JP2002209737A - Electric rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric rice cooker wherein a remaining period of time which is as accurate as possible can be displayed under a desired display configuration from the start to the end without a feeling of incongruity as much as possible. SOLUTION: This electric rice cooker is equipped with an internal pot, a heating means, a rice cooking control means, and a remaining period of time display means. In this case, the internal pot houses rice and water. The heating means heats the internal pot. The rice cooking control means performs the rice cooking by controlling the heating state of the heating means. The remaining period of time display means displays by computing a remaining period of time until the completion of the rice cooking in response to the advance of the rice cooking process by the rice cooking control means. In such an electric rice cooker, after detecting an initial water temperature in the internal pot after the start of the rice cooking, the rice cooking amount is judged by operating the heating means. Then, the remaining period of time to be displayed is set by taking the initial water temperature and the rice cooking amount under consideration. Then, the set remaining period of time is displayed while properly and accurately correcting it in response to the advance of the rice cooking process. In the meantime, at the time of correction, the display of the remaining period of time is not performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric rice cooker capable of displaying the remaining time from the start of rice cooking to the completion of rice cooking.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, there is provided a remaining time display function for displaying how long it takes from the start of rice cooking to the final completion of rice cooking by turning on a rice cook start switch. Electric rice cookers are provided.

[0003] As an example of such an electric rice cooker, there is one disclosed in, for example, JP-A-8-66307.

In the publication, when rice and water are put in an inner pot and a rice cook start switch is turned on, a maximum remaining time prepared in advance is displayed on a liquid crystal display section. Subtraction is counted every minute according to the progress, and when a predetermined number of minutes has elapsed, the remaining time displayed so far is changed to a new remaining time and displayed. This operation is repeated a plurality of times until the rice cooking is completed, and the remaining time sequentially displayed at predetermined time intervals is reduced.

Therefore, in this configuration, the same remaining time is displayed continuously for a predetermined time until the next display time is changed.

[0006] In the case of this configuration, the maximum remaining time prepared in advance is determined by adding a margin time in consideration of environmental conditions such as low voltage, low water temperature, and low room temperature to the rice cooking time of the maximum rice cooking amount. It is set to be added, and based on the same time, the remaining time until the end of cooking at the start of rice cooking is displayed, and the remaining time displayed first by adjusting the unevenness time after continuing boiling etc. Cooking is completed in the same time as the time, and it shifts to heat retention.

However, in such a configuration, the required rice cooking time displayed first is set to be longer than the actual required rice cooking time with a margin, so that the spotting time becomes longer than usual. There is a problem that is too spotty.

In order to solve this problem, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-165300,
Remaining time counting means for counting the remaining time from the start of rice cooking to the end of rice cooking by the rice cooking control means based on the maximum required rice cooking time, and remaining time for displaying the remaining time counted by the remaining time counting means. There has also been proposed an apparatus having display means and remaining time correcting means for correcting the remaining time measured by the remaining time measuring means in the shortening direction according to the progress of rice cooking.

According to such a configuration, in consideration of the situation accompanying the progress of rice cooking, the remaining time until the end of rice cooking is displayed by the remaining time display means while being corrected by the remaining time correction means. The remaining time can be corrected and displayed so that the rice cooking performance is not adversely affected depending on the situation, that is, so that the dipping time does not become longer than necessary. Also,
The correction of the remaining time by the remaining time correction means is performed in a direction to shorten the time until the rice is cooked, so that the rice cooking can be completed before the remaining time displayed at the start of the rice cooking.

[0010]

However, the following problem still remains in the case of the latter configuration.

(1) Since the maximum remaining time set in advance is an approximate one, the subsequent correction time width becomes too large, and it is difficult to accurately display the remaining time.

(2) The remaining time displayed due to the difference in the outside air temperature at that time, such as the season, should vary considerably, but it cannot cope with it.

(3) The correction is performed while the same remaining time is displayed within the predetermined time, and the correction is changed to a new remaining time when the predetermined time has elapsed. Changes, which makes the user feel uncomfortable.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and it is possible to display the remaining time as accurate as possible from the beginning to the end in a desired display form as necessary without any discomfort. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric rice cooker as described above.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventions of the present application have been made for the purpose of solving the problems described above, and in order to achieve the objects, the following effective problem solving methods are provided. Means.

(1) The invention of claim 1 That is, the electric rice cooker of the invention of claim 1 of the present application comprises an inner pot for storing rice and water, a heating means for heating the inner pot, An electric rice cooker comprising: rice cooker control means for controlling the heating state to cook rice; and remaining time display means for calculating and displaying the remaining time until rice cooking is completed according to the progress of the rice cooking operation by the rice cooker control means. After the rice cooking is started, an initial water temperature in the inner pot is detected, and the remaining time is set and displayed based on the initial water temperature.

As described above, in this configuration, the rice cooker switch is
After detecting the stable initial water temperature in the inner pot after the start of the rice cooking in N, the maximum remaining time displayed first is set and displayed based on the detected initial water temperature.

The initial water temperature at the start of rice cooking varies greatly depending on the season, the region, the outside air temperature of the day, etc., and has a great influence on the time required for rice cooking. Therefore, whenever possible,
It is necessary to accurately detect the stable water temperature at that time, and to reflect it on the maximum remaining time calculated and set first.

Therefore, as described above, the rice cooker switch is
If the stable initial water temperature in the inner pot after the start of the rice cooking in N is detected and the maximum remaining time displayed first is calculated and set based on the detected initial water temperature, the request can be appropriately dealt with. Become like

(2) Invention of Claim 2 Next, the electric rice cooker according to the invention of claim 2 of the present invention comprises an inner pot for storing rice and water, a heating means for heating the inner pot, and the heating means. Rice cooking control means for controlling the heating state of rice to cook rice,
An electric rice cooker comprising: a remaining time display means for calculating and displaying a remaining time until the completion of rice cooking according to the progress of the rice cooking operation by the rice cooking control means. After the detection, the heating means is further operated to determine the amount of cooked rice, and the remaining time is set and displayed based on the initial water temperature and the amount of cooked rice.

As described above, the initial water temperature at the start of rice cooking varies greatly depending on the season, the area, the outside air temperature of the day, and the like, and greatly affects the time required for rice cooking. For this reason, it is necessary to detect the stable water temperature at that time as accurately as possible and to reflect it on the maximum remaining time calculated and set first.

On the other hand, at the same time, the actual amount of cooked rice determines the final time.

Therefore, as described above, the rice cooker switch is
N, while detecting the stable initial water temperature in the inner pot after the rice cooking has been started, further operating the heating means to determine the amount of rice cooked, and based on them, the maximum remaining time displayed first. If the calculation is set, it becomes possible to appropriately respond to those requests.

(3) The electric rice cooker according to the third aspect of the present invention is the electric rice cooker according to the first or second aspect, wherein the displayed remaining time is appropriately accurate according to the progress of the rice cooking operation. Is corrected.

In this configuration, since the remaining time as accurate as possible is displayed first, the correction itself becomes easy and accurate, and the amount of change in the display time after the correction becomes small.

Therefore, even if the conventional display method is employed as it is, the feeling of strangeness is small.

(4) An electric rice cooker according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electric rice cooker according to the third aspect, wherein the remaining time is not displayed when the remaining time is corrected. .

In this configuration, the display of the remaining time disappears once at the time of correction, and a new remaining time is displayed again when the correction is completed.

Therefore, the discomfort that the display time suddenly increases or decreases from the state where the predetermined remaining time is displayed is eliminated.

(5) An electric rice cooker according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electric rice cooker according to the first, second or third aspect of the present invention, wherein time display is normally performed at a normal time, and a predetermined operation key is provided. The remaining time is displayed only when is operated.

According to such a configuration, the clock display means can be used also as the remaining time display means.

(6) The invention of claim 6 The electric rice cooker according to the present invention is the above-mentioned claim 1, 2, 3, or 4.
In the electric rice cooker according to the described invention, the time display and the remaining time display are automatically and alternately performed.

Therefore, in this configuration, not only can the clock display means be used as the remaining time display means, but also there is no need to press any operation key when the user wants to know the remaining time.

Also, since the display changes alternately, it is easy to watch.

[0035]

As a result, according to the electric rice cooker of the present invention, the remaining time as accurate as possible can be displayed from the beginning to the end as required in a desired display form as little as possible. An electric rice cooker can be provided.

[0036]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Embodiment 1) FIGS.
Fig. 2 shows the configuration and operation of a rice cooker main body of an electric rice cooker having a remaining time display function according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and respective components of the rice cooker main body.

(Overall Features) First, in the electric rice cooker of the present embodiment, for example, an inner pot 3 made of a magnetic metal plate capable of electromagnetic induction is adopted as the inner pot 3 on the rice cooker main body A side. As a heating means at the time of cooking rice in the inner pan 3, a bottom wall 3a of the inner pan 3 is provided so as to wrap substantially the entire side wall 3b from the bottom wall 3a of the inner pan 3 through an inner case 4 made of synthetic resin. Sets of work coils C corresponding to the entire periphery of three places on the center side, side part, and side wall part 3b side
₁ , C ₂ , and C ₃ are provided, and a heating heater H ₁ corresponding to the entire circumference of the side wall portion 3 b of the inner pot ₃ is provided as a heating unit when the inner pot 3 is kept warm. Then, an appropriate rice cooking function and an appropriate heat retaining function can be realized by these.

On the other hand, timer reservation for each of these functions, selection of rice cooking and heat retention menus, and operation setting of a heating pattern corresponding to each of these menus are provided on the front operation panel section 20 of the electric rice cooker main unit A. The setting is performed by a user through various input switch groups 22a to 22h, and finally the work coil C
₁ -C ₃ and kept the heater H ₁ is adapted to be controlled.

At the center of the operation panel section 20, there is provided a liquid crystal display section 21 for displaying each menu of rice cooking and heat retention, the current time, the remaining time until the completion of rice cooking, and other necessary items. As will be described later, as one example, first, the first remaining time is calculated and set as accurately as possible based on the initial water temperature To in the inner pot 3 after the start of rice cooking. The information is displayed as accurately as possible while appropriately correcting the time required.

(Structure of Rice Cooker Body) First, the rice cooker body A of the electric rice cooker, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, a stainless steel plate or the like capable of self-heating by an eddy current induced inside. Inner pot made of magnetic metal plate
(Rice cooker) 3 and a bottomed cylindrical inner case (protection frame) 4 made of synthetic resin formed so that the inner pot 3 can be set arbitrarily.
And an upper and lower rice cooker A formed by integrating the outer case 1 and the inner case 4 with a bottomed cylindrical outer case 1 serving as an outer housing for holding the inner case 4. And a lid unit 2 provided in the main body.

A coil stand 7 is provided below the bottom wall (bottom) 4a of the inner case 4, and a coil base 7 is provided above the bottom of the bottom wall (bottom) 3a of the inner pan 3 via a ferrite core. Three sets of work coils C ₁ , C ₂ , and C ₃ each having a litz wire concentrically wound corresponding to each position of the center portion, the side portions, and the side wall portion 3b of the inner pot ₃ , are respectively provided in the inner pot. 3 is provided so as to wrap substantially the entirety from the bottom wall portion 3a to the side wall portion 3b, thereby inducing an eddy current in substantially the entire inner pot 3 when energized, thereby heating the entirety substantially uniformly. It has become. The work coils C ₁ , C ₂ , and C ₃ are connected to each other in series, and one end of the work coils C ₁ , C ₂ , and C ₃ is connected, for example, as shown in FIG.
Is connected to a power supply line via a rectifier circuit 35 and a smoothing circuit 36, and the other end is connected to a collector of an IGBT (power transistor) 37, as shown in FIG.

Further, in the upper portion of the side wall portion side work coil C _3, and incubated heater H ₁ is provided which serves as a heating means at the time of incubation, the whole effective and uniform the inner bowl 3 at the time of insulation To be heated.

On the lower side of the inner case 4 and the coil base 7, work coils C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , a heat retaining heater H ₁ , a shoulder heater H _2, etc. as shown in FIG. 2, for example. The IGBT 37 for driving and controlling the heater, the heater drive circuit 33,
34, microcomputer control unit 32, rectifier circuit 35 composed of a diode bridge for power supply voltage rectification, smoothing circuit 36
There is provided a control circuit board 9 provided with the above.

The outer case 1 includes a vertically-covered cylindrical cover member 1a formed of, for example, a synthetic resin material, a synthetic resin shoulder member 11 coupled to an upper end of the cover member 1a, A bottom member 1b made of synthetic resin integrated with a lower end of the cover member 1a;
And a bottomed cylindrical body having a predetermined size of heat insulation and ventilation space formed between the bottom wall 4a and the bottom wall 4a. Above the front surface of the outer case 1, for example, a substantially half-moon-shaped operation panel unit 20 as shown in FIG. 3 is provided. A liquid crystal display unit 21 having a sufficiently large display area and a rice cooker switch 22 are provided on the operation panel unit 20 surface.
a, timer reservation switch 22b, cancel switch 22
c, only a group of various input switches such as a heat retention switch 22d, a reheating switch 22e, a menu selection switch 22f, an hour switch 22g, and a minute switch 22h are provided. Also, the shoulder inner peripheral side of the shoulder member 11, the shoulders heater H ₂ is provided.

Although not shown, the inner case 4
A center sensor storage space penetrating concentrically in the vertical direction is formed in the center of the lower coil base 7, and is vertically movable in the center sensor storage space in a vertically movable state. A center sensor having an inner pot temperature detection sensor S and an inner pot detection switch LS shown in FIG. 2 is provided in a state of being upwardly biased by a coil spring.

On the other hand, reference numeral 2 denotes a lid unit. The lid unit 2 is made of a synthetic resin outer cover 12 constituting the outer peripheral surface thereof, and a metal provided between the outer cover 12 and the inner frame 14. Heat-insulating structure 13 and a metal inner cover 1 provided on the inside of the heat-insulating structure 13 via a packing 17.
5 and a metal heat radiating plate 16 provided below the inner cover 15 form a hollow heat insulating structure on the inside. The heat insulating structure 13 is composed of two upper and lower metal plates 1.
3a and 13b are formed by opposing and integrating the closed cross-section structure.

The lid unit 2 is rotatably attached to a shoulder member 11 on the upper part of the outer case 1 via a hinge mechanism, and has an open end at a predetermined position of the lid unit 2. A lock mechanism 18 that engages to open and close the lid unit 2 in the vertical direction is provided.

Therefore, in this configuration, first, when cooking rice, the inner pot 3 is provided with the three sets of work coils C ₁ , C ₂ ,
Substantially entirely toward the side wall portion 3b side from the bottom wall 3a by driving the C ₃ are uniformly heating the inner pot 3 also in such water absorption step is Hanmai immersed in water of the inner pot 3 for example act as a heat insulating portion The upper side of the pan is heated evenly to enable the water absorption performance to be substantially uniform throughout, and even when the amount of cooked rice is large, the whole inner pot 3 is heated substantially uniformly to cook efficiently without uneven heating. be able to. In addition, it is possible to prevent local heat concentration on the bottom wall 3a of the inner pot 3 in a state where moisture has disappeared after the boiling step, thereby preventing occurrence of scorching. Then, at the time of heat retention, the side wall portion 3b from the inside by the driving of the pan the insulation heater H ₁ provided corresponding to the side wall portion 3b of 3 and shoulder the heater H _2, the inner bowl 3 the bottom wall portion 3a
In addition, the entire upper portion is uniformly heated with an appropriate heating amount, and heat retention without heating unevenness is realized.

On the other hand, the microcomputer control unit 32 of the control circuit board 9 includes the input switches 22a to 22h
Desired recognition means for determining the content of the user's instruction input via is provided, and a desired rice cooking or warming function according to the content of the user's instruction recognized by the recognition means,
A desired rice cooking or heat keeping menu, a predetermined heating pattern corresponding to the rice cooking or heat keeping menu is set, and the rice heating control means or the heat keeping heating control means is appropriately operated to perform desired rice cooking or heat keeping. ing.

Therefore, the user can use the input switches 22a to 22h to cook or heat rice, make a timer reservation, set a reservation time, cook rice or brown rice, cook quickly, porridge, soften or soften, sushi, cook, etc. Cook separately
If the user inputs the setting contents of the normal or low-temperature warming or other various rice cooking or warming functions, the corresponding function contents are automatically transmitted to the setting section for the rice cooking and warming / heating pattern via the recognition means in the microcomputer control unit 32. The rice is cooked or the heating and heating control is appropriately performed in a desired control pattern.

(Structure of rice cooker main body side control circuit) Next, FIG. 2 mainly shows the microcomputer control unit 32 for rice cooker main body A side configured as described above for controlling rice cooking and heat retention and displaying remaining time. Is shown below.

In the figure, reference numeral 32 denotes a rice cooker having an inner pot temperature determining means, an inner pot detecting means, a buzzer notifying means, etc., in addition to the above-mentioned rice cooking heating control means, heat keeping heating control means and remaining time setting display means. A microcomputer control unit (CPU) for controlling heat retention, and the microcomputer control unit 32 is mainly composed of a microcomputer;
Temperature detection circuit section, work coil drive control circuit section, inner pan 3 detection circuit section, oscillation circuit section, reset circuit section, heat control heater and shoulder heater drive control circuit section, remaining time setting display control circuit section, buzzer notification Unit, a power supply circuit unit, and the like.

First, the inner pot temperature detecting sensor S of the center sensor on the bottom wall 3a side of the inner pot 3 and the temperature detecting circuit 43 and the pot detecting circuit 44 provided corresponding to the inner pot detecting switch LS are provided. For example, 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 respectively input.

The work coil drive control circuit includes, for example, a pulse width modulation circuit 41, a synchronization trigger circuit 4
0, an IGBT drive circuit 42, an IGBT 37, and a resonance capacitor 38. By controlling the pulse width modulation circuit 41 by the work coil drive control circuit of the microcomputer control unit 32,
For example, the work coils C ₁ , C ₂ , C
_By appropriately changing the output value of No. ₃ and the ON duty ratio (for example, n seconds / 16 seconds) at the same output value, the heating temperature and the heating pattern of the inner pot 3 in each step of the rice cooking process are determined in consideration of the amount of cooked rice. And appropriate output control to achieve uniform water absorption and cooking of rice without uneven heating.

Also, the warming heater drive circuit 33 and the shoulder heater drive circuit 34 of the microcomputer control unit 32 control the warming heater drive circuit 33 and the shoulder heater drive circuit 34, respectively. The output values of the above-mentioned heat retention heater H ₁ and shoulder heater H ₂ and the ON duty ratio (for example, n seconds /
16 seconds), an appropriate output control for appropriately varying the heating temperature and the heating pattern of the inner pot 3 in each step of the warming or rice cooking process in consideration of the actual rice cooking amount is achieved. Is being done.

Reference numerals 22a to 22h denote the various input switches described above. When the necessary switches are properly operated, the user's instruction is recognized by the recognition means on the microcomputer control unit 32 side. A desired rice cooking or heating and heating pattern is set according to the recognition content, and the desired rice cooking or heating and heating is controlled by appropriately operating the rice heating or heating control means.

Accordingly, the user can use the input switches 22a to 22h to cook or heat rice, make a timer reservation, set a reservation time, prepare white rice or brown rice, cook quickly, porridge, mash or soften, sushi, cook, etc. Cook separately
If the selection setting contents of various rice cooking or heat insulation functions such as normal heat insulation or low temperature insulation are input, the corresponding function contents are automatically transmitted to the rice cooking or heat insulation heating pattern setting unit via the above-described recognition means of the microcomputer control unit 32. Setting and input, and the corresponding rice-cooking or warming / heating control is appropriately performed.

It should be noted that reference numeral 39 in FIG.
37 flywheel diodes. Reference numeral 35
Is a power supply side rectifier circuit incorporating a diode bridge for driving the work coil inserted between the home AC power supply 30 and 36 is a smoothing circuit thereof.

Further, reference numeral 17 denotes a buzzer notification unit for notifying completion of rice cooking, 16 denotes a reset circuit, and 21 denotes a liquid crystal display unit. In the case of this embodiment, necessary items such as a desired menu and time are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 21 in response to the ON operation of the input switches 22a to 22h. Is going to be done. Further, in the case of this embodiment, particularly after the start of rice cooking, a stable initial water temperature To is detected and determined, and based on this, the basic first rice cooking remaining time is first calculated and set as accurately as possible. Then, the remaining time is displayed in a portion corresponding to the time display on the liquid crystal display unit 21 instead of the time display as shown in FIG. Thereafter, by sequentially correcting and displaying the corrected remaining time, the remaining time as accurate as possible is displayed.

In the control circuit of FIG. 2, the constant voltage power supply circuit to the microcomputer control unit 32 is omitted for the sake of simplicity.

(Method of controlling and displaying remaining time during normal cooking, display mode, correction method, etc.) FIG. 4 shows a method of controlling and displaying the remaining time during normal cooking, and FIG. FIG. 6 shows a method for correcting the remaining time.

First, the method of controlling the display of the remaining time shown in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG.

First, the rice cooker switch 22a is turned on,
When rice operation is started, once the OFF each of the above work coil C ₁ -C ₃ in Step S _1. Then, the water temperature T in the inner pot 3 is stabilized.

[0064] Thereafter, the temperature of the inner pot 3 by inner bowl temperature sensor S of the center sensor (initial water temperature) T a plurality of times (n times) detected in step S _2, the previous detection temperature Tn _-1
Absolute value | Tn-Tn _-1 |
Is the temperature difference ΔT indicating the stable state of the preset water temperature.
Determining that becomes less in step S _3.

As a result, when the result is YES, the process proceeds to step S ₄ for the first time to determine the initial water temperature To. In the following step S ₅ , the first remaining rice cooking time is set based on the initial water temperature To and the liquid crystal display is displayed. It can be displayed on the unit 21. this is,
As is clear from the description in the time chart of FIG.
More specifically, this is performed by a method of looking up a corresponding time by referring to a remaining time initial value table (data map) created in advance using the initial water temperature To as a parameter.

As described above, the first remaining time calculated and set as accurately as possible based on the initial water temperature To in the inner pot 3 at the start of rice cooking is described in the description of the time chart in FIG. As shown, in accordance with the amount of rice cooked and the time required until the shift to the unevenness determined in the subsequent process, it is displayed as accurately as possible while being appropriately corrected at a predetermined timing. I have.

Next, a specific display form of the remaining time in FIG. 5 will be described.

In the case of this embodiment, the remaining time which is calculated and set as described above and is sequentially corrected is a portion corresponding to the time display on the liquid crystal display section 21 after the determination of the initial water temperature To is determined. Is displayed as shown in FIG.

As described above, in this configuration, the rice cooker switch 22
The stable initial water temperature To in the inner pot 3 after g is turned on and rice cooking is started is detected, and the maximum remaining time displayed first is set and displayed based on the detected initial water temperature To.

The initial water temperature at the start of rice cooking varies greatly depending on the season, the area, the outside air temperature of the day, and the like, and greatly affects the time required for rice cooking. Therefore, whenever possible,
It is necessary to accurately detect the stable water temperature at that time, and to reflect it on the maximum remaining time calculated and set first.

Therefore, as described above, the rice cooker switch 22
When the stable initial water temperature To in the inner pot 3 after the g is turned on and the rice cooking is started is detected, and the maximum remaining time displayed first is calculated and set based on the detected initial water temperature To, the request is satisfied. Be able to respond appropriately.

Further, the remaining time determined and displayed in this manner is properly corrected appropriately in accordance with the progress of the rice cooking operation.

In the configuration, since the remaining time is displayed as accurately as possible at first, the correction itself is easy and accurate, and the amount of change in the display time after correction is small.

Therefore, even if a continuous display method as shown in FIG. 5 is adopted, the sense of incongruity at the time of correction is small.

On the other hand, regarding the correction, the actual amount of cooked rice as well as the initial water temperature is a major factor in determining the final time.

Therefore, as described above, the rice cooker switch is
N, while detecting the stable initial water temperature in the inner pot after the rice cooking has been started, further operating the heating means to determine the amount of rice cooked, and based on them, the maximum remaining time displayed first. When the correction is set, it is possible to appropriately cope with those requests.

(Embodiment 2) Next, FIG. 7 and FIG.
9 shows a display method and a display mode of a remaining time of the electric rice cooker according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

In the case of this embodiment, the remaining time calculated and set as described above is not displayed as it is, and usually the corresponding portion of the liquid crystal display unit 21 is provided in FIG.
, Only the time “10:08” is displayed.

[0079] Therefore, if you want to see the remaining time, first in step S _1, to ON the switch 22g when the above-mentioned.

Then, in step S ₂ , it is determined whether or not rice is being cooked.
_{At 3} , the remaining time is displayed, and the liquid crystal display unit 21 switches the display of the current time "10:08" to the display of the remaining time "40 minutes", for example, as shown in FIG. This state is automatically reset when a predetermined time has passed since the time switch 22g was turned ON.

Of course, as described above, the hour switch 22g
When but not ON is, as usual step S _4, to display the current time "10:08".

(Embodiment 3) Next, FIG. 9 shows a method for controlling the display of the remaining time of an electric rice cooker according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and more specifically, the remaining time calculated and set as described above. 4 shows the correction of the remaining time according to the progress of the rice cooking process and the display control method at the time of the correction.

First, step S _{1 in} the flowchart of FIG.
In, whether or not the currently cooking, also the subsequent step S ₂ whether the remaining time data sequentially determined in, then the remaining time data and the latest operation currently displayed proceeds to step S ₃ Compare with data.

[0084] determining a result based on, there is a difference between them, whether it is necessary to correct the display time, further in step S _4. As a result, when the result is YES, the routine proceeds to step S _5, and starts the display switching timer for canceling the display in the corrected operation.

Then, proceeding to step S ₆ ,
The remaining time "up to 40 minutes" in Fig. 5 above
To switch to the current time display.

Next, at step S _7, to determine the course of switching setting time of the display switching timer, has elapsed same time Y
When the ES provides an indication of a new remaining time after the correction in step S _8.

In other words, with this configuration, the display of the remaining time is temporarily erased during correction, and a new remaining time is displayed again when the correction is completed.

Therefore, the conventional sense of discomfort, in which the display time suddenly increases or decreases due to correction from the state where the predetermined remaining time is displayed, is eliminated.

(Embodiment 4) Next, FIG. 10 shows a method of displaying the remaining time of an electric rice cooker according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

The electric rice cooker according to this embodiment has the same configuration as the electric rice cooker according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 10, the current time display and the remaining time display are automatically and alternately performed.

Therefore, in this configuration, the clock display means can be used also as the remaining time display means, and of course, as in the second embodiment, when the remaining time is to be known, the hour switch 22g or the like can be used. There is no need to press operation keys.

Further, since the display changes alternately, it is easy to watch.

(Other Embodiments) In each of the above embodiments, a work coil is employed as a heating means for the inner pan 3, but it is needless to say that this may be changed to a general electric heater. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an electric rice cooker common to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of a control circuit portion of the electric rice cooker main body.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an operation panel portion as a main part of the electric rice cooker main body.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a remaining time setting display method (remaining time calculation display control method) of the electric rice cooker according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a change diagram of a remaining time display mode of the electric rice cooker.

FIG. 6 is a time chart of a remaining time display and a correction method corresponding to the rice cooking process of the electric rice cooker.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a remaining time display control method of the electric rice cooker according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a change diagram of a remaining time display mode of the electric rice cooker.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a display control method when correcting the remaining time of the electric rice cooker according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display form of remaining time display control of the electric rice cooker according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is an outer case, 2 is a lid unit, 3 is an inner pot, 4 is an inner case, 20 is an operation panel, 21 is a liquid crystal display, 22a is a rice cooker switch, and 22g is an hour switch.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An inner pot for storing rice and water, heating means for heating the inner pot, rice cooking control means for controlling the heating state of the heating means to cook rice, and rice cooking by the rice cooking control means An electric rice cooker comprising: a remaining time display means for calculating and displaying a remaining time until the completion of rice cooking according to the progress of the operation, detecting an initial water temperature in the inner pot after the start of rice cooking, and detecting the initial water temperature. An electric rice cooker wherein the remaining time is set and displayed based on the following. 2. An inner pot for storing rice and water, heating means for heating the inner pot, rice cooking control means for controlling the heating state of the heating means to cook rice, and rice cooking by the rice cooking control means. An electric rice cooker comprising remaining time display means for calculating and displaying the remaining time until rice cooking according to the progress of the operation, and after detecting the initial water temperature in the inner pot after the start of rice cooking, An electric rice cooker wherein a heating means is operated to determine the amount of cooked rice, and the remaining time is set and displayed based on the initial water temperature and the amount of cooked rice. 3. The electric rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the displayed remaining time is corrected as appropriate according to the progress of the rice cooking operation. 4. The electric rice cooker according to claim 3, wherein the remaining time is not displayed when the remaining time is corrected. 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the time is displayed normally, and the remaining time is displayed only when a predetermined operation key is operated.
An electric rice cooker as described. 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the time display and the remaining time display are automatically and alternately performed.
The electric rice cooker according to 2, 3 or 4.