Patent Description:
A kitchen appliance may be used with various different tools for performing different processing of a food item which is placed within the receptacle, in particular within the bowl, of the appliance. Example tools are a knife, a shredder, a dough hook, etc. Operation of the appliance may be adapted depending on the tool which is attached to the appliance.

The kitchen appliance may be configured to automatically guide a user through a cooking process using recipe data stored on the kitchen appliance. During the guided cooking process, the user may be requested via a user interface of the kitchen appliance to place a particular tool within the receptacle of the appliance. The tool may then be operated automatically in dependence of the recipe data.

The user may forget to place a tool within the receptacle, or the user may place the wrong tool within the receptacle. This typically impacts the quality of the food item which is prepared within the kitchen appliance.

<CIT> describes a kitchen appliance for processing food. <CIT> describes a household appliance with an automatic motor control.

The present document addresses the technical problem of performing tool detection and/or of controlling a tool in an efficient and reliable manner. The technical problem is solved by each of the independent claims. Preferred examples are described in the dependent claims.

According to an aspect, a control unit for an appliance, in particular for a kitchen and/or cooking appliance, is described. The appliance comprises a receptacle, in particular a bowl, for taking up content, in particular a food item. Furthermore, the appliance comprises a temperature modification unit, in particular a heating unit and/or a cooling unit, for modifying the temperature of (in particular for heating up and/or for cooling down) the content within the receptacle. The temperature modification unit may be configured to provide thermal energy to and/or to withdraw thermal energy from the receptacle and/or the content within the receptacle at an (energy) transfer point. The transfer point may be located at the bottom of the receptacle.

The appliance is configured to operate a tool to process the content within the receptacle. The appliance typically comprises a motor configured to drive the tool which is attached to the motor. Example tools are a knife, a shredder, a hook, a foaming tool, etc. The motor may be integrated within a base unit of the appliance, wherein the base unit may be configured to be placed on a worktop of a kitchen. The receptacle may be positioned on top of the base unit.

The appliance may be configured such that the tool which is attached to and/or driven by the motor is selectable in an interchangeable manner from a set of K different tools, with K ≥ <NUM> (typically K≥ <NUM> or K≥ <NUM>). By way of example, a user may be enabled to position (sequentially) K different tools onto a coupling of the appliance. The coupling may be located within the receptacle. The coupling may be coupled to the motor, and the motor may be configured to drive a tool via the coupling.

Furthermore, the appliance comprises a temperature sensor (e.g., an Infrared (IR) based sensor and/or a resistance-based sensor) configured to provide measurement data regarding the temperature of the content. The temperature of the content may be sensed at a measurement point, wherein the location of the measurement point may differ from the location of the transfer point. In particular, the measurement point may be located at a higher level than the transfer point (e.g., at a side wall of the receptacle), e.g., at a height of <NUM> or more, or <NUM> or more above the transfer point.

The control unit is configured to determine, based on measurement data provided by the temperature sensor, a temperature signal which is indicative of the temperature of the content within the receptacle as a function of time, during operation of the temperature modification unit for modifying (in particular for increasing or for decreasing) the temperature of the content within the receptacle. In other words, during a heat-up or cool-down process performed by the temperature modification unit, a temperature signal may be determined, which indicates the temporal evolution of the temperature of the content (at the measurement point of the temperature sensor). In yet other words, it may be determined how the temperature of the content increases and/or decreases during operation of the temperature modification unit (and possibly during operation of the tool).

Furthermore, the control unit is configured to determine tool information regarding the tool and/or regarding operation of the tool, based on the temperature signal. In other words, the temporal evolution of the temperature of the content during a heat-up or cool-down process may be analyzed to determine tool information. The tool information may be indicative of whether or not the tool is operated. Alternatively, or in addition, the tool information may be indicative of the rotation speed of the tool. Alternatively, or in addition, the tool information may be indicative of the type of the tool out of a pre-determined set of K different types of tools, with K><NUM>.

Hence, a control unit is described, which makes use of temperature measurement data regarding the temperature of the content of the appliance, in order to determine tool information regarding the tool that is being used within the appliance. This allows tool information to be determined in a reliable, precise and efficient manner.

According to the invention, the control unit is configured to monitor and/or to control operation of the tool based on the determined tool information. By way of example, the tool information may indicate the actual rotation speed of the tool. This information may be used to control the motor for driving the tool, e.g., in order to regulate the rotation speed of the tool to a target rotation speed. Alternatively, or in addition, the tool information may indicate the type of the tool, which is being operated within the receptacle. The motor for driving the tool may be operated in dependence of the indicated type of the tool, thereby increase the safety and/or the reliability of the appliance.

The control unit may be configured to operate the appliance in dependence of the tool information. By way of example, the appliance may be configured to provide a guided cooking function via a user interface of the appliance. The control unit may be configured to determine recipe data regarding a recipe to be cooked using the appliance. The recipe data may indicate a particular type of tool to be used. The control unit may be configured to instruct the user of the appliance to place the indicated type of tool within the receptacle. Furthermore, the control unit may be configured to operate the tool (subject to a user input by the user via the user interface). In addition, the control unit may be configured to determine tool information regarding the tool (as outlined in the present document). The tool information may be used to verify whether or not the correct type of tool has been placed into the receptacle. If it is determined that the incorrect type of tool or no tool has been placed into the receptacle, an error message may be output via the user interface of the appliance. As a result of this, the reliability of the appliance may be improved (in particular, with regards to a guided cooking function).

The control unit may be configured to determine whether or not the temperature signal comprises one or more localized temperature spikes (in particular, a (periodic) sequence of localized temperature spikes). The one or more localized temperature spikes, in particular the sequence of localized temperature spikes, may be determined in a reliable manner using a pattern recognition algorithm and/or using a frequency analysis of the temperature signal. The temperature signal may show a smooth overall increase or decrease in temperature, wherein the temperature may increase or decrease according to an average temperature gradient. This smooth increase or decrease may be overlayed with relative short temperature spikes (within which the temperature increases and/or decreases in an abrupt manner). The duration and/or the height of a temperature spike may be dependent on the rotation speed of the tool. Typically, the duration of a temperature spike and/or the height of a temperature spike decreases with increasing rotation speed (and vice versa).

The control unit may be configured to determine the rotation speed of the tool (based on motor information regarding the motor of the appliance). Furthermore, the control unit may be configured to search for one or more localized temperature spikes in dependence of the rotation speed of the tool (indicated within the motor information). In particular, the control unit may be configured to look for one or more localized temperature spikes, which are consistent with the determined rotation speed of the tool (in particular, consistent with regards to the duration, the height and/or the period of the localized temperature spikes). As a result of this, one or more localized temperature spikes may be determined in a particularly reliable manner.

The control unit may be configured to determine the tool information based on the presence or the absence of one or more localized temperature spikes. In particular, it may be determined as tool information that the tool is being operated, if it is determined that the temperature signal comprises one or more localized temperature spikes. On the other hand, it may be determined as tool information that the tool is not being operated, if it is determined that the temperature signal does not comprise one or more localized temperature spikes.

The control unit may be configured to determine a period (i.e., a time duration) between two successive temperature spikes within the temperature signal. The tool information, in particular the rotation speed and/or the type of the tool, may then be determined in a particularly precise manner based on the determined period between two successive temperature spikes within the temperature signal.

The control unit may be configured to determine the temperature gradient of the temperature signal. In particular, the average temperature gradient of the smoothly increasing or decreasing portion of the temperature signal (without the one or more temperature spikes) may be determined. The tool information, in particular, the rotation speed of the tool and/or the type of the tool, may be determined in a particularly precise manner based on the temperature gradient.

The control unit may be configured to perform a frequency analysis of the temperature signal to determine a spectrum of the temperature signal. For this purpose, a Fourier Transform may be used. The tool information, in particular, the rotation speed of the tool and/or the type of the tool, may be determined in a particularly precise manner based on the spectrum of the temperature signal.

The control unit may be configured to compare the temperature signal with a reference temperature signal. In particular, the control unit may be configured to compare the temperature signal with a set of K different reference temperature signals for the corresponding set of K different types of tools. The one or more reference temperature signals may have been determined beforehand. Alternatively, or in addition, the one or more reference temperature signals may have been stored on a storage unit of the appliance.

The one or more reference temperature signals may be dependent on power information regarding the power with which the temperature modification unit is being operated. Alternatively, or in addition, the one or more reference temperature signals may be dependent on motor information regarding the operation (in particular, the rotation speed) of the motor for driving the tool. Alternatively, or in addition, the one or more reference temperature signals may be dependent on content information regarding the content (in particular, the weight and/or of the type of the content) within the receptacle.

Hence, the control unit may be configured to determine the power information, the motor information and/or the content information. Furthermore, the control unit may be configured to determine, in particular to select, the one or more reference temperature signals (in particular, the set of K different reference temperature signals), in dependence of the power information, the motor information and/or the content information.

The tool information, in particular, the rotation speed of the tool and/or the type of the tool, may be determined in a particularly precise manner based on the comparison, in particular, based on the comparison of the temperature signal with the set of K different reference temperature signals.

Hence, the control unit may be configured to determine power information regarding the power with which the temperature modification unit is being operated, in particular to heat-up or to cool-down the content within the receptacle. The power of the temperature modification unit typically has an impact on the temperature gradient of the temperature signal and/or on the height of the temperature spikes. The tool information, in particular, the rotation speed of the tool and/or the type of the tool, may be determined in a particularly precise manner based on the power information.

The control unit may be configured to determine motor information regarding the operation of the motor for driving the tool. The motor information may be indicative of the rotation speed of the motor. As indicated above, the motor information may be used for identifying the one or more temperature spikes and/or for selecting an appropriate reference temperature signal. Hence, the tool information, in particular, the rotation speed of the tool and/or the type of the tool, may be determined in a particularly precise manner based on the motor information.

The control unit may be configured to determine content information regarding the content within the receptacle. The content information may be indicative of the weight and/or of the type of the content. The content information may be determined using a weight sensor of the appliance and/or using recipe data for a guided cooking process and/or using user input provided by a user of the appliance via the user interface of the appliance. The content information typically has an impact on the temperature gradient of the temperature signal and/or on the shape of the temperature spikes. The tool information, in particular, the rotation speed of the tool and/or the type of the tool, may be determined in a particularly precise manner based on the content information.

According to a further aspect, an appliance, in particular a kitchen and/or cooking appliance, is described. The appliance comprises a receptacle for taking up content (in particular a food item). Furthermore, the appliance comprises a temperature modification unit, in particular a heating unit and/or a cooling unit, for modifying the temperature of the content within the receptacle. The temperature modification unit may be configured to modify the temperature of the content at a transfer point (for transferring thermal energy).

The appliance further comprises a tool for processing the content within the receptacle. The tool may be operated using a motor of the appliance. In addition, the appliance comprises a temperature sensor configured to provide measurement data regarding the temperature of the content. The measurement data may be sensed at a measurement point. The locations of the transfer point and of the measurement point may differ from one another.

Furthermore, the appliance comprises a control unit (in particular as described in the present document). The control unit may be configured to determine tool information regarding the tool and/or regarding operation of the tool, based on the measurement data of the temperature sensor, in particular based on the temporal evolution of the measured temperature of the content of the receptacle during a heat-up and/or cool-down process.

According to another aspect, a method for determining tool information regarding a tool and/or regarding operation of a tool of an appliance, in particular of a kitchen appliance, is described. The method comprises determining, based on measurement data provided by a temperature sensor of the appliance, a temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the content within the receptacle of the appliance as a function of time, during operation of the temperature modification unit of the appliance for modifying, in particular for increasing or for decreasing, the temperature of the content within the receptacle. The method further comprises determining tool information regarding the tool and/or regarding operation of the tool, based on the temperature signal. The tool information may be used to monitor and/or to control operation of the tool.

According to a further aspect, a software program is described. The software program may be adapted for execution on a processor and for performing the method steps outlined in the present document when carried out on the processor.

According to another aspect, a storage medium is described. The storage medium may comprise a software program adapted for execution on a processor and for performing the method steps outlined in the present document when carried out on the processor.

According to a further aspect, a computer program product is described. The computer program may comprise executable instructions for performing the method steps outlined in the present document when executed on a computer.

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.

As outlined above, the present document is directed at performing tool detection and/or at operating a tool of an appliance in an efficient and reliable manner. In this context, <FIG> shows a block diagram of an example appliance <NUM> which comprises a base unit <NUM> on which a receptacle <NUM>, in particular a bowl, is placed. The receptacle <NUM> may be configured to be covered by a lid <NUM>. The base unit <NUM> comprises a motor <NUM> which is configured to drive a tool <NUM> which is located within the receptable <NUM>. The tool <NUM> may be detachable and/or exchangeable. In particular, the appliance <NUM> may be configured to be used with an arbitrary tool <NUM> out of a pre-determined set of K different tools <NUM>.

The appliance <NUM> may comprise a heating unit <NUM> (which may alternatively, or in addition, be integrated into the receptacle <NUM>) for heating the receptacle <NUM>, e.g., for allowing a food item to be cooked within the receptacle <NUM>. The heating unit <NUM> is an example for a temperature modification unit <NUM> which is configured to modify the temperature of the content within the receptacle <NUM>.

Furthermore, the appliance <NUM> may comprise a temperature sensor <NUM> which is configured to provide sensor data regarding the temperature of the food item within the receptacle <NUM>. In addition, the appliance <NUM> may comprise a user interface <NUM> which allows a user to interact with the appliance <NUM>, e.g., for activating or for deactivating the motor <NUM>. In addition, the appliance <NUM> may be connected to the internet, to another appliance and/or to a (smart) device via a (wireless) communication interface such as WLAN. A control unit <NUM> of the appliance <NUM> may be configured to operate the appliance <NUM>, in particular the motor <NUM> and/or the heating unit <NUM>, in dependence of a user input received via the user interface <NUM> (of the appliance <NUM> or of a remote device).

<FIG> shows a perspective view of an exemplary appliance <NUM>.

Operation of the appliance <NUM> may vary depending on the tool <NUM> which is being used within the receptacle <NUM>. By way of example, the rotation speed, in particular a maximum speed, of the motor <NUM> may be dependent on the tool <NUM> which is being used. The control unit <NUM> may be configured to request the user via the user interface <NUM> to manually identify the tool <NUM> that has been placed within the receptacle <NUM> and/or to manually insert a particular tool <NUM> into the receptacle <NUM>. Such a manual identification and/or placement process is prone to errors, which may impact the quality of the food item that is being processed within the receptacle <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the receptacle <NUM> of an appliance <NUM>, which contains a food item <NUM> that is being processed using a tool <NUM>. Operation of the tool <NUM> causes the food item <NUM> to be moved around within the receptacle <NUM>. In particular, relatively cold portions of the food item <NUM> may be moved downwards <NUM> towards the bottom of the receptacle <NUM> (where the heating unit <NUM> may be located). On the other hand, relatively hot portions of the food item <NUM> may be moved upwards <NUM> towards the top of the receptacle <NUM>. This movement of different portions of the food item <NUM>, which are at different temperatures, may be used to determine information regarding the tool <NUM> that is located and/or operated within the receptacle <NUM>. In particular the measurement data of the one or more temperature sensors <NUM> of the appliance <NUM> may be used to determine information regarding the tool <NUM> that is located and/or operated within the receptacle <NUM>. This information is referred to as "tool information" within the present document.

<FIG> shows example temperature signals <NUM>, <NUM> which are indicative of the measured temperature <NUM> of the food item <NUM> as a function of time <NUM>. The measured temperature <NUM> at a particular time instant may be determined based on measurement data provided by the one or more temperature sensors <NUM> of the appliance <NUM> at the particular time instant. Example temperature sensors <NUM> are an Infrared (IR) based temperature sensor and a Resistance Temperature Device (RTD) sensor.

The first temperature signal <NUM> corresponds to a situation, where the food item <NUM> is heated up (up to the target temperature <NUM> which may have been set by the user and/or which may depend on recipe data) without operation of a tool <NUM> within the receptacle <NUM>. As can be seen, the measured temperature <NUM> (which is typically measured at a particular measurement point on the receptacle <NUM>) increases smoothly up to the target temperature <NUM>.

Furthermore, <FIG> shows a second temperature signal <NUM> which corresponds to a situation, where the food item <NUM> is heated up, while a tool <NUM> is being operated within the receptacle <NUM>. It can be observed that the second temperature signal <NUM> comprises local temperature spikes <NUM>, which are due to the tool <NUM> (e.g., the blade of a knife) passing by the measurement point of the one or more temperature sensors <NUM>. The local spikes <NUM> have a period <NUM> which is dependent on the rotation speed of the tool <NUM>. By way of example, if the tool <NUM> is a knife with N blades, then a group of N consecutive spikes <NUM> may correspond to a full rotation of the tool <NUM>.

Hence, the presence of (possibly periodic) spikes <NUM> within a temperature signal <NUM> may be used as an indication that a tool <NUM> is being operated within the receptacle <NUM>. Furthermore, the period <NUM> of the spikes <NUM>, i.e., the time duration between two consecutive spikes <NUM>, may be used as an indication of the rotation speed of the tool <NUM> and/or as an indication of the type of the tool <NUM>. In addition, the shape of the spikes <NUM> may be analyzed to determine the type of the tool <NUM> which is being operated within the receptacle <NUM>.

Furthermore, it can be observed that the second temperature signal <NUM> (with operation of a tool <NUM>) increases faster than the first temperature signal <NUM> (without operation of a tool <NUM>). In particular, the temperature gradient of the second temperature signal <NUM> is higher than the temperature gradient of the first temperature signal <NUM>. Hence, the temperature gradient of the temperature signal <NUM>, <NUM> may be used to determine tool information regarding the tool <NUM> which is located within the receptacle <NUM>.

Hence, a food preparation and/or cooking machine <NUM> is described, which is equipped with one or more temperature sensors <NUM> that measure the temperature <NUM> of the bowl content <NUM> (in particular food). A temperature sensor <NUM> may be located at the bottom of the bowl <NUM>. Alternatively, or in addition, a temperature sensor <NUM> may be located at the side of the bowl <NUM>. A temperature sensor <NUM> may be integrated within the bowl <NUM> or touching the bowl <NUM>. As a temperature sensor <NUM> a contact-based sensor, such as an RTD sensor, may be used. Alternatively, or in addition, a contactless sensor, such as an IR thermopile or an array sensor or a thermocouple, may be used.

As outlined above, sudden temperature changes <NUM>, e.g., spikes, may be observed within the temperature signal <NUM> regarding the temperature <NUM> of the bowl content <NUM>, during tool operation. In particular, relatively fast temperature changes <NUM> as a consequence of a rotating motorized tool <NUM> which is processing the bowl content <NUM> may be observed. This information may be used to check and/or control the tool operation.

In other words, one or more temperature sensors <NUM> may be used to measure the temperature <NUM> of the content <NUM> (in particular, food) within the bowl <NUM>. The content <NUM> may be processed using heat and a motorized tool <NUM>, like a stirrer or a whisk. If the tool <NUM> performs a mixing function, then the tool <NUM> moves the relatively hot content <NUM> from the bottom side of the bowl <NUM> into the upward direction <NUM>, and the relatively cold content <NUM> in the downward direction <NUM>, where the content <NUM> will be heated up. Overall, the function of mixing-up the content <NUM> speeds up the heat-up process and ensures a homogeneous temperature <NUM> of the content <NUM> within the bowl <NUM>. The mixing effect creates sudden temperature changes <NUM>, in particular spikes, that are visible on the temperature sensor measurement <NUM>. These sudden temperature changes <NUM> have the same frequency as the tool rotation and/or as the mixing interval.

As can be observed in <FIG>, without tool steering, the temperature <NUM> of the content <NUM> increases relatively slowly and without any sudden changes <NUM> that occur because of the mixing effect of the tool <NUM>. On the other hand, with tool steering, the temperature <NUM> of the content <NUM> increases at an increased speed and the tool generates sudden temperature changes <NUM> that are visible on the temperature sensor measurement, i.e., on the temperature signal <NUM>.

A temperature gradient and/or frequency of repetition analysis may be performed, in order to detect a rotating tool inside the appliance <NUM>. Furthermore, in particular in case of a known tool <NUM>, tool operation may be measured and/or controlled based on the temperature signal <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a flow chart of an example (possibly computer-implemented) method <NUM> for determining tool information regarding a tool <NUM> and/or regarding operation of a tool <NUM> of an appliance <NUM>. The method <NUM> may be executed by a control unit <NUM> of the appliance <NUM>.

The appliance <NUM> comprises a receptacle <NUM> (also referred to herein as a bowl) for taking up content <NUM>, in particular a food item. Furthermore, the appliance <NUM> comprises a temperature modification unit <NUM>, in particular a heating unit and/or a cooling unit, for modifying the temperature <NUM> of the content <NUM> within the receptacle <NUM>. The temperature medication unit <NUM> may be configured to provide thermal energy to the content <NUM> for heating up the content <NUM>. Alternatively, or in addition, the temperature modification unit <NUM> may be configured to withdraw thermal energy from the content <NUM> for cooling down the content <NUM>. The energy transfer between the temperature modification unit <NUM> and the content <NUM> may occur at a transfer point, wherein the transfer point may be located at the bottom of the receptacle <NUM>.

The appliance <NUM> is configured to operate a (exchangeable) tool <NUM> to process the content <NUM> within the receptacle <NUM>. The tool <NUM> may be configured to be operated at variable rotation speeds. Furthermore, the appliance <NUM> may be configured to take up different types of tools <NUM> (e.g., a knife, a shredder, a dough hook, etc.). The tool <NUM> may be configured to mix up the content <NUM> within the receptacle <NUM>.

Furthermore, the appliance <NUM> comprises one or more temperature sensors <NUM> configured to provide measurement data regarding the temperature <NUM> of the content <NUM>. The temperature sensor <NUM> may be a contact-based or a contactless sensor. Example temperature sensors <NUM> are an IR-based sensor and/or a resistor-based sensor. A temperature sensor <NUM> may be configured to sense the measurement data at a measurement point (which may be located at or within the receptacle <NUM>). The locations of the measurement points of the one or more temperature sensor <NUM> typically differ from the location of the transfer point of the temperature modification unit <NUM>. In particular, the one or more measurement points may be separated from the transfer point by a minimum distance (e.g., <NUM> or more, or <NUM> or more). In an example, the one or more measurement points are located above the transfer point (e.g., <NUM> or more, or <NUM> or more above the transfer point). As a result of this, measurement data may be sensed by the one or more temperature sensors <NUM>, which allows the determination of particularly precise and/or reliable tool information.

The method <NUM> comprises determining <NUM>, based on the measurement data provided by the one or more temperature sensors <NUM>, a temperature signal <NUM>, <NUM> which is indicative of the temperature <NUM> of the content <NUM> within the receptacle <NUM> as a function of time <NUM>, during operation of the temperature modification unit <NUM> for modifying (in particular, for increasing or for decreasing) the temperature <NUM> of the content <NUM> within the receptacle <NUM>. In other words, a temperature signal <NUM>, <NUM> may be determined, which indicates how the temperature <NUM> of the content <NUM> is increasing or decreasing over time <NUM>, while the temperature modification unit <NUM> is being operated.

Furthermore, the method <NUM> comprises determining <NUM> the tool information regarding the tool <NUM> and/or regarding the operation of the tool <NUM>, based on the temperature signal <NUM>, <NUM>, in particular based on the temporal evolution of the increase or the decrease of the temperature <NUM> of the content <NUM>. In particular, it may be determined whether or not the tool <NUM> is being operated. Alternatively, or in addition, the type of the tool <NUM> and/or the rotation speed of the tool <NUM> may be determined.

By making use of the temperature <NUM> of the content <NUM> during a heat-up or cool-down process, precise and reliable tool information may be determined in an efficient manner (without the need of additional tool detection means).

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, and are as well covered by this application as long as the resulting embodiments fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A control unit (<NUM>) for an appliance (<NUM>); wherein the appliance (<NUM>) comprises a receptacle (<NUM>) for taking up content (<NUM>), in particular a food item; wherein the appliance (<NUM>) comprises a temperature modification unit (<NUM>), in particular a heating unit and/or a cooling unit, for modifying a temperature (<NUM>) of the content (<NUM>) within the receptacle (<NUM>); wherein the appliance (<NUM>) is configured to operate a tool (<NUM>) to process the content (<NUM>) within the receptacle (<NUM>); and wherein the appliance (<NUM>) comprises a temperature sensor (<NUM>) configured to provide measurement data regarding the temperature (<NUM>) of the content (<NUM>); wherein the control unit (<NUM>) is configured to
- determine, based on measurement data provided by the temperature sensor (<NUM>), a temperature signal (<NUM>, <NUM>) indicative of the temperature (<NUM>) of the content (<NUM>) within the receptacle (<NUM>) as a function of time (<NUM>), during operation of the temperature modification unit (<NUM>) for modifying the temperature (<NUM>) of the content (<NUM>) within the receptacle (<NUM>); being characterised in that the control unit is further configured to
- determine tool information regarding the tool (<NUM>) and/or regarding operation of the tool (<NUM>), based on the temperature signal (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
- monitor and/or control operation of the tool (<NUM>) based on the determined tool information.