Intelligent cooking apparatuses and methods

• US 9,439,530 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2016
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Twin Harbor Labs, LLC (Bradley David Liddle)
• Original Assignee: Twin Harbor Labs, LLC (Bradley David Liddle)
• Inventors: Logan, James D, Carr, Eric, Baker, Richard A Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ross, Dana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Teaters, Lindsey C
• Application Number:
  US14/993,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20160198885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 245 Days
• Field of Search: 99325-328, 99330-333, 993/37, 993/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2203/00 Devices having filling level indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/002 Construction of cooking-vessels; Methods or processes of manufacturing specially adapted for cooking-vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/00 Parts, details or accessories of cooking-vessels A47J27/00 - A47J33/00 take precedence insofar as these parts, details or accessories are restricted to a particular kind of cooking-vessel provided for in a single one of these groups
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/14 Pouring-spouts, e.g. as parts separate from vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/165 Stirring devices operatively connected to cooking vessels when being removably inserted inside mixing, whipping, or beating devices A47J43/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/321 the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition

Abstract

Intelligent cooking apparatuses incorporate wireless communication technology to carryout cooking procedures. More specifically, stoves, ovens, and cookware may send and receive data wirelessly to carryout cooking procedures. An application may guide persons through recipes and automate many of the cooking procedures. Cookware may send batch information to an application for processing, display, and analysis. Cookware may use hardware for automated cooking actions, such as a magnetic stirrer and driver for stirring the contents in cookware, all monitored by various sensors located in the cookware.

Claims

1. A system for cooking in a kitchen using a smart phone, an intelligent heating device and a cooking apparatus, the system comprising:

the smart phone, the smart phone comprising;

a smart phone data transceiver for communicating with the cooking apparatus and the intelligent heating device;

an application for receiving and sending messages through the smart phone data transceiver to the cooking apparatus, the application receiving data from the cooking apparatus regarding the cooking of a cooking product;

the intelligent heating device, comprising;

a processor;

an intelligent heating device transceiver electrically connected to the processor, for wireless communicating with the cooking apparatus, wherein communications with the cooking apparatus include instructions from the cooking apparatus to the intelligent heating device regarding the cooking of the cooking product; and

a heating element electrically connected to the processor;

the cooking apparatus, comprising;

a base for conducting heat from the heating element into the cooking apparatus;

walls mechanically attached to the base, the walls for containing contents within the cooking apparatus;

a handle mechanically attached to the walls of the cooking apparatus;

a computing device mechanically located in the handle, the computing device comprising;

a processor;

a cooking apparatus transceiver electrically connected to the processor, for wireless communicating with the smart phone, wherein communications with the smart phone include data sent to the smart phone from the cooking apparatus regarding the cooking of the cooking product and instructions sent from the cooking apparatus to the intelligent heating device regarding the cooking of the cooking product;

a volume sensor for determining a volume of cooking product in the cooking apparatus, the volume sensor mechanically located in the walls of the cooking apparatus and electrically connected to the processor;

a power supply electrically connected to the processor and the cooking apparatus transceiver.

2. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a viscosity sensor for monitoring viscosity of contents within the cooking apparatus, the viscosity sensor mechanically located in the walls or base of the cooking apparatus and electrically connected to the processor.

3. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a smell sensor for monitoring smell of contents within the cooking apparatus, the smell sensor mechanically located in the walls of the cooking apparatus and electrically connected to the processor.

4. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pressure sensor for monitoring the pressure within the cooking apparatus, the pressure sensor mechanically located in the walls or base of the cooking apparatus and electrically connected to the processor.

5. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a gradient temperature sensor for monitoring temperature of contents within the cooking apparatus, the gradient temperature sensor mechanically located in the walls of the cooking apparatus and electrically connected to the processor, wherein the gradient temperature sensor consists of a string of evenly spaced temperature sensors.

6. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a saline sensor for monitoring salinity of contents within the cooking apparatus, the saline sensor mechanically located in the walls or base of the cooking apparatus and electrically connected to the processor.

7. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power supply converts heat into electricity for powering the computing device.

8. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle incorporates a reservoir for storing water or broth.

9. The cooking apparatus of claim 8 wherein the reservoir automatically dispenses the liquid into the cooking apparatus under control of the processor.

10. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a vent mechanically located on the walls of the cooking apparatus, wherein the processor is electrically connected to the vent and automatically controls a release of heat from within the cooking apparatus.

11. An intelligent cooking apparatus for use in a kitchen comprising:

a base for conducting heat from an intelligent stove heating element into the cooking apparatus;

walls mechanically attached to the base, the walls for containing contents within the cooking apparatus;

a handle mechanically attached to the walls of the cooking apparatus;

a computing device mechanically located in the handle, the computing device comprising;

a processor;

a transceiver electrically connected to the processor, for wireless communicating with a smart phone, wherein communications with the smart phone include data sent to the smart phone from the cooking apparatus and instructions sent to the intelligent stove heating element regarding the parameters for cooking a cooking product;

a plurality of different types of sensors electrically connected to the processor, wherein the sensors monitor the cooking product within the cooking apparatus, the sensors mechanically located in the walls and base of the cooking apparatus;

a power supply electrically connected to the processor and the transceiver.

12. The intelligent cooking apparatus for use in the kitchen of claim 11 wherein at least one of the sensors include a viscosity sensor.

13. The intelligent cooking apparatus for use in the kitchen of claim 11 wherein at least one of the sensors include a volume sensor.

14. The intelligent cooking apparatus for use in the kitchen of claim 11 wherein at least one of the sensors include a pressure sensor.

15. The intelligent cooking apparatus for use in the kitchen of claim 11 wherein at least one of the sensors include a gradient temperature sensor, wherein the gradient temperature sensor consists of a string of evenly spaced temperature sensors.

16. The intelligent cooking apparatus for use in the kitchen of claim 11 wherein at least one of the sensors include a saline sensor.

17. The intelligent cooking apparatus for use in the kitchen of claim 11 wherein the power supply converts heat into electricity for powering the computing device.

18. The intelligent cooking apparatus for use in the kitchen of claim 11 wherein the handle incorporates a reservoir for storing water or broth.

19. The intelligent cooking apparatus for use in the kitchen of claim 18 wherein the reservoir automatically dispenses the liquid into the cooking apparatus under control of the processor.

20. The intelligent cooking apparatus for use in the kitchen of claim 11 further comprising a vent mechanically located on the walls of the cooking apparatus, wherein the processor is electrically connected to the vent and automatically controls a release of heat from within the cooking apparatus.