Heating cooker and heating cooking system

Abstract

To provide a heating cooker and a heating cooking system with high convenience capable of performing voice inputting and making recipe data to be acquired from the outside.SOLUTION: A heating cooker includes first heating means, second heating means, a first input operation part for receiving a user's instruction about the first heating means, a second input operation part for receiving a user's instruction about the second heating means, a communication part for receiving recipe data, a notification part having a display part, and a control device. The first input operation part and the second input operation part have an input key A, and an input key B for selecting cooking contents, respectively. The first input operation part instructs the control device to start a voice input mode according to a state of the input key A, and the second input operation part instructs the control device to start the voice input mode according to a state of the input key B. The control device enables the recipe data about the second heating means to be acquired through the communication part when receiving the instruction to start the voice input mode from the second input operation part, and displays information showing the acquisition of the recipe data in the display part when the recipe data can be acquired.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 21

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to, for example, a cooking heater that heats an object to be heated such as a pot placed on a top plate, and a cooking system using the cooking heater.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, cooking heaters are roughly classified into three types in terms of the environment in which they are used. One of them is the so-called "built-in type" installed in kitchen furniture such as a kitchen counter. The second is the "stationary type" placed and used at a predetermined position of kitchen furniture, such as a gas stove (also referred to as a "gas combustion table"). The third is a small, portable "tabletop type" placed and used at an arbitrary position on a dining table or the like.

[0003] There are many "built-in type" cooking heaters that are composite cooking heaters equipped with multiple types of heat sources and are popular as being able to handle various cooking methods. However, since it is installed in kitchen furniture, the external dimensions must be designed according to the specifications of general kitchen furniture, and the degree of freedom in design is much less compared to "stationary type" and "tabletop type" ones, and the difficulty in making a practical product is high.

[0004] As a typical composite cooking heater capable of expanding the range of cooking, there has been proposed a configuration in which a grill compartment (also referred to as an "oven chamber" or a "heating chamber", hereinafter uniformly referred to as a "heating chamber") heated by a heat source is provided inside the main body, and microwaves from a microwave heat source are introduced into the heating chamber (see Patent Document 1).

[0005] In the combined cooking appliance disclosed in this Patent Document 1, for example, cooking can be performed by different types of heating means above the top plate (the first location) and in the internal space of the heating chamber (the second location), respectively. Therefore, there is an advantage that it can cope with various types of food to be cooked. In this cooking appliance, the convenience is further improved if cooking condition data (recipe data) of the food to be cooked desired by the user can be obtained from the outside via a network or a communication terminal.

[0006] On the other hand, conventionally, a cooking system has been proposed in which communication is performed between a portable information terminal such as a smartphone and a cooking appliance, and a cooking operation command is transmitted from the portable information terminal to the cooking appliance to perform cooking (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

[0007] Patent Document 2 proposes a heating system in which a user can easily and appropriately obtain desired information without the need for manual operations such as touch operations, and is characterized by a system that uses an information terminal having a display unit with a larger display area than a portable information terminal such as a smartphone and a voice input function.

[0008] Furthermore, Patent Document 3 proposes a cooking system that can receive a user's voice and perform voice input.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0009]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0010] In recent years, the interest in various types of cooking and the need for diet management at the family and individual levels have been increasing. Among heating cookers, especially in the case of a composite heating cooker such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, the more heating means there are, the more various types of cooking can be supported, and the convenience is improved. However, with the increase in heating means, the selection of cooking menus and the setting of control conditions (for example, heating power, heating time, etc.) become complicated. Therefore, if a user can obtain cooking condition data (recipe data) for executing a cooking menu from the outside and can adjust the content of the recipe data by voice input, the convenience will be further improved.

[0011] However, in the technology described in Patent Document 2, no useful proposal has been made regarding the cooperation between the acquisition of recipe data and voice input.

[0012] On the other hand, in the technology described in Patent Document 3, in order to improve the extraction accuracy of reference keywords from the results of voice input for the user, it is necessary to register a large number of keywords regarding the specification of heating means and control conditions, etc. For this reason, there is a problem that the data volume increases. For these reasons, even if the technologies described in Patent Documents 2 and 3 are adopted, they do not fully meet the expectation of reducing the burden of the user's input operation.

[0013] The main object of the present disclosure is to obtain a highly convenient heating cooker and heating cooking system that can widely support various types of heating cooking by enabling voice input and improving the operability of the user.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0014] A heating cooker according to a first disclosure includes: heating means; an input operation unit that receives a user's command; a communication unit that wirelessly communicates with the outside; a notification unit having a display unit; and a control device, and the input operation unit has a plurality of input keys, The input operation unit commands the control device to start the voice input mode by operating a specific input key among the input keys. When the control device receives a recipe data acquisition command by the specific input key, it enters a standby state to receive external input in the voice input mode. When the recipe data can be acquired, the notification unit notifies information indicating the acquisition of the recipe data. It is a configuration characterized by the above.

[0015] The cooking heater according to the second disclosure includes: heating means; an input operation unit that receives a user's command; a communication unit that performs wireless communication with the outside; a notification unit having a display unit; and a control device. The input operation unit has a plurality of input keys. The input operation unit commands the control device to start the voice input mode by operating a specific input key among the input keys. When the control device receives a recipe data acquisition command by the specific input key, it enters a standby state to receive external input in the voice input mode. When the recipe data cannot be acquired, the notification unit notifies at least one of a non-reception display indicating the non-acquired state and reception support information indicating the cause or countermeasure. It is a configuration characterized by the above.

[0016] The cooking heater according to the third disclosure includes: heating means; an input operation unit that receives a user's command; a communication unit that performs wireless communication with the outside; a notification unit having a display unit; and a control device. The input operation unit has a plurality of input keys. The input operation unit commands the control device to start the voice input mode by operating a specific input key among the input keys. The control device receives an acquisition command for recipe data by the specific input key, and when the acquisition of the recipe data is successful, notifies the notification unit of the identification information of the recipe data and the information indicating the setting status of the voice input mode. It is a configuration characterized by the above.

[0017] The cooking heater according to the fourth disclosure is a first heating means, a second heating means, a first input operation unit that receives a user's command regarding the first heating means, a second input operation unit that receives a user's command regarding the second heating means, a communication unit that receives recipe data from the outside, a notification unit having a display unit, and a control device, and is provided with The first input operation unit has a touch-type input key A for selecting cooking content, The second input operation unit has a touch-type input key B for selecting cooking content, The first input operation unit commands the control device to start the voice input mode according to the touch state of the input key A, The second input operation unit commands the control device to start the voice input mode according to the touch state of the input key B, When the control device receives a start command for the voice input mode from the second input operation unit, it enables the acquisition of recipe data regarding the second heating means via the communication unit. When the control device can acquire the recipe data, it displays information indicating the acquisition of the recipe data on the display unit and enters a standby state for receiving external input in the voice input mode. It is a configuration characterized by the above.

[0018] The cooking system according to the fifth disclosure is a cooking heater having a communication unit and a heating means, and an information processing terminal or a cloud server wirelessly connected to the communication unit. The information processing terminal or the cloud server has a function of transmitting recipe data to the cooking appliance. The cooking appliance has a function of acquiring the recipe data from the information processing terminal or the cloud server. The cooking appliance has a function of automatically switching from a touch input mode to a voice input mode according to the touch state of the touch input keys. When the cooking appliance acquires the recipe data from the information processing terminal or the cloud server, it accepts an input related to the recipe data from the information processing terminal or the cloud server. When the cooking appliance acquires the recipe data in response to the transmission from the information processing terminal or the cloud server, it determines whether the permission conditions are satisfied. If it determines that the conditions are not satisfied, it displays information indicating the determination result of the permission conditions on the display unit, and further transmits a non - permission processing notice from the communication unit to the information processing terminal or the cloud server. It is a configuration characterized by the above.

[0019] The cooking appliance according to the sixth disclosure includes heating means, an input operation unit that receives a user's command, a voice signal receiving unit that receives a user's command by voice, a communication unit that receives recipe data from the outside, a notification unit having a display unit, and a control device. The input operation unit has a plurality of touch - type input keys for selecting one from a plurality of cooking modes. The input operation unit transmits a detection signal corresponding to the touch state of the input key to the control device. The control device displays, on the display unit, information for specifying the input keys corresponding to each cooking mode in a list state. When one of the cooking modes is selected by the input key, the control device determines the switching to the voice input mode from the detection signal. The control device receives a voice setting command for the recipe data to be acquired, when the control device can acquire the recipe data, the control device causes the display unit to display information indicating the acquisition of the recipe data, which is a characteristic configuration.

[0020] The cooking heater according to the seventh disclosure is heating means, an input operation unit that receives a user's command, a communication unit that receives recipe data from the outside, a notification unit having a display unit, and a control device, and is provided with the input operation unit has an input key for selecting a cooking content and a recipe acquisition key for permitting the acquisition of the recipe data, when the recipe acquisition key is operated, the voice input mode of the control device is started, when the recipe acquisition key is operated, the control device enables the acquisition of the recipe data and enters a standby state for receiving a setting command necessary for executing the recipe data, furthermore, when the control device can acquire the recipe data, the control device causes the display unit to display information indicating the acquisition of the recipe data, which is a characteristic configuration.

[0021] The cooking heater according to the eighth disclosure is heating means, an input operation unit, a communication unit that receives recipe data from the outside, a notification unit having a display unit, and a control device that controls the heating means according to a plurality of cooking modes, and is provided with the input operation unit commands the control device to start the voice input mode by operating a specific input key among the input keys, the control device displays a guidance screen on the display unit, The guidance screen displays touch position information for specifying the specific input keys for selecting each of the cooking modes, and constitutes a touch input panel where input can be made when the touch position information is touched. When the control device receives a command to acquire the recipe data by a touch operation of the touch position information, it enters a standby state for receiving an external input in the voice input mode. When the recipe data can be acquired, information indicating the acquisition of the recipe data is displayed by the display unit. It is a configuration characterized by the above.

[0022] The cooking appliance according to the ninth disclosure heating means, an input operation unit for receiving a user's command, a communication unit for receiving recipe data from the outside, a notification unit having a display unit, and a control device, and is provided with The display unit and the input operation unit constitute a touch panel input device. A guidance screen is displayed by the touch panel input device. Touch position information for selecting each of a plurality of cooking modes is displayed on the guidance screen. It further has a touch gesture determination device for determining the form when the display unit of the touch position information is touched. Switching to the voice input mode is performed according to the determination result of the touch gesture determination device. After receiving a command to acquire the recipe data from the touch panel input device, the control device displays information indicating the acquisition of the recipe data by the display unit. It is a configuration characterized by the above.

[0023] The cooking system according to the tenth disclosure a cooking appliance having heating means, a first server wirelessly connected to the cooking appliance, An audio input / output device connected to the first server via a network, and The first server has a function of transmitting command data for setting control conditions of a cooking menu to the cooking appliance, The first server has a function of acquiring voice input data received by the audio input / output device, The cooking appliance has a function of acquiring the recipe data from the first server, The cooking appliance has a function of automatically switching from a touch input mode to a voice input mode according to the touch state of a touch input key, In the voice input mode, the cooking appliance receives the command data for applying to the recipe data acquired from the first server, When the cooking appliance can acquire the recipe data, the cooking appliance displays information indicating the acquisition of the recipe data on a display unit. When the cooking appliance cannot acquire the recipe data, the cooking appliance displays at least one of information indicating an unacquired state, cause or countermeasure reference information on the display unit, It is a configuration characterized by the above.

[0024] The cooking appliance according to the eleventh disclosure, Heating means for heating an object to be heated, An input operation unit for receiving a user's command, A voice signal receiving unit for receiving an input command by voice, A communication unit for receiving command data for determining control conditions of a cooking menu, A notification unit having a display unit, And a control device, The input operation unit has a touch input key for selecting cooking content, The input operation unit commands the control device to start a voice input mode according to the touch state of the input key, When the control device receives an input command for selecting the voice input mode from the input operation unit, the control device enables the acquisition of the command data via the communication unit, Furthermore, the control device transmits a voice input mode start notification indicating that the voice input mode has been activated via the communication unit. It is a configuration characterized by the above.

[0025] The cooking system according to the twelfth disclosure includes a signal transmitter, a communication unit, a cooking device having heating means, a cloud server connected to the cooking device by wireless communication, and a voice input / output device connected to the cloud server via a network. The cloud server has a function of transmitting command data for setting control conditions of a cooking menu to the cooking device. The cooking device has a function of acquiring the recipe data from the cloud server. The cooking device has a function of activating a voice input mode according to the touch state of a touch input key. The cooking device transmits a signal indicating that the voice input mode has been activated to the voice input / output device from the signal transmitter without going through the network. The cooking device receives the command data acquired from the cloud server in the voice input mode. When the cooking device can acquire the recipe data, it displays information indicating the acquisition of the recipe data on the display unit. When it cannot acquire the recipe data, it displays at least one of information indicating the unacquired state, and reference information indicating the cause or countermeasure on the display unit. It is a configuration characterized by the above.

[0026] The cooking device according to the thirteenth disclosure includes a heating chamber, heating means, an input operation unit for receiving a user's command, a communication unit for communicating with the outside, a notification unit having a display unit, and a control device. The input operation unit has a plurality of input keys, The input operation unit commands the control device to start the voice input mode by operating a specific input key among the input keys, The control device receives a recipe data acquisition command by the specific input key, and when receiving the recipe data, determines whether a predetermined permission condition is satisfied. If the permission condition is not satisfied, the control device issues a non-permission processing notification from the communication unit, When the control device cannot acquire the recipe data, the display unit displays at least one of non-reception information indicating an unacquired state and reception support information indicating a cause or a countermeasure, It is a configuration characterized by the above.

[0027] The cooking system according to the 14th disclosure is A cooking device having a communication unit, a heating chamber, and heating means, An information processing terminal device wirelessly connected to the cooking device, The information processing terminal device has a function of transmitting recipe data to the cooking device, The input operation unit of the cooking device has a specific input key, and the voice input mode can be selected by operating the specific input key, When the specific input key is operated and the recipe data is received, the communication unit determines whether it is in a permission state. If it is determined that it is not in a permission state, the communication unit issues a non-permission processing notification to the information processing terminal device, When the information processing terminal device receives the non-permission processing notification, the information indicating the non-permission processing can be displayed on the terminal-side display unit, It is a configuration characterized by the above.

Effect of the Invention

[0028] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a highly convenient cooking device that can perform cooking using recipe data acquired from the outside using a network. Also, according to the cooking heating system of the present disclosure, when selecting a cooking menu, the touch state of the touch input keys can be discriminated and automatically changed to the voice input mode. Therefore, during the user's input operation, it is possible to input control conditions by voice, contributing to the improvement of the efficiency of the user's input operation and the reduction of the input load.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0029]

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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0030] Hereinafter, the cooking appliance and the cooking system according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, terms indicating directions (for example, "up", "down", "right", "left", "front", "rear", etc.) are used for ease of understanding, but these are merely for the purpose of explanation. Also, in each figure, those with the same reference numerals are the same or corresponding ones, which is common throughout the entire specification.

[0031] Furthermore, in the following description, a composite cooking appliance equipped with multiple types of heating means is simply referred to as a "cooking appliance".

[0032] In the following description, when referring to "an object to be heated placed on the top plate", it includes both an object to be heated such as a pot placed in direct contact with the upper surface of the top plate 3 described later, and an object to be heated placed on a support member such as a trivet and heated by the flame of a gas burner like a gas combustion device.

[0033] In Embodiment 1, the "second heating means" HM2 refers to a heat source for heating the object to be cooked accommodated inside the heating chamber 6 described later. It may utilize radiant heat or steam.

[0034] In Embodiment 1, the microwave heat source uses a magnetron, but other methods are also acceptable. For example, there is no limitation on the microwave oscillation principle or method such as a microwave oscillator. Also, multiple heat sources may be provided.

[0035] In this Embodiment 1, the "third heating means" HM3 is referred to as "third" to show the difference from the second heating means HM2, but it does not imply a superior or inferior relationship. Also, in Embodiment 1, a heat source using a radiant electric heat source (such as a sheathed heater, mica heater, carbon heater, ceramic heater, infrared heater, radiant heater, etc.) is used, but a heat source that generates heat with other forms or heat generation principles may also be acceptable.

[0036] The third heating means HM3 refers to something that can perform cooking in one heating chamber 6. A form that combines multiple heat sources with different heating principles such as a heat source composed of an electric heater or the like and a gas combustion device (burner) may also be acceptable. Also, as a heat source for heating the heating chamber 6, an induction heat source may be used. A steam generator 550 (boiler) (not shown) that supplies high-temperature steam (such as superheated steam) may also be acceptable.

[0037] Furthermore, the third heating means may be either a heating source that heats the wall surface of the heating chamber 6 from the outside thereof or a heating source that is installed in the internal space of the heating chamber 6 and raises the atmosphere of the internal space to a high temperature. Also, as the third heating means, a heating member that becomes high temperature by an induction heating method may be disposed in the heating chamber. In this case, the wall surface of the heating chamber 6 may be heated from the outside by the heating member, or the air inside the heating chamber 6 may be heated in any form.

[0038] As a typical example of the induction heating coil (IH coil) in the first embodiment, there is a structure in which about 30 thin copper wires or aluminum wires of about 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm are bundled, and a plurality of these bundles are twisted while being wound in a spiral shape. Alternatively, there is also a structure in which about 1000 to 1500 wires of about 0.05 mm are wound. There is also a proposal to configure an annular conductor formed in an annular shape with a flat conductive material. Any of these forms corresponds to the "IH coil" which is the main part of the induction heating source 9.

[0039] In the first embodiment, "coordinated cooking" refers to cooking that is performed using two or more heating sources where the heating locations for one object to be cooked (including foods, meats, vegetables, etc.) are different and the heating operation conditions can be set independently.

[0040] The above-mentioned "coordinated cooking" corresponds to the case where a plurality of heating means are used with a time difference. For example, in the process of completing one cooking, after preheating with a microwave heating source, if the object to be cooked is moved to another location and then heated with an IH coil at the moved location to complete the cooking, this is a type of the "coordinated cooking" mentioned here.

[0041] Also, a form in which the object to be cooked is heated inside the heating chamber 6 by a gas burner, and then the object to be cooked is moved onto the top plate 3 and heated by a gas burner or an induction heating source 9 to improve the degree of cooking completion is also a type of "coordinated cooking".

[0042] The "voice input mode" refers to a control form in which the user US inputs by voice without touching or pressing the button of the input switch (input key) or the operation surface. The types of the "voice input mode" include "voice input mode 1" and "voice input mode 2".

[0043] The above-mentioned "voice input mode 1" is selected by operating an input key (hereinafter referred to as "dual-purpose key") corresponding to both voice input and touch (including pressing) input. The above-mentioned "voice input mode 2" is selected by operating an input key dedicated to voice input (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "voice input dedicated key") 180.

[0044] In one input operation unit, when there are a plurality of input keys and the "dual-purpose key" is provided therein, if the "voice input mode 1" is changed by the dual-purpose key, there are two cases: one is to temporarily invalidate the input function of the input keys (for example, 156M) other than this dual-purpose key (this control pattern is referred to as "voice input mode 1A"), and the other is not to invalidate it (this control pattern is referred to as "voice input mode 1B"). Both cases fall within the scope of the "voice input mode 1" as mentioned herein.

[0045] In one input operation unit, when performing touch input by an input key (for example, 153M or 153L), if the "voice input dedicated key" 180 is pressed, the "voice input mode 2" is selected. In this case, after the selection of this voice input mode 2, there are two cases: one is to temporarily invalidate the input function of the input keys (for example, 156M) other than the voice input dedicated key 180 (this control pattern is referred to as "voice input mode 2A"), and the other is not to invalidate it (this control pattern is referred to as "voice input mode 2B"). Both cases fall within the scope of the "voice input mode 2" as mentioned herein.

[0046] Embodiment 1. (1. Configuration of the cooking system) Embodiment 1 according to the present disclosure is described in FIGS. 1 to 64. A description will be given of FIG. 1. The cooking system of the first embodiment includes a cooking device 1, a smartphone 200 (also referred to as a "communication terminal device") having a function of performing wireless communication with the cooking device 1, and a cloud server 300. In addition to the smartphone 200, a tablet terminal device with a communication function, a personal computer, or the like may also be used. When collectively referring to these devices and the smartphone 200, they are called "information processing terminal devices" 200.

[0047] The smartphone 200 performs wireless communication by a communication method such as WiFi (registered trademark) with a wireless router 340 (not shown) installed in a house (not shown) where the cooking device 1 is used.

[0048] The cooking device 1 can acquire at least the recipe data CD2 by wireless communication 400 with the smartphone 200. The recipe data CD2 will be described later. The smartphone 200 performs wireless communication 400 by a communication method such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) with the cooking device 1.

[0049] The smartphone 200 accesses a cloud server 300 in an external space via a network 201 such as the Internet and the wireless router 340 (not shown). The cloud server 300 has at least one recipe data providing server 301.

[0050] The recipe data providing server 301 is provided with a recipe DB (database) 302 in which data of recipes for performing various cookings are held. The smartphone 200 accesses a recipe providing site operated by the recipe data providing server 301 and acquires (downloads) various recipe data CD1 from the recipe DB 302.

[0051] In the present disclosure, "recipe data" has one form which, although will be described in detail later, includes an instruction (command data) that designates heating means and "control conditions" (including at least any one of heating power, heating time, temperature, etc., but not limited thereto) so that a specific food to be cooked can be cooked by the cooking heater 1. Another form of the recipe data CD is that when the cooking heater 1 acquires recipe data from the outside, it acquires data indicating the control conditions and "equipment identification information" (to be described later), and does not include information on the heating means (including information indicating the attributes of the heating means, information on the heating ports, etc.), information on the cooking process, information indicating the order of the heating means to be driven, etc., and mainly consists of commands, data, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "commands" or "command data") for determining the control conditions. Such recipe data is hereinafter referred to as "simple recipe data".

[0052] In the following description, recipe data (cooking condition data) including the simple recipe data may be described with symbols such as CD1, CD2, etc. However, the content of the recipe data is not necessarily different depending on these symbols, and there may be the same case. These symbols (CD1, CD2) are attached based on the transmission entity of the recipe data for easy understanding. In addition, when using a unified reference symbol for the recipe data (including the "simple recipe data"), "CD" is used. Also, the name will be uniformly described as "recipe data".

[0053] The cooking heater 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a first heating means HM1 disposed below a top plate 3 (described in FIGS. 8 and later) that covers the upper surface of the cooking heater 1, a second heating means HM2 that supplies microwaves inside a heating chamber 6 (see FIG. 9) formed inside the cooking heater 1, and a third heating means HM3 that is inside or outside the heating chamber 6 and heats by raising the temperature of the internal space of the heating chamber 6.

[0054] If the upper surface of the top plate 3 is defined as the "first location", in order to heat an object to be heated (a magnetic metal pot) placed at this first location, the first heating means HM1 uses induction heating means. Alternatively, a gas combustion device (including a gas stove) equipped with a gas burner for heating a pot made of magnetic metal or non-magnetic metal can be used as the first heating means HM1.

[0055] If a closed space at a location away from the first location is defined as the "second location", the interior of the heating chamber 6 (see FIG. 5) becomes the second location.

[0056] The cooking heater 1 has a function of executing a "single cooking mode" KM1 in which the first heating means HM1 and the second heating means HM2 are driven independently (separately).

[0057] As a method of cooking one object to be cooked, the cooking heater 1 has a function of executing a "composite cooking mode" KM2 in which the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3 are driven simultaneously, or one of them is operated first and the other is automatically started later. Even when the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3 are operating simultaneously, both cases where the heating end times of both are the same and different belong to one operation pattern of the "composite cooking mode" KM2.

[0058] In the "composite cooking mode" KM2, there are at least a pattern (RG control mode 1) in which the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3 are driven simultaneously from the beginning, a pattern (RG control mode 2) in which the driving of the third heating means HM3 is started after the second heating means HM2, and a pattern (RG control mode 3) in which the third heating means HM3 is driven first and then automatically switched to the driving of the second heating means HM3. In these RG control modes 1 to RG control modes 3, the switching of each heating means is automatically performed when cooking starts in the heating chamber 6 (see FIG. 9).

[0059] Unlike the linked cooking mode KM3, the composite cooking mode KM2 does not have a "cooking menu" corresponding to a specific food to be cooked (e.g., hamburger). That is, "control menus" are prepared for different patterns of driving the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3.

[0060] For example, one of the "control menus" is the "RG control mode 1". In the RG control mode (RG composite cooking mode), various foods can be cooked. One of the "control menus", for example, the "RG control mode 1", is controlled by recipe data that defines the control mode, but is not set for each specific food to be cooked.

[0061] That is, the composite cooking mode KM2 having a plurality of "control menus" is an operation pattern in which two or more heat sources (the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3) are operated in a predetermined sequence.

[0062] On the other hand, the linked cooking mode KM3 having a linked cooking menu is one to which recipe data (corresponding to a specific food to be cooked) is applied, and the foods to be cooked placed at respective locations inside the heating chamber 6 and above the top plate 3 are heated and cooked in a predetermined order. That is, in the composite cooking mode KM2 and the linked cooking mode KM3, the contents of the recipe data CD are different.

[0063] In the following description, when indicating the type of control form such as the driving pattern of the heat source, it is called a "control menu". For example, "thawing" is one of the control menus. On the other hand, when specifying a food to be cooked that can be heated and cooked, a cooking name, etc., it is called a "cooking menu". For example, "hamburger" is one of the cooking menus.

[0064] The cooking appliance 1 has a function of executing the linked cooking mode KM3 in which the first heating means HM1 and the second heating means HM2 are driven at a time difference determined depending on the operation of the user (user) US.

[0065] In the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3, there are a pattern of performing cooking step 1 by the first heating means HM1 and a pattern of performing cooking step 1 by the second heating means HM2. For example, in order to move on to cooking step 2 after finishing cooking step 1 by the first heating means HM1, the object to be cooked is moved to the heating chamber 6, and then, in order to start driving the second heating means HM2, there is a "heating pause period TR" (transition period TR) during which no heating operation is performed between this cooking step 1 and cooking step 2. This heating pause period TR will be described with reference to FIGS. 40 and 41.

[0066] In this "cooperative cooking mode" KM3, the recipe data CD is prepared for each specific object to be cooked (e.g., hamburger, roast beef, gratin). The recipe data CD specifies the heating means to be used, the order of driving the heating means, and the control conditions of the heating means (including at least any one of heat power, heating time, temperature, etc.).

[0067] The recipe data CD is stored in both the cooking heater 1 and the recipe DB302. The types of recipe data CD in the recipe DB and the types of recipe data CD held by the cooking heater 1 do not necessarily have to be the same. For example, new recipe data CD for the cooperative cooking mode KM3 may be sequentially added to the recipe DB302, and the recipe data CD for the combined cooking menu may be sequentially accumulated.

[0068] When the cooking heater 1 acquires the recipe data CD for executing the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3 from the smartphone 200, the data is in units of one cooking menu selected by the user US on the smartphone 200. This is common not only to the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3 but also to the "combined cooking mode" KM2 and the "single cooking mode" KM1.

[0069] As described above, the smartphone 200 requests the recipe data providing server 301 to provide a recipe data CD for a desired food to be cooked, and downloads a recipe data CD1 corresponding to the desired cooking menu.

[0070] The smartphone 200 can transmit a recipe data CD2 corresponding to one recipe, which is acquired from the recipe data providing server 301, to the heating cooker 1. In order to use such a recipe data acquisition function, the user US of the heating cooker 1 accesses a recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301) and installs an application for recipe selection (hereinafter referred to as "recipe selection app") on the smartphone 200.

[0071] When the user US installs the recipe selection app, the user US performs an operation of registering identification information such as the model name of the heating cooker as an initial setting. By this registration, a recipe data CD corresponding to the rated specifications of the heating cooker 1 (heating capabilities of each heating means HM1 to HM3, etc.) can be acquired from the recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301).

[0072] Also, the user US pairs the smartphone 200 with the heating cooker 1 by the recipe selection app to establish wireless communication 400 between the smartphone 200 and the heating cooker 1. Note that this wireless communication may use a proximity wireless communication (NFC) method.

[0073] Next, FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 2 is different from the heating cooking system shown in FIG. 1 in the role of the smartphone 200. Also, it is different in that it is the heating cooker 1, not the smartphone 200, that accesses a recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301) to acquire an application for recipe selection (referred to as "recipe selection app").

[0074] The smartphone 200 and the recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301) are connected via a network 202 such as the Internet line. Also, the recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301) and the cooking appliance 1 are connected via a network 203 such as the Internet line. Note that a wireless router (not shown) may be interposed between the smartphone 200 and the cloud server 300. Similarly, a wireless router 340 (not shown) may be interposed between the cooking appliance 1 and the cloud server 300.

[0075] As described above, in the cooking system shown in FIG. 2, with the smartphone 200, the recipe data CD3 created by the user US (corresponding to one recipe) can be transmitted to the recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301), temporarily stored in the recipe DB 302, and provided for the cooking appliance 1. That is, when the smartphone 200 exists at a location far from the house where the cooking appliance 1 is installed (for example, when out), it is convenient that the recipe data CD3 of the smartphone 200 can be stored in the recipe data providing server 301.

[0076] The cooking appliance 1 downloads the recipe data CD4 corresponding to a specific recipe stored in the recipe data providing server 301 through the network 203 between the cooking appliance 1 and the recipe data providing server 301. In this case, the recipe data CD4 may be the recipe data CD2 provided by the smartphone 200.

[0077] In order to use such a recipe data CD acquisition function, the user US of the cooking appliance 1 accesses the recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301) and installs an application for recipe selection (hereinafter referred to as "recipe selection app") in the cooking appliance 1 in advance. It is convenient to make this installation easily executable on the cooking appliance 1 as one of the menus in the "function setting mode" described later.

[0078] When the user US installs the recipe selection app, as an initial setting, the user performs an operation to register identification information such as the model name of the cooking appliance. By this registration, recipe data CD corresponding to the specifications of the cooking appliance 1 (such as the heating capacity of each heating means HM1 to HM3) can be obtained from the recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301).

[0079] In the cooking system of FIG. 2, the user US obtains the recipe data CD1 (corresponding to the recipe) as described in FIG. 1, displays the content of the recipe data CD1 on the display screen of the smartphone 200 for confirmation, and modifies a part of the recipe data CD1 to obtain the recipe data CD3, which may be stored in the recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301) as described in FIG. 2.

[0080] In the cooking system shown in FIG. 1, when the positions of the smartphone 200 and the cooking appliance 1 are close, the recipe data CD2 can be provided from the smartphone 200 to the cooking appliance 1. However, for example, when the smartphone 200 is taken out to a remote location outdoors, the cooking appliance 1 cannot directly obtain the recipe data CD2. On the contrary, in the cooking system shown in FIG. 2, as long as the recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301) can be accessed regardless of the position where the smartphone 200 exists, the recipe data CD4 can be downloaded and used for cooking.

[0081] Next, FIG. 3 will be described. FIG. 3 is different from the cooking system shown in FIG. 1 in the role of the recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301). In the cooking system of FIG. 3, the cooking appliance 1 accesses the recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301) and downloads the recipe data CD6.

[0082] Also, in the cooking system of FIG. 3, the cooking appliance 1 can access the recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301) to provide the recipe data CD7. For example, when actual cooking is performed and good cooking results are achieved, after the cooking, the recipe data remaining in the storage unit of the cooking appliance 1 can be provided to the recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301) as an improved recipe data CD7. Such a user US's favorite recipe may be registered (stored) in the recipe data providing server 301 as a "favorite recipe". Note that the "recipe selection app" is acquired by the cooking appliance 1, which is different from the cooking system of FIG. 1.

[0083] The cooking appliance 1 and the recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301) are connected by networks 204 and 205 such as the Internet line. Note that a wireless router 340 (not shown) may be interposed between the cooking appliance 1 and the cloud server 300. Similarly, a wireless router 340 (not shown) may be interposed in the networks 204 and 205 between the cooking appliance 1 and the cloud server 300. Also, a wireless router (not shown) may be interposed between the smartphone 200 and the cloud server 300.

[0084] In the cooking system of FIG. 3, the user US can directly obtain the recipe data CD6 from the recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301) by the cooking appliance 1. Therefore, even if the user does not own the smartphone 200, the desired recipe data CD6 can be obtained from the recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301) each time cooking is performed.

[0085] Also, as described above, when actual cooking is performed and good cooking results are achieved, after the cooking, it can be provided to the recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301) as the improved recipe data CD7. Therefore, from the next time onwards, the recipe data CD7 can be called from the side of the cooking appliance 1 and used for cooking, which is convenient.

[0086] In this Embodiment 1, there may be an explanation of "acquiring" or "restricting the acquisition" of the recipe data CD, so this point will be explained. When the explanation of "restricting the acquisition" is made, it does not mean that no recipe data (specific information constituting a part or all of it) CD enters the interior of the cooking appliance 1 from the outside via the communication unit 51 described later. In the cooking appliance 1, the recipe data CD from the outside is once received by the communication unit 51 and temporarily stored in an appropriate storage area in the storage device 41 (described in FIG. 16). At that time, the content of the data (attributes, presence or absence of the identification information 167, etc.) is analyzed. However, if the data is data transmitted from the outside during the period when "acquisition is restricted" as described above, it will not be used in the process of executing the subsequent cooking menu (that is, the cooking process), and will be automatically deleted within a short time (at least when the main power switch 20 is turned off).

[0087] In the following description, the networks 201, 202, 203, 204, 205 such as the above-described Internet lines are referred to as "NW" as a unified code.

[0088] (2. Configuration of Various Electrical Appliances and Home Gateway) The "household electrical appliances" 402 refer to electrical appliances designed mainly for use at home. The household electrical appliances 402 include a cooking heater 1, a refrigerator 403, a television receiver 404, an air conditioner 405, an air purifier 406, a ventilator 407, an electric rice cooker (electric jar rice cooker) 408, a microwave oven 409, a lighting fixture 410, and an air purifier 413, which will be described later. In the following description, the "refrigerator" 403 includes both a refrigerator-freezer with a built-in freezer compartment and a refrigerator with only a refrigeration function, unless otherwise specified.

[0089] The "device identification information" of the household electrical appliances 402 is unique information for identifying the household electrical appliances 402. Specifically, it is important information required when performing information communication, such as a MAC address, the manufacturer name of the household electrical appliances 402, a model name, a model number, a production number, etc.

[0090] The "home gateway" 411 refers to an information collection device or an information processing device for relaying information between two or more household electrical appliances 402 in one household and enabling coordinated operation. In addition, it can give a command signal to one household electrical appliance 402 or acquire information (also referred to as "data") from one household electrical appliance 402. In the following description, it is assumed that the "home gateway" 411 is a form of the information processing device 411.

[0091] The home gateway 411 may have a power control function such as a peak cut function to manage the total power consumption of one household for all or part of the household electrical appliances 402. In that case, it may be called a "power control device" or an "integrated management device", etc.

[0092] The home gateway 411 has a function of acquiring information on the current status such as the operation, stop, and standby state of the household electrical appliances 402 from the household electrical appliances 402 via a wired or wireless signal. When using wireless communication, the home gateway 411 is connected to the target household electrical appliance 402 using the device identification information.

[0093] Even if the home gateway 411 functions as an "integrated management device" or a "power command device" for one household electrical appliance (for example, the cooking appliance 1) 402, if it does not limit the power consumption for other household electrical appliances (for example, the lighting fixture 410), it does not correspond to an "integrated management device" or a "power command device". For example, even if the home gateway 411 acquires the operation information of the lighting fixture 410, if it does not have the function of regulating the power consumption of the lighting fixture 410 itself so that the total power consumption combined with the power consumption of other household electrical appliances 402 does not exceed the upper limit of the specified total power consumption. In such a case, the home gateway 411 does not correspond to an integrated management device or a power command device as seen from the lighting fixture 410.

[0094] In FIG. 4, HA indicates one house. Although not actually shown in the figure, the inside of the house HA is partitioned into a plurality of living spaces by walls and doors. In one of the living spaces, the kitchen 601, household electrical appliances 402 such as the refrigerator 403, the cooking appliance 1, the microwave oven 409, and the rice cooker 408, and kitchen furniture 600 are arranged. Although not shown in this FIG. 4, the living spaces also include other rooms such as a "living room" and a "bathroom", and rooms with toilets. There may be other rooms in the living spaces.

[0095] In all living spaces, electric power of, for example, 200V is supplied from the commercial power supply EP of the power company outside the house. The electric power is drawn into the house HA through the electricity meter 414.

[0096] 415 is a power line (main trunk line) connected to the commercial power supply EP with a voltage of 200V via the breaker BK. To this power line 415, a television receiver (hereinafter referred to as "TV receiver") 404 capable of receiving various broadcasts, an air conditioner 405, a lighting fixture 410, a cooking appliance 1, a microwave oven 409, a rice cooker 408, a home gateway 411, and an environment detection unit 416 are respectively connected.

[0097] Next, FIG. 4 will be described. 419 is a wide-area communication circuit network (which may be referred to as a "communication network" or "Internet"). This wide-area communication circuit network 419 is connected to the home gateway 411 via a router (not shown). This wide-area communication circuit network 419 is the aforementioned network NW.

[0098] 417 is an external server and is one component of the cloud server 300. This external server 417 transmits useful information to the home gateway 411 and communication terminals (information processing terminal devices) 200.

[0099] The external server 417 may be, for example, a server installed by an external organization such as a seismic information provider or a power company in a specific area, or a server prepared by the manufacturer that produced the heating cooker 1. This external server 417 may also be a distributed processing type server called a so-called "cloud server". It is known that there are three types of "cloud computing" that utilize cloud servers: "IaaS", "PaaS", and "SaaS".

[0100] The home gateway 411 can receive distribution services for various contents from the external server 417. Among these contents, there are recipe data CDs for various cooking methods. The recipe data CDs also include programs executable by a computer, text data, image information, etc.

[0101] Although not shown, temperature sensors and humidity sensors for detecting the temperature and humidity outside the house may be additionally provided as environmental sensors of the above-described environment detection unit 416.

[0102] In addition, the external server 417 functions as a means for providing information to the home electric appliance 402. That is, the external server 417 may be installed by an organization such as a manufacturer (maker), a seller, a repairer, or an information service provider of the home electric appliance 402, either alone or jointly by two or more organizations, and provides various services related to the home electric appliance 402 to the user US via the wide area communication circuit network 419.

[0103] Further, the external server 417 may generally be what is called a "Web server" (hereinafter referred to as a "web server"). A web server complies with HTTP (a protocol used for exchanging data such as HTML documents and images between a web server and a web browser), and provides display information of HTML and objects (such as images) to web browsers of information processing software on the "information receiving side" such as various communication terminals (information processing terminals) 200 and information processing devices (clients) such as the home gateway 411. It refers to a service program and a server computer on which the service operates.

[0104] The external server 417 stores and remembers control application software that enables the home gateway 411 to be remotely controlled from the house HA or a remote location thereof. From a communication terminal 200, which will be described in detail later, for example, a device called a smartphone, by accessing the cloud server 300 and downloading (loading) the control application software, the above-described remote control can be realized.

[0105] The communication terminal 200 allows user US to easily carry it and make calls and communicate data (including email information) indoors, outdoors, or at other places outside. It is a device that can download information from an outdoor information providing site via a wide-area communication circuit network 419, send and receive emails, and transmit remote control signals. It can also be a device that cannot make calls. Such portable communication terminal devices are collectively referred to as the communication terminal 200. Note that a small portable personal computer is also a type of communication terminal 200.

[0106] The communication terminal 200 in the first embodiment has a function of transmitting and receiving signals through short-range communication in a state where it is close (or may be in contact) with the input / output part of each home appliance 402 by about several centimeters. Note that this short-range communication refers to an international standard technology of wireless communication known as Near Field Communication (abbreviation: NFC).

[0107] In this NFC communication, a so-called wireless tag (NFC tag) is embedded in the home appliance 402 side including the induction cooker 1 and the refrigerator 403. On the other hand, control data (also referred to as a "control command") can be sent from the communication terminal 200 side to the NFC storage part of the home appliance 402, and the home appliance 402 can also be controlled according to the control command.

[0108] In this first embodiment, a direct remote operation from the communication terminal 200 to the home appliance 402 side is not allowed. Among the home appliances 402, there are some that generate high heat such as the induction cooker 1, etc., so remote operation via the Internet used by many people outside the house HA is not adopted. Instead, as an integrated information processing device, all home appliances 400 can be operated via the home gateway 411.

[0109] As is clear from the above description, the home gateway 411 of the first embodiment is an information processing device for relaying information between two or more home appliances 400 in one home and causing them to perform cooperative operations. In addition to this, it gives a command signal to one home appliance 400 or acquires information (also referred to as data) from one home appliance 400.

[0110] In FIG. 4, although not shown, in the kitchen 601 in this house HA, a range hood 407, which is a type of ventilation device described later, and a ceiling-mounted air cleaner 413 are installed.

[0111] 416A and 416B are sensor parts of the environment detection unit 416 of the home gateway 411. As shown in FIG. 7, one sensor part 416A is arranged inside the kitchen 601 as a human presence sensor that detects the presence of a person (using infrared rays or ultrasonic waves). The other sensor part 416B is installed at a different location from the sensor part 416B in the same way. The sensor part 416B is for acquiring "environmental information". The environment detection unit 416 will be described in detail later.

[0112] The "environmental information" refers to three types of information: the temperature information of the atmosphere in the space (kitchen 601) where the cooking appliance 1 and the refrigerator 403 are used, the amount of dust scattering information, and the amount of light information. The amount of dust scattering information is the result of measuring the amount of dust (including pollen) present in the air.

[0113] "Utilization of environmental information" includes the following examples. (1) When the temperature is high, the warming function of the electric rice cooker 408 is continuously operated at the end of the cooking process. Also, the refrigeration target temperature and the freezing target temperature of the refrigerator 403 are raised above the standard values. (2) When the humidity is high, the air conditioner 405 is operated in the "dehumidification mode" or the "cooling mode". Or the operation of the ventilation device 407 is started. Alternatively, when the air conditioner 405 is in operation, its operating conditions (such as the target room temperature) are changed. (3) When fine dust floating in the air is scattered, operate the air purifier 413. Or start the operation of the ventilation device 407. (4) When the amount of pollen scattered is large, start the operation of the air purifier 413. (5) When the amount of light (visible light) is small, turn on the lighting fixture 410.

[0114] "Resident" refers to a person living in one house HA shown in FIG. 4. Residents include parents, siblings, etc. who are related by blood. When using the household electrical appliance 402, the resident is called "user US".

[0115] "Household" means one house HA managed by a specific administrator, and may include an apartment building with multiple rooms and multiple families living in it. That is, even in such an apartment building, if the upper limit of commercial power is centrally managed by one power cut-off device (one breaker BK or multiple power cut-off devices, etc.) in the same way as in the case of one house HA, it is regarded as the household here.

[0116] "Power limit information on the household electrical appliance side" refers to information regarding any signal related to the power consumption received by the household electrical appliance 402 from the home gateway 411. This "power limit information on the household electrical appliance side" includes information regarding transmission commands such as the power reduction request signal AS1 and the power reduction command signal AS2 described later. Those information include the reception time of the signal (year, month, day, and time in seconds) and information indicating the meaning of the signal. For example, information such as "Reception time: October 1, 2021, 17:00 seconds, reduce the instantaneous maximum power consumption by 2%" for a certain power reduction command signal AS2 for the cooking heater 1.

[0117] The power limit information on the home appliance side is stored in a time series in, for example, the storage device 41 of the control device 40 described later in the heating cooker 1, and does not disappear even when the main power switch 20 is turned on or off. Considering turning on and off the main power switch 20 as one cooking operation, at least several times of information is stored and retained. The information exceeding that is automatically erased sequentially.

[0118] Next, FIG. 5 will be described. FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the hardware to which the heating cooker 1 and the operation management system of home appliances according to the first embodiment are applied. Taking the kitchen 601 as an example of one living space, it will be described below.

[0119] In the kitchen 601 to which the first embodiment is applied, an air cleaner 413 installed on the ceiling surface (horizontal wall surface) 420, a refrigerator 403 having a plurality of freezer compartments 403A with different freezing temperatures and a refrigerator compartment 403B, and a microwave oven 409 are respectively installed.

[0120] Furthermore, in the kitchen 601, an in - built (induction) heating cooker 1 arranged in the kitchen furniture 600, a range hood (ventilation device) 407 arranged at a position directly above the heating cooker 1, and a home gateway 411 are respectively installed. In FIG. 5, the electric rice cooker 408, the air conditioner 405, and the lighting fixture 410 described in FIG. 4 are all omitted from the illustration.

[0121] The refrigerator 403 has a "storage room" 403H for storing food materials (hereinafter referred to as "food ingredients"), including natural foods, processed foods, etc. The storage room 403H includes the freezer compartment 403A and the refrigerator compartment 403B, and may be partitioned into specific rooms such as a "vegetable room" and a "special room for meat and fish" according to the type of food ingredients.

[0122] In the first embodiment, on the premise that the storage compartment 403H includes at least two types: a freezer compartment 403A and a refrigerator compartment 403B in a space independent of the freezer compartment 403A, the following description will be given. Note that the temperature (freezing temperature and refrigerating temperature) of the internal space of these storage compartments 403H may be collectively referred to as the "internal temperature" hereinafter.

[0123] In the refrigerator 403, a plurality of freezer compartments 403A can select freezer compartments with appropriate freezing temperatures (temperature ranges), such as -18°C ± 2°C, -10°C, -2°C, etc., suitable for frozen foods (including processed foods) and fresh ingredients (meat, fish, etc.).

[0124] Also, since the temperature range of the freezing temperature and the internal temperature for freezing also affects the aging when fresh ingredients (e.g., beef) are stored for a long time, even in the same freezer compartment, it can be appropriately changed each time according to the type of ingredient.

[0125] As described above, there are multiple types of internal temperatures. For example, those set to a temperature close to the freezing point (freezing temperature) are called "chilled compartments". The volumes and shapes of the multiple storage compartments 403H are different, and the refrigerator compartment 403B is the largest. Also, in order to further divide the inside of the storage compartment 403H into multiple rooms, partition plates and lids (or doors) can be provided to increase the independent storage spaces.

[0126] The refrigerator 403 includes, as a cooling device (not shown), for example, an electric compressor 403C, a refrigerant pipe (not shown), a cold air circulation fan (not shown), a damper (shutter) (not shown) for controlling the inflow of cold air into the storage compartment 403H, etc. to form a refrigeration cycle. To control the internal temperature, the operating frequency of the electric compressor can be changed or the air volume of the cold air circulation fan can be varied.

[0127] The refrigerator 403 has a display unit (display screen) 403D at the upper center of the front (front surface) of the door (not shown). Inside the housing of the refrigerator 403, there are a storage device 403M such as a semiconductor memory and a control device 403U mainly composed of a microcomputer. The control device 403U issues command signals to the drive circuit (inverter circuit, not shown) of the electric compressor 403C, the cold air circulation fan (not shown), the damper (not shown), etc. The control device 403U holds a control program (not shown) to control the operation of the entire refrigerator 403.

[0128] 403T is a wireless communication unit installed inside the housing of the refrigerator 403 or on the ceiling outside the housing, etc., and is controlled by the control device 403U. The wireless communication unit 403T can perform wireless communication with the communication unit 425 (see FIG. 7) of the home gateway 411.

[0129] Due to the above configuration, the refrigerator 403 can perform wireless communication with the heating cooker 1 via the home gateway 411 and can also be connected to the network NW, so various information and data of the heating cooker 1 (including the "recipe data CD" to be described later) can be obtained. Furthermore, the refrigerator 403 can also exchange data wirelessly with the communication terminal 200.

[0130] When a Peltier element is used as the cooling device of the storage room 403H, the temperature inside the cabinet can be adjusted by adjusting the power supplied to the Peltier element. A refrigerator 403 using both the electric compressor 403C and the Peltier element may also be used.

[0131] Furthermore, a weight sensor (not shown) for measuring the weight may be arranged in the storage room 403H to accommodate specific food ingredients (for example, eggs, milk, butter, etc.). The weight measurement of the weight sensor is performed periodically, and it is advisable for the control device 403U of the refrigerator 403 to aggregate the data. Such weight data can be part of the inventory data of the refrigerator 403 and is used when querying the inventory data from the home gateway 411, which is a type of information processing device.

[0132] In the management database held by the storage unit 403M of the control device 403U of the refrigerator 403, there are stored the internal temperature of each storage compartment 403H (standard value, adjustable temperature range, and minimum temperature adjustment width), volume, and identification information such as the type and name of the main target food ingredients. For example, the freezer compartment 403A has a standard internal temperature of -10°C, can be adjusted in 20 steps within the range of -5°C to -15°C, and has a volume of 30 liters. In addition, the maximum dimension (inner dimension) data of the storage compartment 403H may be stored. This is because it is used to determine whether solid objects such as pots can be directly stored. All of these data can also be provided by the refrigerator 403 to the outside when responding to an inventory data query from the home gateway 411. That is, the home gateway 411 can also obtain various data of the storage compartment 403H each time.

[0133] The range hood 407 has an exhaust port 427 that penetrates the ceiling surface 420, and one end of a duct 428 communicating with the outside is connected to this exhaust port 427. 430 is a box-shaped hood with the entire lower surface open as a suction port 430A, and an electric exhaust fan 429 is installed inside this hood. Although this range hood 430 is fixed to the ceiling surface 420, the detailed configuration will be omitted from the description.

[0134] The operating status of this range hood 407 is transmitted to the central control unit 423 at any time via the communication unit 425 of the home gateway 411. For this reason, inside the range hood 407, there is provided the communication unit 431 that also serves as a transmission unit and a reception unit for transmitting various operation information such as the start and stop of the exhaust operation and the intensity of the operation (the magnitude of the exhaust capacity) to and from the home gateway 411. That is, the transmission unit and the reception unit are integrated in hardware and provided as the communication unit 431. The communication unit 431 exchanges information with the home gateway 411 through wireless communication or infrared communication.

[0135] When the electric fan 429 is rotationally driven, it sucks air from the suction port 430A of the range hood 407, sucks the odor and smoke during cooking as well, and exhausts them to the outside of the house HA through the duct 428. Note that the range hood 407 starts the exhaust operation by receiving an operation signal such as an infrared signal from the side of the cooking heater 1. This will be described later.

[0136] In FIG. 5, the arrow FF1 indicates the airflow rising from the cooking heater 1. FF2 indicates the exhaust airflow from the duct 427. FF3 indicates the airflow moving horizontally near the ceiling surface 420. FF4 indicates the (purified) airflow blown out from the air cleaner 413.

[0137] A heat sensing sensor (thermoelectric element) may be arranged on the range hood 407 facing the direction of the cooking heater 1. According to this configuration, the range hood 407 itself senses the start of operation of the cooking heater 1 and controls the operation of the electric fan 429.

[0138] The ceiling-embedded type air cleaner 413 is installed in a form embedded in the ceiling surface 420. Inside the box-shaped main body 435 of the air cleaner 407, a blower fan 436 and a filter 437 are provided.

[0139] 440 is an air guide plate that covers the entire lower part of the air cleaner 413. 432 is a suction port formed at one end (the side closer to the range hood 407) by the air guide plate 431. 433 is a blowout port formed at the end opposite to the suction port 432 by the air guide plate 440.

[0140] The blower fan 436 sucks the dirty air inside the kitchen 601 from the suction port 432, passes it through the filter 437 for purification, and discharges the purified air downward of the kitchen 601 from the blowout port 433. In this way, it removes the dust and odor in the air and purifies the indoor air.

[0141] 434 is the odor sensor of the air purifier 404, and is arranged so as to face the inlet of the suction port 432. This detects the odor and the degree of air pollution from the air taken into the air purifier 413 during operation. Note that as long as the position of the odor sensor 434 is in the air passage on the suction port 432 side and in front of the filter 437, there is no significant difference in the effect no matter where it is arranged.

[0142] The detection result of the odor sensor 434 is judged for the odor intensity by an odor sensing part (not shown) arranged inside the main body 435 of the air purifier 413, and the result is transmitted to the environment detection part 416 of the home gateway 411 at any time. For this reason, inside the air purifier 413, there are provided a transmission part (not shown) and a reception part (not shown) for transmitting various information such as the start and stop of the air purification operation and the judgment result of the odor intensity to and from the home gateway 411. For example, these transmission part and reception part are integrated by hardware and provided as the communication part 438. The communication part 438 exchanges information with the home gateway 411 by wireless communication or infrared communication.

[0143] The air purifier 413 can detect an odor when the air purifier 413 is in operation and an odor generated somewhere in the kitchen 601 reaches the air purifier 413 from the place where it is generated.

[0144] This air purifier 413 generally has a configuration including one or a plurality of (multiple layers) filters 437 having fine air passages in order to capture dust, pollen, etc. in the air. Therefore, when filtering the oil fume generated by cooking using cooking oil by the heating cooker 1, oil particles adhere to the surface of the filter 437, and the oil particles combine to form an oil film. Due to this oil film, the filtration performance of the filter 437 deteriorates. That is, the amount of air passing through the filter 437 decreases, leading to a situation where the air purification ability of the air cleaner 413 decreases. Therefore, when the exhaust gas generated during cooking contains the oil fumes generated during oil cooking, an idea of avoiding the operation of the air cleaner 413 as much as possible has already been proposed (for example, Patent Document Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-95126).

[0145] In FIG. 5, the refrigerator 403 is depicted as being installed near the right side of the kitchen furniture 600. However, in an actual scenario, it may be installed at a location different from that shown in this FIG. 5. Also, not just one refrigerator 403, but a plurality of them may be used.

[0146] 441 is the main body case that constitutes the outer shell of the home gateway 411. This main body case 441 is fixed to the vertical wall surface 439 of the kitchen at a height where the resident can perform input operations and check the display.

[0147] 445 is an alarm device fixed to the vertical wall surface 439 near the main body case 441, which will be described in detail later. 600D is the water supply port of the water supply installed in the kitchen furniture 600.

[0148] Next, FIG. 6 will be described. FIG. 6 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing the relationship between the cooking heater 1 and the range hood 407. In FIG. 6, 442 is the temperature monitoring device of the cooking heater 1. In this Embodiment 1, this temperature monitoring device is configured as one component of the range hood 407 in terms of hardware. However, in terms of hardware, it may also be configured as one component of the home gateway 411.

[0149] The temperature monitoring device 442 includes a temperature detection unit 443 and a communication unit 446. The temperature detection unit 443 includes an infrared sensor (not shown), a thermal imaging camera (not shown), and a temperature determination circuit 444.

[0150] As shown in FIG. 6, the temperature monitoring device 442 is a component of the range hood 407 on the hardware side and is constantly powered on regardless of the exhaust operation of the range hood 407. In other words, even when the exhaust operation is not being performed, the temperature monitoring device 442 constantly executes temperature monitoring operations. Note that the temperature monitoring device 442 may be configured as an independent device to be mounted and used on the outer side or the lower surface of the range hood 407.

[0151] The temperature detection unit 443 divides, for example, the entire area (plane) of the top plate 3 described later into at least 64 areas (8 in the vertical direction × 8 in the horizontal direction) (hereinafter referred to as "detection areas") and detects the temperature of each area.

[0152] The detection areas include three heating parts (left heating port 4L, right heating port 4R, and central heating port 4C) of the cooking appliance 1 described later. The temperature monitoring device 442 repeatedly measures, at predetermined time intervals, the temperature of the detection areas monitored by the temperature detection unit 443 not only during the operation of the range hood 407 but also during the period when the operation is stopped.

[0153] The temperature monitoring device 442 transmits the monitored information of the measured temperature from the communication unit 446 to the home gateway 411. In addition to transmitting to the home gateway 411, a configuration may be adopted to directly transmit to the cooking appliance 1. Also, the temperature measurement interval for obtaining temperature monitoring information is not a fixed time (for example, every 5 seconds), but the time interval is shortened in areas where the temperature is high.

[0154] The temperature monitoring device 442 detects that the light receiving unit 447 of the range hood 407 has received an infrared signal from the infrared transmission unit 31 of the cooking appliance 1, and starts acquiring temperature information when the range hood 407 is started.

[0155] Even after the range hood 407 receives an infrared signal (from the infrared transmission unit 31) indicating the end of the operation of the heating cooker 1, the temperature monitoring device 442 continues the temperature acquisition operation. Then, the acquisition of temperature information is continued at predetermined time intervals until the estimated temperature of the entire area of the top plate 3 becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature (for example, 40°C) determined in advance. Note that when the temperature becomes lower than the predetermined temperature, the interval of the temperature measurement operation becomes longer. Note that when the temperature becomes low, the monitoring operation as described above may be terminated once, but at least at the start time of the operation of the heating cooker 1, the temperature monitoring operation is started again.

[0156] The heating cooker 1 is installed in the kitchen furniture 600, which will be described in detail later. 6 is a heating chamber formed inside the heating cooker 1, and 7 is a door that opens and closes the front opening of the heating chamber 113.

[0157] The heating cooker 1 places an object to be heated N (such as a pot made of magnetic metal) on the top plate 3 that covers its upper surface, and performs induction heating by the IH coils 9 (9C, 9L, 9R). 32 is a bottom wall surface that divides the inside of the heating cooker 1 into two independent upper and lower spaces. 33 is an installation space above the bottom wall surface 32 inside the heating cooker 1, and the IH coil 9 is accommodated therein.

[0158] Next, FIG. 7 will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the home gateway 411, the home appliances 402, and the temperature monitoring device 422. Among the home appliances 402, the heating cooker 1 and the microwave oven 409 receive power amount control from the home gateway 411.

[0159] Therefore, the home gateway 411 also serves as a power command device for the heating cooker 1 and the microwave oven 409. Since this has been described previously, it will not be described in detail here. Although not shown in this FIG. 7, the air conditioner 405 is also a device that receives power consumption (upper limit value) control.

[0160] The power amount control unit 424 always acquires information on the power amount used by target household electrical appliances (for example, the cooking appliance 1 and the microwave oven 409), and has a function of restricting the power consumption of the household electrical appliance 402 so as not to exceed a preset total power amount, and is already known by the name of HEMS (Home Energy Management System).

[0161] When the power amount control unit 448 acquires information indicating a power reduction request or a power reduction instruction from the outside via the communication unit 425, it performs an operation of reducing the power consumption of target household electrical appliances (for example, the cooking appliance 1, the microwave oven 409, and the air conditioner 405) according to a preset priority order.

[0162] In FIG. 7, inside the home gateway 411, there is an environment detection unit 416 incorporating a human detection unit 416H. The environment detection unit 416 also receives detection results from a pollen sensor (not shown) and a sensor unit 416B that detects the temperature and humidity in the kitchen in the form of data in a predetermined format. 416A is a sensor unit that measures the temperature, humidity, etc. in the kitchen 601 as described above.

[0163] Since the human detection unit 416H detects the presence of a person in the kitchen 601, particularly in the front area of the cooking appliance 1 and in front of the door (not shown) of the refrigerator 403, one or more infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, etc. are used for the sensor unit 416A.

[0164] For example, when the distance between the front of the cooking appliance 1 and the door of the refrigerator 403 is short, the sensor unit 416A is installed on the ceiling surface 420 of the kitchen 601 or the like facing the space between the front of the cooking appliance 1 and the refrigerator 403.

[0165] Also, when the distance between the front of the cooking appliance 1 and the door of the refrigerator 403 is slightly apart, one sensor unit 416A is installed on the ceiling surface 420 of the kitchen 601 or the like facing the space near the front of the cooking appliance 1. Further, it is advisable to install another sensor unit 416A for the human detection unit 416H on the ceiling surface 420 or the like facing the space in front of the door of the refrigerator 403. That is, the number of sensor units 416A of the human detection unit 416H is not limited to one, and an appropriate number can be used as needed.

[0166] One sensor unit 416A may be attached to the lower end of the hood 430 of the range hood 407 to detect the presence of the user US in front of the cooking appliance 1. As described above, the installation location of the sensor unit 416A of the human detection unit 416H may be appropriately determined in consideration of the positional relationship between the refrigerator 403 and the cooking appliance 1 and the detection ability (detection range) of the human detection unit.

[0167] Although the human detection unit 416H functions as one sensor of the environment detection unit 416, it may function as an independent integrated detection device that constitutes one part of a home detection device (not shown) for detecting the presence of a human inside the house HA, that is, in the kitchen 601 or the like. In that case, information such as an unlocking sensor for detecting that the door of the entrance of the house HA has been unlocked may also be used by the home detection device. Thereby, the accuracy in the determination process of being at home or away can be improved.

[0168] The input unit 421 can set various functions of the home gateway 411 by operating the touch input type keys formed on the liquid crystal display screen. As one of its functions, it can identify the home appliance 402 for setting the upper limit value of power consumption, and on that basis, it can also set the upper limit value of power consumption, the available time zone, etc. For example, the user US can input the maximum power consumption of the cooking appliance 1, for example, 4800W, 5400W.

[0169] In addition to the function of inputting by operating touch input keys formed on the liquid crystal display screen, the input unit 421 also has a function of inputting by voice. By directing the voice uttered by the resident toward the microphone unit (not shown), various desired functions can be input.

[0170] 445 is the alarm device that issues an alarm to the resident by means of sound or light. The central control unit 423 receives the measurement data from the environment detection unit 416 and the monitoring data from the temperature monitoring device 422, and the alarm device 445 transmits an alarm instruction signal. Note that since this alarm device 445 is not a control target by the power amount control unit 424, the power supply to the alarm device 445 itself is not restricted or cut off due to changes in the power consumption of the home electric appliance 402.

[0171] As shown in FIG. 7, the home gateway 411 includes a communication unit (reception unit and transmission unit) 425, a central control unit 423, and a storage device 426. The communication unit 425 is a communication unit that can perform wireless communication and infrared communication individually with home electric appliances 402 such as the heating cooker 1 and the refrigerator 403.

[0172] In FIG. 7, the storage device 426 is a device that records information with a relatively large data volume, such as the operation history information of the home gateway 411, the daily power control history information of the home electric appliance 402, and further the daily "environment information" acquired by the environment detection unit 416. The storage device 426 is, for example, various semiconductor memories, HDDs, etc.

[0173] The central control unit 423 has a microcomputer that is the core of information processing. It also incorporates a ROM and a RAM for the CPU of the microcomputer to read or write (store) data. Various computer programs that define various operations are stored in the ROM.

[0174] In FIG. 7, NW is a wide - area communication circuit network (Internet) that performs wireless communication with the communication unit (reception unit·transmission unit) 425. In this FIG. 7, only one communication unit 425 is shown, but the communication unit (reception unit·transmission unit) for the home appliance 402 and the communication unit for the wide - area communication circuit network (Internet) NW may be provided separately. Also, an NFC communication unit may be provided separately so that information can be directly exchanged by wireless communication between the NFC (near - field wireless communication) provided in the communication terminal 200.

[0175] 427 is a schedule management unit. This schedule management unit has a calendar function and can store the schedule information of events for at least one month (maximum 31 days).

[0176] The schedule management function itself has already been proposed in many patent documents. In this Embodiment 1, the input unit 421 can register the scheduled date and the scheduled start time (or time zone) of events for each resident (for example, shopping, going out, etc.).

[0177] When event information is stored in the schedule management unit 427, a notification is issued from the schedule management unit 427 when the stored date and time are reached. The form of the notification is to display it on the liquid crystal display screen of the input unit 421 or to notify it with a voice synthesizer (not shown). Also, a method of issuing a notification to the communication terminal 200 held by the resident (also referred to as a "push - type notification") may be used.

[0178] When a home appliance 402 such as the cooking heater 1 is operating, a notification may be given to the cooking heater 1 or the refrigerator 403 based on the event information registered in the schedule management unit 427.

[0179] (3. Configuration of the cooking heater) Next, the configuration of the cooking heater 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 - 11. In FIGS. 8 and 9, the cooking heater 1 is a built-in IH cooking heater that is used by being incorporated into a kitchen furniture 600 having a cooking table on its upper part. The cooking heater 1 has a main body 2 and a top plate 3 installed on the main body 2. The top plate 3 is exposed on the kitchen top plate that constitutes the top surface of the kitchen furniture 600.

[0180] The top plate 3 is composed of, for example, a heat-resistant glass plate and a metal frame attached around the glass plate. On the upper surface of the top plate 3, three heating ports 4, namely a left heating port 4L, a right heating port 4R, and a central heating port 4C, are provided.

[0181] The left heating port 4L, the right heating port 4R, and the central heating port 4C indicate areas where a metal cooking container (also referred to as the "object to be heated" N for the first heating means HM1), such as a pot or a frying pan, is placed. Guide marks (not shown) serving as a guide for placing the object to be heated are drawn on the upper surface of the top plate 3 for each of the left heating port 4L, the right heating port 4R, and the central heating port 4C.

[0182] An exhaust port cover 5 is provided on the back side (rear side) of the top plate 3. The exhaust port cover 5 is composed of a perforated metal or a lattice-shaped metal member having innumerable small through-holes, is air-permeable throughout, and has little air flow resistance. The exhaust discharged from the inside of the cooking heater 1 passes through the exhaust port cover 5 and exits the cooking heater 1.

[0183] On the front surface of the main body 2 of the cooking heater 1, a door (heating door) 7 for opening and closing the front opening of a heating chamber 6 (see FIG. 9) disposed inside the main body 2 is provided. A handle 8 for opening and closing the door 7 is provided on the door 7.

[0184] FIG. 9 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the cooking heater 1 according to Embodiment 1 as viewed from the side. As shown in FIG. 9, below the left heating port 4L, an induction heating coil 9L as a left induction heating means (hereinafter referred to as the "left IH coil") is provided.

[0185] Similarly, an induction heating coil 9R (hereinafter referred to as "right IH coil"), as the right induction heating means, is also provided below the right heating port 4R, and an induction heating coil 9C (hereinafter referred to as "center IH coil"), as the center induction heating means, is provided below the center heating port 4C.

[0186] These IH coils 9C, 9L, and 9R are circular heating coils formed by winding thin conducting wires such as copper wires or aluminum wires. When a high-frequency current is supplied, a high-frequency magnetic field is generated. As a result, the cooking containers (objects to be heated N) arranged on the left heating port 4L, the right heating port 4R, and the center heating port 4C are induction heated.

[0187] The heating means including the IH coils 9C, 9L, 9R and their drive circuits (referring to high-frequency power supply circuits such as inverter circuits, not shown in the figure) may be referred to as the induction heating source 9 or the first heating means HM1. In the following description, unless otherwise inconsistent, the "first heating means" HM1 is used.

[0188] In the vicinity of the IH coils 9C, 9L, 9R, a temperature sensor group 30 (see FIG. 16) composed of a plurality of temperature sensors (not shown) is mounted to detect the temperatures of the top plate 3 and the cooking container (object to be heated N). One temperature sensor 30A (not shown) constitutes one sensor among the temperature sensor group 30. The temperature sensor referred to here may be either a contact type temperature sensor such as a thermistor or a non-contact temperature sensor such as an infrared sensor, or both.

[0189] Inside the main body 2, below the IH coils 9C, 9L, 9R, the heating chamber 6 is provided. The heating chamber 6 is surrounded by a metal wall such as stainless steel and is a space for heating the objects to be cooked (food, ingredients) accommodated therein.

[0190] The object to be cooked may be placed on a heat-resistant plastic container, a porcelain dish, or a heat-resistant glass dish, or placed inside a container and then placed in the heating chamber 6. In that case, these dishes and containers may be referred to as "heated containers". However, since these containers are not induction-heated by the IH coils 9C, 9L, and 9R, even if they are placed on the heating opening 4 of the top plate 3, they are not called the "object to be heated" N of the IH coils 9C, 9L, and 9R.

[0191] On the front surface of the heating chamber 6, a horizontally long rectangular opening (not shown) for taking in and out the object to be cooked is formed. The opening on the front surface of the heating chamber 6 is covered by a door 7 so as to be openable and closable. The door 7 is rotatably supported by the main body 2 via a hinge and an arm (not shown). Thereby, the door 7 is configured to open forward to a horizontal position with its lower end as a fulcrum (rotation center). Note that the door 7 may be integrally pulled forward by a slide rail (not shown) together with a support member (referring to a structure such as a shelf) that supports the heated container from below.

[0192] An opening / closing detection unit 10 for detecting the opening and closing of the door 7 is provided on the door 7. The opening / closing detection unit 10 is, for example, a microswitch or an infrared sensor. A microwave oscillator 11 for heating the object to be cooked accommodated in the heating chamber 6 is provided behind the heating chamber 6. The microwave oscillator 11 is composed of, for example, a magnetron, and performs so-called range heating by irradiating microwaves into the heating chamber 6 to heat the object to be cooked placed in the heating chamber.

[0193] The heating means including the microwave oscillator 11 and its drive circuit (referring to a high-frequency power supply circuit such as an inverter circuit, not shown) may be referred to as the second heating means HM2.

[0194] In addition, in the heating chamber 6, there are provided an upper radiant heat heating means 12a for heating the object to be cooked from above and below with a so-called heater, and a lower radiant heat heating means 12b. The upper radiant heat heating means 12a is disposed on the outer or inner ceiling wall surface of the heating chamber 6, and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b is disposed on the inner or outer wall surface of the heating chamber 6. Both are sheathed heaters.

[0195] Other types of radiant heat heating means (for example, mica heaters, carbon heaters, etc.) may be installed outside the heating chamber 6. FIG. 5 shows an example in which both the upper radiant heat heating means 12a and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b are installed so as to be in close contact with the outer wall surface of the heating chamber 6.

[0196] The heating means including the upper radiant heat heating means 12a, the lower radiant heat heating means 12b, and their drive circuits (not shown) may be referred to as a third heating means HM3. In addition, the upper radiant heat heating means 12a and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b may be collectively referred to as "radiant heat heating means", and in that case, the reference numeral "12" is used.

[0197] In addition, in the heating chamber 6, an infrared sensor 13 is provided as a non-contact temperature sensor in order to non-contact detect the temperature of the object to be cooked in the heating chamber 6. The temperature range detected by this infrared sensor 13 is set to, for example, -20°C to 100°C. Thereby, the heating degree of the object to be cooked can be accurately detected in real time, for example, in 1°C increments. This infrared sensor 13 also constitutes one of the temperature sensor groups 30 (see FIG. 16).

[0198] In addition, in the heating chamber 6, a contact temperature sensor (for example, a thermistor sensor) 14, which is an indoor temperature sensor for detecting the ambient temperature inside the heating chamber 6 or the wall surface temperature of the heating chamber 6, is also provided.

[0199] Since the thermistor sensor 14 detects temperature by capturing changes in temperature as changes in electrical resistance, the upper limit of the detectable temperature is about 250°C. This thermistor sensor 14 also constitutes one of the sensors in the temperature sensor group 30. Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 9, this thermistor sensor 14 may be installed at two locations, near the bottom surface and near the ceiling surface of the heating chamber 6.

[0200] Next, FIG. 10 will be described. FIG. 10 is a top view of the cooking heater 1 according to Embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. 10, a left operation unit 15L, a central operation unit 15M, and a right operation unit 15R are provided on the front side of the upper surface of the top plate 3 of the cooking heater 1. These three operation units may be collectively referred to as an "input operation unit", and in that case, the reference numeral 15 is used.

[0201] On the back side (rear side) of the left operation unit 15L, the central operation unit 15M, and the right operation unit 15R, a left heating power display unit 17L, a central display unit 16M, and a right heating power display unit 17R, a left display unit 16L and a right display unit 16R, and a central heating status display unit 17M are provided.

[0202] The three units, the left display unit 16L, the central display unit 16M, and the right display unit 16R, may be collectively referred to as a "display unit", and in that case, the reference numeral 16 is used. Incidentally, the central display unit 16M has a horizontally long liquid crystal display screen.

[0203] The left heating power display unit 17L and the right heating power display unit 17R display the heating power level by a light emitting element (such as an LED) and do not have a display screen.

[0204] The three units, the left heating power display unit 17L, the right heating power display unit 17R, and the central heating status display unit 17M, may be collectively referred to as a "heating power display unit", and in that case, the reference numeral 17 is used.

[0205] Also, adjacent to the right operation unit 15R, an operation button (key) 20A for the main power switch 20 (see FIG. 16) is provided. The main power switch 20 turns the main power of the cooking heater 1 on or off. The button (key) pressed when turning it on or off is the operation button 20A.

[0206] When the operation button 20A is pressed for, for example, several seconds with the main power of the cooking heater 1 off, the main power turns on. Also, when the operation button 20A is pressed for, for example, several seconds with the main power of the cooking heater 1 on, the main power turns off.

[0207] Next, FIG. 11 will be described. In FIG. 11, an input key 180 for selecting the voice input mode is arranged in the central operation unit 15M of the input operation unit 15. This input key 180 may be a mechanical switch or an input key of a touch input switch like the input keys 153M to 159M described later.

[0208] This input key 180 for selecting voice input enables the next input to be made by voice when pressed once. When this input key 180 is pressed, it switches to the "voice input mode 2" state. However, this input key 180 cannot select the heating means or the heating port (the first heating means HM1) by voice.

[0209] Therefore, it is necessary to operate the input key 180 following, for example, a touch operation of the input key 153L for selecting the heating port 4L. In the central operation unit 15M, after touching any one of the input keys 153M, 154M, or 155M and then operating it continuously, the "voice input mode 2" is switched to, and the input processing unit 70 in the control device 40 sets the voice signal analysis unit 58 (see FIG. 16) to the input standby state. Even if this input key 180 is touched, the input functions of the five input keys, namely the input key 153M, the input key 151M for starting the heating operation, the stop input key 152M, and the input keys 153L and 153R of the left and right operation units 15L and 15R, are not affected at all. Also, when these five input keys are touched, the "voice input mode 2" by the input key 180 is cancelled.

[0210] As described above, the "voice input mode 2" by the input of this input key 180 is different from the "voice input mode 1" set according to the touch form of specific (touch-type) input keys such as various touch-type input keys 153M, 154M, 155M, etc. as described later.

[0211] When the input key 180 is pressed, the "voice input mode 2" is activated from that moment. That is, it becomes the "voice input mode 2". Then, as described in FIG. 16, when there is a voice signal from the voice signal receiving unit 56, the voice signal analysis unit 58 analyzes the content of the voice one by one and outputs the analysis result to the heating control unit 43.

[0212] Note that the input key 180 for selecting voice input may limit the "range where touch input is invalidated" only to the central operation unit 15M. In this way, when the input key 180 is pressed, the input functions of specific (touch-type) input keys such as various touch-type input keys 154M to 159M arranged in the central operation unit 15M as described later are invalidated. And it shifts to the input standby state for receiving commands by voice from the user US. Note that after the heating operation starts, touch input invalidation by this input key 180 cannot be performed, so during the heating operation, the input of various input keys (for example, the stop command by 152M) is not restricted at all.

[0213] The 21M is a light-emitting part, which emits light when the input function of the input key 180 is valid, and continues to emit light during the period until the input function becomes invalid. In each of these light-emitting parts 21M, one or more light-emitting elements 27 (see FIG. 16) such as LEDs are arranged, and are driven by a light-emitting control part 26 (see FIG. 16).

[0214] At the central operation part 15M, an input key 151KP for function setting is arranged at a position adjacent to the left side of the input key 153M.

[0215] In the first embodiment, an input form in which the user US controls the cooking heater 1 by an operation of pressing with a fingertip or the like (including a degree of light contact) is called a "touch input mode". For this reason, various input keys 151M to 159M, 151R to 155R, 151L to 155L described later may be referred to as a "touch input mode selection part".

[0216] Next, FIG. 12 will be described. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the left display part 16L, the left heating power display part 17L, and the left operation part 15L according to the first embodiment. The left display part 16L displays information related to cooking in the left heating port 4L, and is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display.

[0217] The left display part 16L displays the set time of "timer cooking" for the object to be heated N placed on the left heating port 4L, the elapsed time since the start of the heating operation at the left heating port 4L, or the remaining time until the timer set time ends.

[0218] The "timer cooking" is a cooking in which the user US makes the heating operation for the time (set time) set (input) (with the input key 151L), and when the set time has elapsed, the heating operation is automatically stopped, which is one of the convenient functions for the user US.

[0219] When the left display unit 16L selects preheating cooking at the left heating port 4L, it displays the automatically set temperature (default temperature), the current temperature, etc. The automatically set temperature (default temperature) refers to the target temperature of the bottom surface of the object to be heated (for example, a metal pot) N when heating at the left heating port 4L. The default temperature can be arbitrarily changed within a certain range by the user US. Also, for example, the target temperature can be set to an arbitrary temperature by touching the input keys 155R and 154R (however, a temperature exceeding a predetermined allowable range is rejected by the heating control unit 43 for setting input).

[0220] The left heating power display unit 17L is composed of a plurality of light emitting elements (LEDs) arranged in a horizontal straight line, and displays the heating power of the left heating port 4L in multiple stages. The left heating power display unit 17L expresses the heating power by switching the lighting states (lighting, extinguishing, blinking, etc.) of the plurality of LEDs or by switching the lighting color. Thereby, it is possible to provide the user US with an intuitive and easy-to-understand notification of the heating power.

[0221] The left operation unit 15L inputs operations related to heating cooking at the left heating port 4L. As shown in FIG. 12, the left operation unit 15L includes five input keys 151L, 152L, 153L, 154L, and 155L. These input keys 151L, 152L, 153L, 154L, and 155L are touch keys. For example, they are capacitance type touch sensors (touch switches) that can be input using the change in capacitance when the user US lightly touches them with a finger or the like.

[0222] Corresponding to the input keys 151L, 152L, 153L, 154L, and 155L, a light emitting unit 21L is provided. The light emitting unit 21L is composed of a plurality of light emitting elements (LEDs) and emits light according to the operations of the input keys 151L, 152L, 153L, 154L, and 155L. Note that the two adjacent input keys 154L and 155L share one light emitting unit 21L because they perform the same type of function of increasing or decreasing the heating power.

[0223] The input key 151L is a key that is touched when selecting "timer cooking" at the left heating port 4L. This timer cooking is a cooking method in which the user US sets the time of the heating operation as described above and executes the heating operation only for the set time.

[0224] The input key 152L is a key that is pressed when selecting the "control menu" to be performed at the left heating port 4L. Each time the input key 152L is pressed, one of a plurality of control menus can be selected. The "control menu" mentioned here is, for example, boiling water, stewing, frying (automatic cooking), etc. For each control menu, the driving time, heating power, or driving pattern of the left heating port 4L is different.

[0225] The control menus for using the left heating port 4L and the right heating port 4R without operating the central operation unit 15M by operating the left operation unit 15L or the right operation unit 15R are all control menus of the "single cooking mode" KM1 that performs induction heating. The "single cooking mode" KM1 will be described later.

[0226] The input key 153L is a key that is pressed to select heating cooking at the left heating port 4L. That is, when the input key 153L is pressed, cooking using the left IH coil 9L arranged below the left heating port 4L (in the single cooking mode KM1) is selected. When the input key 153L is pressed again while the left IH coil 9L is being driven, the driving of the left IH coil 9L is stopped and the induction heating operation is immediately stopped.

[0227] The input keys 154L and 155L are keys that are pressed when specifying the heating power during heating cooking at the left heating port 4L. By pressing the input key 154L on the left, the heating power is decreased step by step. On the contrary, by pressing the input key 155L on the right, the heating power is increased step by step. Note that the heating power during induction heating cooking at the left heating port 4L has 9 levels from the rated minimum heating power (heating power level 1: 150W) to the rated maximum heating power (heating power level 9: 3200W).

[0228] Next, FIG. 13 will be described. FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the right display unit 16R, the right heating power display unit 17R, and the right operation unit 15R according to the first embodiment. The right display unit 16R displays information related to cooking by heating at the right heating port 4R, and is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display. The information related to cooking by heating at the right heating port 4R displayed on the right display unit 16R is the same as the information related to cooking by heating at the left heating port 4L.

[0229] The right heating power display unit 17R is composed of a plurality of light-emitting elements (LEDs) and displays the heating power of the right heating port 4R in multiple stages. Similar to the left heating power display unit 17L, the right heating power display unit 17R expresses the heating power by switching the lighting state (lighting, extinguishing, blinking, etc.) or the lighting color of a plurality of light-emitting elements (LEDs).

[0230] The right operation unit 15R is for inputting operations related to cooking by heating at the right heating port 4R. As shown in FIG. 13, the right operation unit 15R includes five input keys 151R, 152R, 153R, 154R, and 155R.

[0231] The input keys 151R, 152R, 153R, 154R, and 155R are configured in the same manner as the left operation unit 15L. For example, they are configured as capacitive touch keys that can be input by utilizing the change in capacitance when the user US lightly touches them with a finger or the like.

[0232] Corresponding to the input keys 151R, 152R, 153R, 154R, and 155R, light-emitting units 21R are respectively provided. The light-emitting unit 21R is a light-emitting element (LED), and according to the operations of the input keys 151R, 152R, 153R, 154R, and 155R, the light-emitting units 21R corresponding to the input keys respectively emit light. However, since the two adjacent input keys 154R and 155R perform the same type of function of increasing or decreasing the heating power, they share one light-emitting unit 21R.

[0233] The input key 151R is a key that is pressed when selecting timer cooking at the right heating port 4R. The input key 152R is a key that is pressed when selecting the control menu to be executed at the right heating port 4R.

[0234] The input key 153R is a key that is pressed to select heating cooking at the right heating port 4R. That is, when the input key 153R is pressed, cooking (in the single cooking mode KM1) using the right IH coil 9R disposed below the left heating port 4R is selected. When the input key 153R is pressed again while the right IH coil 9R is being driven, the driving of the right IH coil 9R is stopped and the induction heating operation is immediately stopped.

[0235] The input keys 154R and 155R are keys that are pressed when specifying the heating power during heating cooking at the right heating port 4R. By pressing the left input key 154R, the heating power is decreased step by step. Conversely, by pressing the right input key 155R, the heating power is increased step by step. Note that the heating power during induction heating cooking at the right heating port 4R has nine levels from the rated minimum heating power (heating power level 1) of 150 W to the rated maximum heating power (heating power level 9) of 3200 W.

[0236] Next, FIG. 14 will be described. FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the central display unit 16M, the central operation unit 15M, and the central heating status display unit 17M according to Embodiment 1.

[0237] The central display unit 16M displays information and warnings of the entire heating cooker 1 and is composed of a liquid crystal display. On the display screen of the central display unit 16M, the selection results of the induction heating means (first heating means) HM1, the microwave heating means (second heating means) HM2, and the radiant heat heating means (third heating means) HM3, the operating states of the respective heating means, caution information or warning information regarding heating cooking by the respective heating means are displayed.

[0238] The central display unit 16M is a single liquid crystal display in terms of hardware, but as shown in FIG. 14, it has three display areas: the first display area 22 on the left, the second display area 23 in the center left and right, and the third display area 24 on the right, and different displays can be performed for each display area.

[0239] In addition, the three display areas 22 to 24 may appropriately cooperate according to the display scene to form one (large area) display area, and one or more target displays may be performed. Hereinafter, the first display area 22 will be referred to as the first area 22. The second display area 23 will be referred to as the second area 23. The third display area 24 will be referred to as the third area 24.

[0240] The central heating status display unit 17M is divided into two stages in the front-rear direction. In the lower stage (front side), there are a range light-emitting element (LED) 310 behind the character display part of "range", a grill light-emitting element (LED) 311 behind the character display part of "grill", an oven light-emitting element (LED) 312 behind the character display part of "oven", and a central IH light-emitting element (LED) 313 behind the character display part of "central IH".

[0241] In the upper stage (rear side), there are warning characters of "high temperature caution" and a group of high temperature caution light-emitting elements (LED) 314 arranged respectively in front of and below the figure schematically representing the heating chamber 6 and the three heating ports 4L, 4C, and 4R.

[0242] The group of high temperature caution light-emitting elements (LED) 314 is composed of a heating chamber high temperature caution light-emitting element (LED) 314a arranged side by side on the left and right and an IH high temperature caution light-emitting element (LED) 314b.

[0243] The heating chamber high temperature caution light-emitting element (LED) 314a lights up when the temperature in the heating chamber 6 is high, for example, 50 °C or higher. The IH high temperature caution light-emitting element (LED) 314b lights up when any of the left IH coil 9L, right IH coil 9R, and central IH coil 9C is being driven or the temperature of the top plate 3 is high, for example, 50 °C or higher.

[0244] The central operation unit 15M is mainly used to input operations related to cooking in the heating chamber 6 and cooking by the central heating port 4C. As shown in FIG. 14, the central operation unit 15M includes nine input keys 151M, 152M, 153M, 154M, 155M, 156M, 157M, 158M, 159M and a function setting key 151KP (see FIG. 11).

[0245] The nine input keys 151M to 159M described above are capacitive touch keys that generate an input command signal each time a touch operation is performed. In addition, a light emitting unit 21M is provided near each of these input keys 151M to 159M.

[0246] The function setting key 151KP (see FIG. 11) is arranged on the leftmost side of the central operation unit 15M. This function setting key 151KP is for enabling the user US to set various operations and displays of the entire cooking heater 1 as desired.

[0247] When the function setting key 151KP is pressed, the control device 40 described later switches to the "function setting mode" and displays the following "function setting menu" on the display screen of the central display unit 16M. (1) Child lock setting (operation invalidation setting for various input keys). (2) Ventilation device 407 interlock mode setting. (3) Cleaning guide setting (automatic notification function setting for the cleaning time of the heating chamber 6 and the exhaust port cover 5). (4) Peak cut setting (select one from four levels of maximum power consumption: 5700W, 5000W, 4800W, and 4000W). (5) Voice setting for voice guide. (6) Volume setting for voice guide. (7) Setting to prevent forgetting to take out the object to be cooked, cooking utensils, etc. from the heating chamber 6 (necessity of alarm on the voice notification unit 50 and the central display unit 16M). (8) HEMS registration setting (setting related to the power usage restriction function by the home power control device). (9)Setting of the time unit for timer cooking (changing the 1-minute unit setting to 5-minute or 30-minute units). (10)Switching between the beginner mode and the normal (skilled user) mode. (11)Setting the type (range) of inventory information to be acquired from an external device (refrigerator 403). (12)Setting the display priority (specific cooking menu to be set as the default display, identification information 167) for each cooking menu (e.g., "hamburger") in the linked cooking mode KM3. (13)Setting the display priority (specific control menu to be set as the default display) for each control menu (e.g., "range grill", "boiling leafy vegetables") in the combined cooking mode KM2. (14)Setting the cooking mode to be automatically displayed on the central display unit 16M when the door 7 of the heating chamber 6 is opened after the main power switch 20 is turned "ON" (display priority, etc. between the two cooking modes of the linked cooking mode KM3 and the combined cooking mode KM2). (15)Setting to prevent the additional information 165, 166 (see Fig. 21) described later from being automatically displayed, and setting to prevent the additional information 165, 166 from being audibly notified by the voice notification unit 50. (16)When individual cooking menus in the linked cooking mode KM3 are displayed on the central display unit 16M, setting to display the ingredients and nutritional components of the target food (ingredient) individually each time. Note that either only the food ingredients or the nutrients, or both, may be displayed. In this Embodiment 1, the input key 158M is set as the display command key for food ingredients, and the input key 159M is set as the display command key for nutritional components. When either the input key 158M or 159M is operated within a predetermined period, or when a voice command is given with the voice input mode 1 set, the food ingredients or nutritional components are displayed. That is, they are not always displayed simultaneously as a set with the identification information 167 of the cooking menu (described later), but are displayed in response to the operation (including voice) of the user US. This will be described in detail in Fig. 30. When selecting individual cooking menus in the linked cooking mode KM3, set to search for cooking menu candidates from food ingredients and nutritional components and display them on the central display unit 16M. In this case, press the input key 180 to set it to the "voice input mode 2" so that the user US can search by voice. Details will be described with reference to FIG. 30. (18) Setting the display priority of each cooking menu in the linked cooking mode KM3. This is related to the setting of the specific cooking menu to be set as the default display, and either the food ingredient or the nutritional component should be set as the top priority item for display. When this is set, for example, among the nutritional components, as shown in FIG. 30, the cooking menus can be displayed in ascending order of the amount of energy (calorie value). Or, the cooking menus can be displayed in descending order of the amount of "iron" as a nutritional component.

[0248] As described above, when the function setting key 151KP is pressed to select the "function setting mode", it is possible to add the display of food ingredients or nutritional components, and it is also possible to set to cancel the setting that was once set to be displayed in the subsequent function setting mode. Therefore, there is an advantage that the information, range, and display method to be set according to the wishes of the user US can be selected.

[0249] The "beginner mode" is an optional function for a person (user US) who is not used to using the cooking appliance 1. When this beginner mode is set, the content of the voice guide in the voice notification unit 50 (see FIG. 16) becomes more detailed and polite. Also, for the input operation on the input operation unit 15, the voice guide increases or the display information on the display screen of the central display unit 16M increases.

[0250] When the beginner mode is set, particularly in the case of cooking in the composite cooking mode KM2 and the linked cooking mode KM3, in cooking steps 1 and 2, the amount of reference information (for example, including additional information 165 and 166 described later) displayed on the display screen of the central display unit 16M increases, or the content of the voice guide in the voice notification unit 50 increases. For this reason, the function of assisting the input operation of the user US is enhanced.

[0251] Note that, in conjunction with the switching from the "beginner mode" to the "normal (skilled user) mode", the content of the voice guidance of the voice notification unit 50 may be automatically set not to be changed.

[0252] After the "ON" of the main power switch 20 described later, when the door 7 of the heating chamber 6 is opened, the setting of the cooking mode automatically displayed on the central display unit 16M means setting either the cooperative cooking mode KM3 or the composite cooking mode KM2. Since both the cooperative cooking mode KM3 and the composite cooking mode KM2 use one central display unit 16M, the user US can set to prioritize the display of either one. This will be described in detail later.

[0253] In the first embodiment, the "composite cooking mode" KM2 exceptionally includes several control menus of the single cooking mode KM1 by the central IH coil 9M (for example, the object to be cooked such as "cooking rice").

[0254] After the "ON" of the main power switch 20, when the door 7 of the heating chamber 6 is opened, the control device 40 detects the opening of this door 7. It is presumed that the user US performs cooking using the heating chamber 6, and there is a function to automatically display either the first specific screen 16M1 for the cooperative cooking mode KM3 or the second specific screen 16M2 for the composite cooking mode KM2 on the central display unit 16M. Note that on the central display unit 16M, immediately after the main power switch 20 is turned "ON", the standby initial screen 16MH described later is displayed. Immediately after the door 7 is opened thereafter, the second specific screen 16M2 is automatically displayed.

[0255] After the "Function Setting Menu" is displayed on the display screen of the central display unit 16M, if a specific input key other than the function setting key 151KP (for example, 154M) is "pressed for a long time" (hereinafter referred to as "long press") for a certain period of time or more, one of the setting menus in the above-mentioned "Function Setting Menu" can be selected, and then the content can be changed to the desired setting.

[0256] Alternatively, when two specific input keys other than the function setting key 151KP are "long pressed" simultaneously, one of the setting menus in the above-mentioned "Function Setting Menu" can be called up and the content can be changed to the desired setting.

[0257] The above-mentioned "long press" refers to, for example, a state where it is continuously pressed for 5 seconds or more. Whether it is in the state of "long press" is determined by the control device 40 comparing the timing from ON to OFF of the touch input at the central operation unit 15M with a reference value. Or, it is determined by an input mode determination unit 15C (see FIG. 17) inside the central operation unit 15. In addition, in this Embodiment 1, an example of determining whether it is in the state of "long press" by the central operation unit 15M will be described (using FIG. 17 later).

[0258] Also, at the central operation unit 15M, the timing when the two input keys (for example, 154M and 155M) are pressed simultaneously can be determined by the "ON" (when touched) signal transmitted from the input operation unit 15M to the control device 40.

[0259] In the following description, an embodiment of determining whether it is a "long press" by the input operation unit 15M will be described. However, although not adopted in Embodiment 1, in the input operation unit 15M, there is also a method of measuring the time from the "ON" signal point to the point when it changes to the "OFF" signal, transmitting the data to the control device 40, and determining whether it is a "long press" in the control device 40.

[0260] In the first embodiment, for specific input keys (for example, 154M, 153R), there is a function to determine the "long press" as described above and switch to the "voice input mode 1". This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17. Note that a touch operation that is not a "long press", that is, for example, a touch state that lasts for less than 5 seconds continuously may be called a "short press". Since it is also related to the detection capabilities of the input operation units 15M, 15L, and 15R, for example, when the touch time is in the range of 0.1 second to 4.9 seconds, the control device 40 determines that it is a "short press".

[0261] The type (range) of the inventory information obtained from the refrigerator 403 is, for example, limited to only frozen foods, or limited to only foods that can be heated by a microwave heating source (the second heating means HM2).

[0262] In the central display unit 16M, when selecting the control modes and control conditions (temperature, heating power, time, etc.) of the first heating means HM1, the second heating means HM2, and the third heating means HM3, the input function of the function setting key 151KP is disabled so as not to switch the function setting mode.

[0263] Next, the setting of the peak cut value of the cooking heater 1 will be described. Even if the default value at the time of shipment from the manufacturer is, for example, 5400W, it can be set to any of 5000W, 4800W, or 4000W when installed in the home of the user US.

[0264] In this way, the functions of the cooking appliance 1 can be changed with the function setting key 151KP as described above according to the wishes of the user US and the usage environment (power supply situation of the installation household), etc. When such a peak cut value is set, the setting result is stored in the control device 40, so when the user US selects the cooperative cooking mode KM3 as described later, it is used for determining whether to permit the use of the cooperative cooking mode KM3 (determination of permission conditions). Therefore, during the period when the recipe data CD described later is being received from the communication terminal 200, the peak cut value cannot be changed with the function setting key 151KP (see FIG. 11).

[0265] In FIG. 14, the light emitting part 21M is composed of an LED and emits light according to the operations of the input keys 151M to 159M. That is, when the input function is valid, the corresponding light emitting part 21M continues to emit light. Since the two adjacent input keys 155M and 154M are common in changing the display content of the first area 22, they share one light emitting part 21M.

[0266] Since the two adjacent input keys 157M and 156M are common in changing the display content of the second area 23, they share one light emitting part 21M. Since the two adjacent input keys 159M and 158M are common in changing the display content of the third area 24, they share one light emitting part 21M.

[0267] The input key 151M is a start key that is pressed (touched) to start cooking. The input key 152M is a cancel key that is pressed (touched) to stop or end cooking.

[0268] When the input key 153M is operated after turning on the main power switch 20, it is an input key for selecting the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "first input key").

[0269] When the input keys 154M and 155M are operated after turning on the main power switch 20 (without pressing the input key 153M), they are input keys for selecting the "Combined Cooking Mode" KM2 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Second Input Key").

[0270] When the input keys 153R and 153L described in FIG. 13 are operated after turning on the main power switch 20 (without pressing the input keys 153M, 154M, and 155M), they are input keys for selecting the "Individual Cooking Mode" KM1 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Third Input Key").

[0271] The input key 151M described above has a function of determining the start of cooking for two cookings in the "Combined Cooking Mode" KM2 and the "Cooperative Cooking Mode" KM3, and is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Start Key". In the "Individual Cooking Mode" KM1, the input keys 153L and 153R have the function of determining the start of cooking.

[0272] The input key 152M described above has a function of ending (including temporarily stopping) the cooking for two cookings in the "Combined Cooking Mode" KM2 and the "Cooperative Cooking Mode" KM3, and is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Stop Key". In the "Individual Cooking Mode" KM1, the input keys 153L and 153R have the function of determining the end of cooking.

[0273] The four input keys 156M to 159M have a function that allows the user US to adjust control conditions such as microwave output and heating cooking time (within a certain range), and are hereinafter sometimes referred to as "Condition Input Keys" or "Fourth Input Keys".

[0274] The four input keys 153M, 154M, 153L, and 153R are "Specific Input Keys" that can switch to the "Voice Input Mode 1". They are also sometimes referred to as "Voice Input Switch Keys". However, these four input keys exhibit the function of the "Voice Input Switch Key" only when the touch operation is a "long press". This point will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17.

[0275] When any one of the "Single Cooking Mode" KM1, "Compound Cooking Mode" KM2, and "Cooperative Cooking Mode" KM3 is selected, the selection result is displayed on the central display unit 16M. Also, when the "Voice Input Mode 1" is switched, it is also displayed (see FIGS. 27 and 28). Note that the "Single Cooking Mode", "Compound Cooking Mode", and "Cooperative Cooking Mode" will be described in detail later.

[0276] As shown in FIG. 14, the input keys 154M and 155M are arranged adjacent to the first area 22 of the central display unit 16M and in the vicinity of its front, and are keys for switching the display content of the screen displayed in the first area 22 of the central display unit 16M.

[0277] Next, FIG. 15 will be described. FIG. 15 is a plan view of the central display unit 16M. When the input key 154M is pressed down, that is, when operated by the user US, the display information 25A of "Range Manual", which is one of the control menus belonging to the "Compound Cooking Mode" KM2, displayed in the first area 22 moves backward. At the same time, the display information 25B of "Blanched Leafy Vegetables" displayed on the front side is displayed in the center. Note that the input key 154M in this case is for the "short press" as described above. In the case of "long press", it functions as the "voice input switch key", which will be described in FIG. 17.

[0278] Also, when the input key 155M is pressed down, that is, when operated by the user US, the display information 25A of "Range Manual" displayed in the first area 22 moves forward, and the display information 25C of "Warm" displayed on the rear side is displayed in the center. Note that the input key 155M in this case is different from the input key 154M described above and is not the "voice input switch key", so the input function does not change in the cases of "short press" and "long press" (for example, the long press operation is not recognized as a valid input operation).

[0279] In this way, by operating the input keys 154M and 155M, the user US can select a specific control menu (e.g., "Range Manual") in the "Control Menu".

[0280] Note that the "Range Manual" control menu originally belongs to the "Single Cooking Mode KM1" that only uses the second heating means HM2. In addition to this, the control menus (for combined cooking) belonging to the "Combined Cooking Mode M2" and the "Cooperative Cooking Mode KM3" respectively, and the control menus belonging to the cooperative cooking menus (e.g., "Hamburger", etc.) are also displayed in the first area 22.

[0281] When the input key (start key) 151M is pressed, that is, when it is operated by the user US, in the case of FIG. 14, "Range Manual" in the control menu displayed in the center is selected. Corresponding heating is started. That is, the heating means (in this case, the microwave oscillator 11) is driven.

[0282] Therefore, the input keys 154M and 155M correspond to the selection keys of the control menu operated by the user US. Similarly, they correspond to the selection keys of the (combined cooking) control menu. Furthermore, they also correspond to the selection keys of the cooperative cooking menu.

[0283] As shown in FIG. 14, the input keys 156M and 157M are arranged adjacent to the second area 23 of the central display unit 16M and in the vicinity in front of it, and are keys for switching the display content of the screen displayed in the second area 23 of the central display unit 16M.

[0284] Again, taking the example of FIG. 15 for explanation, when the input key 156M is pressed, the wattage (microwave output value) displayed in the second area 23 (in FIG. 15, "500W") is increased by one step (e.g., to "600W"). Conversely, when the input key 157M is pressed, the wattage displayed in the second area 23 is decreased by one step (e.g., to "200W").

[0285] By operating the input keys 156M and 157M, the user US can select the wattage (microwave output value) in the range cooking (a type of "single cooking mode M3" using the microwave oscillation source 11) performed in the heating chamber 6.

[0286] As shown in FIG. 14, the input keys 158M and 159M are arranged adjacent to the third area 24 of the central display unit 16M and in the vicinity in front thereof, and are keys for switching the display content displayed in the third area 24.

[0287] Taking the example of FIG. 15, when the input key 158M is pressed, the heating operation time (set time) displayed in the third area 24 is increased by one step. Conversely, when the input key 159M is pressed, the heating operation time displayed in the third area 24 is decreased by one step.

[0288] The user US can select the set time of the range cooking performed in the heating chamber 6 by operating the input keys 158M and 159M, and 34M is the set time information. Note that 34W is the heating intensity information indicating the magnitude of the power consumption during heating and the magnitude of the microwave output, etc.

[0289] Next, FIG. 16 will be described. FIG. 16 is a control block diagram showing the main functions of the heating cooker 1 according to Embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. 16, the heating cooker 1 includes a control device 40 that integrally controls the entire heating cooker 1.

[0290] The control device 40 is an electronic circuit board on which electronic components such as a control circuit for controlling the operations of each part constituting the heating cooker 1 are mounted. The control device 40 controls the driving of the left IH coil 9L, the right IH coil 9R, and the central IH coil 9C (not shown) based on the operations of the left operation unit 15L and the right operation unit 15R, and the temperature of the object to be heated on the top plate 3.

[0291] Based on the operations of the central operation unit 15M, the temperature of the object to be heated N on the top plate 3, and the detection results of the infrared sensor 13 and the thermistor sensor 14, the control device 40 controls the driving of the central IH coil 9C, the microwave heating means 11, the upper radiant heat heating means 12a, and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b, respectively.

[0292] In addition, based on the operations of the left operation unit 15L and the right operation unit 15R, the control device 40 controls the displays of the left display unit 16L, the right display unit 16R, the left heating power display unit 17L, and the right heating power display unit 17R.

[0293] Furthermore, based on the open signal from the open / close detection unit 10 and the operations of the left operation unit 15L, the right operation unit 15R, and the central operation unit 15M, the control device 40 controls the displays of the central display unit 16M and the central heating status display unit 17M.

[0294] The control device 40 has a storage device 41 that stores data such as various programs and parameters (hereinafter collectively referred to as "control data") used for controlling the heating cooker 1, and data of the display screens displayed on each display unit 16L, 16R, 16M, 17L, 17R (hereinafter referred to as "display condition data"). In addition, the control device 40 activates the voice notification unit 50 as needed and conveys the operating status of the heating cooker 1 to the user US by voice.

[0295] The control device 40 stores data that summarizes various programs and information such as parameters used for the heating cooking control of the heating control unit 43 in a certain format in the recipe item data storage unit 42 of the storage device 41. This data is the recipe data CD described above. As will be described later, in the heating cooker 1, corresponding recipe data CDs are prepared in advance for each of the eight cooking menus in the cooperative cooking mode KM3.

[0296] The "recipe data" CD and the "display condition data" can be obtained from an external device such as a smartphone 200, which is a type of communication terminal, for each individual cooking menu.

[0297] 42 is a storage unit that stores the recipe data CD and the display condition data. Note that the storage unit 42 may constitute one section (area) in the storage device 41, or may be configured separately from the storage device 41 in terms of hardware.

[0298] 43 is a heating control unit that integrally controls the heating operation of the entire cooking device 1, and is mainly configured by a microcomputer. 53 is a data acquisition unit that acquires the recipe data CD from the smartphone 200 or the cloud server 300 via the communication unit 51. In addition, it may acquire the "display condition data" from the smartphone 200 or the cloud server 300 via the communication unit 51. Note that the external server 417 is included in the cloud server 300.

[0299] 51 is a communication unit that communicates wirelessly with the outside, and has a function of performing wireless communication 400 with the smartphone 200 as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3. Or, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it has a function of forming a network NW (203, 204, 205) with the cloud server 300.

[0300] 54 is a permission condition determination unit that performs determination processing on whether to permit cooking in the cooperative cooking mode KM3 or the composite cooking mode KM2. 57 is a power supply circuit that supplies power of a constant voltage to the control device 40. 20 is a main power switch inserted into this power supply circuit 57.

[0301] 55 is a restriction unit 55 that restricts the acquisition of the recipe data CD. The restriction unit 55 has a function of restricting the acquisition of the recipe data CD by the data acquisition unit 53 via the communication unit 51 during the standby period before starting cooking in the cooperative cooking mode KM3 (that is, before "cooking step 1" described later).

[0302] Furthermore, the restriction unit 55 has a function of restricting the acquisition of a new recipe data CD from the communication unit 51 until the cooking process of one cooking menu is completed based on the recipe data CD acquired from the outside. Note that the restriction unit 55 may be realized by one control program of a computer (not shown) constituting the control device 40, and it is not necessarily required to be configured separately from the control device 40 in terms of hardware.

[0303] As shown in FIG. 16, the input operation unit 15 has an audio signal receiving unit 56 that receives the voice emitted by the user US with a microphone (not shown) and converts it into a predetermined audio signal.

[0304] On the other hand, the control device 40 is provided with an audio signal analysis unit 58 that receives the audio signal from the audio signal receiving unit 56 and analyzes the content of the audio. The audio signal analysis unit 58 compares with the information in the audio database in the storage device 41, analyzes the content of the audio received by the audio signal receiving unit 56, and transmits the analysis result to the heating control unit 43.

[0305] 70 is an input processing unit. This input processing unit 70 receives the input signal from the input operation unit 15, switches its input reception mode to the "voice input mode 1", controls the input signal analysis unit 52, and further receives the analysis result from the audio signal analysis unit 58 and transmits control data to the heating control unit 43.

[0306] In FIG. 16, 59 is a human sensor. It also has a receiving unit (not shown) that radiates ultrasonic waves or infrared rays from the heating cooker 1 to the front and receives the reflected input. This human sensor 59 is installed so as to radiate infrared rays in the front (front) direction of the heating chamber 6. Note that a dedicated circuit for processing the signal received by the receiving unit is not provided, and the received signal is analyzed by the control device 40 to determine whether a person is present.

[0307] As shown by the dashed frame in FIG. 16, the voice notification unit 50 and the display unit 16 etc. may be collectively referred to as the "notification unit", and in this case, 90 is used as the symbol. 26 is a light emission control unit. This light emission control unit controls the light emission of a large number of light emitting elements. The light emitting elements 27A composed of LEDs etc. arranged in the light emitting unit 21M and the light emitting elements 27B arranged in the input key 154M are controlled for light emission by this light emission control unit 26. When two or more light emitting elements 27 with different emission colors are arranged at one place, there is a visual effect such that the emission color changes for the user US depending on the light emission states of those multiple light emitting elements.

[0308] In FIG. 16, 52 is an input signal analysis unit that analyzes the input signals from the input operation unit 15. This input signal analysis unit 52 individually analyzes the respective input signals transmitted from the right operation unit 15R, the left operation unit 15L, and the central operation unit 15M. In particular, this input signal analysis unit 52 has a discrimination function for determining whether it has received the input mode switching command (voice input mode corresponding signal) MC1. And when it is determined that the input mode switching command (voice input mode corresponding signal) MC1 has been received, it issues a switching command for switching the input mode from the "touch input mode" to the "voice input mode 1".

[0309] In the following description, the "input mode switching command MC1" is referred to as the "voice input mode corresponding signal MC1". When the input control unit 70 receives this voice input mode corresponding signal MC1, it issues a control signal to the voice signal analysis unit 52 to shift to the standby state for voice input (for example, starting a dedicated voice analysis program).

[0310] As described with reference to FIG. 13, the right operation unit 15R has various input keys (153R, 154R, 151R, etc.), and the touch input results of those input keys are transmitted to the input signal analysis unit 52. In particular, when the input key 153R, which is one of the "voice input switching keys", is touched, the right operation unit 15R determines whether the touch state is a "long press" or a "short press", and the determination result (command signal for voice input mode 1) is input to the control device 40.

[0311] Similarly, the left operation unit 15L has various input keys (such as 153L, 154L, 151L, etc.), and the touch input results of these input keys are transmitted to the input signal analysis unit 52. In particular, when the input key 153L, which is one of the "voice input switching keys", is touched, the left operation unit 15L determines whether the touch state is a "long press" or a "short press", and the determination result (command signal for voice input mode 1) is input to the control device 40.

[0312] Furthermore, the central operation unit 15M has various input keys (such as 153M, 154M, 155M, 156M, etc.), and the touch input results of these input keys are transmitted to the input signal analysis unit 52. In particular, when the input keys 153M and 154M, which are one of the "voice input switching keys", are touched, the central operation unit 15M determines whether the touch state is a "long press" or a "short press", and the determination result (command signal for voice input mode 1) is input to the control device 40.

[0313] Next, FIG. 17 will be described. FIG. 17 is a block configuration diagram for explaining the relationship between the control device 40 and the central operation unit 15M. Note that the voice signal receiving unit 56 described in FIG. 16 is omitted from the description. Note that the right operation unit 15R and the left operation unit 15L are basically the same as the configuration of this central operation unit 15M.

[0314] In FIG. 17, 15A is an input key identification unit. This input key identification unit 15A identifies the input key that has been touched. For example, when the input key 153M is touched, it emits a unique identification signal for the input key. Also, when the input key 154M is touched, it emits a unique identification signal for the input key.

[0315] 15B is a touch detection unit. When the fingertip FG of the user US or the like approaches the touch electrode unit, the detection circuit issues an "ON" signal and issues an "OFF" signal when it moves away. 15T is a time measurement unit. This time measurement unit 15T measures the time from the "ON" signal point of the touch detection unit 15B to the point when it changes to the "OFF" signal, and transmits measurement time data.

[0316] 15C is an input mode determination unit. This input mode determination unit 15C receives the measurement time data from the time measurement unit 15T, and as described above, with a threshold of 5 seconds as the boundary, if it is 5 seconds or more, it determines that it is in the "voice input mode 1". If it is less than this threshold, it determines that it is a normal "short press" operation.

[0317] The input mode determination unit 15C transmits a signal (voice input mode corresponding signal MC1) indicating the determination result of whether it is in the "voice input mode 1" to the control device 40.

[0318] 15D is a storage unit. This storage unit 15D stores various control parameters such as the touch detection unit 15A, time measurement unit 15T, and input mode determination unit 15C as described above, thresholds, program information of determination processing, and the like.

[0319] 15E is a central processing unit (CPU) that performs various information processing operations as an input operation unit (central operation unit 15M). 15F is an input signal transmission unit. This input signal transmission unit 15F transmits the unique identification signal of the input key as described above and the voice input mode corresponding signal MC1, which is the result of determining whether it is in the "voice input mode 1", to the input signal analysis unit 58 of the control device 40.

[0320] In this Figure 17, the touch detection unit 15A, time measurement unit 15T, input mode determination unit 15C, etc. are depicted as individual independent blocks, but without being configured separately in hardware, for example, these functions may be realized by the software of one microcomputer.

[0321] Also, in FIG. 17, an example of the central operation unit 15M is described. However, for the right operation unit 15R and the left operation unit 15L as well, it is identified by the control device 40 that the inputs are from their respective operation units. Therefore, in the input key identification unit 15A in the right operation unit 15R, data for specifying that it is an input key existing in the right operation unit 15R is included in the signal from the input key. The same applies to the left operation unit 15L.

[0322] As is clear from the above description, the cooking heater 1 described in FIG. 16 has a first heating means HM1 for inductively heating an object to be heated on the top plate 3, a heating chamber 6 with a metal wall surface, a second heating means HM2 for supplying microwaves to the heating chamber 6, a third heating means HM3 for heating the heating chamber 6 with radiant heat, a notification unit 90, a communication unit 51, a display unit 16, and a control device 40.

[0323] After the control device 40 displays the standby initial screen 16MH on the display unit 16, it displays dedicated display screens (first specific screen 16M1 to third specific screen 16M3) for each cooking mode.

[0324] There are three types of cooking modes. That is, the single cooking mode KM1, the combined cooking mode KM2, and the linked cooking mode KM3.

[0325] The single cooking mode KM1 includes the following three types. (1) The IH single mode in which the first heating means HM1 operates alone (2) The range single cooking mode in which the second heating means HM2 operates alone (3) The oven single cooking mode in which the third heating means HM3 operates alone

[0326] The composite cooking mode KM2 is a heating pattern in which both the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3 are simultaneously heated, or the operating times are automatically made different, to perform cooking in the heating chamber 6.

[0327] The linked cooking mode KM3 is a heating pattern in which both or either one of the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3 and the first heating means HM1 are sequentially operated through a transition period TR whose length is determined by a command from the user US.

[0328] The control device 40 has an operation program for executing the three cooking modes KM1 to KM3 described above. The data acquisition unit 53 of the control device 40 can acquire the recipe data CD from the cloud server 300 or the smartphone 200 via the communication unit 51.

[0329] In the input operation unit 15, the "voice input mode 2" can be selected by an input key 180 provided in the central operation unit 15M. Furthermore, among the input keys arranged in the central operation unit 15M, the right operation unit 15R, and the left operation unit 15L, specific input keys (153M, 153R, 153L, 154M) can select the "voice input mode 1" according to the "long press" state, which is one of the touch forms.

[0330] (4. Configuration of the control menu of the central operation unit) Next, the control menu that is displayed on the central display unit 16M by the central operation unit 15M and can be selected will be described with reference to FIG. 18.

[0331] FIG. 18 shows the entire control menu that can be selected by the central operation unit 15M. The control menus selectable by the central operation unit 15M are classified into an RG (range grill) menu group that uses one or both of the microwave heating means (second heating means HM2) and the upper radiant heat heating means 12a and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b, and an IH menu group that uses the central IH coil 9C corresponding to the central heating port 4C.

[0332] The control menu shown in FIG. 18 classified from four viewpoints (classifications 1 to 4) is shown in FIG. 19. As is clear from FIG. 19, the control menu is roughly classified into a single cooking mode KM1 and a composite cooking mode KM2. Although the cooperative cooking mode KM3 is not described in FIGS. 18 and 19, the central operation unit 15M can execute a cooperative cooking menu in the cooperative cooking mode.

[0333] When the main power switch 20 is turned “ON” and the input key 154M or 155R is pressed without operating the input key 153M of the central operation unit 15M, it means that the composite cooking mode KM2 has been selected.

[0334] Therefore, the display screen of the central display unit 16M switches to the second specific screen 16M2. In the first area 22 of the second specific screen 16M2, the control menu “warm” described in the “left display area” of FIG. 18 is always displayed first. This is because this control menu “warm” is set as the default.

[0335] The “left display area” in FIG. 18 is a display area corresponding to the first area 22 described in FIG. 14. That is, various control menus described in the “left display area” of FIG. 18 are sequentially displayed in the first area 22.

[0336] As described in the “left display area” of FIG. 18, in addition to “warm”, there are a total of 13 control menus: “range manual”, “boil leafy vegetables”, “boil root vegetables”, “meat thawing”, “range grill (RG) cooking”, “range grill (RG) reheating”, “range grill (RG) manual”, “grill”, “oven”, “IH keep warm”, “IH cook rice”, “IH heating”.

[0337] The "Warm", "Range Manual", "Boil Leafy Vegetables", "Boil Root Vegetables", "Meat Thawing", "Range Grill (RG) Cooking", "Range Grill (RG) Reheating", "Range Grill (RG) Manual", "Grill", and "Oven" in the control menu are included in the RG menu group. Also, "IH Keep Warm", "IH Cook Rice", and "IH Heating" are included in the IH menu group.

[0338] The content described in the "Central Display Area" of FIG. 18 is the content displayed in the second area 23 of the central display unit 16M, and is related to the adjustment of the heating status during cooking, such as temperature, time, heating power, "Stronger", and "Weaker". In other words, various control conditions are described in the "Central Display Area". The default setting content of this "Central Display Area" is listed in the "Default" column in the right column of the "Central Display Area".

[0339] The content described in the "Right Display Area" of FIG. 18 indicates the content displayed in the third area 24 of the central display unit 16M. The default setting content of the "Right Display Area" is listed in the "Default" column in the right column of the "Right Display Area". The blank part does not mean that the control conditions can be changed, but means that no information is displayed, or appropriate explanatory texts that cannot be selected or changed by the user US are displayed in the third area 24.

[0340] Next, a total of 13 types of control menus displayed in the "Left Display Area" of FIG. 18 will be described. (1) Warm: It means heating the object to be cooked in the heating chamber 6 using the microwave heating means (the second heating means HM2). This "Warm" is also suitable for reheating the object to be cooked. Since the default setting is "80°C", when the food is heated to 80°C, the microwave heating automatically stops. Note that "80°C" is the target temperature, and this temperature can be adjusted by the user US before the start of heating. As shown in the central display area of FIG. 18, for example, the range from 0°C to 90°C can be set in 5-degree increments.

[0341] (2) Range Manual: This means heating the food in the heating chamber 6 using the microwave heating means (the second heating means HM2). The heating time is set by the user US to a specific time between 10 seconds and 60 minutes.

[0342] (3) Boiling Leafy Vegetables: It is suitable for boiling the food in the heating chamber 6, especially leafy vegetables such as spinach and Chinese cabbage whose leaves are edible, using the microwave heating means (the second heating means HM2). The infrared sensor 13 measures the temperature rise of the food in real time and automatically stops.

[0343] (4) Boiling Root Vegetables: It is suitable for boiling the food in the heating chamber 6, especially root vegetables such as roots, rhizomes, and potatoes, using the microwave heating means (the second heating means HM2).

[0344] (5) Meat Thawing: It is suitable for thawing various frozen meats in the heating chamber 6. (6) Range Grill (RG) Cooking: It combines "microwave heating" using the microwave heating means (the second heating means HM2) and "oven heating" using the upper radiant heat heating means 12a and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b to heat and cook the food in the heating chamber 6.

[0345] (7) Range Grill (RG) Re - cooking: It is suitable for reheating the cooked food in the heating chamber 6. (8) Range Grill (RG) Manual: The user US can appropriately select microwave heating and oven heating to heat and cook the food in the heating chamber 6. The user can determine the heating time.

[0346] (9) Grill: It uses one or both of the upper radiant heat heating means 12a and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b to heat the food in the heating chamber 6. That is, it is a control menu using the third heating means HM3.

[0347] In the "grill", the temperature of the heating chamber 6 is not controlled, and the control to detect the temperature rise of the object to be cooked and stop the heating operation is not performed either. The heating operation is performed for the time specified by the user US within the range of 10 seconds to 30 minutes.

[0348] (10) Oven: One or both of the upper radiant heat heating means 12a and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b are used to heat the object to be cooked in the heating chamber 6. The temperature of the heating chamber 6 is measured in real time by the thermistor sensor 14, and the energization control of the upper radiant heat heating means 12a and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b is performed so as to reach the set target temperature.

[0349] (11) IH Keep Warm: Heating is performed to keep the object to be heated, such as a pot above the central heating port 4C, at the temperature set by the user US. The heating power of induction heating ranges from low power to medium power, from 200W to 750W. The temperature of the object to be heated is detected in real time by a temperature sensor (not shown) installed near the central IH coil 9C, and the heating control unit 43 of the control device 40 controls the heating power based on the detected temperature. The default temperature is 80°C as shown in Fig. 18. It is suitable for keeping warm soups, etc.

[0350] (12) IH Rice Cooking: Heating is performed according to the number of servings (rice cooking amount) set by the user US. The heating power of induction heating ranges from low power to high power, from 200W to 1500W. A temperature sensor (not shown) installed near the central IH coil 9C is used to detect abnormal heating (also called overheating state, overheat. The same applies hereinafter) of the object to be heated. When an abnormal temperature is detected, the control device 40 reduces the heating power or stops the heating operation.

[0351] (13) IH Heating: It performs heating according to the induction heating power level set by user US. There are five power levels that can be set, namely Power Level 1: 200 W, Power Level 2: 500 W, Power Level 3: 750 W, Power Level 4: 1000 W, and Power Level 5: 1500 W. A temperature sensor (not shown) installed near the central IH coil 9C is used to detect abnormal heating of the object to be heated. When an abnormal temperature is detected, the control device 40 reduces the power level or stops the heating operation. Note that the default power level is 500 W.

[0352] Next, Figure 19 will be described. Figure 19 is a classification table of the RG control menu (the "RG menu group" in Figure 18) and the IH control menu of the single cooking mode KM1 by the first heating means HM1 (the "IH menu group" in Figure 18).

[0353] The "left display area" in the first region of Figure 18 means the first area 22 (see Figure 10). As is clear from Classification 2 in this Figure 19, the names of the control menus are also displayed in characters in the first area 22 of the central display unit 16M and are used for the user US to select the control menus.

[0354] Next, Figure 20 is an explanatory diagram showing the storage structure of various cooking control menus in the cooperative cooking mode and the composite cooking mode and the correspondence relationship with the input keys. The "information indicating the key points of each control menu" shown in Classification 2 of Figure 19 is stored as the data in the third layer of the recipe data storage unit 42 as shown in this Figure 20.

[0355] Therefore, if the input keys 154M and 155M are operated to select the desired control menu, the user US can automatically or optionally display the information indicating the key points of each control menu shown in Classification 2 of Figure 19, which corresponds one-to-one (is linked) to that control menu. An example of this automatically displayed is shown in Figure 22.

[0356] Next, Figure 21 will be described. Figure 21 is an explanatory diagram showing the main operations of the control device 40, the central operation unit 15M, and the central display unit 16M in the cooking appliance 1 in chronological order. This example of FIG. 21 shows the case where the linked cooking mode KM3 is selected. SG1 to SG8 indicate the timings of display and control.

[0357] When the main power switch 20 is turned on, first, the standby initial screen 16MH (described in FIG. 54) is displayed (step SG1). After that, when the input key 153M is pressed (step SG2), the recipe data acquisition available period TB1 (see FIG. 58) in the linked cooking mode starts.

[0358] If a communication state is established with the communication terminal 200 such as a smartphone, in the recipe data acquisition available period TB1 (see FIG. 58), by operating the communication terminal 200, the acquisition of the recipe data CD is started (step SG3).

[0359] As described in FIG. 16, the permission condition determination unit 54 determines whether the "permission conditions" described in FIGS. 43 and 44 are satisfied (step SG4).

[0360] On the other hand, when the input key 153M is pressed at the stage of step SG2, if the touch operation is a "long press", the "voice input mode 1" is started immediately after step SG2. And this voice input mode continues until the start key 151M is touched and the control device 40 receives a start command for the heating operation.

[0361] After finishing the determination that the permission conditions are satisfied, the recipe data CD is formally stored in the recipe data storage unit 42 in the control device 40 in preparation for starting the cooking (step SG5).

[0362] Further, in order to display one cooking menu specified from the acquired recipe data CD, the control device 40 displays a first specified screen 16M1 on the central display unit 16M (step SG6). At the same time, the standby initial screen 16MH that was already being displayed disappears.

[0363] On the first specified screen 16M1, the identification information 167 of the acquired recipe data CD is displayed (see FIG. 34). Also, in order to notify the user US that the voice input mode has already been switched and voice input is accepted, voice input mode display information 179D is displayed (step SG7) (see FIG. 34). Note that in FIG. 21, the voice input mode has been started before the time point (step SG6) when the first specified screen 16M1 is displayed, but the timing of this start may be delayed and changed to match the timing of the display of the first specified screen 16M1.

[0364] Thereafter, if the user inputs the control conditions (for example, heating power, cooking time, etc.) of one cooking menu by a touch operation or voice input, the input result is displayed in real time on the first specified screen 16M1 (see FIG. 35). Alternatively, in addition to this, it is notified by the voice notification unit 50. In the above manner, the process proceeds to a state of waiting for a touch operation of the start key 151M.

[0365] Next, FIG. 22 will be described. FIG. 22 shows the display content on the central display unit 16M when the central operation unit 15M is operated. First, when the user US presses the operation button 20A of the main power switch 20 (see FIG. 16) to turn on the main power, the left operation unit 15L, the central operation unit 15M, and the right operation unit 15R become effective in input functions. That is, the control device 40 enters a state of receiving operation signals from these respective operation units 15L, 15M, and 15R, and although not shown in the figure, a predetermined screen (hereinafter referred to as the "standby initial screen" 16MH) (see FIG. 54) is displayed on the central display unit 16M.

[0366] In this state, when user US presses input key 154M or 155M, display screen 16ST is displayed as shown in Figure 21. Figure 22 shows the second specific screen 16M2. As is clear from display screen 16ST, in the center of the first area 22 in the front - rear direction, the name (identification information) 160 of the control menu "Warm" is largely displayed.

[0367] Behind the control menu identification information 160 of "Warm" displayed in the center of the first area 22, the characters (control menu identification information) 161 of "IH Heating" are displayed a little smaller, and conversely, in the front side, the characters (control menu identification information) 162 of "Range Manual" are displayed a little smaller.

[0368] Thus, when user US selects a control menu, it can be seen that the next candidates are "IH Heating" and "Range Manual". If at this stage, input key 154M is pressed once, the control menu identification information 162 of "Range Manual" is largely displayed as if it has moved (to the rear) to the position of the characters (control menu identification information) 160 of "Warm". Note that the characters of the control menu identification information 162 do not actually move, but only the display information is switched.

[0369] Also, if input key 155M is pressed once, the characters (control menu identification information) 161 of "IH Heating" are largely displayed as if they have moved (to the front) to the position of the characters (control menu identification information) 160 of "Warm". Note that in this case as well, the control menu identification information 162 does not actually move, but only the display information is switched.

[0370] As shown in Figure 22, on display screen 16ST, the target temperature of "80 °C" is displayed in the second area 23. When heating with microwaves at this target temperature, when the infrared sensor 13 detects that the temperature of the object to be cooked is 80 °C, the microwave heating is automatically stopped.

[0371] When you want to change the temperature at which automatic shutdown occurs by changing the temperature displayed in this second area 23, you can operate the input keys 156M or 157M. Pressing the input key 156M once will increase the temperature by 5°C to 85°C as shown on the display screen 16UP1, and pressing the input key 167M once will decrease the temperature by 5°C to 75°C as shown on the display screen 16DN1.

[0372] Also, in the second area 23, a heat source display unit 163 is displayed which shows in characters that the heat source is a microwave heating means (second heating means HM2).

[0373] As described above, 164 is reference information that automatically displays that it is a recommended control menu for warming up side dishes and the like. The content of this reference information may be another additional information 165, and two or more types of information may be alternately or sequentially displayed on the display screen (for example, the third area 24) of the central display unit 16M for several seconds each.

[0374] Furthermore, as shown in classification 2 of FIG. 18, information (reference information) 164 indicating the key points of each control menu may be displayed at any time according to the operation of the input keys 158 or 159. That is, in this Embodiment 1, the reference information 164 corresponding one-to-one to the control menu (for example, "warm up") is displayed so that the user US does not get confused about whether to select each control menu (for example, "warm up").

[0375] Furthermore, when the reference information 164 is being displayed as shown in FIG. 22, if a touch operation is performed on either one of the (two) input keys 158M or 159M located in front of the reference information 164, more detailed additional information 166 may be displayed in the third area 24 instead of the reference information 164.

[0376] As shown in FIG. 22, a mode in which a plurality of heating means having different heating principles, such as the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3, are driven simultaneously or automatically switched and driven with a time difference to heat-cook a common object to be cooked is the above-described "composite cooking mode" KM2.

[0377] In FIG. 22, the display screen shown on the central display unit 16M is a dedicated display screen for the "composite cooking mode" KM2, and is called the "second specific screen" 16M2.

[0378] Next, FIG. 23 will be described. FIG. 23 is a plan view showing the relationship between the display operation of the central display unit 16M and the central operation unit 15M in the composite cooking mode KM2. It shows the operation procedure before starting the heat-cooking operation.

[0379] In FIG. 23, FG indicates the fingertip of the user US. When the main power switch 20 is turned "ON" to activate the control device 40 and the input key 154M or 155M of the central operation unit 15M is pressed, the standby initial screen 16MH (described in FIG. 54) switches to the second specific screen 16M2 as shown in this FIG. 23. That is, it becomes a setting operation screen for a single cooking mode such as range heating or the "composite cooking mode" KM2 such as range grill (RG) cooking.

[0380] If the input key 153M is pressed before the input keys 154M or 155M, the input process for the linked cooking mode KM3 is changed. That is, from that stage, the standby initial screen 16MH switches to the first specific screen 16M1.

[0381] When either of the input keys 154M or 155M is pressed with the fingertip FG as described above, three candidates for control menus targeted by the plurality of composite cooking modes KM3 are displayed in the first area 22 of the display screen (second specific screen 16M2) of the central display unit 16M. That is, identification information (including graphic marks and names of cooked foods) 160, 161, and 162 for specifying the control menu one-to-one is displayed. Among them, the position where the identification information 160 of one control menu is displayed may be hereinafter referred to as "display position A".

[0382] In this Figure 23, there are three control menus displayed on the central display unit 16M. That is, "heat", "IH heating", and "range manual". The number of such control menus is hereinafter referred to as "the number of control menus for combined cooking".

[0383] In this Embodiment 1, the positions where the identification information 161 and 162 are displayed may be hereinafter referred to as "display position B" and "display position C", respectively.

[0384] In this Embodiment 1, the control menu ( "heat" in Figure 23) displayed at "display position A" has the highest priority of being selected. That is, in the state of this Figure 23, when the input key 151M is pressed, the heating operation starts with "heat".

[0385] In Figure 23, when a touch operation (a normal "short press" operation) is performed on the input key 154M to the right of the input key 155M, "range manual" is displayed at the display position A.

[0386] Also, to change the target temperature of 85°C in "heat", it is only necessary to touch the input key 156M or 157M. In this case, even if it is a "long press" instead of a normal "short press" operation, only normal temperature change input can be performed. That is, the change to the voice input mode 2 cannot be performed with the input keys 156M or 157M.

[0387] In Figure 23, one light emitting unit 21M corresponding to the input key 153M has a star-shaped graphic attached, which indicates that the light emitting unit 21M blinks (or emits light in a color different from other light emitting units) and is operable.

[0388] As is apparent from FIG. 23, when the control menu is displayed in the first area 22, one light emitting unit 21M corresponding to the input keys 156M and 157M does not blink (or emits light in a color different from other light emitting units). That is, it indicates that input operations are not possible.

[0389] Next, FIG. 24 will be described. As is apparent from FIG. 24, after the control menu is displayed in the first area 22, one light emitting unit 21M corresponding to the input keys 156M and 157M blinks (or emits light in a color different from other light emitting units), indicating that input operations for control conditions such as heating time and temperature are possible.

[0390] Also, in FIG. 24, one light emitting unit 21M corresponding to the input key 151M is surrounded by a dashed circle, which indicates that the light emitting unit 21M blinks (or emits light in a color different from other light emitting units) and is waiting for a cooking start command.

[0391] In FIG. 24, when the input key 154M, which is one of the "voice input switch keys", is touched and the touch state is "long press", a mark 154V indicating that the input key 154M has switched to the "voice input mode 1" is displayed by the light emitting element 27B (see FIG. 16). That is, the light emitting element 27B such as an LED disposed below the top plate 3 (see FIG. 16) lights up according to a signal from the light emission control unit 26, and a frame as shown in FIG. 23 is displayed on the portion of the input key 154M. Alternatively, the entire touched portion of the input key 154M is illuminated from below so that it can be clearly distinguished from other input keys.

[0392] When the mark 154V is displayed, the control unit 55 of the control device 40 has already entered a state (hereinafter also referred to as the "input standby state") of accepting input of "control conditions" (temperature, heating time, etc.), which are lower-level commands of the control menu (e.g., "heat"), via the voice signal receiving unit 56 (see FIG. 16).

[0393] Therefore, instead of inputting control conditions by touching the input keys 156M or 157M, the user US can input control conditions by voice.

[0394] Next, FIG. 25 will be described. In FIG. 24, the voice input mode 1 was not selected, but this FIG. 25 shows the case where the voice input mode 1 is selected. As is clear from FIG. 25, after the mark 154V is displayed, one light-emitting part 21M corresponding to the input keys 156M and 157M is not blinking (or emitting light in a color different from other light-emitting parts). That is, these input keys indicate that input operations for control conditions such as heating time and temperature are not recommended.

[0395] By the way, when the "voice input mode 1" selected by the input key 154M was previously set to the "voice input mode 1A", from the time when the voice input mode 1A was selected by "long pressing" the input key 154M, the input functions of the input keys other than the input key 154M (excluding 151M, such as 156M and 158M) are invalidated. Therefore, control conditions are set by voice input. If it is desired to cancel the voice input mode 1A in advance and maintain the input functions of various input keys other than the input key 154M (such as 156M and 158M), it may be set to the "voice input mode 1B" in advance.

[0396] As is clear from FIG. 25, after the mark 154V is displayed, auxiliary information 179 of the voice input mode 1 is displayed in the wide display area combining the second area 23 and the third area 24.

[0397] The auxiliary information 179 includes three types: voice input mode display information 179A indicating that voice input is accepted because it is the voice input mode, information 179B and 179C indicating the range and numerical values of control conditions that can be input.

[0398] The information 179B is the condition shown in the "Region 2" described in FIG. 18. That is, it indicates that the user US can only select within the range of 0°C to 90°C. The information 179C is also the condition shown in the "Region 2" described in FIG. 18. That is, it indicates that in the control menu for "heating" to microwave heat frozen food, the user US can only select within the range of -10°C to 0°C.

[0399] The user can refer to these auxiliary information 179 when making voice input and input the control conditions allowed by the heating cooker 1. That is, by the information 179 (179A to 179C) shown in FIG. 25, by indicating in advance what the user US can input by voice and the range of control conditions that can be input by voice, useless voice input and inappropriate condition utterances can be avoided, and as a result, the operability of the user US is improved.

[0400] As is clear from FIG. 25, after the mark 154V is displayed, in the wide display area combining the second area 23 and the third area 24, the state where the auxiliary information 179 of the voice input mode 1 remains displayed does not satisfy the condition for starting the heating operation. That is, the state in FIG. 25 does not recommend pressing down (touch operation) the start key 151M as shown in FIG. 23. Therefore, the light emitting part 21M corresponding to the start key 151M does not enter the state of emitting light (flashing).

[0401] That is, in this Embodiment 1, after switching to the voice input mode, in the state where the predetermined control conditions have not been input (the state in FIG. 25), the heating operation cannot be started.

[0402] Next, FIG. 26 will be described. FIG. 26 is a plan view showing the relationship between the display operation of the central display unit 16M and the central operation unit 15M in the linked cooking mode KM3. It shows the operation procedure before starting the heating operation.

[0403] In FIG. 26, when the main power switch 20 is turned “ON” to activate the control device 40 and the input key 153M of the central operation unit 15M is pressed, the standby initial screen 16MH (described in FIG. 54) switches to the first specific screen 16M1 shown in this FIG. 26.

[0404] If the input key 154M or 155M is pressed before the input key 153M, as shown in FIGS. 22 to 24, the input process for the combined cooking mode KM2 is changed, and the second specific screen 16M2 is displayed.

[0405] Also, even if the input key 155M or 156M has been pressed previously and the setting operation for the single cooking mode such as range heating or the “combined cooking mode” KM2 such as range grill (RG) cooking has been partially performed, as long as it is before the start key 151M is pressed, the input process for the “cooperative cooking mode” KM3 is changed from the stage where the input key 153M is pressed. That is, only the first specific screen 16M1 is displayed on the central display unit 16M from this stage.

[0406] FIG. 26 shows the state immediately after the input key 153M is pressed, and the identification information 167 of a specific cooking menu (e.g., hamburger) set by default is displayed in the first area 22. In this case, since the input key 153M has been “short-pressed”, the voice input mode 1 is not activated.

[0407] Subsequent to the input key 153M, when the input key 154M or 155M is touched next, another identification information (including a graphic mark and the name of the food to be cooked) 168 or 169 for specifying the food to be cooked (which is a cooperative cooking menu) that is the target of the plurality of cooperative cooking modes KM3 is displayed in the first area 22 of the display screen (first specific screen) 16M1 of the central display unit 16M.

[0408] In this FIG. 26, the number of “foods to be cooked” that can be executed in the cooperative cooking mode displayed on the central display unit 16M is three. That is, they are three types: hamburger, gratin, and roast beef. In this way, the number of foods to be cooked is called the “number of cooperative cooking menus”.

[0409] In the first embodiment, there are a total of eight coordinated cooking menus, which will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 32. However, it is possible to obtain recipe data CD from a smartphone (communication terminal) 200 described later to further increase the number of coordinated cooking menus.

[0410] In FIG. 26, 167, 168, and 169 are identification information, and in the first embodiment, they are information that shows the names of the objects to be cooked (for example, hamburger, gratin, roast beef) one-to-one. When explaining all the identification information of the coordinated cooking menus, the reference numeral 167 is used.

[0411] The position where the identification information 160 of the control menu described in FIGS. 22 to 25 is displayed was called the "display position A". On the other hand, in the coordinated cooking mode KM3, as shown in FIG. 26, the position where the identification information 167 is displayed may hereinafter be called the "display position B".

[0412] In the first embodiment, the positions of the "display position B" and the "display position A" (see FIG. 22) are the same, but they may be set at different positions. However, within the coordinated cooking mode KM3, in order not to cause confusion to the user US, the eight coordinated cooking menus should always be at the same position (display position B). Also, in the combined cooking mode KM2, it is advisable to unify all the control menus to the same (one) "display position A".

[0413] If the input keys 154M and 155M are not operated (within a certain period of time), the process automatically proceeds to the next step. In FIG. 26, in the first specific screen 16M1, the heating unit specifying units 171L and 171R are displayed. Therefore, if the user US operates the input keys 157M and 156M adjacent to each other on the left and right, either one of the right IH coil 9R and the left IH coil 9L can be selected. In the first embodiment, the left heating unit 4L is set as the default, and the operation of the input keys 157M and 156M is not essential.

[0414] Next, FIG. 27 will be described. As shown in FIG. 27, operation support information 170 is displayed in the third area 24. In the example of FIG. 27, it is displayed that "When you press the start button, heating of the left IH will start." This means that if the input key 151M of the central operation unit 15M is pressed, induction heating by the left IH coil 9L (in the linked cooking mode KM3) can be started. However, in the first embodiment, after the input key 151M, it is necessary to press the input key 153L on the left operation unit 15L.

[0415] As shown in FIG. 27, above the identification information 167 shown on the first specific screen 16M1 (rear position in plan view), identification information 168 indicating the name of another cooked food (for example, gratin) is displayed.

[0416] Also, below the identification information 167, identification information 169 indicating the name of another cooked food (for example, roast beef) is displayed. In FIG. 27, one light-emitting unit 21M corresponding to the start key 151M is surrounded by a dashed circle, which indicates that the light-emitting unit 21M is blinking (or emitting light in a color different from other light-emitting units) and waiting for a cooking start command.

[0417] Each time either the input key 154M or 155M is operated once, the identification information 167 indicating the name of the food to be cooked (for example, hamburger) changes its display in a form that moves one step upward or downward sequentially. That is, the identification information 167 can be sequentially displayed at a predetermined position (front-rear center position) in the first area 22, in other words, at the display position B, by forward and reverse feeding.

[0418] In the first embodiment, there are a total of eight types of foods to be cooked in the linked cooking mode KM3 as described above. Therefore, for example, if the left input key 155M is operated eight times, the identification information 167 of one food to be cooked (e.g., hamburger) makes one round. Conversely, if the right input key 154M is operated eight times, the identification information 167 of one food to be cooked (e.g., hamburger) makes one round.

[0419] Incidentally, after selecting a cooking menu (e.g., hamburger), as described above, after finishing the selection of the left and right heating units 4L and 4R or the input of control conditions (e.g., preheating temperature), it is necessary to give a start command for the heating operation with the start key 151M.

[0420] For the input of the left and right heating units 4L and 4R and control conditions (e.g., preheating temperature) as described above, since it is necessary to press either one of the input keys 154M and 155M multiple times individually, the user US will be required to perform touch operations multiple times. This is the same in the case of the composite cooking mode KM2 described above. For example, as described with reference to FIG. 18, for example, the temperature setting in the case of "warm" can be selected in the range of 0 to 90°C, but for either of the input keys 156M and 157M, only an increase or decrease of 5 degrees (°C) can be input with a single touch operation. Therefore, for example, to change from 0°C to 15°C, it is necessary to perform a touch operation three times ("short press").

[0421] Therefore, in this Embodiment 1, in order to reduce troublesome input operations, in this cooperative cooking mode KM3, when the identification information 167 of one cooking menu is displayed at a predetermined position B in the first area 22 as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, it can be changed to the voice input mode by the input key 154M. That is, when the cooking menu (in the example of FIG. 27, "hamburger") is displayed at the display position B, the voice input mode 1 can be selected simultaneously.

[0422] When the touch operation of the input key 154M, which is one of the voice input switching keys, is a "long press" as described above, a mark 154V indicating that the mode has been switched to the voice input mode is displayed so as to surround the touch portion of the input key 154M as shown in FIG. 27.

[0423] Also, at the timing when the mark 154V indicating that the mode has been switched to the voice input mode is displayed, as shown in FIG. 28 below, voice input mode display information 179A indicating that voice input is being accepted may be displayed on the first specific screen 16M1 as auxiliary information 179.

[0424] The state of Fig. 27 is a state where the left and right heating units 4L and 4R have not been selected yet. In the state of Fig. 27 below, when the user US inputs setting information such as "left IH" by voice, for example, the voice notification unit 50 of the cooking heater 1 notifies "left IH has been selected". Then, as shown in Fig. 27, it is desirable that the selection of the left heating unit 4L is displayed on the first specific screen 16M1.

[0425] In the state of Fig. 27, one light-emitting unit 21M corresponding to the input key 151M is blinking (or emitting light in a color different from other light-emitting units) as surrounded by a dashed circle. That is, since it is in a state of waiting for a cooking start command, if the start key 151M is pressed, the cooking operation will start.

[0426] For the input of the left and right heating units 4L and 4R and control conditions (for example, preheating temperature) as described above, since it is necessary to press either the input key 154M or 155M multiple times individually, in the coordinated cooking mode KM3, the voice input mode could be selected when touching the input key 154M, which is one of the "specific input keys". That is, the selection of the voice input mode could be performed simultaneously with the selection operation of the cooking mode. However, it would be more convenient if the voice input mode could be selected at the subsequent input stage of the control conditions.

[0427] Therefore, in the first embodiment, the central operation unit 15M has an input key 180, and by operating this, the "voice input mode 2" can be used from the immediately subsequent point in time. Therefore, even when proceeding to the setting stage of the control conditions, the voice input mode (voice input mode 2) can be selected. Note that the "voice input mode 2" is automatically canceled at the stage when the heating cooking is started by pressing the start switch 151M, similar to the "voice input mode 1".

[0428] Next, Fig. 28 will be described. The state of Fig. 28 is a stage even before the stage shown in Fig. 27, and is a state where the left and right heating units 4L and 4R have not been selected. Unlike the scene in Fig. 27, in the scene of Fig. 28, the voice input mode has already been selected. And in the second area 23 and the third area 24, it is displayed in text that either one of the right heating port 4R or the left heating port 4L can be selected, and further, the user can set the preheating temperature of the object to be heated N during induction heating. At the stage of Fig. 28, since some of the control conditions have not been set yet, even if the start switch 151M is pressed, the heating operation will not start. When the user US inputs setting information such as "left IH" by voice, for example, the voice notification unit 50 in the cooking heater 1 will notify "left IH has been selected". And as shown in Fig. 27, it is desirable that the selection of the left heating unit 4L is displayed on the first specific screen 16M1.

[0429] Next, Fig. 29 will be described. The stage shown in Fig. 29 indicates a stage where, from the stage shown in Fig. 28, the input of control conditions is also completed by voice input, and if the start switch 151M is pressed, the cooking process 1 can be entered. As auxiliary information 179, voice input mode display information 179A indicating that voice input is being accepted is displayed on the first specific screen 16M1 (the second area 23 and the third area 24). Therefore, for example, when the preheating temperature is set to the default value of 180°C, if the phrase "preheat 190" is uttered, a response such as "preheating temperature 190°C accepted" will be given from the cooking heater 1, and the set value of the control condition can be changed.

[0430] Next, Fig. 30 will be described. In Fig. 30(A), FG indicates the fingertip of the user US. Each time the input key 155M is pressed once, as shown in Fig. 30(B), the display content of the first specific screen 16M1 changes like the display screens 29A - 29D.

[0431] As described above, when the user US pre-sets the function setting mode (using the function setting key 151KP) on the input operation unit 15 and operates a plurality of input keys on the input operation unit 15 during the period of the function setting mode to display the individual cooking menus of the linked cooking mode KM3 on the central display unit 16M, a setting can be made to prioritize and display either the food components or the nutritional components.

[0432] For example, as described above, when the function setting key 151KP is pressed, a dedicated display screen for the "function setting menu" is displayed on the display screen of the central display unit 16M. Therefore, it is advisable to pre-set so that a specific one input key (for example, 156M) other than the function setting key 151KP can be "long-pressed" to automatically select the food component display mode. For example, for one of the setting menus (for example, hamburger) in the above-mentioned "function setting menu", set it on the display screen that automatically displays "food component display" or "nutritional component display".

[0433] Furthermore, when in the state of the display screen for setting such "food component display" or "nutritional component display", if a specific one input key (for example, any one of 156M, 157M, etc.) other than the function setting key 151KP is operated, it may also be possible to set or cancel the conditions for setting "food component display" or "nutritional component display". For example, as a specific range, it may be possible to set so that only "iron content" among nutrients and "energy (calorie conversion value)" of the components are displayed.

[0434] For this reason, when the function setting key 151KP is set to prioritize either the food components or the nutritional components and display them preferentially based on that, "hamburger" is not necessarily displayed first as shown in Fig. 29(A).

[0435] On the one hand, as described above, when the user US presses the input key 180, they can search for cooking menus by voice. Therefore, for example, if a voice input such as "a menu with a low calorie value" is made at this stage of FIG. 29, the cooking menu with the lowest calorie value (energy amount) among the eight cooking menus will be displayed at a predetermined position (front-back center position) in the first area 22 on the first specific screen 16M1.

[0436] For example, in FIG. 30, three types of cooking menus, gratin, hamburger, and roast beef, are displayed. Therefore, when the input key 180 is pressed at this point, the voice input mode 2 is entered. After that, the user US may give a voice input such as "a menu with few calories". Incidentally, the energy amount per 100 g (unit: kilocalorie) is approximately 152 for gratin (macaroni gratin), 223 for hamburger, and 196 for roast beef. Therefore, among these three, macaroni is extracted as the "menu with the lowest calorie value".

[0437] On the other hand, in the state of FIG. 30, the input key 154M can be "long-pressed" to switch to the voice input mode 1, and a menu with a low calorie value can be extracted by voice input.

[0438] Next, FIG. 31 will be described. FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram showing the display content of the central display unit 16M in the case of the linked cooking mode KM3, and is an example in which the standard components and nutritional components of "hamburger", which is one of the cooking menus, are displayed.

[0439] At the stage of FIG. 29, when the user US issues a command to display either food components or nutritional components by voice input, or when the input keys 158M or 159M are touch-operated at the stage where the operation support information 170 is displayed (see FIG. 27), the first specific screen 16M1 temporarily switches to the display screens of FIGS. 31(A) and 31(B). When the input key 158M is pressed, it means that a command to display food components has been issued.

[0440] In the following description, the display screen in Fig. 31(A) is referred to as the "Food Component Display Screen" 16M1A, and the display screen in Fig. 31(B) is referred to as the "Nutritional Component Display Screen" 16M1B.

[0441] When a certain period of time (e.g., 10 seconds) has elapsed since the food component display screen 16M1A and the nutritional component display screen 16M1B are displayed, they automatically return to the state of the original first specific screen 16M1. Alternatively, when the user US gives some command by voice input, or when either of the input keys 158M, 159M is operated one more time within the above-mentioned certain period of time (10 seconds), the display program of the control device 40 is defined so as to return to the state of the original first specific screen 16M1.

[0442] An explanation will be given for Fig. 32. Fig. 32 is a list showing the correspondence between the cooking menu in the "Cooperative Cooking Mode" KM3 and the operation support information 170 (see Fig. 27).

[0443] As can be seen from Fig. 32, there are two types of operation support information 170. One is "When you press the start button, the heating of the left IH starts", and the other is the information "Determine with the start button". This "start button" refers to the input key 151M.

[0444] The above-mentioned two types of operation support information 170 are automatically switched before the start of the cooking process in the "Cooperative Cooking Mode" KM3. For example, they are alternately displayed at intervals of several seconds.

[0445] Next, an explanation will be given for Figs. 33 to 39. Figs. 33 to 39 illustrate the operations of the central display unit and the central operation unit in the heating cooker 1 during the process of receiving the recipe data CD from the outside and after the reception is completed. In addition, in Figs. 32 to 39, the recipe data CD in the cooperative cooking mode KM3 is described, but the recipe data CD is obtained from the outside in the same steps even in the case of the composite cooking mode KM2 and the single cooking mode KM1.

[0446] A description will be given of FIG. 33. FIG. 33 shows an example of a specific display screen that displays that the recipe data CD of "hamburger", which is one of the cooking menus in the linked cooking mode KM3, has been received from the communication terminal 200. The first specific screen 16M1 is being displayed.

[0447] FIG. 33 shows a stage during the reception of the recipe data CD. In FIG. 33, identification information 167 is shown, but this identification information 167 is not displayed unless a predetermined reception condition described in step SC4 of FIG. 38 is satisfied. That is, at the initial stage of the reception stage of the recipe data CD, the identification information 167 is not displayed, and the voice input mode display information 179D is also not displayed. In other words, the display screen of FIG. 33 where the identification information 167 is displayed is the first specific screen 16M1.

[0448] In FIG. 33, since the touch operation of the input key 153 was initially a "long press", the voice input mode 1 is activated when the linked cooking mode KM3 is selected. Thereafter, at the stage where the identification information 167 of the cooking menu is displayed in the first area 22, by further touching the input keys 154M and 155M, it is a stage where the cooking menu can be selected.

[0449] In this way, finally, at the stage where the reception of the recipe data CD is completed, the identification information 167, the external recipe identification unit 173, and the voice input mode display information 179D are respectively displayed in the first area 22 of the first specific screen 16M1.

[0450] In the second area 23 and the third area 24, a plurality of progress marks 16F appear according to the progress of the reception operation. These progress marks 16F display the degree of progress by having one black triangular mark increase to the right one by one according to the degree of progress of the reception (download) of the recipe data CD.

[0451] As is clear from FIG. 33, the light emitting units 21M corresponding to the input keys 153M, 154, 151M, 156M, etc. are neither continuously emitting light nor blinking. That is, during the period when this progress mark 16F is being displayed and the recipe data CD is being received, inputs from those input keys are unnecessary. Also, the input function is disabled so that even if they are touch-operated, no command signal is issued as the input operation unit 15.

[0452] A description will be given of FIG. 34. FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram showing the first specific screen 16M1 and the central operation unit 15M immediately after the reception of the recipe data CD is completed from the state of FIG. 33. The auxiliary information 179 shown in FIG. 34 is of two types: reception information 179F indicating that a recipe data CD for "hamburger" in which cooking step 1 is performed at the right heating port 4R has been received, and reference information 179E recommending the input of control conditions and including examples (standard values) of control conditions that can be input. There are two types.

[0453] A description will be given of FIG. 35. FIG. 35 is a schematic diagram showing the first specific screen 16M1 and the central operation unit 15M in a state where the input process has further progressed from the state of FIG. 34. As is clear from this FIG. 35, process information 172 is displayed. In the example of this FIG. 35, first, it can be seen that the preheating process is started at the right heating port 4R by the right IH coil 9R of the first heating means HM1, then induction heating (cooking step 1) is performed at the right heating port 4R, and further, "oven heating" using the upper radiant heat heating means 12a and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b in the heating chamber 6 is executed.

[0454] In FIG. 35, 179G is setting display information indicating the content of the control conditions input from the user US, and in this FIG. 35, it can be seen that the preheating temperature is set to 180°C. At the stage of this FIG. 35, the input of the control conditions is completed and it is in a state where heating cooking can be started, so the light emitting unit 21M corresponding to the start key 151M is blinking as shown by the dotted circle.

[0455] Next, FIG. 36 will be described. This FIG. 36 shows a standby stage waiting for a heating start command, similar to FIG. 35. 170 is operation support information 170. 170A is input key guide information which is one of the operation support information 170. In this FIG. 36, it is displayed that nutritional components and the like can be displayed by the food component button. The input keys specified by this input key guide information 170A are 158M and 159M. The light emitting parts 21M corresponding to the input keys 158M and 159M are lit in this scene and have input functions.

[0456] That is, at the stage of FIG. 36, if any one of the two input keys 158M and 159M is touched once, a food component display screen 16M1A as shown in the following FIG. 37 is displayed. Further, if any one of the two input keys 158M and 159M is touched once continuously, a nutritional component display screen 16M1B can be displayed.

[0457] FIG. 37 will be described. FIG. 37(A) is a food component display screen 16M1A. Different from the display form of FIG. 31, only one piece of identification information 167 is displayed in the first area. This is because the recipe data CD is prepared for each specific cooking menu, and moreover, once it is acquired, the recipe data CD of other cooking menus cannot be acquired.

[0458] FIG. 37(B) is a food component display screen 16M1B. Different from the display form of FIG. 31, only one piece of identification information 167 is displayed in the first area. This is because the recipe data CD is prepared for each specific cooking menu, and moreover, once it is acquired, the recipe data CD of other cooking menus cannot be acquired.

[0459] Next, FIG. 38 will be described. FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device 40 that receives and processes the recipe data CD transmitted from the outside in the cooking appliance 1. In the control device 40, the communication unit 51 in charge of data acquisition processes operates in steps SC1 to SC7 described below in cooperation with the data acquisition unit 53 (see FIGS. 16 and 17).

[0460] When the recipe data CD is received from the outside via the communication unit 51, the data is temporarily stored in the temporary memory once (step SC1). The communication unit 51 first acquires the overall state information of the cooking appliance 1. This state information is information indicating the state of the control device 40 of the cooking appliance 1. Therefore, for example, it is information for confirming the state of the first heating means HM1 to the third heating means HM3 by the heating control unit 43.

[0461] For example, the communication unit 51 acquires information such as that the setting of the control conditions has already been completed and the cooking appliance 1 is in a standby state immediately before the start of heating, or that the cooking appliance 1 is receiving a temperature detection signal from the temperature sensor group 30 (step SC2).

[0462] The communication unit 51 repeatedly performs such a state confirmation operation for each component of the cooking appliance 1 at regular time intervals to collect the latest and accurate data. In this way, information for determining whether the cooking appliance 1 can shift to control according to the content of the received recipe data CD is aggregated by the communication unit 51.

[0463] In the cooking appliance 1, at the stage of establishing the first communication state with the communication terminal 200, data including the "device identification information" from the communication unit 51 is provided to the communication terminal 200 side. Therefore, the communication unit 51 of the cooking appliance 1 collates the content of the data including the device identification information transmitted immediately before with the content of the recipe data CD received from the communication terminal device 200 in step SC1 (step SC3). As shown by the dashed line in FIG. 38, the collection and collation of data are executed multiple times within a certain limit time.

[0464] When it is determined that there is no discrepancy between the content of the data transmitted from the communication unit 51 and the content of the received recipe data, the determination of the status information is terminated (step SC4). In this step SC4, it is also determined simultaneously whether the "permission conditions 1" and "permission conditions 2" such as the temperature of the heating chamber 6 and the situation of the "peak cut value" that defines the upper limit value of the maximum power consumption are satisfied. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 43 and 44.

[0465] If the determination result in step SC4 is "Yes", upon receiving the determination result from the communication unit 51, the data acquisition unit 53 stores the recipe data CD in a predetermined storage area and prepares for the cooking to be performed immediately thereafter (step SC5).

[0466] Next, proceeding to step SC6, the data acquisition unit 53 transmits a signal indicating that the recipe data CD has been acquired to the communication terminal device 200, which is the transmission source of the recipe data CD, from the communication unit 50. Upon receiving the signal, the communication terminal device 200 knows that the transmission of the recipe data CD has been successful.

[0467] Furthermore, the data acquisition unit 53 displays that the recipe data CD has been acquired on the display unit 51 (step SC6). Examples of this display include the external recipe identification unit 173 described in FIG. 33 and the reception information 179F indicating that the recipe data CD has been received (see FIG. 34). In this way, it shifts to a state of waiting for a command from the start switch 151M.

[0468] On the other hand, when the determination result in step SC4 is "No", upon receiving the determination result from the communication unit 51, the data acquisition unit 53 transmits a signal (data) including the content indicating that the recipe data CD cannot be received to the outside (the communication terminal 200, the transmission source) from the communication unit 51 (step SC7). Note that in FIG. 38, this is the case of the cooperative cooking mode KM3, but for the composite cooking mode KM2 as well, such a "non-reception message" is transmitted.

[0469] Note that when the communication terminal 200 receives the notification of step SC7 from the heating cooker 1, it displays the fact on the terminal-side display unit 216 (not shown). Note that it may also be notified by a speaker (not shown) of the communication terminal 200.

[0470] Next, FIG. 39 will be described. FIG. 39 is a diagram for explaining the reception process of the recipe data CD transmitted from the outside and the display operation of the central display unit 16M showing the display result in the heating cooker 1. Since the identification information 167 is not yet displayed on the display screens shown in FIGS. 39(A) and 39(B), it is still at the stage of the standby initial screen 16MH. 174 is a reception operation display unit, which displays in characters that the recipe data CD is being received from the outside.

[0471] There are two types of progress marks 16F: a black triangle and a white triangle. As shown in FIG. 39(A), immediately after the start of the reception operation of the recipe data CD, there is one black progress mark 16F, but as the reception operation progresses, the number thereof sequentially increases, and finally, a state where five black triangular progress marks 16F are arranged is obtained.

[0472] When the recipe data CD becomes "non-reception processing" by "status determination" and "permission condition determination" as described in FIG. 38, as shown in FIG. 39(B), the reception operation display unit 174 changes to non-reception information (indicating non-permission information) 174F that has failed in the reception operation.

[0473] 174A is reception support information. In this Figure 39(B), among the permission conditions, it is an example where the latest temperature in the heating chamber 6 exceeds the regulated value, and as a countermeasure, it notifies to open the door 6 to quickly release the hot air inside the heating chamber 6. Note that when performing high-temperature cooking in the heating chamber 6, even after the cooking is finished, the wall surface of the heating chamber 6 remains at a high temperature. Therefore, if the door 6 is left closed, when one wants to start cooking again later, a situation where cooking cannot be started immediately due to such a temperature is assumed. Note that when setting to the function setting mode with the input key 151KP and in the case of cooking using the heating chamber 6, it may be set in advance to continue the operation of a cooling fan (not shown) that supplies air to the heating chamber 6 until the temperature after the end of cooking drops.

[0474] Next, FIG. 40 will be described. In this Embodiment 1, as one type of the cooperation cooking mode KM3, a "cooperation preheating cooking mode" KM4 is provided. There are two types of the cooperation preheating cooking mode KM4.

[0475] As a cooking menu using the cooperation preheating cooking mode KM4, for example, there is "hamburger". In the case of this "hamburger", its preheating process is performed by the first heating means HM1.

[0476] When starting the cooking process 1 during the execution of the preheating process, at the time of disclosure of the cooking process 1, the heating operation of the preheating process is not stopped. Therefore, the energization of the first heating means HM1 and the energization of the second heating means HM2 (microwave heating means) and the third heating means HM3 in charge of the cooking process 1 are performed in parallel in the same time zone.

[0477] In other words, in the cooperation preheating cooking mode KM4, the heating source that has started operating before the cooking process 1 (in the above description, the first heating means HM1) is not necessarily stopped at the start time of the cooking process 1, and during the cooking process 1, it may be energized together with one or both of the second heating means HM2 (microwave heating means) and the third heating means HM3.

[0478] Unless there is a particular contradiction, the following explanation is based on the premise that the coordinated cooking mode KM3 includes the coordinated preheating cooking mode KM4.

[0479] When selecting the coordinated cooking mode KM3, at the moment when the identification information 167 indicating the name of the object to be cooked is displayed on the central display unit 16M, the left operation unit 15L of the left IH coil 9L becomes unavailable for other cooking menus (also referred to as "occupied state").

[0480] Specifically, among the various input keys of the left operation unit 15L, at least the input key 153L is invalidated by the heating control unit 43. This "invalidated" means that no valid command signal is transmitted from the input key 153L to the heating control unit 43, and even if a valid command signal is transmitted, the heating control unit 43 does not process the command signal as a valid command signal. In any case, heating with the left IH coil 9L cannot be selected.

[0481] At the same time, when the identification information 167 is displayed, the right operation unit 15R of the right heating port 4R may be made unavailable (by "invalidating" the input key 153R). However, if the user US has previously made a function setting (using the function setting key 151KP) on the input operation unit 15 so as not to perform this "invalidating", and if the right IH coil 9R has already been used for other control menus (heating operation in progress), then the right IH coil 9R can still be used as it is. On the other hand, in the coordinated cooking mode KM3, due to the fact that it has been used previously, it is determined by the heating control unit 43 that it cannot be used.

[0482] Therefore, only the left IH coil 9L is in the "occupied" state due to the selection of the coordinated cooking mode KM3. Also, from the perspective of the entire first heating source HM1, only a part of the three heating units 4L, 4C, and 4R (the left IH coil 9L) has its use "restricted". If the right IH coil 9R is not in use for other cooking, this right IH coil 9R may also be put in the occupied state in the same way.

[0483] Continue to describe Figure 40. This Figure 40 shows the operation steps when deep-frying is performed in the coordinated cooking mode KM3. In Figure 40, #1 to #9 indicate the operations of the user US and the state changes of the heating cooker 1.

[0484] The deep-frying shown in Figure 40 is different from the case of the "hamburger" described above. The cooking process 1 is performed in the heating chamber 6, and the cooking process 2 is performed by the first heating means HM1.

[0485] In Figure 40, in order for the user US to cook deep-frying, before starting the cooking process 1, first select the left IH coil 9L and press the input key 151L. Then, start preheating the object to be heated N placed on the top plate 3. The object to be heated N in this case is a metal pot, frying pan, etc., and a certain amount or more of cooking oil is put in.

[0486] On the other hand, the user US opens the door 7 of the heating chamber 6 and puts the deep-frying ingredients (seasoned chicken, etc.) into the heating chamber 6 (#1). After closing the door 7, an operation A23 called "press the start button" is performed. This is to press the input key 151M of the central operation unit 15M.

[0487] At this time, the microwave heating source (the second heating means HM2) operates and the cooking process 1 of microwave heating cooking starts. Then, the notification 1 of the reference information is performed.

[0488] The above-mentioned notification 1 is, for example, to notify the time until the end of heating, such as "Microwave heating has started. The heating time is 〇 minutes". Or, when performing control to detect the temperature of the object to be cooked and determine the end time of heating, it may be a notification of information indicating the target temperature, such as "Heat to 〇〇 °C".

[0489] Also, during this cooking step 1, the preheating of the left IH coil 9L is completed (for example, the object to be heated N reaches a state where it is heated up to 180°C, which is the set temperature for preheating). This completion of preheating is notified to the user US by voice and characters through the voice notification unit 51 and the central display unit 16M (first specific screen 16M1) (#2).

[0490] The user US can stop the microwave heating at any timing during cooking step 1. To stop it, just open the door 7. Note that pressing the input key 152M on the central operation unit 15M once can temporarily stop the microwave heating. However, if the input key 152M is pressed twice continuously within a short time, the cooking mode is cancelled, and the selection of "karaage" in the coordinated cooking mode is cancelled.

[0491] The microwave heating operation is immediately stopped by opening the door 7, and cooking step 1 ends (#3). Next, the user US moves the food heated in the heating chamber 6 into the object to be heated that is being preheated on the top plate 3 this time (#4).

[0492] Then, start cooking step 2 at the left heating port 4L (#5). In cooking step 2, before starting the preheating, the input key 153L (see FIG. 12) on the left operation unit 15L is pressed first. So, at the start of this cooking step 2, there is no need to operate the left operation unit 15L. That is, for example, when the food (karaage ingredients) is moved into the object to be heated that has been preheated up to 180°C, the heating of the food starts at the temperature of that object to be heated (this point is the start point of cooking step 2).

[0493] As described above, for the start of cooking step 2 (#5), the user US does not particularly need to operate the input operation unit 15. The point when the object to be cooked is placed on the object to be heated and starts to be heated is the start point of cooking step 2. Along with placing the object to be cooked, the temperature sensor group 30 (see FIG. 16) may detect that the temperature of the object to be heated temporarily drops, and electrically determine the start point of cooking step 2. The end of cooking process 2 can be terminated at any timing if the user US operates the left operation unit 15L.

[0494] Next, the user US moves the object to be cooked again. First, open the door 7, put the object to be cooked into the heating chamber 6, and close the door 7 (#6). Then, press the input key 151M of the central operation unit 15M to start cooking process 3 of the range grill control menu (RG control menu).

[0495] In this case, in order to prevent performing microwave heating etc. without putting the object to be cooked into the heating chamber 6 (so-called "dry heating"), after cooking process 1 is finished, the door 7 is opened once, and then, only when it is detected by the door opening / closing detection unit 10 that the door 7 is closed again, the input key 151M can be pressed to start the heating operation. Also, the timing of operating this input key 151M is restricted to a certain time (for example, 3 minutes) from the end point of cooking process 1, or restricted to a certain time (for example, 2 minutes) from the point when the door 7 is opened and closed again, thereby improving safety.

[0496] When a predetermined time (TN5) has elapsed since cooking process 3 by the range grill drive unit in the heating chamber 6 was started by the operation input A26 of the user US, the notification 2 of reference information 5 is performed.

[0497] The notification 2 of the reference information is information including guidance such as "Heating will end in 30 seconds. If you want to extend the time, please set the time", etc. Also, since it can be understood that the final cooking process is finished, the user US can start preparations for taking out the "karaage" from the heating chamber 6 from the time of this notification 2 of the reference information. Also, in synchronization with this, the content of the notification 2 is displayed in characters etc. by the central display unit 16M. Note that the notification 2 is displayed at a specific position on the first specific screen 16M1 like the operation support information 170.

[0498] After that, the microwave heating operation is stopped, and cooking step 3 ends (#7). Note that this cooking step 3 can be immediately stopped if the user US opens the door 7. And then, the user US then moves the food heated in the heating chamber 6 into the object to be heated that is being preheated on the top plate 3 this time (#8). Note that in this case, if the object to be heated is maintained in a heated state by induction heating until after the end of cooking step 3, induction heating (cooking step 4) may be further performed (#9).

[0499] Induction heating cooking can be ended by operating the left 15L. That is, the operation A28 of the user US at this time is to press the input key 153L of the left operation unit 15L corresponding to the left IH coil 9L.

[0500] The cooking sequence shown in this Figure 40 can shorten the time required from the start of the induction heating operation (start of the preheating step) to the end of cooking step 1. That is, without waiting for the completion of preheating by induction heating or the notification of the completion of the preheating, the food (object to be cooked) is put into the heating chamber 6 at an earlier time point, and cooking step 1 is started.

[0501] And before cooking step 1 is completed, the preheating by the first heating means HM1 is completed. Therefore, after the end of cooking step 1, the object to be cooked can be immediately transferred into the object to be heated on the top plate 3, and cooking step 2 can be started.

[0502] Note that in the example of "karaage" in this Figure 40, there is cooking step 3, but cooking step 3 and cooking step 4 are not necessarily required in this way. It may be ended with the necessary cooking steps according to the type of the object to be cooked and the wishes of the user US, etc.

[0503] Also, in Fig. 40, although the figure shows that the "left IH coil driving period" continues even after the cooking process 2 is completed, after the cooking process 2 is completed, the left operation unit 15L can stop the driving of the left IH coil 9L at any time. However, as shown by the dashed frame in Fig. 40, when the left IH coil 9L is also used in the cooking process 4, it is necessary to start the preheating operation again before the cooking process 4.

[0504] Next, Fig. 41 will be described. This Fig. 41 shows the operation steps when "karaage" is performed as a cooking menu in the cooperative cooking mode KM3, similar to Fig. 40. In Fig. 41, #1 to #9 show the operations of the user US and the state changes of the heating cooker 1 as described in Fig. 40. Other reference numerals correspond to those in Fig. 40.

[0505] The differences between the operations shown in this Fig. 41 and the operations described in Fig. 40 will be explained. Fig. 41 shows the case where the preheating of the object to be heated N by the first heating means HM1 is completed and the notification thereof (#2) is awaited, and then the cooking process 1 is started in the heating chamber 6.

[0506] When the user US is notified of the completion of the preheating of the object to be heated N on the first specific screen 16M1, or on the left and right display units 16L, 16R, and also by voice by the voice notification unit 50, the user opens the door 7 of the heating chamber 6 and puts the "karaage" ingredients (such as seasoned chicken) into the heating chamber 6 (#1). After closing the door 7, the user presses the input key 151M of the central operation unit 15M.

[0507] At this point, the cooking process 1 of microwave heating cooking is started. Then, the above-mentioned notification 1 of the reference information is performed. After that, the process is the same as that shown in Fig. 40.

[0508] The required time from the start of the heating operation (start of the preheating process) of the first heating means HM1 to the end of the cooking process 1 in the cooking sequence shown in this Fig. 41 is longer compared to Fig. 40.

[0509] However, since the heating of the food material (object to be cooked) is started in the heating chamber 6 after the preheating by the first heating means HM1 is completed or the notification of the completion of the preheating, when the cooking process 1 in the heating chamber 6 ends, if the object to be cooked is moved, there is a guarantee that the cooking process 2 can be immediately started by the first heating means HM1. Therefore, this method is suitable for users US who are not very familiar with the coordinated preheating cooking mode KM4.

[0510] In addition, in FIG. 41, although the figure shows that the "driving period of the left IH coil 9L" continues even after the cooking process 2 is completed, when the first heating means HM1 is not used after the cooking process 2 is completed, the driving of the left IH coil 9L can be stopped at any time by the left operation unit 15L after the cooking process 2 ends. However, as shown by the broken-line frame in FIG. 41, when the left IH coil 9L is also used in the cooking process 4, it is necessary to start the preheating again before the cooking process 4.

[0511] In FIGS. 40 and 41, the first heating means HM1 is energized first to start the preheating operation, while the cooking process 1 is performed in the heating chamber 6. The "coordinated preheating cooking mode" KM4 of this first embodiment is not limited to the case where the cooking process 1 is performed in the heating chamber in this way.

[0512] In other coordinated preheating cooking modes KM4, first, the heating operation by the first heating means HM1 is started, and the object to be heated such as a frying pan is heated to the preheating target (set) temperature (for example, 180°C). In the state where the target temperature is reached, the object to be cooked is placed on the object to be heated, and the cooking process 1 is started in this way. Note that after this preheating process, with the object to be cooked placed on the object to be heated, it is moved into the heating chamber 6, and in order to further heat the object to be cooked together with the object to be heated in the heating chamber 6 by the second heating means HM2 or the third heating means HM3, the cooking process 2 may be executed.

[0513] Next, FIG. 42 will be described. FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the heating control unit 43 until the transition to the linked cooking mode KM3.

[0514] In the linked cooking mode KM3 of the first embodiment, there is a pattern (the first linked cooking mode) in which the first heating means HM1 is first driven, and then at least one of the second heating means HM2 or the third heating means HM3 is driven. Representative examples of cooking menus suitable for cooking in this pattern are four, as shown in the list in FIG. 32, from "hamburger" to "gratin".

[0515] There is also a second linked cooking mode in the reverse order. Representative examples of cooking menus suitable for cooking in this second linked cooking mode are four, as described in the lower half of the list in FIG. 32, from "karaage" to "tempura".

[0516] The operation steps shown in FIG. 42 are common to both the first linked cooking mode and the second linked cooking mode. First, in the first step SB1, it is the time when the input key 153M of the central operation unit 15M is operated. Thereby, the linked cooking mode KM3 is started.

[0517] The next step SB2 is to display the first specific screen 16M1 on the central display unit 16M and display various information for executing the linked cooking mode KM3. In this step SB2, in order to select the cooking menu of each linked cooking mode, "the name of the object to be cooked" (for example, "hamburger") 167, which is one type of identification information 167, is displayed at the center in the front-rear direction of the first area 22, that is, at the display position B.

[0518] Depending on the selection of the linked cooking mode KM3, the timing at which the heating means (the first heating means HM1 to the third heating means HM3) becomes "occupied" may be either of the following two. (1) As described above, for example, after the case when the left IH coil 9L for cooking process 1 is selected (in FIG. 42, "Occupied state start (Case 2)" after step SB4 is applicable). (2) After step SB2 as shown in FIG. 42 (in FIG. 42, "Occupied state start (Case 1)" is applicable).

[0519] In the next step SB3, it is determined whether at least one of the input keys 154M and 155M has been operated. As described with reference to FIGS. 14, 26 to 29, by operating the two input keys 154M and 155M, identification information 167 indicating the name of the food to be cooked (for example, hamburger) that can be cooked in the coordinated cooking mode can be selected.

[0520] If the input keys 154M and 155M have not been operated (within a certain time), the process proceeds to step SB4. Step SB4 is a step of selecting one of the heating unit specifying units 171L and 171R displayed in the first specific screen 16M1 as described above. If the user US operates the input keys 157M and 156M adjacent to each other left and right, one of the right IH coil 9R and the left IH coil 9L can be selected.

[0521] Note that the left heating port 4L may be set as the default, the heating unit specifying unit 171L may be first displayed on the first specific screen 16M1, and the process may proceed directly to step S5. In the example described with reference to FIG. 26, when cooking a hamburger in the coordinated cooking mode, the left heating port 4L was set as the default and the left IH coil 9L was set to be preferentially selected.

[0522] In the next step SB5, it is determined whether an input operation for canceling the selection of the coordinated cooking mode has been performed. If the input key 152M is operated once, it is determined as "Yes". Then, the process returns to step SB3. If the input key 152M is continuously operated twice within a certain short period (for example, 5 seconds), it is determined that the coordinated cooking mode KM3 is canceled, and the process returns to the state of the standby initial screen before step SB1. Therefore, the selection of the three cooking modes KM1 to KM3 returns to the state where it is at the first stage again.

[0523] On the other hand, when the input key 151M is operated while the input key 152M is not being operated, the process proceeds to the next step SB6. Then, the cooking step 1 of the coordinated cooking mode KM3 is started.

[0524] In FIG. 42, in the operation program of the coordinated cooking mode KM3, in step SB7, various functional parts are activated according to the "cooking conditions" (including "control conditions" such as heating power and heating time) of a specific coordinated cooking menu (recipe) such as "hamburger". That is, the process shifts to the coordinated cooking mode KM3 from this stage.

[0525] First, in step SB7, the display unit corresponding to the heating unit selected in step SB4 is activated. However, in the case of a cooking menu that uses the microwave heating means (the second heating means HM2) or the third heating means HM3 in cooking step 1 (for example, "karaage" as described above), since the central display unit 16M has already been activated, no new display unit is activated in this step SB7.

[0526] In the case of a cooking menu that uses the left IH coil 9L in cooking step 1, in step SB7, the left display unit 16L is activated. Then, the input function of the left operation unit 15L becomes valid, and it waits for the input of the user US. Then, the process proceeds to step SB8.

[0527] In step SB8, it waits for the operation of the input key 153L, and the cooking process of the coordinated cooking mode KM3 is started. Note that, as the display content of the first specific screen 16M1 in step SB8, process information 172 such as that the first cooking process 1 uses the left IH coil 9L and the microwave heating means (second heating means HM2) is used in the next cooking process 2 is displayed as described with reference to FIG. 26.

[0528] Next, FIGS. 43 and 44 will be described. FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the heating control unit 43 until the transition to the coordinated cooking mode. FIG. 44 is an explanatory diagram showing the permission conditions and determination results before the transition to the coordinated cooking mode.

[0529] The description of FIG. 43 will be given. Steps ST1 to ST8 are operation steps defined in the operation program (including recipe data CD) of the coordinated cooking mode KM3 of the heating control unit 43. First, when the operation button 20A of the main power switch 20 is pressed (ST1), in the next step ST2, the heating control unit 43 determines whether there is an abnormality.

[0530] At the stage of step ST2, the central display unit 16M is activated and displays that "since there is no abnormality, cooking can be started". Note that at this stage, the heating control unit 43 also checks whether a setting command has been received from the input operation unit 15 regarding the upper limit value of the total power consumption.

[0531] If, at the stage of step ST2, the heating cooker 1 is set to transmit startup information to the communication terminal 200 or the external server 417 (cloud server 300), the startup information (operation state data OS) is wirelessly transmitted from the communication unit 51 at this stage.

[0532] At the next step ST3, the central display unit 16M and the voice notification unit 51 also give notifications and voice guides to prompt the selection of the heating means. At the next step ST4, the standby initial screen 16MH is displayed on the central display unit 16M, and usage caution information for the user US is also displayed.

[0533] Then, it is determined whether an input key other than the input key 153M (for example, 154M) has been operated (ST5). If the input key 153M is being operated, step STC becomes "No", and the process proceeds to step ST6. That is, the process proceeds to the step of using the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3.

[0534] In step ST6, the permission condition determination unit 54 checks whether the "permission conditions" are satisfied. For example, the usage state of the heat source used in the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3 is checked. The permission conditions and the determination results will be described in detail in FIG. 44 below.

[0535] In step ST5, the first input operation is checked. For example, before the input key 153M is pressed, it is determined whether the left operation unit 15L or the right operation unit 15R has been operated, and it is also determined whether the "composite cooking mode" KM2 has been selected by the central operation unit 15M (by the input keys 154M or 155M).

[0536] If the operation of the input key 153M is performed first within a certain waiting time (for example, 30 seconds) from step ST3, the display for the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3 is started as described above.

[0537] On the other hand, if the operation of the input key 153M is not performed and a touch operation on another input key (for example, the input key 155M or 154M) is performed, step ST5 is determined as "Yes", and the process proceeds to step ST9 for starting cooking other than the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3. Note that the details of step ST9 are omitted here.

[0538] In FIG. 43, steps ST6 and ST7 are the operation steps of "permission condition 1" for determining whether to permit cooking in the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3. Step ST6 is the stage of determining "permission condition 1".

[0539] Here, "permission condition 1" means (1) The "peak cut-off value" that defines the upper limit of the maximum power consumption that can be used in the cooking device 1 is 5000 W or more. (2) When there is a power reduction command signal received by the control device 40 via the communication unit 51 from the external cloud server 300 or the communication terminal device 200, the peak cut-off value of the reduction command is 5000 W or more. These are the two conditions. If both of these conditions are met, step ST6 will be determined as "Yes".

[0540] The "permission condition 2" in the next step ST7 consists of the following four conditions. (1) In the first heating means HM1, the central heating port 4C is not in the heating operation. (2) One or both of the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3 are not in the heating operation.

[0541] (3) In the first heating means HM1, neither the right heating port 4R nor the left heating port 4L is being used for the heating operation (or only one of them is being used for the heating operation). That is, neither the left IH coil 9L nor the right IH coil 9R is being used for the heating operation. (4) Satisfying the permission condition 4.

[0542] If the above three conditions are met, step ST7 will be determined as "Yes". Then, it proceeds to step ST10. That is, it can proceed to the step of starting the cooking input in the cooperative cooking mode KM3.

[0543] If the determination in steps ST6 and STR7 is "No", it proceeds to step ST8, and the central display unit 16M and the voice notification unit 50 inform the user US that the cooperative cooking mode KM3 cannot be selected.

[0544] Here, an explanation will be given regarding the meaning of stipulating that the "permission condition 1" is "5000 W or more". For the sake of simplicity in the following explanation, the power consumption of electrical components other than the heating source, such as the internal cooling fan (not shown) of the main body 2, etc., will not be particularly mentioned.

[0545] The reason why a demand (pre - ensuring the power demand) of 5000 W or more is required when implementing the "co - cooking mode" KM3 is that the maximum (instantaneous) power during the operation of each heating source when the co - cooking mode is executed is as follows.

[0546] (1) During range operation (second heating means HM2): 1000 W (2) During oven operation: 2000 W (upper radiant heat heating means 12a: 1000 W, lower radiant heat heating means 12b: 1000 W) (3) During range grill operation: 1500 W (second heating means HM2: 500 W, upper radiant heat heating means 12a: 1000 W)

[0547] On the other hand, the maximum power of the cooking menu in the "co - cooking mode" KM3 is 1500 W. Therefore, in the co - cooking mode, the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3 may operate simultaneously.

[0548] That is, the sum of "1000 W" of the second heating means HM2, "1000 W (2000 W is alternately energized in 1000 W increments)" of the third heating means HM3, and "1500 W" of the first heating means HM1 that performs induction heating results in a maximum power of 3500 W.

[0549] When the demand (pre - ensuring the power demand) is 5000 W: When heating at 3000 W (normal heating) with the right IH coil 9R, the remaining demand is 2000 W. When the "co - cooking mode" KM3 is implemented from this state, since the remaining demand is less than 1500 W for the 3500 W of power required for co - cooking, the heating power of the right IH coil 9R can be reduced from (3000 W) to 1500 W to start co - cooking.

[0550] When the demand (pre - securing of power consumption) is 4000W: When frying (requiring up to 1500W) is being done at the right heating port 4R, the remaining demand is 2500W. If coordinated cooking is performed from this state, for the 3500W of power required for coordinated cooking, since the remaining demand is less than 1000W, it is necessary to reduce the heating power of the right IH coil. However, if the heating power is reduced while the automatic control menu is being executed, the cooking will not proceed well, so the heating power of the automatic control menu cannot be reduced. Ultimately, at 4000W, the required heating power of the automatic control menu cannot be secured.

[0551] As is clear from the above explanation, before starting the "coordinated cooking mode" KM3, it is necessary to determine (confirm) whether there is a demand (pre - securing of power consumption) of 5000W, which is the total value of the power required for coordinated cooking (3500W) and the power required for the cooking menu of the right heating port 4R or the left heating port 4L (1500W).

[0552] Next, FIG. 44 will be described. This FIG. 44 shows the determination processes of steps ST6 and ST7 in FIG. 43. These determinations are executed by the permission condition determination unit 54. Step ST5 is the stage when the input key 153M is operated. In the next step STX1, the permission condition determination unit 54 of the control device 40 compares with the latest state of the heating cooker 1 for the above - mentioned permission condition 1 and permission condition 2, and determines whether the state satisfies the permission condition 1 and permission condition 2.

[0553] In step STX1 of this FIG. 44, voices (notifications) 1 to 4 indicate the content notified to the user US by the voice notification unit 50. That is, it specifically shows the content of step ST8 in FIG. 43.

[0554] Displays 1 to 4 in FIG. 44 show the content displayed on the central display unit 16M. Note that these Displays 1 to 4 are not displayed on the first specific screen 16M1 displayed at the time of step SB2 in FIG. 42, but are displayed on the central display unit 16M on which the first specific screen is not displayed.

[0555] The first specific screen 16M1 is not displayed unless the prerequisites (permission conditions 1 and 2) for transitioning to the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3 are met. For this reason, after the user US sets (selects) various conditions (for example, identification information 167) of the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3, it is not the case that if it is determined that permission condition 1 or permission condition 2 is not satisfied, the process returns to the initial standby screen (step ST4 in FIG. 43) stage. Therefore, the user US is not forced to perform a useless input operation.

[0556] Next, FIG. 45 will be described. FIG. 45 shows the basic operations from when the cooking heater 1 is started until the cooking recipe data CD for the cooking heater 1 is acquired from the communication terminal 200 or the external server 417 (cloud server 300).

[0557] In this Embodiment 1, the recipe data CD of the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3 includes, but is not limited to, information such as the number of the cooperative cooking menu (identification information 167), the order of a plurality of heating means to be used, the heating means to be used in cooking step 1, the heating means to be used in cooking step 2, and if there are cooking steps 3 and later, the heating means to be used for each of those cooking steps, and if there are default (standard settings) control conditions (heating power, heating time, heating target temperature, etc.) in each cooking step, the set value or the range of the set value.

[0558] In FIG. 45, steps SS1 to SS8 are operation steps defined in the integrated control program of the control device 40, and basically coincide with the content defined in the operation program of the cooperative cooking mode KM3 described in FIG. 43.

[0559] First, when the operation button 20A of the main power switch 20 is pressed (SS1), in the next step SS2, the heating control unit 43 determines whether there is an abnormality.

[0560] Steps SS1 to SS4 are the same as the steps ST1 to ST4 described in FIG. 43, so duplicate explanations are omitted.

[0561] In step SS5, the heating cooker 1 performs an operation for the purpose of asking the user US for prior confirmation as to whether to send a signal requesting the provision of the cooking recipe data CD to the pre-registered and set smartphone (communication terminal) 200 or cloud server 300. A "confirmation screen" is displayed on the central display unit 16M, and an audio notification is also made by the audio notification unit 50. This "confirmation screen" is a type of standby initial screen 16MH described later.

[0562] If the user US has previously set the automatic execution of the external connection in this step SS5 using the function setting key 151KP (see FIG. 7) of the input operation unit 15, it will be automatically performed at a specified timing.

[0563] That is, as described in FIG. 1, the pairing between the smartphone 200 and the heating cooker 1 can be automatically performed, and the wireless communication 400 between the smartphone 200 and the heating cooker 1 can be established.

[0564] The external connection in step SS5 involves repeatedly transmitting and receiving several times alternately between the heating cooker 1 and an external communication device (such as the smartphone 200 or cloud server 300). For example, first, the heating cooker 1 transmits a standby signal 1. Then, from the external communication device side, in response to receiving the standby signal 1, a setting signal 1 including setting information is transmitted. Upon receiving this, the heating cooker 1 checks its internal standby state (for example, the set value of the total power consumption is 5000W or more) and temperature state (for example, the temperature of the heating chamber 6), etc. If there is no problem, it transmits a standby signal 2 for proceeding to the next stage, and so on.

[0565] Finally, the reception of the necessary setting information (including the recipe data CD) from the external communication device side is completed. That is, on the side of the cooking heater 1, once the reception is completed, several rounds of interactive communication, such as immediately returning a confirmation signal, are carried out, and finally the reception of the necessary setting information is completed. This is the process corresponding to step SC3 described in FIG. 38.

[0566] In such a series of processes, a step of asking the user US to determine whether to receive the recipe data CD can be provided. That is, in this cooking heater 1, since a step can be set in which the user US can clearly and in advance recognize the reception of the recipe data CD, it is possible to prevent the user US from proceeding to the execution stage of the recipe data CD without knowing it. For example, a step can be provided in which the reception operation of the recipe data CD is not started unless the input keys 153M or 154M are touched first. Alternatively, it can be set that the reception operation of the recipe data CD is not started unless the input key 180 is operated.

[0567] On the other hand, as part of the above external connection control function, in step SS6, it may also be possible to notify the user US that a predetermined icon or the like can be displayed on the central display unit 16M to provide the recipe data CD. This is shown in the display screen 2C of FIG. 54. As a means of notifying the user US, as shown in the display screen 2C, for example, there is a method of simply displaying it with the acquisition operation support information 60P by characters.

[0568] In this step SS6, if the connection to the external device (such as the smartphone 200) is not agreed to, as shown in step SS9, a non-reception message such as "Currently, the reception of the recipe data CD is not being performed" is transmitted to the registered external device (the smartphone 200 or the cloud server 300). In this way, a setting can also be made for the user US to reject the reception.

[0569] On the one hand, in step SS6, when consent is given to connect to an external device and data acquisition is instructed, the cooking heater 1 acquires the recipe data CD from the external device via the communication unit 51 by the data acquisition unit 53. The acquired recipe data CD is stored in a predetermined "temporary storage unit" (not shown) in the recipe data storage unit 42 (step SS7).

[0570] In the next step SS8, the content of the recipe data CD acquired from the external device, particularly the identification information 167, is displayed on the central display unit 16M. Also, the voice notification unit 50 notifies the fact of reception, for example, as "The recipe for hamburger has been received."

[0571] Incidentally, in this Embodiment 1, during the standby period in which the control device 40 waits for a command to start the heating operation after the main power switch 20 is turned on and power supply is started, when the input key 180, which is the selection unit for the voice input mode 2, is operated, it is a program that permits the data acquisition unit 53 to acquire the recipe data CD.

[0572] That is, at the stage of step SS6, if the user US presses the input key 180, this step is determined as "Yes" and acquisition of the recipe data CD is permitted. However, several conditions need to be satisfied before the recipe data CD is actually acquired by the control device 40, which will be described in detail later.

[0573] In the following description of the configuration of this Embodiment 1, the description of the function that the user rejects the acquisition of the recipe data CD from the outside each time in the input operation on the cooking heater 1 side is omitted. And on the premise that when the user gives a transmission command from the communication terminal 200 side, the transmitted recipe data CD is automatically acquired when the data acquisition conditions of the cooking heater 1 are satisfied, the description will be made.

[0574] Next, FIGS. 46 to 52 will be described. Fig. 46 is a flowchart showing the main input steps for the three cooking modes after the main power is turned on in the cooking device 1. Fig. 47 is a flowchart 1 showing the input steps after the main power is turned on in the cooking device 1. Fig. 48 is a flowchart 1 showing the input steps for the integrated cooking mode in the cooking device 1. Fig. 49 is a flowchart 1 showing the input steps for the combined cooking mode in the cooking device 1. Fig. 50 is a flowchart 1 showing the input steps for the single cooking mode in the cooking device 1. Fig. 51 is a flowchart 1 showing the operation of the cooking appliance 1 to acquire recipe data CD from the outside. Fig. 52 is a flowchart 2 showing the operation of the cooking appliance 1 to acquire recipe data CD from the outside.

[0575] 46 to 52 show the case of the above-mentioned "voice input mode 1A." That is, in one input operation unit 15 (for example, central operation unit 15M), a specific input key among a plurality of input keys, that is, the input key 154M for instructing the voice input mode setting, is provided. Therefore, when the input mode is changed to the "voice input mode 1A" by the input key 154M, the input functions of the input keys (156M, 158M, etc.) other than the input key 154M are disabled from that point on (the state of the "voice input mode 1A"). Based on this premise, the following explanation will be given with reference to Figs. 42 to 52.

[0576] Now, reference will be made to Fig. 46. In Fig. 46, outlined reference characters (such as 153M) indicate input keys 153M and the like to be operated in the following steps S2 to S15. The range indicated by the dashed frame indicates the range that can be input by voice in "voice input mode 1" that can be set by "long pressing" input key (combined key) 154M.

[0577] Steps S2 to S6 show operation steps in the coordinated cooking mode KM3. Steps S7 to S11 show the operation steps in the combined cooking mode KM2. Steps S12 to S15 show operation steps in the single cooking mode KM1 using the first heating means HM1.

[0578] When the main power switch 20 is turned on, the standby initial screen 16MH is first displayed on the central display section 16M (step S1). Next, when the input key 153M is touched, the collaborative cooking mode KM3 is selected (step S2), and the first specific screen 16M1 is displayed (step S3).

[0579] Step S2A indicates a process of acquiring recipe data CD from an external communication terminal device 200, a cloud server 300, or the like.

[0580] At this stage, as described in Figures 26 to 30, at least three pieces of cooking menu identification information 167 are displayed on the first specific screen 16M1, but each time the input key 154M or 155M is touched, another cooking menu identification information 167 can be displayed one after another (step S4).

[0581] In step S5, if the control conditions for one coordinated cooking menu are satisfactory, pressing the input key 151M allows transition to cooking step 1 of the coordinated cooking mode KM3 (step S6).

[0582] As is clear from FIG. 46, if the input key (combined key) 154M is "long pressed" at step S4, the control device 40 switches to a voice "input standby state", so that the range of conditions from step S4 to S5 can be input by voice. For example, the cooking menu and control conditions can be input as a set by the user US's voice, such as "Hamburg steak preheat 180°C". Note that only the control conditions other than the food to be cooked may be input by voice, such as "heat 7 hours 10 minutes".

[0583] Next, FIG. 46 will be described. In step S2, when touching input key 154M or 155M without touching input key 153M, the combined cooking mode KM2 is selected (step S7), and the second specific screen 16M2 is displayed (step S8). Each time input key 154M or 155M is touched, identification information 160 (including 25A to 25C) of different control menus (see FIG. 18) can be successively displayed (step S9).

[0584] Step S7A shows the process of acquiring recipe data CD from an external communication terminal 200, a cloud server 300, etc.

[0585] In step S9, if it is okay with one control menu (for example, "warm") displayed on the second specific screen 16M2, then by pressing input key 156M or 157M next, control conditions (such as microwave output, heating time, etc.) can be selected (step S10).

[0586] In step S10, if it is okay with the control conditions of one combined cooking mode, by pressing input key 151M, it is possible to shift to cooking step 1 of the combined cooking mode KM2 (step S11).

[0587] As is clear from FIG. 38, when "long pressing" input key (dual-purpose key) 154M at the stage of step S7, the control device 40 switches to the "input standby state" by voice, so the conditions within the range up to steps S9 to S10 can be input by voice. For example, like "warm 500W", the control menu (in this case, "warm") and control conditions can be set and input by the voice of the user US. Note that only the control conditions can also be input by voice, like "500W time 10 minutes".

[0588] Next, FIG. 46 will be described. In step S2, without touching the input key 153M and also without touching either of the input keys 154M and 155M in step S7, when touching either the input key 153L or 153R of the right operation unit 15R or the left operation unit 15L, the single cooking mode KM1 by the first heating means HM1 is selected (step S12), and the third specific screen 16M3 is displayed on the right display unit 15R or the left display unit 15L (step S13).

[0589] Step S12A shows the reception process when acquiring the recipe data CD from an external communication terminal 200, a cloud server 300, etc.

[0590] Each time the input key 152L or 152R is touched, different control menus (see FIG. 55) can be successively displayed (step S14).

[0591] In step S14, if it is okay with one of the control menus (see FIG. 55) displayed on the third specific screen 16M3, then by pressing the input key 155L or 156L (in the case of the left operation unit 15L), or the input key 155R or 156R (in the case of the right operation unit 15R), the control conditions (the heating power of induction heating, the heating time, etc.) can be selected (step S15).

[0592] In step S15, if it is okay with the control conditions of one single cooking mode KM1, induction heating is automatically started within a certain time (10 seconds) without pressing the input key.

[0593] As is clear from FIG. 46, when the input key (shared key) 153L or 153R is "long pressed" at the stage of step S12, the control device 40 switches to the "input standby state" by voice, so the conditions within the range up to steps S14 - S15 can be input by voice. For example, like "boiling water, heating power 6", the user US can input by setting the control menu (in this case, "boiling water") and the control conditions by voice. Note that only the control conditions can also be input by voice.

[0594] Also, when the input keys 151L or 151R are operated (at the stage of step S14), the time for timer setting may be set with the input keys 154L, 155L (154R, 155R). These can also be input by voice after switching to the voice input mode 1. For example, it is sufficient to speak like "Heat level 6, timer, 10 minutes".

[0595] As is apparent from FIG. 46, in the cooking heater 1 of the first embodiment, the input operation unit 15 includes a first input operation unit (right operation unit 15R and left operation unit 15L) for the first heating means HM1 and a second input operation unit (central operation unit 15M) for the second heating means. It respectively has input keys A (153L, 153R) arranged on the first input operation units 15L, 15R and input keys B (153M, 154M) arranged on the second input operation unit 15M. The control device 40 enables the earlier touch input of either the input key A (153L, 153R) or the input key B (153M, 154M), and until the input of the necessary control conditions (such as heat level and heating time) regarding the cooking mode (cooperative cooking mode KM3, combined cooking mode KM2, single cooking mode KM1) or the control mode (such as "warm") is completed and cooking starts, the input process by the other input key does not start. This is the characteristic configuration.

[0596] That is, for the three cooking modes (cooperative cooking mode KM3, combined cooking mode KM2, single cooking mode KM1), only one of the input keys 153M, 154M, 153L, 153R that is touched first is accepted by the control device 40, and the other input keys are in a state where no input command is accepted for either the cooking menu or the control menu.

[0597] Therefore, for example, when the input key 154M is touched and switched to the voice input mode by long pressing, the selection of the combined cooking mode KM2 or the selection of the control menu (such as "warm") cannot be made by the input of other input keys (however, the input functions of the input keys 151M and 152M are maintained).

[0598] Thus, when the voice input mode is started by any one of the input keys A (153L, 153R) or the input keys B (153M, 154M), it becomes impossible to select other cooking modes or control modes, and after the start of the voice input mode, it does not proceed to the input process of other cooking modes or control menus. Therefore, incorrect setting conditions are not input for unintended cooking menus or control menus.

[0599] Also, when the input of the linked cooking mode KM3 is performed using the voice input mode by one input key (for example, 154M), when the cooking starts by pressing the input key 151M, the voice input mode until then is canceled. Therefore, afterwards, when the user US makes a touch operation to select other cooking modes or control menus, there is no confusion.

[0600] Next, FIG. 47 will be described. In this FIG. 47, the white symbols (for example, 153M) indicate the respective input keys (153M, etc.) operated in steps SM3, SM4, and SM8. In FIG. 47, step SM1 performs processing corresponding to the processing of steps ST2 and ST3 in FIG. 46. That is, the central display unit 16M is activated, and the standby initial screen 16MH is displayed. An abnormality determination is executed, and if there is no abnormality, a message indicating that "since there is no abnormality, cooking can be started" is displayed. Then, in the standby initial screen 16MH and the voice notification unit 51, notification for prompting the selection of the heating means and voice guidance are performed.

[0601] Furthermore, at the stage of this step SM1, if it is set to transmit startup information from the cooking heater 1 to the communication terminal 200 or the cloud server 300, the startup information (operation state data OS) is wirelessly transmitted from the communication unit 51 at this stage. Note that, as will be described in detail in FIG. 54, the standby initial screen 16MH also displays caution information for use to the user US.

[0602] In the next step SM2, the input functions of all the input operation units 15M, 15L, and 15R are enabled to prepare for touch input operations of each input key (such as 153M, 154M, 153L, 154R, etc.). Also, the elapsed time measurement is started by the elapsed time measurement unit 15T (see FIG. 17) held by the input operation unit 15. Although FIG. 17 shows an example of the central operation unit 15M, the right operation unit 15R and the left operation unit 15L have the same configuration as the central operation unit 15M. Therefore, they have a configuration corresponding to the elapsed time measurement unit 15T.

[0603] In the next step SM3, the cooperative cooking mode KM3 is selected. In step SM4, the composite cooking mode KM2 is selected. In step SM8, the single cooking mode KM1 by the first heating means HM1 is selected.

[0604] First, in step SM3, it is determined whether the input key 153M has been touched. If it has been touched, the process proceeds to the route A1 shown in FIG. 48. In step SM3, if there is no touch operation, the determination is "No" and the process proceeds to step SM4. In step SM4, if either the input key 154M or 155M has been touched, it becomes "Yes" and the process proceeds to the route B1 shown in FIG. 49.

[0605] In step SM4, if there is no touch operation, the determination is "No" and the process proceeds to step SM8. In step SM8, if either the input key 153L or 153R has been touched, it becomes "Yes" and the process proceeds to the route C1 shown in FIG. 50.

[0606] In step SM8 shown in FIG. 47, if there is no touch operation, the determination is "No" and the process proceeds to step SM5. In this step SM5, it is determined by the elapsed time measurement unit 15T (see FIG. 17) whether the preset limit time TX has been exceeded. If the limit time TX has not been exceeded, the process returns to step SM3.

[0607] On the other hand, if it is determined in step SM5 that the preset limit time TX has been exceeded, the process proceeds to step SM6, and a process of automatically shutting off the main power supply (hereinafter referred to as "automatic shut-off process 1") is performed. Then, a series of operations are terminated (SM7). In this way, when no input operation is performed, if the limit time (for example, 30 minutes) is exceeded, the main power switch 20 is automatically opened.

[0608] Next, FIG. 48 will be described. FIG. 48 is a flowchart showing the operations after the input key 153M is touch-operated in step SM3. When the input key 153M is touch-operated, if the touch operation is a "long press", it is discriminated by the input mode determination unit 15C (see FIG. 17) of the central operation unit 15M.

[0609] Then, the determination in step SM40 becomes "Yes", and the process proceeds to step SM41. On the other hand, if it is a "short press", the determination becomes "No", and the process proceeds to step SM50. Step SM41 is a determination step as to whether the above-mentioned "permission condition 1" and "permission condition 2" are satisfied. If these permission conditions are not satisfied, non-permission processing is performed at this stage (step SM47). Note that the non-permission processing is the processing of step ST8 described in FIG. 43.

[0610] If the determination in step SM41 is "Yes", the process proceeds to step SM42. In step SM42, the first specific screen 16M1 is displayed. The state at the time when this first specific screen 16M1 is displayed is shown in FIG. 26, for example. Thereafter, the input key 154M or 155M is further touch-operated (it may be touch-operated multiple times) to select a specific cooking menu (e.g., hamburger).

[0611] In FIG. 48, in step SM43, the elapsed time is measured by the time measurement unit 15T (see FIG. 17) to determine whether the preset limit time TY has been exceeded. After this step SM43, if an input by voice from the user US is performed via the voice signal reception unit 56 (see FIG. 16), step SM44 becomes "Yes" and proceeds to the next step SM45.

[0612] By the way, at the stage of step SM43, if the control device 40 has already switched to the "voice input mode 1A", then after this step SM43, if the input key 155M is touch-input, for the "voice input mode 1A", the input of the input key 155M is not accepted by the control device 40. That is, unless voice input is performed, step SM44 does not become "Yes", so the input completion step SM46 cannot be advanced to.

[0613] On the other hand, if it is set to the "voice input mode 1B" in advance, touch input can continue as described above. Also, exceptionally, if the input key 154M is touch-input again (in this case, "short press"), the voice input control program may be changed so that the "voice input mode" is released.

[0614] In this way, in this Embodiment 1, immediately after the input key 154M is "long pressed", it switches to the voice input mode 1A, and the voice input mode 1A continues automatically thereafter. However, this voice input mode 1A is released when the heating operation is started (that is, when the input key 151M is touch-operated).

[0615] If the limit time TY has not been exceeded, it proceeds to step SM46. In step SM46, it is determined whether the input is completed, and when step SM46 becomes a "Yes" determination, it enters a standby state waiting for the input of the input key 151M (A21).

[0616] On the other hand, if steps SM44 and SM46 are "No", the process returns to step SM44 respectively and waits for an input by voice from user US. Also, in step SM45, if it is determined that the limit time TY has been exceeded, step SM45 becomes "No" and the process proceeds to error handling step SM48. Note that the error handling here is slightly different from the automatic shutdown process shown in step SM6 of FIG. 47. It means returning from the display of the first specific screen 16M1 to the initial standby screen 16MH, displaying that the input has not been properly made, or making an audio notification from the audio notification unit 50. After that, the process may proceed to step SM5 and then to step SM6 for automatic shutdown processing.

[0617] Subsequently, using FIG. 48, steps SM50 and subsequent steps will be described. Step SM50 is a determination step of whether the aforementioned "permission condition 1" and "permission condition 2" are satisfied. If "permission condition 1" and "permission condition 2" are not satisfied, non - permission processing is performed at this stage (step SM56). Note that the non - permission processing is the processing of step ST8 described in FIG. 43.

[0618] If the determination in step SM50 is "Yes", the process proceeds to step SM51. In step SM51, the first specific screen 16M1 is displayed. The state at the time when this first specific screen 16M1 is displayed is shown, for example, in FIG. 26. After that, in order to select a specific cooking menu (e.g., hamburger), the input keys 154M or 155M are touch - operated (multiple touch operations are also possible).

[0619] In FIG. 48, in step SM52, the elapsed time is measured by the time measurement unit 15T (see FIG. 17) to determine whether the preset limit time TY has been exceeded. After this step SM52, if a touch input is made from user US via the audio signal reception unit 56 (see FIG. 16) using, for example, the input keys 156M or 157M, step SM53 becomes "Yes" and the process proceeds to the next step SM54.

[0620] Incidentally, at the stage of step SM53, the control device 40 has already switched to the touch input mode. Therefore, after this step SM52, when the input key 155M is touch-input, for the touch input mode, the input of the input key 155M is accepted by the control device 40. That is, as long as it is a touch input, since step SM53 becomes "Yes", the process proceeds to the input completion step SM46. Incidentally, exceptionally, when the input key 154 is touch-input again (in this case, "long-pressed"), the touch input mode may be canceled and changed to return to the "voice input mode 1".

[0621]

[0622] If the limit time TY has not been exceeded, the process proceeds to step SM55. Then, it is determined whether the input is completed. When step SM55 is determined to be "Yes", it enters a standby state waiting for the input of the input key 151M (A22).

[0623] On the other hand, if steps SM53 and SM55 are "No", the process returns to step SM53 respectively, and waits for a touch input from the user US. Also, in step SM54, if it is determined that the limit time TY has been exceeded, step SM54 becomes "No", and the process proceeds to the error processing step SM57. Incidentally, the error processing here is slightly different from the automatic shut-off processing shown in step SM6 of FIG. 47. It means returning from the display of the first specific screen 16M1 to the initial standby screen 16MH, displaying that the input has not been performed properly, or making an audio notification from the audio notification unit 50. After that, the process may proceed to step SM5, and may proceed to step SM6 and be automatically shut off.

[0624] ​Next, FIG. 49 will be described. FIG. 49 is a flowchart showing operations after either input key 154M or 155M is touched in step SM4. When input key 154M is touched, if the touch operation is a "long press", it is determined by the input mode determination unit 15C (see FIG. 17) of the central operation unit 15M.

[0625] Then, the determination in step SM60 becomes "Yes", and the process proceeds to step SM61. On the other hand, if it is a "short press", the determination becomes "No", and the process proceeds to step SM70. Step SM61 is a determination step as to whether "permission condition 3" is satisfied. The "permission condition 3" mentioned here is different from permission condition 1 and permission condition 2 (see FIGS. 43 and 44) of the linked cooking mode. The "permission condition 3" in this combined cooking mode is, for example, when the latest temperature of the heating chamber 6 is checked by the temperature sensor group 30 and the result is 100°C. This is because it exceeds the temperature detection range (90°C or less) of the "warm up".

[0626] If "permission condition 3" is not satisfied, non - permission processing is performed at this stage (step SM67). Note that the non - permission processing is to display a message such as "The heating chamber is too hot to cook" on the initial standby screen 16MH or to perform a similar notification by the voice notification unit 50. Note that when cooking is performed in the heating chamber 6 by the third heating means HM3, after the cooking is completed, the heating chamber 6 may remain hot for a while due to residual heat.

[0627] If the determination in step SM61 is "Yes", the process proceeds to step SM62. In step SM62, the second specific screen 16M2 is displayed. The state at the time when this second specific screen 16M2 is displayed is shown, for example, in FIG. 22. Thereafter, either input key 154M or 155M is touched again (it may be touched multiple times) to select a specific control menu (e.g., warm up).

[0628] In FIG. 49, in step SM63, the elapsed time is measured by the time measurement unit 15T (see FIG. 17) to determine whether the preset limit time TY has been exceeded. After this step SM63, if an input by voice from the user US is made via the voice signal receiving unit 56 (see FIG. 16), step SM64 becomes "Yes" and proceeds to the next step SM65.

[0629] By the way, at the stage of step SM63, the control device 40 has already switched to the voice input mode 1. Therefore, if the input key 155M is touch-input after this step SM63, for the voice input mode, the input of the input key 155M is not accepted by the control device 40 (when set to the "voice input mode 1A"). That is, unless voice input is made, step SM64 does not become "Yes", so the input completion step SM66 cannot be advanced. Incidentally, exceptionally, if the input key 154M is touch-input again (in this case, "short press"), the "voice input mode 1" may be changed to be canceled.

[0630] On the other hand, when set to the "voice input mode 1B", the touch input of the input key 155M is accepted by the control device 40 even after step SM63.

[0631] Thus, in this Embodiment 1, immediately after the input key 154M is "long pressed", it switches to the voice input mode 1, but the voice input mode 1 is automatically canceled at the time when a command to start heat cooking is given (when the input key 151M is touch-operated).

[0632] If the limit time TY has not been exceeded, it proceeds to step SM66. In step SM65, it is determined whether the input is completed, and when step SM66 is determined to be "Yes", it enters a standby state waiting for the input of the input key 151M (B21).

[0633] On the other hand, if steps SM64 and SM66 are "No", the process returns to step SM64 respectively and waits for voice input from user US. Also, in step SM65, if it is determined that the time limit TY has been exceeded, step SM65 becomes "No" and the process proceeds to error handling step SM68. Note that the error handling here is slightly different from the automatic shutdown process shown in step SM6 of FIG. 47. It means returning from the display of the second specific screen 16M2 to the initial standby screen 16MH and displaying that the input has not been properly made, or making an audio notification from the audio notification unit 50. After that, the process may proceed to step SM5 and then to step SM6 where it may be automatically shut down.

[0634] Subsequently, steps SM60 and later will be described with reference to FIG. 49. Step SM70 is a determination step as to whether the above-mentioned "permission condition 3" is satisfied. If the permission condition 3 is not satisfied, non-permission processing is performed at this stage (step SM76). The "non-permission processing" in this case is the same as the non-permission processing in step SM67.

[0635] If the determination in step SM70 is "Yes", the process proceeds to step SM71. In step SM71, the second specific screen 16M2 is displayed. The state at the time when this second specific screen 16M2 is displayed is shown in FIG. 22, for example. After that, the input keys 154M or 155M are touch-operated (multiple touch operations are also possible) to select a specific control menu (e.g., warm up). At this stage, if the input key 154M is "long pressed", the voice in...

Claims

1. a first heating means; a second heating means; a first input operation unit that receives a user's command regarding the first heating means; a second input operation unit that receives a user's command regarding the second heating means; a communication unit that receives recipe data from the outside; a notification unit having a display unit; and a control device, comprising: the first input operation unit has a touch-type input key A for selecting cooking content; the second input operation unit has a touch-type input key B for selecting cooking content; the first input operation unit commands the control device to start the voice input mode according to the touch state of the input key A; the second input operation unit commands the control device to start the voice input mode according to the touch state of the input key B; when the control device receives a start command for the voice input mode from the second input operation unit, it enables the acquisition of recipe data regarding the second heating means via the communication unit; when the control device can acquire the recipe data, it displays information indicating the acquisition of the recipe data on the display unit; A cooking heater characterized by the above.

2. The cooking heater according to claim 1, wherein the control device does not simultaneously receive the start command for the voice input mode regarding the second input operation unit and the start command for the voice input mode regarding the first input operation unit.

3. The cooking heater according to claim 1, wherein the control device starts the input process by validating the earlier touch input of either the input key A or the input key B, and thereafter, until a cooking start command is received by operating the start key, the input process by the other input key does not start.

4. a heating means; an input operation unit; a communication unit that receives recipe data from the outside; a notification unit having a display unit; and a control device that controls the heating means according to a plurality of cooking modes, comprising: the input operation unit commands the control device to start the voice input mode by operating a specific input key among the input keys; the control device displays a guidance screen on the display unit; the guidance screen displays touch position information for identifying the specific input key for selecting each of the cooking modes, and constitutes a touch input panel that enables input when the touch position information is touched. When the control device receives an acquisition command for the recipe data by a touch operation on the touch position information, it enters a standby state for receiving an external input in the voice input mode. When the recipe data can be acquired, the display unit displays information indicating the acquisition of the recipe data. A cooking heater characterized by the above.

5. When the control device cannot acquire the recipe data, the display unit displays at least one of information indicating that the recipe data could not be acquired and reference information indicating a cause or a countermeasure, according to the cooking heater described in claim 4.

6. A cooking heater having a signal transmission unit and a communication unit, and having a heating unit. A cloud server connected to the cooking heater by wireless communication. An audio input / output device connected to the cloud server via a network, and is provided with. The cloud server has a function of transmitting command data for setting control conditions of a cooking menu to the cooking heater. The cooking heater has a function of acquiring recipe data from the cloud server. The cooking heater has a function of activating a voice input mode according to the touch state of a touch-type input key. The cooking heater transmits a voice input mode start notification indicating that the voice input mode has been activated to the audio input / output device from the signal transmission unit without passing through the network. The cooking heater receives the command data acquired from the cloud server in the voice input mode. When the cooking heater can acquire the recipe data, the display unit displays information indicating the acquisition of the recipe data. When the recipe data cannot be acquired, the display unit displays at least one of information indicating an unacquired state and reference information indicating a cause or a countermeasure. A cooking system characterized by the above.

7. The cooking heater transmits a signal C indicating the end of the voice input mode to the audio input / output device from the signal transmission unit without passing through the network, according to the cooking system described in claim 6.

Images