Abstract: The invention relates to an optical system for an induction cooking device with at least one induction coil (2) and an at least partially transparent or semi-transparent top plate (3), the optical system (10) comprising at least one light source (11) to be arranged in a central area of said induction coil (2) in order to provide light through a central opening (2.1) of said induction coil (2), light deflecting means (12) configured to receive light from the light source (11) and provide said light at one or more openings (12.1) and light guiding means (13) for guiding light provided at said one or more openings (12.1) in an area between the upper side of the induction coil (2) and the lower side of the top plate (3), said light guiding means (13) being configured to guide the light into a space between the induction coil (2) and the top plate (3) and provide a light indicator at the top side of the top plate (3).

Abstract: A sensor probe (10) for measuring a food preparation parameter, comprises an elongate handle portion (12) for manipulating the sensor probe, an elongate sensor portion (14), and a stepped connecting portion (16) connecting the handle portion (12) and the sensor portion (14), such that the longitudinal axis of the handle portion is offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sensor portion.

Abstract: A system for preparing or semi-preparing food that includes at least one 3D printer and at least one food supporting device. The 3D printer includes at least one extruder for delivering and modelling at least one food paste and/or food powder onto the food supporting device, and at least one heating device for preheating the food paste and/or the food powder and at least one cooling device for precooling the food paste and/or the food powder. The 3D printer is controlled or controllable by a user interface, microcontroller, computer and/or computer program. The system includes at least one cooking hob for heating the modelled food on the food supporting device. The temperature for each food paste and/or food powder is individually adjustable. The food supporting device is a pan, cooking vessel, cooking pot, tray, plancha or container arranged on a cooking zone of the cooking hob.

Abstract: An easy-to-manufacture wide-band antenna arrangement and a kitchen appliance including this antenna arrangement are provided. A resonating part of the antenna arrangement has a flat shape, its outer edges have an elliptical curvature and a coaxial cable is located at a feed in a slit in the middle of the resonating plate. The resonating plate is parallel to a ground plane, and together those parts form a planar inverted-F antenna. Such an antenna is useful in combination with a kitchen hob and sensor applications that wirelessly communicate with the kitchen hob, e.g. for improving cooking results.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hob comprising a transparent or semi-transparent hob plate (2) and multiple heating elements (3) arranged below said hob plate (2), the hob further comprising illumination means arranged below said hob plate (2) for providing light markings (4) at the upper side (2.1) of the hob plate (2), said light markings (4) indicating heating zones (5) associated with the heating elements (3), wherein the illumination means comprise a light box (10) with at least a bottom wall portion (11) and a pair of side wall portions (12), said light box (10) including one or more lighting elements (13) for illuminating an interior space (14) of the light box (10), wherein the light box (10) further comprises an upper portion (15) being adapted to emit light towards the hob plate (2) in order to provide said light marking (4) at the upper side of the hob plate (2).

Abstract: A sensor probe (10) for measuring a food preparation parameter, comprises an elongate handle portion (12) for manipulating the sensor probe, an elongate sensor portion (14), and a stepped connecting portion (16) connecting the handle portion (12) and the sensor portion (14), such that the longitudinal axis of the handle portion is offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sensor portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical system for an induction cooking device with at least one induction coil (2) and an at least partially transparent or semi-transparent top plate (3), the optical system (10) comprising at least one light source (11) to be arranged in a central area of said induction coil (2) in order to provide light through a central opening (2.1) of said induction coil (2), light deflecting means (12) configured to receive light from the light source (11) and provide said light at one or more openings (12.1) and light guiding means (13) for guiding light provided at said one or more openings (12.1) in an area between the upper side of the induction coil (2) and the lower side of the top plate (3), said light guiding means (13) being configured to guide the light into a space between the induction coil (2) and the top plate (3) and provide a light indicator at the top side of the top plate (3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for preparing or semi-preparing food, wherein said system includes at least one 3D printer (10) and at least one food supporting device (12). The 3D printer (10) includes at least one extruder (14) for delivering and modelling at least one food paste and/or food powder onto the food supporting device (12). The 3D printer (10) includes at least one heating device for preheating the food paste and/or the food powder and at least one cooling device for precooling the food paste and/or the food powder. The 3D printer (10) is controlled or controllable by a user interface, micro-controller, computer and/or computer program. The system includes at least one cooking hob for heating the modelled food (20) on the food supporting device (12). The temperature for each food paste and/or food powder is individually adjustable. The food supporting device (12) is a pan, cooking vessel, cooking pot, tray, plancha or container arranged on a cooking zone of the cooking hob.

Abstract: A method to safeguard an automated process in a household appliance, such as an assisted cooking process which has failure detection routines and failure handling routines. A number of failures and errors are discussed and a response to a detected failure is based on a control parameter such as an input power to the cooking process in order to trigger the magnitude of the response. A corresponding computer program product and kitchen hob with a sensor are provided as well.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooking control device that comprises sensors (120) and a communication unit (145) to communicate with a display processing device (170). In this manner, taste values of the cooking substance reflecting the current status of the cooking process can be compared with pre-stored taste values representative of a desired cooking result and seasoning advice according to a recipe can be established and presented to a user to converge the cooking status with the desired cooking result.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature detection assembly (10) for a cooking pot (24). Said temperature detection assembly (10) comprises a straight and elongated bar (12), at least one SAW (surface acoustic wave) temperature sensor (10) arranged inside a lower end portion of the bar (12), a sensor antenna (16) connected to an upper end of the bar (12), and at least one handle (18) connected to the upper end of the bar (12). The SAW temperature sensor (10) or a heat conducting element connected to said SAW temperature sensor (10) is spaced from a lower end of the bar (12) by a predetermined distance, wherein a non-heat-conducting material is arranged between the SAW temperature sensor (10) or the heat conducting element, respectively, and the lower end of the bar (12). Further, the present invention relates to a lid (20) for a cooking pot (24), wherein the lid (20) is provided for receiving a temperature detection assembly (10) with a straight and elongated bar (12).

Abstract: The invention relates to a hob comprising a transparent or semi-transparent hob plate (2) and multiple heating elements (3) arranged below said hob plate (2), the hob further comprising illumination means arranged below said hob plate (2) for providing light markings (4) at the upper side (2.1) of the hob plate (2), said light markings (4) indicating heating zones (5) associated with the heating elements (3), wherein the illumination means comprise a light box (10) with at least a bottom wall portion (11) and a pair of side wall portions (12), said light box (10) including one or more lighting elements (13) for illuminating an interior space (14) of the light box (10), wherein the light box (10) further comprises an upper portion (15) being adapted to emit light towards the hob plate (2) in order to provide said light marking (4) at the upper side of the hob plate (2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooking appliance (10) comprising at least one cooking surface (12, 14). The cooking surface includes a horizontal top side (12) and at least one basin (14) extending downwards from said top side (12). The basin (14) is provided for receiving at least one cooking vessel (22, 24, 26), so that the cooking vessel (22, 24, 26) is at least partially enclosed by the basin (16). The basin (14) includes a horizontal bottom (16) and a side wall (18) enclosing said bottom (16). The top side (12) of the cooking surface encloses an upper edge of the side wall (18) of the basin (14). At least one heating element is arranged below and/or inside the bottom (16) of the basin (14). At least one temperature sensor is arranged inside and/or below the basin (14), so that the temperature sensor is in a direct or indirect thermal contact with a corresponding cooking vessel (22, 24, 26).

Abstract: A cooking system (1), particularly suitable for a sous vide cooking process of at least one piece of foodstuff (9), particularly vacuum packaged foodstuff (9), comprising a cooking pot (2), and an insert (3) suitable for positioning of said foodstuff (9), wherein the insert is arrangable in said cooking pot (2), wherein said insert (3) comprises at least one positioning element (4) for positioning a foodstuff (9) spaced to at least one wall (7) and/or lid (10) of said cooking pot (2) and/or spaced to a surface of a fluid fillable or filled into the cooking pot (2), and wherein the insert (3), particularly the at least one positioning element (4) comprises a fluid circulation enhancing means, suitable for enhancement of circulation of said fluid (5) in said cooking pot (2).

Abstract: The present invention in particular is related to a method of conducting a liquid-based cooking process for food (8) with a cooking hob assembly (1) which comprises a cooking zone (3) with a heating element, a controller (4) and a temperature sensor (5). With the method, the controller (4) measures the liquid temperature of liquid inside a cooking vessel (6) via the temperature sensor (5) immersed in the liquid and controls the liquid temperature.

Abstract: A method to safeguard an automated process in a household appliance, such as an assisted cooking process which has failure detection routines and failure handling routines. A number of failures and errors are discussed and a response to a detected failure is based on a control parameter such as an input power to the cooking process in order to trigger the magnitude of the response. A corresponding computer program product and kitchen hob with a sensor are provided as well.

Abstract: The invention describes an easy-to-manufacture wide-band antenna arrangement (100) and a kitchen appliance including this antenna arrangement. A resonating part of any antenna arrangement has a flat shape, its outer edges have an elliptical curvature and a coaxial cable is located at a feed in a slit in the middle of the resonating plate. The resonating plate is parallel to a ground plane 105, and together those parts form a planar inverted-F antenna. Such an antenna is useful in combination with a kitchen hob and sensor applications that wirelessly communicate with the kitchen hob, e.g. for improving cooking results.

Abstract: The inventors of the instant invention have realized that blocking the thermal flow from a cooking vessel to the surface of the cooking area can provide power savings up to 4% according to energy measurements. According to embodiments of the invention, spacers (110, . . . , 120; 310, . . . , 370; 220; 410) are provided between the surface of a cooking area (105, 210, 380, . . . , 395) and a cooking vessel such as a cooking pot or a kettle. The spacers may be integrated in form of a curvature in a glass ceramic surface of a hob or may be placed at top of a cooking area (100). Another solution may be provided in the cooking vessel (400) such as a kettle that has an isolating lowest bottom in form of integrated spacers which can directly be placed on common induction hobs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooking control device that comprises sensors (120) and a communication unit (145) to communicate with a display processing device (170). In this manner, taste values of the cooking substance reflecting the current status of the cooking process can be compared with pre-stored taste values representative of a desired cooking result and seasoning advice according to a recipe can be established and presented to a user to converge the cooking status with the desired cooking result.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature detection assembly (10) for a cooking pot (24). Said temperature detection assembly (10) comprises a straight and elongated bar (12), at least one SAW (surface acoustic wave) temperature sensor (10) arranged inside a lower end portion of the bar (12), a sensor antenna (16) connected to an upper end of the bar (12), and at least one handle (18) connected to the upper end of the bar (12). The SAW temperature sensor (10) or a heat conducting element connected to said SAW temperature sensor (10) is spaced from a lower end of the bar (12) by a predetermined distance, wherein a non-heat-conducting material is arranged between the SAW temperature sensor (10) or the heat conducting element, respectively, and the lower end of the bar (12). Further, the present invention relates to a lid (20) for a cooking pot (24), wherein the lid (20) is provided for receiving a temperature detection assembly (10) with a straight and elongated bar (12).