JP2778937B2 - Cooker - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heating cooker such as a microwave oven capable of executing cooking for a large number of cooking menus selected by a user on an operation panel.

[0002]

For example, in a microwave oven with an oven function, a cooking program corresponding to a plurality of cooking menus is stored in advance in a microcomputer or the like.
There is provided one in which heating cooking is automatically executed by a corresponding cooking program based on a user selecting an arbitrary one from a plurality of cooking menus. Also, in such a microwave oven, the user,
Of course, it is possible to execute a manual cooking menu for designating a cooking mode such as “range”, “oven”, “toaster” and the like, cooking time, temperature and the like.

[0003] A microwave oven of this type is provided with an operation panel 1 as shown in FIG. In the center of the operation panel 1, a plurality of selection keys 2 corresponding to a cooking menu group such as "side dish" and "confectionery / bread" are provided vertically. On the left side of the selection key 2, there is provided a menu display section 3 having a cooking menu printed on its surface.

The menu display section 3 displays a plurality of cooking menus belonging to a cooking menu group of "all-in-one vegetables" such as "boiled vegetables" and "boiled root vegetables", as well as "cookie specialty" and "cookie specialty". A plurality of cooking menus belonging to a cooking menu group of "sweets / bread" such as "cake specialty" are printed, and LEDs 4 corresponding to the respective cooking menus are provided.

In order to execute any one of the automatic cooking menus, the user first depresses any one of the selection keys 2 to designate a cooking menu group. Further, the pressing operation of the selection key 2 is repeated to select the cooking menu. For example, when the user wants to select “meat potatoes / boiled foods”, first, the user operates the selection key 2 of “side dish” (at this time, the LED 4 of the top “boiled leafy vegetables” lights up). Further, if the selection key 2 of "side dish" is operated twice, the lighting of the LED 4 moves in order, and the LED 4 of "meat, potato and stew" lights up. Thereafter, when the start key 5 is operated, automatic cooking according to the cooking program of "meat potatoes / boiled foods" is executed.

However, the operation panel 1 described above has a plurality of selection keys 2 for selecting and setting a cooking menu related to automatic cooking, a start key 5 and a time for manual cooking. Since the knobs for setting are arranged in a distributed manner, there is a problem that the number of components of the operation part is large and the configuration is complicated. Further, the user may be confused about where to operate to select a desired cooking menu or set a cooking time, or may have to search for the position of the start key 5 or the time setting knob. , The operation was relatively complicated.
In addition, the operability is required to be improved, for example, the selection key 2 must be pressed many times, which makes the operation troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a heating cooker capable of simplifying the configuration of an operation portion of an operation panel and improving operability. To offer.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The pressurized heat cooker of the present invention,
An operation panel provided on the main body, a display unit provided on the operation panel for displaying a large number of cooking menus separated into a plurality of cooking menu groups, and a cooking menu selected by a rotating operation provided on the operation panel A setting knob for setting, and a start button provided coaxially with the setting knob for instructing the start of cooking by a pressing operation, and a different cooking menu group is displayed depending on a rotation direction of the setting knob. It is characterized in that the setting of the cooking menu belonging to the cooking menu group after the setting is made possible.

[0009]

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a microwave oven with an oven function will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, FIG. 6 shows an appearance of a microwave oven as a heating cooker.
Inside, a cooking room 12 and a machine room (not shown) are provided side by side. As shown in FIG. 7, the cooking chamber 12 is provided with an oven heater 13 for oven cooking, a grill heater 14 for grill cooking, and the like, and a magnetron 15 for range cooking and the like are provided in the machine room. Is provided.

The above-mentioned oven heater 13, grill heater 1
As shown in FIG. 7, a microcomputer 1 and a magnetron 15 are provided as control means provided in a machine room.
6 is controlled via drive circuits 17, 18 and 19, respectively. As described below, the microcomputer 16 sets the oven heater according to the user's selection of the cooking menu for automatic cooking or the setting of the cooking mode and cooking time for manual cooking, as described later. 13, the grill heater 14, the magnetron 15, and the like are controlled, so that cooking of the food contained in the cooking chamber 12 is performed.

On the front surface of the main body 11, a door 20 for opening and closing the cooking chamber 12 is rotatably provided, and an operation panel 21 is provided. Hereinafter, the operation panel 21 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

First, a time display section 22 for digitally displaying a cooking time and the like is provided above the operation panel 21. A cooking menu display unit 23 is provided immediately below the time display unit 22. The cooking menu display unit 23 is configured by printing various types of cooking menus related to automatic cooking on a translucent panel in this case.
It is roughly classified into three cooking menu groups, “warm.vegetables.defrost”, “heart-full cooking”, and “bread.confectionery”.
a, printed on the middle section 23b and the lower section 23c.

On the upper section 23a, "warm.vegetable.defrost" as a title of the cooking menu group is printed on the upper part, and on the lower part, cooking menus such as "rice" and "side dishes" are arranged in two rows. Printed. Also, the middle section 23
Similarly, b and the lower section 23c include “cooked rice”, “red rice”, and “cookies”, “cake”, etc. under the titles of the cooking menu groups “heart full cooking” and “bread. The cooking menu is printed.

On the back side of the cooking menu display section 23, an upper section 23a, a middle section 23b and a lower section 23
A backlight 24 (shown only in FIG. 7) is provided for each of c. In this case, the titles of the cooking menu group are printed so as to be always displayed to the user irrespective of the lighting of the backlight 24. However, as shown in FIGS. Is printed so that it rises bright only when illuminated from behind by the backlight 24, and becomes dark as a whole when the backlight 24 is turned off.

Further, the cooking menu display section 23 is provided with an LED 25 as a light emitting element for each cooking menu. Each of the backlights 24 and each of the LEDs 25 are
As shown in FIG. 7, the microcomputer 16 controls turning on / off of light through display circuits 26 and 27.

As described in detail later, one LED 25 corresponding to the cooking menu is selectively turned on in response to the user's selection operation of the cooking menu for automatic cooking, and the cooking menu is selected. The backlight 24 corresponding to the cooking menu group to which the menu item belongs is selectively turned on. The time display section 22 is also controlled by the microcomputer 16 via a display circuit 28.

Now, as shown in FIG.
A dial 29 is provided at the lower part of the device so as to be able to rotate and press. In this embodiment, the dial 29
Functions as a setting knob for the user to select and set a cooking menu, and also functions as a start button for instructing the user to start cooking. The button is provided coaxially and integrally with the setting knob.
In this case, the dial 29 is large enough to be easily operated because a plurality of conventional selection keys are not required.

When the dial 29 is turned, a pulse switch 30 (shown only in FIG. 7) is operated, and as shown in FIG. A pulse signal is input to the microcomputer 16 via a menu and time setting circuit 31. Then, when the dial 29 is pressed, a start switch 32 (shown only in FIG. 7) is operated. The signal of the start switch 32 is also input to the microcomputer 16 via the key switch circuit 33.

The microcomputer 16 stores a cooking program corresponding to each of the cooking menus related to the automatic cooking, and executes the automatic cooking in accordance with a user's selection setting. In this case, when the dial 29 is rotated, the microcomputer 16 sequentially turns on the LEDs 25 of the cooking menu display unit 23 and turns on the backlight 24 according to the turning angle of the dial 29. . In this case, as described later, the LED 25 and the backlight 24 in different cooking menu groups are sequentially turned on depending on whether the rotation direction of the dial 29 is right (clockwise) or left (counterclockwise). ing. When the user stops turning the dial 29 while the LED 25 of the desired cooking menu is lit, and presses the dial 29 in this state, the cooking menu is automatically executed. It has become.

In this embodiment, the dial 29
Below the menu, a "range", a "toaster", an "oven" or the like for executing a manual cooking menu (cooking in which the user sets the cooking mode and time arbitrarily) differently from the automatic cooking menu Manual key 34 is provided. As shown in FIG. 7, the signals of these manual keys 34 are also
The data is input to the microcomputer 16 via the key switch circuit 33. Here, when the manual cooking menu is selected, the function of the dial 29 is switched for time setting, and the cooking time can be set by a rotating operation.

In this case, as shown in FIG.
A function display lamp 35 for displaying the current function of the dial 29 is provided on the upper left of the dial 9 to indicate that the turning operation of the dial 29 can be received, and "SELECT AUTO" is lit. In some cases, the selection of the cooking menu in the automatic cooking as described above is performed by the turning operation of the dial 29, and when the “time” is lit, the time setting in the manual cooking menu is performed by the turning operation of the dial 29. It is possible to do.
The set time at this time is displayed on the time display section 22, and the cooking mode and the like are also displayed on the time display section 22 in characters.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. The food is stored in the cooking chamber 12 and the door 2
0 is closed, the microcomputer 16
Is controlled according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.

That is, when the door 20 is closed, first, "select auto" of the function display lamp 35 is turned on (step S1). Then, in this state, when any one of the manual keys 34 is pressed (Ye in step S2).
s) It is determined that the manual cooking menu has been selected, and the function display lamp 35 is switched to "time" lighting (step S3). The display of the function display lamp 35 prompts the user to execute the time setting operation.

Thereafter, when the dial 29 is rotated (Yes in step S4), the cooking time is displayed on the time display section 22 in accordance with the amount of rotation (step S5). Stops the operation when the desired time is displayed. Thus, the cooking mode and the time are set, and thereafter, when the dial 29 is pressed (started) (Yes in step S6), the cooking of the set manual cooking menu is executed. (Step S7).

On the other hand, if the user does not press the manual key 34 (No in step S2) and turns the dial 29 (Yes in step S8), it is determined that the automatic cooking course has been selected. You. Here, when the user rotates the dial 29, the LEDs 25 corresponding to the respective cooking menus of the cooking menu display unit 23 are sequentially turned on one by one. In this case, the dial 29 is turned right (clockwise). ) (Y in step S9)
es) , the LEDs 25 are lit sequentially from the top cooking menu ("rice") (step S).
10).

When the dial 29 is turned to the left (counterclockwise) (No in step S9) , the LED 2
The lighting of No. 5 proceeds in the return direction (step S11). Therefore, when the dial 29 is turned to the left from the initial state, the LED 25 of the last "pizza" comes on, and when the dial 29 is further turned to the left, the "pound cake", "Madeleine",. The LEDs 25 are sequentially turned on. The user can use such L
By turning on the ED 25, one of the cooking menus displayed on the cooking menu display section 23 is selected.

At this time, the backlight 24 is turned on together with the lighting of the LED 25 (step S12). In this case, one of the three backlights 24 is selectively used. Only the cooking menu group that is lit and to which the currently lit LED 25 cooking menu belongs is illuminated from behind and displayed brightly.

Specifically, from "rice" to "fish and shellfish"
LE of cooking menu of "warm, vegetable, thaw"
When D25 is lit, the upper portion 23a is illuminated by the backlight 24 (see FIG. 2), and when the LED 25 of the cooking menu of “heart full cooking” from “cooking rice” to “sake steaming” is lit. When the middle section 23b is illuminated by the backlight 24 (see FIG. 3) and the LED 25 of the "bread. Confectionery" cooking menu from "cookie" to "pizza" is lit, the lower section 23c
Is illuminated by the backlight 24 (see FIG. 4).

Therefore, the dial 29 is shifted from the initial state to the right.
(Clockwise), the upper part 23a
The cooking menu group at the top with the light 24 lit
("Warm. Vegetables. Thaw") is displayed, then
Selectively set from the cooking menu belonging to the cooking menu group
Is possible, and the dial 29 is set to the left (counterclockwise) from the initial state.
When it is rotated in the (rotation) direction, the backlight of the lower portion 23c is
G is lit and the bottom cooking menu group ("Bread.
Sweets ”) is displayed and belongs to the cooking menu group.
It is possible to select and set from the cooking menu to
is there. After such a cooking menu selection,
When the dial 29 is pressed (started) (Yes in step S13), the selected (lighted LE) is selected.
The cooking of the automatic cooking menu (corresponding to D25) is executed (step S14).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the functions of the conventional plurality of selection keys 2 and the start key 5 and the knob for setting the cooking time during manual cooking can be performed by one dial 29. The configuration of the operation portion of the operation panel 21 can be greatly simplified. Therefore, the dial 29 can be made large enough to be easily operated, and even if the number of cooking menus increases, the time display section 22 and the menu display section 23 can be widened to provide a cooking menu. Can be displayed in large characters. In this embodiment, one dial 2
Since the setting knob 9 is also used as both the setting knob and the start button, the number of parts is reduced correspondingly, and the configuration can be further simplified.

When the user selects and sets the cooking menu for automatic cooking, the dial 29 may be rotated, so that the operation is much simpler than the operation of pressing the selection key 2 many times. When the user selects the cooking menu related to the automatic cooking or sets the time related to the manual cooking, only one dial 29 needs to be operated.
The user does not have to hesitate which key should be operated. Further, unlike the conventional one in which the start key 5 is arranged at a position different from the selection key 2, the start button is integrated with the dial 29, so that the user has to search for the start button. The cooking can be smoothly started by a simple operation of simply pressing the dial 29 following the turning operation of the dial 29.

Further, when used for user to selectively set a desired cooking menu, only the backlight 24 corresponding to the cooking menu group belongs cooking menu to be selected is turned on, the number of cooking menus automatic cooking Even if the number increases, the display is very easy for the user to see, and the selection operation can be easily performed. At this time, dial 29
Different cooking menu groups were displayed depending on the rotation direction
Above, it is possible to set the cooking menu, so use
Is more convenient for those who use it.

As a result, according to the present embodiment, the area occupied by the operation portion in the operation panel 1 is increased, and the operation portion of the operation panel 21 is compared with the conventional operation, which is relatively complicated and cumbersome. Can be greatly simplified, and the operability when the user selects and sets a cooking menu and starts cooking can be improved. Further, an excellent practical effect that the display on the menu display section 23 can be easily viewed can be obtained.

By the way, in the above embodiment, only the cooking menu related to the automatic cooking is selected and set in the menu display section 23, but the manual cooking menu such as "Range", "Toaster", "Oven" and the like is also applicable. , Can be selected and set with the dial 29. At this time, the cooking menu group is roughly divided into an automatic cooking menu and a manual cooking menu. For example, the automatic cooking menu group can be selected, and the manual cooking menu group can be selected by rotating the dial 29 to the left. According to this, operability can be further improved.

In the above embodiment, the dial 29 in which the setting knob and the start button for instructing the start of cooking are provided is provided. However, the setting knob and the start button are provided separately. Can also be configured,
In this case, a start button may be provided at the center (inside), and a ring-shaped setting knob may be provided on the outer peripheral side. In this case, the setting knob and the start button are provided coaxially. Also, the structure of the operation portion of the operation panel can be simplified, and the operability can be improved.

In the above embodiment, the menu display unit 2
3 is provided with a backlight 24 to display a cooking menu group.
As a means to display the cooking menu group
The present invention is not limited to the backlight 24, and the present invention can be implemented with appropriate modifications without departing from the gist.

[0038]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention
According to the pressurized heat cooker, the operation panel, provided with a setting knob for selecting and setting the cooking menu by turning operation, this setting knob coaxially, for instructing start cooking by pressing Start button, and different cooking menus are displayed depending on the rotation direction of the setting knob.
Since the configuration is such that the setting of the cooking menu belonging to the cooking menu group is enabled after being shown, the configuration of the operation part of the operation panel can be simplified and the operability can be improved. It has an excellent effect of being able to do so.

[0039]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a front view of an operation panel.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state where an upper part of the cooking menu display is illuminated;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state in which a middle section of the cooking menu display section is illuminated;

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state where the lower part of the cooking menu display is illuminated;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for selecting a cooking menu.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a microwave oven.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration.

FIG. 8 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1 showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the drawing, 11 is a main body, 12 is a cooking room, 16 is a microcomputer, 21 is an operation panel, 22 is a time display unit, 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes a cooking menu display unit, 24 denotes a backlight, 25 denotes an LED, and 29 denotes a dial (setting knob, start button).

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cooking apparatus for performing heating cooking based on a set cooking menu, wherein an operation panel provided on a main body and a plurality of cooking menus provided on the operation panel are divided into a plurality of cooking menu groups. A display unit separately displayed, a setting knob provided on the operation panel for selecting and setting a cooking menu by a rotating operation, and a coaxially provided with the setting knob for indicating a cooking start by a pressing operation. A start button, and different cooking menu groups are displayed depending on the rotation direction of the setting knob.
And a cooking menu belonging to the cooking menu group.