Heating cooker

Abstract

To provide a heating cooker which can improve the usability of a user.SOLUTION: A heating cooker comprises: display means 6; a touch panel 8 placed in a position superimposed on a display screen of the display means 6 as a touch operation part for accepting a touch operation from a user; and an operation / display control unit 37 which is assembled with a UI at which a screen including a display part and a display body is displayed at the display means 6 by an operation input to the touch panel 8, for accepting a long-press operation of keeping touching the touch panel 8 with a finger thereon for a prescribed time on the screen of the display means 6 as the touch operation on the screen displayed at the display means 6. When a numerical value indicating at least one of a time and a temperature related to the control of a microwave oven is set, every time a region of the touch panel 8 is long-press operated, the operation / display control unit 37 varies numerical values of picker display units B6, B7 and B9 according to the long-pressed time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking device having improved operability of a display screen for performing cooking settings and the like. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in this type of heating cooker, a color LCD panel capable of displaying, for example, letters, numbers, photographs, etc. in color is provided as a display means for the display screen for setting up cooking, and the color LCD panel is configured as a touch panel so that, for example, a user can select an image to be displayed on the color LCD panel by touching the touch panel with their finger (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-124459 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned conventional technology, for example, in the cooking device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the operation means of the touch panel is a touch operation, so when the information does not fit on one screen of the display means, it is necessary to take measures such as dividing the information into multiple pages and requesting the user to switch between pages, which makes it inconvenient for the user to view the information. In addition, when the user makes various settings, he or she needs to repeatedly operate various setting buttons on the touch panel multiple times, which makes it inconvenient for the user to make settings. And, for example, there are individual differences between users, such as people with dry hands, and therefore there may be differences in the response of the touch panel, which may impair usability for the user.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a cooking device that can improve usability for users. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The cooking device of the present invention includes a display means, a touch panel provided at a position overlapping a display screen of the display means as a touch operation unit that accepts touch operations from a user, and a display control means incorporating a UI in which a screen including a display unit and a display body is displayed on the display means by an operation input to the touch panel, and accepting a long press operation of keeping a finger on the touch panel without removing a finger from the touch panel for a predetermined time as the touch operation on the screen displayed on the display means, and the display control means is configured to vary the numerical value over time according to the duration of the long press each time the touch panel is long pressed when setting a numerical value indicating at least one of time and temperature related to control of the cooking device. The display control means changes the speed at which the numerical value changes immediately before the numerical value changes to a predetermined value. It is characterized by: Effect of the Invention

[0007] Books According to the invention, when making various settings, the user can select the desired setting value by continuing to press and hold the touch panel without repeating the operation. Even if there is a difference in the reaction of the touch panel, the operation of the touch panel that has reacted once can be continued, improving the usability for the user. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view of a cooking device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the cooking device with the door open. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a front view of the display means on which the first top screen is displayed. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a front view of the display means on which the second top screen is displayed. [Figure 6]1A is a front view of the display means on which a first top screen is displayed, and FIG. 1B is a front view of the display means on which an output selection screen is displayed. [Figure 7] Same as above, (A) is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the display means displayed when the microwave heating time is "00" minutes and "50" seconds during a long press operation on the first top screen, and (B) is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the display means displayed when the microwave heating time is "01" minutes and "00" seconds during a long press operation on the first top screen. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a display means displayed during a long press operation on the first top screen in a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of the display means displayed when an output is selected on the output selection screen in the second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, common parts are designated by common reference numerals throughout these drawings. EXAMPLES

[0010] Figures 1 to 7 show a first embodiment in which the cooking device of the present invention is applied to an oven range. Figure 1 shows the overall structure of the oven range, with reference numeral 1 being a roughly rectangular box-shaped main body with an open front, and reference numeral 2 being a door provided on the front of the main body 1 that can be opened and closed freely. The oven range of this embodiment is composed of the main body 1 and a door 2, and the door 2 is configured to open and close an opening 3 in the main body 1.

[0011] The top of the door 2 is provided with a handle 4 for opening and closing the door 2, which opens vertically, and the side of the door 2 is provided with an operation panel section 5 for display, notification and operation. The operation panel section 5 is provided with a display means 6 for displaying cooking settings and progress, as well as operation means 9 such as keys 7 provided on the operation panel section 5 and a touch panel 8 provided on the surface of the display means 6, in order to enable various operation inputs related to heating and cooking. An operation panel PC (printed circuit) board (not shown) is provided behind the operation panel section 5 inside the door 3, and the display means 6 and operation means 9 are controlled by an operation / display control section 37 of control means 31, which will be described later, via this operation panel PC (printed circuit) board.

[0012] The display means 6 is a flat display with backlight, for example, a liquid crystal display, which displays all information related to cooking, such as the type of heating, the name of the dish, the heating time, the temperature, and a photo of the cooking, in color using letters, numbers, symbols, photos, etc. The display means 6 is disposed on one side of the door 3, toward the top, at a position higher than the keys 7, so that it is easy to see when the user is positioned in front of the oven range. The display means 6 may be another display device, such as an organic electroluminescence (EL), and may be a black and white display instead of a color display.

[0013] The keys 7 are provided as a push operation section that accepts push operations from the user, at a position that does not overlap with the display means 6 of the operation panel section 5, and here comprise a start key 7a and a cancel key 7b. The start key 7a is a key that is pushed to start cooking, and the cancel key 7b is a key that is pushed to stop cooking midway or to cancel operations or settings. Also, an illumination lamp such as an LED (not shown) is provided inside or near the start key 7A to light or flash the start key 7a as necessary.

[0014] The touch panel 8 is provided at a position overlapping the display screen of the display means 6 as a touch operation section that accepts touch operations from the user. For example, in the case of a capacitive touch panel 8 made of a transparent material, when a user touches the surface of the touch panel 8 with his / her finger, the surface charge changes and an operation signal is output.

[0015] 2, the internal configuration of the main body will be described. Reference numeral 11 denotes a cooking chamber that houses a container containing food S to be cooked. The oven range of this embodiment has a cooking function using oven heating to heat the food S with hot air supplied into the cooking chamber 11, a cooking function using grill heating to heat the food S with heat from a heater, a cooking function using range heating to irradiate the food S with microwaves to heat and cook the food S, and a cooking function using steam heating to heat the food S with superheated steam.

[0016] An upper heater 12 is disposed on the ceiling wall 11a of the cooking chamber 11, and grill heating is performed using heat from this upper heater 12. In addition, a steam outlet 14 is provided on the left side wall 11b of the cooking chamber 11, which is connected to a steam supply device 13 (see FIG. 3) that includes a water supply cassette that stores water, a pump that sends water from the water supply cassette, and a steam generator that heats the supplied water and generates steam. Steam heating is performed using saturated steam or superheated steam supplied into the cooking chamber 11 from this steam outlet 14.

[0017] A back wall 11c of cooking chamber 11 is provided with multiple hot air outlets 15 that supply hot air into cooking chamber 11 and an inlet (not shown) that blows air from cooking chamber 11, and behind back wall 11c is disposed a hot air unit 16 equipped with a hot air heater for heating air from the inlet and a hot air fan for sending air heated by the hot air heater from hot air outlet 14 into cooking chamber 11. Oven heating is performed by the hot air blown out from hot air outlet 15 into cooking chamber 11.

[0018] A microwave generator 17 is disposed below the bottom wall 11d of the cooking chamber 11. The microwave generator 17 is equipped with a magnetron as a source of microwave generation, an antenna that radiates microwaves into the cooking chamber 11, and an antenna motor that rotates the antenna. The food S is irradiated with microwaves from the microwave generator 17, thereby heating the food S in the microwave oven.

[0019] Additionally, an internal temperature distribution detection means 18 configured by equipping an infrared sensor with a swing mechanism is installed above the right side wall 11e of the cooking chamber 11. This internal temperature distribution detection means 18 detects the temperature distribution within the cooking chamber 14 through a window 19, thereby making it possible to detect the temperature of the food S to be cooked contained therein. Additionally, an internal temperature detection means 21 configured by a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the cooking chamber 11 is provided above the left side wall 11b of the cooking chamber 11.

[0020] Fig. 3 shows the main electrical configuration of the oven range. As is well known, the control means 31 includes a memory as the storage means 32, a CPU as a calculation processing means, a timer as a timekeeping means, an input / output device, etc. The input port of the control means 31 is electrically connected to the operation means 9 using the keys 7 and touch panel 8, the internal temperature distribution detection means 18, the internal temperature detection means 21, and a door opening / closing detection means 33 that detects the open / closed state of the door 2. The output port of the control means 41 is electrically connected to the display means 6, the steam supply device 13, the hot air unit 16, the microwave generator 17, and a heater driving means 34 that drives the upper heater 12.

[0021] The control means 31 has a function of receiving an operation signal from the operation means 9 and each detection signal from the internal temperature distribution detection means 18, the internal temperature detection means 21 and the door opening / closing detection means 33, and outputting drive control signals to the steam supply device 13, the hot air unit 16, the microwave generator 17 and the heater drive means 34, all of which serve as heating means, at a predetermined timing based on the timing from the timing means, and outputting a display control signal to the display means 6. These functions are realized by the control means 31 reading a program recorded in the storage means 32 as a storage medium, and particularly in this embodiment, the control means 31 is provided with a program that causes the control means 31 to mainly function as a heating control section 36 and an operation / display control section 37.

[0022] The heating control unit 36 ​​mainly controls the operation of each unit related to the heating and cooking of the food S placed in the cooking chamber 11, and when it receives an operation signal from the operating means 9 and determines that the door 2 is closed based on a detection signal from the door opening / closing detection means 33, it sends control signals to the steam supply device 13, the hot air unit 16, the microwave generator 17, and the heater driving means 34 in response to the operation signal to control the heating and cooking of the food in the cooking chamber 11. In this embodiment, cooking information for all menus that can be cooked in the oven range is stored and held in the all-menu storage unit 38 of the storage means 32, and when an operation is performed from the operating means 9 to instruct the start of cooking for one menu selected from the all-menu storage unit 38, the heating control unit 36 ​​heats and cooks the food in a predetermined procedure according to the cooking information for the selected menu.

[0023] The menus stored in the all-menu storage unit 38 can be broadly divided into manual cooking menus and automatic cooking menus. A manual cooking menu is a menu selected from the all-menu storage unit 63 and used by setting the time, power, and temperature by touching the touch panel 8 before operating the start key 7a, and corresponds to the manual microwave menu described later. An automatic cooking menu is a menu selected from the all-menu storage unit 63 and used without setting the time, power, or temperature.

[0024] The operation / display control section 37 cooperates with the heating control section 36 to control operations related to the display of the display means 6 and operations related to the operation of the operating means 9. In particular, in this embodiment, in order to switch between various screens on the display means 6 which is a liquid crystal display, the operation / display control section 37 includes a top screen display control section 37a which selectively displays a top screen such as a "Warm" screen or a "Cook" screen on the display means 6 immediately after power is turned on, and a transition screen display control section 37b which, upon receiving an operation signal from the operating means 9, displays a series of transition screens from the top screen displayed on the display means 6 to the point where heating and cooking can be started with the final selected menu.

[0025] Next, the display and operation of the operation panel unit 5 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. In the following description, a "tab display section" refers to a display section where, when the touch panel 8 is tapped on, detailed information about that tab display section is displayed on the display means 6, and the other tab display sections continue to be displayed on the display means 6, but the detailed information about those sections is hidden; a "button display section" refers to a display section where, when the touch panel 8 is tapped on, the entire screen or a part of the screen of the display means 6 is switched to something else and displayed; a "list display section" refers to a display section where, when the touch panel 8 is tapped on, a list of items that can be selected in the list display section is displayed, and when the touch panel 8 is tapped on one of the items, the touched item is selected and set, and only that item is displayed in the list display section; a "picker display section" refers to a display section where, when the touch panel 8 is slid on the display section, a list of items that can be selected in the picker display section is scrolled and displayed, and when the scrolling stops, the selected and set item is displayed in the center; and a "key display section" refers to a display section where, each time the touch panel 8 is tapped on the display section, the list of items displayed in the picker display section mentioned above is switched one by one.

[0026] A "text display" is a display represented by a string of characters such as letters, numbers, and symbols, an "icon display" is a display that represents things symbolically with simple pictures, and an "image display" is a display that is a photograph taken with a camera or a painting.

[0027] In this embodiment, a mechanism for displaying various screens including such a display unit and display body by various operation inputs from the user to the touch panel 8 on the display means 6, that is, a UI (user interface), is incorporated in the operation and display control unit 37. The operation and display control unit 37 accepts tap operations, slide operations, and long press operations as necessary as touch operations on the screen displayed on the display means 6. The "tap operation" here refers to an operation of touching the touch panel 8 on the screen with a finger and immediately releasing the finger, the "slide operation" refers to an operation of touching the touch panel 8 on the screen with a finger and sliding the finger from there, and the "long press operation" refers to an operation of touching the touch panel 8 on the screen with a finger and keeping the finger on the touch panel 8 for a predetermined time without releasing the finger from the touch panel 8. The "slide operation" accepted by the operation and display control unit 37 includes a swipe in which the finger is kept touching the touch panel 8 on the screen and sliding in one direction, and a flick in which the finger is touched on the touch panel 8 on the screen with a finger and sliding the finger from there as if to sweep it.

[0028] 4 shows the first top screen G1 for everyday use as an initial screen displayed on the display means 6 immediately after power-on. When the user inserts the power plug provided in the main body 1 into a household outlet and then opens the closed door 2, the necessary power is supplied to each section such as the display means 6 and the control means 31. At this time, the top screen display control section 37a causes the first top screen G1 as shown in FIG. 4 to be displayed as a default on the display means 6. The "default display" here refers to the display that appears first on the display means 6, which is preset by the top screen display control section 37a, immediately after power is supplied to the display means 6 and before any operation is performed on the operating means 9.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 1, the handle 4 extending horizontally above the door 3 is disposed so as not to be located above the display screen of the display means 6. In other words, the handle 4 for opening and closing the door 3 is not formed on the vertical (up-down) upper side of the display means 6, and no convex portion that protrudes above the flat surface of the display means 6 is provided on the vertical upper side of the display means 6. This provides the advantage that when a user looks at the oven range from diagonally above, the handle 4 does not get in the way and visibility is good, and in particular when a user performs a sliding operation from bottom to top on the surface of the display means 6, a finger or a pen-like object will not hit the handle 4.

[0030] Furthermore, convex handles 4 are not formed not only on the upper side in the vertical direction of the display means 6, but also in the horizontal (left and right) direction of the display means 6. This prevents a finger or a pen-like object from hitting the handles 4 when a user performs a left and right sliding operation on the surface of the display means 6.

[0031] 4, first to fourth virtual lines L1 to L4 are shown along the sides of the display means 6 having a rectangular outer shape in a front view, but by not locating the convex handle 4 between the extensions of the first and second virtual lines L1, L2 on the top and bottom, and the extensions of the third and fourth virtual lines L3, L4 on the left and right, a finger or a pen-like object will not hit the handle 4 no matter which direction the user slides on the surface of the display means 6 in, whether up, down, left or right. Furthermore, it is preferable that there are no convex parts that protrude beyond the display means 6 between the extensions.

[0032] The first top screen G1 is a so-called tab format screen, and at the top of it is formed a tab display area A1 which displays, side by side, a tab display section B1 containing a text display element D1 saying "warm up," a tab display section B2 containing a text display element D2 saying "cook," and a tab display section B3 containing an icon display element D3 reminiscent of various oven range settings. In addition, below the tab display area A1, a first menu display area M1 is formed next to the top and bottom, which initially displays by default a manual microwave menu selected from the multiple heating function menus stored in the all menu memory unit 63 as one menu that is expected to be used most frequently as detailed information contained in the tab display section B1 selected in the tab display area A1, with an output of 600 W set from the multiple settable outputs of the microwave heating means 48 included in the cooking information of that menu, and a second menu display area M2 is formed next to the top and bottom, which displays by default several menus including a microwave heating menu that is expected to be used most frequently after the manual microwave menu, selected from the multiple menus stored in the all menu memory unit 63, so that those menus can be selected and operated.

[0033] In the first menu display area M1, a power setting display area that allows the power setting of microwave heating and a time setting display area that allows the time setting of microwave heating are formed side by side, one above the other. The power setting time area is composed of a text display D4 indicating the set power of microwave heating and a list display section B4 including an icon display D5 that evokes the display of a list of outputs that can be set in the text display D4. As shown in Fig. 4, when the first top screen G1 is displayed as the default on the display means 6, a text display D4 saying "Microwave 600W" is displayed in the list display section B4 to indicate that the power of microwave heating is set to 600W. In addition, in the time setting display area of ​​the first menu display area M1, the following display units are arranged from left to right as display units that rotatably display the set microwave heating time: picker display unit B6 including a text display unit D6 indicating the set tens-digit number, picker display unit B7 including a text display unit D7 indicating the set units-digit number, text display unit D8 reading "minutes" to remind the user that the numbers displayed in text displays D6 and D7 are in minutes, picker display unit B9 including a text display unit D9 indicating the set tens-digit number, and text display unit D10 reading "seconds" to remind the user that the numbers displayed in text display unit D9 are in seconds.

[0034] In the default display state of the first top screen G1 shown in FIG. 4, an up key display section B11 including an icon display D11 evoking an increase in the tens digits displayed in the text display section D6 is disposed above the picker display section B6, an up key display section B12 including an icon display D12 evoking an increase in the units digits displayed in the text display section D7 is disposed above the picker display section B7, and an up key display section B13 including an icon display D13 evoking an increase in the tens seconds digits displayed in the text display section D9 is disposed above the picker display section B9. In both cases, a lower key display section B14 including an icon display D14 that evokes the decrease in the tens digits displayed on the text display section D6 is placed in a displayed state below the picker display section B6, a lower key display section B15 including an icon display D15 that evokes the decrease in the units digits displayed on the text display section D7 is placed in a displayed state below the picker display section B7, and a lower key display section B16 including an icon display D16 that evokes the decrease in the tens digits displayed on the text display section D9 is placed in a displayed state below the picker display section B9. The top screen display control unit 37a of the operation / display control unit 37 may control the display means 6 to hide any or all of the above-mentioned up key display parts B11 to B13 in order to remind the user that the numbers will not increase any further depending on the numbers displayed in the text displays D6, D7, and D9, and may also control the display means 6 to hide any or all of the above-mentioned down key display parts B14 to B16 in order to remind the user that the numbers will not increase any further.

[0035] On the other hand, in the second menu display area M2, a button display unit B21 including a text display unit D21 saying "Rice" and an icon display unit D22 evoking an automatic cooking menu for rice, a button display unit B23 including a text display unit D23 saying "Side dishes" and an icon display unit D24 evoking an automatic cooking menu for side dishes, a button display unit B25 including a text display unit D25 saying "Bread, etc." and an icon display unit D26 evoking an automatic cooking menu for bread, a button display unit B27 including a text display unit D27 saying "Drinks" and an icon display unit D28 evoking an automatic cooking menu for drinks, a button display unit B29 including a text display unit D29 saying "Boiled vegetables" and an icon display unit D30 evoking an automatic cooking menu for boiled vegetables, and a button display unit B31 including a text display unit D31 saying "Defrosting" and an icon display unit D32 evoking an automatic cooking menu for defrosting are displayed arranged vertically and horizontally.

[0036] 5 shows the second top screen G2, which can be easily switched between the first top screen G1 and the second top screen G2 by sliding left and right. The second top screen G2 is displayed on the display unit 6 by sliding a portion of the touch panel 8 overlapping the first menu display area M1 or the second menu display area M2 to the left, or by tapping a portion of the touch panel 8 overlapping the tab display section B2 displaying "Cook" in the tab display area A1, while the first top screen G1 is displayed on the display unit 6. To switch the second top screen G2 displayed on the display unit 6 to the first top screen G1, a portion of the touch panel 8 overlapping the third menu display area M3 or the fourth menu display area M4 described later to the right, or by tapping a portion of the touch panel 8 overlapping the tab display section B1 displaying "Warm" in the tab display area A1, may be displayed.

[0037] The second top screen G2 is a tab-format screen that shares the display of the first top screen G1 and the tab display area A1, and below the tab display area A1, a third menu display area M3 is formed next to the top and bottom of the tab display area A1, which displays detailed information contained in the tab display section B2 selected in the tab display area A1 to enable selection of a manual cooking menu that is expected to be used relatively frequently, other than the manual microwave menu displayed in the first menu display area M1 of the first top screen G1 and the other automatic cooking menus displayed in the second menu display area M2, from among the menus that are multiple heating functions stored in the full menu memory unit 63. A fourth menu display area M4 is formed next to the top and bottom of the tab display area A1, which displays detailed information contained in the tab display section B2 selected in the tab display area A1 to enable selection of an automatic cooking menu that is expected to be used relatively frequently, other than the manual microwave menu displayed in the first menu display area M1 of the first top screen G1 and the other automatic cooking menus displayed in the second menu display area M2.

[0038] In the third menu display area M3, a text display element D40 saying "Manual Cooking" is displayed in the upper left corner to indicate that this area relates to the manual cooking menu, and other elements are arranged vertically and horizontally: a button display element B41 including a text display element D41 saying "Oven" and an icon display element D42 evoking a manual cooking menu using oven heating; a button display element B43 including a text display element D43 saying "Grill" and an icon display element D44 evoking a manual cooking menu using grill heating; a button display element B45 including a text display element D45 saying "Steamed" and an icon display element D46 evoking a manual cooking menu using steam heating; and a button display element B47 including a text display element D47 saying "Other" and an icon display element D48 evoking other major manual cooking menus.

[0039] In the fourth menu display area M4, a text display element D50 saying "Automatic cooking" is displayed in the upper left corner to indicate that this area is related to the automatic cooking menu, and other elements are arranged vertically and horizontally: a text display element D51 saying "Stone oven automatic baking" and a button display element B51 including an icon display element D52 that evokes an automatic cooking menu using oven heating; a button display element B53 including a text display element D53 saying "recommended" and an icon display element D54 that evokes the calling up of a recommended automatic cooking menu; a button display element B55 including a text display element D55 saying "favorites" and an icon display element D56 that evokes the calling up of a favorite automatic cooking menu; and a button display element B57 including a text display element D57 saying "Recipe book search" and an icon display element D58 that evokes a search for an automatic cooking menu.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 4, immediately after the display means 6 is turned on, the top screen display control unit 37a causes the display means 6 to display the first top screen G1 in a state in which the tab display section B1 of "warm" located at the leftmost position in the tab display area A1 is selected. In the first top screen G1 in which "warm" is selected, the tab display section B1 of "warm" is displayed in a brighter color than the tab display section B2 of "cook" which is not selected. In addition, the first menu display area M1, which indicates that the manual microwave menu previously selected by the user has already been selected from all the menus stored in the all menu storage unit 63 as the menu previously selected by the user, and the output is set to 600 W previously selected by the user, and only the time setting is required by the user, and the second menu display area M2, which indicates that a plurality of automatic cooking menus for cooking the food S by mainly heating it in the microwave heating means 48 can be selected from all the menus stored in the all menu storage unit 63 as the heating function assumed to be used most frequently by the user next to the manual microwave menu, are displayed as defaults. The time setting in the first menu display area M1 may also be configured so that the time previously selected by the user is already selected. In this embodiment, the setting first displayed in the first menu display area M1 immediately after turning on the power is the setting previously selected by the user, but the setting that is assumed to be most frequently used by the user may also be configured to be displayed first.

[0041] From here, if the user wishes to use the manual microwave menu displayed in the first menu display area M1 to heat and cook the food S placed in the cooking chamber 11, they can change the microwave heating output to a value other than the initially set 600W as necessary, and then set the microwave heating time. Then, by simply operating the start key 7A, the microwave generator 17 can heat the food S at the set output and time.

[0042] Specifically, to change the microwave heating output to something other than "Microwave 600 W" initially displayed in list display section B4, a portion of touch panel 8 overlapping list display section B4 is tapped, as shown in frame C1 in Fig. 6(A). In response, top screen display control section 37a controls display means 6 to display output selection screen G3 in which microwave heating output display area M5 is formed, displaying a list of outputs selectable in the manual microwave menu, as shown in frame C2 in Fig. 6(B).

[0043] Conventionally, when the microwave heating output display area M5 and the like are displayed on the display means 6, the first top screen G1 remains displayed on the background other than the display area, resulting in a cluttered state. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 6(B), the top screen display control unit 37a controls the display means 6 to display the background other than the microwave heating output display area M5 of the output selection screen G3 as a plain background in which the first menu display area M1 and the second menu display area M2 are not displayed, and by displaying the parts that are not related to the user's operation as a plain background, the items to be set are displayed singly, highlighting the parts that the user is expected to operate, allowing the user to more clearly recognize the microwave heating output display area M5, which is the target part for the current microwave heating output selection, improving usability for the user.

[0044] In the microwave heating output display area M5, a button display section B61 including a text display D61 of "1000W", a button display section B62 including a text display D62 of "600W", a button display section B63 including a text display D63 of "500W", a button display section B64 including a text display D64 of "200W", a button display section B65 including a text display D65 of "100W", a button display section B66 including a text display D66 of "Steam microwave", and a button display section B67 including a text display D67 of "Preferred temperature" are displayed in a vertical and horizontal arrangement. When a part of the touch panel 8 overlapping one of the outputs is tapped, the top screen display control section 37a sets the output corresponding to the touched part as a new output of the manual microwave menu, switches to the first top screen G1, and controls the display means 6 to display only the newly set output, for example, "Microwave 200W", in the text display D4.

[0045] Next, the microwave heating time setting will be described with reference to Fig. 4. In this embodiment, a UI having a function capable of determining a slide operation, a tap operation, and a long press operation on the touch panel 8 is incorporated in advance in the top screen display control unit 37a of the display control unit 62 so that a numerical value such as the microwave heating time can be set on the first top screen G1 displayed on the display means 6 by a slide operation, a tap operation, and a long press operation on the touch panel 8.

[0046] Specifically, to increase the numerical value of the microwave heating setting time displayed in the picker display portion B6, B7, B9, there is a method of sliding upward the portion of the touch panel 8 overlapping the picker display portion B6, B7, B9 displaying the numerical value to be increased, or a method of tapping above the picker display portion B6, B7, B9 displaying the numerical value to be increased, the portion of the touch panel 8 overlapping the corresponding up key display portion B11, B12, B13 the number of times equal to the number of times to be increased by, or a method of pressing and holding the portion of the touch panel 8 overlapping the corresponding up key display portion B11, B12, B13. Conversely, to decrease the value of the set time of microwave heating, there is a method of sliding downward the part of the touch panel 8 overlapping the picker display part B6, B7, B9 displaying the value to be decreased, a method of tapping the part of the touch panel 8 overlapping the corresponding down key display part B14, B15, B16 below the picker display part B6, B7, B9 displaying the value to be decreased the number of times to decrease the value, and a method of long pressing the part of the touch panel 8 overlapping the corresponding down key display part B14, B15, B16. This allows the user to freely select whichever is easier to operate among the sliding operation, the tapping operation, and the long pressing operation when setting values ​​related to the control of the oven range, such as the microwave heating time and temperature. In particular, by the long pressing operation, the user can select the desired setting value by continuing to operate the part of the touch panel 8 corresponding to the various setting buttons, without performing repetitive operations such as tapping multiple times when making various settings. Also, there are individual differences among users, for example, people with dry hands, and therefore even if differences appear in the response of the touch panel 8, by performing a long press operation in particular, it is possible to continue operating the touch panel 8 that has responded once, thereby providing a comfortable operation without impairing usability for the user. Note that this is not limited to setting numerical values ​​such as time and temperature, and may be similarly applied to settings from multiple items.

[0047] Here, when a slide operation is performed, one or more numerical items displayed in the picker display sections B6, B7, and B9 move in a rotating motion in succession and increase or decrease depending on the amount of operation; when a tap operation is performed, with one tap operation, the numerical items displayed in the picker display sections B6, B7, and B9 move in a rotating motion one by one and increase or decrease.

[0048] When a portion of the touch panel 8 overlapping the up key display portion B11, B12, B13 or the down key display portion B14, B15, B16 is pressed and held, one or more of the numerical items displayed in the picker display portion B6, B7, B9 move in a continuous rotating manner and increase or decrease according to the duration of the press and hold. In the case where a portion of the touch panel 8 overlapping the up key display portion B13 is pressed and held for an example, the top screen display control portion 37a accepts the operation input, and controls the display portion 6 to increase the time displayed in the picker display portion B9 by 10 seconds over time during the press and hold operation, and to display the increased tens-second digits of the time in the text display D9 corresponding to the picker display portion B9. Furthermore, when the top screen display control unit 37a is pressed and held, the display changes over time at a different rate for each digit, for example, once (10 minutes) per second for picker display unit B6 displaying tens of minutes, twice (2 minutes) per second for picker display unit B7 displaying units of one minutes, and three times (30 seconds) per second for picker display unit B7 displaying units of tens of seconds, with the display changing at a faster rate for lower digits. Therefore, the lower digits, which require more change and a larger range of change, can be changed more quickly, allowing the user to quickly set the microwave heating time.

[0049] In this embodiment, the top screen display control unit 37a is configured to change the speed at which the numerical values ​​displayed on the picker display units B6, B7, and B9 change according to the time of the long press operation, so that the longer the time of the long press operation, the faster the displayed numerical values ​​change. In the above example, for example, every time the time of long pressing the part of the touch panel 8 overlapping the up key display unit B13 elapses for 10 seconds, the top screen display control unit 37a controls the display unit 6 to increase the time displayed on the picker display unit B9 by 10 seconds over time, so that the time to be set for microwave heating can be set quickly even if it is long. At this time, the top screen display control unit 37a may control the display unit 6 to change the speed at which the numerical values ​​change to a convenient value such as "30" seconds or "00" seconds in the case of the picker display unit B9, so as to slow it down just before changing the value to a convenient value, so that the user can easily set the microwave heating time to these convenient values.

[0050] In addition, in this embodiment, when the numerical value of picker display section B6 or B7, which is the upper digit, has not reached the upper limit, the top screen display control section 37a is configured to operate a part of the touch panel 8 overlapping with up key display section B12 or B13 to increase the value of the lower digit, and when the value of the lower digit changes to "0", the top screen display control section 37a is configured to carry over and increase the value of the upper digit; conversely, when the numerical value of picker display section B6 or B7, which is the lower digit, has not reached the lower limit, the top screen display control section 37a is configured to operate a part of the touch panel 8 overlapping with down key display section B15 or B16 to decrease the value of the lower digit, and when the value of the lower digit changes from "0", the top screen display control section 37a is configured to carry over and decrease the value of the upper digit. For example, as shown in Fig. 7(A), when the value displayed on the picker display sections B6, B7, and B9 is "00 minutes 50 seconds," if the user presses and holds down a portion of the touch panel 8 overlapping the up key display section B13 with the user's finger F, the top screen display control section 37a controls the display section 6 to move up and increase the value displayed on the picker display section B7 from "0" minutes to "1" minutes when the value displayed on the picker display section B9 changes from "50" seconds to "00" seconds, as shown in Fig. 7(B). Conversely, when the value displayed on the picker display sections B6, B7, and B9 is "01 minutes 00 seconds," if the user presses and holds down a portion of the touch panel 8 overlapping the down key display section B16, the top screen display control section 37a controls the display section 6 to move down and decrease the value displayed on the picker display section B7 from "1" minutes to "0" minutes when the value displayed on the picker display section B9 changes from "00" seconds to "50" seconds. By configuring it in this manner, for example, the value of the upper digit, picker display section B6, B7, can be set simply by pressing and holding only the portion of the touch panel 8 that overlaps the up key display section B12, B13 or the down key display section B15, B16 to change the value of the lower digit, picker display section B7, B9.Since the setting can be done without changing the portion of the touch panel 8 that is pressed and held, it is possible to reduce the user's effort.

[0051] As described above, the oven range as a cooking appliance of this embodiment includes display means 6, touch panel 8 provided at a position overlapping the display screen of display means 6 as a touch operation unit that accepts touch operations from the user, and a UI that displays a screen including the display unit and display body on display means 6 by inputting an operation into touch panel 8, and an operation and display control unit 37 as display control means that accepts a long press operation of touching and holding the finger on the screen of display means 6 for a predetermined time without removing the finger from touch panel 8 as a touch operation on the screen displayed on display means 6, and when setting a numerical value indicating at least one of the time and temperature related to the control of the oven range, the top screen display control unit 37a of the operation and display control unit 37 is configured to change the numerical value in picker display units B6, B7, B9 according to the length of time of long press each time a long press operation is performed on a part of the touch panel 8 that overlaps with up key display units B11, B12, B13 or down key display units B14, B15, B16.

[0052] In this case, when making various settings, the user can select the numerical values ​​in the picker display sections B6, B7, and B9 up to the desired setting value without repeating the operation by continuing to press and hold the parts of the touch panel 8 corresponding to the various setting buttons. Even if there is a difference in the response of the touch panel 8, the operation of the touch panel 8 that has responded once can be continued, thereby improving usability for the user.

[0053] Furthermore, the operation / display control unit 37 of this embodiment is configured to change the rate at which the numerical values ​​in the picker display sections B6, B7, and B9 change depending on the duration of the long press, so that the numerical values ​​change faster the longer the long press, and therefore can be set quickly even if the time to be set is long.

[0054] Furthermore, the operation / display control unit 37 of this embodiment is configured to change and slow down the rate at which the numerical values ​​in the picker display units B6, B7, and B9 change just before they change to predetermined values ​​that are convenient increments, making it easier for the user to set the microwave heating time to these convenient increments.

[0055] In this embodiment, when the microwave heating time is displayed on the display means 6, there are picker display sections B6, B7, B9 which are multiple digits, and the operation / display control section 37 is configured so that the microwave heating time can be set for each of the picker display sections B6, B7, B9 by operating the parts of the touch panel 8 which overlap the up key display sections B11, B12, B13 and the down key display sections B14, B15, B16, and the speed at which the picker display sections B6, B7, B9 change varies for each digit, being faster for lower digits. Therefore, the lower the digit which requires more change and a larger range of change, the faster the change can be made, and the user can quickly set the microwave heating time.

[0056] In this embodiment, the operation / display control unit 37 is configured to move up when the values ​​of the picker display units B7 and B9 change to increase and reach 0, and to increase the values ​​of the picker display units B6 and B7 which are the upper digits of these picker display units B7 and B9, for example, by 1, and conversely, to move down when the values ​​of the picker display units B7 and B9 change to decrease from 0, and to decrease the values ​​of the picker display units B6 and B7 which are the upper digits of these picker display units B7 and B9, for example, by 1. Therefore, by simply changing the values ​​of the picker display units B7 and B9 which are the lower digits, the values ​​of the picker display units B6 and B7 which are the upper digits can also be set, and the setting can be performed without changing the part of the touch panel 8 which is operated by long pressing, thereby reducing the user's effort.

[0057] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when setting a numerical value indicating the microwave heating output related to the control of the oven range, the operation / display control unit 37 forms a microwave heating output display area M5 as an output display area displaying a list of selectable microwave heating outputs and displays it on the display means 6, and the background other than the microwave heating output display area M5 is displayed in a solid color on the display means 6. Therefore, by displaying parts that are not related to the user's operation in a solid color, the parts that the user is requested to operate are highlighted, and the user can more clearly recognize the microwave heating output display area M5, which is the part targeted for the current microwave heating output selection.

[0058] 8 shows a modification of the first embodiment. In this modification, the display of the changing picker display portions B6, B7, and B9 is enlarged when a long press operation is performed.

[0059] Explaining with reference to Fig. 8, for example, when a portion of touch panel 8 overlapping up key display portion B13 or down key display portion B16 is pressed and held, top screen display control portion 37a controls display means 6 to form and display enlarged area E in which picker display portion B9, which is being set by the long press and is changing, is enlarged, and when the long press and hold operation is stopped, controls display means 6 to reduce the area to the original size shown in Fig. 4. With this configuration, it is possible for the user to easily check the display of picker display portions B6, B7, B9, which are changing during setting, and also to easily recognize picker display portions B6, B7, B9, which are being set.

[0060] Here, it is preferable that the enlarged area E is displayed in a place where there is no hindrance to the operation of the parts of the touch panel 8 overlapping with the up key display parts B11, B12, B13 and the down key display parts B14, B15, B16, for example, below the down key display part B16. By configuring in this way, the user can operate not only one but both of the up key display parts B11, B12, B13 and the down key display parts B14, B15, B16 while checking the enlarged area E during setting, which makes it easier to set the numerical values ​​of the picker display parts B6, B7, B9. In addition, since the position of the enlarged area E can be maintained even if the operation of the up key display parts B11, B12, B13 and the down key display parts B14, B15, B16 is switched, it is possible to prevent the position of the enlarged area E from moving and causing confusion to the user.

[0061] The top screen display control unit 37a may not be configured to reduce the changing picker display unit B9 to its original size and display it even if the long press operation is interrupted. Next, when a long press operation is performed on a part of the touch panel 8 overlapping the up key display units B11, B12 or the down key display units B14, 15, the top screen display control unit 37a may control the display means 6 to display another enlarged area (not shown) in which the changing picker display units B6, B7 are enlarged while maintaining the display of the enlarged area E on the first top screen G1. In this case, the top screen display control unit 37a may control the display means 6 to display the enlarged area E not only when the value of the set time for microwave heating is set, but also when the value of the set temperature for microwave heating is set. By configuring in this way, it is possible for the user to easily check the display of the picker display units B6, B7, B9 that are changing during setting and the display of the setting value of the set temperature for microwave heating, and also to check the picker display units B6, B7, B9 that were set immediately before.

[0062] As described above, in the oven range as a cooking appliance of this modified example, the operation / display control unit 37 is configured to form an enlarged display area E in which the picker display areas B6, B7, B9 in which numerical values ​​are being set are enlarged and displayed on the display means 6. This makes it easier for the user to check the display of the picker display areas B6, B7, B9 which are changing during setting, and also makes it easier for the user to recognize the picker display areas B6, B7, B9 which are being set.

[0063] Furthermore, in the microwave oven of this modified example, the operation / display control unit 37 may be configured to form an enlarged area E in any of the picker display units B6, B7, B9 and enlarge it, and then, when a picker display unit B6, B7, B9 different from the enlarged picker display unit B6, B7, B9 or a numerical value of the set temperature for microwave heating is set, form an enlarged area in which the set numerical value is enlarged and further displayed on the display means 6 while forming the enlarged area E and maintaining the enlarged display. By configuring in this way, the user can easily check the display of the picker display units B6, B7, B9 that are changing during setting and the display of the numerical value setting of the set temperature for microwave heating, and can also check the picker display unit B6, B7, B9 that was set immediately before. EXAMPLES

[0064] 9 shows the second embodiment. In this embodiment, when the microwave heating output is selected in the microwave heating output display area M5, a microwave heating time selection display area M6 is displayed so that the set time for microwave heating can also be selected.

[0065] For example, when a portion of the touch panel 8 overlapping the "600W" button display section B62 in the microwave heating output display area M5 is tapped, the top screen display control section 37a controls the display means 6 to light up the "600W" button display section B62 and display a microwave heating time selection display area M6 that displays a list of the microwave heating set times, as shown in Fig. 9. Also, when a portion of the touch panel 8 overlapping the "Preferred Temperature" button display section B67 in the microwave heating output display area M5 is tapped, the top screen display control section 37a controls the display means 6 to light up the "Preferred Temperature" button display section B67 and display a microwave heating temperature selection display area (not shown) that displays a list of microwave heating temperatures.

[0066] In the microwave heating time selection display area M6, for example, a button display section B71 including a text display section D71 saying "1 minute 00 seconds", a button display section B72 including a text display section D72 saying "2 minutes 00 seconds", a button display section B73 including a text display section D73 saying "5 minutes 00 seconds", a button display section B74 including a text display section D74 saying "10 minutes 00 seconds", a button display section B75 including a text display section D75 saying "15 minutes 00 seconds", and a button display section B76 including a text display section D76 saying "20 minutes 00 seconds" are displayed arranged vertically and horizontally. Among these, when a portion of touch panel 8 overlapping one of the outputs is tapped, top screen display control section 37a sets "600 W", which is the output corresponding to the touched portion, as the new output for the manual microwave menu, sets the time corresponding to the touched portion as the new time for the manual microwave menu, switches to first top screen G1, controls display means 6 to display, for example, "Microwave 600 W" on text display D4, and also controls display means 6 to display picker display sections B6, B7, B9 to the currently selected time. This configuration allows the user to select the microwave heating output as well as the set time for microwave heating, eliminating the need for the user to do anything.

[0067] In this embodiment, the microwave heating time selection display area M6 is configured to simply display a list of microwave heating setting times, but it may also be configured to display the setting time at the time of the previous microwave heating output selection stored in the storage means 32, such as the microwave heating setting time when "600W" was selected as the previous microwave heating output, or it may be configured to display a recommended setting time when selecting a microwave heating output.

[0068] As described above, in the microwave oven as a cooking appliance of this embodiment, the operation / display control unit 37 is configured to, after the microwave heating output is selected from the microwave heating output display area M5, form a microwave heating time selection display area M6 as a time display area displaying a list of times selectable for this microwave heating output and display it on the display means 6, and when a microwave heating time is selected from the microwave heating time selection display area M6, set that microwave heating time as a time related to the control of the microwave oven and display it on the picker display units B6, B7, B9. This allows the user to select the set time for microwave heating along with the microwave heating output, eliminating the need for the user to do anything.

[0069] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the configurations characteristic of the first and second embodiments may be combined. In addition, the numerical values ​​exemplified in the embodiments are merely examples, and may be modified as appropriate according to the specifications of the rice cooker. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 6 Display means 8. Touch Panel 37 Operation / display control section (display control means) B6, B7, B9 Picker display (number, digit) E1 Expanded area M5 Microwave heating output display area (output display area) M6 Microwave heating time selection display area

Claims

1. A display means; a touch panel provided at a position overlapping the display screen of the display means as a touch operation unit that receives touch operations from a user; A UI is incorporated in which a screen including a display unit and a display body is displayed on the display means by an operation input to the touch panel, and a display control means is provided for accepting a long press operation of touching and holding the touch panel for a predetermined time as the touch operation on the screen displayed on the display means, the display control means is configured to vary the value over time according to the duration of the long press operation on the touch panel when setting a value indicating at least one of a time or a temperature related to the control of the cooking appliance, The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means changes a rate at which the numerical value changes immediately before the numerical value changes to a predetermined value.

2. A display means; a touch panel provided at a position overlapping the display screen of the display means as a touch operation unit that receives touch operations from a user; A UI is incorporated in which a screen including a display unit and a display body is displayed on the display means by an operation input to the touch panel, and a display control means is provided for accepting a long press operation of touching and holding the touch panel for a predetermined time as the touch operation on the screen displayed on the display means, the display control means is configured to vary the value over time according to the duration of the long press operation on the touch panel when setting a value indicating at least one of a time or a temperature related to the control of the cooking appliance, the numerical value has a plurality of digits when displayed on the display means; the display control means is configured to allow the numerical value to be set for each digit by the touch panel, A cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the speed at which the digits change varies from digit to digit.

3. 3. The cooking device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means changes a speed at which the numerical value changes depending on the time period during which the button is pressed and held.

4. The cooking device according to claim 2, characterized in that the display control means increases the value of the digit above the digit when the value of the digit changes to increase and becomes 0, and decreases the value of the digit above the digit when the value of the digit changes to decrease from 0.

5. 5. The cooking device according to claim 2, wherein the display control means enlarges and displays the digit in which the value is set on the display means.

6. The cooking device according to claim 5, characterized in that when a numerical value different from the digit is set after the digit is enlarged, the display control means maintains the enlarged display and further displays the set numerical value on the display means in an enlarged manner.

7. The heating cooker described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that when setting a numerical value indicating an output related to the control of the heating cooker, the display control means forms an output display area showing a list of selectable outputs and displays it on the display means, and displays areas other than the output display area in a solid color on the display means.

8. The heating cooker according to claim 7, characterized in that the display control means is configured to, after the output is selected from the output display area, form a time display area displaying a list of times selectable for the output and display the time on the display means, and, when the time is selected from the time display area, set the time as the numerical value.

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