Abstract: An electric rice cooker includes a memory device having three storage areas for storing a plurality of cooking completion time data, a selection circuit selecting a desired cooking completion time data from the memory device, a display device displaying the selected cooking completion time data or the current time data and a lamp arrangement not only indicating the storage area from which the cooking completion time data displayed by the display device is read out but also indicating a current time display when the current time data is displayed by the display device. The selection circuit includes a memory timer switch and a pulse counter which counts the number of times the memory timer switch is pressed, and reads out a desired cooking completion time data from the designated storage area in the memory device on the basis of the result of the counting.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling a rice cooker has at least one heater used for heating a cooking pot. This circuit comprises a temperature detection element capable of detecting the temperature of the pot; a converter, connected to receive a detection signal from the temperature detection element, for converting the received signal to a specified electrical signal; a selector, connected to receive an electrical signal from the converter, for producing a first or second selection signal based on whether the value of the electrical signal is or is not within a specified range; and a display capable of displaying a plurality of cooking operation states. This circuit further includes a first controller which receives the first selection signal and supplies to the heater specified turn-on control signals for dividing the cooking operation into a plurality of states and sequentially performing each cooking operation.

Abstract: A timer for an electric rice cooker includes a switch for setting the current time and a switch for setting the cooking completion time. When the operation of the current time set switch precedes that of the cooking completion time set switch, the cooking operation is started after lapse of a predetermined time period in accordance with the difference time period between the current time set and the cooking completion time set. The cooking operation is completed at the cooking completion time set. When the cooking completion time set switch is operated without preceding operation of the current time set switch so that a cooking completion standby period of time is set, the cooking operation is started after lapse of a leftover period of time, the value of which is obtained by subtracting a cooking period of time from the cooking completion standby period of time set. The cooking operation is completed after lapse of the cooking completion standby time period.

Abstract: A timer device, which has at least a load control function, includes a counter, circuitry for setting the counter, a display and a controller. Generally, the display displays a value of the counter. The controller causes the display to flash while the load is being operated, but keeps the display continuous when the setting circuitry is operated even if the load is being operated. This aids in the setting process.

Abstract: A timer device, which displays a load operation state, includes a clock counter, a load counter, a display and a controller. The display displays a count value of the load counter when the load counter is counting and displays a count value of the clock counter otherwise. The controller causes the display to flash in synchronism with the changing of the count of the load counter when the load counter is being operated.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling a rice cooker having at least one heater used for cooking rice comprises, a rice cooking mode setting section capable of selectively setting three or more different rice cooking modes having high, medium and low heater heating calories, respectively, a main control section for fetching preset mode data set by the rice cooking mode setting section, and for supplying a predetermined energize/deenergize control signal corresponding to the preset mode data to the heater, a power interrupt detecting section for detecting a state wherein supply of a drive power voltage to the main control section is temporarily interrupted after the preset mode data is fetched in the main control section, and for maintaining the detected state for a predetermined period of time, and a power interrupt recovering operation control section for fetching a detection signal from the power interrupt detecting section when supply of the drive voltage to the main control section is recovered, and for controlling th

Abstract: A food processor is comprised of a food processing cutter which is driven by a motor connected to an AC power source, a switch for controlling on and off of the motor, a pulse generator for forming count pulses having a given period from the AC power source, a set switch, a start switch, and a timer which operates the start switch at a time point set therein to start the rotation of the motor. Further, the food processor includes an up-counter for counting the count pulses while the set switch is operated to store a driving time period data of the motor, and a down-counter to which the stored data of the up-counter is transferred when the start switch is operated by the timer. The down-counter counts down the data every time it receives the count pulse and produces a drive stop signal for the motor when its contents become "0".

Abstract: A drip mechanism of a coffee extractor has a heater which boils water to be poured on coffee powder and a control switch which controls the ON/OFF operation of the heater. The control device of this drip mechanism has first and second discriminating circuits, so that the ON/OFF operation of the control switch is controlled by an output of a drive circuit controlled by output signals of these discriminating circuits. A predetermined amount of coffee powder is stored in a case. Subsequently, when a regular drip switch and a start switch are depressed, the heater is heated in a first mode so that regular coffee is extracted. When the strong drip switch and the start switch are depressed, the heater is heated in a second mode so that strong coffee is extracted. In order to accomplish this selective operation, a logic circuit is arranged to control the first and second discriminating circuits.

Abstract: An AC power source is coupled with a heater circuit containing a series circuit including a cover switch for a coffee maker, a thermal switch for controlling the temperature of a heating unit and a control switch for turning on and off a heater of the heating unit. A detecting circuit is connected between a signal take-out node as a juction point between the heater and the thermal switch and one end of the AC power source. The detecting circuit responds to a given on-off states of each of the switches to receive a detection current from the signal take-out node, and produces a detection signal for controlling a control apparatus for the coffee maker.