METHOD OF OPERATING A COOKING OVEN, IN PARTICULAR A STEAM COOKING OVEN

Abstract

The present invention in particular relates to a method of operating a cooking oven, comprising: receiving a manual user setting for one or more than one primary cooking parameters; and, upon receipt of the one or more primary cooking parameters, executing an algorithm function for automatically and without further user input setting one or more than one additional secondary cooking parameters different from the received one or more primary cooking parameter the execution of the algorithm function comprising: accessing an electronic database (4, 7), the electronic database (4, 7) including a mapping between the e primary and secondary cooking parameters; and by automatically and without user input setting the secondary cooking parameters for controlling the cooking process.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of setting cooking parameters for operating a cooking oven for performing a steam cooking process in an oven cavity of the cooking oven, wherein the method comprises the steps of: receiving, at the cooking oven, a manual user setting for one or more than one primary cooking parameter(s) for performing a cooking process for cooking food items with the cooking oven, the primary cooking parameter(s) being selected from among a cooking temperature, a cooking temperature range, a cooking time, and one or more than one food-related cooking parameter(s); and upon receipt of the one or more primary cooking parameter(s), executing, by a control unit of the cooking oven, an algorithm function for automatically and without further user input setting one or more than one secondary cooking parameter(s) different from the received one or more primary cooking parameter(s), said secondary cooking parameter(s) providing additional operational settings for performing the cooking process on the basis of the received one or more primary cooking parameter(s); the execution of the algorithm function comprising: accessing an electronic database, the electronic database including a mapping between the one or more than one primary cooking parameter(s) on the one hand, and the one or more than one secondary cooking parameter(s) on the other hand; and by the control unit automatically and without user input, selecting and setting the one or more than one secondary cooking parameter(s) for controlling the cooking process, based on the one or more than one received primary cooking parameter(s) and the mapped relationship provided by the electronic database.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic database comprises a lookup table including one or more unequivocal mapping(s) between one or more than one primary cooking parameter(s) and one or more than one secondary cooking parameter(s); the mapping(s) including a mapping between one or more than one secondary cooking parameter(s) defining one or more humidity level(s) and one or more primary cooking parameter(s) defining steam cooking temperatures, steam cooking temperature ranges, a cooking time and/or a food-related cooking parameter to be received as the one or more than one primary cooking parameter(s) by manual user setting.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the database includes a number of predetermined cooking temperature ranges as primary cooking parameters, wherein each said cooking temperature range in the database corresponds to one particular humidity amount.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more primary cooking parameter(s) comprise a food-related cooking parameter selected from among: food weight, food volume, food temperature, food finishing.

5. The method according to claim 1, the cooking process comprising a first and a subsequent second cooking phase, wherein at least one of the one or more than one primary and/or secondary cooking parameter(s) is associated with the first cooking phase and/or second cooking phase.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more than one secondary cooking parameter(s) is associated with an operational setting of one or more heating element(s), one or more fan(s), one or more humidifier unit(s), one or more timer(s), respectively intended for controlling a current and/or subsequent cooking phase.

7. The method according to claim 1, the method comprising: receiving as an operational primary cooking parameter a user input setting the steam cooking time period, and using the received operational primary cooking parameter setting the cooking time period as an operational parameter for controlling the stop time of the steam-cooking process.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the database includes a number of predetermined steam cooking time periods for steam cooking processes, wherein each said time period is assigned to a steam cooking temperature or steam cooking temperature range, and a steam cooking humidity level, and wherein the algorithm function is configured to set, based on a received steam cooking temperature or temperature level and/or time period as the primary cooking parameter, the steam cooking humidity level and further primary cooking parameters not received as user setting.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the database includes a number of kinds of food, wherein each kind of food is assigned to a particular combination of at least one primary cooking parameter to be set by the user and at least one secondary cooking parameter to be set by the algorithm function, the database optionally comprising at least one dataset comprising a mapping between one or more steam cooking temperature(s) or steam cooking temperature range(s), as the primary cooking parameter, and one or more than one steam cooking humidity level(s) or steam cooking humidity range(s) as the secondary cooking parameter(s).

10. Steam cooking oven with at least one steam cooking function suitable for performing one or more cooking processes, the cooking oven comprising: at least one control unit for controlling the at least one cooking process, the control unit being adapted for receiving a manual user setting for one or more than one primary cooking parameter(s) for cooking food items with the cooking oven, the primary cooking parameter(s) being selected from among steam cooking temperature, steam cooking temperature range, cooking time, and one or more than one food-related cooking parameter(s); and for automatically, without further user input setting or adjusting one or more than one secondary cooking parameter(s) different from the received one or more primary cooking parameter(s) for the cooking process on the basis of the received manual user setting; an electronic database comprising a lookup table, implemented within and/or electronically accessible by the control unit, wherein the electronic database includes a plurality of datasets, each dataset comprising at least one mapping between a primary cooking parameter on the one hand and a secondary cooking parameter on the other hand, wherein the control unit is adapted and set up for executing an algorithm function, the executing comprising: accessing the electronic database in response to receiving one or more than one primary cooking parameter setting(s) by a user; and setting/identifying, based on the received one or more than one primary cooking parameter(s), the one or more than one secondary cooking parameter(s) for controlling the cooking process, the one or more than one secondary cooking parameter(s) being identified based on the received setting for the primary cooking parameter(s) and the mapping(s) as defined in the electronic database.

11. The cooking oven of claim 10, wherein the one or more than one secondary cooking parameter(s) comprises at least one steam cooking humidity level, and wherein the control unit is configured to set the at least one steam cooking humidity level based on a received manual setting of a steam cooking temperature, a steam cooking temperature range, and/or a cooking time, and based on a corresponding mapping as defined in from the electronic database.

12. The cooking oven according to claim 10, wherein the control unit is adapted and set up for activating a steam cooking process responsive to receiving as a manual setting by a user one or more than one of the primary cooking parameter(s), wherein one or more than one of the secondary cooking parameter(s) is set by the control unit as a steam cooking humidity level by accessing a database entry in the electronic database, the database entry corresponding to the received manual setting.

13. The cooking oven according to claim 12, wherein the database includes a number of datasets, each dataset including a cooking temperature or cooking temperature range, and/or cooking time as one or more primary cooking parameter(s), and one or more assigned particular humidity level(s) as corresponding secondary operational parameters corresponding to one or more than one operational phase(s) of a steam cooking process.

14. The cooking oven according to claim 10, the control unit comprising a non-transitory memory device storing instructions which, when executed by the control unit, cause the cooking oven to execute the method according to claim 1.

15. A computer program product comprising instructions stored on a computer readable non-volatile storage medium, the storage medium storing instructions configured for carrying out, when executed by a computing device, the method according to claim 1.

16. A cooking method for performing an integrated cooking function, the method comprising: receiving a manual user setting for a first primary cooking parameter of the integrated cooking function, said first primary cooking parameter being selected from the following group: cooking temperature, cooking-temperature range, and parameters specific to a type or amount of food to be cooked via the integrated cooking function; a control unit of a cooking oven that is implementing the integrated cooking function executing an algorithm for automatically and without further user input setting a first secondary cooking parameter for a first operational setting of the integrated cooking function based on the received first primary cooking parameter, said first secondary cooking parameter being other than those set forth in the aforementioned group; said algorithm comprising: accessing a database that includes a mapping between values of the first primary cooking parameter and values of the first secondary cooking parameter, and selecting and implementing in said integrated cooking function one of said values of the first secondary cooking parameter that has been mapped to a value of the received first primary parameter; and said control unit executing said integrated cooking function based on the first primary parameter and the first secondary parameter.

17. The cooking method according to claim 16, further comprising receiving a manual user setting for a second primary cooking parameter of the integrated cooking function, the first primary cooking parameter being the cooking temperature or the cooking temperature range and the second primary cooking parameter being the type of food to be cooked; said database comprising a plurality of datasets each corresponding to a particular type of food to be cooked and each containing a respective food-type-specific mapping of the values of said first primary parameter to the values of said first secondary parameter, said control unit selecting, via said algorithm, a value of the first secondary cooking parameter that has been mapped to a value of the received first primary cooking parameter within the dataset specific to the received second primary cooking parameter.

18. The cooking method according to claim 17, said integrated cooking function being a steam-cooking function, said first secondary parameter being a humidity level within a cooking cavity wherein said steam-cooking function is executed.

19. The cooking method according to claim 18, said control unit further automatically and without further user input setting a second secondary cooking parameter for a second operational setting of the steam-cooking function, said second secondary cooking parameter being selected via said algorithm from said dataset specific to said received second primary parameter, and from therein in dependence on both said first primary cooking parameter and said first secondary cooking parameter via one or more mapping(s) contained in said specific dataset, said second secondary cooking parameter being selected from among operational settings for heating elements and fans adapted to heat or circulate air within said cooking cavity.

20. The method according to claim 16, said controller being adapted to prompt a user to select, from a group of predefined operational parameters for performing the integrated cooking function, one of said predefined operational parameters that is to be manually user-selected as the first primary cooking parameter, in dependence on which all remaining ones of the predefined operational parameters will be selected automatically by the controller via said algorithm based on mappings thereof with the received first primary cooking parameter, without further user input and in dependence on the received first primary cooking parameter.

Description

[0102] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be dew scribed with reference to the drawings, in which

[0103] FIG. 1 illustrates a symbolic representation of a kind of user interface or user guidance for setting up a steam cooking process;

[0104] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic system overview of an operational system for controlling a steam cooking process according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0105] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary graph showing a mapping between steam cooking temperatures and humidity levels.

[0106] FIG. 1 illustrates a symbolic representation of a kind of user control interface 10 related to setting up a steam cooking process with a steam cooking oven. The steam cooking process may be carried out in an oven cavity of a cooking oven, for example.

[0107] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic system overview of an operational system 1 for controlling a steam cooking process according to an embodiment of the invention. It shall be noted that the principles resulting from the exemplary operational mode in connection with a steam cooking process shall also apply more generally for any type of cooking process in which a primary cooking parameter, i.e. a primary cooking parameter, such as for example the steam cooking temperature, and a secondary operational parameter, such as for example the steam cooking humidity level, are required for setting up a cooking process.

[0108] The operational system 1 comprises a controller 2 that is configured and set up for controlling a steam cooking process of a steam cooking oven (not shown), for example. The controller 2 is coupled for data exchange and transmission with a user interface 3 and a memory 4. The controller 2 is also coupled with operational components of the steam-cooking oven, in particular one or more heat generators 5 and a steam generator 6.

[0109] The user control interface 10 in FIG. 1 is exemplarily represented by a circle subdivided into four sectors. Each sector circle corresponds to a particular cooking temperature range 12, 14, 16 and 18 of assigned to a particular steam cooking process, respectively. The user control interface 10 may be provided on the steam-cooking oven for user access, e.g. the user control interface 10, or a similar representation may be displayed on in or on the user interface 3.

[0110] In the example shown in FIG. 1, a first cooking temperature range 12 that is provided for selection by the user extends from 50 C. to 90 C., a second cooking temperature range 14 extends from 100 C. to 130 C., a third cooking temperature range 16 extends from 135 C. to 150 C. 16 and a fourth cooking temperature range 18 extends from 155 C. to 230 C.

[0111] For example, the first cooking temperature range 12 is suitable for cooking of terrine, spoon desserts, steamed fish, vegetables, poultry, grains and/or pulses. The second cooking temperature range 14 may be used for cooking fish, pastry, sweet bread, cakes and/or baked eggs. For example, the third cooking temperature range 16 is suitable for cooking sweet casserole, gratin fish, meat and/or poultry, which is not roasted. Further, the third cooking temperature range 16 may be used for steam reheating. At last, the fourth cooking temperature range 18 is suitable for roasted side dish, bread, cake, baked and gratin dishes, roasted meat and/or poultry. The mentioned kind of foods suitable for use with corresponding steam cooking processes are merely illustrative.

[0112] In embodiments, the user interface 3, which may be adapted to display to the user control interface 10 or another suitable representation thereof, may be operative to present to the user a search functionality in which the controller may be adapted to receive from the user via the user interface 3 a search query comprising a particular kind of food, wherein the controller may then carry out a query by accessing a database, for example stored in the memory 4, for identifying suitable steam cooking processes, wherein the identified cooking processes may then be provided for display to the user on the user interface 3. However, providing a selected number of types of food within the user control interface as shown in FIG. 1 may be suitable and adequate for user guidance and for facilitating human-machine interaction when the user is setting up a steam cooking process.

[0113] In the user control interface 10, each cooking temperature range 12, 14, 16 and 18 corresponds with a predetermined humidity level 20, 22, 24 and 26, respectively, represented in the present case by a specific steam symbol.

[0114] In the given exemplary embodiment, the first cooking temperature range 12 corresponds to a predetermined first humidity level 20.

[0115] In a similar way, the second cooking temperature range 14 corresponds to a predetermined second humidity amount 22, the third cooking temperature range 16 corresponds to a predetermined third humidity amount 24, and the fourth cooking temperature range 18 corresponds to a predetermined fourth humidity amount 26. The first humidity amount 20 correlates with the highest humidity level that may be generated by the steam generator 6, while the fourth humidity level 26 correlates with the lowest humidity level.

[0116] The controller 2 is configured and set up for carrying out a steam cooking process based on receiving a temperature selection or temperature input from the user operating the user control interface 10.

[0117] Upon receiving a particular temperature range setting, e.g. 12, 14, 16, or 18, the controller accesses an electronic database stored in memory 4 or implemented in software executed by the controller 2. The database may for example be implemented as a lookup table 7, which is schematically depicted in FIG. 2 as being stored in memory 4.

[0118] Based on the received temperature range setting, which in embodiments may merely be related to a particular temperature value, the controller may access the lookup table 7 storing valid relationships between steam cooking temperature ranges or steam cooking temperatures and humidity levels. By accessing the lookup table 7 the controller 2 may extract the humidity level assigned to the selected steam cooking temperature range or temperature, and the controller 2 may then use the extracted humidity level as operational parameter for carrying out a subsequent steam cooking process involving the received steam cooking temperature selected by the user.

[0119] As can be seen, the proposed method and controller 2 allow an automatic setting of the humidity level, as a secondary operational parameter, for carrying out a steam cooking process, in an oven cavity for example, wherein only the steam cooking temperature or temperature range, as a primary cooking parameter, is required to be received as a user input.

[0120] In embodiments, if the controller 2 receives, for example via the user interface 3, an activation signal for a steam cooking function, and receives steam cooking temperature setting via the user interface 3, for example, then the controller automatically sets the humidity level in accordance to the set steam cooking temperature range or steam cooking temperature. It is not necessary for the user to set the steam cooking humidity level by himself. Therefore advantageous user guidance and improvements in human-machine interaction may be obtained, to thereby provide the user with operational modes suitable for obtaining appropriate cooking results.

[0121] The controller 2 may be configured for either starting a steam cooking process upon receiving a selection of a corresponding steam cooking temperature range or steam cooking temperature. In other embodiments, the controller 2 may be configured and set up for starting a steam cooking process after receiving a particular and separate activation signal or input from the user interface 3. Starting of the steam cooking process may require that the controller 2 has received, prior to the activation signal, a particular steam temperature range setting or steam temperature setting and a selection of a steam cooking function or functionality.

[0122] An exemplary steam cooking process to be carried out by the controller 2 may be set up as follows:

[0123] If a user wants to perform a steam cooking process, then he may perform the following sequence of operational steps: [0124] turn on the cooking oven, [0125] activate the steam cooking function, [0126] set a steam cooking temperature, as a primary cooking parameter, for carrying out the a steam cooking process with the oven cavity, and [0127] start the steam cooking process.

[0128] At the same time, the controller may perform the following steps: [0129] receive an activation signal for turning on the cooking oven, [0130] receive an activation signal for the steam cooking function, [0131] receive a steam cooking temperature setting, as the primary cooking parameter, [0132] access by using the received steam cooking temperature the lookup table 7 and extract from the lookup table 7 a steam cooking humidity level, as the secondary operational parameter, assigned to the received steam temperature setting, [0133] set the extracted steam cooking humidity level as operational parameter, in particular secondary operational parameter, for operating the steam cooking process, and [0134] upon receiving a start signal from the user via the user interface, or in an automated manner, carry out the steam cooking process using at least the steam cooking temperature setting and extracted steam cooking humidity level as the primary and secondary operational parameters.

[0135] In embodiments, the controller 2, and a corresponding method, may be implemented and configured for allowing the user to set the steam cooking time period. For example, the controller 2 may be configured for receiving via the user interface 3 the time period from the user, and the controller 2 may set the duration of the steam cooking process in accordance with the received time period. After a lapse of time corresponding to the time period, the controller 2 may stop the steam cooking process.

[0136] As can be seen, the method for controlling the steam cooking process in accordance with the present invention, and a corresponding controller may be configured for automatically setting the humidity level of a steam cooking process on the basis of, i.e by using, a steam cooking temperature or temperature range that has been set by the user. This in particular may contribute to facilitating human-machine interaction with regard to setting up operational modes on steam cooking ovens, and/or may provide advantageous operational modes with steam cooking ovens with regard to user guidance while setting up steam cooking operational modes. In particular, the proposed method and controller enable users to set up steam cooking operational processes without requiring expert knowledge in steam cooking, meaning that operation of respective devices may be greatly facilitated.

[0137] The proposed method and controller may in embodiments also enable the user to set further or other cooking parameters. In addition, further or other cooking parameters may be taken into account for setting a suitable humidity level. For example, the steam cooking humidity level may be determined in addition to a selected steam cooking temperature or temperature range based on at least one of a set time period for the steam cooking process, and a selection of a food type or kind of food.

[0138] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary graph showing a mapping between steam cooking temperatures and humidity levels. In this graph, the ordinate axis depicts the steam cooking temperature, and the abscissa axis depicts the relative steam cooking humidity level. The line drawn in FIG. 3 illustrates a mapping between the steam cooking temperature and the steam cooking humidity level. The mapping in the present example is depicted as a linear graph, wherein it shall be noted that any other functional relationships between temperature and humidity level may be applied.

[0139] The relationship between temperature and humidity level may be stored in an electronic database, for example in form of a lookup-table, wherein the lookup table may include a mapping between the temperature or temperature ranges and a humidity level or ranges of humidity levels.

[0140] A corresponding and only illustrative lookup-table may provide a mapping for example according to the following scheme:

TABLE-US-00001 primary cooking further/optional primary secondary operational parameter: cooking parameter: parameter: humidity temperature cooking time level 40 C.-100 C. 60 min-80 min maximum humidity 100% 100 C.-130 C. 40 min-60 min high humidity 60% 130 C.-150 C. 30 min-40 min mid humidity 40% 150 C.-230 C. 25 min-30 min low humidity 20%

[0141] In such a lookup table further entries may be provided for combinations of several primary cooking parameters including a setting of the temperature and cooking time. Further, it is noted that a corresponding lookup-table may include a mapping involving only a pair of parameters, e.g. the temperature and the humidity level, meaning that the second column in the shown example may be omitted in variants of lookup tables.

[0142] Regarding FIG. 3, it is noted that the different regions defined by the vertical lines, for example between 100% and 60%, or between 60% and 40%, between 40% and 20%, or lower than 20%, may be representative for additional mappings between a primary cooking parameter to be set by the user and a secondary operational parameter to be automatically set by the cooking oven. For example, upon receiving as a primary cooking parameter a kind of food or type of dish, a corresponding lookup table may include mappings for setting operational parameters such as the temperature and humidity level. As an example the operational parameters including a humidity level of maximum humidity, i.e. 100%, and a temperature range 50-100 C. may be mapped with dishes or foods like terrine, spoon desserts, steamed vegetables, poultry, fish, grains, and pulses. Further, operational parameters including a humidity level of up to 60% humidity, and a temperature range of 100130 C. may be mapped with fish, sweet bread, cheesecake, baked eggs, and reheating at low temperatures. Further, operational parameters including up to 40% humidity, and a temperature range of 135150 C. may be mapped with gratin fish, vegetables, pastry, such as lasagne, stewed meat, sweet casserole. Operational parameters including humidity levels up to 20%, and a temperature range of 155-230 may be mapped with bread, roasted side dish, meat, poultry, fish, and bakery products.

[0143] As can be seen, a corresponding database may be adapted to enable a user to select different kinds or types of primary cooking parameters, such that correlated secondary operational parameters may be determined based on an input primary cooking parameter received from the user in accordance with a mapping provided in the database.

[0144] The user may select only one or more than one primary cooking parameters, and the cooking oven, e.g. a corresponding controller, may automatically determine only one or more than one secondary parameter. As an example, the user may input as the primary cooking parameter the cooking temperature, and the controller, based on the electronic database including respective mappings between the temperature setting and humidity level and/or cooking time, may set the cooking time and humidity level as the secondary cooking parameter(s).

[0145] As can be seen, the present invention in particular relates to a method of operating a cooking oven, comprising: [0146] receiving a manual user setting for one or more than one primary cooking parameters; and, [0147] upon receipt of the one or more primary cooking parameters, executing an algorithm function for automatically and without further user input setting one or more than one additional secondary cooking parameters different from the received one or more primary cooking parameter [0148] the execution of the algorithm function comprising: [0149] accessing an electronic database 4, 7, the electronic database 4, 7 including a mapping between the e primary and secondary cooking parameters; and [0150] automatically and without user input setting the secondary cooking parameters for controlling the cooking process.

[0151] The user control interface 10 shown in FIG. 1 may correspond to a two-dimensional lookup table 7 comprising correspondences between steam cooking temperature and humidity level. However, the lookup table 7 may be three-dimensional or even higher dimensional, for example in case that the lookup table 7 comprises correspondences between the humidity level and further parameters such as the time period and/or kind of food. Further, it shall be noted that the proposed method may involve several lookup tables each representative for a particular relationship between steam cooking process parameters.

[0152] In embodiments, the lookup table may comprise a correspondence between the humidity level and the steam cooking temperature and the steam cooking time period for the steam cooking process. Other parameters may be taken into account in the lookup table, or a corresponding database, for example the mass of the food and/or the kind of food, which may in embodiments be required to be entered by the user, wherein in other embodiments the cooking device or appliance may be configured to determine the mass of the food and/or the kind of food at least in part automatically, for example by the use of corresponding sensors, such as weighting units or camera units.

[0153] As already mentioned, the database, e.g. lookup table 7, may be implemented in hardware and/or software.

[0154] The method according to the present invention may be used for controlling an arbitrary steam cooking process, wherein the heat generators 5, fans, steam generators 6, microwave generator and/or further components of the steam cooking oven may be automatically adjusted and controlled on the basis of an initial steam cooking temperature or steam cooking temperature setting received from a user, wherein in optional operational modes, the steam cooking process may in addition be set up based on a steam cooking time period setting received by the user.

[0155] Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0156] 1 operational system [0157] 2 controller [0158] 3 user interface [0159] 4 memory [0160] 5 heat generator [0161] 6 steam generator [0162] 7 lookup table [0163] 10 user control interface [0164] 12 first cooking temperature range [0165] 14 second cooking temperature range [0166] 16 third cooking temperature range [0167] 18 fourth cooking temperature range [0168] 20 first humidity amount [0169] 22 second humidity amount [0170] 24 third humidity amount [0171] 26 fourth humidity amount