Cooking assistance system, holding member, and application program for cooking assistance system

Abstract

To provide a cooking assistance system, a holding component, and an application program for the cooking assistance system that offer high convenience while keeping costs down. [Solution] The cooking assistance system 100 of the present invention comprises a cooking appliance 1, an external terminal 3, and a holding member 9. The holding member has a main body 9a that can be displaced while holding the external terminal 3, and an operation control unit 3b that can control the operation of the main body 9b. The external terminal 3 transmits a first signal to the operation control unit 9b if it determines that a person 5 is present, and transmits a second signal to the operation control unit 9b if it determines that a person 5 is not present. When the operation control unit 9b receives the first signal, it displaces the main body to a first state, and when it receives the second signal, it displaces the main body 9a to a second state. When the main body 9a is in the first state, the external terminal 3 performs a first cooking assistance, and when the main body 9a is in the second state, it performs a second cooking assistance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking assistance system, a holding member, and an application program for the cooking assistance system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional cooking assistance system. This cooking assistance system includes a cooking device, an external terminal, and a holding member. The cooking device can cook the object to be cooked. This cooking device is installed on a cooking table. The external terminal is separate from the cooking device. This external terminal can detect a human. In this document, specifically, the external terminal is a monitor and can display a cooking recipe.

[0003] The holding member is fixed to the cooking table at a position separated from the cooking device. The holding member has a main body portion and an operation control portion. The main body portion can be displaced while holding the external terminal. The operation control portion can communicate with the external terminal. The operation control portion controls the operation of the main body portion.

[0004] In this cooking assistance system, when the external terminal detects a human who is cooking with the cooking device, the operation control portion in the holding member operates the main body portion. Specifically, the operation control portion operates the main body portion so that the external terminal faces the human detected by the external terminal. Then, the external terminal, that is, the monitor, displays a cooking recipe. Thus, in this cooking assistance system, it is possible to provide cooking assistance to the human who is cooking with the cooking device by the external terminal.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] This type of cooking assistance system requires greater convenience. Here, cooking assistance includes not only assistance performed when a person is present, but also assistance performed when no person is present. In this case, since the presence or absence of a person is a prerequisite, the content of the first cooking assistance, which is performed when a person is present, will differ from that of the second cooking assistance, which is performed when no person is present. Therefore, in order to realize the first and second cooking assistance, it is conceivable to prepare an external terminal for the first cooking assistance and an external terminal for the second cooking assistance, and to prepare a holding member to hold each external terminal. However, such a cooking assistance system would be expensive, resulting in a large financial burden on the user.

[0007] This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and aims to solve the problem of providing a cooking assistance system, a holding member, and an application program for the cooking assistance system that can exhibit high convenience while suppressing price increases. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The cooking assistance system of the present invention comprises a cooking appliance for cooking food to be cooked, An external terminal separate from the aforementioned cooking equipment, capable of performing a first cooking assistance and a second cooking assistance different from the first cooking assistance, The cooking appliance comprises a holding member located outside the cooking appliance and capable of holding the external terminal, The external terminal is capable of communicating with the cooking equipment and the holding member, and is also capable of determining the presence or absence of a human being. The holding member comprises a main body that is displaceable while holding the external terminal, and an operation control unit that can communicate with the external terminal and control the operation of the main body. If the external terminal determines that the person is present, it transmits a first signal to the operation control unit; if it determines that the person is not present, it transmits a second signal to the operation control unit. The operation control unit, upon receiving the first signal, displaces the main body to a first state, and upon receiving the second signal, displaces the main body to a second state different from the first state. The external terminal is characterized in that it performs the first cooking assistance while being held by the main body when the main body is in the first state, and performs the second cooking assistance while being held by the main body when the main body is in the second state.

[0009] In the cooking assistance system of the present invention, the external terminal is capable of performing a first cooking assistance and a second cooking assistance, the contents of which differ. Furthermore, if the external terminal determines that a person is present, it transmits a first signal to the operation control unit of the holding member, and if it determines that no person is present, it transmits a second signal to the operation control unit. As a result, when the holding member receives the first signal, the operation control unit displaces the main body to the first state, and when the second signal is received, the operation control unit displaces the main body to the second state. When the main body is in the first state, the external terminal performs the first cooking assistance while being held by the main body, and when the main body is in the second state, it performs the second cooking assistance while being held by the main body.

[0010] As a result, this cooking assistance system offers greater convenience compared to cases where the external terminal performs only either the first or second cooking assistance. Furthermore, in the holding member, the main body is in the first state when the external terminal performs the first cooking assistance, and in the second state when the external terminal performs the second cooking assistance. Because these first and second states are different, the external terminal held by the main body can suitably perform both the first and second cooking assistance.

[0011] Thus, in this cooking assistance system, there is no need to separately prepare an external terminal for performing the first cooking assistance and an external terminal for performing the second cooking assistance. Furthermore, in this cooking assistance system, there is no need to separately prepare a holding member for holding the external terminal that performs the first cooking assistance and a holding member for holding the external terminal that performs the second cooking assistance.

[0012] Therefore, the cooking assistance system of the present invention offers high convenience while keeping the price down.

[0013] The first cooking assistance may involve providing information to a person during cooking. The external terminal may also have a display unit capable of displaying information. In the first state, it is preferable for the main unit to move the external terminal to a position where the display unit faces the person.

[0014] In this case, since there is no need for a person to move close to the external terminal or to orient the display of the external terminal towards themselves in order to receive the information, convenience can be greatly enhanced.

[0015] The second cooking assistance may involve monitoring cooking equipment during cooking. The external terminal may also have a camera unit capable of capturing images. Furthermore, in the second state, the main unit may move the external terminal to a position where the camera unit can capture images of at least one of the food being cooked and the cooking equipment. Preferably, the unit includes a monitoring and control unit that controls the operation of the cooking equipment based on the images captured by the camera unit.

[0016] In this case, even if a person leaves the food being cooked or the cooking equipment while it is being cooked, the monitoring and control unit can control the operation of the cooking equipment. As a result, this cooking assistance system can effectively prevent cooking failures and other problems.

[0017] Furthermore, in this case, the cooking appliance may have multiple heating units that can heat the food being cooked while cooking it. In the second state, it is preferable to move the external terminal so that the food being cooked can be photographed from above the heating unit that is heating the food being cooked.

[0018] As a result, the imaging unit can suitably photograph the food being cooked and the heating unit that requires monitoring, and the monitoring and control unit can suitably identify the heating unit that requires monitoring and control from among the multiple heating units based on the images captured by the imaging unit. Therefore, the monitoring and control unit can suitably control the operation of the heating units.

[0019] The external terminal may have a determination unit capable of determining whether the cooking equipment or the food being cooked is in a specific state based on the image captured by the imaging unit. Preferably, if the determination unit determines that the food is in the specific state, the monitoring and control unit performs a resolution control to resolve the specific state to the cooking equipment.

[0020] As a result, when the determination unit determines that the cooking equipment or the food being cooked is in a specific state, the monitoring and control unit can resolve the specific state by performing a resolution control on the cooking equipment. This allows the monitoring and control unit to effectively control the operation of the cooking equipment. On the other hand, the monitoring and control unit does not need to perform a resolution control on the cooking equipment until it determines that a specific state is present. In this way, the processing load on the monitoring and control unit can be reduced in this cooking assistance system.

[0021] Furthermore, the external terminal may have a detection unit capable of detecting humans. Preferably, the external terminal determines that a human is present if the detection unit detects a human, and determines that no human is present if the detection unit does not detect a human.

[0022] In this case, the external terminal can suitably determine the presence or absence of a human being. As a result, the external terminal can suitably transmit the first and second signals to the operation control unit of the holding member, and can suitably perform the first and second cooking assistance. Therefore, this cooking assistance system can be made more convenient.

[0023] In addition, the external terminal may have a detection unit capable of detecting a plurality of humans. And it is also preferable that the external terminal determines that a human exists when the detection unit detects a preset detection target human, while determining that a human does not exist when the detection unit does not detect the detection target human.

[0024] In this case, even if the detection unit detects a human, if the detected human is not the detection target human, the external terminal transmits a second signal to the operation control unit of the holding member and executes the second cooking assistance.

[0025] The detection target human is preferably the owner of the external terminal. In this case, the detection target human can be easily set.

[0026] It is preferable that the operation control unit displaces the main body part from the second state to the first state when receiving the first signal when the main body part is in the second state, and displaces the main body part from the first state to the second state when receiving the second signal when the main body part is in the first state.

[0027] In this case, the main body part of the holding member can preferably perform the switching between the first state and the second state. And the external terminal can preferably perform the switching between the first cooking assistance and the second cooking assistance.

[0028] In the first state, it is preferable that the main body part makes the external terminal follow the movement of the human head. In this case, even when the human moves the head during cooking, the external terminal can be preferably positioned within the human's field of vision. Thereby, when receiving the information displayed on the display unit, the human can minimize the line-of-sight movement as much as possible.

[0029] Furthermore, in the second state, it is preferable that the main unit moves the external terminals within a range in which the imaging unit can photograph the food being cooked and the cooking equipment, thereby avoiding the external terminals from steam or oil fumes generated from the food being cooked during cooking. In this case, the imaging unit can clearly photograph the food being cooked and the cooking equipment. Therefore, based on the images captured in this way, the monitoring and control unit can more effectively control the operation of the cooking equipment.

[0030] The holding member of the present invention is used with a cooking appliance that cooks food to be cooked, A holding member used in a cooking assistance system that is separate from the aforementioned cooking equipment and includes an external terminal capable of performing a first cooking assistance and a second cooking assistance different from the first cooking assistance, The holding member is located outside the cooking appliance and is capable of holding the external terminal. The external terminal is capable of communicating with the cooking equipment and the holding member, and is also capable of determining the presence or absence of a human being. The holding member comprises a main body that is displaceable while holding the external terminal, and an operation control unit that can communicate with the external terminal and control the operation of the main body. If the external terminal determines that the person is present, it transmits a first signal to the operation control unit; if it determines that the person is not present, it transmits a second signal to the operation control unit. The operation control unit, upon receiving the first signal, displaces the main body to a first state, and upon receiving the second signal, displaces the main body to a second state different from the first state. The external terminal is characterized in that it performs the first cooking assistance while being held by the main body when the main body is in the first state, and performs the second cooking assistance while being held by the main body when the main body is in the second state.

[0031] A cooking assistance system using the holding member of the present invention can perform the same functions as the cooking assistance system described above.

[0032] Therefore, the holding member of the present invention offers high convenience while suppressing price increases.

[0033] The application program for the cooking assistance system of the present invention is for a cooking appliance that cooks food to be cooked, An external terminal separate from the aforementioned cooking equipment, capable of performing a first cooking assistance and a second cooking assistance different from the first cooking assistance, An application program for a cooking assistance system used in a cooking assistance system, comprising a holding member located outside the cooking appliance and capable of holding the external terminal, The external terminal is capable of communicating with the cooking equipment and the holding member, and is also capable of determining the presence or absence of a human being. The holding member comprises a main body that is displaceable while holding the external terminal, and an operation control unit that can communicate with the external terminal and control the operation of the main body. The application program for the cooking assistance system includes a first cooking assistance function executed by the external terminal, The above-mentioned external terminal performs a second cooking assistance that is different from the first cooking assistance, If the external terminal determines that the person is present, it causes the operation control unit to send a first signal; however, if the external terminal determines that the person is not present, it causes the operation control unit to send a second signal; A first displacement process is performed to cause the operation control unit, which has received the first signal, to perform operation control to displace the main body to a first state, A second displacement process is performed to cause the operation control unit, which has received the second signal, to perform operation control to displace the main body to the second state, A first cooking assistance process, in which the external terminal is made to perform the first cooking assistance while the main body is in the first state and is held by the main body, The system is characterized in that, when the main body is in the second state, a second cooking assistance process is set to cause the external terminal to perform the second cooking assistance while the main body is holding it.

[0034] A cooking assistance system using the application program for cooking assistance systems of the present invention can perform the same functions as the cooking assistance system described above.

[0035] Therefore, the application program for the cooking assistance system of the present invention provides high convenience while suppressing price increases. [Effects of the Invention]

[0036] The cooking assistance system, holding member, and application program for the cooking assistance system of the present invention offer high convenience while keeping costs down. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0037] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the cooking assistance system of the embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the cooking assistance system of the embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a plan view of the cooking equipment relating to the cooking assistance system of the embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a front view of an external terminal relating to the cooking assistance system of the embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the holding member in the first state relating to the cooking assistance system of the embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the holding member in the second state relating to the cooking assistance system of the embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the control flow when an external terminal performs the first and second cooking assistance functions in the cooking assistance system of the embodiment. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the control flow when an external terminal performs the first and second cooking assistance functions in the cooking assistance system of the embodiment. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a front view of an external terminal relating to the cooking assistance system of the embodiment. [Figure 10]Figure 10 is a front view of an external terminal relating to the cooking assistance system of the embodiment. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a front view of an external terminal relating to the cooking assistance system of the embodiment. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a flowchart showing the control flow when an external terminal performs the first and second cooking assistance functions in the cooking assistance system of the embodiment. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image of the food being cooked, etc., taken by an external terminal, relating to the cooking assistance system of the embodiment. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image of the food being cooked, etc., taken by an external terminal, relating to the cooking assistance system of the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0038] The following describes embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

[0039] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cooking assistance system 100 of the embodiment comprises a cooking appliance 1, a portable terminal 3, and a holding member 9. The portable terminal 3 is an example of an "external terminal" in the present invention.

[0040] In this embodiment, the arrows shown in Figure 1 define the front-to-back and up-and-down directions of the cooking equipment 1, etc. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the left-to-right direction of the cooking equipment 1, etc. is defined based on the point when the user 5 of the cooking assistance system 100 (hereinafter simply referred to as user 5) is facing the cooking equipment 1 from the front. The right side of user 5 is defined as the right side of the cooking equipment 1, etc., and the left side of user 5 is defined as the left side of the cooking equipment 1, etc. These front-to-back, up-and-down, and left-to-right directions are orthogonal to each other. User 5 is an example of a "human" and a "detectable human" in this invention.

[0041] Cooking appliance 1 is specifically a gas stove, which is installed on the kitchen counter 200. The kitchen counter 200 is installed inside the house H. Within the house H, a range hood 300 is installed above cooking appliance 1 and the kitchen counter 200. The range hood 300 has a built-in exhaust fan (not shown) that can discharge oil fumes and other substances generated during cooking with cooking appliance 1 to the outside of the house H. Since the kitchen counter 200 and range hood 300 are commercially available products, a detailed explanation of their configuration is omitted.

[0042] Cooking appliance 1 comprises an appliance body 11, a top plate 12, first to third cooktop burners 13 to 15, a grill device 16, an operating unit 17, and an appliance-side control device C1. The first to third cooktop burners 13 to 15 are an example of the "heating unit" in the present invention.

[0043] The main unit 11 is integrated into the kitchen counter 200 and forms an integral part of the kitchen counter 200. Although not shown in the illustration, the main unit 11 contains a gas supply passage, a gas supply volume adjustment unit, and a power supply unit. The main unit 11 is also equipped with a power switch 18. The power switch 18 is located on the front left side of the main unit 11. The position of the power switch 18 on the main unit 11 can be designed as appropriate; for example, the power switch 18 may be located on the front right side of the housing 11. Alternatively, the power switch 18 may be located on the top plate 12.

[0044] The top plate 12 is positioned on the upper surface of the kitchen counter 200 and above the main unit 11 of the appliance. As shown in Figure 3, the top plate 12 is formed in a roughly rectangular plate shape. The top plate 12 is provided with an exhaust section 12a. The exhaust section 12a communicates with the inside of the main unit 11 and discharges the high-temperature exhaust generated by the grill device 16 to the outside of the cooking appliance 1. Note that the exhaust section 12a is not shown in Figures 1 and 2 for the sake of clarity.

[0045] The first to third burners 13 to 15 are each provided on the top plate 12. More specifically, as shown in Figure 3, the first burner 13 is positioned on the front right of the top plate 12. The second burner 14 is positioned on the front left of the top plate 12. The third burner 15 is positioned behind the first burner 13 and the second burner 14.

[0046] The first burner 13 consists of a first burner body 13a and a first trivet 13b. The second burner 14 consists of a second burner body 14a and a second trivet 14b. The third burner 15 consists of a third burner body 15a and a third trivet 15b. In this appliance body 11, the first to third burners 13 to 15 are all formed to be the same size. However, the sizes of the first to third burners 13 to 15 can be designed as appropriate.

[0047] The first to third burner bodies 13a to 15a each burn fuel gas supplied from the gas supply line. The first to third trivets 13b to 15b are arranged to surround the first to third burner bodies 13a to 15a. Thus, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the first to third stove burners 13 to 15 heat the food to be cooked 27 inside the cooking container 25, which is placed on the first to third trivets 13b to 15b, from below using the first to third burner bodies 13a to 15a. The cooking container 25 can be, for example, a pot or a frying pan. The food to be cooked 27 can include vegetables, meat, water, and processed versions thereof.

[0048] The grill device 16 is installed on the main body of the appliance 11. Although not shown in the illustration, the grill device 16 has a heating chamber and a grill burner. The heating chamber is capable of accommodating the food to be cooked 27 together with the cooking container 25. The grill burner heats the cooking container 25 inside the heating chamber together with the food to be cooked 27 by burning fuel gas supplied from the gas supply passage.

[0049] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the control unit 17 is located on the front right side of the main unit 11. The control unit 17 allows the user 5 to ignite and extinguish the first to third burners 13 to 15 and the grill device 16, as well as adjust the heat output of the first to third burners 13 to 15 and the grill device 16. The configuration of the control unit 17 can be designed as appropriate.

[0050] The device-side control unit C1 is located inside the main unit 11 of the appliance. The device-side control unit C1 stores a control program for controlling the cooking appliance 1. The device-side control unit C1 is also wirelessly connected to the mobile terminal 3 and can communicate with the mobile terminal 3. Alternatively, the device-side control unit C1 and the mobile terminal 3 may be connected by a wired connection.

[0051] The device-side control unit C1 is connected to the operation unit 17, the power switch 18, and the power supply unit, as well as to the first to third burners 13 to 15 and the grill unit 16. When the power switch 18 is turned ON, the device-side control unit C1 supplies power from the power supply unit to the first to third burners 13 to 15 and the grill unit 16. The device-side control unit C1 then controls the operation of the first to third burners 13 to 15 and the grill unit 16 based on the operation of the operation unit 17 by the user 5. The device-side control unit C1 also controls the operation of the first to third burners 13 to 15 and the grill unit 16 via remote control using the mobile terminal 3.

[0052] The mobile terminal 3 is located outside the cooking appliance 1 and is separate from the cooking appliance 1 and the holding member 9. Specifically, the mobile terminal 3 is a commercially available smartphone. As shown in Figure 4, the mobile terminal 3 is equipped with a touch panel display 3a. The display 3a is an example of a "display unit" in the present invention. The display 3a can display cooking recipes R1, as well as images captured by the camera unit 3b (see Figures 9 to 11, 13 and 14), etc. The user 5 can operate the mobile terminal 3 by touching the display 3a. Note that a tablet computer or the like may be used as the mobile terminal 3. The mobile terminal 3 may also have an input device such as a keyboard.

[0053] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, the mobile terminal 3 has a camera unit 3b, a sensor unit 3c, a speaker unit 3d, and a terminal-side control device 31. The camera unit 3b is an example of the "imaging unit" and "detection unit" in the present invention. The terminal-side control device 31 is an example of the "monitoring control unit" and "decision unit" in the present invention.

[0054] The camera unit 3b is exposed to the outside of the mobile terminal 3 and is capable of capturing images of the user 5 and the food being cooked 27. The camera unit 3b is capable of capturing both video and still images of the user 5 and the food being cooked 27.

[0055] The sensor unit 3c and the speaker unit 3d are each located inside the mobile terminal 3. The sensor unit 3c is capable of detecting touch operations, tap operations, etc., on the mobile terminal 3 by the user 5. The speaker unit 3d is capable of providing voice notifications to the user 5, such as warning sounds or warning messages.

[0056] The terminal-side control unit 31 is located inside the mobile terminal 3. The terminal-side control unit 31 controls the operation of the mobile terminal 3, including the display 3a, camera unit 3b, sensor unit 3c, and speaker unit 3d. The terminal-side control unit 31 also has a communication unit (not shown). Through this communication unit, the terminal-side control unit 31, and by extension the mobile terminal 3, can communicate wirelessly with the equipment-side control unit C1 of the cooking appliance 1 and the operation control unit 9b of the holding member 9. The mobile terminal 3 can also connect to an external network such as the Internet through the communication unit. The mobile terminal 3 and the operation control unit 9b may be connected by a wired connection. Further details about the operation control unit 9b will be described later.

[0057] Furthermore, the terminal-side control device 31 stores the cooking assistance application 7. The cooking assistance application 7 is an example of the "application program for the cooking assistance system" in the present invention. The cooking assistance application 7 has a first cooking assistance and a second cooking assistance setting, as well as a first decision processing, a second decision processing, a transmission processing, a first displacement processing, a first cooking assistance processing, and a second cooking assistance processing.

[0058] The cooking assistance application 7 instructs the terminal-side control device 31 to execute a first decision process, a second decision process, a transmission process, a first cooking assistance process, and a second cooking assistance process. As a result, the terminal-side control device 31, and consequently the mobile terminal 3, executes the first and second cooking assistance processes. The cooking assistance application 7 also instructs the operation control unit 9b, via the terminal-side control device 31, to execute a first displacement process and a second displacement process. Further details regarding these first and second cooking assistance processes will be described later.

[0059] Furthermore, in this mobile terminal 3, user 5 is registered as the owner of the mobile terminal 3. As a result, the terminal-side control device 31 stores an image of user 5's face 5a (see Figure 11) taken by the camera unit 3b. The terminal-side control device 31 also stores an image of user 5's hand 5b (see Figure 14) taken by the camera unit 3b.

[0060] In this mobile terminal 3, if the image of a human face captured by the camera unit 3b matches the image of user 5's face 5a stored in the terminal-side control device 31, the camera unit 3b recognizes the person captured by the camera unit 3b as user 5, i.e., the owner of the mobile terminal 3. Furthermore, if the image of a human hand captured by the camera unit 3b matches the image of user 5's hand 5b stored in the terminal-side control device 31, the mobile terminal 3 also recognizes the person captured by the camera unit 3b as user 5. Note that the mobile terminal 3 may be configured to register multiple people, including user 5, as owners of the mobile terminal 3.

[0061] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the retaining member 9 is attached to the range hood 300. In this case, the retaining member 9 is attached to the range hood 300 in a position that does not obstruct the exhaust by the range hood 300. Thus, the retaining member 9 is located outside the cooking appliance 1 and above the cooking appliance 1. The retaining member 9 may also be attached to the kitchen counter 200 or the top plate 12 of the cooking appliance 1, or to overhead cabinets or the ceiling, etc. (not shown).

[0062] The holding member 9 has a main body 9a and an operation control unit 9b. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the main body 9a is composed of first to fifth arms 41 to 45, a holder 51, and first to sixth connecting mechanisms 61 to 66. The first to fifth arms 41 to 45 each extend in the longitudinal direction for a predetermined length. A gas sensor 52 is attached to the third arm 43. The gas sensor 52 is capable of detecting water vapor and oil fumes generated during the cooking of the food being cooked 27. The shape and number of the first to fifth arms 41 to 45 can be designed as appropriate. The gas sensor 52 may also be attached to an arm other than the third arm 43, or the gas sensor 52 may be omitted.

[0063] The holder 51 has a first retaining claw 51a and a second retaining claw 51b. The holder 51 can hold the mobile terminal 3 by placing the mobile terminal 3 between the first retaining claw 51a and the second retaining claw 51b and gripping the mobile terminal 3 with the first retaining claw 51a and the second retaining claw 51b. Furthermore, the holder 51 can release the mobile terminal 3 by separating the first retaining claw 51a and the second retaining claw 51b from the mobile terminal 3 while the mobile terminal 3 is being held. In this way, the holder 51 holds the mobile terminal 3 in a detachable manner. Note that the shape of the holder 51 can be designed as appropriate, as long as it can hold the mobile terminal 3.

[0064] The first to sixth connecting mechanisms 61 to 66 each contain an operating unit and an electric motor. The first connecting mechanism 61 is attached to one end of the first arm 41. Although not shown in detail, the first connecting mechanism 61 is fixed to the range hood 300 shown in Figure 1. As a result, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the first connecting mechanism 61 makes it possible to swing the first arm 41 around the first pivot axis O1 relative to the range hood 300.

[0065] The second connecting mechanism 62 is positioned between the first arm 41 and the second arm 42. The second connecting mechanism 62 connects the first arm 41 and the second arm 42 by being attached to the other end of the first arm 41 and one end of the second arm 42. The second connecting mechanism 62 allows the second arm 42 to swing relative to the first arm 41 around the second pivot axis O2. The third connecting mechanism 63 is positioned between the second arm 42 and the third arm 43. The third connecting mechanism 63 connects the second arm 42 and the third arm 43 by being attached to the other end of the second arm 42 and one end of the third arm 43. The third connecting mechanism 63 allows the third arm 43 to swing relative to the second arm 42 around the third pivot axis O3.

[0066] The fourth connecting mechanism 64 is positioned between the third arm 43 and the fourth arm 44. The fourth connecting mechanism 64 connects the third arm 43 and the fourth arm 44 by being attached to the other end of the third arm 43 and one end of the fourth arm 44. The fourth connecting mechanism 64 allows the fourth arm 44 to swing relative to the third arm 43 around the fourth pivot axis O4. The fifth connecting mechanism 65 is positioned between the fourth arm 44 and the fifth arm 45. The fifth connecting mechanism 65 connects the fourth arm 44 and the fifth arm 45 by being attached to the other end of the fourth arm 44 and one end of the fifth arm 45. The fifth connecting mechanism 65 allows the fifth arm 45 to swing relative to the fourth arm 44 around the fifth pivot axis O5.

[0067] The sixth connecting mechanism 66 is positioned between the fifth arm 45 and the holder 51. The sixth connecting mechanism 66 connects the fifth arm 45 and the holder 51 by being attached to the other end of the fifth arm 45 and the holder 51. As shown in Figure 6, the sixth connecting mechanism 66 allows the holder 51 to swing relative to the fifth arm 45 around the sixth pivot axis O6.

[0068] The oscillation of the 1st to 6th oscillation axes O1 to O6 in the 1st to 6th connecting mechanisms 61 to 66 can be performed individually. Here, the 1st to 6th connecting mechanisms 61 to 66 can automatically oscillate around the 1st to 6th oscillation axes O1 to O6 by operating the moving parts of the electric motors built into each of them. In addition, the 1st to 6th connecting mechanisms 61 to 66 can also be manually oscillated around the 1st to 6th oscillation axes O1 to O6 by the user 5.

[0069] The main body 9a is displaceable between a first state shown in Figures 1 and 5 and a second state shown in Figures 2 and 6, as the first to sixth connecting mechanisms 61 to 66 swing around the first to sixth swing axes O1 to O6. Here, the first state shown in Figures 1 and 5 is the position in which the mobile terminal 3 is held in the holder 51 and the display 3a and camera part 3b of the mobile terminal 3 are facing the user 5. In the first state, within the range in which the first to sixth connecting mechanisms 61 to 66 can swing, the mobile terminal 3 held in the holder 51 can be moved while facing the user 5 with the display 3a and camera part 3b facing the user 5 as described above.

[0070] The second state shown in Figures 2 and 6 is a different posture from the first state described above. Specifically, the second state is a posture in which the portable terminal 3 is held in the holder 51 and positioned above the cooking equipment 1, cooking container 25, and food to be cooked 27. Furthermore, in the second state, within the range in which the first to sixth connecting mechanisms 61 to 66 can swing, the portable terminal 3 held in the holder 51 can be moved above the cooking container 25 and food to be cooked 27.

[0071] Although detailed illustrations are omitted, the main body 9a can also be displaced to an extended state and a retracted state, in addition to the first and second states. The extended state is the position in which the main body 9a extends downward relative to the range hood 300, while the holder 51 faces forward. The retracted state is the position of the main body 9a when the holding member 9 is not in use, and is the position in which the main body 9a is furthest upward from the cooking appliance 1. The number of arms and connecting mechanisms can be designed as appropriate. The swing range and swing direction of the connecting mechanism can also be designed as appropriate.

[0072] The operation control unit 9b is provided separately from the main unit 9a and is attached to the range hood 300 at a different location from the main unit 9a. The operation control unit 9b is capable of controlling the operation of the first to sixth connecting mechanisms 61 to 66. The operation control unit 9b is also connected to the gas sensor 52. Furthermore, as described above, the operation control unit 9b is capable of wireless communication with the terminal-side control device 31 of the mobile terminal 3. The operation control unit 9b may be attached to, for example, the first arm 41. Alternatively, the operation control unit 9b may be installed on the kitchen counter 200.

[0073] In this cooking assistance system 100 configured as described above, the portable terminal 3 performs first and second cooking assistance while the food to be cooked 27 is being cooked on the cooking appliance 1. In this cooking assistance system 100, the first cooking assistance is the provision of cooking information to the user 5 during cooking. The second cooking assistance is the monitoring of the cooking appliance 1 during cooking, more specifically, the monitoring of the first to third stove burners 13 to 15 that heat the food to be cooked 27. A detailed explanation follows below.

[0074] To begin cooking the food 27 in the cooking appliance 1, the user 5 turns on the power switch 18 (step S101 in Figure 7). This powers the cooking appliance 1, making the first to third burners 13 to 15 and the grill device 16 usable.

[0075] Furthermore, user 5 operates the mobile terminal 3 to activate the cooking assistance application 7 (step S102). As a result, the terminal-side control device 31 of the mobile terminal 3 transmits an operation start signal to the operation control unit 9b of the holding member 9. Upon receiving the operation start signal from the terminal-side control device 31, the operation control unit 9b performs operation control on the first to sixth connecting mechanisms 61 to 66. As a result, the main body 9a of the holding member 9 is displaced from the stored state to the deployed state (step S103). Then, user 5 holds the mobile terminal 3 in the holder 51 of the main body 9a (step S104).

[0076] Furthermore, in the mobile terminal 3, the terminal-side control device 31 starts controlling the operation of the camera unit 3b. As a result, the mobile terminal 3 starts taking pictures with the camera unit 3b while being held in the holder 51 (step S105). At this time, the camera unit 3b starts recording video. The content captured by the camera unit 3b is displayed on the display 3a of the mobile terminal 3 in real time (see Figures 9 to 11). The camera unit 3b may also take still images at predetermined intervals.

[0077] Meanwhile, user 5 prepares to cook the food to be cooked 27 by placing it in the cooking container 25, and selects the first to third burners 13 to 15 to heat the cooking container 25 and the food to be cooked 27. In this embodiment, the explanation will be given using the case where user 5 has selected the second burner 14.

[0078] Furthermore, in the mobile terminal 3, the terminal-side control device 31 starts the first determination process. In this first determination process, the terminal-side control device 31 first determines, based on the image captured by the camera unit 3b, whether or not a person, including the user 5, is present within the shooting range of the camera unit 3b (step S106 in Figure 8). Here, as shown in Figure 9, if the image captured by the camera unit 3b does not include a person, the terminal-side control device 31 determines that a person is not present within the shooting range of the camera unit 3b (step S106 in Figure 8: NO). On the other hand, if the image captured by the camera unit 3b includes a person, the terminal-side control device 31 determines that a person is present within the shooting range of the camera unit 3b (step S106: YES).

[0079] If the terminal-side control device 31 determines that a person is within the shooting range of the camera unit 3b, it determines whether the person being photographed by the camera unit 3b is the owner of the mobile terminal 3 (step S107). In other words, the terminal-side control device 31 determines whether the face of the person being photographed by the camera unit 3b matches the face 5a of user 5 stored in itself. Thus, if the face of the person being photographed by the camera unit 3b matches the face 5a of user 5 stored in itself (see Figure 11), the terminal-side control device 31 determines that the person being photographed by the camera unit 3b is the owner of the mobile terminal 3 (step S107: YES). As a result, the terminal-side control device 31 determines that the person being photographed by the camera unit 3b is the detected person, i.e., user 5 (step S108). Next, the terminal-side control device 31 determines whether the camera unit 3b was able to photograph the face 5a of user 5 within a predetermined period (for example, 20 seconds) (step S109). For example, as shown in Figure 10, even if a person such as user 5 is within the shooting range of the camera unit 3b, if that person has their back to the camera unit 3b, i.e., the mobile terminal 3, for 20 seconds or more, the terminal-side control device 31 will determine that the camera unit 3b has not captured the face 5a of user 5 even once during the predetermined period (Step S109: NO).

[0080] In contrast, as shown in Figure 11, if the camera unit 3b can confirm the face 5a of the user 5, the terminal-side control device 31 determines that the camera unit 3b has captured the face 5a of the user 5 (step S109: YES). Thus, the terminal-side control device 31 terminates the first determination process. Note that the terminal-side control device 31 may also determine that the face 5a has been captured if the camera unit 3b can confirm a part of the face 5a of the owner 5.

[0081] On the other hand, if the human face being photographed by the camera unit 3b does not match the face of user 5 stored within itself, the terminal-side control device 31 determines that the human being being photographed by the camera unit 3b is not the owner of the mobile terminal 3, that is, not user 5 as the human being to be detected (step S107: NO). In this case as well, the terminal-side control device 31 terminates the first determination process.

[0082] After determining that the person being photographed by the camera unit 3b is the user 5, the terminal-side control device 31 determines whether or not the first cooking assistance is currently being performed (step S110). If the terminal-side control device 31 determines that the first cooking assistance is not currently being performed (step S110: YES), it performs a transmission process and sends a first signal to the operation control unit 9b of the holding member 9 (step S111).

[0083] As a result, the operating control unit 9b performs a first displacement process in the holding member 9. In the first displacement process, the operating control unit 9b controls the operation of the first to sixth connecting mechanisms 61 to 66, causing the first to sixth connecting mechanisms 61 to 66 to swing around the first to sixth pivot axes O1 to O6, respectively. In this way, the operating control unit 9b displaces the main body 9a to the first state shown in Figures 1 and 5 (step S112). As the main body 9a is displaced to the first state, the portable terminal 3 held in the holder 51 is positioned so that the display 3a and camera unit 3b are facing the user 5 (see Figure 1).

[0084] Furthermore, when the main unit 9a is displaced to the first state, the terminal-side control device 31 executes the first cooking assistance process. For this reason, the mobile terminal 3 starts the first cooking assistance while being held in the holder 51 (step S113 in Figure 8). In this first cooking assistance, first, the terminal-side control device 31 prompts the user 5 to input the name of the specific menu item 27 to be cooked using the cooking appliance 1. Then, when the user 5 inputs the name of the specific menu item 27 to be cooked by touching the display 3a or by voice, the terminal-side control device 31 obtains the cooking recipe R1 for the corresponding menu via an external network. Then, as shown in Figure 4, the terminal-side control device 31 displays the acquired cooking recipe R1 on the display 3a (step S114 in Figure 8). The terminal-side control device 31 may store a certain number of cooking recipes R1 in its own memory, and if a cooking recipe R1 corresponding to the menu item 27 entered by the user 5 is not stored, it may obtain that cooking recipe R1 from an external network.

[0085] Thus, user 5, while referring to the contents of the cooking recipe R1 displayed on the display 3a, operates the control panel 17 of the cooking appliance 1 to start heating the cooking container 25 and the food to be cooked 27 with the second stove burner 14. Note that user 5 may start heating the food to be cooked 27 before the cooking recipe R1 is displayed on the display 3a. Also, steps S107, S108, and S114 may be performed before step S104.

[0086] In the cooking assistance system 100, the mobile terminal 3 continues to take pictures with the camera unit 3b even while the mobile terminal 3 is displaying the cooking recipe R1 on the display 3a as the first cooking assistance. As a result, the cooking assistance system 100 repeats the processes from step S106 onwards until the cooking of the food to be cooked 27 is completed (step S115: NO). If the first cooking assistance by the mobile terminal 3 has already been performed (step S110: NO), the processes from steps S111 to S114 are not performed.

[0087] Furthermore, since the camera unit 3b continues to take pictures while the first cooking assistance is being performed, the operation control unit 9b in the cooking assistance system 100 appropriately swings the first to sixth connecting mechanisms 61 to 66 around the first to sixth swing axes O1 to O6, respectively, so as to follow the movement of the user's head. As a result, the main unit 9a in the first state causes the portable terminal 3 held in the holder 51 to follow the movement of the user's head. Therefore, in the cooking assistance system 100, even if the user 5 moves their head while cooking, the display 3a will always be facing the user's face.

[0088] Then, when user 5 extinguishes the second burner 14 and the heating of the cooking container 25 and the food to be cooked 27 by the second burner 14 is complete (step S115: YES), the portable terminal 3 terminates the first cooking assistance. After that, user 5 removes the portable terminal 3 from the holder 51 and terminates the cooking assistance application 7 (step S116). As a result, the terminal-side control device 31 of the portable terminal 3 transmits an operation termination signal to the operation control unit 9b of the holding member 9. As a result, the main body 9a of the holding member 9 is displaced to the stored state (step S117). With the main body 9a displaced to the stored state, the cooking assistance application 7 is completely terminated, and the cooking assistance by the cooking assistance system 100 ends.

[0089] Here, for example, while the cooking container 25 and the food to be cooked 27 are being heated by the second stove burner 14 and the first cooking assistance is being performed by the mobile terminal 3, the user 5 may move to another location, as shown in Figure 2, away from the cooking equipment 1 and, consequently, away from the kitchen counter 200. In this case, the user 5 will no longer be included in the image captured by the camera unit 3b, and the terminal-side control device 31 will determine that the person is not within the shooting range of the camera unit 3b (Step S106: NO). In addition, for example, if a person other than the user 5 is within the shooting range of the camera unit 3b, and the camera unit 3b captures the face of a person different from the face 5a of the user 5, the terminal-side control device 31 may determine that the person captured is not the owner of the mobile terminal 3 (Step S107: NO). Furthermore, while the cooking container 25 and the food being cooked 27 are being heated by the second stove burner 14, the user 5 may start other work on the kitchen counter 200, which could prevent the camera unit 3b from capturing the user 5's face 5a (Step S109: NO).

[0090] In these cases, during the first decision process, the terminal-side control device 31 determines that the user 5, who is the person to be detected, does not exist. And when the terminal-side control device 31 determines that the user 5, who is the person to be detected, does not exist, the terminal-side control device 31 determines that no person exists, even if, in reality, there is a person other than user 5 within the shooting range of the camera unit 3b.

[0091] As a result, the terminal-side control device 31 performs a transmission process and sends a second signal to the operation control unit 9b of the holding member 9 (step S201 in Figure 12). The mobile terminal 3 also interrupts the first cooking assistance that is currently running.

[0092] Upon receiving the second signal, the operating control unit 9b performs a second displacement process in the holding member 9. In the second displacement process, the operating control unit 9b controls the operation of the first to sixth connecting mechanisms 61 to 66, causing them to swing around the first to sixth pivot axes O1 to O6, respectively. In this way, the operating control unit 9b displaces the main body 9a to the second state shown in Figures 2 and 6 (step S202). As a result of the main body 9a being displaced to the second state, the portable terminal 3 held in the holder 51 is positioned above the cooking appliance 1, the cooking container 25, and the food being cooked 27. Therefore, the display 3a and camera unit 3b of the portable terminal 3 face the cooking appliance 1, the cooking container 25, and the food being cooked 27 from above.

[0093] Here, as described above, when the cooking container 25 and the food being cooked 27 are being heated by the second burner 14, the main body 9a enters the second state, and the portable terminal 3 held in the holder 51 is positioned above the second burner 14, the cooking container 25, and the food being cooked 27. In other words, the display 3a and the camera unit 3b are facing the second burner 14, the cooking container 25, and the food being cooked 27 from above.

[0094] Furthermore, when the main unit 9a is displaced to the second state, the terminal-side control device 31 executes the second cooking assistance process. For this reason, the portable terminal 3 starts the second cooking assistance while being held in the holder 51 (step S203). In the second cooking assistance, the portable terminal 3 uses the camera unit 3b to photograph the second stove burner 14, cooking container 25, and food being cooked 27 from above. For this reason, as shown in Figure 13, the display 3a displays images of the second stove burner 14, cooking container 25, and food being cooked 27 taken by the camera unit 3b. Depending on the size of the cooking container 25, the second stove burner 14, including the second trivet 14b, may be hidden by the cooking container 25. In this case, it is sufficient for the camera unit 3b to photograph the cooking container 25 and food being cooked 27, which are being heated by the second stove burner 14, from above. Furthermore, in the second cooking assistance, it is not necessary to display images of the food being cooked 27, etc., captured by the camera unit 3b on the display 3a.

[0095] Furthermore, in the holding member 9, even when the main body 9a is in the second state and the camera unit 3b is photographing the second stove burner 14, cooking container 25, and food being cooked 27 from above, the operation control unit 9b performs operation control on the first to sixth connecting mechanisms 61 to 66, causing the first to sixth connecting mechanisms 61 to 66 to swing appropriately around the first to sixth swing axes O1 to O6. As a result, the holding member 9 moves the mobile terminal 3 held in the holder 51 within a range in which the camera unit 3b can photograph the second stove burner 14, cooking container 25, and food being cooked 27 from above. Also, if the gas sensor 52 detects steam or oil fumes generated from the food being cooked 27 heated by the second stove burner 14, a gas detection signal is transmitted from the gas sensor 52 to the operation control unit 9b. As a result, the operation control unit 9b operates the main unit 9a to protect the portable terminal 3 held in the holder 51 from steam and oil fumes generated from the food being cooked 27, while causing the camera unit 3b to photograph the second stove burner 14, the cooking container 25, and the food being cooked 27 from above.

[0096] Based on the images of the food being cooked 27, etc., captured by the camera unit 3b, the mobile terminal 3 monitors the cooking equipment 1, and more specifically, the second stove burner 14 while it is heating.

[0097] In the cooking assistance system 100, when the user 5 returns while the second stove burner 14 is being monitored by the mobile terminal 3, and the mobile terminal 3 resumes the first cooking assistance, the user 5 places their hand 5b within the shooting range of the camera unit 3b. As a result, as shown in Figure 14, the image captured by the camera unit 3b displays not only the food being cooked 27, but also an image of a human hand.

[0098] The terminal-side control device 31 determines whether the image of the human hand being photographed by the camera unit 3b matches the image of the user 5's hand 5b stored within itself. If the terminal-side control device 31 determines that the human hand being photographed by the camera unit 3b matches the image of the user 5's hand 5b stored within itself, it determines that it has detected the target human, i.e., user 5 (step S204 in Figure 12: YES). Alternatively, user 5 may make the mobile terminal 3 detect that user 5 has returned by touching the display 3a of the mobile terminal 3. In this case, the terminal-side control device 31 may determine whether the person photographed by the camera unit 3b is user 5 while displacing the main body 9a of the holding member 9 to the first state. If the terminal-side control device 31 determines that it is not user 5, it returns the main body 9a to the second state and resumes the second cooking assistance.

[0099] By detecting user 5 in this way, the cooking assistance system 100 causes the mobile terminal 3 to terminate the second cooking assistance (step S205). Then, the cooking assistance system 100 repeats the processing from step S111 onwards in Figure 8, causing the mobile terminal 3 to resume the first cooking assistance.

[0100] On the other hand, as long as user 5 is not detected (step S204: NO in Figure 12), the mobile terminal 3 continues to monitor the second stove burner 14. While the mobile terminal 3 is monitoring the second stove burner 14, the terminal-side control device 31 of the mobile terminal 3 executes a second decision process. In the second decision process, the terminal-side control device 31 determines whether the second stove burner 14 or the food being cooked 27 is in a specific state based on the image of the food being cooked 27 etc. captured by the camera unit 3b (see Figure 13) (step S210 in Figure 12).

[0101] For example, if the image of the food being cooked 27 captured by the camera unit 3b (see Figure 13) shows that the flame from the second burner 14 is overflowing onto the outside of the cooking container 25, the terminal-side control device 31 determines that the second burner 14 is in a specific state. Also, if the image of the food being cooked 27 captured by the camera unit 3b shows that the food being cooked 27 is at risk of burning or boiling over, the terminal-side control device 31 determines that the food being cooked 27 is in a specific state.

[0102] Then, if the terminal-side control device 31 determines that the second burner 14 or the food being cooked 27 is in a specific state (step S210 in Figure 12: YES), it notifies the user 5 through the speaker unit 3d to adjust the heat output of the second burner 14 (step S211).

[0103] If, after this notification is made, the terminal-side control device 31 determines that it has detected user 5 within a certain period of time, similar to step S204 described above (step S212: NO), then the cooking assistance system 100 proceeds with the processing from step S111 onwards in Figure 8. In other words, in this case, the mobile terminal 3 terminates the second cooking assistance and resumes the first cooking assistance.

[0104] On the other hand, if the terminal-side control device 31 does not detect user 5 after a certain period of time has elapsed since the notification in step S211 (step S212: YES), the terminal-side control device 31 performs a resolution control for the cooking appliance 1 (step S213). Specifically, in the resolution control, the terminal-side control device 31 remotely controls the appliance-side control device C1 of the cooking appliance 1 to reduce the heat output of the second burner 14 or extinguish it. In this way, the terminal-side control device 31 either reduces the heat output of the second burner 14 or extinguishes the second burner 14 (step S214).

[0105] Furthermore, after the terminal-side control device 31 executes a shutdown control on the second burner 14, it notifies the user 5 through the speaker unit 3d that the shutdown control has been performed, that is, that the flame of the second burner 14 has been reduced or extinguished (step S215).

[0106] In step S214 described above, if the terminal-side control device 31 reduces the heat output of the second burner 14 (step S216: NO), the second burner 14 continues to heat the cooking container 25 and the food to be cooked 27 with the reduced heat output. Therefore, in this cooking assistance system 100, the second cooking assistance continues, and the process from step S204 onwards is performed again.

[0107] On the other hand, if the terminal-side control device 31 extinguishes the second burner 14 in step S214 (step S216: YES), the heating of the cooking container 25 and the food being cooked 27 by the second burner 14 will cease thereafter. In other words, the heating of the cooking container 25 and the food being cooked 27 by the second burner 14 is interrupted. As a result, the mobile terminal 3 terminates the second cooking assistance (step S217). In this case as well, the cooking assistance by the cooking assistance system 100 will end when the user 5 performs the termination operation of the cooking assistance application 7 (see steps S116 and S117 in Figure 8).

[0108] In the above explanation, we describe the case where the mobile device 3 performs the first cooking assistance first, and then switches to the second cooking assistance while the first cooking assistance is in progress. However, the mobile device 3 is not limited to this case; it can also perform the second cooking assistance before the first cooking assistance.

[0109] Thus, in this cooking assistance system 100, the portable terminal 3 can perform both the first and second cooking assistance, making it more convenient than when the portable terminal 3 can only perform either the first or second cooking assistance. Furthermore, the main body 9a of the holding member 9 is in the first state when the portable terminal 3 performs the first cooking assistance, and in the second state when the portable terminal 3 performs the second cooking assistance. Therefore, the portable terminal 3 held in the holder 51 can suitably perform both the first and second cooking assistance.

[0110] Furthermore, in this cooking assistance system 100, there is no need to separately prepare a portable terminal 3 for performing the first cooking assistance and a portable terminal 3 for performing the second cooking assistance. Also, in this cooking assistance system 100, there is no need to separately prepare a holding member 9 for holding the portable terminal 3 for performing the first cooking assistance and a holding member 9 for holding the portable terminal 3 for performing the second cooking assistance.

[0111] Therefore, the cooking assistance system 100 of the embodiment offers high convenience while keeping the price down.

[0112] In particular, in this cooking assistance system 100, when the second cooking assistance is performed, the operation control unit 9b in the holding member 9 appropriately operates the main body 9a, thereby making it possible to protect the portable terminal 3 held in the holder 51 from steam and oil fumes generated from the food being cooked 27. As a result, the camera unit 3b of the portable terminal 3 is less affected by steam and oil fumes when taking pictures of the food being cooked 27, etc. Therefore, the camera unit 3b is able to take clear pictures of the food being cooked 27, etc. As a result, in this cooking assistance system 100, the portable terminal 3 can suitably monitor the cooking equipment 1 based on the images of the food being cooked 27, etc. taken by the camera unit 3b.

[0113] Furthermore, in this cooking assistance system 100, when the second cooking assistance is performed, the camera unit 3b actually heats the cooking container 25 and the food to be cooked 27 using one of the first to third burners 13 to 15, and takes a photograph of the food to be cooked 27, etc., from above the first to third burners 13 to 15. In this respect as well, in this cooking assistance system 100, the mobile terminal 3 can suitably monitor the cooking equipment 1 based on the image of the food to be cooked 27, etc., taken by the camera unit 3b.

[0114] Furthermore, in this cooking assistance system 100, when the second cooking assistance is performed, the terminal-side control device 31 of the mobile terminal 3 determines whether the cooking equipment 1 or the cooking object 27 is in a specific state based on the image of the cooking object 27, etc., captured by the camera unit 3b. If the terminal-side control device 31 determines that the cooking equipment 1 or the cooking object 27 is in a specific state, it can issue a notification prompting adjustment of the heat output of the first to third stove burners 13 to 15, or extinguish the first to third stove burners 13 to 15. In this way, this cooking assistance system 100 is able to effectively prevent cooking failures of the cooking object 27 due to the absence of the user 5.

[0115] On the other hand, in this cooking assistance system 100, if the cooking equipment 1 or the food being cooked 27 is not in a specific state, the terminal-side control device 31 does not need to perform any special control on the cooking equipment 1. Therefore, this cooking assistance system 100 makes it possible to reduce the processing load on the terminal-side control device 31, and by extension the mobile terminal 3, when the second cooking assistance is being performed.

[0116] Furthermore, in this cooking assistance system 100, when the first cooking assistance is performed, the cooking recipe R1 is displayed on the display 3a while the portable terminal 3 is held in the holder 51. In addition, when the first cooking assistance is performed, the operation control unit 9b appropriately operates the main unit 9a to follow the movement of the user's 5 head. As a result, the user 5 does not need to hold the portable terminal 3 with the cooking recipe R1 displayed on it in their hand 5b when cooking the food 27. Also, the user 5 does not need to move closer to the portable terminal 3 held in the holder 51 or turn the display 3a towards themselves to check the contents of the cooking recipe R1. Furthermore, the user 5 can check the contents of the cooking recipe R1 while minimizing the movement of their gaze as much as possible. In this respect as well, this cooking assistance system 100 is highly convenient.

[0117] Furthermore, in this cooking assistance system 100, the owner of the mobile terminal 3 is set as the user 5 to be detected. Therefore, even if multiple people are present within the shooting range of the camera unit 3b, this cooking assistance system 100 can suitably determine the presence or absence of user 5.

[0118] Furthermore, by designating the owner of the mobile device 3 as the person to be detected, this cooking assistance system 100 makes it easy to configure the person to be detected.

[0119] Furthermore, in this cooking assistance system 100, even if multiple people are present within the shooting range of the camera unit 3b, if the user 5, which is the person to be detected, cannot be detected, the terminal-side control device 31 will determine that no person is present. This effectively prevents, for example, the mobile terminal 3 from performing the first cooking assistance on a person who is not involved in the cooking of the food 27, or from failing to perform the second cooking assistance on the grounds that a person who is not involved in the cooking of the food 27 is present.

[0120] Furthermore, in this cooking assistance system 100, depending on the presence or absence of user 5, the main body 9a of the holding member 9 switches between a first state and a second state, and the portable terminal 3 switches between the first cooking assistance and the second cooking assistance. As a result, this cooking assistance system 100 can suitably switch between performing the first cooking assistance and the second cooking assistance depending on the presence or absence of user 5.

[0121] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to examples, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above examples and can be applied with appropriate modifications without departing from its spirit.

[0122] For example, in the cooking assistance system 100, the first cooking assistance is the display 3a of the mobile terminal 3, which displays a cooking recipe R1. However, the system is not limited to this; the display 3a may also display videos related to cooking or movies or other information requested by the user 5.

[0123] Furthermore, in this cooking assistance system 100, at least one of the first to third cooktop burners 13 to 15 and the grill device 16 may be capable of automatically cooking the food to be cooked 27. In this case, in addition to monitoring the first cooktop burner 13, etc., which performs automatic cooking, the second cooking assistance may also provide information about the food to be cooked 27 to the device-side control device C1, etc., which performs automatic cooking.

[0124] Furthermore, as a first cooking assistant, one may perform tasks other than displaying information on display 3a, and as a second cooking assistant, one may perform tasks other than monitoring cooking equipment 1.

[0125] Furthermore, when performing the second cooking assistance, the entirety of the first to third stove burners 13 to 15, the cooking container 25, and the food being cooked 27 may be photographed by the camera unit 3b.

[0126] Furthermore, when performing the second cooking assistance, the first to third burners 13 to 15, the cooking container 25, and the food being cooked 27 may be photographed by the camera unit 3b from the side of the first to third burners 13 to 15, etc.

[0127] Furthermore, in the cooking assistance system 100 of the embodiment, if a person other than user 5 is within the shooting range of the camera unit 3b, the terminal-side control device 31 of the mobile terminal 3 may perform the first cooking assistance as if a person is present. Similarly, even if user 5 is not present, the terminal-side control device 31 may withhold the execution of the second cooking assistance as long as another person is present.

[0128] Furthermore, in the cooking assistance system 100 of the embodiment, the terminal-side control device 31 detects the hand 5b of user 5 when the second cooking assistance is performed, thereby determining that a human is present and ending the second cooking assistance. However, the system is not limited to this; the second cooking assistance may also be terminated by user 5 touching the display 3a or operating the control unit 17 of the cooking equipment 1. In this case, the terminal-side control device 31 may also determine that a human is present if it detects touching the display 3a or operating the control unit 17, regardless of the actions of user 5.

[0129] Furthermore, in the cooking assistance system 100 of the embodiment, the terminal-side control device 31 is designated as the "monitoring control unit" and "decision unit" in the present invention. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the device-side control device C1 of the cooking equipment 1 may also be designated as the "monitoring control unit" or "decision unit" in the present invention. Alternatively, an external server or the like that can communicate with the device-side control device C1 and the terminal-side control device 31 may also be designated as the "monitoring control unit" or "decision unit" in the present invention.

[0130] Furthermore, in the cooking assistance system 100 of the embodiment, the first to third stove burners 13 to 15 are designated as the "heating section" in the present invention. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the first to third stove burners 13 to 15 and the grill device 16 may be designated as the "heating section" in the present invention, or only the grill device 16 may be designated as the "heating section" in the present invention.

[0131] Furthermore, the cooking appliance 1 may be equipped with a heating coil capable of heating the food to be cooked 27 by induction heating instead of the first to third burners 13 to 15, or it may be equipped with the aforementioned heating coil in addition to the first to third burners 13 to 15. This heating coil may also be referred to as the "heating section" in the present invention.

[0132] Furthermore, in the cooking assistance system 100 of the embodiment, the mobile terminal 3, i.e., a smartphone, is used as the "external terminal" in the present invention. However, the invention is not limited to this, and a dedicated device for performing the first cooking assistance and the second cooking assistance may also be used as the "external terminal" in the present invention. Also, when such a dedicated device is used as the "external terminal" in the present invention, the holding member 9 may fix the holder 51 and the external terminal while the external terminal is held in the holder 51. [Industrial applicability]

[0133] This invention can be used in household cooking appliances and kitchen equipment. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0134] 1...Cooking equipment 3…Mobile devices (external devices) 3a…Display (display unit) 3b...Camera unit (shooting unit, detection unit) 5…User (human, human being to be detected) 7…Cooking assistance applications (application programs for cooking assistance systems) 9…Retaining member 9a...Body part 9b...Operation control unit 13-15...1st-3rd stove burners (heating section) 27...To be cooked 31…Terminal-side control device (monitoring control unit, decision unit) 100... Cooking assistance system

Claims

1. Cooking equipment used to prepare food, An external terminal separate from the aforementioned cooking equipment, capable of performing a first cooking assistance and a second cooking assistance different from the first cooking assistance, The cooking appliance comprises a holding member located outside the cooking appliance and capable of holding the external terminal, The external terminal is capable of communicating with the cooking equipment and the holding member, and is also capable of determining the presence or absence of a human being. The holding member comprises a main body that is displaceable while holding the external terminal, and an operation control unit that can communicate with the external terminal and control the operation of the main body. If the external terminal determines that the person is present, it transmits a first signal to the operation control unit; if it determines that the person is not present, it transmits a second signal to the operation control unit. The operation control unit, upon receiving the first signal, displaces the main body to a first state, and upon receiving the second signal, displaces the main body to a second state different from the first state. A cooking assistance system characterized in that the external terminal performs the first cooking assistance while being held by the main body when the main body is in the first state, and performs the second cooking assistance while being held by the main body when the main body is in the second state.

2. The first cooking assistance is the provision of information to the person during cooking, The external terminal has a display unit capable of displaying the information, The cooking assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the main body moves the external terminal to a position where the display unit faces the human being in the first state.

3. The second cooking assistance is monitoring the cooking equipment during cooking, The aforementioned external terminal has an image capture unit capable of capturing images, In the second state, the main body moves the external terminal to a position where the imaging unit can photograph at least one of the food being cooked and the cooking equipment. The cooking assistance system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a monitoring and control unit that controls the operation of the cooking equipment based on the image captured by the imaging unit.

4. The cooking appliance has a plurality of heating units that can heat the food to be cooked while cooking it, The cooking assistance system according to claim 3, wherein in the second state, the external terminal is moved so that the food to be cooked can be photographed from above the heating unit that is heating the food to be cooked.

5. The external terminal has a determination unit capable of determining whether the cooking equipment is in a specific state based on the image captured by the imaging unit. The cooking assistance system according to claim 3, wherein the monitoring and control unit, when the determination unit determines that the specific state is in place, performs a resolution control on the cooking equipment to resolve the specific state.

6. The aforementioned external terminal has a detection unit capable of detecting the human, The cooking assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the external terminal determines that a person is present if the detection unit detects the person, and determines that a person is not present if the detection unit does not detect the person.

7. The aforementioned external terminal has a detection unit capable of detecting the human, The cooking assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the external terminal determines that a person is present if the detection unit detects a person designated as a target for detection, and determines that the person is not present if the detection unit does not detect the target person.

8. The cooking assistance system according to claim 7, wherein the person to be detected is the owner of the external terminal.

9. If the operation control unit receives the first signal while the main body is in the second state, it displaces the main body from the second state to the first state. The cooking assistance system according to claim 1, wherein if the main body is in the first state and the second signal is received, the main body is displaced from the first state to the second state.

10. The cooking assistance system according to claim 2, wherein the main body, in the first state, causes the external terminal to follow the movement of the human head.

11. The cooking assistance system according to claim 3, wherein in the second state, the main body moves the external terminal within a range in which the imaging unit can photograph the food to be cooked and the cooking equipment, thereby preventing the external terminal from steam or oil fumes generated from the food to be cooked during cooking.

12. Cooking equipment used to prepare food, A holding member used in a cooking assistance system that is separate from the aforementioned cooking equipment and includes an external terminal capable of performing a first cooking assistance and a second cooking assistance different from the first cooking assistance, The holding member is located outside the cooking appliance and is capable of holding the external terminal. The external terminal is capable of communicating with the cooking equipment and the holding member, and is also capable of determining the presence or absence of a human being. The holding member comprises a main body that is displaceable while holding the external terminal, and an operation control unit that can communicate with the external terminal and control the operation of the main body. If the external terminal determines that the person is present, it transmits a first signal to the operation control unit; if it determines that the person is not present, it transmits a second signal to the operation control unit. The operation control unit, upon receiving the first signal, displaces the main body to a first state, and upon receiving the second signal, displaces the main body to a second state different from the first state. The holding member is characterized in that the external terminal performs the first cooking assistance while being held by the main body when the main body is in the first state, and performs the second cooking assistance while being held by the main body when the main body is in the second state.

13. Cooking equipment used to prepare food, An external terminal separate from the aforementioned cooking equipment, capable of performing a first cooking assistance and a second cooking assistance different from the first cooking assistance, An application program for a cooking assistance system used in a cooking assistance system, comprising a holding member located outside the cooking appliance and capable of holding the external terminal, The external terminal is capable of communicating with the cooking equipment and the holding member, and is also capable of determining the presence or absence of a human being. The holding member comprises a main body that is displaceable while holding the external terminal, and an operation control unit that can communicate with the external terminal and control the operation of the main body. The application program for the cooking assistance system includes a first cooking assistance function executed by the external terminal, The above-mentioned external terminal performs a second cooking assistance that is different from the first cooking assistance, If the external terminal determines that the person is present, it causes the operation control unit to send a first signal; however, if the external terminal determines that the person is not present, it causes the operation control unit to send a second signal; A first displacement process is performed to cause the operation control unit, which has received the first signal, to perform operation control to displace the main body to a first state, A second displacement process is performed, in which the operation control unit that receives the second signal is instructed to perform operation control to displace the main body to the second state, A first cooking assistance process, in which the external terminal is made to perform the first cooking assistance while the main body is in the first state and is held by the main body, An application program for a cooking assistance system, characterized in that a second cooking assistance process is set to cause the external terminal to execute the second cooking assistance while the main body is in the second state and the main body is held by the main body.

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