JPH0230413B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an automatic heating device, and more particularly to an automatic heating device in which automatic heating using a sensor and manual heating using a timer can be selected using a common function key. be.

Conventional configurations and their problems Automatic heating devices that automatically control heating time have been widely put into practical use, such as automatic microwave ovens, which are highly praised for their convenience and account for a considerable portion of the microwave oven market. It has reached this point. The configuration includes those equipped with a gas sensor that reacts to water vapor and various gases generated while the heated object is being heated, those equipped with an infrared sensor that detects the surface temperature of the heated object, and those equipped with an infrared sensor that detects the surface temperature of the heated object. Several methods are in use, including one equipped with a thermistor that measures the temperature of the air. In any of these systems, in addition to automatic heating using a sensor, manual heating using a timer can also be used. This is done in conjunction with manual heating, which leaves the heating level to the user's discretion, as there are cases where the finish of the heated object with automatic heating does not suit the user's taste, or where objects are heated that cannot be heated automatically. Due to necessity.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of such an automatic heating device, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the same operation panel. A door body 2 is provided on the front surface of the main body 1 so as to be openable and closable, and an operation panel 3 is provided. Various select keys 4 are arranged on the operation panel 3, and the heating method can be selected depending on the food. Select key 4
is further divided into auto key A for automatic heating and manual key B for manual heating.The auto keys are grouped by food name and the manual keys are grouped by heating source.

Now, when the user wants to automatically heat the food, he first selects the desired auto key, selects, for example, "cold rice" for reheating (reheating), and presses it. If you want to adjust the finish, you can easily adjust it using the finish key 5. Then start
Heating starts when the key 6 is pressed, and is automatically ended by the sensor.

On the other hand, when the user wants to perform manual heating, select the desired manual key and, for example, select "Electric High" (high heat for microwave heating) for reheating.
Select and press this. Next, select the desired heating time and press this button. Subsequently, a desired heating time is set by the timer setting means 7. Next, when the start key 6 is pressed, heating is started, and heating is performed for the time set by the timer setting means.

In oven cooking, the baking temperature is set using the temperature key 8 in addition to this timer setting means.

As described above, in the past, the operations for automatic heating and manual heating were completely different, and all operating means were constructed separately. As a result, the number of keys increases, giving the user a sense of complication. In addition, when heating manually, the user had to select a heat source or heating method, which was more difficult to understand than when using automatic heating, which allows the user to directly select the desired menu.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic heating device that is easy to use by reducing the number of keys on the operation panel and providing a simple operation feeling.

Structure of the Invention In order to achieve the above object, the automatic heating device of the present invention is equipped with a function key in which manual heating and automatic heating are integrated, a sensor, and a timer, and when a certain function key is selected and the operation of the timer is It is configured to determine whether manual heating or automatic heating is performed depending on whether heating is performed or not, and to use sensors and timers as appropriate for control, making the operation simple and not giving the user a sense of complication.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an operation panel showing an embodiment of the present invention. Function keys 9 according to the present invention are arranged on the operation panel 3. Function keys 9 are organized by category, such as "reheat" and "preparation".
It is divided into ``defrosting,''``chawanmushi,''``stewing,''``grill,'' and ``oven.'' Each function key is further subdivided into menus, and the ``reheat'' function key is divided into three menus: ``chilled rice,'' ``soup/rice bowl,'' and ``curry/stew.''
For these, the listed menu will be selected for automatic heating.
When using manual heating, pressing any menu will select "Reheat".
That is, the microwave high-heat mode ("electronic high" in the conventional example shown in FIG. 2) is selected.

Next, a specific example of the operation will be explained. First, in the case of automatic heating, select the desired menu and press it. For example, press "chilled rice". If the start key 6 is then pressed, automatic heating using the sensor is executed. This operating procedure is the same as the conventional one. Next, in the case of manual heating, select the desired function key 9 and press it. For example, press the "Reheat" key. At this time, it does not matter whether you press any of the three menus.
Subsequently, the timer setting means 7 is turned to set the heating time. The heating time is displayed on the display section 10. Finally, when the start key 6 is pressed, manual heating using a timer is executed. The selection of the function key 9 and the operation of the timer setting means 7 may be performed in reverse order. That is, after setting the timer setting means 7,
It is also possible to select the function key 9. The operating procedure for such manual heating differs from the conventional method in the following points. That is, according to the present invention, the user can select the function key depending on the type of cooking he or she wants to do, and there is no need to worry about selecting the type of heat source or its output unlike in the past. Further, in this embodiment, since the menu for automatic heating can suggest one example to the user, the user can select the desired function key without error.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an operation panel showing another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, reheating is consolidated into the 1 key "Warm", and preparation is concentrated into the 2 keys "Leaf Vegetables" and "Root Vegetables". The purpose of this is to solve the problem of writing the menu name directly on the key, which limits the number of menus that can be written, and making it difficult to find the appropriate key without using a cookbook or quick reference table. In other words, the category name is written instead of the menu name, and the number of keys is reduced, so the user can easily select the desired function key, whether automatically or manually. On the other hand, if the number of keys is reduced, the automatic cooking performance will be degraded. In other words, since it is necessary to control the finish of a large number of menus based on the greatest common denominator, it is expected that there will be an increase in the number of cases where the results do not match the user's tastes. In cases like this, conventional finishing adjustments were made (Fig. 2, Finishing key 5), but this was rough and could hardly be called satisfactory. In the present invention, manual heating is easy, so the finish key is omitted and instead a timer is used to set the heating time to achieve the desired finish. In other words, after selecting a function key, you can start the menu immediately if you want it to be automatic, or if you are not satisfied with the menu finish from previous experience, you can use the timer to adjust the finish to your liking.

Now, FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram constituting the requirements of the present invention. The function keys, timer setting means and sensor means are connected to the input terminals of the control section, and the heating means are connected to the output terminals of the control section. Then, this control unit has a timer function that counts the set heating time, an auto function that changes the power supply to the heating means based on a predetermined sensor output, and determines whether heating is to be performed using the timer function or the auto function. It has a built-in discrimination function and a switching function to select either the timer function or the auto function based on this discrimination function.

The control section uses this discrimination function to monitor the pressing of any of the function keys, the input of the heating time by the timer setting means, and the pressing of the start key.

If an input by the timer setting means is detected prior to pressing the start key, the control section uses the discrimination function to determine that manual heating is being performed, operates the timer function using the switching function, and counts the set heating time. Continue supplying power to the heating means until the

Furthermore, if no input is detected by the timer setting means prior to pressing the start key, the control section determines that automatic heating is to be performed using the determination function, activates the automatic function using the switching function, and uses the sensor means to perform automatic heating. If a predetermined sensor output is detected by the function, the power supply to the heating means is changed.

Next, one embodiment of the configuration of such an automatic heating device will be described using FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, various commands inputted from the function keys 9 on the operation panel 3 are decoded by the control section 11, a predetermined display is made, and further the progress of heating is controlled. The control unit 11 is realized by a microcomputer or the like,
Following the decoding of the function key 9, the presence or absence of an operation of the timer setting means 7 is detected, and it is determined whether manual heating, automatic heating, or automatic heating is being performed.

An object to be heated 13 is placed in the heating chamber 12, and a magnetron 14 and an electric heater 1 serving as heating means are placed inside the heating chamber 12.
5. Power supply to these heating means is controlled by the control unit 11 via the driver 16. The blower 17 cools the magnetron 14 and also ventilates the inside of the heating chamber 12. Reference numeral 18 denotes an exhaust guide that sends the exhaust gas out of the aircraft.
A gas sensor 19 and a thermistor 20 serving as sensor means are disposed within the exhaust guide 18. The gas sensor 19 can detect gas or steam generated from the object to be heated and monitor the progress of heating.
The thermistor 20 is connected to the heating chamber 1 during oven cooking.
It is used to control the temperature inside the unit. These transmit data to the control unit 11 via the detection circuit 21. The gas sensor 19 can be realized by Matsushita's absolute humidity sensor "Neo Huyumi Ceram" or Figaro's gas sensor, but it may also be an infrared sensor, a temperature sensor, or the like.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) The number of keys on the operation panel can be reduced, and the sense of complication given to the user can be alleviated.

(2) Even in manual heating, the user can select the function key depending on the type of cooking he/she wants to do.
There is no need to worry about choosing the type of heat source or its output as in the past.

(3) In manual heating, the menu for automatic heating can show an example to the user, so the user can select the desired function key without error.

(4) If the user is dissatisfied with the automatic heating results from a certain menu based on previous experience, after selecting the menu, the user can set the heating time to achieve the desired result using a timer. In other words, you can freely adjust the finish.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the main body of the automatic heating device, Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of an operation panel showing a conventional example, Fig. 3 is an enlarged front view of an operation panel showing an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view of an operation panel showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram configuring the requirements of the present invention. 7...Timer setting means, 9...Function key, 11
...Control unit, 13...Heated object, 14, 15...
Heating means, 19, 20...sensor means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A heating means for heating the object to be heated, a control section for controlling power supply to the heating means, a sensor means for detecting the heating state of the object to be heated, a timer setting means for setting the heating time, and a control section for controlling the power supply to the heating means. The heating means includes a function key for selecting at least an output of the heating means, and a start key for instructing the start of power supply to the heating means, and the function key, the timer setting means, and the sensor means are connected to an input terminal of the control section. , and the heating means is connected to an output terminal of the control section, and the control section includes a timer means for counting a set heating time and an automatic means for changing the power supply to the heating means based on a predetermined sensor output. , a discriminating means for discriminating whether heating is to be performed by the timer means or the automatic means, and a switching means for selecting either the timer means or the automatic means based on the discriminating means; The determining means monitors the pressing of any of the function keys, the input of the heating time by the timer setting means, and the pressing of the start key.
If an input by the timer setting means is detected before a key is pressed, it is determined that manual heating is being performed, and the switching means operates the timer means to supply power to the heating means until the set heating time is counted. If an input by the timer setting means is not detected prior to pressing the start key, it is determined that automatic heating is to be performed, and the switching means operates the auto means, and the sensor means is used to operate the auto means. An automatic heating device configured to change power supply to the heating means when a predetermined sensor output is detected by the automatic means.