Systems and methods for real-time occupancy detection and temperature monitoring of cooking utensils for food processing assistance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12198520-B2
Application number	US-202217592434-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2022
Priority date	Feb 3, 2022
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for monitoring a kitchen environment by a smart hood includes accessing sensor data indicating parameters of a cooking utensil detected by the smart hood apparatus from sensors of the smart hood apparatus, wherein the sensors comprise one or more of a camera, a thermal sensor, an audio sensor, or an air particle sensor, determining occupancy information associated with the cooking utensil based on the sensor data by algorithms, wherein the occupancy information indicates whether the cooking utensil is placed within an allowable deviation from a target location on a cooktop, determining a thermal state of an accessory associated with the cooking utensil based on the sensor data by the algorithms, and sending instructions for presenting the occupancy information associated with the cooking utensil and the thermal state of the accessory.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for monitoring a kitchen environment comprising, by a smart hood apparatus:
monitoring, by the smart hood apparatus, a burner zone of a cooktop, the burner zone comprising a cooktop burner;
detecting, by one or more sensors associated with the smart hood apparatus, one or more parameters of a cooking utensil detected by the smart hood apparatus, wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more of a camera, a thermal sensor, an audio sensor, or an air particle sensor;
accessing, from the one or more sensors associated with the smart hood apparatus, sensor data indicating the one or more parameters of the cooking utensil detected by the smart hood apparatus;
determining, based on the monitored burner zone and the sensor data by one or more algorithms, occupancy information associated with the burner zone and the cooking utensil, wherein the occupancy information comprises whether the cooking utensil is placed within an allowable distance deviation, along each of a plurality of axes, from a target location relative to the cooktop burner within the burner zone;
determining, based on the sensor data by the one or more algorithms, a temperature of an accessory comprising a portion of the cooking utensil; and
sending instructions for presenting the occupancy information associated with the cooking utensil and a description of the temperature of the accessory.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting smoke in the kitchen environment;
determining a level of the smoke exceeds a threshold level; and
sending instructions for presenting a notification of the smoke exceeding the threshold level.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting one or more food items in the cooking utensil; and
determining a cooking assistance action based on the one or more food items, wherein the cooking assistance action comprises one or more of a recommended temperature to cook, a recommended time to cook, an automated timer, a food temperature regulation, or a guidance to reach one or more food finishes.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting a utensil outline of the cooking utensil; and
detecting the accessory based on the utensil outline.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the occupancy information further indicates one or more of:
whether one of the plurality of burners occupied by the cooking utensil is turned on;
whether one or more of the plurality of burners not occupied by the cooking utensil are turned on;
whether a temperature of the cooking utensil is below a threshold temperature; or
whether the cooking utensil is being unevenly heated by the one of the plurality of burners occupied by the cooking utensil.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more parameters of the cooking utensil comprise one or more of:
a material of the cooking utensil;
a position of the cooking utensil on the cooktop;
a temperature of the cooking utensil;
a size of the cooking utensil;
a volume of the cooking utensil;
an area of the cooking utensil occupying the cooktop;
a depth of the cooking utensil;
a depth of food items in the cooking utensil;
a type of the cooking material in the cooking utensil;
a decibel level associated with the cooking utensil; or
a presence of a lid associated with the cooking utensil.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the smart hood apparatus is integrated in a kitchen hood in the kitchen environment, wherein the kitchen hood is positioned over the cooktop.

8. A smart hood apparatus comprising:
one or more displays;
one or more sensors;
one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media including instructions for monitoring a kitchen environment by the smart hood apparatus; and
one or more processors coupled to the storage media, the one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to:
monitor, by the smart hood apparatus, a burner zone of a cooktop, the burner zone comprising a cooktop burner;
detect, by one or more sensors associated with the smart hood apparatus, one or more parameters of a cooking utensil detected by the smart hood apparatus, wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more of a camera, a thermal sensor, an audio sensor, or an air particle sensor;
access, from the one or more sensors associated with the smart hood apparatus, sensor data indicating the one or more parameters of the cooking utensil detected by the smart hood apparatus;
determine, based on the monitored burner zone and the sensor data by one or more algorithms, occupancy information associated with the burner zone and the cooking utensil, wherein the occupancy information comprises whether the cooking utensil is placed within an allowable distance deviation, along each of a plurality of axes, from a target location relative to the cooktop burner within the burner zone;
determine, based on the sensor data by the one or more algorithms, a temperature of an accessory comprising a portion of the cooking utensil; and
send instructions for presenting the occupancy information associated with the cooking utensil and a description of the temperature of the accessory.

9. The smart hood apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processors are further configured to execute the instructions to:
detect smoke in the kitchen environment;
determine a level of the smoke exceeds a threshold level; and
send instructions for presenting a notification of the smoke exceeding the threshold level.

10. The smart hood apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processors are further configured to execute the instructions to:
detect one or more food items in the cooking utensil; and
determine a cooking assistance action based on the one or more food items, wherein the cooking assistance action comprises one or more of a recommended temperature to cook, a recommended time to cook, an automated timer, a food temperature regulation, or a guidance to reach one or more food finishes.

11. The smart hood apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processors are further configured to execute the instructions to:
detect a utensil outline of the cooking utensil; and
detect the accessory based on the utensil outline.

12. The smart hood apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the occupancy information further indicates one or more of:
whether one of the plurality of burners occupied by the cooking utensil is turned on;
whether one or more of the plurality of burners not occupied by the cooking utensil are turned on;
whether a temperature of the cooking utensil is below a threshold temperature; or
whether the cooking utensil is being unevenly heated by the one of the plurality of burners occupied by the cooking utensil.

13. The smart hood apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the one or more parameters of the cooking utensil comprise one or more of:
a material of the cooking utensil;
a position of the cooking utensil on the cooktop;
a temperature of the cooking utensil;
a size of the cooking utensil;
a volume of the cooking utensil;
an area of the cooking utensil occupying the cooktop;
a depth of the cooking utensil;
a depth of food items in the cooking utensil;
a type of the cooking material in the cooking utensil;
a decibel level associated with the cooking utensil; or
a presence of a lid associated with the cooking utensil.

14. The smart hood apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the smart hood apparatus is integrated in a kitchen hood in the kitchen environment, wherein the kitchen hood is positioned over the cooktop.

15. A computer-readable non-transitory storage media comprising instructions for monitoring a kitchen e

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Andronescu Tiberiu A
• Schoessler Philipp
• Harms Brian
• Rowe Megan
• Cho Jun Yeon

Classifications

• G01K17/20

  across a radiating surface, combined with ascertainment of the heat-transmission coefficient · CPC title

• G05B2219/2613

  Household appliance in general · CPC title

• G06V20/68

  Food, e.g. fruit or vegetables · CPC title

• G06V20/64

  Three-dimensional [3D] objects · CPC title

• H04L2012/285

  Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators · CPC title