Microwave Oven Sous Vide Cycle Temperature Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sous vide cooking devices are separate appliances that require pre-heating and often lead to energy inefficiency due to heat loss, as they couple to the side of a pot, limiting the use of a lid and increasing storage needs.

Innovation Solution

A microwave oven with a dedicated sous vide cooking cycle, featuring a temperature sensor and controller to maintain a constant water bath temperature during cooking, allowing for precise temperature control without the need for pre-heating and minimizing energy loss by integrating sous vide cooking into a standard appliance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional sous vide devices are used, then precise temperature control is achieved, but device complexity and storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature control precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the sous vide heating function with an existing microwave oven, merging two functions into one appliance. The microwave's existing heating capability is controlled through a dedicated sous vide cycle that uses the microwave cooking element to heat the water bath, eliminating the need for a separate immersion cooker with its own heating element, temperature sensor, and circulation mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The microwave oven is designed to perform multiple functions: traditional microwave cooking and sous vide cooking. The controller is configured to initiate different cooking cycles including a dedicated sous vide cycle, allowing the single appliance to serve multiple culinary purposes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If conventional sous vide devices are used, then precise temperature control is achieved, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to heat loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature control precisionVSAvoidenergy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the sous vide function into the microwave oven, the system can utilize the microwave's existing insulation and cooking cavity design. The microwave oven's sealed cooking environment and insulation structures help retain heat more effectively compared to open pot setups or devices that couple to the side of pots, reducing energy loss to the surrounding air.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional sous vide devices are used, then dedicated sous vide cooking capability is achieved, but storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesous vide cooking capabilityVSAvoidstorage volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the sous vide cooking capability into an existing microwave oven, eliminating the need for a separate dedicated sous vide device. The microwave oven's cooking cavity serves dual purposes: traditional microwave cooking and sous vide water bath heating. This consolidation reduces the total storage volume required, as users no longer need to accommodate both a microwave and a separate immersion cooker.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Power

If conventional sous vide devices couple to the side of a pot, then heating capability is provided, but lid usage is limited causing energy inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating capabilityVSAvoidheat loss

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The microwave oven's cooking cavity is designed to accommodate a container with a lid, and the microwave cooking element generates electromagnetic radiation that penetrates through the lid material to heat the water bath. This integration allows the lid to remain in place during cooking, trapping heat inside the container and reducing energy loss to the surrounding air, while still achieving effective heating through the microwave's penetrating energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables precise sous vide cooking within a standard microwave oven, reducing energy inefficiencies and storage requirements while maintaining consistent food quality, as the microwave oven can initiate and control a sous vide cooking cycle, ensuring the water bath remains at a set temperature.

Implementation Method 1

a microwave cooking element located within the housing capable of generating cooking energy in the cooking cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrowave radiation: Microwave Radiation

Implementation Method 2

a temperature sensor positioned to sense temperature within the cooking cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Data Source

PatentUS11659634B2Sous vide feature in a microwave oven

Publication Date: 2023.05.23 MIDEA GROUP CO LTD

AI summary

A microwave oven may include a temperature sensor to sense temperature in a cooking cavity, and a controller that can initiate a sous vide cooking cycle in response to user input after placement of a sous vide container (with a water bath and a food item to be cooked inside) into the cooking cavity, monitor a temperature of the water bath contained by the sous vide container during the cooking cycle using the temperature sensor, and control the microwave cooking element in response to the monitored temperature.