Cooking utensil control method and cooking utensil

Abstract

The invention discloses a control method of a cooking utensil and the cooking utensil. The cooking utensil comprises a cooking space, a heating device, a temperature measuring device and an airflow generating device. The control method comprises the following steps in a first cooking stage: controlling the heating device to work, so that the temperature of the cooking space reaches a first preset temperature lower than the boiling point temperature; when the temperature of the cooking space reaches a first preset temperature, executing an anti-overflow process, wherein the anti-overflow process comprises the steps of obtaining the temperature T1 of the cooking space, controlling the airflow generating device to work, controlling the airflow generating device to stop working, and obtaining the temperature T2 of the cooking space; and when the working parameters of the anti-overflow process meet the preset conditions, exiting the anti-overflow process and executing the second cooking stage, and when the working parameters of the anti-overflow process do not meet the preset conditions, repeatedly executing the anti-overflow process. The preset condition is that the difference value between the T2 and the temperature T1 is smaller than a preset temperature difference value; or the duration of the anti-overflow process reaches the preset anti-overflow duration.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of household appliances, and in particular to a control method for a cooking appliance, and a cooking appliance using the control method. Background Art

[0002] When cooking rice, porridge and other foods with a cooking appliance, foam and overflow are easily generated, so cooking appliances with air pumps are provided on the market, such as electric rice cookers, electric pressure cookers or other electric heating appliances with air pumps. The process of cooking rice with a cooking appliance is generally divided into the following stages: preheating stage, water absorption stage, boiling stage, and boiling maintenance stage.

[0003] In the boiling stage, in order to prevent foam or rice from overflowing from the inner pot of the cooking appliance, the cooking appliance will turn on the air pump to form a circulating airflow on the surface of the inner pot, and the air pump will remain on for more than several minutes, for example, more than 3 minutes. When the food in the inner pot reaches a boiling state, the boiling stage ends and enters the boiling maintenance stage.

[0004] In order to keep the boiling stage, the air pump is always turned on to prevent the foam or rice from overflowing from the inner pot of the cooking device. The air pump is turned off after several minutes, for example, after 5 minutes. Because the air pump is turned on for too long, the rice in the upper part of the inner pot is dry and hard, and the overall taste of the rice is inconsistent, which makes it difficult to meet the user's expected production requirements, resulting in a reduced user experience.

[0005] Therefore, a cooking appliance is needed to at least partially solve the above problems. Summary of the invention

[0006] A series of simplified concepts are introduced in the Summary of the Invention section, which will be further described in detail in the Detailed Description of the Invention section. The Summary of the Invention section of this application does not mean to attempt to define the key features and essential technical features of the claimed technical solution, nor does it mean to attempt to determine the scope of protection of the claimed technical solution.

[0007] In order to at least partially solve the above problems, the first aspect of the present application provides a control method for a cooking appliance, wherein the cooking appliance comprises:

[0008] A cooking space to hold ingredients;

[0009] A heating device, used for heating the cooking space;

[0010] a temperature measuring device, used to detect the temperature of the cooking space; and

[0011] an airflow generating device, one end of which is connected to the cooking space, and the other end of which is connected to the outside world,

[0012] The control method comprises the following steps: in a first cooking stage of a cooking process:

[0013] Controlling the heating device to operate so that the temperature of the cooking space reaches a first preset temperature, wherein the first preset temperature is lower than a boiling point;

[0014] When the temperature of the cooking space reaches the first preset temperature, an overflow prevention process is performed, wherein the overflow prevention process includes:

[0015] Obtain the temperature T1 of the cooking space,

[0016] controlling the airflow generating device to work,

[0017] controlling the airflow generating device to stop working, and

[0018] Acquiring the temperature T2 of the cooking space;

[0019] When the working parameters of the overflow prevention process meet the preset conditions, the overflow prevention process is exited and the second cooking stage of the cooking process is executed; when the working parameters of the overflow prevention process do not meet the preset conditions, the overflow prevention process is repeatedly executed.

[0020] Wherein, the preset conditions are:

[0021] The difference between the temperature T2 and the temperature T1 is less than a preset temperature difference; or

[0022] The duration of the overflow prevention process reaches a preset overflow prevention duration.

[0023] According to the present application, by intermittently controlling the operation of the airflow generating device according to the progress of the temperature increase gradient in the first cooking stage, the airflow generating device is prevented from being turned on for too long, which would cause excessive moisture loss in the food at the upper part of the cooking vessel. On the one hand, this can prevent foam or food from overflowing from the cooking vessel during the cooking process, and on the other hand, it can prevent the moisture loss of the food at the upper part of the cooking vessel too quickly and excessively, so that the moisture content of the entire food in the cooking vessel is consistent, the change from raw to cooked is consistent, and the final performance of the food remains consistent.

[0024] Optionally, the first preset temperature is 80 to 95° C., and / or

[0025] The preset anti-overflow time is 2 to 4 minutes.

[0026] According to the present application, foam is likely to be generated when food is cooked starting from the first preset temperature, so the airflow generating device is intermittently controlled to work starting from the first preset temperature to prevent the airflow generating device from failing to eliminate the foam in time, which can effectively prevent foam or food from overflowing from the cooking utensil. By setting a preset anti-overflow time, it can be prevented that the first cooking stage cannot be terminated normally due to unexpected circumstances, or the first cooking stage is terminated prematurely, such as a misjudgment of the temperature measuring device, which can effectively avoid mistakes in the cooking process and ensure the cooking quality of the food.

[0027] Optionally, the overflow prevention process includes:

[0028] Obtain the temperature T1 of the cooking space,

[0029] controlling the airflow generating device to work for a first time period,

[0030] controlling the airflow generating device to stop working for a second time period, and

[0031] The temperature T2 of the cooking space is obtained.

[0032] According to the present application, by setting the working and stopping times of the airflow generating device, the foam in the cooking utensil can be eliminated in time, and the water loss of the food in the upper part of the cooking utensil can be prevented too quickly and excessively, thereby keeping the water content of the whole food consistent.

[0033] Optionally, the first duration is 20 to 40 seconds, and / or

[0034] The second duration is 5 to 15 seconds.

[0035] According to the present application, the time range for the airflow generating device to work and stop working is selected based on experiments, which can achieve better results.

[0036] Optionally, when the difference between the temperature T2 and the temperature T1 is less than a preset temperature difference, the overflow prevention process is exited and a second cooking stage is performed, including:

[0037] When the difference between the temperature T2 and the temperature T1 is less than the preset temperature difference, timing starts. When the timing reaches a third time, the overflow prevention process is exited and the second cooking stage is executed.

[0038] According to the present application, by setting the third time duration, it can be ensured that the food in the cooking utensil reaches a boiling state, which can prevent unexpected situations from causing misjudgment of whether the food has actually reached a boiling state, effectively avoid mistakes in the cooking process, and ensure the cooking quality of the food.

[0039] Optionally, the third duration is 20 to 35 seconds; and / or

[0040] When the difference between the temperature T2 and the temperature T1 is less than a preset temperature difference, the heating device is controlled to stop working.

[0041] According to the present application, the third time range is selected based on experiments, and a better effect can be obtained. When the temperature of the cooking space before and after the airflow generating device works is close, it means that the temperature of the cooking space is close to boiling. At this time, stopping heating can avoid overflowing of the pot.

[0042] Optionally, when the temperature of the cooking space reaches the first preset temperature, the control device further reduces the heating power of the heating device or enables the heating device to heat intermittently.

[0043] According to the present application, foam will easily begin to be generated when food is cooked starting from the first preset temperature, so reducing the heating power of the heating device or making the heating device intermittently heat starting from the first preset temperature can effectively prevent foam or food from overflowing from the cooking vessel.

[0044] Optionally, the second cooking stage comprises the following steps:

[0045] The airflow generating device is controlled to work periodically. In each working cycle, the airflow generating device is first operated for a preset working time, and then stopped for a preset stopping time.

[0046] Furthermore, the preset working time is 5 to 15 seconds; and / or

[0047] The preset stop time is 5 to 15 seconds.

[0048] According to the present application, when the temperature of the cooking space is close to boiling, the airflow generating device works intermittently periodically, which can avoid overflowing the pot and prevent the airflow generating device from being turned on for too long, resulting in excessive water loss of the food at the upper part of the cooking utensil, thereby maintaining a consistent overall taste of the food.

[0049] Optionally, in the second cooking stage, the heating device is first controlled to work, and after the heating device has worked for a second preset time period, the airflow generating device is controlled to perform the periodic work.

[0050] According to the present application, in the second cooking stage, the heating device is operated before the airflow generating device is operated, which is beneficial to promote the cooking of the food.

[0051] Optionally, the second cooking stage comprises the following steps:

[0052] Controlling the heating device to operate periodically at a first duty cycle;

[0053] In each cycle of operation at the first duty cycle, after the heating device operates for a first heating time, controlling the airflow generating device to operate;

[0054] In each cycle of operation with the first duty cycle, if the duration for which the heating device stops working is less than the first stop duration, the airflow generating device operates until the end of the cycle of operation with the first duty cycle; or, in each cycle of operation with the first duty cycle, if the duration for which the heating device stops working is greater than or equal to the first stop duration, the airflow generating device operates until the heating device stops working for the first stop duration.

[0055] According to the present application, in the second cooking stage, foam will be continuously generated when the food is cooked. By intermittently controlling the operation of the airflow generating device according to the heating time process of the heating device in the second cooking stage, the airflow generating device is prevented from being turned on for too long, resulting in excessive moisture loss of the food in the upper part of the cooking utensil. On the one hand, it can prevent foam or food from overflowing from the cooking utensil during the cooking process. On the other hand, the food in the upper part of the cooking utensil is kept dry and wet, moderately soft and hard, and the overall taste of the food is kept consistent, so as to meet the user's expected food preparation needs, and the food can be eaten directly or used as an intermediate raw material to continue the preparation of other types of food, which significantly improves the user's experience. In the cycle in which the heating device works according to the duty cycle, if the working time of the heating device stopping heating is long enough, the cooking space has enough time to dissipate heat and cool down, and the working time of the airflow generating device can be appropriately shortened.

[0056] Optionally, the first heating time is 2 to 5 seconds; and / or

[0057] The first stop time is 10 to 20 seconds.

[0058] According to the present application, a time range of the first heating duration and a time range of the first stop duration are selected based on experiments, and better effects can be obtained.

[0059] Optionally, in the second cooking stage, the heating device is controlled to periodically operate for a first preset operating time at a first duty cycle.

[0060] According to the present application, the second cooking stage is the key stage for the food to be finally cooked. When the second cooking stage is over, the processing of the food is basically over. Therefore, the second cooking stage will directly affect the dryness, wetness, softness, hardness, taste and other tastes of the food. By controlling the heating power duty cycle and heating time of the heating device, the user's expected food preparation needs can be met, and cooking time and energy consumption can be saved.

[0061] Optionally, the first preset working time is not less than 5 minutes.

[0062] According to the present application, a time range of the first preset working duration is selected based on experiments, which can achieve better results.

[0063] Optionally, in the second cooking stage, after controlling the heating device to operate periodically with a first duty cycle, the heating device is further controlled to operate periodically with a second duty cycle, wherein the second duty cycle is smaller than the first duty cycle.

[0064] According to the present application, by optimizing the heating time of the heating device, the heating time is gradually shortened, which can prevent the occurrence of sticking in the pot and prevent the food from being overcooked, affecting the taste of the food.

[0065] Optionally, in each cycle of operation at the second duty cycle, after the heating device operates for a second heating time, the airflow generating device is controlled to operate,

[0066] In each cycle of operation with the second duty cycle, if the duration for which the heating device stops working is less than the second stop duration, the airflow generating device operates until the end of the cycle of operation with the second duty cycle; or, in each cycle of operation with the second duty cycle, if the duration for which the heating device stops working is greater than or equal to the second stop duration, the airflow generating device operates until the heating device stops working for the second stop duration.

[0067] According to the present application, the airflow generating device is always intermittently controlled to work under different heating power states of the heating device, which can avoid foam or food overflowing from the cooking utensil during the cooking process, and on the other hand, the food in the upper part of the cooking utensil is kept dry and wet, soft and hard, and the overall taste of the food is kept consistent. In the cycle of the heating device working according to the duty cycle, if the heating device stops heating for a long enough time, the cooking space has enough time to dissipate heat and cool down, and the working time of the airflow generating device can be appropriately shortened.

[0068] Optionally, in each of the cycles of operation at the first duty cycle, the airflow generating device operates for a first operating time.

[0069] In each of the cycles of operation at the second duty cycle, the airflow generating device operates for a second operating time.

[0070] The first working time is longer than the second working time.

[0071] According to the present application, as the heating time of the food by the heating device is gradually shortened, the working time of the airflow generating device can also be gradually shortened, making adaptive changes to effectively maintain the overall taste of the food consistent.

[0072] Optionally, the second heating time is 2 to 5 seconds; and / or

[0073] The second stop time is 10 to 20 seconds.

[0074] According to the present application, the time range of the second heating duration and the time range of the second stop duration are selected based on experiments, which can achieve better results.

[0075] A second aspect of the present application provides a cooking appliance, comprising:

[0076] A cooking space to hold ingredients;

[0077] A heating device, used for heating the cooking space;

[0078] A temperature measuring device, used to detect the temperature of the cooking space;

[0079] an airflow generating device, one end of which is in communication with the cooking space, and the other end of which is in communication with the outside; and

[0080] a control device, electrically connected to the heating device and the airflow generating device, respectively, to control the operation of the heating device and the airflow generating device, and the control device is also electrically connected to the temperature measuring device to obtain the temperature of the cooking space,

[0081] Wherein, the control device is configured to execute the steps of the control method described in any of the above technical solutions.

[0082] According to the present application, by intermittently controlling the operation of the airflow generating device according to the progress of the temperature increase gradient in the first cooking stage, the airflow generating device is prevented from being turned on for too long, which would cause excessive moisture loss in the food at the upper part of the cooking vessel. On the one hand, this can prevent foam or food from overflowing from the cooking vessel during the cooking process, and on the other hand, it can prevent the moisture loss of the food at the upper part of the cooking vessel too quickly and excessively, so that the moisture content of the entire food in the cooking vessel is consistent, the change from raw to cooked is consistent, and the final performance of the food remains consistent. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0083] The following drawings of the present application are used as a part of the present application for understanding the present application. The drawings show the implementation modes of the present application and the description thereof, and are used to explain the principle of the present application.

[0084] In the attached figure:

[0085] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a cooking appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present application;

[0086] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the working process of a cooking appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present application;

[0087] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the steps of a method for controlling a cooking appliance in a first cooking stage according to a preferred embodiment of the present application;

[0088] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the steps of a method for controlling a cooking appliance in a second cooking stage according to a preferred embodiment of the present application, wherein the heating device is controlled to operate periodically with a first duty cycle;

[0089] Figure 5 The figure is a schematic diagram of the steps of a method for controlling a cooking appliance in a second cooking stage according to a preferred embodiment of the present application, wherein a heating device is controlled to operate periodically with a first duty cycle and a second duty cycle in sequence. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0090] In the following description, a large number of specific details are provided to provide a more thorough understanding of the present application. However, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present application can be implemented without one or more of these details. In other examples, in order to avoid confusion with the present application, some technical features well known in the art are not described.

[0091] In order to thoroughly understand the present application, a detailed description will be provided in the following description. It should be understood that these embodiments are provided to make the disclosure of the present application thorough and complete, and to fully convey the concepts of these exemplary embodiments to those of ordinary skill in the art. Obviously, the implementation of the embodiments of the present application is not limited to the specific details familiar to those skilled in the art. The preferred embodiments of the present application are described in detail below, but in addition to these detailed descriptions, the present application may also have other embodiments.

[0092] Ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" cited in this application are merely identifiers and do not have any other meaning, such as a specific order, etc. Moreover, for example, the term "first component" itself does not imply the existence of a "second component", and the term "second component" itself does not imply the existence of a "first component". The use of the words "first", "second", and "third" does not indicate any order, and these words can be interpreted as names.

[0093] It should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "inside", "outside" and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and are not limiting.

[0094] The present application discloses a cooking appliance and a control method thereof, which can improve the taste of food and significantly enhance the user experience.

[0095] Now, exemplary embodiments according to the present application will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0096] The embodiment of the present application provides a cooking utensil, which may be an electric rice cooker, an electric pressure cooker or other electric heating appliances. In addition, the cooking utensil may have other functions such as cooking porridge and soup in addition to the function of cooking rice.

[0097] The cooking utensil involved in this embodiment generally includes a pot body. The pot body can be in the shape of a generally rounded rectangular parallelepiped, a generally cylindrical shape, or any other suitable shape. An inner pot in a generally cylindrical shape, or any other suitable shape, is provided in the pot body. The inner pot can be freely placed in or taken out from the inner pot storage portion of the pot body to facilitate cleaning of the inner pot. The inner pot is used to store food to be cooked, such as rice, soup, etc. The top of the inner pot has a top opening. The user can store the food to be cooked in the inner pot through the top opening, or take the cooked food out of the inner pot through the top opening.

[0098] The pot body is also provided with a heating device for heating the inner pot. The heating device can heat the inner pot at the bottom and / or side of the inner pot. The heating device can be an electric heating tube or an induction heating device such as an electromagnetic coil. The pot body is also provided with a temperature measuring probe for detecting the temperature of the inner pot. The temperature measuring probe can be arranged at the bottom, side and / or inside of the inner pot. The temperature measuring probe can be various temperature sensors.

[0099] The pot body is provided with a cover. The shape of the cover is substantially corresponding to the shape of the pot body. For example, the cover may be in the shape of a rounded rectangular parallelepiped. The cover is provided on the pot body in an openable and closable manner, and is used to cover the entire top of the pot body or at least the inner pot of the pot body. Specifically, in this embodiment, the cover may be pivotally provided above the pot body between a maximum open position and a closed position, for example, by means of a hinge.

[0100] When the lid is closed on the pot body, a cooking space is formed between the lid and the pot body (specifically, the inner pot of the pot body). The cooking space includes a food storage space and a cavity space. Specifically, the food storage space refers to the space where food is actually stored. The cavity space is located above the food storage space. That is to say, when the lid is closed on the pot body, the cavity space is the space between the upper surface of the food and the lid. There is no strict dividing line between the food storage space and the cavity space, and the sizes of the two will change according to the specific changes in the volume of the food.

[0101] The pot body is also provided with a control device and a lower temperature sensing probe (not shown). The control device may be, for example, a micro control unit (MCU), which is used to realize cooking control of the cooking utensil. The lower temperature sensing probe is used to detect the temperature of the inner pot, and it may be arranged at the bottom center of the pot body, or at the side of the pot body. A top temperature sensing probe may also be arranged on the cover body, and the top temperature sensing probe is used to detect the temperature at the top of the cooking space. The heating device, the lower temperature sensing probe and the top temperature sensing probe are all electrically connected to the control device. The temperature measuring device (the lower temperature sensing probe and / or the top temperature sensing probe) feeds back the sensed temperature to the control device, so that the control device can realize more accurate control of, for example, the heating device based on the temperature information.

[0102] The cooking utensil is also provided with an anti-overflow component, through which the gas outside the cooking utensil (e.g., cold air from the outside) can be sucked into the cooking space, more specifically, introduced into the cavity space, and contacted with the foam in the cavity space to liquefy and shrink the steam in the foam accumulated in the cavity space and break it, thereby achieving the purpose of preventing the pot from overflowing. Specifically, the anti-overflow component includes an air suction pipe, an air inlet pipe, and an air pump (air flow generating device), one end of the air suction pipe is connected to the air pump, and the other end is connected to the air suction port. One end of the air inlet pipe is connected to the air pump, and the other end is connected to the air inlet. The air suction port is connected to the outside of the cooking utensil, and the air inlet is connected to the cooking space or the cavity space. The air suction port, the air suction pipe, the air pump, the air inlet pipe, and the air inlet together form a gas delivery system, and the gas outside the cooking utensil (e.g., cold air from the outside) can be sucked into the cavity space under the action of the air pump.

[0103] The control device is connected to the air pump. During the cooking process, when the food in the food storage space is in the boiling stage, the sticky substances such as starch in the cooked food will precipitate into the water, and the steam will be wrapped to form a large amount of foam, which will accumulate in the cavity space above the food storage space. When the control device detects that the food in the food storage space is in the boiling stage, it controls the air pump to pump gas into the cavity space. Specifically, the control device controls the air pump to inhale gas from the air intake port, and pumps the inhaled gas into the cavity space through the air inlet. Usually, there is a temperature difference between the pumped gas and the foam generated in the cavity space. Therefore, after the pumped gas enters the cavity space and contacts the foam accumulated in the cavity space, it can liquefy and shrink the steam in the foam and break it to prevent overflowing the pot. Overflowing can be avoided even in the case of fast cooking with high firepower.

[0104] The cooking device is also provided with a steam channel so that the gas in the cooking space can flow to the outside of the cooking device. A steam inlet connected to the cooking space is provided at one end of the steam channel, and a steam outlet connected to the outside is provided at the other end of the steam channel. As described above, after the gas pumped by the air pump enters the cooking space, the steam in the foam accumulated in the cooking space can be liquefied and contracted to break. After impacting the foam, the pumped gas can be discharged to the outside through the steam inlet and the steam channel, taking away part of the heat, thereby suppressing the generation of foam and reducing the pressure to further prevent overflow.

[0105] The cooking utensil provided in the embodiment of the present application has a hardware structure and a working mode that can refer to the above description. It has a heating device, a temperature measuring device for detecting the temperature of the inner pot, and an anti-overflow component (including an airflow generating device) for introducing external air into the cooking space of the cooking utensil. The cooking utensil provided in the embodiment of the present application is described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0106] like Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of the present application provides a cooking appliance, which includes a cooking space for accommodating food, a heating device for heating the cooking space, a temperature measuring device for detecting the temperature of the cooking space, an airflow generating device and a control device. One end of the airflow generating device is connected to the cooking space, and the other end of the airflow generating device is connected to the outside world. The control device is electrically connected to the heating device and the airflow generating device, respectively, to control the operation of the heating device and the airflow generating device. The control device is also electrically connected to the temperature measuring device to obtain the temperature of the cooking space.

[0107] like Figure 2 As shown, the cooking process of the cooking appliance includes a preheating stage, a water absorption stage, a boiling stage (or a first cooking stage), a boiling maintenance stage (or a second cooking stage), a cooking stage, and a heat preservation stage. The preheating stage is used to preliminarily heat the ingredients. In the water absorption stage, the ingredients fully absorb water to improve the taste. In the boiling stage, high heat is used to heat to a temperature close to boiling, and then the boiling is maintained in the boiling maintenance stage so that the ingredients are basically cooked. In the cooking stage, the residual free water is dried to further cook the ingredients. Finally, in the heat preservation stage, the food is kept warm so that the user can eat hot food.

[0108] It can be understood that the cooking process of the cooking appliance is completed under the control of the control device. The control process executed by the control device is also the steps of the control method of the cooking appliance according to the present application.

[0109] Among them, Figure 3As shown, the control device is configured to complete the following steps in the first cooking stage (that is, the steps included in the first cooking stage according to the control method of the present application): control the heating device to operate so that the temperature of the cooking space reaches a first preset temperature, wherein the first preset temperature is lower than the boiling point; when the temperature of the cooking space reaches the first preset temperature, execute the overflow prevention process; when the working parameters of the overflow prevention process meet the preset conditions, exit the overflow prevention process and execute the second cooking stage; when the working parameters of the overflow prevention process do not meet the preset conditions, repeat the overflow prevention process.

[0110] Specifically, the overflow prevention process includes: obtaining the temperature T1 of the cooking space; controlling the airflow generating device to work; controlling the airflow generating device to stop working; and obtaining the temperature T2 of the cooking space.

[0111] Specifically, the preset conditions are: the difference between the temperature T2 and the temperature T1 is less than the preset temperature difference; or, the duration of the overflow prevention process reaches the preset overflow prevention duration.

[0112] The first cooking stage can also be called the boiling stage, and its main function is to quickly heat the food in the cooking space to the boiling point. When the difference between temperature T2 and temperature T1 is less than the preset temperature difference, the state of the food in the cooking utensil can be judged as boiling. Depending on the geographical location, the temperature of the food when boiling may be 100°C, or lower than 100°C. For example, in high altitude areas, the temperature of the food when boiling will be lower than 100°C. The second cooking stage can also be called the boiling maintenance stage, and its main function is to continue heating the food in the cooking space in a boiling state to ensure that the food is fully cooked.

[0113] By intermittently controlling the operation of the airflow generating device according to the progress of the temperature increase gradient in the first cooking stage, the airflow generating device is prevented from being turned on for too long, which would cause excessive loss of moisture in the food at the upper part of the cooking vessel. On the one hand, this can prevent foam or food from overflowing from the cooking vessel during the cooking process, and on the other hand, it can prevent excessive and rapid loss of moisture in the food at the upper part of the cooking vessel, so that the moisture content of the entire food in the cooking vessel is consistent, the change from raw to cooked is consistent, and the final performance of the food remains consistent.

[0114] In the first cooking stage, the temperature of the cooking space continues to rise with heating, so the airflow generating device works periodically until the temperature of the cooking space approaches the boiling temperature. It can be understood that in the first cycle of the airflow generating device working, the temperature T1 of the cooking space is the first preset temperature.

[0115] In one embodiment, the first preset temperature is 80 to 95° C., and / or the preset anti-overflow time is 2 to 4 minutes.

[0116] like Figure 3As shown, in order to calculate the preset overflow prevention time, timing can be performed at the beginning of the overflow prevention process, and the first timer starts timing at this time.

[0117] Preferably, the first preset temperature is 85° C., and the preset anti-overflow time is 3 minutes. The inventor of the present application selected the range of the first preset temperature and the preset anti-overflow time based on experiments, which can achieve better results.

[0118] Starting from the first preset temperature, foam is likely to be generated when the food is cooked, so the airflow generating device is intermittently controlled to work from the first preset temperature to prevent the airflow generating device from failing to eliminate the foam in time, which can effectively prevent foam or food from overflowing from the cooking utensil. By setting a preset anti-overflow time, it can be prevented that the first cooking stage cannot be ended normally due to unexpected circumstances, or the first cooking stage is ended prematurely, such as a misjudgment of the temperature measuring device, which can effectively avoid mistakes in the cooking process and ensure the cooking quality of the food.

[0119] In one embodiment, if Figure 3 As shown, the overflow prevention process includes: obtaining the temperature T1 of the cooking space; controlling the airflow generating device to work for a first time period; controlling the airflow generating device to stop working for a second time period; and obtaining the temperature T2 of the cooking space.

[0120] By setting the working and stopping time of the airflow generating device, the foam in the cooking utensil can be eliminated in time, and the water loss of the food at the upper part of the cooking utensil can be prevented too fast and too much, so as to keep the water content of the whole food consistent.

[0121] In one embodiment, the first duration is 20 to 40 seconds, and / or the second duration is 5 to 15 seconds.

[0122] Preferably, the first time length is 30 seconds, and the second time length is 10 seconds. The inventor of the present application selected the time range for the airflow generating device to work and stop working based on experiments, which can achieve better results.

[0123] In one embodiment, if Figure 3 As shown, when the difference between temperature T2 and temperature T1 is less than the preset temperature difference, the overflow prevention process is exited and the second cooking stage is executed, including: when the difference between temperature T2 and temperature T1 is less than the preset temperature difference, the timing is started, and when the timing reaches a third time length, the overflow prevention process is exited and the second cooking stage is executed.

[0124] Preferably, the preset temperature difference is 3°C. The inventor of the present application selected the preset temperature difference based on experiments, which can achieve better results. Figure 3 As shown, the second timer is used to calculate the third duration.

[0125] By setting the third time duration, it can be ensured that the food in the cooking utensil reaches a full boiling state, which can prevent unexpected situations from causing misjudgment of whether the food has actually reached a boiling state, and can effectively avoid mistakes in the cooking process and ensure the cooking quality of the food.

[0126] In one embodiment, the third time duration is 20 to 35 seconds.

[0127] Preferably, the third duration is 30 seconds. The inventor of the present application selected the time range of the third duration based on experiments, which can achieve better results.

[0128] In one embodiment, when the difference between the cooking space temperature T2 and the temperature T1 is less than a preset temperature difference, the heating device is controlled to stop working. At this time, the temperature of the cooking space is close to boiling, and stopping heating can avoid overflowing or burning the pot.

[0129] In one embodiment, when the temperature of the cooking space reaches the first preset temperature, the control device further reduces the heating power of the heating device or makes the heating device heat intermittently.

[0130] Starting from the first preset temperature, foam will easily begin to be generated when the food is cooked, so reducing the heating power of the heating device or making the heating device intermittently heat from the first preset temperature can effectively prevent foam or food from overflowing from the cooking utensil.

[0131] In one embodiment, the airflow generating device is an air pump. The air pump is more suitable for use in a cooking appliance to input an airflow with a suitable pressure into the cooking appliance.

[0132] In one embodiment, if Figure 4 As shown, in the second cooking stage, the control device is configured to complete the following steps (that is, the control method according to the present application includes the following steps in the second cooking stage): control the heating device to work periodically with a first duty cycle; in each cycle of working with the first duty cycle, after the heating device works for the first heating time, control the airflow generating device to work, and make the airflow generating device work for a period of time. Among them, the working time of the airflow generating device is affected by the working time of the heating device in the working cycle of the first duty cycle. In each cycle of working with the first duty cycle, if the duration of the heating device stopping working is less than the first stop time, the airflow generating device works until the cycle of working with the first duty cycle ends. Alternatively, in each cycle of working with the first duty cycle, if the duration of the heating device stopping working is greater than or equal to the first stop time, the airflow generating device works until the heating device stops working for the first stop time. Both the heating device and the airflow generating device work periodically with the cycle of the first duty cycle.

[0133] That is, in each cycle of operation with the first duty cycle, after the heating device stops working, if the heating power is relatively large and the heating device works for a relatively long time in each cycle, the cycle of operation with the first duty cycle ends first before the heating device stops working for the first time period, and the airflow generating device continues to work until the end of the cycle; if the heating power is relatively small and the heating device works for a relatively short time in each cycle, the heating device first meets the first stop time period before the cycle rate of operation with the first duty cycle ends, and the airflow generating device continues to work until the first stop time period expires, and then the airflow generating device stops working and enters the next working cycle after the expiration of the working cycle.

[0134] In the second cooking stage, foam will continue to be generated when food is cooked. By intermittently controlling the operation of the airflow generating device according to the heating time of the heating device in the second cooking stage, the airflow generating device is prevented from being turned on for too long, which would cause excessive water loss of the food in the upper part of the cooking vessel. On the one hand, it can prevent foam or food from overflowing from the cooking vessel during the cooking process. On the other hand, the food in the upper part of the cooking vessel is kept at an appropriate level of dryness and wetness, and moderately soft and hard. The overall taste of the food is kept consistent, thereby meeting the user's expected food preparation needs. The food can be eaten directly or used as an intermediate raw material to continue to prepare other types of food, which significantly improves the user experience.

[0135] In one embodiment, the first heating time is 2 to 5 seconds. Figure 4 As shown, the second timer is used to calculate the first heating time.

[0136] In one embodiment, the first stop duration is 10 to 20 seconds. Figure 4 As shown, the third timer is used to calculate the first stop duration. Preferably, the first stop duration is 15 seconds.

[0137] Preferably, the first heating time is 3 seconds. The inventor of the present application selected the time range of the first heating time based on experiments, which can achieve better results.

[0138] As an example: the working cycle of the heating device is 25 seconds (that is, the cycle of the first duty cycle is 25 seconds), the first heating time is 3 seconds, the first stop time is 15 seconds, and the first duty cycle is 60% (in one cycle, the heating device works for 15 seconds and stops working for 10 seconds, which is less than the first stop time). The airflow generating device starts working from the 4th second and works until the end of the cycle, that is, the working time of the airflow generating device is 22 seconds.

[0139] As an example: the working cycle of the heating device is 30 seconds (that is, the cycle of the first duty cycle is 30 seconds), the first heating time is 3 seconds, the first stop time is 15 seconds, and the first duty cycle is 40% (in one cycle, the heating device works for 12 seconds and stops working for 18 seconds, which is greater than the first stop time). The airflow generating device starts working from the 4th second and works until the 27th second, that is, the working time of the airflow generating device is 24 seconds. In one embodiment, if Figure 4 As shown, in the second cooking stage, the control device controls the heating device to periodically operate at a first duty cycle for a first preset operating time.

[0140] When the first duty cycle is selected, the heating power of the heating device can be a power with a duty cycle between 30% and 60%, so that the food in the cooking device is maintained at a boiling point. As an example, the heating power is a heating mode with a duty cycle of 30%, 40%, 50% or 60%. The control device determines the first duty cycle, for example, according to the cooking function (such as cooking rice or porridge), the type of rice, the amount of rice, etc.

[0141] The second cooking stage is the key stage for the final cooking of food. When the second cooking stage is over, the processing of food is basically completed. Therefore, the second cooking stage will directly affect the taste of food, such as dryness, wetness, softness, hardness, and taste. By controlling the heating power duty cycle and heating time of the heating device, the user's expected food preparation needs can be met, and cooking time and energy consumption can be saved.

[0142] In one embodiment, the first preset working time is not less than 5 minutes. Figure 4 As shown, the first timer is used to calculate the first preset working time.

[0143] The inventor of the present application selected a time range for the first preset working time based on experiments, which can achieve better results.

[0144] In one embodiment, in the second cooking stage, the working cycle of the airflow generating device may be independent of the heating device. For example, in the second cooking stage, while the heating device is working, the control device controls the airflow generating device to work periodically, and in each working cycle, the airflow generating device is first operated for a preset working time, and then the airflow generating device is stopped for a preset stop time. Alternatively, in the second cooking stage, the heating device is first controlled to work, and after the heating device has worked for a second preset time, the airflow generating device is controlled to perform the above periodic work.

[0145] For example, the preset working time can be 5 to 15 seconds, preferably 10 seconds. The preset stop time can be 5 to 15 seconds, preferably 10 seconds.

[0146] In the second cooking stage, for example, the heating device can always operate at a heating power of 200-500W.

[0147] In one embodiment, if Figure 5 As shown, in the second cooking stage, the control device is configured to, after controlling the heating device to periodically operate at the first duty cycle, further control the heating device to periodically operate at the second duty cycle, wherein the second duty cycle is smaller than the first duty cycle.

[0148] When the second duty cycle is selected, the heating power of the heating device can be a power with a duty cycle between 20% and 50%, so that the food in the cooking utensil is still heated. As an example, the heating power is a heating mode with a duty cycle of 20%, 30%, 40% or 50%.

[0149] By optimizing the heating time of the heating device and gradually shortening the heating time, it is possible to prevent the food from getting stuck in the pot and from being overcooked, which can affect the taste of the food.

[0150] In one embodiment, if Figure 5 As shown, in each cycle of operation with the second duty cycle, after the heating device operates for the second heating time, the airflow generating device is controlled to operate. Similar to the aforementioned situation of operation with the first duty cycle, the operation time of the airflow generating device is affected by the operation time of the heating device in the working cycle of the second duty cycle. In each cycle of operation with the second duty cycle, if the duration of the heating device stopping operation is less than the second stop time, the airflow generating device operates until the cycle of operation with the second duty cycle ends. Alternatively, in each cycle of operation with the second duty cycle, if the duration of the heating device stopping operation is greater than or equal to the second stop time, the airflow generating device operates until the heating device stops operating for the second stop time.

[0151] The airflow generating device is always intermittently controlled to work under different heating power states of the heating device. On the one hand, it can prevent foam or food from overflowing from the cooking vessel during the cooking process. On the other hand, the food in the upper part of the cooking vessel is kept at an appropriate degree of dryness and wetness, and moderate hardness and hardness, and the overall taste of the food is kept consistent.

[0152] In one embodiment, if Figure 5 As shown, in the second cooking stage, the control device controls the heating device to periodically operate at a second duty cycle for a second preset operating time.

[0153] In one embodiment, the second preset working time is less than 5 minutes, for example, 3 minutes or 2 minutes may be selected. Figure 5 As shown, the first timer is used to calculate the second preset working time.

[0154] For example, the second heating time is 2 to 5 seconds, and the second timer is used to calculate the second heating time. The second stop time is, for example, 10 to 20 seconds, and the third timer is used to calculate the second stop time.

[0155] In one embodiment, in each cycle of operation at the first duty cycle, the airflow generating device operates for a first working duration, and in each cycle of operation at the second duty cycle, the airflow generating device operates for a second working duration, wherein the first working duration is greater than the second working duration. It can also be understood that the heating power under the first duty cycle is greater than the heating power under the second duty cycle.

[0156] As the heating time of the food by the heating device is gradually shortened, the working time of the airflow generating device can also be gradually shortened, making adaptive changes to effectively maintain the overall taste of the food consistent.

[0157] In one embodiment, in the second cooking stage, the control device can also control the heating device to continue to work with a smaller duty cycle, such as periodically working with a third duty cycle for a third preset working time, and periodically working with a fourth duty cycle for a fourth preset working time, wherein the third duty cycle is smaller than the second duty cycle, and the fourth duty cycle is smaller than the third duty cycle. The purpose is to further improve the cooking quality of food and improve the taste of food. That is, after the food is gradually cooked, the heating power gradually decreases, and the working time of the air pump is also reduced accordingly.

[0158] According to the cooking utensil and the control method thereof of the present application, by improving the working method of the cooking utensil, on the one hand, it is possible to avoid foam or food overflowing from the cooking utensil during the cooking process, and on the other hand, the food in the upper part of the cooking utensil is made to have appropriate wetness and dryness, moderate hardness and softness, and maintain a consistent overall taste of the food, thereby meeting the user's expected food preparation needs, and the food can be eaten directly or used as an intermediate raw material to continue to prepare other types of food, thereby significantly improving the user experience.

[0159] The processes and steps described in all the above preferred embodiments are only examples. Unless adverse effects occur, various processing operations can be performed in a sequence different from the sequence of the above processes. The sequence of steps in the above processes can also be increased, merged or deleted according to actual needs.

[0160] In understanding the scope of the present application, the term "comprising" and its derivatives as used herein are intended to be open terms, which specify the existence of the recorded features, elements, components, groups, wholes and / or steps, but do not exclude the existence of other unrecorded features, elements, components, groups, wholes and / or steps. This concept also applies to words with similar meanings, such as the terms "including", "having" and their derivatives.

[0161] The terms "attached" or "attached" as used herein include: a configuration where an element is directly secured to another element by directly securing the element to the other element; a configuration where an element is indirectly secured to another element by securing the element to an intermediate member which in turn is secured to the other element; and a configuration where one element is integral with the other element, i.e., one element is substantially a part of the other element. This definition also applies to words with similar meanings such as "connect," "connect," "couple," "mount," "bond," "fix," and their derivatives. Finally, terms of degree such as "substantially," "approximately," and "approximately" as used herein represent the amount of deviation that modifies the term such that the end result will not be significantly changed.

[0162] Unless otherwise defined, the technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those generally understood by those skilled in the art of the present application. The terms used herein are only for describing specific implementation purposes and are not intended to limit the present application. The features described herein in one embodiment may be applied to another embodiment individually or in combination with other features, unless the feature is not applicable or otherwise specified in the other embodiment.

[0163] The present application has been described through the above-mentioned embodiments, but it should be understood that the above-mentioned embodiments are only for the purpose of example and description, and are not intended to limit the present application to the described embodiments. In addition, it can be understood by those skilled in the art that the present application is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and more variations and modifications can be made according to the teachings of the present application, and these variations and modifications all fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present application.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a cooking appliance, wherein: The cooking appliance comprises: A cooking space to hold ingredients; A heating device, used for heating the cooking space; a temperature measuring device, used to detect the temperature of the cooking space; and an airflow generating device, one end of which is connected to the cooking space, and the other end of which is connected to the outside world, Characterized in that the control method comprises the following steps: During the first cooking phase of the cooking process: Controlling the heating device to operate so that the temperature of the cooking space reaches a first preset temperature, wherein the first preset temperature is lower than a boiling point; When the temperature of the cooking space reaches the first preset temperature, an overflow prevention process is performed, wherein the overflow prevention process includes: Obtain the temperature T1 of the cooking space, controlling the airflow generating device to work, controlling the airflow generating device to stop working, and Acquiring the temperature T2 of the cooking space; When the working parameters of the overflow prevention process meet the preset conditions, the overflow prevention process is exited and the second cooking stage of the cooking process is performed; when the working parameters of the overflow prevention process do not meet the preset conditions, the overflow prevention process is repeatedly performed. Wherein, the preset conditions are: The difference between the temperature T2 and the temperature T1 is less than a preset temperature difference; or The duration of the overflow prevention process reaches a preset overflow prevention duration.

2. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first preset temperature is 80 to 95° C., and / or The preset anti-overflow time is 2 to 4 minutes.

3. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The overflow prevention process comprises: Obtain the temperature T1 of the cooking space, controlling the airflow generating device to work for a first time period, controlling the airflow generating device to stop working for a second time period, and The temperature T2 of the cooking space is obtained.

4. The control method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first duration is 20 to 40 seconds, and / or The second duration is 5 to 15 seconds.

5. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the difference between the temperature T2 and the temperature T1 is less than the preset temperature difference, the overflow prevention process is exited and the second cooking stage is performed, including: When the difference between the temperature T2 and the temperature T1 is less than the preset temperature difference, timing starts. When the timing reaches a third time, the overflow prevention process is exited and the second cooking stage is executed.

6. The control method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The third duration is 20 to 35 seconds; and / or When the difference between the temperature T2 and the temperature T1 is less than a preset temperature difference, the heating device is controlled to stop working.

7. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the temperature of the cooking space reaches the first preset temperature, the heating power of the heating device is reduced or the heating device is made to heat intermittently.

8. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The second cooking stage includes the following steps: The airflow generating device is controlled to work periodically. In each working cycle, the airflow generating device is first operated for a preset working time, and then stopped for a preset stopping time.

9. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The preset working time is 5 to 15 seconds; and / or The preset stop time is 5 to 15 seconds.

10. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that: In the second cooking stage, the heating device is first controlled to work, and after the heating device has worked for a second preset time, the airflow generating device is controlled to perform the periodic work.

11. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The second cooking stage includes the following steps: Controlling the heating device to operate periodically at a first duty cycle; In each cycle of operation at the first duty cycle, after the heating device operates for a first heating time, controlling the airflow generating device to operate; In each cycle of operation with the first duty cycle, if the duration for which the heating device stops working is less than the first stop duration, the airflow generating device operates until the end of the cycle of operation with the first duty cycle; or, in each cycle of operation with the first duty cycle, if the duration for which the heating device stops working is greater than or equal to the first stop duration, the airflow generating device operates until the heating device stops working for the first stop duration.

12. The control method according to claim 11, characterized in that: The first heating time is 2 to 5 seconds; and / or The first stop time is 10 to 20 seconds.

13. The control method according to claim 11, characterized in that: In the second cooking stage, the heating device is controlled to periodically operate at a first duty cycle for a first preset operating time.

14. The control method according to claim 13, characterized in that: The first preset working time is not less than 5 minutes.

15. The control method according to claim 11, characterized in that: In the second cooking stage, after controlling the heating device to periodically operate at the first duty cycle, the heating device is further controlled to periodically operate at a second duty cycle, wherein the second duty cycle is smaller than the first duty cycle.

16. The control method according to claim 15, characterized in that: In each cycle of operation at the second duty cycle, after the heating device operates for a second heating time, the airflow generating device is controlled to operate, In each cycle of operation with the second duty cycle, if the duration for which the heating device stops working is less than the second stop duration, the airflow generating device operates until the end of the cycle of operation with the second duty cycle; or, in each cycle of operation with the second duty cycle, if the duration for which the heating device stops working is greater than or equal to the second stop duration, the airflow generating device operates until the heating device stops working for the second stop duration.

17. The control method according to claim 16, characterized in that: In each of the cycles of operation at the first duty cycle, the airflow generating device operates for a first operating time. In each of the cycles of operation at the second duty cycle, the airflow generating device operates for a second operating time. The first working time is longer than the second working time.

18. The control method according to claim 16, characterized in that: The second heating time is 2 to 5 seconds; and / or The second stop time is 10 to 20 seconds.

19. A cooking utensil, characterized in that: include: A cooking space to hold ingredients; A heating device, used for heating the cooking space; A temperature measuring device, used to detect the temperature of the cooking space; an airflow generating device, one end of which is in communication with the cooking space, and the other end of which is in communication with the outside world; and a control device, electrically connected to the heating device and the airflow generating device, respectively, to control the operation of the heating device and the airflow generating device, and the control device is also electrically connected to the temperature measuring device to obtain the temperature of the cooking space, Wherein, the control device is configured to execute the steps of the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

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