Application using a single photon avalanche diode (spad)

Abstract

An oven may include a housing having a cooking receptacle configured to hold content therein, a heating element carried by the housing and configured to heat the content, and a proximity detector carried by the housing in the cooking receptacle and configured to detect surface movement of the content. The proximity detector may include at least one SPAD.

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . An oven comprising:
 a proximity detector comprising at least one single photon avalanche diode (SPAD);   said proximity detector configured to continuously monitor a surface of content being heated so as to detect surface movement during heating of the content.   
     
     
         7 . The oven of  claim 6  wherein said proximity detector comprises an array of SPADs. 
     
     
         8 . The oven of  claim 7  further comprising an illumination source configured to generate illumination to be reflected by the content to said array of SPADs. 
     
     
         9 . The oven of  claim 8  wherein said proximity detector comprises:
 an illumination source driver configured to apply a modulation signal to said illumination source; and 
 a computation logic module coupled to said proximity detector and configured to determine a range value for the content. 
 
     
     
         10 . The oven of  claim 8  wherein said illumination source comprises at least one of a light emitting diode (LED) and a modulated laser. 
     
     
         11 . The oven of  claim 8  wherein said illumination source is configured to generate infrared radiation. 
     
     
         12 . The oven of  claim 8  wherein said array of SPADs is arranged in rows and columns. 
     
     
         13 . An oven comprising:
 a housing including a cooking receptacle configured to hold content therein;   a heating element carried by said housing and configured to heat the content; and   a proximity detector carried by said housing in the cooking receptacle and configured to detect surface movement of the content.   
     
     
         14 . The oven of  claim 13  wherein said proximity detector is configured to continuously monitor a surface of the content during heating. 
     
     
         15 . The oven of  claim 13  wherein said proximity detector comprises an array of single photon avalanche diodes (SPAD). 
     
     
         16 . The oven of  claim 15  further comprising an illumination source carried by said housing in the cooking receptacle and configured to generate illumination to be reflected by the content to said array of SPADs. 
     
     
         17 . The oven of  claim 16  wherein said proximity detector comprises:
 an illumination source driver configured to apply a modulation signal to said illumination source; and 
 a computation logic module coupled to said proximity detector and configured to determine a range value for the content. 
 
     
     
         18 . The oven of  claim 16  wherein said illumination source comprises at least one of a light emitting diode (LED) and a modulated laser. 
     
     
         19 . The oven of  claim 16  wherein said illumination source is configured to generate infrared radiation. 
     
     
         20 . The oven of  claim 16  wherein said array of SPADs is arranged in rows and columns. 
     
     
         21 . The oven of  claim 16  further comprising a multiplexer and associated counter; and wherein said array of SPADs is coupled to said multiplexer and said counter and configured to measure the reflected illumination. 
     
     
         22 . The oven of  claim 13  further comprising a controller configured to set at least one operating characteristic and to receive an output from said proximity detector to selectively change the at least one operating characteristic. 
     
     
         23 . The oven of  claim 22  further comprising a memory configured to store cooking data; and wherein said controller is configured to selectively change the at least one operating characteristic further based upon the cooking data. 
     
     
         24 . The oven of  claim 13  wherein the content comprises liquid content; and wherein said proximity detector is configured to detect when the liquid content is boiling. 
     
     
         25 . An oven comprising:
 a proximity detector configured to detect surface movement of the content being heated.   
     
     
         26 . The oven of  claim 25  wherein said proximity detector comprises an array of single photon avalanche diodes (SPAD). 
     
     
         27 . The oven of  claim 26  further comprising an illumination source configured to generate illumination to be reflected by the content to said array of SPADs. 
     
     
         28 . The oven of  claim 27  wherein said proximity detector comprises:
 an illumination source driver configured to apply a modulation signal to said illumination source; and 
 a computation logic module coupled to said proximity detector and configured to determine a range value for the content. 
 
     
     
         29 . The oven of  claim 27  wherein said illumination source comprises at least one of a light emitting diode (LED) and a modulated laser. 
     
     
         30 . The oven of  claim 27  wherein said illumination source is configured to generate infrared radiation. 
     
     
         31 . The oven of  claim 27  wherein said array of SPADs is arranged in rows and columns. 
     
     
         32 . The oven of  claim 27  further comprising a multiplexer and associated counter; and wherein said array of SPADs is coupled to said multiplexer and said counter and is configured to measure the reflected illumination. 
     
     
         33 . The oven of  claim 25  further comprising a controller configured to set at least one operating characteristic and to receive an output from said proximity detector to selectively change the at least one operating characteristic. 
     
     
         34 . The oven of  claim 33  further comprising a memory configured to store cooking data; and wherein said controller is configured to selectively change the at least one operating characteristic further based upon the cooking data. 
     
     
         35 . The oven of  claim 25  wherein the content comprises liquid content; and wherein said proximity detector is configured to detect when the liquid content is boiling. 
     
     
         36 . A method of making an oven comprising:
 forming a housing including a cooking receptacle for holding content therein;   coupling a heating element to be carried by the housing and to heat the content; and   coupling a proximity detector to be carried by the housing in the cooking receptacle and to detect surface movement of the content.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the proximity detector coupled to continuously monitor a surface of the content during heating. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the proximity detector comprises an array of single photon avalanche diodes (SPAD. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  further comprising coupling an illumination source to be carried by the housing in the cooking receptacle to generate illumination to be reflected by the content to the array of SPADs. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising providing the proximity detector to comprise:
 an illumination source driver for applying a modulation signal the illumination source; and 
 a computation logic module for determining a range value for the content. 
 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising providing the illumination source to comprise at least one of a light emitting diode (LED) and a modulated laser. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising forming the array of SPADs in rows and columns.