Electric cooker

Abstract

The invention provides an electric cooker capable of further improving the accuracy of judging the amount of a cooked object. The electric cooker (2) is provided with: a pot (25) for accommodating an object to be cooked; a heating coil (31) for heating the pot (25); a pot temperature sensor (46) for detecting the temperature of the pot (25); and a heating control circuit board (42) for controlling the heating coil (31), the heating control circuit board (42) executing the following steps: a cooking amount determination step of heating the pot (25) by using the heating coil (31) to change the temperature detected by the pot temperature sensor (46), and determining the amount of the object to be cooked based on the change of the temperature; and a preheating step of heating the pot (25) by using the heating coil (31) before the cooking amount determination step so as to increase the initial temperature of the object to be cooked in the cooking amount determination step.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an electric rice cooker. Background Art

[0002] A known electric rice cooker comprises a pot for storing rice and water, a heating coil for heating the pot, a rice cooking control mechanism for controlling the heating coil, and a pot sensor for detecting the temperature of the pot bottom. The heating coils include side coils and a bottom coil. The rice cooking control mechanism determines the amount of rice to be cooked by heating the pot without using the bottom coil, the heating coil located closest to the pot sensor.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-136129 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] Conventional rice cookers control the side coils to heat the pot at a specified output for a specified first time, then control the side coils to stop heating the pot for a specified second time after the specified first time has elapsed. The amount of rice to be cooked is determined based on the pot temperature after the specified second time has elapsed.

[0008] The determination of the amount of cooked food based on the temperature of the pot can be based only on the temperature of the pot at the end of the specified second time, or on the difference between the temperature of the pot at the end of the specified second time and the temperature of the pot at the beginning of the specified first time, or on the difference between the temperature of the pot at the end of the specified second time and the temperature of the pot at the end of the specified first time when heating is stopped.

[0009] However, conventional methods for determining the amount of rice to be cooked in rice cookers can be affected by factors such as the voltage, room temperature, and water temperature during execution. That is, even when the same amount of rice is contained in the cooker, the determined amount can vary due to factors such as the voltage applied to the rice cooker, the ambient temperature within the cooker, and the water temperature within the cooker. For example, when the ambient temperature within the rice cooker is low, the accuracy of the determination decreases. Furthermore, a temperature sensor generally performs worse at low temperatures than at high temperatures.

[0010] Here, an object of the present invention is to provide a rice cooker capable of further improving the accuracy of determining the amount of food to be cooked.

[0011] Means for solving problems

[0012] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an electric rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a pot for accommodating food to be cooked; a heating unit for heating the pot; a temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the pot; and a control unit for controlling the heating unit, wherein the control unit performs the following processes: a cooking amount determination process for heating the pot by using the heating unit to change the temperature of the pot detected by the temperature detection unit, and determining the amount of food to be cooked based on the change in the temperature; and a preheating process for heating the pot by using the heating unit before the cooking amount determination process to increase the initial temperature of the pot in the cooking amount determination process.

[0013] Effects of the Invention

[0014] According to the rice cooker of the present invention, it is possible to further improve the accuracy of determining the amount of food to be cooked. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of a rice cooking system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 It is a perspective view of the rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3 It is a longitudinal sectional view of the rice cooker which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

[0018] Figure 4 It is a cross-sectional view of the inner frame and heating coil of the rice cooker according to this embodiment.

[0019] Figure 5 It is a bottom view of the inner frame and heating coil of the rice cooker according to this embodiment.

[0020] Figure 6 This is a control block diagram of the rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 7 Graphs showing temporal changes in the temperature in the pot and the output of the heating coil during the rice cooking operation of the rice cooker according to the present embodiment.

[0022] Figure 8 This is a diagram showing a first determination method as an example of a method for determining the amount of rice to be cooked in the rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 9 This is a diagram showing a second determination method as another example of the method for determining the amount of rice to be cooked in the rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 10 It is a diagram showing a second example of the first determination method of the rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 11 It is a diagram showing a second example of the second determination method of the rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 12 This is a front view of an example of an information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 13 This is a block diagram of a smartphone as an example of an information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 14 This is a diagram showing a first example of a first screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 15 This is a diagram showing a second example of the first screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 16 This is a diagram showing an example of a first sub-screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 17 This is a diagram showing a first example of the second sub screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 18 This is a diagram showing a second example of the second sub screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 19 This is a diagram showing a third example of the second sub-screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 20 This is a diagram showing a first example of the third sub-screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 21 This is a diagram showing a second example of the third sub-screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 22 This is a diagram showing a third example of the third sub-screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Below, refer to Figures 1 to 22 The rice cooking system, terminal device, program, and rice remaining amount notification method of the present invention are described.

[0038] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of a rice cooking system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] like Figure 1 As shown, the rice cooking system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention provides information transmitted by the rice cooker 2 to the outside of the device in a manner that can be received by the information terminal 3. The rice cooking system 1 can also provide information transmitted by the information terminal 3 to the outside of the device in a manner that can be received by the rice cooker 2 in the home. The information transmitted by the rice cooker 2 to the outside of the device includes the current status and settings of the rice cooker 2. In other words, the rice cooking system 1 provides an environment in which the current status and settings of the rice cooker 2 in the home can be confirmed from the information terminal 3 at the destination, and an environment in which the rice cooker 2 in the home can be remotely operated. For example, a user of the rice cooking system 1 can confirm the current status and settings of the rice cooker 2 while away from home and operate the rice cooker 2 based on the current status and settings.

[0040] A rice cooking system 1 includes a rice cooker 2 that cooks rice and water to produce rice; and at least one information terminal 3 that is used to monitor the cooking status of the rice cooker 2 and to remotely control the rice cooker 2. The rice cooking system 1 only needs to include the rice cooker 2 and the information terminal 3. The rice cooker 2 and the information terminal 3 can establish a direct two-way communication environment via short-range wireless communication 5, such as NFC (Near Field Communication) or Bluetooth, or can establish a direct two-way communication environment via a home Wi-Fi network or the like.

[0041] The rice cooking system 1 may include: a rice cooker 2 ; at least one information terminal 3 ; a server 7 for establishing communication between the rice cooker 2 and the information terminal 3 ; and a storage device 8 for storing information for establishing communication between the rice cooker 2 and the information terminal 3 .

[0042] The rice cooker 2, the information terminal 3, the server 7, and the storage device 8 are each communicably connected to a network NW via an electrical communication network 11. The network NW utilizes, for example, Ethernet, a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, a LPWA (Low Power Wide Area), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a LAN (Local Area Network), or other public or dedicated lines, depending on the situation.

[0043] The electric communication network 11 includes the short-range wireless communication 5 , an external communication network 12 , a local area communication network (intra-network communication network) 13 , and a relay 15 that relays information between the external communication network 12 and the local area communication network 13 .

[0044] The external communication network 12 includes a network NW. The relay 15, the server 7, and the information terminal 3 are connected to the network NW via a public telephone network, a mobile phone network, etc. The rice cooking system 1 provides the user with a simple communication environment between the rice cooker 2 and the information terminal 3 via the Internet.

[0045] The local area communication network 13 is a wireless or wired electric communication network including a relay device 15 and is a so-called client network.

[0046] The relay device 15 is, for example, at least one of a wireless router and a cooking modem.

[0047] The rice cooker 2 is communicably connected to the local communication network 13. The rice cooker 2 can communicate with the server 7 via a relay device 15 installed in the user's home.

[0048] The server 7 manages the rice cooker 2. For example, the server 7 manages information related to device registration of the rice cooker 2 and information related to the current state and current settings of the rice cooker 2 including the status of the rice cooking operation of the rice cooker 2.

[0049] Furthermore, the server 7 establishes a communication line enabling bidirectional information exchange between the rice cooker 2 and the information terminal 3 via the network NW. The server 7 is, for example, a cloud server comprised of one or more server devices. Furthermore, the server 7 may also include an information processing unit, such as an information processing unit included in a router in the network NW, that performs edge computing or fog computing. The server 7 is not limited to a cloud server and may also be a computer located in the user's home, such as a home router such as a wireless router.

[0050] The server 7 communicates with a large number of rice cookers 2 and a large number of information terminals 3 via the network NW. The server 7 assigns identifiers to the rice cookers 2. The rice cooking system 1 establishes bidirectional communication between the information terminals 3 and the rice cookers 2 based on the identifiers managed by the server 7.

[0051] For convenience of explanation, hereinafter, “information on the rice cooker 2 including device registration of the rice cooker 2 , an operating status of the rice cooker 2 , and a state of the rice cooker 2 ” will be referred to as “rice cooker information”.

[0052] Storage device 8 stores various types of information. Server 7 can refer to the information stored in storage device 8. Specifically, server 7 can receive target information as a response by sending a predetermined request to storage device 8. Information stored in storage device 8 includes, for example, information sent from rice cooker 2 and information sent from information terminal 3.

[0053] The information terminal 3 is communicatively connected to at least one of the external communication network 12 and the local area communication network 13. The information terminal 3 is a terminal device used by the user of the rice cooking system 1 to confirm the current status and current settings of the rice cooker 2, or to remotely operate the rice cooker 2. The information terminal 3 is, for example, a portable terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet computer, or a terminal device such as a personal computer or a smart speaker that is not suitable for carrying and is permanently installed in a house. The information terminal 3 directly communicates bidirectionally with the rice cooker 2 via short-range wireless communication 5 or via a repeater 15. The information terminal 3 is connected to the network NW via a public wireless line or a mobile phone line, and can also communicate bidirectionally with the server 7. The information terminal 3 obtains information related to the current status and current settings of the rice cooker 2 from the server 7, and outputs the current status and current settings of the rice cooker 2 to the screen of the information terminal 3.

[0054] An information terminal 3 such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal device obtains information via the server 7 or without going through the server 7 and outputs the status of the rice cooker 2 to the screen of the information terminal 3. In addition, the information terminal 3 such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal device causes the connected rice cooker 2 to perform processing corresponding to the user's operation. When the smart speaker detects that the speaker has uttered specific words, it uses natural language processing to identify the subsequent questions and requests of the speaker, converts the reaction and response corresponding to the identified content into sound and outputs it, or causes the connected rice cooker 2 to perform processing corresponding to the identified content. The same natural language processing function can be installed on a portable information terminal 3 such as a smartphone, and can also be installed on the rice cooker 2.

[0055] Furthermore, it is preferred that information transmitted and received within the rice cooking system 1, such as the rice cooker 2, the information terminal 3, and the server 7, be of variable length, with a desired amount of information. Specifically, the information transmitted and received within the rice cooking system 1 may include all information related to the current state and current settings of the rice cooker 2, only a portion of the information related to the current state of the rice cooker 2, or only a portion of the information related to the current settings.

[0056] Furthermore, the rice cooker 2, the information terminal 3, and the server 7 preferably share the current state and settings of the rice cooker 2 without delay. Here, the rice cooker 2, the information terminal 3, and the server 7 preferably exchange information indicating the current state and settings of the rice cooker 2 at predetermined intervals, such as five minutes. Therefore, the information terminal 3 and the server 7 independently obtain information from the rice cooker 2 at predetermined intervals and transmit the information to the rice cooker 2. At least, the rice cooker 2 and the information terminal 3 must share the current state and settings of the rice cooker 2 without delay.

[0057] Figure 2 It is a perspective view of the rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] Figure 3 It is a longitudinal sectional view of the rice cooker which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

[0059] also, Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the rice cooker 2 from the upper right side of the rice cooker 2 of this embodiment. Figure 2 In the embodiment, the front, right and upper surfaces of the rice cooker 2 can be seen, while the back, left and bottom surfaces of the rice cooker 2 are hidden.

[0060] like Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 As shown, the rice cooker 2 of this embodiment includes: a rectangular main body 23 having a pot-receiving portion 21 open to the top; a pot 25 housed in the pot-receiving portion 21; a lid 26 covering the upper surface of the main body 23 and closing the pot-receiving portion 21; a hinge mechanism 27 supporting the lid 26 on the main body 23 in an openable and closable manner; and a power cord 28 connectable to an external power source, such as a commercial AC power outlet. When the lid 26 is opened upward from the main body 23, the pot 25 can be removed from the pot-receiving portion 21.

[0061] The rice cooker 2 uses the heating coil 31 to heat rice and water in the pot 25 to cook the rice, and heats and keeps the cooked rice warm using the heating coil 31. The rice cooker 2 cooks the rice in a cooking program selected from a plurality of cooking programs.

[0062] Each cooking program has cooking conditions for cooking rice. Examples of these cooking conditions include the type of rice, the cooking method, the hardness of the rice, and the cooking time. Each cooking program includes at least two of these cooking conditions.

[0063] In each rice cooking program, the rice in pot 25 is pressurized and heated at a specified pressure. Each cooking program includes steps tailored to the rice type and polishing ratio. These steps include, for example, a soaking cooking step to promote water absorption by the rice in pot 25; a boiling heating step to quickly raise the temperature of the rice to its boiling point; a continuous boiling step to continue boiling the rice; and a simmering step to maintain the rice at a high enough temperature to prevent it from burning. The rice cooker 2 can also perform a keep-warm step, either separately from or continuously with the cooking program, to maintain the rice in pot 25 at a specified keep-warm temperature.

[0064] The rice cooker 2 can also execute a cooking program that heats food other than rice stored in the pot 25 using a predetermined heating pattern. Unless otherwise specified, food includes rice. Furthermore, the rice cooker 2 can also execute a cleaning program within the rice cooker 2 that uses steam to lift dirt from difficult-to-clean areas and remove odors by boiling water stored in the pot 25. For ease of explanation, the rice cooking program, cooking program, and cleaning program will be collectively referred to as a "program."

[0065] The pot 25 is a container with a bottom that holds water and rice, the food being cooked. It comprises a main member 25a made of aluminum, which has high thermal conductivity, and a heating element 25b attached to the main member from below, covering the bottom. The heating element is made of, for example, a magnetic metal plate made of ferrite-based stainless steel. The pot 25 has a flange 32 that protrudes radially outward and surrounds the entire circumference of the outer circumference.

[0066] The main body 23 has a rectangular planar shape. It defines the front, back, left, right, and bottom surfaces of the rice cooker 2, which are located below the lid 26. The main body 23 includes a bottom plate 35 defining the bottom surface of the main body 23; an upper frame 36 covering the top of the bottom plate 35 and defining a portion of the upper surface and side surfaces of the main body 23; a bowl-shaped inner frame 37 integrally formed with the upper frame 36; and an outer frame 38 defining the remainder of the upper surface of the main body 23.

[0067] The bottom plate 35, the upper frame 36, and the outer frame 38 are the outer contours of the main body 23. The bottom plate 35 and the upper frame 36 are molded products of synthetic resin, such as polypropylene (PP), while the outer frame 38 is molded products of metal, such as stainless steel.

[0068] The upper frame 36 and the inner frame 37 define the pot storage portion 21. The inner frame 37 corresponds to the bottom plate of the pot storage portion 21. The inner frame 37 is a molded product of a synthetic resin, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0069] The main body 23 also has a control unit housing chamber 39 defined between the outer shell and the pot housing 21. The outer shell of the main body 23 has a vent 41 for introducing external air into the control unit housing chamber 39. The vent 41 is preferably disposed on the bottom or side of the main body 23.

[0070] Furthermore, the main body 23 includes a heating control circuit board 42 housed in the control unit housing chamber 39. The heating control circuit board 42 includes a microprocessor and a storage device that stores various calculation programs executed by the microprocessor and digital information such as parameters. The storage device stores various settings (arguments) associated with a plurality of pre-set programs.

[0071] The main body 23 also includes a heat sink 43 that heats the microprocessor mounted on the control circuit board 42 and a cooling fan 45 that blows air toward the heat sink 43 .

[0072] Heat sink 43 is made of a material with good thermal conductivity, such as aluminum. Cooling fan 45 is located below or to the side of heat sink 43. The combined cooling performance of heat sink 43 and cooling fan 45 is set to maintain the microprocessor's temperature within the operating temperature range. Cooling fan 45 and vent 41 of main body 23 are preferably positioned so that they sandwich pot 25. This arrangement contributes to product miniaturization.

[0073] Furthermore, the main body 23 includes a heating coil 31 provided on the outer surface of the inner frame 37 and a pan temperature sensor 46 provided at the center of the bottom surface of the inner frame 37 to detect the temperature of the bottom of the pan 25 .

[0074] The heating coil 31 is disposed so as to face the lower portion of the outer peripheral surface and the bottom surface of the pan 25 accommodated in the pan accommodating portion 21. The heating coil 31 generates an alternating magnetic field to heat the heating element 25b of the pan 25 by electromagnetic induction.

[0075] Pan temperature sensor 46 includes a thermistor that detects the temperature of the bottom of pan 25. Hereinafter, the temperature of the bottom of pan 25 is also referred to as the "pan bottom temperature." Pan temperature sensor 46 is pressed against the bottom surface of pan 25 by a spring force. The pan bottom temperature detected by pan temperature sensor 46 is used exclusively for managing the heating temperature of pan 25 by heating coil 31.

[0076] Hinge mechanism 27 includes a hinge shaft 51 that swingably connects main body 23 and lid 26, and a hinge spring 52 that applies a spring force to lid 26, causing lid 26, which closes pot storage portion 21, to open upward toward main body 23 about hinge shaft 51. Hinge shaft 51 is located near the upper back surface of main body 23.

[0077] The lid 26 has a rectangular planar shape that covers the main body 23. The lid 26 defines the front, back, left, right, and top surfaces of the rice cooker 2 above the main body 23. The lid 26 comprises an outer lid 55 positioned on top of the rice cooker 2; an outer lid cover 56 positioned between the outer lid 55 and the main body 23; a metal heat sink 57 mounted on the outer lid cover 56; a lid heater 58 mounted on the heat sink 57; and an inner lid unit 59 detachably mounted on the outer lid cover 56 and detachably mounted below the heat sink 57.

[0078] The inner cover unit 59 includes a metal inner cover 61 disposed below the heat sink 57 and in contact with the heat sink 57 , a cover gasket 62 provided on the outer periphery of the inner cover 61 , and a gasket base 63 integrating the inner cover 61 and the cover gasket 62 .

[0079] The heat sink 57 and the inner cover 61 are formed from an anodized aluminum plate or a stainless steel plate. The inner cover 61 corresponds to the bottom surface of the lid 26. The inner cover 61 has a disk shape with substantially the same diameter as the upper opening of the pot 25.

[0080] The lid gasket 62 is, for example, a molded product of silicone rubber or fluororubber. The lid mold 62 is a seal that closes the gap between the pot 25 and the inner lid 61 when the lid 26 is closed. The lid gasket 62 contacts the upper surface of the flange 32 of the pot 25 when the lid 26 is closed.

[0081] When the lid body 26 with the inner cover unit 59 installed is closed, the lid gasket 62 is pressed against the upper surface of the flange portion 32 of the pot 25, and the inner cover unit 59 covers the upper opening portion of the pot 25 without a gap, sealing it so that the steam generated when the pot 25 is heated will not leak from between the pot 25 and the inner cover unit 59.

[0082] The cover heater 58 is, for example, a line heater, and heats the heat sink 57 to heat the inner cover 61 in contact with the heat sink 57 .

[0083] In addition, the lid 26 includes: a steam port 65, which is installed on the rear half of the upper surface of the lid 26 in a detachable manner to discharge the steam generated from the rice being cooked in the pot 25 to the outside of the rice cooker 2; a steam discharge passage 66, which guides the steam in the pot 25 to the steam port 65; and a pressure regulating valve 67, which allows or cuts off the flow of gas in the steam discharge passage 66.

[0084] The steam discharge passage 66 connects the steam port 65 and the pressure regulating valve 67 .

[0085] The pressure regulating valve 67 is, for example, a solenoid valve. When the pressure regulating valve 67 is opened, the interior of the pot 25 is connected to the exterior of the rice cooker 2. At this point, the pressure regulating valve 67 opens the interior of the pot 25 to the atmosphere. Steam generated within the pot 25 is released to the exterior of the rice cooker 2. When the pressure regulating valve 67 is closed, the connection between the interior of the pot 25 and the exterior of the rice cooker 2 is severed, restricting the flow of gas through the steam discharge passage 66. At this point, the pressure regulating valve 67 seals the interior of the pot 25. The steam generated within the pot 25 causes the internal pressure of the pot 25 to rise above atmospheric pressure. By sucking out the gas within the pot 25 while the pressure regulating valve 67 is closed, the internal pressure of the pot 25 can be reduced below atmospheric pressure.

[0086] The pressure regulating valve 67 includes a spherical valve element 67a that allows or blocks the flow of gas in the steam exhaust passage 66, and a solenoid 67b that drives the valve element 67a to open and close. To release steam from the pot 25 to the exterior of the rice cooker 2, the solenoid 67b rotates the valve element 67a in one direction, opening the steam exhaust passage 66. To increase or decrease the internal pressure of the pot 25, the solenoid 67b rotates the valve element 67a in the other direction, closing the steam exhaust passage 66. When the food in the pot 25 boils and generates steam, and this steam fills the pot 25, causing the internal pressure of the pot 25 to exceed a predetermined value, the valve element 67a is pushed upward by the internal pressure of the pot 25, opening the steam exhaust passage 66. Furthermore, when the internal pressure of the pot 25 drops below the predetermined value, the valve element 67a closes the steam exhaust passage 66 due to its own weight. This operation of the valve element 67a maintains the pressure in the pot 25 above atmospheric pressure.

[0087] Furthermore, the lid 26 includes a pressure-reducing pump 68 for reducing the pressure in the pot 25 when the lid 26 is closed.

[0088] The suction side of the pressure-reducing pump 68 is connected to the pressure-reducing hole 69 of the inner lid 61. The pressure-reducing pump 68 discharges the gas in the pot 25 from the pressure-reducing hole 69 to the outside of the rice cooker 2, thereby reducing the internal pressure of the pot 25. To reduce the internal pressure of the pot 25, the pot 25 is housed in the pot housing 21, the lid 26 is closed, and the pressure-regulating valve 67 is closed. To restore the internal pressure of the pot 25 from the reduced pressure state to atmospheric pressure, the pressure-reducing pump 68 is stopped and the pressure-regulating valve 67 is opened. The inside of the pot 25 is then connected to the outside of the rice cooker 2, allowing outside air to flow into the pot 25. The passage connecting the pressure-reducing pump 68 to the pressure-reducing hole 69 may also include an on-off valve that allows or blocks the flow of gas.

[0089] In other words, the pressure reducing pump 68 and the pressure regulating valve 67 function as a pressure reducing unit capable of reducing the internal pressure of the pot 25 to a reduced pressure state lower than the atmospheric pressure, and the pressure regulating valve 67 also functions as a pressurizing unit capable of pressurizing the internal pressure of the pot 25 to a pressurized state higher than the atmospheric pressure.

[0090] In addition, the cover body 26 has: a cover opening operation button 71, which is arranged on the front half of the upper surface of the cover body 26; a cover locking mechanism 72, which locks the opening and closing of the cover body 26; an operation panel 73 as an input and output device; and an input and output control circuit board 75, which controls the operation of the operation panel 73.

[0091] When the lid opening operation button 71 is operated, the lid 26 and the main body 23 that close the pot storage portion 21 are unlocked. When the lid 26 and the main body 23 are unlocked, the spring force of the hinge spring 52 opens the lid 26 with the hinge shaft 51 as the rotation center.

[0092] The lid locking mechanism 72 locks and closes the lid 26 of the main body 23. The lid locking mechanism 72 unlocks the lid 26 in conjunction with the operation of the lid opening button 71. Even if the lid opening button 71 is pressed once, the lid locking mechanism 72 restricts the opening of the lid 26 when the internal pressure of the pot 25 is increased or decreased. If the lid opening button 71 is pressed again within a specified time, the lid locking mechanism 72 activates the pressure regulating valve 67 and the pressure reducing pump 68 to restore the internal pressure of the pot 25 to atmospheric pressure, thereby releasing the restriction on the opening of the lid 26. The lid locking operation of the lid locking mechanism 72 is controlled by the heating control circuit board 42. The detailed structure and control details of the lid locking mechanism 72 can be based on the known technology described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-171545. The lid locking operation of the lid locking mechanism 72 is not always performed. When the lid locking operation is not performed, the lid 26 can be opened by pressing the lid opening button 71 once.

[0093] The operation panel 73 includes a display unit 76 for displaying various information and an operation unit 77 for accepting various operations.

[0094] The display unit 76 is an output device that visually displays the current state of the rice cooker 2. The display unit 76 is, for example, a display and a light emitting diode (LED). The display is a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic electro-luminescence (OLED) panel.

[0095] The display unit 76 includes a plurality of light emitting diodes, which include: when the reservation is set and the rice cooking operation is on reservation standby, the "reservation" ( Figure 2 ) string lights up the light-emitting diode; in the case of executing the heat preservation process of the cooking object within the pot 25, the "keep warm" ( Figure 2 ) string lights up the light-emitting diode; in the case of a reduced pressure state where the internal pressure of the pot 25 is lower than atmospheric pressure, the "vacuum" ( Figure 2 and in the case of a pressurized state in which the internal pressure of the pot 25 is higher than atmospheric pressure, the "pressurized" ( Figure 2) is lit up by a light emitting diode. Therefore, even in a dimmed state where the light amount of the display is reduced, the user can easily recognize the current state of the rice cooker 2. The light emitting colors of the multiple light emitting diodes can be uniform or different from each other. The user can more easily recognize the current state of the rice cooker 2 based on the difference in light emitting colors. The display and the light emitting diodes can be set close to or far away from each other. The display based on these light emitting diodes can also be represented by the display.

[0096] The operating unit 77 is an input device, a so-called touch sensor. The operating unit 77 is arranged directly above the display unit 76 in a manner covering the display unit 76. The touch sensor has a plurality of key elements arranged on a plane. Each key element has, for example, a transparent electrode portion using a conductive polymer, a contact portion connected to the input / output control circuit board 75, and a pattern wiring connecting the transparent electrode portion and the contact portion. By pressing, touching, or approaching any display element displayed on the display unit 76 with a fingertip, the key element arranged directly above the display element is operated. The operation received by the key element is output to the input / output control circuit board 75 as a selection of a display element of the display unit 76 displayed directly below it.

[0097] The input / output control circuit board 75 is housed in the cover 26 and is located directly below the operating panel 73. The input / output control circuit board 75 includes a microprocessor, a storage device for storing various computing programs and parameters actually run by the microprocessor, and a real-time clock (RTC) with a timing function. The storage device stores various settings (independent variables) associated with a plurality of pre-set programs. The real-time clock has the function of a clock that keeps track of the current moment of the rice cooker 2 and a timing function. The real-time clock can be located on either the heating control circuit board 42 or the input / output control circuit board 75.

[0098] The user of the rice cooker 2 can select and input rice cooking conditions such as the type of rice, cooking method, hardness, and cooking time through the operation unit 77. Based on the program set by the operation of the operation unit 77, the rice cooker 2 performs cooking standby, heating rice and water, keeping rice warm, and pre-set cooking standby.

[0099] However, it is assumed that the user of the rice cooker 2 operates the operation panel 73 while standing in a position facing the front of the rice cooker 2. The rice cooker 2 of this embodiment includes a lid-opening operation button 71 located in the front half of the upper surface, which is closer to the user facing the front of the rice cooker 2, and a steam vent 65 located in the rear half of the upper surface, which is farther from the user facing the front of the rice cooker 2. Therefore, the rice cooker 2 of this embodiment can easily secure a large space for arranging the display portion 76 between the lid-opening operation button 71 and the steam vent 65, and can also maximize the size of the operation portion 77 located directly above the display portion 76. Consequently, the rice cooker 2 can achieve high visibility of the display portion 76, high operability of the operation portion 77, and high safety against steam discharged from the steam vent 65.

[0100] The electric rice cooker 2 of this embodiment does not have the physical operation keys, such as those including a cooking key and an off key, found on conventional electric rice cookers. Instead, it can be operated solely via the operating unit 77. Therefore, the electric rice cooker 2 of this embodiment eliminates the hassle of searching for operation keys and provides intuitive operability. Furthermore, the electric rice cooker 2 without physical operation keys centralizes the display unit 76 and the operating unit 77 to improve space utilization efficiency. This facilitates a highly intelligent design compared to conventional electric rice cookers with dispersed input and output devices. Furthermore, the upper surface of the electric rice cooker 2 without physical operation keys can be formed into a flat surface with virtually no unevenness or a gently curved surface. These upper surface shapes of the electric rice cooker 2 make it easy to clean by wiping or cleaning.

[0101] Figure 4 It is a cross-sectional view of the inner frame and heating coil of the rice cooker according to this embodiment. Figure 5 It is a bottom view of the inner frame and heating coil of the rice cooker according to this embodiment.

[0102] like Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 As shown, the heating coil 31 of the rice cooker 2 of this embodiment includes a plurality of coils 11u and 11d.

[0103] The first coil 31u is provided on the outer side of the inner frame 37, and the second coil 31d is provided on the bottom outer surface of the inner frame 37. The first coil 31u faces the lower outer side of the pot 25 across the inner frame 37. The second coil 31d faces the bottom outer surface of the pot 25 across the inner frame 37.

[0104] The transfer of heat when power is supplied to the heating coil 31 will be described.

[0105] When the first coil 31u is energized, the lower part of the outer side surface of the pot 25 is heated first. The heat of this part is conducted to the main material 25a of the pot 25 and moves to the water contained in the food to be cooked that is in contact with the lower part of the inner side surface of the pot 25. The movement of heat in the food to be cooked mainly occurs together with the movement of water, that is, convection. In the place where the rice in the food to be cooked exists, the movement of water is only restricted to the narrow gaps between the rice grains, and the movement of water and heat is dulled. On the other hand, in the place where there is no rice, the movement of water and heat, that is, convection becomes active. Therefore, after the water in contact with the lower part of the inner side surface, the water in the upper part of the food to be cooked is heated. Since the rice grains sink downward due to their own weight, the upper part of the food to be cooked hardly contains rice grains and substantially only contains water. Then, in the central part of the food to be cooked, the water and heat in the upper part that has become high temperature move to the middle part of the food to be cooked that is still at a low temperature, and then move to the lower part of the food to be cooked. This phenomenon is the so-called heat convection, which is called "outer convection" based on the first coil 31u.

[0106] In addition, when the second coil 31d is energized, the outer surface of the bottom of the pot 25 is heated first. The heat of this part is conducted to the main material 25a of the pot 25 and moves to the water contained in the lower part of the food to be cooked that is in contact with the inner surface of the bottom of the pot 25, that is, the bottom of the pot. Since the rice grains sink downward due to their own weight, the bottom of the pot is in a state of being covered by the rice and water contained in the lower part of the food to be cooked. Therefore, the heat of the bottom of the pot raises the temperature and pressure of the water covering the bottom of the pot. After that, the water at the bottom of the pot with the increased temperature and pressure moves upward through the gaps between the rice grains contained in the food to be cooked. That is, the water in the lower part of the food to be cooked that has been heated, that is, hot water, moves to the middle part of the food to be cooked together with the heat, and then moves to the upper part of the food to be cooked. This phenomenon is the so-called blow-up (Japanese: 吹上げ), which is called "inner convection" based on the second coil 31d.

[0107] Moreover, when the first coil 31u and the second coil 31d are alternately energized, outer convection and inner convection are alternately generated in the food to be cooked in the pot 25. That is, when the first coil 31u and the second coil 31d are alternately energized, the stirring of the water contained in the food to be cooked in the pot 25 is promoted by the alternately generated outer convection and inner convection, and the uneven heating of the food to be cooked is reduced.

[0108] The heating control circuit board 42 of the rice cooker 2 of the present embodiment makes the heating coil 31 operate with a plurality of energization types in which the energization time of the first coil 31u, the energization time of the second coil 31d, the output of the first coil 31u, and the output of the second coil 31d are variously combined. These plurality of energization types are stored in the storage unit.

[0109] One of the energization types includes a type in which, after energizing the first coil 31u with a first output W1 for a first energizing time T1, the second coil 31d is energized with a second output W2 for a second energizing time T2. Each energizing time T1 and T2 is preferably at least several seconds. This generates alternating external and internal convection within the food in pot 25 for a predetermined period of time or longer. This alternating external and internal convection promotes agitation of the water in the food in pot 25, reducing uneven heating.

[0110] It is preferable that the first energization time T1 and the second energization time T2 are different. In other words, it is preferable that the time when external convection occurs and the time when internal convection occurs in a certain energization pattern are different.

[0111] The energization type may include a type in which either the energization time or the output of the heating coil 31 is varied while the other remains constant. Alternatively, the energization time of each coil 31, 31d may be constant while the output of each coil 31, 31d may be different. Alternatively, the output of each coil 31, 31d may be constant while the energization time of each coil 31, 31d may be different.

[0112] The multiple energization patterns may also include a energization pattern with a non-energization time during which power is cut off for all heating coils 31. Specifically, after energizing one of the two coils 31 and 31d for a predetermined energization time and output, after a first non-energization time has elapsed, the other of the two coils 31 and 31d is energized for a predetermined energization time and output, and then a second non-energization time is allowed to elapse. The first non-energization time and the second non-energization time may be the same or different.

[0113] Alternatively, the energization type may include a type in which only one of the two coils 31 and 31d is intermittently energized, while the other coil 31 and 31d is not energized (not energized). This energization type energizes one of the two coils 31 and 31d for a predetermined energizing time and output, while energizing neither coil 31 or 31d for a predetermined energizing time. This energization type is suitable for a heat-retention process.

[0114] These energization patterns are repeated for a specified time or a specified number of times.

[0115] When switching the energization type, the first energization type is switched to the first energization type, in which the first coil 31u is energized with the first output W1 for the first energization time T1, and then the second coil 31d is energized with the second output W2 for the second energization time T2. Alternatively, the second energization type is switched to the second energization type, in which the first coil 31u is energized with the third output W3 for the third energization time T3, and then the second coil 31d is energized with the fourth output W4 for the fourth energization time T4. Each energization type is repeated for a predetermined time or a predetermined number of times before and after switching.

[0116] The content of each energization type and the combination of multiple energization types are appropriately set in each step included in the program.

[0117] In the energized type, the output adjustment of the first coil 31 u and the output adjustment of the second coil 31 d are based on, for example, PWM control (Pulse Width Modulation).

[0118] Figure 6 This is a control block diagram of the rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0119] like Figures 2 to 5 as well as Figure 6 As shown, the rice cooker 2 of this embodiment operates in conjunction with the input / output control circuit board 75 and the heating control circuit board 42. The input / output control circuit board 75 and the heating control circuit board 42 bidirectionally input and output control signals to and from each other. The input / output control circuit board 75 outputs heating control signals to the heating control circuit board 42, and the heating control circuit board 42 outputs display control signals to the input / output control circuit board 75.

[0120] In addition, the rice cooker 2 includes: a coil drive circuit 81 for energizing the heating coil 31; a lid heater drive circuit 83 for energizing the lid heater 58; a lid temperature sensor 85 for detecting the temperature of the inner lid 61; a lid opening and closing sensor 86 for being arranged inside the lid body 26 for detecting the opening and closing of the lid body 26; a pressure sensor 87 for detecting the internal pressure of the pot 25; a notification unit 88; and a communication module 89 as a transceiver unit for establishing two-way communication between the rice cooker 2 and the information terminal 3.

[0121] The coil drive circuit 81 includes a first drive circuit 81u that flows a high-frequency current through the first coil 31u based on a first heating control signal output by the heating control circuit board 42, and a second drive circuit 81d that flows a high-frequency current through the second coil 31d based on a second heating control signal output by the heating control circuit board 42. The two coil drive circuits 81u and 81d are, for example, at least one of a power supply circuit, an inverter, an IH (Induction Heating) drive circuit, and a switching element. The coil drive circuit 81 varies at least one of the cycle and the duty cycle of the high-frequency current flowing through the two coils 11u and 11d, thereby increasing or decreasing the output of the two coils 11u and 11d.

[0122] For ease of explanation, the rice cooker 2 is assumed to include a switch element that selectively energizes the two coils 11u and 11d. The rice cooker 2 may also be capable of energizing the two coils 11u and 11d simultaneously. In other words, there may be a period during which the two coils 11u and 11d are energized simultaneously.

[0123] The cover heater driving circuit 83 supplies direct current or alternating current to the cover heater 58 based on the cover heating control signal output from the heating control circuit board 42 .

[0124] The lid temperature sensor 85 is a thermistor. It detects the temperature of the heat sink 57. The temperature detected by the lid temperature sensor 85, i.e., the temperature of the heat sink 57, is correlated with the temperature of the inner lid 61. In other words, the temperature of the inner lid 61 can be estimated based on the temperature detected by the lid temperature sensor 85. Hereinafter, the temperature of the inner lid 61 estimated based on the temperature detected by the lid temperature sensor 85 will also be referred to as the "lid temperature." The lid temperature detected by the lid temperature sensor 85 is primarily used to manage the heating temperature of the inner lid 61 by the lid heater 58.

[0125] The lid open / close sensor 86 is preferably located near the hinge mechanism 27. The lid open / close sensor 86 may be any type of sensor, such as an optical sensor, a mechanical sensor, or a magnetic sensor, as long as it can output a detection signal based on the opening and closing of the lid 26 to the input / output control circuit board 75. For example, the lid open / close sensor 86 detects the tilt of the lid 26 when it is open and tilted relative to the main body 23. Furthermore, the lid open / close sensor 86 detects the position of the lid 26 when it is closed.

[0126] The pressure sensor 87 is provided inside the lid 26 , detects the pressure of the steam discharge passage 66 on the pot 25 side relative to the pressure regulating valve 67 , that is, the pressure equivalent to the internal pressure of the pot 25 , and outputs the pressure to the heating control circuit board 42 .

[0127] The notification unit 88 is at least one of a functional unit that appeals to the vision of the user of the rice cooker 2, such as a light source that lights up or flashes, such as a lamp or a light emitting diode (LED); a functional unit that appeals to the hearing of the user of the rice cooker 2, such as a sound generator that emits an electrically synthesized sound or a buzzing sound; and a functional unit that appeals to the tactile sense of the user of the rice cooker 2.

[0128] The communication module 89 is built into the lid 26. The communication module 89 is a transmitter that sends information from the rice cooker 2 to the information terminal 3 and a receiver that receives information sent from the information terminal 3. The communication module 89 is preferably capable of bidirectional communication with multiple information terminals 3 individually. In other words, the communication module 89 is preferably a transmitter that can send information from the rice cooker 2 to multiple information terminals 3 individually and a receiver that can receive information sent from multiple information terminals 3 individually. In other words, it is preferred that a single rice cooker 2 can perform bidirectional communication with a large number of information terminals 3 individually. In other words, it is preferred that the rice cooker 2 can perform bidirectional communication with multiple information terminals 3 in a one-to-many relationship.

[0129] The information received by the communication module 89 from the information terminal 3 includes the setting conditions for each program executable by the rice cooker 2. The information sent by the communication module 89 to the information terminal 3 includes the current state and current settings of the rice cooker 2. The communication module 89 preferably sends at least the current state and current settings of the rice cooker 2, from the information stored in the storage device of the heating control circuit board 42, to the information terminal 3 and the server 7 at predetermined intervals.

[0130] The inputs to the input / output control circuit board 75 are operation signals output by the various key elements of the operation unit 77 and display control signals output by the heating control circuit board 42. Based on these inputs, the input / output control circuit board 75 controls the display operation of the display unit 76, controls the operation of the notification unit 88, and outputs heating control signals to the heating control circuit board 42.

[0131] The microprocessor of the input / output control circuit board 75 functions as an input signal generating unit 92 that generates control signals corresponding to the operation signals output by each key element, a display control unit 93 that controls the display action of the display unit 76, and a condition setting unit 95 that can, in conjunction with the input signal generating unit 92 and the display control unit 93, perform prompts, selections, and settings of various conditions that can be selected through key elements.

[0132] The condition setting unit 95 sequentially presents a plurality of programs including, for example, a cooking program, a rice cooking program, and a cleaning program, and enables selection and setting of a desired program.

[0133] The storage device of the input / output control circuit board 75 stores rice cooking programs corresponding to various conditions, such as rice type, cooking method, and hardness, which can be selected using key elements. The display unit 76 displays the various conditions of the program stored in the storage device, and the operation unit 77 receives an operation to select these conditions, thereby appropriately selecting and setting the program.

[0134] The heating control circuit board 42 of the main body 23 adjusts the heating coil 31 and the lid heater 58 based on the pot bottom temperature detected by the pot temperature sensor 46 and the lid temperature detected by the lid temperature sensor 85 when cooking or keeping warm, thereby controlling the temperature of the pot 25 and the temperature of the inner cover 61.

[0135] The inputs of the heating control circuit board 42 are the temperature detection signal output by the pot temperature sensor 46, the temperature detection signal output by the lid temperature sensor 85, the internal pressure detection signal output by the pressure sensor 87, the lid opening and closing detection signal output by the lid opening and closing sensor 86, and the heating control signal output by the input and output control circuit board 75.

[0136] Based on these inputs, the heating control circuit board 42 controls the heating coil 31, which heats the pot 25 during cooking and keep-warm periods, and the lid heater 58, which heats the inner lid 61. Based on the temperature detection signal output by the pot temperature sensor 46, the heating control circuit board 42 primarily controls the heating coil 31 to manage the temperature at the bottom of the pot 25. Based on the temperature detection signal output by the lid temperature sensor 85, the heating control circuit board 42 primarily controls the lid heater 58 to manage the temperature of the inner lid 61.

[0137] Furthermore, the heating control circuit board 42 controls the opening and closing of the pressure regulating valve 67 of the steam exhaust passage 66 , the decompression operation of the decompression pump 68 , and the lid locking operation of the lid locking mechanism 72 based on the internal pressure detection signal output by the pressure sensor 87 .

[0138] The microprocessor of the heating control circuit board 42 functions as a rice cooking control unit 97 and a heat-keeping control unit 98 by executing a predetermined program.

[0139] When the operation unit 77 is input to start cooking, the cooking control unit 97 performs the soaking cooking process, the boiling heating process, the boiling continuing process and the stewing process in sequence, and performs the cooking action of cooking the rice. In addition, when the operation unit 77 is input to start cooking, the cooking control unit 97 performs the cooking process in sequence.

[0140] The heat-keeping control unit 98 executes a heat-keeping process. The heat-keeping process includes a simple heat-keeping process for keeping the rice in the pot 25 at a predetermined heat-keeping temperature, and a reheating heat-keeping process for reheating the rice at a lower temperature than the predetermined heat-keeping temperature in the pot 25 to a predetermined heat-keeping temperature.

[0141] The storage device of the heating control circuit board 42 stores various combinations of pressure regulation types for driving timings of the pressure regulating valve 67 and the pressure reducing pump 68, energization types of the first coil 31u and the second coil 31d, and combinations of these execution timings in each program.

[0142] The status of the rice cooker 2 includes, for example, "waiting" (standby), which means the rice is being soaked in water, "additional soaking," which means the rice is being cooked, "cooking," which means the rice is being cooked, "keeping warm," which means the rice is being kept warm, and "preset," which means the rice is waiting until cooking begins at a predetermined set time. The current status of the rice cooker 2 includes any of the following: "waiting," "additional soaking," "cooking," "keeping warm," or "preset."

[0143] Next, an example of the rice cooking operation in which the rice cooker 2 executes the rice cooking program will be described.

[0144] The food to be cooked is placed in the pot 25. Next, the pot 25 containing the food to be cooked is stored in the pot storage portion 21 of the main body 23, and the lid 26 is closed.

[0145] When the power plug of the rice cooker 2 is plugged into a commercial AC power outlet, the rice cooker 2 starts in an initial state in which cooking and keeping warm are not in progress. This initial state is also referred to as a standby state or a stopped state. Preferably, after the rice cooker 2 is started, the communication module 89 of the rice cooker 2 establishes communication with the electrical communication network 11, sending and receiving information indicating the current state and current settings of the rice cooker 2 at predetermined intervals, such as five minutes.

[0146] Whenever a key element of the operation unit 77 is operated in the initial state, an operation signal corresponding to the operated key element is input to the input signal generating unit 92. The condition setting unit 95 changes the setting of the rice cooking program in conjunction with the input signal generating unit 92, and causes the display unit 76 to display the setting changed in conjunction with the display control unit 93. The display unit 76 visually presents the user of the rice cooker 2 with the current rice cooking program setting corresponding to the operated key element.

[0147] When the key element corresponding to the determination of the rice cooking program is operated, the operation signal corresponding to the determination of the rice cooking program is input to the input signal generating unit 92. The condition setting unit 95 stores the rice cooking program displayed on the display unit 76 in the storage device and outputs the heating mode corresponding to the selected rice cooking program to the heating control circuit board 42.

[0148] Figure 7 Graphs showing temporal changes in the temperature in the pot and the output of the heating coil during the rice cooking operation of the rice cooker according to the present embodiment.

[0149] Figure 7 The figure shows the temporal changes in the pot temperature Ti and the temporal changes in the output P of the heating coil 31. For ease of explanation, the two coils 11u and 11d are considered as one coil to simplify the output P of the heating coil 31. For ease of explanation, the pot temperature Ti is the pot bottom temperature detected by the pot temperature sensor 46.

[0150] like Figure 7 As shown, the rice cooking control unit 97 of the rice cooker 2 of this embodiment performs a cooking operation including a soaking cooking step, a boiling heating step, a boiling and steaming step according to the heating mode corresponding to the selected cooking program, thereby cooking the food to be cooked into rice. Furthermore, the control for executing each step is referred to by the name of the step. For example, the control for executing the soaking cooking step is referred to as the soaking cooking control.

[0151] The soaking and cooking process includes a preheating process, a rice cooking amount determination process, and a soaking process to promote water absorption by the rice. The entire soaking and cooking process is sometimes referred to broadly as the soaking process, while the soaking process within the soaking and cooking process is sometimes referred to narrowly as the soaking process.

[0152] When the immersion cooking process starts, the rice cooking control unit 97 temporarily reduces the internal pressure of the pot 25, and after returning to atmospheric pressure, operates the pressure reducing pump 68 and the pressure regulating valve 67 to return to the reduced pressure state.

[0153] First, the rice cooking control unit 97 activates the solenoid 67b to close the steam exhaust passage 66 through the pressure regulating valve 67, allowing the flow of gas in the path connected to the pressure reducing pump 68 in the pot 25, and activates the pressure reducing pump 68 to extract the gas in the pot 25.

[0154] Next, the rice cooking control unit 97 activates the solenoid 67b, opening the steam exhaust passage 66 via the pressure regulating valve 67, thereby connecting the interior of the pot 25 to the outside of the rice cooker 2. This allows outside air to flow from the steam port 65 through the steam exhaust passage 66 into the reduced-pressure pot 25, restoring the internal pressure of the pot 25 to atmospheric pressure. Furthermore, the rice cooking control unit 97 activates the solenoid 67b, closing the steam exhaust passage 66 via the pressure regulating valve 67, allowing gas to flow through the path connecting the pot 25 to the pressure-reducing pump 68. The pressure-reducing pump 68 then operates to evacuate the gas from the pot 25.

[0155] That is, when the soaking and cooking process starts, the internal pressure of the pot 25 fluctuates. The internal pressure fluctuation of the pot 25 discharges the air inside the rice to the outside of the rice, and water penetrates into the center of the rice instead of the discharged air.

[0156] The display control unit 93 lights up the light-emitting diode just below the character string "VACUUM" whenever the internal pressure of the pot 25 is reduced from the atmospheric pressure, and turns off the light-emitting diode just below the character string "VACUUM" whenever the internal pressure of the pot 25 returns to the atmospheric pressure.

[0157] The start of the soaking and cooking process also starts the preheating process. In the preheating process, the heating coil 31 is used to heat the pot 25 before the cooking amount determination process to increase the initial temperature of the pot 25 in the cooking amount determination process and, in turn, the initial temperature of the food being cooked.

[0158] The rice cooking control unit 97, which performs the preheating process, energizes the heating coil 31 at a specified output and for a specified preheating time, thereby raising the temperature of the rice being cooked. The energization type used in the preheating process is executed before the rice cooking amount determination process and is therefore independent of the rice cooking amount. The energization type used in the preheating process can be a specific energization type or can vary depending on the pot temperature Ti. The energization type used in the preheating process can be a specific energization type that is calibrated based on the pot temperature Ti, or it can be a energization type selected from multiple energization types with different heating coil 31 outputs and energization times based on the pot temperature Ti.

[0159] Specifically, the preheating process may also vary the amount of heat input from the heating coil 31 to the pot 25 and the food being cooked based on the initial temperature of the food being heated during the preheating process. During the preheating process, if the initial temperature Tps of the pot 25 during the preheating process is below a predetermined temperature, such as 23 degrees Celsius, the heating coil 31 is used to heat the pot 25. If the initial temperature Tps of the pot 25 during the preheating process is above the predetermined temperature, the heating coil 31 is not energized, and the pot 25 is not heated. In other words, if the initial temperature Tps of the pot 25 during the preheating process is above the predetermined temperature, the preheating process is not substantially performed.

[0160] Alternatively, the preheating step may be such that the lower the initial temperature of the food being cooked during the preheating step, the longer the heating coil 31 is used to heat the pot 25. In the preheating step, if the initial temperature Tps of the pot 25 during the preheating step is lower than a first predetermined temperature, e.g., 13 degrees Celsius, the heating coil 31 is used to heat the pot 25 for a first predetermined time, e.g., 5 minutes. If the initial temperature Tps of the pot 25 during the preheating step is higher than the first predetermined temperature and lower than a second predetermined temperature, e.g., 23 degrees Celsius, the heating coil 31 is used to heat the pot 25 for a second predetermined time, e.g., 3 minutes, which is shorter than the first predetermined time.

[0161] The temperature of the pot 25 is affected by the temperature of rice, the temperature of water, and the temperature of the atmosphere of the rice cooker 2, but generally represents the temperature of the food being cooked.

[0162] The preheating step is performed for about 5 minutes, for example, so as not to unnecessarily prolong the time required for the entire rice cooking operation and to appropriately heat the low-temperature rice to be cooked.

[0163] When the preheating process is completed, the rice cooking control unit 97 shifts to the cooked rice amount determination process. The rice cooking control unit 97 heats the pot 25 using the heating coil 31 to change the pot temperature Ti detected by the lid temperature sensor 85, and determines the cooked rice amount based on the change in pot temperature Ti.

[0164] However, lid temperature sensor 85 detects the temperature of the outer surface of pot 25, and heating coil 31 performs electromagnetic induction heating on heating element 25b disposed on the outer surface of pot 25. Therefore, it is assumed that the deviation between pot temperature Ti detected when heating coil 31 is energized and the temperature of the food being cooked is greater than the deviation between pot temperature Ti detected when heating coil 31 is not energized and the temperature of the food being cooked.

[0165] Here, the rice cooking control unit 97 preferably includes a non-heating period between the preheating step and the start of the rice-cooking amount determination step, during which the heating coil 31 is stopped and the pot 25 is not heated. Specifically, the immersion cooking step preferably includes a non-heating period between the preheating step and the detection of the initial temperature of the pot 25 in the rice-cooking amount determination step. This allows the pot temperature sensor 46 to reduce the deviation between the pot temperature Ti and the temperature of the food being cooked, allowing for more accurate detection of the initial temperature of the food being cooked in the rice-cooking amount determination step. More accurate detection of the initial temperature of the food being cooked in the rice-cooking amount determination step improves the accuracy of rice-cooking amount determination.

[0166] In addition, when there are multiple heating coils 31, the rice cooking control unit 97 only needs to use at least one heating coil 31 to heat the pot 25. In this way, the rice cooking control unit 97 can increase the temperature of the rice being cooked, for example, the initial temperature, in the rice cooking amount determination process to improve the accuracy of determining the rice cooking amount.

[0167] In order to avoid unnecessarily prolonging the time required for the entire rice cooking operation and to enable the pot temperature sensor 46 to appropriately detect the initial temperature of the rice being cooked in the rice cooking amount determination step, the non-heating period may be, for example, approximately 30 seconds.

[0168] The rice cooking control unit 97 that executes the rice cooking amount determination step energizes the heating coil 31 at a predetermined output and for a predetermined energization time, and then stops the heating coil 31. The rice cooking control unit 97 determines the rice cooking amount based on the change in the pot temperature Ti in the rice cooking amount determination step.

[0169] Here, the initial temperature Ts of the pot 25 in the cooking amount determination process, the maximum temperature Tmax of the pot 25 in the cooking amount determination process, the final temperature Te of the pot 25 in the cooking amount determination process, the first variable V1 obtained by subtracting the initial temperature Ts from the final temperature Te, and the second variable V2 obtained by subtracting the final temperature Te from the maximum temperature Tmax are defined.

[0170] The rice cooking control unit 97, which executes the rice cooking amount determination process, heats the rice being cooked from an initial temperature Ts to a maximum temperature Tmax by energizing the heating coil 31. The rice cooking control unit 97 can predetermine the output and energization time of the heating coil 31 to thereby achieve the maximum temperature Tmax of the rice being cooked, or it can control the output and energization time of the heating coil 31 so that the rice being cooked reaches the predetermined maximum temperature Tmax.

[0171] When the food reaches its maximum temperature Tmax, the rice cooking control unit 97 deenergizes the heating coil 31 for a predetermined cooling time, causing the heating coil 31 to stop. This causes the food's temperature to drop. The rice cooking control unit 97 can determine the final temperature Te of the food at a predetermined time, or it can wait for the completion of the rice cooking amount determination process until the food reaches a predetermined final temperature Te. The rice cooking control unit 97 determines the rice cooking amount based on changes in the pot temperature Ti, namely, the initial temperature Ts, the maximum temperature Tmax, and the final temperature Te.

[0172] The predetermined energization time is set so that, after the food is heated by the heating coil 31, a temperature drop sufficient to determine the amount of cooked rice occurs. The heating coil 31 energized during the rice-cooking amount determination process may be the second coil 31d located closest to the pot temperature sensor 46, the first coil 31u located further away from the pot temperature sensor 46, or all of the heating coils 31. By energizing only the first coil 31u located further away from the pot temperature sensor 46 during the rice-cooking amount determination process, the influence of the heating coil 31 on the detection result of the pot temperature sensor 46 can be reduced, thereby improving the accuracy of rice-cooking amount determination.

[0173] When the heating time is over, the rice cooking control unit 97 shifts to the soaking process.

[0174] The rice cooking control unit 97 executing the soaking process energizes the heating coil 31 to heat the pot 25. The energization type applied to the soaking process may be a specific energization type that is independent of the amount of rice to be cooked determined in the rice-cooking amount determination process, or may be a energization type selected from a plurality of cooking types having different outputs from the heating coil 31 and different energization times according to the amount of rice to be cooked, or may be a energization type in which a specific energization type is corrected according to the amount of rice to be cooked.

[0175] Furthermore, the rice cooking control unit 97 energizes or deenergizes the heating coil 31 during the entire soaking and cooking process so that the pot temperature Ti does not exceed 60 degrees Celsius. This prevents the rice from gelatinizing during the soaking process and prevents the rice from being cooked poorly.

[0176] When the soaking time is over, the rice cooking control unit 97 shifts to the boiling heating process.

[0177] During the boiling heating process, the rice cooking control unit 97 energizes the heating coil 31 until boiling of the food is detected. Compared to the immersion cooking process, the rice cooking control unit 97 heats the food in the pot 25 more intensely, raising its temperature to boiling point in a short period of time. The rice cooking control unit 97 stops the pressure reducing pump 68 and opens the pressure regulating valve 67. This immediately returns the internal pressure of the pot 25 to atmospheric pressure. The display control unit 93 turns off the LED located directly below the "vacuum" character string.

[0178] The appropriate power-on pattern for boiling the food is preferably a sequence of power-on and power-off periods for the first coil 31u, and power-on and power-off periods for the second coil 31d. Furthermore, the rice cooking control unit 97 preferably changes the power-on time of the heating coil 31 based on the amount of rice being cooked. For example, the power-on time of the second coil 31d is changed to be inversely proportional to the amount of rice being cooked, the power-on time of the first coil 31u is set to be proportional to the amount of rice being cooked, and the repetition interval of the power-on pattern, i.e., the power-on pattern cycle, is set to be proportional to the amount of rice being cooked.

[0179] Then, when the temperature of the bottom of the pot 25 reaches a predetermined temperature or above, for example, 90 degrees Celsius or above, and the temperature of the inner lid 61 reaches a predetermined temperature or above, for example, 90 degrees Celsius or above, the rice cooking control unit 97 opens the pressure regulating valve 67 and begins boiling detection of the rice being cooked at atmospheric pressure. The display control unit 93 illuminates the light-emitting diode located directly below the character string "PRESSURING" based on the internal pressure of the pot 25 detected by the pressure sensor 87. The rice cooking control unit 97 monitors the rate of temperature rise per unit time at the bottom of the pot 25 or the rate of temperature rise per unit time at the inner lid 61. If these temperature rise rates fall below a predetermined rate, the rice cooking control unit 97 determines that the rice being cooked is boiling.

[0180] The energization type used in the process of judging whether the object to be cooked is boiling is different from the energization type used in order to make the object to be cooked boil. In addition, it is preferred that the rice cooking control unit 97 also changes the energization time of the heating coil 31 according to the amount of rice to be cooked during the process of judging boiling.

[0181] To determine whether the water contained in the food being cooked is boiling, the rice cooking control unit 97 calculates the rate of increase per unit time of the pot temperature Ti or the rate of increase per unit time of the lid temperature. If the rate of increase of the pot temperature Ti is below a specified temperature increase rate, such as 3 degrees Celsius or less in 120 seconds, the rice cooking control unit 97 determines that a first boiling determination condition based on the pot temperature Ti has been met. If the rate of increase of the lid temperature is below a specified temperature increase rate, such as 1 degree Celsius or less in 60 seconds, the rice cooking control unit 97 determines that a second boiling determination condition based on the lid temperature has been met. If either or both of these boiling determination conditions are met, the rice cooking control unit 97 determines that the food being cooked is boiling.

[0182] The determination values ​​of the temperature rise rate of the pot temperature Ti and the temperature rise rate of the lid temperature may also be different depending on the amount of rice to be cooked. The rice cooking control unit 97 may also determine that the rice to be cooked is boiling based on the satisfaction of either the first boiling determination condition or the second boiling determination condition.

[0183] However, a rice cooking program includes a program in which it is inappropriate to perform the rice cooking amount determination process during the soaking cooking process. For example, in a quick-cooking program designed to complete the cooking process as quickly as possible, it is inappropriate to perform the rice cooking amount determination process during the soaking cooking process. Here, the rice cooker 2 of this embodiment determines the rice cooking amount during the boiling heating process when performing a rice cooking program in which it is inappropriate to perform the rice cooking amount determination process during the soaking cooking process. For convenience, the rice cooking amount determination performed during the boiling heating process is referred to as the third determination method. The third determination method determines the rice cooking amount into multiple levels based on the time required from the pot temperature Ti of the pot 25 detected by the lid temperature sensor 85 reaching a predetermined determination temperature, such as 70 degrees Celsius, until boiling. In other words, the third determination method determines the rice cooking amount based on a threshold value related to time.

[0184] The rice cooking control unit 97 of this embodiment energizes the heating coil 31 with multiple different energization patterns during the boiling heating process, and further energizes the heating coil 31 with different energization patterns during the boiling determination process. In other words, the rice cooker 2 carefully changes the energization pattern appropriate for boiling the water contained in the rice being cooked, thereby reducing uneven cooking of the rice.

[0185] In addition, the rice cooking control unit 97 can select, correct or change the power supply type according to the amount of rice to be cooked. Thus, the rice cooker 2 carefully applies the power supply type suitable for the amount of rice to be cooked, reducing uneven cooking of the rice.

[0186] When the boiling heating process is completed, the rice cooking control unit 97 shifts to the boiling continuation process.

[0187] During the boiling continuation process, the rice cooking control unit 97 switches the power to the heating coil 31 to maintain the temperature of the bottom of the pot 25 above the specified temperature, for example, above 98 degrees Celsius, and continuously energizes the lid heater 58 to maintain the temperature of the inner lid 61 above the specified temperature, for example, above 98 degrees Celsius.

[0188] When the pot temperature Ti reaches a predetermined temperature or above, or rises at a predetermined rate of temperature increase, for example, a predetermined rate of temperature increase of 0.5 degrees Celsius or above within 10 seconds, the rice cooking control unit 97 determines that the water in the pot 25 is beginning to disappear. Upon determining that the water in the pot 25 is beginning to disappear, the rice cooking control unit 97 extends the energization time of the heating coil 31.

[0189] When the temperature rise rate at the bottom of the pot 25 becomes higher than a predetermined rise rate or reaches a dry-up temperature at which the remaining water in the pot 25 disappears, for example, 120 degrees Celsius, the rice cooking control unit 97 determines that the rice is cooked and ends the boiling continuation process.

[0190] When the boiling continuation process is completed, the rice cooking control unit 97 shifts to the simmering process.

[0191] During the steaming process, the rice cooking control unit 97 switches the power to the lid heater 58 on and off based on the lid temperature to prevent condensation on the inner lid 61. Furthermore, the rice cooking control unit 97 switches the power to the heating coil 31 on and off based on the pot temperature Ti to manage the temperature of the rice being cooked. The steaming process lasts for a predetermined period of time.

[0192] When the stewing and steaming process is completed, the rice cooking control unit 97 completes the rice cooking action and the heat preservation control unit 98 starts the heat preservation process.

[0193] Finished the display control signal of the heating control circuit board 422 output corresponding to the end of cooking action.The input-output control circuit board 75 control display units 76 of this display control signal have been input, and the notification action of control notification unit 88 notifies the user of the completion of cooking action.

[0194] The keep-warm control unit 98 controls the heating coil 31 to heat the rice until the temperature of the rice drops from 100 degrees Celsius, the temperature just after cooking, to 73 degrees Celsius, the keep-warm temperature. The heating coil 31 is then controlled to heat even after the keep-warm temperature stabilizes at 73 degrees Celsius. The keep-warm control unit 98 adjusts the output of the heating coil 31 to maintain a constant temperature at the bottom of the pot 25.

[0195] The rice cooker 2 can also reheat the rice in the pot 25 .

[0196] Next, the method of determining the amount of rice cooked by the rice cooker 2 will be described in more detail.

[0197] Figure 8 This is a diagram showing a first determination method as an example of a method for determining the amount of rice to be cooked in the rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 This is a diagram showing a second determination method as another example of the method for determining the amount of rice to be cooked in the rice cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0198] like Figure 8 as well as Figure 9 As shown, the rice cooking control unit 97 of the rice cooker 2 of this embodiment heats the pot 25 using the heating coil 31 to change the pot bottom temperature detected by the pot temperature sensor 46, and determines the amount of rice cooked based on the change in the pot bottom temperature using multiple determination methods.

[0199] Here, first, define a first variable V1 obtained by subtracting the initial temperature Ts of the pot 25 from the final temperature Te of the pot 25 in the rice cooking amount determination process ((first variable V1) = (final temperature Te) - (initial temperature Ts)) and a second variable V2 obtained by subtracting the final temperature Te of the pot 25 from the maximum temperature Tmax of the pot 25 ((second variable V2) = (maximum temperature Tmax) - (final temperature Te)). Figure 8 as well as Figure 9 A graph is plotted with the first variable V1 on the horizontal axis and the second variable V2 on the vertical axis. Therefore, both the first determination method and the second determination method commonly utilize the bottom temperature of the pot (the pot temperature Ti) detected by the pot temperature sensor 46. That is, without adding a detector for detecting a physical quantity in the rice cooker 2, the first determination method and the second determination method are executed based on the detection result of the pot temperature sensor 46. In other words, when the first determination method and the second determination method are installed as software executed by the cooking control unit 97, the change to the hardware of the rice cooker 2 is limited to the minimum.

[0200] In addition, Figure 8 and Figure 9 collectively illustrate the data D4 detected when cooking the cooked rice containing 4 go (Japanese: go) of rice, the data D3 detected when cooking the cooked rice containing 3 go of rice, the data D2 detected when cooking the cooked rice containing 2 go of rice, the data D1.5 detected when cooking the cooked rice containing 1.5 go of rice, the data D1 detected when cooking the cooked rice containing 1 go of rice, and the data D0.5 detected when cooking the cooked rice containing 0.5 go of rice.

[0201] For ease of explanation, hereinafter, the "data detected when cooking the cooked rice" will be simply referred to as "determination data".

[0202] As Figure 8 shown, the first determination method determines the cooking amount based on at least one first threshold A and at least one second threshold B. The at least one first threshold A is perpendicular to the horizontal axis and parallel to the vertical axis, and the first variable V1 takes a constant value. The at least one second threshold B is parallel to the horizontal axis and perpendicular to the vertical axis, and the second variable V2 takes a constant value. In other words, when plotted with the first variable V1 on the horizontal axis and the second variable V2 on the vertical axis, the thresholds of the first determination method are described as lines without a slope.

[0203] For example, the threshold values a1, a2, and a3 are set as the first threshold A, and the threshold value b1 is set as the second threshold B. Assume that the threshold value a1 is the smallest and the threshold value a3 is the largest. That is, there is a relationship of (threshold value a1) < (threshold value a2) < (threshold value a3).

[0204] Based on these thresholds A and B, the amount of rice to be cooked is determined into four levels. For convenience, the four levels are referred to as "Extra Large," "Large," "Medium," and "Small," starting with the largest amount. The "Extra Large" level is defined as rice containing 4 or more go of rice based on the Japanese measurement system (Shakukanho), the "Large" level is defined as rice containing 3 go of rice, the "Medium" level is defined as rice containing 2 or 1.5 go of rice, and the "Small" level is defined as rice containing 1 or 0.5 go of rice.

[0205] A value below threshold a1 is considered an extremely high value, regardless of threshold B. A value exceeding threshold a1, below threshold a2, and above threshold b1 is considered an extremely high value. A value exceeding threshold a1, below threshold a2, and below threshold b1 is considered a high value. A value exceeding threshold a2, below threshold a3, and above threshold b1 is considered a high value. A value exceeding threshold a2, below threshold a3, and below threshold b1 is considered a medium value. A value exceeding threshold a3 and above threshold b1 is considered a medium value. A value exceeding threshold a3 and below threshold b1 is considered a low value.

[0206] like Figure 9 As shown, the second determination method determines the amount of cooked rice based on a threshold value α ((threshold value α) = (coefficient) × (first variable V1) + (second variable V2)) represented by at least one linear function with a positive slope. Threshold value α has a positive slope that is not zero. In other words, when plotted with the first variable V1 on the horizontal axis and the second variable V2 on the vertical axis, the threshold value of the second determination method is depicted as a straight line rising to the right. If there are multiple threshold values ​​α, the threshold values ​​α do not intersect within the temperature range to which the cooked rice is exposed during the rice-cooked amount determination process, that is, within a temperature range above the melting point and below the boiling point of the cooked rice.

[0207] For example, let's assume that thresholds α1, α2, α3, α4, and α5 are set from the side closest to the horizontal axis. The intercepts with respect to the vertical axis are set so that threshold α1 is the smallest and threshold α5 is the largest. In other words, the relationship holds: (intercept of threshold α1) < (intercept of threshold α2) < (intercept of threshold α3) < (intercept of threshold α5) < (intercept of threshold α5). The intercept corresponds to the value of the second variable V2 when the first variable V1 takes the value of zero.

[0208] In the second determination method of the present embodiment, it is assumed that the linear function does not include a relationship in which the slope has a zero value.

[0209] Based on these thresholds α1 to α5, the amount of cooked rice is determined to be categorized into six levels. These six levels are designated, from the largest amount to the largest, as "Extra Large," "Large," "Medium," "Small Medium," "Small," and "Extremely Small." The "Extra Large" level is defined as containing 4 or more go of rice based on the Japanese measurement system; the "Large" level is defined as containing 3 go of rice; the "Medium" level is defined as containing 2 go of rice; the "Small" level is defined as containing 1.5 go of rice; the "Small" level is defined as containing 1 go of rice; and the "Extremely Small" level is defined as containing 0.5 go of rice. In other words, the definitions of the "Extra Large," "Large," "Medium," and "Small" levels in the first determination method are the same as those in the first determination method.

[0210] A value greater than or equal to threshold α5 is considered extremely large. A value greater than or equal to threshold α4 and less than threshold α5 is considered large. A value greater than or equal to threshold α3 and less than threshold α4 is considered medium. A value greater than or equal to threshold α2 and less than threshold α3 is considered medium-small. A value greater than or equal to threshold α1 and less than threshold α2 is considered small. A value less than threshold α1 is considered extremely small.

[0211] The inventors discovered that Figure 8 as well as Figure 9 The various judgment data shown are affected by factors such as the level of the power supply voltage supplied to the rice cooker 2, the level of the ambient temperature of the rice cooker 2, and the level of the temperature of the rice to be cooked housed in the rice cooker 2. Among the temperatures of the rice to be cooked, the temperature of the water contained in the rice to be cooked is dominant. Even for the same amount of rice to be cooked, the lower the power supply voltage, the ambient temperature, and the temperature of the rice to be cooked, the more the judgment data obtained in the cooking amount judgment process tends to shift to the lower left, and the higher the power supply voltage, the ambient temperature, and the temperature of the rice to be cooked, the more the judgment data obtained in the cooking amount judgment process tends to shift to the upper right. In addition, Figure 8 as well as Figure 9 The data shown is annotated with the suffix "d" to indicate a lower left offset and with the suffix "u" to indicate an upper right offset.

[0212] For convenience of explanation, factors such as the power supply voltage supplied to the rice cooker 2, the ambient temperature of the rice cooker 2, and the temperature of the rice to be cooked contained in the rice cooker 2 are referred to as determination accuracy influencing factors.

[0213] Here, we focus on Figure 8 The judgment data for the rice to be cooked shown in FIG. 2 includes 2 go of rice. These judgment data are preferably set to "medium judgment". However, Figure 8In the first determination method, if at least one of the factors affecting determination accuracy is low, the determination data may fall outside the "high determination" range. In other words, the first determination method may mistakenly determine the amount of rice cooked as a level above level 1, rather than the intended level. Factors affecting determination accuracy can randomly combine, sometimes causing significant overlap and deviation in the determination data, while other times canceling each other out and suppressing deviations in the determination data.

[0214] However, the rice amount determined in the rice amount determination process is used in subsequent processes, and if the rice amount is misjudged to a level above 1, the impact on the rice taste is not significant. However, in recent years, the use of rice amount for purposes beyond rice cooking has expanded, such as rice consumption management and care functions that monitor the living conditions of the user (i.e., the care recipient) of the rice cooker 2 based on rice consumption. In these applications, higher accuracy is sometimes required for rice amount determination than is required for rice cooking. Specifically, in rice consumption management, a difference in the rice amount determination result by one rou (approx. 1 rou) corresponding to the level difference in misjudgment can significantly distort the accumulated rice consumption value. For example, if the rice amount is consistently misjudged by one rou (approx. 1 rou), the accumulated rice consumption value becomes greater than the actual value, potentially leading to the misjudgment of insufficient rice even when there is still rice in stock. Furthermore, in care functions, fluctuations in the rice amount determination result, often based on the age group and consumption of the care recipient, can cause unnecessary concern for the caregiver.

[0215] here, Figure 9 The second determination method has threshold values ​​(threshold value α1, threshold value α2, threshold value α3, threshold value α4, and threshold value α5) described by a linear function along the deviation direction of the data based on the determination accuracy influencing factor.

[0216] For ease of explanation, the amount of rice cooked determined by the first determination method is referred to as the first determination amount, and the amount determined by the second determination method is referred to as the second determination amount. That is, the second determination method determines the second determination amount with better determination accuracy than the first determination amount.

[0217] Among the factors affecting the determination accuracy, the factor that can be easily controlled by the rice cooker 2 is the temperature of the food to be cooked housed in the rice cooker 2. The rice cooker 2 can easily increase the temperature of the food to be cooked by heating the pot 25 using the heating coil 31.

[0218] Furthermore, the detection performance of the lid temperature sensor 85, which is a thermistor, is lower at low temperatures than at high temperatures. This reduction in the lid temperature sensor 85's detection performance at low temperatures may also cause erroneous determination of the amount of rice cooked. The rice cooker 2 heats the pot 25 using the heating coil 31, raising the temperature of the food being cooked. This allows the rice cooker 2 to acquire determination data in a temperature range where the lid temperature sensor 85 has high detection performance.

[0219] The electric rice cooker 2 of this embodiment performs a preheating step before the rice-cooking amount determination step, heating the pot 25 using the heating coil 31 to increase the initial temperature of the pot 25, i.e., the initial value of the pot bottom temperature, during the rice-cooking amount determination step. This preheating step improves the accuracy of both the first and second rice-cooking amount determination methods, including the first determination method based on changes in pot bottom temperature during the soaking cooking step. For example, when determining the rice-cooking amount of a dish containing two kilograms of rice using the first determination method, the tendency of the determination data to shift downward to the left due to the low temperature of the dish is suppressed, thereby improving the accuracy of the rice-cooking amount determination using the first determination method.

[0220] In addition, the shortest time spent in the preheating process is preferably set according to the quality of the judgment accuracy of the cooking amount. The shortest time spent in the preheating process is preferably the minimum cooking amount that can be used to judge the cooking amount, for example, the shortest time required to judge the minimum cooking amount and above.

[0221] Furthermore, the amount of heat input during the preheating process is preferably set based on the accuracy of rice cooking amount determination. Raising the temperature of an item with a low initial temperature and shifting the determination data upward and to the right improves the accuracy of rice cooking amount determination. On the other hand, raising the temperature of an item with a high initial temperature and shifting the determination data upward and to the right deteriorates the accuracy of rice cooking amount determination. Therefore, the amount of heat input to the item during the preheating process is preferably adjusted based on the initial temperature of the item during the preheating process. This allows the initial temperature of the item during the rice cooking amount determination process to be controlled within a temperature range that best suits the accuracy of the determination.

[0222] However, the rice cooker 2 determines the amount of the cooked rice using multiple determination methods, namely, a first determination method and a second determination method, based on changes in the pot temperature Ti. These first determination method and second determination method determine the amount of cooked rice into multiple levels.

[0223] Here, it is assumed that cooking programs have already been set for each of the four levels, "Extra High," "High," "Medium," and "Low," based on the number of levels based on the first judgment method. These cooking programs may differ in at least one of the following settings: rice type, cooking method, rice hardness, cooking time, etc. Rice types include, for example, over 60 varieties, as well as rice with varying degrees of fineness, such as brown rice, bran rice (butsuki rice), and white rice. The number of cooking programs is calculated by multiplying these numerous rice types by the number of selectable settings, such as the number of cooking methods, the number of selectable hardness settings, and the number of cooking time settings. The total number of cooking programs may exceed 2,000. In other words, the rice cooker 2 may be capable of executing a large number of cooking programs exceeding 2,000. The rice cooker 2 changes, corrects, or modifies the cooking program selected from these numerous cooking programs based on the amount of rice to be cooked. The numerous cooking program settings and the changes to the cooking program corresponding to the cooking amount are information with intangible asset value, and obtaining them requires a huge amount of work time. If the cooking programs with such value continue to be effectively used, it is unrealistic to immediately abandon the first determination method and switch to the second determination method.

[0224] Here, the electric rice cooker 2 mainly utilizes the first determination method in controlling the cooking action based on the amount of rice to be cooked, and utilizes the second determination method in applications other than the cooking action. The first and second determination methods may also be mixed and used for controlling the cooking action. For example, for "extra large determination," "large determination," "medium determination," or "small determination" where the determination results overlap in the first and second determination methods, the determination method applicable to the cooking amount determination process may be switched to the second determination method in sequence, starting from a cooking program that has completed action verification based on the amount of rice to be cooked determined in the second determination method. Alternatively, the first determination method may be omitted, and the determination method applicable to the cooking amount determination process may be switched to the second determination method in sequence, starting from a cooking program that has only the "small-medium determination" or "extremely small determination" corresponding to the second determination method, where the settings have been determined.

[0225] In addition, in recent years, lifestyle has changed and single-person dining has gradually become popular. As a result, the average amount of cooked rice in the rice cooker 2 per cooking has a decreasing tendency compared to before. Here, the number of levels of the second determination amount is larger than the number of levels of the first determination amount. The step of the level of the second determination amount (Japanese: 刻み幅) is smaller on the side with less cooked rice amount than on the side with more cooked rice amount. That is, by determining "small-medium determination" and "extremely small determination" as in the second determination method, even for cooking operations with relatively small cooked rice amounts such as 1.5-gō cooking and 0.5-gō cooking, it is possible to finely control a more preferable cooking operation from various viewpoints such as power consumption and taste. In addition, by accurately determining relatively small cooked rice amounts from 1.5-gō cooking to 0.5-gō cooking, the rice cooker 2 can more suitably respond to the recent lifestyle in terms of rice consumption management and the care function of the rice cooker 2 based on the rice consumption.

[0226] In addition, the first determination method and the second determination method are executed in the soaking and cooking process. On the other hand, the third determination method executed in the process after the soaking and cooking process, such as the boiling and heating process, determines the cooked rice amount based on a time-related threshold value. In other words, the third determination method determines the cooked rice amount based on Figure 8 and Figure 9 the threshold values not shown in the figure.

[0227] In addition, the program includes a cooking program and a maintenance program in addition to the cooking program, but the cooking control unit 97 does not determine the cooked rice amount in the cooking program and the maintenance program. That is, in the cooking program and the maintenance program, the first determination method, the second determination method, and the third determination method are not executed.

[0228] Furthermore, the cooking control unit 97 does not send the cooked rice amount outside the machine in the cooking program and the maintenance program. That is, in the cooking program and the maintenance program, the first determination method, the second determination method, and the third determination method are not executed, and the cooked rice amount is not sent to the information terminal 3 and the server 7.

[0229] Figure 10 It is a diagram showing a second example of the first determination method of the rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 It is a diagram showing a second example of the second determination method of the rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0230] Figure 11 The first determination method shown in Figure 12 and the second determination method shown in Figure 8 are applicable to the cooking program for cooking porridge, that is, the so-called porridge cooking program. On the other hand, Figure 9 the first determination method shown in and

[0231] the second determination method shown in are applicable to the normal program for cooking rice. Figure 10 as well as Figure 11 Data D1 detected when porridge was made from a food containing 1 go of rice, data D0.5 detected when porridge was made from a food containing 0.5 go of rice, and data D0.25 detected when porridge was made from a food containing 0.25 go of rice are collectively shown. Figure 10 The threshold value of the first determination method is shown in FIG. Figure 8 . Figure 11 The threshold value of the second determination method is shown in FIG. Figure 9 Here, the extra large determination is defined as including cooked food of 1 go or more of rice based on the Japanese measurement system, the large determination is defined as including cooked food of 0.5 go of rice, and the small determination is defined as including cooked food of 0.25 go of rice.

[0232] The ratio of rice to water in porridge differs significantly from that of regular rice, with water accounting for a significantly greater proportion. This means that the heat capacity of the cooked food is significantly different. Therefore, it can be seen that the first determination method has a stronger impact on accuracy. On the other hand, the second determination method is unaffected by accuracy-influencing factors and can accurately determine the amount of cooked rice.

[0233] That is, in the first and second determination methods, the amount of cooked rice is determined into multiple levels based on at least one threshold value set for each cooking program.

[0234] Furthermore, the change in the pot bottom temperature (the change in the pot temperature Ti) detected by the pot temperature sensor 46 used in the first and second determination methods is not limited to Figure 7 As shown, the change in pot temperature Ti is a combination of at least one temperature increase and at least one temperature decrease, such as energizing the heating coil 31 to increase the pot temperature Ti from the initial temperature Ts to the maximum temperature Tmax, and then stopping the heating coil 31 to decrease the pot temperature Ti from the maximum temperature Tmax to the final temperature Te. The change in pot temperature Ti only needs to include at least one increase in pot temperature Ti. For example, the change in pot temperature Ti can also be a combination of a first increase in pot temperature Ti caused by high heat input and an increase or decrease in pot temperature Ti caused by low heat input. Alternatively, the change in pot temperature Ti can be caused solely by the first increase in pot temperature Ti. Furthermore, the change in pot temperature Ti can be a combination of multiple increases or decreases in pot temperature Ti after at least one increase in pot temperature Ti. In other words, the electric rice cooker 2 can implement multiple methods for determining the amount of rice to be cooked based on changes in pot bottom temperature detected by the pot temperature sensor 46.

[0235] Figure 12This is a front view of an example of an information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0236] like Figure 12 The information terminal 3 of the embodiment of the present invention is, for example, a smartphone and includes, for example, a display unit 101 as an output device, an input device 102 for accepting user input, a communication module 103 capable of transmitting and receiving various information, and a terminal control unit 105 .

[0237] The display unit 101 is a display capable of displaying various information.

[0238] The input device 102 is, for example, a touch panel 102a provided to overlap the display unit 101. The input device 102 may be a voice input unit 102b that receives voice input.

[0239] The communication module 103 can communicate with the rice cooker 2 via the short-range wireless communication 5. The communication module 103 is connected to the network NW via the relay 15 or directly. The communication module 103 can also communicate with the rice cooker 2 and the server 7 via the network NW.

[0240] Figure 13 This is a block diagram of a smartphone as an example of an information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0241] like Figure 13 As shown, the terminal control unit 105 of the information terminal 3 includes a CPU, a memory as a storage unit 107 , a timer as a timing unit, and an input / output interface.

[0242] The input port of the terminal control unit 105 is connected to the input device 102 and the communication module 103. The output port of the terminal control unit 105 is connected to the display unit 101 and the communication module 103 as output devices.

[0243] The terminal control unit 105 receives an operation signal output from the input device 102 through the input port. In addition, the terminal control unit 105 receives information received by the communication module 103 through the input port.

[0244] The terminal control unit 105 outputs a control signal for display from the output port to the display unit 101. The terminal control unit 105 outputs information for transmission outside the information terminal 3 from the output port to the communication module 103.

[0245] These functions of the terminal control unit 105 are realized by the CPU executing programs stored in the memory. The programs enable the terminal control unit 105 to realize, for example, the communication control function 108 and the display control function 109. Hereinafter, the programs for realizing these functions in the information terminal 3 are referred to as "management applications."

[0246] The communication control function 108 controls the communication operation of the communication module 103. The communication control function 108 operates the communication module 103 so that various information is transmitted directly from the information terminal 3 to the rice cooker 2 without passing through the server 7 or indirectly through the server 7 and various information is received from the rice cooker 2.

[0247] Furthermore, the rice cooker 2, information terminal 3, and server 7 preferably share the current state and settings of the rice cooker 2 without delay. Here, the rice cooker 2, information terminal 3, and server 7 preferably transmit and receive information indicating the current state and settings of the rice cooker 2 at predetermined intervals, such as 5 minutes. Therefore, the information terminal 3 and server 7 independently obtain information from the rice cooker 2 at predetermined intervals and transmit the information to the rice cooker 2. As long as at least the rice cooker 2 and information terminal 3 share the current state and settings of the rice cooker 2 without delay, the server 7 and storage device 8 may also continuously store or maintain the current state and settings of the rice cooker 2 from the perspective of load distribution. The communication module 111 of the rice cooker 2 preferably transmits all or part of the information stored in the storage device of the heating control circuit board 42 to the information terminal 3 and server 7 at predetermined intervals. The communication module 103 of the information terminal 3 preferably receives the information transmitted by the rice cooker 2 at predetermined intervals.

[0248] The display control function 109 controls the display operation of the display unit 101. The display control function 109 causes the display unit 101 to display various screens.

[0249] The display control function 109 causes the display unit 101 to display a plurality of elements, such as a background and a character string, based on various information received by the communication module 103. For example, the display control function 109 causes the display unit 101 to display information received by the communication control function 108. For ease of explanation, "the plurality of elements, such as the background, images, symbols, and character strings, that the display control function 109 causes the display unit 101 to display based on various information received by the communication module 103" will be referred to as "display elements" below.

[0250] However, rice, as a consumable material, is primarily a staple food, and it is difficult for the user of the rice cooker 2 to allow the stock to run out (the remaining amount to zero). Therefore, the user of the rice cooker 2 may not be able to replenish the stock in a timely manner without the help of a system that assists in ordering rice. In addition, the user of the rice cooker 2 may also demand to purchase new rice at the time of shipment, regardless of the amount of rice in stock.

[0251] On the other hand, due to changes in food culture in recent years, it is assumed that rice is consumed in dishes other than rice that do not use the rice cooker 2, such as risotto.

[0252] Here, the rice cooking system 1 of this embodiment has the rice remaining amount notification function which notifies the user of the remaining amount of rice, ie, the stock amount.

[0253] Hereinafter, the rice remaining amount prompting function executed by the rice cooking system 1 will be described based on specific input and output interfaces.

[0254] Figure 14 This is a diagram showing a first example of a first screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0255] Figure 15 This is a diagram showing a second example of the first screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0256] Figure 14 as well as Figure 15 The illustrated first screen WS1 is an example of a so-called home screen of the information terminal 3 .

[0257] like Figure 14 as well as Figure 15 As shown, the display unit 101 of the information terminal 3 of this embodiment displays the first screen WS1 as the initial screen when the management application is started. The display content of the display unit 101 is controlled by the display control function 109.

[0258] Specifically, the rice cooking system 1 includes a communication module 103 as a receiving unit capable of receiving the current status of the rice cooker 2; a storage unit 107 for storing the remaining amount of rice (a consumable); and a display unit 101 capable of displaying a first screen WS1 that simultaneously displays the current status of the rice cooker 2 and the remaining amount of rice. The rice cooking system 1 implements a function for displaying the remaining amount of rice by receiving the current status of the rice cooker 2, recording the remaining amount of rice (a consumable), and simultaneously displaying the current status and the remaining amount of rice. The rice cooking system 1 implements a method for displaying the remaining amount of rice by performing the function.

[0259] The first screen WS1 includes a plurality of first display elements 201 .

[0260] The multiple first display elements 201 include, from the top of the first screen WS1, a model identification string 201a, a setting screen call icon 201b, a support screen call icon 201c, a model icon 201d, a status display string 201e, a variety sending button 201f, a rice remaining addition and subtraction button 201g, a cooking history call button 201h, a program introduction call button 201i and a background 201j.

[0261] The model identification character string 201a displays the model identification of the rice cooker 2 selected as the management target by the management application as a character string, for example, “Rice Cooker.” The model identification is, for example, the name of the model, the model number, or a character string arbitrarily set by the user.

[0262] The setting screen call icon 201b displays, for example, an image of a “gear” and a character string of “settings.” When the setting screen call icon 201b is touched, the screen displayed on the display unit 101 transitions to the setting screen.

[0263] The support screen calling icon 201c displays, for example, an image of a “dialog box” and a character string of “support.” When the support screen calling icon 201c is touched, the screen displayed on the display unit 101 transitions to the support screen.

[0264] The model icon 201d displays a large image associated with the rice cooker 2 selected as the management target by the management application.

[0265] The status display string 201e displays the current status of the rice cooker 2 selected as the management target by the management application using a string such as "Stopped." The current status of the rice cooker 2 includes not only "Operating" (when cooking), but also "Stopped" (when not cooking), and "Offline" (when communication between the rice cooker 2 and the information terminal 3 is unavailable). If a status other than "Offline" is displayed, the rice cooker 2 is online.

[0266] The product send button 201f includes a first title string 201k displaying "Product Send" as a character string, and a product send screen call icon 201m displaying an image such as a ">". The first title string 201k is displayed left-aligned on the product send button 201f, and the product send screen call icon 201m is displayed right-aligned on the product send button 201f.

[0267] The rice remaining amount addition / subtraction button 201g functions as an addition / subtraction input unit that accepts addition / subtraction operations related to the remaining amount of rice. The rice remaining amount addition / subtraction button 201g includes a second title string 201n displaying "Rice Inventory," an inventory string 201o, and a rice remaining amount addition / subtraction input unit call icon 201p, which displays an image, such as a ">" symbol. The second title string 201n is displayed left-aligned with the rice remaining amount addition / subtraction button 201g, while the rice remaining amount addition / subtraction input unit call icon 201p is displayed right-aligned with the rice remaining amount addition / subtraction button 201g. The inventory string 201o is displayed to the left of the rice remaining amount addition / subtraction input unit call icon 201p.

[0268] Figure 14The inventory string 201o combines the string "approximately," a numerical value such as "10.00," and the unit "kg," such as kilograms, to display the inventory of rice. The inventory string 201o corresponds to the display when the rice cooking system 1 knows and stores the inventory of rice in the storage unit 107 as approximately 10.00 kilograms.

[0269] Figure 15 In addition to kilograms, which are SI units, inventory string 201o can also display the rice inventory in the unit of "he" based on the Japanese scale. The unit used for the rice inventory can be switched and selected via the setting screen displayed by touching the setting screen call icon 201b. When the unit used for the rice inventory is switched to "he" on the setting screen, inventory string 201o displays the rice inventory by combining the string "about," a numerical value such as "66.6," and the unit such as "he." The rice cooking system 1 converts units based on the assumption that 1 he of rice = approximately 150 grams (g).

[0270] In Japan, rice is generally sold in kilograms or grams at stores where consumers can easily obtain rice. On the other hand, rice is consumed in "kilograms" when cooked in a rice cooker 2. Figure 14 as well as Figure 15 As shown, the inventory quantity character string 201o that can be displayed in switchable units can easily present the user with an inventory quantity that flexibly corresponds to both the distribution method and consumption method of rice in Japan.

[0271] The cooking history call button 201h is displayed by combining an image reminiscent of a heart-shaped mark with a character string "Collect cooking history." When the cooking history call button 201h is touched, the screen displayed on the display unit 101 is converted to a screen that prompts the collected cooking programs and the history of the cooking programs used previously.

[0272] The program introduction call button 201i displays, for example, a small image reminiscent of the rice cooker 2 and a character string “Program introduction.” When the program introduction call button 201i is touched, the screen displayed on the display unit 101 transitions to a screen introducing a rice cooking program.

[0273] However, the rice cooker 2 determines the amount of rice to be cooked while the rice cooker 2 is cooking, that is, when the current state is "operating." The rice cooking system 1 transmits the amount of rice to be cooked determined by the rice cooker 2, which is received by the information terminal 3 as the rice consumption. The latest rice inventory is determined by subtracting the rice consumption from the rice inventory stored in the storage unit 107 of the information terminal 3, and the user can be notified of the latest inventory. In other words, the user of the rice cooking system 1 can easily obtain the latest rice inventory as long as they use the rice cooker 2 to consume rice, without performing any operations related to increasing or decreasing the rice inventory.

[0274] However, the latest consumption amount is not reflected in the rice inventory during the period from when rice is taken out of a storage location, such as a rice cabinet, to when the information terminal 3 receives the cooked rice amount determined by the rice cooker 2 as the consumption amount. If the rice inventory decreases to the amount of cooked rice due to repeated consumption and cooking operations, this period of uncertainty in the inventory may cause the rice inventory to run out.

[0275] Here, the first screen WS1 simultaneously displays a status display string 201e and a stock level string 201o. Specifically, the rice cooking system 1 of this embodiment displays the current status of the rice cooker 2 and the remaining rice level simultaneously on the first screen WS1. This allows the user of the rice cooking system 1 to easily and simultaneously confirm both the current status of the rice cooker 2 and the remaining rice level, regardless of the physical distance between the user and the rice cooker 2. Being able to simultaneously confirm both the current status of the rice cooker 2 and the remaining rice level allows the user to easily estimate the actual rice level, making it easier to avoid running out of rice.

[0276] Due to recent changes in food culture, it is assumed that rice is consumed in dishes other than rice, such as risotto, that do not utilize the rice cooker 2. The rice cooking system 1 of this embodiment provides an environment in which the user can perform remaining amount addition and subtraction operations, which involve increasing or decreasing the remaining amount of rice. The remaining amount addition and subtraction operations for increasing or decreasing the rice inventory will be described below based on specific input and output interfaces. It is assumed that the remaining amount addition and subtraction button 201g on the first screen WS1 is touched.

[0277] Figure 16 This is a diagram showing an example of a first sub-screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0278] Figure 16 The first sub-screen SS1 is an example of a screen of a management application executed on the information terminal 3. It is an example of a stock quantity adjustment screen displayed by touching the rice remaining amount plus / minus button 201g on the first screen WS1. The first sub-screen SS1 is displayed as a pop-up screen overlapping the first screen WS1.

[0279] like Figure 16As shown, the rice cooking system 1 of this embodiment takes the rice remaining addition and subtraction operation accepted by the rice remaining addition and subtraction button 201g as an opportunity, and displays on the display unit 101 an additional input unit 211 for accepting the remaining addition operation involved in adding the remaining rice, and a reduction input unit 212 for accepting the remaining reduction operation involved in reducing the remaining rice.

[0280] When the rice remaining amount plus or minus button 201g on the first screen WS1 is touched, the first sub-screen SS1 pops up and overlaps the first screen WS1. While the first sub-screen SS1 is displayed, the first display elements 201 on the first screen WS1 are displayed in light gray, for example, and do not accept touch operations.

[0281] The first sub-screen SS1 includes a plurality of first sub-display elements 215 .

[0282] The plurality of first sub-display elements 215 include, for example, a first title 215a, a close button 215b displayed by, for example, text surrounded by a cross, an inventory character string 215c, an inventory annotation area 215e, a second title character string 215f displayed by the character string "Inventory adjustment", a rice remaining amount reduction button 215g displayed by combining an image reminiscent of "-" with a character string "Reduce rice", a rice remaining amount addition button 215h displayed by combining an image reminiscent of "+" with a character string "Add rice", a reduction annotation character string 215i arranged directly below the rice remaining amount reduction button 215g and explaining how to use the rice remaining amount reduction button 215g by displaying the character string "When using rice other than in a rice cooker", an additional annotation character string 215j arranged directly below the rice remaining amount addition button 215h and explaining how to use the rice remaining amount addition button 215h by displaying the character string "When purchasing or replenishing rice", and a notification character string 215k.

[0283] The first title 215 a displays, for example, a small image reminiscent of a measuring cup and a character string of “Rice Stock Amount (Standard)” in combination.

[0284] The inventory level string 215c displays the rice inventory level by combining the string "approximately," a numerical value such as "10.00," and a unit such as "kg" (kilograms). The inventory level string 215c also displays the string "approximately," a numerical value such as "66.6," and a unit such as "kg" within a bracketed area. The inventory level string 215c allows the user to easily recognize the current rice inventory level maintained by the rice cooking system 1.

[0285] The inventory level annotation area 215e displays, for example, an image reminiscent of the rice cooker 2, an image reminiscent of the rice cabinet, a dialog box containing the text "Notify if low," and the text "Inventory automatically updated based on estimated rice usage during cooking (may differ from actual inventory level)." The inventory level annotation area 215e allows the user to easily recognize that the rice cooking system 1 automatically updates the rice inventory level, in this case, automatically reducing the rice inventory, when the rice cooker 2 is cooking rice.

[0286] When rice remaining amount reduction button 215g is touched, the display unit 101 displays a pop-up rice remaining amount reduction screen overlapping the first sub-screen SS1. Rice remaining amount reduction button 215g is a reduction input unit 212 that is operated by the user to intentionally reduce the rice inventory when the rice inventory decreases due to the use of rice outside the rice cooker 2, i.e., bypassing the rice consumption estimation based on the rice cooker 2, and the rice cooking system 1 is unable to grasp the consumption estimation based on the rice cooker 2, as indicated by the reduction annotation string 215i.

[0287] When the rice remaining amount addition button 215h is touched, the display unit 101 displays a pop-up rice remaining amount addition screen overlapping the first sub-screen SS1. The rice remaining amount addition button 215h, as indicated by the additional comment string 215j, is an addition input unit 211 that is operated by the user to intentionally increase the rice inventory.

[0288] Notification string 215k displays the character string "Notification" in a left-aligned manner, and the character string "Notify if the rice inventory level falls below 2 kg (approximately 13 cups)" in a right-aligned manner, indicating the inventory notification setting value for notifying that the rice inventory level is low. Notification string 215k allows the user to understand that the rice cooking system 1 will display a notification of some kind when the rice inventory level falls below the inventory notification setting value. The inventory notification setting value is preferably user-configurable. Touching notification string 215k or the dialog box in inventory annotation area 215e displays a setting screen for arbitrarily setting the inventory notification setting value.

[0289] The rice cooking system 1 of this embodiment enables the display unit 101 to separately, individually, distinctively and independently display: a rice remaining amount addition button 215h as an additional input unit 211, which accepts a remaining amount addition operation involving adding the remaining amount of rice; and a rice remaining amount reduction button 215g as a reduction input unit 212, which accepts a remaining amount reduction operation involving reducing the remaining amount of rice.

[0290] Therefore, in addition to consuming rice using the rice cooker 2, the rice cooking system 1 can also easily reduce the rice inventory stored in the storage unit 107 through a remaining quantity reduction operation, even when the rice is consumed for purposes other than cooking rice. Furthermore, even for this reason, the rice cooking system 1 can easily increase the rice inventory through a remaining quantity addition operation. Specifically, the user of the rice cooking system 1 can simply press the remaining quantity addition button 215h to increase the rice inventory, or press the remaining quantity reduction button 215g to reduce the rice inventory for purposes other than using the rice cooker 2. By providing such a clear user interface, the rice cooking system 1 prevents users from mistakenly increasing or decreasing the rice inventory, while allowing users to easily increase or decrease the rice inventory.

[0291] In addition to displaying the first sub-screen SS1 having the reduction input unit 212 and the addition input unit 211 superimposed on the first screen WS1, the rice cooking system 1 and information terminal 3 of this embodiment may also display the reduction input unit 212 and the addition input unit 211 as multiple first display elements 201 added to the first screen WS1. Alternatively, the screen (second screen) having the reduction input unit 212 and the addition input unit 211 may be displayed side by side with the first screen WS1. Alternatively, two completely different screens may be displayed by transitioning from the first screen WS1 to the screen (second screen) having the reduction input unit 212 and the addition input unit 211. The display elements of the second screen may be the same as those of the first sub-screen SS1, or the display elements may be increased or decreased. In other words, the rice cooking system 1 and information terminal 3 may display the inventory adjustment screen as a pop-up screen superimposed on the home screen, display the inventory adjustment screen side by side with the home screen, or display the inventory adjustment screen instead of the home screen. In addition, the rice cooking system 1 and the information terminal 3 may additionally display the reduction input unit 212 and the addition input unit 211 on the home screen when the remaining amount addition operation is performed, that is, display the home screen in a manner that adds the function of the inventory adjustment screen.

[0292] Next, it is assumed that the goal is to reduce the stock amount of rice grasped by the rice cooking system 1, and the rice remaining amount reduction button 215g on the first sub-screen SS1 is touched.

[0293] Figure 17 This is a diagram showing a first example of the second sub screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0294] Figure 18 This is a diagram showing a second example of the second sub screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0295] Figure 19This is a diagram showing a third example of the second sub-screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0296] Figures 17 to 19 The second sub-screen SS2 is an example of a screen of a management application executed by the information terminal 3 and is an example of a rice remaining reduction screen displayed by touching the rice remaining reduction button 215g. The second sub-screen SS2 is displayed as a pop-up overlapping the first sub-screen SS1.

[0297] like Figures 17 to 19 As shown, the rice cooking system 1 of this embodiment displays the second sub-screen SS2 , which is a rice remaining amount reduction screen for reducing the remaining amount of rice, on the display unit 101 in response to a remaining amount reduction operation received by the remaining amount reduction button 215g.

[0298] When the rice remaining reduction button 215g on the first sub-screen SS1 is touched, the second sub-screen SS2 pops up and overlaps the first sub-screen SS1. While the second sub-screen SS2 is displayed, the first sub-display elements 215 of the first sub-screen SS1 and the first display elements 201 of the first screen WS1 are displayed in, for example, light gray and do not accept touch operations.

[0299] The second sub-screen SS2 includes a plurality of second sub-display elements 221 .

[0300] For example, the plurality of second sub-display elements 221 include, in order from the top of the second sub-screen SS2: a first title character string 221a displaying "Reduce rice" as a character string, a second title character string 221b displaying "Please set the amount of rice you want to reduce" as a character string, a third title character string 221c displaying "※1 cup = 150g" as a character string, a fourth title character string 221d displaying "unit" as a character string, a unit switching mark 221e displaying a combination of a plurality of character strings such as "kg", "g", "cup (total)" and a plurality of separators such as "|" that separate adjacent character strings, a numerical option 221f displaying a plurality of numerical values ​​as options arranged in an upper and lower manner so that any one of the options can be selected, a cancel button 221g displaying a character string of "Cancel", and an confirm button 221h displaying a character string of "OK".

[0301] The first title character string 221a allows the user to easily recognize that the second sub-screen SS2 is a rice remaining amount reduction screen for reducing the stock amount of rice.

[0302] The second title character string 221b allows the user to easily recognize how to use the second sub-screen SS2.

[0303] The third title character string 221c allows the user to easily recognize that 1 cup (1 he) is approximately 150 grams (g).

[0304] The fourth title character string 221 d allows the user to easily recognize that the character string displayed in the unit switching label 221 e means the unit.

[0305] The unit switching label 221e lists the unit system options applicable to the numerical option 221f. When the label "kg" is selected in the unit switching label 221e, as shown in FIG. Figure 17 As shown, the numerical value option 221f presents options in kilogram units. When the "g" label is selected in the unit switching label 221e, as shown in FIG. Figure 18 As shown, the numerical value option 221f presents options in grams. When the label "cup (cup)" is selected in the unit switching label 221e, as shown in FIG. Figure 19 As shown, the numerical option 221f prompts the option in the unit of "cup".

[0306] Numeric options 221f is a user interface known as a rotating drum or picker. Numeric options 221f makes it easy for users to identify available options, namely, the range of selectable values ​​and the amount of variation. For example, the range of values ​​selectable in kilograms is from 1 to 30 kilograms, with kilogram options presented as discrete values ​​per 0.5 kilogram. For example, the range of values ​​selectable in grams is from 10 to 990 kilograms, with gram options presented as discrete values ​​per 10 grams. For example, the range of values ​​selectable in cups is from 1 to 5 cups, with cup options presented as integer values. The drum can be operated by drawing options in the direction of the option arrangement—in this embodiment, above or below the display unit 101—and users can operate the options while visually checking the numerically consecutive, adjacent options. Therefore, users can easily grasp the range of selectable values ​​and the amount of variation and select options. Furthermore, the range of selectable values, namely, the variable range of quantities, varies depending on the unit used in numeric options 221f. Therefore, the user can select an option in the kilogram unit, the gram unit, and the "unit" unit within an appropriate range that suits the actual use situation.

[0307] When the cancel button 221g is touched, the rice inventory stored in the storage unit 107 is maintained regardless of the status of the unit switching label 221e and the numerical option 221f, and the second sub-screen SS2 is closed without change, and the first sub-screen SS1 is restored.

[0308] When the confirmation button 221h is touched, the quantity of rice selected by the unit switching label 221e and the numerical option 221f is reduced from the rice stock stored in the storage unit 107, the second sub-screen SS2 is closed, and the first sub-screen SS1 is restored.

[0309] Next, it is assumed that the remaining rice amount addition button 215h on the first sub-screen SS1 is touched in order to increase the rice inventory amount grasped by the rice cooking system 1.

[0310] Figure 20 This is a diagram showing a first example of the third sub-screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0311] Figure 21 This is a diagram showing a second example of the third sub-screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0312] Figure 22 This is a diagram showing a third example of the third sub-screen displayed on the display unit of the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0313] Figures 20 to 22 The third sub-screen SS3 is an example of a screen of a management application executed by the information terminal 3 and is an example of a rice remaining amount addition screen displayed by touching the rice remaining amount addition button 215h. The third sub-screen SS3 is displayed as a pop-up overlapping the first sub-screen SS1.

[0314] like Figures 20 to 22 As shown, the rice cooking system 1 of this embodiment displays the third sub-screen SS3 , which is a rice remaining amount addition screen for adding the remaining amount of rice, on the display unit 101 in response to the remaining amount addition operation accepted by the remaining amount addition button 215h.

[0315] When the rice remaining reduction button 215g on the first sub-screen SS1 is touched, the third sub-screen SS3 pops up and overlaps the first sub-screen SS1. While the third sub-screen SS3 is displayed, the first sub-display elements 215 of the first sub-screen SS1 and the first display elements 201 of the first screen WS1 are displayed in, for example, light gray in grayscale and do not accept touch operations.

[0316] The third sub-screen SS3 includes a plurality of third sub-display elements 225 .

[0317] For example, the plurality of third sub-display elements 225 include, in order from the top of the third sub-screen SS3: a first title character string 225a displaying "Add rice" as a character string, a second title character string 225b displaying "Please set the amount of rice you want to add" as a character string, a third title character string 225c displaying "※1 cup = 150g" as a character string, a fourth title character string 225d displaying "Unit" as a character string, a unit switching mark 225e displaying a combination of a plurality of character strings such as "kg", "g", "cup (total)" and a plurality of separators such as "|" that separate adjacent character strings, a numerical option 225f displaying a plurality of numerical values ​​as options arranged in an upper and lower manner so that any one of the options can be selected, a cancel button 225g displaying a character string of "Cancel", and an confirm button 225h displaying a character string of "OK".

[0318] The first title character string 225a allows the user to easily recognize that the third sub-screen SS3 is a rice remaining amount addition screen for adding the stock amount of rice.

[0319] The second title character string 225b, the third title character string 225c, the fourth title character string 225d, the unit switching label 225e, the numerical option 225f, the cancel button 225g and the confirm button 225h are used for adding the stock of rice. Figures 17 to 19 The second sub-screen SS2 shown has the same display and functions as the second title character string 221b, third title character string 221c, fourth title character string 221d, unit switching label 221e, numerical option 221f, cancel button 221g, and confirm button 221h.

[0320] And, as Figures 17 to 19 as well as Figures 20 to 22 As shown, the second sub-screen SS2 and the third sub-screen SS3 include numerical options 221f and 225f as a quantity input unit 231 for inputting the quantity of rice remaining, and unit switching labels 221e and 225e as a unit selection unit 232 for selecting the unit of quantity. Therefore, the user of the rice cooking system 1 can add or reduce the rice inventory in the unit appropriate to the situation, namely, the SI unit of kilograms or grams, and the Japanese unit of "cup".

[0321] For example, if rice is often purchased in kilograms or grams at a store, even if you occasionally receive new rice in "he" from an acquaintance, there's no need to convert the units or remeasure it back to SI units, allowing you to increase your rice inventory in units appropriate to the situation. Alternatively, if you consume rice in grams for purposes other than cooking, such as following a recipe, there's no need to convert the units or remeasure it back to "he" units, allowing you to reduce your rice inventory in units appropriate to the situation.

[0322] Furthermore, the appearance of the numerical options 221f, 225f and the unit switching labels 221e, 225e is the same on both the second sub-screen SS2 and the third sub-screen SS3. In other words, the user interface of the numerical options 221f, 225f and the unit switching labels 221e, 225e is the same. Therefore, the user can clearly identify whether they want to increase or decrease rice inventory based on the difference in the screens, i.e., the visual difference, and can proceed without hesitation when entering the increase or decrease quantity.

[0323] The initial unit in the unit switching label 221e of the second sub-screen SS2 is preferably different from the initial unit in the unit switching label 225e of the third sub-screen SS3. For example, assuming that rice is often purchased in kilograms at a store, the initial unit in the unit switching label 225e of the third sub-screen SS3, which serves as the rice remaining amount addition screen, is preferably "kilograms." Alternatively, if, for example, a recipe assumes rice consumption in grams for purposes other than cooking, the initial unit in the unit switching label 225e of the second sub-screen SS2, which serves as the rice remaining amount reduction screen, is preferably "grams." Furthermore, if, for example, a recipe assumes rice consumption in cups for purposes other than cooking, the initial unit in the unit switching label 225e of the second sub-screen SS2, which serves as the rice remaining amount reduction screen, is preferably "cups (cups)." That is, when adding or reducing the rice inventory, the rice cooking system 1 immediately presents an interface for increasing or decreasing the rice inventory in units according to the situation, allowing the user to easily increase or decrease the rice inventory.

[0324] The rice cooker 2 of this embodiment, configured as described above, performs the following steps: a rice cooking amount determination step in which the heating coil 31 is used to heat the pot 25, causing the pot bottom temperature detected by the pot temperature sensor 46 to change, and the amount of rice to be cooked is determined based on this change in pot bottom temperature; and a preheating step in which the heating coil 31 is used to heat the pot 25 prior to the rice cooking amount determination step to raise the initial temperature of the rice to be cooked during the rice cooking amount determination step. Consequently, the rice cooker 2 can execute any of the rice cooking amount determination methods, including the first determination method based on the change in pot bottom temperature during the immersion cooking step and the second determination method, with high accuracy.

[0325] Furthermore, the rice cooker 2 of this embodiment includes a non-heating period during which the heating coil 31 is stopped from the preheating step until the initial temperature of the food being cooked is detected in the rice-cooking amount determination step. This reduces the difference between the temperature of the bottom of the pot and the temperature of the food being cooked, allowing for more accurate detection of the initial temperature of the food being cooked during the rice-cooking amount determination step, further improving the accuracy of rice-cooking amount determination.

[0326] Furthermore, the rice cooker 2 of this embodiment performs a preheating process in which the amount of heat input from the heating coil 31 to the pot 25 and the food to be cooked is varied based on the initial temperature of the food to be cooked. Consequently, the rice cooker 2 can control the initial temperature of the food to be cooked during the rice-to-be-cooked amount determination process to a temperature range that is more suitable for determining the accuracy of the determination.

[0327] Furthermore, the rice cooker 2 of this embodiment performs a preheating process. During this preheating process, if the initial temperature of the food being cooked is lower than a predetermined temperature, the heating coil 31 is used to heat the pot 25. If the initial temperature of the food being cooked during the preheating process is higher than the predetermined temperature, the pot 25 is not heated. Therefore, the rice cooker 2 can avoid the situation in which the initial temperature of the food being cooked becomes excessively high during the rice-cooking amount determination process, thereby reducing determination accuracy, or consuming unnecessary preheating time when the process is not necessary.

[0328] Furthermore, the rice cooker 2 of this embodiment performs a rice cooking amount determination process. In this process, the rice cooking amount is determined based on multiple threshold values ​​α represented by multiple linear functions with positive slopes and no mutual intersection, with the first variable V1 as the horizontal axis and the second variable V2 as the vertical axis. Therefore, the rice cooker 2 can easily handle applications other than cooking that require more accurate determination results, such as rice consumption management and a nursing function of the rice cooker 2 based on rice consumption.

[0329] Furthermore, the rice cooker 2 of this embodiment only needs to use at least one heating coil 31 to heat the pot 25 during the preheating process. This allows the rice cooker 2 to increase the temperature of the cooked food, such as the initial temperature, during the rice cooking amount determination process, thereby improving the accuracy of determining the amount of cooked rice.

[0330] Therefore, according to the rice cooker 2 of the present invention, it is possible to provide a rice cooker capable of further improving the accuracy of determining the amount of rice to be cooked.

[0331] Furthermore, the rice cooker 2 of this embodiment can execute the method for determining the amount of rice to be cooked and the step for determining the amount of rice to be cooked even when the rice cooker 2 is used in an independent state without utilizing the communication function and being connected to the electrical communication network 11 and the rice cooking system 1, i.e., a so-called stand-alone device. Furthermore, the rice cooker 2 can execute the method for determining the amount of rice to be cooked and the step for determining the amount of rice to be cooked even when the rice cooker 2 does not have the communication function for connecting to the electrical communication network 11 and the rice cooking system 1.

[0332] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are provided as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments may be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are intended to be included within the scope and spirit of the invention and within the scope of the invention set forth in the claims and their equivalents.

[0333] Description of Reference Numerals

[0334] 1... Rice cooking system, 2... Rice cooker, 3... Information terminal, 5... Near-field wireless communication, 7... Server, 8... Storage device, 11... Electrical communication network, 12... External communication network, 13... Local area communication network, 15... Repeater, 21... Pot storage unit, 23... Main body, 25... Pot, 25a: Main material, 25b: Heating element, 26: Lid, 27: Hinge mechanism, 28: Power line, 31: Heating coil, 31u: First coil, 31d: Second coil, 32: Flange, 35: Bottom plate, 36: Upper frame, 37: Inner frame, 38: Outer frame, 39... Control unit storage chamber, 41... Ventilation port, 42... Heating control circuit board, 43... Radiator, 45... Cooling fan, 46... Pot temperature sensor, 51... Hinge Shaft, 52... Hinge Spring, 55... Outer Cover, 56... Outer Cover, 57... Heat Sink, 58... Lid Heater, 59... Inner Cover Unit, 61... Inner Cover, 62... Lid Gasket, 63... Gasket Base, 65... Steam Vent, 66... ​​Steam Exhaust Passage, 67... Pressure Regulating Valve, 67a... Valve Body, 67b... Solenoid, 68... Pressure Reducing Pump, 69... Pressure Reducing Hole, 71... Lid Opening Operation Button, 72... Lid Locking Mechanism, 73... Operation Panel, 75... Input / Output Control Circuit Board, 76... Display Unit, 77... Operation Unit, 81... Coil Drive Circuit, 81u... First Drive Circuit, 81d... Second Drive Circuit, 83... Lid Heater Drive Circuit, 85... Lid Temperature Sensor, 86... Lid Open / Close Sensor, 87... Pressure Sensor, 88…Notification unit, 89…Communication module, 92…Input signal generating unit, 93…Display control unit, 95…Condition setting unit, 97…Cooking control unit, 98…Keep warm control unit, 101…Display unit, 102…Input device, 102a…Touch panel, 102b…Sound input unit, 103…Communication module, 105…Terminal control unit, 107…Storage unit, 108…Communication control function, 109…Display control function, 111…Communication module, 201…First display element, 201a…Model identification string, 201b…Setting screen call icon, 201c…Support screen call icon, 201d…Model icon, 201e…Status display string, 201f…Product send button, 20 1g…Rice amount addition / subtraction button, 201h…Cooking history call button, 201i…Program introduction call button, 201j…Background, 201k…First title string, 201m…Product sending screen call icon, 201n…Second title string, 201o…Inventory amount string, 201p…Rice amount addition / subtraction input unit call icon, 211…Addition input unit, 212…Reduction input unit, 215…First sub-display element, 215a…First title, 215b…Button, 215c…Inventory amount string, 215e…Inventory amount annotation area, 215f…Second title string, 215g…Rice amount reduction button, 215h…Rice amount addition button, 215i…Reduction annotation string,215j…Additional comment string, 215k…Notification string, 221…Second sub-display element, 221a…First title string, 221b…Second title string, 221c…Third title string, 221d…Fourth title string, 221e…Unit switching label, 221f…Numerical value selection, 221g…Cancel button, 221h…OK button, 225…Third sub-display element, 225a…First title string, 225b…Second title string, 225c…Third title string, 225d…Fourth title string, 225e…Unit switching label, 225f…Numerical value selection, 225g…Cancel button, 225h…OK button, 231…Quantity input unit, 232…Unit selection unit.

Claims

1. An electric rice cooker comprising: The pot holds the food to be cooked; A heating unit, for heating the pot; a temperature detecting unit for detecting the temperature of the pot; and A control unit controls the heating unit. The control unit performs the following steps: a cooking amount determining step of heating the pot using the heating unit to change the temperature of the pot detected by the temperature detecting unit, and determining the amount of the cooked rice based on the change in temperature; and The preheating step is to heat the pot using the heating unit before the rice-cooking amount determination step to increase the initial temperature of the pot in the rice-cooking amount determination step.

2. The electric rice cooker according to claim 1, The heating unit is stopped during a period from after the preheating step to when the initial temperature of the pot is detected in the rice cooking amount determination step.

3. The electric rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2, In the preheating step, the amount of heat input from the heating unit to the pan and the rice to be cooked is changed based on the initial temperature of the pan in the preheating step.

4. The electric rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2, In the preheating process, when the initial temperature of the pot in the preheating process is lower than a predetermined temperature, the pot is heated using the heating unit, and when the initial temperature of the pot in the preheating process is higher than the predetermined temperature, the pot is not heated.

5. The electric rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2, When the initial temperature Ts of the pot in the rice cooking amount determination step, the maximum temperature Tmax of the pot in the rice cooking amount determination step, the final temperature Te of the pot in the rice cooking amount determination step, a first variable V1 obtained by subtracting the initial temperature Ts from the final temperature Te, and a second variable V2 obtained by subtracting the final temperature Te from the maximum temperature Tmax are set, In the cooked rice amount determination step, the amount of the cooked rice is determined based on a plurality of thresholds represented by a plurality of linear functions having positive slopes and not intersecting with each other, with the first variable V1 being the horizontal axis and the second variable V2 being the vertical axis.

6. The electric rice cooker according to claim 1 or 2, The heating unit includes a plurality of heating coils, and the control unit uses at least one of the heating coils to heat the pan.

Images