Food cooking control device with a cooking robot using an infrared temperature sensor

Abstract

A device for controlling food cooking on a cooktop or with a food processor using an infrared temperature sensor. The invention relates to a device for remotely measuring food temperature in the field of household cooking appliances, used to control cooking with a food processor. To measure the food temperature (A), the device according to the invention comprises an infrared (IR) temperature sensor. This sensor is designed to target the location of the food being cooked, either directly or indirectly via reflective devices. The temperature thus measured can be displayed to the user. Furthermore, the electronics of the infrared (IR) temperature sensor can be connected to the electric household cooking appliance (AC), so the temperature measurement can be used by the appliance's control electronics to optimize the cooking process.Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Device for controlling food cooking with a cooking robot using an infrared temperature sensor

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES

[0002] The invention relates, in the field of household cooking appliances, to a device for measuring the temperature of food remotely in order to control its cooking by a cooking robot. EARLIER ART

[0003] In many household electric or gas cooking appliances, the cooking power is adjusted in an open loop by a simple rotary knob with several positions.

[0004] On more sophisticated models such as cooking robots, it is possible to give a temperature setting, but in fact this setting applies to a temperature measurement of the heating element, in some cases to the temperature measurement of the container that contains the food.

[0005] In fact, the temperature of the food is not the element which allows the control of the electric cooking appliance to be controlled.

[0006] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The device according to the invention includes at least one infrared temperature sensor integrated into the household cooking appliance, which is a cooking robot, to measure the temperature of food remotely.

[0008] The infrared temperature sensor is oriented or orientable so as to be able to target the temperature of a food on its upper surface.

[0009] The infrared temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the food has an optical beam path of at least several centimeters, at least 5 cm.

[0010] Depending on the embodiments, the path of the optical ray can be several tens of centimeters.

[0011] Depending on the embodiments, the path of the optical ray may include at least one reflection on a reflective device.

[0012] This reflective device comprises at least one mirror, but preferably several mirrors to improve the ratio between the infrared emission of the food, reflected by the reflective device and the infrared emission of the mirror.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the infrared temperature sensor is directly integrated into a household cooking robot in two variants.

[0014] In a first embodiment, the infrared temperature sensor can be integrated above the food, particularly for cooking robots whose motorization The mixing shaft is in the upper part of the device.

[0015] In a second variant, the infrared temperature sensor is integrated in the lower part, which requires a system of mirrors to transmit the infrared emission from the food.

[0016] At least one measured temperature is displayed for the user.

[0017] In fact, the invention is a form of device for controlling the cooking of food based on an infrared temperature sensor.

[0018] The control can be manual when the user himself uses the displayed temperature to cook the food.

[0019] The control can also be electronic when the electronics of the infrared temperature sensor can be connected to the control electronics of the household cooking appliance for the most sophisticated models such as cooking robots.

[0020] This may be a connection between the electronics of the infrared temperature sensor and the control electronics of the electric cooking appliance via wired or wireless connection (WiFi, Bluetooth), possibly in cooperation with the user's smartphone.

[0021] So the variation in the temperature of the food measured by the infrared temperature sensor is an input parameter for the control electronics of the household cooking appliance to estimate the mass of the food as a function of the electrical power produced.

[0022] If in addition the household cooking appliance has the mass of the food measured by an integrated electronic scale, this value associated with the variation of the temperature of the food measured by the infrared temperature sensor is an input parameter for the electronic control of the household cooking appliance to estimate the calorific capacity of the food as a function of the electrical power produced.

[0023] For even more sophisticated models, the control electronics of the household cooking appliance have optical physical measurements of the infrared temperature sensor other than temperature such as diffusion, emissivity or polarization coefficients.

[0024] It is also possible that the orientation of the optical beam of an infrared temperature sensor is controlled by the control electronics of the electric cooking appliance. Brief description of the drawings

[0025] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, for an understanding of which reference should be made to attached drawing.

[0026] [fig.l] shows an electric household cooking appliance which is a household cooking robot whose motorization of the mixing shaft is in the upper part equipped according to the invention with an infrared temperature sensor which aims towards a food present inside the mixing bowl.

[0027] [fig.2] shows an electric household cooking appliance which is a cooking robot household appliance whose mixing shaft motor is in the lower part equipped according to the invention with an infrared temperature sensor is integrated in the lower part which requires a reflective device to aim towards a food present inside the mixing bowl.

[0028] [fig.3] illustrates the example of a simple reflective device composed of a single mirror.

[0029] [fig.4] illustrates the example of a double reflective device composed of two mirrors.

[0030] [fig.5] illustrates the example of a triple reflective device composed of three mirrors, capable of going around the side of a cooking utensil. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The device according to the invention includes at least one infrared temperature sensor integrated into the household cooking appliance, which is a cooking robot, to measure the temperature of food remotely.

[0032] The temperature of the food is that measured on the surface when the food (A) is in the cooking utensil (U) which contains it.

[0033] The infrared (IR) temperature sensor is oriented or orientable so as to be able to target the temperature of a food (A) on its upper face.

[0034] The infrared (IR) temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the food (A) has an optical beam path (R) of at least several centimeters, at least 5 cm.

[0035] Depending on the embodiments, the path of the optical ray (R) can be several tens of centimeters.

[0036] Depending on the embodiments, the path of the optical ray (R) may include at least one reflection on a reflective device (DR).

[0037] This reflective device (DR) comprises at least one mirror (M), but preferably several mirrors (M) to improve the ratio between the infrared emission of the food, reflected by the reflective device (DR) and the infrared emission of the mirror.

[0038] Indeed, to prevent the infrared (IR) temperature sensor from measuring the temperature of a mirror (M) and not that of the food (A), it is first necessary to avoid the classic mirrors with a glass face that would emit in the infrared.

[0039] Preferably, the face of the mirror (M) shall be a bare metallic surface. This bare metallic surface may be the smooth surface of a metal element such as aluminum or stainless steel, metals commonly used in household appliances. It may also be a thin layer of aluminum deposited under vacuum on a plastic element.

[0040] Figure 3 illustrates the example of a simple reflective device (DR, DRS) composed of a single mirror (M). In this case, the infrared ray (RA) emitted by the food (A) is reflected by the mirror into a ray (RB) which will be superimposed on the infrared emission from the mirror (M).

[0041] Figure 4 illustrates an example of a double reflective device (DR, DRD) composed of two mirrors (MA, MB). In this case, the infrared ray (RA) emitted by the food (A) is reflected by mirror (MA) into a ray (RB) and then by mirror (MB) into a ray (RC). Due to the decrease in the angle of incidence, the reflection coefficient of the mirrors (MA, MB) will be increased, and the infrared emission from the mirrors (MA, MB) along the axis of the rays (RB) (RC) will be decreased.

[0042] Figure 5 illustrates an example of a triple reflective device (DR, DRT) composed of three mirrors (MA, MB, MC). In this case, the infrared ray (RA) emitted by the food (A) is reflected by mirror (MA) into a ray (RB), then by mirror (MB) into a ray (RC), and finally by mirror (MC) into a ray (RD). Due to the decrease in the angle of incidence, the reflection coefficient of the mirrors (MA, MB, MC) will be further increased, and the infrared emission from the mirrors (MA, MB, MC) along the axis of the rays (RB), (RC), (RD) will be further reduced. Furthermore, this potentially allows the reflection to bypass the wall (P) of the cooking utensil (U) containing the food (A).

[0043] The infrared temperature sensor is directly integrated into the household cooking appliance (AC) in the case of a household cooking robot (RC).

[0044] In a first variant illustrated in Figure 1, the infrared temperature sensor can be integrated above the food, particularly for cooking robots whose mixing shaft motor is in the upper part of the device.

[0045] The upper part of the device can pivot when the device is unlocked by pressing a button (V).

[0046] The infrared temperature sensor is placed at the front, of course offset from the axis of the mixer and allows the temperature of the food (A) to be measured despite the presence of the mixer including when it is rotating.

[0047] An additional display (AT) is also shown for displaying the measured temperature to the user.

[0048] In a second variant illustrated in Figure 2, the infrared temperature sensor is integrated in the lower part which requires a location reflective device (EM) to transmit the infrared emission from the food.

[0049] Preferably this reflective device (DR) comprises several mirrors to bypass the wall (P) of the cooking utensil (U) which contains the food (A).

[0050] In one embodiment, the mirrors (M) are the surface of metallic elements integrated into the kitchen utensil (U). This has the advantage of also heating the surface of the mirrors (M), thus preventing fogging.

[0051] In another embodiment, the mirrors (M) are layers of vacuum-deposited aluminum on a plastic element which can be integrated into a plastic lid not shown but common for this type of food processor (RC).

[0052] For both of the preceding variants, the temperature thus measured by the infrared (IR) temperature sensor can be directly displayed to the user, who can use it as he sees fit.

[0053] In particular in the case of a liquid, this allows the maximum power of the electric (AC) cooking appliance to be used to obtain the desired temperature as quickly as possible.

[0054] In the case of a delicate food (A) such as a sauce, this allows, on the contrary, the regulation of the power of the electric cooking appliance (AC) for example by not exceeding a temperature threshold that has been set.

[0055] In fact, the invention is a device for controlling the cooking of food based on an infrared (IR) temperature sensor. The control is manual in this case, but it can be supplemented by electronic control.

[0056] For the most sophisticated models, the electronics of the infrared (IR) temperature sensor can be connected to the control electronics of the electric (AC) cooking appliance and the temperature measurement can be an input parameter of the control electronics of the electric (AC) cooking appliance to achieve optimal control in the sense of automatic control.

[0057] This has the advantage of an optimal control to perform a specific action.

[0058] By way of example, the control electronics can perform optimal control in place of the user as in the two previous examples.

[0059] In addition, the control electronics, classically implemented by a microprocessor, have real-time computing capabilities which are not available to the user.

[0060] By way of example, the variation in the temperature of the food (A) measured by the infrared temperature sensor is an input parameter for the control electronics of the electric cooking appliance (AC) to estimate the mass of the food (A) as a function of the electrical power produced.

[0061] If, in addition, the control electronics of the electric cooking appliance have the mass of the food (A) measured by an integrated electronic scale and From the variation in the temperature of the food (A) measured by the infrared temperature sensor, it is then possible to estimate the calorific capacity of the food (A) as a function of the electrical power produced.

[0062] It is also possible that the orientation of the optical beam (R) of a sensor is controlled by the control electronics of the electric (AC) cooking household appliance.

[0063] For example, the variation in the temperature of the food (A) measured by the infrared (IR) temperature sensor is an input parameter for the control electronics of the electric (AC) household cooking appliance to estimate the mass of the food (A) as a function of the electrical power produced.

[0064] Indeed, the control electronics know on the one hand the electrical power actually used in relation to the electrical power of the plate concerned.

[0065] Furthermore, observing the temperature variation of the food (A) in °C per second in relation to the averaged electrical power will determine the water content of the food (A). If the food (A) is not known, it can be estimated that it has a specific heat capacity close to that of water and therefore a mass equal to the previously calculated water content.

[0066] If, in addition, the control electronics of the electric (AC) cooking appliance have the mass of the food (A) measured by an electronic scale integrated into the electric (AC) cooking appliance and the temperature variation of the food (A) measured by the infrared (IR) temperature sensor, it is then possible to estimate the calorific value of the food (A) as a function of the electrical power produced. The calorific value is obtained by comparing the previously calculated water content to that obtained by dividing by the mass actually measured by the integrated electronic scale.

[0067] Furthermore, since the infrared (IR) temperature sensor is an optical sensor, it can provide optical physical measurements other than temperature, such as diffusion, emissivity, or polarization coefficients. For example, a liquid, a sauce, a Pyrex container, or a metal wall at the same temperature and the same optical distance from the sensor will be differentiated by these physical measurements, which differ from the temperature measurement alone.

[0068] The surface of a liquid will have a polarized reflection, the sauce will have a significant diffusion coefficient, Pyrex will have a vitreous reflection and a metallic wall a non-polarized reflection with high emissivity.

[0069] From this point of view, if the user needs a sensor to measure only the temperature, the control electronics, unlike the user, can optimize its control process based on these optical physical measurements, which differ from the sole measurement of temperature.

[0070] The control electronics of the household cooking appliance (AC) may have optical physical measurements from the infrared temperature sensor other than temperature such as diffusion, emissivity or polarization coefficients and exploit them.

[0071] Thus the household cooking appliance (AC) can accompany the sequencing of a recipe by synchronizing with the progress of the recipe through the physical measurements of the infrared (IR) temperature sensor.

[0072] It is even possible, if the infrared (IR) temperature sensor has a controllable light beam, to turn it on to warn of the danger of getting burned until the ceramic glass cooktop has cooled down.

[0073] The presence according to the invention of an infrared (IR) temperature sensor makes it possible to transform a simple electronic control of the household electric cooking appliance (AC) into a true optimal process control in the sense of automation. Industrial application

[0074] In terms of industrial application, the invention applies to the measurement of food temperatures (A) within the framework of a household cooking appliance (AC) which is a cooking robot.

[0075] The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and represented, but a person skilled in the art will be able to make any variation in accordance with their spirit for a range of products with different levels of sophistication.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for controlling the cooking of food by a household cooking appliance (AC) characterized in that it comprises at least one infrared (IR) temperature sensor integrated into the cooking appliance (AC) to measure the temperature of the food (A) remotely and that the household cooking appliance (AC) is a cooking robot (RC).

2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the infrared (IR) temperature sensor is oriented or orientable to be able to target the temperature of a food (A) on its upper face.

3. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the infrared (IR) temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the food (A) has an optical ray path (R) which includes at least one reflection on a reflecting device (DR).

4. Device according to claim 3 in that the reflecting device (DR) comprises several mirrors to improve the ratio between the infrared emission of the food reflected by the reflecting device and the infrared emission of the mirror.

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that at least one measured temperature is displayed to the user.

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the electronics of the infrared (IR) temperature sensor are connected to the control electronics of the household cooking appliance (AC).

7. Device according to claim 6 characterized in that the infrared (IR) temperature sensor can be oriented by the control electronics of the household cooking appliance (AC).

8. Device according to claim 6 characterized in that the variation in the temperature of the food (A) measured by the infrared temperature sensor (IR) is an input parameter for the control electronics of the household cooking appliance (AC) to estimate the mass of the food (A) as a function of the electrical power produced.

9. Device according to claim 6 characterized in that the control electronics of the household cooking appliance (AC) has the mass of the food (A) measured by an integrated electronic scale and that associated with the variation in the temperature of the food (A) measured by the infrared temperature sensor (IR) and that it estimates the calorific capacity of the food (A) based on the electrical power produced.

10. Device according to claim 6 characterized in that the control electronics of the household cooking appliance (AC) has optical physical measurements of the infrared (IR) temperature sensor other than temperature such as diffusion, emissivity or polarization coefficients and uses them.

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