System and method for food preparation

Abstract

A food preparation system includes a non-contact power supply for energizing a cooking appliance. The food preparation system includes a communication system for enabling communication between a food appliance and the system. The appliance transmits an identifier to the system. If the appliance does not have a transmitter, the system attempts to determine the type of appliance from a characterization of the power consumption by the appliance. If the appliance cannot be characterized, the food preparation system can be operated manually.

1 . An inductive power supply system for use with a device having a secondary coil, the inductive power supply system comprising:
 a surface for placing the device;   an inductive power supply for providing power inductively to the device, the inductive power supply being connected to a primary coil located proximal the surface, the primary coil defining an interior space;   a communication system for communicating using a wireless communication protocol, the communication system being connected to an antenna separate from the primary coil, the antenna located proximal the surface and fully contained within the interior space defined by the primary coil.   
     
     
         2 . The inductive power supply system of  claim 1  wherein the antenna and the primary coil are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
         3 . The inductive power supply system of  claim 1  wherein the axis of the antenna is substantially orthogonal to the surface and the axis of the primary coil is substantially orthogonal to the surface. 
     
     
         4 . The inductive power supply system of  claim 1  wherein the axis of the antenna passes through the interior space defined by the primary coil. 
     
     
         5 . The inductive power supply system of  claim 1  wherein the axis of the primary coil and the axis of the antenna are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         6 . The inductive power supply system of  claim 1  wherein the primary coil and antenna are substantially coaxial. 
     
     
         7 . The inductive power supply system of  claim 1  wherein the primary coil and antenna are concentric. 
     
     
         8 . The inductive power supply system of  claim 1  wherein the wireless communication protocol includes at least one of Blue Tooth, 802.11b, and 802.11g. 
     
     
         9 . The inductive power supply system of  claim 1  wherein the antenna is a coil. 
     
     
         10 . The inductive power supply system of  claim 9  wherein the antenna coil is a single loop. 
     
     
         11 . An inductive power supply system for use with a device having a secondary coil, the inductive power supply system comprising:
 a surface for placing the device;   an inductive power supply means for providing power inductively to the device, the inductive power supply means being connected to a primary coil located proximal the surface, the primary coil defining an interior space;   a communication means for communicating using a wireless communication protocol, the communication means being connected to an antenna separate from the primary coil, the antenna located proximal the surface and fully contained within the interior space defined by the primary coil.   
     
     
         12 . The inductive power supply system of  claim 11  wherein the antenna and the primary coil are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
         13 . The inductive power supply system of  claim 11  wherein the axis of the antenna is substantially orthogonal to the surface and the axis of the primary coil is substantially orthogonal to the surface. 
     
     
         14 . The inductive power supply system of  claim 11  wherein the axis of the antenna passes through the interior space defined by the primary coil. 
     
     
         15 . The inductive power supply system of  claim 11  wherein the axis of the primary coil and the axis of the antenna are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         16 . The inductive power supply system of  claim 11  wherein the primary coil and antenna are substantially coaxial. 
     
     
         17 . The inductive power supply system of  claim 11  wherein the primary coil and antenna are concentric. 
     
     
         18 . The inductive power supply system of  claim 11  wherein the wireless communication protocol includes at least one of Blue Tooth, 802.11b, and 802.11g. 
     
     
         19 . The inductive power supply system of  claim 11  wherein the antenna is a coil. 
     
     
         20 . The inductive power supply system of  claim 19  wherein the antenna coil is a single loop.