JPH0325041Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] This invention relates to an operating device for a cooking appliance, such as a microwave oven.

[Technical background of the invention]

Conventionally, when it comes to cooking appliances such as microwave ovens,
An operating device is provided on the front of the main body, and the user can input cooking conditions by operating the key input section of this operating device.

[Problems with background technology]

However, in recent years, as microwave ovens have become more multi-functional, the key input section has become equipped with a large number of keys, making it difficult for users to decide which procedure to use to operate the keys. It was hot. Furthermore, when the user completes inputting the cooking conditions, the user may feel unsure whether or not he or she has operated the keys correctly, and furthermore, when the user starts cooking, he or she may feel unsure whether or not the desired cooking is being performed. Ta.

[Purpose of invention]

This idea was devised in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to clarify what procedure the user should use to operate the keys, and what kind of key operations the user performed. An object of the present invention is to provide an operating device that can accurately notify a user of the following information, thereby improving operability and reliability.

[Summary of the idea]

This invention provides an electroluminescent board with a light emitting part at a position corresponding to each key of the key input section, and by switching each light emitting part of this electroluminescent board between blinking and lighting, the key operation procedure is changed. and notifies the state of key operation.

[Example of idea]

An embodiment of this invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a microwave oven. A door 2 is pivotably supported on the front surface of the main body 1 so as to be openable and closable, and an operating device 3 is provided. This operating device 3 includes a display section 4 using a fluorescent display tube, a time/weight setting knob 5, a key input section (flat key section) 6, and an electroluminescent plate (hereinafter referred to as It consists of 7 (abbreviated as EL board). The key input section 6 is constructed by pasting a film with characters and designs printed on the back side of a plastic board and forming contacts, including a strong range key 6a, a weak range key 6b,
A cooking method key consisting of an oven key 6c, a grill key 6d, a temperature setting shift key 6e, 6f, a time/weight key 6g, a temperature key 6h, a start key 6i, and a cooking selection key 6 consisting of a plurality of keys.
It has j. The EL board 7 is attached to the back side of the key input section 6, and a light emitting section (mainly composed of a phosphor such as ZnS) is attached to a position corresponding to any key among the keys of the key input section 6. light emitting layer) 7a,
7b, . . . , 7j, and these light emitting portions respectively emit light when the corresponding pin terminals 8, 8, .

FIG. 3 shows the control circuit. Reference numeral 1 denotes a microcomputer which is a control means, and the above-mentioned operating device 3 is connected to this microcomputer 10. On the other hand, 20 is a commercial AC power supply, and this power supply 20
A magnetron 22 for range cooking is connected via a control switch (relay contact) 11 and a high voltage transformer 21. Further, an upper heater 23 and a lower heater 24 for oven cooking and grill cooking are connected to the power source 20 via control switches 12 and 13, respectively.

Next, the operation in the above configuration will be explained.

First, automatic cooking will be explained with reference to FIG. The user turns on the power and presses a key corresponding to the desired cooking from among the cooking selection keys 6j. Then, the microcomputer 10 stores cooking content information corresponding to the supplied key signal in the memory, and also energizes a predetermined pin terminal 8 of the EL board 7. In this way, the light emitting section 7j
Among the light emitting parts, the light emitting part at the position corresponding to the pressed cooking selection key is turned on, and at the same time, the light emitting part 7i corresponding to the start key 6i is made to blink. In this case, the lighting light and flashing light pass through the corresponding keys, the lighting of the cooking selection key indicates which cooking selection key the user has just pressed, and the flashing of the start key 6i indicates that the user has pressed the cooking selection key. This will notify that the key to be pressed after this is the start key 6i.

Therefore, when the user presses the start key 6i, the microcomputer 10 activates the start key 6i.
Change the light emitting part 7i corresponding to i from blinking to lighting,
At the same time, the lighting of the light emitting section 7j corresponding to the cooking selection key is changed to blinking. Then, the microcomputer 10 turns on the control switch 11 to cause the magnetron 22 to oscillate if the preselected cooking content is related to microwave cooking, and turns on the control switch 12 if the preselected cooking content is related to oven cooking. If it is related to grill cooking, both control switches 12 and 13 are turned on to operate the upper heater 23 and the lower heater 24. In this case, changing the cooking selection key from lit to blinking will notify the user of what type of cooking has been selected, and changing the start key 6i from blinking to lit will notify that cooking has started. becomes.

Next, manual cooking will be explained with reference to FIG. The user turns on the power and presses the cooking method key 6.
Press the key corresponding to the desired cooking from among a, 6b, 6c, and 6d. Then, the microcomputer 10 stores the cooking method information corresponding to the supplied key signal in the memory, and energizes the predetermined pin terminal 8 of the EL board 7. In this way, among the light emitting parts 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d, the light emitting part corresponding to the pressed cooking method key is lit, and at the same time, the light emitting part 7g corresponding to the time/weight key 6g and the temperature key 6h is lit. , 7h, respectively. In this case, the lighting of the cooking method key indicates which cooking method key the user has just pressed, and the blinking of the time/weight key 6g and temperature key 6h indicates which key the user should press next. This will notify you that the time/weight key 6g or the temperature key 6h is pressed.

Therefore, when the user presses the time/weight key 6g or the temperature key 6h and sets the cooking time, food weight, or food temperature, the microcomputer 10 stores the set time information, weight information,
Or store temperature information in memory and
Electricity is applied to predetermined pin terminals 8 of the EL board 7. In this way, among the light emitting parts 7g and 7h corresponding to the time/weight key 6g or the temperature key 6h,
The light emitting section corresponding to the pressed key is changed from flashing to lighting, the light emitting section corresponding to the unpressed key is turned off, and at the same time, the light emitting section 7i corresponding to the start key 6i is made to blink. In this case, the change from blinking to lighting will notify the user which key has just been operated, and will also notify the start key 6i.
The flashing of the button indicates that the key the user should press next is the start key 6i.

Therefore, when the user presses the start key 6i, the microcomputer 10 starts pressing the start key 6i.
Change the light emitting part 7i corresponding to i from blinking to lighting,
At the same time, the light emitting parts 7a, 7 corresponding to the cooking method keys
Change the lighting of b, 7c, or 7d to blinking. If the preselected cooking method is microwave cooking, the microcomputer 10 turns on the control switch 11 to cause the magnetron 22 to oscillate, and if the preselected cooking method is oven cooking, the microcomputer 10 turns on the control switch 12 to operate the upper heater 23. For grill cooking, both control switches 12 and 13 are turned on to operate the upper heater 23 and lower heater 24. In this case, changing the cooking method key from lit to blinking will notify the user what cooking method has been selected, and changing the start key 6i from blinking to lit will notify that cooking has started. becomes.

In this way, an EL board 7 having a light emitting part is provided at a position corresponding to each key of the key input part 6, and each light emitting part of this EL board 7 blinks or lights up according to the operation of the key input part 6, This allows notification of key operation procedures and key operation status, so
What steps should the user follow to operate the keys?
This allows you to know exactly what key operations you have performed and what type of cooking is currently being done, allowing you to perform operations more reliably. Operability and reliability can be improved without distrusting the content. Moreover, since the electroluminescent plate 7 is used as a light emitting body to illuminate each key 6a to 6j, the number of parts is significantly reduced compared to, for example, providing one lamp for each key 6a to 6j. The structure is simple and easy to assemble, and the operating device 3
It has the advantage that it can be made thinner.

In addition, although the above-mentioned example described application to a microwave oven, it is not limited to this and can be similarly applied to other home appliances. In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without changing the gist.

[Effect of idea]

By switching each light-emitting part of the electroluminescent board between blinking and lighting, this device allows the user to determine the procedure for operating the keys and the type of key operations the user performs. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an operating device that can accurately notify the user of the current status, etc., and thereby improve operability and reliability.

Moreover, since an electroluminescent plate is used as the light emitting body to illuminate each key, the number of parts is significantly smaller and the structure is simpler and easier to assemble, compared to, for example, providing one lamp for each key. At the same time, the operating device can be made thinner.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawing shows one embodiment of this invention.
2 is a perspective configuration diagram specifically showing the main parts, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a control circuit, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts for explaining the operation. 3... Operating device, 4... Display unit, 6... Key input unit, 6a to 6j... Various keys, 7... Electroluminescent plate, 7a to 7j... Light emitting unit, 10... Microcomputer (control means) ).

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A key input section consisting of various keys, an electroluminescent board having a light emitting part at a position corresponding to each key of this key input part, and each light emitting part of this electroluminescent board being switched between blinking and lighting. 1. An operating device comprising: a control means for notifying a key operation procedure and a key operation state.