Cooking appliance and method for controlling the same
Solution Overview
Problem
Users of cooking appliances face challenges in accurately determining the progress of cooking an object, as existing technologies lack effective methods to assess the cooked state of food, leading to potential overcooking or undercooking.
Innovation Solution
A cooking appliance equipped with a concentration sensor to detect changes in a reference substance, such as salinity, and a controller to determine the cooked state based on these changes, transmitting information to an external device for user notification and control, allowing for precise cooking control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cooking appliance cooks an object to be heated by generating heat in accordance with a set heating value for an amount of time which is set by a user, then the cooking process is simple and controllable, but it is difficult for the user to accurately recognize the progress in cooking the object to be heated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by detecting the concentration of a reference substance (such as salt) in the object to be heated and transmitting this information to an external device. The controller continuously monitors the concentration changes and provides real-time feedback about the cooking progress to the user through the external device, enabling the user to accurately recognize the cooking state without complicating the operation interface.
2Measurement precision
If the cooking appliance uses concentration detection to determine cooked state, then accurate cooking progress recognition is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by detecting the concentration of a reference substance (such as salt) that changes proportionally with cooking progress, rather than directly measuring multiple complex parameters of the food. This intermediary measurement method achieves accurate cooking state detection while maintaining relatively simple device structure. The communicator also acts as an intermediary, transmitting essential cooking progress information to the external device without requiring complex user interfaces.
3Loss of information
If real-time concentration monitoring is implemented, then cooking progress information is accurately transmitted, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by detecting the concentration of the reference substance at regular intervals during the cooking process rather than continuously. The controller is configured to detect the concentration and transmit information to the external device at periodic intervals, which reduces energy consumption while still providing real-time cooking progress information to the user. This periodic monitoring approach balances information accuracy with energy efficiency.
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
Enables accurate determination of the cooked state, preventing overcooking or undercooking by transmitting real-time cooking progress information, ensuring food is cooked to a desired standard.
Implementation Method 1
a concentration sensor configured for detecting a concentration of a reference substance within which respective proportional amounts of ingredients change in accordance with a cooking progress
Implementation Method 2
a current sensor configured for detecting a current flowing in the object when a voltage is applied to at least one electrode from among the plurality of electrodes
Implementation Method 3
at least one light source configured for radiating light toward the object; and at least one light detector configured for detecting scattered light generated by the reference substance
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a cooking appliance which includes a concentration sensor for detecting a concentration of a reference substance in which proportional amounts of ingredients change in accordance with progress in cooking an object to be heated; a control unit for determining a cooked state of the object to be heated based on the detected concentration of the reference substance; and a communication unit for transmitting, to an external device which is connected to a home network, information which indicates the cooked state of the object to be heated.