Method of treating and preparing food in a cooking device, control panel for a cooking device and cooking device comprising a control panel

• US 20030161922A1
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eloma GmbH Grosskichentechnik
• Original Assignee: Eloma GmbH Grosskichentechnik
• Inventors: Hillmann, Johannes
• Granted Patent: US 7,141,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/523
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/082 on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination

Abstract

The present invention refers to a method of treating and preparing food in a cooking device, in which a plurality of cooking parameters can be set, wherein the cooking process is carried out by means of an adjustable cooking program, wherein the setting of the cooking parameters is carried out by an input device. By means of the input device a point in an at least two-dimensional map is controlled by the operator of the cooking device, in which at least two cooking parameters are defined, and the adjusted point is implemented into the cooking program as part of the cooking process. The present invention also comprises a control panel for a cooking device, in particular for a steam cooking device and a cooking device equipped with this control panel.

Claims

1. A method of treating and preparing food in a cooking device where a plurality of cooking parameters can be selected by an operator of the cooking device and where the cooking process is carried out through use of an adjustable cooking program, the method comprising:

choosing a point on an at least two-dimensional map through use of an input device wherein at least two cooking parameters for the cooking device are selected, and

implementing the selection into the cooking program as part of the cooking process.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature, the humidity in the cooking chamber, the velocity of the fan wheel of the cooking device, the browning degree of the food to be cooked, the core temperature of the food to be cooked may be selected as cooking parameters.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein panels are predefined for different cooking processes and are indicated on the map so that the panels can be selected by the input device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein each point on the map can be reached so that any possible combination of temperature and humidity in the cooking chamber can be selected.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the input device is a multi-dimensional input device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the multi-dimensional input device is a rocker switch, a joystick, a computer mouse or a touch pad.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein a confirmation key is operated to define and implement the selected program point.

8. A control panel for a cooking device comprising:

an input device for setting a plurality of cooking parameters; and

a display member for indicating at least the adjusted cooking parameters and cooking program steps, wherein the display member comprises an at least two-dimensional map on which at least two cooking parameters are defined and on which a point can be controlled by operation of the input device.

9. The control panel of claim 8 wherein the map is a substantially planar surface.

10. The control panel of claim 8 wherein the map is formed as a rectangular monitor surface.

11. The control panel of claim 8 wherein each point on the map can be reached so that any possible combination of temperature and humidity in the cooking chamber can be selected.

12. The control panel of claim 8 wherein the input device comprises a multidimensional input device.

13. The control panel of claim 12 wherein the multi-dimensional input device is a rocker switch, a joystick, a computer mouse or a touch pad.

14. The control panel of claim 12 wherein the multi-dimensional input device further comprises a confirmation key.

15. The control panel of claim 8 wherein the cooking device is a steam cooking device.

16. A device for the treatment and preparation of food comprising a control panel, the control panel having an input device for setting a plurality of cooking parameters and a display member for indicating at least the adjusted cooking parameters and cooking program steps, the display member having an at least two-dimensional map on which at least two cooking parameters are defined and on which a point can be selected by operation of the input device.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the map is a substantially planar surface.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the map is formed as a rectangular monitor surface.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein each point on the map can be reached so that any possible combination of temperature and humidity in the cooking chamber can be selected.