Step-by-Step Cooking Guidance With Preparation Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cookers on the market lack advanced features to simplify the cooking process, requiring users to continuously monitor and manage cooking operations such as adding ingredients and adjusting heat, which can be tedious and demanding.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus comprising a presenter to guide users through step-by-step cooking preparations, a detector to verify completion of each step, and a performer to execute the cooking operations, allowing for text, audio, or video prompts for simplified cooking processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If current cookers with simple cooking functions are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates because users still need to continuously monitor and manage cooking operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooking apparatus automatically monitors cooking operations, detects when preparations are completed, and manages the cooking process without requiring continuous user attention. The system serves itself by tracking the cooking state and prompting users only when specific actions are needed, rather than requiring users to continuously monitor the entire process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus provides feedback to users through a presentation unit that displays cooking status and prompts users when specific preparations are completed. The detection unit monitors cooking progress and provides real-time feedback about which ingredients have been added and what operations are next, enabling users to respond appropriately without continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If users continuously monitor cooking operations to ensure proper timing of ingredient addition and heat adjustment, then the reliability of cooking results is improved, but the loss of time increases due to the demanding monitoring requirement

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidloss of time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus performs preliminary detection of cooking status and preparation completion before critical cooking moments occur. By monitoring ingredient addition and cooking progress in advance, the system can prompt users at the optimal time to add ingredients or adjust settings, ensuring reliable cooking results without requiring users to constantly watch the entire process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If multiple cooking functions are added to simplify the cooking process for users, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection unit serves multiple functions by monitoring various aspects of the cooking process including ingredient addition detection, cooking status tracking, and preparation completion verification. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate devices into a single system, improving ease of operation while managing device complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2437642B1Apparatus for cooking and method of helping a user to cook
Publication Date: 2014.04.02 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP2437642B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2437642B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention provides an apparatus for cooking and a method of helping a user to cook by prompting the user, step by step, to carry out the corresponding preparation at the right time. The apparatus comprises a presenter, configured to present information with respect to a first preparation for a first operation; a detector, configured to detect whether said first preparation has been carried out; and a performer, configured to perform said first operation. By applying the apparatus and method of the present invention, the process of cooking is greatly simplified to users. Users no longer need to monitor the cooking process. All they need to do is carry out the corresponding preparations as prompted or guided.