rice cooker

Abstract

To provide a rice cooker that allows a brand of rice that has been cooked in the past to be checked.SOLUTION: A rice cooker includes: display means 6 for executing rice cooking according to a selected brand of rice to be cooked, and displaying various pieces of information on rice cooking; operation means 7 for selecting a brand of rice; a brand selection screen G3 and a brand history screen G4; and storage means 18 for storing brands of rice. The storage means 18 has a history of brands of rice for storing brands of rice for six times that the brands of rice were selected and cooked in the past as selected brands of rice at the start of the past rice cooking. The display means 6 is capable of displaying the history of the brands of rice.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rice cooker that allows selection of brand. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, rice cookers that allow the user to select a brand of rice in order to cook rice appropriately for each brand have been well known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a rice cooker that allows the user to select a category list for searching for a brand of rice, select a desired category from the selected category list, and then select a brand of rice from a brand selection screen that displays the selection results. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-143647 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The rice cooker in Cited Document 1 requires the user to search for and select a desired brand of rice from a list of rice brands, and the user must select the brand each time they cook rice. Users often cook one or more favorite brands of rice continuously, and it is also conceivable that the user may forget the brand when transferring rice to a storage container, for example.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a rice cooker that allows users to check the brands of rice that have been cooked in the past. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The rice cooker of the present invention cooks rice according to a selected brand of rice to be cooked, and comprises: a display means for displaying various information related to the rice cooking; and a selection means for selecting the brand of rice. a storage means for storing the brand; rice cooking instruction means for instructing the start of rice cooking;The storage means has a brand history that stores the selected brand when cooking the food to be cooked in the past, and the display means is capable of displaying the brand history. The display means is capable of displaying a brand selection screen that displays the brands side by side, and displays a switching section on the brand selection screen that switches to a screen that displays the brand history, and after the brand is selected by the selection means, the display means displays the rice cooking instruction means together with the selected brand, but does not display the rice cooking instruction means on the brand selection screen and the screen that displays the brand history. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the rice cooker of the present invention, it is possible to check the brands of rice that have been cooked in the past. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a rice cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the same. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a top view of the display means displaying the top screen. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a top view of the display means displaying the rice selection screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a top view of the display means displaying the brand selection screen. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a top view of the display means displaying the brand history screen. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a top view of the display means displaying the brand history screen. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a top view of the display means displaying the brand history screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the rice cooker of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that common parts will be designated by common reference numerals throughout the drawings.

[0010] 1 to 9 show an embodiment of a rice cooker according to the present invention. The overall structure of the rice cooker will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Reference numeral 1 denotes a main body, which, when viewed from above, has a generally rectangular shape with a front, rear, left, and right sides facing each other, and is open at the top. Reference numeral 2 denotes a lid that freely opens and closes the top opening of main body 1, and, like main body 1, also has a generally rectangular shape with a front, rear, left, and right sides facing each other, and is configured with a generally flat top. A hinge 3 that connects lid 2 to main body 1 is provided at the rear of lid 2, and a lid operating member 4 is disposed in an exposed state on the front upper surface of lid 2. When lid operating member 4 is pressed, the engagement between main body 1 and lid 2 is released, and a hinge spring (not shown) provided at the upper rear of main body 1 rotates around the hinge axis of hinge 3, causing lid 2 to open.

[0011] Heating means 11 (see Figure 3), such as an induction coil that heats the food to be cooked, is arranged inside main body 1. The food to be cooked is contained in a cylindrical inner pot with a bottom that can be attached and detached to main body 1. When high-frequency current is supplied to heating means 11, the alternating magnetic field generated by heating means 11 causes a magnetic material attached to the outer surface of the inner pot to heat up, heating the food to be cooked inside main body 1 during cooking and keeping warm.

[0012] A steam vent 5 is provided on the upper rear surface of the lid 2, which allows steam generated from the food inside the inner pot to be released to the outside of the main body 1. In addition to the steam vent 5 and the lid operating mechanism 4, the top surface of the lid 2 is also provided with a display means 6, which includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 25 as a screen display and LED (Light Emitting Diode) displays 26-29 (see FIG. 4) as status indicators, for displaying various information related to rice cooking, and an operating means 7, which is provided above the LCD 25 and consists of a touch sensor, for starting rice cooking and selecting the cooking time and course. A control PC (Printed Circuit) board (not shown) equipped with a control means 12 (see FIG. 3) for controlling each part of the rice cooker is also provided below these components. Therefore, in the rice cooker of this embodiment, apart from the operating means 7 above the LCD 25, there are no operating means such as physical keys and buttons, such as a rice cook key or an off key, which are found in conventional rice cookers, and since the rice cooker can be operated using only the operating means 7, the trouble of searching for buttons when operating the rice cooker is eliminated, improving operability. It also has a very sleek appearance, and the space in which the display means 6 and operating means 7, which are precision components, are located can be made compact. Furthermore, by eliminating the physical keys and buttons, the top surface of the lid 2 can be made approximately flat, making it easier to wipe and clean, improving cleanability.

[0013] In addition, a lid opening / closing detection means 8 is provided inside the lid 2 to detect whether the lid 2 is open or closed. The lid opening / closing detection means 8 may be of any detection type, such as optical, mechanical, or magnetic, as long as it can output a detection signal corresponding to whether the lid 2 is open or closed.

[0014] Next, the main control system of the rice cooker will be described with reference to Figure 3. In this figure, the control means 12 equipped in the main body 2 is composed of a control IC 17 constituting a microcomputer, storage means 18 such as a readable and writable memory for storing various information and data, timing means such as a timer, and drive elements for each part. The input port of the control means 12 is electrically connected to the above-mentioned operating means 7 and lid opening / closing detection means 8, as well as to the temperature detection means 13 and pressure detection means 14. The output port of the control means 12 is electrically connected to the above-mentioned display means 6 and heating means 11, as well as to the steam path opening / closing means 15 and pressure reduction means 16.

[0015] The temperature detection means 13 detects the temperature of the inner pot and the temperature of the inner lid (not shown) that covers the upper opening of the inner pot, thereby detecting the temperature of the food to be cooked inside the main body 1. The pressure detection means 14 detects the pressure inside the inner pot and is composed of a pressure sensor, etc.

[0016] The steam path opening and closing means 15 opens and closes the steam path that connects the steam outlet 5 and the inner pot to release steam generated in the inner pot to the outside, and if the steam path opening and closing means 15 closes the steam path when the food to be cooked inside the inner pot is heated by the heating means and boiling, the steam that has evaporated from the food to be cooked cannot be released from inside the inner pot, so the pressure inside the inner pot can be increased to above atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the steam path opening and closing means 15 also functions as a pressurizing means.

[0017] The pressure reducing means 16 reduces the pressure inside the inner pot below normal atmospheric pressure. It does so by closing the lid 2 on the main body 1 and blocking the steam passage with the steam passage opening / closing means 15. When the pressure inside the inner pot drops below atmospheric pressure by a certain amount, the vacuum pump, which powers the pressure reducing means 16, stops operating, maintaining the inner pot at a reduced pressure. To restore the pressure inside the inner pot to the same pressure as the outside air, the vacuum pump stops operating and a path (not shown) connecting the vacuum pump to the inside of the inner pot is opened. In other words, the pressure reducing means 16 also serves as a pressure restoration means, restoring the pressure inside the inner pot from the reduced pressure to the same pressure as the outside air.

[0018] The control means 12 includes a control IC 17 containing a rice cooking control means 21, a keep-warm control means 22, a display control means 23, and a condition setting means 24 as functions of the control sequence of the program read from the storage means 18. Upon receiving a command to start rice cooking from the operating means 7, the rice cooking control means 21 executes a rice cooking process that sequentially performs a soaking process to promote water absorption by the rice placed in the inner pot, a boiling heating process to quickly raise the temperature of the food to a boil, a boiling continuation process to maintain the boiling state of the food, and a high-temperature maintenance process to maintain the rice at a high temperature without burning it, thereby cooking the food in the inner pot at the desired pressure. The keep-warm control means 22 controls the keep-warm process to maintain the rice in the inner pot at a predetermined keep-warm temperature. The display control means 23 generates various control signals based on operation signals from the operating means 7 and controls the display operation of the display means 6. The condition setting means 24 also works in conjunction with the display control means 23 to enable the selection and setting of conditions that can be selected by the operation means 7, for example, the selection and setting of a desired rice cooking course from among a plurality of rice cooking courses that have settings for rice, cooking method, hardness, and water hardness.

[0019] In the rice cooker 1 of this embodiment, rice cooking courses corresponding to the settings for each rice, cooking method, hardness, and water hardness are stored in the memory means 18. In this embodiment, the rice settings for the rice cooking courses stored in the memory means 18, particularly the settings for the brand of rice, cooking method, hardness, and water hardness, are selectably displayed on the display means 6, and the rice cooking course is selected and set by making these settings. The rice cooking control means 21 controls the heating means 11, the steam path opening / closing means 15, and the pressure reducing means 16, i.e., controls the rice cooking, for each setting of this rice cooking course, particularly for each brand of rice. This makes it possible to cook rice appropriately for each brand of rice, further enhancing the deliciousness of the cooked rice.

[0020] Fig. 4 is a top view of the display means 6 of the rice cooker 1 of this embodiment. Figs. 4 to 9 show top views of the display means 6, and below, the upper side of each drawing will be referred to as the "front," the lower side as the "rear," the left side as the "left," and the right side as the "right." The front side of each drawing will be referred to as the "top" and the back side as the "bottom." In Fig. 4, the display means 6 is composed of an LCD 25 located in the center of the top surface of the lid 2, and process LED displays 26 to 29 located in front of this LCD 25. The process LED indicators 26-29 display the actual status of the rice cooker. In this embodiment, the "PRESET" process LED indicator 26 lights when a timer is set, the "KEEP WARM" process LED indicator 27 lights when the rice cooker is in the "KEEP WARM" state, the "VACUUM" process LED indicator 28 lights when the pressure reducing device 16 creates a vacuum state (lower than atmospheric pressure) inside the inner pot, and the "PRESSURE" process LED indicator 29 lights when the pressure inside the inner pot is maintained from the time pressure begins to build up inside the inner pot during cooking until the rice is cooked. This allows the user to understand the current status of the rice cooker at a glance, even when the LCD 25 backlight is dimmed. Furthermore, each of the process LED indicators 26-29 illuminates in a different color, allowing the user to understand the current status of the rice cooker at a glance. In this embodiment, the process LED indicators 26-29 are located directly in front of the LCD 25, but they may also be located away from the LCD 25. Alternatively, the process LED display units 26 to 29 may be omitted, and the display contents of these process LED display units 26 to 29 may be displayed on the LCD 25.

[0021] Fig. 4 shows the top screen G1. When the user inserts the power plug provided in advance on the main body 1 into a household outlet, the necessary power is supplied to each section, such as the display means 6 and the control means 12. At this time, the display control means 23 causes the display means 6 to display the layout of the top screen G1 as shown in Fig. 4 as the usual initial screen to be displayed on the display means 6 after a predetermined time has elapsed or when a predetermined startup display screen is displayed.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 4, the top screen G1 has a menu key display area A1 in its front, displaying four button display areas B1 to B7 arranged side by side. Here, the "Rice" button display area B1 includes a text display element D1 that reads "Rice" and a text display element D2 that reads "▼." The "How to Cook" button display area B3 includes a text display element D3 that reads "How to Cook" and a text display element D4 that reads "▼." The "Hardness Adjustment" button display area B5 includes a text display element D5 that reads "Hardness Adjustment" and a text display element D6 that reads "▼." The "Water Hardness" button display area B7 includes a text display element D7 that reads "Water Hardness" and a text display element D8 that reads "▼."

[0023] Additionally, behind the menu key display area A1, there is a rice cooking information display area A2 displaying four setting indicators D11-D14 arranged side by side. Here, the "Rice" setting indicator D11 displays information about the rice that has been set. It is located behind the "Rice" button indicator B1, and in FIG. 4, it displays "White Rice, Random Brand." The "Cooking Method" setting indicator D12 displays information about the cooking method that has been set. It is located behind the "Cooking Method" button indicator B3, and in FIG. 4, it displays "Kamado Master." The "Hardness Adjustment" setting indicator D13 displays information about the hardness adjustment that has been set. It is located behind the "Hardness Adjustment" button indicator B5, and in FIG. 4, it displays "Recommended." The "Water Hardness" setting indicator D14 displays information about the water hardness that has been set. It is located behind the "Water Hardness" button indicator B7, and in FIG. 4, it displays "40-60."

[0024] Behind the rice cooking information display area A2, a text display D15 that reads "Rice Cooking Time" reminds the user that the numbers displayed on the clock display D16 are the rice cooking time, and displays the required rice cooking time, the remaining time until the actual rice cooking is completed, and the predicted cooking time, which is the time when the rice cooking is completed.In Figure 4, the clock display D16 that displays "approximately 38 minutes," the required rice cooking time calculated from the settings of the rice cooking information display area A2, and a button display B17 that includes a text display D17 that reads "Start cooking" are displayed side by side.

[0025] Also, at the rear of the top screen G1, a setting button display B18 including a text display D18 reminiscent of a gear diagram, a button display B19 including a text display D19 saying "Keep warm", a button display B20 including a text display D20 saying "Reservation", a time display D21 showing the current time, and a button display B22 including a text display D22 saying "Off" are displayed side by side.

[0026] The operation means 7, which is made up of a touch sensor, is configured such that a plurality of components are arranged as touch keys, for example, each of which is made up of a transparent electrode section made of a conductive polymer and a contact section connected to a control PC board, connected by pattern wiring.By performing a touch operation on one of the plurality of button display sections displayed on the LCD 25 via the operation means 7, the touch key arranged above the button display section and corresponding to that button display section is touched and this button display section is selected.

[0027] The "Off" button display B22 is operated to stop cooking rice or keeping it warm, and when the "Off" button display B22 is touched, the control means 12 receives an operation signal from the operation means 7 arranged above the "Off" button display B22, and the rice cooking control means 21 controls the rice cooking control to stop heating the food to be cooked in the main body 1 and the scheduled rice cooking and turn it off, and the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to display the top screen G1 with the settings for the rice cooking information display area A2 set to the settings for the most recent rice cooking, that is, the settings stored in the storage means 18. Therefore, the "Off" button display B22 also functions as a stop instruction means for accepting the cancellation of rice cooking. Furthermore, when the "Off" button display section B22 on the top screen G1 is touched, the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to discard the rice settings, cooking method settings, hardness adjustment settings, and water hardness settings that were set before cooking and are currently displayed in the rice cooking information display area A2, and to display the settings in the rice cooking information display area A2 as they were when rice was most recently cooked, i.e., the settings stored in the memory means 18.

[0028] The "Start cooking" button display B17 is operated when rice cooking begins, and when the "Start cooking" button display B17 is touched, the control means 12 receives an operation signal from the operating means 7 arranged above the "Start cooking" button display B17, the condition setting means 24 stores the rice settings, cooking method settings, hardness settings, and water hardness settings currently displayed in the rice cooking information display area A2 in the memory means 18 as the settings for this rice cooking course, and the rice cooking control means 21 controls the start of cooking the food to be cooked in the main unit 1 using the settings for this rice cooking course stored in the memory means 18. Therefore, the "Start cooking" button display B17 also functions as rice cooking instruction means that receives an instruction to start cooking rice.

[0029] The "keep warm" button display B19 is operated when keeping food warm, and when the "keep warm" button display B19 is touched, the control means 12 receives an operation signal from the operation means 7 arranged above the "keep warm" button display B19, and the keep warm control means 22 sends an appropriate control signal to the heating means 11 so that the food to be cooked in the main body 1 begins to be kept warm and reheated.

[0030] The "Rice" button display section B1 is operated to select the type of rice to be cooked. When the "Rice" button display section B1 is touched, the control means 12 receives an operation signal from the operation means 7 arranged above the "Rice" button display section B1, and the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to display the rice selection screen G2 as shown in Figure 5.

[0031] The "Cooking method" button display section B3 is operated to select the type of cooking method for the food to be cooked. When the "Cooking method" button display section B3 is touched, the control means 12 receives an operation signal from the operation means 7 arranged above the "Cooking method" button display section B3, and the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to display a cooking method selection screen (not shown). When the cooking method for the food to be cooked is selected on this cooking method selection screen, the display control means 23 returns to the top screen G1 and controls the display means 6 to display the selected cooking method for the food to be cooked on the text display D12.

[0032] The "hardness adjustment" button display section B5 is operated to select the type of texture of the rice to be cooked. When the "hardness adjustment" button display section B5 is touched, the control means 12 receives an operation signal from the operation means 7 arranged above the "hardness adjustment" button display section B5, and the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to display a hardness selection screen (not shown). When the rice texture is selected on this cooking method selection screen, the display control means 23 returns to the top screen G1 and controls the display means 6 to display the selected rice texture on the text display D13.

[0033] The "Water Hardness" button display section B7 is operated to select the hardness of water for the food to be cooked. When the "Water Hardness" button display section B7 is touched, the control means 12 receives an operation signal from the operation means 7 arranged above the "Water Hardness" button display section B7, and the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to display a water hardness selection screen (not shown) or a water hardness numerical value input screen (not shown). When the water hardness is selected or input on these water hardness selection screens or water hardness numerical value input screens, the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to return to the top screen G1 and display the selected or input water hardness on the text display D14.

[0034] The setting button display section B18 is operated to set up the rice cooker, and when the setting button display section B18 is touched, the control means 12 receives an operation signal from the operation means 7 arranged above the setting button display section B18, and the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to display a setting screen (not shown).

[0035] The "Reservation" button display B20 is operated when reservation cooking is performed, and when the "Reservation" button display B20 is touched, the control means 12 receives an operation signal from the operation means 7 arranged above the "Reservation" button display B20, and the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to display a reservation setting screen (not shown). A reservation is set on this reservation setting screen, and when reservation cooking is started, the condition setting means 24 stores the reservation settings currently displayed on the reservation setting screen, such as the reservation time, in the memory means 18 as the reservation cooking settings for this time, and the cooking control means 21 starts cooking so that the food to be cooked in the main body 1 is cooked at the set reservation time, and the keep-warm control means 22 controls to start keeping the food warm. After the scheduled cooking is completed, when the "Reservation" button display B20 on the top screen G1 is touched to move to the reservation setting screen, the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to display the reservation setting screen that reflects the reservation cooking settings, such as the reservation time, stored in the storage means 18.

[0036] 5 shows the rice selection screen G2, which is displayed when the "Rice" button display B1 on the top screen G1 is touched. Referring to the figure, the rice selection screen G2 has a text display 31 in the foreground that reads "Please select rice." Behind the text display 31, a rice selection display area A3 is formed, displaying six button displays B31-B41 arranged front to back and left to right. The currently selected button display, for example, the "White rice, random brand" button display B31 in the case of FIG. 5, has a selection display S1 displayed around it.

[0037] Here, the button display section B31 for "White rice, random brand" includes a text display D31 that reads "White rice, random brand" and an image display D32 that shows a photograph of white rice served in a rice bowl. The button display section B33 for "White rice, select brand" includes a text display D33 that reads "White rice, select brand" and an image display D34 that shows a photograph of ripe rice ears. The button display section B35 for "Unwashed rice, random brand" includes a text display D35 that reads "Unwashed rice, random brand" and an image display D36 that shows a photograph of white rice served in a rice bowl. The button display section B37 for "Brown rice" includes a text display D37 that reads "Brown rice" and an image display D38 that shows a photograph of brown rice served in a rice bowl. The "mixed grain rice" button display B39 includes a text display D39 saying "mixed grain rice" and an image display D40 of a photograph of mixed grain rice served in a bowl. The "barley rice" button display B41 includes a text display D41 saying "barley rice" and an image display D42 of a photograph of barley rice served in a bowl.

[0038] Also, at the rear of the rice selection screen G2, a button display section B42 including a text display section D42 saying "Back" and a button display section B43 including a text display section D43 saying "Cancel" are arranged side by side.

[0039] Button display sections B31 to B41 in the rice selection display area A3 are operated to select the type of rice to be cooked, and when button display section B31, B35, B37, B39 or B41, for example, button display section B35 for "Rinse-free rice, random brand," is touched, control means 12 receives an operation signal from operation means 7 arranged above each button display section B31, B35, B37, B39 or B41, for example, button display section B35 for "Rinse-free rice, random brand," and display control means 23 returns to the top screen G1 and controls display means 6 to change the display of "Rice" setting display D11 to the display of the button display section that was touched, for example, to "Rinse-free rice, random brand."

[0040] Furthermore, when the button display section B33 for "White rice brand selection" is touched, the control means 12 receives an operation signal from the operation means 7 arranged above the button display section B33 for "White rice brand selection," and the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to display a brand selection screen G3 as shown in FIG. 6.

[0041] The "Back" button display section B42 is operated to discard the settings on the current screen, for example, the rice selection screen G2, and return to the previous screen, for example, the top screen G1. When the "Back" button display section B42 is touched, the control means 12 receives an operation signal from the operation means 7 arranged above the "Back" button display section B42, and the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to discard the settings currently displayed on the LCD 25, return to the previous screen, for example, the top screen G1, and display the settings that were displayed on the previous screen.

[0042] The "Cancel" button display section B43 is operated when discarding the settings on the current screen, for example, the rice selection screen G2, and returning to the top screen G1. When the "Cancel" button display section B43 is touched, the control means 12 receives an operation signal from the operation means 7 arranged above the "Cancel" button display section B43, and the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to discard the settings currently displayed on the LCD 25, return to the top screen G1, and display the settings that were displayed on the most recent top screen G1.

[0043] 6 shows the brand selection screen G3, which is displayed when the "White Rice Brand Selection" button display B33 is touched on the rice selection screen G2. The brand selection screen G3 will be explained with reference to the figure. At the front, eight button display sections B45-B52 are displayed side by side. Behind these button display sections B45-B52, an alphabetical selection display area A4 is formed, displaying position indicator bars P1 and P2. The brand selection display area A5, which will be described later, currently displayed on the brand selection screen G3 is displayed in color in the text display section of the categorized button display section. For example, in the case of FIG. 6, the white characters in the text display section D45 of the "A" row button display section B45 are displayed in color.

[0044] Here, the button display section B45 for the "a" row includes a text display D45 for "a", similarly, the button display section B46 for the "ka" row includes a text display D46 for "ka", the button display section B47 for the "sa" row includes a text display D47 for "sa", the button display section B48 for the "ta" row includes a text display D48 for "ta", the button display section B49 for the "na" row includes a text display D49 for "na", the button display section B50 for the "ha" row includes a text display D50 for "ha", the button display section B51 for the "ma" row includes a text display D51 for "ma", and the button display section B52 for the "ya" row includes a text display D52 for "ya". For the sake of explanation, in this embodiment, 66 types of rice brands are stored in the storage means 18, and rice brands beginning with characters in the "ra" and "wa" rows are not registered in the storage means 18, and no button display units for the "ra" and "wa" rows are displayed in the alphabetical order selection display area A4. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration may be adopted in which even more types of rice brands are stored in the storage means, and if a rice brand beginning with a character in the "ra" and "wa" rows is stored in the storage means 18, a button display unit categorized for that rice brand is displayed in the alphabetical order selection display area A4.

[0045] Additionally, behind the alphabetical selection display area A4, a brand selection display area A5 is formed, displaying six button display areas B55-B60 arranged front to back and left to right. Here, the display control means 23 of this embodiment controls the display means 6 to arrange, in alphabetical order, for example, 66 types of rice brands stored in the storage means 18, and display them on the brand selection screen G3 in predetermined numbers—in this embodiment, six button display areas B55-B60. Therefore, there are multiple brand selection screens G3, and in this embodiment, there are 11 screens. For example, in the brand selection screen G3 shown in FIG. 6, the first button display area B55 to the sixth button display area 60 respectively include a text display element D55 called "Aichi no Kaori" (Scent of Aichi), a text display element D56 called "Akisakari" (Akisaki), a text display element D57 called "Akita Komachi" (Autumn Poem), a text display element D58 called "Autumn Sparkle" (Autumn Sparkle), a text display element D59 called "Akihonami" (Akihonami).

[0046] Also, at the rear of the stock selection screen G3, a "Back" button display section B42, a button display section B61 including a text display section D61 that reads "<", a button display section B62 including a text display section D62 that reads ">", a button display section B63 including a text display section D63 that reads "History", and a "Cancel" button display section B43 are arranged side by side.

[0047] The "<" button display section B61 and the ">" button display section B62 are operated to switch between the multiple brand selection screens G3. For example, when the ">" button display section B62 is touched on the brand selection screen G3 of Fig. 6, the control means 12 receives an operation signal from the operation means 7 arranged above the ">" button display section B62, and the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to display the next brand selection screen G3 (not shown). Also, for example, when the "<" button display section B61 is touched on the brand selection screen G3 that displays the first six brands of rice stored in the storage means 18 in alphabetical order, as shown in Fig. 6, the control means 12 receives an operation signal from the operation means 7 arranged above the "<" button display section B61, and the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to display the brand selection screen G3 (not shown) that displays the last six brands of rice stored in the storage means 18 in alphabetical order.

[0048] The button display sections B45 to B52 in the alphabetical selection display area A4 are operated to switch the brand selection screen G3, and when one of the button display sections B45 to B52, for example the button display section B49 in the "na" row, is touched, the control means 12 receives an operation signal from the operation means 7 arranged above the respective button display section B45 to B52, for example the button display section B49 in the "na" row, and the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to display the screen of the rice brand that is displayed first in the selected row, for example the brand selection screen G3 that has the rice brand that is displayed first in the "na" row. Furthermore, the button display sections B45 to B52 indicate which row of the rice brand in alphabetical order the screen currently displayed on the display means 6 is for. For example, on the brand selection screen G3 shown in Figure 6, the text display D45 of the button display section B45 for the "A" row is displayed in color, reminding the user that this brand selection screen G3 is displaying rice brands in the "A" row in alphabetical order.

[0049] The first button display unit B55 to the sixth button display unit 60 in the brand selection display area A5 are operated to select the type of brand of rice to be cooked. For example, when any of the first button display unit B55 to the sixth button display unit 60, for example the third button display unit B57, is touched on the brand selection screen G3-1, the control means 12 receives an operation signal from the operation means 7 arranged on each of the first button display unit B55 to the sixth button display unit 60, for example the third button display unit B57, and the display control means 23 returns to the top screen G1 and controls the display means 6 to change the display of the "Rice" setting display D11 to the display of the button display unit that was touched, for example the display of the third button display unit B57, which is "Akita Komachi".

[0050] The "History" button display B63 is operated to select the brand of rice to be cooked this time from the brands of rice previously cooked. When the "History" button display B63 is touched, the control means 12 receives an operation signal from the operation means 7 disposed above the "History" button display B63, and the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to display the brand history screen G4 as shown in FIG. 9. In this way, the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to display the "History" button display B63, which switches the brand selection screen G3, which displays rice brands arranged front to back and left to right in the brand selection display area A5, to the brand history screen G4, which displays the history of rice brands. When selecting a brand of rice on the brand selection screen G3, the brand history screen G4 allows the user to check the brands of rice previously selected and cooked six times, eliminating the need for the user to remember the brands of rice previously cooked, improving convenience. Therefore, the "History" button display B63 also functions as a switching unit.

[0051] The position display bars P1 and P2 indicate which row of the Japanese alphabetical chart the rice brand of the screen currently displayed on the display means 6 or the screen adjacent to the currently displayed screen belongs to. For example, in the brand selection screen G3 shown in Figure 6, the position display bar P1 is colored and displayed so as to be located below the "A" row button display section B45, reminding the user that the current brand selection screen G3 displays rice brands from the "A" row in alphabetical order. The position display bar P2 is grayed out and displayed so as to be located below the "A" row button display section B45, reminding the user that the next brand selection screen G3 after the currently displayed brand selection screen G3-1 also displays rice brands from the "A" row in alphabetical order.

[0052] Next, we will explain in detail the features of the operation of the rice cooker configured as above, especially the features related to the brand history screen G4. For the sake of convenience, from here on, we will only refer to the explanation related to the selection of rice brand from the history.

[0053] 7 shows the stock history screen G4, which is displayed when the "History" button display B63 is touched on the stock selection screen G3. Referring to FIG. 7, the stock history screen G4 is described. A text display 82 reading "Stock History: Past 6 Times" is displayed at the front of the screen, and behind the text display 82, a stock selection display area A5 is formed, displaying the first button display B55 through the sixth button display 60 arranged side-by-side, front-to-back, and left-to-right, similar to the stock selection screen G3. At the rear of the stock history screen G4, a "Back" button display B42 and a "Cancel" button display B43 are arranged side-by-side.

[0054] On the brand history screen G4, the brands of rice selected and cooked for the past six times, which are stored in the storage means 18, are displayed in the first button display area B55 through the sixth button display area 60. For example, the first button display area B55 includes a text display area D83 for the brand of rice cooked one time previously, and in FIG. 7, the text display area D83 displays "Yumepirika." The second button display area B56 includes a text display area D84 for the brand of rice cooked two times previously, and in FIG. 7, the text display area D84 displays "Hitomebore." The third button display area B57 includes a text display area D85 for the brand of rice cooked three times previously, and in FIG. 7, the text display area D85 displays "Akitakomachi." The fourth button display unit B58 includes a text display unit D86 of the brand of rice cooked four times ago; in FIG. 7, the text display unit D86 displays "Hinohikari." The fifth button display unit B59 includes a text display unit D87 of the brand of rice cooked five times ago; in FIG. 7, the text display unit D87 displays "Nanatsuboshi." The sixth button display unit B60 includes a text display unit D88 of the brand of rice cooked six times ago; in FIG. 7, the text display unit D88 displays "Koshihikari." The brand selection screen G3 and the brand history screen G4 use the same brand selection display area A5, and the areas displaying the first button display unit B55 to the sixth button display unit B60, which display the rice brands, are arranged in a common configuration, allowing the user to select a brand of rice without hesitation on either the brand selection screen G3 or the brand history screen G4, improving visibility.

[0055] Here, for example, when any of the first button display unit B55 to the sixth button display unit 60, for example the third button display unit B57, is touched on the brand history screen G4, the control means 12 receives an operation signal from the operation means 7 arranged on each of the first button display units B55 to the sixth button display unit 60, for example the third button display unit B57, and the display control means 23 returns to the top screen G1 and controls the display means 6 to change the display of the setting display unit D11 for "Rice" to the display of the button display unit that was touched, for example the display of the text display unit D85 of the third button display unit B57, "Akita Komachi." When the "Start Cooking" button display section B17 is touched, the condition setting means 24 stores "Akita Komachi", the rice setting currently displayed in the rice cooking information display area A2, in the memory means 18 as the rice setting for this rice cooking course, and the rice cooking control means 21 controls the start of cooking the food to be cooked in the main body 1 using the setting for this rice cooking course stored in the memory means 18.

[0056] The storage means 18 has a history of rice brands that stores six previously selected and cooked brands without duplication, and when rice is selected and cooked from the currently stored six previously selected and cooked brands, as in this case, the storage means 18 is configured not to update the types of rice brands that were previously selected and cooked in the rice brand history.

[0057] After the rice cooking is completed, the screen moves to the top screen G1, and as described above, the "Rice" button display section B1 is touched to move to the rice selection screen G2, the "White rice brand selection" button display section B33 is touched to move to the brand selection screen G3, and the "History" button display section B63 is touched to move to the brand history screen G4.The display control means 23 controls the display means 6 to display the rice brand history, which is the rice brand for the past six times stored in the storage means 18, in the first button display section B55 to the sixth button display section 60 on the brand history screen G4, so that the rice brands for the past six times are not displayed in duplicate on the brand history screen G4, and the history of six different rice brands from the past is displayed in the first button display section B55 to the sixth button display section 60. Therefore, six types of brands of rice that the user has cooked can be displayed on the brand history screen G4, and even if the same brand of rice has been cooked several times in succession in the past, the types of brands of rice that have been cooked can be appropriately displayed on the brand history screen G4, improving convenience.

[0058] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 so that the rice brand text display D84 in the first button display unit B55 displays "Akita Komachi," the text display D86 displayed in the second button display unit B56 and the text display D88 displayed in the third button display unit B57 display "Yumepirika" and "Hitomebore," respectively, which are shifted one by one from the display of the text display units D86 and D88 shown in FIG. 7, and the display means 6 so that the text displays D90 to D94 displayed in the third to sixth button display units B58 to 60 display "Hinohikari," "Nanatsuhoshi," and "Koshihikari," respectively, which are rice brands similar to the display of the text displays D90 to D94 shown in FIG. 7. Therefore, when displaying the brand history screen G4, the display means 6 displays multiple brands of rice from the past six cooking times in the first button display unit B55 to the sixth button display unit 60, and if a brand of rice displayed in the first button display unit B55 to the sixth button display unit 60 is selected and cooked, the brands of rice from the past six cooking times are not displayed twice on the brand history screen G4, so the brand type of rice from the past six cooking times is not updated to the same brand type of rice as before cooking, and the order in which the brands of rice from the past six cooking times are changed to display the brands of rice cooked one to six times before, respectively, in the first button display unit B55 to the sixth button display unit 60. This allows the user to check the brands of rice and the cooking order of the brands of rice for cooking courses that have been used in the past, and convenience is improved because the user does not need to remember the brands of rice and cooking order of the brands of rice used in the past cooking times. By touching any of the first button display section B55 to the sixth button display section 60, the user can select from the brands of rice used in previous rice cooking courses displayed on the display means 6, which improves convenience as the user does not need to remember the settings for the brands of rice used in previous cooking courses.

[0059] Furthermore, the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 so that the order of the rice brands displayed on the first button display unit B55 to the sixth button display unit 60 is arranged in a predetermined order of most recently cooked rice, and displayed on the first button display unit B55 to the sixth button display unit 60. Therefore, six types of rice brands that the user has cooked can be displayed on the brand history screen G4, and even if the same brand of rice has been cooked multiple times in succession in the past, the types of rice brands that have been cooked can be appropriately displayed on the brand history screen G4, improving convenience.

[0060] For example, if the first button display B42 for "Back" is touched on the brand history screen G4 shown in Fig. 7 to move to the brand selection screen G3, and then any of the first to sixth button display sections B55 to 60 on the brand selection screen G3, such as the fourth button display section B58 on the brand selection screen G3 shown in Fig. 6, is touched, the display control means 23 returns to the top screen G1 and controls the display means 6 to change the display on the "Rice" setting display D11 to the display on the touched button display section, such as the "Autumn Poem" display on the fourth button display section B58 shown in Fig. 6. Then, if the "Start Cooking" button display section B17 is touched, the condition setting means 24 stores "Autumn Poem," the rice setting currently displayed in the rice cooking information display area A2, in the storage means 18 as the rice setting for the current rice cooking course, and the rice cooking control means 21 controls the start of cooking the food to be cooked in the main unit 1 using the setting for the current rice cooking course stored in the storage means 18.

[0061] After the rice cooking is completed, the screen moves to the top screen G1, and when the user touches the screen to move to the brand history screen G4 as described above, the display control means 23 controls the display means 6 so that, as shown in FIG. 9, "Autumn Poem" is displayed in the rice brand text display D84 of the first button display unit B55, and the text displays D86 to D94 displayed in the second to sixth button display units B56 to B60 display "Yumepirika," "Hitomebore," "Akitakomachi," "Hinohikari," and "Nanatsuhoshi," respectively, shifted one by one from the display of the text displays D86 to D94 shown in FIG. 7. In this way, when a brand of rice that is not displayed in the first button display section B55 to the sixth button display section 60 of the brand history screen G4 shown in Figure 7 is selected and cooked, the display control means 23 updates the types of rice brands displayed in the first button display section B55 to the sixth button display section 60 of the brand history screen G4, deletes "Koshihikari" that was displayed in the sixth button display section B60 for "6 times ago" from the six types of rice brands displayed on the brand history screen G4 before cooking, and displays "Aki no Uta", the brand of rice selected and cooked this time, while controlling the display order of these rice brands to be displayed in the first button display section B55 to the sixth button display section 60 in the order of the past six cooking times.

[0062] As described above, the rice cooker of this embodiment cooks rice according to the selected brand of rice to be cooked and is equipped with display means 6 that displays various information related to rice cooking, operation means 7 as a selection means for selecting a brand of rice, brand selection screen G3 and brand history screen G4, and storage means 18 that stores rice brands, and storage means 18 has a rice brand history that stores the six brands of rice selected and cooked in the past as the brand of rice selected at the start of past rice cooking, and display means 6 is configured to be able to display this rice brand history on brand history screen G4. This allows the user to check the brands of rice used in previous cooking courses, and convenience is improved because the user does not need to remember the brands of rice they have cooked in the past.

[0063] Furthermore, in the rice cooker of this embodiment, the display means 6 can display a brand selection screen G3 that displays a list of rice brands, and the brand selection screen G3 is configured to display a "History" button display B63 as a switch to switch to a brand history screen G4 that displays the history of rice brands. Therefore, when selecting a brand of rice on the brand selection screen G3, the brand history screen G4 can be used to check the six brands of rice that have been selected and cooked in the past, eliminating the need for the user to remember the brands of rice that have been cooked in the past, improving convenience.

[0064] Furthermore, in the rice cooker of this embodiment, the storage means 18 stores six brands of rice selected at the start of previous cooking in a rice brand history that stores six brands of rice selected and cooked in the past, and when the display means 6 displays the rice brand history on the brand history screen G4, it displays the brands of rice in a predetermined order, that is, in the order of most recently cooked rice, on the first button display unit B55 to the sixth button display unit 60, so that the user can check how many times ago the brand of rice displayed on the brand history screen G4 was cooked, further improving convenience.

[0065] Furthermore, in the rice cooker of this embodiment, the storage means 18 stores the types of rice brands selected and cooked six times in the past so that they do not overlap, so that six types of rice brands that the user has cooked can be displayed on the brand history screen G4, and even if the same brand of rice has been cooked multiple times in the past, the types of rice brands that have been cooked can be appropriately displayed on the brand history screen G4, improving convenience.

[0066] Furthermore, in the rice cooker of this embodiment, when displaying the rice brand history on the brand history screen G4, the display means 6 displays multiple rice brands from the past six times on the first button display unit B55 to the sixth button display unit 60, and if a rice brand displayed on the first button display unit B55 to the sixth button display unit 60 is selected and cooked, the rice brand types from the past six times on the brand history screen G4 displaying the rice brand history are not updated to the same rice brand type as before cooking, but the order in which the rice brands from the past six times are arranged is changed and the rice brands from one to six times previously cooked are displayed on the first button display unit B55 to the sixth button display unit 60, respectively.

[0067] With this configuration, the user can check the brands of rice and cooking order for those brands of rice for cooking courses that have been used in the past, and convenience is improved because the user does not need to remember the brands of rice and cooking order for those brands of rice that have been used in the past.By touching any of the first button display unit B55 to the sixth button display unit 60, the user can select from the brands of rice for cooking courses that have been used in the past, which are displayed on the display means 6, and convenience is improved because the user does not need to remember the settings for the brands of rice that have been used in the past.

[0068] Furthermore, in the rice cooker of this embodiment, the display means 6 can display a brand selection screen G3 as a rice brand selection screen that displays brands of rice side by side, and the brand selection screen G3 and the brand history screen G4 as a screen that displays the six brands of rice selected and cooked in the past on the display means 6 have the same layout of the first button display unit B55 to the sixth button display unit 60 in the brand selection display area A5 as an area that displays the brands of rice. This allows the user to select a brand of rice without hesitation on either the brand selection screen G3 or the brand history screen G4, improving visibility.

[0069] The rice cooker of this embodiment also includes a "Start Cooking" button display B17 as a cooking instruction means for instructing the user to start cooking rice. After selecting a brand of rice using the operation means 7, brand selection screen G3, and brand history screen G4, the display means 6 displays the "Start Cooking" button display B17 on the top screen G1 along with the "Rice" setting display D11 indicating the selected brand of rice. This allows the user to confirm the selected brand of rice when touching the "Start Cooking" button display B17, improving convenience. The LCD 25 and operation means 7, which constitute part of the display means 6 of this embodiment, are disposed on the top surface of the lid 2, which freely opens and closes the top opening of the main body 1. The top surface of the lid 2 is configured without any other operating means, such as physical keys or buttons, other than the lid operating member 4 for opening and closing the lid 2 and the operation means 7 above the LCD 25, resulting in a very sleek appearance. The lid operation body 4 is not limited to being disposed on the top surface of the lid body 2, but may be disposed on the side surface of the lid body 2.

[0070] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, a "History" button display section may be provided on the reservation setting screen as well as the brand selection screen G3, allowing the user to select settings such as reservation times set in the past for rice cooking. Furthermore, the numerical values ​​exemplified in the embodiment are merely examples and may be modified as appropriate depending on the specifications of the rice cooker. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 6 Display means 7 Operation means (selection means) 18 Memory means A5 Brand selection display area (area displaying rice brands) B17 "Start cooking" button display (cooking instruction means) B63 "History" button display (switching section) G3 Stock selection screen (selection method) G4 Stock History Screen (Selection Method , the screen showing the stock history )

Claims

1. A rice cooker that cooks rice according to the selected brand of food to be cooked, A display means for displaying various information related to the rice cooking; a selection means for selecting the brand; a storage means for storing the brand; and a rice cooking instruction means for instructing the start of rice cooking. The storage means has a brand history that stores the selected brand at the start of cooking the food to be cooked in the past, the display means is capable of displaying the history of the stock; The display means is capable of displaying a stock selection screen that displays the stocks in a line, and displays a switching section on the stock selection screen that switches to a screen that displays the history of the stocks; The rice cooker is characterized in that after the brand is selected by the selection means, the display means displays the rice cooking instruction means together with the selected brand, but does not display the rice cooking instruction means on the brand selection screen or the screen displaying the brand history.

2. The storage means stores, in the brand history, a plurality of brands selected by the selection means at the start of the past rice cooking, 2. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays the brands in a predetermined order when displaying the brand history.

3. 2. The rice cooker according to claim 1, wherein the storage means stores the brand types in the brand history so that the types are not duplicated.

4. The rice cooker according to claim 3, characterized in that the display means displays a plurality of brands when displaying the brand history, and when a displayed brand is selected and cooked, the display means does not update the types of the plurality of brands in the brand history display, but changes the order in which the plurality of brands are arranged and displays them.

5. A rice cooker as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the display means is capable of displaying a brand selection screen that displays the brands in a row, and the layout of the area displaying the brands is the same on the brand selection screen and on a screen that displays the brand history on the display means.

Images