Patent Publication Number: US-2019187636-A1

Title: Smart kitchen system and method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of wireless monitoring devices of existing art and more specifically relates to a smart kitchen system. 
     RELATED ART 
     There are a multitude of systems available for users to remotely monitor apparatuses, such as household appliances and devices, via wireless transmission of sensor data to a user&#39;s computing device. The systems have limitations, though, in their capacity to monitor more than one type of sensor or apparatus, and to wireless exchange information in real-time with a remotely located user. They also require the apparatuses that are housing the sensor to include electronic components for analyzing the sensor data before wirelessly transmitting it. This requires extra costs in the production of the apparatuses with sensors. 
     There is a growing trend for consumers and producers in many fields to manufacture “smart” devices to help make lives easier. These devices are labeled “smart” devices because they may allow a user to link existing software systems and durable goods with mobile devices and other Internet-based products. As this trend continues to grow and image recognition techniques improve in both function and accuracy, the number and type of wireless sensors need to evolve as well. A suitable solution is desired. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 9,060,212 to Mucha Loic relates to a universal electronic monitoring device and method of use for smart cooking. The described universal electronic monitoring device and method of use for smart cooking includes a universal iKT electronic monitoring device, system and method of use, to receive data from a variety of types of sensors (e.g., measuring weight, temperature) housed within apparatuses (e.g., a kitchen appliances, utensils) that are electronically compatible with the monitoring device. The monitoring device then wirelessly transmits the sensor data to a User&#39;s mobile device (i.e., a smartphone) to be analyzed and stored. The User&#39;s mobile device also comprises software to assist in using the apparatus, such as listing recipes, or transmitting commands to the device to turn off an apparatus (e.g., oven). One iKT device is compatible for use with a multitude of electronic apparatuses, such as mixing bowls to measure the weight of cooking ingredients, spatulas and oven mats to measure food temperature, cups to measure liquid volumes, and oven controls to turn off/on or reduce the temperature. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known wireless monitoring device art, the present disclosure provides a novel smart kitchen system. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a device and system for converting a standard kitchen into a smart-kitchen having machine learning techniques and increased safety features, without the need to purchase new cooking appliances. 
     A smart kitchen system is disclosed herein. The smart kitchen system may include: an imaging apparatus having a plurality of cameras and a display screen; a processing unit having a motherboard, a memory, a processor, and a power source; an audio unit having at least one microphone and at least one speaker; a lighting unit; a sensor assembly; a housing having a mounting bracket, a protective shield, and mounting hardware; a communications apparatus; and a computing device including an AI module and a server. The smart kitchen system may be useful for monitoring, interacting with, and customizing the cooking of food items on a cooking appliance, while providing a user with feedback and instructions in the form of data, ingredients and other cooking information. 
     According to another embodiment, a method for using a smart kitchen system is also disclosed herein. The method for using a smart kitchen system may include providing a smart kitchen system including an imaging apparatus, a processing unit, a power source, an audio unit, a lighting unit, a sensor assembly, a housing having, a communications apparatus, and a computing device including an AI module and a server, connecting the smart kitchen system to the computing device, cooking a food item on a cooking appliance, and receiving an instruction from the AI module of the computing device. 
     For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a smart kitchen system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the smart kitchen system during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the smart kitchen system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the smart kitchen system may include a housing having that may be suited for mounting in a hood of a kitchen range. 
         FIG. 3  is a lower perspective view of the smart kitchen system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the smart kitchen system may include a housing with a lighting unit, a sensor assembly, and an imaging apparatus. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the smart kitchen system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using a smart kitchen system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a wireless monitoring device and more particularly to a smart kitchen system as used to provide a device and system for converting a standard kitchen into a smart-kitchen without the need to purchase new cooking appliances. 
     Generally, the smart kitchen system may include a device that may be useful for turning a regular kitchen into a smart kitchen without needing to purchase new smart appliances. The device can be discretely hidden away in the range/hood light compartment and can be connected to an external AI module (for example: Ski, Google Assistant, Alexa, or other smart assistant devices). Data may be sent to the external AI module by a communications apparatus built-in to the device. The data transmitted between the external AI module and the communications apparatus may include (but is not limited to): images, videos, sounds, temperature feedback, and other sensor data. This data may then be stored or used to further train AI systems. The AI module sends communications/data back to the smart kitchen system or other devices. The AI module can then connect to other smart appliances present in the kitchen or home, independently through their API interfaces. 
     The smart kitchen system may further include components for communicating with a mobile application or cloud devices, a motherboard, a plurality of cameras, mounting hardware including a lens and protective plate, and a network communications component. The system may further comprise a microphone with speakers and a screen/display. Further still, the system may include a plurality of sensors including a thermometer, and other local environment sensors, all of which may be configured to communicate with and assist the AI module. The system may also include devices for, and sources of, lighting the surrounding cooking areas. Power sources (including components for converting/adapting existing range electrical sources) may also be provided and may appear in the form of a plug, removable power supply, and/or power coupling adapters. Power source components of this system may include a power source adapter configured to screw into an existing light bulb socket. 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , various views of a smart kitchen system  100 . 
       FIG. 1  shows a smart kitchen system  100  during an ‘in-use’ condition  50 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the smart kitchen system  100  may be beneficial for use by a user for converting a standard kitchen into a smart-kitchen without the need to purchase new cooking appliances. As illustrated, the smart kitchen system  100  may include a housing  150  configured for a kitchen range  20  cooking appliance  10  with a hood  15 , the housing  150  having a protective shield  152 . Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other smart kitchen system  100  arrangements such as, for example, varying appliance configurations, etc., may be sufficient. 
     According to one embodiment, the smart kitchen system  100  may be arranged as a kit  105 . In particular, the smart kitchen system  100  may further include a set of instructions  107 . The instructions  107  may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the smart kitchen system  100  such that the smart kitchen system  100  can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner. 
       FIG. 2  shows the smart kitchen system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the smart kitchen system  100  may include an imaging apparatus  110  configured for a kitchen range  20  with a hood  15 . The imaging apparatus  110  may further be mechanically coupled with a display screen  112  and an audio unit  135 . The included features may be structured and arranged within a housing  150  having mounting hardware  153  and a mounting bracket  151  for installing within the hood  15  of a kitchen range  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3  showing a lower perspective view of the smart kitchen system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here again, the smart kitchen system  100  may include an imaging apparatus  110  configured to monitor, regulate, and provide feedback on the surrounding cooking environment. The smart kitchen system  100  may further include a thermal camera  113  and a 3D camera array  114  configured to measure a distance and provide a 3D image of the nearby cooking areas. The system  100  may further include a lighting unit  140  and a sensor assembly  145  to respectively illuminate and monitor data of the cooking area. In addition, the smart kitchen system  100  may feature an audio unit  135  having at least one speaker  137  to provide audio feedback regarding cooking operations. The aforementioned features may further be communicably coupled with a computing device  165  including an AI module  166  and a server  167 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the smart kitchen system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the smart kitchen system  100  may include a display screen  112  configured to provide cooking instructions and feedback. The system  100  may further include a processing unit  120  having a motherboard  121 , a memory  122 , and a processor  123 . The smart kitchen system  100  may also include a power source  130 , wherein the power source  130  further comprises an adapter  131  configured for electrically coupling to an existing power outlet. Finally, the smart kitchen system  100  may also feature a communications apparatus  160  that includes a wireless communications assembly  161  configured to communicably couple with a computing device  165  (not shown; see  FIG. 3 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5  showing a flow diagram illustrating a method  500  for smart kitchen system  100 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method of using  500  a smart kitchen system  100  may include one or more components or features of the smart kitchen system  100  as described above. As illustrated, the method of using  500  a smart kitchen system  100  may include the steps of: step one  501 , providing a smart kitchen system  100  including an imaging apparatus  110 , a processing unit  120 , a power source  130 , an audio unit  135 , a lighting unit  140 , a sensor assembly  145 , a housing  150 , a communications apparatus  160 , and a computing device  165  including an AI module  166  and a server  167 ; step two  502 , connecting said smart kitchen system  100  to said computing device  165 ; step three  503 , recording sensory data; step four  504 , cooking a food item on a cooking appliance  10 ; and step five  505 , receiving feedback from said AI module  166  of said computing device  165 . 
     It should be noted that step five  506  is an optional step and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of a method of using  500  a smart kitchen system  100  are illustrated using dotted lines in  FIG. 5  so as to distinguish them from the other steps of a method of using  500  a smart kitchen system  100 . It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for a smart kitchen system  100  are taught herein. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.