Area-specific microwave oven

Abstract

This invention provides a circuit device for a cooking apparatus that can heat and cook multiple foods simultaneously using a dielectric heating method. [Solution] The system consists of a box-shaped cooking device 1, an input device 20 positioned above the cooking device and comprising various center devices 22, an operating device 23, and an imaging device 21, a control device positioned below the input device and comprising a main control device 11, an image recognition device 12, a storage device 15, a heating control device 13, and an advertising display control device 14, an output device 30 positioned below the control device, heating devices 31a to 31d comprising a plurality of microwave sources positioned below the output device, an advertising display device 32 positioned next to the output device and receiving the output of the advertising display control device as input, an information display device 33 positioned next to the advertising display device and receiving display information output from the main control device as input, communication devices 40 and 41 having a sub-communication unit and receiving data from the main control device, and an external system 50 having an external server positioned outside the cooking device for communication exchange.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a circuit device of a cooking apparatus adopting a dielectric heating method in particular, which eliminates the restriction on the placement position in a cooking chamber of an electronic appliance used for cooking food.

Background Art

[0002] Currently, when cooking multiple foods in the same time period, such as boiling, baking, stewing, steaming, frying, deep-frying, warming, etc., it is difficult to finish cooking all the foods evenly in the same time period because the cooking heating times required for individual foods are different, resulting in unevenness (success or failure) in the cooking quality.

[0003] This is due to the fact that the cooking times determined for the foods to be cooked are not individually observed. When desiring to cook foods with different cooking times at once, it is possible to determine the different cooking times (heating times) of these foods, and a circuit device of a cooking apparatus is required that can contain several foods in the same environment without underheating or overheating and can heat and cook the ingredients at once.

[0004] However, currently, as in Patent Document 1, a heating cooking system has been proposed that can receive input of heating condition settings from an external communication device and transmit an operation signal from the heating cooker to an external device based on the operation information transmitted from the heating cooker and the external communication device to the heating cooker. However, a circuit device of a cooking apparatus using a dielectric heating method that can heat and cook foods with different cooking times and cooking heating temperatures at once has not been put on the market.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] This invention utilizes a dielectric heating method to cook multiple food items simultaneously, even if their cooking times differ. This eliminates cooking problems such as undercooking or overcooking, thereby achieving the desired cooking result. Furthermore, these cooking environments are not identical but can be different. While such a cooking system is not disclosed in patent documents, this invention aims to provide a cooking device circuit that allows for flexible placement of individual electronic devices within the cooking device, enabling cooking and simultaneous cooking of items with different cooking times. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This invention provides a highly practical cooking device circuit that comprises a box-shaped cooking device with an internal space, an input device positioned at any position above the cooking device, various center devices, operating devices and imaging devices constituting the input device, a control device positioned below the input device, a main control device, an image recognition device, a storage device, a heating device and an advertising display control device constituting the control device, an output device positioned below the control device, a heating device consisting of a plurality of microwave sources positioned below the output device, an advertising display device positioned next to the output device and receiving the output of the advertising display control device as input, an information display device positioned next to the advertising display device and receiving display information output from the main control device as input, a communication device outside the control device having a sub-communication unit and receiving data from the main control device, and an external system having an external server positioned outside the cooking device and performing communication with the communication device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the apparatus of the present invention as described in claim 1, a single apparatus of the present invention can simultaneously heat and cook multiple foods with different heating temperatures, and can also simultaneously heat and process multiple foods placed in different locations within the cooking apparatus, ensuring reliable cooking results. Furthermore, because heating devices can be individually placed in different locations within the apparatus, it is possible to increase the flexibility of using the space within the apparatus, and thus provide a cooking apparatus circuit device with various other advantages. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a diagram of a circuit device that constitutes a cooking device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The cooking apparatus circuit according to the present invention has a central main control unit that comprehensively controls the entire circuit, and the main control unit transmits and receives signals with other devices and has an output device that uses a dielectric heating method consisting of multiple independently controllable semiconductor microwave sources, which has the characteristic of being able to heat and process multiple foods with different heating temperatures simultaneously in the same environment. [Examples]

[0011] The circuit device of the cooking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings, including its structure and function. [Examples]

[0012] Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the circuitry of the cooking device of the present invention, where 1 is preferably a box-shaped cooking device that constitutes a closed space, and an input device 20 is arranged inside the cooking device 1. The input device 20 is configured to include various sensor devices 22, an operating device 23, and an imaging device 21. 10 is a control device, and the control device 10 is configured to include and connect a main control device 11, a storage device 15, an advertising display control device 14, a heating control device 13, an image recognition device 12, etc.

[0013] The main control unit 11 receives sensor information from various sensor devices and operation signals from the operation device 23. The main control unit 11 also communicates with the storage device 15 for signal input and output. Image data from the imaging device 21 is input to the image recognition device 12, and object information (position, type) output from the image recognition device 12 is input to the main control unit 11.

[0014] Furthermore, an output device 30 is arranged below the control device 10, and a heating device 31 is arranged inside the output device 30. The heating device 31 consists of four microwave sources: a first microwave source 31A, a second microwave source 31B, a third microwave source 31C, and a fourth microwave source 31D. In addition, an advertising display device 32 and an information display device 33 are arranged adjacent to the output device 30.

[0015] Furthermore, a communication device 40 equipped with a communication device 41 is provided outside the control device 10 to enable data transmission and reception from the main control device 11. In addition, an external system 50 with an external server 51 is located outside the cooking device 1 to exchange signals with the communication device 40.

[0016] The advertisement display device 32 receives an advertisement display instruction signal output from the main control device 11, which is input to the advertisement display control device 14, and the display data output from the 14 is input to the display device 32. In addition, the display information signal output from the main control device 11 is input to the information display device 33, and the necessary information is displayed.

[0017] In order to actually operate the above-mentioned circuit device, first, the various sensor devices 22 detect changes in the state inside the cooking device 1 in order to ensure safe and proper operation inside the cooking device 1, and transmit the electrical signals obtained in accordance with the detected changes as sensor information to the main control unit 11 of the computer.

[0018] The detection items in this case are as follows: <1> the door switch of the location required to be provided for the cooking device 1 (such as a safety mechanism to prevent microwave irradiation when the door is open); <2> the temperature sensor that detects overheating of the object to be heated in the cooking device 1 and abnormal temperature rise of the cooking device 1 itself; <3> the weight sensor for correcting the heating conditions according to the weight of the object to be heated; <4> and the humidity sensor, infrared sensor, etc. that detect the humidity, steam, and amount of steam generated from food in the cooking device and are used to judge the progress of heating.

[0019] And the operation device 23 is a device that sends an operation signal for the user to instruct the operation of this circuit device to the main control device 11. In this case, the main operations of the user are: (A) cooking start / stop (operation to start or interrupt / end automatic cooking during the process); (B) manual setting: when the user does not desire automatic adjustment, manually set the heating time and output; (C) selection of cooking menu: an operation to select a preset cooking menu (such as "frozen fried rice", "bento in the kaiseki style", etc.).

[0020] Next, the imaging device 21 is a so-called camera that acquires signals from within each device constituting this circuit device and displays images. The main operation function of the imaging device 21 is to photograph the heated food (food: bento, etc.) installed in the cooking device 1 and transmit the image data thereof to the image recognition device 12. That is, before the user closes the door installed in the cooking device 22 as required in advance and starts cooking, the food is photographed. At the same time, the position, type, shape, etc. of the food are grasped.

[0021] Subsequently, an image recognition device 12 is arranged and connected under the imaging device 21 for noise removal and brightness, etc., and processes the image data input from the imaging device 21. And its role is enhanced by cooperation with the image analysis AI of the external server 51 provided outside the cooking device 1. And its main functions are: <1> pre-processing function: perform noise removal and brightness correction on the raw image data received from the imaging device 21 and arrange it in a form suitable for analysis.

[0022] ▲2▼Data transmission function: It is arranged to extract the pre-processed image data, especially the part of the "mark" (dedicated mark, seal, handwritten characters, etc.) attached to the lunch box of the food container, and transmit it to the image analysis AI on the external server 51 via the communication device 40. ▲3▼Analysis result receiving function: Receive the analysis result by the image analysis AI, convert it into "object information" in a format recognizable by the main control device 11, and deliver it to the cooking device 11 of the present invention.

[0023] Next, there is a main control device 11 under the image recognition device 12, and the main control device 11 comprehensively controls and designates each device constituting the cooking device 1 of the present invention. Also, the input of the image recognition device 12 includes ▲1▼ information including "contents", "orientation", "coordinates of the parts to be heated and the parts not to be heated" of the heated food which is the heating object based on the analysis result by the external image analysis AI supplied from the image recognition device 12, ▲2▼ state information such as door opening and closing, temperature, weight, etc. transmitted from various sensor devices 22 as sensor information, ▲3▼ instruction signals such as cooking start and stop by the user transmitted from the operation device 23, ▲4▼ information such as advertisement contents and software update data received from the external server 51 via the communication device 41, etc.

[0024] The main control device 11 that obtains these input signals arranges the heating control device 13 connected thereto to output the following signals in connection. That is, the final cooking plan based on the object information from the image recognition device 12 and the external server 51 arranged outside the cooking device 1 (that is, among the four first to fourth microwave source devices 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D arranged under the control device 10, which microwave source device 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D at what timing, for what required time, with what intensity (output, phase, frequency) to operate "start or not", including a detailed control parameter group associated with the passage of time). With this function and each arrangement, it becomes possible to select a specific part of any cooked food and heat it with different intensities.

[0025] Furthermore, the output side of the main control device 11 is connected to the advertising display control device 14, and the output receives a display data signal which is then input to the advertising display control device 14 located in the output device 30. The advertising display control device 14 is configured to output a command signal to the advertising display device 32 located in the output device 30 to start displaying advertisements, triggered by the start of cooking. In other words, it instructs whether or not to allow the display of any advertising content (obtained from the external server device 51). It also provides functions such as instructing a sequence that combines multiple advertisements according to the cooking time, or instructing to stop the display when cooking is finished.

[0026] Furthermore, the main control unit 11 is connected to an information display device 33 and transmits basic information signals to the information display device so that the user can check the progress of cooking. These information signals include information such as (1) remaining time, (2) current operating mode (heating, defrosting, etc.), and (3) error messages.

[0027] Next, outside the control device 10, a main communication device 40 having a sub-communication device 41 is arranged and connected in a configuration that instructs the external server 51, which is located outside the cooking device 1, to start communication. This communication includes elements such as instructions to send image analysis requests for image recognition, instructions to upload business data such as sales performance, and instructions to request the download of new advertising content or software.

[0028] Furthermore, the main control unit 11 is connected to a storage device 15, which is equivalent to the memory or storage of a computer and stores various information necessary for the operation of the cooking device 1. The main types of information are: ▲1. Product database: Data relating product types (barcode information and image patterns) and the corresponding optimal heating conditions (heating time, output patterns of each microwave source, etc.); ▲2. Advertising content: Video and still image data of advertisements received from an external server 51; ▲3. Operation program: Software that describes the control procedure of the cooking device and is executed by the main control unit 11, etc.; ▲4. Log data: Operation logs such as cooking history and error occurrence status.

[0029] Furthermore, a second communication device 40, including a first communication device 41, is installed outside the control device 10, and serves as an interface for the cooking device 1 to connect with the external system device 50. The main information exchanged at this time is as follows: ▲11▼Cooking device 1 → External server 51: Upload ▲12▼Image analysis request data: Image data of the markings and contents of the lunch box containing the cooked food, etc. These are sent to the external server device 51 (image analysis AI) and instructed to process the analysis. ▲13▼Sales performance data: Sales and usage information such as which products were cooked and when. ▲14▼Operation log data: Device operating status, error information, etc.

[0030] Furthermore, an external server 51 is located and connected to the external system device 50 (generally referred to as an external server, cloud system, cloud server, etc.) for downloading. In this case, the image analysis result data is structured data that includes the following information obtained by the image analysis AI analyzing the image data. 1. Food contents: Specific items such as "hamburger," "white rice," "potato salad," and "pickles." 2. Heating instructions: Instructions for each item such as "heat," "do not heat," or "heat gently." 3. Position coordinates: The precise position information of each item in the internal coordinate system of the cooking device 1. 4. Recommended heating conditions: Proposed optimal heating time and microwave irradiation pattern derived from the above information. 5. Advertising content data: The latest advertising videos and still images to be displayed. This includes product database update information and software update data.

[0031] Furthermore, the external system device 50 is usually referred to as an external server, cloud system, cloud server, etc., and in this invention has the following multiple functions. ▲I▼The part that provides image analysis functionality is the "AI server" and the "generative AI platform". ▲□The part that delivers advertisements is the "ad delivery server". ▲H▼As a system that integrates the whole, there is a "cloud-linked cooking system," etc.

[0032] Furthermore, an output device 30 is arranged below the control device 10 via a heating control device 13 and an advertising display control device 14, and the output device 30 is equipped with first to fourth microwave source devices 31A, 31B, 31C, and 31D. An advertising display device 32 and an information display device 33 are also arranged side by side with the heating device 31 on the output device 30, and an advertising display control device 14 is arranged between the main control device 11 and the advertising display device 32.

[0033] An information display device 33 is provided alongside the aforementioned advertising display device 32, etc. In this case, the information display device 33 concisely conveys the basic status of cooking to the user, and is a 7-segment LED or small liquid crystal panel, displaying only the minimum necessary information directly related to cooking operations, such as "remaining time," "output wattage," "first stage," and "standby."

[0034] Furthermore, the advertising display device 32 is a higher-resolution display device (large LCD display) that utilizes the waiting time during cooking to provide advertising and entertainment information to people around the user, and is used to display video commercials or still image advertisements from sponsoring companies, store campaign information, news, weather forecasts, etc.

[0035] Furthermore, the first microwave source devices 31a to the fourth microwave source devices 31d employ a so-called dielectric heating method, which heats food by irradiating it with microwaves (high-frequency electromagnetic waves), causing water molecules in the food to vibrate and heat it. Specifically, the control signals input from the heating control device 13 to the first microwave source devices 31a to the fourth microwave source devices 31d are used for adjusting the strength, phase, and frequency of the output microwaves.

[0036] Next, the heating control device 13, which receives heating pattern instruction signals and the like from the main control device 11, is equipped with first to fourth microwave generators 31A, 32B, 31C, and 34D that constitute the output device 30. These microwave generators 31A, 32B, 33C, and 34D generate microwaves by irradiating the food with high-frequency electromagnetic waves (microwaves), which vibrates the water molecules inside the food and generates heat using a dielectric heating method.

[0037] The first microwave source devices 31A, the second microwave source device 31B, the third microwave source device 31C, and the fourth microwave source device 31D, which have received control signals 1 to 4 from the heating control device 13, then individually control the heating.

[0038] However, in this case, control signals 1, 2, 3, and 4 individually control each microwave generator 31A, 31B, 31C, and 31D, but since the microwave source is composed of a semiconductor amplifier, they are not the high-frequency induced current itself, but rather the following control parameter signals.

[0039] 1. Output: Microwave strength... The stronger the output, the greater the heating capacity. 2. Phase: By shifting the timing of the microwave waves, the timing of the four waves is shifted to create spatial areas where the waves reinforce each other (areas to be heated) and areas where they cancel each other out (areas not to be heated). 3. Frequency: Microwave frequency. By fine-tuning the frequency, the uniformity of heating can be improved. In other words, control signals 1 to 4 control the output, phase, and frequency, and are signals for precisely controlling the combined microwave wave emitted from the four microwave sources. Application example of Example 1

[0040] In this application, the devices constituting the present invention are arranged within the cooking apparatus 1 as shown in Figure 1, but the installation location is not limited to this, and the number of devices to be installed is not limited to this application, nor are the functional characteristics of each device constituting the present invention. The application may be modified or installed as necessary within the scope of the claims. [Industrial applicability]

[0041] The circuitry of the cooking device of this invention employs a high-frequency dielectric heating method and allows for the installation of multiple microwave source devices at any location inside the oven, eliminating restrictions on installation location. Furthermore, the circuitry allows for the individual and free control of these microwave source devices, making it extremely convenient for cooking.

[0042] Furthermore, door switches are installed to prevent microwaves from irradiating unintentionally to necessary areas inside the oven, enhancing heating safety. In addition, temperature sensors are installed to detect overheating of the object being heated and abnormal temperature increases inside the cooking device. Moreover, a weight sensor is provided to correct heating conditions according to the weight of the object being heated. Furthermore, detection devices are installed to detect humidity, steam, and the amount of steam generated from food inside the cooking device, as well as temperature sensors, infrared sensors, etc., used to determine the progress of heating. This provides a highly effective cooking device circuit that offers superior safety. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0043] 1 Cooking equipment 10 Control device 20 Input devices 21 Imaging device 22 Various Sensor Devices 23 Operating device 12 Image recognition device 11 Main control unit 14. Advertising display control device 15 Storage device 13 Heating control device 41. First communication device 40. Second communication device 50 External System Devices 51 External Server 32 Advertising display devices 33 Information display device 31a First microwave source device 31b Second microwave source device 31c Third microwave source device 31d Fourth microwave source device 30 Output device 31 Heating device

Claims

1. A practical and highly convenient cooking device circuit comprising: a box-shaped cooking device with an internal space; an input device positioned at an arbitrary location above the cooking device; various center devices, operating devices and imaging devices constituting the input device; a control device positioned below the input device; a main control device, an image recognition device, a storage device, a heating device and an advertising display control device constituting the control device; an output device positioned below the control device; a heating device consisting of a plurality of microwave sources positioned below the output device; an advertising display device positioned next to the output device and receiving the output of the advertising display control device as input; an information display device positioned next to the advertising display device and receiving display information output from the main control device as input; a communication device located outside the control device and having a sub-communication unit that receives data from the main control device; and an external system having an external server positioned outside the cooking device that communicates with the communication device, characterized in that it can heat foods with different heating temperatures simultaneously or in multiple locations within the same device, and independently control the degree of heating of each food item.

2. A cooking device circuit device, wherein the arrangement of the heating device in the cooking device circuit device is changed, thereby altering the relative positions of other electronic components and equipment.

Images