Heating cooker and heating cooking system

Abstract

To provide a heating cooker which can accurately acquire recipe data from a communication terminal and which is highly convenient for a user, and to provide a heating cooking system.SOLUTION: A heating cooker includes: a specific input key for permitting acquisition of recipe data; notification means; a communication part; and a control device for controlling heating means using the recipe data acquired from the outside and for executing cooking. The control device sequentially executes: a notification step of notifying a user of necessity of operation of the specific input key, in the case where a notice signal is received corresponding to the cooking of the recipe data; a confirmation step of determining whether the specific input key was operated, after the notification step, and in the case where it is determined that there has been the operation of the specific input key, transmitting selection information; and a limit step of starting a reception limit period, in the case of transmitting the selection information. At a communication terminal for receiving an operation command from a user, a display screen is displayed for specifying the specific input key, corresponding to the notification step of the heating cooker.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 60

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cooking heater that heats an object to be heated, such as a pan, placed on a top plate, and a cooking system that uses the cooking heater.

Background Art

[0002] Cooking heaters are roughly classified into three types from the perspective of the environment in which they are used. One of them is the so-called "built-in type" installed in kitchen furniture such as a kitchen counter. The second is the "stationary type" placed and used at a predetermined position of kitchen furniture, such as a gas stove (also referred to as a "gas combustion table"). The third is the small and portable "tabletop type" placed and used at an arbitrary position on a dining table or the like.

[0003] Many "built-in type" cooking heaters have a type equipped with a plurality of types of heat sources and are popular as those capable of handling various cooking methods. However, since it is installed in kitchen furniture, the external dimensions must be designed according to the specifications of general kitchen furniture, and the degree of freedom in design is much less compared to "stationary type" and "tabletop type" ones, and the difficulty in making a practical product is high.

[0004] As a typical built-in cooking heater, a plurality of heating ports are arranged on the upper part of the main body, induction heating is performed at the heating ports, and a grill compartment (also referred to as an "oven chamber" or a "heating chamber", hereinafter uniformly referred to as a "heating chamber") is provided inside the main body, and microwaves from a microwave heat source are introduced into the heating chamber for cooking (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Those equipped with a plurality of heat sources having different heating principles as described above are called composite cooking heaters.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

[0006] As proposed in the above Patent Document 1, in the case of a combined heating and cooking device, the number of heating means and input operation units increases, and the work of a user individually setting one cooking menu becomes more complicated. Therefore, as shown in Patent Document 2, it has been proposed to transmit recipe data from a smartphone (communication terminal) to each heating source of a heating and cooking device and cook with the recipe data. However, in order to set recipe data in a heating and cooking device via a communication terminal, the user needs to consider and execute each time the timing of communication between the heating and cooking device and the communication terminal and the selection of the heating source to be used. Also, in the case of a cooking menu that uses two or more heating means in combination for one cooking, there is a concern that the user may be confused about operating the input operation unit. However, in the above Patent Documents 1 and 2, the countermeasures against these problems are not yet sufficient. For this reason, it may cause confusion for the user and also cause a failure in data communication for the cooking menu. That is, it is necessary to provide timely notification to the user according to the cooperation state between the heating and cooking device side and the communication terminal.

[0007] The first object of the present disclosure is to obtain a highly convenient heating and cooking device and a heating and cooking system that can set various cooking menus from a communication terminal to the heating and cooking device by improving the operability of the user. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0008] A heating and cooking device according to a first disclosure includes a specific input key, a notification means, a communication unit, and a control device that controls heating means using recipe data acquired from the outside and executes cooking. The control device (1) When receiving a notice Menu corresponding to the cooking Information of the recipe data, To be operated a notification step of notifying the specific input key; (2) After the notification step, Received in the notification step determining whether the specific input key has been operated, and when it is determined that the specific input key has been operated, a confirmation step of transmitting selection information; (3) When transmitting the selection information, Restrict the reception of recipe data for another cooking menu a restriction step of starting a reception deadline period; are sequentially executed, and is a configuration characterized by this.

[0011] The heating cooking system related to the fourth disclosure includes a communication unit, and a heating cooker having a plurality of specific input keys for permitting reception of recipe data regarding an object to be cooked via the communication unit; a communication terminal wirelessly connected to the heating cooker; The communication terminal (1) sequentially displays a first screen and a second screen on a terminal-side display unit; (2) displays recipe data regarding a selected object to be cooked on the first screen; (3) when the recipe data displayed on the first screen is selected, switches the display to the second screen and displays notice information indicating the specific input key to be operated before reception of the recipe data on the second screen; (4) on the second screen On the first screen select Performed displays an input key capable of transmitting the recipe data; (5) when the input key is operated, transmits Of the heating means setting information regarding the recipe data selected on the first screen to the heating cooker; When the specific input key indicated in the notice information is operated, the heating cooker To the communication terminal transmits selection information Restrict the reception of recipe data for another cooking menu to start a reception deadline period; It is a configuration characterized by

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a cooking appliance that can widely support various cooking operations in cooperation with a communication terminal and contribute to the efficiency improvement of user input operations and the reduction of input load, and a cooking system using the cooking appliance.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, the cooking system according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, terms indicating directions (for example, "up", "down", "right", "left", "front", "rear", etc.) are used to facilitate understanding, but these are merely for the purpose of explanation. Also, in each figure, those with the same reference numerals are the same or corresponding ones, which is common throughout the entire specification.

[0015] Furthermore, in the following description, a composite cooking appliance having a plurality of types of heating means is also simply referred to as a "cooking appliance". Also, a cooking appliance having a cooking space such as an inner pot, like a rice cooker equipped with one heating means (for example, an induction heating coil or a sheathed heater), is also called a cooking appliance. For example, in such a rice cooker, even if there is only one heating means, it can cook normal white rice and make a plurality of types of foods to be cooked such as rice porridge, and there may be more than several ways of cooking rice. Such a rice cooker is provided with a plurality of input keys (such as touch keys or push-button keys) that can select these various foods to be cooked and cooking modes, and improving the operability of the user US is one issue.

[0016] In the following description, the term "object to be heated placed on the top plate" includes both cases where an object to be heated such as a pot is directly placed on the upper surface of the top plate 3 described later and heated, and cases where the object to be heated is placed on a supporting member such as a trivet arranged above the top plate and heated, like a gas burner etc.

[0017] In Embodiment 1, the "second heating means" HM2 refers to a heat source for heating the object to be cooked accommodated inside the heating chamber 6 described later. It may utilize radiant heat or steam.

[0018] In Embodiment 1, the microwave heat source uses a magnetron, but there is no limitation on the microwave oscillation principle or method, such as a microwave oscillator using semiconductor elements. Also, a plurality of heat sources may be provided.

[0019] In this Embodiment 1, the "third heating means" HM3 is referred to as "third" to show the difference from the second heating means HM2, but it does not imply a superiority or inferiority relationship. Also, in Embodiment 1, a heating source using a radiant electric heat source (such as a sheathed heater, mica heater, carbon heater, ceramic heater, infrared heater, radiant heater, etc.) is used, but a heat source that generates heat in other forms or methods may also be used.

[0020] The third heating means HM3 refers to something that can perform heating and cooking in one heating chamber 6. A form that combines a plurality of heat sources having different heating principles, such as a heat source composed of an electric heater etc. and a gas burner, may also be used. Also, an induction heat source may be used as the heat source for heating the heating chamber 6. A steam generator (boiler) (not shown) that supplies high-temperature steam (such as superheated steam) may also be used.

[0021] Furthermore, the third heating means may be either a heat source that heats the wall surface of the heating chamber 6 from the outside or a heat source installed in the internal space of the heating chamber 6 to raise the atmosphere of the internal space to a high temperature. Further, a heating member that becomes high temperature by an induction heating method may be disposed in the heating chamber, and in any form, the wall surface of the heating chamber 6 may be heated from the outside by this heating member, or the air inside the heating chamber 6 may be heated.

[0022] As a typical example of the induction heating coil (IH coil) in this Embodiment 1, there is a structure in which about 30 thin copper wires or aluminum wires of about 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm are bundled, and this bundle is wound in a spiral shape while twisting a plurality of these bundles. Alternatively, there is also a structure in which about 1000 to 1500 wires of about 0.05 mm are wound. There is also a proposal to use a flat plate-shaped conductive material and an annular conductor formed in an annular shape. Any of these forms corresponds to the "IH coil" which is the main part of the first heating means HM1 (induction heating source).

[0023] In this Embodiment 1, "cooperative cooking" refers to cooking performed using two or more heating sources where the heating locations for one object to be cooked (including foods, meats, vegetables, etc.) are different and the heating operation conditions can be set independently.

[0024] The above "cooperative cooking" corresponds to the case where a plurality of heating means are used with a time difference. For example, in the process of completing one cooking, if the object to be cooked is preheated by a microwave heating source and then moved to another location and heated by an IH coil at the moved location to complete the cooking, this is a kind of "cooperative cooking" as described here.

[0025] Also, a form in which the object to be cooked is heated inside the heating chamber 6 by a gas burner, and then the object to be cooked is moved onto the top plate 3 and heated by a gas burner or an induction heating source to improve the degree of cooking completion is also a kind of "cooperative cooking".

[0026] The "voice input mode" refers to a control mode in which the user US inputs by voice without performing operations such as touching or pressing the buttons of the input switch (input key) or the operation surface. The types of the "voice input mode" include "voice input mode 1" and "voice input mode 2".

[0027] The above-mentioned "voice input mode 1" is selected by operating an input key (hereinafter referred to as "dual-purpose key") that corresponds to both voice input and touch (including pressing) input. The above-mentioned "voice input mode 2" is selected by operating an input key dedicated to voice input (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "voice input dedicated key") 180, which will be described later.

[0028] When there are a plurality of input keys in one input operation unit and the "dual-purpose key" is provided among them, when the "voice input mode 1" is changed by the dual-purpose key, there are two cases: one is to temporarily invalidate the input functions of the input keys (for example, 156M) other than this dual-purpose key (this control pattern is referred to as "voice input mode 1A"), and the other is not to invalidate them (this control pattern is referred to as "voice input mode 1B"). Both fall under the "voice input mode 1" mentioned here.

[0029] When performing touch input by an input key (for example, 153M or 153L) in one input operation unit and pressing the "voice input dedicated key" 180, the "voice input mode 2" is selected. In this case, after the selection of this voice input mode 2, there are two cases: one is to temporarily invalidate the input functions of the input keys (for example, 156M) other than the voice input dedicated key 180 (this control pattern is referred to as "voice input mode 2A"), and the other is not to invalidate them (this control pattern is referred to as "voice input mode 2B"). Both fall under the "voice input mode 2" mentioned here.

[0030] In this Embodiment 1, there are a total of three input operation units 15, namely a central operation unit 15M, a left operation unit 15L, and a right operation unit 15R. The central operation unit 15M is sometimes referred to as a "shared operation unit". Also, the left operation unit 15L and the right operation unit 15R are sometimes referred to as "individual operation units".

[0031] The individual operation units 15L and 15R are each provided with first specific input keys 152L and 152R. The shared operation unit 15M has a second specific input key 153M. At least one specific input key may be provided in one input operation unit (in this case, the shared operation unit 15M).

[0032] When each of the three aforementioned specific input keys (152L, 152R, and 153M) is input-operated, it generates individual selection information A (202A, 202B, 202C) corresponding to the specific input key. That is, since different selection information A (202A, 202B, 202C) is generated, the input key identification unit 15A of the input operation unit 15 can uniquely identify which specific input key has been operated. Incidentally, the selection information of the specific input key 152L is 202A. The selection information of the specific input key 152R is 202B. The selection information of the specific input key 153 is 202C. Thereby, the control device 40 can also determine from the input information from the input operation unit 15 which specific input key (152L, 152R, and 153M) has been input-operated. If the specific input key itself does not have the function of generating unique selection information A (202A, 202B, 202C), the input operation unit 15 where the specific input key is arranged may assign a unique identification number (code) to each individual specific input key and transmit the identification information of each individual specific input key to the control device 40 side. In the following description, the selection information A uses 202 as a representative symbol. That is, the symbol 202 includes all of the selection information 202A to 202C and may also mean any one of them.

[0033] When obtaining a recipe data CD and operating the individual operation units 15L and 15R for cooking, when performing heat cooking, by selecting and operating the first specific input keys 152L and 152R, a first cooking program is selected from a storage device 42 of a control device 40 described later. This "first cooking program" drives a first heating means HM1 to perform induction heating cooking. Individual cooking menus belonging to the first cooking program are respectively displayed on a left display unit 16L and a right display unit 16R. Note that the first specific input keys 152L and 152R also serve as keys to be pressed when selecting control menus to be performed at left and right heating ports 4L and 4R, as will be described later. However, the first specific input keys 152L and 152R may be changed to other input keys (for example, 153R and 153L) and also serve as input keys for selecting the left and right heating ports 4L and 4R. Further, the first specific input keys 152L and 152R may also serve as input keys 154L, 154R, 155L, and 155R for instructing increases and decreases in heating time, heating power, etc. Moreover, they may also serve as input keys 153L and 153R for selecting heating ports.

[0034] When obtaining a recipe data CD and operating the shared operation unit 15M for cooking, when performing heat cooking, by selecting and operating the second specific input key 153M, a second cooking program is selected from a storage device 42 of a control device 40 described later. This "second cooking program" drives and performs heat cooking by combining two groups of a first heating means HM1, a second heating means HM2, and a third heating means HM3. Specifically, individual cooking menus belonging to a "cooperative cooking mode" KM1 described later can be executed. In this cooperative cooking mode KM1, there are two or more cooking steps. Selection of a cooking menu can be performed on a central operation unit 15M while viewing a central display unit 16M. Note that, until starting cooking in the cooperative cooking mode KM1, input keys other than the second specific input key 153M are also used for setting control conditions (such as heating power and heating time). By selecting and operating the second specific input key 153M, a second cooking program is selected from the storage device 42 of the control device 40, and identification information 167 such as the name of the cooking menu that can be executed by the second cooking program can be displayed on the display unit 16.

[0035] In addition, the "second cooking program" includes those that execute heating cooking by driving the first heating means HM1, the second heating means HM2, and the third heating means HM3 independently. For example, it is also possible to perform induction heating at a specific heating port (central heating port 4C) or only perform microwave heating in the heating chamber 6.

[0036] The "recipe data" CD refers to the data used for controlling the heating cooker 1 to heat-cook one object to be cooked. One form of the recipe data CD includes data specifying the heating means, data defining the heating process and order, and control conditions during heating (including but not limited to heating power, target temperature, heating cooking time, etc.).

[0037] Another form of the recipe data CD does not include data specifying the heating means and data defining the heating process and order, but only includes some data for executing a cooking menu (for example, hamburger). For example, when performing heating cooking in the cooperative cooking mode described later, when executing one cooking menu It means that it does not include information specific to the heating means (including information indicating the attributes of the heating means and information about the heating ports), information about the cooking process, information indicating the order of the heating means to be driven, etc. In this case, the data mainly consists of commands and data for determining control conditions such as heating capacity and heating time (hereinafter referred to as "commands" or "command data"). In this case, if the recipe data CD held by the heating cooker 1 is configured based on, for example, an object to be cooked for one person, it may be possible to respond by changing the control conditions (for example, one parameter such as heating time) by the built-in program so as to correspond to two or four people on the heating cooker side according to external commands.

[0038] In the following embodiments, the form of the recipe data CD as described above will not be particularly distinguished and described. The "display screen" referred to in the following embodiments includes a liquid crystal display screen by a liquid crystal display element (liquid crystal panel) and a display screen by other light emission methods (such as an organic EL panel). Moreover, it includes a "pop-up screen" that automatically appears in the display screen. "Pop-up" refers to another window that automatically appears (starts up and begins to be displayed) on the screen of an Internet browser (also referred to as a "Web browser"). For example, in the terminal-side display unit (display screen) 216 of the communication terminal 200 described later, the first screen 216A, the second screen 216B, etc. will be described, but they may be composed of pop-up screens.

[0039] Embodiment 1. (1. Configuration of the cooking system) Embodiment 1 according to the present disclosure is described in FIGS. 1 to 60. Explanation will be made with reference to FIG. 1. The cooking system of the present Embodiment 1 includes a cooking device 1, a smartphone 200 (also called a high-function communication terminal device, but hereinafter referred to as a "communication terminal" in the following description) having a function of performing wireless communication with the cooking device 1, and a cloud server 300. Note that the communication terminal 200 may be other than a smartphone, and for example, a tablet terminal device with a communication function, a personal computer, etc. may also be used. Including these devices, in this Embodiment 1, they are uniformly referred to as the communication terminal 200.

[0040] The communication terminal 200 performs wireless communication by a communication method such as WiFi (registered trademark) with a wireless router 340 (FIG. 2) installed in a house (not shown) where the cooking device 1 is used.

[0041] The cooking device 1 can acquire at least the recipe data CD1 through wireless communication 330 with the communication terminal 200. Note that the recipe data CD2 acquired by the cooking device 1 via the cloud server described later will be explained later. The communication terminal 200 performs wireless communication 330 with the cooking device 1 by a communication method such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0042] The communication terminal 200 accesses a cloud server 330 in the external space via a network NW such as the Internet and the wireless router 340 (Fig. 2). There is at least one recipe data providing server 301 in the cloud server 300.

[0043] The recipe data providing server 301 is equipped with a recipe DB (database) 302 that holds data of recipes for performing various cookings. The communication terminal 200 accesses a recipe providing site operated by the recipe data providing server 301 and acquires (downloads) various recipe data CDs1 from the recipe DB302.

[0044] Although the recipe data CD1 will be described in detail later, it contains an instruction (command data) that specifies heating means and control conditions (including at least any one of heating power, heating time, temperature, etc., but not limited thereto) so that a specific object to be cooked (e.g., "hamburger") can be cooked by the cooking device 1. However, as described above, it may be only the unique data for identifying the recipe data CD1.

[0045] In the following description, when explaining recipe data (also referred to as "cooking execution data"), it may be described with symbols such as CD1 and CD2. However, the content of the recipe data is not necessarily different depending on these symbols, and there may be the same cases. These symbols (CD1, CD2) are attached based on the transmitting entity of the recipe data for easy understanding. When using a unified reference symbol for the recipe data, "CD" is used.

[0046] The cooking appliance 1 shown in Fig. 1 includes a first heating means HM1 disposed below a top plate 3 (to be described hereinafter with reference to Fig. 2) that covers the upper surface of the cooking appliance 1, a second heating means HM2 that supplies microwaves into a heating chamber 6 (see Fig. 3) formed inside the cooking appliance 1, and a third heating means HM3 that is inside or outside the heating chamber 6 and heats by raising the temperature of the internal space of the heating chamber 6.

[0047] If the upper surface of the top plate 3 is defined as the "first location", the first heating means HM1 uses induction heating means to heat an object to be heated (a magnetic metal pot) placed at this first location. Alternatively, a gas combustion device equipped with a gas burner for heating a magnetic or non-magnetic metal pot can be used as the first heating means HM1.

[0048] If a closed space located away from the first location is defined as the "second location", the inside of the heating chamber 6 (see Fig. 3) becomes the second location.

[0049] The cooking appliance 1 has a function of executing a "single cooking mode" KM3 in which the first heating means HM1 and the second heating means HM2 are each driven independently.

[0050] As a method of cooking one object to be cooked, the cooking appliance 1 has a function of executing a "composite cooking mode" KM2 in which the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3 are driven simultaneously, or one of them is operated first and the other is automatically started later. Even when the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3 are operating simultaneously, whether the end times of both heatings are the same or different, they both belong to one operation pattern of the "composite cooking mode" KM2.

[0051] In the above-mentioned "Compound Cooking Mode" KM2, there are at least a pattern (RG control mode 1) in which the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3 are driven simultaneously from the beginning, a pattern (RG control mode 2) in which the driving of the third heating means HM3 starts after the second heating means HM2, and a pattern (RG control mode 3) in which the third heating means HM3 is driven first and then automatically switched to the driving of the second heating means HM3. In these RG control modes 1 to RG control modes 3, when the cooking starts in the heating chamber 6 (see Fig. 3), the switching of each heating means is automatically performed.

[0052] The "Compound Cooking Mode" KM2 does not have a "Cooking Menu" corresponding to a specific object to be cooked (e.g., hamburger), which is different from the cooperative cooking mode KM1 described later. That is, a "Control Menu" is prepared according to the patterns of driving the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3. With one control pattern, it can cope with a plurality of objects to be cooked (e.g., thawing meat, boiling vegetables, etc.).

[0053] For example, one of the "Control Menus" is the above-mentioned "RG Control Mode 1". In the RG control mode (RG compound cooking mode), various objects to be cooked can be cooked. One of the "Control Menus", for example, the above-mentioned "RG Control Mode 1", is controlled by the recipe data that defines the control mode, but is not set for each specific object to be cooked.

[0054] That is, the compound cooking mode KM2 having a plurality of "Control Menus" is an operation pattern in which two or more heating sources (the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3) operate in a predetermined sequence.

[0055] On the other hand, the cooperative cooking mode KM1 having a cooperative cooking menu is one to which recipe data (corresponding to a specific object to be cooked) for cooking the objects to be cooked placed at respective locations inside the heating chamber 6 and above the top plate 3 in a predetermined order is applied. That is, in the combined cooking mode KM2 and the coordinated cooking mode KM1, the content of the recipe data is different.

[0056] In the following description, when indicating the type of control form such as the drive pattern of the heating source, it is called "control menu". For example, "defrosting" is one of the control menus. On the other hand, when specifying the object to be cooked that can be heated and cooked, the cooking name, etc., it is called "cooking menu". For example, "hamburger" is one of the cooking menus.

[0057] The heating cooker 1 has an execution function of the "coordinated cooking mode" KM1 in which the first heating means HM1 and the second heating means HM2 are driven with a time difference determined depending on the operation of the user US (user) US.

[0058] In the "coordinated cooking mode" KM1, it has a pattern of performing cooking step 1 by the first heating means HM1 and a pattern of performing cooking step 1 by the second heating means HM2. For example, in order to move to cooking step 2 after finishing cooking step 1 by the first heating means HM1, the object to be cooked is moved to the heating chamber 6, and then, in order to start driving the second heating means HM2, there is a "heating pause period" (transition period TR) during which no heating operation is performed between this cooking step 1 and cooking step 2. This heating pause period will be described with reference to FIGS. 45 and 46.

[0059] In this "coordinated cooking mode" KM1, the recipe data CD is prepared for each specific object to be cooked (e.g., hamburger, roast beef, gratin). The recipe data CD specifies the heating means to be used, the order of driving the heating means, and the control conditions of the heating means (including at least any one of the heating power, heating time, temperature, etc.).

[0060] The recipe data CD is stored in both the cooking appliance 1 and the recipe DB 302. The types of recipe data CDs in the recipe DB do not necessarily have to be the same as those held by the cooking appliance 1. For example, in the recipe DB 302, recipe data CDs for the new cooperative cooking mode KM1 may be sequentially added, or the recipe data CDs for the composite cooking menu may be sequentially accumulated.

[0061] When the cooking appliance 1 acquires the recipe data CD for executing the cooperative cooking mode KM1 from the communication terminal 200, the data is in units of one cooking menu selected by the user US on the communication terminal 200. This is common not only to the "cooperative cooking mode" KM1 but also to the "composite cooking mode" KM2 and the "single cooking mode" KM3.

[0062] That is, in the cooking appliance 1, for example, in the composite cooking mode KM2, a control menu such as "warm" can be selected, but the recipe data CD provided from the communication terminal 200 to the cooking appliance 1 is not in such control menu units. Therefore, among the control menus such as microwave heating, there are various control menus such as "warm", "range manual", "boil leafy vegetables", "boil root vegetables", "meat thawing", etc., but the communication terminal 200 does not provide the recipe data CD in such control menu units. For example, in the case of thawing, it is provided from the communication terminal 200 as recipe data (including identification information) such as "thawing of XX" that specifies the object to be heated.

[0063] As described above, the communication terminal 200 requests the recipe data providing server 301 to provide the recipe data CD of the desired object to be cooked, and downloads the recipe data CD1 corresponding to the desired recipe (see Fig. 1).

[0064] The communication terminal 200 can transmit the recipe data CD2 corresponding to one recipe, which is generated by the recipe data providing server 301 and acquired from the server 301, to the cooking appliance 1 (see Fig. 1). User US of the cooking appliance 1 accesses a recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301) to install an application for recipe selection (hereinafter referred to as "recipe selection app") on the communication terminal 200 in order to utilize such a recipe data acquisition function.

[0065] When the user US installs the recipe selection app, the user US performs an operation of registering identification information such as the model name of the cooking appliance as initial settings. By this registration, recipe data CD corresponding to the rated specifications of the cooking appliance 1 (heating capabilities of each heating means HM1 to HM3, etc.) can be acquired from the recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301).

[0066] Also, the user US pairs the communication terminal 200 with the cooking appliance 1 by the recipe selection app to establish direct wireless communication 330BT between the communication terminal 200 and the cooking appliance 1. Note that this wireless communication 330BT may use a proximity wireless communication (NFC) method.

[0067] 330WF shown in FIG. 2 indicates wireless communication between the communication terminal 200 and the wireless router 340. The communication method of the wireless communication 330T between the communication terminal 200 and the cooking appliance 1 uses Bluetooth (registered trademark), which is one of the short-range wireless communication standards. Also, the wireless communication 330WF between the communication terminal 200 and the wireless router 340 uses a communication method by wireless LAN such as WiFi (registered trademark).

[0068] Although not shown in FIG. 1, in the cooking system of the first embodiment, the communication terminal 200 may transmit a recipe data CD created by the user US (corresponding to one recipe) to a recipe providing site (recipe data providing server 301), store it temporarily in the recipe DB 302, and then provide it to the cooking device 1. That is, even when the communication terminal 200 exists at a location far from the house where the cooking device 1 is installed (e.g., away from home), it is convenient because the recipe data CD of the communication terminal 200 can be stored in the recipe data providing server 301.

[0069] A wireless router 340 (see FIG. 2) may be interposed between the cooking device 1 and the cloud server 300.

[0070] In the first embodiment, there may be an explanation of "acquiring" or "restricting the acquisition" of the recipe data CD, so this point will be explained. When the explanation of "restricting the acquisition" is made, it does not mean that no recipe data (specific information constituting a part or all of it) CD enters the interior of the cooking device 1 from the outside via the communication unit 51 described later. In the cooking device 1, the communication unit 51 once receives the recipe data CD from the outside and temporarily stores it in an appropriate storage area in the storage device 41 (described in FIG. 10). At that time, the content of the data (attributes, presence or absence of the identification information 167, etc.) is analyzed. However, if the data is data transmitted from the outside during the "period in which the acquisition is restricted" as described above, it will not be used in the process of executing the subsequent cooking menu (i.e., the cooking process) and will be automatically deleted within a short time (at least when the main power switch 20 is turned off).

[0071] In the following description, when explaining the network such as the Internet line described above, "NW" is used as a unified code.

[0072] The "device identification information" of the cooking appliance 1 is unique information for identifying the cooking appliance 1. Specifically, it is important information required when performing information communication, such as the MAC address, the manufacturer name of the cooking appliance 1, the model name (model number), the model number, the manufacturing number, and the like.

[0073] The cloud server 300 has a function of acquiring information regarding the current status of the cooking appliance 1, such as its operation, stop, and standby state, via the network NW. The cloud server 300 is connected to the target cooking appliance 1 using the device identification information.

[0074] Inside the cloud server 300, in addition to the recipe database 302, there is an information providing server (not shown), which transmits useful information to the cooking appliance 1 and the communication terminal 200.

[0075] The information providing server (not shown) may be, for example, a server installed by an external organization such as an earthquake information providing organization or an electric power company in a specific area, or a server prepared by the manufacturer that manufactures the cooking appliance 1.

[0076] The cloud server 300 stores and stores control application software that enables the cooking appliance 1 to be remotely controlled. From the communication terminal 200, which will be described in detail later, by accessing the cloud server 300 and downloading (loading) the control application software, the above-described remote control can be realized.

[0077] The communication terminal 200 in the first embodiment has a function of transmitting and receiving signals by short-range communication in a state where it is close (or may be in contact) with the input / output unit of the cooking appliance 1 by about several centimeters. Note that this short-range communication refers to an international standard technology of wireless communication known as Near Field Communication (abbreviation: NFC).

[0078] In this NFC communication, a so-called wireless tag (NFC tag) is embedded in the induction cooker 1 side. On the other hand, control data can also be sent from the communication terminal 200 side to the NFC storage unit of the induction cooker 1, and the induction cooker 1 can be controlled according to the control data.

[0079] Next, FIG. 2 will be described. 600 is a kitchen furniture on which the induction cooker 1 and the like are installed. 600D is a water supply port of a water pipe installed in the kitchen furniture 600. 340 is a wireless router capable of wireless communication with the induction cooker 1. This wireless router 340 is also an access point of a network NW such as the Internet.

[0080] The induction cooker 1 places an object to be heated (such as a pan made of magnetic metal) on the top plate 3 covering its upper surface, and performs induction heating by the IH coil 9 (reference numerals 9C, 9L, 9R shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). That is, the top plate 3 has a left heating port 4L, a right heating port 4R, and a central heating port 4C.

[0081] An exhaust port cover 5 is provided on the back side (rear side) of the top plate 3. The exhaust port cover 5 is composed of a punching metal or a lattice-shaped metal member having innumerable small through holes, has air permeability throughout, and has little air flow resistance. The exhaust gas discharged from the inside of the induction cooker 1 passes through the exhaust port cover 5 and exits the induction cooker 1.

[0082] On the front surface of the main body 2 of the induction cooker 1, a door (heating door) 7 for opening and closing the front opening of the heating chamber 6 (see FIG. 3) disposed inside the main body 2 is provided. A handle 8 for opening and closing the door 7 is provided on the door 7.

[0083] (2. Detailed Configuration of Induction Cooker) Next, the specific configuration of the induction cooker 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 11. FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the cooking heater 1 according to Embodiment 1 as viewed from the side. As shown in FIG. 3, below the left heating port 4L, an induction heating coil 9L (hereinafter referred to as "left IH coil") as left induction heating means is provided.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 3, the cooking heater 1 is a built-in type IH cooking heater that is used by being incorporated into a kitchen furniture 600 having a cooking table at the upper part. The cooking heater 1 has a main body 2 and a top plate 3 installed on the main body 2. The top plate 3 is exposed on the kitchen top plate that constitutes the top surface of the kitchen furniture 600.

[0085] The top plate 3 is composed of, for example, a heat-resistant glass plate and a metal frame attached around the glass plate. On the upper surface of the top plate 3, three heating ports 4, namely the left heating port 4L, the right heating port 4R, and the central heating port 4C, are provided.

[0086] The left heating port 4L, the right heating port 4R, and the central heating port 4C indicate areas where a metal cooking container (also referred to as "object to be heated" N for the first heating means HM1), such as a pot or a frying pan, is placed. Guide marks (not shown) serving as a guide for placing the object to be heated are drawn on the upper surface of the top plate 3 for each of the left heating port 4L, the right heating port 4R, and the central heating port 4C by printing.

[0087] The cooking heater 1 places an object to be heated N (not shown) (such as a pot made of magnetic metal) on the top plate 3 covering its upper surface and performs induction heating by the IH coil 9. 32 is a bottom wall surface that divides the inside of the cooking heater 1 into two independent upper and lower spaces. 33 is an installation space inside the cooking heater 1 that is above the bottom wall surface 32. At positions corresponding to the three heating ports 4L, 4R, and 4C (directly below), the IH coils 9 (9C, 9L, 9R) are accommodated.

[0088] That is, a right IH coil 9R as a right induction heating means is provided below the right heating port 4R, and a central IH coil 9C as a central induction heating means is provided below the central heating port 4C.

[0089] These IH coils 9C, 9L, and 9R are circular heating coils formed by winding thin conducting wires such as copper wires or aluminum wires. When a high-frequency current is supplied, a high-frequency magnetic field is generated. As a result, the cooking container (object to be heated N) disposed on the left heating port 4L, the right heating port 4R, and the central heating port 4C is induction-heated.

[0090] The heating means including the IH coils 9C, 9L, 9R and their drive circuits (referring to high-frequency power supply circuits such as inverter circuits, not shown) may be referred to as an induction heating source or a first heating means HM1. In the following description, unless otherwise inconsistent, the "first heating means" HM1 will be uniformly used.

[0091] In the vicinity of the IH coils 9C, 9L, 9R, a temperature sensor group 30 (see FIG. 10) composed of a plurality of temperature sensors (not shown) is mounted to detect the temperature of the top plate 3 and the cooking container (object to be heated). One temperature sensor 30A (not shown) constitutes one sensor among the temperature sensor group 30. The temperature sensor referred to here may be either a contact-type temperature sensor such as a thermistor or a non-contact temperature sensor such as an infrared sensor, or both.

[0092] Inside the main body 2, below the IH coils 9C, 9L, 9R, the heating chamber 6 is provided. The heating chamber 6 is surrounded by a metal wall such as stainless steel and is a space for heating the object to be cooked (food, ingredients) accommodated therein.

[0093] The object to be cooked may be placed on a heat-resistant plastic container, a dish made of porcelain or heat-resistant glass, or placed in a container and then placed in the heating chamber 6. In that case, these dishes or containers may be referred to as "heated containers". However, since these containers are not inductively heated by the IH coils 9C, 9L, and 9R, even if they are placed on the heating opening 4 of the top plate 3, they are not called the "objects to be heated" N of the IH coils 9C, 9L, and 9R.

[0094] On the front surface of the heating chamber 6, a horizontally long rectangular opening (not shown) for taking in and out the object to be cooked is formed. The opening on the front surface of the heating chamber 6 is covered by a door 7 so as to be openable and closable. The door 7 is rotatably supported by the main body 2 via a hinge and an arm (not shown). Thereby, the door 7 is configured to open forward to a horizontal position with its lower end as a fulcrum (rotation center). Note that the door 7 may be pulled forward integrally with a support member (referring to a structure such as a shelf that supports the heated container from below) by a slide rail (not shown).

[0095] An opening / closing detection unit 10 for detecting the opening and closing of the door 7 is provided on the door 7. The opening / closing detection unit 10 is, for example, a microswitch or an infrared sensor. Behind the heating chamber 6, a microwave oscillator 11 for heating the object to be cooked accommodated in the heating chamber 6 is provided. This microwave oscillator 11 is composed of, for example, a magnetron, and performs so-called range heating by irradiating microwaves into the heating chamber 6 to heat the object to be cooked placed in the heating chamber.

[0096] The heating means including the microwave oscillator 11 and its drive circuit (referring to a high-frequency power supply circuit such as an inverter circuit, not shown) may be referred to as the second heating means HM2.

[0097] In addition, in the heating chamber 6, there are provided an upper radiant heat heating means 12a for heating the object to be cooked from above and below with a so-called heater, and a lower radiant heat heating means 12b. The upper radiant heat heating means 12a is arranged on the outer or inner ceiling wall surface of the heating chamber 6, and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b is arranged on the inner or outer wall surface of the heating chamber 6. Both are sheathed heaters.

[0098] Other types of radiant heat heating means (for example, mica heaters, carbon heaters, etc.) may be installed outside the heating chamber 6. Fig. 3 shows an example in which both the upper radiant heat heating means 12a and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b are installed so as to be in close contact with the outer wall surface of the heating chamber 6.

[0099] The heating means including the upper radiant heat heating means 12a, the lower radiant heat heating means 12b, and their drive circuits (not shown) may be referred to as a third heating means HM3. Note that the upper radiant heat heating means 12a and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b may be collectively referred to as "radiant heat heating means", and in that case, the reference numeral "12" is used.

[0100] In addition, in the heating chamber 6, an infrared sensor 13 is provided as a non-contact temperature sensor in order to non-contact detect the temperature of the object to be cooked in the heating chamber 6. The temperature range detected by this infrared sensor 13 is set to, for example, -20°C to 100°C. Thereby, the degree of heating of the object to be cooked can be accurately detected in real time, for example, in 1°C increments. This infrared sensor 13 also constitutes one of the temperature sensor group 30 (see Fig. 16).

[0101] In addition, in the heating chamber 6, a contact temperature sensor (for example, a thermistor sensor) 14, which is an indoor temperature sensor for detecting the ambient temperature inside the heating chamber 6 or the wall surface temperature of the heating chamber 6, is also provided.

[0102] Since the thermistor sensor 14 detects temperature by capturing changes in temperature as changes in electrical resistance, the upper limit value of the detectable temperature is about 250°C. This thermistor sensor 14 also constitutes one of the sensors in the temperature sensor group 30. Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 3, this thermistor sensor 14 may be installed at two locations, near the bottom surface and near the ceiling surface of the heating chamber 6.

[0103] Next, FIG. 4 will be described. FIG. 4 is a top view of the cooking heater 1 according to Embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. 4, on the front side of the upper surface of the top plate 3 of the cooking heater 1, a left operation unit 15L, a central operation unit 15M, and a right operation unit 15R are provided. These three operation units may be collectively referred to as the "input operation unit", and in that case, the reference numeral 15 is used.

[0104] On the back side (rear side) of the left operation unit 15L, the central operation unit 15M, and the right operation unit 15R, a left heating power display unit 17L, a central display unit 16M, and a right heating power display unit 17R, a left display unit 16L and a right display unit 16R, and a central heating status display unit 17M are provided.

[0105] The three, the left display unit 16L, the central display unit 16M, and the right display unit 16R, may be collectively referred to as the "display unit", and in that case, the reference numeral 16 is used. Incidentally, the central display unit 16M has a horizontally long liquid crystal display screen.

[0106] The left heating power display unit 17L and the right heating power display unit 17R display the heating power level by light emitting elements (such as LEDs) and do not have a display screen.

[0107] The three, the left heating power display unit 17L, the right heating power display unit 17R, and the central heating status display unit 17M, may be collectively referred to as the "heating power display unit", and in that case, the reference numeral 17 is used.

[0108] Also, adjacent to the right operation unit 15R, an operation button (key) 20A for the main power switch 20 (see FIG. 10) is provided. The main power switch 20 turns on or off the main power of the cooking heater 1. The button (key) pressed during the ON-OFF operation is the operation button 20A.

[0109] When the operation button 20A is pressed for, for example, several seconds with the main power of the cooking heater 1 in the OFF state, the main power is turned on. Also, when the operation button 20A is pressed for, for example, several seconds with the main power of the cooking heater 1 in the ON state, the main power is turned off.

[0110] Next, FIG. 5 will be described. In FIG. 5, an input key 180 for selecting the voice input mode is arranged in the central operation unit 15M of the input operation unit 15. This input key 180 may be a mechanical switch or an input key of a touch input switch like the input keys 153M to 159M described later.

[0111] This input key 180 for selecting voice input can be used to perform the next input by voice when pressed once. When this input key 180 is pressed, it switches to the "voice input mode 2" state. However, this input key 180 cannot be used to select the heating means or the heating port (the first heating means HM1) by voice.

[0112] Therefore, it is necessary to operate the input key 180 after, for example, touching (a "short press") the input key 153L for selecting the heating port 4L. That is, if the input key 153L is "long pressed", it switches to the voice input mode 2, but if it is "short pressed" without "long pressing" and then the input key 180 is pressed, it can be switched to the voice input mode 2 from that point.

[0113] In the central operation unit 15M, if any one of the input keys 153M, 154M, or 155M is touched and then the input key 180 is operated subsequently, the "voice input mode 2" is switched to, and the input processing unit (input restriction unit) 70 in the control device 40 puts the voice signal analysis unit 58 (see FIG. 10) into the input standby state. Note that even if this input key 180 is touched, the input functions of the five input keys, namely the input key 153M, the input key 151M for starting the heating operation, the stop input key 152M, and the input keys 153L and 153R of the left and right operation units 15L and 15R, are not affected at all. Also, when these five input keys are touched, the "voice input mode 2" by the input key 180 is cancelled.

[0114] As described above, the "voice input mode 2" by the input of this input key 180 is different from the "voice input mode 1" set according to the touch form of specific (touch-type) input keys such as various touch-type input keys 153M, 154M, 155M, etc. as described later.

[0115] When the input key 180 is pressed, the "voice input mode 2" is activated from that moment. That is, it becomes the "voice input mode 2". Then, as described in FIG. 10, when there is a voice signal from the voice signal receiving unit 56, the voice signal analysis unit 58 analyzes the content of the voice one by one and outputs the analysis result to the heating control unit 43.

[0116] Note that the input key 180 for selecting voice input may limit the "range where touch input is disabled" only to the central operation unit 15M. In this way, when the input key 180 is pressed, the input functions of specific (touch-type) input keys such as various touch-type input keys 154M to 159M arranged in the central operation unit 15M as described later are disabled. And it shifts to the input standby state for receiving commands by voice from the user US. Note that after the heating operation starts, touch input disabling by this input key 180 cannot be performed, so during the heating operation, the input of various input keys (for example, the stop command by 152M) is not restricted at all.

[0117] The 21M is the (central) light-emitting part that constitutes a part of the light-emitting part 21. It emits light when the input function of the input key 180 is valid, and continues to emit light during the period until the input function becomes invalid. In each of these light-emitting parts 21M, one or more light-emitting elements 27 (see Fig. 10), such as LEDs, are arranged and driven by a light-emitting control part 26 (see Fig. 10).

[0118] The light-emitting part 21 includes, in addition to the (central) light-emitting part 21M which will be described in detail later, a (right) light-emitting part 21R corresponding to the right operation part 15R and a (left) light-emitting part 21L corresponding to the left operation part 15L. This light-emitting part 21 has a function of prompting the operation of one input key by indicating that the input function of the adjacent input key is valid. This light-emitting part 21 also serves as a "key identification part". That is, in order to perform a cooperative operation with the communication terminal 200 described later, the light-emitting part 21 has a function of displaying the input key to be operated (for example, 152L in Fig. 6) by light emission immediately after receiving the "advance notice information A" 201 (described in Figs. 59 and 60) from the communication terminal 200. This point will be described in Fig. 59.

[0119] On the central operation part 15M, at a position adjacent to the left side of the input key 153M, an input key 151KP for function setting is arranged. The function of this input key 151KP will be described later.

[0120] In this Embodiment 1, the input form in which the user US controls the cooking heater 1 by an operation of pressing with a fingertip or the like (including a light touch) is called the "touch input mode". For this reason, various input keys 151M~159M, 151R~155R, 151L~155L described later may be called a "touch input mode selection part".

[0121] Next, Fig. 6 will be described. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the left display unit 16L, the left heating power display unit 17L, and the left operation unit 15L according to Embodiment 1. The left display unit 16L displays information related to cooking by heating at the left heating port 4L, and is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display.

[0122] The left display unit 16L displays the set time of "timer cooking" for the object to be heated placed on the left heating port 4L, the elapsed time since the start of the heating operation at the left heating port 4L, or the remaining time until the timer set time ends.

[0123] The "timer cooking" is a cooking method in which the heating operation is performed for the time (set time) set (input) by the user US (for example, with the input key 151L, etc.). When the set time has elapsed, the heating operation is automatically stopped, which is one of the convenient functions for the user US.

[0124] When the preheating cooking at the left heating port 4L is selected, the left display unit 16L automatically displays the set temperature (default temperature) or the current temperature. The automatically set temperature (default temperature) refers to the target temperature of the bottom surface of the object to be heated when heating the object to be heated (for example, a metal pot) at the left heating port 4L. The default temperature can be arbitrarily changed within a certain range by the user US. Also, for example, the target temperature can be set to an arbitrary temperature by touching the input keys 155L and 154L (however, a temperature exceeding a predetermined allowable range is rejected by the heating control unit 43 shown in FIG. 10 for the setting input).

[0125] The left heating power display unit 17L is composed of a plurality of light-emitting elements (LEDs) arranged in a horizontal straight line, and displays the heating power of the left heating port 4L in multiple steps. The left heating power display unit 17L expresses the heating power by switching the lighting states (lighting, extinguishing, blinking, etc.) of the plurality of LEDs or by switching the lighting color. Thereby, the user US can be informed of the heating power in an intuitive and easy-to-understand manner.

[0126] The left operation unit 15L is for inputting operations related to cooking by heating at the left heating port 4L. As shown in FIG. 6, the left operation unit 15L includes five input keys 151L, 152L, 153L, 154L, and 155L. These input keys 151L, 152L, 153L, 154L, and 155L are touch keys. For example, they are capacitance-type touch sensors (touch switches) that can be input by using the change in capacitance when the user US lightly touches them with a finger or the like.

[0127] Corresponding to the input keys 151L, 152L, 153L, 154L, and 155L, a light emitting unit 21L is provided. The light emitting unit 21L is composed of a plurality of light emitting elements (LEDs) and emits light according to the operations of the input keys 151L, 152L, 153L, 154L, and 155L. Note that the two adjacent input keys 154L and 155L share one light emitting unit 21L because they perform the same type of function of increasing or decreasing the heating power.

[0128] The input key 151L is a key that is touch-operated when selecting "timer cooking" at the left heating port 4L. This timer cooking is a cooking method in which, as described above, the user US sets the time of the heating operation and the heating operation is executed only for the set time.

[0129] The input key 152L is a key that is pressed when selecting the "control menu" to be performed at the left heating port 4L. Each time the input key 152L is pressed, one of a plurality of control menus can be selected. The "control menu" mentioned here is, for example, boiling water, stewing, frying (automatic cooking), etc. For each control menu, the driving time, heating power, or driving pattern of the left heating port 4L is different.

[0130] The control menus for using the left heating port 4L and the right heating port 4R without operating the central operation unit 15M by operating the left operation unit 15L or the right operation unit 15R are all the control menus of the "single cooking mode" KM3 that performs induction heating. The "single cooking mode" KM3 will be described later.

[0131] The input key 153L is a key that is pressed to select cooking using the left heating port 4L. That is, when the input key 153L is pressed, cooking (in the single-cooking mode KM3) using the left IH coil 9L disposed below the left heating port 4L is selected. When the left IH coil 9L is being driven and the input key 153L is pressed again, the driving of the left IH coil 9L is stopped and the induction heating operation stops immediately.

[0132] The input keys 154L and 155L are keys that are pressed when specifying the heating power during cooking using the left heating port 4L. By pressing the input key 154L on the left, the heating power is decreased step by step. Conversely, by pressing the input key 155L on the right, the heating power is increased step by step. Note that the heating power during induction cooking using the left heating port 4L has nine levels from the rated minimum heating power (heating power level 1: 150 W) to the rated maximum heating power (heating power level 9: 3200 W).

[0133] One input key 152L of this left operation unit 15L is set as the input key to be operated immediately after receiving the "advance notice information A" 201 from the communication terminal 200 in order to perform a cooperative operation with the communication terminal 200 described later. Therefore, when this is operated at a predetermined timing, it functions as the "specific input key" for which the "selection information A" (confirmation signal) 202 described later is transmitted in the confirmation step SP3 (described in FIG. 59). This will be described with reference to FIGS. 55 to 60. Note that the input key 152L can be operated at an arbitrary timing even before receiving the advance notice information A, but when this is operated (turned ON), the reception deadline period (TZ1: see FIGS. 45 and 60) starts from that point.

[0134] Next, FIG. 7 will be described. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the right display unit 16R, the right heating power display unit 17R, and the right operation unit 15R according to Embodiment 1. The right display unit 16R displays information related to cooking using the right heating port 4R, and is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display. The information related to cooking using the right heating port 4R displayed on the right display unit 16R is the same as the information related to cooking using the left heating port 4L.

[0135] The right heating power display unit 17R is composed of a plurality of light emitting elements (LEDs) and displays the heating power of the right heating port 4R in multiple stages. Similar to the left heating power display unit 17L, the right heating power display unit 17R expresses the heating power by switching the lighting state (lighting, extinguishing, blinking, etc.) or the lighting color of the plurality of light emitting elements (LEDs).

[0136] The right operation unit 15R is for inputting operations related to cooking using the right heating port 4R. As shown in FIG. 7, the right operation unit 15R includes five input keys 151R, 152R, 153R, 154R, and 155R.

[0137] The input keys 151R, 152R, 153R, 154R, and 155R are configured in the same manner as the left operation unit 15L. For example, they are configured as capacitive touch keys that can be input by utilizing the change in capacitance when the user US lightly touches them with a finger or the like.

[0138] Corresponding to the input keys 151R, 152R, 153R, 154R, and 155R, light emitting units 21R are respectively provided. The light emitting unit 21R is a light emitting element (LED), and in response to the operation of the input keys 151R, 152R, 153R, 154R, and 155R, the light emitting units 21R corresponding to the respective input keys emit light. However, since the two adjacent input keys 154R and 155R perform the same type of function of increasing or decreasing the heating power, they share one light emitting unit 21R.

[0139] The input key 151R is a key that is pressed when selecting timer cooking at the right heating port 4R. The input key 152R is a key that is pressed when selecting a control menu to be executed at the right heating port 4R.

[0140] The input key 153R is a key that is pressed to select heating cooking at the right heating port 4R. That is, when the input key 153R is pressed, cooking (in the single cooking mode KM3) using the right IH coil 9R disposed below the left heating port 4R is selected. When the input key 153R is pressed again while the right IH coil 9R is being driven, the drive of the right IH coil 9R is stopped and the induction heating operation is immediately stopped.

[0141] The input keys 154R and 155R are keys that are pressed when specifying the heating power during heating cooking at the right heating port 4R. By pressing the left input key 154R, the heating power is decreased step by step. Conversely, by pressing the right input key 155R, the heating power is increased step by step. Note that the heating power during induction heating cooking at the right heating port 4R has nine levels from the rated minimum heating power (heating power level 1) of 150 W to the rated maximum heating power (heating power level 9) of 3200 W.

[0142] One input key 152R of this right operation unit 15R is a "specific input key" that transmits selection information A (202) described later in order to perform a cooperation operation with the communication terminal 200 described later, similar to the input key 152L of the left operation unit 15L.

[0143] Next, FIG. 8 will be described. FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the central display unit 16M, the central operation unit 15M, and the central heating status display unit 17M according to the first embodiment.

[0144] The central display unit 16M displays information and warnings about the entire cooking heater 1 and is composed of a liquid crystal display. On the display screen of the central display unit 16M, the selection results of the induction heating means (first heating means) HM1, the microwave heating means (second heating means) HM2, and the radiant heat heating means (third heating means) HM3, the operating states of each heating means, the caution information for cooking by each heating means, or warning information are displayed.

[0145] Although the central display unit 16M is a single liquid crystal display in terms of hardware, as shown in FIG. 8, it has three display areas: the first display area 22 on the left side, the second display area 23 in the center left and right, and the third display area 24 on the right side, and different displays can be made for each display area.

[0146] Also, the three display areas 22 to 24 may appropriately cooperate according to the display scene to form one (large-area) display area, and one or more target displays may be made. Hereinafter, the first display area 22 is referred to as the first area 22. The second display area 23 is referred to as the second area 23. The third display area 24 is referred to as the third area 24.

[0147] The central heating status display unit 17M is divided into two stages in the front-rear direction. In the lower stage (front side), there are a range light-emitting element (LED) 310 behind the character display part of "range", a grill light-emitting element (LED) 311 behind the character display part of "grill", an oven light-emitting element (LED) 312 behind the character display part of "oven", and a central IH light-emitting element (LED) 313 behind the character display part of "central IH".

[0148] In the upper stage (rear side), there are warning characters of "high temperature caution" and a group of high temperature caution light-emitting elements (LEDs) 314 arranged in front and below of the figure schematically representing the heating chamber 6 and the three heating ports 4L, 4C, and 4R, respectively. Note that those LEDs 311 to 313 and the LED group 314 are arranged in the installation space 33 below the top plate 3.

[0149] The high-temperature caution light-emitting diode (LED) group 314 consists of the heating chamber high-temperature caution light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 314a arranged side by side on the left and right, and the IH high-temperature caution light-emitting diode (LED) 314b.

[0150] The heating chamber high-temperature caution light-emitting diode (LED) 314a lights up when the temperature in the heating chamber 6 is high, for example, 50°C or higher. The IH high-temperature caution light-emitting diode (LED) 314b lights up when any of the left IH coil 9L, right IH coil 9R, and central IH coil 9C is being driven or when the temperature of the top plate 3 is high, for example, 50°C or higher.

[0151] The central operation unit 15M is mainly used to input operations related to cooking in the heating chamber 6 and cooking by the central heating port 4C. As shown in Fig. 8, the central operation unit 15M includes nine input keys 151M, 152M, 153M, 154M, 155M, 156M, 157M, 158M, 159M, and a function setting key 151KP (see Fig. 5).

[0152] The nine input keys 151M to 159M described above are capacitive touch keys that emit an input command signal each time a touch operation is performed. In addition, a light-emitting unit 21M is provided near each of these input keys 151M to 159M.

[0153] The function setting key 151KP (see Fig. 5) is arranged on the leftmost side of the central operation unit 15M. This function setting key 151KP is for enabling the user US to set various operations and displays of the entire heating cooker 1 as desired.

[0154] When the function setting key 151KP is pressed, the control device 40 described later switches to the "function setting mode" and displays the following "function setting menu" on the display screen of the central display unit 16M. (1) Child lock setting (setting to disable operations of various input keys). (2) Interlocking mode setting of the ventilation device (ventilation device operation in conjunction with the operation of the heating cooker 1). (3) Cleaning guide setting (automatic notification function setting for the cleaning time of the heating chamber 6 and the exhaust port cover 5). (4) Peak cut setting (select one from four levels of maximum power consumption: 5700W, 5000W, 4800W, and 4000W). (5) Voice setting for voice guide. (6) Volume setting for voice guide. (7) Setting to prevent forgetting to take out the food to be cooked, cooking utensils, etc. from the heating chamber 6 (necessity of alarm on the voice notification unit 50 and the central display unit 16M). (8) HEMS registration setting (setting related to the power usage restriction function by the home power control device). (9) Timer cooking time unit (change the 1-minute unit setting to 5 minutes or 30 minutes). (10) Switching between beginner mode and normal (skilled user) mode. (11) Setting the type (range) of food inventory information obtained from external devices (such as refrigerators). (12) Setting the display priority (specific cooking menu to be set as default display, identification information 167) for each cooking menu (e.g., "hamburger") in the linked cooking mode KM1. (13) Setting the display priority (specific control menu to be set as default display) for each control menu (e.g., "range grill", "boiling leafy vegetables") in the composite cooking mode KM2. (14) Setting the cooking mode to be automatically displayed on the central display unit 16M when the door 7 of the heating chamber 6 is opened after the main power switch 20 is turned "ON" (display priority, etc. between the linked cooking mode KM1 and the composite cooking mode KM2). (15) Setting to prevent the automatic display of the additional information 165, 166 (see Fig. 15) described later and setting to prevent the voice notification unit 50 from announcing the additional information 165, 166 by voice. (16) When displaying each cooking menu of the linked cooking mode KM1 on the central display unit 16M, setting to display the components and nutritional components of the target food (ingredient) individually each time. Note that either the food components or the nutrients alone may be sufficient, or both may be used. In this Embodiment 1, the input key 158M is set as the display command key for food components, and the input key 159M is set as the display command key for nutritional components. When either the input key 158M or 159M is operated within a predetermined period, or when the voice input mode 1 is set and a command is given by voice, the display of food components or nutritional components is performed. That is, it is not always displayed simultaneously as a set with the identification information 167 of the cooking menu (described later), but is displayed according to the operation (including voice) of the user US. This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 24. (17) When selecting individual cooking menus in the linked cooking mode KM1, a setting is made to search for candidates for the cooking menu from food components and nutritional components and display them on the central display unit 16M. In this case, the input key 180 is pressed to set the "voice input mode 2" so that the user US can search by voice. This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 24. (18) Setting the display priority of each cooking menu in the linked cooking mode KM1. This is related to the setting of the specific cooking menu to be set as the default display, and either the food component or the nutritional component is set as the top priority item for display. When this is set, for example, among the nutritional components, the cooking menus can be displayed in ascending order of the amount of energy (calorie value) as shown in FIG. 24. Or, the cooking menus can be displayed in descending order of the amount of "iron" as a nutritional component.

[0155] As described above, when the function setting key 151KP is pressed to select the "function setting mode", it is possible to add the display of food components or nutritional components, and it is also possible to set to cancel the setting that was once set to be displayed in the subsequent function setting mode. Therefore, there is an advantage that the information, range, and display method can be selected according to the wishes of the user US.

[0156] The "beginner mode" is an optional function for a person (user US) who is not used to using the cooking appliance 1. When this beginner mode is set, the content of the voice guide in the voice notification unit 50 (see FIG. 10) becomes more detailed and polite. Also, for the input operation at the input operation unit 15, the voice guide increases or the display information on the display screen of the central display unit 16M increases.

[0157] When the beginner mode is set, especially in the case of cooking in the combined cooking mode KM2 and the linked cooking mode KM1, in cooking steps 1 and 2, the amount of reference information (for example, including additional information 165 and 166 described later) displayed on the display screen of the central display unit 16M increases, or the content of the voice guide in the voice notification unit 50 increases. Therefore, the function of assisting the input operation of the user US is enhanced.

[0158] Note that in conjunction with switching from the "beginner mode" to the "normal (skilled person) mode", the content of the voice guide of the voice notification unit 50 may be automatically set not to change.

[0159] After the "ON" of the main power switch 20 described later, when the door 7 of the heating chamber 6 is opened, automatically setting the cooking mode displayed on the central display unit 16M means setting either the linked cooking mode KM1 or the combined cooking mode KM2. Since both the linked cooking mode KM1 and the combined cooking mode KM2 use one central display unit 16M, the user US can set to prioritize the display of either one. This will be described in detail later.

[0160] In Embodiment 1, the "combined cooking mode" KM2 exceptionally includes several control menus (for example, a cooking operation such as "cooking rice") of the single cooking mode KM3 by the central IH coil 9M.

[0161] After the "ON" of the main power switch 20, when the door 7 of the heating chamber 6 is opened, the control device 40 detects the opening of this door 7. There is a function of automatically displaying either the first specific screen 16M1 for the linked cooking mode KM1 or the second specific screen 16M2 for the combined cooking mode KM2 on the central display unit 16M, assuming that the user US will perform cooking using the heating chamber 6. Note that on the central display unit 16M, immediately after the main power switch 20 is turned "ON", the standby initial screen 16MH described later is displayed. After that, immediately after the door 7 is opened, the second specific screen 16M2 is automatically displayed.

[0162] After the "Function Setting Menu" is displayed on the display screen of the central display unit 16M, when a specific one input key (for example, 154M) other than the function setting key 151KP is "pressed for a long time" (hereinafter referred to as "long-pressed") for a certain period of time or more, one setting menu in the above-mentioned "Function Setting Menu" can be selected, and then, it can be changed to the desired setting content.

[0163] Alternatively, when two specific input keys other than the function setting key 151KP are "long-pressed" simultaneously, one setting menu in the above-mentioned "Function Setting Menu" can be called and changed to the desired setting content.

[0164] The "long-press" refers to, for example, a state where it is continuously pressed for 5 seconds or more. Whether it is in the state of "long-press" or not is determined by the control device 40 comparing the timing from ON to OFF of the touch input on the central operation unit 15M with a reference value. Or, it is determined by an input mode determination unit 15C (see FIG. 11) inside the central operation unit 15. Note that in this Embodiment 1, an example of determining whether it is in the state of "long-press" will be described (later with reference to FIG. 11) using the central operation unit 15M.

[0165] Also, in the central operation unit 15M, the timing when the two input keys (for example, 154M and 155M) are pressed simultaneously can be determined by the "ON" (when touched) signal transmitted from the input operation unit 15M to the control device 40.

[0166] In the following description, an embodiment for determining whether it is a "long press" by the input operation unit 15M will be described. However, although not adopted in Embodiment 1, in the input operation unit 15M, there is also a method of measuring the time from the "ON" signal time point to the time point when it changes to the "OFF" signal, transmitting the data to the control device 40, and determining whether it is a "long press" in the control device 40.

[0167] In this Embodiment 1, for specific input keys (for example, 154M, 153R), there is a function of determining the above-mentioned "long press" and switching to the "voice input mode 1". This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. Note that a touch operation that is not a "long press", that is, for example, a touch state that lasts for less than 5 seconds continuously may be called a "short press". Since it is also related to the respective detection capabilities of the input operation units 15M, 15L, and 15R, for example, when the touch time is in the range of 0.1 second to 4.9 seconds, the control device 40 determines that it is a "short press".

[0168] The type (range) of the inventory information acquired from the refrigerator 331 (not shown) is, for example, limited to only frozen foods, or limited to only foods that can be heated by a microwave heating source (second heating means HM2).

[0169] In the central display unit 16M, at the stage of selecting the control modes and control conditions (temperature, heating power, time, etc.) of the first heating means HM1, the second heating means HM2, and the third heating means HM3, the input function of the function setting key 151KP is disabled so as not to switch the function setting mode.

[0170] Next, the setting of the peak cut value of the cooking heater 1 will be described. Even if the default value at the time of shipment from the manufacturer is, for example, 5400W, when installed in the home of the user US, it can be set to any of 5000W, 4800W, or 4000W.

[0171] In this way, the functions of the cooking appliance 1 can be changed with the function setting key 151KP as described above according to the wishes of the user US and the usage environment (the power supply situation of the installation home), etc. When such a peak cut value is set, the setting result is stored in the control device 40. Therefore, when the user US selects the linked cooking mode KM1 as described later, it is used for determining whether to permit the use of the linked cooking mode KM1 (determining the permission conditions). Therefore, during the period when the recipe data CD described later is being received from the communication terminal 200, the peak cut value cannot be changed with the function setting key 151KP (see FIG. 11).

[0172] In FIG. 8, the light emitting unit 21M is composed of an LED and emits light in response to the operation of the input keys 151M to 159M. That is, when the input function is valid, the corresponding light emitting unit 21M continues to emit light. Since the two adjacent input keys 155M and 154M are common in changing the display content of the first area 22, they share one light emitting unit 21M.

[0173] Since the two adjacent input keys 157M and 156M are common in changing the display content of the second area 23, they share one light emitting unit 21M. Since the two adjacent input keys 159M and 158M are common in changing the display content of the third area 24, they share one light emitting unit 21M.

[0174] The input key 151M is a start key that is pressed (touched) to start cooking, and the input key 152M is a cancel key that is pressed (touched) to stop or end cooking.

[0175] When the input key 153M is operated after turning on the main power switch 20, it is an input key for selecting the "linked cooking mode" KM1 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "first input key").

[0176] When the input keys 154M and 155M are operated after turning on the main power switch 20 (without pressing the input key 153M), they are input keys for selecting the "Compound Cooking Mode" KM2 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Second Input Key").

[0177] When the input keys 153R and 153L described in FIG. 7 are operated after turning on the main power switch 20 (without pressing the input keys 153M, 154M, and 155M), they are input keys for selecting the "Single Cooking Mode" KM1 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Third Input Key").

[0178] The above-described input key 151M has a function of determining the start of cooking for two cookings in the "Compound Cooking Mode" KM2 and the "Cooperative Cooking Mode" KM1, and is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Start Key". In the "Single Cooking Mode" KM3, the input keys 153L and 153R have the function of determining the start of cooking.

[0179] The above-described input key 152M has a function of ending (including pausing) the cooking for two cookings in the "Compound Cooking Mode" KM2 and the "Cooperative Cooking Mode" KM1, and is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Stop Key". In the "Single Cooking Mode" KM3, the input keys 153L and 153R have the function of determining the end of cooking.

[0180] The four input keys 156M to 159M have a function that allows the user US to adjust control conditions such as microwave output and heating cooking time (within a certain range), and are hereinafter sometimes referred to as "Condition Input Keys" or "Fourth Input Keys".

[0181] The four input keys 153M, 154M, 153L, and 153R are also referred to as "Voice Input Switch Keys" that can be respectively switched to the "Voice Input Mode 1". However, the function of these four input keys as "Voice Input Switch Keys" is limited to the case where the touch operation is a "long press". This point will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

[0182] When any one of the single cooking mode KM3, the combined cooking mode KM2, and the linked cooking mode KM1 is selected, the selection result is displayed on the central display unit 16M. Also, when switching to the "voice input mode 1", this is also displayed (see FIGS. 21 and 22). The details of the single cooking mode KM3, the combined cooking mode KM2, and the linked cooking mode KM1 will be described in detail later.

[0183] As shown in FIG. 8, the input keys 154M and 155M are arranged adjacent to the first area 22 of the central display unit 16M and in the vicinity of the front thereof, and are keys for switching the display content of the screen displayed in the first area 22 of the central display unit 16M.

[0184] Next, FIG. 9 will be described. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the central display unit 16M. When the input key 154M is pressed down, that is, when operated by the user US, the display information 25A of one control menu ( "range manual") belonging to the "combined cooking mode" KM2, for example, displayed in the first area 22 moves backward. At the same time, the display information 25B of "boiling leafy vegetables" displayed on the front side is displayed in the center. In this case, the input key 154M is the case of the "short press" described above. In the case of a "long press", it functions as the "voice input switch key", which will be described with reference to FIG. 11.

[0185] Also, when the input key 155M is pressed down, the display information 25A of "range manual" displayed in the first area 22 moves forward. Along with this, the display information 25C of "warm" displayed on the rear side is displayed in the center. In this case, the input key 155M is different from the input key 154M described above and is not the "voice input switch key". Therefore, in the case of a "long press", switching to the voice input mode is not possible and it is not recognized as a valid input operation.

[0186] In this way, by operating the input keys 154M and 155M, the user US can select a specific control menu (e.g., "Range Manual") in the "Control Menu".

[0187] Note that the "Range Manual" control menu originally belongs to the "Single Cooking Mode KM3" that only uses the second heating means HM2. In addition to this, the control menus (for combined cooking) belonging to the "Combined Cooking Mode M2" and the "Cooperative Cooking Mode KM1" respectively, and the control menus belonging to the cooperative cooking menus (e.g., "Hamburger", etc.) are also displayed in the first area 22.

[0188] Then, when the input key (start key) 151M is pressed, that is, when it is operated by the user US, the start of cooking in the "Range Manual" of the control menu displayed in the center is determined (see Fig. 9), and the heating operation is started. That is, the heating means (in this case, the microwave oscillator 11) is driven. Therefore, the input keys 154M and 155M correspond to the selection keys for the control menu operated by the user US. Similarly, they correspond to the selection keys for the control menus (for combined cooking). Furthermore, they also correspond to the selection keys for the cooperative cooking menus.

[0189] As shown in Fig. 8, the input keys 156M and 157M are arranged adjacent to and in the vicinity in front of the second area 23 of the central display unit 16M, and are keys for switching the display content of the screen displayed in the second area 23 of the central display unit 16M.

[0190] Explaining again with reference to Fig. 9, when the input key 156M is pressed, the wattage (microwave output value) displayed in the second area 23 (in Fig. 9, "500W") is increased by one step (e.g., to "600W"). Conversely, when the input key 157M is pressed, the wattage displayed in the second area 23 is decreased by one step (e.g., to "200W").

[0191] By operating the input keys 156M and 157M, the user US can select the wattage (microwave output value) in the range cooking (a type of "single cooking mode M1" using the microwave oscillator 11) performed in the heating chamber 6.

[0192] As shown in FIG. 8, the input keys 158M and 159M are arranged adjacent to and in the vicinity in front of the third area 24 of the central display unit 16M, and are keys for switching the display content displayed in the third area 24.

[0193] As shown in FIG. 8, when the input key 158M is pressed, the heating operation time (set time) displayed in the third area 24 is increased by one step. Conversely, when the input key 159M is pressed, the heating operation time displayed in the third area 24 is decreased by one step.

[0194] The user US can select the set time for the range cooking performed in the heating chamber 6 by operating the input keys 158M and 159M, but 34M is the set time information. Note that 34W is heating intensity information indicating the magnitude of the power consumption during heating and the magnitude of the microwave output, etc. In this FIG. 9, it is displayed as "500W".

[0195] Next, FIG. 10 will be described. FIG. 10 is a control block diagram showing the main functions of the cooking heater 1 according to Embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. 10, the cooking heater 1 includes a control device 40 that integrally controls the entire cooking heater 1.

[0196] The control device 40 is an electronic circuit board on which electronic components such as a control circuit for controlling the operations of the respective parts constituting the cooking heater 1 are mounted. The control device 40 controls the driving of the left IH coil 9L, the right IH coil 9R, and the central IH coil 9C based on the operations of the left operation unit 15L and the right operation unit 15R, and the temperature of the object to be heated on the top plate 3.

[0197] Based on the operations of the central operation unit 15M, the temperature of the object to be heated on the top plate 3, and the detection results of the infrared sensor 13 and the thermistor sensor 14, the control device 40 controls the driving of the central IH coil 9C, the microwave heating means 11, the upper radiant heat heating means 12a, and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b, respectively.

[0198] Also, based on the operations of the left operation unit 15L and the right operation unit 15R, the control device 40 controls the displays of the left display unit 16L, the right display unit 16R, the left heating power display unit 17L, and the right heating power display unit 17R.

[0199] Furthermore, based on the open signal from the open / close detection unit 10 and the operations of the left operation unit 15L, the right operation unit 15R, and the central operation unit 15M, the control device 40 controls the displays of the central display unit 16M and the central heating status display unit 17M.

[0200] The control device 40 has a storage device 41 that stores various programs and data such as parameters (hereinafter collectively referred to as "control data") used for controlling the heating cooker 1, and display control data (hereinafter referred to as "display condition data") displayed on each of the display units 16L, 16R, 16M, 17L, and 17R. Also, the control device 40 activates the voice notification unit 50 as needed to convey the operating status of the heating cooker 1 to the user US by voice.

[0201] The control device 40 stores, in the recipe data storage unit 42 of the storage device 41, data that summarizes various programs and information such as parameters used for the heating cooking control of the heating control unit 43 in a certain format. This data is the aforementioned recipe data CD. As will be described later, in the heating cooker 1, recipe data CDs corresponding to each of a total of eight cooking menus are prepared in advance for executing the cooperative cooking mode KM1.

[0202] The recipe data CD and the "display condition data" can be obtained by the heating cooker 1 from an external device such as the communication terminal 200 for each individual cooking menu.

[0203] 42 is a storage unit that stores the recipe data CD and the display condition data. Note that the storage unit 42 may constitute one section (area) in the storage device 41, or may be configured separately from the storage device 41 in terms of hardware.

[0204] 43 is a heating control unit that integrally controls the heating operation of the entire cooking device 1, and is mainly composed of a microcomputer. 53 is a data acquisition unit, and can acquire the recipe data CD from the communication terminal 200 or the cloud server 300 via the communication unit 51. Also, in some cases, the display condition data may be acquired from the communication terminal 200 or the cloud server 300 via the communication unit 51.

[0205] 51 is a communication unit that performs wireless communication with the outside, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, has a function of performing wireless communication 330 (330BT) with the communication terminal 200. Or, it has a function of performing wireless communication with the cloud server 300 via the network NW. As will be described later, the communication unit 51 has at least a first communication unit 51B (not shown) and a second communication unit 51W (not shown) corresponding to two communication methods. Since the communication method between the first communication unit 51B and the communication terminal 200 is Bluetooth (registered trademark), it corresponds to this communication method. Also, since the communication method between the second communication unit 51W (not shown) and the wireless router 340 uses a communication method based on a wireless LAN such as WiFi (registered trademark), it has a function corresponding to this communication method.

[0206] 54 is a permission condition determination unit that performs determination processing on whether to permit cooking in the cooperative cooking mode KM1 or the composite cooking mode KM2. 57 is a power supply circuit that supplies power of a constant voltage to the control device 40. 20 is a main power switch inserted into this power supply circuit 57, and is opened and closed by the user US.

[0207] 55 is a restricting unit 55 that restricts the acquisition of the recipe data CD. During the standby period before starting the cooking in the linked cooking mode KM1 (that is, before the "cooking step 1" described later), the restricting unit 55 has a function of restricting the acquisition of the recipe data CD by the data acquisition unit 53 via the communication unit 51.

[0208] Furthermore, the restricting unit 55 has a function of restricting the acquisition of a new recipe data CD from the communication unit 51 until the cooking process of one cooking menu is completed based on the recipe data CD acquired from the outside. Note that the restricting unit 55 may be realized by one control program of a computer (not shown) that constitutes the control device 40, and it is not necessarily required to be separately configured from the control device 40 in terms of hardware.

[0209] As shown in FIG. 10, the input operation unit 15 has a voice signal receiving unit 56 that receives the voice emitted by the user US with a microphone (not shown) and converts it into a predetermined voice signal.

[0210] On the other hand, the control device 40 is provided with a voice signal analyzing unit 58 that receives the voice signal from the voice signal receiving unit 56 and analyzes the content of the voice. The voice signal analyzing unit 58 compares with the information in the voice database of the storage device 41, analyzes the content of the voice received by the voice signal receiving unit 56, and transmits the analysis result to the heating control unit 43.

[0211] 70 is an input processing unit. This input processing unit 70 receives the input signal from the input operation unit 15, switches its input reception mode to the "voice input mode 1", controls the input signal analyzing unit 52, and further receives the analysis result from the voice signal analyzing unit 58 and transmits control data to the heating control unit 43.

[0212] In FIG. 10, 59 is a human sensor. It also has a receiving unit (not shown) that emits ultrasonic waves or infrared rays in front of the cooking appliance 1 and receives the reflected input. Note that a dedicated circuit for processing the signal received by the receiving unit is not provided, and the received signal is analyzed by the control device 40 to determine whether a person is present.

[0213] As shown by the dashed-line frame in FIG. 10, the voice notification unit 50, the display unit 16, etc. may be collectively referred to as the "notification unit", and in this case, 90 is used as the reference numeral. 26 is a light emission control unit. This light emission control unit controls the light emission of a large number of light emitting elements. The light emitting elements 27A composed of LEDs etc. arranged in the light emitting unit 21 (21M, 21L, 21R) and the light emitting element 27B arranged in the input key 154M are controlled for light emission by this light emission control unit 26. When two or more light emitting elements 27 with different emission colors are arranged at one location, there is a visual effect such that the emission color changes for the user US depending on the light emission states of those multiple light emitting elements.

[0214] In FIG. 10, 52 is an input signal analysis unit that analyzes the input signal from the input operation unit 15. This input signal analysis unit 52 individually analyzes the respective input signals transmitted from the right operation unit 15R, the left operation unit 15L, and the central operation unit 15M. In particular, this input signal analysis unit 52 has a discrimination function for determining whether it has received the input mode switching command (voice input mode corresponding signal) MC1. And when it is determined that the input mode switching command (voice input mode corresponding signal) MC1 has been received, it issues a switching command for switching the input mode from the "touch input mode" to the "voice input mode 1".

[0215] In the following description, the "input mode switching command MC1" is referred to as the "voice input mode corresponding signal MC1". Note that when the input processing unit 70 receives this voice input mode corresponding signal MC1, it issues a control signal to cause the voice signal analysis unit 52 to shift to the standby state for voice input (for example, to start a dedicated voice analysis program).

[0216] As described with reference to FIG. 7, the right operation unit 15R has various input keys (153R, 154R, 151R, etc.), and the touch input results of these input keys are transmitted to the input signal analysis unit 52. In particular, when the input key 152R, which is one of the "voice input switching keys", is touched, the right operation unit 15R determines whether the touch state is a "long press" or a "short press", and the determination result (command signal for voice input mode 1) is input to the control device 40.

[0217] Similarly, the left operation unit 15L has various input keys (153L, 154L, 151L, etc.), and the touch input results of these input keys are transmitted to the input signal analysis unit 52. In particular, when the input key 152L, which is one of the "voice input switching keys", is touched, the left operation unit 15L determines whether the touch state is a "long press" or a "short press", and the determination result (command signal for voice input mode 1) is input to the control device 40.

[0218] Furthermore, the central operation unit 15M has various input keys (153M, 154M, 155M, 156M, etc.), and the touch input results of these input keys are transmitted to the input signal analysis unit 52. In particular, when the input keys 153M and 154M, which are one of the "voice input switching keys", are touched, the central operation unit 15M determines whether the touch state is a "long press" or a "short press", and the determination result (command signal for voice input mode 1) is input to the control device 40.

[0219] Next, FIG. 11 will be described. FIG. 11 is a block configuration diagram for explaining the relationship between the control device 40 and the central operation unit 15M. Note that the voice signal receiving unit 56 described in FIG. 10 is omitted from the description. Note that the right operation unit 15R and the left operation unit 15L are basically the same as the configuration of this central operation unit 15M.

[0220] In FIG. 11, 15A is an input key identification unit. This input key identification unit 15A identifies the input key that has been touched. For example, when the input key 153M is touched, it emits a unique identification signal for that input key. Also, when the input key 154M is touched, it emits a unique identification signal for that input key.

[0221] 15B is a touch detection unit. When the fingertip FG of the user US or the like approaches the touch electrode unit, the detection circuit emits an "ON" signal, and when it moves away, it emits an "OFF" signal. 15T is a time measurement unit. This time measurement unit 15T measures the elapsed time from the time point of the "ON" signal of the touch detection unit 15B to the time point when it changes to the "OFF" signal, and transmits measurement time data.

[0222] 15C is an input mode determination unit. This input mode determination unit 15C receives the measurement time data from the time measurement unit 15T, and as described above, using a threshold of 5 seconds as a boundary, if it is 5 seconds or more, it determines that it is in the "voice input mode 1". If it is less than this threshold, it determines that it is a normal "short press" operation.

[0223] The input mode determination unit 15C transmits a signal (voice input mode corresponding signal MC1) indicating the determination result of whether it is in the "voice input mode 1" to the control device 40.

[0224] 15D is a storage unit. This storage unit 15D stores various control parameters such as the touch detection unit 15A, time measurement unit 15T, and input mode determination unit 15C as described above, thresholds, program information for determination processing, and the like.

[0225] 15E is a central processing unit (CPU) that performs various information processing operations as an input operation unit (central operation unit 15M). 15F is an input signal transmitter. This input signal transmitter 15F transmits the unique identification signal of the input key as described above and the voice input mode corresponding signal MC1 of the result of determining whether it is the "voice input mode 1" to the input signal analysis unit 58 of the control device 40.

[0226] In this Figure 11, the touch detection unit 15A, the time measurement unit 15T, the input mode determination unit 15C, etc. are depicted as individual independent blocks. However, without making them separate configurations in hardware, for example, these functions may be realized by the software of one microcomputer.

[0227] Also, in this Figure 11, an example of the central operation unit 15M is described. However, for the right operation unit 15R and the left operation unit 15L as well, the control device 40 identifies that they are inputs of their respective operation units. Therefore, in the input key identification unit 15A in the right operation unit 15R, data for specifying that it is an input key existing in the right operation unit 15R is included in the signal from the input key. The same applies to the left operation unit 15L.

[0228] As is clear from the above description, the cooking heater 1 described in FIGS. 10 and 11 has a first heating means HM1 for induction heating an object to be heated on the top plate 3, a heating chamber 6 with a metal wall surface, a second heating means HM2 for supplying microwaves to the heating chamber 6, a third heating means HM3 for heating the heating chamber 6 with radiant heat, a notification unit 90, a communication unit 51, a display unit 16, and a control device 40.

[0229] , After the control device 40 displays the standby initial screen 16MH (described with reference to FIG. 41) on the display unit 16, it displays dedicated display screens (first specific screen 16M1 to third specific screen 16M3) for each cooking mode. The first specific screen 16M1 to the third specific screen 16M3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 22 and FIG. 42.

[0230] There are three types of cooking modes. That is, the single cooking mode KM3, the combined cooking mode KM2, and the linked cooking mode KM1.

[0231] The single cooking mode KM3 includes the following three types. (1) The IH single mode in which the first heating means HM1 operates alone (2) The range single cooking mode in which the second heating means HM2 operates alone (3) The oven single cooking mode in which the third heating means HM3 operates alone

[0232] The combined cooking mode KM2 is a heating pattern in which both the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3 are simultaneously heated, or the operating timings are automatically made different, and cooking is performed in the heating chamber 6.

[0233] The linked cooking mode KM1 is a heating pattern in which both or either one of the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3 and the first heating means HM1 are sequentially operated through a transition period TR whose length is determined by a command from the user US.

[0234] The control device 40 has an operation program for executing the three cooking modes KM1 to KM3 described above. The data acquisition unit 53 of the control device 40 can acquire the recipe data CD from the communication terminal 200 via the communication unit 51.

[0235] In the input operation unit 15, "voice input mode 2" can be selected by the input key 180 provided on the central operation unit 15M. Furthermore, among the input keys arranged on the central operation unit 15M, the right operation unit 15R, and the left operation unit 15L, specific input keys (152L, 152R, 153M, 154M) can select "voice input mode 1" according to the "long press" state, which is one of the touch forms.

[0236] (3. Configuration of the control menu of the central operation unit) Next, the control menu that is displayed on the central display unit 16M and can be selected by the central operation unit 15M will be described with reference to FIG. 12.

[0237] FIG. 12 shows the entire control menu that can be selected by the central operation unit 15M. The control menu that can be selected by the central operation unit 15M is divided into an RG (range grill) menu group that uses one or both of the microwave heating means (second heating means HM2) and the upper radiant heat heating means 12a and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b, and an IH menu group that uses the central IH coil 9C corresponding to the central heating port 4C.

[0238] FIG. 13 classifies the control menu shown in FIG. 12 from four perspectives (classification 1 to 4). As is clear from FIG. 13, the control menu is roughly divided into a single cooking mode KM3 and a composite cooking mode KM2. Although the cooperative cooking mode KM1 is not described in FIGS. 12 and 13, the central operation unit 15M can execute a cooperative cooking menu in the cooperative cooking mode.

[0239] When the main power switch 20 is turned "ON" and the input key 154M or 155R is pressed without operating the input key 153M of the central operation unit 15M, it means that the composite cooking mode KM2 has been selected.

[0240] Therefore, the display screen of the central display unit 16M switches to the second specific screen 16M2 (see FIG. 15). In the first area 22 of the second specific screen 16M2, the control menu "Warm" described in the "Left Display Area" of FIG. 12 is always displayed first. This is because this control menu "Warm" is set as the default.

[0241] The "Left Display Area" in FIG. 12 is a display area corresponding to the first area 22 described in FIG. 8. That is, various control menus described in the "Left Display Area" of FIG. 12 are sequentially displayed within the first area 22.

[0242] As described in the "Left Display Area" of FIG. 12, in addition to "Warm", there are a total of 13 control menus: "Range Manual", "Boil Leafy Vegetables", "Boil Root Vegetables", "Meat Thawing", "Range Grill (RG) Cooking", "Range Grill (RG) Reheating", "Range Grill (RG) Manual", "Grill", "Oven", "IH Keep Warm", "IH Cook Rice", "IH Heating".

[0243] The control menus "Warm", "Range Manual", "Boil Leafy Vegetables", "Boil Root Vegetables", "Meat Thawing", "Range Grill (RG) Cooking", "Range Grill (RG) Reheating", "Range Grill (RG) Manual", "Grill", "Oven" are included in the RG menu group. Also, "IH Keep Warm", "IH Cook Rice", "IH Heating" are included in the "IH menu group" that uses the first heating means HM1.

[0244] The content described in the "Center Display Area" of FIG. 12 is the content displayed in the second area 23 of the center display unit 16M, and is related to the adjustment of the heating status during cooking, such as temperature, time, heating power, "Stronger", "Weaker", etc. In other words, various control conditions are described in the "Center Display Area". The default setting content of this "Center Display Area" is listed in the "Default" column in the right column of that "Center Display Area".

[0245] The content described in the "Right Display Area" of FIG. 12 shows the content displayed in the third area 24 of the central display unit 16M. The content of the default setting of the "Right Display Area" is listed in the "Default" column in the right column of that "Right Display Area". The blank part does not mean a controllable condition that can be changed, but means that no information is displayed, or appropriate explanatory text that cannot be selected or changed (by user US) is displayed in the third area 24.

[0246] Next, the total of 13 types of control menus displayed in the "Left Display Area" of FIG. 12 will be described. (1) Warm: It means heating the food in the heating chamber 6 using the microwave heating means (the second heating means HM2). This "Warm" is also applicable in the case of reheating the food. Since the default setting is "80°C", when the food is heated to 80°C, the microwave heating automatically stops. Note that "80°C" is the target temperature, and this temperature can be adjusted by user US before the start of heating. As shown in the central display area of FIG. 12, for example, the range from 0°C to 90°C can be set in 5-degree increments.

[0247] (2) Range Manual: It means heating the food in the heating chamber 6 using the microwave heating means (the second heating means HM2). The heating time is set by user US to a specific time between 10 seconds and 60 minutes.

[0248] (3) Boil Leafy Vegetables: It is suitable for boiling the food in the heating chamber 6 using the microwave heating means (the second heating means HM2), especially vegetables whose leaves are edible, such as spinach, Chinese cabbage and other leafy vegetables. The infrared sensor 13 measures the temperature rise of the food in real time and automatically stops.

[0249] (4) Boil Root Vegetables: It is suitable for boiling the food in the heating chamber 6 using the microwave heating means (the second heating means HM2), especially root vegetables such as roots, rhizomes, and potatoes.

[0250] (5) Meat thawing: This is suitable for thawing various frozen meats in the heating chamber 6. (6) Range grill (RG) cooking: This combines microwave heating using the microwave heating means (the second heating means HM2) and oven heating using the upper radiant heat heating means 12a and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b to heat and cook the object to be cooked in the heating chamber 6.

[0251] (7) Range grill (RG) reheating: This is suitable for reheating the cooked object to be cooked in the heating chamber 6. (8) Range grill (RG) manual: The user US appropriately selects microwave heating and oven heating to heat and cook the object to be cooked in the heating chamber 6.

[0252] (9) Grill: This uses one or both of the upper radiant heat heating means 12a and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b to heat the food in the heating chamber 6. That is, it is a control menu using the third heating means HM3.

[0253] In the "Grill" of the control menu, the temperature of the heating chamber 6 is not controlled, and the control to detect the temperature rise of the object to be cooked and stop the heating operation is not performed either. The heating operation is performed for the time specified by the user US within the range of 10 seconds to 30 minutes.

[0254] (10) Oven: This uses one or both of the upper radiant heat heating means 12a and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b to heat the object to be cooked in the heating chamber 6. The temperature of the heating chamber 6 is measured in real time by the thermistor sensor 14, and the energization control of the upper radiant heat heating means 12a and the lower radiant heat heating means 12b is performed so as to reach the set target temperature.

[0255] (11) IH Keep Warm: It heats the object to be heated, such as a pot above the central heating port 4C, to maintain the temperature set by the user US. The induction heating power used is from low power of 200W to medium power of 750W. A temperature sensor (not shown) installed near the central IH coil 9C detects the temperature of the object to be heated in real time, and based on the detected temperature, the heating control unit 43 of the control device 40 controls the power. The default temperature is 80°C as shown in Fig. 12. For example, it is suitable for keeping warm soups, etc.

[0256] (12) IH Rice Cooking: It heats according to the quantity (rice cooking amount) set by the user US. The induction heating power used is from low power of 200W to high power of 1500W. A temperature sensor (not shown) installed near the central IH coil 9C is used to detect abnormal heating (also called overheating state, overheat. The same applies hereinafter) of the object to be heated. When an abnormal temperature is detected, the control device 40 reduces the power or stops the heating operation.

[0257] (13) IH Heating: It heats according to the induction heating power set by the user US. There are 5 levels of power that can be set, namely Power 1: 200W, Power 2: 500W, Power 3: 750W, Power 4: 1000W, Power 5: 1500W. A temperature sensor (not shown) installed near the central IH coil 9C is used to detect abnormal heating of the object to be heated. When an abnormal temperature is detected, the control device 40 reduces the power or stops the heating operation. The default power is 500W.

[0258] Next, Fig. 13 will be described. Fig. 13 is a classification table of the RG control menu (the "RG menu group" in Fig. 12) and the IH control menu (the "IH menu group" in Fig. 12) of the single cooking mode KM3 by the first heating means HM1.

[0259] The "left display area" of the first area in FIG. 12 means the first area 22 (see FIG. 8). As is clear from classification 2 in FIG. 13, the name of the control menu is also displayed in characters in the first area 22 of the central display unit 16M and is used by the user US to select the control menu.

[0260] Next, FIG. 14 will be described. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the storage structure of various cooking control menus in the linked cooking mode and the composite cooking mode and the correspondence relationship of the input keys. The "information indicating the gist of each control menu" shown in classification 2 of FIG. 13 is stored as the data of the third layer of the recipe data storage unit 42 as shown in FIG. 14.

[0261] Therefore, if the input keys 154M and 155M are operated to select a desired control menu, the user US can automatically or optionally display the information indicating the gist of each control menu shown in classification 2 of FIG. 13, which corresponds one-to-one (is linked) to that control menu. An example of this automatic display is shown in FIG. 15.

[0262] Next, FIG. 15 will be described. FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram explaining the display operation on the central display unit 16M when the central operation unit 15M is operated. First, when the user US presses the operation button 20A of the main power switch 20 (see FIG. 10) to turn on the main power, the input functions of the left operation unit 15L, the central operation unit 15M, and the right operation unit 15R become effective. That is, the control device 40 is in a state of receiving operation signals from these operation units 15L, 15M, and 15R, and although not shown in the central display unit 16M, a predetermined screen (hereinafter referred to as the "initial standby screen" 16MH) (see FIG. 41) is displayed.

[0263] In this state, when the user US presses down the input key 154M or 155M, a display screen 15ST is displayed as shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 15 shows the second specific screen 16M2. As is clear from the display screen 15ST, in the center of the first area 22 in the front-back direction, the name (identification information) 160 of the control menu "Warm" is displayed large.

[0264] Behind the identification information 160 of the control menu "Warm" displayed in the center of the first area 22, the character (identification information of the control menu) 161 "IH Heating" is displayed slightly smaller, and conversely, in the front side, the character (identification information of the control menu) 162 "Range Manual" is displayed slightly smaller.

[0265] Thus, when the user US selects a control menu, it can be seen that the next candidates are "IH Heating" and "Range Manual". If at this stage the input key 154M is pressed once, the identification information 162 of the control menu "Range Manual" is displayed large as if it has moved (to the rear) to the position of the character (control menu identification information) 160 "Warm". Note that the characters of the identification information 162 of the control menu do not actually move, but only the display information is switched.

[0266] Also, if the input key 155M is pressed once, the character (identification information of the control menu) 161 "IH Heating" is displayed large as if it has moved (to the front) to the position of the character (control menu identification information) 160 "Warm". Note that also in this case, the identification information 162 of the control menu does not actually move, but only the display information is switched.

[0267] As shown in FIG. 15, on the display screen 15ST, the target temperature "80 °C" is displayed in the second area 23. When heating with microwaves at this target temperature, when the temperature of the object to be cooked is detected by the infrared sensor 13 to be 80 °C, the microwave heating is automatically stopped.

[0268] If you want to change the temperature displayed in the second area 23 and change the automatic stop temperature, you can operate the input keys 156M or 157M. Pressing the input key 156M once will increase the temperature by 5°C to 85°C as shown on the display screen 15UP1, and pressing the input key 157M once will decrease the temperature by 5°C to 75°C as shown on the display screen 15DN1.

[0269] In addition, in the second area 23, a heat source display unit 163 that displays in characters that the heat source is a microwave heating means (second heating means HM2) is displayed.

[0270] As described above, 164 is reference information that automatically displays that it is a recommended control menu for warming up side dishes and the like. The content of this reference information may be another additional information 165, or two or more types of information may be alternately or sequentially displayed on the display screen (for example, the third area 24) of the central display unit 16M for several seconds.

[0271] Furthermore, as shown in classification 2 of FIG. 13, information (reference information) 164 indicating the main points of each control menu may be displayed at any time in response to the operation of the input keys 158 or 159. That is, in this first embodiment, the reference information 164 corresponding one-to-one to the control menu (for example, "warm up") is displayed so that the user US does not hesitate whether to select each control menu (for example, "warm up").

[0272] Furthermore, when the reference information 164 is displayed as shown in FIG. 15, if a touch operation is performed on any one of the (two) input keys 158M or 159M located in front of the reference information 164, the more detailed additional information 166 may be displayed in the third area 24 instead of the reference information 164.

[0273] As shown in Fig. 15, a mode in which a plurality of heating means with different heating principles, such as the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3, are driven simultaneously or automatically switched and driven with a time difference to heat-cook a common object to be cooked is the above-described "composite cooking mode" KM2.

[0274] In Fig. 15, the display screen shown on the central display unit 16M is a dedicated display screen for the "composite cooking mode" KM2 and is called the second specific screen 16M2.

[0275] Next, Figs. 16 to 22 will be described. Fig. 16 is a plan view showing the relationship between the display operation of the central display unit 16M and the central operation unit 15M in the composite cooking mode KM2. It shows the operation procedure before the start of the heating operation.

[0276] In Fig. 16, FG indicates the fingertip of the user US. When the main power switch 20 is turned "ON" to start the control device 40 and the input key 154M or 155M of the central operation unit 15M is pressed, the standby initial screen 16MH (see Fig. 41) switches to the second specific screen 16M2 as shown in this Fig. 16. That is, it becomes a setting operation screen for a single cooking mode such as range heating or the "composite cooking mode" KM2 such as range grill (RG) cooking.

[0277] If the input key 153M is pressed before the input key 154M or 155M, the input process for the linked cooking mode KM1 is changed. That is, from that stage, the standby initial screen 16MH (see Fig. 41) switches to the first specific screen 16M1 (see Figs. 19 to 22).

[0278] When either the input key 154M or 155M is pressed with the fingertip FG as described above, three candidates for control menus targeted by the plurality of composite cooking modes KM2 are displayed in the first area 22 of the display screen (second specific screen) 16M2 of the central display unit 16M. That is, three pieces of identification information (including graphic marks and the names of cooked foods) 160, 161, and 162 for specifying three control menus one-to-one are displayed. Among these, the position where the identification information 160 of one control menu is displayed may be hereinafter referred to as "display position A".

[0279] In this Figure 16, there are three control menus displayed on the central display unit 16M. That is, "warm", "IH heating", and "range manual". The number of such control menus is hereinafter referred to as "the number of control menus for combined cooking".

[0280] In this Embodiment 1, the positions where the identification information 161 and 162 are displayed may be hereinafter referred to as "display position B" and "display position C", respectively.

[0281] In this Embodiment 1, the control menu ( "warm" in Figure 16) displayed at "display position A" has the highest selection priority. That is, in the state of this Figure 16, when the input key 151M is pressed, the heating operation starts with "warm".

[0282] In Figure 16, when a touch operation (a normal "short press" operation) is performed on the input key 154M adjacent to the right of the input key 155M, "range manual" is displayed at the display position A.

[0283] Also, to change the target temperature of 85°C in "warm", it is only necessary to touch the input key 156M or 157M. In this case, even if it is a "long press" instead of a normal "short press" operation, only normal temperature change input can be performed. That is, the change to the voice input mode 2 cannot be performed with the input keys 156M and 157M.

[0284] In Figure 16, one light-emitting unit 21M corresponding to the input key 153M has a star-shaped figure attached, which indicates that the light-emitting unit 21M blinks (or emits light in a color different from other light-emitting units) and is operable.

[0285] As is clear from FIG. 16, at the stage of displaying the control menu in the first area 22, one light emitting unit 21M corresponding to the input keys 156M and 157M does not blink (or emits light in a color different from other light emitting units). That is, it indicates that the input operation is impossible.

[0286] Next, FIG. 17 will be described. As is clear from FIG. 17, after the control menu is displayed in the first area 22, one light emitting unit 21M corresponding to the input keys 156M and 157M blinks (or emits light in a color different from other light emitting units), indicating that the input operation of control conditions such as heating time and temperature is possible.

[0287] Also, in FIG. 17, one light emitting unit 21M corresponding to the input key 151M is surrounded by a dashed circle, which indicates that the light emitting unit 21M blinks (or emits light in a color different from other light emitting units) and is waiting for a cooking start command.

[0288] By the way, in FIG. 17, when the input key 154M, which is one of the "voice input switching keys", is touched and the touch state is "long press", a mark 154V indicating that the input key 154M has been switched to the "voice input mode 1" is displayed by the light emitting element 27B (see FIG. 10). That is, the light emitting element 27B such as an LED arranged below the top plate 3 (see FIG. 10) is lit by the signal of the light emission control unit 26, and a frame as shown in FIG. 17 is displayed on the part of the input key 154M. Or, the entire touch part of the input key 154M is illuminated from below so that it can be clearly distinguished from other input keys.

[0289] When the mark 154V is displayed, the control unit 55 of the control device 40 is already in a state of accepting the input of "control conditions" (temperature, heating time, etc.), which is a subordinate command of the control menu (e.g., "heat"), via the voice signal receiving unit 56 (see FIG. 10) (hereinafter, also referred to as the "input waiting state").

[0290] Therefore, instead of inputting control conditions by touching the input keys 156M or 157M, the user US can input control conditions by voice.

[0291] Next, FIG. 18 will be described. As is apparent from FIG. 18, after the mark 154V is displayed, one light-emitting unit 21M corresponding to the input keys 156M and 157M is not blinking (or emitting light in a color different from other light-emitting units). That is, these input keys indicate that input operations for control conditions such as heating time and temperature are not recommended. However, when switched to the "voice input mode 1", since the input functions of the input keys that are not necessary for voice input are restricted, after the mark 154V is displayed, (if set to the voice input mode 1A) the input keys 156M and 157M cannot be input by touch operation. Note that, in this way, in order to maintain the touch input function of a specific input key (such as 156M) for inputting control conditions even after switching to the voice input mode, it is necessary to set it to the "voice input mode 1B".

[0292] As is apparent from FIG. 18, after the mark 154V is displayed, auxiliary information 179 of the voice input mode 1 is displayed in a wide display area combining the second area 23 and the third area 24.

[0293] The auxiliary information 179 includes three types: voice input mode display information 179A indicating that voice input is accepted because it is the voice input mode, information 179B and 179C indicating the range and numerical values of control conditions that can be input.

[0294] The information 179B is the condition shown in the "area 2" described in FIG. 12. That is, it indicates that the user US can only select within the range of 0°C to 90°C. The information 179C is also the condition shown in the "area 2" described in FIG. 12. That is, it indicates that in the "heat" control menu for microwave heating of frozen foods, the user US can only select within the range of -10°C to 0°C.

[0295] With the auxiliary information 179 (179A to 179C) shown in FIG. 18, the user US can input by voice, and by indicating in advance the range of control conditions that can be input by voice, useless voice input and inappropriate voice utterance can be avoided, and as a result, the operability of the user US is improved.

[0296] As is clear from FIG. 18, after the mark 154V is displayed, in the wide display area combining the second area 23 and the third area 24, the state where the auxiliary information 179 of the voice input mode 1 remains displayed does not satisfy the condition for starting the heating operation. That is, the state of FIG. 18 does not recommend pressing (touch operation) the input key (start key) 151M as shown in FIG. 17. Therefore, the light emitting unit 21M is not in a state of emitting light (flashing).

[0297] That is, in the first embodiment, after switching to the voice input mode, in a state where a predetermined control condition is not input (the state of FIG. 18), the heating operation cannot be started.

[0298] Next, FIGS. 19 to 22 will be described. FIG. 19 is a plan view showing the relationship between the display operation of the central display unit 16M and the central operation unit 15M in the cooperative cooking mode KM1. It shows the operation procedure before starting the heating operation.

[0299] In FIG. 19, when the main power switch 20 is turned “ON” to start the control device 40 and the input key 153M of the central operation unit 15M is pressed, the standby initial screen 16MH (see FIG. 40) switches to the first specific screen 16M1 shown in FIG. 19.

[0300] If the input key 154M or 155M is pressed before the input key 153M, as shown in FIG. 16, the input process for the composite cooking mode KM2 is changed, and the second specific screen 16M2 is displayed.

[0301] Also, even if the input keys 155M or 156M have been pressed previously and the setting operation for the single cooking mode such as range heating or the "combined cooking mode" KM2 such as range grill (RG) cooking has been partially performed, if it is before the stage of pressing the input key 151M, it will change to the input process for the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3 from the stage of pressing the input key 153M. That is, only the first specific screen 16M1 is displayed on the central display unit 16M from this stage.

[0302] Figure 19 shows the state immediately after pressing the input key 153M, and the identification information 167 of a specific cooking menu (e.g., hamburger) set by default is displayed in the first area 22.

[0303] Subsequent to the input key 153M, if the input key 154M or 155M is touched next, in the first area 22 of the display screen (first specific screen) 16M1 of the central display unit 16M, another identification information (including a graphic mark, name of the food to be cooked) 168 or 169 for specifying the food to be cooked (which is a cooperative cooking menu) targeted by the plurality of cooperative cooking modes KM1 is displayed.

[0304] In this Figure 19, the number of "foods to be cooked" that can be executed in the cooperative cooking mode displayed on the central display unit 16M is three. That is, hamburger, gratin, and roast beef, and the number of foods to be cooked is thus called the "number of cooperative cooking menus".

[0305] In this Embodiment 1, the total number of cooperative cooking menus is eight. Details will be described with reference to Figure 25. However, it is possible to obtain recipe data CD from a smartphone (communication terminal) 200 to be described later and further increase the "number of cooperative cooking menus".

[0306] In Figure 19, 167, 168, and 169 are identification information, and in this Embodiment 1, they are information that shows the names of the foods to be cooked (e.g., hamburger, gratin, roast beef) one-to-one. When explaining all the identification information of the cooperative cooking menu KM1, the reference numeral 167 is used.

[0307] The position where the identification information 160 of the control menu described in FIGS. 15 to 18 was displayed was called "display position A". On the other hand, in the linked cooking mode KM1, the position where the identification information 167 is displayed is also the display position A.

[0308] In this Embodiment 1, the positions where the identification information 160 and the identification information 167 are displayed are the same "display position A", but they may be set at different positions. However, within the linked cooking mode KM1, in order not to cause confusion to the user US, among the eight linked cooking menus, they should always be at the same position (display position A). Also, in the combined cooking mode KM2, it is advisable to unify them to always be at the same (one) "display position A" for each control menu.

[0309] If the input keys 154M and 155M are not operated (within a certain period of time), it will automatically proceed to the next step and switch to the display screen of FIG. 20. FIG. 20 will be described. In FIG. 20, heating unit specifying parts 171L and 171R are displayed in the first specific screen 16M1. Therefore, if the user US operates the input keys 157M and 156M adjacent to each other on the left and right, either one of the right IH coil 9R and the left IH coil 9L can be selected. In this Embodiment 1, the left heating unit 4L is set as the default, and the operation of the input keys 157M and 156M is not essential.

[0310] In FIG. 20, as the operation support information 170, it is displayed that "when the start button is pressed, the heating of the left IH will start". This means that if the input key 151M of the central operation unit 15M is pressed, the induction heating (cooking process 1) by the left IH coil 9L in the linked cooking mode KM1 can be started. However, in this Embodiment 1, after the input key 151M, it is necessary to press the input key 153L in the left operation unit 15L.

[0311] As shown in FIG. 20, above the identification information 167 shown on the first specific screen 16M1 (in the rear position in plan view), identification information 168 indicating the name of another cooked food (for example, gratin) is displayed.

[0312] Also, below the identification information 167, identification information 169 indicating the name of another cooked food (for example, roast beef) is displayed. In FIG. 20, one light-emitting unit 21M corresponding to the input key 151M is surrounded by a dashed circle, which indicates that the light-emitting unit 21M is blinking (or emitting light in a different color from other light-emitting units) and waiting for a cooking start command.

[0313] Each time either the input key 154M or 155M is operated once, the identification information 167 indicating the name of the food to be cooked (for example, hamburger) changes its display in such a way that it moves sequentially one step upward or downward. That is, the identification information 167 can be sequentially displayed at a predetermined position (front-rear center position) in the first area 22, in other words, at the display position B, by forward and reverse feeding.

[0314] In this first embodiment, there are a total of eight types of foods to be cooked in the cooperative cooking mode KM1 as described above. Therefore, for example, if the left input key 155M is operated eight times, the identification information 167 of one food to be cooked (e.g., hamburger) makes one full circle. Conversely, if the right input key 154M is operated eight times, the identification information 167 of one food to be cooked (e.g., hamburger) makes one full circle.

[0315] By the way, after selecting a cooking menu (e.g., hamburger), as described above, it is necessary to select the left and right heating units 4L and 4R or input control conditions (e.g., preheating temperature) and then give a start command for the heating operation using the input key 151M.

[0316] As described above, for the input of the left and right heating units 4L and 4R and control conditions (e.g., preheating temperature), since it is necessary to press either the input key 154M or 155M individually many times, the user US has to perform touch operations many times. This is the same in the case of the compound cooking mode KM2 described above. For example, as described with reference to FIG. 12, for the temperature setting in the case of, for example, "heat", it can be selected in the range of 0 to 90°C. However, with either the input key 156M or 157M, only 5 degrees can be input (or decreased) with a single touch operation. Therefore, for example, to input 15 degrees, it is necessary to perform the touch operation three times ("short press").

[0317] Therefore, in this Embodiment 1, in order to reduce troublesome input operations, in this linked cooking mode KM1, with the identification information 167 of one cooking menu displayed at a predetermined position B in the first area 22 as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the input key 154M can be used to change to the voice input mode.

[0318] When the touch operation of the input key 154M, which is one of the voice input switching keys, is a "long press" as described above, a mark 154V indicating that the input key 154M has been switched to the voice input mode is displayed so as to surround the touch portion of the input key 154M as shown in FIG. 20.

[0319] Description will be given with reference to FIG. 21. At the timing when the mark 154V indicating that the voice input mode has been switched is displayed, as shown in FIG. 21, voice input mode display information 179A indicating that voice input is being accepted may be displayed on the first specific screen 16M1 as auxiliary information 179.

[0320] The state of FIG. 21 is a state where the left and right heating units 4L and 4R have not been selected yet. In this state of FIG. 21, if the user US inputs setting information such as "left IH" by voice, it is displayed on the first specific screen 16M1 that the left heating port 4L has been selected. The following Figure 22 shows an example when the function is set to automatically select the left heating unit 4L. As shown in this Figure 22, the automatic selection result of the left heating port 4L is displayed on the first specific screen 16M1.

[0321] Also, in the state of this Figure 22, one light-emitting unit 21M corresponding to the input key 151M blinks (or emits light in a color different from other light-emitting units) as surrounded by a dashed circle, and waits for a command to start cooking and proceeds to the waiting state. Therefore, if the input key 151M is pressed, the heating and cooking operation is started.

[0322] Next, Figure 23 will be described. In Figure 23(A), FG indicates the fingertip of the user US. Each time the input key 155M is pressed once, as shown in Figure 23(B), the display content of the first specific screen 16M1 changes like the display screens 23A to 23D.

[0323] As described above, when the user US pre-sets the function setting mode (using the function setting key 151KP) with the input operation unit 15 and operates a plurality of input keys of the input operation unit 15 during the period of the function setting mode to display the individual cooking menus of the linked cooking mode KM1 on the central display unit 16M, a setting can be made to prioritize and display either the food components or the nutritional components.

[0324] For example, as described above, when the function setting key 151KP is pressed, a dedicated display screen for the "function setting menu" is displayed on the display screen of the central display unit 16M. Therefore, it is advisable to pre-set so that a specific one input key (for example, 156M) other than the function setting key 151KP can be "long-pressed" to automatically select the food component display mode. For example, for one setting menu (for example, hamburger) in the above-mentioned "function setting menu", set it to a display screen that automatically displays "food component display" or "nutritional component display".

[0325] Furthermore, when the display screen for setting such "food ingredient display" and "nutritional ingredient display" is in a set state, if a specific input key other than the function setting key 151KP (for example, any one of 156M, 157M, etc.) is operated, it may be possible to set the conditions for "food ingredient display" and "nutritional ingredient display" or cancel the settings. For example, as a specific range, it may be possible to set to display only "iron content" among nutrients and "energy (calorie conversion value)" of the ingredients.

[0326] Therefore, when the function setting key 151KP is set to prioritize either food ingredients or nutritional ingredients and display them preferentially based on that, as shown in Fig. 23(A), "Hamburger" is not necessarily displayed first.

[0327] On the other hand, as described above, when the input key 180 is pressed, the user US can search for cooking menus by voice. Therefore, for example, if a voice input such as "menu with a small calorie value" is made at this stage of Fig. 23, the cooking menu with the smallest calorie value (energy amount) among the eight cooking menus is displayed at a predetermined position (front and back center position, that is, the "display position A") in the first area 22 of the first specific screen 16M1.

[0328] For example, in Fig. 23, three types of cooking menus, Gratin, Hamburger, and Roast Beef, are displayed. Therefore, if the input key 180 is pressed at this point, the voice input mode 2 is entered. After that, the user US may give a voice input of "menu with few calories". Incidentally, the energy amount per 100 g (unit: kcal) is approximately 152 for Gratin (Macaroni Gratin), 223 for Hamburger, and 196 for Roast Beef. Therefore, among these three, the menu with the smallest calorie value is Macaroni.

[0329] On the other hand, in the state of Fig. 23, the input key 154M can be "long-pressed" to switch to the voice input mode 1, and a menu with a small calorie value can be extracted by voice input.

[0330] Next, FIG. 24 will be described. FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing the display content of the central display unit 16M in the case of the linked cooking mode KM1, and is an example in which the standard ingredients and nutritional ingredients of "hamburger", which is one of the cooking menus, are displayed.

[0331] When the user US issues a command to display either food ingredients or nutritional ingredients by voice input at the stage of FIGS. 20 to 23, or when the input key 158M or 159M is touched at the stage where the operation support information 170 is displayed (see FIG. 20), the first specific screen 16M1 temporarily switches to the display screens of FIGS. 24(A) and 24(B). Pressing the input key 158M indicates that a command to display food ingredients has been issued.

[0332] In the following description, the display screen of FIG. 24(A) is referred to as the "food ingredient display screen" 16M1A, and the display screen of FIG. 24(B) is referred to as the "nutritional ingredient display screen" 16M1B.

[0333] The food ingredient display screen 16M1A and the nutritional ingredient display screen 16M1B automatically return to the state of the original first specific screen 16M1 after a certain period of time (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed since they were displayed. Alternatively, when the user US issues some command by voice input, or when either of the input keys 158M and 159M is operated one more time within the certain period of time (10 seconds), it is defined in the display program of the control device 40 so as to return to the state of the original first specific screen 16M1.

[0334] FIG. 25 will be described. FIG. 25 is a list showing the correspondence between the cooking menus in the "linked cooking mode" KM3 and the operation support information 170 (see FIG. 20).

[0335] As can be seen from FIG. 25, there are two types of operation support information 170: operation support information A and operation support information B. One is "Press the start button to start heating the left IH", and the other is the information "Determine with the start button". This "start button" refers to the input key 151M. The data in the list shown in this FIG. 25 is stored in the storage device 41 of the control device 40. As shown in FIG. 25, for each object to be cooked (cooking menu), when the user US cooks using the recipe data CD, the "specific input key" that requires an operation is determined in advance, and this information is also stored in the storage device 41. For example, in the case of "hamburger", the specific input keys are two: 152L and 152R. That is, a total of two, the input key 152R of the right heating unit 15R and the input key 152L of the left operation unit 15L. Note that both cannot be selected, and when either one is selected, the selection process of the specific input key is completed.

[0336] The above two types of operation support information 170 automatically switch before the start of the cooking process in the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3. For example, they are alternately displayed every few seconds.

[0337] Next, FIG. 26 will be described. In this Embodiment 1, as one type of the cooperative cooking mode KM1, a "cooperative preheating cooking mode" KM4 is provided. There are two types of the cooperative preheating cooking mode KM4.

[0338] As a cooking menu using the cooperative preheating cooking mode KM4, for example, there is "hamburger". In the case of this "hamburger", its preheating process is performed by the first heating means HM1.

[0339] When cooking process 1 is started during the execution of the preheating process, at the time of disclosure of the cooking process 1, the heating operation of the preheating process has not been stopped. Therefore, the energization of the first heating means HM1 and the energization of the second heating means HM2 (microwave heating means) and the third heating means HM3 responsible for cooking step 1 are carried out in parallel in the same time period.

[0340] In other words, in the coordinated preheating cooking mode KM4, the heating source (the first heating means HM1 in the above description) that has started operating before cooking step 1 is not necessarily stopped at the start time of cooking step 1, and during the period of cooking step 1, it may be energized together with one or both of the second heating means HM2 (microwave heating means) and the third heating means HM3.

[0341] Unless there is a particular contradiction, the following explanation is based on the premise that the coordinated cooking mode KM1 includes the coordinated preheating cooking mode KM4.

[0342] At the stage of selecting the coordinated cooking mode KM1, when the identification information 167 indicating the name of the object to be cooked is displayed on the central display unit 16M, the left operation unit 15L of the left IH coil 9L becomes unavailable for other cooking menus (also referred to as the "occupied state").

[0343] Specifically, among the various input keys of the left operation unit 15L, at least the input key 153L is invalidated by the heating control unit 43. The meaning of this "invalidation" is that no valid command signal is transmitted from the input key 153L to the heating control unit 43, and even if a valid command signal is transmitted, the heating control unit 43 does not process the command signal as a valid command signal. In any case, heating by the left IH coil 9L cannot be selected.

[0344] At the same time, when the identification information 167 is displayed, the right operation unit 15R of the right heating port 4R may be made unusable (by "invalidating" the input key 153R). However, if the user US has previously made a function setting (using the function setting key 151KP) on the input operation unit 15 so as not to perform this "invalidating", and if the right IH coil 9R has already been used for other control menus (while the heating operation is in progress), then the right IH coil 9R can still be used as it is. On the other hand, in the coordinated cooking mode KM1, due to the fact that it has been used previously, it is determined to be unusable (by the heating control unit 43).

[0345] Therefore, only the left IH coil 9L is in a state of being "occupied" by the selection of the coordinated cooking mode KM1. Also, from the perspective of the entire first heating source HM1, only a part of the three heating ports 4L, 4C, 4R (the left IH coil 9L) has its use "restricted". Note that if the right IH coil 9R is not in use for other cooking, this right IH coil 9R may also be put in an occupied state in the same way.

[0346] Continue to explain with reference to Fig. 26. This Fig. 26 shows the operation steps when performing "karaage" in the coordinated cooking mode KM1. In Fig. 26, #1 to #9 indicate the operations of the user US and the state changes of the heating cooker 1.

[0347] The "karaage" shown in Fig. 26 is different from the case of the "hamburger" described above. The cooking process 1 is carried out in the heating chamber 6, and the cooking process 2 is carried out by the first heating means HM1.

[0348] In Fig. 26, in order for the user US to cook "karaage", before starting the cooking process 1, first select the left IH coil 9L and press the input key 151L. Then start preheating the object to be heated N placed on the top plate 3. In this case, the object to be heated N is a metal pot, frying pan, etc., and a certain amount or more of cooking oil is put in.

[0349] On one hand, user US opens the door 7 of the heating chamber 6 and puts the "karaage" ingredients (such as seasoned chicken) into the heating chamber 6 (#1). After closing the door 7, an operation A23 called "press the start button" is performed. This is to press the input key 151M of the central operation unit 15M.

[0350] At this point, the microwave heating source (the second heating means HM2) operates and the cooking process 1 of microwave heating cooking starts. Then, the notification 1 of reference information is performed.

[0351] The said notification 1 is, for example, to inform the time until the heating ends, such as "The microwave heating has started. The heating time is 〇 minutes". Or, when performing control to detect the temperature of the object to be cooked and determine the end time of heating, for example, it may be a notification of information indicating the target temperature, such as "Heating to 〇〇°C".

[0352] Also, during this cooking process 1, the preheating of the left IH coil 9L is completed (for example, the object to be heated is in a state of being heated to the standard preheating temperature of 180°C). The completion of this preheating is notified to the user US by voice and characters by the voice notification unit 51 and the central display unit 16M (the first specific screen 16M1) (#2).

[0353] User US can stop the microwave heating at any timing during the cooking process 1. To stop, just open the door 7. Note that pressing the input key 152M of the central operation unit 15M once can temporarily stop the microwave heating. However, if the input key 152M is pressed twice continuously in a short time, the cooking mode is cancelled and the selection of "karaage" in the coordinated cooking mode is cancelled.

[0354] The microwave heating operation is immediately stopped by opening the door 7, and the cooking process 1 ends (#3). Next, user US moves the ingredients heated in the heating chamber 6 into the object to be heated that is being preheated on the top plate 3 this time (#4).

[0355] Then, start cooking process 2 at the left heating port 4L (#5). In cooking process 2, before starting preheating, first, since the input key 153L (see Fig. 6) of the left operation unit 15L is pressed, at the start of this cooking process 2, there is no need to operate the left operation unit 15L. That is, for example, when the food ingredients (tempura ingredients) are moved into the heated object preheated to 180°C, the heating of the food ingredients starts at the temperature of the heated object (this point is the start point of cooking process 2).

[0356] As described above, for the start of cooking process 2 (#5), the user US does not need to particularly operate the input operation unit 15. The point in time when the object to be cooked is placed on the object to be heated and heated is the start point of cooking process 2. However, when the object to be cooked is placed, the temperature sensor group 30 (see Fig. 10) detects that the temperature of the object to be heated temporarily drops, and the start point of cooking process 2 may be determined electrically. The end of cooking process 2 can be ended at any timing if the user US operates the left operation unit 15L.

[0357] Next, the user US moves the object to be cooked again. First, open the door 7, put the object to be cooked into the heating chamber 6, and close the door 7 (#6). Then, press the input key 151M of the central operation unit 15M to start cooking process 3 of the range grill control menu (RG control menu).

[0358] In this case, in order to prevent performing microwave heating etc. (so-called "dry heating") without putting the object to be cooked into the heating chamber 6, after cooking process 1 is finished, the heating operation can be started by pressing the input key 151M only when it is detected (by the door opening / closing detection unit 10 of the door 7) that the door 7 is opened once and then closed again. Also, the timing of operating this input key 151M is restricted to a certain time (for example, 3 minutes) from the end point of cooking process 1, or restricted to a certain time (for example, 2 minutes) from the point in time when the door 7 is opened and then closed again, to improve safety.

[0359] When a predetermined time (TN5) has elapsed since the cooking process 3 by the range grill drive unit in the heating chamber 6 was started by the operation input A26 of the user US, the display on the first specific screen 16M1 of the operation support information 170 is performed. Also, it is notified by voice.

[0360] The voice notification is information including guidance such as "Heating will end in 30 seconds. If you want to extend the time, please set the time". Also, since it can be understood that the final cooking process is finished, the user US can start preparations for taking out the "karaage" from the heating chamber 6 from the time of this notification of the operation support information 170. Also, in synchronization with this, the content of the operation support information 170 is displayed in characters or the like by the central display unit 16M. Note that the operation support information 170 is displayed at a specific position on the first specific screen 16M1 as in the example shown in FIG. 20.

[0361] Thereafter, the microwave heating operation is stopped and the cooking process 3 ends (#7). Note that this cooking process 3 can be immediately stopped if the user US opens the door 7. And then, the user US moves the foodstuffs heated in the heating chamber 6 into the object to be heated that is being preheated on the top plate 3 this time (#8). Note that in this case, if the object to be heated is maintained in a heated state by induction heating until after the end of the cooking process 3, further induction heating (cooking process 4) may be performed (#9).

[0362] The induction heating cooking can be ended by operating the left operation unit 15L. That is, the operation A28 of the user US at this time is to press the input key 153L of the left operation unit 15L corresponding to the left IH coil 9L.

[0363] The cooking sequence shown in FIG. 26 can shorten the time required from the start of the induction heating operation (start of the preheating process) to the end of the cooking process 1. That is, without waiting for the completion of preheating by induction heating or the notification of such completion, the food material (object to be cooked) is placed in the heating chamber 6 at an earlier time point, and the cooking process 1 is started.

[0364] Before the completion of the cooking process 1, the preheating by the first heating means HM1 is completed. Therefore, after the completion of the cooking process 1, the object to be cooked can be immediately transferred into the object to be heated on the top plate 3, and the cooking process 2 can be started.

[0365] In the example of "karaage" in FIG. 26, there is a cooking process 3, but it is not always necessary to have a cooking process 3 or a cooking process 4 like this. Depending on the type of the object to be cooked and the wishes of the user US, etc., it may be finished with the necessary cooking process.

[0366] Also, in FIG. 26, the figure is such that the "left IH coil driving period" continues even after the completion of the cooking process 2. However, after the completion of the cooking process 2, the driving of the left IH coil 9L can be stopped at any time by the left operation unit 15L. However, as shown by the broken-line frame in FIG. 26, when the left IH coil 9L is also used in the cooking process 4, it is necessary to start the preheating operation again before the cooking process 4.

[0367] Next, FIG. 27 will be described. This FIG. 27 shows the operation steps when "karaage" is performed as the cooking menu in the coordinated cooking mode KM1, similar to FIG. 26. In FIG. 27, #1 to #9 show the operations of the user US and the state changes of the heating cooker 1 as described in FIG. 26. The other reference numerals correspond to those in FIG. 26.

[0368] The differences between this FIG. 27 and the above-mentioned FIG. 26 will be described. FIG. 27 shows the case where the cooking process 1 is started in the heating chamber 6 after waiting for the completion of preheating of the object to be heated by the first heating means HM1 and the notification thereof (#2).

[0369] When the preheating of the object to be heated by the first heating means HM1 is completed and is displayed on the first specific screen 16M1 and the left and right display units 16L and 16R, and is also audibly notified by the voice notification unit 50, user US opens the door 7 of the heating chamber 6 and puts the "karaage" food ingredient (such as seasoned chicken) into the heating chamber 6 (#1). After closing the door 7, press the input key 151M on the central operation unit 15M.

[0370] At this point, cooking process 1 of microwave heating cooking starts. Then, the above-mentioned notification 1 of the reference information is carried out. After this, it is the same as the process shown in FIG. 26.

[0371] The cooking sequence shown in this FIG. 27 takes a longer time from the start of the heating operation of the first heating means HM1 (start of the preheating process) to the end of cooking process 1 compared to FIG. 26.

[0372] However, since the food ingredient (object to be cooked) starts to be heated in the heating chamber 6 after waiting for the completion of preheating by the first heating means HM1 or the notification of its preheating completion, when cooking process 1 in this heating chamber 6 ends, if the object to be cooked is moved, there is a guarantee that cooking process 2 can always be immediately started by the first heating means HM1. Therefore, this method is suitable for user US who is not very familiar with the coordinated preheating cooking mode KM4.

[0373] In FIG. 27, it is a figure where the "driving period of the left IH coil 9L" continues even after cooking process 2 is completed. However, when the first heating means HM1 is not used after cooking process 2 is completed, the driving of the left IH coil 9L can be stopped at any time by the left operation unit 15L after cooking process 2 is completed. However, as shown in the broken-line frame in FIG. 27, when the left IH coil 9L is also used in cooking process 4, it is necessary to start preheating again before cooking process 4.

[0374] In FIGS. 26 and 27, the first heating means HM1 is energized first to start the preheating operation, while cooking process 1 is carried out in the heating chamber 6. The "cooperative preheating cooking mode" KM4 of this Embodiment 1 is not limited to the case where the cooking process 1 is performed in the heating chamber in this way.

[0375] In other cooperative preheating cooking modes KM4, first, the heating operation by the first heating means HM1 is started, and the object to be heated such as a frying pan is heated to the preheating target temperature (for example, 180°C). When the target temperature is reached, the object to be cooked is placed on the object to be heated, and in this way, the cooking process 1 is started. After this preheating process, while the object to be cooked is placed on the object to be heated, it is moved into the heating chamber 6, and the object to be cooked and the object to be heated are placed together in the heating chamber 6. In order to further heat with the second heating means HM2 or the third heating means HM3, the cooking process 2 may be executed.

[0376] Next, FIG. 28 will be described. FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the heating control unit 43 until the transition to the cooperative cooking mode KM1.

[0377] In the cooperative cooking mode KM1 of this Embodiment 1, there is a pattern (the first cooperative cooking mode) in which first the first heating means HM1 is driven, and then at least one of the second heating means HM2 or the third heating means HM3 is driven. Representative examples of cooking menus suitable for cooking in this pattern are four, as shown in the list in FIG. 25, from "hamburger" to "gratin".

[0378] There is also a second cooperative cooking mode in the reverse order. Representative examples of cooking menus suitable for cooking in this second cooperative cooking mode are four, as described in the lower half of the list in FIG. 25, from "karaage" to "tempura".

[0379] The steps in this FIG. 28 are common to both the first cooperative cooking mode and the second cooperative cooking mode. First, in the first step SB1, it is the time when the input key 153M of the central operation unit 15M is operated. Thereby, the cooperative cooking mode KM1 is started.

[0380] In the next step SB2, the first specific screen 16M1 is displayed on the central display unit 16M, and various types of information for executing the linked cooking mode KM1 are displayed. In this step SB2, in order to select the cooking menu for each individual linked cooking mode, as one type of identification information 167, the "name of the object to be cooked" (for example, "hamburger") 167 is displayed at the center in the front-rear direction of the first area 22, that is, at the display position A.

[0381] Depending on the selection of the linked cooking mode KM1, the timing at which the heating means (the first heating means HM1 to the third heating means HM3) becomes in the "occupied" state may be either of the following two. (1) As described above, for example, after the case when the left IH coil 9L for the cooking process 1 is selected (in FIG. 28, "start of the occupied state (case 2)" after step SB4 is applicable). (2) After step SB2 as shown in FIG. 28 (in FIG. 28, "start of the occupied state (case 1)" is applicable).

[0382] In the next step SB3, it is determined whether at least one of the input keys 154M and 155M has been operated. As described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 19 to 22, by operating the two input keys 154M and 155M, the identification information 167 indicating the name of the object to be cooked (for example, hamburger) that can be cooked in the linked cooking mode can be selected.

[0383] If the input keys 154M and 155M have not been operated (within a certain time), the process proceeds to step SB4. Step SB4 is a step of selecting either one of the two heating unit specifying parts 171L and 171R displayed in the first specific screen 16M1 as described above. If the user US operates the input keys 157M and 156M adjacent to each other on the left and right, either the right IH coil 9R or the left IH coil 9L can be selected.

[0384] Note that, with the left heating port 4L set as the default, the heating unit identification unit 171L may be first displayed on the first identification screen 16M1, and the process may proceed directly to step S5. In the example described with reference to FIG. 22, when making a hamburger in the coordinated cooking mode, the left heating port 4L was set as the default, and the left IH coil 9L was preferentially selected.

[0385] In the next step SB5, it is determined whether an input operation for canceling the selection of the coordinated cooking mode has been performed. If the input key 152M is operated once, it is determined as "Yes", and the process returns to step SB3. If the input key 152M is continuously operated twice within a certain short period (for example, 5 seconds), it is determined that the coordinated cooking mode KM1 is canceled, and the process returns to the standby initial screen state before step SB1. Therefore, the selection of the three cooking modes KM1 to KM3 returns to the state at the first stage.

[0386] On the other hand, if the input key 151M is operated while the input key 152M is not operated, the process proceeds to the next step SB6, and the cooking step 1 of the coordinated cooking mode KM1 is started.

[0387] In FIG. 28, in step SB7 of the operation program of the coordinated cooking mode KM1, for example, according to the "cooking conditions" (including "control conditions" such as heating power and heating time) of a specific coordinated cooking menu (recipe) such as "hamburger", various functional parts are activated. That is, the process shifts to the coordinated cooking mode KM1 from this stage.

[0388] First, in step SB7, the display unit corresponding to the heating unit selected in step SB4 is activated. However, in the case of a cooking menu (for example, "karaage") that uses the microwave heating means (the second heating means HM2) or the third heating means HM3 in cooking step 1, since the central display unit 16M has already been activated, no new display unit is activated in this step SB7.

[0389] In cooking process 1, for example, in the case of a cooking menu using the left IH coil 9L, in step SB7, the left display unit 16L is activated. Then, the input function of the left operation unit 15L becomes effective, and it waits for the input from the user US. Then, it proceeds to step SB8.

[0390] In step SB8, waiting for the operation of the input key 153L, the cooking process of the linked cooking mode KM1 is started. Note that as the display content of the first specific screen 16M1 in step SB8, process information 172 such as that in the first cooking process 1, the left IH coil 9L is used, and in the next cooking process 2, the microwave heating means (the second heating means HM2) is used is displayed as described with reference to FIG. 19.

[0391] Next, FIGS. 29 and 30 will be described. FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the heating control unit 43 until shifting to the linked cooking mode. FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram showing the permission conditions and determination results before shifting to the linked cooking mode.

[0392] Regarding FIG. 29, it will be described. Steps ST1 to ST8 are operation steps defined in the basic operation program of the heating control unit 43. First, when the operation button 20A of the main power switch 20 is pressed (ST1), in the next step ST2, the heating control unit 43 determines whether there is an abnormality.

[0393] At the stage of step ST2, the central display unit 16M is activated, and it displays that "since there is no abnormality, cooking can be started". Note that at this stage, the heating control unit 43 also checks whether it has received a setting command from the input operation unit 15 regarding the upper limit value of the total power consumption.

[0394] If, at the stage of step ST2, it is set to transmit start-up information from the heating cooker 1 to the communication terminal 200 or the cloud server 300, the start-up information (operation state data OS) is wirelessly transmitted from the communication unit 51 at this stage.

[0395] In the step of the next step ST3, for the central display unit 16M and the voice notification unit 51 as well, notification for prompting the selection of the heating means and voice guidance are performed. In the next step ST4, on the central display unit 16M, the standby initial screen 16MH is displayed, and also display of usage caution information for the user US is performed.

[0396] Then, it is determined whether an input key other than the input key 153M (for example, 154M) is operated (ST5). If the input key 153M is being operated, step STC becomes "No" and proceeds to step ST6. That is, it proceeds to the step of using the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3.

[0397] In step ST6, the permission condition determination unit 54 checks whether the "permission conditions" are satisfied. For example, it checks the usage state of the heat source used in the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3. The permission conditions and the determination results will be described in detail in the following Figure 30.

[0398] In step ST5, the first input operation is checked. For example, before the input key 153M is pressed, it is determined whether the left operation unit 15L or the right operation unit 15R has been operated, and it is also determined whether the "composite cooking mode" KM2 has been selected by the central operation unit 15M (by the input keys 154M or 155M).

[0399] If the operation of the input key 153M is performed first within a certain grace period (for example, 30 seconds) from step ST3, the display for the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3 starts as described above.

[0400] On the other hand, if the operation of the input key 153M is not performed and a touch operation of an input key other than this (for example, the input key 155M or 154M) is performed, step ST5 becomes a "Yes" determination and proceeds to step ST9 for starting cooking other than the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3. Note that the detailed description of step ST9 is omitted here.

[0401] In FIG. 29, steps ST6 and ST7 are the operation steps of "permission condition 1" that determines whether to permit cooking in the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3. Step ST6 is the stage of determining "permission condition 1".

[0402] Here, "permission condition 1" means (1) The "peak cut value" that defines the upper limit of the maximum power consumption that can be used by the heating cooker 1 is 5000 W or more. (2) When there is a power reduction command signal received by the control device 40 via the communication unit 51 from the external cloud server 300 or the communication terminal 200, the peak cut value of the reduction command is 5000 W or more. These are the two conditions. If both of these conditions are met, step ST6 will be determined as "Yes".

[0403] The "permission condition 2" in the next step ST7 consists of the following four conditions. (1) In the first heating means HM1, the central heating port 4C is not in the heating operation. (2) One or both of the second heating means HM2 or the third heating means HM3 are not in the heating operation.

[0404] (3) In the first heating means HM1, neither the right heating port 4R nor the left heating port 4L is used for the heating operation (or only one of them is being used for the heating operation). That is, neither the left IH coil 9L nor the right IH coil 9R is used for the heating operation. (4) The following "permission condition 4" is satisfied. That is, the latest temperature of the top plate 3 is not a limit value (for example, not a high temperature exceeding 100°C).

[0405] If the above four conditions are met, step ST7 will be determined as "Yes". Then, it proceeds to step ST10. That is, it can proceed to the step of starting the input for cooking in the cooperative cooking mode KM1.

[0406] If the determination in steps ST6 and STR7 is "No", the process proceeds to step ST8, and the central display unit 16M and the voice notification unit 50 inform the user US that the linked cooking mode KM1 cannot be selected.

[0407] Here, the meaning of stipulating that the "permission condition 1" is "5000 W or more" will be explained. For the sake of simplicity, in the following explanation, the power consumption of electrical components other than the heating source, such as the internal cooling fan (not shown) of the main body 2, etc., will not be particularly mentioned.

[0408] The reason why a demand (pre-securing of power demand) of 5000 W or more is required when implementing the "linked cooking mode" KM1 is that the maximum (instantaneous) power during the operation of each heating source when the linked cooking mode is executed is as follows.

[0409] (1) During range operation (second heating means HM2): 1000 W (2) During oven operation: 2000 W (upper radiant heat heating means 12a: 1000 W, lower radiant heat heating means 12b: 1000 W) (3) During range grill operation: 1500 W (second heating means HM2: 500 W, upper radiant heat heating means 12a: 1000 W)

[0410] On the other hand, the maximum power of the cooking menu in the "linked cooking mode" KM1 is 1500 W. Therefore, in the linked cooking mode, the second heating means HM2 and the third heating means HM3 may operate simultaneously.

[0411] That is, the sum of "1000 W" of the second heating means HM2, "1000 W (2000 W is energized alternately by 1000 W each)" of the third heating means HM3, and "1500 W" of the first heating means HM1 that performs induction heating results in a maximum power of 3500 W.

[0412] When the demand (pre-securing of power demand) is 5000 W: When heating at 3000W with the right IH coil 9R (normal heating), the remaining demand is 2000W. When the "coordinated cooking mode" KM1 is implemented from this state, for the 3500W of power required for coordinated cooking, since the remaining demand is less than 1500W, the heating power of the right IH coil 9R can be reduced from 3000W to 1500W to start coordinated cooking.

[0413] When the demand (pre - securing of power demand) is 4000W: When frying (requiring up to 1500W) is being done at the right heating port 4R, the remaining demand is 2500W. When coordinated cooking is performed from this state, for the 3500W of power required for coordinated cooking, since the remaining demand is less than 1000W, it is necessary to reduce the heating power of the right IH coil. However, if the heating power is reduced while the automatic control menu is being executed, the cooking will not proceed well, so the heating power of the automatic control menu cannot be reduced. Ultimately, at 4000W, the necessary heating power of the automatic control menu cannot be secured.

[0414] As is clear from the above description, before starting the "coordinated cooking mode" KM1, it is necessary to determine (confirm) whether there is a demand (pre - securing of power demand) of 5000W, which is the total value of the power required for coordinated cooking (3500W) and the power required for the cooking menu at the right heating port 4R or the left heating port 4L (1500W).

[0415] Next, FIG. 30 will be described. This FIG. 30 shows the determination processes of steps ST6 and ST7 in FIG. 29. These determinations are executed by the permission condition determination unit 54. Step ST5 is the stage when the input key 153M is operated. In the next step STX1, the permission condition determination unit 54 of the control device 40 compares with the latest state of the heating cooker 1 for the above - mentioned permission condition 1 and permission condition 2, and determines whether the state satisfies the permission condition 1 and permission condition 2.

[0416] In step STX1 of FIG. 30, voices (notifications) 1 to 4 indicate the content notified to user US by voice notification unit 50. That is, it specifically shows the content of step ST8 in FIG. 29.

[0417] Displays 1 to 4 in this FIG. 30 indicate the content displayed on central display unit 16M. Note that these Displays 1 to 4 are not displayed on the first specific screen 16M1 that is displayed from the time of step SB2 in FIG. 28, but are displayed on central display unit 16M in a state where the first specific screen is not displayed.

[0418] The first specific screen 16M1 is not displayed unless the prerequisites (permission conditions 1 and 2) for transitioning to the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3 are satisfied. Therefore, after the user US sets (selects) various conditions (for example, identification information 167) of the "cooperative cooking mode" KM3 and it is determined that permission condition 1 or permission condition 2 is not satisfied, it does not mean returning to the initial standby screen (step ST4 in FIG. 29) stage. Therefore, the user US is not forced to perform unnecessary input operations.

[0419] Next, FIG. 31 will be described. FIG. 31 illustrates the operations from when the cooking heater 1 is started until recipe data CD for the cooking heater 1 is acquired from the communication terminal 200 or an external server (cloud server 300).

[0420] In this Embodiment 1, the recipe data CD of the cooperative cooking mode KM1 includes, but is not limited to, information such as the number of the cooperative cooking menu (identification information 167), the order of a plurality of heating means to be used, the heating means used in cooking step 1, the heating means used in cooking step 2, and if there are cooking steps 3 and later, the heating means used for each of those cooking steps, and if there are default (standard settings) control conditions (heating power, heating time, heating target temperature, etc.) in each cooking step, the set value or the range of the set value.

[0421] In FIG. 31, steps SS1 to SS8 are operation steps defined in the integrated control program of the control device 40, and basically match the content defined in the basic operation program described in FIG. 29.

[0422] First, when the operation button 20A of the main power switch 20 is pressed (SS1), in the next step SS2, the heating control unit 43 determines whether there is an abnormality.

[0423] Since steps SS1 to SS4 are the same as the steps ST1 to ST4 described in FIG. 29, duplicate explanations are omitted.

[0424] In step SS5, the heating cooker 1 performs an operation for the purpose of asking the user US for prior confirmation as to whether to transmit a signal requesting the provision of the cooking recipe data CD to the previously registered and set communication terminal 200 or cloud server 300. A "confirmation screen" is displayed on the central display unit 16M, and the voice notification unit 50 also gives a notification. This "confirmation screen" is a type of standby initial screen 16MH described later.

[0425] If the user US has previously set the external connection of this step SS5 to be automatically executed by the function setting key 151KP of the input operation unit 15, it will be automatically performed at a specified timing.

[0426] That is, as described in FIG. 1, the pairing between the smartphone 200 and the heating cooker 1 can be automatically performed, and the wireless communication 330 between the smartphone 200 and the heating cooker 1 can be established.

[0427] The external connection in step SS5 repeatedly transmits and receives several times alternately between the heating cooker 1 and an external communication device (such as the communication terminal 200 or cloud server 300). For example, when the heating cooker 1 first transmits signal 1, the communication terminal 200 receives this signal 1 and then transmits signal 2. Upon receiving this, the heating cooker 1 checks its internal state (such as the set value of the total power consumption, etc.). If there are no problems, it transmits a standby signal 2 to proceed to the next stage, and so on for the process.

[0428] And finally, the reception of the necessary "setting information" (including the recipe data CD, etc.) from the external communication device (such as the communication terminal 200, etc.) is completed. That is, on the side of the heating cooker 1, when it receives a signal once, it conducts several rounds of interactive communication such as immediately replying with another signal, and finally the reception of the necessary "setting information" is completed. In such a series of processes, there is a step of asking the user US to make a judgment on whether to receive the recipe data CD. That is, in this heating cooker 1, there is a step that allows the user US to clearly and in advance recognize the reception of the recipe data CD, thus preventing the user US from proceeding to the execution stage of the recipe data CD without knowing. These details will be explained in FIGS. 59 and 60.

[0429] On the other hand, as part of facilitating the above external connection, in step SS6, the central display unit 16M displays a predetermined icon, information, etc., to inform the user US that the recipe data CD can be obtained. An example of this is shown in the display screen 2C of FIG. 40. The display to inform the user US is, as shown by the acquisition operation support information 60P in the display screen 2C of FIG. 40, briefly displayed in text, for example.

[0430] If the connection to the external device (such as the communication terminal 200, etc.) is not agreed to in this step SS6, as shown in step SS9, a non-reception message such as "Currently, the reception of the recipe data CD is not being performed" is transmitted to the registered external device (the communication terminal 200 or the cloud server 300). In this way, the user US can also set to reject the reception.

[0431] On the one hand, in step SS6, when consent is given to connect to an external device and data acquisition is instructed, the cooking heater 1 acquires the recipe data CD from the external device via the communication unit 51, and the data acquisition unit 53 acquires it. The acquired recipe data CD is stored in a predetermined "temporary storage unit" (not shown) in the recipe data storage unit 42 (step SS7).

[0432] In the next step SS8, the content of the recipe data CD acquired from the external device, particularly the identification information 167, is displayed on the central display unit 16M. Also, the voice notification unit 50 notifies the fact of reception, for example, like "The recipe for hamburger has been received".

[0433] By the way, in this Embodiment 1, during the standby period when the control device 40 is waiting for a command to start the heating operation after the main power switch 20 is turned on and the power supply is started, if the input key 180, which is the selection unit for the voice input mode 2, is operated, the program permits the data acquisition unit 53 to acquire the recipe data CD.

[0434] That is, at the stage of step SS6, if the user US presses the input key 180, this step is determined as "Yes" and the acquisition of the recipe data CD is permitted. However, several conditions need to be satisfied before the recipe data CD is actually acquired by the control device 40. This will be explained in detail later.

[0435] Next, FIGS. 32 to 38 will be described. FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing the main input steps for three cooking modes after the main power is turned on in the cooking heater 1. FIG. 33 is a flowchart 1 showing the input steps after the main power is turned on in the cooking heater 1. FIG. 34 is a flowchart 1 showing the input steps in the case of the cooperative cooking mode in the cooking heater 1. FIG. 35 is a flowchart 1 showing the input steps in the case of the composite cooking mode in the cooking heater 1. FIG. 36 is a flowchart 1 showing the input steps in the case of the single cooking mode in the cooking heater 1. FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing the main input steps when cooking by using the central operation unit 15M and acquiring recipe data in the cooking appliance. FIG. 38 is a flowchart 1 showing the operation of acquiring a recipe data CD from the outside in the cooking appliance 1. FIG. 39 is a flowchart 2 showing the operation of acquiring a recipe data CD from the outside in the cooking appliance 1.

[0436] FIGS. 32 to 36 are for the case of the above-described "voice input mode 1A". That is, this is the case where, in one input operation unit 15 (for example, the central operation unit 15M), an input key 154M as the "dual-purpose key" is provided among a plurality of input keys. Therefore, when the input key 154M changes to the "voice input mode 1A", it is a control pattern in which the input functions of the input keys (156M, 158M, etc.) other than the input key (dual-purpose key) 154M are disabled from that point on.

[0437] FIGS. 32 to 36 do not illustrate the case of acquiring a recipe data CD from the outside (such as the communication terminal 200) and performing cooking, but rather illustrate the case where the user US operates the input operation unit 15 of the cooking appliance 1 to perform cooking.

[0438] Description will be given of FIG. 32. In this FIG. 32, the white-outlined signs (such as 153M) indicate the input keys 153M, etc. to be operated in the following steps S2 to S15. In this FIG. 32, the main input keys are also displayed in white-outlined characters. Also, the range indicated by the dashed-line frame indicates the range that can be input by voice in the "voice input mode 1" that switches when the input key (dual-purpose key) 154M is "long-pressed".

[0439] Steps S2 to S6 show the operation steps in the case of the linked cooking mode KM1. Steps S7 to S11 show the operation steps in the case of the composite cooking mode KM2. Steps S12 to S15 show operation steps in the single cooking mode KM3 using the first heating means HM1.

[0440] When the main power switch 20 is turned on, the standby initial screen 16MH is first displayed on the central display section 16M (step S1). Next, when the input key 153M is touched, the collaborative cooking mode KM1 is selected (step S2), and the first specific screen 16M1 is displayed (step S3).

[0441] At this stage, as described in Figures 19 to 22, the first specific screen 16M1 displays at least three cooking menus simultaneously on one screen, but each time input key 154M or 155M is touched, a different cooking menu can be displayed one after another (step S4).

[0442] In step S5, if the control conditions for one coordinated cooking menu are satisfactory, pressing the input key 151M allows the user to move to cooking step 1 of the coordinated cooking mode KM1 (step S6).

[0443] As is clear from FIG. 32, if the input key (combined key) 154M is "long pressed" at step S4, the control device 40 switches to a voice "input standby state", so that the range of conditions from step S4 to S5 can be input by voice. For example, the cooking menu and control conditions can be input as a set by the user US's voice, such as "Hamburg steak preheat 180°C". Note that only the control conditions other than the food to be cooked may be input by voice, such as "heat 7 hours 10 minutes".

[0444] Continuing with the explanation of FIG. In step S2, if the input key 154M or 155M is touched without touching the input key 153M, the combined cooking mode KM2 is selected (step S7), and the second specific screen 16M2 is displayed (step S8). Each time the input keys 154M or 155M are touched, different control menus (see FIG. 16) can be successively displayed (step S9).

[0445] In step S9, if one of the control menus (for example, "warm") displayed on the second specific screen 16M2 is acceptable, then by pressing the input keys 156M or 157M next, control conditions (such as microwave output, heating time, etc.) can be selected (step S10).

[0446] In step S10, if the control conditions for one composite cooking mode are acceptable, by pressing the input key 151M, it is possible to shift to cooking process 1 of the composite cooking mode KM2 (step S11).

[0447] As is clear from FIG. 32, when the input key (dual-purpose key) 154M is "long-pressed" at the stage of step S7, the control device 40 switches to the "input standby state" by voice, so the conditions within the range up to steps S9 to S10 can be input by voice. For example, like "warm at 500W", the control menu (in this case, "warm") and the control conditions can be set and input by the user US's voice. Note that only the control conditions, like "500W for 10 minutes", can also be input by voice.

[0448] Continuing, FIG. 32 will be described. In step S2, without touching the input key 153M and also without touching either of the input keys 154M and 155M in step S7, if either the input key 153L or 153R of the right operation unit 15R or the left operation unit 15L is touched, the single-cooking mode KM3 by the first heating means HM1 is selected (step S12), and the third specific screen 16M3 is displayed on the right display unit 16R or the left display unit 16L (step S13).

[0449] Each time the input keys 152L or 152R are touched, different control menus (see FIG. 41) can be successively displayed (step S14).

[0450] In step S14, if it is acceptable to use one of the control menus (see FIG. 41) displayed on the third specific screen 16M3, then next, if the input key 155L or 156L (in the case of the left operation unit 15L) or the input key 155R or 156R (in the case of the right operation unit 15R) is pressed, the control conditions (such as the heating power of induction heating, the heating time, etc.) can be selected (step S15).

[0451] In step S15, if it is acceptable to use the control conditions of one single cooking mode KM3, induction heating is automatically started within a certain period (10 seconds) without pressing the input key.

[0452] As is apparent from FIG. 32, when the input key (multi - purpose key) 153L or 153R is "long - pressed" at the stage of step S12, the control device 40 switches to the "input waiting state" by voice, so that the conditions within the range up to steps S14 - S15 can be input by voice. For example, like "Boiling water, heating power 6", the user US can input by setting the control menu (in this case, "Boiling water") and the control conditions by voice. Note that only the control conditions may be input by voice.

[0453] Also, the input key 151L or 151R can be operated (at the stage of step S14), and the time of the timer setting can be set with the input keys 154L, 155L (154R, 155R). These can also be input by voice after switching to the voice input mode 1. For example, it is sufficient to speak like "Heating power 6, timer, 10 minutes".

[0454] As is apparent from FIG. 32, the cooking heater 1 of Embodiment 1 The input operation unit 15 has a first input operation unit (right operation unit 15R and left operation unit 15L) for the first heating means HM1 and a second input operation unit (central operation unit 15M) for the second heating means. It has input keys A (153L, 153R) arranged on the first input operation units 15L, 15R and input keys B (153M, 154M) arranged on the second input operation unit 15M, respectively. The control device 40 enables the earlier touch input among the input keys A (153L, 153R) or the input keys B (153M, 154M), and does not start the input process by the other input key until the input of the control conditions (such as heating power and heating time) for the heating cooking mode (cooperative cooking mode KM1, composite cooking mode KM2, single cooking mode KM3) or the control mode (such as "warm up") is completed and the heating cooking is started.

[0455] That is, for the three heating cooking modes (cooperative cooking mode KM1, composite cooking mode KM2, single cooking mode KM3), only one of the input keys 153M, 154M, 153L, 153R that is touched first is accepted by the control device 40, and the other input keys are in a state where input commands are not received.

[0456] Therefore, for example, when the input key 154M is touched and switched to the voice input mode by a long press, the input of other input keys becomes impossible (however, the input functions of the input keys 151M and 152M are maintained).

[0457] Therefore, when the voice input mode is started by either one of the input keys A (153L, 153R) or the input keys B (153M, 154M), it becomes impossible to select other heating cooking modes or control modes, and the set conditions will not be inadvertently input by voice input.

[0458] Also, when the input for the cooperative cooking mode KM1 is performed using the voice input mode by one input key (for example, 154M), when the heating cooking is started by pressing the input key 151M, the voice input mode until then is cancelled. Therefore, when the user US touches the screen to select other heating cooking later, no confusion occurs.

[0459] Next, FIG. 33 will be described. In FIG. 33, the white-outlined reference numerals (e.g., 153M) indicate each input key (such as 153M) that is operated in steps SM3, SM4, and SM8. In FIG. 33, step SM1 performs processes corresponding to the processes of steps ST2 and ST3 in FIG. 29. That is, the central display unit 16M is activated, and the standby initial screen 16MH is displayed. An abnormality determination is executed. If there is no abnormality, a message indicating that "since there is no abnormality, cooking can be started" is displayed. Then, in the standby initial screen 16MH and the voice notification unit 51, notifications for prompting the selection of the heating means and voice guidance are provided.

[0460] In the next step SM2, the input functions of all input operation units 15M, 15L, and 15R are enabled to prepare for touch input operations of each input key (153M, 154M, 153L, 154R, etc.). Also, the elapsed time measurement is started by the elapsed time measurement unit 15T (see FIG. 11) held by the input operation unit 15. In FIG. 11, it was an example of the central operation unit 15M, but the right operation unit 15R and the left operation unit 15L also have the same configuration as the central operation unit 15M. Therefore, they have a configuration corresponding to the elapsed time measurement unit 15T.

[0461] In the next step SM3, the linked cooking mode KM1 is selected. In step SM4, the combined cooking mode KM2 is selected. In step SM8, the single cooking mode KM3 by the first heating means HM1 is selected.

[0462] First, in step SM3, it is determined whether the input key 153M has been touch-operated. If it has been operated, the process proceeds to route A1 shown in FIGS. 33 and 34. In step SM3, if there is no touch operation, the determination is "No" and the process proceeds to step SM4. In step SM4, if either the input key 154M or 155M has been touch-operated, the determination is "Yes" and the process proceeds to route B1 shown in FIGS. 33 and 35.

[0463] In step SM4, if there is no touch operation, the determination is "No", and the process proceeds to step SM8. In step SM8, if either the input key 153L or 153R is touched, the determination is "Yes", and the process proceeds to the route C1 shown in FIGS. 33 and 36.

[0464] In step SM8 shown in FIG. 33, if there is no touch operation, the determination is "No", and the process proceeds to step SM5. In this step SM5, the time measurement unit 15T (see FIG. 11) determines whether the preset limit time TX has been exceeded. If the limit time TX has not been exceeded, the process returns to step SM3.

[0465] On the other hand, if it is determined in step SM5 that the preset limit time TX has been exceeded, the process proceeds to step SM6, and a process of automatically shutting off the main power supply (hereinafter referred to as "automatic shut-off process 1") is performed. Then, a series of operations ends (SM7). In this way, when no input operation is performed, if the limit time (for example, 30 minutes) is exceeded, the main power switch 20 is automatically turned off.

[0466] Next, FIG. 34 will be described. FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing the operations after the input key 153M is touched in step SM3. When the input key 153M is touched, if the touch operation is a "long press", it is determined by the input mode determination unit 15C (see FIG. 11) of the central operation unit 15M.

[0467] Then, the determination in step SM40 is "Yes", and the process proceeds to step SM41. On the other hand, if it is a "short press", the determination is "No", and the process proceeds to step SM50. Step SM41 is a determination step of whether the above-mentioned "permission condition 1" and "permission condition 2" are satisfied. If these permission conditions are not satisfied, non-permission processing is performed at this stage (step SM47). Note that the non-permission processing is the processing of step ST8 described in FIG. 29.

[0468] If the determination in step SM41 is "Yes", proceed to step SM42. From step SM42, the first specific screen 16M1 is displayed. The state at the time when this first specific screen 16M1 is displayed is shown, for example, in FIG. 20. Thereafter, the input keys 154M or 155M are touch-operated (multiple touch operations are also possible) to select a specific cooking menu (e.g., hamburger).

[0469] In FIG. 34, in step SM43, the elapsed time is measured by the time measurement unit 15T (see FIG. 11) to determine whether the preset limit time TY has been exceeded. After this step SM43, if an audio input from the user US is performed via the audio signal receiving unit 56 (see FIG. 10), step SM44 becomes "Yes" and proceeds to the next step SM45.

[0470] By the way, at the stage of step SM43, the control device 40 has already switched to the "voice input mode 1A". Therefore, after this step SM43, if the input key 155M is touch-input, for the "voice input mode 1A", the input of the input key 155M is not accepted by the control device 40. That is, unless a voice input is made, step SM44 does not become "Yes", so the input completion step SM46 cannot be advanced. Note that if it is set to the "voice input mode 1B", the touch input can continue as described above. Also, exceptionally, if the input key 154M is touch-input again (in this case, "short press"), the voice input control program may be changed so that the "voice input mode" is canceled.

[0471] Thus, in this Embodiment 1, immediately after the input key 154M is "long pressed", it switches to the voice input mode 1A, and the voice input mode 1A continues automatically thereafter. However, this voice input mode 1A is canceled when the heating operation is started (that is, when the input key 151M is touch-operated).

[0472] If the limit time TY has not been exceeded, the process proceeds to step SM46. In step SM46, it is determined whether the input has been completed. If the determination in step SM46 is "Yes", the process enters a standby state waiting for the input of the input key 151M (A21).

[0473] On the other hand, if steps SM44 and SM46 are "No", the process returns to step SM44 respectively, waiting for the voice input from the user US. Also, in step SM45, if it is determined that the limit time TY has been exceeded, step SM45 becomes "No", and the process proceeds to the error processing step SM48. Note that the error processing here is slightly different from the automatic shut-off processing shown in step SM6 of FIG. 39. It means returning from the display of the first specific screen 16M1 to the initial standby screen 16MH, displaying that the input has not been properly performed, or giving an audible notification from the voice notification unit 50. After that, the process may proceed to step SM5 and then to step SM6 for automatic shut-off processing.

[0474] Continuing with FIG. 34, steps SM50 and subsequent steps will be described. Step SM50 is a determination step as to whether the aforementioned "permission condition 1" and "permission condition 2" are satisfied. If "permission condition 1" and "permission condition 2" are not satisfied, non-permission processing is performed at this stage (step SM56). Note that the non-permission processing is the processing of step ST8 described in FIG. 29.

[0475] If the determination in step SM50 is "Yes", the process proceeds to step SM51. From step SM51, the first specific screen 16M1 is displayed. The state at the time when this first specific screen 16M1 is displayed is shown, for example, in FIG. 20. Thereafter, the input keys 154M or 155M are touch-operated (multiple touch operations are also possible) to select a specific cooking menu (e.g., hamburger).

[0476] In FIG. 34, in step SM52, the elapsed time is measured by the time measurement unit 15T (see FIG. 11) to determine whether the preset limit time TY has been exceeded. After this step SM52, if a touch input is performed by the user US via the voice signal receiving unit 56 (see FIG. 10), for example, using the input keys 156M or 157M, step SM53 becomes "Yes" and proceeds to the next step SM54.

[0477] Incidentally, at the stage of step SM53, the control device 40 has already switched to the touch input mode. Therefore, after this step SM52, if the input key 155M is touched, the input of the input key 155M is accepted by the control device 40 due to the touch input mode. That is, as long as it is a touch input, step SM53 becomes "Yes", so it can proceed to the input completion step SM46. Incidentally, exceptionally, if the input key 154 is touched again (in this case, "long pressed"), the touch input mode may be cancelled and changed to return to the "voice input mode 1".

[0478] Thus, in this Embodiment 1, the touch input mode is maintained unless the input key 154M is "long pressed", and the touch input mode continues automatically thereafter. This touch input mode is automatically cancelled when the heating operation is started.

[0479] If the elapsed time from step SM52 has not exceeded the limit time TY, it proceeds to step SM55. Then, it is determined whether the input is completed. When step SM55 is determined to be "Yes", it enters a standby state waiting for the input of the input key 151M (A22).

[0480] On the other hand, if steps SM53 and SM55 are "No", they each return to step SM53 and wait for a touch input from the user US. Also, in step SM54, if it is determined that the limit time TY has been exceeded, step SM54 becomes "No" and the process proceeds to the error handling step SM57. Note that the error handling mentioned here is slightly different from the automatic shutdown process shown in step SM6 of FIG. 33. It means returning from the display of the first specific screen 16M1 to the standby screen 16MH and displaying that the input has not been performed properly, or giving an audio notification from the audio notification unit 50. Thereafter, the process may proceed to step SM5 and then to step SM6 for automatic shutdown processing.

[0481] Next, FIG. 35 will be described. FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing the operations after either the input key 154M or 155M is touch-operated in step SM4. When the input key 154M is touch-operated and the touch operation is a "long press", it is determined by the input mode determination unit 15C (see FIG. 11) of the central operation unit 15M.

[0482] Then, the determination in step SM60 becomes "Yes" and the process proceeds to step SM61. On the other hand, when it is a "short press", the determination becomes "No" and the process proceeds to step SM70. Step SM61 is a determination step as to whether the "permission condition 3" is satisfied. The "permission condition 3" mentioned here is different from the permission condition 1 and permission condition 2 (see FIGS. 29 and 30) for the linked cooking mode. The "permission condition 3" in this combined cooking mode is defined such that the result of checking the latest temperature of the heating chamber 6 by the temperature sensor group 30 is, for example, 80°C or lower. If the result measured by the temperature sensor group 30 is, for example, 100°C, it is because it exceeds the temperature detection range (90°C or lower) of the control menu "heat".

[0483] If the "permission condition 3" is not satisfied, non-permission processing is performed at this stage (step SM67). Note that the non-permission processing is to display a message such as "The heating chamber is too hot to cook" on the initial standby screen 16MH, or to perform the same notification by the voice notification unit 50. When cooking is performed in the heating chamber 6 by the third heating means HM3, after the cooking is completed, the heating chamber 6 may remain hot for a while due to residual heat.

[0484] If the determination in step SM61 is "Yes", proceed to step SM62. From the time point of step SM62, the second specific screen 16M2 is displayed. The state at the time when this second specific screen 16M2 is displayed is shown in, for example, FIG. 16. After that, the input keys 154M or 155M are touch-operated (multiple touch operations are also possible) to select a specific control menu (e.g., warm).

[0485] In FIG. 35, in step SM63, the elapsed time is measured by the time measurement unit 15T (see FIG. 11) to determine whether the preset limit time TY has been exceeded. After this step SM63, if an audio input from the user US is performed via the audio signal receiving unit 56 (see FIG. 10), step SM64 becomes "Yes" and proceeds to the next step SM65.

[0486] Incidentally, at the stage of step SM63, the control device 40 has already switched to the voice input mode 1. Therefore, if the input key 155M is touch-input after this step SM63, for the voice input mode, the input of the input key 155M is not accepted by the control device 40 (because it is set to the "voice input mode 1A"). That is, unless voice input is performed, step SM64 will not become "Yes", so the input completion step SM66 cannot be advanced. Incidentally, exceptionally, if the input key 154M is touch-input again (in this case, "short press"), the "voice input mode 1" may be changed to be released. Also, when set to the "voice input mode 1B", the touch-input of the input key 155M is accepted by the control device 40.

[0487] In this way, in this Embodiment 1, immediately after the input key 154M is "long pressed", it switches to the voice input mode 1, but the voice input mode 1 is automatically released at the time when the command to start the heat cooking is given (when the input key 151M is touch-operated).

[0488] If the limit time TY has not been exceeded, it proceeds to step SM66. In step SM65, it is determined whether the input is completed. When step SM66 becomes a "Yes" determination, it enters a standby state (B21) waiting for the input of the input key 151M.

[0489] On the other hand, if steps SM64 and SM66 are "No", it returns to step SM64 respectively and waits for the input by voice from the user US. Also, in step SM65, if it is determined that the limit time TY has been exceeded, step SM65 becomes "No" and it proceeds to the error processing step SM68. The error processing here is slightly different from the automatic shut-off processing shown in step SM6 of FIG. 33. It means returning from the display of the second specific screen 16M2 to the initial standby screen 16MH and displaying that the input has not been performed properly, or giving an audio notification from the audio notification unit 50. After that, it may proceed to step SM5 and then to step SM6 and be automatically shut off.

[0490] Next, with reference to FIG. 35, the steps after step SM70 will be described. Step SM70 is a determination step of whether or not the above-described "permission condition 3" is satisfied. If the permission condition 3 is not satisfied, non-permission processing is performed at this stage (step SM76). The "non-permission processing" in this case is the same as the non-permission processing in step SM67.

[0491] If the determination in step SM70 is "Yes", the process proceeds to step SM71. In step SM71, the second specific screen 16M2 is displayed. The state at the time when this second specific screen 16M2 is displayed is shown in FIG. 16, for example. Thereafter, the input keys 154M or 155M are touched (multiple touches may be performed) to select a specific control menu (e.g., warm). At this stage, if the input key 154M is "long-pressed", the voice input mode 1 is switched and the process proceeds to step SM63. However, if the input key 154M is not "long-pressed", the input key 155M is operated, or the input key 154 is "short-pressed", the "touch input mode" is maintained and the process proceeds to step SM72.

[0492] As described above, in the first embodiment, in the selection of the combined cooking mode and the control menu (e.g., warm), immediately after the input key 154M is "long-pressed", the voice input mode 1 is switched. However, the voice input mode 1 is not automatically continued thereafter, but is canceled at the start of the heating operation. Note that when the same input key 154M is "short-pressed", the voice input mode 1 may be changed to be canceled at this time.

[0493] In FIG. 35, in step SM72, the elapsed time is measured by the time measurement unit 15T (see FIG. 11) to determine whether the preset limit time TY has been exceeded. After this step SM72, when a touch input is performed by the user US via the voice signal receiving unit 56 (see FIG. 10), for example, using the input keys 156M or 157M, step SM73 becomes "Yes" and proceeds to the next step SM74.

[0494] Incidentally, at the stage of step SM72, the control device 40 has already switched to the touch input mode. Therefore, if the input key 155M is touched and input after this step SM72, the input of the input key 155M is accepted by the control device 40 due to the touch input mode. That is, as long as it is a touch input, step SM73 becomes "Yes", so it proceeds to the input completion step SM75. Incidentally, exceptionally, if the input key 154M is touched and input again (in this case, "long pressed"), the touch input mode may be cancelled and changed to return to the "voice input mode 1".

[0495] Thus, in this Embodiment 1, the touch input mode is maintained as long as the input key 154M is not "long pressed", and the touch input mode continues automatically thereafter. This touch input mode is automatically cancelled when the heating operation is started. Therefore, it returns to the normal touch input mode.

[0496] If the limit time TY has not been exceeded, it proceeds to step SM75. Then, it is determined whether the input is completed. When step SM75 is determined to be "Yes", it enters a standby state waiting for the input of the input key 151M (B22).

[0497] On the other hand, if steps SM73 and SM75 are "No", it returns to step SM73 respectively and waits for a touch input from the user US. Also, in step SM74, if it is determined that the limit time TY has been exceeded, step SM74 becomes "No" and proceeds to the error handling step SM77. Here, the error handling mentioned here is slightly different from the automatic shut-off process shown in step SM6 of FIG. 33. It means returning from the display of the second specific screen 16M2 to the initial standby screen 16MH, displaying that the input has not been performed properly, or providing an audible notification from the voice notification unit 50. After that, it may proceed to step SM5 and then to step SM6 for automatic shut-off processing.

[0498] Next, FIG. 36 will be described. FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing the operations after either the input key 153L or 153R is touch-operated in step SM8 of FIG. 33. For the sake of simplifying the following description, the description will be limited to the case where the left operation unit 15L is operated.

[0499] When the touch operation of the input key 153L is a "long press", it is determined by the input mode determination unit 15C (see FIG. 11) of the left operation unit 15L. Note that FIG. 11 shows an example of the central operation unit 15M, but the left operation unit 15L has the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 11.

[0500] Then, the determination in step SM80 becomes "Yes" and proceeds to step SM81. On the other hand, when it is a "short press", the determination becomes "No" and proceeds to step SM90. Step SM81 is a determination step as to whether the "permission condition 4" is satisfied. The "permission condition 4" mentioned here is different from the permission condition 1 and permission condition 2 (see FIGS. 29 and 30) of the linked cooking mode and the above-mentioned "permission condition 3". The "permission condition 4" in this single cooking mode KM3 is, for example, when the latest temperature of the top plate 3 is checked by the temperature sensor group 30 and the result is a high temperature exceeding, for example, 100°C. This is because when detecting the temperature of the object to be heated non-contact and performing induction heating control, accurate temperature control and induction heating control may be hindered if it is at a high temperature from the start of the heating operation.

[0501] If the "permission condition 4" is not satisfied, non-permission processing is performed at this stage (step SM87). Note that the non-permission processing is to display a message such as "The top plate cannot cook at high temperature" on the initial standby screen 16MH or to perform similar notification by the voice notification unit 50. Note that when induction heating cooking is performed, the top plate 3 may remain at a high temperature for a while even after the cooking is completed.

[0502] If the determination in step SM81 is "Yes", the process proceeds to step SM82. From the time of step SM82, the third specific screen 16M3 is displayed. The state at the time when this third specific screen 16M3 is displayed is shown in, for example, FIG. 42. After that, the input keys 154L or 155L may be touched (multiple touches may be performed) to select a specific control menu (e.g., preheating).

[0503] By the way, at this stage, since the "voice input mode 1" has already been switched, in the next step SM83, the elapsed time is measured by the time measurement unit 15T (see FIG. 11) to determine whether the preset limit time TY has been exceeded. After this step SM83, if an input by voice from the user US is performed via the voice signal receiving unit 56 (see FIG. 10), step SM84 becomes "Yes" and the process proceeds to the next step SM85. For example, if the user US vocalizes "Preheat to 200 °C", the voice signal receiving unit 56 converts this voice input into an electrical signal and inputs it to the voice signal analysis unit 58.

[0504] In step SM85, it is determined whether the limit time TY has been exceeded. If it has not been exceeded, the process proceeds to step SM86. In step SM86, it is determined whether the input is completed. When the step SM86 is determined as "Yes", within a certain time (for example, 10 seconds), the induction heating operation is automatically started. That is, in the first heating means HM1 (in the case of the single cooking mode HM1) using the left operation unit 16L, no special input key operation is required for starting heating, and it directly proceeds to the heating operation (C21). In addition, when touching an input key 152L or 152R different from that operated in step SM8 (refer to FIG. 33), it may be changed so that the actual induction heating operation can be started.

[0505] On the other hand, when steps SM84 and SM86 are "No", it returns to step SM84 respectively and waits for the voice input from the user US. In addition, in step SM85, when it is determined that the limit time TY is exceeded, step SM85 becomes "No" and proceeds to the error processing step SM88. Here, the error processing is slightly different from the automatic shut-off processing shown in step SM6 of FIG. 33. It means returning from the display of the third specific screen 16M3 to the initial standby screen 16MH, displaying that the input is not properly performed, or giving an audio notification from the audio notification unit 50. After that, it may proceed to step SM5 and then to step SM6 for automatic shut-off processing.

[0506] Subsequently, steps SM80 and later will be described with reference to FIG. 36. Step SM90 is a determination step of whether the above-mentioned "permission condition 4" is satisfied. If the permission condition 4 is not satisfied, non-permission processing is performed at this stage (step SM96). The "non-permission processing" in this case has the same content as the non-permission processing in step SM87.

[0507] If the determination in step SM90 is "Yes", it proceeds to step SM91. From the time of step SM91, instead of the initial standby screen 16MH, the third specific screen 16M3 is displayed. The state at the time when this third specific screen 16M3 is displayed is shown in, for example, FIG. 42. Thereafter, input keys 154L, 155L, 151L, etc. are further touch-operated (multiple touch operations may be performed) in order to select a specific control menu (e.g., preheating).

[0508] In FIG. 36, in step SM92, the elapsed time is measured by the time measurement unit 15T (see FIG. 11) to determine whether the preset limit time TY has been exceeded.

[0509] By the way, at this stage, since it is in the "touch input mode", in the next step SM93, the elapsed time is measured by the time measurement unit 15T (see FIG. 11) to determine whether the preset limit time TY has been exceeded.

[0510] The input keys 154L, 155L, 151L, etc. may be touch-operated to sequentially input control conditions such as a control menu (e.g., preheating) and a preheating temperature (multiple touch operations may be performed). In this way, when a touch input from the user US is performed, step SM93 becomes "Yes", and if the limit time TY has not been exceeded, the process proceeds from step SM94 to the next step SM95. For example, if the user US sequentially inputs the conditions of "preheating" and "200 °C" by touch input, the left operation unit 15L converts this input into an electrical signal and inputs it to the input signal analysis unit 52 (see FIG. 10).

[0511] Incidentally, if the input keys 154L or 155R are "long-pressed", these input keys do not have a function to switch to the voice input mode 1, so voice input cannot be performed.

[0512] In this way, in this Embodiment 1, for the selection of the single cooking mode HM1 of the first heating means HM1 and the selection of the heating units (right heating unit 4R, left heating unit 4L) (using the input keys 153R and 153L), immediately after the input key 153R or 153L is "long-pressed" (step SM8 in FIG. 33), it switches to the voice input mode 1, and that voice input mode 1 continues automatically thereafter.

[0513] That is, once the input key 153L or 153R is "long-pressed", the voice input mode 1 is maintained thereafter regardless of the operation of the voice input key (when set to the "voice input mode 1B"). If the input key 153L (153R) is "long-pressed" again (twice in a row), the voice input mode 1 remains the same.

[0514] In the determination of step SM94, if the limit time TY is not exceeded, the process proceeds to step SM95. Then, it is determined whether the input is completed. When step SM95 is determined to be "Yes", the induction heating operation is automatically started within a certain time (for example, 10 seconds). That is, in the first heating means HM1 using the left operation unit 16L (in the case of the single cooking mode HM1), no special input key operation is required to start heating, and the process directly proceeds to the heating operation (C22). Note that when a different input key 152L or 152R from that operated in step SM8 (see FIG. 33) is touched, it may be changed so that the actual induction heating operation can be started.

[0515] On the other hand, if steps SM93 and SM95 are "No", the process returns to step SM93 respectively, and waits for a touch input from the user US. Also, in step SM94, if it is determined that the limit time TY is exceeded, step SM94 becomes "No", and the process proceeds to the error processing step SM97. Note that the error processing here is slightly different from the automatic shut-off processing shown in step SM6 of FIG. 33. It means returning from the display of the third specific screen 16M3 to the initial standby screen 16MH, displaying that the input is not properly performed, or giving an audible notification from the voice notification unit 50. Thereafter, the process may proceed to step SM5 and then to step SM6 for automatic shut-off processing.

[0516] Next, FIG. 37 will be described. Fig. 37 shows the operation of the cooking appliance 1 when recipe data CD is acquired from the outside (such as the communication terminal 200) and cooking is performed. Fig. 37 shows the operation in the case of the central operation unit 15M. This is different from the diagram shown in Fig. 32, which includes the left and right operation units 15L and 15R. The range indicated by the dashed frame indicates the range that can be input by voice in “voice input mode 1”, which is switched to by “long pressing” input key (dual-purpose key) 153M, or in “voice input mode 2”, which can be selected by input key 180.

[0517] The same parts as those in FIG. 32 will be given the same reference numerals and duplicated explanations may be omitted. Steps S2A to S6 show operation steps in the coordinated cooking mode KM1. Steps S7A to S11 show the operation steps in the combined cooking mode KM2. Steps S12A to S15 show operation steps in the single cooking mode KM3 using the first heating means HM1.

[0518] When the main power switch 20 is turned on, the standby initial screen 16MH is first displayed on the central display section 16M (step S1). Step S1A indicates a process of acquiring recipe data CD from an external communication terminal 200, a cloud server 300, or the like. In step S1A, in the process of acquiring recipe data CD from an external communication terminal 200, cloud server 300, or the like, a process in which the user US operates a specific input key in advance is performed.

[0519] That is, in step SA1, the data acquisition unit 53 analyzes various information such as identification information included in the received recipe data CD, and identifies one cooking mode from the three cooking modes and a cooking menu. Then, it identifies a "specific input key to be operated" corresponding to the cooking menu. If the specific input key is 153M, the operation of this shared operation unit 15M is required, and step S1A is performed.

[0520] As shown in Fig. 37, in the case of the central operation unit 15M, after receiving the advance notice information A (to be described in detail later) 201 from the outside, the "specific input key to be operated" 153M necessary for executing the recipe data CD notified by the advance notice information A is input-operated. Then, the selection information B (202) generated by this input operation is transmitted to the external communication terminal 200. After transmitting the selection information (confirmation information) B, the setting information of the recipe data CD transmitted from the communication terminal 200 is received. These series of processes are step S1A.

[0521] Steps S2A, S7A, and S12A perform determination processes corresponding to steps S2, S7, and S12 in Fig. 32 respectively, but are slightly different from Fig. 32. In Fig. 32, the cooking mode is selected according to the input key (for example, 153M, 154M) that has been input-operated. In contrast, in steps S2A, S7A, and S12A of Fig. 37, the data acquisition unit 53 analyzes various information such as the identification information included in the received recipe data CD, and specifies one cooking mode and one cooking menu from among the three types of cooking modes.

[0522] In step S3, in accordance with the cooking mode (cooperative cooking mode KM1) identified in step S2, the first specific screen 16M1 is displayed, and one cooking menu acquired from the outside is displayed. Therefore, next, by touching the input key 154M or 155M, the control conditions (such as heat intensity and heating target temperature) for the cooking menu can be changed, and the change result can be displayed on the first specific screen 16M1 (step S5).

[0523] Fig. 37 shows the case where the voice input mode has been switched before this step S5. As described in Fig. 32, in the case of the touch input mode, the control conditions (such as heat intensity and heating target temperature) can be changed by touching the input key 154M or 155M. On the other hand, in FIG. 37, since the voice input mode is switched at the stage of step S1A (by the "long press" operation of the input key 153M), the desired control conditions can be input by voice in voice input (step S20).

[0524] In step S5, if the control conditions for one coordinated cooking menu are acceptable, by pressing the input key 151M, step S5 will be determined as "Yes", and the cooking process 1 of the coordinated cooking mode KM1 can be entered (step S6).

[0525] As is clear from FIG. 37, when the input key (dual-purpose key) 153M is "long pressed" at the stage of step S1A, in step S20, the control conditions can be input by voice within a certain range. For example, like "Hamburger preheating at 180°C", the cooking menu and control conditions can be set and input by the voice of the user US. In addition, only the control conditions other than the object to be cooked, like "Fire power 7 hours 10 minutes", may be input by voice.

[0526] Next, FIG. 37 will be described. In step S2A, when it is determined that it is not the coordinated cooking mode KM1, it proceeds to step S7A. In this step S7A, when it is determined that it is the cooking menu of the composite cooking mode KM2, the second specific screen 16M2 is displayed (step S8). On this second specific screen 16M2, only one cooking menu targeted by the recipe data CD is displayed. This point is different from step S8 in FIG. 32. In the touch input mode, each time the input key 154M or 155M is touched, the results reflecting different control conditions in sequence can be displayed on the second specific screen.

[0527] However, in FIG. 37, when the input key (dual-purpose key) 153M is "long pressed" at the stage of step S1A, the control device 40 transmits the selection information A (202), and in addition, switches to the "input waiting state" by voice, so in step 21, the control conditions can be input by the voice input mode.

[0528] In step S10, if the control conditions of one (composite cooking mode) cooking menu are acceptable, by pressing the input key 151M, it is possible to shift to cooking step 1 of the composite cooking mode KM2 (step S11).

[0529] As is clear from FIG. 37, at the stage of step S1A, since it is possible to switch to the "input waiting state" by voice, in step S21, control conditions can be input by voice within a certain range. For example, control conditions can be input by the voice of the user US, such as "500W". Note that a plurality of control conditions may be input by voice simultaneously, such as "500W 10 minutes".

[0530] Next, FIG. 37 will be described. In step S7A, if it is determined that it is not the composite cooking mode KM2, the process proceeds to step S12A. In step S12A, the third specific screen 16M3 is displayed (step S13). And if the cooking menu targeted by the received recipe data CD is, for example, "rice cooking" executed by the first heating means HM1 at the central heating port 4C, the control conditions for that rice cooking are displayed on the third specific screen 16M3. Also, if the cooking menu targeted by the received recipe data CD is, for example, "warming" executed by the first heating means HM1 at the central heating port 4C, the control conditions for that warming are displayed on the third specific screen 16M3.

[0531] In this way, on the third specific screen 16M3, the identification information of a specific (one) cooking menu (for example, "warming" described in FIG. 42) and the control conditions are displayed (step S15). Therefore, for the cooking menu displayed on the third specific screen 16M3, by pressing the input key 154R or 155R, it is possible to select the control conditions (the power of induction heating, the warming time, the warming temperature, etc.) (step S22).

[0532] However, in FIG. 37, at the stage of step S1A, if the input key 153M is "long-pressed", the control device 40 switches to the "input waiting state" by voice. Therefore, in step 22, the control conditions (for the central heating port 4C) can be input in the voice input mode. That is, since the control device 40 switches to the "input waiting state" by voice before step S22, in step S22, the control conditions can be input by voice within a certain range. For example, the control conditions can be input by the voice of the user US, such as "Firepower 2 for 30 minutes".

[0533] As is clear from FIG. 37, the cooking heater 1 of this Embodiment 1 The input operation unit 15 includes a first input operation unit (right operation unit 15R and left operation unit 15L) for the first heating means HM1 and a second input operation unit (central operation unit 15M) for the second heating means. It has input keys A (153L, 153R) arranged on the first input operation units 15L, 15R and input keys B (153M, 154M) arranged on the second input operation unit 15M, respectively. The control device 40 enables the earlier touch input of either the input key A (153L, 153R) or the input key B (153M, 154M), and until the input of the control conditions (such as firepower and heating time) of the cooking mode (cooperative cooking mode KM1, composite cooking mode KM2, single cooking mode KM3) or the control mode (such as "warm") is completed and the cooking starts, the input process by the other input key does not start. This is the characteristic configuration.

[0534] That is, for the three cooking modes (cooperative cooking mode KM1, composite cooking mode KM2, single cooking mode KM3), only one of the input keys 153M, 154M, 153L, 153R that is touched first is accepted by the control device 40, and the other input keys are in a state where input commands are not received.

[0535] Therefore, for example, when the input key 154M is touched and switched to the voice input mode by a long press, the input of other input keys becomes impossible (however, the input functions of the input keys 151M and 152M are maintained).

[0536] Therefore, when the voice input mode is started by any one of the input key A (153L, 153R) or the input key B (153M, 154M), it becomes impossible to select other cooking modes or control modes, and the setting conditions will not be inadvertently input by voice input.

[0537] Also, when the input of the linked cooking mode KM1 is performed using the voice input mode by one input key (for example, 154M), when the heating cooking is started by pressing the input key 151M, the voice input mode until then is cancelled. Therefore, when the user US performs a touch operation when selecting other heating cooking later, no confusion occurs.

[0538] Next, FIGS. 38 and 39 will be described. FIG. 38 is a flowchart 1 showing the operation of obtaining recipe data CD from the outside in the cooking device 1. FIG. 39 is a flowchart 2 showing the operation of obtaining recipe data CD from the outside as well.

[0539] In FIG. 38, in step SL1, a process corresponding to the process of step SM1 in FIG. 33 is performed. The next step SL2 performs a process corresponding to the process of step SM2 in FIG. 33. Step SL3 is a process corresponding to step SS5 of connection and notification with the outside described in FIG. 31. That is, it is a step for asking the user US for prior confirmation as to whether to transmit a signal requesting the provision of the recipe data CD to the communication terminal 200 or the cloud server 300 set in advance.

[0540] As described above, it is also possible to automatically execute the external connection from the stage of this step SL3 (SS5) (when pre-set by the function setting key 151KP described above). Since this step SL3 includes the operation of the input key by the user US, the details will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 54, 55, 59, 60, etc. When the control device 40 acquires the recipe data CD, the next step SL4 becomes "Yes" and proceeds to step SL5.

[0541] The next step SL5 is a process of determining whether the received recipe data CD meets the predetermined permission conditions. As described above, for example, in the cooperative cooking mode KM1, those that do not satisfy the "permission condition 1" and "permission condition 2" are not permitted as cooking menus (see FIGS. 29 and 30). Also, in the composite cooking mode KM2, it is determined whether a specific "permission condition 3" is satisfied. Note that the permission condition 3 is the same as that described in step SM61 of FIG. 35. Furthermore, the first heating means HM1 needs to satisfy the "permission condition 4" described above (see step SM81 of FIG. 36).

[0542] If it is determined in step SL5 that the permission conditions are not satisfied, in the case of a cooking menu belonging to the cooperative cooking mode KM1, a signal (data) notifying that the recipe data CD cannot be received from the communication unit 51 to the outside is transmitted as in the process described in step ST8 of FIG. 29 (step SL9). Note that in FIG. 29, it was the case of the cooperative cooking mode KM1, but such a "non-reception message" is also transmitted for the composite cooking mode KM2 and the single cooking mode KM3. This will be described in detail later.

[0543] If the permission conditions are satisfied, the determined recipe data CD is stored as normal data in a predetermined storage area of the recipe data storage unit 42 (step SL6). In addition, the identification information 167,160 and control conditions (such as heating power, heating time, target temperature, etc.) included in the recipe data CD are displayed on the central display unit 16. For example, if it is a cooking menu in the linked cooking mode KM1, it is displayed on the first specific screen 16M1 (step SL6).

[0544] The next step SL7 is a control condition modification step. For example, in the linked cooking mode KM1, the control conditions (such as heating time, target heating temperature, heating power, etc.) displayed on the first specific screen 16M1 can be appropriately changed by operating the input keys 156M to 159M of the central operation unit 15M. Since the acquisition of the recipe data CD is in units of cooking menus, it is already determined that it is a specific cooking menu (for example, hamburger), and this cannot be changed to another cooking menu (for example, roast beef).

[0545] When it is desired to modify the control conditions, for example, if it is the linked cooking mode KM1, the modified content can be appropriately input by the central operation unit 15M (step SL10). In this case, "voice input mode 1" can be selected and input can also be performed by voice.

[0546] If it is determined in step SL4 that the recipe data CD has not been received, the process proceeds to step SL8. In this step SL8, it is determined whether the preset limit time TX has been exceeded. If the limit time TX has not been exceeded, the process returns to step SL4. However, if the limit time TX has been exceeded, the process proceeds to step SL11. Step SL11 is the "automatic power-off process 1" that automatically shuts off the main power supply, similar to step SM6 described in FIG. 33. Note that the limit time TX in this step SL8 and the limit time TX in step SM6 described in FIG. 33 may be set to different times instead of the same time.

[0547] Next, FIG. 39 will be described. This FIG. 39 shows the operation when the input key 180 is operated to select the "voice input mode 2". In FIG. 39, step SS5 is the same as step SS5 described in FIG. 31, so duplicate explanations are omitted. Step SS10 is a determination step as to whether the input key 180 in the voice input mode 2 has been operated. If the input key 180 is pressed once, this becomes "Yes" and the process proceeds to the next step SS11. If the input key 180 is not operated, the process proceeds to the normal touch input mode (step SS15).

[0548] When the data acquisition unit 53 can acquire the recipe data CD via the communication unit 51, step SS11 becomes "Yes". In this step SS11, if it is determined that the recipe data CD has not been received, the process proceeds to step SS16. In this step SS16, it is determined whether or not a preset limit time TX has been exceeded. If the limit time TX has not been exceeded, the process returns to step SS11. However, if the limit time TX has been exceeded, the process proceeds to step SS17. Step SS17 is the "automatic power-off process 1" that automatically shuts off the main power supply, similar to step SM6 described in FIG. 33. Note that the limit time TX in this step SS17 and the limit time TX in step SM6 described in FIG. 33 may be set to different times instead of the same time.

[0549] It is determined whether the content of the recipe data CD received in step SS11 satisfies the aforementioned "permission conditions" (see step SL5 in FIG. 38). If it is satisfied, step SS12 becomes "Yes".

[0550] If the permission conditions are not satisfied, as described in step SL9 of FIG. 38, a signal (data) notifying that the recipe data CD cannot be received from the communication unit 51 to the outside is transmitted (SS18).

[0551] If the permission conditions are satisfied, the determined recipe data CD is stored as regular data in a predetermined storage area of the recipe data storage unit 42. In addition, identification information such as 167 and 160 and control conditions included in the recipe data are displayed on the central display unit 16. For example, when the recipe data CD is in the linked cooking mode KM1, it is displayed on the first specific screen 16M1 (step SS13).

[0552] The control conditions (for example, heating time, target heating temperature, heating power, etc.) displayed on the first specific screen 16M1 can be appropriately changed by voice input obtained via the voice signal receiving unit 56 of the input operation unit 15 (steps SS14 and SS15).

[0553] When "voice input mode 2" is selected by the input key 180, thereafter, "voice input mode 2" continues until the heating operation of one cooking menu starts. There is no switching to the "touch input mode" during the intermediate input stage. This is because switching during the input process may cause confusion in the operation of the user US.

[0554] If you want to switch to the touch input mode, you can press the input key 180 again at an intermediate stage. From the stage where it is pressed, it returns to the touch input mode. Incidentally, if, for example, the input key 154M is "long pressed" after returning to the touch input mode, it switches to "voice input mode 1". Therefore, in the case of voice input mode 1 (set to voice input mode 1B), for example, when the input key 156M is operated, the input function of the input key is not invalidated, so input can be made.

[0555] Next, FIG. 40 will be described. FIG. 40 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the heating control unit 43 when the control device 40 switches to the voice input mode 1 in the heating cooker 1. Note that FIG. 40 shows the case of the linked cooking mode KM1, but it is basically the same in other cooking modes.

[0556] In FIG. 40, step SS20 indicates the point in time when the input mode of the control device 40 switches to the voice input mode 1. In the next step SS21, it is notified that the voice notification unit 50 and the central display unit 16M have started accepting voice input. The state of the central display unit 16M at this time is, for example, as shown in FIG. 21. That is, a mark 154V indicating that the mode has been switched to the voice input mode is displayed on the central operation unit 15M, and as auxiliary information 179, voice input mode display information 179A indicating that voice input is being accepted is displayed on the first specific screen 16M1.

[0557] In the next step SS22, the voice signal analysis unit 58 shifts to an input standby state for receiving a command by voice from the user US. Also, measurement of the elapsed time is started by a time measurement unit (not shown) inside the control device 40.

[0558] Input information in the voice uttered by the user US is acquired by the voice signal receiving unit 56 via a microphone (not shown). The voice signal receiving unit 56 converts the acquired voice information into a predetermined voice signal and transmits it to the voice signal analysis unit 58 (step SS23).

[0559] The voice signal analysis unit 56 analyzes the received voice signal (step SS24) and causes the input content to be displayed on the central display unit 16M (the first specific screen 16M1). For example, as described with reference to FIG. 22, it is notified by voice, for example, "Hamburger, right IH, automatically selected", and it is also displayed in characters on the first specific screen 16M1 (step SS25).

[0560] In step SS25, if the input information is insufficient, the voice notification unit 50 further guides by voice, such as "Please specify the preheating temperature". Alternatively, the range of specific control conditions may be notified, such as "The preheating temperature is preferably 200°C. Please specify the temperature".

[0561] If the input of control conditions necessary for starting the heating operation is insufficient, the process returns to step SS23. Before returning to step SS23, the voice notification unit 50 points out the control conditions for which the input is insufficient and performs an operation to prompt the input (not shown).

[0562] When the heating control unit 43 determines that the input of the control conditions necessary for the start of the heating operation is complete (step SS26), the process proceeds to step SS27. In step SS27, since the voice input is complete, it announces that the voice input mode 1 will be canceled and recommends touching the input key 151M (step SS27). When the input key 151M is touched, the voice input mode 1 is immediately canceled.

[0563] On the other hand, if no voice command is received in step SS23, the process proceeds to step SS28. In step SS28, it is determined whether the elapsed time from step SS22 exceeds a predetermined limit time TZ. If the limit time TZ has not been exceeded, the process returns to step SS23. However, if the limit time TZ (for example, 5 minutes) has been exceeded, the process proceeds to step SS29. Step SS29 is the same "automatic shutdown process 2" as step SM6 in FIG. 33. This "automatic shutdown process 2" is a series of processes in which, in the state of the first specific screen 16M1, an alarm is issued to the user US by the voice notification unit 50, then it is automatically switched to the standby initial screen 16MH, and then the main power switch 20 is automatically turned off. This avoids the situation of being left unattended for a long time due to some reason during the input process and ensures safety.

[0564] Next, FIG. 41 will be described. FIG. 41 shows the display content of the central display unit 16M corresponding to the main operation steps after the main power switch 20 is turned on. In the state where the main power switch 20 is turned off, the central display unit 16M is not activated and thus displays no information. In the state where the main power switch 20 is turned on, after the control device 40 performs self-diagnosis such as abnormality as described above, it displays "display screen 1", which is one display form of the standby initial screen 16MH in FIG. 41, on the central display unit 16M.

[0565] In the display screen 1 shown in FIG. 41, 60A is a display text notifying that the power is on. 60B is two-dimensional information (a two-dimensional code) for guiding to the recipe data providing server 301 which is a dedicated recipe posting site via the network NW. 60C is a text explaining the meaning of the two-dimensional code (hereinafter referred to as "two-dimensional information explanatory text").

[0566] When the communication terminal 200 reads the two-dimensional code 60B optically, it can be guided to and connected to the recipe data providing server 301 that holds information on various cooking recipes. This two-dimensional information explanatory text 60C and the display text 60A are one type of "common information during standby" 60N.

[0567] After the display screen 1 of FIG. 41 is displayed, the display screen 2A or 2B may be automatically displayed. Furthermore, after the display screen 2A or 2B of FIG. 41 is displayed, the display screen 2C may be automatically displayed. On this display screen 2C, a recommendation text 60H prompts the user US to perform an input operation to select a heat source.

[0568] In the display screen 2A, the character display "Bumping Caution" is one of the caution displays 60E. This "bumping" refers to a phenomenon in which, when heating a viscous object to be cooked (liquid) such as curry or stew, the inside of the object to be cooked is in a superheated state above the boiling point and suddenly undergoes violent boiling. Along with the steam jetting out from the heated liquid, hot droplets may scatter, which can be dangerous. The timing and cause of bumping are said to be the entry or impact of foreign matter from the outside. Therefore, when placing a metal pot or the like containing the object to be cooked on the top plate 3 for induction heating, it raises awareness of precautions when stirring the object to be cooked. The information displayed in this awareness-raising is one type of "common information during standby" 60N.

[0569] The four display screens, i.e., the display screen 1 and the display screens 2A to 2C shown in Fig. 41, are called the "common screen" or the "initial standby screen" 16MH. In addition, forms other than these four may be included in the common screen 16MH.

[0570] On the display screen 2B, 60E is a caution display that warns that the inside of the heating chamber 6 is at a high temperature and not to touch it accidentally. When the control device 40 detects that the heating chamber 6 has not cooled down sufficiently after performing oven cooking in the heating chamber 6, it automatically switches to the state of this display screen 2.

[0571] The display screens 2A and 2B cannot be displayed simultaneously, but they may be alternately displayed at intervals of several seconds to draw attention to both the bumping-boiling display and the high-temperature display. Also, the voice notification unit 50 may also perform the voice notification of the contents for drawing attention to the display screens 2A and 2B in parallel.

[0572] On the display screen 2C in Fig. 41, 60P is the above-mentioned acquisition operation support information. As shown in this Fig. 41, in order for the heating cooker 1 to acquire the recipe data CD from the communication terminal 200 or the like and store the acquired data in the recipe data storage unit 42 (see Fig. 10), it is displayed to touch a specific input key in advance. For example, in the case of the cooking menu "hamburger" belonging to the linked cooking mode KM1, since the cooking step 1 is performed at the right heating port 4R or the left heating port 4L, touching either the input key 152L or 152R is displayed in the acquisition operation support information 60P. In addition, in accordance with this display, the voice notification unit 50 may also perform voice notification.

[0573] As is clear from display screens 1 to 2A to 2C of FIG. 41, the display of these various types of information, including the acquisition operation support information 60P, is performed using the entire display screen. That is, instead of being partially displayed by any one of the aforementioned first area 22 to third area 24, in order to secure as wide a display area as possible, an integrated display is made so that the three areas of the first area 22 to the third area 24 cannot be distinguished, and it appears to the user US that it is displayed across the entire central display unit 16M.

[0574] Next, FIG. 42 will be described. FIG. 42 is an enlarged plan view for explaining the operation of the left display unit 16L of the cooking heater 1. FIG. 42 shows a third specific screen 16M3 for the single cooking mode KM3. This FIG. 41 is displayed when the input key 153L (see FIG. 6) is operated after the step SS4 of FIG. 31.

[0575] Next, when the input key 152L is operated, the control menus to be executed at the left heating port 4L are displayed one by one on the left display unit 16L. As in display screen 3A of FIG. 42, the user can separately set whether the first displayed (default set) control menu is "warming", "fried food" in display screen 3B, or "preheating" in display screen 3C, etc.

[0576] Also, at the step SM8 of FIG. 33, when the input key 153L is operated, and at the step SM93 of FIG. 36, when the input key 152L is operated, the control menus to be executed at the left heating port 4L are displayed on the left display unit 16L. Each time the input key 152L is pressed once, the display of the control menus changes one by one (such as warming, fried food, preheating...). That is, each time the input key 152L is pressed, one can be selected from among a plurality of control menus.

[0577] The control menu selectable by the left heating port 4L (in the single cooking mode KM3 of induction heating) includes, for example, "Keep Warm", "Bring to a Boil", "Simmer", "Fried Food (Automatic Cooking)", "Preheat", etc. For each control menu, the drive time, heating power, drive pattern, etc. of the left IH coil 9L are different.

[0578] The display screen 3A in FIG. 42 is the case where the control menu of "Keep Warm" is selected. The display screen 3B is the case where the control menu of "Fried Food" is selected. The display screen 3C is the case where the control menu of "Preheat" is selected. 179A is the auxiliary information. This auxiliary information 179A is displayed adjacent to the display portion of the name of each control menu on the third specific screen 16M3 after switching to the voice input mode. Therefore, it is not displayed at stages other than the voice input mode.

[0579] In addition, when selecting "Keep Warm" from the control menu (in the single cooking mode KM3 of induction heating) using the central IH coil 9M responsible for the central heating port 4C on the central display unit 16M, the display screen 3A shown in FIG. 42 is displayed. In this case, the central display unit 16M has a display form like the display screen 3A, and this screen is called the "third specific screen" 16M3.

[0580] Next, FIG. 43 will be described. FIG. 43 illustrates the operation steps of the control device 40 of the cooking heater 1 from when the cooking heater 1 is started until immediately before starting cooking. It is the case when the cooperative cooking mode KM1 is selected.

[0581] In FIG. 43, when the operation button 20A of the main power switch 20 is pressed and the standby initial screen 16MH is displayed on the central display unit 16M, it is determined whether recipe data CD in the cooperative cooking mode is acquired from an external device (the communication terminal 200 or the cloud server 300) (step SU2).

[0582] In step SU3, the control device 40 compares with the latest state of the cooking appliance 1 and determines whether the state satisfies permission condition 1 and permission condition 2.

[0583] When it is determined that permission conditions 1 and 2 are simultaneously satisfied (SU6), the identification information 167 included in the recipe data CD acquired from the external device (the communication terminal 200 or the cloud server 300) is displayed on the central display unit 16M. In this case, the identification information 167 (for example, "Name: Hamburg") is displayed in the first specific screen 16M1 (step SU7).

[0584] In step SU7, the identification information 167 (for example, "Name: Hamburg") is displayed as shown in FIG. 44. Also, the operation support information 170 is displayed. Thereby, the user US is prompted to operate by pressing the input key 151M to start cooking. Note that the voice notification unit 50 also notifies, for example, "Press the start key to start cooking" (step SU8).

[0585] Note that after step SU7, when the user US presses either one of the input keys 158M or 159M once, a food ingredient display screen 16M1A (see FIG. 24) described later is displayed. Further, when either one of the input keys 158M or 159M is pressed once again, a food ingredient display screen 16M1B (see FIG. 24) is displayed.

[0586] Note that at the stage of step SU8, the user US may appropriately set the heating power, heating time, etc. by operating an input key (for example, 156M or 155M) that can select control conditions (for example, the heating power value).

[0587] On the other hand, the case where at the stage of step SU3, the control device 40 compares with the latest state of the cooking appliance 1 and determines that the state does not satisfy permission condition 1 and permission condition 2 (step SU4) will be described.

[0588] Partially change the content of the standby initial screen 16HM in the central display unit 16M, and display in characters that the recipe data CD obtained from an external device cannot be executed by the current cooking appliance 1. Also, the voice notification unit 50 notifies the same in voice (step SU5). Then, return to step SU1. This operation corresponds to the operation of step ST8 described in FIG. 29.

[0589] Next, FIG. 44 will be described. FIG. 44 is the same as the part described in FIG. 19, and is an enlarged plan view showing the central operation unit 15M and the central display unit 16M.

[0590] In FIG. 44, reference numeral 173 denotes an external recipe identification unit indicating that it is a recipe data CD obtained from an external device (the communication terminal 200 or the cloud server 300). It is displayed as "Received Recipe" in characters, and it can be easily understood that the cooking menu (for cooking hamburgers) displayed on this first specific screen 16M1 is a recipe obtained from outside.

[0591] In FIG. 44, the light emitting unit 21M corresponding to the input key 151M is in a standby state where the heating operation can be started at any time. In order to indicate this, it blinks to prompt the operation of this input key 151M. The dashed circle indicates that the light emitting unit 21M is blinking.

[0592] In FIG. 44, a star-shaped figure is drawn at the position of the light emitting unit 21M. This figure means that the input functions of each input key (for example, 156M, 157M) arranged on the front side of the light emitting unit 21M are valid, and if a touch operation is performed at this time, adjustments such as the heating power and heating time can be made.

[0593] In Fig. 44, the light emitting units 21M corresponding to the input keys 157M and 156M are emitting light. That is, the user US can select either from the heating unit specifying unit 171L that selects to perform cooking by heating at the left heating port 4L and the heating unit specifying unit 171R that selects to perform cooking by heating at the right heating port 4R. However, Fig. 44 shows the case where neither of the two selectable heating ports 4L is selected in the process of the cooking appliance 1 acquiring the recipe data CD from the communication terminal 200. In the first embodiment, as shown in Figs. 60 and 61, a step of pre-selecting either the heating port 4L or 4R is provided (see step SG5 in Fig. 60), and the heating unit specifying units 171L and 171R in Fig. 44 are not displayed.

[0594] The recipe data CD acquired from an external device displays the external recipe identification unit 173 and is preferentially displayed on the first specification screen 16M1. That is, the identification information 167 of the received recipe data CD is displayed at the "display position B" of the first specification screen 16M1. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 44, if the input key 151M is pressed, the cooking in the linked cooking mode KM1 can be started immediately. Incidentally, as will be described later, after the first specification screen 16M1 as shown in Fig. 44 is displayed, the actual induction heating is not started unless an input key (for example, the input key 153L) of either the left operation unit 15L or the right operation unit 15R is touched.

[0595] As described above, there are two types of cases for the recipe data CD acquired from an external device (the communication terminal 200 or the cloud server 300): the case where cooking is performed limited to a specific heating unit (the right heating port 4R, the central heating port 4C, the left heating port 4L), and the case where cooking can be performed by designating the heating unit desired by the user US. Therefore, when the user US uses the recipe data CD acquired from the outside, the usability is not impaired. For example, although the heating capabilities of the left heating port 4L and the right heating port 4R are the same in the first embodiment, if the left heating port 4L has a higher heating power and an IH coil capable of complex control is arranged, depending on the cooking menu, there may be a case where only the left heating port 4L can be supported. In such a case, the heating unit (heating port) is restricted so that the left heating port 4L can be used on the control device 40 side, and thus the heating unit specifying units 171L and 171R are not displayed. Also, on the communication terminal 200 side, it becomes impossible to select the heating port (heating unit).

[0596] Next, FIG. 45 will be described. FIG. 45 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the cooking process of the linked cooking menu and the operations of the input operation unit. In the example of FIG. 45, the linked cooking menu consists of three cooking processes: cooking process 1, cooking process 2, and cooking process 3. FIG. 45 shows a case where cooking is performed using recipe data CD from the outside. Cooking process 1 is an example of using the first heating means HM1.

[0597] In the example of FIG. 45, the recipe data CD has the following conditions defined in a predetermined computer program format. Control conditions such as heating power may also be defined. (1) Wait for the input of the input key 151M, determine the induction heating operation at the right heating port 4R (or the left heating port 4L), and then wait for the touch operation of either the input key 153L or 153R to start the heating operation. (2) If the input key 153R (153L) is input, stop the heating operation of cooking process 1, or stop the heating operation when a certain condition (continuous cooking time or target temperature reached) is satisfied.

[0598] In the program included in the recipe data CD, a heating pause period P3 and a heating pause period P5, which will be described later, are defined, but the time lengths of these heating pause periods P3 and P5 are not defined. However, in order to prevent the cooking from being interrupted for an excessively long time, for example, the elapsed time is counted based on the end points of cooking process 1 and cooking process 2, and when, for example, 30 minutes have elapsed, an alarm may be issued and a process such as forcibly terminating the execution of the cooking menu may be added.

[0599] In the example of the recipe data CD of FIG. 45, cooking process 1 is performed by the first heating means HM1, cooking process 2 is performed by a microwave heating source (second heating means HM2), and finally the object to be cooked is moved onto the top plate 3, and a cooking process 3 is provided for performing finishing induction heating to compensate for insufficient heating.

[0600] Note that in this cooking appliance 1, countermeasures are added to protect against the inadvertent setting of the cooking mode, control conditions, etc. in response to a command signal from the outside.

[0601] In the example of FIG. 45, the first heating means HM1 is operated first, and after the heating operation is completed, the second heating means HM2 is operated. However, simultaneously with the second heating means HM2, the radiant heat heating means 12 may be operated as the third heating means.

[0602] As shown in FIG. 45, the coordinated cooking menu shown here is composed of four stages. P1 is the first stage (preparation period), which is the period from when the input key 153M is operated to start executing the coordinated cooking menu until the (induction) heating cooking operation is started by the input key 152R (or 152L).

[0603] The operation of the input key 153 (central operation unit 15M) during the preparation period P1 is one method necessary for establishing the communication state between the communication terminal 200 and the cooking appliance 1. However, there are other methods for establishing the communication state. As described at the stage of the standby initial screen 16MH of FIG. 41 and the display screen 1, since the two-dimensional information 60B is displayed first, if the communication terminal 200 is made to read this, the communication terminal 200 may be connected to the cloud server 300, and instead of the communication terminal 200 transmitting a connection signal to the heating cooker 1 in response to the result, a method may be adopted.

[0604] The operation of the specific input key 152R (right operation unit 15R) in the preparation period P1 corresponds to step SG5 of the "confirmation step" SP3 described in FIG. 59. By this operation, the heating port for executing the cooking process 1 becomes the right heating port 4R. After that, after receiving the recipe data CD, when the input key 153R is operated, the preparation period P1 ends and the process shifts to the heating cooking period P2 (cooking process 1). Note that at the stage of receiving the recipe data CD, the standby initial screen 16MH switches to the first specific screen 16M1. Therefore, in the scene where the user US presses the input key 153R, the first specific screen 16M1 is displayed on the central display unit 16M.

[0605] P2 is a heating cooking period (cooking process 1) by the first heating means HM1. In this cooking process 1, a cooking object N (not shown) such as an appropriate metal pot is placed on the right heating port 4R, and after the input key 153R is pressed, the actual heating cooking operation is started.

[0606] At the stage of starting the cooking process 1, the control device 40 has already finished determining the permission conditions (1 and 2), so the heating part of the first heating means HM1 (inductive heating means) in use is known. That is, the usage states of both the right heating port 4R and the left heating port 4L are grasped. Therefore, as a default setting, the control device 40 determines to use the "right heating port 4R" in the cooking process 3 of the cooperative cooking mode and makes this right heating port 4R in an occupied state.

[0607] The cooking process 1 is basically determined in advance by the operation program of the coordinated cooking menu. For example, when the standard heating time has elapsed, it is notified by the voice notification unit 50, and a display such as "〇 minutes will elapse soon" is also made on the first specific screen 16M1. That is, the user US is notified that the end time of the cooking process 1 is approaching. For the user US to finish the cooking process 1, the input key 153R may be pressed once again.

[0608] P3 is the heating pause period until the cooking process 1 by the first heating means HM1 is temporarily stopped and the cooking process 2 of the second heating means HM2 is started.

[0609] This heating pause period P3 is a period necessary for checking the heating degree of the object to be cooked in the cooking process 1, adding seasonings, or adding another object to be cooked to perform the cooking process 2. Furthermore, it is a period necessary for moving the object to be cooked to the heating chamber 6. The heating pause process P3 ends when the input key (start key) 151M is pressed to start the next cooking process, and proceeds to the cooking process 2 of P4.

[0610] This cooking process 2 is started when the control device 40 confirms that the door 7 has been opened once during the pause period P3 and then closed. The door opening and closing signal from the opening and closing detection unit 10 described above is used by the control device 40. Note that the control device 40 measures the required time from the time when the door 7 is opened until the door 7 is closed again. When the fixed allowable time TX is exceeded, a safety measure is adopted such that the heating operation is not started even if the input key 151M is pressed after that time. The cooking process 2 is not started unless the input key (start key) 151M is pressed after the door 7 is closed.

[0611] The cooking process 2 basically ends automatically when the elapsed heating time determined in advance by the operation program of the coordinated cooking menu has passed, or when the temperature of the object to be cooked has risen to the set value (for example, 90°C). For example, in a certain coordinated cooking menu, heating starts with a microwave output of 500W. Also, if the user US opens the door 7 at an arbitrary timing, the irradiation of microwaves will stop immediately and the heating operation will stop.

[0612] In the cooking process 2 of P4, there are cases where the user US can individually set the control conditions (for example, heating and cooking time or target temperature) by operating at least any one of the four input keys 156M to 159M. However, depending on the cooking menu, there may also be cases where the user US cannot change the control conditions.

[0613] In this example of FIG. 45, it shows the case where the cooking process 2 is ended by pressing the input key 152M of the central operation unit 15M. When the input key 152M is pressed to command the stop of cooking, the cooking process 2 ends and proceeds to the heating pause period P5.

[0614] During this heating pause period P5, the user US opens the door 7, takes out the object to be cooked from the inside of the heating chamber 6, and places it on the top plate 3. The object to be cooked is placed in a heated object N such as a metal pot. Then, when the input key 153R of the right heating port 4R is pressed to command the start of cooking, the heating pause process P5 ends and proceeds to the heating and cooking period P6 (the "cooking process 3" of induction heating).

[0615] This heating pause period P5 is a period necessary for checking the degree of heating of the object to be cooked in the cooking process 2, adding seasonings, or adding another object to be cooked to perform the next cooking process 3. For example, in the cooking process 2, only frozen food is heated as the object to be cooked, and in the cooking process 3, the object to be cooked soaked in seasonings or cooking liquid, or preheated separately, can be added to the same heated object. Therefore, the range of cooking expands.

[0616] The cooking period P6 is the cooking process 3 by the first heating means HM1 (in this case, the induction heating means. For example, the right heating port 4R). In this cooking process 3, when heating and cooking is performed at the right heating port 4R as described above, the user US can individually set the control conditions (for example, the heating and cooking time and the target temperature) by operating the input keys 154R and 155R (see FIG. 7). It is also possible to operate the input keys 154R and 155R after the induction heating operation starts to adjust the heating power and the like.

[0617] Also, in the case where this cooking process 3 is performed by heating and cooking at the left heating port 4L, the user US can individually set the control conditions (for example, the heating and cooking time and the target temperature) by operating the input keys 154L and 155L.

[0618] When the input key 153R is pressed to command the stop of cooking, the cooking process 3 ends and the operation of the coordinated cooking mode ends. In the case of timer cooking, the induction heating cooking automatically ends when the time elapses, and the cooking process 3 ends.

[0619] As is clear from this FIG. 45, in order to select the coordinated cooking menu, when the right operation unit 15R used in the cooking process 1 is selected by the input key 152R, the right operation unit 15R of the right heating port 4R cannot be used for other cooking. Depending on the cooking menu, the operation of the input key in the preparation period P1 (corresponding to step SG5 of the "confirmation step" SP3 described in FIG. 59) may be for the left heating port 4R. In that case, when the input key 152L of the left operation unit 15L corresponding to the left heating port 4L is operated, the left heating port 4L becomes occupied.

[0620] As is clear from the above description, the control device 40 performs the following function limit processing. (1) The input signal from the right operation unit 15R is processed to invalidate or restrict the input. For example, the input functions of the input keys 151R and 152R are invalidated. As a result, during the heating cooking period P2 (cooking step 1) to the heating cooking period P6 (cooking step 3), the right heating port 4R cannot be used (input) except in situations where input is required in the coordinated cooking mode KM1. (2) Even when entering the heating cooking period (cooking step 1), the left operation unit 15L can be used (the input signal from the left operation unit 15L is not invalidated).

[0621] In this way, when entering the heating cooking period (cooking step 1), the control device 40 will be in a state where only the right heating port 4R in cooking step 3 is occupied from the stage of cooking step 1.

[0622] Therefore, the right heating port 4R will be in a state of being "occupied" by the selection of the coordinated cooking menu. Also, from the perspective of the entire first heating means HM1, only a part (right side) of the three heating parts is "restricted" in use.

[0623] And even after the heating cooking period (cooking step 1) ends, the above-mentioned restricted state of the right heating port 4R is not released. Note that at the stage of cooking step 1, the first specific screen 16M1 is displayed, and it can be easily understood that the user US is in the coordinated cooking mode KM1. Therefore, the execution by other cooking menus for the first heating means HM1 and the second heating means HM2 is not restricted. This is the same during the heating pause period P3 to cooking step 2.

[0624] Note that even if the control device 40 detects that the door 7 has changed from the open state to the closed state before starting the heating cooking period (cooking step 2), if the temperature in the heating chamber 6 is higher than the reference value, there is a concern that the control device 40, the non-contact (infrared) sensor 13, and the thermistor sensor 14 may mistakenly recognize an abnormally high temperature as cooking completion before starting cooking in the heating chamber 6. Therefore, before the start of the cooking period (cooking step 1), if the temperature of the heating chamber 6 is too high, on the first specific screen 15M1, a message indicating that "due to the high temperature, the second heating means HM2 (microwave heating means) cannot be used immediately" is displayed.

[0625] The period indicated by the thick arrow in this Figure 45 is the reception deadline period TZ1 of one recipe data CD and the acquisition deadline period TZ2 of an additional recipe data CD. During the acquisition deadline period indicated by the thick arrow, no other recipe data CD can be acquired except for the recipe data CD related to one (one type) of cooking menu acquired during the preparation period P1. That is, Figure 45 shows that within the preparation period P1, the second recipe data CD cannot be acquired.

[0626] After the stage where the first specific screen 16M1 is displayed by touching the input key 153M once, the following restriction operation by the restriction unit 55 is performed. Note that when the first specific screen 16M1 is displayed, the communication unit 51 has an effective reception / transmission function (before that, at least the reception function is invalid). Also, when one specific input key 153M and another specific input key (e.g., 152L) are operated simultaneously, it is an abnormal input operation, and the control device 40 does not accept the input of any of those specific input keys (e.g., 153M and 152L). When transmitting the selection information A (202) before acquiring the recipe data CD described later, such an input operation of a plurality of specific input keys (simultaneously and in parallel) is either ignored by the control device 40 or is the target of a warning indicating an abnormal input.

[0627] That is, the restriction unit 55 built into the control device 40 operates as follows. As shown in Figure 45, it is not possible to change the cooking menu A of the specific linked cooking mode OK3 acquired from the outside to another cooking menu B (e.g., "hamburger") in the same linked cooking mode KM1. To make the change, it is necessary to operate the input key 152M to release the linked cooking mode KM1 once and return to the scene of the first standby initial screen 16MH.

[0628] That is, when the expiration period indicated by the thick arrow in FIG. 45 is reached, if the input key 152M is operated, the cooking by a specific linked cooking menu A once obtained from the outside can be cancelled at any time. When such a cancellation operation is performed once, the standby initial screen 16MH is returned, so in that state (preparation period P1), it is necessary to touch-operate the input key 152R again corresponding to the operation of the communication terminal 200.

[0629] Also, for a specific linked cooking menu A based on the recipe data CD obtained from the outside, during the period until all the cooking steps are completed, the control device 40 cannot obtain the recipe data CD of another linked cooking menu C from the outside (such as the smartphone 200, etc.).

[0630] That is, when the expiration period indicated by the thick arrow in FIG. 45 is reached, if the input key 151M is operated, the start of cooking in the linked cooking mode KM1 can be determined, and the cooking by the recipe data CD of a specific linked cooking menu A obtained immediately before this determination can be executed. However, until all the cooking steps of this cooking menu A are completed, it is not possible to additionally obtain the recipe data CD from the outside. When the reception expiration period TZ1 of one recipe data CD is reached in this way, the reception of other recipe data CDs cannot start. This reception expiration period TZ1 automatically ends when one cooking menu is completely finished (as shown in FIG. 45). Or, it automatically ends when the heating cooking starts by pressing the start key 151. The latter example is not shown in FIG. 45. Note that the former "completely finished cooking menu" includes both the case where the user US arbitrarily stops the heating cooking during the cooking process and the case where the control device 40 automatically stops the heating by detecting the passage of time, temperature situation, etc.

[0631] Next, FIG. 46 will be described. FIG. 46 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the cooking steps of the linked cooking menu and the operations of the input operation unit. In the example of Fig. 46, the coordinated cooking menu consists of three cooking steps: cooking step 1, cooking step 2, and cooking step 3. Fig. 46 shows an example where the user US selects a cooking menu using the input operation unit 15, rather than cooking based on a recipe data CD from the outside. Note that cooking step 1 is an example of using the first heating means HM1.

[0632] In the example of Fig. 46, the content of the recipe data CD is defined in a predetermined computer program format with the following conditions. Control conditions such as the heating power are also defined. Note that Fig. 46 does not show an example of the simple recipe data CD. (1) Wait for the input of the input key 151M and start the induction heating operation at the right heating port 4R (or the left heating port 4L). (2) When the input key 153R (153L) is input, stop the heating operation, or stop the heating operation when a certain condition (such as the continuous cooking time or reaching the target temperature) is satisfied.

[0633] Similar to Fig. 45, the program included in the recipe data CD defines a heating pause period P3 and a heating pause period P5. The time lengths of these heating pause periods P3 and P5 are not defined. However, to prevent the cooking from being interrupted for an overly long time, for example, the elapsed time is counted based on the end points of cooking steps 1 and 2. If, for example, 30 minutes have passed, an alarm may be issued and the execution of the cooking menu may be forcibly terminated.

[0634] In the example of the recipe data CD of Fig. 46, cooking step 1 is performed by the first heating means HM1, cooking step 2 is performed by a microwave heating source (the second heating means HM2), and finally, a cooking step 3 is provided to move the object to be cooked onto the top plate 3 and perform finishing induction heating to make up for insufficient heating.

[0635] In addition, in this cooking appliance 1, measures are added to protect against the inadvertent setting of cooking modes, control conditions, etc. by receiving a command signal from the outside.

[0636] In the case of Fig. 46, the first heating means HM1 is operated first, and after the heating operation is completed, the second heating means HM2 is operated. However, at the same time as the second heating means HM2, the radiant heat heating means 12 may be operated as the third heating means.

[0637] As shown in Fig. 46, the coordinated cooking menu shown here is composed of four stages. P1 is the first stage (preparation period), which is the period from when the input key 153M is operated to start executing the coordinated cooking menu until the input key 153R is operated and the cooking operation starts at the right heating port 4R (induction).

[0638] When the input key 153M is operated and the "permission condition 1" and "permission condition 2" are satisfied, the control device 40 displays the first specific screen 16M1. Note that the first specific screen 16M1 is not shown in Fig. 46.

[0639] At the stage when the first specific screen 16M1 is displayed (on the central display unit 16M), if the input keys 154M and 155M are operated, one of the coordinated cooking menus can be selected. Then, if the input key 153R is operated, it shifts to the coordinated cooking mode (using the right heating port 4R) and proceeds to the heating cooking process of P2.

[0640] When the identification information 167 of the coordinated cooking menu desired by the user US is displayed at a predetermined position on the first specific screen 16M1 at the stage when the first specific screen 16M1 is displayed (default display), the operation of the input keys 154M and 155M is not required.

[0641] P2 is the heating cooking period (cooking process 1) by the first heating means HM1. In this cooking process 1, when a cooking object such as a proper metal pot is placed on the right heating port 4R and the input key 153R is pressed, the heating and cooking operation starts.

[0642] At the stage when the cooking process 1 is started, since the control device 40 has already completed the determination of the permission condition 1 and the permission condition 2, the heating part of the first heating means HM1 (inductive heating means) in use is known. That is, the usage states of both the right heating port 4R and the left heating port 4L are grasped. Therefore, as a default setting, the control device 40 determines to use the "right heating part" 4R in the cooking process 3 of the cooper...

Claims

1. A heating cooker having a specific input key, a notification means, a communication section, and a control device that controls a heating means using recipe data acquired from the outside and performs cooking, wherein the control device (1) when receiving advance notice information corresponding to the cooking menu of the recipe data, a notification step of notifying the specific input key to be operated; (2) after the notification step, determining whether the specific input key notified in the notification step has been operated, and if it is determined that the specific input key has been operated, a confirmation step of transmitting selection information; (3) when transmitting the selection information, a restriction step of starting a reception restriction period for restricting reception of recipe data of another cooking menu; performing the above steps sequentially; characterized in that it is a heating cooker.

2. further comprising a storage device, wherein the storage device holds correspondence information of the specific input key for each cooking menu, and the control device (1) when acquiring the advance notice information regarding the cooking menu from the communication section, a key identification step of extracting, from among the specific input keys, the one to be operated according to the correspondence information of the storage device; (2) sequentially performing a notification step of notifying, by the notification means, information capable of identifying the specific input key extracted in the key identification step; characterized in that it is the heating cooker according to claim 1.

3. when transmitting the selection information, the control device determines whether the recipe data satisfies acquisition permission conditions when receiving the recipe data of the cooking menu, and if the permission conditions are not satisfied, does not acquire the recipe data; characterized in that it is the heating cooker according to claim 1 or 2.

4. characterized in that the reception restriction period ends when a heating cooking operation is started; it is the heating cooker according to claim 1 or 2.

5. A heating cooker having a communication section and a plurality of specific input keys for permitting reception of recipe data regarding an object to be cooked via the communication section, including a communication terminal wirelessly connected to the heating cooker, wherein the communication terminal (1) sequentially displays a first screen and a second screen on a terminal-side display section; (2) displays recipe data regarding the selected object to be cooked on the first screen; When the recipe data displayed on the first screen is selected, the display is switched to the second screen, and preview information indicating the specific input key to be operated before receiving the recipe data is displayed on the second screen. On the second screen, an input key for transmitting the recipe data selected on the first screen is displayed. When the input key is operated, the setting information of the heating means related to the recipe data selected on the first screen is transmitted to the heating cooker. When the specific input key shown in the preview information is operated, the heating cooker transmits selection information to the communication terminal and starts a reception restriction period for restricting the reception of recipe data of another cooking menu. A heating cooking system characterized by the above.

6. The heating cooker according to claim 5, characterized in that, after transmitting the selection information, the heating cooker starts the reception restriction period and restricts the reception of new recipe data using the specific input key.

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