Device to remotely control an outdoor grill or an indoor oven with a web-enabled computing device

• US 8,730,038 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2012
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Durian, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Michael Durian, Inc.
• Inventors: Durian, Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALAM, MIRZA F
• Application Number:
  US13/440,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20130265159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/541, 340/636, 994/44, 994/46, 994/00, 994/22, 994/25, 993/31, 993/37, 994/68, 994/73, 994/82, 126/274, 126/271.3, 126/25, 126/40, 126/50, 219/450.1, 219/452.11
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/126 on ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/082 on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2643 Oven, cooking

Abstract

A grill controller device, which remotely controls any type or grill or oven, comprises a circuit board, a plurality of connector, a power supply system, a control panel, a plurality of temperature control units, a plurality of temperature probes, and a speaker. The grill controller device is wirelessly connected with a graphic user interface so an user can wirelessly operate the grill controller device through the graphic user interface. The grill controller device externally attaches to existing grills and ovens. The plurality of temperature control units adjusts a grill temperature and a plurality of meat temperatures according to the user. A plurality of alerts is controlled by control software and the plurality of alerts comprises different functionality relative to different components. The user is able to control total functionality of the existing grills and ovens through the grill controller device while saving time.

Claims

1. A grill controller device comprises,

an enclosure;

a circuit board;

a microchip;

a wireless module;

a plurality of connectors;

a power supply system;

a control panel;

a plurality of temperature control units;

a plurality of temperature probes;

a speaker;

the circuit board, the microchip and the wireless module being located within the enclosure;

the plurality of connectors being positioned on the enclosure and traversing into the enclosure;

the plurality of connectors comprises a grill connector, a plurality of meat connector, a power connector, a gas connector, a plurality of fan connectors, and a plurality of louver connectors;

the power supply system, the control panel, the plurality of temperature control units, the plurality of temperature probes, and the speaker being positioned around the enclosure;

the power supply system comprises a power cord, an input protector, a reference voltage unit, and a voltage regulator;

the power cord being electrically connected to the power connector;

the input protector being electronically connected to the circuit board;

the reference voltage unit being electronically connected to the circuit board;

the voltage regulator being electronically connected to the circuit board;

the plurality of temperature control units comprises components selected from the group consisting of a gas regulator, a plurality of fans, a plurality of louver systems, a regulator cable, a plurality of fan cables, and a plurality of louver cables;

the plurality of louver systems being aligned with the plurality of fans;

the gas regulator being electrically connected to the plurality data ports by the regulator cable;

the plurality of fans being electrically connected to the plurality of fan connectors by the plurality of fan cables; and

the plurality of louver systems being electrically connected to the plurality of louver connectors by the plurality of louver cables.

2. The grill controller device as claimed in claim 1 comprises,

the plurality of connectors being electronically connected to the circuit board;

the microchip being electronically connected to the circuit board;

the wireless module being electronically connected to the circuit board;

the speaker being positioned on the enclosure and electronically connected to the circuit board; and

the control panel being positioned on the enclosure and electronically connected to the circuit board.

3. The grill controller device as claimed in claim 2 comprises,

the control panel comprises components selected from the group consisting of a touch screen and a plurality of buttons;

the touch screen being electronically connected with the circuit board; and

the plurality of buttons being electronically connected with the circuit board.

4. The grill controller device as claimed in claim 1 comprises,

the plurality of temperature probes comprises a grill temperature probe, a grill probe cable, a plurality of meat temperature probes, and a plurality of meat probe cables;

the grill temperature probe being electrically connected to the grill connector by the grill probe cable; and

the plurality of meat temperature probes being electrically connected to the plurality of meat connectors by the plurality of meat probe cables.

5. A network system for remotely accessing a grill controller device comprises,

a grill controller device;

a home router;

a web-enabled computing device;

a cell tower;

a remote server;

the grill controller device being communicatively coupled with the remote server through a first secure data channel;

the grill controller device being communicatively coupled with the home router through the Wi-Fi network, wherein the first secure data channel is implemented;

the web-enabled computing device being communicatively coupled with the grill controller device through the Wi-Fi network;

the web-enabled computing device being communicatively coupled with the cell tower through a mobile network, wherein the second secure data channel is implemented;

the cell tower and the second secure data channel being communicatively coupled with the remote server through the worldwide network, wherein the worldwide network is recognized as Internet; and

the web-enabled computing device being communicatively coupled with the remote server through a second secure data channel or through a Wi-Fi network.

6. A method of operating a grill controller device with a computing device by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method comprises the steps of:

providing a plurality of user accounts, wherein each of the plurality of user accounts includes a grill temperature history, a user account name, a password, an unique device identifier, a social network profile, and a plurality of recipes;

providing a grill controller device, wherein the grill controller device comprises a grill temperature probe, a plurality of meat temperature probes, and a plurality of temperature control units;

providing a graphic user interface, wherein a web-enabled computing device or the grill controller device can display the graphic user interface;

prompting to enter the user account name, the password, and the unique device identifier in order to access a particular user account from the plurality of user accounts and the grill controller device;

continuously retrieving feedback loop data for the particular user account from the plurality of meat temperature probes and the grill temperature probe, wherein the feedback loop data includes a current grill temperature and a plurality of current meat temperatures;

storing the current grill temperature and the plurality of current meat temperatures to the particular user account;

displaying the current grill temperature, the grill temperature history, and the plurality of current meat temperatures on the graphic user interface;

prompting to enter an initial input temperature or to create a cooking profile through the graphic user interface;

storing the initial input temperature or the cooking profile within the grill temperature history;

wherein the grill temperature history includes a plurality of prior input temperatures and cooking profiles;

prompting to adjust the current grill temperature to the initial input temperature with the plurality of temperature control units, wherein the plurality of temperature control units comprises a plurality of louver systems, a plurality of fans, and a gas regulator; and

prompting to activate a plurality of alerts through the graphic user interface, wherein the plurality of alerts includes a low fuel alert, and a plurality of meat temperature alerts.

7. The method of operating a grill controller device with a computing device by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in claim 6 comprises the steps of:

prompting to manage the plurality of louver systems through the graphic user interface;

sending a louver control signal to the grill controller device;

prompting to manage the plurality of fans on the graphic user interface; and

sending a fan control signal to the grill controller device.

8. The method of operating a grill controller device with a computing device by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in claim 6 comprises the steps of:

prompting to manage the gas regulator through the graphic user interface; and

sending a regulator signal to the grill controller device.

9. The method of operating a grill controller device with a computing device by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in claim 6 comprises the steps of:

displaying the social network profile of each of the plurality of user accounts with each other;

uploading the plurality of recipes through the social network profile, wherein the plurality of recipes is shared between the plurality of user accounts;

uploading a plurality of cooking profiles through the social network profile, wherein the plurality of cooking profiles includes at least one of the cooking profile;

sharing the plurality of cooking profiles between the plurality of user accounts; and

uploading a plurality of comments through the social network profile, wherein the plurality of comments is shared between the plurality of user accounts.

10. The method of operating a grill controller device with a computing device by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in claim 6 comprises the steps of:

prompting to enter the cooking profile on the graphic user interface;

displaying a cooking profile activation icon on the graphic user interface;

sending a cooking profile signal to the grill controller device to activate the cooking profile; and

conducting automatic adjustments for the plurality of temperature control units and the plurality of alerts according to the cooking profile.

11. The method of operating a grill controller device with a computing device by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in claim 6 comprises the steps of:

retrieving a low fuel condition from the grill controller device, if the current grill temperature does not increase relative to a specified time period;

displaying a low fuel alert icon on the graphic user interface; and

sending a low fuel alert signal to the grill controller device to activate the low fuel alert.

12. The method of operating a grill controller device with a computing device by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in claim 6 comprises the steps of:

prompting to enter a plurality of meat temperatures on the graphic user interface;

activating the plurality of meat temperature alerts, if the current grill temperature is equal to the plurality of meat temperatures;

displaying a plurality of meat alert icons on the graphic user interface, if the plurality of meat temperatures is equal to the plurality of meat temperatures; and

sending a plurality of meat alert activation signal to the grill controller device, if the plurality of meat temperatures is equal to the plurality of meat temperatures.