Oven cooking cycle with post-preheat and/or two stage preheat phases

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking appliances face challenges in minimizing preheat time and reducing temperature differentials within the oven cavity, leading to uneven cooking due to technical limitations that prevent simultaneous activation of multiple cooking elements and reliance on a single heating element during preheat phases.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a post-preheat phase or a two-stage preheat phase, where the controller cycles cooking elements to reduce temperature differentials by activating elements in cooler portions of the oven cavity after the initial preheat phase, or by sequentially activating top and bottom cooking elements during the preheat phase, respectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If multiple cooking elements are activated simultaneously during preheat, then preheat time is reduced, but technical limitations prevent this approach

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreheat timeVSAvoidcontrol system limitations

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The preheat process is divided into multiple sequential phases: an initial preheat phase using a first cooking element, followed by a post-preheat phase using a second cooking element. This segmentation allows the system to overcome limitations on simultaneous element activation while still achieving comprehensive heating of the oven cavity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first cooking element performs preliminary heating of the oven cavity during the initial preheat phase, bringing the temperature close to the target setpoint. This preliminary action prepares the cavity for the second cooking element to complete the heating process and eliminate temperature differentials during the post-preheat phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If a single cooking element is used during preheat phase, then preheat time is extended, but temperature differentials are minimized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature uniformityVSAvoidpreheat time

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The heating process is segmented into two distinct phases with different cooking elements. The first element establishes baseline heating, while the second element specifically addresses temperature differentials in cooler portions of the cavity. This segmentation allows both time efficiency and temperature uniformity to be achieved.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second cooking element is specifically activated to address local temperature deficiencies in cooler portions of the oven cavity. By targeting specific areas that require additional heating, the system achieves uniform temperature distribution without requiring the entire cavity to be heated uniformly throughout the entire preheat duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of time

If the broiler cooking element is used extensively for preheat, then preheat time is reduced, but uneven heating of oven cavity walls occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreheat timeVSAvoidcavity wall temperature uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The preheat process segments the use of different cooking elements. The broiler element is used initially for rapid heating, then the bake element is activated during the post-preheat phase to evenly distribute heat to the cavity walls. This segmentation allows the broiler to provide speed while the bake element provides uniformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters by switching from the broiler element to the bake element between phases. This parameter change allows the system to transition from a high-intensity, localized heating mode to a more distributed, uniform heating mode, achieving both fast preheat and even wall heating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 approach accelerates the preheating process while minimizing temperature differentials, ensuring more even cooking by maintaining a consistent temperature profile throughout the oven cavity.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of cooking elements configured to generate heat within the oven cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

cycling one or more of the plurality of cooking elements disposed in a cooler portion of the oven cavity to reduce a temperature differential between the top and bottom of the oven cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11853022B2Oven cooking cycle with post-preheat and/or two stage preheat phases

Publication Date: 2023.12.26 MIDEA GROUP CO LTD

AI summary

A cooking appliance may employ one or both of a post-preheat phase and a two stage preheat phase to both accelerate preheating of an oven cavity while minimizing temperature differentials therein. A post-preheat phase may be performed subsequent to a preheat phase, but prior to a cooking phase, to cycle a cooking element disposed in a cooler portion of an oven cavity to reduce a temperature differential between the top and bottom of the oven cavity. A two stage preheat phase may sequentially activate each of top and bottom cooking elements in an oven cavity a single time.