Electronic cooking pan systems and methods
First Claim
1. An electronic cooking 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 food characteristics of the pan;
a control module disposed in the handle and having (a) indication electronics connected with the sensors for providing at least one indication of the food characteristics to a user of the pan, and (b) an input interface for selecting one or more desired cooking characteristics;
a cooking appliance controller communicatingly connected with a cooking appliance for regulating energy output of at least one burner of the appliance based on the selected one or more desired cooking characteristics;
a transmitter connected to the control module for communicating a signal to the cooking appliance controller relating to the selected cooking characteristics; and
a receiver connected to the cooking appliance controller for receiving the signal from the transmitter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A digital cooking 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 to provide indications to a user of the cooking pan regarding food cooked within the pan. The cooking pan may be programmed to desired food types or personal temperatures or food doneness options. The invention also provides an electronic cooking system in which processing electronics generate a signal relating to cooking characteristics; the signal is transmitted to a cooking appliance controller connected to a cooking appliance to regulate energy output of one or more burners of the appliance. In this way, the heat generated by a cooking appliance for cooking in the digital cooking pan is automatically controlled while the pan is in use. The invention further 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.
111 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An electronic cooking 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 food characteristics of the pan;
a control module disposed in the handle and having (a) indication electronics connected with the sensors for providing at least one indication of the food characteristics to a user of the pan, and (b) an input interface for selecting one or more desired cooking characteristics;
a cooking appliance controller communicatingly connected with a cooking appliance for regulating energy output of at least one burner of the appliance based on the selected one or more desired cooking characteristics;
a transmitter connected to the control module for communicating a signal to the cooking appliance controller relating to the selected cooking characteristics; and
a receiver connected to the cooking appliance controller for receiving the signal from the transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- a pan for cooking food;
- 25. A method of cooking food in a pan, comprising the steps of selecting one or more desired cooking characteristics on an input interface on the pan, transmitting a signal to a cooking appliance relating to the selected cooking characteristics, sensing temperature of the pan, and processing pan temperature to determine one or more of food doneness and food temperature.
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34. A cooking system, comprising a cooking burner having a controller connected therewith and responsive to wireless signals relating to cooking characteristics chosen by a user to control energy output of the burner for cooking food.
- 35. A cooking system of claim 33, further comprising an electric cooking pan for generating the signals.
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35-1. A temperature regulating cooking system, comprising:
- a pan for cooking food when heated underneath by a stove burner;
a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of one of the pan and the food, and for generating signals of the temperature; and
a temperature controller responsive to the signals to automatically control pan temperature.
- a pan for cooking food when heated underneath by a stove burner;
Specification