EP-4738993-A2 - OBJECT DETECTION TECHNIQUES IN A MULTI-FUNCTION HOB

EP4738993A2EP 4738993 A2EP4738993 A2EP 4738993A2EP-4738993-A2

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatuses for object detection techniques in an apparatus of a multi-function hob. In an induction heating mode, the apparatus may support induction heating of an induction heating device (such as a cooking vessel or utensil). In a wireless power transfer (WPT) mode, the apparatus may support wireless power transfer to a power receiver. The apparatus may be capable of performing different object detection techniques to detect an induction heating device, a wireless power receiver (PRx), or a foreign object (FO). In accordance with this disclosure, a controller may control timing of each instance of the different object detection techniques such that the object detection techniques are used at different times. In some implementations, the object detection techniques are coordinated to improve accuracy of detecting an FO, a PRx, or an induction heating device.

Inventors

GANESH, Jayanti
KANAKASABAI, VISWANATHAN
TATIKONDA, Subbarao
NARAYANA BHAT, SUMA MEMANA

Assignees

Dolby Intellectual Property Licensing, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20230228

Claims (15)

An apparatus, comprising: one or more coils (130) capable of generating a magnetic field for induction heating or wireless power transfer in accordance with an induction heating mode or a wireless power transfer mode, respectively; characterized by one or more object detection units configured to implement a plurality of object detection techniques that includes at least an induction heating device detection technique, a wireless power receiver, PRx, detection technique, and a foreign object, FO, detection technique; and a controller (350) configured to: cause the one or more object detection units to perform instances of the plurality of object detection techniques such that each instance is performed at a different time from other instances, wherein the controller is configured to manage timing for the instances of the plurality of object detection techniques such that the instances occur sequentially in a periodic cycle; and control the one or more coils (130) to generate the magnetic field for the induction heating mode or the wireless power transfer mode based, at least in part, on results of the plurality of object detection techniques.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more object detection units include: an induction heating device detection unit (320) configured to implement the induction heating device detection technique to detect a cooking vessel or utensil associated with the induction heating mode; a communication unit (310) configured to implement the PRx detection technique to detect a PRx (175) associated with the wireless power transfer mode; and an FO detection unit (330) configured to implement the FO detection technique to detect a foreign object.
The apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising: an interface surface associated with the one or more coils (130), wherein the controller (350) is configured to: control the one or more coils (130) to generate the magnetic field to heat a cooking vessel or utensil on the interface surface in accordance with the induction heating mode when the cooking vessel or utensil is detected by an instance of the induction heating device detection technique, and control the one or more coils (130) to generate the magnetic field to transfer power to a PRx (175) on the interface surface in accordance with the wireless power transfer mode when the PRx (175) is detected by an instance of the PRx detection technique and no FO (190) is detected by the FO detection technique.
The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus is a first Power Transmitter (PTx) associated with a first location of a hob, wherein the hob includes a second PTX associated with a second location, and wherein the controller (350) is configured to manage timing for instances of a first plurality of object detection techniques associated with the first PTx independent of timing for instances of a second plurality of object detection techniques associated with the second PTx.
The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the plurality of object detection techniques include temporarily energizing the one or more coils (130) to generate the magnetic field with an amount of detection power and measuring a characteristic associated with the magnetic field, and wherein the controller (350) is configured to cause the one or more object detection units to perform the instances of the plurality of object detection techniques such that a sum of the amount of detection power for the plurality of object detection techniques over a time period is less than a maximum power threshold.
The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the controller is configured to: cause instances of the induction heating device detection technique to occur according to a first periodic schedule, cause instances of the PRx detection technique to occur according to a second periodic schedule, and cause instances of the FO detection technique to occur according to a third periodic schedule.
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to: shift a timing for an instance of any of the induction heating device detection technique, the PRx detection technique, or the FO detection technique when the timing of the instance overlaps any other one of the induction heating device detection technique, the PRx detection technique, or the FO detection technique.
The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine whether a cooking vessel or utensil is detected by any instance of the induction heating device detection technique; and while the cooking vessel or utensil is detected: disable the wireless power transfer mode, and discontinue causing instances of the PRx detection technique and the FO detection technique.
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to: cause the one or more coils to operate in accordance with the induction heating mode; and present an induction heating warning indication via a user interface of the apparatus to indicate that the one or more coils are operating in the induction heating mode.
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the appliance is associated with a pan location of a hob, and wherein the induction heating warning indication includes a hot surface warning associated with the pan location.
The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine whether a PRx is detected by any instance of the PRx detection technique; and while the PRx is detected: disable the induction heating mode, discontinue causing instances of the induction heating device detection technique, and cause the one or more coils to operate in accordance with the wireless power transfer mode.
The apparatus of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine whether an object is detected by a first instance of the FO detection technique; and cause an instance of the induction heating device detection technique after the first instance of the FO detection technique to determine whether the object is an induction heating device based on the induction heating device detection technique; and if the object is the induction heating device: disable the wireless power transfer mode, and discontinue causing instances of the PRx detection technique and the FO detection technique.
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to: cause an instance of the PRx detection technique after the first instance of the FO detection technique to determine whether a PRx is detected; and while the PRx is detected: disable the induction heating mode, and discontinue causing instances of the induction heating device detection technique.
The apparatus of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine that an object is detected by a first instance of the FO detection technique; and cause an immediate subsequent instance of the induction heating device detection technique and an immediate subsequent instance of PRx detection technique after the first instance of the FO detection technique; determine whether the object is an induction heating device based on the immediate subsequent instance of the induction heating device detection technique or a PRx based on the immediate subsequent instance of the PRx detection technique; and if neither of the immediate subsequent instance of the induction heating device detection technique nor the immediate subsequent instance of the PRx detection technique results in detection of the induction heating device or the PRx, cause an FO detected error indication via either or both of the first user interface of the apparatus and a second user interface of the PRx if the PRx is detected.
The apparatus of any one of claims 12-14, further comprising: a user interface capable of receiving a user input indicating either the induction heating mode or the wireless power transfer mode; and wherein the controller is further configured to: refrain from causing instances of the FO detection technique and the PRx detection technique in response to the user interface receiving the user input that indicates the induction heating mode, and refrain from causing instances of the induction heating device detection technique in response to the user interface receiving the user input that indicates the wireless power transfer mode.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates generally to a multi-function hob having an apparatus that supports an induction heating mode and a wireless power transfer mode. More specifically, this application relates to coordinating object detection techniques associated with the various modes supported by the apparatus. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED TECHNOLOGY Induction cooking appliances (such as kitchen hobs) have been developed to enable induction heating of cooking vessels or utensils. For example, a hob may include several "burner" locations at which a user may place a cooking vessel or utensil to be heated using induction heating. In a conventional hob, an electric or gas heat source is used to heat a cooking vessel in contact with the heat source. In contrast, in an induction cooking appliance, an electromagnetic field may be generated by one or more coils (sometimes referred to as induction coils) to heat a cooking vessel. During induction heating, the electromagnetic field induces a current in a metal surface of the cooking vessel or utensil. The induced current in the surface of the cooking vessel or utensil then induces even other currents (sometimes referred to as eddy currents) within the cooking vessel thereby providing heat throughout the cooking vessel. Meanwhile, in a separate technical field, technology has been developed to enable wireless power transfer from a Power Transmitter (sometimes also referred to as a "wireless power transmission apparatus") to a Power Receiver (sometimes also referred to as a "wireless power reception apparatus"). A Power Receiver may be included in various types of devices, such as mobile devices, small electronic devices, computers, tablets, gadgets, appliances (such as cordless blenders, kettles, or mixers), and some types of larger electronic devices, among other examples. Wireless power transfer may be referred to as a contactless power transmission or a non-contact power transmission. The wireless power may be transferred using inductive coupling or resonant coupling between the Power Transmitter and the Power Receiver. For example, the Power Transmitter may include one or more coils that produces an electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field may induce an electromotive force in a secondary coil of the Power Receiver when the secondary coil is placed in proximity to the primary coil. In this configuration, the electromagnetic field may wirelessly transfer power to the secondary coil. Because induction heating and wireless power transfer have some common elements and applications within a kitchen, there is a desire to provide a multi-function hob that supports both an induction heating mode and a wireless power transfer mode. However, there is a risk of damage or ineffectiveness if a multi-function hob uses the wrong mode for a Power Receiver or a cooking vessel. Furthermore, when a foreign metal object (such as a key, a coin, a metallic can, or aluminum foil, among other examples) is in proximity of the electromagnetic field, the foreign metal object may be undesirably heated up due to eddy currents. SUMMARY The systems, methods, and apparatuses of this disclosure each have several innovative aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for the desirable attributes disclosed herein. One innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented as apparatus. For example, may be a Power Transmitter (PTx) associated with a first location of a multi-function hob. The apparatus may include one or more coils capable of generating a magnetic field for induction heating or wireless power transfer in accordance with an induction heating mode or a wireless power transfer mode, respectively. The apparatus may include one or more object detection units configured to implement a plurality of object detection techniques that includes at least an induction heating device detection technique, a wireless power receiver (PRx) detection technique, and a foreign object (FO) detection technique. The apparatus may include a controller configured to cause the one or more object detection units to perform instances of the plurality of object detection techniques such that each instance is performed at a different time from other instances. The controller may be further configured to control the one or more coils to generate the magnetic field for the induction heating mode or the wireless power transfer mode based, at least in part, on results of the plurality of object detection techniques. Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented as method. The method may include implementing, by one or more detection units, a plurality of object detection techniques that includes at least an induction heating device detection technique, a wireless power receiver (PRx) detection technique, and a foreign object (FO) detection technique. The method may include causing the one or more detection units to per