Cooking Appliance Self-Testing via Temperature Profile Diagnostics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern cooking appliances face challenges in identifying actuator malfunctions due to the complexity and potential failure of sensors used for monitoring, especially in low-density population areas where service personnel may lack knowledge, leading to inefficient maintenance and unnecessary trips.
Innovation Solution
A self-testing method utilizing existing temperature sensors to compare detected temperatures with reference values, allowing the electronic control unit to determine actuator functionality without additional sensors, thereby isolating and identifying defective components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional sensors are used to monitor actuator functions, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing temperature sensors perform multiple functions: their original temperature monitoring function plus a new function of monitoring actuator operation through temperature profiles. The control unit analyzes temperature changes over time during actuator operation to detect malfunctions, allowing one sensor type to serve dual purposes without adding new sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing temperature sensors and control unit to monitor and diagnose actuator malfunctions, eliminating the need for external monitoring sensors. The control unit processes temperature data to automatically detect actuator failures, making the system self-diagnostic without additional monitoring components.
2Ease of operation
If customer service personnel are dispatched for appliance defects, then service quality is improved, but loss of time increases due to unnecessary trips
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary self-diagnostics by automatically monitoring actuator temperature profiles and detecting malfunctions before customer service is needed. The control unit continuously compares actual temperature profiles with expected profiles and identifies actuator failures in advance, allowing customers to be informed of specific defects before service personnel arrive, preventing unnecessary trips.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the actuator and the customer service system. It monitors actuator performance, detects malfunctions, and communicates specific defect information, serving as an automated diagnostic intermediary that eliminates the need for manual inspection during service visits.
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 method enables efficient maintenance by automatically checking actuators, reducing the need for additional sensors and improving customer service efficiency by quickly identifying and ruling out malfunctions, thus preventing false test results and ensuring proper spare part delivery.
Implementation Method 1
by means of the temperature sensors of the cooking appliance, the functionality of the actuators of the cooking appliance can be checked by comparing the detected temperatures and temperature profiles with the reference temperature values and reference temperature profiles
Data Source
AI summary
A method for self-testing and checking certain functions of a cooking appliance in the form of a convection oven, a steamer, or a combination of the two, namely, a convection steamer, which comprises a cooking chamber or compartment, which can be closed by a cooking compartment door, a plurality of actuators such as pumps, at least one heating device, at least one steam injection/generating device, at least one flow-generating device such as a blower, and flaps and/or valves as well as temperature sensors and an appliance control unit. The temperature sensors of the cooking appliance and the functionality of the actuators of the cooking appliance can be checked in that the detected temperatures and temperature profiles are compared with the reference temperature values or reference temperature profiles which are to be expected during operation of the actuator in question, and which are stored in the electronic appliance control unit.