US 12,502,033 B2Granted

Cooking systems with improved heating consistency

AssigneeSharkNinja Operating LLC

InventorsEthan S. Kramer, Ehab Al Khatib, Arushi Singh, Alex T. Gushulak

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Abstract

Cooking systems with improved heating consistency and corresponding methods are provided. A cooking system includes a cooking compartment for receiving food, and a control system for controlling food cooking therein. The control system stores multiple heating times corresponding to different user inputs (e.g., a food shade, a food type, a cooking mode, etc.) The control system can determine temperatures of the cooking compartment from the past to present, as well as a temperature change between the past and present. When the cooking system is activated, the control system receives the user inputs and selects a stored heating time based upon these user inputs and the present cooking compartment temperature. At certain present temperatures, the cooking system also selects the stored heating time based upon the temperature change. This allows the controller to adjust the heating time based upon the cooking compartment temperature, and optionally temperature change, to avoid overcooking food.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A cooking system, comprising:

a housing including a cooking compartment, configured to receive a food item therein, at least one heating element configured to heat the cooking compartment in response to receipt of electrical power from a power supply, and at least one temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature within the cooking compartment and to output temperature signals containing data representing the temperature measurement;
a control system in the housing including a controller including one or more processors in communication with the at least one temperature sensor, and the power supply, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive a first temperature signal representing a first measurement of the temperature of the cooking compartment at a first time,
receive a second temperature signal representing a second measurement of the temperature of the cooking compartment at a second time, subsequent to the first time,
compare the second temperature measurement to a stored temperature threshold;
if the second measured temperature is determined to be less than or equal to the temperature threshold, command the power supply to provide electrical power to the at least one heating element for a stored first heating time;
and
if the second measured temperature is determined to be greater than the temperature threshold, command the power supply to provide electrical power to the at least one heating element for a stored second heating time less than the stored first heating time;
and a memory maintaining the stored first heating time, a plurality of stored second heating times, the temperature threshold, and at least one temperature change threshold, wherein the controller is further configured to, if the second measured temperature is determined to be greater than the temperature threshold;
determine a difference between the second measured temperature and the first measured temperature, and
identify the stored second heating time from the plurality of stored second heating times by comparing the difference to the at least one temperature change threshold.

8 more elements

A cooking method, comprising:

receiving, by a controller including one or more processors, a first temperature signal representing a first measurement of a temperature of a cooking compartment of a cooking system at a first time and a second temperature signal representing a second measurement of the temperature of the cooking compartment at a second time, subsequent to the first time;
comparing, by the controller, the second temperature measurement to a stored temperature threshold;
if the controller determines the second measured temperature to be less than or equal to the temperature threshold, commanding a power supply to provide electrical power to at least one heating element in thermal communication with the cooking compartment for a stored first heating time;
and
if the controller determines the second measured temperature to be greater than the temperature threshold, commanding the power supply to provide electrical power to the at least one heating element for a stored second heating time less than the stored first heating time;
and storing in a memory the stored first heating time, a plurality of stored second heating times, the temperature threshold, and at least one temperature change threshold;
wherein if the controller determines the second measured temperature to be greater than the temperature threshold;
determining a difference between the second measured temperature and the first measured temperature, and identifying the stored second heating time from the plurality of stored second heating times by comparing the difference to the at least one temperature change threshold.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/730,049Filed 26 Apr 2022 · us provisional application
Priority: 12 Nov 2021
Published: US 2023/0148795 A118 May 2023
Granted: 23 Dec 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

A47J 37/0835
With automatic bread ejection or timing means: with thermal timers
G05B 15/02
Systems controlled by a computer: electric
A47J 36/32
Parts, details or accessories of cooking-vessels: time-controlled igniting mechanisms or alarm devices
A47J 36/321
Time-controlled igniting mechanisms or alarm devices: the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a handheld device