Configurable cooking systems and methods

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cooking systems lack the capability to systematically produce complex meals with precision and speed, requiring skilled human intervention and multiple appliances, and have not yet developed an intelligent system for consistent, automated cooking of sophisticated dishes.

Innovation Solution

An adaptive cooking appliance with a computing system controlling heating elements, utilizing image and probe feedback, and a cloud-based recipe server for dynamic heat adjustment and recipe execution, allowing for automated cooking of complex meals with user-specific preferences and learned behavior adaptation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional cooking appliances are used, then simple meals can be prepared, but complex meals cannot be systematically produced with precision and speed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to cook complex mealsVSAvoidcooking speed and precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooking system divides the cooking chamber into multiple independently controllable zones with separate heating elements, allowing different cooking methods and temperatures to be applied to different portions of food simultaneously, enabling complex multi-component meals to be prepared systematically

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts heating power, temperature, and cooking parameters in real-time based on feedback from sensors monitoring food temperature, moisture content, and cooking progress, allowing precise control over complex cooking processes that adapt to changing conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Extent of automation

If skilled human intervention is used, then cooking quality can be maintained, but automated consistent production is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated cooking capabilityVSAvoidconsistency of cooking results

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates multiple sensors that continuously monitor cooking parameters including temperature, humidity, and food state, feeding this information back to the control system which automatically adjusts heating elements to maintain optimal cooking conditions, ensuring consistent results without human intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The cooking system autonomously manages the entire cooking process including temperature regulation, timing, and sequence of operations based on pre-programmed recipes and real-time sensor data, eliminating the need for skilled human operators while maintaining reliable and consistent cooking quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple cooking appliances are used, then various cooking methods can be applied, but system complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking method varietyVSAvoidnumber of appliances required

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system combines multiple heating elements, cooling mechanisms, and cooking zones into a single integrated appliance, allowing various cooking methods (grilling, roasting, steaming, frying) to be performed simultaneously or sequentially in one device, reducing the need for multiple separate appliances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooking system is designed with universal functionality to perform multiple cooking operations across different zones and modes, accommodating diverse cooking requirements for complex meals that previously would have required several specialized appliances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables precise and efficient cooking of complex meals with reduced human intervention, adapting to user preferences and behavior, and optimizing cooking time and quality through dynamic heat control and automated recipe execution.

Implementation Method 1

a heating element, such as one or more wavelength controllable filament assemblies

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS11672050B2Configurable cooking systems and methods

Publication Date: 2023.06.06 BRAVA HOME INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for user configurable cooking appliances include receiving system resources having associated budgets, facilitating user allocation the system resources to a plurality of heating elements without exceeding the associate budgets, applying the system resources to the heating elements to heat one or more food substances within a cooking chamber, and selectively regulating delivery of the system resources to the heating elements such that no more than the associated budget of each of the system resources is delivered to the heating elements. Computing components can execute a heating algorithm to cook at least one food substance in the cooking chamber, detect a state change of the food substance, and modify the heating algorithm to reconfigure the system resources supplied to the heating elements in response to the state change and in accordance with user configured allocation and associated budgets for the system resources.