HEATING COOKER

• US 20120118281A1
• Filed: 07/02/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Shigeoka, Takehiko, Kataoka, Akira, Matsui, Eiji
• Granted Patent: US 8,912,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/083 on tops, hot plates
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/1218 with arrangements using lights for heating zone state indication

Abstract

A heating cooker of the present invention includes a plurality of light emitting indicator units 25. The light emitting indicator units 25 each have a temperature sensing unit 29 that senses an ambient temperature of a light emission source 28. Therefore, deterioration of the light emission source 28 of each of the light emitting indicator units 25 can be suppressed to realize a further reduction in thickness, and to improve visibility of the indicator sheet 30.

Claims

1. A heating cooker, comprising:

a box-like body having an opening at top portion of the body;

a top board that is provided to close the opening of the body;

a heating unit that is provided inside the body and that heats a heating target cooking vessel placed on the top board;

a plurality of light emitting indicator units that are provided beside the heating unit; and

a control unit that controls the heating unit and the light emitting indicator units,

wherein

the light emitting indicator units each have;

a light emission source;

a temperature sensing unit that senses an ambient temperature of the light emission source;

a case that stores the light emission source, the case having an opening at top portion of the case facing the top board; and

an indicator sheet that is provided to close the opening of the case, wherein

the indicator sheet includes;

a light transmitting portion that passes light of the light emission source; and

a light blocking portion that is provided at a position away from the heating unit than the light transmitting portion is, the light blocking portion blocking the light of the light emission source, and

wherein

the light emission source is disposed below the light blocking portion.

2. The heating cooker according to claim 1, wherein

when there is any light emitting indicator unit whose temperature sensed by the temperature sensing unit becomes equal to or higher than a reference temperature out of a plurality of the light emitting indicator units, the reference temperature being equal to or lower than a heat resistant temperature of the light emission source, the control unit reduces a current for energizing the light emission source of the light emitting indicator unit.

3. The heating cooker according to claim 1, wherein

when there is any light emitting indicator unit whose temperature sensed by the temperature sensing unit becomes equal to or higher than a reference temperature out of a plurality of the light emitting indicator units, the reference temperature being equal to or lower than a heat resistant temperature of the light emission source, the control unit reduces an output of the heating unit.

5. The heating cooker according to claim 1, wherein

at least one light emitting indicator unit out of a plurality of the light emitting indicator units has a light blocking wall between the light transmitting portion of the indicator sheet and the light emission source as seen from a height direction, the light blocking wall blocking the light of the light emission source.

6. The heating cooker according to claim 5, wherein

a clearance that passes the light of the light emission source is provided between the light blocking wall and the indicator sheet.

7. The heating cooker according to claim 5, wherein

the light blocking wall has a heat insulating characteristic.

8. The heating cooker according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit senses a position of the heating target cooking vessel placed on the top board based on a difference among temperatures sensed by the temperature sensing units of the light emitting indicator units.

9. The heating cooker according to claim 8, wherein

when the heating target cooking vessel is disposed as being displaced from a position at which the heating target cooking vessel is to be placed, the control unit allows a light emission source of at least one light emitting indicator unit out of a plurality of the light emitting indicator units to emit light so as to report to a user.

10. The heating cooker according to claim 9, wherein

when the heating target cooking vessel is disposed as being displaced from the position at which the heating target cooking vessel is to be placed, the control unit allows the light emission source of at least one light emitting indicator unit out of a plurality of the light emitting indicator units to emit light in a color being different from a color that is emitted when the heating target cooking vessel is disposed at the position at which the heating target cooking vessel is to be placed.

4. (canceled)