WO2012084588A1

WO2012084588A1 - Assembly and method for capturing data in a cooking appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2012084588A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/072521
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernhard Koch; Gerhard Krimmel
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2010-12-21
Filing date: 2011-12-13
Publication date: 2012-06-28
Also published as: EP2655974A1; DE102010063712A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly for capturing data in a cooking appliance, having a measurement sensor (105) comprising at least one sensor (302-307; 401), having an evaluation unit (101, 402), which is connected to the at least one sensor (302-307; 401) by a two-wire line (301), wherein the evaluation unit (102, 402) is configured so that at least one measurement value or state of the at least one sensor (302-307; 401) can be queried. The invention further relates to a corresponding method and to a cooking appliance having such an assembly.

Description

description

Arrangement and method for data acquisition in a cooking appliance The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for data acquisition in a cooking appliance as well as to such a cooking appliance.

For automatically detecting a termination of a cooking process of a food (in particular a piece of meat) in a cooking appliance is often a

Core temperature probe used. By means of the core temperature sensor is a

Core temperature of a food tasted. Once the core temperature is one

has reached adjustable setpoint, this is detected by the cooking appliance. Of the

Core temperature sensor typically has a tube at the top of which a temperature sensor is located. A user puts the core temperature probe with its tip into the food to be monitored before the start of the cooking process.

Furthermore, a so-called multi-point core temperature sensor is known, along the feeler tube of which several thermocouples are arranged. In this case, all positive connections of the thermocouples and a common negative line are routed via a cable to the electronics of the cooking appliance. This arrangement requires in particular costly and expensive connectors.

The object of the invention is to avoid the abovementioned disadvantages and in particular to provide a solution which enables a wired transmission of a plurality of temperature readings of a temperature sensor, wherein preferably only a two-wire connection to a plurality of sensors of the temperature sensor is required.

This object is achieved according to the features of the independent claims. Further developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

To solve the problem, an arrangement for data acquisition in a cooking appliance is specified

with a sensor comprising at least one sensor,

- With an evaluation unit, via a two-wire cable with the

at least one sensor is connected, - Wherein the evaluation unit is set up such that at least one measured value or state of the at least one sensor can be queried.

It is advantageous that only a two-wire line must be provided to connect multiple sensors. In addition, it is advantageous that the at least one sensor, the necessary electrical energy can be provided via the two-wire line. In particular, it is advantageous that a bidirectional communication between the interrogation unit and the at least one sensor is made possible via the two-wire line. This allows a high flexibility in the communication with the sensors as well as an initialization of the sensors can be done quickly, versatile and largely independent of the actual placement of the probe.

It should be mentioned that instead of the two-wire line, further lines for data communication or power supply can be provided. For example, a multi-core bus comprising at least the two said lines may be provided. The power supply of the sensors can also be independent of the two-wire line. For example, the two- or multi-wire cable can be provided exclusively for data communication. Unlike the prior art, the sensors are connected to the bus, i. with the wires of the

Bus coupled. Thereby, efficient bi-directional communication can occur over a common communication medium (i.e., said bus). It is not necessary to provide separate lines for each sensor. A development is that the sensor is an active sensor and in particular has an energy store.

The energy store may, for example, be a (rechargeable) battery or a capacitor. The rechargeable battery or the capacitor can be charged via the two-core cable from the evaluation unit.

The active sensor can, for example, transmit data to the evaluation unit by means of the electrical energy made available to it. Another development is that the sensor has an identification number. The identification number may be a serial number, which is preferably randomly selected from a predefinable address space during production and allocated to the sensor (eg programmed in as part of production). As a result, the probability that two sensors with the same identification number are installed in the sensor can be kept low in a simple manner.

In particular, it is a development that the probe has a variety of

Sensors, each having its own hardware address, which is dependent on the position of the sensor on the probe.

The hardware address can be specified by a wiring of the sensor. For this purpose, the sensor preferably comprises a plurality of terminals (pins), which may be occupied or not occupied. The combination of assignment or non-assignment of the connections results in 2 ^k hardware addresses, where k is the number of hardware addresses

Connections is.

It is also a further development that an initialization can be carried out between the at least one sensor and the evaluation unit, by means of which the evaluation unit determines the identification numbers of the at least one sensor and on the basis of the

Hardware address determines the position of the sensor on the probe.

Thus, it is advantageous that fast and flexible, e.g. each time after plugging the probe into the cooking device, an initialization can be done. Also, the initialization itself is flexible, so that the probe can be equipped with only a part of the possible sensors.

Furthermore, it is a development that the sensor has at least two sensors which are connected in parallel and both are connected to the two-wire line of the sensor.

In the context of an additional development, data communication with the at least one sensor can be carried out via the two-wire line. The two-wire line serves in particular as a bidirectional communication bus. A next development consists in that the at least one sensor can be supplied with electrical energy via the two-wire line.

Thus, the communication bus can be used to power the sensors. In particular, rechargeable energy storage of the sensors on the

Communication bus to be loaded. The energy stores are preferably sized so that the sensors based on the stored energy with the

Be able to communicate evaluation or transfer data to the evaluation unit.

One embodiment is that the sensor is one of the following sensors:

a temperature sensor,

a brightness sensor,

a humidity sensor,

- a pressure sensor.

Thus, it is possible for the sensors to provide temperature readings, brightness information, humidity information, and / or pressure readings. Combinations of the aforementioned sensors can also be arranged on the measuring sensor.

An alternative embodiment consists in that the evaluation unit is set up such that the at least one measured value or state of the at least one sensor of a control unit of a cooking appliance is provided. The control unit of the cooking appliance can influence the control of the cooking appliance by means of the data provided by the evaluation unit and / or

Display information on a display unit.

The above object is also achieved by means of a cooking appliance with an evaluation unit, which is designed as described herein.

Furthermore, the above object is achieved by a method for data acquisition in a cooking appliance,

wherein at least one sensor of a measuring sensor is connected via a two-wire line to an evaluation unit,

in which at least one measured value or state of the at least one sensor is interrogated by the evaluation unit, - In which the queried at least one measured value or state is transmitted from the at least one sensor to the evaluation unit.

Accordingly, the other embodiments and examples explained here also apply to the named method.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated and explained below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

1 shows a schematic representation of a system comprising a

Measuring sensor, which has several temperature sensors and is inserted in a food to be cooked, the sensor with a bipolar

Connection socket is connected, which is connected to an evaluation unit; schematically in a sectional view of the sensor of Figure 1; Fig. 3 shows the printed circuit board of Fig. 2 with a plurality of sensors (e.g.

Temperature sensors) which are connected in parallel with each other and connected to a two-wire connecting line; schematically a message flow diagram between a sensor and an evaluation unit.

Based on the solution proposed here, it is possible to connect a plurality of sensors, in particular temperature sensors, which are provided in a sensor, in particular in a core temperature sensor for insertion into a food, via a two-core cable, in particular to provide electrical power as well as with each of these Sensors communicate via this line.

Preferably, at least one sensor is arranged in the measuring sensor, in particular up to 16 sensors can be provided. Of course, more than 16 sensors are possible. In this way, a plurality of measuring points corresponding to the number of sensors can be detected on the basis of the measuring sensor and transmitted via the two-wire line to a suitable evaluation unit and / or to a cooking appliance. In particular, the sensors may be arranged on or in a suitable carrier material, for example in a sensor tube suitable for use with food. The sensor tube can be inserted into the food. The of the

Sensors provided data can be transmitted from the evaluation in a defined format via a predetermined interface to the cooking appliance or other device control. Alternatively, it is also possible that the

Device control e.g. regularly collects or requests the data cached by the evaluation unit.

On the basis of the data obtained, the device control can optimize the cooking process and / or inform a user of different states of the cooking process.

The sensors preferably have a digital serial communication interface, wherein both data are transmitted via the two-wire connection to the evaluation unit and energy can be supplied to the sensors. Preferably, the sensor comprises an energy store (e.g., a capacitor or a battery) such that the sensor receives a condition or measurement, e.g. can transmit a temperature to the evaluation unit. The communication with the sensors can be bidirectional so that e.g. the evaluation unit can specifically address a sensor and receives the requested information from this sensor.

1 shows a schematic representation of a system comprising a measuring sensor 105, which has a plurality of temperature sensors and is plugged into a food 106. The measuring sensor 105 is connected to a two-pole connecting socket 104, which is connected to an evaluation unit 101. Furthermore, the evaluation unit 101 is connected to a device control 102 of the cooking appliance comprising the cooking chamber 103. 2 shows schematically in a sectional view the measuring sensor 105, which has a sensor tube 202, wherein in the sensor tube 202, a printed circuit board 201 having a plurality of

Sensors is arranged. The sensor 105 further comprises a handle 203, through a line is connected to a plug 204. The plug can be connected to the connection socket 104 shown in FIG.

Fig. 3 shows the printed circuit board 201 of Fig. 2 with a plurality of sensors (e.g.

Temperature sensors) 302 to 307, which are connected in parallel with each other and connected to a two-wire connecting line 301. The two-wire connection cable connects the sensors 302 to 307 with the evaluation unit 101 (see FIG. 1).

The evaluation unit 101 supplies the sensors 302 to 307 with electrical energy (for example 3.3V). Preferably, the sensors 302-307 are implemented as active sensors so that they have the electrical energy needed to transmit data (e.g., temperature values or initialization). This can e.g. can be achieved by the sensors have a capacitor, which, after being connected to the evaluation unit (or the

Evaluation unit provided energy) was loaded, the respective sensor provides the necessary energy to send data.

Thus, it is possible that between the sensors 302 to 307 and the

Evaluation unit 101 is a bidirectional communication. So can the

Evaluation unit 101 after initialization of the sensors 302 to 307 query the temperature of each sensor and for further processing to the

Forward device control 102. There, the cooking appliance can also be controlled based on the data obtained and / or it can be a user

Information is provided concerning e.g. the temperature (s) in the food 106 or - based on the temperatures or temperature changes along the sensor 105 - a still required cooking time for the food 106.

The communication between the evaluation unit 101 and the sensors 302 to 307, in particular the initialization of the sensors 302 to 307, can take place in different ways. Hereinafter, a possibility using a serial digital protocol will be described by way of example.

The evaluation unit 101 supplies (or charges) the individual sensors with a predetermined voltage, for example 3.3V. Communication takes place via the two-wire connection line to the sensors, which in this case serves as a data bus between the sensors 302 and 307 and the evaluation unit 101. For example, a logic "0" may be indicated by the voltage of 3.3V for a short time "0" is placed and a logical "1" can be indicated by the

Voltage of 3.3V is set to "0" for a long time. Thus, the evaluation unit 101 can transmit binary signals via the two-wire bus to the sensors 302 to 307 and the sensors 302 to 307 can transmit binary signals to the evaluation unit 101.

For example, the sensors have an identification code or a serial number with a length of 48 bits, ie there are 2 ⁴⁸ distinguishable sensors. If, for example, 15 sensors are mounted in the sensor, then there is only a small amount

Probability to select two sensors with the same serial number.

Furthermore, each sensor can have four (additional) ports, on the hardware side, a mounting position is linked: For example, the sensor in the top over all four ports (this corresponds to a logical hardware address "11 11") is controlled and the sensor, the handle on the next one is not addressed via any of the four ports (corresponding to a logical hardware address "0000"). This means that 2 ⁴ hardware addresses can be set, ie 16 sensor positions can be coded along the sensor. FIG. 4 schematically shows a message flow diagram between a sensor 401 and an evaluation unit 402. FIG. 4 shows by way of example only the one sensor 401, wherein according to the illustration shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of sensors 302 to 307 can be connected to the connection line 301. The connection line 301 represents the communication connection to the sensors 302 to 307, that is also to the sensor 401 shown in FIG. 4; this communication link can be considered as a two-wire bus. Optionally, the sensor 401 can be supplied with electrical energy via this two-wire bus. Preferably, the sensor 401 has an energy store (eg, a capacitor) that can be charged via the two-wire bus. After the charging process, which is completed relatively quickly, the sensor 401 has sufficient electrical energy to be able to transmit data via the two-wire bus to the evaluation unit 402.

By way of example, the sensor shown in FIG. 4 has a serial number "11" (binary). This short serial number serves above all the exemplary representation of the

Communication between the sensor 401 and the evaluation unit 402; in Actual scenarios are preferably used longer serial numbers, for example 48Bit.

After commissioning of the sensor, the evaluation unit 402 does not know the sensors installed in it; Also, the evaluation unit does not know at which position of the sensor tube the sensors are installed.

First, the evaluation unit 402 sends a request 403 via the two-wire bus to all sensors (broadcast message) and asks the connected sensors (also the sensor 401) to transmit their serial numbers to the evaluation unit. This is done bitwise, i. the sensors transmit the first bit of the serial number. If the first bit of the serial number is logic "0", the sensor transmits a 0-pulse of short duration and at a logic "1" the sensor transmits a 0-pulse long duration. The evaluation unit 402 thus receives at several connected

Sensors, at least one of which has a serial number starting with logic "1", a binary "1" - the other "0" signals possibly transmitted by other sensors are covered by the at least one "1" signal and are for the evaluation unit 402 is not visible or recognizable. In concrete terms, this means in the example of FIG. 4 that the sensor 401 also transmits the first bit "1" to the evaluation unit in a message 404.

Since the evaluation unit 402 has received a "1" signal in this example, the evaluation unit 402 sends a message 405 to the sensors that all sensors whose first bit of the serial number equals "0" do not coincide with the transmission of the

Continue serial number. Then only those sensors send the second bit of the serial number whose first bit of the serial number is "1". In the present case, the sensor 401 thus sends in a message 406 its second bit of the serial number, that is to say a logical "1".

In the example it is assumed that the serial number has a length of two bits and that all connected sensors have a different one

Serial number. The evaluation unit 402 knows after receiving the message 406 (it only sees the "1" signal, a possibly also sent "0" signal is for the

Evaluation unit not recognizable), that the serial number "1 1" from a sensor (namely the sensor 401 shown by way of example) is used. The initialization or detection of further sensors proceeds according to the above principle in that the evaluation unit 402 specifically instructs the sensors that only those sensors are to respond whose (next) bit is not "0" or not "1". Thus, the evaluation unit 402 can query the binary address space and determine sequentially which addresses are occupied by sensors of the sensor.

The evaluation unit 402 stores the addresses of the detected sensors and can now specifically address these sensors in a question-answer protocol. This also ensures that only one of the sensors always responds. For example, the evaluation unit 402 may send a message 407 (request) to the detected sensor 401 asking for the hardware address of the sensor 401. The sensor 401 then transmits its hardware address in a (response) message 408 to the evaluation unit 402. As already stated above, the hardware address indicates where the sensor 401 is placed along the sensor tube. The hardware address results from the wiring of the terminals of the sensor 401, which is detected by the sensor 401 and can be transmitted to the evaluation unit 402. The evaluation unit 402 knows which hardware address corresponds to which position and can therefore forward the data to the device controller.

Furthermore, it is possible that with a request a physical quantity is interrogated by the sensor 401 and the sensor 401 correspondingly delivers a value of this magnitude to the evaluation unit 402. This corresponds to the message schema

comparable to request 407 and associated response 408.

For example, the sensor 401 may be a temperature sensor that provides a current temperature. The sensor may also be a moisture sensor or a brightness sensor, with moisture or brightness information correspondingly being supplied to the evaluation unit 402.

The solution presented here has the advantage that a plurality of temperature values of a food can be detected by means of the plurality of sensors, without the need for complicated wiring of the sensors or complex connectors for a large number of sensors. Another advantage is the flexibility to change the number of measuring points. For example, the number of measuring points between 1 and 15 can vary without much effort. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

101 evaluation unit

102 Device control

103 cooking space (of a cooking appliance)

104 connection socket

105 sensors

106 Food (Food) 201 Printed circuit board

202 sensor tube

203 handle

204 plug 301 connection cable (two-wire)

302 sensor

303 sensor

304 sensor

305 sensor

306 sensor

307 sensor

401 sensor

402 evaluation unit

403 to 408 messages between sensor and evaluation unit

Claims

claims

Arrangement for data acquisition in a cooking appliance

- With a measuring sensor (105) comprising at least one sensor (302-307;

401)

with an evaluation unit (101, 402) which is connected via a two-wire line (301) to the at least one sensor (302-307; 401),

- wherein the evaluation unit (101, 402) is arranged such that

at least one measured value or state of the at least one sensor (302-307; 401) can be interrogated.

Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (302-307; 401) is an active sensor and in particular has an energy store.

Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, in which the sensor has an identification number.

Arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of

Arrangement according to claim 4, wherein between the at least one sensor and the evaluation unit, an initialization is carried out, based on which the evaluation unit determines the identification numbers of the at least one sensor and based on the hardware address, the position of the sensor on the sensor.

Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, in which the measuring sensor has at least two sensors (302-307; 401) which are connected in parallel and both are connected to the two-wire line of the sensor.

7. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the over

two-wire line data communication with the at least one sensor is feasible.

8. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sensor can be supplied with electrical energy via the two-wire line.

Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, in which the sensor is one of the following sensors:

a temperature sensor,

a brightness sensor,

a humidity sensor,

- a pressure sensor.

Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, in which the

Evaluation unit is set up such that the at least one measured value or state of the at least one sensor of a control unit of a cooking appliance is provided.

Cooking appliance with an evaluation unit according to one of claims 1 to 10.

Method for data acquisition in a cooking appliance,

in which at least one measured value or state of the at least one sensor is interrogated by the evaluation unit,

- In which the queried at least one measured value or state is transmitted from the at least one sensor to the evaluation unit.