Oven Image Sensing for Automated Heating Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ovens lack full automation in heating processes, often requiring user interaction and providing inaccurate control over heating conditions, especially in determining product features like shape and status.
Innovation Solution
An oven equipped with a product-feature extracting system using cameras and contour-level units to record and analyze product top-views and contour levels, along with temperature and weight sensors, to accurately extract product features and automate the heating process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automated heating methods are implemented using basic sensors, then user interaction is reduced, but measurement precision of product features deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces basic mechanical/distance sensors with optical imaging systems (cameras) to detect product features. The camera-based system captures images and uses image processing algorithms to extract precise product characteristics such as shape, volume, surface area, and position, achieving high measurement precision while maintaining full automation of the heating process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image processing system as an intermediary between the camera and the heating control. This intermediary processes raw images to extract meaningful product features, enabling accurate measurement of product characteristics and translating visual information into actionable data for automated heating control.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and cameras are added to improve product feature detection, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-functional camera system that serves multiple purposes: detecting product position, determining product shape, measuring product volume, and identifying product surface characteristics. This single imaging system performs what would traditionally require multiple specialized sensors, thereby improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional distance measurements to two-dimensional image capture, enabling comprehensive product feature detection. The camera captures spatial information in multiple dimensions simultaneously, allowing extraction of complex product characteristics from a single imaging plane without requiring multiple sensors positioned at different locations.
3Reliability
If continuous monitoring of baking process is required, then heating control accuracy improves, but loss of time increases due to user observation requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-monitoring system where the camera continuously captures product images and the image processing system automatically analyzes product features and adjusts heating parameters without user intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously monitoring the baking process, maintaining high heating control accuracy while eliminating the need for user observation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a closed-loop feedback system where product images are continuously captured, analyzed to determine current product state, and used to adjust heating parameters in real-time. This feedback mechanism ensures accurate heating control by constantly monitoring product characteristics and adapting the heating process accordingly, all without requiring user involvement.
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 and reliable automated heating with minimal user interaction, optimizing heating processes by accurately determining product features and adjusting heating protocols based on initial temperature and product characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
The product-feature extracting system comprises at least one camera, e. g. a digital camera, designed and positioned for recording product top-views
Implementation Method 2
The contour-level unit can comprise at least one of a distance sensor designed for measuring distances between the sensor and upper surface levels of the product and the object, respectively, and a light emitting device, preferably a laser, more preferably a line laser
Implementation Method 3
In the field of baking ovens, and more particularly in the field of microwave ovens, it is known to use ultrasonic or infrared distance sensors
Implementation Method 4
In the field of baking ovens, and more particularly in the field of microwave ovens, it is known to use ultrasonic or infrared distance sensors
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an oven (1) for baking food products (3). In order to improve automated heating procedures, the oven (1) comprises a camera (7) and a distance sensor (8), which are used in concert to enable precise extraction of product-features that are relevant and used with automated heating procedures.