Electrical Adapter for Cooking Appliance Probe Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking systems cannot seamlessly integrate standard NTC probes and sous-vide thermocouple probes, requiring duplicate input stages and limiting flexibility in temperature measurement and control.
Innovation Solution
An electrical adapter that converts analog voltage signals from thermocouples to resistance values, allowing the use of both probe types with existing cooking appliances, including a signal converter that generates an output signal inversely proportional to the input, enabling compatibility without modifying the oven control system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a thermocouple-based probe with diameter of 1.05 mm is used for sous-vide cooking, then the probe can preserve vacuum in the bag, but the cooking system requires a different input circuit design compared to NTC probes
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical adapter serves as a mediator that translates the voltage output from the thermocouple probe into a resistance-like signal that conventional NTC probe input circuits can process. This eliminates the need for duplicate input stage designs in the cooking appliance, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining compatibility with both probe types.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter changes the electrical parameter output by the probe - converting from voltage output (thermocouple) to an equivalent resistance signal (NTC format). This parameter transformation allows the existing NTC input circuitry to work with thermocouple probes without requiring circuit redesign.
2Adaptability or versatility
If duplicate input stages are implemented to support both NTC and thermocouple probes, then both probe types can be supported, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than implementing duplicate input stages in the cooking appliance, the patent uses an external electrical adapter as an intermediary that performs the signal conversion before the signal enters the single NTC input circuit. This approach supports multiple probe types while avoiding the complexity and cost of duplicating input circuitry in the appliance.
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
Enables the use of both standard and sous-vide probes in the same cooking system, maintaining existing oven control functionality and allowing for flexible probe selection without requiring changes to the appliance, thus enhancing usability and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
such sous-vide probes use thermocouples to measure the temperature, producing a voltage when the temperature is raised
Implementation Method 2
a NTC- or so called 'negative temperature coefficient'-sensor due to measure the temperature, basically a resistor reducing its resistance value when the temperature rises
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A cooking appliance (12), in particular an oven, comprises an electrical adapter (13), the electrical adapter (13) comprising a) an electrical signal input (2) for receiving at least one analog voltage input signal from a temperature sensor, particularly a meat thermometer, b) an electrical signal output (4), and c) an electrical signal converter (3) for converting the input signal to the output signal. According to the invention, the electrical signal output (4) is for providing an analog voltage output signal to an appliance (12), and the signal converter (3) is electrically connected to both the signal input (2) and the signal output (4) and configured such that the output signal is inversely proportional to the input signal.