DE102008008712A1 - Apparatus and method for guidance in cooking and baking - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for guidance in cooking and baking with a scale and a processor together with memory, input unit and display, from the memory a recipe selectable and according to the selection of the necessary according to the recipe ingredients and operations are displayed and weighing the ingredients and the Processing the work steps interactively via a program.

Description

The The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for guidance when cooking and baking.

at the preparation of food of all kinds, concretely in cooking and baking, It is regularly required ingredients in certain To provide quantity and / or in certain proportions. since For quite some time scales are used, which are based on a weight measurement to determine the amount of the ingredient.

Become Ingredients - as usual in cooking and baking - in determined quantity ratio in order, as a result, So at the end of the cooking or baking process, always equally tasty To achieve product, so uses the respective cook or baker expediently to a recipe in which at least the proportions between the individual ingredients are fixed.

By the DE 10 2005 031 269 B3 a device is known by means of which ingredients can be dosed according to a recipe. The device has for this purpose an electronic balance, which is equipped with a recipe memory. The recipe memory can be loaded with a recipe containing dosing data. For loading new recipes in the recipe memory is a portable transponder with which recipes can be transferred from a locally separate central memory of a computer system. With the known device ingredients can be dosed according to the respective loaded recipe in exact proportions. The weighing of individual ingredients has to be done in the given order. A beyond the dosing of ingredients beyond the user support in cooking and baking is not provided.

Of the The present invention is therefore based on the object, the previously known To design device such and further, that this for the user in the preparation of a cooking or baking product a functionality beyond the dosing of ingredients having. In particular, the device should also be inexperienced Cook and / or bakers will have the opportunity to cook or bake to produce with consistently high quality. Farther should be given a corresponding procedure.

According to the invention the above object by the features of the claim 1 solved. Through this is a device for guidance when cooking and baking with a balance and a processor along with Memory, input unit and display specified, taking from the memory a recipe selectable and according to the selection according to the Recipe necessary ingredients and work steps are displayed and being weighing the ingredients and working through the steps interactively via a program.

According to the invention first recognized that the from the state of the Although technology known device for precise dosing of ingredients suitable. At the same time, however, has been seen that when cooking and baking - besides the right dosage of ingredients - very probably further requirements are to be met in order to result to get a product that meets high quality standards enough. In particular, in the context of these considerations found that a recipe for cooking or baking in addition to dosage information the ingredients usually also contain other important information which contribute significantly to the result of cooking or baking. Specifically, these are the ones to follow in the course of the recipe Operations.

According to the invention Accordingly, the device comprises a processor and memory, wherein in the memory at least one recipe, preferably several recipes, are stored. According to the invention is still a Input unit provided by means of which a recipe for processing select. An overview of which needed according to the selected recipe Ingredients and the necessary steps for the recipe is about the inventively provided Display can be displayed. Already by this measure is the Users a practical guide for the upcoming Task, namely, for example, the provision the required ingredients, the recipe weighing the ingredients and the steps to be taken (cutting, peeling, Chopping, mixing, kneading, whisking, baking, roasting, etc.).

In a further inventive manner, the weighing of the ingredients and the execution of the steps is carried out interactively via a program. As a result, the device gains practical use in that, in addition to the pure information about required ingredients and required working steps, the user is involved in following the recipe on the basis of the program running in the processor of the device. In other words, the program running in the processor ensures a precise recipe compliance through a dialog with the user. Specifically, this means that the actions to be performed by the user according to the recipe (eg, cleaning, peeling, weighing, mixing of ingredients) are issued to the user in the form of instructions or tasks, whereby the program is always the next one after successful completion Statement or task issues. A sure following of the recipe is in this Wei se what ensures in particular the beneficial integration of balance and processor / calculator contributes. Due to carelessness, inexperience or other influences resulting errors in cooking and baking can be avoided by means of the device according to the invention in any case.

The According to the invention provided interaction between User and device provides that the operation of the device, d. H. the execution of a recipe, not necessarily in static solid Order has to be made. But the user can by means of Input unit or other input devices quite influence on the program, d. H. the execution of tasks to be fulfilled to take. For example, individual tasks such as the weighing of an ingredient or the execution of an individual If necessary, they can be repeated or individual Operations at the discretion of the user before or after others be performed.

Conveniently, the recipe stored in the memory is in the form of a data record. In the context of this invention, the recipe is according to structured data, which provides an application-oriented access under the current program. Logically, the record of each recipe comprises at least the one according to the Recipes necessary ingredients and to the execution the recipe necessary steps. For every Ingredient can be the name of the ingredient used for a specific number of persons and / or portion number required quantity the ingredient, a particular symbol of the ingredient for the display, etc. are stored. More information can be provided in the record, such as a description and / or Evaluation of the recipe, the expected preparation time for the recipe or the like.

The continues with each record of a recipe stored steps can include information like the one at the step temperature to be used (eg when baking, frying), the duration of time of the work step (eg the maximum baking time, the minimum rest time for a dough, the duration of a mixing process), processing instructions (such as "chop onions with cubes"), Activity descriptions (general descriptions of handicraft Activities, such as steamed broccoli becomes), dependence of the work step on other work steps (Ask if this step is independent of another Work step, or at the beginning of this work step certain conditions must be fulfilled) and / or other information relevant to the recipe.

In Advantageously, the memory is designed such that in these a large number of data records and possibly others Settings, for example, the operation, the program control, the language selection or the like, are loadable. In a particularly user-friendly development of the invention could For example, user profiles are created, according to which different users of the device have different settings can be stored on the device, user-dependent Ratings for individual recipes can be made preferred units of measurement are displayed, etc.

The Functionality of the device can be advantageously Expand if the processor by means of suitable interfaces on measuring equipment, external storage media and / or communication devices can access. An access of the processor to a measuring device allows the consideration of events as part of the interactive program flow. The device has in this case via its own sensors, being used as measuring devices in particular the weight sensors of the balance, temperature sensors (eg for placing in the oven, for insertion into the food), Moisture sensors (eg for doughs), time measuring devices etc. come into question.

One Access of the processor to external storage media allows Advantageously, use of external databases. As external storage media hard disks, memory cards, USB sticks can be used etc., whereby by the use of external storage media in general also an advantageous data exchange with other devices is possible. In practical application can be applied to this Swap cooking or baking recipes between different users easy replacement of storage media.

By alternative or supplementary access of the processor Communication facilities let the possibilities expand the data exchange and data processing almost arbitrarily. So could be provided an Internet access, by means of which Prepared for the device recipes for immediate Download the application and save it. Conversely, could by means of an Internet access, the device can be used to ingredients needed for a recipe via the Internet to order, with existing ingredient stocks at the user could be inquired beforehand to overstock to avoid. In a further practical way could be considered Communication device serve a mobile device, so for example, the user even after leaving the house by a call about the expiry of the baking time of his court is remembered. Countless other applications are conceivable.

In Advantageously, the processor - in addition to the read access - also write to access the memory. Accordingly, you can the user not only read out and execute prescriptions but can, for example, change be made to recipes that are in the store or even write to external storage media. Such changes can be of practical use if there is one in the recipe specified cooking time in practice as too long turns out and this Mistakes for the future should be avoided. Especially original design could be for the Device be provided a so-called learning mode, by means of which to create your own recipes. The user could For example, first a draft of a recipe create using the input unit or by means of an external Storage medium or a communication device in the memory transferred to the device to subsequently individual Make improvements.

The Device has to communicate with the user via a display. To an attractive, possibly high-resolution and / or to achieve color representation on the display this is advantageously a liquid crystal display (LCD) act. This offers the further advantage that - at appropriate size of the display - one Variety of information, possibly even graphics (eg Pictures of ingredients, timelines as bar charts etc.) or work instructions are clearly displayed can. Alternatively or additionally, an embodiment as LED display, segment and / or matrix display or the like conceivable.

additionally The display can have one more or more optical display devices are provided, which the user during following the recipe, will issue signals. In the simplest case For example, by a provided on the scale variable Color indicator (red and green) indicate whether the on the balance applied quantity of ingredients corresponds to the target value (green) or not (red).

to convenient operation of the device, it is conceivable that the Input unit a keyboard, mouse, a control panel, a touch screen and / or the like.

to Achieving a total compact design could at least the balance and the processor, preferably also the memory, the Input unit and / or the display, as an integral unit, if necessary be arranged in a housing. A so achieved compact Design allows easy transport of the device and reduces the susceptibility to dirt due to less Individual components.

There in commercial ovens, microwaves or the like mostly inaccurate information about the interior temperature can be issued, can further improve the cooking or baking quality be provided for the device, a temperature sensor, the temperature there or even the temperature in an ingredient or the food itself and transmitted to the processor. The exact temperature information available in this way may optionally be in conjunction with prescribed in the recipe Cooking times achieve significant improvements in the cooking process. In to high or low temperatures can alert the user or can an automatic conversion of the cooking time take place.

Next the display can be the device via a speaker that provides audible signals and / or information can spend. In the simplest case will be over the speaker Sounds issued, for example, an acknowledgment tone, after When weighing an ingredient, the desired target value is reached has been. Likewise, alarm sounds can be output, for example, when a baking time or baking temperature is exceeded. In a very practical way, the speaker could Provide information in the form of language, and it would be conceivable that all needed for the recipe Information, d. H. about the ingredients and work steps, in the form of a voice message to the user in a timely manner become. Such a speech output has the enormous advantage that the user concentrates on the product preparation by hand can, without having to look at the display in the meantime. By means of a microphone and a suitable speech recognition software The user could even contact with the Device communicate, so in a further advantageous manner a pollution of the device by the - work-related - impure Hands of the user is avoided.

to Measurement of time periods, in particular cooking times, cooling times, Retirements, etc., it is appropriate that the device over has a time measuring device. In principle, this can manually started and stopped by the user in the sense of a stopwatch but in a particularly practical way, it will be used by time periods specified in the recipe.

In a further practical way, device conversion functionality is provided for the device. Thus, quantities for ingredients - for example, from kilograms to pounds - can be carried out in a convenient manner, which, among other things when using the device in difference countries can be useful. Similarly, a functionality for conversion between volume and weight specific quantities can be provided.

Conveniently, the balance includes a load cell and a receptacle for the ingredients to be weighed. In the case of bulk goods, Liquids or the like it may be necessary the ingredient to be weighed in a container (cup, bowl, To weigh plates). For this purpose, the scale has in advantageously via a "tare function", by means of which the empty weight of the weighed container deducted from the gross weight recorded by the balance, to get the net weight of the ingredient.

On Still practical way can be for the Weigh the ingredients to set a quantity tolerance. This includes, that when weighing an ingredient, a quantity deviation from the target value up to a certain, determinable proportion of the target value becomes. This is usually useful, since in the Practice can not realize a "grammatical" weighing still noticeably affects the cooking or baking product.

The object mentioned above is further achieved by a method for guidance during cooking and baking according to claim 21. According to the invention, the method is carried out using the apparatus described according to the invention and is characterized by the following method steps:
Selecting a recipe from the store,
Display of the ingredients and steps necessary according to the recipe,
interactive weighing of the ingredients and execution of the work steps via a program.

In Advantageously, the interactive weighing of the ingredients takes place and processing the work steps in the sense of a dialogue with the User. In this case, the user is in accordance with the Recipe to be performed steps and / or conditions to be met made visually and / or acoustically aware until this is done and / or fulfilled.

It Now there are different ways of teaching the present Invention in an advantageous manner and further develop. On the one hand to the claims 1 and 21 subordinate claims and on the other hand the following explanation of a preferred embodiment He to refer to the invention based on the drawing. Combined with the explanation of the preferred embodiment The invention with reference to the drawings are also generally preferred Embodiments and developments of the teaching explained. In the drawing show

1 a schematic representation of a device according to the invention according to the single embodiment,

2 the initiation of the weighing process by means of a sequence of exemplary display contents,

3 the change of the weight tolerance based on a sequence of exemplary display contents,

4 the conversion of units based on a sequence of exemplary display contents,

5 operating the timer using a sequence of exemplary display contents,

6 a schematic representation of a temperature sensor.

1 shows the only embodiment of a device according to the invention for guidance in cooking and baking in a schematic view. It is a basic concept of the device, which is used in particular for explaining the operation of the device as well as the likewise executable method.

The device accordingly comprises a balance, which according to 1 is designed as a weighing system and has a microcontroller and an analog / digital converter. Furthermore, the device comprises a processor together with memory, input unit and display, wherein, as shown in FIG 1 the processor and memory are assigned to a system unit. A liquid crystal display (LCD) with control as well as an angular pulse encoder serving as an input unit are in communication with the system unit.

in the Memory of the device are stored several recipes. Every recipe is in the form of a record, which preferably all for Implementation of the recipe. This can be information about needed ingredients, in particular, be about amounts required thereof. Conveniently, the quantities are each single ingredient as a reference for a particular Portion number before, so depending on the desired number of Portions a suitable "recipe extension" while maintaining the proportions of the ingredients can be made. Next The ingredient information can be a recipe in an advantageous way Information about work steps to be performed contain.

Based on an input unit (according to 1 this can be a rotary pulse encoder with a touch function or three keys, any other designs are conceivable), a recipe stored in the memory can be selected and displayed on the display. Depending on the design / layout of the display, the user can already now see the required ingredients and / or the steps to be performed.

To concretely cook or bake according to the selected recipe, the user starts via the input unit, for example by pressing a button on the rotary pulse encoder, an interactive program that instructs the user according to the stored recipe information for weighing the ingredients and processing of steps. Individual exemplary steps are based on the 2 to 5 will be described later.

As 1 furthermore, additional functions can be provided in addition to the basic functions mentioned. For example, the memory assigned to the system unit can be supplemented as desired by external storage media. As a result, the storage capacity is increased, also there is the possibility to exchange recipe data with other devices and / or aufzuspielen new recipe data.

In the 1 The device shown has furthermore a time measuring device ("RealTimeClock / Timer"), which can be advantageously used in certain work steps (eg monitoring of the baking time) .The device also has a temperature sensor and a loudspeaker Supply ") of the device can be done by means of a battery / Akkufachs or a network adapter.

2 shows by means of a sequence of display contents the initiation of the weighing process. In this case - each time by means of the input unit - from the recipe selected by the recipe work instruction (here: weighing of flour) is selected. It changes to the weighing mode, the target value (250 g) for the ingredient (flour) is adopted and displayed on the display during weighing. By additional selection of the option "tare" a zeroing of the balance in the sense of a "taring" can be made, which may be appropriate for bulk materials, liquids or other not independently weighable ingredients. After reaching the target value (here: 250 g) within an adjustable tolerance, a signal is output, for example an acknowledgment tone or a green light signal. The weighing of the ingredient is thus successfully completed and the next step or the next weighing process can be performed.

In 3 By means of a sequence of exemplary display contents it is shown that the device has an automatic shutdown function ("time out") for avoiding unnecessary power consumption when not being used, and the changeover of the weight tolerance is shown.

In 4 It can be seen that the ingredients can be converted from volume to weight. This conversion preferably takes place automatically, ie ingredients indicated in the recipe in volume quantities (here: 300 ml of milk) could accordingly be converted into a corresponding amount by weight (309.3 g) on the basis of the density known for the ingredient. The conversion allows weighing the ingredient (milk) to obtain a certain volume. Previous "taring" may be appropriate to prevent the weight of the milk container from flowing into the measurement result.

In 5 is the operation of the timer ("timer") As can be seen, a "cooking time of XX min" is stored for a particular recipe and is output via the display. The user only needs to select "Start" to start the time measuring device, then a remaining time count begins. When the end time is reached, a signal can be output. The user can subsequently continue the recipe processing.

Finally, in 6 a schematic representation of a temperature sensor is given, which is arranged in an oven and / or in the Gar object (dough, roast) stuck. A thin, flexible, heat-resistant cable connects the sensor to the processor. By means of the precisely recorded temperature, the cooking time / baking time can be adjusted accordingly. Upon reaching a predetermined temperature value, an optical and / or acoustic signal can be output.

It be expressly noted that the above described embodiment for discussion only the claimed teaching is, but not on the embodiment limits.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102005031269 B3 [0004]

Claims (22)

Device for cooking and baking instructions with a scale and a processor plus memory, input unit and display, whereby from the memory a prescription selectable and according to the selection according to the recipe necessary ingredients and operations are displayed and while weighing the ingredients and working through the steps interactively via a program. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the recipe is in the form of a dataset, which at least the ingredients required by the recipe and the necessary steps to execute the recipe includes. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized that the stored steps include information such as: temperature to be used, time of the work step, processing instructions, Job descriptions, dependence on others Steps and / or other relevant for the recipe Information. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in the memory a plurality of Records and any other settings are loadable. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the processor by means of suitable Interfaces to measuring equipment, external storage media and / or Communication devices can access. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that that one or more of the interfaces to the non-contact Access is wireless. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the processor on the memory as well can write access. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that for the creation of own recipes Learning mode is provided. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the display is a Liquid crystal display (LCD), LED display, Segment and / or matrix display is. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that in addition to the display a further optical display device is provided. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the input unit is a keyboard, Mouse, a control panel, a touch screen and / or the like includes. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the balance and the processor, preferably also the memory, the input unit and / or the Display, as an integral unit, possibly with a housing, are executed. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a temperature sensor is provided is the temperature in a cooker or oven or detected in the ingredient or the product itself and transmitted to the processor. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a speaker for acoustic Output of signals and / or information is provided. Device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that for measuring durations a time measuring device is provided. Device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that a functionality is intended for unit conversion. Device according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that a functionality for conversion between volume and weight specific quantities is provided. Device according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the balance substantially a Load cell and a receptacle for ingredients to be weighed includes. Device according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the balance is a tare function having. Device according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that for weighing the Ingredients a quantity tolerance is adjustable. Procedure for guidance in cooking and baking under Use of a device according to one of claims 1 until 20, characterized by the following process steps: selection a recipe from the store, Display of the according to the Recipe necessary ingredients and work steps, interactive Weigh the ingredients and work through the steps a program. Method according to claim 21, characterized that the interactive weighing of the ingredients and completion of the work steps in the sense of a dialogue with the user, what the user to according to the recipe to be processed steps and / or conditions to be fulfilled optically and / or acoustically is made aware until this is done or fulfilled are.