Cooking appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking appliances lack ease of use and flexibility in operating modes, with existing sensor and heating systems not effectively preventing overheating and optimizing cooking processes.

Innovation Solution

A cooking appliance with a muffle having a heating element and sensor units for temperature detection, including a control unit to regulate power based on temperature readings, allowing for efficient and safe cooking processes across various modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sensor unit inside the cooking chamber detects temperature, then the cooking process can be monitored, but the sensor cannot directly detect muffle wall temperature for precise overheating prevention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverheating preventionVSAvoidmuffle wall temperature detection
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a second sensor unit as an intermediary device that directly contacts the muffle wall to detect its temperature. This mediator sensor provides accurate muffle wall temperature data to the control unit, enabling precise overheating prevention while the first sensor unit continues to monitor cooking chamber temperature for cooking process control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the heating element continuously heats the muffle wall, then cooking efficiency is improved, but overheating and damage to the muffle wall may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking efficiencyVSAvoidmuffle wall overheating
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control system where the second sensor unit continuously monitors muffle wall temperature and feeds this information back to the control unit. The control unit adjusts the heating element's operation based on this feedback, reducing or stopping heating when the muffle wall approaches dangerous temperatures, thus preventing overheating while maintaining cooking efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If multiple sensor units are added to detect both muffle wall temperature and cooking chamber temperature, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature monitoringVSAvoidsensor and control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit is designed with multi-functionality to handle data from both sensor units. It simultaneously processes cooking chamber temperature data for cooking process control and muffle wall temperature data for overheating prevention, integrating multiple functions into a single control system to minimize overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enhances operating convenience by preventing overheating, optimizing cooking results, and providing a high level of flexibility in cooking processes through precise temperature control and power regulation.

Implementation Method 1

at least one heating element (18), which is provided for heating the muffle wall (14)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

at least one sensor unit (20), which is provided for detecting at least one temperature of the muffle wall (14)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation detection: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP3560281B1Cooking appliance
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3560281B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3560281B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3560281B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The aim of the invention is to provide an appliance of the type in question having improved properties with respect to ease of operation. This aim is achieved by a cooking appliance (10), in particular an induction cooking appliance, having: at least one muffle (12), which has at least one muffle wall (14) and at least partially defines at least one cooking chamber (16); at least one heating element (18) for heating the muffle wall (14); and at least one sensor unit (20) for detecting at least one temperature of the muffle wall (14).