Cooking apparatus

Abstract

The cooking apparatus of the present invention includes: a main body; a user interface provided in the main body; a plurality of coils provided inside the main body; a memory that stores information about the maximum output level of each of the plurality of coils; and a processor that recognizes position information of an automatic cooking zone in which food may be automatically cooked, on the basis of the information stored in the memory and a reference output level, and controls the user interface so as to output the recognized position information of the automatic cooking zone.

Description

cooking device

[0001] The disclosed invention relates to a cooking device for automatically cooking food.

[0002] Generally, cooking appliances are devices that heat food and cook it. They can be broadly categorized into those that generate heat using electricity and those that generate heat by burning gas. These cooking appliances can be categorized into gas ranges, ovens, and electric ranges.

[0003] Among these, the types of electric ranges include highlight electric ranges that directly heat the heating element using electricity, induction heating electric ranges (i.e. induction) that generate heat in the container by the magnetic field formed in the coil, hot plates that heat the coil-shaped heating wire under a cast iron or coated hot plate, and halogen electric ranges that heat the cooking container with the far-infrared power from a halogen lamp.

[0004] Recently, there has been a growing trend among users to use induction heating electric ranges, which have higher heat transfer rates, do not produce harmful gases, and have a lower risk of fire compared to gas ranges.

[0005] Recently, users have been searching for recipes online and cooking according to those recipes in their cooking appliances. However, users with limited cooking experience have had difficulty creating the best dishes using recipes alone.

[0006] Accordingly, there is a demand for technologies that enable even beginners to easily create the best dishes using cooking devices such as induction heating electric ranges.

[0007] One aspect of the disclosed invention provides a cooking device that outputs guidance information for an automatic cooking zone capable of automatic cooking based on output information of a plurality of coils, position information of the plurality of coils, and recipe information, and controls the output of the plurality of coils based on position information of a cooking zone selected by a user and recipe information.

[0008] A cooking device according to one aspect of the disclosed invention comprises: a main body; a user interface provided in the main body; a plurality of coils provided inside the main body; a memory storing information on the maximum output level of each of the plurality of coils; and a processor controlling the user interface to recognize position information of an automatic cooking zone capable of automatically cooking food based on the information stored in the memory and a reference output level and output position information of the recognized automatic cooking zone.

[0009] A processor of a cooking device according to one aspect recognizes at least one coil arranged in an automatic cooking zone based on position information of the recognized automatic cooking zone, and controls the operation of the recognized at least one coil based on recipe information.

[0010] A processor of a cooking device according to one aspect recognizes container information for at least one of a size and shape of the container based on recipe information, recognizes location information of an automatic cooking zone capable of automatically cooking food based on the recognized container information, information stored in a memory, and a reference output level, and controls a user interface to output location information of the recognized automatic cooking zone.

[0011] A processor of a cooking device according to one aspect recognizes recipe information stored in a memory based on a selection signal of an automatic cooking mode received by a user interface, and controls the user interface to output the recognized recipe information.

[0012] A cooking device according to one aspect further includes a communication interface for communicating with an external device. A processor of the cooking device according to one aspect recognizes recipe information received from an external device based on a selection signal of an automatic cooking mode received by the user interface, and controls the user interface to output the recognized recipe information.

[0013] A cooking device according to one aspect further includes a communication interface for communicating with an external device. A processor of the cooking device according to one aspect counts the time from the time the recipe information is received from the external device while the device is in standby mode, and controls the user interface to output the received recipe information when an on signal of a power button is received through the user interface before the counted time reaches a preset time.

[0014] The processor of the cooking device according to one aspect controls deletion of received recipe information if an on signal of the power button is not received through the user interface before the counted time reaches a preset time.

[0015] An automatic cooking zone of a cooking device according to one aspect includes a cooking zone formed by one coil or a cooking zone formed by combining two or more coils.

[0016] A cooking device according to one aspect further includes a top plate provided on the upper part of the main body and the upper part of the plurality of coils, on which a container is placed. A user interface of the cooking device according to one aspect includes an input interface and an output interface, and is provided in a portion of the top plate or adjacent to the top plate.

[0017] A processor of a cooking device according to one aspect, when a selection signal of an automatic cooking zone is received by a user interface during display control of a plurality of automatic cooking zones, recognizes position information of an automatic cooking zone selected by a user based on the received selection signal of the automatic cooking zone.

[0018] A cooking device according to one aspect further includes a container recognition sensor that recognizes a container. A processor of the cooking device according to one aspect recognizes the position information of a container based on information detected by the container recognition sensor during display control of a plurality of automatic cooking zones, and recognizes the position information of a cooking zone selected by a user based on the position information of the recognized container and the position information of the plurality of automatic cooking zones.

[0019] A processor of a cooking device according to one aspect controls a user interface to output guidance information for guiding the placement of a container within an automatic cooking zone based on whether the container is not recognized.

[0020] A cooking device according to one aspect further includes a container recognition sensor that recognizes a container. A processor of the cooking device according to one aspect controls a user interface to output new container location information based on the recognition of a container when the container is not recognized by the container recognition sensor.

[0021] A cooking device according to one aspect further includes a container recognition sensor that recognizes a container. A processor of the cooking device according to one aspect controls a user interface to output guidance information for container removal based on whether the container is not recognized when the container is recognized by the container recognition sensor.

[0022] A cooking device according to one aspect further includes a container recognition sensor that recognizes a container. A processor of the cooking device according to one aspect recognizes whether a container has been moved based on information detected by the container recognition sensor, and controls a user interface to output location information of the moved container and guidance information for guiding the movement of the container based on the movement of the container.

[0023] A cooking device according to one aspect further includes a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of each of a plurality of coils. A processor of the cooking device according to one aspect, when a container is recognized as being moved during execution of an automatic cooking mode based on location information of a recognized automatic cooking zone and recipe information, recognizes location information of a moved container based on information detected by a container recognition sensor, recognizes whether automatic cooking is possible at a location of the moved container based on the location information of the moved container and a current output level and temperature of at least one coil arranged at the location of the moved container, and maintains and controls automatic cooking based on the recognition that the location of the moved container is an automatic cooking zone capable of automatic cooking.

[0024] A processor of a cooking device according to one aspect controls a user interface to output guidance information for guiding re-moval of a container and location information of an automatic cooking zone based on recognition of the location of the moved container as a cooking zone that cannot be automatically cooked.

[0025] A processor of a cooking device according to one aspect controls a user interface to output guidance information for guiding movement of a container and position information of a new automatic cooking zone based on recognition of an event in the recognized automatic cooking zone during execution of an automatic cooking mode based on position information of the recognized automatic cooking zone and recipe information.

[0026] The cooking device according to one aspect further includes a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of each of the plurality of coils. The processor of the cooking device according to one aspect recognizes the temperature of the coils placed in the recognized automatic cooking zone and controls the occurrence of an event in the recognized automatic cooking zone based on the temperature of the recognized coils.

[0027] A cooking device according to one aspect further includes a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of each of a plurality of coils. A processor of the cooking device according to one aspect reduces and controls the maximum output level of the manual cooking zone based on the current output level in the manual cooking zone provided around the recognized automatic cooking zone, the temperature of the coils arranged in the manual cooking zone, and the cooking time of the manual cooking zone.

[0028] According to the disclosed invention, the disclosed invention is a cooking device having no boundary line of a cooking zone on a top plate, so that a user can freely position a container.

[0029] The disclosed invention can improve user convenience by displaying location information of a cooking zone capable of automatically cooking food using recipe information and output information about the cooking zone, and can automatically create the best dish within the cooking zone.

[0030] The disclosed invention can prevent deterioration in the cooking quality and taste of food by automatically and continuously cooking food based on recipe information even when the position of the container changes during automatic cooking of food.

[0031] The disclosed invention can prevent a user from automatically cooking food in a cooking zone that is not capable of cooking by displaying location information of a cooking zone where the cooking quality of food is deteriorated or the best cooking quality cannot be guaranteed.

[0032] The disclosed invention displays status information of a container for container position movement, container removal, and container addition, and displays location information of a cooking zone during automatic cooking and location information of a cooking zone during manual cooking, thereby enabling a user to easily recognize the cooking status of a cooking device.

[0033] The disclosed invention can improve the safety of a cooking device, improve the quality and marketability of the cooking device, and further secure the competitiveness of the cooking device.

[0034] FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a network system including a cooking device according to an embodiment.

[0035] Figure 2 is an example of the appearance of a cooking device according to an embodiment.

[0036] Figure 3 is a drawing explaining the heating principle of a container of a cooking device according to an embodiment.

[0037] Figure 4 is a control configuration diagram of a cooking device according to an embodiment.

[0038] FIG. 5 is an example diagram of a driving circuit of a cooking device according to an embodiment.

[0039] Fig. 6 is a control flowchart of a cooking device according to an embodiment.

[0040] Figures 7 to 23 are exemplary display diagrams of a user interface of a cooking device according to an embodiment.

[0041] It should be understood that the various embodiments and terms used in this document are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, but rather to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutes of the embodiments.

[0042] In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components.

[0043] The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more items, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0044] In this document, each of the phrases "A or B", "at least one of A and B", "at least one of A or B", "A, B, or C", "at least one of A, B, and C", and "at least one of A, B, or C" may include any one of the items listed together in that phrase, or all possible combinations thereof.

[0045] Terms such as "first," "second," or "first" or "second" may be used simply to distinguish one component from another and do not qualify the components in any other respect (e.g., importance or order).

[0046] When a component (e.g., a first component) is referred to as being “coupled” or “connected” to another component (e.g., a second component), with or without the terms “functionally” or “communicatively,” it means that the component can be connected to the other component directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or through a third component.

[0047] The terms “include” or “have” are intended to specify the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part or combination thereof described in this document, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

[0048] When a component is said to be “connected,” “coupled,” “supported,” or “in contact with” another component, this includes not only cases where the components are directly connected, coupled, supported, or in contact, but also cases where the components are indirectly connected, coupled, supported, or in contact through a third component.

[0049] When we say that a component is "on" another component, this includes not only cases where the component is in contact with the other component, but also cases where there is another component between the two components.

[0050] The term “and / or” includes any combination of a plurality of related described elements or any one of a plurality of related described elements.

[0051] The operating principle and embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings below.

[0052] FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a network system including a cooking device according to an embodiment.

[0053] A cooking device (1) is a device that heats and cooks food. The cooking device (1) in the present embodiment may include an electric range. The cooking device (1) in the present embodiment may include an induction cooking device, which is an induction heating cooking device among electric ranges.

[0054] The cooking device (1) may include a communication module capable of communicating with a home appliance (10), a user device (2) or a server (3), a user interface for receiving user input or outputting information to a user, at least one processor for controlling the operation of the cooking device (1), and at least one memory in which a program for controlling the operation of the cooking device (1) is stored.

[0055] The home appliance (10) may be a home appliance other than the cooking device (1) of the present embodiment.

[0056] The home appliance (10) may be a cooking device other than the cooking device (1) of the present embodiment. For example, if the cooking device of the present embodiment is an induction, the other cooking device may be an electric oven.

[0057] The home appliance (10) may include a cooking device (1), a communication module capable of communicating with another home appliance, a user device (2), or a server (3), a user interface for receiving user input or outputting information to a user, at least one processor for controlling the operation of the home appliance (10), and at least one memory storing a program for controlling the operation of the home appliance (10).

[0058] The home appliance (10) may be at least one of various types of home appliances. For example, the home appliance (10) may include, but is not limited to, at least one of a refrigerator (11), a dishwasher (12), an electric oven (14), an air conditioner (15), a clothes manager (16), a washing machine (17), a dryer (18), and a microwave oven (19) as illustrated, and for example, the home appliance may further include various types of home appliances such as a dehumidifier, a humidifier, a cleaning robot, a vacuum cleaner, and a television. In addition, the home appliances mentioned above are merely examples, and in addition to the home appliances mentioned above, a device that is connected to another home appliance, a user device (2), or a server (3) to perform the operations described below may be included in the home appliance (10) according to one embodiment.

[0059] These multiple appliances can be installed in a single home. Some of these appliances may be installed in the same space, while others may be installed in different spaces.

[0060] The server (3) may include a communication module capable of communicating with another server, a cooking device (1), a home appliance (10), or a user device (2), at least one processor capable of processing data received from the cooking device (1), another server, a home appliance (10), or a user device (2), and at least one memory capable of storing a program for processing data or processed data.

[0061] These servers (3) can be implemented as various computing devices such as workstations, clouds, data drives, and data stations. The servers (3) can be implemented as one or more servers that are physically or logically separated based on function, detailed configuration of function, or data, and can transmit and receive data and process the transmitted and received data through communication between each server.

[0062] The server (3) can perform functions such as managing user accounts, registering cooking devices (1) and home appliances (10) by linking them to user accounts, and managing or controlling the registered cooking devices (1) and home appliances (10). For example, a user can access the server (3) via a user device (2) and create a user account. The user account can be identified by an ID and password set by the user.

[0063] The server (3) can register the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) to the user account according to a set procedure. For example, the server (3) can register, manage, and control the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) by linking the identification information (e.g., serial number or MAC address) of the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) to the user account.

[0064] The user device (2) may include a communication module capable of communicating with a cooking device (1), a home appliance (10) or a server (3), a user interface for receiving user input or outputting information to a user, at least one processor for controlling the operation of the user device (2), and at least one memory in which a program for controlling the operation of the user device (2) is stored.

[0065] The user device (2) may be carried by the user or placed in the user's home or office, etc. The user device (2) may include, but is not limited to, a personal computer, a terminal, a portable telephone, a smart phone, a handheld device, a wearable device, etc.

[0066] The memory of the user device (2) may store a program, i.e., an application, for controlling the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10). The application may be sold installed on the user device (2) or downloaded and installed from an external server.

[0067] A user can access a server (3) by executing an application installed on a user device (2), create a user account, and communicate with the server (3) based on the logged-in user account to register a cooking device (1) and a home appliance (10).

[0068] For example, when the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) are operated so that the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) can be connected to the server (3) according to the procedure guided by the application installed on the user device (2), the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) can be registered in the user account by registering the identification information (e.g., serial number or MAC address) of the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) in the corresponding user account on the server (3).

[0069] A user can control a cooking device (1) and a home appliance (10) using an application installed on a user device (2). For example, when a user logs into a user account using an application installed on a user device (2), a cooking device (1) and a home appliance (10) registered to the user account appear, and when a control command for the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) is input, the control command can be transmitted to the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) via a server (3).

[0070] A network can include both wired and wireless networks. Wired networks include cable networks or telephone networks, while wireless networks can include any network that transmits and receives signals via radio waves. Wired and wireless networks can be interconnected.

[0071] A network may include a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, a local area network (LAN) formed around an access point (AP), and a short-range wireless network that does not use an access point (AP). Short-range wireless networks may include, but are not limited to, Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1), Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4), Wi-Fi Direct, Near Field Communication (NFC), Z-Wave, etc.

[0072] An access point (AP) can connect a cooking device (1), a home appliance (10), or a user device (2) to a wide area network (WAN) to which a server (3) is connected. The cooking device (1), a home appliance (10), or a user device (2) can be connected to the server (3) via the wide area network (WAN).

[0073] The access point (AP) communicates with a cooking device (1), a home appliance (10), or a user device (2) using wireless communication such as Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11), Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1), or Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4), and can connect to a wide area network (WAN) using wired communication, but is not limited thereto.

[0074] According to various embodiments, the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) may be directly connected to the user device (2) or the server (3) without going through an access point (AP).

[0075] The cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) can be connected to the user device (2) or the server (3) via a long-distance wireless network or a short-distance wireless network.

[0076] For example, the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) can be connected to the user device (2) via a short-range wireless network (e.g., Wi-Fi Direct).

[0077] As another example, the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) can be connected to a user device (2) or a server (3) via a wide area network (WAN) using a long-distance wireless network (e.g., a cellular communication module).

[0078] As another example, the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) can be connected to a wide area network (WAN) using wired communication and connected to a user device (2) or a server (3) through the wide area network (WAN).

[0079] If the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) can connect to a wide area network (WAN) using wired communication, they can also function as access relays. Accordingly, the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) can connect other home appliances to the wide area network (WAN) to which the server (3) is connected. In addition, other home appliances can connect the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) to the wide area network (WAN) to which the server (3) is connected.

[0080] The cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) can transmit information about their operation or status to another home appliance, a user device (2), or a server (3) via a network. For example, the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) can transmit information about their operation or status to the cooking device (1), another home appliance, a user device (2), or the server (3) when a request is received from the server (3), when a specific event occurs in the home appliance (10), or periodically or in real time.

[0081] When information on operation or status is received from the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10), the server (3) updates the stored information on the operation or status of the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10), and transmits the updated information on the operation and status of the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) to the user device (2) via the network. Here, updating information may include various operations in which existing information is changed, such as an operation of adding new information to existing information, an operation of replacing existing information with new information, etc.

[0082] The home appliance (10) can obtain various information from a cooking device (1), another home appliance, a user device (2), or a server (3), and provide the obtained information to a user. For example, the home appliance (10) can obtain information related to the function of the home appliance (10) (e.g., cooking method, washing method, etc.) and various environmental information (e.g., weather, temperature, humidity, etc.) from the server (3), and output the obtained information through a user interface.

[0083] The home appliance (10) can operate according to a control command received from the cooking device (1), another home appliance, a user device (2), or a server (3). For example, if the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) have obtained prior approval from the user so that they can operate according to the control command of the server (3) even without user input, the cooking device (1) and the home appliance (10) can operate according to the control command received from the server (3). Here, the control command received from the server (3) may include, but is not limited to, a control command input by the user through the user device (2) or a control command based on preset conditions.

[0084] The user device (2) can transmit information about the user to the cooking device (1), the home appliance (10), or the server (3) via the communication module. For example, the user device (2) can transmit information about the user's location, the user's health status, the user's preferences, the user's schedule, etc. to the server (3). The user device (2) can transmit information about the user to the server (3) with the user's prior consent.

[0085] The cooking device (1), the home appliance (10), the user device (2), or the server (3) can determine a control command using technology such as artificial intelligence. For example, the server (3) can receive information about the operation or status of the cooking device (1), the home appliance (10), or information about the user of the user device (2), process the information using technology such as artificial intelligence, and transmit the processing result or control command to the cooking device (1), the home appliance (10), or the user device (2) based on the processing result.

[0086] Hereinafter, a cooking device according to the present embodiment will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

[0087] Fig. 2 is an example drawing of the appearance of a cooking device according to an embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a drawing explaining the heating principle of a container of the cooking device according to an embodiment.

[0088] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cooking device (1) includes a main body (100) that forms the exterior of the cooking device (1) and accommodates various components that constitute the cooking device (1).

[0089] The main body (100) may be formed in a roughly box shape. The main body (100) may be formed in a hexahedral shape, but the shape of the main body is not limited thereto.

[0090] An opening may be provided at the upper part of the main body (100). A flat top plate (110) on which a container can be placed may be provided at the opening of the main body (100).

[0091] The top plate (110) may be made of reinforced glass such as ceramic glass to prevent breakage.

[0092] This top plate (110) may include a first area corresponding to the positions of a plurality of coils, where a container is placed and food inside the container is cooked, and a second area for an interface between the cooking device (1) and the user.

[0093] The first region of the top plate (110) may include a plurality of cooking zones (111, 112, 113, 114) each corresponding to the positions of a plurality of coils. For example, the first cooking zone (111) may correspond to a first coil inside the main body, a second cooking zone (112) may correspond to a second coil inside the main body, a third cooking zone (113) may correspond to a third coil inside the main body, and a fourth cooking zone (114) may correspond to a fourth coil inside the main body. Although the present embodiment has described a cooking device including four coils and four cooking zones as an example, the number of coils and the number of cooking zones are not limited thereto.

[0094] For the sake of ease of explanation and understanding of this embodiment, a boundary line is drawn in the first area of ​​the top plate to distinguish the cooking zones, but the top plate (110) of the cooking device of this embodiment does not have a boundary line to distinguish the cooking zones.

[0095] The cooking device (1) of the present embodiment may be a borderless cooking device. The cooking device of the present embodiment is also called an any-place cooking device, a flex-zone cooking device, or an all-free cooking device.

[0096] A second area of ​​the top plate (110) may be provided with a user interface (120) including an input interface for receiving operation commands from a user and an output interface for outputting operation information of the cooking device in the form of light or images.

[0097] The input interface may include a touch panel that recognizes a touch position, and the output interface may include a display panel that is provided integrally with the touch panel. That is, the user interface (120) may be provided as a touch screen in which the touch panel and the display panel are integrated.

[0098] The input interface may include a plurality of touch pads that recognize touch. The plurality of touch pads may include a touch pad that recognizes a touch signal for turning the power on or off, a touch pad that recognizes a touch signal corresponding to selecting a cooking zone, a touch pad that receives a touch signal corresponding to selecting an output level, and a touch pad that receives a touch signal corresponding to selecting a cooking time.

[0099] The input interface may also include at least one button, a switch or at least one jog dial.

[0100] The output interface may include at least one of a plurality of light emitting diodes and a plurality of seven segments.

[0101] A plurality of light-emitting diodes may be arranged adjacent to a plurality of touch pads and may display power on / off information, cooking zone selection information, and cooking zone output levels. Light emitted from the plurality of light-emitting diodes may be transmitted through a second region of the top plate and output to the outside.

[0102] The output level of the cooking zone may include the output level of the coil.

[0103] The output interface may further include at least one speaker that outputs operating information of the cooking device as sound.

[0104] As shown in Fig. 3, a coil unit (130) can be provided in a space that is the lower part of the top plate (110) and inside the main body (100).

[0105] The coil section (130) may include a plurality of coils. The plurality of coils may include a first coil, a second coil, a third coil, and a fourth coil. The plurality of coils may have the same size and number of turns.

[0106] The multiple coils of the coil section (130) may have different sizes and winding numbers, and thus, the maximum output levels may be different.

[0107] Each coil of the coil section (130) forms a magnetic field when current is supplied, and the container is heated by the magnetic field formed at this time.

[0108] The heating principle of the container of all coils that heat the container may be the same. The heating principle of the container of the first coil (131) is described.

[0109] The first coil (131) can receive a high-frequency current. For example, the frequency of the high-frequency current can be 20 kHz to 35 kHz.

[0110] When a high-frequency current is supplied to the wound conductor of the first coil (131), a magnetic field line (ML) can be formed in the first coil (131). Here, the formation of the magnetic field line (ML) in the coil (130) includes the formation of a magnetic field (B) passing through the inside of the first coil (131) according to Ampere's law.

[0111] The current applied to the first coil (131) is a current whose direction changes over time, i.e., an alternating current. Accordingly, the magnetic field generated in the first coil (131) also changes over time. That is, when a magnetic field (B) that changes over time passes through the interior of the first coil (131), a current that rotates around the magnetic field (B) is generated inside the bottom surface of the container (200).

[0112] Here, the current rotating around the magnetic field is a current formed by a voltage generated in a direction to interfere with the change in the magnetic field (B) of the first coil (131), and is called an eddy current (EI). The bottom surface of the container (200) can be heated by such an eddy current (EI).

[0113] In the cooking device (1), since the container (200) itself acts as a heat source, a metal having a certain level of resistance or higher, such as iron, stainless steel, or nickel, can be used as the material of the container (200).

[0114] In other words, when an eddy current (EI) flows in a container (200) having electrical resistance, heat is generated according to Ohm's law, and thereby the container (200) can be heated.

[0115] The phenomenon in which a current is induced by a magnetic field (B) that varies over time is called electromagnetic induction.

[0116] In this way, the cooking device (1) can selectively supply current to one or more coils among a plurality of coils (130) and heat the container (200) using the magnetic field (B) generated by one or more coils.

[0117] Here, the coils that heat the container may be one or more, and may be coils selected by the user, or coils that detect the position of the container and are placed at a position corresponding to the detected position of the container.

[0118] Control parameters for each coil may include current application time, current intensity, and / or frequency.

[0119] The cooking device (1) may further include a fan (140) that circulates air to lower the temperature of the main body (100) and other components when the temperature inside the main body (100) of the cooking device (1) rises due to the operation of the coil unit (130).

[0120] The main body (100) may include an inlet through which air flows into the interior of the main body (100) and an outlet through which air flows out of the exterior of the main body (100).

[0121] The fan (140) may be provided in a space that is inside the main body (100) and is the lower part of the top plate (110). The fan (140) may be provided at the inlet of the main body (100) or at a location adjacent to the inlet.

[0122] The fan (140) can allow external air to flow into the internal space of the main body (100) through the inlet, allow the introduced air to flow in the internal space of the main body (100), and allow the air flowing in the internal space of the main body (100) to be discharged to the outside of the main body (100) through the outlet. Through this, the fan (140) can cool the components inside the main body (100) during cooking.

[0123] The cooking device (1) is provided in the internal space of the main body (100) and may further include a user interface (120), a plurality of coils (130) and a circuit board (150) connected to a fan (140).

[0124] The circuit board (150) may include a printed circuit board and a flexible circuit board.

[0125] The material of the circuit board (150) may include at least one of paper phenol, paper epoxy, glass epoxy, alumina, and Teflon.

[0126] The circuit board (150) may include a coil driver (151) including a plurality of driver circuits each connected to a plurality of coils, a plurality of current sensors (152) each connected to the plurality of driver circuits and detecting current flowing through each of the plurality of driver circuits, and a control unit (160) that controls the plurality of driver circuits based on currents detected by the plurality of current sensors. The configurations of the plurality of driver circuits may be identical. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0127] Fig. 4 is a control configuration diagram of a cooking device according to an embodiment, and Fig. 5 is an exemplary diagram of a driving circuit unit of a cooking device according to an embodiment.

[0128] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the cooking device (1) may include a user interface (120), a coil unit (130), a fan (140), a coil driving unit (150), a current sensor (152), a control unit (160), and a communication interface (170). The cooking device (1) may further include at least one of a container recognition sensor (154) and a temperature sensor (155).

[0129] The user interface (120) includes an input interface (121) that receives user input and an output interface (122) that outputs various operation information regarding the operation of the cooking device (1).

[0130] Here, user input may include signals received by the user.

[0131] User inputs may include a power on / off signal, a cooking zone selection signal, a coil output level selection signal, a cooking mode selection signal, a cooking course selection signal, and a pause signal.

[0132] The operation information may include power on / off information of the cooking device.

[0133] The operation information may include information about cooking mode, cooking course, location, power level, total cooking time, remaining time, and cooking temperature for each cooking zone.

[0134] The output level of the cooking zone may include the output level of one or more coils arranged in the cooking zone.

[0135] The cooking mode of the cooking zone may include a manual cooking mode in which the output level of the coil is adjusted by the user, and an automatic cooking mode in which the output level of the coil is adjusted based on recipe information.

[0136] Cooking courses may include boiling, stewing, frying, steaming, stir-frying, grilling, and keeping warm.

[0137] The input interface (121) can receive user input and transmit the received user input to the control unit (160).

[0138] The output input interface (122) may include a display panel and a speaker.

[0139] The display panel displays operating information of the cooking device, information about the position of the cooking zone in which cooking is taking place, the power level, the cooking temperature and the remaining time, and can also display information about at least one of the cooking modes and cooking courses for each cooking zone.

[0140] The display panel can display location information of a cooking zone that can be cooked in the automatic cooking mode, and can display location information of a cooking zone selected by the user among the displayed cooking zones.

[0141] The display panel can display information on the location of cooking zones that cannot be cooked by the automatic cooking mode.

[0142] The display panel can display recipe information for cooking through the automatic cooking mode, and can also display operation information of the cooking device corresponding to the recipe information.

[0143] The display panel can also display guidance information to guide the need for moving the container during cooking by the automatic cooking mode.

[0144] The display panel can also display information on whether the automatic cooking mode is maintained based on the user's movement of the container during cooking in the automatic cooking mode, and can also display guidance information indicating the need to re-move the container.

[0145] The display panel may also display guidance information for the removal of containers placed on at least one cooking zone.

[0146] The display panel can also display guidance information about the changed output level based on the change in the output level of the cooking zone being cooked through the manual cooking mode.

[0147] When there is no cooking zone available for cooking in auto cooking mode, the display panel can also display guidance information about the waiting time for cooking in auto cooking mode.

[0148] The speaker can output notification sounds corresponding to the power on / off of the cooking device, the start of cooking, the end of cooking, and the pause of cooking.

[0149] The speaker can output a guide sound that guides the location information of a cooking zone that can be cooked in the automatic cooking mode, and can output a guide sound that guides the location information of a cooking zone selected by the user among the cooking zones that can be cooked.

[0150] The speaker can output a guidance sound to guide the location of a cooking zone where cooking is not possible due to the automatic cooking mode.

[0151] The speaker can output a guidance sound to guide the need to move the container during cooking by the automatic cooking mode.

[0152] The speaker can output guidance information as a sound to indicate whether the automatic cooking mode is maintained based on the user's movement of the container during cooking in the automatic cooking mode, and can also output guidance information as a sound to indicate the need for re-moving the container.

[0153] The speaker can also output guidance information as a sound for removing a container placed on at least one cooking zone.

[0154] The speaker can output guidance information about the changed output level as a guide sound based on the change in the output level of the cooking zone during cooking through the manual cooking mode.

[0155] The guidance sound may include a voice.

[0156] The coil unit (130) may include a plurality of coils. Each coil may form a magnetic field by an applied current and heat the container by the formed magnetic field.

[0157] The fan (140) can rotate based on a control command from the control unit (160).

[0158] The fan (140) can rotate at a rotation speed corresponding to the control command of the control unit (160) and can rotate in a direction corresponding to the control command of the control unit (160).

[0159] The cooking device (1) may further include a coil driving unit (151) for applying current to the coil unit (130).

[0160] The coil driving unit (151) may include a plurality of driving circuits each connected to a plurality of coils (130).

[0161] Each drive circuit adjusts the amount of current applied to the coil based on the coil's output level. The output level can be selected by the user or determined by recipe information. There can be multiple output levels.

[0162] Here, the multiple output levels discretely distinguish the strength of the magnetic field (B) generated by the coil, and the higher the output level, the greater the magnetic field (B) generated by the coil, allowing the container (200) to be heated more quickly and at a higher temperature.

[0163] Each driving circuit can be connected to a rectifier that receives power from an external commercial power source, removes noise, and rectifies the power, and a smoother section that removes ripples from the rectified power.

[0164] The circuit configuration of each driving circuit may be the same. The first driving circuit (151a) will be described as an example.

[0165] The first driving circuit (151a) includes a first switching unit (Q1) and a second switching unit (Q2) that receive an operating signal from a control unit (160), and first and second capacitors (C1, C2) connected in parallel with the first switching unit (Q1) and the second switching unit (Q2).

[0166] The first switching unit (Q1) and the second switching unit (Q2) each include a gate terminal connected to the control unit (160), and can be turned on by receiving a turn-on signal through the gate terminal or turned off by receiving a turn-off signal.

[0167] Here, the first switching unit (Q1) and the second switching unit (Q2) can be turned on alternately. That is, when the first switching unit (Q1) is turned on, the second switching unit (Q2) can be turned off, and when the first switching unit (Q1) is turned off, the second switching unit (Q2) can be turned on.

[0168] The first coil (131) forms a resonant circuit together with the first and second capacitors (C1, C2).

[0169] The first coil (131) resonates with a current (IL) at a certain period.

[0170] The first coil (131) generates a high-frequency magnetic field using the operating frequencies of the first switching unit (Q1) and the second switching unit (Q2).

[0171] The first driving circuit (151a) can supply a current whose direction changes to the first coil (131) according to the turn-on and turn-off operations of the first switching unit (Q1) and the second switching unit (Q2).

[0172] That is, when the first switching unit (Q1) is turned on and the second switching unit (Q2) is turned off, a driving current in the first direction is supplied to the first coil (131), and when the first switching unit (Q1) is turned off and the second switching unit (Q2) is turned on, a driving current in the second direction is supplied to the first coil (131).

[0173] The first driving circuit (151a) may further include a gate driver (not shown) that generates a gate signal to turn on and off the first switching unit (Q1) and the second switching unit (Q2) according to a command from the control unit (160).

[0174] Here, the gate driver may be provided integrally with the control unit (160) or may be provided separately from the control unit (160). In addition, if the gate driver is provided separately from the control unit, the control unit (160) can communicate with the gate driver through a communication interface (170).

[0175] Current sensors (152) can be connected to a plurality of coils, respectively. Each current sensor (152) can detect the current flowing in the coil and transmit current information about the detected current to the control unit (160).

[0176] For example, the current sensor (152) may include a current transformer (CT) that reduces the current in proportion to the size of the current supplied to the coil and an ampere meter that detects the size of the proportionally reduced current.

[0177] As another example, the current sensor (152) may include a shunt resistance connected to the coil and a measuring unit (not shown) that measures the voltage drop occurring across the shunt resistance.

[0178] The container recognition sensor (154) can recognize a container placed on the top plate (110).

[0179] Recognizing a container may include recognizing whether a container is placed in a first area of ​​a top plate (110).

[0180] Recognizing the container may include recognizing the location of the container on the first region of the top plate (110).

[0181] The container recognition sensor (154) may be a current sensor (152).

[0182] The container recognition sensor (154) may include a capacitance sensor that detects changes in capacitance as a cooking container is placed on the top plate (110).

[0183] In this case, the control unit (160) can recognize whether a container is placed on the top plate (110) and its placement position based on the change value of the electrostatic capacitance detected by the electrostatic capacitance sensor. Furthermore, the control unit (160) can recognize a coil provided at a position corresponding to the position of the container based on the change value of the electrostatic capacitance detected by the electrostatic capacitance sensor.

[0184] The cooking device (1) may further include a plurality of temperature sensors (155) provided around the plurality of coils to detect the temperature around the plurality of coils.

[0185] In this case, the control unit (160) can control the coil driving unit (151) so that the size of the current applied to the coil is adjusted based on the ambient temperature of the coil detected by the temperature sensor (155).

[0186] The communication interface (170) may include various communication circuits for performing wired and / or wireless communication with external devices (e.g., servers, user devices, and / or home appliances). The user devices may include various electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, notebooks, smartwatches, desktop tablets, and speakers.

[0187] The communication interface (170) may include at least one of a short-range communication circuit and a long-range communication circuit.

[0188] The communication interface (170) can transmit data to an external device or receive data from an external device. For example, the communication interface (170) can support cellular communication, wireless local area network (WLAN), home radio frequency (RF), infrared communication, ultra-wide band (UWB) communication, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi direct, Bluetooth, AD-HOC, and / or Zigbee. The communication technologies supported by the communication interface (170) are not limited to those exemplified.

[0189] The communication interface (170) can also communicate with external devices via an access point (AP). The access point can connect a local area network (LAN) to which the cooking device (1) is connected to a wide area network (WAN) to which the server is connected. The cooking device (1) can be connected to the server via the wide area network (WAN).

[0190] The communication interface (170) can attempt to establish a communication connection with a home appliance based on a control command of the control unit (160).

[0191] The communication interface (170) can communicate with home appliances through a hub (or router) and can communicate with home appliances through a communication protocol.

[0192] The communication interface (170) can receive recipe information from an external device and transmit the received recipe information to the control unit (160).

[0193] The control unit (160) may include at least one processor (161) that controls the operation of the cooking device (1) and at least one memory (162) that stores a program and data for controlling the operation of the cooking device (1).

[0194] The processor (161) controls the overall operation of the cooking device (1).

[0195] Describes the control configuration of the processor involved in recognizing the position of the container.

[0196] The processor (161) can receive current information about current detected by a plurality of current sensors.

[0197] The processor (161) can recognize the presence or absence of a container for each coil based on current information for each current sensor.

[0198] The processor (161) can recognize a current sensor that detects a current greater than a reference current, recognize identification information of the recognized current sensor, recognize location information of a coil connected to the recognized current sensor based on the identification information of the recognized current sensor, recognize a cooking zone corresponding to the location information of the recognized coil, and recognize the location information of the recognized cooking zone as location information of the container.

[0199] The processor (161) can recognize a coil in which the current detected by the current sensor (152) is less than the reference current and recognize that there is no container at a location corresponding to the recognized coil or that there is a container that cannot be heated.

[0200] The processor (161) applies signals of multiple frequencies to the first switching unit and the second switching unit at regular time intervals for each driving circuit, and compares the phase of the current detected while the first switching unit and the second switching unit are operating for each driving circuit with the phase of the voltage when the first switching unit is turned on, thereby recognizing the presence or absence of a container for each driving circuit.

[0201] The processor (161) recognizes the position information of the coil connected to the driving circuit, recognizes the position information of the recognized coil, and recognizes the cooking zone corresponding to the position information of the recognized coil, thereby recognizing the position information of the container.

[0202] The processor (161) can recognize whether the phase difference for any one frequency of each driving circuit is greater than or equal to the reference phase difference, recognize that there is no container in the coil connected to the driving circuit where the phase difference is greater than or equal to the reference phase difference, and recognize that there is a container in the coil connected to the driving circuit where the phase difference is less than the reference phase difference.

[0203] The processor (161) can also recognize the presence or absence of a container for each driving circuit based on the RMS (Root Mean Square) current rather than the peak current.

[0204] The processor (161) can recognize a coil on which a container without a container or a container that cannot be heated is placed and cut off the current applied to the recognized coil.

[0205] When a capacitance sensor is provided, the processor (161) can recognize the presence or absence of a container and the location information of the container based on the change value of the capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor.

[0206] If an image sensor is provided around the main body, the processor (161) can also recognize the location information of the container based on the image information acquired by the image sensor.

[0207] The processor (161) can control the output interface (122) to display position information of the cooking zone corresponding to the position information of the container or the position information of the coil on which the container is placed.

[0208] The processor (161) can recognize an area corresponding to the position information of the cooking zone where the container is placed among the display areas of the display panel, and control the display panel to display a cooking zone mark based on the position information of the recognized area.

[0209] Here, multiple points in the first region of the top plate can have X, Y coordinate information. That is, multiple points in the first region of the top plate can have X, Y coordinate values.

[0210] Multiple points in the display area of ​​the display panel can have X, Y coordinate information. That is, multiple points in the display area of ​​the display panel can have X, Y coordinate values.

[0211] To improve user perception, a ratio of X-axis values ​​and a ratio of Y-axis values ​​of the first area of ​​the top plate and the display area of ​​the display panel can be determined based on a size ratio of the first area of ​​the top plate and the display area of ​​the display panel.

[0212] For example, the processor (161) can recognize coordinate information of a display area of ​​a display panel corresponding to coordinate information of a cooking zone where a container is placed, and control the display panel to display a cooking zone mark based on the recognized coordinate information of the display area of ​​the display panel.

[0213] The processor (161) can control the output interface (122) to display two or more cooking zone marks on the display panel when there are two or more cooking zones in which containers are placed.

[0214] Describes the control configuration of the processor associated with manual cooking mode.

[0215] The processor (161) can control power to be applied to various components based on a power-on signal received through the input interface (121).

[0216] The processor (161) can exit standby mode and wake up various components of the cooking device based on a power-on signal received through the input interface (121).

[0217] The processor (161) can control power applied to various components to be cut off based on a power-off signal received through the input interface (121).

[0218] The processor (161) can control the performance of the standby mode based on a power-off signal received through the input interface (121).

[0219] The processor (161) can control and block the current applied to the coil while cooking food based on a pause signal received through the input interface (121).

[0220] The processor (161) can recognize the cooking mode of the cooking zone as a manual cooking mode when at least one of a cooking course, an output level of the cooking zone, a cooking temperature, and a cooking time is received through the input interface (121).

[0221] The processor (161) can also recognize the current cooking mode as the manual cooking mode based on receiving a selection signal for the manual cooking mode through the input interface (121).

[0222] The processor (161) can recognize the location information of the manual cooking zone for performing the manual cooking mode based on user input through the location recognition or input interface of the container, and can control the display panel to display the manual cooking zone mark based on the recognized location information of the manual cooking zone.

[0223] The processor (161) can recognize the optimal output level and cooking time for the selected cooking course based on the selection signal of the cooking course received through the input interface (121), and control the output interface (122) to output information about the optimal output level and cooking time for the recognized cooking course.

[0224] The processor (161) can recognize current information to be applied to the coil of the manual cooking zone based on a selection signal of the output level received through the input interface (121) and control the operation of the coil driver (151) based on the recognized current information.

[0225] More specifically, when a selection signal of an output level and position information of a manual cooking zone are received through an input interface (121), the processor (161) recognizes a coil corresponding to the position information of the manual cooking zone, recognizes current information to be applied to the recognized coil based on the selection signal of the output level, and controls the operation of a coil driving unit (151) connected to the recognized coil based on the recognized current information.

[0226] When controlling the coil driving unit (151), the processor (161) transmits a control signal to alternately control the turn-on operation of the first switching unit and the second switching unit of the driving circuit of the recognized coil.

[0227] The processor (161) can change the size of the current supplied to the coil by changing the cycle of turning on and off the first switching unit (Q1) and the second switching unit (Q2) in order to apply a current corresponding to the output level to the recognized coil. Here, the cycle of turning on and off the first switching unit (Q1) and the second switching unit (Q2) can be determined according to the frequency.

[0228] In addition, when the processor (161) controls the operation of the coil of the manual cooking zone, if the temperature information of the coil is received from the temperature sensor (155), it is also possible to control the pulse width modulation (PWM) for turning on and off the first and second switching units based on the received temperature information of the coil.

[0229] When the processor (161) receives current information of the coil recognized from the current sensor (152), it is also possible to control pulse width modulation (PWM) for turning on and off the first and second switching units based on the received current information of the coil and cooking time information.

[0230] The processor (161) can control the display panel to maintain the display of the manual cooking zone mark selected by the user based on the selection signal of the one manual cooking zone mark, and delete the remaining manual cooking zone marks, after a plurality of manual cooking zone marks on which a plurality of containers are placed are displayed, by receiving a selection signal of one of the manual cooking zone marks through the input interface (121).

[0231] The processor (161) can control the display panel to display guidance information for the manual cooking mode on the manual cooking zone mark.

[0232] The processor (161) may also control the output interface to recognize the output level, cooking time, and cooking temperature of the selected cooking course when a signal for selecting a cooking course is received through the input interface (121) during the execution of the manual cooking mode, recognize the optimal manual cooking zone based on the recognized output level, cooking time, and cooking temperature, and output guidance information for the recognized optimal manual cooking zone.

[0233] Outputting guidance information for the recognized optimal manual cooking zone may include displaying a manual cooking zone mark and information on a cooking mode in an area corresponding to the location of the optimal manual cooking zone among the display areas of the display panel.

[0234] When a selection signal for the manual cooking mode is received through the input interface (121), the processor (161) can also recognize the optimal manual cooking zone based on temperature information for each coil detected through the temperature sensor (155).

[0235] Coil-specific temperature information may include the ambient temperature of the coil or the temperature of the coil.

[0236] The processor (161) can also predict the temperature of each coil based on the current information detected by the current sensor (152) for each coil and the operating time for each coil.

[0237] The operating time per coil may include the cooking time of the food.

[0238] The processor (161) is placed adjacent to the cooking coil based on the current information and operating time detected by the current sensor (152) of the cooking coil, but is also capable of predicting the temperature of the non-cooking coil.

[0239] Below, the control configuration of the processor related to the automatic cooking mode is described.

[0240] The processor (161) can recognize the current cooking mode as the automatic cooking mode based on receiving a selection signal of the automatic cooking mode through the input interface (121).

[0241] When the processor (161) receives an on signal of the power button through the input interface (121), it recognizes whether received recipe information exists, and when it recognizes that the received recipe information exists, it controls the output interface to output the received recipe information, and can control the output interface to output a start button and a cancel button.

[0242] The processor (161) can recognize the current cooking mode as an automatic cooking mode based on the selection signal of the start button being received among the outputs of the received recipe information.

[0243] The processor (161) can recognize the current cooking mode as a manual cooking mode based on the selection signal of the cancel button being received during the output of the received recipe information, and can control the deletion of the received recipe information.

[0244] The processor (161) can control the output interface (122) to output recipe information stored in the memory (162) when a selection signal for the automatic cooking mode is received through the input interface (121).

[0245] When controlling the output interface (122), the processor (161) may include controlling at least one of a display panel and a speaker.

[0246] For example, the processor (161) can control the display panel to display one or more recipe information stored in the memory (162), and can control the display panel to display the menu name of the recipe.

[0247] When a selection signal for the automatic cooking mode is received through the input interface (121), the processor (161) can control the communication interface (170) to control an attempt to establish a communication connection with an external device.

[0248] When there are multiple external devices capable of communication, the processor (161) can control the output interface (122) to output a list of external devices connected through the communication interface (170), and can control and maintain communication with the selected external device based on a selection signal of the external device received through the input interface (121).

[0249] The processor (161) can receive a recipe list transmitted from an external device through a communication interface (170) and control the output interface (122) to output the received recipe list.

[0250] The processor (161) controls the communication interface (170) to transmit a selection signal of a recipe received through the input interface (121) from a recipe list output through the output interface (122) to an external device, and when recipe information is received from the communication interface (170) in response to transmission of the selection signal of the recipe, the processor (161) can control the output interface (122) to output the received recipe information.

[0251] When a selection signal of recipe information is received through the input interface (121), the processor (161) can control the performance of the automatic cooking mode based on the received recipe information.

[0252] When the processor (161) receives recipe information from an external device while performing standby mode, it can count the elapsed time from the time the recipe information is received.

[0253] Standby mode is a state in which the cooking appliance is not performing any cooking operations and may be in a standby power state.

[0254] The processor (161) can also control the memory (162) to store the received recipe information.

[0255] The processor (161) can also control the output interface (122) to output the received recipe information when an on signal of the power button is received through the input interface (121) before the counted time reaches a preset time.

[0256] The processor (161) can control the display panel to display information about the menu name, output level, cooking temperature, and cooking time, and can control the display panel to display a start button and a cancel button.

[0257] The processor (161) can also control the display panel to display the menu name, output level, cooking temperature, cooking time, start button, and cancel button in a pop-up window.

[0258] The processor (161) can also control the speaker to output recipe information.

[0259] The processor (161) can also transmit recipe information to a connected home appliance or user device via a communication interface (170). In this case, the user device can display the recipe information.

[0260] The processor (161) can delete the received recipe information if the on signal of the power button is not received through the input interface (121) before the counted time reaches the preset time.

[0261] The processor (161) can recognize whether food can be cooked in the automatic cooking mode in all or part of the first region of the top plate (110) based on a preset reference output level and a maximum output level of a plurality of coils, and if it is recognized that food can be cooked in the automatic cooking mode in all or part of the first region of the top plate (110), the processor can control the output interface to output location information of an automatic cooking zone where food can be cooked in the automatic mode.

[0262] The processor (161) can recognize the position of the automatic cooking zone based on a preset reference output level and a maximum output level of a plurality of coils, and control the output interface (122) to output position information of the automatic cooking zone for the recognized position of the automatic cooking zone.

[0263] The processor (161) can recognize a coil having a maximum output level higher than a preset reference output level, and recognize the location of the cooking zone based on the location information of the recognized coil.

[0264] The processor (161) can also recognize the location of the automatic cooking zone when a selection signal of the start button is received through the input interface (122) while a pop-up window is displayed in response to the receipt of the recipe.

[0265] The processor (161) can control the display panel to recognize an area corresponding to the location information of the recognized automatic cooking zone in the display area of ​​the display panel and display an automatic cooking zone mark in the recognized area.

[0266] The processor (161) can recognize the position of the automatic cooking zone based on recipe information and the maximum output level of a plurality of coils, and control the output interface (122) to output position information of the automatic cooking zone for the recognized position of the automatic cooking zone.

[0267] For example, the processor (161) can recognize a required output level based on recipe information, recognize a coil having a maximum output level greater than the recognized required output level, and recognize the location of the automatic cooking zone based on location information of the recognized coil.

[0268] The processor (161) can also recognize the position of the automatic cooking zone based on a preset reference output level, a maximum output level for each coil, whether each coil is currently operating, a current output level for each coil, and a temperature of each coil.

[0269] The processor (161) recognizes the size information of a container based on recipe information, recognizes the size of an automatic cooking zone based on the recognized size information of the container, recognizes one or more coils capable of cooking food in an automatic cooking mode based on a preset reference output level, a maximum output level for each coil, and the size of the automatic cooking zone, recognizes the location information of the automatic cooking zone based on the location information of the recognized one or more coils, and controls the output interface (122) to output the location information of the recognized automatic cooking zone.

[0270] When the number of coils is two or more to form an automatic cooking zone of a determined size, the two or more coils may be coils arranged adjacent to each other.

[0271] The automatic cooking zone may include a cooking zone formed by one coil, or may include a cooking zone formed by a combination of two or more coils.

[0272] The processor (161) can recognize shape information of a container based on recipe information, determine the shape of an automatic cooking zone based on the shape information of the recognized container, recognize one or more coils capable of cooking food based on a preset reference output level, a maximum output level for each coil, and the shape of the automatic cooking zone, recognize position information of a cooking zone based on position information of the recognized one or more coils, and control the output interface (122) to output position information of the recognized automatic cooking zone.

[0273] When the number of coils is two or more to form an automatic cooking zone of a determined shape, the two or more coils may be coils arranged adjacent to each other.

[0274] The processor (161) can also control the display panel to display the number of automatic cooking zones.

[0275] The processor (161) can also control the display panel to display the number of manual cooking zones.

[0276] The processor (161) can control the display panel to display location information of the automatic cooking zone based on recipe information.

[0277] The processor (161) recognizes the position information of the coil corresponding to the automatic cooking zone based on the position information of the automatic cooking zone, recognizes the maximum output level of the automatic cooking zone based on the position information of the recognized coil, and controls the display panel to display the maximum output level by overlapping it with the automatic cooking zone mark displayed through the display panel.

[0278] If the maximum heating temperature for each coil is stored in the cooking device, the processor (161) can also control the display panel to recognize the maximum heating temperature of the automatic cooking zone and display the maximum heating temperature by overlapping it with the automatic cooking zone mark displayed through the display panel.

[0279] During the output control of the location information of the automatic cooking zone, the processor (161) can recognize the presence of a container and the location of the container based on the current information for each current sensor.

[0280] During the output control of the location information of the automatic cooking zone, the processor (161) can also recognize the presence and location of the container based on the capacitance information for each capacitance sensor.

[0281] If an image sensor is provided around the main body, the processor (161) can also recognize the presence and location of the container based on image information received from the image sensor.

[0282] The processor (161) can recognize a cooking zone in which a container is placed among the automatic cooking zones based on the location information of the automatic cooking zone and the location information of the container, and control the output interface (122) to output location information for the automatic cooking zone in which the container is placed.

[0283] The processor (161) can control the display of automatic cooking zone marks on which a container is placed among the automatic cooking zone marks displayed on the display panel, and delete automatic cooking zone marks on which a container is not placed.

[0284] The processor (161) can also control the display panel to display different automatic cooking zone marks for an automatic cooking zone where a container is placed and for an automatic cooking zone where a container is not placed.

[0285] The processor (161) can control the color or brightness of the automatic cooking zone mark displayed on the display panel differently based on the presence or absence of a container.

[0286] The processor (161) can also control the display panel to recognize the maximum output level in the automatic cooking zone where the container is placed based on the position information of the automatic cooking zone where the container is placed and to display the maximum output level by overlapping it with the automatic cooking zone mark displayed through the display panel.

[0287] In addition, when a selection signal for the automatic cooking mode is received after the position information of the container is recognized, the processor (161) recognizes the position information of the coil corresponding to the position information of the container, recognizes the maximum output level of the recognized coil based on the position information of the recognized coil, recognizes whether the automatic cooking mode can be performed through the coil based on the maximum output level and the reference output level of the recognized coil, and controls the output interface (122) to output information on whether the recognized automatic cooking mode can be performed.

[0288] The processor (161) can control the execution of an automatic cooking mode in a selected automatic cooking zone when a selection signal of one automatic cooking zone is received through an input interface while displaying automatic cooking zone marks.

[0289] The processor (161) can control the output interface (122) to recognize a new cooking zone based on the position information of the new container when the position information of the new container is recognized while displaying the automatic cooking zone mark for the automatic cooking zone in which the container is placed, and output the position information of the recognized cooking zone together with the position information of the automatic cooking zone.

[0290] The new cooking zone may be a manual cooking zone that performs a manual cooking mode, or a new automatic cooking zone that performs an automatic cooking mode.

[0291] When the position information of a container placed in one of the cooking zones is not recognized while the processor (161) is displaying an automatic cooking zone mark for an automatic cooking zone in which a container is placed, the processor (161) can recognize the position information of the cooking zone in which the position information of the container is not recognized, and control the output interface (122) to stop outputting the position information of the cooking zone mark based on the position information of the recognized cooking zone.

[0292] A cooking zone in which the location information of the container is not recognized may be a manual cooking zone performing manual cooking mode or an automatic cooking zone performing automatic cooking mode.

[0293] When the position information of the container is not recognized while the processor (161) is displaying a cooking zone mark for the cooking zone where the container is placed, the processor can recognize that the container has been removed and control the display panel to delete the cooking zone mark where the container is placed.

[0294] The processor (161) can recognize that the container has been removed if the location information of the container is not recognized while displaying the cooking zone mark for the cooking zone where the container is placed.

[0295] The processor (161) can recognize that the container has been removed when the location information of the container changes from recognition to unrecognized.

[0296] The processor (161) can recognize whether the container has moved based on the container's location information and the current information of the coils, and if the container has moved, control the output interface (122) to output the location information of the moved container and guidance information for the container's movement.

[0297] For example, the processor (161) can recognize a change in the position of the container based on a change in the current of the coils, and if it is recognized that a change in the position of the container has occurred, it can recognize it as movement of the container.

[0298] As another example, if an image sensor is provided around the main body, the processor (161) can also recognize whether the container is moving based on the image information of the container.

[0299] As another example, the processor (161) can recognize temperature information of a coil on which a cooking vessel is placed, and can also recognize whether the cooking vessel is moved based on temperature information detected by a plurality of temperature sensors and the recognized temperature of the coil.

[0300] If the processor (161) determines that only one container is recognized in the first area of ​​the top plate (110), it can omit the output of guidance information for the automatic cooking zone and control the start of cooking of food.

[0301] The processor (161) controls the output interface to output position information of the automatic cooking zone when two or more containers are recognized in the first area of ​​the top plate (110), recognizes the position information of the automatic cooking zone based on the received automatic cooking zone selection signal when a selection signal of the automatic cooking zone is received through the input interface (121), and controls the operation of the coil based on the recognized position information of the automatic cooking zone and recipe information, thereby controlling the start of cooking of food.

[0302] The processor (161) recognizes whether the container has moved based on the current information of the coils during the execution of the automatic cooking mode, and when the container has been recognized as moved, recognizes the position information of the coil corresponding to the position information of the moved container, recognizes the maximum output level of the coil based on the position information of the recognized coil, and recognizes whether cooking is possible in the automatic cooking mode at the position of the moved container based on the recognized maximum output level and the reference output level, and when it is recognized that cooking is possible in the automatic cooking mode at the moved position, the cooking of the food can be continuously controlled based on the recipe information.

[0303] The processor (161) can recognize whether the position of the moved container is a position that reduces automatic cooking performance based on the location information of the moved container, and if it is recognized that the position of the moved container is a position that reduces automatic cooking performance, it can recognize that cooking in automatic cooking mode is impossible.

[0304] Locations that reduce automatic cooking performance may include locations where a fan (140) is provided, locations where a coil having a maximum output level lower than a reference output level is provided, and locations where a coil having a temperature higher than a reference temperature is provided.

[0305] If the processor (161) recognizes that cooking in automatic cooking mode is not possible at the location of the moved container, the processor (161) can control the output interface (122) to output guidance information for guiding the re-moval of the container. In this case, the processor (161) can recognize an automatic cooking zone and control the output interface (122) to output location information of the recognized automatic cooking zone.

[0306] The processor (161) can recognize whether an event that reduces automatic cooking performance has occurred during the automatic cooking mode, and if it is recognized that an event has occurred, control the output interface (122) to output guidance information that guides the movement of the container. In this case, the processor (161) can control the output interface (122) to recognize an automatic cooking zone while maintaining automatic cooking performance and output location information of the recognized automatic cooking zone.

[0307] Events that degrade automatic cooking performance may include events that occur when the temperature of a coil operating to perform automatic cooking mode is above a reference temperature.

[0308] When the processor (161) recognizes that the position of the container has moved to the automatic cooking zone, it can stop outputting guidance information and continuously control automatic cooking.

[0309] When performing manual cooking mode and automatic cooking mode simultaneously, the processor (161) can recognize whether an event that reduces automatic cooking performance has occurred, and if it is recognized that an event has occurred, control to reduce the maximum output level of the manual cooking zone performing manual cooking mode.

[0310] The processor (161) can recognize a manual cooking zone adjacent to an automatic cooking zone among the manual cooking zones and reduce the maximum output level of the recognized manual cooking zone by a preset level.

[0311] The processor (161) can control the output interface to output guidance information indicating that the maximum output level of the manual cooking zone is reduced.

[0312] If the processor (161) recognizes that the automatic cooking mode cannot be performed over the entire area of ​​the first area of ​​the top plate, the processor (161) can control the output interface to recognize the waiting time for which the automatic cooking mode can be performed based on the temperature of each coil, the maximum output level, and the reference output level of each coil, and output guidance information for the recognized waiting time.

[0313] The processor (161) controls the output interface to output information about the location, output level, cooking temperature, and remaining time of the automatic cooking zone, and can also control the output interface to output information about at least one of the cooking mode and cooking course for each automatic cooking zone.

[0314] The processor (161) recognizes the output level for each cooking time based on the recipe information, and transmits a control signal to the coil driver (151) to supply current to the coil corresponding to the recognized automatic cooking zone based on the recognized output level for each cooking time.

[0315] When a food temperature sensor that detects the temperature of food is provided, the processor (161) determines an output level based on the food temperature detected by the food temperature sensor and recipe information, and transmits a control signal to the coil driver (151) to supply current to a coil corresponding to the recognized automatic cooking zone based on the determined output level.

[0316] The processor (161) transmits automatic cooking zone operation information of the cooking device to at least one of a server, a home appliance, and a user device through a communication interface (170), and also controls the operation of the cooking device based on user input received from at least one of the server, the home appliance, and the user device.

[0317] In this case, the user device can display location information of the automatic cooking zone of the cooking device and display recipe information for each automatic cooking zone.

[0318] The user device can also transmit location information of an automatic cooking zone selected by the user to the processor of the cooking device, and can also transmit a selection signal of a start button selected by the user and a selection signal of a cancel button selected by the user to the processor of the cooking device.

[0319] The processor (161) can also transmit cooking progress information to a connected home appliance, server, or user device via a communication interface (170) while cooking food in automatic cooking mode.

[0320] The user input received from at least one of the server, the appliance and the user device may include a power on signal, a power off signal, a cooking zone selection signal, a start button selection signal and a cancel button selection signal.

[0321] The processor (161) may include hardware such as a CPU or memory, and software such as a control program. For example, the processor (161) may include one or more processor chips that perform the aforementioned operations using an algorithm for controlling the operations of components within the cooking device, at least one memory that stores program-type data, and data stored in the at least one memory, or may include one or more processing cores.

[0322] The processor (161) can perform operations of the cooking device (1) according to various embodiments by executing at least one instruction stored in the memory (162). For example, the processor (161) can perform a method according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure by executing at least one command stored in the memory (162).

[0323] The processor (161) may include one or more of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an APU (Accelerated Processing Unit), a MIC (Many Integrated Core), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an NPU (Neural Processing Unit), a hardware accelerator, or a machine learning accelerator.

[0324] The processor (161) may include a separate NPU that performs the operation of the artificial intelligence model, and may include a graphics-only processor (GPU), etc.

[0325] The memory (162) can store recipe information.

[0326] The memory (162) can store identification information and location information of each of the plurality of coils, and can store information on the maximum output level of each of the plurality of coils.

[0327] The memory (162) can store coordinate information of the display panel matched to the identification information of each of the plurality of coils.

[0328] The memory (162) can store coordinate information of the display panel matched to the location information of each of the plurality of coils.

[0329] The memory (162) can store information about cooking modes for each cooking zone and information about cooking courses.

[0330] The memory (162) can store information about the reference current for recognizing the presence or absence of a container.

[0331] The memory (162) can store identification information of a current sensor matched to the identification information of each of a plurality of coils.

[0332] The memory (162) can store information about the reference output level for performing the automatic cooking mode.

[0333] The memory (162) can store identification information and location information of a plurality of temperature sensors.

[0334] Identification information of a plurality of temperature sensors or location information of a plurality of temperature sensors may be stored in memory in a manner that matches identification information of at least one coil among a plurality of coils or location information of at least one coil.

[0335] The memory (162) can store information about the level of reduction of the output level corresponding to the ambient temperature of the coil.

[0336] The memory (162) can store information about the size of each coil and information about the number of coils corresponding to the size of the container.

[0337] The memory (162) can store information on the optimal output level, cooking time, and cooking temperature corresponding to each of a plurality of cooking courses.

[0338] The memory (162) can also store information about the temperature of the coil corresponding to the current value and cooking time.

[0339] The memory (162) can store data required for various embodiments.

[0340] The memory (162) may be implemented in the form of memory embedded in the cooking device (1) or may be implemented in the form of memory that can be detached from the cooking device (1) depending on the purpose of data storage. For example, data for driving the cooking device (1) may be stored in a memory embedded in the cooking device (1), and data for the expansion function of the cooking device (1) may be stored in a memory that can be detached from the cooking device (1). Meanwhile, in the case of the memory embedded in the cooking device (1), it may be implemented as at least one of volatile memory (e.g., DRAM (dynamic RAM), SRAM (static RAM), or SDRAM (synchronous dynamic RAM)), non-volatile memory (e.g., OTPROM (one time programmable ROM), PROM (programmable ROM), EPROM (erasable and programmable ROM), EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable ROM), mask ROM, flash ROM, flash memory (e.g., NAND flash or NOR flash), hard drive, or solid state drive (SSD)). In addition, in the case of the memory that can be detachably attached to the cooking device (1), it may be implemented as a form of a memory card (e.g., CF (compact flash), SD (secure digital), Micro-SD (micro secure digital), Mini-SD (mini secure digital), xD (extreme digital), MMC (multi-media card)), external memory that can be connected to a USB port (e.g., USB memory), etc. However, it is not limited to this.

[0341] The memory (162) may include one or more memory chips or one or more memory blocks.

[0342] At least one component may be added or deleted in accordance with the performance of the components of the cooking device (1) illustrated in FIG. 4. Furthermore, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the relative positions of the components may be altered in accordance with the performance or structure of the cooking device.

[0343] Meanwhile, each component illustrated in FIG. 4 refers to software and / or hardware components such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC).

[0344] Fig. 6 is a control flowchart of a cooking device according to an embodiment, which is described with reference to Figs. 7 to 23. Figs. 7 to 23 are display examples of a user interface provided in a cooking device according to an embodiment.

[0345] The cooking device can recognize whether recipe information is received from an external device while performing standby mode (301), and count the time from the time the recipe information is received based on recognizing that the recipe information has been received (303).

[0346] Standby mode is a state in which the cooking appliance is not performing any cooking operations and may be in a standby power state.

[0347] The cooking device recognizes (304) whether the on signal of the power button is received via the input interface (121) before the counted time reaches the preset time.

[0348] The cooking device can delete the received recipe information (305) if it is recognized that the on signal of the power button is not received through the input interface (121) before the counted time reaches the preset time.

[0349] The cooking device can end the time count when the counted time reaches a preset time while the on signal of the power button is not received, and perform a standby mode until the on signal of the power button is received.

[0350] As illustrated in FIG. 7, after the recipe information is deleted, when the on signal of the power button is received, the cooking device can display guidance information guiding the deletion of the recipe information received during the standby mode through the display panel of the user interface (120).

[0351] As illustrated in FIG. 8, if the cooking device recognizes that an on-selection signal for the power button has been received via the input interface (121) before the counted time reaches a preset time, the cooking device can display the received recipe information via the display panel (306). In this case, the cooking device can display both a start button and a cancel button.

[0352] The cooking device can control wake-up and activate the display panel when an on signal of the power button is received through the input interface (121).

[0353] The cooking device can also receive recipe information from an external device after waking up or while performing cooking mode. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 9, when recipe information is received from an external device (307), the cooking device can also display the received recipe information through a display panel (306).

[0354] As illustrated in FIG. 10, when displaying recipe information, the cooking device can display information about the menu name, power level, cooking temperature, and cooking time through the display panel of the user interface, and can further display a start button and a cancel button, and can further display the number of automatic cooking zones.

[0355] The cooking device can recognize whether food can be cooked in an automatic cooking mode in all or part of the first area of ​​the top plate (110) based on a preset reference output level and a maximum output level of a plurality of coils, and if it is recognized that food can be cooked in an automatic cooking mode, the location of an automatic cooking zone capable of cooking food in an automatic mode can be recognized (308).

[0356] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the cooking device can recognize the position of an automatic cooking zone for automatic cooking based on a preset reference output level and a maximum output level of a plurality of coils, and display the position information of the automatic cooking zone for the recognized position of the automatic cooking zone through a display panel (309).

[0357] Recognizing the location of the automatic cooking zone for automatic cooking may include recognizing a coil having a maximum output level greater than a preset reference output level, and recognizing the location of the automatic cooking zone based on location information of the recognized coil.

[0358] As illustrated in Fig. 12, the cooking device displays an automatic cooking zone in which food can be cooked in automatic cooking mode and a cooking zone in which food cannot be cooked in automatic cooking mode. However, it is also possible to display an automatic cooking zone in which food can be cooked in automatic cooking mode and a cooking zone in which food cannot be cooked in automatic cooking mode with different display information.

[0359] The cooking device can recognize size information and shape information of a container based on recipe information, recognize the size and shape of an automatic cooking zone based on the recognized size information and shape information of the container, recognize one or more coils for automatic cooking based on a preset reference output level, a maximum output level for each coil, and the recognized size of the automatic cooking zone, and recognize the position information of the automatic cooking zone based on the position information of the recognized one or more coils.

[0360] When the number of coils is two or more to form an automatic cooking zone of a recognized size and shape, the two or more coils may be coils arranged adjacent to each other.

[0361] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the cooking device can display an automatic cooking zone including two coils based on at least one of the size and shape of the container.

[0362] The cooking device can recognize position information of a coil corresponding to the recognized automatic cooking zone based on position information of the recognized automatic cooking zone, recognize the maximum output level of the coil based on the position information of the recognized coil, and display the maximum output level by overlapping it with an automatic cooking zone mark displayed through a display panel.

[0363] The cooking device recognizes whether a selection signal of any one of the automatic cooking zone marks displayed through the display panel is received through the input interface (310), and when it recognizes that the selection signal of any one of the automatic cooking zone marks has been received, the cooking device can recognize an automatic cooking zone selected by a user based on the selection signal of any one of the automatic cooking zone marks received, and can perform an automatic cooking mode through the automatic cooking zone selected by the user (311).

[0364] The cooking device can display an automatic cooking zone mark selected by a user among a plurality of automatic cooking zone marks and delete the remaining automatic cooking zone marks.

[0365] As illustrated in FIG. 14, the cooking device can also display an automatic cooking zone mark selected by the user among a plurality of automatic cooking zone marks differently from the remaining automatic cooking zone marks.

[0366] As illustrated in FIG. 15, the cooking device can display marks for two automatic cooking zones selected by a user when a selection signal for two automatic cooking zones is received via the input interface. The user can select two or more automatic cooking zones based on whether the size of the container is larger than the size of one automatic cooking zone.

[0367] The cooking device can recognize position information of a coil corresponding to an automatic cooking zone selected by a user, recognize a current sensor connected to the coil based on the position information of the recognized coil, and recognize whether a container is placed in the automatic cooking zone selected by the user based on current information detected by the recognized current sensor.

[0368] The cooking device can display guidance information for guiding container placement when it recognizes that a container is not placed in an automatic cooking zone selected by the user, and can also perform an automatic cooking mode when it recognizes that a container is placed in an automatic cooking zone selected by the user.

[0369] In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 16, when there is a manual cooking zone that performs manual cooking mode, the cooking device may display the manual cooking zone and the automatic cooking zone, but may display the manual cooking zone and the automatic cooking zone using different display information.

[0370] As illustrated in FIG. 17, when the position information of a container placed in one of the cooking zones is not recognized while the cooking device is displaying an automatic cooking zone mark where the container is placed, the cooking device recognizes that the container has been removed and can delete the cooking zone mark of the cooking zone where the position information of the container is not recognized.

[0371] When the cooking device is displaying an automatic cooking zone mark for an automatic cooking zone in which a container is placed, and additionally recognizes the location information of the container, the device recognizes that a new container has been added, and can display an additional cooking zone mark based on the location information of the cooking zone in which the additionally placed container is placed.

[0372] The cooking device recognizes the position information of the coil corresponding to the position information of the automatic cooking zone, and can recognize whether a container is present in the recognized coil based on the current information detected by the current sensor connected to the recognized coil (312).

[0373] The cooking device can recognize that a container is present in an automatic cooking zone selected by the user when it recognizes that a container is present in a recognized coil.

[0374] The cooking device can control the cooking of food in an automatic cooking mode by controlling the output level of the coil based on recipe information when it recognizes that a container is present in an automatic cooking zone selected by the user (311).

[0375] The cooking device may display guidance information guiding the placement of a container when it is recognized that no container is present in an automatic cooking zone selected by the user.

[0376] When a selection signal for the automatic cooking mode is received after the container is recognized, the cooking device recognizes the automatic cooking zone in which the container is placed among the automatic cooking zones based on the position information of the automatic cooking zones and the position information of the container, displays the recognized automatic cooking zone, and controls the coil corresponding to the recognized automatic cooking zone to perform automatic cooking.

[0377] In addition, when a selection signal of the start button is received, the cooking device can perform automatic cooking by controlling the coil corresponding to the automatic cooking zone recognized based on the recipe information.

[0378] When a selection signal for the automatic cooking mode is received after the container is recognized, the cooking device can display information on the location of the automatic cooking zone and guide information for guiding movement of the container to the automatic cooking zone if it recognizes that the location where the container is placed is not an automatic cooking zone.

[0379] The cooking device can recognize whether the container has moved based on the container's location information and the coil's current information while performing the automatic cooking mode (313), and if the container has moved, can display the location information of the moved container and guidance information for the container's movement.

[0380] When the cooking device recognizes movement of the container, it recognizes the position information of the coil corresponding to the position information of the moved container, recognizes the maximum output level of the coil based on the position information of the recognized coil, and recognizes whether cooking is possible in automatic cooking mode based on the recognized maximum output level and the reference output level (314), and when it recognizes that cooking is possible in automatic cooking mode, it can continuously control cooking of food based on recipe information (315).

[0381] As illustrated in FIG. 18, the cooking device can display guidance information for container movement and cooking maintenance through a display panel of the user interface.

[0382] The cooking device can recognize whether the position of the moved container deteriorates the automatic cooking performance based on the location information, and if it is recognized as a position that deteriorates the automatic cooking performance, it can recognize that cooking in automatic cooking mode is impossible.

[0383] Locations that reduce automatic cooking performance may include locations where a fan (140) is provided, locations where a coil having a maximum output level lower than a reference output level is provided, and locations where a coil having a temperature higher than a reference temperature is provided.

[0384] As illustrated in Fig. 19, if the cooking device recognizes that the location of the moved container is a location where cooking is not possible in automatic cooking mode, it can display guidance information for guiding the re-moval of the container, and recognize the automatic cooking zone and display location information of the recognized cooking zone (316).

[0385] As illustrated in Fig. 20, the cooking device can recognize whether an event that reduces automatic cooking performance occurs while performing automatic cooking mode, and if it is recognized that an event has occurred, it can display guidance information that guides movement of the container.

[0386] In this case, the cooking device can recognize the automatic cooking zone while maintaining the automatic cooking performance and display the location information of the recognized automatic cooking zone.

[0387] Events that degrade automatic cooking performance may include events that occur when the temperature of a coil operating to perform automatic cooking mode is above a reference temperature.

[0388] When the cooking device recognizes that the position of the container has moved to the automatic cooking zone, the output of guidance information can be stopped and automatic cooking can be continuously controlled.

[0389] When the cooking device performs manual cooking mode and automatic cooking mode simultaneously, the cooking device can detect whether an event that reduces automatic cooking performance has occurred and, if it detects that an event has occurred, control the maximum output level of the manual cooking zone to be reduced.

[0390] The cooking device can recognize a manual cooking zone adjacent to an automatic cooking zone among the manual cooking zones and reduce the maximum output level of the recognized manual cooking zone by a preset level.

[0391] As illustrated in FIG. 21, the cooking device can display guidance information through the display panel of the user interface to indicate that the maximum output level of the manual cooking zone has been reduced.

[0392] As illustrated in FIG. 22, the cooking device can recognize whether to perform automatic cooking mode for each automatic cooking zone based on temperature information of each coil and position information of the fan, recognize whether a container is placed in a cooking zone where cooking is not possible automatically based on position information of the container, and display guidance information to guide movement of the container when it is recognized that the container is placed in a cooking zone where cooking is not possible automatically.

[0393] As illustrated in FIG. 23, if the cooking device recognizes that it is impossible to perform the automatic cooking mode over the entire area of ​​the first area of ​​the top plate, it can display guidance information based on the recipe information to guide that cooking of food in the automatic cooking mode is impossible.

[0394] The cooking device can also recognize the waiting time for which the automatic cooking mode can be performed based on the temperature of each coil, the maximum output level, and the reference output level of each coil, and display guidance information about the recognized waiting time.

[0395] The processor (161) controls the output interface to output information about the location, output level, cooking temperature, and remaining time of the automatic cooking zone, and can also control the output interface to output information about at least one of the cooking mode and cooking course for each automatic cooking zone.

[0396] Meanwhile, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in the form of a storage medium storing computer-executable instructions. The instructions may be stored in the form of program code, and when executed by a processor, may generate program modules to perform the operations of the disclosed embodiments.

[0397] A device-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here, the term "non-transitory storage medium" simply means a tangible device that does not contain signals (e.g., electromagnetic waves). This term does not distinguish between cases where data is permanently stored in the storage medium and cases where data is temporarily stored. For example, a "non-transitory storage medium" may include a buffer in which data is temporarily stored.

[0398] The methods according to various embodiments disclosed in this document may be provided as included in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded as a product between a seller and a buyer. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)), or may be distributed online (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) via an application store (e.g., Play Store™) or directly between two user devices (e.g., smartphones). In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product (e.g., a downloadable app) may be temporarily stored or temporarily generated in a machine-readable storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or an intermediary server.

[0399] The disclosed embodiments have been described with reference to the attached drawings as described above. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be implemented in forms other than the disclosed embodiments without altering the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. The disclosed embodiments are illustrative and should not be construed as limiting.

Claims

1. Main body; A user interface provided on the above body; A plurality of coils provided inside the above body; A memory storing information about the maximum output level of each of the plurality of coils; and A cooking device including a processor that recognizes location information of an automatic cooking zone capable of automatically cooking food based on information stored in the memory and a reference output level, and controls a user interface to output location information of the recognized automatic cooking zone.

2. In the first paragraph, the processor, A cooking device that recognizes container information for at least one of the size and shape of the container based on the recipe information, recognizes location information of an automatic cooking zone capable of automatically cooking food based on the recognized container information, information stored in the memory, and the reference output level, controls a user interface to output location information of the recognized automatic cooking zone, recognizes at least one coil arranged in the automatic cooking zone based on the recognized location information of the automatic cooking zone, and controls the operation of the recognized at least one coil based on the recipe information.

3. In the first paragraph, the processor, A cooking device that recognizes recipe information stored in the memory based on a selection signal of an automatic cooking mode received by the user interface, and controls the user interface to output the recognized recipe information.

4. In paragraph 1, Further comprising a communication interface for communicating with an external device, A cooking device in which the processor recognizes recipe information received from the external device based on a selection signal of an automatic cooking mode received by the user interface, and controls the user interface to output the recognized recipe information.

5. In paragraph 1, Further comprising a communication interface for communicating with an external device, The above processor is a cooking device that, when recipe information is received from the external device while the standby mode is in progress, counts the time from the time the recipe information is received, and controls the user interface to output the received recipe information when an on signal of a power button is received through the user interface before the counted time reaches a preset time, and controls deletion of the received recipe information when an on signal of the power button is not received through the user interface before the counted time reaches a preset time.

6. In paragraph 1, the automatic cooking zone, A cooking device comprising a cooking zone formed by one coil or a cooking zone formed by combining two or more coils.

7. In paragraph 1, It further includes a top plate provided on the upper part of the above body and the upper part of the above plurality of coils, on which a container is placed, A cooking device wherein the user interface includes an input interface and an output interface, and is provided in a portion of the top plate or adjacent to the top plate.

8. In the first paragraph, the processor, A cooking device that, when a selection signal of an automatic cooking zone is received by the user interface during display control of a plurality of automatic cooking zones, recognizes the location information of an automatic cooking zone selected by the user based on the received selection signal of the automatic cooking zone.

9. In paragraph 8, Further comprising a container recognition sensor that recognizes the container, The processor recognizes the location information of a container based on information detected by the container recognition sensor during the display control of a plurality of automatic cooking zones, and recognizes the location information of a cooking zone selected by a user based on the location information of the recognized container and the location information of the plurality of automatic cooking zones. A cooking device that controls the user interface to output guidance information for guiding the placement of a container within an automatic cooking zone based on the container being unrecognized.

10. In paragraph 1, Further comprising a container recognition sensor that recognizes the container, A cooking device in which the processor controls the user interface to output location information of a new container based on the container being recognized when the container is not recognized by the container recognition sensor.

11. In paragraph 1, Further comprising a container recognition sensor that recognizes the container, A cooking device in which the processor controls the user interface to output guidance information for removing the container based on the container not being recognized when the container is recognized by the container recognition sensor.

12. In paragraph 1, Further comprising a container recognition sensor that recognizes the container, The above processor controls the user interface to recognize whether the container has moved based on information detected by the container recognition sensor, and output location information of the moved container and guidance information for guiding the movement of the container based on what is recognized as movement of the container.

13. In the first paragraph, the processor, A cooking device that controls the user interface to output guidance information for guiding movement of the container and position information of a new automatic cooking zone based on recognition of an event in the recognized automatic cooking zone during execution of the automatic cooking mode based on the location information and recipe information of the recognized automatic cooking zone.

14. In paragraph 13, It further includes a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of each of the plurality of coils, The above processor is a cooking device that recognizes the temperature of a coil placed in the recognized automatic cooking zone and controls the occurrence of an event in the recognized automatic cooking zone based on the temperature of the recognized coil.

15. In paragraph 1, It further includes a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of each of the plurality of coils, A cooking device in which the processor reduces the maximum output level of the manual cooking zone based on the current output level in the manual cooking zone provided around the recognized automatic cooking zone, the temperature of the coil arranged in the manual cooking zone, and the cooking time of the manual cooking zone.

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