Cooking Appliance Shelf-Level Detection for Adaptive Program Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking appliances often result in suboptimal operation and poor preparation results due to incorrect shelf levels and food support types, leading to user dissatisfaction and unsatisfactory cooking outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A method and cooking appliance that automatically adjust and adapt cooking programs based on detected shelf levels and food support types, allowing for intelligent changes in parameters such as heating time, power distribution, and heating technology to ensure optimal cooking results, while informing the user and allowing for corrections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the user manually sets the shelf level and cooking program, then the cooking appliance can operate, but incorrect settings lead to suboptimal preparation results
Solution Approach 1:
The cooking appliance automatically detects the shelf level using a detection device and identifies the food support type using radar beams, then autonomously selects or adjusts the cooking program without requiring manual user input. This self-service approach eliminates incorrect settings while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the actual shelf level and food support type, compares them with the required parameters for the selected cooking program, and automatically adjusts the program parameters or notifies the user of mismatches. This feedback loop ensures optimal preparation results even when initial settings are incorrect.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cooking appliance provides many preparation programs and shelf level options, then versatility is improved, but the risk of incorrect operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
Among the many available preparation programs and shelf level options, the system automatically determines the correct combination by detecting the actual shelf level and food support type, then selects the appropriate program without requiring the user to navigate through multiple options or understand complex settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection device and radar system perform preliminary detection of the shelf level and food support type before the cooking process begins. This preliminary action allows the system to pre-select or adjust the cooking program parameters to match the actual configuration, preventing incorrect operation before it occurs.
3Reliability
If the appliance automatically detects and adjusts cooking parameters, then preparation result quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with automated detection and control systems. Radar beams and optical sensors detect shelf levels and food support types, while a control unit automatically adjusts cooking parameters, eliminating the need for manual mechanical adjustments and reducing overall system complexity despite adding electronic components.
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 approach significantly reduces the risk of unsatisfactory preparation results by adapting cooking programs to actual conditions, ensuring better cooking outcomes even with incorrect initial settings, and providing user assistance and energy-efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
DE 100 63 694 C2 discloses a method for distinguishing the shape of shelves in an oven and an oven of this type. The shelf for the food to be cooked can be placed in the cooking chamber at different heights and the height can be detected by methods in which radar beams are directed onto the shelf and reflected by the shelf.
Implementation Method 2
A cooking appliance has a cooking space in which at least one food support can be positioned in at least two different insertion levels. A specific and therefore preferred shelf level for the food support is specified for at least one preparation program.
Implementation Method 3
at least one parameter value of the preparation program is changed. In this regard, for example, the preparation time and/or the distribution of the heating power to heating elements and/or the type of heating and/or the heating time can be changed.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a cooking appliance (1) which has a cooking space (3) into which a food support (5) can be introduced. Furthermore, the invention also relates to cooking appliances with such cooking chambers.