Method for controlling cooker

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Solution Overview

Problem

Steam supplied into the cooking chamber of steam cookers can be discharged, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage through porous parts, and uneven distribution within the chamber.

Innovation Solution

A method for controlling a cooker that includes furnishing steam into the cooking chamber while operating a convection fan and motor to ensure even circulation and prevent steam leakage through porous parts, using a combination of heating sources like upper heaters, halogen heaters, magnetrons, and steam generators to effectively cook food using steam.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If steam is supplied into the cooking chamber, then cooking effectiveness is improved, but steam may be discharged through porous parts causing reliability issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking effectivenessVSAvoidoperation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit operates the fan motor before steam is supplied into the cooking chamber to establish proper air circulation patterns. This preliminary action ensures that when steam is introduced, it will be properly circulated and not discharged through porous parts, thus maintaining reliability while enabling effective steam cooking

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If steam is supplied into the cooking chamber, then steam cooking function is enhanced, but steam distribution becomes uneven without additional components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesteam cooking efficiencyVSAvoidsteam distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The fan motor acts as an intermediary device that receives steam in the cooking chamber and actively distributes it throughout the space. This intermediary mechanism transforms the uneven steam distribution that would occur with simple steam supply into uniform distribution, enhancing cooking efficiency while ensuring even steam coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple heating sources and steam generation are combined, then cooking versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking function versatilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit is designed to manage multiple heating sources (upper heater, halogen heater, magnetron) and steam generation through a single integrated control system. This universal controller consolidates what would otherwise be separate control systems, enabling versatile cooking functions while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity through unified management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enhances cooking efficiency and safety by ensuring steam is evenly distributed within the cooking chamber, reducing steam leakage and improving the reliability of the cooking process.

Implementation Method 1

a steam function for supplying steam into a food is added to supplement moisture which is evaporated during the cooking of the food

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

when steam is furnished into a cooking chamber, a convection fan and a convection motor are operated. Thus, steam supplied into the cooking chamber will be more evenly circulated inside the cooking chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 3

using a combination of heating sources like upper heaters, halogen heaters, magnetrons, and steam generators

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal Radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 4

a porous part for transferring the energy of a heater installed outside the cooking chamber to the cooking chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConduction (thermal): Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 5

using a combination of heating sources like upper heaters, halogen heaters, magnetrons

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDielectric Heating: Dielectric Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3692867B1Method for controlling cooker
Publication Date: 2023.08.16 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3692867B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3692867B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3692867B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention provides a method for controlling a cooker, comprising: receiving a first manipulation signal for cooking food in a cooking chamber using at least one heating source; determining if a second manipulation signal for an operation of a steam heater and a water supply pump, is inputted before a preset heating start time according to the first manipulation signal has arrived; initiating operation of at least one of a halogen heater, the convection heater, a convection motor, a lamp and a fan motor at the preset heating start time, when it is determined that the second manipulation signal is not inputted before the preset heating start time has arrived; determining if the second manipulation signal is inputted before heating end time has arrived; and initiating operation of a steam heater and a water supply pump at a time when it is determined that the second manipulation signal is inputted before the heating end time has arrived.