EP4067750A1

EP4067750A1 - Smart food preparation apparatus with illumination

Info

Publication number: EP4067750A1
Application number: EP21182974.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ming Li; Weimin Xiao; Zhongchi LUO; Xiao Yun KUI; Wei Shun BAO
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
Current assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
Priority date: 2021-04-01
Filing date: 2021-06-30
Publication date: 2022-10-05

Abstract

A food preparation apparatus (10) is disclosed comprising a food preparation chamber (20) having a food support area (22) for supporting food (1) to be prepared and a light transmissive body (30) providing a view of said food support area. The food preparation apparatus further comprises a lighting arrangement comprising at least one light source (40) arranged to illuminate said food support area and a baffle (50) arranged proximal to the at least one light source arranged to prevent light generated by the at least one light source from exiting the food preparation apparatus through certain regions of the light transmissive body such as to prevent interference of said light with a camera (100) when said camera is positioned relative to said light transmissive body in order to capture an image of the food on said food support area through said light transmissive body.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a food preparation apparatus comprising a food preparation chamber having a food support area for supporting food to be prepared and a light transmissive body providing a view of said food support area, the food preparation apparatus further comprising a lighting arrangement comprising at least one light source arranged to illuminate said food support area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Developments in food preparation technology has led to the advent of food preparation apparatuses such as ovens, microwave ovens, steam cookers, fryers, and so on that can be controlled using image recognition technology. For example, such a food preparation apparatus may comprise a light transmissive body through which the food within the food preparation apparatus can be observed, such that an image can be taken of the food within the food preparation apparatus with a camera that either forms an integral part of the food preparation apparatus or forms part of an external device such as a smart phone or tablet held by a user in alignment with the light transmissive body, thereby capturing the image of the food within the food preparation apparatus through the light transmissive body.
This image may be processed using image recognition algorithms that may run on a processor of the smart phone or tablet or within the food preparation apparatus in order to recognize the ingredients of the food within the food preparation apparatus, which recognized ingredients may be used to control a controller of a heating element of the food preparation apparatus, for example by selection of a food preparation mode or program based on the recognized ingredients such as to automate the appropriate preparation of the food within the food preparation apparatus without requiring a user to select the appropriate forms preparation program. Alternatively or additionally, the camera may be used to monitor progress of the food preparation operation within the food preparation apparatus to facilitate automatic termination of the food preparation program once it is observed with the camera that the food preparation is done. Other potential uses of such image feedback will be apparent.
In order for such image recognition to work satisfactorily, the captured image of the food within the food preparation apparatus has to be of sufficient quality, that is, the camera lens should be free from observing glare as much as possible. This problem is addressed in US 10 440 245 B1 , which discloses a door assembly for providing selective access to a cooking chamber of an oven appliance including an inner glass assembly and an outer glass assembly spaced apart by an outer air gap. A mounting bracket is positioned within the outer air gap and a camera is mounted to the mounting bracket. The door assembly further includes a primary light shield, which may be an extension of the mounting bracket or a non-reflective coating on the outer glass assembly, which blocks reflected light from reaching the camera. In addition, the inner glass assembly may include an inner glass pane and a middle glass pane separated by an inner air gap, and a secondary light shield may be positioned within the inner air gap to block more reflected light. However, such a solution is less suitable when the camera does not necessarily form an integral part of the food preparation apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide a food preparation apparatus having a lighting arrangement for illuminating the food support area in such a manner that a camera external to the food preparation chamber is protected from glare originating from the lighting arrangement.
According to an aspect, there is provided a food preparation apparatus comprising a food preparation chamber having a food support area for supporting food to be prepared and a light transmissive body providing a view of said food support area, the food preparation apparatus further comprising a lighting arrangement comprising at least one light source arranged to illuminate said food support area and a baffle arranged proximal to the at least one light source arranged to prevent light generated by the at least one light source from exiting the food preparation apparatus through certain regions of the light transmissive body such as to prevent interference of said light with a camera when said camera is positioned relative to said light transmissive body in order to capture an image of the food on said food support area through said light transmissive body.
The inclusion of such a baffle ensures that light produced by the at least one light source cannot directly or indirectly, e.g. through reflections from the light transmissive body, reach certain regions outside the food preparation chamber where a camera may be positioned, e.g. a camera integral to the food preparation apparatus or a camera forming part of a smart device such as a smart phone or tablet computer, such that when the camera is present is such regions, its lens is protected from experiencing glare from the at least one light source by the baffle.
The light transmissive body may be a cover, e.g. to cover a camera integral to food preparation apparatus, or may be a lid or a door providing (visual) access to the food preparation chamber such that a camera can capture an image of the food within the food preparation chamber through the cover, lid or door.
In an embodiment, the lighting arrangement is arranged within the food preparation chamber in between the light transmissive body and the food support area or between a sidewall of the food preparation chamber and the light transmissive body opposing said sidewall. This has the advantage of providing a cost-effective and straightforward implementation of the lighting arrangement. In this embodiment, the baffle may comprise a planar portion extending away from the sidewall or a ceiling of the food preparation chamber beyond the at least one light source, said planar portion being located in between the at least one light source and the light transmissive body such as to prevent direct illumination of certain regions of the light transmissive body by the at least one light source.
The baffle may further comprise a further planar portion extending from an end portion of the planar portion distal to said sidewall or ceiling towards the food support area to further limit the exposure of the light transmissive body to light produced by the at least one light source.
In another embodiment, the light transmissive body comprises a cavity delimited by opposing transparent surfaces including an inner surface and an outer surface opposing the inner surface, and wherein the lighting arrangement is located within said cavity. This for instance is beneficial to protect the lighting arrangement from thermal stress during preparation of the food in the food preparation chamber, and may improve the homogeneity of the illumination of the food support area. In this embodiment, the baffle may comprise
a planar portion extending away from a side of the light transmissive body beyond the at least one light source, said planar portion being located in between the at least one light source and the outer surface of the light transmissive body; and a further planar portion extending from an end portion of the planar portion distal to said side towards the inner surface of the light transmissive body such as to limit the regions of the inner surface being exposed to light produced by the at least one light source, which consequently limits the range of directions in which such light is reflected towards the outer surface by the inner surface, thus reducing reflective glare.
In a preferred embodiment, the at least one light source comprises an annular array of light sources arranged proximally to a sidewall or an outer perimeter of a ceiling of the food processing chamber, as this achieves a particularly homogeneous illumination of the food support area, thereby facilitating suitable conditions for the capture of a high-quality image of the food in the food support area. Preferably, the at least one light source comprises a plurality of LEDs as such light sources are mechanically robust, have a long operational lifetime and are highly energy-efficient.
The baffle may form a housing in which the at least one light source is housed, said housing having a U-shaped cross-sectional profile. Such a lighting arrangement can be mounted within the food preparation apparatus in a straightforward manner, and offers high control over the light distribution produced by the at least one light source.
In a specific embodiment, the food preparation apparatus further comprises said camera, wherein the camera is arranged to capture an image of the food on said food support area in its field of view through the light transmissive body, thereby providing a self-contained smart food preparation apparatus. Preferably, the lighting arrangement is located outside said field of view such as to offer an unobscured view of the food support area to the camera, which improves the image quality of the food image captured with the camera, thus increasing the likelihood that the food in this image is correctly recognized.
The food preparation apparatus may further comprise a heating element under control of a controller and a communication interface communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is arranged to configure a food preparation program based on food recognition information received by the communication interface from a processor having recognized said food by processing an image of said food captured by said camera. In this context, configuring the food preparation program is also intended to cover selection of the food preparation program, as well as adjusting a template food preparation program based on ingredient information provided by the processor. This consequently yields a food preparation apparatus that may be configured based on information about the actual food within the food preparation chamber derived from an image capturing the actual food. In some embodiments, the food preparation apparatus further comprises said processor.
The food preparation apparatus may take any suitable shape or form. For example, the food preparation apparatus may be one of an oven, a microwave oven, a steamer or a fryer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail and by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of a food preparation apparatus according to an embodiment;
FIG. 2 schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of a food preparation apparatus according to another embodiment;
FIG. 3 schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of a food preparation apparatus according to yet another embodiment;
FIG. 4 schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of a food preparation apparatus according to yet another embodiment;
FIG. 5 schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of a food preparation apparatus according to a further embodiment;
FIG. 6 schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of a food preparation apparatus according to still a further embodiment;
FIG. 7 schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of a food preparation apparatus according to an alternative embodiment; and
FIG. 8 schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of a food preparation apparatus according to another alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

It should be understood that the Figures are merely schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the Figures to indicate the same or similar parts.
FIG. 1 schematically depicts a food preparation apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The food preparation apparatus 10 comprises a food preparation chamber 20 covered by a light transmissive body 30 through which a camera 100 can capture an image of food 1 in a food support area 22 within the food preparation chamber 20. The food support area 22 may be the floor of the food preparation chamber 20 or may be a support body supported by or suspended over the floor of the food preparation chamber 20. The food support area 22 may take any suitable form or shape, e.g. a plate, rack or the like. In this embodiment, the light transmissive body 30 takes the form of a double-walled lid having an inner surface 32 and an outer surface 34 delimiting a cavity 36, e.g. to provide heat insulation for protecting the lid from overheating. However, it should be understood that such a double-walled lid is by way of non-limiting example only, and that such as lid may take any suitable shape or form, e.g. a single-walled lid.
Within the food preparation chamber 20, a lighting arrangement comprising at least one light source 40 and a baffle 50 is arranged on a sidewall 24 of the food preparation chamber 20. The baffle 50 typically comprises a portion 52 extending from the sidewall 24 and arranged in between the light source 40 and the light transparent body 30 such that light produced by the light source 40 is shielded by the baffle 50 from illuminating certain regions of the light transparent body 30 such as to create a glare-free zone outside the food preparation chamber 20 from which the camera 100 may capture a high-quality image of the food 1 in the food support area 22. This is schematically depicted in FIG. 1 by the camera 100 being centered on the central axis 11 of the food preparation apparatus 10 at a height H from the light transmissive body 30 such that the field of view 110 of the camera 100 aligns with the food support area 22. The height H for instance may be in a range of 1-50 cm, e.g. 10-30 cm. The baffle 50 is dimensioned such that it prevents light rays 42 produced by the light source 40 from directly illuminating the lens of the camera 100 when the camera is correctly positioned relative to the food preparation chamber 20. The baffle 50 preferably is light absorbent, e.g. made of a light absorbent material or carrying a light absorbent layer facing the light source 40 although in alternative embodiments the baffle 50 may be a reflector. The lighting arrangement including the at least one light source 40 and the baffle 50 preferably is located outside the field of view 110 of the camera 100 such as not to obscure the food support area 22 within the food preparation chamber 20 from the view of the camera 100.
The food preparation apparatus 10 may receive food recognition information from the camera 100 in any suitable manner. For example, where the camera 100 forms part of an external device such as a smart phone or tablet computer, the food preparation apparatus may comprise a communication interface 12, e.g. a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi radio, for establishing a communication link with the external device over which image information may be communicated from the external device to the food preparation apparatus 10. Where such image information comprises raw image data, the food preparation apparatus 10 may further comprise a processor 14 in communication with the communication interface 12, which processor 14 may be adapted to deploy one or more image recognition algorithms to identify the food 1 captured in the raw image data, e.g. in case the camera 100 forms an integral part of the food preparation apparatus 10. The thus obtained food information may be used to configure a controller 16 adapted to control a heating element 18 for heating the food 1 within the food preparation chamber 20. For example, a food preparation program may be selected or configured based on the recognized food ingredients, or a food preparation program may be controlled based on images captured of the food 1 with the camera 100 during the food preparation process such as to monitor changes to the food 1 in order to assess when the food 1 is done such that the controller 16 can terminate the food preparation program at the optimal point in time. Of course, may other uses of such food image information to control the operation of the food preparation apparatus 10 will be apparent to the skilled person.
Alternatively, such image processing may be performed on the external device, in which case the processor 14 may be omitted from the design of the food preparation apparatus 10 and the food image information provided by the external device may be directly forwarded by the communication interface 12 to the controller 16. In yet another set of embodiments, where the camera 100 forms an integral part of the food preparation apparatus 10, the communication interface 12 may simply take the shape of a communicative coupling between the image sensor of the camera 100 and the processor 14. Many other suitable variations will be apparent to the skilled person.
The heating element 18 may take any suitable shape or form, e.g. a resistive heating element, a steam heating source, a microwave radiation generator and so on. It will furthermore be understood that although the processor 14 and controller 16 are shown as separate entities, it is equally feasible for processor 14 and the controller 16 to be implemented as a single device performing multiple functions. In preferred embodiments, the at least one light source 40 is formed of multiple LEDs. This has a number of advantages. Firstly, LEDs are robust, have a long operational lifetime and are energy-efficient. In addition, LEDs tend to produce a luminous distribution with a spread angle of about 180° from their light emitting surfaces compared to a 360° luminous distribution of incandescent light sources, such that when such LED light emitting surfaces are facing the food support area 22, the generation of light rays 42 towards the camera 100 is already significantly reduced compared to incandescent light sources 40. However, it is worth noting for the avoidance of doubt that the generation of some light rays 42 is still likely to occur even when using LEDs as the at least one light source 40, e.g. because of reflections generated by a light transmissive medium covering the light emitting surface of such LEDs, e.g. a phosphor layer, LED package layer and so on.
Although the at least one light source 40 may be a single light source, in a preferred embodiment schematically depicted in FIG. 2, the at least one light source 40 comprises an array of light sources 40 along the perimeter of the food preparation chamber 20 proximal to the light transmissive body 30 in order to provide more homogeneous illumination of the food 1 in the food support area 22 such as to facilitate the capturing of a high quality image of the food 1 in this area with the camera 100. For example, where the food preparation chamber 20 has a circular cross-section, the array of light sources 40 may be an annular array of light sources 40. In such an embodiment, the baffle 50 may comprise an annular portion 52 extending from the sidewall 24 of the food preparation chamber 20 and arranged in between the annular array of light sources 40 and the light transmissive body 30 to prevent direct illumination of the lens of the camera 100 by light rays 42 exiting the food preparation chamber 30 through the light transmissive body 30.
As schematically depicted in FIG. 3, the baffle 50 may have an L-shaped profile in a cross-sectional view in which case the baffle 50 comprises a planar portion 52 extending from the sidewall 24 of the food preparation chamber 20 beyond the at least one light source 40 in between the at least one light source and the light transmissive body 30 and a further planar portion 54 extending from an end portion of the planar portion 52 distal to the sidewall 24 towards the food support area 22, thus further shielding the at least one light source 40 and preventing light rays 42 from exiting the food preparation chamber 20 through the light transmissive body 30. It will be understood that this embodiment of the baffle 50 may be deployed with any suitable arrangement of light sources 40, e.g. a single light source 40 or an array of light sources 40.
As schematically depicted in FIG. 4, the baffle 50 may form a housing of the at least one light source 40 having a U-shaped profile in a cross-sectional view. Although the optical performance of the baffle 50 in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 is comparable, in particular if the sidewall 24 is light-absorbent, in FIG. 4 the baffle may be more easily mounted relative to the food support area 22, as the baffle 50 may be mounted on the sidewall 24 as well as on or adjacent to the light transmissive body 30, e.g. on a ceiling of the food preparation chamber 20.
The lighting arrangement comprising the at least one light source 40 and the baffle 50 are not necessarily located within the food preparation chamber 20. FIG. 5 schematically depicts an alternative embodiment in which the lighting arrangement is integrated within the light transmissive body 30, e.g. a double-layered lid on the food preparation chamber 20, in which case the baffle 50 comprises a planar portion 52 extending away from a side of the light transmissive body 30 beyond the at least one light source 40. The planar portion 52 is located in between the at least one light source 40 and the outer surface 34 of the light transmissive body 30. The baffle 50 further comprises a further planar portion 54 extending from an end portion of the planar portion 52 distal to said side towards the inner surface 32 of the light transmissive body 30. The planar portion 52 of the baffle 50 prevents direct illumination of the lens of the camera 100 by the at least one light source 40 when the camera 100 is positioned outside the food preparation chamber 20 such as to capture an image of the food support area 22, whereas the further planar portion 54 restricts illumination of the inner surface 32 of the light transmissive body 30 such that those regions of the inner surface 32 that would reflect light rays 42 towards the lens of the camera 100 are shielded from illumination by the at least one light source 40 by the further portion 52 of the baffle 50. Of course, it will be apparent to the skilled person that although in FIG. 5 the light source 40 is shown as a single light source, it is equally feasible for an array of light sources 40 to be integrated within the light transmissive body 30, with the baffle 50 arranged to shield the array of light sources 40 from causing glare on the lens of the camera 100 when the camera 100 is in certain positions of the light transmissive body 30. Similarly, it will be understood that the baffle 50 may take any suitable shape or form, such as the U-shape profile shown in FIG. 4.
In the foregoing embodiments, the light transmissive body 30 was shown as a lid on top of the food preparation chamber 20 through which access to the food preparation chamber 20 might be provided. FIG. 6 schematically depicts an alternative embodiment in which the light transmissive body 30 takes to shape of a door providing access to the food preparation chamber 20, in which case a camera 100 may be arranged to capture an image of the food 1 at the food support area 22 through the door of the food preparation apparatus 10. In this embodiment, the lighting arrangement may be arranged proximal to a ceiling 26 of the food preparation apparatus 20, with the baffle 50 extending from the ceiling 26 beyond the at least one light source 40, with the baffle being located in between the light source 40 and the door such as to shield the lens of the camera 100 from direct exposure to light rays 42 generated by the at least one light source 40.
As in the previous embodiments, the at least one light source 40 may comprise a plurality of light sources 40 arranged in any suitable arrangement such as an array or the like proximal to the ceiling 26 of the food preparation chamber 20 for providing a homogeneous illumination of the food preparation area 22 opposing the ceiling 26. Similarly, the baffle 50 may take any suitable shape, such as for example having a first planar portion 52 extending from the ceiling 26 towards the food support area 22, which first planar portion is arranged in between the at least one light source and the light transmissive body 30 and a further planar portion 54 extending from an end portion of the first planar portion 52 distal to the ceiling 26 towards the sidewall 24 of the food preparation chamber 20, which sidewall 24 opposes the light transmissive body 30.
FIG. 7 schematically depicts an example embodiment of a food preparation apparatus 10 in which the camera 100 is integrated within a ceiling 26 of the food preparation chamber 20 of the food preparation apparatus 10 such that the field of view 110 of the camera 100 is aligned with the food support area 22 for supporting the food 1 within the food preparation chamber 10. The lighting arrangement including the at least one light source 40 and the baffle 50 is typically arranged outside the field of view 110 of the camera 100 on or proximal to a sidewall 24 of the food preparation chamber 20 such as to not obscure the view of the food support area 22 of the camera 100. In this embodiment, the ceiling 26 comprises a light transmissive body 30, e.g. a light transmissive cover such as a glass cover or the like behind which the camera 100 is positioned such that the light transmissive body 30 protects the camera 100 from direct exposure to the ambient conditions within the food preparation chamber 20, in particular during operation of the food preparation apparatus 10.
In an alternative embodiment schematically depicted in FIG. 8, the camera 100 is mounted within the food preparation chamber 20 on its ceiling 26. In this embodiment, the light transmissive body 30 extends across the food preparation chamber 20 such as to provide a barrier between the food support area 22 and the camera 100 in order to protect the camera 100 from ambient conditions in the food preparation chamber 22, in particular during operation of the food preparation apparatus 10. In this embodiment, the lighting arrangement including the at least one light source 40 and the baffle 50 may be located at the same side of the light transmissive body 30 as the camera 100, in which case the baffle 50 is typically dimensioned such as to protect the camera 100 from glare by light emitted by the at least one light source 40, i.e., direct emissions as well as light rays 42 reflected by the light transmissive body 30 onto the lens of the camera 100. However, it should be understood that it is equally feasible for the lighting arrangement including the at least one light source 40 and the baffle 50 to be located at the same side of the light transmissive body 30 as the food support area 22 such that the light transmissive body 30 is located in between the lighting arrangement and the camera 100, in which case the baffle 50 is typically dimensioned such as to shield the at least one light source 40 to protect the lens of the camera 100 from direct emissions of light rays 42 towards the lens of the camera 100.
At this point, it is noted that in the foregoing embodiments, the camera 100 is shown to be positioned in a centred position relative to the food support area 22, as in such a position the field of view 110 of the camera 100 typically can be aligned with the food support area 22. However, it should be understood that other designated locations for the camera 100 may be contemplated, e.g. in a configuration in which the optical axis of the camera 100 is tilted relative to the central axis 11 of the food preparation apparatus 10, in which case the field of view 110 of the camera 100 may still be aligned with the food support area 22 without the camera 100 being centred over this area. In such embodiments, the shape of the baffle 50 may be adjusted such as to ensure that these off-centred locations of the camera 100 are appropriately shielded from glare. This for instance may mean that where the lighting arrangement comprises a plurality of light sources 40, the shape of the baffle 50 may change as a function of the relative location of such a light source 40 to the intended position of the camera 100 to ensure that light generated from these different relative locations cannot reach the intended position of the camera 100, as will be readily understood by the skilled person.
It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention can be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

A food preparation apparatus (10) comprising a food preparation chamber (20) having a food support area (22) for supporting food (1) to be prepared and a light transmissive body (30) providing a view of said food support area, the food preparation apparatus further comprising a lighting arrangement comprising at least one light source (40) arranged to illuminate said food support area and a baffle (50) arranged proximal to the at least one light source arranged to prevent light generated by the at least one light source from exiting the food preparation apparatus through certain regions of the light transmissive body such as to prevent interference of said light with a camera (100) when said camera is positioned relative to said light transmissive body in order to capture an image of the food on said food support area through said light transmissive body.
The food preparation apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein the light transmissive body (30) is a cover, a lid or a door providing access to the food preparation chamber (20).
The food preparation apparatus (10) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the lighting arrangement is arranged within the food preparation chamber in between the light transmissive body (30) and the food support area (22) or between a sidewall (24) of the food preparation chamber (20) and the light transmissive body (30) opposing said sidewall.
The food preparation apparatus (10) of any of claims 1-3, wherein the baffle (50) comprises a planar portion (52) extending away from a sidewall (24) or a ceiling (26) of the food preparation chamber beyond the at least one light source (40), said planar portion being located in between the at least one light source and the light transmissive body (30).
The food preparation apparatus (10) of claim 4, wherein the baffle (50) further comprises a further planar portion (54) extending from an end portion of the planar portion (52) distal to said sidewall (24) or ceiling (26) towards the food support area (22).
The food preparation apparatus (10) of any of claims 1-5, wherein the light transmissive body (30) comprises a cavity (36) delimited by opposing transparent surfaces including an inner surface (32) and an outer surface (34) opposing the inner surface, and wherein the lighting arrangement is located within said cavity.
The food preparation apparatus (10) of claim 6, wherein the baffle (50) comprises:
a planar portion (52) extending away from a side of the light transmissive body (30) beyond the at least one light source (40), said planar portion being located in between the at least one light source and the outer surface (34) of the light transmissive body; and optionally

a further planar portion (54) extending from an end portion of the planar portion distal to said side towards the inner surface (32) of the light transmissive body.
The food preparation apparatus (10) of any of claims 1-7, wherein the at least one light source (40) comprises an annular array of light sources arranged proximally to a sidewall (24) or an outer perimeter of a ceiling (26) of the food processing chamber (20).
The food preparation apparatus (10) of any of claims 1-8, wherein the at least one light source (40) comprises a plurality of LEDs.
The food preparation apparatus (10) of any of claims 1-9, wherein the baffle (50) forms a housing in which the at least one light source (40) is housed, said housing having a U-shaped cross-sectional profile.
The food preparation apparatus (10) of any of claims 1-10, further comprising said camera (100), wherein the camera is arranged to capture an image of the food on said food support area (22) in its field of view (110) through the light transmissive body (30).
The food preparation apparatus (10) of claim 11, wherein the lighting arrangement is located outside said field of view (110).
The food preparation apparatus (10) of any of claim 1-12, further comprising a heating element (18) under control of a controller (16) and a communication interface (14) communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is arranged to configure a food preparation program based on food recognition information received by the communication interface from a processor having recognized said food (1) by processing an image of said food captured by said camera (100).
The food preparation apparatus (10) of claim 13, further comprising said processor (14).
The food preparation apparatus (10) of any of claims 1-14, wherein the food preparation apparatus is one of an oven, a microwave oven, a steamer or a fryer.