Induction HOB comprising a plurality of induction heaters

A method for operating an induction hob having a plurality of induction heating elements, which are grouped flexibly to form a heating zone, the method comprising:

• measuring a heating power generated by the plurality of induction heating elements;
• utilizing the heating power to regulate operation of the plurality of induction heating elements;
• measuring a sum of respective heating powers of at least two of the plurality of induction heating elements;
• and utilizing the sum of the respective heating powers as a control variable for operating the at least two of the plurality of induction heating elements.

An induction hob, comprising:

• a plurality of induction heating elements;
• a control unit to operate the plurality of induction heating elements so as to heat at least one flexibly definable heating zone in a synchronized manner;
• and
• a measurement array to measure a heating power generated by the plurality of induction heating elements;
• wherein the measurement array is designed to measure a sum of respective heating powers of at least two adjacent ones of the plurality of induction heating elements that reside in a common heating zone;
• and
• wherein the control unit is programmed to regulate the heating power generated by the plurality of induction heating elements based on the sum of the respective heating powers measured by the measurement array, without the need to measure individual heating powers of the heating elements.