Cooking Appliance Comprising at Least One Gas Sensor Array, Sampling System for Such a Cooking Appliance, Method for Cooking Using Said Cooking Appliance and Method for Cleaning Said Cooking Appliance

Abstract

A cooking appliance comprises at least one cooking compartment, at least one installation compartment, at least one gas sensor array for detecting the atmosphere within the cooking compartment, the atmosphere within the installation compartment, and/or the atmosphere surrounding the cooking appliance. The gas sensor array(s) have at least two separate, different individual sensors and/or at least one coherent sensor field including at least two different sensor segments. The cooking appliance additionally includes at least one storage unit for storing signals detected by the gas sensor array(s), at least one evaluation unit for processing the detected signals, at least one control unit for controlling cooking or cleaning processes, at least one first feed line for transporting the atmosphere from the cooking appliance to the gas sensor array(s), and at least one valve at the inlet and/or in the area of the first feed line.

1 - 39 . (canceled) 
   
   
       40 . Cooking appliance comprising:
 at least one cooking compartment;   at least one installation compartment;   at least one gas sensor array for the detection of at least one of the atmosphere of the cooking compartment, the atmosphere of the installation compartment, and the atmosphere surrounding the cooking appliance;   the at least one gas sensor array comprising at least two separate, different individual sensors, or at least one coherent sensor field comprising at least two different sensor segments;   at least one memory unit for storing the signals detected by the gas sensor array;   at least one evaluation unit for processing the detected signals;   at least one control unit for controlling at least one of a cooking process and a cleaning process depending on the evaluated signals;   at least one first feed for communicating the atmosphere of the cooking compartment to the gas sensor array, the at least one first feed comprising an inlet; and   at least one valve disposed at the inlet or in the area of the first feed.   
   
   
       41 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 40 , wherein the cooking appliance comprises an aeration system for the cooking compartment. 
   
   
       42 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 41 , wherein the at least one gas sensor array detects the atmosphere of the aeration system. 
   
   
       43 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 41 , wherein the at least one gas sensor array comprises at least one of:
 a first gas sensor array for the detection of the atmosphere of the cooking compartment;   a second gas sensor array for the detection of the atmosphere of the installation compartment;   a third gas sensor array for the detection of the atmosphere of the aeration system; and   a fourth gas sensor array for the detection of the atmosphere surrounding the cooking appliance.   
   
   
       44 . The cooking appliance according to  claim 43 , wherein at least one of the gas sensor arrays is arranged in at least one of the cooking compartment, in the installation compartment, in the aeration system, and outside the cooking compartment. 
   
   
       45 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 43 , further comprising at least one of:
 a second feed for transporting the atmosphere from the installation compartment to at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth gas sensor arrays;   a third feed for transporting the atmosphere from the aeration system to at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth gas sensor arrays; and   a fourth feed for transporting the atmosphere surrounding the cooking appliance to at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth gas sensor arrays.   
   
   
       46 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 45 , wherein at least two of the first, second, third, and fourth feeds are connected to a gas sensor array, directly or indirectly. 
   
   
       47 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 45 , wherein
 at least one gas sensor array is integrated into at least one of an inner wall of the cooking compartment, an inner wall of the installation compartment, and an outer wall of the cooking appliance.   
   
   
       48 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 47 , wherein at least one gas sensor array is integrated into at least two inner walls of the cooking compartment. 
   
   
       49 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 45 , further comprising at least one pump unit in working connection with at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth feeds for the transport of atmosphere to at least one gas sensor array to be analyzed. 
   
   
       50 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 45 , further comprising at least one filter disposed in front of at least one gas sensor array. 
   
   
       51 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 50 , wherein the at least one filter is disposed in front of a measuring surface of at least one gas sensor array. 
   
   
       52 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 51 , wherein the at least one filter is disposed in or at the inlet of at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth feeds. 
   
   
       53 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 43 , further comprising at least one first discharge from at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth gas sensor arrays. 
   
   
       54 . Cooking appliance according to one  claim 53 , further comprising at least one valve disposed at the inlet or in the area of at least one of the second feed, the third feed, the fourth feed, and the first discharge. 
   
   
       55 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 54 , wherein the control unit controls the at least one valve. 
   
   
       56 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 40 , wherein at least one of the memory unit, the evaluation unit, and the control unit is arranged in the installation compartment. 
   
   
       57 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 56 , wherein at least one of the memory unit, the evaluation unit, and the control unit is integrated into one of a control and a regulation unit. 
   
   
       58 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 40 , wherein the at least one gas sensor array comprises several fields of a semiconducting metal oxide film, to each of which two electrodes are connected, whereby the fields form an essentially continuous surface, the electrodes have a band-like shape and the continuous surface is divided into fields in such a way that each field in the continuous surface is delineated by two electrodes. 
   
   
       59 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 58 , wherein at least one of the different sensors, different sensor segments, and different fields of the at least one gas sensor array exhibits different conductivity changes as a function of at least one of a temperature, composition, doping, and coating when they come into contact with reducing or oxidizing gases. 
   
   
       60 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 59 , wherein the temperature of at least one of each sensor, sensor segment, and field is adjustable. 
   
   
       61 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 60 , wherein the temperature is at least one of:
 manually adjustable through a control panel of the cooking appliance, and   automatically adjustable through at least one of the evaluation unit and the control unit.   
   
   
       62 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 59 , wherein a certain temperature gradient selected from a multiple number of temperature gradients or a certain temperature profile selected from a multiple number of temperature profiles can be applied to each gas sensor array. 
   
   
       63 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 62 , wherein the temperature gradients and the temperature profiles are stored in the memory unit. 
   
   
       64 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 62 , wherein one of the temperature, the temperature gradient, and the temperature profile can be varied before or during a cooking process or cleaning process. 
   
   
       65 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 62 , further comprising at least one of a thermocouple and a heating element assigned to at least one of the one sensor, sensor segment, and field of the gas sensor array. 
   
   
       66 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 65 , wherein the at least one of a thermocouple and heating element is controlled by the control unit. 
   
   
       67 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 40 , wherein the cooking appliance comprises a hot air convection steam cooking appliance. 
   
   
       68 . Sampling system for a cooking appliance comprising:
 at least one of:
 a first gas sensor array for the detection of the atmosphere from a cooking compartment of the cooking appliance, 
 a second gas sensor array for the detection of the atmosphere from an installation compartment of the cooking appliance, 
 a third gas sensor array for the detection of the atmosphere from an aeration system of the cooking appliance, and 
 a fourth gas sensor array for the detection of the atmosphere surrounding the cooking appliance; 
   at least one of:
 a first feed for transporting the atmosphere from the cooking compartment to at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth gas sensor arrays, 
 a second feed for transporting the atmosphere from the installation compartment to at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth gas sensor arrays, 
 a third feed for transporting the atmosphere from the aeration system to at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth gas sensor arrays, and 
 a fourth feed for transporting the atmosphere surrounding the cooking appliance to at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth gas sensor arrays; and 
   at least one valve arranged at an inlet or in the area of at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth feeds.   
   
   
       69 . Sampling system according to  claim 68 , further comprising at least one first discharge from at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth gas sensor arrays. 
   
   
       70 . Sampling system according to  claim 69 , wherein at least one valve is arranged at the inlet or in the area of the discharge. 
   
   
       71 . Sampling system according to  claim 68 , further comprising at least one filter disposed in front of at least one gas sensor arrays. 
   
   
       72 . Sampling system according to  claim 71 , wherein at least one of the gas sensor arrays comprises a measuring surface and the at least one filter is disposed in front of the measuring surface. 
   
   
       73 . Sampling system according to  claim 72 , wherein the at least one filter is disposed at an inlet of at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth feeds. 
   
   
       74 . Sampling system according to  claim 68 , wherein the at least one valve is controllable. 
   
   
       75 . Sampling system according to  claim 68 , further comprising at least one pump unit in combination with at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth feeds for the transport of atmosphere to at least one of the gas sensor arrays to be analyzed. 
   
   
       76 . Sampling system according to  claim 68 , wherein at least one of the gas sensor arrays comprises several fields made of a semiconducting metal oxide film, each of which is connected to two electrodes, whereby the fields form an essentially continuous surface, the electrodes have a band-like shape and the continuous surface is divided into fields in such a way that each field in the continuous surface is delineated by two electrodes. 
   
   
       77 . Sampling system according to  claim 76 , wherein each of the gas sensor arrays comprises at least two different sensors, different sensor segments, or different fields that exhibit different conductivity changes as a function of at least one of temperature, composition, doping, and coating, upon contact with reducing or oxidizing gases. 
   
   
       78 . Sampling system according to  claim 77 , wherein the temperature of at least one of each sensor, sensor segment, and field of each gas sensor array is adjustable. 
   
   
       79 . Sampling system according to  claim 78 , wherein a specific temperature gradient or a specific temperature profile is applied to each gas sensor array. 
   
   
       80 . Sampling system according to  claim 77 , wherein at least one of each sensor, each sensor segment, and each field is in working connection with at least one of a thermocouple and a heating element. 
   
   
       81 . Sampling system according to  claim 80 , wherein at least one of the thermocouple and the heating element are controllable. 
   
   
       82 . Method for the cooking of cooking product with a cooking appliance according to  claim 40 , comprising the steps of:
 introducing at least the cooking compartment atmosphere to a gas sensor array, the gas sensor array comprising:
 at least two separate, different individual sensors, and 
 at least one coherent sensor field with at least two different sensor segments; 
   detecting at least the cooking compartment atmosphere at intervals or continuously during cooking;   comparing an analysis result from the evaluation unit to a standard stored in the memory unit; and   conducting a cooking process depending on the analysis result.   
   
   
       83 . Method according to  claim 82 , wherein the analysis results deviate from a selected standard only within a predetermined bandwidth. 
   
   
       84 . Method according to  claim 82 , wherein the analysis results do not deviate from a selected standard. 
   
   
       85 . Method according to  claim 82 , comprising varying at least one of the temperature of the sensor, the temperature of the sensor segment, the temperature of the field, and the standard used for the comparison. 
   
   
       86 . Method according to  claim 85 , comprising varying at least one of the temperature of the sensor, the temperature of the sensor segment, the temperature of the field, and the standard used for the comparison before or during the cooking process. 
   
   
       87 . Method according to  claim 82 , comprising storing the standards during a learning phase in the form of profiles or patterns of the detected signals of each gas sensor array. 
   
   
       88 . Method according to  claim 87 , comprising storing standards as a function of at least one of the type of cooking product, an amount of cooking product, cooking product quality, and a desired degree of cooking. 
   
   
       89 . Method according to  claim 88 , comprising storing standards for different temperatures of at least one of each sensor, each sensor segment, and each field. 
   
   
       90 . Method according to  claim 82 , further comprising the steps of:
 introducing a cooking product into the cooking compartment of the cooking appliance; and   determining at least one of the nature and the initial state of the cooking product with the at least one gas sensor array after introducing the cooking product into the cooking compartment.   
   
   
       91 . Method according to  claim 90 , comprising introducing the cooking product into the cooking compartment during a first heating phase. 
   
   
       92 . Method according to  claim 90 , comprising considering at least one of the determined nature and determined initial state during the control of the cooking process. 
   
   
       93 . Method according to  claim 90 , further comprising at least one of stopping and providing a warning signal if the initial state of a cooking product is qualified as spoiled. 
   
   
       94 . Method according to  claim 82 , comprising assigning a cooking program to each standard during a learning phase. 
   
   
       95 . Method for cleaning a cooking appliance according to  claim 40 , comprising the steps of:
 determining the degree of contamination of the cooking compartment by the at least one gas sensor array after completion of a cooking process;   determining a corresponding cleaning program corresponding to the degree of contamination with the evaluation unit; and   performing a cleaning program with the control unit.   
   
   
       96 . Method according to  claim 95 , wherein detecting the degree of contamination comprises comparing the signals from the at least one gas sensor array with standards. 
   
   
       97 . Method according to  claim 96 , wherein the standards comprise at least one of profiles and patterns of the signals of each gas sensor array. 
   
   
       98 . Method according to  claim 97 , comprising storing the standards during a learning phase.