EP2515044A1 - Cooking system - Google Patents

Abstract

The household appliance (1) has treatment chamber (2) that is closed by a door (3). The treatment chamber has a camera (4), which is adapted and configured to pass photographed images from the treatment chamber to a display device (5). A data interface (10) is provided for transmitting data to the display device.

Description

The present invention relates to a cooking system with at least one cooking appliance. The present invention also relates to a cooking appliance having at least one cooking chamber and at least one door closing the cooking chamber.

For household appliances in general and especially for cooking appliances more and more emphasis is placed on a particularly energy-efficient operation and a good energy balance. It can be saved in cooking especially by a particularly good thermal insulation of the cooking chamber a lot of energy.

One difficulty in the insulation of a cooking chamber is, inter alia, the door closing the cooking chamber. In most modern cooking appliances, a large viewing window is provided on the cooking chamber door. Although a user can control the cooking process from the outside through such a viewing window without having to open the cooking chamber door, whereby a substantial part of the heated or heated cooking chamber air would escape from the cooking chamber. However, the thermal insulation of such a door and in particular the viewing window of the door is often not as good as the insulation of the rest of the cooking chamber even in a multi-pane structure.

Although it is also completely isolated, windowless doors have become known. In such doors, the cooking chamber, however, must be opened for visual inspection of the cooking process in the rule, which is again detrimental to the energy balance. In fully insulated doors attempts have been made with a small peephole, similar to a peephole, but such peepholes are only partially suitable for the control of the cooking process, since the insight into the cooking space is limited and uncomfortable for a user.

In order to make it possible to see into the oven when the door is closed despite a fully insulated door, cooking appliances with a camera in the cooking chamber have become known. In such cooking devices then captured by a camera images are displayed to a user, for example, on a display.

A disadvantage of such devices, however, is that at least one additional opening in the cooking chamber limiting Garraummuffel must be present, through which the camera is guided into the oven. Furthermore, additional cooling is often necessary to prevent overheating of the camera. As a result, the energy balance can be deteriorated and there is an increased design effort.

Furthermore, the viewing aperture of the camera can quickly become dirty or fog due to the fatty vapors produced in the cooking chamber. Then, for the user, the view in the cooking chamber by means of camera and display may be limited or even impossible, so that in turn the cooking chamber door must be opened for visual inspection of the cooking process.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a cooking system with a cooking appliance and a cooking appliance in which the cooking chamber and in particular the cooking chamber closing door is better insulated and still the insight into the closed cooking is easily possible.

This object is achieved by a cooking system with the features of claim 1 and by a cooking appliance with the features of claim 12. Preferred embodiments are subject of the dependent claims. Further advantages and features will become apparent from the general description and the description of the embodiments.

The cooking system according to the invention comprises at least one cooking appliance and at least one camera device. The cooking appliance has at least one heatable cooking chamber and at least one door closing the cooking chamber. The door includes at least one transparent area. The at least one camera device can be attached to the door outside the cooking chamber. In this case, the camera device can be mounted on the door in such a way that images from the cooking chamber can be detected through the transparent region.

For heating the cooking chamber different heat sources may be provided on the cooking appliance. In this case, a user z. B. between top / bottom heat, air recirculation mode, microwave operation or a grill or steam function. The different heating functions can be used either individually or in combination with each other.

The cooking system according to the invention offers many advantages. A considerable advantage is that the camera device is arranged in the cold region of the cooking appliance. Because the camera device is arranged outside the cooking chamber, many disadvantages which occur due to the arrangement of a camera device within the cooking chamber can be avoided. For example, no separate opening must be made in the cooking chamber wall through which a camera device is otherwise guided into the cooking chamber. Furthermore, a special cooling can be omitted, which is necessary in conventional cooking appliances to ensure adequate cooling of the camera device. The contamination of the camera device in the cooking system according to the invention is considerably lower. Furthermore, the cleaning of the transparent area of the door, through which the camera device can take pictures from the oven, is very simple.

Also with regard to the energy balance, the cooking system according to the invention proves to be advantageous. The door of the cooking appliance of the cooking system has a transparent area through which the camera device can take pictures from the oven. This makes it possible to reduce the transparent area to a minimum. It only has to be possible for the camera device to obtain sufficient visibility into the cooking chamber. By such a configuration, the rest of the door can be optimally insulated, which in comparison to cooking appliances with a large viewing window better energy efficiency of the cooking appliance is achieved.

The camera device preferably comprises at least one optical unit and at least one processing unit for processing data and in particular image data. The processing unit may be e.g. a CCD sensor or other image sensors include or interact with such. The optical unit may comprise lens systems of one or more lenses.

Particularly preferably, the camera device comprises at least one display device which is suitable and designed to display the captured images. The presence of a display device, the z. B. can be configured as a display, allows to view the images taken from the oven directly to the camera device on the door of the cooking appliance. Thus, a user can be informed on the cooking appliance about the state of the food in the oven.

In advantageous embodiments, the camera device comprises at least one data transmission device. This data transmission device can be designed according to various standards. For example, it can be provided as a Bluetooth, WLAN, ANT + or as another data interface, in particular wireless or wireless interface, for wireless data transmission. Thus, the images recorded from the cooking chamber or the particular digital image data can also be transmitted to other, in particular external devices or to the control electronics of the cooking appliance for controlling cooking processes or cooking processes or to other, in particular external display devices for local display. Of course, a wired or wired interface can be provided, which establishes a wired connection for controlling the cooking appliance and / or to another device. An external device can be, for example, a computer or laptop or a smartphone, to which the image data are transferred for further processing and / or storage there. Such an external device may further comprise a display device or cooperate with a display device. Particularly preferably, the camera device is connected to the Internet via the at least one data transmission device.

In preferred embodiments, in which the camera device is designed to transmit the images taken from the cooking chamber or the particular digital image data to a control device of the cooking appliance for controlling and / or controlling cooking processes, it is provided that the control device of the cooking appliance is designed, evaluate the image data and to obtain additional information such as the size or the instant browning of the food in the oven and preferably compare with information already stored, for example, in a database to also regulate the cooking process based thereon , Thus, the camera device is preferably also used as a sensor for cooking appliance control and control.

In particularly preferred embodiments, the area of the transparent area of the door is less than 50% of the total area of the door and greater than or equal to 0.5 cm ² . By such a design of the transparent area of the door, it is also possible to gain insight into the cooking chamber even with the naked eye. Furthermore, the surface of the transparent area is designed so small that the door has a considerable advantage over energy efficiency compared to doors with conventional large viewing windows, as it is better heat insulating.

It is further preferred that the transparent area is designed as a viewing window. In particular, the viewing window comprises at least two substantially successively arranged and substantially parallel slices. By means of such a multi-pane structure, sufficient thermal and in particular air-current isolation of the camera device in front of the transparent area of the door from the cooking space can be ensured.

It is particularly preferably provided that at least one of the discs is larger than the transparent region, wherein said at least one disc in particular also has at least one opaque or intransparent section. This has the advantage that in the region of the opaque portion of the disc inside the door, an insulating material may be provided, which is not visible to the user, the disc is particularly easy to clean with its smooth surface from contamination. Such a pane having at least one opaque section is preferably provided on the front side of the door and / or on the inside of the door, that is to say on the side of the door facing the cooking space, and in particular extends over the substantially entire area of the respective door side. In the process, such a pane can have an opaque printing in the region of its at least one opaque section, which is applied to the side of the pane facing the door interior.

In order to receive the camera device on the door of the cooking chamber, it is further preferred that a fastening device is provided on the cooking chamber door. The fastening device is suitable and designed to secure the camera device at least in sections in front of the transparent area.

Particularly preferably, the fastening device comprises a recess in the door, wherein the recess is adapted and adapted to at least partially receive the camera device. In this case, in particular a positive reception of the camera device in the recess is preferred, whereby a substantially planar surface of the cooking chamber facing away from the front of the cooking chamber door and the camera device is formed. As a result, among other things, a particularly appealing overall appearance is achieved.

In advantageous developments, the camera device is designed as a portable computer. In this case, a portable computer, for example, tablet computers, smartphones, laptops or other electronic devices are understood. In other developments, the camera device may be comprised by a portable computer.

By using z. As a tablet computer, a camera device can be provided particularly simple, which also includes a display device in a device. A data transmission device can also be provided in the tablet computer or in the portable computer. In particular, the especially small dimensions of a tablet computer are particularly well suited to be placed in front of a cooking chamber door.

Preferably, at least one illumination device is provided on the cooking chamber. Thus, the interior of the cooking chamber can be illuminated sufficiently to record with the camera device images from the oven in usable quality. The lighting device can be arranged both within the cooking chamber, as well as be provided by the camera device itself. The arrangement of the illumination device on the transparent area may also be advantageous.

In other particularly preferred embodiments, the door closing the cooking chamber has, at least in sections, at least one insulating material. In particular, the complete isolation of the door is preferred, which is interrupted only in the transparent area. So a particularly good thermal insulation of the oven door can be achieved.

The cooking appliance according to the invention comprises at least one heatable cooking chamber and at least one door closing the cooking chamber. At least one transparent area is provided on the door. The transparent area has an area of less than 50% of the total area of the door and greater than or equal to 0.5 cm ² . In particular, the transparent area is for the operation with a arranged outside the cooking chamber camera device suitable and trained.

Such a cooking appliance offers many advantages. A significant advantage is that through the transparent area a viewing window is provided, through which a user can gain insight into the cooking chamber. The size of the viewing window is dimensioned such that the insight with the naked eye in the cooking chamber while still possible, that the surface of the viewing window but still as low as possible in order to isolate the rest of the door as well as possible.

In usual cooking chamber doors with a viewing window, the viewing window usually fills the entire surface of the door. As a result, an undesirable loss of heat from the cooking chamber arise because a door with a large viewing window can not be isolated as well as a door without viewing window.

Furthermore, a camera device can be arranged in front of the transparent area and record images through the transparent area of the oven and display a user to control the cooking process.

Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiment, which will be explained below with reference to the accompanying figures.

Fig. 1:

eine stark schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Garsystems in einer leicht perspektivischen Ansicht;

Fig. 2:

eine stark schematische seitliche Schnittansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Garsystems;

Fig. 3:

die frontale Ansicht auf die Tür des in Figur 2 dargestellten Garsystems mit Kameraeinrichtung;

Fig. 4:

die Ansicht gemäß Fig. 3 ohne Kameraeinrichtung;

Fig. 5:

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Garsystems in einer stark schematischen seitlichen Schnittansicht; und

Fig. 6:

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Garsystems in einer stark schematischen seitlichen Schnittansicht.

In the figures show:

Fig. 1:

a highly schematic representation of a cooking system according to the invention in a slightly perspective view;

Fig. 2:

a highly schematic side sectional view of a cooking system according to the invention;

3:

the frontal view on the door of the in FIG. 2 illustrated Garsystems with camera device;

4:

the view according to Fig. 3 without camera device;

Fig. 5:

a further embodiment of a cooking system according to the invention in a highly schematic side sectional view; and

Fig. 6:

a further embodiment of a cooking system according to the invention in a highly schematic side sectional view.

In Fig. 1 is shown very schematically in a cooking appliance system 1 according to the invention in a perspective view. The cooking appliance system 1 comprises a cooking appliance 50 and a camera device 2.

The cooking appliance 50 is formed in the embodiment shown here as a hearth 100 and has a hob 17 with four cooking zones 18 in the upper area. Below the hob 17, a control panel 19 is arranged on the various control elements 20 and a display device 21 may be arranged.

Below the control panel 19 a closable with a door 4 cooking space 3 is provided. On the door 4, a camera device 2 is arranged, which can take pictures 6 from the cooking chamber 3 and display them on a display device 8 through a transparent region 5, not visible in this figure, in the door 4.

To heat the cooking chamber, a user can select 19 different heat sources on the control panel. In this case, the user z. B. between top / bottom heat, recirculation mode, microwave operation or a grill function. The different heating functions can be used either individually or in combination with each other. A heating source is not shown in the figures.

In the Fig. 1 illustrated camera device 2 comprises a display device 8, on which one can see the cooking product 22 located in the cooking chamber 3. Furthermore, the camera device 2 for taking pictures 6 from the cooking chamber 3 comprises an image capture device with a processing unit 7 for processing data and in particular image data (cf. Figures 2 . 5 and 7) and expediently an optical unit 28 (cf. FIG. 5 ).

In Fig. 2 an inventive cooking system 1 is shown in a highly simplified side sectional view. One sees the cooking appliance 50, which has a housing 23, on which the cooking chamber 3 is arranged. The cooking chamber 3 can be closed by a door 4. In the door 4, a transparent region 5 is provided, which is designed here as a viewing window 10. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the viewing window 10 comprises two panes 11. The two panes 11 are arranged at a distance from each other substantially parallel to one another.

Furthermore, a fastening device 12 is provided on the door 4, which in the embodiment shown here has a recess 13 in which the camera device 2 is received. The camera device 2 is designed in the embodiment shown here as a portable computer 15, more specifically as a tablet PC 24. The tablet PC 24 includes on the cooking chamber 3 side facing an image capture device with a processing unit 7 for processing data and in particular image data through the pictures 6 can be absorbed from the cooking chamber 3. In this case, the processing unit 7 comprises a CCD sensor, not shown. In other embodiments, the processing unit 7 may comprise a different type of image sensor, for example a CMOS sensor, or may cooperate with an image sensor.

The illustrated arrangement of the camera device 2 is very advantageous. Due to the arrangement in the cold region of the cooking appliance 50, ie outside the cooking chamber 3, no additional opening in the cooking chamber 25 must be introduced through which a camera device 2 would otherwise be performed in the cooking chamber 3. The camera device 2 has through the transparent area 5 insight into the cooking chamber.

Furthermore, otherwise possibly necessary cooling devices, which may be necessary in the arrangement of a camera 7 in the cooking chamber 3, are dispensed with. The otherwise often difficult cleaning of the camera device 2 is much easier in the inventive arrangement of the camera device 2, because the surface to be cleaned of the disc 11 on the inside of the door in the viewing area 5 is easily accessible and as a plane, substantially smooth surface and preferably without edge or . Edge is formed. A user only needs to see the transparent area 5 e.g. wipe with a damp cloth.

Through the depression 13 in the door 4 it is achieved that the camera device 2 is received flat or flush with the front 14 of the door 4 of the cooking appliance 50 by the fastening device 12. As a result, a particularly beautiful design can be achieved since the camera device 2 does not apply to the door 4 of the cooking appliance 50.

The cooking chamber 3 surrounds a wall 25, which is also referred to as Garraummuffel, wherein the entire cooking chamber 3 is surrounded by an insulating material 26 in order to avoid heat loss from the cooking chamber 3 as well as possible. Also, the door 4 is substantially completely provided with insulating material 26. The only exception is the transparent region 5 of the door 4, through which the camera device 2 gains insight into the cooking chamber 3.

In the 3 and 4 in each case the door 4 of a cooking system 1 or a cooking appliance 50 according to the invention is shown. In Fig. 3 If you see the door 4 in frontal view, with a camera device 2 is added to the door 4. The camera device 2 comprises a display device 8 and on the rear side an image capture device, not visible from the front and indicated here as a dashed circle, comprising a processing unit 7. The images 6 captured or recorded from the cooking chamber 3 can be output on the display device 8.

In Fig. 4 is already in Fig. 3 shown door 4 without camera device 2 shown. One sees a transparent area 5, which is arranged approximately in the middle of the door 4. Around the transparent area 5 around a fastening device 12 is provided, which comprises a recess 13 in the embodiment shown here. Furthermore, the fastening device 12 two magnets 27 are assigned. These magnets 27 can interact with the rear side of the camera device 2 which is at least partially magnetically embodied in this exemplary embodiment, as a result of which the camera device 2 is stably received in the recess 13. Other means for attaching the camera device 2 in front of the transparent area 5 of the door 4, such as latching or clip means can be advantageously used.

The transparent area 5 shown here is designed as a viewing window 10, which, as already in Fig. 2 described consists of two substantially parallel to each other arranged discs 11. Through this transparent region 5, the image capture device with the processing unit 7 of the camera device 2 can take pictures 6 from the cooking chamber 3 and display them on the display device 8 of the camera device 2. It is preferred that the surface of the viewing window 10 and the viewing area 5 makes up the highest half of the total surface of the door 4. In particular, the area of the transparent region 5 is also greater than / equal to 0.5 cm ² . With such a dimensioning of the transparent region 5, it is still possible for a user to get an insight into the cooking chamber 3 even without camera device 2. Nevertheless, the transparent and thus not insulated with insulating material 26 area 5 is designed so small that overall better insulation of the door 4 can be achieved compared to doors with a large viewing window. However, in other embodiments than the one shown here, one or more panes of the door 4 may also be larger than the transparent area and comprise at least one opaque or non-transparent section. This increases the energy efficiency of the cooking appliance 50.

In Fig. 5 a further embodiment of a cooking appliance system 1 according to the invention is shown. This cooking system 1 also comprises a cooking device 50 and a camera device 2. The cooking device 50 is designed similar to the exemplary embodiment described above. As a difference, it should be noted here that although the transparent area 5 is again designed as a viewing window 10, in this case a multi-pane structure is made up of three panes 11 arranged essentially parallel to one another.

The camera device 2 consists in this embodiment of various individual components. In this case, an image capture device is provided directly in front of the transparent region 5, which includes an optical system 28 and a processing unit 7 with an image chip 29, which is here is designed as a CCD sensor 30 comprises. Behind the image sensor 29, an electronic unit 31 is provided, which processes the image data and forwards it to a display 32.

The camera device 2 is not included in a recess 13 in the door 4 in the example shown here, but is applied applying to the cooking chamber facing away from the front side of the door 4. The camera device 2 is thereby positioned by a fastening device 12 substantially in front of the transparent region 5, the fastening device 12 comprising two retaining elements 33. However, the fastening device 12 can also be designed differently. Thereby, e.g. Also provided laterally on the camera device 2 holding elements 33, which optimally positioned the camera device 2 or at least their required for image acquisition of individual components in front of the transparent area 5 of the door 4.

Another embodiment is in Fig. 6 shown. Here, the cooking system 1 shown here includes a cooking appliance 50 and a camera device 2. The camera device 2 is again designed as a portable computer 15 here. The portable computer 15 is designed as a tablet PC 24, which comprises an image capture device with a processing unit 7, a display device 8 and a data transmission device 9. The image capture device is provided on the side facing the cooking chamber 3 of the tablet PC 24 and arranged directly in front of the transparent area 5 of the door 4, so that images 6 can be taken from the cooking chamber 3. The images 6 thus captured can then be output on the display device 8.

In order to achieve a sufficient image quality, the cooking chamber 3 is assigned a lighting device 16, which essentially illuminates the cooking chamber 3. The lighting device 16 may also be arranged at other locations in or on the cooking chamber 3. The arrangement of the illumination device 16 in the transparent region 5 or the integration of the illumination device 16 into the camera device 2 can also be advantageous.

If a camera device 2 does not comprise a display device 8, or else in addition to a covered display device 8, the images 6 taken from the cooking chamber 3 can also be transmitted to other display devices 8 via a data transmission device 9. In this case, the data transmission devices 9 can have different data interface clips 34. For example, a wired data interface can be provided, which is connected to another device. Of course, other wireless transmission methods are possible and preferred, for example, the recorded images 6 can be transmitted via Bluetooth, WLAN or ANT +.

The transparent area 5 of the door 4 is also designed here as a viewing window 10. In this case, three substantially parallel to each other arranged discs 11 are provided, through which the camera device 2 is in visual contact with the cooking chamber 3.

In order to allow the camera device 2 as large a viewing angle as possible into the cooking chamber 3, the transparent region 5 has a substantially cylindrical or conical cross section, with the opening angle of the transparent region 5 becoming larger and larger towards the cooking chamber 3.

Thus, on the outer side 36 of the door 4, the smallest possible viewing area 5 can be provided, while on the inner side 37 of the door 4 a larger viewing area 5 can be provided. Thus, a good thermal insulation of the door 4 filled with insulating material 26 in the opaque region can still be achieved. However, in other embodiments than the one shown here, one or more panes of the cooking chamber door can also be larger than the transparent area and comprise at least one opaque or non-transparent section. Such a disk preferably extends in particular over the substantially entire surface of the respective door side and may have an opaque printing in the region of its at least one opaque portion, which is then applied to the side of the disk facing the door interior.

It is further within the skill of one skilled in the art to modify the described embodiments in a manner not shown in order to achieve the effects described, without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Gargerätsystem

2

camera means

3

oven

4

door

5

transparent area

6

images

7

processing unit

8th

display

9

Data communications equipment

10

window

11

disc

12

fastening device

13

deepening

14

front

15

portable computer

16

lighting device

17

hob

18

cooking zone

19

control panel

20

controls

21

display

22

be cooked

23

casing

24

Tablet PC

25

Cooking space, Garraummuffel

26

insulating material

27

magnet

28

optical unit

29

Image chip, image sensor

30

CCD sensor

31

electronics unit

32

display

33

holding means

34

Data Interface

35

cylindrical cross section

36

outside

37

inside

50

Cooking appliance

100

stove

Claims (17)

Cooking system (1) with at least one cooking device (50) and with at least one camera device (2), wherein the cooking appliance (50) comprises at least one heatable cooking chamber (3) and at least one door (4) closing the cooking chamber (3), wherein the Door (4) comprises at least one transparent area (5),
characterized,
in that the at least one camera device (2) can be attached to the door (4) outside the cooking chamber (3) in such a way that images (6) from the cooking chamber (2) can be detected through the transparent region (5) by means of the camera device (2) are. The cooking system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the camera device (2) comprises at least one optical unit (28) and at least one processing unit (7). The cooking system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the camera device (2) comprises at least one display device (8) which is suitable and designed to display the captured images (6). Cooking system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the camera device (2) comprises at least one data transmission device (9) for wired and / or wireless data transmission. A cooking system (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the camera device (2) is designed to transmit image data, in particular in digital form, via the at least one data transmission device (9) to a control device of the cooking device (50) for controlling cooking processes. The cooking system (1) according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the camera device (2) is adapted to transmit image data, in particular in digital form, to an external display device for display on the external display device via the at least one data transmission device (9) , Cooking system (1) according to one of the three preceding claims, characterized in that the camera device (2) is formed, via the at least one data transmission device (9) image data, in particular in digital form, to at least one external computer for further processing and / or storage to transfer the image data. Cooking system (1) according to one of the four preceding claims, characterized in that the camera device (2) via the at least one data transmission device (9) is connected to the Internet. Cooking system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transparent area (5) has an area of less than 50% of the total area of the door (3) and greater / equal to 0.5 cm ² . The cooking system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transparent area (5) is designed as a viewing window (10), which in particular comprises at least two substantially successively arranged discs (11). Garsystem (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one disc (11) of the particular at least two discs (11) is greater than the transparent area (5), wherein the at least one disc (11) in particular also at least one opaque portion having. A cooking system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the door (4) a fastening device (12) is provided, which is suitable and adapted to the camera device (2) at least in sections before the transparent area (5) fasten. A cooking system (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the fastening device (12) comprises a recess (13) in the door (3) which is suitable and designed to receive the camera device (2) at least partially and in particular with a positive fit the front of the door (4) facing away from the cooking chamber (3). Cooking system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the camera device (2) is designed as a portable computer (15) or is comprised by a portable computer (15). Cooking system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one illumination device (16) is provided on the cooking chamber (3). Cooking system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the door (4) at least in sections, at least one insulating material (26). Cooking appliance (50) having at least one heatable cooking chamber (2) and at least one door (4) closing the cooking chamber (3), wherein the door (4) comprises at least one transparent region (5),
characterized,
that the transparent area (5) and an area of less than 50% of the total area of the door (4) and greater than / equal to 0.5 cm ^2, in particular arranged for operation with an outside of the cooking space (3) camera means (2) suitable and trained.

Images