JPS6337849B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heating device that is equipped with a plurality of audio signal source means and can appropriately and economically notify a wide variety of audio information.

Background of the Invention Recent advances in the field of semiconductor technology have been remarkable, and the emergence of microcomputers in particular has had a major impact on consumer equipment.

Even in the case of heating devices, various new functions that were economically impossible to achieve with conventional discrete circuit configurations have been commercialized one after another.

However, the realization of such multi-functionality has led to increased complexity in operation, which has led to an increase in the number of cases in which users are unable to use the device properly and in which troubles occur due to incorrect operation.

Therefore, there has been a strong demand in the market for a heating device that is multifunctional and has good operability.
As one solution to improving such operability, a heating device has been commercialized that uses a voice synthesis circuit to directly notify the user of various operational information using a synthesized real voice. This is due to the technical background that the development of speech synthesis technology and the progress of semiconductor technology have combined to make speech synthesis technology inexpensive to use.

On the other hand, integration with existing equipment is also popular, and heating devices that are equipped with a cassette tape playback circuit and notify heating procedures have been commercialized.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, these two conventional audio signal source means, speech synthesis and audio equipment, have the following problems.

First, in speech synthesis, the speech data requires a huge amount of memory, and it is difficult to keep it running for a long time from the viewpoint of system scale and economy.

On the other hand, existing audio equipment such as cassette tape playback circuits can handle large amounts of audio data at low cost, but on the other hand, it takes time to find the beginning of the tape, and it is not possible to immediately report a predetermined audio signal. Although it is possible to broadcast predetermined information in a predetermined order, it is also possible to immediately report appropriate information corresponding to the key pressed, or to report several notifications based on data detected by a sensor. It is not possible to select the appropriate one from among them or to combine and edit multiple audio data.

In view of this background, the present invention realizes a heating device that can appropriately and economically notify a wide variety of audio information.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes a voice synthesis circuit including a voice memory, a magnetic storage medium such as a recording or recording tape, and a reproduction circuit thereof, and a main control unit. The plurality of audio signal sources are switched and connected to a single audio output means via a sound source switching means.

Effect The heating device of the present invention responds to key operation by:
Alternatively, in response to a certain condition detected by a sensor, etc., audio notification data that is urgent or requires editing by combining multiple audio data is stored in the audio memory, and a fixed form that does not require editing is stored in the audio memory. Various audio information can be appropriately and economically recorded by recording audio notification data on a magnetic storage medium and connecting any audio signal source to a single audio output means under the control of the main control unit. Can be reported.

Example Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be explained according to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the main body of a heating device showing an embodiment of the present invention. A door 2 that can be opened and closed and an operation panel 3 are provided on the front surface of the main body 1. On the operation panel 3, there is a keyboard 4 for inputting various commands to the control system, a knob 5 for inputting heating time, temperature, etc., a cassette holder 6 for inserting a cassette tape, and a display for setting the heating time, temperature, etc. A display window 7 for displaying , and a sound hole 8 for a speaker are arranged.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of such a heating device. An object to be heated 10 is placed in the heating chamber 9, and is irradiated with microwaves from a magnetron 11 serving as a heating means. The magnetron 11 is controlled by a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as "microcomputer") 12 which is a main control section. Reference numeral 13 denotes an interface including switching means such as a relay and a driver for operating the switching means.

The microcomputer 12 decodes the user's command from the keyboard 4 and reads the set value of the knob 5 using the A/D converter 14. Also, cassette tape 15
is read by the head 16, and reproduced and output from the audio amplifier 17 and the speaker 18 serving as audio output means. At this time, the switching relay 19 serving as the sound source switching means is selected by the microcomputer 12 to the cassette tape side, and the tape drive motor 20 is rotated as appropriate.

As the sound source switching means, as long as the output of the audio amplifier 17, which is an analog signal, and the analog output of the synthesizer 23, which will be described later, can be switched with low noise, a relay can be used as in this embodiment, or an analog switch can be used. Semiconductor switching devices such as the above can also be used.

Now, the data inputted by such input means is preset in the memory 21. At the same time, it is displayed on a fluorescent display tube 22 serving as a display means.

On the other hand, in the synthesizer 23 and voice memory 24, key operations, heating progress, occurrence of erroneous operations, etc.
Speech data that occurs irregularly and requires quick response is synthesized. These are also controlled by the microcomputer 12, and when a synthesized voice is announced, the sound source switching relay 19 is selected to the synthesizer 23 side.
Therefore, even if the cassette tape output is in progress, it is forcibly terminated and the more important synthesized voice is output with priority.

Now, when the speaker 18 is built into a heating device, since the heating device is mostly placed in the kitchen and it is difficult to avoid water vapor emitted from the heated object, waterproofing treatment cannot be neglected. For this reason, speakers tend to be expensive in terms of cost. From this point of view as well, the present invention, which requires only one speaker, is very advantageous in practical terms.

Note that although this embodiment concerned a heating device equipped with a cassette tape and a voice synthesis circuit,
Naturally, as existing audio equipment, video playback devices are also applicable to the present invention. At this time, a cathode ray tube (CRT) is placed in the display window 7 (FIG. 1), and a videotape is inserted into the cassette holder 6. With this configuration, when notifying the audio information recorded on the videotape, it is also possible to display image information on the display window, making it possible to visually display standard information such as cooking tips and preparation steps. It can also be used to appeal to customers, making it even more user-friendly.

Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the present invention, since a plurality of audio signal source means are provided, it is possible to economically handle both information that requires prompt response and a large amount of standardized information. A heating device with excellent operability can be realized. Furthermore, since the configuration is such that a single audio output means is shared by a plurality of audio signal source means, there is absolutely no possibility that both pieces of information will be erroneously reported at the same time. In addition, the main control unit manages the importance of multiple pieces of information, so if more important information occurs while any of them is being reported, the former is discontinued and the audio output means is connected to the latter. Users will never miss important information or be informed late.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the main body showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of the same. 9... Heating chamber, 11... Magnetron, 12...
... Microcomputer, 15 ... Cassette tape, 18 ... Speaker, 19 ... Sound source means, 23
...Synthesizer, 24...Voice memory.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A heating chamber in which an object to be heated is placed, a heating means coupled to this heating chamber, and a single audio output means,
A plurality of audio signal source means for transmitting audio signals to the audio output means, a sound source switching means for connecting any of the plurality of audio signal source means to the audio output means, and a main control section for controlling these. It is equipped with a voice synthesis circuit including a voice memory as the voice signal source, a magnetic storage medium such as an audio recording or recording tape, and a reproducing circuit thereof, and the voice memory is provided with a voice signal in response to a key operation or a sensor, etc. voice notification data that is urgent or that requires editing by combining multiple voice data is stored in response to a certain condition detected by;
The magnetic storage medium stores standard audio notification data that does not require biasing, and the main control unit manages which of the plurality of audio signal source means is connected to the audio output means, A heating device configured to control the sound source switching means.