Top hood and a measurement system
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current microwave oven top hoods lack the ability to effectively monitor the heating process and provide accurate temperature information of the food being heated, as traditional methods only detect air temperature within the oven, which is not suitable for reliable food temperature monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A top hood with integrated thermal sensors and a wireless transmitter that measures the temperature of the food and transmits this information to a display unit, allowing for real-time monitoring of the food's thermal radiation and temperature, using a non-contact infrared temperature sensor and a wireless communication system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional microwave top hood with only a plastic wall structure is used, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision of food temperature is insufficient because it can only detect air temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the top hood: the plastic wall structure serves as both the covering element and the mounting base for the temperature sensor and wireless transmitter. The sensor integrates contactless temperature measurement capability directly into the hood, merging measurement, communication, and covering functions into a single integrated unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The top hood is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it covers the food to be heated, measures the temperature contactlessly using an infrared sensor, transmits the temperature data wirelessly to a mobile device, and provides visual indication through LED lights. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by adding capabilities without requiring separate dedicated devices.
2Reliability
If sensors are integrated to the roof of the microwave oven or air canal, then the device complexity remains low, but the reliability of food temperature monitoring is insufficient because only air temperature can be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an infrared temperature sensor as an intermediary that measures food temperature contactlessly through radiation detection. This intermediary approach allows accurate food temperature monitoring without direct contact with the food or complex integration into the microwave's existing air temperature sensing system, thereby improving reliability while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
3Measurement precision
If a top hood with integrated temperature sensor and wireless transmitter is used, then the measurement precision of food temperature is improved, but the use of energy increases due to additional electronic components
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless transmitter is designed to operate periodically rather than continuously - it transmits temperature data to the mobile device at intervals or when temperature thresholds are crossed. The LED indication lights also operate periodically to show temperature status. This periodic operation mode maintains measurement precision while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous transmission and display.
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 easy monitoring of the food's temperature, providing accurate and reliable heating process information, ensuring that the food is heated to the desired temperature, with the option to set target temperatures and receive alerts on a mobile device.
Implementation Method 1
An advantage of the invention is that it provides in an easy way a possibility to monitor the thermal radiation from the item to be heated, so as to find out the temperature of the item to be heated.
Data Source
AI summary
A top hood for covering food in a microwave oven is provided. The top hood (H1) includes a microwave transparent wall structure including a side wall (SW) and top part (TP). The side wall (SW) and top part (TP) define the internal area (IA) covered by the top hood (H1). Attached to the wall structure of the top hood (H1), the top hood (H1) includes a temperature sensor (TS) for measuring the temperature within the internal area (IA) covered by the top hood (H1). The top hood further includes a wireless transmitter (WT) for transmitting the measured temperature information to an external display unit (DU).