JP2002000454A - Data monitor system for electric pot - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data monitor system which can indicate data of an electric pot to a monitor set at a distant place by technology of electric appliance network. SOLUTION: The electric pot 1 which has a telecommunication interface 17 is connected with the monitor 2 which has a telecommunication interface 54 by telecommunication. The monitor 2 set at the distant place from the electric pot 1 receives data on the conditions of the pot 1 transmitted from the pot 1 and displays the conditions of the electric pot, rest of hot water, water temperature, predetermined time, or the like, to a display device 53. The monitor 2 also gives out information and alarm by using a voice output device 55. Moreover, the monitor 2 has an input device 2 and it can carry out prescribed operations of the pot 1 with the input device 51.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric pot information monitoring system using communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many home electric appliances (hereinafter referred to as "home electric appliances") are equipped with a microprocessor and are becoming multifunctional. Also, with the development of communication technology centering on personal computers, it has been put to practical use to mutually exchange data by connecting personal computers and video / audio equipment such as television receivers.
It is said that in the future, fusion of personal computers and home appliances, and further, networking of home appliances using computer communication technology will progress.

[0003] Conventionally, research on networking of home electric appliances has been conducted mainly on video / audio equipment. Even in relatively high-performance cooking home appliances such as microwave ovens (microwave heating cookers), application of computer communication technology such as obtaining a recipe via a network has been proposed,
Products having such functions have been put to practical use. However, at present, there is little research on networking of home electric appliances having relatively limited functions such as electric pots.

In recent years, models of electric pots equipped with a microprocessor have been increasing. Equipped with a microprocessor, not just to boil hot water,
Multifunctional electric pots have emerged such as detection of remaining hot water amount, digital display thereof, and reservation setting of boiling time.

[0005]

As the functions of the electric pot have become more sophisticated as described above, there is a demand for confirming information such as the amount of hot water remaining in the electric pot and the temperature of the hot water at a location away from the electric pot. In particular, it would be very convenient for people with physical disabilities to be able to know information such as the amount of hot water remaining in the living room and the hot water temperature without having to go to the kitchen where the electric kettle is located. Is also desirable.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an information monitor system for displaying information of an electric pot on a monitor device installed at a distant place by using home appliance network technology.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided an information monitoring system for an electric pot, wherein an electric pot having communication means and a monitor device having communication means are connected by communication, and are installed at a place remote from the electric pot. The monitor device receives information on the state of the electric pot transmitted from the electric pot and displays the state of the electric pot on a screen.

According to such a configuration, the state of the electric pot (for example, whether or not electricity is supplied, the amount of remaining hot water, the temperature of the hot water, etc.) is set at a place (for example, a living room) away from the place where the electric pot is placed (for example, the kitchen). Can be confirmed on a screen of a monitor device such as a television receiver, a personal computer, or the like. Particularly for a person with a physical disability, the merit of knowing the state of the electric kettle without going to the kitchen is great.

Preferably, the electric pot includes a water amount detecting means for detecting a remaining hot water amount in the tank, and the state of the electric pot displayed on the screen of the monitor device includes information on the remaining hot water amount in the tank. This makes it possible to determine at a remote place whether or not it is necessary to supply water to the electric pot.

[0010] It is preferable that the monitor device has an audio output means, and the monitor device issues a predetermined notification or alarm by audio output in accordance with information transmitted from the electric pot. For example, the monitoring device issues a notification of boiling water or a warning when the amount of remaining hot water in the electric pot is low, so that it is possible to know the boiling of hot water and the shortage of remaining hot water at a location away from the electric pot.

Further, the communication means of the electric pot and the communication means of the monitor device both have a two-way communication function, and the monitor device has input means, and the electric pot can be operated using the input means. preferable. For example, an operation panel of an electric pot may be displayed on a screen, and a push button displayed on the screen may be operated (clicked) using input means such as a mouse or a remote controller.
Thereby, the operation (reservation setting, temperature setting, etc.) of the electric pot can be performed at a location away from the electric pot with the same feeling as pressing the push button on the operation panel of the electric pot.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an information monitoring system for an electric pot according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electric pot 1 and the monitor device 2 are connected to each other via communication interfaces 17 and 54.

The electric pot 1 includes a water amount sensor 11, a temperature sensor 12, an operation panel 13, a display unit 14, a control unit 15,
Buzzer 16, communication interface 17, discharge pump 1
8 and a heater 19. The detection signal of the water amount sensor 11 for detecting the remaining hot water amount and the detection signal of the temperature sensor 12 for detecting the hot water temperature (water temperature) are both input to the control unit 15.

The operation panel 13 is used for performing operations such as hot water supply and temperature setting, and operation signals are input to the control unit 15. The display unit 14 includes a remaining hot water amount display unit (first display unit) that displays a bar graph of the remaining hot water amount (water amount), and a second display unit that displays the current hot water temperature, the set hot water temperature, and the like.

The control unit 15 is constituted by a microprocessor or the like, and processes detection signals of the water volume sensor 11 and the temperature sensor 12 and input signals from the operation panel 13 according to a program stored in a built-in ROM (read only memory). At the same time, drive control of the display unit 14, sound control of the buzzer 16, drive control of the discharge pump 18, control of energization of the heater 19, and the like are performed. It also controls communication with other home electric appliances (particularly a reservation time setting device) via the communication interface 17. The buzzer 16 is used to notify the boiling of hot water or to warn when the amount of remaining hot water is low.

The communication interface 17 is a communication means for connecting to a so-called home appliance network and communicating with the monitor device 2 such as a personal computer and a television receiver. Various known techniques can be used for specific communication means. For example, RS
Serial communication based on standards such as 232C and RS422 can be used.

Alternatively, by superimposing a data-modulated high-frequency signal on a commercial power supply voltage (AC 100 V),
A method of transmitting data via indoor wiring of a commercial power supply has also been put to practical use. Furthermore, U is expected to become the mainstream of data transmission between personal computers and peripheral devices.
It is also possible to use an SB or IEEE 1394 interface. Further, the communication is not limited to the wired communication, and a wireless communication interface called Bluetooth may be used.

The discharge pump 18 is an electric pump for supplying hot water from a pouring opening in the tank of the electric pot 1. The heater 19 is a heater for boiling hot water, and is provided at the bottom of the tank of the electric pot 1.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the electric pot 1 as viewed from the front. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the electric pot 1 as viewed from the side. A heater 19 is provided at the bottom of a double stainless steel tank 30 with a vacuum layer interposed therebetween. Microprocessor (control unit 15) at the bottom of electric pot 1
And a discharge pump 18 are provided. The electric pot 1 has a double-stainless-steel tank 30 with a vacuum layer interposed therebetween, so that the electric pot 1 has a function as a so-called thermos that can keep the temperature even without electricity.

An operation panel section 13 and a second display section 14A are provided on the upper surface of the main body located in front of the upper lid 31. On the front of the main body, the amount of remaining hot water (water amount) in the tank 30
Is displayed. The remaining hot water amount display unit 14B displays a bar graph of the remaining hot water amount using six red LEDs (light emitting diodes) 32. That is, when the water is full, the six LEDs 32 are turned on, and as the amount of hot water decreases, the LEDs 32 are turned off in order from the top LED 32. Inside the remaining hot water display section 14B, a water flow sensor 1 for detecting the remaining hot water in a vertical discharge pipe extending from the discharge pump 18 provided at the bottom of the electric pot 1 to the upper discharge port 33 is provided.
1 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 4, the water amount sensor 11 is arranged such that six pairs of light emitting elements 35 and light receiving elements 36 are substantially opposed to each other with a discharge pipe 34 made of a transparent glass tube interposed therebetween (FIG. 4). Then only two pairs are drawn). Since the discharge pipe 34 is in communication with the tank 30, if the level of the hot water in the discharge pipe 34 is detected, the level of the hot water in the tank 30, that is, the remaining hot water amount is detected.

Each pair of the light emitting element 35 and the light receiving element 36 is such that light emitted from the light emitting element 35 reaches the light receiving element 36 when there is no water in the discharge pipe 34 but does not reach when there is water. It has a positional relationship. In other words, taking advantage of the fact that the optical path changes due to the difference in the refractive index between water and air,
The light receiving element 36 above 7 receives light from the light emitting element 35 and generates a predetermined light receiving signal, but the light receiving element 36 below the water surface 37 is configured not to receive light from the light emitting element 35. I have.

When all of the six light receiving elements 36 generate a light receiving signal, the tank 30 is substantially empty, and when all of the six light receiving elements 36 do not generate a light receiving signal, the tank 30 is almost full. is there. The six pairs of light emitting elements 35 and light receiving elements 36 are arranged at regular intervals, and light receiving signals are generated in order from the top light receiving element 36 as the remaining hot water amount decreases from the full state.

The light receiving signals (remaining hot water amount detection signals) of the six light receiving elements 36 are input to the control unit 15, and are processed by the control unit (microprocessor) 15 to display the remaining hot water amount display unit 1.
The remaining hot water amount display (bar graph display) is performed by the six LEDs 32 of 4B. Further, when all the six light receiving elements 36 are generating the light receiving signal, that is, when the remaining hot water amount is substantially empty, the control unit 15 sounds the buzzer 16 and generates an alarm for a predetermined time.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the operation panel 13 and the second display section 14A of the electric pot 1. Operation panel 13
Has a hot water supply switch 38, a release switch 39, a heat retention switch 40, a boiling switch 41, a kitchen timer switch 42, a reservation switch 43, and a time setting switch 43a. When the hot water supply switch 38 is pressed, the discharge pump 18
Is activated, and the hot water in the tank 30 is discharged from the discharge port 33. However, for safety, after the release switch 39 is pressed, the hot water supply switch 38 is kept for a predetermined time (for example, 20 seconds).
Is effective. During this time, the release indicator (LE
D) 39a lights up. After the hot water is supplied, a predetermined time (for example, 20
The lock state returns to the original locked state after elapse of (second).

By pressing the heat retention switch 40, the heat retention (set) temperature can be set. Second display unit 14
As shown at the bottom of A, three types of temperatures of 98 ° C., 90 ° C., and 60 ° C. can be set. The current set temperature is indicated by a triangular mark. Each time the thermal insulation switch 40 is pressed, the triangular mark changes to 98 (° C), 90 (° C), 60 (° C).
(° C) in order. When in the warming state, the warming indicator 40a is turned on.

The boiling switch 41 is depressed when performing (re) boiling. During the boiling operation, the boiling indicator 41a is turned on. The kitchen timer switch 42 is pressed to execute a kitchen timer function using the lower two digits of the 4-digit 7-segment display section of the second display section 14A as an additional function. Each time the button is pressed, the timer display (set time) is incremented by 1 minute, and if there is no re-press for 3 seconds or more, the timer starts counting down.

The reservation switch 43 is used for reservation setting of the boiling time of hot water. When the reservation switch 43 is pressed, the boiling time can be set using the 4-digit 7-segment display section of the second display section 14A and the time setting switch (hour / minute switch) 43a. Subsequently, when the reservation switch 43 is pressed again, the reservation of the water heater is registered in the built-in memory of the control unit 15, and the reservation indicator 43b is turned on. Then, the completion of the reservation setting is notified by the sound of the buzzer 16. Thereafter, the heater 19 is turned off shortly before the reserved time (time required for boiling water), and the apparatus enters a standby state. The control unit 15 estimates the time required for boiling water based on the measured amount of water, and starts energizing the heater 19 shortly before the reserved time so that the hot water is substantially heated at the reserved time.

The four-digit, seven-segment display of the second display section 14A normally indicates the current time, but during hot water heating, the temperature of the hot water in the tank 30 detected by the temperature sensor 12 as shown in FIG. Is displayed using the last two digits. At this time, the display of “Temperature” above the last two digits is turned on.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, the monitor device 2 includes an input device 51, a processing device 52, a display device 53, a communication interface 54, and an audio output device 55. The monitor device 2 is composed of, for example, a personal computer. In this case, a keyboard and a mouse correspond to the input device 51. Alternatively, the input device 51 may be constituted by a television receiver. In this case, a remote controller corresponds to the input device 51. In any case, the display device 53 includes a CRT (cathode ray tube), an LCD (liquid crystal display), a PDP (plasma display), and the like.

As the communication interface 54, similarly to the communication interface 17 of the electric pot 1, it is possible to use various known means which are currently used regardless of whether they are wired or wireless or which will be widely used in the future. The processing device 52 receives the information about the state of the electric pot transmitted from the electric pot placed at a remote place via the communication interface 54, and displays the state of the electric pot on the screen of the display device 53. In addition, using the audio output device 55, a notification and an alarm described below are performed. The voice output device 55 may have a simple configuration for sounding a buzzer, or may be configured to emit a predetermined message from a speaker using a voice synthesis technique or the like.

In the case where a television receiver is used as the monitor device 2 of the present embodiment, a television receiver integrated with a personal computer instead of a current general receiver,
It is necessary to use a digital television receiver having a network connection function or a two-way communication interface which is expected to be widely used in the future. However, if a method of superimposing a digital signal on a video signal or an RF signal is adopted, it is possible to display information on the electric pot 1 on a screen using a current general television receiver.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the state of the electric pot displayed on the screen of the display device 53. in this way,
Items to be displayed are ON / OFF of the power supply (energized or non-energized state), remaining hot water amount (water amount) and percentage of the full water amount, hot water temperature, presence or absence of reservation setting (ON / OFF), and reservation when reservation is set. Time can be increased. The table as shown in FIG. 6 may be displayed on the screen of the monitor device 2 as it is, or the display by the display units 14A and 14B of the electric pot 1 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 may be pseudo-graphically displayed on the screen. You may make it do.

Data transmission from the electric pot 1 to the monitor device 2 is performed at regular time intervals (for example, one time per second).
Times), or may be executed each time the display on the monitor device 2 needs to be updated as exemplified below.

That is, it is preferable that one of the timings at which the information on the state of the electric pot 1 is transmitted to the monitor device 2 includes when the hot water of the electric pot 1 is used. That is, when hot water is supplied from the electric pot 1, the amount of remaining hot water decreases, so that the display on the monitor device needs to be updated.

Further, when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12 exceeds a preset upper limit temperature, an abnormal state may be determined and the information may be transmitted to the monitor device 2. In this case, an abnormal state is displayed on the monitor device 2 and is kept displayed until reset.

Further, when the water heating operation of the electric pot 1 is completed, the information may be transmitted to the monitor device 2.

The audio output device 55 is used, for example, to notify the boiling of hot water. According to the information transmitted from the electric pot 1, the processing device 52 sets the audio output device 55
Drive. When the remaining hot water amount (water amount) in the tank of the electric pot 1 becomes smaller than a predetermined amount, the information is transmitted from the electric pot 1 to the monitor device 2, and the processing device 52 of the monitor device 2 uses the audio output device 55. Alarm.

The monitor device 2 of the present embodiment can also operate the electric pot 1 using the input device 51.
Of course, the hot water supply operation cannot be performed, but a setting operation that can be remotely controlled, such as the above-described reservation setting of the boiling time and the setting of the heat retention temperature, can be performed. For example, a diagram of the operation panel 13 of the electric pot 1 shown in FIG. Then, using the input device 51 such as a mouse or a remote controller, a push button of the operation panel 13 displayed on the screen is clicked.
Thus, it is possible to perform the remote control such as the reservation setting and the heat retention setting as if the user actually presses the push button switch on the operation panel 13.

Instead of displaying the diagram of the operation panel 13 on the screen of the display device 53 in a simulated manner, only pushbutton switches that can be remotely operated may be displayed side by side on the screen of the display device 53, for example. This is preferable when a video of a television broadcast is displayed on a screen.

Although the embodiments and the modified examples of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and the modified examples, but can be implemented in various forms.

[0043]

As described above, according to the information monitor system of the present invention, the state of whether or not the electric pot is energized, the amount of remaining hot water, the temperature of the hot water, and the like are determined by the television set installed at a location away from the electric pot. It can be confirmed on the screen of a monitor device such as a receiver and a personal computer. Further, operations such as reservation setting of the boiling time and heat retention setting can be performed using the screen of the monitor device and the input device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an information monitoring system for an electric pot according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the electric pot as viewed from the front.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view as viewed from a side of the electric pot.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the principle of a water amount sensor.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation panel and a second display unit of the electric pot.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a state of an electric pot displayed on a screen of a display device constituting the monitor device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric pot 2 Monitoring device 17, 54 Communication interface (communication means) 11 Water amount sensor (water amount detection means) 51 Input device (input means) 53 Display device 55 Audio output device (audio output means)

Continued on front page F term (reference) 4B055 AA34 BA40 GA01 GA11 GB09 GB11 GC03 GC21 5K048 AA04 BA12 BA14 BA34 CA08 DA02 DC01 DC04 EA11 EB10 EB12 FB08 FB11 FC01 HA01 HA02 HA05 HA07 HA13 HA22 HA23

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An electric pot having a communication means and a monitor device having a communication means are connected by communication, and the monitor device installed at a place distant from the electric pot is connected to the electric pot transmitted from the electric pot. An information monitoring system for an electric pot, comprising: receiving information on a state of a pot and displaying the state of the electric pot on a screen. 2. The electric pot has a water amount detecting means for detecting an amount of remaining hot water in the tank, and a state of the electric pot displayed on a screen of the monitor device includes information on the amount of remaining hot water in the tank. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
Information monitoring system of the electric pot described. 3. The monitor device has audio output means,
The information monitoring system for an electric pot according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the monitor device issues a predetermined notification or alarm by voice output according to the information transmitted from the electric pot. 4. The communication means of the electric pot and the communication means of the monitor device both have a two-way communication function, the monitor device has an input means, and the electric pot can be operated using the input means. The information monitoring system for an electric pot according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein