Battery-Powered Wireless Control for Outdoor Cooking Appliances

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing outdoor cooking appliance control systems require an alternating current (AC) power source, limiting their use environments and lacking user-friendly controls, wireless connectivity, and requiring hard-wire connections for thermometers.

Innovation Solution

A DC-powered outdoor cooking appliance system with a wireless temperature probe and monitor device that eliminates the need for AC power, user-friendly controls, and device pairing, using a dedicated wireless thermometer and monitor device already paired at the time of purchase.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If AC power source is used for control system, then reliable power supply is achieved, but portability and versatility are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply reliabilityVSAvoidenvironmental adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control system transitions from AC power operation to DC battery power operation, changing the power source parameter from grid-dependent to portable battery-powered, thereby enabling use in outdoor and remote locations while maintaining control functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The control system is extracted from its traditional AC-powered indoor setting and adapted to operate independently on DC battery power, removing the constraint of requiring AC power infrastructure and enabling portable outdoor cooking applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If hard-wire connected thermometers are used, then stable temperature monitoring is achieved, but ease of operation and safety are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature monitoring stabilityVSAvoidthermometer usability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical hard-wire connection system is replaced with a wireless communication system, where temperature probes transmit data wirelessly to the control system, eliminating physical wires while maintaining monitoring functionality and improving ease of use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

A wireless communication intermediary is introduced between the temperature probe and control system, replacing the direct physical wire connection with radio frequency or other wireless transmission media, thereby maintaining data transfer while improving safety and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If device pairing is required for wireless connectivity, then system security is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless connection securityVSAvoidpairing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Device pairing and connection establishment is performed in advance during system initialization or manufacturing, so that when cooking operations begin, the wireless connections are already established and no additional pairing steps are required during actual use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system automatically manages wireless device connections and pairings without requiring user intervention, performing the pairing process autonomously to reduce complexity while maintaining secure connections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of operation

If user-friendly controls are implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol interface simplicityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control interface uses familiar, intuitive patterns and displays that mirror common cooking concepts and terminology, making the system easy to operate without requiring users to learn complex new controls, while the underlying complexity is managed through standardized design patterns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

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 allows for untethered operation from AC power, simplifies user interaction with intuitive controls, eliminates device pairing complexities, and provides seamless wireless connectivity for temperature monitoring, enhancing cooking flexibility and safety.

Implementation Method 1

a resistance temperature detector (RTD)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

a temperature probe adapted to determine the internal temperature of a food item

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS12239256B2Outdoor cooking appliance control system

Publication Date: 2025.03.04 WH PRODUCTS LLC

AI summary

A battery-operated wireless control system for outdoor cooking and heating appliances is disclosed. The system may include an electronic controller paired to a wireless temperature probe and a wireless monitor device capable of storing and recharging the wireless temperature probe. The electronic controller may control the operation of a fuel supply assembly, a fan assembly, and a spark generating assembly included in the appliance.