RU2790621C1 - Smart handle for cookware lid - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: lid parts for cookware.

SUBSTANCE: programmable handles with the function of cooking control, light industry in the production of lids and their parts. The smart handle for the lid of cookware consists of a base fixed on the outer surface of the lid with a hollow screw, and made with the possibility of removable installation on the base of the smart module, the case of which contains of: a lid vibration sensor, an NFC data receiving unit, a data receiving and transmitting unit via a wireless network to communicate with a portable device with an installed application, a microcomputer, audible indicators and a power supply. On the surface of the smart module, means of light indication and a coupling for connecting a temperature probe passed through the cavity of the base fixing screw are made. Moreover, the microcomputer is configured to turn on and off the indication means, with the possibility of receiving, processing and transmitting data from the temperature probe and the vibration sensor to the data receiving and transmitting unit via a wireless network, as well as with the possibility of receiving, processing and executing programs received from a portable device via NFC.

EFFECT: simplification and enhancement of the cooking process safety while improving the quality of cookware due to the timely generation of alerts about the need to change the temperature and intensity of boiling, as well as the need to turn off heating.

11 cl, 4 dwg

Description

Technical field

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to details of lids for kitchen utensils, in particular, to programmable handles with the function of controlling cooking parameters, and can be used in light industry in the production of lids and their elements.

State of the art

At the moment, a number of technical solutions are known aimed at developing dishes that allow you to control cooking parameters and food processing time under given conditions.

Thus, from patent document CN 109770724 A, a pan is known, in the lid of which a hole is made for installing a temperature probe. The probe is placed directly inside the cooked dish and transmits data to the thermoregulation system of the pan, as well as to the display located on its body.

From document CN 113116122 A, a saucepan is known, equipped with two temperature sensors, one of which is installed on the lid, and the second in the bottom. The measured temperature values are displayed on the display located on the handle of the pot, and are also wirelessly transmitted to the application installed on the user's portable device, thereby allowing you to control the temperature inside the pan throughout the entire cooking process. The electronic components of the pan are powered by a battery. The application also displays recommendations for cooking the selected dish.

The closest analogue is described in the document CN 213850157 U. Known from this document is a dish lid handle, at the base of which a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor are located. There is also a display on the lid handle, which displays the readings of the sensors, and a buzzer that notifies the user when the temperature and pressure inside the pan have reached the set values. Pressure control under the lid avoids situations of overflowing the contents over the edges of the pot. The lid is also equipped with Bluetooth technology to communicate with a portable device with an installed application, which makes it possible to remotely monitor the parameters of the cooking process.

The disadvantages of the analog include the inability to remotely control the type of boiling (weak / violent), and, accordingly, the time it is maintained, as well as the need to independently monitor the cooking time at a given temperature. Also, the analog does not allow to accurately determine the temperature of an empty dish during preheating, since the temperature sensor is located at the base of the handle and does not touch the walls of the dish.

The declared intelligent handle for the lid is equipped with a vibration sensor, which allows you to determine the type of boiling, and the built-in timer eliminates the need for the user to track the time of food processing at the given parameters. In addition, the handle is programmable, which allows you to set several timers with several different temperatures and types of boiling within one cooking cycle. The setting of parameter values and their maintenance times is carried out in the application and transmitted to the pen via the NFC communication channel, which makes the programming process simple and fast.

To determine the temperature of food during cooking, a temperature probe is included in the design of the proposed handle. The use of a telescopic food probe also allows you to accurately determine the temperature of an empty dish during preheating, as it directly touches the bottom of the dish.

An additional advantage of the proposed technical solution over its analogue is that the smart module is removable, which allows you to easily and quickly reinstall it on any other cover with a pre-installed base.

Thus, the objective of the present invention is to provide an intelligent handle for kitchenware with the function of determining the temperature of the dish itself, as well as monitoring the type of boil and temperature of food during cooking, and the function of generating notifications at the end of each stage of cooking with the specified parameters. Where the parameter values and their maintenance time are set in the application and transmitted to the intelligent module of the pen via the NFC communication channel, and the intelligent module itself is made removable and can be installed on any cover with a base for its attachment.

The technical result of the claimed invention is to simplify and increase the safety of the cooking process while improving the quality of dishes due to the timely generation of alerts about the need to change the temperature and intensity of boiling, as well as the need to turn off the heating.

Disclosure of invention

The set goal, the technical result required and obtained by using the invention are achieved by the fact that the intelligent handle for the lid of the dishes consists of a base fixed on the outer surface of the lid with a hollow screw, and made with the possibility of removable installation on the base of the intelligent module, inside the body of which are located: cover vibration sensor, NFC data receiving unit, wireless data receiving and transmitting unit for communication with a portable device with an installed application, microcomputer, sound indication means, power supply unit; and on the surface there are means of light indication and a connector for connecting a temperature probe passed through the cavity of the base fixing screw through and through.

At the same time, the microcomputer is configured to turn on and off the indication means, with the possibility of receiving, processing and transmitting data from the temperature probe and the vibration sensor to the data receiving and transmitting unit via a wireless network, as well as with the possibility of receiving, processing and executing programs received from a portable device. via NFC.

The temperature probe is made flexible, telescopic or rigid with a fixed length.

Means of light indication are made in the form of a display or LEDs.

The base is made from a dishwasher safe material.

The unit for receiving and transmitting data over a wireless network is configured to exchange data using any type of communication/connection, such as Wi-Fi, and/or Bluetooth, and/or mobile cellular communication GSM, 3G, 4G, LTE, and/or via ultra-low power data links forming complex wireless mesh networks such as ZigBee and/or LoRa and/or LoRaWAN and/or LPWAN and/or 6L0WPAN and/or Z-wave.

The method of monitoring the cooking parameters of a dish with the help of an intelligent pen is that by setting the required values of temperature, boiling intensity and time intervals for maintaining these parameters, a cooking program is formed in the application; further, by touching the portable device with the installed application on the surface of the intelligent module, the generated program is transmitted via the NFC block to the microcomputer, which, upon completion of the download, starts its execution, which consists in the fact that when registering with the help of a temperature probe and a vibration sensor, the specified temperature values are reached or exceeded and intensity of boiling, as well as in the event of the expiration of the period of maintaining the set values of cooking parameters - the microcomputer sends a switch-on signal to the indication means of the intelligent module, and also, using the data receiving and transmitting unit, wirelessly transmits appropriate notifications to the application to the portable device.

The microcomputer additionally initiates the inclusion of the indication means and sends a corresponding notification to the application upon completion of the cooking program.

Temperature measurement using a temperature probe is carried out continuously or at certain time intervals, and the frequency of measurements is set by the user in the application when compiling the program.

Depending on the settings specified in the application when compiling the program, the microcomputer initiates the inclusion of only light indication means or means of both types of indication at the same time.

To measure the temperature, a temperature probe is used that reaches the surface of the dishes, and the program compiled in the application also includes the temperature value to which the dishes must be heated before starting cooking, and if this value is registered by the temperature probe, the microcomputer initiates the inclusion of the indication means and sends a notification to the application.

Brief description of the drawings

The essence of the invention is illustrated by drawings.

In FIG. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the claimed smart handle 1 for cover 2 of dishes 3. Handle 1 consists of two modules: a base 1.1 fixed on the outer surface of the cover and an intelligent module 1.2.

In FIG. 2 shows the same version of the handle as in FIG. 1, disassembled.

In FIG. Figure 3 schematically shows one of the possible ways to communicate wirelessly between the pen 1 and a portable device with the application installed 5. In the diagram shown, the communication is carried out through the docking station 4. The temperature probe for determining the temperature under the cover is indicated as 13.

In FIG. Figure 4 shows an embodiment of an intelligent module 1.1, which uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless data transfer protocols to exchange data with a portable device 5.

The control unit 6 of the intelligent module 1.1 in this case contains a block for receiving and transmitting data via Wi-Fi - 8 and a block for receiving and transmitting data via Bluetooth - 9. The docking station 4 also includes a block for receiving and transmitting data via Wi-Fi - 11 and block of reception-transmission via Bluetooth-12.

The control unit 6 also contains an NFC communication unit - 7 and a microcomputer 14. The control unit 6 in this embodiment is powered by a battery 10. The thick gray arrow shows the transfer of energy from the battery 10 to the electronics of the control unit 6. The microcomputer 14 receives and processes the data received from blocks 7, 8 and 9, and also transmits information to blocks 8 and 9 for subsequent transmission to the docking station 4 and portable device 5 of the user. The directions of data transfer between blocks 7, 8, 9 and 14 are shown with thin black arrows.

A temperature probe 13 is connected to the intelligent module 1.2, and a vibration sensor 15 is located in the module housing. Data from the temperature probe 13 and sensor 15 are sent to the microcomputer 14, which is shown by thin black arrows. Based on the results of data processing from the sensors 13 and 15, the microcomputer 14 can generate a signal for turning on the sound 16 and light 17 alerts. The latter are made on the surface of the intelligent module 1.2. Alarm activation signals are indicated by the corresponding thin black arrows.

To indicate the directions of data transmission over the WiFi and Bluetooth protocols in FIG. 4 and 5 white arrows are used.

The embodiments of the intelligent pen 1 shown in the drawings are given as examples and do not limit other possible embodiments. In particular, the base and the intelligent pen module may have a different shape than that shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Other wireless data transfer protocols other than/instead of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth may also be used for data exchange. The temperature probe 13 can also have a different length, in particular, it can be made telescopic and reach the bottom of the dish.

Implementation of the invention

Controlling the temperature of the food during cooking avoids situations of over- or undercooking. Knowing that the products have been kept at the required temperature for the required time, the user can be sure that they are safe for health. Keeping temperature control also eliminates situations of excessively long heat treatment, as a result of which food can lose both useful properties and palatability.

At the moment, various thermometers are widely used to measure the temperature of food during cooking, allowing you to determine the temperature quite accurately. However, when using them, the user needs to spend time on additional actions in the cooking process - prepare the thermometer for work, bring it into contact with food, and read the readings. In addition, the use of thermometers requires the presence of the user in the kitchen.

Another parameter that affects the taste of food is the intensity of boiling. For example, the preparation of meat broths requires a weak boil - with a violent boil, the meat loses nutrients and taste. However, the control of this parameter, as a rule, is carried out only visually.

The proposed technical solution allows for remote monitoring of the intensity of boiling and temperature inside the dish, without requiring the use of additional devices that are not in the lid design, and the constant presence of the user in the kitchen.

The intelligent handle 1 for the lid 2 of the cookware 3 consists of a base 1.1 fixed directly on the lid 2 and an intelligent module 1.2 that can be installed on the base 1.1. The smart module is designed to be removable, which allows it to be easily moved from one cover to another, so that one module can be used with several different covers, provided that the base is installed on them to accommodate it.

Base 1.1 is attached to lid 2 with a hollow screw (not shown in the drawings), through the cavity in which a temperature probe 13 is passed to determine the temperature inside the dish under the lid. The base of the temperature probe 13 is attached to an intelligent module 1.2, equipped with means for receiving and processing the temperature values measured by the temperature probe. Any microcomputer 14 with suitable characteristics can be used to receive and process data from the temperature probe.

The base 1.1 is made of a material that can be washed in a dishwasher.

Three temperature probes can be supplied with the handle: standard, flexible and telescopic. The standard temperature probe is made rigid and has a fixed size. The length of the flexible temperature probe is longer than the standard one, however, due to its flexible design, such a temperature probe can be used even with dishes of shallow depth. The telescopic temperature probe is made rigid and has a variable length. Thus, the user can choose the most suitable temperature probe for a given dish or dish, and, if necessary, replace one temperature probe with another. That allows you to maintain the accuracy of determining the temperature when using different types of dishes.

In addition to the temperature probe, the intelligent module 1.2 is equipped with a vibration sensor 15, which makes it possible to determine the intensity of boiling. The vibration sensor registers the amplitude of the lid vibrations, which increases with increasing boiling intensity. Data from the vibration sensor is also received and processed by the microcomputer 14 of the intelligent module.

The intelligent module 1.2 is equipped with visual 17 and audible 16 means of alerting the user. For visual notification, a display or indicator LEDs can be installed on the surface of the module, for sound notification - a beeper, or any other means of supplying light and sound signals that are suitable in size. The presence of several types of notification signals gives the user the opportunity to choose the most convenient and / or comfortable type of notification. In particular, light indication can be convenient when working in the kitchen, when the dishes with a lid are in the user's field of vision, and sound indication when the user does not see the light indicators, for example, being in another room.

The use of all types of indication at the same time increases the likelihood that a signal of at least one type will be perceived by the user. This increases the safety of the cooking process, reducing the likelihood of situations when the user forgets that there is a dish on the stove. Using a smart knob with different types of indication also allows you to achieve the best taste of the dish while maintaining the healthiness of the products due to the timely change of cooking parameters.

In addition to visual 17 and sound 16 alerts, the intelligent module 1.2 is also equipped with means for receiving and transmitting data over a wireless network 8, 9 to a user's portable device 5 with an installed application and an NFC module 7 for receiving data transmitted by the specified portable device 5.

The electronic components of the intelligent module 1.2 can be powered from the battery 10 with the possibility of contact or non-contact charging.

Monitoring cooking parameters with the Smart Pen is as follows.

The intelligent module 1.2 with the temperature probe 13 attached to it is installed on the base 1.1 so that the temperature probe 13 is located on the inside of the cover 2.

The user creates a cooking program in the application, setting the temperature values, the intensity of boiling (if necessary) and the time intervals during which it is necessary to maintain the set parameter values. Touching the device 5 with the installed application on the surface of the intelligent module 1.2, the user, via the NFC communication channel, transfers the program he has created to the intelligent pen 1. Upon completion of the download of the program, the start of its execution is initiated.

Throughout the entire cooking cycle, the microcomputer 14 processes the signals from the temperature sensors 13 and vibration 15 and compares them with user-defined values. When the required parameter values are reached or, on the contrary, when they deviate from them, corresponding notifications are generated. Upon completion of the cooking cycle of a dish or one of its stages with the given parameter values, an audible notification is also generated. Notifications of all these events are also transmitted wirelessly to the user's portable device 5 and displayed in the application, thereby allowing remote monitoring of cooking parameters.

The ability to set several timers during one cooking cycle greatly simplifies the process of preparing complex dishes, since the user does not need to time himself every time.

Temperature measurement can be carried out continuously throughout the entire cooking cycle or at certain time intervals. The measurement mode is set by the user in the application. In particular, if the battery level is low, the periodic measurement mode is more preferable.

Sound alerts can be turned off in the application at the request of the user.

The function of measuring the intensity of boiling can also be disabled in the application, for example, in cases where the cooking process does not involve boiling.

As you know, for the preparation of many dishes, it is necessary to preheat the dishes.

In this case, the Smart Pen can also be used to detect the temperature of the cookware. To do this, the standard probe is replaced by a flexible or telescopic probe that reaches the bottom of the dish, the temperature of which is determined. The user sets the required temperature value in the application and transmits it via NFC to the smart pen. When the probe registers this value, a notification is sent to the application. Light and/or sound indication can also be used for notification. After heating the dishes to the required temperature, the flexible or telescopic food probe can be replaced with a standard one.

The ability to transfer ready-made programs via NFC makes the process of programming a smart pen extremely simple and fast, as there is no need to spend time acquiring the skill of interacting with the control panel of the pen or setting up a connection between the pen and a portable device.

The exchange of data between the pen and a portable device with an installed application is carried out through any type of connection / connection, such as Wi-Fi, and / or Bluetooth, and / or mobile cellular communication GSM, 3G, 4G, LTE, and / or through data channels with ultra-low power consumption, forming complex wireless networks with a mesh topology, such as ZigBee, and/or LoRa, and/or LoRaWAN, and/or LPWAN, and/or 6L0WPAN, and/or Z-wave.

Data exchange with a portable device can be carried out through a docking station 4 equipped with modules 11, 12 receiving and transmitting data using wireless protocols used by the pen 1 and the device with the application 5. In this case, the data from the smart pen 1 is first transmitted to the docking station 4 , and from the docking station 4 are sent to the portable device 5.

Thus, the claimed smart pen saves the user's time and simplifies the cooking process due to the possibility of setting all the necessary timers once and providing control of the cooking parameters without user intervention.

The user may be in another room doing other things. Thanks to the presence of sound alerts and alerts sent to the application, it will not miss the right time to change the heating mode or load food after the dishes have finished heating.

An intelligent pen can also be useful when learning how to cook or when preparing dishes according to new recipes: the user does not need to remember all the stages and parameters of food processing - it is enough to create a recipe once in the application.

As follows from the description of the possible embodiments of the claimed invention, the proposed intelligent handle for the lid of the dishes provides the achievement of the claimed technical result, namely, it simplifies and increases the safety of the cooking process, while improving the quality of the dishes. The technical result is achieved through the formation of a program containing the exact values of the temperature and intensity of boiling, as well as time intervals for maintaining these parameters; due to the simple process of transferring the compiled program to the pen; as well as due to the timely generation of alerts about the need to change the temperature and intensity of boiling, or the need to turn off the heating.

Considering the novelty of the set of essential features, the technical solution of the problem, the inventive step and the materiality of all general and particular features of the invention, proven in the "Prior Art" and "Disclosure of the Invention" sections, proven in the "Implementation and Industrial Implementation of the Invention" section, technical feasibility and industrial applicability inventions, the solution of the set inventive problems and the confident achievement of the required technical result in the implementation and use of the invention, in our opinion, the claimed invention satisfies all the requirements for patentability for inventions.

The analysis also shows that all general and particular features of the invention are essential, since each of them is necessary, and together they are not only sufficient to achieve the purpose of the invention, but also allow the invention to be implemented industrially.

Claims (18)

1. An intelligent handle for a lid of a dish, consisting of a base fixed on the outer surface of the lid with a hollow screw and made with the possibility of removable installation on the base of an intelligent module, inside the body of which are located: - cover vibration sensor; - NFC data receiving unit; - a block for receiving and transmitting data over a wireless network for communication with a portable device with an installed application; - microcomputer; - means of sound indication; - power unit; and on the surface of the intelligent module there are means of light indication and a connector for connecting a temperature probe passed through the cavity of the base fixing screw through and through; at the same time, the microcomputer is configured to turn on and off the indicating means with the possibility of receiving, processing and transmitting data from the temperature probe and the vibration sensor to the data receiving and transmitting unit via a wireless network, as well as with the possibility of receiving, processing and executing programs received from a portable device via NFC. 2. Intelligent handle according to claim 1, characterized in that the temperature probe is made flexible, telescopic or rigid of a constant length. 3. An intelligent pen according to claim 1, characterized in that the means of light indication are made in the form of a display or LEDs. 4. Intelligent pen according to claim 1, characterized in that the base is made of a material that can be processed in a dishwasher. 5. The smart pen according to claim 1, characterized in that the unit for receiving and transmitting data over a wireless network is configured to exchange data using any type of communication/connection, such as Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth and/or mobile cellular GSM, 3G, 4G, LTE, and/or via ultra-low power data links forming complex wireless networks with a mesh topology, such as ZigBee and/or LoRa and/or LoRaWAN and/or LPWAN and/or 6L0WPAN, and/or Z-wave. 6. A method for monitoring cooking parameters using a smart pen according to any one of paragraphs. 1-5, which consists in the fact that by setting the required values of temperature, boiling intensity and time intervals for maintaining these parameters, a cooking program is formed in the application installed on the portable device; then the generated program is transmitted via the NFC unit to the microcomputer, which, upon completion of the download, starts its execution, which consists in the fact that when registering with the help of a temperature probe and a vibration sensor, the set temperature and intensity values are reached or exceeded, and also in the case of the end of the period for maintaining the set values cooking parameters, the microcomputer sends a power-on signal to the indication means of the intelligent module, and also, using the data receiving and transmitting unit, wirelessly transmits appropriate notifications to the application to the portable device. 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the microcomputer additionally initiates the inclusion of the indication means and sends a corresponding notification to the application upon completion of the cooking program. 8. The method according to p. 6, characterized in that the temperature measurement using a temperature probe is carried out continuously or at certain time intervals, and the frequency of measurements is set by the user in the application when compiling the program. 9. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, depending on the settings specified in the application when compiling the program, the microcomputer initiates the inclusion of only light indication means or means of both types of indication at the same time. 10. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that a temperature probe is used to measure the temperature, reaching the surface of the dishes, and the program compiled in the application also includes the temperature value to which the dishes must be heated before cooking, and if this value is registered by the temperature probe the microcomputer initiates the activation of the indication means and sends a notification to the application.

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