Distance Sensor Monitoring for Cooking Vessel Overflow Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking devices lack effective mechanisms to detect and prevent liquid overflow during boiling, leading to spills and cleaning difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring device equipped with a distance sensor that continuously measures the liquid level in a cooking vessel, emitting a warning signal and adjusting heat output when the level approaches a threshold, using a control unit and mechanical sensor movement to ensure accurate detection across various vessel sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed threshold distance is used for overflow detection, then the control unit structure can be simplified, but the device cannot adapt to different cooking vessel sizes and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a mechanical sensor movement device that translates the distance sensor parallel to the cooking hob surface, enabling dynamic adjustment of the measurement position. This allows the system to adapt to different cooking vessel sizes and shapes while using a relatively simple control unit structure, as the adaptability is achieved through mechanical movement rather than complex control logic.
2Ease of operation
If the distance sensor is positioned centrally over the cooking hob, then the setup is simple, but the sensor cannot accurately detect liquid level in vessels of various sizes and positions
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical sensor movement device enables the distance sensor to be dynamically repositioned parallel to the cooking hob surface, allowing the sensor to be optimally positioned over different cooking vessels regardless of their size or location. This resolves the contradiction by providing both ease of initial setup and high measurement precision through adaptive positioning.
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 liquid overflow by providing timely warnings and adjusting heat output, ensuring the cooking surface remains clean and easy to maintain.
Implementation Method 1
a distance sensor (107) that is arranged over the cooking hob (102, 103, 104, 105) and that is configured to measure a content distance (327) between the distance sensor (107, 207, 215, 216, 217, 307) and a content (330) of the cooking vessel (328)
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a monitoring device (106) for monitoring liquid overflow in a cooking vessel on a cooking hob (102, 103, 104, 105) of a cooker (100), the monitoring device (106) comprising a distance sensor (107) that is arranged over the cooking hob (102, 103, 104, 105) and that is configured to measure a content distance between the distance sensor (107) and a content of the cooking vessel, and a control unit (109) that is coupled to the distance sensor (107) and that is configured to compare the measured content distance to a threshold distance (110) and to output a warning signal (111) if the measured content distance is smaller than the threshold distance (110). Further, the present invention provides a cooker (100) and a respective monitoring method.