JP2000065360A - Cooking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select and cook a food to be cooked, a menu and others through a control panel at the front of a cooking device, in a cooking device, such as a microwave oven. SOLUTION: A heating device comprises a heating means to heat a substance to be heated; a control part to control a heating means; and a control panel 1 having various input keys and heating indication. The heating device is provided with independent input key disposed at upper and lower stages A and C of the control panel 1; and a transparent touch panel 3 arranged on the upper surface of a liquid crystal display. Through input operation of the independent key and a touch panel 3, a control means changes the display contents of letter information and pictograph displayed by a liquid crystal display and inputs a cooking condition through a dialogue form. The touch panel area 3 varies an input effective area and an input ineffective area, based on predetermined display information, in linkage with variation of the display content of the liquid crystal display.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooking device such as a microwave oven, which can select and cook a food, a menu or the like by using an operation panel on a front surface thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional operation method of a microwave oven, there is Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 9-171656 filed by the present applicant, and as shown in FIG. The items are printed, independent switch keys 128 are provided at the bottom of the printed display sheet, and the tips of cooking and the middle and small categories of the cooking method are displayed on the liquid crystal display 118, and the display switching is performed by the rotary encoder. 111 is provided below the operation panel 108 and rotated, and the selection is determined by the set button 132.

[0003] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
In Japanese Patent No. 7684, as shown in FIG. 10, a frequently used key and a major classification item 228 of a cooking method are printed on a display sheet of the operation panel 208, and independent switch keys are provided below the printed display sheet. The liquid crystal display 226 displays, for example, the middle and small classifications of cooking tips and cooking methods, and a plurality of selection keys 227 provided on the side of the liquid crystal display 226. 227 was repeatedly selected and pressed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 59-183220 discloses a configuration in which a liquid crystal display element having a transparent touch electrode is mounted as an operation unit and a display unit. The liquid crystal display changes so that you can tell that you have operated directly.

[0005]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 9-171
No. 656, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-47684, a conventional cooking device uses a liquid crystal display, and displays many automatic menus and tips for cooking that cannot be displayed on the operation panel. Listed as
When selecting, the rotation of the rotary encoder at the bottom of the display reverses the characters on the display and presses the set button, which is very troublesome. In addition, the display on the display is unified, and the above-mentioned operation is repeated many times when the user makes a selection, which is inconvenient.

Also, in the method of providing selection keys on the side of the liquid crystal display, the same selection keys are pressed by pressing the same key many times based on the screen character information as in the above case. Was.

In the case of JP-A-59-183220, a transparent electrode is arranged on a liquid crystal display.
When selected, only the liquid crystal display changes so that the selected display contents can be understood, and there are limitations on the operation panel area of many automatic menus and the like that make use of the characteristics of the current microwave oven.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A heating apparatus according to the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an invention according to claim 1 is a heating means for heating an object to be heated; In a heating device comprising a control unit for controlling the means, and an operation panel having a display means and an input means and instructing heating, an independent input key arranged on the operation panel and constituting the input means, and the display A transparent touch panel disposed on the upper surface of the means, the control means changes the display content such as character information and pictograms displayed by the display means by an input operation of the independent input keys and the touch panel, thereby providing an interactive form. The cooking device is characterized in that the cooking conditions can be input by the user.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the touch panel changes an input valid area and an input invalid area based on predetermined display information in accordance with a change in display content of the display means. The cooking device according to claim 1.

[0010] The invention described in claim 3 is the cooking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a boundary graphic indicating a boundary of the effective input area is displayed on the touch panel.

The invention described in claim 4 is the cooking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the input range of the touch panel is increased with respect to the boundary graphic.

The invention described in claim 5 is the cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the operation load of the touch panel is smaller than the operation load of the independent key.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transparent substrate, a first transparent electrode formed on the transparent substrate, a flexible transparent film, and a second transparent electrode formed on the transparent film. A touch panel configured by laminating the transparent substrate and the transparent film so that the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode face each other, and including a key cable for connecting the touch panel to a control substrate. When bonding the transparent substrate and the transparent film, an air vent between the transparent substrate and the transparent film is formed on the touch panel that can be visually inspected in a step of connecting the key cable to the touch panel. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the cooking device is provided near a key cable connection portion.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a check mode for checking an input on the touch panel and a display on the display means in response to a predetermined input by the input means. Cooking device.

[0015] The invention described in claim 8 is provided with a check mode of the touch panel and a check function of another part, and executes the check mode continuously or separately. A cooking apparatus according to claim 7.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the cooking apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein an input disable mode is provided in which all keys provided on the operation panel are disabled. .

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, when the mode shifts to the input disable mode, the display means displays the input disable mode and a method of canceling the input disable mode. A cooking device according to claim 9.

[0018] The invention described in claim 11 is the cooking apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 10, wherein the input unavailable mode is a cleaning mode.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device comprising: a step portion formed on the operation panel to receive the touch panel from the front side; a circuit board disposed on the back surface of the operation panel; A key cable for connection, an insertion hole formed in the step portion for passing the key cable through the operation panel, an air vent from the inside of the touch panel, a front surface of the touch panel, and an entire surface of the operation panel. The cooking device according to claim 1 or 6, further comprising a display sheet to be attached, and an air escape path for allowing air to escape from the insertion hole toward the rear side of the operation panel.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a heating cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a front view of the operation panel unit, and FIG. 2 shows a heating cooker in the same sectional view. In addition, illustration of a heating means, a control part, etc. is abbreviate | omitted.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an operation panel. The operation panel 1 is divided into an upper part A, a middle part B, and a lower part C. In the upper part A and the lower part C, independent key portions printed on the display sheet 2 are arranged. Has been established. The display sheet 2 is provided with a liquid crystal display, a display fluorescent tube, and the like on its back surface so that the display can be changed.

The display sheet 2 displays the cooking time and cooking content according to the type of food and the menu as time, and a plurality of other heating methods and heating patterns. Reference numeral 3 in FIGS. 1 and 2 denotes a touch panel. Yes, the heating method, the heating pattern, the type of the food, the menu selection heating time, and the like are enabled.
Is provided.

The input means (independent keys) printed and formed on the display sheet 2 are frequently used keys which are frequently used on a daily basis. Features that should be clarified are shown by the conceptual diagram and characters.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 5 denotes a printed circuit board disposed behind the display sheet 2 and includes a microcomputer 6, a key cable 7 (FPC), and other control circuits 8. The key cable 7 connects the touch panel 3 to an electronic circuit of the printed circuit board 5 to control input / output of the touch panel 3.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the touch panel 3. A flexible PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film 9 is provided on a glass substrate 10 (transparent substrate).
The film 9 and the substrate 10 are adhered by a double-sided tape 50, and a space 12 is formed between the PET film 9 and the substrate 10.

The PET located on the space 12 side
On the surface of the film 9, a transparent conductor pattern 9a (second transparent electrode) made of ITO (indium tin oxide) is formed. Similarly, a transparent conductor pattern 10a (first transparent electrode) made of ITO is also formed on the surface of the glass substrate 10 on the space 12 side. The space 12 is provided as an air layer having an air escape path to be described later in order to prevent an ON state of a key caused by air expansion due to a temperature change.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a hemispherical spacer formed on the conductor pattern 10a so as to protrude toward the space 12, and secures a space thickness between the membranes (between the conductor pattern 9a and the conductor pattern 10a). Things.

As shown in FIG. 3, the touch panel 3 has a hemispherical spacer 11 to adjust the thickness of the space between the membranes so as to reduce the operating load. As shown in FIG. 2, a tact switch or the like (in the case of a membrane key, formed of a printed spacer sheet) is arranged on the back side of the input keys printed and arranged so as to take a heavy operation load. adjust.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a transition diagram between the display sheet 2 and the touch panel 3. When the input means 4 printed on the display sheet is operated to input an oven / fermentation key, the heating method is displayed on the display sheet 2.

In the state transition diagram of FIG. 4, the input valid area and the input invalid area of the touch panel 3 are determined with respect to the boundary graphic 13 (input valid area).
If it is determined that the input is to the input valid area, the processing transits to the next.

At this time, a boundary graphic 13 indicating the boundary of the input valid area is displayed on the touch panel 3 in order to determine the input valid area of the touch panel 3. Then, either the key with preheating or the key without preheating is selected. Here, "preheating key" is selected. Then, a heating method is selected. As the heating method, hot air circulation, heating by heaters provided above and below the heating chamber, and high-frequency heating can be performed. Here, hot air, upper and lower fire, upper heat intensity, and lower heat intensity keys are provided on the touch panel 3. It is displayed and can be selected, and press the "Hot air key" to select. Then, select the preheating method. First, the initial value of the preheating temperature (180 ° C.) is displayed on the upper part of the touch panel 3, and a preheating temperature adjustment key is displayed on the side thereof. Can go up and down. The preset conditions (preheating, hot air) are displayed on the upper part of the touch panel 3.

Further, the heating time is adjusted. In the above, the initial value of the heating time (20
Is displayed, but the heating time can be increased or decreased by pressing the up and down arrows of the heating time adjustment key displayed on the side of the heating time on the touch panel 3 as shown in FIG.

Then, the user closes the door and presses the "warm start key" arranged on the upper stage A of the touch panel 3. Then, the set temperature is “18” in the “hot oven air”.
0 ° C. ”and“ preheating ”is displayed on the touch panel 3.

Then, when the preheating is completed, "preheating completed" is displayed on the touch panel 3. After completion of the preheating, the preheating state is maintained for 30 minutes. Next, in order to heat the food with a hot air oven, the food is put in, the door is closed, and the "warm start key" is pressed.
In the "Oven hot air", the set temperature is "180 ℃",
It is displayed that the heating time is “25:00 seconds”.
When heating is completed, the result is displayed and at the same time,
An “extension key” and an “end key” are displayed at the bottom of the touch panel 3.

FIG. 5 is a positional relationship diagram showing an input valid area and an input invalid area of the touch panel 3 with respect to the character information on the display panel 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, the touch panel 3 is divided into twelve areas consisting of areas 14 to 25. Input invalid areas indicated by broken lines are provided between the areas, and adjacent areas are simultaneously selected. Is prevented from being done.

FIG. 6 is a view showing how the operation panel 1 and the touch panel 3 are attached. Air layer 12 provided on touch panel 3
By providing an air escape path directly below the mounting portion of the key cable 7, even when the touch panel 3 is mounted on the operation panel 1, the air layer 12 can be reliably secured without deformation.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the state transition in the production process. In the production process, the operation check is performed according to the following method, which is different from a normal user use state.

In FIG. 7, in step S1, an input is made with the grill key of the display sheet 2, in step S2, an input is made with the health menu key, in step S3, the door of the cooking device is opened and closed, and in step S4, the display sheet is opened. Judge whether all decompression keys have been entered. When all the decompression keys are input in step S4, they are input to the microcomputer 6 via each printed circuit board 5, and the microcomputer 6 determines a series of these inputs. In step S5, the surface of the touch panel 3 of the display sheet 2 is displayed. , Display the production process display state. In the production process display state, as shown in FIG. 8A, rectangular production process display check marks 31 to 42 are displayed at the center of each area partitioned on the touch panel 3.

When an input is made from any of the areas 14 to 25 of the touch panel 3 provided on the front surface of the display sheet 2 in FIG. 8A, the display is made in the production process display state 30 corresponding to the input areas 14 to 25. The displayed production process display check marks 31 to 42 are erased as shown in FIG. Thereby, the consistency between the display on the touch panel 3 and the display can be confirmed.

Then, the areas 14 to 25 of the touch panel 3
When all the input confirmations are completed, the process proceeds to another input / output inspection.

In the above-described production process, an assembly inspection of the display sheet 2 and the touch panel 3 can be performed. When performing a function test other than the assembly test, an input is performed using the grill key of the display sheet 2 in step S1, an input is performed using the health menu key in step S2, and a door of the cooking device is opened and closed in step S3. In S4, input determination of all decompression keys is determined. Step S4
If there is no input of the all decompression key, the process proceeds to step S6. If there is an input of a liquor key in step S6, the microcomputer 6 determines an input to the microcomputer 6 via the printed circuit board 5, and in step S7, shifts to a function (input / output) inspection mode. Execute immediately.

In the present embodiment, the number of inputs on the touch panel 3 is not limited. The tact switch of the input means (independent key) printed on the display sheet is
The present invention is not limited to the transmission means via the printed circuit board 5. Further, the flowchart of the production process transition in FIG. 7 is not limited to the one in the present embodiment.

Although not shown, the use of a transparent touch panel and recent awareness of cleaning have led to an increase in cleanability due to a wet cloth on the operation panel surface. In view of this, a cleaning mode is provided so that, when the operation panel is cleaned, a switch in which various switches exist is in a locked state (input disabled state), that is, does not operate even if the switch is pressed.

As a specific operation method, a "cleaning" key may be provided as a single key, or a cleaning mode may be entered by pressing a currently existing key, for example, a "cancel" key twice. The cleaning mode may be shifted or canceled by simultaneously pressing the vertically separated keys. Further, the state of the cleaning mode may be displayed on the touch panel.
This enables easy cleaning without worrying about the switch.

Next, in order to end the cleaning and return to the normal usable mode, display "currently in the cleaning mode" on the touch panel 3 in advance, or "Press the cancel key twice for the cancellation method". By displaying such as, it can appeal to the user. Note that even if a key is provided alone, it is touched once when cleaning, so the
It is better to press it once.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing how the touch panel is mounted on the operation panel. First, a touch panel assembly D is assembled in a previous step. A conductive pattern 10a, which is a transparent electrode having a width A, and a spherical spacer 11 are printed on a glass surface portion 10 serving as a substrate of the touch panel 3. A double-sided tape E is formed on the outer periphery. On the PET film 9 serving as the upper electrode, a conductor pattern 10a serving as a plurality of strip-shaped transparent electrodes having a width C is formed by printing the electrode in a direction perpendicular to the substrate side 10. Further, a reinforcing film 9b is adhered to the upper surface of the PET film 9.

The key cable 7 for connecting the upper and lower electrodes to the control circuit has a configuration in which a transferable conductive adhesive is applied to the tip of the key cable 7 and the input signal of the touch panel is transmitted to the control circuit. Here, in order to eliminate malfunction due to pressure fluctuations in the air layer between the upper and lower electrodes, an air escape path (opening) is formed at the lower part of the key cable of the double-sided adhesive tape E for upper and lower electrodes at a portion where there is no double-sided tape of width B. are doing.

The method of mounting the touch panel assembly D on the operation panel 1 is as follows: as shown in FIG. 9, a stepped portion 1b slightly lower than the height position of the plurality of single key pressing portions 1a and the thickness of the touch panel assembly D. Installing. The mounting method is the board side 10
Is fixed to the back surface with an adhesive.

The opening 1c and the opening 1d of the operation panel 1 are openings, and a liquid crystal display or a fluorescent display tube is a display means from the back side of the operation panel through the touch panel assembly D and the opening 1c. Connected and integrated. Also,
On the other hand, the opening 1d receives the key cable 7 and is connected to the control circuit side.

Finally, although the display sheet 2 covers the operation panel, the back surface of the display sheet has an adhesive,
Parts a and 2b are removed. In particular, since there is a gap between the upper surface of the reinforcing film 9a of the touch panel and the back surface of the display sheet, the air layer in that portion is used as an air escape path, and the air escapes from the key cable hole 1d to the back surface of the panel.

[0052]

The cooking device of the present invention has the following effects by the above configuration. According to the configuration described in claim 1, in order for the user to complete without fail for a large number of required dishes, it is indispensable to have automatic cooking as an appropriate automatic cooking program from the manufacturer. These can be displayed on the display means irrespective of the area of the operation panel, and the character information and pictograms appearing on the display means can be operated while directly interacting with each other through the touch panel, thereby greatly improving the usability.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the number of selections and touch locations required on the screen are changed and displayed according to pictograms and character information on the display means.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the inputtable range on the touch panel can be clarified, input errors can be eliminated, and the size of the inputtable area on the touch panel according to character information can be reduced. Can be specified.

According to the configuration described in claim 4, when the user operates the touch panel, it is possible to input from an angle other than from the front, thereby improving operability.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the operation load of the touch panel is made lower than the operation load of the independent input key, thereby changing the operation feeling according to the input content and improving the operability.

According to the structure described in claim 6, when the transparent substrate and the transparent film are adhered to each other and the key cable is connected, the air vent can be easily visually inspected.

According to the configuration described in claim 7, it is easy to check the touch panel and the display means, and the productivity can be improved.

According to the configuration of the eighth aspect, it is clear whether the operation panel is defective or improper assembling, or a substrate assembling defect, and it is possible to improve productivity.

According to the configuration of the ninth aspect, it is possible to prevent the possibility of operating the touch panel or the independent input key when unnecessary.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in particular, the transparent touch panel of the display means is difficult to see due to stains of the hands during preparation in the kitchen, cleaning of fingerprints and the like, and contamination of the entire operation panel. Can be cleaned without worrying about the input keys.

According to the tenth aspect, it is not necessary to remember in advance that it is confirmed that the input key is not operated because the apparatus is in the input disable mode and that a canceling method is displayed.

According to the structure of the twelfth aspect, the touch panel can be securely mounted on the front surface of the operation panel, and the pressing load of the touch panel is maintained constant irrespective of the atmospheric pressure change around the cooking device. Can be easily done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an operation panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an operation panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a side view of the touch panel of the present invention, and FIG.
It is principal part sectional drawing.

FIG. 4 is a state transition diagram of a touch panel display according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a positional relationship diagram between a display sheet and a touch panel.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating how an operation panel and a touch panel are attached.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a check state in a production process.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a display state of the touch panel in a touch panel check mode.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing how the operation panel and the touch panel are attached.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a conventional operation panel.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a conventional operation panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation panel 2 Display sheet 3 Touch panel 5 Printed circuit board 7 Key cable 9 PET film 10 Glass substrate 12 Space 13 Boundary figure

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yutaka Takamo 22-22, Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Sharp Corporation (72) Kyoko Momose 22-22, Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka (72) Inventor Shuji Kawaguchi 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture F-term (reference) 3L087 AA04 BA03 BA06 BA09 DA24

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A heating apparatus comprising: a heating unit for heating an object to be heated; a control unit for controlling the heating unit; and an operation panel having a display unit and an input unit for issuing a heating instruction. And an independent input key that constitutes the input means and a transparent touch panel disposed on the upper surface of the display means, and the input means and the input means of the touch panel allow the control means to be controlled by the display means. A cooking apparatus characterized by changing displayed contents such as displayed character information and pictograms and enabling input of cooking conditions in an interactive manner. 2. With the change of the display content of the display means,
The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel changes an input valid area and an input invalid area based on predetermined display information. 3. The cooking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a boundary graphic indicating a boundary of the valid input area is displayed on the touch panel. 4. The cooking device according to claim 3, wherein an input range of the touch panel is increased with respect to the boundary graphic. 5. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the operation load of the touch panel is smaller than the operation load of the independent key. 6. A first transparent electrode, comprising: a transparent substrate; a first transparent electrode formed on the transparent substrate; a flexible transparent film; and a second transparent electrode formed on the transparent film. A touch panel comprising a transparent substrate and the transparent film bonded together such that the transparent substrate and the second transparent electrode face each other, comprising a key cable for connecting the touch panel to a control substrate, wherein the transparent substrate and the transparent film At the time of bonding, the air vent between the transparent substrate and the transparent film was provided near a key cable connection portion formed on the touch panel, which can be visually inspected in a step of connecting the key cable to the touch panel. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein: 7. A predetermined input by said input means,
The cooking device according to claim 1, further comprising a check mode for checking an input on the touch panel and a display on the display unit. 8. A check mode of the touch panel,
The cooking device according to claim 7, further comprising a check function for another part, wherein the check mode is continuously executed or separately executed. 9. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an input disable mode is provided in which all keys provided on the operation panel are in an input disable state. 10. The cooking according to claim 9, wherein when the mode shifts to the input disable mode, the display means displays the input disable mode and a method of canceling the input disable mode. apparatus. 11. The cooking apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the input disable mode is a cleaning mode. 12. A step formed on the operation panel and receiving the touch panel from the front side, a circuit board disposed on the back of the operation panel, a key cable for connecting the touch panel to the circuit board, An insertion hole formed in the step portion to allow the key cable to pass through the operation panel; an air vent from inside the touch panel; a display sheet attached to a front surface of the touch panel and the entire operation panel; The cooking device according to claim 1 or 6, further comprising an air escape path for allowing air to escape from the hole to the rear side of the operation panel.