Intelligent cooking equipment and cooking control method thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to an intelligent cooking device and a cooking control method thereof, which determine cooking conditions for cooking food with reproducibility in an optimal state and thereby automatically control a corresponding cooking process. The intelligent cooking apparatus of the present invention comprises: a support part for supporting a cooking container; a heating unit for heating the cooking container placed on the support unit; a memory unit for storing recipe information; and a control unit that controls the heating unit on the basis of recipe information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an intelligent cooking device, and more particularly to an intelligent cooking device and a cooking control method thereof, which determines cooking conditions so as to cook reproducible dishes in an optimal state and thereby automatically controls the corresponding cooking process. Background Art

[0002] Generally speaking, when food (such as rice) is cooked, water in the rice cooker is heated to 100° C. and after the water in the rice cooker reaches 100° C., the heat is reduced so that the water maintains 100° C. for a certain period of time.

[0003] At this time, when the amount of rice cooked is small and when the amount of rice cooked is large, the time required for the water inside the rice cooker to reach 100°C is compared. It can be found that the time required for the large amount of rice is longer than the time required for the small amount of rice.

[0004] However, the cooking time of a general electric rice cooker is such that the rice can be cooked within a certain time regardless of the amount of rice being cooked. Induction electric rice cookers with higher heating power have a relatively shorter cooking time than general electric rice cookers, but the cooking time is usually independent of the amount of rice being cooked and always remains constant.

[0005] In the above situation, if the cooking time remains constant, when the amount of rice cooked is small, the rice may be burnt due to the long cooking time, while when the amount of rice cooked is large, the rice may be undercooked due to the short cooking time.

[0006] As a result, even when cooking the same food, it is necessary to appropriately set the cooking time and cooking temperature according to the amount of food put in to cook the best food.

[0007] In addition, cooking appliances such as induction cookers that use electromagnetic induction heating, ceramic cookers that use electric heating elements to heat cooking containers, and electric hot plates work by using electrical energy to heat the cooking containers. Therefore, the heating part can be electrically controlled, thereby automatically controlling the power consumed to heat the cooking appliance and the heating time.

[0008] Induction cookers, in particular, utilize induction heating. Because the active coils don't generate heat, the upper plate maintains a relatively low temperature even during cooking, offering a relatively safer cooking experience. Furthermore, induction cookers utilize induction heating to heat the cooking vessel itself, resulting in higher energy efficiency compared to direct heating methods like ceramic hobs and even hot plates.

[0009] In typical recipes, cooking temperatures are often expressed qualitatively, such as medium or medium-low, and cooking times are often expressed as approximate times, such as minutes. When following a recipe like the one above, chefs may have different definitions of medium and medium-low temperatures. Therefore, even when using the same recipe, the cooking results may vary depending on the chef and the cooking equipment used.

[0010] In addition, the cooking time is also expressed as approximately 3 minutes or approximately 2 minutes, and the chef needs to confirm the cooking status with the naked eye and adjust the cooking time. Therefore, it is difficult for people without cooking experience to cook reproducible dishes using the recipes mentioned above.

[0011] Furthermore, existing cooking devices require users to directly set the cooking temperature, or even when the cooking temperature is automatically controlled, the heat source can only be turned on / off.

[0012] In order to cook the best dishes, the cooking temperature needs to be adjusted according to each cooking stage and even the ingredients. However, if the temperature is controlled only by user input or even by on / off control of the heat source, the cooking temperature will change according to the chef, resulting in the problem of not being able to heat the ingredients to the required cooking temperature or having difficulty maintaining the optimal cooking temperature.

[0013] Furthermore, the set temperature displayed in common cooking equipment (e.g., induction cooktops) during cooking is not an effective parameter for generating reproducible recipes.

[0014] For example, there is often a difference between the actual temperature at the start of heating and the temperature set and displayed during the cooking process. In particular, the time required to reach the set temperature can also vary depending on the amount of ingredients put in and the type of cooking container used. Therefore, even if ordinary people cook according to a recipe, it is difficult to cook reproducible dishes.

[0015] For reference, the weight of a cooking container varies depending on its type, and as described above, the weight of the cooking container affects the time it takes to reach the target temperature. Therefore, the time it takes to reach the target temperature will also vary depending on the type of cooking container used in a corresponding dish.

[0016] Therefore, in order to cook reproducible dishes, it is necessary to reflect information related to the container used and the information of the ingredients being cooked, and to properly control the output power and cooking time when heating the corresponding container and ingredients.

[0017] Existing patent literature

[0018] Patent Literature

[0019] Patent Document 1: Korean Registered Patent No. 10-1632742 (registered on June 16, 2016)

[0020] Patent Document 2: Korean Registered Patent No. 10-2153494 (registered on September 2, 2020) Summary of the Invention

[0021] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0022] The present invention aims to solve the existing problems as described above. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an intelligent cooking device and a cooking control method thereof, which can input information related to the type of cooking container used in the cooking process and the amount of ingredients put in, and set the optimal output power and cooking time based on the cooking container used and the amount of ingredients according to the progress of cooking, and then automatically control the cooking process of the corresponding dish based on the power and time set in the manner as described above.

[0023] Another object of the present invention is to provide an intelligent cooking device and a cooking control method thereof, which can input all cooking-related information such as the weight and specific heat of the ingredients to be cooked and even the weight and specific heat of the cooking container, so as to automatically control the output power and cooking time according to specific conditions in order to cook reproducible dishes.

[0024] Means used to solve problems

[0025] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the intelligent cooking device according to the present invention includes: a support part for supporting a cooking container; a heating part for heating the cooking container placed on the support part; a memory part for storing recipe information; and a control part for controlling the heating part based on the recipe information.

[0026] The intelligent cooking device controls the heating part based on the first recipe information stored in the memory part.

[0027] The first recipe information is information for cooking a first dish, including dish name information, cooking container information, ingredient information, output power information, and cooking time information.

[0028] The cooking container information includes weight information or identification information related to various types of cooking containers that can be used for the first recipe.

[0029] The ingredient information includes information related to the amount of ingredients that can be used in the first dish.

[0030] The output power information includes output powers inherently set according to the cooking container information and the food information.

[0031] The cooking time information includes cooking times inherently set according to the cooking container information and the food information.

[0032] The cooking time may be a heating time during which the heating unit is driven.

[0033] The smart cooking device uses the first recipe information to set the output power and cooking time according to the type of cooking container and the amount of ingredients used in the first dish, and controls the heating part according to the set output power and cooking time to complete the cooking process.

[0034] Effects of the Invention

[0035] The intelligent cooking device and cooking control method according to the present invention can automatically control the optimal output power and cooking time based on the ingredients used in a dish, particularly the type of cooking vessel. This improves the problem of variations in dish taste depending on the chef, the type of cooking vessel used, and the amount of ingredients, allowing even inexperienced cooks to consistently produce reproducible, optimal dishes.

[0036] Through the intelligent cooking device and cooking control method according to the present invention, all information related to cooking, such as the weight and specific heat of the ingredients and even the weight and specific heat of the cooking container, can be provided, so that the output power (i.e., cooking temperature) and cooking time can be automatically controlled according to specific conditions in order to cook the best and reproducible dishes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the structure of the intelligent cooking device according to the present invention.

[0038] Figure 2 This is a general half-bridge inductive drive circuit diagram.

[0039] Figure 3 This is a graph illustrating changes in output power according to frequency.

[0040] Figure 4 is a sequence diagram of a cooking control method including a first control function of an intelligent cooking device according to the present invention.

[0041] Figure 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating the output power control process of the intelligent cooking device according to the present invention.

[0042] Figure 6 FIG. 4 is an example of illustrating an operation button for extracting a first recipe according to the present invention.

[0043] Description of Reference Numerals

[0044] 1: Cooking container

[0045] 10: Support part

[0046] 20: Switch

[0047] 30: Coil

[0048] 40: Weight sensor

[0049] 50: Temperature sensor

[0050] 60: Memory

[0051] 70: Control Department DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] The terms used in this specification are intended only to illustrate specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, singular statements also include the plural. In this specification, terms such as "including" or "having" are used only to indicate the presence of a feature, number, step, action, constituent element, component, or combination thereof described in the specification and should not be construed as excluding the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, constituent elements, components, or combinations thereof may exist or be added.

[0053] Furthermore, the phrase "upper or upper portion" in this specification refers to being above or below the target portion, but does not necessarily mean being located on the upper side relative to the direction of gravity. In other words, the phrase "upper or upper portion" in this specification includes not only being above or below the target portion, but also being located in front of or behind the target portion.

[0054] In addition, when it is described that a region, plate or other part is located "on or above" another part, it includes not only the case where it is directly in contact with or at a certain distance from another part "on or above", but also the case where there is another part in between.

[0055] In addition, in this specification, when it is recorded that a constituent element is "connected" or "connected" to other constituent elements, the constituent element can be directly connected or directly connected to the other constituent elements, but unless otherwise clearly stated to the contrary, it should be understood that the two can be connected or connected with other constituent elements as the medium.

[0056] In addition, in this specification, terms such as "first" and "second" may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from other components.

[0057] Next, preferred embodiments, advantages and features of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0058] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the structure of the intelligent cooking device according to the present invention.

[0059] See Figure 1 The intelligent cooking device according to the present invention includes: a support part 10 for supporting a cooking container 1; a heating part for heating the cooking container 1 placed on the support part 10; a memory part 60 for storing recipe information; and a control part 70 for controlling the heating part based on the recipe information.

[0060] In an extended embodiment, the intelligent cooking device of the present invention may further include: a weight sensing unit 40 for detecting weight information of the cooking container 1 ; and a temperature sensing unit 50 for detecting temperature information of the cooking container 1 .

[0061] Preferably, the intelligent cooking device according to the present invention may also include: a communication module (not shown) for conducting wired wireless communication with a remote device through a communication network; an information input component (not shown) for receiving information input from a user; and an information output component (not shown) for outputting information to the outside.

[0062] In one embodiment, the intelligent cooking device may include an induction range cooker using an induction heating method.

[0063] As described above, when the intelligent cooking device of the present invention is configured in the form of an induction cooker using an induction heating method, the heating portion of the present invention includes the coil 30 and may also be equipped with a switch portion 20 for controlling the operation of the coil 30 .

[0064] In the above situation, when the power is applied, a high-frequency voltage of a specific magnitude is applied to the coil 30, forming a magnetic field around the coil 30. This generates numerous eddy currents at the center of the magnetic flux lines. The resistance of the metal material of the cooking container 1 causes the cooking container 1 to heat itself, thereby achieving the purpose of cooking.

[0065] The switch unit 20 may function to generate an alternating current in order to form a magnetic field.

[0066] The support portion 10 supports the object to be heated while keeping the coil 30 at a certain distance from the object to be heated (ie, the cooking container 1 ), and allows electromagnetic waves emitted from the object to be heated to pass through.

[0067] The support portion 10 may include a plate-shaped flat plate. The flat plate may have a flat upper surface to stably support the heated object. In one embodiment, the flat plate may be formed of a glass material having excellent heat resistance.

[0068] The coil 30 is provided on the lower side of the plate and can receive power supply. The coil 30 comprises a conductive material and can induction heat the object to be heated placed on the upper side of the plate according to the selective power supply.

[0069] The weight sensor 40 of the present invention is a device for detecting the weight information of the heated object (ie, the cooking container 1 ) placed on the support 10 (eg, a flat plate).

[0070] Therefore, when a chef places a specific cooking container 1 on the support portion 10 to cook food, the weight of the corresponding cooking container can be measured by the weight sensor portion 40 .

[0071] In addition, the weight sensor 40 of the present invention can detect the weight of the cooking container 1, the weight of the food put into the corresponding cooking container 1, and the weight change of the food being cooked in the cooking container 1.

[0072] In one embodiment, the weight sensing unit 40 is a transducer for measuring force or load. It may include a load cell, a load sensor, or a force sensor that converts force or load into an electrical signal for transmission by detecting changes in resistance of a strain gauge attached to the sensor surface or deformation of a load cell. For example, the weight sensing unit may include a load cell.

[0073] In the case described above, the weight sensing unit 40 can measure the weight change when the heated body is placed on the support unit and when food is put into the cooking container 1, and amplify the measured value in the signal amplification unit. Then, the analog signal is converted into a digital signal through an analog / digital (A / D) converter and transmitted to the control unit 70.

[0074] The temperature sensor 50 of the present invention is configured to detect the temperature of the cooking container 1. In one embodiment, the temperature sensor 50 may include an infrared sensor located in the center of the coil 30, which measures the temperature by sensing infrared (IR) rays emitted from the heater.

[0075] Furthermore, the present invention can ensure optimal cooking and extract optimal cooking information by accurately measuring the temperature of a heated object or a portion of a cooking container. However, the temperature can also be measured using thermistors such as negative temperature coefficient (NTC) and positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistors commonly used in induction cookers, or thermocouples utilizing the thermoelectric effect.

[0076] The memory unit 60 of the present invention is an information storage medium that stores recipe information for various dishes, including the first recipe information. The recipe information stored in the memory unit 60 can be directly input and stored by a user via an information input component, stored in an external memory mounted on the intelligent cooking device, or received and stored from a remote management server or electronic device terminal via a communication network.

[0077] The communication module of the present invention is used to transmit and receive recipe information with remote devices via a wired or wireless network, wherein the remote devices include other intelligent cooking devices, intelligent cooking device management servers, and electronic equipment terminals.

[0078] In addition, the smart cooking device management server may be a server of a management company that has cooking experts specifically extract and generate recipe information suitable for smart cooking devices and provide it to users of the smart cooking devices for a fee or free of charge.

[0079] In addition, the electronic device interrupt can be composed of various terminals such as smart phones, portable terminals, mobile terminals, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable multimedia players (PMPs), personal computers, notebook computers, touch-screen tablet computers (Slate PCs), tablet computers (Tablet PCs), and ultrabooks.

[0080] The communication module may be composed of a wired / wireless short-range or long-range communication module. For example, the communication module may be composed of a long-range wired wireless communication module such as a wireless broadband (WiBro) communication module including a third-generation mobile communication (3G) module and a fourth-generation mobile communication (4G) module, and a wireless fidelity (Wifi) communication module, or a short-range communication module such as a Zigbee, Bluetooth, and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication module, or a wired communication module such as RS232, RS422, RS485, and a Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP).

[0081] The information input component of the present invention is a device that can input letters, symbols, numbers, etc., and can be composed of an input device such as a touch screen or even a keyboard.

[0082] The information input through the information input component is a type of information used for extracting and generating recipe information, which may be all information related to cooking, such as the weight information or identification information of the container used, the name of the input ingredients, the amount of input ingredients (such as the weight of the ingredients and the number of servings, etc.), the output power and the cooking time.

[0083] The information output unit is a component for outputting information related to cooking to the outside, and may include a display unit and a notification unit.

[0084] In one embodiment, the display unit may be composed of an image display device (such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) and an organic light emitting diode (OLED)) that can display letters, numbers, and symbols in order to visually display cooking information, cooking progress status, and various cooking-related information to the outside.

[0085] The notification unit may be in the form of a speaker that prompts the user to proceed to the next step or add ingredients using an auditory method such as voice or sound according to the progress of the cooking process.

[0086] The control unit 70 of the present invention is a device that cooks the best dish by automatically controlling cooking-related factors such as output power and cooking time for cooking the corresponding dish based on recipe information stored in a memory.

[0087] To this end, the control unit 70 measures the output power and maintains the power stably by adjusting the frequency of the switch unit 20, controls the time of loading the output power, receives information from the weight sensor unit 40, the temperature sensor unit 50, the memory unit 60 and the information input component (not shown) and controls them, and is also used to perform control functions including the first control and the second control.

[0088] Figure 2 This is a general half-bridge inductive drive circuit diagram. Figure 3 This is a graph illustrating changes in output power according to frequency.

[0089] See Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 When switch S1 is closed and switch S2 is open, a current in the i+ direction will flow through the coil, and when switch S1 is open and switch S2 is closed, a current in the i- direction will flow through the coil, that is, an AC current will flow through the induction coil.

[0090] By alternately opening and closing switches S1 and S2 to supply AC current to induction coil L1, a magnetic field is generated. By varying the frequency at which switches S1 and S2 are alternately opened and closed, the output power can be varied. Generally, the output power can be measured using the relationship "output power = voltage × current" by measuring the average voltage across resistor R11 and the average current flowing through resistor R9.

[0091] Furthermore, the power supply from power companies can vary significantly depending on region and time of day. In South Korea, homes and general commercial facilities are supplied with 220V power. However, the voltage generally decreases during periods of high power usage and increases during periods of low power usage. Furthermore, the voltage is higher in areas close to substations, while lower in areas farther away. As mentioned above, due to variations in supply voltage, the official tolerance for the power supply from power companies to homes is 220±13V.

[0092] The output power of induction heating depends on the switching frequency. Generally, an induction cooker fixes the frequency corresponding to the power level output during heating. Therefore, when the voltage of the input power supply changes, the power output for heating will also change.

[0093] That is, when the input power increases, the actual output power will increase even if the output level remains the same. Conversely, when the input power decreases, the actual output power will decrease even if the output level remains the same.

[0094] In the heating of the electromagnetic induction cooker, the output power will be as follows: Figure 3 Generally speaking, electromagnetic heating operating in the electromagnetic induction region will have a lower output when the frequency increases, and an increase when the frequency decreases.

[0095] To obtain the set output, the switch is opened and closed at an initially set frequency to allow AC current to flow through the coil. The output voltage is measured by measuring the average voltage across R11 and the average current flowing through R9.

[0096] At this time, when the measured output (i.e., actual output) is lower than the target output, the measured output is increased by reducing the frequency according to a certain ratio, and when the measured output is higher than the target output, the measured output is reduced by increasing the frequency according to a certain ratio, thereby adjusting the switching frequency so that the target output is consistent with the measured output (i.e., actual output).

[0097] As described above, by measuring the actual output power in real time, the switching frequency can be adjusted according to a certain ratio so that the actual output is the same as the target power set according to the first recipe information, thereby stably maintaining the output power even when the input power supply voltage changes.

[0098] Furthermore, even when the type of container used for cooking or the weight of ingredients changes, the output power can be controlled to be consistent with the target power by adjusting the switching frequency in real time.

[0099] Next, the recipe information generating function, the first control function (recipe reproducing function), and the second control function (recipe extracting function) of the intelligent cooking device according to the present invention will be described in detail.

[0100] (1) Recipe information generation function

[0101] The recipe information of the present invention is cooking-related information used to cook the best and reproducible dishes, and is particularly information that supports automatic cooking control of intelligent cooking devices.

[0102] The recipe information described above may be generated by a specific chef (eg, a professional chef or a culinary researcher) using an intelligent cooking device, and the recipe information generated in the manner described above may be provided to and shared with multiple intelligent cooking devices.

[0103] As an example, the recipe information of the present invention can be specially extracted by cooking experts or even management companies to generate recipe information suitable for smart cooking devices and provided to users of multiple smart cooking devices for a fee or free of charge.

[0104] That is, the recipe information generation function of the smart cooking device according to the present invention can generate recipe information (hereinafter referred to as "first recipe information") that especially includes cooking container information in order to maximize the reproducibility of the first dish developed by a specific chef when a plurality of unspecified ordinary people use the smart cooking device to cook a specific dish (hereinafter referred to as "first dish").

[0105] For reference, the set temperature displayed in general cooking equipment (such as induction cookers, etc.) during the cooking process is not an effective parameter for generating reproducible recipes.

[0106] For example, there is often a difference between the actual temperature at the start of heating and the temperature set and displayed during the cooking process. In particular, the time required to reach the set temperature can also vary depending on the amount of ingredients put in and the type of cooking container used. Therefore, even if ordinary people cook according to a recipe, it is difficult to cook reproducible dishes.

[0107] For reference, the weight of a cooking container varies depending on its type, and as described above, the weight of the cooking container affects the time it takes to reach the target temperature. Therefore, the time it takes to reach the target temperature will also vary depending on the type of cooking container used in a corresponding dish.

[0108] By controlling the output power and time used in the cooking process using the power output during the cooking time as a parameter, it is possible to cook dishes with reproducibility.

[0109] Next, the relationship between heat and electric energy will be explained.

[0110] One calorie (cal) is the energy required to raise the temperature of "1g" of water with a specific heat of "1" by 1°C, and can be expressed by the following mathematical formula 1.

[0111] [Mathematical formula 1]

[0112] Q(cal)=C×M(g)×Δt(℃)

[0113] (In Mathematical Formula 1, C: specific heat, M: weight, Δt: temperature difference)

[0114] In addition, 1 joule (J) is the energy generated when 1 watt of electricity is used for 1 second, and can be expressed by the following mathematical formula 2.

[0115] [Mathematical formula 2]

[0116] Energy (J) = Power (W) × Time (sec)

[0117] Furthermore, a calorie represents the amount of energy, or heat, transferred between objects of different temperatures, while a joule represents electrical energy and has the relationship of "1 calorie = 4.2 joules." Therefore, the relationship shown in the following mathematical formula 3 holds true.

[0118] [Mathematical formula 3]

[0119] Q(cal)=C×M(g)×Δt(℃)=4.2Joule

[0120] When the heating object is divided into a container (M C ) and cooking ingredients (M F ), the result is shown in the following mathematical formula 4.

[0121] [Formula 4]

[0122] Q=Q C +Q F =C C ×M C ×Δt+C F ×M F ×Δt

[0123] In order to cook reproducible dishes, it is necessary to maintain a stable heat Q applied to the food. F In order to stably maintain the heat Q applied to the foodF If the total heat applied to the container and the food is assumed to be constant, the heat Q applied to the container needs to be maintained stably. C .

[0124] However, when the weight or specific heat of the container used for cooking is different, the amount of heat Q applied to the container C It is also impossible to maintain stability, so the heat Q applied to the food F It will also not be possible to maintain stability, making it impossible to cook reproducible dishes.

[0125] Therefore, to ensure reproducible cooking, recipes require information about the weight and material of the container being used, as well as the type and weight of the ingredients being used. Furthermore, before cooking begins, a process must be performed to verify that the required cooking container is suitable and that the required ingredients and weights are correct.

[0126] The recipe information generation function of the present invention and the first recipe information generated thereby are used to solve the problems described above.

[0127] Specifically, the first recipe information generated by the recipe information generating function of the present invention is information for cooking a first dish, including cooking container information, dish name information, ingredient information, output power information, and cooking time information.

[0128] The cooking container information includes weight information or identification information related to various types of cooking containers that can be used for the first recipe.

[0129] The ingredient information includes information related to the amount of ingredients that can be used in the first dish.

[0130] The output power information includes output powers inherently set according to the cooking container information and the food information.

[0131] The cooking time information includes cooking times inherently set according to the cooking container information and the food information.

[0132] The cooking time information may be the heating time of the heating unit.

[0133] The cooking container information in the first recipe information may include identification information of each cooking container among multiple types of cooking containers that can be used in the first dish, or weight information of each cooking container, or both identification information and weight information.

[0134] For example, assuming that the first cooking container is assigned first identification information, the second cooking container is assigned second identification information, and the third cooking container is assigned third identification information, in this case, the first recipe information will include the first, second, and third identification information.

[0135] In one example of the present invention, the identification information of the cooking container information may include an identification code inherently assigned to each of the plurality of types of cooking containers. In the case described above, the identification code may include at least one selected from a product model, a QR code, and a barcode.

[0136] The product model may be a serial number composed of numbers or letters inherently assigned to the corresponding cooking container, and may also include manufacturing company information.

[0137] The dish name information in the first recipe information may include unique identification information used to distinguish it from the second, third, and Nth recipes, and may also include information related to the food to be cooked using the corresponding recipe. For example, if the first recipe information is for cooking "Spicy Soup," the dish name information in the first recipe information may include information indicating "Spicy Soup."

[0138] The ingredient names in the first recipe information include information on the types and amounts of ingredients that can be used in the dish corresponding to the first recipe information.

[0139] In the case described above, the ingredient quantity information is used to indicate and identify the amount of ingredients that the chef needs to put into the corresponding cooking container in order to cook food corresponding to the dish name information, which is also used as one of the factors for determining the output power and cooking time described later.

[0140] In one embodiment of the present invention, the ingredient quantity information may be represented by the product name of the meal kit used to cook the first dish, the total weight (g) of the ingredients, or a number of servings (e.g., 1 serving or 3 servings).

[0141] In one embodiment, a meal pack produced and sold by "Eats On" of Yakurt in South Korea, consisting of 80g of beef brisket, 200g of buckwheat noodles, 40g of shredded radish, 1g of kelp powder, 6g of mustard, 10g of radish sprouts, and 100g of buckwheat paste, can be represented by its product name, namely, "Beef Brisket Soba Noodles".

[0142] In another embodiment, the ingredient quantity information may be represented as the total weight of all ingredients added when cooking the first dish.

[0143] In another embodiment, when the amount of ingredients for cooking the first dish is input in units of servings, the input servings can be converted into weight, and the weight information can be reflected in determining the output power and cooking time described later.

[0144] The output power information of the first recipe information includes information on the type of cooking container used when cooking the first dish and the output power (W) uniquely set according to the amount of ingredients put in.

[0145] The cooking time information of the first recipe information includes information on the type of cooking container suitable for cooking the first dish and the cooking time (seconds / minutes) inherently set according to the amount of ingredients put in.

[0146] For reference, the cooking time in the first recipe information can be the heating time, i.e., the time during which the heating unit outputs a certain power. Furthermore, the cooking time in the first recipe information can also include the time during which the heating unit is disconnected from the power supply and does not heat the rice. Specifically, while cooking generally requires a certain amount of time for heating at a certain power, after cooking is complete, a certain amount of time may be required without heating to allow the rice to simmer, or a certain amount of time may be required without heating to allow the rice to soak before cooking.

[0147] The cooking time as described above can be adjusted by controlling the driving time of the heating unit or even the on / off operation.

[0148] Table 1 below is an example illustrating a portion of the first recipe information according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0149] Table 1

[0150]

[0151] In one embodiment, the output power information and cooking time information included in the first recipe information may be in the form of a data table as shown in Table 1. In the example of Table 1, it can be confirmed that the cooking containers are divided into first, second, and third cooking containers, and the unique identification codes are matched to the cooking containers, respectively, and the ingredient quantities are divided into 1 serving, 2 servings, and 3 servings.

[0152] In addition, in the example of Table 1, the inherent output power and cooking time are set according to the amount of each ingredient put in when using the first cooking container (i.e., how many servings), the inherent output power and cooking time are set according to the amount of each ingredient put in when using the second cooking container, and the output power and cooking time are set according to the amount of each ingredient put in when using the third container.

[0153] Thus, according to the first recipe information, even when cooking the same dish, ie, the first dish, the output power (W) and cooking time will vary depending on the type of cooking container used and the amount of ingredients put in.

[0154] In addition, the first recipe information may also include information related to a step in which the output power (W) is "0 (zero)", i.e., the time during which the output power is maintained at "0". This is because while a typical cooking process requires heating at a certain power level for a certain period of time, a dish such as rice may require an additional cooking process in which the output power is maintained at 0 W for a certain period of time in order to simmer the rice after cooking.

[0155] In an extended embodiment, the first recipe information is information for cooking a first dish, and can be divided into N cooking steps.

[0156] Table 2 below is an example illustrating a portion of the recipe information according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0157] Table 2

[0158] Cooking steps Add ingredients Amount of food input Output power Cooking time The first one cooking oil 15g(1T) 2500W 0.5 minutes The second pork 300g 3200W 3 minutes The third Seasoning 100g 3000W 1 minute The fourth vegetable 160g 2800W 2 minutes

[0159] In the above situation, the ingredient quantity in the ingredient quantity information can be differentiated and set according to the input quantity (for example, weight) of each of the N cooking steps, the output power in the output power information can be differentiated and set according to the size of each of the N cooking steps, and the cooking time in the cooking time information can be differentiated and set according to the time of each of the N cooking steps.

[0160] For example, in a case where the first recipe information is divided into three cooking steps, the output power information can be respectively set according to the cooking container used in the first cooking step and the amount of ingredients put in, the output power can be respectively set according to the cooking container used in the second cooking step and the amount of ingredients put in (i.e., the sum of all ingredients put in up to the second step), and the output power can be respectively set according to the cooking container used in the third cooking step and the amount of ingredients put in (i.e., the sum of all ingredients put in up to the third step).

[0161] Similarly, when the first recipe information is divided into three cooking steps, the cooking time information can be set separately according to the cooking container used in the first cooking step and the amount of ingredients put in, the cooking time can be set separately according to the cooking container used in the second cooking step and the amount of ingredients put in (that is, the sum of all ingredients put in until the second step), and the cooking time can be set separately according to the cooking container used in the third cooking step and the amount of ingredients put in (that is, the sum of all ingredients put in until the third step).

[0162] The first recipe information generated in the above manner can be provided to other smart cooking devices after being assigned a unique identification code (ID). In the above case, the smart cooking device can also include a function of assigning a unique code (ID) to the first recipe information as described above.

[0163] For example, assume that the optimal heating temperature for cooking the first dish is 75°C and the cooking time is 10 minutes. In this case, even if the heating temperature of the smart cooking device is set to 75°C for cooking the first dish, there may be a difference between the set temperature and the actual temperature depending on the type of cooking container used for cooking the dish, that is, the weight of the cooking container, and thus the time it takes to reach the set temperature may also vary.

[0164] That is, even when cooking the same recipe, the weight of the cooking vessel used will vary depending on the type of cooking vessel used. Therefore, only by determining the optimal output power and cooking time based on the type (i.e., weight) of the cooking vessel used when cooking the corresponding dish and the amount of ingredients put in can the best and reproducible dish be cooked.

[0165] The intelligent cooking device according to the present invention not only reflects the type of dish and the amount of ingredients put in, but also, in particular, the type and even the weight of the cooking container used when cooking the corresponding dish, thereby cooking the best and reproducible dish, which can be achieved through the first control function described below.

[0166] (2) First control function (recipe reproduction function)

[0167] Figure 4 is a sequence diagram of a cooking control method including a first control function of an intelligent cooking device according to the present invention.

[0168] See Figure 4 The intelligent cooking device according to the present invention ensures that reproducible dishes can be cooked under optimal cooking conditions through the first control function, and the first control as described above can be executed by the control unit 70.

[0169] The control unit 70 may determine the type of cooking container used in the first dish using the cooking container information input by the chef when cooking the first dish.

[0170] The first control function includes a process of confirming information of a cooking vessel used in a corresponding dish based on the recipe information of each dish including the first recipe information as described above, and confirming the amount of ingredients put in during cooking.

[0171] In other words, the intelligent cooking device may further include a step of requesting the chef to confirm information about the cooking vessel to be used and the ingredients to be added based on the first recipe information. In this case, upon receiving the chef's input in response to the request for confirmation, the control unit 70 of the intelligent cooking device may refer to the first recipe information to set the output power and cooking time, and thereby control the control unit.

[0172] The first control function includes controlling the set output power and cooking time when the user confirms the cooking container to be used and the amount of ingredients put in, so as to cook a reproducible target dish according to the first recipe.

[0173] That is, the control unit 70 of the smart cooking device can use the recipe information matching it when cooking a specific dish, and control the cooking process according to the output power and cooking time set according to the type of cooking container used in the corresponding dish and the amount of ingredients put in.

[0174] Therefore, in order to execute the first control function of the intelligent cooking device according to the present invention, as a prerequisite, recipe information of a plurality of different dishes including the first recipe information described in advance needs to be input and stored in the corresponding intelligent cooking device.

[0175] As described above, the recipe information can be stored in the corresponding smart cooking device for sale when the smart cooking device is shipped, or input through an information input component installed in the smart cooking device. It can also be received and stored from a remote device such as a communication module, a connection port, or an external memory. The remote device refers to other smart cooking devices, a smart cooking device management server, an external memory (such as a USB), and an electronic device terminal.

[0176] As described above, the first control function of the present invention is to refer to the corresponding recipe information when cooking a specific dish and control the cooking process according to the output power and cooking time corresponding to the type of the corresponding cooking container and the amount of ingredients put in. The output power and cooking time as described above can be adjusted by controlling the heating part.

[0177] That is, the control unit 70 can control the heating unit to drive the cooking unit according to the output power determined according to the corresponding recipe, and can also control the driving time and even the on / off switching of the heating unit to cook according to the determined cooking time.

[0178] In addition, the type of cooking container used in the corresponding dish can be identified by the chef using the information input component to input an identification code (such as a product model and a QR code, etc.) into the corresponding smart cooking device, and the dish name and ingredient quantity can also be identified by the chef using the information input component to input relevant information into the corresponding smart cooking device.

[0179] For example, when it is necessary to cook the first dish, the chef first inputs information related to the dish name (e.g., fried pork), identification information indicating the type of cooking container (e.g., a first identification code), and the amount of ingredients (e.g., 2 servings) through an information input component such as a touch panel light mounted on the smart cooking device.

[0180] Next, the smart cooking device (i.e., the control unit) that receives the information input related to the first dish as described above sets the optimal output power and cooking time for cooking two servings of fried pork using the cooking container corresponding to the first identification code by referring to the first recipe information.

[0181] In addition, the corresponding intelligent cooking device (ie, the control unit) controls the heating unit to perform the cooking process according to the output power and cooking time set in the manner described above.

[0182] Furthermore, assume that the cooking container information in the first recipe information as described above includes information related to the first to third cooking containers as a plurality of types of cooking containers that can be used in the first dish, and the chef uses a fourth cooking container (hereinafter referred to as an "unregistered cooking container") that is not included in the cooking container information in the first recipe information as described above.

[0183] In the above case, since the first recipe information does not contain the output power and cooking time information uniquely set for the unregistered cooking vessel, the control unit 70 cannot determine the output power and cooking time when using the unregistered cooking vessel.

[0184] As described above, when the chef cooks the first dish using an unregistered cooking container that is not included in the cooking container information in the first recipe information, the control unit 70 may determine the output power and cooking time as follows.

[0185] That is, when the cooking container information of the first recipe information does not include weight information or identification information related to the corresponding unregistered cooking container, the control unit 70 obtains the weight information of the corresponding unregistered cooking container (hereinafter referred to as "measured weight information") through the weight sensor unit 40.

[0186] Next, the control unit 70 determines the output power and cooking time for cooking the first dish based on the weight information and ingredient information acquired using the above method (hereinafter referred to as "first ingredient information"). The first ingredient information is the ingredient information included in the first recipe information, including information regarding the amounts of ingredients that can be used in the first dish.

[0187] Next, the control unit 70 controls the heating unit to perform the cooking process of the first dish according to the output power and cooking time determined as described above.

[0188] In one embodiment, the control unit 70 outputs information about the cooking container used in the dish of the first recipe information and information about the ingredients including the amount of ingredients to the outside in an auditory or visual manner (i.e., notification or even display), and receives confirmation from the chef involved.

[0189] That is, the control unit 70 can confirm the type of cooking container and ingredients used in the cooking input into the first recipe information, and allow the user to confirm the type and weight of the ingredients to be put in through the speaker or display before starting the cooking.

[0190] In the first cooking step, the induction cooker is controlled according to the set output power, and automatically transitions to the second cooking step after the set induction cooker operation time. When ingredients need to be added in the second cooking step, the chef is guided to add them through a notification or display. In the second cooking step, the induction cooker is controlled according to the set output power, and automatically transitions to the third cooking step after the set induction cooker operation time. The control unit 70 described above controls the heating unit to sequentially execute the N cooking steps input into the first recipe information.

[0191] In one embodiment, the control unit 70 may correct the actual cooking time based on the difference between the output power actually output in each cooking step when cooking the first dish and the output power set in the cooking step of the first recipe information.

[0192] In the above case, the control unit 70 calculates the output power (W) set in the nth cooking step of the first recipe information. s ) and the cooking time (t) to calculate the set power (W s ·t).

[0193] Next, the control unit 70 controls the output power (W) actually output during the cooking process according to the n-th cooking step. R ) is measured, the output power (W R ) multiplied by the actual cooking time (t+Δt) (i.e., the actual power (W R ·(t+Δt))) becomes equal to the set power amount (W S ·t) the same actual cooking time (t+Δt).

[0194] Next, the control unit 70 controls the heating unit to perform the cooking process of the first dish according to the actual cooking time calculated and corrected as described above.

[0195] That is, in order to compensate for the difference in power caused by the difference between the output power set in the first recipe information and the actually measured output power, the intelligent cooking device of the present invention can extend or shorten the cooking time set in the first recipe information by a time equivalent to "Δt", thereby determining the actual cooking time.

[0196] For example, when the output power set in the nth cooking step is 1800W and the set cooking time is 1 minute (60 seconds), and the actual output power measured in the nth cooking step is 1740W, the actual cooking time can be corrected in such a way that the total power actually output in the nth cooking step (1740×62=107880) becomes close to or the same as the set total power (1800×60=108000) by extending the actual heating time by 2 seconds.

[0197] In contrast, when the actual output power is 1860W, the actual cooking time can be corrected by shortening the actual heating time by 2 seconds so that the total power actually output in the nth cooking step (1860×58=107880) becomes close to or the same as the set total power (1800×60=108000).

[0198] (3) Second control function (recipe extraction function)

[0199] The second control function of the control unit 70 includes heating the food with a power that is maximally equal to the set output power and stably maintaining the corresponding output power, and controlling the time required in each cooking step in real time.

[0200] For reference, in order to cook dishes with reproducibility, the cooking power (i.e., output power) set in the cooking information of the recipe information described above must be maintained stably after reaching it. Specifically, the difference between the actual heating power (actual measured power) and the cooking power set in each cooking step of the cooking information must be minimized during the corresponding cooking step.

[0201] However, during the actual cooking process, there is usually a difference between the actual output power and the output power set in the first recipe information, and it is usually difficult to stably maintain the output power due to reasons such as interference.

[0202] The second function of the control unit 70 of the present invention proposes a method that enables the intelligent cooking device to heat ingredients at a temperature that is maximally the same as the cooking temperature set in the recipe information, and can also maintain the corresponding cooking temperature as stably as possible, thereby helping the chef to always cook the best dishes.

[0203] Figure 6 This is an example of illustrating an operation button for extracting a first recipe according to the present invention. Figure 6 The intelligent cooking device of the present invention includes a power adjustment button for setting the power of the first cooking step after the container and ingredients are put into the container, a start button for notifying the user to start cooking, and a storage button for storing N cooking steps.

[0204] The intelligent cooking device of the present invention may further include a display screen for displaying the cooking step currently being performed, the power output in the corresponding cooking step, and the time required in the corresponding cooking step.

[0205] Next, we will refer to Figure 6 The functions of the control unit 70 will be described. The power adjustment buttons indicated by arrows are buttons for setting the power value. Pressing the increase button (△) increases the power, while pressing the decrease button (▽) decreases the power.

[0206] Before pressing the start button, the power value of the first step can be set, and when pressing the start button, the induction cooker will be driven according to the set power. After starting cooking, the required power can be changed to by pressing the arrow button.

[0207] After pressing the power adjustment button and a certain amount of time (e.g., 3 seconds) has passed, the process automatically proceeds to the second step. At this point, the second stage power setting is considered complete, the time obtained from the timer is set as the time for the first step, and the second step timer is reset to 00:00 seconds. The induction cooker then operates at the power set in the second step. By repeating this process N times and then pressing the Save button, the power and time used in each step are stored.

[0208] In the above case, the ingredient information can be set to distinguish the ingredients and weight of the ingredients according to the N cooking steps. The output power information can be set to distinguish the magnitude of the N cooking steps, and the cooking time information can be set to distinguish the time of the N steps.

[0209] For example, in the case where the first recipe information is divided into three cooking steps, the output power can be set separately according to the amount of ingredients put in the first cooking step, the output power can be set separately according to the amount of ingredients put in the second cooking step (that is, the sum of all ingredients put in until the second step), and the output power can be set separately according to the amount of ingredients put in the third cooking step (that is, the sum of all ingredients put in until the third step).

[0210] Similarly, when the first recipe information is divided into three cooking steps, the cooking time information can be used to set the cooking time according to the amount of ingredients put in the first cooking step, the cooking time according to the amount of ingredients put in the second cooking step (that is, the sum of all ingredients put in until the second step), and the cooking time according to the amount of ingredients put in the third cooking step (that is, the sum of all ingredients put in until the third step).

[0211] The first recipe information generated in the above manner can be provided to other smart cooking devices after being assigned a unique identification code (ID). In this case, the smart cooking device can include a function for setting a unique ID for the first recipe information, and can also include a function for setting information about the cooking container used in the recipe and the ingredients added in each step.

[0212] Figure 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating the output power control process of the intelligent cooking device according to the present invention.

[0213] When cooking the first dish, when the type of cooking container input by the chef is the first identification code, the smart cooking device can refer to the first recipe information to deduce the type of cooking container corresponding to the first identification code (for example, referred to as the "first cooking container"), and determine the weight of the corresponding cooking container from the weight information matching the first cooking container as described above.

[0214] The intelligent cooking device of the present invention can determine the resonant frequency of the coil 30 required to maintain the output power in the nth cooking step. In the above-mentioned case, the resonant frequency of the coil 30 can be adjusted by controlling the switch unit 20.

[0215] In one embodiment, the intelligent cooking device of the present invention may include an induction heating cooker. In this case, the control unit 70 may determine the resonant frequency of the coil 30 and perform and maintain heating according to a set power.

[0216] The "set power" refers to the cooking output power (i.e., target power) set in the first recipe information, and in one embodiment, it may be the cooking output power set in the cooking information of each cooking step recorded in the recipe information.

[0217] Furthermore, the control unit 70 controls the corresponding coil 30 to operate at the resonant frequency determined in the above manner to generate a magnetic field. In one embodiment, the control unit 70 can adjust the resonant frequency of the coil 30 by controlling the switch unit 20 .

[0218] In one embodiment, information related to the weight of the cooking container 1 and the weight of each ingredient put into the cooking container 1 may be recorded in the recipe information.

[0219] In the above case, the recipe information may include the weight of the corresponding cooking container 1 and information related to the ingredients put into the corresponding cooking step (such as type and weight) in the cooking information of each cooking step.

[0220] In this way, the control unit 70 can obtain information on the ingredients put in each cooking step by referring to the recipe information as described above.

[0221] In another embodiment, information related to the weight of the cooking container 1 and the weight of the food material put into the cooking container 1 may be directly input by the user.

[0222] While specific terms are used in the foregoing description and illustrations of preferred embodiments of the present invention, these terms are intended only to clearly illustrate the present invention. The embodiments of the present invention and the terms described herein may be modified and varied in various ways without departing from the technical spirit and scope of the appended claims. The modified embodiments described above should not be construed as departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, but rather should be understood to be encompassed by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An intelligent cooking device, characterized in that: include: a supporting portion for supporting the cooking container; a heating unit for heating the cooking vessel placed on the support unit; and a memory unit for storing recipe information; and a control unit that controls the heating unit based on the recipe information; The control unit, The heating unit is controlled based on the first recipe information stored in the memory unit, The first recipe information, This is information used to cook the first dish, including dish name information, cooking container information, ingredient information, output power information, and cooking time information. The cooking container information, including weight information or identification information associated with various types of cooking containers that can be used in the first recipe, The food information, Includes information about the amount of ingredients that can be used in the first dish, The output power information, including output powers inherently set according to the cooking container information and the food information, The cooking time information, The cooking time is comprised of cooking times inherently set according to the cooking container information and the food information.

2. The intelligent cooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cooking time, is the heating time during which the heating unit is driven, The control unit, The first recipe information is used to set the output power and cooking time according to the type of cooking container and the amount of ingredients used in the first dish. The heating unit is controlled according to the set output power and cooking time to complete the cooking process of the first dish.

3. The intelligent cooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: the identification information, including identification codes inherently assigned to respective cooking vessels of said plurality of types, The identification code, Includes at least one selected from a product model, a QR code, and a barcode.

4. The intelligent cooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The amount of food, Indicates the total weight of the ingredients used to cook the first dish or the number of servings.

5. The intelligent cooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The name of the dish, Includes inherent identification information for distinguishing from the second to Nth recipes.

6. The intelligent cooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The food information, Also included is information regarding the types of ingredients that can be used in the first recipe.

7. The intelligent cooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first recipe information, The information for cooking the first dish is divided into N cooking steps. The information related to the amount of food, This includes distinguishing and setting the amount of ingredients according to the N cooking steps.

8. The intelligent cooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first recipe information, The information for cooking the first dish is divided into N cooking steps. The output power information, This includes distinguishing the size of the set output power according to the N cooking steps.

9. The intelligent cooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first recipe information, The information for cooking the first dish is divided into N cooking steps. The cooking time information, This includes distinguishing and setting cooking times according to the N cooking steps.

10. The intelligent cooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The intelligent cooking device further includes an information input component capable of receiving information input from a user. Information input including information about a cooking vessel used in cooking the first dish is received through the information input component.

11. The intelligent cooking device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The control unit, executing a first process of controlling the set output power, i.e., the target power, according to the first recipe information, The first process, The method includes controlling the heating unit to maintain the target power.

12. The intelligent cooking device according to claim 11, characterized in that: The heating unit includes: a coil that generates a magnetic field when powered; and a switch portion for generating an alternating current to generate the magnetic field; The first process, The method includes adjusting the resonant frequency of the coil by controlling the switch unit, thereby controlling the actual power to be equal to the target power.

13. The intelligent cooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: a weight sensing unit for measuring the weight of the cooking container placed on the support unit, i.e., the unregistered cooking container; The control unit, If the cooking container information in the first recipe information does not include weight information or identification information related to the unregistered cooking container, The weight sensor unit obtains the weight information of the unregistered cooking container, that is, the measured weight information. determining the output power and cooking time for cooking the first dish based on the measured weight information and the ingredient information; The heating unit is controlled according to the determined output power and cooking time to complete the cooking process of the first dish.

14. The intelligent cooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: The control unit, When cooking the first dish, the type of cooking container used for the first dish is determined using the cooking container information input by the chef.

15. The intelligent cooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: The control unit, The actual cooking time is corrected based on a difference between the output power actually output when cooking the first dish and the output power set in the first recipe information.

16. The intelligent cooking device according to claim 15, characterized in that: Also includes: The control unit, Calculate the set power amount, which is the product of the output power and the cooking time set in the first recipe information, and calculating the actual cooking time required to make the actual power amount, which is the product of the actual output power and the actual cooking time, consistent with the set power amount when cooking the first dish; The heating unit is controlled according to the corrected actual cooking time to complete the cooking process of the first dish.

17. A cooking control method for an intelligent cooking device, comprising: The first step is to receive and store the first recipe information according to any one of claims 1 to 16; The second step is receiving the first dish name information, cooking container information, and ingredient information input by the chef based on the first recipe information; A third step is to use the first recipe information according to any one of claims 1 to 16 to set the output power and cooking time according to the type of cooking container and the amount of ingredients used in the first dish; as well as The fourth step is to control the heating part to perform the cooking process according to the output power and cooking time set in the third step.

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