Cooking systems with improved heating consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing countertop cooking systems fail to adjust heating times accurately when used consecutively, leading to overcooking due to incorrect temperature assumptions, requiring user intervention to prevent burning.
Innovation Solution
A cooking system with a control system that adjusts heating times based on real-time temperature measurements and dynamic temperature changes, using a controller to select appropriate heating times from stored options based on current compartment temperature and user inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If constant heating time is used based on room temperature assumption, then simple control system is maintained, but overcooking occurs when system is used consecutively
Solution Approach 1:
The control system incorporates temperature sensors that continuously monitor the cooking compartment temperature and feed this information back to the controller. The controller dynamically adjusts the heating time based on the detected temperature, ensuring consistent cooking results even when the system is used consecutively without cooling down to room temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating time is transformed from a static, pre-determined value to a dynamic parameter that automatically adjusts based on real-time temperature measurements. The controller selects from multiple stored heating time values corresponding to different temperature ranges, enabling the system to adapt to varying initial temperatures while maintaining ease of use.
2Reliability
If heating time is extended to account for higher initial temperatures, then undercooking is prevented, but overcooking occurs when system starts from room temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The system stores multiple heating time values corresponding to different temperature ranges and selects the appropriate value based on the detected initial temperature. This parameter change approach allows the system to optimize heating time for each specific thermal condition, preventing both undercooking and overcooking while maintaining automatic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system performs preliminary temperature measurement before initiating the heating cycle and uses this information to pre-select the appropriate heating time from stored values. This preliminary action ensures the correct heating duration is applied from the start, eliminating the need for manual adjustment and maintaining ease of use.
3Reliability
If manual intervention is required to halt cooking cycle, then user control is maintained, but ease of use is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs self-service by automatically monitoring temperature throughout the cooking cycle and dynamically adjusting the heating duration based on real-time conditions. The system halts heating automatically when the food reaches the desired doneness, eliminating the need for manual intervention and maintaining ease of use while ensuring consistent results.
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
Prevents overcooking by dynamically adjusting heating times, ensuring consistent cooking results without user intervention.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one heating element can be configured to heat the cooking compartment in response to receipt of electrical power from a power supply
Implementation Method 2
The at least one temperature sensor can be configured to measure the temperature within the cooking compartment and to output temperature signals containing data representing the temperature measurement
Data Source
AI summary
Cooking systems with improved heating consistency and corresponding methods are provided. A cooking system includes a cooking compartment for receiving food, and a control system for controlling food cooking therein. The control system stores multiple heating times corresponding to different user inputs (e.g., a food shade, a food type, a cooking mode, etc.) The control system can determine temperatures of the cooking compartment from the past to present, as well as a temperature change between the past and present. When the cooking system is activated, the control system receives the user inputs and selects a stored heating time based upon these user inputs and the present cooking compartment temperature. At certain present temperatures, the cooking system also selects the stored heating time based upon the temperature change. This allows the controller to adjust the heating time based upon the cooking compartment temperature, and optionally temperature change, to avoid overcooking food.