WO2013171878A1

WO2013171878A1 - Food vessel underlay

Info

Publication number: WO2013171878A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/062641
Authority: WO
Inventors: 平沢　明
Original assignee: パイオニア株式会社
Priority date: 2012-05-17
Filing date: 2012-05-17
Publication date: 2013-11-21

Abstract

An objective of the present invention is to provide a food vessel underlay with which it is possible to send to a host side information contributing to a selection of a mode of a provision of a food without causing discomfort to a guest. By embedding a food vessel-installed scale in a casing body comprising a notification display unit, and detecting the present state of elapsed time from the commencement of provision of a food, etc., by a load signal obtained by a scale, and displaying same, it is possible to notify only a host side of information contributing to the provision of food.

Description

Tableware underlay

The present invention relates to an underlay for tableware having a notification display section.

In dining tables, tableware underlays for dishes or beverages, such as coasters placed under cups, saucers placed under teacups or soup plates, or place mats are often used. Moreover, the coaster with the light emission function in which the light source is embedded and plays the role which produces the dining table is disclosed by patent document 1, for example. Such a technique can provide a certain kind of entertainment in a meal scene, and can be expected to increase the atmosphere of the table.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-199978

In the place of meal, there are a host who provides meals and a guest who receives meals, and the coaster with a light emitting function described above produces a production effect that makes the guests entertain. However, the coaster described above does not transmit any information that contributes to the selection of the host meal provision mode, and the host side directly observes the situation in the tableware provided to the guest, and the guest meal state It was necessary to provide appropriate meals or serve by grasping the situation. In particular, when using opaque and deep dishes, the host side needs to approach the guest in order to check the condition of the dishes, which may cause discomfort to the guest side. It was. It is obvious that the relationship between the host and the guest occurs not only in ordinary households but also in restaurants, nursing homes and the like.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is provided with a tableware underlay that can transmit information contributing to selection of a meal provision mode to the host side without causing discomfort to the guest. Providing is one of the issues.

The tableware underlay according to the present invention includes a housing having a notification display unit that makes a notification in a display form designated according to a drive signal, a mounting unit that is provided in the housing and on which the tableware is to be mounted, A load meter that emits a placement load signal indicating the magnitude of the placement load applied to the placement section, and a drive signal that causes the notification display section to display a notification of the current state according to the magnitude of the load based on the placement load signal And a drive unit that supplies the information to the notification display unit.

The tableware underlay according to the present invention is provided with a sensor for detecting the state in the tableware, and by displaying the notification on the notification display unit based on the signal from the sensor, the host is far away even without approaching the guest. Thus, it is possible to obtain information that contributes to the selection of the meal provision mode such as the progress of the meal of the guest.

It is a perspective view of the tableware underlay of the present invention. It is a top view of the tableware underlay shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1c-1c in FIG. 1b. 1b is a side view of the tableware underlay shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the integrated circuit contained in the illustrated tableware underlay. It is a flowchart of the notification display operation routine of the illustrated tableware underlay. It is a top view of the underlay for tableware which is a modification. It is a side view of the tableware underlay which is a modification.

Hereinafter, the tableware underlay 10 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1a to 1d, 2 and 3. FIG. The casing 11 is a cylindrical body (columnar body having a cylindrical recess) having an opening that is closed at the bottom and opened upward, and is preferably a disk-shaped cylindrical body as a whole. Made of plastic material. On the side surface of the housing 11, for example, a notification display unit 13 made of an organic EL element, an LED element, a liquid crystal screen, or the like and capable of displaying notifications by various displays such as light-emitting display or characters or figures is formed. Yes. The notification display unit 13 is preferably provided in a localized manner so that the notification display can be confirmed only from a predetermined direction so that information is transmitted only to the host side. It is preferably formed within an angle range of 180 ° or less around the center line of the casing 11 of the tableware underlay 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, and 1 d, the notification display unit 13 is formed, for example, in the lower half of the side surface of the housing 11 over an angle range of 45 ° centered on the center line of the housing 11. May be.

An integrated circuit 19 provided with a sensor unit 15 and a drive unit 17 is disposed at the bottom of the housing 11. On the sensor unit 15, a disc-like placement unit 21 on which tableware is to be placed is provided so as to close the opening of the housing 11, and a load sensor (load meter) 15 </ b> A is provided on the placement unit. The load applied to the table 21 is detected and a load signal indicating the load W is generated, and the temperature sensor (thermometer) 15B measures the temperature of the tableware placed on the placement unit 21 to measure the tableware. A temperature signal indicating the temperature TE is generated.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the integrated circuit 19. As shown in FIG. 2, the drive unit 17 receives and calculates the mounting load signal and the temperature signal from the sensor unit 15 including the load sensor 15 </ b> A and the temperature sensor 15 </ b> B described above, and transmits the drive signal to the notification display unit 13. CPU 23, ROM 25 for storing a notification display mode when generating a drive signal or a threshold value related to the notification display, and a RAM 27 for storing a mounted load measurement value, a temperature measurement value, and the like.

The load sensor 15A may be, for example, a piezoelectric load sensor made of a piezoelectric element provided in contact with the back surface of the mounting portion 21. Moreover, the temperature sensor 15B may be a temperature sensor including a thermistor provided at a position in contact with the tableware placed on the placement unit 21 on the upper surface of the placement unit 21, for example. The temperature sensor may be an infrared temperature sensor, and the mounting unit 21 is formed of a material having high thermal conductivity such as metal, so that the mounting unit is not provided at a position in direct contact with the tableware. It is good also as measuring the temperature of tableware by measuring the temperature of 21.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 3, a notification display operation routine that the CPU 23 repeatedly executes quickly at a synchronization interval (for example, 1 second) according to a specific clock will be described. The notification display operation routine drives the notification display unit 13 based on the time since the food or food is provided, the amount of food or food remaining, or the temperature of the food and drink, and provides the host with food. It displays information for reference. In this embodiment, in order to determine the elapsed time, an execution counter α that indicates the number of executions of the routine, a placement counter β that indicates the number of times the routine has been executed when the tableware is placed on the placement unit 21, In addition, a non-mounting counter γ indicating the number of times the routine has been executed when the tableware is not mounted on the mounting unit 21 is used. Further, in this embodiment, the initial load when the meal is provided (reference load) W ₁ and the initial tableware temperature (reference dishes temperature) using TE _1.

First, in step S1, the notification display mode setting stored in the ROM 25 is fetched. The notification display mode includes various display modes such as lighting, blinking, color change, pattern display or character display, and the display mode may be set in advance by the manufacturer, or manually input by a user such as a remote control Setting may be made by operating the means 29.

Next, in step S2, the setting of the threshold value for starting the notification display is fetched. This setting can also be set by various modes and means, similar to the setting of the notification display mode. The threshold value is, for example, a first load threshold value W _th1 when determining whether or not the tableware is placed on the placement unit 21, or an elapsed time threshold value α _th when determining whether to start notification, The second load threshold value W _th2 , the temperature threshold value TE _th , or the like. In the present embodiment, a case where a cold beverage having a weight of 400 g placed in a cup is provided as an example, the first load threshold value W _th1 = 50 g, the elapsed time threshold value α _th = 600 (for example, the notification display operation routine is 1 When it is executed at intervals of seconds, it corresponds to 10 minutes), and the second load threshold value W _th2 = 300 g and the temperature threshold value TE _th = 10 ° C. In addition, it is determined that the food or drink contained in the tableware is provided when W ≧ W _th1, and then α ≧ α _th , W ₁ (initial load) −W (current load) ≧ W _th , | TE ( The description will be made on the assumption that the notification display is performed when the current temperature) −TE ₁ (initial temperature) | ≧ TE _th .

Next, in step S <b> 3, it is determined whether tableware is placed on the placement unit 21. Whether the tableware is placed is determined by whether W (the load currently applied to the placement unit 21) ≧ W _th1 or not. When it is determined that W ≧ W _th1 and the tableware is placed, the process proceeds to step S4, the placement counter β is incremented, and the non-placement counter γ is reset to zero.

When step S4 ends, the process proceeds to step S5, where it is determined whether or not the placement counter β is 1, and it is determined whether or not the routine is executed for the first time when food or food is provided. If β = 1 and it is determined that the routine execution is the first time, the process proceeds to step S6, and the execution counter α is reset to zero.

When step S6 ends, the process proceeds to step S7, and the initial placement load (W ₁ ) of the tableware placed on the placement unit 21 and the food and drink therein, and the initial tableware temperature (TE ₁ ) of the tableware are obtained. It is measured and stored (or overwritten) in the RAM 27 (that is, the initial state of the tableware and the food and drink provided therein is measured and stored (or overwritten)). When step S7 ends, the process proceeds to step S8, the execution counter α is incremented, and the notification display operation routine ends.

If it is determined in step S5 that β = 1 and not the first routine execution, the process proceeds to step S9 to determine whether α ≧ α _th (= 600). For example, from providing food and drink, For example, it is determined whether a sufficient time of about 10 minutes has elapsed. When it is determined that α ≧ α _th and sufficient time has passed since the provision of food and drink, the process proceeds to step S10, and a notification display is made so that the notification according to the mode captured in step S1 is performed. A drive signal is transmitted to the unit 13. When step S10 ends, the process proceeds to step S8, the execution counter α is incremented, and the notification display operation routine ends.

If it is determined in step S9 that α ≧ α _th is not satisfied and sufficient time has not elapsed since the provision of food and drink, the process proceeds to step S11, where W ₁ (initial placement load) −W (current placement) It is determined whether or not the loading load applied to the portion 21) ≧ W _th2 (= 300 g). For example, it is determined whether or not there is little food or drink remaining. If it is determined that W ₁ −W ≧ W _th2 and the remaining amount is small, the process proceeds to step S 10, and a drive signal is sent to the notification display unit 13 in order to make a notification according to the mode captured in step S 1. Sent. When step S10 ends, the process proceeds to step S8, the execution counter α is incremented, and the notification display operation routine ends.

If it is determined in step S11 that W ₁ −W ≧ W _th2 is not satisfied and there is sufficient food and drink, the process proceeds to step S12, where TE (current tableware temperature) −TE ₁ (initial tableware temperature) ≧ TE _th It is determined whether or not (10 ° C.), for example, it is determined whether the temperature of the food or drink is out of the proper temperature. When it is determined that | TE−TE ₁ | ≧ TE _th and the temperature is not appropriate, the process proceeds to step S10, and the notification display unit 13 is caused to perform a notification in accordance with the aspect captured in step S1. Is sent. When step S10 ends, the process proceeds to step S8, the execution counter α is incremented, and the notification display operation routine ends.

If it is determined in step S12 that | TE−TE ₁ | ≧ TE _th is not reached, the process proceeds to step S8, the execution counter α is incremented, and the notification display operation routine ends.

If it is determined in step S3 that W ≧ W _th1 and no tableware is placed, the process proceeds to step S13, and the non-placement counter γ is incremented. After the end of step S13, the process proceeds to step S14, where it is determined whether γ ≧ 30. In the notification display operation routine, tableware is not placed on 30 consecutive times, that is, whether tableware is not placed, for example, for 30 seconds. Is determined. When γ ≧ 30, it is determined that the provided tableware has already been lowered, the process proceeds to step S15, and the placement counter β and the non-placement counter γ are reset to 0. When step S15 ends, the process proceeds to S8, the execution counter α is incremented, and the notification display operation routine ends.

If γ ≧ 30 is not satisfied in step S14, it is determined that the tableware has not yet been lowered, the process proceeds to S8, the execution counter α is incremented, and the notification display operation routine ends. In this embodiment, the placement counter and the non-placement counter γ are reset when γ ≧ 30. However, when a threshold value of γ _th that can be changed is introduced and γ ≧ γ _th is satisfied, the reset is performed. It may be done. In this case, γ _th may be taken in together with other threshold values in the threshold value fetching in step S2.

In the above notification display operation routine, the notification display is performed based on all three conditions of the time since the food was provided, the amount of the remaining food and the temperature of the food, but not all There is no need to display a notice based on the above conditions. The notification display only needs to be based on at least one of the above three conditions. For example, only the time since the food was provided, or the two conditions of the amount of food remaining and the temperature of the food Announcement display may be performed based on.

The apparatus of the above-described embodiment is provided with a sensor for detecting the state in the tableware and a notification display unit. By displaying notification on the notification display unit based on a signal from the sensor, for example, the host Even without approaching the guest, it is possible to obtain information that contributes to selection of a meal provision mode such as the progress of the meal of the guest from a distance. Furthermore, the device of the above-described embodiment is provided with a sensor for detecting the state in the tableware and a notification display unit localized on the side of the device, and a notification display is made on the notification display unit based on a signal from the sensor. Thus, for example, even if the host does not approach the guest, it is possible to obtain information that contributes to selection of a meal provision mode such as a guest's meal progress from a distance and without being understood by the guest Become.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where a cup containing a cold drink is placed has been described as an example, but warm food and drink, for example, soup in a dish may be placed. In this case, the first load threshold value W _th1 , the elapsed time threshold value α _th , the second load threshold value W _th2 , and the temperature threshold value TE _th can be arbitrarily changed.

In the above embodiment, a cylindrical casing is used. However, the casing is not limited to a cylindrical body, and may be a cylindrical body having a polygonal bottom shape such as a triangle, a rectangle, or a pentagon. Good. In addition, in the said Example, although it has shown so that the bottom part shape of a housing | casing, an opening part, and a mounting part may be similar, it is not necessarily so, for example, the underlay for tableware is rectangular as a whole. It is a rectangular parallelepiped shape which has a bottom part, and it is good also as having a housing | casing which has a circular opening part (columnar recessed part), and a disk-shaped mounting part.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where there is one placement unit for one tableware underlay has been described as an example, but there may be a plurality of placement units. For example, like the tableware underlay 30 shown in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b, the plate-like housing 11 having a plurality of openings as a whole, the plurality of placement portions 21, and the plurality of placement portions 21, respectively. A plurality of corresponding notification display units 13 (and an integrated circuit 19 having a sensor and a drive unit) may be provided. By doing so, it is possible to display information that contributes to the selection of the manner of providing a plurality of dishes or beverages with one underlay.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the notification display unit 13 is provided on a part of the side surface of the housing. However, the notification display mode of the notification display unit is visually recognized by a guest such as a change in hue or a change in luminance. However, if it is an aspect which does not care, the notification display part 13 may be provided so that visual recognition is possible from various angles. For example, the notification display unit 13 may be provided on the entire housing side surface and / or the upper surface, or may extend to the placement unit 21.

The various numerical values, dimensions, materials, routines, and the like in the above-described embodiments are merely examples, and can be appropriately selected according to the application.

10, 30 Tableware underlay 11 Housing 13 Notification display unit

15A Load sensor

15B Temperature sensor 17 Drive unit 19 Integrated circuit 21 Placement unit 23 CPU
25 ROM
27 RAM
29 Manual input means

Claims

A housing having a notification display unit that makes a notification in a display mode designated according to the drive signal;
A placement section on which the tableware is to be placed;
A load cell that emits a placement load signal indicating the magnitude of the placement load applied to the placement portion;
Based on the placement load signal described above, a drive unit that supplies a drive signal to the notification display unit that causes the notification display unit to display a notification of the current state according to the magnitude of the load;
Tableware underlay characterized by including.
The drive unit makes a placement determination that the tableware is placed when the placement load reaches the first threshold, and notifies the notification display unit according to the elapsed time from the placement determination. 2. The tableware underlay according to claim 1, wherein a drive signal for displaying is supplied to the notification display unit.
A thermometer that emits a tableware temperature signal indicating the temperature of the tableware, and the driving unit drives the notification display unit according to the current temperature of the tableware based on the tableware temperature signal; The tableware underlay according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that is supplied to the notification display section.
The drive unit stores the previous placement load at the time of the placement determination as an initial placement load and stores the temperature of the tableware as an initial tableware temperature, and the notification display unit displays the initial placement load and the The drive signal for displaying according to the comparison result between the initial tableware temperature and the placement load measured after the above-described determination time and the temperature of the tableware is supplied to the notification display unit. Tableware underlay as described.
The tableware underlay according to claim 2, wherein the driving unit resets the elapsed time when the placement load is less than the first threshold value for a predetermined time.