EP3618567B1 - Method for operating at least one cooking device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating at least one cooking appliance according to the preamble of claim 1 and a cooking appliance having at least one control unit for carrying out the method according to claim 8.

From the state of the art, eg from the document U.S. 2012/132642 A1 , a method for operating a cooking appliance designed as a hob is already known. In the method, a cooking utensil is heated in an automatic cooking process. When the cooking utensil is heated, a cooking parameter, which characterizes the temperature of a cooking utensil, is detected and a heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil is determined as a function of the cooking parameter. The cooking utensil is designed as a pressure cooker and is intended for cooking food under excess pressure. The cooking utensil is heated in the automatic cooking process with the determined heating power, with the exception that in the case in which the determined heating power is greater than a maximum possible heating power for heating the cooking utensil, the cooking utensil with the maximum possible heating power for heating the cooking utensil is heated.

The object of the invention is in particular to provide a generic method with improved properties in terms of ease of use. The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claims 1 and 8, while advantageous configurations and developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on a method for operating a cooking appliance according to claim 1. In the event that the determined heating power is greater than a specified maximum required heating power, which is less than a maximum of the Heating the cooking utensil and/or the heating zone possible heat output, the cooking utensil and/or the heating zone is heated with the predetermined maximum required heating output, and the cooking utensil is heated under atmospheric pressure in the automatic cooking process, in particular by means of the heating zone.

The configuration according to the invention makes it possible in particular to achieve a high level of operating convenience. The maximum heat output that can be required, which is less than the maximum possible heat output for heating the cooking utensil, makes it possible in particular to cook food in an environmentally friendly and/or energy-saving manner. In particular, for example, a fluid can be kept in the vicinity of a boiling temperature and at the same time bubbling boiling, in which boiling fluid escapes from the cooking utensil due to bursting bubbles, can be avoided. In particular, a customer request for an automatic cooking process under atmospheric pressure can be met.

In particular, the method is provided for a case in which a setpoint temperature is greater than a boiling temperature of a medium located in the cooking utensil, in particular a fluid located in the cooking utensil and advantageously a liquid located in the cooking utensil.

The cooking appliance could be an oven, for example. An “oven” should be understood to mean, in particular, a cooking appliance which has at least one muffle for cooking food. For example, the oven could be an oven and/or a stove. Alternatively or additionally, the cooking device could be a grill and/or a microwave and/or a steamer, for example. The cooking appliance is preferably a hob and particularly preferably an induction hob.

In particular, the cooking appliance has at least one heating unit, which is provided for heating the cooking utensil. For example, the cooking appliance could have at least two, in particular at least three, advantageously at least four, particularly advantageously at least six, preferably at least ten and particularly preferably a large number of heating units. In this context, a “heating unit” is to be understood in particular as a unit which, in at least one operating state, supplies energy to the cooking utensil for the purpose of heating the cooking utensil. For example, the heating unit could be in the form of a resistance heating unit and, in particular, be provided for converting energy into heat convert and supply them to the cookware for the purpose of heating the cookware. Alternatively or additionally, the heating unit could be designed as an induction heating unit and be provided in particular to supply energy in the form of an alternating electromagnetic field to the cooking utensil, with the energy supplied to the cooking utensil being able to be converted into heat in particular in the cooking utensil.

For example, at least one cooking appliance system could have at least one control unit, which could be provided in particular for carrying out the method and in particular could be designed differently from a control unit of a cooking appliance of the cooking appliance system. The control unit of the cooking device system could be a mobile device control unit, for example, and in particular could be integrated at least to a large extent in a mobile device. The control unit of the cooking appliance system is preferably part of the cooking appliance of the cooking appliance system and is in particular integrated at least to a large extent in the cooking appliance.

In particular, the cooking appliance has at least one control unit, which is provided in particular for carrying out the method. A "control unit" is to be understood in particular as an electronic unit which, in at least one operating state, controls and/or regulates at least one cooking appliance function and/or at least one cooking appliance main function, in particular heating of the cooking utensil. The control unit has in particular at least one arithmetic unit and in particular in addition to the arithmetic unit at least one memory unit in which in particular at least one open-loop and/or closed-loop control program is stored which is intended in particular for execution by the arithmetic unit. In particular, the control unit is provided for the purpose of controlling and/or regulating at least one, in particular electrical and/or electronic, cooking appliance object that is different from the control unit. A “cooking appliance object” is to be understood in particular as meaning at least a part, in particular a subassembly, of a cooking appliance, in particular an induction cooking appliance. At least one cooking appliance object could, for example, be at least one user interface and/or at least one heating unit and/or at least one inverter and/or at least one extractor unit and/or at least one cooking appliance electronics.

The cooking appliance has in particular at least one detection unit which is provided for detecting at least one cooking parameter. For example, the Detection unit have at least one sensor unit and be provided in particular for a detection of at least one cooking parameter. A "sensor unit" is to be understood in particular as a unit which has at least one detector for detecting at least one sensor parameter and which is intended in particular to output a value characterizing the sensor parameter, with the sensor parameter advantageously being a physical and/or chemical variable. For example, the sensor unit could actively detect the sensor parameter in at least one operating state, in particular by generating and sending out a measurement signal, in particular an electrical and/or optical measurement signal. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor unit could passively detect the sensor parameter in at least one operating state, such as in particular by detecting at least one property change of at least one sensor component and/or the detector. The detection unit could detect at least one cooking parameter, for example, through an operator input using at least one operator interface. Alternatively or additionally, the detection unit could detect at least one cooking parameter by reading out at least one memory unit of the control unit.

At least one cooking parameter could be, for example, a geometry of the cooking utensil and/or a shape of the cooking utensil and/or a size of the cooking utensil and/or a number of heating units covered by the cooking utensil. Alternatively or additionally, at least one cooking parameter could be, for example, an in particular current temperature of the cooking utensil and/or an item to be cooked in the cooking utensil. At least one cooking parameter could alternatively or additionally be in particular at least one setpoint temperature, which the detection unit could detect in particular through operator input using the user interface and/or by reading out the memory unit of the control unit. In particular, at least one cooking parameter could be, for example, a temperature difference between a setpoint temperature and a particular current temperature of the cooking utensil and/or an item to be cooked in the cooking utensil.

An "automatic cooking process" is to be understood in particular as an operation and/or process which the control unit performs at least to a large extent and advantageously completely automatically, in particular following a one-off activation by an operator input using at least one operator interface and in which the control unit automatically changes and/or adjusts at least one operating parameter and/or at least one heating parameter and/or at least one operating setting, in particular in at least one operating state. The automatic cooking process particularly advantageously has at least one temperature-controlled time segment, in which the control unit in particular regulates and/or controls and/or at least essentially keeps the temperature of a cooking utensil and/or a temperature of a cooking item arranged in the cooking utensil, in particular by Changing and/or adapting at least one heating power provided for heating the cooking utensil. The automatic cooking process advantageously has at least two, in particular at least three, advantageously at least four, particularly advantageously at least five and preferably a plurality of time periods. “Automatically” is to be understood in particular as automatically and/or while avoiding the action of an operator. A “heating power” is to be understood in particular as a heating power level and/or a heating power density. “At least for the most part” is to be understood as meaning in particular a proportion, in particular a mass proportion and/or volume proportion, of at least 70%, in particular at least 80%, advantageously at least 90% and preferably at least 95%.

In particular, at least two periods of time, in particular sequential and advantageously sequential in terms of time, differ at least by a predetermined maximum heat output that can be requested. The specified maximum heating power that can be requested could, for example, be less than a maximum possible heating power for heating the cooking utensil. Alternatively, the specified maximum required heating power could, for example, be the same as a maximum possible heating power for heating the cooking utensil and/or correspond to a maximum possible heating power for heating the cooking utensil.

In at least one operating state, the control unit combines heating units into at least one heating zone that heats the cooking utensil, in particular as a function of the cooking parameter, which in particular characterizes at least one size and/or a diameter of the cooking utensil. In particular, in the method, depending on the cooking parameter, which in particular characterizes at least one size and/or a diameter of the cooking utensil, heating units are combined to form at least one heating zone that heats the cooking utensil.

The heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil is, in particular, a heating power which is necessary in order to heat the cooking utensil to a desired temperature. In particular, the cooking appliance has at least one user interface, which is provided for inputting the setpoint temperature. Alternatively or additionally, the setpoint temperature could be specified by the automatic cooking process and/or stored and/or stored in the memory unit of the control unit, for example.

For example, the control unit could determine the heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil from at least one reference value stored in the storage unit, in particular from a large number of reference values stored in the storage unit, which could be stored in tabular form and/or as a function. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit could, for example, calculate the heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil, in particular using at least one mathematical formula and/or a mathematical algorithm.

The heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil could depend, for example, on a target temperature and/or on a particularly current temperature and/or on a size of the cooking utensil.

For example, the specified maximum heat output that can be requested could be specified and/or set by at least one operator input using at least one operator interface, specifically in each automatic cooking process individually and/or once for each automatic cooking process. In this way, in particular, an operator could flexibly adapt the specified maximum heating power that can be requested to his needs and/or select an efficiency of the automatic cooking process in a particularly targeted and/or individual manner.

In particular, the control unit could read out the specified maximum heat output that can be requested, for example, from at least one further electronic unit, for example from at least one network, for example the Internet, and/or from the memory unit. The specified maximum heating power that can be requested is in particular dependent on at least one cooking parameter. At least one predefined maximum heat output that can be requested is advantageously stored in the memory unit of the control unit as a function of at least one cooking parameter. In the storage unit, there are predetermined maximum values for a large number of conceivable configurations of cooking parameters and/or heating zones and/or cooking utensils required heating power is stored, from which the control unit selects at least one predetermined maximum required heating power as a function of at least one cooking parameter and/or the heating zone and/or the cooking utensil.

The maximum possible heating output for heating the cooking utensil is dependent in particular on at least a maximum heating output that can be provided by at least one heating unit heating the cooking utensil and in particular on at least a number of heating units heating the cooking utensil and/or in particular on a size of the cooking utensil which in particular Defines the number of heating units that heat the cookware. In particular, the maximum possible heating output for heating the cooking utensil is a sum of the maximum heating outputs that can be provided by each heating unit heating the cooking utensil, specifically taking into account the degree of coverage of each of the heating units by the cooking utensil.

The phrase that the cooking utensil is heated "under atmospheric pressure" in the automatic cooking process should be understood in particular to mean that fluid forming in the automatic cooking process by heating the cooking utensil and/or at least one item to be cooked in the cooking utensil, in particular in the form of a Gas and/or a gas mixture, in particular can escape unhindered from the cookware and/or the cookware differs in particular from a pressure cooker. For example, the cooking utensil could be heated in the automatic cooking process, in particular at least temporarily, with the absence of a lid on the cooking utensil. Alternatively or additionally, the cooking utensil could be heated in the automatic cooking process, in particular at least temporarily, with the lid in place and, in particular, the lid could be fixed to a base body of the cooking utensil in order to prevent the escape of heat caused by heating the cooking utensil and/or at least one in the To allow cooking utensil located forming fluid.

“Provided” should be understood to mean, in particular, specially programmed, designed and/or equipped. The fact that an object is provided for a specific function is to be understood in particular to mean that the object fulfills and/or executes this specific function in at least one application and/or operating state.

In a further aspect of the invention, which can be considered on its own or together with other aspects of the invention, it is proposed that in the event that the determined heating power is greater than a specified maximum required heating power, which is less than a maximum possible heat output for heating the cooking utensil, the cooking utensil is heated with the specified maximum required heating output, and that when determining the heating output to be supplied to the cooking utensil, at least one formula is taken into account with at least one term that is a time integral over a deviation of a cooking parameter, which is a current Temperature of the cookware and/or an item to be cooked in the cookware indicates that it has a target temperature. In particular, when determining the heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil, the control unit uses the formula to calculate the heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil. The term has in particular a product of a constant and the time integral over a deviation of a cooking parameter, which characterizes a current temperature of the cooking utensil and/or an item to be cooked in the cooking utensil, from the target temperature. In particular, when determining the heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil, in particular by the control unit, using the term, at least one product of a constant and the time integral over a deviation of a cooking parameter, which indicates a current temperature of the cooking utensil and/or an item to be cooked in the cooking utensil marked, taken into account by the target temperature. In particular, the heat output to be supplied to the cooking utensil increases with increasing time and/or with increasing deviation of a cooking parameter, which characterizes a current temperature of the cooking utensil and/or an item to be cooked in the cooking utensil, from the setpoint temperature. As a result, in particular a lengthy cooking process can be avoided, as a result of which an energy-saving configuration and/or a high level of operating convenience can be achieved in particular.

For example, when determining the heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil, in particular by the control unit, only a formula with the term could be taken into account. In particular, the formula could be free of further terms. When determining the heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil, in particular in addition to the time integral over the deviation of the cooking parameter, which is a current temperature of the cooking utensil and/or a temperature in the Cooking utensil characterizes, from a setpoint temperature, by means of the formula at least one further term is taken into account, which has at least one deviation of the cooking parameter, which characterizes a current temperature of the cooking utensil and/or an item to be cooked in the cooking utensil, from a setpoint temperature. In particular, the formula has at least one further term, in particular in addition to the term. The further term has in particular a product of a constant and the deviation of a cooking parameter, which characterizes a current temperature of the cooking utensil and/or an item to be cooked in the cooking utensil, from the target temperature. In particular, when determining the heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil, in particular by the control unit, at least one product of a constant and the deviation of a cooking parameter, which characterizes a current temperature of the cooking utensil and/or an item to be cooked in the cooking utensil, is determined by means of the additional term. taken into account by the target temperature. In particular, the heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil increases with increasing deviation of a cooking parameter, which characterizes a current temperature of the cooking utensil and/or an item to be cooked in the cooking utensil, from the target temperature. In this way, in particular, an efficient and/or environmentally friendly design can be achieved, since the cooking utensil can be heated with a greater heat output than in the case of a small deviation, particularly in the case of a large deviation.

Furthermore, it is proposed that, depending on the cooking parameter, a specified maximum required heating power is selected from a catalog of specified maximum required heating powers. In particular, a catalog of predetermined maximum required heating powers is stored in the memory unit of the control unit, in particular for a large number of possible cooking parameters and/or cookware, in particular sizes and/or diameters and/or types and/or materials of cookware. The control unit selects, in particular as a function of at least one cooking parameter, a specified maximum heating power that can be requested from a catalog of specified maximum heating powers that can be requested. A "catalogue" of heating outputs is to be understood in particular as meaning a selection of at least two, in particular at least three, advantageously at least four, particularly advantageously at least five, preferably at least ten and particularly preferably a large number of heating outputs will. In this way, in particular, a high degree of flexibility and/or optimum heating of the cooking utensil can be guaranteed for each conceivable individual case, as a result of which, in particular, optimum cooking results and/or greater ease of use can be made possible.

For example, the specified maximum heat output that can be requested could be permanently specified, for example by the automatic cooking process, and in particular independently of at least one cooking parameter. The predefined maximum heating power that can be requested is particularly advantageous as a function of at least one cooking parameter. The predefined maximum heating power that can be requested is preferably dependent on at least one cooking parameter which characterizes the size of the cooking utensil. In the method, the specified maximum required heating power is preferably determined and/or selected as a function of at least one cooking parameter that characterizes the size of the cooking utensil. A "size" of a cooking utensil is to be understood in particular as a maximum extent and/or a shape of the cooking utensil, in particular a bottom wall of the cooking utensil, in a plane spanned by a bottom wall of the cooking utensil. As a result, in particular for each cooking utensil, a predetermined maximum heat output that can be required can be provided as required, as a result of which a high degree of flexibility and/or optimum cooking results can be achieved in particular.

The control unit could determine and/or select the predefined maximum heat output that can be requested, for example exclusively as a function of at least one cooking parameter that characterizes the size of the cooking utensil. The predefined maximum heating power that can be requested is preferably dependent on at least one cooking parameter which characterizes a current temperature of the cooking utensil and/or the cooking item located in the cooking utensil. The control unit determines the specified maximum heat output that can be requested, in particular as a function of at least one cooking parameter which characterizes a current temperature of the cookware and/or the food to be cooked in the cookware. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit selects the predefined maximum heat output that can be requested as a function of at least one cooking parameter which characterizes a current temperature of the cookware and/or the food to be cooked in the cookware. Preferably, especially in the method that determines and/or selects a predetermined maximum heat output that can be requested as a function of at least one cooking parameter which characterizes a current temperature of the cooking utensil and/or the cooking item located in the cooking utensil. In this way, in particular, an optimal preparation of the food to be cooked can be made possible, as a result of which, in particular, optimal cooking results can be achieved. In particular, efficient and/or energy-saving heating of the cooking utensil can be achieved.

It is also proposed that, in particular if the cooking utensil is heated under atmospheric pressure, in at least a second time segment of the automatic cooking process, at least one heating output to be supplied to the cooking utensil should be determined as a function of the cooking parameter and, if the determined heating output is greater than a maximum possible heat output for heating the cooking utensil, the cooking utensil is heated with the maximum possible heating output for heating the cooking utensil. In particular, in at least a second time segment of the automatic cooking process, the control unit determines, in particular if the cooking utensil is heated under atmospheric pressure, depending on the cooking parameter, at least one heating output to be supplied to the cooking utensil and heats, in particular if the heating output determined is greater than a maximum possible heating output for heating the cooking utensil, the cooking utensil with the maximum possible heating output for heating the cooking utensil. For example, the period of time and the second period of time could be spaced apart in time and in particular at least a third period of time could be arranged between the period of time and the second period of time. The time segment and the second time segment are preferably arranged directly adjacent to one another in terms of time and, in particular, merge into one another. For example, the time period could be arranged before the second time period. Alternatively or additionally, the second time period could be arranged before the time period. In this way, in particular, a faster heating-up process and/or rapid heating of the cooking utensil and/or the item to be cooked in the cooking utensil can be achieved, as a result of which a faster and/or more convenient cooking process can be made possible. In particular, an overload, in particular for a limited time, of at least one heating unit that heats the cooking utensil can be caused, in particular, by a boost mode could be caused can be avoided, which in particular a long-lasting design can be achieved.

Advantageously, particularly when the cooking utensil is heated under atmospheric pressure and advantageously by the control unit, in the second time segment of the automatic cooking process, at least one heating output to be supplied to the cooking utensil is determined as a function of the cooking parameters and in the event that the determined heating output is less than a maximum possible heat output for heating the cooking utensil, the cooking utensil is heated with the determined heating output to be supplied to the cooking utensil.

It is also proposed that, depending on at least one cooking parameter, which characterizes a current temperature of the cooking utensil and/or the item to be cooked in the cooking utensil, there is a change between the time period and the second time period, specifically in particular depending on a change in the cooking parameter, which characterizes a current temperature of the cooking utensil and/or the item to be cooked in the cooking utensil by at least 2%, in particular by at least 5%, advantageously by at least 7%, particularly advantageously by at least 10%, preferably by at least 15% and particularly preferably by at least 20%. In at least one operating state, the control unit switches between the time period and the second time period, in particular as a function of at least one cooking parameter that characterizes a current temperature of the cooking utensil and/or the food to be cooked in the cooking utensil, specifically in particular as a function of a change in the cooking parameter , which characterizes a current temperature of the cooking utensil and/or the item to be cooked in the cooking utensil by at least 2%, in particular by at least 5%, advantageously by at least 7%, particularly advantageously by at least 10%, preferably by at least 15% and especially preferably by at least 20%. In this way, strong fluctuations in the cooking parameters, which characterize the current temperature of the cookware and/or the food to be cooked in the cookware, can be quickly compensated for and/or rectified, which means that a more even and/or short cooking process can be achieved. Fluctuations in the cooking parameter, which characterizes a current temperature of the cooking utensil and/or the item to be cooked in the cooking utensil, could be compensated for, for example, by adding at least one item to be cooked in at least one in the cooking utensil fluid present, in particular in at least one liquid present in the cooking utensil.

A particularly high level of operating comfort can be achieved in particular by a cooking appliance, in particular by a hob and advantageously by an induction hob, with at least one control unit which is provided for carrying out a method according to the invention.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the control unit has at least one memory unit in which the specified maximum heat output that can be requested is stored. In a particularly advantageous manner, a large number of predetermined maximum heating powers that can be requested are stored in the memory unit of the control unit. In particular, the specified maximum required heating powers stored in the memory unit of the control unit are stored in the form of a catalog of specified maximum required heating powers. In at least one operating state, the control unit selects at least one specified maximum required heating power from the catalog of specified maximum required heating power, in particular as a function of the cooking parameter. In this way, in particular, a small number of components and/or a small amount of storage can be made possible. In particular, there is no need for an additional object, such as an external memory and/or a network, from which the control unit could obtain the specified maximum heat output that can be requested, which means that errors in communication between the control unit and the additional object can be ruled out .

Ease of use can in particular be further increased by a cooking appliance system, in particular by a hob system and advantageously by an induction hob system, with at least one cooking appliance according to the invention and with the cooking utensil. The cooking utensil in particular defines and/or delimits at least one food receiving space which is provided for receiving at least one foodstuff, in particular for the purpose of cooking and/or heating the foodstuff. In particular, the cooking utensil has at least one base body, which in particular at least partially and advantageously at least largely delimits and/or defines the food receiving space and which in particular has a pot-like and/or pan-like and/or trough-like shape. The cooking utensil differs in particular from a pressure cooker educated. For example, the cooking utensil could have at least one lid, which in at least one operating state could at least partially and advantageously together with the base body delimit at least a large part of the food receiving space and which could preferably be arranged unsecured with the base body. In particular, the cover could be arranged on the base body in at least one operating state, in particular only by means of gravity, in order in particular to allow fluid formed by heating the cooking utensil and/or at least one item to be cooked in the cooking utensil to escape. The phrase that an object, in particular the base body and/or the lid, delimits and/or defines the food receiving space "at least partially" should be understood in particular to mean that the object, in particular the base body, the food receiving space alone or together with at least one another object, in particular with the lid, limited and / or defined.

A "cooking appliance system" is to be understood in particular as a system which has at least one cooking appliance object and/or at least one cooking appliance and/or at least one cooking appliance accessory object, and which in particular could additionally have at least one kitchen object and/or at least one further structural unit that/the is in particular designed differently from a cooking appliance object and/or from a cooking appliance and/or from a cooking appliance accessory object.

A “cooking appliance object” is to be understood in particular as meaning at least a part, in particular a subassembly, of a cooking appliance, in particular an induction cooking appliance. A “cooking appliance accessory object” is to be understood in particular as an object which is intended in particular for use and/or for use with a cooking appliance and/or which is designed in particular as an accessory for a cooking appliance. A “kitchen object” is to be understood in particular as an object that is intended for use and/or use and/or arrangement in a kitchen, specifically for processing and/or treatment and/or storage of at least one item food. At least one cooking appliance could be, for example, an oven and/or a hob and/or a microwave and/or a grill.

For example, the cooking appliance system could have at least one cooking appliance object, which in particular could be a subassembly of a cooking appliance. At least one Cooking appliance object could, for example, be at least one control unit and/or at least one operator interface and/or at least one housing unit and/or at least one heating unit and/or at least one inverter and/or at least one appliance panel, which could be configured in particular as a set-up panel designed as a hob and/or be at least one extraction unit and/or at least one cooking appliance electronics. As an alternative or in addition, in particular to the cooking appliance object, the cooking appliance system could, for example, have at least one cooking appliance and in particular in addition to the cooking appliance at least one further structural unit, such as in particular at least one appliance panel, which could be designed in particular as a worktop.

For example, at least one cooking device accessory object could be a sensor unit for externally measuring a temperature of a cooking utensil and/or a cooking item. At least one cooking appliance accessory object could alternatively or additionally be a cooking utensil and/or a set-up unit and/or a contact module, which could be provided in particular for an arrangement on the cooking utensil and/or on the set-up unit.

At least one kitchen object could be a food processor and/or a subassembly of a food processor, in particular a food processor container, for example. Alternatively or additionally, at least one kitchen object could be a cleaning device and/or a refrigeration device. At least one further structural unit could be a mobile device and/or a computing unit such as a computer, for example.

The method and/or the cooking appliance and/or the cooking appliance system should not be limited to the application and embodiment described above. In particular, the method and/or the cooking appliance and/or the cooking appliance system can have a number of individual elements, components and units that differs from the number specified here in order to fulfill a function described herein.

Further advantages result from the following description of the drawing. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them into further meaningful combinations.

Fig. 1

ein Gargerätesystem mit einem Gargerät und mit einem Gargeschirr in einer schematischen Draufsicht,

Fig. 2

das Gargerätesystem mit dem Gargerät und mit dem Gargeschirr in einer schematischen teilweisen Schnittdarstellung und

Fig. 3

ein Diagramm, in welchem eine aktuelle Temperatur des Gargeschirrs und/oder eines sich in dem Gargeschirr befindlichen Garguts und eine dem Gargeschirr zugeführte Heizleistung jeweils über einer Zeit aufgetragen sind in einer schematischen Darstellung.

Show it:

1

a cooking appliance system with a cooking appliance and with a cooking utensil in a schematic top view,

2

the cooking appliance system with the cooking appliance and with the cooking utensils in a schematic partial sectional view and

3

a diagram in which a current temperature of the cooking utensil and/or an item to be cooked in the cooking utensil and a heating power supplied to the cooking utensil are each plotted over time in a schematic representation.

figure 1 shows a cooking appliance system 22a with a cooking appliance 10a, which is designed as an induction cooking appliance. The cooking appliance 10a could be designed, for example, as an oven, in particular as an induction oven. In the present exemplary embodiment, the cooking appliance 10a is designed as a hob, in particular as an induction hob.

The cooking appliance 10a has an appliance panel 24a. In a mounted state, the device plate 24a forms a visible surface, which in a mounted state is arranged facing in particular an operator. In the present exemplary embodiment, the device plate 24a is designed as a mounting plate and is provided in particular for placing cooking utensil 14a on it for the purpose of heating the cooking utensil 14a. In the present exemplary embodiment, the appliance plate 24a is designed as a hob plate.

The cooking appliance system 22a has the cooking utensil 14a. The cooking utensil 14a is intended to be placed on the appliance plate 24a for the purpose of heating the cooking utensil 14a.

The cooking appliance 10a has at least one heating unit 28a (cf. figure 2 ). In the present exemplary embodiment, the cooking appliance 10a has a multiplicity of heating units 28a. Alternatively, the cooking appliance 10a could, for example, have a smaller number of heating units 28a, such as exactly one heating unit 28a and/or at least two, in particular at least four, advantageously at least eight, particularly advantageously at least twelve and preferably several heating units 28a. The heating units 28a could be arranged in the form of a matrix, for example. Only one of the heating units 28a is described below.

The heating unit 28a is arranged in an installed position below the device panel 24a. The heating unit 28a is intended to heat at least one cooking utensil 14a placed on the appliance plate 24a above the heating unit 28a. The heating unit 28a is designed as an induction heating unit.

The cooking appliance 10a has an operator interface 26a (cf. figure 1 ). The user interface 26a is provided for inputting and/or selecting operating parameters, such as a heating power and/or a heating power density and/or a heating zone. The operator interface 26a is provided for outputting a value of an operating parameter to an operator.

The cooking appliance 10a has a control unit 18a. In the operating state, the control unit 18a controls and/or regulates a main function of the cooking appliance. The control unit 18a is provided for carrying out actions and/or changing settings depending on operating parameters entered by means of the user interface 26a. In the operating state, the control unit 18a regulates an energy supply to the heating unit 28a.

The control unit 18a is provided for carrying out a method for operating the cooking appliance 10a. In the method, a cooking utensil 14a is heated by means of an automatic cooking process, in particular by the control unit 18a. The cooking utensil 14a is heated in the method, in particular by the control unit 18a, in the automatic cooking process under atmospheric pressure. In order to heat the cooking utensil 14a, at least one cooking parameter is recorded in the method, in particular by means of a recording unit 30a.

The cooking appliance 10a has the detection unit 30a. The detection unit 30a detects at least one cooking parameter in an operating state. In the present exemplary embodiment, the detection unit 30a has a plurality of detectors for detecting at least one cooking parameter. One of the detectors is embodied in one piece with the heating unit 28a and, in an operating state, detects at least one cooking parameter which characterizes the size of the cooking utensil 14a and/or the presence of the cooking utensil 14a and/or the absence of the cooking utensil 14a and/or the induction suitability of the cooking utensil 14a .

One of the detectors is formed in one piece with the user interface 26a and, in an operating state, detects at least one cooking parameter, which Target temperature of the cooking utensil 14a and/or a target temperature of an item to be cooked in the cooking utensil 14a.

One of the detectors is provided for an external measurement of a temperature of the cooking utensil 14a and/or an item to be cooked located in the cooking utensil 14a and, in an operating state, is arranged in particular in contact with the cooking utensil 14a. The detector of detection unit 30a, which is provided for detecting a cooking parameter that characterizes a particular current temperature of cooking utensil 14a and/or an item to be cooked in cooking utensil 14a, is arranged on cooking utensil 14a.

Depending on the cooking parameter, at least one heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil 14a is determined in the method, in particular by the control unit 18a, in a time segment 12a, 16a of the automatic cooking process in which a cooking utensil 14a is heated. In the method, the heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil 14a is determined and in particular calculated, in particular by the control unit 18a, using at least one formula, specifically in particular independently of a time segment 12a, 16a. In the present exemplary embodiment, the formula has two terms.

When determining the heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil 14a, a formula with a term is taken into account, in particular by the control unit 18a, which has a time integral over a deviation of a cooking parameter, which characterizes a current temperature of the cooking utensil 14a, from a setpoint temperature. In addition to the term, another term is taken into account in the method when determining the heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil 14a using the formula, which has a deviation of the cooking parameter, which characterizes a current temperature of the cooking utensil 14a, from a setpoint temperature.

The formula by which the heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil 14a is determined in the method, in particular by the control unit 18a, is a sum of the term and the further term. The formula is as follows: $$\mathrm{HL}=\mathrm{a}*\left({\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{R}}-\mathrm{T}\right)+\mathrm{b}*{\displaystyle \int \left({\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{R}}-\mathrm{T}\right)\mathrm{German}}$$

Here HL designates the heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil 14a. T _R designates the target temperature. T denotes a current temperature of the cooking utensil 14a, which the control unit 18a from the cooking parameter, which characterizes a current temperature of the cooking utensil 14a determined. The variables a and b are constants.

From the formula it can be seen that the greater the difference between the setpoint temperature and the current temperature, the greater the heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil 14a calculated with the formula on the basis of the term. In the case of a substantially constant difference between the setpoint temperature and the current temperature, the heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil 14a, which is calculated using the formula, increases with increasing time due to the further term. A substantially constant difference between the target temperature and the current temperature could occur, for example, in the case where the current temperature corresponds substantially to a boiling temperature and the target temperature is greater than the boiling temperature.

In the method, it is checked, in particular by the control unit 18a, whether the setpoint temperature is greater than a boiling temperature of the food to be cooked in the cooking utensil 14a. In particular, in the event that the setpoint temperature is greater than a boiling temperature of the food to be cooked in the cooking utensil 14a, in particular by the control unit 18a, in a time segment 12a of the automatic cooking process in the event that the determined heating power is greater than a predetermined maximum required heating output that is less than a maximum possible heating output for heating the cooking utensil 14a, the cooking utensil 14a is heated with the specified maximum required heating output (cf. figure 3 ).

In figure 3 a current temperature of the cooking utensil 14a and/or an item to be cooked in the cooking utensil 14a is plotted on an ordinate axis 32a. A time is plotted on an abscissa axis 34a. A profile curve 36a of a current temperature of the cooking utensil 14a and/or an item to be cooked in the cooking utensil 14a is shown in dashed lines.

In figure 3 a heating power supplied to the cooking utensil 14a is plotted on an ordinate axis 38a. A time is plotted on an abscissa axis 40a. A profile curve 42a of a heating power supplied to the cooking utensil 14a is shown in broken lines.

A profile curve 44a of a target temperature is in figure 3 shown in solid line. The profile curve 44a of the setpoint temperature is essentially independent of of a time and in particular arranged essentially parallel to the abscissa axis 34a, 40a.

A curve 46a of a boiling temperature is in figure 3 shown in dotted line. The profile curve 46a of the boiling temperature is essentially independent of a time and in particular is arranged essentially parallel to the abscissa axis 34a, 40a.

Since the curve 46a of the boiling temperature is located below the curve 44a of a setpoint temperature, it is impossible to reach the setpoint temperature independently of the heating power supplied to the cooking utensil 14a, since the food to be cooked in the cooking utensil 14a in particular boils when the boiling temperature is reached and thus evaporates, specifically while avoiding a further rise in temperature. For example, water evaporates at a boiling point of essentially 100°C. For example, if a target temperature is greater than the boiling temperature, the target temperature cannot be reached.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the automatic cooking process has the time segment 12a and a second time segment 16a, which in particular temporally, in particular directly, precedes the time segment 12a. The automatic cooking process has a further second time segment 50a, which in particular follows the time segment 12a in terms of time, in particular directly. The automatic cooking process has a further time segment 52a, which is in particular the further second time segment 50a chronologically, in particular directly, after it. The second time segment 16a is described below as representative of the second time segment 16a and the further second time segment 50a. Analogous to this, the time segment 12a is described below as representative of the time segment 12a and the further time segment 52a.

In particular, in order to save energy, in the method, in particular by the control unit 18a, in the time segment 12a in the event that the determined heating power is greater than a specified maximum required heating power, which is less than a maximum possible to heat the cooking utensil 14a Heat output, the cooking utensil 14a heated with the predetermined maximum required heat output.

In the method, in particular by the control unit 18a, the predetermined maximum required heating power as a function of the cooking parameters from a Selected from a catalog of specified maximum heat outputs that can be requested. In the present exemplary embodiment, the catalog of predetermined maximum heating powers that can be requested is stored in a memory unit 20a of the control unit 18a (cf. figure 1 ).

The control unit 18a has a memory unit 20a. In the present exemplary embodiment, a large number of predetermined maximum heating powers that can be requested are stored in the memory unit 20a of the control unit 18a. In the storage unit 20a of the control unit 18a, the catalog of predetermined maximum demandable heating powers is stored. The catalog of predetermined maximum heating powers that can be requested has a large number of predetermined maximum heating powers that can be requested.

In the method, in particular by the control unit 18a, the predetermined maximum demandable heating power is determined as a function of the cooking parameter, specifically in particular individually for each conceivable cooking utensil configuration. The specified maximum heating power that can be requested is determined, in particular by the control unit 18a, as a function of at least one cooking parameter which characterizes the size of the cooking utensil 14a.

The specified maximum required heating power is determined, in particular by the control unit 18a, as a function of the setpoint temperature of the cooking utensil 14a. The specified maximum heating power that can be requested is determined, in particular by the control unit 18a, as a function of at least one cooking parameter which characterizes a current temperature of the cooking utensil 14a. In the method, the specified maximum heat output that can be requested is determined, in particular by the control unit 18a, as a function of a difference between the setpoint temperature of the cooking utensil 14a and the current temperature of the cooking utensil 14a, which the control unit 18a calculates in particular from the cooking parameter, which determines the current temperature of the cooking utensil 14a identifies determined.

In the second time segment 16a of the automatic cooking process, a heating power to be supplied to the cookware 14a is determined, in particular by the control unit 18a, as a function of the cooking parameters. In the second period of time 16a, in particular by the control unit 18a, in the event that the determined heating power is greater than a maximum possible for heating the cooking utensil 14a Heat output, the cooking utensil 14a heated with the maximum possible heating output for heating the cooking utensil 14a. In the second time segment 16a, the cooking utensil 14a is heated with the determined heating power, in particular by the control unit 18a, in the event that the determined heating power is less than a maximum possible heating power for the heating of the cooking utensil 14a.

For example, at the start of the second time segment 16a, the determined heating power is greater than a maximum possible heating power for heating the cooking utensil 14a, which is why the cooking utensil 14a is heated with the maximum possible heating power for heating the cooking utensil 14a (cf. figure 3 ). From a point in time 54a, the determined heating power is less than a maximum possible heating power for heating the cooking utensil 14a, specifically due to a decreasing difference between the setpoint temperature and the particular current temperature. From the point in time 54a, the cooking utensil 14a is heated with the heat output determined, in particular by the control unit 18a, in the second time period 16a.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the second time segment 16a is arranged chronologically before the time segment 12a. In terms of time, the time segment 12a follows, in particular, directly after the second time segment 16a. In the second period of time 16a, the cooking utensil 14a and/or an item to be cooked in the cooking utensil 14a is heated, in particular by the control unit 18a. In the second time segment 16a, the profile curve 36a of the current temperature of the cooking utensil 14a and/or the food to be cooked in the cooking utensil 14a rises continuously, in particular until the profile curve 46a of the boiling temperature is reached.

In the event that the progression curve 36a of the current temperature of the cooking utensil 14a and/or the food to be cooked in the cooking utensil 14a is in the vicinity of the progression curve 46a of the boiling temperature, in the method, in particular by the control unit 18a, from the second time segment 16a changed to the period 12a. In the method, the control unit 18a, in particular, switches between the time segment 12a and the second time segment 16a as a function of a cooking parameter which characterizes a current temperature of the cooking utensil 14a.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a change is made between time segment 12a and second time segment 16a in the event that a quotient of the current temperature of cooking utensil 14a and/or the food to be cooked in cooking utensil 14a and the boiling temperature assumes a value of 0.95 . In the time segment 12a, the quotient assumes a value of at least 0.95.

A change from the time segment 12a to the second time segment 16a is carried out in the method, in particular by the control unit 18a, when the value of the quotient falls below 0.95. This could be caused, for example, by adding at least one other item to be cooked to the item to be cooked in the cooking utensil 14a, as is shown, for example, at an addition time 48a. In particular, at the addition point in time 48a, a particularly current temperature of an item to be cooked in the cooking utensil 14a could drop, particularly sharply and/or drastically.

In particular in a region close to the addition point in time 48a, in the method, in particular by the control unit 18a, there is a changeover between the time segment 12a and the, in particular further, second time segment 50a. The time segment 12a precedes the, in particular further, second time segment 50a. The, in particular further, second time segment 50a chronologically follows, in particular directly, the time segment 12a. In the, in particular further, second period of time 50a, in particular by the control unit 18a, in the event that the determined heating output is greater than a maximum possible heating output for heating the cooking utensil 14a, the cooking utensil 14a with the maximum for heating the cooking utensil 14a possible heat output.

A change from the second time segment 16a to the time segment 12a is carried out in the method, in particular by the control unit 18a, if the value of the quotient rises above 0.95. This could be caused, for example, by the heating-up phase of the cooking utensil 14a and/or the food to be cooked in the cooking utensil 14a taking place in the second time segment 16a. Analogous to this, there is a change between the, in particular, further, second time segment 50a and the, in particular, further, time segment 52a, which in particular directly follows the, in particular, further, second time segment 50a.

Reference sign

10

cooking appliance

12

period of time

14

cookware

16

second period

18

control unit

20

storage unit

22

cooking appliance system

24

device plate

26

operator interface

28

heating unit

30

registration unit

32

ordinate axis

34

abscissa axis

36

curve

38

ordinate axis

40

abscissa axis

42

curve

44

curve

46

curve

48

time of addition

50

Another second period

52

Another period

54

time

Claims (10)

1. Method for operating at least one cooking appliance (10a), in particular at least one hob, in which at least one cooking parameter is detected and in which in at least one time period (12a) of at least one automatic cooking process, in which at least one cooking vessel (14a) is heated, at least one heat output to be supplied to the cooking vessel (14a) is determined as a function of the cooking parameter, characterised in that if the determined heat output is greater than a predefined maximum requestable heat output, which is less than a maximum heat output possible for the heating of the cooking vessel (14a), the cooking vessel (14a) is heated with the predefined maximum requestable heat output, wherein the predefined maximum requestable hear output is determined as a function of at least one cooking parameter that characterises a size of the cooking vessel (14a), and that the cooking vessel (14a) is heated in the automatic cooking process under atmospheric pressure.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that when determining the heat output to be supplied to the cooking vessel (14a) at least one formula with at least one term is taken into consideration, said term having a time integral over a deviation of a cooking parameter that characterises a current temperature of the cooking vessel (14a) from a target temperature
3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that when determining the heat output to be supplied to the cooking vessel (14a) at least one further term is taken into consideration by means of the formula, said term having at least one deviation of the cooking parameter that characterises a current temperature of the cooking vessel (14a) from a target temperature.
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that as a function of the cooking parameter a predefined maximum requestable heat output is selected from a catalogue of predefined maximum requestable heat outputs.
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the predefined maximum requestable heat output is determined as a function of at least one cooking parameter that characterises a current temperature of the cooking vessel (14a).
6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in at least one second time period (16a) of the automatic cooking processes at least one heat output to be supplied to the cooking vessel (14a) is determined as a function of the cooking parameter and if the determined heat output is greater than a maximum heat output possible for the heating of the cooking vessel (14a), the cooking vessel (14a) is heated with the maximum heat output possible for the heating of the cooking vessel (14a).
7. Method according to claim 6, characterised in that as a function of at least one cooking parameter that characterises a current temperature of the cooking vessel (14a), a switch is made between the time period (12a) and the second time period (16a).
8. Cooking appliance, in particular a hob, having at least one control unit (18a), which is intended for the performance of a method according to one of claims 1 to 7.
9. Cooking appliance according to claim 8, characterised in that the control unit (18a) has at least one memory unit (20a), in which the predefined maximum requestable heat output is stored.
10. Cooking appliance system, in particular a hob system, having at least one cooking appliance (10a) according to claim 8 or 9 and having the cooking vessel.

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