JP5223782B2 - Induction heating device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an induction heating apparatus provided with a plurality of heating means for heating an object to be heated on a top plate.

  Conventionally, in this type of heating device, there is an induction heating device in which the heating unit is arranged on the front left and right sides on the top plate and the central back side, and is operated by operating means provided corresponding to these heating units. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 6 shows a conventional induction heating apparatus described in Patent Document 1. In FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, it is comprised from the operation means 27, 28, 29 corresponding to each heating cooking part 24,25,26.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-214677

  However, in the conventional configuration, the heating units are arranged on the front left and right sides and the center rear side on the top plate, and in order to operate these heating units, the right front heating unit and the right operation means are provided. Correspondingly, the central back side and the central operating means corresponded, and the left front heating part and the left operating means corresponded.

  As described above, when the heating region is fixed, the operation means corresponding to the heating unit is easily understood depending on the positional relationship between the heating unit and the operation unit. In this case, there is a problem that it is difficult to understand which operation means corresponds to which heating unit, and the operability deteriorates.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an induction heating device with good operability even when the heating region is varied.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, an induction heating apparatus of the present invention includes a top plate on which an object to be heated is placed, a plurality of heating means for induction heating the object to be heated on the top plate, and an object to be heated. Detection means for detecting presence / absence, operation means for inputting conditions for cooking by heating means, control means for controlling heating by supplying high-frequency current to the heating means, and heating means capable of energization The heating means that cannot be energized is selected, the heatable area on the top plate, the information storage part that stores a plurality of heating pattern information forming the non-heatable area, and the heating pattern information stored in the information storage part A selection means for selecting, and when an object to be heated is detected by the detection means in the heatable area, an operation means corresponding to the heatable area is displayed.

  As a result, even when the heating area is variable, the operation means at an appropriate position can be displayed at the time when the object to be heated is detected.

Even if the induction heating apparatus of the present invention is configured to vary the heating region, it is easy to understand which heating region corresponds to which operation means, and which heating region corresponds to which operation means. A display function for display is also unnecessary, and the operability is good and the number of parts can be reduced.

(A) External view of induction heating apparatus in Embodiment 1 of the present invention (b) Circuit block diagram of the induction heating apparatus in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Configuration diagram of optical display means of induction heating apparatus in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Configuration diagram of operation means and display unit of induction heating apparatus in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Pattern diagram of heatable region of induction heating device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The block diagram when the to-be-heated object is put in the heatable area | region of the induction heating apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Configuration diagram of conventional induction heating device

  In the first invention, a top plate on which an object to be heated is placed, a plurality of heating means for induction heating the object to be heated on the top plate, a detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the object to be heated, and heating by the heating means Select the operation means for inputting the conditions for cooking, the control means for controlling the heating by controlling the supply of high-frequency current to the heating means, the heating means that can be energized, and the heating means that cannot be energized. It is possible to heat with an area that can be heated on the plate, an information storage unit that stores a plurality of heating unit pattern information that forms a non-heatable region, and a selection unit that selects heating coil pattern information stored in the information storage unit. When the object to be heated is detected by the detection means in the area, the operation means corresponding to the heatable area is displayed. Thereby, even if it is the structure which changes a heatable area | region, when the to-be-heated object is detected, the operation means of an appropriate position can be displayed, and a user's operativity can be improved. .

  In the second invention, in particular, in the first invention, by allowing the selection means to be operated only when the heating means is stopped, the user can accidentally operate the selection means during heating, and heating is possible. The area does not change, the pan is heated against the user's intention, and it can be prevented from becoming unsafe such as cooking failure or ignition due to empty baking, improving usability and safety Can do.

  In the third invention, in particular, in the first or second invention, the operation of the selection means is validated only during a predetermined time after the power is turned on, so that the user mistakenly selects the selection means during heating. Not only does it prevent cooking failures due to changes in the heatable area by operating, but it also makes it possible to prevent igniting due to baking by heating the pan that is against the user's intention, improving usability and safety Can be made.

  In particular, in the invention according to any one of the first to third inventions, the fourth invention includes a light display means, and the light display means displays a heatable area on the top plate so that the user can be heated. The position, size, and quantity can be visually recognized, and the user can select the necessary position, size, and quantity according to the cooking menu.

  In the fifth invention, in particular, the detection means of any one of the first to fourth inventions detects the presence or absence of an object to be heated based on the input current to the induction heating device and the voltage of the resonance capacitor. . Thereby, it becomes possible to determine the presence or absence of an object to be heated with high accuracy.

  In the sixth aspect of the invention, in particular, the detection means of any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention can accurately determine the presence or absence of the heated object by detecting the presence or absence of the heated object using a proximity sensor. It becomes possible.

  According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention, the detection means detects the presence or absence of the object to be heated based on the difference in illuminance due to the presence or absence of the object to be heated. It is possible to determine whether or not there is any.

  In an eighth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention, the detection means detects the presence or absence of the object to be heated by using the vibration detection sensor, thereby accurately determining the presence or absence of the object to be heated. It becomes possible.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows (a) an external view of an induction heating apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and (b) a circuit block diagram of the induction heating apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the light display means of the induction heating apparatus in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an induction heating device 1 has a predetermined frequency by a switching element that is turned on / off at a predetermined timing from a 200 V commercial power supply 41 via a filter circuit unit 42 including a rectifier circuit and a power factor correction circuit. An inverter circuit 43 that generates high-frequency power; an inverter circuit unit 44 that includes a plurality of inverter circuits 43; a control unit 45 that drives and controls the inverter circuit unit 44; and heating means 46 that generates high-frequency magnetic flux using the high-frequency power; A heating unit 47 composed of a plurality of heating means 46, a hard glass top plate 48 disposed above the plurality of heating means 46, an object to be heated 49 disposed substantially above the plurality of heating means 46, The operation means 50 for the user to adjust the output power or temperature, and the status such as the output setting, temperature and automatic cooking menu are displayed. Display unit 51, information storage unit 52 that stores heating pattern information for selecting a heating unit that can be energized and a heating unit that cannot be energized among the plurality of heating units 46, and a heating pattern that is stored in information storage unit 52 An optical display unit for displaying the position and area of the heating port on the top plate 48 having a light guide unit 60 and a light emitting unit 61 arranged below the top plate 48 shown in FIG. 62, a main power switch 54 for connecting / disconnecting the 200V commercial power supply 41 and the filter circuit unit 42, and a detecting means 55 for detecting the presence or absence of the object 49 to be heated. In the present embodiment, the detection means 55 performs detection using an illuminance sensor.

  In the present embodiment, the heating means 46 and the inverter circuits 43 are the same number. However, even if two or more heating means 46 are connected in parallel to one inverter circuit 43, the heating can be performed. Further, the number of the heating means 46 and the inverter circuit 43 is not limited. In the present embodiment, the configuration shown in FIG. 1B is used so that the individual heating means 46 can be individually controlled.

  For example, by changing the operating frequency of the first inverter circuit 43 (1) and the second inverter circuit 43 (2) and the ON time of the switching element, the first heating means 46 (1) can be made of iron or magnetic stainless steel. In the second heating coil 46 (2), it is possible to heat nonmagnetic stainless steel, aluminum or the like having a load characteristic significantly different from that of iron or magnetic stainless steel.

  The inverter circuit 43 in the present embodiment uses a single-ended push-pull type inverter, but it goes without saying that a bridge-type inverter can be applied.

  Induction heating apparatus 1 of the present embodiment uses a microcomputer as an information storage unit. Further, the operation means 50 is provided with the number of operations capable of operating at least two or more heatable regions. FIG. 3 shows a configuration diagram of the operating means and the display unit of the induction heating apparatus in the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, three operation systems of a first operation means 50 (a), a second operation means 50 (b), and a third operation means 50 (c) are provided. One operation system includes a “heating on / off” key 70, an “output up” key 71, an “output down” key 72, a “cooking menu” key 73, and a “timer” key 74.

  In the present embodiment, the plurality of heating means 46 have a spiral circular shape with a diameter of 70 mm, but other shapes such as a rectangle, an ellipse, a polygon, or a combination thereof may be used. Further, the number and arrangement of the plurality of heating means 46 are not particularly limited.

  The operation means 50 is a touch key for detecting capacitance, but may be replaced with a push switch key or a voice key.

  Moreover, although the light display part 62 in this Embodiment uses LED for the light emission part 61, you may use different light emission devices, such as a laser and a fluorescent tube.

  About the induction heating apparatus comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  FIG. 4 shows a pattern diagram of a heatable region of the induction heating apparatus in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, when the user turns on the main power switch 54 of the induction heating apparatus 1, the 200V commercial power supply 41 and the filter circuit unit 42 are connected, and the circuit shown in FIG. At this time, the position of the heatable region based on the heating coil pattern information preset at the time of shipment is displayed on the top plate 48 as shown in FIG.

  In addition, since the position of the heatable region based on the previously used heating coil pattern information is displayed, the heating coil pattern frequently used by the user is displayed when the main power switch 54 is turned on. It may be possible to save the user from having to select each time.

  In the induction heating apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, when the selection means 53 on the top plate 48 is operated by the user, the control unit 45 stores the heating patterns in a predetermined order from the information storage unit 52 that stores a plurality of pieces of heating pattern information. Is read and switched, and the size, shape and quantity of the heatable area are displayed on the top plate 48 by the light display means 62 so as to be visually recognized by the user.

  In the induction heating apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the four patterns shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D are switched in order, but heating according to various cooking menus is possible by increasing other combinations. Needless to say, the area can be supplied and the usability can be improved.

  The user selects the optimum pattern for the cooking menu from the size, shape, and quantity of the heatable area displayed on the top plate 48 by the light display means 62.

Further, the arrangement of the heating means 46 may be any number and arrangement that satisfy the heating regions shown in FIGS. Further, the arrangement of the detection means 55 may be any number and arrangement that can determine whether or not an object to be heated is placed in the heating region of FIGS.

  FIG. 5 shows a configuration diagram when an object to be heated is placed in a heatable region of the induction heating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  When the user selects a heating pattern that the user wants to use and the optimum heating pattern is displayed, the top plate of the region to be used in the heatable region (for example, inside the dotted line in FIG. 4A). An object to be heated 49 such as a pan or a frying pan to be heated is placed on 48 as shown in FIG.

  The detection means 55 detects the object 49 to be heated, and the operation means 50 (c) and the display unit 51 (c) are displayed. The user performs cooking by operating the keys on the displayed operation means 50 (c) and display unit 51 (c).

  Next, when the heated object 49 (b) is placed as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the operation means 50 (b) and the display unit 51 (b) are displayed. Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the heating object 49 is placed by changing the heatable region by the selection unit 53, the operation unit 50 (b) and the display unit 51 (b) are displayed. . When the object to be heated 49 is removed, the operation means 50 (b) and the display means 51 (b) are turned off.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a plurality of heating means for induction heating the object to be heated on the top plate, a detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the object to be heated, and the conditions for performing cooking by the heating means The control means for controlling the heating by controlling the supply of the high-frequency current to the heating means, the heating means that can be energized and the heating means that cannot be energized are selected, and the heatable area on the top plate And an information storage unit storing a plurality of pieces of heating pattern information forming a non-heatable region, and a selection means for selecting the heating pattern information stored in the information storage unit, and heating in the heatable region on the top plate When an object is placed, the appropriate operation means and display unit are displayed according to the heating pattern, so that it is possible to heat without separately indicating which heatable area corresponds to the operation means. It is possible to recognize the correspondence between the ability regions and operating means, thereby improving the operability.

  In addition, by making the heatable area visible with the light display means, it is clear where to put pans, lids, knives, etc. that you do not want to heat, and there is a pan that is against the user's intention. It can be heated to prevent ignition due to empty baking, improving usability and safety.

  In addition, while at least one of the heatable areas displayed on the top plate by the light display means is in a heating operation, the user accidentally touches the selection means and the user The selection means is disabled so that the size, shape, and quantity of the heatable region do not change against the intention of the above.

  Further, the selection means is valid only for a predetermined time after the power is turned on. This makes it possible to prevent cooking failures and unintended pans from being baked and becoming unsafe.

  In this embodiment, an illuminance sensor is used as the detection means, but the presence or absence of an object to be heated is detected based on the input current to the induction heating device and the voltage of the resonance capacitor, Even if the presence or absence of an object to be heated is detected using a vibration sensor, the same effect can be exhibited.

As described above, the induction heating apparatus according to the present invention controls the combination of heating means that can be energized based on the heating pattern information, thereby changing the combination of heating means that can be energized based on an instruction from the operation means. Thus, the size, shape, and quantity of the heatable region on the top plate and the ratio of the heating area can be changed. And even if the heatable area changes, the operability is improved by displaying the operation means corresponding to the position where the object to be heated is placed, and it is possible to perform the necessary heating according to the cooking menu Therefore, it is effective not only for general households and offices but also for cooking appliances used by specialists such as restaurants.

44 Inverter circuit section 45 Control section (control means)
46 Heating means 47 Heating part 48 Top plate 50 Operation means 52 Information storage part 53 Selection means 54 Main power switch 55 Detection means 62 Light display part (light display means)

Claims (8)

A top plate for placing an object to be heated, a plurality of heating means for inductively heating the object to be heated on the top plate, a detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of the object to be heated, and heating cooking by the heating means Selecting a control means for controlling the heating by controlling the supply of a high-frequency current to the heating means, a heating means that can be energized and a heating means that cannot be energized, on the top plate A heating area, an information storage section storing a plurality of heating pattern information forming a non-heatable area, and a selection means for selecting the heating pattern information stored in the information storage section; An induction heating apparatus that displays operation means corresponding to the heatable area when the object to be heated is detected by the detection means. The induction heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection means can be operated only when the heating means is stopped. The induction heating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation of the selection means is effective only for a predetermined time after the power is turned on. The induction heating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a light display means, wherein the light display means displays a heatable region on a top plate. The induction heating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the detection means detects the presence or absence of an object to be heated based on an input current to the induction heating apparatus and a voltage of the resonance capacitor. The induction heating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the detection means detects the presence or absence of an object to be heated using a proximity sensor. The induction heating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the detection means detects the presence or absence of the object to be heated based on a difference in illuminance due to the presence or absence of the object to be heated. The induction heating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the detection means detects the presence or absence of an object to be heated using a vibration detection sensor.