Boil detection and prevention system

Abstract

A boil detection and prevention system and method for a cooking appliance is described. The system includes a contactless temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of liquid cooking in a utensil on the appliance and a time of flight sensor for detecting a level of the liquid as accommodated within the utensil. A rate of change of the liquid level is determined and a boil profile is formed based upon the liquid temperature, liquid level and rate of change of the liquid level. Assistance with cooking may also be provided along with prevention of certain boil conditions or profiles.

1 . A boil detection system for detecting a boil profile of liquid in a utensil on an appliance generating heat towards the utensil, the system comprising:
 a contactless temperature sensor arranged with the appliance within the temperature sensor's field of view, the temperature sensor configured to generate a first output comprising a temperature of the liquid;   a time of flight sensor arranged with the appliance within the time of flight sensor's field of view, the time of flight sensor configured to detect a liquid level and generate a second output comprising the liquid level; and   a processor arranged in communication with the temperature sensor and time of flight sensor, the processor configured to receive the first output and the second output, determine a rate of change of the second output, and determine the boil profile based on the first output, the second output and the rate of change of the second output.   
     
     
         2 . The boil detection system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine whether the first output exceeds a boiling point of the liquid;   determine whether the rate of change of the second output exceeds 5 millimeters;   determine a Hard Boil boil profile when the first output exceeds the boiling point and the rate of change exceeds 5 millimeters; and   determine a Soft Boil boil profile when the first output exceeds the boiling point and the rate of change does not exceed 5 millimeters.   
     
     
         3 . The boil detection system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine whether the first output exceeds a boiling point of the liquid;   determine whether the rate of change of the second output exceeds a depth of a liquid accommodation portion of the utensil;   determine a Boil Over boil profile when the boiling point is exceeded, and the depth is exceeded; and   determine an Eminent Boil Over boil profile when the boiling point is exceeded, and the depth is not exceeded.   
     
     
         4 . The boil detection system according to  claim 3 , further comprising a communication module in communication with the processor, the communication module configured to enable at least one of wired and wireless communication between the processor and at least one of the appliance and an external communication device. 
     
     
         5 . The boil detection system according to  claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine and store a current cooking profile for a foodstuff preparation according to at least one step of a foodstuff preparation menu, the cooking profile comprising at least one of the first output, the second output and the rate of change of the second output. 
     
     
         6 . The boil detection system according to  claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine a difference between at least one of the first output and a temperature according to the at least one step; the second output and a liquid level according to the at least one step; and the rate of change of the second output and a rate of change according to the at least one steps; and   adjust the generating heat in order to close the difference.   
     
     
         7 . The boil detection system according to  claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine whether the second output falls below a threshold, wherein the threshold comprises a safe cooking level; and   generate an alarm when the output falls below the safety level, wherein the alarm comprising at least one of an audio alarm, visual alarm, appliance safety switch-off and an affecting of heat generating at the heating element by instructing the appliance cooktop to initiate, reduce or cease heat generation at the heating element.   
     
     
         8 . The boil detection system according to  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to detect a presence of foodstuff within the liquid based upon the rate of change of the second output. 
     
     
         9 . The boil detection system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a digital light processor in communication with the processor and arranged to depict an image on at least one of the appliance, the utensil and the liquid, generated by the processor; and wherein the image comprises at least one of alpha-numeric characters, colors and images based upon at least one of the first output, the second output, the rate of change of the second output, an alarm and a prevention or remedial measure. 
     
     
         10 . The boil detection system according to  claim 1 , further comprising mounting elements configured to mount the fire prevention system within or below a microwave oven or above the appliance within at least one of a vent hood and a swing arm. 
     
     
         11 . A method for detecting a liquid boil profile of liquid cooking in a utensil on an appliance generating heat towards the utensil, the method comprising the steps of:
 measuring a temperature of the liquid;   measuring a liquid level of the liquid;   determining a rate of change of the liquid level; and   determining the boil profile based on the temperature, liquid level and rate of change of the liquid level.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the boil profile is Hard Boil when the temperature exceeds a boiling point of the liquid and the rate of change is greater than 5 millimeters; and the boil profile is Soft Boil when the temperature exceeds a boiling point of the liquid and the rate of change is less than 5 millimeters. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 determining whether the first output exceeds a boiling point of the liquid;   determining whether the rate of change of the second output exceeds a depth of a liquid accommodation portion of the utensil;   wherein the boil profile is Boil Over when the boiling point is exceeded, and the depth is exceeded; and   wherein the boil profile is Eminent Boil Over profile when the boiling point is exceeded, and the depth is not exceeded.   
       wherein the boil profile is Boil Over when the temperature exceeds a boiling point of the liquid and the liquid level exceeds a depth of a liquid accommodation portion of the utensil. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of determining and storing into a memory a current cooking profile for a foodstuff preparation according to at least one step of a foodstuff preparation menu, the cooking profile comprising at least one of the first output, the second output and the rate of change of the second output. 
     
     
         15 . The boil detection system according to  claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:
 determining a difference between at least one of the first output and a temperature according to the at least one step, the second output and a liquid level according to the at least one step; and the rate of change of the second output and a rate of change according to the at least one steps; and   adjusting the heat generating in order to close the difference.   
     
     
         16 . The boil detection system according to  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 determining whether the second output falls below a threshold, wherein the threshold comprises a safe cooking level; and   generating an alarm when the output falls below the safety level, wherein the alarm comprising at least one of an audio alarm, visual alarm, appliance safety switch-off and reduction of the heat generating.   
     
     
         17 . The boil detection system according to  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of detecting a presence of foodstuff within the liquid based upon the rate of change of the second output. 
     
     
         18 . The boil detection system according to  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 depicting an image on at least one of the appliance, the utensil and the liquid, wherein the message comprises at least one of alpha-numeric characters, colors and images based upon at least one of the first output, the second output, the rate of change of the second output, an alarm and a prevention or remedial measure.   
     
     
         19 . The boil detection system according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of mounting the boil detection system based upon at least one of adhesion, magnetism and mechanical coupling.