JP2018082844A - rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rice cooker allowing a user to check an inner state of a container at anywhere without opening a lid.SOLUTION: A rice cooker includes a bottomed inner pot 6, a lid 2 for opening and closing an upper opening of the inner pot 6, and imaging means 22 for imaging the inside of the inner pot 6 while the lid 2 is opened. The rice cooker is so configured that the image of the inside of the inner pot 6 captured by the imaging means 22 just before the lid 2 is closed is stored in storage means, and it is transferred to a mobile terminal capable of communicating with the rice cooker. By capturing, from the imaging means 22, and storing the image of inside of the inner pot 6 just before closing the lid 2, and transferring the image to the mobile terminal carried by the user, the user is allowed to check the up-to-date state of the inside of the inner pot 6.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a rice cooker that enables photographing of an object to be cooked put in a container by an imaging means.

  Conventionally, a rice cooker that shoots the water level line formed on the inner surface of the container, rice or water as an object to be cooked contained in the container with a photographing means, and displays these images enlarged or reduced on the display means, For example, it is disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2. Accordingly, the water level inside the container can be accurately and easily adjusted from the same viewpoint through the display means.

Japanese Patent No. 5184461 JP2012-40294A

  In the above-described prior art, although the amount of water that can be put into the container can be adjusted appropriately by visually recognizing the image from the photographing means at the stage of rice cooking preparation, if the user leaves the rice cooker due to going out, etc. Unless the container is returned to the container and the lid is opened, it is impossible to confirm the situation inside the container. For this reason, there has been a demand for a function that adds a sense of security so that the user can check the situation inside the container anywhere without opening the lid.

  Conventionally, rice cooking control is performed in which the amount of rice and the water level are recognized from the accommodation state of the food to be cooked photographed by the photographing means, and the amount of heating to the container is appropriately adjusted. Was put in a container, and when rice other than white rice was put, there was a dissatisfaction that the desired cooking was not obtained.

  Further, the rice cooker is provided with display means in which a liquid crystal display and a backlight are combined in order to display various information such as time, in addition to displaying images taken by the photographing means. However, in recent years, due to the increase in display content accompanying multifunctional rice cookers, two or more liquid crystal displays must be stacked, and in that case, it is possible to recognize which layer of liquid crystal display is displayed. There was a dissatisfaction that can not be.

  In view of the above problems, a first object of the present invention is to provide a rice cooker that allows a user to check the situation inside a container anywhere without opening the lid.

  The second object of the present invention is to provide a rice cooker that can obtain a desired cooked rice even when rice other than white rice is added.

  A third object of the present invention is to provide a rice cooker that can easily recognize which layer of a liquid crystal display is being displayed, even if it is a display means in which a plurality of liquid crystal displays are stacked.

  The present invention provides a rice cooker comprising a container, a lid that opens and closes an upper opening of the container, and a photographing unit that photographs the inside of the container with the lid open, immediately before the lid is closed. , Storage means for storing the video captured from the photographing means, and video transfer means for transferring the video stored in the storage means to a portable terminal capable of communicating with the rice cooker.

  The rice cooker of the present invention includes a container, a heating means for heating the container, a photographing means for photographing the food to be cooked in the container, and an image from the photographing means as the food to be cooked. A detection means for detecting the ratio of white rice to brown rice, and a control means for adjusting the amount of heating of the heating means according to the ratio of the white rice and brown rice obtained by the detection means to control rice cooking. Is done.

  The rice cooker of the present invention has a plurality of liquid crystal displays stacked, and a display means in which a backlight is disposed on the back of the stacked body, and according to the liquid crystal display displayed in the plurality of liquid crystal displays, Display control means for changing the emission color and / or brightness of the backlight.

  In the first aspect of the invention, if the video inside the container is taken from the photographing means immediately before the lid is closed and stored in the storage means, the video can be transferred to the portable terminal held by the user. The user can check the situation inside the container anywhere through the mobile terminal without having to return to the rice cooker and open the lid.

  In invention of Claim 2, from the accommodation state of the to-be-cooked object image | photographed with the imaging | photography means, a detection means detects the ratio of brown rice other than white rice and white rice, and a control means is a heating means in the case of rice cooking according to the ratio. Optimum adjustment of the heating amount of rice can obtain the desired boiled food just like white rice even when white rice and brown rice are mixed and put in a container or only brown rice is put in a container Can do.

  In the third aspect of the invention, the proper liquid amount of the liquid to be put in the container is calculated using the ratio of the white rice and the brown rice detected by the detecting means, and the actual liquid liquid obtained by photographing the appropriate liquid amount by the photographing means. Compared to the amount, the comparison result is output as liquid volume guide information, for example, by display or sound, etc., when white rice and brown rice are mixed and put in a container, or when only brown rice is put in a container Even if it exists, it becomes possible to perform an appropriate liquid amount adjustment just like white rice.

  In the invention of claim 4, even in the display means in which a plurality of liquid crystal displays are laminated, the light emission color and / or brightness of the backlight is changed corresponding to the displayed liquid crystal display. You can easily recognize whether the display is displayed.

  In the invention of claim 5, since the light emission color and / or brightness of the backlight is changed corresponding to the operation of the rice cooker, the display means displays what operation is being performed as the rice cooker. Intuitive recognition without gazing at the contents.

It is a whole perspective view of the rice cooker in one Example of this invention. It is the whole perspective view of the rice cooker which showed what direction an imaging | photography means image | photographs in the state which opened the lid same as the above. It is a photograph of the rice cooker which looked at the inside of the container from the front side of the main body with the lid opened. It is a photograph of the rice cooker which looked at the imaging | photography means and the illumination means from the front side of the main body with the lid opened. It is a figure of the state which put the to-be-cooked object inside the inner pot same as the above. FIG. 4 is a front view of the display operation unit in which the display mode of the display unit is switched between a video mode screen and a time display mode screen. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the display unit. It is an exploded perspective view which shows another example of a structure of a display means same as the above. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen which wants to use the display means of FIG. 7 same as the above. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen which wants to use the display means of FIG. 8 same as the above. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen which wants to use the display means of FIG. 8 same as the above. It is a block diagram which shows an electrical structure same as the above. It is a top view of the display means which shows the example of the screen of another image mode same as the above. It is the figure which showed typically the procedure which recognizes the position of the rice inside an inner pot and the position of water.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a rice cooker according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The overall structure of the rice cooker will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. Reference numeral 1 denotes a bottomed main body, and 2 a lid that covers the upper surface opening of the main body 1 so that it can be opened and closed. The outer shell is formed. A hinge 3 serving as a connecting portion with the main body 1 is provided at the rear portion of the lid 2, and the hook button 4 provided on the upper surface of the front portion of the lid 2 is pushed to operate the lid 2 and the main body 1. The combination is released, and the lid 2 is configured to automatically open with the hinge 3 as the center of rotation.

  The main body 1 is formed with a bottomed cylindrical container 5 made of a non-magnetic material, and an inner pot 6 as a bottomed cylindrical container for storing the food to be cooked is detachably attached to the container 5. Is provided. An annular flange portion 7 extending to the outer peripheral side is formed around the upper end of the inner hook 6. The flange portion 7 is placed on the upper surface of the housing 5 when the inner hook 6 is housed in the housing 5, and the inner hook 6 is housed in a state where a gap is formed between the housing 5 and the inner hook 6. It is suspended from the body 5. Although not shown in the figure, the inner hook 6 here is configured by joining a heating element made of a magnetic metal material such as ferritic stainless steel to the outer surface of a base material mainly made of aluminum having good thermal conductivity. When 6 is housed in the housing 5, the outer surface of the inner hook 6 is disposed to face the heating coil 8 (see FIG. 12) disposed inside the main body 1. As a result, when a high frequency current is supplied to the heating coil 8 serving as a heating means for the inner pot 6, the heating element of the inner pot 6 generates heat due to the alternating magnetic field generated from the heating coil 8, and the inner pot 6 and the inner pot during cooking or warming are heated. The cooking object in the pot 6 is heated.

  3 and 5 show a state in which rice R and water W to be cooked are put into the inner pot 6. In each of these figures, numbers and letters are preferably written on the inner surface of the inner pot 6 that is in contact with the object to be cooked, as a liquid level display portion that serves as a measure of the amount of liquid charged into the inner pot 6, that is, water W. The water level line 6A is printed. The water level line 6 </ b> A is formed by marking the inner surface of the inner hook 6 with unevenness and / or printed with a color different from the inner surface of the inner hook 6. FIG. 5 shows a mixture of white rice R1 and brown rice R2 as rice R in the inner pot 6.

  On the upper surface of the lid 2, in addition to the hook button 4 as a lid opening operation body, a steam port 11 for releasing steam generated inside the inner pot 6 due to heating of the cooking object to the outside of the rice cooker. Is detachably disposed. An inner lid assembly 12 as a lower member of the lid 2 is disposed below the lid 2. The inner lid assembly 12 includes an inner lid 13 made of a metal material having a disk shape substantially the same diameter as the upper opening of the inner pot 6, and a seal between the inner lid 6 and the inner lid 13. A lid packing 14 as an elastic member provided on the entire outer periphery of the lid 13 and a pressure adjusting unit 15 for adjusting the internal pressure of the inner hook 6 are provided. The lid packing 14 formed in an annular shape contacts the upper surface opening of the inner hook 6 when the lid 2 is closed and closes the gap between the inner hook 6 and the inner lid 13. The steam generated from 6 is sealed. Further, the steam port 11 and the pressure adjusting unit 15 communicate with each other inside the lid body 2, and the steam generated in the inner pot 6 is discharged from the steam port 11 to the outside by the steam port 11 and the pressure adjusting unit 15. A steam exhaust mechanism is formed.

  In the storage recess 21 of the lid 2 surrounding the hinge 3, a photographing means 22 for photographing the inside of the inner hook 6 and an illuminating means 23 for illuminating the inside of the inner hook 6 are rotatably arranged together with the lid body 2. The The photographing means 22 is composed of an image sensor camera that can recognize the shape and color of an object to be photographed, and has a lens (not shown) at the tip. The photographing means 22 is arranged at a position where the object to be photographed inside the inner pot 6 can be photographed with the lid 2 opened. In order to stably photograph the inside of the inner pot 6 for a long period of time, the lid 2 It is desirable to select the installation position, mechanism, and structure so that there is no hindrance to opening and closing the door and it is difficult to be affected by heat from the heated inner pot 6.

  FIG. 2 shows a line of sight axis A that is a photographing direction from the photographing means 22 toward the inside of the inner hook 6. The photographing means 22 of the present embodiment has an angle of view capable of photographing the inner surface from the upper part of the inner pot 6 including the entire water level line 6A to the center bottom part.

  The illumination means 23 illuminates the inner surface of the inner pot 6, particularly the vicinity of the water level line 6 </ b> A when photographing with the photographing means 22, with the lid 2 opened, in order to assist various operations and actions of the photographing means 22. It arrange | positions in the position which can ensure the brightness inside the hook 6. Here, a white LED with high directivity is used as the illumination means 23. However, in order to photograph the cooking object inside the inner pot 6 closer to natural light, irradiate the inner pot 6 with white light. Preferably, the illumination means 23 can be used. Thereby, the rice R and the water W put in the inner pot 6 can be identified more easily than the illumination means 23 such as a light bulb color. Moreover, if the light of the illumination means 23 is irradiated from a direction substantially parallel to the visual axis A of the photographing means 22, the light hitting the inner surface 6A of the inner pot 6 is reflected and it becomes easy to identify the water surface. An effect is obtained.

  Reference numeral 31 denotes a display operation unit disposed in the front portion of the main body 1. The display operation unit 31 displays a video taken by the photographing means 22, a display means 32 for displaying various information such as time, and a plurality of keys 33 </ b> A that can be operated so as to surround the display means 32. And operating means 33 consisting of ~ 33H. In this embodiment, the rice cooking key 33A for instructing the start of rice cooking including reserved rice cooking from the cut-off state, the heat-keeping key 33B for instructing the start of heat-keeping from the cut-off state, and the rice cooking and heat insulation are stopped and turned off. A turn-off key 33C for setting a state, a reservation key 33D for instructing to call a reservation time, a selection key 33E for selecting various settings, a key 33F for advancing the time, etc., and a return for returning the time, etc. The operation unit 33 is configured by the key 33G and the camera key 33H that switches the display of the display unit 32 to a video mode including a live image captured by the imaging unit 22 and a mode other than that, but the keys 33A to 33H. However, the operation means 33 may be a transparent touch pad superimposed on the display means 32.

  FIG. 6 shows, as a display form of the display means 32, switching between a video mode and a time display mode other than that by pressing the camera key 33H. In the video mode screen G1 shown in the upper part of the figure, a live video captured by the imaging means 22 is used as a background screen, and a line indicating the boundary between the rice R estimated by image processing to be described later and the inner surface of the inner pot 6 is provided thereon. In addition to the linear rice amount display unit 41 and the linear water amount display unit 42 indicating the boundary between the water W and the inner surface of the inner pot 6, both the current amount of water W and rice R are indicated by the number of cups. And the cooking state display part 43 which shows the cooking state at the time of cooking rice with the quantity is superimposed and displayed on the display means 32. FIG. Further, on the screen G2 in the time display mode shown in the lower part of the figure, for example, a time display unit 45 showing various times such as the current time and the rice cooking reservation time is segment-displayed on the display means 32. In addition, the display form of the display means 32 shown here is merely an example. For example, on the screen G2 in the time display mode, the remaining time until cooking is displayed during cooking, or the set rice cooking course and how to cook are displayed. It is also possible to do.

  Next, the detailed structure of the display means 32 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 shows the overall structure of the display means 32. 51 is a first-layer liquid crystal display (LCD) that displays the above-described time display mode screen G2, and 52 is a video mode screen G1. This is a second layer LCD. Although not shown, these LCDs 51 and 52 are configured by sandwiching liquid crystal between upper and lower glass substrates, and polarizing plates 54 and 55 are laminated on the front side and the back side of the laminate 53 composed of flat plate LCDs 51 and 52, respectively. Then, by laminating the flat backlight 56 on the back side of the polarizing plate 55, the display means 32 is constructed in which a plurality of LCDs 51 and 52 of at least two layers are laminated. In addition, what kind of screen is allocated to the LCDs 51 and 52 of each layer is not particularly limited, and may be allocated in consideration of the specifications and usability as a rice cooker.

  The backlight 56 is configured by arranging a plurality of LEDs 57 in a grid pattern so as to irradiate light toward the back surface of the stacked body 53. In the example shown in FIG. 7, all LEDs 57 are composed of white LEDs of the same color, and each LED 57 receives a control signal from a control means 61 (see FIG. 12) described later, and periodically turns on the lighting time. The brightness is adjusted, that is, dimmed by the PWM control. Therefore, in this case, it is possible to change the brightness of the light emitted from the backlight 56 to the LEDs 51 and 52.

  As another example, the display means 32 of FIG. 8 does not make all the LEDs 57 of the backlight 56 the same color, but mixes white LEDs 57A and non-white, for example, orange LEDs 57B. Thus, when only the white LED 57A is turned on, the backlight 56 irradiates the LCD 51, 52 with white light, while when only the orange LED 57B is turned on, the backlight 56 turns the LCD 51, 52 with orange light. Can be irradiated. Furthermore, by adding a dimming function to the LEDs 57A and 57B by PWM control as described above, it is possible to change the brightness of white light or orange light emitted from the backlight 56 to the LCDs 51 and 52.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of a screen display using the display means 32 of FIG. In this example, the power plug for power supply to the rice cooker (not shown) is removed from the outlet, or “power is OFF”, or after the power plug is inserted into the outlet, the “power supply” that waits for the operation from the operation means 33 At “ON standby”, the clock of the current time is displayed on one of the LCDs 51, 52, the energization of the LED 57 is stopped, and the backlight 56 is turned off. On the other hand, after the power plug is inserted into the outlet, when the operation means 33 performs some operation, “power ON, during operation”, when the control means 57 displays the first-layer LCD 51, the backlight 56 is When the LCD 51 is irradiated with white light of normal brightness (“white”) and the LCD 52 of the second layer is displayed, the backlight 56 irradiates the LCD 51 with white light brighter than normal (“shine white”). Further, the LED 57 is dimmed by PWM control. Thus, since the brightness of the backlight 56 is changed according to the LCDs 51 and 52 displayed on the display means 32, the user determines which layer of the LCDs 51 and 52 is displayed. Can be easily recognized from the difference.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of a screen display using the display means 32 of FIG. In this example as well, during the above-mentioned “power OFF” or “power ON standby”, the clock display of the current time is displayed on one of the LCDs 51 and 52, and the backlight 56 is turned off by stopping energization of the LED 57. Turn off the light. On the other hand, when the power is turned on and in operation, the control means 57 causes the backlight 56 to irradiate the LCD 51 with white light (“white”) when displaying the first layer LCD 51. When displaying the LCD 52, the LEDs 57 </ b> A and 57 </ b> B are turned on / off so that the backlight 56 irradiates the LCD 51 with orange light (“orange”). Thus, since the color of the backlight 56 is changed according to the LCDs 51 and 52 displayed on the display means 32, the user determines which layer of the LCDs 51 and 52 is displayed, and the difference in the color of the backlight 56. Can be easily recognized.

  9 and 10 show an example in which the brightness or color of the backlight is changed in two steps when any one of the LCDs 51 and 52 is displayed. However, even if the LCDs 51 and 52 are displayed simultaneously, FIG. In that case, the brightness and color of the backlight may be changed in three stages.

  FIG. 11 shows another example of screen display using the display means 32 of FIG. In this example as well, during the above-mentioned “power OFF” or “power ON standby”, the clock display of the current time is displayed on one of the LCDs 51 and 52, and the backlight 56 is turned off by stopping energization of the LED 57. Turn off the light. In addition, if any operation is performed from the operation unit 33 while the power plug is inserted into the outlet and the rice is not cooked or kept warm ("cut off"), the control unit 57 displays the first-layer LCD 51. When the backlight 56 irradiates the LCD 51 with white light of normal brightness (“white”) and displays the LCD 52 of the second layer, the backlight 56 causes the LCD 51 to emit white light brighter than normal ( The LED 57A is dimmed by PWM control while the LED 57B is turned off so as to irradiate “shine white”).

  Further, in this example, the control means 51 changes the color and brightness of the backlight 56 in accordance with the operation of the rice cooker. For example, the reservation key 33D, the advance key 33F, and the return key 33G are operated from the off state. Then, after setting the reservation time, by operating the rice cooking key 33A to cook the food to be cooked at the set reservation time, the operation of “in the timer” until the rice cooking starts, the backlight 56 Irradiates LCD51 and / or LCD52 with white light of normal brightness ("white"), and cooks by first operating the rice cooking key 33A from the cut-off state without setting the above-mentioned reserved cooking and reservation time. In normal rice cooking for cooking food, the backlight 56 is normally connected to the LCD 51 and / or the LCD 52 in the operation of “cooking rice” after the cooking of rice to be cooked is started. In the operation of “Warming” to heat the rice that is to be cooked by irradiating bright orange light (“shine orange”) and operating the heat retention key 33B after cooking rice heating is finished or from the cut-off state The LEDs 57A and 57B are adjusted by PWM control while the LEDs 57A and 57B are switched on / off so that the backlight 56 irradiates the LCD 51 and / or LCD 52 with orange light of normal brightness (“orange”). Shine.

  The display forms of the display means 32 shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 are merely examples, and are not limited to, for example, setting the first layer LCD 51 and the second layer LCD 52 to the screen G2 in the same time display mode. Further, the color of light emitted from the backlight 56 may be other than white or orange.

  FIG. 12 shows the electrical configuration of the rice cooker in the present embodiment. In the figure, the control means 61 incorporated in the main body 1 is configured by mounting a microcomputer or the like on a substrate. Here, the heating coil 8, the photographing means 22, illumination, etc. In addition to the means 23, the display means 32, and the operating means 33, a temperature detecting means 62 for detecting the temperature of the inner hook 6 and the inner lid 13, a lid opening / closing detecting means 63 for detecting the opening / closing of the lid 2, Transmission / reception means 66 that enables transmission / reception with the portable terminal 65 held by the user via the wireless communication means 64, and heating of the inner lid 13 that is incorporated in the lid 2 and mainly heats the inner lid 13 The lid heater 67 as means and a storage means 68 capable of reading and writing various information and data are electrically connected. Here, the mobile terminal 65 is a smart phone capable of wireless communication including a touch panel 69 for performing touch operation and display, but is a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA) that is usually carried by a user. It doesn't matter.

  The control means 61 receives the operation signal from the operation means 33 and the detection signal from the temperature detection means 62 and the lid opening / closing detection means 63, and at a predetermined timing based on the time measurement from the built-in time measurement means, The image pickup means 22, the illumination means 23, the LCDs 51 and 52 and the backlight 56 constituting the display means 32, and the lid heater 67 each have a function of outputting control signals. Such a function is realized by the control unit 61 reading the program recorded in the storage unit 68 as a storage medium. In particular, in this embodiment, the image processing unit 71 as a rice cooker, the heating control unit 72, As the display control means 73, a program for causing the control means 61 to function is provided.

  The video processing means 71 exchanges data including the control signal with the photographing means 22 so as to appropriately process video data of still images and moving images inside the inner pot 6 taken in from the photographing means 22. is there. In particular, the video processing means 71 of the present embodiment receives the detection signal from the lid opening / closing detection means 63, stores the video captured from the photographing means 22 immediately before the lid 2 is closed, in the storage means 68, and then the mobile terminal. When a request signal is sent from the portable terminal 65 to the transmission / reception means 66 through the communication means 64 by operating the touch panel 69 of 65, the video stored in the storage means 68 is read and the request signal is sent out. The image transfer means 75 for transferring to the mobile terminal 65 and the rice R placed in the inner pot 6 by recognizing the position of the rice R to be cooked in the image inside the inner pot 6 taken from the photographing means 22 A food recognition means for estimating the amount of water, and recognizing the position (water surface) of the water W to be cooked using the recognized position of the rice R as a clue, and estimating the amount of water put in the inner pot 6 76, food recognition Based on the position of the rice R recognized by the means 76, as a detecting means for detecting the degree of the ratio of the white rice R1 and the brown rice R2 based on the difference in the color of the white rice R1 and the brown rice R2 White rice / brown rice ratio detection means 77.

  The heating control means 72 receives a detection signal from the temperature detection means 62 and controls the heating coil 8 that heats the bottom of the inner pot 6 and the lid heater 67 that heats the inner lid 13 at the time of cooking rice or keeping warm. It is. Particularly in this embodiment, in addition to the amount of rice R and water W estimated by the to-be-cooked object recognition means 76, heating is performed according to the ratio of the white rice R1 and the brown rice R2 detected by the white rice / brown rice ratio detection means 77. The heating control means 72 controls the cooking of the food to be cooked so as to adjust the heating amount of the coil 8 and the lid heater 67 and finish the food to be cooked in the inner pot 6 in a preferable cooked state set by the operation means 33. It is the composition which performs.

  The display control means 73 controls the LCDs 51 and 52 and the backlight 56 of the display means 32 in order to cause the display means 32 to display the above-described video mode screen and time display mode screen at an appropriate timing. As described above, this changes the emission color and / or brightness of the backlight 56 in accordance with the LCD 51 and / or the LCD 52 to be displayed among the plurality of stacked LCDs 51 and 52, and The rice cooker has a function of changing the emission color and / or brightness of the backlight 56 according to the current operating state of the rice cooker. Further, the display control means 73 of the present embodiment adds the white rice R1 and the brown rice R2 obtained by the white rice / brown rice ratio detection means 77 to the amount of rice put in the inner pot 6 estimated by the cooking object recognition means 76. Considering the ratio, the appropriate amount of water to be put into the inner pot 6 is calculated, and the calculated appropriate amount of water is compared with the amount of water actually put into the inner pot 6 estimated by the cooking object recognition means 76. For example, on the screen G1 in the video mode described above, the display unit 32 has a function of displaying and outputting the result as liquid amount guide information such as the cooked state display unit 43.

  Next, the effect | action is demonstrated about the rice cooker of the said structure. When performing reserved rice cooking or normal rice cooking, first, after opening the lid 2, the inner pot 6 is taken out from the container 5 of the main body 1 and taken to the washing place, and a predetermined amount of rice R measured with a measuring cup (not shown) Put in the inner hook 6. Next, wash the rice at the washing place, put water W in an amount corresponding to the amount of rice R introduced into the inner pot 6 with reference to the water level line 6A, and add water R to the container 5 of the main body 1 from the washing place. Set the inner pot 6 filled with water W again.

  Thereafter, when the power plug of the rice cooker is inserted into the outlet and turned off, the control means 61 determines whether or not the lid 2 is open based on a detection signal from the lid open / close detection means 63. If it is determined here that the lid 2 is open, the photographing means 22 is activated and the illumination means 23 is turned on by the control signal from the video processing means 71, and the illumination means 23 is turned on in the direction of the visual axis A shown in FIG. The image including the water level line 6 </ b> A and the rice R and the water W in the inner pot 6 that is brightly illuminated by the image 23 is taken into the image processing unit 71 from the photographing unit 22. In addition, the display control unit 73 causes the display unit 32 to display a video mode screen G1 including the video captured by the video processing unit 71 from the photographing unit 22. On the other hand, if it is determined that the lid 2 is not open, the photographing unit 22 is not activated while the illumination unit 23 is turned off, and the display control unit 73 causes the display unit 32 to display the screen G2 in the time display mode. When the lid 2 is open, the display on the display means 32 can be switched between the video mode screen G1 and the time display mode screen G2 each time the camera key 33H is pressed.

  FIG. 13 shows another example of the video mode screen G1 displayed on the display means 32. In the figure, the screen mode G1 shown in FIG. 6 is different from the cooked state display unit 43 in that the current water amount estimated by the cooking object recognition means 76 is displayed as the number of cups and displayed. The comparison result between the appropriate amount of water calculated by the control means 73 and the current amount of water estimated by the food recognition means 76 is not the cooked state like the cooked state display unit 43, but the appropriate amount of water and the current amount. This means that a water level alignment display unit 91 that displays a volume (milliliter) as a difference from the water amount is provided as the liquid amount guide information. Also, here, a rice amount setting display unit 92 that displays the amount of rice estimated by the to-be-cooked object recognition means 76 as the number of cups, a rice amount-display unit 93 for correcting the estimated amount of rice to increase or decrease, and rice An amount + display unit 94 and an enlarged display unit 95 for enlarging and displaying a live image captured by the background image capturing unit 22 are respectively added.

  A transparent touch pad 33I is disposed on the surface of the display means 32 shown in FIG. This touch pad 33I constitutes the operating means 33 together with the above-described various keys 33A to 33H. When the touch pad 33I is touch-operated on the surface of the rice amount-display portion 93 or the rice amount + display portion 94, the to-be-cooked The amount of rice estimated by the object recognition means 76 can be manually increased or decreased. The corrected amount of rice is displayed on the rice amount setting display unit 92, and when the display control unit 73 calculates an appropriate amount of water or when the heating control unit 72 cooks the food to be cooked in the inner pot 6, Instead of the amount of rice estimated by the object recognition means 76, the corrected amount of rice is used.

  When the touch pad 33I is touch-operated on the surface of the enlargement display unit 95, a control signal for performing a zoom operation is sent from the image processing means 71 to the photographing means 22, thereby photographing an enlarged / magnified image. It is taken in from the means 22 into the image processing means 71, and the image inside the inner pot 6 including the water level line 6A can be displayed on the image mode screen G1 in an enlarged state. As described above, by incorporating the function of enlarging the video from the photographing unit 22 into the video processing unit 71, even a user who cannot easily see details can perform the video mode only by performing a touch operation on the enlarged display unit 95. It is possible to easily enlarge the image inside the inner pot 6 displayed on the screen G1 and easily adjust the water level.

  The image processing means 71 takes the amount of rice and water put into the inner pot 6A by the to-be-cooked object recognition means 76 every time the image inside the inner pot 6 is captured from the photographing means 22 at a predetermined time interval (for example, 0.1 second). presume. What is important here is that first, in the image inside the inner pot 6 taken from the photographing means 22, the boundary between the inner surface of the inner pot 6A and the rice R is recognized as the position of the rice R, and then the recognized rice This means that the height of the water surface that is the position of the water W is recognized using the position of R as a clue. In other words, the boundary between the inner surface of the black inner pot 6A and the white rice R that is close to white is easy to recognize because of the difference in color, so the position of the water W is determined from the position of the rice R that is easy to recognize first. These recognition rates are higher when they are recognized. Note that the position of the rice R and the position of the water W recognized by the to-be-cooked object recognition unit 76 are displayed on the display unit 32 as a rice amount display unit 41 and a water amount display unit 42, respectively.

  Moreover, it is preferable to use the vicinity of the median value of the data by recognizing the water surface height by the to-be-cooked object recognition means 76 described above by measuring a plurality of images taken from the photographing means 22. This is because, even after setting the inner pot 6 containing rice R and water W, the water surface shakes for a while and the position is not fixed. By using the vicinity of the median value of the above-mentioned data, the moving average The height of the water surface can be determined earlier than the treatment. As an example, the to-be-cooked object recognition means 76 arranges the measurement data of 10 times of the water surface height in order of magnitude, and determines the average value of the 4th to 6th data as the final water surface height. The water amount display unit 42 can be quickly displayed on the screen G1 in the video mode.

  FIG. 14 schematically shows a procedure for recognizing the position of the rice R and the position of the water W. In the same figure, the to-be-cooked object recognition means 76 converts the image captured from the photographing means 22 into an image scanned at an equal angle from the center point C of the arc that is the position of the rice R or the position of the water W. From there, it is preferable to recognize the position of the rice R and the position of the water W. That is, since the position of the rice R and the position of the water W are both taken as fan-shaped images, the position must be recognized by XY two-dimensional processing as it is, and the control means 61 has low capability. A microprocessor takes time. However, if the fan-shaped image captured from the photographing means 22 is converted into a rectangular image (reference numerals 41 ′ and 42 ′ in the upper part of FIG. 14), the position can be recognized by simplifying to one-dimensional processing only in the Y direction, Image processing can be performed with less processing, and even a low-capacity microprocessor can perform processing in a short time. Thereafter, by returning the rectangular image to the original fan-shaped image, the arc-shaped rice amount display unit 41 and the water amount display unit 42 are correctly displayed on the image captured from the photographing unit 22 on the screen G1 in the image mode. (Reference numerals 41 and 42 in the lower part of FIG. 14).

  The to-be-cooked object recognition means 76 of this embodiment memorizes the amount of rice and the amount of water put in the inner pot 6 as the position of the rice R and the position of the water W in the number of cups (1 cup and 2 cups), respectively. To do. At this time, the amount of the intermediate cup number is calculated by interpolation calculation. Further, the exposure and gain (sensitivity) of the built-in camera are automatically adjusted by the control signal from the image processing means 71 to the photographing means 22 so that the boundary between the inner surface of the inner pot 6 and the water surface can be photographed clearly and clearly. To.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the to-be-cooked object recognition means 76 recognizes the position of the rice R, the ratio of the white rice R1 and the brown rice R2 in the recognized rice R is determined to determine the ratio of the white rice R1 and the brown rice. The white rice / brown rice ratio detection means 77 determines and detects from the difference in the color of R2.

  On the screen G1 in the video mode shown in FIG. 13, a message indicating that the amount of water to be poured into the inner pot 6 should be increased by 50 ml relative to the appropriate amount of water is displayed on the water level alignment display unit 91 in order to adjust the water level correctly. The Therefore, the user can appropriately adjust the amount of water W to be put into the inner pot 6 with reference to this display, and can accurately and easily adjust the correct water level through the display means 32 from the same viewpoint. The proper amount of water here is not only the amount of rice estimated by the to-be-cooked object recognition means 76 but also the ratio of the white rice R1 and the brown rice R2 obtained by the white rice / brown rice ratio detection means 77. Since it is calculated, even when white rice R1 and brown rice R2 are mixed and put into the inner pot 6, or even when only brown rice R2 is put into the inner pot 6, just as with the case of white rice R1, The amount of water W put into the inner pot 6 can be adjusted appropriately.

  In this way, the image mode screen G1 displayed on the display means 32 is used as a water adjustment guide, and after the amount of water W to be put into the inner pot 6 is adjusted correctly, the lid is kept in the container 5 of the main body 1 while the inner pot 6 is put in When 2 is closed, a series of rice preparations until cooking is completed. After that, the selection key 33E, the forward key 33F, and the return key 33G are pushed to set a desired cooking state (crisp, recommended, mochimochi), and finally the rice cooking key 33A is pushed. Then, when the control means 61 is instructed to start cooking rice including reserved rice cooking, the heating control means 72 controls the heating coil 8 and the lid heater 67, respectively, and cooks the cooked food in the inner pot 6 to rice. Then, heat insulation is performed to keep the cooked rice at a predetermined temperature. In addition to the amount of rice R and water W estimated by the to-be-cooked object recognition means 76, the heating control means 72, depending on the ratio of the white rice R1 and the brown rice R2 detected by the white rice / brown rice ratio detection means 77, Since the heating amount of the heating coil 8 and the lid heater 67 is optimally adjusted so that the cooked food in the pot 6 is finished in the set state, white rice R1 and brown rice R2 are mixed and put into the inner pot 6 Even when only brown rice R2 is put in the inner pot 6, the desired cooking finish similar to that of white rice R1 is obtained without having to bother selecting the type of rice with the operation means 33 before starting the rice cooking. be able to.

  The video transfer means 75 incorporated in the video processing means 71 stores the video in the storage means 68 every time the video inside the inner pot 6 is taken from the photographing means 22 while the lid 2 for preparing rice cooking is opened. It is overwritten and updated. Thus, when the rice cooking preparation is completed and the lid 2 is closed, the video processing means 71 determines that the lid 2 is not open, and stops the operation of the photographing means 22. Only the image inside the inner pot 6 taken from the photographing means 22 immediately before closing is naturally stored and held. Thereafter, when the user operates the touch panel 69 of the portable terminal 65 to send a request signal to the transmission / reception means 66 via the communication means 64, the video transfer means 75 immediately before closing the lid 2 stored in the storage means 68. Is transferred to the portable terminal 65 that sent the request signal, and displayed on the display unit of the touch panel 69. Therefore, even if the user does not bother to return to the rice cooker and open the lid 2, the user can check the situation inside the inner pot 6 anywhere through the portable terminal 65 owned by the user.

  Similarly, the image transfer means 75 transmits the image inside the inner pot 6 from the photographing means 22 at a predetermined time interval even when the lid 2 is opened at the time of heat retention after the rice is cooked in the inner pot 6. The video is overwritten and updated in the storage means 68 and stored. Therefore, even if the user does not bother to return to the rice cooker and open the lid 2, the user can operate the touch panel 69 of the portable terminal 65 in the same manner to display the image of the cooked rice immediately before closing the lid 2 on the touch panel 69. It can be displayed on the display unit.

  As described above, the rice cooker of the present embodiment includes the inner pot 6 that is a bottomed container, the lid 2 that opens and closes the upper opening of the inner pot 6, and the inner pot 6 with the lid 2 open. In which the image of the inside of the inner pot 6 taken in from the imaging means 22 is stored immediately before the lid 2 is closed, and stored in the storage means 68. Video transfer means 71 for transferring the video to a portable terminal 65 capable of communicating with the rice cooker.

  In this case, if the video inside the inner pot 6 is taken from the photographing means 22 and stored in the storage means 68 immediately before the lid 2 is closed, the video can be transferred to the portable terminal 65 owned by the user. The user can check the latest situation inside the inner pot 6 anywhere through the video displayed on the touch panel 69 of the portable terminal 65 without having to bother to return to the rice cooker and open the lid 2, and feel secure. It becomes possible.

  The rice cooker according to the present embodiment includes an inner pot 6 that is a bottomed container, a heating coil 8 that is a heating unit that heats the inner pot 6, and a photographing unit that captures an object to be cooked in the inner pot 6. 22 and an image from the photographing means 22, and a white rice / brown rice ratio detection means 77 and a white rice / brown rice ratio detection means 77 as detection means for detecting the ratio of the white rice R1 and the brown rice R2 as the food to be cooked. The heating control means 72 in the control means 61 which adjusts the heating amount of a heating means according to the ratio of the obtained white rice R1 and brown rice R2 and controls rice cooking is provided.

  In this case, the white rice / brown rice ratio detection means 77 detects the ratio of the white rice and the brown rice other than the white rice from the accommodation state of the cooking object photographed by the photographing means 22, and the heating in the control means 61 according to the ratio. When the control means 72 optimally adjusts the heating amount of the heating coil 8 during rice cooking, when the white rice R1 and the brown rice R2 are mixed and put in the container, or only the brown rice R2 is put in the container. Also, it is possible to obtain a desired cooked finish similar to that of white rice R1 alone.

  Further, preferably, an appropriate amount of water corresponding to the ratio of the white rice R1 and the brown rice R2 obtained by the white rice / brown rice ratio detection means 77 is calculated, and the amount of water W taken by the photographing means 22 as an object to be cooked. The display control means 73 in the control means 61 may be configured to cause the display means 32 to display and output the comparison result between the calculated appropriate water amount and the liquid amount guide information, for example.

  In this case, using the ratio of the white rice R1 and the brown rice R2 detected by the white rice / brown rice ratio detecting means 77, the appropriate amount of water W to be put into the inner pot 6 is calculated, and this appropriate liquid amount is photographed by the photographing means 22. Compared with the actual liquid amount of water W, the comparison result is output as liquid amount guide information by, for example, display or voice, so that the white rice R1 and the brown rice R2 are mixed and put in a container, Even when only the brown rice R2 is put in the inner pot 6, it becomes possible to perform an appropriate amount of water adjustment as in the case of only the white rice R1.

  The rice cooker according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of LCDs 51 and 52, and a plurality of LCDs 51 and 52. Display control means 73 that changes the emission color and / or brightness of the backlight 56 in accordance with the displayed LCD 51 and / or LCD 52.

  In this case, even in the display means 32 in which the plurality of LCDs 51 and 52 are stacked, the emission color and / or brightness of the backlight 56 is changed corresponding to the LCD 51 and / or LCD 52 to be displayed. It is possible to easily recognize whether the LCDs 51 and 52 are displayed.

  Also preferably, the display control means 73 may be configured to change the emission color and / or brightness of the backlight 56 according to the operation of the rice cooker.

  Since the display control means 73 in this case changes the emission color and / or brightness of the backlight 56 in response to the operation of the rice cooker, the display control means 73 displays what operation is being performed as a rice cooker. The display contents of the means 32 can be intuitively recognized without gazing.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention. In the present embodiment, the liquid volume guide information described above is displayed and output from the display means 32. However, a notification means such as a speaker (not shown) is connected to the control means 61, and the liquid volume guide information is output from the notification means. You may let them. As an example of a notification sound guide as a human interface, when the amount of water put in the inner pot 6 is small, a short and long sound such as “beep beep” is repeatedly notified, and the amount of water increases and approaches an appropriate amount. Accordingly, the time is gradually shortened, for example, a “beep” sound is repeatedly notified, and when the water amount becomes appropriate, a “polo” sound is notified with another sound. On the other hand, when the amount of water in the inner pot 6 is small, a long and long sound such as “Peepy” is repeatedly reported, and as the amount of water decreases and approaches the appropriate amount, the time is gradually shortened. For example, a sound “Peepy” may be repeatedly notified.

2 Lid 6 Inner pot (container)
8 Heating coil (heating means)
22 Imaging means 32 Display means 51, 52 LCD (liquid crystal display)
53 Stack 56 Backlight 61 Control Unit 68 Storage Unit 71 Video Transfer Unit 73 Display Control Unit

Claims (5)

A container,
A lid for opening and closing the upper opening of the container;
In the rice cooker provided with a photographing means for photographing the inside of the container with the lid open.
Storage means for storing video captured from the photographing means immediately before the lid is closed;
Video transfer means for transferring the video stored in the storage means to a portable terminal capable of communicating with the rice cooker. A container,
Heating means for heating the container;
Photographing means for photographing an object to be cooked in the container;
Detecting means for capturing a video from the photographing means and detecting a ratio of white rice and brown rice as the cooking object;
A rice cooker comprising: control means for controlling rice cooking by adjusting a heating amount of the heating means according to a ratio of white rice and brown rice obtained by the detection means.   The control means calculates an appropriate liquid amount according to the ratio of white rice and brown rice obtained by the detecting means, and the liquid amount of the liquid photographed by the photographing means as the cooked object and the appropriate liquid amount The rice cooker according to claim 2, wherein the comparison result is output as liquid amount guide information. Display means comprising a plurality of liquid crystal displays stacked and a backlight disposed on the back of the stacked body;
A rice cooker comprising: display control means for changing a light emission color and / or brightness of the backlight according to a liquid crystal display displayed in the plurality of liquid crystal displays.   5. The rice cooker according to claim 4, wherein the display control unit is configured to change a light emission color and / or brightness of the backlight according to an operation of the rice cooker.