JPH05149546A - Cooking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate dissatisfaction with cooked condition, which is generated from the personal difference of taste between users, in a cooking device such as a microwave oven or the like which decides the completion of cooking automatically. CONSTITUTION:A cooking device is constituted of a cooking means 5, cooking a food, a completion deciding means 9, deciding the completion of cooking, a control means 6, controlling the cooking means based on the output of the completion deciding means, an inputting means 18, inputting dissatisfaction of an user for the cooking, and a storage means 19, storing the contents of the input of the inputting means, while the completion deciding means is provided with a correcting means 17, correcting the deciding reference of the completion of cooking based on the output of the storage means. Accordingly, the food can be cooked so as to meet the taste of the user while the cooking device is being used.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooking device for automatically determining the completion of cooking.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A cooking apparatus equipped with a sensor for automatically determining the completion of cooking has already been put into practical use. For example, in a microwave oven, as shown in JP-A-2-68885, a magnetron for heating food and a weight sensor for detecting the weight of food are provided, and a weight change ΔW is detected as shown in FIG. High-power microwave heating is performed until the threshold value W _TH is reached, and at the same time, the time T until W _TH is reached is counted, and the constant K is switched to a low output here.
The heating is continued for the remaining time by KT multiplied by and the cooking is completed. In other words, the weight hardly changes at the beginning of heating, but when the heating progresses and steam etc. begins to be generated from the food, the weight of the food becomes lighter, and by detecting this weight change, the heating completion time can be controlled. In addition, there are other examples that use a humidity sensor instead of a weight sensor.

[0003]

However, there are individual differences in the quality of food preparation, and if the cooking is judged to be uniform and the heating is stopped as described above, some users will be satisfied. However, there is a problem that other users feel insufficient heating and another user feels excessive heating, and it is not possible to provide a cooking device that satisfies all users. ..

Therefore, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a cooking apparatus in which the completion of cooking is judged so as to suit the taste of each user and all users can be satisfied with the finished product.

The second purpose is to determine the completion of cooking according to the taste of the user, and to allow the user to input his / her taste again when the power is turned off or the power is restored even if there is a power failure. There is no need to improve the operability.

[0006]

In order to achieve the first object, the cooking apparatus of the present invention comprises a cooking means for cooking food, a completion judging means for judging the completion of cooking, and a completion judging means. It has a control means for controlling the cooking means based on the output, an input means for the user to input dissatisfaction such as undercooked or overcooked of the cooked food, and a storage means for storing the input content of the input means. The completion determination means is configured to have a correction means for correcting the determination standard of cooking completion based on the output of the storage means.

Further, in order to achieve the second object, the cooking device of the present invention has a storage means composed of a non-volatile memory.

[0008]

According to the cooking apparatus of the present invention, the food is cooked by the cooking means by the above construction and the completion judging means judges the completion of the cooking. Based on the output of the completion judging means, the control means controls the cooking means to stop the cooking means. When the user feels dissatisfaction such as insufficient cooking or overcooking as the user views or eats the cooked food, the dissatisfaction information is input by the input means when cooking next time. The input contents are stored in the storage means, and the correction means corrects the determination standard of the completion determination means based on the output of the storage means. As a result, the determination standard is corrected according to the user's preference, and the input information of the user is stored in the storage means, so that the user can continue to cook the food.

Further, the storage means is composed of a non-volatile memory,
The memory contents are retained even if the power is turned off or a power failure occurs.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a cooking apparatus according to the present invention, which is a microwave oven heated by microwaves.

The user operates the start key 1 to start heating and cooking. The food 4 is placed on the placing table 3 in the heating chamber 2 and heated by the magnetron 5 which is a cooking means. Power supply to the magnetron 5 is controlled by the control means 6. The mounting table 3 is rotationally driven by the drive source 7 during heating in order to improve uneven heating of food. A weight sensor 8 is mechanically engaged with the tip of the drive source 7 that moves freely in the thrust direction. As the weight sensor 8, a strain gauge, an electrostatic pressure sensor, a displacement sensor, or the like can be used.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a completion determining means, which includes a weight sensor 8, a detection circuit 10, a weight change calculating section 11, a timer 12,
It is composed of a threshold value 13, a first comparison unit 14, a remaining time calculation unit 15, a second comparison unit 16, and a correction means 17.

For example, when the weight sensor 8 is provided with a capacitance type pressure sensor, the detection circuit 10 uses an oscillation circuit and detects the weight from the oscillation frequency based on the capacitance, that is, the pressure applied to the sensor. ..

The weight change calculation unit 11 calculates, by the detection circuit 10, how much the weight has decreased from the beginning of heating, and the decrease amount ΔW. The timer 12 counts the elapsed time after the start key 1 is operated and the magnetron 5 starts heating. Initially, the weight of the food hardly changes, but when the heating progresses and steam or the like starts to be generated from the food 4, the weight of the food becomes lighter and the reduction amount ΔW starts to increase.
The threshold value 13 has a predetermined set value W _TH , and the first comparison unit 14 compares ΔW and W _TH, and when it detects that ΔW has reached W _TH , outputs it to the control means 6 for control. Means 6 switch the magnetron 5 to a low output. Further, the remaining time calculation unit 15 calculates the remaining time KT by multiplying by a predetermined constant K based on the elapsed time T counted by the timer 12 until ΔW reaches W _TH . The timer 12 starts counting the elapsed time again from the stage when ΔW reaches W _TH , and the second comparing unit 16
If it is detected that the elapsed time has reached KT, the control means 6
Then, the control means 6 stops the power supply to the magnetron 5 and the cooking is completed.

Here, the user takes out the cooked food 4 and eats it. Since the constant K originally set in the remaining time calculating section 15 is set to an optimum value by a cooking experiment or the like, it is set. However, there are individual differences in the tastes of users, and they may feel that they are undercooked or overcooked when they see or eat the cooked food 4. Therefore, when cooking next time, in order to correct this feeling, the user inputs the feeling of insufficient cooking or excessive cooking which he / she felt by the input means 18.

The input information is held in the storage means 19. For example, if the user inputs the cooking shortage by the input means 18, the cooking shortage is held in the storage means 19. Then, when the user newly puts the uncooked food 4 on the placing table 3 and operates the start key 1, the weight change ΔW is similarly W _TH.
When it reaches, the magnetron 5 is switched to a low output. At that time, the remaining time calculation unit 15 calculates the remaining time based on the elapsed time T counted by the timer 12, but since the storage means 19 holds the information of insufficient cooking, the correction means 17 calculates the remaining time. Further constant 1.1 for the calculation of the part
And the remaining time calculation unit 15 calculates 1.1 × KT.
Is calculated as the remaining time. The second comparison unit 16 determines that the elapsed time of the timer 12 that has newly started counting is 1.1 instead of KT.
If it detects that it has reached × KT, it outputs to the control means 6,
The control means 6 stops the power supply to the magnetron 5 and completes cooking. With this, the cooking time is extended by 0.1 × KT compared to before the user inputs the cooking shortage, and the user's dissatisfaction with the cooking shortage is eliminated.

Further, since the input information of the user is held in the storage means, the user's input becomes unnecessary thereafter. If the user still feels unsatisfied with the lack of cooking, he / she inputs the lack of cooking again by the input means 18 at the start of cooking next time. Here, the storage means 19 holds that the cooking shortage has been input twice, and the correction means 17 instructs the remaining time calculation unit 15 to multiply by the constant 1.2, and 1.2 × KT is the remaining time.

On the contrary, if the user first feels overcooking and then inputs the overcooking by the input means 18 at the time of cooking next time, the storing means 19 holds the information of the overcooking, and the correcting means 17 makes a constant in the remaining time calculating section 15. Ordered to multiply by 0.9,
0.9 × KT is the remaining time, and the user's dissatisfaction with overcooking is resolved.

In the above description, the method of detecting the progress of cooking by the change in weight has been shown. Next, an example of the completion determining means for calculating the cooking time based on the initial weight will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the weight sensor 8 causes the detection circuit 10 to detect the initial weight of food. The cooking time calculator 20 calculates the cooking time as A × W + B based on the detected weight W.
Here, A and B are predetermined constants. The timer 12 counts the elapsed time since the magnetron started heating. The comparison unit 21 indicates that the elapsed time counted by the timer 12 is A
When it reaches xW + B, it is output to the control means and the power supply to the magnetron is stopped to complete cooking.

If the user feels that the cooking is insufficient and inputs the cooking shortage at the time of starting the next cooking, the correcting means 17 orders the cooking time calculating unit 20 to multiply by 1.1, and the cooking time is 1.1 × (A XW + B), and conversely, if the user inputs an overcooking, the correction means 17 causes the cooking time calculation unit 20 to display 0.
I ordered to multiply by 9, and the cooking time was 0.9 x (A x W +
B). This is an effective means when heating is performed at an intermediate temperature like sake bottles and milk and heating is completed before steam is generated. Here, the correction in increments of 0.1 is a numerical value used for convenience of explanation and does not restrict the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an example of operation keys including the start key 1 and the input means 18. When the user puts the food on the mounting table, he or she selects one of the menu keys 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d to select the menu. The control means displays the display portions 23a, 23b, 2 corresponding to the selected menu.
The user confirms whether the selected menu is correct by turning on either 3c or 23d. If you do not feel insufficient cooking or excessive cooking when cooking the previous time, press the start key 1.

When the menu key 22a or 22b is pressed, that is, when the menu is reheated or prepared for vegetables, the completion of cooking is determined by the weight change. When the menu key 22c or 22d is pressed, that is, in the case of milk or sake can, the completion of cooking is determined from the initial weight.

Numeral 24 is a display section for displaying the remaining time, and if reheating or preparing vegetables, the remaining time of cooking can be calculated when ΔW reaches W _TH, and the remaining time of milk or sake can is calculated from the initial weight. Since it is possible, the remaining time is displayed for the convenience of the user.

If the user is dissatisfied with the food that was cooked the last time, the undercooked key 18a or the overcooked key 18 which is an input means before the start key 1 is pressed.
Press b. In the case of this example, since four types of menus are prepared, storage means is prepared for each menu, and the storage means holds four separate pieces of information. In this example, there are two input means, the undercooked key 18a and the overcooked key 18b, but the degree of deficiency and the degree of excess may be input.

Next, an example in which a humidity sensor is used as the completion determining means will be described with reference to FIGS. User starts key 1
The cooking is started by the magnetron 5 by operating. A humidity sensor 25 detects the humidity D in the refrigerator 2. Initially, the humidity in the refrigerator is low and the output of the humidity sensor hardly changes. However, when heating progresses and steam or the like starts to be generated from the food 4, the humidity D in the refrigerator 2 starts to rise.

The threshold value 13 is a preset value D_THHave
Therefore, the first comparison unit 14 outputs D and D _THAnd D is D_TH
If it is detected that the
Stage 6 switches magnetron 5 to low power. Also D
D_THElapsed time T counted by the timer 12 before reaching
The remaining time calculation unit 15 multiplies a predetermined constant K based on
The remaining time KT is calculated.

The timer 12 starts counting the elapsed time again from the stage when D reaches D _TH, and when the second comparator 16 detects that the elapsed time reaches KT, it outputs it to the control means 6 and the control means. 6 stops the power supply to the magnetron 5 and the cooking is completed.

When the user starts cooking next time, the input means 18
By inputting the cooking shortage, the storage means 19 holds the insufficient cooking. Therefore, when cooking next time, the humidity D
At the time when _TH is reached, the storage means 19 retains the information of insufficient cooking, so the correction means 17 orders the calculation of the remaining time calculation section 15 to be further multiplied by a constant 1.1, and the remaining time calculation section is calculated. 15 calculates with 1.1 × KT as the remaining time. On the contrary, when the user feels overcooking and inputs the overcooking by the inputting means 18 at the time of starting the next cooking, the storing means 19 holds the information of the overcooking, and when cooking, the correcting means 17 causes the remaining time calculating section 15 to store the constant 0. Ordered to multiply by 9,
The remaining time is 0.9 × KT.

In the above description, the example of correcting the excess or deficiency of cooking is shown at the time of the next cooking, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the correction of excess or deficiency may be performed after the completion of cooking.

Although the above description has been given of the example of radio wave cooking using a magnetron, this does not restrict the present invention and can be applied to heater heating cooking. In this case, the temperature inside the refrigerator is monitored, and the remaining time is calculated based on the time until the temperature inside the refrigerator reaches a predetermined temperature, and a method such as correcting the constant necessary for the calculation by the user's input is considered. Be done.
Further, the heating cooking by the microwave oven is not restricted to the present invention and can be applied to the toaster and the gas table, and is not limited to the heating cooking, and can be applied to the stirring cooking such as a mixer and the pressure cooking such as pickles. is there.

As described above, by combining the detecting means for detecting the progress of cooking and the completion determining means for calculating the cooking time, it is possible to perform the desired cooking.

A second object of the present invention, which is an embodiment in which the stored contents of the storage means are retained even when the power is turned off, will be described with reference to the specific circuit configuration diagram of FIG. A power plug 26 is connected to an AC power outlet. Reference numeral 27 is a power supply circuit composed of a magnetron for supplying radio waves and an inverter power supply circuit, and power supply and stop are controlled by opening and closing the contacts of the relay 28. Numeral 29 is insulated by a transformer, reduced in voltage, full-wave rectified by a bridge of diodes 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, and smoothed by a capacitor 31. 32
Creates stable DC low voltage with regulator IC. 33
Is a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as "microcomputer") which controls the energization of the coil of the relay 28 via the driver 34 by its output. A diode 35 absorbs the surge current of the coil of the relay 28. The keys 18a and 18b are input keys for undercooking and overcooking, respectively, which are connected to the ground and the power source through the resistors 36a and 36b. When the key is pressed, the microcomputer 33 inputs low, and when the key is not pressed, high is input. It Reference numeral 19 denotes a storage means, which is a non-volatile memory, and includes a microcomputer 33 and three lines 37a, 37b, 37.
It is connected by c. 37a designates the address of the non-volatile memory 19 by the microcomputer 33, and 37b designates the microcomputer 33.
The data is written in the nonvolatile memory 19 and the data in 37c is read by the microcomputer 33 from the nonvolatile memory 19. Microcomputer 33 according to user's start instruction
Turns on the relay 28 to supply power and cook food. The microcomputer 33 determines the completion of cooking according to a predetermined criterion, turns off the relay 28, and stops the power supply. If the user is not satisfied with the quality of the cooked food, the user presses the undercooked key 18a or the overcooked key 18b. This input information is stored in the non-volatile memory 19 via the microcomputer 33. The non-volatile memory 19 has predetermined addresses to be stored for a large number of menus, and the microcomputer 33 indicates the address corresponding to the cooked menu by serial data from the line 37a. Is written as serial data from the line 37b.
When the user again cooks with the same menu, the microcomputer instructs the address corresponding to the menu to the non-volatile memory on line 37a, and the stored contents of that address are read from line 37c as serial data. The microcomputer 33 corrects the judgment standard that is internally held in advance based on the data read from the non-volatile memory 19. Even if there is a power outage and power is not supplied to the circuit, the nonvolatile memory 19 retains the stored contents. Therefore, when the power is restored again, the user inputs the microcomputer when the user cooks. The input information corresponding to the cooking menu can be read, and the determination standard can be corrected to appropriate cooking that eliminates user dissatisfaction.

[0034]

As described above, according to the cooking apparatus of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The user inputs dissatisfaction such as insufficient cooking or excessive cooking,
The input information is stored in the storage means, and the correction means corrects the determination standard of the completion determination means based on the stored information when cooking next time, so that the input information is corrected to suit the user's preference during use. As a result, the user's dissatisfaction with the quality of cooking is eliminated.

Further, there are variations in various sensors for determining the completion of cooking, and it is possible to eliminate the problem that the variation in the cookedness is caused by the apparatus due to the variation. (2) Since the storage means of the present invention is composed of a non-volatile memory, the dissatisfied information input by the user is held in the non-volatile memory, and a power failure occurs or the device is relocated to turn off the power. Even if this happens, the dissatisfaction information of the user is retained, and there is an effect that the trouble of newly input by the user is unnecessary and the operability is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a cooking apparatus according to an embodiment that achieves a first object of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a completion determining unit of the cooking apparatus according to the second embodiment that achieves the first object of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an operating portion of the cooking apparatus according to the embodiment that achieves the first object of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a system block diagram of a cooking apparatus according to a third embodiment that achieves the first object of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a time chart diagram of sensor characteristics and cooking control for explaining the cooking device of the third embodiment that achieves the first object of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a specific circuit configuration diagram of a cooking device that achieves the second object of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a time chart diagram of sensor characteristics and cooking control of a conventional cooking device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 cooking means 6 control means 9 completion determination means 17 correction means 18 input means 19 storage means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cooking means for cooking food, a completion determining means for determining the completion of cooking, a control means for controlling the cooking means based on the output of the completion determining means, and a food cooked by a user. It has an input means for inputting dissatisfaction such as undercooking or overcooking, and a storage means for storing the input content of the input means, and the completion determining means corrects a cooking completion determination criterion based on the output of the storage means. Cooking apparatus having a correction means for controlling. 2. The cooking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage means comprises a non-volatile memory.