JP5569205B2 - Electric rice cooker - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric rice cooker including a plurality of microcomputer control units that perform heating control of a heat retaining heating means in a heat retaining process while communicating with each other.

  Generally, in an electric rice cooker, a printed circuit board called a microcomputer board is provided corresponding to the operation panel on the rice cooker body or the lid, and a printed circuit board called a control board is provided around the inner case in the rice cooker body. The microcomputer board side is provided with a microcomputer control unit for controlling a work coil (or heater) which is an inner pot heating means on the bottom side of the rice cooker body and other necessary control objects.

  The microcomputer board and the control board are connected to each other through a necessary signal line (wire harness or the like), and the microcomputer control unit is configured to use the IGBT (or the control board side IGBT) through the necessary signal line. Relay, triac), etc., thereby controlling the heating state, heating amount, and heating pattern of the final heating means such as the work coil (or heater) (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .

  However, if all of the various control objects on the control board side are controlled by a single microcomputer control unit provided on the microcomputer board side, the required control capacity increases, and the IGBT (or relay, triac) side becomes necessary. There arises a problem that the control speed becomes slow.

  Therefore, recently, a microcomputer control unit is provided on each of the microcomputer board side and the control board side, and these first and second sets of microcomputer control units can communicate with each other at a predetermined cycle, and its control function There is something that was made to share. By providing a plurality of microcomputer control units in this way, the required control capacity of each microcomputer control unit is reduced, the control content (program) is simplified, and the IGBT (or relay, triac), etc. is driven. Control responsiveness can also be increased.

JP 2003-325331 A JP 2009-268488 A

  However, it is more frequent to maintain each microcomputer control unit in an operating state until each of the two sets of microcomputer control units is not communicating with each other compared to a single microcomputer control unit. Therefore, there is a problem in terms of energy saving performance.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. At least during the heat insulation operation with a small amount of information to be communicated with each other, any one of the plurality of microcomputer control units is not in communication. By shifting one or each microcomputer control unit to an energy saving mode that consumes less power than when communicating, the power consumption in the thermal insulation control state can be reduced as much as possible. The purpose is to provide an electric rice cooker.

  The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above problems, and comprises the following effective problem solving means.

(1) First Problem Solving Means The first problem solving means of the present invention includes a plurality of microcomputer control units, and the plurality of microcomputer control units communicate with each other while the rice cooking heating means and the heat retention in the rice cooking process. In the heat insulation process that controls the heat insulation heating means in the process and has less information to communicate with each other than the rice cooking process, any one of the plurality of microcomputer control units. or each microcomputer control unit, while not communicating with another microcomputer control unit, to so that is shifted to the energy-saving mode less power consumption compared to the normal mode in communication with another microcomputer control unit An electric rice cooker comprising any one of the plurality of microcomputer control units. Alternatively, each microcomputer control unit automatically returns to the normal mode from the energy-saving mode and communicates at the predetermined communication timing even after the transition to the energy-saving mode. The control cycle for determining the communication timing for returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode is set longer than the control cycle in the normal mode .

In the case of such a configuration, in the heat insulation process in which the amount of information to be communicated is small compared to the rice cooking process, any one of the plurality of microcomputer control units or each microcomputer control unit is replaced with another one. large normal mode while the microcomputer control unit not in communication, because compared to the normal mode in communication with another microcomputer control unit so that shifting to the power consumption is small energy saving mode, always power consumption Compared with the case where it is made to operate by, power consumption can be reduced considerably.

In addition, in the case of the same configuration, any one of the microcomputer control units or each of the microcomputer control units is automatically in the energy saving mode when the predetermined communication is required even in the energy saving mode state. After returning to normal mode, necessary communication is performed.

Therefore, even if you are in the energy saving mode, when the original communication is necessary, it will automatically return from the above energy saving mode to the normal mode that allows the original necessary communication. Without any trouble, it is possible to perform heat insulation heating control in the usual heat insulation process.

In the case of the same configuration, the control cycle for determining the communication timing for returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode is set longer than the control cycle in the normal mode. Therefore, compared with the case where the communication timing for returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode is determined by the control cycle in the normal mode, the number of times the energy saving mode has elapsed can be reduced, and the energy saving mode setting time can be set sufficiently long. .

As already described, in the case of the heat insulation process, the amount of information that needs to be communicated with each other is smaller than in the rice cooking process. Therefore, even if the energy saving mode time during which communication is not performed is made as long as possible, no major trouble occurs. On the other hand, since the control time is long, the energy saving effect is great.

Therefore, in the configuration of the problem solving means of the present invention, as described above, the communication timing for returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode, in other words, the control cycle for determining the control time in the energy saving mode, the communication timing in the normal mode is determined. It is set to be longer than the control cycle (for example, 100 msec) (for example, 59 sec), and an effective energy saving effect improving action is obtained as much as possible.

According to such a configuration, an effective energy saving function in a heat retaining process in which the amount of information required for control is small and the control time is generally long can be realized relatively easily.

  As a result, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electric rice cooker having a heat retention control function with low power consumption and excellent energy saving performance.

It is a central longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the whole rice cooker of the electric rice cooker which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of the operation panel part of the electric rice cooker. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the whole control circuit of the electric rice cooker. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the principal part of the control circuit part of the electric rice cooker. It is a control flow which shows the communication method between microcomputer control units by the energy-saving mode of the electric rice cooker. It is a time chart which shows the communication method between microcomputer control units by the energy-saving mode of the electric rice cooker. It is a time chart which shows the communication method between the microcomputer control units of the conventional electric rice cooker.

  1 and 2 show the configuration of the rice cooker body portion of the electric rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 3 and 4 show the configuration of the control circuit portion of the electric rice cooker, and FIG. FIG. 6 shows a configuration of a control flow by the control circuit, and FIG. 6 shows a configuration of a time chart corresponding to the control flow of FIG.

(Configuration of the rice cooker body)
As shown in FIG. 1, the electric rice cooker 1 is, for example, a highly heat-storing pot (for example, a ceramic earthen pot) made of a nonmetallic material as an inner pot (rice cooker or heat insulation container) 3 as an example. The bottom wall surface 3a of the bottom wall portion 3a (flat surface portion) and the corner portion (R surface portion) 3b of the outer periphery of the bottom wall portion 3a can each be self-heated by eddy current induced therein, for example, silver First and second induction heating elements G1 and G2 made of metal such as paste are provided.

  And this electric rice cooker 1 has the same structure inner pot 3, the lower side synthetic resin dish-shaped protective frame 4a formed so that this inner pot 3 can be arbitrarily accommodated and set, and the upper side cylinder An inner case 4 composed of a wall 4c, a bottomed cylindrical outer case 5 that is an outer casing that holds the inner case 4, and a bottom case 13 that is integrally fitted to the lower portion of the outer case 5, The outer case 5 and the inner case 4 are composed of a lid 2 that can be opened and closed at the top of a rice cooker main body formed by integrating shoulder members 10.

  On the other hand, a coil cover (coil base) 6 having a ferrite core storage portion is provided below the dish-shaped protective frame 4a, which is the bottom wall portion of the inner case 4, and a ferrite core is disposed below the coil cover. In addition, between them, the first and second induction heating elements G1 of the center side flat surface portion and the outer peripheral side curved surface portion (corner portion) 3b of the bottom wall portion 3a of the inner pot 3 are provided. , G2 positions corresponding to the first and second sets of work coils C1 and C2 in which the litz wires are respectively concentrically wound are provided. An eddy current is induced in the first and second induction heating elements G1 and G2 to heat the inner pot 3 efficiently.

  The rear side of the outer case 5 made of synthetic resin is molded in an H shape in plan view, and is provided with a partition wall 24 that is located in the rear part between the left and right side walls parallel to the front-rear direction and extends left and right. Yes. The left and right ends of the partition wall 24 are fitted (engaged) with the front end of the side wall portion of the outer case cover 5b that is U-shaped in plan view from the rear side.

  Between the partition wall 24 of the outer case 5 and the outer case cover 5b, an electrical component storage space having a high sealing property is formed so as to be partitioned from the inner case 4 side. In the electrical component storage space, the IGBTs and heater driving circuits for driving and controlling the work coils C1 and C2, the heat retaining heater H1 and the like as described above, a rectifying circuit including a diode bridge for power supply voltage rectification, a smoothing circuit, etc. A provided first substrate (control substrate) B1 and a substrate cover (control substrate cover) 7 holding the first substrate B1 are provided in an upright direction.

  On the first substrate B1, necessary parts such as the first microcomputer control unit MC1 for controlling the power of the IGBT, other work coils C1 and C2, the heat retaining heater H1, and the lid heater H2 are provided and connected. A second board (microcomputer board) B2 on the lid 2 side, which will be described later, is connected via a flexible flat cable which is a wiring for the use.

  For example, the substrate cover 7 is detachably attached to the partition wall 24 of the outer case 5, and the lower side work coils C 1 and C 2 of the protective frame 4 a and A first blower fan 11A for flowing cooling air to the heat radiating fin portion of the heat sink 25 of one substrate B1 is provided on the left and right sides of the first and second heating elements G1, G2 of the inner pan 3. Second and third blower fans 11B and 11C that blow the cooling air directly toward each other are integrally attached (not shown because the second blower fan 11B is not visible).

  The first blower fan 11A includes an axial flow fan 56c in a blow passage 56b in a short cylindrical fan casing 56a opened in the vertical direction, and a blown air diversion duct 56d to the bottom side of the protective frame 4a. It is configured.

  On the other hand, the second and third blower fans 11B and 11C are provided with a multiblade rotor 11d driven by a fan motor 11e in a spiral scroll casing 11b and sucked from an air suction port 11g provided on the side surface side. It consists of a sirocco fan (registered trademark) which blows air from the air blowing end downstream of the scroll passage 11a, and they are alternately operated for a predetermined time, and the blowing air from the air blowing end is It blows off through a flexible rubber communication pipe (not shown) to the air passage 15 formed at the entire circumference of the upper end 4b portion of the protective frame 4a.

  The air duct 15 includes a duct ring 9 having a concave groove-shaped annular duct formed in the upper end 4b portion of the protective frame 4a and a reverse concave groove-shaped cap portion fitted to the annular duct from above. Is formed between. In the air passage 15, six air blowing openings F, F,... Are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction toward the heating element G2 of the inner pot 3 corner portion 3b (and slightly downward). ing. Each of the blower openings F, F... Is provided with a V-shaped fan guide in a plan view, and when one fan is driven by the presence of the fan guide. The cooling air flowing through the air passage 15 is smoothly blown smoothly from the air blowing openings F, F...

  In order to cook rice deliciously, in the rice cooking process that requires high heat output and sufficient heating output, such as the heating process and the cooking process after the heating process, for the inner pot 3 It is preferable to provide the highest possible heating output.

  However, in that case, if there is a portion where the inner pot 3 is locally hot, a heat-resistant measure is required at that portion, and the heating output cannot be increased effectively.

  However, the heat generating body G2 which becomes locally high by blowing the cooling air directly to the heat generating bodies G2 and G1 of the inner pot 3 with the second and third blower fans 11B and 11C as described above. , G1 portion is cooled, the heat is effectively recovered, and conversely transferred to the low temperature side wall portion 3c to act, the heating temperature of the entire inner pot 3 is made uniform as much as possible. It is possible to improve efficiency, prevent spilling and scorching, and further increase the amount of heating to the side wall portion 3c of the inner pot 3 that has been insufficiently heated in the past. Can be cooked.

  In this case, the high-temperature air transferred from the bottom wall portion 3a side of the inner pot 3 to the side wall portion 3c side flows to the outer peripheral surface of the inner pot opening edge portion (flange portion) 3d, and the entire side wall portion 3c. Is efficiently heated from the lower end to the upper end.

  Further, the protective frame 4a which is the dish-shaped bottom wall portion of the inner case 4 is formed with a fitting port for the temperature sensor 18 for detecting the temperature of the bottom wall portion 3a of the inner pot 3 at the center of the bottom surface portion. At the same time, a donut-shaped heat shield 8 is provided on the upper surface on the outer peripheral side of the temperature sensor fitting port. Further, a flange-shaped stepped portion projecting outward in a predetermined width radial direction is provided inside the outer peripheral portion of the annular duct 9 on the upper end portion 4b, and the lower end of the upper cylindrical wall portion 4c is provided at this stepped portion. The side is engaged.

  On the other hand, the upper end of the upper cylindrical wall 4c is connected and fixed to the shoulder member 10 side of the upper end of the rice cooker body outer case 5 via an inner frame member (not shown).

  Moreover, the outer periphery of the upper side cylindrical wall part 4c of the said inner case 4 is provided with the heat retention heater H1 which functions as a heating means at the time of rice cooking and heat retention, The side wall of the said inner pot 3 at the time of rice cooking and heat retention The entire circumference of the portion 3c is effectively and uniformly heated.

  Reference numeral 11 denotes an air inlet for the first blower fan 11A provided on the rear side of the bottom case 13.

(Structure of the lid)
Further, reference numeral 2 is the above-described lid body, and the lid body 2 constitutes the uppermost surface thereof and has a steam pipe (pressure regulating unit) having a function of returning to the steam pipe fitting hole 2f portion in the center portion. 14, an outer cover 2a made of synthetic resin, an inner cover 2b made of synthetic resin that is fitted and integrated with the outer periphery of the outer cover 2a, and an outer cover of the inner cover 2b. An inner frame member 2c, a metal heat dissipating plate 2d provided inside the inner frame member 2c, a lid heater H2 provided on the upper surface of the heat dissipating plate 2d, and a lower side of the heat dissipating plate 2d. And a metal inner lid 2e.

  Further, packings P1 and P2 are respectively provided below the outer peripheral edge portion of the heat radiating plate 2d and below the outer peripheral edge portion of the inner lid 2e, and the inner lid 2e is provided at the opening edge portion of the inner pot 3 via the packing P2. It is made to contact widely with the upper surface part inclined inside 3d. Further, the steam pipe 14 is formed with a steam discharge passage 25 that communicates with the zigzag structure from the steam inlet port of the lower radiator plate 2d toward the steam outlet port 14a of the upper outer cover 2a. 14c is a pressure regulating valve (spherical valve) in the pressure regulating pipe 14b of the steam discharge passage 25, 14d is a cylindrical valve seat portion having a valve opening on the lower side thereof, and 14e is a lower end of the valve seat portion. It is the pressure regulation cap fitted to.

  The lid body 2 is attached to the shoulder member 10 on the upper rear wall of the outer case 5 via a hinge shaft 28 having a hinge spring 29 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. ) On the inner peripheral surface, there is an engaging portion 2g engaged with the lock claw 17b of the rice cooker body 1 side lock piece 17a that engages with the lid body 2 and locks the lid body 2 from being opened upward. Is provided.

  Then, by the ON operation of the lock mechanism unlock operation portion 17 provided at the upper position on the front wall 5a side of the outer case 1, the lock piece 17a of the lock piece 17a is engaged with the lid side engagement portion 2g. When released, the lid body 2 is automatically opened upward by the biasing force of the hinge spring 29.

  Reference numeral 16 denotes a lid sensor (steam sensor) that detects the temperature and boiling state in the inner pot 3.

  The lid sensor 16 is fitted with a steam pipe 16c having a steam passage 16e in the opening of the inner lid 2e, and a mounting holder 16a on the upper radiator plate 2d side in the steam passage 16e in the steam pipe 16c. The tip of the temperature sensor 16b attached via 16d is inserted and provided. In this case, the temperature sensor 16b is formed of a shaft-like one extending long from the upper side to the lower side as shown in the figure, and the tip side sensor part (temperature detection part) is the opening edge part of the inner pot 3. It is provided so as to face the inner side than 3d (in an intruding form).

  On the other hand, in the center of the front part of the outer cover 2a of the lid 2, a concave groove 2f for fitting the operation panel 20 constituting the operation part and the display part of the rice cooker is formed. The operation panel portion 20 is fitted and covered so as to form an outer peripheral surface continuous with the outer peripheral surface of the outer cover 2a.

  The operation panel portion 20 is made of, for example, a thin box structure (made of synthetic resin), and is detachably fitted into the recessed groove portion 2f. And while having the transparent window corresponding to the liquid crystal display part 21 in the upper center part of the upper side member, in the circumference, the rice cooking switch 22a, the rice cooking reservation switch 22b for timer rice cooking, the cancellation switch 22c, the voice guide switch 22h, rice cooking menu switch 22f for specifying a rice cooking menu (for example, white rice, quick cooking, rice cake, porridge, brown rice and other course menus), clock and timer time setting switch 22d, clock and timer time setting switch 22e, heat insulation Operation keys (see FIG. 2) for the switch, the rice selection switch 22g, and the fire adjustment setting switch 22j are provided.

  On the other hand, on the inner side of the operation panel section 20, display components such as switch parts of the various switches and operation states of the operation switches, the first and second work coils C1, C2, the heat retaining heater H1, the lid heater H2 are displayed. The liquid crystal display unit 21 together with the second substrate (microcomputer substrate) B2 having the second microcomputer control unit MC2 having a function of controlling energization to each of the operation panel unit 20 surface (upper surface of the upper side member) respectively. It is provided in a state having a predetermined relative angle.

  The second substrate (microcomputer substrate) B2 corresponds to the entire operation panel unit 20 and is positioned below the liquid crystal display unit 21, and is smaller than the forward tilt angle of the operation panel unit 20. It has an inclination and is installed on the upper surface side of the bottom wall portion in the recessed groove portion 2 f for accommodating the operation panel portion 20.

(Configuration of the rice cooker body side control circuit)
Next, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show the first microcomputer control unit MC1 on the first substrate (control substrate) B1 side that controls rice cooking on the rice cooker body side configured as described above, heat insulation, voice guide, and the like. And the structure of the control circuit part centering on 2nd microcomputer control unit MC2 on the 2nd board | substrate (microcomputer board | substrate) B2 side is shown.

  First, the first substrate B1 is configured with the first microcomputer control unit MC1 as the center. For example, the inner pot temperature detection circuit 43 that detects the temperature of the bottom of the inner pot 3 and the first and second work coils C1. , C2 (work coil circuit C), an IGBT drive circuit 42, an inner pot detection circuit 44 for detecting the set state of the inner pot 3 from the work coil output, a main clock signal (8 MHz) oscillation circuit 59, and a heat retaining heater H1 are driven. Heat retaining heater driving circuit 33, lid heater driving circuit 24 for driving lid heater H2, rectifying / smoothing circuits for work coils 35, 36, rectifying / smoothing circuit for DC power supply (rectifier, smoothing capacitor) 49, input voltage detection circuit 52, fan Motor drive circuit 16, energy saving circuit 57, input current detection circuit 47, zero cross signal detection circuit 48, synchronous trigger circuit 40, DC 20V Source circuit 51, such as a power supply noise filter circuit 70 for removing noise in power supply input from the microcomputer power supply circuit 53, AC power supply 30, respectively.

  And first, the inner pot temperature detection circuit 43 provided corresponding to the temperature sensor 18 for detecting the inner pot temperature on the bottom 3a side of the inner pot 3 and the inner pot detection circuit 44 provided corresponding to the work coil circuit C. Are input with a temperature detection signal of the inner pot 3 by the temperature sensor 18 for detecting the inner pot temperature and a signal indicating the work coil output.

  Moreover, the IGBT drive circuit 42 corresponding to the work coil circuit C is, for example, in the rice cooking process by the first microcomputer control unit MC1 on the first substrate B1 side and the second microcomputer control unit MC2 on the second substrate B2 side. By appropriately changing the output value (wattage) of the first and second work coils C1, C2 and the energization rate (for example, n seconds / 16 seconds) at the same output value according to each step, the same rice cooking The heating temperature and heating pattern of the inner pot 3 in each step of the process are appropriately variably controlled in consideration of the amount of rice cooked, and feedback control is realized that realizes uniform water absorption and cooking of rice without uneven heating. ing.

  The feedback control by the first microcomputer control unit MC1 on the first substrate B1 side and the second microcomputer control unit MC2 on the second substrate B2 side corresponds to the output state of the work coil circuit C (work coils C1, C2). The feedback value adjusting circuit and the control signal of the feedback control circuit are used.

  The first microcomputer control unit MC1 and the second substrate B2 side second microcomputer control unit MC2 control the heat retaining heater driving circuit 33 and the lid heater driving circuit 24, respectively, for example, for rice cooking or heat retaining. Heating of the inner pot 3 in each step of rice cooking or heat insulation by appropriately changing the energization rate (for example, n seconds / 16 seconds) at predetermined output values of the side heater H1 and the lid heater H2 according to each step. The temperature and heating pattern are appropriately variably controlled in consideration of the actual amount of cooked rice.

  That is, the second substrate B2 is also configured with the second microcomputer control unit MC2 as the center. For example, the sub clock signal (32.768 KHz) oscillation circuit 55, the reset circuit 54, the main clock signal (8 MHz) oscillation circuit 59, The drive circuit 60 of the audio speaker 61, the EEPROM 58, the liquid crystal display unit 21, the backlight control circuit 19, the operation display LEDs 23a to 23d, the various operation switches 22a to 22j, and the like are connected to be able to input and output.

  Then, the first board B1 side first microcomputer control unit MC1 and the second board B2 side second microcomputer control unit MC2 are, for example, as shown in FIG. In addition to the transmission line c, the microcomputer power supply line (20V) d, and the ground line e, the energy saving that transmits / receives the command signal for switching to the energy saving mode and the command signal for returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode or standby mode in the heat retention process described later. They are connected to each other via a communication line a dedicated to control.

(Energy-saving communication control during heat insulation)
By the way, the first and second microcomputer control units MC1 and MC2 on the first substrate B1 and the second substrate B2 are, for example, the second microcomputer control unit MC2 that receives the input current and input of the power supply circuit. Voltage, temperature of inner pot 3, work coil circuit C, IGBT drive circuit 42, insulation heater drive circuit 33, monitoring of each control state such as drive state of lid heater drive circuit 24, control command to them, switch operation state The first microcomputer B1 side first microcomputer control unit MC1 has a user interface function such as input, and the work coil circuit C, IGBT drive circuit 42, energy saving circuit 57, heat insulation heater drive circuit 33, lid, for example The heater driving circuit 24, the fan motor driving circuit 16, and the like have direct control functions.

  The first and second microcomputer control units MC1 and MC2 are, for example, in the conventional configuration, as shown in the time charts of FIGS. Then, two-way communication is performed with a cycle shorter than that of 100 msec, and the second microcomputer control unit MC2 receives necessary control parameters from the first microcomputer control unit MC1 side (for example, the temperature at the bottom of the inner pot). The temperature of the rice on the inner pan 3 side detected by the sensor 18, the input current of the power supply circuit detected by the input current detection circuit 47, the input voltage of the power supply circuit detected by the input voltage detection circuit 52, the work coils C1, C2, The warming heater H1, the lid heater H2, the driving state of the fan motor 17, the state of occurrence of any abnormality in the controlled part, etc.) are obtained and the second The microcomputer control unit MC2 transmits necessary control command information such as heating output, heating state, fail-safe, etc. to the first microcomputer control unit MC1 based on the various control parameters obtained in the standby state. Necessary and appropriate control according to the control state of the electric rice cooker such as the heat-retaining state is performed.

  As described above, the microcomputer control units MC1 and MC2 are provided on the first substrate B1 side and the second substrate B2 side, respectively, and these first and second sets of microcomputer control units MC1 and MC2 are mutually connected. When communication is possible at a predetermined cycle and the control function is shared, the required control capacity of each of the microcomputer control units MC1 and MC2 is reduced, and the control content (program) is simplified, and the IGBT ( Alternatively, the responsiveness of drive control such as triac) can be improved.

  However, in such a case, each of the two sets of microcomputer control units MC1 and MC2 communicate with each other with a short cycle of 100 msec and do not communicate with each other. Maintaining both of them in an operating state requires more power than a single microcomputer control unit, which is problematic in terms of energy saving performance.

  Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, the present invention sets the control cycle as long as possible at least during the heat insulation operation where the amount of information to be communicated is small compared to during rice cooking. While not communicating with each other, for example, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 and the time charts of FIGS. 6A and 6B, any one or each of the plurality of microcomputer control units MC1 and MC2 By shifting the microcomputer control unit to the power saving mode in which the power is turned off or the power consumption is less than or equal to the predetermined power supply voltage value, the power consumption in the heat retention control state can be reduced as much as possible.

  The flowchart of FIG. 5 shows an example of communication control in the energy saving mode during such heat insulation.

  That is, in this control, first, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the current process is being kept warm (a warming process). As a result, when the temperature is not kept at NO, communication control in the energy saving mode is not performed (end).

  On the other hand, if YES, the process proceeds to step S2, and the energy saving control by the above-described energy saving mode (the control cycle is a long cycle of 59 sec, and during that time the power is OFF or the mode is equal to or lower than the predetermined power supply voltage value). It is determined whether or not it is a start time.

  As a result, as seen from the control timing in the time chart of FIG. 6, the process has shifted to the heat retention process of NO, but is not yet at the start of the energy saving control in the energy saving mode, and the processing and status confirmation necessary for entering the energy saving control are performed. In the warming standby mode to be performed (mode in which communication processing is performed with the normal power supply voltage at the same control cycle of 100 msec as in the prior art), the process proceeds to step S3, where the control time in the warming standby mode is set. After incrementing the count value n of the standby time counter by one cycle (n = n + 1), the process further proceeds to step S4, where the count value n of the warming standby time counter is counted up and whether the set warming standby time has elapsed. Determine whether or not.

  If the result is YES, the process proceeds to step S5, where the count value n of the warming standby time counter is cleared (reset to n = 0), and then the process proceeds to step S6 where the cancel switch 22c is first turned ON. It is determined whether or not. As a result, when the answer is YES, the heat retention control is terminated and the routine shifts to the normal standby mode. When the answer is NO, the process further proceeds to step S7, and first an energy saving mode flag indicating that the energy saving mode control state is set. Then, the process proceeds to steps S8 and S9 to shift to the same energy saving mode control (with a long control cycle of 59 sec, the power is turned off or below a predetermined power supply voltage value) and at the same time the energy saving mode control is executed (59 sec) The count value N of the energy saving mode counter that counts the elapse of time is incremented by one cycle (N = N + 1).

  Accordingly, during the energy saving mode control, for example, the power supply of the second microcomputer control unit MC2 that issues a control command (state data request command and control command) to the first microcomputer control unit MC1 is turned off (or The power consumption is reduced as much as possible (sleep state). When the YES cancel switch 22c is pressed in the determination of step S6, the heat insulation control itself is finished as described above, and the normal standby mode is entered (END).

  On the other hand, if it is determined whether or not the energy saving mode control is started in step S2, the control in steps S3 to S5 is jumped and the process proceeds to step S6 as it is. When the ON operation of the cancel switch 22c is determined and the answer is YES, the heat retaining control is terminated. On the other hand, if the NO cancel switch 22c is not pressed, the steps from the steps S4 to S5 when the heat retaining standby time has elapsed. The energy saving mode control in steps S7, S8, and S9 is executed as in the case of.

  In any of these cases, when the process of step S9 (energy saving mode counter increment) is completed, the process proceeds to step S10, where the energy saving mode counter that counts the elapsed energy saving mode setting time (59 sec) is counted. It is determined whether or not the count value has been counted up (energy saving set time of 59 sec has elapsed).

  As a result, when the result is YES, the process further proceeds to step S11, the count value N of the energy saving mode counter is cleared (N = 0 reset), and then the process proceeds to step S12, where the normal mode (the power supply voltage is set to the normal state) It returns to the value and keeps switching to the warming mode (communication mode: sleep release mode) to restore the necessary power supply. Then, the process proceeds to step S13, and originally necessary communication processing is executed.

  Then, in step S14, it is determined whether or not the communication is completed. If the determination result is YES, in steps S15 and S16, whether or not the above-described cancel switch 22c is also turned on, It is also determined whether a communication error has occurred. As a result, if any one is YES (cancellation or communication error occurs), the process proceeds to step S17 to immediately clear (reset) the energy saving mode flag for executing the energy saving mode. Further, in step S18, the process shifts to a normal standby state (communication with a control cycle of 500 msec), and the heat retention control is finished. On the other hand, when both are NO, the above-described control after step S2 is continued.

  As a result, the second microcomputer control unit MC2 can take appropriate measures corresponding to them.

  As described above, in the present invention, in an electric rice cooker configured to include a plurality of microcomputer control units, and to control the heat-heating means such as the heat-retention heater in the heat-retention process while the microcomputer control units communicate with each other. Any one of the microcomputer control units or each microcomputer control unit enters the heat insulation process, and after performing the transition process to the predetermined energy saving mode within the predetermined heat insulation standby time, the control cycle is kept warm if necessary. While the standby time is extended to 59 seconds, which is longer than 100 msec, and while not communicating with other microcomputer control units during that time, the power supply is automatically turned off or the power saving mode less than a predetermined power supply voltage value is automatically entered. It is like that.

  Therefore, since at least a plurality of microcomputer control units do not communicate with each other for a long time, a predetermined microcomputer control unit or each microcomputer control unit shifts to the energy saving mode. Compared with the case of operating in a state, power consumption can be considerably reduced.

  In this case, any one of the microcomputer control units or each microcomputer control unit automatically returns from the energy saving mode to the normal mode when it is time to communicate.

  Therefore, even if you are in the energy saving mode, when the original communication is necessary, it will automatically return from the above energy saving mode to the normal mode that allows the original necessary communication. In this case, it is possible to perform heat insulation heating control in the usual heat insulation process without any trouble.

  Furthermore, in those cases, the microcomputer control unit automatically returns from the energy saving mode to the normal mode in a predetermined case even when the microcomputer control unit is in the energy saving mode which is not the timing to communicate.

  Therefore, even in a predetermined case where an operation switch such as a cancel switch has been turned ON, even when it is under the energy saving mode and the timing for performing the original communication has not yet arrived, Because it automatically returns from the energy saving mode to the normal mode where proper and proper communication can be performed, it is possible to perform heat insulation heating control in the normal heat insulation process without any trouble while adopting the energy saving mode. .

  In addition, in the above case, the plurality of microcomputer control units are composed of at least two sets of microcomputer control units as described above, and the microcomputer control unit on one side has a state monitoring function, a control command, and a user interface function. At the same time, the microcomputer control unit on the other side is configured to have a power control function for the warming and heating means.

  Therefore, a plurality of microcomputer control units are composed of at least two sets of microcomputer control units, and one of the microcomputer control units has a state monitoring function, a control command, and a user interface function. In the case where the control unit has a power control function for the warming and heating means, the above-described action is appropriately realized.

  As a result of the above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electric rice cooker having a heat retention control function with low power consumption and excellent energy saving performance.

  C1 and C2 are first and second work coils, H1 is a heat retaining heater, H2 is a shoulder heater, 1 is an outer case, 2 is a lid unit, 3 is an inner pan, 20 is an operation panel, 21 is a liquid crystal display unit, 22a Is a rice cooker switch, 22c is a cancel switch, 22h is a voice guide switch, 22i is a heat retention switch, B1 is a control board, B2 is a microcomputer board, MC1 is a first microcomputer control unit, and MC2 is a second microcomputer control unit.

Claims (1)

It is equipped with a plurality of microcomputer control units , and each of the plurality of microcomputer control units is adapted to control the rice heating means in the rice cooking process and the heat retaining heating means in the heat retaining process while communicating with each other , compared to the rice cooking process in less information incubating process should communicate with each other, while they either one microcomputer control unit or each microcomputer control unit of the plurality of microcomputer control unit, not communicating with another microcomputer control unit , an electric rice cooker formed by a so that is shifted to the less energy-saving mode power consumption compared to the normal mode in communication with another microcomputer control unit, any of the plurality of microcomputer control unit One microcomputer control unit or each microcomputer control unit shifts to the above energy saving mode After that, when the predetermined communication timing is reached, the communication is automatically returned from the energy saving mode to the normal mode, and the communication timing for returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode is determined. An electric rice cooker characterized in that the control cycle is set longer than the control cycle in the normal mode .

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