Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an oven wherein the cooking efficiency is improved.

[0002] Food is baked by being heated in various methods inside the oven, and since the outer surface of the food appears as if it is baked but the inner part of which is yet to be baked, the user is misguided and takes the food out of the oven before it is fully baked. In the embodiments wherein the temperature and/or moisture inside the oven is detected and hence the cooking times are arranged, it can be determined by means of the values calculated by approximate estimates, whether the inner part of the food is baked.

[0003] In the state of the art, temperature probes stuck into the food are used for an exact measurement of the inner temperature of the food during cooking. These probes are generally named as meat probe. The temperature data received from the sensor that is located at the portion of the probes remaining inside the food is transmitted to the control circuit of the oven by a cable covered with heat insulating material. Thus, the control card, which also arranges the operating times of the oven, detects that the food is fully heated or baked and hence terminates the cooking process. Most of the probes with a simpler structure have a temperature indicator on them and do not contribute to the cooking process of the oven; only the temperature data written thereon can be read by the user.

[0004] In the state of the art Great Britain Patent Application No GB 1491739, a probe is described which detects the inner temperature of the meat disposed in microwave oven. The cable of the probe is covered with a material that will not be affected by the waves radiated by the microwave oven and transmits the temperature measurement of the meat to the control unit.

[0005] In the state of the art United States of America Patent Application No US 4088863, a cordless probe is described which is used for measuring the inner temperature of the food to be baked that is disposed into the oven. A latch that moves at the portion of the probe remaining inside the food when heated, lights the bulb at the top portion of the probe that remains outside the food. The photosensitive means disposed in the inner volume of the oven transmits the data that the food is baked to the oven control circuitry according to the light emitted from the probe. However, this system does not provide an exact detection of the temperature of the food and the transmission of it to the user. Furthermore, unless the probe stands with a certain angle inside the food, the photosensitive means cannot detect the light of the probe.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is the realization of an oven that provides a cooking exactly at the desired degree.

[0007] The oven realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[0008] The oven comprises a cooking chamber wherein foods to be baked are disposed, a probe which is stuck into the food and which measures the inner temperature of the food, and a control unit which arranges the cooking process.

[0009] The probe has a long, thin structure in order to be placed into the food easily. At the portion which remains inside the food, the probe comprises a detector and an electronic circuit which emits the temperature data received from the detector by an antenna that is located at the portion of the probe remaining outside the food.

[0010] The inner temperature data of the food measured by the detector is converted to analog signal in the circuit. This signal is emitted by means of the antenna. A receiver receives these signals, reconverts them to digital signals and transmits them to the control unit. Thus, the control unit controlling the cooking time by turning the heaters on and off at determined intervals, receives instant inner temperature data of the food and hence arranges the control mechanism accordingly.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the probe comprises a circuit at its portion remaining inside the food. Thus, the area wherein the circuit is located, is protected from the heat of the cooking chamber without the need of covering it with a separate insulating material. Starting to bake by heating up from the outside towards the inside, although the outer surface of the food has almost the same temperature with the cooking chamber, the food is baked when the inner temperature rises up to a temperature whereat the circuit will not be damaged and the food is taken out of the oven.

[0012] By means of the embodiment of the present invention, the inner temperature of the food can be measured exactly and transmitted instantly to the control unit. The probe used for measuring the temperature can be placed into the food at the desired angle.

[0013] The oven realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0014] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of an oven.

[0015] Figure 2 - is the schematic view of the probe of the present invention.

[0016] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

[0017] L Oven

[0018] 2. Cooking chamber

[0019] 3. Probe

[0020] 4. Control unit

[0021] 5. Detector

[0022] 6. Circuit

[0023] 7. Antenna

[0024] 8. Receiver

[0025] 9. Notch

[0026] 10. Display (Screen)

[0027] 11. Warning means

[0028] The oven (1) comprises a cooking chamber (2) wherein the cooking process is performed, a probe (3) which is placed into the food to be baked that is located in the cooking chamber (2) and which measures moisture and/or temperature, and a control unit (4) which arranges the cooking processes.

[0029] The oven (1) furthermore comprises a probe (3) having

- a detector (5) located at the portion which remains inside the food,

- a circuit (6) making the data received from the detector (5) suitable for wireless communication, - an antenna (7) emitting the data received from the circuit (6)

[0030] and

[0031] a receiver (8) transmitting the emitted signals to the control circuit.

[0032] Thus, the inner temperature of the food is measured instantly by the detector (5) and converted to signal in the circuit (6), and this signal is emitted into the cooking chamber (2) by means of the antenna (7). The receiver (8) that is located in the control unit (4) controlling the operation of the oven (1) reads the emitted temperature signal. Thus, the inner temperature of the food joins the operating algorithm of the control unit (4) instantly in a wireless way and the control unit (4) arranges the operating times of the heaters located in the oven (1) according to this data. The cooking situations according to varieties of food can either be controlled by temperature increases or can be controlled by changes in moisture. For example, even though the temperature of cake reaches the desired level, its inner portion can remain moist. Therefore, the data received from the detector (5) that measures the amount of moisture inside the food plays an important role for arranging the cooking algorithm.

[0033] Furthermore, the oven (1) comprises a control unit (4) that directs the cooking algorithm by the data received from the circuit (6). For varieties of food inputted by the user or detected automatically, different cooking temperature levels are loaded into the control card (4). During the cooking, when the temperature received from the detector (5) reaches the cooking temperature of the food, the control unit (4) can terminate the cooking process by turning off the heaters of the oven (1).

[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, the probe (3) comprises a circuit (6) at the portion remaining inside the food. Thus, the area wherein the circuit (6) is located, is protected from the heat of the cooking chamber (2) without the need of covering it with a separate insulating material. Although the temperature of the cooking chamber (2) can rise up to 250° C, foods are generally baked when their inner temperature is 85 ⁰ C. By means of this embodiment, the circuit (6) comprising components that malfunction at high temperatures remains inside the food and hence is insulated from the ambient heat. [0035] In another embodiment of the present invention, the probe (3) comprises a notch (9) which marks the portion of the detector (5) and circuit (6) that will remain inside the food. The notch (9) is bar-shaped, showing how much of the probe (3) must be placed inside the food. Thus, the circuit (6) that is not protected by a separate insulation is assured to remain inside the food and hence insulated from the heat of the cooking chamber (2).

[0036] In another embodiment of the present invention, the probe (3) comprises a circuit (6) located in a special insulation in order not to be affected by the heat of the cooking chamber (2). The circuit (6) is covered with a heat-proof material and hence can continue to operate properly inside or outside the food without being affected by the heat of the cooking chamber (2). By means of this embodiment, the circuit (6) is prevented from being damaged in case the user does not place the probe (3) such that the circuit (6) will completely remain inside the food.

[0037] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises a display (10) on its body in order to transmit the inner temperature and/or moisture of the food to the user. Thus, when the user prefers for example rare meat, the user can take the food, which is baked at the desired degree and which does not lose the inner moisture, out of the cooking chamber (2) by means of the display (10).

[0038] In another embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises a warning means (11) in order to transmit the cooking situation of the food to the user. This warning means (11) can give a warning to the user when the inner temperature of the food reaches the determined value or when the control unit (4) terminates the program.

[0039] In an embodiment of the present invention, the warning means (11) gives warning by speaking. In this embodiment, the user can be informed at determined intervals about the inner temperature and moisture of the food.

[0040] By means of the probe (3) used in the oven (1) of the present invention, it is assured that the cooking foods are overall fully baked. At the same time, by means of this embodiment, it is assured that the desired result is obtained when underbaked or overbaked food is preferred.

[0041] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and an expert in the technique can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.