Apparatus and system for low-temperature cooking

Abstract

One variation of an apparatus for cooking includes: a housing including a first section configured to be immersed in fluid within a cooking container and a second section adjoining the first section; an annular knob arranged over the second section; a position sensor arranged within the second section and configured to detect rotation of the magnetic element; a display arranged on the housing and configured to display a cooking parameter selected through rotation of the annular knob; a heating element arranged within the first section; a circulator arranged within the housing and configured to draw fluid, in the cooking container, along the heating element; and a controller configured to control the heating element and the circulator according to a temperature of the fluid measured by the temperature sensor, thereby maintaining the fluid within a predetermined range of temperatures including the selected temperature.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for cooking, comprising:
 a housing, comprising:
 a sealed chamber; 
 a shell adjoining the sealed chamber, wherein the shell defines a cavity, an elongated fluid aperture fluidly connecting a housing exterior to the cavity, and a fluid outlet arranged on a distal end of the shell opposite the sealed chamber; 
   a temperature sensor mounted to the housing;   a resistive heater arranged within the cavity;   a circulator comprising a motor and an impeller, the circulator arranged within the housing and fluidly coupled to the elongated fluid aperture;   a touch-sensitive display arranged on the sealed chamber; and   an on-off controller arranged in the sealed chamber, the on-off controller comprising a processor, memory, and a Wi-Fi chip, wherein the on-off controller is electrically and operably connected to the heating element and the touch-sensitive display.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a power adapter, separate and distinct from the housing, that is electronically coupled to the controller. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the on-off controller is connected to an external electronic device through a wireless connection, the external electronic device comprising a smartphone; wherein the on-off controller communicates cooking-related data and a notification to the smartphone through the wireless connection. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the on-off controller detects a blockage of the elongated fluid aperture; wherein the on-off controller communicates the notification to the external electronic device if the controller detects a blockage of the elongated fluid aperture. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for cooking, comprising:
 a housing, comprising:
 a sealed chamber; 
 a shell adjoining the sealed chamber, wherein the shell defines a cavity, an elongated fluid aperture fluidly connecting a housing exterior to the cavity, and a fluid outlet arranged on a distal end of the shell opposite the sealed chamber; 
   a temperature sensor mounted to the housing;   a resistive heater arranged within the cavity;   a circulator comprising a motor and an impeller, the circulator arranged within the housing and fluidly coupled to the elongated fluid aperture;   a controller arranged in the sealed chamber, the controller comprising a processor, memory, and a Wi-Fi chip, wherein the controller is electrically connected to the heating element and wirelessly connected to an external electronic device.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the cooking inputs are downloaded from the internet by the external electronic device, communicated to the controller via the Wi-Fi chip, and stored in the controller memory. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the cooking inputs comprise at least a set temperature, a start time, and a set duration. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the cooking inputs further comprise a temperature range. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the memory stores a set model, wherein the controller controls heating element and motor operation based on the set model and the cooking input. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the set model defines a variable that specifies changes in set temperature over time. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the set model is a parametric model generated based on cooking inputs; wherein the cooking inputs comprise both food type and at least one of cooking style, volume, shape, and weight. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the Wi-Fi chip transmits cooking-related data and a notification to the external electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the cooking-related data comprise the temperature of the fluid according to the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the notification notifies a user that the controller has completed an action initiated in response to receiving the user input from the external electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the controller detects a blockage of the elongated fluid aperture; wherein the controller communicates the notification to the external electronic device if the controller detects a blockage of the elongated fluid aperture. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein Wi-Fi chip communicates_with the external electronic device via a signal generated by a native application executing on the external electronic device. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the impeller is arranged adjacent the fluid outlet; wherein the motor rotates the impeller; wherein the wireless communication module communicates user input from an external electronic device to the controller; wherein the controller controls an action of the motor in response to the user input. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is a bang-bang controller.