Camera-Based Cooking Chamber Contamination Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the duration of a cleaning cycle in cooking appliances are inaccurate due to limitations in measuring light intensity and failing to account for shadowing effects and contamination types, leading to inefficient energy use and resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
A camera is used as an optical sensor to generate images that are processed using image processing software to assess the degree of contamination, allowing for precise determination of the remaining cleaning cycle duration, which can be adjusted based on the contamination level and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple optical sensor measures light intensity in a small area, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to shadowing effects and limited coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from point-based optical sensing to area-based image sensing by using a camera to capture two-dimensional images of the cooking chamber. This dimensional change allows comprehensive coverage of the entire chamber interior, eliminating shadowing effects and providing complete visualization of contamination on all surfaces including trays and racks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces simple optical intensity measurement with digital image processing. Instead of measuring light intensity at a single point, the camera captures images that are then processed using image analysis algorithms to determine contamination degree, enabling more accurate and comprehensive assessment.
2Ease of operation
If the cleaning cycle duration is determined by fixed reference values, then the ease of operation is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to unnecessary energy consumption and extended downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where images captured during the cleaning cycle are continuously evaluated to monitor the degree of contamination. Based on this real-time feedback, the cleaning cycle duration is dynamically adjusted - the cycle terminates early if contamination is already sufficient, or extends if more cleaning time is needed, optimizing both energy consumption and appliance availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the static, fixed cleaning cycle duration into a dynamic parameter that adapts to actual contamination levels. The cleaning process evolves from a predetermined fixed-time operation to a flexible, condition-based process that responds to real-time contamination assessment, improving productivity while maintaining ease of operation.
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 method ensures the cleaning cycle lasts only as long as necessary, optimizing energy use and resource efficiency while allowing for accurate planning of appliance availability for normal operation.
Implementation Method 1
The camera (8) is designed to take interior images (32) of the cooking chamber (6)
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for determining the duration of a cleaning cycle of a thermal process for cleaning a cooking chamber (6) in a cooking appliance (30), in which sensor signals (32) of an optical sensor (8) are supplied to an evaluation electronics (40), which determines the degree of soiling of the cooking chamber (6) on the basis of the sensor signals (32) by evaluating the sensor signals (32).To determine the duration of a cleaning cycle with the required accuracy, it is proposed that a camera be used as an optical sensor (8), which generates several camera images (32) as sensor signals (32) during the course of a cleaning cycle, the camera images (32) are transmitted from the camera to the evaluation electronics (40), and the evaluation electronics (40) evaluate the transmitted camera images (32) with an image processing software (42) by determining a degree of contamination (44) of the cooking chamber (6) for each camera image and deriving a current value (46) for the remaining duration of the cleaning cycle from the last determined value for a degree of contamination (44).