Background Art The conventional electric cooker will be explained hereinafter. FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of an automatic bread maker as an example of the electric cooker. Where 1 is a bread maker main body, 2 is a baking chamber, 3 is a heater, 4 is a bread baking mold, 5 is a kneading blade, 6 is a motor for rotating the kneading blade 5,7 is a belt for transmitting the power to the kneading blade 5, 8 is a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature in the baking chamber 2,9 is a control circuit for receiving a temperature signal from the temperature sensor 7 to control the motor 6 and the heater 3, 10 is an operating potion for setting the cooking conditions, and 11 is a display portion for displaying operating conditions.

In the automatic bread maker constructed as mentioned above, as shown in FIG. 15, the operating portion and the display portion in the conventional art have indications in one language only, and are available merely in one country.

However, when one product is to be sold in many countries, the operating portion having the language that is fitted to the concerned country must be prepared. Thus, the product having plural specifications to respond to the languages, although being identical in structure, must be manufactured, and a plurality of stocks must be held in the distribution.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a product that can be dealt with in the country having plural languages or a product the operation condition of which the person who does not understand the concerned language can understand by pictorial indications, and to thereby simplify the production and deal with the stock of one type in plural countries in the distribution.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention constructs a liquid crystal display such that the liquid crystal display can respond to a plurality of languages in each destination.

Accordingly, it is possible to respond to the region having a plurality of languages by one product, and thus efficiencies in the production and the distribution can be improved.

Disclosure of the Invention In the first aspect of the present invention, the liquid crystal display device has a plurality of language indications and a language selecting switch is provided to the operating

portion. Therefore, there can be achieved such an advantage that the liquid crystal display can respond to a plurality of languages in each destination.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the language selecting switch consists of a plurality of particular switches each of which is normally used separately in other use.

Therefore, there can be achieved such an advantage that, since these switches can function as the language selecting switch when they are operated simultaneously, there is no need to add a new switch.

In the third aspect of the present invention, a control device has a memory device for storing a language selected by the language selecting switch after a commercial power supply is removed. Therefore, after the cooking is finished and then the power supply is removed, there is no need to execute the setting once again when the power supply is turned on at the next time.

In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the language selecting switch consists of a change-over switch. Therefore, since the switch itself can hold the state, there is no need to execute the setting once again when the power supply is turned on at the next time after the cooking is finished and then the power supply is removed.

In the fifth aspect of the present invention, character indications and pictorial indications corresponding to the

character indications are displayed simultaneously on a liquid crystal display device. Therefore, the person who does not read the character indications can understand the display contents.

In the sixth aspect of the present invention, a liquid crystal display device contains pictorial indications in display contents and a plurality of languages corresponding to the pictorial indications are printed/displayed on an operating portion. Therefore, the contents of the pictorial indications can be understood clearly.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a partially-notched side view showing an electric cooker according to embodiments of the present invention ; Fig. 2 is a view showing operation/display portions in an electric cooker according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a view showing the operation/display portions in the electric cooker according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and views each showing the operation state of the display portion (English); Fig. 4 is a view showing the operation/display portions in the electric cooker according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and views each showing the operation state of the display portion (German);

Fig. 5 is a view showing the operation/display portions in the electric cooker according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and views each showing the operation state of the display portion (English); Fig. 6 is a view showing the operation/display portions in the electric cooker according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and views each showing the operation state of the display portion (German); Fig. 7 is a circuit block diagram of an electric cooker according to a third embodiment of the present invention ; Fig. 8 is a view showing operation/display portions in an electric cooker according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 9 is a circuit block diagram of the electric cooker according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 10 is a view showing operation/display portions in an electric cooker according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention ; Fig. 11 is a view showing the operation/display portions in the electric cooker according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, and views each showing the operation state of the display portion (English); Fig. 12 is a view showing the operation/display portions in the electric cooker according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, and views each showing the operation

state of the display portion (German); Fig. 13 is a view showing operation/display portions in an electric cooker according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 14 is a view showing the operation/display portions in the electric cooker according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, and views each showing the operation state of the display portion ; and Fig. 15 is a view showing operation/display portions in the conventional electric cooker.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings hereinafter.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 2 shows operation/display portions of an automatic bread maker according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and shows all display states of the display portion such as liquid crystal display. Two languages of German and English can be displayed. Since the structure of the automatic bread maker is identical to that in the conventional art, its explanation will be omitted herein.

The display portion 11 is a liquid crystal display device, and two languages of German and English are prepared therein.

Either the German language or the English language can be

selected by operating a language selecting switch 12. If the English indication is to be used, a SELECT key 13 is operated to select the course, as shown in FIG. 2, in the state that the display portion is set to the English indication by operating the language selecting switch 12. Then, the course such as "RAISIN BAKE","BAKE", and"DOUGH"is selected sequentially by the English indication in the order given by arrows in FIG. 3, and the display is changed. In this case, the"RAISIN BAKE" is the raisin course, the"BAKE"is the normal baking course, and the"DOUGH"is the only fermentation course. Also, if the initial state when the AC power supply is turned on is set to the English indication state, there is no necessity to operate the language selecting switch 12 when the English indication is to be used.

Then, if the German indication is to be used, the display portion is set to the German indication by operating the language selecting switch 12, as shown in FIG. 4. Then, if the SELECT key 13 is operated, the course such as"Rosinen Brot","Brot", and"Teig"is selected sequentially by the German indication in the order given by arrows in FIG. 4, and the display is changed.

At this time, the printed portions except the liquid crystal display can be simply prepared by the method of pasting the seal, or the like to respond to the concerned language, the method of pasting previously the English seal onto the German seal and then using the English seal as it is when the display

portion is to be used in English or peeling off the English seal to use the German seal when the display portion is to be used in German, or the like.

FIG. 4 shows the state that the German seal is pasted onto the printed portions. Accordingly, the product of one type can be dealt with in a plurality of countries, and there is no need to hold a variety of stocks in the distribution.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.

Two languages of German and English are prepared in the liquid crystal display 11, and then either the German language or the English language can be selected by operating simultaneously the SELECT key 13 and a MENU key 14.

If the English indication is to be used, the SELECT key 13 is operated, as shown in FIG. 5, in the state that the display portion is set to the English indication. Then, the course such as"RASIN BAKE", "BAKE", and"DOUGH"is selected sequentially by the English indication in the order given by arrows in FIG. 5, and the display is changed.

Then, if the German indication is to be used, the SELECT key 13 and the MENU key 14 in FIG. 5 are simultaneously operated and then German indication appears, as shown in FIG. 6. The printed portions except the liquid crystal display can be simply prepared by pasting the seal, or the like to respond to the concerned language such as the German language.

In FIG. 6, a wahl key 13 is operated, the course such as "Rosinen Brot","Brot", and"Teig"is, selected sequentially by the German indication in the order given by arrows, and the display is changed.

FIG. 6 shows the state that the German seals are pasted onto the printed portions. Accordingly, if the usage that the wahl key 13 and a programm key 14, when both being pushed simultaneously, can serve as the language selecting switch is explained in the instructions manual and also an indication 15 indicating that the wahl key 13 and the programm key 14 can serve as the language selecting switch is attached to the printed portion, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the user can select the language although the language selecting switch 12 is not particularly provided. Thus, the product of one type can be dealt with in a plurality of countries, and there is no necessity that a variety of stocks should be held in the distribution.

In the present embodiment, the SELECT key 13 and the MENU key 14 (the wahl key 13 and the programm key 14 in German) are employed as the switch serving as the language selecting switch.

But any other two keys may be employed.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention, and its explanation will be made in compliance with FIG. 7. In this circuit block diagram, 16 is an AC power supply, 17 is a power supply circuit for converting

the alternating current into the direct current, 18 is a control device for controlling the overall electric cooker, 11 is a liquid crystal display element, 12 is a language selecting switch, 19 is a motor control circuit, 20 is a heater control circuit, and 21 is a memory device for storing the state of the selected language after the AC power supply is removed.

First, the AC power supply 16 is connected, and then the English or German language state selected by the language selecting switch 12 is stored in the memory device 21. If the ACpowersupplyl6 is removedafter the cookinghasbeen finished, this stored state is held and the operation can be carried out in the selected language state when the power is supplied at the next time. Thus, there is no need to execute the language selecting operation every time. The semiconductor IC such as EEPROM, orthelikeisusedasthememorydevice, butthecapacitor, etc. may be employed for the sake of simplification.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 8 shows operation/display portions of an automatic bread maker of a fourth embodiment of the present invention and also shows all display states of the liquid crystal display portion. Two languages of German and English can be displayed.

FIG. 9 is a circuit block diagram of this embodiment, and its explanation will be made in compliance with FIG. 8 and FIG. 9.

In FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, 12 is a language selecting switch that is normally called the slide switch having the changing switch

mechanism. Since other elements are similar to those explained in the embodiment 3, their explanation will be omitted herein.

First, theACpowersupplyl6isconnected, andthenEnglish or German is selected by operating the language selecting switch 12. In the case of the German language, the printed portions other than the liquid crystal display can be prepared by pasting the seal that is printed in German, or the like.

Since the language selecting switch 12 is provided as the slide switch, its state can be still held if the AC power supply 16 is removed after the cooking has been ended. As a result, the operation can be carried out in the selected language state when the power is supplied at the next time, and thus there is no necessity to execute the language selecting operation every time.

In the present embodiment, this language selecting switch 12 is provided to the operating potion 10 such that the user can operate it. However, the language selecting switch 12 may be provided to the place such as the inside of the main body or the back side of the main body, at which the user cannot simply operate it. In this case, since the language selecting switch is not frequently used, the switch having the simple structure, which does not require the durability, maybe employed.

As the simplest structure, the jumper line may be employed.

In this manner, if the structure that the user does not operate is employed, the effect such that the stocks are reduced

in the distribution cannot be achieved but there is no possibility to trouble the user. Therefore, as the producer side, the available language can be changed by switching only the change-over switch or the jumper line. Also, because the liquid crystal and other parts are totally the same parts, their stocks can be reduced and thus the production can be made effective.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 10 shows operation/display portions of an automatic bread maker of a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and shows all display states of the liquid crystal display portion. The English character indications and pictorial <BR> <BR> indications that correspond to these characters canbe displayed.

Apictorialindication22correspondstoRAISINBAKE, apictorial indication 23 corresponds to BAKE, and a pictorial indication 24 corresponds to DOUGH course that is used to make the croissant or the butter roll.

When the power supply is turned on, the display portion is set to the state shown in FIG. 11, so that the menu selection and the course selection can be executed. When the SELECT key <BR> <BR> 13 is pushed, the course such as"RAISIN BAKE", "BAKE", and "DOUGH"is selected sequentially in the order given by arrows, and the display is changed.

Then, the pictorial indication 22, the pictorial indication 23, and the pictorial indication 24 are lighted up

at the same time to respond to"RAISIN BAKE","BAKE", and"DOUGH" respectively.

When a START/STOP key is pushed in the situation that any course of"RAISIN BAKE","BAKE", and"DOUGH"is selected, the cooking is started according to the course selected from the BASIC menu.

Since the pictorial indication and the characters are displayed together, the user can understand intuitively the meaning of the characters. Thus, if the user cannot fully understand the English language, such user can understand the states of the operation based on the pictorial indication. For example, although the German language is the major language <BR> <BR> in Germany, Belgium, etc. , there are considerable people who can slightly understand the English language. Therefore, there are some cases where, even if all indications are not given in German but simple pictorial indications are put into a part of the characters on the liquid crystal display in this manner, such electric cooker can be acceptable.

However, in order to facilitate the understanding much more, as shown in FIG. 12, the seal in the German language in place of the English language may be pasted onto the character portions of the printed portions except the liquid crystal display on the operating portion 10 by the user, otherwise the seal in the German language may be pasted onto the product when the sales man opens the package and delivers the product to

the user.

At this time, the English indications on the liquid crystal display portion 11 cannot be changed since they are incorporated into the main body, but they can be used without hindrance according to the pictorial indications.

Accordingly, the person in the region in which the person do not read the English language can understand the meaning of the pictorial indication when he or she looks at the pictorial indication. Thus, the product of one type can be dealt with in a plurality of countries, and there is no necessity that a variety of stocks should be held in the distribution.

Also, the pictorial indications can be used together with a plurality of language indications described in the first embodiment. Such pictorial indications used together with the language indications can assist the person, who do not read the characters, in understanding the operation.

(Embodiment 6) FIG. 13 shows operation/display portions of an automatic bread maker of a sixth embodiment of the present invention, and shows all display states of the liquid crystal display portion. The pictorial indications can be displayed without the indication of the character. The pictorial indication 22 indicates the raisin bread course, the pictorial indication 23 indicates the normal read course, and the pictorial indication 24 indicates the mere fermentation course that is used to make

the croissant or the butter roll.

Also,"RAISINBAKE","BAKE", and"DOUGH"that correspond to the pictorial indication 22, the pictorial indication 23, and the pictorial indication 24 respectively are printed/displayed on the operating portion 10 such that the meanings of them can be easily understood.

When the power supply is turned on, the state shown in FIG. 14 appears and thus the menu selection and the course selection can be executed. When the SELECT key 13 is pushed, the course such as the pictorial indication 22, the pictorial indication 23, and the pictorial indication 24 is selected sequentially, and the display is switched.

The printed portions except the liquid crystal display can be simply prepared by pasting the seal, or the like that responds to the language in the concerned region.

Accordingly, the user can understand intuitively the meaning of the pictorial indication without the provision of the language selecting switch when he or she looks at the pictorial indication. Even though the user cannot understand <BR> <BR> themeaning of the pictorial indication, such user can understand the meaning because the characters are printed/displayed on the operating portion. Therefore, the product of one type can be dealt with in a plurality of countries, and the production can be simplified, and there is no necessity that a variety of stocks should be held in the distribution.

Industrial Applicability As described above, according to the present invention, there can be achieved such advantages that the product of one type can be dealt with in a plurality of countries, and the production can be simplified, and there is no necessity that a variety of stocks should be held in the distribution.