GB2415262A

GB2415262A - Apparatus for calculating cooking times

Info

Publication number: GB2415262A
Application number: GB0413694A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Kingsley Drew; Robert William Peter Walls; Hugo Boris Bernd V Luchterhand
Original assignee: Intellectual Property Investment Ltd
Current assignee: Intellectual Property Investment Ltd
Priority date: 2004-06-18
Filing date: 2004-06-18
Publication date: 2005-12-21
Also published as: GB0413694D0

Abstract

The present invention provides electronic scales (1) for calculating and timing cooking times comprising weighing means (21), a timer and a user interface (25), all three operatively connected to a microprocessor (22) . In use, the weighing means provides the microprocessor with a signal indicative of the weight of an item placed on the weighing means. The user interface permits a user to input data relating to a starting temperature of the item before cooking and a desired end condition of the item after cooking, and relays such data to the microprocessor. The microprocessor is programmed to calculate a cooking time based upon the inputted data and the weight of the item and subsequently to operate the timer so as to trigger an alert once the calculated cooking time has elapsed, such that the item is cooked to the desired end condition. A method of calculating the cooking time of an item, using electronic scales, and cooking the item is also described.

Description

APPARATUS & METHOD FOR CALCULATING COOKING TIMES This invention relates to

an apparatus and method for calculating cooking times. In particular it relates to an electronic scales incorporating a timer and a method of use of such scales. Moreover, the electronic scales can carry out three separate functions, namely, a weighing scales function, a timer function and a calculation function for calculating the correct cooking time of an item. In one embodiment, this invention relates to electronic scales having the three above-mentioned functions in the form of an egg timer, so as to calculate the correct cooking times for various end conditions of the cooked egg, namely, soft-, medium- or hard-boiled.

Conventional egg timers merely carry out the function of providing an alert once a selected time has elapsed.

Although rough estimates of the correct cooking time for the desired end condition of the egg may be known to a user of the egg timer, these estimates often do not provide an accurate indication of the correct cooking time.

This invention aims to provide electronic scales for improving the accuracy of calculating the cooking times of eggs to a desired end condition and a method of operation of the electronic scales.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided electronic scales for calculating and timing cooking times comprising weighing means, a timer and a user interface, all three operatively connected to a microprocessor, wherein, in use, the weighing means provides the microprocessor with a signal indicative of the weight of an item placed on the weighing means, the user interface permits a user to input data relating to a starting - 2 temperature of the item before cooking and a desired end condition of the item after cooking, and relays such data to the microprocessor, the microprocessor being programmed to calculate a cooking time based upon the inputted data and the weight of the item and subsequently to operate the timer so as to trigger an alert once the calculated cooking time has elapsed, such that the item is cooked to the desired end condition.

The microprocessor is provided with a memory in which is stored a program for calculating the cooking time of an item based upon the starting temperature of an item, the desired end condition of an item and the weight of an item.

In addition, the program may also calculate the cooking time of an item based upon the cooking temperature and/or the altitude of the electronic scales above sea-level when operated.

Data relating to the starting temperature of the item before cooking can be inputted by way of pre-programmed selections or by manually inputting a temperature. The pre-programmed selections include indicators such as room temperature or fridge temperature.

Further data relating to the desired end condition of the item after cooking can be provided by way of pre-programmed selections, such as, rare, medium, well-done, al dense, soft, soft-boiled, medium-boiled or hard-boiled.

The alert triggered once the cooking time has elapsed may be any audible and/or visual stimulus, for example, a light emitting diode or a buzzer.

The weighing means is made up of two parts, namely, a load cell and a tray upon which an item to be weighed can be placed. - 3

The electronic scales can be used to calculate the cooking time of a number of different food items, for example, any food such as meat, vegetable, fruit or a dairy product. Preferably, the item is an egg.

In an alternative embodiment, the electronic scales of the present invention may also comprise a cooking device in incorporation therewith. Preferably, the cooking device is a means for heating water.

The invention also includes electronic scales substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, or as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of calculating the cooking time of an item, using electronic scales, and cooking the item to a desired end condition, the method comprising the steps of: a) placing the item to be cooked onto weighing means of the electronic scales, so as to calculate the weight of the item, the weighing means relaying the weight to a microprocessor; b) inputting into a user interface the starting temperature of the item to be cooked, the user interface relaying the starting temperature to the microprocessor; c) inputting into the user interface the desired end condition of the item, the user interface relaying the desired end condition to the microprocessor; d) calculating a cooking time, using the microprocessor, for the item based upon the inputted - 4 starting temperature of the item, the desired end condition of the item and the weight of the item and relaying the cooking time to a timer; e) starting cooking of the item and starting the timer; and f) stopping cooking of the item once the calculated cooking time has elapsed, as indicated by the timer.

In the above-mentioned method, inputting the starting temperature of the item into the user interface may be carried out by choosing one of a number of pre-programmed selections or by manually inputting a temperature.

Preferably, the pre-programmed selections are room temperature or fridge temperature.

In addition, the user interface allows values to be assigned to the preprogrammed room temperature or fridge temperature.

Inputting the desired end condition of the item after cooking into the user interface may be carried out by choosing one of a number of preprogrammed selections, which are, rare, medium, well-done, al dense, soft, soft-boiled, medium-boiled or hard-boiled.

A program stored within a memory of the microprocessor calculates the cooking time of an item based upon the starting temperature of an item, the desired end condition of an item and the weight of an item. Furthermore, the program may also calculate the cooking time of an item based upon the cooking temperature and the altitude of the electronic scales above sea-level when operated. - 5 -

The method of the present invention may further comprise one or more of the following inputting steps prior to calculation of a time: a) inputting the cooking temperature; and b) inputting the altitude at which the electronic scales are operated.

The present invention also includes a method of calculating the cooking time of an item and cooking the item substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a combination comprising a cooking device incorporating electronic scales of the present invention.

Preferably the cooking device is a means for heating water.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, an embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of an electronic scales according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the bottom of the electronic scales of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a system block diagram of functional components of the electronic scales of Figure 1; 6 - Figure 4 shows the displayable information of an LCD of the electronic scales of Figure 1; Figure 5A shows an indicator of a soft-boiled egg on the LCD shown in Figure 4; Figure 5B shows an indicator of a medium- boiled egg on the LCD shown in Figure 4; and Figure 5C shoes an indicator of a hard-boiled egg on the LCD shown in Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the electronic scales, indicated generally at 1, comprise the functionality of a set of scales - for weighing an item (hereinafter described by way of example as an egg) - and a timer - for indicating when the correct cooking time has elapsed - the cooking time being based upon the weight of the egg and the inputted starting temperature of the egg and the desired end condition of the egg.

The electronic scales 1 comprise a casing 2, a tray 3, an LCD display 4, battery compartments 5, an altitude switch 6, feet 7, and a user interface 25 including various operable buttons, namely, a mode button 8, a confirm button 9, a cancel button 10, a start/zero button 11, a minute button 12, and a second button 13.

Figure 3 shows a functional representation of the electronic scales. As well as the liquid crystal display (LCD) 4, and the user interface 25 referred to above, the electronic scales comprise a tray 3, a load cell 21, an MCU (microprocessor control unit) and circuit board (hereinafter referred to as a microprocessor) 22, and a power supply 23. - 7 -

The tray 3 is operatively connected to the load cell 21. The tray 3 and load cell 21 in combination form a weighing means. The load cell 21 is operatively connected to the microprocessor 22, so that signals indicative of the weight of an egg placed onto the tray 3 pass from the load cell 21 to the microprocessor 22.

The power supply 23 is connected to the microprocessor 22 and supplies power to the electronic scales 1.

Preferably, power is supplied by batteries (not shown), for example, CR2032s, but in an alternative, power may be supplied by mains electricity via a transformer.

The LCD 24 is operatively connected to the microprocessor 22, so that selected information received from the microprocessor 22 can be displayed upon the LCD 24.

Figures 4, 5A, 5B and 5C show in more detail representations of the LCD 24. In particular, the LCD 24 has a general display 30 which can display numerals or words of various lengths, which numerals can be a timer, an indication of weight or a representation of inputted numerical data; an indication of mode 31, such as timer, scales or egg scales modes; units of weight 32, such as ounces or grams; an indication of the preset starting temperature of an item 33, which can be fridge temperature or room temperature; an indication of the indicator of the desired end condition after cooking of the item 34, which can be soft-boiled, medium- boiled or hard-boiled; and a battery level indicator 32. Figures 5A, 5B and 5C show in more detail representations of the indicator of desired end condition 34, for example, soft-boiled, as shown in Figure 5A, medium boiled, as shown in Figure 5B and hard-boiled, as shown in Figure 5C. - 8

The user interface 25 is operatively connected to the microprocessor 22, so that data inputted into the user interface 25 can be relayed to the microprocessor 22 and stored in a memory of, and/or used by, the microprocessor 22. The user interface 25 comprises the inputting devices of the altitude switch 6, the mode button 8, the confirm button 9, the cancel button 10, the start/zero button 11, the minute button 12, and the second button 13.

The altitude switch 6 allows a user to select, from a choice of three ranges (namely, Om to 500m, 501m to 1500m, and 1501m to 2500m), a range of height above sea-level within which the electronic scales 1 are to be operated.

The mode button 8 allows a user to choose, in a first function, between timer, scales and egg scales modes; in a second function (the egg scales mode), between the preset starting temperatures of fridge temperature and room temperature; and in a third function, between the cooking time of a soft-, a medium- or a hard-boiled egg. The confirm button 9 confirms a particular setting or data entry and carries on to a next stage. The cancel button 10, allows a user to delete a particular entry and/or go back to a previous stage. The start/zero button 11 allows a user to start and stop the timer and delete a particular numerical data entry. The minute and second buttons (12,13) allow a user to increase the minute and second values indicated on the LCD 24. In an alternative, the minute and second buttons (12,13) may be used to increase or decrease a value, which is not a time, displayed by the LCD, for example, a weight.

In use, a user may select one of three mode options: scale mode (displayed as SCL), timer mode (displayed as TMR) and egg scale mode (displayed as EGG) by pressing the mode - 9 - button 8 until the desired indication is shown in the general display 30, the choice can then be confirmed by pressing the confirm button 9.

In the scale mode, the electronic scales acts to weigh any item placed upon the tray 3. The scales are automatically zeroed but may be additionally manually zeroed at any time by pressing start/zero. An item may then be weighed by placing it onto the tray 3. The load cell 21 registers the weight of the item placed onto the tray 3 and relays such data to the microprocessor 22, which signals the LCD 24 to display the weight in either grams or ounces in numerals on the general display 30.

In the timer mode, the electronic scales counts-down from a time inputted by a user and then triggers an alarm.

By pressing the minute and second buttons (12,13) the time displayed in the general display 30 of the LCD 24 is increased. Once input of the desired time has occurred, the timer can be started by pressing the start/zero button 11.

At the end of the user-entered time, an alert is triggered in the form of the LCD 24 starting to flash and an audible sound being emitted.

In the egg scale mode, advantageously the electronic scales of the present invention weighs an egg and calculates a cooking time depending on the starting temperature of the egg, the weight of the egg, whether the egg is desired to be soft-, medium- or hard-boiled and, optionally, the altitude at which the egg is being weighed or cooked. A user is given the choice of room temperature or fridge temperature as the starting temperature of the egg and the user can toggle between the two options by using the mode button 8 and confirming the choice with the confirm button 9. Next, the display 30 will show soft, medium or hard and the user - 10 can toggle between the three by, again, pressing the mode button 8. After the display is zeroed automatically or manually, as described hereinabove, an egg is then placed onto the tray 3, as described in relation to the scale mode to weigh the egg. Confirmation of the choice is again achieved by pressing the confirm button 9. After confirmation, the microprocessor 22 calculates a time for cooking the egg based upon the weight of the egg and the users choice of soft, medium or hard, the starting temperature of the egg. The time is displayed on the general display 30. By pressing the start/zero button 11, the timer is started. Again, at the end of the time, an alert is triggered in the form of the LCD 24 starting to flash and an audible sound being emitted.

The cooking times calculated by the electronic scales 1 are based upon a number of assumptions. In particular, a soft-boiled egg can be defined as an egg having a firm, opaque white and a liquid yolk; a medium-boiled egg can be defined as an egg having a firm, opaque white and a partial-liquid and partial-solid yolk; and a hard-boiled egg can be defined as an egg having a firm, opaque white and a solid, pale-yellow yolk. The extent of cooking of an egg may also be defined by way of the core temperature of the egg, i.e. a soft-boiled egg has a core temperature of circa 45 C, those temperatures of a medium-boiled egg and a hard- boiled egg are circa 65 C and circa 88 C, respectively.

Although a user may manually override a preset fridge temperature and room temperature by inputting into the electronic scales 1 a user-set fridge temperature and room temperature, in the absence of such commands, the electronic scales assumes for its calculations that fridge temperature is 4 C and that room temperature is 21 C.

The electronic scales 1 uses the above-mentioned assumptions and a preprogrammed program including the following equation to calculate cooking times, the equation being: Time = a x M2/3 x log[2 x (Tegg-Twater)/(TyolkTwater)] where a is a constant which for eggs is 16 sg2/3, M is the mass of an egg in grams, Tegg is the starting temperature of an egg - which usually corresponds to the fridge temperature or the room temperature TWater is the temperature of boiling water, and Tyolk is the temperature of the yolk at the desired end condition of the egg.

Whilst the majority of this description relates to the cooking of eggs, it can discerned easily that the invention may also relate to calculating cooking times for other food items, in particular steaks and roasting joints and where cooking is by any of, for example, boiling, roasting or poaching.

In relation to weighing items, it will, of course, be understood that items may be weighed in a container placed upon the tray of the weighing means.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the electronic scales may be part of a cooking device, such as, a cooking device for heating water. - 12

Claims

Claims: 1. Electronic scales for calculating and timing cooking times

comprising weighing means, a timer and a user interface, all three operatively connected to a microprocessor, wherein, in use, the weighing means provides the microprocessor with a signal indicative of the weight of an item placed on the weighing means, the user interface permits a user to input data relating to a starting temperature of the item before cooking and a desired end condition of the item after cooking, and relays such data to the microprocessor, the microprocessor being programmed to calculate a cooking time based upon the inputted data and the weight of the item and subsequently to operate the timer so as to trigger an alert once the calculated cooking time has elapsed, such that the item is cooked to the desired end condition.
2. Electronic scales as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microprocessor has a memory in which is stored a program for calculating the cooking time of an item based upon the starting temperature of an item, the desired end condition of an item and the weight of an item.
3. Electronic scales as claimed in claim 2, wherein the program also calculates the cooking time of an item based upon the cooking temperature and/or the altitude of the electronic scales above sea-level when operated.
4. Electronic scales as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein data relating to the starting temperature of the - 13 item before cooking can be inputted by way of pre-programmed selections or by manually inputting a temperature.
5. Electronic scales as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pre-programmed selections include indicators such as room temperature and/or fridge temperature.
6. Electronic scales as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein data relating to the desired end condition of the item after cooking is provided by way of pre-programmed selections.
7. Electronic scales as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pre-programmed selections include one or more of rare, medium, well-done, al dense, soft, soft-boiled, medium-boiled or hard-boiled.
8. Electronic scales as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the alert may be any audible and/or visual stimulus.
9. Electronic scales as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the weighing means comprises a load cell.
10. Electronic scales as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the item to be cooked may be any food such as meat, vegetable, fruit or a dairy product.
11. Electronic scales as claimed in claim 10, wherein the item is an egg. - 14
12. Electronic scales substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, or as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
13. A method of calculating the cooking time of an item, using electronic scales, and cooking the item to a desired end condition, the method comprising the steps of: a) placing the item to be cooked onto weighing means of the electronic scales, so as to calculate the weight of the item, the weighing means relaying the weight to a microprocessor; b) inputting into a user interface the starting temperature of the item to be cooked, the user interface relaying the starting temperature to the microprocessor; c) inputting into the user interface the desired end condition of the item, the user interface relaying the desired end condition to the microprocessor; d) calculating a cooking time, using the microprocessor, for the item based upon the inputted starting temperature of the item, the desired end condition of the item and the weight of the item and relaying the cooking time to a timer; e) starting cooking of the item and starting the timer; and - 15 f) stopping cooking of the item once the calculated cooking time has elapsed, as indicated by the timer.
14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein inputting the starting temperature of the item into the user interface is carried out by choosing one of a number of pre-programmed selections or by manually inputting a temperature.
15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the pre-programmed selections include room temperature and/or fridge temperature.
16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the user interface allows values to be assigned to the pre-programmed room temperature and/or fridge temperature.
17. A method as claimed in any of claims 13 to 16, wherein inputting the desired end condition of the item into the user interface is carried out by choosing one of a number of pre-programmed selections.
18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the pre-programmed selections include one or more of rare, medium, well-done, al dense, soft, soft-boiled, medium-boiled or hard-boiled.
19. A method as claimed in any of claims 13 to 18, wherein a program stored within a memory of the microprocessor calculates the cooking time of the item based upon the starting temperature of the item, the desired end condition of the item and the weight of the item. - 16
20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the program also calculates the cooking time of the item based upon the cooking temperature and/or the altitude of the electronic scales above sea-level when operated.
21. A method as claimed in any of claims 13 to 20, further comprising one or more of the following inputting steps prior to calculation of the cooking time: a) inputting the cooking temperature; and b) inputting the altitude at which the electronic scales are operated.
22. A method of calculating the cooking time of an item and cooking the item substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
23. A cooking device incorporating electronic scales as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12.
24. A cooking device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the cooking device including a means for heating water.