KR101468043B1 - Electric cooker and method for controlling warming function of electric cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an electric rice cooker having a warming cancellation reservation function by menu comprises: a heating control unit controlling the output of an operating power to be applied to a heater to heat an inner cooker; and a microprocessor computer (MICOM) unit controlling the operation of the heating control unit according to a control algorithm corresponding to a predetermined cooking function or a warming function to perform the cooking function or the warming function. After the completion of a cooking process of ingredients contained in the inner cooker according to the control algorithm corresponding to a specific cooking menu selected by a user, the microprocessor computer unit controls the performance of the warming function according to whether the warming cancellation reservation function by menu has been inputted with respect to the menu which presently has been cooked.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric warming-up rice cooker and an electric warming-up rice cooker,

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of controlling an electric warming-up rice cooker and an electric warming-up rice cooker having a function of canceling a hot-off reservation for each menu, and more particularly, The present invention relates to an electric warming-up rice cooker having a function of canceling a warm-up, and a method of controlling a warm-up cancellation reservation function for each menu of the electric warming-up rice cooker.

The electric heat-warming rice cooker is a basic function and provides the cooking function and the warming function. At this time, in the cooking function of the general thermosensor, the thermosensor function is automatically set to be performed after the completion of cooking. The keep warm function is automatically continued indefinitely unless the user releases the inner pot from the thermostat cooker or inputs a separate thermal cancellation function.

Regarding the warming function provided in the electric heat-warming rice cooker, refer to registered patent No. 10-0746443 (name: electric pressure warming rice cooker with a personal warming function) (hereinafter referred to as "prior art"). In the above-mentioned prior art, a personalized warming function is proposed in order to maintain the rice quality and reduce the power consumption by performing the resting process during the warming process.

1 is a block diagram of an electric pressure heat-insulating rice cooker according to the prior art. The user can set the resting process during the warming process according to the usage pattern of the user's electric pressure insulated rice cooker by using the custom warm keeping setting button 41 provided in the electric pressure warming cooker. The microcomputer 70 controls the heater unit 30 for a predetermined period of time during the resting process so that power is not supplied to the heater 31 so that heating by the heater 31 is not performed.

2 is a graph showing a temperature curve of the inner pot according to the personalized warming function in the conventional electric pressure thermosensitive rice cooker. Referring to the drawing, it is possible to confirm the temperature graph of the inner pot according to whether the personalized warming function is set to morning warm-up, afternoon warm-up, or evening warm-up, or whether sleep warm-up is set.

By such customized warming, it is possible to prevent deterioration of rice quality due to the continuous warming and to reduce power consumption in the warming process.

At this time, in the above-described conventional technique, it is not necessary to set a customized warming-up according to the type of menus to be cooked, for example, ingredients such as rice, white rice, brown rice, or other detailed characteristics such as tea, It was only to set the insulation characteristics by time. Further, in the prior art, only the resting process and the warming process are performed alternately in accordance with time, and the function of completely terminating the warming function at any point is not provided.

Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0746443

In the conventional technology as described above, for example, the function of separately setting the warming operation is not considered for each menu such as Samgyetang, porridge, rice cake, steamed dish, and the like.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electroresistant rice cooker capable of presetting an execution time and an execution time for an optional function to be automatically executed after completion of cooking, for an arbitrary menu designated by the user I would like to.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermostat-cooked rice cooker having a function of reserving a thermos canceling function for each menu according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a heating controller for controlling an output of a power source to be applied to a heater for heating an inner pot; And a microcomputer unit controlling the operation of the heating control unit according to a control algorithm corresponding to a predetermined cooking function or a warming function to execute a cooking function or a warming function, The control unit controls the performance of the at least one heat keeping function depending on whether or not a function for inserting a thermal shut down menu has been inputted for the currently operated cooking menu after completing the contents stored in the inner pot according to the control algorithm.

In addition, the above-mentioned warm-up cancellation reservation function for each menu can be inputted by the user during the reservation or selection of a specific cooking menu, during the cooking function is executed after the cooking menu is selected, or at any time.

In addition, the microcomputer activates the at least one menu for each menu whenever the cooking menu is selected for the cooking menu, when the at least one hot-off cancellation reservation function for each menu is input to the specific cooking menu.

The microwave oven may further include an operation unit having a "keep warm" button for selecting driving and cancellation of the keep warm function for keeping the content contained in the inner pot at a predetermined temperature, and the microcomputer determines that the keep warm button is pressed for one second or more , It is regarded that the above-mentioned thermal reservation cancellation reservation function for each menu is inputted.

In addition, the control unit may further include an operation unit having a "reservation cancel reservation for each menu" button for inputting the reservation cancel function for each menu.

Further, the operation unit may further include a restart input unit for restarting the warm-up function canceled by the menu-specific thermal cancellation reservation function at a predetermined time, and a time input unit for adjusting the restart time, And restarts the canceled warming-up function when a time elapsed after the warming-up function is canceled reaches the warming-up restarting time based on the operation of the inputting means and the restarting time set using the time inputting means .

The electric warming-rice cooker having the function of reserving hot-off canceling by menu according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a heating controller for controlling an output of an operation power source to be applied to a heater for heating an inner pot, And a microcomputer for controlling the operation of the heating control unit according to a control algorithm of the control unit to execute a cooking function or a warming function, After completion of cooking, it is possible to control the performance of the warming-up function depending on whether or not any menu warm-keeping canceling reservation function for canceling the warming-up after completion of cooking is inputted.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a warm-up cancellation reservation function for each menu by an electric heat-insulated rice cooker, comprising the steps of: cooking contents stored in the inner pot according to the control algorithm corresponding to a specific cooking menu selected by a user; Confirming whether a menu-specific warm-up cancellation reservation function is input to the current cooking menu after completion of cooking; And stopping the execution of the at least one warm-up function when it is determined that the menu for keeping warm-up cancellation has been input for the current cooking menu.

In addition, the hot-off cancellation reservation function for each menu can be inputted during the reservation or selection of a specific cooking menu, or during the execution of the cooking function after the cooking menu is selected, and the reservation or selection of the cooking menu, The cooking function corresponding to the menu may be input at any time regardless of whether or not the cooking function is executed.

The thermosensitive rice cooker having the above-described constitution according to the present invention can be set for the warm-up operation to be performed after completion of cooking according to the menu desired by the user. Therefore, If kept warm, it is possible to set whether or not to maintain warmth and optimum holding time for a menu which can change taste or quality. Thereby, an unnecessary warm-up operation can be maintained for a long time, and power consumption can be prevented from being unnecessarily consumed. In addition, it is possible to prevent the food from being deteriorated by the warming operation.

In addition, with respect to the menu for which the warm-up cancellation is scheduled once, when the cooking is performed again at a later time, by automatically activating the warm-up cancellation reservation function, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the user has to input the warm- have.

In addition, the user can set the canceled warming-up process to be restarted after a predetermined time elapses or at a predetermined time, so that the user can eat warm food at a desired point even at the lowest power.

1 is a block diagram of an electric pressure heat-insulating rice cooker according to the prior art.
2 is a graph showing a temperature curve of the inner pot according to the personalized warming function in the conventional electric pressure thermosensitive rice cooker.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a thermally insulated rice cooker provided with a function for reserving hot / cold cancellation by menu according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a view illustrating an example of an interface panel including an operation unit and a display unit provided in the thermosensible rice cooker according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows an algorithm for implementing the thermal reservation canceling function for each menu provided in the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an explanation will be made in detail of a method for controlling the warm-keeping cancellation reservation function for each of the electrothermal cookers and the thermostatic rice cookers having the function for reserving the cancellation of hot-off according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a thermally insulated rice cooker provided with a function for reserving hot / cold cancellation by menu according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the rice cooker includes a power supply unit 10, a heater unit 20, a heating control unit 30, a sensing unit 40, an operation unit 50, a display unit 60, a memory unit 70, (80). ≪ / RTI >

The power supply unit 10 generates and supplies operating power required from each part of the thermo-sensitive rice cooker from a commercial AC power source of 110 V or 220 V and 60 Hz. For example, the power supply unit 10 is configured to include a large-output direct-current power for driving the heater unit 20 to be described later from an input alternating-current power supply and a small-output direct-current power for operating an electronic circuit configuration such as a microcomputer 80 Respectively.

The heater unit 20 is for heating the contents contained in the inner pot (not shown) of the thermosensitive cooker, and includes one or a plurality of heaters. As the heater, various types of heaters such as an electric resistance method, an infrared radiation method, an induction heating method, and an electromagnetic wave heating method can be applied. In the present invention, it is particularly preferable to use an induction heating type heater. In particular, one or a plurality of induction heating coils for performing a cooking process and one or a plurality of heaters for performing a warming process may be independently provided at the same time in the thermosensitive cooker according to the present invention. When a plurality of heaters are provided in this way, the heaters can be arranged to surround the lower part, the side part and the upper part of the inner pot.

The heating control unit 30 controls the operation of the heater unit 20 in accordance with an input control signal so as to cook (e.g. cook) or maintain the temperature of the contents contained in the inner pot (for example, at 74 캜). That is, when the heater unit 20 includes the induction heating coil, the heating control unit 30 can control the heating amount of the heater unit 20 by controlling the on / off or the applied duty of the input large power DC power have. A control signal for controlling the operation of the heating control unit 30 is input from the microcomputer unit 80. [

The sensing unit 40 is provided in the vicinity of the heater unit 20 or the inner pot and senses the temperature of the heater unit 20 or the inner pot under the control of the microcomputer unit 80. [ That is, the micom 80 controls the temperature of the heater unit 20, in particular, the inner pot, when cooking or keeping the contents contained in the inner pot according to the heating system corresponding to the menu selected by the user.

The operation unit 50 includes one or a plurality of operation means so that the user can select a desired function among the functions provided by the thermosensitive cooker. The operating means provided may include, for example, a tact button, a capacitance sensitive touch button or a touch screen, a slider, a jog dial, and the like. The operation and determination input of the user by the buttons and the jog dial arranged on the operation unit 50 can be inputted to the microcomputer unit 80 as an operation signal.

The display unit 60 can display the operation status of the user, the confirmation input, the current operation state or the failure state of the electrically insulating cooker, according to the display signal provided by the microcomputer unit 80. [ The display unit 60 may include an array of one or more LED elements, one or more 7-segment LEDs, a visual display means such as a monochrome LCD, a TFT LCD, an OLED, a touch screen, have.

In particular, FIG. 4 shows an example of an interface panel including an operation unit and a display unit provided in the thermosensible rice cooker according to the present invention. Referring to the drawing, the interface panel is provided with an operation panel A display area A may be provided as a display unit 60 for display. It may also include a button area B in which a plurality of operating means such as buttons for functioning as the operating unit 50 are disposed and a dial area D in which operating means such as a jog dial are disposed.

In the display area A, a variety of cooking and keeping menus provided by the thermo-electric cooker can be displayed by controlling various colors and brightness. Also, it is possible to display a user's operation status and selection input for a selection item, notification of a reserved function, current operation state or failure status of the electric heat-preserving cooker, and the like.

In the button area B, for example, a "reservation" button for reserving a predetermined function in advance, an "automatic washing" for automatically cleaning the inside and outside of the inner pot, Button for changing or setting the various additional functions provided by the electric heat-inserting cooker, a button for canceling the function currently being operated, A "cancel" button may be provided.

On the other hand, the dial area D may be provided with a jog dial capable of rapidly moving / switching and selecting various menu / function or time adjustment arranged in a series. In the example of Fig. 4, the "cooking" button is arranged at the center of the jog dial. However, the "cooking" button can also be placed in the button area.

3, the memory unit 70 is operated by the microcomputer unit 80 and information on the activated function or menu is stored by operating the user through the operation unit 50 and confirming the selection . The memory unit 70 stores a control algorithm for controlling the operation of the heating control unit 30 for controlling the temperature of the heater unit 20 or the inner pot according to various functions or menus provided in the thermosensor, . When the user selects a specific function, the microcomputer unit 80 calls the control algorithm corresponding to the function from the memory unit 70 and controls the operation of each part of the thermosensible rice cooker including the heating control unit 30. [ In particular, the memory unit 70 according to the present invention may store information indicating the setting of the user for the thermal reservation canceling function for each menu.

The micom 80 controls the operation of each part constituting the thermosensor. That is, a display signal is provided to the display unit 60 in response to an operation signal input from the operation unit 50 in accordance with a user's operation, and a control signal is supplied to the heating control unit 30 in accordance with the cooking menu selected through the operation unit 50 Thereby controlling the operation of the heater unit 20. This allows the user to perform functions such as cooking / keeping warm / automatic cleaning selected.

The microcomputer unit 80 stores the information related to the reservation in the memory unit 70 as the user makes a reservation for the predetermined function, Or a predetermined time (for example, when the cooking is completed), the information stored in the memory unit 70 is checked so that a predetermined reserved function can be executed.

In particular, the thermosensitive rice cooker of the present invention can be implemented to provide a "function for canceling a thermoselection by menu" to cancel a thermosensitive process automatically performed after completion of cooking according to a specific cooking menu. This function can be entered before the user starts the cooking function of the corresponding cooking menu after the specific cooking menu is selected through the specific operation unit 50 or during the cooking operation and is automatically performed after the corresponding menu is completed This is to cancel the insulation process. Alternatively, regardless of the operation state of the current thermosensitive cooker, the function may be such that the user operates the thermosensitive cooker at any time (for example, while the thermosensitive cooker is in the standby state) And may be provided so as to preset the reservation function.

Then, when the user inputs the thermal shutdown cancel reservation function for each menu, the memory unit 70 stores information indicating that the thermal shutdown reservation function for each menu is set for the specific menu. Thereafter, when the user desires to perform cooking by selecting an arbitrary menu, the microcomputer unit 80 examines the memory unit 70 at an arbitrary point in time, for example, when the cooking is completed, It is checked whether or not the warm-up cancellation reservation function is set, and whether or not the warm-keeping function is completed after completion of cooking is processed according to the setting.

In addition, the thermosensitive cooker of the present invention realizes the function of setting the time or the time at which the thermoselection cancellation reservation function for each menu is executed in addition to the thermosensitive cancellation reservation function for each menu (i.e., the thermosensitive cancel reservation time for each menu) Can be designed to stop the warm-keeping function when it reaches the preset time for canceling the inservice cancellation according to the menu after the completion of the warm-keeping function and the execution of the warm-keeping function automatically.

Canceling the warm keeping function immediately after completion of cooking can be achieved by setting the warm keeping cancel reservation time per menu to "0 ".

Of course, the on-screen thermal shutdown reservation function for each menu may basically have the on-screen thermal shutdown scheduled time for each menu. If the user can not additionally set the reservation cancellation time for each menu after inputting and activating the reservation reservation cancel function for each menu, the microcomputer unit 80 regards the preset time as the reservation reservation cancel time for each menu , The timing can be started. This basic time can be defined as 3 hours, for example.

On the other hand, as a method for inputting the function for canceling reservation of each menu, there is a method of disposing a separate operation button (for example, a "canceling by menu" button) "It is also possible to add items.

In addition, it can be implemented using a "warm / reheat" button that is basically provided in a general thermosensor. That is, each of the buttons of the general thermosensible rice cooker is implemented so that the functions are selected / determined by a single pressing operation. Further, in a special case, the confirmation and cancellation of the selection may be implemented so that each time the button is held for one second or longer. However, in the present invention, for example, when the user presses the warm / reheat button for a long time (for example, when the user keeps the pressed state for 1 second or longer) Can be implemented. In this case, in response to the number of times that the warm / reheat button is pressed for a short time while the warm / reheat button is depressed for each menu, the menu for determining whether or not to cancel the warm / And so on.

At this time, if the thermal reservation cancel function for each menu is activated, the entire thermal / reheat button or a specific character may be maintained in an illuminated state or maintained in a blinking state. Of course, another character, symbol, animation or the like may be displayed in the display area A of the display unit 60 for guiding the activation of the thermal reservation cancellation reservation function for each menu.

Meanwhile, in the thermosensitive rice cooker having the heat control function according to the present invention, the function of restarting the heat insulation again after the predetermined period of time preset by the user after the thermosensitive operation is automatically canceled by the above- Can be implemented. According to such a function, when the user is to return after going out for a long time, the cooked rice is not kept warm for the time of going out, and the cooked rice can be heated again in accordance with the return time. On the other hand, as a method of inputting the time for restarting the heat insulation, there are a method of inputting through a button or a dial menu for setting the time of a clock or timer provided in the thermosensible cooker, a method of inputting a specific button (for example, Button) is changed every time the button is pressed once (for example, it is increased by 1 hour for each time).

The method of setting and processing the thermal reservation cancellation reservation function for each menu will be described in more detail with reference to the following flowcharts. FIG. 5 shows an algorithm for realizing a warmth cancel reservation function for each menu provided in the present invention in the electric heat-insulating rice cooker having the above-described configuration.

The user operates the operation unit to select a desired function (S11). When the user selects the warm-up cancellation reservation function for each menu (S12), the microcomputer receives information on a specific menu designated by the user and stores the information in the memory (S13).

When the user inserts the content to be cooked into the inner pot and executes the cooking function (S14), the microcomputer checks whether the menu executed by the user is the target menu of the preset reservation canceling reservation function for each menu (S15) If it is the target menu (S16), the per-menu thermal reservation cancellation reservation function is activated (S17). When the cooking is completed in the state where the thermal reservation canceling function for each menu is activated (S18), the microcomputer cancels the thermal insulation of the cooked food according to the cancellation reservation and waits (S19).

On the other hand, if a function other than the cooking function is selected in step S14, or if the cooking function for a menu other than the target menu of the thermal shutdown reservation function is selected in step S16, the microcomputer performs the selected cooking function normally And a warm-keeping function will be performed normally (S20).

Furthermore, in the present invention, it is not necessary to stop the warming immediately after completion of cooking, but to set the warm-up cancel reservation time for each menu so that the warming can be stopped after performing the warming function normally for a predetermined period of time The warm-up cancellation reservation time for each menu can be set when the user sets the warm-reservation cancellation reservation function for each menu or at any time. The microcomputer is configured to stop the keep function when the elapsed time for timing the inserting function is reached when the cooking is completed and the elapsed time to reach the reserved inserting cancel reservation time for each menu .

An example of the actual operation according to the present invention implemented as above can be assumed to be a case where the user has set the thermal reservation canceling function for each menu with respect to "steamed cooking " at a desired time. After the reservation function is set, when the user selects the steamed dish after putting the ingredients into the inner pot and executes the steamed cooking, the heat / reheat button may be continuously blinked while the cooking operation is performed with respect to the thermal cancellation reservation on the display unit. After the cooking operation is completed, the heating operation will not be performed automatically, and the thermosensor will stand by while the thermostat function is stopped. The user can perform the reheating function at a desired time and cook the cooked steamed dish.

On the other hand, if the user sets an inserting reservation canceling function for each menu with respect to a specific menu and the cancellation of the inserting function is normally performed according to the execution of the set reservation canceling function for each menu, The execution of the reservation function can be learned. Accordingly, if the user subsequently performs the cooking function of the menu, the learned contents can be called up so that the automatic warm-reservation canceling function for each menu can be executed.

In the meantime, in the electrothermal cooker having the function for canceling the reservation of each menu according to the embodiment of the present invention as described above, the function of canceling the keeping function for each menu is implemented. However, in another embodiment, Cancel reservation function " That is, it is not necessary to reserve whether to cancel the warm-up for each menu, but to reserve all the menus so that the warm-up is not performed after completion of cooking.

It is to be understood that the terms used in the foregoing description are defined by way of example only and are not intended to limit the invention to those terms alone. Any other name for the method may be given.

Claims (10)

A heating control unit for controlling the output of the operation power source to be applied to the heater for heating the inner pot;
An operation unit having a warm-up button for inputting a function of performing a warm-up function for keeping the contents contained in the inner pot at a predetermined temperature; And
And a microcomputer controlling the operation of the heating control unit according to a predetermined cooking function for each menu or a control algorithm corresponding to the at least one keeping function to execute the cooking function for each menu or the warming function,
The microcomputer controls the operation of the heating control unit according to a menu-specific control algorithm corresponding to a specific cooking menu selected by the user to cook the contents contained in the inner pot, and when the cooking is completed, Wherein the control unit controls the execution or stop of the at least one warm-keeping function according to whether or not a menu-specific thermal cancellation reservation function is input for the advanced cooking menu. The method according to claim 1,
The above-mentioned warm-up cancellation reservation function for each menu can be inputted during the reservation or selection of a specific cooking menu, or during the execution of the cooking function according to each menu after the cooking menu is selected, Electric heat-cooker with cookbook reservation function for each menu. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
Wherein the microcomputer automatically activates the at least one thermal shutdown reservation function for each menu whenever the cooking menu is selected for the cooking menu when the thermal shutdown reservation function for each menu is input for the specific cooking menu Electric thermos cooker equipped with a reservation function for canceling the heat insulation of each menu. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the microcomputer considers that the thermoswitch cancel reservation function for each menu is inputted when it is determined that the thermosensible button is pressed for one second or more. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising an operation unit having a menu for individually canceling a reservation for canceling the reservation of the menu. The method according to claim 4 or 5,
Wherein the operation unit further comprises a restart input means for restarting the warming function canceled by the thermal insulation cancel reservation function for each menu at a predetermined time and a time input means for adjusting the restart time,
Wherein the microcomputer controls the canceled warming function when the time elapsed after the warming function is canceled reaches the warming restarting time based on the operation of the restart inputting means and the restarting time set using the time inputting means Wherein the controller is operable to restart the operation of the heat insulation cooker. delete A heating control unit for controlling an output of an operation power source to be applied to a heater for heating an inner pot, an operation unit having a thermal button for inputting an operation to perform the thermal insulation function of the inner pot, And controlling the operation of the heating control unit in accordance with a control algorithm, the control method comprising the steps of:
Controlling an operation of the heating control unit according to the control algorithm corresponding to a specific cooking menu selected by the user to cook the contents contained in the inner pot;
Confirming whether a menu-specific thermal reservation cancellation function has been input to the current cooking menu by the operation of the thermal button after completion of cooking;
And stopping the execution of the warming function after completion of the cooking when it is determined that the menu for keeping the warm-up cancellation has been input for the current cooking menu How to control the reservation function of thermal override. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein each of the menu items can be input during the reservation or selection of a specific cooking menu or during the execution of the cooking function for each menu after the cooking menu is selected How to control the reservation function of thermal override. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the at least one warm-up cancellation reservation function for each menu can be entered at any time regardless of whether the cooking menu is reserved or selected or the menu-specific cooking function corresponding to the cooking menu is executed. How to control the reservation cancel function for each menu.

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