System, method and computer program product for programmable counter-top electric oven

• US 20090139981A1
• Filed: 11/30/2007
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NuWave LLC
• Original Assignee: IBC-Hearthware Incorporated (International Bancshares Corporation)
• Inventors: Moon, Jung S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,964,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/490
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0623 Small-size cooking ovens, i.e. defining an at least partially closed cooking cavity A47J37/0605 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/325 electrically-heated
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/08 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

A multi-stage cooking method for a counter-top electric oven is provided. The oven may include at least one cooking element and at least one control system coupled to the cooking element, the control system including a processor, a storage device, and an input interface. The multi-stage cooking method may include: receiving the multi-stage cooking recipe for the counter-top electric oven; storing the multi-stage cooking recipe in the storage device of the counter-top electric oven; and executing the multi-stage cooking recipe with the counter-top electric oven.

Claims

1. A multi-stage cooking method for a counter-top electric oven, the counter-top electric oven comprising at least one cooking element and at least one control system coupled to the at least one cooking element, the control system including a processor, a storage device, and an input interface coupled to one another, the method comprising:

receiving from the input interface the multi-stage cooking recipe for the counter-top electric oven;

storing the multi-stage cooking recipe in the storage device of the counter-top electric oven; and

executing by the processor the multi-stage cooking recipe with the counter-top electric oven.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said receiving the multi-stage cooking recipe comprises receiving at least one of a cooking mode, a power level, and/or a duration of mode.

3. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said cooking mode comprises a delay stage, a sear stage, a cooking stage and/or a warming stage.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said receiving the multi-stage cooking recipe comprises receiving a stage and the duration of the stage.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the counter-top electric oven further comprises a temperature probe coupled to the control system and wherein said receiving the multi-stage cooking recipe further comprises receiving a duration of mode based on a temperature or doneness as measured by said temperature probe.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said receiving the multi-stage cooking recipe comprises recalling a previously programmed user-entered multi-stage cooking recipe from the storage device.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said recalling said previously programmed user-entered multi-stage cooking recipe further comprises editing said previously programmed user-entered multi-stage cooking recipe.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said receiving the multi-stage cooking recipe comprises receiving user entered stages from the input interface, wherein the input interface comprises a numeric keypad input interface.

9. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said numeric keypad input interface comprises a plurality of cooking control elements;

and wherein said receiving user entered stages comprises receiving the multi-stage cooking recipe from the plurality of cooking control elements.

10. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the counter-top electric oven further comprises a display coupled to the control system, and said receiving the multi-stage cooking recipe further comprises displaying data regarding the multi-stage cooking recipe on said display.

11. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said storing the multi-stage cooking recipe in the storage device comprises storing the multi-stage cooking recipe in at least one of a volatile storage device and/or a non-volatile storage device.

12. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said executing the multi-stage cooking recipe comprises sequentially executing stages of the stored multi-stage cooking recipe.

13. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said executing the multi-stage cooking recipe comprises cooking with the at least one cooking element wherein the at least one cooking element comprises at least one heating element.

14. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein said at least one cooking element comprises at least one infrared heating element including a ceramic coating;

and wherein said executing the multi-stage cooking recipe further comprises cooking with said infrared heating element.

15. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said executing the multi-stage cooking recipe comprises cooking with the at least one cooking element comprising a plurality of heating elements and cooking with said plurality of heating elements comprises cooking at an individually selectable power level for each heating element.

16. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the counter-top electric oven further comprises a temperature probe coupled to said control system, and said executing the multi-stage cooking recipe further comprises altering said execution based on data from said temperature probe.

17. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the counter-top electric oven further comprises a display coupled to the control system, and said executing the multi-stage cooking recipe further comprises displaying information regarding progress of said executing of the multi-stage cooking recipe on said display.

18. A multi-stage cooking counter-top electric oven comprising:

at least one cooking element;

at least one control system coupled to said at least one cooking element, said control system comprising;

a processor operable to execute a multi-stage cooking recipe with the counter-top electric oven;

an input interface operable to receive the multi-stage cooking recipe for the counter-top electric oven; and

a storage device operable to store the multi-stage cooking recipe in the counter-top electric oven.

19. The multi-stage cooking counter-top electric oven in accordance with claim 18, wherein said at least one heating element is arranged to avoid being dripped upon by the object being cooked.

20. The multi-stage cooking counter-top electric oven in accordance with claim 18, wherein said at least one heating element comprises a plurality of heating elements including at least one of a top and/or a bottom heating element.

21. The multi-stage cooking counter-top electric oven in accordance with claim 18, the oven further comprising a cooking enclosure comprising at least one of polycarbonate, glass, and/or metal.

22. The multi-stage cooking counter-top electric oven in accordance with claim 18, the oven further comprising a cooking enclosure having a least one of a door and/or a cover which is slidable, removable, and/or hinged.

23. The multi-stage cooking counter-top electric oven in accordance with claim 18, the oven further adapted to receive a rotisserie.

24. The multi-stage cooking counter-top electric oven in accordance with claim 18, the oven further comprising a pan, a cooking rack and a fan.

25. A control system for a counter-top electric oven, comprising

a processor operable to execute a multi-stage cooking recipe with the counter-top electric oven;

an input interface operable to receive the multi-stage cooking recipe for the counter-top electric oven; and

a storage device operable to store the multi-stage cooking recipe in the counter-top electric oven.