Cooking apparatus for targeted thermal management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10708987-B2
Application number	US-201514683993-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 10, 2015
Priority date	Apr 10, 2015
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method including detecting, by a controller coupled to an array of elements, an object having a plurality of portions, and analyzing a selected portion to determine its volume and density, to determine parameters of radio frequency thermal excitation for the selected portion. The method also includes selecting radiation emitters from the array elements according to the parameters; each of the array elements is separately selectable and controllable. The method also includes controlling the radiation emitters according to the parameters to perform the thermal excitation of the selected portion. The controlling includes causing interference of waves emitted from separate radiation emitters. The method also includes forming a three-dimensional thermal image of the selected portion, analyzing the thermal image, adjusting the parameters according to the analyzing, and detecting movement into a space irradiated by the radiation emitters. Other embodiments are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cooking device comprising:
a plurality of radiation emitters, a plurality of radio frequency sensors, and a plurality of infrared sensors disposed in an array;
a beam steering processor;
a memory that stores instructions; and
a cooking controller coupled to the array, the beam steering processor, and to the memory, wherein the cooking controller circuit executes the instructions to facilitate:
obtaining first scanning data generated by the plurality of radio frequency sensors;
analyzing the first scanning data generated by the plurality of radio frequency sensors to determine a location of a first object in a cooking volume defined by the array and a cooking surface opposite the array;
analyzing the first scanning data to determine a volume and density of a selected portion of the first object;
determining an energy required to bring the selected portion of the first object to a target temperature according to the volume and density that is determined;
determining emitter parameters of radio frequency thermal excitation for the selected portion according to the energy required;
selecting a set of radiation emitters of the plurality of radiation emitters from the array in accordance with the emitter parameters, wherein each of the plurality of radiation emitters is separately selectable and controllable;
directing the beam steering processor to control the set of radiation emitters in accordance with the emitter parameters to perform the radio frequency thermal excitation of the selected portion, wherein the control comprises causing interference of waves emitted from separate radiation emitters of the set of radiation emitters, wherein the first object comprises a container portion for containing the selected portion, and wherein the control of the set of radiation emitters further comprises avoiding radio frequency thermal excitation of the container portion;
obtaining thermal signals generated by the plurality of infrared sensors;
analyzing thermal signals generated by the plurality of infrared sensors to form a three-dimensional thermal image of the selected portion;
comparing the thermal image and a cooking plan;
adjusting the emitter parameters in accordance with comparing the thermal image and the cooking plan;
analyzing second scanning data generated by the plurality of radio frequency sensors to detect a second object in motion near a boundary of the cooking volume irradiated by the set of radiation emitters such that the cooking volume is open to intrusion; and
directing the beam steering processor to steer around the second object in response to detecting the second object.

2. The cooking device of claim 1 , wherein the cooking controller further facilitates detecting whether the first object is incompatible with radio frequency thermal excitation.

3. The cooking device of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of radiation emitters is controlled to avoid irradiation of the first object.

4. The cooking device of claim 3 , wherein the first object further comprises a metal.

5. The cooking device of claim 1 , wherein the cooking controller further facilitates:
determining the target temperature for the selected portion;
determining from a user profile whether a user has a special need or safety issue; and
modifying the cooking plan according to the special need or safety issue.

6. The cooking device of claim 1 , wherein the emitter parameters comprise a radiation frequency, an emitted power, and a radiation time for each of the set of radiation emitters.

7. The cooking device of claim 1 , wherein the cooking controller further facilitates detecting movement of the second object by sensing a Doppler shift in a frequency of a reflected signal, the movement corresponding to an intrusion into the cooking volume.

8. The cooking device of claim 1 , wherein the cooking controller further facilitates:
receiving input from a user regarding the radio frequency thermal excitation; and
identifying the user, wherein the parameters are adjusted in accordance with an identity of the user.

9. A cooking device comprising:
a cooking controller;
a beam steering processor; and
an array including a plurality of array elements each comprising:
a radio frequency emitter;
a radio frequency detector; and
a thermal imaging sensor;

wherein each array element is individually addressable and controllable by the cooking controller, wherein the cooking controller executes instructions to facilitate:
obtaining first scanning data from the plurality of array elements, wherein the first scanning data is generated by the radio frequency detector of each array element of the plurality of array elements;
analyzing the first scanning data from the plurality of array elements to determine a location of a first object in a space having an outer boundary, and to determine a volume and density of a selected portion of the first object, wherein the array defines a cooking volume;
determining an energy required to bring the selected portion of the first object to a target temperature according to the volume and density that is determined;
directing the beam steering processor to control radio frequency emitters of selected array elements to perform radio frequency thermal excitation of the selected portion of the first object according to the energy required by causing interference of waves emitted from the respective radio frequency emitters, wherein the first object comprises a container portion for containing the selected portion, and wherein the radio frequency emitters of the selected array elements avoid radio frequency thermal excitation of the container portion;
obtaining thermal signals from the plurality of array elements, wherein the thermal signals are generated by the thermal imaging sensor of each array element of the plurality of array elements;
analyzing thermal signals generated by thermal imaging sensors of the plurality of array elements to obtain a thermal image of the selected portion;
adjusting the radio frequency thermal excitation in accordance with the thermal image; and
analyzing second scanning data from the plurality of array elements to detect movement of a second object corresponding to an intrusion into the cooking volume while the radio frequency thermal excitation is performed.

10. The cooking device of claim 9 , wherein the first object comprises a metal portion.

11. The cooking device of claim 10 , wherein the cooking controller further executes instructions to facilitate directing a beam steering processor to steer around the metal portion so that the radio frequency emitters of the selected array elements are controlled to avoid irradiation of the metal portion while performing the radio frequency thermal excitation of the selected portion.

12. The cooking device of claim 9 , wherein radio frequency scanning data is generated by the radio frequency detector of each array element of the plurality of array elements.

13. The cooking device of claim 9 , wherein the cooking controller further facilitates detecting the movement of the second object by analysis that comprises sensing Doppler shifts in a frequency of a reflected signal.

14. A cooking device comprising:
a cooking controller;
a beam steering processor; and
an array including a plurality of array elements each comprising:
a radio frequency emitter;
a radio frequency detector; and
a thermal imaging sensor;

wherein each array element is individually addressable and controllable by the cooking controller, wherein the array defines a cooking volume, and wherein the cooking controller executes instructions t

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

• Kreiner Barrett M

Classifications

• H05B6/668

  Microwave heating devices connected to a telecommunication network · CPC title

• Y02B40/00

  Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers · CPC title

• H05B6/6447

  Method of operation or details of the microwave heating apparatus related to the use of detectors or sensors · CPC title

• A23L5/15

  using wave energy, irradiation, electrical means or magnetic fields, e.g. oven cooking or roasting using radiant dry heat · CPC title

• H05B6/686

  Circuits comprising a signal generator and power amplifier, e.g. using solid state oscillators · CPC title