ES2426228T3 - Cooking plate control method - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves acquiring an input signal that controls operating parameters of one of electric boiling plates (2) that is initially covered with a cooking vessel (3), of a cooktop (1). The plate is detected in response to emission of the signal or acquisition of a selection control of the plate. The vessel is displaced towards another electric boiling plate i.e. destination plate. The destination plate is detected and a selection control of the destination plate is acquired. The destination plate is controlled from the parameters to maintain the cooking of content in similar conditions. An independent claim is also included for a cooktop comprising two electric boiling plates.

Description

Control method of a hob.

The present invention relates to a method of controlling a cooking plate comprising at least two cooking zones.

It also refers to a cooking plate adapted to implement the control method according to the invention.

Document FR 2863039 A1 is known which describes a cooking countertop with cooking surfaces without predefined placement of cooking zones and is considered as the closest state of the art. The cooking hob consists of identical heating cells arranged as a matrix and adjacent to each other. Cooking surfaces are defined in each case by the detection of a container on the hob depending on the position and size of the container.

In general, the present invention relates to the cooking plates having at least two cooking zones associated with power control means in addition to a timer.

The present invention relates generally to cooking plates, and more particularly to domestic cooking plates comprising different cooking zones whose operation can be controlled by means of control available to a user.

The commissioning and regulation of each cooking zone requires the identification of the cooking zone and the selection of the control associated with the cooking zone.

Cooking plates comprising separate and independent control means dedicated to each cooking zone are therefore known.

After placing a container, it is necessary to identify the control means associated with the cooking zone to control the operation and regulate the power dedicated to this cooking zone.

There are also cooking plates comprising control means common to all cooking zones, means for selecting the cooking zone must be previously used.

The user must then locate in the control part of the hob the key or keys corresponding to the area that he wishes to use.

These control means are conventionally constituted by control keys arranged at the level of a control panel associated with the cooking plate.

More and more frequently, these keys are sensitive keys, arranged under an electrically insulating plate of the cooking appliance and adapted to detect the presence of a user's finger in front of this key to control the operation of one or more cooking zones.

It is known to associate to these means of control of the operation of a hob, regulation keys of one or more timers adapted to control the clock of the timer (s), in such a way that its operation by the user allows to adjust the operating time of one or several cooking zones.

In particular, these regulation keys of one or more timers allow to prolong or shorten the operating time of one or more cooking zones at any time as soon as at least one of these timers is activated.

According to the different cooking plates, the cooking plate comprises a timer associated to the whole of the cooking zones that allows the duration of operation to be determined in a common way to all the cooking zones, or the cooking plate comprises a timer associated to the whole of the cooking zones which allows the duration of operation of each of the cooking zones to be determined by means of a selection of the cooking zone, or even the cooking apparatus comprises a timer associated with each of the cooking zones.

The user can thus regulate one or several timers by adding or subtracting an operating duration of at least one cooking zone.

However, these cooking plates have the disadvantage that the location of the cooking zone and the control means associated with this cooking zone that must be put into operation, subject to power regulation and possibly a timer is not Forcibly intuitive and simple when the user wishes to move a cooking vessel from a first cooking zone to a second cooking zone while preserving the same cooking conditions as the content introduced into the cooking vessel.

Often, the manipulation of a cooking vessel from a first cooking zone to a second cooking zone trying to regulate the cooking conditions of the second cooking zone in a manner similar to those of the first cooking zone frequently leads to the user to control errors.

The user must therefore regulate the second cooking zone again after having moved the cooking vessel from the first cooking zone to the second cooking zone and then switching off the first cooking zone.

This type of manipulation can lead to burn certain foods sensitive to cooking and / or to degrade their taste qualities.

In addition, this type of manipulation is not ergonomic, it does not simplify the use of a hob by the user and can lead to a certain tiredness of the latter.

The present invention aims to solve the aforementioned drawbacks and propose a method of controlling a cooking plate that facilitates the movement of a cooking vessel from a cooking zone initially covered by said cooking vessel to a destination cooking zone maintaining the cooking of the contents of said cooking vessel under similar conditions without having to regulate the target cooking zone again and turn off the initially coated cooking zone.

To this end, the present invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a method of control of a cooking plate comprising at least two independent cooking zones associated with control means, at least two cooking zones of different size.

According to the invention, said method comprises at least the following steps:

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acquiring at least one acquisition key an input signal adapted to control operating parameters of at least one of said cooking zones of said cooking plate initially covered by a cooking vessel towards a destination cooking zone;

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detecting at least one cooking zone covered by a cooking vessel in response to the emission of said input signal or acquiring a selection control of a cooking zone covered by a cooking vessel;

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moving a cooking vessel from an initially coated cooking zone towards a destination cooking zone;

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detecting said destination cooking zone covered by said cooking vessel or acquiring control of selection of the destination cooking zone coated by said cooking vessel; Y

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controlling said destination cooking zone covered by said cooking vessel from the operating parameters of said cooking zone initially coated by said cooking vessel in order to maintain the cooking of the contents of said cooking vessel under similar conditions, transposing the initial regulation parameters referring to the power level of said cooking zone initially covered by said cooking vessel to said destination cooking zone, and said power being able to be corrected during transposition to said destination cooking zone depending on the characteristics of said destination cooking zone.

Thus, as soon as the cooking plate receives an order to control a target cooking zone from the operating parameters of a cooking zone initially covered by a cooking vessel, an information indicating the presence of a cooking vessel of cooking over a cooking zone, the user only has to move said cooking vessel from the initially coated cooking zone towards the destination cooking zone and the cooking conditions of the content introduced into said cooking vessel are maintained by the zone of target cooking that is put into operation by the cooking plate control means.

In this way, the user only has to regulate the cooking parameters of a destination cooking zone to recover the cooking conditions of the content introduced into said cooking vessel similar to those of the initially coated cooking zone.

Since a cooking vessel is placed on a target cooking zone, the cooking plate control means allows this cooking vessel to be heated under cooking conditions similar to those of the initially coated cooking zone.

In this way, the user can move a cooking vessel from one cooking zone to another cooking zone while maintaining similar cooking conditions from operating parameters of the initially coated cooking zone.

In this way a cooking vessel can be placed in any cooking zone of the cooking plate to allow its heating while maintaining similar cooking conditions from operating parameters of the initially coated cooking zone.

The user can thus move a cooking vessel from one cooking zone to another cooking zone to release one of the cooking zones of the cooking plate without worrying about regulating the operating parameters of the cooking zone each time. destination given that the cooking conditions are maintained based on operating parameters of the initially coated cooking zone.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the detection stage of at least one cooking zone covered by a cooking vessel is implemented in the active cooking zones.

Thus, this control method allows the detection of a cooking vessel placed on an active cooking zone of the cooking plate already in operation to move said cooking vessel towards a destination cooking zone.

According to another preferred feature of the invention, the detection stage of said destination cooking zone covered by said cooking vessel is implemented in the inactive cooking zones.

In this way, this control method allows the detection of a cooking vessel displaced from a cooking zone initially covered by said cooking vessel towards a destination cooking zone. The cooking vessel is placed on a destination cooking zone of the already active cooking plate for at least one cooking zone initially covered by a cooking vessel.

According to another preferred feature of the invention, the method further comprises a step of activating the control means associated with said destination cooking zone detected or selected.

Thus, the automatic detection or selection of the target cooking zone covered by the cooking vessel results in the activation of the control means associated with this cooking zone.

The user can thus modify the operating parameters of the destination cooking zone directly at the level of the control means from operating parameters of the initially coated cooking zone, if desired, after the displacement of the cooking vessel. cooking of the cooking zone initially coated towards the destination cooking zone.

Preferably, the method further comprises a step of memorizing the operating parameters of said at least one cooking zone covered by a cooking vessel.

In this way, the operating parameters of the target cooking zone are regulated by the cooking plate control means from the memorized operating parameters of the cooking zone initially covered by a cooking vessel.

According to a second aspect, the present invention also relates to a cooking plate comprising at least two cooking zones associated with control means and a microprocessor.

This cooking plate comprises a treatment algorithm adapted to implement the control method according to the invention.

This hob has similar characteristics and advantages to those described above in relation to the control method.

Other particularities and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

In the only attached drawing, given as a non-limiting example:

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Figure 1 is a schematic view seen from above showing a cooking plate according to an embodiment of the invention.

Firstly, a cooking plate according to an embodiment of the invention is described in reference to Figure 1.

A schematic view seen from above of a cooking plate 1 is shown in figure 1. The circles symbolize the existence of independent cooking zones 2 on which a cooking vessel 3 can be placed.

A cooking plate of this type can be embedded or form an integral part of a countertop. It can also be associated with other cooking appliances, such as a cooking oven arranged below.

The cooking plate 1 may comprise one or more heating means supplied with electricity and / or with gas. These heating means can be of the induction type, radiant or halogen, or even gas.

In this case, and by way of non-limiting examples, each cooking zone 2 is constituted by one or more inductors.

In this way, a single inductor can materialize each cooking zone.

Alternatively, each cooking zone can comprise several inductors that can be in particular concentric and, for example, two or three inductors that allow the size of the cooking zone to be adapted to the size of the container to be heated.

In this exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the cooking plate 1 comprises a cooking hob 6, in particular ceramic hob. This cooking plate 1 comprises in a cooking hob 6 several cooking zones 2.

In this embodiment of the invention, the cooking plate 1 comprises four cooking zones 2.

Obviously, the number of cooking zones 2 is not at all limiting and their arrangement may be different.

The number of cooking zones 2 of the cooking plate 1 is at least two.

These cooking zones 2 are in this embodiment constituted by one or more inductors that allow heating a cooking vessel 3 by the principle of induction heating.

In this embodiment of the invention, the cooking plate 1 comprises a control keypad 8 generally arranged on one side of the cooking plate 1, for example, along a leading edge of the cooking hob 6.

This control keypad 8 comprises control means 4, 5, 7 of the operation of the cooking zones 2.

In this embodiment of the invention and in a non-limiting manner, the control keypad 8 comprises different sensitive keys 4, 5, 7 that allow the user, simply by pressing at the level of a key materialized by a marking area on the worktop. cooking 6, control and / or modify the operation of one or more cooking zones 2.

These sensitive keys 4, 5, 7 can be operated by means of capacitive sensors arranged under an electrically insulating plate, in particular ceramic hob, which constitutes the cooking hob 6.

In this embodiment of the invention, each cooking zone 2 is associated with a control means 4 for regulating the power level whose regulation is accessible to the user by means of control keys associated with each cooking zone 2.

The cooking plate 1 can comprise two keys for regulating the power 4 per cooking zone 2 which respectively allow to increase or decrease the power supplied by a cooking zone 2.

In this embodiment of the invention, each cooking zone 2 is also associated with a control means 5 for regulating a timer whose regulation is accessible to the user by means of control keys associated with each cooking zone 2.

The control means 5 for regulating a timer can also in practice comprise two regulation keys that respectively allow to increase or decrease the duration associated with a timer of a cooking zone 2.

In this embodiment of the invention, sensitive control means directly accessible to the level of the cooking plane 6 of the cooking plate 1 are illustrated in Figure 1.

The control means 4 allow in particular the switching on or off of each cooking zone 2 and the regulation of the power level of each cooking zone 2, for example according to a number of positions between 0 and 9.

Preferably, the control means 5 for regulating a timer allow parameterizing the duration of a timer from which counting means can automatically cut off the power supply of one or more cooking zones 2 after the duration of the parameterized duration .

The control means 5 allow the regulation of a timer of each cooking zone 2, for example according to a duration between 0 and 99 minutes.

In addition, one or more display screens 9 can allow different parameters to be displayed during regulation, such as a power index of a cooking zone 2 or even a duration associated with a timer.

It should be noted that in this embodiment of the invention, the control means 4, 5 for regulating the power level and regulating a timer are multiplied at the level of the control keypad 8 by the number of cooking zones 2 that are You feed with energy.

The control keypad 8 can also comprise one or several selection keys of a cooking zone 2.

On the other hand, the control means 4, 5 for regulating the power level and regulating a timer can be common to all cooking zones 2.

In another embodiment of the invention, the control keypad 8 of the cooking plate 1 can be a "rotary keypad". This type of control keyboard is commonly known in the state of the art.

The control keypad 8 called "rotary keypad" generally comprises a representation of the cooking zones 2 of the cooking plate 1 by screen printing pictograms on the cooking hob 6.

Each pictogram is associated with a cooking zone 2 and respectively a selection key of said cooking zone 2 can be provided on the control keypad 8.

After the selection of a cooking zone 2 on the control keypad 8 or even the detection of a cooking vessel 3 on a cooking zone 2, a luminous display means, such as for example a diode, can be turned on to identify said cooking zone 2 selected or detected.

The control means 4, 5 for regulating the power level and regulating a timer can be common to all cooking zones 2.

The control means 4, 5 for regulating the power level and regulating a timer of a cooking zone 2 can be accessible only after the selection of said cooking zone 2 on the control keypad 8 or even after the detection of a cooking vessel 3 on said cooking zone 2.

To control and / or modify the operating parameters of another cooking zone 2, the selection of another cooking zone 2 on the control keypad 8 or even the detection of a cooking vessel 3 on another cooking zone 2 must be made previously .

The display of the regulation of the power level and the regulation of a timer on display means of the control keypad 8 is only that of the selected cooking zone 2 or on which a cooking vessel 3 has been detected.

The selection of the cooking zone 2 can be carried out automatically during the detection of a cooking vessel 3 on a cooking zone 2, in particular when induction heating elements are used.

The induction heating elements can in this case serve as detection means of a cooking vessel 3 placed on a cooking zone 2.

The control means 4, 5 for regulating the power level and regulating a timer act in conjunction with a global control device, such as for example a control card equipped with a microcontroller. The global control device of the cooking plate 1 allows to regulate the power supply of each cooking zone 2 and / or regulate the timer associated with each cooking zone 2 depending on the power and / or timer control demanded by the Username.

The cooking plate 1 further comprises an input means of a signal in the global control device that allows to control operating parameters of at least one of said cooking zones 2 of the cooking plate 1 initially covered by a cooking vessel 3 towards a destination cooking zone 2.

In this embodiment of the invention, the cooking plate 1 comprises at least one key 7 for acquiring an input signal adapted to control operating parameters of at least one of said cooking zones 2 of said cooking plate 1 initially covered by a cooking vessel 3 towards a destination cooking zone 2.

Said at least one key 7 for acquiring an input signal may be a sensitive control key, provided at the level of the hob 6 of the hob 1. This key 7 allows the user to control operating parameters of at least one of said cooking zones 2 of the cooking plate 1 initially covered by a cooking vessel 3 towards a destination cooking zone 2.

Of course, the control means 4, 5 for regulating the power level and regulating a timer and said at least one key 7 for acquiring a sensitive control input signal could be replaced by any type of push button control element or rotary button.

Advantageously, the cooking plate 1 comprises at least one detection means of at least one cooking zone 2 initially covered by a cooking vessel 3 and at least one detection means of said cooking zone 2 covered by said cooking vessel cooking 3.

For this, each cooking zone 2 can comprise at least one detection means of a cooking vessel 3 already known to the person skilled in the art, for example inductive circuits.

Obviously, other types of detection means could be used, for example thermal detection means, infrared, etc.

Preferably, the detection means may be of the inductive type that allows the presence of a cooking vessel 3 to be detected above a cooking zone 2 when the average current measured at the terminals of said detection means varies.

In this embodiment of the invention in which the cooking zones 2 are in turn constituted by inductors, it is particularly advantageous to provide that these inductors also constitute means of detecting the presence of a cooking vessel 3 on a cooking zone. 2.

In another embodiment of the invention, the detection means of a cooking vessel can be replaced by one or more acquisition keys of a selection control of a cooking zone 2 that can be arranged at the level of the control keypad 8.

In particular, the cooking plate 1 may comprise at least one acquisition key of a selection control of a cooking zone 2 covered by a cooking vessel 3 and at least one acquisition key of a selection control of the area of destination cooking 2 coated by said cooking vessel 3.

On the other hand, the cooking plate 1 can comprise identification means by means of a visual signal of a cooking zone 2 initially covered by a cooking vessel 3 and / or of the destination cooking zone 2.

In an embodiment of the invention, the identification means may be constituted by one or more electroluminescent diodes arranged near the control means 4, 5 of a cooking zone 2.

The illumination of this or these electroluminescent diodes allows the user to visually signal the control means 4, 5 associated with the cooking zone 2 on which it has been placed and / or from which a cooking vessel 3 has been removed after the acquisition of an input signal adapted to control operating parameters of at least one of said cooking zones 2 of the cooking plate 1 initially covered by a cooking vessel 3 towards a destination cooking zone 2.

Obviously, other display means could be used, such as a display.

In particular, the control means 4, 5 associated with each cooking zone 2 can integrate a display screen 9 which allows in particular to indicate the active or inactive state of a cooking zone 2, and / or to indicate a power level of a cooking zone 2 programmed by the user, and / or indicating a duration of a timer programmed by the user.

In such a case, the identification by means of a visual signal of a cooking zone 2 initially covered by a cooking vessel 3 and / or of the destination cooking zone 2 can be implemented by lighting this display screen 9 integrated in the means of control 4, 5.

On the other hand, although, in reference to Figure 1, said at least one key 7 for acquiring an input signal is a single input key that allows the user to control operating parameters of at least one of said cooking zones 2 of the cooking plate 1 initially covered by a cooking vessel 3 towards a destination cooking zone 2, the cooking plate 1 could comprise several keys 7 for acquiring an input signal.

In response to this signal, the overall control device of the cooking plate 1 detects at least one cooking zone 2 covered by a cooking vessel 3 or allows the user to select a cooking zone 2 covered by a cooking vessel 3, for example by pressing a selection key of a cooking zone 2.

The user can then move a cooking vessel 3, of his choice, from a cooking zone 2 initially coated towards a destination cooking zone 2.

Then, the overall control device of the cooking plate 1 detects said destination cooking zone 2 covered by said cooking vessel 3 or allows the user to select said destination cooking zone 2 coated by said cooking vessel 3.

In addition, the overall control device of the cooking plate 1 controls said destination cooking zone 2 covered by said cooking vessel 3 from the operating parameters of said cooking zone 2 initially coated by said cooking vessel 3 with in order to maintain the cooking of the contents of said cooking vessel 3 under similar conditions.

The cooking plate 1 comprises a control keypad 8 that communicates with at least one microcontroller. Said at least one microcontroller is in turn connected to the heating means of the cooking plate 1 and to the detection means of a cooking vessel 3.

Said at least one microcontroller thus allows to control the operation of the heating means or means of each cooking zone 2 and control the operation of the detection means of a cooking vessel 3.

The detection means of a cooking vessel 3 on a cooking zone 2 are activated successively or simultaneously in order to control the placement, maintenance or removal of a cooking vessel 3 on each of the cooking zones 2 of the cooking plate 1.

The detection means of a cooking vessel 3 put into operation by said at least one microcontroller can be activated from the firing of the cooking plate 1 or as soon as an input signal adapted to control operating parameters of at least one of the said cooking zones 2 of said cooking plate 1 initially coated by a cooking vessel 3 towards a destination cooking zone 2.

Said at least one microcontroller communicates with the control keyboard 8 to receive from said control keyboard 8 the operating parameters of one or more cooking zones 2 controlled by the user and to send information to said control keyboard 8 concerning the status of the cooking zones as well as the regulation of the operating parameters, such as for example the power level and the duration of a timer, and / or for displaying data in the display means of the control keypad 8.

Said at least one microcontroller is also adapted to receive the acquisition of an input signal adapted to control operating parameters of at least one of said cooking zones 2 of said cooking plate 1 initially covered by a cooking vessel 3 towards an area of cooking 2 of destination after pressing said at least one key 7 of the control keypad 8.

Next, a method of controlling a cooking plate according to the invention will be described.

The method comprises at least the following stages:

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acquiring at least one acquisition key an input signal adapted to control operating parameters of at least one of said cooking zones 2 of the cooking plate 1 initially covered by a cooking vessel 3 towards a destination cooking zone 2 ;

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detecting at least one cooking zone 2 covered by a cooking vessel 3 in response to the emission of said input signal or acquiring a selection control of a cooking zone 2 covered by a cooking vessel 3;

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moving a cooking vessel 3 from a cooking zone 2 initially coated towards a destination cooking zone 2;

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detecting said destination cooking zone 2 covered by said cooking vessel 3 or acquiring control of selection of the destination cooking zone 2 coated by said cooking vessel 3; Y

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controlling said destination cooking zone 2 covered by said cooking vessel 3 from the operating parameters of said cooking zone 2 initially coated by said cooking vessel 3 in order to maintain the cooking of the contents of said cooking vessel 3 in similar conditions.

Thus, as soon as the cooking plate has received an order to control a destination cooking zone 2 from the operating parameters of a cooking zone 2 initially covered by a cooking vessel 3, an information indicating the presence of a cooking vessel 3 over a cooking zone 2, the user only has to move said cooking vessel 3 from the cooking zone 2 initially coated towards the destination cooking zone 2 and the cooking conditions of the content introduced into said cooking vessel 3 is maintained by the destination cooking zone 2 which is operated by the control means of the cooking plate 1.

In this way, the user no longer has to regulate the cooking parameters of a destination cooking zone 2 to recover the cooking conditions of the contents introduced in said cooking vessel 3 similar to those of the initially coated cooking zone 2.

As soon as a cooking vessel 3 is placed on a destination cooking zone 2, the control means of the cooking plate 1 allow this cooking vessel 3 to be heated under cooking conditions similar to those of the initially coated cooking zone 2 .

In this way, the user can move a cooking vessel 3 from one cooking zone 2 to another cooking zone 2 while maintaining similar cooking conditions from operating parameters of the initially coated cooking zone 2.

In this way a cooking vessel 3 can be placed on any cooking zone 2 of the cooking plate 1 to allow its heating by maintaining similar cooking conditions from operating parameters of the cooking zone 2 initially coated.

The user can thus move a cooking vessel 3 from a cooking zone 2 to another cooking zone 2 to release one of the cooking zones 2 from the cooking plate 1 without worrying about regulating the operating parameters of the the destination cooking zone 2 since the cooking conditions are maintained on the basis of operating parameters of the cooking zone 2 initially coated.

An input signal acquired by the acquisition key 7 is transmitted to the global control device which, in response, controls the implementation of a detection stage of at least one cooking zone 2 covered by a cooking vessel 3 or allows the user select a cooking zone 2 covered by a cooking vessel 3, for example by pressing a selection key of a cooking zone 2.

A detection means of a cooking vessel 3 can be associated with each cooking zone 2 of the cooking plate 1.

Depending on the signal measured by the detection means of a cooking vessel 3, for example, the value of the current in the terminals of an inductor, which is modified according to the load, represented by the cooking vessel 3, placed in front of this detection means, a cooking zone 2 covered by a cooking vessel 3 is detected.

This control method also allows a cooking zone 2 initially covered by a first cooking vessel 3 to be released, the size of said cooking zone 2 initially being more adapted to a second cooking vessel 3 to be placed on the worktop. cooking 6 of the cooking plate 1 to heat a new food in said second cooking vessel 3.

In such a case of using the cooking plate 1, if the only free cooking zone 2 of the cooking plate 1 is a small-sized cooking zone, for example of a diameter of 160 mm, if a small cooking vessel 3 covers a large cooking zone 2, for example of a diameter of 210 mm, and if the user wishes to add a large cooking vessel 3 onto the cooking hob 6, a cooking signal 3 can be acquired. input adapted to control operating parameters of the large cooking zone 2 initially covered by the small cooking vessel 3 towards the small destination cooking zone 2.

In this way, the small cooking vessel 3 can be moved from the large cooking zone 2 to the small-sized cooking zone 2 which is free.

The user can then add the large cooking vessel 3 to the large cooking zone 2 initially covered by the small cooking vessel 3 since said large cooking zone 2 is released.

Preferably, the detection stage of at least one cooking zone 2 covered by a cooking vessel 3 is implemented in the active cooking zones 2.

Thus, this control method allows the detection of a cooking vessel 3 placed on an active cooking zone 2 of the cooking plate 1 already put into operation to move said cooking vessel 3 towards a destination cooking zone 2 .

The user can then move a cooking vessel 3, of his choice, from a cooking zone 2 initially coated towards a destination cooking zone 2.

Next, the overall control device of the cooking plate 1 detects said destination cooking zone 2 covered by said cooking vessel 3 or allows the user to select said destination cooking zone 2 coated by said cooking vessel 3.

The detection stage of said destination cooking zone 2 covered by said cooking vessel 3 is implemented in the inactive cooking zones 2.

Thus, this control method allows the detection of a cooking vessel 3 displaced from a cooking zone 2 initially covered by said cooking vessel 3 towards a destination cooking zone 2. The cooking vessel 3 is placed on a destination cooking zone 2 of the already active cooking plate 1 for at least one cooking zone 2 initially covered by a cooking vessel 3.

In addition, the overall control device of the cooking plate 1 controls said destination cooking zone 2 covered by said cooking vessel 3 from the operating parameters of said cooking zone 2 initially coated by said cooking vessel 3 with in order to maintain the cooking of the contents of said cooking vessel 3 under similar conditions.

In practice, the method further comprises an activation step of the control means 4, 5 associated with said destination cooking zone 2 detected or selected.

Thus, automatic detection or selection of the destination cooking zone 2 covered by the cooking vessel 3 results in the activation of the control means 4, 5 associated with this cooking zone 2.

Upon activation of the control means 4, 5 associated with the cooking zone 2 of destination, the user has the possibility of maintaining the operating parameters of the cooking zone 2 initially covered by the cooking vessel 3 even modifying the latter.

As the control means 4, 5 associated with the destination cooking zone 2 comprise one or more luminous elements, these can be set to flash mode for a predetermined duration after automatic detection or selection of the destination cooking zone 2 coated by the cooking vessel 3.

The possibility of modifying the operating parameters of the destination cooking zone 2 can be allowed for several seconds after automatic detection or selection of the destination cooking zone 2 covered by the cooking vessel 3 and then the control means 4 , 5 associated with the cooking zone 2 of destination can activate the heating means after a timing controlled by a control microcontroller of the cooking plate 1.

The user can thus modify the operating parameters of the destination cooking zone 2 directly at the level of the control means 4, 5 based on the operating parameters of the initially coated cooking zone 2, if desired, after a displacement of the cooking vessel 3 from the cooking zone 2 initially coated towards the destination cooking zone 2.

Preferably, the method further comprises a step of memorizing the operating parameters of said at least one cooking zone 2 covered by a cooking vessel 3.

In this way, the operating parameters of the destination cooking zone 2 are regulated by the control means of the cooking plate 1 from the memorized operating parameters of the cooking zone 2 initially covered by a cooking vessel 3.

The operating parameters of said at least one cooking zone 2 initially covered by said cooking vessel 3 are a power level of said at least one cooking zone 2 and / or a duration of a timer associated with said at least one zone cooking 2.

In the case where several cooking vessels 3 are present on active cooking zones 2 of the cooking hob 6 of the cooking plate 1, the control method according to the invention will detect all cooking zones 2 covered by a cooking vessel 3.

In a first embodiment of the invention, this control method can allow the movement of a single cooking vessel 3 from a cooking zone 2 initially coated towards a destination cooking zone 2, then the detection of said cooking zone 2 of destination covered by said cooking vessel 3 and finally the control of said cooking zone 2 covered by said cooking vessel 3 from the operating parameters of said cooking zone 2 initially coated by said cooking vessel 3 in order to maintain the cooking of the contents of said cooking vessel 3 under similar conditions.

In a second embodiment of the invention, this control method can successively allow each of said cooking vessels 3 to move a cooking vessel 3 from a cooking zone 2 initially coated towards a cooking zone 2 destination, then the detection of said destination cooking zone 2 covered by said cooking vessel 3 and finally the control of said destination cooking zone 2 coated by said cooking vessel 3 from the operating parameters of said cooking zone 2 initially covered by said cooking vessel 3 in order to maintain the cooking of the contents of said cooking vessel 3 under similar conditions.

In addition, timing means can be integrated in the cooking plate 1 in order to control the cancellation of the acquisition of an input signal adapted to control operating parameters of at least one of said cooking zones 2 of the initially coated cooking plate 1 by a cooking vessel 3 towards a destination cooking zone 2 when:

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no detection of at least one cooking zone 2 covered by a cooking vessel 3 has been performed in response to the emission of said input signal or no acquisition of a selection control of a coated cooking zone 2 has been obtained by a cooking vessel 3 by the user at the level of the control means;

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no detection of said destination cooking zone 2 covered by said cooking vessel 3 has been performed or no acquisition of a selection control of the destination cooking zone 2 coated by said cooking vessel 3 has been obtained by the Username.

As a non-limiting example, this timing period may be of the order of 10 seconds.

The cancellation of this transposition control of the initial regulation parameters of a cooking zone 2 initially covered by a cooking vessel 3 towards a destination cooking zone 2 can be signaled by a visual indication on display means, such as for example display screens 9.

The control method of a cooking plate according to the invention allows a cooking vessel 3 to be moved from a first cooking zone 2, initially covered by said cooking vessel 3, to a second cooking zone 2, of destination, keeping the regulations initials of the first cooking zone 2. The initial regulations of the first cooking zone 2 can in particular be a power level and a duration of a timer.

The control method comprises pressing a key 7 for acquiring an input signal. Pressing button 7 can be signaled by an audible signal. The duration of the sound signal can be short and for example of the order of 1 second.

The cooking plate control device 1 detects at least one cooking zone 2 covered by a cooking vessel 3 in response to the emission of the input signal or a selection control of a cooking zone 2 covered by a cooking vessel 3 by pressing a key, such as a selection key associated with a cooking zone 2.

Next, the user moves the cooking vessel 3 from the first cooking zone 2, initially covered by said cooking vessel 3, to the second cooking zone 2, of destination.

The control method may also comprise an acquisition of a signal adapted to validate the displacement of the cooking vessel 3 from the first cooking zone 2, initially covered by said cooking vessel 3, towards the second cooking zone 2, of destination, by pressing a key that can be said key 7 for acquiring an input signal.

The initial regulation parameters of the first cooking zone 2, initially covered by the cooking vessel 3, are transposed to the second cooking zone 2, of destination.

These initial control parameters transposed to the second cooking zone 2 can be visualized by means of display associated with said second cooking zone 2, such as for example display screens 9.

The first cooking zone 2, initially covered by the cooking vessel 3, becomes inactive as soon as the initial regulation parameters are transposed to the second cooking zone 2, destination, or even as soon as the initial regulation parameters are displayed. in display means associated with said second cooking zone 2.

When the first cooking zone 2, initially covered by the cooking vessel 3, becomes inactive, the initial control parameters displayed by the display means associated with said first cooking zone 2 are turned off.

The initial regulation parameters transposed to the second cooking zone 2 may, in particular, be the regulation of the power level and the duration of the timer.

The initial control parameters transposed to the second cooking zone 2 referring to the power level may be an index displayed on the display means, such as for example display screens 9, or even operating data characteristic of the first cooking zone 2, initially covered by the cooking vessel 3, and which can be corrected to transpose to the second cooking zone 2, of destination, depending on the characteristics of the latter.

The initial regulation parameters transposed to the second cooking zone 2 referring to the duration of a timer can be a duration displayed on the display means, such as for example display screens 9.

The duration of this duration displayed on a timer of a first cooking zone 2, initially covered by a cooking vessel 3, can be interrupted at least as soon as an input signal is acquired, for example by pressing key 7, until at least the acquisition of a signal adapted to validate the movement of the cooking vessel 3 from the first cooking zone 2 towards the second cooking zone 2, for example by pressing a key that can be said key 7 for acquiring an input signal. Then, the duration of a timer can be resumed and displayed on display means, such as display screens 9, associated with the second cooking zone 2, of destination.

In an embodiment of the invention, if none of the cooking zones 2 of the cooking plate 1 is covered by a cooking vessel 3 before the acquisition of an input signal adapted to control operating parameters of a first zone of cooking 2 of said cooking plate 1, initially covered by a cooking vessel 3, towards a second cooking zone 2, of destination, for example by pressing the acquisition key 7 of an input signal, then the control of transposition of the initial regulation parameters of said first cooking zone 2 into a second cooking zone 2.

The cancellation of this transposition control of the initial regulation parameters can be signaled by an audible signal. The duration of the sound signal can be prolonged and be for example of the order of 3 seconds.

In an embodiment of the invention, if an input signal adapted to control operating parameters of a first cooking zone 2 of the cooking plate 1, initially covered by a cooking vessel 3, is acquired towards a second zone of cooking 2, of destination, for example by pressing the acquisition key 7 of an input signal, and at least one cooking zone 2 is active without being covered by a cooking vessel 3, then the transposition control of the parameters can be overridden initial regulation of said first cooking zone 2 towards a second cooking zone 2.

The cancellation of this transposition control of the initial regulation parameters can be signaled by an audible signal. The duration of the sound signal can be prolonged and be for example of the order of 3 seconds.

In an embodiment of the invention, if an input signal adapted to control operating parameters of a first cooking zone 2 of the cooking plate 1, initially covered by a cooking vessel 3, is acquired towards a second zone of cooking 2, of destination, for example by pressing the button 7 for acquiring an input signal, and several cooking vessels 3 move through the cooking hob 6 of the cooking plate 1, then the transposition control of the initial regulation parameters of said first cooking zone 2 towards a second cooking zone 2.

The cancellation of this transposition control of the initial regulation parameters can be signaled by a visual indication on the display means, such as for example display screens

9.

In an embodiment of the invention, if an input signal adapted to control operating parameters of a first cooking zone 2 of the cooking plate 1, initially covered by a cooking vessel 3, is acquired towards a second zone of cooking 2, of destination, for example by pressing the acquisition key 7 of an input signal, and more than one destination cooking zone 2 is activated, then the transposition control of the initial regulation parameters of said first zone can be overridden of cooking 2 towards a second cooking zone 2.

The cancellation of this transposition control of the initial regulation parameters can be signaled by a visual indication on the display means, such as for example display screens

9.

In another embodiment of the invention, the cooking zones 2 could not be constituted by inductors but each cooking zone 2 is constituted by a gas burner, or even the cooking plate 1 could comprise at least one cooking zone 2 constituted by one or several inductors and at least one cooking zone 2 constituted by a gas burner.

Then, detection means of a cooking vessel 3 independent of the heating means of the cooking zone 2 can be integrated into each cooking zone 2.

These detection means may preferably be of the inductive, thermal or infrared type.

In an embodiment of the invention in which the cooking zones 2 are constituted either by gas burners, or by inductors, either by radiating elements or by halogens or by cooking zones 2 are constituted by a mixture of these, the operation of the cooking plate 1 is identical to that described above.

Whatever the type of cooking zones 2, the operation parameters of a cooking zone 2 initially covered by a cooking vessel 3 can be transposed into a destination cooking zone 2 of the same or another type.

Claims (14)

1. Control method of a cooking plate (1) comprising at least two independent cooking zones (2) associated with control means, at least two cooking zones of different size, said method comprising at least the following steps :

-

acquiring at least one acquisition key an input signal adapted to control operating parameters of at least one of said cooking zones (2) of said cooking plate (1) initially covered by a cooking vessel (3) towards a target cooking zone (2);

-

detecting at least one cooking zone (2) covered by a cooking vessel (3) in response to the emission of said input signal or acquiring a selection control of a cooking zone (2) covered by a cooking vessel ( 3);

-

move a cooking vessel (3) from a cooking zone (2) initially coated towards a destination cooking zone (2);

-

detecting said destination cooking zone (2) covered by said cooking vessel (3) or acquiring control of selection of the destination cooking zone (2) covered by said cooking vessel (3); Y

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controlling said destination cooking zone (2) covered by said cooking vessel (3) from the operating parameters of said cooking zone (2) initially coated by said cooking vessel (3) in order to maintain cooking of the contents of said cooking vessel

(3) under similar conditions, the initial regulation parameters transposing concerning the power level of said cooking zone (2) initially covered by said cooking vessel (3) being transposed to said destination cooking zone (2), and said power can be corrected during transposition to said destination cooking zone (2) depending on the characteristics of said destination cooking zone (2).

2.

Control method of a cooking plate (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the detection stage of at least one cooking zone (2) covered by a cooking vessel (3) is implemented in the cooking zones (2 ) active.

3.

Control method of a cooking plate (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the detection stage of said destination cooking zone (2) covered by said cooking vessel

(3) is implemented in inactive cooking zones (2).

Four.

Control method of a cooking plate (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said method further comprises an activation stage of the control means (4, 5) associated with said destination cooking zone detected or selected

5.

Control method of a cooking plate (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said method further comprises a step of memorizing the operating parameters of said at least one cooking zone (2) covered by a container of cooking (3).

6.

Control method of a cooking plate (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said operating parameters of said at least one cooking zone (2) initially covered by said cooking vessel (3) are a power level of said at least one cooking zone (2) and / or a timer duration associated with said at least one cooking zone (2).

7.

Cooking plate (1) comprising at least two cooking zones (2) associated with control means and a microprocessor, characterized in that said cooking plate (1) comprises a treatment algorithm adapted to implement the control method according to any of claims 1 to 6.

8.

Cooking plate (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises at least one detection means of at least one cooking zone (2) initially covered by a cooking vessel (3) and at least one detection means of said zone of cooking (2) of destination covered by said cooking vessel (3).

9.

Cooking plate (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that each cooking zone (2) comprises at least one detection means of a cooking vessel (3).

10.

Cooking plate (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said detection means are of the inductive type.

eleven.

Cooking plate (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises at least one

5 acquisition of a selection control of a cooking zone (2) covered by a cooking vessel (3) and at least one acquisition key of a selection control of the cooking zone (2) of destination covered by said container of cooking (3). 12. Cooking plate (1) according to any of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that each cooking zone 10 (2) consists of one or more inductors. 13. Cooking plate (1) according to any of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that each cooking zone (2) is constituted by a gas burner. 14. Cooking plate (1) according to any of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that it comprises at least one cooking zone (2) consisting of one or more inductors and at least one cooking zone (2) consisting of a burner Of gas. 15. Cooking plate (1) according to any of claims 7 to 14, characterized in that said at least one key (7) for acquiring an input signal is a single input key.