Cooking device and heating control method

Abstract

To reliably heat a food product in a heat cooker even when being subject to influence of external light of a photo detector.SOLUTION: A heat cooker (1) includes: a heating control unit (22b) for starting heating of a food product when a front door open-close detection unit (25) detects that a front door is closed and a determination unit (22a) determines that there is a food product in a heating chamber.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking device for heating food placed inside a heating chamber and a heating control method. [Background technology]

[0002] The cooking device disclosed in Patent Document 1 discloses a detection sensor (light-projecting element, light-receiving element) that detects food in a cooking chamber. The light-projecting element and the light-receiving element are provided on the left and right side walls, respectively, as viewed from the opening side of the cooking chamber, which is opened and closed by a door. In other words, in the cooking device disclosed in Patent Document 1, light is irradiated from the light-projecting element provided on one side wall toward the light-receiving element provided on the other opposing side wall, and the presence or absence of food in the cooking chamber is detected based on the amount of light received by the light-receiving element.

[0003] Meanwhile, recent cooking appliances such as microwave ovens use a barcode indicating the type of food, which is written on the container of the food to be heated, to read the barcode and heat the food according to the heating information (heating temperature and heating time) according to the type of food (for example, Patent Document 2). In such cooking appliances, food is placed in the cooking chamber and cooking is automatically started when the door is closed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-340546 [Patent Document 2] JP 2006-64362 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, when the cooking device automatically operates by reading the heating information of the food and closing the door of the cooking chamber, it is necessary to check whether food is placed in the cooking chamber with the door open. Therefore, as in Patent Document 1, for example, a light emitting element and a light receiving element are placed on the left and right side walls of the cooking chamber, and it is considered to determine whether food is placed in the cooking chamber with the door open.

[0006] However, if the door to the cooking chamber is open, external light (e.g., sunlight) enters the light receiving element arranged on the side wall, increasing the amount of light received by the light receiving element, causing it to determine that there is no food in the cooking chamber even though there is, and cooking will not start automatically even if the door is closed. In this way, if food is erroneously detected due to the influence of external light, it is highly likely that cooking will not start automatically even if the door is opened to check the food in the cooking chamber and then closed again, so cooking must be started manually.

[0007] Therefore, when the detection of food in the cooking chamber is affected by external light, a problem occurs in that it takes time and effort before cooking of the food can begin.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention aims to provide a cooking device that can reduce the effort and time required to start cooking food, even when food detection is affected by external light. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, a cooking device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a heating chamber, a door provided in the heating chamber, an opening / closing detection unit that detects opening / closing of the door, a determination unit that determines whether food is present in the heating chamber, a reading device that reads an information code for cooking food, and a heating control unit that controls the heating of the food in the heating chamber based on the information code read by the reading device, wherein the heating control unit: After the reader reads the information code,When the open / close detection unit detects that the door is closed and the determination unit determines that food is present in the heating chamber, heating of the food begins. In addition, a heating cooker according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a heating chamber, a door provided in the heating chamber, an opening / closing detection unit that detects the opening and closing of the door, a judgment unit that judges the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber, a reading device that reads an information code for heating and cooking food, and a heating control unit that controls the heating of the food in the heating chamber based on the information code read by the reading device, wherein the heating control unit starts heating the food when the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is closed and the judgment unit judges that there is food in the heating chamber, and the judgment unit judges the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber when the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is open, and the heating control unit starts heating the food when the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is open and the judgment unit judges that there is no food in the heating chamber, if the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is closed and the judgment unit judges that there is food in the heating chamber,

[0010] A method for controlling heating of a cooking device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a heating chamber, a door provided in the heating chamber, an opening / closing detection unit that detects opening / closing of the door, a determination unit that determines whether food is present or absent in the heating chamber, a reading device that reads an information code for cooking food, and a heating control unit that controls heating of the food in the heating chamber based on the information code read by the reading device, After the reader reads the information code, The method includes a step of starting heating of the food by the heating control unit when the open / close detection unit detects that the door is closed and the determination unit determines that food is present in the heating chamber. In addition, a heating control method for a heating cooker according to one embodiment of the present invention is a heating control method for a heating cooker including a heating chamber, a door provided in the heating chamber, an opening / closing detection unit that detects the opening and closing of the door, a judgment unit that judges the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber, a reading device that reads an information code for heating and cooking the food, and a heating control unit that controls the heating of the food in the heating chamber based on the information code read by the reading device, and includes a step of starting heating of the food by the heating control unit when the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is closed and the judgment unit judges that there is food in the heating chamber, the judgment unit judges the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber when the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is open, and the heating control unit executes a step of starting heating of the food when the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is open and the judgment unit judges that there is no food in the heating chamber, Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, even when food detection is affected by external light, the effort required to start cooking the food can be reduced and the time required can be shortened. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention with a front door closed, viewed obliquely from above and on the front side. [Diagram 2] 2 is a front view of the cooking device shown in FIG. 1 with a front door open. FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a perspective view of the cooking device shown in FIG. 1 with a front door open, as viewed from diagonally below on the right. [Figure 4] 2 is a vertical sectional view of a control frame showing an installation state of a reading device provided in the cooking appliance shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 5] 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a reading area of ​​the reading device shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6]FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of an information code. [Figure 7] 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the arrangement of food sensors and detection areas in the cooking device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit of the food sensor shown in FIG. [Figure 9] 9 is a diagram illustrating a method for determining the presence or absence of food using the food sensor shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] 2 is a functional block diagram of a control device provided in the cooking appliance shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 11] 4 is a flowchart showing a process flow up to the start of cooking in the cooking device shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 12] 6 is a flowchart showing a process flow up to the start of cooking in a cooking device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure up to the start of cooking in a cooking device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the arrangement of food sensors and detection areas in a cooking device according to a modified example of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] [Embodiment 1] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cooking device 1 of this embodiment with a freely openable and closable front door 12 provided on the main body of the cooking device 1 when it is closed, as viewed from diagonally above the front. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cooking device 1 shown in Fig. 1 with the front door 12 open, as viewed from diagonally below the front. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cooking device 1 shown in Fig. 1 with the front door 12 open, as viewed from diagonally below the right.

[0014] (Overview of Cooker 1) 1 to 3, cooking appliance 1 is, for example, a microwave oven, and has an operation panel 11 at the top of the front side, and a front door 12 below operation panel 11. Front door 12 is a door for opening and closing heating chamber 13 provided behind front door 12, and covers front opening 13b of heating chamber 13 when closed. In this embodiment, front door 12 is of a side-opening type that rotates around the end on the left side facing the door, and has a handle 14 near the right end, which is the end opposite to the center of rotation.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the heating chamber 13 is provided with a food sensor 31 on the side wall 13a of the chamber. The food sensor 31 detects whether food is placed on the flat plate 13c provided on the bottom surface of the heating chamber 13. In other words, it detects the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber 13. The food sensor 31 is composed of a light-emitting element 31a arranged on the right side wall 13a as viewed from the front opening 13b, and a first light-receiving element 31b and a second light-receiving element 31c arranged on the left side wall 13a. In other words, the food sensor 31 is a so-called transmission type optical sensor that receives light emitted by the light-emitting element 31a with the first light-receiving element 31b and the second light-receiving element 31c arranged on the opposing surface. The food sensor 31 will be described in detail later.

[0016] The operation panel 11 is provided on the front surface of the control frame 15. The operation panel 11 is provided so that the front surface of the operation panel 11 is substantially flush with the front surface of the front door 12 in the front-rear direction of the cooking appliance 1.

[0017] Inside the control frame 15, a control board (not shown) is provided which controls the display unit 30 of the operation panel 11, accepts user operations on the input keys and the like, and the like.

[0018] (Reader 16) Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the control frame 15 showing the installation state of the reader 16. Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the reading area 19 of the reader 16.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 4, the control frame 15 is provided so as to protrude forward of the cooking appliance 1. The reader 16 is attached to the underside of a reader board (circuit board) 17, and is provided at the bottom inside the control frame 15. The reader board 17 includes a drive circuit for the reader 16. That is, the reader 16 is installed outside the heating chamber 13, above the front opening 13b of the heating chamber 13, and is provided so as to have a reading area 19 below the installation position.

[0020] The reader 16 is, for example, a barcode reader, and is configured to read an information code (for example, a barcode) attached to the food to be heated in the cooking appliance 1 or to a container for the food.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 5, the area below the reader 16 is used as a reading area 19, and the control frame 15 has a transparent reading window 18 in the portion of the lower wall facing the reader 16.

[0022] The reading area 19 of the reading device 16 is indicated, for example, by red light so that the user can visually understand the reading area 19. This red light is irradiated by a reading area illumination unit 21 (see FIG. 10). For example, a red LED is used as the reading area illumination unit 21. Note that the light indicating the reading area 19 is not limited to red, and may be other light visible to the user, such as a laser. Also, the number of red LEDs may be one or more.

[0023] 2 and 3, the reading device 16 is provided at the center in the width direction (left and right direction) of the front opening 13b of the heating chamber 13.

[0024] (Information Code) Reference numeral 1061 in FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an information code made up of a two-dimensional code (QR code (registered trademark)), and reference numeral 1062 in FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an information code made up of a one-dimensional barcode.

[0025] The information code is used to heat-cook food. For example, the information code includes information indicating the type of food and information (heating information) indicating the conditions for heat-cooking the indicated type of food. The heating information is information necessary for heat-cooking, and includes the heating time in the heat cooker 1 and the wattage of the high-frequency output. Specifically, the information code includes information indicating the type of food, for example, that the food is a bento (or further the type of bento) or that the food is a rice ball (or further the type of rice ball), and heating information including the heating time and the wattage of the high-frequency output according to the indicated food. This information code is attached to the food or the food container, for example, by printing or sticker. Note that the information code is used to heat-cook a specified food, and therefore may include only information specifying the food, and the heating information of the specified food may be obtained from an external server 51 (FIG. 10). The information code may also include only the heating information of the food.

[0026] The information code may be, for example, a two-dimensional code as shown by reference numeral 1061 in Fig. 6, or a one-dimensional barcode as shown by reference numeral 1062 in Fig. 6. The information code may be any code capable of indicating the type of food, and is not limited to a barcode or the like.

[0027] (Detection of the presence or absence of food in heating chamber 13) Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the light-emitting element 31a, the first light-receiving element 31b, and the second light-receiving element 31c constituting the food sensor 31 in the cooking appliance 1 shown in Fig. 1, and the sensor detection area 32 (first detection area 32a, second detection area 32b) of the food sensor 31. Reference numeral 1071 in Fig. 7 is a view of the heating chamber 13 as seen from the top surface side, and reference numeral 1072 is a view of the heating chamber 13 as seen from the front opening 13b side.

[0028] Fig. 8 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit of food sensor 31. Fig. 9 is a diagram for explaining a method for determining the presence or absence of food using food sensor 31.

[0029] The light-emitting element 31a is a near-infrared LED, and the first light-receiving element 31b and the second light-receiving element 31c are phototransistors (light-receiving wavelength 900 nm). In other words, the near-infrared light emitted by the light-emitting element 31a is received by the first light-receiving element 31b and the second light-receiving element 31c. The equivalent circuit of the food sensor 31 is as shown in FIG.

[0030] The light-emitting element 31a is provided at a substantially central position of the right side wall 13a in the heating chamber 13, as shown by reference numeral 1071 in Fig. 7, and at a height H1 (here, 15 mm) from the flat plate 13c on the bottom surface of the heating chamber 13, as shown by reference numeral 1072. The first light-receiving element 31b and the second light-receiving element 31c are provided at positions spaced apart from a straight line extending from the light-emitting element 31a to the opposing side wall 13a, as shown by reference numeral 1071 in Fig. 7, and at a predetermined height H2 from the flat plate 13c on the bottom surface of the heating chamber 13, as shown by reference numeral 1072. The height H2 at which the first light-receiving element 31b and the second light-receiving element 31c are provided is the same as the height H1 at which the light-emitting element 31a is disposed.

[0031] Here, a predetermined area including the area of ​​light irradiation until the near-infrared rays emitted from the light-emitting element 31a are received by the first light-receiving element 31b is referred to as a first detection area 32a for food detection, and a predetermined area including the area of ​​light irradiation until the near-infrared rays emitted from the light-emitting element 31a are received by the second light-receiving element 31c is referred to as a second detection area 32b for food detection. The first detection area 32a and the second detection area 32b constitute the sensor detection area 32 on the flat plate 13c of the heating chamber 13. This allows the food sensor 31 to detect whether or not food is placed in the sensor detection area 32.

[0032] Food sensor 31 sends light reception signals received by first light receiving element 31b and second light receiving element 31c to control unit 22 (FIG. 10) of cooking appliance 1. Control unit 22 determines the presence or absence of food in heating chamber 13 from the sent light reception signals.

[0033] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 9, if either the output voltage (Vout1) of the first light receiving element 31b or the output voltage (Vout2) of the second light receiving element 31c is less than the first threshold voltage (Vth1 = 0.6V), the control unit 22 determines that there is food, and if either the output voltage (Vout1) of the first light receiving element 31b or the output voltage (Vout2) of the second light receiving element 31c is equal to or greater than the first threshold voltage (Vth1 = 0.6V), the control unit 22 determines that there is no food. Here, when there is certainly no food on the flat plate 13c of the heating chamber 13, the output voltage (Vout1) of the first light receiving element 31b and the output voltage (Vout2) of the second light receiving element 31c are greater than 4.0V. Therefore, the control unit 22 sets 4.0V as the second threshold voltage (Vth2), and determines that there is no food if either the output voltage (Vout1) of the first light receiving element 31b or the output voltage (Vout2) of the second light receiving element 31c is greater than the second threshold voltage (Vth2 = 4.0V). That is, if there is food in the sensor detection area 32 on the flat plate 13c of the heating chamber 13, the output voltage of the light receiving element will be less than 0.6 V, and if there is no food, the output voltage of the light receiving element will be greater than 4.0 V. Note that the values ​​of the first threshold voltage (Vth1) and the second threshold voltage (Vth2) are not limited to the above 0.6 V and 4.0 V, and may be changed as appropriate depending on the specifications of the light emitting element 31a, the first light receiving element 31b, and the second light receiving element 31c.

[0034] In addition, even if food is placed on the flat plate 13c of the heating chamber 13, there are cases where the food is not properly placed in the sensor detection area 32 (when food is placed only in a part of the sensor detection area 32), when a highly transparent food (container) is placed, when food is placed in the sensor detection area 32 but is affected by external light, and in these cases, the output voltage of the light receiving element may be 0.6V or more and 4.0V or less. In other words, when the output voltage of the light receiving element is 0.6V or more and 4.0V or less, it is difficult to determine whether or not food is certainly placed in the heating chamber 13. Therefore, the control unit 22 determines that there is no food if either the output voltage (Vout1) of the first light receiving element 31b or the output voltage (Vout2) of the second light receiving element 31c is 0.6V or more and 4.0V or less. This allows heating to be performed only when food is certainly present in the heating chamber 13, and makes it possible to suppress no-load operation. These determinations are performed by a determination unit 22a of the control unit 22, which will be described later. The details of this determination unit 22a will be described later.

[0035] (Control device) 10 is a functional block diagram of a control device provided in the cooking appliance 1. The control device includes a control unit 22 that controls the operation of the cooking appliance 1. The control unit 22 is made up of, for example, a microcomputer, and has a CPU, ROM, and RAM.

[0036] 10, the control unit 22 is connected with the operation panel 11, the heating operation unit 23, the reader 16, the reading area illumination unit 21, the reading result notification unit 24, the food sensor 31, the front door opening / closing detection unit (opening / closing detection unit) 25, and the memory (storage unit) 52. The front door opening / closing detection unit 25 is composed of, for example, a switch that is turned on when the front door 12 is closed, and detects the open and closed states of the front door 12. The detection result by the front door opening / closing detection unit 25 is sent to the control unit 22.

[0037] The heating operation unit 23 is an operation unit that heats the food placed in the heating chamber 13, and is, for example, a microwave output device or a heater. The reading result notification unit 24 is a buzzer or a sound generating unit, and is controlled by the control unit 22 to notify the user of the success or failure of the reading of the information code by the reading device 16.

[0038] The control unit 22 controls the heating operation unit 23 so that the food is heated according to the heating information acquired by the reading device 16 reading the information code. Note that the heating information according to the type of food may be registered in the server 51, and the control unit 22 may acquire the heating information according to the type of food acquired by the reading device 16 reading the information code from the server 51. Note that the heating information according to the type of food may be stored in the cooking device 1 itself. In this case, the cooking device 1 does not need to communicate with the server 51.

[0039] Furthermore, the control unit 22 includes a judgment unit 22a that judges whether or not food is present in the heating chamber 13 based on the detection result from the food sensor 31, a heating control unit 22b that controls the heating operation of the heating operation unit 23 based on the judgment result of the judgment unit 22a, and a reading control unit 22c that controls the reading operation of the reading device 16 based on the judgment result of the judgment unit 22a.

[0040] The food sensor 31 is a sensor that detects food in the heating chamber 13, and is equipped with a light-emitting element 31a (light-emitting unit) that emits light, and a first light-receiving element 31b and a second light-receiving element 31c (light-receiving unit) that receive the light emitted from the light-emitting element 31a.

[0041] The determination unit 22a determines whether food is present in the heating chamber 13 according to the output voltage (amount of received light) of the first light receiving element 31b and the second light receiving element 31c of the food sensor 31. Specifically, the determination unit 22a determines whether food is present in the heating chamber 13 based on a signal indicating the detection result from the food sensor 31 (output voltage of the first light receiving element 31b and the second light receiving element 31c). Specifically, the determination of the presence or absence of food is made as follows. That is, if food is placed in the sensor detection area 32, the light emitted by the light emitting element 31a of the food sensor 31 is attenuated before being received by the first light receiving element 31b and the second light receiving element 31c. Therefore, the output voltage of the first light receiving element 31b and the second light receiving element 31c becomes low. At this time, if the output voltage is lower than a preset value (Vth1 in FIG. 9), it is determined that food is present. On the other hand, if no food is placed in the sensor detection area 32, the light emitted by the light emitting element 31a of the food sensor 31 is attenuated before being received by the first light receiving element 31b and the second light receiving element 31c, but the attenuation is small. Therefore, the output voltage of the first light receiving element 31b and the second light receiving element 31c does not become lower than when food is present. At this time, if the output voltage is equal to or higher than a preset value (Vth1 or Vth2 in FIG. 9), it is determined that no food is present.

[0042] If the detection result of the front door opening / closing detection unit 25 sent to the control unit 22 is that the front door 12 is closed and the judgment result of the judgment unit 22a indicates that there is food in the heating chamber 13, the heating control unit 22b allows the heating operation by the heating operation unit 23, but if the result indicates that there is no food in the heating chamber 13, it does not allow the heating operation by the heating operation unit 23.

[0043] (Operation of cooking device 1) The operation of the cooking device 1 will be described below. Here, a case will be described in which the food is a boxed lunch with an information code attached to the top surface of the container, and this boxed lunch is heated by the cooking device 1.

[0044] First, the user checks the guidance display 20 (for example, "Open the door and hold the information code over the red light") on the operation panel 11. Then, the user opens the front door 12 in accordance with the guidance display 20. When the front door open / close detection unit 25 detects that the front door 12 is open, the control unit 22 operates the reading device 16 and the reading area illumination unit 21.

[0045] Next, the user follows the guidance display 20 on the operation panel 11 and moves the lunch box so that the information code is in the reading area 19 of the reading device 16 (so that the red light hits the information code).

[0046] Through this operation, the reader 16 reads the information code attached to the lunch box. When the reader 16 successfully reads the information code, the control unit 22 notifies the user of the reading result through the reading result notification unit 24. In this case, the operation of the reading result notification unit 24 is, for example, to emit a continuous "beep" sound, to emit a voice saying "The information code has been successfully read", or both.

[0047] When the user is notified by the read result notification unit 24 that the information code has been successfully read, he or she places the lunch inside the heating chamber 13 and then closes the front door 12. In this state, the determination unit 22a determines whether the lunch to be heated is placed in a predetermined position inside the heating chamber 13. If the determination unit 22a determines that the lunch is inside the heating chamber 13, it sends the determination result to the heating control unit 22b. Meanwhile, the front door open / close detection unit 25 sends a detection signal indicating that the front door 12 has been closed to the heating control unit 22b. This allows heating control by the heating control unit 22b, i.e., heating operation by the heating operation unit 23, and heating of the lunch begins.

[0048] When the heating of the lunch box is completed in the above manner, the user is notified of the completion, and removes the lunch box from the heating chamber 13. By removing the lunch box from the heating chamber 13, the lunch box disappears from the sensor detection area 32 in the heating chamber 13, and the signal received by the food sensor 31 becomes a reference value, so that the determination unit 22a of the control unit 22 determines that the lunch box is not in the heating chamber 13. Based on the determination result of the determination unit 22a (the lunch box is not placed in the heating chamber 13), the heating control unit 22b does not permit the heating operation by the heating operation unit 23. As a result, the heating operation by the heating operation unit 23 is not performed when the lunch box is not placed in the heating chamber 13. In other words, the heating operation is not performed in an unloaded state.

[0049] (Control until cooking begins) FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the flow of the process (heating control method) up until the start of cooking in the cooking appliance 1.

[0050] First, the front door opening / closing detection is performed (step S11). Here, the front door opening / closing detection unit 25 detects whether the front door 12 is opened or closed, and the detection result is sent to the determination unit 22a and the heating control unit 22b.

[0051] Next, the determination unit 22a determines whether the front door 12 is closed or not (step S12). Here, the determination unit 22a determines whether the front door 12 is closed or not based on the detection result of the front door open / close detection unit 25. If the determination unit 22a determines that the front door 12 is closed (YES), the process proceeds to step S13 and food detection is performed. The method of detecting food has been described with reference to Figs. 8 and 9, so the description will be omitted here.

[0052] In step S13, food detection is performed by the food sensor 31, and the detection result is sent to the determination unit 22a.

[0053] Next, the determination unit 22a determines whether or not food is present (step S14). Here, the determination unit 22a determines whether or not food is present from the detection result sent from the food sensor 31. The detection result of the food sensor 31 is the output voltage value of the first light receiving element 31b and the second light receiving element 31c. The determination unit 22a then determines whether or not food is present in the heating chamber 13 from the output voltage value, sends the result of the determination that food is present (YES) to the heating control unit 22b, and starts heating (step S15). Here, the heating control unit 22b permits control of the heating operation unit 23 when the detection result sent from the front door open / close detection unit 25 indicates that the front door 12 is closed, and the determination result sent from the determination unit 22a indicates that food is present.

[0054] On the other hand, if in step S14, determination unit 22a determines that there is no food (NO), it sends the determination result to heating control unit 22b, and heating control unit 22b does not permit control of heating operation unit 23. As a result, there is no food to be subjected to heating control, and the process ends.

[0055] In other words, the heating control unit 22b does not allow control of the heating operation unit 23 based only on a result indicating that it has detected that the front door 12 is closed, but allows control of the heating operation unit 23 based on both a result indicating that it has detected that the front door 12 is closed and a result indicating that food is present.

[0056] (effect) According to the cooking device 1 having the above configuration, even when the front door 12 is closed, it is determined whether or not food is placed in the heating chamber 13, and if the result of the determination indicates that food is placed in the heating chamber 13, heating control is executed. As a result, when the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber 13 is determined before the front door 12 is closed, even if it is determined that there is no food due to the influence of external light when it should normally be determined that there is food, the presence or absence of food is determined again after the front door 12 is closed, so that a problem does not occur in which heating control is not started even though there is food.

[0057] In particular, in the case of the above-mentioned cooking device 1, in which the information code is read to obtain the heating information of the food in advance, and the food heating control is performed immediately after the front door 12 is closed, the presence or absence of food is determined again after the front door 12 is closed, so that if food is present, the heating control can be reliably performed.

[0058] Therefore, even if the heating chamber door is open and it is determined that there is no food due to a false detection caused by external light, if the heating chamber door is closed and it is determined that there is food, the heating of the food will automatically start. This reduces the effort and time required to start cooking the food, even if food detection is affected by external light.

[0059] In this embodiment, an example is described in which detection of the presence or absence of food is performed after the front door 12 is closed. However, in the following embodiments 2 and 3, an example is described in which the process of detecting the presence or absence of food is first performed with the front door 12 open.

[0060] [Embodiment 2] Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals are given to members having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0061] In this embodiment, the same cooking device 1 as in the first embodiment is used, but the process up to the start of heating control is different. That is, the control of the control unit 22 is different from that in the first embodiment.

[0062] (Control until cooking begins) FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of processes up to the start of cooking in this embodiment.

[0063] First, the front door opening / closing detection is performed (step S21). Here, the front door opening / closing detection unit 25 detects whether the front door 12 is opened or closed, and the detection result is sent to the determination unit 22a and the heating control unit 22b.

[0064] Next, the determination unit 22a determines whether the front door 12 is open or not (step S22). Here, the determination unit 22a determines whether the front door 12 is open or not based on the detection result of the front door open / close detection unit 25. If the determination unit 22a determines that the front door 12 is open (YES), the process proceeds to step S23 and food detection is performed. The method of detecting food has been described with reference to Figs. 8 and 9, so the description will be omitted here.

[0065] In step S23, food detection is performed by the food sensor 31, and the detection result is sent to the determination unit 22a.

[0066] Next, the determination unit 22a determines whether or not food is present (step S24). Here, the detection result by the food sensor 31 is sent to the determination unit 22a, and the determination unit 22a determines whether or not food is present. If the determination unit 22a determines that food is absent (YES), the front door open / close detection unit 25 performs front door open / close detection (step S25). Here, the front door open / close detection unit 25 detects whether the front door 12 is open or closed, and the detection result is sent to the determination unit 22a and the heating control unit 22b. On the other hand, if the determination unit 22a determines that food is present (NO) in step S24, the process proceeds to step S23 and food detection is performed.

[0067] Next, the determination unit 22a determines whether the front door 12 is closed or not (step S26). Here, the determination unit 22a determines whether the front door 12 is closed or not based on the detection result of the front door open / close detection unit 25. If the determination unit 22a determines that the front door 12 is closed (YES), the process proceeds to step S27, where food detection is performed. On the other hand, if the determination unit 22a determines in step S26 that the front door 12 is open (NO), the process proceeds to step S25, where front door open / close detection is performed.

[0068] In step S27, food detection is performed by the food sensor 31, and the detection result is sent to the determination unit 22a.

[0069] Next, determination unit 22a determines whether food is present (step S28). Here, determination unit 22a determines whether food is present or not based on the detection result sent from food sensor 31. Determination unit 22a sends the result of the determination that food is present (YES) to heating control unit 22b. Heating control unit 22b starts heating based on the determination result that food is present from determination unit 22a (step S29). Here, heating control unit 22b permits control of heating operation unit 23 when the detection result sent from front door open / close detection unit 25 indicates that front door 12 is closed and the determination result sent from determination unit 22a is a result of determining that food is present.

[0070] (effect) According to the cooking device 1 configured as described above, when the front door 12 is detected as open by the front door opening / closing detection unit 25 and the determination unit 22a determines that there is no food in the heating chamber 13, the heating control unit 22b starts heating the food if the front door 12 is detected as closed by the front door opening / closing detection unit 25 and the determination unit 22a determines that there is food in the heating chamber 13. In this way, the presence or absence of food is determined with the front door 12 open, and when it is determined that there is food, the front door opening / closing detection unit 25 detects whether the front door 12 is open or closed, so that heating of the food can be started automatically with food definitely present in the heating chamber.

[0071] [Embodiment 3] Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals are given to components having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0072] In this embodiment, the same cooking device 1 as in the first embodiment is used, but the process up to the start of heating control is different. That is, the control of the control unit 22 is different from that in the first embodiment.

[0073] (Control until cooking begins) FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of processes up to the start of cooking in this embodiment.

[0074] First, front door open / close detection is performed (step S31). Here, front door open / close detection unit 25 detects whether front door 12 is open or closed, and the detection result is sent to determination unit 22a and heating control unit 22b.

[0075] Next, the determination unit 22a determines whether or not the front door 12 is open (step S32). Here, the determination unit 22a determines whether or not the front door 12 is open based on the detection result of the front door open / close detection unit 25. If the determination unit 22a determines that the front door 12 is open (YES), the process proceeds to step S33 and food detection is performed.

[0076] In step S33, food detection is performed by the food sensor 31, and the detection result is sent to the determination unit 22a.

[0077] Next, determination unit 22a determines whether food is present (step S34). Here, determination unit 22a determines whether food is present or not based on the detection result sent from food sensor 31. If determination unit 22a determines that food is present (YES), front door opening / closing detection unit 25 detects whether the front door is open or closed (step S35). Here, the detection result by front door opening / closing detection unit 25 is sent to determination unit 22a and heating control unit 22b. On the other hand, if determination unit 22a determines that food is not present (NO) in step S34, the process proceeds to step S33, and food sensor 31 detects food.

[0078] Next, the determination unit 22a determines whether the front door 12 is closed or not (step S36). Here, the determination unit 22a determines whether the front door 12 is closed or not based on the detection result of the front door opening / closing detection unit 25. If the determination unit 22a determines that the front door 12 is closed (YES), the process proceeds to step S37 and heating starts. Here, the heating control unit 22b permits control of the heating operation unit 23 when the detection result sent from the front door opening / closing detection unit 25 indicates that the front door 12 is closed and the determination result sent from the determination unit 22a indicates that food is present.

[0079] On the other hand, if the determination unit 22a determines in step S36 that the front door 12 is open (NO), the process proceeds to step S35, where the front door open / close detection is performed.

[0080] Furthermore, if the determination unit 22a determines in step S32 that the front door 12 is closed (NO), the process proceeds to step S38, where food detection is performed.

[0081] In step S38, food detection is performed by food sensor 31, and the detection result is sent to determination unit 22a.

[0082] Next, determination unit 22a determines whether food is present (step S39). Here, determination unit 22a determines whether food is present or not based on the detection result sent from food sensor 31. If determination unit 22a determines that food is present (YES), it proceeds to step S37. In step S37, heating starts. Here, heating control unit 22b permits control of heating operation unit 23 when the detection result sent from front door open / close detection unit 25 indicates that front door 12 is closed and the determination result sent from determination unit 22a indicates that food is present.

[0083] Meanwhile, in step S39, determination unit 22a sends a result of determining that there is no food (NO) to heating control unit 22b and does not permit control of heating operation unit 23. In other words, since there is no food to be subjected to heating control, the process ends.

[0084] (effect) According to the cooking device 1 configured as above, the heating control unit 22b starts heating food when the front door 12 is detected as open by the front door opening / closing detection unit 25 and the determination unit 22a determines that there is food in the heating chamber 13, and when the front door opening / closing detection unit 25 detects that the front door 12 is closed. In this way, the presence or absence of food is determined with the front door 12 open, and when it is determined that there is food, the front door opening / closing detection unit 25 detects whether the front door 12 is open or closed, so that heating of food can be started automatically with food definitely present in the heating chamber.

[0085] [Modifications] In each of the above embodiments, the food sensor 31 includes one light-emitting element and two light-receiving elements, but the number of light-emitting elements and the number of light-receiving elements are not limited, and are not particularly limited as long as they can form a sensor detection area 32 as shown by reference numeral 1072 in Fig. 7, that is, a sensor detection area of ​​a desired size. The light-emitting element 31a is not limited to a near-infrared LED, and the first light-receiving element 31b and the second light-receiving element 31c are not limited to phototransistors with a light receiving wavelength of 900 nm.

[0086] Furthermore, the food sensor 31 is not limited to a transmission type sensor, but may be, for example, a reflection type sensor, that is, a sensor in which a light receiving element and a light emitting element are provided on the same side wall. For example, the food sensor 31 may be as shown in FIG.

[0087] FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the arrangement of food sensors and detection areas in a cooking device according to a modified example of the present invention.

[0088] The food sensor 31 is, for example, a reflective photosensor, and detects the presence or absence of a detected object (food) by directing light from a light-emitting element in the reflective photosensor onto the detected object and receiving the light reflected from the detected object. Here, as shown by reference numeral 1401 in Fig. 14, the irradiation range of light from the light-emitting element of the food sensor 31 is the sensor detection area 32.

[0089] Food sensor 31 receives light reflected from sensor detection area 32 and sends a signal representing the received light (light reception signal) to control unit 22 (FIG. 10) of cooking appliance 1. Control unit 22 determines the presence or absence of food 40 in heating chamber 13 from the light reception signal sent thereto.

[0090] As described above, in order to detect the presence or absence of food 40, which is a detection object placed in the heating chamber 13, it is necessary to adjust the position and size of the sensor detection area 32. In this embodiment, as shown by reference numeral 1402 in FIG. 14, an example is shown in which three food sensors 31 are arranged in the depth direction of the heating chamber 13. The three food sensors 31 have the same height from the installation surface. In this way, the sensor detection area 32, which is an area for detecting the presence or absence of food 40 placed on the flat plate 13c of the heating chamber 13, is formed using three food sensors 31 having the same height from the installation surface. Therefore, by adjusting the number of food sensors 31 and the height from the installation surface according to the size of the heating chamber 13, it is possible to form the sensor detection area 32 according to the size of the heating chamber 13. In this way, the number of food sensors 31, the installation height, etc. are not particularly limited as long as the sensor detection area 32 of a desired size can be formed.

[0091] [Software implementation example] The functions of the cooking device 1 (hereinafter referred to as the "device") can be realized by a program for causing a computer to function as the device, and a program for causing a computer to function as each control block of the device (particularly each part included in the control unit 22).

[0092] In this case, the device includes a computer having at least one control device (e.g., a processor) and at least one storage device (e.g., a memory) as hardware for executing the program. The control device and storage device execute the program to realize each function described in each of the above embodiments.

[0093] The program may be non-transitory and may be recorded in one or more computer-readable recording media. The recording media may or may not be included in the device. In the latter case, the program may be provided to the device via any wired or wireless transmission medium.

[0094] In addition, some or all of the functions of each of the control blocks can be realized by a logic circuit. For example, an integrated circuit in which a logic circuit that functions as each of the control blocks is formed is also included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, the functions of each of the control blocks can be realized by, for example, a quantum computer.

[0095] Furthermore, each process described in each of the above embodiments may be executed by AI (Artificial Intelligence). In this case, the AI ​​may be executed by the control device or another device (for example, an edge computer or a cloud server).

[0096] 〔summary〕 The heating cooker of aspect 1 of the present invention includes a heating chamber 13, a door (front door 12) provided in the heating chamber 13, an opening / closing detection unit (front door opening / closing detection unit 25) that detects the opening and closing of the door (front door 12), a judgment unit 22a that judges the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber 13, a reading device 16 that reads an information code for heating and cooking the food, and a heating control unit 22b that controls the heating of the food in the heating chamber 13 based on the information code read by the reading device 16, and the heating control unit 22b starts heating the food when the opening / closing detection unit (front door opening / closing detection unit 25) detects that the door (front door 12) is closed and the judgment unit 22a judges that there is food in the heating chamber 13.

[0097] According to the above configuration, when the door of the heating chamber is closed and food is present in the heating chamber, the heating control unit controls the heating of the food. Therefore, even if the door of the heating chamber is open and it is determined that there is no food due to a false detection caused by the influence of external light, if the door of the heating chamber is closed and it is determined that there is food, the heating of the food will automatically start. This reduces the effort and time required to start cooking the food, even if the detection of the food is affected by external light.

[0098] In the heating cooker of aspect 2 of the present invention, in aspect 1 above, the judgment unit 22a may judge the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber 13 when the opening / closing detection unit (front door opening / closing detection unit 25) detects that the door (front door 12) is closed, and the heating control unit 22b may start heating the food when the judgment unit 22a determines that there is food in the heating chamber 13.

[0099] According to the above configuration, the heating of food can be controlled with the door closed and with the food certainly present in the heating chamber.

[0100] In the heating cooker of aspect 3 of the present invention, in aspect 2 above, the judgment unit 22a judges the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber 13 when the opening / closing detection unit (front door opening / closing detection unit 25) detects that the door (front door 12) is open, and the heating control unit 22b may start heating the food when the opening / closing detection unit (front door opening / closing detection unit 25) detects that the door (front door 12) is open and the judgment unit 22a judges that there is no food in the heating chamber 13, and when the opening / closing detection unit (front door opening / closing detection unit 25) detects that the door (front door 12) is closed and the judgment unit 22a judges that there is food in the heating chamber 13.

[0101] According to the above configuration, heating when there is no food in the heating chamber, i.e., no-load operation, is suppressed, and heating can be controlled with the food reliably present.

[0102] In the heating cooker of aspect 4 of the present invention, in aspect 2 above, the judgment unit 22a judges the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber 13 when the opening / closing detection unit (front door opening / closing detection unit 25) detects that the door (front door 12) is open, and the heating control unit 22b may start heating the food when the opening / closing detection unit (front door opening / closing detection unit 25) detects that the door (front door 12) is open and the judgment unit 22a determines that there is food in the heating chamber 13, and when the opening / closing detection unit (front door opening / closing detection unit 25) detects that the door (front door 12) is closed.

[0103] According to the above-mentioned configuration, food can be reliably heated even when it is present in the heating chamber.

[0104] The heating cooker of aspect 5 of the present invention, in any one of aspects 1 to 4 above, is equipped with a food sensor 31 that detects food in the heating chamber 13, and the food sensor 31 is equipped with a light-emitting unit (light-emitting element 31a) that emits light and a light-receiving unit (first light-receiving element 31b, second light-receiving element 31c) that receives the light emitted from the light-emitting unit (light-emitting element 31a), and the judgment unit 22a may judge the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber 13 depending on the amount of light received by the light-receiving unit (first light-receiving element 31b, second light-receiving element 31c).

[0105] According to the above configuration, the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber can be determined with a simple configuration. Moreover, as in the second and third embodiments, if the presence or absence of food is determined with the door of the heating chamber closed, the light receiving unit is not affected by external light, and the presence or absence of food can be determined with high accuracy.

[0106] A heating control method for a heating cooker according to aspect 6 of the present invention is a heating control method for a heating cooker including a heating chamber 13, a door (front door 12) provided in the heating chamber 13, an opening / closing detection unit (front door opening / closing detection unit 25) that detects the opening and closing of the door (front door 12), a judgment unit 22a that determines the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber 13, a reading device 16 that reads an information code for heating and cooking the food, and a heating control unit 22b that controls the heating of the food in the heating chamber 13 based on the information code read by the reading device 16, wherein when the opening / closing detection unit (front door opening / closing detection unit 25) detects that the door (front door 12) is closed and the judgment unit 22a judges that there is food in the heating chamber 13, the heating control unit 22b starts heating the food.

[0107] According to the above configuration, when the door of the heating chamber is closed and food is present in the heating chamber, the heating control unit controls the heating of the food, thereby ensuring that the food is present in the heating chamber.

[0108] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. The technical scope of the present invention also includes embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in the different embodiments. Furthermore, new technical features can be formed by combining the technical means disclosed in the respective embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0109] 1 Cooker 11 Operation Panel 12 Front door (door) 13 Heating cabinet 13a side wall 13b Front opening 13c Flat Plate 14 Toride 15 Control Frame 16 Equipment 17 Device board 19 areas 20 Guidance display 21 Area lighting section 22, 22c Control section 22a Judgment part 22b Heating control section 22c Reading control section 23 Heating operation part 24 Results Notification Department 25 Front door opening / closing detector (opening / closing detector) 30 Display section 31 Food Sensor 31a Light emitting element (light emitting portion) 31b First light receiving element (light receiving section) 31c Second light receiving element (light receiving section) 32 Sensor detection area 32a First detection area 32b Second detection area 40 Food 51 Server

Claims

1. A heating chamber and A door provided in the heating chamber; an opening / closing detection unit that detects whether the door is opened or closed; A determination unit that determines whether food is present in the heating chamber; A reading device for reading an information code for cooking food; A heating control unit that controls heating of the food in the heating chamber based on the information code read by the reading device; Including, The heating control unit is A cooking device that starts heating the food when the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is closed after the reading device reads the information code and the judgment unit determines that there is food in the heating chamber.

2. The determination unit is When the open / close detection unit detects that the door is closed, it is determined whether or not food is present in the heating chamber; The heating control unit is The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein heating of the food is started when the determination unit determines that food is present in the heating chamber.

3. A heating chamber; A door provided in the heating chamber; an opening / closing detection unit that detects whether the door is opened or closed; A determination unit that determines whether food is present in the heating chamber; A reading device for reading an information code for cooking food; A heating control unit that controls heating of the food in the heating chamber based on the information code read by the reading device; Including, The heating control unit is When the open / close detection unit detects that the door is closed and the determination unit determines that food is present in the heating chamber, heating of the food is started; The determination unit is When the open / close detection unit detects that the door is open, it is determined whether or not food is present in the heating chamber; The heating control unit is This heating cooker starts heating the food when the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is open and the judgment unit judges that there is no food in the heating chamber, and when the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is closed and the judgment unit judges that there is food in the heating chamber.

4. The determination unit is When the open / close detection unit detects that the door is open, it is determined whether or not food is present in the heating chamber; The heating control unit is 3. The cooking device according to claim 2, wherein heating of the food is started when the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is open and when the determination unit determines that food is present in the heating chamber, the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is closed.

5. A food sensor is provided to detect food in the heating chamber; The food sensor comprises: A light emitting unit that emits light; A light receiving unit that receives the light emitted from the light emitting unit, The determination unit is The cooking device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the presence or absence of food in the heating chamber is determined according to an amount of light received by the light receiving section.

6. A heating control method for a cooking device including a heating chamber, a door provided in the heating chamber, an opening / closing detection unit that detects opening / closing of the door, a determination unit that determines whether food is present in the heating chamber, a reading device that reads an information code for cooking the food, and a heating control unit that controls heating of the food in the heating chamber based on the information code read by the reading device, The heating control method includes a step of starting heating of the food by the heating control unit after the reading device reads the information code, when the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is closed and the judgment unit judges that there is food in the heating chamber.

7. A heating control method for a heating cooker including a heating chamber, a door provided in the heating chamber, an opening / closing detection unit that detects opening / closing of the door, a determination unit that determines whether food is present in the heating chamber, a reading device that reads an information code for heating and cooking the food, and a heating control unit that controls the heating of the food in the heating chamber based on the information code read by the reading device, The method includes a step of starting heating the food by the heating control unit when the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is closed and the determination unit determines that there is food in the heating chamber, The determination unit is When the open / close detection unit detects that the door is open, it is determined whether or not food is present in the heating chamber; The heating control unit is A heating control method comprising: when the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is open and the judgment unit determines that there is no food in the heating chamber, and when the opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is closed and the judgment unit determines that there is food in the heating chamber, executing a process of starting heating the food.

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