Microwave Oven Imaging Unit for Automatic Heating Time Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microwave oven systems for heating food in stores require manual input of heating times or selection of buttons, which is inconvenient and prone to errors, especially when dealing with multiple products and frequent product changes, as they necessitate registration of product codes and heating times across multiple ovens.
Innovation Solution
A microwave oven system equipped with an imaging unit to read heating control information from attachments on food items, such as seals displaying heating power and time, allowing automatic setting of heating times without user input, using a reading unit to extract and interpret this information and a heating control unit to control the heating process based on the read data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If barcode reading is implemented to automatically set heating time, then heating operation convenience is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for barcode readers and registration systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical barcode reading devices with an optical imaging unit (camera) that captures images of the heating chamber interior. The imaging unit photographs the barcode on the product packaging, and the control unit processes these images to extract barcode information and determine heating parameters, thereby eliminating the need for separate barcode readers and reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses image copying by capturing a photograph of the barcode and heating instruction information using the imaging unit. The control unit then processes this copied image data to extract necessary information, replacing the need for direct optical scanning and reducing hardware requirements while maintaining automatic heating functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple microwave ovens are deployed to handle diverse products, then product variety handling is improved, but registration workload increases across all ovens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal heating instruction information display that can accommodate multiple product types and heating scenarios within a single microwave oven. The imaging unit captures barcodes and heating instructions for various products, and the control unit processes this information to provide appropriate heating parameters, allowing one oven to replace multiple specialized ovens and eliminate repetitive registration work.
3Measurement precision
If barcode information is used for heating control, then heating accuracy is improved, but barcode reading reliability deteriorates when barcodes are not attached or are difficult to read
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces heating instruction information as an intermediary element that bridges the gap between barcode scanning and heating control. When a barcode is successfully captured, the system extracts heating parameters from associated heating instruction information displayed on the packaging. This intermediary layer allows the system to handle cases where barcodes may be partially obscured or difficult to read, as the heating instructions are visually displayed alongside the barcode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary capture of both barcode and heating instruction information before the heating process begins. The imaging unit photographs the entire labeling area including both the barcode and the printed heating instructions, allowing the control unit to process this pre-captured data and determine heating parameters in advance, ensuring reliable operation even when barcode conditions are suboptimal.
Data Source
AI summary
A heating cooker includes a heating chamber in which an object to be heated is stored, a heating unit heating the object to be heated stored in the heating chamber, an imaging unit imaging an inside of the heating chamber, and a reading unit extracting a character of heating control information from an attachment attached to the object to be heated and reading that character. The heating cooker further includes a heating control unit controlling the heating unit based on the heating control information read by the reading unit. In this manner, heating time can be automatically set without a clerk having to input a product heating time or select a button corresponding to a product and a hassle attributable to registration of a relationship between a product code and the heating time can be avoided.