Heating Regulator

Abstract

The present invention provides a cooking appliance that enhances safety and improves ease of use by prohibiting heating according to the degree of danger when the object to be heated is a hazardous material, and allowing heating when the danger level of the object to be heated is low. [Solution] The heating and cooking cabinet 12 that stores the object to be heated 2 is equipped with a camera 14 and sensors 35, and a control unit 30 that detects the object to be heated 2 detected by the camera 14 or sensors 35, determines whether the object to be heated 2 is a heatable object or a heat-prohibition object, performs heating if the object to be heated 2 is a heatable object, and performs a heating prohibition process that prohibits heating according to the degree of danger of the object to be heated 2 if the object to be heated 2 is a heat-prohibition object.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking heater.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 includes a cooking section, a photographing section, an image recognition section, an adjustment section, and a display section. When the image recognition section determines that the object to be heated is not placed in the cooking section, or when the image recognition section determines that the object to be heated is a foreign object, the display section does not display candidates related to the object to be heated. A cooking heater is disclosed. Patent Document 2 discloses a cooking heater including a photographing section that photographs an image inside a heating chamber, an image recognition section that analyzes the image to adjust candidates for the object to be heated, an option extraction section that extracts options from the candidates for the object to be heated, a display section that displays the options, and a heating condition setting dial that alternatively accepts input of one candidate from the options.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure provides a cooking heater that can enhance safety and improve usability by prohibiting heating according to the degree of danger when the object to be heated is dangerous to heat, and performing heating when the degree of danger of the object to be heated is low.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The heating appliance in this disclosure includes a detection device installed in a heating chamber for storing an object to be heated, and a control unit that detects the object to be heated using the detection device, performs heating if it is determined that the object to be heated is a heat-safe object, and performs a heating prohibition process that prohibits heating according to the degree of danger of the object if it is determined that the object to be heated is a heat-prohibited object. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The heating appliance in this disclosure prohibits heating if the object to be heated is an object that should not be heated, thus allowing for safe use of the heating appliance. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Perspective view showing a heating appliance of Embodiment 1 [Figure 2] Diagram showing the control panel of the heating appliance in Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] Block diagram showing the functional configuration of the heating appliance of Embodiment 1 [Figure 4] Flowchart showing the operation of Embodiment 1 [Figure 5] Flowchart showing the operation of Embodiment 2 [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] (Knowledge and other information that formed the basis of this disclosure) At the time the inventors conceived of this disclosure, for example, when heating food in a microwave oven, there was a technology that identified the food to be heated from a camera image inside the oven and automatically heated it. Furthermore, based on the camera image, if the food to be heated was deemed dangerous to heat, heating would be prohibited. However, the inventors discovered a problem where, in the event of a false detection of a substance that should not be heated, the microwave oven would disable heating, making heating impossible. To solve this problem, they arrived at the subject matter of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure provides a cooking appliance that can enhance safety and improve ease of use by prohibiting heating of the object to be heated according to its degree of danger, and by allowing heating when the object to be heated is not dangerous.

[0009] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary details may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters or redundant explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid the following explanation becoming unnecessarily verbose and to facilitate understanding for those skilled in the art. The attached drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand this disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0010] (Embodiment 1) Embodiment 1 will be described below with reference to the drawings. [1-1. Structure] [1-1-1. Configuration of a cooking appliance] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cooking appliance according to Embodiment 1. As shown in Figure 1, the heating cooker 1 is equipped with a box-shaped casing 10. An opening 11 is formed on the front of the casing 10, and the inside of the casing 10 is a heating and cooking chamber 12 for storing and cooking the food to be heated 2. Furthermore, the heating and cooking chamber 12 is equipped with a lighting unit 13 located on the inner surface of the chamber. The lighting unit 13 illuminates the entire interior of the heating and cooking chamber 12 from the inner side.

[0011] Furthermore, the heating and cooking chamber 12 is equipped with a camera 14 as a detection device, which is installed on the upper surface inside the chamber. By installing the camera 14 in the upper part of the heating and cooking chamber 12, the entire interior of the heating and cooking chamber 12 can be photographed from the upper part of the chamber. The heating cooker 1 is configured to detect heating information related to the object to be heated 2 from the captured image information by capturing the object to be heated 2 stored in the heating chamber 12 with the camera 14. Further, the camera 14 is also capable of reading code information such as a barcode or QR code (registered trademark) provided on the object to be heated 2.

[0012] A door 15 that can be opened and closed left and right around one side of the opening 11 is attached to the front surface of the housing 10. On the front surface of the housing 10, above the opening 11 and the door 15, an operation panel 20 including a display unit 21 and an operation unit 22 is provided.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the operation panel 20 of the heating cooker 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 20 includes a display unit 21 composed of an LED display element for displaying heating control information, numeric buttons (operation unit 22) for performing various cooking menu settings and special operations, and a start button (operation unit 22) for starting the heating process of the object to be heated 2.

[0014] [1-1-2. Control Configuration] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the heating cooker 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, the heating cooker 1 includes a control unit 30. The control unit 30 includes, for example, a processor that executes programs such as a CPU or MPU and memories such as a ROM and a RAM, and the processor reads out the control program stored in the memory and executes processes, and various processes are executed by the cooperation of hardware and software. The control unit 30 includes an object-to-be-heated recognition unit 31, a heating-prohibited object determination unit 32, and an operation control unit 33.

[0015] In addition, the cooking heater 1 includes a storage unit 34. In the storage unit 34, for example, image information of the object to be heated 2 acquired in advance, code information, dimension information of the object to be heated 2, weight information, etc. are stored. Furthermore, in the storage unit 43, the risk level for each heating-prohibited object and the process flow for it are also stored (for example, a PET bottle has a high risk level, heating is prohibited, and a sauce has a low risk level, only user notification, etc.). Here, the code information is in a state where it is associated with the information of the object to be heated 2, that is, information on whether each object to be heated is a heating-prohibited object, and in the case of a heating-prohibited object, information on its risk level, information on the heating output and heating time of each object to be heated (for example, heating output 1200W, heating time 1 minute 30 seconds), etc., and this is stored in the storage unit 34.

[0016] A notification unit 24 including a display unit 21 and a sound generation unit 23 is connected to the control unit 30. The sound generation unit 23 is composed of, for example, a member that emits sound such as a buzzer or a speaker provided in the cooking heater 1. In addition, an operation unit 22 is connected to the control unit 30, and the operation information of the operation unit 22 is sent to the control unit 30. In addition, a heating unit 25 that performs the heating process of the object to be heated 2 is connected to the control unit 30. The control unit 30, that is, the operation control unit 33, controls the operation of the heating unit 25 based on the operation information of the operation unit 22. Also, the operation control unit 33 controls the operations of the camera 14, the notification unit 24, and the heating unit 25.

[0017] A camera 14 is connected to the control unit 30. Furthermore, as other detection devices, various sensors 35 such as a temperature sensor, a weight sensor, and an infrared sensor are connected. In the present embodiment, the camera 14 functions as the main detection device, and the other various sensors function as sub-detection devices. The captured image by the camera 14 is sent to the control unit 30 as image information. The detection information by the various sensors is sent to the control unit 30, for example, as the temperature inside the cooking chamber 12, the weight of the object to be heated 2, and the temperature of the object to be heated 2.

[0018] The object to be heated recognition unit 31 of the control unit 30 recognizes the object to be heated 2 located in the cooking chamber 12 based on image information from the camera 14. The heating prohibition determination unit 32 determines whether the heating prohibition object 2 recognized by the heating object recognition unit 31 is a heating prohibition object by comparing the heating object 2 recognized by the heating object recognition unit 31 with the image information of the heating object 2 stored in the storage unit 34.

[0019] For example, if the image information from camera 14 is compared with the image information stored in memory unit 34 and the information output is that "there is a PET bottle with a 95% probability," then if the condition is set to "determine that a PET bottle exists when there is a probability of 90% or more that a PET bottle exists," then the object being heated 2 will be determined to be a PET bottle. Furthermore, criteria such as "determine that a source exists if there is a 50% or greater probability that a source exists" are pre-stored in the memory unit 34 and read from the memory unit 34. If multiple types of heated objects 2 are recognized, a determination criterion could be set as follows: "If there is a 90% or greater probability that a bento box is present, and there is a 50% or greater probability that sauce is present, then it is determined that sauce is present." In this case, since sauce is often attached to the top surface of a bento box, it is possible to reliably determine that it is sauce based on the combination. Furthermore, the likelihood (probability, i.e., %) of the type of object being heated 2 may be output using methods such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, or deep learning. These example thresholds for judgment can be set arbitrarily.

[0020] Furthermore, when determining whether the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated, the camera 14 may be used to read code information provided on the object to be heated 2, and information about the object to be heated 2 stored in the storage unit 34 may be obtained based on this code information. Based on this code information, the information about the object to be heated 2 can be used to determine whether or not it is an object that should not be heated, and if so, whether the level of danger is high or low.

[0021] Furthermore, the code information may be acquired simultaneously with the image information of the object to be heated 2 obtained by the camera 14, so that it can be determined whether the object to be heated 2 is a prohibited object for heating, and if so, whether the degree of danger is high or low, based on the image information and the code information. Alternatively, the system may acquire image information of the object to be heated 2 using the camera 14, determine whether the object to be heated 2 is a prohibited object based on the image information, and if so, whether the degree of danger is high or low. Then, it may use code information to reinforce whether the determination based on the image information is correct or incorrect.

[0022] In addition, along with image information of the object to be heated 2 from the camera 14, temperature information and weight information of the object to be heated 2 may be acquired from sensors 35, and the object to be heated 2 may be recognized, whether or not it is an object that should not be heated, and the degree of danger of the object that should not be heated may be determined based on these multiple pieces of information. In this case, the decision may be made using the image information of the object to be heated 2 from the camera 14 and the detection information from the sensors 35 simultaneously, or the decision may be made using the detection information from the sensors 35 to supplement the image information of the object to be heated 2 from the camera 14. By making a judgment about the object to be heated 2 based on multiple pieces of information in this way, the accuracy of the judgment can be improved. Examples of sensors 35 include temperature sensors such as infrared sensors and thermistors, sensors that detect incident and reflected microwave waves, and weight sensors.

[0023] In this case, if an initial judgment is made regarding the object to be heated 2 based on the image information from the camera 14, the system may decide whether or not to use other information based on this judgment result, or it may decide which of the other pieces of information to use based on the initial judgment result. Alternatively, for example, based on the initial judgment, the third piece of information to be used may be determined based on the result of a judgment using the second piece of information.

[0024] Furthermore, if the judgment results for the object to be heated 2 based on image information from camera 14, code information, and information from sensors 35 differ, the judgment result that is more frequent may be used as the determining factor. Multiple methods for determining the object to be heated 2 using image information from camera 14 may be implemented. For example, multiple deep learning methods or learning models may be used, or both deep learning and image processing detection may be used. Furthermore, if it is not possible to determine the heated object 2 based on any of the information, the determination of heated object 2 may be considered a failure. By processing in this way, the recognition rate of the object being heated (object 2) can be improved.

[0025] Furthermore, after acquiring image information of the object to be heated 2 using the camera 14, other information may be used only if it is determined that the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated. Thus, if it is determined that the object to be heated 2 is not a prohibited item for heating, the heating process for the object to be heated 2 is carried out immediately. Therefore, there is no need to determine the degree of danger of the prohibited item for heating, and the processing speed can be increased.

[0026] Furthermore, when using image information from the camera 14, decisions may be made based on, for example, characteristic seals or marks on the object to be heated 2, the overall shape of the object to be heated 2, the shape of a part of the object to be heated 2, or the color information of the object to be heated 2. By processing only specific parts of the heated object 2, rather than performing image processing on the entire image information of the heated object 2, it is possible to improve judgment accuracy and shorten processing time.

[0027] If the control unit 30 determines, based on the heating prohibition determination unit 32, that the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated, it performs a heating prohibition process, which prohibits heating if it determines that the object is highly dangerous, according to the degree of danger it poses to the object. The danger level of items that should not be heated is high, for example, canned beverages, PET bottle beverages, and eggs, which are dangerous when heated by a heating device (1). Furthermore, in the case of a heated object 2, such as a bento box, where condiment packets for sauce, soy sauce, mayonnaise, etc., are attached to the outside, it falls under the category of an object that should not be heated, as the condiment packets must be removed before heating, but it is judged to be of low risk. The level of danger of these heated objects 2 is not limited to these, and users can set it arbitrarily.

[0028] The control unit 30 then performs a heating prohibition process if the risk of heating the prohibited material is high, while if the risk of heating the prohibited material is low, it performs a notification process by the notification unit 24 instead of the heating prohibition process. The notification process involves sending an operation signal from the control unit 30 to the notification unit 24, which then provides visual notification via the display unit 21 and audible notification via the sound generation unit 23.

[0029] For all heated objects except for the highly hazardous object 2, by not applying a heating prohibition treatment, it is possible to issue warnings for low-risk objects and prohibit heating for high-risk objects. In this case, even if the object to be heated 2 is a prohibited object and is deemed to pose a high risk, it may be possible to forcibly enable heating. This allows for forced heating even if the assessment of the danger level of a substance that should not be heated is incorrect, minimizing user inconvenience while maintaining high performance in hazard detection.

[0030] Forced heating may be performed at a lower power output than normal heating, for example. The decision to allow forced heating may be made by changing the threshold for determining the degree of danger when the object to be heated 2 is a substance that should not be heated, or forced heating may be prohibited depending on the type of object to be heated 2.

[0031] For forced heating of items that are prohibited from being heated, for example, a forced heating button may be provided on the control unit 22 to enable forced heating. Alternatively, for example, forced heating may be enabled by performing a specific operation on the control unit 22. In this case, the notification unit 24 may provide notification to the user so that they know that forced heating is being performed. The notification by the notification unit 24 may be different from the notification provided during normal heating. Furthermore, when forced heating is performed, the control unit 22 may be configured to allow a forced heating termination operation to end the forced heating. Alternatively, when forced heating is performed, it may be possible to allow forced heating only for a predetermined time, and then automatically terminate the forced heating after the predetermined time has elapsed.

[0032] [1-2. Operation] Next, the operation of Embodiment 1 will be described. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of Embodiment 1. When the automatic heating of the cooking appliance 1 is started, the camera 14 acquires image information of the object to be heated 2, and other sensors acquire detection information of the object to be heated 2 (SA1). Based on this information, the control unit 30 recognizes the object to be heated 2 (SA2). Based on this image information and detection information, the control unit 30 determines whether the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated (SA3). The step of determining whether the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated (SA3) may be omitted.

[0033] If the control unit 30 determines that the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated (SA3: YES), the control unit 30 determines whether the object is highly dangerous or not (SA4). If the control unit 30 determines that the object to be heated is highly dangerous (SA4:YES), the control unit 30 notifies the notification unit 24 that the object to be heated is highly dangerous (SA5), and performs a heating prohibition process that prevents heating of the object to be heated 2 (SA6).

[0034] On the other hand, if it is determined that the object to be heated 2 is not an object that should not be heated (SA3: NO), the control unit 30 starts the heating process of the object to be heated 2 (SA8). Then, after a predetermined heating time has elapsed, the heating is terminated (SA9). Furthermore, if it is determined that the risk level of the prohibited heating is not high (SA4:NO), the notification unit 24 will issue a notification that the risk level of the prohibited heating is low (SA7). If it is determined that the risk of the items that should not be heated is not high (SA4:NO), the notification unit 24 will issue a notification and open and close the door 15 to prompt the user to remove, for example, any sauce or mayonnaise packets attached to the outside of the bento box. Furthermore, if it is determined that the risk of the prohibited heating is not high (SA4:NO), the notification unit 24 will perform notification processing, and a heating method different from the normal one may be used. For example, if a certain type of food to be heated (for example, if it is determined that a "grilled meat bento" is normally heated with a heating output of 1200W and a heating time of 1 minute and 30 seconds, and it is determined that a condiment packet such as mayonnaise is attached), it may be heated with a predetermined heating output lower than the normal heating output (for example, half the output, 600W), and / or a predetermined heating time shorter than the normal heating time (for example, half the heating time, 45 seconds). After the notification process is completed (SA7), the control unit 30 starts heating the object to be heated 2 using the normal heating method (SA8), and ends the heating after a predetermined time (SA9).

[0035] [1-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, this embodiment includes a camera 14 and sensors 35 (detection devices) installed in a heating and cooking cabinet 12 that stores the object to be heated 2, and a control unit 30 that detects the object to be heated 2 detected by the camera 14 or sensors 35, and performs heating if it is determined that the object to be heated 2 is a heat-safe object, and performs heating prohibition processing if it is determined that the object to be heated 2 is a heat-prohibited object, according to the degree of danger of the heat-prohibited object. This ensures that heating is prohibited if the object to be heated 2 is an object that cannot be heated, allowing for safe use of the cooking appliance 1. Furthermore, if the object to be heated 2 is a heatable object, there is no need to determine whether or not it is an object that cannot be heated, thus increasing the processing speed of the control unit 30 and improving user convenience.

[0036] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated and the degree of danger is low, the control unit 30 will notify the user and then heat it using the normal heating method or a heating method different from the normal heating method. As a result, even if the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated, if the degree of danger is low, only a notification process will be performed, or it will be heated using a heating method different from the normal heating method, and the heating prohibition process will not be performed. This allows the user to decide whether to perform the heating process, improving usability.

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control unit 30 determines whether or not to perform a decision process based on detection information from multiple sensors 35, according to the determination result of whether or not the object to be heated 2, based on image information from the camera 14, is an object that should not be heated. As a result, the system performs decision processing based on detection information from sensors 35 in accordance with the decision result based on image information from camera 14. This eliminates the need to perform all processing each time, increasing the processing speed of the control unit 30 and improving user convenience.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the control unit 30 determines that the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated, it performs control to allow forced heating by user operation. This improves user convenience by allowing the user to initiate forced heating if the control unit 30 incorrectly determines that the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated.

[0039] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control unit 30 provides notification during forced heating. This allows the user to recognize whether the appliance is being forced to heat or heated normally.

[0040] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when forced heating is performed, the control unit 30 heats using a heating method different from the normal heating method. This makes it possible to heat in a safer way, such as by lowering the power output, when forced heating is performed, thereby improving safety.

[0041] (Embodiment 2) [2-1. Structure] Next, Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure will be described. Embodiment 2 is a modification of Embodiment 1, with changes made to the processing by the control unit 30. The configuration of the heating appliance 1 is the same as that of Embodiment 1. Therefore, the configuration of the heating appliance 1 will be explained using Figures 1 to 3, which were used in the explanation of Embodiment 1, and the explanation of the same structure, functional configuration, or control method as in Embodiment 1 will be omitted.

[0042] [2-2. Operation] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the heating cooker 1 in Embodiment 2. The difference between Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 1 is that in this embodiment, it is determined whether or not the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated, even while it is being heated.

[0043] In this embodiment, when the automatic heating of the cooking appliance 1 is started, the camera 14 acquires image information of the object to be heated 2, and other sensors acquire detection information of the object to be heated 2 (SB1). Based on this information, the control unit 30 recognizes the object to be heated 2 (SB2). Based on this image information and detection information, the control unit 30 determines whether the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated (SB3). The step of determining whether the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated (SB3) may be omitted.

[0044] If the control unit 30 determines that the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated (SB3: YES), the control unit 30 determines whether the object is highly dangerous or not (SB4). If the control unit 30 determines that the object to be heated is highly dangerous (SB4:YES), the control unit 30 notifies the notification unit 24 that the object to be heated is highly dangerous (SB5) and performs a heating prohibition process that prevents heating of the object to be heated 2 (SB6).

[0045] On the other hand, if SB4 determines that the risk level of the prohibited heating item is not high (SB4: NO), the notification unit 24 will issue a notification that the risk level of the prohibited heating item is low (SB7). If it is determined that the risk of the items that should not be heated is not high (SB4:NO), the notification unit 24 will issue a notification and prompt the user to open and close the door 15 and remove, for example, any condiment packets such as sauce or mayonnaise attached to the outside of the bento box. Furthermore, if it is determined that the risk of the prohibited heating is not high (SB4:NO), the notification unit 24 will perform notification processing, and a heating method different from the normal one may be used. For example, if a certain type of food to be heated (for example, if it is determined that a "grilled meat bento" is normally heated with a heating output of 1200W and a heating time of 1 minute and 30 seconds, and it is determined that a condiment packet such as mayonnaise is attached) it may be heated with a predetermined heating output lower than the normal heating output (for example, half the output, 600W), and / or a predetermined heating time shorter than the normal heating time (for example, half the heating time, 45 seconds). After notification processing is performed in SB7 (SB7), or if it is determined that the object to be heated 2 is not an object that should not be heated (SB3:NO), the control unit 30 starts heating the object to be heated 2 using the normal heating method (SB8).

[0046] When heating of the object to be heated 2 begins (SB8), the control unit 30 acquires image information from the camera 14 or detection information from the sensors 35 (SB9), and determines whether the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated and whether it poses a high risk (SB10). If the control unit 30 determines that the object to be heated 2 poses a high risk of being a prohibited item (SB10: YES), the control unit 30 stops heating the object to be heated 2 and the notification unit 24 notifies that the object poses a high risk of being a prohibited item (SB13).

[0047] If the control unit 30 determines that the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated but is of low risk (SB10: NO), it determines whether a predetermined heating time has elapsed (SB11). If it determines that a predetermined heating time has elapsed (SB11: YES), it terminates the heating (SB12). If the control unit 30 determines that the predetermined heating time has not elapsed (SB11:NO), it acquires information about the object to be heated 2 (SB9) and repeats this routine until the predetermined heating time has elapsed.

[0048] [2-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, in this embodiment, while the object to be heated 2 is being cooked, the control unit 30 uses the camera 14 and sensors 35 (detection devices) to determine whether the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated. If the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated, the control unit 30 performs a heating interruption process or a notification process. This allows for a determination of whether the object being heated (2) is a substance that should not be heated, thereby enhancing safety.

[0049] (Other embodiments) As described above, Embodiments 1 and 2 have been explained as examples of the technology disclosed in this application. However, the technology in this disclosure is not limited thereto and can be applied to embodiments that have been modified, replaced, added, or omitted. In the above-described embodiment, various information such as image information and code information of the object to be heated 2 was stored in the memory unit 34 of the cooking appliance 1, but this disclosure is not limited to this. For example, various information may be recorded in a cloud server configured to communicate with the cooking appliance 1 or in a management server of the store where the cooking appliance 1 is installed. This makes it possible to update information on hazardous materials (e.g., eggs, canned goods that are likely to burst, etc.) via the cloud server or the management server. In this case, the cooking appliance 1 may access the server to obtain various information, thereby performing various processes such as heating prohibition processing and notification processing. Furthermore, by transmitting image information and detection information from the heating device 1 to the server, the server may determine whether the object to be heated 2 is an object that should not be heated, and whether the object is highly dangerous. [Industrial applicability]

[0050] This disclosure can be suitably used as a cooking appliance that can be used safely by determining whether the object to be heated is a prohibited item, and if so, whether the risk is high, and can also increase the processing speed by the control unit, thereby improving user convenience. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1 Cooker 2 Object to be heated 10 cabinets 11 Aperture 12 Cooking cabinet 13 Lighting Section 14 Cameras 15 Doors 20 Control Panel 21 Display section 22 Control section 23 Pronunciation Section 24 Hochi Department 25 Heating section 30 Control Unit 31 Heated object recognition section 32 Heating Prohibited Substance Judgment Department 33 Operation Control Unit 34 Storage section 35 Sensors

Claims

1. A detection device installed in a heating and cooking cabinet that stores the food to be heated, The control unit detects the object to be heated using the detection device, and if it is determined that the object to be heated is a heat-safe object, it performs heating. If it is determined that the object to be heated is a heat-prohibition object, it performs a heating prohibition process that prohibits heating according to the degree of danger of the heat-prohibition object. Heating cooker.

2. If the object to be heated is an object that should not be heated and the degree of danger is low, the control unit will notify the user and then heat it using the normal heating method or a heating method different from the normal heating method. A heating appliance according to claim 1.

3. The control unit, while the object to be heated is being cooked, uses the detection device to determine whether the object to be heated is an object that should not be heated. If the object being heated is an object that should not be heated, the control unit performs a heating interruption process or an alert process. A heating appliance according to claim 1.

4. The detection device comprises a camera that acquires image information of the object to be heated, and a plurality of sensors. The control unit determines whether the object to be heated is an object that should not be heated, based on the image information from the camera and the detection information from the multiple sensors. A heating appliance according to claim 1.

5. The control unit determines whether or not to perform a decision process based on detection information from multiple sensors, according to the result of the determination of whether or not the object to be heated is an object that should not be heated, based on the image information from the camera. A cooking appliance according to claim 4.

6. If the control unit determines that the object to be heated is an object that should not be heated, it will perform control to allow forced heating by user operation. A heating appliance according to claim 1.

7. The control unit will notify the relevant party during forced heating. A cooking appliance according to claim 6.

8. The control unit, when performing forced heating, heats using a heating method different from the normal heating method. A cooking appliance according to claim 6.

Images