Connected Oven Feedback Control for Automatic Food Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ovens lack advanced features for precise control over cooking parameters and user experience, such as real-time monitoring and automatic adjustment of cooking conditions, leading to potential cooking errors and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A connected oven system that includes a cooking cavity with sensors, heating and convection elements, a processing system, and a user interface, allowing for real-time monitoring and automatic adjustment of cooking parameters based on food recognition and recipe instructions, enabling dynamic control of thermal profiles and cooking processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional ovens are used, then device complexity is low, but manufacturing precision and control accuracy are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring cooking parameters (temperature, humidity, cooking stage) via sensors and automatically adjusting heating and convection elements to maintain target parameters, thereby achieving precise cooking control through closed-loop feedback mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically identifying food type, determining optimal cooking parameters, and executing cooking processes without manual intervention, with the processing system autonomously controlling heating elements and convection based on sensor data and recipe instructions
2Reliability
If real-time monitoring and automatic adjustment features are added, then cooking reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring cooking parameters (temperature, humidity, cooking stage) via sensors and automatically adjusting heating and convection elements to maintain target parameters, thereby achieving precise cooking control through closed-loop feedback mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The processing system serves multiple functions including food identification, parameter determination, real-time monitoring, and automatic control execution, consolidating diverse functionalities into a single multi-functional unit that manages the entire cooking process autonomously
3Manufacturing precision
If dynamic control of thermal profiles is implemented, then manufacturing precision improves, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing time-varying thermal profiles where heating and convection parameters are dynamically adjusted during cooking based on food stage and target parameters, allowing precise control of temperature evolution rather than maintaining static conditions throughout the cooking process
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic action by cycling heating and convection elements on and off according to predetermined recipes and real-time sensor feedback, achieving precise thermal control through intermittent rather than continuous operation, which reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining cooking precision
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 connected oven system provides precise control over cooking conditions, reduces cooking errors, and enhances user experience through real-time monitoring and automatic adjustments, ensuring optimal food preparation with minimal manual input.
Implementation Method 1
a set of heating elements 300
Implementation Method 2
a set of convection elements 400
Data Source
AI summary
A connected oven, including a set of in-cavity sensors and a processor configured to automatically identify foodstuff within the cooking cavity, based on the sensor measurements; and automatically operate the heating element based on the foodstuff identity.