Range hood and method for controlling the range hood

Abstract

A range hood and a method for controlling the range hood are provided. The apparatus includes a range hood which is capable of photographing a cooking process that is being performed on an upper plate of a cook top by using a camera disposed in the main body of the range hood, and a method for controlling the range hood are provided. In some of the example embodiments, a range hood is capable of photographing a cooking process that is being performed on an upper plate of a cook top that is positioned below a bottom surface of the main body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A range hood, comprising:
 a main body;   a camera disposed in the main body and configured to capture an image of an upper plate of a cook top that is positioned below the main body;   a transceiver disposed in the main body; and   a processor configured to control the camera to capture an image of a cooking process that is being performed on the upper plate and control the transceiver to transmit the image to an external apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The range hood of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the main body further comprises a display on a front surface, and   wherein the processor is further configured to:
 control the display to display a plurality of icons including a wireless connection button, and 
 in response to selection of the wireless connection button, connect with the external apparatus. 
   
     
     
         3 . The range hood of  claim 1 , wherein the main body includes an opening in a bottom surface for capturing the image. 
     
     
         4 . The range hood of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the main body further comprises a first driver configured to displace at least one of smoke, cooking vapors, and cooking odor through a duct in the main body, and   wherein the processor is further configured to control the first driver to be operated while capturing the image.   
     
     
         5 . The range hood of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to control an auxiliary light source on the main body to be operated while capturing the image. 
     
     
         6 . The range hood of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to control a second driver of the main body to cool the camera. 
     
     
         7 . The range hood of  claim 1 , wherein an optical axis of the camera is inclined counterclockwise by a setting degree with reference to a virtual line extended at right angles from an upper plate of the cook top. 
     
     
         8 . The range hood of  claim 1 , wherein a distance from a front surface of the range hood to a rear surface of the range hood is smaller than a distance from a front surface of the cook top to a rear surface of the cook top. 
     
     
         9 . The range hood of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the main body further comprises a display on a front surface, and   wherein the processor is further configured to:
 control the display to display a plurality of icons including a power button, and 
 in response to selection of the power button, activate a first driver. 
   
     
     
         10 . The range hood of  claim 1 , wherein the image includes at least one of a state of the cook top and a state of a cooking container placed on the cook top. 
     
     
         11 . The range hood of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to recognize at least one from among a location and size of the cook top based on the image. 
     
     
         12 . The range hood of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to recognize at least one of a position and an area of a flame intake of the cook top based on the image. 
     
     
         13 . The range hood of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to recognize a cooking container placed on the cook top based on the image. 
     
     
         14 . The range hood of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to recognize smoke that is generated from a cooking container placed on the cook top based on the image. 
     
     
         15 . The range hood of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to recognize a foreign substance attached to a glass positioned in front of the camera based on the image. 
     
     
         16 . The range hood of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to recognize boiling of water in the cooking container based on the image. 
     
     
         17 . The range hood of  claim 10 , wherein a center point of the image corresponds to a center point of the upper plate of the cook top. 
     
     
         18 . A method for controlling a range hood, the method comprising:
 supplying power to a range hood which includes a camera configured to capture images of a cook top;   capturing an image of a cooking process that is being performed on the cook top;   connecting with an external apparatus through a transceiver; and   transmitting the image to the external apparatus,   wherein, while capturing the image, the range hood is configured to provide illumination through an auxiliary light source.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising, in response to the transceiver being connected to a second transceiver disposed in the cook top, the second transceiver is configured to transmit the image to the external apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . A cook top, comprising:
 a main body;   a transceiver disposed in the main body and configured to connect with a range hood that is positioned above the main body;   a heating unit configured to heat a cooking container placed on an upper plate of the main body; and   a processor configured to control the transceiver to receive an image that is captured by the range hood while heating the cooking container.