JP2003090541A - Heating cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heating cooker where operability, safety, certainty, and economical efficiency are improved, by preventing a dead angle from occurring at a sensor part, and enabling it to surely pick up the image of the situation of being heated of a heated substance and to detect the temperature situation of the heated substance without fail. SOLUTION: A heated substance storage 2 is provided within the casing 1 of the heating cooker, and the substance 3 to be heated is arranged, and a magnetron 4 for generating high frequency and a waveguide tube 5 are installed as a heating source. This heating cooker is provided with a sensor retention rod 8 which retains a camera 6 and a temperature detector 7, a rotary shaft 9 which rotates the sensor retention rod 8, and a rotation control mechanism 10. The camera 6 and the temperature detector 7 also go round, accompanying the rotation of sensor retention rod 8 going round in the upper space of the heated substance storage 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heating cooker for heating and thawing foods using a high frequency wave or a heater,
In particular, it aims to improve operability, safety, reliability, and economic efficiency by using an image pickup device and a temperature detection device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional cooking device, an infrared sensor consisting of a single element or a plurality of elements, an image pickup device, a temperature detecting device, or the like is used to measure the surface temperature of an object to be heated and thaw it. Normally, these sensors and the like are fixed to the wall surface inside the refrigerator of the cooking device. In addition, the weight of the object to be heated or the type of food to be heated is selected in advance by the user to determine the heating sequence and perform the heating and thawing.

[0003]

However, in the conventional heating cooker, when the image pickup device and the temperature detection device are used, since they are fixed to the wall surface, blind spots often occur, and a wide area is completely covered. There was a problem that I could not cover. Further, in the case of the image pickup device, a high resolution image pickup device is required for picking up an image of a wide area, which causes a problem in cost.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup device and a temperature detection device capable of surely detecting a wide area without causing a blind spot in the sensor target area. By doing so, it is possible to reliably image the heated state of the heated object and to reliably detect the temperature state of the heated object, and to provide a heating cooker with improved operability, safety, reliability, and economic efficiency. Especially.

[0005]

A heating cooker according to the present invention is a heating cooker comprising an object to be heated accommodation section and an image pickup apparatus for picking up an image of the surface of the object to be heated. It is characterized in that it is held by an imaging device holding means that circulates in the upper space of the object storage portion.

The cooking device according to the present invention further comprises a temperature detecting device for detecting the surface temperature of the object to be heated, and the temperature detecting device is held by the image pickup device holding means.

The cooking device according to the present invention is characterized by comprising an imaging visual field defining means for defining an imaging visual field of the imaging device.

The cooking device according to the present invention is characterized in that the imaging visual field defining means has a zooming function.

The heating cooker according to the present invention further comprises a casing, and a display device for displaying an image of the object to be heated picked up by the image pickup device on the outer surface of the casing. .

The cooking device according to the present invention is characterized in that the display device also serves as an input portion of the imaging visual field defining means.

The cooking device according to the present invention is characterized in that the display device is detachable from the casing.

In the heating cooker according to the present invention, the display device superimposes and displays the image of the object to be heated captured by the imaging device and the temperature of the object to be heated detected by the temperature detecting device. It is characterized by

The heating cooker according to the present invention is characterized in that the display device displays the temperature of the object to be heated detected by the temperature detection device in real time.

The heating cooker according to the present invention further includes a heating source, detects the surface state of the object to be heated by image-processing the image picked up by the image pickup device, and detects the surface state according to the surface state. It is characterized in that the output of the heating source is controlled.

The heating cooker according to the present invention further comprises a heater, and the surface state of the object to be heated is detected by image-processing the image picked up by the image pickup device, and the heater is detected according to the surface state. It is characterized in that the output of is controlled.

According to the present invention, since the image pickup device is held by the image pickup device holding means that circulates in the upper space of the object-to-be-heated accommodation part, the entire bottom surface of the object-to-be-heated accommodation part can be observed with a simple structure. Thus, it is possible to provide a heating cooker capable of accurately obtaining an image of an object to be heated by using a low resolution imaging device.

In the present invention, since the temperature detecting device is provided in the image pickup device holding means that circulates in the upper space of the object-to-be-heated accommodation portion, the temperature of the object-to-be-heated can be observed with a simple structure, and the temperature can be reduced. It is possible to provide a heating cooker capable of accurately detecting the surface temperature of an object to be heated by using a temperature detecting device with resolution.

According to the present invention, since the imaging visual field defining means for defining the imaging visual field of the imaging device is provided, it is possible to provide a heating cooker capable of easily selecting and observing a necessary portion of the object to be heated. It will be possible.

According to the present invention, since the image pickup device is provided with the zooming function, it is possible to enlarge the selected portion of the object to be heated, to provide a heating cooker with good visibility and high observation accuracy. Is possible.

In the present invention, since the display device for displaying the image of the object to be heated picked up by the image pickup device is provided, the cooked food can be easily and visually observed from the outside for the condition of the object to be heated container. It becomes possible to provide a container.

In the present invention, since the display device is configured to also serve as the input section of the imaging visual field defining means, it is possible to provide a heating cooker capable of easily defining the imaging visual field.

In the present invention, since the display device is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the housing, it is possible to provide a heating cooker capable of remote operation and remote observation.

In the present invention, since the image of the object to be heated and the temperature of the object to be heated are displayed in a superimposed manner, the heated condition of the object to be heated can be displayed and observed with good visibility, and the heating feeling is good. It becomes possible to provide a cooking device.

In the present invention, since the temperature of the object to be heated detected by the temperature detecting device is displayed in real time, it is possible to always observe and to reliably detect the heating condition of the object to be heated, and the heating accuracy is good. It becomes possible to provide a heating cooker with good operability.

In the present invention, since the output of the heating source can be controlled according to the surface condition of the object to be heated imaged by the imaging device, it is possible to provide a heating cooker with high heating accuracy and high safety. Is possible.

In the present invention, the output of the heater is controlled according to the surface condition of the object to be heated imaged by the imaging device, so that it is possible to provide a heating cooker with high heating accuracy.

[0027]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a heating cooker according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a housing of a heating cooker, in which an object to be heated accommodation section 2 is provided and an object to be heated 3 is arranged. As heating means, a magnetron 4 for generating a high frequency and a waveguide 5 for guiding the high frequency to the object-to-be-heated housing 2 are provided. If necessary, a heater may be added to the heating source in addition to the above. Further, an image pickup device 6, a temperature detection device 7, a sensor holding rod 8, a rotation center shaft 9, and a rotation control mechanism unit 10 are provided. The illustration of the control part of the electric system is omitted here.

The image pickup device 6 is, for example, a CCD area sensor and can pick up an image of the surface state of the object to be heated 3. The temperature detection device 7 is, for example, an infrared sensor, and can detect the temperature of the surface of the object to be heated 3 without contact. The sensor holding rod 8 as an image pickup device holding means holds the image pickup device 6 at its tip, and maintains the image pickup device 6 in a state in which the object to be heated 3 can be picked up. The sensor holding rod 8 rotates about a rotation center axis 9 and orbits on a circumference having a radius defined by the rotation center axis 9 and the image pickup apparatus 6 so that the image pickup apparatus 6 rotates. As a result of the imaging device 6 orbiting on a predetermined circumference in the upper space of the object-to-be-heated accommodation part 2, the object-to-be-heated accommodation part 2 is
The entire bottom surface of the can be imaged. That is, the rotation center shaft 9 is arranged substantially at the center of the ceiling of the object-to-be-heated housing 2, and the sensor holding rod 8 is horizontally rotated in an arc shape in the upper space near the ceiling. As a result, if the imaging device 6 covers the range indicated by the imaging device imaging region 11 and images from the center to the outer side of the bottom surface of the object-to-be-heated containing portion 2, the sensor holding rod 8 has the rotation center axis. As the circumference of 9 is rotated once, the entire bottom surface of the object to be heated accommodation section 2 can be imaged. In this way, the imaging device 6
Need only be capable of capturing an image of a part of the bottom surface of the object-to-be-heated housing portion 2, and even a low-resolution object can be sufficiently captured, and a low-cost heating cooker can be realized.

Similarly to the image pickup device 6, the temperature detector 7 should be capable of detecting the temperature from the center to the outside of the bottom surface of the object-to-be-heated containing section 2 by covering the range shown by the temperature detection device detection area 12. Good. Here, since the temperature detecting device 7 is arranged adjacent to the image pickup device 6 at the same tip of the sensor holding rod 8, the rotation mechanism can be simplified. Alternatively, the sensor holding rod 8 may be extended to the other side and arranged at the tip end thereof symmetrically with the image pickup device 6. In this case, since the sensors are arranged at different places at the same time, it is necessary to appropriately adjust the rotation center shaft 9 by a rotation time chart or the like. Incidentally, the rotation control of the sensor holding rod 8 and the rotation center shaft 9 is appropriately performed by the rotation control mechanism unit 10 provided outside the housing 1.

By correlating the temperature detection by the temperature detection device 7 with the position of the object to be heated 3 detected by the image pickup device 6, the surface temperature of the object to be heated 3 can be easily specified with high accuracy. Since the temperature detection device 7 has high directivity, it can detect only the surface temperature of the object to be heated 3 with high accuracy in association with the position of the object to be heated 3 imaged by the imaging device 6. Even if the temperature detection device 7 has a low resolution like the imaging device 6, the temperature detection device 7 can detect the temperature with high accuracy, and a low-cost heating cooker can be realized.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a control block in the heating cooker according to the present invention. In the figure, the main control unit 21
Is composed of a microcomputer or the like, and is configured to perform various controls of the entire heating cooker and further incorporate various programs to perform various arithmetic processes according to the present invention. The rotation control unit 22 controls the rotation control mechanism unit 10 in response to a predetermined signal from the main control unit 21 to control the rotation of the rotation center shaft 9 and the sensor holding rod 8. The sensor unit 23 corresponds to the image pickup device 6 and the temperature detection device 7, and outputs the image pickup result and the temperature detection result at each rotation place according to the rotation place. The output from the sensor unit 23 is the A / D conversion unit 2
The surface of the object 3 to be heated detected by the temperature detection device 7 or the image of the object 3 to be imaged by the imaging device 6 after being input to the main control unit 21 through the image processing unit 28 and subjected to predetermined processing by the image processing unit 28 and the like. The temperature is displayed on the display panel 27 corresponding to the display device. Therefore, the image and surface temperature of the object to be heated 3 can be easily visually grasped from the outside of the cooking device. The heating control unit 25 receives the signal from the main control unit 21 and controls the heating source 26. The heating source 26 corresponds to the magnetron 4, the waveguide 5 or a heater (not shown).

The display panel 27 is constructed so that it can be input as a touch panel, and is used as an input section of an imaging visual field defining means for defining an imaging visual field of the imaging device 6. Display panel 2
The input from the touch panel 7 via the touch panel 7 is processed by the main control unit 21 and the image processing unit 28, and further transmitted to the sensor unit 23 via the A / D conversion unit 24, and the imaging visual field of the imaging device 6 is defined and operated. As described above, by providing the imaging visual field defining means for defining the imaging visual field of the imaging device 6, for example, the object to be heated 3 placed in the object to be heated accommodation section 2 is imaged by the imaging device 6 and the image is displayed. When the user touches a desired portion on the display panel 27 in the state where it is displayed on the panel 27, that portion can be selected and displayed. Further, the imaging device 6 has a zooming function of enlarging and imaging the selected portion. As a result, an arbitrary portion of the object to be heated 3 can be selected and further enlarged, and the surface state of the portion can be observed more reliably. Such arithmetic processing and control can be easily realized by using an ordinary computer application technique and appropriately performing software processing in the main control unit 21 and the like. Note that the zooming function is preferably provided in the image pickup device 6 itself as described above, but may be realized by arithmetic processing of image processing in the image pickup visual field defining means including the main control unit 21, the image processing unit 28, and the like. .

The display panel 27 is further configured to superimpose and display the image of the object to be heated 3 imaged by the imaging device 6 and the surface temperature of the object to be heated 3 detected by the temperature detecting device 7. As a result, the temperature of each portion of the object to be heated 3 can be directly grasped visually, and the surface condition of the object to be heated 3 and the detection of an abnormality in the surface condition can be more easily detected. Image processing for superimposing and displaying is performed by the main control unit 2
1. The calculation is appropriately performed by the image processing unit 28.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a processing example in the heating cooker according to the present invention. When the user closes the door (step S1), the sensor holding rod 8 rotates, the imaging device 6 operates in accordance with this, and the imaging device 6 is placed in the object-to-be-heated accommodation part 2 while the imaging device 6 makes one rotation. An image of the object to be heated 3 is acquired and input to the main controller 21 as an image signal. This image signal is appropriately subjected to image recognition processing in the image processing unit 28 (step S2), and the presence / absence state of the object 3 to be heated is detected (step S3. In the flowchart, "is load present?" Is displayed). When the object to be heated 3 exists in the object to be heated accommodation section 2, the location and size of the object to be heated 3 are recognized,
The subsequent operation of the imaging device 6 is determined according to the state of the object to be heated 3. For example, when the object to be heated 3 is detected on the entire bottom surface of the object to be heated 2 (when the object to be heated 3 is extremely large, or when the plurality of objects to be heated 3 are evenly arranged over the entire surface). Etc.), the operation of the imaging device 6 during heating is always in a rotating state. On the other hand, when the object to be heated 3 is small and is detected only on a part (for example, an end) of the bottom surface of the object to be heated accommodation part 2, the image pickup device 6 is rotated once to display the image of the object to be heated 3. Since the acquisition is inefficient, the image of the object to be heated 3 is acquired while the image pickup device 6 is fixed at a position where the object to be heated 3 can be imaged during heating.
Such processing may be automatically performed by a program processing in the image processing unit 28 and the main control unit 21, but may be manually performed as appropriate by using the imaging visual field defining means.

If there is an object to be heated 3, it is next determined whether or not heating has been started (step S).
4). In the case of starting, it becomes step S5. If the heating does not start even after the designated time has elapsed despite the presence of the object to be heated 3 (step S6), the user is warned that the object to be heated 3 is left behind in the object to be heated accommodation section 2. Is issued (step S7).

When the user gives an instruction to start heating even though there is no object to be heated 3, the user is warned that the object to be heated 3 does not exist (steps S8 and S11). When the designated time has elapsed without the object 3 to be heated, it means that the object 3 to be heated has been taken out after the heating is completed, so the standby mode is entered (steps S9 and S10).

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a display device in the heating cooker according to the present invention. In the figure, a display device 30
Is an image display unit 31 that displays an image from the image pickup device, a temperature distribution display unit 32 that is configured to display the temperature from the temperature detection device on the image, and an object to be heated 34 is placed on the image display unit 31. Since it is displayed together with 33, the object 34 to be heated can be observed at all times during heating. Further, in the temperature distribution display unit 32, the state of the temperature distribution superimposed on the image of the object 34 to be heated is displayed in a bird's-eye view on the superimposed temperature distribution display unit 35. The temperature identification display section 36 displays the temperature in bright or dark or in color so that the temperature situation in the superimposed temperature distribution display section 35 can be more easily visually grasped. In addition to this, the temperature identification display section 36 may be, for example,
The degree of the burnt color may be displayed in color to serve as a color reference display unit for the burnt color. The display device 30 is normally based on the display of the image display unit 31, but may be configured to give priority to the display of the superimposed temperature distribution display unit 35 according to the user's selection. Further, a split display may be adopted as shown in FIG.

The display device 30 is detachably mounted on the outer surface of the housing 1. By being detachable, the condition of the object to be heated 34 can be monitored even in a remote place, and
When the touch panel also serves as the input unit of the imaging visual field defining means, the image pickup device 6 can be remotely operated, so that the operability is improved. The display device 30 displays the signal from the main control unit 21,
It is configured to perform wireless or wired transmission / reception via a transceiver (not shown). Wireless has better operability, but any method is possible.

The display device 30 is configured to constantly update the display of the image display unit 31 and the superimposed temperature distribution display unit 35 in real time. Thereby, the heating control can be made more accurate. For example, there are cases in which it is desired to monitor the heating status when thawing frozen meat, thawing sashimi tuna, and the like. In particular,
When thawing sashimi tuna, discoloration due to overheating is not allowed. In that case, the user constantly monitors and enlarges a portion where overheating is likely to occur, for example, an edge portion by a zooming function, and displays the image display portion 31 and the superimposed temperature distribution display portion 35 on the portion. The structure shall be such that it can be constantly monitored during heating. In this way, select the part of interest, expand it, and
With the configuration of displaying in real time, the user can stop the heating before overheating, and the thawing can be performed with high accuracy.

The surface condition of the objects to be heated 3, 34 during heating, for example, the boiling condition, the spilling condition, etc., is image-processed by the image processing unit 28 to detect an abnormality. For example,
When in a boiling state, the main control unit 2 associated with the abnormality detection
Based on the control signal from 1, the output of the heating source 26 is suppressed or stopped via the heating control unit 25. Objects to be heated 3, 3
When the number of 4 is a plurality, only certain objects 3 and 34 to be heated boil, and the remaining objects 3 and 34 to be heated are not at the specified temperature, the output of the heating source 26 is suppressed, and the boiling is stopped. When the other remaining objects to be heated 3, 34 also reach the specified temperature, the heating is stopped. This can prevent spilling due to boiling. In addition, when the object to be heated 3 or 34 is turned over for some reason while the object to be heated 2 is being monitored by the imaging device 6, the heating is immediately stopped and the user is notified of the fact. Give a warning to that effect. To detect the surface state and determine the abnormal state, for example, a program for image processing is created in advance, such as extraction of changes in the outer shape (outer line) of the objects to be heated 3, 34, differential extraction of changes in the surface state, and the like. Main control unit 2
1. The calculation processing by the image processing unit 28 can be performed. Further, in the constant observation state, the configuration may be such that manual control is appropriately performed.

In some cases, the heating source 26 includes a heater and employs a cooking method in which the surfaces of the objects to be heated 3, 34 are charred. In such a case, the image processing unit 28 performs arithmetic processing on the color information (color information indicating the degree of scorching) from the image pickup device 6 so that the surface states of the objects to be heated 3 and 34 (for example,
(Burning condition) is detected, and heating is stopped when the burning condition specified by the user is reached. In addition, in order to further improve the accuracy, when approaching the degree of charring specified by the user,
Switch to the fine adjustment mode, suppress the heater output and gradually heat over time to adjust the burnt condition. These can be performed by previously creating an image processing program and performing arithmetic processing by the main control unit 21 and the image processing unit 28. Further, in the constant observation state, the configuration may be such that manual control is appropriately performed.

Before the heater is heated, various finishes are displayed in advance on the display device 30, and the user can select and specify the desired finish from the various finishes, and the display device 30 is heated. With the configuration in which both the heating status of the objects to be heated 3 and 34 and the desired finish selected and designated are displayed, it is possible to realize heating adjustment with good visibility and operability.

[0043]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, an image of a heated object can be accurately obtained by using a low-resolution image pickup device, which is low cost, economical, and easy to operate. It becomes possible to provide a heating cooker.

In the present invention, the surface temperature of the object to be heated can be accurately detected by using the low-resolution temperature detecting device,
It is possible to provide a heating cooker that is low in cost, economical, and easy to operate.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily select and observe a necessary portion of the object to be heated and to provide a heating cooker with good operability.

In the present invention, the selected portion of the object to be heated can be enlarged, the visibility is high and the observation accuracy is high.
It is possible to provide a heating cooker with good operability and safety.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a heating cooker with which the condition of the object to be heated can be easily observed from the outside with good visibility, the heating accuracy is good, and the operability is good.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a heating cooker in which the operation of the image pickup device is simple and which has good operability.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a heating cooker with good operability, which enables remote operation and remote observation.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a heating cooker with which the heated condition of the object to be heated can be displayed and observed with good visibility and which has good operability.

In the present invention, constant observation is possible, the heating status of the object to be heated can be reliably detected, and the heating accuracy is high.
It is possible to provide a heating cooker with good operability.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a highly safe heating cooker.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a heating cooker with high heating accuracy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a heating cooker according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a control block in the heating cooker according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a processing example in the heating cooker according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a display device in the heating cooker according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 case 2 Heated object storage 3, 34 Heated object 4 magnetron 5 Waveguide 6 Imaging device 7 Temperature detector 8 sensor holding rod 9 rotation center axis 10 Rotation control mechanism section 30 display 31 Image display section 32 Temperature distribution display 35 Superposed temperature distribution display

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) F24C 7/02 350 F24C 7/02 350J 7/04 7/04 A 301 301Z H05B 6/64 H05B 6/64 K 6/68 310 6/68 310A 320 320D 320M 320Q 11/00 11/00 DF Term (reference) 3K086 AA03 AA05 AA07 BA02 BB02 BB05 CA04 CA20 CB01 CC01 CC03 CD04 CD09 DA01 3K090 AA03 AA05 AA11 AB01 BA01 BA09 BA09 BA09 BA09 BA09 BA09 BA09 BA09 BA09 BA35 AA02 CB01 CB17 CC07 CC11 CC16 DA01 DA20 DA24 3L087 AA01 BB01 BB12 BB19 BC14 DA01 DA20 DA24

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A heating cooker comprising an object-to-be-heated accommodation section and an imaging device for imaging the surface of the object-to-be-heated, wherein the imaging apparatus circulates in an upper space of the object-to-be-heated accommodation section. A cooker characterized by being held by. 2. The heating cooker further comprises a temperature detecting device for detecting the surface temperature of the object to be heated, and the temperature detecting device is held by the image pickup device holding means. The cooker described. 3. An image pickup field defining means for defining an image pickup field of the image pickup device is provided.
The cooking device according to. 4. The heating cooker according to claim 1, wherein the imaging visual field defining means has a zooming function. 5. The heating cooker further includes a housing, and a display device for displaying an image of the object to be heated captured by the imaging device is provided on an outer surface of the housing. 1
The heating cooker according to any one of 1 to 4. 6. The display device is configured to also function as an input unit of the imaging visual field defining means.
The cooking device according to. 7. The cooking device according to claim 5, wherein the display device is configured to be detachable from the housing. 8. The display device is configured to superimpose and display an image of an object to be heated picked up by the imaging device and a temperature of the object to be heated detected by the temperature detecting device. The heating cooker according to any one of 5 to 7. 9. The heating cooker according to claim 5, wherein the display device is configured to display the temperature of the object to be heated detected by the temperature detecting device in real time. 10. The heating cooker further includes a heating source, the surface state of the object to be heated is detected by performing image processing on an image captured by the imaging device, and the heating source is determined according to the surface state. The cooking device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cooking device is configured to control the output of the heating cooker. 11. The heating cooker further includes a heater, detects a surface state of an object to be heated by performing image processing on an image captured by the imaging device, and outputs the heater according to the surface state. The heating cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the heating cooker is configured to control the temperature.