Cooking device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooking appliance devices, such as hobs, face challenges in minimizing noise and preventing overheating of temperature sensors, which can lead to measurement inaccuracies and device malfunction.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a static, thermally active unit with Peltier elements and latent heat storage elements, along with a heat absorption unit, to effectively manage temperature and prevent overheating, while using a housing unit made predominantly of metal for electromagnetic interference protection and high thermal conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a cooling unit is used to prevent overheating of the temperature sensor, then overheating is avoided, but noise is generated and the device becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful cooling function from the sensor unit by placing the cooling unit in the housing separate from the temperature sensor. The cooling unit cools the housing rather than directly cooling the sensor, thereby eliminating noise generation while still preventing sensor overheating through thermal conduction through the housing material.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing acts as an intermediary thermal conductor between the cooling unit and the temperature sensor. Instead of directly cooling the sensor (which generates noise), the system cools the housing which then passively conducts heat away from the sensor, eliminating the noise-generating active cooling mechanism while maintaining thermal management.
2Temperature
If a cooling unit is used to prevent overheating of the temperature sensor, then overheating is avoided, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling function with the housing structure itself. The housing serves dual purposes: as the structural enclosure and as the thermal management component. The cooling unit is integrated into the housing design, eliminating the need for separate cooling mechanisms for the sensor and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: structural enclosure, electromagnetic shielding, and thermal management. By making the housing thermally conductive and integrating the cooling unit into it, the system achieves sensor cooling without requiring additional dedicated cooling components, thereby reducing device complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the housing unit is made of metal for electromagnetic interference protection, then EMI protection is improved, but thermal management becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful property of metal (heat conduction leading to sensor overheating) into a beneficial property. The metal housing's high thermal conductivity is utilized to actively manage heat by conducting it away from the sensor to dedicated heat sinks, transforming what could be a thermal management problem into an effective heat dissipation solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed with differentiated thermal properties in different regions. Areas near the temperature sensor have enhanced thermal conduction pathways to conduct heat away, while other areas may have insulating properties. This local variation in thermal quality allows the metal housing to provide both EMI protection and effective thermal management.
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 reduces noise, prevents overheating, and enhances measurement precision by maintaining a constant temperature, thus improving the reliability and accuracy of cooking parameter determination in cooking appliances.
Implementation Method 1
The static, thermally active unit has at least one static, thermally active element designed as a Peltier element
Implementation Method 2
The static, thermally active unit additionally has at least one static, thermally active element designed as a latent heat storage element
Implementation Method 3
the housing unit is formed at least essentially, in particular at least 50%, advantageously at least 80%, preferably at least 95%, of at least one metal, in particular at least aluminum, in order to ensure that the sensor unit is not susceptible to interference due to the influence of electromagnetic radiation
Data Source
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AI summary
The cooking appliance device (12) has a sensor unit (40) to determine a cooking parameter, particularly cooking temperature parameter and an overheating prevention unit (60) to prevent over heating of the sensor unit. The overheating prevention unit has a static thermally active unit (62). The static thermally active unit has two different types of static thermally active elements (64) formed as Peltier elements or latent heat storage elements. The overheating prevention unit has a heat receiving unit (70) thermally connected with the sensor unit over the static thermally active unit. An independent claim is included for a method for operating a cooking appliance device.