JP7117882B2 - cooking device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cooking device such as a gas stove.

Conventionally, as seen in Patent Document 1, for example, by transmitting infrared rays to the upper side of the top plate and receiving the reflected signal on the lower side of the top plate of the stove device, A device is known in which a gesture sensor capable of detecting an object such as a hand is arranged, and when the gesture sensor detects an object such as a hand, the heating power of the burner is automatically weakened.

In addition, for example, in Patent Document 2, infrared rays are transmitted from the transmission section of the cooking device to the receiving section of the ventilation fan above the cooking device, and a printed mark indicating the position of the transmission section of the cooking device is printed on the top plate. are described.

JP 2016-188714 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-229240

As seen in Patent Document 1, in order to detect an object above a cooking device, an object detector has a transmitter that transmits an object detection signal such as infrared rays, and a receiver that receives the reflected signal. is provided in the cooking apparatus, there are many cases where deposits such as boilovers adhere to a portion of the top surface of the housing of the cooking apparatus that faces the transmitting unit or the receiving unit.

If such deposits adhere to the top surface, transmission and reception of the object detection signal will be hindered, and there is a risk that an object above the cooking device will not be properly detected.

Therefore, when a deposit such as boiled spillage adheres to a portion facing the transmitter or receiver of the object detector, it is conceivable to notify the user to clean the deposited portion.

However, the transmitting unit and the receiving unit are generally small, and are mounted in the cooking apparatus so as to be invisible or difficult to see. For this reason, when performing the notification as described above, it is desirable to allow the user to easily recognize the arrangement locations of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit as locations to be cleaned.

In this case, it is conceivable to attach printed marks, for example, as seen in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-100000, to the locations where the transmitting section and the receiving section of the object detector are arranged. However, such printed marks tend to impair the design of the cooking apparatus, and tend to disappear due to progress of staining over time, peeling, and the like. In addition, since the printed marks only indicate the locations where the transmitting unit and the receiving unit are arranged, it is difficult for the user to know when to clean the locations.

The present invention has been made in view of this background. An object of the present invention is to provide a heat cooking device that allows a user to appropriately recognize the location of placement.

In order to achieve the above object, the heat cooking apparatus of the present invention includes one or more heating units for heating an object to be heated arranged on the upper side of the top surface,
a set of a transmitting unit for transmitting an object detection signal from below the top surface to above the top surface and a receiving unit for receiving a reflected signal of the object detection signal, provided below the top surface; and one or more object detectors capable of detecting an object existing above the top surface and reflecting the object detection signal, wherein
The object detector is configured to detect whether or not the object that reflects the object detection signal is in contact with the top surface, and is configured to detect whether the object is in contact with the top surface. As objects , it is configured to be able to detect an attached matter adhering to the top surface and a placed object placed on the top surface,
a notification unit that, when an object touching the top surface, which is an object in contact with the top surface, is detected, generates a notification output indicating the locations of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit of the object detector that detected the top surface contacting object; equipped with
The notification unit has a light emitting unit provided at a location where the transmission unit and the reception unit of the object detector are arranged, and when the object detector detects the top surface contact object, as the notification output, The light emitting unit is configured to emit light, and when the top surface contact object is no longer detected by the object detector after the light emitting unit starts emitting light as the notification output, a predetermined It is characterized in that the light emission of the light emitting portion is stopped after the delay time has elapsed (first invention).

In addition, in the present invention, the “position where the transmitting unit and the receiving unit are arranged” refers to a local position on the top surface facing each or both of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit, or a means a place.

According to the first aspect of the invention, when an object such as boiling over adheres to the top surface where the transmitter and the receiver of the object detector are arranged, the object detector detects the top surface contacting object. be. Then, at this time, the notification unit generates a notification output indicating the arrangement locations of the transmission unit and the reception unit of the object detector that has detected the top surface contacting object. This notification output allows the user to recognize the locations where the transmitter and receiver of the object detector are arranged. In addition, since the notification output is generated in response to the detection of the object touching the top surface, the user can recognize that it is time to clean the locations where the transmitter and receiver of the object detector are arranged.

Therefore, in the case where an object such as boiling over adheres to the top surface where the transmission unit and the reception unit for the object detection signal are arranged, the user can appropriately recognize the location where the transmission unit and the reception unit are arranged. . As a result, the user can appropriately clean the placement location.

In the first aspect of the invention, the notification unit has a light emitting unit provided at a position where the transmission unit and the reception unit of the object detector are arranged, and when the object detector detects the top surface contacting object, , and is configured to emit light from the light emitting unit as the notification output .

According to this, the user can easily recognize the arrangement locations of the transmitting section and the receiving section of the object detector by the light emission of the light emitting section. If the transmitter can output visible light in addition to transmitting the object detection signal, the transmitter can function as the light emitter. A dedicated light emitting part for the notification part is not required .
Further, after the light emitting unit starts emitting light as the notification output, when the object in contact with the top surface is no longer detected by the object detector, the notification unit emits light after a predetermined delay time. It is configured to stop the light emission of the part. This can provide the following effects.
That is, when an object such as a cooking container is placed on the top surface at the position where the transmitting unit or the receiving unit of the object detector is arranged, the object such as the cooking container is detected as the top surface contacting object. Sometimes. In this case, in the present invention, the light emitting unit emits light as the notification output.
However, in this case, the light-emitting part that emits light may be hidden under an object such as a cooking vessel, and the user may not notice the light emission of the light-emitting part. However, when an object such as a cooking vessel placed on the top surface is removed from the arrangement location of the transmitting unit or the receiving unit of the object detector that has detected the object that is in contact with the top surface, until the delay time elapses , the light emission of the light emitting portion continues. Therefore, the user can recognize that the light-emitting part is emitting light at the place where the object such as the cooking vessel is placed. As a result, the user can easily recognize that an object such as a cooking vessel should not be placed in the vicinity of the location where the light emitting unit emits light.

In the first invention, when the cooking apparatus includes a plurality of the object detectors, the notification unit has the light-emitting unit for each object detector, and any one of the object detectors is detected, only the light-emitting unit corresponding to the object detector that detected the top surface contacting object is preferably configured to emit light ( second invention).

According to this, when the top surface contacting object is detected by any of the object detectors, only the light emitting unit corresponding to the object detector that has detected the top surface contacting object is caused to emit light. It is possible to clean only the necessary portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The top view which looked at the heat cooking apparatus (stove) of one Embodiment of this invention from upper direction. The block diagram which shows the structure which concerns on the operation control of the heat cooking apparatus of embodiment.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. Referring to FIG. 1, the heat cooking apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is, for example, a gas stove, and the top surface 2a (upper surface) of the housing 2 is provided to heat an object to be heated (such as an object to be cooked, a cooking container, etc.). A plurality of (three in the illustrated example) burners 3a, 3b, and 3c as heating portions are arranged so as to be exposed from the inside of the housing 2, and a trivet 4a is provided around each of the burners 3a, 3b, and 3c. , 4b and 4c are arranged.

In the illustrated heat cooking device 1, the burners 3a, 3b, and 3c are arranged respectively at the left front portion, the right front portion, and the rear center portion of the top surface 2a. Hereinafter, the burners 3a, 3b, and 3c may be referred to as left burner 3a, right burner 3b, and rear burner 3c, respectively.

Further, an exhaust port 5 for exhausting air from the grill chamber (not shown) in the housing 2 is provided at the rear end portion of the top surface 2a. Although not shown, the front face of the housing 2 includes an operation unit for igniting and extinguishing the burners 3a, 3b, and 3c and adjusting the heat power, a power switch, and an operation for automatic cooking operation. department etc. are provided.

Inside the housing 2 are a plurality of object detectors 10 capable of detecting an object (for example, a user's hand or arm) existing above the top surface 2a, and the same number of light emitting units 11 as the object detectors 10. and a control unit 12 that controls the operation of the cooking device 1 (including the operation control of the light emitting unit 11).

In this embodiment, the object detector 10 detects, for example, the left and front portions of the left burner 3a, the right and front portions of the right burner 3b, and the burners 3a and 3b on the front side of the rear burner 3c. are arranged at five locations between .

Of these object detectors 10, the object detector 10 on the left side of the left burner 3a is used by the user, for example, to move the cooking vessel to the position of the left burner 3a with his or her left hand. The object detector 10 at the point in front of the left burner 3a, which enables the detection of the left hand or the part near the tip of the left arm when the user approaches the cooking position of the rear burner 3c, for example. This detector is capable of detecting the left hand or the tip portion of the left arm when the left hand is brought close to the rear burner 3c in order to move the container or the like.

In addition, the object detector 10 on the right side of the right burner 3b detects when the user brings his or her right hand closer to the right burner 3b in order to move the cooking container at the position of the right burner 3a, for example. Alternatively, a detector capable of detecting the tip portion of the right arm, the object detector 10 in front of the right burner 3b, can be used by the user to move the cooking container to the position of the rear burner 3c, for example. This detector is capable of detecting the right hand or the tip-side portion of the right arm when the right hand is brought close to the rear burner 3c.

Further, the object detector 10 located in front of the rear burner 3c and between the burners 3a and 3b is detected by the user, for example, moving his or her right hand to the left burner 3a in order to move the cooking vessel to the position of the left burner 3a. Detecting the right hand or a portion near the tip of the right arm when approaching the right burner 3b, or detecting the left hand when the left hand approaches the right burner 3b for moving the cooking container to the position of the right burner 3b, for example. , or a detector that makes it possible to detect the tip portion of the left arm.

Each object detector 10 is composed of, for example, an infrared-type gesture sensor or distance sensor, and includes a transmitter 10a for transmitting infrared light as an object detection signal upward from the lower side of the top surface 2a, and the transmitter 10a. and a receiving unit 10b for receiving the reflected infrared signal (reflected wave) transmitted from 10a. These transmitting section 10a and receiving section 10b are provided close to each other. The top surface 2a is configured so as to allow infrared rays to pass through at least the portions facing the transmitting section 10a and the receiving section 10b of each object detector 10 respectively.

Each object detector 10 receives an infrared ray reflected signal from the object when an object reflecting the infrared ray transmitted from the transmitter 10a exists in the transmission direction of the infrared ray (above the object detector 10). The object can be detected when received at the part 10b.

In this case, each object detector 10, when detecting an object, based on the reflected signal received by the receiving unit 10b, by a known method such as a TOF method (TOF: Time of Flight) or a triangulation method, It is configured to be able to measure the distance (or its size) to the detected object. When an object is detected in an area where the measured value of the distance (or the degree of magnitude thereof) falls within a predetermined range (an area some distance above the top surface 2a), each object detector 10 notifies that fact. output a detection signal indicating Thereby, each object detector 10 can detect when the user's hand or arm is moved above the object detector 10 due to movement of the cooking vessel or the like.

Furthermore, each object detector 10 detects an object whose measured value of distance (or its degree of magnitude) matches or substantially matches the distance to the top surface 2a. It outputs a detection signal indicating that an object has been detected in contact with the top surface 2a (specifically, a portion of the top surface 2a facing the transmitter 10a and the receiver 10b of the object detector 10).

As a result, each object detector 10 can be prevented from being damaged when food such as spilled food is attached to the top surface 2a directly above the object detector 10, or when a cooking container such as a pot is placed on the top surface 2a. It is possible to detect the presence of an object directly above the object detector 10 and in contact with the top surface 2a (hereinafter referred to as an object in contact with the top surface).

Each of the light emitting units 11 constitutes a notification unit in the present invention together with the control unit 12, and is composed of a light emitting diode or the like capable of emitting visible light of a predetermined color. Each light emitting unit 11 is provided close to each object detector 10 associated therewith. A portion of the top surface 2a facing each light-emitting portion 11 is configured to transmit visible light emitted by the light-emitting portion 11, or is opened so that the light-emitting portion 11 is exposed.

Here, since each light-emitting unit 11 is provided in the vicinity of the corresponding object detector 10, when the light-emitting unit 11 is caused to emit light, the light-emitting point is located near the corresponding light-emitting unit 11. The user can be notified that the object detector 10 is arranged (that the transmitting section 10a and the receiving section 10b of the object detector 10 are arranged in the vicinity of the light emitting section).

A plurality of light emitting units 11 corresponding to each object detector 10 may be provided around the object detector 10 .

The control unit 12 is composed of one or more electronic circuit units including, for example, a microcomputer, processor, memory, interface circuit, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 12 receives detection signals from the object detectors 10 as well as operation signals from an operation unit (not shown) of the cooking device 1 and detection signals from various sensors. be. The control unit 12 has a function of controlling the operation of each burner 3a, 3b, 3c by a function realized by one or both of the implemented hardware configuration and program (software configuration), and each light emitting unit It has the function of controlling the light emission of 11.

Next, the operation of the heat cooking device 1 of this embodiment will be described. First, the operation will be described when there is no object such as an adhering substance in contact with the top surface 2a directly above each object detector 10 and infrared rays pass through the top surface 2a normally.

Each object detector 10 is activated while the cooking device 1 is powered on, and infrared rays are transmitted from the transmitter 10a of each object detector 10 as an object detection signal. In this state, when the combustion operation of the left burner 3a or the right burner 3b is started, the control section 12 monitors the output of each object detector 10. FIG.

At this time, for example, the control unit 12 controls the object detector 10 on the left side or front side of the left burner 3a, or the left burner 3a and the right burner 3b during combustion operation with a thermal power equal to or higher than a predetermined thermal power of the left burner 3a. An object is detected in an area where the measured value of the distance (or the degree of magnitude thereof) from any of the object detectors 10 between When a detection signal indicating that is inputted, the heating power of the left burner 3a is controlled to be weakened to a low heating power.

Further, for example, the control unit 12 controls the object detector 10 on the right side or the front side of the right burner 3b, or between the left burner 3a and the right burner 3b during the combustion operation with the thermal power of the right burner 3b equal to or higher than a predetermined thermal power. that an object is detected in an area where the measured value of the distance (or the degree of magnitude thereof) from any of the object detectors 10 between the object detectors 10 is within a predetermined range When a detection signal indicating is inputted, the heating power of the right burner 3b is controlled to be weakened to a low heating power.

As a result, when the user moves his or her hand or arm close to the upper side of the left burner 3a or right burner 3b, which is in combustion operation with a thermal power equal to or higher than a predetermined thermal power, the thermal power of the left burner 3a or right burner 3b increases. automatically weakened.

In addition, when there is no object (top surface contacting object) such as an attached substance (top surface contacting object) in contact with the top surface 2a directly above each object detector 10, and infrared rays pass through the top surface 2a normally, each object detection The device 10 does not output a detection signal indicating that the top surface contacting object has been detected. In this situation, the control unit 12 keeps each light emitting unit 11 in the off state.

Next, the operation in the case where the top surface 2a directly above any one of the object detectors 10 is adhered with a substance such as boilover will be described.

If an object such as boiling over adheres to the top surface 2a directly above the object detector 10 transmitting infrared rays, the infrared rays reflected by the object are received by the receiving section 10b. , the measured value of the distance (or its degree of magnitude) by the object detector 10 coincides or substantially coincides with the distance (or its degree of magnitude) to the top surface 2a. As a result, the object detector 10 detects that an object is in contact with the top surface, and outputs a detection signal (hereinafter referred to as a contact detection signal) indicating the presence of the object to the control unit 12 .

At this time, the control unit 12 controls the light emitting unit 11 corresponding to the object detector 10 outputting the contact detection signal to light up (or blink). As a result, the light emitting unit 11 corresponding to the object detector 10 at the position of the adhering matter adhering to the top surface 2 a emits light in the vicinity of the object detector 10 . Then, the user who visually recognizes this light emission recognizes that the adhering matter is attached in the vicinity of the light emitting unit 11, and can perform the work of removing the adhering matter (cleaning the corresponding portion of the top surface 2a). .

When the object detector 10 detects an object that touches the top surface, in addition to causing the light emitting unit 11 corresponding to the object detector 10 to emit light, display on a display (not shown), voice output, etc. It is also possible to notify that the top surface 2a in the vicinity of the light-emitting portion should be cleaned.

In addition, when the top surface 2a directly above the object detector 10 is restored to a state in which infrared rays can normally pass through the work of removing deposits on the top surface 2a directly above the object detector 10, the object detector 10 The contact object detection signal is no longer output. In response to this, the control unit 12 stops the light emission of the light emitting unit 11 corresponding to the object detector 10 . Thereby, the user can confirm that the work of removing the adhering matter on the top surface 2a directly above the object detector 10 has been properly performed.

By the way, each object detector 10 is not limited to a case where an adhering matter is attached to the top surface 2a directly above it, and even if a cooking container or the like is placed on the top surface 2a directly above it, It detects that there is a top surface contacting object in contact with the top surface 2a, and outputs the contact object detection signal. As a result, the control unit 12 causes the light emitting unit 11 corresponding to the object detector 10 that outputs the contact object detection signal to emit light (light up or blink).

In this case, when the object detector 10 stops outputting the contact object detection signal in response to the removal of the object directly above the object detector 10, which is in contact with the top surface (attachment or placed object such as a cooking container), It is possible to employ a mode in which the light emission of the light emitting unit 11 corresponding to the object detector 10 is immediately stopped.

However, if the object that touches the top surface directly above the object detector 10 is a placed object such as a cooking vessel, the object is only placed on the top surface 2a directly above the object detector 10. The light emission of the light emitting unit 11 that is not directly visible or difficult to see is performed under the placed object, and the light emission of the light emitting unit 11 stops immediately when the placed object is removed. You may not notice the light emission, or you may feel uncomfortable with the light emission.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the controller 12 controls the object detector 10 after a slight delay time (for example, a delay time of about several seconds) has passed since the object detector 10 stopped outputting the contact object detection signal. The light emission of the light emitting portion 11 corresponding to 10 is stopped. As a result, when the user places an object such as a cooking vessel on the top surface 2a directly above the object detector 10, the light emitting unit 11 emits light and the object is removed. For example, the user can appropriately recognize that the light emission of the light emitting unit 11 is stopped, and be conscious that the object should not be placed on the corresponding place.

In addition, when an object is attached to the top surface 2a directly above the object detector 10, the light emission from the light emitting unit 11 corresponding to the object detector 10 is detected even if the object is not placed on the corresponding position. is continuously performed, the user can easily recognize that the corresponding portion should be cleaned.

According to the above-described embodiment, when a substance such as boiled over is adhered to the top surface 2a directly above each object detector 10, by causing the light emitting unit 11 corresponding to the object detector 10 to emit light, Removal of the deposit (cleaning of the top surface 2a) can be encouraged, and the user can easily recognize the location where the deposit should be removed.

In this case, since only the light emitting unit 11 corresponding to the object detector 10 that has detected the top surface contacting object emits light, the cleaning work by the user is completed by cleaning only the vicinity of the light emitting location on the top surface 2a. can be done.

In addition, the light emission of the light emitting unit 11 corresponding to the object detector 10 that has detected the top surface contacting object stops after a slight delay time has elapsed after the top surface contacting object is no longer detected. It is ensured that the light emission of the light emitting part 11 stops after the top surface contacting object is removed, not only when the top surface contacting object is a deposit such as boiled over, but also when it is a placed object such as a cooking vessel. can be recognized. Therefore, the user can easily be aware that an object should not be placed near the light emitting unit 11 .

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and other embodiments can be employed. Several other embodiments are described below.

In the above embodiment, each object detector 10 is provided with a light emitting unit 11 separate from the object detector 10 as an example. However, for example, if the transmitter 10a of the object detector 10 is capable of outputting not only infrared rays but also visible light as an object detection signal by its output control or the like, the transmitter 10a may emit light. unit, and when an object touching the top surface is detected, the transmitting unit 10a may emit visible light. In this case, the light emitting section 11 separate from each object detector 10 can be omitted.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, only the light emitting unit 11 corresponding to the object detector 10 in which the top surface contacting object is detected is made to emit light. However, it is also possible, for example, to cause all the light emitting units 11 to emit light when an object that touches the top surface is detected by any of the object detectors 10 . In this way, the top surfaces 2a directly above all the object detectors 10 can be easily kept clean.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the light emission of the light emitting unit 11 is used as the notification output indicating the arrangement positions of the transmitting unit 10a and the receiving unit 10b of each object detector 10. In addition, it is also possible to display the arrangement location of the object detector 10 that detected the top surface contact object (arrangement location of the transmitting unit 10a and the receiving unit 10b).

Further, in the above-described embodiment, since the transmitter 10a and the receiver 10b of each object detector 10 are close to each other, the light emitter 11 corresponding to each object detector 10 can It corresponds to both of the receiving units 10b. However, when the transmitting unit 10a and the receiving unit 10b of each object detector 10 are arranged in a state separated to some extent, the transmitting unit 10a and the receiving unit 10b are each provided with a notification unit such as the light emitting unit 11. You may prepare.

Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the heat cooking device 1 including a plurality of object detectors 10 is exemplified. However, the present invention can also be applied to a cooking device with a single object detector. Further, the heat cooking apparatus to which the present invention is applied is not limited to a gas stove, and may be a heat cooking apparatus having an electric heater or an IH heater as a heating unit.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Heat cooking apparatus 2a... Top surface 3a, 3b, 3c... Burner (heating part) 10... Object detector 10a... Transmitting part 10b... Receiving part 11... Light emitting part (notifying part) 12... Control unit (notification unit).

Claims (2)

one or more heating units for heating an object to be heated arranged above the top surface;
a set of a transmitting unit for transmitting an object detection signal from below the top surface to above the top surface and a receiving unit for receiving a reflected signal of the object detection signal, provided below the top surface; and one or more object detectors capable of detecting an object existing above the top surface and reflecting the object detection signal, wherein
The object detector is configured to detect whether or not the object that reflects the object detection signal is in contact with the top surface, and is configured to detect whether the object is in contact with the top surface. As objects , it is configured to be able to detect an attached matter adhering to the top surface and a placed object placed on the top surface,
a notification unit that, when a top surface contacting object that is an object in contact with the top surface is detected, generates a notification output indicating the arrangement locations of the transmission unit and the reception unit of the object detector that detected the top surface contacting object; equipped with
The notification unit has a light emitting unit provided at a location where the transmission unit and the reception unit of the object detector are arranged, and when the object detector detects the top surface contact object, as the notification output, The light emitting unit is configured to emit light, and when the top surface contact object is no longer detected by the object detector after the light emitting unit starts emitting light as the notification output, a predetermined A heat cooking device, wherein the light emission of the light emitting portion is stopped after a delay time has elapsed. In the heat cooking device according to claim 1,
comprising a plurality of said object detectors,
The reporting unit has the light emitting unit separately for each object detector, and when the top surface contacting object is detected by any one of the object detectors, the object detector that detects the top surface contacting object. A heating and cooking apparatus characterized in that it is configured to emit light only from the light-emitting portions corresponding to .

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