DE102023121283A1 - cooking appliance with camera device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooking appliance (1) comprising a housing (4) with a cooking chamber (3) and a first viewing opening (10.1) arranged above the cooking chamber (3) in the housing wall (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4), a camera device (15) arranged above the first viewing opening (10.1) for observing the cooking chamber (3), a high-frequency generator (13) for heating food (6) placed in the cooking chamber (3) by means of microwave radiation and a shielding channel (23) extending between the camera device (15) and the first viewing opening (10.1) for shielding the camera device (15) from microwave radiation with an electrically conductive inner wall, wherein the first viewing opening (10.1) is covered by a first viewing window (9.1) and a second viewing window (9.2) is arranged at the upper end of the shielding channel (23), wherein between the An air space (17) is formed between the shielding channel (23) and the camera device (15), and an air supply (18) for supplying cooling air into the air space (17) is arranged on the air space (17).

Description

technical field

The invention relates to a cooking appliance comprising a housing with a cooking chamber delimited by a housing wall and a first viewing opening in the housing wall arranged above the cooking chamber, a camera device arranged above the first viewing opening for observing the cooking chamber with an image sensor and a lens defining an optical axis and a heating device for heating food to be cooked placed in the cooking chamber and/or a high-frequency generator for heating food to be cooked placed in the cooking chamber by means of microwave radiation.

Background of the invention

Cooking appliances, particularly ovens with microwave function (so-called combination appliances), are known from the state of the art. Cooking appliances are also known with camera devices in which a camera image allows the user to visually check the cooking status of the food, for example when the cooking chamber door is closed, or is used to recognize a specific food and control various functions of the cooking appliance based on this. For example, predetermined cooking programs are started by the cooking appliance depending on the recognized food or, in order to achieve optimal cooking results, parameters of a cooking program are automatically adapted to the respective cooking status of the food recorded by means of an image analysis.

Basically, it is necessary to protect the camera device from excessively high temperatures in order to avoid damage. Many camera devices or their lenses are at risk of such damage at temperatures of around 120°C. It is therefore already known to arrange the camera device outside the cooking chamber and to decouple it thermally from it, for example by EP 3 205 941 B1 .

In cooking appliances with microwave functions, the integration of camera devices also presents the problem that the camera electronics are extremely sensitive to microwave radiation. Depending on the intensity of the radiation, this can lead to disruptions in the recording of images and even irreparable damage to the image sensor in particular. Microwave radiation can also escape through an opening through which the camera device looks into the cooking chamber.

Description of the Invention

Based on the background of the invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cooking appliance with a camera device in which the camera device is sufficiently protected against damage.

The object of the invention is achieved by the features of the independent main claims. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims. If technically possible, the teachings of the subclaims can be combined as desired with the teachings of the main and subclaims.

Advantages of the claimed aspects of the invention are explained below and preferred modified embodiments of the aspects of the invention are described further below. Explanations, in particular regarding advantages and definitions of features, are basically descriptive and preferred, but not limiting examples. If an explanation is limiting, this is expressly mentioned.

Insofar as elements are designated by means of a numbering, for example “first element”, “second element” and “third element”, this numbering is intended purely to differentiate the designation and does not represent a dependency of the elements on one another or a mandatory order of the elements. This means in particular that, for example, a device or a method does not have to have a “first element” in order to be able to have a “second element”. The device or the method can also have a “first element” and a “third element”, but without necessarily having a “second element”. Several units of an element of a single numbering can also be provided, for example several “first elements”.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a cooking appliance comprising a housing with a cooking chamber delimited by a housing wall and a first viewing opening in the housing wall arranged above the cooking chamber, a camera device arranged above the first viewing opening for observing the cooking chamber, a heating device for heating food placed in the cooking chamber and/or a high-frequency generator for heating food placed in the cooking chamber by means of microwave radiation and a shielding channel extending between the camera device and the first viewing opening for shielding the camera device from heat and/or microwave radiation, wherein the first viewing opening is formed by a first viewing pane is covered and a second viewing window is arranged at the upper end of the shielding channel, wherein an air space is formed between the shielding channel and the lens and wherein an air supply for supplying cooling air into the air space is arranged at the air space.

Preferably, the camera device is arranged in the area of the ceiling of the cooking chamber. This means that for a functional installation of the cooking appliance, the terms above and below or upper and lower are to be understood in relation to the cooking chamber, in particular to the ceiling of the cooking chamber. For example, the upper end of the shielding channel is the end of the shielding channel that is further away from the cooking chamber.

A cooking appliance is designed in particular as an oven with a microwave function, in which temperatures of around 100-250°C are provided in the cooking chamber for preparing food. In particular, the cooking appliance therefore comprises conventional heating devices with top heat, bottom heat and/or circulating air heating means. The cooking appliance can also be designed in particular as an oven with a pyrolysis function and/or a steam cooking function. With a pyrolysis function, temperatures between 400°C and 500°C are reached in the cooking chamber, for example. The cooking appliance can also be designed as a microwave oven. The high-frequency generator comprises in particular a magnetron or a solid-state microwave generator and can, for example, expose the cooking chamber to microwave radiation or couple microwave radiation into the cooking chamber.

The cooking chamber of the cooking appliance is designed as a cavity in the housing of the cooking appliance that is insulated from an outer wall of the cooking appliance by means of thermal insulation. The cooking chamber can preferably be filled with food to be cooked via an opening, or such food to be cooked can be removed from the cooking chamber via the opening, wherein the opening can be closed, for example, by means of a cooking chamber door. In or on the cooking chamber, for example, means for radiating heat, for convective transfer of heat, for transferring heat by means of heat conduction and/or for transferring heat by means of induction and means for circulating the air in the cooking chamber are provided as means for heating the cooking chamber. Heating is understood to mean both increasing and maintaining a cooking chamber temperature with simultaneous heat loss, for example through waste heat.

The camera device is arranged outside the cooking chamber, with a first viewing opening being set into a housing wall through which the camera device can observe the cooking chamber. The viewing opening is dimensioned and positioned such that it spans an area of a viewing cone of the camera device and is transparent in this area. The camera device is arranged above the cooking chamber and looks from above onto the area that is intended for arranging a cooked item. The camera device comprises, for example, a 2D camera, but can alternatively or additionally also have a 3D camera, for example designed as a TOF camera.

The shielding channel extends in particular coaxially to the optical axis and has, for example, at least in sections a rectangular channel cross-section and/or at least in sections a round channel cross-section. In this way, the shielding channel forms a hollow conductor (waveguide) at least in sections, which attenuates the microwave radiation with the wavelengths usually used in cooking appliances, for example greater than or equal to 12 cm at a frequency of around 2.45 GHz or 32 cm at a frequency of 915 MHz, along its longitudinal extent. Typical microwave frequencies are effectively shielded by this easily implemented structural design of the shielding channel, with only leakage radiation of a negligible magnitude reaching the camera electronics. At the same time, the field of view of the camera device can remain largely clear, which enables reliable recording of meaningful images of the cooking chamber.

The shielding channel is preferably tapered from the cooking chamber to the camera device, i.e. funnel-shaped, so that the attenuation of the microwave radiation is further increased due to the tapered channel cross-section. For the precise design of the cross-sectional geometries, depending on the selected shape of the (section of the) shielding channel, a waveguide with a corresponding cross-sectional geometry can be used, which is impassable for the relevant wavelength. For example, the shielding channel can have the shape of a pyramid or truncated cone, at least in sections, so that the first camera channel cross-section has a rectangular, circular or elliptical shape. Other cross-sectional shapes, e.g. polygons, are also conceivable.

Furthermore, this design makes it possible to create space beyond the channel cross-section, which widens congruently with the tapered channel cross-section. This space, which increases with distance from the cooking chamber, enables advantageous insulation against the heat in the cooking chamber.

Furthermore, the shielding channel defines a spatial distance between the first viewing pane and the second viewing pane.

The solution to the problem with the cooking device described above therefore includes the teaching that, on the one hand, a shielding channel is provided which protects the camera device from damage caused by heat and/or microwave radiation which would reach the electronics of the camera device. On the other hand, the overall arrangement of the shielding channel, the viewing openings or viewing panes and the air space, which is actively cooled by means of the air supply or enables active cooling of the camera device, enables particularly good thermal decoupling of the camera device from the cooking chamber, so that the camera device is also protected from damage caused by high temperatures. In this case, an insulating space is created in particular between the first viewing pane and the second viewing pane. Overall, a cooking device is therefore provided in which the camera device is protected against damage for a variety of functions, in particular including a microwave function and a pyrolysis function. The solution to the problem with the proposed cooking device is also structurally simple, inexpensive and durable.

In one embodiment of the cooking appliance, the air supply comprises a nozzle, wherein the nozzle is directed in particular at a lens of the camera device, preferably in such a way that the lens is flowed against from the side, i.e. essentially horizontally. The air flow of the cooling air is in particular bundled and accelerated by a nozzle, so that components can be cooled in a targeted and particularly efficient manner by means of forced convection or so that an air barrier can be formed in the air space. By directing the nozzle at the lens, this particularly damage-prone or temperature-sensitive component is cooled in a targeted and particularly efficient manner. Thanks to the efficient cooling with the nozzle, a relatively low air flow can be set in particular in order to achieve sufficient cooling, so that sufficient cooling is achieved inexpensively and easily.

In a further embodiment, the cooking appliance has a camera housing with a second viewing opening, in particular wherein the camera device is arranged at least partially above the second viewing opening, i.e. further away from the cooking chamber than the second viewing opening. For example, the air space and the air supply are then arranged in the camera housing, while the shielding channel is arranged between the camera housing and the housing wall delimiting the cooking chamber. Particularly advantageously, the camera housing can be pre-assembled outside the cooking appliance and then inserted into the cooking appliance, so that there is no need to arrange the individual components in the cramped cooking appliance. In addition, the camera housing can then be easily removed from the cooking appliance for maintenance, repair or replacement.

One aspect is that the entire camera device is arranged completely above the second viewing opening. The lens is at a distance from the plane of the lower wall of the camera housing. It is also possible that the distance of the lens from the plane of the lower wall of the camera housing is zero. However, it is also possible that the camera device is only partially arranged above the second viewing opening, in particular at least with its center of gravity. The lens can also partially penetrate through the second viewing opening in the lower wall of the camera housing.

Preferably, at least the wall of the camera housing in which the second viewing opening is arranged is made of mica. Compared to alternative materials, mica has particularly favorable thermal properties, in particular a relatively low thermal conductivity, good thermal stability and a high tolerance to temperatures without mechanical influence, so that the heat transfer between the cooking chamber and the camera device can be further reduced. To ensure that the heat transfer through the lower wall of the camera housing is as low as possible, it is preferably made of an appropriate material. Mica is just one solution. The lower wall could also be made of plastic or silicone, although plastic is preferred.

One aspect is that the lower wall of the camera housing, i.e. the wall in the area of the second viewing window or the wall closest to the second viewing window, is equipped with targeted openings to the space below. The space under the lower wall of the camera housing is limited in the direction of the cooking chamber by the shielding channel and/or the second viewing window. Through the openings, a slight overpressure can arise in the air-filled space above the lower wall of the camera housing compared to the area of the device insulation or the space below the lower wall of the camera housing. Likewise, the slight overpressure in the air-filled space above the lower wall of the camera housing can also arise compared to the air-filled space in the shielding channel. A slight overpressure is understood to mean an additional pressure of less than one bar. The slight overpressure prevents On the one hand, vapours from the cooking chamber can penetrate and condense through possible leaks or from the area of the device insulation.

Particularly preferably, a first seal, in particular a glass silk seal, is arranged between the shielding channel and the camera housing. In this way, the inner area of the shielding channel or the second viewing window is sealed against an adjacent outer area of the cooking chamber and in particular is protected against contamination by fibers of a thermal insulation arranged there. A glass silk seal also prevents a thermal bridge between the shielding channel and the camera housing.

In a further embodiment of the cooking appliance, the shielding channel and the housing form several contact points around the circumference of the shielding channel, with the shielding channel and the housing being contact-free between the contact points. In this way, a stable connection is created between the shielding channel and the housing or the housing wall, so that the shielding channel is fixed in its position and cannot slip even when the camera housing or the camera device is assembled/disassembled. At the same time, the contact area between the shielding channel and the housing or the housing wall is reduced to a necessary minimum in order to reduce the heat conduction between the two components as much as possible. The contact points are designed, for example, as weld points, screw connections and/or pin connections, in particular rivet connections. The distance between the contact points is selected in particular such that microwave radiation of the relevant frequencies and wavelengths cannot pass through the gaps formed between the contact points.

Preferably, a second seal is arranged in the area of the contact points. This is arranged, for example, between the contact points, around the contact points, outside or inside the contact points. In this way, the inner area of the shielding channel or the viewing windows are sealed against an adjacent outer area of the cooking chamber and in particular are protected against contamination by fibers of a thermal insulation arranged there. In addition, by choosing an appropriate insulating sealant, a thermal bridge between the shielding channel and the housing or housing wall is avoided.

The various features described above and their totality result in low heat transfer between the housing and the camera device, so that a small distance can be selected between the camera device and the housing without the risk of damage to the camera device. The viewing openings can then advantageously be selected to be relatively small if the camera device has a large viewing cone.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the cooking appliance, the second viewing window has an electrically conductive transparent layer, wherein the electrically conductive transparent layer is in galvanic contact with the shielding channel. In this way, the leakage radiation of the microwave radiation that reaches the camera device is further reduced. In addition, the transparent layer causes a reflection of infrared radiation emitted from the cooking chamber, so that the heat input by this infrared radiation to the camera device is reduced.

The electrically conductive transparent layer is preferably designed as an indium tin oxide coating, as a coating made of fluorine-doped tin oxide or as a metal grid. These materials offer good transparency so that the view of the camera device is not obstructed to any significant extent. At the same time, these materials offer good electrical conductivity and thus advantageous shielding of the camera device against leakage radiation.

The metal grid can be designed as a coating on the second viewing pane. It is also possible for the metal grid to be embedded in the second viewing pane. Preferably, the metal grid is not part of the second viewing pane but a separate part which is arranged at a distance from the second viewing pane in the shielding channel. Regardless of the specific embodiment, the metal grid is galvanically connected to the shielding channel, in particular attached to the preferably metallic shielding channel by a welded connection. Furthermore, an opaque, electrically conductive layer is preferably formed in an edge region of the second viewing pane. This layer then lies outside the viewing cone of the camera device and therefore does not have to have transparent properties. The layer can then be designed in a simpler and more cost-effective manner than the transparent layer and provide the contact between the transparent layer and the shielding channel. For example, the opaque layer is formed by a metallically conductive film or by a metallically conductive paint applied in particular by screen printing.

One aspect is that the opaque electrically conductive edge coating is applied to the thin transparent coating. The edge coating serves in particular to to protect or reinforce the transparent coating in the edge area. This is intended to prevent, for example, the thin transparent layer from being damaged by movement of the third seal.

Another aspect is that the conductive paint is designed as a paste that contains silver particles. After printing, this is sintered using heat, for example in an oven, so that it forms a solid conductive bond to the coating on the pane.

Furthermore, an electrically conductive third seal is preferably arranged between the second viewing window and the shielding channel, the third seal forming the galvanic contact between the electrically conductive transparent layer and the shielding channel. For this purpose, the third seal can be in contact with the opaque layer and/or the transparent layer. For example, the third seal is made from a metallic mesh or from a silicone containing metal particles. Seals made from metallic mesh are made from knitted, very thin wire that is pressed into a mold. A silicone containing metal particles has the advantage that the third seal, in addition to establishing the galvanic contact, also serves as a barrier against environmental influences and against the penetration of fibers from a thermal insulation arranged in the exterior of the cooking chamber.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the camera device has an image sensor and a lens defining an optical axis, wherein the shielding channel has a first channel cross-section with a cross-sectional geometry that is impassable for microwave radiation with a wavelength greater than or equal to 12 cm at a microwave frequency of around 2.45 GHz or for microwave radiation with a wavelength greater than or equal to 32 cm at a microwave frequency of around 915 MHz at a distance measured parallel to the optical axis from an end of the lens facing the cooking chamber. These wavelengths or microwave frequencies represent the sizes mostly used in cooking devices, against which effective shielding is thus created. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the distance from the first camera channel cross-section to the end of the lens facing the cooking chamber is 20 mm to 50 mm, preferably 25 mm to 40 mm. It has surprisingly been found that with the distances measured in this way, a compact structure with effective shielding of the microwave radiation can be achieved.

As already partially described above, the shielding channel is funnel-shaped at least in sections. In this way, effective attenuation of the microwave radiation can be achieved using simple structural means. Funnels with a rounded cross-sectional shape, e.g. elliptical, oval or circular cross-sectional shape (truncated cone-shaped funnel), as well as with an angular cross-sectional shape, e.g. rectangular cross-sectional shape (truncated pyramid-shaped funnel) or polygonal cross-sectional shapes, can be considered.

It has proven advantageous for all non-transparent components in the optical path of the camera to be designed or coated with low reflection or matt black. This avoids artifacts in the image that could otherwise be caused by reflection from the cooking chamber lighting, for example. This design or coating is provided in particular for the shielding channel and/or the funnel-shaped section of the first housing wall and/or the holder and/or the lower wall of the camera housing and/or a grid in the shielding channel.

In a preferred embodiment, the cooking appliance has a cooling air device for providing cooling air, whereby the cooling air provided is supplied via the air supply to the air space and also to the high-frequency generator for cooling it. Cooling air from a separate air circuit is thus advantageously supplied to both the camera device or the air space and the high-frequency generator, whereby it can be ensured that this cooling air is largely free of contamination and in particular free of vapors from the cooking chamber. In order to cool the camera device sufficiently, relatively low air flows at relatively high temperatures can be sufficient, for example an air flow of at least 5 m/s with a round cross-section of the air supply of 10 mm and at a cooling air temperature of at most 85°C. Alternatively, a separate sensor cooling circuit can be provided for the camera device or the air space, which is only assigned to the camera device and, for example, draws in ambient air from the device or air from cooler regions within the device housing.

A further seal is preferably provided between the first viewing window and the housing, which is designed to be elastic in particular in order to compensate for dimensional tolerances and thermal expansion. Such a further seal advantageously prevents vapors from the cooking chamber from penetrating into the shielding channel.

Short description of the drawings

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings using preferred embodiments. The wording figure is abbreviated to Fig. in the drawings.

• 1 eine schematische Schnittansicht durch ein Gargerät mit einer Kameraeinrichtung und mit einem mit Gargut beladenen Garraum;
• 2a eine Detailansicht bei einem Gargerät nach einem Aspekt der Erfindung in einer ersten Ausführungsform;
• 2b eine Detailansicht bei einem Gargerät nach einem Aspekt der Erfindung in einer zweiten Ausführungsform;
• 2c eine Detailansicht bei einem Gargerät nach einem Aspekt der Erfindung in einer dritten Ausführungsform; und
• 3 einen Querschnitt durch den Verbindungsbereich zwischen Abschirmkanal und Gehäusewand.

The drawings show

• 1 a schematic sectional view through a cooking appliance with a camera device and with a cooking chamber loaded with food to be cooked;
• 2a a detailed view of a cooking appliance according to an aspect of the invention in a first embodiment;
• 2b a detailed view of a cooking appliance according to one aspect of the invention in a second embodiment;
• 2c a detailed view of a cooking appliance according to an aspect of the invention in a third embodiment; and
• 3 a cross-section through the connection area between the shielding channel and the housing wall.

Detailed description of the drawings

The embodiments described are merely examples that can be modified and/or supplemented in many ways within the scope of the claims. Each feature described for a specific embodiment can be used independently or in combination with other features in any other embodiment. Each feature described for an embodiment of a specific claim category can also be used in a corresponding manner in an embodiment of another claim category.

1 shows a cooking appliance 1 designed as an oven with a partially shown housing 4 and a cooking chamber 3 defined by the parts of the housing 4 shown. The cooking chamber 3 is delimited on an upper side by a first housing wall 4.1, on a lower side by a second housing wall 4.2, on a front side by a third housing wall 4.3 and on a rear side by a fourth housing wall 4.4, wherein the cooking chamber 3 is further delimited by housing walls not shown on a right side and a left side. A baking tray 5 is arranged in the cooking chamber 3, on which a food 6 to be cooked rests. The housing walls 4.1, 4.2, 4.4 are insulated against an outer shell of the housing 4 not shown.

The third housing wall 4.3 is formed by a cooking chamber door 7, wherein the cooking chamber door 7 can be swung open to open or close an opening 8 of the cooking chamber 3. The cooking chamber door 7 is formed from multiple glazing, has a handle 7.1 and is sealed against the first housing wall 4.1 by means of a seal 7.2.

Above and outside the cooking chamber 3, a camera device 15 is arranged, which is designed to observe the cooking chamber 3 or the cooking product 6 and with regard to its arrangement in 1 initially only rudimentary details of the invention are shown. Between the camera device 15 and the cooking chamber 3, a first viewing window 9.1 is set into a viewing opening 10.1 of the first housing wall 4.1. The camera device 15 is directed downwards and observes the cooking chamber 3 through the first viewing window 9.1 in plan view, as indicated by a viewing cone S of the camera device 15 and an optical axis A.

The cooking appliance 1 has a schematically illustrated heating device 14 and/or a schematically illustrated high-frequency generator 13 for heating food 6 placed in the cooking chamber 3. The heating device 14 can be designed, for example, with top heat, bottom heat and/or circulating air heating means, which is not shown in more detail.

The 2a to 2c show the arrangement of the camera device 15 above the cooking chamber 3 according to embodiments of the invention in detail. The camera device 15 has an image sensor 15.1 and a lens 15.2, wherein the image sensor 15.1 and the lens 15.2 are held in a holder 16. The holder 16 also forms an air space 17, to which cooling air is supplied through an air supply 18 and a nozzle 19 directed at the lens 15.2. All of the aforementioned components are arranged in a camera housing 20, of which only a lower wall 20.1 is shown. A second viewing opening 10.2 is arranged in the lower wall 20.1, the circumference of which corresponds to the circumference of the viewing cone S of the camera device 15 at the corresponding height along the optical axis A. Air outlets 26 are formed between the holder 16 and the lower wall 20.1, wherein the guidance of the cooling air in the air space 17 between the air supply 18 or nozzle 19 and the air outlets 26 is indicated by means of several arrows.

A shielding channel 23 is arranged between the camera housing 20 and the first housing wall 4.1, and thermal insulation 24 is arranged on both sides of the shielding channel 23. The shielding channel 23 extends between a funnel-shaped section 4.5 of the first housing wall 4.1 and the camera housing 20 and has an electrically conductive inner wall. The funnel-shaped section 4.5 forms the first viewing opening 10.1 and is covered on its underside by the first viewing window 9.1 held by a holder 28. A first seal 25.1 designed as a glass silk seal is arranged between the camera housing 20 and the shielding channel 23. A second seal 25.2 is arranged between the shielding channel 23 and the funnel-shaped section 4.5, with details in this regard 3 can be found.

A second viewing window 9.2 is arranged at the upper end of the shielding channel 23, wherein an insulating air-filled space 30 is formed between the first viewing window 9.1 and the second viewing window 9.2, which is further defined by the funnel-shaped section 4.5 and the shielding channel 23. A conductive transparent layer 29 is arranged on the second viewing window 9.2. In the embodiment according to 2a the transparent layer 29 is formed as an indium tin oxide coating and is in contact with a third seal 25.3 formed from a metallic mesh, via which a galvanic contact is formed between the transparent layer 29 and the shielding channel 23. In the embodiment according to 2b the transparent layer 29 is formed as an indium tin oxide coating and in contact with a third seal 25.3 formed from a silicone molding containing metal particles, via which a galvanic contact is formed between the transparent layer 29 and the shielding channel 23. The silicone molding containing metal particles replaces in comparison with the embodiment according to 2a also the second seal 25.2 between the shielding channel 23 and the funnel-shaped section 4.5, by extending to the corresponding area. In the embodiment according to 2c the transparent layer 29 is formed as a metal grid molded directly onto the shielding channel 23.

3 shows a cross section through the contact area between the shielding channel 23 and the funnel-shaped section 4.5 of the first housing wall 4.1. The connection between the components is via four contact points 31, which are designed as welded connections, screw connections or rivet connections. The second seal 25.2, via which the components are spaced apart from one another, is arranged outside the contact points 31.

list of reference symbols

1

cooking appliance

3

cooking chamber

4

Housing

4.1

first housing wall of the housing

4.2

second housing wall of the housing

4.3

third housing wall of the housing

4.4

fourth housing wall of the housing

4.5

funnel-shaped section of the first housing wall

5

baking tray

6

food

7

cooking chamber door

7.1

handle of the cooking chamber door

7.2

cooking chamber door seal

8

opening

9.1

first viewing window

9.2

second viewing window

10.1

first viewing opening

10.2

second viewing opening

13

high-frequency generator

14

heating device

15

camera setup

15.1

image sensor of the camera device

15.2

lens of the camera device

16

bracket

17

airspace

18

air supply

19

nozzle

20

camera body

20.1

lower wall of the camera housing

23

shielding channel

24

thermal insulation

25.1

first poem

25.2

second seal

25.3

third poem

26

air outlets

28

bracket

29

transparent layer

30

air-filled space

31

contact point

A

optical axis

S

cone of vision

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 3 205 941 B1 [0003]

Claims (16)

Cooking appliance (1) comprising a housing (4) with a cooking chamber (3) delimited by a housing wall (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4) and a first viewing opening (10.1) arranged above the cooking chamber (3) in the housing wall (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4); a camera device (15) arranged above the first viewing opening (10.1) for observing the cooking chamber (3); a heating device (14) for heating food (6) placed in the cooking chamber (3) and/or a high-frequency generator (13) for heating food (6) placed in the cooking chamber (3) by means of microwave radiation; and a shielding channel (23) extending between the camera device (15) and the first viewing opening (10.1) for shielding the camera device (15) from heat and/or microwave radiation; wherein the first viewing opening (10.1) is covered by a first viewing window (9.1) and a second viewing window (9.2) is arranged at the upper end of the shielding channel (23); wherein an air space (17) is formed between the shielding channel (23) and the camera device (15); and wherein an air supply (18) for supplying cooling air into the air space (17) is arranged at the air space (17). Cooking appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the air supply (18) comprises a nozzle (19) and wherein the nozzle (19) is directed in particular towards a lens (15.2) of the camera device (15). Cooking appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a camera housing (20) with a second viewing opening (10.2), wherein the camera device (15) is arranged in particular above the second viewing opening (10.2). Cooking appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a high-frequency generator (13) for heating food (6) placed in the cooking chamber (3) by means of microwave radiation, wherein the shielding channel (23) has an electrically conductive inner wall for shielding the camera device (15) from heat and/or microwave radiation. Cooking appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein a first seal (25.1), in particular a glass silk seal, is arranged between the shielding channel (23) and the camera housing (20). Cooking appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shielding channel (23) and the housing (4) form a plurality of contact points (31) with one another around the circumference of the shielding channel (23), and wherein the shielding channel (23) and the housing (4) are contact-free between the contact points (31). Cooking appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the contact points (31) are designed as weld points, screw connections and/or pin connections. Cooking appliance (1) according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein a second seal (25.2) is arranged in the region of the contact points (31). Cooking appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second viewing window (9.2) has an electrically conductive transparent layer (29), wherein the electrically conductive transparent layer (29) is in galvanic contact with the shielding channel (23). Cooking appliance (1) according to the preceding, wherein the electrically conductive transparent layer is designed as an indium tin oxide coating, as a coating of fluorine-doped tin oxide or as a metal grid arranged in the shielding channel (23). Cooking appliance (1) according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein an opaque electrically conductive layer is formed in an edge region of the second viewing window (9.2). Cooking appliance (1) according to one of the three preceding claims, wherein an electrically conductive third seal (25.3) is arranged between the second viewing window (9.2) and the shielding channel (23), and wherein the third seal (25.3) forms the galvanic contact between the electrically conductive transparent layer (29) and the shielding channel (23). Cooking appliance (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the third seal (25.3) is formed from a metallic mesh or from a silicone containing metal particles. Cooking appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the camera device (15) has an image sensor (15.1) and a lens (15.2) defining an optical axis (A), wherein the shielding channel (23) has a first channel cross-section with a wavelength of 150 nm for microwave radiation at a distance measured parallel to the optical axis (A) from an end of the lens (15.2) facing the cooking chamber (3) greater than or equal to 12 cm at a microwave frequency of around 2.45 GHz or for microwave radiation with a wavelength greater than or equal to 32 cm at a microwave frequency of around 915 MHz. Cooking appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shielding channel (23) is funnel-shaped at least in sections. Cooking appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a cooling air device for providing cooling air, wherein provided cooling air is supplied via the air supply (18) to the air space (17) and further to the high-frequency generator (13) for cooling thereof.

Images