously, by means of BLE, in particular as a time-of-flight measurement, and it produces the distance d1. This distance d1is then compared with the distances D1to D4of the induction heating coils H1to H4from the main connector18that are stored in the hob controller16. In practice, it should be noted here that the distances D run almost horizontally, whereas the distances d between the main connector18and the attachment module26run at an upward slant so to speak. The attachment modules26on the top of the pans22are normally between 10 cm and 20 cm above the hob plate12. An average value of approximately 15 cm can be assumed here, which is then set against the measured distance d1, or corrects said measured distance d1, using the known angle functions. The result is that the hob controller16connected to the main connector18establishes that not only has the induction heating coil H1detected that any pan has been put on over it but that this is in fact a specific pan, namely the pan22. The corrected value for the distance d1will be relatively close to the stored distance D1, which means that it is verified that the pan22is situated over the induction heating coil H1. The attachment module26then sends an individual identifier identifying the pan provided therewith to the main connector18, which said main connector receives with its receiver and forwards to the hob controller16. Said hob controller then links the pan22with its individual identifier to its position over the front left induction heating coil H1. As such, temperature signals or other sensor signals from the attachment module26can be received from the main connector18and appropriately considered by the hob controller16in an aforementioned automatic program at the front left induction heating coil H1.

Advantageously, there can be provision here for the induction heating coil H1to detect that a pan has been put on over it. Not only does it then forward this information to the hob controller16, but the hob controller16then uses the main connector18to initiate the measurement of the distance d1. Previously, it can use a different signal to actually check whether the pan that has been put on over the induction heating coil H1is one with an attachment module26or whether a new attachment module26has connected to the main connector18.

The pan22could then also be moved, for example, as depicted in dots, to the right over the front right induction heating coil H4. The induction heating coil H1thus no longer detects a pan over it, while at the same time the induction heating coil H4detects a new pan over it. This could naturally also alternatively mean that the pan22has been removed from the hob11completely and a different pan has been put on over the induction heating coil H4. To establish this, the main connector18attempts to receive an identifier from an attachment module. If this happens, as here in the case ofFIG.4with a signal from the attachment module26′ or an identifier, then it must now also be ensured that this received identifier also actually comes from a pan over the front right induction heating coil H4at which the applicable attachment module26is situated. This is again done by measuring the distance, and the measured distance D4between the main connector18and the attachment module26, with the aforementioned average height correction, then corresponds to the distance D4relatively well. The hob11or the hob controller16thus knows for certain that the pan22having the individual identifier that was previously over the front left induction heating coil H1is now over the front right induction heating coil H4.

FIGS.3and4simultaneously reveal a problem with this embodiment of the invention. The distance between the main connector18and the attachment module26′ runs above the rear right induction heating coil H3so to speak. If a pan has now been put on there, whether with or without an attachment module, then the direct and shortest radio connection is no longer without interference; this pan could interfere with or distort the distance measurement. It could therefore be that the distance measurement produces incorrect results. It is carried out either just with a single pan on the hob or with pan positions that cannot be blocked in the line to the main connector18by applicable pans that have been put onto the induction heating coil. This is probably not always possible, however. An arrangement of the main connector18in the central area of the hob11between the induction heating coils H1to H4is regarded as problematic, however, since there is no sure way of achieving sufficiently different distances D from the centers of the induction heating coils H1to H4or from pans having attachment modules that have been put on centrally above them, given the accuracy of a distance measurement by means of Bluetooth or by means of BLE that was mentioned at the outset. In addition, the radio signals would need to repeatedly pass through the lid and/or the pan wall, which means considerable risk and distortion of the measurement results.

In addition, in a variant of the first configuration of the invention, which was also explained at the outset, a starting position SP on the hob plate12is defined as shown inFIG.5. In the present case, it is defined as being precisely in the center of the hob11; it should also be marked separately for the user, possibly using a switchable illumination. The distances D1to D4are again shown.

According toFIG.6, a pan22that is to be put on afresh is now placed centrally over the starting position or put onto the hob plate12such that the attachment module26is as centrally or vertically over the starting position SP as possible. It is now either possible for the main connector18to detect the sudden proximity of a pan having an attachment module; this may also have been enabled separately by a user after the pan has been put on. This alone is not necessarily certain enough, however, because a pan having an attachment module could also have been placed beside the hob11or the hob plate12, but still very close and at a distance of less than D1from the main connector18, for example to the right of it, of course. It can also be seen that the induction heating coils H1to H4cannot work as a pan detection device as effectively here, since the overlap is too inaccurate. Therefore, there is advantageously provision here for a separate specific pan detection sensor, for example in inductive form, beneath the starting position SP. Said pan detection sensor detects that a pan22has been put on over it, as described previously, and then starts firstly the distance measurement and secondly the check on an identifier of the pan or of the associated attachment module.

The main connector18thus measures a distance dSP from the attachment module26, specifically in corrected form as described previously. If this distance fairly matches the known distance DSP between the starting position SP and the main connector18, then, together with the information that a pan has been detected over the starting position SP, it is assumed to be sufficiently certain to determine that the pan22having the attachment module26with the specific individual identifier, that is to say a now known pan22, is at the starting position SP.

According toFIG.7, the pan22is now moved from the starting position SP to its heating position above the front left induction heating coil H1. Firstly, the induction heating coil H1detects this itself by way of its pan detection function together with the hob controller16. In addition, for safety, a distance measurement from the main connector18to the attachment module26is performed again. The distance d1measured in the process fairly matches the known distance D1, or the difference is very small, which means that the hob controller16can assume with certainty that the pan22with the separate identifier is now on the front left induction heating coil H1. An automatic program can be carried out there by the hob controller16.

On the basis of the description together withFIGS.5to7, it is easy to imagine that it is thus also very easy to use further pans having an attachment module, as described here, on the hob11. This is because a next pan can be put on above the starting position SP again and detected with certainty and then moved or positioned over a different induction heating coil H2to H4for heating.

FIGS.8and9depict a second previously explained configuration of the invention. The hob111depicted here with a hob plate112, an operator control device114and a hob controller116together with four induction heating coils H1to H4has a main connector118in the front right corner. This can be in exactly the same form as the main connector18inFIGS.1to7. Additional connectors119are arranged in the other three corners. These can be identical to the main connector118in terms of design or hardware, but provided or actuated with different functions. Alternatively, they can also be in simpler form, namely just for distance measurement and not also for communication or for receiving an individual identifier of a pan or its attachment module.

A pan22in accordance with the previous figures having an attachment module26is now put onto the hob plate12over the front left induction heating coil H1, specifically fairly centrally, by a user. The induction heating coil H1as pan detector detects this together with the hob controller116, as described previously, and starts the method according to the invention. The main connector118at the front right then transmits a signal in order to check whether a pan having such an attachment module can be identified nearby. This is naturally the case with the pan22having the attachment module26. However, it is now also necessary to check whether the pan22having the attachment module26and the applicable individual identifier has actually been put over the induction heating coil H1. To this end, a respective distance measurement is carried out not only between the main connector118and the attachment module26but also in relation to the three additional connectors119bto119d. This produces the respective distances dA, dB, dC and dD. It would now certainly be possible to repeatedly check whether these measured distances match known distances from the center of the induction heating coil H1. However, if there are multiple pans on the hob plate112, in particular also over the induction heating coils H3and H2, then it is obvious that they would greatly interfere with a distance measurement by means of reflection. Therefore, it makes sense for only one distance measurement with the main connector118and the additional connector119bto be carried out here. In a first variant, this can be compared with the known distances of the center of the induction heating coil H1from these two connectors. The result here is very clear, namely that the pan22having the attachment module26has been put on above the induction heating coil H1and, as explained previously, the hob controller116can now carry out an automatic program therewith.

However, in order to be able to carry out the method even for a hob that does not just have individual and separated and spaced induction heating coils but rather is a so-called surface area hob having a multiplicity of heating devices very close together covering the fundamental hob plate112area, it can be desirable to determine the position of the attachment module26as accurately as possible. Information about the size of the associated pan22can be included in the identifier thereof.

For this purpose, the distances dA and dB from the attachment module26to the main connector118and to the additional connector119bare measured. These can then be used to calculate the precise place at which the pan22has been put on by means of trigonometry and on the basis of the known distance of the two connectors118and119bfrom one another. On the basis of the known size of the pan22, applicable and an applicable number of the multiple heating devices of the hob11can then be activated by the hob controller116in order to heat the pan22as desired.

FIG.9depicts how another pan22′ having attachment module26′ has now been put on over the front right induction heating coil H4. This action of putting on the pan has been detected; in addition, the main connector118has detected that another pan having an attachment module has been put on in addition to the pan22already present and detected. Since it must be assumed that this is over the induction heating coil H4or at least in the front right area, and the distance measurement from the additional connector119bto the attachment module26′ could be interfered with by the pan22, the pan controller116takes the rear right additional connector119dfor the distance measurement instead. This is because it knows that a pan has not been put on in the rear right area or over the induction heating coil H3. It is now also again possible, as described previously, to verify the positioning of the pan22′ having attachment module26′ over the front right induction heating coil H4or else to calculate the precise location at which said pan has been put on.

Depicted in dashes at the rear is a pan22″ having an attachment module26″ that, similarly to in the case ofFIG.6, cannot be detected accurately in terms of its being put onto the hob plate112. The main connector118here can also again detect the presence of a pan having an attachment module in general, however; this may also be detected by a pan detection device. Since the two pans22and22′ are known to already be in the front area of the hob111, the pan22″ is presumed to be in the rear area. The two rear additional connectors119cand119dtherefore ascertain their respective distances dC and dD from the attachment module26″. These can be used to calculate the precise position thereof, and the applicable individual identifier is received by the main connector118and forwarded to the hob controller116. It is therefore also possible for the pan22″ to be heated, as described previously, provided that it is positioned sufficiently over one of the induction heating coils or another heating device of the hob111.

FIG.10shows a hob211with a hob plate212, four induction heating coils H1to H4, an operator control device214and a hob controller216. Arranged in the front right corner is a main connector218that has an antenna220, which is aimed in the direction of the hob plate212or the induction heating coils H1to H4so to speak. The antenna220is designed such that, as explained at the outset, it can ascertain an angle in relation to a signal or a signal line28, depicted in dashes, from a remote communication device in an attachment module26of the pan22over the induction heating coil H1to the main connector218. This is the so-called angle-of-arrival technology. The angle α between the signal line28and a baseline230, which, by way of illustration, runs parallel to the front edge of the hob211, can therefore be determined. As such, the fixed arrangement of the main connector218or possibly also an additional communication device, if this were present, allows the angle α to be determined. It is then possible to use geometry, together with the aforementioned distance measurement, to calculate precisely where the remote communication device and therefore the associated pan22has been put onto the hob plate212.

Another pan22′, having a remote communication device in an attachment module26′, in relation to which the antenna220is at an angle α′, has been put on over the induction heating coil H3. The applicable aforementioned distance measurement can then also be used to determine the position of said attachment module on the hob plate212.

FIG.11shows a hob311with a hob plate312, four induction heating coils H1to H4, an operator control device314and a hob controller316. Arranged in the front right corner is a main connector318that has an antenna320, which is aimed in the direction of the hob plate312or the induction heating coils H1to H4so to speak. The antenna320is designed such that, as explained at the outset, it is able, alone or by means of multiple further antennas, to address the remote communication device of the pan22in a predefined spatial direction in a predefined period at a variable signal strength. The signal line28, depicted in dashes, from a remote communication device in an attachment module26of the pan22over the induction heating coil H1to the main connector318corresponds to one of these spatial directions. As such, the main connector318knows or can determine the direction or spatial direction that the remote communication device is in. A distinction can be drawn between multiple remote communication devices by means of the variable signal strength, as a result of which the direction or spatial direction of each of these multiple remote communication devices can also be determined. The applicable aforementioned distance measurement can then also be used to determine the respective position thereof on the hob plate312.

At the top left, the hob311has an additional connector319having an antenna320, which is designed in accordance with the antenna320of the main connector318, advantageously in exactly the same way. The additional connector319with its antenna320likewise addresses the remote communication device of the pan22in a predefined spatial direction in a predefined period at a variable signal strength. As such, the same determination of the respective position of said remote communication device on the hob plate312can take place. This allows the result of the position determination of the main connector318for the pan22to be checked or refined.