Heating Cooker Barcode Verification via Appearance Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional microwave ovens that use cameras to read barcodes for heating control can misread information due to factors like food position, label angle, and printing quality, leading to incorrect heating settings.

Innovation Solution

A heating cooker with a camera that captures images of the food, an analysis unit to determine appearance characteristics, and a control system that checks if the read heating control information falls within a registered acceptable range, preventing incorrect heating by ensuring accurate recognition and operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a camera is used to read barcodes for heating control, then the operation burden on users is reduced, but the reliability of heating control information decreases due to misreading from various factors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation burdenVSAvoidheating control information accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs feedback validation by comparing the barcode recognition result against appearance characteristics. The control unit determines whether to execute heating control based on this comparison, creating a feedback loop that prevents misreading errors from causing incorrect heating operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of appearance characteristics before executing heating control. By analyzing the food's appearance features first and using them to validate the barcode reading, the system prepares a verification mechanism in advance that prevents incorrect heating based on misread barcodes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If barcode reading is performed without verification, then the heating process is simplified and faster, but the precision of heating control decreases due to potential misreading

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating process efficiencyVSAvoidbarcode reading accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit implements a feedback mechanism that compares barcode recognition results with appearance characteristic analysis. This feedback validation ensures measurement precision without significantly impacting productivity, as the verification process is integrated into the automated flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces reliance on purely mechanical/optical barcode reading with an intelligent verification system that uses appearance characteristic analysis. This substitution of a simple reading mechanism with a more sophisticated verification system maintains speed while improving accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Extent of automation

If heating control is executed based on read barcode information, then automation is improved, but the risk of harmful effects increases when misreading occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating control automationVSAvoidmisheating risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit uses feedback from appearance characteristic analysis to validate barcode reading results before executing heating control. This feedback mechanism reduces misheating risk while maintaining automation by automatically comparing and determining whether to proceed with heating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary anti-action by analyzing appearance characteristics before executing heating control based on barcode reading. This pre-verification step counteracts the potential harmful effect of misreading by establishing a check that prevents incorrect heating operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS11528785B2Heating cooker, method of controlling heating cooker, and heating cooking system

Publication Date: 2022.12.13 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A heating cooker according to the present disclosure includes a heating chamber, a heating unit, a capturing unit, a control unit, an appearance characteristic analysis unit that analyzes an appearance characteristic of a heated material, an information reading unit that reads heating control information, an information storage unit in which an acceptable range of the heating control information is registered, and an information determination unit that determines whether the heating control information read by the information reading unit is within the acceptable range. When the heating control information read by the information reading unit is within the acceptable range, the control unit executes heating control based on the heating control information read by the information reading unit. When the heating control information read by the information reading unit is not within the acceptable range, the control unit does not execute heating control based on the heating control information read by the information reading unit.