JP3291816B2 - Food temperature measurement method and cooking utensil using the same - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for measuring a food temperature for automatic cooking and a cooking apparatus using the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of cooking utensil (here, a microwave oven) has a turntable 3 for placing food 2 in a cooking chamber 1 as shown in FIG. A cooking means 4, a non-contact infrared sensor 5 for detecting the temperature of the food 2, and a cooking control means 6 for controlling the cooking means 4 based on the output of the infrared sensor 5.

[0003] The cooking means 4 comprises an oven heater or a magnetron, and heats and cooks the food 2 in accordance with a control amount given from the cooking control means 6.

In the case of a microwave oven, the food 2 is rotated by the turntable 3 in order to reduce uneven heating that occurs when the food 2 is heated by radio waves.

[0005] The infrared sensor 5 is a one-element type infrared sensor having a wide field of view, and is fixed to the ceiling of the cooking chamber 1, from the food 2 placed near the center of the turntable 3 through the opening window 7. The emitted heat energy is detected in a non-contact manner and converted into temperature. The temperature measurement area of the infrared sensor, that is, the infrared detection spot 12 is formed around the center point of the turntable 3 as shown in FIG. 9, and the position of the infrared detection spot 12 is fixed even if the turntable 3 rotates.

[0006] The cooking control means 6 receives temperature information output from the infrared sensor 5 during the cooking of the food 2 by the cooking means 4. When this temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, automatic cooking is realized by terminating the heating or changing the heating pattern of the cooking means 4 according to the menu to be cooked.

[0007]

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, there is a problem that only the food placed near the center of the turntable at the detection spot of the infrared sensor can be measured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a method for accurately measuring the surface temperature of food without depending on how to place the food, and a cooking utensil using the method. The purpose is.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides an infrared sensor for detecting the surface temperature of a food placed on a turntable in a non-contact manner, and an infrared sensor on the turntable. Sensor moving means for freely moving the detected spot position according to the above, temperature data storing means for storing temperature data detected corresponding to each of the detected spot positions, and a turntable for food based on the temperature data
Food rotation radius calculation means for calculating the upper radius position.
Then, based on the calculated position information, the detection spot is detected.
The present invention provides a food temperature measurement method for accurately detecting a food temperature by moving the food temperature . A cooking appliance using this measurement method had the following configuration.

[0010] Cooking means for cooking food, a turntable on which the food is placed, an infrared sensor for detecting the surface temperature of the food in a non-contact manner, and the position of the spot detected by the infrared sensor is determined by the radius of the turntable. Sensor moving means for freely moving on the top, temperature data storage means for storing temperature data detected corresponding to each of the detected spot positions, and a food for calculating a turning radius of the food based on the temperature data After the rotation radius of the food is calculated, the sensor moving unit moves the detection spot position of the infrared sensor to the rotation radius position to detect the temperature, and detects the temperature based on the temperature data. And control means for controlling the control.

The food turning radius detecting means and the sensor moving means calculate the first turning radius of the food by the above method, and then detect the infrared spot at the first detection.
Move to the calculated radius of rotation on the radius in the opposite direction to
Then , a repetitive scan is performed with a run-out width smaller than the radius of the turntable around the rotational radius position, and a second rotational radius of the food is calculated.

The sensor moving means may include at least one
It has two rotation axes, and the detection spot position of the infrared sensor is moved on a turntable by alternately swinging clockwise and counterclockwise around the rotation axes.

Further, another means of the present invention is a cooking means for cooking food, a turntable on which the food is placed, an infrared sensor for detecting the surface temperature of the food in a non-contact manner, and an infrared sensor. A sensor moving means for freely moving the detected spot position on the diameter of the turntable; a temperature data storing means for storing temperature data detected corresponding to each of the detected spot positions; A food turning radius calculating means for calculating the turning radius of the food, and after the turning radius of the food is calculated, the sensor moving means moves the detection spot position of the infrared sensor to the turning radius position to detect the temperature. And cooking control means for controlling the cooking means based on the temperature data on the radius.

Further, the food turning radius calculating means and the sensor moving means calculate the first turning radius of the food by the above-mentioned method, and then detect the infrared detection spot on the radius in a direction opposite to that in the first detection. It is configured to move to the calculated radius of gyration position, repeat scanning with a swing width smaller than the radius of the turntable around the radius of gyration position, and calculate the second radius of gyration of the food.

After the turning radius of the food is detected, the detection spot position of the infrared sensor is moved from the center of the turntable to one of the turning radius positions by the sensor moving means to wait for the food and detect the food temperature. Subsequently, the detection spot is moved from the rotation center to the other rotation radius position, and the operation of waiting for the food half-turned by the turntable and detecting the food temperature is alternately repeated.

[0016]

According to the present invention, a food rotating table is provided by the above-described structure.
It can be calculated the position of (the radius from the rotation center), this
The temperature of the food rotating on the turntable can be accurately measured based on the calculated position information .

That is, the infrared sensor detection spot can scan the entire turntable by the swing motion of the infrared detection spot position in the radiation direction and the rotation of the turntable by the sensor moving means. Therefore, no matter where the food is placed on the turntable, the food can be identified from the temperature difference between the food and the turntable itself, and the distance between the center of the food and the center of the turntable, i.e., the food The turning radius can be calculated.

However, when the size of the food is as small as the infrared detection spot, the positional relationship between the food and the infrared detection spot does not completely match depending on the scanning timing. Therefore, in such a case, the food temperature cannot always be detected accurately. Therefore, after the rotation radius of the food is calculated, the food and the detection spot position of the infrared sensor can be matched by fixing the detection spot position of the infrared sensor on the rotation radius and measuring the temperature data. Thus, the food temperature can be accurately detected.

The turning radius of the food is determined by first scanning the entire radius of the turntable, and then scanning in a narrower range than the first time around the determined turning radius position to more accurately rotate the food. This is to find the radius.

By providing the swing center of the infrared detection spot between the center of the turntable and the end of the object to be measured, a detection spot having a substantially uniform size is obtained.

According to another configuration, the infrared sensor detection spot can scan the entire turntable while the turntable makes a half turn due to the swing motion of the position of the infrared detection spot on the turntable diameter and the rotation motion of the turntable. . Therefore, no matter where the food is placed on the turntable, the food can be determined from the temperature difference between the food and the turntable itself, and the radial position of the food from the center of the turntable can be specified. However, when the size of the food is as small as that of the infrared detection spot, the overlapping positional relationship between the food and the infrared detection spot does not completely match depending on the scanning timing. Therefore, in such a case, the food temperature is not always accurately detected. Therefore, after the rotation radius of the food is detected, the detection spot position of the infrared sensor is moved to the rotation radius on the rotation radius, and the food and the detection spot position of the infrared sensor can be matched by waiting for the food. The temperature can be detected accurately.

After the first turning radius of the food is obtained by the above method, the detected spot is moved to the detected turning radius position on the radius in the opposite direction, and the center of the turning radius position is smaller than the turning table radius. Swing with the swing width,
It is intended to obtain a more accurate food turning radius.

After the rotation radius of the food is detected, the infrared detection spot is alternately moved to the food rotation radius position on both sides of the rotation center, and the temperature is detected each time the food makes a half turn.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. According to the present invention, the temperature of the food placed on the turntable is detected in a non-contact manner by infrared rays in a spot manner, and the position of the detected spot is moved on the turntable. The temperature data detected corresponding to each detected spot position is stored, and the shape of the food is calculated from the temperature data by utilizing the fact that the temperature is different between the food and the mounting table. Therefore, the present invention is a method capable of specifying an arbitrary location of food and measuring the temperature.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1, 1 is a cooking room, 2 is food, 3 is a turntable for eliminating uneven heating of the food 2, 4
Is a cooking means such as a magnetron. Reference numeral 5 denotes an infrared sensor which detects the temperature of food or the like via an opening window 7 provided above the cooking chamber 1. Reference numeral 8 denotes a sensor moving means for freely moving the position of the detection spot 12 of the infrared sensor 5 from the center 3a of the turntable 3 to the measurement target end 3b. Reference numeral 6 denotes a cooking control means for controlling the cooking means 4 and the turntable motor 11 for driving the turntable 3, and the like. 9
Is a temperature data storage means for storing and holding the temperature data output from the infrared sensor 5 for at least one rotation of the turntable. Numeral 10 denotes a food turning radius calculating means for calculating the distance from the turntable center of the food 2, that is, the turning radius of the food 2 from the turntable center, from the information in the temperature data storage means 9.

In the above configuration, the food 2 is subjected to a cooking process such as heating by the cooking means 4 while being rotated by the turntable 3.
In order for the infrared sensor 5 to detect the temperature of the food 2 during cooking, first, the turning radius R of the food 2 from the turntable center 3a is determined. The position of the infrared detection spot 12 of the infrared sensor 5 is scanned by the sensor moving means 8 so as to cover the measurement target end 3b from the turntable center 3a as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the entire surface of the turntable 3 is scanned together with the rotation of the turntable 3. Note that the infrared detection spot 12 is a solid angle area when infrared energy emitted from an object is incident on the infrared sensor 5. The temperature data detected in this way is stored in the temperature data storage means 9 in time series. When the data for at least one turn of the turntable 3 is completed, the food 2 and the detection spot 1
The data when 2 overlaps is extracted. This is determined from the difference between the surface temperature of the turntable 3 and the temperature of the food 2. Food 2
Is defined by a distance R from the turntable center 3a when the maximum value of the detected temperature data is output, and the food 2 is rotated by the turntable 3 with a radius R.

However, the timing of the scanning of the detection spot 12 in the radial direction and the timing of the movement of the food 2 in the rotation direction do not always completely coincide with each other. For example, as shown in FIG. When it comes to the position of the food 2a, it overlaps with the food 2a at the timing of A, and when it comes to the position of the radius R again after continuously scanning another position on the radius, the food 2b
May be encountered at the timing of B. In such a case, the approximate rotation radius R of the food 2 can be obtained, but the temperature of the food 2 cannot be accurately detected. This is because the food 2 and the detection spot 12 do not completely overlap.

After determining the radius of gyration R, FIG.
As shown in FIG.
It is fixed at a distance R from a and waits for the food 2 to move to the position again by the turntable 3. By doing so, the food 2 and the detection spot 12 can be matched as shown in FIG. 3B, and more accurate temperature detection is possible. However, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the food rotation radius is calculated at a timing such that the food 2 and the detection spot 12 overlap with a slight shift, the detection spot 12 is on standby at a distance R1 from the turntable center 3a. However, accurate temperature detection cannot be performed because the temperature does not completely overlap with the food 2.

Therefore, the detection spot 12 is repeatedly scanned with the swing width d around the once determined radius of rotation R1, and the radius of rotation R2 of the food 2 is determined again. Note that the runout width d is set to a value smaller than the radius D of the turntable 3. With such a configuration, the detection spot 12 and the food 2 can be almost completely overlapped, and accurate temperature detection can be performed.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the sensor moving means 8, in which the infrared sensor 5 attached to the rotating shaft 8b performs a swing operation in conjunction with the rotating operation of the rotating shaft 8b of the motor 8a. . 2A and 2B show the same thing from two perpendicular directions, and the infrared sensor 5 includes a sensor element 5a, a lens 5b, and the like. By appropriately setting the swing angle θ of the infrared sensor 5 in such a configuration, the infrared detection spot 12 can scan on the radius of the turntable 3. The rotation shaft 8b is attached to the outside of the cooking chamber 1 above the center 3a of the turntable 3 and the end 3b to be measured, and the inside of the cooking chamber 1 is viewed through the opening window 7 to detect the rotation. The spot diameter of the spot 12 on the turntable 3 can be made substantially uniform. Therefore, the temperature can be detected under substantially the same condition even when the rotation radius of the food 2 is different.

According to the configuration of this embodiment, the temperature of the food surface can be detected in a non-contact and accurate manner regardless of where the food 2 as small as the diameter of the infrared detection spot 12 is placed on the turntable 3. effective.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, the sensor moving means 8 can freely move the position of the detection spot 12 of the infrared sensor 5 on the diameter between the center 3a of the turntable 3 and the measurement target end 3b or the measurement target end 3c in the opposite direction. it can. The temperature data storage means 9 can store and hold the temperature data output from the infrared sensor 5 for at least a half turn of the turntable.

In the above configuration, the food 2 is subjected to cooking processing such as heating by the cooking means 4 while being rotated by the turntable 3.
In order to detect the temperature of the food 2 during cooking with the infrared sensor 5, first, a distance R from the turntable center 3a of the food 2 is obtained. 7A, the position of the infrared detection spot 12 of the infrared sensor 5 is covered by the sensor moving means 8 so as to cover the diameter from the center 3a of the turntable to the end 3b to be measured and the end 3c to be measured on the opposite side. Repeat scan as shown. Therefore, the entire surface of the turntable can be scanned while the turntable 3 makes a half turn together with the rotation operation of the turntable 3.
The temperature data detected in this manner is stored in the temperature data storage means 9 in time series, and when data for at least a half turn of the turntable 3 is completed, the data when the food 2 and the detection spot 12 overlap are stored. Extract. This is a turntable 3
And the temperature of the food 2 can be determined. However, the timing of the scanning of the detection spot 12 in the radial direction does not always completely coincide with the timing of the movement of the food 2 in the rotation direction. For example, as shown in FIG. When it comes to the position of the distance R1, it overlaps with the food 2a at the timing of A, and after scanning the position on another radius continuously, it comes into contact with the food 2b at the timing of B when it comes to the position of the distance R1 again. There are cases like this. In such a case, the approximate rotation radius R1 of the food 2 can be obtained, but the temperature of the food 2 cannot be accurately detected. This is because the food 2 and the detection spot 12 do not completely overlap.

Therefore, after the rotation radius R1 of the first food 2 is determined for the first time, the detection spot 12 is moved to the rotation radius position in the direction opposite to the center of the turntable as shown in FIG.
While repeating the scanning with the point as the center of the swing width d, the apparatus waits for the food 2 to make a half turn by the turntable 3. This food 2 is captured, and the turning radius R2 of the food 2 is obtained again. Note that the runout width d is set to a value smaller than the radius D of the turntable 3. With this configuration, the detection spot 12 and the food 2 can be almost completely overlapped, and a more accurate rotation radius of the food 2 can be calculated while the turntable 3 makes a half turn, so that accurate temperature detection can be performed.

After the rotation radius R2 of the food 2 is determined, the infrared detection spots 12 are alternately moved to the positions of the distance R2 on both sides of the rotation center 3a as shown in FIG.
The temperature is detected twice during the circulation. In addition, infrared spot 12
Represents 12a when it is on one radius of the turntable 3 and 12b when it is on the other radius.

According to the configuration of this embodiment, no matter where the food 2 as small as the diameter of the infrared detection spot 12 is placed on the turntable 3, non-contact and accurate food surface temperature can be detected in a short time. There is an effect that can be.

Although the above-described embodiment uses the system using only one infrared sensor, it goes without saying that the use of two or more infrared sensors enables accurate and accurate food temperature detection in a shorter time. No.

[0038]

As described above, the cooking device of the present invention has the following effects.

[0039] (1) Since the food position on the turntable of the food be situated anywhere in the turntable (radius from the rotation center) is calculated, it is possible to identify the temperature measurement position, the calculation The temperature of the place of the food rotating on the turntable can be accurately measured based on the obtained position information .

(2) Regardless of where the food is placed on the turntable, the radius of rotation of the food from the center of the turntable can be calculated. Therefore, after calculating the radius of gyration, the detection spot position of the infrared sensor is moved over the radius of gyration, and it becomes possible to wait for the food moving by the turntable, and to match the detection spot position of the food with the infrared sensor. Food temperature can be accurately detected.

(3) Regarding the calculation of the turning radius of the food,
First, the infrared detection spot is scanned over the entire radius of the turntable to obtain an approximate radius of rotation, and then, by repeatedly scanning the obtained radius of rotation as a center in a narrower range than the first time, the food can be accurately detected. The turning radius can be obtained, and an accurate temperature detecting device can be realized.

(4) The sensor moving means is configured to repeatedly swing the detection spot of the infrared sensor from the center of the turntable to the end of the object to be measured by swinging around the rotation axis in a swinging manner. By providing the center of the swing of the infrared detection spot between the center of the turntable and the end of the object to be measured, the size of the detection spot becomes more uniform, and an accurate temperature detection device can be realized.

A cooking device using another means of the present invention has the following effects. (5) Since the infrared detection spot is scanned on the diameter of the turntable, the radius of rotation of the food can be calculated while the turntable makes a half turn, and accurate temperature detection can be performed in a short time.

(6) After scanning the infrared detection spot on the diameter of the turntable to determine the turning radius of the food, the detecting spot is moved to the detected turning radius position on the reverse radius, and the point is set. By repeating scanning with a runout smaller than the radius of the turntable as the center, a more accurate radius of rotation of the food can be obtained.

(7) After the turning radius of the food is calculated,
In order to alternately move the infrared detection spot to the turning radius position on both sides of the rotation center of the turntable and wait for food,
Highly accurate temperature detection can be performed in a short time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another explanatory diagram of the operation in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another operation explanatory view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partially detailed explanatory view of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of one embodiment of another means of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is another operation explanatory view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a system configuration diagram of a conventional cooking appliance.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cooking room 2 Food 3 Turntable 4 Cooking means 5 Infrared sensor 6 Cooking control means 8 Sensor moving means 9 Temperature data storage means 10 Food radius position detection means 12 Detection spot

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Hideki Terasawa 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-56-69794 (JP, A) JP-A-58- 108335 (JP, A) JP-A-60-235388 (JP, A) JP-A-57-41528 (JP, A) JP-A-5-87344 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. ⁷ , DB name) F24C 7/02

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cooking means for cooking food, a turntable on which the food is placed, an infrared sensor for detecting the surface temperature of the food in a non-contact manner, and a turntable for detecting the position of the spot detected by the infrared sensor. Sensor moving means for freely moving on the radius of the sensor, temperature data storage means for storing temperature data detected corresponding to each of the detected spot positions, and calculating a turning radius of the food based on the temperature data. After the rotation radius of the food is calculated, the sensor movement unit moves the detection spot position of the infrared sensor to the rotation radius position to detect the temperature, and detects temperature data on the radius. And a cooking control means for controlling the cooking means based on the cooking device. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rotation radius calculating means for the food and the sensor moving means calculate the first rotation radius of the food by the method and then detect the infrared spot at the time of the first detection.
Is moved to the above calculated radius of gyration on the radius in the opposite direction.
Allowed, cookware the rotation radius position repeatedly scanned with smaller amplitude than turntable radius around the claim 1, wherein the calculating the radius of rotation of the second food. 3. The sensor moving means has at least one rotation axis, and alternately swings clockwise and counterclockwise around the rotation axis to shift the detection spot position of the infrared sensor on the turntable. The cooking utensil according to claim 1 , wherein the cooking utensil is configured to move. 4. A cooking means for cooking food, a turntable on which the food is placed, an infrared sensor for detecting the surface temperature of the food in a non-contact manner, and a turntable for detecting the position of the spot detected by the infrared sensor. Sensor moving means for freely moving on the diameter of the sensor, temperature data storing means for storing temperature data detected corresponding to each of the detected spot positions, and calculating a turning radius of the food based on the temperature data. After the rotation radius of the food is calculated, the sensor movement unit moves the detection spot position of the infrared sensor to the rotation radius position to detect the temperature, and detects temperature data on the radius. And a cooking control means for controlling the cooking means based on the cooking device. 5. The food rotation radius calculation means and the sensor movement means, after calculating the first food rotation radius by the method, set the infrared detection spot on a radius in a direction opposite to that in the first detection. 4. The cooking method according to claim 3, wherein the food is moved to the calculated radius of gyration position, and a repetitive scan is performed around the radius of gyration position with a swing width smaller than the radius of the turntable to calculate a second gyration radius of the food. Appliances. 6. After the turning radius of the food is detected, the detection spot position of the infrared sensor is moved from the center of the turntable to one of the turning radius positions by the sensor moving means to wait for the food and reduce the food temperature. detecting, followed by claim 4 where the structure repeats alternately the operation of waiting for the food to come half turn detecting food temperature by turntable detection spot is moved from the rotation center to the other radial position Cookware.