Heating Regulator

Abstract

This improves the convenience of using a cooking appliance when heating food using a power setting and heating time manually configured by the user. [Solution] The heating appliance of the embodiment comprises a heating chamber for containing food to be cooked, a microwave heating means for microwave heating the food to be cooked by the output of microwaves, a control means for controlling the microwave heating means to heat the food to be cooked, an input means for setting the output and heating time of the microwave heating means, and a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the food to be cooked. The control means heats the food to be cooked with the output set by the input means, and when the heating is finished after the heating time set by the input means has elapsed, if the temperature of the food to be cooked detected by the temperature detection means is below a predetermined temperature, a display means displays a screen indicating additional heating.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a cooking appliance.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in general households, workplaces, etc., cooking appliances (oven ranges, microwave ovens, etc.) that heat cooked items (food and drink) placed in a heating chamber (cooking chamber) using range heating are widely used. Range heating refers to heating by vibrating water molecules contained in food using microwaves.

[0003] Also, in such a cooking appliance, for example, when heating frozen foods before eating, generally, it is often recommended to set the output (the magnitude of the microwave output; the same applies hereinafter) and time (for example, 2 minutes at 500 W (watts)) manually without using the automatic heating function. The reasons are considered as follows, for example.

[0004] First, the target temperature may vary depending on the type of frozen food, and the automatic heating function often cannot handle this. Also, if the frozen food is in a bag, etc., the accurate temperature of the food (frozen food) may not be detected by the temperature sensor.

[0005] Therefore, the user sets the output and heating time described on the package of the frozen food in the cooking appliance to heat the frozen food. **

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] However, even when heating frozen food using a cooker with the power output and heating time indicated on the package, it may still be undercooked. Possible reasons for this include, for example, the ambient temperature being lower than expected, or the initial temperature of the frozen food being lower than expected.

[0008] In this case, the user can only determine if the food is undercooked by opening the cooker door, observing the food and the steam rising from it, touching the food, or feeling the food and its packaging. The user then closes the cooker door and sets the heating time again to reheat. Therefore, there is room for improvement in terms of convenience.

[0009] Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention have been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object is to provide a cooking appliance that can improve the convenience when heating food with output and heating time manually set by the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The cooking appliance of the embodiment comprises a heating chamber for containing food to be cooked, a microwave heating means for microwave heating the food to be cooked using microwave output, a control means for controlling the microwave heating means to heat the food to be cooked, an input means for setting the output and heating time of the microwave heating means, and a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the food to be cooked. The control means heats the food to be cooked with the output set by the input means, and when the heating time set by the input means has elapsed and heating is finished, if the temperature of the food to be cooked detected by the temperature detection means is below a predetermined temperature, the control means displays a screen indicating additional heating on the display means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the heating appliance of the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to improve the convenience of heating food to be cooked with the output and heating time manually set by the user. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an external perspective view of the oven range according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows a view of the oven range from the front when the door is open. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the oven range, seen from the side. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows the oven range as viewed from the front with the cabinet and oven rear panel removed. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the microwave generator and its surrounding components, seen from the side of a microwave oven. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the oven range. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the main parts of a microwave oven, specifically the food temperature detection means and its surrounding area. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows the detection element of the first sensor in the microwave oven, viewed from the front. [Figure 9] Figure 9 shows the detection element of the second sensor in the microwave oven, viewed from the front. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the oven range and the field of view of the first sensor. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a block diagram showing the main electrical components of a microwave oven. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing the bottom surface of the oven and multiple temperature sensing areas. [Figure 13] Figure 13 shows examples of detected temperatures for multiple areas on the bottom surface of a microwave oven, presented in two temperature ranges. [Figure 14] Figure 14 shows an example of the first display screen. [Figure 15] Figure 15 shows an example of a second display screen. [Figure 16]FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a third display screen example. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the processing in the oven range.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the cooking appliance of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In all the drawings, common parts (configurations) are denoted by common reference numerals. Also, hereinafter, frozen foods are mainly assumed as the object to be cooked, but it is not limited thereto.

[0014] FIGS. 1 to 11 show the configuration of an embodiment when the cooking appliance of the present invention is realized as an oven range. First, based on FIGS. 1 to 6, the overall configuration of the oven range will be described. The main body 1 configured in a substantially rectangular box shape includes a metal cabinet 2 as a member that covers the outer shell of the oven range as a product. The oven range also includes a door 3 that can be opened and closed provided on the front surface of the main body 1.

[0015] At the upper part of the door ३, a handle 4 for opening and closing operations is provided to be used when opening and closing the vertically opening door 3. Next to the door 3, an operation panel unit 5 for display, notification, and operation is provided. The operation panel unit 5 includes display means 6 for displaying the set contents and progress of cooking and the like.

[0016] The operation panel unit 5 also includes operation means 7 that enables various operation inputs related to cooking. The operation means 7 is, for example, keys, buttons, or a touch panel provided on the surface of the display means 6. The operation means 7 is an example of input means for setting the output of the microwave generator 19 and the heating time. Although not shown, an operation panel PC (Printed Circuit) is arranged at the rear side of the operation panel unit 5 inside the door 3 to control the display means 6 and the operation means 7 and the like.

[0017] The lower part of the main unit 1 is equipped with a water supply cassette 8 and a water tray 9, which can be attached and detached from the front of the main unit 1. The water supply cassette 8 is a bottomed container that holds liquid water, which serves as the source of mist ejected from the mist supply device 43 (described later). The water tray 9 is a bottomed container that receives food residue, water droplets, steam, etc., from the main unit 1.

[0018] Cabinets 2, which form the left and right sides and top of the main body 1, are provided between the oven front plate 12, which forms the front of the main body 1, and the oven rear plate 13, which forms the rear of the main body 1, so as to cover the oven bottom plate 11, which forms the bottom of the main body 1 and thus the oven range. The main body 1 is also provided with a cooking chamber 14 (a heating chamber for containing food to be cooked) for housing the food to be cooked S, and a thermistor 15, which is a temperature detection element for detecting the temperature of the cooking chamber 14. The front of the cooking chamber 14 reaches the oven front plate 12 and has an opening for loading and unloading the food to be cooked S, and this opening is opened and closed by a door 3. The thermistor 15, which is an internal temperature detection means for detecting the ambient temperature of the cooking chamber 14, is located inside the cooking chamber 14 near the door 3.

[0019] The surrounding walls forming the inner surface of the cooking chamber 14 consist of a ceiling wall 14a, a bottom wall 14b, a left side wall 14c, a right side wall 14d, and a back wall 14e. The back wall 14e of the cooking chamber 14 has an intake port 16 in its center, and multiple outlet ports 17 are provided around the intake port 16. Opposite the dome-shaped ceiling wall 14a, which forms the upper wall surface of the cooking chamber 14, an upper heater 18 for the grill is provided on the upper part of the main body 1 to radiate heat the food to be cooked S from above the cooking chamber 14. At the bottom of the main body 1, a microwave generator 19 including a magnetron (a microwave heating means that microwaves the food to be cooked by the output of microwaves) is provided to supply microwaves, which are radio waves, into the cooking chamber 14. As a result, the heat radiation generated by energizing the upper heater 18 grills the food to be cooked S inside the cooking chamber 14 from above, and the operation of energizing the microwave generator 19 radiates microwaves to the food to be cooked S inside the cooking chamber 14, thereby microwave-heating the food to be cooked S.

[0020] The left wall 14c and right wall 14d of the cooking chamber 14 are provided with a pair of shelf supports 22, arranged in two tiers, to suspend and store a metal rectangular plate 21 inside the cooking chamber 14. The rectangular plate 21 used here consists of a housing portion 21A that is bottomed and concave with an open top surface and otherwise non-perforated, and a flange portion 21B that extends horizontally outward from the upper end of the housing portion 21A. The flange portion 21B also has a ventilation hole 21C that allows hot air to circulate through the rectangular plate 21. Figure 2 shows the state in which the flange portion 21B of the rectangular plate 21 is placed on the lower shelf support 22 inside the cooking chamber 14, and the food to be cooked S is placed on the housing portion 21A, but it is not limited to this. For example, depending on the cooking, the rectangular plate 21 may be placed only on the upper shelf support 22, or two rectangular plates 21 may be placed on the upper and lower shelf supports 22 respectively. Alternatively, another accessory, such as a grilling rack (not shown), may be used instead of the rectangular tray 21. Furthermore, in microwave heating using the microwave generator 19 described above, the food to be cooked S can be heated inside the cooking chamber 14 in a microwave-safe container (not shown) without placing the rectangular tray 21 or grilling rack inside the cooking chamber 14.

[0021] The oven range includes a hot air unit 24 for oven heating, located inside the main body 1, extending from the rear outside the cooking chamber 14 downwards. The hot air unit 24, as a means of heating the food to be cooked S, is generally composed of a convex casing 26 attached to the back wall 14e, a hot air heater 27 for heating air, a hot air fan 28 for sending and circulating heated air into the cooking chamber 14, an electric hot air motor 29 for rotating the hot air fan 28 in a predetermined direction, and a transmission mechanism 30 for transmitting the driving force from the hot air motor 29 to the hot air fan 28. The heating chamber 31, formed in the internal space between the back wall 14e and the casing 26, located at the rear outside the cooking chamber 14, houses the hot air heater 27 and the hot air fan 28, respectively. On the other hand, the hot air motor 29 is located in the lower space 32 between the cooking chamber 14 and the oven bottom plate 11, which is formed inside the main body 1. Then, the oven rear plate 13 is positioned at the rear of the main body 1 so as to cover the entire hot air unit 24 from the rear outside.

[0022] The hot air fan 28 in this embodiment is a so-called centrifugal fan that takes in air axially and expels it radially perpendicular to the axial direction by centrifugal force during rotation, and the tubular hot air heater 27 is arranged to surround the hot air fan 28 in the radial direction. The hot air heater 27, which is also the heat-generating part, can be a sheathed heater, mica heater, quartz tube heater, halogen heater, or the like. The aforementioned intake port 16 and hot air outlet port 17 function as ventilation sections that connect the cooking chamber 14 and the heating chamber 31.

[0023] In this embodiment, when the hot air motor 29 is energized, the hot air fan 28 rotates, and air drawn in from inside the cooking chamber 14 through the intake port 16 is blown out radially by the hot air fan 28, heated by the energized hot air heater 27, and the hot air passes through the outlet port 17 and is supplied into the cooking chamber 14. This creates a path for circulating hot air inside and outside the cooking chamber 14, and the food to be cooked S inside the cooking chamber 14 is heated by hot air convection.

[0024] Next, the microwave generator 19, which serves as a microwave heating means for heating the food to be cooked S, and the detailed structure of its surroundings will be described. The bottom wall 14b of the cooking chamber 14 is constructed by covering the upper opening of a concave antenna housing 35 formed in a metal plate 34 with a microwave-permeable bottom plate 36, such as a ceramic plate. The microwave-impermeable metal plate 34 integrally forms not only the periphery of the bottom wall 14b, but also the left wall 14c, the right wall 14d, and the back wall 14e. The inner surface of the cooking chamber 14, excluding the bottom plate 36, is entirely made of a microwave-impermeable material.

[0025] The microwave generator 19 mainly consists of a magnetron (not shown) which is a source of microwaves, a waveguide 37 in the lower space 32 inside the main body 1 that guides the microwaves oscillated by the magnetron to directly below the antenna housing 35, an antenna motor 38 disposed below the waveguide 37, an antenna holder 39 whose lower end is located inside the waveguide 37 and is attached and fixed to the rotation axis of the antenna motor 38, a cylindrical cable shaft 40 inserted and fixed inside the antenna holder 39, and an antenna 41 to which the upper end of the cable shaft 40 is attached and fixed to the center and which is rotatably provided inside the antenna housing 35. When the top opening of the antenna housing 35 is closed with the bottom plate 36, the entire antenna 41 is positioned parallel to the bottom plate 36, facing the flat bottom plate 36 that forms the bottom wall 14b of the cooking chamber 14.

[0026] The mist supply device 43, which sends mist into the cooking room 14, includes, in addition to the water supply cassette 8 mentioned above, a nozzle 45 that atomizes the supplied liquid water into a mist, a water supply pipe 46 connected between the water supply cassette 8 and the nozzle 45, a water supply pump 47 that guides the water from the water supply cassette 8 to the nozzle 45, and a plurality of mist ejection holes 44 that communicate with the inside of the nozzle 45. As a result, while the mist supply device 43 is in operation, the water from the water supply cassette 8 is sent to the nozzle 45 by the water supply pump 47, the water supplied by the nozzle 45 is atomized, and the mist is supplied into the inside of the cooking room 14 through the mist ejection holes 44. At this time, if the temperature inside the cooking chamber 14 is higher than 100°C at atmospheric pressure (hereinafter, temperature values ​​will be the temperature values ​​in Celsius at atmospheric pressure), this mist instantly vaporizes inside the cooking chamber 14 to become superheated steam, thereby quickly and evenly heating the food to be cooked S placed inside the cooking chamber 14 with an appropriate amount of water molecules (superheated steam).

[0027] Figure 7 shows the cooking temperature detection means and its surrounding components. As shown in Figure 7, a first sensor 55 and a sensor motor 56 are positioned between the cooking chamber 14 and the main body 1, facing outwards from the raised member 52 including the window 53, while a second sensor 58 is positioned facing the window 54. The sensor motor 56 and the second sensor 58 are mounted and fixed inside the main body 1, while the first sensor 55 is attached to the rotatable rotating shaft 59 of the sensor motor 56.

[0028] The sensor motor 56, which is the drive device for the first sensor 55, is composed of a stepping motor or the like and has a rotating shaft 59 that swings the first sensor 55 back and forth inside the main body 1. The first sensor 55 mainly consists of a hollow sensor case 61 attached and fixed to the rotating shaft 59, a sensor substrate 62 housed inside the sensor case 61, a plurality (for example, 16) infrared detection elements 63 mounted on the surface of the sensor substrate 62, and a lens 64 attached and fixed to the sensor case 61 facing the infrared detection elements 63.

[0029] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, multiple infrared detection elements 63 (an example of non-contact temperature detection means that non-contactly detects the temperature of multiple areas on the bottom surface of the cooking chamber 14) are arranged in a straight line along the vertical direction of the cooking chamber 14. In this embodiment, when the sensor motor 56 receives a motor drive signal from the control means 71 (see Figure 11), which will be described later, and rotates its rotation axis 59 back and forth by a predetermined angle in the forward and reverse directions, the first sensor 55 swings, and the field of view of the multiple infrared detection elements 63 that reach the bottom wall 14b of the cooking chamber 14 (hereinafter also referred to as "multiple areas") swings repeatedly in a fan shape around each infrared detection element 63. In other words, as an example, the non-contact temperature detection means is a 16-eye sensor in a 1x16 arrangement (Figure 8), and the control means 71 swings the 16-eye sensor back and forth (for example, one back and forth in a few seconds). The 16-eye sensor then detects the temperature of 16 points (CH1 to CH16) in multiple regions: a first predetermined number of points (8 in the example of Figure 13) on the forward path (each angle: Ang), and a second predetermined number of points (8 in the example of Figure 13) on the return path (each angle: Ang: vertical axis in Figure 13).

[0030] Here, Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing the bottom surface of the microwave oven and multiple temperature sensing regions (a schematic diagram as viewed from the top). Figure 13 is a diagram showing examples of the sensing temperatures for each of the multiple regions on the bottom surface of the microwave oven, in two temperature ranges.

[0031] The number of regions is, for example, 256, which is obtained by multiplying the 16 field-of-view areas (CH1 to CH16) corresponding to the 16 infrared detection elements 63 by the 16 angles resulting from the oscillation of the first sensor 55 (angles Ang0 to 7 on the forward path, and angles Ang8 to 15 on the return path). Note that for the field-of-view area of ​​a single infrared detection element 63, the region at the last angle Ang7 on the forward path and the region at the first angle Ang8 on the return path do not coincide. Therefore, as shown in Figure 13, the detection temperature examples for each of the multiple regions are not symmetrical with respect to angles Ang7 and Ang8, but are almost symmetrical with respect to angles Ang8 and Ang9.

[0032] Here, the predetermined threshold temperature is denoted as TT (°C). In the region 256 of Figure 13, the white area indicates that the detected temperature is TT°C or higher. The gray area indicates that the detected temperature is below TT°C. In the example in Figure 13, it is assumed that a large amount of frozen food is placed in the center of the cooking chamber 14.

[0033] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 7 and 9, the second sensor 58 mainly consists of a hollow sensor case 66 mounted and fixed inside the main body 1, a sensor substrate 67 housed inside the sensor case 66, a single infrared detection element 68 mounted on the surface of the sensor substrate 67, and a lens 69 mounted and fixed to the sensor case 66 facing the infrared detection element 68. The second sensor 58 is mounted and fixed inside the main body 1 such that the field of view of the infrared detection element 68 always reaches the center of the front, back, left, and right sides of the bottom wall 14b, through the window 54 from the center of the right side wall 14d in the vertical and front and back directions.

[0034] The first sensor 55 and the second sensor 58 are both infrared sensors and constitute the food temperature detection means 65 of this embodiment. The food temperature detection means 65 here detects the temperature distribution throughout the cooking chamber 14 using the swinging first sensor 55 and the fixed second sensor 58, and detects the temperature of the bottom surface and the surface temperature of the food S in a short time from the amount of infrared radiation emitted by the bottom surface and the food S.

[0035] Figure 11 illustrates the main electrical configuration of the oven range of this embodiment. In the figure, 71 is a control means configured by a microcomputer, and as is well known, this control means 71 includes a CPU as a calculation processing means, memory as a storage means, a timer as a timing means, and input / output devices.

[0036] In addition to the aforementioned key and touch panel operation means 7 and food temperature detection means 65, the input port of the control means 71 is electrically connected to the following: an internal temperature detection means 72 including a thermistor 15 for detecting the temperature inside the cooking chamber 14; a hot air motor rotation detection means 73 for detecting the rotation speed of the hot air fan 28; a door open / closed detection means 74 for detecting the open / closed state of the door 3; and an antenna position detection means 75 for detecting the origin position of the antenna constituting the microwave generator 19.

[0037] In addition to the display means 6 mentioned above, the output port of the control means 71 is electrically connected to the following: a microwave heating means 78 including a magnetron and its driving means; a heater driving means 79 such as relays for switching the power on and off to the upper heater 18 for grill heating, the hot air heater 27 for oven heating, and the evaporation heater for steam heating; an antenna driving means 80 for operating the antenna motor 38 that rotates the antenna 41 that radiates microwaves into the cooking chamber 14; a hot air motor driving means 81 for rotating the hot air motor 29; a sensor motor driving means 82 for rotating the sensor motor 56 in forward and reverse directions; and a pump driving means 83 for operating the water supply pump 47 of the mist supply device 43.

[0038] The control means 71 receives operation signals from the operation means 7 and detection signals from the food temperature detection means 65, the internal temperature detection means 72, the hot air motor rotation detection means 73, the door opening / closing detection means 74, and the antenna position detection means 75. Based on timing from the timing means, it outputs control signals for driving the microwave heating means 78, the antenna driving means 80, the heater driving means 79, the hot air motor driving means 81, the sensor motor driving means 82, and the pump driving means 83 at predetermined timings. It also outputs control signals for display to the display means 6. These functions are realized by the control means 71 reading a program recorded in the memory, which serves as a storage medium.

[0039] The control means 71 performs various controls. For example, the control means 71 controls the microwave generator 19 to heat the food to be cooked S. The control means 71 also displays various information on the display means 6.

[0040] Here, Figure 14 shows an example of the first display screen. Figure 15 shows an example of the second display screen. When the user heats the food to be cooked S with manually set output and heating time, they input the output and heating time on the screen in Figure 14, and then perform the heating start operation using the operating means 7 (Figure 1).

[0041] In this case, the control means 71 heats the food to be cooked S with the output set by the operating means 7 (input means) (600W in the example of Figure 14), and when the heating time set by the operating means 7 has elapsed and heating is finished, if the temperature of the food to be cooked S detected by the food to be cooked temperature detection means 65 (temperature detection means) (for example, the lowest temperature among the temperatures of multiple regions) is below a predetermined temperature, the display means 6 displays a screen indicating additional heating. Although the determination of whether the detected temperature of the food to be cooked S is below a predetermined temperature is made when the heating time set by the operating means 7 has elapsed and heating is finished, the timing of this determination is not limited to simultaneously with the elapsed heating time, but may also be immediately before the elapsed heating time (for example, a few seconds before the elapsed time, or at the time of the final swing of the 16-eye sensor (infrared detection element 63) before the elapsed time), or a few seconds after the elapsed time.

[0042] Further, the control means 71 causes the display means 6 to display a guidance screen and a heating time input screen for receiving an input of an additional heating time. Further, the control means 71 displays the output during heating on the heating time input screen.

[0043] FIG. 15(a) shows a guidance screen for additional heating and a heating time input screen. Below the display of "completed" indicating the end of heating, there is a display of "There is a cold part. Additional heating can be done by extension", indicating the guidance for additional heating, and further below that, an extension button to be operated when performing additional heating by extension is displayed. When the user operates that extension button, the screen transitions to the screen of FIG. 15(b).

[0044] On the screen of FIG. 15(b), the user inputs the heating time. For example, when the user inputs the heating time as "1 minute", the screen transitions to the screen of FIG. 15(c). <​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Furthermore, F, G, and H are the termination temperature thresholds (Tf(°C)) at each ambient temperature, and the relationship F≧G≧H is satisfied.

[0050] The values ​​of A through H can be determined in advance through experiments or simulations.

[0051] Furthermore, the control means 71 may also display the output during heating on the heating time input screen so that it can be changed. Here, Figure 16 shows an example of a third display screen. In the heating time input screen of Figure 16, the output during heating is displayed so that it can be changed using a pull-down menu. The user can change the output during heating (for example, from 600W to 500W) by operating this pull-down menu.

[0052] Returning to Figure 11, the control means 71 may also estimate the additional heating time based on the temperature of the food to be cooked S detected by the food to be cooked temperature detection means 65, and display a guidance screen and a screen showing the estimated additional heating time on the display means 6. The estimation of the additional heating time can be performed, for example, based on the history of temperature changes of the food to be cooked S and temperature change information created in advance through experiments.

[0053] Furthermore, the control means 71 may display a guidance screen for additional heating on the display means 6 and control the microwave generator 19 to automatically perform additional heating control.

[0054] Furthermore, the control means 71 may estimate the placement area of ​​the food to be cooked S by detecting an area A among multiple areas that is below a predetermined temperature when heating of the food to be cooked S begins, and when the heating time set by the operation means 7 has elapsed and heating has ended, if the temperature of the food to be cooked S detected by the food to be cooked temperature detection means 65 is below the predetermined temperature, the display means 6 may display which area of ​​the placement area is underheated.

[0055] Next, we will explain the process in a microwave oven, referring to Figure 17. Figure 17 is a flowchart showing the process in a microwave oven.

[0056] If the user wishes to heat the food to be cooked S with manually set output and heating time, they input the output and heating time on the screen shown in Figure 14. Then, in step S1, the control means 71 acquires the information on the output and heating time.

[0057] Next, the user performs the operation to start heating using the operating means 7 (Figure 1). Then, in step S2, the control means 71 acquires the heating operation signal.

[0058] Next, in step S3, the control means 71 obtains the ambient temperature of the cooking room 14 from the thermistor 15.

[0059] Next, in step S4, the temperature of the food being cooked S detected by the food temperature detection means 65 (the lowest temperature in the case of multiple regions) is acquired and updated (recorded) as the latest temperature.

[0060] Next, in step S5, the control means 71 controls the microwave generator 19 to heat the food to be cooked S.

[0061] Next, in step S6, the control means 71 determines whether the heating time has elapsed. If yes, proceed to step S7; otherwise, return to step S4.

[0062] In step S7, the control means 71 terminates the heating control by the microwave generator 19.

[0063] Next, in step S8, the control means 71 determines whether the temperature of the food to be cooked S is below a predetermined temperature (Tf (°C) (end temperature threshold)). If yes, the process proceeds to step S9; otherwise, the process ends.

[0064] In step S9, the control means 71 displays a guidance screen for additional heating (Figure 15(a)) on the display means 6.

[0065] Therefore, the user operates the extension button on the additional heating guidance screen (Figure 15(a)) and enters the heating time on the screen shown in Figure 15(b). Then, in step S10, the control means 71 acquires the heating time information. As shown in Figure 16, the output may also be input (selected) by the user. In that case, the control means 71 acquires the output information.

[0066] Next, the user performs the operation to start heating using the operating means 7 (Figure 1). Then, in step S11, the control means 71 acquires the heating operation signal.

[0067] Next, in step S12, the control means 71 controls the microwave generator 19 to further heat the food to be cooked S. After that, the control means 71 terminates the additional heating once the heating time obtained in step S10 has elapsed.

[0068] As described above, the oven range of this embodiment heats the food to be cooked S with the power output and heating time entered by the user, and if the temperature of the food to be cooked S at the end of heating is below a predetermined temperature, the display means 6 displays a screen indicating additional heating (Figure 15(a)). This improves the convenience when heating food with the power output and heating time manually set by the user. In other words, the food to be cooked S can be additionally heated without the user having to open the door of the cooking chamber 14 and check the degree of heating of the food to be cooked S.

[0069] Furthermore, different values ​​can be used as the predetermined temperature depending on the ambient temperature of the cooking chamber 14 at the start of heating (Table 1). This allows for an appropriate determination of whether or not to perform additional heating depending on the ambient temperature.

[0070] Additionally, the heating time input screen may be modified to allow users to change the heating output (Figure 16). This allows users to change the heating output as desired (for example, from 600W to 500W).

[0071] Furthermore, the additional heating time may be estimated based on the temperature of the food being cooked S at the end of heating, and the display means 6 may display a guidance screen and a screen showing the estimated additional heating time. In this way, the user can perform additional heating for an appropriate amount of time simply by starting the additional heating operation, without having to think about the length of the additional heating time themselves.

[0072] Furthermore, a screen guiding users to perform additional heating may be displayed, and additional heating control may be automatically executed. This eliminates the need for the user to initiate additional heating, further improving convenience.

[0073] Furthermore, the system may estimate the placement area of ​​the food to be cooked S at the start of heating, and if additional heating is required, it may display which areas of the placement area are undercooked. This would allow the user to determine the appropriate additional heating time by knowing which areas are undercooked.

[0074] Furthermore, the program executed by the oven control means 71 of this embodiment can be provided as an installable or executable file recorded on a recording medium readable by a computer device, such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM (Read Only Memory), a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R (Recordable), or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). Alternatively, the program may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0075] While embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications are permitted without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the claims and their equivalents.

[0076] For example, the number of infrared detection elements 63 (Figure 8) is not limited to 16, but may be any other number. Also, the number of multiple regions is not limited to 16 × 16 = 256 as shown in Figure 13, but may be any other number. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1...Main unit, 2...Cabinet, 3...Door, 4...Handle, 5...Operation panel, 6...Display means, 7...Operation means, 65...Means for detecting the temperature of the food being cooked, 71...Control means

Claims

1. A heating chamber for containing the food to be cooked, A microwave heating means for heating the food to be cooked using microwave output, A control means for controlling the microwave heating means to heat the food to be cooked, The microwave heating means includes an input means for setting the output and heating time, The system includes a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the food being cooked, The control means is A cooking appliance that heats the food to be cooked with an output set by the input means, and when heating ends after the heating time set by the input means has elapsed, if the temperature of the food to be cooked detected by the temperature detection means is below a predetermined temperature, displays a screen on the display means indicating additional heating.

2. The system further includes an internal temperature detection means for detecting the ambient temperature of the heating chamber, The control means is The heating appliance according to claim 1, wherein a different value is used as the predetermined temperature depending on the ambient temperature of the heating chamber at the start of heating.

3. The control means is The heating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays the guidance screen and a heating time input screen for receiving input of additional heating time.

4. The control means is The heating appliance according to claim 3, wherein the heating time input screen displays the output during heating.

5. The control means is The heating appliance according to claim 3, wherein the heating time input screen displays the output during heating in a way that allows it to be changed.

6. The control means is Based on the temperature of the food being cooked detected by the temperature detection means, an additional heating time is estimated. The heating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays the guidance screen and the estimated additional heating time screen.

7. The control means is The heating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays the guidance screen for additional heating and controls the microwave heating means to perform additional heating control.

8. The temperature detection means is a non-contact temperature detection means that detects the temperature of multiple areas on the bottom side of the heating chamber without contact. The control means is At the start of heating of the food to be cooked, the area A where the temperature is below the predetermined temperature is detected among the multiple areas, thereby estimating the area where the food to be cooked is placed. The heating appliance according to claim 1, wherein when heating is terminated after the heating time set by the input means has elapsed, and the temperature of the food to be cooked detected by the non-contact temperature detection means is below the predetermined temperature, the display means displays which area of ​​the arrangement area is underheated.

9. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein the food to be cooked is a frozen product.

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