Eating-drinking environment control system, eating-drinking environment information providing system, and eating-drinking environment change apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temperature control systems in eating-drinking environments do not consider the optimal temperature at which food tastes best, leading to unsatisfactory meal experiences over extended periods.
Innovation Solution
An eating-drinking environment control system that includes a food surrounding environment information storage unit and an environment control unit, which stores and utilizes temperature and humidity data specific to each food product to optimize the eating environment, using an air conditioner with position detection and a meal serving table with temperature regulation capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional temperature control systems are used in eating-drinking environments, then general comfort is maintained, but food-specific optimal temperature requirements are not met, leading to reduced meal satisfaction
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides different temperature control settings for different food items on the same table. The meal serving table includes multiple heating/cooling zones that can be independently controlled based on the specific food item placed in each zone, allowing each food to maintain its optimal temperature rather than using a single uniform temperature for the entire table.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts temperature settings based on real-time detection of food items and their optimal temperature requirements. The control unit continuously monitors and modifies the temperature of each zone to match the specific food item's needs, rather than maintaining a static temperature setting.
2Reliability
If the eating-drinking environment is controlled based on food-specific surrounding environment information, then meal satisfaction is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The meal serving table is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a dining surface and an active temperature control device. The table integrates heating and cooling capabilities directly into the serving surface, eliminating the need for separate temperature control equipment for each food item.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects food items and retrieves their optimal temperature requirements from the storage unit without human intervention. The control unit then automatically adjusts the temperature settings based on this information, eliminating the need for users to manually configure complex temperature controls.
3Temperature
If air conditioner controls airflow direction and volume based on food and user positions, then food temperature maintenance is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioner provides targeted temperature control only in the specific zones where food items are located, rather than conditioning the entire room. The airflow direction and volume are adjusted to focus cooling or heating effects precisely on the food items that require temperature maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies temperature control only when and where needed - specifically when food items are detected and when their optimal temperature requirements are identified. The air conditioner operates at reduced capacity or remains idle when no food items require temperature maintenance, rather than running continuously at full capacity.
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
This system enhances meal satisfaction by controlling the environment based on food-specific data, optimizing temperature and airflow to maintain food quality and taste throughout a meal, extending the best-before time of food products and ensuring comfort for users.
Implementation Method 1
The air conditioner includes a position detection unit that detects a position of the food product and/or a position of a user having a meal. The air conditioner controls a direction of airflow and a volume of airflow on the basis of the position of the food product and/or the position of the user.
Implementation Method 2
The environment control unit includes a meal serving table that has a surface part for which temperature regulation is possible. With this configuration, the ambient temperature of the food product can be optimized by using the meal serving table.
Data Source
AI summary
An eating-drinking environment control system includes a food surrounding environment information storage unit and an environment control unit. The food surrounding environment information storage unit stores, for each of a plurality of food products, food surrounding environment information including at least one of a temperature and a humidity in association with the food product. The environment control unit controls an eating-drinking environment based on the food surrounding environment information.