Cooker Image Correction for Vapor-Distorted Food Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cookers lack accurate sensing and display of the inner state of the cooking chamber, leading to distorted food images due to changes during cooking, such as vapor generation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an image sensor to scan the cooking chamber and food, with a control part that corrects distorted images by comparing RGB color values before and after the heat source is operated, ensuring a clear and accurate display of the food's state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an image sensor is used to scan the cooking chamber during heating, then the cooking state can be monitored, but the captured images become distorted due to vapor and temperature changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures a reference image of the cooking chamber before heating begins, when the environment is stable and free from vapor distortion. This preliminary reference image is then used to correct subsequent images taken during the cooking process, compensating for the distortion caused by temperature and vapor changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system compares images captured during cooking against the reference image to detect distortions caused by vapor and temperature changes. Based on this comparison, the system applies correction algorithms to restore the actual cooking state, creating a feedback loop that continuously monitors and corrects image quality.
2Productivity
If the heat source is operated to cook the food, then the cooking function is achieved, but the cooking chamber environment changes causing image distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reference image as an intermediary element that mediates between the distorted cooking images and the actual cooking state. By comparing distorted images against the stable reference image, the system can infer the true cooking state despite the environmental changes caused by heat source operation.
3Measurement precision
If RGB color values are compared before and after heating to correct images, then image distortion can be compensated, but additional processing time is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent focuses on correcting specific parameters (RGB color values) rather than attempting to correct the entire image. By comparing and adjusting only the color parameters before and after heating, the system achieves effective distortion compensation with minimal processing time, rather than performing complex full-image corrections.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
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 vapor generated while cooking the food in a cooking chamber. Accordingly, a user can more accurately recognize a cooking state of the food.