Heating regulator

Abstract

The present invention reduces the possibility of heating being started without a load. A cooker (1) comprises a heating chamber (13), a heating unit (23), a heating control unit (21C), a sensor (31), and a determination unit (21B). A sensor detection area (32) is displayed on the bottom of the heating chamber, and when the determination unit determines that there is no food in the detection region of the heating chamber, the heating control unit does not start the heating operation of the heating unit.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking device. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, cooking appliances that allow a user to know the state inside a heating chamber are known.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a cooking device that uses a camera to photograph food placed inside a heating chamber. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-200008 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the conventional technology described above, heating begins when a user inputs a command to start heating even when there is no food inside the heating chamber. In other words, conventional cooking appliances may start heating under no load. In this case, no-load operation places a strain on the heating unit of the cooking appliance, such as the magnetron, resulting in a problem of shortening the appliance's lifespan.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention aims to reduce the likelihood of heating being initiated under no load. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, a heating cooker according to one aspect of the present invention includes a heating chamber, a heating unit that heats food placed in the heating chamber, a heating control unit that controls the heating operation of the heating unit, a sensor that irradiates measurement light within the heating chamber and receives reflected light reflected within the heating chamber, and a determination unit that determines whether the food is present in the heating chamber based on the intensity of the reflected light received by the sensor. a reader for reading an information code provided on the food; a detection area, which is an area onto which the measurement light is irradiated and which is an area for indicating the placement position of the food, is displayed on the bottom surface of the heating chamber, and the heating control unit starts a heating operation of the heating unit when the determination unit determines that the food is not present in the detection area of the heating chamber. The heating unit controls the heating operation according to the reading result of the reading device, and the reading device is provided on the outside and upper front of the heating chamber, reads the information code below, and is provided so that a reading area, which is an area readable by the reading device, is located at least inside the heating chamber. . [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, the possibility that heating will start under no load can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of the cooking appliance 1 of the present embodiment with a front door that can be freely opened and closed closed, as viewed obliquely from above the front. [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view of the cooking device shown in FIG. 1 with its front door open, viewed obliquely from above the front. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a flat plate of a heating chamber. [Figure 4] 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the arrangement of food sensors and sensor detection areas in the cooking appliance shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control unit included in the cooking appliance. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of operations of the cooking device. [Figure 7] 10 is a perspective view of a cooking device according to a second embodiment with a front door that can be freely opened and closed and that is provided on the main body of the cooking device closed, as viewed obliquely from above the front. FIG. [Figure 8]8 is a perspective view of the cooking device shown in FIG. 7 with the front door open, as seen from diagonally below on the right. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a reading area of a reading device. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a flat plate of a heating chamber. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control unit included in the cooking appliance. [Figure 12] 10 is a perspective view of a cooking device according to a third embodiment with a front door that can be freely opened and closed and that is provided on the main body of the cooking device closed, as viewed obliquely from above the front. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control unit included in the cooking appliance. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [Embodiment 1] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking device 1 of this embodiment with a freely openable front door 12 closed, as viewed from diagonally above the front. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cooking device 1 shown in Fig. 1 with the front door 12 open, as viewed from diagonally above the front.

[0011] (Overview of Cooker 1) 1 to 3, cooking appliance 1 is, for example, a microwave oven, and has an operation panel 11 at the top of the front surface, and a front door 12 below operation panel 11. Front door 12 is a door that opens and closes heating chamber 13 provided at the back of front door 12, and covers front opening 13B of heating chamber 13 when closed. In this embodiment, front door 12 is of a side-opening type that rotates around the end on the left side as viewed from the front, and has a handle 14 near the right end, which is the end opposite to the center of rotation.

[0012] As shown in Figure 2, heating chamber 13 is provided with food sensor 31 on side surface 13A inside the chamber. Food sensor 31 detects whether food is placed on flat plate 13C provided on the bottom surface inside heating chamber 13. In other words, it detects the presence or absence of food inside heating chamber 13. Details of food sensor 31 and food detection will be described later.

[0013] The operation panel 11 is provided on the front surface of the control frame 15. The operation panel 11 is provided so that the front surface of the operation panel 11 is substantially flush with the front surface of the front door 12 in the front-rear direction of the cooking appliance 1.

[0014] Inside the control frame 15, a control board (not shown) is provided that controls the determination result notification unit 24 of the operation panel 11, accepts user operations on the input keys, etc., and the like.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the flat plate 13C of the heating chamber 13. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the food sensor 31 and the sensor detection area (detection region) 32 in the cooking appliance 1 shown in FIG. 1. The food sensor 31 is an infrared sensor that emits measurement light having a predetermined wavelength, for example, infrared light. The food sensor 31 is, for example, a reflective photosensor. The sensor emits measurement light from a light-emitting element within the reflective photosensor onto the object (food 40), receives the light reflected from the object with a light-receiving element, and outputs a signal corresponding to the intensity of the received reflected light to the determination unit 21B. Here, as shown by reference numeral 1041 in FIG. 4, the range of light emitted by the light-emitting element of the food sensor 31 is the sensor detection area 32. The sensor detection area 32 also indicates the location of the food 40. As shown in FIG. 3, the sensor detection area 32 is displayed approximately in the center of the flat plate 13C.

[0016] A plurality of food sensors 31 may be provided. In this case, as shown by reference numeral 1042 in FIG. 4, the sensor detection area 32 becomes wider, making it easier to detect food 40 inside the refrigerator. In addition, it is preferable that the entire flat plate 13C is a color that absorbs the measurement light. Specifically, the above area is preferably black, for example. On the other hand, it is preferable that the periphery of the sensor detection area 32 is displayed in a color that is brighter than the color of the entire flat plate 13C, i.e., a light color (for example, white).

[0017] Note that flat plate 13C does not necessarily have to be black, but may be any color (dark color) that suppresses reflection of infrared light emitted from food sensor 31. Also, flat plate 13C does not have to be a uniform color; for example, it may have a pattern printed on it to make dirt less noticeable. Also, as shown in Fig. 3, it is sufficient that the area of flat plate 13C that is irradiated with measurement light from food sensor 31 is black, and the entire surface of flat plate 13C does not have to be black.

[0018] Furthermore, the outer periphery of sensor detection area 32 does not necessarily have to be white, but may be any color (e.g., cream, beige, etc.) that can be printed on flat plate 13C and makes it easy for the user to see sensor detection area 32. Furthermore, when sensor detection area 32 is provided on flat plate 13C, it is preferable that the surface opposite to the side where food sensor 31 is provided also be a color that at least absorbs measurement light (e.g., black) or a color that suppresses reflection of measurement light (dark color).

[0019] If the wall surfaces inside the heating chamber are white, the infrared light will be reflected by the wall surfaces, making false detection more likely. In contrast, in the cooking appliance 1, the flat plate 13C onto which the food sensor 31 irradiates infrared light is black. Colors that are black or close to black tend to absorb infrared light. Therefore, the flat plate 13C of the cooking appliance 1 is less likely to reflect infrared light from objects other than the food 40. This reduces the likelihood of false detection in the cooking appliance 1.

[0020] (Control unit 21) 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 21 provided in the cooking appliance 1. The control device includes the control unit 21 that controls the operation of the cooking appliance 1. The control unit 21 is made up of, for example, a microcomputer, and has a CPU, ROM, and RAM.

[0021] 1 and 5, the control unit 21 is connected to the operation panel 11, the front door open / close detection unit 22, the heating operation unit (heating unit) 23, the determination result notification unit 24, and the memory (storage unit) 52. The front door open / close detection unit 22 is made up of, for example, a switch that is turned on when the front door 12 is closed, and detects whether the front door 12 is open or closed.

[0022] Heating operation unit 23 is an operation unit that heats food placed in heating chamber 13, and is, for example, a microwave output device or a heater. Determination result notification unit 24 is a buzzer, a sound generating unit, or a display unit, and is controlled by control unit 21 to notify the user of, for example, the determination result by determination unit 21B.

[0023] The control unit 21 can communicate with the server 51, for example, using an internet line. Heating information corresponding to various types of food is registered in the server 51. The control unit 21 acquires the heating information corresponding to the type of food from the server 51, which is acquired by the reading device 16 reading the information code, and controls the heating operation unit 23 so that the food is heated in accordance with the acquired heating information. The heating information corresponding to the type of food may be stored in the cooking appliance 1 itself. In this case, the cooking appliance 1 does not need to communicate with the server 51.

[0024] The control unit 21 includes a sensor control unit 21A that controls the food sensor 31 in accordance with the detection results of the front door opening / closing detection unit 22, a judgment unit 21B that judges whether or not food 40 is present in the heating chamber 13, and a heating control unit 21C that controls the heating operation unit 23 based on the judgment results of the judgment unit 21B.

[0025] For example, when front door open / close detection unit 22 is turned on, i.e., when front door 12 is closed, sensor control unit 21A controls food sensor 31 to emit measurement light of a predetermined wavelength. Sensor control unit 21A may cause food sensor 31 to emit measurement light for a predetermined period of time, and then stop emitting the measurement light.

[0026] Determination unit 21B determines whether food 40 is present in heating chamber 13 based on the signal (light reception signal) from food sensor 31. Specifically, determination unit 21B makes the determination as follows. First, if food 40 is present in heating chamber 13, food sensor 31 receives reflected light of measurement light reflected by food 40, and inputs a signal corresponding to the received light intensity of the reflected light to determination unit 21B. In this case, determination unit 21B determines that food is present in heating chamber 13.

[0027] On the other hand, when food 40 is not present in heating chamber 13, the measurement light is absorbed inside heating chamber 13 and is not reflected, and food sensor 31 does not receive the reflected light, or even if it receives the reflected light, the intensity of the received reflected light will be lower than when food 40 is present in heating chamber 13. In this case, food sensor 31 does not input a received light signal to determination unit 21B, or inputs a signal indicating a reflected light intensity lower than a predetermined reference value. In this case, determination unit 21B determines that no food is present in heating chamber 13. Determination unit 21B inputs the determination result to heating control unit 21C.

[0028] The determination by determination unit 21B may be made constantly, may be made only while front door 12 is open, or may be made until a predetermined time has elapsed since front door 12 is closed. If cooking appliance 1 is configured to start heating when a user inputs an instruction to start, the timing of the determination may be when the input is made.

[0029] When front door 12 is closed, heating control unit 21C starts heating control under preset conditions. Alternatively, when front door 12 is closed and a command to start heating control is input from operation panel 11, heating control unit 21C controls heating operation unit 23 according to the settings input from operation panel 11 to start heating control. Here, if the determination result of determination unit 21B indicates that food 40 is present in heating chamber 13, heating control unit 21C starts heating of food 40. On the other hand, if the determination result of determination unit 21B indicates that food 40 is not present in heating chamber 13, heating control unit 21C does not start heating operation by heating operation unit 23.

[0030] (Operation of cooking device 1) Fig. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of operation of the cooking device 1. In the above configuration, the operation of the cooking device 1 will be explained below with reference to Fig. 6. Here, a case where food 40 (for example, a box lunch) is heated by the cooking device 1 will be explained.

[0031] First, when the user opens the front door 12, the front door open / close detection unit 22 is turned off. Next, the user places food 40 inside the heating chamber 13 by following the guidance display 20 on the operation panel 11. After that, when the user closes the front door 12, the front door open / close detection unit 22 is turned on (S1). When the front door open / close detection unit 22 is turned on (YES in S1), the sensor control unit 21A controls the food sensor 31 to start emitting measurement light (S2). At this point, the food 40 to be heated is placed in a predetermined position inside the heating chamber 13. That is, as shown by reference numeral 1041 in FIG. 4, the food 40 is placed in the sensor detection area 32 of the food sensor 31 inside the heating chamber 13. At this time, the food sensor 31 receives light reflected from the food 40 and inputs a signal corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light to the determination unit 21B. Based on the signal obtained from the food sensor 31, the determination unit 21B determines whether or not the food 40 has been placed inside the heating chamber 13 (S3). If food 40 is placed in heating chamber 13 (YES in S3), determination unit 21B inputs the determination result to heating control unit 21C. When heating control unit 21C obtains the determination result indicating that food 40 is placed in heating chamber 13, it controls heating operation unit 23 in a preset manner to start the heating operation (S4).

[0032] When the heating of food 40 is completed as described above (S5), control unit 21 controls a notification unit (not shown) to notify the user of this. In response to this notification, the user removes food 40 from heating chamber 13. When food 40 is removed from heating chamber 13, food 40 disappears from sensor detection area 32 within heating chamber 13, and the signal output from food sensor 31 to determination unit 21B disappears or becomes a reference value. This causes determination unit 21B to determine that food 40 is not placed in heating chamber 13 (NO in S6). Based on the determination result of determination unit 21B (food 40 is not placed in heating chamber 13), heating control unit 21C does not cause heating unit 23 to start a heating operation (S7). In this case, heating unit 23 will not perform a heating operation when food 40 is not placed in heating chamber 13. In other words, heating operation is not performed under no load, which prevents deterioration of cooking appliance 1.

[0033] Furthermore, if determination unit 21B determines that food 40 is not placed in heating chamber 13 (NO in S3), control unit 21 notifies the user of the determination result via determination result notification unit 24 (S8). In this case, determination result notification unit 24 may, for example, emit an intermittent beep, beep, beep sound, or a voice message saying "food is not placed in heating chamber," or both.

[0034] When the user is notified by the determination result notification unit 24 that food 40 is not placed in the heating chamber 13, the user opens the front door 12. When the front door 12 opens (YES in S9), the sensor control unit 21A controls the food sensor 31 to stop emitting the measurement light (S10). The user then moves the food 40 again so that the food 40 is within the sensor detection area 32, and closes the front door 12. This returns the process to step S1. The determination unit 21B then makes a determination again. As a result, the operation when the determination unit 21B determines that food 40 is placed in the heating chamber 13 is as described above.

[0035] [Embodiment 2] Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals will be used to designate components having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0036] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cooking device 1A according to the second embodiment, with the openable front door 12 provided on the main body closed, as viewed from diagonally above the front. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cooking device 1A shown in FIG. 7, with the front door 12 open, as viewed from diagonally below right. As shown in FIG. 7, the cooking device 1A includes, in addition to the components of the cooking device 1, a reading device 16 and a reading result notification unit 26 provided at the upper front of the heating chamber 13. Unlike the cooking device 1, the cooking device 1A does not include the sensor control unit 21A and the determination result notification unit 24. The reading device 16 reads the code attached to the food 40 and inputs the reading result to the heating control unit 21C. The heating control unit 21C controls heating according to the reading result obtained from the reading device 16. The reading result notification unit 26 notifies the user of the reading result of the information code by the reading device 16 by voice or the like.

[0037] (Reader 16) FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the reading area 19 of the reader 16. As shown in FIG. 9, the control frame 15 is provided so as to protrude forward of the cooking appliance 1A. The reader 16 is attached to the underside of a reader board (circuit board) 17 and is provided at the bottom inside the control frame 15. The reader board 17 includes a drive circuit for the reader 16. That is, the reader 16 is installed outside the heating chamber 13 and above the front opening 13B of the heating chamber 13, and is provided so as to have a reading area 19 below the installation position. If the reader 16 were installed inside the heating chamber 13, heat would accelerate deterioration, but as described above, the reader 16 is installed below the control frame 15, i.e., outside the heating chamber 13, and therefore deterioration due to heat is suppressed.

[0038] The reader 16 is, for example, a QR code reader capable of reading QR codes (registered trademark), and is configured to read an information code (for example, a QR code) attached to the food to be heated in the cooking appliance 1A or to a container for the food.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 5, the reading device 16 has a reading area 19 below the reading device 16. The reading area 19 of the reading device 16 is indicated, for example, by red light so that the user can visually recognize the reading area 19. As an example, the cooking appliance 1A is provided with a reading area illumination unit 25, and the red light indicating the reading area 19 is emitted by the reading area illumination unit 25. For example, a red LED is used as the reading area illumination unit 25. Note that the light indicating the reading area 19 is not limited to red, and may be other light visible to the user, such as a laser. Furthermore, the number of red LEDs may be one or more.

[0040] 10 is a schematic diagram showing flat plate 13D of heating chamber 13. In flat plate 13D of cooking appliance 1A, at least reading area 19 and its surroundings are preferably a light color (e.g., white). If flat plate 13D as a whole is a dark color (e.g., black), the illumination by reading area illumination unit 25 may be difficult for a user to see. By making reading area 19 and its surroundings a light color, it becomes easier for a user to recognize reading area 19.

[0041] 10, the reading area 19 (the area illuminated by the reading area illumination unit 25) is preferably displayed on the flat plate 13C. By displaying the reading area 19 in addition to illuminating it with the reading area illumination unit 25, the user can more easily view the reading area 19, similar to the sensor detection area 32.

[0042] 7 and 8, reading device 16 is provided in the center in the width direction (left-right direction) of front opening 13B of heating chamber 13, more specifically, on the outside and upper front of heating chamber 13, and is capable of reading information codes provided below reading device 16. When front door 12 of cooking appliance 1A is a side-opening door, reading device 16 is preferably provided so that reading area 19 is located on the opposite side of the side on which the hinge of front door 12 is located. For example, when the hinge of front door 12 is on the left side as viewed from the front, the user is likely to place food in from the right side. In this case, by positioning reading device 16 so that reading device 25 is located on the right side, the QR code of food 40 can easily pass through reading area 19, enabling accurate reading.

[0043] Furthermore, it is preferable that the reading device 16 is provided so that the reading area 19 is located at least inside the heating chamber 13. If the reading device 16 is provided facing substantially downward, the reading area 19 reaches the outside of the heating chamber 13. In this case, illumination from the reading area illumination unit 25 may be irradiated onto the outside of the heating chamber 13, leading to the possibility of false detection and a deterioration in aesthetics. Here, by facing the reading device 16 into the heating chamber 13, the reading area 19 is located only within the heating chamber 13. This reduces the possibility of false detection, etc. Note that a portion of the reading area 19 may be located outside the heating chamber 13. In other words, the reading area 19 may be located across both the inside and outside of the heating chamber 13.

[0044] (control unit 21D) Fig. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of control unit 21D included in cooking appliance 1A. As shown in Fig. 11, cooking appliance 1A includes control unit 21D, which in turn includes reading control unit 21E. Reading control unit 21E operates reading device 16 and reading area illumination unit 25 when front door open / close detection unit 22 detects that front door 12 is open.

[0045] (Information Code) The information code is used to heat-cook food. For example, the information code includes information indicating the type of food and information (heating information) indicating the conditions for heating the indicated type of food. The heating information is information necessary for cooking, and includes the heating time and wattage of the high-frequency output in the cooking device 1A. Specifically, the information code includes information indicating the type of food, for example, that the food 40 is a bento (or further the type of bento) and that it is a rice ball (or further the type of rice ball), as well as heating information including the heating time and wattage of the high-frequency output corresponding to the indicated food. This information code is affixed to the food or its container, for example, by printing or by a sticker. Note that, since the information code is used to heat-cook a specified food, it may include only information specifying the food, and the heating information for the specified food may be obtained from an external server 51 (FIG. 8). Alternatively, the information code may include only the heating information for the food.

[0046] The information code may be, for example, a two-dimensional code (QR code) or a one-dimensional barcode. The information code is not limited to a barcode, etc., as long as it can indicate the type of food.

[0047] (Operation of cooking device 1A) The operation of the cooking device 1A having the above configuration will be described below, with a case where food 40 is heated by the cooking device 1A being described.

[0048] First, the user checks the guidance display 20 (for example, "Open the door and hold the information code over the red light") on the operation panel 11. Then, the user opens the front door 12 in accordance with the guidance display 20. When the front door open / close detection unit 22 detects that the front door 12 is open, the reading control unit 21E activates the reading device 16 and the reading area illumination unit 25.

[0049] Next, the user follows the guidance display 20 on the operation panel 11 and moves the food 40 so that the information code is in the reading area 19 of the reader 16 (so that the red light hits the information code).

[0050] This operation causes the reader 16 to read the information code attached to the food product 40. If the reader 16 successfully reads the information code, the control unit 21D causes the read result notification unit 26 to notify the user of the read result. In this case, the operation of the read result notification unit 26 may be, for example, to emit a continuous beep, to emit a voice message saying "The information code has been successfully read," or both.

[0051] If the information code is successfully read, control unit 21D communicates with server 51 and obtains heating information corresponding to the type of food indicated by the information code from server 51. When the user is notified by read result notification unit 26 that the information code has been successfully read, they place food 40 inside heating chamber 13 and then close front door 12. Once front door 12 is closed by the user, heating control unit 21C controls heating operation unit 23 in accordance with the obtained heating information to heat food 40 in heating chamber 13.

[0052] On the other hand, if the reading device 16 fails to read the information code, the control unit 21D notifies the user of the reading result by the reading result notification unit 26. In this case, the operation of the reading result notification unit 26 is, for example, to emit an intermittent sound such as "beep, beep, beep," to emit a voice saying "reading of the information code has failed," or to do both.

[0053] When the user is notified by the read result notification unit 26 that the information code has not been read, the user moves the food 40 again so that the information code is in the reading area 19 of the reader 16 (so that the red light hits the information code). As a result, if the information code is successfully read, the operation is as described above.

[0054] When the heating of food 40 is completed in this manner, the user is notified of this and removes food 40 from heating chamber 13. When food 40 is removed from heating chamber 13, determination unit 21B of control unit 21D determines that food 40 is not placed in heating chamber 13. Based on the determination result of determination unit 21B (food 40 is not placed in heating chamber 13), heating control unit 21C does not start the heating operation by heating operation unit 23. As a result, the heating operation by heating operation unit 23 is not performed when food 40 is not placed in heating chamber 13. In other words, the heating operation is not performed in an unloaded state.

[0055] Furthermore, based on the determination result of determination unit 21B (food product 40 is not placed in heating chamber 13), reading control unit 21D may stop the reading operation of information code by reading device 16 for a predetermined time. As a result, for example, while food product 40 is being removed, reading device 16 will not read the information code of that food product 40, and heating control unit 21C will not perform heating control. Also, when determination unit 21B determines that food product 40 is not placed in heating chamber 13, reading control unit 21D may cancel the information code read by reading device 16 for a predetermined time. In this case, heating control unit 21C will not perform heating control either.

[0056] [Embodiment 3] Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals will be used to designate components having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0057] Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a state in which an openable / closable front door 12 provided on a main body of a cooking appliance 1B according to embodiment 2 is closed, as viewed obliquely from above the front. Fig. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control unit 21F included in the cooking appliance 1B.

[0058] 12 and 13, cooking appliance 1B may have all the configuration of cooking appliance 1 and cooking appliance 1A. Determination unit 21B determines whether food 40 has been placed in heating chamber 13 and whether the information code has been read by reader 16, based on a signal from food sensor 31. In cooking appliance 1B, when determination unit 21B determines that food 40 has been placed in heating chamber 13 and that the information code has been read by reader 16, it inputs the determination result to heating control unit 21C. When heating control unit 21C obtains the determination result, it controls heating operation unit 23 to start the heating operation.

[0059] [Software implementation example] The control blocks of the cooking appliances 1, 1A and 1B (particularly the control units 21, 21D and 21F) may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed on an integrated circuit (IC chip) or the like, or may be realized by software.

[0060] In the latter case, the cooking appliances 1, 1A, and 1B each include a computer that executes instructions from a program, which is software that realizes each function. This computer includes, for example, at least one processor (control device) and at least one computer-readable recording medium storing the program. The object of the present invention is achieved when the processor in the computer reads and executes the program from the recording medium. The processor may be, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The recording medium may be a "non-transitory tangible medium," such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, or a programmable logic circuit. The cooking appliance may also include a RAM (Random Access Memory) for expanding the program. The program may be supplied to the computer via any transmission medium capable of transmitting the program (such as a communication network or broadcast waves). One aspect of the present invention may also be realized when the program is embodied by electronic transmission in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave.

[0061] 〔summary〕 The heating cooker 1 according to aspect 1 of the present invention comprises a heating chamber 13, a heating section (heating operation section 23) that heats food 40 placed in the heating chamber, a heating control section 21C that controls the heating operation of the heating section, a sensor (food sensor 31) that irradiates measurement light within the heating chamber and receives the reflected light reflected within the heating chamber, and a judgment section 21B that judges whether or not the food is present in the heating chamber based on the intensity of the reflected light received by the sensor, and a detection area (sensor detection area 32) that is the area onto which the measurement light is irradiated and that indicates the position where the food is placed is displayed on the bottom surface (flat plate 13C) of the heating chamber, and the heating control section does not start the heating operation of the heating section when the judgment section judges that the food is not present in the detection area of the heating chamber.

[0062] According to the above configuration, if food 40 is not present (placed) in heating chamber 13, heating control is not initiated in cooking device 1. In other words, no-load operation is not performed if food 40 is not present in heating chamber 13. Moreover, sensor detection area 32, which is the area irradiated with measurement light and indicates the placement value of food 40, is displayed on the bottom surface of heating chamber 13, so that the user can easily place food 40 in an appropriate position in the heating chamber simply by checking sensor detection area 32.

[0063] A cooking device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the cooking device according to the first aspect, wherein the measurement light is infrared light.

[0064] According to the above configuration, food 40 in heating chamber 13 can be detected with high accuracy.

[0065] A cooking device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the cooking device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the bottom surface of the heating chamber may have a color that absorbs at least the measurement light.

[0066] According to the above configuration, the measurement light is absorbed by the bottom surface of the heating chamber, and reflection of the measurement light by objects other than food 40 is suppressed, thereby reducing the possibility of erroneous detection.

[0067] A cooking device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the cooking device according to the third aspect, wherein the outer periphery of the detection region (sensor detection area 32) may be a light color.

[0068] According to the above configuration, the outer periphery of the detection area (sensor detection area 32) is a light color, so the user can easily recognize the sensor detection area 32 inside the heating chamber 13, and can therefore appropriately place the food 40 in the sensor detection area 32.

[0069] A cooking device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the sensor may be provided on an inner side surface of the heating chamber.

[0070] According to the above configuration, the sensor is less susceptible to the influence of steam due to heating control than when the sensor is provided on the top surface of the heating chamber.

[0071] A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a cooking device according to the fifth aspect, wherein a surface inside the heating chamber opposite to a surface on which the sensor is provided may have a color that absorbs at least the measurement light.

[0072] According to the above configuration, the light emitted by the sensor can be absorbed by the opposing surface, thereby reducing the light reflected from the surface opposite the surface on which the sensor is provided, thereby reducing false detections by the sensor.

[0073] A cooking device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the detection area is located approximately in the center of the bottom surface of the heating chamber.

[0074] According to the above configuration, the food is more likely to be placed near the center, reducing the possibility of uneven heating.

[0075] A cooking device according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the cooking device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, further comprising a reader that reads an information code provided on the food,

[0076] The heating control unit may control a heating operation by the heating unit in accordance with a result of reading by the reading device.

[0077] According to the above configuration, heating control can be performed according to the type of food.

[0078] A cooking device according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the cooking device according to the eighth aspect, wherein the reading device is provided on the outside of the heating chamber and at an upper front surface thereof, and may read the information code below.

[0079] According to the above configuration, the reading device is provided outside the heating chamber, which reduces the possibility that the reading device will be deteriorated by heat.

[0080] A cooking device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the cooking device according to the eighth or ninth aspect, wherein the reading device is provided so that a reading area that can be read by the reading device is located inside the heating chamber.

[0081] According to the above configuration, the possibility that the reading area will reach the outside of the heating chamber can be reduced.

[0082] The cooking device according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is any one of the eighth to tenth aspects, and may further include a reading area illumination unit that illuminates a reading area that is an area that can be read by the reader.

[0083] According to the above configuration, the reading area 19 is illuminated by the reading area illumination unit 25, making it easier for the user to see.

[0084] A cooking device according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is the cooking device according to the tenth aspect, wherein the reading area is preferably displayed on the bottom surface of the heating chamber.

[0085] According to the above configuration, similar to the sensor detection area 32, the reading area 19 is not only illuminated by the reading area illumination unit 25 but also displayed, thereby making it easier for the user to visually recognize the reading area 19.

[0086] A cooking appliance according to aspect 13 of the present invention may be any one of aspects 8 to 12 above, which is provided with a side-opening door, and the reading device may be arranged so that a reading area, which is an area that can be read by the reading device, is located on the opposite side of the side on which the hinge of the door is located.

[0087] According to the above configuration, the area through which food is likely to pass is set as the reading area, so that the information code can be read with high accuracy.

[0088] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, new technical features can be formed by combining the technical means disclosed in each embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0089] 1, 1A, 1B heating cooker 12 Front door 13 Heating cabinet 13C, 13D Flat plate (bottom of heating chamber) 16 Reading device 19 Reading Area 21A Sensor control unit 21B Judgment section 21C Heating control unit 22 Front door open / close detector 23 Heating operation part (heating part) 25 Reading area illumination unit 31 Food Sensor (Sensor) 32 Sensor detection area (detection region) 40 Food

Claims

1. A heating chamber and a heating unit that heats food placed in the heating chamber; a heating control unit that controls a heating operation of the heating unit; a sensor that irradiates measurement light within the heating chamber and receives reflected light reflected within the heating chamber; a determination unit that determines whether the food is present in the heating chamber based on the intensity of the reflected light received by the sensor; a reader for reading an information code provided on the food product; a detection area, which is an area onto which the measurement light is irradiated and which indicates the placement position of the food, is displayed on the bottom surface of the heating chamber; The heating control unit When the determination unit determines that the food is not present in the detection area of the heating chamber, the heating unit does not start the heating operation, controlling a heating operation by the heating unit according to a reading result by the reading device; The reader is The heating chamber is provided on the upper front surface of the heating chamber, and the information code below is read. A cooking appliance in which a reading area that can be read by the reading device is positioned at least inside the heating chamber.

2. the detection area is a dark color that absorbs at least the measurement light, The reading area is displayed on the bottom surface of the heating chamber at a position different from the detection area, The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the reading area is a light color.

3. The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the measurement light is infrared light.

4. The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is provided on an inner side surface of the heating chamber.

5. The cooking device according to claim 4 , wherein a surface in the heating chamber opposite to the surface on which the sensor is provided has a color that absorbs at least the measurement light.

6. The cooking device according to claim 1 , wherein the detection area is located at a substantially central portion of a bottom surface of the heating chamber.

7. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , further comprising a read area illuminating unit that illuminates a read area that is an area that can be read by the reader.

8. Equipped with a side-opening door, The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the reading device is provided so that a reading area that is an area that can be read by the reading device is located on an opposite side to a side on which a hinge of the door is located.

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