Adaptive thermal control for a cooking system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional cooking techniques and automated systems face challenges in maintaining precise temperature control, especially in fluctuating environments, leading to inefficiencies and suboptimal cooking results.

Innovation Solution

A cooking system that includes a heat source and processors to dynamically adjust energy based on current and requested temperatures, using gain constants and terms to calculate energy adjustments, accounting for heat loss and environmental fluctuations, ensuring precise temperature control and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional manual cooking techniques are used, then the system is simple to operate, but temperature control precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature control precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control system using a temperature sensor to continuously monitor the cooking surface temperature and adjust the heating element power accordingly. The processor compares the measured temperature with the target temperature and dynamically modifies the energy output to maintain precise temperature control, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and precision by automating the feedback loop.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-regulation of temperature through automated control algorithms that adjust heating power based on real-time temperature measurements. The controller independently manages the heating element without requiring manual intervention, achieving precise temperature control while maintaining ease of operation through a user-friendly interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If automated temperature control is implemented, then temperature control precision improves, but responsiveness to temperature changes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature control precisionVSAvoidresponsiveness to temperature changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic control parameters that adapt based on the current cooking state. The system adjusts control gains and response thresholds dynamically during the cooking process, allowing rapid response when temperature deviations occur while maintaining stability during steady-state cooking. This resolves the contradiction by making the system both responsive and precise at different operational phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system combines multiple control strategies (proportional, integral, and derivative control) into a unified PID control algorithm that simultaneously addresses precision and responsiveness. The merged control approach balances immediate temperature corrections with long-term stability, achieving both rapid response to changes and precise temperature maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If adaptive control with multiple gain constants is used, then stability in fluctuating environments improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoidcontrol algorithm complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements adaptive control by dynamically adjusting control parameters (gain constants) based on the cooking state and environmental conditions. The system monitors temperature fluctuations and modifies the proportional, integral, and derivative gains accordingly, maintaining optimal stability across varying cooking scenarios. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by achieving high stability without requiring a fundamentally complex system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system achieves rapid temperature stabilization, minimizes overshooting and undershooting, and maintains consistent cooking conditions, even in adverse environments, enhancing the cooking process for delicate proteins and varied cooking methods.

Implementation Method 1

a heat source operable to provide an amount of energy to be used to cook a food item

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal energy transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

receive an indication of a current temperature associated with the food item

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature detection: Thermocouple

Data Source

PatentEP3510833B1Adaptive thermal control for a cooking system
Publication Date: 2022.04.06 MEYER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES LIMITED
  • EP3510833B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3510833B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3510833B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

According to one example, a system includes a heat source operable to provide an amount of energy to be used to cook a food item, and further includes one or more processors. The processors are operable to receive an indication of a requested cooking temperature, and to receive a plurality of indications of measured temperature associated with the food item at different times. The processors are further operable to determine an integral term based on differences between the requested cooking temperature and the measured temperatures, to determine a heat loss term based on the integral term, and to determine an energy adjustment based on the heat loss term. The heat source is further operable to modify the amount of energy provided by the heat source in accordance with the determined energy adjustment.