Computer-Controlled Grill Recipe Automation for Cooking Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grills lack advanced control systems for improving the ease, quality, and repeatability of cooking processes, often requiring manual adjustment and lacking feedback mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A computer-controlled grill system that includes processing devices and memory devices to execute instructions for retrieving recipes, controlling burners based on recipe steps, and providing notifications for user actions, with temperature monitoring and automatic adjustments to maintain optimal cooking conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual adjustment is used for grill operations, then device complexity is reduced, but cooking precision and consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The grill system incorporates temperature sensors that continuously monitor grate temperature and provide feedback to the control system. The controller adjusts burner operation based on this feedback to maintain target temperatures, ensuring consistent cooking results without requiring complex manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The grill system automatically monitors its own temperature conditions and adjusts burner operation without external intervention. The control system independently manages heating cycles, temperature maintenance, and safety shutdowns, eliminating the need for constant manual adjustment while maintaining cooking precision.
2Reliability
If automated control systems are added to grills, then cooking consistency is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses temperature sensors to continuously monitor grate temperature and provides feedback to the controller, which automatically adjusts burner operation to maintain target temperatures. This feedback loop ensures consistent cooking results while requiring minimal user intervention beyond initial recipe selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment of burners and temperature control with an automated electronic control system. The controller uses electronic signals to regulate gas flow and burner operation, substituting complex manual mechanical operations with simplified electronic control that improves consistency while maintaining ease of use.
3Manufacturing precision
If temperature monitoring and automatic adjustments are implemented, then cooking quality is improved, but loss of time in system setup increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is pre-programmed with recipe-specific temperature profiles and cooking parameters. When a recipe is selected, the system automatically retrieves and executes the appropriate temperature sequence without requiring user configuration. This preliminary programming eliminates setup time while ensuring high cooking quality through precise temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system stores multiple pre-configured temperature profiles and cooking parameters for different recipes. By changing only the selected recipe parameter, the system automatically adjusts all other parameters (temperature, time, burner zones) to match the desired cooking outcome. This parameter-based approach maintains cooking quality while minimizing setup time.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-controlled grill can operate burners based on a set of instructions in the form of a recipe. The grill can provide notifications corresponding to steps of the recipe, to alert the user to perform the steps. The notifications can be provided to the grill, through a connected mobile device, or both. The grill adjusts gas flow to one or more burners based on the recipe steps. If the grill detects that the user has not performed required steps, the grill reduces or shuts off gas flow to the burners.