EP0224423A1 - Method and device for electronically controlling a household cooking range - Google Patents

Abstract

Method enabling the said range to learn the parameters of at least one cooking operation tried out by the user, to memorise the said parameters and to reexecute them. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a method and a device for electronically controlling a cooking chamber capable of executing a previously recorded recipe.

To date, electronic controls are used on all types of cooking chambers: natural convection, fan heat, multifunction, microwave ...

For example, the applicant's so-called "conversational" oven has an electronic control panel with keys.

Mainly, these keys allow: 1.'stopping, starting the selection, adjusting the different parameters for executing a cooking i.e.: cooking mode (MEAT, PASTRY ...) , temperature, time, possibly end of cooking, possibly cleaning.

The user of the "conversational oven" himself enters the parameters for executing a cooking by validating the appropriate keys, he can check the accuracy of the parameters on a series of indicators and displays, this type of command is called in following the document "manual selection". This command does not automatically execute previously saved cooking parameters or recipes. This would however be advantageous for the housewife since she often cooks the same dishes, according to the tastes of the family and the constant number of guests.

In addition, there are known cooking chambers capable of automatically executing recipes-saved, these recipes are stored for example on a magnetic card that can be read, then executed automatically. A microwave oven of this type is described in French application 2,465,390

This type of device has the drawback of being able to execute only theoretical recipes, the parameters of which are defined before the start of cooking without being able to adjust them after starting cooking. It is therefore impossible to adjust them to the family's own taste or to save the parameters resulting from user learning and know-how.

The main obstacle encountered to overcome this drawback is the disappearance of the recorded information, during power cuts in the sector.

Indeed, the solution of an auxiliary power supply battery for RAM memory cannot be applied to a strip for a cooking chamber because of the size, the cost and the temperature.

There was therefore in the professional environment the preconceived idea that could only store recipes or information on media independent of the control panel, such as a magnetic card or floppy disk.

• - un processus d'apprentissage, pendant lequel l'enceinte de cuisson apprend les paramètres de cuisson d'un mets déterminé,
• - une mémorisation des paramètres appris précédemment,
• - un processus de réexécution des dits paramètres.

The object of the invention is to overcome all the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a method for electronically controlling a cooking enclosure, characterized in that it comprises at least:

• - a learning process, during which the cooking chamber learns the cooking parameters for a given dish,
• - a memorization of the parameters learned previously,
• - a process of re-execution of said parameters.

In addition, the cooking parameters can be modified or adjusted at any time during cooking, to take into account the taste, appreciation and know-how of the user.

To implement this process, the Applicant has thought of using, in combination with its electronic device for controlling the enclosure, a memory of the EEPROM type which is already used in distant technical fields (army, data processing).

This combination made it possible, surprisingly, to simultaneously solve the 2 problems that arose: that of the disappearance of information in the event of a power failure, that of the automatic execution of recipes experienced by the user himself.

The method and the device in accordance with the invention thus allow the user to "retain" his know-how and to re-execute it faithfully each time he has to prepare the same dish for the same number of guests.

• .Figure 1 : schéma d'un dispositif non limitatif de mise en oeuvre du procédé conforme à l'invention.
• .Figure 2 : organigramme simplifié du procédé de fonctionnement de l'invention
• .Figure 3 : organigramme plus détaillé du fonctionnement du dispositif de la figure 1.

The invention will be better understood using the following description and the following appended figures:

• .Figure 1: diagram of a non-limiting device for implementing the method according to the invention.
• .Figure 2: simplified flowchart of the operating method of the invention
• .Figure 3: more detailed flowchart of the operation of the device of FIG. 1.

According to the embodiment given by way of example in FIG. 1, the electronic control device is controlled by a microprocessor (1), the orders are entered by action on the keyboard (2) and displayed on a display (3) 'or LEDs (4). This display (3) and indicator (4) assembly indicates the operations in progress and / or the recipes used. The various organs (2) (3) (4) mentioned above are multiplexed by the microprocessor (1) and controlled by the display amplifiers (5) (6) and an output extension (7), in a manner known per se .

The device further comprises an analog converter (8) to "single ramp" - which allows to enter into the microprocessor (1) the data of a meat probe (9a), of an oven probe (9b), which have the function of respectively measuring the temperatures in the cooking and inside the enclosure; and a reference probe (9c) making it possible to overcome variations in voltage on the components.

• - un amplificateur relais (11) dont la fonction est de relier les sorties du microprocesseur (1) aux commandes du four (12a, 12b, ...12i...).
• - un amplificateur-relais (13) dont la fonction est de relier les sorties du microprocesseur (1) aux commandes (13a, 13b, ... 13i...), respectivement (13b) et (13c) pour le verrou de porte, (13d) et (13e) pour la turbine en chaleur pulsée, (13f) pour le ventilateur.
• - une sécurité de porte (14) dont la fonction est de transmettre au micro-processeur (1) l'information du verrouillage de la porte en fonctionnement pyrolyse.
• - un buzzer (15)
• un top seteur (16) ou horloge
• - une mémoire EEPROM (18)
• - une alimentation (17)
• - et un ensemble de composants de câblage classiques, visibles sur la figure 1.

The system also includes:

• - a relay amplifier (11) whose function is to connect the outputs of the microprocessor (1) to the oven controls (12a, 12b, ... 12i ...).
• - a relay amplifier (13) whose function is to connect the microprocessor outputs (1) to the controls (13a, 13b, ... 13i ...), respectively (13b) and (13c) for the door lock , (13d) and (13e) for the turbine in pulsed heat, (13f) for the fan.
• - a door security (14) whose function is to transmit to the microprocessor (1) the information of the door locking in pyrolysis operation.
• - a buzzer (15)
• a top seteur (16) or clock
• - EEPROM memory (18)
• - a power supply (17)
• - and a set of conventional wiring components, visible in Figure 1.

The EEPROM memory (18) is used for its property of keeping the parameters of the recipes saved even if a power failure occurs on the sector.

The previous device operates according to the detailed flow diagram of FIG. 3.

• : représente une action réalisée par le micro-processeur (1)
• : représente une action sur une touche
• : représente un choix de l'utilisateur

The following symbols were used for this organization chart:

• : represents an action performed by the microprocessor (1)
• : represents an action on a key
• : represents a choice of the user

For the explanation of the operation, reference is made to both Figures 2 and 3.

Note first in Figure 3 that after pressing a button (ON) the user can choose between cleaning or cooking. Cleaning by pyrolysis is already known per se, and to carry out the cooking of a given dish two cases arise as can be seen in FIG. 3.

- 1st case

the user cooks this dish for the first time, so he must make a manual selection (SM) of the cooking parameters (see Figure 2). To do this, he selects one of the keys (tl, t2 ... ti ... t7) (Figure 3) corresponding to a type of oven heating: defrosting, forced air, pastry, meat, turbo-grill, eco grill, maxi grill, cited as a non-limiting example. A preselected temperature (ei) is displayed on the display (3) of FIG. 1, this temperature being either modifiable immediately according to the know-how of the user (FIG. 3), or non-modifiable. By way of nonlimiting example, the values of 9i are: θ2 = 170 ° C, θ3 = 200 ° C, θ4 = 220 ° C, θ5 = 190 ° C, θ6 = 300 ° C = θ7. The purpose of this is to reach the desired temperature parameter more quickly, thus enabling the oven to start up more quickly. An "OK" light came on indicating that the oven is working (Figure 3). A new choice comes in.

• . afficher, ou ajuster, ou modifier l'un au moins des paramètres de la cuisson, en agissant sur l'une au moins des touches d'ajustement des paramètres, prévues sur le tableau de commande, par exemple mais non limitativement les touches (pl, p2 ... p12) de la figure 3.

User can

• . display, or adjust, or modify at least one of the cooking parameters, by acting on at least one of the parameters adjustment keys, provided on the control panel, for example but not limited to the keys (pl , p2 ... p12) of Figure 3.

These actions (step (AJ) in Figure 2) can take place one or more times, and at any time during the cooking step; if the user judges that the cooking is not proceeding in an absolutely satisfactory manner.

. perform a double cooking, comprising two successive cooking stages, for example a thawing (tl) followed by a meat cooking (t4). This is symbolized by the action (new function) in Figure 3.

Each parameter of the 2nd cooking stage can be displayed, or adjusted or modified like those of the 1st stage, as mentioned above.

When the cooking is finished the user presses the (STOP) key, the process known as "learning is finished (see (AP). Fig.2).

After tasting, if the user judges that the cooking of the dish is satisfactory, he has the possibility of recording the parameters of the cooking corresponding to the last adjustment (function (EN) of figure 2).

After mandatory stopping of the oven (manufacturer's convention not limiting), the recording is made on the parameters of the last cooking (except pyrolysis function) and takes place in two stages.

1st time

selection of a recipe number, from a register not shown, causing the parameters of the previous recording to be recalled simultaneously.

2nd time

transfer into memory (18) of the parameters of the last cooking by means of a button (RECORDING) not shown. The oven responds with a beep signaling that the recording has been taken into account, the recording is called a "RECIPE".

The device described (Figure 1) can for example learn, without limitation, 2 cooking steps (cooking or double recipe).

The capacity of the register is for example 20 numbers, from 1 to 9 for simple recipes, from 11 to 19 for double recipes, the last recipe always being stored in 0 if it is simple, in 10 if it is double.

One could of course increase the performance of the oven (triple, quadruple recipes, etc.) or choose a different coding for the numbers in the register, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

- 2nd case

the user wants to re-perform a cooking that he has already registered, so he must select a recipe number from the register described above. This constitutes the step: selection-recipe of the process, see (SR) figure 2, or key (RECIPE) figure 3.

The microprocessor then displays the parameters recorded in the chosen register, an action on the (ON) key authorizes the oven to re-execute said parameters.

For a given family, the food to be cooked will have a substantially constant weight and the user can be certain, by selecting the same key (RECIPE) each time, to faithfully reproduce the cooking which has given him satisfaction, and this without supervision.

If the number of guests and the weight of the food to be cooked are occasionally changed, the user can, for example, after selecting the same recipe key, modify the cooking time. This modification is occasional, so the memory retains the duration parameter initially recorded. Here we find the adjustment step (AJ) of fig.2.

This 2nd case of operation of the oven can be qualified as "re-execution process" because the oven "recites". What it learned during the. "learning process" (see case 1). Thanks to the property of the memory (18) the recipes remain recorded even if a power failure occurs.

The operating possibilities of the oven according to the invention will be better understood with the aid of the following examples of use:

Example 1:

• 1.1 switching on the oven - waiting for the choice of a function
• 1.2 Selection of the function (MEAT) - start cooking at 180 ° C for 30 minutes
• 1.3 exchange with the function (GRIL-ECO) - end of cooking at 300 ° C for 15 minutes
• 1.4 stopping the oven

The parameters of this double cooking are: MEAT, 180 ° C, 30 min, GRILL-ECO, 300'C, 15 min.

Example 2:

• 2.1 switching on the oven waiting for choice of function
• 2.2 function selection (PASTRY) -> departure from the pastry shop at 150 ° C
• 2.3 programming duration 20 minutes → 20 minutes
• 2.4 change oven temperature 130 ° C → pastry at 130 ° C for 15 min.
• 2.5 oven shutdown

• -appel n°12 -> indication recette non occupée
• -pression touche (ENREGISTREMENT) → bip sonore de prise en compte

The parameters of this cooking are: PASTRY, 130 ° C, 35 min, because the microprocessor has kept the last temperature parameter and totals the cooking time. Recording this cooking in register n ° 12 constitutes recipe n ° 12 and is carried out by:

• -call n ° 12 -> recipe indication not occupied
• -press key (RECORDING) → audible beep to be taken into account

A reminder of recipe n ° 12 will now show the following parameters: PASTRY, 130 ° C, 35 min.

Recipe # 12 is "BUSY", and stored as long as it is not replaced by the parameters of another cooking, even if a power failure occurs.

Example 3

• 3.1 appel du n° de recette enregistrée → affichage des paramètres
• 3.2 pression touche (MARCHE) -> départ en cuisson d'après les paramètres enregistrés.

Start cooking with saved recipe.

• 3.1 call up the stored recipe number → display of parameters
• 3.2 key press (ON) -> start cooking according to the saved parameters.

Any modification of the parameters during cooking is possible and does not in any way hamper its progress.

Example 4

Departure with last recipe.

During successive cooking, it is tedious to reprogram all of the parameters, one can then provide a special key which makes it possible to reload in a single operation the parameters of the last cooking carried out. This special key may for example be called "Last cooking", not shown, or else correspond to a number in the register (0, 10) as explained previously.

• 4.1 call (LAST COOKING) → display of parameters
• 4.2 press (START) key start of cooking exactly as if it had been saved automatically.

Example 5

• 5.1 mise en marche du four -> attente sélection fonction.
• 5.2 choix de la fonction préprogrammée → affichage température
• 5.3 appel touches (DUREE +/-) -* affichage de la durée de cuisson
• 5.4 appel touches (FIN +/-) → affichage de l'heure à laquelle le mets doit être cuit.

Delayed start of the recipe:

• 5.1 switching on the oven -> waiting for function selection.
• 5.2 choice of the preprogrammed function → temperature display
• 5.3 key call (DURATION +/-) - * display of the cooking time
• 5.4 call keys (END +/-) → display of the time at which the dish should be cooked.

• - que la fonction (SONDE) (figure 3) permet l'élimination éventuelle de la durée et de la fin de la cuisson, et permet de s'affranchir du poids de la viande. Dans ce cas le paramètre de durée est supprimé et remplacé par la température sonde.
• - que la fonction (DUREE), (figure 3) permet l'élimination de la sonde, un buzzer prévient qu'il faut la débrancher. Le paramètre durée est soit déterminé par l'utilisateur, soit calculé par le microprocesseur qui totalise le temps qui s'est écoulé pendant une phase d'apprentissage.
• - que les touches fin de cuisson (p10, pll, p12) ne sont actives que si une durée est choisie.
• - que le four peut être livré avec des recettes enregistrées, le processus d'apprentissage ayant lieu dans ce cas avant le départ usine.

Finally, to complete the description, note:

• - that the function (PROBE) (figure 3) allows the possible elimination of the duration and the end of cooking, and allows to get rid of the weight of the meat. In this case the duration parameter is deleted and replaced by the probe temperature.
• - that the (DURATION) function (figure 3) allows the elimination of the probe, a buzzer warns that it must be disconnected. The duration parameter is either determined by the user or calculated by the microprocessor which totals the time that has elapsed during a learning phase.
• - that the end of cooking keys (p10, pll, p12) are only active if a duration is chosen.
• - that the oven can be delivered with saved recipes, the learning process taking place in this case before leaving the factory.

Of course, the circuit shown in FIG. 1 is not limiting, variant embodiments due to changes in the components or the performance of the oven, can be considered as technical equivalents. For example, mechanical actions on part or all of the keys (p _i , t _i ...) can be replaced by voice recognition circuits.

The assembly (microprocessor - EEPROM memory) can also be replaced by a microprocessor with integrated EEPROM memory.

The method and the device described can be applied to any type of cooking enclosure, including microwave ovens and ovens combined with microwaves.

Claims (9)

1. Method for electronically controlling a cooking chamber characterized in that it comprises at least: - a learning process (AP) during which the cooking chamber takes into account the parameters of actual cooking during execution, - a memorization (EN) of the parameters taken into account during the learning process, - a process of re-execution of said parameters. 2. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the learning process (AP) of the parameters of cooking during execution comprises a manual selection step (SM) of at least one of the parameters (temperature, duration, cooking mode) followed, during the execution of said cooking, by at least one modification step (AJ) of at least one parameter, in order to carry out a simple cooking. 3. Method according to any one of claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the learning process (AP) of the parameters of cooking during execution comprises several manual selection steps (SM) followed by at least one modification step (AJ) for multiple cooking. 4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the memorization step (EN) takes into account the latest modifications. 5 .. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the storage step (EN) stores a duration parameter, which is the sum of the duration parameters totalized by the microprocessor during the process of learning (AP). 6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage step is carried out in two stages. 7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the re-execution process executes the last real cooking taken into account. 8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the re-execution process comprises at least one step of selection of recipes (SR) and at least one step of modification (AJ) of at least one parameter, this modification step (AJ) taking place during the execution of the recipe. 9 Device for carrying out the method of claim 1 characterized in that it comprises in combination at least: - an electrically erasable memory device (18) for recording the parameters of the learning phase - a control microprocessor (1) to manage the entire electronic circuit and to trigger the power circuit of the enclosure - a key (ON) which controls the entire device, to authorize the action on the adjustment keys, during the operation of the speaker power circuit - a register to select a recipe stored in memory - an element of the type ("LAST COOKING" key, register number) to recall the last cooking taken into account

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