DE102012222166A1 - Cooking appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

The cooking device (1) has a cooking space (2) for cooking food, a sensor (3) arranged in the cooking space (2) for determining signal values (SW) of a gas concentration in the cooking space (2) and a control device (5) for Determining a remaining cooking time (RG) of the food to be cooked by means of a linear combination of at least two signal values (SW) of the gas concentration in the cooking space (2) determined by the sensor (3) at different times.

Description

The present invention relates to a cooking appliance, such as an oven, a microwave or a steamer. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a cooking appliance.

A conventional cooking appliance has a cooking chamber for cooking food, a control device for carrying out a plurality of predetermined cooking programs and a user interface coupled to the control device for actuating the control device. The user can select a specific cooking program via the user interface. The controller then executes the selected cooking program.

It is known when cooking food to indicate the end of the cooking time to the user via a display on the cooking appliance. Furthermore, methods for determining the remaining cooking time of the food are known. For example, such methods are in the documents DE 103 27 861 B4 and DE 10 2004 049 927 A1 described. In these methods, the slopes of signal traces of gas concentrations in the cooking chamber can be evaluated to determine a remaining cooking time for cooking the food.

Against this background, an object of the present invention is to improve the determination of a residual cooking time of the food in the cooking appliance.

According to the invention, a cooking device is proposed which has a cooking chamber for cooking food, at least one sensor arranged in the cooking chamber for determining signal values of a gas concentration in the cooking chamber and a control device for determining a remaining cooking time (RG) of the cooking product by means of a linear combination of at least two At different times of the sensor has certain signal values of the gas concentration in the cooking chamber.

An advantage of the determination of the residual cooking time according to the invention is that it can be determined or calculated very precisely.

Due to the relatively simple calculation rule, a realization on a microcontroller and thus an embodiment of the control device as a microcontroller are possible.

Furthermore, in the inventive determination of the Restgarzeit no input of the user, such as the food weight, necessary.

By determining the remaining cooking time, the user can estimate the end of the cooking process and be prepared to be the expected Garende the cooking appliance to take the food or cooking food from the oven.

The Restgarzeit refers to the time that is still needed to cook the food in the oven, especially in the currently set cooking program. At the beginning of the cooking, the remaining cooking time and the total cooking time correspond.

For example, the two different times are 5 minutes after the start of cooking and 20 minutes after the start of cooking.

In one embodiment, the control device is set up to form a difference between the at least two signal values determined by the sensor at the linear link for determining the remaining cooking time (RG). Due to the difference formation, an incorrect evaluation by an offset, i. by a parallel offset of the signal values, reduced or prevented.

In another embodiment, the sensor is configured to determine an oxygen concentration in the cooking chamber, a nitrogen concentration in the cooking chamber or a moisture concentration in the cooking chamber.

In a further embodiment, the sensor is designed as a moisture sensor for determining signal values of a moisture concentration in the cooking chamber.

The use of a strength sensor is advantageous in that the timing of the maximum of moisture in the cooking chamber is at the same time the optimum end of the cooking process.

In this case, the control device is preferably set up to determine the remaining cooking time (RG) by means of the linear function y = a × x + b. In this case, y denotes the remaining cooking time, x a difference between two moisture concentration signals in the cooking chamber determined by the moisture sensor at predetermined times, a a linear factor selected as a function of the type of food to be cooked, and b an ordinate portion selected as a function of the type of food to be cooked.

In a further embodiment, the sensor is designed as an oxygen sensor for determining signal values of an oxygen concentration in the cooking chamber.

In this case, the control device is in particular configured to calculate corresponding values of a moisture concentration in the cooking chamber as a function of two signal values of the oxygen concentration determined by the oxygen sensor at predetermined times and to determine the remaining cooking time (RG) by means of the linear function y = a * x + b , In this case, y denotes the residual cooking time (RG), x denotes a difference between the two calculated values of the moisture concentration in the cooking chamber, a denotes a linear factor selected as a function of the type of food to be cooked, and b denotes an ordinate portion selected as a function of the type of cooking product of the cooking product.

When converting the values of the oxygen concentration to values of the moisture concentration, the following equation is preferably used: F = 100 * (1 - Xo2 / 21) where F is the moisture concentration and Xo2 is the oxygen concentration. The value 21 is selected as a percentage of the oxygen in the air of the cooking chamber at the beginning of the cooking process.

For example, the linear factor a and the ordinate section b for the "cake on sheet" cooking product are:
a = -0.6703; b = 59.581.

For the further cooking product type "Cake in Form" these values are:
a = -5.3904; b = 128.67

The data sets for the linear factors a and ordinate sections b are determined empirically in advance for the various types of food and stored in the memory. These are also updatable via a communication interface of the cooking appliance.

In another embodiment, a memory for storing a plurality of data sets of a linear factor a and an ordinate portion b is provided. In this case, the respective data record is associated with a type of cooking product of the food.

In a further embodiment, the control device is set up to select a data set from the plurality of data records for determining the remaining cooking time (RG) as a function of the type of cooking product of the food item located in the cooking space.

In one embodiment, the cooking appliance has a display device that is configured to display the determined remaining cooking time to a user. The display device is designed, for example, as a touch-sensitive screen (touchscreen) and integrated in a user interface.

The user interface is in particular coupled to the control device and set up to control the control device. In this case, the control device is set up to output a selected cooking program, the specific remaining cooking time or residual cooking time and potentially further cooking-related data to the user by means of the user interface. The user interface has, for example, input buttons and the touch-sensitive screen.

In a further embodiment, the cooking appliance has a communication interface which is set up to transmit the determined remaining cooking time (RG) via a network to a user terminal. By providing the communication interface, the cooking appliance is online-enabled and can provide the current remaining cooking time to the user terminal of the user.

In a further embodiment, the control device is adapted to determine the remaining cooking time of the food during the total cooking time of the food several times, in particular at predetermined time intervals. As a result, the current remaining cooking time can be updated and displayed updated.

In a further embodiment, the control device is set up to start a timer (timer) initialized with the determined remaining cooking time at the time of determining the remaining cooking time and to automatically end the cooking of the cooking appliance after the initialized timer has expired.

This stops cooking at the right time without the need for user intervention. Consequently, it is ensured that the food is cooked optimally.

In a further embodiment, the cooking appliance comprises a probe for determining the permittivity of the food in the cooking chamber. The control device can then be set up to additionally calculate the remaining cooking time of the cooking product as a function of the specific permittivity of the cooking product.

The probe is inserted into the food. The inserted probe measures the frequency-dependent permittivity (dielectric constant) of the food by means of electrical DC and AC fields. The measured data are compared with stored data in the control device. By heating the food during the measurement, the measurement results can be even clearer.

The cooking appliance is for example an oven, a microwave, a steamer or a warming drawer.

Furthermore, a method for operating a cooking appliance with a cooking space for cooking food is proposed. In a first step, signal values of a gas concentration in the cooking chamber are determined at different times. In a second step, the residual cooking time (RG) of the food to be cooked is determined by means of a linear combination of at least two signal values of the gas concentration in the cooking space determined at different times.

Furthermore, a computer program product is proposed, which causes the execution of at least one step of a method for operating a cooking appliance, as explained above, on a program-controlled device.

A computer program product such as a computer program means can be provided or supplied, for example, as a storage medium, such as a memory card, USB stick, CD-ROM, DVD or in the form of a downloadable file from a server in a network. This can be done, for example, in a wireless communication network by the transmission of a corresponding file with the computer program product or the computer program means.

Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims and the embodiments of the invention described below. Furthermore, the invention will be explained in more detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures.

It shows:

1 a schematic view of a first embodiment of a cooking appliance;

2 a schematic view of a second embodiment of a cooking appliance;

3 a schematic view of a third embodiment of a cooking appliance;

4 a schematic flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for operating a cooking appliance; and

5 an example with seven signal curves of seven different types of food.

In the figures, the same or functionally identical elements have been given the same reference numerals, unless stated otherwise.

In 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a cooking appliance 1 shown. The cooking appliance 1 has a cooking space 2 for cooking food (not shown). For example, the cooking appliance 1 designed as an oven. In this embodiment, the cooking chamber 2 then be referred to as a stovepipe.

In the oven 2 is a sensor 3 arranged, which signal values SW of a gas concentration and thus a current signal curve of the gas concentration in the cooking chamber 2 certainly. For example, the sensor 3 adapted to an oxygen concentration in the cooking chamber 2 , a concentration of nitrogen in the oven 2 or a moisture concentration in the cooking chamber 2 to determine.

Furthermore, the cooking space 2 a control device 5 on. The control device 5 is for controlling the cooking appliance 1 and in particular set up for carrying out a plurality of predetermined cooking programs for cooking the food. The control device 5 is designed, for example, as an embedded system or as a microcontroller.

The control device 5 is also adapted to a residual cooking time RG of the food by means of a linear linkage of at least two at different times from the sensor 3 certain signal values SW of the gas concentration in the cooking chamber 2 to determine.

Furthermore, the cooking appliance 1 a display device 6 on, which with the control device 5 is coupled and is adapted to display the particular remaining cooking time RG a user.

The control device 5 determines the Restgarzeit RG of the food during the entire cooking time of the food preferably several times, especially at predetermined intervals. The predetermined time intervals can be a few seconds or even a few minutes.

Furthermore, the control device 5 also be set up to start at the time of determining the Restgarzeit RG initialized with the Restgarzeit RG timer or timer and automatically stop the cooking of the food after the expiry of the initialized timer and automatically. The timer can also be in the control device 5 be integrated.

2 shows a second embodiment of a cooking appliance 1 , The second embodiment of the 2 is based on the first embodiment of 1 and shows that the cooking appliance 1 in addition a memory 4 for storing a plurality of data sets D1-D3 of a linear factor a and an ordinate section b. The respective data record D1-D3 is associated with a type of cooking product of the food.

The memory is for example a read-only memory. In particular, the memory includes 4 a database for storing the records. Without limitation of generality, the memory stores 4 of the cooking appliance 1 three data records D1-D3 for three types of food. The number of stored records D1-D3 in the memory 4 can also be a few hundred or a thousand.

In 3 is a third embodiment of a cooking appliance 1 shown. The third embodiment of 3 is based on the second embodiment of the 2 and has all the features of the second embodiment. In addition, the cooking appliance has 1 of the 3 a communication interface 7 , The communication interface 7 is set to run the particular RG remainder over a network 8th to a user terminal 9 transferred to. The user terminal 9 is for example a mobile phone, a smartphone or a PC. The network 8th is, for example, a mobile network or the Internet.

In 4 is a schematic flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for operating a cooking appliance 1 shown (see 1 ). The cooking appliance 1 has a cooking space 2 for cooking food, one in the oven 2 arranged sensor 3 for determining signal values SW of a gas concentration in the cooking chamber 2 and a controller 5 for performing a plurality of predetermined cooking programs.

In step 401 are signal values SW of the gas concentration in the cooking chamber 2 determined at predetermined different times.

In step 402 is a Restgarzeit RG of the food by means of a linear linkage of at least two at different times determined signal values SW of the gas concentration in the cooking chamber 2 certainly.

5 shows an example with seven waveforms 501 - 507 of seven different types of food. Biscuit roll, water biscuit, marble cake, Linzertorte on tin, Linzertorte in Springform, crumble cake and Gugelhupf. It shows the 5 in particular, that the seven waveforms 501 - 507 have different gradients and different maxima.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to embodiments, it is variously modifiable.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 Cooking appliance

2

 oven

3

 sensor

4

 Storage

5

 control device

6

 display

7

 Communication Interface

8th

 network

9

 user terminal

401-402

 step

501-507

 waveform

D1-D3

 record

RG

 The remaining cooking time

SW

 signal value

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10327861 B4 [0003]
• DE 102004049927 A1 [0003]

Claims (14)

Cooking appliance ( 1 ) with a cooking space ( 2 ) for cooking food, one in the cooking space ( 2 ) arranged sensor ( 3 ) for determining signal values (SW) of a gas concentration in the cooking chamber ( 2 ) and a control device ( 5 ) for determining a residual cooking time (RG) of the cooking product by means of a linear association of at least two at different times from the sensor ( 3 ) certain signal values (SW) of the gas concentration in the cooking chamber ( 2 ). Cooking appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device ( 5 ) is set up, in the linear link for determining the remaining cooking time (RG), a difference between the at least two at the different times from the sensor (FIG. 3 ) to form certain signal values (SW). Cooking appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensor ( 3 ) is adapted to an oxygen concentration in the cooking chamber ( 2 ), a nitrogen concentration in the cooking chamber ( 2 ) or a moisture concentration in the cooking chamber ( 2 ). Cooking appliance according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sensor ( 3 ) as a humidity sensor for determining signal values (SW) of a moisture concentration in the cooking space ( 2 ) is trained. Cooking appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that the control device ( 5 ) is arranged to determine the residual cooking time (RG) by means of the linear function y = a × x + b, where y is the residual cooking time (RG), x is a difference between two of the humidity sensor (RG) 3 ) at predetermined times, determined signal values (SW) of the moisture concentration in the cooking chamber ( 2 ), a denotes a linear factor selected as a function of the kind of food to be cooked, and b denotes an ordinate portion which is selected as a function of the kind of food to be cooked. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sensor ( 3 ) as an oxygen sensor for determining signal values (SW) of an oxygen concentration in the cooking space ( 2 ) is trained. Cooking appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that the control device ( 5 ) is arranged to be dependent on two of the oxygen sensor ( 3 ) at predetermined times certain signal values (SW) of the oxygen concentration corresponding values of a moisture concentration in the cooking chamber ( 2 ) and to determine the residual cooking time (RG) by means of the linear function y = a × x + b, where y is the residual cooking time (RG), x is a difference between the two calculated values of the moisture concentration in the cooking space (FIG. 2 ), a denotes a linear factor selected as a function of the kind of food to be cooked, and b denotes an ordinate portion which is selected as a function of the kind of food to be cooked. Cooking appliance according to claim 5 or 7, characterized in that a memory ( 4 ) is provided for storing a plurality of data sets (D1-D3) of a linear factor a and an ordinate section b, wherein the respective data record (D1-D3) is associated with a Gargutart of the food. Cooking appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that the control device ( 5 ) is adapted to a record (D1-D3) from the plurality of data sets (D1-D3) for determining the Restgarzeit (RG) depending on the Gargutart in the cooking chamber ( 2 ) to select Garguts. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by a display device ( 6 ) which is arranged to display the determined remaining cooking time (RG) to a user. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by a communication interface ( 7 ), which is set up to set the determined residual cooking time (RG) over a network ( 8th ) to a user terminal ( 9 ) transferred to. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the control device ( 5 ) is set up to determine the remaining cooking time (RG) of the food during the total cooking time of the food several times, in particular at predetermined time intervals. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the control device ( 5 ) is arranged to start at the time of determining the remaining cooking time (RG) a timer initialized with the determined remaining cooking time (RG) and to automatically stop cooking the food after the initialized timer has elapsed. Method for operating a cooking appliance ( 1 ) with a cooking space ( 2 ) for cooking food, with the steps: determining ( 401 ) of signal values (SW) of a gas concentration in the cooking chamber ( 2 ) at different times, and determining ( 402 ) a Restgarzeit (RG) of the food by means of a linear linkage of at least two at different times certain signal values (SW) of the gas concentration in the cooking chamber ( 2 ).

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