Cooker Image Sensor Polarization to Reduce Lighting Distortion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cookers lack accurate sensing and display of the inner state of the cooking chamber, leading to potential misinterpretation of food cooking status due to image distortion caused by lighting.
Innovation Solution
A cooker equipped with a cooking chamber, heat source, lighting source, image sensor, and display part, where the image sensor scans the cooking chamber and food, and a control part corrects the distorted image by comparing RGB color values to display an accurate representation of the food's cooking state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a lighting source is used to illuminate the cooking chamber, then the visibility of food is improved, but image distortion occurs due to light reflection and glare
Solution Approach 1:
A polarizing filter is introduced as an intermediary component between the lighting source and the image sensor. The filter includes a first polarizing layer aligned with the lighting direction and a second polarizing layer aligned with the imaging direction, creating a mediator that selectively transmits light polarized in the imaging direction while blocking reflected light polarized in other directions. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining illumination while eliminating glare and distortion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes polarization state changes as a form of optical property modification. By applying polarizing filters that change the polarization state of light, the system transforms the optical characteristics of the illuminated food, allowing the image sensor to capture accurate color and texture information without the interference of specular reflections and lighting artifacts.
2Measurement precision
If an image sensor is used to scan the cooking chamber, then the cooking state monitoring is improved, but image distortion from lighting affects accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The polarizing filter serves as an intermediary optical element that preserves the integrity of light reflected from the food surface while blocking distorted light paths. This ensures that the image sensor receives only accurate, non-distorted light information, thereby maintaining measurement precision for cooking state detection without losing critical visual information.
3Measurement precision
If the cooking chamber interior is painted flat gray, then image distortion from lighting is minimized, but the overall image quality may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the flat gray paint treatment specifically to the cooking chamber interior surfaces that are visible to the image sensor, creating a localized non-reflective environment. This local quality modification reduces glare and distortion in the critical imaging area while allowing other parts of the cooking chamber to maintain their functional properties, thus balancing distortion reduction with overall image quality.
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
This solution allows users to accurately recognize the cooking state of food by minimizing image distortion from lighting, enhancing the reliability of the cooking process.
Implementation Method 1
an image sensor scanning the inner portion of the cooking chamber and food
Implementation Method 2
a lighting source illuminating an inner portion of the cooking chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a cooker and a method of controlling the cooker. An image of food scanned by an image sensor is corrected, and thus, can be free from distortion due to a lighting device. Accordingly, a user can more accurately recognize a cooking state of the food.