JP2003190009A - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily judge the state where backup is impossible by a primary cell for backup, without causing the increase in cost, and also to improve convenience not only for a user but also a maker. <P>SOLUTION: A rice cooker is provided with a charging circuit 39 for charging a voltage having a predetermined capacity when connected with a commercial power source 32, and a judging means (reset IC48) for judging whether backup is possible or not by a backup power source circuit 34 when unconnected with the commercial power source 32. When the judging means judges that backup by the backup power source circuit 34 is impossible, a control circuit (microcomputer 46) operates a liquid crystal display 11 by the charging circuit 39 for a predetermined time, and the display style of the liquid crystal display 11 by the charging circuit 39 is made different from that of the liquid crystal display 11 by the backup power source circuit 34. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a rice cooker.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of rice cooker is equipped with a switch and a liquid crystal display section for a user to set a desired cooked state. In addition, recent rice cookers are equipped with a reserved rice cooking function that enables the rice to be cooked at a desired time, and by inputting the current time, a clock that counts the current time and displays it on the liquid crystal display unit is displayed. The function is installed.

The rice cooker is equipped with a backup power supply circuit in order to prevent the clock function from being reset when the user disconnects the power cord from the commercial power supply. Then, in order to prevent an increase in the number of parts and to reduce the cost, a non-chargeable primary battery is mainly used in this backup power supply circuit.

[0004]

However, in the rice cooker, since the user cannot determine the remaining amount of the backup primary battery, the battery cannot be used until the backup becomes impossible. Can be recognized. Even in this non-backup state, if the power cord is connected to a commercial power source, it can be used without any change, so the user forgets that the battery is in an unusable state and disconnects the power cord from the commercial power source again. There is a problem in that the user often feels anxious about setting the current time each time it connects to a commercial power source.

In order to prevent this problem, a method of allowing the battery capacity to be displayed on the liquid crystal display section, which is recently installed in various electric products, can be considered. However, in this case, a structure for detecting the battery voltage is required, which causes a problem of high cost.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a rice cooker that can easily determine the backup-disabled state by the primary battery for backup without increasing the cost and can improve the convenience not only for the user but also for the manufacturer. The challenge is to provide.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the rice cooker of the present invention includes a load part such as a heating means for heating a rice cooker and a liquid crystal display part for displaying the current time, and the load part. Connection between the control means for controlling and performing the rice cooking control, the main power supply circuit for converting the AC voltage supplied from the commercial power supply into the DC voltage at which the load parts and the control means can operate and outputting, and the commercial power supply Detection means for detecting the state,
In a rice cooker equipped with a backup power supply circuit that supplies a direct-current voltage capable of operating the liquid crystal display unit and the control means when not connected to a commercial power supply, charging for charging a voltage of a predetermined capacity in a connection state with the commercial power supply A circuit and a judgment means for judging whether or not the backup power supply circuit can perform a backup in a state where the commercial power supply is not connected are provided, and the control means judges that the judgment means cannot perform the backup by the backup power supply circuit. Then, the liquid crystal display unit is operated for a predetermined time by the charging circuit, and the display form of the liquid crystal display unit by the charging circuit is different from the display form of the liquid crystal display unit by the backup power supply circuit.

Specifically, in the rice cooker, the determining means determines whether backup is possible by the DC voltage supplied to the control means by the backup power supply circuit, and if it is determined that backup is impossible, the control means. The control means is configured to detect whether or not the backup by the backup power supply circuit is possible depending on whether or not the voltage supplied in the reset state is from the commercial power supply.

According to the rice cooker, for example, the remaining amount of the primary battery constituting the backup power supply circuit cannot be backed up, and the voltage of the charging circuit is about 2.3V.
When it falls to 0, the control means is reset by the instruction of the judging means. Then, the user can recognize that the backup cannot be performed by looking at the state where the liquid crystal display is turned off. After that, when the power cord is connected to the commercial power source, the control unit detects that it has been operated by the voltage from the commercial power source by the detection unit, and detects that the backup power supply circuit is in a state in which backup is impossible. Therefore, when the power cord is unplugged from the commercial power again, the control means determines that it is operating with the voltage of the charging circuit, and displays in a display mode different from the normal backup state.

As a result, the user can remember that the backup cannot be performed by looking at the display form of the liquid crystal display, requesting repair or immediately turning the power cord into a commercial power source. You can take measures such as plugging in.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. This rice cooker comprises a rice cooker pot 1, a rice cooker body 2 that accommodates the rice cooker pot 1, and a lid 9 that is rotatably attached to the rice cooker body 2.

In the rice cooker 1, the outer surface of the pot base material made of aluminum or the like having a high thermal conductivity is coated with a ferromagnetic material that is electromagnetically induction-heated by an eddy current generated when a high-frequency current is applied to the induction heating coil 5. It is a product that has been joined or joined.

The rice cooker body 2 is provided with a protective frame 4 made of a non-conductive material for accommodating the rice cooking pot 1 inside a body 3 having a bottomed tubular shape. These body 3 and protective frame 4
An induction heating coil 5, which is a heating means, a rice cooking pot temperature sensor 6, a control board 28, and a fan, which is a cooling means, are arranged between the and. A microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as microcomputer 46) is located at the front of the control board 28, at the back of the operation panel 10 described later.
A display substrate 29 on which is mounted is disposed. The induction heating coil 5 is positioned by the ferrite core 7 between the ferrite core 7 and the protective frame 4. Further, the control board 28 and the fan are integrally mounted by the board holder 8. In this substrate holder 8, a backup primary battery 36 is provided on the battery substrate 3.
It is removably attached together with 0.

The lid 9 is a well-known one in which an inner lid for sealing the upper end opening of the rice cooking pot 1 is provided on the bottom surface of an exterior body composed of an upper plate and a lower plate.

An operation panel 10 shown in FIG. 2 is arranged on the front surface of the rice cooker body 2. This operation panel 10
Is a plurality of switches 19 for inputting rice cooking conditions around the liquid crystal display unit 11 of the liquid crystal display type arranged in the center.
~ 27 are provided.

The liquid crystal display unit 11 is of a segment display type which is displayed by a driver incorporated in the microcomputer 46, which will be described later, and the display units 12 to 18 which indicate a setting state or the like when the user operates the switches 19 to 27.
Is equipped with. The liquid crystal display unit 11 of the present embodiment has a numerical value display unit 12 capable of displaying time of 24 hours in the center,
A time display unit 13 that indicates a unit such as a heat retention time and a minute display unit 14 that indicates a unit such as a remaining cooking time are provided. Also, on both sides of these, "white rice", which means "rice cooked menu", "normal", "soft rice", "hard", "rapid", "rice cooked", "rice cake", "sushi sushi", A menu display section 15 for "porridge,""rice,""separatedrice,""brownrice," and "cleaning" is provided. Further, below the numerical value display section, two sets of reservation setting display sections 16A and 16B having morning, noon, and evening marks indicating the stored time zones are provided. Furthermore, above the numerical value display unit 12, a battery replacement display unit 17 indicating that the battery needs to be replaced and a reheating display unit 18 indicating that reheating is in progress are provided.

The switches arranged around the liquid crystal display section 11 include a rice cooking switch 19 and a menu switch 2.
0, heat retention switch 21, good night heat retention switch 22, take-off switch 23, reservation 1 switch 24, reservation 2 switch 25, Δ switch 26, and ▽ switch 27 are provided.

The control board 28 is mounted with a board holder 8 on which a large number of electronic parts constituting an electric circuit and a heat sink are mounted.

The control board 28, the display board 29 on which the liquid crystal display section 11 is mounted, and the battery board 30 on which the primary battery 36 is mounted are connected to electric wires (not shown) by connectors.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a power supply circuit for supplying power to the liquid crystal display unit 11 by the substrates 28, 29, 30 includes a main power supply circuit 31, a backup power supply circuit 34, and
Charging circuit 39, voltage dividing circuit 41, voltage drop circuit 43
A zero cross circuit 45 and a reset IC 48.

The main power supply circuit 31 is connected to the commercial power supply 32 by conductive paths 33a and 33b, while the microcomputer 4
6 ports 47a, 47b and conductive paths 33c, 3 respectively
It is connected via 3d. This main power supply circuit 31
The AC voltage supplied from the commercial power source 32 via the conductive paths 33a and 33b is converted into a DC voltage VCC, VDD having a first voltage value (5V in this embodiment), and the conductive paths 33c and 33d are converted. Via the port 47 of the microcomputer 46
a, 47b.

The backup power supply circuit 34 is mounted on the battery board 30, is provided so as to branch from the branch point 35a of the conductive path 33d, and prevents backflow to the 3V primary battery 36. The diode 37 and the resistor 38 are connected in series.

The charging circuit 39 is mounted on the control board 28 and is provided so as to branch from a branch point 35a of the backup power supply circuit 34 of the conductive path 33d and a branch point 35b located between the microcomputer 46. The capacitor 40 is a storage element. here,
The capacitor 40 has a storage capacity of about 220 μF, and the stored power can operate the microcomputer 46 and the liquid crystal display unit 11 for about 1 minute.

The voltage dividing circuit 41 has a function of generating a plurality of DC voltages for driving the liquid crystal display unit 11 from the DC voltage supplied from the main power supply circuit 31 or the backup power supply circuit 34 and supplying the DC voltage to the microcomputer 46. And the branch point 3 of the backup power supply circuit 34 of the conductive path 33d.
It is connected to a branch point 35c located between 5a and the microcomputer 46 through an adjusting resistor 41a. In the present embodiment, the voltage dividing circuit 41 includes three resistors 42 connected in series.
a, 42b, 42c, and branch points 35d, 35e, 3
5f are ports 47c, 47d of the microcomputer 46,
It is connected to 47e.

The voltage drop circuit 43 is the voltage dividing circuit 4
It has a function of lowering the voltage supplied to 1 from the first voltage value (5V) to the second voltage value (3V). In this embodiment, the voltage drop circuit 43 includes a resistor 44,
One end of the resistor 44 is connected to the branch point 35d of the voltage dividing circuit 41, and the other end is connected to the port 47f of the microcomputer 46.

The zero-cross circuit 45 has conductive paths 33a and 33b for connecting the commercial power source 32 and the main power source circuit 31.
Are connected to the monitor conductive paths 33e and 33f branched from the branch points 35g and 35h. Further, the zero-cross circuit 45 is connected to the microcomputer 4 via the conductive path 33g for signal transmission.
6 port 47g. The zero-cross circuit 45 sends a zero-cross pulse signal SC to the port 47g of the microcomputer 46 each time the voltage value of the AC voltage of the sine waveform output from the commercial power source 32 becomes zero. That is, the zero-cross circuit 45 serves as a detection means for detecting the connection state with the commercial power source 32.

The reset IC 48 has a DC voltage VDD.
And a port 47h of the microcomputer 46. This reset IC 48 is at least 2.2.
The voltage supplied to the microcomputer 46 in order to prevent malfunction due to operation in a voltage shortage state in which a voltage lower than that voltage is supplied to the microcomputer 46 that can operate when a DC voltage of V is input. When the voltage drops to 2.3 V, the microcomputer 46 is reset. That is, the reset IC 48 serves as a judgment means for judging whether or not the backup by the backup power supply circuit 34 is possible in a state where the commercial power supply 32 is not connected.

The microcomputer 46 mounted on the display board 29
Controls the induction heating coil 5 according to the stored program in the same manner as in the conventional case, and executes rice cooking control and heat retention control. At this time, by controlling each load component at the timing when the zero cross pulse signal SC input from the zero cross circuit 45 is received, damage to each load component is prevented and the life is extended.

In addition, the microcomputer 46 of the present embodiment, when the commercial power source 32 and the power cord are not connected, determines whether or not the voltage initially supplied in the reset state is from the commercial power source 32. It is detected whether backup by the power supply circuit 34 is possible. And
When power failure processing is performed with the voltage from the backup power supply circuit 34 in a state where the power supply from the commercial power source 32 is stopped, the liquid crystal display unit 11 is lit and displayed while the power from the charging circuit 39 is temporarily used for power failure processing. When performing the above, the liquid crystal display unit 11 is configured to blink and the display form is made different.

Next, the operation of the power supply circuit will be described. When an AC voltage is supplied to the main power supply circuit 31 by connecting a power cord to the commercial power supply 32, 5V is supplied from the main power supply circuit 31 to the ports 47a and 47b of the microcomputer 46 via the conductive paths 33c and 33d, respectively. DC voltages VCC and VDD are supplied.

During the supply of this AC voltage, the zero-cross pulse signal SC is transmitted from the zero-cross circuit 45 to the port 47g of the microcomputer 46. Then, the microcomputer 46 receiving the zero-cross pulse signal SC outputs the low-level signal SD to the voltage drop circuit 43 from the port 47f. As a result, the DC voltage supplied to the voltage dividing circuit 41 is 3
V, and from this 3V DC voltage, the resistors 42a, 42
DC voltages VLCD1, VLCD2, VLCD3 for driving the liquid crystal display unit 11 generated by b, 42c are supplied to the ports 47c, 47d, 47e of the microcomputer 46.

On the other hand, when the AC power supply to the main power supply circuit 31 is stopped by the user unplugging the power supply cord from the commercial power supply 32, the DC voltage (5V) is supplied from the main power supply circuit 31. Stop, port 47 of microcomputer 46
The DC voltage VCC supplied to a becomes 0V. Further, while the AC voltage supply is stopped, the DC voltage VDD of 3V is supplied from the primary battery 36 of the backup power supply circuit 34 to the port 47b of the microcomputer 46.

While the AC voltage supply is stopped, the zero-cross pulse signal SC is not transmitted from the zero-cross circuit 45 to the port 47g of the microcomputer 46. Then, the microcomputer 46 not receiving the zero-cross pulse signal SC sends the high-level signal SD from the port 47f to the voltage drop circuit 4
Output to 3. As a result, the voltage drop circuit 43 is brought into a non-driving state, the DC voltage supplied to the voltage dividing circuit 41 becomes 3V, and the resistors 42a, 42b, 4 are fed from the DC voltage of 3V.
DC voltages VLCD1, VLCD2, VLCD3 for driving the liquid crystal display unit 11 generated by 2c are supplied to ports 47c, 47d, 47e of the microcomputer 46.

Further, when the supply of the AC voltage to the main power supply circuit 31 is stopped and the supply of the DC voltage VDD from the backup power supply circuit 34 is also stopped, the charging circuit 3
The DC voltage VDD of 3V is supplied from the capacitor 40 of 9 to the port 47b of the microcomputer 46. The other operations are similar to those of the backup power supply circuit 34.

Next, the control by the microcomputer 46 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, in step S1, the microcomputer 46 first waits until an operable voltage of 2.3 V or more is input, and when the voltage of 2.3 V or more is input, the microcomputer 46 initializes itself. Execute the process.

The microcomputer 46 then proceeds to step S3.
Then, it is detected whether or not a zero-cross pulse is input from the zero-cross circuit 45. If the zero-cross pulse is input, the process proceeds to step S4 and the primary battery 36
0 (backup not possible) is input to the flag Fv, which indicates whether or not the backup is possible based on the remaining amount of No., and the process proceeds to step S6. On the other hand, if the zero-cross pulse is not input, the process proceeds to step S5, Fv is set to 1 (a backup is possible), and the process proceeds to step S6.

Here, since the manufacturer of this type of rice cooker installs the primary battery 36 on the production line, connects it to the commercial power source 32, inspects and ships it, it is first input in step S1. The voltage is the voltage from the primary battery 36 of the backup power supply circuit 34. Therefore, the process goes to step S6 through steps S1, 2, 3, and 5. In this state, the battery replacement display section 17 of the liquid crystal display section 11 is turned off.

On the other hand, when the user who purchased the battery cannot make a backup with the primary battery 36 of the backup power supply circuit 34, the voltage is from the main power supply circuit 31. Therefore, in this case, steps S1, 2, 3,
After step 4, the process reaches step S6. And in this state,
The battery replacement display section 17 of the liquid crystal display section 11 is turned on.

In step S6, the presence or absence of the input of the zero-cross pulse, which means whether or not the user connects the power cord to the commercial power source 32, is detected. If there is a zero-cross pulse input (connection state), step S7
If the zero cross pulse is not input (non-connection state), the process proceeds to step S9.

In step S7, one of the switches 1
It is detected whether 9 to 27 are operated. Then, if any of the switches 19 to 27 is operated, the process proceeds to step S8, the acceptance process corresponding to the operated switch is executed, and the process returns to step S6. On the other hand, if none of the switches 19 to 27 is operated, the step S
Return to 6. In the switch acceptance process of step S8, well-known processes such as input of settings according to the switch and execution of rice cooking control and heat retention control are performed.

In step S9, a power outage process due to the stop of the supply of the AC voltage is executed. Then, in step S10, it is detected whether or not the reset signal from the reset IC 48, which means the state in which the primary battery 36 cannot back up, is received. When the reset signal is not received, the process returns to step S6, and when the reset signal is received, the process proceeds to step S11 to reset itself.

Next, the power outage process will be described. In this power outage process, as shown in FIG.
In step S9-1, it is detected whether 1 is input to Fv. Then, when Fv is 1 (a state in which backup is possible), the process proceeds to step S9-2 to execute the normal display process in which the liquid crystal display unit 11 is turned on and returns. On the other hand, when Fv is not 1 (backup impossible state), the process proceeds to step S9-3 and the liquid crystal display unit 11
The warning display process in which is blinked is executed and the process returns.

As described above, in the rice cooker of the present invention, whether the voltage first input in the reset state of the microcomputer 46 is from the commercial power source 32 by the main power source circuit 31 or the primary battery 36 by the backup power source circuit 34. It is determined whether or not the backup power supply circuit 34 is in a state in which backup can be performed. And
In the non-connection state with the commercial power source 32, the operation state by the voltage from the backup power source circuit 34 and the charging circuit 3
The display form of the liquid crystal display unit 11 is different from that in the operating state by the voltage from 9.

Therefore, for example, in a user's house where a rice cooker is purchased, when the remaining amount of the primary battery 36 constituting the backup power supply circuit 34 is exhausted to a state where backup is impossible, the control means is reset and the user is in the liquid crystal display unit. By seeing the state where 11 is turned off, it is possible to recognize that the backup is impossible. However, in this state, the user does not immediately request repair, but when the power cord is connected to the commercial power source 32 and used, and then the power cord is unplugged from the commercial power source 32 again, it operates by the voltage from the charging circuit 39. The display is performed in a blinking display form different from the normal backup state.

As a result, the user has the liquid crystal display unit 11
It is possible to remember that the backup is not possible by looking at the display form, and it is possible to request repair or immediately take action such as inserting the power cord into the commercial power source 32. As a result, the microcomputer 46 is reset many times by disconnecting the power cord from the commercial power supply 32 in a state where the backup power supply circuit 34 cannot back up, and the current time is set each time the commercial power supply 32 is connected. The annoyance can be prevented and convenience can be improved.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the liquid crystal display unit 11
A battery replacement display unit 17 is provided in the backup power supply circuit 3
In the state where backup is not possible due to 4, commercial power source 3
Since the battery replacement display unit 17 is turned on in the state of being connected to the device 2, the user can be more surely made aware of the state in which backup is impossible.

The rice cooker of the present embodiment has remarkable characteristics not only for the user who purchased the rice cooker but also for the manufacturer of this type of rice cooker. That is, in the production line, forgetting to attach the primary battery 36, or the battery substrate 30 and the display substrate 29.
If you forget to attach the connector for connecting the and, and if the product is defective due to incomplete attachment, if you disconnect the power cord from the commercial power supply 32 after the inspection, the blinking display will differ from the normal backup state. Since the information is displayed in the form, a product abnormality can be detected before shipping.

Further, when the backup primary battery 36 is mounted on the display substrate 29 or the control substrate 28, jumper pins for electrical connection are often used in a part of the circuit. Even if you forget
Similar to the above, it is possible to detect a product abnormality before shipping.

Further, since the structure of the rice cooker is substantially the same as that of the conventional rice cooker, the present invention can be easily implemented by changing a part of the program for operating the microcomputer 46. That is, since it is not necessary to change the mechanical design of the rice cooker, it is possible to prevent an increase in cost.

[0049]

As is apparent from the above description, the rice cooker of the present invention can be operated by the voltage of the backup power supply circuit and the voltage of the charging circuit in the liquid crystal display section in a non-connection state with the commercial power supply. Since the display form is different, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience to the user when the backup becomes impossible due to the consumption of the backup primary battery while preventing the cost increase. In addition, even the manufacturer of the rice cooker can eliminate shipment in a product abnormal state due to erroneous mounting.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an operation panel of the rice cooker.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a power supply circuit for a liquid crystal display unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing control of a microcomputer.

5 is a flowchart showing a power failure process of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Rice cook pot, 2 ... Rice cooker main body, 5 ... Induction heating coil (heating means), 9 ... Lid body, 10 ... Operation panel, 11 ... Liquid crystal display part, 28 ... Control board, 29 ... Display board, 30 ... Battery Substrate, 31 ... Main power supply circuit, 32 ... Commercial power supply, 34 ... Backup power supply circuit, 36 ... Primary battery, 39 ... Charging circuit, 4
0 ... Capacitor, 45 ... Zero cross circuit (detection means), 4
6 ... Microcomputer (control means), 48 ... Reset IC (judgment means).

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A load component such as a heating means for heating a rice cooking pot and a liquid crystal display unit for displaying the current time, a control means for controlling the load component to execute rice cooking control, and a commercial power supply. A main power supply circuit that converts an AC voltage into a DC voltage at which the load parts and the control means can operate and outputs it; a detection means that detects a connection state with the commercial power supply; and the liquid crystal display when not connected to the commercial power supply. In a rice cooker including a backup power supply circuit that supplies a DC voltage with which the control unit and the control means can operate, a charging circuit that charges a voltage of a predetermined capacity in a connection state with the commercial power supply and a non-connection with the commercial power supply A determination means for determining whether or not backup by the backup power supply circuit is possible in this state, and the control means determines that the determination means cannot perform backup by the backup power supply circuit. Then, the liquid crystal display unit is operated for a predetermined time by the charging circuit, and the display form of the liquid crystal display unit by the charging circuit is made different from the display form of the liquid crystal display unit by the backup power supply circuit. Rice cooker. 2. The determining means determines whether or not backup is possible based on a DC voltage supplied from the backup power supply circuit to the control means, and resets the control means when it is determined that backup is impossible. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the means detects whether or not the backup power supply circuit can perform backup depending on whether or not the voltage supplied in the reset state is from the commercial power supply.