Multi-function cooking appliance

Abstract

A multifunctional cooking appliance (10) includes an inner pot (121) disposed within a hollow chamber of a housing, a cover assembly (11) defining a cooking space together with the inner pot, a hot air assembly consisting of a fan (113) and a first heating element (114), a second heating element (124) provided at the bottom of the housing, a first timer, and a controller (131), wherein the controller is configured to perform the following steps: receiving an initial user input (S1) to start a combined cooking mode consisting of a conduction cooking mode duration T1s and a convection cooking mode duration T2s, starting the conduction cooking mode and the first timer (S2), switching to the convection cooking mode and starting the second timer when the time T1 recorded by the first timer is equal to T1s (S3), and terminating cooking when the timer T2 recorded by the second timer is equal to T2s (S4).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to the field of kitchen appliances, in particular to multi-function cookware. [Background technology]

[0002] To make life easier for users and reduce kitchen space, multi-function cookware, especially those that combine convection cooking (frying, baking, etc.) with conduction cooking (steaming, pressure cooking, etc.), has recently appeared on the market. Such cookware is extremely popular and favored by consumers. Meat typically requires first being steamed and then grilled, resulting in a crispy exterior, tender interior, and enhanced flavor. Multi-function cookware with a combined cooking mode (steaming first, then grilling, also known as braising mode) can easily achieve fully automatic cooking of meat-type foods. Users simply place the cooked ingredients into the cookware, set the corresponding parameters according to their personal preferences, and start the cookware. After the cooking is complete, the food can be enjoyed without any human intervention during the process.

[0003] The automatic cooking process described above involves automatic switching from a conduction cooking mode to a convection cooking mode. In currently known implementations, a multifunction cooking appliance controller determines whether to switch between conduction and convection cooking modes based on whether the temperature of the cooking space, detected by at least one temperature sensor, reaches a predetermined threshold, as in the cooking system disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,449,493. However, fat from meat products drips to the bottom of the pot when heated, causing the temperature at the bottom of the pot to rise. When the controller receives a high-temperature signal, it erroneously determines that dry burning has occurred and switches from conduction cooking mode to convection cooking mode prematurely, undoubtedly affecting the taste of the finished food. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Chinese Patent No. 1113455920A Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present application is to provide a multifunctional cooking appliance that can implement improved control methods.

[0006] Thus, the present invention provides a multi-function cookware comprising: a housing defining a hollow chamber; an inner pot removably disposed within the hollow chamber and having side walls and a bottom wall; a cover assembly configured to cover the housing and define a cooking space together with the inner pot; a hot air assembly disposed within the cover assembly and including a fan and a first heating element; and a second heating element disposed at a base of the housing and used to heat the bottom wall of the inner pot. The multi-function cookware further comprises a first timer and controller configured to operate the multi-function cookware in a plurality of modes, including a conduction cooking mode in which the second heating element operates while the first heating element and the fan are inactive, a convection cooking mode in which the first heating element and the fan operate while the second heating element is inactive, and a combined cooking mode. The controller is configured to perform the following steps: Step S1: receiving an initial user input for initiating the combined cooking mode, the initial user input including a conduction cooking mode duration T1s and a convection cooking mode duration T2s; Step S2: starting the cooking mode and the first timer; Step S3: if the time T1 recorded by the first timer is equal to T1s, switch to the convection cooking mode and start a second timer; Step S4: When the time T2 recorded by the second timer is equal to T2s, cooking is terminated.

[0007] According to some embodiments, step S4 comprises: Step S41: When the time T2 recorded by the second timer is equal to T2s-t2, stopping the operation of the first heating element while continuing to operate the fan; and Step S42: When the time T2 recorded by the second timer is equal to T2s, the fan is also stopped from operating.

[0008] According to some embodiments, the multifunctional cooking appliance further includes a first temperature sensor disposed within the cover assembly and configured to measure the temperature of an upper portion of the cooking space in real time in both the conduction cooking mode and the convection cooking mode and transmit the temperature to the controller in real time, and a second temperature sensor conductively connected to the bottom wall of the inner pot and configured to measure the temperature of the bottom wall of the inner pot in real time in both the conduction cooking mode and the convection cooking mode and transmit the measured temperature to the controller in real time.

[0009] According to some embodiments, the multifunctional cooking appliance further comprises a human-machine interaction panel signally connected to said controller, wherein a user provides said initial user input by selecting a pre-defined recipe on said human-machine interaction panel, said pre-defined recipe being associated with corresponding values ​​of T1s and T2.

[0010] According to some embodiments, the multifunctional cooking appliance further comprises a human-machine interaction panel (13) signally connected to said controller, wherein a user provides said initial user input by manually entering values ​​for T1s and T2s on said human-machine interaction panel.

[0011] According to some embodiments, the multi-function cookware is such that the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor are both thermistor sensors, preferably negative temperature coefficient sensors.

[0012] According to some embodiments, in the multi-function cooking appliance, the first temperature sensor has a temperature measurement range of -40°C to 300°C, and the second temperature sensor has a temperature measurement range of -50°C to 350°C.

[0013] According to some embodiments, the multi-function cookware has at least a portion of the first temperature sensor exposed within the cooking space and spaced apart from the first heating element, and the second temperature sensor positioned at or near the center of the bottom wall of the inner pot.

[0014] According to some embodiments, step S2 includes the following steps: Step S21: When starting the conduction cooking mode, operate the second heating element at full power, and if the temperature value TopTemp of the top of the cooking space received from the first temperature sensor is lower than a first temperature threshold and the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot received from the second temperature sensor is higher than a second temperature threshold, stop operation of the second heating element and activate a water shortage alarm device and a third timer when the time T1 recorded by the first timer is equal to or less than a first time threshold.

[0015] According to some embodiments, step S2 further includes the following steps: Step S22: When starting the conduction cooking mode, operate the second heating element at full power, and if the temperature value TopTemp of the top of the cooking space received from the first temperature sensor is higher than a first temperature threshold and the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot received from the second temperature sensor is lower than the second temperature threshold and higher than a third temperature threshold, continue to operate the second heating element at full power and start a fourth timer when the time T1 recorded by the first timer is less than or equal to the first time threshold.

[0016] According to some embodiments, step S2 further includes the following steps: Step S23: When starting the conduction cooking mode, operate the second heating element at full power, and if the temperature value of the top of the cooking space, TopTemp, received from the first temperature sensor, is lower than the first temperature threshold, and the temperature value of the bottom wall of the inner pot, BotTemp, received from the second temperature sensor, is lower than the second temperature threshold and higher than the third temperature threshold, when the time T1 recorded by the first timer is greater than the first time threshold, operate the second heating element alternately between full power and a second power lower than full power according to a first cycle, and start a fourth timer when TopTemp is higher than the first temperature threshold.

[0017] According to some embodiments, after step S21, the method further includes the following steps: Step S211: repeating steps S2, S3, and S4 when the controller determines that the user has added water and the time T3 recorded by the third timer is less than or equal to a third time threshold; Step S212: If the controller determines that the user has not added water and the time T3 recorded by the third timer is greater than the third time threshold, the controller intermittently operates the second heating element at a second power lower than full power, so that the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot is maintained at a temperature around the second temperature threshold until the time T1 recorded by the first timer becomes equal to T1s.

[0018] According to some embodiments, after step S22 or step S23, the method further comprises the following steps: Step S24: when the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot received from the second temperature sensor is lower than the second temperature threshold, operating the second heating element alternately between full power and second power according to a second cycle; Step S25: operating the second heating element at the second power when the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot received from the second temperature sensor is higher than the second temperature threshold and lower than a fourth temperature threshold; Step S26: If the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot (121) received from the second temperature sensor (122) is higher than the fourth temperature threshold, stopping the operation of the second heating element (124) and reading the time recorded by the fourth timer.

[0019] According to some embodiments, after step S26, the method further includes the following steps: Step S261: if the time T4 recorded by the fourth timer is equal to or greater than the fourth time threshold, cooling the bottom wall of the inner pot to a temperature value BotTemp lower than the fourth temperature threshold, and operating the second heating element at a third power lower than the second power; Step S262: If the time T4 recorded by the fourth timer is less than the fourth time threshold, the bottom wall of the inner pot is cooled to a temperature value BotTemp lower than the fourth temperature threshold, and the second heating element is operated at a fourth power lower than the third power.

[0020] According to some embodiments, the controller is configured to operate the first heating element in the convection cooking mode intermittently and cyclically, i.e., to initiate operation immediately when a temperature value TopTemp of the top of the cooking space received from the first temperature sensor falls below a first control threshold, and to stop operation immediately when TopTemp rises above a second temperature control threshold.

[0021] According to some embodiments, the controller is configured to stop operation of the first heating element in the convection cooking mode if the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot received from the second temperature sensor is greater than a safety temperature threshold.

[0022] It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description, the accompanying drawings, and the claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] In order to more clearly describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings necessary for use in describing the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can easily understand that these drawings are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the protection scope of the present invention. For illustrative purposes, these drawings may not be drawn to scale. [Figure 1] 1 is an overall schematic diagram of a multi-function cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a multi-function cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a multi-function cooking appliance with a food support placed in the appliance according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic bottom view of a cover assembly of a multi-function cookware according to an embodiment of the present application. FIG. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic top view of a utensil body of a multi-function cooking utensil according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6] 1 is an overall control logic diagram of a multi-function cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present application in a steaming mode. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a control logic diagram for conduction heating of a multi-function cookware according to an embodiment of the present application in a braising mode. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 illustrates temperature curves of the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor when no water is added to the inner pot according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 9]FIG. 10 illustrates temperature curves of the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor when an appropriate amount of water is added to the inner pot according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 illustrates temperature curves of the first and second temperature sensors when an excessive amount of water is added to the inner pot according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] (Detailed Description of the Invention) Exemplary implementation modes are described in detail herein, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, the same numbers in different drawings refer to the same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The implementation modes described in the following exemplary implementation modes do not represent all implementation modes compatible with the present invention. Instead, they are merely examples of means, systems, devices, and methods consistent with certain aspects of the present application, as detailed in the appended claims.

[0025] 1 to 3 show a multifunctional cooking utensil 10 according to an embodiment of the present application from different perspectives. The cooking utensil includes a utensil body 12 and a cover assembly 11 capable of sealably covering the utensil body 12. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the utensil body 12 includes a housing defining a hollow chamber, an inner pot 121 removably disposed within the hollow chamber for containing food, and other conventional structures not described in detail herein. The inner pot 121 may optionally further include a stirring blade base 123. After the stirring blade is attached, food in the inner pot can be stirred, blended, or otherwise manipulated. When the cover assembly 11 closes the housing, the cover assembly 11, together with the inner pot 121, defines a cooking space. A hot air assembly is provided on the cover assembly 11. The hot air assembly generates hot air and blows the hot air toward food placed in the inner pot 121 to fry the food. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the hot air assembly in this embodiment includes a fan 113 driven to rotate by an electric motor 111 and a first heating element 114 disposed below the fan 113. The first heating element can be any element capable of generating heat, such as a heating disk or an electromagnetic disk, and is preferably a flat spiral heating tube. A second heating element 124 for heating the bottom wall of the inner pot 121 is further provided at the base of the appliance body 12. In this embodiment, the cover assembly 11 is pivotally hinged to the appliance body 12 and can be moved between an open position and a closed position. When the cover assembly 11 is in the closed position, it can be rotated to achieve a sealed lock or unlock between the cover assembly and the appliance body by engaging or disengaging multiple spaced pot teeth disposed on the opening of the cozy cover with corresponding cover teeth on the cover assembly. It should be understood that the cover assembly 11 can also be removably connected to the appliance body 12. That is, it can sealingly cover the instrument body 12 during use and can be conveniently removed from the instrument body 12 when not in use. It should also be appreciated that the cover assembly 11 can be configured to sealingly cover the instrument body 12 without requiring rotation.Those skilled in the art will be aware of various structural arrangements that can achieve the above objectives, and therefore will not be described here.

[0026] The multifunctional cooking appliance 10 according to an embodiment of the present application further includes a controller 131 signal-connected to the first heating element 114, a second heating element 124, and a fan 113. In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 , the controller 131 is disposed on the appliance body 12 and behind the human-machine interaction panel 13. However, it should be understood that the human-machine interaction panel 13 and the controller 131 may be disposed in any other suitable location, such as on a cover. The human-machine interaction panel 13 may provide various devices, such as buttons, knobs, and display screens, for a user to perform operations such as menu selection, parameter setting, and information reading. In some embodiments, for user convenience, multiple pre-set recipes may be provided on the human-machine interaction panel 13, such as French fries, baked sweet potatoes, and baked fish, which require only convection cooking; chicken soup, beef stew, and braised pig's trotters, which require only conduction cooking; and braised whole chicken, braised chicken wings, and three-tiered dishes (i.e., cooking porridge or soup in the space below the food support 143, steaming vegetables (potatoes, carrots, yams, corn, etc.) in the lower layer 142 of the food support, and frying meat (chicken, beef, lamb, etc.) in the upper layer 141 of the food support, as shown in FIG. 3 ). Of course, due to limited space on the human-machine interaction panel, only a few of the most common recipes may be provided on the panel according to the results of preliminary customer surveys, and an input device may be provided to allow users to input personalized parameters (e.g., cooking time, temperature, etc.). The controller 131 is configured to enable the multifunction cookware 10 to operate in multiple modes, including a conduction cooking mode, a convection cooking mode, and a combination cooking mode. In the conduction cooking mode, the controller 131 operates the second heating element 124 while the first heating element 114 and the fan 113 are not operating. In the convection cooking mode, the controller 131 operates the first heating element 114 and the fan 113 while the second heating element 124 is not operating.In this application, a "convection cooking mode" includes, but is not limited to, any cooking mode that generates a dry cooking environment in the cooking space, such as frying, baking, grilling, and drying. A "conduction cooking mode" includes, but is not limited to, any cooking mode that generates a moist cooking environment in the cooking space, such as pressure cooking, steam cooking, and stewing. A "combined cooking mode" includes, but is not limited to, any combination of convection and conduction cooking modes, such as steaming followed by baking (referred to as a braising mode) and pressure cooking followed by a frying mode. Among them, braising mode is becoming increasingly popular due to its unique advantages when cooking meat-type foods.

[0027] The control logic of the controller 131 of the multifunctional cookware 10 according to an embodiment of the present application in the combined cooking mode will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.

[0028] The control logic begins at step 20. Next, in step 30, the controller 131 receives an initial user input intended to initiate a combined cooking mode. The initial user input includes a conduction cooking mode duration T1s (e.g., 15 to 20 minutes) and a convection cooking mode duration T2s (e.g., 15 to 120 minutes). In some embodiments, the human-machine interaction panel 13 provides multiple pre-set recipes requiring combined cooking, each of which is associated with pre-set values ​​corresponding to T1 and T2 (see, for example, the exemplary recipe list described below). The user provides the initial user input by selecting a pre-set recipe. In some embodiments, the user may manually set values ​​for cooking parameters (such as the conduction cooking mode duration T1s, the convection cooking mode duration T2s, and the cooking temperature) on the human-machine interaction panel 13 to provide the initial user input. Then, in step 40, the controller 131 initiates the conduction cooking mode and a first timer (not shown). The control logic for the conduction cooking mode is described in detail below with reference to FIG. 7. In step 50, the controller 131 determines whether the time T1 recorded by the first timer is less than T1s. If yes, the cookware 10 continues to operate in the conduction cooking mode, and the first timer continues to run. If not, the process proceeds to step 60. In step 60, the controller 131 switches the cookware 10 to the convection cooking mode (i.e., turns off the second heating element 124 and activates the first heating element 114 and the fan 113) and starts the second timer. Next, in step 70, the controller 131 determines whether the time T2 recorded by the second timer is less than T2s. If yes, the cookware 10 continues to operate in the convection cooking mode, and the second timer continues to run. If not, the process proceeds to step 80. In step 80, the controller 131 stops the convection cooking mode, terminating the entire cooking process. The control logic then ends in step 90.

[0029] As can be seen from the above description, in the above control logic, controller 131 does not determine whether to switch from the conduction cooking mode to the convection cooking mode based on the temperature detected by a sensor, as in the prior art, but rather based on the time recorded by the first timer. When time T1 reaches a preset duration T1s, cooking appliance 10 switches to the convection cooking mode. In this way, premature switching due to an erroneous determination is prevented, and food is cooked in the conduction cooking mode for a sufficient time (e.g., if the conduction cooking mode is steaming, sufficient steam can be ensured) to ultimately achieve the ideal, expected cooking results. Similarly, controller 131 determines whether to end cooking based on the time recorded by the second timer. When time T2 reaches a preset duration T2s, convection cooking mode is terminated. In this way, cooking in the convection cooking mode for a sufficient time to achieve the ideal flavor is ensured.

[0030] Advantageously, at time t2 (e.g., 2-5 minutes) before the convection cooking mode ends, i.e., when the time T2 recorded by the second timer equals T2s to t2, the controller 131 stops the operation of the first heating element 114 in the upper part of the cooking space while the fan 113 continues to operate for the duration of t2. That is, the fan operation is also stopped when the time T2 recorded by the second timer equals T2s. In this way, during time t2, the flowing air generated by the fan 113 can cool the first heating element 114 and accelerate its cooling process, so that the temperature of the first heating element 114 drops to approximately room temperature at the end of the first heating element 114, thereby reducing the risk of burns to a user who opens the cover to retrieve food.

[0031] 2 and 3, the multifunctional cookware 10 further includes a first temperature sensor 112 and a second temperature sensor 122, where the first temperature sensor 112 is disposed on the cover assembly 11 and is signal-connected to the controller 131, and the second temperature sensor 122 is conductively connected to the bottom wall of the inner pot 121 and is signal-connected to the controller 131. The first temperature sensor 112 is configured to measure the temperature of the upper part of the cooking space in real time during both the conduction cooking mode and the convection cooking mode and can transmit the temperature to the controller 131 in real time, and the second temperature sensor 122 is configured to measure the temperature of the bottom wall of the inner pot 121 in real time during both the conduction cooking mode and the convection cooking mode and can transmit the temperature to the controller 131 in real time. Both the first temperature sensor 112 and the second temperature sensor 122 may be low-cost, widely used thermistor sensors, preferably negative temperature coefficient sensors. The temperature measurement range of the first temperature sensor 112 may be, for example, -40°C to 300°C, and the temperature measurement range of the second temperature sensor 122 may be, for example, -50°C to 350°C. Such temperature measurement ranges can essentially cover temperatures that may occur in various cooking modes. Advantageously, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, at least a portion of the first temperature sensor 112 is exposed to the cooking space and is separated from the first heating element 114, so that the temperature of the air / steam in the upper part of the cooking space can be measured as accurately as possible. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the second temperature sensor 122 is positioned near the center of the bottom wall of the inner pot 121. In embodiments where the cookware does not include a stirring blade base, the second temperature sensor 122 is preferably positioned at the center of the bottom wall of the inner pot 121. If the second temperature sensor 122 is positioned at or near the center of the bottom wall, it can more accurately measure the temperature of the bottom wall of the inner pot, making control more accurate and reliable.

[0032] The control logic of the controller 131 in the conduction cooking mode will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 7, taking the steam cooking mode as an example.

[0033] The control logic starts at step 401. Next, in step 402, the controller 131 initiates conduction cooking mode, operating the second heating element 124 at full power (e.g., 1,000-1,100 W) and simultaneously starting a first timer. In the next step, 403, the controller 131 determines whether the time T1 recorded by the first timer is less than or equal to a first time threshold (i.e., the time required to generate steam under normal conditions, e.g., 5-8 minutes). If yes, the process proceeds to step 404 and step 408; if not, the process proceeds to step 420. In step 404, the controller 131 determines whether the temperature value TopTemp of the upper part of the cooking space received from the first temperature sensor 112 is lower than a first temperature threshold (e.g., 80°C to 92°C) and whether the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot 121 received from the second temperature sensor 122 is higher than a second temperature threshold (e.g., 130°C to 145°C, equal to the dry burn protection temperature set by the system minus 15°C). If yes (the temperature of the upper part of the cooking space is rising slowly, meaning that it has not yet reached the temperature at which steam should be generated, and the temperature of the bottom wall of the inner pot is rising rapidly, meaning that it is close to the dry burn protection temperature, so no steam is being generated in the inner pot, and the user has forgotten to add water), the process proceeds to step 405; otherwise, the process returns to step 403. In step 405, the controller 131 stops the second heating element 124 and activates the water shortage alarm and the third timer. Next, in step 406, controller 131 determines whether the user has added water (e.g., whether a signal for user restart has been received) and whether the time T3 recorded by the third timer is less than or equal to a third time threshold (i.e., the time the user waits to add water, e.g., 1-2 minutes). If yes, the process returns to step 401 and conduction cooking resumes. If not, the process proceeds to step 407.In step 407, the controller 131 operates the second heating element 124 intermittently at a second power (e.g., 800-900 W) lower than full power so that the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot is maintained at a temperature around the second temperature threshold until the time T1 recorded by the first timer becomes equal to T1s, at which point the process proceeds to step 60, i.e., switches to convection cooking mode. This means that if the user forgets to add water to the inner pot but does not add water after remembering, the second heating element 124 will operate intermittently at the lower second power, so that the temperature of the bottom wall of the inner pot will always be lower than the protection temperature against dry burning (and therefore the inner pot will not be damaged by overheating) until T1s expires and the cooking mode switches to convection cooking mode. Therefore, although the food is not baked / fried as expected after being first cooked with steam, the temperature of the food in the pot is maintained during the conduction cooking stage, which shortens the preheating time for subsequent convection cooking and allows for cooked food to be obtained at the end of the entire cooking process. Of course, if the determination result of step 406 is no, the process can return to step 405, where a water shortage reminder is issued to the user again and this process is repeated until the user adds water and confirms restart. Alternatively, if the determination result of step 406 is no, cooking can be terminated directly. Figure 8 shows the temperature curves of the first temperature sensor (top temperature sensor) and the second temperature sensor (bottom temperature sensor) when no water is added to the inner pot according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0034] In step 408, the controller 131 determines whether the temperature value of the top of the cooking space, TopTemp, received from the first temperature sensor 112, is higher than the first temperature threshold, and whether the temperature value of the bottom wall of the inner pot, BotTemp, received from the second temperature sensor 122, is lower than the second temperature threshold and higher than the third temperature threshold (e.g., 100°C). If yes (meaning that the temperature of the top of the cooking space is rising rapidly and is about to reach the temperature at which steam should be generated, but the temperature of the bottom wall of the inner pot is rising slowly and is still far from the protection temperature against dry burning, which indicates that the user has added an appropriate amount of water and steam is being generated in the inner pot), the process proceeds to step 409. In step 409, the controller 131 causes the second heating element 124 to continue operating at full power, and simultaneously starts a fourth timer in step 410 (to record the steam duration, i.e., the duration from the generation of steam to the end of steam). The process then proceeds to steps 411, 412, and 413, respectively. In step 411, the controller 131 determines whether the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot received from the second temperature sensor 122 is lower than the second temperature threshold. If yes, the second heating element 124 is configured to alternate between full power and the second power according to a second cycle (e.g., the second cycle is 3-5 minutes, and the second heating element operates at full power for 2-3 minutes and at the second power for 1-2 minutes). This prevents a sudden rise in temperature and damage to components. In step 412, the controller 131 determines whether the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot received from the second temperature sensor 122 is higher than the second temperature threshold and lower than the fourth temperature threshold (i.e., the protection temperature against dry burning, e.g., 145°C-160°C). If yes, the second heating element 124 is operated at the second power. In step 413, the controller 131 determines whether the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot received from the second temperature sensor 122 is lower than the fourth temperature threshold. If yes, the operation of the second heating element 124 is stopped and the time T4 recorded by the fourth timer is read.7 shows in a simplified manner that steps 411, 412, and 413 are performed in parallel, it should be understood that as the temperature of the bottom wall of the inner pot gradually increases, the conditions listed in steps 411, 412, and 413 are satisfied in sequence. Thus, steps 414, 415, and 416 are performed in sequence. After step 416, step 417 is performed. In step 417, controller 131 determines whether the time T4 recorded by the fourth timer is greater than or equal to a fourth time threshold (i.e., the ideal steam duration corresponding to the selected recipe, e.g., 8 to 15 minutes). If yes (meaning the actual steam duration is sufficient and the amount of water in the pot is normal), when the bottom wall of the inner pot cools naturally to a temperature value BotTemp that is lower than the fourth temperature threshold, the second heating element 124 is operated at a third power (e.g., 600-650W) lower than the second power until the time T1 recorded by the first timer equals T1s, at which point the cooking mode switches to convection cooking. If no (meaning the actual steam duration is too short and the amount of water in the pot is too small), when the bottom wall of the inner pot cools to a temperature value BotTemp that is lower than the fourth temperature threshold, the second heating element 124 is operated at a fourth power (e.g., 500-550W) lower than the third power until the time T1 recorded by the first timer equals T1s, at which point the cooking mode switches to convection cooking. FIG. 9 shows the temperature curves of the first temperature sensor (top temperature sensor) and the second temperature sensor (bottom temperature sensor) when an appropriate amount of water is added to the inner pot according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0035] In step 420, the controller 131 determines whether the temperature value of the top of the cooking space, TopTemp, received from the first temperature sensor 112, is lower than the first temperature threshold, and whether the temperature value of the bottom wall of the pot, BotTemp, received from the second temperature sensor 122, is lower than the second temperature threshold and higher than the third temperature threshold. If yes (meaning that the temperature of the top of the cooking space is rising slowly and has not yet reached the temperature at which steam should be generated, and the temperature of the bottom wall of the pot is also rising slowly and is still far from the temperature that protects against dry burn, indicating that the user has added too much water and steam has not yet been generated), the process proceeds to step 421. In step 421, the controller 131 operates the second heating element 124 alternately between full power and a second power, where the second power is lower than full power, according to a first cycle (e.g., the first cycle is 4 to 7 minutes, and the second heating element operates at full power for 3 to 5 minutes and at the second power for 1 to 2 minutes). This prevents the temperature from rising too quickly and damaging the components. Next, in step 422, the controller 131 determines whether the temperature value TopTemp of the top of the cooking space received from the first temperature sensor 112 is higher than the first temperature threshold. If yes (which means steam has been generated), the process proceeds to step 410. If not, the process returns to step 420. Figure 10 shows the temperature curves of the first temperature sensor (top temperature sensor) and the second temperature sensor (bottom temperature sensor) when an excessive amount of water is added to the inner pot according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0036] In an exemplary embodiment, the full power is 1,100 watts, the second power is 900 watts, the third power is 650 watts, the fourth power is 550 watts, T1s is 20 minutes, the first time threshold is 6 minutes, the third time threshold is 1 minute, the fourth time threshold is 10 minutes, the first temperature threshold is 90°C, the second temperature threshold is 145°C, the third temperature threshold is 100°C, the fourth temperature threshold is 160°C, the first period is 5 minutes, and the second period is 4 minutes.

[0037] From the above description, it can be seen that in the above control logic, the controller 131 determines whether water has been added to the inner pot and whether the amount of water is excessive based on the temperature value TopTemp of the top of the cooking space received from the first temperature sensor 112 and the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot received from the second temperature sensor 122, and can operate the second heating element 124 in different ways according to different situations while ensuring that dry burning does not occur.

[0038] The control logic of the controller 131 in the convection cooking mode is briefly described below. To initiate the combined cooking mode, the initial user input received by the controller 131 also includes an ideal grilling temperature (i.e., set temperature, e.g., 180-200°C) for the convection cooking stage, which is the temperature that needs to be reached at the geometric center of the inner pot. Due to the location where the first temperature sensor 112 is installed and the convection effect of the fan 113, the temperature value measured by the first temperature sensor 112 is usually lower than the temperature at the center of the inner pot at the same time. Therefore, based on actual testing, it is necessary to find the correspondence between the two and output the correspondence between the set temperature and the temperature control point (i.e., the temperature value measured by the first temperature sensor 112). For example, if the set temperature is 200°C, the corresponding temperature control point is 170°C.

[0039] In the convection cooking mode, the second heating element 124 is in an off state, and the controller 131 operates the first heating element 114 periodically and intermittently. That is, when the temperature value TopTemp at the upper part of the cooking space received from the first temperature sensor 112 falls below the first temperature control threshold On_var, the operation is started immediately, and when TopTemp exceeds the second temperature control threshold Of_var, the operation is stopped immediately. Off_var is greater than or equal to On_var. The initial value of On_var is equal to the temperature control point, the initial value of Off_var is equal to the temperature control point + the fluctuation amplitude, and the fluctuation amplitude ranges from 0 to 3 °C. The operation of the first heating element 114 from startup to shutdown is recorded as one heating cycle, and the number of heating cycles N is recorded. According to some embodiments, when the number of cycles N < 3: Off_var = Off_var + 2, On_var = On_var + 2 (in the initial stage, the pot has not reached thermal equilibrium, and it is necessary to increase the temperature control point so that the temperature in the preheating stage exceeds the set temperature). When the number of cycles is 3 < N < 7: Off_var = Off_var + 1, On_var = On_var + 1. When the number of cycles is 7 < N < 10: Off_var = Off_var, On_var = On_var. When the number of cycles is 10 < N < 20: Off_var = Off_var - 1, On_var = On_var - 1. When the number of cycles is 20 < N < 45: Off_var = Off_var - 2, On_var = On_var - 2. When the number of cycles is 45 < N < 60: Off_var = Off_var - 3, On_var = On_var - 3. When the number of cycles is N > 60: Off_var = Off_var - 4, On_var = On_var - 4. When the temperature value TopTemp at the upper part of the cooking space detected by the first temperature sensor 112 is much lower than the set temperature (for example, 15 °C lower), this means that the equilibrium temperature in the pot has been disrupted (for example, after the cover is opened during the cooking process), and the number of cycles N is reset and counted again. In the above control logic, the temperature control point is automatically adjusted through the heating cycle (that is, after several heating cycles, the temperature control point gradually decreases) so that the convection cooking temperature in the pot is stable.

[0040] Advantageously, in convection cooking mode, the first heating element 114 is deactivated if the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot received from the second temperature sensor 122 is higher than a safety temperature threshold (e.g., 160-200°C). In this way, even if the first temperature sensor 112 fails, heating can be stopped in time when the temperature inside the pot is too high, thereby ensuring the safety of the user and reducing the risk of damage to the cookware components due to overheating.

[0041] The following table shows some preset recipes and their corresponding parameters when the capacity of the inner pot is 8L, the total power is 1,100W, the second power is 900W, the third power is 650W, and the fourth power is 550W.

[0042] [Table 1]

[0043] It should be understood that other recipes can be provided or the parameters in the above table can be adjusted according to actual needs.

[0044] Unless otherwise defined, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains. The terms used in this application are for the purpose of describing particular implementations only and are not intended to limit the present invention. As used in this application, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, the term "and / or," as used herein, should be understood to refer to and include any and all possible combinations of one or more associated listed items. It should be understood that the words "first," "second," and similar words as used in the specification of this application do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but are used only to distinguish between different elements. "Plurality," "plurality," and the like, mean a quantity of two or more.

[0045] The above-mentioned are merely preferred modes of realizing the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the scope of protection of this application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 10: multi-function cookware; 11: cover assembly; 12: appliance body; 13: control panel; 111: electric motor; 112: first temperature sensor; 113: fan; 114: first heating element; 121: inner pot; 122: second temperature sensor; 123: stirring blade base; 124: second heating element; 14: food support; 141: top layer of food support; 142: bottom layer of food support; 143: space below food support.

Claims

1. A multi-function cooking appliance (10), comprising: a housing defining a hollow chamber; an inner pot (121) removably disposed within the hollow chamber and having a side wall and a bottom wall; a cover assembly (11) configured to cover the housing and define a cooking space together with the inner pot (121); a hot air assembly disposed within the cover assembly (11) and comprising a fan (113) and a first heating element (114); a second heating element (124) disposed at the base of the housing and used to heat the bottom wall of the inner pot (121); The multifunctional cooking appliance (10) further comprises a first timer and controller (131) configured to be able to operate the multifunctional cooking appliance (10) in a plurality of modes, including a conduction cooking mode in which the second heating element (124) operates while the first heating element (114) and the fan (113) do not operate, a convection cooking mode in which the first heating element (114) and the fan (113) operate while the second heating element (124) does not operate, and a combination cooking mode; 1. A multifunctional cooking appliance, characterized in that the controller (131) is configured to perform the following steps: Step S1: receiving an initial user input for initiating the combined cooking mode, the initial user input including a conduction cooking mode duration T1s and a convection cooking mode duration T2s; Step S2: starting the cooking mode and the first timer; Step S3: if the time T1 recorded by the first timer is equal to T1s, switch to the convection cooking mode and start a second timer; and Step S4: When the time T2 recorded by the second timer is equal to T2s, cooking is terminated.

2. Step S4 Step S41: When the time T2 recorded by the second timer is equal to T2s-t2, stopping the operation of the first heating element (114) while continuing to operate the fan (113); and 2. The multi-function cooking appliance of claim 1, further comprising: step S42: stopping the operation of the fan (113) when the time T2 recorded by the second timer is equal to T2s.

3. a first temperature sensor (112) disposed within the cover assembly (11) and configured to measure the temperature of the upper portion of the cooking space in real time in both the conduction cooking mode and the convection cooking mode and transmit the temperature to the controller (131) in real time; a second temperature sensor (122) conductively connected to the bottom wall of the inner pot (121) and configured to measure the temperature of the bottom wall of the inner pot (121) in real time in both the conduction cooking mode and the convection cooking mode, and transmit the measured temperature to the controller (131) in real time; The multi-function cookware of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising:

4. 4. The multifunctional cooking appliance of claim 3, further comprising a human-machine interaction panel (13) signally connected to the controller (131), wherein a user provides the initial user input by selecting a pre-defined recipe on the human-machine interaction panel (13), the pre-defined recipe being associated with a corresponding value of T1s and T2.

5. 4. The multifunctional cooking appliance of claim 3, further comprising a human-machine interaction panel (13) signally connected to said controller (131), wherein a user provides said initial user input by manually entering values ​​for T1s and T2s on said human-machine interaction panel (13).

6. 6. The multifunctional cookware according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the first temperature sensor (112) and the second temperature sensor (122) are both thermistor sensors, preferably negative temperature coefficient sensors.

7. 7. The multi-function cooking appliance of claim 6, wherein the first temperature sensor (112) has a temperature measurement range of -40°C to 300°C, and the second temperature sensor (122) has a temperature measurement range of -50°C to 350°C.

8. 8. The multifunctional cookware of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the first temperature sensor (112) is exposed within the cooking space and is spaced apart from the first heating element (114), and the second temperature sensor (122) is positioned at or near the center of the bottom wall of the inner pot (121).

9. The multifunctional cookware according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein step S2 includes the following steps: Step S21: When starting the conduction cooking mode, the second heating element (124) is operated at full power, and if the temperature value TopTemp of the top of the cooking space received from the first temperature sensor (112) is lower than a first temperature threshold and the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot (121) received from the second temperature sensor (122) is higher than a second temperature threshold, when the time T1 recorded by the first timer is equal to or less than a first time threshold, the operation of the second heating element (124) is stopped and a water shortage alarm device and a third timer are activated.

10. 10. The multi-function cooking device of claim 9, wherein step S2 further comprises the following steps: Step S22: When starting the conduction cooking mode, the second heating element (124) is operated at full power, and if the temperature value TopTemp of the top of the cooking space received from the first temperature sensor (112) is higher than a first temperature threshold and the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot (121) received from the second temperature sensor (122) is lower than the second temperature threshold and higher than a third temperature threshold, the second heating element (124) continues to be operated at full power and a fourth timer is started when the time T1 recorded by the first timer is equal to or less than the first time threshold.

11. 11. The multi-function cooking device of claim 10, wherein step S2 further comprises the following steps: Step S23: When starting the conduction cooking mode, the second heating element (124) is operated at full power, and if the temperature value TopTemp of the top of the cooking space received from the first temperature sensor (112) is lower than the first temperature threshold, and the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot (121) received from the second temperature sensor (122) is lower than the second temperature threshold and higher than the third temperature threshold, when the time T1 recorded by the first timer is greater than the first time threshold, the second heating element (124) is operated alternately between full power and a second power lower than full power according to a first cycle, and when TopTemp is higher than the first temperature threshold, the fourth timer is started.

12. The multifunctional cookware according to any one of claims 9 to 11, further comprising the following steps after step S21: Step S211: If the controller (131) determines that the user has added water and the time T3 recorded by the third timer is less than or equal to a third time threshold, repeating steps S2, S3, and S4; Step S212: If the controller (131) determines that the user has not added water and the time T3 recorded by the third timer is greater than the third time threshold, the controller (131) intermittently operates the second heating element (124) at a second power lower than full power, so that the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot (121) is maintained at a temperature around the second temperature threshold until the time T1 recorded by the first timer becomes equal to T1s.

13. The multifunctional cooking appliance according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising the following steps after step S22 or step S23: Step S24: operating the second heating element (124) alternately between full power and second power according to a second cycle if the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot (121) received from the second temperature sensor (122) is lower than the second temperature threshold; Step S25: operating the second heating element (124) at the second power when the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot (121) received from the second temperature sensor (122) is higher than the second temperature threshold and lower than a fourth temperature threshold; Step S26: If the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot (121) received from the second temperature sensor (122) is higher than the fourth temperature threshold, stopping operation of the second heating element (124) and reading the time recorded by the fourth timer.

14. 14. The multi-function cooking device according to claim 13, further comprising the following steps after step S26: Step S261: if the time T4 recorded by the fourth timer is equal to or greater than a fourth time threshold, the bottom wall of the inner pot (121) is cooled to a temperature value BotTemp that is lower than the fourth temperature threshold, and the second heating element (124) is operated at a third power that is lower than the second power; Step S262: If the time T4 recorded by the fourth timer is less than the fourth time threshold, the bottom wall of the inner pot (121) is cooled to a temperature value BotTemp lower than the fourth temperature threshold, and the second heating element (124) is operated at a fourth power lower than the third power.

15. 15. The multifunctional cookware according to claim 3, wherein the controller (131) is configured to operate the first heating element (114) in the convection cooking mode intermittently and cyclically, i.e., to start operation immediately when a temperature value TopTemp of the top of the cooking space received from the first temperature sensor (112) falls below a first control threshold, and to stop operation immediately when TopTemp rises above a second temperature control threshold.

16. 16. The multifunctional cookware of claim 3, wherein the controller (131) is configured to stop operation of the first heating element (114) in the convection cooking mode if the temperature value BotTemp of the bottom wall of the inner pot (121) received from the second temperature sensor (122) is greater than a safety temperature threshold.

Images