JP6933334B2 - Sensor device and gas stove - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sensor device and a gas stove.

Conventionally, there is known a gas stove that can reduce the firepower of the burner when the user's hand or arm approaches the burner. For example, the gas stove described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a light-shielding photosensor floodlight and a light receiver at the front left end and the front right end of the top plate, respectively. The detected light projected from the floodlight crosses the upper surface of the top plate to the left and right and reaches the receiver. When the optical sensor detects that clothes have entered the flammable area by blocking the light from the user's sleeves, the gas stove closes the safety valve to stop the gas and extinguish the burner.

Japanese Patent No. 2886940

However, since the optical sensor described in Patent Document 1 detects a foreign substance only when the detected light is blocked by the foreign substance, the range in which the foreign substance can be detected is limited to the line connecting the floodlight and the receiver. Therefore, in order to prevent foreign matter detection omission from occurring around the burner, it is necessary to arrange a plurality of sensors at close intervals between the sensors. Further, in order to secure a wide detection range of the sensor as a whole, it is necessary to arrange more sensors.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sensor device and a gas stove capable of expanding the detection range of foreign matter while suppressing an increase in the number of sensors arranged outside the burner.

The sensor device according to claim 1 of the present invention is a sensor device provided on a gas stove having a burner, has a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, and receives a detection wave transmitted from the transmitting unit at the receiving unit. It is equipped with two or more sensors that detect the presence or absence of foreign matter by receiving, and the sensors are arranged in front of Gotoku, which is arranged on the top plate of the gas stove to support the cooking utensil on the burner. The sensors are arranged side by side, and include a first sensor arranged at one end of the arrangement and a second sensor arranged at the other end, and the direction in which the sensors are arranged is such that the transmission from the receiving unit. When the orientation facing the portion is defined as the arrangement orientation, the arrangement orientation of the first sensor has a directional component in the direction from the other end of the arrangement to the one end, and the arrangement orientation of the second sensor is. It is characterized by having a directional component in a direction from one end of the arrangement to the other end.

The sensor device of the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to claim 1, the arrangement direction of the sensors is along the direction in which the sensors are arranged.

In addition to the configuration of the invention according to claim 1, the sensor device of the invention according to claim 3 has the sensor in which the transmission direction of the detection wave from the transmission unit faces upward and the transmission direction is the same. It is characterized in that it is arranged in a state of being tilted toward the arrangement direction side with respect to the vertical direction.

In the sensor device of the invention according to the fourth aspect, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to the third aspect, the sensor is a third sensor arranged between the first sensor and the second sensor in the same arrangement. The angle at which the transmission direction of the first sensor or the second sensor is tilted with respect to the vertical direction is larger than the angle at which the transmission direction of the third sensor is tilted with respect to the vertical direction. And.

In addition to the configuration of the invention according to claim 1, the sensor device of the invention according to claim 5 has the sensor in which the transmission direction of the detection wave from the transmission unit faces upward and the transmission direction is the same. It is characterized in that it is arranged in a state of being tilted to a side away from the burner with respect to the vertical direction.

In addition to the configuration of the invention according to claim 3, the sensor device according to claim 6 is arranged in a state in which the transmission direction is tilted toward a side away from the burner with respect to the vertical direction. It is characterized by being done.

The gas stove of the invention according to claim 7 includes the sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a valve provided in the gas passage of the burner and changing the flow rate of gas flowing through the gas passage, and the valve. It is characterized by comprising a valve operating means that operates and a control means that controls the driving of the valve operating means to reduce the gas flow rate when a foreign matter is detected by the sensor.

According to the sensor device of the invention according to claim 1, the sensor including one transmitting unit and one receiving unit has a characteristic that the detection range of foreign matter on the transmitting unit side is wider than that on the receiving unit side. Therefore, the first sensor has a directional component in which the arrangement direction of the first sensor points from one end to the other end of the sensor arrangement, and the arrangement direction of the second sensor has a directional component in which the arrangement direction of the second sensor points from one end to the other end of the sensor arrangement. By arranging the second sensor and the second sensor, the sensor device can widen the detection range of foreign matter as a whole of the sensor, and can improve the reliability of foreign matter detection.

According to the sensor device of the invention according to claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1, the sensor has a wide detection range in the direction of arrangement and a detection range in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction. It has narrow characteristics. Therefore, by arranging each of the sensors so as to be along the direction in which the sensors are lined up, the sensor device can widen the detection range of foreign matter as a whole of the sensor, and can further improve the reliability of foreign matter detection. ..

In the sensor device of the invention according to claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1 or 2, when the sensor is arranged so as to detect foreign matter above the sensor, the sensor is arranged at an angle. , The detection range of the sensor can be expanded in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the sensor device can further improve the reliability of foreign matter detection.

In the sensor device of the invention according to claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 3, the transmission directions of the first sensor and the second sensor arranged at both ends of the array are arranged between the two sensors. By tilting the sensor more than the transmission direction, the detection range of the sensor as a whole can be expanded in the horizontal direction and detection omission can be suppressed. Therefore, the sensor device can further improve the reliability of foreign matter detection.

In addition to the effects of the invention according to claim 1, the sensor device of the invention according to claim 5 can detect the foreign matter at an earlier timing when the foreign matter approaches the burner. Therefore, the sensor device can improve the reliability of foreign matter detection.

In addition to the effects of the invention according to claim 3, the sensor device of the invention according to claim 6 can detect the foreign matter at an earlier timing when the foreign matter approaches the burner. Therefore, the sensor device can improve the reliability of foreign matter detection.

The gas stove of the invention according to claim 7 has the effect of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and the gas stove has a sensor device that secures a wide detection range for the entire sensor, so that foreign matter approaches the burner. In some cases, the approach of foreign matter can be detected more reliably. Therefore, the gas stove can prevent clothing ignition and the like by weakening the thermal power of the burner when a foreign substance is detected.

The present invention may arbitrarily combine the matters specifying the invention according to claims 1 to 7.

It is a perspective view of the stove 1. It is an exploded perspective view of the stove 1. It is a top view of the stove 1. It is sectional drawing of an optical sensor 40. It is a figure which shows the structure of the thermal power control mechanism 60 provided in the gas supply pipe 27. This is a block showing the electrical configuration of the stove 1. It is a figure for demonstrating the detection range P of an optical sensor 40. It is a figure which shows the detection range as a whole of the optical sensors 4A to 4K in the stove 1. It is a flowchart of a gas flow rate control process. It is a figure which shows the detection range as a whole of optical sensors 104A to 104K in a stove 101. It is a cross-sectional view of a part of the stove 201 seen from the right side. It is a perspective view of the stove 301. It is a perspective view of the stove 401 and the sensor device 404.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. Unless otherwise specified, the structure of the device described below is not intended to be limited thereto, but is merely an example of explanation. The drawings are used to illustrate the technical features that can be adopted by the present invention. In the following description, the left and right, front and back, and top and bottom indicated by arrows in the figure are used.

The structure of the stove 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The stove 1 is, for example, a built-in type stove that is installed by being dropped from above into an opening provided on the upper surface of a kitchen cabinet (not shown). The stove 1 includes a housing 2 and a top plate 3. The housing 2 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the upper portion is open. The top plate 3 has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view and is fixed to the opening 2A at the upper part of the housing 2. The top plate 3 is larger in the left-right direction than the housing 2 in a plan view. The top plate 3 includes a glass plate 11, a rear plate 12, and a frame body 13. The glass plate 11 is provided on the front side of the top plate 3, and the rear plate 12 is provided on the rear side of the top plate 3. The frame body 13 supports the glass plate 11 and the rear plate 12 from below, and holds the outer peripheral edge portion. The glass plate 11 and the rear plate 12 are integrated by the frame body 13 to form one plate. A black pattern is printed on the lower surface of the glass plate 11, and a rectangular transparent window portion is formed at a position corresponding to the optical sensors 4A to 4K described later.

The high heat burner 5 is provided on the right side of the upper surface of the glass plate 11, and can burn gas with high calorie high heat when adjusted to the maximum heat. The standard burner 6 is provided on the left side of the upper surface of the glass plate 11, and can burn gas with a lower calorie than the high heat burner 5 when adjusted to the maximum heat power. A substantially cylindrical temperature detection unit 5A is provided in the center of the upper surface of the high-heat power burner 5 so as to be able to move in and out in the vertical direction, and is constantly urged upward by a spring (not shown). A substantially cylindrical temperature detection unit 6A is provided in the center of the upper surface of the standard burner 6 so as to be able to move in and out in the vertical direction, and is always urged upward by a spring (not shown). Thermistors 5B and 6B (see FIG. 6) are stored inside the temperature detection units 5A and 6A, respectively. The thermistors 5B and 6B detect the pot bottom temperature via the upper wall portions of the temperature detecting portions 5A and 6A that come into contact with the pot bottom.

A large number of flame holes are provided on the side surface of the high-heat burner 5, and an ignition electrode (not shown) of the igniter 35 and a thermocouple 5C (see FIG. 6) are installed in the vicinity of the flame holes so as to face the flame holes. .. When the igniter 35 is driven, a spark discharge is generated at the ignition electrode and ignites the gas ejected from the flame hole. The thermocouple 5C is heated by a flame formed in the flame hole to generate a thermoelectromotive force. Therefore, the stove 1 can detect a misfire in the high-heat burner 5 based on the thermoelectromotive force generated in the thermocouple 5C. A large number of flame holes are also provided on the side surface of the standard burner 6, and the ignition electrode (not shown) and the thermocouple 6C (see FIG. 6) of the igniter 36 are flames in the vicinity of the flame holes, as in the case of the high-heat burner 5. It is installed so that it faces the hole. When the igniter 36 is also driven, a spark discharge is generated at the ignition electrode and ignites the gas ejected from the flame hole. The thermocouple 6C is heated by a flame formed in the flame hole to generate a thermoelectromotive force. Therefore, the stove 1 can detect a misfire in the standard burner 6 based on the thermoelectromotive force generated in the thermocouple 6C.

A grill exhaust port 10 is provided at the center of the rear plate 12 of the top plate 3. A cover 10A having a plurality of holes is installed in the grill exhaust port 10. A grill storage (not shown) is provided in the housing 2. The grill exhaust port 10 communicates with the grill storage. A grill burner (not shown) is provided in the grill chamber, and an igniter ignition electrode and a thermocouple (not shown) similar to the above are installed in the vicinity of the flame hole. A saucer stand (not shown) is stored in the grill. A saucer, a gridiron, a gridiron, etc. (not shown) are placed on the saucer. The saucer stand is connected to the lower part of the back surface of the grill door 14. The grill door 14 is provided in the center of the front surface of the housing 2, and opens and closes an opening provided in the front surface of the grill storage. A handle 14A is provided at the lower part of the front surface of the grill door 14. By grasping the handle 14A and pulling out the grill door 14 forward, the user can simultaneously pull out the saucer, the gridiron, the gridiron, etc. to the outside of the grill.

In the center of the front surface of the housing 2, in the area on the right side of the grill door 14, ignition buttons 15, 16, thermal power adjusting levers 18, 19, an operation panel 25, and the like are provided. The ignition button 15 is provided adjacent to the right side of the grill door 14, and when pressed, the high heat burner 5 is ignited and extinguished. The ignition button 16 is provided on the right side of the ignition button 15, and when pressed, an operation of igniting and extinguishing a grill burner (not shown) provided in the grill chamber is performed. The grill burner is composed of an upper-fire grill burner and a lower-fire grill burner (not shown) provided on the upper and lower sides of the left and right side walls in the grill chamber, respectively.

The thermal power adjusting lever 18 is provided above the ignition button 15 and adjusts the thermal power of the high thermal power burner 5 by a rotation operation in a substantially horizontal direction. The thermal power adjusting lever 19 is provided above the ignition button 16, and is provided with an upper-fire adjusting knob 19A and a lower-fire adjusting knob 19B at the top and bottom. The top-fire adjustment knob 19A adjusts the heating power of the top-fire grill burner by rotating the top-fire adjustment knob 19A in a substantially horizontal direction. The lower heat adjustment knob 19B adjusts the heating power of the lower heat grill burner by rotating the lower heat in a substantially horizontal direction. The operation panel 25 is provided so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction below the ignition buttons 15 and 16. The operation panel 25 includes a plurality of buttons that receive inputs for various operations, LEDs that perform notifications according to various operations, and the like.

On the other hand, in the center of the front surface of the housing 2, an ignition button 17, a thermal power adjusting lever 20, and the like are provided in the area on the left side of the grill door 14. The ignition button 17 is provided adjacent to the left side of the grill door 14, and when pressed, the standard burner 6 is ignited and extinguished. The thermal power adjusting lever 20 is provided above the ignition button 17, and adjusts the thermal power of the standard burner 6 by a rotation operation in a substantially horizontal direction.

The stove 1 includes a sensor device 4. The sensor device 4 includes a plurality of (11 in this embodiment) optical sensors 4A to 4K. The optical sensors 4A to 4K have the same configuration. In the following description, when the optical sensors 4A to 4K are generally described, they are referred to as an optical sensor 40. The optical sensor 40 is a known reflection type ranging sensor. The optical sensors 4A to 4K are provided inside the housing 2 and are arranged outside the high-heat burner 5 and the standard burner 6. The optical sensors 4A to 4K are located in the opening 2A of the housing 2 in a plan view. When the top plate 3 is fixed to the housing 2, the optical sensors 4A to 4K are located directly below the top plate 3. The optical sensors 4A to 4K output a detection wave from the window portion of the glass plate 11 toward the upper side of the top plate 3 to detect foreign matter approaching the high heat burner 5 and the standard burner 6. The "outside" of the high-heat burner 5 and the standard burner 6 in the present invention means that the high-heat burner 5 and the standard burner 6 intersect in the vertical direction such as front, rear, left, right, and surroundings. A part located outside the high heat burner 5 and the standard burner 6.

Of the optical sensors 4A to 4K, the optical sensors 4A to 4I are arranged side by side from the right end to the left end of the stove 1 in front of the high heat burner 5 and the standard burner 6. The area where the optical sensors 4A to 4I are arranged is defined as the detection area C. The optical sensors 4A to 4I are arranged along the left-right direction in the detection region C to form an array. The optical sensors 4A to 4I are arranged in the left-right direction at substantially the same interval when viewed from the front. When viewed in a plan view, the optical sensors 4B, 4E, and 4H are arranged at the same position in the front-rear direction and in the left-right direction. The optical sensors 4A, 4C, 4G, and 4I are arranged in the left-right direction at a position slightly behind the optical sensors 4B, 4E, and 4H in the front-rear direction. The optical sensors 4D and 4E are arranged in the left-right direction at a position slightly behind the optical sensors 4A, 4C, 4G and 4I in the front-rear direction. The range in which the positions of the optical sensors 4A to 4I are displaced in the front-rear direction is smaller than the range in which the optical sensors 4A to 4I are displaced in the left-right direction. Therefore, the detection area C in which the optical sensors 4A to 4I are arranged extends long in the left-right direction. That is, the optical sensors 4A to 4I form an arrangement in which the optical sensors 4A to 4I are separately arranged in the left-right direction while allowing some positional deviation in the front-rear direction.

Of the optical sensors 4A to 4I, the optical sensors 4A to 4D are used to control the gas flow rate supplied to the high-heat burner 5. The optical sensors 4A to 4D are located at positions diagonally forward to the left and diagonally to the left of the high-heat burner 5 in a plan view, and are substantially along the virtual line D1 forming a gentle arc along the circumferential direction of the high-heat burner 5. Line up at intervals. The optical sensors 4A to 4D are arranged outside the outer circumference of the frying pan in a plan view when, for example, a frying pan having a diameter of 28 cm is placed on the trivet 7 of the high-heat burner 5.

The optical sensors 4F to 4I are used to control the flow rate of gas supplied to the standard burner 6. The optical sensors 4F to 4I are located at positions diagonally forward to the left and diagonally to the left of the standard burner 6 in a plan view, and are approximately evenly spaced along a gentle arc-shaped virtual line D2 along the circumferential direction of the standard burner 6. line up. The optical sensors 4F to 4I are arranged outside the outer circumference of the frying pan in a plan view when, for example, a frying pan having a diameter of 28 cm is placed on the trivet 8 of the standard burner 6.

The optical sensor 4E is used to control the gas flow rate supplied to the high-heat burner 5 and the standard burner 6. The optical sensor 4E is arranged between the optical sensor 4D and the optical sensor 4F at substantially the center in the left-right direction.

As described above, the optical sensors 4A to 4I are partially arranged along the virtual lines D1 and D2, respectively, but as a whole, they are arranged along the left-right direction in the detection region C as described above. In addition, "along" in the present embodiment is not necessarily limited to the state in which the optical sensors 4A to 4I are arranged on one virtual line drawn in a predetermined direction, and the line is defined while allowing misalignment. The state of being placed in the standard. Further, the virtual line is not necessarily limited to an arc-shaped line, and may be a straight line or a wavy line. The orientation of the individual optical sensors 4A to 4H will be described later.

The optical sensor 4J is used to control the flow rate of gas supplied to the high-heat burner 5. The optical sensor 4J is arranged obliquely to the left of the high-heat burner 5 and substantially behind the optical sensor 4D. The arrangement position of the optical sensor 4J is a position closer to the high-heat burner 5 than the optical sensors 4A to 4D in a plan view. In other words, the optical sensors 4A to 4D are located in front of the optical sensor 4J in the front-rear direction with respect to the high-heat burner 5, and are located outside the optical sensor 4J in the radial direction of the high-heat burner 5.

The optical sensor 4K is used to control the flow rate of gas supplied to the standard burner 6. The optical sensor 4K is arranged diagonally to the right of the standard burner 6 and substantially behind the optical sensor 4F. The arrangement position of the optical sensor 4K is a position closer to the standard burner 6 than the optical sensors 4F to 4I in a plan view. In other words, the optical sensors 4F to 4I are located in front of the optical sensor 4K in the front-rear direction with respect to the standard burner 6 and outside the optical sensor 4K in the radial direction of the standard burner 6.

The optical sensor 4J and the optical sensor 4K are provided at substantially the same position in the front-rear direction. The optical sensors 4J and 4K use the high-heat burner 5 to reliably detect the approach of the foreign matter when the foreign matter approaches the high-heat burner 5 and the standard burner 6 more than the detection area C where the optical sensors 4A to 4I are lined up. It is provided between the standard burner 6 and the detection area C where the optical sensors 4A to 4I are lined up.

The optical sensor 40 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the optical sensor 40 receives the reflected wave reflected by the foreign matter from the detection wave transmitted from the transmitting unit at the receiving unit, and applies a triangular ranging method to measure the distance to the foreign matter. It is a sensor. The optical sensor 40 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 49 made of a light-shielding resin. A light emitting element 41, a light projecting lens 43, a light receiving element 44, a condensing lens 46, and a control IC 47 are provided in the housing 49. The light emitting element 41, the light receiving element 44, and the control IC 47 are mounted on the lead frame 48. The lead frame 48 is formed in the shape of an elongated plate and is provided at the bottom of the housing 49. The housing 49 is formed long in the direction in which the lead frame 48 extends. Hereinafter, the direction in which the lead frame 48 extends is referred to as a stretching direction.

The light emitting element 41 is an infrared light emitting LED that emits infrared light as a detection wave. A laser diode or the like may be used for the light emitting element 41. The light emitting element 41 is provided on the mounting surface 48A at one end of the lead frame 48. The emission direction in which infrared light is emitted from the light emitting element 41 is a direction orthogonal to the mounting surface 48A and away from the mounting surface 48A. The light receiving element 44 is an optical position sensor (PSD) that outputs light according to the light receiving position of the reflected light received as a reflected wave. A CMOS image sensor or the like may be used for the light receiving element 44. The light receiving element 44 is provided on the mounting surface 48A at the other end of the lead frame 48. In the housing 49, the light emitting element 41 is located at the bottom of the housing 49 and one end in the stretching direction, and the light receiving element 44 is located at the bottom of the housing 49 and the other end in the stretching direction. The control IC 47 is provided between the light emitting element 41 and the light receiving element 44 on the mounting surface 48A of the lead frame 48. The periphery of the light emitting element 41 is sealed with a translucent resin 42. The periphery of the light receiving element 44 and the control IC 47 is sealed with a translucent resin 45.

The projection lens 43 is provided in the housing 49 in front of the light emitting element 41 in the emission direction and at the top of the housing 49. The projection lens 43 converges the infrared light incident from the light emitting element 41 in a beam shape and emits it in the emission direction. The condenser lens 46 is provided in the housing 49 in front of the light receiving element 44 in the emission direction and in the middle portion between the top and bottom of the housing 49. The condenser lens 46 collects the reflected light reflected by a foreign substance on the light receiving surface of the light receiving element 44.

The control IC 47 incorporates a constant voltage circuit, an oscillation circuit, a drive circuit, a signal processing circuit, and an output circuit (not shown). The constant voltage circuit steps down the input voltage to generate a constant output voltage and supplies it to the signal processing circuit. The oscillating circuit oscillates at a predetermined frequency. The drive circuit intermittently drives the light emitting element 41 in accordance with the oscillation of the oscillation circuit at the time of one distance measurement, and emits infrared light a plurality of times. When the light receiving element 44 receives the reflected light reflected by the foreign matter, the output of the light receiving element 44 changes significantly in synchronization with the emission timing of the infrared light. The signal processing circuit acquires the current output obtained by sensing the light by the light receiving element 44, extracts the current value change synchronized with the emission timing of the infrared light, performs arithmetic processing to obtain the average value, and obtains the arithmetic result. Output to the output circuit. The output circuit generates a voltage of a magnitude corresponding to the calculation result and outputs it as a detection signal according to the distance to the foreign matter. When the light receiving element 44 is a CMOS image sensor, the control IC 47 may be included in the CMOS image sensor.

The optical sensor 40 having the above configuration measures the distance to a foreign object as follows, and outputs a detection signal indicating a voltage value (hereinafter, referred to as “measured voltage value”) according to the distance. When the optical sensor 40 detects a foreign matter B1 separated by a distance L1 in front of the light emitting element 41 in the emission direction, the angle of the reflected light emitted from the light emitting element 41 toward the light receiving element 44 among the reflected light reflected by the foreign matter B1. The reflected light reflected by is indicated by the reflected light R1 in the figure. The region where the reflected light R1 is refracted by the condensing lens 46 and is condensed on the light receiving surface of the light receiving element 44 is referred to as a condensing region F1. In FIG. 4, the refraction of light by the light projecting lens 43 and the condensing lens 46 is not shown for convenience of explanation. When the foreign matter B2 is located at a distance L2 closer than the distance L1, among the reflected light emitted by the light emitting element 41 and reflected by the foreign matter B2, the reflected light reflected at an angle toward the light receiving element 44 is shown in the figure. , Reflected light R2. The condensing region F2 in which the reflected light R2 is refracted by the condensing lens 46 and condensed on the light receiving surface of the light receiving element 44 collects infrared light with respect to the emission position F0 emitted from the light emitting element 41 in the stretching direction. It is located farther than the optical region F1. The light receiving element 44 has a resistance value different depending on the light collecting region on the light receiving surface, and outputs a current having a magnitude corresponding to the resistance value at the time of distance measurement. Therefore, the stove 1 can obtain the measured voltage value indicated by the detection signal output by the optical sensor 40 and perform the calculation based on the triangular ranging method to obtain the distance between the optical sensor 40 and the foreign matter.

The thermal power control mechanism 60 will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, the thermal power control mechanism 60 of the high thermal power burner 5 will be described. The gas supply pipe of the standard burner 6 is provided with a thermal power control mechanism having the same configuration as that of the high thermal power burner 5 except that the bypass pipe 28 and the solenoid valve 62 are not provided. Illustration and description of the thermal power control mechanism will be omitted.

A thermal power control mechanism 60 is provided in the gas supply pipe 27 of the high thermal power burner 5 in order to improve the cooking performance and safety of the stove 1. The upstream end of the gas supply pipe 27 is connected to the gas inlet (not shown) of the stove 1, and the downstream end is connected to the gas inlet (not shown) of the thermal power adjusting mechanism 30. The thermal power adjusting mechanism 30 operates in conjunction with the operation of the ignition button 16 and the thermal power adjusting lever 18, and adjusts the ignition, fire extinguishing, and thermal power of the high thermal power burner 5.

The thermal power control mechanism 60 includes a plurality of flow paths and a plurality of solenoid valves. The gas supply pipe 27 includes two bypass pipes 28 and 29. The bypass pipe 28 is connected between the branch portion 65 provided in the gas supply pipe 27 and the merging portion 66. The bypass pipe 29 is connected between the branch portion 67 provided in the bypass pipe 28 and the merging portion 68.

A safety valve 64 is provided on the upstream side of the branch portion 65 of the gas supply pipe 27. In the figure, the safety valve is represented by "SV". A solenoid valve 61 is provided between the branch portion 65 and the merging portion 66 of the gas supply pipe 27. In the figure, the solenoid valve is represented by "KSV". A solenoid valve 62 is provided between the branch portion 67 and the merging portion 68 of the bypass pipe 28. A solenoid valve 63 is provided between the merging portion 66 and the thermal power adjusting mechanism 30. The solenoid valves 61 and 62 are keep solenoid valves for adjusting the gas flow rate. The solenoid valve 63 is a keep solenoid valve for shutting off gas. Therefore, the responsiveness of adjusting the gas flow rate by the solenoid valves 61 to 63 is improved.

The stove 1 opens and closes the solenoid valves 61 and 62, respectively, and adjusts the gas flow rate flowing through the thermal power adjusting mechanism 30 in three stages of a first flow rate, a second flow rate, and a third flow rate. When the solenoid valves 61 and 62 are both open, the first flow rate of gas flows through the thermal power adjusting mechanism 30. When any one of the solenoid valves 61 and 62 (solenoid valve 62 in this embodiment) is closed, a second flow rate of gas flows through the thermal power adjusting mechanism 30. When the solenoid valves 61 and 62 are closed together, a third flow rate of gas flows through the thermal power adjusting mechanism 30. As a result, when the gas flow rate flowing through the thermal power adjusting mechanism 30 is adjusted to the maximum by the thermal power adjusting lever 18 (see FIG. 1), the thermal power is adjusted to three stages of low thermal power, medium thermal power, and high thermal power. The first flow rate corresponds to high heat power, the second flow rate corresponds to medium heat power, and the third flow rate corresponds to low heat power.

The solenoid valves 61 and 62 are operated by the CPU 71 (see FIG. 6) of the control circuit 70, such as the detection result of the pot bottom temperature by the thermistor 5B, the detection result of foreign matter by the optical sensors 4A to 4E, 4J, the time after ignition, etc. It is controlled according to each. Similarly, the operation of the solenoid valve 63 is also controlled by the CPU 71. The safety valve 64 is opened in conjunction with the pressing of the ignition button 15.

The electrical configuration of the stove 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The stove 1 includes a control circuit 70. The control circuit 70 includes a CPU 71, a ROM 72, a RAM 73, a non-volatile memory 74, a timer (not shown), an I / O interface, and the like. The timer is operated by a program. The CPU 71 controls various operations of the stove 1 in an integrated manner. The ROM 72 stores various programs of the stove 1 including a gas flow rate control process (see FIG. 9). The RAM 73 temporarily stores various types of information. The non-volatile memory 74 stores various parameters and the like.

The control circuit 70 includes a power supply circuit 81, a switch input circuit 82, a thermistor input circuit 83, a thermocouple input circuit 84, an igniter circuit 85, a sensor input circuit 87, a buzzer circuit 88, a safety valve circuit 90, a solenoid valve circuit 91, and an operation panel. 25 etc. are connected respectively. The power supply circuit 81 steps down the alternating current (for example, 100V) supplied from the power supply 23 to a direct current (for example, 5V), rectifies it, and supplies electric power to various circuits. In the figure, the power supply is represented by "AC". The switch input circuit 82 detects the pressing of the ignition buttons 15 to 17 and inputs them to the power supply circuit 81 and the control circuit 70. In the figure, the ignition button is represented by "SW". The thermistor input circuit 83 inputs the detected values from the thermistors 5B and 6B to the control circuit 70. In the figure, the thermistor is represented by "TH". The thermocouple input circuit 84 inputs the detected values (signals corresponding to the thermoelectromotive force) from the thermocouples 5C and 6C to the control circuit 70. In the figure, the thermocouple is represented by "TC". The igniter circuit 85 drives the igniter 35 of the high-heat burner 5 and the igniter 36 of the standard burner 6 based on the control signal of the CPU 71, respectively. In the figure, the igniter is represented by "IG". Further, in FIG. 6, the thermistor, thermocouple, and igniter provided in the grill burner are omitted.

Each detection signal of the optical sensors 4A to 4K is input to the sensor input circuit 87. The buzzer circuit 88 drives the piezoelectric buzzer 77 based on the control signal of the CPU 71. The safety valve circuit 90 opens and closes the safety valve 64 under the control of the CPU 71. The solenoid valve circuit 91 opens and closes the solenoid valves 61 to 63 under the control of the CPU 71. The operation panel 25 is used for setting a timer by the user, inputting a selection of thermal power control according to the cooking content, and turning on / off the LED according to the control content of the CPU 71.

The ignition buttons 15 to 17 are connected in parallel to the switch input circuit 82 and the power supply circuit 81, respectively. When any one of the ignition buttons 15 to 17 is pressed by the user, electric power is supplied from the power supply circuit 81 to various circuits, and the power of the stove 1 is turned on. The switch input circuit 82 detects which of the ignition buttons 15 to 17 is pressed, and inputs the detection signal to the control circuit 70. As a result, the CPU 71 determines which ignition button 15 to 17 is pressed to turn on the power, and controls the operation of the corresponding burner sensors and the various valves.

When the optical sensor 40 detects foreign matter such as a hand or an arm approaching the high-heat burner 5 and the standard burner 6, the CPU 71 of the stove 1 of the present embodiment operates the solenoid valves 61 and 62 to control the gas flow rate. Control is performed to reduce the flow rate from the first flow rate to the third flow rate. The light emitting element 41 of the optical sensor 40 is arranged so that the emission direction of infrared light is directed toward the upper side of the stove 1 (see FIG. 2). When the foreign matter is located above (the direction in which the infrared light is emitted from the light emitting element 41), the optical sensor 40 outputs a detection signal according to an accurate distance from the foreign matter. On the other hand, when a threshold value is set for the magnitude of the detection signal of the optical sensor 40 and a process of determining whether or not the distance to the foreign matter is equal to or less than a predetermined distance is performed, the foreign matter detection range P by the optical sensor 40 (FIG. 7). (See) has three properties.

As a first characteristic, the optical sensor 40 has a detection range P in which foreign matter can be detected on the opposite side (arrangement direction side) of the light receiving element 44 from the light receiving element 44 side with reference to the light emitting element 41 in the stretching direction. Has the property of having a wide range of. This characteristic is a characteristic based on the range of the emission angle of infrared light that can be emitted from the light emitting element 41 or the range of the incident angle of the reflected light that can be incident on the light receiving element 44. Contact name in extension Shin direction, the direction facing the light-emitting element 41 from the light receiving element 44, for convenience, referred to as arrangement direction.

As a second characteristic, the optical sensor 40 has a characteristic that when the foreign matter is located closer to the arrangement direction than the light emitting element 41 in the stretching direction, the distance at which the foreign matter can be detected is long in the emission direction. This characteristic, when the foreign matter is not in the straight ahead of the light emitting element 41 in the outgoing direction, Ru characteristics der based on the optical sensor 40 can not correctly detect the distance to the foreign object.

As a third characteristic, the optical sensor 40 has a characteristic that the foreign matter cannot be detected when the foreign matter is located at a position deviated from the position of the light emitting element 41 in the direction orthogonal to the stretching direction and orthogonal to the emitting direction. .. This characteristic is based on the positional relationship in which the light emitting element 41 and the light receiving element 44 are arranged in the stretching direction. Therefore, as described above, the foreign matter detection range P by the optical sensor 40 has a predetermined width in the stretching direction in which the light emitting element 41 and the light receiving element 44 are aligned, and is substantially substantially in the direction orthogonal to the stretching direction and the emitting direction. It is invalid.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the optical sensor 40 having the above characteristics is provided on the stove 1 with the emission direction facing upward. The optical sensors 4A to 4D arranged along the virtual line D1 and the optical sensors 4F to 4I arranged along the virtual line D2 are arranged in different arrangement directions. Each of the arrangement orientations of the optical sensors 4A to 4D has a directional component in the direction from the left side to the right side along the arc formed by the virtual line D1. That is, the arrangement direction of the optical sensors 4A to 4D is the direction of the tangent line of the virtual line D1 at the position where each is arranged, and faces the right side of the stove 1. On the other hand, the arrangement directions of the optical sensors 4F to 4I have directional components in the direction from the right side to the left side along the arc formed by the virtual line D2. That is, the arrangement directions of the optical sensors 4F to 4I are the directions of the tangents of the virtual lines D2 at the positions where the optical sensors 4F to 4I are arranged, and face the left side of the stove 1. Further, the arrangement direction of the optical sensor 4E is along the left-right direction and faces the left side of the stove 1.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the optical sensors 4A to 4I set the arrangement direction along the virtual lines D1 and D2 based on the third characteristic, and as a whole, the arrangement direction has a directional component in the left-right direction. It is arranged in a holding state. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, the detection range P of the optical sensors 4A to 4I in the detection region C is expanded more widely in the left-right direction. In other words, the detection range P of the optical sensors 4A to 4I is provided in a fence shape extending in the left-right direction in the detection area C in front of the high-heat burner 5 and the standard burner 6. Therefore, the optical sensors 4A to 4I can expand their respective detection ranges P in front of the high-heat burner 5 and the standard burner 6 with almost no gap, and can secure a wide detection range as a whole.

Further, the optical sensors 4A arranged at the right end and the optical sensors 4I arranged at the left end in the arrangement of the optical sensors 4A to 4I have different arrangement directions. The optical sensors 4A arranged at the right end of the arrangement are arranged with a directional component whose arrangement direction is toward the right, based on the first characteristic. Therefore, in the arrangement of the optical sensors 4A to 4I, a wider detection range P can be secured on the right side of the optical sensor 4A as compared with the case where the optical sensors 4A are arranged with the arrangement direction facing left. The optical sensors 4I arranged at the left end of the array are arranged with a directional component whose arrangement direction is toward the left, based on the first characteristic. Therefore, in the arrangement of the optical sensors 4A to 4I, a wider detection range P can be secured on the left side of the optical sensor 4I as compared with the case where the optical sensors 4I are arranged so as to be arranged to the right.

The controller 1 of the present embodiment has a foreign matter detection range P by the optical sensor 40 when controlling to reduce the gas flow rate, when the foreign matter is located straight in front of the light emitting element 41 in the emission direction, for example, at a distance of 10 cm. The measured voltage value of the detection signal is set to a threshold value (hereinafter, referred to as “operating voltage value”). Thus, can the foreign matter has entered the detection range P of the shape shown in FIG. 7, co Nro 1 can detect that the foreign matter approaches the high heat power the burner 5 or standard burner 6.

The CPU 71 of the stove 1 executes a gas flow rate control process (see FIG. 9), and when the optical sensor 40 detects the approach of a foreign substance, the CPU 71 performs a process of weakening the thermal power of the high thermal power burner 5 or the standard burner 6. Hereinafter, the gas flow rate control process corresponding to the high-heat burner 5 will be described. The gas flow rate control process corresponding to the standard burner 6 is also performed in almost the same manner as in the case of the high heat burner 5, and the description thereof will be omitted below.

When the user cooks with the high heat burner 5, a cooking container such as a pot is placed on the trivet 7 and the ignition button 15 is pressed. The safety valve 64 of the thermal power control mechanism 60 is in a mechanically closed state when the ignition button 15 is not pressed. Further, the solenoid valves 61 to 63 are maintained on the open side when the ignition button 15 is not pressed. When the ignition button 15 is pressed, the safety valve 64 opens in conjunction with the ignition button 15, and the first flow rate of gas flows through the thermal power adjusting mechanism 30. The CPU 71 drives the igniter 35 and ignites the high heat burner 5. The firepower of the high firepower burner 5 becomes a high firepower. The CPU 71 reads various programs including gas flow rate control processing from the ROM 72 and executes them. The flame formed in the flame hole of the high-heat burner 5 is detected by the thermocouple 5C. The user manually operates the heating power adjusting lever 18 according to the degree of baking of the object to be cooked, the progress of cooking, and the like, and adjusts the heating power of the high heating power burner 5.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the gas flow rate control process is started, the CPU 71 acquires the detection signals (measured voltage values) of the optical sensors 4A to 4E and 4J corresponding to the high heat burner 5 (S1). The CPU 71 compares each of the acquired measured voltage values with the operating voltage value according to the operating distance. The working distance is preset as a distance for controlling to reduce the gas flow rate, and is, for example, 10 cm as described above. The measured voltage value output by the optical sensor 40 of the present embodiment is inversely proportional to the length of the measurement distance. Therefore, when no foreign matter has entered the detection range P corresponding to the working distance or less and the measuring distance is longer than the working distance, the measured voltage value indicates less than the working voltage value. Therefore, if there is no optical sensor 40 indicating that the measurement distance is equal to or less than the working distance (S3: NO), the CPU 71 returns the process to S1. The gas flow rate flowing through the thermal power adjusting mechanism 30 by the thermal power control mechanism 60 is maintained at the first flow rate. The thermal power of the high thermal power burner 5 is maintained at the high thermal power.

When a foreign substance such as a user's hand or arm intrudes into the detection range P corresponding to the working distance or less, the measured voltage value of the optical sensor 40 rises and indicates the working voltage value or more. If there is at least one optical sensor 40 among the optical sensors 4A to 4E and 4J that indicates that the measured voltage value is equal to or greater than the operating voltage value and the measured distance is equal to or less than the operating distance (S3: YES), the CPU 71 sets the process to S5. Proceed. The CPU 71 issues an instruction to the solenoid valve circuit 91 and controls to close the solenoid valves 61 and 62 (S5). The gas flow rate flowing through the thermal power adjusting mechanism 30 by the thermal power control mechanism 60 is reduced to the third flow rate. The firepower of the high firepower burner 5 automatically becomes low firepower. The CPU 71 issues an instruction to the buzzer circuit 88, drives the piezoelectric buzzer 77, and notifies the detection of foreign matter (S7). Further, the CPU 71 lights a predetermined LED on the operation panel 25 to notify the detection of foreign matter. When the operation panel 25 includes a liquid crystal screen, foreign matter may be detected by displaying the liquid crystal screen.

The CPU 71 acquires the detection signals of the optical sensors 4A to 4E and 4J, respectively (S9). The CPU 71 compares the acquired measured voltage values with the release voltage values according to the release distances, respectively. The release distance is preset as a distance for controlling the reduction of the gas flow rate, and is, for example, 15 cm. Therefore, when there is a foreign substance in the detection range P corresponding to the release distance or less and the measurement distance is the release distance or less, the measured voltage value indicates the release voltage value or more. If any one of the optical sensors 4A to 4E and 4J has an optical sensor 40 indicating that the measurement distance is equal to or less than the release distance (S11: YES), the CPU 71 returns the process to S9. The gas flow rate flowing through the thermal power adjusting mechanism 30 by the thermal power control mechanism 60 is maintained at the third flow rate. The thermal power of the high thermal power burner 5 is maintained at a low thermal power.

When the foreign matter goes out of the detection range P corresponding to the release distance or less, the measured voltage value of the optical sensor 40 drops, indicating that it is less than the release voltage value. When all the measured voltage values of the optical sensors 4A to 4E and 4J are less than the release voltage value and there is no optical sensor 40 indicating that the measurement distance is less than or equal to the release distance (S11: NO), the CPU 71 advances the process to S13. .. The CPU 71 issues an instruction to the solenoid valve circuit 91 and controls to open the solenoid valves 61 and 62 (S13). The gas flow rate flowing through the thermal power adjusting mechanism 30 by the thermal power control mechanism 60 is increased to the first flow rate. High heat power The firepower of Burner 5 automatically becomes high heat power. The CPU 71 issues an instruction to the buzzer circuit 88, stops driving the piezoelectric buzzer 77, and cancels the notification of foreign matter detection (S15). Further, the CPU 71 turns off a predetermined LED on the operation panel 25 to cancel the notification of foreign matter detection. The CPU 71 returns the process to S1.

The CPU 71 executes substantially the same gas flow rate control process on the standard burner 6 and controls the gas flow rate flowing through the thermal power adjusting mechanism 30 based on the detection signals of the optical sensors 4E to 4I and 4K. When the high heat burner 5 and the standard burner 6 are extinguished, the CPU 71 ends the execution of the gas flow rate control process corresponding to each burner.

As described above, the optical sensor 40 including one light emitting element 41 and one light receiving element 44 has a characteristic that the detection range P of foreign matter on the light emitting element 41 side is wider than that on the light receiving element 44 side. Therefore, the arrangement direction of the optical sensor 4A has a directional component along the virtual line D1 and facing from the left side to the right side, and the arrangement direction of the optical sensor 4I has a directional component along the virtual line D2 and facing from the right side to the left side. By arranging the optical sensor 4A and the optical sensor 4I, the sensor device 4 can widen the detection range of foreign matter as a whole of the optical sensor 40, and can improve the reliability of foreign matter detection.

The optical sensor 40 has a characteristic that the detection range P is wide in the direction of the arrangement direction and the detection range P is narrow in the direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction (third characteristic). Therefore, by arranging each of the optical sensors 40 along the left-right direction in which the optical sensors 40 are lined up in the detection region C, the sensor device 4 can widen the detection range of foreign matter as a whole of the optical sensor 40. , The reliability of foreign matter detection can be further improved.

The stove 1 can more reliably detect the approach of foreign matter when the foreign matter approaches the high-heat burner 5 and the standard burner 6 by the sensor device 4 that secures a wide detection range of the optical sensor 40 as a whole. .. Therefore, the stove 1 can prevent clothing ignition and the like by weakening the thermal power of the high thermal power burner 5 and the standard burner 6 when a foreign substance is detected.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. The stove 1 has taken as an example a so-called two-port gas stove having a high-heat burner 5 and a standard burner 6, but may be a so-called three-port gas stove having a small burner in addition to the high-heat burner 5 and the standard burner 6. .. The stove 1 is not limited to the built-in type, and may be a table stove or a small stove with a cassette type gas supply. The optical sensors 4A to 4I are arranged in the left-right direction in the detection area C, but the arrangement direction is not limited to the left-right direction, and may be a front-rear direction, for example, an oblique direction connecting the right front and the left rear. good. Alternatively, a support column may be erected on the rear side of the stove 1 and arranged side by side in the vertical direction along the support column. Further, the optical sensors 4A to 4I may be arranged side by side along the inclination direction connecting the upper left side and the lower right side, for example. Further, the optical sensors 4A to 4I do not necessarily have to be linear or arcuate, and may be arranged side by side along, for example, a wavy undulating direction. Further, unlike the optical sensors 4J and 4K, not all the optical sensors 40 need to be arranged side by side.

The optical sensors 4A to 4K are arranged on the lower side of the top plate 3 in the housing 2, but may be arranged on the top plate 3 as long as the sensors have a low height in the vertical direction. The top plate 3 does not have to use the glass plate 11. The optical sensors 4A to 4K may be arranged outside the opening 2A of the housing 2 in a plan view. Although the optical sensor 40 uses a reflection type distance measuring sensor using infrared light, it may be a reflection type sensor using ultrasonic waves or a sensor that detects the distance to a foreign object by radar radio waves.

As shown in FIG. 10B, the optical sensors 104A to 104K of the sensor device 104 may be arranged on the stove 101 in an inclined state. As described above, the optical sensor 40 has a characteristic (second characteristic) that the distance at which foreign matter can be detected is longer in the emission direction than the light emitting element 41 on the arrangement direction side. Therefore, the stove 1 tilts the detection range P of the individual optical sensors 104A to 104K as shown in FIG. 10A by arranging the optical sensors 104A to 104K in a state where the emission direction is tilted in the arrangement direction. Can be spread in the previous stretching direction. In this case, the sensor device 104 can further improve the reliability of foreign matter detection.

Further, when the optical sensors 104A to 104K are arranged in an inclined state, the optical sensors 104A and 104I located at both ends in the left-right direction in the detection area C are arranged from the inclination angles of the optical sensors 104B to 10H arranged between them. May be tilted at a large tilt angle. As shown in FIG. 10B, the optical sensors 104A and 104I are arranged in a state where the emission direction is inclined to the arrangement direction side (that is, the side away from the light receiving element 44) at about 29 degrees with respect to the vertical direction. On the other hand, the optical sensors 104B and 104H are arranged in a state where the emission direction is inclined to the arrangement direction side by about 19 degrees with respect to the vertical direction. Further, the optical sensors 104C, 104D, 104F, and 104G are arranged in a state where the emission direction is inclined to the arrangement direction side by about 15 degrees with respect to the vertical direction. The optical sensor 104E is arranged in a state where the emission direction is inclined to the arrangement direction side by about 11 degrees with respect to the vertical direction. As a result, the sensor device 104 further increases the detection range of the optical sensor 40 as a whole in the horizontal direction, as shown in FIG. 10A, as compared with the case where the tilt angles of the optical sensors 104A to 104K are uniformly set to the same angle. Can be expanded. Moreover, since the sensor device 104 can maintain a state in which the detection ranges P of the individual optical sensors overlap each other, detection omission can be suppressed. Therefore, the sensor device 104 can further improve the reliability of foreign matter detection.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the optical sensor 240 is arranged on the stove 201 with the infrared light emission direction facing upward and tilted toward the side away from the high-heat burner 5 in the vertical direction. May be good. The side away from the high heat burner 5 is preferably the front side of the stove 201. By arranging in this way, the optical sensor 240 can detect foreign matter at an earlier timing. Therefore, the optical sensor 240 can improve the reliability of foreign matter detection. Further, when the top plate 3 of the stove 201 is smaller than usual, the optical sensor 240 may be located below the bottom of the pot when the cooking container 209 such as a pot is placed on the trivet 7. Even in such a case, the optical sensor 240 can reliably detect foreign matter by arranging the optical sensor 240 in a state of being tilted toward a side away from the high-heat burner 5. The same applies to the standard burner 6.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the optical sensors 304A to 304H of the sensor device 304 may be arranged in a straight line along the virtual line D3 extending in the left-right direction. The optical sensors 304A to 304D are arranged so that the arrangement direction is to the right of the stove 301, and the optical sensors 304E to 304H are arranged so that the arrangement direction is to the left of the stove 301. By providing the sensor device 304 in the detection area C in front of the high heat burner 5 and the standard burner 6, it is possible to reliably detect foreign matter approaching the high heat burner 5 and the standard burner 6 from the front of the stove 301.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the sensor device 404 and the stove 401 may be provided separately. The sensor device 404 is a device in which optical sensors 404A to 404K are arranged side by side in a row. The sensor device 404 is attached to the front surface of the top plate 3 so that the optical sensors 404A to 404K are arranged in the left-right direction. The optical sensors 404A to 304F are arranged in the right direction after the sensor device 404 is attached to the stove 401, and the optical sensors 404G to 404K are arranged in the arrangement after the sensor device 404 is attached to the stove 401. Turn to the left of the stove 401. The sensor device 404 may be connected to the sensor input circuit 87 by wire, or may have a built-in wireless communication circuit or the like and be wirelessly connected. When wirelessly connecting, the sensor device 404 may be provided with a magnet, a suction cup, or the like, and may be arranged at an arbitrary position on the top plate 3 or at an arbitrary position on the sink. In this case, the sensor device 404 can be arranged at an appropriate position according to the convenience of the user.

The gas supply pipe 27 may switch the gas flow rate in two steps by reducing the number of bypass pipes and the number of solenoid valves (for example, as one bypass pipe and one solenoid valve). When the optical sensor 40 detects a foreign substance, the CPU 71 closes the solenoid valves 61 and 62 and reduces the gas flow rate from the first flow rate to the third flow rate. The flow rate may be reduced from one flow rate to a second flow rate. Alternatively, the CPU 71 may gradually reduce the gas flow rate from the first flow rate to the third flow rate via the second flow rate according to the distance from the foreign matter by the optical sensor 40.

In the above description, the light emitting element 41 is an example of the "transmitter" of the present invention. The light receiving element 44 is an example of the "receiver" of the present invention. Infrared light is an example of a "detection wave". The optical sensor 40 is an example of a “sensor”. The high heat burner 5 and the standard burner 6 are examples of the "burner" of the present invention. The optical sensor 4A is an example of the "first sensor" of the present invention. The optical sensor 4I is an example of the "second sensor" of the present invention. The emission direction is an example of the "transmission direction" of the present invention. Optical sensors 4B to 4H are examples of the "third sensor" of the present invention. The gas supply pipe 27 is an example of the “gas passage” of the present invention. Solenoid valves 61 and 62 are examples of the "valve" of the present invention. The solenoid valve circuit 91 is an example of the "valve operating means" of the present invention. The CPU 71 that performs the processing of S5 corresponds to the "control means" of the present invention.

1 Conro 4 Sensor device 4A-4K, 40 Optical sensor 5 High heat burner 6 Standard burner 27 Gas supply pipe 41 Light emitting element 44 Light receiving element 61, 62 Solenoid valve 71 CPU
91 Solenoid valve circuit

Claims (7)

A sensor device installed on a gas stove with a burner.
It has a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, and includes two or more sensors that detect the presence or absence of foreign matter by receiving the detection wave transmitted from the transmitting unit at the receiving unit.
The sensor is arranged in front of the trivet arranged on the top plate of the gas stove to support the cooking utensil on the burner.
Moreover, the sensors are arranged side by side, and include a first sensor arranged at one end of the arrangement and a second sensor arranged at the other end.
When the sensor is arranged and the direction from the receiving unit to the transmitting unit is the arrangement direction.
The arrangement orientation of the first sensor has a directional component in a direction from the other end of the arrangement toward the one end.
The sensor device, wherein the arrangement direction of the second sensor has a directional component in a direction from one end of the arrangement to the other end. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement direction of the sensors is along a direction in which the sensors are arranged. Claim 1 is characterized in that the sensor is arranged in a state in which the transmission direction of the detection wave from the transmission unit faces upward and the transmission direction is tilted toward the arrangement direction with respect to the vertical direction. Or the sensor device according to 2. The sensor includes a third sensor arranged between the first sensor and the second sensor in the arrangement.
The angle at which the transmission direction of the first sensor or the second sensor is tilted with respect to the vertical direction is larger than the angle at which the transmission direction of the third sensor is tilted with respect to the vertical direction. Item 3. The sensor device according to item 3. The sensor is characterized in that the sensor is arranged in a state in which the transmission direction of the detection wave from the transmission unit faces upward and the transmission direction is tilted toward a side away from the burner with respect to the vertical direction. The sensor device according to 1 or 2. The sensor device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the sensor is arranged in a state in which the transmission direction is tilted toward a side away from the burner with respect to the vertical direction. The sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
A valve provided in the gas passage of the burner and changing the gas flow rate through the gas passage,
A valve operating means for operating the valve and
A control means that controls the drive of the valve operating means to reduce the gas flow rate when a foreign substance is detected by the sensor, and a control means.
A gas stove characterized by being equipped with.

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