Accessory with sensors for determining an operating state, particularly measuring cup or cover part for a kitchen appliance

Abstract

An accessory for a kitchen appliance, particularly in the form of a measuring cup, for being attached to a cooking vessel, as well as to a correspondingly equipped kitchen appliance, wherein a sensor arrangement is arranged in the accessory and is capable of determining operating states, which are transmitted wirelessly to the kitchen appliance.

Claims

1. An accessory in the form of a measuring cup that is configured for being attached to a cooking vessel of a kitchen appliance, wherein the measuring cup has a measuring volume with a bottom and a sensor arrangement, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises at least one sensor capable of detecting a distance or the presence of an object within a detection range of the sensor.

2. The accessory according to claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement is arranged in the bottom.

3. The accessory according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitter for the wireless transmission of data.

4. The accessory according to claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement further comprises at least one sensor capable of detecting a temperature and or a weight.

5. The accessory according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is an imaging sensor, an RFID read sensor, an infrared sensor, a or an ultrasonic sensor.

6. The accessory according to claim 1, wherein the accessory features an autarkic energy supply, e.g. in the form of an accumulator.

7. A kitchen appliance comprising a cooking vessel and an accessory in the form of a measuring cup that is configured for being attached to the cooking vessel, wherein the measuring cup has a measuring volume and a bottom and features a sensor arrangement configured for determining at least one operating state in the cooking vessel, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises at least one sensor capable of detecting a position of the accessory, in which the accessory covers an opening of the cooking vessel, or a sensor capable of detecting a filling level, the presence of an agitator, the presence of a mixer attachment, the presence of a drop-in container in the cooking vessel and/or the presence of the accessory.

8. The kitchen appliance according to claim 7, wherein the sensor arrangement further comprises a sensor that is capable of detecting a temperature of food to be cooked in the cooking vessel.

9. The kitchen appliance according to claim 7, wherein the accessory features an autarkic energy supply in the form of an accumulator, wherein the accumulator is charged in a functional position of the accessory on the cooking vessel, and/or wherein the accessory features a transmitter for wireless transmission of data characterizing a determined operating state to a receiver of the kitchen appliance.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the attached drawings. In these drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an accessory for a kitchen appliance in the form of a measuring cup or cover part with splash guard L,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the kitchen appliance,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a section through the accessory 2 along the line III-III, however, while it is attached to the cooking vessel 3 of a kitchen appliance 1,

(5) FIG. 3a shows the enlarged detail IIIa of FIG. 3, and

(6) FIG. 4 shows a representation according to FIG. 1, however, with a different setup of the cooking vessel 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) In the exemplary embodiment, the accessory 2 forms a combined measuring cup/cover part, which can be attached to a cover 6 that closes the cooking vessel 3. An edge region in the form of a screen 11 is provided and can overlap the edge of the opening 5 in the cover 6. The screen features an edge 12 with spacer elements 13 protruding therefrom, wherein said spacer elements rest on the cover surface in order to thereby space apart the edge 12 from the cover surface.

(8) The screen 11 encloses a hollow body that is open on the top and forms a cavity 22 with a bottom 20. The bottom 20 may be arranged on a lower section of the part of the measuring cup 2, which forms the cavity 22 and protrudes into the cooking vessel 3 through the opening 5. The cavity 22 forms a measuring volume.

(9) The bottom 20 features a cavity 19, in which a sensor arrangement 4 is arranged. This sensor arrangement consists of a circuit board 15 that carries at least one sensor 14. The circuit board may furthermore carry a transmitter 17 that is capable of transmitting data to a receiver 16 arranged in the kitchen appliance 1. The data received by the receiver 16 is forwarded to an electronic control circuit of the kitchen appliance.

(10) The sensors 14 may comprise a distance sensor, e.g. an ultrasonic sensor, which is capable of determining the filling level H of a food to be cooked inside the cooking vessel 3. The sensors 14 may also comprise a sensor that is capable of determining the temperature of the food to be cooked in the cooking vessel 3, e.g. an IR sensor or a thermometer. If the sensors 14 furthermore comprise an imaging sensor, e.g. a camera capable of detecting equipment located inside the cooking vessel, a sensor 14 can therefore detect, e.g., if a mixer attachment 10 illustrated in FIG. 3 is attached to an agitator 9 or if the agitator 9 is installed. One of the sensors 14 can also detect if a drop-in container 8 of the type illustrated in FIG. 4 has been inserted into the cooking vessel 3. It is furthermore possible to detect if the accessory 2 assumes its intended position as cover part 2 of the opening 5 in the cover 6 with a sensor 14.

(11) The measured values of the operating states are transmitted wirelessly to the kitchen appliance, e.g. via a Bluetooth protocol, wherein the kitchen appliance can show error messages or the like on a display. The data acquired by the sensor arrangement and transmitted to the kitchen appliance 1 can furthermore be used for influencing the control of the kitchen appliance 1, wherein this is particularly advantageous when the kitchen appliance 1 carries out an automated cooking process according to a program.

(12) It would furthermore be conceivable that the accessory 2 in the form of a measuring cup features a weight sensor capable of determining a mass, e.g. of an ingredient to be added, which is filled into the measuring volume 22. The data acquired by the weight sensor is transmitted wirelessly to the control electronics of the kitchen appliance and can be numerically shown on a display.

(13) The accessory makes it possible to detect the presence of accessories of the kitchen appliance 1 in a contactless fashion. A contactless measurement of state variables of the food to be cooked, e.g. its temperature, can also be realized. The measured state variables of the food to be cooked can be used as control parameters for a program-controlled recipe. An incorrect setup or operating error can furthermore be detected.

(14) Since all electronic components are encapsulated in the plastic accessory 2 in a waterproof fashion, the accessory 2 can be cleaned in a dishwasher.

(15) An accumulator 18 for the energy supply and energy storage may be provided within the accessory 2. Means for charging the accumulator 18 wirelessly, e.g., by means of cooperating coils, may furthermore be provided. A primary coil may be arranged, e.g., in the cover 6 and induce a voltage for charging the accumulator 18 in a secondary coil of the measuring cup 2.

(16) In the setup of the cooking vessel 3 illustrated in FIG. 3, it can be detected, for example, if a mixer attachment 10 is attached to an agitator 9. In the setup illustrated in FIG. 4, it can be checked, for example, if a drop-in container 8 is inserted.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(17) 1 Kitchen appliance 2 Accessory 3 Cooking vessel 4 Sensor arrangement 5 Opening 6 Cover 7 Food to be cooked 8 Drop-in container 9 Agitator 10 Mixer attachment 11 Screen 12 Edge 13 Spacer element 14 Sensor 15 Circuit board 16 Receiver 17 Transmitter 18 Accumulator 19 Cavity 20 Bottom 21 Sealing compound 22 Measuring volume