Abstract: A method and device for determining a variation with time of an amount of steam released from a food product during a cooking process in a cooking chamber of a baking oven. A heat sink is provided outside the cooking chamber or a vapor duct in fluid communication with the cooking chamber. A sensing head of a heat conducting body projects into the cooking chamber or vapor duct, and the heat conducting body is operable to transfer heat to the heat sink. The sensing head is protected from precipitation of condensate on its surface by its spatial positioning and/or the mode of operation of the baking oven. A variation with time of the temperatures of the sensing head and cooking chamber are measured with first and second temperature sensors, respectively. The variation with time of the amount of steam in the cooking chamber is determined using an evaluation circuit of a controller as a function of measurement signals generated by the first and second temperature sensors.

Abstract: A method and device for determining a variation with time of an amount of steam released from a food product during a cooking process in a cooking chamber of a baking oven. A heat sink is provided outside the cooking chamber or a vapor duct in fluid communication with the cooking chamber. A sensing head of a heat conducting body projects into the cooking chamber or vapor duct, and the heat conducting body is operable to transfer heat to the heat sink. The sensing head is protected from precipitation of condensate on its surface by its spatial positioning and/or the mode of operation of the baking oven. A variation with time of the temperatures of the sensing head and cooking chamber are measured with first and second temperature sensors, respectively. The variation with time of the amount of steam in the cooking chamber is determined using an evaluation circuit of a controller as a function of measurement signals generated by the first and second temperature sensors.

Abstract: A method for temperature measurement in a household appliance includes generating a high-frequency electromagnetic excitation wave of a predefined transmit frequency. The transmit frequency is selected from a frequency band including temperature-dependent resonant frequencies that occur in a surface wave device incorporated in a temperature measuring probe and which respectively correspond to temperatures expected at the temperature measuring probe during operation of the household appliance. During a first phase, the excitation wave is wirelessly transmitting to the surface wave device. During a second phase following the first phase, an electromagnetic response wave generated by the excitation wave in the surface wave device is wirelessly transmitting to a processing unit.

Abstract: A filling level sensor device for an electrically conductive reservoir for supplying an electrically conductive fluid in a household appliance includes an electrical control unit and an electrode. The electrical control unit includes an evaluation circuit, a memory and a power supply. The electrode is connected to the power supply so as to carry a current flow. The electrode is electrically insulated from the reservoir and disposed at least partially in a chamber of the reservoir. The evaluation circuit is configured to compare, to a reference value stored in the memory, a magnitude of the current flow or of a corresponding physical quantity. The power supply is configured to generate an alternating current between the power supply and the electrode.

Abstract: A method for temperature measurement in a household appliance includes generating a high-frequency electromagnetic excitation wave of a predefined transmit frequency. The transmit frequency is selected from a frequency band including temperature-dependent resonant frequencies that occur in a surface wave device incorporated in a temperature measuring probe and which respectively correspond to temperatures expected at the temperature measuring probe during operation of the household appliance. During a first phase, the excitation wave is wirelessly transmitting to the surface wave device. During a second phase following the first phase, an electromagnetic response wave generated by the excitation wave in the surface wave device is wirelessly transmitting to a processing unit.