CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 18163809.9, now European Patent No. 3544376, entitled CONNECTION INTERFACE FOR INDUCTION COIL ARRAY, which was filed on Mar. 23, 2018, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an induction cooktop and, and more specifically, to an induction cooktop assembly comprising a plurality of cooking zones.

BACKGROUND

Induction cooktops are devices which exploit the phenomenon of induction heating for food cooking purposes. The disclosure provides for a variety of improved assemblies for induction cooktops that may improve performance and/or economical manufacture. Such improvements may serve to improve the utilization of induction-based cooking technologies. Accordingly, the disclosure provides for assemblies, systems, and methods for induction cooktops.

SUMMARY

In at least one aspect of the present disclosure, an induction cooking apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a plurality of induction coils arranged in a linear or bi-dimensional array. At least one beam structure is configured to support the at least one array of induction coils. At least one electrical circuit is in connection with the at least one beam structure and in communication with each of the plurality of induction coils forming the at least one array. At least one inverter assembly is configured to drive the induction coils. The electrical circuit and the inverter assembly form a connection interface comprising a plurality of mating connectors. The mating connectors of the connection interface electrically connect the array with the inverter assembly. The mating connectors may be also used as a mechanical connection between the electrical circuit of the coil, preferably built as a PCB, and the inverter assembly, preferably built as a PCB as well. The use of the PCB has the advantage of avoiding a plurality of flexible wires for connecting each coil to respective inverter.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, an induction cooking apparatus comprises a panel forming a cooking surface and a bottom surface. The cooking surface is configured to support a cooking utensil. A housing is in connection with and disposed beneath the cooking surface. The housing forms an enclosure having an internal cavity. The enclosure comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side. At least one array of induction coils is arranged beneath the cooking surface. At least one beam structure comprising a first end portion and a second end portion and extends across the housing of the cooking apparatus from the first side to the second side. The beam structure supports the at least one array of induction coils. At least one electrical circuit is in connection with the beam structure and in communication with each of the induction coils forming the array. At least one inverter assembly is in communication with the electrical circuit and disposed in the enclosure of the housing. The electrical circuit and the inverter assembly form a connection interface comprising a plurality of mating connectors.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, an induction cooking apparatus comprises a panel forming a cooking surface and a bottom surface. The cooking surface is configured to support a cooking utensil. A housing is in connection with and disposed beneath the cooking surface. The housing forms an enclosure comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A plurality of coil beam assemblies each comprise an array of induction coils arranged beneath the cooking surface, a support beam, and an electrical circuit. The support beam comprises a first end portion and a second end portion and is configured to extend across the housing of the cooking apparatus from the first side to the second side. The support beam is configured to support the array of induction coils. The electrical circuit is in connection with the support beam and in communication with each of the plurality of induction coils forming the array. The coil beam assemblies extend from the first side to the second side forming an induction coil matrix and each neighboring coil beam assembly of the coil beam assemblies is rotated 180 degrees.

These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present device will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

