Patent Application
20190110340
The present invention relates to a cooking appliance having a planar antenna and a method for operating a cooking appliance comprising the planar antenna as well as a sensor arranged in a cooking chamber of the cooking appliance.
Cooking appliances are designed for cooking a product to be cooked, such as food or meals. In particular, the temperature of the product to be cooked is important for a cooking process. Therefore, it is desirable that the temperature of the product to be cooked is able to be measured and/or monitored. Both the temperature and a time-temperature curve may have a significant influence on the quality of the product to be cooked. In addition to the temperature, further parameters may also be relevant to a cooking process.
For measuring the temperature of the product to be cooked, generally sensors with temperature probes are used, said temperature probes being introduced from outside into the product to be cooked. These temperature probes are configured, for example, as a skewer thermometer which is inserted into the product to be cooked. In this case, it is advantageous if the sensor is independent of the cooking appliance, i.e. in particular that it does not require a cable connection to the cooking appliance. Only then is it possible to position the sensor in the product to be cooked in a user-friendly manner outside the cooking chamber and/or to move the product to be cooked together with the sensor positioned therein during the cooking process, for example by means of a rotating spit.
A feature here is to emit the measured temperature to a user and/or a control device of the cooking appliance by means of a wireless communication connection with the sensor.
Such a device is disclosed in the European patent application EP 2663160 A1. The device disclosed therein comprises a treatment chamber and a coupling apparatus. The coupling apparatus serves for transmitting electromagnetic waves into the treatment chamber. In this case, the coupling apparatus is arranged in a secondary chamber and the secondary chamber is separated via a partition wall from the treatment chamber. The coupling apparatus is configured to produce an electromagnetic field between a first metal wall and an adjacent second metal wall. An opening is also provided, electromagnetic radiation being emitted out of said opening into the treatment chamber.
In view of this background to the invention, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved device in order to permit wireless communication with a sensor arranged in the cooking chamber of a cooking appliance.
Accordingly, a cooking appliance having a cooking chamber for cooking a product to be cooked is proposed. The cooking appliance has at least one air-guiding plate arranged in the cooking chamber, a transmitter/receiver unit for transmitting and/or receiving a high-frequency signal and a coupling device for coupling the transmitter/receiver unit and the air-guiding plate. In this case, the air-guiding plate is in the form of a planar antenna for transmitting the high-frequency signal between the coupling device and a sensor that can be arranged in the cooking chamber.
This advantageously enables a signal provided by a mobile sensor, such as for example a skewer thermometer, to be able to be transmitted to further appliances, for example a display apparatus and/or a control device. In particular, this may be carried out in a visually unobtrusive manner by means of the proposed arrangement of the transmitter/receiver unit, the coupling device and the air-guiding plate configured as a planar antenna, since all components may be arranged behind the air-guiding plate and/or outside the cooking chamber or even at any point outside the cooking chamber. It is also advantageous that a separate antenna is not required, whereby the complexity of the cooking appliance is not further increased. As a result, the manufacture is simplified and costs are saved. Moreover, by means of the proposed arrangement existing cooking appliances may also be retrofitted with this functionality.
A cooking chamber is a volume enclosed by side walls, wherein the side walls are also designed, in particular, to withstand high or very high temperatures. High and/or very high temperatures are, for example, above 400° C. or even above 600° C. Such a cooking chamber is thus suitable for self-cleaning processes such as pyrolysis. Moreover, the cooking chamber is able to be loaded via a door which may be opened and closed and which is incorporated in one of the side walls.
An air-guiding plate is formed as a planar body from a heat-resistant material which is designed to conduct an airflow inside the cooking chamber in the desired manner. Heat-resistant means that the material is able to withstand very high temperatures. For the air guidance, the air-guiding plate may comprise openings such as holes and/or slots through which air may flow. Moreover, the air-guiding plate may deviate from a planar shape at least in places and, for example, comprise curved portions. In particular, the air-guiding plate may be angled at the edges. The air-guiding plate is also fixed by means of at least one mounting to at least one side wall of the cooking chamber, whereby the position of the air-guiding plate is fixed in the cooking chamber. A mounting may, for example, encompass a screw, a nail, a nipple, a retaining clip and/or further objects and combinations thereof which are suitable for fixing the air-guiding plate relative to the cooking chamber.
The air-guiding plate advantageously extends over a larger region of a side wall and is arranged parallel thereto or at least at only a small angle thereto. A larger region means, for example, that the surface of the side wall covered by the air-guiding plate is at least 25%, up to 50%, or even up to 100% of the surface of the side wall. A small angle within the meaning of the arrangement means, for example, less than 10°, less than 20° or even less than 45°.
A transmitter/receiver unit is an analog and/or digital circuit which is designed to generate and to transmit and/or to receive and to filter an analog and/or digital signal. A transmitter unit is also denoted as a transponder. A receiver unit is also denoted as a receiver. A transmitter/receiver unit is also denoted as a transceiver.
A high-frequency signal is, in particular, an electrical alternating voltage which has a high alternating frequency. Preferably, the frequency of the high-frequency signal is in an ISM band, particularly preferably between 433.05-434.79 MHz.
A coupling device is a device which is designed to connect an input and/or an output of the transmitter/receiver unit to a further component, for example the air-guiding plate, such that the transmission of an electrical signal, in particular of the high-frequency signal, is possible. This is, for example, an electrical conductor such as a cable, in particular a coaxial cable.
A planar antenna is a planar component which is suitable for emitting and/or receiving electromagnetic radiation. A planar antenna may also be denoted as a surface emitter. For example, a patch antenna is an embodiment of a planar antenna. In particular, the air-guiding plate configured as a planar antenna is suitable for receiving and/or emitting the high-frequency signal.
Advantageously, the air-guiding plate configured as a planar antenna is arranged, for example, vertically on the side wall opposite the door of the cooking chamber. This has the advantage that the high-frequency signal is able to be received by the planar antenna even if, for example, racks for food and/or food which absorb the high-frequency signal are located in the cooking chamber.
A sensor, in particular a temperature sensor, comprises a measuring unit, in particular a temperature probe, and an electrical circuit for activating and/or reading the measuring unit. In this case “reading” means that a measured value is determined by the electrical circuit by means of the measuring unit. Moreover, the sensor comprises input means and output means in order to be able to create a wireless communication connection with a further unit. This further unit is, in particular, the transmitter/receiver unit. The sensor may also be configured to detect further relevant cooking parameters, such as for example air humidity, oxygen concentration and/or an electrical field strength. Such a sensor has the advantage that a cooking process may be monitored and also an end point of the cooking process may be automatically determined. The end point is reached, for example, when the core temperature of the food to be cooked reaches and/or exceeds a predetermined temperature.
Moreover, the sensor may also comprise an energy source for operating the sensor. This energy source may, for example, be a battery. Alternatively, the sensor may also draw the energy required for its operation from thermal energy present in the cooking chamber and/or from an electromagnetic field. This design is advantageous since it prevents a user having to monitor the energy supply of the sensor. Moreover, many energy sources such as batteries are not designed for operation at high or very high temperatures and/or they contain toxic substances which may be transferred into food in the case of a fault, which is prevented hereby.
According to one embodiment of the cooking appliance, the coupling device comprises a spiral-shaped electrical line for capacitive coupling with the air-guiding plate for transmitting the high-frequency signal.
Advantageously, an efficient signal coupling is ensured thereby, wherein at the same time large low-frequency currents are suppressed. “Spiral-shaped” is to be understood to mean that the electrical line has a curved shape. In this case, it is sufficient if the electrical line has a curvature at at least one point. It is particularly advantageous if the electrical line covers a larger surface of the air-guiding plate. A larger surface means that, for example, a projection of the spiral-shaped electrical line in the perpendicular direction toward the air-guiding plate covers a larger surface than a projection of an electrical line without a spiral shape. In particular, an end of the electrical line may have such a spiral shape.
An electrical line is an electrically conductive material which is capable of transmitting the high-frequency signal. This electrical line is, in particular, a coaxial cable. A coaxial cable comprises at least one core and a shield.
According to a further embodiment of the cooking appliance, the spiral-shaped electrical line is arranged to the rear, to the front, above, below and/or to the side relative to the air-guiding plate.
This has the advantage that the spiral-shaped electrical line may be arranged relative to the air-guiding plate such that further structural conditions may be fulfilled. This relates, in particular, to the spatial arrangement of further components. Additionally, an efficient coupling of the air-guiding plate with the transmitter/receiver unit may be ensured thereby.
Moreover, it is also conceivable that the coupling device comprises two or more spiral-shaped electrical lines which may then be arranged relative to the air-guiding plate such that an efficient coupling of the air-guiding plate with the transmitter/receiver unit is achieved. On the one hand, this may improve the efficiency of a signal transmission and, on the other hand, such a dual design may also cause a redundancy of the coupling device which results in a fail-safety of the system.
According to a further embodiment of the cooking appliance, a position of the spiral-shaped electrical line relative to the air-guiding plate is dependent on the position of the at least one mounting of the air-guiding plate and/or is dependent on a spacing of an edge of the air-guiding plate from the side wall such that an impedance of the air-guiding plate is adapted to an impedance of the coupling device.
Such an adaptation of the impedance is advantageous in order to ensure an efficient coupling of the high-frequency signal and thus to achieve a transmission and/or reception of the high-frequency signal.
According to a further embodiment of the cooking appliance, the spiral-shaped electrical line is configured as a component which may be removed and/or added.
“May be removed” is understood here to mean that the component may be transferred from a state installed in the cooking appliance to a state released from the cooking appliance. “May be added” is understood here to mean that the component may be transferred from the state released from the cooking appliance into the state installed in the cooking appliance. This has the advantage that a defective spiral-shaped electrical line may be replaced by an intact spiral-shaped electrical line without the cooking appliance having to be dismantled as a whole. Moreover, the component may also be retrofitted.
According to a further embodiment of the cooking appliance, the air-guiding plate has an opening designed for passing the component through.
This has the advantage that the spiral-shaped electrical line may be removed and/or added without the air-guiding plate itself having to be dismantled. “Passing through” is understood here to mean that the component is moved through the opening from a first side to a second side of the air-guiding plate. An opening designed therefor may comprise, for example, a hole and/or a slot.
According to a further embodiment of the cooking appliance, the spiral-shaped electrical line is produced from a heat-resistant spring material.
This has the advantage, in particular, that a spacing may be kept constant between the air-guiding plate and the spiral-shaped electrical line without the spiral-shaped electrical line having to be fixedly connected to the air-guiding plate. Due to the spring properties of the spring material a certain tolerance in the relative positioning of the air-guiding plate and the spiral-shaped electrical line is provided thereby, in particular relative to a spacing of the air-guiding plate from the coupling device.
According to a further embodiment of the cooking appliance, the air-guiding plate is produced from a steel plate which is coated with an electrically insulating layer.
This ensures, in particular, that a direct current between the transmitter/receiver unit, which is coupled to the air-guiding plate by means of the coupling device, and the air-guiding plate is suppressed. Due to the capacitive coupling, however, a transmission of the high-frequency signal is possible.
According to a further embodiment of the cooking appliance, the air-guiding plate is enameled.
According to a further embodiment of the cooking appliance, an earth for the planar antenna is galvanically coupled by means of an earth line to at least one side wall of the cooking chamber.
The earth line is provided, in particular, by the shield of a coaxial cable. The galvanic coupling is, for example, achieved by direct screw connection of the shield to the side wall. Alternatively, the earth line may also be welded or soldered to the side wall, or otherwise connected to the side wall. It is advantageously ensured thereby that the reference earth of the high-frequency signal has a potential which coincides with a potential of the side wall. Preferably, all of the side walls of the cooking chamber are in conductive contact with one another so that all of the side walls have the same potential.
According to a further embodiment of the cooking appliance, the planar antenna is configured for transmitting the high-frequency signal in an ISM band.
The ISM band comprises frequencies in the region of 434 MHz, in particular 433.05-434.79 MHz. A use of the arrangement based on a general allocation is herewith legally permitted.
According to a further embodiment of the cooking appliance, the transmitter/receiver unit is designed for transmitting a first high-frequency signal by means of the planar antenna to the sensor at predeterminable times and/or depending on the presence of a triggering signal. Alternatively or additionally, the planar antenna is designed for receiving a second high-frequency signal emitted by the sensor, by means of the planar antenna at predeterminable times and/or according to the presence of a triggering signal.
It may be advantageously ensured thereby that a sensor signal is currently present. Predeterminable times may be defined in one minute intervals, in five minute intervals or even after ten minutes, for example after the start of cooking. Further predeterminable times may also be determined as desired by means of analytical functions, recursive sequences, value tables and/or combinations thereof. Thus the transmitter/receiver unit is also designed, for example, to determine the predeterminable times. The times may be individual times or periodically or otherwise regularly or irregularly repeating times. The triggering signal comprises, in particular, a signal generated by a user. The triggering signal, however, may also be provided by reaching a specific temperature in the cooking chamber. In particular, the triggering signal may also be generated by the sensor itself.
According to a further embodiment, the cooking appliance comprises a heating coil, a steam generator, a microwave generator and/or a fan.
According to a further embodiment, the cooking appliance is configured as an oven, a microwave oven and/or a steam cooker.
Moreover, a method is proposed for operating a cooking appliance, having a cooking chamber for cooking a product to be cooked and an air-guiding plate arranged in the cooking chamber and configured as a planar antenna, a transmitter/receiver unit for transmitting and/or receiving a high-frequency signal and a coupling device for coupling the transmitter/receiver unit and the air-guiding plate, and a sensor arranged in the cooking chamber, comprising: the transmission of the high-frequency signal between the transmitter/receiver unit and the sensor by means of the planar antenna.
The embodiments and features described for the proposed cooking appliance accordingly apply to the proposed method.
Further possible implementations of the invention also comprise not explicitly cited combinations of features or embodiments described above or below relative to the exemplary embodiments. In this case, the person skilled in the art will also add individual features as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the invention.
Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the invention form the subject-matter of the subclaims and the exemplary embodiments of the invention described hereinafter. Moreover, the invention is described in more detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.
Elements which are the same or functionally the same are provided with the same reference characters in the figures, provided nothing further is specified.
In the exemplary embodiment of
Deviating from the view of
In the example of
A suitable dielectric material is preferably located between the core 10 and the shield 11 in order to avoid a short circuit. Moreover, the shield 11 is preferably enclosed by an insulating layer in order to avoid faulty contacts.
By the use of a plurality of spiral-shaped electrical lines 10 an optimized transmission of the high-frequency signal 6 to the air-guiding plate 4 may be achieved. In this case, the arrangement of the spiral-shaped electrical lines 10 may be selected as desired. In particular, the arrangement of the spiral-shaped electrical lines 10 may be selected such that further structural conditions of the cooking appliance 1 may be fulfilled. In the example of
The opening 18 of the air-guiding plate 4 of
Moreover, the air openings 19 are suitable, in particular, for deflecting an airflow in the cooking chamber 2. Moreover, the air openings 19 may be suitable for influencing the physical properties of the air-guiding plate 4 which is configured as a planar antenna 8, such that the transmission properties of the planar antenna 8 are optimized.
As an alternative to this view, many further sequences of triggering signals are conceivable, for example triggering signals occurring periodically or triggering signals triggered by a further event, for example the actuation by a user of a control element provided therefor. With a periodic sequence of triggering signals a time period Δt between two successive triggering signals preferably has a duration in the range of seconds, i.e. 0.5 s, 1 s or even 10 s.
In step 801 the high-frequency signal 6 is transmitted between the transmitter/receiver unit 5 and the sensor 9 by means of the planar antenna 8.
In step 802 the transmitted high-frequency signal 6 is interpreted by the transmitter/receiver unit 5.
Step 802 in this case is optional since the transmitter/receiver unit 5 may conduct the received high-frequency signal 6 further, for example also to a control device of the cooking appliance 1, which then undertakes the interpretation of the high-frequency signal 6.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments it may be modified in many different ways.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2016 206 342.1 | Apr 2016 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2017/055707 | 3/10/2017 | WO | 00 |
