Method and cooking apparatus for controlling a food cooking process

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automated cooking apparatuses face challenges in determining the initial status of food, leading to ambiguity and human error in cooking settings, especially when food transitions from frozen to thawed states, resulting in inconsistent cooking outcomes.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that detect the initial temperature of food by evaluating weighting factors across multiple temperature ranges, using a continuous non-overlapping configuration to determine cooking settings, which alleviates ambiguity and detection inaccuracies by considering confidence indices and moisture loss rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual input is used to provide food initial status information, then the apparatus can obtain cooking setting information, but user convenience deteriorates and human errors increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking setting accuracyVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cooking apparatus automatically detects the initial status of food (frozen, thawing, or thawed) using temperature sensors and control algorithms without requiring user input. The controller evaluates temperature readings at different stages and determines the food status autonomously, eliminating manual intervention while ensuring accurate cooking setting selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If a single temperature range detection is used, then the detection process is simple, but detection accuracy deteriorates due to ambiguity in food status

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection process simplicityVSAvoidfood status detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The detection process is divided into multiple stages: initial temperature detection, intermediate temperature monitoring, and final status determination. The temperature range is segmented into multiple zones (frozen, thawing, thawed) with specific thresholds, and the controller evaluates which zone the food occupies based on temperature readings taken at different times during the cooking process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus performs preliminary temperature detection before cooking begins and continues monitoring during the cooking process. By taking temperature readings at multiple predetermined times and comparing them against threshold values, the system preliminarily assesses the food status and adjusts cooking settings accordingly, improving detection accuracy without significantly increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If cooking settings are determined solely based on detected temperature range, then the control process is straightforward, but cooking consistency deteriorates due to detection ambiguity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol process simplicityVSAvoidcooking result consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cooking control process is made dynamic by continuously monitoring temperature changes and adjusting cooking settings based on the evaluated food status. The controller adapts the cooking power and duration in real-time according to the detected temperature range and the determined food status (frozen, thawing, or thawed), ensuring consistent cooking results despite initial detection ambiguities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control by monitoring temperature during the cooking process and adjusting cooking parameters based on the evaluated food status. The controller uses temperature feedback to determine when the food has reached the desired doneness and adjusts power levels accordingly, maintaining cooking consistency even when initial status detection is uncertain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 approach ensures more accurate cooking settings by accounting for the likelihood of improper categorization, resulting in consistent and optimal cooking results across various initial food temperatures, reducing the risk of under or over-cooking.

Implementation Method 1

detecting an initial temperature of the food

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature detection:

Implementation Method 2

cooking process for cooking food

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3148386B1Method and cooking apparatus for controlling a food cooking process

Publication Date: 2019.06.12 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a method and a cooking apparatus for controlling a process for cooking food. The method comprises the steps of: detecting an initial temperature of the food; evaluating weighting factors of more than one temperature ranges according to the initial temperature, the more than one temperature ranges and preset cooking parameters of each of the more than one temperature ranges being predetermined; and controlling the cooking process based on the evaluated weighting factors and the preset cooking parameters. With this configuration, the cooking setting (temperature, time etc) can thus be determined based on the detected temperature ranges as well as the eliminated temperature ranges, so that possible detection inaccuracy can be eliminated to a large extent.