JPH02287018A - Microwave oven - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide ease of use by furnishing a device by which the necessity of an instruction of intermediate operation during an additional heat-cooking is judged according to the length of additional heat-cooking time period calcu lated on the basis of a normal heat-cooking time period that is determined by the state in a microwave oven. CONSTITUTION:When the output of a cooking sensor 11 exceeds reference output, an additional heat-cooking time period T2 is calculated while the elapsed time period form the start of heat-cooking till now is set as a normal heat- cooking time period T1. When the calculated additional heat-cooking item period T1. When the calculated additional heat-cooking time period T2 is zero or less, the heat-cooking is finished with no additional heat-cooking. When the additional heat-cooking time period T2 is large than zero, the additional heat- cooking time period T2 is compared with a specified time period TA, which is set as a minimum heating time period required for the additional heat-cooking to sufficiently take effect after an intermediate operation, and the necessity of the intermediate operation is judged. And, if it is necessary, an alarm 16 is brought in action and an indication is displayed on an indicator 15. This constitution eliminates user's confusion and troubles, and provides ease of use.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a microwave oven, and in particular, a normal heating cooking time is determined based on the internal state detected by a cooking sensor. The present invention relates to a microwave oven in which reheating cooking time is calculated based on the cooking time and instructions for operations during cooking can be given.

(Prior Art) Microwave ovens are known that can perform heating control based on the internal state detected by cooking sensors such as gas sensors and humidity sensors. In this type of microwave oven, the progress of cooking is estimated based on the output of the cooking sensor, and cooking normally occurs from the start of heating until the sensor output reaches a predetermined value, and then Cooking is performed. Referring to FIG. 3, when the sensor output is a predetermined value V,
If the normal heating cooking time to reach the desired temperature is T1, and the additional heating cooking time is T2, the total heating time 'rO required to bring the food to an appropriate cooking state is TO = T1 + T2.
It is expressed as

The additional heating cooking time T2 is generally determined based on the normal heating cooking time T1, and 2T2=NXT1
(N is a heating constant). Depending on the food item 1, it is desirable to calculate the reheating cooking time using the formula T2=Nx (TI+ΔT). FIG. 4 schematically shows the relationship between time TI and time T2 based on these two types of equations.

By the way, it is known that in order to finish the food well, it is sometimes desirable for the user to perform some kind of cooking operation (herein referred to as "mid-way operation") during the cooking of the food. ing. Intermediate operations include [Stir 5 TIR] J, [Rearrange (REA)
T(RANGE)", r Otsu < ri return (TtJR
N 0VER)J, [Cover (SHIELD)J,
[(REMOVE) J, etc. In microwave ovens that allow mid-process operations, the cooking of food is temporarily stopped at an appropriate point, and a warning sound or panel display is displayed to allow mid-process operations. Instructions will be given.If you press the start key after performing some operations according to these instructions, heating will start again and the remaining cooking will be done.

Conventionally, the timing of intermediate operation instructions is after the normal heating cooking time T1 has elapsed, after the predetermined time opening A has elapsed from the start of heating, and after 1/B of the total heating time TO has elapsed. Are known. Values A and B are set to appropriate values depending on the food.

Currently, instructions for intermediate operations are most commonly given after 1/B of the total heating time To has elapsed;
It is said that instructing intermediate operations after one-half of the time TO has elapsed is most effective for finishing the cooking.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) When attempting to carry out instructions for such mid-process operations in a conventional microwave oven that controls heating using a cooking sensor, several inconveniences arise. ing. This will be explained with reference to a case where additional heating cooking is performed for a time calculated using the formula T2=NX (TI+ΔT). Also,
Heating will automatically be temporarily stopped when instructions are given for midway operations.
It is assumed that an instruction is displayed on the display device along with the output of the notification sound. Further, it is assumed that notification by a notification sound is also performed at the end of full heating cooking.

Since 8T is usually set to a negative integer value, if T1+ΔT≦0 is derived from the normal heating cooking time Tl, the additional heating cooking time T2 becomes O. When instructing intermediate operations after the normal heating cooking time T1 has elapsed,
Even when time T2 is O, an instruction for an intermediate operation is issued after time T1 has elapsed. As a result, even if the operator performs an intermediate operation according to the instructions, a notification sound indicating the end of heating is output at the same time as the heating starts, which confuses the user.

When instructing an intermediate operation after the predetermined time A has elapsed, when the entire heating time To becomes smaller than the time A, the intermediate operation instruction and the notification of the end of heating occur consecutively in the same way, and the end of heating is notified. People will be confused.

In addition, when instructing an intermediate operation after 1/B of the total heating time To has elapsed, if the normal heating cooking time T1 is longer than TO/B, the intermediate operation instruction is issued at the end of normal heating cooking. It will be done. Calculated additional heating cooking time T2
There is no problem if the time T2 is long, but if the time T2 is extremely short, for example T2 = 10 seconds, even if the heating is restarted after an intermediate operation, the heating will end immediately, which may be a problem for the user. It becomes a nuisance.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned current situation, and its purpose is to provide an instruction for an intermediate operation and a notification of the completion of heating continuously or without any interruption. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a microwave oven that can avoid confusion and trouble for people.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In the microwave oven of the present invention, the normal heating cooking time is determined based on the internal state detected by the cooking sensor, and the additional heating cooking time is determined based on the normal heating cooking time. This is a microwave oven that can give instructions for mid-way operations during cooking, and when cooking is performed where mid-way operations are desired, the calculated additional heating time is The apparatus is provided with means for determining whether or not to issue an instruction for an intermediate operation during execution of reheating cooking based on the above-mentioned information, thereby achieving the above object.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the determining means determines that an instruction for an intermediate operation is not necessary when the calculated reheating cooking time is smaller than a predetermined time, and When the time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, it is determined that the instruction for the intermediate operation is to be given at an appropriate time during the execution of the reheating cooking, including the start of the reheating cooking.

(Example) The invention will now be described with reference to examples.

A schematic block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. The microwave oven shown in FIG. 1 is equipped with a cooking sensor 11 such as a gas sensor and a humidity sensor. The output of the cooking sensor 11 is input to the microcomputer 12 via an A/D converter (not shown) or the like. Microcomputer 12
Also, signals from the keyboard 13 including a start key, heating mode selection key, etc. are input.

The microcomputer 12 is a well-known one, and the CP
Equipped with U, RAM5 ROM, etc. CPU is RO
By executing the program written in M, data from the cooking sensor 11 and keyboard 13 can be imported, the imported data can be processed, and the heating control relay 14 and display device can be activated based on the processed data. 15
and controls the alarm 16 and the like.

The heating control relay 14 operates a microwave heater and a heater heater (not shown) according to instructions from the microcomputer 12.
etc. Adjust the output. Further, the display device 15 displays the time, remaining time until the end of heating, etc., and the alarm 16 notifies instructions for intermediate operations, end of heating, etc. with a buzzer sound.

The procedure for cooking food in the microwave oven of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 is for issuing an instruction for an intermediate operation at one-half of the total heating time TO.

When the microcomputer 12 detects that the start key provided on the keyboard 13 has been pressed, the heating control relay 14 operates according to the instructions from the microcomputer 12, and cooking of the food starts using a microwave heater or the like. Steps S1 and S2). After the start of heating cooking, the elapsed time TI from the start of heating cooking is measured, and the output V of the cooking sensor 11 is measured. ut and a preset reference output Vk are compared (step S3~
S5). The measurement of the time Tl and the output comparison are the output (■) of the cooking sensor 11. This continues until ut exceeds the reference output Vk. The output v out of the cooking sensor 11 is normally the third
As shown in the figure, it is assumed that the value of vout increases with the passage of time from the start of cooking and reflects the cooking status of the food. The reference output Vk corresponds to a food cooking situation suitable for transitioning from normal heating cooking to reheating cooking.

When the output V out of the cooking sensor 11 exceeds the reference output Vk, the additional heating cooking time T2 is calculated using the formula NX (TI + 8T), with the elapsed time from the start of heating cooking to this point being the normal heating cooking time Tl. is calculated (step 36
).

The calculated reheating cooking time T2 is first compared with O (step 37). If the reheating cooking time T2 is less than or equal to O, reheating is not performed and the heating cooking of the food ends (step 513). In this way, when additional heating cooking is not performed, all heating cooking ends without any intermediate operation instructions being issued. As a result, a situation in which heating ends immediately after restarting heating after an intermediate operation can be avoided.

If the additional heating cooking time T2 is greater than 0, the time T
2 is smaller than a predetermined time TA (step S8).

The time TA indicates the minimum heating cooking time after the intermediate operation necessary for the additional heating cooking after the intermediate operation to exhibit a sufficient effect, and is preferably set to about 30 seconds. In general, it is known that the mid-way operation is effective when additional heating cooking is performed for about 30 seconds or more afterwards. Therefore, for example, when cooking a food whose total heating time TO is 3 minutes, if an intermediate operation is instructed after 2 minutes and 15 seconds of normal heating, and then 45 seconds of additional heating is performed. In some cases, mid-way operation is effective, but heating ends immediately after mid-way operation, or even if heating is performed, it is
If the cooking time is less than a second, the effect of the intermediate operation on the finished cooking will be small and will only cause trouble to the user.

If the time T2 is smaller than the time TA, additional heating cooking is performed following normal heating cooking without giving instructions for intermediate operations (Status 7'S 10-312
). During the reheating cooking period, the calculated reheating cooking time T2 is gradually reduced, and heating ends when the time T2 reaches O (step 513). Even when the reheating cooking time T2 is short in this way, no instruction for intermediate operations is issued. Therefore, the inconvenience that heating is completed in a short period of time when heating is started again after performing an intermediate operation is eliminated. In addition, in such cases, even if you forcibly intervene in the middle of cooking, the necessary cooking time will not be secured, so the effect of the half-way operation is weak, and even if you omit the middle of the cooking operation, it will not support cooking. does not survive.

If the time T2 is longer than the time TA, the additional heating cooking time T2 and the normal heating cooking time T1 are compared (step S9). If time T2 is less than time T1, heating is stopped by a command from microcomputer 12 (step 514). In addition, the alarm 16 notifies the intermediate operation instruction with a buzzer sound, and the intermediate operation instruction is displayed on the display device 15 (step S15.516).

After performing the intermediate operation, the user presses the start key (step 517). Then, additional heating cooking is performed based on the calculated additional heating cooking time T2 (step S
IX~513). The reheating cooking time T2 at this time continues for more than the time TA (for example, more than 30 seconds). As a result, sufficient heating net and machining time can be ensured after intermediate operations.

Originally, instructions for intermediate operations should be issued when half of the total cooking time To (-TI+72) has elapsed, but since the time To is usually not known until the cooking is finished, For convenience, instructions for intermediate operations are usually issued after the completion of heating cooking.

If the time T2 exceeds the time Tl, that is, if the reheating cooking time T2 is longer than the normal heating cooking time T1, the total heating cooking time TO is calculated and reheating cooking is started (steps 318 to 519). . During the reheating period, the countdown of time T2 and the countup of time TI are continued until time TI reaches one-half of the total cooking time TO (steps 320-522).

After that, heating is stopped, and the alarm 16 and display device 15
An instruction for an intermediate operation is issued by the operation of (steps 314 to 516). Perform intermediate operations according to this command,
When the start key is pressed (step 317), the remaining reheating cooking is performed (steps 310 to 513). The remaining reheating cooking time is TOX (1-1/2), and the food can receive the ideal heating of TOXI/2 after the intermediate operation.

As described above, in this embodiment, if the reheating cooking time T2 is less than the predetermined time TA (for example, 30 seconds), no instructions for intermediate operations are issued. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation where the heating is terminated immediately after restarting heating due to an intermediate operation, which confuses the user. Also, in such cases,
Intervening mid-way operations have little effect on the finish of cooking, so even if mid-way operations are omitted, there will be virtually no adverse effects on the cooking surface.

If the timing for instructing midway operations is generally set to 1/B of the total cooking time To, instead of comparing time T2 and time T1 (step S9) in the flowchart of FIG. First, time T1 and time TOXI/B can be compared.

Furthermore, even if other methods are used, such as giving instructions for mid-way operations after time T1 has elapsed or after a predetermined time A has elapsed from the start of cooking, it is possible to do so without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is obvious that this problem can be addressed by modifying the embodiments described above.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, it is possible to omit intermediate operations that are not very meaningful for the finish of food, and the operability is the same as above, and it is possible to confuse the user such that heating ends immediately after an intermediate operation. Provided is a microwave oven that can avoid situations where this occurs. The microwave oven of the present invention can select an appropriate intervention timing depending on the cooking progress of the food, especially when instructing an operation during the cooking process, and can improve the finished state of the food.

4. of. Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment, and Fig. 3 shows heating time in a microwave oven and cooking sensors. A graph for explaining the relationship with the output and heating control using the output, FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the normal heating cooking time and the additional heating cooking time.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... Cooking sensor, 12... Microcomputer, 13... Keyboard, 14... Heating control relay 5... Display device, 6... Alarm.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Normal heating cooking time is determined based on the internal state detected by the cooking sensor, additional heating cooking time is calculated based on the normal heating cooking time, and mid-way operations are performed during cooking. A microwave oven that can give instructions for reheating based on the calculated amount of reheating cooking time when cooking is performed where it is desirable to perform an operation midway through cooking. A microwave oven equipped with means for determining whether or not to issue an instruction for an operation during operation. 2. The determining means determines that instructions for intermediate operations are not required when the calculated reheating cooking time is less than the predetermined time, and when the calculated reheating cooking time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time. 2. The microwave oven according to claim 1, wherein in a certain case, it is determined to issue an instruction for an intermediate operation at an appropriate time during execution of reheating cooking, including at the start of reheating cooking.