Steaming oven control method and device and steaming oven

Abstract

The invention relates to a steaming oven control method and device and a steaming oven. After the oven cavity temperature in an oven cavity, serving as a cooking cavity, of the steaming oven is obtained, under the condition that the oven cavity temperature reaches a target temperature lower limit value, the steaming oven is controlled to enter a temperature maintaining stage, in the temperature maintaining stage, a heating device in the oven cavity is controlled to work, and the oven cavity temperature in the temperature maintaining stage is obtained; controlling the working state of a steam generating device of the steaming oven on the basis of the size relation between the oven chamber temperature in the temperature maintaining stage and the target temperature lower limit value and the target temperature upper limit value, so that the oven chamber temperature in the temperature maintaining stage is between the target temperature lower limit value and the target temperature upper limit value, generating steam when the steam generating device works, and introducing the steam into the oven chamber, the target temperature lower limit is smaller than the target temperature upper limit. The problems caused by continuous heating after residual condensate water is evaporated are reduced, and the cooking quality is improved. Therefore, the use reliability of the steaming oven is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of steam oven technology, and in particular to a steam oven control method, apparatus and steam oven. Background Technology

[0002] Steam ovens combine steam and baking functions, significantly improving cooking efficiency and culinary versatility, making them an increasingly widely used multifunctional cooking appliance.

[0003] Steam ovens cook food by generating steam through a steam generator. However, an unavoidable problem with steaming is the accumulation of condensation inside the oven cavity after steaming. This condensation can easily breed bacteria and produce unpleasant odors, affecting cooking safety. Furthermore, the condensation needs to be manually cleaned, which is inconvenient. Therefore, traditional steam ovens have low reliability. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to address the technical problem of low ease of use of traditional steam ovens by providing a steam oven control method, device, and steam oven that can improve the ease of use of steam ovens.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a method for controlling a steam oven, the method comprising:

[0006] The temperature inside the oven cavity of the steam oven is obtained; the oven cavity is a cooking cavity.

[0007] When the oven cavity temperature reaches the target lower limit, the steam oven is controlled to enter the temperature maintenance stage;

[0008] During the temperature maintenance stage, the heating device inside the furnace cavity is controlled to operate, and the furnace cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is obtained.

[0009] Based on the relationship between the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage and the lower and upper limits of the target temperature, the working state of the steam generator of the steam oven is controlled so that the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is between the lower and upper limits of the target temperature; when the steam generator is working, it generates and introduces steam into the oven cavity, and the lower limit of the target temperature is less than the upper limit of the target temperature.

[0010] In one embodiment, controlling the operating state of the steam generator of the steam oven based on the relationship between the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage and the lower and upper limits of the target temperature includes:

[0011] If the furnace temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is lower than the lower limit of the target temperature, the steam generator is controlled to operate.

[0012] If the furnace temperature during the temperature maintenance phase is greater than or equal to the lower limit of the target lower temperature and less than or equal to the upper limit of the target upper temperature, the steam generator shall be controlled to stop working.

[0013] In one embodiment, controlling the operating state of the steam generator of the steam oven based on the relationship between the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage and the lower and upper limits of the target temperature includes:

[0014] If the furnace temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is greater than the upper limit of the target temperature, the steam generator is controlled to operate.

[0015] In one embodiment, controlling the operation of the heating device within the furnace cavity during the temperature maintenance phase includes:

[0016] During the temperature maintenance phase, the heating devices inside the furnace cavity are controlled to operate at a fixed duty cycle.

[0017] In one embodiment, before obtaining the cavity temperature within the oven cavity, the method further includes:

[0018] In response to the start command, the steam oven is controlled to enter the heating stage;

[0019] During the heating phase, the steam generator is controlled to operate.

[0020] In one embodiment, controlling the operation of the steam generator during the heating phase includes:

[0021] During the heating phase, the steam generator is controlled to operate, and the heating device inside the furnace cavity is also controlled to operate.

[0022] In one embodiment, the lower limit of the target temperature is less than the target cooking temperature, and the upper limit of the target temperature is greater than the target cooking temperature.

[0023] Secondly, this application also provides a steam oven control device, the device comprising:

[0024] A temperature acquisition module is used to acquire the temperature inside the oven cavity of the steam oven; the oven cavity is a cooking cavity.

[0025] The temperature maintenance judgment module is used to control the steam oven to enter the temperature maintenance stage when the oven cavity temperature reaches the target lower limit value;

[0026] The first temperature control module is used to control the operation of the heating device in the furnace cavity during the temperature maintenance stage, and to obtain the furnace cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage.

[0027] The second temperature control module is used to control the working state of the steam generator of the steam oven based on the relationship between the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage and the lower limit and upper limit of the target temperature, so that the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is between the lower limit and the upper limit of the target temperature; when the steam generator is working, it generates and introduces steam into the oven cavity, and the lower limit of the target temperature is less than the upper limit of the target temperature.

[0028] Thirdly, this application also provides a steam oven, including an oven cavity, a temperature detection device, a steam generator, a heating device, and a controller. The temperature detection device and the heating device are both disposed in the oven cavity, the steam generator is connected to the oven cavity, and the temperature detection device, the steam generator, and the heating device are all connected to the controller.

[0029] The temperature detection device is used to detect the temperature inside the furnace cavity and send it to the controller, which is used to execute the above method.

[0030] In one embodiment, the steam oven further includes a water collection tank disposed at the bottom of the oven cavity, the bottom of the oven cavity being the inner wall of the oven cavity, on the side near the placement surface of the steam oven.

[0031] The aforementioned steam oven control method, device, and oven, after acquiring the oven cavity temperature (which serves as the cooking chamber), control the oven to enter a temperature maintenance phase once the cavity temperature reaches the target lower limit. During this phase, the heating element within the cavity operates, and the oven cavity temperature is acquired. Based on the relationship between the temperature during this phase and the target lower and upper limits, the operating state of the steam generator is controlled to ensure the oven cavity temperature during the maintenance phase remains between these two values. The steam generator produces and introduces steam into the cavity, with the target lower limit being less than the target upper limit. Therefore, during the temperature maintenance phase, the heating element evaporates residual condensate in the cavity, reducing its amount. The secondary steam evaporation also heats the food, improving energy efficiency. This eliminates the need for manual cleaning of residual condensate, making it convenient to use. Furthermore, based on the relationship between the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance phase and the lower and upper limits of the target temperature, the operating status of the steam oven's steam generator is controlled to regulate the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance phase. This ensures that the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance phase remains between the lower and upper limits of the target temperature, reducing the problems caused by continued heating after residual condensate has evaporated, which can lead to the oven cavity temperature exceeding the steaming mode temperature, the steaming mode turning into a baking mode, and the steamed food becoming dry and tough. This improves the cooking quality and, consequently, enhances the overall reliability of the steam oven. Attached Figure Description

[0032] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or related technologies, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this application or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a steam oven in one embodiment;

[0034] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating a steam oven control method in one embodiment;

[0035] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps for controlling the working state of the steam generator of a steam oven based on the relationship between the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage and the lower and upper limits of the target temperature in one embodiment.

[0036] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps for controlling the working state of the steam generator of a steam oven based on the relationship between the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage and the lower and upper limits of the target temperature.

[0037] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the control method for a steam oven in another embodiment;

[0038] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the control method for a steam oven in yet another embodiment;

[0039] Figure 7 This is a schematic block diagram of the control device for a steam oven in one embodiment;

[0040] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the working process of a steam oven in one embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0041] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0042] The steam oven control method provided in this application embodiment is used to control a steam oven. Wherein, as... Figure 1As shown, the steam oven includes a cavity 2, a steam generator 5, a heating element 6, and a controller 1. The heating element 6 is located inside the cavity 2, and the steam generator 5 is connected to the cavity 2. Both the steam generator 5 and the heating element 6 are connected to the controller 1. Specifically, the cavity 2 is the core working space for cooking in the steam oven, serving as the cooking chamber to hold the food to be cooked. It is typically made of high-temperature and corrosion-resistant materials and has good sealing properties to maintain internal temperature and humidity. The cavity 2 serves as the core load-bearing structure, with the heating element 6 located inside it, and the steam generator 5 connected to it via pipes or other means.

[0043] The steam generator 5 is used to generate high-temperature steam required for cooking and delivers the steam to the oven cavity 2, making it the core component for the "steaming" function. The steam generator 5 is connected to the oven cavity 2 via steam pipes or other structures, and its operation is controlled by the controller 1. The steam generator 5 typically includes a water storage device and a heating unit. The controller 1 controls the heating unit to rapidly heat the water into steam, which is then introduced into the oven cavity 2 via a solenoid valve or pump. The heating element 6 is used to heat the air inside the oven cavity 2 and is the core component for the "baking" function. The heating element 6 is located inside the oven cavity 2 and electrically connected to the controller 1, whose operation is controlled by the controller 1. The heating element 6 typically includes one or more sets of heating elements, such as upper and lower heating elements located at the top and bottom of the oven cavity 2, as well as annular heating elements and a fan for hot air circulation.

[0044] Controller 1 is the control center of the steam oven. Controller 1 is electrically connected to both the steam generator 5 and the heating element 6. Controller 1 can receive signals, such as user input of function, temperature, and time settings via an interactive device. The interactive device can be a touchscreen, buttons, or voice control. Controller 1 can also send control commands to the heating element 6 and the steam generator 5 to control their operating status, ensuring that the actual temperature and humidity inside the oven cavity 2 change according to cooking requirements.

[0045] The control method for the steam oven can be executed by a controller within the steam oven, or by a terminal or server that is communicatively connected to the steam oven. The terminal can be, but is not limited to, various personal computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, IoT devices, and portable wearable devices. The server can be a standalone physical server, a server cluster or distributed system consisting of multiple physical servers, or a cloud server providing cloud computing services.

[0046] In one exemplary embodiment, such as Figure 2 As shown, a method for controlling a steam oven is provided. Taking the execution of this method by a controller as an example, it includes the following steps 202 to 208. Wherein:

[0047] Step 202: Obtain the oven cavity temperature of the steam oven.

[0048] The oven cavity is the cooking chamber. It is used to hold food and cook it, and can be a closed or semi-closed cavity. Oven cavity temperature is a key parameter reflecting the cooking environment.

[0049] The oven cavity temperature of a steam oven can be obtained by detecting the oven cavity temperature using a temperature detection device and then sending the result to the controller. For example, Figure 1 As shown, the temperature detection device 3 is installed inside the furnace cavity 2, either on the inner wall of the furnace cavity 2 or in a specific air duct, and is connected to the controller. The temperature detection device 3 detects and monitors the actual temperature inside the furnace cavity 2 as the furnace cavity temperature, and then sends the detected temperature signal (usually an electrical signal) to the controller 1 as the basis for the controller 1 to make feedback control decisions. The type of temperature detection device 3 is not limited; for example, it can be a thermocouple or a thermistor.

[0050] The temperature of the furnace cavity is detected by a temperature sensing device installed inside the furnace cavity. The controller continuously acquires the furnace cavity temperature or acquires the furnace cavity temperature at a certain sampling frequency, which can be selected according to actual needs.

[0051] Step 204: When the oven cavity temperature reaches the target lower limit, control the steam oven to enter the temperature maintenance stage.

[0052] The target lower temperature limit is a preset temperature threshold, typically close to but lower than the target cooking temperature. The target cooking temperature is the user-set ideal cooking temperature (e.g., 100℃) or the default target temperature for the cooking program. The difference between the target cooking temperature and the target lower temperature limit can be set according to actual conditions, for example, it can be a temperature value within the range of 2-5℃, including the endpoints of 2℃ and 5℃. Correspondingly, the preset lower temperature limit can be 98℃ or 95℃. The target lower temperature limit is the condition that triggers the entry into the temperature maintenance phase.

[0053] The temperature maintenance stage refers to the precise control stage performed to maintain a stable temperature after the oven cavity temperature reaches near the target cooking temperature.

[0054] The controller compares the real-time oven cavity temperature with the preset target lower limit. When the oven cavity temperature reaches or exceeds the lower limit, a stage switching signal is generated to control the steam oven to enter the temperature maintenance stage.

[0055] Step 206: During the temperature maintenance stage, control the heating device inside the furnace cavity to work and obtain the furnace cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage.

[0056] The heating element is located inside the furnace cavity to heat the cavity and raise its temperature. The heating element typically includes one or more sets of heating tubes, such as upper and lower heating tubes located at the top and bottom of the furnace cavity, as well as ring-shaped heating tubes and rear-mounted hot air heating tubes for hot air circulation.

[0057] The furnace cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage refers to the furnace cavity temperature obtained during this stage. It can be understood that the furnace cavity temperatures at different stages can all be detected by the same temperature detection device and then sent to the controller.

[0058] Once the temperature is maintained, the controller sends a control signal to the heating element inside the oven cavity, initiating its operation. This heating element evaporates any residual condensate inside the oven cavity, reducing its volume. Furthermore, the steam generated from evaporating the residual condensate heats the food, improving energy efficiency.

[0059] While controlling the heating device during the temperature maintenance stage, the controller acquires the furnace cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage, maintaining continuous temperature detection to obtain the furnace cavity temperature in real time during the temperature maintenance stage.

[0060] Step 208: Based on the relationship between the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage and the lower and upper limits of the target temperature, control the working state of the steam generator of the steam oven so that the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is between the lower and upper limits of the target temperature.

[0061] The steam generator produces and introduces steam into the furnace chamber during operation. The steam generator typically includes components such as a water tank, water pump, and heater.

[0062] The lower limit of the target temperature is less than the upper limit of the target temperature. The upper limit of the target temperature is a preset temperature threshold, usually close to but higher than the target cooking temperature. The target cooking temperature is the user-set ideal cooking temperature (e.g., 100℃), or it can be the default target temperature for the cooking program. The difference between the upper limit of the target temperature and the target cooking temperature can be set according to actual conditions, for example, it can be a temperature value within the range of 2-5℃, including the endpoints of 2℃ and 5℃. Correspondingly, the preset upper limit of the temperature can be 102℃ or 105℃. The upper and lower limits of the target temperature together constitute the temperature control range.

[0063] It is understood that the lower and upper limits of the target temperature can be adaptively adjusted according to different food types. For example, when the food type is vegetables, the difference between the target cooking temperature and the lower limit, and the difference between the upper limit and the target cooking temperature, constitute the first difference. When the food type is meat, the difference between the target cooking temperature and the lower limit, and the difference between the upper limit and the target cooking temperature, constitute the second difference. The first difference is greater than the second difference. For example, the first difference is 3°C, and the second difference is 2°C.

[0064] Alternatively, the lower and upper limits of the target temperature can be adaptively adjusted based on the rate of temperature change. The rate of temperature change represents the degree to which the oven cavity temperature changes over a specified time, indicating how quickly the oven cavity temperature changes. For example, when the rate of temperature change is large, the difference between the target cooking temperature and the lower limit, and the difference between the upper limit and the target cooking temperature, constitute the third difference. When the rate of temperature change is small, the difference between the target cooking temperature and the lower limit, and the difference between the upper limit and the target cooking temperature, constitute the fourth difference, where the third difference is greater than the fourth difference. For example, the third difference is 3°C, and the fourth difference is 2°C. By monitoring the rate of temperature change, intervention can be initiated in advance when the temperature changes too rapidly, thus better controlling the oven cavity temperature.

[0065] During the temperature maintenance phase, the controller compares the current oven cavity temperature with the target lower and upper temperature limits in real time. Based on the comparison results, it generates corresponding control commands and sends them to the steam generator to control the operating status of the steam generator in the steam oven. The operating status of the steam generator can include whether the steam generator is working and its power output.

[0066] For example, when the oven cavity temperature is lower than the lower limit of the target temperature, it indicates that the current oven cavity temperature is too low, and measures need to be taken to raise the oven cavity temperature to be greater than or equal to the lower limit of the target temperature. When the oven cavity temperature is greater than or equal to the lower limit of the target temperature, it indicates that the current oven cavity temperature is normal. Based on the relationship between the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage and the lower and upper limits of the target temperature, the controller controls the operating state of the steam generator of the steam oven. The operating state of the steam generator affects the oven cavity temperature. For example, when the steam generator is working, it can generate high-temperature steam, causing the oven cavity temperature to rise above the lower limit of the target temperature. When the steam generator stops working, it can reduce the fluctuation of the oven cavity temperature. Thus, by controlling the operating state of the steam generator, the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage can be kept between the lower and upper limits of the target temperature.

[0067] In an expandable manner, the controller can also control the operating power of the steam generator to adjust the rate and quantity of steam generated by the steam generator, thereby changing the adjustment speed of the furnace temperature.

[0068] The aforementioned steam oven control method, after acquiring the oven cavity temperature (which serves as the cooking chamber), controls the steam oven to enter a temperature maintenance phase once the cavity temperature reaches the target lower limit. During this phase, the heating element within the cavity operates, and the cavity temperature is also acquired. Based on the relationship between the cavity temperature during this phase and the target lower and upper limits, the operating state of the steam generator is controlled to ensure the cavity temperature during the maintenance phase remains between these two values. The steam generator produces and introduces steam into the cavity, with the target lower limit being lower than the target upper limit. Therefore, during the temperature maintenance phase, the heating element evaporates residual condensate in the cavity, reducing its amount. The secondary steam evaporation also heats the food, improving energy efficiency. This eliminates the need for manual cleaning of residual condensate, making it convenient to use. Furthermore, based on the relationship between the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance phase and the lower and upper limits of the target temperature, the operating status of the steam oven's steam generator is controlled to regulate the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance phase. This ensures that the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance phase remains between the lower and upper limits of the target temperature, reducing the problems caused by continued heating after residual condensate has evaporated, which can lead to the oven cavity temperature exceeding the steaming mode temperature, the steaming mode turning into a baking mode, and the steamed food becoming dry and tough. This improves the cooking quality and, consequently, enhances the overall reliability of the steam oven.

[0069] In one exemplary embodiment, such as Figure 3 As shown, step 208 includes steps 302 to 304.

[0070] in:

[0071] Step 302: When the furnace temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is lower than the lower limit of the target temperature, control the steam generator to operate.

[0072] When the furnace cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is lower than the lower limit of the target temperature, it indicates that the furnace cavity is not hot enough and needs to be heated. In this case, the steam generator is controlled to operate, so that the high-temperature steam generated by the steam generator is introduced into the furnace cavity to raise the furnace cavity temperature until the furnace cavity temperature is greater than or equal to the lower limit of the target temperature.

[0073] Taking a steam generating device comprising a water pump, a heater, a solenoid valve, an inlet pipe, and an outlet pipe as an example, the water pump, heater, and solenoid valve are all connected to a controller. One end of the inlet pipe is connected to an external water source, and the other end is connected to the heater. One end of the outlet pipe is connected to the heater, and the other end is connected to the furnace chamber. The water pump is located in the inlet pipe, and the solenoid valve is located in the outlet pipe.

[0074] If the furnace temperature is lower than the lower limit of the target temperature during the temperature maintenance stage, the controller controls the water pump to start working, pumping water into the heater, then controls the heater to start, heating the water into steam, and then opens the solenoid valve to let the steam into the furnace.

[0075] Expandably, the controller can also adjust the power of the steam generator based on the difference between the target lower limit and the furnace cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance phase. For example, when the difference between the target lower limit and the furnace cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance phase is large, the steam generator is controlled to operate at a higher power to quickly change the furnace cavity temperature. When the difference between the target lower limit and the furnace cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance phase is small, the steam generator is controlled to operate at a lower power to slowly change the furnace cavity temperature to avoid over-temperature adjustment.

[0076] Step 304: If the furnace temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is greater than or equal to the lower limit of the target lower temperature and less than or equal to the upper limit of the target upper temperature, control the steam generator to stop working.

[0077] If the furnace cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance phase is greater than or equal to the lower limit of the target lower temperature and less than or equal to the upper limit of the target upper temperature, it indicates that the furnace cavity temperature meets the requirements. In this case, the steam generator is controlled to stop operating and stop generating steam.

[0078] Taking a steam generating device comprising a water pump, a heater, a solenoid valve, an inlet pipe, and an outlet pipe as an example, the water pump, heater, and solenoid valve are all connected to a controller. One end of the inlet pipe is connected to an external water source, and the other end is connected to the heater. One end of the outlet pipe is connected to the heater, and the other end is connected to the furnace chamber. The water pump is located in the inlet pipe, and the solenoid valve is located in the outlet pipe.

[0079] If the furnace cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance phase is greater than or equal to the lower limit of the target lower temperature and less than or equal to the upper limit of the target upper temperature, the controller first shuts off the water pump to stop the water supply, then shuts off the heater after a few seconds (e.g., 5 seconds) to allow the residual water to evaporate, and finally closes the solenoid valve to prevent heat loss.

[0080] In this embodiment, when the furnace temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is lower than the lower limit of the target temperature, the steam generator is controlled to operate; when the furnace temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is greater than or equal to the lower limit of the target temperature but less than or equal to the upper limit of the target temperature, the steam generator is controlled to stop operating. By controlling the operating state of the steam generator, the stability of the furnace temperature is maintained, the steaming quality is improved, and excessive intervention when the furnace temperature is within the ideal range is avoided, thus reducing energy consumption.

[0081] In one exemplary embodiment, such as Figure 4As shown, step 208 also includes step 406: when the furnace temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is greater than the upper limit of the target temperature, control the steam generator to work.

[0082] When the furnace temperature exceeds the upper limit of the target temperature during the temperature maintenance phase, it indicates that the furnace is overheating and needs to be cooled down. In this case, the controller activates the steam generator to inject steam into the furnace.

[0083] Since the target temperature upper limit is usually greater than 100℃, while the steam temperature is less than or equal to 100℃, by injecting low-temperature steam (e.g., 100℃) into the superheated furnace cavity (e.g., 102℃), the high temperature in the furnace cavity is neutralized. The heat absorption effect of the steam can be used to reduce the furnace cavity temperature, so that the furnace cavity temperature drops back below the target temperature upper limit.

[0084] In other embodiments, when the target temperature ceiling is less than 100°C, the controller can also reduce the oven cavity temperature in other ways. For example, the controller can control the oven to stop or reduce power, or control the fan inside the oven to agitate the air inside the cavity, allowing it to exchange heat with the relatively cool inner walls of the cavity, and dissipating the heat more quickly through the air ducts. It is understood that other measures can be used to reduce the oven cavity temperature, and are not limited thereto.

[0085] In this embodiment, when the furnace cavity temperature exceeds the upper limit of the target temperature during the temperature maintenance stage, the steam generator is controlled to work, which effectively solves the problem of furnace cavity overheating caused by the heating device, prevents steaming from turning into baking, and utilizes the physical properties of steam to cool down, eliminating the need for an additional cooling device. This method is low in cost, has a fast response speed, and maintains a high humidity environment in the furnace cavity without affecting the steaming effect.

[0086] In an exemplary embodiment, step 206, the step of controlling the operation of the heating device in the furnace cavity during the temperature maintenance stage, includes the step of controlling the heating device in the furnace cavity to operate with a fixed duty cycle during the temperature maintenance stage.

[0087] Among them, the fixed duty cycle refers to the ratio of the working time of the heating device to the total time remaining constant within a fixed time period.

[0088] During the temperature maintenance phase, the heating element inside the oven cavity is controlled to operate at a fixed duty cycle, allowing it to evaporate residual condensate in a relatively stable state. The specific value of the fixed duty cycle was obtained through multiple experiments. If the duty cycle is too low, the accumulated water may not evaporate, while if it is too high, the temperature may become too high, affecting the steamed food. Therefore, the fixed duty cycle is the one obtained under experimental conditions, which is sufficient to evaporate residual water without causing the oven cavity temperature to become too high.

[0089] In this embodiment, during the temperature maintenance stage, the heating device in the furnace cavity is controlled to operate with a fixed duty cycle. The control logic is simple, and it can effectively evaporate the residual condensate in the furnace cavity. It can also reduce the overheating accumulation caused by the continuous operation of the heating device, resulting in good energy saving and extending the service life of the heating device.

[0090] In one exemplary embodiment, such as Figure 5 As shown, before step 202, the steam oven control method also includes steps 501 and 502. Wherein:

[0091] Step 501: In response to the start command, control the steam oven to enter the heating stage.

[0092] Step 502: During the heating stage, control the steam generator to operate.

[0093] The start command can be a signal from the user to begin operation via an interactive device such as a control panel or a terminal device remotely connected to the steam oven. The start command may include parameters such as the user-selected cooking mode (e.g., "pure steam mode"), the target cooking temperature (e.g., 100°C), and the cooking time.

[0094] Upon receiving a start command, indicating a cooking demand, the controller activates the steam oven to begin operation, entering the heating phase. The heating phase is the operational period from start-up until the target lower temperature limit is reached.

[0095] During the heating phase, the controller controls the steam generator to operate, so that the high-temperature steam generated by the steam generator is introduced into the furnace cavity to raise the temperature of the furnace cavity.

[0096] Taking a steam generating device, which includes a water pump, a heater, a solenoid valve, an inlet pipe, and an outlet pipe, as an example, during the heating stage, the controller can control the water pump to operate at maximum flow, control the heater to heat at full power, and control the solenoid valve to fully open, so as to quickly generate a large amount of steam and rapidly increase the furnace temperature.

[0097] In this embodiment, in response to the start command, the steam oven is controlled to enter the heating stage, during which the steam generator is controlled to operate. The high-temperature steam generated by the steam generator can be used to heat the oven cavity, which not only allows the oven cavity temperature to reach the target lower limit value, but also increases the humidity inside the oven cavity to meet cooking requirements.

[0098] In one exemplary embodiment, such as Figure 6 As shown, step 502 includes step 602: during the heating stage, the steam generator is controlled to operate, and the heating device in the furnace cavity is controlled to operate.

[0099] Since the oven cavity temperature is usually low when the steam oven is first started, it would take a long time to heat the cavity using only the steam generated by the steam generator. Therefore, in this embodiment, during the heating phase, the steam generator and the heating element inside the oven cavity are controlled to operate. The heating element is activated during the heating phase to provide auxiliary heating, allowing the temperature inside the oven cavity to rise rapidly.

[0100] During the heating phase, the specific value of the duty cycle of the heating device is not limited and can be set according to actual needs. For example, the duty cycle of the heating device is 8:52. For instance, within one minute, the heating device works for 8 seconds and stops for 52 seconds, and this cycle repeats in one or more subsequent one-minute periods to generate heat.

[0101] In this embodiment, during the heating stage, the steam generator is controlled to work, and the heating device in the furnace cavity is also controlled to work, which greatly shortens the time for the furnace cavity temperature to rise to the preset lower limit value. Moreover, the dual heat sources work together to make the heating more uniform.

[0102] In one exemplary embodiment, the lower limit of the target temperature is less than the target cooking temperature, and the upper limit of the target temperature is greater than the target cooking temperature.

[0103] The target cooking temperature is the user-defined ideal cooking temperature or the target temperature corresponding to the cooking program, typically 100℃. In high-altitude areas, the actual target cooking temperature is usually lower than the default target cooking temperature. The lower limit of the target temperature is lower than the target cooking temperature, and is usually the target cooking temperature TX, where the value of X is unlimited, for example, it can be 2-3℃. The upper limit of the target temperature is higher than the target cooking temperature, and is usually the target cooking temperature T+Y, where the value of X is unlimited, for example, it can be 2-3℃. The values ​​of X and Y can be equal or unequal, depending on the actual needs.

[0104] The values ​​of X and Y can be determined based on the type of food. For example, the values ​​of X and Y for delicate foods are less than those for tough foods. For instance, for delicate foods (such as steamed egg custard): X = 1, Y = 1, then the lower limit of the target temperature is 99℃ and the upper limit of the target temperature is 101℃; for tough foods (such as meat): X = 3, Y = 3, then the lower limit of the target temperature is 97℃ and the upper limit of the target temperature is 103℃.

[0105] In this embodiment, the lower limit of the target temperature is lower than the target cooking temperature, and the upper limit of the target temperature is higher than the target cooking temperature. The lower limit and upper limit of the target temperature provide a basis for flexible temperature control strategies that can adapt to different cooking needs.

[0106] It should be understood that although the steps in the flowcharts of the embodiments described above are shown sequentially according to the arrows, these steps are not necessarily executed in the order indicated by the arrows. Unless explicitly stated herein, there is no strict order restriction on the execution of these steps, and they can be executed in other orders. Moreover, at least some steps in the flowcharts of the embodiments described above may include multiple steps or multiple stages. These steps or stages are not necessarily completed at the same time, but can be executed at different times. The execution order of these steps or stages is not necessarily sequential, but can be performed alternately or in turn with other steps or at least some of the steps or stages of other steps.

[0107] Based on the same inventive concept, this application also provides a steam oven control device for implementing the steam oven control method described above. The solution provided by this device is similar to the solution described in the above method; therefore, the specific limitations in one or more embodiments of the steam oven control device provided below can be found in the limitations of the steam oven control method described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0108] In one exemplary embodiment, such as Figure 7 As shown, a steam oven control device is provided, including: a temperature acquisition module 702, a temperature judgment module 704, a first temperature control module 706, and a second temperature control module 708, wherein:

[0109] Temperature acquisition module 702 is used to acquire the temperature inside the oven cavity of the steam oven; the oven cavity is the cooking cavity;

[0110] The temperature maintenance judgment module 704 is used to control the steam oven to enter the temperature maintenance stage when the oven cavity temperature reaches the target lower limit value;

[0111] The first temperature control module 706 is used to control the operation of the heating device in the furnace cavity during the temperature maintenance stage and to obtain the furnace cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage.

[0112] The second temperature control module 708 is used to control the working state of the steam generator of the steam oven based on the relationship between the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage and the lower limit and upper limit of the target temperature, so that the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is between the lower limit and upper limit of the target temperature; when the steam generator is working, it generates and introduces steam into the oven cavity, and the lower limit of the target temperature is less than the upper limit of the target temperature.

[0113] In an exemplary embodiment, the second temperature control module is further configured to control the steam generator to operate when the furnace cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is lower than the lower limit of the target temperature; and to control the steam generator to stop operating when the furnace cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is greater than or equal to the lower limit of the target temperature and less than or equal to the upper limit of the target temperature.

[0114] In an exemplary embodiment, the second temperature control module is also used to control the steam generator to operate when the furnace temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is greater than the upper limit of the target temperature.

[0115] In one exemplary embodiment, the first temperature control module is also used to control the heating device in the furnace cavity to operate at a fixed duty cycle during the temperature maintenance phase.

[0116] In an exemplary embodiment, the steam oven control device further includes a heating control module, which, in response to a start command, controls the steam oven to enter a heating phase before the temperature acquisition module acquires the oven cavity temperature; during the heating phase, it controls the steam generator to operate.

[0117] In an exemplary embodiment, the heating control module is also used to control the operation of the steam generator and the heating device in the furnace cavity during the heating phase.

[0118] Each module in the aforementioned steam oven control device can be implemented entirely or partially through software, hardware, or a combination thereof. These modules can be embedded in the processor of a computer device in hardware form or independent of it, or stored in the memory of a computer device in software form, so that the processor can call and execute the corresponding operations of each module.

[0119] This application also provides a steam oven, including an oven cavity, a temperature detection device, a steam generator, a heating device, and a controller. The temperature detection device and the heating device are both disposed inside the oven cavity. The steam generator is connected to the oven cavity. The temperature detection device, the steam generator, and the heating device are all connected to the controller. The temperature detection device is used to detect the oven cavity temperature and send it to the controller. The controller is used to execute the steps of any of the above method embodiments.

[0120] Specifically, the oven cavity is the core working space of a steam oven for cooking. As the cooking chamber, it holds the food to be cooked. It is usually made of high-temperature and corrosion-resistant materials and has good sealing properties to maintain the internal temperature and humidity. As the core load-bearing structure, the heating element is located inside the oven cavity, and the steam generator is connected to it through pipes or other means.

[0121] The steam generator is used to produce the high-temperature steam required for cooking and delivers it to the oven cavity; it is the core component for achieving the "steaming" function. The steam generator is connected to the oven cavity via steam pipes or other structures, and its operation is controlled by a controller. The steam generator typically includes a water storage device and a heating unit. The controller controls the heating unit to rapidly heat the water into steam, which is then introduced into the oven cavity via a solenoid valve or pump. The heating element is used to heat the air inside the oven cavity and is the core component for achieving the "baking" function. The heating element is located inside the oven cavity and is electrically connected to the controller; its operation is controlled by the controller. The heating element typically includes one or more sets of heating elements, such as upper and lower heating elements located at the top and bottom of the oven cavity, as well as a ring-shaped heating element and a fan for hot air circulation.

[0122] The temperature detection device is installed inside the furnace cavity, either on the inner wall or within a specific air duct, and is connected to the controller. The device detects and monitors the actual temperature within the furnace cavity as the furnace temperature, then sends the detected temperature signal (usually an electrical signal) to the controller as the basis for feedback control decisions. The type of temperature detection device is not limited; it can be a thermocouple or a thermistor, for example.

[0123] The controller is the control center of the steam oven. It is electrically connected to the temperature detection device, steam generator, and heating element. The controller can receive signals from the temperature detection device and other signals, such as user-input settings for functions, temperature, and time via an interactive device. This interactive device can be a touchscreen, buttons, or voice control. The controller can also send control commands to the heating and steam generators, regulating their operation and adjusting the actual temperature and humidity within the oven cavity according to cooking requirements.

[0124] The aforementioned steam oven, during the temperature maintenance phase, uses its heating element to evaporate residual condensate in the oven cavity, reducing its volume. It also utilizes the steam from this secondary evaporation to heat food, improving energy efficiency. This eliminates the need for manual cleaning of residual condensate, making it convenient to use. Furthermore, by controlling the operation of the steam generator based on the relationship between the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance phase and the target lower and upper temperature limits, the oven's temperature is kept between these limits. This reduces the risk of the oven temperature exceeding the steaming mode temperature after residual condensate has evaporated, causing the steaming mode to become a baking mode, and resulting in dry, tough food. This improves cooking quality and overall enhances the reliability of the steam oven.

[0125] In one exemplary embodiment, such as Figure 1As shown, the steam oven also includes a water collection tank 4, which is located at the bottom of the oven cavity 2. The bottom of the oven cavity 2 is located on the inner wall of the oven cavity 2, on the side close to the placement surface of the steam oven.

[0126] The water collection tank 4 refers to a container or recess specifically designed to collect and temporarily store liquids, specifically to collect condensate produced during the steaming process. This condensate originates from the condensation of water droplets formed when the high-temperature steam entering the oven cavity 2 encounters relatively cool food, the inner walls, or the grill, releasing latent heat. These water droplets naturally drip down under gravity and collect in the water collection tank 4 located at the bottom of the oven cavity.

[0127] The water collection tank 4 is detachably installed at the bottom of the oven cavity 2 for easy removal and cleaning by the user. The bottom of the oven cavity 2 is the side of the inner wall of the oven cavity 2 closest to the placement surface of the steam oven. Taking the steam oven as an example, placed on a plane parallel to the ground, the bottom of the oven cavity is the side of the inner wall of the oven cavity closest to the ground. The inner wall of the oven cavity forms the physical boundary of the oven cavity space, and the bottom of the oven cavity is the lowest point of the physical space of the oven cavity. Placing the water collection tank at the bottom of the oven cavity allows for better utilization of gravity to collect condensate in the water collection tank.

[0128] In this embodiment, the steam oven also includes a water collection tank, which is located at the bottom of the oven cavity, on the inner wall of the cavity, near the placement surface of the steam oven. The water collection tank can effectively collect condensate, reducing the impact of excessive condensate distribution on cooking quality.

[0129] In one exemplary embodiment, the heating device includes a heating element disposed at the bottom of the furnace cavity. The heating element at the bottom of the furnace cavity facilitates the heating and evaporation of condensate in the water collection tank. Furthermore, the heating element can be arranged around the water collection tank to improve the evaporation effect. It can also be scalable, M-shaped, corrugated, or annular to increase the heating area and achieve uniform heating of the water in the water collection tank.

[0130] To better understand the above embodiments, a detailed explanation is provided below with reference to a specific embodiment. In one embodiment, as follows... Figure 1 As shown, the steam oven includes: a controller 1 for controlling the operation of the entire machine; an oven cavity 2: the cooking cavity of the steam oven; a temperature detection device 3: installed in the oven cavity 2 for real-time monitoring of the temperature data in the oven cavity 2; a water collection tank 4: located at the bottom of the oven cavity 2 for collecting residual condensate generated during the steaming mode; a steam generator 5: for introducing steam into the oven cavity 2; and a heating element 6: for evaporating the condensate collected in the water collection tank 4. The heating element 6 includes a heating tube located at the bottom of the oven cavity.

[0131] like Figure 8 As shown, the steam oven's steaming mode includes a heating stage and a temperature maintenance stage. Among them:

[0132] During the warming phase:

[0133] Since the temperature is low when the machine is first started, it would take a long time to heat the oven cavity 2 using only steam. Therefore, the bottom heating element is turned on for auxiliary heating during the heating phase, so that the temperature inside the oven cavity 2 can rise quickly to the required cooking temperature.

[0134] During the warming phase:

[0135] When the temperature detection device 3 detects that the oven cavity temperature t reaches T-2℃ (T is the set cooking target temperature, usually 100℃), the whole machine enters the temperature maintenance stage. During this stage:

[0136] Step A: The bottom heating element operates at a fixed duty cycle to perform secondary evaporation of the residual condensate in the bottom water collection tank 4.

[0137] Step B: The timing of steam introduction is determined by comparing the oven cavity temperature t detected by the temperature detection device 3 with the target cooking temperature T. Specifically, the temperature detection device 3 monitors the oven cavity temperature t in real time and transmits this data back to the controller 1, which then makes a decision.

[0138] ①If t < T-2℃, steam is introduced into furnace cavity 2 to heat furnace cavity 2;

[0139] ②If T-2℃≤t≤T+2℃, then stop introducing steam into furnace chamber 2;

[0140] ③If t>T+2℃, steam is introduced into furnace cavity 2 to cool it down.

[0141] The above control method can maintain the temperature inside the oven cavity 2 within the range of T-2 to T+2, which solves the problem that when the bottom heating element evaporates the water at the bottom for the second time, the temperature inside the oven cavity 2 exceeds the normal steaming temperature because the bottom heating element continues to work after the water has evaporated, and the "steaming mode" becomes "baking mode", which seriously affects the taste of the food.

[0142] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the processes in the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by a computer program instructing related hardware. The computer program can be stored in a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium, and when executed, it can include the processes of the embodiments of the above methods. Any references to memory, databases, or other media used in the embodiments provided in this application can include at least one of non-volatile memory and volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can include read-only memory (ROM), magnetic tape, floppy disk, flash memory, optical memory, high-density embedded non-volatile memory, resistive random access memory (ReRAM), magnetic random access memory (MRAM), ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM), phase change memory (PCM), graphene memory, etc. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM) or external cache memory, etc. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM can take many forms, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) or Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). The databases involved in the embodiments provided in this application may include at least one type of relational database and non-relational database. Non-relational databases may include, but are not limited to, blockchain-based distributed databases. The processors involved in the embodiments provided in this application may be general-purpose processors, central processing units, graphics processing units, digital signal processors, programmable logic devices, quantum computing-based data processing logic devices, artificial intelligence (AI) processors, etc., and are not limited to these.

[0143] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this application.

[0144] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of this patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a steam oven, characterized in that, The method includes: The temperature inside the oven cavity of the steam oven is obtained; the oven cavity is a cooking cavity. When the oven cavity temperature reaches the target lower limit, the steam oven is controlled to enter the temperature maintenance stage; During the temperature maintenance stage, the heating device inside the furnace cavity is controlled to operate, and the furnace cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is obtained. Based on the relationship between the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage and the lower and upper limits of the target temperature, the working state of the steam generator of the steam oven is controlled so that the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is between the lower and upper limits of the target temperature; when the steam generator is working, it generates and introduces steam into the oven cavity, and the lower limit of the target temperature is less than the upper limit of the target temperature.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method of controlling the operating state of the steam generator of the steam oven based on the relationship between the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage and the lower and upper limits of the target temperature includes: If the furnace temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is lower than the lower limit of the target temperature, the steam generator is controlled to operate. If the furnace temperature during the temperature maintenance phase is greater than or equal to the lower limit of the target lower temperature and less than or equal to the upper limit of the target upper temperature, the steam generator shall be controlled to stop working.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method of controlling the operating state of the steam generator of the steam oven based on the relationship between the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage and the lower and upper limits of the target temperature includes: If the furnace temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is greater than the upper limit of the target temperature, the steam generator is controlled to operate.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, During the temperature maintenance stage, controlling the operation of the heating device within the furnace cavity includes: During the temperature maintenance phase, the heating devices inside the furnace cavity are controlled to operate at a fixed duty cycle.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before obtaining the oven cavity temperature of the steam oven, the method further includes: In response to the start command, the steam oven is controlled to enter the heating stage; During the heating phase, the steam generator is controlled to operate.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, During the heating phase, controlling the operation of the steam generator includes: During the heating phase, the steam generator is controlled to operate, and the heating device inside the furnace cavity is also controlled to operate.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The lower limit of the target temperature is less than the target cooking temperature, and the upper limit of the target temperature is greater than the target cooking temperature.

8. A control device for a steam oven, characterized in that, The device includes: A temperature acquisition module is used to acquire the temperature inside the oven cavity of the steam oven; the oven cavity is a cooking cavity. The temperature maintenance judgment module is used to control the steam oven to enter the temperature maintenance stage when the oven cavity temperature reaches the target lower limit value; The first temperature control module is used to control the operation of the heating device in the furnace cavity during the temperature maintenance stage, and to obtain the furnace cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage. The second temperature control module is used to control the working state of the steam generator of the steam oven based on the relationship between the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage and the lower limit and upper limit of the target temperature, so that the oven cavity temperature during the temperature maintenance stage is between the lower limit and the upper limit of the target temperature; when the steam generator is working, it generates and introduces steam into the oven cavity, and the lower limit of the target temperature is less than the upper limit of the target temperature.

9. A steam oven, characterized in that, The device includes a furnace cavity, a temperature detection device, a steam generator, a heating device, and a controller. The temperature detection device and the heating device are both located inside the furnace cavity. The steam generator is connected to the furnace cavity. The temperature detection device, the steam generator, and the heating device are all connected to the controller. The temperature detection device is used to detect the furnace temperature inside the furnace cavity and send it to the controller, the controller being used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-7.

10. The steam oven according to claim 9, characterized in that, The steam oven also includes a water collection tank, which is located at the bottom of the oven cavity. The bottom of the oven cavity is located on the inner wall of the oven cavity, near the placement surface of the steam oven.

11. The steam oven according to claim 10, characterized in that, The heating device includes a heating tube disposed at the bottom of the furnace cavity.

Images