Inductive heating systems and methods of controlling the same to reduce biological carryover
Inventors
Fritchie, Patrick • Soni, Pathik • Qiao, Lei • House, Dustin • Yarnell, Lyle • Prieto-Ballengee, Edna • Forsythe, Cathy • Murphy, Michael Shawn • Fischer, Andrew • Sharma, Akanksha • Esposito, Joseph • Effinger, Matt • Futer, Michael
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12357713-B2
Publication Date
2025-07-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
Inductive heating systems and method of controlling the same to reduce biological carryover are disclosed herein. An example system includes an induction heater including a tank circuit, the tank circuit including a work coil and a sense coil. The sense coil is to detect a magnetic field generated by the work coil and to output signals in response to the detection. The example system includes a controller to cause the tank circuit to oscillate at a resonant frequency in response to the signals and a power drive unit in communication with the controller and the induction heater. The power drive unit is to adjust power provided to the induction heater in response to the controller driving the tank circuit to oscillate at the resonant frequency.
Core Innovation
The document describes an inductive-heating cleaning system integrated with an automated medical diagnostic instrument to reduce biological carryover. An induction heater includes a tank circuit with a work coil and a sense coil, where the sense coil detects a magnetic field generated by the work coil and outputs signals in response to that detection. A controller executes instructions that use the sense-coil signals to switch the tank circuit from oscillating at a fixed frequency to oscillating at a resonant frequency.
After switching to the resonant frequency, the controller adjusts power provided to the induction heater in response to the tank circuit oscillating at the resonant frequency. The controller also describes heating control based on monitored current and voltage behavior during resonant operation, and temperature monitoring and temperature profiles for work pieces with different portions. Dynamic load-impedance compensation is described during work-piece insertion or positioning using signals related to presence and positional change.
The document further describes monitoring and predictive failure management based on temperature, current, and voltage data to support operation and identify failure conditions. Additional concepts include wash-fluid and wash-cup, corrosion-protecting coil coatings, EMI shielding, and heat-sink and thermal management including duty-cycle reduction. Switching implementation concepts are described, including synchronization and signal scaling and delay to maximize energy transfer and efficiency while controlling tank-circuit oscillation behavior.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are identified: one system claim and one apparatus claim. Across these claims, the core inventive coverage centers on sense-coil feedback to switch an induction-heater tank circuit from fixed-frequency to resonant-frequency oscillation and then modify induction-heater power in response to that resonant operation and sense-coil signal changes.
Fixed-to-resonant tank-circuit switching with resonant-frequency power adjustment
An induction heater including a tank circuit with a work coil and a sense coil that outputs signals in response to detecting a magnetic field, and at least one processor circuit configured to cause the tank circuit to switch from oscillating at a fixed frequency to oscillating at a resonant frequency in response to the signals, and to cause a power drive unit to adjust power provided to the induction heater in response to the tank circuit oscillating at the resonant frequency.
Sense-coil based detection of work-piece presence with power modification
An apparatus including at least one processor circuit to cause a tank circuit of an induction heater to switch from oscillating at a fixed frequency to oscillating at a resonant frequency in response to signals output by a sense coil based on a magnetic field generated by a work coil, to detect a change in the signals output by the sense coil in response to a presence of a work piece relative to the work coil, and to cause a power drive unit to modify a power output at the induction heater in response to the change in the signals output by the sense coil.
The independent-claim coverage includes switching a tank circuit from fixed-frequency oscillation to resonant-frequency oscillation using sense-coil signals and adjusting or modifying induction-heater power based on resonant-frequency oscillation and sense-coil signal changes associated with work-piece presence relative to the work coil. Dependent claims further narrow the detection basis to current and voltage changes caused by work-piece presence, including positional change or proximate property change, and refine power modification by temperature profile and by adjusting delivered current or generated voltage.
Stated Advantages
Reduce biological carryover.
Documented Applications
An inductive-heating cleaning system integrated with an automated medical diagnostic instrument.
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