Abstract: A cooking appliance has a heater for cooking, and a switch which generating an operational signal. The cooking appliance automatically turns off the heater a predetermined time after a last pressed switch, i.e., automatic power off function. A caution lamp indicates that the heater will automatically be turned off a minute prior to the automatic power off function.

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 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: An electric apparatus involves a temperature sensor and a controlled circuit connected to an A.C. source to be sequentially controlled in accordance with the output from the temperature sensor. The control device comprises an auxiliary power source, a first control circuit for controlling the controlled circuit, and a second control circuit for supplying first control signals to the first control circuit, each being connected between control lines. The second control circuit involves an oscillator for producing clock pulses, a generator for generating reset pulses synchronized with the frequency of the A.C. source, a counter which counts the clock pulses and is reset upon receipt of the reset pulses, a control signal generator which processes an output signal from the temperature sensor to produce the first control signals, and circuit arrangements which, when a momentary power failure takes place in the A.C.

Abstract: An electric rice cooker is disclosed which has a cooking pot or kettle for containing rice and water, an electrical cooking heater provided adjacent to the outside surface of the kettle for heating the kettle and its contents, a thermal insulating frame structure including a removable lid member, and a kettle temperature measuring device including a thermally sensitive resistor. A connection failure of the thermally sensitive resistor is detected after a specified time interval has lapsed after starting the cooking operation. The detection is carried out in accordance with a decrease in level of the output from the kettle temperature measuring device, thereby stopping the supply of power to the heater and at the same time informing the operator of the connection failure.

Abstract: The output of a first bridge circuit including as one component element a thermistor for detecting the temperature of a pan is compared with a preset value in a first operational amplifier. The first operational amplifier provides a low level output when the detected temperature is below a predetermined temperature. When this low level output is supplied to a second operational amplifier, the output thereof goes to a high level to turn on a transistor so as to energize a relay for passing current to a cooking heater. When a cooking end temperature is reached, the internal resistance of the thermistor is reduced, and as a result the output of the first operational amplifier goes to a high level, causing the output of the second operational amplifier to go to a low level. Thus, a warming heater is energized while the cooking heater is de-energized.

Abstract: An electric rice cooker is disclosed which performs auxiliary cooking such as "twice cooking" by changing the operating time of auxiliary cooking in accordance with the actual cooking amount, immediately after the main cooking is completed. The actual temperature of a kettle which contains rice and water and which is detachably mounted in a thermal insulating frame is measured by a thermistor. Upon deenergization of an electric heater after main cooking is completed, the actual kettle temperature decreases. A time interval for the kettle temperature to go from a first temperature at the completion of main cooking to a second temperature is closely related to the actual cooking amount. The auxiliary cooking time interval is determined by a control circuit arranged in a case in accordance with the time interval described above.

Abstract: An electric rice cooker is disclosed which has a cooking pot or kettle for containing rice and water, a removable lid member covering the top of the kettle, an electrical heater provided adjacent to the outside surface of the kettle for heating the kettle and the contents thereof, a thermal insulating frame structure, and a control section which includes a kettle temperature detector and a control circuit for controlling the heater so as to allow the rice to automatically and properly absorb water in accordance with the actual kettle temperature immediately after the cooking operation is started, but before the rice is substantially changed to alpha-starch.

Abstract: An electric rice cooker is disclosed which includes a cooking kettle for containing rice and water, a removable lid member covering the top of the kettle, a heater provided adjacent to the outer bottom surface of the kettle to heat the kettle, and a thermistor for measuring the actual kettle temperature. A cooking amount measuring circuit for detecting the actual amount of kettle contents every time a cooking operation is performed, and a control circuit for controlling the operation of the heater by determining the proper time at which the heater should be turned OFF in accordance with actually measured data obtained during the cooking operation which is being performed, are arranged in a case.

Abstract: An electric rice cooker is disclosed which has a cooking kettle containing rice and water, a thermal insulating frame and an electric heater provided adjacent to the outside surface of the kettle. The electric rice cooker performs auxiliary cooking, such as "twice cooking", for effectively converting beta-starch to alpha-starch after main cooking is completed. The auxiliary cooking operating time is properly determined in accordance with the actual amount to be cooked when every cooking operation is performed. The actual amount to be cooked is detected by a control circuit arranged in a case in accordance with a change in actual kettle temperature measured by a thermistor after a heater is deenergized, that is, in accordance with a peak temperature obtained by "after heat".

Abstract: Disclosed is a rice cooker comprising a pot for containing rice and water, a heater provided at the bottom of the pot for heating the pot, a sensor for sensing temperature of the pot to produce a detecting signal when the temperature of the pot reaches a predetermined value, and a drive circuit which responds to the detecting signal from the sensor to stop the heating of the heater. The drive circuit in the cooker, after the operation start, heats the pot to about 40.degree. C. by the heater for rice immersion, and after keeping the pot warmth constant for a given period, drives the heater at the rated calorific value for rice cooking.

Abstract: An electric rice cooker comprising a kettle for containing rice, a heater for heating the kettle, a thermoswitch for deenergizing the heater in response to the temperature of the kettle, and a timer which comprises a motor for causing a movement of the timer and three contacts for controlling the energization and the reenergization of the heater during timer action.

Abstract: A rice cooker having a kettle for containing rice, an inner case surrounding and supporting the kettle, first and second heaters separated from each other and mounted within the inner case and adjacent the outside surface of the kettle for heating the kettle and the contents thereof and first and second switches electrically connected to the heaters to control the energization and deenergization of the heaters so as to heat the kettle by three heating stages to obtain boiled rice of most excellent taste.

Abstract: In an electric rice cooker, an electric heater for heating a kettle containing a quantity of rice and water is firstly energized through a first contact of a switch sensitive to the temperature of the kettle. When cooking operation completes the switch transfers to a second contact to start a timer. After a predetermined time, the timer reenergizes the heater through the second contact for a definite interval.