Oven Door Handle Camera Layout for Heat-Safe Chamber Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing domestic appliances with cameras in heated treatment chambers require special insulation and cooling, and external cameras need stable holding devices, increasing complexity, while cameras outside the chamber may not provide clear views due to protrusions.

Innovation Solution

The camera is integrated into the oven door handle, eliminating the need for additional insulation or cooling and providing a stable mounting with a glass panel for thermal insulation and visibility, connected via wire or wireless to a picture displaying device for real-time monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the camera is arranged inside the heated treatment chamber, then the camera can directly monitor the interior, but the camera requires special housing, thermal insulation, and cooling to prevent destruction by heat

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring capabilityVSAvoidhousing and cooling system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The camera is extracted from the heated treatment chamber environment and relocated to the door handle, which is outside the heated zone. This eliminates the need for thermal insulation and cooling systems while maintaining the monitoring function through the transparent door panel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The transparent door panel serves as an intermediary medium that allows the camera positioned outside the treatment chamber to capture images of the interior. This mediator enables monitoring without direct exposure to heat.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the camera is arranged outside the treatment chamber, then the camera avoids heat damage, but the camera requires a special holding device that protrudes the appliance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera stabilityVSAvoidholding device
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The door handle, originally designed solely for opening the door, is given an additional function by integrating the camera into it. This multi-functional use eliminates the need for separate holding devices or mounting structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The camera mounting function is merged with the existing door handle structure. The door handle serves both its original purpose of door operation and the new function of camera support and positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If a transparent door panel is used for camera viewing, then the camera can see through the door, but thermal insulation is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidthermal insulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The door is designed with differentiated local properties: the central region contains a transparent panel for camera viewing, while the peripheral regions use insulating materials. This local differentiation allows optical transparency where needed while maintaining thermal insulation elsewhere.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This arrangement simplifies the installation and operation of the camera, ensuring stable operation and clear views of the cooking chamber without additional housing or cooling, while allowing for automatic function activation and three-dimensional food recognition.

Implementation Method 1

The door includes at least one glass panel. The glass panel provides transparency and thermal insulation.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

the camera is provided for detecting reflections on an outer side of the door in order to recognize movements in front of the domestic appliance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

the domestic appliance comprises at least one illumination device arranged at an outer side of the door and directed into the interior of the treatment chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Data Source

PatentEP3194853B1Domestic appliance, in particular cooking oven, with a camera
Publication Date: 2018.07.11 ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES
  • EP3194853B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3194853B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3194853B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a domestic appliance, in particular a cooking oven (10), with a camera (18). The domestic appliance (10) comprises a treatment chamber (12) and a door (14) for opening and closing the treatment chamber (12). The door (14) includes a window or a transparent part. The door (14) includes a door handle (16) arranged at an outer side of said door (14). The camera (18) is arranged inside the door handle (16), wherein the lens coverage (20) of the camera (18) extends from said camera (18) through the window or transparent portion of the door (14) into the interior of the treatment chamber (12). Picture signals generated by the camera (18) are represented or representable by a picture displaying device, wherein said picture displaying device is a part of the control unit of the domestic appliance (10) and/or a part of an external device connected or connectable to said domestic appliance (10).