Heated or Cooled Dishware With Embedded Active Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a lack of actively heated or cooled dishwasher-safe dishware and drinkware that can maintain food temperature during use, relying on passive heat transfer mechanisms which are inefficient.

Innovation Solution

Development of dishware and drinkware with embedded heating or cooling systems, including a heating or cooling element, insulative member, energy storage devices, and an electronic module, allowing for wireless power transmission and controlled temperature management, enabling active heating or cooling during use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If passive heating or cooling mechanisms are used, then the dishware can be simple in structure, but the temperature maintenance duration is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature maintenance durationVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dishware is divided into functional modules: a heating/cooling element, an insulative member, an energy storage device, and an electronic module. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system manageability and extending temperature maintenance duration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If active heating or cooling systems are embedded in dishware, then temperature control efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature control efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functional components (heating element, insulative member, energy storage device, electronic module) are merged into a single integrated dishware system. This combining approach enables efficient temperature control while managing complexity through unified design and coordinated operation of components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If heating or cooling elements are added to dishware, then temperature maintenance capability is improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature maintenance capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The heating/cooling element and other components are pre-assembled and tested as a complete temperature control system before final integration into the dishware. This preliminary action ensures temperature maintenance capability is achieved while simplifying the final manufacturing process through modular assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 prolonged maintenance of food temperature, providing convenience and efficiency in keeping food warm or cold, while being dishwasher-safe and aesthetically pleasing.

Implementation Method 1

a heating or cooling element disposed within the recess and spaced from the base so as to define a cavity therebetween

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

an insulative member disposed within the cavity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3563734B1Heated or cooled dishware and drinkware
Publication Date: 2021.03.24 EMBER TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • EP3563734B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3563734B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3563734B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A plate, bowl or serving dish is disclosed, which comprises a body having a surface configured to receive and contact one or more amounts of foodstuff thereon; and a heating or cooling system, and comprising a plurality of heating or cooling elements, each being isolated from each other and configured to actively heat or cool an associated section of the surface, and an electronic module configured to control the plurality of heating or cooling elements independently of each other to heat or cool their associated sections of the surface.