Microwave Thermal Imaging for Controlled Beverage Warming
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Microwave cooking appliances face challenges in reliably heating or reheating beverages to a desired temperature without overheating, as existing technologies lack precise control over temperature distribution and individual preferences.
Innovation Solution
A microwave cooking appliance equipped with a temperature sensor that captures thermal images to determine the beverage's location within the cooking cavity, using derivative functions to identify suitable sensing locations and control heating cycles for precise temperature management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional microwave heating is used to heat beverages, then heating speed is improved, but temperature control precision deteriorates causing overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously captures thermal images during microwave heating and uses the temperature data from these images to monitor beverage temperature in real-time. The controller adjusts microwave power delivery based on this feedback, comparing actual temperature against target temperature to prevent overheating while maintaining fast heating speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces contact-based temperature sensing (mechanical/probe methods) with non-contact thermal imaging technology. This allows temperature measurement without physical contact with the beverage, enabling continuous monitoring during microwave heating without interfering with the heating process or requiring interruption of microwave energy delivery.
2Measurement precision
If thermal imaging is used to detect beverage temperature, then temperature monitoring capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microwave oven's existing display screen is utilized to present thermal images and temperature information, eliminating the need for separate display hardware. The controller integrates both microwave generation control and thermal image processing functions, reducing overall system complexity by making existing components serve multiple purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the microwave oven's existing controller as an intermediary to process thermal image data and coordinate between the temperature sensor and microwave power generator. This centralizes control logic in an existing component rather than adding separate control systems, thereby managing complexity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensing locations are analyzed in thermal images, then temperature measurement accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-processes thermal images by identifying the beverage region of interest before full temperature analysis. By first detecting where the beverage is located in the thermal image and then focusing temperature measurements on that specific region, the system avoids unnecessary processing of the entire image while still achieving accurate temperature readings from multiple relevant sensing locations.
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 consistent and controlled heating of beverages to a desired temperature, accommodating individual preferences by accurately determining the beverage's location and adjusting heating phases, thereby preventing overheating.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor configured to sense temperature within the cooking cavity... receiving a thermal image captured by the temperature sensor, the thermal image including temperature data representing a plurality of temperature readings
Implementation Method 2
operate by heating and cooking a food or beverage through the generation of electromagnetic radiation within a specific range of frequencies (referred to herein as microwave radiation) that causes water, fat and other substances in the food or beverage to absorb energy via dielectric heating
Data Source
AI summary
A microwave cooking appliance performs controlled beverage warming using a temperature sensor to capture a thermal image of a beverage in a cooking cavity. One or more sensing locations within the thermal image that are suitable for determining the temperature of the beverage are determined in part by ordering temperature readings from the thermal image by temperature to determine a temperature function and then determining locations in the thermal image that correspond to the beverage by calculating a derivative function over at least a portion of the temperature function.