Modular Smart Grill System for Expandable Cooking Capabilities

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional grills require full system upgrades to enhance capabilities, leading to high costs and limited flexibility in cooking methods, as they often feature expensive electrical components and lack advanced features like automated cooking processes.

Innovation Solution

A smart grill system with a modular design that allows for software updates and accessory replacements, featuring a user interface controller, sensors, and a control system, enabling multiple cooking methods and automated cooking processes through a common platform with standardized connectors and communication protocols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional grills use fixed electrical components and full system upgrades, then cooking capabilities can be enhanced, but upgrade costs become high and flexibility is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking capabilitiesVSAvoidupgrade costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The grill system is divided into modular components including a control system, user interface controller, and accessory modules that can be independently selected and upgraded. This segmentation allows users to enhance specific cooking capabilities without upgrading the entire system, reducing overall upgrade costs while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control system is designed with standardized connectors and communication protocols that work across multiple grill models and accessory types. This universal interface allows a single control system to support various cooking methods and accessories, enhancing adaptability without requiring model-specific upgrades.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Extent of automation

If conventional grills lack advanced features, then manufacturing costs are lower, but automated cooking processes and advanced features are unavailable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated cooking processesVSAvoidmanufacturing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The grill system incorporates sensors that automatically detect food placement and cooking state, enabling the system to self-adjust cooking parameters without continuous user intervention. This automated feedback loop provides hands-free cooking capabilities while managing complexity through software-based control rather than complex hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If grills use standardized connectors and communication protocols, then accessory compatibility improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessory compatibilityVSAvoidconnector precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Standardized connectors and communication protocols are implemented across all grill models and accessories, creating a universal interface standard. This allows any accessory to work with any compatible grill model, significantly improving accessory compatibility while the standardization actually reduces manufacturing complexity through repeatability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20240188757A1Smart cooking appliance

Publication Date: 2024.06.13 JUNE LIFE INC

AI summary

In variants, the system can include an extensible cooking system (e.g., grill) with a removable user interface configured to control cooking system operation and/or a set of removable accessory modules. Examples of removable accessory modules can include user fuel control interfaces and sensor ports.