Cooking device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking devices face challenges in accurately and reproducibly detecting cooking parameters, such as temperature, which is crucial for automatic cooking functions, due to design complexities and interference from electromagnetic fields and thermal radiation.

Innovation Solution

A cooking device with a sensor unit thermally connected to a thermal compensation device, featuring a magnetic shielding device and optical shielding, allows for contactless temperature detection and compensation of temporal and local temperature peaks, ensuring accurate and reliable operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a thermal sensor is placed below the hob plate to detect temperature, then temperature detection is enabled, but the sensor is exposed to thermal radiation and electromagnetic interference which reduces measurement accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature detection accuracyVSAvoidthermal radiation and electromagnetic interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a magnetic shielding device as an intermediary between the induction heating device and the thermal sensor. This shielding device blocks electromagnetic interference from reaching the sensor, allowing accurate temperature detection without exposing the sensor to harmful electromagnetic fields. The mediator protects the sensor while maintaining the functional relationship between the heating device and sensor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the sensor is positioned close to the heating area for accurate detection, then measurement sensitivity improves, but the sensor experiences greater thermal peaks and temperature fluctuations reducing reproducibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection sensitivityVSAvoidmeasurement reproducibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the thermal sensor from the direct heating zone by positioning it below the hob plate rather than within or above the cooking area. This extraction removes the sensor from exposure to extreme thermal peaks and temperature fluctuations that would occur if placed close to the heating element, thereby improving measurement reproducibility while maintaining detection capability through the hob plate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The hob plate serves as a thermal intermediary, allowing the sensor positioned below it to detect temperature changes from the cooking area without being directly exposed to extreme heat. The plate transmits thermal information to the sensor while protecting it from damaging thermal peaks, resolving the contradiction between detection sensitivity and measurement reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Extent of automation

If automatic cooking functions are implemented, then cooking convenience and reproducibility improve, but accurate detection of cooking parameters becomes a prerequisite which increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic cooking functionVSAvoidsensor and control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The thermal sensor automatically detects temperature changes in the cooking area and provides this information to the control device, enabling automatic cooking functions without requiring complex manual intervention. The sensor system serves itself by continuously monitoring and reporting temperature data, which the control device uses to automatically adjust heating parameters, thereby implementing automation with manageable complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

The solution enhances the reproducibility and accuracy of temperature detection, reducing electromagnetic interference and thermal radiation effects, enabling effective automatic cooking functions without obstructing user movement or requiring special cookware.

Implementation Method 1

The sensor unit is at least partially arranged in a thermally conductive manner on the thermal equalization device and/or connected to the thermal equalization device in a thermally conductive manner. The thermal compensation device enables the compensation of temporal and local temperature peaks

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

A prerequisite for automatic operation of a cooking device is sometimes an accurate detection of various parameters that are characteristic of the cooking process, such. B. the temperature of the cookware or cooking container

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation detection: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP2775788B1Cooking device
Publication Date: 2017.06.21 MIELE & CO KG
  • EP2775788B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2775788B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2775788B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The device (1) has a heating device (2) for heating a cooking region (31). A sensor device (3) detects a physical variable e.g. cooking vessel temperature, characterizing a condition of the cooking region. The sensor device includes a sensor unit (13), which is partially thermally conductively arranged at a thermal compensation device (9). The thermal compensation device includes a coupling device, which partially thermally conductively connects the sensor unit with the thermal compensation device. The thermal compensation device is partially provided with a reflective coating.