Blender Heating Plate Sensor Layout for Accurate Temperature Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blenders face challenges in accurately measuring the temperature of ingredients due to delayed and inaccurate readings caused by temperature sensors being unable to directly contact the food, leading to issues with undercooking, overcooking, overflowing, or dry-boiling.

Innovation Solution

A blender design featuring a base part with a heating plate and a detachable container where the temperature sensor extends through the heating plate, allowing for direct heat conduction and accurate temperature sensing of the bottom part, ensuring precise temperature measurement without interference from the heating element.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the temperature sensor senses temperature through the glass wall of the jar or on an extended lip, then the jar maintains full transparency and machine-washability, but the temperature reading is delayed and inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature reading accuracyVSAvoidsensor positioning complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a bottom part as an intermediary component that thermally conducts heat from the heating plate to the jar while providing a surface for the temperature sensor to directly contact. This mediator enables accurate temperature measurement without requiring the sensor to penetrate the jar or contact the food directly, resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The jar assembly is segmented into multiple components: the jar, the bottom part, and the blade holding component. The bottom part is separated as a distinct element that can be optimally positioned for thermal contact with both the heating plate and the temperature sensor, allowing accurate temperature sensing without complicating the overall device structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If the temperature sensor is positioned to directly contact the bottom part, then accurate temperature sensing is achieved, but the heating element may interfere with the temperature measurement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature sensing accuracyVSAvoidheating element interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bottom part is designed with differentiated local qualities: a first surface optimized for thermal contact with the heating plate and a second surface optimized for thermal contact with the temperature sensor. This local differentiation ensures that the sensor measures the temperature of the bottom part itself rather than being influenced by the heating element, resolving the interference issue while maintaining measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the jar is made of glass material without electrical connection, then the jar provides full transparency and machine-washability, but the temperature sensor cannot be directly connected to power the jar

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachine-washability and transparencyVSAvoidheating capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The bottom part serves as a thermal intermediary that receives heat from the heating plate and transfers it to the glass jar. This mediator enables the glass jar to be heated indirectly without requiring electrical connections, preserving both the transparency and machine-washability of the glass material while providing effective heating capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This design enables accurate temperature measurement of the ingredients, preventing undercooking, overcooking, overflowing, or dry-boiling, and allows for effective cooking by ensuring the temperature sensor is in direct contact with the bottom part of the container, providing reliable temperature feedback.

Implementation Method 1

The heating element heats a bottom part of the jar by heat conduction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the base part comprising a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the bottom part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature sensing: Thermistor

Data Source

PatentEP3220789B1A blender with temperature sensor
Publication Date: 2018.06.06 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP3220789B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3220789B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3220789B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

The invention relates to a blender (10) for blending ingredients. The blender (10) comprises a base part (11) comprising a heating plate (22), and a container (13) for receiving said ingredients. The container (13) is detachable from the base part (11) and comprising a bottom part for contacting the heating plate (22). The base part (11) comprises a temperature sensor (23) for sensing the temperature of the bottom part. The temperature sensor (23) extends through the heating plate (22).