Cooking apparatus

A microwave oven cooking apparatus including a magnetic card reader from which control data may be read to control cooking operations. Data may first be input by the operator from a keyboard control panel. This data is stored in a first memory. Upon completion of the cooking operation, if successful, the operator depresses a control transferring the data stored in the first memory to a second memory from which it is read onto and stored on a magnetic card. The magnetic card can be then reinserted into the card reader for later input of the same cooking operational data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to cooking apparatuses. More particularly, 
the invention relates to a cooking apparatus provided with a magnetic card 
reader in which cooking control data is written onto a magnetic card and 
cooking operations are affectuated merely by inserting the magnetic card 
into the magnetic card reader. 
Owing to the recent remarkable development of LSI's employed in 
microcomputers, cooking apparatuses such as electronic cooking stoves, 
which are now extensively employed as kitchen equipment, often now 
incorporate a microcomputer device in which cooking procedures are stored 
by some input means such as a keyboard thereby enabling the stove to carry 
out intricate cooking operations. 
In a conventional cooking apparatus of this type, a person operating the 
unit must input cooking control data such as cooking time and temperature 
through an operating input device such as a keyboard whenever cooking is 
to be done. The time, labor and skill required for this data inputting 
operation is often substantial. Furthermore, when a cooking operation has 
been satisfactorily completed, it is often necessary or recommended for 
the operator to manually record the cooking control data in a cooking 
notebook so that he can input the same cooking control data a second time. 
Thus, although a microcomputer has been incorporated into the cooking 
apparatus, it cannot be said that the number of operating steps in cooking 
is reduced or that labor is saved. That is, the potential advantages of 
using a microcomputer have not heretofore been fully utilized. 
In view of the foregoing, an object of the invention is to provide a 
cooking apparatus in which a magnetic card reader is incorporated and 
cooking control data from a satisfactory cooking operation is recorded on 
a magnetic card so that the data inputting operation can be readily 
achieved a second time and in which even if cooking control data is 
erroneously written onto the magnetic card, the data can be readily 
rewritten. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This, as well as other objects of the invention, are met by a cooking 
apparatus for performing cooking in accordance with cooking control data 
supplied by input means including first and second input means comprising 
respectively a keyboard for providing cooking control data and a card 
reader for reading data from a magnetic card, a first memory means for 
temporarily storing input data from the first and second input means, 
second memory means for storing data applied from the first memory means 
as data to be written exclusively onto the magnetic card, writing means 
for writing data to be written exclusively onto the magnetic card in 
response to a predetermined signal, and control means for instructing or 
causing the writing means to perform a data writing operation upon the 
presence of a data writing instruction signal from the keyboard and for 
causing data to be read from the magnetic card when the data writing 
instruction signal is not present. 
There is also to be provided means for producing a signal in response to 
the presence of a card at a predetermined position in the card reader, 
this signal being coupled to the control means in response to which the 
control means produces signals for reading the card. Means is also 
provided for controlling AC power in response to data stored in the first 
memory means. The control means preferably includes means for 
automatically transfering data from the first memory means to second 
memory means upon completion of a cooking operation. The control means may 
further include means for resetting the first memory means upon completion 
of the cooking operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
An external view of a cooking apparatus of the invention is shown in FIG. 
1. The essential components include a cooking apparatus body 1, a keyboard 
section 2 which is one of the input means for inputting cooking control 
data, and a magnetic card reader 3 which is another input means. The 
magnetic card reader 3 has an operating for inserting a magnetic card 4. 
The magnetic card reader is incorporated into the body 1 so that the 
magnetic card insertion opening is below the keyboard section 2. The 
magnetic card reader 3 has a detecting means 3A, shown in and described in 
conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3 which detects, for instance optically, 
insertion of the magnetic card 4. The magnetic card 4 has a magnetic 
stripe 5 upon which is stored the cooking control data. 
The electrical arrangement of the essential components of the cooking 
apparatus according to the invention is as shown in FIG. 2 in which those 
components which have been previously described with reference to FIG. 1 
are therefore similarly numbered and accordingly their detailed 
descriptions will be omitted. 
The cooking control data inputted by the keyboard section 2 is applied to 
an encoder circuit 6 where it is separated into a numerical data signal 
and a function signal. A first memory device, first IC memory 7, 
temporarily stores as cooking data the data which is delivered through the 
encoder circuit 6 from the keyboard section 2. A second memory device, 
second IC memory 8, stores as data to be written onto the magnetic card 4, 
the data which is delivered from the first IC memory 7. Connected between 
the first IC memory 7 and the second IC memory 8 is a set of AND gates 9. 
A control circuit 10 operates to control the flow of data therethrough 
with a control signal applied to an input of each AND gate. A preferred 
example of the control circuit 10 will be described below. The cooking 
apparatus further includes a read/write control circuit 11 for controlling 
the reading and writing operations of the magnetic card reader 3, a set of 
AND gates 12 connected between the second IC memory 8 and a writing head 
13 in the magnetic card reader 3, a reading head 14 for reading data from 
the magnetic card 4 with the data read therefrom being applied to the 
first memory 7, a code conversion circuit 15 for converting into a 
predetermined code the data which is delivered through a signal line SM 
from the IC memory 7, a start circuit 16 which receives the output of the 
conversion circuit 15 to operate (open and close) the switch 19 of a power 
supply circuit 20, and an output control circuit 17 which receives the 
output of the conversion circuit 15 and controls in accordance therewith 
the triode AC switch 18 of the power supply circuit 20. In FIG. 2, the 
heavy arrows indicate the flow of cooking control data while the remaining 
arrow indicate the flow of other signals. 
The data writing and reading operation of the cooking apparatus thus 
constructed will be described. First, the cooking control data is inputted 
by the keyboard section 2. The data thus inputted is applied through the 
signal line SA and the encoder circuit 6 to the first IC memory 7 and is 
temporarily stored at predetermined positions in the memory 7. Thereafter, 
the data writing instruction key of the keyboard section is activated and 
the keyboard output signal is applied through the encoder circuit 6 and 
the signal line SB to the control circuit 10 as a result of which a read 
clock signal and a data read signal are applied through the signal lines 
SC and SD to the first IC memory 7 and the AND gates 9, respectively, by 
the control circuit 10. In response to the application of these signals to 
the IC memory 7, the output memory signal of the IC memory 7 is read out 
onto the signal line SE. In response to the signal applied to the AND 
gates 9 from the control circuit 10, the AND gates 9 are operated. Thus, 
the data stored in the first IC memory 7 is transferred via the signal 
line SF to the second IC memory 8. 
After this operation, the magnetic card 4 may be inserted into the magnetic 
card reader 3. When the insertion of the magnetic card 4 is detected by 
the optical detecting means 3A, the detection signal is applied to the 
control circuit 10 whereupon the control circuit 10 drives the read/write 
control circuit 11 which in turn outputs signals to the signal lines SH 
and SI. In accordance with the output of the control circuit 11, the 
memory 8 outputs a memory signal to the signal line SJ. With the aid of 
the output on the signal line SJ and the signal applied to the signal line 
SI by the circuit 11, the AND gates 12 are operated and the data stored in 
the second IC memory 8 is written (magnetically recorded) through the 
writing head 13 onto the magnetic stripe 5 of the magnetic card 4 
successively in synchronization with the (automatic or manual) return 
movement of the magnetic card 4. 
The data stored on the magnetic card 4 is read as follows. A magnetic card 
4 storing data is inserted into the magnetic card reader 3. When insertion 
of the magnetic card 4 is detected by the detecting means 3A, the 
detection signal is applied to the control circuit 10 via the signal line 
SG and the control circuit 10 determines whether or not the data writing 
instruction key of the keyboard section 2 is activated. When the key is 
not in the "on" state, then the control circuit 10 determines that the 
circuit is in a reading mode and accordingly successively applies the data 
stored in the magnetic stripe 5 to the IC memory 7. The IC memory 7 stores 
the data thus applied. 
As is apparent from the above description, not only reading the cooking 
control data but also writing of the cooking control data can be carried 
out merely by inserting the magnetic card 4 upon which the operations 
described above are automatically executed. Therefore, it is unnecessary 
to record cooking operation data in a cooking notebook or the like. 
Moreover, the sequence of operations is extremely simple. 
In the case where cooking is carried out by inputting data from the 
keyboard section, the data used as cooking control data is that stored in 
the first IC memory 7 after cooking has started. The control circuit 10 is 
so designed that, upon completion of cooking, the data in the first IC 
memory 7 is automatically transferred to the second IC memory 8 after 
which the first IC memory 7 is reset (cleared). Accordingly, if it is 
required to store the present cooking data in the magnetic card 4 after 
the completion of the cooking, the data can be stored by activating the 
appropriate predetermined key of the keyboard section 2 and inserting the 
magnetic card 4 as the required data has been stored in the second IC 
memory 8. 
According to the invention, two data storing IC memories, namely, the first 
IC memory 7 used exclusively for the control data which is employed in 
cooking and the second IC memory 8 used exclusively for the data which is 
to be stored in the magnetic card, are provided. Accordingly, even if data 
were to be erroneously written onto the magnetic card 4, corrected data 
can be stored on the magnetic stripe 5 of the magnetic card 4 merely by 
initiating the writing instruction and inserting the magnetic card 4 once 
again. Thus, the cooking apparatus is free from a potential inconvenience 
which occurs if only one IC memory is provided. Namely, if correct data 
has been stored on the magnetic card, it makes it necessary to reinput the 
data with the keyboard. 
A magnetic card reader according to a so-called "read and alter system" is 
available in which, while data is being written onto the magnetic card, 
the data can simultaneously be checked whether or not the data is correct. 
However, it should be noted that the magnetic card reader of the invention 
is much lower in cost than such a card reader. 
A preferred circuit for the above-described control circuit 10 will be 
described with reference to FIG. 3. The coded cooking control data applied 
through the signal line SB is applied separately to the output lines of a 
decoder circuit 10A, which correspond to the several function key signals 
and a numerical key signal, by the decoder 10A. 
When the data writing instruction key is activated, the read-write 
discriminating signal line SQ is maintained at a high logical level so 
long as the key is activated as a result of which a flip-flop circuit 10B 
is set. The positive logic output of the flip-flop circuit 10B is applied 
to one input terminal of an AND gate 10C which forms a logic product 
between this signal and the output of a card insertion detecting signal 
line SG. At the output of the AND gate 10C is thereby produced the SP 
signal for driving the read/write control circuit 11 of FIG. 2. A data 
delivery control circuit 10H is triggered by the output on the read/write 
discriminating signal line SQ, and a high level signal is provided on the 
output line SD of the data delivery control circuit 10H only when data is 
being delivered from the IC memory 7 to the IC memory 8. 
When the output of the detecting means 3A is applied to the card insertion 
detecting signal line SG under the condition that the data writing 
instruction key is not activated, the reading mode of the magnetic card 4 
is actuated by the operations of an AND circuit 10D, a flip-flop circuit 
10E and an AND circuit 10F, as a result of which the data on the card is 
loaded into the IC memory 7. For this purpose, a shift clock signal is 
provided on the signal line SC through an OR gate 10G. To provide the 
necessary clock pulse signal synchronous with the reading rate of the 
magnetic card 4, the shift clock signal and the clock pulse signal on the 
magnetic stripe 5 which is read from the stripe by the reading head 4b are 
logically multiplied by the AND circuit 10F. 
The operation in the case where, after completion of a cooking operation, 
the cooking data which was used for that cooking operation is 
automatically transferred from the IC memory 7 to the IC memory 8 will 
next be described. The data used for cooking is stored in the IC memory 7. 
This data is inputted into the control circuit 10 through the signal line 
SN after completing the cooking operation whereupon it is detected by the 
cooking completion detecting circuit 10J whether or not the cooking 
operation has been completed. 
For instance, in a case where cooking time is controlled, the remaining 
time for the cooking operation is detected every second. When the time 
remaining reaches zero, the detecting circuit 10J provides a signal to 
trigger the data delivery control circuit 10H whereupon the latter 10H 
provides a high level signal to the signal line SD. As a result, the AND 
gate 9 coupled to the IC memory 8 is opened, the shift clock pulse is 
applied to the signal line SC through the OR gate 10G, and the shift clock 
pulse for the IC memory 8 is provided on the signal line SO. Transfer of 
data between the IC memories can be carried out at any desired and 
practical rate. For this purpose, a clock signal generating circuit 10L is 
provided. Upon completion of the data transfer, the output on the signal 
line SD is set to a low logic level and a clear signal generating circuit 
10N is driven by an AND gate 10M. 
In FIG. 3, reference character 10P designates a flip-flop circuit which is 
set by the cooking completion detecting circuit 10J. After the ccoking 
operation has been completed, and upon completion of the data transfer the 
clear signal generating circuit 10N operates with the output of the 
circuit 10N being applied to the signal line SC through the clock signal 
generating circuit 10L and an AND gate 10Q. Thus, the content of the IC 
memory 7 is cleared using an over-flow mode. 
The control circuit 10 shown in FIG. 3 further includes a signal generating 
circuit 10R which operates to input the numerical data into a 
predetermined portion of the IC memory 7. To accomplish this, the circuit 
10R provides the shift clock signal to the signal line SC through the OR 
gate 10G. 
In FIG. 3, reference characters 3B and 3C designate a device for detecting 
the fact that the magnetic card 4 has been inserted to a predetermined 
position. More specifically, reference characters 3B and 3C designate an 
optical detector and an amplifier, respectively, which form the 
aforementioned detecting device 3A. 
In practice, the above-described IC memories 7 and 8, control circuit 10, 
read/write control circuit 11 and AND gates 9 and 12 may be included in a 
microcomputer and in fact may be implemented with a single chip or other 
single hardwired device. 
As is apparent from the above description, according to the invention, the 
cooking control data inputting operation is considerably simplified over 
that of the prior art, the time, labor and skill required for executing a 
cooking operation are markedly reduced and, accordingly, intricate cooking 
control can be achieved with a very simple operation. Thus, the merits of 
utilizing a microcomputer for controlling a cooking apparatus can be fully 
realized. In addition, the data written onto the magnetic card can be 
readily changed or corrected.