Heating cooking system

Abstract

To provide a highly safe heating cooking system capable of accurately detecting a foreign matter on a top plate which might cause a dangerous event.SOLUTION: In the case where a cooked object P is not disposed above gas heating sections 20A, 20B, when there is a foreign matter in first monitoring regions 201A, 201B of a top plate 11 around the gas heating sections 20A, 20B, and even if a start command for a heating operation of the gas heating sections 20A, 20B is input by a heating operation command input sections 14A, 14B, the start command of the heating operation is invalidated. In the case where the cooked object is disposed above the gas heating sections 20A, 20B, when there is a foreign matter in second monitoring regions 202A, 202B on the top plate which are wider than first monitoring regions 201A, 201B around the gas heating sections 20A, 20B, and even if the start command for the heating operation of the gas heating sections 20A, 20B is input by the heating operation command input sections 14A, 14B, the start command for the heating operation is invalidated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking system having a gas heating unit.

Background Art

[0002] It has been proposed to provide a camera in a range hood, analyze an image obtained by photographing a lower cooking appliance during cooking in which a gas burner is burning, and stop heating when a dangerous state such as smoke rising from a cooking utensil is detected (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, not only during cooking but also before starting cooking, various seasonings placed in non-heat-resistant containers, cleaning supplies such as dishcloths, kitchen paper, and combustibles such as chopsticks are often placed on and around the top plate of the cooking appliance for preparation for cooking. Therefore, if the user inadvertently leaves these on the top plate and starts cooking, dangerous events such as deformation or ignition of the container may occur. In particular, when a cooking utensil such as a pot, which is the object to be cooked, is on the top plate, it is difficult to see the rear of the cooking utensil, so it is difficult for the user to notice the oversight. As a result, simply stopping heating after the user starts cooking and a dangerous event occurs as in Patent Document 1 does not sufficiently ensure safety. Further, in Patent Document 1, it is also proposed to detect foreign matter on the exhaust port of the grill. However, as described above, since smoke generated by combustion of the foreign matter is detected after starting cooking on the grill, the safety is inferior. On the other hand, detecting even foreign matter with a low possibility of causing a dangerous event when no cooking is being performed may interfere with smooth cooking.

[0005] The present invention solves the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cooking system with high safety that accurately detects foreign objects on a top plate where a dangerous event may occur.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present technology, an appliance body, a top plate constituting the upper surface portion of the appliance body, a gas heating unit that heats an object to be cooked by combustion of fuel gas, an object-to-be-cooked detection unit that detects an object to be cooked above the gas heating unit, a heating operation instruction input unit that inputs an instruction to start the heating operation of the gas heating unit, a foreign object detection unit that detects foreign objects on the top plate, and a control device, When no object to be cooked is detected above the gas heating unit by the object-to-be-cooked detection unit, the control device determines whether there is a foreign object in a first monitoring area on the top plate around the gas heating unit where no object to be cooked is detected. If it is determined that there is a foreign object in the first monitoring area, even if an instruction to start the heating operation of the gas heating unit where no object to be cooked is detected is input by the heating operation instruction input unit, the control device invalidates the instruction to start the heating operation. When an object to be cooked is detected above the gas heating unit by the object-to-be-cooked detection unit, the control device determines whether there is a foreign object in a second monitoring area on the top plate that is wider than the first monitoring area around the gas heating unit where the object to be cooked is detected. If it is determined that there is a foreign object in the second monitoring area, even if an instruction to start the heating operation of the gas heating unit where the object to be cooked is detected is input by the heating operation instruction input unit, the control device invalidates the instruction to start the heating operation, and a cooking system is provided.

[0007] When there is no object to be cooked above the gas heating unit, the flame formed in the gas heating unit is formed to rise upward. On the other hand, when there is an object to be cooked above the gas heating unit, the flame formed in the gas heating unit spreads radially along the bottom surface of the object to be cooked. As a result, when an object to be cooked is placed above the gas heating unit, dangerous events are more likely to occur in a wider area on the top plate than when no object to be cooked is placed above the gas heating unit. Therefore, when no object to be cooked is detected above the gas heating unit by the object-to-be-cooked detection unit, it is determined whether there is a foreign object in the first monitoring area on the top plate around the gas heating unit. When an object to be cooked is detected above the gas heating unit by the object-to-be-cooked detection unit, it is determined whether there is a foreign object in the second monitoring area on the top plate that is wider than the first monitoring area around the gas heating unit. By doing so, foreign objects in the area where dangerous events occur when the heating operation of the gas heating unit is started can be accurately detected. And when a foreign object is detected in the first monitoring area or the second monitoring area, if the start instruction of the heating operation of the gas heating unit input by the heating operation instruction input unit is invalidated, the gas heating unit will not be ignited, so high safety can be ensured.

[0008] According to the second aspect of the present technology, in the above first aspect, It has an input switching unit that switches between a state where an instruction for the heating operation can be input to the heating operation instruction input unit and a state where an instruction for the heating operation cannot be input to the heating operation instruction input unit. When the foreign object detection unit is in a state where an instruction for the heating operation can be input to the heating operation instruction input unit, it detects foreign objects on the top plate.

[0009] According to the above heating cooking system, since foreign objects are detected by the foreign object detection unit only when an instruction for the heating operation is in an inputtable state to the heating operation instruction input unit, energy saving can be achieved.

[0010] According to the third aspect of the present technology, in the above second aspect, The input switching unit has a power supply switching unit that switches the power supply to the heating operation instruction input unit. The heating operation instruction input unit becomes in a state where an instruction for a heating operation can be input when power is supplied by the power supply switching unit, and becomes in a state where an instruction for a heating operation cannot be input when power is not supplied by the power supply switching unit.

[0011] According to the above heating cooking system, since the input possible state and the input impossible state of the instruction for the heating operation to the heating operation instruction input unit can be switched in conjunction with a series of actions of the user who uses the heating cooker, it is excellent in convenience.

[0012] According to the fourth aspect of the present technology, in the second aspect, The input switching unit makes it possible to input an instruction for the heating operation of the gas heating unit where the object to be cooked is detected to the heating operation instruction input unit when the object to be cooked is detected above the gas heating unit by the object to be cooked detection unit, and when the object to be cooked is not detected above the gas heating unit by the object to be cooked detection unit, it makes it impossible to input an instruction for the heating operation of the gas heating unit where the object to be cooked is not detected to the heating operation instruction input unit. Even when the object to be cooked is not detected above the gas heating unit by the object to be cooked detection unit, it has a release unit that makes it possible to input an instruction for the heating operation of the gas heating unit where the object to be cooked is not detected to the heating operation instruction input unit. When the object to be cooked is not detected above the gas heating unit by the object to be cooked detection unit, but the instruction for the heating operation of the gas heating unit where the object to be cooked is not detected can be input to the heating operation instruction input unit by the release unit, the control device determines whether there is a foreign object in the first monitoring area on the top plate around the gas heating unit where the object to be cooked is not detected. When it is determined that there is a foreign object in the first monitoring area, even if an instruction to start the heating operation of the gas heating unit where the object to be cooked is not detected is input to the heating operation instruction input unit, the instruction to start the heating operation is invalidated.

[0013] According to the above cooking system, when no object to be cooked is detected above the gas heating unit by the object-to-be-cooked detection unit, the instruction for the heating operation of the gas heating unit cannot be input to the heating operation instruction input unit, so that the combustion of an open flame in the gas heating unit can be prevented. Further, for example, in the cooking of roasting seaweed, etc., no cooking utensil is used. Therefore, if no object to be cooked is detected above the gas heating unit by the object-to-be-cooked detection unit, the instruction for the heating operation of the gas heating unit cannot be input to the heating operation instruction input unit and cooking cannot be performed. However, according to the above cooking system, even when no object to be cooked is detected above the gas heating unit by the object-to-be-cooked detection unit, since it has a release unit that enables the input of the instruction for the heating operation of the gas heating unit to the heating operation instruction input unit, even if there is no object to be cooked above the gas heating unit, the heating operation of the gas heating unit can be started and cooking can be smoothly performed. And according to the above cooking system, it is determined whether there is a foreign object in the first monitoring area on the top plate around the gas heating unit. If it is determined that there is a foreign object in the first monitoring area, the start instruction for the heating operation of the gas heating unit to the heating operation instruction input unit is invalidated. Therefore, even when cooking is performed using the release unit, foreign objects on the top plate can be accurately detected and high safety can be ensured.

[0014] According to the fifth aspect of the present technology, in any one of the above first to fourth aspects, When an object to be cooked is detected above the gas heating unit by the object-to-be-cooked detection unit, the control device determines whether there is a foreign object in a second monitoring area excluding the area of the object to be cooked above the gas heating unit.

[0015] According to the above cooking system, when an object to be cooked is detected above the gas heating unit by the object-to-be-cooked detection unit, it is determined whether there is a foreign object in the second monitoring area excluding the area of the object to be cooked, so that foreign objects on the top plate can be accurately detected.

[0016] According to the sixth aspect of the present technology, in any one of the above first to fifth aspects, The foreign object detection unit has an imaging unit that images the top plate from above. The control device determines whether there is a foreign object in the first monitoring area and the second monitoring area based on the image captured by the imaging unit.

[0017] According to the above heating cooking system, since the entire upper surface of the top plate can be imaged, foreign objects on the top plate can be accurately detected.

[0018] According to the seventh aspect of the present technology, in any one of the first to sixth aspects described above, a plurality of gas heating units for heating the object to be cooked, a plurality of object-to-be-cooked detection units for detecting whether the object to be cooked is disposed above each of the plurality of gas heating units, and the control device changes the monitoring area for determining foreign objects according to whether an object to be cooked is detected above each gas heating unit by each object-to-be-cooked detection unit.

[0019] According to the above heating cooking system, foreign objects in the area where a dangerous event occurs according to the usage status of each gas heating unit can be accurately detected.

[0020] According to the eighth aspect of the present technology, in the seventh aspect described above, the foreign object detection unit has an imaging unit that images the top plate from above, the control device divides the upper surface of the top plate in the image captured by the imaging unit into a plurality of determination target areas including each gas heating unit, and changes the monitoring area for determining foreign objects according to whether an object to be cooked is detected above the gas heating unit in each determination target area by the object-to-be-cooked detection unit.

[0021] According to the above heating cooking system, foreign objects in the area where a dangerous event occurs according to the usage status of each gas heating unit can be accurately detected.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

[0023] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a cooking system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram thereof. The cooking system of the present embodiment includes a cooking appliance 1 and an imaging device 7 which is a foreign object detection unit that images the cooking appliance 1 from above.

[0024] The cooking appliance 1 is a so-called built-in stove that is installed in a drop-in state in a mounting opening (not shown) formed in the kitchen countertop CT. On the upper surface side of the top plate 11 that constitutes the upper surface portion of the appliance main body 10, a plurality (here, two) of stove burners 20A and 20B (hereinafter, when each burner is meant, referred to as "left stove burner 20A" and "right stove burner 20B") are arranged as gas heating units. Around the burner heads 21A and 21B of the respective stove burners 20A and 20B that protrude from the upper surface of the top plate 11, a trivet 12 which is a placement member for placing a cooking object P such as a pot or a frying pan (hereinafter, referred to as "cooking utensil P") is installed. Further, the cooking appliance 1 includes a grill cabinet 6 that is housed in the appliance main body 10 so as to be openable and closable at the front thereof, and a grill burner 60 (see FIG. 2) disposed in the grill cabinet 6. An exhaust port 61 that communicates with the grill cabinet 6 is formed in the rear portion of the top plate 11. In this specification, the side that the user operates on the cooking appliance 1 is defined as the front side, the depth direction when the cooking appliance 1 is viewed from the front side is defined as the front-rear direction, the width direction is defined as the left-right direction, and the height direction is defined as the up-down direction.

[0025] At the central parts of the gas burners 20A and 20B, there are vertically provided bottom temperature sensors 22A and 22B that come into contact with the bottom of the cooking utensil P placed on the cooking grate 12 and detect the temperature state of the cooking utensil P. Although not shown, the bottom temperature sensors 22A and 22B are supported within the appliance main body 10 so as to be vertically slidable. When no cooking utensil P is placed on the corresponding cooking grate 12, they are held at positions protruding above the cooking grate 12, and when a cooking utensil P is placed on the corresponding cooking grate 12, they are pushed down by the weight of the cooking utensil P. Inside the appliance main body 10, there are provided pan detection switches 25A and 25B that turn on and off according to the vertical movement of the bottom temperature sensors 22A and 22B to detect whether a cooking utensil P is placed on the cooking grate 12 (see Fig. 2).

[0026] On the front surface of the appliance main body 10 facing the front edge side of the countertop CT, there are provided a power switch 13 for turning on and off the power of the cooking heater 1, burner ignition and extinguishing and flame power change operation switches (heating operation instruction input parts) 14A and 14B for the gas burners 20A and 20B, a grill burner ignition and extinguishing and flame power change operation switch 62 for the grill burner 60, and release operation switches 15A and 15B for invalidating the detection of the cooking utensil P by the pan detection switches 25A and 25B.

[0027] The burner ignition and extinguishing operation switches 14A and 14B and the grill burner ignition and extinguishing operation switch 62 each have a switch mechanism with an ignition and extinguishing function that turns on in response to an ignition operation (here, a push operation) and turns off in response to an extinguishing operation (here, a push operation), and a flame power change function for manually and arbitrarily setting the flame power of the gas burners 20A and 20B and the grill burner 60. Note that, separately from the ignition and extinguishing operation switch having the ignition and extinguishing function, a flame power change operation switch having a flame power change function may be provided. Also, the release operation switches 15A and 15B have a switch mechanism that turns on in response to a release operation (here, a push operation) and turns off in response to a return operation (here, a push operation).

[0028] The gas supply pipe 3 for the stove burner is provided with burner solenoid valves 30A and 30B for switching the supply and cutoff of fuel gas to each of the stove burners 20A and 20B, and burner proportional valves 31A and 31B for changing the supply flow rate of fuel gas to each of the stove burners 20A and 20B. Further, the gas supply pipe 3 for the grill burner is provided with a burner solenoid valve 33 for switching the supply and cutoff of fuel gas to the grill burner 60, and a burner proportional valve 34 for changing the supply flow rate of fuel gas to the grill burner 60.

[0029] Near the flame holes (not shown) provided on the outer peripheral portions of the stove burners 20A and 20B, there are provided ignition plugs 23A and 23B for spark discharge around the flame holes, and flame detection sensors 24A and 24B for detecting the presence or absence of a flame. Further, near the flame hole of the grill burner 60, there are provided an ignition plug 63 for spark discharge around the flame hole, and a flame detection sensor 64 for detecting the presence or absence of a flame (see FIG. 2). Inside the appliance main body 10, there are provided a communication unit 16 for communicating with the imaging device 7 and a speaker 17 for notifying predetermined voice information (see FIG. 2).

[0030] The burner solenoid valves 30A, 30B, and 33, the burner proportional valves 31A, 31B, and 34, the power switch 13, the stove burner ignition / extinguishing operation switches 14A and 14B, the grill burner ignition / extinguishing operation switch 62, the release operation switches 15A and 15B, the igniter 29 for applying a high voltage to the ignition plugs 23A, 23B, and 63, the bottom temperature sensors 22A and 22B, the flame detection sensors 24A, 24B, and 64, the pan detection switches 25A and 25B, the communication unit 16, and the speaker 17 are all wired-connected to a control device C1 incorporated inside the appliance main body 10 (see FIG. 2).

[0031] The control device C1 is an electronic unit composed of a microcomputer, a memory, an interface circuit, etc. (not shown), operates with the power supplied from the DC power supply 101, and the operation of the heating cooker 1 is controlled by the control device C1. The DC power supply 101 steps down and rectifies an AC power supply (for example, a commercial power supply of AC100V) 100 and outputs a predetermined DC voltage. Further, the control device C1 includes a power control unit 102 that controls the on / off of the power to each device according to the on operation or off operation of the power by the power switch 13, ignition operations, extinguishing operations, and heating operation instructions such as a firepower change operation by the convector ignition extinguishing operation switches 14A, 14B and the grill burner ignition extinguishing operation switch 62, and controls the operation of the burner solenoid valves 30A, 30B, 33, the burner proportional valves 31A, 31B, 34, and the igniter 29 to control the heating operation of the convector burners 20A, 20B and the grill burner 60, a point fire extinguishing determination unit 104 that determines the ignition and extinguishing of the corresponding convector burners 20A, 20B and the grill burner 60 based on the output values of the flame detection sensors 24A, 24B, a no-pot determination unit 105 that determines whether a cooking utensil P is placed at a predetermined heating position on the cooking plate 12 around the corresponding convector burners 20A, 20B based on the on / off of the pot detection switches 25A, 25B, and when the cooking utensil P is detected by the no-pot determination unit 105, it enables the input of an instruction to the convector ignition extinguishing operation switches 14A, 14B, and when the cooking utensil P is not detected by the no-pot determination unit 105, it disables the input of an instruction to the convector ignition extinguishing operation switches 14A, 14B, including the function of a cooking utensil determination input switching unit 106.

[0032] In addition, when a release operation is performed by the release operation switches 15A and 15B, the control device C1 invalidates the detection of the cooking utensil P by the pot detection switches 25A and 25B, releases the function of the cooking utensil determination input switching unit 106, and enables the input of instructions to the stove burner ignition extinguishing operation switches 14A and 14B. When a return operation is performed by the release operation switches 15A and 15B, the release return unit 107 that validates the detection of the cooking utensil P by the pot detection switches 25A and 25B and restores the function of the cooking utensil determination input switching unit 106, the stove side communication control unit 108 that controls communication in the communication unit 16, the monitoring area setting unit 109 that sets a monitoring area on the top plate 11 for each stove burner 20A and 20B for foreign object determination, the foreign object determination unit 110 that compares the current image received from the imaging device 7 with a reference image described later and determines whether there is a foreign object in the set monitoring area, and the ignition operation disabling unit 111 that invalidates the instruction even if an ignition operation is performed by the stove burner ignition extinguishing operation switches 14A and 14B when the foreign object determination unit 110 determines that there is a foreign object in the monitoring area. It includes the functions of the storage unit 112 that stores a predetermined operation program, setting conditions for executing the operation program, and a reference image, and the notification control unit 113 that notifies predetermined voice information from the speaker 17. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the power switch 13 and the power control unit 102 of the control device C1 constitute a power supply switching unit, and the bottom pot temperature sensors 22A and 22B, the pot detection switches 25A and 25B, and the no-pot determination unit 105 of the control device C1 constitute an object to be cooked detection unit. Further, the power switch 13 and the power control unit 102 of the control device C1, the bottom pot temperature sensors 22A and 22B, the pot detection switches 25A and 25B, the no-pot determination unit 105 and the cooking utensil determination input switching unit 106 of the control device C1 constitute an input switching unit, and the release operation switches 15A and 15B and the release return unit 107 of the control device C1 constitute a release unit.

[0033] The imaging device 7 is attached to a range hood 300 installed above the cooking appliance 1 and is wirelessly connected to the cooking appliance 1 so as to be capable of two-way communication. The imaging device 7 includes a camera 70 which is an imaging unit, and a camera-side communication unit 71 that communicates with the cooking appliance 1. The camera 70 images substantially the entire upper surface of the top plate 11 of the cooking appliance 1 from above the cooking appliance 1. The camera 70 receives visible light or infrared rays from the imaging range and generates an image of the imaging range, such as a CCD camera, a CMOS camera, or an infrared camera. The camera 70 and the camera-side communication unit 71 are wired to an imaging-side control device C7.

[0034] The imaging-side control device C7 is an electronic unit composed of a microcomputer, a memory, an interface circuit, etc. (not shown), is connected to a commercial power supply, and a standby power supply with low power is supplied during non-operation. The operation of the imaging device 7 is controlled by the imaging-side control device C7. The imaging-side control device C7 includes a camera operation control unit 701 that controls the operation of the camera 70 in response to an instruction from the cooking appliance 1 to acquire an image, a camera-side communication control unit 702 that controls communication in the camera-side communication unit 71, and a camera-side storage unit 703 that stores a predetermined operation program and setting conditions for executing the operation program. Note that, as a foreign object detection unit, an infrared sensor that detects a foreign object from the difference in the intensity of reflected light from the top plate 11 may be used. Also, the cooking appliance 1 and the imaging device 7 may be wired. Although not shown, a ventilation fan is attached to the range hood 300.

[0035] The image acquired by the camera 70 may be either a color image or a grayscale image (or a black-and-white image). Also, the camera 70 may have a zoom function or a function to adjust the angle of view. Note that the camera 70 may be attached to a location other than the range hood 300, such as a side wall of the cooking appliance 1.

[0036] In the present embodiment, a reference image shown in FIG. 5, which serves as a criterion for foreign object determination, is acquired in advance. The reference image is acquired by operating the camera 70 in a state where no cooking utensil P is placed on any of the stove plates 12 and there is no foreign object on the top plate 11, and the acquired reference image is stored in the storage unit 112 of the control device C1. Since the positions, shapes, and sizes of the cooktops 20A and 20B, the stove plates 12, and the exhaust port 61 are constant, these members on the top plate 11 can be specifically identified by the reference image. Note that the reference image may be stored in advance in the storage unit 112 during the manufacture of the cooking heater 1, or may be downloaded from an external server via an external communication device (not shown) capable of communicating with the external server and stored in the storage unit 112.

[0037] Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 8, the control operations of the respective devices in the cooking heating system of the present embodiment will be described.

[0038] When the user turns on the power switch 13 (step S1), the power supply to each device becomes possible. Therefore, until the power switch 13 is turned on, the heating operation instructions to the burner ignition / extinguishing operation switches 14A and 14B are in an input-inhibited state, and when the power switch 13 is turned on, the heating operation instructions to the burner ignition / extinguishing operation switches 14A and 14B become input-enabled. When the power supply is started, the control device C1 starts the operation program and transmits a control signal for starting the acquisition of an image to the imaging device 7 (step S2).

[0039] When the imaging device 7 receives a control signal from the cooking heater 1 (Yes in step S71), the imaging device 7 operates the camera 70 in response to the control signal to acquire a current image of the upper surface of the top plate 11, and transmits the acquired current image to the control device C1 (steps S72 to S73).

[0040] When the control device C1 receives the current image from the imaging device 7 (Yes in step S3), as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the upper surface of the top plate 11 of the current image is divided into a plurality of determination target areas 11A, 11B including the respective hob burners 20A, 20B (for example, the upper surface of the top plate 11 is divided into left and right halves), and foreign object determination processing is executed (step S4).

[0041] The foreign object determination processing is executed for each of the hob burners 20A, 20B. First, the control device C1 determines whether a cooking utensil P is detected by the pot detection switches 25A, 25B corresponding to the respective hob burners 20A, 20B (step S41). At this time, if the cooking utensil P is not detected by the pot detection switches 25A, 25B (No in step S41), the control device C1 further determines whether a release operation is being performed by the release operation switches 15A, 15B (step S42).

[0042] If the release operation is not being performed by the release operation switches 15A, 15B (No in step S42), even if an ignition operation, which is an operation to start the heating operation, is performed by the hob burner ignition-off operation switches 14A, 14B, the control device C1 invalidates the instruction of the ignition operation, notifies a predetermined warning (for example, "There is no pot on the hob") from the speaker 17 (steps S43 to S44), and prohibits the ignition of the hob burners 20A, 20B. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the formation of an open flame on the hob burners 20A, 20B.

[0043] On the other hand, when the release operation is being performed by the release operation switches 15A, 15B (Yes in step S42), in the foreign object determination for the hob burner 20A, 20B for which the release operation has been performed, the control device C1 sets the first monitoring areas 201A, 201B around the hob burners 20A, 20B (the left hob burner 20A in FIG. 6(a), the left and right hob burners 20A, 20B in FIG. 6(b), the right hob burner 20B in FIG. 7(b)) as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 as the monitoring areas (step S47) (for example, an area within 2.5 times the outer diameter of the burner heads 21A, 21B).

[0044] Next, the control device C1 compares the corresponding first monitoring area in the reference image with the first monitoring areas 201A and 201B in the current image, and determines whether there is a foreign object in the first monitoring areas 201A and 201B of the current image (step S48).

[0045] As described above, since nothing other than the burners 20A and 20B, the hearth 12, and the exhaust port 61 having a certain shape and size at a predetermined position appears on the top plate 11 of the reference image, by comparing the corresponding first monitoring area of the reference image with the first monitoring areas 201A and 201B of the current image, it is possible to accurately determine whether there is a foreign object around each of the burners 20A and 20B.

[0046] When it is determined that there is a foreign object in the first monitoring areas 201A and 201B including the burners 20A and 20B for which the release operation has been performed by the release operation switches 15A and 15B (Yes in step S48), the control device C1 invalidates the ignition operation instruction even if the ignition operation is performed by the burner spot fire extinguishing operation switches 14A and 14B corresponding to the burners 20A and 20B for which the foreign object has been determined, and causes the speaker 17 to notify that there is a foreign object on the top plate 11 (steps S49 to S50). Thereby, the user can remove the overlooked foreign object before igniting the burners 20A and 20B.

[0047] When it is determined that there is no foreign object in the first monitoring areas 201A and 201B including the burners 20A and 20B for which the release operation has been performed by the release operation switches 15A and 15B (No in step S48), the control device C1 accepts the input of the ignition operation instruction when the ignition operation is performed by the burner spot fire extinguishing operation switches 14A and 14B corresponding to the burners 20A and 20B for which no foreign object has been determined, activates the igniter 29, generates a spark discharge from the spark plugs 23A and 23B, and ignites the burners 20A and 20B (steps S51 to S52). Thereby, even when the cooking utensil P is not detected by the pot detection switches 25A and 25B, heating cooking can be performed by performing the release operation with the release operation switches 15A and 15B.

[0048] On the one hand, when the cooking utensil P is detected by the pot detection switches 25A and 25B (Yes in step S41), the control device C1 acquires the contour (outer shape) of the cooking utensil P from the current image (step S45). When the cooking utensil P is detected by the pot detection switches 25A and 25B and the cooking utensil P is arranged above the stove burners 20A and 20B, since the burner heads 21A and 21B of the stove burners 20A and 20B are hidden by the cooking utensil P, the contour of the cooking utensil P can be acquired from the continuous shape appearing at the positions of the burner heads 21A and 21B. Then, the control device C1 sets the monitoring area to the second monitoring areas 202A and 202B, which are wider than the first monitoring area and exclude the area of the cooking utensil P shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, for the foreign object determination for the stove burners 20A and 20B where the cooking utensil P is detected (step S46) (for example, the left half area shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), the left half area and the right half area shown in FIG. 8).

[0049] Next, the control device C1 compares the corresponding second monitoring area in the reference image with the second monitoring areas 202A and 202B in the current image, and determines whether there is a foreign object in the second monitoring areas 202A and 202B of the current image (step S48).

[0050] When it is determined that there is a foreign object in the second monitoring areas 202A and 202B excluding the area of the cooking utensil P (Yes in step S48), the control device C1, in the same manner as above, invalidates the instruction for the ignition operation even if the ignition operation is performed by the burner point extinguishing operation switches 14A and 14B corresponding to the stove burners 20A and 20B where the foreign object is determined to be present, and causes the speaker 17 to notify that there is a foreign object on the top plate 11 (steps S49 to S50). Thereby, the user can remove the overlooked foreign object before igniting the stove burners 20A and 20B.

[0051] When it is determined that there is no foreign object in the second monitoring areas 202A and 202B excluding the cooking utensil P (No in step S48), the control device C1, in the same manner as above, when an ignition operation is performed by the burner ignition operation switches 14A and 14B corresponding to the burners 20A and 20B for which no foreign object is determined, receives an input of an instruction for the ignition operation, activates the igniter 29, generates a spark discharge from the spark plugs 23A and 23B, and ignites the burners 20A and 20B (steps S51 to S52).

[0052] When the cooking utensil P is not arranged above the burners 20A and 20B, the flames formed at the burners 20A and 20B are formed to rise upward from the flame holes of the burners 20A and 20B. Therefore, when the top plate 11 is viewed from above, the range where the flames are formed is within a certain range outside the burners 20A and 20B. Thus, even if there is a foreign object at a position away from the burners 20A and 20B where the release operation is performed by the release operation switches 15A and 15B, a dangerous event due to the flames is less likely to occur. Therefore, by determining whether there is a foreign object in the first monitoring areas 201A and 201B around the burners 20A and 20B, the determination of unnecessary foreign objects is excluded, false determination can be reduced, and thus heating cooking can be performed smoothly. Further, when there is a foreign object in the first monitoring areas 201A and 201B around the burners 20A and 20B which are the areas where a dangerous event occurs, the ignition operation is invalidated and the burners 20A and 20B are not ignited, so that the occurrence of a dangerous event can be surely prevented.

[0053] On the other hand, when there is a cooking utensil P above the burners 20A and 20B, the flame spreads radially along the bottom surface of the cooking utensil P. Therefore, the range in which a dangerous event occurs due to the flame when there is a cooking utensil P above the burners 20A and 20B is larger than when there is no cooking utensil P above the burners 20A and 20B. Accordingly, by determining whether there is a foreign object in the second monitoring regions 202A and 202B, which are larger than the first monitoring regions 201A and 201B when no cooking utensil P is arranged above the burners 20A and 20B, it is possible to accurately detect a foreign object in the region where a dangerous event occurs. And when there is a foreign object in the second monitoring regions 202A and 202B, the ignition operation is invalidated and the burners 20A and 20B are not ignited, so that it is possible to surely prevent a dangerous event from occurring.

[0054] Also, in the present embodiment, the cooking utensil P does not appear in the reference image, whereas the current image captured by the camera 70 includes the cooking utensil P. Therefore, the reference image and the current image differ depending on the presence or absence of the cooking utensil P. Accordingly, although it is also conceivable to obtain a reference image including the cooking utensil P and compare the reference image in which the cooking utensil P appears with the current image, the shape and size of the cooking utensil P differ for each cooking utensil P. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain a reference image in advance for all the cooking utensils P owned by the user, and it is also difficult to determine which cooking utensil P is being used. On the other hand, since it can be detected by the pan detection switches 25A and 25B that a cooking utensil P is arranged above the burners 20A and 20B, if the upper surface of the top plate 11 including the cooking utensil P is imaged from above, the contour of the cooking utensil P can be recognized from the current image, and the cooking utensil P can be excluded from the target of the foreign object determination process. Accordingly, by determining whether there is a foreign object in the second monitoring regions 202A and 202B excluding the region of the cooking utensil P, it is possible to accurately detect a foreign object.

[0055] Also, in the present embodiment, since the entire top plate 11 is photographed from above the cooking appliance 1 by the camera 70, even when there is a foreign object behind the cooking utensil P that is difficult for the user to notice, it is possible to determine whether there is a foreign object.

[0056] Also, according to the present embodiment, unless the user turns on the power switch 13, power is not supplied to the stove burner ignition extinguishing operation switches 14A and 14B, and an instruction for an ignition operation to the stove burner ignition extinguishing operation switches 14A and 14B is invalidated. Therefore, it is possible to switch between a state in which an instruction for a heating operation can be input to the stove burner ignition extinguishing operation switches 14A and 14B and a state in which the input is impossible in conjunction with a series of actions of the user using the cooking heater 1. Thereby, convenience can be improved.

[0057] Also, according to the present embodiment, since imaging by the imaging device 7 is not started unless it is in a state where an instruction for a heating operation can be input to the stove burner ignition extinguishing operation switches 14A and 14B, energy saving can be achieved.

[0058] Also, according to the present embodiment, in the foreign object determination process, since the monitoring area is set according to the usage status of the plurality of burners 20A and 20B, it is possible to accurately detect foreign objects in the area where a dangerous event occurs.

[0059] In addition, in the present embodiment, since the upper surface of the top plate 11 is divided into a plurality of determination target areas 11A and 11B including the respective stove burners 20A and 20B, and foreign object determination processing is performed, for the stove burners 20A and 20B in which the cooking utensil P is not detected by the pot detection switches 25A and 25B and the release operation by the release operation switches 15A and 15B has not been performed, even if an ignition operation is performed by the stove burner point extinguishing operation switches 14A and 14B corresponding to the stove burners 20A and 20B, the instruction is invalidated and the ignition is prohibited. Therefore, foreign object determination processing is not required for the determination target areas 11A and 11B including the stove burners 20A and 20B. As a result, it is only necessary to perform foreign object determination processing on the determination target areas 11A and 11B including the stove burners 20A and 20B (that is, the stove burners 20A and 20B in which the cooking utensil P is detected by the pot detection switches 25A and 25B or the stove burners 20A and 20B in which the cooking utensil P is not detected by the pot detection switches 25A and 25B but the release operation is performed by the release operation switches 15A and 15B) where a dangerous event may occur. Thus, it is possible to further reduce false determination of foreign objects, smoothly perform heat cooking, and improve safety.

[0060] Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to accurately detect foreign objects on the top plate and provide a heating cooking system having high safety.

[0061] (Other Embodiments) (1) In the above embodiment, the imaging device captures an image of the entire upper surface of the top plate 11, and the heating cooker determines whether there is a foreign object in a predetermined monitoring area of the current image. However, in the present invention, the heating cooker may transmit the monitoring area set for the imaging device, and acquire only the image of the monitoring area.

[0062] (2) In the above embodiment, based on the current image received from the imaging device, the heating cooker determines whether there is a foreign object in the monitoring area. However, in the present invention, the imaging device may include a function of determining foreign objects. In this case, the functional part of the imaging device constitutes a part of the control device.

[0063] (3) In the above embodiment, the determination target area and the second monitoring area are set in the same area. However, in the present invention, the determination target area and the second monitoring area may be different.

[0064] (4) In the above embodiment, the monitoring areas of the respective gas heating units are set independently. However, in the present invention, when there are a plurality of gas heating units, the monitoring areas may be set so as to overlap.

[0065] (5) In the above embodiment, a commercial power supply is used. However, in the present invention, a battery power supply may be used.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0066] 1 Heating cooker 7 Imaging device 10 Appliance main body 11 Top plate 13 Power switch 14A, 14B Convection burner ignition / off operation switch 15A, 15B Release operation switch 20A, 20B Convection burner 21A, 21B Burner head 22A, 22B Bottom temperature sensor of pan 25A, 25B Pan detection switch 70 Camera C1 Control device P Cooking utensil

Claims

1. An appliance body, A top plate that constitutes the upper surface of the appliance body, A gas heating unit that heats the object to be cooked by burning fuel gas, An object-to-be-cooked detection unit that detects the object to be cooked above the gas heating unit, A heating operation instruction input unit for inputting an instruction for the heating operation of the gas heating unit, A foreign object detection unit that detects foreign objects on the top plate, A control device, and is provided with, When the object-to-be-cooked detection unit does not detect an object to be cooked above the gas heating unit, the control device determines whether there is a foreign object in the first monitoring area on the top plate around the gas heating unit where the object to be cooked is not detected. If it is determined that there is a foreign object in the first monitoring area, even if a start instruction for the heating operation of the gas heating unit where the object to be cooked is not detected is input by the heating operation instruction input unit, the control device invalidates the start instruction for the heating operation. When the object-to-be-cooked detection unit detects an object to be cooked above the gas heating unit, the control device determines whether there is a foreign object in the second monitoring area on the top plate that is wider than the first monitoring area around the gas heating unit where the object to be cooked is detected. If it is determined that there is a foreign object in the second monitoring area, even if a start instruction for the heating operation of the gas heating unit where the object to be cooked is detected is input by the heating operation instruction input unit, the control device invalidates the start instruction for the heating operation. A heating cooking system.

2. In the heating cooking system according to Claim 1, It has an input switching unit that switches between a state where an instruction for the heating operation can be input to the heating operation instruction input unit and a state where an instruction for the heating operation cannot be input to the heating operation instruction input unit, The foreign object detection unit detects foreign objects on the top plate when the heating operation instruction input unit is in a state where an instruction for the heating operation can be input. A heating cooking system.

3. In the heating cooking system according to Claim 2, The input switching unit has a power supply switching unit that switches the power supply to the heating operation instruction input unit, The heating operation instruction input unit is in a state where an instruction for the heating operation can be input when the power supply is supplied by the power supply switching unit, and is in a state where an instruction for the heating operation cannot be input when the power supply is not supplied by the power supply switching unit. A heating cooking system.

4. In the heating cooking system according to Claim 2, The input switching unit makes the instruction for the heating operation of the gas heating unit where the object to be cooked is detected inputtable to the heating operation instruction input unit when the object-to-be-cooked detection unit detects an object to be cooked above the gas heating unit, and makes the instruction for the heating operation of the gas heating unit where the object to be cooked is not detected inputtable to the heating operation instruction input unit when the object-to-be-cooked detection unit does not detect an object to be cooked above the gas heating unit. When the object is not detected, the instruction for the heating operation of the gas heating unit where the object to be cooked is not detected is set to an input-inhibited state. Even when the object to be cooked is not detected above the gas heating unit by the object-to-be-cooked detection unit, there is a release unit that enables the input of an instruction for the heating operation of the gas heating unit where no object to be cooked is detected to the heating operation instruction input unit. The control device determines whether there is a foreign object in the first monitoring area on the top plate around the gas heating unit where no object to be cooked is detected when the object to be cooked is not detected above the gas heating unit by the object-to-be-cooked detection unit, but the instruction for the heating operation of the gas heating unit where no object to be cooked is detected can be input at the heating operation instruction input unit by the release unit. If it is determined that there is a foreign object in the first monitoring area, even if an instruction to start the heating operation of the gas heating unit where no object to be cooked is detected is input at the heating operation instruction input unit, the heating operation start instruction is invalidated. A heating cooking system.

5. In the heating cooking system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The control device determines whether there is a foreign object in the second monitoring area excluding the area of the object to be cooked above the gas heating unit when the object to be cooked is detected above the gas heating unit by the object-to-be-cooked detection unit. A heating cooking system.

6. In the heating cooking system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The foreign object detection unit has an imaging unit that images the top plate from above. The control device determines whether there is a foreign object in the first monitoring area and the second monitoring area based on the image captured by the imaging unit. A heating cooking system.

7. In the heating cooking system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A plurality of gas heating units for heating the object to be cooked, A plurality of object-to-be-cooked detection units for detecting whether an object to be cooked is disposed above each of the plurality of gas heating units, and The control device changes the monitoring area for determining foreign objects according to whether an object to be cooked is detected above each gas heating unit by each object-to-be-cooked detection unit. A heating cooking system.

8. In the heating cooking system according to claim 7, The foreign object detection unit has an imaging unit that images the top plate from above. The control device divides the upper surface of the top plate in the image captured by the imaging unit into a plurality of determination target areas including each gas heating unit. The control device changes the monitoring area for determining foreign objects according to whether an object to be cooked is detected above the gas heating unit in each determination target area by the object-to-be-cooked detection unit. A heating cooking system.

Images