Cooking apparatus and control method therefor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking apparatuses with integrated cameras face issues in providing reliable food state information due to lens contamination from steam or foreign substances, leading to unreliable image-based data.
Innovation Solution
A cooking apparatus that corrects food state information using a processor to determine lens contamination levels, adjusts image data accordingly, and utilizes additional sensors or stored patterns to ensure accurate cooking control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a cooking apparatus is designed to perform multiple cooking functions (grilling, frying, steaming, etc.), then the versatility and adaptability of the device is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooking apparatus integrates multiple cooking functions (grilling, frying, steaming, baking, roasting) into a single device by combining a heating unit, a steam generator, and a cooking chamber that can accommodate different cooking modes through control unit programming, allowing one device to replace multiple specialized appliances
Solution Approach 2:
The steam generator is positioned within or adjacent to the cooking chamber, and the heating unit is integrated into the chamber structure. The spray nozzle system is embedded in the chamber walls, creating a compact nested arrangement where components are space-efficiently organized without increasing overall device footprint
2Adaptability or versatility
If a cooking apparatus integrates multiple cooking functions, then the adaptability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to multiple controls and settings
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit automatically manages the coordination between the heating unit, steam generator, and spray nozzle based on pre-programmed cooking modes. Users simply select the desired cooking function, and the system autonomously regulates temperature, steam injection timing, and spray cycles, eliminating the need for manual adjustment of multiple parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit contains pre-programmed cooking modes that have been optimized in advance for different cooking functions. These preset modes automatically configure the appropriate temperature profiles, steam generation timing, and spray nozzle operation sequences, allowing users to execute complex cooking processes with a single button press without needing to understand or adjust individual parameters
3Productivity
If the cooking chamber is heated to high temperatures for efficient cooking, then the productivity is improved, but the harmful factors (burning food, energy loss) increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spray nozzle operates in periodic cycles, alternating between spraying water mist into the cooking chamber and remaining inactive. This periodic spraying creates temporary cooling effects that prevent food burning during high-temperature cooking, while allowing the heating unit to maintain high temperatures for efficient cooking during non-spray intervals
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors cooking progress and adjusts the operation of the heating unit, steam generator, and spray nozzle based on detected conditions. This feedback mechanism prevents overheating by reducing heating power or increasing spray frequency when food surface temperature becomes excessive, thereby preventing burning and optimizing energy utilization
4Object-generated harmful factors
If water is sprayed continuously to prevent food burning, then the harmful factors are reduced, but the loss of substance (water consumption) increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spray nozzle operates in periodic cycles rather than continuously, spraying water mist into the cooking chamber at intervals during the cooking process. This periodic spraying is sufficient to prevent food burning by periodically reducing surface temperature, while minimizing water consumption by keeping the nozzle inactive during non-spray intervals when continuous spraying would be wasteful
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
Ensures reliable food cooking by compensating for lens contamination, maintaining accurate state information through sensor data or pattern recognition, thereby improving cooking precision.
Implementation Method 1
a steam generator (320) for generating steam
Implementation Method 2
a spraying unit (340) for spraying water or seasoning on the cooking pan or the surface of food to be cooked
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A cooking apparatus includes a cooking chamber configured to receive food, a camera to photograph inside the cooking chamber, the camera having a lens, a memory configured to store a plurality of cooking control information used to cook the food, and a processor configured to control the camera to photograph the food inside the cooking chamber, wherein the processor is configured to extract state information of the food from the photographed image, and determine a contamination degree of the photographed image according to contamination of the lens of the camera, correct the state information of the food based on the determined contamination degree, acquire first cooking control information corresponding to the corrected state information; and, control the cooking chamber to cook the food according to the acquired cooking control information by acquiring cooking control information.