Electric pot and server

Abstract

To provide an electric pot capable of detecting if a lid is left open without using a dedicated sensor.SOLUTION: In a water boiling process, a control unit executes a chlorine removing step for turning off a water boiling heater and allowing the boiled water to stand for a first time, causes the water to boil again when the water temperature decreases to a reheating temperature during the step, then executes the chlorine removing step again, and determines the completion of boiling by the completion of the chlorine removing step. The control unit measures the time elapsed from the start of the water boiling process (S1), and when the completion of boiling cannot be determined even when the elapsed time reaches the safety time (S2, S3), the control unit determines that a lid is left open if the water temperature reaches the specified temperature even once after the start of the water boiling process (S5), and determines that the water heater is broken if the water temperature does not reach the specified temperature even once (S6).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric kettle and a server. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known an electric kettle that is configured to heat water (liquid) contained in a container to a boiling state when power is turned on and then keep the water warm at a desired temperature (for example, Patent Document 1). The electric kettle includes a container, a water heater for boiling the water in the container, a heater for keeping the water warm in the container, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the water in the container, a control unit, etc.

[0003] When the power is turned on or when water is replenished into the container, the control unit starts the water boiling process and turns on the water boiling heater. When the temperature of the water in the container reaches the boiling temperature, the control unit turns off the water boiling heater and executes the heat retention process. In the heat retention process, the control unit turns the heat retention heater on and off so that the temperature of the water in the container is maintained at the set heat retention temperature.

[0004] Also known is an electric kettle that is configured to perform a descaling step to remove limescale during the water boiling process (for example, Patent Document 2).

[0005] Furthermore, there is also a known service that equips an electric kettle with a communication function so that it can be connected to a server, and transmits information such as the operating status from the electric kettle to the server, and the server estimates the status of the user of the electric kettle based on the information received and notifies the communication terminal linked to the electric kettle (for example, Patent Document 3). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-210327 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-064645 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-143714 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Some electric kettles have a descaling process in which the boiled water in the container is left for a predetermined time (e.g., 5 minutes) with the heaters (boiling heater and warming heater) turned off. In some such electric kettles, boiling is determined to be complete when the descaling process is complete.

[0008] Some electric kettles measure the time elapsed since the start of the water boiling process, and if it is not possible to determine that boiling is complete within a predetermined safe time (for example, 75 minutes), it determines that the water heater is malfunctioning. The safe time is set to a sufficiently long time that the container 3 is full of water and the water can boil even if its temperature is 0°C. If the electric kettle determines that the heater is malfunctioning, it will notify the user of the heater malfunction. This can be done, for example, by displaying an error number indicating a heater malfunction on the display of the electric kettle. If the electric kettle is connected so that it can communicate with a server, the error number will be notified to the server.

[0009] However, in a control system that measures the elapsed time since the start of such a water boiling process to determine whether the heater has failed, if the completion of boiling is determined by the completion of the de-chlorination process, a heater failure may be reported even if the heater is not broken.

[0010] The inventors of the present application conducted extensive research into the cause of this phenomenon, and discovered that the above-mentioned erroneous notification occurs when the amount of water in the container is low and the lid of the container is left on when the boiling process is performed. Based on this discovery, the inventors came up with the idea of ​​being able to detect when the lid of an electric kettle has been left on without using a dedicated sensor, and thus developed the present invention.

[0011] An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide an electric kettle that can detect whether the lid has been left closed without using a dedicated sensor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to solve the above problem, one aspect of the present invention provides an electric kettle comprising a container for holding liquid, a lid that covers the opening of the container, a heating unit that heats the liquid in the container, a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the liquid in the container, and a control unit; the control unit turns on the heating unit to boil the liquid in the container during the water boiling process, and then performs a descaling process in which the heating unit is turned off and the boiled liquid is left for a predetermined period of time; if the temperature of the liquid in the container drops to the reheating temperature during the descaling process, the control unit turns on the heating unit to bring the liquid to a boil again and then performs the descaling process again; and determines that boiling is complete when the descaling process is complete; if the control unit is unable to determine that boiling is complete even when the elapsed time since the start of the water boiling process has reached a safe time and the temperature characteristics of the liquid in the container show a rise in temperature since the start of the water boiling process, the control unit determines that the lid has been left on.

[0013] In order to solve the above problem, a server according to one embodiment of the present invention is a server that is communicatively connected to an electric kettle and a communication terminal linked to the electric kettle, and is equipped with an estimation unit that estimates the cognitive state of a user of the electric kettle based on information notified by the electric kettle indicating that the lid of the electric kettle has been detected as having been left closed, and a notification unit that notifies the communication terminal of the estimation result by the estimation unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, an electric kettle that can detect whether the lid has been left closed can be realized without using a dedicated sensor. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1]1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electric kettle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the electric kettle. [Figure 3] This is a flag that indicates the temperature change of the water in the container over time when the electric kettle is used with the lid closed. [Figure 4] This is a flag that indicates the change in water temperature over time when the electric kettle is used with the lid left open. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart of an abnormality detection control in the electric kettle. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system including an electric kettle and a server according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] [Embodiment 1] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0017] (Outline of electric kettle) Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electric kettle 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the electric kettle 1 includes a main body 1a, a lid 2, a container 3, a water heater 4a, a warming heater 4b, a temperature sensor 5, a discharge port 6, a discharge pipe 7, a hot water pump 8, an operation display panel 9, and a control unit 10.

[0018] The lid 2 is attached to the main body 1a so as to be freely opened and closed, and covers the opening of the container 3. The container 3 is provided inside the main body 1a and contains water (liquid). The kettle heater (heating unit) 4a is arranged on the outside of the bottom surface of the container 3 and heats the water contained in the container 3 to boil. The heat retention heater 4b is arranged on the outside of the bottom surface of the container 3 and heats the water contained in the container 3 to keep it warm. The temperature sensor (temperature detection unit) 5 is arranged on the outside of the side surface of the container 3 and detects the temperature (water temperature) of the water contained in the container 3. The temperature sensor (temperature detection unit) 5 may be arranged somewhere other than on the outside of the side surface of the container 3 (for example, on the outside of the bottom surface, etc.).

[0019] Discharge pipe 7 communicates with the interior of container 3 from the bottom, rises along the front side wall of container 3, and is connected to discharge port 6 formed in the shoulder part of main body 1a. Hot water pump 8 is attached to discharge pipe 7 and discharges water from container 3. Operation display panel 9 is attached to the front shoulder part of main body 1a and includes display part 9a, an indicator lamp (not shown), various keys (not shown) for operating electric kettle 1, such as a hot water key, etc.

[0020] (Control unit) Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the electric kettle 1. As shown in Figure 2, the control unit 10 is connected to the water heater 4a, the warming heater 4b, the hot water pump 8, and the operation display panel 9. The control unit 10 supplies power to these components and controls their operation. A signal indicating the temperature of the water in the container 3 is input to the control unit 10 from the temperature sensor 5.

[0021] The control unit 10 is configured, for example, by a microcomputer mounted on a control board including a power supply unit. The control unit 10 executes heating control and abnormality detection control in accordance with a program pre-stored in a ROM (not shown). The control unit 10 is equipped with a timer 10a that has a time measurement function.

[0022] <Heating control> The control unit 10 performs heating control by executing a water boiling process and a keep-warm process. The water boiling process is a process of turning on the water boiling heater 4a to boil the water in the container 3. When the electric kettle 1 is connected to a commercial power source or when water is added to the container 3 while the keep-warm process is being performed, the control unit 10 turns on the water boiling heater 4a to start the water boiling process. The keep-warm process is a process of turning on and off the keep-warm heater 4b to keep the temperature of the water in the container 3 from falling below the set keep-warm temperature.

[0023] In the water boiling process, the control unit 10 executes a descaling step to remove limescale from the water in the container 3. In the descaling step, the control unit 10 turns off the water heater 4a and leaves the boiled water for a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes). In the descaling step, all heaters, including the warming heater 4b, are turned off. Hereinafter, the predetermined time will be referred to as the "descaling time."

[0024] A reheating temperature is set for the descaling process, and if the temperature of the water in the container 3 drops to the reheating temperature during the descaling process, the control unit 10 terminates the descaling process and executes the reheating process. In the reheating process, the control unit 10 turns on the kettle heater 4a to boil the water in the container 3 again. When the water in the container 3 boils again, the control unit 10 executes the descaling process again. In other words, if the temperature of the water in the container 3 drops to the reheating temperature during the descaling process, the control unit 10 turns on the kettle heater 4a to boil the water again, and then executes the descaling process again.

[0025] When the descaling process is complete, the control unit 10 determines that boiling is complete and ends the boiling process. When the control unit 10 determines that boiling is complete, it notifies the user that boiling is complete and proceeds to the keep-warm process. The notification of boiling completion is made, for example, by turning off the boiling lamp on the operation display panel 9, which is lit during the boiling process.

[0026] <Anomaly detection control> As an abnormality detection control, the control unit 10 detects a malfunction of the water heater 4a and a failure to close the lid 2 from the time elapsed since the start of the water boiling process and the change in the temperature of the water in the container 3. When the control unit 10 starts the water boiling process, it activates the timer 10a to count the time elapsed since the start of the water boiling process.

[0027] If the control unit 10 determines that boiling has been completed before the timer 10a counts up a preset safety time (for example, 75 minutes), it determines that there is no abnormality and stops the timer 10a. As described above, the safety time is set to a sufficiently long time that the water in the container 3 can boil even if it is full of water and the water temperature is 0°C.

[0028] On the other hand, if the control unit 10 cannot determine that boiling is complete from the start of counting until the safe time has elapsed, it determines that the water heater 4a is malfunctioning or that the lid 2 has been left on. Here, if the temperature characteristics of the water in the container 3 do not indicate a rise in temperature from the start of the water boiling process until the safe time has elapsed, the control unit 10 determines that the water heater 4a is malfunctioning. Malfunctions of the water heater 4a include a broken wire in the water heater 4a and a malfunction of a part such as the relay that controls the water heater 4a.

[0029] On the other hand, if the temperature characteristics of the water in the container 3 indicate a rise in temperature between the start of the water boiling process and the lapse of the safe time, the control unit 10 determines that the lid 2 has been left on.

[0030] That is, if the control unit 10 cannot determine that boiling is complete even when the elapsed time since the start of the water boiling process reaches the safe time, and the temperature characteristics of the water in the container 3 indicate a rise in temperature after the start of the water boiling process, it determines that the two lids have been left closed. Also, if the control unit 10 cannot determine that boiling is complete even when the elapsed time since the start of the water boiling process reaches the safe time, and the temperature characteristics of the water in the container 3 indicate no rise in temperature after the start of the water boiling process, it determines that the water boiler heater 4a is faulty.

[0031] In this embodiment, whether or not the temperature characteristics of the water in the container 3 indicate a temperature rise is determined by whether or not the temperature of the water in the container 3 has reached a predetermined temperature at least once since the start of the water boiling process. The predetermined temperature is set to, for example, 98°C. The predetermined temperature is the temperature at which it is determined whether or not the water boiler heater 4a is malfunctioning, so it may be set to a temperature lower than 98°C, for example, 70°C. In short, it is sufficient if the temperature is higher than the general water temperature before the start of the water boiling process and reaches the predetermined temperature, thereby determining that the water boiler heater 4a is not malfunctioning.

[0032] However, if the specified temperature is set low, such as 40°C, the specified temperature will be exceeded when water of 40°C or higher is supplied from a water heater or the like, and it will be erroneously determined that the lid 2 has been left closed, even though the water heater 4a is malfunctioning. Therefore, by setting the specified temperature to a temperature close to the boiling temperature (for example, by setting the specified temperature higher than the reheating temperature), it is possible to improve the accuracy of determining whether the water heater 4a is malfunctioning.

[0033] Furthermore, whether or not the temperature characteristics of the water in the container 3 indicate a rise in temperature may be determined from the change in the water temperature in the container 3 before the start of the water boiling process and a predetermined period (about several minutes) after the start of the water boiling process. If the water boiler heater 4a is not malfunctioning, the water temperature will always rise, so it is possible to determine from the change in water temperature whether or not the water boiler heater 4a is malfunctioning.

[0034] Here, the abnormality detection control by the control unit 10 will be explained using Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 shows flags indicating the temperature change of the water in the container 3 over time when the electric kettle 1 is used with the lid 2 closed. Figure 4 shows flags indicating the temperature change of the water over time when the electric kettle 1 is used with the lid 2 left open. In the graphs shown in Figures 3 and 4, the water volume is about half full in both cases. Figures 3 and 4 also show the driving states (on / off states) of the kettle heater 4a and the warming heater 4b.

[0035] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, when the control unit 10 starts the water boiling process and turns on the water boiling heater 4a, the water temperature rises, and when the water temperature reaches the boiling temperature due to the residual heat of the water boiling heater 4a, the control unit 10 turns off the water boiling heater 4a and executes the dechlorination process.

[0036] In the examples of Figures 3 and 4, when the water temperature reaches 92°C, the control unit 10 measures the time T1 required for the water temperature to rise from 92°C to 98°C. 92°C is an example of a T1 measurement start temperature at which measurement of time T1 begins. The T1 measurement start temperature also serves as the aforementioned reheating temperature, which triggers the descaling process to end midway and execute the reheating process. 98°C is an example of a T1 measurement end temperature at which measurement of time T1 ends.

[0037] When the water temperature reaches 98°C, the temperature at the end of measurement T1, the control unit 10 keeps the water heater 4a on for time T2, which is the time T1 multiplied by a constant α, and then turns the water heater 4a off and leaves it as is, waiting for the dechlorination time to pass. Even if the water heater 4a is turned off after time T2 has passed, the water in the container 3 will boil due to the residual heat of the water heater 4a.

[0038] As shown in Figure 3, when the lid 2 is closed, the amount of heat dissipation is small, so even if the amount of water is about half, the water temperature is maintained even after the water heater 4a is turned off and does not reach the reheating temperature. Therefore, when the lid 2 is closed, the water temperature remains higher than the reheating temperature as the descaling time elapses, and the control unit 10 determines that boiling is complete and stops the timer 10a.

[0039] In contrast, as shown in Figure 4, when the lid 2 is left open (when the lid 2 is not closed), the amount of heat dissipated is large. Therefore, when the water volume is about half full, the water temperature drops significantly after the water heater 4a is turned off, and the water temperature may reach the reheating temperature before the descaling time has elapsed. Therefore, the control unit 10 ends the descaling process midway and starts the reheating process, turning the water heater 4a back on. When the water temperature reaches 92°C again during the reheating process, the control unit 10 measures the time T1 again. When the water temperature reaches 98°C, the control unit 10 keeps the water heater 4a on for the time T2, and then performs the descaling process again.

[0040] As shown in Figure 4, once the descaling process is stopped and the reheating process is performed, the descaling process is stopped and the reheating process is performed repeatedly. This is because the amount of water decreases due to evaporation as time passes after the start of the water boiling process, making it easier for the water temperature to drop. Therefore, if the lid 2 is left open, the descaling time will never expire, and the control unit 10 will not be able to determine that boiling has been completed. Therefore, the timer 10a will continue counting.

[0041] When the count value of the timer 10a reaches the safety time, the control unit 10 forcibly turns off the water heater 4a. Then, as shown in Figure 4, if the water temperature has reached the specified temperature even once, the control unit 10 determines that the lid 2 was left open. On the other hand, if the water temperature has not reached the specified temperature even once, the control unit 10 determines that the water heater 4a is faulty. If the water heater 4a is faulty, the water temperature will not rise and will not reach the specified temperature.

[0042] In the examples of Figures 3 and 4, the time T1 is measured and the water heater 4a is turned off at a timing that takes into account the rate of rise in water temperature, but it is also possible to set a heating-off temperature (e.g., 99°C) and turn off the water heater 4a when the heating-off temperature is reached.

[0043] In addition, in the examples of FIGS. 3 and 4, the T1 measurement start temperature doubles as the reheating temperature, but the T1 measurement start temperature and the reheating temperature do not have to be the same.

[0044] (Anomaly detection control flow) Figure 5 is a flowchart of the abnormality detection control in the electric kettle 1. As shown in Figure 5, when the control unit 10 starts the water boiling process, it starts the timer 10a and begins counting (S1). Next, the control unit 10 repeatedly determines whether boiling is complete (S2) and whether the count value of the timer 10a has reached the safe time (S3) until it determines YES in either case.

[0045] When the control unit 10 determines in S2 that boiling has been completed (YES in S2), it stops the timer 10a (S8), ends counting, and ends the process.

[0046] On the other hand, if the control unit 10 determines in S2 that boiling is not complete (NO in S2), the process proceeds to S3. If the control unit 10 determines in S3 that the count value of the timer 10a has reached the safe time (YES in S3), the control unit 10 determines whether the water temperature has reached the specified temperature at least once since the start of the water boiling process (S4).

[0047] If the control unit 10 determines in S4 that this has happened even once (YES in S4), it determines that the lid 2 has been left closed and detects that the lid 2 has been left closed (S5), proceeds to an abnormality notification step to notify the abnormality (S7), and then ends the process.On the other hand, if the control unit 10 determines in S4 that this has never happened (NO in S4), it determines that the water heater 4a has malfunctioned and detects a malfunction of the water heater 4a (S6), proceeds to an abnormality notification step to notify the abnormality (S7), and then ends the process.

[0048] When the control unit 10 detects that the lid 2 has been left closed (S5), it notifies the user that the lid 2 has been left closed in the abnormality notification step of S7. For example, a misuse indication indicating that the lid 2 has been left closed is displayed on the display unit 9a of the operation display panel 9. The misuse indication includes information such as a misuse number, such as "H1," indicating that the lid 2 has been left closed.

[0049] On the other hand, when the control unit 10 detects a malfunction of the water heater 4a (S6), it notifies the malfunction of the water heater 4a in the abnormality notification step of S7. For example, an error message indicating the malfunction of the water heater 4a is displayed on the display unit 9a of the operation display panel 9. The error message includes information such as an error number indicating the malfunction of the water heater 4a, such as "E3."

[0050] If the electric kettle has a melody or voice output function, a melody or voice may be used to notify the user that the water heater 4a is out of order or that the lid 2 has been left open.

[0051] (Description of effects) As described above, in the electric kettle 1 of this embodiment, it is possible to detect that the electric kettle 1 has been used with the lid 2 left open without using a dedicated sensor or the like in the electric kettle 1 to detect the open / closed state of the lid 2.

[0052] Furthermore, with the above configuration, it is possible to distinguish between a malfunction of the water heater 4a and use with the lid 2 left open. This makes it clear whether or not the electric kettle 1 is malfunctioning, even if the water heater 4a is forcibly turned off after the aforementioned safety time has elapsed, effectively reducing unnecessary repair requests and inquiries.

[0053] Moreover, by simply changing the program that operates the control unit 10, it is possible to distinguish and detect whether the water heater 4a is broken or whether the lid 2 is being used with the lid 2 left closed, thereby preventing any increase in costs.

[0054] Furthermore, in the above configuration, if it is detected that the lid 2 has been left closed, an error message indicating incorrect use is displayed instead of an error message indicating a malfunction. This makes it possible to accurately notify the user that the problem is incorrect use and not a malfunction.

[0055] In this embodiment, the case where the amount of water in the container 3 is about half full has been described as an example with reference to Figures 3 and 4. However, the scope of application of the present invention, which determines whether the lid 2 has been left on or the kettle heater 4a is malfunctioning based on the safe time and the temperature characteristics of the water in the container 3, is not limited to cases where the amount of water in the container 3 is less than full. Even if the container 3 is full, similar phenomena can occur, such as when the heat retention capacity of the electric kettle 1 is low or the temperature of the environment in which the electric kettle 1 is installed is low. Therefore, even in such cases, the present invention can be applied to determine whether the lid 2 has been left on or the kettle heater 4a is malfunctioning.

[0056] [Embodiment 2] Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals will be used to designate components having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0057] 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system 100 including an electric kettle 1A of this embodiment and a server 101. As shown in FIG. 6, the system 100 includes an electric kettle 1A, a server 101, and a communication terminal 102.

[0058] 6, the electric kettle 1A has a control unit 10A instead of the control unit 10, and also has a communication unit 11, and is connected to a server 101 via the communication unit 11. When the control unit 10A detects a malfunction of the kettle heater 4a, it notifies the server 101 that a malfunction of the kettle heater 4a has been detected. Similarly, when the electric kettle 1A detects that the lid 2 has been left closed, it transmits to the server 101 that the lid 2 has been left closed.

[0059] The server 101 includes a communication unit 1011, an estimation unit 1012, a notification unit 1013, a storage unit 1014, etc., and is capable of communicating with the communication terminal 102. The communication terminal 102 is a smartphone, a personal computer, or the like that is linked to the electric kettle 1A. For example, if the user of the electric kettle 1A is an elderly person, the communication terminal 102 is a communication terminal that is owned by a relative or the like of the elderly person.

[0060] When the server 101 is notified by the electric kettle 1A that a malfunction of the water heater 4a has been detected, the server 101 notifies the communication terminal 102 that a malfunction of the water heater 4a has occurred in the electric kettle 1A (function of the notification unit 1013).

[0061] Similarly, when the server 101 is notified by the electric kettle 1A that it has detected that the lid 2 has been left open, it notifies the communication terminal 102 that the electric kettle 1A is being used or has been used with the lid 2 left open (function of the notification unit 1013).

[0062] By receiving such a notification, a person related to the user of the electric kettle 1A who owns the communication terminal 102 can take appropriate action for the user of the electric kettle 1A. For example, in the case of a malfunction, advice such as "The electric kettle is malfunctioning, so please do not use it. We will send it in for repairs next time" can be given. Also, in the case of forgetting to close the lid 2, advice such as "It seems that sometimes people forget to close the lid of the electric kettle. It is dangerous, so please make sure to close the lid properly" can be given.

[0063] In addition, the estimation unit 1012 estimates the cognitive state of the user of the electric kettle 1A based on information notified by the electric kettle 1A indicating that the lid 2 has been left unclosed, and the notification unit 1013 notifies the communication terminal 102 of the estimation result by the estimation unit 1012.

[0064] Specifically, when the server 101 is notified by the electric kettle 1A that it has detected that the lid 2 has been left closed, the server 101 stores the fact that the lid 2 has been left closed as data in the memory unit 1014, along with information such as the date and time of the notification.

[0065] The estimation unit 1012 refers to information about forgetting to close the lid 2 stored in the memory unit 1014, and if it determines that the frequency of forgetting to close the lid 2 is high, it estimates that the user of the electric kettle 1A is at risk of dementia. If such an estimation is made, the notification unit 1013 notifies the communication terminal 102 that the user of the electric kettle 1A is at risk of dementia.

[0066] By receiving such a notification, a person related to the user of the electric kettle 1A who is carrying the communication terminal 102 can know the cognitive state of the user of the electric kettle 1A and can take appropriate action against the user of the electric kettle 1A.

[0067] Furthermore, the estimation unit 1012 references information about forgetting to close the lid 2 stored in the memory unit 1014, and if it determines that the number of times the lid 2 has been left closed has increased compared to the past, it estimates that the user of the electric kettle 1A may have dementia. If such an estimation is made, the notification unit 1013 notifies the communication terminal 102 that the user of the electric kettle 1A may have dementia.

[0068] In this case, the number of times the lid 2 was left unclosed in the most recent predetermined period (for example, six months) and the number of times the lid 2 was left unclosed in the same predetermined period in the past may be graphed and notified. This allows a person related to the user of the electric kettle 1A who owns the communication terminal 102 to see at a glance that the number of times the lid 2 was left unclosed is increasing.

[0069] (Additional notes) The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 1. 1A electric kettle 2 Lid 3 containers 4a Water heater (heating part) 4b Heater 5 Temperature sensor (temperature detection part) 10, 10A control section 101 Server 102 Communication terminal 1012 Estimation section 1013 Notification Department

Claims

1. a container for containing a liquid; a lid for covering the opening of the container; a heating unit that heats the liquid in the container; a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the liquid in the container; a control unit, the control unit, in the water boiling process of turning on the heating unit to boil the liquid in the container, executes a descaling step of turning off the heating unit and leaving the boiled liquid for a predetermined time, and when the temperature of the liquid in the container drops to a reheating temperature during the descaling step, turns on the heating unit to bring the liquid to a boil again, and then executes the descaling step again, and determines completion of boiling when the descaling step is completed; In this electric kettle, if the control unit cannot determine that the boiling is complete even when the elapsed time since the start of the water boiling process reaches a safe time, and if the temperature characteristics of the liquid in the container show a rise in temperature since the start of the water boiling process, it determines that the lid has been left on.

2. 2. The electric kettle according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines that the heating unit is faulty if the control unit cannot determine that the boiling is complete even when the elapsed time reaches the safe time and if the temperature characteristics of the liquid in the container do not indicate a rise in temperature after the start of the water boiling process.

3. Further comprising a display unit, The electric kettle according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit, when determining that the lid has been left in place, notifies the user of the misuse using the display unit.

4. The device further includes a communication unit, and is communicably connected to a server using the communication unit; The electric kettle according to claim 1 , wherein, when the control unit determines that the lid has been left unclosed, the control unit notifies the server using the communication unit that the lid has been detected as being unclosed.

5. A server communicably connected to an electric kettle and a communication terminal linked to the electric kettle, an estimation unit that estimates a cognitive state of a user of the electric kettle based on information notified by the electric kettle indicating that a lid of the electric kettle has been left unclosed; a notification unit that notifies the communication terminal of an estimation result by the estimation unit.

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