KR20200044572A - Cook top for reducing standby power using proximity sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooking equipment capable of reducing standby power by minimizing the amount of power supplied to the cooking equipment when the cooking equipment is not in use. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the cooking equipment comprises: a cooking unit in which cooking by a heat source is performed; an operation panel unit provided on the front of the main body and receiving a user operation; a control module for controlling an operation of the cooking unit according to the user operation inputted to the operation panel unit by using power supplied from the power supply unit; and a proximity sensor module provided on the operation panel unit and detecting the user in front thereof by using power supplied from the power supply unit, wherein the proximity sensor module controls the power supply unit to selectively supply power to the control module according to user detection.

Description

COOK TOP FOR REDUCING STANDBY POWER USING PROXIMITY SENSOR to reduce standby power by using proximity sensor

The present invention relates to a cooking appliance capable of reducing standby power by minimizing the amount of power supplied to the cooking appliance when the cooking appliance is not in use.

A cooking appliance is one of household appliances for cooking food, and is variously classified according to a heat source, cooking type, and type of fuel used for cooking. For example, when categorizing a cooking appliance according to a form of cooking food, the cooking appliance is divided into an open type and a closed type according to the space in which the food is placed.

The sealed cooking appliance is a cooking appliance that shields a space where food is located and cooks food by heating the shielded space. Meanwhile, the open-type cooking appliance is a cooking appliance in which food or food containers are heated in an open space to cook food.

In recent years, as a form of integrating a closed type cooking device and an open type cooking device, a complex cooking device capable of cooking various foods by combining a plurality of heat sources has been proposed.

In general, a composite cooking appliance has a form in which an open cooking appliance is disposed on an upper side of a sealed cooking appliance, and a plurality of heat sources are installed on the open cooking appliance to enable multiple cooking at the same time.

Various power modules that require power are provided in the composite cooking apparatus. Basically, the multi-cooker includes a main microcomputer for controlling an open-type cooker and a closed-type cooker, and additionally, a display module for displaying the operating state of the multi-cooker, the output (or temperature) of the heat source, a timer, and the like. A plurality of electronic knob switch modules are provided for controlling the heat sources provided in the open-type cooking appliance or the closed-type cooking appliance by receiving a user operation.

Conventionally, a power button is provided on the composite cooking appliance, and when the user turns on the composite cooking appliance through the power button, power is supplied to the above-described power module, and when the user turns off the composite cooking appliance through the power button, the power is supplied to the power module. Power was supplied to the composite cooking equipment in such a way that the power was cut off.

On the other hand, in recent years, in order to improve the appearance quality, attempts have been made to remove the power button from the composite cooking appliance by continuously supplying power to some of the power modules described above.

However, in this case, even if the user does not use or intends to use the composite cooking apparatus, power must be continuously supplied to the composite cooking apparatus, which is a cause of the increase in standby power of the composite cooking apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cooking appliance that starts supplying power to an internal power module when a user's intention to use the cooking appliance is predicted.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a cooking appliance that cuts off the power supply to the internal power module when there is no user's intention to use it.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the objects mentioned above, and other objects and advantages of the present invention not mentioned can be understood by the following description, and will be more clearly understood by the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, it will be readily appreciated that the objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized by means of the appended claims and combinations thereof.

According to the present invention, when a user is sensed in front of the cooking appliance, the power supply unit controls the supply of power to the control module, so that power supply to the internal power module can be started only when the user's intention to use the cooking appliance is predicted.

In addition, according to the present invention, when a user is not detected in front of the cooking appliance for a predetermined period of time, power is supplied to the internal power module when there is no user's intention to use the cooking appliance by controlling the power supply unit to cut off power supplied to the control module. Can be blocked.

The present invention has an effect of lowering the standby power of the cooking appliance by starting to supply power to the internal power module only when the user's intention to use the cooking appliance is predicted.

In addition, the present invention has an effect that can reduce the power consumption of the cooking appliance by cutting off the power supply to the internal power module when there is no user's intention to use the cooking appliance.

In addition to the above-described effects, the concrete effects of the present invention will be described together while describing the specific matters for carrying out the invention.

1 is a view showing an example of a cooking appliance to which the present invention is applied.
2 is a diagram showing the basic control flow of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the power supply unit shown in FIG. 2 supplies power according to whether the proximity sensor module detects a user.
Figure 4 is a view showing a state in which the proximity sensor module selectively opens and closes the output terminal of the power supply depending on whether the user is detected.
5 and 6 are views showing each example of a power supply circuit for selectively connecting the power supply unit and the control module according to the output of the proximity sensor module.

The above-described objects, features, and advantages will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, and accordingly, a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily implement the technical spirit of the present invention. In describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar components.

In the following, the arrangement of any component in the "upper (or lower)" or "upper (or lower)" of the component means that any component is disposed in contact with the upper surface (or lower surface) of the component. In addition, it may mean that other components may be interposed between the component and any component disposed on (or under) the component.

Also, when a component is described as being "connected", "coupled" or "connected" to another component, the components may be directly connected to or connected to each other, but other components may be "interposed" between each component. It should be understood that "or, each component may be" connected "," coupled "or" connected "through other components.

The present invention relates to a cooking appliance capable of reducing standby power by minimizing the amount of power supplied to the cooking appliance when the cooking appliance is not in use.

Hereinafter, a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

1 is a view showing an example of a cooking appliance to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a view showing a basic control flow of the present invention.

3 is a view showing a state in which the power supply shown in FIG. 2 supplies power according to whether the proximity sensor module is detected by the user, and FIG. 4 selectively selects an output terminal of the power supply according to whether the proximity sensor module detects the user It is a drawing showing a state of opening and closing.

5 and 6 are views showing each example of a power supply circuit for selectively connecting the power supply unit and the control module according to the output of the proximity sensor module.

The cooking appliance 1 to which the present invention is applied is a household appliance used for cooking food, and may be any household appliance for heating food using a heat source.

Here, the heat source may have various forms depending on the type of the cooking appliance 1. For example, when the cooking appliance 1 is a gas range, the heat source may be a flame by gas, and when the cooking appliance 1 is an induction, the heat source may be an induction current by induction heating, and the cooking appliance ( When 1) is a microwave oven, the heat source may be an electric field, and when the cooking appliance 1 is an oven, the heat source may be light wave, steam, high frequency, or the like.

In addition to the above-described examples, the cooking appliance 1 described below may include various household appliances for cooking food, and a heat source may also have various forms according to the type of household appliances.

Referring to FIG. 1, the cooking appliance 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include cooking units 10a and 10b in which cooking by a heat source is performed. The cooking units 10a and 10b may include at least one of a sealed cooking unit 10b in which a space in which food is cooked is shielded, and an open cooking unit 10a in which a space in which food is cooked is opened. In one example, the cooking appliance 1 may be a composite cooking appliance 1 in which an open cooking unit 10a and a closed cooking unit 10b are provided in one body 1a.

The cooking appliance 1 exemplified in FIG. 1 may include an induction which is an open cooking unit 10a on the upper portion of the main body 1a, and an oven or an electronic which is a sealed cooking unit 10b on the front and lower portions of the main body 1a. Range. For example, when the cooking appliance 1 includes an induction and an oven, an induction current by induction heating may be used as a heat source of the induction, and light waves, steam, and high frequencies may be used as the heat source of the oven.

The front panel of the main body 1a of the cooking appliance 1 may be provided with an operation panel unit 20 that receives a user operation for controlling an induction or an oven.

The operation panel unit 20 may be provided with a plurality of means for receiving a user operation. For example, the operation panel unit 20 may be provided with a knob switch 21 for receiving a user's physical manipulation, and a display module 22 for receiving a user's touch. On the other hand, the display module 22 may display information about the state of the cooking appliance 1, the output (or temperature) of the induction or oven, the time set by the timer, and various automatic cooking functions.

The knob switch 21 may be operated by physical pressure, rotational force, etc., and the operation of adjusting the induction and the heating power of the oven according to the operation of the knob switch 21 may be performed according to any method known in the art. As it is, a detailed description is omitted here.

1 to 3, the power supply unit 40 and the control module 30 may be provided inside the main body 1a. The control module 30 may control the driving of the cooking unit according to a user manipulation input to the operation panel unit 20 using the power source Vcc supplied from the power supply unit 40. To this end, the control module 30 and the operation panel unit 20 may be electrically connected to each other.

More specifically, the power supply unit 40 may include any circuit that converts and supplies power supplied from a commercial power source to a power source (Vcc) suitable for the control module 30. When a user operation is input to the above-described operation panel unit 20, the control module 30 may drive the cooking unit according to the user operation using the power Vcc supplied from the power supply unit 40.

To this end, the control module 30 may include a control integrated circuit (IC). More specifically, as described above, when the cooking appliance 1 includes an open cooking unit 10a and a closed cooking unit 10b, the control module 30 is a first control IC that controls driving of the open cooking unit 10a 31 and a second control IC 32 that controls the driving of the hermetic cooking unit 10b.

The first control IC 31 may control the operation of the open cooking unit 10a according to a user manipulation input through the operation panel unit 20, and the second control IC 32 may control the operation panel unit 20. The operation of the hermetic cooking unit 10b may be controlled according to the inputted user manipulation.

More specifically, the first control IC 31 may select the crater of the induction according to the user's manipulation, may adjust the output of the induction, or may control the operation time of the induction through a timer function. In addition, the second control IC 32 may select an automatic cooking function of the oven according to a user operation, may adjust the output of the oven, and may control the operation time of the oven through a timer function.

Universal Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter (UART) modules may be mounted on the first and second control ICs 31 and 32, and each of the control ICs 31 and 32 may receive status information of each other through data communication using the UART module. You can share or communicate your complex operations to each other. For example, the user can input a single user operation to simultaneously drive the induction and the oven through the display module 22.

The input user operation may be provided to any one of the control ICs of the first and second control ICs 31 and 32, and one control IC provided with the user operation may correspond to the other control IC through data communication. Can deliver manipulation. Accordingly, each of the control ICs 31 and 32 can control the induction and the oven, respectively, to perform a plurality of operations according to a single user operation.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2, the power supply unit 40 may supply power Vcc to the operation panel unit 20. For example, the power supply unit 40 may supply power (Vcc) to the plurality of knob switches 21 and the display module 22 provided in the operation panel unit 20, respectively. In this case, the plurality of knob switches 21 provided on the operation panel unit 20 may be electronic knob switches 21 that electronically sense pressure, rotational force, and the like applied to the knob switch 21.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the power supply unit 40 may supply power Vs1 and Vs2 to the operation panel unit 20 through the control module 30. In other words, the control module 30 includes a plurality of knob control ICs 21a for controlling each of the plurality of knob switches 21 using the power supply Vcc supplied from the power supply unit 40, and the display module 22. Power supplies Vs1 and Vs2 may be supplied to the display IC 22a that controls.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the first control IC 31 that controls the open cooking unit 10a supplies power Vcc supplied from the power supply unit 40 to a power supply Vs1 suitable for the display IC 22a. It can be converted to and supplied to the display IC 22a. In addition, the second control IC 32 for controlling the hermetic cooking unit 10b converts the power supply Vcc supplied from the power supply unit 40 into a power supply Vs2 suitable for the knob control IC 21a, thereby controlling each knob control IC. (21a).

The proximity sensor module 50 may be provided on the operation panel unit 20 and detect a user in front using the power source Vcc supplied from the power supply unit 40.

As shown in FIG. 1, the proximity sensor module 50 may be provided at an arbitrary position inside the operation panel unit 20 for the appearance quality of the cooking appliance 1. The proximity sensor module 50 may be various types of sensors that detect the presence of an object using an electromagnetic field without physical contact. For example, the proximity sensor module 50 includes a magnetic proximity sensor, an optical proximity sensor, an ultrasonic proximity sensor, an inductive proximity sensor, and a capacitive proximity sensor. sensor), an eddy current proximity sensor.

The proximity sensor module 50 may include various types of proximity sensors described above and a microcomputer for controlling an output signal (sensing signal Sd) of the proximity sensor.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the proximity sensor module 50 may receive power Vcc from the power supply unit 40 to perform a user detection operation, and the power supply unit 40 may control the module according to whether the user detects it. It can be controlled to selectively supply power (Vcc) to (30).

More specifically, the proximity sensor module 50 may output a detection signal Sd when a user is detected in front of the cooking appliance 1, and the power supply unit 40 may control the control module ( 30) can be controlled to selectively supply power (Vcc).

The proximity sensor module 50 may control the power supply unit 40 to supply power (Vcc) to the control module 30 when the user is detected, and if the user is not detected, the control module 30 from the power supply unit 40 ) Can be controlled to cut off the power supply (Vcc).

In this case, the proximity sensor module 50 can directly control the power supply unit 40. When the user is detected in front of the cooking appliance 1, the proximity sensor module 50 may output a detection signal Sd to the power supply unit 40, and the power supply unit 40 may detect a signal from the proximity sensor module 50 When (Sd) is provided, power (Vcc) may be supplied to the control module 30. On the other hand, if the user sensed in front of the cooking appliance 1 is not detected after a certain point in time, the detection signal Sd provided to the power supply unit 40 may be interrupted, and the power supply unit 40 may include a proximity sensor module ( If the detection signal Sd is not provided from 50, the power supply Vcc supplied to the control module 30 may be cut off.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the proximity sensor module 50 may selectively connect the power supply unit 40 and the control module 30 according to whether the user senses it.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, when the operation panel unit 20 receives power Vs1 and Vs2 through the control module 30 connected to the power supply unit 40, the proximity sensor module 50 Only the power supply unit 40 and the control module 30 may be selectively connected. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 4, when the operation panel unit 20 and the control module 30 are both directly supplied with power (Vcc) from the power supply unit 40, the proximity sensor module 50 is a power supply unit 40 ) And the control module 30 and the power supply unit 40 and the operation panel unit 20 may be selectively connected to each.

In this case, the proximity sensor module 50 may indirectly control the power supply unit 40. In other words, the proximity sensor module 50 connects or blocks the power supply unit 40 and the control module 30 and the power supply unit 40 and the operation panel unit 20 so that the power supply unit 40 controls the control module 30. And it can be controlled to selectively supply a power source (Vcc) to the operation panel 20.

The proximity sensor module 50 may selectively connect the power supply 40 and the control module 30 by controlling an arbitrary power supply circuit 60 connecting the power supply 40 and the control module 30. . More specifically, any power supply circuit 60 may operate according to the detection signal Sd output from the proximity sensor module 50, and when a detection signal Sd is provided from the proximity sensor module 50 Only the power supply 40 and the control module 30 can be selectively connected.

In one example, the power supply circuit 60 may include a power transistor 61. In this case, the power supply unit 40 may supply power Vcc to the control module 30 (and the operation panel unit 20) through the power transistor 61 operating according to the detection signal Sd.

Referring to FIG. 5, the power supply circuit 60 may include a power transistor 61 having a gate terminal connected to an output terminal of the proximity sensor module 50. Accordingly, the power transistor 61 may be turned on according to the detection signal Sd output from the output terminal of the proximity sensor module 50.

The power transistor 61 may be provided between the power supply unit 40 and the control module 30. Accordingly, when the power transistor 61 is turned on, current (power) output from the power supply unit 40 may be supplied to the control module 30 through the power transistor 61.

In another example, the power supply circuit 60 can include a relay 64. In this case, the proximity sensor module 50 controls the relay 64 connecting the power supply unit 40 and the control module 30 according to the user's detection, so that the power supply unit 40 controls the control module 30 (and It can be controlled to selectively supply the power (Vcc) to the operation panel (20).

The relay 64 may be configured such that the contact is closed when the sensing signal Sd is output from the proximity sensor module 50 and the contact is opened when the sensing signal Sd is not output from the proximity sensor module 50. Accordingly, the relay 64 may connect the power supply unit 40 and the control module 30 only when the user is detected by the proximity sensor module 50.

More specifically, the power supply unit 40 may supply power Vcc to the control module 30 through the relay 64 that is turned on and off by the driving transistor 62 operating according to the detection signal Sd.

Referring to FIG. 6, the power supply circuit 60 may include a driving transistor 62 having a gate terminal connected to an output terminal of the proximity sensor module 50. Accordingly, the driving transistor 62 may be turned on according to the detection signal Sd output from the output terminal of the proximity sensor module 50.

The relay driving coil 63 is provided between the reference voltage source V1 and the driving transistor 62, and when the driving transistor 62 is turned on, the current output from the reference voltage source V1 is the relay driving coil 63. Gina may flow through the driving transistor 62.

Meanwhile, the control module 30 may be connected to the power supply unit 40 through the relay 64, and the relay 64 may be opened and closed by the relay driving coil 63. More specifically, when a current flows through the relay driving coil 63, a magnetic force is generated in the relay driving coil 63, and a contact in the relay 64 can be closed by the magnetic force generated in the relay driving coil 63. .

When the relay 64 is closed, since the power supply unit 40 and the control module 30 form a closed circuit, the control module 30 can receive power Vcc from the power supply unit 40.

Even after the power supply Vcc is supplied to the control module 30 (and the operation panel unit 20), the proximity sensor module 50 can continuously detect the user in front of the cooking appliance 1. At this time, the proximity sensor module 50 may control to cut off the power supply (Vcc) supplied to the control module 30 from the power supply unit 40 if the user is not detected for a predetermined time.

The proximity sensor module 50 may count a preset time from a point in time when the user is not detected, and if the user is not continuously detected for a preset time, may output the detection signal Sd.

To this end, the microcomputer in the proximity sensor module 50 may maintain the output of the detection signal Sd for a preset time from the time the user is detected.

As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the exemplified drawings, but the present invention is not limited by the examples and drawings disclosed in the present specification, and can be varied by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. It is obvious that modifications can be made. In addition, although the operation and effect according to the configuration of the present invention has not been explicitly described and described while explaining the embodiment of the present invention, it is natural that the predictable effect by the configuration should also be recognized.

Claims (10)

A cooking unit in which cooking by a heat source is performed;
It is provided on the front of the main body, the operation panel unit for receiving a user operation;
A control module that controls driving of the cooking unit according to the user manipulation input to the operation panel unit using power supplied from a power supply unit; And
Includes a proximity sensor module that is provided on the operation panel unit and detects a user in front using the power supplied from the power supply unit,
The proximity sensor module controls the power supply to selectively supply power to the control module according to whether the user detects it.
Cooking equipment.
According to claim 1,
The cooking unit includes an open type cooking unit and a closed type cooking unit,
The control module is a cooking appliance including a first control IC for controlling the driving of the open cooking unit and a second control IC for controlling the driving of the closed cooking unit.
According to claim 1,
The operation panel unit further includes a plurality of knob switches,
The control module is a cooking appliance that supplies power to a plurality of knob control ICs that respectively control the plurality of knob switches using power supplied from the power supply.
According to claim 1,
The operation panel unit further includes a display module,
The control module is a cooking appliance that supplies power to a display IC that controls the display module using power supplied from the power supply.
According to claim 1,
The proximity sensor module is a cooking appliance that selectively connects the power supply and the control module according to whether the user detects them.
According to claim 1,
The proximity sensor module controls the power supply unit to supply power to the control module when the user is detected, and to control the power supply unit to cut off power supplied to the control module when the user is not detected.
According to claim 1,
The proximity sensor module controls a relay that connects the power supply unit and the control module according to whether the user detects it, thereby controlling the power supply unit to selectively supply power to the control module.
According to claim 1,
The proximity sensor module outputs a detection signal when the user is detected,
The power supply unit is a cooking appliance that supplies power to the control module through a power transistor that operates according to the detection signal.
According to claim 1,
The proximity sensor module outputs a detection signal when the user is detected,
The power supply unit is a cooking appliance that supplies power to the control module through a relay that is turned on and off by a driving transistor operating according to the detection signal.
According to claim 1,
The proximity sensor module is a cooking appliance that controls to cut off the power supplied to the control module from the power supply unit if the user is not detected for a predetermined time.

Images