Cooktop Temperature Sensing With Optical Shielding and Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking devices face challenges in accurately and reproducibly detecting the temperature of cookware and food without contact, often due to interference from stray radiation and heat transfer, which affects the reliability of automatic cooking functions.
Innovation Solution
A cooking device with a sensor unit surrounded by an optical shielding device and an insulation device, where the optical shielding device is partially surrounded by the insulation device to shield electromagnetic radiation and prevent heat transfer, enhancing the reliability of temperature detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a non-contact temperature sensor is used below the hob plate, then temperature detection is enabled without contact, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to scattered radiation and heat transfer interference
Solution Approach 1:
An optical shielding device is introduced as an intermediary component between the sensor unit and the external environment. This shielding device selectively blocks scattered radiation and thermal interference from reaching the sensor, while allowing the sensor to detect temperature through the hob plate. The shielding device acts as a mediator that filters harmful radiation pathways without interfering with the intended measurement function.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful thermal radiation and scattered radiation are extracted or removed from the detection pathway by the optical shielding device. The shielding device creates a restricted optical path that excludes external thermal interference sources, effectively taking out the harmful radiative components from the measurement environment while preserving the desired temperature signal from the cookware.
2Reliability
If the sensor unit is exposed to the cooking environment, then real-time temperature detection is achieved, but measurement reliability deteriorates due to heat transfer to the sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The optical shielding device serves as a thermal intermediary that blocks radiant heat transfer from the cooking environment to the sensor unit. By introducing this shielding barrier, the sensor remains thermally isolated from the hot cooking atmosphere while still able to detect temperature changes in the cookware through the hob plate, thereby maintaining measurement reliability and sensor temperature stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical shielding device provides preliminary protection against thermal radiation before it can reach and heat the sensor unit. By pre-blocking the radiant heat pathways, the shielding device prevents temperature fluctuations in the sensor that would otherwise compromise measurement reproducibility, ensuring the sensor operates at a stable temperature throughout the cooking process.
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
The combination of optical shielding and thermal insulation significantly reduces external interference, leading to more accurate and reliable temperature measurements, improving the reproducibility of detected variables and enhancing the functionality of automatic cooking modes.
Implementation Method 1
The optical shielding device is arranged at least partially around the sensor unit in order to shield electromagnetic radiation from outside the detection area
Implementation Method 2
The at least one insulation device for thermal insulation, which at least partially surrounds the optical shielding device... counteracts heat transfer to the optical shielding device
Data Source
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AI summary
The device (1) has a cooking field (11) comprising a cooking point (21) and a heating device (2) for heating a cooking area (31). A sensor device (3) detects physical parameter e.g. temperature, of cookware or foods in a detection area (83) and has a sensor unit and an optical screening device. The sensor device has an insulation device, and the screening device is partially arranged around the sensor unit for screening electromagnetic radiation from an outer side of the detection area. The screening device is partially enclosed by the insulation device and designed as a cylinder.