Code translation program for precision sous vide cooker device

• US 10,136,752 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2015
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anova Applied Electronics, Inc. (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Anova Applied Electronics, Inc. (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Wu, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US14/727,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20150342389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: 99348, 99403, 99483, 99330, 426390, 426496, 426506, 426509, 426519
• CPC Class Codes: A21B 7/005 in combination with mixing or kneading devices
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/13 using water or steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/10 Cooking-vessels with water-bath arrangements for domestic use
• 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 37/1257 electrically heated A47J37/1209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/1266 Control devices, e.g. to control temperature, level or quality of the frying liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/044 with tools driven from the top side
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/082 for machines with tools driven from the upper side A47J43/087, A47J43/09 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/5011 portable during use, e.g. hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/5012 adapted to be mounted during use on a standard, base or support
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/085 on ranges
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/68 Heating arrangements specially adapted for cooking plates or analogous hot-plates
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/1209 induction cooking plates or the like and devices to be used in combination with them

Abstract

A method for translating cooking time and temperatures for prepackaged food products. The sous-vide program allows users to cook to a food manufacturer recommended doneness based on the size, shape and fat content of the food. The program also lets user adjust setting if the users modified the food product like cut it in half. The program can be located on the sous vide cooking device or on person computing device.

Claims

1. A portable sous vide cooking device comprising:

a processor, a memory, a display, a heating element, an optical reader, and an agitator;

the memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to;

read, by the optical reader, a machine-readable code;

translate the machine-readable code into one or more cooking attributes;

determine a temperature, speed, and cook time based on the one or more cooking attributes; and

control automatically, the heating element to the determined temperature, the agitator to the determined speed to heat water in a container to the temperature, and the display to the determined cook time.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:

receive supplemental cooking attributes and a doneness level;

determine a new temperature and a new cook time based on the one or more cooking attributes, the supplemental cooking attributes and the doneness level; and

configure;

the heating element to the new temperature;

the agitator to the new speed to heat the water in the container to the new temperature; and

the display to the new cook time.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:

render, at the display, a notification of an unsafe cook time and temperature when the new cook time and the new temperatures are outside a threshold safety value.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:

render, at the display, a notification of an unsafe cook time and temperature when the cook time and the temperatures are outsides a threshold safety value.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable code is a QR code.

6. The device of claim 1, where the machine-readable code is a 3D barcode.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to render, at the display, the cook time and the temperature.

8. A portable sous vide cooking system, comprising:

a processor, a memory, a heating element, a wireless receiver, an agitator, a display, and a housing configured to be at least partially submerged in a container of water;

the memory being coupled with the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to;

receive, via the wireless receiver, a machine-readable code;

translate the machine-readable code into one or more cooking attributes;

determine a temperature, speed, and cook time based on the one or more cooking attributes;

automatically configure the heating element to the temperature and the agitator to the speed to heat the water in the container to the temperature, and the display according to the cook time; and

render, at the display, a notification of an unsafe cook time and temperature when the new cook time and the new temperature are outside a threshold safety value.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the machine-readable code is received from a source external to the system.

10. A portable sous vide cooking device, comprising:

a processor;

a display device coupled to the processor;

a memory storing instructions;

a wireless receiver configured to receive inputs wirelessly;

a heating element; and

an agitator;

wherein the processor is coupled with the memory, the wireless receiver, the heating element and the agitator, wherein the processor is configured to access the instructions stored in the memory, and when executing the instructions the processor is configured to;

set a cook time and a temperature based upon cooking attributes obtained from an input including a translation of a machine-readable code received by the wireless receiver;

receive supplemental cooking attributes from the wireless receiver, wherein the supplemental cooking attributes include a new temperature;

in response to receiving the supplemental cooking attributes, change the set temperature to the new temperature;

automatically actuate the heating element to the new temperature;

automatically set a new cook time;

adjust a speed of the agitator to a speed to heat the water in the container to the new temperature; and

render, at the display device of the portable sous vide cooking device, a notification of an unsafe cook time and temperature when the new cook time and the new temperature are outside a threshold safety value.

11. The portable sous vide cooking device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured, upon execution of the instructions stored in the memory to:

control the display device to display to the new cook time.

12. A method comprising:

receiving, wirelessly at a portable sous vide cooking device a machine-readable code;

obtaining, by a processor at the portable sous vide cooking device, one or more cooking attributes from a translation of the machine-readable code;

determining, at the portable sous vide cooking device, a temperature and cook time based on the one or more cooking attributes;

configuring, the portable sous vide cooking device, to automatically actuate a heater and an agitator of the portable sous vide cooking device to heat water in a container to the temperature; and

rendering, at a display of the portable sous vide cooking device, a notification of an unsafe cook time and temperature when the cook time and the temperature are outside a threshold safety value.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving, at the portable sous vide cooking device, supplemental cooking attributes;

receiving, at the portable sous vide cooking device, a doneness level;

determining, at the portable sous vide cooking device, a new temperature and a new cook time based on the one or more cooking attributes, the supplemental cooking attributes and the doneness level; and

configuring, the portable sous vide cooking device, to the new temperature and the new cook time, wherein the configuring includes actuating the heater and the agitator of the portable sous vide cooking device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

rendering, at the display of the portable sous vide cooking device, a notification of an unsafe cook time and temperature when the new cook time and the new temperatures are outside a threshold safety value.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the machine-readable code is a QR code.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the machine-readable code is a 3D bar code.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

rendering, at the display of the portable sous vide cooking device, the cook time and the temperature.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the machine-readable code is received from a device external to the portable sous vide cooking device.

19. A method comprising:

receiving, wirelessly at a portable sous vide cooking device a machine-readable code;

obtaining, by a processor at the portable sous vide cooking device, one or more cooking attributes from a translation of the machine-readable code;

determining, at the portable sous vide cooking device, a temperature and cook time based on the one or more cooking attributes;

configuring, the portable sous vide cooking device, to automatically actuate a heater and an agitator of the portable sous vide cooking device to heat water in a container to the temperature;

receiving, at the portable sous vide cooking device, supplemental cooking attributes;

receiving, at the portable sous vide cooking device, a doneness level;

determining, at the portable sous vide cooking device, a new temperature and a new cook time based on the one or more cooking attributes, the supplemental cooking attributes and the doneness level;

configuring, the portable sous vide cooking device, to the new temperature and the new cook time, wherein the configuring includes actuating the heater and the agitator of the portable sous vide cooking device; and

rendering, at a display of the portable sous vide cooking device, a notification of an unsafe cook time and temperature when the new cook time and the new temperatures are outside a threshold safety value.