An intelligent bread maker

Abstract

The application relates to an intelligent bread machine, which comprises an operation module for generating an operation instruction signal; a microcontroller for sending an instruction pulse signal upon receiving the operation instruction signal; a weighing module for receiving the instruction pulse signal and returning a weight data signal; an executing mechanism electrically connected with the microcontroller, the microcontroller being used for receiving the weight data signal and outputting a first control signal to control the executing mechanism to work; a wireless communication module for sending a second control signal output by the microcontroller; a camera module connected with the wireless communication module and used for receiving and shooting a cooking state image according to the second control signal; and the wireless communication module is used for sending the cooking state image to a mobile terminal and displaying, the mobile terminal and the camera module being in the same local area network. The intelligent bread machine can acquire the cooking state image and transmit the cooking state image to the mobile terminal for display, so that the user can at least check the cooking state of the bread, and early intervention in bread making is possible.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of household appliances, and in particular to a smart bread maker. Background Technology

[0002] A bread machine is an appliance that, after the flour and other ingredients are added, can automatically complete the bread-making process, including kneading, fermentation, and baking, according to a set program.

[0003] Early bread machines typically had several preset speeds, each corresponding to different amounts of cooking ingredients. When making bread, users needed to use measuring cups, spoons, and other tools to measure the ingredients for the corresponding speed, which was inconvenient.

[0004] To enable weighing, some manufacturers have added a weighing function to bread machines, allowing them to automatically weigh the bread. However, the weighing process is prone to errors, causing the weight to not match the setting and resulting in bread-making failure.

[0005] To achieve greater intelligence, Chinese utility model patent CN203226202U discloses an intelligent bread maker. It uses a weight acquisition device installed at the bottom of the main body to collect the weight signal of the bread maker. The main controller is connected to the water pump and heating device. Based on the weight signal, it calculates the amount of water to be added, the fermentation time and temperature, and realizes the calculation of the production process based on any amount of flour added by the user.

[0006] However, with existing bread machines, users can only know the bread's quality after it's made. Furthermore, if problems such as bread making failure, excessively dark color, or poor fermentation occur, users can only passively accept the situation or make the bread again. Utility Model Content

[0007] This application provides a smart bread maker designed to solve at least one of the aforementioned problems.

[0008] This application provides a smart bread maker, which includes:

[0009] The operation module is used to generate operation command signals based on user operations;

[0010] A microcontroller, connected to the operation module, is used to send an instruction pulse signal upon receiving the operation instruction signal;

[0011] A weighing module, which receives the instruction pulse signal and returns a weight data signal;

[0012] An actuator is electrically connected to the microcontroller, which is also used to receive the weight data signal and output a first control signal to control the operation of the actuator;

[0013] A wireless communication module, which is connected to the microcontroller, is used to transmit a second control signal output by the microcontroller;

[0014] A camera module, which is communicatively connected to a wireless communication module, is used to receive and capture cooking status images according to the second control signal; the wireless communication module is also used to send the cooking status images to a mobile terminal for display, and the mobile terminal and the camera module are on the same local area network.

[0015] Optionally, the wireless communication module is further configured to send the cooking status image to a cloud server, and the cloud server is configured to output a cloud adjustment command signal based on the cooking status image.

[0016] Optionally, the cloud server is connected to the smart speaker to receive voice commands from the smart speaker and output cloud command signals.

[0017] Optionally, the mobile terminal is also used to output terminal instruction signals according to user instructions.

[0018] Optionally, the wireless communication module is further configured to receive cloud command signals from the cloud server, or cloud adjustment command signals from the cloud server, or terminal command signals from the mobile terminal; the microcontroller is further configured to output a third control signal according to the cloud command signals from the cloud server, or cloud adjustment command signals from the cloud server, or terminal command signals from the mobile terminal, so as to control the operation of the actuator.

[0019] Optionally, the operation module includes a touch button and a touch detection unit electrically connected to the touch button, wherein the touch detection unit is connected to the microcontroller.

[0020] Optionally, the weighing module includes a pressure sensor and a weighing detection unit connected to the pressure sensor, the weighing detection unit being connected to the microcontroller.

[0021] Optionally, the actuator includes a water supply device, a stirring device, and a heating device.

[0022] Optionally, the wireless communication module is a WiFi module.

[0023] Optionally, the mobile terminal may be one or more of a mobile phone, a tablet, a computer, or a dedicated device.

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a smart bread maker structure provided in an exemplary embodiment;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a smart bread maker structure provided in an exemplary embodiment;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the weighing module structure of a smart bread maker provided in an exemplary embodiment;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the signal connection structure between a smart bread maker and a mobile terminal, a cloud server, and a smart voice speaker, provided in an exemplary embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0030] It should be understood that the described embodiments are merely some, not all, of the embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the embodiments of this application.

[0031] The terminology used in the embodiments of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the embodiments of this application. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in the embodiments of this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used herein refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0032] In the following description, when referring to the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the appended claims. In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used only to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence, nor should they be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0033] Furthermore, in the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0034] A bread machine is an appliance that, after the flour and other ingredients are added, can automatically complete the bread-making process, including kneading, fermentation, and baking, according to a set program.

[0035] Early bread machines typically had several preset speeds, each corresponding to different amounts of cooking ingredients. When making bread, users needed to use measuring cups, spoons, and other tools to measure the ingredients for the corresponding speed, which was inconvenient.

[0036] To enable weighing, some manufacturers have added a weighing function to bread machines, allowing them to automatically weigh the bread. However, the weighing process is prone to errors, causing the weight to not match the setting and resulting in bread-making failure.

[0037] To achieve greater intelligence, Chinese utility model patent CN203226202U discloses an intelligent bread maker. It uses a weight acquisition device installed at the bottom of the main body to collect the weight signal of the bread maker. The main controller is connected to the water pump and heating device. Based on the weight signal, it calculates the amount of water to be added, the fermentation time and temperature, and realizes the calculation of the production process based on any amount of flour added by the user.

[0038] However, with existing bread machines, users can only know the bread's quality after it's made. If problems arise, such as failed bread making, over-baking, or poor fermentation, users can only passively accept the result or try making it again. In other words, existing bread machines still fail to meet users' expectations of being able to know the bread's quality after it's been made.

[0039] To address this technical problem, this application provides a smart bread maker, which allows users to at least obtain the bread maker's baking status when using it.

[0040] like Figure 1-4 As shown, in an exemplary embodiment, the smart bread maker 10 of this application includes: a microcontroller 100, an operation module 200, a weighing module 300, an actuator 400, a wireless communication module 500, and a camera module 600. Among them,

[0041] The operation module 200 is used to generate operation command signals based on user operations. The operation module includes a touch button and a touch detection unit electrically connected to the touch button, the touch detection unit being connected to a microcontroller. Specifically, when the user operates the touch button, the touch detection unit generates different operation command signals, such as high and low voltage levels, and outputs them to the connected microcontroller.

[0042] The microcontroller 100, connected to the operation module 200, is used to send an instruction pulse signal upon receiving the operation instruction signal. The microcontroller may be a single-chip microcomputer (MCU), which sends an instruction pulse signal to the weighing module 300 upon receiving the operation instruction.

[0043] The weighing module 300 is used to receive the command pulse signal and return a weight data signal. The weighing module 300 includes a pressure sensor 310 and a weighing detection unit 320 connected to the pressure sensor. The weighing detection unit is connected to the microcontroller 100. In some preferred embodiments, the microcontroller 100 is electrically connected to the weighing module 300 via a power board 700.

[0044] The actuator 400 is electrically connected to the microcontroller, which also receives the weight data signal and outputs a first control signal to control the operation of the actuator. The actuator includes a water supply device 410, a stirring device 420, and a heating device 430. In some preferred embodiments, the microcontroller 100 is electrically connected to the actuator 400 via a power board 700; specifically, the water supply device, stirring device, and heating device are connected to the power board 700.

[0045] The wireless communication module 500 is connected to the microcontroller 100 and is used to send a second control signal output by the microcontroller. Specifically, the wireless communication module can be a WiFi module. Specifically, the second control signal is an image acquisition command, wherein the image acquisition command can be output when the microcontroller receives an image viewing command signal sent by the user from the mobile terminal, or when the bread maker starts working, or when the bread maker is triggered by preset conditions; this application does not limit this.

[0046] The camera module 600 is communicatively connected to the wireless communication module 500, and is used to receive and capture cooking status images according to the second control signal; the wireless communication module 500 is also used to send the cooking status images to the mobile terminal 20 for display, and the mobile terminal 20 and the camera module 600 are on the same local area network. The mobile terminal 20 is one or more of a mobile phone, PAD, computer, or dedicated device.

[0047] In the intelligent bread maker of this application embodiment, the microcontroller can output a second control signal and transmit it to the camera module through the wireless communication module to control the camera module to work, so as to obtain cooking status images. Furthermore, it can transmit the cooking status graphics to the mobile terminal and display them through the wireless communication module, so that the user can at least view the cooking images of the bread in real time during the bread making process to understand the cooking effect, thereby making it possible to intervene in bread making in advance.

[0048] It should be noted that the inventive concept of this application lies in setting up a wireless communication module and a camera module on the bread maker, connecting the camera module and a mobile terminal to the same local area network, and the signal connection and transmission structure between the various modules. Specifically, this application embodiment sets up a second control signal output from the microcontroller, which is sent to the camera module via the wireless communication module to control the operation of the camera module, and then sends the cooking status image to the mobile terminal located on the same local area network as the camera module via the wireless communication module, so that the user can view the bread making status.

[0049] In some embodiments, the weighing detection unit 320 includes a weighing detection chip U6. The pressure sensor 310 includes an excitation positive pin E+, an excitation negative pin E-, a signal positive pin S+, and a signal negative pin S-. The second terminal of the excitation positive pin E+ is connected to the output voltage of a switching power supply, and the second terminal of the excitation negative pin E- is grounded to power the pressure sensor. The signal positive pin S+ is connected to the positive input pin INPA of the weighing detection chip U6, and the signal negative pin S- is connected to the negative input pin INNA of the weighing detection chip to transmit the differential signal from the pressure sensor to the weighing detection chip.

[0050] One pin, DVDD, of the weighing detection chip is connected to the voltage input terminal of the switching power supply. The weighing detection chip also includes a clock input pin, PD_SCK, for receiving the pulse signal, and a data output pin, DOUT, for outputting weight data signals. The clock input pin, PD_SCK, and the data output pin, DOUT, are connected to the microcontroller 100. Specifically, the weighing detection chip can output weight data signals based on the differential signal from the pressure sensor. In some embodiments, the weighing detection chip may be an HX711.

[0051] The weighing module also includes an inductor L4 and a capacitor C27. The first end of the inductor L4 is connected to the output voltage of the switching power supply, and the second end is connected to the second end of the excitation positive pin E+. One end of the capacitor C27 is grounded for filtering, and the other end is connected to the second end of the inductor L4, forming an LC filter with the inductor L4 to isolate digital noise from the analog power supply.

[0052] The weighing module also includes resistors R61 and R66. Resistor R61 is connected between the positive signal pin S+ and the positive input pin of the weighing detection chip U6; resistor R66 is connected between the negative signal pin S- and the negative input pin of the weighing detection chip. These are used for current limiting or impedance matching to prevent signal reflection.

[0053] The weighing module also includes a capacitor C31, one end of which is connected between the resistor R61 and the positive input pin, and the other end is connected between the resistor R66 and the negative input pin. Capacitor C31 is used to filter out noise and ensure a stable reference voltage. Figure 3 The switching power supply output voltage is +5V.

[0054] In some exemplary embodiments, the wireless communication module 500 is further configured to send the cooking status image to the cloud server 30, and the cloud server 30 is configured to output a cloud adjustment command signal based on the cooking status image. The wireless communication module 500 is also configured to receive the cloud adjustment command signal from the cloud server 30, and the microcontroller 100 is further configured to output a third control signal based on the cloud adjustment command signal from the cloud server 500 to control the actuator. In this embodiment, the signal flow structure is as follows: the cooking status image is transmitted to the cloud server via the wireless communication module; after receiving it, the cloud server outputs a cloud adjustment command signal based on the cooking status image, which is then sent to the microcontroller via the wireless communication module. The microcontroller then outputs a third control signal to control the actuator. The method by which the cloud server outputs the cloud adjustment command signal based on the cooking status image, and the method by which the microcontroller outputs the third control signal based on the cloud adjustment command signal, are not within the scope of this application and can be implemented using existing technologies in the field. For example, the cooking status can be identified using image recognition technology, and then matched with the corresponding time. If the corresponding time of the cooking status is greater than the current time, it indicates overcooking and the cooking power needs to be reduced, thus outputting a cloud adjustment command signal.

[0055] In other exemplary embodiments, the cloud server 30 is connected to the smart speaker 40 to receive voice commands from the smart speaker and output cloud command signals. The wireless communication module 500 is also used to receive cloud command signals from the cloud server 30, and the microcontroller 100 is also used to output a third control signal based on the cloud command signals from the cloud server 30 to control the operation of the actuator 400. In this embodiment, the signal flow structure is as follows: the voice commands from the smart speaker are transmitted to the cloud server, the cloud server outputs cloud command signals which are transmitted to the microcontroller via the wireless communication module, and then the microcontroller outputs a third control signal to control the operation of the actuator. The method by which the cloud server generates cloud command signals based on voice commands and the microcontroller outputs third control signals based on cloud command signals can also be implemented using existing technology, and is not within the scope of protection of this application embodiment; therefore, this application does not impose any restrictions on this method.

[0056] In other exemplary embodiments, the mobile terminal 20 is further configured to output a terminal instruction signal according to user instructions. The wireless communication module 500 is further configured to receive the terminal instruction signal from the mobile terminal 20; the microcontroller 100 is further configured to output a third control signal according to the terminal instruction signal from the mobile terminal to control the operation of the actuator 400. In this embodiment, the signal flow structure is as follows: the mobile terminal outputs a terminal instruction signal according to user instructions, the terminal instruction signal is transmitted to the microcontroller via the wireless communication module, and then the microcontroller outputs a third control signal to control the operation of the actuator. The method of the mobile terminal outputting a terminal instruction signal according to user instructions and the microcontroller outputting a third control signal according to the terminal instruction signal can also be implemented using existing technology, and is not within the protection scope of this application embodiment; therefore, this application does not impose any restrictions on it.

[0057] Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of this invention can be provided as systems or computer program products. Therefore, this invention can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, this invention can take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0058] It should be understood that the embodiments of this application are not limited to the precise structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from their scope. The scope of the embodiments of this application is limited only by the appended claims.

[0059] The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of the present application, and their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed. However, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the embodiments of the present application, and these modifications and improvements all fall within the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A smart bread maker, characterized in that, include: The operation module is used to generate operation command signals based on user operations; A microcontroller, connected to the operation module, is used to send an instruction pulse signal upon receiving the operation instruction signal; A weighing module, which receives the instruction pulse signal and returns a weight data signal; An actuator is electrically connected to the microcontroller, which is also used to receive the weight data signal and output a first control signal to control the operation of the actuator; A wireless communication module, which is connected to the microcontroller, is used to transmit a second control signal output by the microcontroller; A camera module, which is communicatively connected to a wireless communication module, is used to receive and capture cooking status images according to the second control signal; the wireless communication module is also used to send the cooking status images to a mobile terminal for display, and the mobile terminal and the camera module are on the same local area network.

2. The intelligent bread maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wireless communication module is also used to send the cooking status image to the cloud server, and the cloud server is used to output cloud adjustment command signals according to the cooking status image.

3. The intelligent bread maker according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cloud server is connected to the smart speaker to receive voice commands from the smart speaker and output cloud command signals.

4. The intelligent bread maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mobile terminal is also used to output terminal instruction signals according to user instructions.

5. The intelligent bread maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wireless communication module is also used to receive cloud adjustment command signals from the cloud server, or cloud command signals from the cloud server, or terminal command signals from the mobile terminal; the microcontroller is also used to output a third control signal according to the cloud adjustment command signals from the cloud server, or cloud command signals from the cloud server, or terminal command signals from the mobile terminal, so as to control the operation of the actuator.

6. The intelligent bread maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The operation module includes a touch button and a touch detection unit electrically connected to the touch button, the touch detection unit being connected to the microcontroller.

7. The intelligent bread maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The weighing module includes a pressure sensor and a weighing detection unit connected to the pressure sensor, and the weighing detection unit is connected to the microcontroller.

8. The intelligent bread maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The actuator includes a water supply device, a stirring device, and a heating device.

9. The intelligent bread maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wireless communication module is a WiFi module.

10. The intelligent bread maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mobile terminal is one or more of a mobile phone, PAD, computer, or dedicated device.

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