HEATING COOKER AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME

Abstract: To present a heating cooker that is easy to use, not requiring cook book or instruction manual, and its operating method, relating to a heating cooker for displaying the cooking procedure, types of materials, amount of materials, heating method, heating time, etc. The constitution comprises cooking setting keys for selecting the cooking method for cooking the materials, cooking time setting keys for entering the cooking time, cooking selection keys for selecting the kind of cooking such as delicatessen as mentioned in the cook book, memory means for storing the materials necessary for cooking, amount, cooking tools, all cooking methods and required time, display means for displaying the cooking menu, cooking time, preparation method and cooking method, and operating method of heating cooker when cooking, and control means for controlling by identifying the necessary information for each cooking selected by the cooking selection key and showing in the display means.

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a heating cooker, and more particularly to a heater cooker comprising a microcomputer and its operating method. BACKGROUND ART Heating cookers are recently installed in almost all households, and appear to be used fully at home. Owing to the progress in sensor technology, automation of cooking is promoted, and it was believed that easy-to-use heating cookers be presented. Actually, however, the cooking is prepared by looking up in the cook book, and the preparation is over, the user must check up the instruction manual of the heating cooker to understand the method of operation, and cook by the heating cooker. In particular, the high frequency heating cooker such as microwave oven is rarely used in preparation of so-called delicatessen, and is used only for "heating" purpose. When cooking a traditional menu by the microwave oven, the cooking method by the microwave oven is not known, and the user must look up in the cook book. It results in botheration. Besides, kinds of dishes that can be cooked by the microwave oven are not known to the public. It is hence necessary to inform the user of the kinds of dishes that can be cooked by the microwave oven. The operating method of the microwave oven is dramatically simplified thanks to the user of the barcode and the like. Therefore, those who are familiar with the microwave oven can use the microwave oven without referring the instruction manual. However, most people used to cook by looking up in the cook book to know the kind of materials, amount of materials, and kind of dishes. That is, the user has decided the cooking method and cooking time using the microwave oven by experience or by consulting the cook book. Further, when the method of operation of the microwave oven is not known, the user generally operated by referring to the instruction manual. Even in such a case, the user needs a considerable skill, and most users are not utilizing the microwave oven to the full. To solve such problems, automated heating cookers having multiple sensors are proposed. That is, the user has only to select the cooking menu, and can cook. In this case, the user need not know the cooking method or cooking time. Even in such automated heating cooker, the user must refer to the instruction manual to know the operating method. Moreover, as for the materials to be prepared, amount of materials, and method of preparation, most users must consult the cook book. Therefore, while looking at the cook book during preparation of materials, the cook book may be soiled and stained. On the other hand, for the purpose of facilitating the operation of the heating cooker, the barcode is used. That is, by the input of cooking menu and cooking time through the barcode, a uniform operation is realized, and the heating cooker that can be used without looking up in the instruction manual is presented. Even in such barcode type heating cooker, however, the user must consult the cook book to know the materials to be prepared, amount of materials, and method of preparation. Therefore, due to the trouble of looking up in the cook book, only few users can utilize the heating cooker to the full. Besides, while the heating cooker is used for many years, the accompanying cook book is used up earlier. In the barcode type, the device for reading the barcode may be soiled, or the barcode may be lost. Summing up, the following problems must be solved in the conventional heating cooker that requires the cook book and instruction manual. (1) The greater the number of dishes to be cooked, the more difficult is the setting of cooking method and cooking time depending on the experience. If attempted to cook without consulting the cook book or instruction manual, it is likely to set wrong cooking method or time, which involves a risk of resulting in failure in cooking. On the other hand, when cooking while consulting the cook book and instruction manual, it is very bothersome to look up all of cooking procedure and operating method of heating cooker. Besides, the book may be stained, or the cooking may be done by the hands holding the book, and it may be unclean. (2) If cooking is done automatically by using the sensor, all process of cooking including preparation cannot be done automatically. If all cooking may be done automatically, it is extremely difficult for the user to complete one dish by combination of plural cooking menus out of numerous automatic menus. The cooker which can cook automatically does not prepare the materials and necessary amounts automatically. On every occasion of cooking, the user must look up in the cook book. Therefore, if the heating cooker can be used for many years, the cook book may be damaged or lost on the way. As a result, cooking may not be done. (3) In the heating cooker using the barcode, the cook book is indispensable, and the use of the barcode and cook book is very bothersome for the user. Reference may be made to EP-A-0454143 which describes a microwave oven having a control unit with a memory to control heat cooking process according to a cooking program for a menu name selected. The control unit includes a liquid crystal display on which character data or image data are displayed as cooking information in plural display areas and a transparent electrode switch sheet in which are arranged plural transparent electrode switches. Keys of the control unit are formed by overlaying the transparent electrode switch sheet to the liquid crystal display such that each electrode switch of the overlaid transparent electrode switch sheet corresponds to the position of one of the plural display areas of the liquid crystal display. In the display area of each key is displayed the character information or image information stored as cooking information in the memory. When a user refers to the character information or image information shown in the display area of the key and operates the key required to select a desired menu name, the transparent electrode switch corresponding to the operated key operates, thereby executing a procedure corresponding to the character information or image information displayed in that display area, and the menu name desired by the user is selected. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION In the light of the above background, it would be desirable to present a heating cooker that can be used easily by any user without having to look up in the cook book or instruction manual, and its operating method. In one aspect, the invention provides a heating cooker comprising: heating means for heating materials, memory means storing plural pieces of information, including a cooking guide containing step-by-step instructions to the user for preparing and cooking a meal using the heating cooker, plural input means for entering selectively a plurality of inputs to be input by a user according to said step-by-step instructions; display means for displaying at least one of said plural pieces of information, and control means for conducting plural controls including identification of said inputted information, control of operation, control of display, and control of heating, wherein said control means identifies the inputted information entered by one of said plural input means, and transmits information to said display means for urging a next execution step to the user from said step-by-step instructions, said display means displays the information for urging said next execution step to the user, and said heating means executes heating when the user manipulates a predetermined input means out of said plural input means, according to said information urging the next execution step to the user. In this constitution, cooking can be completed by preparation and operation according to the instruction shown on the display means. Therefore, it is not necessary to refer to the cook book or instruction manual of the heating cooker. As a result, the heating cooker that can be used easily and simply can be presented. In particular, preferably, the heating means is high frequency electric power. Preferably, the plural input means include cooking selection keys for setting the cooking menu. Preferably, the plural input means include cooking setting keys for setting the cooking method. Preferably, the plural input means include cooking time keys for setting the cooking time. Preferably, the plural input means include a forward key, and by the manipulation of the forward key, the information urging next execution to the user is displayed in the display means. In particular, the number of characters displayed on one screen of the display means is a limited and specified number, and when the number of characters in the one piece of information displayed in the display means is more than the limited and specified number, the one piece of information is displayed continuously in the display means in a flowing manner. Moreover, preferably, the plural input means include a pause/restart key, and by manipulation of the pause/restart key, the flowing display of the one piece of information is stopped temporarily, and by further manipulation of the pause/restart key, the stopped information is displayed in a flowing manner. Preferably, he plural input means include a return key, and by manipulation of the return key, the information displayed before the information being displayed at the present can be displayed again in the display means. Preferably, the other input means is a start key. In this constitution, the above effects are further intensified. An operating method of a heating cooker of the invention comprises the following steps: (a) using a heating cooker comprising: heating means for heating materials, memory means storing plural pieces of information, including a cooling guide containing step-by-step instructions to a user for preparing and cooking a meal using the heating cooker, plural input means for entering selectively a plurality of inputs to be input by a user according to said step-by-step instructions, display means for displaying at least one of said plural pieces of information, and control means for conducting plural controls including identification of said inputted information, control of operation, control of display, and control of heating, (b) manipulating first input means out of said plural input means, and displaying, by manipulation of the first input means at this time, desired first information out of said plural pieces of information stored in said memory means, and second information urging a next execution step from said step-by-step instructions, to the user, in said display means, (c) manipulating second input means out of said plural input means according to said second information urging the next execution step to the user, and displaying third information and fourth information urging next a execution step to the user, out of said step-by-step instructions stored in said memory means, in said display means, and (d) manipulating third input means out of said plural input means, according to said fourth information urging the next execution step to the user, and executing heating by said heating means. In this constitution, cooking can be completed by preparation and operation according to the instruction shown on the display means. Therefore, it is not necessary to refer to the cook book or instruction manual of the heating cooker. As a result, the user can cook by using the heating cooker easily and simply. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a control panel of a heating cooker in an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is an example of a guide display shown in display means of heating cooker of the invention, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a main body of a heating cooker in an embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a system of a heating cooker in an embodiment of the invention. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a heating cooker of the invention is described below. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a heating cooker in an embodiment of the invention. In Fig. 3, a door 31 is installed at the front side of the main body 30 of a heating cooker, and an operation unit 18 is installed beside the door 31. Display means 5 is disposed at the upper side of the operation unit 18. At the rear side of the operation unit 18, control means 19 is disposed. Memory means 21 is electrically connected to the control means 19. A heating source 20 is installed in at least one position of the upper, lower or lateral side of a main body 3. The heating source 20 is not particularly limited, but, for example, high frequency power, resistance type heater, or far infrared ray may be used. The memory means 21 includes a microcomputer function, and stores plural pieces of information including plural cooking menus, materials necessary for cooking them, amount of materials, cooking tools, all cooking methods to be employed, cooking time, operating procedure, heating instruction, and display instruction. The operation unit 18 includes plural input means for manipulating. The display means 5 shows, for example, the cooking menu, cooking time, preparation and cooking procedure, and operating method of the heating cooker. The control means 19 identifies the information to be shown in the display means 5, or executes heating, according to the input to the operation unit 18. Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a heating cooker according to an embodiment of the invention. In Fig. 4, the control means 19 sends the information showing, for example, what kind of heating to be executed to the heating unit 20 on the basis of the input means of the operation unit 18. The control means 19 further searches and selects the display data of the cooking guide stored in the memory means 21 according to the input means of the operation unit 18, and sends the information showing, for example, what display is to be shown to the display unit 5. That is, the control means identifies the desired information entered in one input means out of plural input means of the operation unit 18 from plural pieces of information stored in the memory means 21, and transmits the information to be executed next by the user to the display means 5. The display means 5, on the basis of the information from the memory means 21 and control means 19, displays the necessary information. The control means 19 is connected to an AC power source 22 through a power supply unit 24. Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a control panel of an embodiment of the operation unit 18 shown in Fig. 3. In Fig. 1, desired information is shown in the display means 5. However, the number of characters shown in the display means 5 is limited. Therefore, all of desired information is not displayed simultaneously in the display means 5. If there are many characters to be displayed, the characters are displayed on the screen in a flowing manner. In the lower part of the control panel, plural keys of guide function 33 are provided. The Recipe key is a cooking selection key 1 for selecting the type of cooking. Types of cooking include, for example, delicatessen, cookie, curry, stew, and other cooking menus. Such cooking menus are preliminarily stored in the memory means.21. The Stop/Start key is a display pause/restart key 2 for stopping the desired display or feeding to next display. The FWD key is a forward key 3 for advancing the guide display of a group of cooking procedure to the guide display of next group of procedure. The REV key is a return key 4 for returning the shown guide display to the previous display. At the lower side of the display means 5, cooking time setting keys 7 having plural keys are disposed. The cooking time setting keys 7 control the cooking time. At the lower side of the cooking time setting keys 7, there are cooking setting keys 6 having plural keys. The cooking setting keys 6 control the application power of the heating means 20. Incidentally, the characters shown in the display means 5 are displayed in a flowing manner, but alternatively, it may be also designed to display the desired display by dividing into plural screens by screen changeover operation. The action and operating method of the heating cooker of the invention are described below by referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. An embodiment of the display data displayed in the display means 5 is shown in Fig. 2. (1) First, by pressing the cooking selection key 1, one menu out of plural cooking menus is selected. For example, when the selected menu is the vegetable curry, as shown in the first display in Fig. 2, the selected menu name "VEGETABLE□CURRY□□□ □□□□" and the key input urging display for moving forward "--PRESS□Δ□FORWARD□□□□□□" are shown. In Fig. 2, meanwhile, "D" means a space and "Δ" denotes FWD key. (2) Next, press the forward key 3. Consequently, as in the second display 10 in Fig. 2, the item to be prepared is displayed. That is, it instructs "Put 1 onion, sliced, and 2 spoonfuls of green curry paste in a 3L size dish," and "Press forward key 3 when ready." (3) When the materials are ready, press forward key 3. As a result, the third display 11 tells "Cook for 2 minutes in high power." (4) Accordingly, by pressing the High key 6a of the cooking setting keys 6, the high power is set. As a result, the fourth display 16 appears. The fourth display 16 urges to "Enter cooking time." (5) The press the 1Min key 7b twice out of the cooking time setting keys 7. As a result, the cooking time of 2 minutes is set. Then the fifth display 17 appears. The fifth display 17 urges to "Press cooking start key." (6) Then press the start key 35. As a result, cooking starts, and cooking is finished in 2 minutes. When the cooking is over, the sixth display 12 appears. The sixth display tells what to do next. That is, the sixth display 12 instructs to "Add 3 cups of sliced vegetable, 440 grams of dried peas, 1 cup of coconut milk, 1 spoonful of lemon juice, and 1 spoonful of soy sauce." It also urges to "Press forward key" when ready. (7) When the materials are prepared, press the forward key 3. As a result, the seventh display 13 appears. The seven display 13 tells to "Cook for 4 minutes in high power." (8) By pressing the High key 6a of the cooking setting keys 6, the high power is set. As a result, the eighth display 36 appears. The eighth display urges to "Enter cooking time." (9) The press the 1Min key 7b four times out of the cooking time setting keys 7. As a result, the cooking time of 4 minutes is set. Then the ninth display 37 appears. The ninth display 37 urges to "Press cooking start key." (10) Then press the start key 35. As a result, cooking starts, and cooking is finished in 4 minutes. When the cooking is over, the tenth display 14 appears. The tenth display 14 instructs to "Sprinkle is 1/2 cup of crushed nuts" and "After that, press forward key." (11) When the materials are prepared, press the forward key 3. As a result, the eleventh display 15 appears. The eleven display 15 means "Cooking is over" and tells "ENJOY YOUR MEAL." By this operation and procedure, the cooking is finished. As described herein, the user has only to manipulate to select the desired cooking menu, and prepare materials and execute operation of heating means according to the instruction shown in the display means. That is, without referring to the guide book of cooking or instruction manual of the heating cooker, the procedure from preparation till completion of cooking can be understood. Therefore, even an inexperienced person can cook easily by using the heating cooker. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described herein, the following effects are brought about by the heating cooker of the invention. (1) It is possible to cook without referring to the cook book or guide book of cooking or the instruction manual of the heating cooker. That is, the cooking can be completed by the preparation and operation according to the instruction shown in the display means. Therefore, even an inexperienced person can cook easily and simply. (2) It is not necessary to read the cook book or instruction manual stained by cooking materials. Hence, clean cooking is realized. (3) Since the memory means has the function of microcomputer, and includes cooking guides for numeral types of cooking, anyone can prepare complicated cooking easily. (4) It eliminates the trouble of "consulting the cook book, guide book of cooking, or instruction manual of heating cooker." (5) A simple and convenient heating cooker that can be used by an inexperienced person can be presented.

Claims: A heating cooker comprising: heating means (20) for heating materials, memory means (21) storing plural pieces of information, including a cooking guide containing step-by-step instructions to the user for preparing and cooking a meal using the heating cooker, plural input means (18) for entering selectively a plurality of inputs to be input by a user according to said step-by-step instructions; display means (5) for displaying at least one of said plural pieces of information, and control means (19) for conducting plural controls including identification of said inputted information, control of operation, control of display, and control of heating, wherein said control means (19) identifies the inputted information entered by one of said plural input means (18), and transmits information to said display means for urging a next execution step to the user from said step-by-step instructions, said display means (5) displays the information for urging said next execution step to the user, and said heating means (20) executes heating when the user manipulates a predetermined input means (35) out of said plural input means, according to said information urging the next execution step to the user. A heating cooking of claim 1, wherein said heating means (20) is high frequency electric power. A heating cooker of claim 1 or 2, wherein said plural input means include a cooking guide selection key (1) for selecting the cooking guide from a plurality of cooking guides. A heating cooker of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein said plural input means include at least one cooking method selection key (6) for selecting the cooking method. A heating cooker of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said plural input means include at least one cooking time key (7) for setting the cooking time. A heating cooker of any preceding claim, wherein said plural input means include a forward key (3), and by the manipulation of said forward key (3), said information urging a next execution step to the user is displayed in said display means (5). A heating cooker of any preceding claim, wherein the number of characters displayed on one screen of said display means is a limited and specified number, and when the number of characters in said one piece of information displayed in said display means is more than said limited and specified number, said one piece of information is displayed continuously in said display means in a flowing manner. A heating cooker of claim 7, wherein said plural input means include a pause/restart key (2), and by manipulation of said pause/restart key (2), the flowing display of said one piece of information is stopped temporarily, and by further manipulation of said pause/restart key (2), said stopped information is displayed in a flowing manner. A heating cooker of any preceding claim, wherein said plural input means include a return key (4), and by manipulation of said return key (4), the information displayed before the information being displayed at the present can be displayed again in said display means (5). A heating cooker of any preceding claim, wherein said predetermined input means is a start key (35). An operating method of a heating cooker comprising the steps of: (a) using a heating cooker comprising: heating means (20) for heating materials, memory means (21) storing plural pieces of information, including a cooling guide containing step-by-step instructions to a user for preparing and cooking a meal using the heating cooker, plural input means (18) for entering selectively a plurality of inputs to be input by a user according to said step-by-step instructions, display means (5) for displaying at least one of said plural pieces of information, and control means (19) for conducting plural controls including identification of said inputted information, control of operation, control of display, and control of heating, (b) manipulating first input means (1) out of said plural input means, and displaying, by manipulation of the first input means at this time, desired first information out of said plural pieces of information stored in said memory means, and second information urging a next execution step from said step-by-step instructions, to the user, in said display means, (c) manipulating second input means (3) out of said plural input means according to said second information urging the next execution step to the user, and displaying third information and fourth information urging next a execution step to the user, out of said step-by-step instructions stored in said memory means, in said display means, and (d) manipulating third input means (35) out of said plural input means, according to said fourth information urging the next execution step to the user, and executing heating by said heating means. An operating method of a heating cooker of claim 11, wherein said heating means (20) is high frequency electric power. An operating method of a heating cooker of claims 11 or 12 further comprising a step of manipulating fourth input means (6) out of said plural input means according to one of said second information and said fourth information urging the next execution step to the user, and displaying fifth information urging a further next execution step to the user in said display means. An operating method of a heating cooker of claims 11, 12 or 13, wherein the number of characters displayed on one screen of said display means is a limited and specified number, when the number of characters in said one piece of information displayed in said display means is more than said limited and specified number, said one piece of information is displayed continuously in said display means in a flowing manner, fifth input means (2) out of said plural input means is manipulated, and by manipulation of said fifth input means, the flowing display of said one piece of information is stopped temporarily, and said fifth input means (2) is manipulated again, and said stopped information is displayed in a flowing manner. An operating method of a heating cooker of claims 11, 12, 13 or 14, wherein sixth input means (4) out of said plural input means is manipulated, and, at this time, the information display before the information displayed at the present is displayed again in said display means (5).

Inventors: ISHIZAKI EMIKO, OKUI NOBORU, ISHIZAKI, EMIKO, OKUI, NOBORU
Applicants: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND CO LTD, MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: F24C7
IPC codes: H05B6