Cooking device

Abstract

To provide a heating cooker capable of achieving high-quality automatic cooking.SOLUTION: A cooker 1 includes heaters 13 and 14, a heat amount adjuster 19, temperature detectors 16 and 17, a storage unit C11, and a controller C12. Heating parts 13 and 14 heat an object to be cooked. The heating amount adjustment unit 19 adjusts the heating amounts of the heating units 13 and 14. Temperature detecting parts 16 and 17 detect the actual temperature of the object to be cooked. A storage part C11 stores cooking information. The control unit C12 may automatically cook the cooking menu based on the cooking information. The cooking information includes temperature change information L10 and L20. The controller C11 is capable of executing temperature reference control for controlling the heat amount adjuster 19 so that the actual temperatures detected by the temperature detectors 16 and 17 change along the temperature change information L10 and L20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking device. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional cooking device is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This cooking device includes a heating unit, a heat amount adjusting unit, a temperature detecting unit, a memory unit, and a control unit.

[0003] The heating unit heats the food to be cooked. The heat amount adjustment unit adjusts the heat amount of the heating unit. The temperature detection unit detects the actual temperature of the food to be cooked while it is being heated by the heating unit. The memory unit can store the change in the heat amount of the heating unit when cooking a cooking menu, more specifically, the change in the heat power of the heating unit. The control unit can execute a memory mode and a reproduction mode.

[0004] In this cooking device, the user cooks a cooking menu while appropriately changing the amount of heat applied to the food by the heating unit. Here, in this cooking device, the control unit executes a storage mode, and the storage unit stores the changes in the amount of heat applied by the heating unit by the user. Then, in this cooking device, the control unit executes a reproduction mode, and the changes in the amount of heat stored in the storage unit are automatically reproduced. In this way, this cooking device can automatically cook a cooking menu using the same changes in the amount of heat as when cooking a cooking menu previously performed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-167707 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the amount of heat applied by the heating unit to the food varies not only depending on the contents of the cooking menu, but also on the amount of food when heated by the heating unit, as well as conditions such as the season and temperature when the cooking menu is being prepared. As a result, even when the above-mentioned conventional cooking device automatically cooks the same cooking menu as a previous cooking menu in the reproduction mode, if the amount of food, season, and other conditions are different, there is a risk of a large variation in the results between the previous cooking menu and the current cooking menu. For this reason, there is room for further improvement in this cooking device.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and has as its object to provide a cooking device that can realize high-quality automatic cooking. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The cooking device of the present invention comprises: a heating unit for heating food; a heat amount adjusting unit that adjusts the heat amount of the heating unit; A temperature detection unit that detects the actual temperature of the food being cooked while it is being heated by the heating unit; A storage unit that stores cooking information including temperature transition information of the food when cooking a cooking menu; a control unit capable of automatically cooking the cooking menu based on the cooking information; The control unit is characterized in that it is capable of performing temperature-based control to control the heat amount adjustment unit so that the actual temperature detected by the temperature detection unit changes in accordance with the temperature change information while the cooking menu is being automatically cooked.

[0009] In the cooking device of the present invention, the control unit can execute temperature-based control during automatic cooking of a cooking menu. By executing temperature-based control, the control unit controls the heat amount adjustment unit so that the actual temperature detected by the temperature detection unit, i.e., the temperature of the food being cooked, changes in accordance with the temperature change information stored in the memory unit.

[0010] This allows the degree of heating of the food in the current automatic cooking to suitably approximate the degree of heating of the food in the current automatic cooking to the degree of heating of the food in the current automatic cooking when the temperature change information, and therefore the cooking information, were created, even if the conditions, such as the amount of food and temperature, when the current cooking menu is automatically cooked are different from the conditions, such as the amount of food and temperature, when the temperature change information was created. Therefore, for example, if the food is easily heated in the current automatic cooking and the actual temperature detected by the temperature detection unit changes more rapidly than the temperature change information in the cooking information, the control unit can reduce the amount of heat of the heating unit by controlling the heat amount adjustment unit. Conversely, if the food is difficult to heat in the current automatic cooking, the control unit can increase the amount of heat of the heating unit by controlling the heat amount adjustment unit.

[0011] Thus, with this heating cooker, even if the conditions such as the amount of food to be cooked and the temperature when the cooking information was created are different from the conditions such as the amount of food to be cooked and the temperature when the cooking menu is automatically cooked this time, there is little variation in the quality of the finished cooking menu.

[0012] Incidentally, the amount of heat applied to the food to be cooked can vary depending on the shape of the cooking container used to heat the food, as well as the performance of the heating unit itself, etc. In this regard, with this heating cooker, even if the amount of heat applied to the food to be cooked varies due to the shape of the cooking container, etc., as described above, there is little variation in the quality of the cooking menu completed by automatic cooking.

[0013] Therefore, the cooking device of the present invention can achieve high-quality automatic cooking.

[0014] In the cooking device of the present invention, the cooking information may include heat amount transition information of the heating unit when cooking a cooking menu. Preferably, the control unit can selectively execute, during automatic cooking of the cooking menu, a first mode in which temperature-based control is performed and a second mode in which heat amount-based control is performed, in which the heat amount adjustment unit is controlled so that the heat amount of the heating unit transitions in accordance with the heat amount transition information.

[0015] In this case, if it is preferable to perform temperature-based control during automatic cooking of a cooking menu due to conditions such as the amount of food to be cooked, the first mode can be executed. Conversely, if it is preferable to perform heat amount-based control during automatic cooking of a cooking menu, the second mode can be executed. In this way, this cooking device can achieve higher quality automatic cooking.

[0016] In this case, it is preferable that the control unit selects the first mode or the second mode based on the user's operation, thereby enabling the cooking menu completed by the automatic cooking to be closer to the user's intention.

[0017] Preferably, when the difference between the target temperature, which is the temperature in the temperature transition information, and the actual temperature during execution of the second mode exceeds a preset threshold, the control unit switches to execution of the first mode, and in this case, switching from the second mode to the first mode can be performed suitably.

[0018] Furthermore, it is preferable that the control unit switches to the second mode when the first change in the heating amount occurs in the heating amount transition information after the first mode is executed. In this case, the first mode can be suitably switched to the second mode. Also, the second mode can be suitably executed.

[0019] The control unit may be able to set a cooking standby period between automatic cooking of a cooking menu. Preferably, the control unit executes temperature maintenance control to maintain the actual temperature within a specific range during the cooking standby period.

[0020] This allows the user to perform cooking operations such as adding new food during the cooking standby period. Also, during the cooking standby period, the actual temperature, i.e., the temperature of the food to be cooked, is maintained within a specific range, preventing the actual temperature from dropping excessively due to cooking operations.

[0021] The control unit may also be able to set a cooking standby period between automatic cooking of a cooking menu. The control unit preferably executes the second mode during the cooking standby period. This also allows the actual temperature to be maintained appropriately during the cooking standby period.

[0022] The control unit preferably determines the start point of the cooking standby period when the rate of decrease in the target temperature per unit time reaches or exceeds a first predetermined value, thereby making it possible to suitably set the start point of the cooking standby period.

[0023] Preferably, the control unit determines the time when the amount of decrease in actual temperature per unit time becomes equal to or greater than a second predetermined value as the end point of the cooking operation standby period.

[0024] In addition, it is preferable that the control unit determines the end point of the cooking operation standby period to be the point at which the predetermined period has elapsed if the amount of decrease in actual temperature per unit time does not exceed a second predetermined value after the start of the cooking operation standby period until the predetermined period has elapsed.

[0025] In these cases, the end point of the cooking operation standby period can be suitably set.

[0026] It is preferable that the control unit switches to the first mode when the cooking standby period ends, so that the food to be cooked can be heated appropriately after the cooking standby period ends.

[0027] In the cooking device of the present invention, the storage unit can store multiple types of cooking information, and it is preferable that at least one of the cooking information is specific cooking information including temperature transition information and heat amount transition information when a user cooks a cooking menu.

[0028] In this case, cooking menus that the user has previously cooked can be suitably reproduced by automatic cooking.

[0029] The specific cooking information preferably includes cooking operation information, which is information about the timing of the user's cooking operation when cooking a cooking menu. In this case, the timing of the user's cooking operation when cooking a cooking menu can also be suitably reproduced during automatic cooking.

[0030] The cooking device of the present invention may also include a notification unit that notifies the user. Preferably, the notification unit notifies the user to perform a cooking operation based on the cooking operation information. In this case, the user is less likely to miss the timing to perform the cooking operation. This allows the cooking device to not only provide high-quality automatic cooking but also to be more convenient.

[0031] The cooking device of the present invention may also include a notification unit that notifies the user. Preferably, the notification unit notifies the user to start cooking during a cooking standby period. In this case, the user is less likely to miss the opportunity to start cooking during the cooking standby period. This allows the cooking device to not only provide high-quality automatic cooking but also to be highly convenient. [Effects of the Invention]

[0032] The cooking device of the present invention can achieve high-quality automatic cooking. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a heating and cooking system etc. of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a cooking device in the cooking system of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a cooking menu selection screen in the cooking system of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a graph of cooking information stored in the first storage unit in the cooking system of the first embodiment. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a control process when automatic cooking is performed in the cooking system of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a graph of temperature transition information and heat amount transition information in cooking information related to the cooking system of the second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a cooking menu selection screen in the cooking system of the second embodiment. [Figure 8] 8 is a schematic diagram of a mode selection screen in the cooking system of Example 2. It is a graph showing the temperature transition and the heat amount transition. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a control process when automatic cooking is performed in the cooking system of the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a graph of cooking information stored in the first storage unit in the cooking system of the third embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a cooking menu selection screen in the cooking system of the third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing a control process when automatic cooking is performed in the cooking system of the third embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing a control process when automatic cooking is performed in the cooking system of the third embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a graph of cooking information stored in the first storage unit in the cooking system of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing the control process when automatic cooking is performed in the cooking system of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the control process when automatic cooking is performed in the cooking system of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing the control process when automatic cooking is performed in the cooking system of the fifth embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the process of setting the cooking operation standby period in the cooking system of the fifth embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a graph of specific cooking information stored in the first storage unit in the cooking system of the sixth embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the process of recording specific cooking information in the cooking system of the sixth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] Hereinafter, first to sixth embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0035] Example 1 As shown in FIG. 1, the cooking system 100 of the first embodiment is configured with a cooking appliance 1, an external terminal 3, and a server 9.

[0036] In this embodiment, the front-rear direction and the up-down direction of the cooking appliance 1 are defined by the arrows shown in Fig. 1. In this embodiment, the left-right direction of the cooking appliance 1 is defined by taking as a reference a situation in which a user 5 (hereinafter simply referred to as user 5) of the cooking appliance 1 and the external terminal 3 faces the cooking appliance 1 from the front, with the right side of the user 5 being the right side of the cooking appliance 1 and the left side of the user 5 being the left side of the cooking appliance 1. These front-rear direction, up-down direction and left-right direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0037] 1 and 2, the cooking device 1 includes a housing 11, a top plate 12, first and second burners 13 and 14, a heating grill 15, first to third temperature sensors 16 to 18, a heat amount adjustment unit 19, an operation unit 20, a controller C1, and a speaker 21. The first and second burners 13 and 14 are an example of the "heating unit" in the present invention. The first and second temperature sensors 16 and 17 are an example of the "temperature detection unit" in the present invention.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 11 is formed in the shape of a rectangular box extending in the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions. Although not shown, the housing 11 has an open top. As shown in FIG. 2, a gas supply path 22 is disposed inside the housing 11. The gas supply path 22 has a main supply path 22a, a first burner supply path 22b, a second burner supply path 22c, and a grill burner supply path 22d. The main supply path 22a is connected to a fuel gas supply source provided outside the cooking appliance 1. The first burner supply path 22b is connected to the first burner 13. The second burner supply path 22c is connected to the second burner 14. The grill burner supply path 22d is connected to a grill burner 15a, which will be described later.

[0039] 1, the top plate 12 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate extending in the front-rear and left-right directions. The top plate 12 is fixed to the top of the housing 11 and covers the housing 11 from above.

[0040] The first and second burners 13, 14 are each provided on the top plate 12. The top plate 12 is also provided with a first trivet 13a surrounding the first burner 13, and a second trivet 14a surrounding the second burner 14. These first and second burners 13, 14 have the same configuration as known burners. Specifically, the first and second burners 13, 14 burn fuel gas supplied from the gas supply passage 22, respectively, to heat the food to be cooked in the cooking container (not shown) placed on the first trivet 13a and second trivet 14a from below. Examples of cooking containers include pots and frying pans.

[0041] Here, the second burner 14 is formed smaller than the first burner 13. As a result, the maximum heating power of the second burner 14 is smaller than the maximum heating power of the first burner 13. In other words, the maximum heating amount of the second burner 14 for the food being cooked is less than the maximum heating amount of the first burner 13. Also, in accordance with the shape of the second burner 14, the second trivet 14a is formed smaller than the first trivet 13a. Note that the second burner 14 may be the same size as the first burner 13, and the maximum heating power of the first burner 13 and the second burner 14 may be equal. Also, the second trivet 14a may be the same size as the first trivet 13a.

[0042] The first temperature sensor 16 is attached to the first burner 13. The second temperature sensor 17 is attached to the second burner 14. The first temperature sensor 16 detects the temperature of the food being heated by the first burner 13 as the actual temperature. The second temperature sensor 17 detects the temperature of the food being heated by the second burner 14 as the actual temperature. More specifically, the first and second temperature sensors 16 and 17 detect the temperature of the bottom of the cooking container that is heated together with the food by the first and second burners 13 and 14, and use this temperature as the actual temperature of the food being cooked. In addition, the first and second temperature sensors 16 and 17 are each electrically connected to the controller C1. As a result, the first and second temperature sensors 16 and 17 transmit the detected actual temperatures to the controller C1.

[0043] The heating grill 15 is provided in the housing 11. The heating grill 15 has a grill burner 15a and a heating chamber (not shown). The heating chamber can accommodate food to be cooked together with a cooking container. The grill burner 15a can heat the cooking container in the heating chamber together with the food to be cooked by burning fuel gas supplied from the gas supply path 22.

[0044] Although not shown, the third temperature sensor 18 is installed inside the heating chamber. The third temperature sensor 18 detects the temperature of the food being cooked by the grill burner 15a as the actual temperature. More specifically, the third temperature sensor 18 detects the temperature inside the heating chamber and regards this temperature as the actual temperature of the food. The third temperature sensor 18 is also electrically connected to the controller C1. As a result, the third temperature sensor 18 transmits the detected actual temperature to the controller C1.

[0045] 2, the heat amount adjustment unit 19 is provided in the gas supply path 22. Although detailed illustration is omitted, the heat amount adjustment unit 19 is composed of a plurality of flow rate adjustment valves, etc. The heat amount adjustment unit 19 adjusts the amount of fuel gas supplied from the gas supply path 22 to the first and second burners 13 and 14 and the grill burner 15a, thereby adjusting the amount of heat in the first and second burners 13 and 14 and the grill burner 15a, i.e., the heat power of each of the first and second burners 13 and 14 and the grill burner 15a.

[0046] Here, the heat amount adjustment unit 19 can adjust the heat value in 11 stages for each of the first and second burners 13 and 14. For the first and second burners 13 and 14, a heat value of "1" is the minimum heat value, resulting in the least amount of heat. Meanwhile, for the grill burner 15a, the heat amount adjustment unit 19 can adjust the heat value in two stages: high and low. The heat values ​​for the first and second burners 13 and 14 can be designed as appropriate. The heat amount adjustment unit 19 may also be able to adjust the heat value of the grill burner 15a in three or more stages.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 1, the operation unit 20 has first to third operation switches 20a to 20c. The first operation switch 20a can operate the first burner 13, the second operation switch 20b can operate the second burner 14, and the third operation switch 120c can operate the heating grill 15. Taking the first operation switch 20a as an example, the user 5 can turn on and off the first burner 13 by pressing the first operation switch 20a. Furthermore, the user 5 can adjust the flame power of the first burner 13, i.e., the amount of heat generated by the first burner 13, by rotating the first operation switch 20a. The configuration of the first to third operation switches 20a to 20c can be designed as appropriate.

[0048] The controller C1 is disposed inside the housing 11. The controller C1 is electrically connected to the first to third temperature sensors 16 to 18, as well as to the heat amount adjustment unit 19 and the operation unit 20. As a result, the controller C1 controls the operation of the heat amount adjustment unit 19 in accordance with the actual temperatures transmitted from the first to third temperature sensors 16 to 18 and the operation of the operation unit 20 by the user 5. In this way, the controller C1 controls the operation of the first and second burners 13 and 14 and the heating grill 15.

[0049] The controller C1 includes a first storage unit C11, a first control unit C12, and a first communication unit C13. The first storage unit C11 is an example of the "storage unit" in the present invention. The first control unit C12 is an example of the "control unit" in the present invention.

[0050] The first memory unit C11 stores a control program for controlling the operation of the first and second burners 13 and 14, the heating grill 15, the heat amount adjustment unit 19, etc. The first memory unit C11 also stores multiple cooking information items for automatically cooking a cooking menu. The number of cooking information items stored in the first memory unit C11 corresponds to the number of cooking menu items that can be automatically cooked in the cooker 1 and, ultimately, the cooking system 100. In other words, if there are 10 cooking menu items that can be automatically cooked in the cooking system 100, the first memory unit C11 stores 10 types of cooking information items. Each cooking information item includes temperature transition information (see FIG. 4) of the food item when the cooking menu item is cooked. This temperature transition information varies depending on the type of cooking menu item, and therefore the temperature transition information included in the cooking information varies for each type of cooking information item. The first memory unit C11 also stores a control table that the first control unit C12 uses to determine the updated heat power during automatic cooking. The temperature transition information and the control table will be described in detail below.

[0051] The first control unit C12 shown in Fig. 2 performs various calculation processes based on a control program to control the operation of the first and second burners 13 and 14, the heating grill 15, the heat amount adjustment unit 19, etc. The first control unit C12 also performs various calculation processes based on each cooking information item and the automatic cooking application 7, which will be described later. As a result, the first control unit C12 performs automatic cooking of the cooking menu by executing temperature-based control while controlling the operation of the heat amount adjustment unit 19, etc. Furthermore, the first control unit C12 controls the operation of the first communication unit C13.

[0052] The first communication unit C13 is wirelessly connected to the external terminal 3 by short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). The first communication unit C13 is also connectable to a network such as the Internet. This allows the first communication unit C13 to be wirelessly connected to the server 9.

[0053] The speaker 21 is disposed inside the housing 11 and is electrically connected to the controller C1. The speaker 21 is controlled by the first control unit C12 to notify the user 5 of various pieces of information by voice.

[0054] The external terminal 3 shown in FIG. 1 is provided outside the cooking appliance 1 and is separate from the cooking appliance 1. Specifically, the external terminal 3 is a commercially available smartphone. The external terminal 3 is provided with a touch panel display 3a as an input unit. A user 5 can operate the external terminal 3 and further the automatic cooking application 7, which will be described later, by touching the display 3a. Note that a tablet computer or the like may also be used as the external terminal 3.

[0055] The external terminal 3 has a second storage unit 31, a second control unit 32, and a second communication unit 33. The second storage unit 31 stores a mobile terminal control program (not shown) that controls the operation of the external terminal 3, as well as an automatic cooking application 7.

[0056] The second control unit 32 controls various operations of the external terminal 3 and also executes the automatic cooking application 7. The second communication unit 33 is capable of connecting to a network such as the Internet in addition to short-range wireless communication. As a result, the external terminal 3 is wirelessly connected to the controller C1 of the cooking appliance 1 and to the server 9.

[0057] The automatic cooking application 7 is provided by the server 9 via a network, and the user 5 can obtain and update the automatic cooking application 7 by connecting the external terminal 3 to the server 9. The automatic cooking application 7 may be stored in advance in the second storage unit 31 of the external terminal 3.

[0058] The automatic cooking application 7 causes the cooker 1 to perform automatic cooking of the automatic cooking menu selected by the user 5 through a cooking menu selection process and an automatic cooking start process. In the cooking menu selection process, as shown in FIG. 3, a first cooking menu selection screen 301 is displayed on the display 3a of the external terminal 3. This first cooking menu selection screen 301 displays images and names of cooking menus that can be automatically cooked by the cooker 1. This allows the user 5 to select a cooking menu that they wish to automatically cook through the first cooking menu selection screen 301. In addition, an automatic cooking start icon 301a is displayed on the first cooking menu selection screen 301. When the user 5 touches the automatic cooking start icon 301a, the automatic cooking start process is started. Furthermore, the automatic cooking application 7 performs a cooking information update process.

[0059] The server 9 is provided outside the cooker 1 and the external terminal 3. The latest automatic cooking application 7 is stored on the server 9. The server 9 also records cooking information corresponding to cooking menus that have become automatically cookable in the cooker 1 as needed. This allows the user 5 to obtain cooking information that is not stored in the first storage unit C11 of the cooker 1 by updating the automatic cooking application 7. In this way, the cooking system 100 makes it possible to appropriately add cooking menus that can be automatically cooked by the cooker 1. The server 9 may be a virtual server provided on a network.

[0060] In the cooking system 100 configured as described above, the user 5 can directly operate the operation unit 20 to heat the food to be cooked using the first and second burners 13, 14 and the heating grill 15. In addition, in this cooking system 100, the user 5 can have the cooker 1 automatically cook the cooking menu desired by the user 5. A specific description will be given below using the case where cooking menu A is automatically cooked as an example.

[0061] Cooking menu A can only be automatically cooked using the first stove burner 13. Therefore, to have the cooker 1 automatically cook cooking menu A, the user 5 places the prepared food into a cooking container and places the cooking container on the first trivet 13a. The user 5 also runs the automatic cooking application 7 on the external terminal 3 and selects cooking menu A on the first cooking menu selection screen 301 shown in FIG. 3. The user 5 then touches the automatic cooking start icon 301a. As a result, in the controller C1 of the cooker 1, the first control unit C12 reads the cooking information corresponding to cooking menu A from the cooking information stored in the first memory unit C11.

[0062] As shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, the cooking information corresponding to cooking menu A includes information L10 about the temperature change of the food items when cooking menu A is being cooked. Here, this temperature change information L10 is information about the change in temperature of the food items when a cooking expert such as a chef or cooking instructor (hereinafter referred to as a chef, etc.) cooks cooking menu A in the cooker 1. Furthermore, this temperature change information L10 divides the cooking time into multiple periods of 10 seconds each and records the temperature of the food items for each period. As a result, the recorded temperature of the food items changes as the period moves to the next period. Furthermore, the end time of the final period is the end point of the cooking time, i.e., the cooking completion time, and the temperature of the food items in the final period is the temperature of the food items at the end of cooking menu A. Furthermore, the starting point of the cooking progress time, immediately after the start of cooking (when the cooking progress time is zero seconds), is designated as the zero period, and the temperature of the food to be cooked in the zero period is the temperature of the food to be cooked immediately after the start of cooking of cooking menu A.

[0063] In addition, cooking information corresponding to other cooking menus records information on the temperature transition of the food when the chef cooks other cooking menus. Depending on the type of cooking menu, automatic cooking may be possible only with the second stove burner 14, or automatic cooking may be possible with either the first stove burner 13 or the second stove burner 14.

[0064] As described above, when the user 5 touches the automatic cooking start icon 301a, the first control unit C12 of the controller C1 executes temperature-based control and starts automatic cooking of the cooking menu A. In this temperature-based control, the first control unit C12 controls the heat amount adjustment unit 19 so that the actual temperature of the food currently being heated by the first stove burner 13 changes in accordance with the temperature change information L10.

[0065] First, the first control unit C12 starts measuring the cooking time for cooking menu A (step S101 in FIG. 5). The first control unit C12 also sets the progress time in the read cooking information, i.e., the cooking information corresponding to cooking menu A, to a zero period (step S102). Then, the user 5 himself / herself operates the first operating switch 20a to ignite the first stove burner 13, and heating of the food to be cooked begins with the ignition power, which is the heating power value at the time of ignition (step S103). At this time, the speaker 21 issues a notification urging the user 5 to ignite the first stove burner 13.

[0066] Next, the first control unit C12 determines whether the cooking time for cooking menu A is equal to or greater than the end time of the current period (step S104). If the zero period is set, the cooking time for cooking menu A will be equal to or greater than the end time of the zero period when automatic cooking of cooking menu A begins, i.e., when heating of the food begins (step S104: YES). Therefore, the first control unit C12 obtains the temperature corresponding to the current period from the temperature transition information L10 and sets the obtained temperature as the target temperature (step S105). This target temperature is temporarily stored in the first memory unit C11.

[0067] The first control unit C12 also acquires the current actual temperature of the food based on the temperature transmitted from the first temperature sensor 16, and sets the acquired actual temperature as the current temperature (step S106). This current temperature is also temporarily stored in the first storage unit C11.

[0068] Then, the first control unit C12 determines the updated heating power based on the current temperature and the target temperature (step S107). Specifically, the first control unit C12 calculates a calculated temperature S based on the difference between the current temperature and the target temperature. Furthermore, the first control unit C12 determines the updated heating power based on the value of the calculated temperature S by referring to a control table stored in the first storage unit C11. The contents shown in Table 1 below are set in this control table.

[0069] [Table 1]

[0070] For example, if there is no temperature difference between the current temperature and the target temperature immediately after the start of automatic cooking and the calculated temperature S is zero, the first control unit C12 sets the current ignition power as the updated power. Also, for example, if the current temperature is 8°C higher than the target temperature, i.e., if the calculated temperature S is "+8," the first control unit C12 sets the updated power to a power value one level lower than the current heating power (if the current heating power value is "5," the updated heating power value will be "4"). Also, for example, if the current temperature is 6°C lower than the target temperature, i.e., if the calculated temperature S is "-6," the first control unit C12 sets the updated power to a power value one level higher than the current heating power (if the current heating power value is "5," the updated heating power value will be "6").

[0071] Then, the first control unit C12 controls the operation of the heat amount adjusting unit 19 to change the heating power of the first stove burner 13 to the updated heating power determined in step S107 (step S108). As a result, the food continues to be heated by the updated heating power.

[0072] The first control unit C12 then determines whether or not an updateable period remains based on the cooking information (step S109). If an updateable period remains (step S109: YES), the first control unit C12 updates the progress time of the cooking information to the next period (step S110). As a result, the first control unit C12 repeats the processes from step S104 onwards as long as an updateable period remains. Therefore, the food is heated at the updated heating power changed in step S107 until the cooking time for cooking menu A reaches the end time of the updated period (step S104: NO).

[0073] On the other hand, if there are no updateable periods remaining (step S109: NO), the first control unit C12 determines that the cooking end time for cooking menu A has arrived. As a result, the first control unit C12 automatically turns off the first stove burner 13. Furthermore, the first control unit C12 notifies the user 5 via the speaker 21 that cooking of cooking menu A has ended. In this way, the automatic cooking of cooking menu A ends.

[0074] Thus, in this cooking system 100, the first control unit C12 repeatedly executes the processes of steps S104 to S108 while there is an updateable period remaining. In this way, the first control unit C12 controls the heat amount adjustment unit 19 so that the actual temperature of the food detected by the first temperature sensor 16 changes in accordance with the food temperature change information L10 when cooking cooking menu A, and appropriately changes the heat power of the first stove burner 13, i.e., the heat amount of the first stove burner 13.

[0075] Here, the temperature transition information L10 of the food items included in the cooking information corresponding to cooking menu A is information about the temperature transition of the food items when a chef or the like cooks cooking cooking menu A. Therefore, according to this heating and cooking system 100, even if the conditions such as the amount of food items and temperature when a chef or the like cooks cooking cooking menu A are different from the conditions such as the amount of food items and temperature when cooking menu A is automatically cooked this time, the degree of heating of the food items in the current automatic cooking can be made as close as possible to the degree of heating of the food items when a chef or the like cooked cooking cooking menu A, i.e., the degree of heating of the food items when temperature transition information L10 was created.

[0076] For this reason, for example, if the food is easily heated in the current automatic cooking and the change in the actual temperature detected by the first temperature sensor 16 is more rapid than the temperature change information L10 of the food included in the cooking information corresponding to cooking menu A, the first control unit C12 can reduce the amount of heat applied to the food by the first burner 13 by controlling the heat amount adjustment unit 19. Conversely, if the food is difficult to heat in the current automatic cooking, the first control unit C12 can increase the amount of heat applied to the food by the first burner 13 by controlling the heat amount adjustment unit 19.

[0077] Thus, according to this cooking system 100, as shown by the dashed line in Fig. 4, the temperature of the food when cooking menu A is currently automatically cooked can be made to change in a manner similar to the temperature change information L10 shown by the solid line in Fig. 4. As a result, with this cooking system 100, even if the conditions, such as the amount of food and temperature, when a chef or other professional cooked cooking menu A differ from the conditions, such as the amount of food and temperature, when cooking menu A is currently automatically cooked, variation in the finished cooking of cooking menu A is unlikely to occur. In other words, with this cooking system 100, even if the conditions, such as the amount of food and temperature, are different, the finished cooking of cooking menu A automatically cooked by the cooker 1 can be made as close as possible to the finished cooking of cooking menu A cooked by a chef or other professional. The same applies when a cooking menu other than cooking menu A is automatically cooked in the cooker 1.

[0078] Therefore, the cooking system 100 of the present invention according to the first embodiment can achieve high-quality automatic cooking.

[0079] Example 2 6, in the cooking system 100 of Example 2, each piece of cooking information stored in the first memory unit C11 includes heat amount transition information in addition to temperature transition information. The heat amount transition information is information about the transition of the heat amount of the first burner 13 or the second burner 14 when cooking a cooking menu, that is, information about the transition of the switching of the heat amount of the first burner 13 or the second burner 14 when cooking a cooking menu. In other words, the heat amount transition information is information about the transition of the change in the heat power of the first burner 13 or the second burner 14 when cooking a cooking menu.

[0080] Specifically, the cooking information shown in FIG. 6 is cooking information corresponding to cooking menu B. This cooking menu B can also be automatically cooked only by the first burner 13. This cooking information includes temperature transition information L20 of the food when a chef or the like prepares cooking menu B, and heat amount transition information L21 of the first burner 13 when a chef or the like prepares cooking menu B. For the heat amount transition information L21, the cooking progress time is also divided into multiple periods of 10 seconds each. The heat power value of the first burner 13 for each period is recorded as the heat amount of the first burner 13 for each period.

[0081] In addition, in this cooking system 100, the first control unit C12 can execute temperature-based control and heat amount-based control while automatically cooking a cooking menu. In the heat amount-based control, the first control unit C12 controls the heat amount adjustment unit 19 so that the heat amount of the first stove burner 13 or the second stove burner 14 changes in accordance with the heat amount change information.

[0082] More specifically, while performing automatic cooking of a cooking menu, first control unit C12 can execute a first mode in which temperature-based control is the primary control and heat amount-based control is the secondary control, and a second mode in which heat amount-based control is the primary control and temperature-based control is the secondary control. Here, "temperature-based control is the primary control and heat amount-based control is the secondary control" refers to a state in which the heat amount adjustment unit 19 is actually controlled by the temperature-based control, while the heat amount-based control is merely an internal process and is not used for the actual control of the heat amount adjustment unit 19. Conversely, "heat amount-based control is the primary control and temperature-based control is the secondary control" refers to a state in which the heat amount adjustment unit 19 is actually controlled by the heat amount-based control, while the temperature-based control is merely an internal process and is not used for the actual control of the heat amount adjustment unit 19.

[0083] Furthermore, in this cooking system 100, the automatic cooking application 7 performs cooking menu selection processing, mode selection processing, and automatic cooking start processing. Here, in the cooking menu selection processing in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 7, a second cooking menu selection screen 302 is displayed on the display 3a of the external terminal 3. Like the first cooking menu selection screen 301 in Example 1, this second cooking menu selection screen 302 displays images and names of cooking menus that can be automatically cooked by the cooker 1. Then, a first transition icon 302a is displayed on this second cooking menu selection screen 302. When the user 5 touches this first transition icon 302a, the mode selection processing is started.

[0084] In the mode selection process, as shown in Fig. 8, a mode selection screen 303 is displayed on the display 3a of the external terminal 3. This mode selection screen 303 displays a first check box 303a, a second check box 303b, an automatic cooking start icon 303c, and a second transition icon 303d.

[0085] The first mode is selected by the user 5 touching the first checkbox 303a. The second mode is selected by the user 5 touching the second checkbox 303b. The automatic cooking start process is initiated by the user 5 touching the automatic cooking start icon 303c. The cooking menu selection process is then performed again by the user 5 touching the first transition icon 302a, and the second cooking menu selection screen 302 shown in FIG. 7 is again displayed on the display 3a. The other configurations of this cooking system 100, including the other configurations of the cooking appliance 1, are the same as those of the cooking system 100 of the first embodiment.

[0086] This cooking system 100 also allows the cooker 1 to automatically cook a cooking menu desired by the user 5. Hereinafter, a specific description will be given using an example of automatic cooking of cooking menu B.

[0087] Since cooking menu B can only be automatically cooked using the first stove burner 13, when having the cooker 1 automatically cook cooking menu B, the user 5 places a cooking container containing prepared food on the first trivet 13a. The user 5 then runs the automatic cooking application 7 on the external terminal 3 and selects cooking menu B on the second cooking menu selection screen 302 shown in FIG. 7. The user 5 then touches the first checkbox 303a or the second checkbox 303b on the mode selection screen 303 shown in FIG. 8. In this example, the user 5 touches the second checkbox 303b. The user 5 then touches the automatic cooking start icon 303c. As a result, the first control unit C12 in the controller C1 of the cooker 1 reads the cooking information corresponding to cooking menu B from the cooking information stored in the first memory unit C11.

[0088] As described above, the cooking information corresponding to cooking menu B includes information L20 on the temperature change of the food being cooked when a chef or the like cooks cooking menu B, and information L21 on the change of the heat output of the first stove burner 13 when a chef or the like cooks cooking menu B (see Figure 6).

[0089] Also, since the user 5 touches the second checkbox 303b, the first control unit C12 executes the second mode, i.e., starts automatic cooking of cooking menu B while using heat amount-based control as the primary control and temperature-based control as the secondary control (step S201 in Figure 9).

[0090] The first control unit C12 also starts measuring the cooking time for cooking menu B (step S202). Furthermore, the first control unit C12 sets the progress time in the read cooking information, i.e., the cooking information corresponding to cooking menu B, to a zero period (step S203). Then, the user 5 himself / herself operates the first operation switch 20a to ignite the first stove burner 13, and the ignition power starts heating the food to be cooked (step S204). At this time, the speaker 21 also issues a notification urging the user 5 to ignite the first stove burner 13.

[0091] Next, the first control unit C12 determines whether the cooking time for cooking menu B is equal to or longer than the end time of the current period (step S205). If the zero period is set, the cooking time for cooking menu B will be equal to or longer than the end time of the zero period when automatic cooking of cooking menu B begins (step S205: YES). Therefore, the first control unit C12 obtains the heating power value of the first burner 13 corresponding to the current period from the heating amount transition information L21 and sets the obtained heating power value as the updated heating power (step S206).

[0092] Then, the first control unit C12 controls the operation of the heat amount adjusting unit 19 to change the heating power value of the first stove burner 13 to the updated heating power determined in step S206 (step S207). For example, if the current heating power value of the first stove burner 13 is "6" and the heating power value of the updated heating power determined in step S206 is "4," the first control unit C12 changes the heating power value of the first stove burner 13 from "6" to "4" through operation control of the heat amount adjustment unit 19. This allows the food to continue to be heated by the updated heating power.

[0093] Thereafter, the first control unit C12 determines whether an updateable period remains based on the cooking information (step S208). If an updateable period remains (step S208: YES), the first control unit C12 updates the progress time of the cooking information to the next period (step S209). As a result, the first control unit C12 repeatedly executes the processes from step S205 onwards as long as an updateable period remains. Therefore, the food is heated at the updated heating power changed in step S207 until the cooking time of cooking menu B reaches the end time of the updated period (step S205: NO).

[0094] On the other hand, if there are no updateable periods remaining (step S208: NO), the first control unit C12 determines that the cooking end time for cooking menu B has arrived. As a result, the first control unit C12 automatically extinguishes the first stove burner 13. Furthermore, the first control unit C12 notifies the user 5 via the speaker 21 that cooking of cooking menu B has ended. In this way, the automatic cooking of cooking menu B ends.

[0095] Here, the heat amount transition information L21 of the food item included in the cooking information corresponding to cooking menu B is information relating to the transition of the heat amount of the first burner 13 when a chef or the like cooks cooking menu B. Therefore, according to this cooking system 100, by having the first control unit C12 automatically cook cooking menu B in the second mode, it is possible to make the heat amount of the first burner 13 when cooking menu B, shown by the dashed line in Fig. 6, transition in a manner close to the temperature transition information L20, shown by the solid line in Fig. 6. As a result, with this cooking system 100, the finished product of cooking menu B automatically cooked by the cooker 1 can be made as close as possible to the finished product of cooking menu B cooked by a chef or the like using the cooker 1. The same applies when a cooking menu other than cooking menu B is automatically cooked in the cooker 1.

[0096] Furthermore, in this cooking system 100, if the user 5 touches the first checkbox 303a on the mode selection screen 303 shown in Fig. 8, the first control unit C12 starts automatic cooking of cooking menu B while executing the first mode. In this case, the first control unit C12 uses temperature-quantity-based control as the primary control and heat-quantity-based control as the secondary control. Therefore, similar to the cooking system 100 of Example 1, while automatic cooking of cooking menu B is being performed, the first control unit C12 controls the heat amount adjustment unit 19 so that the actual temperature of the food changes according to the temperature change information L20.

[0097] In this way, the first control unit C12 can execute the first mode and the second mode in this cooking system 100. The user 5 can select between the first mode and the second mode by operating the external terminal 3.

[0098] Therefore, depending on the type of cooking menu, if automatic cooking of the cooking menu can be more suitably performed by using temperature-based control as the main control out of temperature-based control and heat amount-based control, user 5 can select the first mode. Conversely, if automatic cooking of the cooking menu can be more suitably performed by using heat amount-based control as the main control out of temperature-based control and heat amount-based control, user 5 can select the second mode. As a result, this cooking system 100 can achieve higher quality automatic cooking depending on the first mode or second mode selected by user 5.

[0099] Furthermore, since the user 5 can select the first mode or the second mode, the cooking system 100 makes it possible to make the cooking menu completed by automatic cooking more closely match the intentions of the user 5. Other functions of the cooking system 100 are the same as those of the cooking system 100 of the first embodiment.

[0100] Example 3 Although detailed illustration is omitted, the cooking system 100 of Example 3 has the same configuration as the cooking system 100 of Example 2. As a result, in this cooking system 100 as in the cooking system 100 of Example 2, the cooking information stored in the first memory unit C11 includes heat amount transition information in addition to temperature transition information (see FIG. 10). Also in this cooking system 100, the first control unit C12 is capable of executing temperature-based control and heat amount-based control while performing automatic cooking of a cooking menu. Furthermore, in this cooking system 100, the first control unit C12 is capable of performing automatic cooking of a cooking menu while switching between the first mode and the second mode.

[0101] Hereinafter, automatic cooking in this cooking system 100 will be specifically described, taking the case of automatically cooking cooking menu A as an example.

[0102] To have the cooker 1 automatically cook cooking menu A, the user 5 places a cooking container containing prepared food on the first trivet 13a. The user 5 then runs the automatic cooking application 7 on the external terminal 3 and selects cooking menu A on the second cooking menu selection screen 302 shown in FIG. 11. The user 5 then touches the second checkbox 303b and the automatic cooking start icon 303c on the mode selection screen 303 shown in FIG. 8. As a result, the first control unit C12 of the controller C1 of the cooker 1 reads the cooking information corresponding to cooking menu A from the cooking information stored in the first memory unit C11.

[0103] As shown in Figure 10, the cooking information corresponding to cooking menu A includes information L10 on the temperature change of the food being cooked when a chef or the like cooks cooking menu A, and information L11 on the change of the heat output of the first stove burner 13 when a chef or the like cooks cooking menu A.

[0104] As described above, because the user 5 has touched the second checkbox 303b, the first control unit C12 executes the second mode and starts automatic cooking of the cooking menu A (step S301 in FIG. 12). That is, in this cooking system 100, the first mode or the second mode to be executed first when automatic cooking of the cooking menu A is performed is determined by the selection of the first mode or the second mode on the mode selection screen 303 (see FIG. 8).

[0105] When automatic cooking of cooking menu A is started, in this heating cooking system 100, first, the first control unit C12 starts measuring the cooking time for cooking menu A (step S302 in FIG. 12). Furthermore, the first control unit C12 sets the progress time in the read cooking information, i.e., the cooking information corresponding to cooking menu A, to a zero period (step S303). Then, when the user 5 performs an ignition operation on the first stove burner 13, heating of the food to be cooked begins using the ignition heat (step S304). As a result, even at this time, the speaker 21 issues a notification urging the user 5 to perform an ignition operation on the first stove burner 13.

[0106] Next, the first control unit C12 determines whether the cooking time of cooking menu A is equal to or greater than the end time of the current period (step S305). As in the first and second embodiments, if the zero period is set, the cooking time will be equal to or greater than the end time of the zero period when automatic cooking of cooking menu A starts (step S305: YES).

[0107] Here, when the second mode is executed, the temperature-based control is internally processed as a secondary control. Therefore, the first control unit C12 obtains the temperature corresponding to the current period from the temperature transition information L10 and sets the obtained temperature as the target temperature (step S306). This target temperature is temporarily stored in the first storage unit C11.

[0108] The first control unit C12 also acquires the current actual temperature of the food based on the temperature transmitted from the first temperature sensor 16, and sets the acquired actual temperature as the current temperature (step S307). This current temperature is also temporarily stored in the first storage unit C11.

[0109] Then, the first control unit C12 determines whether the second mode is currently being executed (step S308). If the second mode is being executed (step S308: YES), the first control unit C12 determines whether the difference between the target temperature set in step S306 and the current temperature set in step S307 is within a threshold value of 5°C (step S309). Note that a temperature other than 5°C may be set as the threshold value.

[0110] Here, if the difference between the target temperature and the current temperature is within 5°C (step S309: YES), the first control unit C12 obtains the heating power value of the first burner 13 corresponding to the current period from the heating amount trend information L11, and sets the obtained heating power value as the updated heating power (step S310 in Figure 13).

[0111] Then, the first control unit C12 controls the operation of the heat amount adjustment unit 19 to change the heating power of the first stove burner 13 to the updated heating power determined in step S310 (step S311). As a result, the food continues to be heated by the updated heating power.

[0112] After this, the first control unit C12 determines whether or not an updateable period remains based on the cooking information (step S312). If an updateable period remains (step S312: YES), the first control unit C12 updates the progress time of the cooking information to the next period (step S313). As a result, the first control unit C12 repeatedly executes the processes from step S305 onwards while a period remains. Therefore, the food to be cooked is heated at the updated heating power changed in step S310 until the cooking time of cooking menu A reaches the end time of the updated period (step S305: NO).

[0113] Furthermore, in step S308, when the first control unit C12 determines that the second mode is being executed (step S308 in FIG. 12: YES), if the difference between the target temperature and the current temperature exceeds 5°C (step S309: NO), the first control unit C12 switches to the first mode (step S321), whereby temperature-based control becomes the main control.

[0114] In this case, the first control unit C12 acquires the temperature corresponding to the current period from the temperature transition information L10 and sets the acquired temperature as the target temperature (step S322 in FIG. 13). This target temperature is temporarily stored in the first storage unit C11.

[0115] The first control unit C12 also acquires the current actual temperature of the food based on the temperature transmitted from the first temperature sensor 16, and sets the acquired actual temperature as the current temperature (step S323). This current temperature is also temporarily stored in the first storage unit C11.

[0116] The first control unit C12 then determines the updated heating power based on the current temperature and the target temperature (step S324). The determination of the updated heating power is performed by the same process as in Example 1. The first control unit C12 then controls the operation of the heat amount adjustment unit 19 to change the heating power of the first stove burner 13 to the updated heating power determined in step S324 (step S311). This allows the food to continue to be heated by the updated heating power.

[0117] On the other hand, if the first control unit C12 determines in step S308 that the second mode is not being executed (step S308: NO in Figure 12), that is, if the first mode is currently being executed, the first control unit C12 determines whether the target temperature set in step S306 is different from the current temperature set in step S307 (step S331).

[0118] Here, if the target temperature set in step S306 is different from the current temperature set in step S307 (step S331: YES), the first control unit C12 determines the updated heating power in steps S322 to S324 shown in Figure 13, and changes the heating power of the first stove burner 13 to this updated heating power (step S311).

[0119] On the other hand, if the first mode is currently being executed (step S308 in FIG. 12: NO) and the target temperature set in step S306 is the same as the current temperature set in step S307 (step S331: NO), the first control unit C12 changes to the second mode (step S332). That is, the first control unit C12 switches from the first mode to the second mode. As a result, the first control unit C12 determines the updated heating power in step S310 shown in FIG. 13 and changes the heating power of the first stove burner 13 to this updated heating power (step S311).

[0120] Furthermore, in step S312, if there are no updateable periods remaining (step S312: NO), the first control unit C12 determines that the cooking end time for cooking menu A has arrived. As a result, the first control unit C12 automatically turns off the first stove burner 13. Furthermore, the first control unit C12 notifies the user 5 via the speaker 21 that cooking of cooking menu A has ended. In this way, the automatic cooking of cooking menu A ends.

[0121] In this way, the first control unit C12 can also execute the first mode and the second mode in this cooking system 100. In this cooking system 100, the first control unit C12 can switch between the first mode and the second mode depending on the cooking status of the cooking menu currently being automatically cooked, while controlling the operation of the heat amount adjustment unit 19. In other words, in this cooking system 100, while a cooking menu is being automatically cooked, there are periods when the first mode is being executed and periods when the second mode is being executed.

[0122] As a result, as shown in Figure 10, in this cooking system 100, for example, the second mode is executed for a certain period from the start of automatic cooking, and thereafter the first mode is executed until the end of cooking. Note that switching between the first mode and the second mode is not limited to one time, but can be performed multiple times depending on the cooking status of the cooking menu currently being automatically cooked.

[0123] As a result, high-quality automatic cooking can be achieved with this cooking system 100. Other functions of this cooking system 100 are the same as those of the cooking system 100 of the second embodiment.

[0124] Example 4 14, in the cooking system 100 of Example 4, the cooking information corresponding to cooking menu B includes a cooking operation standby period T1 in addition to temperature transition information L20 and heat amount transition information L21. Note that the cooking information corresponding to other cooking menus, including the cooking information corresponding to cooking menu A, may also include the cooking operation standby period T1.

[0125] The first control unit C12 sets the operation standby flag to ON during the cooking operation standby period T1 and sets the operation standby flag to OFF outside the cooking operation standby period T1. More specifically, the cooking operation standby period T1 is set to a preset time, such as 10 seconds or 20 seconds. Therefore, once the set time has elapsed after the operation standby flag is set to ON, the first control unit C12 automatically sets the operation standby flag to OFF.

[0126] Furthermore, during the cooking standby period T1, i.e., while the standby flag is ON, the first control unit C12 executes temperature maintenance control to maintain the actual temperature of the food within a specific range value, and also executes the second mode. In this embodiment, the "specific range value" is determined by setting the actual temperature of the food at the start of the cooking standby period T1 as the lower limit and a temperature 4°C above that actual temperature as the upper limit. For example, the upper limit of the specific range value may be a temperature 2°C above the actual temperature of the food at the start of the cooking standby period T1, or a temperature 10°C above the actual temperature of the food at the start of the cooking standby period T1.

[0127] A specific example will be described below using the case of automatically cooking cooking menu B. Unlike Example 2, this example describes a case where user 5 touches first checkbox 303a on mode selection screen 303 shown in Fig. 8 to have cooking menu B automatically cooked by cooking appliance 1.

[0128] When the user 5 touches the first checkbox 303a, the first control unit C12 executes the first mode and starts automatic cooking of the cooking menu B (step S401 in FIG. 15). That is, the first control unit C12 starts automatic cooking of the cooking menu B using the temperature-based control as the main control.

[0129] Even in the first mode, first, the first control unit C12 starts measuring the cooking time for cooking menu B (step S402). Furthermore, the first control unit C12 sets the progress time in the read cooking information, i.e., the cooking information corresponding to cooking menu B, to a zero period (step S403). Then, the user 5 himself / herself ignites the first stove burner 13 via the first operation switch 20a, and the food to be cooked begins to be heated by the ignition heat (step S404). At this time, the speaker 21 also issues a notification urging the user 5 to ignite the first stove burner 13.

[0130] Next, the first control unit C12 determines whether the cooking time for cooking menu B is equal to or greater than the end time of the current period (step S405). If the zero period is set, the cooking time will be equal to or greater than the end time of the zero period when automatic cooking of cooking menu B begins (step S405: YES). Therefore, the first control unit C12 obtains the temperature corresponding to the current period from the temperature transition information L20 and sets the obtained temperature as the target temperature (step S406). This target temperature is temporarily stored in the first memory unit C11.

[0131] The first control unit C12 also acquires the current actual temperature of the food based on the temperature transmitted from the first temperature sensor 16, and sets the acquired actual temperature as the current temperature (step S407). This current temperature is also temporarily stored in the first storage unit C11.

[0132] The first control unit C12 also determines whether the standby flag is ON (step S408). Here, when the cooking time for cooking menu B, that is, the progress of automatic cooking of cooking menu B, has not yet reached the cooking standby period T1, the standby flag is OFF. Therefore, in this case, the first control unit C12 determines that the standby flag is not ON (step S408: NO).

[0133] As a result, the first control unit C12 continues measuring the cooking time for cooking menu B, which started in step S402 (step S421). Furthermore, the first control unit C12 continues the first mode (step S422).

[0134] Then, the first control unit C12 determines whether the first mode is currently being executed (step S409 shown in FIG. 16). Here, as described above, if the first mode is continuing in step S422, the first control unit C12 determines that the first mode is currently being executed (step S409: YES).

[0135] As a result, the first control unit C12 determines the updated heating power based on the current temperature set in step S407 and the target temperature set in step S406 (step S410). This determination of the updated heating power is performed by the same process as in Example 1. Then, the first control unit C12 controls the operation of the heat amount adjustment unit 19 to change the heating power of the first stove burner 13 to the updated heating power determined in step S410 (step S411). As a result, the food to be cooked continues to be heated by the updated heating power.

[0136] After this, the first control unit C12 determines whether or not an updateable period remains based on the cooking information (step S412). If an updateable period remains (step S412: YES), the first control unit C12 updates the progress time of the cooking information to the next period (step S413). As a result, the first control unit C12 repeatedly executes the processes from step S405 onwards while a period remains. Therefore, the food is heated at the updated heating power changed in step S411 until the cooking time of cooking menu B reaches the end time of the updated period (step S405: NO).

[0137] On the other hand, if the progress of automatic cooking of cooking menu B reaches the cooking operation standby period T1, the operation standby flag is turned ON. Therefore, in this case, in step S408 shown in Fig. 15, the first control unit C12 determines that the operation standby flag is turned ON (step S408: YES).

[0138] As a result, the first control unit C12 stops measuring the cooking time for cooking menu B (step S431). Furthermore, if the first mode is being executed at the time of step S408, the first control unit C12 changes to the second mode and starts temperature maintenance control (step S432). Note that if the second mode is being executed at the time of step S408, the first control unit C12 starts temperature maintenance control while continuing the second mode in step S432.

[0139] Furthermore, if it is determined in step S408 that the operation standby flag is in the ON state, the first control unit C12 issues a notification to the user 5 via the speaker 21 to urge the user 5 to perform a cooking operation. Here, examples of cooking operations include stirring food being heated, or adding another food to food being heated. The notification urging the user 5 to perform a cooking operation may be issued once or multiple times.

[0140] In this way, in step S432, the first mode is switched to the second mode or the second mode is maintained, so in the following step S409, the first control unit C12 determines that the first mode is not currently being executed (step S409: NO). As a result, the first control unit C12 changes the heating power of the first stove burner 13 to the updated heating power based on the temperature maintenance control (step S441).

[0141] When changing to the updated heating power based on the temperature maintenance control, the first control unit C12 obtains the actual temperature of the food when the cooking operation standby period T1 starts, that is, the actual temperature of the food when it is determined in step S408 that the operation standby flag is ON, from the temperature transmitted from the first temperature sensor 16. Furthermore, the first control unit C12 obtains the heating power value of the first stove burner 13 at this time.

[0142] Then, the first control unit C12 changes the heat power of the first stove burner 13 to the updated heat power so that the actual temperature of the food to be cooked does not exceed 4°C, which is the upper limit of the specific range value, from the time of step S408.

[0143] For example, if the actual temperature of the food to be cooked in step S408 is 178°C and the heating power value of the first burner 13 at this time is "6," the first control unit C12 maintains the heating power value of the first burner 13 at "6" until the actual temperature of the food to be cooked reaches 182°C. Once the actual temperature of the food to be cooked reaches 182°C, the first control unit C12 changes the heating power value of the first burner 13 to the minimum, "1," and continues heating the food. Here, changing the heating power value of the first burner 13 to "1" reduces the amount of heat applied to the food to be cooked, and when the actual temperature of the food to be cooked transmitted from the first temperature sensor 16 reaches 178°C, i.e., the lower limit of the specific range, the first control unit C12 changes the heating power value of the first burner 13 to "6" again. In this way, the heating power value of the first stove burner 13 is alternately changed between "6" and "1" to maintain the actual temperature of the food being cooked. Note that the heating power value updated in the temperature maintenance control may be another heating power value. Furthermore, in the temperature maintenance control, three or more heating power values ​​may be alternately changed.

[0144] After that, if an updatable period remains (step S412: YES), the first control unit C12 updates the progress time of the cooking information to the next period (step S413). As a result, the first control unit C12 repeatedly executes the processes from step S405 onwards while an updatable period remains.

[0145] Furthermore, when the set time of the cooking operation standby period T1 has elapsed, the operation standby flag is set to the OFF state. As a result, in step S408, the first control unit C12 determines that the operation standby flag is not set to the ON state (step S408: NO). Therefore, the first control unit C12 resumes measuring the cooking time for cooking menu B (step S421). Furthermore, the first control unit C12 executes the first mode (step S422). Then, the first control unit C12 performs the process of step S409.

[0146] In this way, in this cooking system 100, since the cooking information includes the cooking operation standby period T1, the user 5 can perform cooking operations during this cooking operation standby period T1 while the cooking menu is being automatically cooked. Also, in this cooking system 100, a notification urging the user 5 to perform cooking operations is issued through the speaker 21, so even if cooking menu B, etc. is being automatically cooked, the user 5 is less likely to miss the timing to perform cooking operations or forget to perform cooking operations altogether. This allows the user 5 to perform cooking operations appropriately during automatic cooking.

[0147] Here, if the user 5 performs a cooking operation, this can easily cause a sudden drop in the actual temperature of the food being cooked. In this regard, in the cooking system 100, during the cooking operation standby period T1, the first control unit C12 executes the second mode and also executes temperature maintenance control. Therefore, in this cooking system 100, even if the user 5 takes some time to perform a cooking operation for some reason, the actual temperature of the food being cooked is maintained by executing temperature maintenance control, so the actual temperature does not drop unnecessarily. In this way, the cooking system 100 can achieve high-quality automatic cooking even if the user 5 is late in performing a cooking operation. Other functions of this cooking system 100 are the same as those of the cooking system 100 of Example 2.

[0148] Example 5 In the cooking system 100 of the fifth embodiment, the first control unit C12 can execute the process of setting the cooking operation standby period T1 during automatic cooking of a cooking menu. Hereinafter, a specific description will be given using an example of automatic cooking of cooking menu B.

[0149] When automatically cooking cooking menu B, the first control unit C12 executes the processes of steps S501 to S507 shown in Fig. 17. These steps S501 to S507 are the same as steps S401 to S407 in the fourth embodiment, respectively, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0150] After step S507, the first control unit C12 then executes a process for setting the cooking operation standby period T1 (step S508). By starting the process for setting the cooking operation standby period T1, the first control unit C12 first determines whether the operation standby flag is OFF (step S901 in FIG. 18). If it is determined that the operation standby flag is OFF (step S901: YES), that is, if the cooking operation standby period T1 is not currently in progress, the first control unit C12 acquires the temperature for the current period from the temperature transition information L20 (see FIG. 6) (step S902). The first control unit C12 then sets the acquired temperature as the target temperature (step S903).

[0151] The first control unit C12 then determines whether the decrease in the target temperature per unit time (hereinafter simply referred to as the decrease in the target temperature) is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value (step S904). In this embodiment, the first predetermined value is 10°C. The first control unit C12 acquires the temperature 10 seconds before the current period, i.e., the temperature in the period immediately preceding the current period, from the temperature transition information L20 as the first reference temperature. If the target temperature is 10°C or more lower than the first reference temperature, the first control unit C12 determines that the decrease in the target temperature is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value. If the target temperature is any other temperature, the first control unit C12 determines that the decrease in the target temperature is not equal to or greater than the first predetermined value. Note that a temperature other than 10°C may be set as the first predetermined value.

[0152] If the first control unit C12 determines that the amount of decrease in the target temperature is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value (step S904: YES), it sets the operation standby flag to ON (step S905). That is, the point at which the amount of decrease in the target temperature is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value becomes the starting point of the cooking operation standby period T1, and the first control unit C12 starts the cooking operation standby period T1. As a result, the first control unit C12 issues a notification to the user 5 via the speaker 21 to urge the user 5 to start cooking (step S906). Furthermore, the first control unit C12 starts measuring the elapsed time of the cooking operation standby period T1 (step S907). In this way, the first control unit C12 ends the process of setting the cooking operation standby period T1.

[0153] After completing the process of setting the cooking operation standby period T1, the first control unit C12 determines whether the operation standby flag is ON (step S509 in FIG. 17). If the first control unit C12 determines that the operation standby flag is ON (step S509: YES), it performs the processes of steps S531 and S532. On the other hand, if the first control unit C12 determines that the operation standby flag is not ON (step S509: NO), it performs the processes of steps S521 and S522. Here, steps S531 and S532 are the same as steps S431 and S432 in the fourth embodiment, and steps S521 and S522 are the same as steps S421 and S422 in the fourth embodiment.

[0154] Furthermore, after the processing of step S532 or step S522, the first control unit C12 performs the processing of step S409 and subsequent steps shown in Fig. 16, similarly to the fourth embodiment. Then, the first control unit C12 repeatedly executes the processing of step S505 and subsequent steps while an updatable period remains (see Fig. 17).

[0155] Here, even during the cooking operation standby period T1, the first control unit C12 executes the process of setting the cooking operation standby period T1 in step S508. In this case, because the operation standby flag is ON, the first control unit C12 determines in step S901 of Fig. 18 that the operation standby flag is not OFF (step S901: NO). As a result, the first control unit C12 obtains the current actual temperature of the food to be cooked based on the temperature transmitted from the first temperature sensor 16 (step S911). Then, the first control unit C12 sets the obtained actual temperature as the current temperature (step S912).

[0156] Furthermore, the first control unit C12 determines whether the rate of decrease in the current temperature per unit time (hereinafter simply referred to as the rate of decrease in the current temperature) is equal to or less than a second predetermined value (step S913). Here, in this embodiment, the second predetermined value is also set to 10°C.

[0157] Specifically, the first control unit C12 obtains the actual temperature 10 seconds before the current period, i.e., the period immediately preceding the current period, from the temperature transition information L20 as the second reference temperature. If the current temperature is decreasing and the temperature difference between this current temperature and the second reference temperature is 10°C or more, the first control unit C12 determines that the decrease in the current temperature is equal to or greater than the second predetermined value. On the other hand, if the temperature is other than this, the first control unit C12 determines that the decrease in the current temperature is not equal to or greater than the second predetermined value. Note that a temperature other than 10°C may be set as the second predetermined value. Furthermore, the temperature set as the second predetermined value may be different from the temperature set as the first predetermined value.

[0158] If the first control unit C12 determines that the amount of decrease in the current temperature is equal to or greater than the second predetermined value (step S913: YES), it turns the operation standby flag OFF (step S914). In other words, the point at which the amount of decrease in the current temperature becomes equal to or greater than the second predetermined value becomes the end point of the cooking operation standby period T1, and the first control unit C12 ends the cooking operation standby period T1. In this way, the first control unit C12 ends the setting process for the cooking operation standby period T1.

[0159] Even if the first control unit C12 determines that the amount of decrease in the current temperature is not equal to or greater than the second predetermined value (step S913: NO), if the elapsed time of the cooking operation standby period T1, which began to be measured in step S907, has reached the upper limit of 120 seconds for the cooking operation standby period T1 (step S921: YES), the first control unit C12 turns the operation standby flag to the OFF state (step S914). In other words, in this embodiment, the cooking operation standby period T1 will not continue beyond 120 seconds, regardless of the amount of decrease in the current temperature.

[0160] On the other hand, if the amount of decrease in the current temperature is not equal to or greater than the second predetermined value (step S913: NO) and the elapsed time of the cooking operation standby period T1 has not reached the upper limit (step S921: NO), the first control unit C12 ends the setting process for the cooking operation standby period T1 without turning the operation standby flag OFF. In other words, in this case, the operation standby flag remains ON, so the cooking operation standby period T1 continues. Note that the time set as the upper limit of the elapsed time may be shorter or longer than 120 seconds.

[0161] In this way, in this cooking system 100, the start time and end time of the cooking operation standby period T1, and ultimately the length of the cooking operation standby period T1, can be set according to the status of the automatic cooking currently being performed. This makes it possible to achieve higher quality automatic cooking in this cooking system 100. Other functions of this cooking system 100 are the same as those of the cooking systems 100 of Examples 2 and 4.

[0162] Example 6 In the cooking system 100 of Example 6, the cooking information stored in the first storage unit C11 is composed of a plurality of pieces of normal cooking information and a plurality of pieces of specific cooking information. Here, as described above, the normal cooking information is cooking information when a chef or the like prepares a cooking menu, and includes temperature transition information and heat amount transition information when the chef or the like prepares the cooking menu. On the other hand, the specific cooking information is cooking information when a user 5 prepares a cooking menu, and the specific cooking information includes at least specific temperature transition information when the user 5 prepares the cooking menu.

[0163] Specifically, Fig. 19 shows specific cooking information when user 5 cooked cooking menu B. This specific cooking information includes specific temperature transition information L30 and specific heat amount transition information L31 when user 5 cooked cooking menu B. Furthermore, this specific cooking information includes cooking operation information X1 when cooking cooking menu B. Cooking operation information X1 is information about the timing at which user 5 performs cooking operations when cooking the cooking menu.

[0164] In this cooking system 100, the first control unit C12 performs a recording process of the specific cooking information (hereinafter simply referred to as the recording process), thereby enabling the specific cooking information to be stored in the first storage unit C11. The recording process by the first control unit C12 will be specifically described below using an example in which the user 5 cooks cooking menu B.

[0165] When the user 5 turns on the first stove burner 13 and starts cooking the cooking menu B, the first control unit C12 starts the recording process (step S601 in FIG. 20). As a result, the first control unit C12 starts measuring the cooking time of the cooking menu B by the user 5 (step S602).

[0166] Then, the first control unit C12 acquires the current actual temperature of the food being heated by the first stove burner 13 through the first temperature sensor 16 and stores the actual temperature in the first memory unit C11 (step S603). Furthermore, the first control unit C12 acquires the current heating power value of the first stove burner 13 through the heat amount adjustment unit 19 and stores the heating power value in the first memory unit C11 (step S604).

[0167] Then, the first control unit C12 determines whether the cooking of cooking menu B has been completed (step S605). If the user 5 has not extinguished the first stove burner 13, the first control unit C12 determines that the cooking of cooking menu B has not been completed (step S605: NO).

[0168] In this case, the first control unit C12 determines whether 10 seconds have passed since the processing of step S605 (step S611). If 10 seconds have passed since the processing of step S605 (step S611: YES), the first control unit C12 updates the period (step S612) and performs the processing of step S603 and subsequent steps again. That is, in this case, in step S603, the actual temperature of the food to be cooked in the new period is stored in the first storage unit C11, and in step S604, the heating power value of the first stove burner 13 in the new period is stored in the first storage unit C11.

[0169] Furthermore, during the period from the processing of step S605 until 10 seconds have elapsed (step S611: NO), the first control unit C12 determines whether or not the user 5 has performed a cooking action (step S621).

[0170] Specifically, if the actual temperature of the food item detected by the first temperature sensor 16 changes beyond a specified value within 10 seconds after the processing of step S605, the first control unit C12 determines that the user 5 has performed a cooking operation (step S621: YES). As a result, the first control unit C12 stores the period during which the user 5 performed a cooking operation as a cooking operation standby period T1 in the first memory unit C11 (step S622). Note that if the first control unit C12 does not determine that the user 5 has performed a cooking operation (step S621: NO), the cooking operation standby period T1 is not stored in the first memory unit C11.

[0171] On the other hand, if the user 5 turns off the first stove burner 13, the first control unit C12 determines in step S605 that cooking of the cooking menu B has been completed (step S605: YES), and the first control unit C12 then ends the recording process (step S606).

[0172] The first control unit C12 then generates specific temperature transition information L30 based on the actual temperatures for each period stored in the first storage unit C11. Furthermore, the first control unit C12 generates specific heating amount transition information L31 based on the heating power values ​​for each period stored in the first storage unit C11. In this way, specific cooking information including the specific temperature transition information L30 and the specific heating amount transition information L31 is generated.

[0173] Furthermore, in step S622, if a cooking operation standby period T1 is stored in the first memory unit C11, the first control unit C12 includes the cooking operation standby period T1 in the specific cooking information. If step S622 is performed multiple times during cooking of cooking menu B and multiple cooking operation standby periods T1 are stored in the first memory unit C11, the first control unit C12 includes all of the cooking operation standby periods T1 in the specific cooking information. The specific cooking information created in this manner is stored in the first memory unit C11, as described above. After step S606, a process may be provided in which the user 5 is prompted to decide whether or not to record the specific cooking information created as described above in the first memory unit C11. In this case, if the user 5 decides not to record the specific cooking information in the first memory unit C11, the first control unit C12 deletes all of the information stored in the first memory unit C11 after step S601.

[0174] In this cooking system 100, the cooker 1 can automatically cook a cooking menu based on the specific cooking information. That is, in this cooking system 100, the first storage unit C11 performs temperature-based control based on the specific temperature transition information L30, and heat amount-based control based on the specific heat amount transition information L31, making it possible to reproduce the results of cooking menus previously cooked by the user 5 through automatic cooking.

[0175] Furthermore, in this cooking system 100, when the specific cooking information includes a cooking operation standby period T1, the first control unit C12 notifies the user 5 through the speaker 21 to prompt the user 5 to perform the cooking operation. Therefore, in this cooking system 100, the user 5 is less likely to miss the timing to perform the cooking operation, and is less likely to forget to perform the cooking operation itself. In this way, the cooking system 100 is highly convenient. Other functions of this cooking system 100 are the same as those of the cooking system 100 of the second embodiment.

[0176] The present invention has been described above in accordance with Examples 1 to 6, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above Examples 1 to 6 and can be modified and applied as appropriate within the scope of the invention.

[0177] For example, the cooking system 100 may be configured by appropriately combining the cooking systems 100 of the first to sixth embodiments.

[0178] Furthermore, in the cooking system 100 of Examples 1 to 6, the user 5 selects a cooking menu for automatic cooking and selects the first mode and the second mode through the display 3a of the external terminal 3. However, this is not limited to this, and the cooking appliance 1 may be provided with a display operation unit that displays each cooking menu and options for the first mode and the second mode and that can be touched by the user 5, allowing the user 5 to select a cooking menu for automatic cooking and select the first mode and the second mode through this display operation unit. In this case, the cooking system 100 may be configured without the external terminal 3 by storing the automatic cooking application 7 in the first storage unit C11.

[0179] In the cooking system 100 of Examples 1 to 6, the first and second burners 13, 14 are defined as the "heating section" of the present invention. However, this is not limiting, and the grill burner 15a may also be defined as the "heating section" of the present invention in addition to the first and second burners 13, 14, or only the grill burner 15a may be defined as the "heating section" of the present invention. Furthermore, in addition to the first and second burners 13, 14, a heating coil capable of heating food to be cooked by electromagnetic induction may be provided, and this heating coil may also be defined as the "heating section" of the present invention.

[0180] Furthermore, in the cooking system 100 of Example 1, when determining the updated heating power based on the current temperature and the target temperature, the first control unit C12 determines the updated heating power from the contents of Table 1. However, without being limited to this, the first control unit C12 may determine the updated heating power from contents different from Table 1.

[0181] Furthermore, in the cooking system 100 of Example 3, when the first mode is being executed and the target temperature and the current temperature are the same, the first control unit C12 switches from the first mode to the second mode. However, this is not limiting, and the first control unit C12 may switch from the first mode to the second mode when the first switching timing of the heating amount in the heating amount transition information arrives after the execution of the first mode.

[0182] In the cooking system 100 of the sixth embodiment, the first control unit C12 may store the created specific cooking information in the server 9.

[0183] In the cooking systems 100 of Examples 2 to 6, the first control unit C12 may perform only the temperature-based control in the first mode, and may perform only the heat amount-based control in the second mode. [Industrial Applicability]

[0184] The present invention can be used in home cooking appliances, kitchen equipment, and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0185] 1...Heating cooker 5…User 13...First stove burner (heating section) 14...Second stove burner (heating section) 16...First temperature sensor (temperature detection unit) 17...Second temperature sensor (temperature detection unit) 19…Heating amount adjustment section 21...Speaker (alarm unit) C11…1st storage unit (storage unit) C12...First control section (control section) L10, L20…Temperature transition information L11, L21…Heating amount transition information L30…Specific temperature transition information L31…Specific heating amount transition information T1: Cooking standby period X1...Cooking operation information

Claims

1. A heating unit that heats the food to be cooked; a heat amount adjusting unit that adjusts the heat amount of the heating unit; A temperature detection unit that detects the actual temperature of the food being cooked while it is being heated by the heating unit; A storage unit that stores cooking information including temperature transition information of the food when cooking a cooking menu; a control unit capable of automatically cooking the cooking menu based on the cooking information; The control unit is capable of executing temperature-based control to control the heat amount adjustment unit so that the actual temperature changes in accordance with the temperature change information while automatically cooking the cooking menu.

2. The cooking information includes heat amount transition information of the heating unit when the cooking menu is cooked, The heating cooker of claim 1, wherein the control unit is capable of selectively executing a first mode in which the temperature-based control is performed during automatic cooking of the cooking menu, and a second mode in which the heat amount-based control is performed to control the heat amount adjustment unit so that the heat amount of the heating unit changes in accordance with the heat amount change information.

3. The cooking device according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit selects the first mode or the second mode based on a selection operation by a user.

4. The heating cooker according to claim 2, wherein the control unit switches to execution of the first mode if the difference between the target temperature, which is the temperature in the temperature trend information, and the actual temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold while the second mode is being executed.

5. The cooking device according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit switches the operation mode to the second mode when the first change in the heating amount occurs in the heating amount transition information after the first mode is executed.

6. The control unit can set a cooking operation standby period while performing automatic cooking of the cooking menu, The cooking device according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit executes temperature maintenance control to maintain the actual temperature within a specific range value during the cooking operation standby period.

7. The control unit can set a cooking operation standby period while performing automatic cooking of the cooking menu, The cooking device according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit executes the second mode during the cooking operation standby period.

8. The heating cooker according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the control unit determines that the cooking operation standby period starts when a decrease per unit time of the target temperature, which is the temperature in the temperature transition information, reaches or exceeds a first predetermined value.

9. 8. The cooking device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit determines that the cooking operation standby period ends when the amount of decrease in the actual temperature per unit time becomes equal to or greater than a second predetermined value.

10. The heating cooker according to claim 9, wherein if the amount of decrease in the actual temperature per unit time does not exceed the second predetermined value until a predetermined period has elapsed after the start of the cooking operation standby period, the control unit determines that the end point of the cooking operation standby period is the point at which the predetermined period has elapsed.

11. The cooking device according to claim 7 , wherein the control unit switches to the first mode when the cooking operation standby period ends.

12. The storage unit stores a plurality of types of cooking information, 3. The cooking device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the cooking information is specific cooking information including the temperature transition information and the heat amount transition information when the user cooks the cooking menu.

13. The cooking device according to claim 12, wherein the specific cooking information includes cooking operation information that is information about a time when the user will perform a cooking operation when cooking the cooking menu.

14. a notification unit that notifies the user, The cooking device according to claim 13, wherein the notification unit issues a notification to the user to prompt the user to perform the cooking operation based on the cooking operation information.

15. a notification unit that notifies a user; The cooking device according to claim 6 , wherein the notification unit issues a notification to the user during the cooking standby period to urge the user to start cooking.

Images