Temperature-Maintaining Food Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food serving containers struggle to maintain food temperature without external power sources, are bulky, require manual temperature control, and lack features like portability, ease of use, and cosmetic appeal.
Innovation Solution
A battery-powered temperature-maintaining food server (BP-TMFS) with internal battery-powered large-area resistor heaters, a flexible substrate with metal resistor traces, and a control module to maintain settable temperatures, allowing for multiple temperature zones and wireless charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If passive approaches with large thermal mass or heat insulation are used, then portability and flexibility are improved, but temperature maintenance capability deteriorates over time
Solution Approach 1:
The food server is divided into separate functional components: a heating element module, a cooling element module, and a serving surface. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently - the heating/cooling modules can be compact and efficient, while the serving surface remains large and portable.
Solution Approach 2:
A thermally conductive intermediary layer is introduced between the heating/cooling elements and the food. This intermediary acts as a mediator that efficiently transfers thermal energy while allowing the heating elements to remain compact, thus maintaining temperature without requiring large thermal mass.
2Temperature
If active electrical approaches with integrated heaters are used, then temperature maintenance is improved, but portability deteriorates due to power source requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses wireless power transfer technology to charge internal batteries without requiring physical connection to external power sources. The food server can be charged by placing it near a wireless charging pad, enabling portable operation while maintaining temperature control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating and cooling elements operate in periodic cycles rather than continuously. The control system activates heating or cooling only when temperature deviations are detected, reducing overall power consumption and extending battery life for portable operation.
3Temperature
If active fuel-burning approaches are used, then temperature maintenance is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to setup and manual control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature sensors continuously monitor the food temperature and provide feedback to the control system. The controller automatically adjusts the heating or cooling element operation to maintain the desired temperature, eliminating the need for manual intervention and simplifying operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical and manual operations of fuel-burning systems are replaced with electronic control systems. The controller automatically manages power delivery to heating elements, replacing the need for manual fuel management, ignition, and temperature adjustment that characterized fuel-burning approaches.
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
The BP-TMFS effectively maintains food temperature without external power, is portable, easy to use, and aesthetically pleasing, with features like dishwasher safety and selective temperature control.
Implementation Method 1
The BP-TMFS provides heat by internal battery-powered large-area resistor heaters
Implementation Method 2
a battery assembly for rechargeable batteries
Implementation Method 3
The BP-TMFS can maintain the food temperature at a settable temperature
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the fields of temperature maintaining food servers by using rechargeable batteries as power source. The temperature maintaining food server has a long resistor heater covering most of the serving area and has a serving surface compatible with cutting and serving operation. The temperature maintaining food server is made to resist water for easy cleaning.