Method for monitoring a cooking process, and control device

Abstract

In a method for monitoring a cooking process, a cooking receptacle is detected on a cooking zone of a cooktop. The detected cooking receptacle is determined by determining a surface of a food to be cooked which is contained in the cooking receptacle. A change in level of the surface of the food is determined over a predetermined time, and a rising rate of the food is ascertained as a result of the change in level. Based on the ascertained rising rate, a probability of a boiling over of the food is predicted and a warning signal is output based on the predicted probability of the food boiling over.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method for monitoring a cooking process, the method comprising:
 detecting a cooking receptacle on a cooking zone of a cooktop; evaluating the detected cooking receptacle by determining a surface of a food to be cooked which is contained in the cooking receptacle;   determining a change in level of the surface of the food over a predetermined time;   ascertaining a rising rate of the food as a result of the change in level;   predicting a probability of a boiling over of the food based on the ascertained rising rate; and   outputting a warning signal based on the predicted probability of the food boiling over.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the warning signal comprises an information output and/or a notification to a user and/or a control and/or regulating signal for controlling an operating state of a fume extraction device and/or the cooktop. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the warning signal comprises a control and/or regulating signal to cause adjustment of an operating mode of a fume extraction device and/or of the cooktop and/or a sampling rate as the cooking receptacle is detected. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the detection of the cooking receptacle comprises a detection of a depth image, and wherein the prediction of the probability of the food boiling over comprises a determination of the surface of the food to be cooked exceeding a predetermined level and/or a predetermined volume. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the determination of the surface of the food to be cooked comprises a determination of a type of food to be cooked. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the evaluation of the detected cooking receptacle comprises a determination of a presence of a lid. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the determination of the presence of the lid comprises a determination of a position of the lid relative to the cooking receptacle. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising ascertaining a temperature of the food to be cooked contained in the cooking receptacle based on a specific movement of the surface of the food to be cooked, wherein the probability of the food boiling over is further predicted based on the ascertained temperature. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising closing the cooking receptacle by an at least partially transparent lid, wherein the probability of the food boiling over is predicted based on a property of the food to be cooked which is detected through the lid. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising determining a cooking level set for the cooking zone of the detected cooking receptacle or a change in the cooking level based on data transmitted by the cooktop or data of a control panel of the cooktop as detected by a camera, wherein the probability of the food boiling over is predicted based on the determined cooking level or the determined change in the cooking level. 
     
     
         25 . A control device for a cooking system, the control device comprising:
 a detection unit designed to detect a cooking receptacle on a cooking zone of a cooktop;   an evaluation unit designed to evaluate the detected cooking receptacle and a surface of a food to be cooked contained in the detected cooking receptacle by determining a change in level of the surface over a predetermined time and ascertaining a corresponding rising rate;   a prediction unit designed to predict a probability of the food boiling over based on the rising rate ascertained by the evaluation unit; and   a control unit designed to output a warning signal based on the predicted boiling over of the food.   
     
     
         26 . The control device of  claim 25 , constructed for integration in an extractor hood and/or representing a module fastenable to an extractor hood, and further comprising a communication unit designed to wirelessly transmit data between the control device and the extractor hood and/or between the control device and the cooktop. 
     
     
         27 . The control device of  claim 25 , wherein the detection unit comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a camera, a control monitoring, and a sensor. 
     
     
         28 . The control device of  claim 25 , designed to execute a method as set forth in  claim 15 . 
     
     
         29 . A fume extraction device, comprising a control device, said control device comprising a detection unit designed to detect a cooking receptacle on a cooking zone of a cooktop, an evaluation unit designed to evaluate the detected cooking receptacle and a surface of a food to be cooked contained in the detected cooking receptacle by determining a change in level of the surface over a predetermined time and ascertaining a corresponding rising rate, a prediction unit designed to predict a probability of the food boiling over based on the rising rate ascertained by the evaluation unit, and a control unit designed to output a warning signal based on the predicted boiling over of the food. 
     
     
         30 . The fume extraction device of  claim 29 , wherein the control device is constructed for integration in the fume extraction device. 
     
     
         31 . The fume extraction device of  claim 29 , constructed in a form of an extractor hood. 
     
     
         32 . The fume extraction device of  claim 31 , wherein the control device comprises a communication unit designed to wirelessly transmit data between the control device and the extractor hood and/or between the control device and the cooktop. 
     
     
         33 . The fume extraction device of  claim 29 , wherein the detection unit of the control device comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a camera, a control monitoring, and a sensor.