Connected Oven Sensing and Control for Precise Cooking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ovens lack advanced features for precise control over cooking parameters, real-time monitoring, and user engagement, leading to inefficiencies and potential cooking mistakes.
Innovation Solution
A connected oven system with integrated sensors, cameras, and processing capabilities that allows for real-time monitoring and control of cooking parameters, automatic identification of food, dynamic adjustment of cooking elements, and user interface enhancements for improved user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional ovens are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but cooking precision and control capability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The oven system is divided into independent functional modules: heating elements, convection fans, sensors (temperature, humidity, weight), cameras, and processing units. Each module operates semi-independently, allowing precise control of individual cooking parameters while maintaining overall system manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The oven integrates multiple cooking functions (conventional heating, convection, steam injection, weight-based cooking) and monitoring capabilities (temperature sensors, humidity sensors, weight sensors, cameras) into a single device, enabling precise control through diverse operational modes.
2Reliability
If real-time monitoring and control features are added, then cooking error reduction is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors cooking parameters through sensors (temperature, humidity, weight) and cameras, comparing real-time data against target values. The processing unit automatically adjusts heating elements, convection fans, and steam injection based on feedback loops, ensuring reliable cooking outcomes while automating the monitoring process.
Solution Approach 2:
The oven performs self-monitoring and self-adjustment of cooking parameters through integrated sensors and automated control algorithms. The system independently tracks weight changes, temperature variations, and cooking progress, reducing the need for manual intervention and enhancing reliability.
3Measurement precision
If advanced sensors and cameras are integrated, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensing functions (temperature monitoring, humidity detection, weight measurement, visual inspection) are integrated into a single unified system with centralized processing. The processing unit consolidates data from all sensors and cameras, enabling precise measurement of cooking parameters while avoiding redundant components.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing unit serves multiple functions: it processes data from temperature sensors, humidity sensors, weight sensors, and cameras simultaneously, coordinating all monitoring and control operations through a single intelligent hub that reduces overall system complexity.
4Productivity
If automatic cooking adjustment is implemented, then productivity is enhanced, but ease of operation may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The oven automatically monitors weight changes, temperature variations, and cooking progress, then self-adjusts heating power, convection fan speed, and steam injection without user intervention. This autonomous operation enhances cooking efficiency and productivity while maintaining simple user interaction through pre-programmed cooking modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-sets multiple cooking modes with optimized parameters for different food types. Users simply select the desired mode, and the oven automatically executes the pre-planned cooking sequence with automatic adjustments, combining high productivity with 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
Enables precise control over cooking processes, reduces cooking errors, and enhances user interaction through real-time monitoring and automatic adjustments, improving cooking outcomes and user satisfaction.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element 300... The heating element 300 can be individually controlled, controlled as a subset, controlled as a population, or otherwise controlled by the processor
Implementation Method 2
a convection element 400... The convection element 400 can be individually controlled, controlled as a subset, controlled as a population, or otherwise controlled by the processor
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.