Patent Publication Number: US-2023151968-A1

Title: Control unit and method for controlling a gas-based cooking appliance

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of Turkish Patent Application TR2021/017877, filed Nov. 17, 2021; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present document relates to a gas-based cooking appliance, such as a gas hob and/or a gas oven. In particular, the present document relates to a method and a control unit for controlling a gas-based cooking appliance. 
     A gas-based cooking appliance may be used within a household for cooking and/or for baking. The use of gas within a household may lead to safety issues, notably if the gas-based cooking appliance is left unattended. 
     The present document addresses the technical problem of increasing the safety and/or the comfort-of-use of a gas-based cooking appliance. The technical problem is solved by each of the independent claims. Preferred examples are described in the dependent claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an aspect, a control unit for controlling a gas-based cooking appliance (such as a gas hob and/or a gas oven) is described. The control unit may at least partially be a control module of the cooking appliance. Alternatively, or in addition, the control unit may at least partially be external to and/or separate from the cooking appliance. In a preferred example, the control unit is a central unit (e.g., a server) which is separate from the cooking appliance. The central unit may be located within a data cloud. 
     The control unit is configured to determine user information regarding a user of the cooking appliance using an (e.g., using data provided by an) electronic user device (e.g., a smartphone and/or a smart wearable such as a smart watch) of the user. The user device may be configured to be carried around by the user. Furthermore, the user device may be configured to provide data regarding the user (notably the state and/or the position of the user). The user information may be determined based on the data which is provided by the user device. In particular, the user device may comprise one or more sensors (such as a position sensor and/or an inertial measurement unit and/or a health sensor (for capturing e.g., the blood pressure and/or the heat beat)), which are configured to sense measurement data. The measurement data and/or data derived therefrom may be provided by the user device to the control unit. The user information may be indicative of the state (notably the state of health) and/or the position of the user. 
     Furthermore, the control unit may be configured to control the cooking appliance in dependence of the user information. In particular, the control unit may be configured to turn off the cooking appliance and/or to turn off the gas supply to the cooking appliance in dependence of the user information. Alternatively, or in addition, the control unit may be configured to turn off a gas burner of the cooking appliance in dependence of the user information. Alternatively, or in addition, the control unit may be configured to open or close a gas supply valve of the cooking appliance in dependence of the user information. 
     Hence, a control unit is described, which is configured to (remote) control a gas-based cooking appliance based on user information that has been determined using the user device of the user (in particular using one or more sensors of the user device). By doing this, the safety and/or the comfort-of-use of the cooking appliance may be increased in an efficient and reliable manner. 
     The control unit may be configured to determine the state, in particular the state of health, of the user of the cooking appliance based on the user information. The cooking appliance may then be controlled in dependence of the state of the user. In particular, the control unit may be configured to determine or detect, based on the user information, that the user is unconscious. In reaction to this, the cooking appliance and/or the gas supply to the cooking appliance may be turned off, thereby further increasing the safety of the cooking appliance. 
     The user device may comprise one or more sensors configured to capture measurement data regarding the user, in particular regarding the state of health (e.g., the heartbeat, the blood pressure, etc.) of the user and/or the position of the user. As indicated above, the user device may contain a smart wearable, in particular a smart watch, carried by the user. 
     The user information may be dependent on the measurement data captured by the one or more sensors of the user device. In particular, the control unit may be configured to determine the user information based on the measurement data captured by the one or more sensors of the user device. As a result of this, the user information may be determined in an efficient and precise manner. 
     The control unit may be configured to determine distance information regarding the distance between the cooking appliance and the user device based on the user information. In particular, the distance information may be determined based on position data of a position sensor, in particular a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) sensor, of the user device. Alternatively, or in addition, the distance information may be determined based on radio data regarding the signal strength of a radio signal (e.g., a Bluetooth signal) emitted and/or captured by a wireless communication module of the user device. 
     The control unit may be configured to control the cooking appliance based on the distance information. In particular, the control unit may be configured to determine, based on the distance information, whether the distance between the cooking appliance and the user device is greater than a pre-determined distance threshold. The distance threshold may e.g., be in the range between 5 to 20 meters. 
     The control unit may be configured to turn off the cooking appliance and/or to turn off the gas supply to the cooking appliance, if it is determined that the distance between the cooking appliance and the user device is greater than the pre-determined distance threshold. By doing this, the safety of the cooking appliance may be further increased. 
     In particular, the control unit may be configured to send a notification to the user device, if it is determined that the distance between the cooking appliance and the user device is greater than the pre-determined distance threshold. Furthermore, the control unit may be configured to determine whether or not the notification is acknowledged by the user at the user device (within a predetermined time interval, of e.g., 10 seconds). The cooking appliance and/or the gas supply to the cooking appliance may be turned off, if it is determined that the notification is not acknowledged by the user. By doing this, the safety of the cooking appliance may be increased in a particularly comfortable manner. 
     As indicated above, the control unit may be a central unit (e.g., a server) which is separate from the cooking appliance and from the user device. The central unit may be configured to communicate with the user device via a wireless and/or wireline communication link (such as a LAN, WLAN, 3G, 4G or 5G communication link). Furthermore, the central unit may be configured to control the cooking appliance via a wireless and/or wireline communication link (such as a LAN, WLAN, 3G, 4G or 5G communication link). By making use of a central unit, the safety and/or the comfort-of-use of the cooking appliance may be increased in a particularly reliable manner. 
     The control unit may be configured to determine that a control element (e.g., knob) of the cooking appliance has been actuated to turn on a burner of the cooking appliance. Furthermore, the control unit may be configured to determine whether or not the actuation of the control element has been confirmed by the user via the user device (within a predetermined time interval). For this purpose, a confirmation request may be sent to the user device. The user may then reply to the confirmation request in order to confirm the actuation of the control element. 
     The control unit may be configured to turn on the burner, if it is determined that the actuation of the control element has been confirmed by the user via the user device. On the other hand, the control unit may be configured to prevent gas from being supplied to the burner (e.g., by maintain the supply valve closed), if it is determined that the actuation of the control element has not been confirmed by the user via the user device. 
     By allowing the user to confirm the activation of a burner of the cooking appliance via the electronic user device, the safety of the cooking appliance may be further increased. 
     The control unit may be configured to determine status information regarding the status of the cooking appliance. Example status information is the fact that a burner of the cooking appliance is being operated, the duration of the operation of the burner and/or the temperature of the flame which is produced by the burner. Furthermore, the control unit may be configured to provide the status information to the user device, thereby increasing the comfort-of-use of the cooking appliance. 
     According to another aspect, a method for controlling a gas-based cooking appliance (notably a gas hob) is described. The method includes determining user information regarding a user of the cooking appliance using an electronic user device of the user (in particular, using data provided by the user device of the user). Furthermore, the method includes controlling the cooking appliance in dependence of the user information. 
     It should be noted that the methods and systems including its preferred embodiments as outlined in the present document may be used stand-alone or in combination with the other methods and systems disclosed in this document. In addition, the features outlined in the context of a system are also applicable to a corresponding method. Furthermore, all aspects of the methods and systems outlined in the present document may be arbitrarily combined. In particular, the features of the claims may be combined with one another in an arbitrary manner. 
     Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a control unit and a method for controlling a gas-based cooking appliance, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
     The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG.  1 A  is an illustration showing an example system for controlling a gas-based cooking appliance; 
         FIG.  1 B  is a block diagram of an example user device; and 
         FIG.  2    is a flow chart of an example method for controlling a gas-based cooking appliance. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As outlined above, the present document is directed at increasing the safety and the comfort-of-use of a gas-based cooking appliance, such as a gas hob or a gas oven. Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to  FIG.  1 A  thereof, there is shown an example system  100  containing a gas-based cooking appliance  10  which is communicatively coupled with a central unit  112 , such as a server within a data cloud. The cooking appliance  10  and the central unit  112  may be configured to communicate via a wireless and/or a wireline data communication link  120 , such as a local area network (LAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), 3G, 4G and/or 5G. For this purpose, the cooking appliance  10  may comprise a communication unit  113 . 
     The cooking appliance  10  has one or more burners  116  which are configured to burn gas which is provided via a supply line  102  to the cooking appliance  10 . In  FIG.  1 A  a flame  117  is illustrated at one of the burners  116 . The cooking appliance  10  may have one or more (mechanical) control elements  115  which allow a user of the cooking appliance  10  to turn on or off and/or to adjust the gas supply to the burner  116 . 
     The cooking appliance  10  has a control module  111  which is configured to control one or more components of the cooking appliance  10 , in particular, in dependence of data received via the communication unit  113 . Hence, the control module  111  may be configured to enable a remote control of the cooking appliance  10 . The control module  111  may e.g., be configured to control a supply valve  114  of the cooking appliance  10 , wherein the supply valve  114  may be closed to shut off the supply line  102  or may be opened to couple the cooking appliance  10  with the supply line  102 . Hence, the supply valve  114  may be used to put the cooking appliance  10  into a safe state by closing the supply valve  114  in order to cut off the gas supply to the cooking appliance  10 . 
     The system  100  may further have an electronic user device  130  which may be a smart watch as illustrated in  FIG.  1 A . The user device  130  may be carried by the user of the cooking appliance  10 . The user device  130  may be configured to exchange data with the central unit  112  via a wireline and/or wireless communication link  121 . As shown in  FIG.  1 B , the user device  130  may comprise a communication module  133  for this purpose. Furthermore, the user device  130  may comprise one or more sensors  132  which are configured to sense measurement data regarding the user of the user device  130 . The measurement data may be indicative of: 
     the position of the user device  130  and of the user carrying the user device  130 ; and/or 
     the state of the user, notably with regards to the consciousness of the user. 
     The central unit  112  may be configured to determine user information regarding the user of the cooking appliance  10 . The user information may be provided by the user device  130  via the communication link  120 . The user information may be based on the measurement data of the one or more sensors  132  of the user device  130 . In particular, the measurement data may have been processed by a control element  131  of the user device  130  to determine the user information and/or to determine data which is derived from the measurement data. The user information and/or the derived data and/or the measurement data may be provided by the user device  130  to the central unit  112  via the communication link  120  (using the communication module  133  of the user device  130 ). 
     Furthermore, the central unit  112  may be configured to control the cooking appliance  10  in dependence of the user information. In particular, the central unit  112  may be configured to put the cooking appliance  10  into a safe state, if the user information indicates that the user does not supervise the cooking appliance  10  and/or if the user information indicates that the user is not conscious (e.g., because the user is sleeping or because the user has a medical issue). For this purpose, the central unit  112  may send a control command to the control module  111  of the cooking appliance  10  via the communication link  120 . The control module  111  of the cooking appliance  10  may then put the cooking appliance  10  into a safe state, e.g., by closing the supply valve  114 . 
     Hence, the system  100  is described which allows a gas-based cooking appliance  10  to be coupled with a (mobile) user device  130  via a central unit  112 , thereby allowing the cooking appliance  10  to be remote controlled. As a result of this, the safety and/or the comfort-of-use of the cooking appliance  10  may be increased. 
     The cooking appliance  10  may comprise one or more sensing elements  118  which are configured to measure appliance data regarding the cooking appliance  10 . In particular, the sensing element  118  (such as a thermocouple sensor) may be configured to measure appliance data regarding a flame  117  which is produced by a burner  116  of the cooking appliance  10 . In particular, the temperature of the flame  117  may be measured. 
     The control module  111  of the cooking appliance  10  may be configured to determine, based on the data measured by the one or more sensing element  118 , that a flame  117  is produced by a burner  116  of the cooking appliance  10 . If this the case, the supply valve  114  may be kept open. On the other hand, if it is determined that the control element  115  of the burner  116  has been turned to release gas, but that no flame  117  is being generated, the supply valve  114  may be closed to cut off the gas supply. The fact that no flame  117  is being generated may be determined based on the measured temperature. 
     Information regarding the operation of the cooking appliance  10  may be sent to the central unit  112 . By way of example, the starting time of the operation of a burner  116  and/or the temperature of the flame  117  may be provided to and may possibly be stored by the central unit  112 . The temperature of the flame  117  may be updated repeatedly during the operation of the burner  116 . Furthermore, the duration of the operation of the burner  116  may be tracked by the central unit  112 . If it is detected that the control element  115  is actuated for turning off the burner  116 , the supply valve  114  may be closed to cut off the gas supply. 
     The user may be informed on the user device  130  about the status of the cooking appliance  10 . In particular, the user may be informed on whether a burner  116  of the cooking appliance  10  is turned on or off. By way of example, a notification may be sent to the user device  130  in order to inform the user that a burner  116  of the cooking appliance  10  has been activated and/or is being operated. Such notifications may be sent repeatedly during operation of the burner  116 . Furthermore, the user may be informed about the temperature of the flame  117  of the burner  116 . 
     The control module  111  of the cooking appliance  10  and/or the central unit  112  may be configured to send a notification to the user device  130 , if the activation and/or the use of the cooking appliance  10  is detected. As a result of this, an unexpected use of the cooking appliance  10  (e.g., by a child or by an elderly person may be detected). Alternatively, or in addition, the control module  111  of the cooking appliance  10  and/or the central unit  112  may be configured to send a notification to the user device  130 , if it is detected that the flame  117  of a burner  116  has been blown out (e.g., by an external factor such as wind or boiling water). 
     Alternatively, or in addition, the control module  111  of the cooking appliance  10  and/or the central unit  112  may be configured to send information regarding the ambient temperature of the cooking appliance  10  and/or the flame temperature to the user device  130 . As a result of this, the user may be informed about an abnormal situation within the vicinity of the cooking appliance  10 , such as a fire or an open window. 
     Alternatively, or in addition, the control module  111  of the cooking appliance  10  and/or the central unit  112  may be configured to send information regarding the starting time and/or the duration of operation of a burner  116  of the cooking appliance  10  to the user device  130 . This information may be sent to the user device  130  repeatedly in regular intervals. The time interval (e.g., every 15 or 30 minutes) between successive notifications may be set by the user. 
     The control module  111  of the cooking appliance  10  and/or the central unit  112  may be configured to determine whether or not the user has responded to a notification which has been provided to the user device  130 . If it is determined that the user has not responded to a notification, the cooking appliance  10  may be turned off automatically, thereby increasing the safety of the cooking appliance  10 . 
     The control module  111  of the cooking appliance  10  and/or the central unit  112  may be configured to receive a control command for controlling the cooking appliance  10  from the user device  130 . The control command may be directed at turning off a burner  116  of the cooking appliance  10 . The control module  111  of the cooking appliance  10  and/or the central unit  112  may be configured to control the cooking appliance  10  in dependence of the received control command, thereby enabling a remote control of the cooking appliance  10  using the user device  130 , e.g., using a software appliance on the user device  130 . 
     The user may be enabled to set a time for turning off the cooking appliance  10 , e.g., a burner  116  of the cooking appliance  10 , using the user device  130 . The control module  111  of the cooking appliance  10  and/or the central unit  112  may be configured to automatically turn off the cooking appliance  10  at the time set by the user. The time may be set using a countdown or timer. Alternatively, or in addition, a maximum working time of the cooking appliance  10  may be set. Regardless of the use of the cooking appliance  10 , the cooking appliance  10  may then be turned off automatically after the maximum working time has elapsed. 
     The control module  111  of the cooking appliance  10  and/or the central unit  112  may be configured to determine the distance between the user (i.e., the user device  130 ) and the cooking appliance  10 , while the cooking appliance  10  is being operated. The location of the cooking appliance  10  may be stored within a database of the central unit  112 . If the distance between the user and the cooking appliance  10  is equal to or greater than a pre-determined threshold distance, the user may be informed via the user device  130  that the cooking appliance  10  is being operated. Alternatively, or in addition, the cooking appliance  10  may be turned off automatically. 
     The user may be enabled to set one or more specific time intervals during a day, during which the cooking appliance  10  may be operated and/or may not be operated. By way of example, the use of the cooking appliance  10  may be blocked during night time. As a result of this, the safety of the cooking appliance  10  may be increased further. 
     The control module  111  of the cooking appliance  10  and/or the central unit  112  may be configured to verify whether or not the user has confirmed the activation of the cooking appliance  10 , e.g., the activation of a burner  116  of the cooking appliance  10 , on the user device  130 . After turning on a burner  116  of the cooking appliance  10  using the control element  115 , the control module  111  of the cooking appliance  10  and/or the central unit  112  may verify whether this activation at the cooking appliance  10  has been confirmed using the user device  130 . There may be a maximum time (e.g., 10 seconds) for confirming an activation. If the activation is not confirmed, the gas supply may be blocked. Otherwise, the burner  116  may be activated. As a result of this, the safety of the cooking appliance  10  may be increased further. 
     The control module  111  of the cooking appliance  10  and/or the central unit  112  may be configured to log the usage of the cooking appliance  10  (e.g., the operation times and/or durations) within a database. The database may be accessible using the user device  130 , thereby allowing the user to track the usage of the cooking appliance  10 . 
     The control module  111  of the cooking appliance  10  and/or the central unit  112  may be configured to determine based on the data provided by the user device  130  (e.g., a smart watch) that the user is unconscious (e.g., due to a heart attack). In reaction to this, the cooking appliance  10  may be turned off automatically. 
       FIG.  2    shows a flow chart of an example (possibly computer-implemented) method  200  for controlling a gas-based cooking appliance  10 . The method  200  may be executed by the central unit  112  which is separate from the cooking appliance  10  and/or from the electronic user device  130  of the user of the cooking appliance  10 . Alternatively, or in addition, the method  200  may be executed by a control module  111  of the cooking appliance  10 . 
     The method  200  includes determining  201  user information regarding the user of the cooking appliance  10 . The user information is determined using the electronic user device  130  (in particular, a smart wearable) of the user. The user information may be indicative of the state and/or of the position of the user. The user information may be determined based on data, in particular measurement data captured by one or more sensors  132 , that has been provided by the user device  130 . 
     Furthermore, the method  200  includes controlling  202  the cooking appliance  10  in dependence of the user information, notably in dependence of the state of the user and/or of the position of the user. In particular, the cooking appliance  10  may be turned off automatically in dependence of the user information, in particular if the user information indicates that the user is unconscious and/or if the user information indicates that the user is too far away from the cooking appliance  10 . 
     The measures which are described in the present document allow the safety and/or the comfort-of-use of a gas-based cooking appliance  10  to be increased. 
     It should be noted that the description and drawings merely illustrate the principles of the proposed methods and systems. Those skilled in the art will be able to implement various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples and embodiment outlined in the present document are principally intended expressly to be only for explanatory purposes to help the reader in understanding the principles of the proposed methods and systems. Furthermore, all statements herein providing principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof. 
     The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention:
       10  cooking appliance     100  system     102  supply line     110  control unit     111  control module     112  central unit     113  communication unit     114  supply valve     115  control element     116  burner     117  flame     118  sensing element     120  communication link     130  user device     131  control element     132  sensor     133  communication module