Cooker Image Sensor Display for Real-Time Cooking Progress Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cookers lack accurate and user-friendly methods to detect and display the inner state of the cooking chamber, making it difficult for users to determine the cooking progress and completion of food.
Innovation Solution
A cooker equipped with an image sensor to scan the food, a data storage system for recipes and food images, a communication module for data transmission, and a display to show the scanned food image, allowing the control unit to determine the cooked degree and control the heat source based on the image analysis, and transmit relevant information to an external terminal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an image sensor is used to scan food in the cooking chamber, then the user can recognize the inner state of the cooking chamber more easily, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an image sensor to create a visual copy (image) of the food inside the cooking chamber and displays it on a screen. This allows users to view the cooking process without opening the door, solving the contradiction by providing easy observation while maintaining system complexity through automated imaging rather than manual inspection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image sensor and display system as an intermediary between the user and the food in the cooking chamber. This mediator captures and transmits visual information, allowing users to observe the cooking process remotely without directly accessing the chamber, thus improving ease of operation while managing device complexity through automated mediation.
2Measurement precision
If image analysis is used to determine cooked degree, then the measurement precision of cooking progress is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual or mechanical cooking monitoring methods with an automated image analysis system. The control unit processes images from the sensor to automatically determine cooking progress, substituting mechanical inspection with optical and computational methods, thereby improving measurement precision while managing complexity through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit automatically analyzes the scanned food images to determine the cooked degree without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously processing visual data and controlling the heating process, improving measurement precision while reducing the need for complex user-operated measurement devices.
3Productivity
If real-time image scanning is implemented, then the productivity of cooking monitoring is improved, but the use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic scanning of the food instead of continuous monitoring. The image sensor scans the food at regular intervals during the cooking process, allowing the system to maintain high monitoring productivity while reducing energy consumption by keeping the sensor and processing unit inactive between scan cycles.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a cooker. An image of the inside of a cooking chamber scanned by an image sensor is displayed to the outside through a display part. Thus, a user may more easily and accurately recognize the inner state of the cooking chamber.