Electric cooking device with a marking function for food to be cooked

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electric cooking device (1), comprising: an activation button for activating a marking function of a food surface, and a processing device arranged so that when a user defines at least one cooking program determined using activation parameters of the marking function, then: a temperature measuring element of an upper cooking plate (21) is used to adjust the temperature of at least the upper cooking plate (21) to a preheating set temperature during a preheating phase of the cooking program defined by the user; and a temperature measuring element of a lower cooking plate (11) is used to adjust the temperature of the lower cooking plate (11) and the upper cooking plate (21) to at least one cooking set temperature during a cooking phase of the cooking program defined by the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the general technical field of electric cooking appliances.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to an electric cooking device and a method for marking food from such a cooking device. Background Art

[0003] Among these electric cooking devices, double-sided grills are particularly known, comprising a lower cooking plate and an upper cooking plate between which one or more foods to be cooked in their contact are placed. The foods may be meat, fish, vegetables or others.

[0004] The cooking of the food occurs due to the heat exchange between the plates and the food.

[0005] An electronic regulation device allows optimizing this exchange, adapting it to the food for a better organoleptic effect.

[0006] This adaptation to food is described in documents WO2013107964 and WO2013107965 in the name of the present applicant, which describe an electric cooking device of the grill type comprising a database including parameters for defining a plurality of cooking programs adapted to cooking food selected by a user while visualizing its cooking state during the cooking phase.

[0007] Thus, a cooking program is defined by the following combination:

[0008] - predetermined constant values, in particular different internal cooking temperatures of the food, each corresponding to determining a central cooked state of the food, and different set temperatures to be applied during different phases of the cooking program;

[0009] - values ​​of variables measured by the electric cooking device, in particular the thickness of the food measured by thickness measuring means and / or the area occupied by the food estimated by the processing means from the temperature measured by the temperature measuring element of the upper cooking plate;

[0010] - Different input parameters declared by the user, in particular the type of food to be cooked or a menu from a list of predefined food types.

[0011] According to these parameters, the processing means of the electric cooking device apply the set temperatures of the lower cooking plate and the upper cooking plate to be applied during the preheating phase and the cooking phase of the determined food.

[0012] Furthermore, the processing device of the electric cooking appliance determines a cooking duration for the determined food.

[0013] The heat exchange between these plates and the food takes place in two steps:

[0014] - a first step, at high temperature, after a preheating phase of the cooking plate and at the beginning of cooking, for rapid drying of the food surface; and

[0015] - A second step, much longer and at a lower temperature, is used to give the heat time to migrate to the center of the food. The temperature thus rises slowly towards the center of the food without the risk of overcooking on the surface.

[0016] The first step will ensure the accumulation of heat around the food which will cause its marquage; a crust will thus form.

[0017] Therefore, for a given food, the preheat temperature of the electric cooking device will affect the desired marking level.

[0018] Good power management in the second step, i.e. adapting the power cycle rate of the electric heating element, theoretically allows to cook food of different thicknesses in the same way, at the same marking level and at the same center cooking level.

[0019] While this method is satisfactory from a sensory point of view, it has two disadvantages for some consumers, especially for certain types of food, especially those where the level of browning, also known as browning, is sometimes considered inadequate by extremely ardent meat lovers, especially for certain meats such as beef which require high temperatures.

[0020] Specific labeling of foods allows to partially compensate for this disadvantage.

[0021] Thus, for example, a cooking device is known from document US2016220059 which provides a food marking function for browning food and thus improving the aesthetic appearance of the food in the eyes of certain users.

[0022] The markings are usually in the pattern of the cooking plate.

[0023] This function is achieved by significantly increasing the temperature of the cooking plate.

[0024] However, this function is performed at precise moments in the cooking phase, especially at the beginning and end of the food cooking phase, which makes it difficult to control the cooking state of the food.

[0025] It is therefore necessary to find a compromise between increasing the temperature of the cooking plate during the cooking phase in order to further mark the food, and avoiding a temperature of the cooking plate that is overcooked on the surface.

[0026] One solution is to increase the set temperature for preheating and cooking programs, where possible, when the user selects the food marking function.

[0027] However, the temperature increase of the plate is limited by the high temperature resistance of the materials, in particular the PTFE coating of the plate, which does not exceed 270°C, and by safety standards which impose temperature limit values ​​on certain parts of the electric cooking device, in particular the hood.

[0028] In addition, for some cooking programs of some foods, especially beef, the preheating temperature has reached the maximum value, and the set temperature during cooking is basically the same as the preheating set temperature.

[0029] It is therefore necessary to find a solution that allows food labeling adapted to all cooking programs for all foods offered by a cooking device, satisfying the labeling level while maintaining the integrity of the materials used and complying with the safety standards applicable to electric cooking devices. Summary of the invention

[0030] Furthermore, the object of the present invention is to overcome all or part of the above mentioned disadvantages.

[0031] To this end, the present invention relates to an electric cooking device comprising:

[0032] -power supply;

[0033] - a lower part, said lower part comprising:

[0034] -Lower cooking plate capable of storing food;

[0035] - a lower electric heating element capable of heating said lower cooking plate;

[0036] - a temperature measuring element of the lower cooking plate;

[0037] - an upper part, said upper part comprising:

[0038] - an upper cooking plate displaceable relative to said lower cooking plate so as to come into contact with food placed on said lower cooking plate;

[0039] - an upper electrical heating element capable of heating said upper cooking plate;

[0040] - a temperature measuring element of the upper cooking plate;

[0041] - at least one electrical switch capable of enabling or interrupting the power supply to said lower electrical heating element and / or said upper electrical heating element;

[0042] a database comprising cooking laws or calculation tables and predetermined parameters for defining a plurality of cooking programs, the plurality of cooking programs comprising a preheating phase with a set temperature and a cooking phase with at least one set temperature and at least one cooking duration;

[0043] - a user interface arranged to allow a user to select parameters from said database to define a specific cooking program among a plurality of cooking programs that can be defined, to select at least two of these parameters, said user interface further comprising selection means for selecting a food type from a plurality of predefined food types and an activation button for activating a marking function of the surface of the food arranged to be in contact with said lower cooking plate and said upper cooking plate, said cooking program defined using the activation parameters of said marking function having a set temperature of said preheating phase that is greater than the set temperature of said cooking phase of said cooking program defined without using the activation parameters of the marking function for the same type of food;

[0044] - a processing device capable of executing a cooking program defined by a user, the execution of which is the implementation of a temperature regulation sequence at a predetermined set temperature for a predetermined duration, the regulation sequence being implemented by a switching sequence of the at least one electrical switch between a closed switching state during an activation time and an open switching state during an idle time;

[0045] The processing means of the electric cooking device are arranged such that, when a user defines at least one cooking program determined using activation parameters of the marking function, then:

[0046] - the temperature measuring element of the upper cooking plate is used to adjust the temperature of at least the upper cooking plate to a preheat set temperature during the preheat phase of the cooking program defined by a user; and

[0047] - The temperature measuring element of the lower cooking plate is used to adjust the temperature of the lower cooking plate and the upper cooking plate to at least one cooking set temperature during the cooking phase of the cooking program defined by a user.

[0048] This arrangement allows ensuring the marking function of the food at the beginning of cooking due to the thermal energy accumulated in the plate during the preheating phase, and during the cooking phase due to the energy provided by the heating element at the activation time of at least one electric switch.

[0049] During the preheating phase, the food is not yet arranged between the cooking plates, so the load between the two cooking plates is the same. It is therefore of little importance whether the temperature measurement is carried out by the temperature measuring element of the lower cooking plate or by the temperature measuring element of the upper cooking plate.

[0050] However, activating the food marking function allows increasing the set temperature and thus the temperature of the cooking plates, especially during the preheating phase, which increases the food marking when food is introduced between the plates.

[0051] However, during the cooking phase, temperature regulation of the lower cooking plate as well as of the upper cooking plate is effected based on the measurements of the temperature measuring element of the lower cooking plate.

[0052] In fact, due to the flow of juice, the temperature measured by the temperature measuring element of the lower cooking plate is lower than the temperature measured by the temperature measuring element of the upper cooking plate.

[0053] The switching of at least one electrical switch to a position intended to interrupt the power supply to the lower and / or upper electrical heating elements is thus delayed, which allows a more pronounced marking to be obtained compared to a cooking program determined without activating the marking function for an equivalent set temperature.

[0054] Thus, the second step at a lower temperature is eliminated and the amount of heat transferred to the food during the cooking phase is increased.

[0055] Therefore, compared to previous models of electric cooking appliances that do not provide for the activation of such a marking function, it is allowed on the electric cooking appliance according to the present invention to reduce the marking level of a cooking program determined without activating the marking function by lowering the preheating set temperature so as to obtain a significant marking difference from the cooking program determined with the marking function activated, and the preheating set temperature of the cooking program reaches a limit and is substantially equivalent to the preheating set temperature of previous models for the same type of food.

[0056] Finally, the difference in marking caused by activating the marking function on the cooking device enhances the user's perception of the food marking.

[0057] According to an aspect of the present invention, the temperature measuring element of the lower cooking plate is arranged to achieve measurement substantially at the center of the lower cooking plate.

[0058] This arrangement may increase the likelihood that food will be arranged on the lower cooking plate above the temperature measuring element, causing the food to absorb more heat near the measuring element and thus causing the temperature drop measured by the measuring element to be greater than the temperature drop measured without food near the measuring element.

[0059] Thus, when the marking function is activated on the user interface, it will be more difficult to reach the set temperature, which will lead to a further reduction in the number of adjustment sequences during the cooking phase.

[0060] According to one aspect of the invention, the processing means of the electric cooking device are arranged such that, when a user defines a cooking program on the user interface without activation parameters of the marking function, then:

[0061] - the temperature measuring element of the lower cooking plate or the upper cooking plate is used to adjust the temperature to the preheating set temperature during the preheating phase of the cooking program defined by the user; and

[0062] - The temperature measuring element of the upper cooking plate is also used to adjust the temperature to the at least one cooking set temperature during the cooking phase of the cooking program defined by the user.

[0063] This arrangement allows limiting the heating of the electric cooking device during the preheating phase as well as during the cooking phase. In fact, the user perceives the temperature of the upper part of the cooking device rather than the temperature of the lower part of the cooking device. Thus, the temperature measurement by the temperature measuring element of the upper cooking plate allows preventing heating of the device.

[0064] According to an aspect of the invention, the processing means are adapted to make the number of the adjustment sequences and the activation time of the at least one electrical switch dependent on a thickness measured by measuring means for measuring the spacing between the upper and lower cooking plates.

[0065] According to one aspect of the invention, when the marking function is activated on the user interface, the number of adjustment sequences is reduced during the cooking phase, and the at least one electrical switch has at least one closed switch state whose activation time is greater than the activation time of each closed switch state of the at least one electrical switch when the marking function is not activated.

[0066] In fact, when the marking function is activated, the temperature regulation is based on the information of the temperature measuring element of the lower cooking plate, so that the heating element is switched on and off for much longer times, because the lower cooking plate is always cooler than the upper cooking plate due to the flow of juices.

[0067] According to one aspect of the invention, the processing means are adapted to make the number of the adjustment sequences and the activation time of the at least one electrical switch dependent on a parameter associated with a thickness measured by a measuring device for measuring the spacing between the upper cooking plate and the lower cooking plate.

[0068] This arrangement allows the marking level to be adapted to the thickness of the food arranged between the cooking plates. Thus, for example, thicker types of food can receive a higher marking level than thinner foods of the same type, which will further enhance the impression of marking the food for the user.

[0069] According to one aspect of the present invention, the temperature measuring element of the lower cooking plate and the temperature measuring element of the upper cooking plate are of negative temperature coefficient sensor type.

[0070] According to one aspect of the invention, the temperature measuring element of the upper cooking plate is used to adjust the temperature to the preheating set temperature during the preheating phase of the cooking program defined by the user, and to estimate a parameter associated with the area occupied by the food on the upper cooking plate, the estimation being achieved by determining the duration of the temperature drop observed when the food comes into contact with the upper cooking plate.

[0071] This arrangement allows obtaining a more stable and therefore more reliable starting point for temperature measurement, and thus a more accurate measurement of the duration of the temperature drop generated by the food when it comes into contact with the upper cooking plate. In fact, the temperature measurement obtained during the cooking phase from the temperature measuring element of the upper cooking plate is less disturbed by the flow of juices than the temperature measurement obtained during the cooking phase from the temperature measuring element of the lower cooking plate.

[0072] According to one aspect of the invention, the temperature measuring element of the upper cooking plate is eccentric and arranged to achieve measurement at the edge of the upper cooking plate.

[0073] This arrangement allows the measurement of the average duration of the temperature drop caused by one or more foods distributed on the surface of the upper cooking plate, which limits the duration of the temperature drop that would be caused by a single food close to the temperature measuring element of the upper cooking plate. In fact, this measurement of the temperature drop duration cannot represent the duration of the temperature drop caused by all foods in contact with the upper cooking plate.

[0074] According to one aspect of the invention, the electric cooking device comprises a lower power switch capable of enabling or disabling power supply to the lower electric heating element and an upper power switch capable of enabling or disabling power supply to the upper electric heating element.

[0075] This arrangement allows independent control of the heating on the upper and lower cooking plates.

[0076] Thus, a switching sequence of the different electrical switches can be envisaged in order to reduce the asymmetry of the marking between the upper surface of the food and the lower surface of the food.

[0077] According to one aspect of the invention, at least one cooking program is defined using:

[0078] - a set temperature for the preheating phase and at least one set temperature and at least one cooking duration for the cooking phase applied to the lower electric heating element;

[0079] - a set temperature for the preheating phase and at least one set temperature and at least one cooking duration for the cooking phase applied to the upper electrical heating element; and

[0080] The processing device is arranged to independently control the power down switch and the power up switch during the preheating phase and / or during the cooking phase.

[0081] This arrangement allows balancing the heating of the top and bottom of the food based on the temperature information provided by the temperature measuring element of the lower cooking plate, while taking into account the flow of juices that further cool the lower cooking plate when the food is in contact with the plate.

[0082] According to one aspect of the present invention, for the same cooking program, the set temperature of the preheating stage and the at least one set temperature of the cooking stage applied to the lower electric heating element are respectively different from the set temperature of the preheating stage and the at least one set temperature of the cooking stage applied to the upper electric heating element.

[0083] This arrangement allows for better independent control of the markings on the upper and lower surfaces of the food.

[0084] According to one aspect of the invention, the cooking program is defined using all or part of the following parameters:

[0085] - Food types from a predefined list;

[0086] - the thickness of the food measured by a measuring device for measuring the distance between the lower cooking plate and the upper cooking plate;

[0087] - the area occupied by the food on the upper cooking plate;

[0088] - activation or not of the cooking function for frozen food during said preheating phase;

[0089] - Activation or not of the food marking function during said preheating phase.

[0090] This arrangement allows the user to define a plurality of cooking programs in order to optimize the cooking performance of the food to the greatest extent possible and thus to maximize user satisfaction.

[0091] According to an aspect of the invention, the processing means are arranged to determine a cooking duration during which a predefined food type has different internal cooking states for a cooking program defined by a user.

[0092] This arrangement allows determining the transition moments between different cooking states of a food type predefined and selected by the user.

[0093] According to one aspect of the invention, the user interface comprises information means of the internal cooking state of the food as the cooking phases progress and / or the remaining time until the transition to a subsequent cooking state.

[0094] This arrangement allows the user to be notified of the elapsed time from one cooking state of food to another cooking state.

[0095] This arrangement also allows the user to be informed of the remaining time until the subsequent cooking state is reached.

[0096] Therefore, when the food reaches the desired cooking state, the user only needs to take out the food.

[0097] An alert may be generated on the cooking appliance or on a user's personal device, such as a smartphone.

[0098] The invention also relates to a method for marking food from an electric cooking device as described above, comprising the following steps:

[0099] - selecting a food type from a list of predefined food types on the user interface;

[0100] - starting a preheating phase of the lower cooking plate or the upper cooking plate;

[0101] - adjusting the temperature of the cooking plate to the preheating temperature of a cooking program defined without using activation parameters of the marking function, based on the temperature information emitted by the temperature measuring element of the lower cooking plate or the upper cooking plate;

[0102] - during the preheating phase, pressing an activation button for activating a marking function of the surface of the food arranged in contact with the lower cooking plate and the upper cooking plate;

[0103] - adjusting the temperature of the cooking plate to the preheating temperature of the cooking program defined using the activation parameters of the marking function according to the temperature information emitted by the temperature measuring element of the lower cooking plate or the upper cooking plate;

[0104] - placing the food between the two cooking plates once the preheating temperature of the cooking program defined using the activation parameters of the marking function has been reached;

[0105] - Start the cooking phase of food;

[0106] - adjusting the temperature of the cooking plate to the temperature of a cooking program defined using activation parameters of the marking function, based on the temperature information emitted by the temperature measuring element of the lower cooking plate.

[0107] This implementation of the method allows the user to activate the marking function of the food even if a preheating phase of a cooking program has already begun which is not defined using activation parameters of the marking function.

[0108] The invention also relates to a method for marking food from the aforementioned electric cooking device, comprising the following steps:

[0109] - selecting a food type from a list of predefined food types on the user interface;

[0110] - before said preheating phase, pressing an activation button for activating a marking function of the surface of the food arranged to come into contact with said lower cooking plate and said upper cooking plate;

[0111] - starting a preheating phase of the lower cooking plate or the upper cooking plate;

[0112] - adjusting the temperature of the cooking plate to the preheating temperature of the cooking program defined using the activation parameters of the marking function according to the temperature information emitted by the temperature measuring element of the lower cooking plate or the upper cooking plate;

[0113] - placing the food between the two cooking plates once the preheating temperature of the cooking program defined using the activation parameters of the marking function has been reached;

[0114] - Start the cooking phase of food;

[0115] - adjusting the temperature of the cooking plate to the cooking temperature of the cooking program defined using the activation parameters of the marking function, based on the temperature information emitted by the temperature measuring element of the lower cooking plate.

[0116] This implementation of the method allows the user to activate the marking function of the food before the preheating phase has even begun. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0117] Other advantages and features of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description of the invention given by way of illustration and not by way of limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings which show all or part of an electric cooking device according to the invention and a method of use of such a device.

[0118] Figure 1 A view showing an electric cooking device according to the invention in an open position.

[0119] Figure 2 A view showing an electric cooking device according to the invention in an open position, wherein the cooking plate has been removed.

[0120] Figure 3 is a front view of an electric cooking device according to the invention in a closed position.

[0121] Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a user interface of an electric cooking device according to the present invention.

[0122] Figure 5 is a diagram allowing visualizing the working of the electric cooking device according to the invention for a beef cooking program defined without using activation parameters of the marking function.

[0123] Figure 6 is a diagram allowing visualizing the working of the electric cooking device according to the invention for a beef cooking program defined using activation parameters of the marking function. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0124] The electric cooking device 1 typically comprises a power source (not shown) allowing the electric cooking device 1 to be connected to an electrical grid in order to provide it with energy.

[0125] Especially Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the electric cooking device 1 further comprises a lower part 10 and an upper part 20 .

[0126] The lower part 10 is connected to the upper part 20 via an articulated hinge 2 .

[0127] Especially Figure 1 As shown, the lower part 10 includes a lower cooking plate 11 capable of receiving food and contacting the lower surface of the food, and the upper part 20 includes an upper cooking plate 21, which can be displaced relative to the lower cooking plate 11, especially through the hinge 2, so as to contact the upper surface of the food set on the lower cooking plate 11.

[0128] The hinge allows the upper part 20 to be displaced relative to the lower part 10 to define:

[0129] - a contact position of the lower cooking plate 11 and the upper cooking plate 21, in which contact position a preheating phase of the electric cooking device 1 is implemented in particular;

[0130] - an open position allowing food to be placed on the lower cooking plate 11; and

[0131] The food is enclosed between the lower cooking plate 11 and the upper cooking plate 21 in the closed position.

[0132] Especially Figure 2 As shown, the lower part 10 further comprises a lower electric heating element 12 capable of heating the lower cooking plate 11 and a temperature measuring element 13 of the lower cooking plate 11 .

[0133] In this Figure 2 Similarly, the upper portion 20 also includes an upper electric heating element 22 capable of heating the upper cooking plate 21 and a temperature measuring element 23 of the upper cooking plate 21 .

[0134] The electrical heating elements 12 , 22 are, for example, resistance heating elements and the temperature measuring elements 13 , 23 are, for example, of the negative temperature coefficient sensor type.

[0135] The temperature measuring element 23 of the upper cooking plate 21 is disposed eccentrically with respect to the upper cooking plate 21 .

[0136] The temperature measuring element 13 of the lower cooking plate 11 is for its part arranged in a central manner relative to the lower cooking plate 11 .

[0137] The functionality of these two specific settings is described below.

[0138] Furthermore, but in a manner not shown, the electric cooking device 1 comprises at least one electric switch capable of authorizing or interrupting the power supply of the lower electric heating element 12 and / or the upper electric heating element 22 .

[0139] Typically, such an electrical switch is, for example, a power relay.

[0140] Therefore, the electric cooking device 1 may include a single electrical switch capable of simultaneously enabling or interrupting the power supply to the lower electric heating element 12 and the upper electric heating element 22, or a first lower electrical switch capable of enabling or interrupting the power supply to the lower electric heating element 12 and a second upper electrical switch capable of enabling or interrupting the power supply to the upper electric heating element 22.

[0141] The electric cooking device 1 comprising two electric switches allows the heating of the lower cooking plate 11 and the heating of the upper cooking plate 21 to be controlled independently.

[0142] The electric cooking device 1 further comprises a database (not shown) comprising cooking laws or calculation tables and predetermined parameters for defining a plurality of cooking programs.

[0143] This cooking algorithm or this calculation table and these predetermined parameters are pre-recorded at the factory.

[0144] Each cooking program has a preheating phase PP and a cooking phase PC.

[0145] The preheating phase PP of the cooking program is defined by the set temperature and may last until the user introduces the food to be cooked between the cooking plates or until a safety function interrupts the heating of the electric cooking device 1 .

[0146] Likewise, a cooking phase PC of a cooking program is defined by at least one set temperature and at least one cooking duration.

[0147] These cooking programs can be executed by a processing device (not shown) of the electric cooking device 1 .

[0148] Such processing means comprise, for example, a processor or a controller or even a microprocessor.

[0149] The diversity of temperatures and cooking durations of the cooking programs during the cooking phase PC is explained by the fact that the processing device has the possibility to determine cooking durations during which the food has different internal cooking states for the cooking programs defined by the user.

[0150] Finally, the electric cooking device 1 comprises a user interface 30 arranged to allow a user to select parameters from a database in order to define a specific cooking program among a plurality of cooking programs that can be defined.

[0151] For this reason, Figure 3 As shown, but especially as Figure 4 As shown, the user interface 30 includes a selection device 31 for selecting a food type from a plurality of predefined food types and an activation button 32 for activating a marking function of the lower and upper surfaces of the food arranged to contact the lower cooking plate 11 and the upper cooking plate 21.

[0152] Pressing this activation button 32 of a marked function allows applying only the cooking program defined using the activation parameters of the marked function.

[0153] The cooking program defined using the activation parameters of the marking function has a set temperature of the preheating phase PP that is greater than the set temperature of the preheating phase PP of the cooking program for the same type of food to which the marking function is not applied.

[0154] The user interface 30 further comprises an activation button 33 for activating the frozen food function, which activation button 33 can be actuated by a user when food is introduced between the cooking plates 11 , 21 while the food is in a frozen state.

[0155] Thus, pressing this activation button 33 of the frozen food function allows applying only cooking programs defined using activation parameters of the function indicating that the food is frozen.

[0156] Therefore, each cooking program is defined by a combination of different parameters.

[0157] Some of these parameters are in the form of input variables declared by the user, in particular the type of food to be cooked from a predefined list of food types, the activation or deactivation of a food marking function and the activation or deactivation of a function indicating the frozen state of the food.

[0158] To select the type of food to be cooked, Figure 3 and Figure 4 The selection means 31 of the electric cooking appliance model shown comprise a screen 34, in particular of the TFT type, capable of displaying icons 35 recommending types of food to the user.

[0159] The user is able to navigate the carousel by using arrow buttons 36 to allow them to scroll through the various icons 35, each icon 35 representing a type of food.

[0160] The user interface 30 also includes: a start / stop button 37 for the electric cooking device 1; a verification button 38 for verifying the selection of the food type; and a toggle button for switching to manual mode 39, which allows the user to ignore the cooking programs in the database while allowing him to manually select the set temperature of the cooking stage PC displayed on the screen 34 and adjustable by means of the arrow buttons 36.

[0161] Finally, the user interface 30 comprises information means 40 of the cooking state of the food inside as the cooking phases PC progress.

[0162] The information device 40 includes a color reference system which is arranged around the screen 34 and each color of which is associated with a cooking state.

[0163] An audible alarm may also be generated each time a switch is made from one cooking state to another.

[0164] Information on the remaining time until the subsequent cooking state is reached may also be indicated.

[0165] The information device may be provided on the electric cooking device 1 or on a user's personal device, such as a smartphone, or both.

[0166] During the cooking phase of the food, an arrow (not shown) is displayed on the edge of the screen 34 and moves as the cooking program progresses so that the arrow points to the cooking state of the food during the cooking phase, this information being predetermined when defining the cooking program to be applied.

[0167] Other parameters are present in the form of input variables derived from measurements carried out on the electric cooking device 1 .

[0168] These input variables may be used to increase the accuracy of the cooking parameters determined by the processing device.

[0169] These input variables are, for example, the thickness of the food measured by a device (not shown) for measuring the spacing between the upper cooking plate 21 and the lower cooking plate 11 , and / or the area occupied by the food on the upper cooking plate 21 .

[0170] The means for measuring the spacing between the cooking plates 11 , 21 may for example comprise a potentiometer connected to or contained in the hinge 2 connecting the lower part 10 to the upper part 20 of the electric cooking device 1 .

[0171] Other types of devices for measuring the spacing between the cooking plates 11, 21 may also be used, such as Hall Effect sensors.

[0172] The processing means can use the direct measurement of thickness E returned by the device to apply a cooking program, or assign this measurement to different predefined value ranges stored in a database, for which the electric cooking device 1 works essentially the same when two measurements of thickness E are within the same value range.

[0173] The area occupied by the food on the upper cooking plate 21 is itself estimated by the processing means based on the duration of the temperature drop determined by temperature measurements carried out by the temperature measuring element 23 of the upper cooking plate 21 after the preheating phase PP, in particular at the beginning of the cooking phase PC, when the food is in contact with the upper cooking plate 21.

[0174] like Figure 2 As shown, in order to determine the average duration of the temperature drop caused by one or more foods distributed on the surface of the upper cooking plate 21, the temperature measuring element 23 of the upper cooking plate 21 is eccentric and arranged to achieve measurement on the edge of the upper cooking plate 21.

[0175] Therefore, the occupied area of ​​the food estimated based on the temperature drop duration determined due to the proximity of a single food to the temperature measuring element 23 of the upper cooking plate 21 is limited. In fact, such a temperature drop duration cannot represent the temperature drop duration generated by all foods placed in contact with the upper cooking plate 21.

[0176] Figure 5 and Figure 6 are representative graphs of parameters of the electric cooking device 1 and variables measured for a beef menu selected by a user.

[0177] Figure 5 The diagram shows a cooking program defined by activation parameters for the food tagging function, and Figure 6 A cooking program defined using activation of a food tagging function is illustrated.

[0178] The two figures show a switching sequence of at least one electrical switch, measured values ​​of the thickness E between the cooking plates 11, 21 allowing identification of the preheating phase PP and cooking phase PC of a cooking program, and the evolution of the temperature T measured during the different preheating phases PP and cooking phases PC.

[0179] The switching sequence of at least one switch is represented by a solid square wave signal. Figure 5 The evolution of the temperature T measured by the temperature measuring element 23 of the upper cooking plate 21 and Figure 6The evolution of the temperature T measured by the temperature measuring element 13 of the lower cooking plate 11 is represented by a solid line with peaks and valleys, and the thickness E measured between the two cooking plates 11, 21 is represented by a dotted line. Thus, when the measured value of the thickness E is approximately zero, it can be inferred that the cooking program is in its preheating phase PP, while when the measured value of the thickness E is not zero, it can be inferred from this that food has been introduced between the cooking plates 11, 21 and that the cooking program is in its cooking phase PC.

[0180] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the cooking program executed by the processing device is to implement a temperature adjustment sequence for a predetermined set temperature during a predetermined duration, and the adjustment sequence is implemented by a switching sequence between a closed switch state EF during a predetermined activation time TA and an open switch state EO during a predetermined idle time TR of at least one electrical switch.

[0181] According to the invention, the processing means of the electric cooking device 1 are arranged such that when the user defines an activated cooking program using a marking function, then:

[0182] a temperature measuring element 23 of the upper cooking plate 21 for regulating the temperature of at least the upper cooking plate 21 to a preheating set temperature during a preheating phase PP of a cooking program defined by a user; and

[0183] The temperature measuring element 13 of the lower cooking plate 11 is used to adjust the temperature of the lower cooking plate 11 and the upper cooking plate 21 to at least one cooking set temperature during a cooking phase PC of a cooking program defined by the user.

[0184] When the user defines a cooking program on the user interface 30 without using activation parameters of the marking function, then:

[0185] a temperature measuring element 13, 23 of the lower cooking plate 11 or the upper cooking plate 21 for regulating the temperature to a preheating set temperature during a preheating phase PP of a cooking program defined by the user; and

[0186] The temperature measuring element 23 of the upper cooking plate 21 is also used to adjust the temperature to at least one cooking set temperature during a cooking phase PC of a cooking program defined by the user.

[0187] Figure 5 and Figure 6 Allows highlighting when the user has not activated the food tagging feature ( Figure 5 ) and when the user activates the food tagging feature ( Figure 6 ) when the electric cooking device 1 works differently.

[0188] It should be noted that the temperatures of the cooking plates shown in these figures do not represent the influence caused by food marking, since this depends inter alia on the position of the measuring elements 13 , 23 of the food relative to the temperature T and on the position of these same measuring elements 13 , 23 under the lower cooking plate 11 or under the upper cooking plate 21 .

[0189] According to the invention, when the marking function is activated on the user interface 30, the number of adjustment sequences is reduced during the cooking phase PC, and at least one electrical switch has at least one closed switching state EF, whose activation time TA is greater than the activation time TA of each of the closed switching states EF of the at least one electrical switch when the marking function is not activated.

[0190] Therefore, note that Figure 5 The cooking phase PC region in the embodiment has a first control sequence with an activation time TA and a relatively long idle time TR, and then has a plurality of control sequences with alternating activation times TA and idle times TR of at least one switch.

[0191] Figure 6 The cooking phase PC in itself has a single adjustment sequence with an activation time TA extending over the entire duration of the cooking phase PC and without an idle time TR.

[0192] It is also noted that when the temperature T is measured using the temperature measuring element 13 of the lower cooking plate 11, the duration of the temperature drop caused by the contact of the food with the lower cooking plate 11 is much longer than the duration of a similar temperature drop measured using the temperature measuring element 23 of the upper cooking plate 21.

[0193] This difference in the duration of the temperature drop is partly due to the fact that the temperature measuring element 13 of the lower cooking plate 11 for effecting regulation during the cooking phase PC is arranged to effect a measurement substantially in the centre of the lower cooking plate 11 .

[0194] Therefore, the probability of food being placed above the temperature measuring element 13 on the lower cooking plate 11 increases. In the case of producing such a configuration, the food absorbs more heat near the temperature measuring element 13, so the temperature measured by the temperature measuring element 13 is lower than the temperature measured when there is no food near the temperature measuring element 13.

[0195] Therefore, when the marking function is activated on the user interface 30, it will be more difficult to reach the set temperature, which will lead to a further reduction in the number of adjustment sequences during the cooking phase PC or even their elimination if the cooking duration is less than the time it takes for the temperature to rise to the set temperature.

[0196] When the marking function is activated, the processing means therefore receive lower temperature T measurement values ​​than the temperature T measurement values ​​achieved when the marking function is not activated.

[0197] It is also possible to adapt the processing device such that the number of adjustment sequences and the activation time TA of the at least one electric switch depend on the thickness E measured by the device for measuring the spacing between the upper cooking plate 21 and the lower cooking plate 11 .

[0198] Figure 5 The activation time TA shown will be the minimum activation time TA corresponding to the minimum measured thickness E of the food or to a measured thickness E comprised within a minimum value range, and Figure 6 The activation time TA shown will be the maximum activation time TA corresponding to the maximum measured thickness E of the food or to a measured thickness E comprised within a range of maximum values.

[0199] In the case where the electric cooking device 1 will include two electric switches, as previously described, it is possible to independently control the heating of the lower cooking plate 11 and the heating of the upper cooking plate 21 during the preheating phase PP, the heating of the lower cooking plate 11 and the heating of the upper cooking plate 21 being controlled based on information provided by a single temperature measuring element 13 of the lower cooking plate 11.

[0200] Therefore, a user desiring to use the electric cooking device 1 according to the invention will first connect the electric cooking device 1 to the electrical grid.

[0201] The electric cooking device 1 is then started by pressing the start / stop button 37 .

[0202] After activation, the user selects a food type from a list of predefined food types via the screen 34 and arrow buttons 36 of the user interface 30 .

[0203] Once the type of food to be cooked has been selected, the user validates his selection by pressing the validation button 38 .

[0204] The electric cooking device then starts a preheating phase PP of the lower cooking plate 11 and the upper cooking plate 21 .

[0205] The processing device adjusts the temperature of the cooking plates 11 , 12 to the preheating temperature of the cooking program defined without activation parameters of the marking function based on the temperature information emitted by the temperature measuring elements 13 , 23 of the lower cooking plate 11 or the upper cooking plate 21 .

[0206] In case the user desires to mark his food more, the user presses an activation button for activating the marking function of the surface of the food arranged in contact with the lower cooking plate 11 and the upper cooking plate 21 during the preheating phase PP.

[0207] The processing device adjusts the temperature of the cooking plates 11 , 12 to the preheating temperature of the cooking program defined using the activation parameters of the marking function based on the temperature information emitted by the temperature measuring elements 13 , 23 of the lower cooking plate 11 or the upper cooking plate 21 .

[0208] This adjustment temperature is higher than the previous adjustment temperature of a cooking program that did not use the activation parameters of the food marking function.

[0209] Once the preheating temperature of the cooking program defined using the activation parameters of the marking function is reached, the user brings the electric cooking device 1 to its open position, then places the food on the lower cooking plate 11 and finally brings the electric cooking device 1 to its closed position, in which the food is clamped between the two cooking plates 11, 21.

[0210] From this moment on, the electric cooking device 1 starts the cooking phase PC of the food.

[0211] During this cooking phase PC, the processing means adjust the temperature of the cooking plates 11 , 21 according to the temperature information emitted by the temperature measuring element 13 of the lower cooking plate 11 to the cooking temperature defined by the cooking program determined using the activation parameters of the marking function.

[0212] During this cooking phase PC, the temperature measuring element 23 of the upper cooking plate 21 is used to allow the processing means to estimate the area occupied by the food on the upper cooking plate 23 from the duration of the temperature drop observed when the food comes into contact with the upper cooking plate 21 .

[0213] Once the food has reached the state of cooking desired by the user and is visible on the information device 40 , the user brings the electric cooking device 1 to its open position and removes the food.

[0214] This will present the desired cooking state with raised markings on the lower and upper surfaces.

[0215] According to a variant, the user can also activate the marking function following the selection of the food type before the preheating phase PP of the cooking program begins.

[0216] Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments and applications, it will be apparent that the present invention is by no means limited thereto.

[0217] Modifications are still possible, particularly from the point of view of the arrangement and configuration of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0218] Thus, the entire user interface 30 described above can be reproduced on a smartphone application, with which the electric cooking device 1 comprises communication means.

[0219] Therefore, other predetermined constant values ​​besides different internal cooking temperatures of the food may also be used, each corresponding to determining a core cooking state of the food.

[0220] In fact, the center cooking state is especially used for meat.

[0221] However, for other types of food, in particular vegetables, different variations in food mass loss can be determined in the laboratory, each corresponding to a cooking state of the vegetable-type food.

Claims

1. An electric cooking device (1), comprising: -power supply; - a lower part (10), said lower part (10) comprising: - a lower cooking plate (11) capable of receiving food; - a lower electric heating element (12) capable of heating the lower cooking plate (11); - a temperature measuring element (13) of the lower cooking plate (11); - an upper part (20), said upper part (20) comprising: - an upper cooking plate (21) displaceable relative to the lower cooking plate (11) so as to come into contact with food placed on the lower cooking plate (11); - an upper electrical heating element (22) capable of heating the upper cooking plate (21); - a temperature measuring element (23) of the upper cooking plate (21); - at least one electrical switch capable of enabling or interrupting the power supply to the lower electrical heating element (12) and / or the upper electrical heating element (22); a database comprising cooking laws or calculation tables and predetermined parameters for defining a plurality of cooking programs, comprising a preheating phase (PP) with a set temperature and a cooking phase (PC) with at least one set temperature and at least one cooking duration; - a user interface (30) arranged to allow a user to select parameters from the database to define a specific cooking program among a plurality of cooking programs that can be applied, to select these parameters, the user interface (30) also comprising selection means (31) for selecting a type of food from a plurality of predefined food types and an activation button (32) for activating a marking function of the surface of the food arranged to be in contact with the lower cooking plate (11) and the upper cooking plate (21), the cooking program defined using the activation parameters of the marking function having a set temperature of the preheating phase (PP) that is greater than the set temperature of the cooking phase (PC) of the cooking program not defined using the activation parameters of the marking function for the same type of food; - a processing device capable of executing a cooking program defined by a user, the execution of which is the implementation of a temperature regulation sequence at a predetermined set temperature for a predetermined duration, the regulation sequence being implemented by a switching sequence of the at least one electrical switch between a closed switching state (EF) during an activation time (TA) and an open switching state (EO) during an idle time (TR); The processing means of the electric cooking device (1) are arranged such that, when a user defines at least one cooking program determined using activation parameters of the marking function, then: - the temperature measuring element (23) of the upper cooking plate (21) is used to adjust the temperature of at least the upper cooking plate (21) to a preheating set temperature during the preheating phase (PP) of the cooking program defined by a user; and The temperature measuring element (13) of the lower cooking plate (11) is used to adjust the temperature of the lower cooking plate (11) and the upper cooking plate (21) to at least one cooking set temperature during the cooking phase (PC) of the cooking program defined by a user.

2. The electric cooking device (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The temperature measuring element (13) of the lower cooking plate (11) is arranged to achieve measurement substantially at the center of the lower cooking plate (11).

3. The electric cooking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein: The processing means of the electric cooking device (1) are arranged such that, when a user defines a cooking program on the user interface (30) without using activation parameters of the marking function, then: - the temperature measuring element (13, 23) of the lower cooking plate (11) or the upper cooking plate (21) is used to adjust the temperature to the preheating set temperature during the preheating phase (PP) of the cooking program defined by the user; as well as - the temperature measuring element (23) of the upper cooking plate (21) is also used to adjust the temperature to the at least one cooking set temperature during the cooking phase (PC) of the cooking program defined by the user.

4. The electric cooking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein: The processing means are adapted to make the number of the adjustment sequences and the activation time (TA) of the at least one electric switch dependent on the thickness (E) measured by a measuring device for measuring the spacing between the upper cooking plate (21) and the lower cooking plate (11).

5. The electric cooking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein: The temperature measuring element (13) of the lower cooking plate (11) and the temperature measuring element (23) of the upper cooking plate (21) are of negative temperature coefficient sensor type.

6. The electric cooking device (1) according to claim 5, wherein: The temperature measuring element (23) of the upper cooking plate (21) is used to adjust the temperature to the preheating set temperature during the preheating phase (PP) of the cooking program defined by the user, and to estimate a parameter associated with the area occupied by the food on the upper cooking plate (21), the estimation being achieved by determining the duration of the temperature drop observed when the food comes into contact with the upper cooking plate (21).

7. The electric cooking device (1) according to claim 6, wherein: The temperature measuring element (23) of the upper cooking plate (21) is eccentric and arranged to achieve measurement at the edge of the upper cooking plate (21).

8. The electric cooking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, comprising a lower power switch capable of enabling or interrupting the power supply to the lower electric heating element (12) and an upper power switch capable of enabling or interrupting the power supply to the upper electric heating element (22).

9. The electric cooking device (1) according to claim 8, wherein: At least one cooking program is defined using: - a set temperature for the preheating phase (PP) and at least one set temperature and at least one cooking duration for the cooking phase (PC) applied to the lower electric heating element (12); - a set temperature for the preheating phase (PP) and at least one set temperature and at least one cooking duration for the cooking phase (PC) applied to the upper electrical heating element (22); and The processing means is arranged to independently control the power down switch and the power up switch during the preheating phase (PP) and / or during the cooking phase (PC).

10. The electric cooking device (1) according to claim 9, wherein: For the same cooking program, the set temperature of the preheating stage (PP) and the at least one set temperature of the cooking stage (PC) applied to the lower electric heating element (12) are respectively different from the set temperature of the preheating stage (PP) and the at least one set temperature of the cooking stage (PC) applied to the upper electric heating element (22).

11. The electric cooking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein: Define a cooking program using all or some of the following parameters: - Food types from a predefined list; - the thickness (E) of the food measured by a measuring device for measuring the distance between the lower cooking plate (11) and the upper cooking plate (21); - the area occupied by the food on the upper cooking plate (21); - activation or non-activation of a cooking function for frozen food during said preheating phase (PP); - Activation or not of the food marking function during the preheating phase (PP).

12. The electric cooking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein: The processing means are arranged to determine a cooking duration during which a predefined food type has different internal cooking states for a cooking program defined by a user.

13. The electric cooking device (1) according to claim 12, wherein: The user interface (30) comprises information means (40) of the internal cooking state of the food as the cooking phase (PC) progresses and / or the remaining time until the transition to a subsequent cooking state.

14. A method for marking food from an electric cooking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising the following steps: - selecting a food type from a list of predefined food types on the user interface (30); - starting a preheating phase (PP) of the lower cooking plate (11) or the upper cooking plate (21); - adjusting the temperature of the cooking plate (11, 12) to the preheating temperature of a cooking program defined without using activation parameters of the marking function based on the temperature information emitted by the temperature measuring element (13, 23) of the lower cooking plate (11) or the upper cooking plate (21); - during the preheating phase (PP), pressing an activation button (32) for activating a marking function of the surface of the food arranged in contact with the lower cooking plate (11) and the upper cooking plate (21); - adjusting the temperature of the cooking plate (11, 12) to the preheating temperature of the cooking program defined using the activation parameters of the marking function according to the temperature information emitted by the temperature measuring element (13, 23) of the lower cooking plate (11) or the upper cooking plate (21); - once the preheating temperature of the cooking program defined using the activation parameters of the marking function is reached, the food is placed between the two cooking plates (11, 21); - Start the cooking phase (PC) of food; - adjusting the temperature of the cooking plate (11, 21) to the temperature of the cooking program defined using the activation parameters of the marking function based on the temperature information emitted by the temperature measuring element (13) of the lower cooking plate (11).

15. A method for marking food using an electric cooking device (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising the following steps: - selecting a food type from a list of predefined food types on the user interface (30); - before the preheating phase (PP), pressing an activation button (32) for activating a marking function of the surface of the food arranged to come into contact with the lower cooking plate (11) and the upper cooking plate (21); - starting a preheating phase (PP) of the lower cooking plate (11) or the upper cooking plate (21); - adjusting the temperature of the cooking plate (11, 21) to the preheating temperature of the cooking program defined using the activation parameters of the marking function according to the temperature information emitted by the temperature measuring element (13, 23) of the lower cooking plate (11) or the upper cooking plate (21); - once the preheating temperature of the cooking program defined using the activation parameters of the marking function is reached, the food is placed between the two cooking plates (11, 21); - Start the cooking phase (PC) of food; - adjusting the temperature of the cooking plate (11, 21) to the cooking temperature of the cooking program defined using the activation parameters of the marking function based on the temperature information emitted by the temperature measuring element (13) of the lower cooking plate (11).

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