Timing control method

Abstract

The invention discloses a timing control method, the timing control method is applied to a cooking utensil, the cooking utensil comprises at least two continuous cooking stages, each cooking stage corresponds to a preset cooking duration, and the timing control method comprises the following steps: executing a first cooking stage; obtaining a first display cooking duration of the first cooking stage; based on the first display cooking duration and a first preset cooking duration of the first cooking stage, determining an estimated display cooking duration of the second cooking stage; determining a second reference timing coefficient of a second cooking stage based on the estimated display cooking duration; and in the process of executing the second cooking stage, performing display timing based on the second reference timing coefficient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of cooking, and more specifically to a timing control method. Background Technology

[0002] Cooking appliances such as, but not limited to, rice cookers and electric ovens have displays for countdown timers. During the cooking process, the display shows the countdown time so that the user can understand the actual cooking stage.

[0003] In actual cooking, due to differences in rice-water ratio and ambient temperature, the preset cooking time for a certain cooking stage may differ from the actual cooking time. In this case, the current common practice is to change the countdown display time. For example, if the preset countdown for the end of a certain cooking stage is "28 minutes", and the cooking stage ends 3 minutes early or 3 minutes late, the countdown display will change to "25 minutes" or "28 minutes". This can easily mislead users into thinking that cooking is complete or that the countdown has malfunctioned, resulting in a poor user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application is made to address at least one of the aforementioned problems. According to a first aspect of this application, a timing control method is provided, applied to a cooking appliance comprising at least two consecutive cooking stages, each cooking stage corresponding to a preset cooking time. The timing control method includes:

[0005] Perform the first cooking stage;

[0006] Get the first displayed cooking time for the first cooking stage;

[0007] Based on the first displayed cooking time and the first preset cooking time of the first cooking stage, the estimated displayed cooking time of the second cooking stage is determined;

[0008] Based on the estimated cooking time, a second baseline timing coefficient for the second cooking stage is determined.

[0009] During the second cooking stage, the timing is displayed based on the second baseline timing coefficient.

[0010] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: In the above timing control process, when the first cooking time changes, the estimated cooking time of the second cooking stage and the second reference timing coefficient of the second cooking stage also change accordingly. During the execution of the second cooking stage, the display timing is based on the second reference timing coefficient. That is, if there is a difference between the actual cooking time and the preset cooking time in the first cooking stage, the second cooking stage will speed up or slow down the countdown rate to make up for the difference in the first cooking stage, avoid the display timing from jumping, and improve the user experience.

[0011] In some embodiments of this application, determining the estimated displayed cooking time for the second cooking stage based on the first displayed cooking time and the first preset cooking time of the first cooking stage includes:

[0012] If the first displayed cooking time is less than the first preset cooking time, then calculate the first absolute difference between the first preset cooking time and the first displayed cooking time;

[0013] The sum of the second preset cooking time and the first absolute difference in the second cooking stage is used as the estimated display cooking time.

[0014] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: when the first displayed cooking time is less than the first preset cooking time, it indicates that the first cooking stage has ended prematurely. Then, the sum of the second preset cooking time and the first absolute difference is used as the estimated displayed cooking time of the second cooking stage, so that the estimated displayed cooking time of the second cooking stage is longer than the second preset cooking time, so as to adjust the timing rhythm of the subsequent display timing.

[0015] In some embodiments of this application, determining the estimated displayed cooking time for the second cooking stage based on the first displayed cooking time and the first preset cooking time of the first cooking stage includes:

[0016] If the first displayed cooking time is greater than or equal to the first preset cooking time, and less than the sum of the first preset cooking time and the second preset cooking time of the second cooking stage, then calculate the first absolute difference between the first preset cooking time and the first displayed cooking time.

[0017] The difference between the second preset cooking time and the first absolute difference is used as the estimated cooking time for display.

[0018] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: when the first displayed cooking time is greater than the first preset cooking time, it indicates that the first cooking stage is delayed. Then, the difference obtained by subtracting the first absolute difference from the second preset cooking time is used as the estimated displayed cooking time of the second cooking stage, so that the estimated displayed cooking time of the second cooking stage is smaller than the second preset cooking time, so as to adjust the timing rhythm of the subsequent display timing.

[0019] In some embodiments of this application, determining a second baseline timing coefficient for the second cooking stage based on an estimated displayed cooking time includes:

[0020] If the first displayed cooking time is less than the first preset cooking time, calculate the first quotient obtained by dividing the second preset cooking time of the second cooking stage by the estimated displayed cooking time, and use the product of the first quotient and the first reference timing coefficient of the first cooking stage as the second reference timing coefficient.

[0021] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: when the first displayed cooking time is less than the first preset cooking time, it indicates that the first cooking stage ends early and the display timing changes slowly. Then, the first quotient obtained by dividing the second preset cooking time by the estimated displayed cooking time of the second cooking stage, and multiplying it with the first reference timing coefficient, is used as the second reference timing coefficient. This speeds up the display timing change of the second cooking stage to compensate for the timing difference that occurred in the first cooking stage and avoids the display timing from jumping.

[0022] In some embodiments of this application, determining a second baseline timing coefficient for the second cooking stage based on an estimated displayed cooking time includes:

[0023] If the first displayed cooking time is greater than or equal to the first preset cooking time, then calculate the first absolute difference between the first preset cooking time and the first displayed cooking time;

[0024] The second quotient is obtained by calculating the sum of the second preset cooking time and the first absolute difference of the second cooking stage and dividing it by the second preset cooking time.

[0025] The product of the second quotient and the first reference timing coefficient of the first cooking stage is used as the second reference timing coefficient.

[0026] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: When the first displayed cooking time is longer than the first preset cooking time, it indicates that the first cooking stage ends late and the display timing changes rapidly. Then, the second quotient obtained by dividing the sum of the second preset cooking time and the first absolute difference by the second preset cooking time, and multiplying it by the first reference timing coefficient, is used as the second reference timing coefficient. This slows down the display timing change rate of the second cooking stage, so as to make up for the timing difference that occurs in the first cooking stage and avoid the display timing from jumping.

[0027] In some embodiments of this application, the cooking appliance also has a display timer;

[0028] Obtain the first displayed cooking time for the first cooking stage, including:

[0029] When entering the first cooking stage, the timer displays the first display time;

[0030] Upon completion of the first cooking stage, the timer displays the second display time.

[0031] The absolute difference between the first display time and the second display time is taken as the first display cooking time.

[0032] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: by using the first display time when the first cooking stage begins and the second display time when it ends, the first display cooking time is calculated, so that the calculated first display cooking time and the amount of change shown by the display timer during the first cooking stage are consistent.

[0033] In some embodiments of this application, the timing control method further includes:

[0034] During the first cooking stage, if the timer reaches the first deadline, the timer will be paused until the first cooking stage is completed.

[0035] The first deadline is determined based on the first preset cooking time.

[0036] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: by setting a first cutoff time, the first displayed cooking time is prevented from being too long than the first preset cooking time, thereby reducing the difficulty of adjusting the display timer in the second cooking stage and preventing the display timer from changing too much in different cooking stages, thus avoiding misleading the user and causing the display timer to malfunction.

[0037] In some embodiments of this application, the absolute difference between the first deadline and the first display time is equal to the first preset cooking time.

[0038] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: By means of the above method, the maximum value of the first displayed cooking time of the first cooking stage can be equal to the first preset cooking time. Thus, even if the actual cooking time of the first cooking stage is longer, the display time will still indicate that it is in the first cooking stage, so that the cooking stage displayed by the display time matches the actual cooking stage, which is beneficial for users to understand the actual cooking stage by displaying the time.

[0039] In some embodiments of this application, during the execution of the first cooking stage,

[0040] If the display time of the display timer is within the first preset time range, then the display timing is performed based on the first sub-reference timing coefficient;

[0041] If the display time of the display timer is within the second preset time range, the display timing is performed based on the second sub-reference timing coefficient;

[0042] The first reference timing coefficient for the first cooking stage is determined based on at least one of the first and second sub-reference timing coefficients.

[0043] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: By further dividing the initial first cooking stage into different sub-reference timing coefficients based on the different preset time ranges of the display timer, it is easier to consider the impact of the low initial pot bottom temperature and low ambient temperature on the actual heating rate and cooking progress. This facilitates the display timer to accurately show the cooking progress, allowing users to understand the actual cooking stage through the display timer. Furthermore, based on at least one of the first and second sub-reference timing coefficients, a first reference timing coefficient for the first cooking stage is determined, thereby improving the accuracy of the second reference timing coefficient calculated based on the first reference timing coefficient.

[0044] In some embodiments of this application, the timing control method further includes:

[0045] If the temperature of the preset position of the cooking appliance reaches the first preset temperature during the first cooking stage, the first cooking stage is completed and the second cooking stage begins.

[0046] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: by using a preset temperature to raise the temperature to a first preset temperature as a marker for the completion of the first cooking stage, it is easier to accurately distinguish the difference between the first cooking stage and the second cooking stage, and it is also beneficial to accurately control the display timing and the correlation between different cooking stages. Attached Figure Description

[0047] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0048] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating a timing control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figures 2a-2c The flowchart illustrates a timing control method according to another embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0050] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention more apparent, exemplary embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein. Based on the embodiments of the present invention described herein, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without inventive effort should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0051] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention can be practiced without one or more of these details. In other instances, certain technical features well-known in the art have not been described in order to avoid obscuring the invention.

[0052] It should be understood that the invention can be embodied in various forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, providing these embodiments will make the disclosure thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0053] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. When used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the terms “compose” and / or “comprising,” when used in this specification, confirm the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups. When used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of the associated listed items.

[0054] To fully understand this invention, a detailed structure will be presented in the following description to illustrate the technical solution proposed by this invention. Optional embodiments of the invention are described in detail below; however, in addition to these detailed descriptions, the invention may have other embodiments.

[0055] The following detailed description of some embodiments of the present invention is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features can be combined with each other.

[0056] First, let me introduce the application scenario of the timing control method illustrated in this application. The timing control method is applied to cooking appliances, which can be appliances used for cooking food, such as, but not limited to, rice cookers, electric ovens, and induction cookers.

[0057] The cooking appliance includes at least two consecutive cooking stages, each corresponding to a preset cooking time. Specifically, the cooking process is divided into at least two consecutive cooking stages from the start to the end of cooking, and each cooking stage corresponds to a preset cooking time.

[0058] For example, at least two consecutive cooking stages may include a first cooking stage, a second cooking stage, ..., an Nth cooking stage, where N is any integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0059] There are various ways to divide the cooking process into stages. For example, it can be divided into stages such as heating up, maintaining boiling, simmering, and cooking.

[0060] For example, the cooking stages can be further divided based on the temperature rise. For instance, they can be divided according to the temperature change at a preset location of the cooking appliance. Specifically, when the temperature at the preset location of the cooking appliance is lower than a first preset temperature, it is classified as the first cooking stage; when the temperature at the preset location of the cooking appliance is between the first and second preset temperatures, it is classified as the second cooking stage; ...; when the temperature at the preset location of the cooking appliance is between the (M-1)th preset temperature and the Mth preset temperature, it is classified as the Mth cooking stage.

[0061] For example, the preset position of the cooking appliance can be any position within the cooking appliance where the temperature will change during the cooking process. For instance, the preset position can be the preset top position of the cooking appliance, in which case the temperature at the preset position is the temperature at the top of the cooking appliance.

[0062] For example, the division of the first preset temperature, the second preset temperature, ..., the Mth preset temperature can be 50℃, 65℃, 76℃, 88℃, 100℃, etc., and the step values ​​between different adjacent preset temperatures can be equal or unequal.

[0063] For example, after starting cooking and entering the first cooking stage, the temperature of a preset location on the cooking appliance will gradually rise. Once the temperature at the preset location reaches the first preset temperature, it can be determined that the first cooking stage has been completed, and the second cooking stage begins. Correspondingly, the switching nodes between any two adjacent cooking stages from the second cooking stage to the Mth cooking stage can adopt the above method, and will not be specifically listed further.

[0064] For example, the cooking appliance also includes a pot body and a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the top of the pot body, wherein the pot body is used to hold the food to be cooked, which may, for example, be a liquid food. The temperature sensor measures the temperature of the top of the pot body to detect whether at least a partial cooking stage is complete and serves as a basis for determining whether to proceed to the next cooking stage. For example, the temperature sensor may include a temperature-measuring sensor such as a thermistor (NTC).

[0065] For example, the first cooking stage corresponds to the first preset cooking time, the second cooking stage corresponds to the second preset cooking time, ..., the Nth cooking stage corresponds to the Nth preset cooking time.

[0066] For example, each cooking stage corresponds to a baseline timing factor.

[0067] It should be noted that this reference timing factor reflects the change in the timing rhythm of the timer. Under normal reference timing factor conditions, each increment or decrement of the timer corresponds to a change of 1 second; if the reference timing factor increases or decreases, each increment or decrement of the timer may correspond to a change of 1.2 seconds or 0.8 seconds.

[0068] For example, the timer can be a display timer on a cooking appliance, meaning it is installed on the appliance to display the cooking time so the user can understand the approximate cooking progress. In this case, the cooking time recorded by the timer is the displayed cooking time. It should be noted that this display timer can be a positive timer or a countdown timer.

[0069] For example, in determining the preset cooking time for each cooking stage, the same type and amount of ingredients, and the same cooking procedure can be used to perform multiple cooking processes. A display timer based on a preset baseline coefficient is then used to record the displayed time for each cooking stage across the multiple cooking processes. The average of the displayed time for each cooking stage across the multiple cooking processes is then calculated, and this average is used as the preset cooking time for each cooking stage.

[0070] The preset cooking time for each cooking stage obtained through the above method is based on a display timer with a preset reference coefficient. Therefore, the timing rhythm of the display timer can be adjusted by multiplying the preset reference coefficient by a certain parameter as a reference timing coefficient. The specific parameter will be explained in detail later.

[0071] refer to Figure 1 This application provides a timing control method, which includes:

[0072] S10, Perform the first cooking stage;

[0073] S20, Obtain the first displayed cooking time for the first cooking stage;

[0074] S30, based on the first displayed cooking time and the first preset cooking time of the first cooking stage, determine the estimated displayed cooking time of the second cooking stage;

[0075] S40, based on the estimated cooking time, determine the second baseline timing coefficient for the second cooking stage;

[0076] S50 displays timing based on a second reference timing coefficient during the execution of the second cooking stage.

[0077] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: by executing the first cooking stage and obtaining the first displayed cooking time of the first cooking stage, and then determining the estimated displayed cooking time of the second cooking stage based on the first displayed cooking time and the first preset cooking time; subsequently, based on the estimated displayed cooking time of the second cooking stage, determining the second reference timing coefficient of the second cooking stage, so that the display timing is performed based on the second reference timing coefficient during the execution of the second cooking stage. In the above timing control process, when the first displayed cooking time changes, the estimated displayed cooking time of the second cooking stage and the second reference timing coefficient also change accordingly, and the display timing is performed based on the second reference timing coefficient during the execution of the second cooking stage. That is, if there is a difference between the actual cooking time and the preset cooking time in the first cooking stage, the second cooking stage will speed up or slow down the countdown rate to compensate for the difference in the first cooking stage, avoid jumps in the displayed timing, and improve the user experience. The above method also enables the displayed timing of the second cooking stage to change as evenly as possible, preventing jumps or prolonged periods of inactivity in the displayed timing, avoiding misleading users into thinking that cooking is complete or that the countdown has malfunctioned, and helping users understand the actual cooking stage through the displayed timing. The steps described above will be explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0078] First, it should be noted that the first cooking stage and the second cooking stage mentioned above refer to any two adjacent cooking stages among at least two consecutive cooking stages. For example, the first cooking stage and the second cooking stage can be any two adjacent cooking stages from the first cooking stage to the Nth cooking stage. For instance, after starting the cooking function, the first cooking stage is entered first and then executed. During the execution of the first cooking stage, the aforementioned display timer is used to time the process and obtain the first displayed cooking duration of the first cooking stage.

[0079] There are several ways to obtain the first displayed cooking time for the first cooking stage, some of which are illustrated below.

[0080] For example, the cooking appliance also has the aforementioned display timer; obtaining the first displayed cooking time for the first cooking stage may include:

[0081] When entering the first cooking stage, the timer displays the first display time;

[0082] Upon completion of the first cooking stage, the timer displays the second display time.

[0083] The absolute difference between the first display time and the second display time is taken as the first display cooking time.

[0084] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: by using the first display time when the first cooking stage begins and the second display time when it ends, the first display cooking time is calculated, so that the calculated first display cooking time and the amount of change shown by the display timer during the first cooking stage are consistent.

[0085] As described above, after starting cooking and entering the first cooking stage, the timer displays the first display time. As cooking progresses, the temperature at the preset position of the cooking appliance gradually rises. Once the temperature at the preset position reaches the first preset temperature, the first cooking stage is considered complete, and the timer displays the second display time, after which the second cooking stage begins. The absolute difference between the first and second display times is taken as the first display cooking duration.

[0086] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: by using a preset temperature to raise the temperature to a first preset temperature as a marker for the completion of the first cooking stage, it is easier to accurately distinguish the difference between the first cooking stage and the second cooking stage, and it is also beneficial to accurately control the display timing and the correlation between different cooking stages.

[0087] Next, based on the first displayed cooking time and the first preset cooking time of the first cooking stage, the estimated displayed cooking time of the second cooking stage is determined. That is, after the first cooking stage is completed, the estimated preset displayed cooking time of the second cooking stage is also calculated, which is the estimated display time that the display timer needs to complete in the second cooking stage. This is to ensure that the displayed timer at the end of the second cooking stage is as equal as possible to the sum of the first and second preset cooking times, so that the displayed time is basically consistent with the expectation, which helps the user to obtain the cooking status through the displayed time.

[0088] Specifically, the estimated cooking time for the second cooking stage can be determined based on the first displayed cooking time and the first preset cooking time of the first cooking stage in various ways. Some methods are illustrated below.

[0089] For example, different calculation methods can be used based on the relationship between the first displayed cooking time and the first preset cooking time. An example is shown below:

[0090] For example, determining the estimated displayed cooking time for the second cooking stage based on the first displayed cooking time and the first preset cooking time of the first cooking stage may include:

[0091] If the first displayed cooking time is less than the first preset cooking time, then calculate the first absolute difference between the first preset cooking time and the first displayed cooking time;

[0092] The sum of the second preset cooking time and the first absolute difference in the second cooking stage is used as the estimated display cooking time.

[0093] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: when the first displayed cooking time is less than the first preset cooking time, it indicates that the first cooking stage has ended prematurely. Then, the sum of the second preset cooking time and the first absolute difference is used as the estimated displayed cooking time of the second cooking stage, so that the estimated displayed cooking time of the second cooking stage is longer than the second preset cooking time, so as to adjust the timing rhythm of the subsequent display timing.

[0094] For example, determining the estimated displayed cooking time for the second cooking stage based on the first displayed cooking time and the first preset cooking time of the first cooking stage may include:

[0095] If the first displayed cooking time is greater than or equal to the first preset cooking time, and less than the sum of the first preset cooking time and the second preset cooking time of the second cooking stage, then calculate the first absolute difference between the first preset cooking time and the first displayed cooking time.

[0096] The difference between the second preset cooking time and the first absolute difference is used as the estimated cooking time for display.

[0097] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: when the first displayed cooking time is greater than the first preset cooking time, it indicates that the first cooking stage is delayed. Then, the difference obtained by subtracting the first absolute difference from the second preset cooking time is used as the estimated displayed cooking time of the second cooking stage, so that the estimated displayed cooking time of the second cooking stage is smaller than the second preset cooking time, so as to adjust the timing rhythm of the subsequent display timing.

[0098] It should be understood that the above are merely illustrative examples of some ways to determine the estimated cooking time for the second cooking stage, and other methods may also be used.

[0099] Next, based on the estimated display cooking time, a second baseline timing coefficient for the second cooking stage is determined. That is, after determining the estimated display cooking time for the second cooking stage, the second baseline timing coefficient for the second cooking stage can be adjusted so that the display time at the end of the second cooking stage is as close to the expectation as possible.

[0100] There are several ways to determine the second baseline timing coefficient for the second cooking stage based on the estimated cooking time, as exemplified below.

[0101] For example, different calculation methods can be used based on the relationship between the first displayed cooking time and the first preset cooking time. Examples are as follows:

[0102] For example, determining a second baseline timing coefficient for the second cooking stage based on the estimated displayed cooking time may include:

[0103] If the first displayed cooking time is less than the first preset cooking time, calculate the first quotient obtained by dividing the second preset cooking time of the second cooking stage by the estimated displayed cooking time, and use the product of the first quotient and the first reference timing coefficient of the first cooking stage as the second reference timing coefficient.

[0104] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: when the first displayed cooking time is less than the first preset cooking time, it indicates that the first cooking stage ends early and the display timing changes slowly. Then, the first quotient obtained by dividing the second preset cooking time by the estimated displayed cooking time of the second cooking stage, and multiplying it with the first reference timing coefficient, is used as the second reference timing coefficient. This speeds up the display timing change of the second cooking stage to compensate for the timing difference that occurred in the first cooking stage and avoids the display timing from jumping.

[0105] For example, determining a second baseline timing coefficient for the second cooking stage based on the estimated displayed cooking time may include:

[0106] If the first displayed cooking time is greater than or equal to the first preset cooking time, then calculate the first absolute difference between the first preset cooking time and the first displayed cooking time;

[0107] The second quotient is obtained by calculating the sum of the second preset cooking time and the first absolute difference of the second cooking stage and dividing it by the second preset cooking time.

[0108] The product of the second quotient and the first reference timing coefficient of the first cooking stage is used as the second reference timing coefficient.

[0109] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: When the first displayed cooking time is longer than the first preset cooking time, it indicates that the first cooking stage ends late and the display timing changes rapidly. Then, the second quotient obtained by dividing the sum of the second preset cooking time and the first absolute difference by the second preset cooking time, and multiplying it by the first reference timing coefficient, is used as the second reference timing coefficient. This slows down the display timing change rate of the second cooking stage, so as to make up for the timing difference that occurs in the first cooking stage and avoid the display timing from jumping.

[0110] It should be understood that the above only exemplifies some ways of determining the second reference timing coefficient for the second cooking stage, and other methods may also be used.

[0111] In some embodiments, the timing control method may further include:

[0112] During the first cooking stage, if the timer reaches the first deadline, the timer will be paused until the first cooking stage is completed.

[0113] The first deadline is determined based on the first preset cooking time.

[0114] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: by setting a first cutoff time, the first displayed cooking time is prevented from being too long than the first preset cooking time, thereby reducing the difficulty of adjusting the display timer in the second cooking stage and preventing the display timer from changing too much in different cooking stages, thus avoiding misleading the user and causing the display timer to malfunction.

[0115] As mentioned above, during the first cooking stage, the displayed cooking time may exceed the preset cooking time. Specifically, the timer works as follows: if the displayed cooking time has reached the preset cooking time but the first cooking stage is not yet complete and needs to continue, the timer will continue counting down. However, if no first deadline is set, the displayed cooking time may exceed the sum of the preset and second preset cooking times. In this case, the timer may show that the second cooking stage has been completed even before the second cooking stage has begun, which could mislead the user.

[0116] By setting a first cutoff time in the above embodiment, if the displayed time of the timer reaches the first cutoff time during the execution of the first cooking stage, the timer will pause until the first cooking stage is completed. This prevents the timer from continuing to display after the first cutoff time, thus avoiding the aforementioned problem.

[0117] When setting the first deadline, it is determined based on a first preset cooking time. For example, it can be done in the following way.

[0118] For example, the absolute difference between the first cutoff time and the first display time is equal to the first preset cooking time.

[0119] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: By means of the above method, the maximum value of the first displayed cooking time of the first cooking stage can be equal to the first preset cooking time. Thus, even if the actual cooking time of the first cooking stage is longer, the display time will still indicate that it is in the first cooking stage, so that the cooking stage displayed by the display time matches the actual cooking stage, which is beneficial for users to understand the actual cooking stage by displaying the time.

[0120] Of course, in other embodiments, the absolute difference between the first cutoff time and the first display time can be greater than the first preset cooking time, but less than the sum of the first preset cooking time and the second preset cooking time. Thus, the first cooking stage may only occupy part of the display cooking time of the second cooking stage, rather than the entire display cooking time.

[0121] In some embodiments, the display timing for the first cooking stage can be optimized in various ways. Some such optimization methods are described below as examples.

[0122] For example, during the first cooking stage,

[0123] If the display time of the display timer is within the first preset time range, then the display timing is performed based on the first sub-reference timing coefficient;

[0124] If the display time of the display timer is within the second preset time range, the display timing is performed based on the second sub-reference timing coefficient;

[0125] The first reference timing coefficient for the first cooking stage is determined based on at least one of the first and second sub-reference timing coefficients.

[0126] The above embodiments have the following beneficial effects: By further dividing the initial first cooking stage into different sub-reference timing coefficients based on the different preset time ranges of the display timer, it is easier to consider the impact of the low initial pot bottom temperature and low ambient temperature on the actual heating rate and cooking progress. This facilitates the display timer to accurately show the cooking progress, allowing users to understand the actual cooking stage through the display timer. Furthermore, based on at least one of the first and second sub-reference timing coefficients, a first reference timing coefficient for the first cooking stage is determined, thereby improving the accuracy of the second reference timing coefficient calculated based on the first reference timing coefficient.

[0127] For example, the first cooking stage can be divided into at least two consecutive sub-stages. For example, the first cooking stage is divided into sequentially consecutive sub-stage one, sub-stage two, ..., sub-stage H, where each sub-stage from sub-stage one to sub-stage H corresponds to a preset time range and a sub-baseline timing coefficient. The first baseline timing coefficient of the first cooking stage is obtained based on some or all of the sub-baseline timing coefficients corresponding to sub-stage one to sub-stage H, respectively.

[0128] It should be noted that during the execution of the first cooking stage, in addition to displaying timing based on the first sub-reference timing coefficient and the second sub-reference timing coefficient, timing can also be based on other sub-reference timing coefficients. That is, as mentioned above, the number of sub-reference timing coefficients in the first cooking stage is not limited to two; it can also be three or more. The first and second sub-reference timing coefficients can be any two of the three or more sub-reference timing coefficients.

[0129] Regarding the method of determining the first reference timing coefficient for the first cooking stage based on at least one of the first and second sub-reference timing coefficients, there are various methods that can be adopted, some of which are exemplified below.

[0130] For example, one of the first and second sub-baseline timing coefficients can be directly used as the first baseline timing coefficient for the first cooking stage. For instance, either the first or second sub-baseline timing coefficient can be directly used as the first baseline timing coefficient.

[0131] For example, an algorithm based on the first sub-reference timing coefficient and the second sub-reference timing coefficient can also be used to calculate the first reference timing coefficient.

[0132] For example, the simple average of the first sub-baseline timing coefficient and the second sub-baseline timing coefficient can be directly used as the first baseline timing coefficient.

[0133] For example, the weighted average calculated by using the first preset time range as the weight of the first sub-baseline timing coefficient and the second preset time range as the weight of the second sub-baseline timing coefficient can be used as the first baseline timing coefficient.

[0134] It should be noted that when there are three or more sub-baseline timing coefficients in the first cooking stage, one of the sub-baseline timing coefficients can be directly used as the first baseline timing coefficient. Alternatively, the algorithm shown above can be used to calculate the first baseline timing coefficient from three or more sub-baseline timing coefficients.

[0135] For example, the first cooking stage can be the initial cooking stage after cooking begins. Since there are no other cooking stages before the first cooking stage, it is not possible to adjust the first reference timing coefficient of the first cooking stage based on the displayed cooking time and preset cooking time of the previous cooking stage. In this case, a suitable reference timing coefficient can be set for the first cooking stage by combining experience, pot heat transfer parameters, ambient temperature, and other factors, so that a countdown display can be performed during the execution of the first cooking stage using a suitable reference timing coefficient.

[0136] The following examples illustrate some implementation methods, taking the first cooking stage as the initial cooking stage after the start of cooking.

[0137] For example, refer to Figure 2a The first sub-reference timing coefficient can be a preset fixed value. For example, the first sub-reference timing coefficient can be equal to the preset reference coefficient. This prevents the user from doubting whether the timing display function is working properly, thus indicating to the user that the countdown function is normal. For example, the preset reference coefficient can be 1. For example, the first preset time range can be any unit value such as 1 or 2 units before the start of the first cooking stage. For example, refer to... Figure 2a The first preset time range can be 35, that is, the first preset time range can be the first unit value at the beginning of the first cooking stage.

[0138] For example, refer to Figure 2aThe second sub-reference timing coefficient can be a preset fixed value. For example, the second sub-reference timing coefficient can be greater than the preset reference coefficient, thereby slowing down the display timing rhythm. For example, when the preset reference coefficient is 1, the second sub-reference coefficient can be 2. Because in the first cooking stage, considering the need to heat the pot body and the low external ambient temperature, the actual temperature rise of the top is often slower, resulting in the displayed cooking time of the first cooking stage being longer than the first preset cooking time. When the displayed timing reaches the second preset time range, the second sub-reference timing coefficient can be used to slow down the display timing rhythm, which helps the displayed cooking time of the first cooking stage to become more consistent with the first preset cooking time.

[0139] For example, refer to Figure 2a The second sub-reference timing coefficient can also be other preset fixed values. For example, the second sub-reference timing coefficient can be larger, thereby further slowing down the displayed timing rhythm. For example, when the preset reference coefficient is 1, the second sub-reference coefficient can be 3. Considering that the actual temperature rise of the top will be slower due to the need to heat the pot body and the low external ambient temperature, this helps to make the displayed cooking time of the first cooking stage more consistent with the first preset cooking time.

[0140] Next, during the second cooking stage, the timer is displayed based on the second baseline timing coefficient. If there is a difference between the actual cooking time and the preset cooking time in the first cooking stage, the countdown rate will be accelerated or decelerated in the second cooking stage to compensate for the difference in the first cooking stage, avoiding jumps in the displayed time and improving the user experience. Furthermore, this method ensures that the displayed time in the second cooking stage changes as evenly as possible, preventing jumps or prolonged periods of inactivity, avoiding misleading users into thinking that cooking is complete or that the countdown has malfunctioned, and allowing users to understand the actual cooking stage through the displayed time.

[0141] For example, the cooking process often includes a heating phase, a boiling phase, a steaming phase, and a steaming phase. The heating phase can be divided into different cooking stages based on the preset temperature. Due to differences in the amount and type of ingredients, as well as differences in ambient temperature, the actual cooking time for each stage will vary, which will also be reflected in the displayed cooking time. In this case, the timing control method described above can be used to adjust the time so that the displayed time for each cooking stage changes as evenly as possible and accurately reflects the current cooking stage.

[0142] In the boiling stage and subsequent cooking stages, the completion is no longer determined by whether the temperature at the preset position has reached the preset temperature. Instead, it is determined by the cumulative time spent in the cooking stage. Therefore, the timing can be displayed directly based on the preset reference coefficient, without the need to calculate the reference timing coefficient for each cooking stage in the above way.

[0143] There will be a difference at the point where the boiling stage transitions from the previous cooking stage. Specifically, since each of the aforementioned cooking stages has a corresponding cutoff time set based on a preset cooking time, if the cooking time exceeds the preset cooking time, the timer at the end of the previous stage will stop at the corresponding cutoff time. Therefore, in this case, the boiling stage only needs to be timed based on a preset baseline coefficient. However, if the cooking time is less than the preset cooking time, the timer at the end of the previous stage will not reach the corresponding cutoff time. In this case, the aforementioned timing control method can be used to calculate the baseline timing coefficient for the boiling stage, and then adjustments can be made during the boiling stage to ensure that the timer stops precisely at the cutoff time of the boiling stage at the end, thus correcting the discrepancy between the displayed timing and the expected timing. Subsequent times can then be directly based on the preset baseline coefficient, without needing to calculate the baseline timing coefficients for each cooking stage using the above method.

[0144] The following example illustrates the complete timing control process, taking a cooking process that includes at least six cooking stages, with the first cooking stage being the initial cooking stage.

[0145] refer to Figure 2a Start the cooking function to begin cooking rice. The cooking program is set to a preset cooking time of 35 minutes for all cooking stages. The display timer is based on the baseline timing coefficient for each cooking stage.

[0146] Next, refer to Figure 2aThe process begins with the first cooking stage, where the first display time is set to 35 seconds and the first cutoff time to 28 seconds. The first preset cooking time t1 is set to 7 seconds, and the second preset cooking time t2 is set to 3 seconds. During the first cooking stage, sub-stage one begins, with a preset time range of 35 seconds. When the display time is 35 seconds, the sub-baseline timing coefficient is 1. After completing sub-stage one, sub-stage two begins, with a preset time range of 34 seconds. When the display time is 34 seconds, the sub-baseline timing coefficient is 2. After completing sub-stage two, sub-stage three begins, with a preset time range of less than or equal to 33 seconds. When the display time is ≤33 seconds, the sub-baseline timing coefficient is 3. Then, based on the sub-baseline timing coefficients corresponding to the three sub-stages, the first baseline timing coefficient time1 is calculated. For example, the sub-baseline timing coefficient 3 corresponding to sub-stage three can be directly used as the first baseline timing coefficient, i.e., time1 = 3. When the top temperature equals 50 degrees Celsius, the first displayed cooking time is recorded as tab1, and the first absolute difference between tab1 and t1, |tab1-t1|, is calculated.

[0147] refer to Figure 2a It determines whether tab1 is greater than t1 and uses different calculation methods based on the result. Specifically, if tab1 > t1, the second reference timing coefficient time2 is calculated as time1 * (|tab1 - t1| + t2) / t2; if tab1 ≤ t1, the second reference timing coefficient time2 is calculated as time1 * t2 / (t2 + |tab1 - t1|).

[0148] The following details how the timing of the second cooking stage is adjusted to speed up or slow down, based on the second baseline timing coefficient.

[0149] When tab1 > t1, in the calculation of the second reference timing coefficient time2 = time1 * (|tab1-t1| + t2) / t2, since (|tab1-t1| + t2) / t2 is greater than 1, time2 is greater than time1. That is, relative to the first reference timing coefficient time1, the second reference timing coefficient is increased, which can slow down the timing of the second cooking stage.

[0150] For example, if the first preset cooking time t1 = 7, the second preset cooking time t2 = 3, and the first displayed cooking time tab1 = 8, then the base timing coefficient for the second cooking stage is calculated as time2 = time1 * (|tab1 - t1| + t2) / t2 = time1 * (|8 - 7| + 3) / 3 = time1 * 4 / 3. Furthermore, when time1 = 1000, each increment or decrement of the calculator corresponds to a 1-second change in time. Therefore, the base timing coefficient for the second cooking stage is time2 = time1 * 4 / 3 = 1333. Each increment or decrement of the calculator corresponds to a 1.33-second change in time. Thus, during the countdown display, the counter decrements by 1 every 1.33 seconds, slowing down the timing of the second cooking stage.

[0151] When tab1 ≤ t1, in the calculation of the second reference timing coefficient time2 = time1 * t2 / (t2 + |tab1 - t1|), since t2 / (t2 + |tab1 - t1|) is less than 1, time2 is less than time1. That is, relative to the first reference timing coefficient time1, the second reference timing coefficient is reduced, which can speed up the timing of the second cooking stage.

[0152] For example, if the first preset cooking time t1 = 7, the second preset cooking time t2 = 3, and the first displayed cooking time tab1 = 5, then the base timing coefficient for the second cooking stage is calculated as time2 = time1 * t2 / (t2 + |tab1 - t1|) = time1 * 3 / (3 + |7 - 5|) = time1 * 3 / 5. Furthermore, when time1 = 1000, each increment or decrement of the calculator corresponds to a 1-second change in time. Therefore, the second base timing coefficient time2 = time1 * 3 / 5 = 600. Each increment or decrement of the calculator corresponds to a 0.6-second change in time. Thus, during the countdown display, the counter decrements by 1 every 0.6 seconds, accelerating the timing of the second cooking stage.

[0153] Afterwards, refer to Figure 2b Enter the second cooking stage, set the third preset cooking time t3 = 3, and set the second cutoff time to 25. Display the timer according to the second cooking baseline timing coefficient. When the top temperature equals 65 degrees, record the second displayed cooking time tab2, and calculate the second absolute difference between tab2 and t2, |tab2-t2|.

[0154] refer to Figure 2bDetermine the relationship between tab2 and t2, and apply different calculation methods based on the determination result. Specifically, if tab2 > t2, calculate the third baseline timing coefficient for the third cooking stage as time3 = time2 * (|tab2 - t2)| + t3) / t3; if tab2 ≤ t2, calculate the third baseline timing coefficient for the third cooking stage as time3 = time2 * t3 / (t3 + |tab2 - t2|).

[0155] Afterwards, refer to Figure 2b Enter the third cooking stage. Set the fourth preset cooking time t4 = 3, and set the third cutoff time 22. Display the timer according to the third baseline timing coefficient of the third cooking stage. When the top temperature equals 76 degrees, record the third displayed cooking time tab3, and calculate the third absolute difference between tab3 and t3, |tab3-t3|.

[0156] refer to Figure 2b Determine the relationship between tab3 and t3, and apply different calculation methods based on the determination result. Specifically, if tab3 > t3, calculate the fourth baseline timing coefficient for the fourth cooking stage: time4 = time3 * (|tab3 - t3| + t4) / t4. If tab3 ≤ t3, calculate the fourth baseline timing coefficient for the fourth cooking stage: time4 = time3 * t4 / (t4 + |tab3 - t3|).

[0157] Afterwards, refer to Figure 2c Enter the fourth cooking stage. Set the fifth preset cooking time t5 = 12 and the fourth cutoff time to 19. Display the timer according to the fourth baseline timing coefficient. When the top temperature equals 88 degrees, record the fourth displayed cooking time tab4, and calculate the fourth absolute difference between tab4 and t4, |tab4-t4|.

[0158] refer to Figure 2c The relationship between tab4 and t4 is determined, and different calculation methods are applied based on the determination result. Specifically, if tab4 > t4, then the fourth cooking stage ends and the display timer reaches the fourth cutoff time; the fifth reference timing coefficient is determined to be equal to the preset reference coefficient. If tab4 ≤ t4, then the fifth reference timing coefficient time5 is calculated as time4 * t5 / (t5 + |tab4 - t4|).

[0159] refer to Figure 2cThe process proceeds to the fifth cooking stage, with the fifth cutoff time set to 7. When the timer reaches the fifth cutoff time, the fifth cooking stage is complete, and the process continues into the sixth and subsequent cooking stages. Since subsequent cooking stages are controlled based on a preset baseline coefficient, the above calculations are not performed again; the preset baseline coefficient is directly used as the baseline timing coefficient for each subsequent cooking stage.

[0160] The present invention has been described through the above embodiments. However, it should be understood that the above embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention to the scope of the described embodiments. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and many more variations and modifications can be made based on the teachings of the present invention, all of which fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A timing control method applied to a cooking appliance, the cooking appliance comprising at least two consecutive cooking stages, each cooking stage corresponding to a preset cooking duration, characterized in that, The timing control method includes: Perform the first cooking stage; Obtain the first displayed cooking time for the first cooking stage; Based on the first displayed cooking time and the first preset cooking time of the first cooking stage, the estimated displayed cooking time of the second cooking stage is determined; Based on the estimated cooking time, a second baseline timing coefficient for the second cooking stage is determined. During the second cooking stage, the timing is displayed based on the second reference timing coefficient.

2. The timing control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The step of determining the estimated displayed cooking time for the second cooking stage based on the first displayed cooking time and the first preset cooking time of the first cooking stage includes: If the first displayed cooking time is less than the first preset cooking time, then calculate the first absolute difference between the first preset cooking time and the first displayed cooking time; The sum of the second preset cooking time of the second cooking stage and the first absolute difference is used as the estimated display cooking time.

3. The timing control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The step of determining the estimated displayed cooking time for the second cooking stage based on the first displayed cooking time and the first preset cooking time of the first cooking stage includes: If the first displayed cooking time is greater than or equal to the first preset cooking time, and less than the sum of the first preset cooking time and the second preset cooking time of the second cooking stage, then calculate the first absolute difference between the first preset cooking time and the first displayed cooking time. The difference obtained by subtracting the first absolute difference from the second preset cooking time is used as the estimated display cooking time.

4. The timing control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The step of determining the second baseline timing coefficient for the second cooking stage based on the estimated cooking time includes: If the first displayed cooking time is less than the first preset cooking time, calculate the first quotient obtained by dividing the second preset cooking time of the second cooking stage by the estimated displayed cooking time, and multiply the first quotient by the first reference timing coefficient of the first cooking stage as the second reference timing coefficient.

5. The timing control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The step of determining the second baseline timing coefficient for the second cooking stage based on the estimated cooking time includes: If the first displayed cooking time is greater than or equal to the first preset cooking time, then calculate the first absolute difference between the first preset cooking time and the first displayed cooking time; The second quotient is obtained by calculating the sum of the second preset cooking time of the second cooking stage and the first absolute difference, and dividing it by the second preset cooking time. The product of the second quotient and the first reference timing coefficient of the first cooking stage is used as the second reference timing coefficient.

6. The timing control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cooking appliance also features a display timer; The step of obtaining the first displayed cooking time for the first cooking stage includes: When entering the first cooking stage, the display timer displays the first display time; When the first cooking stage is completed, the display timer displays the second display time. The absolute difference between the first display time and the second display time is taken as the first display cooking time.

7. The timing control method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, Also includes: During the execution of the first cooking stage, if the display time of the display timer reaches the first deadline, the display timer is controlled to pause until the execution of the first cooking stage is completed. The first deadline is determined based on the first preset cooking time.

8. The timing control method as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The absolute difference between the first deadline and the first display time is equal to the first preset cooking time.

9. The timing control method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, During the first cooking stage If the display time of the display timer is within the first preset time range, then the display timing is performed based on the first sub-reference timing coefficient; If the display time of the display timer is within the second preset time range, then the display timing is performed based on the second sub-reference timing coefficient; A first reference timing coefficient for the first cooking stage is determined based on at least one of the first and second sub-reference timing coefficients.

10. The timing control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: If the temperature at a preset location of the cooking appliance reaches a first preset temperature during the first cooking stage, the first cooking stage is considered complete, and the process proceeds to the second cooking stage.

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