Cooking appliance comprising an imaging device

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooking appliance, in particular for cooking in an oven, a microwave oven, or a steam oven, comprising a cooking chamber surrounded by oven walls, which can be closed by means of a door, at least one light-conductive rod, which reaches at least partly into the cooking chamber of the cooking appliance, and at least one optical device to capture images and / or videos. Arranged in the area above the upper wall (5) of the walls (2) of the cooking chamber (1) are at least one lighting means (6) for illuminating the tray (4) for accommodating food, which is to be thermally treated, and the interior of the cooking chamber (1), and at least one device (7) to capture and store images and / or videos. The lighting means (6) and the device (7) to capture and store images and / or videos are arranged in parallel or sequentially in close vicinity next to each other.

Description

COOKING APPLIANCE COMPRISING AN IMAGING DEVICE

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking appliance, in particular for cooking in an oven, a microwave oven, or a steam oven, comprising a cooking chamber surrounded by oven walls that can be closed by means of a door, at least one lighting means extending at least partly into the cooking chamber of the cooking appliance, and at least one device to capture images and / or videos.

[0002] The cooking appliance of the type referred to above is published in the document EP 3 677841. The disclosed cooking appliance comprises a cooking chamber and an imaging device for capturing images of the food inside the cooking chamber. The device can comprise a translucent touch-screen display for displaying the contents inside the cooking appliance without the user having to open the cooking chamber of the appliance. Furthermore, it is provided that the user can control, manage, and operate the cooking appliance via the display.

[0003] The disadvantages lie in the fact that they are price unfavourable, that the lighting is directed mainly toward the door of the cooking appliance and the display, which results in poor illumination at the rear of the cooking chamber and reduces the quality of captured images and obstructs the user’s view of the interior.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to create a cooking appliance for cooking in an oven, a microwave oven, or a steam oven, which would remedy the shortcomings of known solutions.

[0005] The object according to the present invention is accomplished by the characteristics set forth in the characterising portion of claim 1. The details of the invention are disclosed in the corresponding sub-claims.

[0006] The invention is further described in detail by way of a non-limiting embodiment and with a reference to the accompanying drawings whereFig. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a cooking appliance in the first vertical plane,Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the cooking appliance in the second vertical plane,Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the cooking appliance in the first vertical plane,Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of the preferred embodiment of the cooking appliance as seen from above,Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a lighting means,Fig. 6 shows the lighting means as seen from the side,Fig. 7 shows the lighting means as seen from the front, andFig. 8 shows the lighting means in a three-dimensional view.

[0007] A cooking appliance according to the invention comprises a cooking chamber 1 composed of walls 2, which can be closed by means of a door 3. The cooking chamber 1 contains, in the horizontal plane, at least one tray 4 for accommodating food, which is to be thermally treated.

[0008] Arranged in the area above the upper wall 5 of the walls 2 are at least one lighting means 6 for illuminating the tray 4 for accommodating food, which is to be thermally treated, and for illuminating the interior of the cooking chamber 1, and at least one device 7 to capture and store images and / or videos. The entry of a light beam from the lighting means 6 into the interior of the cooking chamber 1 and the capture of images and / or videos with the said device 7 to capture images and / or videos is enabled through at least one opening in the upper wall 5 of the walls 2. Furthermore, in and / or on at least one side wall 8; 9 of the walls 2, at least one additional lighting means 10 is provided to illuminate the interior of the cooking chamber 1. For the device 7 to capture images and / or videos to be able to capture an image and / or video, at least one lighting means 6; 10 must be turned on.

[0009] Also possible is an embodiment of the cooking appliance where at least one said device 7 to capture and store images and / or videos is arranged in the area above the door 3 in the front wall of the walls 2.

[0010] At least one of the lighting means 6; 10 is, for example, selected as a light-emitting diode (LED) and at least one of the lighting means 6; 10 is, for example, selected as a light guide rod 6a.

[0011] Furthermore, at least one device 7 to capture and store images and / or videos is, for example, selected as a digital camera to capture images and / or videos in high resolution, for instance 1920x1080 pixels or more.

[0012] The lighting means 6 comprises without limitations a light guide rod 6a to which at first end thereof arranged outside the cooking chamber 1 there is attached a housing 6b, which is provided on the side facing away from the light guide rod 6a with a heat sink 6c. Inside the housing 6b, a light-emitting module 6d is arranged, which is in a light connection with the light guide rod 6a. The lighting means 6, which with a free end 6e of the light guide rod 6a extends in the interior of the cooking chamber 1, can be arranged anywhere in the upper area of the cooking appliance or walls 2, above the highest tray 4 level. Particularly is preferred such an arrangement of the lighting means 6 in relation to the device 7 to capture and store images and / or videos that the entire tray 4 is illuminated without obstructing the view of the device 7 to capture and store images and / or videos, wherein no light effects are generated, such as reflection, glare, or backlight, that would affect the quality of the image and / or video.

[0013] The lighting means 6 can be, in the horizontal plane along the centre line from the door 3 toward the back wall of the cooking chamber 1, arranged behind or in front of the device 7 to capture and store images and / or videos. To ensure optimal lighting, the lighting means 6 and the device 7 have approximately identical orientations of their longitudinal centre lines.

[0014] According to an alternative embodiment, it is provided that the lighting means 6 and the device 7 to capture and store images and / or videos are arranged next to each other onthe horizontal plane in the longitudinal direction ofthe front wall of the walls 2.

[0015] The device 7 to capture and store images and / or videos is generally arranged anywhere in the upper area of the cooking appliance or walls 2, above the highest tray 4 level. The preferable arrangement ofthe device 7 to capture and store images and / or videos provides for that it is arranged in the upper horizontal plane in the area of the door 3, which ensures a capture of image and / or video from a perspective that is best for the user. Also possible is an embodiment in which the device 7 is arranged behind the door 3 or on any other wall of the walls 2, above the highest tray 4 level.

[0016] It is provided for, according to the preferred embodiment, that the lighting means 6 and the device 7 to capture and store images and / or videos and, respectively, the longitudinal centre lines of the lighting means 6 and the device 7, are, in relation to the horizontal plane of the cooking appliance, tilted at an angle a in the direction from the back wall of the walls 2 toward the door 3, in such a manner that the ends of the lighting means 6 and light guide rod 6a, which extend or protrude into the cooking chamber 2, and the device 7 face the backwall of the walls 2. The said angle a ofthe light guide rod 6a and the device 7 is preferably identical and falls within a range of approximately 0° to approximately 45°. Also possible is an embodiment where the angle a of the inclination of the light guide rod 6a falls within a range of approximately 0° to approximately 45°, while the angle of the inclination of the device 7 is different, either smaller or larger.

[0017] With the preferred embodiment of the cooking appliance, the free end 6e of the light guide rod 6a, i.e. the end ofthe light guide rod 6a that protrudes into the cooking chamber 1, is formed with an inclination 11 comprising an angle (3 in relation to the longitudinal centre line of the lighting means 6. The said angle (3 falls within a range of approximately 30° to approximately 60°. Furthermore, the lighting means 6 or the light guide rod 6a is rotated around the longitudinal centre line thereof in such a manner that the normal ofthe inclination 11 extends at least approximately in the direction toward the relatively narrow area of the closest bottom corner of the cooking chamber 1. It is obvious that the angular rotation of the light guide rod 6a around its own longitudinal axis depends on the dimensions ofthe cookingchamber 1. However, the lightguide rod 6a is rotated around its longitudinal centre line in such a manner that the majority of the light exiting the free end 6e faces the area of the most distant corner of the cooking chamber 1. This means that the radiation light flux exiting through the free end 6e of the light guide rod 6a, faces the area of the most distant corner in such a way that the said area is illuminated as much as possible.

[0018] The said inclination 11 is finished in such a manner that it at least partly transmits the light along the light guide rod 6a, wherein the said inclination 11 is at least partly formed as a translucent surface, for instance as a satinised, matt, or frosted surface.

[0019] The said free end 6e of the lighting means 6 or light guide rod 6a, on the side diametrically opposite to the inclination 11, further comprises a surface 12 finished in such a manner that it at least partly transmits the light along the light guide rod 6a. The said surface 12 is, for example, formed as a translucent surface, for instance a satinised, matt, or frosted surface that, along the perimeter of the light guide rod 6a, extends for at least 180° and symmetrically in relation to the surface 12. Furthermore, the said surface 12, in the longitudinal direction of the light guide rod 6a, extends from the tip 11’ of the inclination 11 for a length / , which corresponds to at least the longest dimension of the surface 12 according to the longitudinal centre line of the light guide rod 6a.

[0020] Also possible is an embodiment where the light guide rod 6a is transparent, while the free end 6e of the rod is translucent. A translucent design of the free end 6e reduces the luminosity of the lighting means 6 and more evenly disperses light inside the cooking chamber 1.

[0021] The free end 6e of the light guide rod 6a can be formed in different ways, including rectilinearly along the longitudinal centre line of the light guide rod 6a or curved out of the direction of the longitudinal centre line of the lightguide rod 6a, for example in the shape of the letter L. The possible, yet non-limiting shapes of the free end 6e where light exits, are convex, concave, chamfered on one side or multiple sides, or rounded.

[0022] To prevent an unwanted dispersion of light from the light guide rod 6a, the latter can be at least partly surrounded by a mantle, which is at least partly light impermeable.

[0023] According to one of the possible, but non-limiting embodiments, it is provided that the lighting means 6 is formed to emit light with a temperature within the range of approximately 2000K to 7000K.

[0024] According to another embodiment, it is provided that the lighting means 6 and the device 7 to capture and store images and / or videos are arranged in parallel or in series in close vicinity next to each other.

[0025] According to yet another embodiment, it is provided that the lighting means 6 is arranged on / in the device 7 to capture and store images and / or videos in such a mannerthat it at least partly surrounds the lens of the device 7, wherein it does not hinder the collection of light entering the device 7 through the lens.

Claims

Claims1. A cooking appliance, in particular for cooking in an oven, microwave oven, or steam oven, comprising a cooking chamber surrounded by oven walls, which can be closed by means of a door, at least one lighting means, which at least partly reaches into the interior of the cooking chamber of the cooking appliance, and at least one optical device to capture images and / or videos, characterised in that, in the area above an upper wall (5) of walls (2) of a cooking chamber (1), at least one lighting means (6) is arranged, comprising a light guide rod (6a), to illuminate a tray (4) for accommodating food that is to be thermally treated, and to illuminate the interior of the cooking chamber (1), and at least one device (7) to capture and store images and / or videos, wherein the lighting means (6) and the device (7) to capture and store images and / or videos are arranged in parallel or in series in close vicinity next to each other, and where the light guide rod (6a) comprises a free end (6e) protruding into the cooking chamber (1) said free end (6e) formed with an inclination (11) comprising an angle ((3) in relation to the longitudinal centre line of the lighting means (6), wherein the radiation light flux, which exits through the free end (6e) of the light guide rod (6a), faces the area of the most distant corner in such a manner that the said area is illuminated as much as possible, and wherein the lighting means (6) and the device (7) to capture and store images and / or videos, or the longitudinal body axes of the lighting means (6) and the device (7), are, in relation to the horizontal plane of the cooking appliance, tilted at an angle (a) in the direction from the back wall of the walls (2) toward the door (3), in such a manner that the ends of the light guide rod (6a) and the device (7), which extends into the cooking chamber (2), face a back wall of the walls (2).

2. A cooking appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the free end (6e) of the light guide rod (6a), on the side diametrically opposite to the inclination (11), further comprises a surface (12) finished in such a manner that it at least partly transmits light along the light guide rod (6a), wherein the surface (12), along the perimeter of the light guide rod (6a), spreads for at least 180° and symmetrically in relation to the surface (12) and wherein the surface (12), in the longitudinal direction of the light guide rod (6a),extends from the tip (11’) of the inclination (11) for a length ( / ), which corresponds to the longest dimension of the surface (12) according to the longitudinal centre line of the light guide rod (6a).

3. A cooking appliance according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the inclination (11) and the surface (12) are formed as a translucent surface, for instance a satinised, matt, or frosted surface.

4. A cooking appliance according to claims 1 through 3, characterised in thatthe said angle (a) of the inclination of the light guide rod (6a) and the device (7) is identical.

5. A cooking appliance according to claims 1 through 4, characterised in thatthe said angle (a) of the inclination falls within a range of approximately 0° to approximately 45°.

6. A cooking appliance according to claims 1 through 5, characterised in thatthe angle (a) of the inclination of the light guide rod (6a) falls within a range of approximately 0° to approximately 45°, while the angle of the inclination of the device (7) differs from the angle (a) of the inclination of the light guide rod (6a).

7. A cooking appliance according to claims 1 through 6, characterised in thatthe said angle (3) falls within a range of approximately 30° to approximately 60°.

8. A cooking appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, in and / or on at least one side wall (8, 9) of the walls (2), at least one additional lighting means (10) is provided to illuminate the interior of the cooking chamber (1).

9. A cooking appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of the lighting means (6; 10) is selected as a light-emitting diode (LED) and at least one of the lighting means (6; 10) is, for example, selected as a light guide rod (6a).

10. A cooking appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that thelighting means (6) is arranged on / inside the device (7) to capture and store images and / or videos in such a way that it at least partly surrounds the lens of the device (7).

11. A cooking appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lightguide rod (6a) is rotated around its longitudinal body axis in such a way that most of the light that exits from the free end (6e) faces the area of the most distant corner of the cooking chamber (1).

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