Domestic appliance and method for determining contour information of material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliances lack a simple and compact method to reliably determine the contour information of goods without movement, such as the height or surface shape of food in a cooking chamber.
Innovation Solution
A household appliance equipped with a pattern lamp that emits a light pattern, such as a line or grid pattern, and an image sensor to capture the reflected light pattern, allowing for the determination of contour information by evaluating the light patterns at different rotation angles, which can be superimposed or evaluated separately to derive the contour details.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a camera and proximity sensor are used to determine product characteristics, then measurement capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pattern light source and image sensor into an integrated optical system. The pattern light projects structured light patterns onto the food item, while the image sensor captures the reflected patterns. By merging these components and using image processing algorithms, the system achieves contour information determination without requiring separate proximity sensors or complex multi-sensor arrangements, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical measurement systems with an optical-based system. Instead of using physical contact sensors or mechanical scanning devices, the system uses projected light patterns and image capture to non-contactly determine contour information. This substitution eliminates mechanical complexity while improving measurement precision and enabling automated heating processes.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to capture light patterns from different angles, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rotatable sample light that can be positioned at different angles relative to the food item. Instead of using multiple fixed sensors simultaneously, the system dynamically changes the illumination angle by rotating the light source. The image sensor captures reflected light patterns at each angle, and the control unit processes these sequential measurements to reconstruct three-dimensional contour information. This dynamic approach achieves multi-angle measurement accuracy while maintaining a compact single-sensor configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the temporal dimension to the measurement process by sequentially capturing light patterns at different angles over time. Instead of requiring multiple sensors positioned in three-dimensional space simultaneously, the system uses a single sensor that collects data across multiple time points with varying illumination angles. This transforms a spatial problem into a temporal sequence, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
3Reliability
If the sample light is rotatable to illuminate from different angles, then contour determination reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the pattern light source with the microwave antenna structure. The pattern light serves dual functions: it illuminates the food item for optical measurement and is positioned within the microwave cavity where it can rotate along with the antenna. This multi-functional integration allows the light source mechanism to achieve reliable multi-angle illumination while sharing structural support with the microwave system, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the rotatable light source mechanism with the microwave antenna rotation system. Both components share the same rotational axis and drive mechanism, eliminating the need for a separate rotation actuator for the light source. This consolidation achieves reliable angular variation for contour determination while reducing the number of moving parts and overall mechanical complexity.
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 method enables reliable and accurate determination of contour information, including height, surface shape, and volume of goods, without the need for rotating the item, resulting in a structurally simple and compact implementation.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitter (60) which transmits light waves to the food item (G), a receiver (70) which detects the light waves reflected by the food item (G)
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a domestic appliance (1) having a treatment chamber (3) for treating material (G), in particular food to be cooked, at least one pattern luminaire (6; 6-1, 6-2), which is designed to radiate at least one light pattern (L) into the treatment chamber (3), and at least one image sensor (10; 10-1, 10-2) directed into the treatment chamber (3), for capturing the at least one light pattern (L1, L2) reflected from the treatment chamber (3), wherein the pattern luminaire (6; 6-1, 6-2) can be rotated by means of a motor (9) and the domestic appliance (1) is designed to determine, from at least two reflected light patterns associated with different angles of rotation (D1, D2) of the at least one pattern luminaire (6; 6-1, 6-2), at least contour information of material (G) irradiated by the light pattern (L1, L2). A method serves to determine contour information of material (G) located in a treatment chamber (3) of a domestic appliance (1). In particular, the invention can be advantageously used to determine contour information of food to be cooked which is located in an oven.