Method and heating apparatus for estimating status of heated object
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating technologies require additional components like cameras, ultrasonic apparatuses, and remote temperature sensors to monitor and control heating processes, leading to increased complexity and potential inaccuracies in determining if food is boiling or at risk of overheating.
Innovation Solution
A heating apparatus equipped with a sound sensor that collects and analyzes sound generated during the heating process to estimate the state of the object being heated, using a deep neural network model to determine boiling state and adjust heat energy accordingly, eliminating the need for additional sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional components (camera, ultrasonic apparatus, remote temperature sensor) are installed to monitor heating process, then monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating apparatus integrates multiple functions into a single device. The sound sensor serves dual purposes: monitoring boiling status and detecting overheating conditions. The controller processes sound signals to determine both boiling state and temperature safety, eliminating the need for separate monitoring devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the monitoring function with the heating apparatus itself. Instead of using separate cameras, ultrasonic sensors, or remote temperature sensors, the system merges these capabilities into the existing heating device structure, using the sound sensor and controller already present in the apparatus.
2Temperature
If remote temperature sensor is used to sense temperature, then temperature monitoring is achieved, but measurement precision deteriorates because it measures container temperature rather than contents temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct temperature measurement (which would require contact with the contents) with acoustic measurement. The sound sensor detects sound signals generated by the contents during heating, and the controller analyzes these signals to infer both boiling status and temperature conditions, achieving precise measurement without direct contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound sensor acts as an intermediary between the heating contents and the monitoring system. Instead of directly measuring temperature, the system captures sound waves generated by the contents, which serve as an indirect but accurate indicator of the contents' thermal state and boiling condition.
3Reliability
If ultrasonic wave apparatus is installed to detect boiling, then boiling detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sound sensor in the heating apparatus performs multiple detection functions. It not only detects boiling status by analyzing vibration frequencies but also monitors for overheating conditions and identifies different types of sounds (water boiling, oil heating, microwave operation), replacing what would otherwise require multiple specialized sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating apparatus monitors its own operation using its built-in sound sensor and controller. The system automatically detects boiling status, adjusts heating power accordingly, and prevents overheating without requiring external monitoring equipment, making the apparatus self-regulating.
4Loss of information
If camera is installed to photograph food, then visual monitoring is improved, but processing resources required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual monitoring (camera-based image processing) with acoustic monitoring. Instead of capturing and analyzing images that require significant computational resources, the system uses the sound sensor to capture acoustic signals and the controller to analyze vibration frequencies, achieving equivalent monitoring information with minimal processing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound-based monitoring approach uses simple, low-cost acoustic signals that can be processed instantly without requiring expensive computational resources. The sound waves provide real-time information about boiling status and temperature, eliminating the need for complex image processing algorithms and high-performance computing hardware.
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 solution allows for accurate and efficient monitoring of the heating process without additional sensors, preventing overboiling and ensuring safe, effective cooking by directly measuring the sound and temperature of the contents, thus enhancing user convenience and stability.
Implementation Method 1
sensing a sound which is generated when the object to be heated is heated
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for estimating a state of an object to be heated based on sound which is generated when the object to be heated is heated, and providing the estimated information to other devices in an Internet of Things (IoT) environment through a 5G communication network. The heating apparatus may include a housing having a receiving space therein, a heating member disposed within the housing, a power supplier for supplying power to the heating member, a top plate disposed on the top of the housing to support the object to be heated, a sound sensor disposed on the bottom of the top plate, and a controller for predicting the state of the object to be heated by using a deep neural network model that has been trained through machine learning based on a sound signal received from the sound sensor.