Electronic frying pan systems and methods

• US 20010032546A1
• Filed: 04/18/2001
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digital Cookware, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Digital Cookware, Inc.
• Inventors: Sharpe, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 6,578,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/331
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2202/00 Devices having temperature indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/10 Frying pans, e.g. frying pans with integrated lids or basting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 45/068 Handles having indicating means, e.g. for temperature A47J45/07 takes precedence

Abstract

A digital frying pan provides temperature and/or food doneness information associated with food cooked within the pan. A thermal sensor coupled with the pan senses temperature and generates corresponding signals, and processing electronics coupled with the sensor convert the signals to data for display on a LCD. A warning buzzer or LED warns the user of completed cooking. The frying pan may be programmed to desired food types or personal temperatures or food doneness options. The invention also provides a remote sensing food doneness system for remotely viewing and then determining food temperature and/or food doneness. The remote system uses thermal imaging optics and thermal sensing techniques to remotely sense food temperature. Preferably a second optical element images the food onto a CCD to display an image of the food to a user. The system is mounted by a user who views the CCD to ensure appropriate placement in line of sight from the food. A warning is generated by the system to indicate food doneness or desired temperature.

Claims

1. An electronic frying pan system, comprising:

a pan for cooking food;

a handle connected to the pan for manipulating the pan;

one or more temperature sensors connected with the pan for generating signals indicative of one or more characteristics of the pan; and

indication electronics connected with the sensors and disposed with the handle for providing at least one indication of the characteristics to a user of the pan.

2. A pan system of

claim 1

, wherein the indication electronics comprise a liquid crystal display for displaying the one or more characteristics to the user.

3. A pan system of

claim 1

, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise pan temperature.

4. A pan system of

claim 1

, wherein the indication electronics comprise a processor for processing the signals to associate food characteristics corresponding to food cooking within the pan.

5. A pan system of

claim 4

, wherein the food characteristics comprise food doneness.

6. A pan system of

claim 4

, wherein the indication electronics comprise a user interface for selecting one of several food types, wherein the processor generates food characteristics as a function of food type.

7. A pan system of

claim 4

, wherein the indication electronics comprise a user interface for selecting one of several food temperatures, wherein the processor generates food characteristics as a function of food temperature.

8. A pan system of

claim 1

, wherein the indication electronics are detachable and alternatively attachable with the handle, wherein the pan may be washed without the indication electronics.

9. A pan system of

claim 1

, wherein the indication electronics comprise voice synthesis electronics to speak at least the one indication to the user.

10. A pan system of

claim 1

, wherein the indication electronics comprise memory for storing food doneness versus temperature settings for one or more food types.

11. A pan system of

claim 1

, further comprising an audible alarm coupled with the indication electronics for audibly informing a user of the pan system of one of temperature and food doneness of food within the pan.

12. A pan system of

claim 1

, wherein the indication electronics comprise calibration memory for coupling the indication electronics with a plurality of different size pans, wherein the indication electronics provide calibrated information for the different size pans.

13. A method of cooking food in a frying pan, comprising the steps of sensing temperature of the frying pan, processing pan temperature to determine one or more of food doneness and food temperature, and informing a user of the pan of the food doneness and/or food temperature.

14. A method of

claim 13

, further comprising the steps of decoupling processing electronics from the frying pan prior to washing the pan and alternatively coupling the processing electronics with the frying pan prior to use.

15. A method of

claim 13

, further comprising the steps of decoupling processing electronics from the frying pan and coupling the processing electronics with a second pan having a different size from the frying pan, and selecting calibration data within the processing electronics to provide calibrated information for the different size second pan.

16. A method of

claim 13

, wherein the step of sensing temperature comprises sensing temperature at a side of the pan, and wherein the step of processing pan temperature comprises compensating the pan temperature so as to provide a pan temperature similar to a center of the pan.

17. A method for remotely monitoring temperature of food, comprising the steps of imaging the food onto a thermal sensor, processing signals from the thermal sensor to determine a temperature of the food, informing the user of the temperature.

18. A method of

claim 17

, further comprising the step of attaching a housing coupled with the sensor to a surface in line of sight from the food.

19. A method of

claim 18

, further comprising selecting one or more of food type, food doneness and temperature at a user interface with the housing.

20. A method of

claim 19

, wherein the step of informing the user comprises utilizing user selections and converting temperature to a food doneness.

21. A method of

claim 17

, further comprising imaging the food onto a CCD to display an image of the food to the user so as to physically arrange appropriate mounting of the housing to image the food onto the thermal sensor.