EP3446544A1

EP3446544A1 - System for preparing and method for operating a system for preparing at least one food

Info

Publication number: EP3446544A1
Application number: EP16717395.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hendrik Koetz
Original assignee: Vorwerk and Co Interholding GmbH
Current assignee: Vorwerk and Co Interholding GmbH
Priority date: 2016-04-20
Filing date: 2016-04-20
Publication date: 2019-02-27
Also published as: AU2016403902B2; WO2017182076A1; CN109196949A; US11013073B2; CN109196949B; US20190141796A1; MX2018012867A; AU2016403902A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (100) for preparing at least one food (1, 2, 3) having a cooking chamber (10), in which the food (1, 2, 3) can be prepared, an energy unit (20), in order to carry out an supplying of electromagnetic energy into the cooking chamber (10) specific to the at least one food (1, 2, 3) in dependence on cooking information (4, 5, 6) of the at least one food (1, 2, 3), whereby the at least one food (1, 2, 3) can be brought into an edible state, wherein the energy unit (20) has at least two transmission antennae (30, 31, 32, 33), which are spaced apart from each other, can be actuated by at least one high frequency signal encoder of the system (100), and are designed to emit energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation in the microwave range into the cooking chamber (10) based on said actuation.

Description

System for preparation and method for operating a system for preparing at least one

food

Description

The present invention relates to a system for preparing at least one foodstuff, having a cooking space in which the foodstuff can be prepared, and having a power unit for supplying electromagnetic energy to the at least one foodstuff, depending on the cooking time of the at least one foodstuff To perform cooking chamber, whereby the at least one food is brought into a delicious state. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating such a system for the preparation of at least one foodstuff.

In classic food preparation devices, such as a microwave or an oven, usually introduced foods can only be uniform to be heated. Regardless of their size, weight or type, food is heated uniformly with top / bottom heat, convection oven (oven) or microwave radiation, even if the food is divided into, for example, a main course such as meat and one or more side dishes, e.g. B. Rice or potatoes, and require various temperatures or cooking times to be cooked or heated at the same time.

Classical microwaves heat food using a magnetron or the energy of electromagnetic waves generated by a magnetron. A microwave has a static frequency and a static phase of the electromagnetic waves, which leads to different degrees of temperature within the cooking chamber. To heat the food as evenly as possible, a microwave uses a turntable and / or a kind of stirrer / ceiling fan to distribute the waves in the oven. The penetration depth of microwaves depends on the density of the food. Therefore, loose dishes, such as minced meat, mashed potatoes, etc., heat up in the microwave faster than dense dishes, such as a solid piece of meat, lasagne, etc., the same mass. A disadvantage of such microwaves is therefore that some components of the heated food are very hot, while other ingredients, in particular meat, at best, lukewarm with simultaneous heating. In classic ovens with circulating air and / or top and bottom heat, the various components of a food are also all subjected to the same heat, which also leads to some ingredients of the food to be heated due to their nature, size, weight, especially their density stronger be heated than other ingredients.

Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to overcome the present disadvantages of the aforementioned classic food preparation equipment. In particular, a system for the preparation of at least one foodstuff and a method for operating a system for the preparation of at least one foodstuff are to be provided which, when heating foodstuffs with different food constituents, allow all food constituents to be defined, in particular reach the same, cooking state and same consumption temperature at the same time. It is intended to be enabled by the system and the procedure a homogeneous temperature distribution is generated in different food components or food of a food, without the food is moved.

The problem is solved by the claims. In particular, the object of the invention is achieved by a system for preparing at least one food product having the features of claim 1 and by a method for operating a system for preparing at least one food product having the features of claim 16. Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings. In this case, features and details that are described in connection with the system according to the invention, of course, also in connection with the inventive method and in each case vice versa, so that with respect to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention always reciprocal reference is or may be. According to a first aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a system for preparing at least one foodstuff. The system has a cooking space in which the food, i. the food or the food, is prepared. Furthermore, the system has an energy unit in order, depending on the cooking time of the at least one foodstuff, to supply a supply of electromagnetic energy to the cooking space specified by the at least one foodstuff, whereby the at least one foodstuff can be brought into an enjoyable state. Furthermore, the system is characterized in that the energy unit has at least two mutually spaced transmitting antennas, which are controlled by at least one high-frequency signal generator of the system and which are designed based on this control energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation in the microwave range in the oven leave.

By such a system for preparing at least one foodstuff, it is possible to simultaneously bring a foodstuff to be heated, or several different foodstuffs to be heated together as food, to a defined, in particular the same, cooking state and the same eating temperature. The system makes it possible to produce a homogeneous temperature distribution in different food constituents or foods of a cooking product, without that the food is moved. All the different foods, such as meat as main dish and rice and peas as two different side dishes, which are positioned together in the oven, preferably on a plate, can be brought into the same state of consumption and the same consumption temperature by the system at the same time. This is achieved by the special energy unit. This has at least two or more spaced transmission antennas. The at least two transmitting antennas can be controlled by at least one high-frequency signal generator of the energy unit of the system. The high-frequency signal generator may, for example, have multiple outputs. In this case, the at least one high-frequency signal transmitter transmits energy into a resonant circuit, wherein a magnetic field builds up around a conductor. The transmitting antennas radiate the energy in the form of electromagnetic waves with a certain and also determinable frequency in the cooking chamber. A system is preferred in which each transmitting antenna can be controlled by a respective high-frequency signal generator. Each individual transmitting antenna is designed to emit energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation in the microwave range into the cooking chamber, based on the activation of the high-frequency signal generator (s). Preferably, the at least one high-frequency signal generator is designed to emit a constant signal, in particular a signal with 2.35 to 2.45 GHz. The high-frequency signal transmitters emit high-frequency sinusoidal vibrations. The high-frequency signal transmitters offer the possibility of frequency and amplitude modulation. Furthermore, the activation of the phases of the electromagnetic waves can be individually determined or set for each transmitting antenna.

Characterized in that at least two mutually spaced transmission antennas are provided, electromagnetic waves are radiated periodically into the cooking chamber at least two places. These waves hit each other causing interference. So it can lead to an amplification of the electromagnetic radiation or to a weakening. That is, depending on how many transmit antennas emit electromagnetic radiation into the oven, irradiation zones or areas can be created in which the electromagnetic radiation is very high, and it can be irradiation zones or areas are created in which the electromagnetic radiation is lower. This effect can be exploited according to the invention. That is, with the help of the system, certain area or Zones within the cooking chamber are irradiated stronger than other areas or zones. Thus, foods that have a high density, such as meat, may be more irradiated and / or irradiated in the cooking space longer than foods that have a low density, such as vegetables. The fact that two, but preferably more than two transmitting antennas are provided, which are arranged on the cooking chamber, that they emit their electromagnetic radiation in the cooking chamber and thus in the direction of food, which are positioned in the oven for heating, can in Garraum two or more different irradiation zones are created. As a result, different foods that are simultaneously positioned for heating in the cooking chamber can be exposed to electromagnetic radiation to different degrees. This in turn means that the different foods, for example, meat, noodles and peas, all at the same time reach the same state of cooking and a same consumption temperature.

The heating of foods is based on the dielectric effect. The foods have polar molecules. Such molecules have a non-uniform distribution of positive and negative charges. That is, there are regions in the molecules where there are more positive charges and areas where more negative charges are. If such molecules are irradiated with electromagnetic waves, they arrange according to the field lines of the electromagnetic field. When the electromagnetic field changes its polarity, it turns around to reorient itself. This means that in foodstuffs, charge carriers of the molecules can only follow the changes in the direction of the high-frequency field with some delay, which increases the internal energy in the food and thus its temperature.

The inventive energy unit of the system makes it possible, depending on the cooking time of the at least one foodstuff, to supply a supply of electromagnetic energy to the cooking space specified by the at least one foodstuff, whereby the at least one foodstuff can be brought into an enjoyable state. If several foods are to be heated, which is usually the case with classic foods, the energy unit allows all foods to reach their state of consumption and the same consumption temperature at the same time. The more transmitting antennas and the more high-frequency signal transmitters are present, the more different irradiation zones can be formed within the cooking chamber, whereby a plurality of different foods can be brought into the state of cooking at the same time.

It is conceivable that the at least two transmitting antennas are supplied with energy by one and the same high-frequency signal generator. This then has several, separate outputs. The transmitting antennas and the high-frequency signal generator are preferably by means of a conductor, i. an electrically conductive cable connected. The high-frequency signal generator emits a constant signal to the transmitting antennas. Depending on how these are switched on and off, the emission characteristics of the electromagnetic radiation in the oven can be influenced. However, a power unit in which each transmitting antenna is connected to its own high-frequency signal generator is preferred. As a result, the emission characteristic can be influenced not only by the transmitting antennas themselves but also by the high-frequency signal transmitters in which they are switched on and off.

By the number of transmitting antennas and their arrangement on the cooking chamber, and by the control of the transmitting antennas by the high-frequency signal transmitter or a direct control of the transmitting antennas, for example by switching on and off the transmitting antennas, individual irradiation zones or temperature zones can be created within the cooking chamber which are tuned to exactly the Gardaten the food positioned in the cooking chamber. In this way, it is possible for all foods positioned in the cooking chamber to be heated in such a way that they simultaneously reach the same defined cooking state and an identical consumption temperature.

According to a preferred further development of the invention, it may be provided in a system that at least one of the transmitting antennas or preferably each transmitting antenna is structurally associated with a power amplifier for amplifying the electromagnetic radiation of the respective transmitting antenna. The power amplifiers enable the modulated input RF signal at the transmit antenna output amplified without losing performance. The one or more power amplifiers may be designed as non-linear or as a linear power amplifier. In particular, the power amplifiers may be designed in such a way that they allow control, in particular amplification, of the radiated power.

Furthermore, it can be provided in a preferred system that this has a control unit which controls the control of each transmitting antenna by the at least one high-frequency signal generator. Of course, two or more control units may be provided. Particularly preferably, each transmitting antenna is connected to a radio-frequency signal transmitter assigned to it. The control unit can drive each individual high-frequency signal generator, i. to switch on and off. This allows the control unit to determine when a transmitting antenna emits electromagnetic radiation or not. However, the control unit can also control the transmit antennas directly as required and turn them on or off accordingly. In particular, the irradiation time of each transmitting antenna can be controlled by the at least one control unit and the phases of the electromagnetic waves can be changed.

The at least one control unit thereby makes it possible, depending on the cooking time of the at least one foodstuff, to carry out a supply of electromagnetic radiation into the cooking space which is specified for the at least one foodstuff. That is, the control unit influences or controls the irradiation zones or temperature zones within the cooking chamber, in which it ensures whether and which transmit antenna emits electromagnetic radiation. In this way, the system, knowing the exact position of the individual foodstuffs in the cooking chamber, can allocate a specific irradiation to each foodstuff, so that all foods positioned in the cooking chamber can reach their state of cooking and a same consumption temperature at the same time. According to a further preferred development of the invention, it can be provided in a system that the control unit is designed to turn on and off at least one transmitting antenna or each transmitting antenna for controlling the emission of the electromagnetic radiation individually and in groups and / or that the control unit is configured to turn on and off at least one high-frequency signal generator of the system for delivering signals to the at least one transmitting antenna. That is, as required, the at least one control unit can selectively switch on and off individual transmitting antennas or high-frequency signal transmitters, in the event that each transmitting antenna is assigned its own high-frequency signaling device, or groups of transmitting antennas or high-frequency signaling devices. As a result, the control unit can influence the emission characteristic of each transmitting antenna and thus the temperature zones present in the cooking chamber during the heating of the food. It can thus be generated so-called hot spots within the cooking chamber, which can be used as a precaution to heat denser foods. By targeted control of the electromagnetic radiation of the transmitting antennas can be assigned to each different food, which is positioned in the oven for heating, a specially adapted to this food electromagnetic radiation.

In the case of a system, it can preferably be provided that the at least one transmitting antenna or each transmitting antenna and / or the high-frequency signal generator can be controlled by the control unit in such a way that predetermined constructive interferences or destructive ones are present in the cooking space for the formation of irradiation zones or temperature zones Interference of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the transmitting antennas, result in the oven. That is to say, the at least one control unit can control the emission characteristic of each transmitting antenna in such a way that either constructive interference or destructive interference of the electromagnetic radiation or waves results in predetermined regions within the cooking chamber. The at least one control unit can determine by targeted control of the transmit antennas and / or the high-frequency signal generator, where in the oven the electromagnetic radiation amplified by interference and where they are weakened. As a result, so-called hot spots can be generated in which a high temperature level prevails in order to heat foods that heat more slowly due to their nature, size and weight. Accordingly, irradiation zones or temperature zones can be created in which there is a low or medium temperature level, in order to heat more slowly foods that heat quickly because of their nature, size and weight. The transmitting antennas are preferably arranged on the cooking space such that the foodstuffs positioned in the cooking space can be irradiated on all sides as far as possible. The number of transmit antennas provided is also flexible. For example, four or more transmitting antennas can be arranged in the upper region of the cooking chamber, which irradiate the food from above or obliquely from above. However, it is also conceivable that transmitting antennas are arranged laterally or in the lower region of the cooking chamber in order to irradiate the food from the side or from below. The cooking chamber is hermetically sealed during the irradiation and thus forms a closed structure. For adding food and for removing the food an opening is provided, which can be closed during heating, so that no electromagnetic radiation can escape from the oven. According to a further preferred development of the invention, it can be provided in a system that at least one transmitting antenna or several transmitting antennas can be moved in the system relative to the cooking space individually or in groups by means of one or more drives, in particular two- or three-dimensional. This allows the position of one or more transmit antennas to be changed. This makes it possible, on the one hand, to change the distance of one or the other transmitting antenna to the food. On the other hand, this influences phases and thus the interferences of the electromagnetic waves, which in turn can change the shape of the irradiation zones or of the temperature zones. The drives can in particular be motors, for example servo or linear motors. By the movement, in particular the displacement, of transmitting antennas, for example, a concentration of the introduced energy, ie the electromagnetic radiation, can be effected. Transmitting antennas can be selectively positioned in such a way that certain beam cones or beams are generated in which a high temperature level prevails.

Furthermore, it can be provided in the case of a system that it has an adjusting device, in particular a touchscreen, for inputting input variables of the at least one food or the cooking chamber, that the adjusting device for transmission the input variables input is coupled to the control unit data-communicating with the control unit and that the control unit is adapted to generate on the basis of the transmitted input variables of at least one food the different irradiation zones and irradiation times within the cooking chamber by the transmitting antennas adapted to the at least one food. The adjustment device allows the user of the system to actively intervene in the later heating process. That is, the user can, for example via a touch screen, ie a screen with touch input, communicate a variety of different input variables to the system. This allows the user to specify exactly what foods are positioned in the cooking space and how these foods can be selectively irradiated separately. The adjusting device is preferably designed to input at least one of the following parameters of the at least one foodstuff as an input variable for the control unit:

- Art

- size

Weight

- density

- Number

Position in the cooking chamber

- target temperature

Additionally or alternatively, the adjusting device for inputting the entry of the electromagnetic radiation for different irradiation zones or temperature zones can be formed within the cooking chamber. In order for the input variables entered to reach the control unit, the adjustment device is connected to the control unit in a data-communicating manner. This can be wired or wireless. The control unit determines from the transmitted input quantities of the at least one foodstuff how intense and how long the corresponding foodstuff is to be irradiated with electromagnetic radiation by the various transmitting antennas and, by controlling the transmitting antennas and / or the high-frequency signal transmitters, adjusts the irradiation zones and irradiation times according to the requirements at. This can ensure that all food in the oven, which are to be heated at the same time reach the state of cooking and a same consumption temperature at the same time. The user can use the setting device also enter yourself, in which zones as to be irradiated. In particular, it can determine in which zones of the cooking chamber which temperature should prevail during subsequent heating. This requires a certain amount of cooperation from users, because he then has to position the individual foods in the cooking chamber so that they all cook at the same time. For example, if the user wants to heat only water in a glass, he can enter via the setting device that only a certain zone in the oven, in which he positions the glass, is intensively irradiated in order to save energy.

According to a further preferred development of the invention, it can be provided in a system that the system has an object recognition for the automatic determination of at least one of the following parameters of the at least one foodstuff as an input variable for the control unit:

- size

- density

- Number

Position in the oven,

in that the object recognition for transmitting the automatically determined input variables to the control unit is data-communicating with the control unit and that the control unit is designed to generate different irradiation zones and irradiation times within the cooking chamber by the transmitting antennas on the basis of the transmitted input variables of the at least one foodstuff ,

Due to the object recognition food can be automatically recognized by the system. This has a great benefit for a user. He does not need to enter input variables via the setting device, but the object recognition itself determines at least some of the input variables of a food. The object recognition can serve to support the setting device. This considerably facilitates the input of the input variables for the user. The object recognition may be coupled to the setting device in a data-communicating manner. For example, the object recognition can display to the user on a screen of the adjustment device some of the input variables determined by it. The user can then supplement missing input variables or insert additional input variables. In particular, the detection of the position of the individual food in the oven, is a great relief for the user.

The object recognition preferably has at least one camera. As an alternative or in addition to the at least one camera, the object recognition can have one or more sensors, which can detect, for example, the position or the size of a food. The sensors may be, for example, optical sensors. Furthermore, capacitive sensors, such as pressure sensors, inductive sensors, such as force sensors, or mechanical sensors, such as a balance, may be provided. All of these sensors are used to detect food. The object recognition is coupled to transmit the automatically determined input variables to the control unit in a data-communicating manner with the control unit. In this way, the control unit can obtain all relevant input variables about the foodstuffs positioned in the cooking compartment, by means of which the control unit can determine what the irradiation characteristic should look like in order to ensure that all foods positioned in the cooking chamber reach their doneness at the same time and have the same consumption temperature ,

Furthermore, according to a further development of the invention, it may be provided in a system that the system has a determination device for determining the weight of the at least one food, that the determination device for transmitting the determined weight of the at least one food is data-communicating with the control unit and that the control unit is designed to automatically generate on the basis of the transmitted weight of at least one food the weight of the at least one food adapted different irradiation zones and irradiation times within the cooking chamber by the transmitting antennas. The determination device can be arranged differently depending on the system. For example, the determination device may be placed outside the cooking chamber. Alternatively, the determination device can be arranged in the lower region of the cooking chamber in order to determine the weight of the food immediately after its positioning in the cooking chamber. The determining device may be designed to determine the tare weight of the food based on a previously recognized weight of a food carrier, such as a plate. In the case of a determination device, it is possible, for example, to have a weighing device. In addition, the determination device may include a recognition device for recognizing at least one can be coupled to the system food carrier. The weight of the food placed on the food carrier can be calculated via a computer unit which is coupled to the recognition device and to the determination device. Through the data-communicating connection between the determination device and the control unit, the weight data can be forwarded to the control unit, which can then make corresponding conclusions about the required irradiation. The determination device can be subdivided into segments in order to be able to determine the weights of individual foods with a suitably designed food carrier. The recognition device may be a code scanner, a camera, an NFC module or a magnetic switching module for recognizing the food carrier.

Another preferred system may include a database, which is coupled to the data-communicating control unit and from which by the control unit on the basis of the input variables of the at least one food Gardaten be read. The database may include a storage device in which inputs of foodstuffs may be stored for comparison. The system, in particular the database, may further comprise a communication device for obtaining nutrition-specific data and input variables via the Internet or another wired or wireless network. Via the database, the control unit can determine cooking data of the corresponding foodstuffs so that, based on the cooking data, a corresponding activation of the energy unit can take place in order to individually determine the required irradiation by the transmission antennas for each foodstuff. The system may comprise a comparison device, which is data-technically connected to the control unit. Thus, the control unit can compare input quantities entered with reference values from the database in order to determine the exact cooking rates for each food item.

As already stated above, the cooking chamber is hermetically sealed during the execution of the electromagnetic radiation and thus forms a closed structure. Thus, the cooking chamber can be delimited by a housing, in particular a cuboid housing, of the system. The housing has a bottom, side walls and a ceiling. To access the cooking chamber, the housing preferably an openable and lockable door. The door is preferably arranged pivotably on the housing. The transmitting antennas are preferably arranged on the housing, in particular fastened, that the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the transmitting antennas can be emitted into the cooking space enclosed by the housing. The high-frequency signal transmitters and the power amplifiers may also be fastened to the housing. The transmitting antennas are preferably arranged on the ceiling of the housing. But they can also be arranged alternatively or additionally on the side walls or the floor. The same applies to the high-frequency signal generator and the power amplifier.

According to another system, it may be provided that this is a cooking device, in particular a food preparation device, which has the cooking chamber and / or the energy unit and / or the object recognition and / or the setting device and / or the determination device and / or the database and / or the comparison device, in particular that the cooking device is an oven. The system may additionally comprise a grill and / or heating coils for generating top and / or bottom heat and / or a heat source with a fan for generating circulating air. As a result, food of any kind can be simply, cheaply and quickly heated for consumption. In particular, by such a system, a food with different foods can be put into an optimum state of cooking for all these foods of the one food at the same time.

The cooking device itself also preferably has walls that can enclose the cooking chamber, the energy unit, the object recognition, the setting device, the determination device, the database and / or the comparison device.

The system described above is designed to bring food to a perfect state of cooking. The system makes it possible to produce a homogeneous temperature distribution within the food, without the need for a turntable or other movable devices for distributing the energy in the oven during heating.

The basis for the generation of different temperature zones within the cooking chamber is the high-energy radio technology. Unlike a microwave, the only one Has generator element and therefore has a non-variable temperature distribution result, it is possible with the electromagnetic radiation from a plurality of transmission antennas of the system to focus energy and thus to produce different irradiation or temperature zones within the cooking chamber. By means of a preferably matrix-like structure of high-frequency signal transmitters, possibly power amplifiers and transmitting antennas, which radiate electromagnetic waves, different foods can be heated individually at the same time. Under the ceiling of the housing of the cooking chamber is preferably mounted an array of transmitting antennas capable of emitting electromagnetic energy generated by one or more high frequency signal generators. By a specific combination of the various transmitting antennas, ie a specific switching on or off of the individual transmitting antennas or possibly the high-frequency signal generators, it is possible to use the superposition principle by constructive and destructive interference to produce different irradiation zones and thus temperature ranges within the cooking chamber. The temperature distribution within the cooking chamber can be controlled as needed by the at least one control unit.

The transmitting antennas, preferably above the cooking chamber, can either be mounted statically or be adjusted along one or more axes by means of suitable drives, in particular servomotors. By means of the alignable transmitting antennas, the concentration of the introduced energy can be increased or different radiation cones or radiation lobes can be formed (beamforming).

The system described above is designed to change the phase, the amplitude and / or the frequency of the electromagnetic wave radiated by a transmitting antenna. This can be controlled by the control unit. In particular, the frequency, the phase, the amplitude of a radiated electromagnetic wave can be influenced by a high-frequency signal generator and / or by a power amplifier associated with a transmitting antenna. In general, the lower the frequency of an electromagnetic wave for cooking, the greater the depth of penetration, the lower the absorption. If the frequency is too high, the penetration depth is small and only the surface of the food is heated. To heat both the interior of a food, ie the food, as well as to fry the exterior of a food crispy, therefore different frequency ranges are necessary or different heating elements necessary. This can be achieved by a system which additionally has a grill and / or heating coils for generating top and / or bottom heat and / or a heat source with a fan.

According to a particularly preferred further development of the invention, it can be provided in a system that at least one of the transmission units of the energy unit or at least one additional transmission antenna of the energy unit which can be controlled by at least one high-frequency signal generator of the system or by at least one additional high-frequency signal generator of the system , Is designed to deliver based on this control energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz range in the oven. Such a system can control both the microwave frequency range, i. in particular the frequency range from 2 GHz to 3 GHz, for cooking the food from inside, as well as the terahertz range, i. In particular, cover the frequency range of 1 THz to 10 THz, for frying the food from the outside. As a result, different foods can be simultaneously or approximately simultaneously placed in an optimal state of cooking and also fried crispy.

Furthermore, according to a further development of the invention, it can be provided in a system that at least one of the transmitting antennas has a radiating funnel for directional radiation of the electromagnetic radiation, that this at least one transmitting antenna is pivotally mounted about an axis of rotation and that this at least one transmitting antenna for driving through the Control unit data-communicating with the control unit is coupled. Through a radiating funnel, the radiation of the electromagnetic radiation of a transmitting antenna can be controlled. In particular, the radiated electromagnetic radiation can be targeted to a specific area within the cooking chamber and thus to a selected food. Thus, every single food can be heated even more individually. Due to the pivoting of the radiating funnel, the orientation of the radiated electromagnetic radiation can be adjusted as required. According to a further aspect of the present invention, the object is achieved by a method for operating a system according to the first aspect of the invention, as described above. The method comprises the following steps:

in the cooking space of the system at least one foodstuff is positioned,

from the at least one high-frequency signal transmitter, the at least two mutually spaced transmission antennas are controlled,

- Based on the control by the at least one high-frequency signal generator, the transmitting antennas energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation in the cooking chamber of the system, the control of at least one high-frequency signal generator and / or the at least one transmitting antenna depending on Gardaten of at least a food is made, whereby the at least one food is brought into a delicious state.

The method according to the invention entails the same advantages as have been described in detail with reference to the system according to the invention according to the first aspect of the invention.

One or more foods, for example a main course, such as meat, and two side dishes, such as peas and dumplings, are positioned in the cooking compartment of the system. Subsequently, the transmission antennas of the at least one high-frequency signal generator, preferably each driven by a high-frequency signal generator. In this case, the at least one high-frequency signal transmitter transmits energy, ie magnetic field energy, to the transmitting antennas. The transmit antennas transmit this energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation into the cooking chamber of the system. Since several transmit antennas are controlled, they each emit electromagnetic radiation in the form of electromagnetic waves in the direction of the food positioned in the cooking chamber. That is, the radiated electromagnetic waves of each transmitting antenna propagate in the cooking chamber in the direction of the food. The electromagnetic waves of the various transmitting antennas interfere with each other in the oven. Depending on which wavelength and phase the waves have, when and from where the electromagnetic waves of the various transmitting antennas are emitted or when and where they meet in the cooking chamber, destructive or constructive interferences form. That is, by the superposition of electromagnetic waves in the Cooking chamber, the electromagnetic radiation can be partially reinforced or partially reduced. It can thus be created irradiation zones with different irradiation intensity within the cooking chamber. In so-called hot spots, the electromagnetic radiation and thus the temperature level are high, while in other irradiation zones lower electromagnetic radiation and a lower temperature level prevail.

As a result of the control of the transmitting antennas by the at least one high-frequency signal generator, in the method, as a function of cooking times of the at least one foodstuff, they are irradiated with electromagnetic radiation with varying intensity. This can be controlled in the method such that, however, in sum, the different foods irradiated in parallel reach the same state of cooking and the same consumption temperature at the same time. This process allows foods with different foods to be heated so that they are all the same hot at the same time, and that they have an optimal cooking state for each food. A user has such a heating of food a significant advantage compared to a conventional heating of food by means of a microwave. In the microwave, after the end of the heating process, the various foods of a food would be different and different in hot. For example, while a hydrous side dish, such as peas, would be very hot, a slice of thick meat would only be lukewarm.

According to a preferred further development of the invention, it can be provided in a method that, depending on the energy to be supplied for the at least one foodstuff, the power amplifier of the at least one transmitting antenna amplifies the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the at least one transmitting antenna. The power amplifier can amplify the amplitude of the signal transmitted to the transmitting antenna and thereby change the characteristics of the radiated electromagnetic radiation or the electromagnetic waves. Depending on how the power amplifier changes the incoming signal, the interference pattern of the superimposition of the electromagnetic waves of different transmission antennas in the cooking chamber also changes. That is, in the method, it is possible by targeted control of one or more power amplifiers, as needed, the heating of Food and their Gardaten to change the strength of the irradiation in certain zones in the cooking chamber. The control of the transmitting antennas, the high-frequency signal generator and / or the power amplifier is preferably carried out by the control unit of the system.

Particularly preferably, it may be provided in a method that input variables of the at least one food item are passed to the control unit of the system, that the control unit requires the energy required for heating the at least one food item by switching on and off the transmitting antennas and / or by switching on and off of high-frequency signal transmitters, each of which a transmitting antenna is assigned a high-frequency signal generator functionally controls. That is, the control unit of the system experiences the inputs of a food. The input variables may be the name, the size, the weight, the density, the number, the position of the food in the cooking space and / or the target temperature, etc. On the basis of these data, the control unit can control the transmitting antennas and / or the high-frequency signal transmitters in such a way that optimum irradiation by electromagnetic waves results for the respective food in the cooking chamber. If several foods with different input variables are simultaneously positioned in the cooking chamber of the system, the control unit controls the transmit antennas and / or the high-frequency signal transmitters and possibly the power amplifiers in such a way that an irradiation characteristic results within the cooking chamber, which ensures that the different foods after the same irradiation time for all foodstuffs reach the same state of consumption and a same consumption temperature at the same time. For this purpose, the control unit switches the transmitting antennas and / or the high-frequency signal generator according to the Gardaten for each food either on and off. By switching on and off the transmitting antennas and / or by switching on and off of the high-frequency signal generator, the control unit actively affects the radiated from the transmitting antennas electromagnetic radiation and thus distributed in the oven different temperature zones.

Furthermore, in a method, the control unit may preferably also use the input variables of the at least one foodstuff in the database of the system to read out tarts of the at least one foodstuff and on the basis of these Gardaten generated by appropriately targeted control of the transmit antennas and / or the high-frequency signal generator the at least one food adapted irradiation zones and irradiation times within the cooking chamber by the transmitting antennas. The control unit receives thereby exact information for the control of the energy unit, ie the control of the transmitting antennas, the high-frequency signal generator and / or possibly the power amplifier. The Gardaten may be different for a food. That is, if only a single food item is to be heated, the control unit uses the input quantities for this one food item to read the corresponding cooking data from the database and then controls the energy unit based on these read-out cooking data. However, if two or more different foods are to be heated in parallel, a correspondingly adapted activation of the energy unit by the control unit must take place. That is, the control unit reads in this case other cooking data for the respective food, in comparison, if only a single food is to be heated. The database preferably includes cooking dates for each known food but also cooking dates for each possible combination of two or more foods.

The transmission antennas, the line amplifiers and / or the high-frequency signal generator of the system can be controlled by the control unit, in particular switched on and off, that based on a Superpositionsprinzips by constructive interference and destructive interference of the waves of the electromagnetic radiation of the transmitting antenna in the oven there irradiation zones and irradiation times, in particular food-adapted temperature ranges, are produced.

In a further preferred method, the input variables of the food and / or the cooking chamber can be input via the setting device, in particular the touchscreen, and directed to the control unit and / or by the system based on the object recognition and / or the determination device Input variables of the food and / or the cooking chamber are automatically determined and routed to the control unit. By means of the adjustment device, a user can actively input input variables of the food and / or the cooking chamber into the system. This allows the user to specify how difficult a food is and where it is this has positioned in the cooking chamber of the system. Furthermore, the user can also specify directly, regardless of the food, what temperature distribution he would like to have in the oven. This is advantageous if the user knows exactly the required heating data for his foods placed by him. On the other hand, a method is advantageous which determines the input variables of the food to be heated automatically. This is done by the object recognition and / or the determination device. That is, by the object recognition and / or the determination device, the system can automatically determine the input variables of the food to be heated and / or the cooking chamber and forward it to the control unit. This saves the user the knowledge about the input variables of food. In particular, a user can very difficult to determine certain input variables, such as weight, density or size. The object recognition of the system detects the food or the input variables of a food automatically. The object recognition may additionally be coupled in a data-communicating manner with the setting device of the system. For example, the object recognition can display to the user on a screen of the adjustment device some of the input variables determined by it. The user can then supplement missing input variables by means of the adjusting device or insert additional input variables. To recognize the input variables, the object recognition preferably uses one or more cameras and / or one or more sensors of the system. After the automatic recognition of the input variables of the foodstuff (s), the input variables are forwarded to the control unit via a data connection by object recognition. The control unit thus receives all relevant input variables via the foodstuffs positioned in the cooking chamber and subsequently defines, in particular by reading cooking data based on the input variables, what the irradiation characteristic should look like, in the same state of cooking and at the same time all foods positioned in the cooking chamber at the same time To bring consumption temperature.

Furthermore, a method is preferred in which, for crispy roasting of the outer region of the at least one food, at least one of the transmitting antennas or at least one additional transmitting antenna is driven by one of the high-frequency signal generators of the system or by at least one additional high-frequency signal generator such that the at least one the transmitting antennas or the at least one additional Transmitting antenna energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz range, especially in a frequency range of 300GHz to 10THz, emits into the oven. As a result, the system is both for cooking food from the inside in the microwave frequency range, ie in the frequency range of 2 GHz to 3 GHz, for cooking, as well as for frying the food from the outside in the terahertz range, ie in particular in the frequency range from 1 THz to 10 THz, suitable. The various foods can be simultaneously or approximately simultaneously placed in an optimal state of cooking by means of such a method and additionally fried crispy.

Furthermore, a method is advantageous in which at least one of the transmitting antennas or in which several transmitting antennas are moved in groups by activation by the control unit, in particular two- or three-dimensional, and / or is pivoted about an axis of rotation. This allows the distance between transmit antennas to be changed. This affects the phases of the electromagnetic waves to each other. By shifting the transmitting antennas to one another, the irradiation characteristic in the cooking chamber can be changed. The constructive and destructive interferences between the electromagnetic waves of the various transmitting antennas are altered by the change in attitude of each transmitting antenna. The control unit can set the transmit antennas so that optimal food irradiation can be made to bring them into the same state of cooking and the same eating temperature at the same time. By controlling radiating funnels of the transmitting antennas, the control unit, if present, can focus the radiation of each antenna concentratedly on a specific zone in the cooking chamber and thus on a specific foodstuff. Every single food can be heated even more individually. Due to the pivoting of the radiating funnel, the orientation of the radiated electromagnetic radiation can be adjusted as required.

The method according to the invention for the method for operating a system for the preparation of at least one foodstuff can be carried out using a system as described above, wherein the described device features of the system can be modified into corresponding method steps or executed as corresponding method steps. Further, measures improving the invention will become apparent from the following description of various embodiments of the invention, which are shown schematically in the figures. All of the claims, the description or the drawings resulting features and / or advantages, including constructive details and spatial arrangements may be essential to the invention, both in itself, and in the various combinations.

Each show schematically:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a system for

Preparation of at least one foodstuff, the system according to FIG. 1 with representation of the electromagnetic radiation of a transmitting antenna, the system according to FIG. 1 with representation of the electromagnetic radiation of all transmitting antennas, the system according to FIG. 1 with representation of the electromagnetic radiation of a transmitting antenna by means of a radiating funnel 3 shows a plan view of a food carrier with various foods, a perspective view of a second embodiment of a system for preparing at least one food,

FIG. 7 shows the system according to FIG. 1 with additional representation of FIG

Power amplifiers at the transmitting antennas,

8 shows the system according to FIG. 7 with additional representation of a control unit of the system, FIG. The system of FIG. 1, the system of FIG. 8 with additional representation of a database and a data interface of the system, the system of FIG. 1 showing an additional transmitting antenna and an additional high-frequency signal generator, the cooking chamber of the system of FIG 1 with drives for changing the transmitting antennas, a constructive interference of the electromagnetic waves of two transmitting antennas, a destructive interference of the electromagnetic waves of two transmitting antennas, a side view of irradiation of a food, a side view of a system according to a third embodiment of the present invention with additional heating means Side view of a system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention showing an irradiation hot spot, a side view of a system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention with an object recognition, a Determining device and a database, and a representation of the method for operating a for preparing at least one food. Elements with the same function and mode of operation are each provided with the same reference numerals in FIGS.

1 schematically shows a system 100 according to the invention for preparing at least one foodstuff 1. The system 100 has a cooking space 10 in which the foodstuff 1, here in the form of a chicken, can be positioned. Ideally, the food or the food 1, 2, 3 are placed on a special, metal-free food carrier 7, which is not shown here. The food carrier 7 is preferably a plate, which is divided into sections for different food 1, 2, 3. Such a food carrier 7 is shown in FIG.

The system 100 has an energy unit 20, which is designed to supply a feed of electromagnetic energy specified in the cooking space 10 to at least one foodstuff 1, 2, 3, in this case the chicken 1, as a function of cooking dates 4, 5, 6 whereby the at least one foodstuff 1, 2, 3 can be brought into an enjoyable state. The energy unit 20 has at least two mutually spaced transmitting antennas, here four transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33, which can be controlled by at least one high-frequency signal generator, here by a high-frequency signal generator 40 of the energy unit 20 of the system 100. The transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33 emit energy in the microwave space in the cooking chamber 10 in the form of electromagnetic radiation 80 based on this activation. The emission of electromagnetic radiation 80 is shown in FIG. 2 as an example for one of the transmitting antennas 30. That is, the high-frequency signal transmitter 40 transfers energy into a resonant circuit, wherein the magnetic field is built up around the conductors 70, 71, 72, 73, which via the conductors 70, 71, 72, 73 to the respective transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32nd , 33 is transmitted. The high-frequency signal generator 40 transmits a constant signal, in particular a signal 2.35 to 2.45 GHz, to the respective transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33. The high-frequency signal generator 40 transmits high-frequency sinusoidal oscillations and offers the possibility of a frequency and amplitude modulation.

As an alternative to the system 100 according to FIG. 1, a system 100 may be advantageous which does not have a single high-frequency signal generator 40, but rather a separate high-frequency signal generator 40, 41, 42, 43 for each transmission antenna 30, 31, 32, 33. Such a thing System 100 is shown in FIG. All four transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33 are each controllable by a high-frequency signal generator 40, 41, 42, 43 of the energy unit 20 of the system 100. In this case, each high-frequency signal transmitter 40, 41, 42, 43 transmits energy into a resonant circuit, with the respective conductor 70, 71, 72, 73 building up a magnetic field. The transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33 radiate the energy in the form of electromagnetic waves with a certain frequency in the microwave range in the cooking chamber 10. Preferably, each high-frequency signal generator 40, 41, 42, 43 is designed to emit a constant signal, in particular a signal with 2.35 to 2.45 GHz. The high-frequency signal transmitters 40, 41, 42, 43 send out high-frequency sinusoidal oscillations. The high frequency transducers 40, 41, 42, 43 all offer the possibility of frequency and amplitude modulation. As a result, phase shifts and thus interferences between the electromagnetic waves can be achieved in a targeted manner.

The system 100 preferably has a cooking device and has an adjusting device 23, in particular a touchscreen, for inputting input variables of the at least one foodstuff 1, 2, 3 or the cooking chamber 10. Further, the user of the system 100 on the scheduler 23 may view information about the system 100, the heating process, and / or the inputs of each food 1, 2, 3.

Fig. 3 shows schematically the system 100 of FIG. 1 with representation of the electromagnetic radiation 80 of all four transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33. The electromagnetic waves of the individual transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33 interfere with each other in the cooking chamber 10, thereby for the formation of different irradiation zones 85 within the cooking chamber 85 comes. This results in constructive and destructive interference between the electromagnetic waves of the transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33. That is, by the superposition of the electromagnetic waves in the cooking chamber 100, the electromagnetic radiation 80 can be reinforced in regions or reduced in areas. Thus, irradiation zones 85 with different irradiation intensity within the cooking chamber 10 can be created. In so-called hot spots 86, the electromagnetic radiation 80 and thus the temperature level are high, while in other irradiation zones 85 a lower electromagnetic radiation 80 and a lower temperature level prevail. The electromagnetic waves of the individual transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33 which run on the walls of the cooking chamber 10 are reflected there up to 800 times and in turn form interferences. This is not shown in the figures.

FIG. 4 schematically shows the system 100 according to FIG. 1, wherein the electromagnetic radiation 80 of a transmitting antenna 30 is aligned by means of a radiating funnel 34. However, all transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33 preferably have their own radiating funnel 34 for directional radiation of the electromagnetic radiation. By the Abstrahltrichter 34, the radiation of the electromagnetic radiation 80 of the transmitting antenna 30 can be controlled. In particular, the radiated electromagnetic radiation 80 can be targeted to a specific area within the cooking chamber 10 and thus to the selected food 1. Thus, each individual food 1, 2, 3 can be heated even more individually. Due to the pivotability of the radiating funnel 34, the orientation of the radiated electromagnetic radiation 80 can be adjusted as required.

In Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of a food carrier 7 with different food 1, 2, 3 shown. The food carrier 7 is preferably divided into defined sections. In this example, the food carrier 7 is divided into four equal areas. Advantageously, the food carrier 7 can be arranged only in a very specific orientation in the cooking chamber 10, so that the arrangement of the food carrier 7 on the arrangement of the transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33 is tuned. The foodstuffs 1, 2, 3 have different input variables, such as type, size, weight and density. Therefore, they require a different electromagnetic radiation in the cooking chamber 10 in order to be simultaneously placed in the same state of cooking and the same consumption temperature. This can be done by the system 100.

FIG. 7 schematically shows, in a perspective view, the system 100 according to FIG. 1 with additional representation of power amplifiers 50, 51, 52, 53 on the transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33. That is, each transmitting antenna 30, 31, 32, 33 is a power amplifier 50, 51, 52, 53 for amplifying the electromagnetic radiation 80 of the respective transmitting antenna 30, 31, 32, 33 associated with the technology. The power amplifiers 50, 51, 52, 53 enable the modulated input RF signal at the transmit antenna output to be amplified without sacrificing power losses. The power amplifiers 50, 51, 52, 53 may be designed as non-linear or linear power amplifiers. In particular, the power amplifiers 50, 51, 52, 53 may be designed in such a way that they allow control, in particular amplification, of the radiated power.

FIG. 8 schematically shows, in a perspective view, the system 100 according to FIG. 7 with additional representation of a control unit 60 of the system 100. The control unit 60 controls the control of each transmission antenna 30, 31, 32, 33 by the at least one high-frequency signal generator 40. 41, 42, 43. Two or more control units 60 may also be provided. Particularly preferably, each transmitting antenna 30, 31, 32, 33 is connected to a high-frequency signal transmitter 40, 41, 42, 43 assigned to it. The control unit 60 can control each individual high-frequency signal transmitter 40, 41, 42, 43, ie turn it on and off. As a result, the control unit 60 determines when a transmitting antenna 30, 31, 32, 33 emits electromagnetic radiation 80 or not. The control unit 80 can also control the transmit antennas 30, 31, 32, 33 directly as required and turn them on or off accordingly. In particular, the irradiation time of each transmitting antenna 30, 31, 32, 33 can be controlled by the at least one control unit 60. The control unit 60 makes it possible, depending on the cooking dates 4, 5, 6 of the at least one foodstuff 1, 2, 3, to carry out a feeding of electromagnetic radiation 80 into the cooking space 10 specified for the at least one foodstuff 1, 2, 3. That is, the control unit 60 influences or controls the irradiation zones 85 or temperature zones within the cooking chamber 10, in which it ensures whether and which transmitting antenna 30, 31, 32, 33 when emits electromagnetic radiation 80. In this way, the system 100, with knowledge of the exact position of the individual food 1, 2, 3 in the cooking chamber 10, each food 1, 2, 3 assign a specific irradiation, so that all positioned in the cooking chamber 10 food 1, 2, 3 reach their state of cooking and a similar consumption temperature at the same time. The control unit 60 is for controlling the high-frequency signal transmitters 40, 41, 42, 43 and / or the transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33 wirelessly or wired to the high-frequency signal generators 40, 41, 42, 43 and / or the transmitting antenna 30th , 31, 32, 33 connected. 9 shows schematically in a perspective view the cooking chamber 10 of the system 100 according to FIG. 1. The cooking chamber 10 is hermetically sealed during the implementation of the electromagnetic radiation and thus forms a closed structure. Thus, the cooking chamber 10 has a housing, in particular a cuboid housing. The housing has a bottom 1 1, side walls 12 and a ceiling 13. To access the cooking chamber 100, a door not shown is provided. The door is preferably arranged pivotably on the housing. The transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33 can be arranged distributed anywhere on the cooking chamber 10, in particular on the housing of the cooking chamber 10. Thus, transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33 can be fixed to the side walls 12, to the floor 1 1 and to the ceiling 13, the more distributed the transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33 are arranged, the better the foodstuffs 1, 2, 3 are irradiated by the electromagnetic radiation 80 from all sides. The housing may have an extension to the boundary of the cooking chamber 10, are arranged in the other elements of the system, in particular enclosed, are. The high-frequency signal transmitters 40, 41, 42, 43 and the power amplifiers 50, 51, 52, 53 may also be fastened to the housing. However, the transmitting antennas are preferably arranged on the ceiling 30, 31, 32, 33 of the housing. As a result, they are placed in the most protected and therefore little contaminate. But they can also alternatively or additionally be arranged on the side walls 12 or the bottom 1 1. The same applies to the high-frequency signal transmitters 40, 41, 42, 43 and the power amplifiers 50, 51, 52, 53.

FIG. 8 schematically shows the system according to FIG. 8 with additional representation of a database 29 and a data interface 26 of the system 100. The database 29 is data-communicatingly coupled to the at least one control unit 60, so that the control unit 60 is based on input variables of the at least one food 1, 2, 3 Gardaten 4, 5, 6 can read. The database 29 may comprise a storage device in which input quantities of foodstuffs 1, 2, 3 can be stored for comparison. The system 100, in particular the database 29, may further comprise a data interface 26, in particular in the form of a communication device, for obtaining nutrition-specific data and input variables via the Internet or another wired or wireless network. About the database 29, the control unit 60 Gardaten 4, 5, 6 determine the corresponding food 1, 2, 3, based on the Gardaten 4, 5, 6, a corresponding control of Energy unit 20, ie the high-frequency signal generator 40, 41, 42, 43 and / or the transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33 to perform the required electromagnetic radiation 80 by the transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33 for each food 1, 2, 3 individually. The system 100 may further include a comparison device, not shown, which is connected to the control unit 60 data technology, wireless or wired. In this way, the control unit 60 may compare input quantities inputted with benchmarks from the database 29 to determine the exact cooking dates 4, 5, 6 for each food 1, 2, 3. 13 and 14 show a constructive interference or a constructive interference of the electromagnetic waves of two transmitting antennas 30, 31 of a system 100. The control unit 60 can control the emission characteristic of each transmitting antenna 30, 31, 32, 33 in such a way that in predetermined ranges within the cooking chamber 10 either constructive interference or destructive interference to electromagnetic radiation 80 or waves arise. That is, the control unit 60 determines by targeted driving the transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33 and / or the high-frequency signal transmitter 40, 41, 42, 43, where in the oven 10, the electromagnetic radiation 80 amplified by interference and where they are weakened. In Fig. 15 is shown schematically how the electromagnetic waves propagate in the cooking chamber 10 in the direction of the food 1. As a result, so-called hot spots 86 can be generated in a targeted manner, see FIG. 17. In the hot spots 86, a high temperature level prevails to foods 1, 2, 3, which heat more slowly because of their type, size, weight and thus their density to heat more. Accordingly, irradiation zones or temperature zones can be created in which a low or medium temperature level prevails in order to heat foodstuffs 1, 2, 3, which heat rapidly because of their nature, size and weight. By a specific combination of the various transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33, that is, a targeted switching on or off of the individual transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33 or possibly the high-frequency signal generators 40, 41, 42, 43, it is It is possible to use the superposition principle by constructive and destructive interferences to produce different irradiation zones 85 and thus temperature ranges within the cooking chamber 10. The temperature distribution within the cooking chamber 10 can thus be controlled as required by the at least one control unit 60. Fig. 16 shows schematically in a side view a system 100 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this system 100 for preparing at least one food 1, 2, 3 additional heating means for heating the food 1, 2, 3 are provided. By the electromagnetic radiation 80 of the food 1, 2, 3, these can be brought into a state of being cooked. In order to heat both the interior of a food, ie the food 1, 2, 3, as well as to fry the exterior of a food crispy, therefore different frequency ranges are necessary or different heating elements / heating means necessary. This is achieved in the system 100 according to FIG. 16 by additionally providing a grill 95 and / or heating coils 95 for generating top and / or bottom heat and / or a heat source 97 with a fan 98. Of course, systems 100 which have only one or two of these additional heating elements / heating means 95, 96, 97, 98 are also advantageous. FIG. 18 is a schematic side view of a system 100 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the system 100 includes an object recognition 25, a discovery device 28, and a database 29. The object recognition 25 is designed to automatically determine at least one of the following parameters of the at least one foodstuff 1, 2, 3 as an input variable for the control unit 60: size, density, number, position of the foodstuff 1, 2, 3 in the cooking space. Furthermore, the object recognition 25 is coupled to the control unit 60 in a data-communicating manner with the control unit 60 in order to transmit the automatically determined input variables. As a result, the control unit 60 can obtain all the relevant input variables via the foodstuffs 1, 2, 3 positioned in the cooking chamber 10, by means of which the control unit 60 can determine how the irradiation characteristic should look in the cooking chamber 10 during the heating carried out later in order to ensure that all positioned in the cooking chamber 10 food 1, 2, 3 at the same time reach their state of garbage and have the same consumption temperature.

The need to enter no or only a few input variables via the setting device 23 in the system 100. The object recognition 25 determines itself at least some of the input variables of a food 1, 2, 3. This provides the user with the input of the Input variables significantly easier. The object recognition 25 is preferably coupled in a data-communicating manner with the adjustment device 23. Thus, the system 100 can display to the user on a screen of the adjustment device 23 some of the object recognition 25 determined input variables. The user then adds missing input variables or adds additional input variables. In particular, the detection of the position of the individual food 1, 2, 3 in the cooking chamber 10, a great relief for the user.

The object recognition 25 has at least one camera. As an alternative or in addition to the at least one camera, the object recognition 25 can have one or more sensors, which can recognize, for example, the position or the size of a foodstuff 1, 2, 3.

The system 100 according to FIG. 18 furthermore preferably has a determination device 28 for determining the weight of the at least one foodstuff 1, 2, 3. The determination device 28 is coupled to communicate the determined weight of the at least one food 1, 2, 3 in a data-communicating manner with the at least one control unit 60. The control unit 60 is in turn formed automatically on the basis of the transmitted weight of the at least one food 1, 2, 3 the weight of at least one food 1, 2, 3 adapted different irradiation zones 85 and irradiation times within the cooking chamber 10 by the transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32nd , 33 to produce. The determining device 28 may be arranged differently depending on the system 100. Thus, the determining device 28 may be placed outside the cooking chamber 10, but also within the cooking chamber 10. In particular, the detection device 28, as shown, be arranged in the lower region of the cooking chamber 28 in order to determine the weight of the food 1, 2, 3 immediately after their positioning in the cooking chamber 10. The determining device 28 is preferably a weighing device. The determining device 28 may be subdivided into segments in order to be able to determine the weights of individual foodstuffs 1, 2, 3, preferably selectively or in succession, with a correspondingly designed food carrier 7.

19 schematically shows a representation of the method for operating a for preparing at least one foodstuff 1, 2, 3. First of all, input variables of the at least one are determined by the determining device 28 and / or the object recognition 25 a food 1, 2, 3 determined. The determined input variables are forwarded to the at least one control unit 60. Based on the input variables of the at least one foodstuff 1, 2, 3, it can read out guards 4, 5, 6 from a database 100 of the system 100. The database 29 can also be part of a network, a computer on the Internet, which can be accessed by the control unit 60. Based on the Gardaten 4, 5, 6, the control unit 60 controls the power unit 20, ie at least one high-frequency signal transmitter 40, 41, 42, 43 and / or the transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33 to the required electromagnetic radiation 80 by the transmitting antennas 30, 31, 32, 33 for each food 1, 2, 3 individually provide. In addition, the control unit 60 may be responsive to power amplifiers 50, 51, 52, 53 of the transmit antennas 30, 31, 32, 33, if present, to amplify the amplitude of the signal transmitted to the transmit antennas 30, 31, 32, 33, and thereby the Characteristics of the radiated electromagnetic radiation 80 or the electromagnetic waves to change or influence.

S e c tio n s ia s

First food

Second food

Third food

Guatemates of the first food

Gardaten of the second food

Gardaten of the third food

Food carrier cooking space

ground

side walls

Ceiling energy unit

adjustment

object recognition

Data Interface

detecting device

Database transmission antenna

transmitting antenna

Abstrahltrichter

drive

additional transmitting antenna High-frequency signaling device

High-frequency signal generator

additional high-frequency signal generator

power amplifier power amplifier

power amplifier

Power amplifier control unit conductor

ladder

Head of electromagnetic radiation

Irradiation zones / temperature zones Hot-spot constructive interference

destructive interference grill

heating coils

heat source

Fan system

Claims

Patent claims

1 . System (100) for the preparation of at least one food (1, 2, 3), with

a cooking space (10) in which the food (1, 2, 3) is prepared,

an energy unit (20), in dependence on Gardaten (4, 5, 6) of the at least one food (1, 2, 3) a said at least one food (1, 2, 3) specified supply of electromagnetic energy in the cooking chamber ( 10), whereby the at least one foodstuff (1, 2, 3) can be brought into a digestible state, characterized in that

in that the energy unit (20) has at least two mutually spaced transmitting antennas (30, 31, 32, 33) which can be controlled by at least one high-frequency signal generator (40, 41, 42, 43) of the energy unit (20) of the system (100) and which are designed to emit energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation (80) in the microwave range into the cooking chamber (10) based on this activation.

2. System (100) according to claim 1,

characterized,

in that at least one of the transmission antennas (30, 31, 32, 33) or each transmission antenna (30, 31, 32, 33) has a power amplifier (50, 51, 52, 53) for amplifying the electromagnetic radiation (80) of the respective transmission antenna (30 , 31, 32, 33) is technically assigned.

3. System (100) according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized,

in that the system (100) has at least one control unit (60) which controls the actuation of each transmitting antenna (30, 31, 32, 33) by the at least one high-frequency signal generator (40, 41, 42, 43).

4. System (100) according to claim 3,

characterized,

in that the control unit (60) is designed to switch on and off at least one transmitting antenna (30, 31, 32, 33) or each transmitting antenna (30, 31, 32, 33) for controlling the emission of the electromagnetic radiation (80) individually or in groups and / or that the control unit (60) is designed to at least one high-frequency signal generator (40, 41, 42, 43) of the system (100) for outputting signals to the at least one transmitting antenna (30, 31, 32, 33) - and turn off.

5. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

in that the at least one transmitting antenna (30, 31, 32, 33) or each transmitting antenna (30, 31, 32, 33) and / or the high-frequency signal transmitters (40, 41, 42, 43) can be controlled by the control unit (60) is / are that for the formation of irradiation zones or temperature zones (85) in the oven (10) predetermined constructive interference (90) or destructive interference (91) of the electromagnetic radiation (80) from the transmitting antennas (30, 31, 32 , 33) are discharged, resulting in the cooking chamber (10).

6. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

in that at least one transmitting antenna (30, 31, 32, 33) or a plurality of transmitting antennas (30, 31, 32, 33) in the system (100) relative to the cooking chamber (10) individually or in groups by means of one or more drives (35, 36, 37, 38), in particular two- or three-dimensional, are movable.

7. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims 3 to 6,

characterized,

in that the system (100) has an adjusting device (23), in particular a touchscreen, for input of input quantities of the at least one food item (1, 2, 3) or of the cooking space (10),

in that the setting device (23) is coupled to the control unit (60) in data communication with the control unit (60) and that the control unit (60) is designed on the basis of the transmitted input variables of the at least one food item (1, 2, 3) ) to generate at least one food (1, 2, 3) adapted different irradiation zones (85) and irradiation times within the cooking chamber (10) by the transmitting antennas (30, 31, 32, 33).

8. System (100) according to claim 7,

characterized,

in that the adjusting device (23) is designed to input at least one of the following parameters of the at least one foodstuff (1, 2, 3) as an input variable for the control unit (60):

- Art

- size

Weight

- density

- Number

Position in the cooking chamber ()

Target temperature,

and / or that the adjusting device (23) for inputting the entry of the electromagnetic radiation (80) for different irradiation zones or temperature zones (85) is formed within the cooking chamber (10).

9. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims 3 to 8,

characterized,

in that the system (100) has an object recognition (25) for automatically determining at least one of the following parameters of the at least one foodstuff (1, 2, 3) as an input variable for the control unit (60):

- size

- density

- Number

Position in the cooking chamber (10),

in that the object recognition (25) for the transmission of the automatically determined input variables to the control unit (60) is coupled in a data-communicating manner with the control unit (60), and

in that the control unit (60) is designed, on the basis of the transmitted input variables of the at least one food (1, 2, 3), the different irradiation zones (85) and irradiation times within the cooking chamber (10) adapted to the at least one food (1, 2, 3) to generate the transmit antennas (30, 31, 32, 33).

10. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims 3 to 9,

characterized,

in that the system (100) has a determining device (28) for determining the weight of the at least one food item (1, 2, 3),

that the determining device (28) for communicating the determined weight of the at least one foodstuff (1, 2, 3) is data-communicatingly coupled to the control unit (60), and

in that the control unit (60) is designed to automatically adjust different irradiation zones (85) and irradiation times within the cooking chamber () using the transmitted weight of the at least one food (1, 2, 3) adapted to the weight of the at least one food (1, 2, 3) ( 10) by the transmitting antennas (30, 31, 32, 33).

1 1. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims 3 to 10,

characterized,

in that the system (100) has a database (29) which is data-communicatively coupled to the control unit (60) and from which, by the control unit (60), based on the input variables of the at least one food (1, 2, 3), cooking data (4, 5, 6) are readable.

12. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

the system (100) is a cooking device having the cooking chamber (10) and / or the energy unit (20) and / or the object recognition (25) and / or the adjusting device (23) and / or the determining device (28), in particular, that the cooking device is an oven

13. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

in that at least one of the transmission antennas (30, 31, 32, 33) of the energy unit (20) or at least one additional transmission antenna (39) of the energy unit (20) which is provided by at least one high-frequency signal generator (40, 41, 42, 43) of the System (100) or at least one additional high-frequency signal generator (45) of the system (100) is controlled, designed to emit based on this control energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation (80) in terahertz range in the cooking chamber (10).

14. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims 3 to 13,

characterized,

in that at least one of the transmitting antennas (30, 31, 32, 33) has a radiating funnel (34) for directional radiation of the electromagnetic radiation (80) in such a way that this at least one transmitting antenna (30, 31, 32, 33) is pivotably mounted about an axis of rotation and in that said at least one transmitting antenna (30, 31, 32, 33) is coupled to the control unit (60) in data communication with the control unit (60) for activation by the control unit (60).

15. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

in that the system (100) additionally has a grill (95) and / or heating spirals (96) for generating top and / or bottom heat and / or a heat source (97) with a fan (98).

16. A method for operating a system (100) for the preparation of at least one food (1, 2, 3) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized by the following method steps:

in the cooking chamber (10) of the system (100) at least one food (1, 2, 3) is positioned,

from the at least one high-frequency signal generator (40, 41, 42, 43), the at least two mutually spaced transmission antennas (30, 31, 32, 33) are driven,

based on the control by the at least one high-frequency signal generator (40, 41, 42, 43), the transmission antennas (30, 31, 32, 33) supply energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation (80) into the cooking chamber (10) of the system ( 100), wherein the control of the at least one high-frequency signal transmitter (40, 41, 42, 43) and / or the at least one transmitting antenna (30, 31, 32, 33) in response to Gardaten (4, 5, 6) of the at least one foodstuff (1, 2, 3) takes place, whereby the at least one foodstuff (1, 2, 3) is brought into a treatable state.

17. The method according to claim 16,

characterized,

depending on the requirement of the energy to be supplied for the at least one foodstuff (1, 2, 3) of the power amplifiers (50, 51, 52, 53) of the at least one transmitting antenna (30, 31, 32, 33) that of the at least one transmitting antenna (30, 31, 32, 33) amplified electromagnetic radiation (80).

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17,

characterized,

in that input variables of the at least one foodstuff (1, 2, 3) are directed to the control unit (60) of the system (100) that the control unit (60) carries out the energy required to heat the at least one foodstuff (1, 2, 3) Switching on and off the transmitting antennas (30, 31, 32, 33) and / or by switching on and off high-frequency signal generators (40, 41, 42, 43), wherein each transmitting antenna (30, 31, 32, 33) in each case a high-frequency signal generator (40, 41, 42, 43) is technically assigned, controls.

19. The method according to claim 18,

characterized,

in that the control unit (60) uses the input variables of the at least one food item (1, 2, 3) in the database (29) of the system (100) to load cooking data (4, 5, 6) of the at least one food item (1, 2, 3). reads out and with reference to these Gardaten (3, 4, 5) by appropriately targeted control of the transmitting antennas (30, 31, 32, 33) and / or the high-frequency signal transmitter (40, 41, 42, 43) the at least one food (1, 2, 3) adapted irradiation zones (85) and irradiation times within the cooking chamber (10) by the transmitting antennas (30, 31, 32, 33) generated.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19,

characterized,

the control unit (60) has the transmission antennas (30, 31, 32, 33), the line amplifiers (50, 51, 52, 53) and / or the high-frequency signal generators (40, 41, 42, 43) of the system (100). be controlled by the control unit (60), in particular switched on and off that by means of a superposition principle by constructive interference (90) and destructive interference (91) of the waves of electromagnetic radiation (80) of the transmitting antennas (30, 31, 32, 33) in the cooking chamber (10) the there positioned food (1, 2, 3) adapted irradiation zones (85) and irradiation times, in particular the food (1, 2, 3) adapted temperature ranges are generated.

21. Method according to one of the preceding claims 16 to 20,

characterized,

the input quantities of the foodstuffs (1, 2, 3) and / or the cooking space (10) are input via the setting device (23), in particular the touchscreen, and passed to the control unit (60) and / or by the system (100 ) on the basis of the object recognition (25) and / or the determination device (28), the input variables of the food (1, 2, 3) and / or the cooking chamber (10) automatically determined and directed to the control unit (60).

22. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 16 to 21

characterized,

in that in order to crisp the outer region of the at least one food (1, 2, 3) at least one of the transmitting antennas (30, 31, 32, 33) or at least one additional transmitting antenna (39) from one of the high-frequency signal transmitters (40, 41, 42, 43) of the system (100) or at least one additional high-frequency signal generator (45), that the at least one of the transmitting antennas (30, 31, 32, 33) or the at least one additional transmitting antenna (39) energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz range, in particular in a frequency range of 300GHz to 10THz, in the cooking chamber (10) emits.

23. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 16 to 22,

characterized,

in that at least one of the transmission antennas (30, 31, 32, 33) or that several transmission antennas (30, 31, 32, 33) moves in groups by activation by the control unit (60), in particular two- or three-dimensional, and / or about an axis of rotation is / are swung.