Cooking device and operating method thereof

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking devices lack the ability to accurately display and achieve the desired cooking state of food, as they only provide uniform images of completion, failing to meet users' specific cooking needs.

Innovation Solution

A cooking device equipped with a camera, display unit, and image generation model that captures food images and generates expected images representing various cooking progress stages, allowing users to select desired cooking levels and adjust cooking parameters accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a uniform image of food completion is provided, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision of the cooking result deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage generation systemVSAvoidcooking result
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the cooking process into multiple progress stages (e.g., 30%, 60%, 90% completion) and generates distinct expected images for each stage. This segmentation allows the system to provide detailed cooking guidance without requiring overly complex real-time prediction algorithms, as each stage has its own reference image that guides the cooking process to that specific level of completion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary generation of expected images for various cooking progress stages before the actual cooking process begins. These pre-generated images serve as reference targets that guide the cooking process, eliminating the need for complex real-time analysis during cooking and thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If an image generation model is used to generate multiple expected images, then the manufacturing precision of cooking result is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking resultVSAvoidimage generation system
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses an image generation model to create synthetic expected images that represent different cooking progress stages. Instead of requiring complex real-time capture and analysis systems, the patent generates realistic reference images through AI modeling, which simplifies the hardware requirements while maintaining high precision in achieving the desired cooking result.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The image generation model manipulates numerical values of image attributes (such as color intensity, texture characteristics, and opacity) to generate varied expected images representing different cooking stages. This parameter-based approach allows the system to create multiple precise cooking targets without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same base model can generate different images by adjusting parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If expected images with different cooking degrees are provided, then the adaptability to user needs is improved, but the loss of information increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking preferenceVSAvoidfood identity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality changes to specific regions of the food in expected images while preserving the overall food identity. For example, only the surface characteristics or specific portions of the food are modified to reflect different cooking degrees, while the fundamental structure and recognition features of the food remain consistent. This allows the system to provide adaptable cooking options without losing essential information about what is being cooked.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4462026A1Cooking device and operating method thereof
Publication Date: 2024.11.13 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4462026A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4462026A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4462026A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cooking device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may comprise: a display unit, a cooking chamber, a heating unit configured to heat the cooking chamber, a camera configured to capture a food located inside the cooking chamber and a processor configured to generate a plurality of expected images representing a cooking progress stage of the food from the image of the food captured by the camera using an image generation model that generates a changed image by manipulating a numerical value of the image attribute, display the plurality of expected images of on the display and control the heating unit to cook the food using cooking information matched to the selected expected image according to a command for selecting one of the plurality of expected images.