Kitchen Appliance System and Method of Automatic Taring for a Kitchen Appliance System

Abstract

The invention relates to a kitchen appliance system with a base unit having a housing and with at least one accessory having an identification feature. A weighing module configured for recording a gross weight and a control device are provided at the base unit. Furthermore, a detection device configured to detect an identification feature of at least one accessory is provided at the base unit, and the control device is configured to detect a change in position of the at least one accessory relative to the base unit relative to the base unit, to retrieve weight information corresponding to an identification feature detected by the detection device, and to calculate a net weight based on a gross weight detected by the weighing module and taking into account the weight information. A corresponding method is also described.

Claims

1. A kitchen appliance system, wherein the kitchen appliance comprises a base unit having a housing and at least one accessory having an identifier, wherein a weighing module configured to detect a gross weight is provided at the base unit, and wherein a controller is provided at the base unit, wherein a detector, which is configured to detect an identifier of at least one accessory, is provided at the base unit, and wherein the controller is configured to detect a change in position of the at least one accessory relative to the base unit, retrieve weight information corresponding to an identifier detected by the detector; and calculate a net weight based on a gross weight detected by the weighing module and taking into account the weight information.

2. The kitchen appliance system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine an assembly or removal of at least one accessory with respect to the base unit and/or with respect to a further accessory by forming a difference between a first gross weight recorded at a first time and a second gross weight recorded at a second, later time, comparing the amount of the difference formed with at least one reference value from a database, and classify the sign of the difference formed as “positive” or “negative”, and wherein the controller is configured to calculate, in dependence on a detected assembly or removal, the net weight by adding the weight information to the second gross weight or subtracting the weight information from the second gross weight.

3. The kitchen appliance system according to claim 1, wherein a position detector is provided at the base unit and is configured to detect an assembly or removal of at least one accessory with respect to the base unit and/or with respect to a further accessory and to forward this to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to calculate the net weight by adding the weight information to the detected gross weight or subtracting the weight information from the detected gross weight in dependence on a detected assembly or removal.

4. The kitchen appliance system according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to retrieve the respective corresponding weight information when a plurality of identifiers is detected and to take this weight information together into account for calculating the net weight.

5. The kitchen appliance system according to claim 4, wherein the weight information corresponding to a detected identifier is saved together with the identification mark on the accessory, in a memory of the controller or in an external database accessible by the controller.

6. The kitchen appliance system according to claim 5, wherein the amount of weight information corresponding to a detected identifier has been set up by the accessory manufacturer or as part of a calibration process by weighing the corresponding unfilled accessory using the weighing module.

7. The kitchen appliance system according to claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to compare the net weight with a weight indication from a preparation instruction and to output a corresponding user instruction to add or reduce an ingredient quantity, the weight indication comprising a target weight for an ingredient quantity, and/or wherein the controller is configured to compare a detected gross weight with a weight indication from a preparation instruction and to output a corresponding user instruction add or reduce an ingredient quantity, the weight indication comprising at least weight information for a recommended accessory and a target weight for an ingredient quantity.

8. The kitchen appliance system according to claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to output the net weight via a communication interface as machine-readable information or as information for a user.

9. A method for automatic taring for a kitchen appliance system according to claim 8 having a base unit and having an accessory, wherein a change in position of the accessory relative to the base unit is detected, wherein a gross weight and an identifier of an accessory are detected, wherein weight information corresponding to the detected identifier is retrieved, and wherein a net weight is calculated based on the gross weight and taking into account the weight information.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the change in position is detected thereby that a first gross weight is recorded at a first time point and a second gross weight is recorded at a second, later time point, that the difference in amount between the first gross weight and the second gross weight is compared with at least one reference value from a database, and that the comparison results in an excess of at least one reference value by the difference in amount or a match, and wherein the net weight is calculated based on the second gross weight and taking into account the weight information.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the change in position is detected with a position detector, and wherein the net weight is calculated as a function of a detected assembly or removal by adding the weight information to the gross weight or subtracting the weight information from the gross weight.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the change in position is detected by detecting a change of state of an electrical contact, a magnetic contact, an inductance, a capacitance, a magnetic field, an identifier from the element designed as a data carrier on the accessory, a change in a rotational speed, and/or a temperature level.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the state of a detector is interrogated, wherein the detector is configured to detect an identifier as a function of the result of a comparison of the detected gross weight or the difference in amount with at least one reference value from the database.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the state of a detector configured to detect an identifier is interrogated, in the event where the comparison results in that: the detected gross weight or amount difference matches a reference value from the database, or the recorded gross weight or amount difference exceeds a reference value from the database.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the detected identifier is compared with at least one identifier from a database, and wherein the retrieved weight information is weight information associated with an identifier from the database that matches the detected identifier.

16. A computer program comprising instructions, the execution of which on at least one processor of a controller of a kitchen appliance system causes a method according to claim 9 to be carried out.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0100] In the drawing show

[0101] FIG. 1 a first embodiment for a kitchen appliance system,

[0102] FIG. 2 an example of a method for automatic taring for a kitchen appliance system and

[0103] FIG. 3 another embodiment for a kitchen appliance system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0104] The kitchen appliance system 2 shown in FIG. 1 has a base unit 4, a first accessory 6 designed as a cooking vessel and a second accessory 8 designed as a cooking vessel. The first accessory 6 and the second accessory 8 each have a data carrier 10, 12 on which an identifier is stored as machine-readable information.

[0105] The base unit 4 comprises a housing 14, a weighing module 16, a controller 18, a communication interface 20 and a detector 22. The weighing module 16 and the detector 22 are each configured to detect a gross weight and to detect an identifier. The weighing module 16, the detector 22 and the communication interface 20 are each connected to the controller 18 via a bidirectional communication link 24, 26, 28.

[0106] The communication interface 20 is configured as a touch-sensitive screen and is capable of displaying user instructions as well as detecting user inputs and forwarding them to the controller 18.

[0107] The controller 18 is connected for access to an external database 30 with identifiers and weight information via an overlapping communication network 32, in this case via internet and at least partially WiFi.

[0108] The kitchen appliance system 2 is shown in a condition wherein the second accessory 8 holds a content 34 and wherein the second accessory 8 is indirectly assembled with the base unit 4 via the first accessory 6.

[0109] The kitchen appliance system 2 and in particular the controller 18 are configured to carry out the process steps from FIG. 2.

[0110] FIG. 2 shows an example of a method for automatic taring for a kitchen appliance system 2 with a flow chart.

[0111] In step 100, the kitchen appliance system 2 is started up, and in step 102 it is checked whether the “automatic tare” function is basically deselected or whether it is enabled for execution. If the “automatic tare” function is enabled, then in step 200 a user request is made by the controller 18 via the communication interface 20 as to whether an “automatic tare” function should be carried out.

[0112] Subsequently, if a user input corresponding to a negative response is detected by the communication interface 20 (step 300), then in a step 302, the controller 18 inhibits execution of a method wherein a net weight is automatically calculated based on a detected gross weight and an identifier.

[0113] If a user input corresponding to a positive response is again detected (step 400), then step 500 starts a detection process using the weighing module 16 and detects a plurality of gross weights in succession (steps 502 and 504).

[0114] Parallel to the start of the acquisition process or in step 600, another user input is acquired via the communication interface 20, this time concerning a selection of preparation instructions to be carried out from the database 30.

[0115] The development of the gross weight over time is monitored in that the controller 18 regularly forms a difference between a first gross weight B(t.sub.1) detected at a first time t.sub.1 and a second gross weight B(t) detected at a second time t, t.sub.22), compares the absolute amount |B(t.sub.2)−B(t.sub.1)| of the difference B(t.sub.2)−B(t.sub.1) formed with reference values stored in the database 30 and classifies the sign of the difference B(t.sub.2)−B(t.sub.1) as “positive” or “negative”. In FIG. 2, the acquisition at time t.sub.1 and the acquisition at time t.sub.2 are shown schematically with step 502 and step 504 respectively. The formation of the difference is shown by step 700, the comparison of the absolute amount |B(t.sub.2)−B(t.sub.1)| with reference values by step 702 and the classification of the sign of the difference B(t.sub.2)−B(t.sub.1) by step 704.

[0116] At the time t.sub.1, neither an accessory nor a content was assembled or accommodated on the base unit 4. At t.sub.2, the kitchen appliance system 2 is in the state shown in FIG. 1, where the second accessory 8 holds the contents 34 and is assembled together with the first accessory 6 on the base unit 4.

[0117] Thus, at time t.sub.1, the weighing module 16 detects a first gross weight B(t.sub.1) (step 502) corresponding to the empty state of the base unit 4. The gross weight detected at time t.sub.2 (step 504) corresponds to the sum of the value for the empty state of the base unit 4, the tare weight of the first accessory 6, the tare weight of the second accessory 8 and the tare weight of the contents 34 held by the second accessory 8.

[0118] The difference B(t.sub.2)−B(t.sub.1) (step 700) formed by the controller 18 has a positive sign and an absolute value |B(t.sub.2)−B(t.sub.1)| corresponding to the sum of the tare weight of the first accessory 6, the tare weight of the second accessory 8 and the tare weight of the contents 34 received by the second accessory 8.

[0119] In step 702, the controller 18 compares the absolute amount |B(t.sub.2)−B(t.sub.1)| with reference values that have been stored in the database 30 by the manufacturer in the context of the preparation instructions selected at the beginning (step 600). The comparison results in an exceeding of a reference value that corresponds to a sum of the respective net weights of a cooking vessel and a cooking vessel.

[0120] In addition or in step 704, the controller 18 classifies the sign of the difference B(t.sub.2)−B(t.sub.1) formed as “positive”.

[0121] On the basis of the comparison result and the ordering of the sign, the controller 18 (step 800) recognises that a cooking vessel and a cooking vessel are probably assembled together with a received content on the base unit 4. However, exceeding the reference value may also mean an increased filling of a single accessory or an assembly of another accessory not provided for by the preparation instructions.

[0122] In order to confirm that the suspected accessories 6, 8 are assembled, in step 900 the controller 18 initiates a detection process by the detector 22, which detects the respective identifiers of the first accessory 6 and the second accessory 8 and forwards them to the controller 18 (step 902). Subsequently (step 1000), the controller 18 compares the respective detected identifiers with identifiers from the database 30. From a match of the detected identifiers with identifiers from the database 30, the controller 18 recognises in step 1002 that a cooking vessel and a cooking vessel are assembled with the base unit 4.

[0123] Further, in step 1100, the controller 18 retrieves the weight information E(cooking vessel) and E(cooking vessel) associated with the identifiers of the first accessory 6 and the second accessory 8 in the database 30 that match the detected identifiers, respectively.

[0124] In the subsequent step 1200, the controller 18 calculates a net weight by subtracting the amounts of the retrieved weight information E(cooking vessel) and E(cooking vessel) from the difference B(t.sub.2)−B(t.sub.1) formed. The calculated net weight corresponds to the tare weight of the contents accommodated by the second accessory 8.

[0125] In step 1300, the controller 18 outputs the calculated net weight as a user indication via the communication interface 20 and, in step 1400, stores the calculated net weight together with an applicable ingredient type for further processing in a further preparation step of the selected preparation instructions.

[0126] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment for a kitchen appliance system 202. Here, the kitchen appliance system 202 has a base unit 204, a first accessory 206 designed as a vessel and a second accessory 208 designed as a stirring attachment. Each accessory 206, 208 is equipped with a data carrier 210, 212 on which a machine-readable identifier is stored.

[0127] The base unit 204 includes a housing 214, a controller 216, a sensing device 218, a weighing module 220, a position sensing device 222, a communication interface 224, and a memory 226 for a database. The weighing module 220, the sensing device 218, the communication interface 224 and the memory 226 are each connected to the controller 216 via a bidirectional communication link 228, 230, 232, 234.

[0128] As in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the weighing module 220 and the detector 218 are each configured to detect a gross weight and to detect an identifier of at least one accessory. The communication interface 224 is configured as a screen 236 and a haptic element 238, and is connectable to a mobile user interface 242 such as a smartphone via a wireless communication link 240.

[0129] The kitchen appliance system 202 and in particular the controller 216 are configured to perform the following method.

[0130] After the kitchen appliance system 202 is powered up, the weighing module 220 senses a gross weight in the empty state with no accessory assembled with the base unit 204, and the controller 216 stores this gross weight as “zero”. Gross weights that are later detected in the empty state have an amount equal to zero for the controller 216.

[0131] The following describes the case wherein the first accessory 206, filled with potatoes 246 and assembled with the second accessory 208, is assembled after filling and assembly on the base unit 204.

[0132] In the course of the continuously running detection by the position detector 222, an assembly of at least one accessory on the base unit 204 is detected. In response thereto, the controller 216 initiates a detection process by the detector 218, which reads the respective data carriers 210, 212 arranged on the first accessory 206 and on the second accessory 208. In doing so, the detector 218 detects an identifier and weight information for each. Based on the detected information, the controller 216 detects that the first accessory 206 and the second accessory 208 are assembled with the base unit 204 and the respective accessory type.

[0133] The controller 216 then compares the sum of the sensed weight information to a gross weight currently sensed by the weighing module 220. If the comparison indicates that the gross weight exceeds the sum of the sensed weight information, then the controller 216 forms a net weight by subtracting the sum of the sensed weight information from the sensed gross weight.

[0134] If necessary, the controller 216 compares the calculated net weight with a target weight for an ingredient quantity from a preparation instruction from the database. In this example, the preparation instructions are a recipe for mashed potatoes with a target value of “1 kg” for the ingredient type “potatoes”. If the comparison shows that the calculated net weight is less than the target weight, the controller 216 outputs a user instruction via the communication interface 224 to refill potatoes in an amount corresponding to the difference between the calculated net weight and the target value, for example “please refill 100 g potatoes”.

[0135] If the kitchen appliance system 202 performs the same procedure even though no potatoes have been loaded, then the communication interface 224 may detect a user input corresponding to a confirmation of an empty state of the accessories 206, 208, i.e. that none of the accessories 206, 208 used on the base unit 204 is holding a good or potatoes. Accordingly, the controller 216 stores the currently sensed gross weight as a tare weight for any downstream preparation operation.