Toaster sensing device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toasting appliances face challenges in accurately measuring the chromatic properties of food due to temperature fluctuations affecting LED performance, leading to inconsistent toasting results, as sensing components are often positioned near heating elements, requiring continuous performance testing and normalization.
Innovation Solution
A sensor assembly is positioned in cooler zones within the toaster, using a heat reflector and heat sink to stabilize the sensor device, and adjustable mirrors or light pipes to direct light to the food while minimizing heat exposure, allowing for accurate chromatic property detection without normalization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sensor device is positioned near the heating element to enable direct line of sight access to the food surface, then the chromatic measurement capability is improved, but the LED light intensity varies due to high temperature causing measurement inaccuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the optical path into separate segments: the LED and detector remain in the cool external environment, while mirrors positioned inside the heating chamber direct light to and from the food surface. This segmentation allows the sensing components to operate in stable temperature conditions while still measuring food chromatic properties through the heated zone.
Solution Approach 2:
Mirrors serve as intermediary elements that transfer light between the cool sensor environment and the hot food surface. The mirrors are positioned to reflect LED light onto the food and redirect reflected light to the detector, enabling chromatic measurement without exposing sensitive electronic components to high temperatures.
2Reliability
If the sensor device is positioned in a cooler zone away from the heating element, then the LED performance stability is improved, but direct line of sight access to the food surface is blocked by appliance internal parts
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses mirrors to change the dimensional path of light, allowing it to reach the food surface from angles that avoid obstructions. By reflecting light off mirror surfaces positioned strategically within the chamber, the system achieves line of sight to the food without requiring the sensor to be in direct visual contact with it.
3Measurement precision
If continuous LED performance testing is conducted to normalize light values across temperatures, then the measurement accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The solution extracts the sensor device from the high-temperature environment entirely, placing it in the cool external environment of the toaster. By doing so, the need for continuous temperature-based normalization is eliminated, as the LED operates in stable ambient conditions throughout operation, removing the complexity of performance testing and software updates.
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 setup improves the accuracy and reliability of chromatic measurements by maintaining optimal sensor performance and reducing temperature-related errors, ensuring consistent toasting without the need for continuous LED performance testing.
Implementation Method 1
a heat reflector having a heat reflector surface... the heat reflector is to be positioned between the side wall and the sensor device
Implementation Method 2
a light source to produce a source light beam directed at the wall portion so as to illuminate a portion of the product so as to produce a reflected beam, a light sensor fixed with respect to the light source and aligned with the wall portion so as to receive the reflected beam
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A toaster (103) having a side wall (10) with a reflective surface (16) to reflect radiant heat towards a toasting chamber (13), and an external surface to which there is attached a sensor assembly (12). The sensor assembly (12) provides a source beam to illuminate part of the product and receives a reflected beam that is received by a sensor, with the sensor providing a signal indicative of a property of the reflected beam and therefore a chromatic property of the product.