JPH06300280A - Heating cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To carry out demonstrating operation only when it is necessitated, in a heating cooker permitting the realization of the demonstrating operation. CONSTITUTION:An operation panel is provided with a human sensor for detecting the existence of a man near the front surface of a main body. When a microwave oven is displayed, a demonstration key is operated to change normal heating cooking mode into demonstration mode. When the human sensor detects a man (S1: Yes) under the demonstration mode, a controller carries out demonstrating operation, in which indicating operation and the like are effected without accompanying heating operation (S3), under a condition that the man is there for two seconds (S2:Yes). When the detection of the man of the human sensor is eliminated (S4:Yes), the demonstrating operation is stopped (S6) under a condition that the condition is continued for two seconds (S5:Yes).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heating cooker such as a microwave oven capable of executing a demonstration mode for performing a demonstration operation such as a display operation without a heating operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, for example, in a microwave oven, in order to attract consumers' attention when they are lined up in a store, and to visually inform consumers of their approximate functions, Some have been made available to perform demonstration operations. This demonstration operation is performed by sequentially switching the display on the operation panel without rotating the magnetron or heater, rotating the turntable, and turning on the interior light. , It is designed to be executed by turning on the dedicated demo key.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional device, the demonstration operation is repeatedly executed while the demo key is on, and the demo key is turned off one by one to stop the demonstration operation. Since it is a configuration that must be
Demonstration operations were sometimes executed in vain even when unnecessary, such as when there were no people nearby. in this case,
Especially when operating the interior light or turntable,
Wasteful power consumption will increase.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a heating cooker capable of executing a demonstration operation and capable of executing the demonstration operation only when necessary. .

[0005]

The cooking device according to the present invention comprises:
In addition to the normal heating and cooking mode, it is possible to execute a demonstration mode in which a demonstration operation such as a display operation without heating operation is performed, and whether or not there is a person in the vicinity of the main body of the heating cooker It is characterized in that a human sensor for detection is provided and an operation control means for performing a demonstration operation based on the detection of the human sensor is provided in the demonstration mode.

Further, in this case, the operation control means may be configured to start the demonstration operation on the condition that the human sensor detects the presence of a person near the main body for a certain period of time.

Further, the operation control means may be configured to stop the demonstration operation after a fixed time elapses after the human sensor does not detect the presence of a person near the main body.

[0008]

According to the above means, in the demonstration mode, the operation control means starts the demonstration operation based on the fact that the person sensor detects that there is a person in the vicinity of the main body of the cooking device. Therefore, even in demonstration mode,
The demonstration operation is not performed when there is no person in the vicinity, and the demonstration operation is performed only when there is a person in the vicinity.

Further, in this case, if the demonstration operation is started on the condition that the human sensor detects the presence of a person in the vicinity of the main body for a certain period of time, the person just passes the vicinity of the main body. In some cases, the demonstration operation is not performed, and the demonstration operation can be started when it is certain that a person is in the vicinity.

Furthermore, if the demonstration operation is stopped after a certain period of time after the human sensor no longer detects the presence of a person in the vicinity of the main body, it is certain that the person is no longer in the vicinity. At that point, the demonstration operation can be stopped.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a microwave oven will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the main body 1 of the microwave oven which is a cooking device.
The main body 1 has a rectangular box shape, and a front surface thereof is provided with a door 2 that covers the front surface of a cooking chamber (not shown) so that the door 2 can be opened and closed, and an operation panel 3 is provided on the right side of the door 2. ing.

As shown in FIG. 5, the operation panel 3 is provided with a display section 4 at the upper part and various operation keys 5 at the lower part for selecting and instructing a cooking mode. There is. As shown in FIG. 5, the display unit 4 has an upper portion of time (time or cooking time in minutes and seconds).
Is displayed digitally, and the character of the heating mode (raw thawing, range strong, weak, oven, etc.) is displayed at the bottom. In addition, among the operation keys 5, the three automatic cooking keys 5a, 5b, 5c located at the top (“warm”, “toast”, and “convenience” from the left in order) are keys with a lighting function. .

On the other hand, although not shown in detail, a magnetron 6 (see FIG. 3) for supplying microwaves to the cooking chamber is provided in the machine chamber provided in the main body 1. As shown only in FIG. 3, the cooking chamber is provided with a heater 7 for performing toast cooking, a turntable 8 on which food is placed, an inside lamp 9 for illuminating the cooking chamber, and the like. ing.

In the main body 1, there is provided a control device 10 mainly composed of a microcomputer. The control device 10 controls the magnetron 6, the heater 7, the turntable 8, the internal light 9 and the like according to a built-in cooking program on the basis of the operation keys 5 on the operation panel 3 being operated, Thus, the cooked food contained in the cooking chamber is cooked. The control device 10 also controls the display of the display unit 4 of the operation panel 3, the lighting of the automatic cooking keys 5a, 5b, 5c, and the like.

By the software configuration of the control device 10, in addition to the normal cooking mode in which the cooking operation is performed based on the operation of each operation key 5 as described above, details will be described later. It is possible to switch to the demonstration mode in which the demonstration operation such as the display operation without the heating operation is performed. Switching between the normal cooking mode and the demonstration mode is performed by operating the demo key 11. In this case, demo key 11
As shown in FIG. 2, is a so-called hidden key arranged on the back surface of the main body 1, and is not touched by general users, and can be operated only by a sales clerk or a service person. ing.

As shown in FIG. 4, a human sensor 12 is provided at the lower end of the operation panel 3.
The human sensor 12 is, for example, a well-known infrared sensor, and is adapted to detect the presence of a human near the front surface of the main body 1. The detection signal of the human sensor 12 is input to the control device 10. As will be described in detail later in the description of the flow chart, the control device 10 controls the human sensor 12 in the demonstration mode.
Is configured to perform a demonstration operation based on detecting a person.

Therefore, the control device 10 functions as the operation control means according to the present invention. Further, in the present embodiment, the control device 10 starts the demonstration operation on the condition that the human sensor 12 detects the presence of a person for a certain period of time (for example, 2 seconds), and the human sensor 12 has a person. The demonstration operation is configured to be stopped after a fixed time (for example, 2 seconds) after the detection of the above.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. When the microwave oven is displayed in stores, etc., the demonstration key 11 is operated to activate the demonstration mode in order to catch the consumer's attention and visually inform the consumer of the approximate functions. It is said that In this demonstration mode, the control device 10 executes the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

That is, in the demonstration mode, the human sensor 12 constantly monitors whether or not there is a person near the main body 1 (step S1). When the human sensor 12 detects a human (Y in step S1)
es), it is determined whether or not the detection state continues for a fixed time, for example, 2 seconds (step S2). And 2
If there is a person detected for a second (step S
2), and the demonstration operation is executed in step S3.

With this, the demonstration operation is performed only when a person is near the front surface of the main body 1. Further, even if the human sensor 12 detects a person, if the human sensor 12 is separated by 2 seconds, for example, just passing in front of the main body 1, the demonstration operation is not performed and the standby state is restored. There is.

Here, the demonstration operation in this embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIG. As described above, in this demonstration operation, the display operation and the like are performed without the heating operation. First, as shown in FIG. 5A, the time display on the upper portion of the display unit 4 of the operation panel 3 is performed. The part is turned on for about 1 second, and then, as shown in FIG. 5 (b).
As shown in, the character display portion below the display unit 4 is lit for about 1 second. Next, the display unit 4 is turned off, and as shown in FIGS. 5 (c), 5 (d) and 5 (e) in order, the “warm” key 5a, the “toast” key 5b and the “convenience” key 5c are The lights are turned on for about 1 second each.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5 (f), the display unit 4
Becomes the range mode, the cooking time of 10 minutes 00 seconds is displayed, and the time is counted down at 10 times speed. At the same time, the interior light 9 is turned on and the turntable 8 is rotated. This mode is performed for about 60 seconds (until the display reaches 00 minutes 00 seconds). Finally, Figure 5
As shown in (g), the display unit 4 is in the oven mode, the cooking time of 10 minutes 00 seconds is displayed, the time is counted down at 10 times speed, the interior lamp 9 is turned on, and the turn is turned on. The table 8 is rotated. This mode also runs for about 60 seconds. After that, the state shown in FIG. 5A is returned to, and the same operation is repeated.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 1, the detection signal of the human sensor 12 is constantly monitored (step S4) even while the demonstration operation is being executed (step S3). When the human sensor 12 no longer detects a person (Yes in step S4), the state continues for a certain time in this case for 2 seconds (Yes in step S5), and the demonstration operation is stopped in step S6. It has become so. As a result, the demonstration operation is stopped when it is certain that the person is no longer near the main body 1, and the process returns to the standby state of step S1.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the demonstration operation is performed based on the detection of the human sensor 12 that detects whether or not there is a person near the main body 1, the demonstration operation is executed only when necessary. Can be made. Therefore, unlike the conventional method in which the demonstration operation is unnecessarily executed even when there is no need for a person to be in the vicinity, there is an advantage that no unnecessary power is consumed while obtaining a sufficient demonstration effect. You can get it.

Further, particularly in this embodiment, the demonstration operation is started on condition that the human sensor 12 detects the presence of a person in the vicinity of the main body 1 for a certain period of time. The demonstration operation is not performed when the vehicle has just passed through the vicinity, and the demonstration operation can be started when it is certain that a person is in the vicinity.

Furthermore, since the demonstration operation is stopped after a certain period of time after the human sensor 12 no longer detects the presence of a person in the vicinity of the main body 1, it is sure that the person is no longer in the vicinity. The demonstration operation can be stopped at the point of becoming.

In the above embodiment, the demonstration operation is started and stopped when the detection state continues for 2 seconds in step S2 and step S5, respectively, but those times can be set appropriately. it can. Further, the human sensor 12 can be used not only in the demonstration mode but also in the cooking mode, for example, to turn off the interior light to save power when no person is nearby. Is.

In addition, for example, a demo key for switching from the cooking mode to the demonstration mode may be provided on the operation panel, or the demonstration mode may be executed by operating a specific key on the operation panel. The present invention can be appropriately modified and implemented within the scope of the present invention.

[0029]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the heating cooker of the present invention, the human sensor for detecting whether or not there is a person in the vicinity of the main body is provided, and in the demonstration mode, the human sensor Since the operation control means for performing the demonstration operation based on the detection is provided, there is an excellent effect that the demonstration operation can be executed only when there is a person nearby.

Further, in this case, if the demonstration operation is started on the condition that the human sensor detects the presence of a person in the vicinity of the main body for a certain period of time, the person just passes the vicinity of the main body. In some cases, the demonstration operation is not performed, and the demonstration operation can be started when it is certain that a person is in the vicinity.

Furthermore, if the demonstration operation is stopped after a fixed time after the human sensor does not detect the presence of a person in the vicinity of the main body, it is sure that the person is no longer in the vicinity. At that point, the demonstration operation can be stopped.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure in a demonstration mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a microwave oven.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration.

FIG. 4 is a vertical side view of a human sensor part.

FIG. 5 is a diagram sequentially showing how the operation panel is displayed during the demonstration operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the drawings, 1 is a main body, 3 is an operation panel, 4 is a display unit, 5 is an operation key, 10 is a control device (operation control means), 11 is a demo key, and 12 is a human sensor.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. In addition to the normal cooking mode, it is possible to perform a demonstration mode for performing a demonstration operation such as a display operation without heating operation. A heating cooker characterized by being provided with a human sensor for detecting whether or not a person is present, and with operation control means for performing a demonstration operation based on the detection of the human sensor in the demonstration mode. 2. The motion control means is configured to start the demonstration motion on the condition that the human sensor detects the presence of a person in the vicinity of the main body for a certain period of time. The heating cooker according to 1. 3. The operation control means is configured to stop the demonstration operation after a fixed time after the human sensor does not detect the presence of a person near the main body. The heating cooker according to 2.