JPH0552B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a timer device for a rice cooker used in general households.

BACKGROUND ART Conventional timer devices for rice cookers have generally been time setting type analog or digital timers. That is, the current time is subtracted from the desired time to start cooking rice, and an analog or digital timer is used to set the number of hours after which the rice should be cooked.
Furthermore, there are time setting type timers such as audio timers, but in this case, when the reserved time is changed, that time is newly stored and the previous reserved time is erased.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention With such conventional time setting timers, it is troublesome to calculate how many hours later to start cooking rice, and even though the time for cooking rice is almost fixed every day, However, the user had to set the time every day, making it very inconvenient to use. On the other hand, with a time-setting timer, you do not have to worry about calculating how many hours later to start cooking rice, but if you change the reserved time, that time will be newly memorized and will remain there until the next change. Therefore, it is not possible to set a fixed time for cooking rice on weekdays and then cook rice at a different reserved time only on holidays, which is also very inconvenient to use.

The present invention solves these conventional problems and aims to provide a timer device for a rice cooker with improved operability.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a first storage means that stores a rice cooking reservation time that is always used, a setting section that sets the rice cooking reservation time, and a caller that reads the rice cooking reservation time of the first storage means. a reserved time setting means having a section, and specifying whether the reserved time set in the setting section of the reserved time setting means is to be used permanently or temporarily, and storing the reserved time to be always used in a first memory; a timer start means for starting a timer operation and storing the reservation time set or called by the reservation time setting means in a second storage means; and a clock for measuring the current time. and a canceling means for turning off the reserved time display, setting the reserved time, and canceling the timer operation and rice cooking operation, and displaying the current time when canceled by this canceling means, and displaying the reserved time when setting the reserved time. The apparatus is comprised of a display means for displaying a display, a comparison means for comparing the current time from the clock means with a reserved time and outputting a coincidence signal, and a start means for starting the rice cooking operation based on this output.

Effect According to the above configuration, the reserved time in the first storage means can be constantly recalled and used on weekdays, and when the rice cooking time is temporarily changed such as on holidays, the reserved time in the second storage means can be recalled and used. By using
There is no need to set a timer every day. Furthermore, even if the reserved time is temporarily changed, the always-used reserved time remains stored, making it very convenient to use.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows the operation section of the rice cooker in one embodiment of the present invention, where 1 is a reservation call key for calling up the reservation time, and 2 is for changing the hour digit of the reservation time that has been called up. key, 3 is the minute key to change the "minute" digit, 4 is the memory completion key to specify whether to use the changed reservation time permanently or temporarily, 5 is the rice cooking key to start the timer operation, 6 is a cancel key for canceling operations other than displaying the current time; 7 is a liquid crystal display element for displaying the reserved time or the current time; and 8 and 9 are light emitting diodes that each indicate the operating mode of the rice cooker.

Next, the operation in the above configuration will be explained. first,
If the time you cook rice every day is 7 p.m.
The reservation call key 1 is pressed to call up the reservation time, and the reservation time is displayed on the liquid crystal display element 7. Next, press hour key 2 and minute key 3 to set "PM7:00". After that, press the memory completion key 4.
The reserved time to be used all the time is specified, and when the rice cooking key 5 is pressed, the timer operation is started, the display on the liquid crystal display element 7 changes to the current time, the light emitting diode 8 of the timer emits light, and the reserved time is displayed. If the current time matches, i.e. 7:00 p.m.
Once that happens, cooking will begin. When this rice cooking is started, the rice cooking light emitting diode 9 emits light. This reserved time is stored in memory, so if you want to start the timer operation again and start cooking rice at 7:00 p.m., press the reservation call key 1 and then press the rice cooker key 5.
Just press . If you wish to temporarily change the reservation time due to an unexpected customer or holiday, press the reservation time call key 1 to call up the reservation time that you always use, and then press the hour key 2 and minute key 3 to change the reservation time. change. If the rice cooking key 5 is pressed without pressing the memory completion key 4, a temporarily reserved time is designated and rice cooking is started at the reserved time. However, if you press the reservation call key 1 after that, the reserved time (7:00 PM) that was stored for constant use will be recalled. :00)
You can start cooking rice.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 10 denotes reservation time setting means, which corresponds to the reservation call key 1, hour key 2, and minute key 3 described above. Reference numeral 11 denotes a reservation time designation means, which corresponds to the memory completion key 4 described above. 12 is a timer starting means, which corresponds to the rice cooking key 5 described above. 13 is a display means, which includes the liquid crystal display element 7 mentioned above.
corresponds to Reference numeral 14 denotes a first storage means that stores reserved times that are always used. Reference numeral 15 denotes a second storage means for temporarily storing reserved times. 16
is a clock means that measures the current time. That is, normally, the display means 13 displays the current time based on the signal from the clock means 16, but by pressing the reservation call key 1, the reserved time stored in the first storage means 14 and always used is called up. and displayed on the display means 13. Next, reservation time setting means 1
If the reservation time is changed in 0 and the changed reservation time is to be used all the time, the reservation time designation means 11
If you press , the reserved time will be stored in the first storage means 14, and then if you press the timer start means 12, the reserved time will be stored in the second storage means 14.
It is also stored in the storage means 15 of. If the changed reservation time is to be used temporarily, the timer start means 12 is pressed without pressing the reservation time designation means 11, and the reservation time is stored in the second storage means 15. Note that after the timer start means 12 is pressed, the display means 13 displays the current time. Reference numeral 17 denotes a comparison means, which compares the current time from the clock means 16 and the reserved time from the second storage means 15, and outputs a match signal if they match. Reference numeral 18 denotes a starting means, and upon receiving the coincidence signal from the comparing means 17, the starting means 18 turns on the rice cooker to start cooking rice. Next, when the reservation call key 1 is pressed to start the timer operation again, the reservation time stored in the first storage means 14 is displayed on the display means 1.
3, and if the timer start means 12 is pressed without changing the reserved time, this reserved time will be changed to the second
is stored in the storage means 15, and the timer operation is started. Reference numeral 19 denotes a canceling means. This canceling means 19 corresponds to the above-mentioned canceling key 6, and turns off the reserved time displayed on the display means, sets the reserved time, and cancels the timer operation and the rice cooking operation.

Next, the processing will be explained based on FIG. 3. First, the current time is displayed. step 20
Then, determine whether to call the reserved time. That is, it is determined whether the reservation call key 1 has been pressed. If pressed, the reserved time that is always used is retrieved from the first storage means 14 and displayed. In step 21, it is determined whether there is a change in the reservation time. That is, it is determined whether hour key 2 or minute key 3 has been pressed. If it has been pressed, in step 22 it is determined whether the time is a time that is always used or not, based on whether the memory completion key 4 has been pressed, and if it has been pressed, the time is stored in the first storage means 14. . In step 23, it is determined whether the rice cooking key 5 has been pressed, and if it has been pressed, the reserved time is stored in the second storage means 15, and the display changes to the current time. Next, the reserved time M and current time N in the second storage means 15 are read. In step 24, the reserved time M and the current time N are compared, and if they match, rice cooking is started; otherwise, the process waits until they match. After the rice is cooked, return to step 20. Note that if the cancel key 6 is pressed, the process returns to step 20 regardless of which step is being executed.

In the above embodiment, the reservation time is the rice cooking start time, but it may also be the rice cooking end time. in this case,
The comparison means 16 compares the current time and the reservation time minus the rice cooking time.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, once a reserved time of the time setting type and always used is set, it can be called and confirmed using the reserved call key. As a result of checking, if the rice is cooked at the reserved time,
If you press the timer start means, you can cook rice at the reserved time. If you wish to change the reservation time, you can do so using the reservation time setting means. After making the change, if you press the timer start means without pressing the reservation time designation means, the changed reservation time will be valid only once, and the next time you press the reservation call key, the reservation time before the change will be called up. I can do it. In this way, you can reserve the time you want to always cook rice, and even if you temporarily change the time and want to cook rice, the time you always want to cook rice will not disappear, making it extremely easy to use. Additionally, if you want to change the reserved time after the timer has started, you can use the canceling means to cancel the timer operation and set the reserved time again.
Its usability can be improved. Furthermore, if you operate the cancellation means when setting the reservation time, you can cancel the reservation time setting and display the current time on the display means, so you can set the reservation time again while checking the current time, and you can reset the reservation time. It becomes easier to do.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the operation diagram of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the same rice cooker, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the same rice cooker. 10... Reservation time setting means, 11... Reservation time specifying means, 12... Timer starting means, 13... Display means, 14... First storage means, 15... Second
storage means, 16...clock means, 17...comparison means, 18...start means, 19...cancellation means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first storage means for storing a rice cooking reservation time that is always used; a reservation time setting means having a setting section for setting the rice cooking reservation time; and a calling section for calling the rice cooking reservation time of the first storage means; a timer; a timer; a timer; and a timer; a timer start means for starting the operation and storing the reservation time set or called by the reservation time setting means in a second storage means; a clock means for measuring the current time; and turning off the reservation time display and the reservation time. a canceling means for canceling the setting, timer operation and rice cooking operation; a display means for displaying the current time when the cancellation is made by the canceling means; and a display means for displaying the reserved time when the reserved time is set; A timer device for a rice cooker comprising a comparing means for comparing the current time and a reserved time and outputting a coincidence signal, and a starting means for starting a rice cooking operation based on this output.