KR20050031903A - Electronic range - Google Patents

Abstract

A microwave oven is provided to control heating of food properly by accurately detecting the kind or the installation position of a cooking plate and the kind of food and by automatically selecting heating course corresponding to arrangement of the plate. A control circuit starts emitting wave by transmitting control signals from a distance sensor in locking a door after putting a cooking plate with food into a cooking chamber of a microwave oven(S702), and receives reflected wave by a wave receiving unit of the distance sensor(S704). Distance from an object arranged in the cooking chamber of the microwave oven is detected based on receiving signals(S706), and arrangement of the cooking plate is detected in the cooking chamber of the microwave oven(S708). Food is heated by detecting presence of the cooking plate in the cooking chamber(S710), and output is controlled according to position of the cooking plate(S712). The control circuit controls heating in not placing the cooking plate in the cooking chamber(S714).

Description

Microwave oven {ELECTRONIC RANGE}

The present invention relates to a microwave oven, and more particularly, to a microwave oven in which heat treatment can be selected based on a distance to food.

The microwave oven has a plurality of heating courses as its function, and the user can heat the food in an optimal state by selecting an appropriate heating course. However, depending on the food to be heated, such a selection is not easy, and there is a problem that an operation for selecting a heating course is difficult. In addition, even when the heating course is selected, there is a problem that heating control is not appropriately performed depending on the type, quantity or shape of the food.

So, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-27338 (Patent Document 1) discloses a heating device that can select a course such as an oven or a grill by measuring a distance to a cooking utensil by a distance sensor. . The heating apparatus controls the heating section according to the output signal of the detection section, which detects a distance from the upper surface of the heating chamber to a tool including a container and a plate installed in the heating chamber in correspondence with the cooking mode. It includes a control unit.

According to the above-described heating apparatus, the cooking mode is identified when the distance between the position of the tool such as a dedicated container or cooking dish used in accordance with the cooking mode and the distance between the upper surface of the heating chamber is measured. Since the control part controls the heating part based on the identification result, it is possible to automate cooking.

In this way, the identification of the cooking mode is performed as the selection of the heating course, so that the user can easily cook using the microwave oven.

For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-77332 (Patent Document 2) discloses a heating apparatus capable of discriminating a heated object. The heating apparatus includes a detection unit for detecting the distance from the upper surface of the heating chamber to the object to be heated, a recognition unit for recognizing a change in the distance based on the output signal from the detection unit, and a heating based on the output signal from the recognition unit. It includes a control unit for controlling the wealth.

According to the heating device described above, the swelling of the wrap or the cake swelling of the food accumulated in the wrap is detected from the temporal change of the distance information from the upper surface portion of the heating chamber to the heated object. Since the control part controls the heating part based on the information detected in this way, the cooking of the part to be heated can be improved.

However, according to the heating apparatus disclosed in the patent document 1, even if the cooking mode can be identified for one particular type of cooking dish, each dish is discriminated for a plurality of dishes, or the cooking dish is the bottom surface of the cooking vessel. It can't identify cases that lie directly on. Therefore, the heating course may not be appropriately selected in some cases.

Moreover, according to the heating apparatus disclosed in the said patent document 2, although the heat processing can be controlled based on the change in the heating of a to-be-heated object, it cannot judge what to-be-heated object is heated before heating. Therefore, the heating of the to-be-heated object may not be controlled appropriately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a microwave oven with improved discrimination ability of types and installation positions of cooking dishes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a microwave oven capable of automatically determining the type of food and the course to be heated.

The microwave oven according to the present invention includes a cooking plate having a surface state different from the surface state of the bottom surface of the heating chamber, a heating means for heating the food, and a wave in the heating chamber. Output means for radiating and receiving the reflected wave of the wave and outputting a reception result, storage means for storing the reception range of the reflection of the wave acquired beforehand in correspondence with the cooking dish, and the reception result and the reception range. Discriminating means for discriminating the installation state of the cooking dish based on the basis, and control means for controlling the heating means to heat the food based on the installation state of the cooking dish.

According to the microwave oven having the above structure, when the output means radiates a wave to the heating chamber and receives the reflected wave of the wave, the reception result is output. The output means includes, for example, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or the like. The reception result includes the phase of the wave, the value of the voltage, the detection distance, and the like. The detection distance here means not the actual distance but the distance calculated based on the reflected wave received by the output means.

The storage means stores the reception range of the reflected wave of the wave (for example, a range in consideration of an error such as a detection error, a design error, or a state of the cooking dish) in correspondence with the cooking dish.

The judging means judges the installation state of the cooking plate in the heating chamber based on the reception result and the reception range. That is, since the reflection state of the wave is affected by the surface state of the reflector (e.g. surface roughness, shape, inclination, coating, etc.), the installation state of the cooking dish can be determined by the reflected wave. have. This installation state includes whether or not the cooking plates are arranged in the heating chamber or the type of cooking plates arranged.

The control means controls the heating means (eg, magnetron) to heat the food based on the installation state.

In this way, the user of the microwave oven can make the microwave oven perform the most suitable heat treatment without setting the position of the cooking dishes arranged in the heating chamber. In addition, in the case where the installation position of the cooking plate and the menu of the cooking are stored in association with each other, the cooking menu can be automatically determined according to the installation state of the cooking plate. In this way, it is possible to provide a microwave oven capable of improving the user's convenience of use.

The storage means preferably stores a range of distances detected in advance corresponding to the cooking dish.

The output means outputs the detection distance detected based on the reception state of the reflected wave of the wave.

The discriminating means includes installation state discriminating means for discriminating the installation state of the cooking dish based on the range of the stored distance and the detection distance.

According to the microwave oven having such a configuration, the optimum heating treatment can be performed by detecting the distance to the cooking dish and determining the installation state of the cooking dish.

The storage means preferably stores a range of the distance previously acquired as the output of the output means when the cooking dish is not arranged in the heating chamber.

The installation state discrimination means includes a presence / absence discrimination means for discriminating whether or not the cooking dish is arranged in the cooking chamber based on the range of the stored distance and the detection distance.

According to the microwave oven having such a configuration, the existence / non-discrimination means discriminates whether or not the cooking plate is arranged in the heating chamber based on the range of the detected distance and the distance previously stored and stored. Therefore, by storing the range of distance in advance in the storage means, it is possible to accurately determine that the cooking plate is not arranged in the heating chamber.

Preferably, the said presence / absence discrimination means discriminates that a cooking dish is not arrange | positioned in a heating chamber, when the detection distance is contained in the range of distance. However, when the detection distance is not included in the range of the distance, the presence / absence discrimination means discriminates that the cooking plate is arranged in the heating chamber.

According to the microwave oven which has such a structure, when a detection distance is not contained in the range of the distance memorize | stored previously, it is discriminated that cooking dishes are arrange | positioned in a heating chamber. Therefore, the heat treatment can be performed only in such a case, and the heat treatment in the case where the cooking dish is not arranged in the heating chamber can be made impossible. It is also possible to automatically select heating control when the cooking dish is arranged in the heating chamber and heating treatment when the cooking dish is not arranged. In this way, malfunction of the microwave oven can be prevented.

Preferably, the heating chamber is provided with a plurality of arrangement portions on which cooking dishes are arranged. The storage means memorizes the range of each distance detected when the cooking dishes are arranged in each arrangement portion. The installation state discriminating means includes position discriminating means for discriminating which arrangement portion the cooking dish is arranged on the basis of the range of the detection distance and the stored distance.

According to the microwave oven which has such a structure, in addition to the determination of whether the cooking dish is arrange | positioned in a heating chamber, whether or not the cooking dish is arrange | positioned in which arrangement part of a some arrangement part is discriminated. Therefore, since the heat treatment by the microwave oven can be changed according to the placement portion, more suitable heat treatment is possible.

Preferably, the position discriminating means discriminates that the cooking dish is arranged in the arrangement portion corresponding to the range of the distance when the detection distance is included in the range of the distance.

According to the microwave oven having such a configuration, if data of the distance to each arrangement portion detected by the output means is stored in advance in the storage means, the position discriminating means determines the arrangement portion on which the cooking dish is arranged. In this way, even if a plurality of arrangement portions are formed in the heating chamber, each arrangement portion can be easily specified, so that the accuracy of the heat treatment can be improved.

Preferably, the surface state is any one of a material, a surface finish state, a shape, and a surface roughness.

According to the microwave oven having such a configuration, the reflected wave of the wave radiated in the cooking dish and the reflected wave of the wave radiated in the bottom of the heating chamber have different phases, intensities, and other reception states. The arrangement of the dishes can be determined.

Preferably, the microwave oven has a plurality of cooking dishes. And each dish is a different surface.

According to the microwave oven having such a configuration, since it is possible to determine which cooking plates are arranged in the cooking chamber, the heating treatment of the food placed on each cooking plate can be performed without having to input the setting of the cooking plates individually. There is a number.

Preferably, the microwave oven is equipped with an infrared sensor having a filter that transmits infrared rays. The output means uses a light wave as a wave to emit. The wavelength of this light wave is below the wavelength that can pass through the filter.

According to the microwave oven having such a configuration, the output means outputs a wave having a wavelength longer than the wavelength (for example, 1 μm) of the output wave that the infrared sensor can detect. As a result, since the detection of the infrared rays in the infrared sensor is not influenced by the wave emitted by the output means, the degradation of the accuracy (for example, the temperature accuracy) of the detection result of the infrared sensor is prevented. As a result, the microwave oven can perform accurate heat treatment.

Preferably, the microwave oven further includes means for storing heating conditions corresponding to the type of food, state detection means for detecting the reception state of the reflected wave based on the reception result, and based on the reception state of the reflected wave. And a kind discriminating means for discriminating the kind of food, and a heating control means for controlling the heating means to heat the food based on heating conditions corresponding to the kind of food.

According to the microwave oven comprised in this way, the kind of food arrange | positioned in a heating chamber is discriminated by the reception state of a reflected wave. Here, the kind of food includes a solid food and a liquid food. The reception state of the reflected wave includes, for example, the attenuation rate of the reflected wave, the number of times the change in the detection distance in a predetermined time, the change rate, and the like. In this way, the user can execute the optimum heat treatment in the microwave oven without inputting the setting for the type of food. This provides a microwave oven with improved usability.

Preferably, the state detecting means includes detection means for continuously detecting a predetermined time, the distance from the reception state to the object reflecting the wave. The judging means includes food judging means for judging whether the food is a solid food or a liquid food by the change of distance.

According to the microwave oven having such a configuration, it is determined whether the food placed in the heating chamber is a solid food or a liquid food according to the amount of change within a predetermined time of the detected distance. As a result, for example, the influence of judgment and error due to a detection error can be suppressed as compared with the case of instantaneously determining the type of food, so that the accuracy of the heat treatment can be improved.

Preferably, the detecting means calculates a change amount of the predetermined time and distance. The discriminating means determines that the food is a solid food when the amount of change in the distance is less than a predetermined value. The discriminating means determines that the food is a liquid food when the amount of change in the distance exceeds a predetermined value.

According to the microwave oven having such a configuration, it is determined whether it is a solid food or a liquid food according to the amount of change in the distance detected within a predetermined time. The possibility of judgment and error caused by this can be reduced.

Preferably, the detecting means calculates a frequency at which the predetermined time and distance change. The judging means judges that the food is a solid food when the frequency is below a predetermined value. The judging means determines that the food is a liquid food when the frequency exceeds the predetermined value.

According to the microwave oven having such a configuration, it is determined whether the food is a solid food or a liquid food according to the frequency of change of the distance within a predetermined time. It is possible to reduce the possibility of misjudgment caused by this.

Preferably, the microwave oven further includes means for detecting food receipt for detecting that food is received in the heating chamber. The state detecting means starts detecting the change state of the reflected wave from the time when the food is put into the heating chamber.

According to the microwave oven having such a configuration, since data for discriminating the type of food is received from the time when the food is put into the heating chamber, judgment and error can be prevented. In addition, such a configuration prevents a malfunction because, for example, heat treatment is not performed when food is not placed in a heating chamber.

Again preferably, the microwave oven includes opening and closing detection means for detecting opening and closing of the door portion. The state detecting means starts detecting the change state of the reflected wave from the time when the door part is closed.

According to the microwave oven having such a configuration, since the detection of the distance for determining the type of food is started from the time when the user closes the door, the determination can be performed accurately.

Further, preferably, the control means prohibits the operation of heating by the heating means when the receipt detection means does not detect receipt of food.

According to the microwave oven having such a configuration, it is possible to determine whether or not the food is received, that is, whether the food is in the heating chamber by the receipt detection means. In this way, the heat treatment is performed only when the food is stored in the heating chamber, thereby preventing malfunction of the microwave oven.

(Example)

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiment of this invention is described in detail, referring drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their names and functions are also the same.

<Example 1>

Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

With reference to FIG. 1, the structure of the microwave oven 100 in Example 1 of this invention is demonstrated. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the microwave oven 100.

As shown in FIG. 1, the microwave oven 100 includes a control circuit 110, a distance sensor 120 connected to the control circuit 110, an operation unit 130, a door detection switch 132, An infrared sensor 134, a cooling fan motor 136, an oven heater 138, a microwave oscillation circuit 140, and a display unit 142 are included. The control circuit 110 includes a microcomputer 112 and a memory 114. The distance sensor includes a wave radiator 122 and a wave receiver 124.

The control circuit 110 detects an instruction input by the user in accordance with a signal from the operation unit 130. The control circuit 110 determines whether the door 150 of the microwave oven 100 is open in accordance with the signal from the door detection switch 132. The control circuit 110 detects the temperature in the cooking chamber of the microwave oven 100 according to the signal from the infrared sensor 134. The control circuit 110 detects the distance to the object in accordance with the signal from the wave receiver 124. This object includes not only the cooking dish arrange | positioned at a cookware but the bottom surface of a cookware.

The control circuit 110 transmits a signal to the distance sensor 120 and emits a wave (for example, light or ultrasonic wave) for measuring the distance in the cooking chamber of the microwave oven 100. The control circuit 110 drives a cooling fan (not shown) for cooling the microwave oven 100 by driving the cooling fan motor 136. The control circuit 110 transmits a signal to the oven heater 138 to execute the oven function of the microwave oven 100. The control circuit 110 transmits a signal to the microwave oscillation circuit 140 to output microwaves in the cooking chamber of the microwave oven 100. In addition, the control circuit 110 transmits a predetermined signal to the display unit 142 to display the control state.

2, the internal structure of the microwave oven 100 in this embodiment is demonstrated. 2 is a diagram illustrating the microwave oven 100 with the cover (not shown) removed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the microwave oven 100 includes a distance sensor 120 at an upper portion of the cooking oven. The position of the distance sensor 120 is preferably, for example, near the center of the cooker. However, the position of installation of the distance sensor 120 is not limited to the center. For example, the distance sensor 120 may be located at the edge of the cooker.

In addition, the microwave oven 100 includes an infrared sensor 134 that detects infrared rays emitted in the cooking chamber and measures temperature. The installation position of the infrared sensor 134 is, for example, at an inclined upper portion (not shown) of the cooker, but is not limited to this position. For example, it is also conceivable that the infrared signal from the infrared sensor 134 is provided at a position capable of evenly scanning the inside of the cooking cabinet.

With reference to FIG. 3, the structure of the microwave oven 100 in a present Example is demonstrated again. 3 shows a state in which the door 150 of the microwave oven 100 is opened.

As shown in FIG. 3, the microwave oven 100 includes mounting rails 152 and 154 for disposing cooking dishes described later. In the case where the cooking dish is placed on the bottom surface 103 of the cooking rack, the position of the cooking dish can be adjusted to a position suitable for the food to be cooked, depending on which mounting portion the cooking dish is placed. In addition, the number or position (namely, distance from the bottom surface 103) of the mounting rails 152,154 comprised in this way is not limited to what is shown in FIG. In addition, the shape of the said mounting rails 152 and 154 is not limited to the convex shape as shown in FIG.

With reference to FIG. 4, the cooking plate provided in the microwave oven 100 in a present Example is demonstrated. 4 (A) shows a cooking plate 400 made of ceramics. 4B shows a metal cooking plate 410.

The cooking plate 400 made of ceramics is finished with a smooth surface on which the food is placed. On the other hand, the heat generating film 401 is formed on the back surface to absorb microwaves and generate heat.

On the other hand, in the metal cooking dish 410, the upper surface on which food is arrange | positioned is finished with enamel. Therefore, the cooking dish 400 made of ceramics and the cooking dish 410 made of metal have different surface states (for example, a material, the form of surface treatment, the shape of a cross section, etc.).

By the above, since the reflection state of the wave radiated | emitted from the distance sensor differs with each cooking dish, the reception state of the reflected wave by a sensor also changes with each cooking dish. As a result, even when a cooking plate having a different surface state is arranged in the same installation portion of the microwave oven 100, the distance sensor 120 detects a reception state of another reflected wave. Therefore, it is possible to determine the type of cooking dishes arranged in the mounting portion based on the reception state.

Incidentally, the cooking dish provided in the microwave oven 100 of the present embodiment is not limited to that shown in Fig. 4A or 4B, and the surface is changed so that its direction is different when reflecting the signal from the distance sensor. It is good if it is processed.

With reference to FIG. 5, the data used by the microwave oven 100 of this embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 5A is a diagram conceptually showing a data structure stored in the memory 114 of the control circuit 110. 5B is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the cooking plate and the detection distance based on the data structure. This detection distance means the distance obtained by irradiating infrared rays to each cooking dish, for example in the state of the reflected wave, and differs from the actual distance to each cooking dish.

As shown in Fig. 5A, the data indicating the correspondence between the cooking dishes 400 and 410 and the mounting positions of the cooking dishes is stored in the memory 114. Figs. Here, the maximum value and the minimum value are upper / lower values that the distance sensor 120 determines that the cooking plate is installed at the corresponding position. Data indicating the type of cooking dish may be set in advance as a cooking dish that can be installed in the microwave oven 100. Position means the position where each cooking plate is arrange | positioned. This position includes installation rails 152 and 154. In addition, when the cooking dish is not arranged in the microwave oven 100, data of "NULL" is stored.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the distance detected by the distance sensor 120 is different for each cooking plate. By doing in this way, the kind of cooking dishes arranged at a predetermined position or the presence / absence of cooking dishes can be discriminated with respect to the detection result by the distance sensor 120. In addition, the number of cooking dishes which can be arrange | positioned and the space | interval of the detection distance by the distance sensor 120 are not specifically limited.

Referring to FIG. 6, the relationship between the case where each cooking plate is arranged in the microwave oven 100 and the case where the cooking dish is not arranged in the microwave oven 100 and the detection result by the distance sensor 120 are described. It demonstrates. FIG. 6 (A) is a diagram showing a list of distances detected when the cooking plates 400 and 410 having different surface states are disposed at respective places in the cooking rack. Fig. 6B shows the distance detected when no cooking plate is placed in the microwave oven 100 of the present embodiment.

For example, when the cooking dish 400 is disposed directly on the bottom surface 103 of the microwave oven 100, the distance detected by the distance sensor 120 is 291 mm. When the cooking dish 400 is disposed on the mounting rail 152 of the microwave oven 100, the distance detected by the distance sensor 120 becomes 255 mm. When the cooking plate 400 is disposed on the mounting rail 154, the distance is 103 mm. Similarly, in the case of the cooking plate 410, each detection distance is 279 mm, 236 mm, and 130 mm.

On the other hand, when neither cooking plate is arranged in the cooking compartment of the microwave oven 100, the distance detected by the distance sensor 120 is 260 mm.

In this way, in the case where the cooking dish is arranged in the microwave oven 100 and when it is not arranged, the distances different from each other are detected by the distance sensor 120. Moreover, also when different cooking plates are arrange | positioned at the same installation part, the distance detected by cooking dishes differs. Therefore, based on the detection distance of the distance sensor 120, the presence or absence of a cooking dish and the kind of cooking dish can be discriminated.

In addition, the determination of the presence or absence of such a cooking dish and the type of the cooking dish is not limited to the distance detected by the distance sensor 120. In other words, it may be an output value (voltage value, phase, etc.) from a means capable of radiating and receiving a wave.

The control structure of the microwave oven 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a process executed by the control circuit 110 included in the microwave oven 100.

In step S702, the control circuit 110 initiates radiation of the wave by transmitting a predetermined control signal to the distance sensor 120.

In step S704, the control circuit 110 receives a signal from the wave receiver 124 of the distance sensor 120 that has received the reflected wave of the wave.

In step S706, the control circuit 110 detects the distance to the object placed in the cooking compartment of the microwave oven 100 based on the received signal. This object is a cooking dish, for example. However, when the cooking plate is not arranged in the cooking rack, the object becomes the bottom surface of the cooking rack.

In step S708, the control circuit 110 detects the arrangement state of the cooking dish based on the detected distance. This state includes whether or not the cooking plate is placed in the cooking compartment of the microwave oven 100, and in the case where the cooking plate is not arranged, which portion of the cooking plate is disposed.

In step S710, the control circuit 110 determines whether or not the cooking dishes are arranged in the cooking rack in accordance with the above-described detected state. If the cooking dishes are arranged (YES in step S710), the processing moves to step S712. If not (NO in step S710), the processing moves to step S714.

In step S712, the control circuit 110 heats the inside of the cooking compartment with control (output) corresponding to the position where the cooking dish is arranged. For example, when the cooking plate is arranged on the mounting rail 154 at the upper end, the output is smaller than when it is arranged at the mounting rail 152 at the lower end.

In step S714, the control circuit 110 executes heating control when the cooking plate is not arranged in the cooking rack.

The operation of the microwave oven 100 in the present embodiment will be described based on the above structure and flowchart. Below, the operation in the case where the cooking dish 400 is arrange | positioned at the mounting rail 154 of the upper end of the cooking pot of the microwave oven 100 is demonstrated.

When the user places the food on the cooking plate and puts it in the cooking compartment of the microwave oven 100 and locks the door, it is detected that the door is locked, and waves for measuring the distance are emitted from the distance sensor (step S702). When the reflected wave of the wave is received (step S704), and the distance from the received signal to the cooking dish 400 is detected (step S706), the cooking dish arranged in the cooker is the cooking dish 400 based on the distance. It is judged that it is (step S708). Since the cooking dish 400 is accommodated in the microwave oven 100 (YES in step S710), the heat treatment corresponding to the condition when the cooking dish 400 is arranged in the mounting portion 154 is executed ( Step S710).

As described above, the microwave oven 100 according to the present embodiment emits a wave for detecting a distance with respect to the cooking dish disposed in the cooker, and receives the reflected wave of the wave. In this case, since the surface state of each cooking plate or cooking dish is formed differently, even when each cooking dish is arranged at the same position of the cooking dish, the detection result by the distance sensor 120 is, Each will be a different distance. Therefore, by storing in advance the memory 114 in association with the positions of the cooking dishes and the heating conditions, the type and the arrangement position of the cooking dishes are determined even if the user does not input the setting of the cooking dishes.

By doing so, the user can cook without increasing the operational load, thereby improving the operation convenience of the microwave oven 100.

<Example 2>

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11. In addition, the structure of the hardware of the microwave oven 100 in this embodiment is the same as that of the above-mentioned <Example 1>. Therefore, the description is not repeated about these structures.

The microwave oven 800 according to the present embodiment differs from the above-described <Example 1> in that the type of foods arranged in the cooking oven can be determined. Here, the kind of food includes liquid food or solid food. Liquid foods include, for example, beverages injected into containers, and other liquid foods. The solid food is a food having a higher viscosity than the liquid food, for example, rice contained in a container or other solid food.

Referring to Fig. 8, an example in which the microwave oven 800 of the present embodiment is used will be described. FIG. 8 (A) is a view showing a state where air 810 is arranged in a cooker of the microwave oven 800. FIG. 8 (B) shows a state where the mugs 820 to which milk is injected are arranged in the same manner. It is a figure which shows.

As shown in Fig. 8A, the air 810 is disposed at approximately the center of the microwave oven 800, for example. This position is, for example, in the range included in the field of view of the distance sensor (not shown), but the position of the air 810 is not limited thereto. For example, by installing a distance sensor having a wide field of view on the ceiling of the cooking cabinet, the restriction on the position of the air 810 may be removed. By doing in this way, the process mentioned later can be performed, even if air 810 is not arrange | positioned at the center part of the bottom surface of a cooking rack.

A detection result of the distance by the distance sensor 120 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 is a time chart showing a transition of a distance detected when a mug 820 into which 200 ml of milk is injected is placed in a cooking oven of the microwave oven 800. FIG. 10 is a time chart showing the transition of the distance detected when 150 g of rice is contained in the air 810.

As shown in FIG. 9, the detection distance from the start of distance detection until about 2 seconds has elapsed is about 290 mm. This distance indicates that nothing is arranged in the cooking compartment of the microwave oven 800 at this point in time. After that, when the mug 820 in which milk is injected is placed in the microwave oven 800, the result of the detection distance rapidly drops to about 160 mm. This is because the liquid level of the mug 820 or the milk is detected by the distance sensor 120.

Thereafter, the graph of FIG. 9 gradually changes the detection distance to a level of 200 mm while repeating the vibration up and down. This is because the liquid level of milk vibrates when the mug 820 is accommodated in the microwave oven 800. When this vibration is detected by the distance sensor 120, the vibration appears as shown in FIG. In this case, when such a liquid is put into the microwave oven 800, it takes several seconds (for example, 5 seconds) until the detection distance is converged.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, when the air 810 containing rice is arrange | positioned in the microwave oven 800, the value of the detected distance will become small about 160 mm. Thereafter, the value of the distance rises to about 175 mm to maintain the converged state. That is, since rice has a higher viscosity than milk, the vibration generated when placed in the microwave oven 800 is smaller in amplitude than the vibration generated when the mug 820 injected with liquid (for example, milk) is placed. Lose.

Therefore, by setting the relationship as shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10 in advance in the memory 114, for example, as amplitude magnitude, frequency, or rate of change of time, whether the food disposed in the cookware is a liquid food or a solid food. Can be easily determined.

With reference to FIG. 11, the control mechanism of the control circuit 110 which implements the microwave oven 800 of this embodiment is demonstrated. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a process executed by the control circuit 110. In addition, the same process as the form of <Example 1> is given the same step number, and description of these is abbreviate | omitted.

In step S1106, the control circuit 110 determines whether food is received in the cooking rack. The determination is executed based on the detection result of the distance sensor 120. For example, if there is no change in the preset distance, the control circuit 110 determines that the food is not stored in the microwave oven 800. On the other hand, when the result changes temporarily with respect to the predetermined detection result, it is determined that the food is put in the cooking rack. When food is put into the cooking rack (YES in step S1106), the processing moves to step S1108. If not (NO in step S1106), after the predetermined time has elapsed, the judgment process is executed again.

In step S1108, the control circuit 110 detects the distance to the food by the signal from the distance sensor 120.

In step S1110, the control circuit 110 determines whether the detected value of the distance is oscillating. This determination is performed based on, for example, whether the detection distance has changed more than a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time. If the detected value of the distance is vibrating (YES in step S1110), the processing moves to step S1112. If not (NO in step S1110), the processing moves to step S1114.

In step S1112, the control circuit 110 executes the control for heating the beverage disposed in the cooking compartment by executing the predetermined control. At this time, the control circuit 110 reads the heating conditions (output, heating time, etc.) previously stored in correspondence with the beverage from the memory 114, and outputs an instruction for the heating conditions to the microwave oscillation circuit 140 or the like.

In step S1114, the control circuit 110 performs control of heating the solid food disposed in the cooker. At this time, the control circuit 110 reads the heating conditions (output, heating time, etc.) previously stored in correspondence with the beverage from the memory 114, and outputs an instruction for the heating conditions to the microwave oscillation circuit 140 or the like. .

The operation of the microwave oven 800 according to the present embodiment will be described based on the above structure and flowchart. Here, the case where the air 810 is put into the microwave oven 800 is demonstrated.

When the user closes the door by putting the rice-containing air 810 into the microwave oven 800, the distance sensor 120 radiates a wave to start detection of the distance. The control circuit 110 determines that food is received (YES in step S1106), and detects the distance to the air 810 (step S1108).

In this case, since the vibration of the value of the detected distance is immediately converged (NO in step S1110), heat processing suitable for rice is executed (step S1114).

As described above, the microwave oven 800 according to the present embodiment determines whether the object is a solid food such as rice or a liquid food such as milk, depending on the change state of the signal for detecting the distance to the object contained in the cooking oven. Determine if it is. The heat treatment is performed in accordance with the determination result. In this way, the processing corresponding to the type of food to be accommodated in the cooker is automatically set, so that cooking can be performed in a more optimal state. Therefore, it is possible to provide a microwave oven with improved usability.

In addition, in each of the embodiments described above, the position of the object is disposed or the type of the object is determined by detecting a change in the output of the distance sensor 120 that can measure the distance to the object. Whether the object is a solid food or a liquid food). Such determination can be made other than the output of the distance sensor 120. For example, these determinations may be performed by emitting light waves or sound waves and receiving the reflected waves.

The above-described embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and should be determined as not limiting. That is, the scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the claims, and means that all changes within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims and equivalents of the present application are included.

According to the microwave oven according to the present invention, since the user does not need to input the arrangement state of the cooking dish into the microwave every time cooking, the convenience of cooking can be improved. In addition, since the heating control method is automatically selected corresponding to the arrangement state of the cooking dish, the convenience of cooking can be improved.

Moreover, according to the microwave oven in this invention, since the kind of food arrange | positioned in a heating chamber is determined, the most suitable cooking suitable for the kind of foodstuff can be performed.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a microwave oven according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an overview view of the microwave oven according to the first embodiment of the present invention (No. 1).

Fig. 3 is an overview view of the microwave oven according to the first embodiment of the present invention (No. 2).

4 (A) and (B) are diagrams illustrating a cooking plate disposed in a cooking oven of the microwave oven illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining data stored in the memory shown in FIG. 1; FIG.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the arrangement status of the cooking dish shown in Fig. 4 and the distance detection result of the distance sensor.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of processing executed by the control circuit of the microwave oven according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

8 is an overview view of the microwave oven according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram (1) for explaining the relationship between food and a detection distance accommodated in a microwave oven according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Fig. 10 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the food and the detection distance accommodated in the microwave oven according to the second embodiment of the present invention (No. 2).

Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of processing executed by the control circuit of the microwave oven according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

(Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawing)

100,800 microwave oven 103 bottom surface

110: control circuit 112: microcomputer

114: memory 120: distance sensor

122: wave radiator 124: wave receiver

130: operation unit 132: door detection switch

134: infrared sensor 136: cooling fan motor

138: oven heater 140: microwave oscillation circuit

142: display unit 150: door

400,410: cooking dish 401: fever film

810: (rice) air 820: mugs

Claims (16)

A heating chamber for accommodating food, a cooking dish disposed in the heating chamber and having a surface state different from that of the bottom surface of the heating chamber, heating means for heating the food, and radiating waves in the heating chamber; Output means for receiving a reflected wave of the wave and outputting a reception result, storage means for storing the reception range of the reflection of the wave acquired beforehand in correspondence with the cooking dish, based on the received result and the reception range Determining means for determining an installation state of the cooking dish, and control means for controlling the heating means to heat the food based on the installation state of the cooking dish. The said storage means memorize | stores the range of the distance detected corresponding to the said cooking dish previously acquired, The said output means is based on the detection distance detected based on the reception state of the reflected wave of the said wave. And the determination means includes installation state discrimination means for discriminating the installation state of the cooking dish based on the stored range of the distance and the detection distance. The said storage means memorize | stores the range of the distance acquired previously as an output of the said output means, when the said cooking dish is not arrange | positioned at the said heating chamber, The said installation state discrimination means is a memory | storage. And whether or not the cooking dish is arranged in the heating chamber based on the range of the distance and the detection distance. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the presence / absence determining means determines that the cooking dish is not arranged in the heating chamber when the detection distance is within the range of the distance, and the detection distance is equal to the distance. When not included in the range, it is determined that the cooking dish is arranged in the heating chamber. The said heating means is provided with the some arrangement part in which the said cooking dishes are arrange | positioned, The said memory means is a range of each distance detected when the said cooking dishes are arrange | positioned in each said some arrangement part. And the installation state discriminating means includes position discriminating means for discriminating which of the respective arrangement portions the cooking dishes are arranged on the basis of the detection distance and the stored range of the distance. Microwave. The said position determination means determines that the said cooking dishes are arrange | positioned at the said arrangement | positioning part corresponding to the range of the distance, when the said detection distance is contained in the range of the said distance. Microwave. The microwave oven according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the surface state is any one of a material, a finish state of surface treatment, a shape, and a surface roughness (surface roughness). The microwave oven according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the microwave oven includes a plurality of the cooking dishes, and each of the plurality of cooking dishes has a different surface state. The microwave oven of claim 1, further comprising an infrared sensor having a filter for transmitting infrared rays, wherein the output means uses an optical wave as a wave to emit, and the wavelength of the optical wave is transmitted through the filter. Microwave oven, characterized in that below the possible wavelength. 2. The microwave oven according to claim 1, further comprising: means for storing heating conditions corresponding to the type of food, state detection means for detecting a reception state of the reflected wave based on the reception result, and the reflected wave A kind discriminating means for discriminating the kind of the food based on a reception state of the food; and heating control means for controlling the heating means to heat the food based on the heating condition corresponding to the discriminated kind of the food. Microwave oven comprising a. 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the state detecting means includes a detecting means for continuously detecting a distance from a reception state to a target reflecting the wave in a predetermined time, wherein the type discriminating means includes the distance. And a food discrimination means for discriminating whether the food is a solid food or a fluid food based on the change of the food. The method according to claim 11, wherein the detecting means calculates a change amount of the predetermined time and the distance, and the discriminating means determines that the food is a solid food when the amount of change of the distance falls below a predetermined value. And when the change amount of the distance exceeds the predetermined value, the food is determined to be a liquid food. The method according to claim 11, wherein the detection means calculates a frequency at which the distance changes in a predetermined time, and the discriminating means determines that the food is a solid food when the frequency is below a predetermined value. And when the frequency exceeds the predetermined value, the food is determined to be a liquid food. The microwave oven according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein said state detecting means starts detecting a change state of said reflected wave from when said food is put into said heating chamber. 14. The microwave oven according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the microwave oven further includes opening and closing detection means for detecting the opening and closing of the door portion, wherein the state detection means is configured to reflect the reflected wave from the time when the door portion is closed. And detecting a change state. The microwave oven according to claim 14, wherein said control means prohibits the operation of heating by said heating means when said receipt detection means does not detect receipt of said food.