Method and system for foodstuff identification

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automated appliances, such as smart ovens, face challenges in identifying foodstuff at high temperatures due to the prohibitive cost and technical difficulties of integrating camera electronics with heat shields, limiting their ability to operate effectively in high-heat environments.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for foodstuff identification that uses an outward-facing camera system to capture images at the cooking cavity threshold, determining food parameter values such as type, quantity, and location, and automatically generating cooking instructions, enabling accurate recognition even in high-heat environments without the need for expensive heat enclosures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If in-situ camera arrangement is used for foodstuff identification, then automated recognition capability is improved, but device cost and complexity increase due to heat shield requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated foodstuff recognitionVSAvoidheat shield structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The camera system is extracted from the high-temperature cooking cavity environment and repositioned outside the oven chamber. The system captures images through the open door or cavity threshold when the door is open, eliminating the need for heat shields and protecting the camera electronics from thermal damage while maintaining automated foodstuff identification capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The open door or cavity threshold serves as an intermediary medium, allowing the external camera to capture images of foodstuff without direct exposure to the cooking cavity's high-temperature environment. This intermediary approach enables optical access while maintaining thermal isolation between the camera and the heating zone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If in-situ camera is placed in cooking cavity, then foodstuff identification accuracy is improved, but reliability decreases due to high temperature exposure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoodstuff identification accuracyVSAvoidcamera system reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The camera system is extracted from the high-temperature cooking cavity environment and repositioned outside the oven chamber. The system captures images through the open door or cavity threshold when the door is open, eliminating the need for heat shields and protecting the camera electronics from thermal damage while maintaining automated foodstuff identification capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If heat shields are added to protect camera electronics, then camera reliability is improved, but device cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera electronics protectionVSAvoidheat shield structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The camera system is extracted from the high-temperature cooking cavity environment and repositioned outside the oven chamber. The system captures images through the open door or cavity threshold when the door is open, eliminating the need for heat shields and protecting the camera electronics from thermal damage while maintaining automated foodstuff identification capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12016487B2Method and system for foodstuff identification

Publication Date: 2024.06.25 JUNE LIFE INC

AI summary

A method for foodstuff identification can include: detecting a trigger event; sampling a measurement set; optionally determining candidate measurements for subsequent analysis based on the measurement set; optionally determining a set of food parameter values from the measurements; optionally selecting a food parameter value for use; determining a cooking instruction based on the food parameter value; automatically operating the appliance based on the cooking instructions; optionally determining a foodstuff trajectory relative to the cook cavity; optionally training one or more modules; and/or any other suitable elements.