KR101535605B1 - Electric cooker displaying animation - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric rice cooker having an animation displaying function according to the present invention comprises: a heating control unit for controlling an output of operation power to be applied to a heater for heating an inner pot; a display unit for audiovisually displaying a particular animation; a memory unit for storing a control algorithm for controlling an operation of the heating control unit corresponding to detailed processes performed for an optional function, and a particular animation for each of the detailed processes; and a MICOM unit for summoning a control algorithm corresponding to a function selected by a user from the memory unit, controlling an operation of the heating control unit according to the control algorithm, performing the selected function, and displaying a particular animation, which guides each of corresponding detailed processes conducted when the selected function is performed, on the display unit.

Description

[0001] ELECTRIC COOKER DISPLAYING ANIMATION [0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electromagnetic cooker having an animation display function, and more particularly, to an electric rice cooker in which relevant animations are displayed for each detailed process during execution of a function provided in the electromagnetic cooker.

A conventional rice cooker is disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1999-021215 (name: a method of indicating the cooking process of a thermo-electric rice cooker). The remaining time of the cooking process from a predetermined time before completion of the cooking process Counting down the counted value and displaying the counted value through the LCD device; calculating a counted value of the counted value after calculating the estimated time of the moxibustion process after the first process; And a third step of displaying the elapsed time of the heat preservation process at every moment when the process proceeds to the warming process after the second step. In this way, by providing the method of displaying the cooking process of the electromagnetic cooker, And it can complain that the process of cooking process takes too long. There is a resolve that the technology is well known.

However, even in the conventional rice cooker according to the related art, only the remaining time of the cooking process is displayed, and thus the function of showing all the cooking processes at a glance can not be reached easily.

Furthermore, only the selection items are presented so that the user can select the menu of the dishes, and further information can not be provided.

Korean Patent Publication No. 1999-021215 (Mar. 25, 1999)

The present invention is not limited to the above-described conventional techniques, so that it is not easy to understand all of the cooking operations. Further, only the selection items specialized for selecting a specific cooking menu are presented, To provide additional information to the user.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electromagnetic cooker having an animation display function including: a heating controller for controlling an output of an operation power source to be applied to a heater for heating an inner pot; A display unit capable of visually displaying a predetermined animation; A control algorithm for controlling the operation of the heating control unit in response to a detailed process that is performed to perform an arbitrary function, and a memory unit storing a specific animation for each sub-process; A control algorithm corresponding to a function selected by the user is loaded from the memory unit and the operation of the heating control unit is controlled according to the control algorithm to perform the selected function, And a microcomputer unit for causing the display unit to display a specific animation for guiding the process.

In this case, the display unit includes a background display area and an animation display area.

The microcomputer may further include an operation unit having one or a plurality of buttons or jog dials that can be operated by a user, wherein the microcomputer displays an item for selecting a specific function through the display unit, The user input for the item is identified by an operation of the operation unit.

The microcomputer may further include a communication unit capable of downloading predetermined data through a wire / wireless communication network, wherein the microcomputer downloads additional animations or background images from the network through the communication unit, displays the downloaded animations or background images on the display unit Can be implemented.

According to the electromagnetic cooker of the present invention having the above-described configuration, since a specific animation can be seen for each of the detailed processes constituting the cooking operation, the user can easily understand the present progress state. Further, when a specific cooking menu is selected, additional information related to the menu (for example, a material necessary for cooking the menu, a cooking method, a cooking method, etc.) is visually and audibly provided, An electric rice cooker can be conveniently used.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of an electromagnetic cooker having an animation display function according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 shows an example of an interface panel including an operation unit and a display unit provided in an electromagnetic cooker according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a view showing each detailed process in a cooking function for cooking rice cooked rice as an example.
Fig. 5 shows the operation when a cooking menu different from cooking is selected.
Fig. 6 shows the operation of executing the nutrition boil during cooking only.
Figure 7 illustrates the slow cook.
Fig. 8 shows the operation in the case of selecting the reserved cooking.
9 illustrates a method of using the favorite menu.
10 illustrates a method of adding a desired cooking menu among the favorite menu.
11 illustrates a method of deleting a specific menu from the favorites menu.
12 illustrates the operation when the automatic cleaning menu of the inner pot is selected.
Fig. 13 shows a process of guiding the use method when the automatic tax is selected.
14 illustrates an operation of setting the time in the setting menu.
Fig. 15 illustrates an operation for setting the volume in the setting menu.
16 illustrates an operation for setting a language in the setting menu.
Fig. 17 illustrates an operation for adjusting the microbubbles in the setting menu.
Fig. 18 illustrates an operation for adjusting the keeping temperature in the setting menu.
Fig. 19 illustrates an operation for controlling the amount of heat insulation heating in the setting menu.
20 shows a method of initializing the setting operation among the setting menus.
Fig. 21 illustrates the selection and operation of the power saving menu.
Fig. 22 illustrates a failure countermeasure method.

Hereinafter, an electromagnetic cooker having an animation display function according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of an electromagnetic cooker having an animation display function according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the drawings, 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).

The power supply unit 10 generates and supplies operating power required from each part of the 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 an inner pot (not shown) of the rice 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, the electromagnetic cooker according to the present invention may be provided with one or a plurality of induction heating coils for performing the cooking process and one or a plurality of heaters for independently performing the heating process. 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 predetermined operation means provided so that the user can select a desired function among the functions provided by the electric rice cooker. Examples of the operation means that can be provided include a tact button, a capacitance-sensitive or resistive-type touch button, or a touch screen, a touch screen, a slider, a jog dial . The user's operation and determination input to the operating means disposed on the operating portion 50 can be input to the microcomputer 80 as an operating signal.

Herein, in the electromagnetic cooker having the animation display function according to the embodiment of the present invention, various operating means as described above can be applied in combination. For example, it is possible to apply the touch screen and the jog dial at the same time, or to arrange the tact button thereon.

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

In particular, FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an interface panel including an operation unit and a display unit provided in the electromagnetic cooker according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, A display area 62 may be provided as the display unit 60 for displaying the image. Further, it may include a button area in which a plurality of operating means such as buttons for functioning as the operating section 50 are disposed.

In the display area 62, an operation state of various cooking menus and a warm-up menu provided in the rice cooker by controlling various colors and brightness, and an animation showing a current process can be displayed. In addition, the user's operation status and selection input of the user for the electric rice cooker, the notification of the reserved function, the current operating state or failure status of the electric cooker, and the like can be displayed.

The display area 62 is composed of a background screen display area 622 in which the background screen constituting the background of the display area is displayed as a still image or a moving picture and a still picture or a moving picture related to each function and process The animation display area 624 can be virtually divided.

4, an animation display area 624 is formed in a lid portion of an electromagnetic cooker image while a part of the electromagnetic cooker is displayed as a still image on a background screen, and an animation So that the user will be able to perceive the steam as if the steam is ejected from the lid of the rice cooker. In addition, time information may be provided by creating an additional animation display area below the background screen display area 622 and displaying the operation time with the foreground.

In the button area, for example, the user can easily select the functions provided by the rice cooker. For example, the "keep warm / reheat" button for warming the contents contained in the inner pot or reheating the food before cooking, A " cooking "button for executing a cooking operation, an" OK "button for selecting and confirming an item currently displayed in an operation of changing and setting various additional functions provided by the rice cooker, A "previous" button, and a "cancel" button for canceling the currently selected function or item.

On the other hand, a button area may be provided with a jog dial which can quickly select a menu / function or a time adjustment, which is arranged in a series, and can be quickly changed / settled. A predetermined button function may be applied to the center of the jog dial, for example, an OK button.

Such a function of the operation unit may be inputted by the user by touching the animation activated in the animation display area of the display unit or the specific icon activated in the background display area.

1, 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 rice cooker . When the user selects a specific function, the microcomputer unit 80 invokes a control algorithm corresponding to the function from the memory unit 70 and controls the operation of the electric rice cooker including the heating control unit 30. [

Particularly, according to the present invention, in the memory unit 70, individual animations are stored for each function provided by the rice cooker and for each detailed process for performing each function. Such an animation will be read by the control of the microcomputer 80 and displayed on the display unit 60. [

The micom 80 controls the operation of each part constituting the rice cooker. 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 any function such as cooking / keeping warm / automatic cleaning selected.

In addition, the microcomputer unit 80 allows the display unit 60 to display various animations relating to a function to be executed by a user's operation or when a reserved function is executed. For example, if the user selects the cooking function, an animation showing each type of rice so that the user can select a desired type of rice (i.e., rice cooked rice, rice cooked rice, brown rice cooked rice, rice cooked rice, , Animation describing the characteristics of the food to be prepared or the food to be cooked according to the instructions of the user, the current process during cooking the rice (ie, the boiling process, the heating process, the boiling process, the moxibustion process, the steam discharging process, It is possible to display an animation to be displayed.

In order to perform a function of displaying various animations for each detailed process as described above, the microcomputer unit 80 loads the control algorithm corresponding to the function selected or reserved by the user from the memory unit 70, The temperature sensed by the process unit 40 and the time required for each process are inputted to the control algorithm to process the current process and the animation corresponding to the process to be processed is loaded from the memory unit 70 and output to the display unit 60 So that it can be displayed visually and audibly.

The microcomputer 80 can display the progress of the cooking at a glance in terms of the requirements and convenience of the user and can display an intuitive animation in which a material is required for a cooking menu .

Further, by applying the interface panel to which the touch screen having the display unit and the operation unit are simultaneously implemented, it is possible to simplify the external appearance of the rice cooker and improve the user's operation convenience.

For example, as shown in Fig. 3, control is performed so that corresponding animation is displayed for each sub-process proceeding when executing the cooking function. FIG. 3 is a view showing each detailed process in a cooking function for cooking rice cooked rice as an example.

First, when a user wishes to execute cooking, various cooking menus can be displayed in various animations on the display unit. For example, white rice, rice miso, samgyetang, nutrition porridge, steamed food, baby food, slow cook, and so on can be displayed as corresponding animation every time the jog dial is turned. Here, if the user selects to cook white rice, the display unit displays the detailed taste provided by the selected white rice. That is to say, the detailed taste such as scraped rice, rice, rice, rice cake, and the like can be displayed as related animations. Here, when the user selects the rice to be cooked, the display unit can guide the mixture ratio of rice and water as a material for cooking the rice to be cooked.

When the user inserts water and rice into the inner pot and operates the control unit to input cooking start, the rice cooker starts full cooking function. An animation informing the start of cooking is displayed on the display unit.

In the rice cooker, the temperature of the surface of the inner pot or the temperature of the inner pot is measured at the bottom and top of the inner pot. Then, during the rice padding process for a predetermined time, an animation for the padding process is displayed. The elapsed time or elapsed time of the detailed process may be displayed in the animation.

A heating process such as primary heating, secondary heating, boiling 1, boiling 2 can be performed by driving the heaters around the inner pot based on the temperature measured subsequent to the heating process. Each process may also display an associated animation. Moreover, the heating process may guide the user to pay attention to safety.

After the heating process, the pausing process and the moxibustion process can be alternately performed, and then the steam discharging process is performed. In the case of the steam discharge process, it is desirable to ensure that not only visual animation but also auditory sound effects are output before or at the time of the steam discharge process, since steam is discharged at a high temperature and pressure .

When the steam discharging process is completed, the rice cooked rice is heated. At this time, the animation indicating the keeping process, the amount of the kept rice, and the information indicating the time elapsed at the time of keeping the temperature may be displayed.

As described above, the electromagnetic rice cooker having the animation display function according to the present invention is capable of selecting the cooking menu, preparing necessary items for the cooking function, various information related to the cooking menu, each detailed process constituting the cooking process, The user is able to manipulate and use the rice cooker, can cook more delicious food, and can recognize the cooking process at a glance, It is possible to eliminate the curiosity about the operation state and the cooking progress.

Meanwhile, the electromagnetic cooker having the animation display function according to the present invention can be applied to a data network such as the Internet through a mobile communication network such as CDMA, WIFI, NFC with a portable device, Bluetooth, infrared communication, power line data communication, And can download the background screen, animation, sound effect, and the like to be displayed on the display area 62. [

With this configuration, the user can own his or her own electric rice cooker in which animation corresponding to his / her taste is displayed.

Next, referring to Figs. 4 to 22, the operation of each operation in the electromagnetic rice cooker having the animation display function according to the present invention will be described. The displayed animation will be described. It is to be understood that the accompanying drawings and the associated description are merely illustrative and that more diverse menus and animations can be provided.

Fig. 4 shows an example of an animation displayed in a display area, and shows a display screen when a cooking menu is selected. The user can select a rice menu by rotating and pressing the jog dial. When the rice menu is selected, various kinds of rice menus are displayed. Basically, if you want to select the submenu with focus, press the cooking button immediately. If you want to select submenu, you can turn the jog dial. At this time, whenever the focus is put on each submenu by rotating the jog dial, animation corresponding to the description of the submenu can be displayed.

When the user presses the cooking button in the desired submenu, an animation informing the start of cooking is displayed. In addition, the time until cooking is completed can be displayed.

When cooking is completed, not only the animation but also the voice can be used to guide completion of the cooking, and the warming operation can be automatically performed. The elapsed time of the insulated operation can be displayed on the display unit.

Fig. 5 shows the operation when a cooking menu different from cooking is selected. When the user selects the cooking menu, not the cooking menu, the user can select the nutrition menu as a sub menu. On the other hand, various steamed dishes can be provided in the nutritious steamed menu, and if the user selects steamed steak, the guide animations such as nutrition information and recipes corresponding to the steamed steak can be displayed.

When the user puts the material into the inner pot and presses the jog dial to input confirmation, the rice cooker can perform the cooking of the galbi steam while displaying the prepared animation.

Fig. 6 shows the operation of executing the nutrition boil during cooking only. You can choose your own Nutritional Steam from the sub menu of Nutritional Steam Menu. You can specify the cooking time for your own steamed noodles. The time can be specified by rotating the dial. When the desired time is displayed and confirmed by pressing the dial, the steamed dish is executed during that time.

Figure 7 illustrates the slow cook. The user can select Slow Cook as a submenu of the Nutrition menu. Slow Cook is a method of slowly cooking food by heating for a long time at a low temperature and is a favorite recipe because it can minimize the destruction of nutrients and maximize the taste of food. Slow Cook also allows the user to set and set the cooking time like the one described above. At this time, the rice cooker can inquire the user about the food to be cooked, and the function of guiding the appropriate slow cook cooking time corresponding to the food selected by the user can be provided.

Fig. 8 shows the operation in the case of selecting the reserved cooking. When the user selects the preset cooking menu using the jog dial, various submenus that can be reserved can be displayed. The user can select a desired sub menu, and then select a time at which the cooking is to be completed or a remaining time to complete the cooking. The display unit can display through the animation that the preset cooking operation is set, and the remaining time to the set time or time can be displayed. The rice cooker can start the cooking operation of the menu selected at an appropriate time based on the input time.

9 illustrates a method of using the favorite menu. The favorite menu is a function that allows the user to easily reselect the menu by inputting a menu previously used by the user. When the user selects the favorite menu, the menus designated by the user will be displayed. By selecting any one of them, the cooking operation according to the menu is started.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method of adding a desired cooking menu to a favorite menu. When you select the Add menu item from the Favorites menu, you will see which menu you want to add. The user can turn the jog dial to focus on the desired menu and confirm the selection by pressing the jog dial.

When the favorite menu is subsequently selected, the confirmed menu can be immediately displayed on the display unit, and the user can easily select the menu. The Favorites menu is useful when you want to re-use a cooking method that has more detailed settings, such as a customized taste.

11 illustrates a method of deleting a specific menu from the favorite menu. Menus added to Favorites can be easily deleted using menu delete item.

12 illustrates the operation when the automatic cleaning menu of the inner pot is selected. In actual use environments, it is difficult for users to clean the detailed parts such as the pressure outlet of the rice cooker. Therefore, an automatic cleaning function for automatically cleaning such parts can be provided.

On the other hand, FIG. 13 shows a process of guiding the use method when the automatic tax is selected. A detailed animated guide can be provided on the display of the rice cooker so that the user can easily utilize the automatic washing function. For example, the notes of automatic cleaning, timing of execution, etc. can be guided by voice or animation. Also, it is possible to visually guide the amount of water to be added to the inner pot, the addition of additives, the time required, and the like.

14 illustrates an operation of setting the time in the setting menu. The setting menu provides various additional menus that utilize an electric rice cooker. First, the rice cooker can maintain the correct current time through the current time menu. Alternatively, the rice cooker may be automatically synchronized to the standard time via GPS or the Internet.

Fig. 15 illustrates an operation for setting the volume in the setting menu. The volume menu is for controlling the volume of sound that occurs audibly when the user operates the rice cooker. The volume set in the volume menu may be applied to all of the voices provided by the rice cooker, or the volume may be set individually for each voice. It is also possible to adjust the volume by time.

16 illustrates an operation for setting a language in the setting menu. The electromagnetic cooker according to the present invention can provide various language environments such as Korean, Chinese, English, and Japanese so that users having various languages can conveniently use it.

Fig. 17 illustrates an operation for adjusting the microbubbles in the setting menu. The fine rice flavor is provided so as to adjust the degree of softness, the degree of freshening, and the like with respect to various rice types that can be selected from the rice menu shown in Fig. By rotating the jog dial and pressing the desired degree, the user can adjust the fine taste.

Fig. 18 illustrates an operation for adjusting the keeping temperature in the setting menu. The user can adjust the temperature at which the cooked rice is kept warm. The general temperature of the rice cooker is about 72 ℃. However, depending on the user's preference, they may prefer lower temperature rice or prefer higher temperature rice. Therefore, the user can designate the desired keeping temperature through the keep temperature setting menu.

In addition, when the rice is kept warm at a preset warming temperature, depending on the usage environment of the rice cooker (for example, the season, the position of the rice cooker in the house, the number of times the rice cooker is closed by the lid, Problems such as discoloration of rice or smell may occur. In this case, the user can further raise or lower the keep-warm temperature in accordance with the instructions guided through the animation.

Fig. 19 illustrates an operation for controlling the amount of heat insulation heating in the setting menu. 18, the heating amount is a menu provided so that the heating amount can be adjusted in order to prevent the deterioration of the rice at the time of warming.

20 shows a method of initializing the setting operation among the setting menus. The electromagnetic cooker according to the present invention is provided with various menus that can be operated by a user. However, the user may want to return all the settings to the initial purchase status. In this case, the electromagnetic cooker can be returned to the basic (initialized) state through the initialization menu.

Fig. 21 illustrates the selection and operation of the power saving menu. The power saving menu controls the operation of the display unit when the electromagnetic cooker is in the standby state, thereby keeping the electromagnetic cooker in a power saving state. Further, by using the power-saving menu, it is possible to designate the minimum power to be used for cooking, cooking, keeping warm operation, and the like.

Fig. 22 illustrates a failure countermeasure method. In actual use of an electric rice cooker, most of the malfunctions are minor, such as damage to the rubber packing, poor cleaning, and incorrect menu operation. Accordingly, various contents of guidance for such situations are stored in the memory unit. When the user selects the failure action menu, the user inquires about the symptom that the user thinks is the current failure and responds to the symptom selected by the user Can be displayed together with the animation.

Particularly, in the guidance such as the countermeasure in case of damage to the rubber packing, the user can easily explain the method of direct replacement through animation.

By providing a variety of menus, such as those described above, and displaying animation visually showing each menu, the user can use the rice cooker more conveniently and without any trouble.

Claims (4)

A heating control unit for controlling the output of the operation power source to be applied to the heater for heating the inner pot;
A background display area in which a background screen including a plurality of items is displayed as a still image, and an animation display area in which a foreground of the background screen is displayed and an animation is displayed as a moving picture;
An operation unit having a jog dial capable of moving a focus between the plurality of items and selecting a currently focused item as it is pressed;
A control algorithm for controlling the operation of the heating control unit and a control algorithm for controlling the operation of the heating control unit in correspondence with each sub-process including the boiling, heating, boiling, Wealth; And
When a user selection of the cooking function is identified by the operation of the jog dial, a control algorithm corresponding to the cooking function selected by the user is loaded from the memory unit , An animation for controlling the operation of the heating control unit according to the control algorithm to perform the selected cooking function and for instructing the detailed process for each of the detailed processes to be executed when the selected cooking function is executed is called from the memory unit And controlling the display unit to be displayed in the animation display region of the display unit. delete delete The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a communication unit capable of downloading predetermined data through a wire / wireless communication network,
Wherein the microcomputer downloads an additional animation or background screen from the network through the communication unit when the user selection of the download function is identified by the operation of the jog dial, Is displayed on the display unit (10).

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