Cooking Hob with Movable Overhead Sensor for Temperature Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking hobs lack a compact and integrated monitoring system that can efficiently detect temperature, cookware, and food status without increasing complexity, often requiring separate devices and limited integration with the hob.
Innovation Solution
A compact monitoring device is mechanically and electrically integrated with the cooking hob, featuring a sensor system that includes cameras and infrared sensors, supported by a pivot arm or column, allowing for top-side monitoring of cooking zones, cookware, and food, with the ability to detect temperature, size, color changes, and movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a monitoring device is arranged separately above the cooking hob (e.g., attached to the exhaust hood), then the monitoring function is provided, but the device complexity increases and integration with the hob is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring device is merged with the cooking hob to form a single integrated unit. The sensor system is mechanically and electrically connected to the control unit of the cooking hob, eliminating the need for separate monitoring devices and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining monitoring functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit of the cooking hob is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls the cooking zones and simultaneously processes data from the sensor system for monitoring cookware, food, and cooking progress. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated separate monitoring hardware.
2Measurement precision
If the sensor system is directed from above to the cooking zone, then temperature and cooking status can be detected, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is positioned above the cooking hob and directed downward toward the cooking zones, utilizing the vertical dimension for monitoring. This top-down approach allows temperature and cooking status detection without requiring complex lateral or embedded sensor arrangements within the hob structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system acts as an intermediary between the cooking zones and the control unit. It captures thermal and visual information from above and transmits it to the control unit for processing, simplifying the structural integration compared to embedding sensors directly within the heating elements or cookware.
3Reliability
If the monitoring device provides comprehensive monitoring (temperature, cookware, food status), then cooking safety and efficiency are enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed as a universal processor that handles both cooking zone control and comprehensive monitoring tasks. It receives and processes data from the sensor system for multiple parameters (temperature, cookware presence, food status) simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate dedicated control circuits for each monitoring function.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple monitoring functions (temperature sensing, cookware detection, food status monitoring) are merged into a single integrated sensor system that communicates with the central control unit. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capabilities.
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
Enhances cooking safety and efficiency by providing real-time monitoring and control, allowing for automatic or semi-automatic cooking processes and user interface recognition, while maintaining low complexity and versatility across different types of cooking hobs.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor system includes at least one camera, at least one infrared sensor and/or at least one infrared sensor array
Data Source
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cooking hob (10) comprising at least one monitoring device (16). The cooking hob (10) ineludes at least one cooking zone (12; 28). The monitoring device (16) is connected to the cooking hob (10) via at least- one wired and/or wireless electrical signal connection. The monitoring device (16) includes at least one sensor system (22). The monitoring device (16) includes at least one elongated carrier (18; 24) for supporting the sensor system (22). The carrier (18; 24) is moveable between a non-operating state and an operating state of the monitoring device (16). The sensor system (22) is directed from above to at least one cooking zone (12; 28) in the operating state of the monitoring device (16). The sensor system (22) is provided for detecting the temperature upon the cooking zones (12; 28).