JPH08154824A - Rice cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To simplify a cooking menu selection by providing an operation panel with a cooking menu group formed out of displays of each cooking type array, and fitting a rotary switch to the center of the panel so as to be rotatably projected. CONSTITUTION: An operation panel 51 is provided with a rotary switch 53 as a menu selector switch for selecting each type of cooking menus. The switch 53 is formed out of a contact section having nine stationary contacts arranged on a virtual circle, and a dial section 53b positioned at the center of the circle and fitted with a moving contact selectively coming in contact with the stationary contacts. Also, the dial section 53b is projected from the panel 51. Furthermore, a cooking menu group M of nine types of menus such as 'ordinary', 'soft', 'hard' and 'gruel' is displayed on the panel 51 corresponding to the stationary contacts of the contact section about the dial section 53b as a center, and the dial section 53 is fitted with an indicator 63 for instructing the nine types of cooking menus depending on a rotating operation angle.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electric rice cooker,
More specifically, it relates to an electric rice cooker with an improved menu switch for selecting various rice cooking menus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, multifunctional electric rice cookers have been developed that can cook cooked rice according to various cooking menus. For example, "normal", "hard", "soft", "new rice" There are also 9 types of rice menus, such as "early rice cooked", "sushi rice", "rice cooked", "okowa" and "porridge".

The selection of the rice cooking menu is performed by pressing a menu selection switch provided near the liquid crystal display on the operation panel of the main body (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-31026). .

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned known example, the selection of "normal" to "porridge" in the rice cooking menu is selected by the number of times the menu selection switch is pressed. If the above order (that is, "normal" → "porridge order" is selected, the pressing operation of the menu selection switch increases to "normal" → "porridge", and when selecting "porridge", Since a large number of pressing operations (that is, a maximum of 8 times) are required, there is a problem that the rice cooking menu selection operation becomes extremely complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to simplify the rice cooking menu selection operation.

[0006]

In a first basic configuration of the present invention, as means for solving the above-mentioned problems, a rice cooker main body that detachably accommodates an inner pot heated by a rice cooker heater is provided, and In an appropriate place of the rice cooker main body, an operation panel section having various switch operation sections and various display sections and a microcomputer board corresponding to the operation panel section are provided.
In an electric rice cooker that performs multi-function rice cooking by controlling energization to the rice cooking heater corresponding to various rice cooking menus, various rice cooking menus are arrayed and displayed on a virtual circle at equal intervals on the operation panel section. A rice cooking menu group is provided, and a contact portion connected to the microcomputer board side and having a fixed number of fixed contacts corresponding to the rice cooking menu, and a movable contact selectively contacting the fixed contact in the contact portion are provided. In addition, a rotary switch including a dial portion that rotatably projects is attached to the center of the rice cooking menu group.

In the second basic configuration of the present invention, as a means for solving the above problems, a rice cooker main body that detachably accommodates an inner pot heated by a rice cooker heater is provided, and the rice cooker main body is placed at an appropriate position. By providing an operation panel section equipped with operation sections of various switches and various display sections and a microcomputer board corresponding to the operation panel section, and by controlling energization to the rice cooking heater in response to various rice cooking menus, In an electric rice cooker that performs functional rice cooking, a plurality of optical sensors that are arranged on a virtual circle at equal intervals in the operation panel section and that are sensitive to the touch of a finger, and pulse output that outputs a pulse signal according to the sensitivity of the optical sensors Means, a pulse number counting means for counting the output pulses from the pulse output means, and a count value counted by the pulse number counting means In response to constitute and a setting display device for setting displaying various cooking menus.

In the second basic configuration of the present invention, the optical sensor is composed of a photocoupler including a light emitting element and a light receiving element arranged in the operation panel section, and a light transmitting section for transmitting light from the light emitting element. Is preferably flush with the outer surface of the operation panel section in order to improve the appearance of the operation panel section.

[0009]

In the first basic configuration of the present invention, the following actions are obtained by the above means.

That is, from the fact that various rice cooking menus can be selected by rotating the rotary switch, a maximum of 1
All rice cooking menus can be selected by turning 80 degrees.

In the second basic configuration of the present invention, the following actions are obtained by the above means.

That is, by sequentially sensitizing a plurality of photosensors arranged at equal intervals on a virtual circle in the operation panel section by touching with a finger, pulse signals are sequentially output according to the sensitivities of the photosensors. The number of the pulse signals is counted, and various rice cooking menus are set and displayed according to the count value.

[0013]

According to the first basic configuration of the present invention, all rice cooking menus can be selected by rotating the rotary switch up to 180 °, so that the rice cooking menu selection operation can be extremely simplified. It has an excellent effect. In addition, since the rice cooking menu selected by rotating the rotary switch can be displayed, the menu display (provided on the liquid crystal display) for displaying the rice cooking menu can be eliminated, and the clock display on the liquid crystal display can be easily seen. At the same time, there is an effect that the liquid crystal display unit can be downsized.

According to the second basic configuration of the present invention, the plurality of photosensors arranged at equal intervals on the virtual circle in the operation panel section are sequentially made sensitive by touching with a finger, whereby the photosensors are sensitive. The pulse signals are sequentially output in accordance with the above, the number of the pulse signals is counted, and various rice cooking menus are set and displayed according to the count value. With this, all rice cooking menus can be selected, and there is an excellent effect that the operation of selecting rice cooking menus can be extremely simplified. In addition, since a pulse signal output in a non-contact system can be obtained, a failure is less likely to occur, and a member (for example, a dial in a rotary switch) protruding from the operation panel portion is not present, so that the appearance is also good. It has an excellent effect of improving. Moreover, since the rice cooking menu can be selected simply by touch-sensing it with a finger, there is an effect that even a person with a finger difficulty can easily perform the cooking menu.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Some preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIGS. 1 and 2 show the overall construction and essential parts of an electric rice cooker according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

In the electric rice cooker of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an outer case 4 made of synthetic resin and an inner case 5 made of sheet metal are connected by an annular shoulder member 6 made of synthetic resin, and the outer case is formed. 4 is provided with a rice cooker body 1 in which a heat insulating material 7 is provided between the inner case 5 and the inner case 5, an inner pot 3 is accommodated in the rice cooker body 1, and further on the upper part of the rice cooker body 1. A dual-purpose lid-type lid body 2 that covers the upper opening of the rice cooker body 1 and closes the upper opening of the inner pot 3 is pivotally supported in a freely openable / detachable manner. The lid 2 is an inner pot 3 like a conventional type.
It does not have a pan lid that closes the upper opening of, and it is possible to wash it completely when it is removed.

The outer case 4 and the shoulder member 6 are separably connected to each other so that the parts (for example, a center sensor 16 described later) located between the cases 4 and 5 can be easily maintained. ing.

The shoulder member 6 and the inner case 5 are joined to each other by fastening a collar portion 8 formed at the upper edge of the inner case 4 to the lower surface of the inner peripheral edge of the shoulder member 6 with a screw 9. Has been done.

The inner pot 3 is made of a good heat conductor having a bowl shape (for example, aluminum die-cast product), and has a flat bottom surface 3a and a bottom surface 3a to a peripheral surface 3c.
And a circular arc surface 3b having a larger radius of curvature than the tip of the chamoji. With this configuration, the rice on the arcuate surface 3b can be easily taken out with chamoji, and the remaining rice can be taken out easily. A flange portion 3d is integrally formed at the opening edge of the inner pot 3 with which a seal packing 27b (described later) provided on the lid 2 side is pressed.

At the inner bottom of the rice cooker body 1, a rice cooking heater 10 for heating the inner pot 3 is provided. The rice cooking heater 10 includes a bottom surface 3a and an arc surface 3 of the inner pot 3.
plane part 11a and arc part 11b which respectively contact b
A heat sink 11 made of a good heat conductor (for example, an aluminum alloy) having an upper surface, and one annular heating element 12 (for example, embedded in a boundary portion between the flat surface portion 11a and the arc portion 11b of the heat sink 11 (for example, And a sheathed heater). With this configuration, the heat of the heat generating element 12 causes the heat generated by the heat generating element 12 to reach the flat surface portion 11a and the arc portion 11b of the heat sink 11.
The heat is transferred substantially evenly, the thermal efficiency is extremely good, and heating unevenness (that is, cooking unevenness) is eliminated. Moreover, the structure is simplified, and the rice cooker heater 10 is extremely easy to assemble without requiring alignment of the two heaters unlike the conventional two heaters. Further, when the inner pot 3 is set on the rice cooking heater 10, the inner pot 3 is guided by the arc portion 11b of the heat sink 11 to be surely centered, and the inner pot 3 can always be set in an optimum state. it can.

The heat sink 11 of the rice cooking heater 10
Is supported by placing its upper outer peripheral edge portion 11c on an annular step portion 13 formed at the lower portion of the peripheral wall of the inner case 5, and a heat insulating space 14 is formed below the heat sink 11. The bottom surface of the heat sink 11 and the bottom surface of the inner case 5 are joined by screws 15 at appropriate points.
Reference numeral 16 is a center sensor, and its temperature detecting portion 16a is urged by an urging member (not shown) so as to come into contact with the bottom surface of the inner pot 3 through a hole 11d formed in the center of the heat sink 11. It is facing up. With such a configuration, the support rigidity of the heat sink 11 is improved, and the hot air trapped in the heat insulating space 14 can be effectively used, the stability at the time of setting the inner pan 3 is improved, and the heating efficiency is improved. Can also be achieved.

A warming heater 17 is provided at an upper and lower intermediate portion on the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the inner pot 3.

On the upper surface of the inner peripheral edge of the shoulder member 6, the lid 2 side (specifically, the heat radiating plate 27 fixed to the lower surface of the lid 2)
A substantially annular shoulder heater 18, which serves as a heat source for the
The shoulder heater 18 is attached to a movable body 19 that moves up and down with respect to the shoulder member 6. The movable body 19 includes a heat transfer ring 20 made of a good heat conductor (for example, an aluminum alloy) having the shoulder heater 18 attached to the lower surface thereof, and the heat transfer ring 2
It is constituted by an elevating ring 22 which supports 0, is vertically moved by the shoulder member 6, and is supported by a coil spring 21 so as to be vertically movable.

On the other hand, the lid 2 is detachable from the hinge mechanism 23, and its opening and closing is performed by swinging about the hinge pin 24 of the hinge mechanism 23, and is made of synthetic resin. It is composed of a pair of upper and lower lid plates 25 and 26, and a heat radiating plate 27 made of a good thermal conductor (for example, sheet metal) fixed to the lower surface of the lower lid plate 26. The lid plates 35 and 36 are welded and joined together at their outer peripheral edges, and a space 38 is formed between them. The lid 2 can be held in the closed state by a lock mechanism 28 (not shown).

In addition, at the center of the lid body 2, the lid body 2
A steam discharge passage 29 is formed so as to vertically pass through. The steam discharge passage 29 is for discharging a large amount of steam S generated in the rice cooker body 1 in the cooking process to the outside.

The steam discharge passage 29 has an inlet opening 2
The upper opening of the substantially rectangular space continuous to 9a is covered by a removable lid member 30,
A steam outlet 29b serving as an outlet of the steam discharge passage 29 is formed in the lid member 30 at a position offset to the hinge mechanism 23 side with respect to the inlet opening 29a. And
The steam discharge passage 29 includes a first expansion chamber 31 located immediately above the inlet opening 29a and a second expansion chamber 32 located immediately below the steam outlet 29b. A pair of ribs 33 and 34, which are integrally provided vertically from the lower surface of the lid member 30 and overlap each other in the central portion, are interposed between the 32.

With this configuration, when the vapor S containing the oneva D is introduced from the inlet opening 29a, the oneeva D is rapidly expanded in the first expansion chamber 31 to separate the oneeva D, and the ribs 33, After passing between 34 and below, the second expansion chamber 32 is expanded again to separate the oneeva D, and only the steam S becomes the steam outlet 29b.
Will be discharged to the outside.

A heat radiating plate 27 which constitutes the lower surface of the lid 2.
Is connected to the inlet opening 29a of the steam discharge passage 29 on the center side thereof and is screwed to the lower lid plate 26 at a position immediately above the flange portion 3d of the inner pot 3 on the outer peripheral side. 27c ... is rigidly connected. The lid body 2 configured as described above is an integral product that can be washed in the detached state. In other words, in the case of this embodiment, the pot lid which has been conventionally required is not required.

The outer peripheral edge 27a of the heat dissipation plate 27 has a lid 2
When the lid is closed, the heat transfer ring 20 (having the shoulder heater 18) on the rice cooker body 1 side is contacted so as to be able to transfer heat. In the case of the present embodiment, the heat dissipation plate 27 is rigidly connected to the lower cover plate 26 as described above, but the heat transfer ring 20 can move up and down with respect to the shoulder member 6 via the coil spring 21. Supported by
When the lid 2 is closed, the heat radiation plate outer peripheral edge 27a and the heat transfer ring 20 are in close contact with each other, so that the heat transfer from the shoulder heater 18 to the heat radiation plate 27 becomes extremely good. Therefore, even if the heat radiation plate 27 is not provided with a heater, it is possible to prevent the heat radiation plate 27 forming the bottom surface of the lid body 2 from being exposed.

An annular seal packing 27b, which is pressed against the flange portion 3d of the inner pot 3 when the lid 2 is closed, is attached to the inner peripheral side of the radiator plate 27 adjacent to the screw fastening position. There is.

In the inlet opening 29a of the steam discharge passage 295, the steam holes 35, 35 for guiding the steam S from the inside of the rice cooker body 1 to the steam discharge passage 29 and the steam hole 3 are provided.
Oneeva reservoir 36 for storing the oneeva D separated from the exhaust steam S, which is positioned below 5, 35, and the oneeva reservoir 36.
A steam cap 38 made of an aluminum alloy having a return hole 37 for returning the accumulated one D is provided detachably in a hermetically-sealed state via a steam packing 39 made of silicon rubber. The steam packing 39 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a communication hole 40 for guiding the steam S introduced into the steam cap 38 to the steam discharge passage 29 is provided at an upper portion thereof.
Are formed. In the case of the present embodiment, the steam cap 38 has a step portion 27a formed at an intermediate portion in the radial direction of the heat radiating plate 27 (preferably, a portion in a centrifugal direction of a half of the radius of the heat radiating plate 27). Is attached with the upper end of the outer peripheral edge being fitted. Therefore,
The volume of the Oneva reservoir 36 of the steam cap 38 is extremely large. As a result, even if the amount of Oneeva D is large, the Oneeva D will not be spilled to the outside through the steam discharge passage 29. Moreover, since the steam cap 38 is made of an aluminum alloy, the heat transfer ring 20
There is also an advantage that it can be made from the blanked material that is produced during the production of.

The diameter of the oneeva return hole 37 is set such that the oneeva D is gradually returned into the rice cooker main body 1 so that a certain amount of oneeva D can be stored in the oneeva reservoir 36. By maintaining the balance between the weight and the pressure inside the rice cooker body 1, the pressure inside the rice cooker body 1 can be adjusted.

The hinge mechanism 23 has a hinge pin 24 with respect to a hinge receiving projection 41 formed on the shoulder member 6.
Is rotatably pivoted through the engaging projection 42 projecting from the outer peripheral end of the lower cover plate 26 of the lid body 2 and the outer projecting position of the upper cover plate 25 of the lid body 2. Engaged projection 43
By engaging with the engaging portions 44 and 45 of the hinge mechanism 23, the lid body 2 and the hinge mechanism 44 are interlockably and detachably coupled. Reference numeral 46 is a spring for urging the hinge mechanism 44 in the opening direction,
Reference numeral 47 is a brake spring that reduces the biasing force of the spring 46.

The front side (that is, the left side in the drawing) of the shoulder member 6 is an operation panel section 51, and a microcomputer board 48 equipped with various switches such as a rotary switch, which will be described in detail later, and various indicator lights. Is equipped with. Also,
In the space of the rice cooker body 1 located below the microcomputer board 48, a power supply board 49 is provided in a state of being fixed to a support frame 50 fixed to the shoulder member 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel section 51 has a rice cooking switch 52 which is turned on at the start of rice cooking,
A rotary switch 53 that functions as a menu selection switch for selecting various rice cooking menus, a heat retention / cancel switch 54 that is turned on when warming and cancels various operating states by turning it on again, a reservation switch 55 that is turned on when making a reservation, A clock switch 56, an hour switch 57, a minute switch 58, a rice cooking indicator 59, a warming indicator 60, a reservation indicator 61 and a liquid crystal display 62 are provided so that signals can be exchanged with the microcomputer board 48. Is connected to.

The rotary switch 53 has a contact portion 53a having nine fixed contacts (not shown) arranged on an imaginary circle and a central portion of the contact portion 53a. The rotary switch 53 is an alternative to the fixed contact. Dial portion 53b having a movable contact (not shown) that contacts the dial portion 5b.
3b is projected from the operation panel section 51 (see FIG. 1). Further, the operation panel portion 51 corresponding to the fixed contact of the contact portion 53a with the dial portion 53b as the center.
Above are, for example, 9 types of cooking menu groups: "normal", "soft turtle", "hard", "new rice", "early rice cooked", "sushi rice", "rice cooked", "rice cooked" and "porridge". M is displayed, and the dial portion 53b is provided with an indicator 63 for instructing the above-mentioned nine types of rice cooking menus according to the rotation operation angle.

Next, the structure of the electric elements in the electric rice cooker of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

The microcomputer board 48 includes a microcomputer 64, and the microcomputer 64
The power from the AC power supply 65 is stepped down by the step-down transformer 66, converted into DC by the rectifying diode bridge 67, and input to the. The microcomputer 64 includes various switches 52 to 5
8 and the signal from the proximity switch 68 which functions as the temperature detecting portion 16a and the inner pot setting detecting means in the center sensor 16 are input. The microcomputer 64 outputs signals to various indicator lights 59 to 61 and the liquid crystal display unit 62. Further, the heating element 12, the heat retaining heater 17, and the shoulder heater 18 of the rice cooking heater 10 are connected as shown in the drawing. Reference numeral 69 is a thermal fuse, 70,
Reference numeral 71 is a triac, 72 and 73 are oscillator circuits, 74 is a relay, and 75 to 76 are transistors.

Next, the rice cooking menu selection control by the mycorro computer 64 when the rice cooking menu is selected will be described in detail below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, when the power is turned on in step S ₁ , nine kinds of rice are cooked by rotating the dial portion 53 _b of the rotary switch 53 in steps S ₃ to S ₁₁ after the power failure confirmation flowchart in step S _2. Which of the menus was selected is confirmed.

[0042] Then, when the cooking menu selection is determined to have been made in step S ₃ ~ step S _11, the menu specifying flowchart is executed in step S ₁₂ ~ step S ₂₀ for each.

Since the same processing is performed in all of the above menu designation flowcharts, the case where "normal" rice cooking is designated will be described, and the other cases will be omitted.

[0044] That is, the "normal" cooking is selected in step S _3, after checking the ON operation of the cooking switch 52 in step S _21, ON operation of the proximity switch 68 in step S ₂₂ (i.e., the inner pot 3 There sure that) has been set, then rice in the "normal" course in step S ₂₄ is executed. Incidentally, the process returns to step S ₂ in the case of a negative determination is made in step S _21, when a negative determination is made in step S ₂₂ returns to the initial mode in step S _23.

[0045] in the same manner as described above, when each cooking menu is specified in step S ₄ ~ step S _11, after subjected to the processing by the menu specifying flowchart at step S ₁₃ ~ step S _20, step S ₂₅ is Ri cooking the respective cooking menus course executed in through step S _32.

As described above, in this embodiment, since all the rice cooking menus can be selected by rotating the rotary switch 53 by a maximum of 180 °, the rice cooking menu selection operation can be extremely simplified. Further, since the rice cooking menu selected by the rotary position of the rotary switch 53 can be displayed, the menu display (provided on the liquid crystal display unit 62) for displaying the rice cooking menu can be eliminated, and the clock display or the like on the liquid crystal display unit 62 can be eliminated. Is easier to see, and the liquid crystal display unit 62 can be made smaller.

Embodiment 2 FIGS. 5 to 7 show the construction of essential parts and electrical elements of an electric rice cooker according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

In the case of this embodiment, the operation panel section 51 includes
As shown in FIG. 5, the rotary switch 53 of the first embodiment.
Instead, an optical sensor group 78 including eight optical sensors 78A to 78H arranged at equal intervals on a virtual circle is appropriately arranged with good operability. Further, in the present embodiment, the liquid crystal display portion 62 is provided with the light emitting diodes 79 to 87 for menu display corresponding to nine types of rice cooking menus.

The optical sensors 78A to 78H have the same structure, and as shown in FIG. 6A, a cylindrical body protruding from the inner surface of the operation panel 51 and having an opening 88a at its outer end. The photocoupler is composed of a light emitting element 89 and a light receiving element 90 arranged in 88. The light emitting element 88 and the light receiving element 90 are optically blocked by a partition wall 91. In addition, the operation panel unit 5
A resin sheet 92 is attached to the surface of the resin sheet 1, and a portion of the resin sheet 92 corresponding to the opening 88a is a transparent portion 92a so as to allow the transmission of light. As shown in FIG. 6B, the transparent portion 92a serves as a touch sensitive portion for the finger F. Furthermore, the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 88 is
The light I from the light emitting element 89 is reflected and emitted from the opening 88a, and the light I reflected by the finger F above the opening 88a is reflected and expanded inward so that the light receiving element 90 can receive the light. It is a tapered surface 88b. Reference numeral 93
Is a substrate of the light emitting element 89 and the light receiving element 90.

Further, the optical sensors 78A to 78H are
As shown in FIG. 7, a microcomputer 64, a data bus (not shown), and a control bus (not shown).
And input / output signals can be freely transmitted / received.

Then, the optical sensors 78A to 78H
Each of the light emitting elements 89 in FIG. 1 is a photosensor 78A, 78E, 78B, 78F, 78 located diagonally
C, 78G and 78D, 78H are respectively connected to the output terminals P _{0 to} P ₃ of the microcomputer 64 so as to form a pair. In addition, the optical sensor 78A ~
Each light receiving element 90 in 78H is connected to the input terminals ENC ₀ and ENC ₁ of the microcomputer 64 so that the optical sensors 78A to 78D and the optical sensors 78E to 78H form a pair. Reference numeral 94 is an output resistance, 95 is an input resistance, and 96 is a capacitor for removing noise.

In the above configuration, the output terminal P ₀
When an output waveform signal from P ₃ to P ₃ is output to the light emitting element 89 in the optical sensors 78A to 78H,
Optical sensors 78A, 78E, 7 paired with each other
The light emitting elements 90 in 8B, 78F, 78C, 78G and 78D, 78H sequentially emit light at 1 ms intervals. When the light from each light emitting element 89 in the optical sensors 78A to 78D is reflected by the finger F and received by each light receiving element 90, a pulse signal is input terminal E.
On the other hand, when the light from each light emitting element 89 in the optical sensors 78E to 78H is reflected by the finger F and received by each light receiving element 90 while being input to NC ₀ , a pulse signal is input to the input terminal ENC _1. It is supposed to be. Here, when the input terminal ENC ₀ has a pulse signal input and the input terminal ENC ₁ has no pulse signal input, the input signal ENC = 1H (0, 1) is set and the input terminal ENC ₁
When the pulse signal is input to the input terminal and the pulse signal is not input to the input terminal ENC ₀ , the input signal ENC = 2H
It is set to (1, 0). As a result, the pair of optical sensors 78A, 78E, 78B, 78F, 78C,
Which of the 78G, 78D, and 78H is sensitive can be distinguished according to whether ENC = 1H or ENC = 2H.

As shown in FIG. 9, the microcomputer 64 counts the pulse output means 97 for outputting a pulse signal according to the sensitivity of the optical sensors 78A to 78H and the output pulse from the pulse output means 97. Pulse number counting means 98, and the pulse number counting means 98
Setting display means 99 for setting and displaying various rice cooking menus according to the count value counted by.

The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted to avoid duplication.

The pulse number counting means 98 counts the number of pulses from the pulse output means 97 and outputs it as a count value CUT.
The count value CUT is accumulated as a positive or negative number depending on whether H is sequentially sensitized clockwise or counterclockwise. For example, when two photosensors (for example, 78A, 78B) are sequentially sensitized in the clockwise direction, CUT = 2, and two photosensors (for example, 78A, 78H) are sequentially sensitized in the counterclockwise direction. In this case, CUT = -2.

In the case of this embodiment, the rice cooking menu is set according to the count value CUT as shown in the CUT-rice cooking menu correspondence table in Table 1.

[0057]

[Table 1]

Next, the contents of the rice cooking menu selection setting display operation by the microcomputer 64 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

In step S ₁ , all the output terminals P _{0 to} P ₃ are set in the Hi state to initialize the photosensors 78A to 78H, and then in step S ₂ , the output terminals P _{0 to} P _0.
The drop in Low light sensor 78A, each of the light emitting element 89 to emit light at 78E, an input in a state where 1ms has elapsed in step S ₃ terminal ENC _0, ENC ₁
The input state of the pulse signal to is taken out as a combination signal ENC which is a combination of 2-bit signals (step S ₄ ), and then ENC = 1H in step S ₅ .
(That is, input terminal ENC ₀ = 0, input terminal ENC ₁ = 1)
Is determined. That is, the optical sensor 7
It is determined which of the 8A and 78E is sensitive to the finger F. Then, if an affirmative determination is made in step S ₅ (that is, if it is determined that the optical sensor 78A is sensitive), the key buffer KB is set to A (that is, there is a pulse signal from the optical sensor 78A in step S ₆ ). Stored as).

On the other hand, when a negative determination is made in step S ₅ (that is, when it is determined that the optical sensor 78A is not sensitive) and after the processing in step S ₆ ,
In step S ₇ , ENC = 2H (that is, the input terminal E
It is determined whether or not NC ₀ = 1 and input terminal ENC ₁ = 0). That is, it is determined which of the optical sensors 78A and 78E is sensitive to the finger F. Then, if an affirmative determination is made in step S ₇ (that is, if it is determined that the optical sensor 78E is sensitive), the key buffer KB is set to E (that is, there is a pulse signal from the optical sensor 78E in step S ₈ ). Stored as).

On the other hand, when a negative determination is made in step S ₇ (that is, when it is determined that the optical sensors 78A and 78E are not sensitive) and after the processing in step S ₈ , the output terminal P ₀ is turned on in step S ₉ . In the Hi state, the light emission of each light emitting element 89 in the optical sensors 78A and 78E is stopped and the output terminal P ₁ is lowered to make the optical sensors 78B and 78F emit light, and 1 ms has elapsed in step S ₁₀ EN
The input state of the pulse signal to C ₀ and ENC ₁ is taken out as a combination signal ENC which is a combination of 2-bit signals (step S ₁₁ ), and then at step S ₁₂ , ENC = 1H (that is, input terminal ENC ₀ = 0). , The input terminal ENC ₁ = 1) is determined. That is, it is determined which of the optical sensors 78B and 78F is sensitive to the finger F. And
When an affirmative determination is made in step S ₁₂ (that is, when it is determined that the optical sensor 78B is sensitive), the key buffer KB is set to B in step S ₁₃ (that is, there is a pulse signal from the optical sensor 78B). Store as.

On the other hand, when a negative determination is made in step S ₁₂ (that is, when it is determined that the optical sensor 78B is not sensitive) and after the processing in step S ₁₃ ,
In step S ₁₄ , ENC = 2H (that is, the input terminal E
It is determined whether or not NC ₀ = 1 and input terminal ENC ₁ = 0). That is, it is determined which of the optical sensors 78B and 78F is sensitive to the finger F. Then, if an affirmative determination is made in step S ₁₄ (that is, if it is determined that the optical sensor 78F is sensitive), the key buffer KB is set to F (that is, a pulse signal from the optical sensor 78F is present in step S ₁₅ ). Stored as).

On the other hand, when a negative determination is made in step S ₁₄ (that is, when it is determined that the optical sensors 78B and 78F are not sensitive) and after the processing in step S ₁₅ , the output terminal P ₁ is turned on in step S ₁₆ . In the Hi state, the light emission of each light emitting element 89 in the optical sensors 78B and 78F is stopped and the output terminal P ₂ is lowered to make the optical sensors 78C and 78G emit light, and 1 ms has elapsed in step S ₁₇ ENC
₀ , the input state of the pulse signal to ENC ₁ is taken out as a combination signal ENC which is a combination of 2-bit signals (step S ₁₈ ), and then in step S ₁₉ , E
NC = 1H (that is, input terminal ENC ₀ = 0, input terminal E
It is determined whether or not NC ₁ = 1). That is,
It is determined which of the optical sensors 78C and 78G is sensitive to the finger F. Then, if an affirmative determination is made in step S ₁₉ (that is, if it is determined that the optical sensor 78C is sensitive), the key buffer KB is set to C (that is, there is a pulse signal from the optical sensor 78C) in step S ₂₀ . Stored as).

On the other hand, when a negative determination is made in step S ₁₉ (that is, when it is determined that the optical sensor 78C is not sensitive) and after the processing in step S ₂₀ ,
In step S ₂₁ , ENC = 2H (that is, the input terminal E
It is determined whether or not NC ₀ = 1 and input terminal ENC ₁ = 0). That is, it is determined which of the optical sensors 78C and 78G is sensitive to the finger F. When the determination is positive at step S ₂₁ (i.e., when the light sensor 78G is determined to be sensitive) is a key buffer KB G (i.e. in step S _22, there is a pulse signal from the optical sensor 78G Stored as).

[0065] On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S ₂₁ After treatment with and step S ₂₂ (i.e., an optical sensor 78C, when 78G is determined that no sensitive), the output terminal P ₂ in step S ₂₃ light sensor 78C as a Hi state, the optical sensor 78D drop the respective emission was stopped and the output terminal P ₃ of the light emitting element 89 in the 78G to Low, to emit 78H, input terminals in a state where 1ms has elapsed in step S ₂₄ ENC
₀ , the input state of the pulse signal to ENC ₁ is taken out as a combination signal ENC which is a combination of 2-bit signals (step S ₂₅ ), and then E is input in step S ₂₆ .
NC = 1H (that is, input terminal ENC ₀ = 0, input terminal E
It is determined whether or not NC ₁ = 1). That is,
It is determined which of the optical sensors 78D and 78H is sensitive to the finger F. When the determination is positive at step S ₂₆ (i.e., when the light sensor 78D is determined to be sensitive) is a key buffer KB D (i.e. in step S _27, there is a pulse signal from the optical sensor 78D Stored as).

On the other hand, when a negative determination is made in step S ₂₆ (that is, when it is determined that the optical sensor 78D is not sensitive) and after the processing in step S ₂₇ ,
In step S ₂₈ ENC = 2H (i.e., the input terminal E
It is determined whether or not NC ₀ = 1 and input terminal ENC ₁ = 0). In other words, it is determined which of the optical sensors 78D and 78H is sensitive to the finger F. Then, if an affirmative determination is made in step S ₂₈ (that is, if it is determined that the optical sensor 78H is sensitive), the key buffer KB is set to H (that is, there is a pulse signal from the optical sensor 78H in step S ₂₉ ). Stored as).

On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S ₂₈ (that is, it is determined that the optical sensors 78D and 78H are not sensitive) and after the processing in step S ₂₉ , the previous key buffer KB is processed in step S ₃₀ .
When it is determined whether or not old is 0 and a positive determination is made (that is, when this processing is determined to be the first time)
In step S ₃₁ , the key buffer KB obtained by this processing is replaced with KBold and stored. If a negative determination is made in step S ₃₀ (i.e., if the current process is determined not to be the first time) and step S ₃₁
After the processing by, the process proceeds to step S ₃₂ .

By the above processing, the optical sensors 78A-7
The check of which of the 8Hs has responded is completed.

Then, in step S ₃₂ , the output terminal P
₀ to P ₃ after the optical sensor 78A~78H and initials the as Hi state, whether a key buffer KB = A determination is made at step S _33, the previous key in step S ₃₄ in the case of affirmative determination Buffer KBold
= Whether the determination is H is made, the count value CUT is incremented by +1 at step S ₃₅ in the case of a positive determination. That is, when the optical sensor 13A is sensitive after the optical sensor 78H is sensitive, the count value is incremented by +1 because of the clockwise sensitive sequence. When a negative determination is made in step S _34, the process proceeds to step S _36, it is determined whether a previous key buffer KBold = B is made. In the case of a positive judgment is counted value CUT in step S ₃₇ -1 Only added. In other words, when the optical sensor 78A is activated after the optical sensor 78B is activated, the count value is incremented by -1 because of the counterclockwise direction of the sensitive order.
Then, in step S ₃₈ , the key buffer KB = A
There is stored as the last key buffer KBold, thereafter the processing returns to step S _1.

[0070] On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S _33, the process proceeds to step S _39, whether or not a key buffer KB = B determination is made, the previous key buffer in step S ₄₀ in the case of affirmative determination KBold = A is determined, and in the case of a positive determination, step S
_{At 41} , the count value CUT is incremented by +1. That is, after the light sensor 78A is sensed, the light sensor 7A
When 8B is sensed, the count value is incremented by +1 because the sense order is clockwise. When a negative determination is made in step S _40, the process proceeds to step S _42, it is determined whether a previous key buffer KBold = C is made. In the case of a positive judgment is counted value CUT in step S ₄₃ -1 Is added. In other words, when the optical sensor 78B is activated after the optical sensor 78C is activated, the count value is incremented by -1 because of the counterclockwise direction of the sensitive sequence. Thereafter, the key buffer KB = B is stored as the last key buffer KBold in step S _44, and thereafter the processing returns to step S _1.

On the other hand, if a negative decision is made in step S ₃₉ , then the processing advances to step S ₄₅ , where it is decided whether or not the key buffer KB = C, and if a positive decision is made, in step S ₄₆ the previous key buffer KBold is reached. = B is determined, and if the determination is affirmative, step S
_{At 47} , the count value CUT is incremented by +1. That is, after the optical sensor 78B is sensed, the optical sensor 7B
When 8C is sensed, the count value is incremented by +1 because the sense order is clockwise. When a negative determination is made in step S _46, the process proceeds to step S _48, it is determined whether a previous key buffer KBold = D made. In the case of a positive judgment is counted value CUT in step S ₄₉ -1 Only added. That is, when the optical sensor 78C is activated after the optical sensor 78D is activated, the count value is incremented by -1 because of the counterclockwise direction of the sensitive order. Then, in step S ₅₀ , the key buffer KB = C is stored as the previous key buffer KBold, and then the process returns to step S ₁ .

[0072] On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S _45, the process proceeds to step S _51, whether or not a key buffer KB = D determination is made, the previous key buffer in step S ₅₂ in the case of affirmative determination KBold = C is determined, and if the determination is affirmative, step S
_{At 53} , the count value CUT is incremented by +1. That is, after the optical sensor 78C is sensed, the optical sensor 7C
When 8D is sensed, the count value is incremented by +1 because the sense order is clockwise. When a negative determination is made in step S _52, the process proceeds to step S _54, it is determined whether a previous key buffer KBold = E made. In the case of a positive judgment is counted value CUT in step S ₅₅ -1 Only added. That is, when the optical sensor 78D is activated after the optical sensor 78E is activated, the count value is incremented by -1 because of the counterclockwise direction of the sensitive order. Thereafter, in step S ₅₆ , the key buffer KB = D is stored as the previous key buffer KBold, and then the process returns to step S ₁ .

[0073] On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S _51, the process proceeds to step S _57, whether or not a key buffer KB = E determination is made, the previous key buffer in step S ₅₈ in the case of affirmative determination KBold = D is determined, and if the determination is affirmative, step S
_{At 59} , the count value CUT is incremented by +1. That is, after the photo sensor 78D is sensed, the photo sensor 7D
When 8E is sensed, the count value is incremented by +1 because the sense order is clockwise. When a negative determination is made in step S _58, the process proceeds to step S _60, it is determined whether a previous key buffer KBold = F made. In the case of a positive judgment is counted value CUT in step S ₆₁ -1 Only added. That is, when the optical sensor 78E is activated after the optical sensor 78F is activated, the count value is incremented by -1 because of the counterclockwise direction of the sensitive order. Thereafter, the key buffer KB = E is stored as the last key buffer KBold in step S _62, and thereafter the processing returns to step S _1.

[0074] On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S _57, the process proceeds to step S _63, whether or not a key buffer KB = F determination is made, the previous key buffer in step S ₆₄ in the case of affirmative determination KBold = E is determined, and if the determination is affirmative, step S
_{At 65} , the count value CUT is incremented by +1. That is, after the photosensor 78E is sensed, the photosensor 7E
When 8F is sensed, the count value is incremented by +1 because the sense order is clockwise. If a negative decision is made in step S ₆₄ , then the processing advances to step S ₆₆ , in which it is decided whether or not the previous key buffer KBold = G, and if a positive decision is made, the count value CUT is -1 in step S ₆₇ . Only added. That is, when the optical sensor 78F is activated after the optical sensor 78G is activated, the count value is incremented by -1 because of the counterclockwise sensitive order. Thereafter, the key buffer KB = F is stored as the last key buffer KBold in step S _68, and thereafter the processing returns to step S _1.

On the other hand, if a negative decision is made in step S ₆₃ , then the processing advances to step S ₆₉ , in which it is decided whether or not the key buffer KB = G, and if a positive decision is made, in step S ₇₀ the previous key buffer KBold is reached. = F is determined, and in the case of a positive determination, step S
_{At 71} , the count value CUT is incremented by +1. That is, after the photosensor 78F is sensed, the photosensor 7F
When 8G is sensed, the count value is incremented by +1 because the sense order is clockwise. When a negative determination is made in step S _70, the process proceeds to step S _72, it is determined whether a previous key buffer KBold = H made. In the case of a positive judgment is counted value CUT in step S ₇₃ -1 Only added. That is, when the optical sensor 78G is activated after the optical sensor 78H is activated, the count value is incremented by -1 because of the counterclockwise direction of the sensitive order. Thereafter, the key buffer KB = G is stored as the last key buffer KBold in step S _73, and thereafter the processing returns to step S _1.

[0076] On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S _69, the process proceeds to step S _75, whether or not a key buffer KB = H determination is made, the previous key buffer in step S ₇₆ in the case of affirmative determination KBold = G is determined, and in the case of a positive determination, step S
_{At 77} , the count value CUT is incremented by +1. That is, after the photosensor 78G is sensed, the photosensor 7G
When 8H is sensed, the count value is incremented by +1 because the sense order is clockwise. When a negative determination is made in step S _76, the process proceeds to step S _78, it is determined whether a previous key buffer KBold = A is made, in the case of affirmative determination count value CUT in step S ₇₉ -1 Only added. That is, when the photosensor 78H is sensitized after the photosensor 78A is sensitized, the count value is incremented by -1, because the sense order is counterclockwise. Thereafter, the key buffer KB = G in step S ₈₀ is stored as the last key buffer KBold, thereafter the processing returns to step S _1.

Through the above processing, the optical sensors 78A ...
The number of times 78H is sensed in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction is fetched as the count value CUT.

Next, the cooking menu selection setting will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In step S ₁ , the count value CUT fetched by the above-described processing is read, and in step S ₂ , the rice cooking menu is selected and set by the count value CUT. This rice cooking menu selection setting is performed based on the above-mentioned count value-rice cooking menu correspondence table (Table 1). Here, the count value CUT = 0 is the case where none of the optical sensors 78A to 78H is sensitive (that is, the case where the finger F does not make contact).

[0080] cooking menu selected set as described above is displayed by light emission of the light emitting diodes 79-87 in the liquid crystal display unit 62 in step S _3, ON operation of the insulation / cancel switch 54 is performed in step S ₄ If it is confirmed that the rice cooking switch 52 has not been turned on and that the rice cooking switch 52 has been turned on in step S ₅ , rice cooking corresponding to the rice cooking menu selected and set in step S ₆ is executed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the eight optical sensors 78A to 78H arranged on the virtual circle in the operation panel section 51 at equal intervals are sequentially made sensitive by contact with the finger F. , Optical sensor 78A
The pulse signals are sequentially output according to the sensitivity of ~ 78H, the number of the pulse signals is counted, and various rice cooking menus are set and displayed according to the count value. Unlike the switch type, a contactless type pulse signal output is obtained, which makes it less likely to cause a failure, and the operation panel unit 5
The member protruding to 1 (for example, the dial portion in the first embodiment) is not present, and the appearance is good.

Moreover, since it is only necessary to make the touch sensitive with the finger F without performing the operation of pinching the dial portion with the finger as in the first embodiment, even a person with a finger difficulty can easily cook a rice cooking menu. You can configure the settings.

Moreover, in the case of this embodiment, the optical sensor 78
Since A to 78H are arranged at equal intervals on the imaginary circle, simply drawing the contact trajectory of the finger F of 180 ° at the maximum,
All rice cooking menus can be selected, and the rice cooking menu selection operation can be greatly simplified.

Further, the optical sensors 78A to 78H are constituted by a photocoupler composed of a light emitting element 89 and a light receiving element 90 arranged in the operation panel section 51, and
A portion for transmitting the light I from the light emitting element 89 (that is, the transparent portion 9
2a) is flush with the outer surface of the operation panel section 51, so that there is no member protruding above the operation panel section 51 (for example, the dial section in the first embodiment), the appearance is further improved. Will be done.

It is needless to say that the number of optical sensors can be increased or decreased according to the number of types of rice cooking menu.

The invention of the present application is not limited to the configuration of each of the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that the design can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an electric rice cooker according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a main part of the electric rice cooker according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of electric elements in the electric rice cooker according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the contents of rice cooking menu selection control in the electric rice cooker according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of an essential part of the electric rice cooker according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a sectional view showing the structure of an optical sensor used in the electric rice cooker according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;
(B) is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the same optical sensor at the time of sensing.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of electric elements in the electric rice cooker according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a pulse waveform diagram showing an output waveform pattern output from the microcomputer to the optical sensor in the electric rice cooker according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the contents of a microcomputer in the electric rice cooker according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a first half of a flowchart showing a processing state when a count value is fetched by a microcomputer in the electric rice cooker according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a second half of a flowchart showing a processing state when a count value is fetched by the microcomputer in the electric rice cooker according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing state when a rice cooking menu selection is set by the microcomputer in the electric rice cooker according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a rice cooker main body, 2 is a lid, 3 is an inner pot, 48 is a microcomputer board, 51 is an operation panel section, 52 is a rice cooker switch, 53
Is a rice cooking menu switch (rotary switch), 62
Is a liquid crystal display unit, 64 is a microcomputer, 78 is an optical sensor group, 78A to 78H are optical sensors, 79 to 87.
Is a light emitting diode, 89 is a light emitting element, 90 is a light receiving element,
92 is a resin sheet, 92a is a transparent portion, 97 is a pulse output means, 98 is a pulse number counting means, and 99 is a setting display means.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A rice cooker main body that detachably accommodates an inner pot heated by a rice cooker heater, and an operation panel section including various switch operation sections and various display sections at appropriate places of the rice cooker main body. An electric rice cooker for multifunctional rice cooking by providing a microcomputer board corresponding to the operation panel unit and controlling energization to the rice cooking heater corresponding to various rice cooking menus, wherein the operation panel unit includes: A rice cooking menu group in which various rice cooking menus are arrayed and displayed on a virtual circle at equal intervals is provided, and a contact portion connected to the microcomputer board side and having a fixed number of fixed contacts corresponding to the rice cooking menu; A rotary switch having a movable contact that selectively contacts the fixed contact and a dial portion that rotatably protrudes at the center of the rice cooking menu group. An electric rice cooker characterized by being attached. 2. A rice cooker main body that detachably accommodates an inner pan heated by a rice cooker heater, and an operation panel section including various switch operation sections and various display sections in appropriate places on the rice cooker main body. An electric rice cooker that performs multi-function rice cooking by providing a microcomputer board corresponding to the operation panel unit and controlling energization to the rice cooking heater corresponding to various rice cooking menus, and a virtual circle in the operation panel unit. A plurality of optical sensors arranged at equal intervals above and sensitive to a touch of a finger, pulse output means for outputting a pulse signal according to the sensitivity of the optical sensors, and a pulse for counting output pulses from the pulse output means A number counting means and setting display means for setting and displaying various cooking menus according to the count value counted by the pulse number counting means. An electric rice cooker characterized by having. 3. The optical sensor is composed of a photocoupler composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element arranged in the operation panel section, and a transmission section of light from the light emitting element is provided on the outer surface of the operation panel section. The electric rice cooker according to claim 2, wherein the electric rice cooker is a single rice cooker.