Device for cooking by heating and control method for same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking devices, such as microwave ovens, face usability issues when users need to manually set heating control contents for specific food items, as previous record searches may not clearly indicate the appropriate settings, leading to confusion and burdensome operations.
Innovation Solution
A device with an image capturing unit that stores images of food along with associated heating control contents as a correspondence table, allowing users to select heating settings by image, thereby simplifying the selection process and improving usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If heating control contents are displayed as numerical information (wattage, time, temperature), then the information is precise and complete, but it becomes difficult for users to understand and select the appropriate settings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the copying principle by displaying images of food items that were previously heated along with their heating control contents. Instead of showing only numerical data (wattage, time, temperature), the system creates visual copies of the actual food items being heated, allowing users to easily identify and select appropriate settings by matching the image with their current food item. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining precise numerical information while adding intuitive visual representation for easier user selection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple heating control contents are stored for different food items, then the device supports various cooking needs, but the record search becomes confusing when users need to manually set heating parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the visual identification principle (analogous to color changes) by using images to represent different food items and their corresponding heating control contents. Each stored heating record is associated with an image of the food item, allowing users to quickly distinguish between different heating settings through visual differentiation rather than interpreting numerical parameters. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining diverse heating control contents while simplifying the selection process through intuitive visual cues.
3Reliability
If the device stores detailed heating control contents for record search, then accurate reproduction of previous heating is possible, but the display becomes cluttered and hard to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by separating the visual identification function from the detailed parameter display. The system extracts the essential visual element (food item image) for quick identification and selection, while the detailed numerical heating control contents (wattage, time, temperature) are stored in the background and only displayed when needed or in a simplified format. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining accurate heating control content storage while simplifying the display interface through selective presentation of information.
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 eliminates the need for burdensome setting operations by allowing users to select heating control contents through images, ensuring accurate and efficient selection of previous settings, thus enhancing the device's usability.
Implementation Method 1
an image capturing unit for capturing the inside of the cooking cavity
Implementation Method 2
A microwave oven, which is a typical device for cooking by heating, includes various heating sources such as an oven, a grill, and a steamer, in addition to heating by microwaves
Implementation Method 3
heating by microwaves
Data Source
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AI summary
A device for cooking by heating comprises: a heating unit for heating food that is accommodated in a cooking cavity, a setting unit (25) for setting a heating control content of the heating unit, a display unit (24) for displaying the heating control content set by setting unit (25), and a display controller (27) for controlling display on the display unit (24). Moreover, the device for cooking by heating comprises: an image capturing unit (21) for capturing the inside of the cooking cavity, and a storage unit (26) for storing an image captured by image capturing unit (21) and the heating control content set by setting unit (25) in a correspondence table in association with each other. The display controller (27) controls display so as to display images stored in the storage unit in a list on the display unit (24), and the setting unit (25) sets, based on selection of an image from the list, the associated heating control content in the correspondence table in the storage unit (26).