JP7417406B2 - How to install a kitchen system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for installing a kitchen system .

Conventional kitchen systems are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2. These kitchen systems include a kitchen room, a heating cooker, and a range hood. The heating cooker has a top plate and a heating section. The heating section is provided on the top plate and can heat an object to be heated such as a pot. The range hood is installed above the cooking device in the kitchen and provides ventilation using a built-in ventilation fan.

The range hood is equipped with a camera as a means of taking pictures. The camera is capable of photographing a first range including the heating section within the top plate. The camera is connected to a control device having an image processing section. The image processing unit processes the image taken by the camera and recognizes the outline of the heated object.

The control device may include a notification section and a firepower adjustment section. The notification unit provides notification based on the contour of the heated object. The heating power adjustment section adjusts the heating power of the heating section based on the contour of the object to be heated. In this way, this kitchen system can achieve both cooking performance and safety.

JP 2019-78439 Publication JP 2019-82302 Publication

However, when the kitchen system is put into practical use, at least one of the kitchen room and the range hood is equipped with a light source, and the light source illuminates the object to be heated and the heating section. According to practical tests carried out by the inventors, depending on the position of the camera and the light source, the image of the first range photographed by the photographing means may be inappropriate, causing a problem in image processing by the image processing section. In this case, it becomes difficult to put cooking efficiency and safety of the kitchen system into practical use.

In other words, if the heating cooker is a gas stove and the trivet is included in the first range, if the reflected image of the light source is reflected in the first range, it may be difficult to determine whether the trivet is installed correctly or not. This results in judgment. In addition, if the heating cooker is an IH stove, if the reflected image of the light source is reflected in the area where the object to be heated is heated, it may be incorrectly determined that there is a foreign object that does not actually exist. There is a risk that heating may become impossible due to this, or that heating may be permitted due to an erroneous determination that there is an object to be heated that does not actually exist.

On the other hand, if the light source is provided remotely from the object to be heated and the heating section so as not to cause problems in image processing by the image processing section, the object to be heated and the heating section will be under-illuminated. In this case, it is difficult for the photographing means to photograph the object to be heated or the heating section with sufficient illuminance, which impairs the cooking performance and safety of the kitchen system. In addition, the brightness of the object to be heated and the heating section is low, making it difficult for people to visually recognize them while cooking, which poses a problem to people's cooking.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a kitchen system that can improve the practical application of cooking performance and safety, and also allows people to suitably cook food. is an issue that needs to be solved.

The kitchen system of the first teaching includes a kitchen room,
A heating cooker having a top plate and a heating section provided on the top plate and capable of heating an object to be heated;
Photographing means capable of photographing a first range including the heating part in the top plate from above the heating cooker;
an image processing unit that processes an image taken by the photographing means of the first range and recognizes an outline of the heating section;
a light source that is provided above the heating cooker and that is capable of illuminating a second range that includes the heating section and is wider than the first range;
The light source is characterized in that the light source is provided such that a reflected image of the light source is located in a remaining range excluding the first range from the second range.

In the kitchen system of the first teaching, the light source is provided so that the reflected image of the light source is located in the remaining range, and the reflected image of the light source is not located in the first range. Therefore, the image of the first range photographed by the photographing means is appropriate, and no problem occurs in image processing by the image processing section.

The kitchen system of the second teaching includes a kitchen room,
A heating cooker having a top plate and a heating section provided on the top plate and capable of heating an object to be heated;
Photographing means capable of photographing a first range including the heating part in the top plate from above the heating cooker;
an image processing unit that processes an image taken by the photographing means of the first range and recognizes an outline of the heating section;
a light source that is provided above the heating cooker and that is capable of illuminating a second range that includes the heating section and is wider than the first range;
The light source is characterized in that it irradiates the second range with dispersed light.

In the kitchen system of the second teaching, since the light source disperses the light and irradiates the second range, the outline of the light source is not reflected on the top plate. Therefore, the image of the first range photographed by the photographing means is appropriate, and no problem occurs in image processing by the image processing section.

Therefore, in the kitchen systems of the first and second teachings, even if the heating cooker is a gas stove and the first range includes a trivet, the reflected image of the light source will not be reflected in the first range. , it is possible to more accurately determine whether or not the trivet is correctly installed. Further, even when the heating cooker is an IH stove, the reflected image of the light source is not reflected in the area where the object to be heated is heated. Therefore, it is difficult to make an erroneous determination that there is a foreign substance that does not exist in reality or that there is an object to be heated that does not actually exist, and it is easy to perform correct heating.

In addition, in the kitchen systems of the first teaching and the second teaching, since the light from the light source exists in the remaining range and the second range, it is possible for the photographing means to photograph the object to be heated and the heated part with sufficient illuminance. It is. In addition, the brightness of the heated object and the heating section is high, making it easy for people to check the heated object and the heating section during cooking.

Therefore, the kitchen systems of the first teaching and the second teaching can improve the practicality of cooking and safety, and also allow people to cook appropriately.

In order to disperse the light from the light source, a light source that can emit dispersed light is selected. When using a light emitter that cannot disperse light, the light emitter can be provided with a cover and used as a light source. If you want to increase the degree of light dispersion, choose a cover .

Although the effects of the present invention can be achieved even if the top plate has a non-mirror surface, if the surface is mirror-like, the image of the first range photographed by the photographing means is likely to be extremely inappropriate. The effects of the present invention become remarkable. Further, a heating cooker having a top plate with a mirror-like surface improves the design of the kitchen system. The top plate with a mirror-like surface may be made of inorganic glass, metal, or the like.

The kitchen system of the third teaching may further include a control device. In this control device, a template image is prepared in advance, which is a photograph of the first range in a state where there is no abnormality in the heating section. Further, the control device can obtain a processed image processed by the image processing section based on the image taken by the photographing means, compare the template image and the processed image, and determine whether or not there is any abnormality in the heating section. . In this case, the kitchen system exhibits the effects of the present invention and can easily and accurately determine the abnormality of the heating section.

The fourth teaching is how to install a kitchen system in the kitchen room,
A heating cooker having a top plate and a heating section provided on the top plate and capable of heating an object to be heated;
Photographing means capable of photographing a first range including the heating part in the top plate from above the heating cooker;
an image processing unit that processes an image taken by the photographing means of the first range and recognizes an outline of the heating section;
A kitchen system comprising: a light source that is provided above the heating cooker and is capable of illuminating a second range that includes the heating section and is wider than the first range;
preparing a template image in which the first range is photographed in a state where there is no abnormality in the heating section;
obtaining a processed image processed by the image processing unit based on the image taken by the photographing means with the light source provided at a predetermined position;
The position of the light source is changed while comparing the template image and the processed image, and the light source is provided so that the reflected image of the light source is located in a remaining range excluding the first range from the second range. It is characterized by determining whether or not the

The fifth teaching is how to install the kitchen system in the kitchen room,
A heating cooker having a top plate and a heating section provided on the top plate and capable of heating an object to be heated;
Photographing means capable of photographing a first range including the heating part in the top plate from above the heating cooker;
an image processing unit that processes an image taken by the photographing means of the first range and recognizes an outline of the heating section;
A kitchen system comprising: a light source that is provided above the heating cooker and is capable of illuminating a second range that includes the heating section and is wider than the first range;
preparing a template image in which the first range is photographed in a state where there is no abnormality in the heating section;
the light source has a cover that disperses light;
acquiring a processed image processed by the image processing unit based on the image taken by the photographing means by providing the light source capable of dispersing light;
The method is characterized in that the cover is changed while comparing the template image and the processed image, and it is determined whether the light source is irradiating the second range while dispersing light appropriately.

In the installation methods of the fourth teaching and the fifth teaching, the effects of the present invention can be achieved using the configuration of the kitchen system.

The kitchen system of the present invention can improve the practicality of cooking and safety, and also allows people to cook in a suitable manner.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a kitchen system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of the kitchen system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the kitchen system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a first range that can be photographed by a camera and a second range that can be illuminated by a light source, according to the kitchen system of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the processing of the image processing unit in the kitchen system of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an image showing a state in which a reflected image of a light source is located in a first range in the kitchen system of Example 1. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an image showing a state in which the reflected image of the light source is not located in the first range in the kitchen system of the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an image showing a state in which the reflected image of the light source is located in the remaining range in the kitchen system of Example 1. FIG. 9 is a side view of the kitchen system of Example 2. FIG. 10 is a side view of the kitchen system of Example 3.

Embodiments 1 to 3 embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Example 1)
The kitchen system of Example 1 includes a kitchen room 1, a heating cooker 3, and a range hood 5, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 2, a cooking table 7 is installed in the kitchen room 1, and the heating cooker 3 is provided integrally with the cooking table 7. In FIG. 1, illustration of the cooking table 7 is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the heating cooker 3 has a top plate 3b on a main body 3a. The top plate 3b is made of transparent inorganic plate glass and has a mirror-like surface. Three stove burners 9a to 9c are protruded from the top plate 3b at respective vertices of an isosceles triangle, and fuel gas and air are supplied to each stove burner 9a to 9c. . Trivets 11a to 11c are provided around each stove burner 9a to 9c, respectively. The trivets 11a to 11c are configured such that an object to be heated 13 such as a pot can be placed on the upper surface thereof. The stove burners 9a to 9c and the trivets 11a to 11c correspond to heating parts.

The main body 3a is provided with a grill 15, and the front surface of the main body 3a is provided with an operating section 17 for controlling the heating power of each stove burner 9a to 9c, the grill 15, etc. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a first control device 19 is provided within the main body 3a. The first control device 19 has a communication control section 19a and a stove control section 19b. Further, the first control device 19 has a notification section and a thermal power adjustment section, which are not shown, as in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above.

The communication control unit 19a receives a signal from a communication control unit 23a of a second control device 23, which will be described later, and transmits the signal to the stove control unit 19b and the like. The notification unit provides notification based on the contours of the object to be heated 13, the stove burners 9a to 9c, and the trivets 11a to 11c. The heating power adjustment section adjusts the heating power of the stove burners 9a to 9c based on the contour of the object to be heated 13. Note that, as shown in FIG. 1, a ventilation opening 16 is provided in the top plate 3b.

The range hood 5 is provided above the heating cooker 3 in the kitchen room 1. The range hood 5 provides ventilation using a built-in ventilation fan (not shown). A digital camera 21 serving as a photographing means is provided at a predetermined position on the lower surface of the range hood 5. The camera 21 is capable of photographing a first range A1 to A3 within the top plate 3b of the cooking device 3, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first range A1 includes, in addition to the stove burner 9a and the trivet 11a, an object to be heated 13 having a size that can be used in the stove burner 9a and the trivet 11a. In addition to the stove burner 9b and the trivet 11b, the first range A2 includes a heated object 13 having a size that can be used in the stove burner 9b and the trivet 11b. In addition to the stove burner 9c and the trivet 11c, the first range A3 includes a heated object 13 having a size that can be used in the stove burner 9c and the trivet 11c.

Furthermore, a second control device 23 is provided within the range hood 5, as shown in FIG. Camera 21 is connected to second control device 23 . The second control device 23 includes an image processing section 23c, a memory 23d, an output section 23b, and a communication control section 23a.

As shown in FIG. 5, the image processing unit 23c acquires images taken by the camera 21 (step S1), converts each image to gray scale (step S2), extracts edges of each gray scale image, and , performs binarization (step S3). In this way, the image processing unit 23c processes the image taken by the camera 21 and recognizes the outlines of the object to be heated 13, the stove burners 9a to 9c, and the trivets 11a to 11c.

Further, the memory 23d stores in advance a template image photographed in the first range A1 to A3. Each template image does not include any reflected images of any light sources, and is an image in which there is no abnormality in the stove burners 9a to 9c and the trivets 11a to 11c. The output section 23b is configured to be able to output the signal from the image processing section 23c. Further, the communication control unit 23a transmits a signal from the image processing unit 23c to the communication control unit 19a of the first control device 19 using Bluetooth (registered trademark).

As shown in FIG. 1, light sources 25a and 25b can be attached to the lower surface of the range hood 5 at arbitrary positions. The light sources 25a and 25b are fluorescent lamps, and do not disperse the light they emit within the meaning of this specification. The light sources 25a and 25b can directly illuminate the second range B, which is the entire top plate 3b of the cooking device 3, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the second range B includes first ranges A1 to A3. That is, the second range B includes the object to be heated 13, the stove burners 9a to 9c, and the trivets 11a to 11c.

When installing the kitchen system configured as described above in the kitchen room 1, an operator attaches light sources 25a and 25b to arbitrary positions on the lower surface of the range hood 5, as shown in FIG. The operator also connects the personal computer 27 to the output section 23b of the second control device 23, as shown in FIG. Then, the operator operates the camera 21 and the second control device 23.

The camera 21 photographs the first range A1 to A3, and the image processing unit 23c of the second control device 23 performs steps S1 to S3 as shown in FIG. Subsequently, the image processing unit 23c reads each template image from the memory 23d, compares each template image with each processed image obtained in step S3, and performs matching (step S4). On the monitor of the personal computer 27, each template image and each processed image are displayed, and the degree of similarity is also displayed.

In the processed images displayed on the personal computer 27, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, one of the processed images photographed in the first range A1 to A3 includes a reflected image of the light sources 25a and 25b, and therefore the degree of similarity is low. If it is less than the threshold, the positions of the light sources 25a, 25b are not appropriate for image processing by the image processing unit 23c, and therefore the positions of the light sources 25a, 25b are changed. Then, after processing steps S1 to S3 again, matching is performed in step S4.

Changing the positions of the light sources 25a and 25b and matching are repeated as necessary, and as shown in FIG. 7, reflected images of the light sources 25a and 25b are included in all of the processed images taken in the first range A1 to A3. If the similarity is equal to or higher than the threshold, it is determined that the reflected images of the light sources 25a and 25b are located in the remaining range C obtained by excluding the first ranges A1 to A3 from the second range B, as shown in FIG. The positions of 25a and 25b are determined. Once the positions of the light sources 25a, 25b are determined, the personal computer 27 is removed from the output section 23b, and the user uses the kitchen system as usual. In this way, the light sources 25a and 25b are installed using the configuration of the kitchen system.

In this kitchen system, the light sources 25a and 25b are installed so that the reflected images are located in the remaining range C, and the reflected images of the light sources 25a and 25b are not located in the first ranges A1 to A3. Therefore, the images in the first range A1 to A3 taken by the camera 21 are appropriate, and no problems occur in image processing by the image processing unit 23c.

Further, this kitchen system includes first and second control devices 19 and 23. The first and second control devices 19 and 23 are adapted to appropriately execute the processes of steps S1 to S4 described above even after the operator has properly installed the light sources 25a and 25b. When the user heats the object to be heated 13 with the cooking device 3, the stove burners 9a to 9c to be used and the corresponding trivets 11a to 11c need to be properly installed. The first and second control devices 19 and 23 execute the processes of steps S1 to S4, and determine whether the degree of similarity is less than a threshold value in the matching of step S4. Here, in this kitchen system, since the reflected images of the light sources 25a and 25b are not reflected in the first range A1 to A3, the similarity is less than the threshold value. This is a case where some abnormality is recognized in 11a to 11c. If the first control device 19 or the second control device 23 determines that the degree of similarity is less than the threshold value, it causes a notification unit (not shown) to notify that an abnormality has occurred in the stove burners 9a to 9c and the trivets 11a to 11c. .

Therefore, in this kitchen system, even if the heating cooker 3 is a gas stove in which the trivets 11a to 11c are included in the first range A1 to A3, the reflected images of the light sources 25a and 25b are reflected in the first range A1 to A3. There is no reflection, and it is possible to more accurately determine whether or not the trivets 11a to 11c are correctly installed. Therefore, in this kitchen system, it is difficult to make an erroneous determination that there is a foreign object that does not exist in reality or that there is an object to be heated 13 that does not actually exist, and it is easy to perform correct heating.

In addition, in this kitchen system, since the light from the light sources 25a and 25b exists in the remaining range C, the camera 21 can photograph the object to be heated 13, the stove burners 9a to 9c, and the trivets 11a to 11c with sufficient illuminance. is possible. Furthermore, the brightness of the object to be heated 13, the stove burners 9a to 9c, and the trivets 11a to 11c is high, making it easy for a person to check the object to be heated 13, the stove burners 9a to 9c, and the trivets 11a to 11c during cooking.

Therefore, this kitchen system can improve the practicality of cooking and safety, and also allows people to cook appropriately.

(Example 2)
In the kitchen system of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the cooking table 7 has a recess 7a at the rear that is recessed below the top plate 3b. The recess 7a faces the side wall 1a of the kitchen room 1. A light source 25c is provided in the recess 7a of the cooking table 7. The light source 25c is a fluorescent lamp with a milky white cover, and in the sense of this specification, disperses the emitted light. Since the light source 25c is provided below the top plate 3b of the cooking device 3, the second range is behind the top plate 3b, and the top plate 3b is indirectly illuminated from behind with sufficient illuminance. I can do it.

Furthermore, a light source 25d is attached to the back side of the lower surface of the range hood 5. The light source 25d is also a fluorescent lamp with a milky white cover, and serves to disperse the emitted light within the meaning of this specification.

Furthermore, a camera 21 is provided in front of the lower surface of the range hood 5. The camera 21 is capable of photographing the first range A1 to A3 within the top plate 3b of the cooking device 3, as in the first embodiment. The other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

When installing this kitchen system in the kitchen room 1, as in the first embodiment, the operator connects the personal computer 27 to the output section 23b of the second control device 23, and operates the camera 21 and the second control device 23. let Then, the template image and the processed image are compared, and it is determined whether the light sources 25c and 25d are irradiating the second range while suitably dispersing the light. If the light dispersion is insufficient, the covers of the light sources 25c and 25d are replaced and the cover is determined.

When determining an abnormality in the heating section in this kitchen system, the first and second control devices execute the process as in the first embodiment.

In this way, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be achieved in this kitchen system as well.

(Example 3)
In the kitchen system of the third embodiment, a light source 25c is installed on the ceiling of the kitchen room 1, as shown in FIG. Other configurations, installation methods, and abnormality determination methods are the same as in the first embodiment.

Also in this kitchen system, the same effects as in Examples 1 and 2 can be achieved.

In the above, the present invention has been explained based on Examples 1 to 3, but the present invention is not limited to Examples 1 to 3, and can be applied with appropriate changes without departing from the spirit thereof. Needless to say.

For example, in Examples 1 to 3, the range hood 5 is equipped with a camera 21 in advance, but if a general-purpose range hood without a camera is used, the camera 21 may be retrofitted to the range hood or the kitchen room. The present invention is also applicable to the case where an image processing section is installed and an image processing section is used. Further, the camera itself may have a light source.

Furthermore, in Examples 1 to 3, the worker checked the matching using the personal computer 27, but it is also possible to provide a monitor in the second control device 23 and configure the matching to be checked using this monitor. It is.

In Examples 1 to 3, a heating cooker having a stove burner and a trivet is employed, but an IH stove or a radiant heater without a trivet may also be employed as the heating cooker. In this case, a predetermined area on the top plate where the object to be heated is heated may be set as the heating section.

In the second embodiment, the cooking table 7 having the recessed portion 7a at the rear is employed, but a cooking table having recessed portions at the sides may be employed and the top plate may be indirectly illuminated from the side.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used when constructing or renovating a kitchen room.

1... Kitchen room 3b... Top plate 13... Heated object 9a-9c, 11a-11c... Heating section (9a-9c... Stove burner, 11a-11c... Trivet)
3...Heating cooker 5...Range hood A1-A3...First range 21...Photographing means (camera)
23c...Image processing unit B...Second range 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d...Light source C...Remaining range

Claims (4)

kitchen room and
A heating cooker having a top plate and a heating section provided on the top plate and capable of heating an object to be heated;
Photographing means capable of photographing a first range including the heating part in the top plate from above the heating cooker;
an image processing unit that processes an image taken by the photographing means of the first range and recognizes an outline of the heating section;
A kitchen system comprising: a light source that is provided above the heating cooker and is capable of illuminating a second range that includes the heating section and is wider than the first range;
preparing a template image in which the first range is photographed in a state where there is no abnormality in the heating section;
obtaining a processed image processed by the image processing unit based on the image taken by the photographing means with the light source provided at a predetermined position;
The position of the light source is changed while comparing the template image and the processed image, and the light source is provided so that the reflected image of the light source is located in a remaining range excluding the first range from the second range. A method for installing a kitchen system, characterized by determining whether or not the system has been installed. The template image and the processed image are compared based on the similarity obtained by matching by the image processing unit,
If the similarity is less than a threshold, change the position of the light source;
2. The kitchen system installation method according to claim 1, wherein the position of the light source is determined if the degree of similarity is greater than or equal to the threshold value. kitchen room and
A heating cooker having a top plate and a heating section provided on the top plate and capable of heating an object to be heated;
Photographing means capable of photographing a first range including the heating part in the top plate from above the heating cooker;
an image processing unit that processes an image taken by the photographing means of the first range and recognizes an outline of the heating section;
A kitchen system comprising: a light source that is provided above the heating cooker and is capable of illuminating a second range that includes the heating section and is wider than the first range;
preparing a template image in which the first range is photographed in a state where there is no abnormality in the heating section;
the light source has a cover that disperses light;
acquiring a processed image processed by the image processing unit based on the image taken by the photographing means by providing the light source capable of dispersing light;
The kitchen system is characterized in that the cover is changed while comparing the template image and the processed image, and it is determined whether the light source is irradiating the second range while suitably dispersing light. Installation method. The template image and the processed image are compared based on the similarity obtained by matching by the image processing unit,
If the degree of similarity is less than a threshold, change the cover;
4. The kitchen system installation method according to claim 3, wherein the cover is determined if the degree of similarity is greater than or equal to the threshold value.

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