Heating cooker with program update function

Abstract

To provide a heating cooker with a program update function which is excellent in usability of a user.SOLUTION: A heating cooker 1 includes: a heating part 2; and a control device 20 which performs control processing on the basis of a mounted program. The control device 20 is configured to: acquire, from an external device (server 40), an update program for updating the mounted program; store the acquired update program in a memory unit; and, if the update program is stored in the memory unit when electric power is supplied, notify of selection from a plurality of update times; and perform update into the update program at a selected update time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking heater with a program update function having a function of updating a program installed in a control device.

Background Art

[0002] There is a cooking heater that updates a program for control processing of a control device such as a microcomputer with a new program obtained from an external device such as an external server. For example, in Patent Document 1, when there is a program update request from an external device to the cooking heater, it is proposed to update the program when the cooking heater returns an update permission to the external device. Also, during program update, it is necessary to avoid an indefinite state of a control target element such as a control valve whose operation is controlled by the program. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, the user's usage time zone is stored from the usage history of the user's cooking heater, and the program is updated during the user's non-usage time zone. Also, when the cooking heater returns an update rejection to the external device a certain number of times or more, the program update is forcibly executed. During forced update, a provisional program having only a function of extinguishing the convector during abnormal heating by restricting the function more than during normal operation is proposed to be executed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in a cooking appliance that uses a battery as a driving power source, if power is not supplied to the control device, the program cannot be updated. However, when the user turns on the power of the cooking appliance, usually the user intends to start cooking with the cooking appliance. Therefore, if permission is given for the update even when a long time is required for the update, there is a problem that the user cannot start cooking for a certain period until the update is completed.

[0005] In a cooking appliance that uses a commercial power source as a driving power source, power can always be supplied to the control device, so the program can be updated when cooking is not being performed. However, when the user tries to start cooking and receives an update request from an external device and sends permission for the update to the external device, there is a problem that, similar to a cooking appliance that uses a battery as a driving power source, cooking cannot be started for a certain period. Also, in a cooking appliance that enters a standby power mode when not in use, it is conceivable that the user starts cooking while the program is being updated during the standby power mode, and it is difficult to set the update timing.

[0006] Also, regardless of which drive power source is used, it is necessary to avoid an indeterminate state of the controlled element when updating the update program during heating adjustment. Therefore, it is conceivable to grasp the user's usage time zone from the user's usage history as in Patent Document 1 and update the program during the user's non-usage time zone. However, at a stage where the number of times the user uses the heating cooker is small, there is a risk that the program will be updated during a time zone that the user does not desire. Also, when there are multiple users, the usage time zone becomes wider and the non-usage time zone becomes narrower. Therefore, when the capacity of the update program is large and it takes a long time to update, it is difficult to use the non-usage time zone for the update. Furthermore, if, as in Patent Document 1, forced update is performed when the update is rejected multiple times, the program will be updated at a timing unintended by the user. As a result, after the user starts heating and cooking, if forced update starts, a provisional program with restricted functions will be executed, the adjustment of the heating power will be restricted, and there is a problem that the cooking intended by the user cannot be performed after the start of heating and cooking. In particular, in a heating cooker having an automatic heating and cooking function in which the heating power is automatically changed, if the user does not notice that the heating and cooking is being performed using the provisional program, there is a possibility of cooking failure.

[0007] The present invention solves the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a heating cooker with a program update function that is excellent in user convenience without cooking failure.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] According to the present invention, a heating unit, a heating cooker with a program update function, comprising a control device that executes control processing based on the installed program, the control device acquires an update program for updating the installed program from an external device and stores it in a storage unit, When an update program is stored in the memory unit when the power supply state is reached, a cooking appliance with a program update function is provided that notifies the selection of a plurality of update times and executes the update to the update program at the selected update time.

[0009] According to the cooking appliance with the program update function, it is possible to update the update program at the update time desired by the user according to the usage status of the cooking appliance.

[0010] Preferably, in the cooking appliance with the program update function, When an update program is stored in the memory unit when the power supply state is reached, the control device notifies that there is an update program and the update time required for the update to the update program.

[0011] According to the cooking appliance with the program update function, the user can be quickly made aware that there is an update program. Also, according to the cooking appliance with the program update function, it is possible to update the update program at the update time desired by the user in consideration of the usage status of the cooking appliance and the update time required for the update.

[0012] Preferably, in the cooking appliance with the program update function, The control device notifies the selection of an update time including a non-operation time zone of the heating unit during automatic cooking.

[0013] For example, in automatic cooking, there may be a time zone in which the heating unit is not operated, such as residual heat cooking or steaming cooking, included in the cooking time of the automatic cooking. In the non-operation time zone of the heating unit as described above, since the control target element for changing the heating power of the heating unit is not operated, the update program can be updated in a time zone that does not affect the automatic cooking.

[0014] Preferably, in the cooking appliance with the program update function, When the control device selects the heating unit inoperative time zone during automatic heating cooking as the update time, if the update time to the update program is within the range of the heating unit inoperative time zone, the control device executes the update to the update program.

[0015] According to the above-mentioned heating cooker with a program update function, since the update to the update program can be completed within the heating unit inoperative time zone of automatic heating cooking, it is possible to avoid an indefinite state of the control target element during automatic heating cooking. As a result, even if the update to the update program is executed during automatic heating cooking, it is possible to prevent cooking failure.

Advantages of the Invention

[0016] As described above, according to the present invention, since the user can select the update time to the update program according to the usage status of the heating cooker, it is possible to provide a heating cooker with a program update function that is excellent in usability without cooking failure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, a cooking heater with a program update function according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Referring to FIG. 1, a cooking heater 1 with a program update function according to the present embodiment (hereinafter simply referred to as "cooking heater") is, for example, a gas stove or the like, and includes a burner 2 as a heating unit, a fuel supply passage 3 that supplies fuel gas to the burner 2, and an igniter 7 that generates a spark discharge at an ignition electrode 7a disposed close to the burner 2.

[0019] In the fuel supply passage 3, a main valve 4 and a pilot valve 5 as control valves that can open and close the passage, and a firepower adjustment valve 6 for adjusting the fuel supply amount to the burner 2 to adjust the firepower of the burner 2 are interposed. The main valve 4 and the pilot valve 5 are constituted by, for example, an electromagnetic safety valve or an electromagnetic valve, and the firepower adjustment valve 6 is constituted by, for example, a proportional valve or an electric valve of a motor drive type.

[0020] A power supply battery 80 is housed in the main body of the cooking heater 1, and power is supplied from the power supply battery 80 to a control device 20 and a drive circuit (not shown) of a control target element. Specifically, while operating the igniter 7, by performing opening control of the main valve 4 and the pilot valve 5, a spark discharge is generated from the ignition electrode 7a, and fuel gas is supplied to the burner 2. As a result, the burner 2 is ignited, and the combustion operation of the burner 2 starts. During the combustion operation of the burner 2, by controlling the firepower adjustment valve 6, the fuel supply amount to the burner 2 is adjusted, and thus the firepower of the burner 2 is adjusted. Further, when at least one of the main valve 4 and the pilot valve 5 is subjected to closing control, the fuel supply to the burner 2 is shut off, and the burner 2 is extinguished.

[0021] In FIG. 1, only one burner 2 is shown, but the cooking heater 1 may include a plurality of burners. In this case, each burner may include a main valve, a pilot valve, and a firepower adjustment valve in the same manner as in FIG. 1. Further, for example, a main valve common to all burners may be provided, and a pilot valve and a firepower adjustment valve may be provided in the fuel supply passage of each burner branched from the downstream side of the common main valve.

[0022] The cooking heater 1 includes a notification means composed of a display 11 that displays various visual information and a sound emitter 12 that outputs auditory information such as an alarm sound and voice, an operation unit 13 for the user to perform various operations related to the operation of the cooking heater 1, and a control device 20 having a function of controlling the operation of the cooking heater 1.

[0023] The display 11 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, an LED display, an organic EL display, etc., and the sound emitter 12 is composed of, for example, a speaker, a buzzer, etc. Also, although detailed illustration of the operation unit 13 is omitted, it has an operation unit provided with an operation switch, a spark extinguishing switch for the user to perform the ignition and extinguishing operation and the fire power adjustment operation of the burner 2, etc., and an automatic heating cooking operation switch for the user to perform setting operations related to automatic heating cooking in which the fire power adjustment and extinguishing of the burner 2 are automatically performed in a predetermined sequence.

[0024] The control device 20 is an electronic circuit unit including a first microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) 21 and a second microcomputer 22, etc., which will be described later. When an operation signal of the operation unit 13 is input, sensing signals of various sensors (not shown) provided in the cooking heater 1 are also input. The sensing signals include, for example, a detection signal of the temperature of the object to be heated heated by the burner 2 and a flame detection signal indicating the presence or absence of the combustion flame of the burner 2.

[0025] And the control device 20 has a function of controlling the operations of the main valve 4, the pilot valve 5, the fire power adjustment valve 6, the igniter 7, the display 11, and the sound emitter 12, respectively, as functions realized by the mounted hardware and program, as a plurality of control target elements of the cooking heater 1.

[0026] In addition, the control device 20 can perform wireless communication with a repeater 30 such as a Wi-Fi router that can be connected to an external network NW such as the Internet, and can communicate with an external server 40 that can distribute a program for the heating cooker 1 via the repeater 30 and the external network NW. Then, the control device 20 can acquire (download) a program for the heating cooker 1 from the external server 40 through communication with the external server 40.

[0027] The control device 20 has, for example, the configuration shown in FIG. 2. That is, the control device 20 includes two microcontrollers, a first microcontroller 21 and a second microcontroller 22, a wireless communication device 23, and a storage unit 24 that temporarily stores and holds an update program (a program for updating the current program implemented in the first microcontroller 21, including not only a program for updating the entire current program but also a program for updating a part of the current program) acquired from the external server 40. The first and second microcontrollers 21 and 22 are electronic control devices that execute predetermined control processes according to the implemented programs, and the storage unit 24 is a rewritable non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM or a flash memory.

[0028] Although not shown in the figure, the control device 20 includes a conventionally known drive circuit that operates each control target element of the heating cooker 1 (in this embodiment, the main valve 4, the pilot valve 5, the fire power adjustment valve 6, the igniter 7, the display 11, the sound emitter 12) according to a control signal output from the first microcontroller 21, an input circuit for inputting an operation signal and a sensing signal of the operation unit 13 to the first microcontroller 21 or the second microcontroller 22, and a power supply circuit that supplies power from a power supply battery 80 to the first microcontroller 21, the second microcontroller 22, the drive circuit, the input circuit, and the like. For example, a microswitch that is closed by the ignition operation of the ignition and extinguishing switch and is held closed by a heart cam mechanism (not shown) is connected to the power supply circuit. When the microswitch is closed, power is supplied to the first and second microcontrollers 21 and 22, and the first and second microcontrollers 21 and 22 are activated.

[0029] The first and second microcontrollers 21 and 22 each include a CPU or a processor and memories such as a RAM and a ROM, and a control program is implemented (stored) in the non-volatile memory. The first and second microcontrollers 21 and 22 are connected so as to be able to exchange data (communicate) with each other. Further, the second microcontroller 22 is connected to the wireless communication device 23 and the storage unit 24 so as to be able to exchange data with the wireless communication device 23 and the storage unit 24.

[0030] The first microcontroller 21 is a microcontroller having a function of performing overall operation control of the cooking appliance 1 and operation control of most of the control target elements of the cooking appliance 1. Various programs are implemented in the first microcontroller 21, such as a display control program for causing the first microcontroller 21 to execute control processing for controlling the display of the display 11, a sound generation control program for causing the first microcontroller 21 to execute control processing for controlling the output (acoustic information) of the sound generator 12, a combustion control program for causing the first microcontroller 21 to execute control processing related to the combustion operation of the burner 2, and a cooking control program for causing the first microcontroller 21 to execute control processing related to the automatic cooking operation. In the present embodiment, the programs implemented in the first microcontroller 21 correspond to programs to be updated to the updated programs stored in the storage unit 24.

[0031] The first microcontroller 21 uses the main valve 4, the pilot valve 5, the firepower adjustment valve 6, the igniter 7, the display 11, and the sound generator 12 as control target elements, and is connected to each control target element (main valve 4, pilot valve 5, firepower adjustment valve 6, igniter 7, display 11, and sound generator 12) via a drive circuit (not shown) of each control target element so as to be able to control the operation of these control target elements.

[0032] Here, the combustion control program of the first microcomputer 21, during the normal operation of the cooking appliance 1 (when the program of the first microcomputer 21 is not updated), determines control commands for the main valve 4, the pilot valve 5, the firepower adjustment valve 6, and the igniter 7 related to the operation of the burner 2 based on the operation signal or sensing signal of the operation unit 13, or a command generated by the cooking control program, etc., and outputs control signals corresponding to the respective control commands of the main valve 4, the pilot valve 5, the firepower adjustment valve 6, and the igniter 7 from the first microcomputer 21 to the respective drive circuits.

[0033] Also, the combustion control program is configured to appropriately provide a control command regarding the display of the display 11 or a control command regarding the output of the sounder 12 to the display control program or the sound output control program.

[0034] Also, the cooking control program is configured to appropriately generate control commands regarding the operation of the burner 2, the display of the display 11, or the output of the sounder 12 based on the operation signal or sensing signal of the operation unit 13 related to the automatic heating cooking operation, etc., and provide the control commands to the combustion control program, the display control program, or the sound output control program.

[0035] In this embodiment, the second microcomputer 22 is a microcomputer having a function of executing communication processing with the external server 40 and update processing for updating the program implemented in the first microcomputer 21 to the update program stored in the storage unit 24. The second microcomputer 22 is implemented with a communication control program for causing the second microcomputer 22 to execute communication processing via the wireless communication device 23 such as communication with the repeater 30 and the external server 40, and an update control program for causing the second microcomputer 22 to execute update processing for updating each of the above programs or a part of each program implemented in the first microcomputer 21 to the update program stored in the storage unit 24.

[0036] The program for communication control of the second microcomputer 22 is configured to receive a control signal having an update program generated by the external server 40 from the external server 40 and execute a communication process of storing the data of the update program received from the external server 40 in the storage unit 24. Further, the program for update control of the second microcomputer 22 is configured to execute an update process of updating the program installed in the first microcomputer 21 to the update program stored in the storage unit 24 at the set update timing, and to appropriately give a control command regarding the display of the display 11 to the program for display control of the first microcomputer 21.

[0037] Returning to FIG. 1, the external server 40 is installed at a remote location different from the installation location of the cooking heater 1 (for example, within a facility managed by the manufacturing company of the cooking heater 1), and is wirelessly connected to the cooking heater 1 via the repeater 30 and the external network NW.

[0038] Although not shown, the external server 40 includes a server-side control device that controls the operation of the entire external server 40 composed of an electronic circuit unit, a server-side storage unit that stores and holds various programs for the cooking heater 1, and a server-side wireless communication device. The server-side control device is configured to be able to exchange data with the second microcomputer 22 of the cooking heater 1. Further, the server-side control device determines a control command regarding the presence or absence of the update program according to the presence or absence of the update program in the server-side storage unit, and transmits a control signal corresponding to the control command to the second microcomputer 22 via the server-side wireless communication device, and is configured to execute a transmission process of transmitting the data of the update program to the second microcomputer 22.

[0039] Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, the process of updating the program implemented in the first microcomputer 21 to the updated program stored in the storage unit 24 will be described. In the present embodiment, when a fire extinguishing operation is performed using the spot fire extinguishing switch of the operation unit 13, the power supply to the drive circuit that operates the main valve 4 and the pilot valve 5 from the power supply circuit is cut off to extinguish the burner 2. However, until the update of the update program or the acquisition of the update program data from the external server 40 is completed, the second microcomputer 22 continues to send a holding signal that holds the power supply to the power supply circuit, and the power supply is cut off when these processes are completed.

[0040] When the user turns on the operation switch with the operation unit 13 to start the operation of the cooking heater 1, power is supplied from the power supply battery 80 to the first and second microcomputers 21 and 22, and the first and second microcomputers 21 and 22 and a drive circuit (not shown) etc. are activated. As a result, a power supply state is achieved in which the program implemented in the first microcomputer 21 can be updated to the updated program. Then, the second microcomputer 22 determines whether an update program that has not yet been updated is stored in the storage unit 24 and whether it is set to have an update program (step S1).

[0041] If there is an update program in the storage unit 24 (Yes in step S1), the second microcomputer 22 reads out the update time (calculated when the acquisition of the update program described later ends) required to update the corresponding program of the first microcomputer 21 from the storage unit 24 to the update program, and outputs a control signal corresponding to a control command for causing the display 11 to notify the update time to the first microcomputer 21. The first microcomputer 21 causes the display 11 to display the information that there is an update program and the update time for a predetermined display time (for example, 5 seconds) (step S2). As a result, the user can recognize not only that there is an update program before starting the cooking, but also the update time required for the update, so that the update timing can be selected according to the usage status of the cooking heater 1. If it is set to have no update program at startup (No in step S1), the update timing is set to “(3) Hold off the update” described later (step S3).

[0042] When the display time of the update time expires, the second microcomputer 22 outputs a control signal corresponding to a control command for causing the display 11 to display an update time selection menu to the first microcomputer 21, and the first microcomputer 21 causes the display 11 to display an update time selection menu including the following four update times (step S4). (1) Update before starting heating cooking (2) Update after finishing heating cooking (3) Hold the update (4) Update during automatic heating cooking (when the heating unit is not operating)

[0043] When the user operates the operation unit 13 (for example, presses a specific operation switch of the operation unit 13) to select any update time, the selected update time is accepted and the update time data is saved (step S5). Thereby, the update time according to the user's intention is set. Note that the display of the update time selection menu on the display 11 can be changed as appropriate as long as it means the update times of (1) to (4) above. For example, instead of "(1) Update before starting heating cooking", the display of "(1) Update immediately" may be performed, or instead of "(3) Hold the update", the display of "(3) Update next time" or "(3) Do not update" may be performed. Also, instead of "(4) Update during automatic heating cooking", the display of a specific automatic heating cooking menu may be performed, or the display indicating that it is a non-operating time zone of the heating unit such as the residual heat cooking time zone or the steaming cooking time zone may be performed. Further, the update time selection menu may include other update times as long as the selection of the update times of (1) to (4) above is possible.

[0044] Next, for example, when "(1) Update before starting cooking" is selected (Yes in step S6), the second microcomputer 22 updates the program implemented in the first microcomputer 21 to the update program stored in the storage unit 24. At this time, an in-update display indicating that the update to the update program is being executed may be performed from the display 11. When the update to the update program is completed, the update program is set to none, the update timing is set to "(3) Hold off the update", the completion of the update is notified from the display 11, and normal operations are accepted (step S7). Although not shown, when "(1) Update before starting cooking" is selected for the update timing, the first microcomputer 21 prohibits accepting operations at the operation unit 13 in normal cooking until the update to the update program is completed. As a result, since cooking is not started until the update to the update program is completed, it is possible to prevent cooking from being performed during the update in which the control target element may be in an indeterminate state.

[0045] Also, when an update timing other than “(1) Update before starting cooking” is selected (No in step S6) and the user starts cooking, the second microcomputer 22 determines whether a heating unit non - operating time zone has arrived during the automatic cooking operation, in which the burner 2 is maintained in the extinguished state and the opening and closing control of the main valve 4, the front valve 5, and the fuel - rate adjustment valve 6 accompanied by a change in the fuel rate is not performed (step S10). If the heating unit non - operating time zone of the automatic cooking operation has arrived (Yes in step S10), the second microcomputer 22 determines whether the update timing is set to “(4) Update during automatic cooking” (step S11). If the update timing is set to “(4) Update during automatic cooking” (Yes in step S11), it further determines whether the update time to the read - out scheduled update program is within the range of the heating unit non - operating time zone (step S12). If the update time is within the range of the heating unit non - operating time zone set in the automatic cooking operation (Yes in step S12), the program implemented in the first microcomputer 21 is updated to the update program stored in the storage unit 24 in the same manner as above. Then, the update program is set to none, and the update timing is set to “(3) Hold the update” (step S13). In this way, after the update to the update program is completed, by setting the update timing to “(3) Hold the update”, even if a new update program is obtained during cooking, the update to the new update program is not executed, so that it is possible to prevent the update from taking longer than the displayed update time or from being performed beyond the heating unit non - operating time zone. Although not shown, even when “(4) Update during automatic cooking” is selected for the update timing, if there is no heating unit non - operating time zone in the automatic cooking operation, or if there is a heating unit non - operating time zone but the update time is longer than the heating unit non - operating time zone (No in steps S10 and S12), the update to the update program is not executed. In this case, the display 11 may be notified that the update to the update program is not performed during automatic cooking.

[0046] As described above, in the present embodiment, the operation of the control target element for changing the heating power of the burner 2 is controlled by the first microcomputer 21, and the communication with the external server 40 is controlled by the second microcomputer 22. Therefore, even if the second microcomputer 22 executes communication processing with the external server 40 during the heating adjustment, the control target element does not enter an indeterminate state. For this reason, during the heating adjustment, the second microcomputer 22 communicates with the external server 40. When a control signal with an update program is received from the external server 40 (Yes in step S14), it determines whether it is set to have no update program (step S15). Here, if no update program is stored in the storage unit 24 at the start of the heating adjustment (No in step S1), since it is set to have no update program (Yes in steps S3 and S15), the second microcomputer 22 acquires the data of a new update program from the external server 40 and stores it in the storage unit 24. Then, when the acquisition of the update program from the external server 40 is completed, it sets it to have an update program, calculates the update time required for updating to the acquired update program, and sets the update time (steps S17 to S19). Also, when "(1) Update before starting heating adjustment" or "(4) Update during automatic heating adjustment" is selected at the update timing and the update to the update program is performed, no update program is stored in the storage unit 24 and it is set to have no update program (Yes in step S15). Similarly, a new update program is acquired, stored in the storage unit 24, set to have an update program, and the update time is set (steps S17 to S19). Further, if there is an update program in the storage unit 24 at the start of the heating adjustment (Yes in step S1) and "(3) Hold the update" is selected (No in step S15, Yes in step S16), a new update program is acquired and stored in the storage unit 24, set to have an update program, and the update time is set (steps S17 to S19). Thereby, in the heating cooker 1 using the battery 80 as a drive power source, a new update program can be acquired during the heating adjustment. Note that the storage unit 24 may have a plurality of storage areas for storing different update programs. Also, when there are a plurality of update programs in the storage unit 24, the user may arbitrarily set the update order.

[0047] When the cooking is finished and the user performs a fire extinguishing operation with the ignition / fire extinguishing switch (Yes in step S8), the second microcomputer 22 determines whether the update timing is set to “(2) Update after cooking is finished” (step S30). If the update timing is set to “(2) Update after cooking is finished” (Yes in step S30), the second microcomputer 22 updates the program implemented in the first microcomputer 21 to the update program stored in the storage unit 24 in the same manner as described above. Then, it sets to no update program and sets the update timing to “(3) Postpone update” (step S31).

[0048] On the other hand, when an update timing other than “(2) Update after cooking is finished” is set and after cooking is performed, the user performs a fire extinguishing operation with the ignition / fire extinguishing switch and turns off the power (Yes in step S8, No in step S30), if a new update program is being acquired from the external server 40 as described above (Yes in step S32), the second microcomputer 22 continues to acquire the new update program. When the acquisition of the update program is completed, it sets to having the update program, calculates the update time required for updating to the acquired update program, and sets the update time (steps S33 to S34). Then, when the above processing is completed, the power supply from the power circuit to the first and second microcomputers 22 is stopped (step S35).

[0049] In the present embodiment, when the update timing is set to "update after (2) completion of heat cooking", even if the second microcomputer 22 receives an update program from the external server 40 during heat cooking, the second microcomputer 22 does not acquire a new update program (in step S1, Yes; in steps S6, S8, and S10, No; in step S14, Yes; in steps S15 and S16, No). However, similar to the above, even when the update timing is set to "update after (2) completion of heat cooking", if the second microcomputer 22 receives data of a new update program from the external server 40 during heat cooking and stores it in the storage unit 24, after the completion of heat cooking, when the program implemented in the first microcomputer 21 is updated based on the update program stored in the storage unit 24 when the operation switch is operated and power supply is started (that is, when the power supply state enables the update to the update program), it may be updated based on the update program stored in the storage unit 24 during heat cooking. According to this, the update to the update program stored in the storage unit 24 at the start of heat cooking and the update to the new update program acquired from the external server 40 during heat cooking and stored in the storage unit 24 can be executed after the completion of heat cooking when the user has no intention of performing heat cooking. Also, when "(2) update after completion of heat cooking" is selected as the update timing before the start of heat cooking, since the user has no intention of continuing heat cooking after the completion of heat cooking, even if the update time becomes long, it does not impair the user experience. Therefore, the update to the update program can be efficiently performed.

[0050] As described in detail above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to update the update program at the update timing desired by the user according to the usage status of the cooking appliance 1. Therefore, for example, when the update time is short or there is a time margin until the user starts cooking, if the user selects "(1) Update before starting cooking", the update to the update program stored in the storage unit 24 can be completed before starting cooking. Also, for example, when the user needs to cook in a short time, such as at breakfast, the user can select "(3) Postpone update" and start cooking earlier. Also, for example, when the user does not plan to cook later, such as at dinner, if the user selects "(2) Update after cooking ends", even for a large-capacity update program with a long update time, interruption of the update can be avoided and the update program can be appropriately updated. Furthermore, for example, in automatic cooking, there may be a non-operating time zone of the heating unit that does not operate the burner 2, such as residual heat cooking or steaming cooking, included in the cooking time. Therefore, when performing automatic cooking with these non-operating time zones of the heating unit, if the user selects "(4) Update during automatic cooking", the update program can be updated during a time zone that does not affect the automatic cooking. Also, since the update is performed during the non-operating time zone of the heating unit where the burner 2 is not operated, there is no need to provide a provisional program that limits the function as in the prior art. In particular, according to this embodiment, the update time required to update the update program is compared with the non-operating time zone of the heating unit, and if the update time is within the range of the non-operating time zone of the heating unit, the update is executed during the automatic cooking, so that the update program can be efficiently updated.

[0051] Further, according to the present embodiment, when power supply to the control device 20 is started and the power supply state becomes such that power can be supplied for updating the update program, if the update program is stored in the storage unit 24, it is notified that there is an update program, so that the user can be quickly made aware that there is an update program. Further, according to the present embodiment, since the update time required for updating the update program is notified, the user can compare the usage status of the cooking heater 1 with the update time required for the update and execute the update to the update program at the update time desired by the user.

[0052] Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since the user can select the update timing for the update program according to the usage status of the cooking heater, it is possible to provide a cooking heater that is excellent in usability without cooking failure.

[0053] (Other Embodiments) (1) In the above embodiment, the update program is acquired from the external server via the repeater and the external network and stored in the storage unit. However, in the present invention, the update program may be acquired from an external device other than the external server. For example, an update program may be acquired by connecting a removable external memory to the cooking heater.

[0054] (2) In the above embodiment, the cooking heater has a burner as a heating unit. However, in the present invention, the cooking heater may have an electric heater or an electromagnetic induction heater as a heating unit instead of or together with the burner.

[0055] (3) In the above embodiment, the program implemented in the first microcomputer is updated to the update program. However, in the present invention, the program implemented in the second microcomputer may also be updated to the corresponding update program.

[0056] (4) In the above-described embodiment, a battery is used as the drive power source. However, the present invention can also be applied to a cooking heater that uses a commercial power source. In a cooking heater that uses a commercial power source as the drive power source, a state in which any operation switch is operated to start the operation (when the child lock is functioning, a state in which the lock function is released) corresponds to the power supply state, and in a cooking heater having a standby power mode, a state in which the standby power mode returns to the active mode corresponds to the power supply state.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0057] 1 Cooking heater 2 Burner 20 Control device 40 External server

Claims

1. a heating unit, a cooking appliance with a program update function, comprising a control device configured to execute control processing based on a mounted program, wherein the control device acquires an update program for updating the mounted program from an external device and stores it in a storage unit, and when the update program is stored in the storage unit when the power supply state is reached, the cooking appliance with a program update function is configured to notify a selection of a plurality of update times and execute an update to the update program at the selected update time.

2. The cooking appliance with a program update function according to claim 1, wherein the control device, when the update program is stored in the storage unit when the power supply state is reached, notifies that there is an update program and the update time required for updating to the update program.

3. The cooking appliance with a program update function according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control device notifies a selection of an update time including a non-operation time zone of the heating unit during automatic cooking.

4. The cooking appliance with a program update function according to claim 3, wherein when the non-operation time zone of the heating unit during automatic cooking is selected as the update time, the control device executes an update to the update program if the update time to the update program is within the range of the non-operation time zone of the heating unit.

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