Induction heating cooker and method for controlling induction heating cooker

Abstract

To provide an induction heating cooker capable of efficiently heating a heating object.SOLUTION: An induction heating cooker according to the present disclosure includes a top plate, a coil unit, and a controller. The coil unit includes a plurality of coil pieces disposed in the heating region. The heating region has a plurality of coil arrangement regions defined by an outer peripheral line defining an outer periphery of the heating region and a plurality of boundary lines extending from a center of the heating region toward the outer periphery. The coil piece is disposed in the coil arrangement region. The controller is capable of switching between a plurality of heating states having different local strength distributions of heating to the object to be heated by controlling a parameter of a current while causing the current to flow through the plurality of coil pieces, has a plurality of heating sequences in which one or more heating states are combined, acquires a cooking mode, and switches between the plurality of heating sequences according to the cooking mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an induction heating cooker and a control method for an induction heating cooker. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a cooking device that includes a heating means for heating an object to be heated, a drive circuit for supplying power to the heating means, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the object to be heated, and a control unit for controlling the drive circuit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7094417 specification Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the induction heating cooker described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it is difficult to efficiently heat an object to be heated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The induction heating cooker of the present disclosure includes a top plate, a coil unit, and a controller. The coil unit is disposed below the top plate. The controller controls heating of the object to be heated by the coil unit. The coil unit includes, in a plan view, a plurality of coil pieces disposed in a first heating region that heats the object to be heated. The first heating region has, in a plan view, a plurality of first coil arrangement regions defined by a first perimeter line that defines the perimeter of the first heating region and a plurality of first boundary lines that extend radially from the center of the first heating region toward the perimeter. The plurality of coil pieces are disposed within the plurality of first coil arrangement regions in a plan view. The controller is capable of switching between a plurality of heating states that vary in the distribution of local heating intensity for the object to be heated by controlling at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces while passing a current through all of the plurality of coil pieces. The controller also has a plurality of heating sequences that combine one or more of the plurality of heating states. Furthermore, the controller acquires a cooking mode and switches between the plurality of heating sequences in accordance with the acquired cooking mode.

[0006] The control method for an induction cooker disclosed herein is a method for controlling an induction cooker using a controller. The induction cooker includes a top plate and a coil unit. The coil unit is disposed below the top plate. The coil unit includes, in a plan view, a plurality of coil pieces disposed in a first heating region that heats an object to be heated. The first heating region has a plurality of first coil arrangement regions defined in a plan view by a first outer periphery line that defines the periphery of the first heating region and a plurality of first boundary lines that extend radially from the center of the first heating region toward the periphery. The plurality of coil pieces are disposed within the plurality of first coil arrangement regions in a plan view. The induction cooker is capable of switching between a plurality of heating states with different distributions of localized heat intensity for the object to be heated by controlling at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces while passing a current through all of the plurality of coil pieces. The induction cooker also has a plurality of heating sequences that combine one or more of the plurality of heating states. The method for controlling the induction heating cooker includes the steps of obtaining a cooking mode and switching between the plurality of heating sequences according to the cooking mode. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] In view of the above-described problems, the present disclosure provides an induction heating cooker and a control method for an induction heating cooker that can efficiently heat an object to be heated. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of an example of an induction heating cooker according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an example of a coil unit according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 3] Schematic enlarged view of the coil pieces that make up the coil unit in Figure 2 [Figure 4] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an induction heating cooker according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 5] 1 is a circuit diagram of an example of an induction heating cooker according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 6] A graph showing an example of a current waveform when the phase difference between the currents flowing through adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces is 0°. [Figure 7] Graph showing an example of a current waveform when the phase difference between currents flowing through adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces is 180°. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a region where magnetic flux concentrates in a first heating state in the induction heating cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a region where magnetic flux concentrates in a second heating state in the induction heating cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a region where magnetic flux concentrates in a third heating state in the induction heating cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a region where magnetic flux concentrates in a fourth heating state in the induction heating cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a region where magnetic flux concentrates in a fifth heating state in the induction heating cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a region where magnetic flux concentrates in the sixth heating state in the induction heating cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing an example of a method for controlling an induction heating cooker in an induction heating cooker according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15] 10A and 10B are graphs showing an example of a relationship between a heating time of an object to be heated and a temperature of the object to be heated detected by a temperature sensor in a first mode of the induction heating cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; a graph showing an example of a relationship between a heating time of the object to be heated and an oil temperature of oil contained in the object to be heated; and a graph showing an example of a relationship between a heating time of the object to be heated and a heating state. [Figure 16]10A and 10B are graphs showing an example of a relationship between a heating time of an object to be heated and a temperature of the object to be heated detected by a temperature sensor in a second mode of the induction heating cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, and a graph showing an example of a relationship between a heating time of the object to be heated and a heating state of the object to be heated; [Figure 17] 10A and 10B are graphs showing an example of a relationship between a heating time of an object to be heated and a temperature of the object to be heated detected by a temperature sensor in a third mode of the induction heating cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, and a graph showing an example of a relationship between a heating time of the object to be heated and a heating state of the object to be heated; [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of an example of an induction heating cooker according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a plan view of an example of a coil unit of an induction heating cooker according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a region where magnetic flux concentrates in a first heating state in an induction heating cooker according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a region where magnetic flux concentrates in a second heating state in the induction heating cooker according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a region where magnetic flux concentrates in a third heating state in the induction heating cooker according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a region where magnetic flux concentrates in a fourth heating state in the induction heating cooker according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a region where magnetic flux concentrates in a fifth heating state in the induction heating cooker according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 25] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a region where magnetic flux concentrates in the sixth heating state in the induction heating cooker according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 26] 10A and 10B are graphs showing the relationship between the heating time of an object to be heated and the temperature of the object to be heated detected by a temperature sensor in the second mode of the induction heating cooker of Modification 1, and the relationship between the heating time of the object to be heated and the heating state. [Figure 27]FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between the heating time of the object to be heated and the temperature of the object to be heated detected by a temperature sensor in the third mode of the induction heating cooker of the second modified example, and a graph showing the relationship between the heating time of the object to be heated and the heating state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] (Background to this disclosure) The induction cooking device described in Patent Document 1 performs heating control using a control unit so that the temperature of the heated object reaches a target temperature according to a control sequence stored in a memory unit that is preset for each cooking menu. For example, the induction cooking device described in Patent Document 1 performs heating control in a deep-frying mode, which includes a preheating process, a keep-warm process, and a cooking process. The preheating process is a process of raising the temperature of the pan to a first set temperature that is higher than the target temperature for deep-frying. The keep-warm process is a process of maintaining the temperature of the pan at a second set temperature that is higher than the target temperature but lower than the first set temperature after the preheating process. The cooking process is a process performed when it is detected that ingredients have been added to the pan during the keep-warm process. In the cooking process, the temperature of the contents, such as oil, can be quickly returned to the target temperature by supplying a higher power to the heating coil than that used in the preheating process.

[0010] However, the induction cooking device described in Patent Document 1 does not change the distribution of local heating intensity of the object to be heated. Therefore, supplying a large amount of power to the heating coil further increases the local temperature difference of the object to be heated. For example, the local temperature difference of the object to be heated is the difference between the temperature at the point where the local heating temperature is highest and the temperature at the point where the local heating temperature is lowest. Furthermore, when the local temperature difference of the object to be heated becomes even larger, there is a problem that if food comes into contact with the locally hot point of the object to be heated, the food will burn.

[0011] Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the present inventors have studied an induction heating cooker that can efficiently heat an object to be heated and a method for controlling an induction heating cooker, and have arrived at the present disclosure.

[0012] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its applications, or its uses. Furthermore, the drawings are schematic, and the ratios of the dimensions and the like do not necessarily correspond to reality.

[0013] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., used herein are for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as expressing or implying the relative importance or ranking of technical features. Features qualified as "first" and "second" expressly or imply the inclusion of one or more of such features.

[0014] (Embodiment 1) An induction heating cooker according to this embodiment will be described.

[0015] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an example of an induction heating cooker 1A according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a plan view of an example of a coil unit 4A according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. Note that the XYZ coordinate system shown in the figure is provided to facilitate understanding of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention. The X-axis direction indicates the left-right direction, the Y-axis direction indicates the depth direction, and the Z-axis direction indicates the vertical direction.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, induction heating cooker 1A is a cooker that induction heats a heating object 80 that contains food ingredients 81. The heating object 80 is a cooking container. The food ingredients 81 are contained in the heating object 80 and are ingredients to be cooked. For example, the food ingredients 81 refer to food and / or beverages. Note that oil may also be contained in the heating object 80. Induction heating cooker 1A includes a top plate 2 and a housing 3.

[0017] The object to be heated 80 is placed on the top plate 2. The top plate 2 is made of a heat-resistant material. For example, the top plate 2 is made of heat-resistant glass.

[0018] The housing 3 is attached to the lower surface of the top plate 2. Inside the housing 3, a plurality of coil units 4A, a controller 5, a plurality of temperature sensors 6, and an input / output interface device 8 are mounted.

[0019] Each of the plurality of coil units 4A is disposed below the top plate 2. Each of the plurality of coil units 4A inductively heats an object to be heated 80 placed on the opposing portion of the top plate 2. The structure of the coil unit 4A will be described later.

[0020] The controller 5 controls the heating of the object to be heated 80 by each of the plurality of coil units 4A. The controller 5 controls the heating of the object to be heated 80 by each of the plurality of coil units 4A according to the cooking mode. For example, the controller 5 acquires the cooking mode and controls the heating of the object to be heated 80 by each of the plurality of coil units 4A according to the acquired cooking mode. The configuration of the controller 5 will be described later.

[0021] The plurality of temperature sensors 6 are disposed below the top plate 2 and detect the temperature of the object 80 to be heated placed on the opposing portion of the top plate 2. For example, the temperature sensors 6 are infrared sensors. The plurality of temperature sensors 6 detect infrared rays through a transmission window 7 provided in the top plate 2. The transmission window 7 provided in the top plate 2 may also be capable of transmitting infrared rays. The transmission window 7 is provided within the heating area of ​​the object 80 to be heated. The transmission window 7 is circular or polygonal and is smaller than the heating area of ​​the object 80 to be heated. For example, when the temperature sensor 6 detects infrared rays, it outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of infrared rays detected. The temperature sensor 6 also inputs information about the temperature of the object 80 to the controller 5 according to the amount of infrared rays detected.

[0022] The input / output interface device 8 functions as an input device for inputting information from the user and as an output device for outputting information to the user. The input / output interface device 8 may include an operation panel with which the user operates the induction heating cooker 1A, buttons with which the user changes the heat level, and a display and speaker for notifying the user of the status of the induction heating cooker 1A. For example, the user can change the cooking mode, which will be described later, by operating the input / output interface device 8.

[0023] [Coil unit] The coil unit 4A will be described in more detail below.

[0024] 2, the coil unit 4A includes a plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10F that are arranged in a first heating region S0 in the XY plane to heat an object to be heated 80. The plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10F are components that correspond to the heating coils of a general induction heating cooker.

[0025] The first heating area S0 is a closed area having a center C1 in the XY plane, where multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F are arranged. The first heating area S0 is formed in a circular shape in the XY plane. The first heating area S0 is also a region where a heating object 80 shown on the upper surface of the top plate 2 is arranged.

[0026] The first heating region S0 has a plurality of first coil arrangement regions S1 to S6. The plurality of first coil arrangement regions S1 to S6 are arranged adjacent to each other and radially around the center C1 of the first heating region S0 in the XY plane. The plurality of first coil arrangement regions S1 to S6 are defined in the XY plane by a first perimeter line L10 that defines the perimeter of the first heating region S0 and a plurality of first boundary lines L1 to L6 that extend radially from the center C1 of the first heating region S0 toward the perimeter.

[0027] In this embodiment, the multiple first boundary lines L1 to L6 are arranged radially at equal intervals in the XY plane, centered on the center C1 of the first heating region S0. The multiple first boundary lines L1 to L6 are straight lines extending from the center C1 of the first heating region S0 toward the outer periphery in the XY plane. Among the multiple first boundary lines L1 to L6, the angles formed by two adjacent first boundary lines are approximately the same. Since the angles formed by two adjacent first boundary lines among the multiple first boundary lines L1 to L6 are approximately the same, the multiple first coil arrangement regions S1 to S6 have approximately the same shape and approximately the same size in the XY plane. In this specification, "approximately" means an error of within 10%. Preferably, "approximately" means an error of within 5%.

[0028] In this embodiment, the multiple first boundary lines L1 to L6 include six first boundary lines L1 to L6. The angle between two adjacent first boundary lines is 60 degrees. This divides the first heating region S0 into six first coil arrangement regions S1 to S6 that have approximately the same shape and size in a plan view.

[0029] The multiple coil pieces 10A-10F are arranged in multiple first coil arrangement regions S1-S6 in the XY plane. One coil piece is arranged in one first coil arrangement region. By arranging one coil piece in one first coil arrangement region, the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F are arranged radially and adjacently in the first heating region S0 in the XY plane.

[0030] Each of the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F has a coil wire 11 wound and arranged in each of the multiple first coil arrangement regions S1-S6. The coil wire 11 is arranged in the XY plane along two adjacent first boundary lines among the multiple first boundary lines L1-L6 and a first outer circumferential line L10 connecting the two adjacent first boundary lines. Within the first coil arrangement regions S1-S6, the coil wire 11 is arranged along the first boundary lines L1-L6 and the first outer circumferential line L10 that define the first coil arrangement regions S1-S6, and is arranged wound inward.

[0031] In this embodiment, the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F have approximately the same shape and approximately the same size in the XY plane.

[0032] Fig. 3 is a schematic enlarged view of coil pieces 10A to 10F that make up the coil unit 4A of Fig. 2. Fig. 3 shows the coil piece 10A arranged in the first coil arrangement region S1. The first coil arrangement regions S2 to S6 have the same configuration as the first coil arrangement region S1, so their description will be omitted. Furthermore, the coil pieces 10B to 10F have the same configuration as the coil piece 10A, so their description will be omitted.

[0033] 3, the coil piece 10A arranged in the first coil arrangement region S1 has a coil wire 11 arranged along two adjacent first boundary lines L1, L2 and a first outer circumferential line L10 connecting the two adjacent first boundary lines L1, L2 in the XY plane. The coil wire 11 is made of a conductive material.

[0034] The coil wire 11 is arranged in the XY plane so as to wind around within the first coil arrangement region S1 along the first boundary lines L1 and L2 and the first outer circumferential line L10. The coil wire 11 is arranged in a frame shape in the XY plane. In this embodiment, the first coil arrangement region S1 is formed in a fan shape in the XY plane, and therefore the outer shape of the coil wire 11 is also formed in a fan shape in the XY plane.

[0035] In this embodiment, the coil wire 11 includes a first coil wire portion 20, a second coil wire portion 30, and a third coil wire portion 40. The first coil wire portion 20, the second coil wire portion 30, and the third coil wire portion 40 are integrally configured. Each of the first coil wire portion 20, the second coil wire portion, and the third coil wire portion 40 is a wire portion formed by winding a plurality of turns of a bundle of twisted metal wires. For example, the wire portion is formed by winding approximately 60 turns of approximately 20 twisted copper wires each having a diameter of 0.2 mm. The diameter of the metal wire is not limited to 0.2 mm and may be selected as appropriate. The diameter of the metal wire may be selected as appropriate within a range of 0.01 mm to 0.5 mm. Furthermore, the material of the metal wire is not limited to copper and may be, for example, aluminum or a copper-aluminum clad material. The number of metal wires in the bundle (i.e., the so-called core number) is not limited to 20 and may be selected as appropriate. For example, the number of cores may be suitably selected within the range of 5 to 50. Furthermore, the number of windings of the wire portion is not limited to 10 turns and may be suitably set. For example, the number of windings may be suitably selected within the range of 5 to 20 turns.

[0036] The first coil wire portion 20 is arranged along two adjacent first boundary lines L1, L2 and a first outer circumferential line L10 in the XY plane. The first coil wire portion 20 is a portion of the coil wire 11 that is arranged on the outermost side of the coil piece 10A in the XY plane. The first coil wire portion 20 is formed in a frame shape in the XY plane. The outer shape of the first coil wire portion 20 is formed in a fan shape in the XY plane.

[0037] The first coil wire portion 20 includes straight portions 21 and 22, a curved portion 23, and connection portions 24, 25, and 26. The straight portion 21 is a substantially straight coil portion arranged along the first boundary line L1. The straight portion 22 is a substantially straight coil portion arranged along the first boundary line L2. The curved portion 23 is a curved coil portion arranged along the first circumferential line L10. The connection portion 24 is a coil portion that connects one end of the straight portion 21 to one end of the straight portion 22 on the center C1 side of the first heating region S0 in the XY plane. The connection portion 25 is a coil portion that connects the other end of the straight portion 21 to one end of the curved portion 23 on the first circumferential line L10 side of the first heating region S0 in the XY plane. The connection portion 26 is a coil portion that connects the other end of the straight portion 22 to the other end of the curved portion 23 on the first circumferential line L10 side of the first heating region S0 in the XY plane. The connecting portions 24, 25, and 26 have a U-shaped curve.

[0038] In the present disclosure, "arranged along the first boundary line L1, L2 or first outer circumferential line L10" means, unless otherwise specified, that there are no other parts that block the gap between the first boundary line L1, L2 or first outer circumferential line L10, and that the part is arranged to extend in approximately the same direction as the extension direction of the first boundary line L1, L2 or first outer circumferential line L10.

[0039] The second coil wire portion 30 is placed inside the first coil wire portion 20 in the XY plane. In this embodiment, the second coil wire portion 30 is arranged along the inside of the first coil wire portion 20 in the XY plane. The second coil wire portion 30 is formed in a frame shape along the inside of the first coil wire portion 20 in the XY plane. The outer shape of the second coil wire portion 30 is formed in a fan shape in the XY plane.

[0040] The second coil wire portion 30 includes straight portions 31 and 32, a curved portion 33, and connection portions 34, 35, and 36. The straight portion 31 is a linear coil portion arranged along the straight portion 21 of the first coil wire portion 20. The straight portion 32 is a linear coil portion arranged along the straight portion 22 of the first coil wire portion 20. The curved portion 33 is a curved coil portion arranged along the curved portion 23 of the first coil wire portion 20. The connection portion 34 is a coil portion that connects one end of the straight portion 31 to one end of the straight portion 32 on the center C1 side of the first heating region S0 in the XY plane. The connection portion 35 is a coil portion that connects the other end of the straight portion 31 to one end of the curved portion 33 on the first circumferential line L10 side of the first heating region S0 in the XY plane. The connecting portion 36 is a coil portion that connects the other end of the straight portion 32 and the other end of the curved portion 33 on the first circumferential line L10 side of the first heating region S0 in the XY plane. The connecting portions 34, 35, and 36 have a U-shaped curved shape.

[0041] The third coil wire portion 40 is arranged inside the second coil wire portion 30 in the XY plane. In this embodiment, the third coil wire portion 40 is arranged along the inside of the second coil wire portion 30 in the XY plane. The third coil wire portion 40 is formed in a frame shape along the inside of the second coil wire portion 30 in the XY plane. The outer shape of the third coil wire portion 40 is formed in a fan shape in a plan view.

[0042] The third coil wire portion 40 includes straight portions 41 and 42, a curved portion 43, and connection portions 44, 45, and 46. The straight portion 41 is a linear coil portion arranged along the straight portion 31 of the second coil wire portion 30. The straight portion 42 is a linear coil portion arranged along the straight portion 32 of the second coil wire portion 30. The curved portion 43 is a curved coil portion arranged along the curved portion 33 of the second coil wire portion 30. The connection portion 44 is a coil portion that connects one end of the straight portion 41 to one end of the straight portion 42 on the center C1 side of the first heating region S0 in the XY plane. The connection portion 45 is a coil portion that connects the other end of the straight portion 41 to one end of the curved portion 43 on the first circumferential line L10 side of the first heating region S0 in the XY plane. The connecting portion 46 is a coil portion that connects the other end of the straight portion 42 and the other end of the curved portion 43 on the first circumferential line L10 side of the first heating region S0 in the XY plane. The connecting portions 44, 45, and 46 have a U-shaped curved shape.

[0043] In this embodiment, the straight portions 21, 31, and 41 are arranged substantially parallel to one another, the straight portions 22, 32, and 42 are arranged substantially parallel to one another, and the curved portions 23, 33, and 43 are arranged opposite to one another.

[0044] [controller] The controller 5 will now be described in more detail.

[0045] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an induction heating cooker 1A according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] The controller 5 is a control device that controls the operation of the induction heating cooker 1A. For example, the controller 5 controls the operation of each of the coil units 4A. Specifically, the controller 5 controls the operation of each of the coil units 4A, and controls the heating of the heating object 80 by the coil units 4A. The controller 5 also controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F while causing a current to flow through all of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 4, the controller 5 includes an arithmetic circuit 51 and a storage device 52.

[0048] The arithmetic circuit 51 executes processing in the controller 5. The arithmetic circuit 51 includes a general-purpose processor such as a CPU or MPU that executes programs to achieve predetermined functions. For example, the arithmetic circuit 51 is configured to be able to communicate with the storage device 52, and executes arithmetic programs stored in the storage device 52 to perform various processes in the controller 5. Specifically, the arithmetic circuit 51 controls the local heating intensity of the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F, outputs control signals to an inverter circuit (described later), and acquires information on the temperature of the object 80 to be heated.

[0049] The arithmetic circuit 51 is not limited to a configuration in which hardware resources and software work together to realize a predetermined function, and may be a hardware circuit designed specifically to realize a predetermined function. For example, the arithmetic circuit 51 may be realized by various processors such as a GPU, FPGA, DSP, ASIC, etc. in addition to a CPU or MPU. Furthermore, the arithmetic circuit 51 realized by various processors such as a GPU, FPGA, DSP, ASIC, etc. may be configured by a signal processing circuit that is a semiconductor integrated circuit.

[0050] The storage device 52 is a storage medium that can store various types of information. For example, the storage device 52 stores programs for implementing the various processes performed by the arithmetic circuit 51. The storage device 52 stores a plurality of cooking modes and a plurality of heating sequences H0. The storage device 52 may also store information acquired by the controller 5 through the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F, such as information on the temperature of the object 80 to be heated.

[0051] The storage device 52 is realized by, for example, a memory such as a DRAM, an SRAM, a flash memory, an HDD, an SSD, or other storage device, or an appropriate combination thereof. The storage device 52 stores programs for implementing the various processes performed by the arithmetic circuit 51 as described above.

[0052] For example, the user can select a cooking mode through the input / output interface device 8 according to the cooking method of the ingredients 81. The cooking modes include a first mode M1 for deep-frying, a second mode M2 ​​for grilling, and a third mode M3 for stewing. Each cooking mode may include multiple steps. Each cooking mode may have multiple cooking recipe modes that combine one or more steps from the multiple steps. For example, each of the multiple cooking recipe modes is a cooking mode that is more suitable for the cooking method of the ingredients 81 when making a specific dish.

[0053] The first mode M1 is a cooking mode in which food ingredients 81 are heated with heated oil. For example, in the first mode M1, the induction cooking device 1A heats the object to be heated 80, thereby heating the oil contained in the object to be heated 80, and the food ingredients 81 are cooked with the heated oil. Specifically, the first mode M1 is a cooking mode in which food ingredients 81 are cooked with heated oil, such as "tempura" or "french fries." The first mode M1 may be able to change the target oil temperature. For example, the target oil temperature may be able to be changed via the input / output interface device 8.

[0054] The first mode M1 includes a preheating step, a temperature adjustment step, and a load detection step. The preheating step is a step of raising the oil temperature to a predetermined temperature. The temperature adjustment step is a step of maintaining the object to be heated 80 at a predetermined temperature, waiting for the foodstuffs 81 to be added, and detecting that the foodstuffs 81 have been added. The load detection step is a step of quickly raising the temperature of the oil, which has dropped due to the addition of the foodstuffs 81, and maintaining it at a predetermined temperature suitable for the added foodstuffs 81, thereby frying the foodstuffs 81. In the preheating step, the induction heating cooker 1A heats the object to be heated 80 until the temperature of the object to be heated 80 reaches a first target temperature. For example, the first target temperature is the temperature of the object to be heated 80 when the oil contained in the object to be heated 80 reaches the target oil temperature. Note that the first target temperature may change depending on the target oil temperature changed by the user via the input / output interface device 8. In the temperature adjustment step, the induction heating cooker 1A maintains the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at a second target temperature after the completion of the preheating step. For example, the second target temperature is a temperature of the object to be heated 80 at which oil contained in the object to be heated 80 can be maintained at a target oil temperature. In the load detection step, when the induction heating cooker 1A detects that foodstuffs 81 have been placed in the object to be heated 80, it heats the object to be heated 80 into which foodstuffs 81 have been placed with a heating power greater than the heating power used to heat the object to be heated 80 in the temperature adjustment step.

[0055] The second mode M2 ​​is a cooking mode in which ingredients 81 are heated by the heat of the heating object 80 heated by the induction heating cooker 1A. For example, the second mode M2 ​​is a cooking mode in which ingredients 81 (e.g., pork, fish, bread) are cooked by the heat from the heating object 80 (e.g., a frying pan), such as "sauteed pork," "fish meunière," or "French toast."

[0056] In the multiple cooking recipe modes of second mode M2, the combinations of multiple steps may be different or the same. For example, the multiple cooking recipe modes of second mode M2 ​​include an ingredient heating preparation step, a temperature adjustment step, and a grilling step. The ingredient heating preparation step is a step of raising the temperature of the object to be heated 80 to a predetermined temperature. The temperature adjustment step is a step of maintaining the object to be heated 80 at a predetermined temperature, waiting for the ingredient 81 to be added, and detecting that the ingredient 81 has been added. The grilling step is a step of maintaining the temperature at a predetermined temperature suitable for the added ingredient 81 and grilling the ingredient. In the ingredient heating preparation step, the induction heating cooker 1A heats the object to be heated 80 until the temperature of the object to be heated 80 reaches a first target temperature. In the temperature adjustment step, the induction heating cooker 1A maintains the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the first target temperature after the ingredient heating preparation step is completed. In the grilling step, when the induction heating cooker 1A detects that food material 81 has been placed in the heating object 80, it heats the heating object 80 with a heating power different from the heating power used to heat the heating object 80 in the temperature adjustment step. Note that in the grilling step, the food material 81 is heated via the heating object 80.

[0057] The third mode M3 is a mode for stewing food ingredients 81. For example, the third mode M3 is a cooking mode in which water-containing food ingredients 81 are placed in the heating object 80, and the heating object 80 is heated by the induction heating cooker 1A to heat the water-containing food ingredients 81. The third mode M3 may also be a cooking mode suitable for heating liquid food ingredients 81 and solid food ingredients 81 placed in the heating object 80. Specifically, the third mode M3 is a cooking mode in which water-containing food ingredients 81 are heated by heat from the heating object 80 (e.g., a pot) heated by the induction heating cooker 1A, such as for cooking "curry," "stew," or "meat and potato stew."

[0058] In the multiple cooking recipe modes of the third mode M3, the combinations of the multiple steps may be different or the same. For example, the multiple cooking recipe modes of the third mode M3 include a first heating step and a second heating step. The first heating step is a step of raising the temperature of the object to be heated 80 to a predetermined temperature. The second heating step is a step of maintaining the object to be heated 80 at a predetermined temperature suitable for the foodstuffs 81 and stewing the foodstuffs 81. In the first heating step, the induction heating cooker 1A heats the object to be heated 80 until the temperature of the object to be heated 80 reaches a first target temperature. In the second heating step, after the first heating step is completed, the induction heating cooker 1A heats the object to be heated 80 to maintain the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the first target temperature.

[0059] The multiple heating sequences H0 include a combination of at least one heating state among heating states that have different distributions of local heat intensity on the heating object 80. The multiple heating sequences H0 are switched according to the cooking mode. For example, the multiple heating sequences H0 are switched according to the multiple steps of the cooking mode.

[0060] [circuit] FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of an example of an induction heating cooker 1A according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0061] As described above, the induction cooking device 1A includes a plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F that constitute the coil unit 4A. The induction cooking device 1A includes electronic components for realizing heating using the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F, a diode bridge 61, a smoothing capacitor 62, a plurality of inverter circuits 63A-63F, and a plurality of resonant capacitors 64A-64F and 65A-65F. The induction cooking device 1A may include circuits with the same configuration for each of the plurality of coil units 4A, or may include circuits with different configurations. Hereinafter, unless it is necessary to distinguish between the plurality of inverter circuits 63A-63F, they will be collectively referred to as the inverter circuit 63 or the plurality of inverter circuits 63. Hereinafter, unless it is necessary to distinguish between the plurality of resonant capacitors 64A-64F, they will be collectively referred to as the resonant capacitor 64 or the plurality of resonant capacitors 64. Hereinafter, unless it is necessary to distinguish between the plurality of resonant capacitors 65A-65F, they will be collectively referred to as the resonant capacitor 65 or the plurality of resonant capacitors 65.

[0062] The diode bridge 61 is connected to an AC power supply (for example, a 100V or 200V commercial AC power supply) 50, and full-wave rectifies the AC voltage input from the AC power supply, converts it into a pulsating DC voltage, and applies it between the wiring 66A and the wiring 66B.

[0063] The smoothing capacitor 62 is connected between the wiring 66A and the wiring 66B, and smoothes the voltage applied from the diode bridge 61.

[0064] In the inverter circuit 63A, switching elements 67A and 68A are connected in series between wiring 66A and wiring 66B. Each of the switching elements 67A and 68A includes an IGBT and a diode connected in anti-parallel to the IGBT. Each of the switching elements 67A and 68A switches on / off based on a control signal received from the controller 5. The inverter circuits 63B to 63F include switching elements 67B to 67F and switching elements 68B to 68F. The inverter circuits 63B to 63F have the same configuration as the inverter circuit 63A, and therefore their description will be omitted. The switching elements 67B to 67F and switching elements 68B to 68F have the same configuration as the switching elements 67A and 68A, and therefore their description will be omitted.

[0065] Resonant capacitors 64A and 65A are connected in series between wiring 66A and wiring 66B. Resonant capacitors 64B to 64F and resonant capacitors 65B to 65F are each configured similarly to resonant capacitors 64A and 65A.

[0066] One end of coil piece 10A is connected between switching element 67A and switching element 68A, and the other end is connected between resonant capacitor 64A and resonant capacitor 65A. Coil piece 10A is controlled so that a high-frequency current having predetermined parameters flows through it by switching elements 67A and 68A on and off. Each of the other coil pieces 10B to 10F has a similar configuration to coil piece 10A, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0067] For example, the controller 5 may control the operation of the inverter circuit 63 to control the current flowing through the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F of the coil unit 4A. Furthermore, the controller 5 may control the operation of the inverter circuit 63 so that high-frequency current always flows through the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F when the coil unit 4A is heating the object to be heated 80. Furthermore, the controller 5 may be able to switch between a plurality of heating states with different distributions of localized heating intensity for the object to be heated 80 by controlling the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F. In this embodiment, the circuit of the coil unit 4A includes, but is not limited to, a plurality of inverter circuits 63, and the current flowing through the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F may be controlled by a single inverter circuit.

[0068] [Heating state] In the induction heating cooker 1A according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, a heating state, which is a distribution of local heat intensities on the object to be heated 80, will be described.

[0069] The induction cooking appliance 1A according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure can control the intensity of localized heating when heating an object 80 placed on the top plate 2 of the coil unit 4A. For example, the controller 5 can control the intensity of localized heating by controlling at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the coil pieces 10A-10F while passing current through all of the coil pieces 10A-10F. A heating state indicates a state in which a region of high heating or a region of low heating is locally generated. Therefore, when the controller 5 controls the object 80 to be heated in a predetermined heating state, a predetermined portion of the object 80 corresponding to the predetermined current parameters may be heated more than other portions. For example, the heating state may be stored in the storage device 52 along with the current parameters that realize the heating state. Note that the controller 5's control of at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through the coil pieces 10A-10F does not necessarily have to be controlled to achieve a predetermined heating state. In addition, current parameters that can heat a specific area strongly (or weakly) may be stored in the memory device 52, and if there are multiple areas that require strong heating, the controller 5 may combine the stored information to control the heating.

[0070] In the induction heating cooker 1A, as described above, the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F are arranged within multiple first coil arrangement regions S1-S6 defined by a first outer periphery line L10 that defines the outer periphery of the first heating region S0 and multiple first boundary lines L1-L6 that extend radially from the center C1 of the first heating region S0 toward the outer periphery. For example, two adjacent coil pieces 10A and 10B are arranged within two adjacent first coil arrangement regions S1 and S2, respectively. The first coil arrangement region S1 and the first coil arrangement region S2 are defined by the shared first boundary line L2. Therefore, a portion of the coil piece 10A and a portion of the coil piece 10B are arranged along the first boundary line L2.

[0071] The controller 5 can control the currents flowing through the coil pieces 10A and 10B so that there is a predetermined phase difference between the current flowing through the portion of the coil piece 10A along the first boundary line L2 and the current flowing through the portion of the coil piece 10B along the first boundary line L2. In the coil piece 10A, the portion along the first boundary line L2 corresponds to the straight portions 22, 32, and 42 of the coil wire 11 shown in Figure 3. In the coil piece 10B, the portion along the first boundary line L2 corresponds to the straight portions 21, 31, and 41 of the coil wire 11 when the coil piece 10A shown in Figure 3 is considered to be the coil piece 10B.

[0072] For example, the controller 5 may control the current so that the predetermined phase difference is 0°, i.e., so that the currents are in phase. Furthermore, by controlling the currents so that the currents are in phase, the controller 5 can heat the portion of the object to be heated 80 placed in the area corresponding to the position where the coil piece 10A and the coil piece 10B are adjacent to each other more strongly than the other portions of the object to be heated 80. Furthermore, by controlling the currents so that the currents are in phase, the controller 5 can heat the portion of the object to be heated 80 placed in the area corresponding to the other portions of the coil piece 10A and the coil piece 10B more strongly than the other portions of the object to be heated 80.

[0073] The regions corresponding to the adjacent portions are regions located in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) of the corresponding portions on the top plate 2. The regions corresponding to the other portions are regions located vertically above the portions (central portions or outer peripheral portions) of the top plate 2 other than the adjacent portions of the coil pieces 10A, 10B.

[0074] FIG. 6 is a graph showing an example of a current waveform when the phase difference between the currents flowing through adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces is 0°. FIG. 6(a) is a graph showing the waveform of the current flowing through a portion of the coil piece 10A along the first boundary line L2. FIG. 6(b) is a graph showing the waveform of the current flowing through a portion of the coil piece 10B along the first boundary line L2. The current waveforms shown in FIG. 6 have the same frequency and the same amplitude, but are not limited to these. The current waveforms shown in FIG. 6 show a case where the current flows clockwise in the coil pieces 10A and 10B as a positive current. As shown in FIG. 6, the controller 5 controls the inverter circuit 63 so that the current flowing through the coil piece 10A and the current flowing through the coil piece 10B flow in opposite directions, thereby controlling the current so that the phase difference between the currents flowing through the adjacent portions is 0°.

[0075] For example, the controller 5 may control the current so that the predetermined phase difference is 180°. By controlling the current so that the phase difference is 180°, the controller 5 may be able to heat the portion of the object to be heated 80 placed in the region corresponding to the outer periphery of the coil piece 10A and the coil piece 10B more strongly than other portions of the object to be heated 80. By controlling the current so that the phase difference is 180°, the controller 5 may be able to heat the portion of the object to be heated 80 placed in the region corresponding to the interior of the coil piece 10A and the coil piece 10B more strongly than other portions of the object to be heated 80 placed in the region corresponding to the interior of the coil piece 10A and the coil piece 10B.

[0076] The area corresponding to the outer periphery of the top plate 2 is formed by the coil piece 10A. The region corresponding to the interior is a region in the top plate 2 that is located vertically above the interior of coil pieces 10A and 10B (in the Z direction) and around coil pieces 10A and 10B. The region corresponding to the interior may be a region in the top plate 2 that is surrounded by a region corresponding to the outer periphery.

[0077] FIG. 7 is a graph showing an example of a current waveform when the phase difference between the currents flowing through adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces is 180°. FIG. 7(a) is a graph showing the waveform of the current flowing through a portion of the coil piece 10A along the first boundary line L2. FIG. 7(b) is a graph showing the waveform of the current flowing through a portion of the coil piece 10B along the first boundary line L2. The current waveforms shown in FIG. 7 have the same frequency and the same amplitude, but are not limited to these. The current waveforms shown in FIG. 7 show a case where current flows clockwise in the coil pieces 10A and 10B as a positive current. As shown in FIG. 7, the controller 5 controls the inverter circuit 63 so that the current flowing through the coil piece 10A and the current flowing through the coil piece 10B flow in the same direction, thereby controlling the current so that the phase difference between the currents flowing through adjacent portions is 180°.

[0078] The predetermined phase difference is not limited to 0° or 180°, but may be 30°, 45°, 60°, or 90°, or may be any other difference.

[0079] Furthermore, the controller 5 controls the inverter circuit 63 so that there is a predetermined frequency difference between the currents flowing through two adjacent coil pieces, thereby controlling the local intensity of heating of the object to be heated 80. That is, by controlling the inverter circuit 63 so that there is a predetermined frequency difference between the currents flowing through coil piece 10A and coil piece 10B, the local intensity of heating of the object to be heated 80 can be controlled. The controller 5 controls the frequency difference between the currents flowing through coil piece 10A and coil piece 10B, for example, to be zero or to be an integer multiple of one or more of the frequency of the current flowing through one of the coil pieces. That is, the frequency difference may be an integer multiple of zero or more of the frequency of the current flowing through the other of the coil pieces. However, the frequency difference is not limited to this, and the controller 5 may control the inverter circuit 63 so that the frequency difference is other than an integer multiple of zero or more. The controller 5 may also control the frequency and phase of the currents flowing through the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F so that the peak amplitudes of the currents at least partially coincide with each other.

[0080] The controller 5 can control the local intensity of heating of the object to be heated 80 by passing a current having predetermined current parameters through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10F. Therefore, by controlling the current parameters, the controller 5 can heat the object to be heated 80 placed on the top plate 2 in a predetermined heating state. The current parameters include the amplitude, phase, and frequency of the current. The controller 5 can control the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10F, for example, by controlling the on / off of the inverter circuit 63. In this embodiment, the heating states include, but are not limited to, the first to sixth heating states.

[0081] The first to sixth heating states will be described in detail. The first to sixth heating states will be described by classifying the relationship between the current parameters (first to fourth parameters) of adjacent portions of each of the coil pieces 10A to 10F.

[0082] [First parameter] The parameters shown in Table 1 will hereinafter be referred to as first parameters. When the controller 5 applies a current having the first parameters to each of the coil pieces 10A to 10F, a predetermined portion of the object to be heated 80 can be heated more strongly than other portions in accordance with the first parameters.

[0083] [Table 1]

[0084] In Table 1, the relationship between the parameters of the current flowing between adjacent portions means the relationship between the parameters of the current flowing between adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces (e.g., coil piece 10A and coil piece 10B). This relationship also applies to the parameters shown in Tables 2 to 6, which will be described later.

[0085] As shown in Table 1, in the first parameter, the currents flowing through adjacent portions have relatively the same amplitude. In the first parameter, the currents flowing through adjacent portions have the same phase with relatively little phase difference. In the first parameter, the currents flowing through adjacent portions have relatively the same frequency.

[0086] A first heating state will be described as an example of a heating state when the controller 5 controls the current so that all pairs of two adjacent coil pieces satisfy the first parameter.

[0087] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a region where magnetic flux is concentrated in the first heating state in the induction heating cooker 1A according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0088] In Fig. 8, six coil pieces 10A-10F are shown as the coil unit 4A. The coil pieces 10A-10F shown in Fig. 8 correspond to the coil pieces 10A-10F shown in Fig. 2. For simplicity, the coil pieces 10A-10F are shown as a single coil wire in Fig. 8, omitting the first coil wire portion 20, the second coil wire portion 30, and the third coil wire portion 40 shown in Fig. 3. Note that the coil pieces 10A-10F are not limited to this, and for example, a separate coil wire may be disposed in the center of each of the coil pieces 10A-10F. Note that the coil pieces 10A-10F shown in Figs. 9-13 also correspond to the coil pieces 10A-10F shown in Fig. 2, as in Fig. 8.

[0089] 8, the controller 5 controls the current flowing through the coil pieces 10A-10F to have a first parameter for all pairs of adjacent coil pieces, thereby concentrating magnetic flux in region S21. Region S21 corresponds to adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces among the coil pieces 10A-10F. For example, the object to be heated 80 in region S21 can be heated more strongly than the object to be heated 80 in regions corresponding to the portions of each of the two adjacent coil pieces along the first outer circumferential line L10.

[0090] [Second parameter] The parameters shown in Table 2 are hereinafter referred to as second parameters. When the controller 5 applies a current having the second parameters to each of the coil pieces 10A to 10F, a predetermined portion of the object to be heated 80 can be heated more strongly than other portions in accordance with the second parameters.

[0091] [Table 2]

[0092] As shown in Table 2, the currents flowing through adjacent portions of the second parameter have relatively the same amplitude. The currents flowing through adjacent portions of the second parameter have opposite phases (i.e., a phase difference of 180°). The currents flowing through adjacent portions of the second parameter have relatively the same frequency.

[0093] A second heating state will be described as an example of a heating state when the controller 5 controls the current so that all pairs of two adjacent coil pieces satisfy the second parameter.

[0094] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a region where magnetic flux is concentrated in the second heating state in the induction heating cooker 1A according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0095] 9, the controller 5 controls the current flowing through the coil pieces 10A-10F to have the second parameter for all pairs of two adjacent coil pieces, thereby concentrating magnetic flux in region S22. Region S22 corresponds to the locations of the coil pieces 10A-10F along the first outer circumferential line L10. For example, the object 80 to be heated in region S22 can be heated more strongly than the object 80 to be heated in the corresponding region in the center of at least one of the coil pieces 10A-10F.

[0096] [Third parameter] The parameters shown in Table 3 will hereinafter be referred to as third parameters. When the controller 5 applies a current having the third parameters to each of the coil pieces 10A to 10F, the object to be heated 80 can have a predetermined portion heated more strongly than other portions in accordance with the third parameters.

[0097] [Table 3]

[0098] As shown in Table 3, in the third parameter, the currents flowing through adjacent portions have different amplitudes. In the third parameter, the currents flowing through adjacent portions have the same phase with relatively little phase difference. In the third parameter, the currents flowing through adjacent portions have relatively the same frequency.

[0099] The controller 5 controls the current for all pairs of two adjacent coil pieces so that the third parameter shown in Table 3 is satisfied. For example, the controller 5 controls the current so that coil pieces with large current amplitudes and coil pieces with small current amplitudes are alternately arranged. The controller 5 can also change the region where magnetic flux is concentrated by changing the amplitude of the current flowing through the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F. The region where magnetic flux is concentrated is the region where the coil piece with the large current amplitude is located, at the adjacent position of two adjacent coil pieces among the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F. The region where magnetic flux is concentrated can heat the object 80 more strongly than a region where magnetic flux is not concentrated. In other words, the controller 5 can change the heating state by changing the amplitude of the current flowing through each of the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F.

[0100] Two examples (third heating state and fourth heating state) will be described below as examples of the heating state when the controller 5 controls the current so that all pairs of two adjacent coil pieces satisfy the third parameter.

[0101] The third heating state will now be described.

[0102] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a region where magnetic flux is concentrated in the third heating state in the induction heating cooker 1A according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0103] 10, the controller 5 controls the current using the third parameter so that the amplitude of the current flowing through coil pieces 10B, 10D, and 10F is greater than the amplitude of the current flowing through coil pieces 10A, 10C, and 10E, thereby concentrating magnetic flux in region S23. Region S23 is the region where coil pieces 10B, 10D, and 10F are located at the adjacent positions of two adjacent coil pieces among the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F. The heating state in which magnetic flux is concentrated in region S23 is referred to as a third heating state.

[0104] The fourth heating state will now be described.

[0105] FIG. 11 shows an example of a region where magnetic flux is concentrated in the fourth heating state in the induction heating cooker 1A according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0106] 11, with the fourth parameter, the controller 5 controls the current so that the amplitude of the current flowing through coil pieces 10A, 10C, and 10E is greater than the amplitude of the current flowing through coil pieces 10B, 10D, and 10F, thereby concentrating magnetic flux in region S24. Region S24 is the region where coil pieces 10A, 10C, and 10E are located at the adjacent positions of two adjacent coil pieces among the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F. The heating state in which magnetic flux is concentrated in region S24 is referred to as a fourth heating state.

[0107] [Fourth parameter] The parameters shown in Table 4 will hereinafter be referred to as fourth parameters. When the controller 5 applies a current having the fourth parameters to each of the coil pieces 10A to 10F, a predetermined portion of the object to be heated 80 can be heated more strongly than other portions in accordance with the fourth parameters.

[0108] [Table 4]

[0109] As shown in Table 4, in the fourth parameter, the currents flowing through adjacent portions have different amplitudes. In the fourth parameter, the currents flowing through adjacent portions have opposite phases (i.e., a phase difference of 180°). In the fourth parameter, the currents flowing through adjacent portions have relatively the same frequency.

[0110] The controller 5 controls the current for all pairs of two adjacent coil pieces so that the fourth parameter shown in Table 4 is satisfied. For example, the controller 5 controls the current so that coil pieces with large current amplitudes and coil pieces with small current amplitudes are arranged alternately. The controller 5 can also change the region where magnetic flux is concentrated by changing the amplitude of the current flowing through the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F. The region where magnetic flux is concentrated is the region where the coil piece with the large current amplitude is located, at the adjacent position of two adjacent coil pieces among the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F. The region where magnetic flux is concentrated can heat the object 80 more strongly than a region where magnetic flux is not concentrated. In other words, the controller 5 can change the heating state by changing the amplitude of the current flowing through each of the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F.

[0111] Two examples (a fifth heating state and a sixth heating state) will be described below as examples of the heating state when the controller 5 controls the current so that the fourth parameter is achieved for all pairs of two adjacent coil pieces.

[0112] The fifth heating state will now be described.

[0113] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a region where magnetic flux is concentrated in the fifth heating state in the induction heating cooker 1A according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0114] In accordance with the fourth parameter, the controller 5 controls the current so that the amplitude of the current flowing through coil pieces 10A, 10C, and 10E is greater than the amplitude of the current flowing through coil pieces 10B, 10D, and 10F. In accordance with the fourth parameter, the controller 5 controls the current flowing through each of the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F so that the frequency difference between the currents flowing through two adjacent coil pieces is a predetermined double frequency wave. In accordance with the fourth parameter, by controlling the currents flowing through the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F as described above, the magnetic flux is concentrated in region S25. The heating state in which magnetic flux is concentrated in region S25 is referred to as a fifth heating state.

[0115] The sixth heating state will now be described.

[0116] FIG. 13 shows an example of a region where magnetic flux is concentrated in the sixth heating state in the induction heating cooker according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0117] In accordance with the fourth parameter, the controller 5 controls the current so that the amplitude of the current flowing through coil pieces 10B, 10D, and 10F is greater than the amplitude of the current flowing through coil pieces 10A, 10C, and 10E. In accordance with the fourth parameter, the controller 5 controls the current flowing through each of the coil pieces 10A to 10F so that the frequency difference between the currents flowing through two adjacent coil pieces is a predetermined double frequency wave. In accordance with the fourth parameter, the controller 5 controls the current flowing through the coil pieces 10A to 10F as described above, thereby concentrating magnetic flux in region S26. The heating state in which magnetic flux is concentrated in region S26 is referred to as a sixth heating state.

[0118] [Operation] An example of the operation of the induction heating cooker 1A according to the present disclosure will be described.

[0119] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for controlling induction heating cooker 1A in induction heating cooker 1A according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure.

[0120] As shown in FIG. 14, the method for controlling the induction heating cooker 1A includes Step 1, which acquires a cooking mode, and Step 2, which switches between a plurality of heating sequences H0.

[0121] First, in Step 1 of acquiring a cooking mode, the controller 5 acquires the cooking mode by inputting the cooking mode to the controller 5 from the input / output interface device 8, and reads out from the storage device 52 a plurality of steps of the cooking mode.

[0122] Next, in step Step 2 of switching between the multiple heating sequences H0, the controller 5 switches between the multiple heating sequences H0 depending on the cooking mode read out in step Step 1. For example, the controller 5 may acquire information about the temperature of the object to be heated 80 and switch between the multiple heating sequences H0 based on the information about the temperature of the object to be heated 80. The controller 5 may also acquire information about the temperature of the object to be heated 80 using the temperature sensor 6. The controller 5 may also switch between the multiple heating sequences H0 depending on the temperature of the object to be heated 80 detected by the temperature sensor 6. The controller 5 may also switch between the multiple heating sequences H0 in the cooking mode depending on the heating time of the object to be heated 80.

[0123] Each of the multiple heating sequences H0 may have a predetermined order in which the multiple heating states are switched. For example, the multiple heating sequences H0 may have a predetermined order in which the multiple heating states are switched depending on the cooking mode. At least one of the multiple heating sequences H0 may include a first heating state and a second heating state in which the distribution of local heating intensity of the heating object 80 is different from that of the first heating state P1. At least one of the multiple heating sequences H0 may have a predetermined order in which the first heating state and the second heating state are switched. Furthermore, the controller 5 may switch between the first heating state and the second heating state based on a predetermined order determined by at least one of the multiple heating sequences H0. For example, the controller 5 may switch between the first heating state and the second heating state in the predetermined order based on the temperature of the heating object 80 or the heating time of the heating object 80. Specifically, the controller 5 may switch between the first heating state and the second heating state in a predetermined order based on the temperature information of the heating object 80 acquired by the temperature sensor 6.

[0124] The operation of the induction heating cooker 1A in the cooking mode will be described using the first mode M1, the second mode M2, and the third mode M3 as examples.

[0125] An example of the operation of the induction heating cooker 1A according to the present disclosure in the first mode M1 will be described.

[0126] Figure 15 shows a graph showing an example of the relationship between the heating time of the object to be heated 80 and the temperature of the object to be heated 80 detected by the temperature sensor 6 in the first mode M1 of the induction heating cooker 1A according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, a graph showing an example of the relationship between the heating time of the object to be heated 80 and the oil temperature of the oil contained in the object to be heated 80, and a graph showing an example of the relationship between the heating time of the object to be heated 80 and the heating state.

[0127] When the user inputs the first mode M1 and the target oil temperature K5 to the input / output interface device 8, the controller 5 reads out a plurality of processes of the first mode M1 from the storage device 52. For example, the controller 5 reads out a preheating process, a temperature adjustment process, and a load detection process.

[0128] Next, the controller 5 starts a preheating process. In the preheating process, the controller 5 heats the object 80 until the temperature of the object 80 reaches a first target temperature K1 (T1). In the preheating process, the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F in accordance with a first heating sequence H1 including a first heating state P1. In the present embodiment, the first heating sequence H1 will be described as including only the first heating state P1. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the first heating state P1 is a heating state in which the area of ​​the object 80 corresponding to adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces among the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F is heated more strongly than the area of ​​the object 80 corresponding to portions along the first outer circumferential line L10 of each of the two adjacent coil pieces. In the preheating process, the controller 5 heats the object 80 in the first heating state P1 in accordance with the first heating sequence H1.

[0129] In the preheating step, when the temperature of the object to be heated 80 reaches the first target temperature K1, the controller 5 starts the next step, the temperature adjustment step. In the temperature adjustment step, the controller 5 maintains the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the second target temperature K2. For example, in the preheating step, the controller 5 detects the temperature of the object to be heated 80 using the temperature sensor 6 and controls the current flowing through the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10F to maintain the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the second target temperature K2. The controller 5 also controls the magnitude of the current flowing through the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10F to maintain the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the second target temperature K2. Furthermore, the controller 5 may maintain the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the second target temperature K2 by controlling the magnitude of the current flowing through the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10F based on the temperature difference between the temperature of the object to be heated 80 detected by the temperature sensor 6 and the second target temperature K2.

[0130] In the temperature adjustment process, when the controller 5 detects that more foodstuffs 81 have been added to the heating object 80 (T2), the controller 5 starts the load detection process. When the temperature of the heating object 80 drops from the second target temperature K2 to a threshold temperature K4 or lower, the controller 5 detects that foodstuffs 81 have been added, and starts the load detection process. In other words, when the temperature of the heating object 80 drops from the second target temperature K2 to a threshold temperature K4 or lower, the controller 5 detects that foodstuffs 81 have been added, and switches the heating sequence to the second heating sequence H2.

[0131] In the load detection step, the controller 5 switches to the second heating sequence H2 and controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F in accordance with the second heating sequence H2. In the load detection step, the controller 5 heats the heating object 80 containing the food material 81 with a heating power greater than the heating power used to heat the heating object 80 in the temperature adjustment step. For example, in the load detection step, the controller 5 may increase the magnitude of the current flowing through the coil pieces 10A-10F compared to the temperature adjustment step, thereby increasing the heating power compared to the heating power used in the temperature adjustment step. In addition, in the load detection step, the controller 5 may pass a current through the coil pieces 10A-10F that is greater than the current passed through the coil pieces 10A-10F in the temperature adjustment step.

[0132] The second heating sequence H2 in the load detection step includes a heating state different from the first heating sequence H1 in the temperature adjustment step. The second heating sequence H2 includes a first heating state P1 and a second heating state P2 in which the local distribution of heating on the heating object 80 is different. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the second heating state P2 heats the heating object 80 in a region corresponding to the portions of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F along the first outer circumferential line L10 more strongly than the heating object 80 in a region corresponding to the center of at least one of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F. In this embodiment, the second heating sequence H2 will be described as including only the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2.

[0133] The controller 5 switches between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 in accordance with the second heating sequence H2. For example, the controller 5 switches between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 at predetermined time intervals in accordance with the second heating sequence H2.

[0134] In the load detection step, the controller 5 heats the object to be heated 80 until the temperature thereof reaches a third target temperature K3. For example, the third target temperature K3 may be the temperature at which oil contained in the object to be heated 80, to which foodstuff 81 has been added, is maintained at a target oil temperature K5. After the temperature of the object to be heated 80 reaches the third target temperature K3, the controller 5 may maintain the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the third target temperature K3. Furthermore, the controller 5 may maintain the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the third target temperature K3 by controlling the magnitude of the current flowing through the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10F based on the temperature difference between the temperature of the object to be heated 80 detected by the temperature sensor 6 and the third target temperature K3.

[0135] An example of the operation in the second mode M2 ​​of the induction heating cooker 1A according to the present disclosure will be described. In addition, as an example of the operation in the second mode M2 ​​of the induction heating cooker 1A of this embodiment, a cooking recipe mode "saute pork" included in the second mode M2 ​​will be described as an example.

[0136] FIG. 16 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the heating time of the object to be heated 80 and the temperature of the object to be heated 80 detected by the temperature sensor 6 in the second mode M2 ​​of the induction heating cooker 1A according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, and a graph showing an example of the relationship between the heating time of the object to be heated 80 and the heating state.

[0137] When the user inputs one of the multiple cooking recipe modes of second mode M2 ​​into controller 5 via input / output interface device 8, controller 5 reads out multiple steps of the input cooking recipe mode from storage device 52. For example, when "sauteed pork," which is a cooking recipe mode of second mode M2, is input, controller 5 reads out an ingredient heating preparation step, a temperature adjustment step, a first grilling step, and a second grilling step.

[0138] The first grilling process and the second grilling process described above are processes that comprise the grilling process of the second mode M2. The first grilling process is a process of heating the object to be heated 80 while the first surface of the food ingredient 81, which has a first surface and an opposite second surface, is in contact with the object to be heated 80. For example, the first grilling process is a process of heating one surface of a pork fillet in contact with the object to be heated 80 when cooking the "sauteed pork" cooking recipe mode of the second mode M2. The second grilling process is a process of heating the object to be heated 80 while the second surface of the food ingredient 81 is in contact with the object to be heated 80. For example, the second grilling process is a process of heating the surface of the pork fillet that was in contact with the object to be heated 80 in the first grilling process by contacting it with the object to be heated 80 when cooking the "sauteed pork" cooking recipe mode of the second mode M2.

[0139] Next, the controller 5 starts the food material heating preparation process. In the food material heating preparation process, the controller 5 heats the heating object 80 until the temperature of the heating object 80 reaches a first target temperature K11 (T11). In the food material heating preparation process, the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F according to a first heating sequence H11. The first heating sequence H11 includes a first heating state P1. In this embodiment, the first heating sequence H11 will be described as including only the first heating state P1.

[0140] In the food material heating preparation step, when the object to be heated 80 reaches the first target temperature K11, the controller 5 starts the next step, the temperature adjustment step. In the temperature adjustment step, the controller 5 switches to the second heating sequence H12 and controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F. In the temperature adjustment step, the controller 5 maintains the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the first target temperature K11. For example, in the temperature adjustment step, the controller 5 maintains the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the first target temperature K11 by controlling the current flowing through the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F in accordance with the second heating sequence H12. Alternatively, the controller 5 may maintain the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the first target temperature K11 by controlling the magnitude of the current flowing through the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F. Furthermore, the controller 5 may maintain the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the first target temperature K11 by controlling the magnitude of the current flowing through the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F in accordance with the temperature difference between the temperature of the object to be heated 80 detected by the temperature sensor 6 and the first target temperature K11.

[0141] The second heating sequence H12 includes a first heating state P1 and a second heating state P2 that has a different distribution of local heating intensity for the heating object 80 from the first heating state P1. In the present embodiment, the second heating sequence H12 will be described as including only the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2. In the temperature adjustment step, the controller 5 switches the heating state depending on the heating time of the heating object 80 in accordance with the second heating sequence H12. The controller 5 alternately switches between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 in accordance with the second heating sequence H12.

[0142] Next, when the controller 5 detects that more foodstuffs 81 have been added to the object to be heated 80 (T12), the controller 5 starts the first grilling step. For example, the controller 5 may detect that the foodstuff 81 has been added to the object to be heated 80 when the first surface of the foodstuff 81 comes into contact with the object to be heated 80 and the temperature of the object to be heated 80 drops from the first target temperature K11. The controller 5 may also detect that the foodstuff 81 has been added to the object to be heated 80 when the temperature of the object to be heated 80 drops from the first target temperature K11 to a predetermined temperature. Furthermore, the controller 5 may detect that more foodstuffs 81 have been added to the object to be heated 80 when the user inputs to the input / output interface device 8 that the user has added the foodstuff 81.

[0143] In the first baking process, the controller 5 sets the target temperature of the object to be heated 80 to a first target temperature K11 and heats the object to be heated 80. In the first baking process, the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10F in accordance with the second heating sequence H12. As a result, in the first baking process, the controller 5 alternately switches between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 in accordance with the second heating sequence H12. In the first baking process, the controller 5 switches the heating state depending on the temperature and / or heating time of the object to be heated 80 in accordance with the second heating sequence H12.

[0144] Immediately after the start of the first baking process, the temperature of the object to be heated 80 drops below the first target temperature K11 due to the addition of foodstuff 81. When the temperature of the object to be heated 80 drops below the threshold temperature K12a (T13) during the first baking process, controller 5 changes the time interval for switching the heating state according to the second heating sequence H12. This prevents the temperature of the object to be heated 80 from dropping too low. The threshold temperature K12a is a temperature lower than the first target temperature K11. The time interval for switching the heating state is the time interval for alternating between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2.

[0145] Specifically, the time interval between switching the heating state from when the first baking process starts (T12) to when the temperature of the object 80 drops below the threshold temperature K12a (T13) is relatively the same as the time interval between switching the heating state in the temperature adjustment process. When the temperature of the object 80 drops below the threshold temperature K12a (T13) in the first baking process, the controller 5 lengthens the time interval between switching between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 in the second heating sequence H12. This prevents the temperature of the object 80 from dropping too much due to the addition of foodstuffs 81. Furthermore, after lengthening the time interval between switching between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 in the second heating sequence H12, the controller 5 may further lengthen the time interval between switching between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 when the temperature of the object 80 does not rise (T14). The second heating sequence H12 may be completed when a predetermined time (T15) has elapsed since the temperature of the heating object 80 has dropped to the threshold temperature K12a (T12).

[0146] In the first baking step, the controller 5 may heat the object to be heated 80 with a heating power different from that used to heat the object to be heated 80 in the temperature adjustment step. The controller 5 may heat the object to be heated 80 with a heating power greater than or less than that used to heat the object to be heated 80 in the temperature adjustment step. In addition, in the first baking step, the controller 5 may control the magnitude of the current flowing through the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F to be different from the magnitude of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F in the temperature adjustment step. For example, in the first baking step, the controller 5 may adjust the magnitude of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F in accordance with the temperature of the object to be heated 80.

[0147] Subsequently, after the first baking step is completed, the controller 5 starts the second baking step. After the first baking step is completed, the controller 5 detects that the state in which the first side of the food ingredient 81 placed on the object to be heated 80 is in contact with the object to be heated 80 has changed to the state in which the second side of the food ingredient 81 placed on the object to be heated 80 is in contact with the object to be heated 80, and starts the second baking step. The controller 5 detects that the second side of the food ingredient 81 is in contact with the object to be heated 80 when the second side of the food ingredient 81 comes into contact with the object to be heated 80 and the temperature of the object to be heated 80 drops. Alternatively, the controller 5 may detect that the second side of the food ingredient 81 is in contact with the object to be heated 80 by the user inputting information to the input / output interface device 8 that the food ingredient 81 has been placed on the object to be heated 80.

[0148] In the second baking step, the controller 5 sets the target temperature of the object 80 to a second target temperature K12b different from the first target temperature K11, and heats the object 80.

[0149] In this embodiment, the controller 5 heats the object 80 in the second baking step by setting the second target temperature K12b to the same value as the threshold temperature K12a in the first baking step.

[0150] In the second baking step, the controller 5 switches to a third heating sequence H13 and controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the coil pieces 10A-10F in accordance with the third heating sequence H13. The third heating sequence H13 includes at least one heating state in which the distribution of localized heat intensity on the object to be heated 80 differs from that included in the second heating sequence H12. The third heating sequence H13 includes a first heating state P1, a second heating state P2, a third heating state P3, and a fourth heating state P4 in which the localized distribution of heat on the object to be heated 80 differs. The fourth heating state P4 differs from the third heating state P3 in the localized distribution of heat on the object to be heated 80. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the third heating state P3 strongly heats the object to be heated 80 in the region where the coil pieces 10B, 10D, and 10F are located in the adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces among the coil pieces 10A-10F. For example, the fourth heating state P4 strongly heats the heating object 80 in the region where the coil pieces 10A, 10C, and 10E are arranged in the adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces among the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10F, as shown in Fig. 11. In this embodiment, the third heating sequence H13 will be described as including only the third heating state P3 and the fourth heating state P4.

[0151] In the second baking step, the controller 5 switches the heating state in accordance with the third heating sequence H13 and heats the heating object 80. In the second baking step, the controller 5 switches the heating state depending on the temperature and / or heating time of the heating object 80 in accordance with the third heating sequence H13.

[0152] Immediately after the start of the second baking process, contact between the second side of the food ingredient 81 and the object to be heated 80 causes the temperature of the object to be heated to drop below the second target temperature K12b. During the second baking process, when the temperature of the object to be heated 80 drops below the threshold temperature K13 (T16), the controller 5 changes the time interval for switching the heating state according to the third heating sequence H13. This prevents the temperature of the object to be heated 80 from dropping too low. The threshold temperature K13 is a temperature lower than the second target temperature K12b. The time interval for switching the heating state is the time interval for alternating between the third heating state P3 and the fourth heating state P4.

[0153] Specifically, when the temperature of the object to be heated 80 falls below the threshold temperature K13 (T16) in the second baking step, the controller 5 lengthens the time interval for switching between the third heating state P3 and the fourth heating state P4 in the third heating sequence H13. This prevents the temperature of the object to be heated 80 from dropping too much when the food ingredient 81 is added. The third heating sequence H13 may be completed when a predetermined time has elapsed from the heating time T16 (T17). Furthermore, the controller 5 may control the coil pieces 10A-10F so as not to pass current therethrough once the third heating sequence H13 is completed.

[0154] In the second baking step, the controller 5 may heat the object to be heated 80 with a heating power different from that used to heat the object to be heated 80 in the temperature adjustment step. The controller 5 may heat the object to be heated 80 with a heating power greater than or less than that used to heat the object to be heated 80 in the temperature adjustment step. In addition, in the first baking step, the controller 5 may control the magnitude of the current flowing through the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F to be different from the magnitude of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F in the temperature adjustment step. For example, in the second baking step, the controller 5 may adjust the magnitude of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F in accordance with the temperature of the object to be heated 80.

[0155] An example of operation in the third mode M3 of the induction heating cooker 1A according to the present disclosure will be described. Also, as an example of operation in the third mode M3 of the induction heating cooker 1A of this embodiment, a case where the cooking recipe mode "curry" is input to the controller 5 via the input / output interface device 8 will be described.

[0156] FIG. 17 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the heating time of the object to be heated 80 and the temperature of the object to be heated 80 detected by the temperature sensor 6 in the third mode M3 of the induction heating cooker 1A according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, and a graph showing an example of the relationship between the heating time of the object to be heated 80 and the heating state.

[0157] When the user inputs one of the multiple cooking recipe modes of the third mode M3 into the controller 5 via the input / output interface device 8, the controller 5 reads out multiple steps of the input cooking recipe mode from the storage device 52. For example, when "curry," a cooking recipe mode included in the third mode M3, is input as the cooking mode, the controller 5 reads out a first heating step and a second heating step.

[0158] Next, the controller 5 starts a first heating step. In the first heating step, the controller 5 heats the object to be heated 80 until the temperature of the object to be heated 80 reaches a target temperature K22. In the first heating step, the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10F in accordance with a first heating sequence H21. In the first heating step, the controller 5 heats the object to be heated 80 in accordance with the first heating sequence H21. The first heating sequence H21 includes a first heating state P1 and a second heating state P2 in which the distribution of local heating intensity on the object to be heated 80 is different from that of the first heating state P1. In this embodiment, the first heating sequence H21 will be described as including only the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2. The controller 5 heats the object to be heated 80 by switching between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 in accordance with the first heating sequence H21. The controller 5 may switch the heating state depending on the temperature of the heating object 80. In the first heating sequence H21, the controller 5 heats the heating object 80 in the first heating state P1 until the temperature of the heating object 80 reaches a threshold temperature K21 (T21). Also, in the first heating sequence H21, the controller 5 heats the heating object 80 by alternately switching between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 during the time (T21-T22) between when the temperature of the heating object 80 reaches the threshold temperature K21 (T21) and when it reaches a target temperature K22 (T22).

[0159] Subsequently, when the heating object 80 reaches the target temperature K22, the controller 5 starts the next step, the second heating step. In the second heating step, the controller 5 maintains the temperature of the heating object 80 at the target temperature K22. In the second heating step, the controller 5 switches to the second heating sequence H22 and controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F in accordance with the second heating sequence H22. The second heating sequence H22 includes a third heating state P3, a fourth heating state P4, a fifth heating state P5, and a sixth heating state P6. The third heating state P3, the fourth heating state P4, the fifth heating state P5, and the sixth heating state P6 each have a different distribution of local heating intensity for the heating object 80. For example, the fifth heating state P5 strongly heats the heating object 80 in the region where the coil pieces 10A, 10C, and 10E are arranged in the region along the first outer circumferential line L10 of the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F, as shown in Fig. 12. For example, the sixth heating state P6 strongly heats the heating object 80 in the region where the coil pieces 10B, 10D, and 10F are arranged in the region along the first outer circumferential line L10 of the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F, as shown in Fig. 13. In this embodiment, the second heating sequence H22 will be described as including only the third heating state P3, the fourth heating state P4, the fifth heating state P5, and the sixth heating state P6.

[0160] In the second heating step, the controller 5 switches among the third heating state P3, the fourth heating state P4, the fifth heating state P5, and the sixth heating state P6 in accordance with the second heating sequence H22. In the second heating step, the controller 5 switches the heating state depending on the heating time of the heating object 80. Furthermore, when switching the heating state in accordance with the second heating sequence H22, the range including the region where magnetic flux is concentrated is relatively different between the heating state before the switching and the heating state after the switching. For example, when the heating state is switched from a heating state in which magnetic flux is concentrated in at least a portion of adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces, the heating state after the switching is a heating state in which magnetic flux is concentrated in at least a portion of a portion along the first circumferential line L10.

[0161] The heating state in which magnetic flux concentrates in at least a portion of the adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces may be a heating state in which magnetic flux concentrates in a portion as shown in Figures 8, 10, and 11. In the description of the third mode M3 of this embodiment, the heating state in which magnetic flux concentrates in at least a portion of the adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces refers to the third heating state P3 and the fourth heating state P4 shown in Figures 10 and 11. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, both the third heating state P3 and the fourth heating state P4 are heating states in which magnetic flux concentrates in at least a portion of the adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces. In other words, the ranges including the areas where magnetic flux concentrates in the third heating state P3 and the fourth heating state P4 are the adjacent portions of the two adjacent coil pieces.

[0162] The heating state in which magnetic flux is concentrated in at least a portion of a region along the first circumferential line L10 may be a heating state in which magnetic flux is concentrated in a region as shown in FIGS. 9, 12, and 13. In the description of the third mode M3 of this embodiment, the heating state in which magnetic flux is concentrated in at least a portion of a region along the first circumferential line L10 refers to the fifth heating state P5 and the sixth heating state P6 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, both the fifth heating state P5 and the sixth heating state P6 are heating states in which magnetic flux is concentrated in at least a portion of a region along the first circumferential line L10. In other words, the ranges including the regions where magnetic flux is concentrated in the fifth heating state P5 and the sixth heating state P6 are regions along the first circumferential line L10.

[0163] In the second heating step, the controller 5 switches the heating state in the order of the third heating state P3, the fifth heating state P5, the fourth heating state P4, and the sixth heating state P6 from the start of the second heating step (T22) until a predetermined heating time has elapsed (T23). The controller 5 switches the heating state from the heating time T22 to the heating time T23 at relatively equal intervals between the switching times of the heating states.

[0164] In the second heating step, the controller 5 switches the heating state in the order of the third heating state P3, the sixth heating state P6, the fourth heating state P4, and the fifth heating state P5 from the heating time T23 until a predetermined heating time has elapsed (T24). The controller 5 switches the heating state from the heating time T23 to the heating time T24 at relatively equal intervals between the heating states. The interval between the heating state switching times from the heating time T23 to the heating time T24 may be relatively equal to the interval between the heating state switching times from the heating time T22 to the heating time T23. The second heating sequence H22 may be completed when the heating time of the object 80 has elapsed for a predetermined time (T24). Furthermore, the controller 5 may control the coil pieces 10A-10F so as not to pass current therethrough after completing the second heating sequence H22.

[0165] According to the induction heating cooker 1A of the first embodiment of the present disclosure, the following effects can be achieved.

[0166] The induction heating cooker 1A includes a top plate 2, a coil unit 4A, and a controller 5. The coil unit 4A is disposed below the top plate 2. The controller 5 controls heating of the object to be heated 80 by the coil unit 4A. The coil unit 4A includes a plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F disposed in a first heating region S0 that heats the object to be heated 80 in a plan view (XY plane). In a plan view, the first heating region S0 has a plurality of first coil arrangement regions S1-S6 defined by a first outer periphery line L10 that defines the outer periphery of the first heating region S0 and a plurality of first boundary lines L1-L6 that extend radially from a center C1 of the first heating region S0 toward the outer periphery. The plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F are disposed within the plurality of first coil arrangement regions S1-S6 in a plan view. The controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the coil pieces 10A-10F while passing a current through all of the coil pieces 10A-10F, thereby switching between multiple heating states P1-P6 that vary in the distribution of local heating intensity for the object to be heated 80. The controller 5 has multiple heating sequences H0 that combine one or more of the heating states P1-P6. The controller 5 acquires a cooking mode and switches between the multiple heating sequences H0 according to the acquired cooking mode.

[0167] With this configuration, the induction cooking device 1A can efficiently heat the object to be heated 80. The controller 5 of the induction cooking device 1A switches between multiple heating sequences H0 depending on the cooking mode, thereby efficiently heating the object to be heated 80 depending on the cooking method of the food ingredient 81. Furthermore, because the coil unit 4A includes multiple coil pieces 10A-10F, the controller 5 can finely adjust the distribution of local heating intensity on the object to be heated 80. The first heating region S0 is divided into multiple coil arrangement regions S1-S6 by multiple boundary lines L1-L6 and a first circumferential line L10. In the multiple coil arrangement regions S1-S6, the coil wire 11 constituting the coil pieces 10A-10F is arranged along two adjacent boundary lines and the first circumferential line L10 connecting the two adjacent boundary lines. As a result, the coil wire 11 of the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F is arranged from the center C1 of the first heating region S0 toward the periphery in a plan view, so the induction heating cooker 1A can reduce uneven heating. Also, the gaps between the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F can be made smaller, and the variation in the gaps can be reduced. In other words, by switching between multiple heating sequences H0 depending on the cooking mode, the induction heating cooker 1A can relatively reduce local temperature differences in heating of the object to be heated 80, even in a process in which a large amount of power is passed through the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F.

[0168] The controller 5 acquires information on the temperature of the object 80 to be heated, and switches between a plurality of heating sequences H0 based on the information on the temperature of the object 80 to be heated.

[0169] With this configuration, the induction heating cooker 1A can make the temperature difference in the heating object 80 relatively small. By switching the distribution of local heating intensity of the heating object 80, the temperature difference in the heating object 80 becomes relatively small. Furthermore, by alternately switching between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2, which have different distributions of local heating intensity of the heating object 80, in accordance with information on the temperature of the heating object 80, the local temperature difference in the heating object 80 can be made small. By making the local temperature difference in the heating object 80 small, the induction heating cooker 1A can heat the heating object 80 relatively uniformly.

[0170] At least one of the multiple heating sequences H0 includes a first heating state P1 and a second heating state P2 in which the distribution of local heating intensity on the heating object 80 is different from that of the first heating state P1. At least one of the multiple heating sequences H0 may predetermine a predetermined order in which the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 are switched. The controller 5 may switch between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 based on the predetermined order determined by at least one of the multiple heating sequences H0.

[0171] With this configuration, the induction heating cooker 1A can more efficiently heat the object to be heated 80. The controller 5 heats the object to be heated 80 by switching between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 in accordance with at least one of the plurality of heating sequences H0, thereby making it possible to relatively reduce local temperature differences in the heating distribution of the object to be heated 80. The induction heating cooker 1A can more efficiently heat the object to be heated 80 by relatively reducing local temperature differences in the heating distribution of the object to be heated 80.

[0172] The controller 5 switches between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 in a predetermined order based on the temperature of the object 80 to be heated or the heating time of the object 80 to be heated.

[0173] With this configuration, the induction heating cooker 1A can more efficiently heat the object to be heated 80. Furthermore, by switching between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 based on the temperature of the object to be heated 80, the controller 5 can heat the object to be heated 80 to a relatively uniform predetermined temperature even when the temperature of the object to be heated 80 varies depending on the material of the object to be heated 80 or the ingredients 81 contained in the object to be heated 80. Furthermore, by switching between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 based on the heating time, the controller 5 can relatively reduce local temperature differences in the object to be heated 80.

[0174] The cooking modes include a first mode M1 for deep-frying. The first mode M1 includes a preheating process, a temperature adjustment process, and a load detection process. The preheating process is a process for heating the object 80 until the temperature of the object 80 reaches a first target temperature K1. The temperature adjustment process is a process for maintaining the temperature of the object 80 at a second target temperature K2 after the preheating process is completed. The load detection process is a process for heating the object 80 with the food 81 added thereto, using a heating power greater than the heating power for heating the object 80 in the temperature adjustment process, upon detecting that the food 81 has been added to the object 80. The controller 5 switches between multiple heating sequences H0 according to the multiple processes in the first mode M1.

[0175] With this configuration, the induction heating cooker 1A can efficiently heat the object to be heated 80 when deep-frying food. The induction heating cooker 1A can fry the food 81 at a predetermined target oil temperature K5. In the load detection step, the induction heating cooker 1A heats the object to be heated 80 with a heating power greater than the heating power used to heat the object to be heated 80 in the temperature adjustment step, thereby relatively quickly restoring the temperature of the oil contained in the object to be heated 80, which has dropped due to the addition of the food 81, to the target oil temperature K5. The controller 5 can relatively reduce local temperature differences in the object to be heated 80 by switching between multiple heating sequences H0 according to multiple steps.

[0176] In the preheating step of the first mode M1, the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F in accordance with a first heating sequence H1 including a first heating state P1. In the load detection step of the first mode M1, the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F in accordance with a second heating sequence H2 including the first heating state P1 and a second heating state P2 that differs from the first heating state P1 in the distribution of local heating intensity with respect to the heating target 80. In the second heating sequence H2, the controller 5 switches between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2.

[0177] With this configuration, the induction heating cooker 1A can heat the object 80 more efficiently when deep-frying. By changing the heating sequences H0 according to each of the steps in the first mode M1, the object 80 can be heated in the heating states P1 and P2 corresponding to the step. Furthermore, by heating the object 80 according to the first heating sequence H1 including the first heating state P1 in the preheating step, the controller 5 can efficiently raise the temperature of the object 80 to the first target temperature K1. Furthermore, by heating the object 80 according to the third heating sequence H3 including the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 in the load detection step, local temperature differences in the heating distribution of the object 80 can be relatively small. By relatively small local temperature differences in the heating distribution of the object 80, it is possible to prevent food 81 from burning when it comes into contact with high-temperature parts of the object 80.

[0178] In the first mode M1, the controller 5 switches between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 at predetermined time intervals according to the second heating sequence H2.

[0179] In the first mode M1, the induction heating cooker 1A switches the heating state at predetermined time intervals, thereby making it possible to relatively reduce local temperature differences in the heating distribution of the object to be heated 80. By relatively reducing local temperature differences in the heating distribution of the object to be heated 80, the induction heating cooker 1A can heat the object to be heated 80 more efficiently.

[0180] In the first mode M1, the first heating state P1 heats the object to be heated 80 in an area corresponding to adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces among the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F more strongly than the object to be heated 80 in an area corresponding to portions along the first circumferential line L10 of each of the two adjacent coil pieces. The second heating state P2 heats the object to be heated 80 in an area corresponding to portions along the first circumferential line L10 of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F more strongly than the object to be heated 80 in an area corresponding to the center of at least one of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F. The controller 5 switches between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 in the second heating sequence H2.

[0181] By heating the object to be heated 80 in the first heating state P1, the induction heating cooker 1A can more efficiently heat the object to be heated 80 in an area corresponding to adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces among the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F. By heating the object to be heated 80 in the second heating state P2, the induction heating cooker 1A can more efficiently heat the object to be heated 80 in an area corresponding to portions of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F along the first circumferential line L10. By switching between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 in the second heating sequence H2, the controller 5 can reduce heating unevenness in the heating of the object to be heated 80. By switching between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 in the second heating sequence H2, the controller 5 can relatively reduce local temperature differences in the heating of the object to be heated 80, even in the step of passing a large amount of power through the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F.

[0182] The cooking mode includes a second mode M2 ​​for grilling. The second mode M2 ​​may include an ingredient heating preparation step, a temperature adjustment step, and a grilling step. The ingredient heating preparation step is a step of heating the object 80 until the temperature of the object 80 reaches a first target temperature K11. The temperature adjustment step is a step of maintaining the temperature of the object 80 at the first target temperature K11 after the ingredient heating preparation step is completed. The grilling step is a step of heating the object 80 with a heating power different from the heating power used to heat the object 80 in the temperature adjustment step when it is detected that ingredients 81 have been placed in the object 80. The controller 5 may switch between multiple heating sequences H0 according to the multiple steps of the second mode M2.

[0183] With this configuration, the induction heating cooker 1A can efficiently heat the object to be heated 80 when grilling food. The controller 5 switches between multiple heating sequences H0 according to multiple processes in the second mode M2, so that the object to be heated 80 can be heated in heating states according to the multiple processes.

[0184] During the food heating preparation step of the second mode M2, the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F in accordance with a first heating sequence H11 including a first heating state P1. During the grilling step of the second mode M2, the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F in accordance with a second heating sequence H12. The second heating sequence H12 includes the first heating state P1 and a second heating state P2 in which the distribution of local heating intensity for the heated object 80 differs from that of the first heating state P1. During the second heating sequence H12, the controller 5 alternates between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2.

[0185] With this configuration, the induction heating cooker 1A can efficiently heat the object to be heated 80 when grilling food. The controller 5 switches the heating state in accordance with the heating sequence in each of the multiple steps in the second mode M2, thereby efficiently heating the object to be heated 80.

[0186] The grilling process in the second mode M2 ​​includes a first grilling process and a second grilling process. The first grilling process is a process of heating the object 80 while the object 80 is in contact with the first surface of the food material 81, which has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second grilling process is a process of heating the object 80 after the first grilling process is completed, while the object 80 is in contact with the second surface of the food material 81. In the food material heating preparation process, the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through the coil pieces 10A-10F in accordance with a first heating sequence H11 including a first heating state P1. In the first grilling process, the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the coil pieces 10A-10F in accordance with a second heating sequence H12 including a first heating state P1 and a second heating state P2 in which the distribution of local heating intensity for the object 80 is different from that in the first heating state P1. In the second baking process, the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F in accordance with a third heating sequence H13 that includes at least one heating state in which the distribution of local heating strength on the object to be heated 80 is different from the heating state included in the second heating sequence H12.

[0187] With this configuration, the induction cooking device 1A can more efficiently cook food material 81 having a first surface and a second surface. By switching the heating sequence between the first baking process and the second baking process, food material 81 having a first surface and a second surface can be cooked in an appropriate heating state in each process. The appropriate heating state differs depending on the cooking recipe. Note that the appropriate heating state in the stage of cooking food material 81 is a distribution of localized heat intensities on the object to be heated 80 that results in a relatively uniform distribution of heat intensities on the food material 81. For example, in the cooking recipe mode "saute pork," the appropriate heating state is a distribution of localized heat intensities on the object to be heated 80 that results in a uniform browning of the pork.

[0188] The cooking mode may include a third mode M3 for stewing. The third mode M3 includes a first heating step and a second heating step. The first heating step is a step of heating the object 80 until the temperature of the object 80 reaches the target temperature K22. The second heating step is a step of maintaining the temperature of the object 80 at the target temperature K22 after the first heating step is completed. The controller 5 switches between multiple heating sequences H0 according to the multiple steps of the third mode M3.

[0189] With this configuration, the induction heating cooker 1A can efficiently heat the object to be heated 80 when stewing. By switching between the multiple heating sequences H0 according to the multiple steps of the third mode M3 using the controller 5, the object to be heated 80 can be heated in a heating state according to each step.

[0190] In a first heating step of a third mode M3, the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F in accordance with a first heating sequence H21 including a first heating state P1. In a second heating step of the third mode M3, the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F in accordance with a second heating sequence H22. The second heating sequence H22 includes a third heating state P3 in which the local distribution of heating on the heating object 80 is different from that of the first heating state P1, and a fifth heating state P5 in which the local distribution of heating on the heating object 80 is different from that of the third heating state P3. In the second heating sequence H22, the controller 5 switches between the third heating state P3 and the fifth heating state P5.

[0191] With this configuration, the induction heating cooker 1A can efficiently heat the object to be heated 80. The controller 5 of the induction heating cooker 1A switches between multiple heating sequences H0 depending on the cooking mode, thereby efficiently heating the object to be heated 80 depending on the cooking method of the food ingredient 81. Furthermore, the controller 5 can adjust the distribution of localized intensity of heating of the object to be heated 80 in a relatively fine distribution by controlling at least a part of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F. Because the controller 5 can adjust the distribution of localized intensity of heating of the object to be heated 80 in a relatively fine distribution, it can adjust heating unevenness of the object to be heated 80 in a relatively fine distribution. In other words, by switching between multiple heating states, the controller 5 can reduce heating unevenness of the object to be heated 80.

[0192] When the object to be heated 80 is heated, the fluid density of the liquid food 81 contained in the object to be heated 80 changes with temperature changes, causing the food to rise and fall. In other words, when the object to be heated 80 is heated, convection occurs in the liquid food 81 contained in the object to be heated 80. The convection in the liquid food 81 contained in the object to be heated 80 changes due to changes in the local distribution of heat on the object to be heated 80. Therefore, the convection can be changed by switching the heating state. Changing the convection in the liquid food 81 contained in the object to be heated 80 can efficiently transfer moisture due to osmotic pressure between the solid food 81 and the liquid food 81. In other words, by alternately switching between the second heating state P2 and the third heating state P3, the controller 5 can efficiently transfer moisture due to osmotic pressure between the solid food 81 and the liquid food 81. That is, with this configuration, the induction heating cooker 1A can allow the flavor to permeate the solid ingredients 81 more thoroughly when stewing.

[0193] The method for controlling the induction heating cooker 1A is a method for controlling the induction heating cooker 1A by a controller 5. The induction heating cooker 1A includes a top plate 2 and a coil unit 4A arranged below the top plate 2. The coil unit 4A includes, in a plan view, a plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F arranged in a first heating region S0 that heats an object to be heated 80. In a plan view, the first heating region S0 has a plurality of first coil arrangement regions S1-S6 defined by a first outer periphery line L10 that defines the outer periphery of the first heating region S0 and a plurality of first boundary lines L1-L6 that extend radially from a center C1 of the first heating region S0 toward the outer periphery. The plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F are arranged within the plurality of first coil arrangement regions S1-S6 in a plan view. The induction heating cooker 1A controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F while passing a current through all of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F. By controlling at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F, the induction heating cooker 1A can switch between a plurality of heating states P1-P6, each of which has a different distribution of local heat intensity for the object to be heated 80. The plurality of heating states are switched according to each of a plurality of heating sequences H0, which combine one or more of the plurality of heating states P1-P6. A method for controlling the induction heating cooker 1A includes the step of acquiring a cooking mode (Step 1) and the step of switching between the plurality of heating sequences H0 according to the cooking mode (Step 2).

[0194] With this configuration, the induction heating cooker 1A can efficiently heat the object to be heated 80. The controller 5 of the induction heating cooker 1A switches between a plurality of heating sequences H0 depending on the cooking mode, thereby efficiently heating the object to be heated 80 depending on the cooking method of the food material 81.

[0195] In the present embodiment, the induction heat cooker 1A has been described as including the controller 5, but the induction heat cooker 1A does not necessarily have to include the controller 5. For example, the controller 5 may be separate from the induction heat cooker 1A. Furthermore, the induction heat cooker 1A may be controlled by a separate controller 5. The controller 5 may include a first communication unit that receives information from the induction heat cooker 1A. The induction heat cooker 1A may include a second communication unit that receives an operation command from the controller 5. The induction heat cooker 1A may be controlled by the controller 5 by causing the first communication unit and the second communication unit to communicate with each other. For example, the first communication unit and the second communication unit may communicate with each other via a network. Furthermore, the first communication unit and the second communication unit may include a circuit that performs communication in accordance with a predetermined communication standard (e.g., LAN, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark)).

[0196] Although it has been described that the housing 3 is equipped with the multiple coil units 4A, the controller 5, the multiple temperature sensors 6, and the input / output interface device 8, this is not limitative. For example, the housing 3 does not necessarily have to be equipped with the multiple coil units 4A, the controller 5, the multiple temperature sensors 6, and the input / output interface device 8.

[0197] Although the example of the induction heating cooker 1A including a plurality of coil units 4A has been described, the induction heating cooker 1A does not have to include a plurality of coil units 4A. For example, the induction heating cooker 1A may include only one coil unit 4A.

[0198] Although the above description is of an example in which the multiple coil units 4A include multiple coil pieces 10A-10F arranged in the first heating region S0 that heats the object to be heated 80, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one of the multiple coil units 4A may be a coil unit that does not include multiple coil pieces 10A-10F arranged in the first heating region S0 that heats the object to be heated 80. Furthermore, one of the multiple coil units 4A may be a single coil piece arranged in the first heating region S0.

[0199] Although an example of the induction heating cooker 1A including a plurality of temperature sensors 6 has been described, the induction heating cooker 1A does not have to include a plurality of temperature sensors 6. For example, the temperature sensor 6 may be provided in a device separate from the induction heating cooker 1A, detect the temperature of the object to be heated 80, and output the detected temperature of the object to be heated 80 to the controller 5.

[0200] Although an example in which the transmission window 7 is provided in the top plate 2 has been described, the top plate 2 does not necessarily have to be provided with the transmission window 7.

[0201] Although an example of the induction heating cooker 1A including the input / output interface device 8 has been described, the induction heating cooker 1A does not have to include the input / output interface device 8. For example, the induction heating cooker 1A may not include the input / output interface device 8, and may heat the object to be heated 80 in only one cooking mode by turning the power on / off. Also, the induction heating cooker 1A may heat the object to be heated 80 in only the first mode M1. Furthermore, the induction heating cooker 1A may heat the object to be heated 80 in only the first mode M1 in which one target oil temperature is set. Specifically, the induction heating cooker 1A may be controlled only in the first mode M1 in which the target oil temperature K5 is preset to an oil temperature of 180°.

[0202] Although the first heating region S0 may be formed in a circular shape in the XY plane, this is not limiting. The first heating region S0 is not limited to being circular in the XY plane. For example, the first heating region S0 may be circular, rectangular, elliptical, or regular polygonal in the XY plane. Furthermore, when the first heating region S0 is rectangular in the XY plane, the center C1 of the first heating region S0 may be the intersection of diagonals. Furthermore, when the first heating region S0 is elliptical in the XY plane, the center C1 of the first heating region S0 may be the intersection of the major axis and the minor axis. Furthermore, when the first heating region S0 is regular polygonal in the XY plane, the center C1 of the first heating region S0 may be the center of a circle tangent to all of the outer sides constituting the regular polygon.

[0203] Although the circuit in this embodiment has been described with reference to FIG. 5, the present invention is not limited to this and various circuits can be used.

[0204] The controller 5 can switch between multiple current parameters to switch the heating state and heat the heating object 80. For example, the controller 5 may alternately switch between two types of current parameters, or may alternately switch between the two types of current parameters in a continuous or stepwise manner.

[0205] Although the first heating state P1 to the sixth heating state P6 have been described as an example of a heating state, which is a distribution of localized heating strengths and weaknesses on the heating target 80, the heating state is not limited to the first heating state P1 to the sixth heating state P6. For example, a heating state different from the first heating state to the sixth heating state may be obtained by varying the number of amplitude types, the frequency difference, and the phase difference. Furthermore, the relationship between the parameters of adjacent currents may be different for each of the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F. Furthermore, the relationship between the parameters of adjacent currents may be different for opposing coil pieces (for example, coil piece 10A and coil piece 10D).

[0206] Although the example in which the controller 5 changes the strength of heating using two types of current amplitude has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the controller 5 may change the strength of two or more types of heating using two or more types of current amplitude.

[0207] In this embodiment, the heating states are classified according to the relationship between the parameters of the currents flowing through the coil pieces 10A-10F. However, this classification is for ease of explanation and does not define the classification of the heating states. For example, the heating states may be determined by the difference in the amplitude of the currents flowing through the coil pieces 10A-10F. The heating states may also be classified according to the difference in the areas where magnetic flux is concentrated.

[0208] Although the example in which the current parameters are the first to fourth parameters has been described, the current parameters do not have to be the first to fourth parameters. For example, the current parameters may be the fifth and sixth parameters described below.

[0209] [5th ​​parameter] The parameters shown in Table 5 are hereinafter referred to as fifth parameters. When the controller 5 applies a current having the fifth parameters to each of the coil pieces 10A to 10F, a predetermined portion of the object to be heated 80 can be heated more strongly than other portions in accordance with the fifth parameters.

[0210] [Table 5]

[0211] As shown in Table 5, in the fifth parameter, the currents flowing through adjacent portions have relatively equal amplitudes. In the fifth parameter, the currents flowing through adjacent portions have different phases. Specifically, in the fifth parameter, the currents flowing through adjacent portions have an equal phase difference for all pairs of two adjacent coil pieces. For example, the equal phase difference is 60°, but is not limited to this. In the fifth parameter, the currents flowing through adjacent portions have a relatively equal frequency. The controller 5 can change the heating state by controlling the current for all pairs of two adjacent coil pieces so that the fifth parameter shown in Table 5 is satisfied.

[0212] By the controller 5 controlling the current so that it becomes the fifth parameter for all pairs of two adjacent coil pieces, the induction heating cooker 1A can heat the inner part of the object to be heated 80 more strongly than the outer part of the object to be heated 80. The inner part of the object to be heated 80 can be heated over a wider range by the controller 5 controlling the current so that it becomes the fifth parameter rather than controlling the current so that it becomes the first parameter for all pairs of two adjacent coil pieces.

[0213] [6th parameter] The current parameters controlled by the controller 5 are not limited to the first to fifth parameters. The controller 5 can control the parameters of the current flowing through adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces so that they have a different relationship from the first to fifth parameters, thereby controlling the heating of the object 80 to a heating state different from the heating state achieved by the first to fifth parameters. For example, the controller 5 can control the current having the parameters shown in Table 6 to flow through each of the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F. The parameters shown in Table 6 will hereinafter be referred to as the sixth parameters where appropriate.

[0214] [Table 6]

[0215] As shown in Table 6, in the sixth parameter, the currents flowing through adjacent portions have different amplitudes. In the sixth parameter, the currents flowing through adjacent portions have relatively the same phase (i.e., a phase difference of 0°). In the sixth parameter, the currents flowing through adjacent portions have different frequencies. Compared to the first parameter, the sixth parameter does not have the same current amplitude and frequency. Due to this difference, the controller 5 can change the strength of heating by adjacent portions by controlling the current flowing through each of the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F to have the sixth parameter.

[0216] For example, when the controller 5 reduces the amplitude of the current flowing through a specific coil piece, it can weaken the heating intensity of the region heated by the specific coil piece compared to the heating intensity of regions heated by other coil pieces. The region heated by the specific coil piece includes regions heated by adjacent portions between the specific coil piece and a coil piece adjacent to the specific coil piece.

[0217] For example, the controller 5 may control the frequency of the current flowing through one of two adjacent coil pieces to be twice the frequency of the current flowing through the other (i.e., a frequency difference of 1). The predetermined frequency difference is not limited to 1, and may be an integer multiple of 0 or greater. The controller 5 can change the heating state by changing the amplitude and frequency of the current flowing through each of the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F.

[0218] Although the controller 5 has been described as acquiring information on the temperature of the object to be heated 80 using the temperature sensor 6, this is not limiting. For example, the controller 5 may acquire temperature changes in the object to be heated 80 from changes in the impedance of each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10F. When the coil unit 4A heats the object to be heated 80, the magnetic field generated by each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10F affects the object to be heated 80, generating a current in the object to be heated 80, thereby heating the object to be heated 80. Since the magnetic field is affected by the object to be heated 80, the impedance of each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10F changes. In general, the impedance of each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10F changes depending on whether the object to be heated 80 is placed within an area affected by the magnetic field generated by each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10F and the magnetism of the material of the object to be heated. Because the impedance also changes depending on the temperature of the object to be heated 80, the controller 5 can obtain changes in the temperature of the object to be heated 80 by acquiring changes in the characteristics of each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F, such as by grasping the impedance of each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F. Furthermore, by acquiring changes in the characteristics of each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F, the controller 5 can obtain changes in the temperature of the object to be heated 80 in the region of the object to be heated 80 that is heated by each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F. In other words, the controller 5 can use each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F as a temperature sensor 6.

[0219] For example, the controller 5 can acquire the change in the characteristics of each of the coil pieces 10A-10F by providing a current sensor in the circuit that acquires the current flowing through each of the coil pieces 10A-10F and acquiring the change in the current value relative to the voltage value. The method of acquiring the change in the characteristics of each of the coil pieces 10A-10F is not limited to using a current sensor. For example, the controller 5 may acquire the change in the characteristics using a voltage sensor.

[0220] When the controller 5 acquires information about the temperature of the object to be heated 80 from the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F, it can store the information in the storage device 52 as temperature information about the object to be heated 80. The temperature information about the object to be heated 80 can be, for example, relative and qualitative information between the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F. The temperature information about the object to be heated 80 is not limited to this and can also be a numerical value. The controller 5 can detect, for example, a location on the object to be heated 80 where the temperature is relatively low, based on information that associates the positions of the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F with the temperature information about the object to be heated 80 acquired based on each of the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F. Therefore, the controller 5 can control the parameters of the current flowing through each of the multiple coil pieces 10A-10F so as to strongly heat the relatively low-temperature locations on the object to be heated 80. In this way, the controller 5 may control parameters of the current flowing through each of the coil pieces 10A-10F based on information correlating the positions of the coil pieces 10A-10F with information on the temperature of the object to be heated 80 acquired based on each of the coil pieces 10A-10F. For example, the controller 5 may change the amplitude of the current flowing through at least one of the coil pieces 10A-10F based on the information on the temperature of the object to be heated 80. By changing the amplitude of the current, the controller 5 can control the heating intensity of the area heated by the coil pieces 10A-10F. Furthermore, the controller 5 may change the phase of the current flowing through any two adjacent coil pieces based on the information on the temperature of the object to be heated 80. By changing the phase of the current, the controller 5 may control the position of the area that is strongly heated by the two adjacent coil pieces.

[0221] In this embodiment, the multiple cooking modes are described as including the first mode M1, the second mode M2, and the third mode M3, but the multiple cooking modes may include modes other than the first mode M1, the second mode M2, and the third mode M3. For example, the multiple cooking modes may include a mode suitable for a cooking method of steaming food 81.

[0222] Although the cooking mode has been described as an example in which the steps included in the cooking mode are performed in order, this is not limiting. For example, in second mode M2, controller 5 does not have to perform all of the steps, namely, the food heating preparation step, the temperature adjustment step, the first grilling step, and the second grilling step. Furthermore, the user may be able to select second mode M2 ​​starting from the second grilling step via input / output interface device 8. Furthermore, when starting from the second grilling step in second mode M2, the predetermined time for completing the second grilling step may vary depending on the temperature of the object 80 to be heated. For example, if the temperature of the object 80 to be heated when starting from the second grilling step without performing the food heating preparation step, the temperature adjustment step, and the first grilling step is lower than the temperature of the object 80 to be heated when starting from the food heating preparation step and then starting the second grilling step, the predetermined time for completing the second grilling step may be extended.

[0223] Although it has been described that the heating power of the induction heating cooker 1A is adjusted in accordance with a plurality of processes in the cooking mode, it does not have to be adjusted in accordance with a plurality of processes. For example, the user may input information about the heating power of the induction heating cooker 1A into the input / output interface device 8, thereby making the adjustment.

[0224] Each cooking mode has multiple recipe modes that are suited to cooking methods for ingredients 81 depending on the type of dish, and are not necessarily suited to only the dish in the selected recipe mode. For example, the recipe mode "hamburger steak," one of the multiple recipes in the second mode M2, is not just suited to making hamburger steaks, but is also suited to making stuffed peppers.

[0225] 15 to 17, the heating state in the graph showing an example of the relationship between the heating time and the heating state of the heating object 80 refers to a state in which areas of high heating or low heating are locally generated. In other words, the heating state does not indicate the magnitude of the heating power. For example, the magnitude of the heating power in the first heating state P1 and the magnitude of the heating power in the sixth heating state P6 may be the same. Furthermore, the magnitude of the heating power in the first heating state P1 and the magnitude of the heating power in the sixth heating state P6 may be different. The magnitude of the heating power in the sixth heating state P6 may be smaller or larger than the magnitude of the heating power in the first heating state P1.

[0226] In the preheating step of the first mode M1, the first heating sequence H1 includes only the first heating state P1. However, this is not limiting. For example, the first heating sequence H1 may include only the third heating state P3. The first heating sequence H1 may also include the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2. The controller 5 may heat the heating object 80 while switching the heating state according to the first heating sequence H1 including the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2. For example, the controller 5 may heat the heating object 80 in the first heating state P1 during the preheating step, and then switch the heating state from the first heating state P1 to the second heating state P2 when the preheating step is completed and the temperature adjustment step is started.

[0227] In the first embodiment, the preheating process and the temperature adjustment process in the first mode M1 are described as being the same heating sequence, but they may be different heating sequences. For example, the heating sequence may be switched when the preheating process is completed and the temperature adjustment process is started.

[0228] In the load detection process of the first mode M1, the second heating sequence H2 includes only the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2. However, this is not limiting. For example, the second heating sequence H2 may include only the third heating state P3 and the fourth heating state P4. Alternatively, the second heating sequence H2 may include the first heating state P1, the second heating state P2, the third heating state P3, and the fourth heating state P4. In accordance with the second heating sequence H2, the controller 5 may alternate between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 for a predetermined time, and then alternate between the third heating state P3 and the fourth heating state P4 after the predetermined time has elapsed.

[0229] In the first mode M1, the process may return from the load detection process to the temperature adjustment process when a predetermined time has elapsed without the temperature of the object to be heated 80 changing relatively significantly from the third target temperature K3 during the load detection process. For example, when the food material 81 is removed from the object to be heated 80 during the load detection process, the process of the first mode M1 may return from the load detection process to the temperature adjustment process. In addition, the process may return to the temperature adjustment process when a predetermined time has elapsed while the temperature of the object to be heated 80 remains at the third target temperature K3 during the load detection process. For example, the process may return to the temperature adjustment process when a predetermined time has elapsed while the temperature of the object to be heated 80 remains at the third target temperature K3 without detecting that more food material 81 has been added to the object to be heated 80. Furthermore, the process of the first mode M1 may repeat the process from the load detection process to the temperature adjustment process. In addition, after returning from the load detection process to the temperature adjustment process, if a predetermined time has elapsed without switching from the temperature adjustment process to the load detection process, the controller 5 may control the coil pieces 10A to 10F so that no current flows through them.

[0230] In the first mode M1, the controller 5 switches between multiple processes (a temperature adjustment process and a load detection process) and multiple heating sequences H0 depending on the temperature of the object to be heated 80. However, this is not limiting. For example, the controller 5 may switch between multiple processes and multiple heating sequences H0 depending on the temperature of the oil contained in the object to be heated 80. In the preheating process, the controller 5 may switch to the temperature adjustment process when the temperature of the oil reaches a target oil temperature K5. In the temperature adjustment process, the controller 5 may switch from the temperature adjustment process to the load detection process when the temperature of the oil contained in the object to be heated 80 becomes equal to or lower than a threshold oil temperature K6. In the load detection process, the controller 5 may heat the object to be heated 80 while switching the heating state so that the temperature of the oil contained in the object to be heated 80 is maintained at the target oil temperature K5. The temperature of the oil contained in the object to be heated 80 may be detected by a thermometer provided outside the induction heating cooker 1A. The thermometer may output information on the detected temperature of the oil contained in the object to be heated 80 to the controller 5.

[0231] In the second mode M2, the first heating sequence H11 has been described as including only the first heating state P1, but this is not limiting. For example, the first heating sequence H11 may include the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2. Furthermore, the controller 5 may heat the heating object 80 in the first heating state P1 in the food material heating preparation step, and heat the heating object 80 in the second heating state P2 in the temperature adjustment step.

[0232] Although the heating sequence in the temperature adjustment step and the first baking step of the second mode M2 ​​has been described as the same heating sequence, they may be different heating sequences. For example, the heating sequence may be switched when the temperature adjustment step is completed and the first baking step is started.

[0233] In the first baking step of the second mode M2, the controller 5 has been described as setting the target temperature of the heating object 80 to the first target temperature K11 and heating the heating object 80, but this is not limited to this. For example, in the first baking step, the controller 5 may set the target temperature of the heating object 80 to a predetermined temperature different from the first target temperature K11 and heat the heating object 80. Furthermore, the predetermined temperature different from the first target temperature K11 may be higher or lower than the first target temperature K11.

[0234] In the first baking step of the second mode M2, the controller 5 may set the target temperature of the object to be heated 80 to the threshold temperature K12a and heat the object to be heated 80. For example, in the first baking step, the controller 5 may heat the object to be heated 80 so that the temperature of the object to be heated 80 is maintained at the threshold temperature K12a, from the time (T13) when the temperature of the object to be heated 80 becomes equal to or lower than the threshold temperature K12a. In addition, the controller 5 may maintain the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the threshold temperature K12a by controlling the magnitude of the current flowing through the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10F based on the temperature difference between the temperature of the object to be heated 80 detected by the temperature sensor 6 and the threshold temperature K12a.

[0235] Although an example has been described in which the temperature of the object to be heated 80 drops to a temperature lower than the first target temperature K11 by adding more foodstuffs 81 to the object to be heated 80 in the first grilling step of the second mode M2, this is not limiting. For example, the temperature of the object to be heated 80 may rise to a temperature higher than the first target temperature K11 by adding more foodstuffs 81 to the object to be heated 80. The temperature of the foodstuffs 81 added to the object to be heated 80 may be higher than the temperature of the object to be heated 80.

[0236] In the first baking step of the second mode M2, the controller 5 changes the time interval for switching the heating state in accordance with the second heating sequence H12 when the temperature of the heating object 80 becomes equal to or lower than the threshold temperature K12a (T12). However, this is not limiting. For example, in the first baking step, the controller 5 may switch the heating state at a time interval that is relatively the same as that in the temperature adjustment step. In addition, in the first baking step, the controller 5 may change the time interval for switching the heating state in accordance with the second heating sequence H12 when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the first baking step (T12).

[0237] It has been explained that in the first baking step of the second mode M2, the controller 5 may further increase the time interval between switching between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 in the second heating sequence H12 when the temperature of the heating object 80 does not increase (T14) after increasing the time interval between switching between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 in the second heating sequence H12. However, this is not limited to this. For example, the controller 5 may heat the heating object 80 only in the first heating state P1 without switching between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 when the temperature of the heating object 80 does not increase (T14) after increasing the time interval between switching between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 in the second heating sequence H12. Furthermore, the controller 5 may heat the heating object 80 only in the first heating state P1, and then switch between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 to heat the heating object 80 when the temperature of the heating object 80 increases by a predetermined temperature.

[0238] Alternatively, in the first baking step of the second mode M2, the controller 5 may lengthen the time interval between switching between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 in the second heating sequence H12, and then, when the temperature of the heating object 80 does not increase (T14), maintain the temperature of the heating object 80 at the temperature when the temperature of the heating object 80 does not increase (T14). For example, the temperature when the temperature of the heating object 80 does not increase (T14) is a temperature equal to or higher than the threshold temperature K12a and lower than the first target temperature K11.

[0239] In addition, in the first baking process of the second mode M2, when the temperature of the object to be heated 80 reaches the first target temperature K11 after the temperature of the object to be heated 80 falls below the threshold temperature K12a, the controller 5 may change the time for switching the heating state to be relatively the same as the time interval for switching the heating state in the temperature adjustment process.

[0240] Although the second heating sequence H12 of the second mode M2 ​​includes only the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 in the above example, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the second heating sequence H12 may include only the first heating state P1. Alternatively, the second heating sequence H12 may include the first heating state P1, the second heating state P2, the third heating state P3, and the fourth heating state P4. For example, the controller 5 may alternate between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 in accordance with the second heating sequence H12 until the temperature of the heating object 80 reaches the second target temperature K12b. Alternatively, the controller 5 may alternate between the third heating state P3 and the fourth heating state P4 in accordance with the second heating sequence H12 until a predetermined time has elapsed since the temperature of the heating object 80 reaches the second target temperature K12b.

[0241] In the second heating sequence H12 of the second mode M2, the time interval between the heating states from the heating time T12 to the heating time T13 is described as being relatively the same as the time interval between the heating states in the temperature adjustment process, but this is not limited to this. For example, the time interval between the heating states from the heating time T12 to the heating time T13 may be different from the time interval between the heating states in the temperature adjustment process.

[0242] Although it has been described that in the second heating sequence H12 of the second mode M2, the time interval between the heating states is longer from heating time T12 to heating time T15 than from heating time T12 to heating time T13, this is not limitative. For example, the time interval between the heating states may be the same from heating time T12 to heating time T13 and from heating time T12 to heating time T15.

[0243] In the second heating sequence H12 of the second mode M2, the interval between heating state switching times from heating time T14 to heating time T15 is longer than that from heating time T13 to heating time T14, but this is not limited to this. For example, the interval between heating state switching times from heating time T14 to heating time T15 may be shorter than that from heating time T13 to heating time T14.

[0244] In the second mode M2, it has been explained that the controller 5 may heat the object to be heated 80 in the first baking process using a heating power different from the heating power used to heat the object to be heated 80 in the temperature adjustment process, but the controller 5 may also heat the object to be heated 80 in the first baking process using the same heating power as the heating power used to heat the object to be heated 80 in the temperature adjustment process.

[0245] In the second baking step of the second mode M2, the controller 5 heats the heating object 80 by setting the second target temperature K12b to the same as the threshold temperature K12a, as described above. However, this is not limiting. The second target temperature K12b may be different from the threshold temperature K12a. For example, in the second baking step, the controller 5 may heat the heating object 80 by setting the second target temperature K12b to the same as the first target temperature K11.

[0246] Alternatively, the controller 5 may set the second target temperature K12b to the threshold temperature K13 and heat the object to be heated 80. In the second baking step, the controller 5 may heat the object to be heated 80 so that the temperature of the object to be heated 80 is maintained at the threshold temperature K13, from the time (T6) when the temperature of the object to be heated 80 becomes equal to or lower than the threshold temperature K13. Furthermore, the controller 5 may maintain the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the threshold temperature K13 by controlling the magnitude of the current flowing through the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10F based on the temperature difference between the temperature of the object to be heated 80 detected by the temperature sensor 6 and the threshold temperature K13.

[0247] It has been described that in the second baking step of the second mode M2, the controller 5 changes the time interval for switching the heating state in accordance with the third heating sequence H13 when the temperature of the object 80 to be heated becomes equal to or lower than the threshold temperature K13 (T16), but this is not limiting. For example, in the second baking step, the controller 5 may change the time interval for switching the heating state in accordance with the third heating sequence H13 when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the second baking step (T15).

[0248] In the second baking step of the second mode M2, the third heating sequence H13 includes only the third heating state P3 and the fifth heating state P5. However, this is not limiting. For example, the third heating sequence H13 may include only the third heating state P3. Alternatively, the third heating sequence H13 may include the first heating state P1, the second heating state P2, the third heating state P3, and the fifth heating state P5.

[0249] Although the heating sequences for the first and second baking steps of the second mode M2 ​​(the second heating sequence H12 including the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2, and the third heating sequence H13 including the third heating state P3 and the fifth heating state P5) each include different heating states, they may also include the same heating state. For example, the heating sequences for the first and second baking steps may each include only the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2.

[0250] In the third heating sequence H13 of the second mode M2, the interval between heating state switching times is longer from heating time T16 to heating time T17 than from heating time T15 to heating time T16. However, this is not limiting. For example, the interval between heating state switching times may be shorter from heating time T16 to heating time T17 than from heating time T15 to heating time T16.

[0251] It has been explained that in the second mode M2, the controller 5 may heat the object to be heated 80 in the second baking process using a heating power different from the heating power used to heat the object to be heated 80 in the temperature adjustment process, but the controller 5 may also heat the object to be heated 80 in the second baking process using the same heating power as the heating power used to heat the object to be heated 80 in the temperature adjustment process.

[0252] In the second mode M2, the controller 5 may heat the object to be heated 80 in the second baking process using the same heating power as that used to heat the object to be heated 80 in the first baking process, or may heat the object to be heated 80 using a heating power different from that used to heat the object to be heated 80 in the first baking process.

[0253] In the third mode M3, only ingredients 81 that do not contain liquid ingredients may be placed in the object to be heated 80 and heated. For example, anhydrous curry may be cooked by placing solid ingredients such as vegetables and meat in the object to be heated 80 and heating them, without using a liquid ingredient such as a beverage.

[0254] In the third mode M3, the first heating sequence H21 includes only the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2, but this is not limiting. For example, the first heating sequence H21 may include only the first heating state P1. Alternatively, the first heating sequence H21 may include the first heating state P1, the second heating state P2, and the third heating state P3.

[0255] In the third mode M3, the second heating sequence H22 includes only the third heating state P3, the fourth heating state P4, the fifth heating state P5, and the sixth heating state P6. However, the second heating sequence H22 may include the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2.

[0256] In the second heating step of the third mode M3, the heating state is switched in accordance with the second heating sequence H22. The heating state before the switching and the heating state after the switching have been described as having relatively different ranges including the area where magnetic flux is concentrated. However, this is not limited to this. For example, the heating state before the switching and the heating state after the switching may have relatively the same ranges including the area where magnetic flux is concentrated. For example, the controller 5 may switch the heating state from the third heating state P3 to the fourth heating state P4 in accordance with the second heating sequence H22.

[0257] In the third mode M3 of the present embodiment, the third heating state P3 and the fourth heating state P4 have been described as having a range including a region where magnetic flux is concentrated that is relatively similar. However, the third heating state P3 may have a region where magnetic flux is concentrated that is relatively different from that of the fourth heating state P4. For example, the region including the region where magnetic flux is concentrated in the third heating state P3 may be the portion where coil pieces 10B, 10D, and 10F are located at adjacent positions of two adjacent coil pieces. Furthermore, the region including the region where magnetic flux is concentrated in the fourth heating state P4 may be the portion where coil pieces 10A, 10C, and 10E are located at adjacent positions of two adjacent coil pieces.

[0258] In the third mode M3 of the present embodiment, the fifth heating state P5 and the sixth heating state P6 have a range including a region where magnetic flux is concentrated that is relatively similar to that of the sixth heating state P6. However, the fifth heating state P5 may have a range including a region where magnetic flux is concentrated that is relatively different from that of the sixth heating state P6. For example, the region including the region where magnetic flux is concentrated in the fifth heating state P5 may be the portion along the first circumferential line L10 where the coil pieces 10A, 10C, and 10E are arranged. Furthermore, the region including the region where magnetic flux is concentrated in the sixth heating state P6 may be the portion along the first circumferential line L10 where the coil pieces 10B, 10D, and 10F are arranged.

[0259] In the second heating step of the third mode M3, the controller 5 switches the heating states in the order of the third heating state P3, the fifth heating state P5, the fourth heating state P4, and the sixth heating state P6 from the heating time T22 to the heating time T23. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the controller 5 may switch the heating states in the order of the third heating state P3, the fourth heating state P4, the fifth heating state P5, and the sixth heating state P6 from the heating time T22 to the heating time T23.

[0260] In the second heating step of the third mode M3, the controller 5 switches between the heating states from the heating time T22 to the heating time T23 at relatively equal intervals between the heating states. However, this is not limiting. For example, the controller 5 may change the intervals between the heating states from the heating time T22 to the heating time T23 in the second heating step.

[0261] In the second heating step of the third mode M3, the controller 5 has been described as switching the heating states in the order of the third heating state P3, the sixth heating state P6, the fourth heating state P4, and the fifth heating state P5 from the heating time T23 to the heating time T24, but this is not limiting. For example, the controller 5 may switch the heating states in the order of the third heating state P3, the fourth heating state P4, the fifth heating state P5, and the sixth heating state P6 from the heating time T23 to the heating time T24.

[0262] In the second heating step of the third mode M3, the controller 5 switches between the heating states from the heating time T23 to the heating time T24 at relatively equal intervals between the heating states. However, this is not limiting. For example, the controller 5 may change the intervals between the heating states between the heating time T23 and the heating time T24 in the second heating step.

[0263] Although it has been described that the interval between the heating state switching times from heating time T23 to heating time T24 may be relatively the same as the interval between the heating state switching times from heating time T22 to heating time T23, this is not limitative. For example, the interval between the heating state switching times from heating time T23 to heating time T24 may be different from the interval between the heating state switching times from heating time T22 to heating time T23.

[0264] (Embodiment 2) An induction heating cooker according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the second embodiment, the same or equivalent configurations as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals. Also, in the second embodiment, descriptions that overlap with those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0265] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of an example of an induction heating cooker 1B according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0266] The induction heating cooker 1B of the second embodiment differs from the induction heating cooker 1A of the first embodiment in that it further includes a coil unit 4B.

[0267] As shown in FIG. 18, a coil unit 4A, a plurality of coil units 4B, a controller 5, a plurality of temperature sensors 6, and an input / output interface device 8 are mounted in a housing 3 of an induction heating cooker 1B.

[0268] Coil unit 4B is a unit different from coil unit 4A. Coil unit 4B differs from coil unit 4A in that it further includes a second heating region S10 that heats the heating target 80. Coil unit 4B has a larger heating region than coil unit 4A.

[0269] Each of the plurality of coil units 4B is disposed below the top plate 2. Each of the plurality of coil units 4B inductively heats an object to be heated 80 placed on the opposing portion of the top plate 2. The structure of the coil unit 4B will be described later.

[0270] The temperature sensor 6 is provided in the heating region of the heating object 80 of the coil unit 4B. Two or more temperature sensors 6 are provided in the heating region of the heating object 80 of one coil unit 4B.

[0271] The configuration of the coil unit 4B will be described in detail.

[0272] FIG. 19 is a plan view of an example of a coil unit 4B of an induction heating cooker 1B according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0273] 19, the coil unit 4B includes a plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10J that heat the heating object 80. The plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10J are arranged in a third heating region S20 in the XY plane that heats the heating object 80. The third heating region S20 includes the first heating region S0 and the second heating region S10.

[0274] The second heating region S10 is a region provided around the first heating region S0 in the XY plane, and is a region where multiple coil pieces 10G to 10J are arranged. The second heating region S10 is provided further back than the first heating region S0 in the Y-axis direction. The second heating region S10 has a sector shape with a center C2 in the XY plane. In the second heating region S10, the central angle formed by two straight lines extending from the center C2 of the circle toward the outer periphery is, for example, 180° or more and 300° or less. In this embodiment, the central angle is 240°. In the second heating region S10, the two straight lines extending from the center C2 of the circle toward the outer periphery correspond to the second boundary lines L21 and L25. In the XY plane, the second outer periphery line L20, which is an arc, is not provided between the second boundary lines L21 and L25. Therefore, in the XY plane, the second heating region S10 is not provided between the second boundary lines L21 and L25.

[0275] The second heating region S10 is provided to surround a portion of the first heating region S0 in the XY plane. Specifically, the second heating region S10 is arranged around the first heating region S0 so that the two second boundary lines L21, L25 that define the second heating region S10 are arranged around the first perimeter line L10 of the first heating region S0 in the XY plane. In other words, in the XY plane, the first heating region S0 is arranged in a portion between the second boundary lines L21, L25 that define the perimeter of the second heating region S10, but where the second heating region S10 is not provided.

[0276] The second heating region S10 has multiple second coil arrangement regions S11 to S14. The multiple second coil arrangement regions S11 to S14 are arranged adjacent to each other and radially around the center C2 of the second heating region S10 in the XY plane. Specifically, the multiple second coil arrangement regions S11 to S14 are defined by multiple second boundary lines L21 to L25 that extend radially from the center C2 of the second heating region S10 toward the outer periphery in a planar view, and a second outer periphery line L20 that defines the outer periphery of the arc portion of the second heating region S10.

[0277] The second boundary lines L21 to L25 are arranged radially at equal intervals around the center C2 of the second heating region S10 in a plan view. is a straight line extending from the center C2 of the second heating region S10 toward the periphery in the XY plane. The angles formed by two adjacent second boundary lines among the multiple second boundary lines L21 to L25 are substantially the same. As a result, the multiple second coil arrangement regions S11 to S14 have substantially the same shape and substantially the same dimensions in the XY plane.

[0278] In the second embodiment, the plurality of second boundary lines include five second boundary lines L21 to L25, and the angle between two adjacent second boundary lines is 60 degrees. As a result, the second heating region S10 is divided into four second coil arrangement regions S11 to S14, which have substantially the same shape and dimensions in the XY plane.

[0279] The controller 5 of the induction heating cooker 1B controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through the coil pieces 10A-10J in the third heating region S20, while causing current to flow through all of the coil pieces 10A-10J in the third heating region S20, which includes the first heating region S0 and the second heating region S10. By controlling at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through the coil pieces 10A-10J in the third heating region S20, the controller 5 switches between a plurality of heating states in the third heating region S20, each having a different distribution of local strength and weakness for the object to be heated 80.

[0280] The controller 5 further has multiple wide-area heating sequences (not shown) that combine one or more heating states from among the multiple heating states in the third heating region S20. The controller 5 switches between the multiple wide-area heating sequences depending on the cooking mode. Switching between the multiple wide-area heating sequences in the second embodiment is similar to switching between the heating sequences in the first embodiment. For example, in the preheating step and temperature adjustment step of the first mode M1, the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the multiple coil pieces 10A-10J depending on the first wide-area heating sequence, which includes the first heating state in the second embodiment. Furthermore, in the load detection step of the first mode M1, the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the multiple coil pieces 10A-10J depending on the second wide-area heating sequence, which includes the first heating state in the second embodiment and a second heating state in the second embodiment, which has a different distribution of local heating intensity for the heated object 80 from the first heating state. The first heating state and the second heating state in the second embodiment will be described later.

[0281] The induction heating cooker 1B has electronic components for realizing heating by the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10J, such as a diode bridge, a smoothing capacitor, a plurality of inverter circuits, and a plurality of resonant capacitors, as described in embodiment 1. In the induction heating cooker 1B, the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10J, the respective inverter circuits, and the respective resonant capacitors are connected in the same manner as the circuit related to the coil piece 10A, as described in embodiment 1.

[0282] [Heating state] The first to sixth heating states will be described in detail below. The first to sixth heating states will be described by classifying them into the relationships between the current parameters (first to fourth parameters) of adjacent portions of each of the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10J. Note that the relationships between the current parameters of adjacent portions of each of the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10J in the second embodiment are the same as the relationships between the current parameters of adjacent portions of each of the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10F described in the first embodiment.

[0283] [First parameter] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a region where magnetic flux is concentrated in the first heating state in induction heating cooker 1B according to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure.

[0284] In Fig. 20, ten coil pieces 10A to 10J are shown as the coil unit 4B. The coil pieces 10A to 10J shown in Fig. 20 correspond to the coil pieces 10A to 10J shown in Fig. 19. For simplicity, in Fig. 20, the coil pieces 10A to 10J are shown as a single coil wire, omitting the first coil wire portion 20, the second coil wire portion 30, and the third coil wire portion 40 shown in Fig. 3. Note that the coil pieces 10A to 10J are not limited to this, and, for example, a separate coil wire may be disposed in the center of each of the coil pieces 10A to 10J. Note that the coil pieces 10A to 10F shown in Figs. 21 to 25 also correspond to the coil pieces 10A to 10J shown in Fig. 19, similar to Fig. 20.

[0285] 20, region S31 is a region where magnetic flux generated when current flows through the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10J is concentrated, and therefore can strongly heat the object to be heated 80. Region S31 is a region corresponding to adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces among the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10J.

[0286] By passing a current having the first parameters shown in Table 1 through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10J, the controller 5 can heat the portion of the object to be heated 80 placed in the region corresponding to region S31 more strongly than other portions of the object to be heated 80. By controlling the current so that the first parameters shown in Table 1 are achieved for all pairs of two adjacent coil pieces, the controller 5 can heat the object to be heated 80 in the first heating state.

[0287] [Second parameter] FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a region where magnetic flux is concentrated in the second heating state in induction heating cooker 1B according to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure.

[0288] 21, region S32 is a region where magnetic flux generated when current flows through the multiple coil pieces 10A-10J is concentrated, and therefore can strongly heat the object to be heated 80. Region S32 is a region corresponding to a portion where two adjacent coil pieces among the multiple coil pieces 10A-10J are not adjacent to each other.

[0289] By passing a current having the second parameters shown in Table 2 through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10J, the controller 5 can heat the portion of the object to be heated 80 placed in the region corresponding to region S32 more strongly than other portions of the object to be heated 80. By controlling the current so that the second parameters shown in Table 2 are achieved for all pairs of two adjacent coil pieces, the controller 5 can heat the object to be heated 80 in the second heating state.

[0290] [Third parameter] Fig. 22 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a region where magnetic flux concentrates in the third heating state in induction heating cooker 1B according to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. Fig. 23 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a region where magnetic flux concentrates in the fourth heating state in induction heating cooker 1B according to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure.

[0291] The controller 5 controls the current parameters in the third parameters shown in Table 3 so that the amplitude of the current flowing through coil pieces 10A, 10C, 10E, 10G, and 10I is greater than the amplitude of the current flowing through coil pieces 10B, 10D, 10F, 10H, and 10J, thereby enabling heating of the object to be heated 80 in the third heating state. In the third heating state, magnetic flux is concentrated in region S33 shown in Fig. 22, enabling the object to be heated 80 to be strongly heated.

[0292] The controller 5 controls the current parameters in the third parameter so that the amplitude of the current flowing through the coil pieces 10B, 10D, 10F, 10H, and 10J is greater than the amplitude of the current flowing through the coil pieces 10A, 10C, 10E, 10G, and 10I, thereby enabling the fourth heating state to heat the object to be heated 80. In the fourth heating state, magnetic flux is concentrated in an area S34 shown in FIG. 23 , so that the object to be heated 80 can be heated strongly.

[0293] [Fourth parameter] Fig. 24 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a region where magnetic flux concentrates in the fifth heating state in induction heating cooker 1B according to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. Fig. 25 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a region where magnetic flux concentrates in the sixth heating state in induction heating cooker 1B according to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure.

[0294] The controller 5 controls the current parameters in the fourth parameters shown in Table 4 so that the amplitude of the current flowing through coil pieces 10B, 10D, 10F, 10H, and 10J is greater than the amplitude of the current flowing through coil pieces 10A, 10C, 10E, 10G, and 10I, thereby enabling heating of the object to be heated 80 in the fifth heating state. In the fifth heating state, magnetic flux is concentrated in region S35 shown in FIG. 24, enabling the object to be heated 80 to be strongly heated.

[0295] The controller 5 controls the current parameters in the fourth parameter so that the amplitude of the current flowing through coil pieces 10A, 10C, 10E, 10G, and 10I is greater than the amplitude of the current flowing through coil pieces 10B, 10D, 10F, 10H, and 10J, thereby enabling heating of the object to be heated 80 in the sixth heating state. In the sixth heating state, magnetic flux is concentrated in region S36 shown in FIG. 25 , allowing the object to be heated 80 to be strongly heated.

[0296] According to the induction heating cooker 1B of the second embodiment of the present disclosure, the following effects can be achieved.

[0297] The induction heating cooker 1B of the second embodiment includes a coil unit 4B further including a second heating region S10 that heats the object to be heated 80 in a plan view (XY plane). The second heating region S10 includes a plurality of coil pieces 10G-10J that heat the object to be heated 80. The second heating region S10 is provided around the first heating region S0 in a plan view and has a fan shape. The second heating region S10 includes a plurality of second coil arrangement regions S11-S14 that are defined by a plurality of second boundary lines L21-L25 and a second periphery line L20. The plurality of second boundary lines L21-L25 extend radially from a center C2 of the second heating region S10 toward the outer periphery of the arc portion of the second heating region S10 in a plan view. The second periphery line L20 defines the outer periphery of the arc portion of the second heating region S10. The multiple coil pieces 10G-10J in the second heating region S10 are arranged within the multiple second coil arrangement regions S11-S14 in a plan view. The controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through the multiple coil pieces 10A-10J in the third heating region S20 while passing a current through all of the multiple coil pieces 10A-10J in the third heating region S20, which includes the first heating region S0 and the second heating region S10. By controlling at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through the multiple coil pieces 10A-10J in the third heating region S20, the controller 5 can switch between multiple heating states in the third heating region S20, each with a different distribution of localized heating intensity for the heated object 80. The controller 5 further has multiple wide-area heating sequences that combine one or more of the multiple heating states in the third heating region S20. The controller 5 switches between the multiple wide-area heating sequences depending on the cooking mode.

[0298] With this configuration, the induction heating cooker 1B of the second embodiment can efficiently heat the object to be heated 80. For example, the coil unit 4B can heat the object to be heated 80 not only in the first heating region S0 but also in the second heating region S10. Furthermore, the coil unit 4B can heat the object to be heated 80 that is arranged across the first heating region S0 and the second heating region S10, thereby reducing the number of regions that are difficult to heat. As a result, the induction heating cooker 1B of the second embodiment can reduce uneven heating of the object to be heated 80 and can heat the object to be heated 80 more efficiently.

[0299] Furthermore, the second heating region S10 is divided into multiple second coil arrangement regions S11-S14 in the XY plane by multiple second boundary lines L21-L25 and a second outer circumferential line L20. In each of the multiple second coil arrangement regions S11-S14, the coil wire 11 constituting the multiple coil pieces 10G-10J of the second heating region S10 is arranged along two adjacent second boundary lines. This reduces the gaps between the multiple coil pieces 10G-10J in the second heating region S10 and also reduces the variation in the gaps. As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of regions among the multiple coil pieces 10G-10J in the second heating region S10 that are difficult to heat. Furthermore, because the gaps between the multiple coil pieces 10G-10J in the second heating region S10 can be reduced, the heating efficiency of the coil unit 4B can be improved while achieving a compact size.

[0300] Although the example in which the second heating region S10 is provided further back than the first heating region S0 in the Y-axis direction has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the second heating region S10 may be provided closer to the first heating region S0 in the Y-axis direction.

[0301] A heating region including a plurality of coil pieces may be provided around the coil unit 4B having the third heating region S20. For example, by providing a heating region in the third heating region S20, the range in which the heating object 80 can be heated may be expanded.

[0302] In the second embodiment, the heating states include the first to sixth heating states, but are not limited to the first to sixth heating states. For example, the heating state may be different from the first to sixth heating states depending on the number of amplitude types, the frequency difference, and the phase difference. Also, the relationship between the parameters of adjacent currents may be different for each of the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10J. Furthermore, the relationship between the parameters of adjacent currents may be different for opposing coil pieces (for example, coil piece 10A and coil piece 10D).

[0303] The heating of the multiple coil pieces 10G-10J in the second heating region S10 may be individually controlled by a control unit. For example, two coil pieces located in the center of the second heating region S10 in the XY plane, or two coil pieces located outside the center of the second heating region S10, may be used for heating, thereby concentrating heating on any location of the heating object 80. Alternatively, the multiple coil pieces 10G-10J located in the second heating region S10 may be used for heating, thereby evenly heating the heating object 80.

[0304] Although the example has been described in which the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through the coil pieces 10A-10J in the third heating region S20, which includes the first heating region S0 and the second heating region S10, while passing a current through all of the coil pieces 10A-10J in the third heating region S20, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the controller 5 may control at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through the coil pieces 10A-10F in the first heating region S0, while passing a current only through the coil pieces 10A-10F in the first heating region S0.

[0305] In the second embodiment, the relationship between the parameters of the currents at adjacent portions of each of the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10J is the first to fourth parameters, but this is not limiting. For example, the relationship between the parameters of the currents at adjacent portions of each of the multiple coil pieces 10A to 10J may be the fifth or sixth parameter, which will be described later.

[0306] [5th ​​parameter] By controlling the parameter of the current flowing through the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10J to the fifth parameter shown in Table 5, the controller 5 can heat the inner portion of the object to be heated 80 more strongly than the outer portion of the object to be heated 80. Furthermore, the controller 5 can heat a wider range of the inner portion of the object to be heated 80 by controlling the parameter of the current flowing through the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10J to the fifth parameter rather than by controlling the parameter of the current flowing through the plurality of coil pieces 10A to 10J to the first parameter shown in Table 1.

[0307] [6th parameter] The controller 5 can reduce the amplitude of the current flowing through a specified coil piece in the sixth parameter shown in Table 6, thereby weakening the heating intensity of the area heated by the specified coil piece compared to the heating intensity of the areas heated by other coil pieces.

[0308] In the multiple heating states, the controller 5 changes the intensity of heating using two types of current amplitude, but this is not limiting. For example, the controller 5 may change the intensity of heating using two or more types of amplitude.

[0309] <Variation 1> An example of the second mode M2 ​​that includes processes other than the preheating process, temperature adjustment process, and baking process will be described below. The cooking recipe mode "frozen dumplings" included in the second mode M2 ​​will be used as an example. For example, the cooking recipe mode "frozen dumplings" is a cooking recipe mode suitable for cooking frozen, uncooked dumplings (food ingredients 81) by placing them into an object to be heated 80 and heating the object to be heated 80.

[0310] FIG. 26 is a graph showing the relationship between the heating time of the object to be heated 80 and the temperature of the object to be heated 80 detected by the temperature sensor 6 in the second mode M2 ​​of the induction heating cooker 1A of the modified example 1, and a graph showing the relationship between the heating time of the object to be heated 80 and the heating state.

[0311] The cooking recipe mode "Frozen dumplings" includes an ingredient heating preparation process, a temperature adjustment process, a steaming process, and a baking process. The steaming process is a process in which the heating object 80 is maintained at a predetermined temperature, and then the temperature of the heating object 80 is raised to steam the ingredients 81.

[0312] 26, in the food material heating preparation step, the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F in accordance with a first heating sequence H31. When the temperature of the heating object 80 reaches a first target temperature K31 (T31), the controller 5 starts the next step, the temperature adjustment step. In the temperature adjustment step, the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F in accordance with a second heating sequence H32.

[0313] The second heating sequence H32 includes a first heating state P1, a second heating state P2, a third heating state P3, and a fourth heating state P4. The controller 5 switches the heating state according to the second heating sequence H32 depending on the process, heating time, and / or temperature of the heating object 80. In the temperature adjustment process, the controller 5 alternately switches between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 according to the second heating sequence H32.

[0314] After the temperature adjustment step is completed (T32), the controller 5 starts the steaming step included in the second mode M2. For example, the controller 5 starts the steaming step when it detects that the food material 81 has been placed into the object to be heated 80. The controller 5 may also detect that the food material 81 has been placed into the object to be heated 80 when the temperature of the object to be heated 80 drops from the first target temperature K31 due to the food material 81 being placed into the object to be heated 80. The controller 5 may also detect that the food material 81 has been placed into the object to be heated 80 when the temperature of the object to be heated 80 drops from the first target temperature K31 to a predetermined temperature.

[0315] The controller 5 switches the heating state in accordance with the second heating sequence H32 based on the switch from the temperature adjustment process to the steaming process. In the steaming process, the controller 5 heats the heating object 80 until the temperature of the heating object 80 reaches the second target temperature K32 (T33). In accordance with the second heating sequence H32, the heating object 80 is heated in the first heating state P1 from heating time T32 to heating time T33.

[0316] In the steaming process, after the temperature of the object to be heated 80 reaches the second target temperature K32, the controller 5 maintains the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the second target temperature K32. In the steaming process, from the time when the temperature of the object to be heated 80 reaches the second target temperature K32 (T33), the controller 5 maintains the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the second target temperature K32 for a predetermined time.

[0317] In the steaming process, the controller 5 switches the heating state when the temperature of the heating object 80 reaches the second target temperature K32 (T33). In the steaming process, the controller 5 switches between the third heating state P3 and the fourth heating state P4 in accordance with the second heating sequence H32 from the heating time T33 until a predetermined time has elapsed (T34). In accordance with the second heating sequence H32, the controller 5 alternately switches between the third heating state P3 and the fourth heating state P4 from the heating time T33 to the heating time T34.

[0318] In the steaming process, the controller 5 switches the heating state when a predetermined time has elapsed (T34) since the temperature of the object to be heated 80 reaches the second target temperature K32 (T33). The controller 5 alternates between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 according to the second heating sequence H32. The controller 5 alternates between the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 according to the second heating sequence H32 from the heating time T34 until the temperature of the object to be heated 80 reaches the first target temperature K31 (T35). The steaming process is completed when the temperature of the object to be heated 80 reaches the first target temperature K31 (T35).

[0319] After the steaming process is completed, the controller 5 starts the grilling process. In the grilling process, the controller 5 switches to the third heating sequence H33 and heats the heating object 80 for a predetermined time. In accordance with the third heating sequence H33, the controller 5 heats the heating object 80, setting the temperature of the heating object 80 to the first target temperature K31.

[0320] The third heating sequence H33 includes a third heating state P3 and a fourth heating state P4. In response to the third heating sequence H33, the controller 5 heats the heating object 80 for a predetermined time while alternately switching between the third heating state P3 and the fourth heating state P4. The controller 5 may perform control so that current does not flow through the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F when a predetermined time (T36) has elapsed since the start of the baking process (T35).

[0321] Although an example has been described in which the controller 5 does not switch the heating sequence when switching from the temperature adjustment process to the steaming process, the heating sequence may be switched when switching from the temperature adjustment process to the steaming process.

[0322] Although the second heating sequence H32 has been described as including the first heating state P1, the second heating state P2, the third heating state P3, and the fourth heating state P4, this is not limited to this. For example, the second heating sequence H32 may include only the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2. Furthermore, the second heating sequence H32 including only the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2 may change the time interval for switching the heating states depending on the heating time and / or the temperature of the heating object 80.

[0323] Although the third heating sequence H33 includes the third heating state P3 and the fourth heating state P4, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the third heating sequence H33 may include only the first heating state P1 and the second heating state P2. Alternatively, the third heating sequence H33 may include the first heating state P1 and the fifth heating state P5.

[0324] It has been described that in the steaming process, the controller 5 maintains the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the second target temperature K32 for a predetermined time from when the temperature of the object to be heated 80 reaches the second target temperature K32 (T33), but this is not limited to this. For example, in the steaming process, the controller 5 may maintain the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the temperature at which the temperature of the object to be heated 80 becomes relatively stable for a predetermined time from when the temperature of the object to be heated 80 becomes relatively stable.

[0325] In FIG. 26, the second target temperature K32 is shown as being lower than the first target temperature K31, but the second target temperature K32 may be higher or lower than the first target temperature K31.

[0326] <Variation 2> An example of the third mode M3 that further includes processes other than the first heating process and the second heating process will be described. For example, the third mode M3 will be described using a cooking recipe mode "stewed hamburger" included in the third mode M3 as an example that further includes an ingredient heating preparation process, a temperature adjustment process, and a grilling process. The cooking recipe mode "stewed hamburger" is a cooking recipe mode suitable for cooking in which uncooked hamburger (ingredient 81) is placed in the heating object 80, the ingredient 81 is grilled, and then a sauce (liquid ingredient 81) is further placed, and the ingredient 81 contained in the heating object 80 is stewed.

[0327] FIG. 27 shows a graph showing the relationship between the heating time of the object to be heated 80 and the temperature of the object to be heated 80 detected by the temperature sensor 6 in the third mode M3 of the induction heating cooker 1A of the modified example 2, and a graph showing the relationship between the heating time of the object to be heated 80 and the heating state.

[0328] The cooking recipe mode "Stewed Hamburger" includes an ingredient heating preparation process, a temperature adjustment process, grilling processes (first grilling process, second grilling process), a stewing preparation process, a first heating process, and a second heating process. The stewing preparation process is a process that connects the grilling process and the first heating process. For example, the stewing preparation process is a process of heating the object 80 to a temperature that is lower than the predetermined temperature of the object 80 in the first heating process and relatively close to the predetermined temperature of the object 80 in the first heating process.

[0329] In Modification 2, the food ingredient heating preparation step, temperature adjustment step, first grilling step, and second grilling step correspond to the food ingredient heating preparation step, temperature adjustment step, first grilling step, and second grilling step in the second mode M2 ​​of Embodiment 1. In other words, the first heating sequence H41 to the third heating sequence H43 in Modification 2 correspond to the first heating sequence H11 to the third heating sequence H13 in the second mode M2 ​​of Embodiment 1. The first target temperature K41 and the threshold temperature K42 in Modification 2 correspond to the first target temperature K11 and the threshold temperature K12a in the second mode M2 ​​of Embodiment 1. The heating times T41 to T47 in Modification 2 correspond to the heating times T11 to T17 in the second mode M2 ​​of Embodiment 1. In the second baking process of the second mode M2 ​​of embodiment 1, the controller 5 sets the target temperature of the object to be heated 80 to the second target temperature K12b and heats the object to be heated 80, but in the second baking process of variant example 2, the controller 5 sets the target temperature of the object to be heated 80 to the first target temperature K41 and heats the object to be heated 80.

[0330] In Modification 2, the first heating step and the second heating step correspond to the first heating step and the second heating step in the third mode M3 of Embodiment 1. That is, the fifth heating sequence H45 and the sixth heating sequence H46 in Modification 2 correspond to the first heating sequence H21 and the second heating sequence H22 in the third mode M3 of Embodiment 1. The threshold temperature K43 and the second target temperature K44 in Modification 2 correspond to the threshold temperature K21 and the target temperature K22 in the third mode M3 of Embodiment 1. The heating times T49 to T52 in Modification 2 correspond to the heating times T21 to T24 in the third mode M3 of Embodiment 1.

[0331] In the second modification, explanations that overlap with those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0332] In the second baking process, after the temperature of the object 80 reaches the first target temperature K41, the controller 5 maintains the temperature of the object 80 at the first target temperature K41. In the second baking process, the controller 5 maintains the temperature of the object 80 at the first target temperature K41 for a predetermined time determined in the third heating sequence H43. The user may be notified by the input / output interface device 8 when the predetermined time determined in the third heating sequence H43 has elapsed. Furthermore, the input / output interface device 8 may display, via the operation panel of the input / output interface device 8, that the time for maintaining the temperature of the object 80 at the first target temperature K41 has elapsed when the predetermined time determined in the third heating sequence H43 has elapsed. The user may add additional foodstuffs 81 to the object 80 after the predetermined time determined in the third heating sequence H43 has elapsed.

[0333] Next, the controller 5 starts the stewing preparation process when it detects (T47) that more food ingredients 81 have been added to the object to be heated 80. For example, the controller 5 may detect that the food ingredients 81 have been added to the object to be heated 80 when the temperature of the object to be heated 80 drops from the first target temperature K41 as a result of the food ingredients 81 being added to the object to be heated 80.

[0334] When the stewing preparation step starts (T47), the controller 5 switches the heating sequence to the fourth heating sequence H44. In the stewing preparation step, the controller 5 heats the heating object 80 in accordance with the fourth heating sequence H44.

[0335] In the stewing preparation step, the controller 5 controls at least some of the parameters of the currents flowing through the coil pieces 10A to 10F in accordance with a fourth heating sequence H44. The fourth heating sequence H44 includes a first heating state P1 and a second heating state P2.

[0336] The controller 5 switches the heating state based on the temperature of the heating object 80 in accordance with the fourth heating sequence H44. In accordance with the fourth heating sequence H44, the controller 5 heats the heating object 80 in the first heating state P1 from when the stewing preparation step starts (T47) until when the temperature of the heating object 80 falls below the threshold temperature K43 (T48). The controller 5 switches the heating state when the temperature of the heating object 80 falls below the threshold temperature K43 (T48). The controller 5 heats the heating object 80 in the second heating state P2 from the heating time T48 until the stewing preparation step is completed (T49). The stewing preparation step may be completed when a predetermined time has elapsed (T49) since the temperature of the heating object 80 falls below the threshold temperature K43 (T48). In other words, the stewing preparation step may be completed based on the heating time of the heating object 80, and the next step may be started. Depending on the heating time of the heating object 80, the fourth heating sequence H44 may be switched to the fifth heating sequence H45.

[0337] According to the induction heating cooker 1A in the second modification, the following effects can be achieved.

[0338] The third mode M3 further includes an ingredient heating preparation step, a temperature adjustment step, and a grilling step. The ingredient heating preparation step in the third mode M3 is a step of heating the object 80 until the temperature of the object 80 reaches the first target temperature K41. The temperature adjustment step is a step of maintaining the temperature of the object 80 at the first target temperature K41 after the ingredient heating preparation step is completed. The grilling step is a step of heating the object 80 after the temperature adjustment step is completed, using a heating power different from the heating power used to heat the object 80 in the temperature adjustment step. The controller 5 switches between multiple heating sequences H0 depending on the ingredient heating preparation step, the temperature adjustment step, or the grilling step.

[0339] With this configuration, the induction heating cooker 1A can efficiently heat the object to be heated 80. The controller 5 of the induction heating cooker 1A switches between a plurality of heating sequences H0 depending on the cooking mode, thereby efficiently heating the object to be heated 80 depending on the cooking method of the food material 81.

[0340] In the cooking mode, the controller 5 switches between a plurality of heating sequences H0 depending on the heating time of the object 80 to be heated.

[0341] With this configuration, the induction heating cooker 1A can heat the object to be heated 80 for a heating time that matches the cooking method of the food material 81. For example, by completing the fourth heating sequence H44 after a predetermined heating time has elapsed and switching to the fifth heating sequence H45, the food material 81 contained in the object to be heated 80 can be heated more efficiently.

[0342] Although the cooking recipe mode "Stewed Hamburger" has been described as including a stew preparation step, the cooking recipe mode "Stewed Hamburger" does not have to include a stew preparation step. For example, after the second grilling step is completed, the first heating step may be started when it is detected that more ingredients 81 have been added to the heating object 80.

[0343] Note that the controller 5 may switch to the fourth heating sequence H44 when a predetermined heating time determined by the third heating sequence H43 has elapsed. That is, the controller 5 may complete the second grilling process based on the heating time and start the stewing preparation process, which is the process following the second grilling process. For example, if the temperature of the food material 81 added to the heating object 80 is high and the temperature of the heating object 80 does not drop significantly below the first target temperature K41 even after the food material 81 is added to the heating object 80, the controller 5 may switch the heating sequence when the predetermined heating time has elapsed.

[0344] Although the stewing preparation step may be completed when a predetermined time (T49) has elapsed since the temperature of the object to be heated 80 (T48) became equal to or lower than the threshold temperature K43, this is not limiting. For example, after the temperature of the object to be heated 80 becomes equal to or lower than the threshold temperature K43, the controller 5 may maintain the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the threshold temperature K43, and complete the stewing preparation step when a predetermined time has elapsed. Furthermore, the controller 5 may maintain the temperature of the object to be heated 80 at the threshold temperature K43 by controlling the magnitude of the current flowing through the plurality of coil pieces 10A-10F based on the temperature difference between the temperature of the object to be heated 80 detected by the temperature sensor 6 and the threshold temperature K43.

[0345] As described above, the above embodiment has been described as an example of the technology disclosed in the present application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. are made as appropriate.

[0346] Although the present disclosure has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and such changes and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims unless they depart therefrom.

[0347] (Outline of the embodiment) (1) An induction heating cooker according to the present disclosure includes a top plate, a coil unit, and a controller. The coil unit is disposed below the top plate. The controller controls heating of an object to be heated by the coil unit. The coil unit includes, in a plan view, a plurality of coil pieces disposed in a first heating region that heats the object to be heated. The first heating region has a plurality of first coil arrangement regions defined in a plan view by a first outer periphery line that defines the periphery of the first heating region and a plurality of first boundary lines that extend radially from the center of the first heating region toward the periphery. The plurality of coil pieces are disposed within the plurality of first coil arrangement regions in a plan view. The controller is capable of switching between a plurality of heating states with different distributions of local heating intensity for the object to be heated by controlling at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces while passing a current through all of the plurality of coil pieces. The controller has a plurality of heating sequences that combine one or more of the plurality of heating states. The controller acquires a cooking mode and switches between the plurality of heating sequences according to the acquired cooking mode.

[0348] (2) In the induction heating cooker of (1), the controller may acquire information on the temperature of the object to be heated and switch between a plurality of heating sequences based on the information on the temperature of the object to be heated.

[0349] (3) In the induction heating cooker of either (1) or (2), the controller may switch between a plurality of heating sequences in the cooking mode depending on the heating time of the object to be heated.

[0350] (4) In the induction heating cooker of any one of (1) to (3), at least one of the plurality of heating sequences may include a first heating state and a second heating state in which the distribution of local heating intensity on the object to be heated differs from that of the first heating state. At least one of the plurality of heating sequences may predetermine a predetermined order for switching between the first heating state and the second heating state. The controller may switch between the first heating state and the second heating state based on the predetermined order determined by at least one of the plurality of heating sequences.

[0351] (5) In the induction heating cooker of any one of (1) to (4), the controller may switch between the first heating state and the second heating state in a predetermined order based on the temperature of the object to be heated or the heating time of the object to be heated.

[0352] (6) In the induction heating cooker of any one of (1) to (5), the cooking mode may include a first mode for deep-frying. The first mode may include a preheating step, a temperature adjustment step, and a load detection step. The preheating step may be a step of heating the object to be heated until the temperature of the object to be heated reaches a first target temperature. The temperature adjustment step may be a step of maintaining the temperature of the object to be heated at a second target temperature after the preheating step is completed. The load detection step may be a step of, upon detecting that ingredients have been placed in the object to be heated, heating the object to which ingredients have been placed with a heating power greater than the heating power used to heat the object to be heated in the temperature adjustment step. The controller may switch between multiple heating sequences according to the multiple steps in the first mode.

[0353] (7) In the induction heating cooker of (6), the controller may control at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces in accordance with a first heating sequence including a first heating state in the preheating step. The controller may control at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces in accordance with a second heating sequence in the load detection step. The second heating sequence may include the first heating state and a second heating state in which the distribution of local heating intensity on the object to be heated differs from that of the first heating state. The controller may switch between the first heating state and the second heating state in the second heating sequence.

[0354] (8) In the induction heating cooker of (7), the controller may switch between the first heating state and the second heating state at a predetermined time interval determined in advance by the second heating sequence.

[0355] (9) In the induction heating cooker of (7), in the first mode, the first heating state may heat the object to be heated in an area corresponding to adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces among the plurality of coil pieces more strongly than the object to be heated in an area corresponding to portions along the first outer circumferential line of each of the two adjacent coil pieces. In the first mode, the second heating state may heat the object to be heated in an area corresponding to portions along the first outer circumferential line of the plurality of coil pieces more strongly than the object to be heated in an area corresponding to the center of at least one of the plurality of coil pieces.

[0356] (10) In the induction heating cooker of any one of (1) to (9), the cooking mode may include a second mode for grilling. The second mode may include a food heating preparation step, a temperature adjustment step, and a grilling step. The food heating preparation step may be a step of heating the object until the temperature of the object reaches a first target temperature. The temperature adjustment step may be a step of maintaining the temperature of the object at the first target temperature after the food heating preparation step is completed. The grilling step may be a step of heating the object with a heating power different from the heating power used to heat the object in the temperature adjustment step. The controller may switch between multiple heating sequences according to the multiple steps in the second mode.

[0357] (11) In the induction heating cooker of (10), the controller may control at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces in accordance with a first heating sequence including a first heating state during the food heating preparation step. The controller may control at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces in accordance with a second heating sequence during the grilling step. The second heating sequence may include the second heating state and a third heating state in which the distribution of local heat intensity on the object to be heated differs from that of the second heating state. The controller may alternate between the second heating state and the third heating state during the second heating sequence.

[0358] (12) In the induction heating cooker of (10), the grilling step may include a first grilling step and a second grilling step. The first grilling step may be a step of heating an object to be heated, the object having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, while the first surface of the food is in contact with the object to be heated. The second grilling step may be a step of heating the object to be heated while the second surface of the food is in contact with the object to be heated. In the food heating preparation step, the controller may control at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces in accordance with a first heating sequence including a first heating state. In the first grilling step, the controller may control at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces in accordance with a second heating sequence. The second heating sequence may include the second heating state and a third heating state in which the distribution of local heat intensity on the object to be heated is different from that in the second heating state. In the second grilling step, the controller may control at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces in accordance with the third heating sequence. The third heating sequence may include at least one heating state in which the distribution of local heating intensity on the heating object is different from the heating states included in the second heating sequence.

[0359] (13) In the induction heating cooker of any one of (1) to (13), the cooking mode may include a third mode for stewing. The third mode may include a first heating step for heating the object to be heated until the temperature of the object to be heated reaches a first target temperature, and a second heating step for maintaining the temperature of the object to be heated at the first target temperature after the first heating step is completed. The controller may switch between multiple heating sequences according to the multiple steps of the third mode.

[0360] (14) In the induction heating cooker of (13), the controller may control at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces in accordance with a first heating sequence including a first heating state in the first heating step. In the second heating step, the controller may control at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces in accordance with a second heating sequence. The second heating sequence may include a second heating state and a third heating state in which the distribution of localized heat intensity on the object to be heated differs from that in the second heating state. The controller may alternate between the second heating state and the third heating state in the second heating sequence.

[0361] (15) In the induction heating cooker of (13), the third mode may further include a food material heating preparation step, a temperature adjustment step, and a grilling step. The food material heating preparation step may be a step of heating the object until the temperature of the object reaches a second target temperature. The temperature adjustment step may be a step of maintaining the temperature of the object at the second target temperature after the food material heating preparation step is completed. The grilling step may be a step of heating the object after the temperature adjustment step is completed using a heating power different from the heating power used to heat the object in the temperature adjustment step. The controller may switch between multiple heating sequences according to multiple steps.

[0362] (16) In the induction heating cooker of any one of (1) to (15), the coil unit may further include a second heating region that heats an object to be heated in a planar view. The second heating region may include a plurality of coil pieces that heat the object to be heated. The second heating region may be fan-shaped and provided around the first heating region in a planar view. The second heating region may include a plurality of second coil arrangement regions that are defined by a plurality of second boundary lines that extend radially from the center of the second heating region toward the outer periphery and a second outer periphery line that defines the outer periphery of an arc portion of the second heating region in a planar view. The plurality of coil pieces in the second heating region may be arranged within the plurality of second coil arrangement regions in a planar view. The controller may control at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces in the third heating region while passing a current through all of the plurality of coil pieces in a third heating region including the first heating region and the second heating region. The controller may be capable of switching between a plurality of heating states in the third heating region that have different distributions of local heating intensity for the object to be heated by controlling at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces in the third heating region. The controller may further have a plurality of wide-area heating sequences that combine one or more of the plurality of heating states in the third heating region. The controller may switch between the plurality of wide-area heating sequences depending on the cooking mode.

[0363] (17) A method for controlling an induction cooker according to the present disclosure is a method for controlling an induction cooker using a controller. The induction cooker includes a top plate and a coil unit disposed below the top plate. The coil unit includes a plurality of coil pieces disposed in a first heating region that heats an object to be heated in a plan view. The first heating region has a plurality of first coil arrangement regions defined by a first outer periphery line defining the periphery of the first heating region and a plurality of first boundary lines extending radially from the center of the first heating region toward the periphery. The plurality of coil pieces are disposed within the plurality of first coil arrangement regions in a plan view. The induction cooker may be switchable between a plurality of heating states with different distributions of localized heat intensity for the object to be heated by controlling at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces while passing a current through all of the plurality of coil pieces. The induction cooker may have a plurality of heating sequences that combine one or more of the plurality of heating states. A method for controlling an induction cooker includes the steps of obtaining a cooking mode and switching between a plurality of heating sequences according to the cooking mode. [Industrial Applicability]

[0364] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The induction heating cooker according to the present disclosure can provide an induction heating cooker that can efficiently heat an object to be heated, and therefore can be suitably used in this type of industrial field. [Explanation of symbols]

[0365] 1A, 1B induction heating cooker 2 top plate 3. Housing 4A, 4B coil unit 5 Controller 6 Temperature Sensor 7. Transparent window 8 Input / Output Interface Device 10A~10J coil piece 11 Coil wire 51 Arithmetic circuit 52 Storage device 80 Heating object 81 ingredients H0 Multiple Heating Sequence H1, H2, H11~H13, H21, H22, H31~H33, H41~H46 Heating sequence S0, S10, S20 heating area S1~S6, S11~S14 Coil placement area S21~S26, S31~S36 Areas where magnetic flux is concentrated L1~L6, L21~L25 boundary lines L10, L20 outer perimeter line C1, C2 Center of heating area M1, M2, M3 modes P1~P6 Heating state K1~K3, K11, K12b, K22, K31, K32, K41, K44 Target temperature K5 Target oil temperature K4, K12a, K13, K21, K42, K43 threshold temperatures Step 1: Get cooking mode Step 2: Switching between multiple heating sequences

Claims

1. The top plate and a coil unit disposed below the top plate; a controller for controlling heating of the heating object by the coil unit; Equipped with the coil unit includes, in a plan view, a plurality of coil pieces arranged in a first heating region that heats the object to be heated; the first heating region has a plurality of first coil arrangement regions defined by a first outer periphery line that defines the outer periphery of the first heating region in a plan view and a plurality of first boundary lines that extend radially from the center of the first heating region toward the outer periphery, the plurality of coil pieces are arranged within the plurality of first coil arrangement regions in a plan view, The controller By controlling at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces while flowing current through all of the plurality of coil pieces, it is possible to switch between a plurality of heating states with different distributions of local heating strengths for the heating object, a plurality of heating sequences that combine one or more of the plurality of heating states; acquiring a cooking mode, and switching between the plurality of heating sequences in accordance with the acquired cooking mode; Induction heating cooker.

2. the controller acquires information on the temperature of the object to be heated, and switches between the plurality of heating sequences based on the information on the temperature of the object to be heated. The induction heating cooker according to claim 1 .

3. The controller switches the plurality of heating sequences in the cooking mode depending on a heating time of the object to be heated. The induction heating cooker according to claim 1 .

4. At least one of the plurality of heating sequences comprises: a first heating state and a second heating state in which a distribution of local heating strengths on the heating object is different from that in the first heating state; a predetermined order in which the first heating state and the second heating state are switched is determined in advance; the controller switches between the first heating state and the second heating state based on the predetermined order defined by at least one of the plurality of heating sequences. The induction heating cooker according to claim 1 .

5. the controller switches between the first heating state and the second heating state in the predetermined order based on a temperature of the object to be heated or a heating time of the object to be heated.

5. The induction heating cooker according to claim 4.

6. The cooking modes include a first mode for deep-frying food, The first mode is a preheating step of heating the object to be heated until the temperature of the object to be heated reaches a first target temperature; a temperature control step of maintaining the temperature of the object to be heated at a second target temperature after the preheating step is completed; a load detection step of heating the object into which the food material has been added with a heating power greater than the heating power used to heat the object in the temperature adjustment step when it is detected that food material has been added to the object to be heated; Equipped with the controller switches between the plurality of heating sequences in accordance with the plurality of steps in the first mode. The induction heating cooker according to claim 1 .

7. The controller In the preheating step, at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces are controlled in accordance with a first heating sequence including a first heating state; In the load detection step, at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces are controlled in accordance with a second heating sequence including the first heating state and a second heating state in which a local distribution of heating on the heating object is different from that of the first heating state; In the second heating sequence, the first heating state and the second heating state are switched.

7. The induction heating cooker according to claim 6.

8. the controller switches between the first heating state and the second heating state at predetermined time intervals determined in advance by the second heating sequence; The induction heating cooker according to claim 7.

9. the first heating state heats the heating object in an area corresponding to adjacent portions of two adjacent coil pieces among the plurality of coil pieces more strongly than the heating object in an area corresponding to portions along the first outer circumferential line of each of the two adjacent coil pieces; the second heating state heats the object to be heated in a region corresponding to a portion of the plurality of coil pieces along the first outer circumferential line more strongly than the object to be heated in a region corresponding to a center of at least one of the plurality of coil pieces; The induction heating cooker according to claim 7.

10. The cooking mode includes a second mode for grilling food, The second mode is a food material heating preparation process of heating the object to be heated until the temperature of the object to be heated reaches a first target temperature; a temperature control step of maintaining the temperature of the object to be heated at the first target temperature after the food material heating preparation step is completed; When it is detected that ingredients have been added to the heating object, a grilling process is performed to heat the heating object with a heating power different from the heating power used to heat the heating object in the temperature adjustment process. Equipped with the controller switches between the plurality of heating sequences in accordance with the plurality of steps in the second mode. The induction heating cooker according to claim 1 .

11. The controller In the food heating preparation step, at least a part of parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces is controlled in accordance with a first heating sequence including a first heating state; In the baking process, at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces are controlled in accordance with a second heating sequence including a first heating state and a second heating state in which a distribution of local heating intensity on the heated object is different from that in the first heating state; In the second heating sequence, the first heating state and the second heating state are alternately switched. The induction heating cooker according to claim 10.

12. The baking step includes: a first baking step of heating the object to be heated while the first surface of the food material has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface and the first surface is in contact with the object to be heated; A second baking process of heating the object to be heated while the second surface of the food material is in contact with the object to be heated; Equipped with The controller In the food heating preparation step, at least a part of parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces is controlled in accordance with a first heating sequence including a first heating state; In the first baking step, at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces are controlled in accordance with a second heating sequence including the first heating state and a second heating state in which a distribution of local heating intensity on the heating object is different from that in the first heating state; In the second baking step, at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces are controlled in accordance with a third heating sequence including at least one heating state in which the distribution of local heating intensity on the object to be heated is different from the heating state included in the second heating sequence. The induction heating cooker according to claim 10.

13. The cooking modes include a third mode for stewing, The third mode is a first heating step of heating the object until the temperature of the object reaches a first target temperature; a second heating step of maintaining the temperature of the object to be heated at the first target temperature after the first heating step is completed; Equipped with the controller switches between the plurality of heating sequences in accordance with the plurality of steps in the third mode. The induction heating cooker according to claim 1 .

14. The controller In the first heating step, in response to a first heating sequence including a first heating state, controlling at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces; In the second heating step, at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces are controlled in accordance with a second heating sequence including a second heating state and a third heating state in which a distribution of local heating intensity on the heating object is different from that in the second heating state; switching between the second heating state and the third heating state in accordance with the second heating sequence; The induction heating cooker according to claim 13.

15. The third mode is a food material heating preparation process of heating the object to be heated until the temperature of the object to be heated reaches a second target temperature; a temperature control step of maintaining the temperature of the object to be heated at the second target temperature after the food material heating preparation step is completed; After the temperature control step is completed, a baking step is performed to heat the object to be heated by a heating power different from the heating power used to heat the object to be heated in the temperature control step. Furthermore, The controller switches between the plurality of heating sequences according to a plurality of processes. The induction heating cooker according to claim 13.

16. the coil unit further includes a second heating region that heats the heating object in a plan view, The second heating region is A plurality of coil pieces for heating the object to be heated are provided, In the plan view, the heating element is provided around the first heating region and has a sector shape. a plurality of second coil arrangement regions defined by a plurality of second boundary lines extending radially from a center of the second heating region toward an outer periphery of the arc portion of the second heating region in the plan view, and a second outer periphery line defining the outer periphery of the arc portion of the second heating region; the plurality of coil pieces of the second heating region are arranged within the plurality of second coil arrangement regions of the second heating region in the plan view, The controller By controlling at least some of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces in the third heating region, while flowing current through all of the plurality of coil pieces in the third heating region including the first heating region and the second heating region, it is possible to switch between a plurality of heating states in the third heating region, each of which has a different distribution of local heating strength for the heating object; Further, a plurality of wide-area heating sequences combining one or more heating states among the plurality of heating states in the third heating region are included, switching between the plurality of wide-range heating sequences depending on the cooking mode; The induction heating cooker according to claim 1 .

17. A method for controlling an induction cooker by a controller, comprising: The induction heating cooker is The top plate and a coil unit disposed below the top plate; Equipped with the coil unit includes, in a plan view, a plurality of coil pieces arranged in a first heating region that heats an object to be heated; the first heating region has a plurality of first coil arrangement regions defined by a first outer periphery line that defines the outer periphery of the first heating region in a plan view and a plurality of first boundary lines that extend radially from the center of the first heating region toward the outer periphery, the plurality of coil pieces are arranged within the plurality of first coil arrangement regions in a plan view, The induction heating cooker is By controlling at least a part of the parameters of the current flowing through each of the plurality of coil pieces while flowing current through all of the plurality of coil pieces, it is possible to switch between a plurality of heating states with different distributions of local heating strengths for the object to be heated, a plurality of heating sequences that combine one or more of the plurality of heating states; The method for controlling an induction cooking appliance includes: obtaining a cooking mode; switching between the plurality of heating sequences according to the cooking mode; A method for controlling an induction cooker, comprising:

Images