EP4643061A1

EP4643061A1 - An illumination element for an oven

Info

Publication number: EP4643061A1
Application number: EP22970362.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Metin OZTURK; Fatih ZUNGOR; Feyza OZMEN UCAR; Aytac OZ
Original assignee: Mamur Teknoloji Sistemleri Sanayi AS
Current assignee: Mamur Teknoloji Sistemleri Sanayi AS
Priority date: 2022-12-28
Filing date: 2022-12-28
Publication date: 2025-11-05
Also published as: WO2024167473A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an oven comprising a housing (10), a muffle (20) defining a cooking chamber (1) within the housing (10), and an LED illumination element (30) provided within the housing (10). The oven further comprises a reflective element (40) adjusted to direct the light beam produced by the LED illumination element (30) into the cooking chamber (1).

Description

AN ILLUMINATION ELEMENT FOR AN OVEN

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an illumination element provided in a cooking device, particularly in an oven.

STATE OF THE ART

Traditional ovens typically include various indicators to inform the user when the heating elements are on or when the oven remains at a high temperature after a recent cooking process. For example, these types of indicators may include light indicators provided on the oven that light up when the internal temperature of the oven exceeds a specific temperature. Other indicators might display the word "HOT" or similar signs. However, the known indicators do not inform the user about how hot the oven's internal temperature might be.

US2018128493A1 relates to the change in color of the light produced by an illumination element on the oven depending on the temperature value. The present invention includes at least one heating element for a cooking device and at least one temperature sensor that detects the temperature of an area of the heating element and cooking surface. At least one indicator light conveys the detected temperature. A controller is configured to receive a temperature signal from the temperature sensor and provide a control signal to the indicator light, such that the indicator light's color and/or intensity continuously changes, providing a visual representation of the detected temperature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a means to inform the user of changes in the internal temperature of the oven or the cooking mode of an oven.

In order to achieve the above objective, the invention relates to an oven comprising a housing, a muffle defining a cooking chamber within the housing, and an LED illumination element provided within the housing. The oven includes a reflective element adjusted to direct the light beam produced by the LED illumination element into the cooking chamber. Thus, illumination allows for various alerts related to the oven's usage scenarios, such as reaching the set temperature of the oven, warnings about the cooking of food, and time settings, depending on the function.

A preferred embodiment of the invention includes an illumination aperture provided in a wall of the muffle and adjusted to allow the passage of the light beam produced by the LED illumination element. This ensures that the light produced by the LED illumination element reaches the cooking chamber.

In a preferred embodiment, the reflective element is adjusted outside the muffle to direct the light beam reflected from the LED illumination element to the illumination aperture. Thus, the light coming from the LED illumination element is directed into the cooking chamber.

A preferred embodiment comprises a lens disposed to disperse light into the illumination aperture. This ensures the dispersion of light within the cooking chamber and the visibility of the interior light to the user.

In a preferred embodiment, an illumination chamber is adjusted adjacent to the wall of the muffle where the illumination aperture is located, housing the LED illumination element and the reflective element. This ensures that the LED illumination and the reflective elements are not affected by the oven's internal temperature.

A preferred embodiment includes a light-transmitting thermal insulation element placed on the muffle to cover the illumination aperture. This prevents the transmission of the oven's internal temperature to the illumination chamber, ensuring the longevity of the LED element and the reflective element.

The thermal insulation element is made of high thermal resistance glass material in a preferred embodiment. This insulates the interior temperature of the oven within the illumination chamber.

In a preferred embodiment, the illumination chamber is adjusted adjacent to an upper wall of the muffle. This prevents any obstruction during light transmission from the illumination chamber to the cooking chamber.

In a preferred embodiment, it includes a controller connected to drive the LED illumination element. This allows for controlling the activation and operation of the LED illumination element. In a preferred embodiment, the controller is configured to change the color of the light beam produced by the LED illumination element based on changes in the oven's internal temperature. This facilitates the user's detection of the internal temperature.

In a preferred application, the controller detects the internal temperature of the oven and adjusts the wavelength of the LED illumination element's light based on the color information corresponding to the temperature value stored in a memory unit; the LED illumination element emits light at the determined wavelength, and the light produced by the LED illumination element is transmitted to the cooking chamber by the reflective element. This creates a system that allows power LED illuminations, which can operate at temperatures of 70-80°C, to function inside the oven without damage, replacing standard lamps used in internal illumination of ovens operating at these temperatures. These power LED illuminations are positioned at a point where the maximum temperature is 70-80°C, away from the oven cavity, and the light is transferred into the oven through a mirror and a reflective channel. Thus, the illumination with the possibility of color change can be used without damage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of the oven subject to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject matter invention is explained with references to examples without any limitation, solely for better understanding.

Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of the oven subject to the invention. The oven has a cooking chamber (1 ) within. It comprises a muffle (20) surrounding the cooking chamber (1 ) and a housing (10) surrounding the muffle (20). On the front wall (12) of the housing (10), there are four buttons (16) for controlling the internal temperature and operating modes of the oven. On the rear wall (14) of the housing (10), there is an LED illumination element (30) provided to illuminate the cooking chamber (1). The LED illumination element (30) transmits its light to an illumination chamber (50) and then to the cooking chamber (1). Within the illumination chamber (50), a reflective element (40) is diagonally provided. In the preferred embodiment, a mirror is selected as the reflective element (40). The light from the LED illumination element (30) is reflected by the reflective element (40) into the cooking chamber (1 ). The directed light passes through an illumination aperture (24) provided in an upper wall (22) of the muffle (20) to reach the cooking chamber (1). Above the illumination aperture (24), there is a lens (26) that ensures equal dispersion of light into the cooking chamber (1). The illumination chamber (50) contains a transparent thermal insulation element (52) that isolates heat coming from the cooking chamber (1). The preferred embodiment's thermal insulation element (52) is made of high thermal resistance glass material. The oven includes a controller (62) that detects the temperature from the cooking chamber (1). Accordingly, it controls the wavelength of the light produced by the LED illumination element (30) and a control unit (60) housing the controller (62). The control unit (60) is connected to the controller (62) and includes a memory unit (64) storing wavelengths corresponding to temperature values. The oven also has a handle (70) that aids in opening and closing the oven door.

In the method of operation for changing the illumination color inside the cooking chamber (1), the controller (62) detects the temperature in the cooking chamber (1 ) and obtains information on the corresponding light wavelength for the internal temperature from the memory unit (64). The controller (62) then changes the wavelength of the light produced by the LED illumination element (30) based on this information, adjusting the illumination color within the cooking chamber (1). In an exemplary application, when the temperature inside the cooking chamber (1 ) is 50 degrees, the controller (62) causes the LED illumination element (30) to produce a light wavelength corresponding to blue light. When the temperature inside the cooking chamber (1 ) is 90 degrees, the controller (62) causes the LED illumination element (30) to produce a light wavelength corresponding to red light. The light produced by the LED illumination element (30) at the determined wavelength is reflected by the reflective element (40) in the illumination chamber (50), passing through the illumination aperture (24) and spreading into the cooking chamber (1 ) with the help of the lens (26).

REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 Cooking Chamber

10 Housing

12 Front Wall

14 Rear Wall

16 Button

20 Muffle

22 Upper Wall 24 Illumination Aperture

26 Lens

30 LED Illumination Element

40 Reflective Element 50 Illumination Chamber

52 Thermal Insulation Element

60 Control Unit

62 Controller

64 Memory Unit 70 Handle

Claims

1. An oven comprising a housing (10), a muffle (20) defining a cooking chamber (1) within the housing (10), and a LED illumination element (30) provided within the housing (10), characterized in that a reflective element (40) is adjusted to direct the light beam produced by the LED illumination element (30) into the cooking chamber (1)-

2. An oven according to claim 1 , wherein an illumination aperture (24) is provided in a wall (22) of the muffle (20) and adjusted to allow the passage of the light beam produced by the LED illumination element (30).

3. An oven according to claim 2, wherein the reflective element (40) is adjusted to direct the light beam reflected from the LED illumination element (30) outside the muffle (20) to the illumination aperture (24).

4. An oven according to claims 2-3, wherein a lens (26) disposed to disperse light into the illumination aperture (24).

5. An oven, according to claims 2-4, wherein an illumination chamber (50) is adjusted adjacent to the wall (22) of the muffle (20) where the illumination aperture (24) is located and housing the LED illumination element (30) and the reflective element (40).

6. An oven according to claims 2-5, wherein a light-transmitting thermal insulation element (52) disposed on the muffle (20) to cover the illumination aperture (24) in the illumination chamber (50).

7. An oven according to claims 2-6, wherein the thermal insulation element (52) is made of high thermal resistance glass material.

8. An oven according to claims 2-7, wherein the illumination chamber (50) is adjusted adjacent to an upper wall (22) of the muffle (20).

9. An oven according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a controller (52) is connected to drive the LED illumination element (30).

10. An oven according to claim 9, wherein the controller (62) is configured to change the color of the light beam produced by the LED illumination element (30) based on changes in the internal temperature of the oven.

11. An internal illumination control method for an oven according to claims 9-10, comprising the steps of detecting the internal temperature of the oven by the controller (62), adjusting the wavelength of the light of the LED illumination element (30) based on the color information corresponding to the temperature value stored in a memory unit (64) by the controller (62); the LED illumination element (30) is arranged to emit light at the determined wavelength; and the light produced by the LED illumination element (30) being transmitted to the cooking chamber (1) by the reflective element (40).