JP2007017011A - Cooking device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cooking device that allows freely adding other kinds of keys, functions, and layout even after the purchase of a product, thus allowing anyone to easily select a desired cooking menu and make cooking settings. <P>SOLUTION: The cooking device comprises a label 9 on which functions or the like desired by the user are written and which is attached to the contour of the cooking device; a sensor 10 for detecting position information when the user operates the label 9; a memory 11 storing the function information of the label 9 in advance through a special operation and the position information detected by the sensor; and a control part 12 that detects operating inputs using the sensor when the user normally operates the label, to control the cooking device according to the content of the memory. Thus, the user can freely add other kinds of keys, functions and layout even after the purchase of the product, and the device allows anyone to easily select a desired cooking menu and make cooking settings. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cooker in which a user can freely increase operation keys and expand functions from an initial setting state at the time of purchase of the cooker.

  Recent cookers are in the direction that all functions such as microwave oven function, thawing function, oven function, grill function, steam function are integrated and installed in the cooker. It is in a situation where it cannot fully function. In order to improve operability, the following inventions have been proposed.

  Conventionally, this type of cooker has a key arrangement configuration that can be changed according to the age and preference of the user (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 7 shows a conventional electronic device and heating cooker described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. 6, a control unit 1 that controls heating operation control and key arrangement switching, an operation unit 2 in which a plurality of keys are arranged, and different command signals based on signals from the keys of the operation unit A storage unit 4 for storing a plurality of command signal programs and operation programs for output, a changeover switch 5 as a command signal program switching operation unit, a display unit 6 for performing various displays, and a heating operation unit 7 such as a magnetron. Based on the operation of the change-over switch 5, a key arrangement prepared in advance at the time of product manufacture can be realized.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show examples of the heating operation unit, but the operation can be switched to the heating operation unit of FIG. 7 or FIG. For example, the upper right key 8 in FIG. 7 has a “warming” heating operation, but in FIG. 8, the upper right key has an “automatic menu” heating operation.
JP-A-8-328720

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the manufacturer stores the key arrangement of several types of heating operation units in advance in the development and manufacture of the product, and selects from the prepared ones. The problem was that it was not possible to add functions and arrangements.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a cooking device that allows a user to freely add a key type, a function, an arrangement, and the like and has improved operability.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the cooking device of the present invention includes an attachable label indicating a menu of the cooking device, operation setting contents, and the like, and an external operation input to the label attached to the outer portion of the cooking device. A sensor that detects the operation function information corresponding to the label and the sensor information, and a controller that controls the cooker based on the memory information when an external operation input is detected by the sensor. The user can freely select the type (function), number, and arrangement of keys after purchasing the product.

As a result, a label describing the menu or operation function that the user likes is attached to the outline of the cooker, and the operation function information corresponding to the label and the position information by the sensor are stored in the memory based on a predetermined operation in advance. When the sensor detects an external operation input after that, the control based on this memory allows the key type, function and arrangement to be freely added even after the product is purchased.

  Moreover, the cooker of this invention comprises a photo sensor around the door part of a cooker, and is set as the structure which detects the mounting position information of a label. As a result, the operation keys can be arranged on the entire door surface, and the operation keys can be greatly increased.

  In addition, since the cooking device of the present invention performs storage in the memory according to a predetermined operation procedure of the operation unit, the user can easily increase the operation keys.

  In addition, since the cooking device of the present invention uses a nonvolatile memory, it can retain the operation keys once set by the user even when the power is turned off, and is easy to use.

  The cooker of the present invention can improve the operability by allowing the user to freely add the type (function), number, arrangement, etc. of keys after purchasing the product.

  1st invention respond | corresponded to the label which can be mounted | worn which described the menu, operation setting content, etc. of the cooker, the sensor which detects the external operation input to the said label with which the outer part of the cooker was mounted | worn, and the said label A memory that pre-stores operation function information and the sensor information; and a control unit that controls the cooking device based on the memory information when an external operation input is detected by the sensor. The type (function), number, arrangement, etc. can be freely set.

  As a result, a label describing the menu or operation function that the user likes is attached to the outline of the cooker, and the operation function information corresponding to the label and the position information by the sensor are stored in the memory based on a predetermined operation in advance. When the sensor detects an external operation input after that, the control based on this memory allows the key type, function and arrangement to be freely added even after the product is purchased.

  In the second aspect of the invention, the photo sensor is used as the first aspect of the invention, and it is constructed around the door portion of the cooker to detect the label mounting position information. It can be arranged, and the operation keys can be greatly increased.

  In the third aspect of the invention, in particular, storage in the memory of the first aspect of the invention is performed by a predetermined operation procedure of the operation unit, so that the user can easily increase the operation keys.

  In the fourth aspect of the invention, since the memory of the first aspect of the invention uses a non-volatile memory, even if the power is turned off, the operation key set once by the user can be retained, and the usability is improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1: shows the schematic diagram of the cooking appliance in the 1st Embodiment of this invention.

In FIG. 1, functions and the like desired by the user are described, a label 9 attached to the outer shell of the cooker, a sensor 10 for detecting position information when the user operates the label 9, and a special operation in advance. The memory 11 storing the function information of the label 9 and the position information by the sensor, and when the user operates the label in a normal operation, the operation input is detected by the sensor, and the cooking device is controlled based on the contents of the memory. The control unit 12 is configured. Operational effects of the cooker configured as described above will be described below.

  As a result, a label describing the menu or operation function that the user likes is attached to the outline of the cooker, and the operation function information corresponding to the label and the position information by the sensor are stored in the memory by a special operation in advance. After that, when the external operation input is detected by the sensor, it is possible to freely add a key type, a function, and an arrangement even after purchasing the product by controlling based on the memory.

  In FIG. 2, a microwave oven will be described as a specific example. As a basic structure, it is comprised from the oven main body 13 which accommodates a foodstuff, the door part 14 which takes in / out a foodstuff, the glass part 15 attached to this door part, and the operation part 16 which performs cooking basic operation. Around the glass portion 15, a light emitting diode group 10-1 that emits infrared rays and a phototransistor group 10-2 that detects the presence or absence of light are disposed. The operation unit 16 includes a menu selection key 17 for selecting a menu, a temperature setting unit 18 for setting an oven cooking temperature, a time setting unit 19 for setting a cooking time, and the selection setting state and the cooking progress state. It is comprised from the display part 20 for displaying. A “thaw” label newly created by the user is attached to the glass portion 15. Although not shown, the memory 11 and the control unit 12 are configured in the machine room of the oven body 13 and have the above-described configuration.

  FIG. 3 shows a sensor configuration diagram formed around the glass portion 15. The light-emitting diode group 10-1 is arranged at x01, x02,..., Y01, y02, .., and the phototransistor group 10-2 is arranged at xi1, xi2, and yi1, yi2,. Are arranged so that the entire glass plane can be detected. For example, the “decompressed” operation area shown in the figure is detected when the user touches the area surrounded by xi6 to xi9 and yi4 and yi5 of the phototransistor group 10-2. In addition, although the example provided around the glass portion 15 is described here, a configuration including the operation portion 16 provided around the door portion 14 may be used.

  FIG. 4 shows the control unit 12 for detecting the sensor signal. The control unit 12 includes a drive circuit 10-1-1 for driving the light emitting diode, a reception circuit 10-2-1 for receiving a sensor signal, and a control unit for controlling the drive circuit and the reception circuit. The microcomputer 19 is included. Similarly, the entire glass portion can be detected by providing a plurality of driving circuits 10-1-2 and receiving circuits 10-2-2.

  About the cooking appliance comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  First, when a user touches a cooking menu or cooking temperature setting provided on the glass part of the door part, the light of the light emitting diodes attached to the surroundings is blocked and the blocked signal is input to the photosensor. This signal is transmitted to the control unit 12, and it is possible to detect which region, that is, what display is pressed.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when a label is attached to the glass surface attached to the door portion, the position information of the label can be detected by a sensor configured around the user. Operation keys can be freely added.

  In the present embodiment, the sensor is composed of a light emitting diode and a photo sensor. However, the sensor may be composed of a capacitance type or a surface acoustic wave.

  FIG. 5 shows a configuration for storing in advance the label information added in advance. In order for the user to add a new function, the label 9 is first attached to the glass portion 15. Next, the function is input from the operation unit 16 and the information is transferred to the control unit 12. On the other hand, the position information of the attached label 9 is transferred to the control unit 12 by the sensor 10. Then, the function information and position information are transferred from the control unit 12 to the memory 11 and stored therein.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for storing previously added label information. First, a label is added by the user (S22). Add a decompression function as an example. Next, the memory key on the operation unit is pressed (S23), and an instruction to add a function is transferred to the control unit 12. In S24, the weakness of the output is set with the range key in order to perform decompression by the operation unit. In S25, a final thawing temperature is set. Next, the label is pressed (S26), and the position information is determined. Finally, the memory key on the operation unit is pressed (S27), and the confirmation of function addition is transferred to the control unit 12.

  As described above, storage in the memory is performed by a predetermined operation procedure of the operation unit, so that the user can easily increase the operation keys.

  Further, since the memory is a non-volatile memory, it can be stored and retained even if the user unplugs the power plug.

  As described above, the cooker according to the present invention can be freely added to the types, functions and arrangements of the keys after purchase of the product, so that it can be widely applied to uses such as microwave ovens, IH cookers and washing machines. it can.

Schematic of the cooking device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The block diagram of the cooking appliance in Embodiment 1 of this invention Sensor block diagram of cooker in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Sensor circuit diagram of cooking device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Memory circuit diagram of cooker in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The flowchart which shows the memory procedure of the cooking appliance in Embodiment 2 of this invention. The block diagram of the cooker of the prior art example 1 Operation unit diagram of the cooking device of Conventional Example 1 Operation unit diagram of the cooking device of Conventional Example 2

Explanation of symbols

9 Label 10 Sensor 11 Memory 12 Controller

Claims (4)

A wearable label indicating the menu of the cooker, operation setting contents, etc., a sensor for detecting an external operation input to the label attached to the outer portion of the cooker, operation function information corresponding to the label, and the sensor A cooker comprising: a memory storing information in advance; and a controller that controls the cooker based on the memory information when an external operation input is detected by the sensor. The cooker according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured by a photosensor around a door of the cooker. 2. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the storage in the memory is performed by a predetermined operation procedure of the operation unit. The cooker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a non-volatile memory is used as the memory.