JP3242834B2 - Input device and electromagnetic induction heating device provided therewith - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device provided in, for example, a microwave oven generally used as a household appliance and for inputting, for example, predetermined numerical values or information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an input device in an electronic device such as a microwave oven has, as shown in FIG. 6, two upper substrates 51 and lower substrates 6 made of, for example, ceramic or film.
There is a configuration in which the number 1 and the number 1 are bonded together. In this type of input device, a plurality of electrodes 52, 53, 54, and 55 are provided on an upper substrate 51 by printing carbon or the like, while a plurality of electrodes 62 are also provided on a lower substrate 61 by printing carbon or the like. , 63, 64, 65 are provided.

At this time, these electrodes 62, 63, 6
When the upper substrate 51 and the lower substrate 61 are bonded to each other, the electrodes 52, 53,
54 and 55, respectively. As a result, two opposing electrodes are brought into conduction by pressing from the outside, and a desired key of the electronic device is selected and input (hereinafter, this input device is referred to as a key unit). ).

According to the configuration of the key unit, the keys are individually provided based on the contents to be set, so that the operator can easily perform the setting simply by pressing a desired key. . The wiring 66 on the lower substrate 61
Are also provided by printing carbon or the like.

In the above-mentioned key unit, for example, when setting a time or a heating time, a predetermined key is pressed once, for example, a counter of the heating time is advanced by one second, and when it is pressed twice, it is designed to advance by two seconds. Have been. In other words, the counter advances one frame at a time by the number of times the key is pressed. The progress of the counter based on the number of times the key is pressed is referred to as the slow progress of the counter.

It is also possible to advance the counter at a high speed (to advance or delay the counter at a high speed) by pressing a predetermined key for a certain period of time. As a result, it is not necessary to press the counter once once until the counter value reaches a desired set value, and the input time can be shortened and the input operation can be simplified as compared with the case where the counter advances at a low speed. It has become.

The operation related to such time setting is described in FIG.
Is performed based on the flowchart shown in FIG. Less than,
The flow of this operation will be described.

First, step 11 (hereinafter, step is referred to as S
), It is determined whether or not a time setting key has been input by the operator. If it has not been entered, it is assumed that the time has not been set. S11
In the case where the time setting key is input at S,
At 12 the key input time (key pressing time) N becomes N
It is determined whether or not> 1 (sec). Where N
If ≤1, the process moves to S13, and the counter value X of the clock counter is set to X + 1.

In S12, if N> 1, the counter value X of the clock counter is set to X + 1 (S14), and it is determined whether or not key input is continued (whether or not the key is continuously pressed) (S14). S15). Here, if the key input is continued, the process returns to S12, and the above operation is repeated. If the key input has not been continued in S15, the counter value X in S14 is set.

On the other hand, in the input device of the electronic apparatus, there is an input device (not shown) using a rotary encoder in addition to such a key unit. In the input device, the time, the heating time, and the like are set by turning a rotary knob attached to the rotary encoder.

Also in this input device, the above setting can be performed at a low speed or a high speed depending on the rotation speed of the knob. That is, when the operator slowly turns the knob, the counter advances by, for example, one second, and when the operator further turns the knob in the same direction, the counter advances by one second. When the operator turns the knob at high speed, the counter advances at high speed. Therefore, also in the input device, it is possible to shorten the input time and to simplify the input operation as in the case of the key unit.

The time setting and the like in the input device are shown in FIG.
Is performed based on the flowchart shown in FIG. Less than,
The flow of this operation will be described.

First, in S21, it is determined whether or not the rotary encoder relating to time setting has been rotated. If it is not rotated, it is assumed that no time has been set. On the other hand, in S21, if the rotary encoder is rotating, it is determined whether or not the rotating speed N is N> 1 (times / msec) in S22. Here, if N ≦ 1, the process proceeds to S23, and the counter value X of the clock counter is set to X + 1.

In S22, if N> 1, the counter value X of the clock counter is set to X + 1 (S24), and it is determined whether or not the rotary encoder continues to be rotated (S25). Here, if the rotation is continued, the process returns to S22, and the above operation is repeated. On the other hand, S
If the rotary encoder is not being rotated at 25, the counter value X of S24 is set.

As described above, in the conventional input device as described above, the key input time (the time during which the key is kept pressed),
Alternatively, it is possible to control the progress of the counter from a minimum unit of low speed advance to a high speed advance by the rotation speed of the knob.

In an input device provided for a copying machine or the like, a configuration in which the magnitude of a key pressing force is detected as a change in electric resistance value is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-2575.
No. 15 discloses this. Thus, in the input device, the cycle of counting up and counting down can be accelerated or delayed by the pressing force of the key, so that the counter advances at a low speed and a high speed with good operability.

[0017]

However, in the input operation using the key unit, when the counter is advanced at a high speed at the time of time setting or the like, it is necessary to control the high-speed advance by the time for which the key is kept pressed. Therefore, sometimes it is necessary to keep pressing the key for a long time, which is inconvenient for the operator.

In an input device using only a rotary encoder, unlike a key unit, when the counter is advanced at a high speed, the operation can be performed in a short time only by rotating a knob. However, there is no key having individual contents set therein, so that a desired setting cannot be performed immediately and the operation is difficult to handle.

Therefore, as an input device of an electronic device such as a microwave oven, for example, as shown in FIG.
There is also an input device that combines the 73, 74 and the rotary encoder 75 and makes use of the respective characteristic portions of the key unit and the input device using the rotary encoder. However, in this case, the configuration of the device is complicated. In addition, there is a problem that the apparatus becomes expensive.

In the configuration of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-257515, since the magnitude of the pressing force of the key is detected as a change in the electric resistance value, it is indispensable to provide a resistor for each key in terms of structure. Become. For this reason, for example, as the number of keys increases, the number of resistors also increases.
There is a problem that the configuration of the apparatus becomes complicated and the cost of the apparatus itself increases.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an input device capable of improving the operability of the device and reducing the cost of the device. To provide.

[0022]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device for inputting a desired set value via a key input unit, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. A conversion unit provided in correspondence with a predetermined key of the unit, the conversion unit converting into an electric signal that changes according to the pressing force applied to the key, and setting a predetermined set value based on the electric signal converted by the conversion unit and a setting means for the co
The predetermined key is a change key for changing a set value.
And the converting means applies a pressing force to the change key.
The setting value increase resistance and the resistance value
And a bridge circuit including these resistors
And the predetermined key is a resistor for increasing the set value.
Compatible with increase key and resistance for set value decrease
The change key is composed of one change key
It is characterized by having.

According to the above configuration, a desired set value is input via the key input unit. At this time, when a predetermined key of the key input unit is pressed, an electric signal corresponding to the pressing force at that time is output by the conversion unit. Then, a predetermined setting value corresponding to the pressing force when the key is pressed is set by the setting means performing the setting based on the electric signal.

Thus, for example, in the time setting, even when setting for a long time, the time can be set immediately by adjusting the pressing force. That is, there is no need to keep pressing a predetermined key for a long time as in the related art.
Further, even in the setting of a short time, it is possible to set immediately by one pressing, and it is not necessary to keep pressing the predetermined key once until reaching the predetermined setting value as in the related art.

Therefore, according to the above configuration, since the setting is performed based on the pressing force, the predetermined setting value can be easily set in a short time by adjusting the pressing force. In addition, since the pressing force can be adjusted with a natural feeling for the operator, the setting can be performed with good operability.

The conversion means is constituted by a bridge circuit including a set value increasing resistor and a set value decreasing resistor. Thus, if the resistance of the set value increasing resistor changes due to the pressing force on the change key, for example, an electric signal corresponding to the pressing force is output from the bridge circuit and the set value increases. Further, when the resistance value of the set value decreasing resistor changes due to the pressing force, for example, the set value decreases based on an electric signal corresponding to the pressing force.

Here, the conversion means is constituted by a bridge circuit , and a predetermined key is provided for setting a resistance for increasing the set value.
Corresponding to the increase key and the set value decrease resistor
Decrease key is composed of one change key collectively
Therefore, for example, even when the increase and decrease of the set value are simultaneously input by pressing the change key, it is possible to set the one where the change amount of the resistance value is large, that is, the one where the pressing force is large.

Therefore, according to the above configuration, the bridge circuit is provided as the changing means , and the predetermined key is used to increase the set value.
Increase key and set value decrease resistance corresponding to added resistance
The reduction key corresponding to
By adopting a simple configuration that is
The set value can be increased and decreased with one change key. As a result, the number of change keys can be reduced as compared with the related art, and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

Further, even if the increase and decrease of the set value are simultaneously input by pressing the change key as described above, the setting with the larger pressing force of the change key is performed, so that the operability is improved as compared with the prior art. In addition to this, it is possible to make the response to the operator more flexible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention , in order to solve the above problem, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, an electrode is provided corresponding to a key of a key input section, and the key is pressed. It is characterized in that a desired set value is input sometimes by coming into contact with the electrode.

According to the above configuration, when a key of the key input section is pressed, the key comes into contact with an electrode provided corresponding to the key. As a result, a desired set value is immediately input. Therefore, desired settings can be made immediately and reliably, and operability of the apparatus can be improved. Further, since the above-mentioned electrodes can be formed at a low cost by, for example, carbon printing or the like, use of the above-mentioned electrodes can reduce the cost of the apparatus.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electromagnetic induction heating apparatus according to the first or second aspect of the invention.
The input device described above is provided.

According to the above configuration, the present invention provides
By using the input device described above for an electromagnetic induction heating device, it is possible to input a predetermined set value with a natural feeling by adjusting the pressing force of a predetermined key, so that an electromagnetic induction heating device with good operability is provided. be able to. In addition, since the input device can reduce the cost compared to the conventional device,
By using the input device for an electromagnetic induction heating device, an inexpensive electromagnetic induction heating device can be provided.

[0034]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The input device of the present invention is applied to an electronic device such as a microwave oven.

As shown in FIG. 1, the input device of the present invention
The upper substrate 1 (key input unit) and the lower substrate 2 are bonded together. Both the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 are made of ceramic or film.
The upper substrate 1 has a key 3 (change key) and a key 4
a, 4b are provided. The keys 4a and 4b are constituted by electrodes printed with carbon or the like. The contents set by these keys 3, 4a, 4b are different from each other. In addition to the above, for example, keys 4c, 4d,... May be provided as needed, and the number of keys is not particularly limited in the present embodiment.

The lower substrate 2 has keys 4a, 4b (4c, 4d, 4c, 4d,
..) Are provided with electrodes 5a, 5b (5c, 5d,... If necessary) by thick film printing, carbon printing, or the like. When the upper substrate 1 and the lower substrate 2 are bonded to each other and a desired key is pressed from the outside, the key and the electrode facing the key come into contact with each other.

That is, the two opposing electrodes are brought into conduction (changed from the "open" state to the "closed" state in the circuit) by the external pressure. As a result, the desired setting can be immediately and reliably performed by the desired key selected by the operator, and the operability of the apparatus can be improved. Also, the keys 4a, 4b,
Since the electrodes 5a and 5b can be formed at low cost by, for example, carbon printing or the like, the cost of the device can be reduced by using the electrodes. In addition,
The wiring 7 provided on the lower substrate 2 is also formed by carbon printing or the like.

Further, four thick-film resistors 6a formed by thick-film printing are provided on the lower substrate 2 at positions facing the keys 3.
6b, 6c and 6d (conversion means) are provided. And these four thick film resistors 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d are:
A bridge circuit as shown in FIG. 2 is configured.

That is, as shown in FIG.
And the thick film resistor 6b are connected in series, and an input voltage V is applied to both ends thereof. Similarly, the thick film resistor 6c and the thick film resistor 6d are connected in series, and an input voltage V is applied to both ends. In the figure, point D is grounded, and points A and B are connected to an amplifier circuit (not shown). As a result, the output voltage VO between AB
Are amplified at a predetermined magnification A.

Here, the four thick film resistors 6a, 6b,
The resistance values of 6c and 6d are represented by R1, R2, R3, and R, respectively.
If the input voltage V is applied between C and D in the bridge circuit, the potential VA at the point A is as follows: VA = V × {R1 / (R1 + R2)} (1) Is as follows: VB = V × {R3 / (R3 + R4)} (2) That is, the potential VA at the point A is determined by the ratio between the resistance value R1 of the thick film resistor 6a and the resistance value R2 of the thick film resistor 6b provided adjacent to the thick film resistor 6a. Similarly, the potential VB at the point B is the resistance value R3
And the resistance value R4.

In the case of this embodiment, the above four thick film resistors 6
a, 6b, 6c, 6d of resistance values R1, R2, R3, R4
Are all set equal. Therefore, the potential VA at the point A and the potential VB at the point B are calculated by the above equation (1).
From (2), VA = VB = V / 2 (3) As a result, the normal output voltage VO between AB is
From the above equation (3), VO = VA−VB = 0.

Further, the input device of the present invention is provided with a clock counter (setting means) not shown, and the clock counter outputs the output voltage V output from the bridge circuit.
A predetermined set value is set based on O.

Next, the operation of increasing or decreasing the counter based on the above configuration will be described.

When the key 3 is pressed by the operator, a physical quantity such as pressure, impact, force, load, displacement, etc. at the pressed portion changes, and the thick film resistance corresponding to the pressed portion is distorted. When the thick film resistor is distorted, the resistance value of the thick film resistor changes according to the amount of the distortion.

Here, FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the amount of distortion of the thick film resistor and the amount of change in the resistance value. From the figure, for example, when the strain amount of the thick film resistor is 0.1%, the resistance value of the thick film resistor is 0.1%.
It can be seen that it has increased by 55%. When the resistance value of the thick film resistor changes in this manner, the balance of the bridge circuit shown in FIG. 2 is lost, and an output voltage VO is generated between A and B.

Here, it is assumed that the key constituted by the thick film resistor 6d indicates, for example, "increase" (that is, the thick film resistor 6d functions as a set value increasing resistor according to claim 2). Do). At this time, when the portion of the key 3 that is opposed to the thick film resistor 6d is pressed, the higher the pressing force, the more the thick film resistor 6d is distorted, and the resistance value R4 of the thick film resistor 6d increases.

At this time, the resistance value R of the thick film resistors 6a and 6b
1, since R2 has not changed, the potential VA at the point A does not change and remains VA = V / 2. However, the potential V at point B
B has a higher voltage applied to the thick film resistor 6d than the thick film resistor 6c due to an increase in the resistance value R4 of the thick film resistor 6d.
It will be lower than before pressing. As a result, a positive output voltage VO of VA-VB is generated between AB. Since the clock counter sets a predetermined set value based on the output voltage VO, it is possible to set a counter value based on the pressing force. In other words, by adjusting the pressing force,
The counter can be increased at a low speed or a high speed.

It is also assumed that the key constituted by the thick film resistor 6b indicates, for example, "decrease" (that is, the thick film resistor 6b functions as a set value decreasing resistor according to claim 2). ). At this time, the thick film resistor 6 of the key 3
When the portion facing b is pressed, the higher the pressing force, the more the thick film resistor 6b is distorted, and the greater the resistance value R2 of the thick film resistor 6b.

At this time, the resistance value R of the thick film resistors 6c and 6d
3, since R4 has not changed, the potential VB at the point B does not change and remains at VB = V / 2. However, the potential V at point A
In A, since a larger voltage is applied to the thick film resistor 6b than to the thick film resistor 6a due to an increase in the resistance value R2 of the thick film resistor 6b,
It will be lower than before pressing. As a result, a negative output voltage VO of VA-VB is generated between AB. Since the clock counter sets a predetermined set value based on the output voltage VO, it is possible to set a counter value based on the pressing force. In other words, by adjusting the pressing force,
It becomes possible to decrease the counter at low speed or high speed.

Next, in the input device of the present invention, the time,
Alternatively, the flow of the operation for setting the heating time and the like will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step 1 (hereinafter, step is abbreviated as S), it is determined whether or not a key corresponding to time setting has been input. Here, it is assumed that the time has not been set unless the key has been input. S
If it is determined in step S1 that the key has been input, the process proceeds to step S2 to determine whether the time N during which the key is being input (pressed and held) is N> 1 (sec). I do.
At this time, if N ≦ 1, it is assumed that time setting has not been performed.

In S2, if N> 1, it is determined whether the output voltage VO between A and B is VO = 0 (S3).
At this time, if the output voltage VO = 0, the key is not depressed enough to cause distortion in the thick film resistance.
At 4, the clock counter ends with the counter value X set to X + 1. On the other hand, if the output voltage VO ≠ 0 in S3, it means that the thick film resistance is distorted. At this time, in S5, the clock counter changes the counter value X to X + 1 × (V
O × A).

Here, if the output voltage VO is large, the pressing force of the key is correspondingly large, and a high-speed advance of the counter is required. As a result, the above expression makes it possible to significantly increase the counter value X based on the output voltage VO and the magnification A of the amplifier circuit. Also, if the output voltage VO is small, the pressing force of the key is not so large, and the counter is made to advance little by little according to the above equation. In any case, the counter value X of the clock counter is set based on the output voltage VO and the magnification A of the amplifier circuit as described above.

Then, in S6, it is determined whether the key input is continued (whether the key is kept pressed). If the key input is continued, the process returns to S3, and the above operation is repeated. On the other hand, if the key input is not continued at S6, the above-described counter value X is set.

According to the above configuration, for example, even when a long time is set in the time setting, the time can be set immediately by adjusting the pressing force. That is, there is no need to keep pressing a predetermined key for a long time as in the related art. Further, even in the setting of a short time, it is possible to set immediately by one pressing, and it is not necessary to keep pressing the predetermined key once until reaching the predetermined setting value as in the related art.

Therefore, according to the above configuration, since the setting is performed based on the pressing force, a predetermined set value can be easily set in a short time by adjusting the pressing force. In addition, since the pressing force can be adjusted with a natural feeling for the operator, the setting can be performed with good operability.

Further, according to the above configuration, the thick film resistor 6a,
Since a bridge circuit is formed by 6b, 6c, and 6d, even if an increase and a decrease in the set value are input simultaneously by, for example, a pressed portion of the key 3, either input can be accepted.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, when the “increase key” and the “decrease key” are collectively configured as the key 3, for example, the “increase key” and the “decrease key” in the area E Is pressed, the increase and decrease of the set value will be input simultaneously. But,
In this case, the distortion of the thick film resistance corresponding to the “decrease key” is larger than the distortion of the thick film resistance corresponding to the “increase key”. As a result, the output voltage VO generated by pressing the “decrease key” is higher than the output voltage VO generated by pressing the “increase key”, so that the “decrease key” is accepted.

Therefore, even in the case described above, the key with the larger change amount of the resistance value, that is, the key with the larger pressing force is input, so that the response to the operator can be made more flexible. it can. Further, since the set value can be increased and decreased with one change key, the number of change keys can be reduced as compared with the conventional case, and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

When the input device as described in the present embodiment is applied to an electronic device such as a microwave oven, a predetermined set value can be input with a natural feeling by adjusting the pressing force of a predetermined key. Therefore, a microwave oven with good operability can be provided. Further, since the input device can reduce the cost as compared with the conventional one, by using the input device for a microwave oven, it is possible to provide an inexpensive microwave oven.

In this embodiment, an input device applicable to electronic equipment such as a microwave oven has been described.
Of course, the above input device can also be applied to a device for setting a numerical value without using a numeric keypad.

[0062]

As described above, the input device according to the first aspect of the present invention is provided corresponding to the predetermined key of the key input unit,
Conversion means for converting an electrical signal that varies in response to the pressing force applied to the key, together with on the basis of the converted electric signal by said converting means and a setting means for setting a predetermined set value, the The specified key is used to change the set value.
The conversion means corresponds to the change key.
Resistance value changes according to the applied pressing force.
The additional resistance and the set value reduction resistance, and these resistances are included.
And the predetermined key is set
Increase key and set value decrease corresponding to constant value increase resistance
The reduction key corresponding to the resistance is combined into one change key.
It consists of.

Therefore, since the setting is performed based on the pressing force, it is possible to easily set a predetermined set value in a short time by adjusting the pressing force. Further, since the adjustment of the pressing force can be performed with a natural feeling for the operator, the effect that the setting can be performed with good operability is also provided.

Further, a bridge circuit is provided as changing means , and the predetermined key corresponds to a set value increasing resistor.
Increase key and decrease corresponding to the set value decrease resistor
By employing a simple structure of key Ru is constituted by one change key together, it is possible to perform increase and decrease of the set value in one change key. As a result, the number of change keys can be reduced as compared with the related art, and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced. Further, even when the increase and decrease of the set value are simultaneously input by pressing the change key as described above, the setting of the larger pressing force of the change key is performed, so that the operability can be improved as compared with the related art. In addition to this, there is an effect that the response to the operator can be made more flexible.

As described above, the input device according to the second aspect of the present invention , in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, is provided with an electrode corresponding to the key of the key input section, and when the key is pressed, the electrode is connected to the electrode. In this configuration, a desired set value is input by touching.

Therefore, desired settings can be made immediately and reliably, and the operability of the apparatus can be improved. Further, since the above-mentioned electrodes can be formed at a low cost by, for example, carbon printing or the like, the use of the above-mentioned electrodes also has an effect that the cost of the device can be reduced.

An electromagnetic induction heating device according to a third aspect of the present invention has a configuration including the input device according to the first or second aspect as described above .

Therefore, by using the input device according to claim 1 or 2 for an electromagnetic induction heating device, it is possible to input a predetermined set value with a natural feeling by adjusting the pressing force of a predetermined key. It is possible to provide an electromagnetic induction heating device with good operability. Further, since the input device can reduce the cost as compared with the conventional one, the use of the input device for an electromagnetic induction heating device has the effect of providing an inexpensive electromagnetic induction heating device. Play together.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of an input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram including a plurality of thick film resistors in the input device.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of distortion of the thick film resistor and the amount of change in the resistance value.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation in the input device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which an “increase key” and a “decrease key” are configured as one key;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional input device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation in the input device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation in another conventional input device.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of still another conventional input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper substrate (key input part) 3 Key (change key) 5a Electrode 5b Electrode 6a Thick film resistance (conversion means) 6b Thick film resistance (conversion means, resistance for decreasing set value) 6c Thick film resistance (conversion means) 6d thickness Membrane resistance (conversion means, resistance for increasing set value)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An input device for inputting a desired set value via a key input unit, wherein the input device is provided in correspondence with a predetermined key of the key input unit and changes in response to a pressing force applied to the key. conversion means for converting the signals and on the basis of the converted electric signal by said converting means and a setting means for setting a predetermined set value
In both cases, the predetermined key is a change key for changing a set value.
The conversion means responds to the pressing force on the change key.
The setting value increasing resistor and the setting
A resistor for decreasing the fixed value and a bridge circuit including these resistors
And the predetermined key is a resistor for increasing the set value.
Corresponds to the corresponding increase key and set value decrease resistor.
Key is composed of one change key.
Input device according to claim Rukoto. An electrode is provided corresponding to a key of a key input section.
The key is in contact with the electrode when pressed.
2. The setting value of (1) is input.
Input device. 3. An input device according to claim 1, further comprising :
Electromagnetic induction heating device.