Pot-Mounted Ultrasonic Fill Sensing for Lid-Independent Kitchen Appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing kitchen appliances lack a reliable and simple method to determine the fill level of food in a pot independently of the lid's position and without overfilling, which can lead to food escape during processing.
Innovation Solution
Integrating an ultrasonic transmitter and receiver into the pot's wall, allowing for fill level detection and simultaneous cleaning using ultrasound signals, with the option to use additional sensors like a temperature sensor or an 'artificial nose', and the ability to operate in different modes for level detection and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ultrasonic transmitter and receiver are attached to the lid, then the fill level can be determined, but the determination becomes dependent on the lid's position and attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic transmitter and receiver are extracted from the lid and integrated directly into the pot wall. This extraction eliminates the dependency on lid attachment and position, making the fill level determination independent of lid status while maintaining reliable measurement capability through direct wall integration
2Device complexity
If the ultrasonic transmitter and receiver are integrated into the pot wall, then the design is simplified and cleaning is easier, but the structural complexity of the pot increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic transmitter and receiver are merged with the pot wall structure, creating an integrated component rather than separate attachments. This merging simplifies the overall device design and reduces the number of parts, while the integration into the wall thickness allows for straightforward manufacturing processes that incorporate the sensors during pot production
3Measurement precision
If the ultrasonic transmitter and receiver are placed on the upper edge of the pot, then high filling levels can be detected, but the risk of food escape increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pot wall itself serves as an intermediary medium that transmits ultrasonic signals through its thickness to detect fill levels. By placing the transducers in the wall rather than on the upper edge, the measurement point is effectively lowered, expanding the detectable range while maintaining a safe distance from the food surface to prevent escape during processing
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
Ensures accurate fill level determination without lid dependency, allows for hygienic and efficient cleaning, and reduces design complexity and costs by using a single ultrasonic device for both functions.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver for emitting or receiving ultrasound are integrated into the wall of the pot for the impact of ultrasound from above on the food filling surface and for receiving ultrasound reflected upwards with respect to the food filling surface
Implementation Method 2
the ultrasonic transmitter is controlled with such an ultrasonic signal that the wall of the pot, at least in some areas, stimulates such vibrations that enable dirt potentially sitting there to be loosened
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an electric kitchen appliance (1) comprising a pot (2) for receiving food (3) to be processed using the electric kitchen appliance (1). An ultrasound transmitter (5) and an ultrasound receiver (6) are provided in order to determine the fill level of the food (3) in the pot (2). According to the invention, the ultrasound transmitter (5) and the ultrasound receiver (6) are attached to the upper edge of the pot (2) such that an ultrasound signal can be transmitted onto the surface (11) of the food (3) by the ultrasound transmitter (5), and an ultrasound signal reflected by the surface (11) of the food (3) can be received by the ultrasound receiver (6). In this manner, an electric kitchen appliance (1) is provided which allows the fill state of the food (3) in the pot (2) to be determined in a simple and reliable manner.