Cooking apparatus and control method of the same

• US 7,696,454 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2007
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Nam, Hyeun Sik, Nam, Young Sok, Cho, Seong Ho, Choi, Kyung Ah
• Primary Examiner(s): PELHAM, JOSEPH MOORE
• Application Number:
  US11/737,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20070246453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 219/393
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/126 on ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/082 on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination

Abstract

A cooking apparatus is provided having an apparatus body including a burner which heats an object. There may be a first image acquirer provided at one side of the apparatus body, the first image acquirer may be configured to acquire image information corresponding to a heat source generated by the burner. Additionally, a display may be provided at one side of the apparatus body to display the image information acquired by the first image acquirer.

Claims

1. A cooking apparatus comprising:

an apparatus body having a burner which heats an object;

a first image acquirer provided at one side of the apparatus body, wherein the first image acquirer is configured to acquire image information corresponding to flames generated by the burner;

a display provided at one side of the apparatus body to display the image information acquired by the first image acquirer;

an oven having a cooking space to cook food, wherein the oven is mounted below the burner;

a second image acquirer configured to acquire image information corresponding to a cooked state of the food contained in the cooking space;

a protection cover which protects either one of the first image acquirer and the second image acquirer; and

a driver configured to open and close the protection cover.

2. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first image acquirer is configured to acquire the image information corresponding to a state of the flames provided between the object and the burner.

3. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display is provided on at least one of a rear guide provided at the rear of the apparatus body and protruding upwardly therefrom, a burner housing which houses the burner, and a door which opens and closes a cooking chamber of the apparatus body.

4. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display selectively displays the image information acquired by the first image acquirer and the second image acquirer.

5. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a controller to process the image information acquired by either one of the first image acquirer and the second image acquirer, wherein the image information is displayed on the display in a user selected form.

6. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one reflector provided between either one of the first and second image acquirers and the object, wherein the at least one reflector is configured to transmit information about either one of the flames and the food contained in the cooking space to either one of the first and second image acquirers.

7. The cooking apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a first duct having either one of the first and second image acquirers provided at a first end thereof and the reflector provided at a second end thereof; and

a second duct having a first end connected to the first duct at a predetermined angle and a second end facing the object.

8. The cooking apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a transparent window provided at the second end of the second duct, wherein the transparent window blocks the direct transmission of heat to the either one of the first and second image acquirers.

9. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cooler which prevents either one of the first and second image acquirers from being damaged due to heat of the cooking apparatus.

10. The cooking apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the cooler comprises a cooling duct communicating with a space in which either one of the image acquirers are provided, and a cooling fan provided at a first side of the cooling duct.

11. A cooking apparatus comprising:

an oven compartment having a cooking space to cook food contained therein;

an image acquirer provided proximate an inside of the oven compartment, wherein the image acquirer is configured to acquire image information corresponding to a cooked state of the food contained in the cooking space;

a display which displays the image information acquired by the image acquirer;

a protection cover which protects the image acquirer; and

a driver configured to open and close the protection cover.

12. The cooking apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the display is provided on an oven door, the oven door being configured to open and close the oven compartment.

13. The cooking apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a controller provided at a bottom case of the oven compartment to process the image information acquired by the image acquirer, wherein the image information is displayed on the display in a user selected form.

14. The cooking apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image acquirer is movably provided at an inside of the oven compartment.

15. The cooking apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising an information transmitter which interconnects the image acquirer, the controller, and the display, wherein the information transmitter is provided to surround at least a portion of the oven compartment.