JP2009207671A - Domestic electric appliance and its management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a domestic electric appliance with which operation conditions is accurately recognized from the past to the present in the domestic electric appliance, and its management system. <P>SOLUTION: The domestic electric appliance is configured such that a first storage section storing an operation program, a second storage section storing information indicating the condition of a part to be driven detected by a detection section and information indicating contents of controlling a drive section by a control means, and a third storage section in which the information stored in the second storage section is written at the prescribed timing of the operation program are built in a microcomputer, and the third storage section holds storage even below the operating voltage of the microcomputer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a home appliance used in a general home, for example, a home appliance such as a rice cooker, an electric water heater, a refrigerator, a washing machine, and a management system for the home appliance.

In recent years, various devices incorporating a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as a microcomputer) have been provided as highly functional home appliances. In a high-performance home appliance, in response to a command selected by the user, a corresponding operation program stored in the microcomputer is activated and an operation desired by the user is executed. In the home appliance, when the operation program is activated, various operations are performed in the designated order, and a desired operation selected by the user is executed. However, during operation of home appliances, for example, an abnormal state such as a user operation error, component failure, disconnection, or power failure may occur. When an abnormal state occurs in this way, it cannot be executed faithfully according to the operation program instructed by the user, so a special program is executed to end the operation while ensuring safety in place of the operation program. . When such an abnormal state occurs, it is necessary to reliably detect the abnormal state as soon as possible and notify the user. Therefore, home appliances are provided with means for providing various sensors to detect an abnormal state and notifying the user of the abnormal state (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-41845 A

  The home appliance described in Patent Document 1 is a rice cooker. In this rice cooker, when an abnormal state is detected, a storage unit is provided for storing the abnormal state, and output from the storage unit is provided. An abnormal state display and / or an abnormal state notification is performed on the user using an abnormality display unit or an abnormality notification unit. Thus, the user who is displayed and / or notified and recognizes the abnormal state in the rice cooker can perform a treatment for the abnormal state in the rice cooker.

  However, in the rice cooker disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is a configuration that only informs the user of the abnormal state that occurred during the operation by the abnormality display means or abnormality notification means provided in the rice cooker. Even if an abnormal condition has occurred, data indicating such an operation state is not stored, and the user can confirm only the current abnormal condition. Moreover, in the conventional rice cooker, only the judgment whether the value detected by each sensor is normal or abnormal is performed, and the comprehensive judgment considering various conditions such as the operation state at that time is not performed. . Further, in the conventional rice cooker, since no data indicating what process was executed in what situation in the past operation program is stored at all, the current abnormal state is caused by the past operation state. Even if it does, the user and the manufacturer could not perform an accurate analysis of the abnormal state. In addition, even if the rice cooker does not recognize it as an abnormal state, when the user receives an inquiry from the user regarding the operation that the user has determined to be unfavorable, There was a problem that it was difficult to answer because it was not possible to analyze the operating status of.

  Moreover, the rice cooking situation deteriorated due to variations in the commercial power supply, room temperature, and water temperature, resulting in dissatisfaction for the user. Even if a service person such as a store or a manufacturer tries to reproduce such a state where the rice cooking situation has deteriorated, the cause cannot be specified, and there is a case where the cause cannot be specified and the product exchange or the board exchange is performed. Therefore, there is a problem that the user has to wait for the cause investigation, and there is a risk that normal merchandise replacement or board replacement may be performed. I had a problem.

In addition, since the storage means for storing data in a conventional rice cooker is generally a volatile storage means, there is a problem that the data is erased once the power to the storage means is cut off. Even data stored during operation has a problem that once the power is turned off, the data is lost. In order to solve such problems, some conventional rice cookers are provided with new storage means using a battery as a power source in order to store past data. However, such household appliances have a complicated configuration, and it is necessary to secure a special arrangement space in order to provide separate storage means and power supply means.
In rice cookers, due to environmental changes, whether the equipment is really abnormal in response to complaints from users that rice is not cooked properly due to variations in commercial power supply, room temperature, water temperature, etc. There has been a demand for an apparatus that can accurately analyze whether or not the product is to be used or misused by the user.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, stores various essential data indicating the operation status of the home appliance from the past to the present, and normal operation status and abnormal operation status of the home appliance The home appliances that can be easily recognized by the user, and can be accurately grasped from the past to the current operation state of the home appliances at the dealers and manufacturers, etc. An object is to provide a management system for the home appliance. Accordingly, a user, a store, a manufacturer, and the like can quickly and surely take appropriate measures against an abnormal state that occurs in the operation status of the home appliance.

In order to solve the problems in conventional home appliances and achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a home appliance in the first aspect,
First storage means storing an operation program;
Driving means for driving the driven part;
Control means for controlling the driving means in accordance with the operation program;
Detecting means for detecting the status of the driven part;
Second storage means for storing information indicating the status of the driven part detected by the detection means, and information indicating the content of control of the drive means by the control means, and stored in the second storage means Third storage means in which information being written is written at a predetermined timing of the operation program,
Comprising
At least the first storage means, the second storage means, and the third storage means are built in the microcomputer, and the third storage means holds the memory even when the operating voltage is lower than the microcomputer. It is configured. The home appliance of the present invention configured as described above allows the user to easily recognize the abnormal state in the home appliance, and the operation from the past to the present regarding the home appliance by the dealer or manufacturer, etc. The situation can be accurately grasped, and an appropriate measure can be taken quickly and surely for an abnormal state occurring in the operation situation.

  In the household electrical appliance according to the second aspect of the present invention, the third storage means according to the first aspect is constituted by a nonvolatile storage means. In home appliances configured in this way, the third storage means is constituted by non-volatile storage means, so that the operation status of the home appliance from the past to the present can be accurately determined at the store or manufacturer. Can grasp.

  In the household electrical appliance according to the third aspect of the present invention, the microcomputer according to the first aspect may be a flash microcomputer. In the household electrical appliance configured in this way, it is possible to provide all necessary storage means in a one-chip flash microcomputer, and it is not necessary to provide a special power supply for the storage means.

  In the home appliance of the fourth aspect according to the present invention, the predetermined timing in the first aspect may be an end point of the operation program. In the household electrical appliance configured as described above, necessary information (information includes various data) can be reliably stored and retained.

  In the household appliance of the fifth aspect according to the present invention, the operation program according to the first aspect may include a plurality of operation steps, and the predetermined timing may be a start time or an end point of each operation step. . In the household electrical appliance configured as described above, it is possible to securely store and hold necessary information representing the operation status of the operation program.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a household electrical appliance according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, comprising the power failure detection means for detecting a stoppage of power supply to the household electrical appliance in the first aspect, wherein the power failure detection means is energized at the predetermined timing. It may be when a stop is detected. In the household electrical appliance configured as described above, it is possible to reliably store and retain information regarding a power failure in the operation state of the operation program.

  In the home appliance according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the home appliance according to the first aspect may be a rice cooker. In the rice cooker configured in this way, it is possible to accurately grasp the operation status from the past to the present regarding the home appliance, and it is possible to quickly and surely take appropriate measures against the abnormal state occurring in the operation status. It is possible to take action.

  In the household electrical appliance according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the household electrical appliance according to the first aspect may be an electric water heater. In the electric water heater configured in this way, it is possible to accurately grasp the operation status from the past to the present with respect to the home appliance, and it is possible to quickly and surely take appropriate measures against the abnormal state occurring in the operation status. It is possible to take action.

  In the household appliance of the ninth aspect according to the present invention, the information stored in the third storage means in the first aspect may be time information and / or temperature information. In the home appliance configured as described above, it is possible to surely grasp the actual operation status of the operation program from the stored and held time information and / or temperature information.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a home appliance according to the first aspect, further comprising display means, wherein the display means displays information stored in the third storage means. Also good. With household appliances configured in this way, it is possible to easily grasp the operating status of the household appliance from the past to the present, and to quickly and reliably respond to abnormal conditions that occur in the operating status. It is possible to take appropriate measures.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a home appliance according to the first aspect, further comprising a notifying unit, wherein the information stored in the third storage unit is output by sound or voice by the notifying unit. It may be configured. The home appliance configured as described above has a configuration in which the operation status of the home appliance from the past to the present can be easily grasped.

  The household appliance according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention may be configured such that the information stored in the third storage means according to the first aspect can be taken out of the apparatus. With home appliances configured in this way, it is possible to easily grasp the operating status of the home appliance from the past to the present at dealers, manufacturers, etc. On the other hand, appropriate measures can be taken quickly and reliably.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the household electrical appliance according to the present invention, in the first aspect, the third storage means stores the operation status in a semiconductor integrated circuit inside the device and contacts the device in a non-contact manner via an antenna. The information stored in may be transmitted. With home appliances configured in this way, manufacturers can easily grasp the operating status of the home appliance from the past to the present, and can quickly respond to abnormal conditions that occur in the operating status. It is possible to reliably take appropriate measures.

  The home appliance of the fourteenth aspect according to the present invention may be configured so that the information stored in the third storage means in the first aspect can be transmitted via the Internet. With home appliances configured in this way, manufacturers can easily grasp the operating status of the home appliance from the past to the present, and can quickly respond to abnormal conditions that occur in the operating status. It is possible to reliably take appropriate measures.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the home appliance according to the present invention, the information stored in the third storage unit in the first aspect includes a time at which the user sets a device or a time at which the device ends. May be included. In the home appliance configured in this way, even if reset is applied, after the reset is released, the start time written in the third storage means is stored in the second storage means. Is possible. For this reason, in the household appliance of the 18th viewpoint which concerns on this invention, the information once set by the user does not need to be reset again after reset release.

  The home appliance of the sixteenth aspect according to the present invention may be configured such that the information stored in the third storage means in the first aspect includes the number of operation times of the apparatus. In household appliances configured in this way, for example, in the case of a rice cooker, it can have information on how many times the rice cooker has performed rice cooking, so if there is a complaint from the user, the user misuses It is possible to determine whether the product is deteriorated due to aging of parts.

  A home appliance management system according to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention is a management system for home appliances according to the first aspect, wherein information stored in a third storage means is transmitted outside the device. And it is comprised so that the operation state of the said household appliance can be recognized outside the said apparatus. The home appliance management system configured as described above allows a user to easily recognize an abnormal state in the home appliance, and allows dealers and manufacturers outside the appliance to make a connection from the past to the present regarding the home appliance. Thus, it is possible to accurately grasp the operation status up to and to reliably take appropriate measures against the abnormal state occurring in the operation status.

  The home appliance management system according to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention may be configured such that the information stored in the third storage means according to the seventeenth aspect is transmitted to the outside of the device via the Internet. Good. In the home appliance management system configured as described above, it is possible to easily grasp the operation status of the home appliance from the past to the present at a dealer or manufacturer, and this occurred in the operation status. Appropriate measures can be taken quickly and reliably for abnormal conditions.

  According to a nineteenth aspect of the home appliance management system of the present invention, the information stored in the third storage means in the seventeenth aspect is stored in a semiconductor integrated circuit inside the device, and the device is connected via the antenna. You may comprise so that it may transmit outside. In the home appliance management system configured as described above, it is possible to easily grasp the operation status of the home appliance from the past to the present at a store or manufacturer outside the device. It is possible to take appropriate measures quickly and surely for the abnormal state that occurred in the above.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can comprise so that the information (various data) which shows the operation condition from the past regarding the household appliance to the present can be reliably memorize | stored and preserve | saved inside a microcomputer, and a user in the said household appliance An abnormal state can be easily recognized, and a store or manufacturer outside the device can accurately grasp the abnormal state that has occurred from the past to the present regarding the home appliance. For this reason, according to this invention, it becomes possible to take a quick and reliable and appropriate treatment with respect to the abnormal state in household appliances.

  Hereinafter, preferred home appliances and management systems thereof according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment described below, a rice cooker will be described as an example of a home appliance, but the present invention is not limited to a rice cooker and can be applied to a general home appliance. Home appliances included in the present invention include home appliances having high functions such as rice cookers, electric water heaters, IH cooking appliances, air conditioners, dishwashers, microwave ovens, refrigerators and washing machines.

The present invention is a home appliance having a flash microcomputer, which is a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as a microcomputer) incorporating a flash memory (nonvolatile memory).
In the home appliance of the present invention, information indicating the usage status of the home appliance from the past to the present in the non-volatile memory different from the non-volatile memory storing the operation program or the like (the information includes the following) (Including various data to be described) are sequentially stored.

  In the present invention, a first storage unit, a second storage unit, and a third storage unit are provided as storage means built in the flash microcomputer. The first storage unit is a flash memory area in which an operation program, which is a basic program, is stored, and the stored data does not disappear even when the power is stopped (or reset). The second storage unit is a RAM area in which various data are sequentially stored during the operation of the device. The third storage unit is another flash area that stores various data during operation and does not disappear even when the power is stopped (or reset).

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a rice cooker according to Embodiment 1 of the home appliance of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the rice cooker of Embodiment 1 includes a rice cooker body 1 having a bottomed cylindrical pan storage portion 4 that detachably stores a pan 3 into which a cooked product (rice and water) enters, The rice cooker main body 1 has a lid 2 that is pivotally supported by a hinge shaft 15 so as to be rotatable. The lid body 2 constitutes the upper appearance of the rice cooker, and when the lid body 2 is closed, the upper surface opening 14 which is the opening portion of the pan 3 is covered with the lid body 2.

  Inside the rice cooker body 1, a pan heating coil 5, which is a pan heating means for induction heating the pan 3, is provided. In the rice cooker according to the first embodiment, the pot heating coil 5 includes a side heating coil that induction-heats the side surface of the pot 3 and a bottom heating coil that induction-heats the bottom surface of the pot 3. Moreover, the pan temperature sensor 7 which is a pan temperature detection means is provided so that the approximate center part of the bottom part outer surface of the pan 3 accommodated in the pan accommodating part 4 may be contacted. The pan temperature sensor 7 always detects the pan temperature during cooking and heat retention, and the detected data is transmitted to the rice cooking control unit 10 described later, and the food in the pan 3 is controlled to an optimum temperature state. .

  The lid body 2 constituting the upper portion of the rice cooker is rotatably connected to the rice cooker body 1 via a hinge shaft 15 and is configured to open and close the pan 3 in the rice cooker body 1. A hook button (not shown) is provided at a position opposite to the hinge shaft 15 in the lid 2, and this hook button is locked to an engaging portion (not shown) provided in the rice cooker body 1. The lid 2 is configured to close the rice cooker body 1. When the hook button is pressed from above, the locked state with the engaging portion is released, and the lid 2 is opened by a spring that always presses the lid 2 in the opening direction.

  In the lid body 2, a lid heat radiating plate 11 is disposed on the surface (the lower surface side in FIG. 1) facing the pot 3 stored in the pot storage portion 4. A lid heating coil 6 that is an induction heating coil is provided on the inner surface side (upper surface side in FIG. 1) of the lid heat sink 11. Here, the lid heating coil 6 is a lid heating means. Further, inside the lid body 2, a lid temperature sensor 8 is provided which is a lid temperature detecting means in which the temperature sensing part contacts the lid heat radiating plate 11. The temperature data of the lid heat radiating plate 11 detected by the lid temperature sensor 8 is used for grasping the current state of the rice cooking operation in the rice cooker together with data from other sensors and the like, and the pot heating coil 5 which is a driven part. And the control of the lid heating coil 6 is performed. In the rice cooker of the first embodiment, the driven parts are the pan heating coil 5 and the lid heating coil 6, but the driven part differs depending on the home appliance to which the present invention is applied, and the driving means in the home appliance A heater, a motor, an induction heating device, etc., which are loads driven by

  A display unit 12 that is a display unit and an operation unit 13 that is an operation unit are provided on the front side (left side in FIG. 1) of the upper portion of the lid 2. In the display unit 12, various information to be notified to the user in the rice cooking operation such as the current operation status display of the rice cooker, the course display at the time of setting, the display of rice variety, and the cooking time display are displayed on a liquid crystal display or the like. Is done. Moreover, the said rice cooker has the alerting | reporting part 22 which is an alerting | reporting means for alerting | reporting various information to a user with an audio | voice and a sound, for example, the audio | voice generating mechanism which informs the rice cooking condition by an audio | voice, The present condition to a user by the difference in a tone. Sound generation mechanisms such as a buzzer and a melody generator are provided. In the rice cooker according to the first embodiment, the input acceptance notification informing that the command has been received by the operation of the operation unit 13 by the user, the rice cooking operation end notification informing the end of the rice cooking operation, and the reheating operation in the rice cooker have been completed. A buzzer is provided to notify the end of the reheating operation to notify the user.

  A plurality of operation switches used when the user sets (commands) a rice cooking operation by the rice cooker is provided on the operation board 9 on the operation unit 13, and a user command (rice cooking course) from the operation unit 13 is provided. The detection data from the various detection means (pan temperature sensor 7, lid temperature sensor 8, room temperature detection sensor 20 (see FIG. 2) described later) provided inside the rice cooker, etc. It is input to the rice cooking control unit 10 of the flash microcomputer provided inside and processed. Based on the processing result, the rice cooker control unit 10 selects an appropriate operation program in the rice cooker and controls various components in the rice cooker.

  The flash microcomputer used in the rice cooker according to the first embodiment is a first storage unit in which various rice cooking programs, which are operation programs including a basic program, output timing of driven parts, detection input timing, and the like are stored. In the 1st memory | storage part 23, the 2nd memory | storage part 24 which is a 2nd memory | storage means by which the sequential data in the rice cooking operation performed based on the rice cooking program which the user specified are memorize | stored, and the rice cooking operation performed A third storage unit 25 is provided as third storage means for storing essential data when the rice cooking conditions are set in advance. Here, the first storage unit 23 is a flash memory in which an operation program is stored in advance, the second storage unit 24 is a volatile memory RAM capable of writing and erasing data, and the third storage unit 25. Is a nonvolatile memory capable of writing data.

In the rice cooker of Embodiment 1 configured as described above, the rice cooking control unit 10 inside the flash microcomputer is based on a command from the operation unit 13 by the user, etc., the pot heating coil 5, the lid heating coil 6, and the display The unit 12, the notification unit 22, and the like are appropriately controlled according to the rice cooking program specified by the user to perform the rice cooking operation. In addition, in the rice cooker of Embodiment 1, the heating means of the pan heating coil 5 and the lid heating coil 6 that perform induction heating uses an electric heater that uses Joule heat generated by electric resistance when a normal current is passed. May be.
In the rice cooker of Embodiment 1, the room temperature sensor 20 which is a room temperature detection means is provided inside the lid 2. The room temperature sensor 20 detects the temperature of the room where the rice cooker is placed. The room temperature data detected by the room temperature sensor 20 is used to select one of a low temperature heat insulation course and a high temperature heat insulation course in the heat insulation process in the rice cooker.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the rice cooker according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, in the rice cooker of the first embodiment, the flash microcomputer 30 includes a rice cooking control unit 10, a first storage unit 23, a second storage unit 24, a third storage unit 25, and rice cooking detection. A portion 29 is provided. According to the rice cooking program designated by the user through the operation unit 13, the rice cooking control unit 10 controls the heating driving unit 28 to drive the pan heating coil 5 and the lid heating coil 6. The cooked rice detection unit 29 includes detection data (information) from the pan temperature sensor 7, the lid temperature sensor 8, the room temperature sensor 20, a spill detection unit 35 described later, and a power supply voltage detection unit 27 that detects the voltage of the commercial power supply 26. Are detected, the detection of rice cooking operation status, abnormality detection of each sensor, detection of disconnection in each sensor, overflowing state, detection of abnormality of input voltage of the commercial power source 26, detection of power failure state of the commercial power source 26, etc. The detection result is transmitted to the rice cooking control unit 10. In the rice cooking control part 10, while performing the rice cooking operation | movement according to the rice cooking program designated in consideration of the information which shows the various detection results transmitted from the rice cooking detection part 29, the information which shows those detection results in RAM area | region. The data is stored in a certain second storage unit 24. In addition, as will be described later, in a timing that satisfies a predetermined condition in the rice cooking operation, various information (including time information and / or temperature information) indicating the rice cooking operation at that time is the data flash area. Stored in the storage unit 25.

Next, the specific rice cooking operation in the rice cooker of Embodiment 1 is demonstrated. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a specific rice cooking operation in the rice cooker of the first embodiment.
A user arrange | positions the pan 3 in which the predetermined amount of water corresponding to the rice and the amount of rice was put in the predetermined position in the rice cooker main body 1, the lid body 2 is closed, and the desired cooking method is the operation part 13. Set by. For example, in the rice cooker of the first embodiment, the “white rice” course, the “no-wash rice” course, the “early cooked” course, the “sushi” course, the “rice porridge” course, “ The user designates one of the course from the “brown rice” course, the “germinated brown rice” course, and the “steamed” course. When the user designates the course and presses the rice cooking key in the operation unit 13, the rice cooking program for the designated course is started. At this time, data indicating the designated course is stored in the third storage unit 25 together with the date and time at that time.

  As mentioned above, the rice cooker by which the desired cooking method was designated by the user starts the rice cooking program corresponding to the cooking method. This rice cooking program is one of operation programs stored in advance in the first storage unit 23 of the flash microcomputer 30, and the rice cooking control unit 10 reads and starts the corresponding rice cooking program from the first storage unit 23. The operation program stored in the first storage unit 23 includes various rice cooking programs so that it can correspond to the user's preference, but in the description of the rice cooking operation of the rice cooker of the first embodiment. Explains rice cooking operation by a normal rice cooking program.

  The normal rice cooking operation in the rice cooker of the first embodiment includes a water immersion process (“standby” step, “pre-cooking 1” step, “pre-cooking 2” step), a cooking process (“running” step, “rice cooking amount” "Decision" step, "Power down (PD)" step), boiling maintenance process ("Boiling 1" step, "Boiling 2" step), and steaming process ("Pause" step, "Additional cooking" step, "Steaming" step) ) Is roughly divided into each process. The steps in each process described below are an example of a normal rice cooking program, and are changed according to various conditions such as rice type, user preference, rice cooking situation, and the like. In addition, the specific numerical value in each step described below is the illustration in the rice cooking program implemented in the rice cooker of Embodiment 1, and does not limit this invention.

  In the “standby” step of the water immersion process, after waiting for a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute 30 seconds) from the start of the rice cooking program designated by the user, “pre-cooking 1” that holds the submerged rice at a temperature of about 50 ° C. It moves to the step and the “Pre-cooking 2” step. The water immersion process is a process in which rice absorbs water. The water immersion process is set so that the rice is sufficiently gelatinized to the center of the rice in the process after the water immersion process by immersing the rice in water at a temperature lower than the gelatinization temperature and allowing the rice to absorb water in advance. Yes. Moreover, the water immersion process is also a process in which starch is decomposed by amylase contained in rice to produce glucose, and in this process, sweetness of rice is produced.

  In the “pre-cooking 1” step of the water immersion process, for example, the pan heating coil 5 heats the pan at a stretch until the pan temperature reaches 50 ° C., for example, for 5 minutes and 40 seconds. When the temperature reaches 50 ° C., the process proceeds to the “Pre-cooking 2” step. However, even if 5 minutes and 40 seconds have elapsed, the temperature does not reach 50 ° C., but after 5 minutes and 40 seconds have elapsed, the process proceeds to the “Pre-cooking 2” step. Data indicating which condition (temperature condition or time condition) the transition from the “pre-cooking 1” step to the “pre-cooking 2” step is executed is stored in the third storage unit 25. Is done.

  In the “preparation 2” step of the water immersion process, the input to the pan heating coil 5 is adjusted so that the pan temperature is maintained at 50 ° C. for 14 minutes. In the “pre-cooking 2” step, the temperature of the pan being adjusted to 50 ° C. is a necessary condition for the rice in the pan 3 to absorb water sufficiently and uniformly. For this reason, in the water immersion process, the pan temperature is constantly detected by the pan temperature sensor 7 so that the pan temperature maintains the preset temperature, and the detected data is input to the rice cooking detection unit 29. The rice cooking detection part 29 transmits the detection data which shows a pan temperature to the rice cooking control part 10, and is controlled by the rice cooking control part 10 so that a pan temperature may be maintained at 50 degreeC.

  After the flooding process, the process moves to the cooking process. In the cooking step, the pan 3 is heated until the pan temperature is close to the boiling point of water (usually near 90 ° C.). In this cooking process, the pan 3 is heated by the heating coil 5 with the maximum heating amount in order to quickly raise the temperature of the pan 3.

  In the cooking process, there are a “run-in” step, a “rice cooking amount determination” step, and a “power-down (PD)” step. In the “run-in” step, the pan 3 containing rice and water is heated with the maximum heating amount by the pan heating coil 5 to raise the pan temperature. When the pan temperature reaches 80 ° C., the process proceeds to the “rice cooking amount determination” step. In the “cooking rice amount determination” step, the amount of rice (the amount of rice cooking) put by the user inside the pan 3 is determined. When the pan temperature reaches 80 ° C., the time measurement for the rice cooking amount determination is started, and when the lid temperature sensor 8 reaches 70 ° C., the time measurement for the rice cooking amount determination is finished. . Data indicating the time measurement result of the rice cooking amount determination is calculated by the rice cooking detection unit 29 of the flash microcomputer 30 and is sent to the rice cooking control unit 10.

  In the “run-in” step, if the temperature does not reach 80 ° C. even after 25 minutes, the process proceeds to a “hot water” step that is out of the normal rice cooking program. In the “cooking with hot water” step, the pot heating coil 5 and the lid heating coil 6 are used to raise the pot temperature to end the rice cooking operation.

  As described above, in the “rice cooking amount determination” step, the pan temperature sensor 7 that contacts the bottom of the pan 3 detects the pan temperature, and the pan temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (in the rice cooker of the first embodiment). Reaches 80 ° C.), the time measurement for determining the amount of cooked rice is started. When the pot 3 is heated by the pot heating coil 5 at a constant heating amount, the internal temperature of the pot 3 gradually rises, but the lid heat sink 11 until the water in the pot 3 boils. As the steam hardly rises, the temperature of the lid temperature sensor 8 in contact with the upper surface of the lid heat sink 11 hardly rises. However, when the water in the pot 3 boils, a large amount of steam heats the lid heat sink 11, so that the temperature of the lid heat sink 11 detected by the lid temperature sensor 8 rapidly increases.

Thus, when the temperature detected by the lid temperature sensor 8 provided on the lid 2 reaches a predetermined temperature or higher (70 ° C. in the rice cooker of the first embodiment), the amount of rice cooking is determined. End time measurement. The time measurement result is processed in the rice cooking control unit 10 of the flash microcomputer 30, and the amount of rice cooking in the rice cooker is determined. In the rice cooking operation, as the amount of cooked rice increases, the measurement time in the “cooking rice amount determination” step becomes longer. For this reason, the amount of rice cooking can be determined by knowing the time measurement result in the “rice amount determination” step. The rice cooking amount or the time measurement result in the rice cooking operation determined in the “rice cooking amount determination” step is stored in the third storage unit 25 of the flash microcomputer 30.
In the rice cooking control part 10, the rice cooking electric power in rice cooking operation | movement is determined based on the determination result of the amount of rice cooking. The heating amounts of the pan heating coil 5 and the lid heating coil 6 used in the “boiling 1” step and the “boiling 2” step of the subsequent boiling maintaining process are controlled according to the rice cooking power determined in this way.

  When the time measurement for determining the amount of cooked rice in the above-described “rice cooking amount determination” step is completed, the process proceeds to the “power down (PD)” step. In this “power down (PD)” step, the temperature adjustment operation is performed based on the data from the pan temperature sensor 7 so that the pan temperature is maintained at 115 ° C. for the time and the heating amount according to the determined rice cooking amount. .

  After the cooking process ends, the process proceeds to the boiling maintenance process. In the boiling maintenance step, while water is present in the pan 3, the high temperature current is applied to the pan heating coil 5 so that the temperature detected by the pan temperature sensor 7 maintains the boiling state at the boiling point of water (usually around 100 ° C.). And the pot 3 is induction-heated. And if a boiling maintenance process passes, the water in the pan 3 will evaporate, there will be no water in the pan 3, and the temperature of the pan 3 will rise rapidly. When the temperature detected by the pan temperature sensor 7 reaches or exceeds the boiling point of water (usually around 130 ° C.), the rice cooking control unit 10 of the flash microcomputer 30 determines that there is no water in the pan 3 and ends the boiling maintaining step. . This boiling maintaining step is a step of gelatinizing rice starch, and the degree of gelatinization of the rice after cooking reaches nearly 100%, but at the end of the boiling maintaining step, the degree of gelatinization is about 50 to 60%.

  In the boiling maintenance process, the rice cooking operation of the “boiling 1” step and the “boiling 2” step in which the boiling state is maintained according to the amount of cooked rice is performed. In the “boiling 1” step, the pan 3 is heated with a heating amount corresponding to the determined rice cooking amount. However, if the pan temperature does not reach 115 ° C. after 7 minutes, the process proceeds to the “hot water cooking” step. In the “boiling 1” step, when the pan temperature reaches 115 ° C., the process proceeds to the “boiling 2” step.

  Also in the “boiling 2” step, when the pan 3 is heated with a heating amount corresponding to the amount of cooked rice and reaches 130 ° C., the process proceeds to the “pause” step of the steaming process. However, if it does not reach 130 ° C. even after 19 minutes have elapsed after combining “boiling 1” and “boiling 2”, the rice cooking operation is terminated.

  The steaming step is a step of gelatinizing rice starch following the boiling maintaining step, and the gelatinization degree was about 50 to 60% at the start of the steaming step, but at the end of the steaming step, that is, at the end of rice cooking The gelatinization degree reaches nearly 100%. In this steaming step, the cooked rice is steamed to finish the rice in the pan uniformly, and the rice cooking operation is completed in this step.

  In the “pause” step of the steaming process, the state is kept as it is without heating for 3 minutes. In the “additional cooking” step, additional cooking is performed for a time and a heating amount corresponding to the amount of cooking rice determined in the “rice cooking amount determination” step. In the “steaming” step, steaming is performed while maintaining a state of not heating for 5 minutes. Upon completion of the “steaming” step, the rice cooking operation by the rice cooking program ends. It is memorize | stored in the 3rd memory | storage part 25 with the date and time at that time.

  As mentioned above, in the rice cooker of Embodiment 1, the water immersion process in the rice cooking program designated by the user ("standby" step, "pre-cooking 1" step, "pre-cooking 2" step), cooking process ("Running" step, "rice cooking capacity determination" step, "power down (PD)" step), boiling maintenance process ("boiling 1" step, "boiling 2" step), and steaming process ("pause" step, Each process of the “additional cooking” step and the “steaming” step) is appropriately executed based on the rice cooking operation status, the detection data of each sensor, the determined rice cooking amount, and the like. In the rice cooker according to the first embodiment, the fact that the step has been passed at the end of each step executed in the rice cooking operation is stored in the third storage unit 25. Further, the third storage unit 25 stores the conditions for transition to the next step (reason for transition) in the transition history to each step.

In the rice cooker according to the first embodiment, the data stored in the third storage unit 25 that is the nonvolatile memory of the flash microcomputer 30 includes any of the rice cooking operations that the user has specified so far. Various information such as data indicating whether or not the steps (processes) have been executed and data indicating the reason for shifting to each step is included. In addition, the number of times the spilled over during the rice cooking operation , The process name (or step name) that first detected the spillage, “the first detection process name”, the “power frequency” that detected the frequency of the commercial power supply at the start of rice cooking, the process name that first detected the abnormal voltage ( Or “step name)” is the “abnormal voltage initial detection process”, “abnormal voltage count” is the number of times the abnormal voltage was detected, “Power failure first detection process name”, “Number of power failure detection times” that is the number of times a power failure was detected, and “Long-term power failure last detection” that is the process name (or step name) that last detected a power failure for a long time (for example, 16 seconds or longer). "Process name", "Maximum voltage value during cooking" that is the maximum power supply voltage value during rice cooking operation, "Minimum voltage value during rice cooking" that is the minimum power supply voltage value during rice cooking operation, and the maximum power supply voltage value during the heat retention operation “Maximum voltage value during warming”, “Minimum voltage value during warming rice” that is the minimum power supply voltage value during the warming operation, and abnormal states in each sensor (pan temperature sensor 7, lid temperature sensor 8, room temperature sensor 20, etc.) “Abnormal state” or the like indicating a disconnection or the like) in bits. Moreover, the data memorize | stored in the 3rd memory | storage part 25 include the time information which required each step in the executed rice cooking program, and the temperature information which shows transition of the temperature in each step.
In addition, if there is necessary data in addition to that required by the dealer and the manufacturer for repair and maintenance of the rice cooker, it is possible to rewrite and set the operation program stored in the first storage unit 23. It is.

  Hereinafter, in the rice cooker according to the first embodiment, the overflow detection for detecting the “spill over” in the above-described “swell over time” and “first start detection process name” stored in the third storage unit 25 of the flash microcomputer 30. The overflow detection unit 35 as means will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the spill detector 35 used in the rice cooker of the first embodiment. The overflow detector 35 is formed in the steam cylinder 31 provided in the lid 2. The steam pipe | tube 31 discharges | emits the steam from the rice which arises during rice cooking operation | movement to the rice cooker exterior. Steam from the rice passes through the hole 11a of the lid heat radiating plate 11, enters the inside of the steam cylinder 31 from the steam inlet 31a of the steam cylinder 31, and is discharged from the exhaust port 31b to the outside of the device. The steam entrance 31a is configured so that a paste-like sticky body (rice cake) generated during boiling during rice cooking operation enters.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a columnar magnet 32 is provided inside the steam cylinder 31. The bottom surface of the steam cylinder 31 (the lowermost surface when the lid 2 is closed) is formed on a slope, and a steam inlet 31a is formed at the lowest position of the slope. The magnet 32 is disposed so as to freely roll up and down on the slope guide plate 33 attached to the slope of the steam cylinder 31. The magnet 32 in the closed state of the lid 2 is normally located at the lowest position due to gravity, and is disposed with a predetermined distance (the distance of the thickness of the inclined surface guide plate 33) directly above the steam inlet 31a. Yes. Further, the lid body 2 is provided with a reed switch 34 for detecting that the magnet 32 is at the lowest position (a position directly above the steam inlet 31a). The reed switch 34 is set to be turned on only in response to the magnetic force of the magnet 32 when the magnet 32 is at the lowest position (position just above the steam inlet 31a). Therefore, when the magnet 32 moves out of the lowest position and moves upward (when the magnet 32 moves as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4), the reed switch 34 is turned off, and the magnet 32 moves upward. Can be detected.

  During the rice cooking operation in the rice cooker according to the first embodiment, the “sticky” sticky body (rice cake) that is generated at the time of boiling enters the steam cylinder 31 from the steam inlet 31a, and the “rice cake” is a pan. 3 is a time when the magnet 32 is pushed up by the pressure rise in the roller 3 and rolls upward on the inclined surface guide plate 33. Therefore, when the above-mentioned “spillover” occurs, the magnet 32 moves away from the reed switch 34 and the reed switch 34 is turned off. Thus, “spill over” can be detected by the OFF state of the reed switch 34. The magnet 32 does not move only with the vapor pressure, but the weight of the magnet 32 and the angle of inclination of the inclined surface guide plate 33 with respect to the horizontal plane when the lid 2 is closed are set so that the magnet 32 moves with the rise of the “needle”. Has been. In addition, in the rice cooker of Embodiment 1, although the cylindrical thing was used for the magnet 32, what kind of shape (a spherical body is included) should be used if it is a shape which moves by the approach of "Onaba". Is possible.

In the spilling detection unit 35 configured as described above, when the occurrence of “swelling spill” is detected, the signal is transmitted to the rice cooking detection unit 29 of the flash microcomputer 30, and the first “spilling” is detected in the rice cooking detection unit 29. While confirming at which step of the rice cooking program it occurs, the number of occurrences of “Fukikobare” is counted. In this way, the “squirting initial detection process name” and the “squirting number of times” detected by the rice cooking detection unit 29 are stored in the third storage unit 25 in the flash microcomputer 30. In addition, when a user puts the water more than predetermined amount with respect to the amount of rice in a pan and cooks rice, the number of spills in a boiling maintenance process becomes larger than the standard number of spills with respect to the determined amount of cooked rice. For this reason, by analyzing the data of the 3rd memory | storage part 25, it can grasp | ascertain whether the user has put the appropriate quantity of water into the pan with respect to the amount of rice in the rice cooking operation at that time. It becomes possible.
The overflow detector 35 in the rice cooker according to the first embodiment includes a steam cylinder 31, a magnet 32, a slope guide plate 33, and a reed switch 34.

  In the rice cooker of the first embodiment, the power failure detection means for detecting “power frequency”, “power failure first detection process name”, “power failure detection frequency”, and “long-term power failure last detection process name” is the power supply voltage detection unit 27. It is configured inside. The power failure detection means is composed of synchronous pulse generation means and a pulse counter. The synchronizing pulse generating means is composed of a voltage dividing resistor that divides the AC power supply voltage and a transistor that is turned on and off in accordance with the output of the voltage dividing resistor, and outputs a high or low signal in synchronization with the power supply voltage waveform. The pulse counter counts the number of pulses per predetermined time of the synchronous pulse generating means, and when it exceeds the predetermined number of pulses, it is determined that the frequency is 60 Hz, and if it is equal to or less than the predetermined pulse, it is determined as 50 Hz. Further, the power failure detection means determines that a power failure has occurred when the pulse counter has no pulse during the preset time (20 ms).

  Further, in the rice cooker of the first embodiment, the “power frequency”, “power failure first detection process name”, “power failure detection frequency”, and “long power failure last detection process name” are the power supply voltage detection unit 27 (FIG. 2). In the power failure detection means in (see), the voltage of the commercial power supply 26 is constantly monitored. Data indicating the monitoring result by the power failure detection means is configured to be transmitted to the rice cooking detection unit 29 of the flash microcomputer 30 and stored in the second storage unit 24 and the third storage unit 25.

  The timing at which the power failure detection means stores the “power frequency” in the third storage unit 25 is when rice cooking is started. The timing at which the power failure detection means stores the “power failure first detection process name” in the third storage unit 25 is when a power failure is detected. Furthermore, the timing at which the power failure detection means stores the “number of times of power failure detection” and the “long-term power failure last detection process name” in the third storage unit 25 is the time when the rice cooking operation is completed.

  Power supply voltage to detect "abnormal voltage initial detection process", "abnormal voltage count", "maximum voltage value during cooking", "minimum voltage value during cooking", "maximum voltage value during insulation", and "minimum voltage value during insulation" The abnormal voltage detection means in the detection unit 27 includes a voltage dividing circuit composed of a plurality of resistors and a peak hold circuit that holds the output of the voltage dividing circuit in a peak manner. The peak hold circuit includes an emitter follower circuit using a transistor, an electrolytic capacitor, and a discharge resistor that discharges the electrolytic capacitor. The abnormal voltage detection means converts the voltage value Vout corresponding to the AC power supply voltage into 8 bits via the AD converter, and detects the abnormal voltage of the commercial power supply, the maximum voltage value of the commercial power supply, and the minimum voltage value of the commercial power supply. ing.

  The above “abnormal voltage initial detection process”, “abnormal voltage count”, “maximum voltage value during cooking”, “minimum voltage value during cooking”, “maximum voltage value during insulation”, and “minimum voltage value during insulation” It is detected by constantly monitoring the voltage of the commercial power supply 26 in the abnormal voltage detection means in the voltage detector 27 (see FIG. 2). Data indicating the monitoring result by the abnormal voltage detection means is configured to be transmitted to the rice cooking detection unit 29 of the flash microcomputer 30 and stored in the second storage unit 24 and the third storage unit 25.

  The timing at which the abnormal voltage detection means stores the “abnormal voltage initial detection step” in the third storage unit 25 is when the abnormal voltage is detected, and the timing at which the “abnormal voltage count” is stored in the third storage unit 25 is This is the time when the cooking operation is completed.

  Furthermore, the abnormal voltage detection means is the “maximum voltage value during rice cooking” that is the maximum power supply voltage value during rice cooking operation, the “minimum power voltage value during rice cooking” that is the minimum power supply voltage value during rice cooking operation, and the maximum power supply during the warming operation The timing for storing the “maximum voltage value during warming rice cooking” that is the voltage value and the “minimum voltage value during warming rice cooking” that is the minimum power supply voltage value during the warming rice cooking operation in the third storage unit 25 is the timing for the rice cooking operation and the thermal insulation. It is the time when the operation is finished.

  As described above, in the third storage unit 25 of the flash microcomputer 30, in addition to the transition of each step (process) in each rice cooking operation executed from the past to the present, the reason for the transition to each step, “power supply” `` Frequency '', `` swelling number of times '', `` squirting first detection process name '', `` abnormal voltage first detection process '', `` abnormal voltage number '', `` power failure first detection process name '', `` power failure detection frequency '', `` long-term power failure last detection process Data such as “Name”, “Maximum voltage value during cooking”, “Minimum voltage value during cooking”, “Maximum voltage value during insulation”, “Minimum voltage value during insulation”, and “Abnormal state” are stored. The third storage unit 25 stores time information required for each step in the executed rice cooking program and temperature information indicating a temperature transition in each step. The timing at which these data are stored in the third storage unit 25 may be the time when each rice cooking operation is finished. The timing at which data is stored in the third storage unit 25 may be the time when the data is acquired, or may be the start time or the end time of each process or step. The various data stored in the third storage unit 25 as described above are configured to be displayed on the display unit 12 (see FIG. 2).

  The timing at which data is stored in the third storage unit 25 may be a predetermined time, for example, every second. Furthermore, the detected temperatures of the pan temperature sensor 7, the lid temperature sensor 8, and the room temperature sensor 20 may be stored every predetermined time, for example, every second.

  Further, the data is stored in the second storage unit 24 (RAM), and all of the data is stored after the end of cooking, after the end of warming, or after the user turns off the operation of the device. It is possible to reduce the number of times data is written to the third storage unit 25 by performing batch writing to the third storage unit 25.

  Moreover, in the rice cooker of Embodiment 1, the information memorize | stored in the 3rd memory | storage part 25 is good also as a structure where the time which starts the apparatus which the user set or the time which complete | finishes an apparatus is included. In the home appliance configured as described above, even if reset is applied, after the reset is released, the start time written in the third storage unit 25 is stored in the second storage unit 24. It becomes possible to make it. For this reason, in the rice cooker of Embodiment 1, the information once set by the user does not need to be reset again after the reset is released, and the device is easy to handle.

  Furthermore, in the rice cooker according to the first embodiment, the information stored in the third storage unit 25 may include the number of operations of the device. In the rice cooker of Embodiment 1 configured as described above, since the rice cooker can have information on how many times the rice cooker has performed the rice cooker, if there is a complaint from the user, it is misuse of the user. It is possible to determine whether the product is deteriorated due to aging of parts.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the flash microcomputer 30 used in the rice cooker of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of terminals are formed on the flash microcomputer 30 so as to protrude from four directions, and the operation guarantee voltage range is set to 2.0V to 5.5V.

  The flash microcomputer 30 includes a first storage unit 23 in a flash memory area in which an operation program that is a basic program is stored in advance, and a second RAM area in which various information is sequentially stored during operation of the rice cooker. Storage unit 24 and a third storage unit 25 that is a nonvolatile memory in which essential data in past rice cooking operations is stored as described above.

For example, if the reset voltage of the reset IC 38 is selected to be 2.2V from the reset IC 38, the RESET terminal 37 of the flash microcomputer 30 is a high signal and less than 2.2V if the voltage of the Vcc terminal 36 is 2.2V or higher. If there is, a low signal is input.
Therefore, since the voltage connected to the Vcc terminal 36 and the reset IC 38 is the same, when the voltage of the Vcc terminal 36 becomes 2.2 V or more, the reset IC 38 outputs a high signal from the low signal to the RESET terminal 37, and the flash The microcomputer 30 is driven normally. When a low signal is input to the RESET terminal 37 of the flash microcomputer 30, the flash microcomputer 30 is reset, and the data stored in the RAM area of the second storage unit 24 is erased.

  As described above, in the flash microcomputer 30, the third storage unit 25 is a nonvolatile memory (so-called EEPROM) built in the flash microcomputer 30, and once written data cannot be erased. The stored data has a function of being retained even if it is interrupted or reset. Therefore, the various data in each past rice cooking operation | movement memorize | stored sequentially in the 3rd memory | storage part 25 as mentioned above are reliably hold | maintained inside the said rice cooker irrespective of normal operation | movement and abnormal operation | movement.

In the rice cooker according to the first embodiment, various data in past rice cooking operations are stored and held in the third storage unit 25 that is a nonvolatile memory of the flash microcomputer 30 as described above. For this reason, when an inconvenient state occurs in the rice cooker, for example, the state where the rice cannot be cooked deliciously or not operating according to the designated rice cooking program, the user is brought into the store or manufacturer as a malfunction. Is what kind of rice cooking program the user specifies in the rice cooker at the store or manufacturer, what kind of process (step) is actually executed, and what kind of operation situation is in each process And the like can be easily and reliably grasped by extracting the data stored in the third storage unit 25.
In addition, in response to a user complaint that rice cannot be cooked deliciously despite normal operation, the user is asked how to use the rice, such as how the rice is sharpened, and the past information stored in the device is analyzed. By doing so, it is possible to give the user appropriate advice for cooking rice deliciously.

  The rice cooker according to the first embodiment is configured such that data stored in the third storage unit 25 of the flash microcomputer 30 can be taken out of the device. Specifically, a data extraction terminal is provided inside the rice cooker body of the rice cooker of the first embodiment. In addition, in order to take out the data of the 3rd memory | storage part 25 outside an apparatus, the data are memorize | stored in a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC chip), and it is non-contacted via the antenna inside a rice cooker main body to apparatus outside an apparatus. You may comprise so that it can transmit. The data stored in the third storage unit 25 can be configured to be transmitted via the Internet.

  The past rice cooking situation regarding the rice cooker brought in by the user as described above can be easily obtained at the store or manufacturer by obtaining the data stored in the third storage unit 25 of the rice cooker, and Since it can be surely grasped, the cause of the abnormal state can be easily pursued, and the fault location can be easily identified. When the cause of the abnormal state is on the user side, it is easy to convince the user of the cause of the abnormal state by presenting data indicating the rice cooking operation at that time to the user. On the other hand, when a failure location is specified from the data stored in the third storage unit 25 at a store or manufacturer, the rice cooker can be repaired at an early stage. It can be quickly delivered to the dealer and exchanged. In addition, when the data memorize | stored in the 3rd memory | storage part 25 in a rice cooker are comprised so that it can obtain in a manufacturer via the internet, a failure location regarding the said rice cooker is specified in a manufacturer, and parts replacement | exchange is carried out. In this case, the replacement part can be immediately delivered to the dealer, and a quick response is possible.

  In the above embodiment, a rice cooker having a flash microcomputer has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to such a rice cooker, and other home appliances such as an electric machine having a flash microcomputer. Various devices such as a water heater, an IH cooking device, an air conditioner, a dishwasher, a microwave oven, a refrigerator, and a washing machine are included. The technical idea of the present invention can also be applied to commercial electric equipment having a flash microcomputer.

  As described above, in the home appliance and the management system for the home appliance according to the present invention, since the flash microcomputer, which is a microcomputer incorporating the flash memory, is provided in the home appliance, the small and simple configuration is adopted. In addition, various essential data indicating the operation status of the home appliance from the past to the present can be stored so that the user can easily recognize the abnormal state in the home appliance, and the home appliance can also be used at a store or manufacturer. It is possible to accurately grasp the operation status of the device from the past to the present.

  In the embodiment described below, the features of the present invention will be described in detail. However, the disclosed contents in this embodiment should be changed in the details of the configuration, and each component These combinations and changes in the order can be realized without departing from the scope of the claims and the technical idea of the present invention.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful in the field of home appliances because it is possible to take reliable and appropriate measures against abnormal conditions in home appliances used in general homes.

The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows schematic structure of the rice cooker of Embodiment 1 which concerns on the home appliance of this invention The block diagram which shows the structure of the rice cooker of Embodiment 1. FIG. The flowchart explaining the concrete rice cooking operation in the rice cooker of Embodiment 1. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the detection part 35 in the rice cooker of Embodiment 1. FIG. Schematic which shows the flash microcomputer 30 in the rice cooker of Embodiment 1. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rice cooker body 2 Lid 3 Pan 4 Pan storage part 5 Pan heating coil 6 Lid heating coil 7 Pan temperature sensor 8 Lid temperature sensor 9 Operation board 10 Rice cooking control part 11 Lid heat dissipation plate 12 Display part 13 Operation part 14 Upper surface opening part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Hinge shaft 20 Room temperature sensor 22 Notification part 23 1st memory | storage part 24 2nd memory | storage part 25 3rd memory | storage part 26 Power supply 28 Drive part 29 Rice cooking detection part 32 Magnet 33 Slope guide plate 34 Reed switch 35 Swelling detection part

Claims (19)

First storage means storing an operation program;
Driving means for driving the driven part;
Control means for controlling the driving means in accordance with the operation program;
Detecting means for detecting the status of the driven part;
Second storage means for storing information indicating the status of the driven part detected by the detection means, and information indicating the content of control of the drive means by the control means, and stored in the second storage means Third storage means in which information being written is written at a predetermined timing of the operation program,
Comprising
At least the first storage means, the second storage means, and the third storage means are built in the microcomputer, and the third storage means holds the memory even when the operating voltage is lower than the microcomputer. Configured home appliances.   The household electrical appliance according to claim 1, wherein the third storage unit is a non-volatile storage unit.   The household electrical appliance according to claim 1, wherein the microcomputer is a flash microcomputer.   The household electrical appliance according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined timing is an end point of the operation program.   The household appliance according to claim 1, wherein the operation program has a plurality of operation steps, and the predetermined timing is a start or end time of each operation step.   2. The home appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a power failure detection unit that detects a stop of power supply to the home appliance, wherein the predetermined timing is when the power failure detection unit detects a stop of power supply. .   The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the home appliance is a rice cooker.   2. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the home appliance is an electric water heater.   The household electrical appliance according to claim 1, wherein the information stored in the third storage means is time information and / or temperature information.   The household electrical appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit, wherein the display unit displays information stored in the third storage unit.   The household electrical appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit, wherein the information stored in the third storage unit is output by sound or voice by the notification unit.   2. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the information stored in the third storage means can be taken out of the device.   2. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein an operation state is stored in a semiconductor integrated circuit inside the device, and information stored in the third storage means is transmitted to the outside of the device in a non-contact manner via an antenna. machine.   2. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the information stored in the third storage means is configured to be transmitted via the Internet.   The household electrical appliance according to claim 1, wherein the information stored in the third storage means includes at least a time at which the device set by the user is started or a time at which the device is ended.   The household electrical appliance according to claim 1, wherein the information stored in the third storage means includes at least the number of times of operation of the device.   2. The management system for home appliances according to claim 1, wherein information stored in the third storage means is transmitted to the outside of the device so that the operating state of the home appliance can be recognized outside the device. Configured home appliance management system.   18. The home appliance management system according to claim 17, wherein the information stored in the third storage means is configured to be transmitted to the outside of the device via the Internet.   18. The home appliance management system according to claim 17, wherein the information stored in the third storage means is stored in a semiconductor integrated circuit inside the device and transmitted to the outside of the device via an antenna.

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