JP3624796B2 - Information exchange system between electric rice cooker and electric water heater - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information exchange system between an electric rice cooker and an electric water heater, and more particularly to a system that informs the user of the operating state of the electric water heater when the user operates the electric rice cooker.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, many home electric appliances (hereinafter referred to as home appliances) are equipped with microprocessors and are becoming multi-functional. Further, with the progress of communication technology centering on personal computers, it is becoming practical to exchange data by connecting personal computers and video / audio equipment such as television receivers to each other. In the future, it is said that the fusion of personal computers and home appliances, and further the networking of home appliances using computer communication technology will progress.
[0003]
Conventionally, research on networking of home appliances has been conducted mainly on video and audio equipment. Even in relatively high-function household appliances such as microwave ovens (microwave heating cookers), application of computer communication technology such as obtaining recipes via a network has been proposed, and products having such functions have been proposed. It has been put into practical use. However, little research has been done on networking of home appliances with relatively limited functions such as an electric rice cooker (hereinafter referred to as a rice cooker) and an electric water heater (hereinafter referred to as an electric kettle).
[0004]
On the other hand, most recent rice cookers are equipped with a microprocessor. The microprocessor finely adjusts the heating based on detection information from the temperature sensor or the like, and executes predetermined rice cooking control according to a program stored in the built-in ROM. In addition, many have a real-time clock function and can make a reservation setting (cooking rice reservation) of the cooking time. Some electric pots are equipped with a microprocessor, and control of the insulation temperature, monitoring of the amount of hot water, display, and the like are realized by controlling the microprocessor.
[0005]
However, connecting rice cookers and electric pots for exchanging information has not been performed in the past, and each device has only independently cooked rice or hot water. In other words, in the field of product development, rice cookers and electric pots are designed as separate home appliances, and are not designed from the viewpoint of exchanging information by connecting the two.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Although the rice cooker and the electric pot are independent devices having different functions, they are often related to each other in use. For example, when eating, it is necessary to be able to cook and eat rice, and to be able to drink hot water and drink tea.
[0007]
However, for example, when rice is cooked by a rice cooker and an attempt is made to start a meal, the user may notice that there is no hot water in the electric pot or the remaining amount is low. Or you may notice that the electric pot is de-energized. As a result, if necessary, water is supplied to the electric kettle, energized, and after the start of boiling water, it waits until the hot water is boiled. In such a case, if the amount of remaining hot water in the electric pot can be known at the time when the rice cooker is operated, it will be a more convenient home appliance for the user.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the problems as described above, and the user operates one device of the rice cooker and the electric pot by connecting the rice cooker and the electric pot to exchange information. An object is to provide an information exchange system that informs the user of the operating state of the other device.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the information exchange system between the electric rice cooker and the electric water heater according to the present invention, the electric rice cooker having the communication means and the electric water heater having the communication means are connected to each other by communication, and the electric rice cooker starts the rice cooking When an operation or setting operation for rice cooking reservation is performed, a hot water amount check request is transmitted to the electric water heater, and when the electric water heater receives a hot water amount check request from the electric rice cooker, information on the remaining hot water amount is stored in the electric rice cooker. The electric rice cooker performs display or audio output based on the information regarding the remaining hot water amount received from the electric water heater. For example, the remaining hot water amount is displayed as a numerical value or a bar graph. Alternatively, when the remaining hot water amount is smaller than a predetermined hot water amount, a notification is given by blinking display or buzzer output. Thereby, the user can know the amount of hot water remaining in the electric water heater on the spot when performing the rice cooking start or reservation setting operation of the electric rice cooker.
[0012]
In another embodiment, the electric rice cooker transmits a hot water temperature check request to the electric water heater as the rice cooking start operation or the rice cooking reservation setting operation is performed, and the electric water heater is from the electric rice cooker. When the hot water temperature check request is received, information about the hot water temperature (the temperature of the hot water or the set hot water temperature) is transmitted to the electric rice cooker, and the electric rice cooker is based on the information about the hot water temperature received from the electric water heater. A predetermined display or audio output. Thus, the user can know the hot water temperature and the set hot water temperature while the electric water heater is kept warm when the start of rice cooking or the reservation setting operation of the electric rice cooker is performed.
[0013]
In yet another embodiment, the electric rice cooker having the communication means and the electric water heater having the communication means are connected to each other by communication, and the electric rice cooker is subjected to the start operation of rice cooking or the setting completion operation of the rice cooking reservation. Accordingly, the hot water amount check request is transmitted to the electric water heater, and the electric water heater receives the hot water amount check request from the electric rice cooker and outputs a notification when the remaining hot water amount is smaller than the predetermined hot water amount. That is, instead of (or transmitting) information on the amount of remaining hot water to the electric rice cooker, the electric water heater uses a notification means such as a buzzer provided to the user to inform the user that the amount of remaining hot water is small. Inform. When the electric water heater is placed near the electric rice cooker, the user can know that the amount of remaining hot water in the electric pot is small by this method.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
First, various known techniques can be used for communication means for exchanging information between an electric rice cooker (hereinafter, rice cooker) and an electric water heater (hereinafter, electric pot). For example, if serial communication based on standards such as RS232C and RS422 is used, information can be easily exchanged. Alternatively, a method of performing data transmission via the indoor wiring of the commercial power supply by superimposing the data-modulated high frequency signal on the commercial power supply voltage (AC 100 V) has been put into practical use.
[0016]
Furthermore, it is also possible to use a USB or IEEE1394 interface that is expected to become the mainstream of data transmission between personal computers and peripheral devices. Further, not limited to wired communication, a wireless communication interface called Bluetooth may be used. In the future, if networking of home appliances such as personal computers becomes common, rice cookers and electric pots may be connected to the network, and data communication between them will be possible.
[0017]
In the following description, the specific communication means between the rice cooker and the electric pot is not particularly limited, and the contents of information transmitted through any communication means and control using the information will be focused on. . Further, the physical communication line and its connection connector are not particularly shown. It is assumed that the rice cooker and the electric kettle are equipped with means (interface) for communication using a commercial power line or wireless communication.
[0018]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electric pot 1 and a rice cooker 2 connected via communication means. The electric pot 1 includes a water amount sensor 11, a temperature sensor 12, an operation panel 13, a display unit 14, a control unit 15, a buzzer 16, a communication interface 17, a discharge pump 18, and a heater 19. Both the detection signal of the water amount sensor 11 for detecting the remaining hot water amount and the detection signal of the temperature sensor 12 for detecting the hot water temperature (water temperature) are input to the control unit 15.
[0019]
The operation panel 13 is used to perform operations such as hot water supply and temperature setting, and an operation signal is input to the control unit 15. The display unit 14 includes a remaining hot water amount display unit that displays a bar graph of the remaining hot water amount (water amount), and a hot water temperature display unit that displays a current hot water temperature and a set hot water temperature. The buzzer 16 is used for notifying the boiling of hot water and for warning when the remaining hot water amount is low. The communication interface 17 is a communication means for performing communication with the rice cooker 2, and any known means can be used regardless of wired or wireless as described above. The discharge pump 18 is an electric pump for discharging hot water in the tank of the electric pot 1 from the spout (hot water supply). The heater 19 is a heater for boiling hot water, and is provided at the tank bottom of the electric pot 1.
[0020]
The control unit 15 is configured by a microprocessor or the like, and processes detection signals of the water amount sensor 11 and the temperature sensor 12 and input signals from the operation panel 13 according to a program stored in a built-in ROM (read only memory). The drive control of the display unit 14, the ringing control of the buzzer 16, the drive control of the discharge pump 18, the energization control of the heater 19, etc. are performed. It also controls communication performed with the rice cooker 2 via the communication interface 17.
[0021]
FIG. 2 is an external view of the electric pot 1 as viewed from the front. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the electric pot 1 as viewed from the side. A heater 19 is provided at the bottom of a tank 30 made of double stainless steel with an air layer interposed therebetween. At the bottom of the electric pot 1, a control board 15A on which a microprocessor (control unit 15) is mounted and a discharge pump 18 are provided.
[0022]
An operation panel unit 13 and a hot water temperature display unit 14 </ b> A are provided on the upper surface of the main body located in front of the upper lid 31. On the front surface of the main body, a remaining hot water amount display portion 14B for displaying the remaining hot water amount (water amount) in the tank 30 is provided. The remaining hot water amount display unit 14 </ b> B performs bar graph display of the remaining hot water amount using six red LEDs (light emitting diodes) 32. That is, when the water is full, the six LEDs 32 are turned on, and the LEDs 32 are turned off sequentially from the top LED 32 as the amount of hot water decreases. Inside the remaining hot water display 14B, there is provided a water amount sensor 11 for detecting the remaining hot water amount in the vertical discharge pipe from the discharge pump 18 provided at the bottom of the electric pot 1 to the upper discharge port 33.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 4, the water amount sensor 11 is arranged such that six pairs of light emitting elements 35 and light receiving elements 36 are substantially opposed to each other with a discharge pipe 34 made of a transparent glass tube interposed therebetween (in FIG. 4, two pairs). Only drawn). Since the discharge pipe 34 communicates with the tank 30, if the hot water level in the discharge pipe 34 is detected, the hot water level in the tank 30, that is, the remaining hot water amount is detected.
[0024]
Each pair of the light emitting element 35 and the light receiving element 36 has such a positional relationship that the light emitted from the light emitting element 35 reaches the light receiving element 36 when there is no water in the discharge pipe 34 but does not reach when there is water. It has become. That is, utilizing the fact that the optical path changes due to the difference in refractive index between water and air, the light receiving element 36 above the water surface 37 receives light from the light emitting element 35 and generates a predetermined light reception signal. The lower light receiving element 36 is configured not to receive light from the light emitting element 35.
[0025]
If all six light receiving elements 36 generate light reception signals, the tank 30 is substantially empty, and if all six light receiving elements 36 do not generate light reception signals, the tank 30 is substantially full. Six pairs of light emitting elements 35 and light receiving elements 36 are arranged at regular intervals, and light receiving signals are generated in order from the top light receiving element 36 as the amount of remaining hot water decreases from the full state.
[0026]
The light reception signals (remaining hot water amount detection signals) of the six light receiving elements 36 are input to the control unit 15, and by the processing of the control unit (microprocessor) 15, the remaining hot water amount display by the six LEDs 32 of the remaining hot water display unit 14 </ b> B described above. (Bar graph display) is performed. Further, the control unit 15 sounds the buzzer 16 and generates an alarm for a predetermined time when all of the six light receiving elements 36 are generating a light reception signal, that is, when the remaining hot water amount is substantially empty.
[0027]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the operation panel 13 and the hot water temperature display portion 14 </ b> A of the electric pot 1. The operation panel 13 includes a hot water supply switch 38, a release switch 39, a heat retention switch 40, a boiling switch 41, and a kitchen timer switch 42. When the hot water supply switch 38 is pressed, the discharge pump 18 is activated and the hot water in the tank 30 is discharged from the discharge port 33. However, for safety, pressing of the hot water supply switch 38 is effective for a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) after the release switch 39 is pressed. During this period, the release indicator (LED) 39a is lit.
[0028]
By pressing the heat retention switch 40, the heat retention (setting) temperature can be set. As shown in the lower part of the hot water temperature display portion 14A, three temperatures of 98 ° C., 90 ° C., and 60 ° C. can be set. The current set temperature is indicated by a triangular mark, and the triangular mark moves sequentially over 98 (° C.), 90 (° C.), and 60 (° C.) each time the heat retention switch 40 is pressed. In the heat insulation state, the heat insulation indicator 40a is turned on.
[0029]
The boiling switch 41 is pressed when (re) boiling is performed. During the boiling operation, the boiling indicator 41a is turned on. The kitchen timer switch 42 is pressed when executing the kitchen timer function using the 2-digit 7-segment display of the hot water temperature display unit 14A as an additional function. Each time the key is pressed, the timer display (set time) is incremented by one minute. If the kitchen timer switch 42 is not pressed again within 3 seconds, the timer counts down. The 2-digit 7-segment display of the hot water temperature display unit 14A normally displays the hot water temperature in the tank 30 detected by the temperature sensor 12.
[0030]
Referring back to the block diagram of FIG. 1, the rice cooker 2 includes a temperature sensor 21, a communication interface 22, an operation panel 23, a control unit 24, a buzzer 25, a heater 26, and a display unit 27. The temperature sensor 21 is used to detect the temperature of the inner pot, and the detection signal is input to the control unit 24. The communication interface 22 is a communication means for performing communication with the electric pot 1, and any known means can be used regardless of wired or wireless as described above. The operation panel 23 is used to perform operations such as start of rice cooking, time setting, setting of reserved rice cooking, and the operation signal is input to the control unit 24.
[0031]
The buzzer 25 is used for notification of cooking. Moreover, it is used also for the alarm of the state of the electric pot 1 obtained by communication. The heater 26 includes a main heater for cooking rice, a heater for keeping warm, and a heater for preventing condensation. The display unit 27 is used for displaying the rice cooking mode, displaying the current time, displaying the rice cooking reservation time, and the like. It is also used to display the state of the electric pot 1 obtained by communication.
[0032]
The control unit 24 is configured by a microprocessor or the like, and processes the detection signal of the temperature sensor 21 and the input signal from the operation panel 23 according to a program stored in a built-in ROM (read only memory), and Drive control, buzzer 25 ringing control, heater 26 energization control, and the like are performed. It also controls communication performed with the electric pot 1 via the communication interface 22.
[0033]
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view seen from the side of the rice cooker 2. A main heater 26A is provided so as to cover the bottom of the inner hook 44, and a ring-shaped heat retaining heater 26B is provided on the side of the protective frame 44a. Further, a ring-shaped dew condensation prevention heater 26 </ b> C for heating the inner lid 45 that closes the upper opening of the inner hook 44 by heat conduction is provided. A thermistor temperature sensor 21 is provided at the bottom center of the inner hook 44.
[0034]
An operation panel 23 and a display unit 27 are provided at the upper part of the front surface (left side in FIG. 6) of the rice cooker 2, and a control board 24A on which a microprocessor (control unit 24) is mounted is provided inside. Further, a power supply board 46 on which a power supply circuit, a heater energization control circuit, and the like are mounted is provided below the control board 24A. A heat insulating material 47 is interposed between the control board 24A and the power supply board 46 and the inner hook 44 and the heaters 26A and 26B.
[0035]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the operation panel 23 and the display unit 27 of the rice cooker 2. The operation panel 23 includes a rice cooking switch 47, a reservation switch 48, a menu switch 49, a time setting switch 50, a reheating switch 51, a cancel switch 52, and a heat retention switch 53. When the rice cooking switch 47 is pressed, rice cooking starts and the rice cooking indicator 47a lights up.
[0036]
The reservation switch 48 is used for setting a rice cooking reservation. When the reservation switch 48 is pressed, the cooking time can be set using the time display unit (7-segment display unit) 27a and the time setting switch (hour / minute switch) 50 of the display unit 27. Thereafter, when the rice cooking switch 47 is pressed, the reserved rice is registered in the built-in memory of the control unit 24, and the reservation indicator 48a is lit. At this time, the completion of the reservation setting is notified by a buzzer.
[0037]
The menu switch 49 is used for setting a rice cooking menu. When this menu switch 49 is pressed, the menu that is lit at the right end of the display unit 27 changes in the order of white rice, quick-cooking, cooking, rice cake, rice porridge, brown rice, and the lit menu is selected. If the menu switch 49 is not pressed, white rice is set as a default. The time setting switch 50 is used for the reservation setting of the above-mentioned rice cooking time and the setting of the current time. If the hour and minute switches are pressed, the upper two digits (hours) or the lower two digits (minutes) of the time display portion 27a are incremented. The reheating switch 51 is used to reheat the chilled rice. The cancel switch 52 is used for canceling reservation setting, heat retention, and the like. When the warming is canceled, if the warming switch 53 is pressed, the warming starts again.
[0038]
A character 27b of “pot remaining hot water amount” is displayed above the last two digits of the time display portion 27a. This lights up when the rice cooker 2 displays the amount of remaining hot water received from the electric kettle 1 via the communication interface 22 as described below. At this time, in the last two digits of the time display portion 27a, from “00” to “06” corresponding to the bar graph display in seven stages (including all extinguishment) by the remaining hot water display portion 14B of the electric pot 1 described above. A number indicating the amount of remaining hot water is displayed. “00” corresponds to when the tank 30 of the electric pot 1 is substantially empty (bar graph display is completely off), and “06” is when the tank 30 is substantially full (bar graph display is fully lit). Equivalent to. In the almost empty state, the display of “00” blinks, and an alarm by the buzzer 25 is also issued.
[0039]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of communication performed between the electric pot 1 and the rice cooker 2 and processing executed in association with the reservation setting operation of the rice cooker 2. In FIG. 8, the process which the control part 24 of the rice cooker 2 performs, and the process which the control part 15 of the electric pot 1 perform are shown separately.
[0040]
First, when the reservation switch 48 of the rice cooker 2 is pressed in step # 101, a remaining hot water amount check request is transmitted from the rice cooker 2 to the electric pot 1 in step # 102. When the electric pot 1 receives the remaining hot water amount check request in step # 151, the remaining hot water amount is checked in step # 152, and the remaining hot water amount data is transmitted to the rice cooker 2 in step # 153.
[0041]
When the rice cooker 2 receives the remaining hot water amount data in step # 103, it temporarily stores the received data (step # 104). Although omitted in FIG. 8, if no response is received from the electric pot 1 even after a predetermined time has elapsed after transmitting the remaining hot water amount check request, an error flag is stored instead of the received data.
[0042]
When the reservation time is set as described above (not shown in FIG. 8) and the rice cooking switch is pressed in step # 105, the reservation time is stored (step # 106) and the rice cooking standby state is entered until the reservation time. Then, the control part 24 of the rice cooker 2 performs the process regarding the remaining hot water amount data received from the electric pot 1 by the process after step # 107.
[0043]
First, in step # 107, the above-described error flag is checked. If there is no response from the electric pot 1, an error is displayed in step # 108 and an error notification is given by the buzzer 25 in step # 109. In such a case, there may be a failure or failure of the communication path, but in most cases, the electric pot is turned off (the power plug is not plugged into an outlet).
[0044]
The error is displayed by displaying “Er” in the last two digits of the time display section 27a, for example. The display of “Er” may be blinked at a predetermined cycle (for example, 0.5 seconds on, 0.5 seconds off). The error notification by the buzzer 25 is performed by ringing the buzzer 25 in a predetermined on / off pattern.
[0045]
If the error flag is not raised in step # 107, that is, if the remaining hot water amount data is normally received, it is checked in step # 110 whether the remaining hot water amount data is “00” (substantially empty). If it is not “00”, the numbers from “01” to “06” corresponding to the remaining hot water amount data are displayed in the last two digits of the time display portion 27a in step # 111. A character 27b of “pot remaining hot water amount” is also lit.
[0046]
If the remaining hot water volume data is “00” in step # 110, the number “00” is displayed blinking in the lower two digits of the time display portion 27a (eg, 0.5 seconds on, 0.5 seconds off) in step # 112. In step # 113, a buzzer sounding for notifying that the pot 1 is substantially empty is performed. The buzzer sounds with a predetermined on / off pattern different from the above error notification.
[0047]
FIG. 9 shows communication performed between the electric pot 1 and the rice cooker 2 when the rice cooker switch is directly pressed in the rice cooker 2, that is, when the operation for starting the rice cooking is performed immediately instead of the reserved rice cooking. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process performed in connection with it. In FIG. 9, only the process which the control part 24 of the rice cooker 2 performs is shown. The processing executed by the control unit 15 of the electric pot 1 is the same as the processing from step # 151 to step # 153 shown in FIG.
[0048]
When the rice cooker switch 47 of the rice cooker 2 is pressed in step # 201, a rice cooking start process is performed in step # 202, and a remaining hot water amount check request is transmitted from the rice cooker 2 to the electric pot 1 in step # 203. If there is no response from the electric pot 1 after the remaining hot water amount check request has been transmitted (Yes in Step # 204), an error is displayed in Step # 205 and an error is notified by the buzzer 25 in Step # 206. I do. These error processes are the same as those in step # 108 and step # 109 in FIG.
[0049]
If there is a normal response from the electric pot 1, the remaining hot water amount data is received at step # 207, and the processing related to the remaining hot water amount data after step # 208 is performed. The processing from step # 208 to step # 211 is the same as the processing from step # 110 to step # 113 in FIG.
[0050]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not restricted to this embodiment, It can implement with a various form. Hereinafter, some modified examples will be briefly described.
[0051]
First, in the flowcharts of FIGS. 8 and 9, the error processing in the case where there is no response from the electric pot 1 does not necessarily need to perform both error display and sound notification by a buzzer. Only one of them may be performed. Even when the remaining hot water amount data received from the electric pot 1 is “00”, it is not always necessary to perform both blinking display and buzzer notification. The notification by voice is not limited to the buzzer on / off pattern, but may be notified by a predetermined melody sound using a speaker, or may be further notified by a message generated by voice synthesis means or the like.
[0052]
The electric pot 1 that has received the remaining hot water amount check request from the rice cooker 2 checks the remaining hot water amount, and instead of (or transmits) the remaining hot water amount data to the rice cooker, the electric pot 1 uses its own buzzer 16 to You may comprise so that a user may be notified that there is little amount of hot water. In this case, the control unit 15 of the electric pot 1 checks the remaining hot water amount, and if the remaining hot water amount is zero or slightly (substantially empty), the buzzer 16 built in the electric pot 1 rings in a predetermined on / off pattern. Let Usually, since the electric pot 1 and the rice cooker 2 are used in a place where they are not so far away, the user operating the rice cooker 2 is notified by the buzzer 16 built in the electric pot 1 and the amount of remaining hot water in the electric pot 1 Can be known to be zero or slight. The flowchart of an example of the process which the control part 24 of the rice cooker 2 in such a structure and the control part 15 of the electric pot 1 perform is shown in FIG.
[0053]
In FIG. 10, when the rice cooking switch 47 of the rice cooker 2 is pressed in step # 301, rice cooking start processing is performed in step # 302, and a remaining hot water amount check request is transmitted from the rice cooker 2 to the electric pot 1 in step # 303. Is done. When the electric pot 1 receives this remaining hot water amount check request in step # 351, the remaining hot water amount is checked in step # 352. If the remaining hot water amount is zero or small (Yes in step # 353), a notification by the built-in buzzer 16 is made. I do.
[0054]
In addition, the present invention is not limited to the remaining hot water amount check and energization check of the electric pot 1, but can also be applied to hot water temperature check and the like. That is, a hot water temperature check request is transmitted to the electric pot 1 with the operation of the rice cooker 2, and when the hot water temperature data checked by the electric pot 1 is returned to the rice cooker 2, the display unit 27 of the rice cooker 2 is electrically connected. The hot water temperature of the pot 1 is displayed.
[0055]
Or, conversely, when the electric pot 1 is operated, the rice cooker 2 checks the state (during cooking, waiting for the reservation time, etc.) and transmits the check result to the electric pot 1, and the display unit 14 of the electric pot 1 or You may comprise so that a user may be notified of the state of the rice cooker 2 using buzzer 16 grade | etc.,.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As explained above, according to the present invention, since the electric rice cooker (rice cooker) and the electric water heater (electric pot) exchange information by communication, when the user performs one operation The other state can be known on the spot. Thereby, the user knows on the spot that the amount of hot water remaining in the electric water heater is small or energized, for example, when the rice cooker starts or reserve operation is performed. Can do. Therefore, the inconvenience of noticing that only when the rice is cooked is eliminated, and the home appliance becomes more convenient.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electric pot and a rice cooker connected via communication means in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an external view of the electric pot as viewed from the front.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view seen from the side of the electric pot.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the principle of a water amount sensor.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation panel and a hot water temperature display section of the electric pot.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view seen from the side of the rice cooker.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation panel and a display unit of the rice cooker.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of communication performed between the electric pot and the rice cooker and a process executed in association with the reservation setting operation of the rice cooker.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of communication and related processing performed between the electric pot and the rice cooker when an operation for starting rice cooking by the rice cooker is performed.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of communication and related processing performed between an electric pot and a rice cooker according to another embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Electric kettle (electric water heater)
2 Rice cooker (electric rice cooker)
17, 22 Communication interface (communication means)
14, 27 Display section (notification means)
16, 25 buzzer (notification means)
15, 24 Control unit

Claims (3)

An electric rice cooker having communication means and an electric water heater having communication means are connected to each other by communication,
The electric rice cooker transmits a hot water amount check request to the electric water heater as a rice cooking start operation or a rice cooking reservation setting operation is performed,
When the electric water heater receives a hot water amount check request from the electric rice cooker, it transmits information about the remaining hot water amount to the electric rice cooker,
The said electric rice cooker performs a predetermined display or audio | voice output based on the information regarding the amount of remaining hot water received from the said electric water heater, The information exchange system of the electric rice cooker and an electric water heater characterized by the above-mentioned. An electric rice cooker having communication means and an electric water heater having communication means are connected to each other by communication,
The electric rice cooker transmits a hot water temperature check request to the electric water heater as a rice cooking start operation or a rice cooking reservation setting operation is performed,
When the electric water heater receives a hot water temperature check request from the electric rice cooker, it transmits information about the hot water temperature to the electric rice cooker,
The said electric rice cooker performs a predetermined display or audio | voice output based on the information regarding the hot water temperature received from the said electric water heater, The information exchange system of the electric rice cooker and an electric water heater characterized by the above-mentioned. An electric rice cooker having communication means and an electric water heater having communication means are connected to each other by communication,
The electric rice cooker transmits a hot water amount check request to the electric water heater by communication as a rice cooking start operation or rice cooking reservation setting completion operation is performed,
The electric water heater receives a hot water amount check request from the electric rice cooker, and performs notification output when the remaining hot water amount is less than a predetermined hot water amount, and information on the electric rice cooker and the electric water heater Exchange system.

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