The sensation of cold food in the mouth when it should be hot is unpleasant for most people. When food get’s cold it loses its texture, taste and scent.
In general, the speed at which one plate depends on its ability to digest satiety and ends. Most problems appear when you host a meal and invite many people, second course has to come out hot at the same time first courses are being prepared.
The aim of this project was to create a product related to the culinary world, that could keep food at the desired temperature and also interact with users.
Firstly, the product has to be removed from the place it’s been kept. It’s flexibility allows it to adapt to any kind of place. KEEP IT HOT can be deposited on any surface, always near a socket to plug in the charger and power up the electronic system.
The first and most important is the electronic system. This is supplied by the “wire-less” charger, which is made-up of two coils. One is inside the edge of the surface and the other one is inside de charger that’s deposited on the table and will be connected to the current. Each wire-less battery contain two coils, because one single charger supplies two surfaces. 24 V are extracted from the current and 12 V go to each coil. When these coils are close, they create a magnetic field and give way to the phenomenon known as induction. This creates a flux of energy that goes from the power cable to the connector on the motherboard. The motherboard is the responsible of executing all connections.
The CPU is the data base that activates the screen, thermistors and heating elements (printed electronics). It’s fit to the motherboard into a connector. The connection is direct and is responsible for giving and receiving data to all the connectors on the motherboard. The printed circuit has a number of heating elements transmitting heat to the glass-ceramics and directly to the food on top of it.
The product has incorporated a screen to control all the functions desired. This screen is easy to use and allows you to control the temperature of food by touch. The TFT is connected to the CPU directly by a connector. From the screen comes out a flexible electronic cable that fits into the socket on the motherboard. With the voltage provided by the wire-less system, the screen has more than enough to perform the desired functions. This screen shows the temperature and type of food being heated.
Food is to be deposited on the glass surface so that contact is direct. The steps for having lunch or dinner are the same as always . The only difference is that you don’t need a plate. KEEP IT HOT can take different positions if the occasion requires it. Cleaning is simple, you just have to apply a damp cloth and remove the dirt. Drying is also simple, you just have to apply a dry cloth along the surface.
The electronic printed sheet located above the first silicone sheet, contains heating elements and thermistors. The heating elements are printed on a sheet of PET substrate and are connected directly to the CPU by a printed wiring. These elements heat the glass ceramics, a good conductor of heat and food support. This glass ceramic is joined to the heating elements by what is known as thermal silicone.
Depending on temperature, the voltage of each component increased or decreased. Consumption has been chosen based on the optimal temperature to keep food warm and being sure the user doesn’t get burned with direct contact.
Thermistors are responsible of controlling the temperature and measuring it. These are also connected to the motherboard by a printed cable and attached to the motherboard. Six of them have been disposed throughout the printed surface. In our case we have chosen NTC thermistors.
