Combination Oven Temperature Control for Uniform Multi-Mode Cooking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking appliances lack efficient and effective multi-heating techniques for rapid and uniform cooking of diverse food items, particularly struggling with open-faced grilled sandwiches and liquid-based foods, as they often require multiple heating sources and result in uneven cooking.
Innovation Solution
A compact cooking appliance combining radiant, convection, and microwave heating with a regulating temperature control system, utilizing multiple sensors and independently controlled heating elements to maintain desired temperatures, ensuring uniform heating and efficient cooking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple heating techniques (radiant, convection, microwave) are combined in a cooking appliance, then cooking versatility and speed are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines radiant heating elements, convection fans, and microwave generators into a single integrated oven cavity, allowing multiple heating techniques to work simultaneously or independently for diverse cooking applications
Solution Approach 2:
The cooking appliance is designed to perform multiple cooking functions including radiant heating, convection heating, microwave heating, and various combinations thereof, making it suitable for different food types and cooking requirements
2Productivity
If multiple heating sources are used to cook food rapidly, then cooking speed is improved, but temperature uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple independently controlled heating elements positioned at different locations within the oven cavity, allowing localized heating adjustments to achieve uniform overall temperature distribution
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors are strategically placed throughout the oven cavity to monitor temperature distribution, and the control system adjusts heating element operation based on feedback to maintain uniform temperature
3Temperature
If ambient air enters the oven cavity during cooking, then cooling effect increases, but temperature control stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature sensors continuously monitor the oven cavity temperature, and the control system responds by adjusting heating element operation to compensate for ambient air cooling effects, maintaining stable temperature control
Solution Approach 2:
The control system anticipates temperature drops from ambient air entry and pre-adjusts heating element operation to maintain temperature stability before significant cooling occurs
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 appliance achieves rapid and uniform cooking of various food items by precisely controlling multiple heating sources, maintaining consistent temperatures and reducing cooking time, even when ambient air enters the oven cavity.
Implementation Method 1
at least one radiant heating element exposed to the oven cavity
Implementation Method 2
a blower having a convection fan, an additional convection heating element directly exposed to an airflow generated by the convection fan
Implementation Method 3
multiple microwave heating devices
Data Source
AI summary
A combination cooking appliance controls a radiant heating element provided in an oven cavity and a convection heating element provided in an air plenum with a regulating system which receives signals from multiple temperature sensors. More specifically, the appliance includes a first temperature sensor provided in an air return plenum portion for controlling the radiant heating element and a second temperature sensor arranged in a discharge air plenum portion, preferably downstream of a catalyst, for controlling the convection heating element. The heating elements are independently controlled based on the sensed temperatures to establish a desired oven cavity temperature, while accommodating for temperature fluctuations due to the incoming fresh air stream.