JP2008035879A - Electric rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve both of a fundamental control function in common to a plurality of models and an expansive control function different depending on the models at a cost as low as possible in an electric rice cooker. <P>SOLUTION: A microcomputer control means for rice cooking or heat insulation control is divided into a main microcomputer control means for performing fundamental control in common to the respective models and a plurality of sub microcomputer control means for performing expansive control different depending on the respective models. By combining the optional one of the plurality of sub microcomputer control means with the main microcomputer control means as desired, the expansive control function corresponding to the model is freely realized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric rice cooker provided with a plurality of microcomputer control means.

  Recent electric rice cookers are equipped with microcomputer control means, for example, selection settings of various rice menus such as white rice, quick cook, new rice, sushi, cooked rice, brown rice, porridge, etc., control of rice cooking process and heat control corresponding to them There are a lot of things that can be done. In addition, in the case of heat insulation, for example, in addition to a heat insulation menu such as standard heat insulation, gloss, heat insulation, etc., it is possible to set an arbitrary heat insulation temperature such as higher, lower, standard, etc.

  And the selection setting of these various rice cooking or a heat retention menu is performed using the various operation keys provided in the operation panel part of the outer case front side of the rice cooker main body, and the display which displays the operation setting state. When the selection setting operation is performed as described above, the corresponding rice cooking or heat insulation menu program is automatically read out from the memory unit on the microcomputer control means side, and appropriate rice cooking or heat insulation control is performed. (See Patent Document 1).

JP-A-11-137421 (Specification, page 1-8, FIG. 1-11)

  By the way, in the case of the conventional electric rice cooker, there is one microcomputer control means as described above, and the one microcomputer control means is separately provided on an operation board having various operation keys and a display unit on the back side of the operation panel. Control board side IGBT drive circuit (heater drive circuit) provided on the side-by-side microcomputer board and provided with IGBT (or triac) and IGBT drive circuit (or heater drive circuit) in the inner case portion of the rice cooker body It is connected with a wire harness and controls the IGBT drive circuit (or heater drive circuit).

  For this reason, if you increase the number of product models, change the level of rice cooking or heat insulation control function for each model, and try to expand the product function according to the grade, it is necessary to change the microcomputer control means for each model The product cost is extremely high.

  Therefore, in practice, it is common not to change the microcomputer control means for each model, but to use a common microcomputer control means for several product groups as few as possible. There was a problem that it was difficult to respond to the request for expansion of functions due to high functionality and networking.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and the microcomputer control means for rice cooking or heat retention control is a main microcomputer control means for performing basic control common to each of a plurality of models. And a plurality of sub-microcomputer control means for performing expansion control that is different depending on each model, and any sub-microcomputer control means among the plurality of sub-microcomputer control means with respect to the main microcomputer control means It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric rice cooker that can freely realize an expandable control function according to the model by combining the desired shapes.

  In order to achieve the above object, each invention of the present application includes the following problem solving means.

(1) Invention of Claim 1 First, the electric rice cooker of Claim 1 of this application is the main microcomputer which performs the basic control common to each model of several models for the microcomputer control means for rice cooking or heat retention control. It is divided into a control means and a plurality of sub-microcomputer control means for performing expansion control which differs depending on each model of a plurality of models, and any sub-microcomputer among the plurality of sub-microcomputer control means with respect to the main microcomputer control means It is characterized in that an expansion control function corresponding to the model can be freely realized by combining control means as desired.

  Therefore, according to such a configuration, the main microcomputer control means for performing basic control common to each model of at least a plurality of models can be made common to all models of the product. The cost can be reduced as much as possible.

  Then, any desired sub-microcomputer control means is appropriately selected from a plurality of sub-microcomputer control means for performing the extended control that differs depending on each model of the plurality of models with respect to the main microcomputer control means. In combination, it becomes possible to easily provide a high-function electric rice cooker that is expanded according to the grade of the model. The degree of freedom is much higher and the cost can be reduced compared with the case of achieving the above.

(2) Invention of Claim 2 Next, the electric rice cooker of Claim 2 of this application is the invention of Claim 1 above, while the main microcomputer control means is provided on the control board provided with the heating means drive circuit. The sub-microcomputer control means is provided on an operation board having operation means and display means.

  As described above, when the main microcomputer control means is provided on the control board having the heating means drive circuit such as the IGBT and the IGBT drive circuit, for example, the sub microcomputer control means is provided on the operation board having the operation means and the display means. For example, detection data necessary for basic control of rice cooking or heat retention such as temperature detection data from the center sensor at the bottom of the inner pot can be reliably input to the main microcomputer control means via the lead wire as short as possible. It becomes possible, and it becomes difficult to receive the influence of the noise from a work coil etc.

  Also, the data from the main microcomputer control means can be transferred from the analog value to the digital value after being converted by the main microcomputer control means, for example, and transferred to the sub microcomputer control means on the operation board side. It is possible to transmit digital data with higher accuracy without picking up noise on the way.

  As a result, the reliability of the control function is greatly improved.

(3) Invention of claim 3 Next, in the invention of claim 3 of the present invention, the main microcomputer control means is controlled based on control information from the sub-microcomputer control means in the invention of claim 1 or 2. It is characterized by becoming.

  In this way, the main microcomputer control means has a basic rice cooking or heat insulation control function, and if the main microcomputer control means is controlled based on control information from the sub microcomputer control means set by the user, The microcomputer control means can be simplified, and the main microcomputer control means can be more effectively generalized and reduced in cost.

(4) Invention of Claim 4 Next, the electric rice cooker of the invention of Claim 4 of this application is the invention of Claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the main microcomputer control means independently performs fail-safe control of the controlled portion. It is characterized in that the sub-microcomputer control means cancels the abnormal state corresponding to it.

  In this way, when the main microcomputer control means performs fail-safe control when an abnormality occurs in the controlled part alone, if an abnormality occurs in the controlled part, the main microcomputer control means responds to the main safe control. Fail safe can be quickly applied only by the microcomputer control means, and the safety of the system is directly secured.

(5) The invention of claim 5 Next, the electric rice cooker of the invention of claim 5 of the present invention is the invention of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the sub microcomputer control means is controlled by the main microcomputer control means. The operation information of the part is input and monitored, and when an abnormality occurs in the controlled part, fail-safe control is performed.

  In this way, the sub-microcomputer control means inputs and monitors the operation information of the controlled part from the main microcomputer control means, and when an abnormality occurs in the controlled part, the fail-safe control is promptly performed in response thereto This makes it easier to ensure total product safety and reliability, including when the main microcomputer control means runs out of control, and displays specific response information to users and alarms accordingly. It becomes easy to make a notification.

  As a result, according to the invention of the present application, it is possible to easily and inexpensively respond to the recent enhancement of functionality and networking of an electric rice cooker.

  FIGS. 1-8 has each shown the structure and effect | action of the whole and the principal part of the electric rice cooker which concerns on the best embodiment of this invention.

(Basic configuration)
First, as the electric rice cooker in the best mode of the present invention, for example, an inner pot (rice cooker) 3 made of a magnetic metal plate capable of electromagnetic induction is employed, while the inner pot 3 is cooked with rice. As the heating means, the central side and the side of the bottom wall portion 3a of the inner pot 3 so as to wrap substantially the entire side wall portion 3b from the bottom wall portion 3a of the inner pot 3 through the inner case 4 made of synthetic resin. Two sets of work coils C ₁ and C ₂ corresponding to the part side are provided, and as a heating means for keeping the inner pot 3 warm, a heat retaining heater H corresponding to the entire circumference of the side wall 3b of the inner pot 3 is provided. ₁ , a shoulder heater H ₂ corresponding to the entire circumference of the opening edge 3 c is provided.

  And drive control of them appropriately by two microcomputer control units of the main microcomputer control unit 32A on the control board 5A side close to the inner pot 3 to be described later and the sub microcomputer control unit 32B on the operation board 20 side operation board 5B. Thus, an appropriate rice cooking / cooking function and a heat retaining function can be realized.

  The main microcomputer control unit 32A is configured to perform basic rice cooking or heat insulation control common to each of a plurality of models, while the sub-microcomputer control unit 32B is an extended type that differs depending on each of the plurality of models. The sub-microcomputer control unit 32B among the sub-microcomputer control units 32B, 32B,... Prepared in advance for the main microcomputer control unit 32A It is characterized in that an expandable control function corresponding to the model can be freely realized by combining it as desired.

  On the other hand, timer setting according to those functions, selection of rice cooking and heat retention menu, selection of heating cooking menu, selection setting operation such as heating amount, heating pattern, heat retention temperature, heat retention time corresponding to each menu, the electric rice cooker concerned The user performs various input switch groups (operation key groups) 22a to 22i provided on the front side operation panel unit 20 of the main body, and the selection setting contents are stored in the memory unit of the sub-microcomputer control unit 32B. At the same time, the image is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 21 of the operation panel unit 20.

Then, the selection setting information is supplied to the main microcomputer control unit 32A on the control board 5A side through the interface circuit, and finally the work coils C ₁ and C ₂ and the heat insulation heater H according to the information content. ₁ , the shoulder heater H ₂ is controlled.

  The liquid crystal display unit 21 includes, for example, rice cooking, cooking (bread fermentation / baking), heat retention menu, set heat retention temperature, set heat retention time, heat retention elapsed time (guaranteed time), current time, timer rice cooking reservation time, Completion of cooking, the remaining time until completion of cooking, and other various necessary items (see FIGS. 2 and 3) are displayed.

  The liquid crystal display unit 21 is, for example, a segment display type popular type liquid crystal panel 21b as shown in FIG. 3, and a dot matrix (active matrix) display type shown in FIG. 2, for example, instead of the segment display type liquid crystal panel 21b. At least two types of high-quality liquid crystal panels 21a are prepared. For example, when a dot matrix display type liquid crystal panel 21a is adopted as shown in FIG. 2, the current time (AM5: 30) and the current time Display related to other times or times (for example, timer reservation time AM7: 30, other rice cooking / cooking remaining time, heat retention time, heat retention elapsed time, etc.) is displayed at the same time.

  These two types of liquid crystal panels 21a, 21b are arranged on operation boards 5B, 5B,... Configured to be set with sub-microcomputer control units 32B, 32B,. Provided (see FIG. 6).

(Detailed configuration of the rice cooker body)
The rice cooker body of the electric rice cooker is, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, an inner pot (rice cooker or heat insulation container) made of a magnetic metal plate such as a stainless steel plate capable of self-heating by an eddy current induced therein. 3, a synthetic resin bottomed cylindrical inner case (protective frame) 4 formed so that the inner pot 3 can be arbitrarily set, and a bottomed cylinder which is an outer casing for holding the inner case 4 The outer case 1 and a lid unit 2 that can be opened and closed at the top of a rice cooker body formed by integrating the outer case 1 and the inner case 4 are formed.

A coil base 7 is provided on the lower side of the bottom wall portion 4a of the inner case 4, and the center and side portions of the bottom wall portion 3a of the inner pot 3 are positioned above the coil base 7 via a ferrite core. The two sets of work coils C ₁ and C ₂ each having a litz wire wound concentrically in correspondence with each other wrap around substantially the whole from the center portion of the bottom wall portion 3a of the inner pot 3 to the side wall portion 3b. As a result, an eddy current is induced in substantially the entire inner pot 3 when energized, and the whole is heated substantially uniformly. The work coils C ₁ and C ₂ are connected in series to each other (therefore, simply shown as the work coil C in the following description of operation and the control circuit diagram of FIG. 4).

  For example, as shown in the control circuit diagram of FIG. 4, one end thereof 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, respectively.

Further, the side wall portion of the inner case 4 is provided with a heat retaining heater H ₁ that functions as a heating means at the time of heat insulation, and the whole inner pot 3 is effectively and uniformly heated at the time of heat insulation. Yes.

Further, on the front side of the inner case 4, for example, the IGBT 37 and the heater for driving and controlling the work coils C ₁ and C ₂ , the heat retaining heater H ₁ , the shoulder heater H _{2 and the} like as shown in FIGS. A control board 5A including a drive circuit 33, 45, a rectifier circuit 35 including a diode bridge for power supply voltage rectification, a smoothing circuit 36, a main microcomputer control unit 32A for control board, an EEPROM 27A, and the like is provided extending in the vertical direction. .

  Under the control board 5A, for example, a heat sink 82 for heat dissipation is provided in contact with the IGBT 37, and a cooling fan 8 is provided under the heat sink 82. The cooling fan 8 causes the air sucked from the air suction grille 81 formed at the bottom of the outer case 1 to flow to the outer periphery of the inner case 4 via the heat sink 82 and the control board 5A to cool the necessary heat generating part. I do.

  On the other hand, the heat sink 82 is provided with, for example, a heat sink sensor for detecting the rising temperature of the heat sink 82, and the drive circuit 10 and the drive transistor 10a (see FIG. 4) of the cooling fan 8 are detected by the heat sink sensor. When the temperature exceeds a predetermined set value, the cooling fan 8 is driven automatically.

  Thereby, compared with the case where the cooling fan 8 is always driven, power consumption can be reduced as much as possible.

  The outer case 1 includes, for example, a vertical cover member 1a formed of a synthetic resin material, a synthetic resin shoulder member 11 coupled to an upper end portion of the cover member 1a, and the cover member 1a. And a bottom member 1b made of a synthetic resin integrated with the lower end portion of the inner casing 4 and having a heat insulation and ventilation space portion with a predetermined width between the bottom wall portion 4a of the inner case 4 as a whole. It is comprised by the cylindrical body. An operation panel portion 20 having a substantially half moon shape as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is provided above the front portion of the outer case 1.

  A liquid crystal display unit 21 having a sufficiently large and large display area is provided inside the operation panel unit 20, and a rice cooking switch 22a, a timer reservation switch 22b, a cancel switch 22c, a heat retention switch 22d, and a reheating switch are disposed around the liquid crystal display unit 21. Various operation switches such as 22e, a menu selection switch 22f, an hour switch 22g, a minute switch 22h, and an energy saving switch 22i which is an energy saving mode selection means are arranged.

  An operation board 5B is provided inside the operation panel 20 at a predetermined interval. On the operation board 5B, contact portions of the various operation switches 22a to 22i, an operation board sub-microcomputer control unit 32B and an EEPROM 27B described later, a backup power source, a segment display type liquid crystal panel 21b, or a dot matrix display type liquid crystal. A panel 21a and the like are provided (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

  Further, a center sensor storage space portion that is concentrically penetrated in the vertical direction is formed in the central portion of the coil base 7 below the inner case 4 and can be moved up and down in the center sensor storage space portion. The center sensor CS including the inner pot temperature detection sensor S and the inner pot detection switch LS is provided in such a state that it is constantly biased upward by the coil spring.

  On the other hand, reference numeral 2 denotes a lid unit. The lid unit 2 is detachably provided on the outer cover 12 constituting the outer peripheral surface, the inner cover 13 constituting the inner peripheral surface, and the lower side of the inner cover 13. And a heat sink 16 made of metal. In addition, the code | symbol 14 is the packing provided in the outer peripheral part of the said heat sink 16 so that it might correspond to the opening edge part 3c of the inner pot 3. FIG.

  The lid unit 2 is rotatably attached to the shoulder member 11 on the upper part of the outer case 1 via a hinge mechanism, and is engaged with a predetermined position of the lid unit 2 on its open end side. Thus, a lock mechanism 18 for opening and closing the lid unit 2 in the vertical direction is provided.

(Configuration of control board 5A and operation board 5B)
By the way, in the case of the present embodiment, the above-described control board 5A is configured as a master board that can be commonly used for all models from a general type of a popular type to a high-functional type. For example, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the temperature detection circuit 43, the inner pot detection circuit 44, the pulse width modulation circuit 41, the IGBT drive circuit 42, and the heat retaining heater drive circuit 33 with the main microcomputer control unit 32A for the control board and the EEPROM 27A as the center. The shoulder heater drive circuit 45, the cooling fan drive circuit 10 and the like are provided to mainly control basic load circuits (basic functions) necessary for various types of rice cooking or heat insulation control.

  On the other hand, the operation board 5B includes, for example, an operation board sub-microcomputer control unit 32B, an EEPROM 27B, a backup power source E, a liquid crystal panel 21 (21a, 21b), an audio circuit 17 and the like, as specifically shown in FIGS. It has.

  The operation board sub-microcomputer control unit 32B includes the rice cooking switch 22a, timer reservation switch 22b, cancel switch 22c, heat retention switch 22d, reheating switch 22e, menu selection switch 22f, hour switch 22g of the operation panel unit 20 described above. The operation signals of various operation switches such as the minute switch 22h and the energy saving switch 22i which is the energy saving mode selection means are input. And the required lighting display part (LED) 23a-23d corresponding to it is made to light.

  The operation board sub-microcomputer control unit 32B is provided with a desired recognizing means for judging the contents of the user's instruction input via the input switches 22a to 22i, and is recognized by the recognizing means. In accordance with the contents of the user's instructions, necessary digital data corresponding to the model is sent to the control board main microcomputer control unit 32A on the control board 5A side, and the desired rice cooking / cooking or heat retaining function, desired rice cooking / cooking or A predetermined heating pattern corresponding to the heat insulation menu, the rice cooking / cooking or the heat insulation menu is set, and the rice cooking heating control means or the heat insulation heating control means is appropriately operated to perform desired rice cooking / cooking or heat insulation. ing.

  Therefore, the user can use the above input switches 22a to 22i to cook rice / cooking or keep warm, timer reservation, reservation time setting, white rice or brown rice, early cooking, rice porridge, sushi, cooking, etc., normal mode or energy saving If the selected setting contents of the mode and other various rice cooking / cooking or heat retention functions are input, the corresponding function contents are controlled by the control board 5A side main through the recognition means in the sub microcomputer control unit 32B on the operation board 5B side. The setting is automatically input to the setting unit such as the rice cooking / cooking and heat insulation heating pattern of the microcomputer control unit 32A, and the corresponding rice cooking / cooking or heat insulation heating control is appropriately performed with a desired control pattern (normal / energy saving). .

(Specific configuration of the operation board 5B)
As described above, in the case of the present embodiment, the control board 5A is configured as a master board that can be used in common for all models from the popular type normal model to the high-functional type model. Rice cooking or heat retention control common to each model is performed.

  However, the operation board 5B is composed of a plurality of types from the one corresponding to the above-described popular type to the high-functional type as shown in FIG. In order to simplify the explanation, FIG. 6 shows two types of high-function model 5Ba and normal model 5Bb), each of which is controlled by a sub-microcomputer with a built-in high-level control program. A unit (32-bit) 32Ba, an operation board sub-microcomputer control unit (8-bit) 32Bb incorporating a normal control program, and corresponding liquid crystal panels 21a and 21b, an audio circuit 17 and the like are provided.

  Each of the operation board sub-microcomputer control units 32Ba and 32Bb is provided with desired recognition means for determining the user's instruction content input via the input switches 22a to 22i according to the function. The digital data is sent to the control board main microcomputer control unit 32A on the control board 5A side common to each model according to the content of the user's instruction recognized by the recognition means, and desired rice cooking / cooking according to the model or Set a predetermined heating pattern corresponding to the heat retention function, desired rice cooking / cooking or heat retention menu, rice cooking / cooking or heat retention menu, and appropriately operate the rice heating control means or heat insulation heating control means to obtain the desired program Cook rice / cooking or keep warm.

The control board 5A side and the operation boards 5Ba, 5Bb side are provided with pin-coupled connectors C ₀ and C ₁ to be fitted to each other, and a control program corresponding to the model (grade) using them. The operation board 5Ba or 5Bb having the above is arbitrarily installed by a common protocol.

  Therefore, according to such a configuration, the main microcomputer control unit 32A and the control board 5A for performing basic control common to at least a plurality of models are common to all models of the product. It is possible to reduce the cost as much as possible by the generalization.

  Then, a plurality of sub-microcomputer control units 32Ba, 32Bb and operation boards 5Ba, 5Bb that perform different expansion control depending on the models of the main microcomputer control unit 32A and the control board 5A. If you select and combine any sub-microcomputer control unit and operation board as appropriate, you can easily provide a high-function electric rice cooker expanded according to the grade of the model, Compared to the conventional case where a single microcomputer control means is used to increase the number of models and increase the functions, the degree of freedom is much higher and the cost can be reduced.

  In this case, for example, for setting the rated power for each model, first, the maximum rated output 1200 (W) of each model is stored as the reference value in the EEPROM 27A of the main microcomputer control unit 32A on the control board 5A side, Put as applicable to all models.

  On the other hand, the rated power for each model is stored in the EEPROM 27B of the sub-microcomputer control unit 32B on the operation board 5B side.

  When the sub-microcomputer control unit 32B on the operation board 5B side is connected to the main microcomputer control unit 32A of the control board 5A when the rice cooker body is assembled, and the first power is turned on, The rated power value (for example, 800 W) of the sub-microcomputer control unit 32B side EEPROM 27B is written to the main microcomputer control unit 32A side EEPROM 27A, and the final rated power corresponding to the model is set.

  If it does in this way, automatic electric power setting will be attained only by connecting operation board 5Ba and 5Bb according to a model to control board 5A.

  Conventionally, for example, for each combined size, each control board is adjusted to the rated power, but according to the same configuration, when the control board 5A is inspected as a single part, it is inspected at the maximum rated power value. In this case, the rated power is automatically adjusted according to the set value of the control board side sub-microcomputer control unit 32B.

  In the above case, the main microcomputer control unit 32A is provided on the control board 5A having the heating means drive circuit such as the IGBT drive circuit 42 as described above, while the sub microcomputer control unit 32B (32Ba, 32Bb). Is provided on an operation board 5B (5Ba, 5Bb) provided with operation switches 22a to 22i, lighting display portions 23a to 23d, and a liquid crystal display portion 21 (21a, 21b).

Therefore, for example, temperature detection data from the center sensor CS portion of the bottom 3a of the inner pot 3 and detection data necessary for basic control of rice cooking or heat retention such as pot detection data are as short as possible through the lead wires. The main microcomputer control unit 32A can be surely input, and is less susceptible to noise from the work coils C ₁ , C _{2 and the} like.

  The data from the main microcomputer control unit 32A is converted from an analog value into a digital value by the main microcomputer control unit 32A, for example, and then the sub microcomputer control unit 32B (32Ba, 32Bb) on the operation board side 5B (5Ba, 5Bb). In this respect, it is possible to transmit digital data with higher accuracy without picking up noise on the way. As a result, the reliability of the control function is greatly improved.

  Further, the operation signals of the operation switches 22a to 22i are directly input to the sub microcomputer control unit 32B (32Ba, 32Bb) on the same substrate with good responsiveness, and the main microcomputer control unit 32A is connected to the sub microcomputer control unit 32B (32Ba, 32Bb). ) Is controlled based on the control information from).

  In this way, the main microcomputer control unit 32A is configured as a basic rice cooking or heat retention control function, and the main microcomputer control unit 32A is controlled from the sub-microcomputer control unit 32B (32Ba, 32Bb) set by the user. If the control is based on information, the control sequence of the main microcomputer control unit 32A can be simplified as much as possible, and the main microcomputer control means can be more effectively generalized and reduced in cost. it can.

  The main microcomputer control unit 32A performs fail-safe control of the controlled part independently, and the corresponding abnormal state is canceled by the sub-microcomputer control unit 32B (32Ba, 32Bb). Composed.

  In this way, when the main microcomputer control unit 32A performs fail-safe control when an abnormality occurs in the controlled part alone, if an abnormality occurs in the controlled part, Only the main microcomputer control unit 32A can quickly fail-safe, and the safety of the system is directly secured.

  Further, the sub-microcomputer control 32B (32Ba, 32Bb) monitors the operation information (inner pan temperature, load current, voltage, etc.) of the controlled part from the main microcomputer control unit 32A, and detects any abnormality in the controlled part. When this occurs, it is configured to perform fail-safe control as soon as possible.

  As described above, the sub-microcomputer control unit 32B (32Ba, 32Bb) inputs and monitors necessary operation information of the controlled unit from the main microcomputer control unit 32A, and responds to the abnormality when the controlled unit is abnormal. If fail-safe control is performed promptly, it becomes easier to ensure total product safety and reliability, including when the main microcomputer control unit 32A runs out of control. It becomes easy to display the correspondence information to the user and to notify the alarm.

  As a result, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and inexpensively respond to the recent enhancement of functionality and networking of electric rice cookers.

(Overall configuration and operation of the rice cooker body side control circuit)
Next, FIG. 4 shows the above-mentioned control board side main for performing rice cooking / cooking and heat retention control (normal / energy saving) on the rice cooker body side configured as described above, display control of the liquid crystal panels 21a and 21b, and other controls. The overall configuration of the control circuit portion centering on the microcomputer control unit 32A and the operation board side microcomputer control unit 32B (32Ba, 32Bb) is shown.

  In FIG. 4, the reference numeral 32 </ b> A is the rice cooking / heat keeping provided with the inner pot temperature determining means, the inner pot detecting means, the buzzer notifying means, etc. in addition to the rice cooking heating control means, the heat retaining heating control means, and the liquid crystal panel display control means as described above. A main microcomputer control unit (CPU) serving as a basis for display control, and the main microcomputer control unit 32A is configured around a microcomputer, for example, a temperature detection function of the inner pot 3, a work coil drive control function, an inner pot 3 has a set state detection function, a drive control function such as a heat retaining heater and a shoulder heater, and the like.

  And first, in the temperature detection circuit 43 and the inner pot detection circuit 44 provided corresponding to the inner pot temperature detection sensor S, the inner pot detection switch LS of the bottom wall 3a side center sensor CS part of the inner pot 3, For example, the temperature detection signal of the bottom wall portion 3a of the inner pot 3 by the inner pot temperature detection sensor S and the inner pot detection signal by the inner pot detection switch LS are input.

The work coil drive control circuit is formed by, for example, a pulse width modulation circuit 41, a synchronization trigger circuit 40, an IGBT drive circuit 42, an IGBT 37, and a resonance capacitor 38. Then, by controlling the pulse width modulation circuit 41 by the main microcomputer control unit 32A, for example, according to the rice cooking process, the output value of the work coil C (C ₁ , C ₂ ) and the ON duty at the same output value By appropriately changing the ratio (for example, n seconds / 16 seconds), the heating temperature and the heating pattern of the inner pot 3 in each step of the rice cooking process are appropriately variably controlled in consideration of the amount of rice cooking, and the uniform water absorption action Appropriate output control for realizing cooking of rice without uneven heating is performed.

The main microcomputer control unit 32A controls the heat retaining heater drive circuit 33 and the shoulder heater drive circuit 34, respectively, so that the output values of the heat retaining heater H ₁ and the shoulder heater H ₂ according to, for example, the heat retaining or rice cooking process, and By appropriately changing the ON duty ratio (for example, n seconds / 16 seconds) at the same output value, the heating temperature and heating pattern of the inner pot 3 in each step of the heat insulation or rice cooking process are considered in consideration of the actual rice cooking amount. Thus, appropriate output control for appropriately variable control is performed.

  Reference numerals 22a to 22i denote the above-described various input switch sections. When necessary ones of the switches are properly operated, first, the user's instruction is given by the recognition means on the sub-microcomputer control unit 32B (32Ba, 32Bb) side. The contents are recognized, and the desired rice cooking or heat insulation heating pattern is set according to the control program of the model according to the recognized contents, and the set control data is input to the main microcomputer control unit 32A on the control board 5A side. Then, the main microcomputer control unit 32A appropriately operates the rice cooking heating control means or the heat insulation heating control means to perform desired rice cooking / cooking or heat insulation.

  2 and 3, the reference numeral 23a is a rice cooking display lamp, 23b is a heat retention display lamp, 23c is a reservation display lamp, 23d is an energy saving display lamp, and the reference numeral 39 in FIG. 4 is the IGBT 37. The flywheel diode 35 includes a diode bridge for driving the work coil inserted between the AC power supply 30 for household use and a smoothing circuit 36.

(Substrate inspection method)
Further, each operation board 5B (5Ba, 5Bb) described above has a _first infrared element RS ₁ at a desired position as shown in FIG. 7, for example, and a second infrared element RS ₂ corresponding thereto. For example, the product inspection can be performed wirelessly by using the bidirectional infrared communication system 50 with the product inspection device 51 installed on the side of the product inspection line of the factory.

  This is also exactly the case with the control board 5A, and product inspection can be performed by the same method as in FIG.

(Network deployment)
Further, the configuration of FIG. 8 is such that, for example, the network boards 52 to 54 can be connected instead of the above-described operation board 5B (5Ba, 5Bb), and the symbol C ₀ is as shown in FIG. It is a pin connector for connecting network boards 52, 53, and 54 for expanding various product functions, and various digital data signals are serially input and output between the various network boards 52, 53, and 54, and various optional functions. The digital transmission / reception system which can connect without complicated setting work is comprised.

  The optional function here means a new function added to a function provided in advance on the side of the control board 5A, which is a master board, and means that necessary hardware is added.

And this bidirectional | two-way transmission / reception communication system is shown in FIG. 8, for example, by arbitrarily combining any one of various network function expansion network boards 52, 53, 54,
For example, (1) In the case of the network board 52: Communication with a predetermined network server linked to the manufacturer's site is possible by the mobile phone 55 connected via the first and second infrared elements RS ₁ and RS ₂ And obtain product function expansion data, maintenance and repair information, etc.

  (2) In the case of the network board 53: Connect to the site on the same manufacturer side through a home LAN system such as a personal computer or a landline telephone connected in the same manner.

  (3) In the case of the network board 54: Monitoring and controlling various electric appliances in the home is performed on the electric rice cooker side using a power line communication net (PLC net) in units of home. In this case, the security function of the family / home is improved by enabling transmission / reception of information to / from an external social system (hospital / fire department / electric power company / school / others) via a predetermined gateway means. .

  It is possible to construct various wide network systems such as.

  Therefore, each of the network boards 50 to 54 includes an EEPROM and a microcomputer that store program data corresponding to the control function described above (not shown).

  In this way, if the network board for network connection (option board for function expansion) 52, 53, 54 having a microcomputer can be switched and connected as desired, it can cope with various communication specifications, The electric rice cooker described above can be further multifunctional.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the electric rice cooker main body which concerns on best embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the operation panel part centering on the liquid crystal display panel of the dot matrix display system of the electric rice cooker. It is a front view of the operation panel part centering on the liquid crystal display panel of the segment display system of the electric rice cooker. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the control circuit part of the electric rice cooker. It is a figure which shows the structure of the microcomputer installation board | substrate part of the control circuit. It is a figure which shows the example of selection of the operation board of the microcomputer installation board | substrate of the same control circuit. It is a figure which shows the product inspection method of the operation board | substrate. It is a figure which shows the structure at the time of providing the some connector in the control board part of the said electric rice cooker, and enabling the connection of various network boards.

Explanation of symbols

A is a rice cooker body, C ₁ , C ₂ , C are work coils, H ₁ is a warming heater, 1 is an outer case, 2 is a lid unit, 3 is an inner pot, 20 is an operation panel, 21 is a liquid crystal display, and 21a Is a dot matrix display type liquid crystal panel, 21b is a segment display type liquid crystal panel, 30 is an AC power supply, 32A is a main microcomputer control unit for a control board, 32B is a sub microcomputer control unit for an operation board, 50A is a control board, and 50B is An operation board, 51 is a product inspection device, and 52, 53, and 54 are network boards.

Claims (5)

  Microcomputer control means for rice cooking or heat retention control, main microcomputer control means that performs basic control common to each model of multiple models, and multiple sub-microcomputers that perform extended control that differs depending on each model of multiple models By dividing the main microcomputer control means into any sub-microcomputer control means among the plurality of sub-microcomputer control means as desired, the control function can be freely expanded according to the model. An electric rice cooker characterized in that it can be realized.   2. The main microcomputer control means is provided on a control board provided with a heating means driving circuit, while the sub microcomputer control means is provided on an operation board provided with an operation means and a display means. Electric rice cooker.   The electric rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main microcomputer control means is controlled based on control information from the sub microcomputer control means.   The main microcomputer control means is configured to perform fail-safe control of the controlled part independently, and the corresponding abnormal state is canceled by the sub microcomputer control means. 1, 2, or 3 electric rice cooker.   The sub-microcomputer control means inputs and monitors the operation information of the controlled part from the main microcomputer control means, and performs fail-safe control when an abnormality occurs in the controlled part. Claim | item 1, 2, 3 or 4 electric rice cooker.

Images