Microwave Cooking Plate Warming via Load Container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking appliances lack efficient methods to uniformly warm plates using microwave heating, as they do not account for the number of plates or their warming degree, leading to inconsistent heating results.
Innovation Solution
A cooking apparatus with a weight sensor to estimate the number of plates and control microwave heating intensity and time based on the plate warming mode command, utilizing a load container to absorb microwave energy and distribute heat evenly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If microwave heating is applied to warm plates, then heating speed is improved, but heating uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A load container filled with water is introduced as an intermediary substance between the microwave source and the plates. The water absorbs microwave energy and converts it to thermal energy, which then transfers to the plates through conduction and convection, achieving uniform heating while maintaining fast heating speed
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and distribution of the heating medium by using liquid water in the load container rather than direct microwave irradiation. This parameter change allows the heating process to proceed through thermal conduction and convection, ensuring uniform temperature distribution across all plates
2Device complexity
If fixed microwave heating parameters are used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different plate quantities deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A weight sensor is installed to detect the total weight of plates in the cooking chamber. The control unit receives this feedback signal and automatically adjusts the microwave heating parameters (time, power level) according to the detected plate quantity, enabling the system to adapt to different loading conditions without increasing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment of heating parameters based on automatic detection of plate quantity. The control unit independently determines the appropriate heating program without requiring user input or manual configuration, making the system both simple to operate and highly adaptable
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
Ensures consistent and efficient warming of plates by adjusting microwave intensity and time according to the number of plates and desired warming degree, maintaining temperature for a longer period.
Implementation Method 1
a microwave heating part configured to radiate a microwave to one or more plates disposed in the cooking chamber
Implementation Method 2
A liquid substance which is heated by absorbing the microwave radiated from the microwave heating part is accommodated in a body of the load container
Implementation Method 3
a weight sensor; and a control part configured to estimate, based on the sensed result from the weight sensor, a number of plates disposed in the cooking chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein are a cooking apparatus and a controlling method thereof. The cooking apparatus according to one aspect of the present embodiment includes an input part configured to receive a plate warming mode command; a microwave heating part configured to radiate microwave to at least one plate disposed in a cooking chamber provided inside the cooking apparatus; and a control part configured to control at least one of an operation time of the microwave heating part and an intensity of the microwave radiated from the microwave heating part when the plate warming mode command is input.