Wireless SAW Sensor Integration for Food Processor Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric food processors with temperature sensors face limitations in flexibility and ease of cleaning, as well as inhomogeneous temperature distribution within cooking vessels and containers, due to wired connections and fixed sensor placements.
Innovation Solution
The use of surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors for wireless temperature measurement, allowing for flexible placement on various elements of the food processor, including cooking containers and spatulas, and the implementation of multiple sensors in different cooking zones to ensure homogeneous temperature distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wired temperature sensors are used in fixed positions, then temperature measurement is achieved, but cleaning and maintenance become difficult and device flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature sensor from the main vessel structure and places it on a separate, removable cooking container or accessory. This allows the sensor to be easily removed for cleaning without disassembling the entire device, while still providing accurate temperature measurements when the container is in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic positioning of temperature sensors on removable components that can be placed in different locations within the cooking chamber. This allows flexible sensor placement for different cooking scenarios while maintaining ease of cleaning by simply removing the component.
2Temperature
If multiple temperature sensors are placed in different cooking zones, then homogeneous temperature distribution is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cooking chamber into multiple zones and places temperature sensors in each zone on separate removable containers. This segmentation allows independent temperature monitoring and control in different areas, achieving homogeneous temperature distribution while keeping each sensor system simple and modular.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses universal removable containers that can be equipped with temperature sensors and placed in various cooking zones. These multi-functional containers serve both as cooking vessels and as sensor mounting platforms, reducing overall device complexity while enabling multi-zone temperature control.
3Reliability
If temperature sensors are integrated into fixed vessel structures, then stable temperature measurement is achieved, but adaptability to different cooking configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamically positionable temperature sensors mounted on removable cooking containers rather than fixed vessel structures. The sensors maintain stable measurements when the container is in place, while the container itself can be removed, repositioned, or replaced to adapt to different cooking configurations and recipes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the temperature sensing function from the main vessel structure by placing sensors on separate, interchangeable cooking containers. This allows each container-sensor assembly to be optimized for specific cooking tasks while maintaining reliable temperature measurement, and enables easy reconfiguration by swapping containers.
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
Enables easy cleaning and maintenance of temperature sensors, provides precise temperature measurement and control, ensuring uniform cooking quality across different zones, and allows for independent temperature regulation of cooking containers, enhancing the cooking process and product preparation.
Implementation Method 1
the temperature sensor be a surface acoustic wave sensor (SAW sensor), which enables a wireless temperature measurement based on surface acoustic waves
Implementation Method 2
the floor of the heating vessel can be heated with a heating device
Implementation Method 3
steam exiting the vessel can enter the cooking container
Implementation Method 4
condensate from the cooking container can flow into the vessel
Data Source
AI summary
An electrically operated food processor for preparing a cooked product, which exhibits a basic unit, a vessel with an agitator that can be inserted into the basic unit, a cooking container that sits on the vessel, a heating device allocated to the vessel, a temperature sensor, a transceiver device for communicating with the temperature sensor, and an evaluator for evaluating the measurement data received from the temperature sensor. In order to provide an electric food processor with an alternative connection between the temperature sensor and evaluator, the temperature sensor can be a surface acoustic wave sensor (SAW sensor).