Cooking apparatus, control method therefor and double plate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ovens face limitations in heating capacity, energy efficiency, and food quality due to convective heating methods, which result in slow cooking, moisture loss, and uneven heating, along with sanitation issues and microwave oven safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

A cooking apparatus that uses infrared radiation from microwave irradiation, featuring a laminated plate structure with a microwave absorbent layer and a surface protective layer, a microwave generating unit with a waveguide and stirrer, and a controller for adjusting microwave intensity based on temperature sensors, to achieve even and efficient high-temperature cooking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If convection heating is used to cook food, then the cooking chamber can be heated, but the cooking speed is slow and energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking speedVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an absorbent layer as an intermediary substance that absorbs microwaves and converts them to infrared radiation. This mediator enables efficient heat transfer from the microwave source to the food surface, achieving rapid cooking without directly heating the entire cooking chamber air, thus resolving the contradiction between cooking speed and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the conventional convection heating mechanism (mechanical air circulation) with infrared radiation heating. By using the absorbent layer to convert microwaves into infrared rays that directly heat the food surface, the system eliminates the need for slow air-based convection, thereby increasing cooking speed while reducing energy waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Temperature

If hot air convection is used for cooking, then food can be heated, but moisture is lost and food quality degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating temperatureVSAvoidmoisture loss
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The absorbent layer acts as a mediator that generates infrared radiation to heat the food surface directly. This approach allows high-temperature cooking without the need for hot air convection, thereby maintaining food moisture and preventing the degradation that occurs with traditional convection methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the phase transition properties of the absorbent layer material, which absorbs microwave energy and transitions to emit infrared radiation. This phase transition mechanism enables direct surface heating of food at high temperatures without moisture loss, as the heating occurs through radiation rather than hot air contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

3Productivity

If microwave irradiation is used directly, then heating is rapid, but uneven heating occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating speedVSAvoidheating uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The absorbent layer serves as a mediator that receives microwave energy and redistributes it as infrared radiation across the food surface. This intermediary approach converts the penetrating but uneven microwave heating into surface-level infrared heating that can be more uniformly distributed, maintaining rapid heating while improving uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the heating dimension from volumetric microwave penetration to surface-level infrared radiation. By using the absorbent layer to convert microwaves into infrared rays that heat the food surface uniformly, the system achieves both rapid heating and improved heating uniformity across the food surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Productivity

If conventional oven heating is used, then food can be cooked, but cleaning and sanitation become problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking functionVSAvoidsanitation issues
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces hot air convection with infrared radiation heating. Since infrared heating occurs through radiation rather than hot air circulation, there is no blowing fan to disturb food or create sanitation problems. The cooking function is maintained while eliminating the harmful factors associated with conventional oven operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 enables rapid, even cooking at high temperatures, preserving moisture and improving food quality, while reducing energy consumption and eliminating microwave leakage, thus enhancing safety and ease of cleaning.

Implementation Method 1

an absorbent layer coated on the inner wall... emitting microwaves to a passage... absorbing the emitted microwaves and emitting infrared rays

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMicrowave absorption and infrared emission: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

capable of evenly heating food at a high temperature using infrared rays emitted by irradiating microwaves

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation heating: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 3

a surface protective layer formed of a material allowing the microwaves to be transmitted therethrough

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMicrowave transmission: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 4

reflecting the infrared rays

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 5

a microwave oscillator acceleratedly moving electrons using an electric field... a waveguide guiding microwaves generated by the accelerated motion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMicrowave generation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 6

a microwave oscillator acceleratedly moving electrons using an electric field

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectron acceleration: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 7

a stirrer reflecting the microwaves guided to the passage to the surrounding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMicrowave reflection and distribution: Reflection

Implementation Method 8

a plurality of temperature sensors sensing a temperature from a plurality of positions previously installed in the inner wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature sensing: Thermocouple

Data Source

PatentEP3343111B1Cooking apparatus, control method therefor and double plate
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3343111B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3343111B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3343111B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A cooking apparatus is disclosed. The cooking apparatus according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: an inner wall for forming a cooking chamber; an outer wall for encompassing the inner wall; a microwave generating part for emitting a microwave at a passage, which is a space surrounded by the inner wall and the outer wall; and an absorbing layer absorbing the microwave to be propagated along the passage, so as to emit an infrared ray at the cooking chamber.