JP2005160599A - Electric rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To relatively easily achieve an optimal cooking function according to various types of rice brands to be cooked. <P>SOLUTION: A rice bag on sale is attached with an electronic tag indicating parameters of quality characteristics such as a brand, a production place, a harvesting time and a milling time of the rice. On the other hand, an electric rice cooker side is input with parameter information from the electronic tag, sets an optical rice cooking heat control mode according to the input information content, and executes the rice cooking. This constitution can ideally cook the rice according to the various types of brands without impressing any burden such as an input operation to a user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric rice cooker, and more particularly to an electric rice cooker that can perform proper cooking according to the brand of rice used, using electronic tag information.

  Conventionally, for example, there is an optimal rice cooking heating control mode (water absorption-unevenness) according to the form of rice such as white rice, brown rice, germinated brown rice, etc. that has been set in advance, and the user can select one of these control modes. When the operation button is pressed and selected, the corresponding heating control mode is selected so that the rice cooking heating control (water absorption temperature, water absorption time, temperature increase rate, heating amount, heating pattern) optimal for the form of the rice is performed. There is an electric rice cooker that has become (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-245786 A (page 1-3 of the specification, FIG. 1-4)

  However, even in the same form of rice (for example, white rice), essential characteristics such as moisture content, hardness, viscosity, etc. of the rice differ depending on the brand (variety), production area, harvest time, milling time, etc. . And if these differ, the water absorption temperature, water absorption time, temperature rising rate, heating amount, and heating pattern for cooking high-quality rice also differ.

  Therefore, in order to cook truly delicious rice, not only the conventional rice form but also more ideal rice heating that incorporates essential characteristics such as the rice brand (variety) described above as control parameters. Control is desired.

  However, as a matter of fact, there are a wide variety of rice brands, and new brands appear every year. Moreover, even with the same brand, the characteristics differ depending on the production area, harvest time, rice milling time, and the like. Therefore, first, there is a problem of how to input control parameters indicating the characteristics (properties) of such various rice to the heating control means (microcomputer control unit) on the electric rice cooker body side.

  As one of the methods, for example, various brands of rice that are currently commercially available on the manufacturer side are classified into several groups based on, for example, hardness and viscosity, and optimum heating control data corresponding to the groups is determined according to a predetermined value. It is also possible to preliminarily store in the microcomputer side with a width, and also provide a brand selection switch, and select one of the desired brand groups with the brand selection switch to cook rice. It is done.

  However, in such a case, a considerable rice cooking experiment is required, and it is difficult to divide the characteristics of various rice brands into groups and input them to the microcomputer in advance. In addition, it is troublesome to select a large number of rice brands with the brand selection switch. In addition, when you buy a new brand of rice that does not belong to the same category that has been set in advance, you do not know which category it belongs to.

  The present invention was made based on such circumstances, and an electronic tag indicating parameters of the above-mentioned variety characteristics such as the brand, place of production, harvest time, rice milling time, etc. of the rice, etc. On the other hand, on the electric rice cooker side, input the parameter information from the same electronic tag, set the optimal rice cooking heating control mode according to the input information content, the control function that can execute rice cooking It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric rice cooker that can ideally cook rice without adding any burden such as switch operation to the user.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured with the following problem solving means.

(1) 1st subject solution means The 1st subject solution means of this invention is an inner pot, the rice cooker main body which accommodates and sets this inner pot, and it exists in this rice cooker main body, and heats the said inner pot. A heating means, a brand etc. judging means for detecting and detecting a brand of rice used, a heating control means for controlling heating of the heating means based on judgment data of the brand etc. judging means, and a rice cooker body An electric rice cooker comprising a lid unit covering an opening, wherein the brand etc. determination means is on the rice side, and has a wireless transmission function for wirelessly transmitting information such as the brand of rice to the rice cooker body side And a receiving means for receiving information such as the rice brand transmitted wirelessly from the electronic tag on the side of the rice cooker body. The amount of heating It is characterized in that so as to enter the unit.

  As described above, an electronic tag having a wireless transmission function for wirelessly transmitting information such as the brand name of the rice is provided on the rice side to be used, and wirelessly transmitted from the electronic tag to the corresponding rice cooker body side. A receiving means for receiving information such as brands is provided, and these constitute a brand judgment means, so that information such as brand names on the US side used is detected wirelessly and incorporated into a heating control means such as a microcomputer control unit. This eliminates the need for conventional selection means such as brand switches, and the quality characteristic data such as the brand of rice to be used is automatically input to the heating control means such as the microcomputer control unit without incurring any burden on the user. From then on, it will be possible to cook ideal rice according to the same brand.

(2) Second Problem Solving Means According to a second problem solving means of the present invention, in the configuration of the first problem solving means, the information such as the brand is the brand and the production area, the harvesting time, and the rice milling time. It is a feature.

  As already mentioned, there are a wide variety of rice brands. For example, even in the same brand, essential characteristics such as moisture content, hardness, viscosity and the like differ depending on the production area, harvest time, rice milling time, and the like.

  Therefore, these are also taken in as information necessary for rice cooking, and more ideal rice cooking is performed.

(3) Third Problem Solving Means According to a third problem solving means of the present invention, in the configuration of the first or second problem solving means, the rice-side electronic tag has a function of displaying the product number of the rice. It is characterized by being comprised.

  According to such a structure, the said electronic tag can be utilized for various uses, such as quality inspection and delivery at the time of shipment of rice, and goods check at the time of delivery to a store.

(4) Fourth Problem Solving Means According to a fourth problem solving means of the present invention, in the configuration of the first, second, or third problem solving means, the electronic tag information receiving means on the rice cooker main body side transmits and receives It has a function, It is comprised so that it may also have a product number display function of the said electric rice cooker.

  According to such a structure, the said tag information receiving means can be utilized for various uses, such as quality inspection and delivery at the time of shipment of the said electric rice cooker, and product check at the time of delivery to a store.

(5) Fifth problem solving means The fifth problem solving means of the present invention is the above-described first, second, third or fourth problem solving means, wherein the rice cooker body side heating control means includes: While the programming function is provided, the information such as the brand on the electronic tag side includes information indicating the quality characteristics necessary for the rice cooking heating control of the brand, and the rice cooker body side heating control means Based on the information, it is configured to cook rice by programming an optimal heating control program for the rice of the brand.

  According to such a configuration, even when a completely new brand of rice that has not been set in advance is used, it can be handled without any problems.

(6) Sixth Problem Solving Means The sixth problem solving means of the present invention is the configuration of the first, second, third, fourth or fifth problem solving means, wherein the rice-side electronic tag is: It is characterized by being pasted on the surface of a rice bag containing the rice.

  Therefore, in the case of such a configuration, for example, after the newly purchased rice is taken out of the rice bag and put into a measuring rice bit, etc., the remaining rice bag is brought near the rice cooker body, and is pasted on the rice bag. The information such as the brand transmitted from the electronic tag is automatically input to the heating control means such as the microcomputer control unit on the rice cooker body side.

  As a result of the above, according to the present invention, a low-performance electric rice cooker that can cook ideal rice without forcing the user to select brands, input operations, etc. It becomes possible to provide the cost.

  1-5 has each shown the whole structure of the rice cooker main body of the electric rice cooker which concerns on best embodiment of this invention, and the structure of the principal part of the rice cooker main body.

(Overall features)
First, as for the electric rice cooker of this Embodiment, what consists of a magnetic metal plate in which electromagnetic induction is possible is employ | adopted as the inner pot 3 in the rice cooker main body side, On the other hand, the heating means at the time of rice cooking with respect to the said inner pot 3 And a central portion side of the bottom wall portion 3a of the inner pot 3 so as to wrap substantially the entire side wall portion 3b from the bottom wall portion 3a of the inner pot 3 via a protective frame (inner case) 4 made of synthetic resin. Three sets of work coils C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ corresponding to the entire circumference of the side portion side and the lower side of the side wall portion 3b are provided, and as heating means for keeping the inner pot 3 warm. , insulation heater H ₁ corresponding to the upper side the entire circumference of the side wall portion 3b of the inner pot 3 is provided. Then, by appropriately driving and controlling them by the microcomputer control unit 32, an appropriate rice cooking function and a heat retaining function can be realized.

  In that case, it has an optimal rice cooking heating control program according to various rice brands, production area, harvest time, and rice milling time. For example, the optimum information corresponding to the brand information from the electronic tag provided on the rice side. A rice cooking heating control program is automatically selected and set, and rice cooking is performed to truly cook rice. This is maintained until the next time the brand information from a new rice electronic tag is input.

On the other hand, various menus such as timer reservation, normal rice cooking, brand rice cooking (tag rice cooking), steaming, and heat retention for these functions, and selection of control mode are provided on the front-side operation panel unit 20 of the electric rice cooker body A. various performed by input via the switch group 22a~22i user, the menu accordingly, the work coil C ₁ -C ₃ and the amount of heat insulation heater H ₁ in the same control mode, the heating pattern is appropriately controlled It has come to be.

  In addition, in the central portion of the operation panel unit 20, each menu such as normal rice, brand rice (tag rice), steaming, heat retention, etc., and the current time and the remaining time until cooking or steaming is completed are displayed. A liquid crystal display unit 21 is provided. The liquid crystal display unit 21 is configured by a front display surface of a liquid crystal display 31 provided on the microcomputer substrate 6B inside the operation panel unit 20.

(Configuration of the rice cooker body)
That is, first, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, the electric rice cooker has an inner pot (rice cooker or heat-retaining container) 3 made of a magnetic metal plate such as a stainless steel plate capable of self-heating by an eddy current induced therein. And a synthetic resin bottomed cylindrical protective frame (inner case) 4 formed so that the inner pot 3 can be arbitrarily set, and an outer casing for holding the protective frame (inner case) 4. A bottomed cylindrical outer case 1 and a lid unit (lid) provided on the upper part of a rice cooker body A formed by integrating the outer case 1 and the protective frame (inner case) 4. 2.

A coil base 7 is provided below the bottom wall portion (bottom portion) 4a of the protective frame (inner case) 4, and the bottom wall portion (bottom portion) 3a of the inner pot 3 is interposed on the upper portion thereof via a ferrite core. Three sets of work coils C ₁ , C ₂ , and C ₃ , each having a litz wire wound concentrically, corresponding to each position of the central portion and the side portion and the side wall portion 3 b of the inner pot 3, respectively, It is provided so as to wrap substantially the entire part from the bottom wall 3a of the pot 3 to the side wall 3b, thereby inducing an eddy current in substantially the entire inner pot 3 when energized, thereby heating the whole substantially uniformly. It is supposed to be. The work coils C ₁ , C ₂ , and C ₃ are connected to each other in series. One end is connected to the power line of the work coil drive circuit via the rectifier circuit and the smoothing circuit, and the other end is connected to an IGBT (power transistor) in the circuit.

In addition, a heat retaining heater H ₁ that functions as a heating means at the time of heat retention is provided above the side wall portion side work coil C ₃ , and the entire inner pot 3 is effectively and uniformly heated at the time of heat retention. It is like that.

Further, the front portion side of the protective frame (inner case) 4 and the coil base 7, the work coil _{C 1, C 2, C 3} , insulation heater H _1, the IGBT driving and controlling the shoulders heater H ₂ or the like Ya A control board 6A and a control board storage box 5A provided with a heater drive circuit, a microcomputer control unit, a rectifier circuit composed of a diode bridge for power supply voltage rectification, a smoothing circuit, and the like are provided in an upright state.

  The outer case 1 includes, for example, a vertical cover member 1a formed of a synthetic resin material, a synthetic resin shoulder member 11 coupled to an upper end portion of the cover member 1a, and the cover member 1a. And a bottom portion 1b made of a synthetic resin integrated with the lower end of the base plate, and a heat insulating and ventilating space portion having a predetermined width is formed between the bottom wall portion 4a of the protective frame (inner case) 4. As a whole, it is configured as a bottomed cylindrical body. An operation panel unit 20 having a substantially half moon shape as shown in FIG. 2 is provided above the front surface of the outer case 1.

On the operation panel 20 surface, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a liquid crystal display unit 21 having a sufficiently large display area, a rice cooking switch 22a, a timer reservation switch 22b, a cancel switch 22c, a heat retention switch 22d, a reheat Enter information such as brand name from switch 22e, menu selection switch 22f, hour switch 22g, minute switch 22h, and rice bag 45 side electronic tag 50, which will be described later, and cook rice of the same brand based on the information such as brand name. Various input switches (touch key switches) such as a tag rice cooking mode selection switch (brand rice cooking function selection switch) 22i for cooking with the heating control program are provided. A shoulder heater H ₂ is provided on the shoulder portion inner peripheral side of the shoulder member 11.

  Further, in the inner part (back space) of the operation panel 20 in the outer case 1, for example, a microcomputer board 6 </ b> B is inclined and installed so as to descend obliquely forward from the upper end side position of the control board 6 </ b> A. . The microcomputer board 6B includes a liquid crystal display 31, a liquid crystal display support member 30, a rice cooking switch 22a, a timer reservation switch 22b, a cancel switch 22c, a heat retention switch 22d, a reheating switch 22e, a menu selection switch 22f, an hour switch 22g, and a minute switch 22h. Tag information reception that receives information such as various input switches (operation mechanism part of touch key switch) such as tag rice cooking mode switch 22i, brand name from the rice bag 45 side electronic tag 50, and transfers and inputs them to the microcomputer control unit 32 described later It comprises an operation board 6B provided with a control unit 60 (not shown) and the like, and a microcomputer power board 5B on the lower side.

  Further, although not shown in the figure, a center sensor storage space portion that is concentrically penetrated in the vertical direction is formed in the central portion of the coil base 7 below the protective frame (inner case) 4. A center sensor including an inner pot temperature detection sensor and an inner pot detection switch is provided in the space so as to be movable up and down in a vertical direction and constantly being upwardly biased by a coil spring.

  On the other hand, reference numeral 2 denotes a lid unit. The lid unit 2 is composed of an outer cover 12 made of synthetic resin that constitutes the outer peripheral surface thereof, and a heat insulating metal made between the outer cover 12 and the inner frame 14. The inside is hollow by the structure 13, the metal inner cover 15 provided inside the heat insulating structure 13 via the packing 17, and the metal heat radiating plate 16 provided below the inner cover 15. It is formed in the heat insulation structure. The heat insulating structure 13 is formed by integrating two upper and lower metal plates 13a and 13b so as to face a closed cross-sectional structure.

  The lid unit 2 is rotatably attached to the shoulder member 11 on the upper part of the outer case 1 via a hinge mechanism, and is engaged with a predetermined position of the lid unit 2 on its open end side. Thus, a lock mechanism 18 that opens and closes the lid unit 2 in the vertical direction is provided.

Therefore, in this structure, at the time of rice cooking, the inner pot 3 generates heat substantially uniformly from the bottom wall portion 3a to the side wall portion 3b side by driving the three sets of work coils C ₁ , C ₂ and C _3. For example, even in a water absorption process in which rice rice soaked in water in the inner pot 3 acts as a heat insulating part, the upper side of the inner pot 3 is heated evenly to enable substantially uniform water absorption performance. When the amount of cooked rice is large, the entire inner pot 3 can be heated substantially uniformly and cooked efficiently without uneven heating. In addition, it is possible to prevent local heat concentration on the bottom wall portion 3a of the inner pot 3 in the state where moisture after the boiling process is lost, thereby preventing the occurrence of scorching. Next, at the time of heat retention, the heat retaining heater H ₁ and the shoulder heater H ₂ provided corresponding to the side wall portion 3b of the inner pot 3 are driven from the bottom wall portion 3a of the inner pot 3 to the side wall portion 3b and the upper portion. The whole is uniformly heated with an appropriate amount of heating, and heat insulation without unevenness in heating is realized.

  On the other hand, the microcomputer control unit 32 of the control board 6A is provided with a desired recognizing means for judging the content of the user's instruction input via the input switches 22a to 22i, and is recognized by the recognizing means. Depending on the user's instructions, desired rice cooking or steaming, heat retention function, desired rice cooking or steaming, heat retention menu, various rice cooking or steaming, heat absorption process, water absorption temperature, water absorption time, temperature rise process Set the heating output, heating rate, heating output in the boiling maintenance process, heating pattern, cooking detection temperature in the cooking detection process, heating output in the heat retention process, etc. The microcomputer control unit 32 as a heating control means is appropriately operated to perform desired rice cooking or steaming and heat insulation.

  Therefore, the user can use the above input switches 22a to 22i to cook various kinds of menus such as normal rice, brand rice, steaming, heat retention, timer reservation, reservation time setting, and other various types of rice cooking or steaming. If the selected setting content of the heat retaining function is input, the corresponding function content is automatically set and input to the setting unit such as the rice cooking and heat retaining heating pattern via the recognition means in the microcomputer control unit 32, and the corresponding rice cooking Alternatively, the heat retaining and heating control is appropriately performed with an optimal control pattern.

(Configuration of the rice cooker body side control circuit)
Next, FIG. 3 shows the structure of the control circuit part centering on the rice cooker main body A side rice cooking and heat retention control and the remaining time display control microcomputer control unit 32 configured as described above.

  In the figure, in addition to the normal or brand rice cooking heating control means and steaming and heat retaining heating control means as described above, the symbol 32 comprises brand etc. determination means, inner pot temperature determination means, inner pot detection means, buzzer notification means, etc. It is a microcomputer control unit (CPU) for rice cooking or heat retention control, and this microcomputer control unit 32 is comprised centering on the microcomputer, for example, tag information reception control circuit part, temperature detection circuit part of the inner pot 3, work coil drive control A circuit unit, a detection circuit unit for the inner pot 3, an oscillation circuit unit, a reset circuit unit, a drive control circuit unit such as a heat retaining heater and a shoulder heater, a remaining time setting display control circuit unit, a buzzer notification unit, a power circuit unit, etc. Configured.

  And first, the temperature detection circuit 43 and the pot detection circuit 44 provided corresponding to the inner pot temperature detection sensor S, the inner pot detection switch LS of the bottom wall 3a side center sensor part of the inner pot 3 include, for example, the above-mentioned A temperature detection signal of the bottom wall 3a of the inner pot 3 by the inner pot temperature detection sensor S and a pot detection signal by the inner pot detection switch LS are input.

The work coil drive control circuit unit is formed by, for example, a pulse width modulation circuit 41, a synchronization trigger circuit 40, an IGBT drive circuit 42, an IGBT 37, and a resonance capacitor 38. Then, by controlling the pulse width modulation circuit 41 by the work coil drive control circuit unit of the microcomputer control unit 32, the output values of the work coils C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ and the like are controlled according to, for example, the rice cooking process. By appropriately changing the ON duty ratio (for example, n seconds / 16 seconds) at the output value, the heating temperature and heating pattern of the inner pot 3 in each step of the rice cooking or steaming heating step are appropriately considered in consideration of the amount of rice cooking Variable control is performed, and appropriate output control is performed to achieve uniform water absorption and cooking without steaming unevenness or steaming cooking.

Further, by controlling the heat retaining heater drive circuit 33 and the shoulder heater drive circuit 34 by the heat retaining heater drive control circuit section and the shoulder heater drive control circuit section of the microcomputer control unit 32, respectively, for example, according to the heat retaining or rice cooking, steaming and heating processes. By properly changing the output value of the heat retaining heater H ₁ and the shoulder heater H ₂ and the ON duty ratio (for example, n seconds / 16 seconds) at the same output value, the inner pot in each heating step of rice cooking or rice cooking and steaming Appropriate output control for appropriately variably controlling the heating temperature and the heating pattern 3 in consideration of the actual amount of rice cooking is performed.

  Reference numerals 22a to 22i denote the above-described various input switch sections. When necessary ones of the switches are appropriately operated, the user's instruction content is recognized by the recognition means on the microcomputer control unit 32 side, and the recognition is performed. Various desired rice cooking or heat insulation heating patterns are set according to the contents, and each rice cooking heating control means or steaming heat insulation heating control means is appropriately operated to perform desired rice cooking or heat insulation.

  Therefore, the user can use the input switches 22a to 22i for normal rice cooking or brand rice cooking, heat retention, timer reservation, reservation time setting, white rice or brown rice, early cooking, rice porridge, caulage or soft rice, sushi, and cooking. If the selection setting contents of various types of rice cooking or steaming, heat insulation function, etc. such as cooking, steaming, normal insulation or low temperature insulation, etc. are input, the corresponding function contents are via the above-mentioned recognition means of the microcomputer control unit 32 Cooked or steamed and automatically set and input to the heat and heat pattern setting unit, and the corresponding rice or steam and heat and heat control are appropriately executed.

  In this case, the microcomputer control unit 32 has, for example, an optimum rice cooking heating control program according to various rice brands that are generally sold, for example, from the electronic tag 50 provided on the rice side. According to the brand information (brand, production area, harvest date, rice milling date), the optimum cooking rice heating control program is automatically selected and the rice is cooked to achieve ideal rice cooking. It has become. In addition, in the case of rice of a new brand for which such a rice cooking heating control program is not set in advance, based on the information such as the brand from the electronic tag 50, the rice cooking heating control program optimum from itself Is programmed to cook rice.

  Furthermore, the code | symbol 17 is a buzzer alerting | reporting part which notifies completion of rice cooking, 16 is a reset circuit, 21 is a liquid crystal display part. In this embodiment, the liquid crystal display unit 21 displays necessary items such as a predetermined menu (control mode) and time corresponding to the ON operation of the input switches 22a to 22i. Necessary indications are made.

(About realization of brand rice control)
By the way, in the case of this embodiment, in order to appropriately execute the brand rice cooking control described above, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, on the surface 45 a of the rice bag 45 sold in a rice grain store or a supermarket, The brand a, the production area b, the harvesting date (date) c, and the rice milling date (date) d are displayed, and the electronic tag 50 is attached to the lower portion 45b so that it is difficult to peel off.

  The electronic tag 50 is basically composed of an IC chip, and includes a power supply circuit 50b, a radio frequency (RF) circuit (wireless transmission / reception circuit) 50c, a modulation circuit 50d, a demodulation circuit 50e, a CPU 50f, The CPU 50f is connected to the CPU 50f so that input / output is possible, and includes a memory 22a in which various data such as the above-described brands a to d are stored as needed.

  The power supply circuit 50 b incorporates a capacitor (not shown) as a storage battery, and this capacitor forms a resonance circuit together with the coil-type first transmission / reception antenna 51. The capacitor is charged with electric power generated by the mutual induction when the first transmitting / receiving antenna 51 receives a radio wave having a specific frequency (frequency at which the resonance circuit resonates). Then, the power supply circuit 50b rectifies and stabilizes the electric power from the capacitor, supplies the rectified power to the CPU 50f, and activates the electronic tag 50. The first transmitting / receiving antenna 51 includes a magnetic core member 51a formed by laminating a plurality of soft magnetic amorphous foils or a plurality of metal foils with an insulating layer made of a heat resistant resin or a heat resistant inorganic material, for example. The outer periphery is configured to have high durability by winding a high-strength coated conductor 51b.

  On the other hand, the memory 50a includes, for example, a ROM, a RAM, and an EEPROM. Under the control of the CPU 50f, the memory 50a responds to a read command by digital data communication of radio waves transmitted from a tag information transmission / reception control unit 60 described later. Information such as brands stored in 50a is read out, and any necessary data is written in response to a write command from the tag information transmission / reception control unit 60 as necessary.

  As described above, the CPU 50f, the memory 50a, the RF circuit 50c, the memory 50a storing the information data a to d such as rice brands, and the electronic tag 50 on the rice bag 45 side configured with the wireless transmission function, etc. Correspondingly, for example, the tag information transmission / reception control unit 60 provided in the microcomputer board 6B portion of the rice cooker body A is configured to be able to transmit and receive wirelessly.

  The tag information transmission / reception control unit 60 reads the information data a to d such as rice brands stored on the electronic tag 50 side, and the microcomputer control unit for rice cooking or heat retention control on the microcomputer board 6B side described above. 32, and the necessary information is written into the memory 50a on the electronic tag 50 side, and the second coil of the same coil type that interacts with the first transmitting / receiving antenna 51 is used. The transmitting / receiving antenna 61 has a data processing circuit unit for processing the radio wave data received.

  That is, the second transmission / reception antenna 61 transmits a predetermined radio wave to the first transmission / reception antenna 51 on the electronic tag 50 side and receives a predetermined radio wave from the first transmission / reception antenna 51 on the electronic tag 50 side. It is configured as follows. The data processing circuit unit is connected to the second transmission / reception antenna 61, and includes a power supply circuit 60a incorporating a battery, a radio frequency (RF) circuit (wireless transmission / reception circuit) 60b, a modulation circuit 60c, and a demodulation circuit. 60d, CPU 60e, and CPU 60e are connected to be able to input / output, and store information (rice brand a, production area b, harvest time c, rice milling time d, etc.) read from the memory 50a of the electronic tag 50. And a memory 60f.

  Reading information data a to d such as rice brands stored in the memory 50 a in the electronic tag 50 is read from the second transmitting / receiving antenna 61 of the tag information transmitting / receiving control unit 60 on the first electronic tag 50 side. A digital data signal binarized toward the transmission / reception antenna 51 is transmitted on a radio wave of a specific frequency. This digital signal is modulated by the modulation circuit 60 c, amplified by the RF circuit 60 b, and transmitted from the second transmission / reception antenna 61. The transmitted radio wave is received by the first transmission / reception antenna 51 on the electronic tag 50 side, and electric power is charged in the storage capacitor of the power supply circuit 50b by the mutual induction action between the antenna coils at the time of reception. Then, the power supply circuit 50b supplies operating power to the CPU 50f, activates the electronic tag 50, and operates the RF circuit 50c.

  The CPU 60e transmits information data a to d such as rice brands stored in the memory 50a based on the received signal (read command signal). The transmission of the information data a to d such as rice brands is performed by modulating the binarized digital data signal by the modulation circuit 50d and amplifying it by the RF circuit 50c by the first transmission / reception antenna 51 as described above. It is done by sending from. The digital data transmitted in this way is received by the second transmission / reception antenna 61 on the tag information transmission / reception control unit 60 side, processed by the data processing circuit section, and the above-described various rice cooking or heat retention control microcomputers. Transferred to the control unit 32. As a result, the rice brand a, the production area b, the harvest time (date) c, and the rice milling date (date) d to be used for cooking rice are accurately input, and an appropriate heating amount and heating pattern according to the input. Rice cooking heating control is realized.

  Further, a general-purpose input device (input circuit) 60g is connected to the input gate of the CPU 60e, and necessary additional information from a predetermined external input means (such as a personal computer) is passed through the input device 60g. And is written into the memory 50a on the electronic tag 50 side through the CPU 60e and the RF circuit 60b.

  The installation position of the electronic tag 50 in the above configuration is not limited to the bottom 45b of the surface 45a of the rice bag 45 as described above, and may be anywhere.

  As described above, in the configuration of this embodiment, an inner pot, a rice cooker body for storing and setting the inner pot, and a heating means for heating the inner pot in the rice cooker body are used. A brand etc. determining means for detecting and detecting rice brands, a heating control means for controlling heating of the heating means based on the judgment data of the brand etc. judging means, and a lid unit for covering the opening of the rice cooker body An electric rice cooker, wherein the brand name determination means is on the rice side and has an electronic tag having a wireless transmission function for wirelessly transmitting information such as the brand name of the rice to the rice cooker body side, and the rice cooker On the main body side, comprising a receiving means for receiving information such as the brand name of the rice wirelessly transmitted from the electronic tag, and detecting and determining information such as the brand name of the rice used in a wireless state Input to heating control means It is characterized in that the.

  In this way, on the rice side to be used, an electronic tag having a wireless transmission function for wirelessly transmitting information such as the brand name of the rice is provided, while a brand name etc. wirelessly transmitted from the electronic tag to the rice cooker body side When receiving means for receiving information, these constitute rice brand determination means, and the information on the rice brand used, etc. is detected wirelessly and taken into the heating control means such as a microcomputer control unit. This eliminates the need for brand selection means such as conventional brand switches, and automatically injects necessary quality characteristic data such as rice brands to be used to the heating control means such as the microcomputer control unit without incurring any burden on the user. This makes it possible to cook rice ideally according to necessary quality characteristics such as the brand name of the rice.

  Further, in this case, the information on the brand and the like is detailed including the brand and production area, harvest time, and rice milling time.

  As already mentioned, there are a wide variety of rice brands. For example, even in the same brand, essential characteristics such as moisture content, hardness, and viscosity differ depending on the production area, harvest time, rice milling time, and the like.

  And the hardness, viscosity, and water content of rice greatly affect the water absorption during cooking and the required heating amount. Among them, the hardness and viscosity of rice are generally determined by the content ratio of amylose and amylopectin in starch, which is the main ingredient of rice, but the ratio also varies depending on the brand (variety) and origin of rice, and the water content Depends on the brand, as well as the harvesting and milling times.

  Therefore, they are taken in as information necessary for cooking rice, and more ideal cooking is performed.

  Moreover, in said structure, the said electronic tag 50 of the said rice side is comprised so that it may also have the said product number display function of the said rice as needed.

  According to such a configuration, the electronic tag 50 can be used for various purposes such as quality inspection and delivery at the time of shipment of rice and product check at the time of delivery to a store.

  Moreover, in said structure, the tag information receiving means by the side of the said rice cooker main body A is comprised so that it may also have a transmission function especially as the tag information transmission / reception control unit 60. FIG. Therefore, it can also comprise so that it may have the product number display function of the said electric rice cooker as needed.

  According to such a configuration, the tag information transmission / reception control unit 60 can be used for various purposes such as quality inspection and delivery at the time of shipment of the electric rice cooker, product check at the time of delivery to the dealer, and after-sales service.

  Moreover, in said structure, while the microcomputer control unit 32 which is a heating control means by the side of the rice cooker main body A is equipped with the programming function, information such as brands on the electronic tag 50 side includes the rice cooking heating of the brand. Detailed information indicating the quality characteristics necessary for the control is included, and the microcomputer control unit 32 which is the rice cooker body A side heating control means, based on the information, provides an optimal heating control program for the rice of the brand. It is also configured to cook and cook rice.

  According to such a configuration, even when a completely new brand of rice that has not been set in advance is used, it can be handled without any problems.

  Moreover, in said structure, the electronic tag 50 by the side of the rice is affixed on the surface 45a of the rice bag 45 which accommodated the said rice.

  Therefore, in the case of such a configuration, for example, after the newly purchased rice is taken out from the rice bag 45 and put into a measuring rice bit etc., the remaining rice bag 45 is brought near the rice cooker body and the tag rice cooking mode is selected. When the switch 22i is pressed, a tag information read command signal is transmitted from the tag information transmission / reception control unit 60 to the electronic tag 50 side, and information such as brands is transmitted from the electronic tag 50 attached to the rice bag 45. It is automatically input to the heating control means such as the microcomputer control unit 32 on the rice cooker body A side via the tag information transmission / reception control unit 60.

  As a result, according to the present invention, it is possible to cook truly ideal rice according to the brand without forcing the user to select brands or perform any input operation. It becomes possible to provide a high performance electric rice cooker at low cost.

(Modification)
The above configuration can be further modified as follows.

  For example, for the information a to d such as the above brands, the information a to d such as the brands are not always all of a to d.

  As countermeasures against this, basically, as described above, all the information a to d are input and the heating control is performed. However, if the harvest date c and the rice milling date d are other than the basics for determining characteristics When there is no information a or b, normal heating control that can be comprehensively handled is performed.

  On the other hand, if only sub-information such as harvest date c, rice milling date d is missing, rice cooking heating in brand rice cooking mode based on brand information that is the basis of brand a and production area b Take control.

(Best Mode 2)
In the configuration of the best embodiment 1 described above, for example, the heating amount and the heating pattern are programmed on the assumption that the same inner pan 3 is always used.

  However, in some cases, such as damage, the inner pot 3 itself may be replaced.

  Therefore, in such a case, when the predetermined electronic tag indicating the type and characteristics of the new inner pot 3 is embedded in the inner pot 3 side and set on the rice cooker body side, the type and characteristics are set. Necessary data is input to the microcomputer control unit 32 described above.

  If it does in this way, a heating control program can be newly amended automatically in consideration of it.

(Best Mode 3)
Moreover, recently, as an optional form of the inner pot 3 of the electric rice cooker described above, for example, a stone (or stone-style) inner pot dedicated to stone-grilled bibimbap has been studied.

  In such a case, for example, an electronic tag is buried in the inner pot 3 of the same option, and at the time of the same setting as described above, the information is input to the microcomputer control unit 32 side. “White rice rice cake” is displayed, and only the “white rice rice cake” menu can be selected thereafter.

  Then, a heating control program for “white rice rice cake” in the same inner pot (made of stone) that is different from “white rice rice cake” in a normal inner pot is set to execute rice cooking.

It is a partially cutaway figure which shows the structure of the rice cooker main body of the electric rice cooker which concerns on the best Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a front view of the operation panel part of the rice cooker main body. It is a control circuit diagram of the rice cooker body. It is a front view of the rice bag in which the rice used for rice cooking is accommodated in the said electric rice cooker. It is an electric circuit diagram which shows the structure of the transmission / reception circuit of the rice bag side electronic tag of the electric rice cooker, and the rice cooker main body side tag information transmission / reception control circuit corresponding to it.

Explanation of symbols

3: Inner pan 4: Protection frame 20: Operation panel unit 32: Microcomputer control unit 50: Electronic tag 60: Tag information transmission / reception control unit A: Rice cooker body

Claims (6)

  An inner pot, a rice cooker main body for storing and setting the inner pot, a heating means for heating the inner pot in the rice cooker main body, a brand etc. determining means for detecting and detecting a brand of rice used, etc. An electric rice cooker comprising heating control means for controlling heating of the heating means based on the judgment data of the brand etc. judgment means, and a lid unit covering the opening of the rice cooker body, wherein the brand etc. judgment The means is on the rice side and has an electronic tag having a wireless transmission function for wirelessly transmitting information such as the brand name of the rice to the rice cooker body side, and on the rice cooker body side and wirelessly transmitted from the electronic tag And receiving means for receiving information such as the brand of rice, etc., characterized in that information such as the brand name of the rice used is detected in a wireless state and input to the heating control means. Electric rice cooker.   2. The electric rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the information on the brand and the like is the brand and production area, harvest time, and rice milling time.   The electric rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rice-side electronic tag is configured to have a function of displaying the rice product number.   The electric tag information receiving means on the rice cooker body side has a transmission / reception function, and is configured to have a product number display function of the electric rice cooker. rice cooker.   While the rice cooker body side heating control means has a programming function, the information such as the brand on the electronic tag side includes information indicating the quality characteristics necessary for the rice cooking heating control of the brand, The rice cooker body side heating control means is configured to perform rice cooking by programming an optimal heating control program for the rice of the brand based on the same information. Or the electric rice cooker of 4.   The electric rice cooker according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the rice-side electronic tag is attached to the surface of a rice bag containing the rice.

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