Programmable cooking or baking apparatus and method
First Claim
1. In combination, a container having a code on an exterior surface thereof;
- a food product; and
a stand alone appliance, such as a stove, broiler, oven, convection oven, and microwave, said appliance having a control system for automatically operating said appliance, said control comprising;
a non-contact scanner mounted in an interior portion of said appliance;
a scanner window on an outer surface of said appliance for allowing a user of said appliance to scan said code by passing said container across said scanner window;
a programmable data storage and processing device such as a microprocessor or computer mounted in said interior of said appliance for processing data from said scanner; and
a computer program stored in said microprocessor or computer.
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Abstract
A programmable apparatus and method for controlling the time and temperature of a cooking or baking cycle. The apparatus comprises; a cooking or baking appliance, such as a conventional stove, broiler, conventional oven, convection oven, microwave oven or barbeque; a data storage and processing device such as a microprocessor or computer; a program stored in the microprocessor or computer for processing a code to control the time and temperature of the cooking or baking cycle; a device for entering the code into the microprocessor or computer; and a code which is provided by a party other than a user of the apparatus. In a first aspect of the invention, the code is a bar code on a food package and the device for entering the bar code is a scanner which is in the interior of the programmable apparatus. In another aspect of the invention, the code is entered at a remote location, such as an internet site, transmitter or a telephone apparatus.
117 Citations
14 Claims
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1. In combination, a container having a code on an exterior surface thereof;
- a food product; and
a stand alone appliance, such as a stove, broiler, oven, convection oven, and microwave, said appliance having a control system for automatically operating said appliance, said control comprising;
a non-contact scanner mounted in an interior portion of said appliance;
a scanner window on an outer surface of said appliance for allowing a user of said appliance to scan said code by passing said container across said scanner window;
a programmable data storage and processing device such as a microprocessor or computer mounted in said interior of said appliance for processing data from said scanner; and
a computer program stored in said microprocessor or computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- a food product; and
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7. A method for automatically controlling times and temperatures of a cooking or baking cycle of a stand alone self contained appliance, such as a stove, broiler, convection oven or microwave oven comprising:
- the steps of scanning a bar code on a food package with a scanner mounted in an interior of said appliance, processing an output of said scanner in a programmed data storage and processing device mounted in an interior of said appliance;
using an output of said data storage and processing device to automatically control the times and temperatures of said cooking or baking cycle of said appliance. - View Dependent Claims (8)
- the steps of scanning a bar code on a food package with a scanner mounted in an interior of said appliance, processing an output of said scanner in a programmed data storage and processing device mounted in an interior of said appliance;
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9. An automated method for controlling times and temperatures of a cooking or baking cycle of a stand alone self contained appliance, such as a stove, broiler, convection oven or microwave oven comprising:
- the steps of reading a bar code of time and temperature data with a card reader of said appliance mounted in said appliance, processing said code in a pre-programmed data storage and processing device of said appliance;
using an output of said data storage and processing device to control a cooking or baking cycle of said appliance.
- the steps of reading a bar code of time and temperature data with a card reader of said appliance mounted in said appliance, processing said code in a pre-programmed data storage and processing device of said appliance;
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10. In a stand alone appliance, such as a stove, broiler, oven, convection oven, microwave oven or barbecue for heating a food product in said appliance, the improvement comprising:
- a control mounted in said appliance for automatically operating said appliance, said control having a non-contact bar code scanner mounted in an interior portion of said appliance for scanning a bar code on a container;
a scanner window on an outer surface of said appliance for allowing a user to scan said bar code by passing said container across said scanner window;
a programmable data storage and processing device such as a microprocessor or computer mounted in said interior of said appliance for processing data from said scanner; and
a computer program stored in said microprocessor or computer.
- a control mounted in said appliance for automatically operating said appliance, said control having a non-contact bar code scanner mounted in an interior portion of said appliance for scanning a bar code on a container;
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11. In a stand alone appliance, such as a stove, broiler, oven, convection oven, microwave oven or barbecue for heating a food product in said appliance, a non-contact for operating said appliance, said non-contact means comprising:
- an input device mounted in an interior portion of said appliance for receiving data from a source which is remote from said input device;
a means for transmitting data from said remote source;
a programmable data storage and processing device such as a microprocessor or computer mounted in said interior of said appliance for receiving and processing data from said input device; and
a computer program stored in said microprocessor or computer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
- an input device mounted in an interior portion of said appliance for receiving data from a source which is remote from said input device;
Specification