System for Preparing at Least One Food Product

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (100) for preparing at least one food product (1), comprising: a cooking chamber (10), in which at least one preparation area (5) is provided, wherein the at least one food product (1) can be positioned and prepared at the least one preparation area (5), at least one antenna arrangement (30) for supplying energy of electromagnetic energy (80) into the cooking chamber (10), whereby the at least one food product (1) can be heated, one transmission device (40) for operating the antenna arrangement (30), wherein at least one antenna (31) of the antenna arrangement (30) is oriented depending on the preparation area (5) and is operable according to at least one operation mode by the transmission device (40), so that a performance-optimized temperature zone distribution for heating the food product (1) can be generated.

Claims

1. System for preparing at least one food product, comprising: a cooking chamber in which at least one preparation area is provided, wherein the at least one food product is preparable at the at least one preparation area, at least one antenna arrangement for energy supply of electromagnetic energy into the cooking chamber, whereby the at least one food product can be heated for preparation, at least one transmission device for operating the antenna arrangement, wherein at least one antenna of the antenna arrangement is oriented depending on the at least one preparation area and is operable by the transmission device according to at least one operation mode, so that a performance-optimized temperature zone distribution can be generated for heating the food product.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the temperature zone distribution can be generated as a dynamic temperature zone distribution by the antenna arrangement, so that the temperature zone distribution is at least amendable or is adaptable to the at least one food product at the preparation area, or is adaptable to a predetermined temperature zone distribution.

3. System according to claim 1, wherein the antenna arrangement comprise at least two antennas which are arranged spaced from one another, and which are operable through the, transmission device or in each case through individual transmission devices, wherein the antennas are differently configured, whereby the temperature zone distribution can be generated depending on the different configuration of the antennas.

4. System according to claim 1, wherein the antenna arrangement comprises at least one first antenna and one second antenna, which are arranged spaced from one another, wherein the respective antenna is configured as at least one of the following antenna structures: as a dipole antenna, preferably in which a directional characteristic depends on a current distribution over a length of an electric conductor of the dipole antenna, as a monopole antenna, preferably in which a rotation-symmetric field distribution occurs about a vertical axis of the monopole antenna, as a circularly polarized antenna.

5. System according to claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna of the antenna arrangement is configured as copper antenna.

6. System according to claim 1, wherein at least two different preparation areas are provided in the cooking chamber, and different antennas of the antenna arrangement are at least arranged or are operable in such a way that a different degree of energy can be supplied to the different preparation areas so that food products can be heated in a controlled manner at the respective preparation areas.

7. System according to claim 1, wherein the antenna arrangement comprises a plurality of antennas, so that a fine-granular temperature distribution can be produced by the antennas, wherein preferably at least 3 or at least 5 or at least 10 or at least 20 antennas are provided.

8. System according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a ceiling element and a base element, wherein the base element is arranged opposite the ceiling element, and preferably the cooking chamber is at least partially defined through the base element and the ceiling element, and wherein the antenna arrangement is arranged in the area of the base element, preferably below the base element, wherein the base element is arranged between the antenna arrangement and the cooking chamber.

9. System according to claim 1, wherein the antenna arrangement has a lesser distance to the preparation area than a ceiling element of the system, wherein preferably the distance between the antenna arrangement and the preparation area is maximum 1 cm or maximum 4 cm or maximum 6 cm or maximum 10 cm, and preferably the antenna arrangement as a first heating device has a lesser distance to the preparation area than further heating devices of the system.

10. System according to claim 1, wherein a base element of the system is at least partially formed of a non-metal or is configured penetrable for the electromagnetic energy, preferably so that the electromagnetic energy can reach the cooking chamber through the base element starting from the antenna arrangement, wherein preferably the base element mainly comprises at least ceramic or glass or is made thereof.

11. System according to claim 1, wherein a further heating device is provided besides the antenna arrangement, preferably in the area of a ceiling element of the system, wherein the further heating device comprises at least one heating coil or electric heater.

12. System according to claim 1, wherein the system is configured as an oven or microwave.

13. Method for preparing at least one food product, wherein the at least one food product is prepared in a cooking chamber at at least one preparation area, wherein for the preparation of the at least one food product, at least the following steps are provided: a) Aligning at least one antenna of an antenna arrangement depending on the at least one preparation area, b) Operating the antenna according to at least one operation mode through at least one transmission device, so that electromagnetic energy is supplied into the cooking chamber, whereby a performance-optimized temperature zone distribution is generated for heating the food product.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the electromagnetic energy is a high-frequency electromagnetic radiation at leastin the microwave range or in a frequency range which is suitable for heating food products.

15. Method according to claim 13, wherein at least two different preparation areas are provided, and different antennas of the antenna arrangement are at least arranged or operated such that in each case a different degree of energy is supplied to the different preparation areas, wherein the respective different degrees of energy are controlled depending on conditions which are specific for the food products at the respective preparation area in such a way that the food products can be heated according to a presetting.

16. Method according to claim 13, wherein the operation of at least two antennas of the antenna arrangement is effected with different operation modes which differ with at least regard to a performance or a frequency or a cyclic switching-on and switching-off with which the respective antennas of the antenna arrangement are operated, so that a predetermined temperature zone distribution is generated, preferably with a homogeneous or inhomogeneous temperature distribution.

17. Method according to claim 13, wherein the operation of the antenna arrangement is adjusted through a control unit so that a predetermined temperature zone distribution is generated depending on conditions which are evaluated through the control unit.

18. Method according to claim 13, wherein for the generation of a predetermined temperature zone distribution, the energy supply for different preparation areas of the cooking chamber is differently performed, so that at least two different temperature zones with different temperatures are effected in the cooking chamber for different preparation areas, or a single temperature zone for a homogeneous temperature distribution in the cooking chamber is effected.

19. Method according to claim 13, wherein for the generation of a predetermined temperature zone distribution, a first target temperature value is provided for a first temperature zone of a first preparation area, and a second target temperature value is provided for a second temperature zone of a second preparation area, wherein the antenna arrangement is controlled through the at least one transmission device or control unit in such a way that the respective temperature zones can be controlled individually with respect to the respective target temperature value.

20. Method according to claim 13, wherein a target temperature value of at least one temperature zone is a predetermined temperature value for the food product, which is compared to at least a measured or estimated reference temperature value of the food product for controlling the at least one temperature zone, so that, in the preparation, the reference temperature value has maximally a predetermined deviation from the target temperature value.

21. Method according to claim 13, wherein a first target temperature value of a first temperature zone for a first food product deviates from or is identical with a second target temperature value of a second temperature zone for a second food product depending on at least a presetting or an operator input.

22. (canceled)

Description

[0063] Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. Incidentally, features mentioned in the claims and in the description can be essential to the invention either individually per se or in any combination. The Figures show in:

[0064] FIG. 1 a schematic illustration of parts of a system according to the invention,

[0065] FIG. 2 a further schematic illustration of parts of a system according to the invention,

[0066] FIG. 3 a further schematic illustration of parts of a system according to the invention, and

[0067] FIG. 4 a further schematic illustration of parts of a system according to the invention.

[0068] Hereinafter, identical reference characters will be given to the same technical features of different exemplary embodiments.

[0069] FIGS. 1 to 4 each show schematically parts of a system 100 according to the invention. In FIG. 1, the parts of the system 100 according to the invention are parts of a microwave oven, and in FIGS. 2 to 4, the parts of the system 100 according to the invention are parts of a baking oven. Of course, these configurations are merely exemplary, so that further embodiments are conceivable for the system 100 according to the invention as well.

[0070] FIG. 1 shows that the system 100 according to the invention comprises a food carrier 4, so that a preparation area 5 can be provided for at least one food product 1. In this case, the food carrier 4 is configured as a base element 11. In this base element 11, a heating device 20 can be arranged, which comprises at least one antenna 31 and thus corresponds to an antenna arrangement 30. Alternatively or additionally, the antenna arrangement 30 and/or a further antenna 31 can be arranged in a base 14 as well. In this case, the antenna arrangement 30 serves for the energy transfer of electromagnetic energy 80 to the preparation area 5, whereby the food product 1 can be heated. To effect this, the heating device 20 or the antenna arrangement 30 also includes at least one drive 35 and/or at least one transmission device 40 and/or at least one performance amplifier 50 and/or at least one control unit 60.

[0071] Here, the drive 35 particularly serves to move and thus orient the respective antennas 31 of the antenna arrangement 30. The transmission device 40, in particular a high frequency signal transmitter, particularly serves to operate the respective antenna 31.

[0072] As can be taken from FIG. 1, the at least one antenna 31 of the antenna arrangement 30 is located very close to the food product 1, so that an energy loss can be prevented.

[0073] In FIG. 2, an antenna arrangement 30, i.e. at least a first antenna 31a and/or a second antenna 31b and/or a third antenna 31c, is arranged in a base element 11 or in a base 14, respectively, of a baking oven. Here, the first antenna 31a can be configured e.g. as a monopole antenna, the second antenna 31b can e.g. be configured as a dipole antenna and/or the third antenna can e.g. be configured as a circular polarized antenna. As a matter of fact, it is also conceivable that only one or multiple of the respective first and/or second and/or third antennas 31a, 31b, 31c are provided. In other words, the first and second and third antenna(s) 31a, 31b, and 31c are in each case optionally present, and in particular are in each case present individually or likewise in a bigger number. An arrangement distributed, e.g. in the type of a matrix, over the surface of the base element 11 and/or the base 14 of the antennas is conceivable as well. In addition, a transmission device 40 can be provided as well in order to operate the respective antennas 31.

[0074] Furthermore, FIG. 2 shows that the baking oven and/or the system 100 according to the invention comprises at least one side element 12 and/or the base element 11 and/or a ceiling element 13 and/or the base 14, which at least partially define and/or form in particular the cooking chamber 10. Optionally, a grill 95 and/or a heating coil 96 and/or a heating source 97 and/or a ventilator 98 can be provided. The grill 95 and/or the heat source 97 and/or the heating coil 96 can be configured as at least a second heating device 20b, wherein the antenna arrangement 30 forms the heating device 20a.

[0075] FIGS. 3 and 4 shows that even a base element 11 separate from the base 14 can be provided in order to receive at least one food product 1. By way of example, FIG. 3 shows a first food product 1a at a first preparation area 5a and a second food product 1b at a second preparation area 5b and a third food product 1c at a third preparation area 5c. Here, the antenna arrangement 30 can e.g. comprise at least one antenna 31, which is integrated in the base 14 (see FIG. 3) and/or in the base element 11 (see FIG. 4).

[0076] In this case, it is conceivable that the temperature zone distribution in the cooking chamber 10 is generated in such a way that the individual food products 1a, 1b, 1c are heated uniformly, or even hotspots are generated for the respective or for one of the food products 1. The hotspots e.g. allow that a specific food product 1 (e.g. only the second food product 1b) or even only a certain area of the individual food product 1 (e.g. the second food product 1b) are heated in a particularly intense fashion, i.e. the temperature distribution is concentrated in the area.

[0077] The generation of the temperature zone distribution and in particular the change of the temperature zone distribution can e.g. be possible in that the antenna arrangement 30 is operable in a modified manner and/or can be oriented in a modified manner. The modifiable orientation can e.g. be effected through at least one drive 35, which moves, in particular rotates, the at least one antenna 31. The modifiable operation, e.g. according to at least one operating mode, can e.g. be enabled in that the transmission device 40 activates the at least one antenna 31 with different electric signals and/or frequencies.

[0078] The above description of embodiments describes the present invention exclusively in the form of examples. As a matter of fact, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another, as far as is technically feasible, without abandoning the scope of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0079] 1 Food product

[0080] 1a First food product

[0081] 1b Second food product

[0082] 1c Third food product

[0083] 4 Food product carrier

[0084] 5 Preparation area

[0085] 5a First preparation area

[0086] 5b Second preparation area

[0087] 5c Third preparation area

[0088] 10 Cooking chamber

[0089] 11 Base element

[0090] 12 Side element

[0091] 13 Ceiling element

[0092] 14 Base

[0093] 20 Heating device

[0094] 20a First heating device

[0095] 20b Second heating device

[0096] 30 Antenna arrangement

[0097] 31 Antenna

[0098] 31a First antenna, monopole antenna

[0099] 31b Second antenna, dipole antenna

[0100] 31c Third antenna, circularly polarized antenna

[0101] 35 Drive

[0102] 40 Transmission device, higher frequency signal transmitter

[0103] 50 Performance amplifier

[0104] 60 Control unit

[0105] 80 Electromagnetic energy or radiation

[0106] 95 Grill

[0107] 96 Heating coils

[0108] 97 Heating source

[0109] 98 Ventilator

[0110] 100 System