Connected Oven Sensor Fusion for Automatic Cooking Control
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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 user preferences, and enabling remote control and data analysis for improved cooking outcomes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional ovens are used, then device complexity is low, but manufacturing precision and cooking control are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The oven system is segmented into independent functional modules: heating elements, convection fans, sensors (temperature, humidity, weight), cameras, and processing units. Each module operates independently but communicates through the central processor, enabling precise control of cooking parameters while maintaining modular simplicity for manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The oven integrates multiple cooking functions (convection, radiation, steam injection) and monitoring capabilities (visual, thermal, weight-based) into a single system. The processor coordinates these diverse functions to achieve precise cooking control, demonstrating multi-functionality that improves precision without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Reliability
If real-time monitoring and automatic adjustment features are added, then cooking reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors cooking parameters through sensors and cameras, compares actual conditions with target parameters stored in memory, and automatically adjusts heating power, convection speed, and steam injection accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures cooking reliability while the processor manages complexity through algorithmic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The oven performs self-monitoring and self-adjustment of cooking parameters without requiring constant user intervention. The processor automatically detects cooking stage changes through image analysis and sensor data, then autonomously modifies heating and convection settings to maintain optimal cooking conditions, improving reliability while reducing operational complexity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and cameras are integrated, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensors (temperature, humidity, weight) and cameras are merged into a coordinated sensing system managed by a single processor. The processor integrates data from all sensors to comprehensively determine cooking state, achieving high measurement precision through data fusion while managing complexity through centralized processing architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor acts as an intermediary that receives raw data from multiple sensors and cameras, processes this information through algorithms stored in memory, and converts it into actionable cooking parameter adjustments. This intermediary role enables high measurement precision while the processor manages the complexity of coordinating multiple sensing elements.
4Productivity
If automatic cooking adjustment is implemented, then productivity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Target cooking parameters and procedures are pre-stored in the system memory for different food types and cooking methods. The processor retrieves these predetermined parameters and automatically applies them during cooking, enabling high productivity through automated execution while reducing the complexity of real-time decision-making algorithms.
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, leading to better food quality and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element arranged within the cooking cavity
Implementation Method 2
a convection element arranged within the cooking cavity
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.