BE1030884B1 - Method for operating a cooking appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (20) for operating a cooking appliance (1) with a cooking chamber (3), a camera device (15) and at least one transmission means (13) for transmitting information to a user, wherein images of the cooking chamber (3) are recorded (21) by the camera device (15) and a loading state of the cooking chamber (3) is determined (22) based on the images, wherein in the absence of a cooking item (6) and absence of a baking stone (16) a first loading state is determined, wherein in the absence of a cooking item (6) arranged in the cooking chamber (3) a second loading state is determined, wherein in the absence of a baking stone (16) arranged in the cooking chamber (3) a third loading state is determined, wherein in the first loading state at least a first piece of information is transmitted to the user at a first point in time by means of the transmission means (13) (23) and wherein in the third loading state at least the first piece of information is transmitted to the user at a second point in time by means of the transmission means (13). becomes (24).

Description

Method for operating a cooking appliance

Technical area

The invention relates to a method for operating a cooking appliance with a heatable

Cooking chamber, a camera device for observing the cooking chamber and at least one

Transmission means for transmitting information to a user. Furthermore, the invention relates to a cooking appliance, in particular an oven, wherein the cooking appliance is

is trained to carry out such a procedure.

Background of the invention

Cooking appliances, especially ovens, are known from the state of the art. In everyday use, these are often not optimally used by users in terms of their

For example, such cooking appliances are often operated according to the

Preheating is carried out empty for a further period of time before food is placed in the cooking chamber, for example if a user does not register that the desired cooking chamber temperature has been reached.

However, information such as references to the energetically unfavorable state are perceived as annoying if they exceed a sensitive level of intrusiveness or do not correspond to the usage situation of the cooking appliance.

Cooking appliances, especially ovens, are also known to have camera devices in which a camera image is used, for example, to identify a specific food item. In this case, predetermined cooking programs are started by the cooking appliance depending on the food item identified and then run through.

From DE 10 2018 221 749 A1 an oven is known in which a camera is used to

The configuration of the cooking chamber, in particular the accessories arranged therein, is recognized and assessed with regard to its suitability for a specific cooking process.

Description of the invention

Based on the background of the invention, it is an object of the present

Invention to propose a method for operating a cooking appliance by means of which a

Reduction of the energy consumption of the cooking appliance is made possible without the user considering the process to be a nuisance.

The object of the invention is solved by the features of the independent main claims. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims. If technically possible, the teachings of the subclaims can be combined as desired with the teachings of the

Main and sub-claims are combined.

Advantages of the claimed aspects of the invention are explained below and preferred modified embodiments of the aspects of the invention are described further below.

Explanations, particularly regarding advantages and definitions of features, are essentially descriptive and preferred, but not limiting examples. If a

Explanation is limiting, this is expressly mentioned.

As far as elements are designated by means of a numbering, for example “first

Element”, “second element” and “third element”, this numbering is purely for

Differentiation in the designation is provided and does not represent a dependency of the elements from one another or a mandatory order of the elements. This means in particular that, for example, a device or a method does not have to have a "first element" in order to be able to have a "second element". The device or the method can also have a "first element" and a "third element" without necessarily having a "second element". Several units of a

Elements of a single numbering can be provided, for example several “first elements”.

According to one aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a method for operating a cooking appliance with a heatable cooking chamber, a camera device for observing the cooking chamber and at least one transmission means for transmitting information to a user, wherein images of the cooking chamber are recorded by the camera device and a loading state of the cooking chamber is determined on the basis of the images, wherein in the absence of a cooking product and absence of a baking stone, a first

loading condition is determined, whereby when the food is arranged in the cooking chamber, a second loading condition is determined, whereby when the food is arranged in the cooking chamber

Brick a third loading condition is determined, whereby in the first

loading state at least a first piece of information at a first point in time by means of the

means of transmission to the person using it and the third

loading condition at least the first information at a second time by means of the

means of transmission to the person using it.

A cooking appliance is designed in particular as an oven in which for the preparation of a

For example, temperatures of around 100-250°C are provided in the cooking chamber. The cooking appliance can also be used as an oven with a pyrolysis function, a

Steam cooking function and/or with an integrated microwave. The cooking appliance can also be designed as a steamer, microwave or stove.

The cooking chamber of the cooking appliance is preferably designed as a cavity in a housing of the cooking appliance that is insulated from an outer wall of the cooking appliance by means of thermal insulation. Preferably, the cooking chamber can be filled with food to be cooked via an opening or such food to be cooked can be removed from the cooking chamber via the opening, wherein the

Opening can be closed, for example, by means of a cooking chamber door. In or on the cooking chamber, for example, means for radiating

Heat, for convective transfer of heat, for transferring heat by means of

Heat conduction and/or for transferring heat by induction and means for

Circulating the air in the cooking chamber. Heating is used for both the

Increase as well as maintain with simultaneous heat loss, for example through

Waste heat, a cooking chamber temperature.

The camera device is arranged in particular outside the cooking chamber, with a

A viewing window is set into the cooking chamber wall through which the camera device can

The camera device is preferably arranged above the cooking chamber and looks from above at the area that is intended for arranging a cooking product. The camera device can also be arranged at the side of the cooking chamber and look laterally at the said area. An arrangement with an oblique

perspective of the cooking chamber is possible. The camera device includes, for example, a 2D camera, but can alternatively or additionally also include a 3D camera, for example as

TOF camera.

The means of transmission for transmitting information to a user may be, for example, a corresponding screen and/or a means for generating

Noises such as a loudspeaker on the cooking appliance are provided. Alternatively or additionally, an information technology device is provided as a transmission medium, by means of which information is sent to a terminal device such as a smartphone for local

display in an app and/or to generate a notification there. This is, for example, a network adapter such as a

WLAN adapter or a Bluetooth adapter. The transmission means preferably comprise or preferably work together with corresponding data processing means for

Processing the camera images and/or information derived therefrom, means for

Collecting additional information and/or means of presenting the information.

A determined loading state applies to both accessories arranged in the cooking chamber and food arranged in the cooking chamber. The first loading state corresponds to an empty cooking chamber, i.e. the absence of objects whose temperature control requires a

The aim of the operation of the cooking appliance is. Such items are in particular cooking items whose

Tempering is the main purpose of the operation of the cooking appliance. Such items can also be formed by accessories that require tempering without food to be cooked, such as

Baking stones, especially pizza stones. Such baking stones must be placed on the

The food must be sufficiently preheated, especially for significantly longer than the

Reaching a desired cooking chamber temperature when preheating the cooking appliance. Such bricks have a high heat capacity and react accordingly slowly to temperature changes, so that they must first be heated through before they can be used to cook food.

Temperature changes occur slowly enough so that no

Temperature stresses arise in the brick, which can damage the brick.

The solution to the problem with the method described above therefore includes the teaching that the camera device is used to detect whether there is food and/or a brick in the cooking chamber. If it is detected that this is not the case and, for example, the desired preheating of the cooking device has been completed, this is a first operating state that is energetically unfavorable, since the heat energy applied is not used to heat the food. The first information is then transmitted to the user at a first point in time, for example immediately after the end of a preheating process, and is intended to inform the user or to remind them that their behavior is causing the cooking device to be operated in an energetically unfavorable manner. If the preheating process has not progressed far enough for food to be introduced, the first information is not yet considered relevant and is therefore omitted in order to avoid the user finding the first information annoying. If, on the other hand, a brick is detected, which is also associated with the absence of

The first information at the first time would not be relevant, since the cooking appliance may be preheated, but the baking stone is not yet sufficiently tempered. According to the invention, therefore, between the first and second

Loading condition is differentiated and the first information is given in the second

loading state much later than in the first loading state, for example after an additional preheating time has elapsed or after reaching another

Criterion such as a measured surface temperature of the brick.

The first information and/or the way in which the first information is transmitted can be chosen depending on how urgently the information should be transmitted to the person using it. The described aspect of the invention therefore comprises a simple pictorial

Warning on a screen of the cooking appliance, the generation of a warning sound, up to repeated notifications via the screen, by sounds and/or by

The first piece of information therefore directly or indirectly prompts the user to operate the cooking appliance in a more energy-efficient manner,

so that a corresponding energy-efficient operation is achieved or the energy-unfavourable operation is prevented with a certain probability. In an embodiment in which only the first information is transmitted, or insofar as only the first information is transmitted, the decision-making power as to how the cooking appliance should be operated is left to the person using it, without

Operation of the cooking appliance is intervened.

In one embodiment, the first information includes an energy consumption warning and/or a request to load the cooking chamber. The person using the appliance is then informed of the energy-unfavorable state and/or that the food to be cooked should be placed in the cooking chamber.

Particularly preferably, the cooking appliance has a temperature measuring device for detecting a

Cooking chamber temperature and the first time is considered to be reaching a set

Cooking chamber temperature is determined after preheating the cooking chamber. Continuing to operate the cooking appliance without food does not fulfill any further

It no longer serves a purpose and only leads to the dissipation of heat energy. In terms of energy consumption, it is then urgently necessary to bring the food into the cooking chamber so that the heating energy used is used to temper the food. By recording the cooking chamber temperature, the point in time at which the desired cooking chamber temperature is reached and/or kept stable, i.e. when preheating is complete, is determined with particular precision. A temperature measuring device is used, for example, as

Measuring probe, for example with a temperature sensor with a Pt element, or as

Infrared sensor and measures the cooking chamber temperature as air temperature directly in the cooking chamber or a temperature defined by the cooking chamber temperature. It is also within the meaning of the invention if the person using the device is informed at the first

The information is transmitted regarding the loading status while the cooking appliance is heating up, so that the food to be cooked can usually be placed in the cooking appliance during preheating to reduce energy consumption.

Furthermore, the second point in time is particularly preferred with a defined time interval after reaching a set cooking chamber temperature after preheating the

The continued operation of the cooking appliance after preheating then serves another purpose, namely tempering the baking stone, for which the food should not be placed. The defined time interval will limit this

Circumstance is taken into account. In particular, no first information is transmitted which would have to be ignored by the person using the brick due to the ongoing tempering of the brick and would thus be perceived as particularly annoying, as would be the case if no distinction were made between the first and the third loading state. Furthermore, in the third loading state, further information can be transmitted to the person using the transmission means, which is aimed at the estimated or determined time until a (core) temperature of the brick is reached.

Brick to be specified.

In one embodiment, the transmission of the first information is omitted when the second loading state is determined. In this case, no first information is transmitted in the second

Loading condition, especially since the applied heating energy is used as intended to temper the food. It is also possible that if the load of food is determined to be very low compared to the capacity of the cooking chamber, further information is transmitted to the user by means of the transmission medium, which is purely informative that the energy expenditure by the cooking appliance for preparing a small amount of food is relatively high. When operating the cooking appliance with a low

Load is in itself an energetically unfavourable situation, since the cooking appliance, if it is designed for significantly larger quantities of food, must be heated up completely and operated for the cooking time of the food. For example, in an oven with a cooking chamber suitable for several trays of food, a comparatively large amount of energy is used if only one or two rolls are cooked or baked in it.

In yet another embodiment, at least one setting of the cooking appliance is determined in the first loading state or the third loading state. In addition to the

The first information transmitted then influences the cooking appliance in such a way that the energetically unfavorable state is left or at least changed to an energetically more favorable one.

state. In particular, a heating output is determined accordingly, in particular reduced or heating is stopped completely. The speed of a fan can also be determined as at least one setting of the cooking appliance.

The cooking appliance setting is preferably only determined when a corresponding time has passed after the first time or second time, the

Conditions for the transmission of the first information over a certain period of time are present, and/or if the first information is repeated and/or with increased

has been transferred with emphasis in order to avoid a feeling of excessive external control in the person using it. It is also in the spirit of the invention if the

Determination of the setting of the cooking appliance, especially with sufficient time

Advance notice to the person using it.

In a preferred embodiment of the above-described embodiment, at least a second piece of information about the specific setting is transmitted to the user by means of the transmission means. The user is then informed that the setting has been determined and can react accordingly. This also prevents the user from getting the feeling of being controlled by someone else.

In a further preferred embodiment, the loading state is determined by means of

In particular, the cooking appliance has a

Data processing device by means of which elements of an image are identified so that, for example, objects in the image are recognized. In particular, the

Data processing device at least configured to use the image recognition

Food and/or accessories in the cooking chamber are recognized. In one embodiment, images recorded by the camera device are first blurred for image recognition, converted to a gray image and/or reduced in resolution.

Preferably, the cooking appliance is designed as an oven and the first loading state is determined when an unloaded baking tray, an unloaded grid or a cooking chamber wall is detected. A cooking chamber wall is detected in particular when no baking tray or grid is arranged in the cooking chamber, i.e. when the camera device is arranged in such a way that a baking tray or grid is

A baking tray or wire rack arranged in the cooking chamber provides the camera with a clear view of the

Cooking chamber wall would prevent/restrict or prevents/restricts. Whether a

Whether the baking tray or wire rack is unloaded can also be determined, for example, by a contrast image, a light-dark comparison and/or edge detection.

In one embodiment, the loading state of the cooking chamber is monitored at specific

intervals. For example, the camera device can be set up to take pictures at a certain frequency, with each of these images being processed to determine the loading status of the cooking chamber. The time-determined interval at which the loading status is determined then corresponds to the image refresh rate of the

Camera device. Preferably, however, the loading condition is determined at significantly longer time intervals in order to reduce the processing effort for a corresponding

data processing device. For example, it may be sufficient to

The loading status of the cooking chamber can be determined at intervals of a few seconds to minutes. Alternatively or additionally, the cooking appliance has a cooking chamber door and the

The loading status of the cooking chamber is displayed immediately after a detected opening and/or

Closing the cooking chamber door. Such opening/closing of the cooking chamber door is regularly accompanied by a change in the loading state of the cooking chamber, so that a

Checking the loading condition is then indicated.

Furthermore, preference is given to the third loading condition and the undershooting of a

Minimum temperature is transmitted to the user by a set cooking chamber temperature. In this way, it is checked whether the set

Temperature basically for the benefit of a brick with the required high

temperatures are sufficient and the person using it is informed accordingly if this is not the case.

In one embodiment, in the third loading state, at least a fourth

Information at a third point in time by means of the transmission medium to the using

Person, the fourth information comprising a temperature recommendation and/or a time recommendation for preheating the baking stone before a cooking process, intermediate heating of the baking stone between two cooking processes of the baking stone after a cooking process and/or a recommendation for an operating mode of the cooking appliance. The person using the device is then informed, for example, immediately after detecting the third loading state, how long the baking stone must be preheated in order to achieve a favorable

Such a time recommendation can be determined, for example, based on the recognized geometric dimensions of the baking stone and the set and/or measured cooking chamber temperature, assuming certain thermal properties of the baking stone. Furthermore, for example, the person using the baking stone is given a

Temperature is suggested at which the baking stone can be preheated at a comfortable speed, but without the risk of damage. The fourth piece of information is transmitted, for example, before a (first) cooking process to preheat the baking stone. If the first cooking process, for example the cooking of a first pizza, is followed by another cooking process, for example the cooking of a second pizza, or further

Cooking processes, the third information is used, for example, for intermediate heating of the

The fourth piece of information then ensures that the baking stone is heated before the next

The fourth piece of information is a

Recommendation for an operating mode of the cooking appliance, efforts are made to ensure that an operating mode suitable for heating the baking stone without damage is used, for example top/bottom heat in an oven, and an operating mode that may lead to an excessively high temperature gradient and corresponding

This avoids thermal stresses on the brick.

According to the embodiment described above, the fourth information can be provided in writing, for example, and can read something like “Baking stone is heating up, please do not place food on top for xx minutes”, “Baking stone detected, please select operating mode xy at temperature yz” or “Baking stone must be heated up again, please do not place next food on top for xx minutes”.

The object is also achieved by a cooking appliance, in particular an oven, for cooking food, comprising a heatable cooking chamber, a camera device for

Observing the cooking chamber and a transmission means for transmitting information to a user, wherein the cooking appliance is designed to carry out a previously described

In particular, the cooking appliance has a

Data processing device which is set up to carry out the method. The

The cooking appliance then has the advantages described above with regard to the method.

Short description of the drawings

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings using preferred embodiments. The wording figure is in the

Drawings abbreviated with Fig.

In the drawings show

Fig. 1a is a schematic sectional view through a cooking appliance according to one aspect of the

Invention with a cooking chamber empty except for a baking tray;

Fig. 1b is a schematic sectional view through a cooking appliance according to one aspect of the

Invention with a cooking chamber loaded with food; and ı5 Fig. 1C is a schematic sectional view through a cooking appliance according to an aspect of the

Invention with a baking stone arranged in the cooking chamber; and

Fig. 2 is a process diagram of a method according to one aspect of the invention.

Detailed description of the drawings

The described embodiments are merely examples that are intended to be used within the

Claims may be modified and/or supplemented in a variety of ways. Each feature described for a particular embodiment may be used independently or in

combination with other features in any other embodiment. Any feature that is suitable for an embodiment of a particular

The claim category described may also be described in a corresponding manner in a

embodiment of another claim category.

Figures 1a to 1c each show a cooking appliance 1 designed as an oven with a housing (not shown) and a cooking chamber 3 arranged in the housing. The

Cooking chamber 3 is separated on an upper side by a first cooking chamber wall 4.1, on a lower

side by a second cooking chamber wall 4.2, to a front side by a third

Cooking chamber wall 4.3 and to a rear side by a fourth cooking chamber wall 4.4, whereby the cooking chamber 3 is further limited by cooking chamber walls not shown on a right side and a left side. In the cooking chamber 3 there is a

Baking tray 5 is arranged, which is empty in Figure 1a, on which a food item 6 is placed in Figure 1b, and on which a baking stone 16 is placed in Figure 1c. The cooking chamber walls 4.1, 4.2, 4.4 can be insulated from the housing in a manner not shown.

The third cooking chamber wall 4.3 is formed by a cooking chamber door 7, wherein the cooking chamber door 7s can be swung open to open or close an opening 8 of the cooking chamber 3. The

Cooking chamber door 7 is made of multiple glazing, has a handle 7.1 and is sealed against the first cooking chamber wall 4.1 by means of a seal 10.

Above and outside the cooking chamber 3, a camera device 15 is arranged, which

Observing the cooking chamber 3. Between the camera device 15 and the 10 cooking chamber 3, a viewing window 9 is set into the first cooking chamber wall 4.1. The

Camera device 15 is directed downwards and observes the cooking chamber 3 through the

Viewing window 9 in plan view, as indicated by a viewing cone of the camera device 15. Furthermore, a temperature measuring device 14 is arranged in the cooking chamber 3, which

Determines the cooking chamber temperature and is designed, for example, as a temperature sensor.

The cooking appliance 1 has a data processing device 12 for processing images from the camera device 15 and for determining at least one setting of the cooking appliance 1. In particular, the data processing device 12 is designed for data exchange with the

Temperature measuring means 14 and/or the camera device 15. The cooking appliance 1 also has a transmission means 13 such as a WLAN adapter, a Bluetooth

adapter, a screen or a means of generating noise. In the

A fan 17 for circulating air is also arranged in the cooking chamber 3.

The camera device 15 or the data processing device 12 are now set up to determine the loading state of the cooking chamber 3. If the

Camera device 15, for example by means of image recognition carried out by means of the data processing device 12, an empty baking tray 5 as in Figure 1a, a first

The camera device 15 would accordingly determine the load condition

The second cooking chamber wall 4.2 covered by the baking tray 5 can be detected if the baking tray 5 were not arranged in the cooking chamber 3 and can then also determine the first loading state. If the camera device 15 detects a cooking product 6 in the

Cooking chamber 3, for example on a baking tray 5, a second loading state is determined. For example, it is also determined how large the food 6 is in comparison to the capacity of the cooking chamber 3 in order to be able to recognize a lightly loaded state. If the camera device 15 also recognizes a

Baking stone 16 in the cooking chamber 3, which requires heating without food to be cooked, a third

Loading condition determined.

Figure 2 shows a process diagram of a method 20 according to one aspect of the invention.

In a first step 21, the camera device 15 takes pictures of the cooking chamber 3. In a second step 22, the recorded pictures are

Data processing device 12 for determining a loading state. If a first loading state is determined as in Figure 1a, a third step 23 follows. If a second loading state is determined as in Figure 1b, the method 20 is repeated at the first

Step 21 is started. If a third loading state is determined as in Figure 1c, a fourth step 24 follows. In the third step 23, at least a first piece of information is transmitted at a first time by means of the transmission means 13 to a person using the cooking appliance 1.

Person. In the fourth step 24, the at least one first piece of information is transmitted at a second point in time by means of the transmission means 13 to a person using the cooking appliance 1.

List of reference symbols 1 Cooking appliance 3 Cooking chamber 4.1 First cooking chamber wall 4.2 Second cooking chamber wall 4.3 Third cooking chamber wall 4.4 Fourth cooking chamber wall 5 Baking tray 6 Food to be cooked 0 7 Cooking chamber door 7.1 Handle of the cooking chamber door 8 Opening 9 Viewing window

Seal 5 12 Data processing device 13 Transmission means 14 Temperature measuring device

Camera device 16 Brick 17 Blower 20 Method 21 First step of the method — taking pictures using the camera device 22 Second step of the method — determining a loading state 23 Third step of the method — transmitting the first information to the first

Time 24 fourth step of the procedure — transfer of the first information to the second

time

Claims (15)

Patent claims 1. Method (20) for operating a cooking appliance (1) with a heatable cooking chamber (3), a camera device (15) for observing the cooking chamber (3) and at least one transmission means (13) for transmitting information to a user; wherein images of the cooking chamber (3) are recorded (21) by the camera device (15) and a loading state of the cooking chamber (3) is determined (22) based on the images; wherein in the absence of a food item (6) and in the absence of a baking stone (16), a first loading state is determined; wherein in the case of a food item (6) arranged in the cooking chamber (3), a second loading state is determined; wherein in the case of a baking stone (16) arranged in the cooking chamber (3), a third loading state is determined; wherein in the case of the first loading state, at least a first piece of information is transmitted to the user at a first point in time by means of the transmission means (13) (23); and wherein in the third loading state at least the first information is transmitted (24) to the user at a second point in time by means of the transmission means (13). 2. Method (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first information comprises an energy consumption warning and/or a request to load the cooking chamber (3). 3. Method (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cooking appliance (1) has a temperature measuring means (14) for detecting a cooking chamber temperature and the first time is determined as reaching a set cooking chamber temperature after preheating the cooking chamber (3), 4. Method (20) according to claim 3, wherein the second point in time is determined at a defined time interval after reaching a set cooking chamber temperature after preheating the cooking chamber (3). 5. Method (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission of the first information is omitted when the second loading state is determined. 6. Method (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one setting of the cooking appliance (1) is determined in the first loading state or the third loading state. 7. Method (20) according to claim 6, wherein a heating power and/or the speed of a fan (17) is determined as at least one setting of the cooking appliance (1) and in particular the heating is aborted. 8. Method (20) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the at least one setting is determined with a defined time interval after the first time or second time. 9. Method (20) according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein at least a second item of information about the specific setting is transmitted to the user by means of the transmission means (13). 10. Method (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading state is determined by means of image recognition. 11. Method (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading state of the cooking chamber (3) is determined at certain time intervals. 12. Method (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooking appliance (1) has a cooking chamber door (7) and wherein the loading state of the cooking chamber (3) is determined immediately after a detected opening and/or closing of the cooking chamber door (7). 13. Method (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the third loading state and when a set cooking chamber temperature falls below a minimum temperature, a third information item is transmitted to the user. 14. Method (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the third loading state at least a fourth piece of information is transmitted to the user at a third point in time by means of the transmission means (13), the fourth piece of information comprising a temperature recommendation and/or a time recommendation for preheating the baking stone (6) before a cooking process, intermediate heating of the baking stone (6) between two cooking processes of the baking stone (6) after a cooking process and/or a recommendation for an operating mode of the cooking appliance (1). 15. Cooking appliance (1), in particular an oven, comprising a heatable cooking chamber (3), a camera device (15) for observing the cooking chamber (3) and a transmission means (13) for transmitting information to a user, wherein the cooking appliance (1) is designed to carry out a method (20) according to one of the preceding claims.