Cooker

Abstract

To perform more appropriate notification according to characteristics of a cooker.SOLUTION: A cooker includes a pressure cooking function, a plurality of decompression means, a control part, and an automatic cooking function for performing cooking on the basis of an operation sequence programmed beforehand. During cooking by the automatic cooking function, the control part performs first notification when the cooker shifts from a pressure cooking process to a decompression process by the predetermined decompression means of the plurality of decompression means, performs a decompression process by the predetermined decompression means when a user does not perform predetermined operation after the first notification, and changes the decompression means used in the decompression process when the user performs the predetermined operation after the first notification.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a notification system for a cooking appliance and a cooking appliance. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a notification system that notifies a user's terminal device such as a mobile phone of information related to a cooking appliance (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 gives an example of a built-in gas stove as a cooking appliance. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-188871 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There are a wide variety of cooking appliances, including not only built-in gas stoves but also pressure cookers, microwave ovens, and induction cookers, and it is desirable to provide appropriate notifications according to the characteristics of each cooking appliance.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to solve the above problem and to provide a more appropriate notification according to the characteristics of a cooking appliance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, the notification system disclosed herein is a notification system for notifying a user's terminal device of information relating to a cooking appliance having a pressure cooking function, multiple pressure reduction means, and a wireless function, and sends a first notification to the terminal device when the cooking appliance transitions from a pressure cooking process to a pressure reduction process.

[0007] The heating cooker of the present disclosure is a heating cooker having a pressure cooking function, multiple pressure reduction means, a wireless function, and a control unit, and the control unit sends a first notification to a user's terminal device when transitioning from a pressure cooking process to a pressure reduction process. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, more appropriate notification can be given according to the characteristics of the cooking appliance. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking device according to an embodiment (with a lid closed); [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking device according to an embodiment (with a lid closed); [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking device according to an embodiment (with the lid open); [Figure 4A] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the inside of the lid of the embodiment; [Figure 4B] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the inside of a main body of an embodiment; [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cooking device according to the embodiment (view taken along the arrow AA in FIG. 1 ). [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a notification system including a cooking appliance and a terminal device according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] A flowchart showing an example of a notification process by the notification system shown in FIG. [Figure 8A] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the display screen of the operation display unit and the notification contents to the terminal device related to the "non-pressure cooking menu" [Figure 8B] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the display screen of the operation display unit and the notification contents to the terminal device related to the "non-pressure cooking menu" [Figure 8C] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the display screen of the operation display unit and the notification contents to the terminal device related to the "non-pressure cooking menu" [Figure 8D] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the display screen of the operation display unit and the notification contents to the terminal device related to the "non-pressure cooking menu" [Figure 8E]FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the display screen of the operation display unit and the notification contents to the terminal device related to the "non-pressure cooking menu" [Figure 9A] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the display screen of the operation display unit and the notification contents to the terminal device related to the "pressure cooking menu" [Figure 9B] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the display screen of the operation display unit and the notification contents to the terminal device related to the "pressure cooking menu" [Figure 9C] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the display screen of the operation display unit and the notification contents to the terminal device related to the "pressure cooking menu" [Figure 9D] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the display screen of the operation display unit and the notification contents to the terminal device related to the "pressure cooking menu" [Figure 9E] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the display screen of the operation display unit and the notification contents to the terminal device related to the "pressure cooking menu" [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the timing of main notifications when a pressure cooking menu is executed according to an embodiment; [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the timing of main notifications when a pressure cooking menu according to a modified example is executed. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a notification system including a cooking appliance and a terminal device according to a modified example. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing a notification system including a cooking appliance and a terminal device according to another modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a notification system for a cooking appliance having a pressure cooking function, multiple pressure reduction means, and a wireless function, for notifying a user's terminal device of information related to the cooking appliance, the notification system sending a first notification to the terminal device when the cooking appliance transitions from a pressure cooking process to a pressure reduction process.

[0011] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a notification system for the cooking appliance according to the first aspect, which issues a second notification to the terminal device when the depressurization step is completed.

[0012] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a notification system for a cooking appliance as described in the second aspect, in which the cooking appliance is equipped with a sensor for measuring temperature or pressure, and whether or not the decompression process has been completed is determined based on the measurement result of the sensor.

[0013] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a notification system for a heating cooker described in any one of the first to third aspects, which sends a second notification to the terminal device when the pressure reduction process has been completed and the subsequent post-process has been completed.

[0014] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the notification system for the cooking device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the first notification includes information indicating the start of pressure reduction.

[0015] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a notification system for a cooking device described in any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the first notification includes information regarding at least one pressure reduction means among the plurality of pressure reduction means.

[0016] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the notification system for the cooking device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the first notification includes information relating to a required time for decompression.

[0017] According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a notification system for a cooking device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, which sends a third notification to the terminal device at a predetermined timing during the decompression process.

[0018] According to a 9th aspect of the present invention, there is provided a notification system for a cooking appliance as described in the 8th aspect, wherein the cooking appliance is equipped with a sensor for measuring temperature or pressure, and determines whether or not the specified timing has been reached based on the measurement results of the sensor.

[0019] According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a notification system for a cooking appliance described in any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the cooking appliance is equipped with a pressure reducing valve capable of adjusting the internal pressure, and the plurality of pressure reducing means include at least two of a first pressure reducing means by natural cooling, a second pressure reducing means by electrically opening the pressure reducing valve, and a third pressure reducing means by manually opening the pressure reducing valve.

[0020] According to an 11th aspect of the present invention, there is provided a notification system for a heating cooker described in any one of the first to tenth aspects, comprising a server that communicates with the heating cooker and the terminal device, the server transmitting the notification to the terminal device in response to receiving a predetermined command from the heating cooker.

[0021] According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the notification system for the cooking appliance according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, wherein the wireless function is a wireless LAN or a wireless PAN.

[0022] According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a notification system for a cooking appliance according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects, wherein the notification sent to the terminal device is a push notification or an email notification.

[0023] According to a 14th aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heating cooker having a pressure cooking function, a plurality of pressure reduction means, a wireless function, and a control unit, wherein the control unit issues a first notification to a user's terminal device when transitioning from a pressure cooking process to a pressure reduction process.

[0024] According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the cooking device according to the fourteenth aspect, wherein the control unit transmits the first notification to the terminal device via a server or a router, or directly.

[0025] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of a notification system for a cooking appliance and a cooking appliance according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present disclosure is not limited to the specific configurations of the following embodiments, and configurations based on similar technical ideas are included in the present disclosure.

[0026] (Embodiment) First, a cooking device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5.

[0027] Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 are perspective views of a cooking device 2 according to an embodiment, Fig. 4A is a plan view showing the inside of a lid 10, Fig. 4B is a plan view showing the inside of a main body 8, and Fig. 5 is a view seen from the arrow AA in Fig. 1. Figs. 1 and 2 show a state in which the lid 10 is closed, and Fig. 3 shows a state in which the lid 10 is open.

[0028] The cooking device 2 shown in Figs. 1 to 5 is a cooking appliance for cooking foodstuffs (not shown) as objects to be heated. The cooking device 2 of this embodiment can be used as an automatic cooking device in which an operation sequence is preprogrammed for each cooking menu, and such cooking devices are also called "auto cookers," "multi cookers," and "slow cookers." The cooking device 2 of this embodiment can also perform manual cooking that achieves only simple operations such as performing a constant heating for a predetermined time without using a preprogrammed operation sequence for cooking a specific cooking menu.

[0029] When a user uses the cooking device 2 as an automatic cooker, the user places ingredients (not shown) in the cooking space S1 of the container 4 shown in Fig. 3, and operates the operation display unit 6 shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 to select a cooking menu and decide to perform cooking. The cooking device 2 executes a cooking process that heats and cooks the food according to a predetermined program according to the dish of the selected cooking menu (curry, etc.).

[0030] Hereinafter, in this embodiment, a case where the cooking device 2 is used as an automatic cooking device will be described.

[0031] The cooking device 2 of this embodiment has a "pressure cooking function" that cooks ingredients in a pressurized state in which the cooking space S1 is at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. That is, the cooking device 2 functions as a "pressure cooker." On the operation display unit 6 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a pressure cooking menu for pressure cooking and a non-pressure cooking menu can be selected. The operation display unit 6 functions as a cooking menu selection unit for selecting a cooking menu.

[0032] The cooking device 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 includes a container 4 (FIGS. 3 and 5), a main body 8 for accommodating the container 4, and a lid 10. As shown in FIG.

[0033] The container 4 is a cylindrical container having a bottom and an open top. As shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 4B, and Fig. 5, the container 4 forms a cooking space S1, and a stirring blade 5 is provided in the cooking space S1. The stirring blade 5 is an example of a stirring body for stirring the ingredients stored in the container 4.

[0034] The main body 8 is a cylindrical member having a bottom with an open top. Various components for operating the cooking device 2 are built into the main body 8. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a heater 9 as a heating unit for heating the container 4 and a temperature sensor 7 as a temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the container 4 are built into the bottom side of the main body 8. The temperature sensor 7 shown in FIG. 5 is provided in the upper center of the main body 8 so as to detect the temperature of the bottom of the container 4. The temperature sensor 7 is illustrated in a simplified form in FIG. 5.

[0035] 1 and 3, the main body 8 pivotally supports the lid 10 so that the lid 10 can rotate (arrow R1) from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, thereby allowing the lid 10 to rotate in the vertical direction and in the depth direction.

[0036] The lid 10 is a member for opening and closing the main body 8 and the container 4. The lid 10 has various built-in components for operating the cooking device 2, and for example, has a built-in control unit 11 as shown in Fig. 5. The control unit 11 is illustrated in a simplified form in Fig. 5.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 3, the lid 10 includes an outer lid 12 and an inner lid 14. The outer lid 12 is a lid for opening and closing the top opening of the main body 8, and the inner lid 14 is a lid for sealing the top opening of the container 4. The inner lid 14 is detachably attached to the inside (lower surface side) of the outer lid 12. Fig. 3 shows a state in which the inner lid 14 has been removed from the outer lid 12, and Fig. 4A shows a state in which the inner lid 14 has been attached to the outer lid 12.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer cover 12 includes an air vent 16 and a handle 201.

[0039] The vent hole 16 is an opening for venting the cooking space S1 of the container 4 to the outside. The vent hole 16 is switched between a connected state in which the vent hole 16 is connected to the cooking space S1 and a non-connected state in which the vent hole 16 is not connected to the cooking space S1 by a pressure reducing valve 26 described later. In the connected state, the pressure in the cooking space S1 is atmospheric pressure. In the non-connected state, the cooking space S1 is sealed by the inner lid 14 and the pressure is independent of atmospheric pressure.

[0040] Handle 201 is a member that a user rotates to switch between a locked state and an unlocked state of lid 10. Handle 201 is rotated (arrow R2) about a rotation axis Ax that extends in the thickness direction of lid 10. The thickness direction of lid 10 roughly coincides with the vertical direction when lid 10 is closed (FIGS. 1 and 2), and roughly coincides with the horizontal direction when lid 10 is open (FIG. 3).

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A, the inner lid 14 has an inner lid main body portion 20 and a packing 22.

[0042] The inner lid body 20 corresponds to the body of the inner lid 14 and has a generally disk-like shape. A gasket 22 is attached to the outer periphery of the inner lid body 20. The gasket 22 is a generally annular member attached to the outer periphery of the inner lid body 20 and is made of an elastic material such as rubber. When the lid 10 is closed, the gasket 22 comes into contact with the upper end 4A of the container 4 to seal the cooking space S1.

[0043] The inner lid main body 20 is provided with a safety valve 24 and a pressure reducing valve 26 .

[0044] Both the safety valve 24 and the pressure reducing valve 26 are valves attached to the inner lid body 20 and are arranged so as to be exposed to the cooking space S1. As shown in Fig. 5, a ventilation space S2 communicating with the ventilation hole 16 is provided on the upper surface side of the inner lid body 20. The safety valve 24 and the pressure reducing valve 26 each operate to switch between a communication state and a non-communication state between the cooking space S1 and the ventilation space S2.

[0045] The safety valve 24 is a valve that operates spontaneously in response to an increase in pressure in the cooking space S1. The safety valve 24 is disposed in a position that seals the cooking space S1, and moves from the sealed position to the open position in response to the pressure in the cooking space S1 increasing to or exceeding a predetermined pressure. The safety valve 24 prevents the cooking space S1 from becoming overpressurized, and does not operate in normal use.

[0046] The pressure reducing valve 26 is a valve that is operated by automatic operation of the control unit 11 or manual operation by the user. The pressure reducing valve 26 is movable between a sealing position where the cooking space S1 is sealed and an open position where the pressure reducing valve 26 is open to atmospheric pressure. A valve drive unit 40 is provided above the pressure reducing valve 26, and the control unit 11 drives the valve drive unit 40 to automatically control the position of the pressure reducing valve 26. The user can also manually control the position of the pressure reducing valve 26 by rotating the handle 201 shown in FIG. 1. In the case of manual control, the pressure reducing valve 26 can only be moved in the direction from the sealing position to the open position. The pressure reducing valve 26 may also be called a "pressure release valve" or a "pressure release valve."

[0047] In this embodiment, the handle 201 is linked to the valve driving unit 40. When the user rotates the handle 201 in a specific direction, the valve driving unit 40 is linked to the handle 201, and the pressure reducing valve 26 can be moved from the closed position to the open position.

[0048] The handle 201 and the valve drive unit 40 may be operated independently of each other, and may be operated in conjunction with each other. The pressure reducing valve 26 may be manually operated by any operation method, such as pressing a push button, and may be operated by rotating the handle 201.

[0049] The lid 10 of this embodiment is further provided with a pressure regulating valve for pressure cooking. The pressure regulating valve, like the safety valve 24, is disposed in a position to seal the cooking space S1, and moves from the sealed position to the open position when the pressure in the cooking space S1 rises to a predetermined pressure (a pressure lower than the predetermined pressure of the safety valve 24) or higher. The pressure regulating valve is a valve that operates in normal use, and has the function of keeping the cooking space S1 in a pressurized state of 1 atm or higher. Pressure cooking using the pressure regulating valve can heat the food to a high temperature of 100 degrees or higher, accelerating the completion of the food, leading to a reduction in the heating time.

[0050] The cooking device 2 having the above configuration executes a predetermined cooking sequence in accordance with a cooking menu set on the operation display unit 6. The cooking device 2 controls the driving of the heater 9 and the like based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 7, with the set temperature corresponding to each cooking menu as the target temperature.

[0051] With the pressure reducing valve 26 closed, the heater 9 is energized to heat the container 4 to above room temperature, thereby creating a pressurized state in which the internal pressure of the container 4 is 1 atm or higher. This allows for "pressure cooking," in which ingredients are pressurized and cooked, with the pressure in the cooking space S1 increased to within a range below a predetermined pressure at which the pressure adjusting valve operates.

[0052] After performing the pressure cooking step, the cooking device 2 performs a depressurization step of reducing the internal pressure of the container 4 toward atmospheric pressure. By performing the depressurization step, the lid 10 becomes in a state where it is safe to open.

[0053] The cooking device 2 of this embodiment has a plurality of pressure reducing means for performing the pressure reducing step. The first pressure reducing means, the second pressure reducing means, and the third pressure reducing means will be described below.

[0054] The first pressure reducing means is a pressure reducing means that uses natural cooling. By leaving the cooking device 2 after the pressure cooking process is completed, the cooking device 2 including the container 4 is naturally cooled, and the pressure inside the container 4 is reduced as the temperature drops. The time required for the pressure reducing process, that is, the time from the start of pressure reduction until the lid 10 can be safely opened, is, for example, more than one hour when the volume of food to be cooked is large and the pressure is 2 atm.

[0055] The second pressure reducing means is a pressure reducing means that electrically opens the pressure reducing valve 26. The control unit 11 drives the valve driving unit 40 to move the pressure reducing valve 26 to the open position, thereby connecting the cooking space S1 to the outside and reducing the internal pressure of the container 4 (forced pressure reduction).

[0056] In the case of control by the control unit 11, it is possible to finely adjust the position of the pressure reducing valve 26. It is possible to control the opening method of the pressure reducing valve 26, such as moving the pressure reducing valve 26 to the open position instantly or moving the pressure reducing valve 26 to the open position step by step, and the time required for the pressure reducing process is appropriately changed. If the moving speed of the pressure reducing valve 26 is increased to instantly open the fully open state, the time from the start of pressure reduction until the lid 10 can be safely opened is, for example, within one minute, or several minutes depending on the contents and viscosity. If the moving speed of the pressure reducing valve 26 is decreased to gradually reduce the internal pressure of the container 4, the time from the start of pressure reduction until the lid 10 can be safely opened is, for example, more than one hour when the volume of the food to be cooked is large and the pressure is 2 atm.

[0057] The third pressure reducing means is a pressure reducing means by manually opening the pressure reducing valve 26. The user can manually rotate the above-mentioned handle 201 to move the pressure reducing valve 26 to the open position and reduce the pressure inside the container 4 (forced pressure reduction). The time from the start of pressure reduction until the lid 10 can be safely opened is the same as that of the second pressure reducing means, and can be as short as within one minute or several minutes, or as long as one hour. However, there is a possibility of overflow depending on the food being cooked.

[0058] The cooking device 2 having the above-mentioned configuration is configured to be able to notify information on cooking such as pressure cooking and non-pressure cooking to a terminal device such as a mobile phone owned by a user. The specific configuration and functions of the notification system of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 6 to 10.

[0059] FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing a notification system including the cooking appliance 2 and a terminal device 60.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 6, the notification system of the present embodiment includes a cooker 2, a terminal device 60, a server 70, and a router 80.

[0061] The terminal device 60 is a device owned by a user of the cooking appliance 2, and is, for example, an electronic device such as a mobile phone or a tablet. The server 70 is a device for managing and collecting information communicated in the notification system. The router 80 is a device for interconnecting the devices constituting the notification system. The cooking appliance 2, the terminal device 60, and the server 70 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via the router 80.

[0062] The notification system shown in Fig. 6 transmits a predetermined notification to the user's terminal device 60 in response to the cooking appliance 2 entering a specific state. A specific processing flow is shown in Fig. 7.

[0063] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a notification process by the notification system shown in FIG.

[0064] 7, first, it is determined whether or not the cooking appliance 2 has entered a specific state (S1). Specifically, when a measurement value of a sensor such as the temperature sensor 7 reaches a predetermined threshold value, when a transition state between steps in a cooking sequence occurs, etc., the control unit 11 of the cooking appliance 2 determines that the cooking appliance 2 has entered a specific state.

[0065] If the cooking appliance 2 does not enter the specific state (NO in step S1), step S1 is executed again.

[0066] When it is determined that the cooking appliance 2 has entered a specific state (YES in step S1), a predetermined command is transmitted from the cooking appliance 2 to the server 70 (S2). Specifically, the predetermined command is transmitted from a wireless module (not shown) mounted on the cooking appliance 2 to the server 70 via the router 80 using a predetermined communication method (for example, the ECHONET (registered trademark) LITE method).

[0067] The server 70 that has received the command issues a push notification to the terminal device 60 (S3). Specifically, the server 70 transmits a push notification with content corresponding to the received command to the terminal device 60 via the router 80.

[0068] By executing steps S1 to S3, it is possible to inform the user that the cooking appliance 2 has entered a specific state by sending a notification to the terminal device 60. This allows the user to grasp the progress of the cooking menu in the cooking appliance 2.

[0069] In particular, when a pressure cooking menu is selected on the cooker 2, the notification system of this embodiment sends a push notification to the terminal device 60 at the timing of transition from a "pressure cooking step" in which the heater 9 is driven to pressure-cook the ingredients to a "depressurization step" in which the heater 9 is stopped and the pressure inside the container 4 is reduced. In the flow shown in Fig. 7, at the timing of completion of the pressure cooking step and transition to the depressurization step, it is determined that the cooker 2 has entered a specific state (YES in S1), a predetermined command is transmitted from the cooker 2 to the server 70 (S2), and the server 70, having received the command, transmits a push notification to the terminal device 60 (S3).

[0070] By notifying the terminal device 60 when the pressure cooking process is switched to the pressure reducing process, the user can recognize the start of the pressure reducing process and can select one of the above-mentioned pressure reducing means to execute the process. For example, by selecting the first pressure reducing means by natural cooling, the time required for pressure reducing is longer, but the taste can be arranged by allowing the flavor of the food to soak in. In addition, by selecting the second pressure reducing means / third pressure reducing means by electrically operating / manually operating the pressure reducing valve 26, the pressure reducing valve 26 can be opened at a desired timing desired by the user, and there are many variations in pressure reducing methods, such as forcibly reducing the pressure as soon as the pressure cooking process is completed, or forcibly reducing the pressure after allowing the pressure to cool naturally for a certain period of time. When the second pressure reducing means by electrically operating the pressure reducing valve 26 is selected, the control unit 11 can also move the pressure reducing valve 26 to the open position instantly or stepwise by a method determined in advance.

[0071] Next, the display screen displayed on the operation display unit 6 when a cooking menu is executed in the cooker 2 and the push notification to the terminal device 60 will be described with reference to Figs. 8A to 8E and Figs. 9A to 9E.

[0072] Figures 8A to 8E are schematic diagrams showing the display screen of the operation and display unit 6 and the notification content sent to the terminal device 60 when the "non-pressure cooking menu" is executed. Figures 9A to 9E are schematic diagrams showing the display screen of the operation and display unit 6 and the notification content sent to the terminal device 60 when the "pressure cooking menu" is executed. In each of Figures 8A to 8E and 9A to 9E, the transition order of the display screens is indicated by downward arrows.

[0073] 8A to 8E and 9A to 9E each illustrate an example of manual cooking in which the user can set the heating intensity and heating time. The heating intensity can be set to multiple levels, such as "high," "medium," and "low," and the set temperature and heater drive power are determined according to the set heating intensity.

[0074] In Figs. 8A to 8E, a "stir-fry menu" is selected as an example of the non-pressure cooking menu.

[0075] FIG. 8A shows a display screen during the preheating process at the start of a stir-fry cooking menu. The screen shown in FIG. 8A includes the text "Preheating to target temperature...", a schematic illustration of the cooking appliance 2, and the like. The display screen in FIG. 8A is displayed when the selected cooking menu includes a preheating process. Upon completion of the preheating process, the screen transitions to the screen shown in FIG. 8B. At the time of this transition, a "work start notification" is sent to the terminal device 60. The work start notification is a notification that informs the user that a specific task needs to be performed after preheating is complete. Tasks include, for example, adding ingredients and stirring.

[0076] FIG. 8B shows a display screen during the work process. The screen shown in FIG. 8B includes the words "Preheating completed...pause", "About 1 hour 30 minutes", "Press [START] to resume cooking", and "Low". "Press [START] to resume cooking" indicates that the user can resume cooking and move to the next step by pressing the [START] button on the operation display unit 6 after performing a specified task. "About 1 hour 30 minutes" indicates the estimated remaining time from the restart of cooking to the completion of cooking. "Low" indicates the currently set heating intensity. The screen shown in FIG. 8B is displayed when the selected cooking menu includes a work process. In response to the user pressing the [START] button, the next heating process is started and the screen shown in FIG. 8C is displayed.

[0077] FIG. 8C shows the display screen during the heating process. The heating process is a process of heating and cooking ingredients by passing electricity through the heater 9 to a target temperature (for example, 170 degrees) according to the cooking menu. When a non-pressure cooking menu is selected, the pressure reducing valve 26 is controlled to the open position, and the cooking space S1 is open to atmospheric pressure. The screen shown in FIG. 8C includes the words "Cooking... remaining", "About 1 hour and 15 minutes", "Press [OK] to change heat", and "Low". "Press [OK] to change heat" indicates that the heating intensity can be changed by pressing the [OK] button on the operation display unit 6. "About 1 hour and 15 minutes" indicates an estimate of the remaining time until cooking is completed, and indicates a state in which about 15 minutes have passed since the [START] button was pressed on the display screen shown in FIG. 8B.

[0078] When about 1 hour and 15 minutes have passed since the display screen shown in Fig. 8C, the heating process is completed and the process proceeds to the subsequent keep-warm process, and the display screen transitions to that shown in Fig. 8D. In connection with this transition, a "Notification N minutes before cooking completion" and a "Notification of cooking completion" are transmitted to the terminal device 60. The "Notification N minutes before cooking completion" is a prior notification that notifies the user when the remaining time until cooking is completed reaches a predetermined time: N minutes (e.g., 5 minutes). The "Notification of cooking completion" is a notification that notifies the user when cooking is completed.

[0079] FIG. 8D shows the display screen during the warming process. In the warming process, power supply to heater 9 is controlled so as to maintain a predetermined warming temperature based on the temperature detected by temperature sensor 7. The screen shown in FIG. 8D includes text such as "Keeping warm...", "5 minutes", and "Press [START] to extend heating". "5 minutes" indicates the approximate remaining time of the warming process, and "Press [START] to extend heating" indicates that the user can press the [START] button to execute an "extended heating process" in which power is supplied to heater 9 in the same way as the heating process. When the user presses the [START] button, the process moves to the extended heating process and the screen transitions to the screen shown in FIG. 8E.

[0080] Fig. 8E shows the display screen during the extended heating process. The screen shown in Fig. 8E includes text such as "Cooking... remaining" and "10 minutes". "10 minutes" represents an estimate of the remaining time of the extended heating process. When the 10 minutes have passed and the extended heating process is complete, the display returns to the keep-warm process and transitions to the screen shown in Fig. 8D. In connection with this transition, a "Notification of N minutes until cooking completion" and a "Notification of cooking completion" are sent to the terminal device 60.

[0081] The display screens shown in Figures 8A to 8E and notifications sent to terminal device 60 enable the user to recognize in real time that the cooking appliance 2 has entered a specific state, such as a state in which a work process can be executed (Figure 8A), a state in which there are N minutes left until cooking is complete (completion of heating process / extended heating process) (Figures 8C, 8D), or a state in which cooking has been completed (Figures 8C, 8D).

[0082] Fig. 9A shows the display screen during the pressurization process at the start of a pressure cooking menu. The pressurization process is a process in which the container 4 is heated and the internal pressure of the container 4 is increased by applying electricity to the heater 9 while the pressure reducing valve 26 is closed and the container 4 is sealed. The screen shown in Fig. 9A includes the text "Pressurizing...paused", the word "locked" with a lock mark, a schematic illustration of the cooking appliance 2, and the like. The "locked" with the lock mark indicates that the container 4 is in a locked state in which the opening and closing of the lid 10 is restricted when the internal pressure of the container 4 is equal to or higher than atmospheric pressure.

[0083] The cooking device 2 of this embodiment judges whether the pressurization step is completed or not based on the detection result of the temperature sensor 7. Since the temperature and the internal pressure of the container 4 are roughly proportional to each other, when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 7 reaches a predetermined temperature or higher, it is judged that the internal pressure of the container 4 has reached a predetermined pressure or higher, i.e., the pressurization step is completed. When it is judged that the pressurization step is completed, the next pressure cooking step is started and the screen shown in FIG. 9B is displayed.

[0084] Fig. 9B shows the display screen during the pressure cooking process. In the pressure cooking process, the internal pressure of the container 4 is increased to a predetermined pressure of 1 atm or more, and electricity is applied to the heater 9, thereby cooking the ingredients contained in the container 4 under pressure and heat. The screen shown in Fig. 9B includes the text "Pressurizing... remaining", "Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes", and "Lock" with a lock symbol. "Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes" represents an estimate of the remaining time of the pressure cooking process.

[0085] When the remaining time has elapsed, the pressure cooking process is completed and the process proceeds to the subsequent depressurization process, and the screen transitions to that shown in Fig. 9C. In connection with this transition, a "notification N minutes before depressurization starts" and a "depressurization start notification" are sent to the terminal device 60. The "notification N minutes before depressurization starts" is an advance notification that notifies the user's terminal device 60 when the remaining time until the depressurization process reaches a predetermined time: N minutes (e.g., 5 minutes). The "depressurization start notification" is a notification that notifies the user's terminal device 60 when the pressure cooking process is completed and the depressurization process starts.

[0086] As described above, the cooking device 2 of this embodiment has (1) a first pressure reduction means by natural pressure reduction, (2) a second pressure reduction means by automatic operation of the pressure reduction valve 26, and (3) a third pressure reduction means by manual operation of the pressure reduction valve 26. When transitioning from the pressure cooking process to the pressure reduction process, a notification is sent to the terminal device 60 to notify the start of the pressure reduction process, allowing the user who has received the notification to select the pressure reduction means to be used in the pressure reduction process.

[0087] FIG. 9C shows the display screen during the decompression process. The decompression process is a process for reducing the internal pressure of the container 4 that has risen during the pressurization process and pressure cooking process. The decompression process reduces the internal pressure to a level at which the lid 10 can be safely opened. The screen shown in FIG. 9C includes the text "Decompressing...Caution: Steam", "Press and hold [OK] to forcibly exhaust", and "Lock" with a lock symbol. "Press and hold [OK] to forcibly exhaust" indicates that when the user presses the [OK] button, the control unit 11 electrically operates the pressure reducing valve 26 to move it to the open position, thereby forcibly exhausting the pressurized air in the container 4. The electrically operated pressure reducing valve 26 corresponds to the second pressure reducing means.

[0088] 9C is displayed, the user can select a pressure reduction action from among (1) natural pressure reduction by leaving the display screen as it is without taking any particular action, (2) forced pressure reduction of the pressure reducing valve 26 by pressing and holding the [OK] button, and (3) forced pressure reduction of the pressure reducing valve 26 by rotating the handle 201. This allows the pressure reduction process to be performed in a manner desired by the user, and allows the finished product and taste of the ingredients to be adjusted.

[0089] Whether or not the depressurization step has been completed and whether or not it is N minutes before the start of the depressurization step are determined based on the detection results of sensors such as the temperature sensor 7, similar to the determination of whether or not the pressure increase step has been completed.

[0090] When it is determined that the decompression process is complete, the process proceeds to the subsequent warming process, and the display screen transitions to that shown in Fig. 9D. In connection with this transition, a "cooking completion notification" is issued. This allows the user to be informed that the decompression process has been completed and cooking has been completed.

[0091] Not only in the case of natural pressure reduction (1), but also in the cases of forced pressure reduction (2) and (3), it may take some time (for example, several minutes to several tens of minutes, or more than an hour) from the start of operation of pressure reduction valve 26 until the pressure reaches a level at which lid 10 can be safely opened, or it may be completed in a short time of less than one minute. For this reason, by transmitting a cooking completion notification to terminal device 60 at the timing when the pressure reduction process is completed, the user can be notified of the completion of cooking in a timely manner, and can perform other tasks between the execution of the forced pressure reduction action and the receipt of the cooking completion notification. In this way, the usability of cooking appliance 2 can be improved.

[0092] The display screen for the warming process shown in FIG. 9D and the display screen for the extended heating process shown in FIG. 9E are similar to the display screens shown in FIG. 8D and FIG. 8E, respectively, and are also similar in that they send a “Notification N minutes before cooking is complete” and a “Notification of cooking completion.”

[0093] Examples of the notification messages shown in FIGS. 8A to 8E and 9A to 9E are as follows. Work start notification: "Please start working." Notification N minutes before cooking is complete: "It will be ready in approximately N minutes." Cooking completion notification: "It's done." N minutes before decompression begins: "Decompression will begin in approximately N minutes." Decompression start notification: "Decompression is starting. Forced decompression can be performed by operating the device."

[0094] By including information indicating the start of decompression, such as "Decompression will begin," in the decompression start notification or the notification N minutes before decompression start, the user can accurately recognize that decompression is about to begin. By including information about the second decompression means, such as "Forced decompression is possible by operating the main unit," in the decompression start notification, the user can be informed of the options for decompression means. By including information about not only the second decompression means but also the first decompression means and the third decompression means, it is possible to more directly indicate that there are multiple options for decompression means.

[0095] The notification of decompression start and the notification N minutes before decompression start may include information regarding the time required for decompression for at least one decompression means. Since the internal temperature of the container 4 can be estimated based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 7, the time required for decompression for each decompression means may be predicted based on the detected temperature and the amount of ingredients, etc., and included in the notification content. This makes it possible to inform the user of the time required for decompression.

[0096] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the timing of main notifications when a pressure cooking menu is executed by the notification system of this embodiment.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 10, the notification system of this embodiment issues a first notification (notification of depressurization start, notification N minutes before depressurization starts) when transitioning from the pressure cooking process to the depressurization process, and issues a second notification (notification of cooking completion, notification N minutes before cooking completion) when the depressurization process is completed and cooking is complete.

[0098] By performing the first notification, the user can be notified of the start of the decompression process, and the user can select one of the multiple decompression means to execute the decompression process in a desired manner. By performing the second notification, the user can be notified of the completion of the decompression process, and the user can be notified of the completion of the decompression process in a timely manner while performing other tasks until the decompression process is completed. In this way, appropriate notification can be given to the user's terminal device 60 according to the characteristics of the cooking device 2 having a pressure cooking function, and the usability of the cooking device 2 can be improved. In particular, if the first notification is not given, the user cannot recognize the start of the decompression process unless he or she looks at the operation display unit 6 of the cooking device 2, and it becomes difficult to select a decompression means at an appropriate time. In such a control / configuration, it can be said that there is room for improvement in terms of providing appropriate notification in the cooking device 2 having multiple decompression means.

[0099] (Action and effect) As described above, the notification system for the heating cooker 2 of this embodiment is a notification system for notifying a user's terminal device 60 of information related to the heating cooker 2 having a pressure cooking function, multiple pressure reduction means, and a wireless function, and when the heating cooker 2 transitions from the pressure cooking process to the pressure reduction process, a first notification (pressure reduction start notification, notification N minutes before pressure reduction starts) is sent to the terminal device 60.

[0100] According to such a cooking device 2, when the pressure cooking step is shifted to the reduced pressure state, a notification is given to the user's terminal device 60, so that the user can select and execute one of the multiple pressure reduction means. In this way, an appropriate notification can be given to the user's terminal device 60 according to the characteristics of the cooking device 2, and the usability of the cooking device 2 can be improved.

[0101] Furthermore, in the notification system of the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, when the decompression process is completed, a second notification (cooking completion notification, notification N minutes before cooking completion) is sent to the terminal device 60. Such a notification system makes it possible to send the second notification at the timing when the decompression process is completed and pressure cooking is completed, for example.

[0102] Moreover, in the notification system for the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the cooking appliance 2 includes a temperature sensor 7 (sensor) that measures temperature, and determines whether or not the depressurization step has been completed based on the measurement result of the temperature sensor 7. Such a notification system makes it possible to issue the second notification at a desired timing, such as when the internal pressure of the cooking appliance 2 has decreased and it is safe to open and close the lid.

[0103] It should be noted that the determination as to whether the depressurization process is complete may be made based on the measurement result of a pressure sensor, for example, without being limited to the case of using the temperature sensor 7. That is, the cooking device 2 may be provided with a sensor that measures temperature or pressure, and the determination as to whether the depressurization process is complete may be made based on the measurement result of the sensor.

[0104] Moreover, in the notification system of the cooking appliance 2 of the present embodiment, the first notification includes information indicating the start of decompression (for example, a message saying "Decompression will start.") Such a notification system allows the user to accurately know the start of decompression.

[0105] Furthermore, in the notification system of the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the first notification includes information on at least one of the multiple pressure reduction means (for example, information on the second pressure reduction means such as "Forcible pressure reduction is possible by operating the main unit"). Such a notification system can inform the user of the options for pressure reduction means. As described above, the notification is not limited to the second pressure reduction means, and may include information on the first pressure reduction means and the third pressure reduction means, as long as it includes information on at least one pressure reduction means.

[0106] In addition, in the notification system for the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the cooking appliance 2 includes a pressure reducing valve 26 capable of adjusting the internal pressure, and the multiple pressure reducing means include a first pressure reducing means by natural cooling, a second pressure reducing means by electrically opening the pressure reducing valve 26, and a third pressure reducing means by manually opening the pressure reducing valve 26. With such a notification system, the user can select a desired pressure reducing means from among natural cooling and electrically opening / manual opening of the pressure reducing valve 26. Note that the system is not limited to the case where all three pressure reducing means are provided, and may include the case where only the first pressure reducing means and the second pressure reducing means, or the case where only the first pressure reducing means and the third pressure reducing means are provided, as long as the system has at least two pressure reducing means, the user can select a pressure reducing means.

[0107] Moreover, the notification system for the cooking appliance 2 of the present embodiment includes a server 70 that communicates with the cooking appliance 2 and the terminal device 60, and the server 70 transmits a notification to the terminal device 60 in response to receiving a predetermined command from the cooking appliance 2. According to such a notification system, a notification can be sent to the terminal device 60 via the server 70, and the server 70 can collect information.

[0108] Moreover, in the notification system of the cooking appliance 2 of this embodiment, the notification sent to the terminal device 60 is a push notification. According to such a notification system, notification can be performed in a general-purpose manner. Note that the push notification is not limited to a message, and may be any method such as a voice notification. Also, it is not limited to a push notification, and may be an email notification. That is, in the notification system of the cooking appliance 2, the notification sent to the terminal device 60 may be a push notification or an email notification.

[0109] Furthermore, the cooking device 2 of this embodiment is a cooking device having a pressure cooking function, a plurality of pressure reducing means, a wireless function, and a control unit 11, and the control unit 11 performs a first notification to the user's terminal device 60 when shifting from the pressure cooking step to the pressure reducing step (S1 to S3). According to such a cooking device 2, an appropriate notification can be given by the user's terminal device 60 in accordance with the characteristics of the cooking device 2 having the pressure cooking function, and the usability of the cooking device 2 can be improved.

[0110] Moreover, in the cooking device 2 of the present embodiment, the control unit 11 transmits a first notification to the terminal device 60 via the server 70 and the router 80. According to such a notification system, it becomes possible for the server 70 to collect information via the server 70.

[0111] Although the invention of the present disclosure has been described above with reference to the above-mentioned embodiment, the invention of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the case where cooking is completed upon completion of the depressurization step is described, but the invention is not limited to such a case. For example, as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 11, there may be another "post-step" after the depressurization step, and cooking may be completed upon completion of the post-step. The post-step may be any step, such as a boiling step for boiling down ingredients.

[0112] In the flow shown in FIG. 11, the second notification, which is a cooking completion notification, may be transmitted in response to the completion of the subsequent process. In this case, the notification at the timing of the completion of the depressurization process and the transition to the subsequent process may be omitted. Also, a third notification different from the first notification and the second notification may be transmitted at a predetermined timing during the depressurization process. The predetermined timing is set, for example, when a specific cooking state is reached based on the measurement values ​​of sensors such as the temperature sensor 7 and the pressure sensor, for example, when it is determined that the taste will not change any more even if the pressure is forcibly reduced. By transmitting the third notification, the user can be prompted to perform the forcible depressurization (second depressurization means / third depressurization means), thereby shortening the cooking time. The third notification may also be applied to the cooking sequence shown in FIG. 10 in the same manner.

[0113] According to the notification system of this modification, when the post-processing step is completed after the depressurization step, the second notification is sent to the terminal device 60. With this configuration, it is possible to notify the user at an appropriate timing when cooking is completed.

[0114] According to the notification system of this modification, at a predetermined timing during the decompression process, the third notification is sent to the terminal device 60. With such a configuration, it is possible to notify the user when the cooking appliance 2 reaches a specific state during the decompression process, etc.

[0115] According to the notification system of this modification, the cooking appliance 2 includes a sensor for measuring temperature or pressure, and determines whether a predetermined timing has been reached based on the measurement result of the sensor. With this configuration, it is possible to notify the user when the cooking appliance 2 reaches a specific state during the decompression process.

[0116] In the above embodiment, the case where the cooking appliance 2 notifies the terminal device 60 via the server 70 has been exemplified, but the case is not limited to this, and the case may not be via the server 70. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the cooking appliance 2 and the terminal device 60 may communicate with each other via a router 80 without the server 70. In this case, the communication means may be, for example, a home Wi-Fi, which is a type of wireless LAN. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 13, the cooking appliance 2 and the terminal device 60 may communicate with each other directly without the server 70 or the router 80. In this case, the communication means may be, for example, BLE, which is a type of wireless PAN, or AdHoc Wi-Fi, which is a type of wireless LAN.

[0117] According to the notification system according to the embodiment and the present modification, the wireless function of the cooking appliance 2 is a wireless LAN or a wireless PAN. This allows the cooking appliance 2 and the terminal device 60 to easily communicate with each other.

[0118] Although the present disclosure has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, various modifications and alterations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and alterations should be understood to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims, unless they deviate from the scope of the invention. In addition, changes in the combination and order of elements in each embodiment may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

[0119] Of the various modifications of the embodiment, any of the modifications can be appropriately combined to obtain the respective effects. [Industrial Applicability]

[0120] The present disclosure is applicable to a notification system for a cooking appliance and a cooking appliance. [Explanation of symbols]

[0121] 2 Cooker 4 containers 6 Operation display section 7 Temperature sensor (temperature detection part, sensor) 8 Main body 9 Heater (heating part) 10 Lid 11 Control section 26 Pressure reducing valve 60 Terminal Equipment 70 Servers 80 Router

Claims

1. A cooking device having a pressure cooking function, a plurality of pressure reducing means, a control unit, and an automatic cooking function that performs cooking based on a preprogrammed operation sequence, The control unit of the heating cooker issues a first notification when the heating cooker transitions from a pressure cooking process to a pressure reduction process using a predetermined pressure reduction means among the multiple pressure reduction means during heating cooking using the automatic cooking function, and if a user does not perform a predetermined operation after the first notification, executes the pressure reduction process using the predetermined pressure reduction means, and if a user performs a predetermined operation after the first notification, changes the pressure reduction means used in the pressure reduction process.

2. The cooking device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a second notification that is issued when the depressurization step is completed.

3. The cooking device according to claim 2 , further comprising a sensor for measuring a temperature or a pressure, and determining whether the decompression step is completed based on a measurement result of the sensor.

4. The cooking device according to claim 1 , further comprising a second notification when a subsequent process is completed after the depressurization process.

5. The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the first notification includes information indicating a start of pressure reduction.

6. The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the first notification includes information about at least one pressure reducing unit among the plurality of pressure reducing units.

7. The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the first notification includes information regarding a time required for decompression.

8. The cooking device according to claim 1 , further comprising a third notification being issued at a predetermined timing during the pressure reducing step.

9. The cooking device according to claim 8 , further comprising a sensor for measuring a temperature or a pressure, and determining whether or not the predetermined timing has been reached based on a measurement result of the sensor.

10. The plurality of pressure reducing means include a first pressure reducing means by natural cooling, The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pressure reducing means is the first pressure reducing means.

11. The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit transmits the first notification to a terminal device of a user via a server or a router, or directly.

12. The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the cooking device has a wireless function.

13. The cooking device according to claim 12 , wherein the wireless function is a wireless LAN or a wireless PAN.

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