Abstract: A microwave oven includes a tray rotatably installed inside a cooking compartment, a temperature measuring apparatus comprising a driving unit configured to generate a rotation force, and a sensing unit configured to measure the temperatures of a plurality of temperature measurement points by having a temperature measurement angle changed by the rotation force of the driving unit; and a control unit configured to control the temperature measuring apparatus to measure the plurality of temperature measurement points provided at the upper side of the tray according to a predetermined temperature measurement pattern that provides a different pattern for successive rotation periods of the tray.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a turbidity sensor and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a turbidity sensor capable of measuring turbidity of water including a liquid detergent as well as water including a powdered detergent and a control method thereof. The turbidity sensor includes a first light emitting unit emitting visible light, a first light receiving unit disposed opposite to the first light emitting unit at a position spaced apart from the first light emitting unit and receiving visible light emitted from the first light emitting unit, and a control unit determining a turbidity of a solution according to a ratio between the amount of visible light emitted from the first light emitting unit and the amount of visible light received by the first light receiving unit. According to the turbidity sensor and control method thereof, turbidity of the solution by the first and second particles is accurately measured.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a body, an inner case disposed inside the body in a cooking compartment where food is being cooked, a detection hole formed at a wall of one side of the inner case, so that an infrared ray generated at the cooking compartment is released to the outside of the cooking compartment, and an infrared ray detecting apparatus including a reflecting mirror, which has a plurality of reflection surfaces and configured to change a path of an incident infrared ray, and an infrared ray sensor configured to receive the infrared ray having the path thereof changed to detect an intensity of the infrared ray, thereby reducing the size of a detection hole configured to pass the infrared ray that is generated inside the cooking compartment, so that the adverse effect caused by the leakage of a microwave is minimized.

Abstract: A water level sensing apparatus which more precisely senses a level of supplied water, a water supply hose and a washing machine having the same is provided. The water level sensing apparatus includes a main body provided with an inner wall and an outer wall and filled with water supplied to the inside of the inner wall, a plurality of electrodes inserted between the inner wall and the outer wall to be opposite to each other, and a micro-computer to judge a water level in the main body through variation of a capacitance value of the plurality of electrodes. Therethrough, the water level sensing apparatus more directly measures a water level, as compared to the conventional water level sensing apparatus, thus improving precision in water level measurement. Thereby, the water level sensing apparatus prevents unnecessary water supply and reduces energy consumption.

Abstract: A refrigerator, the temperature of the inside of which is uniformly controlled, and a control method thereof. The direction of an air flow in a storage chamber is periodically changed so as to uniformly distribute cool air in the storage chamber by interchanging roles of suction and discharge holes in various manners under various conditions, thereby preventing local supercooling and thus uniformly maintaining the internal temperature of the storage chamber.

Abstract: A heating cooker including an infrared ray detection device is disclosed. The heating cooker includes a body, an inner case disposed within the body, and provided therein with a cooking chamber to cook food, a detection hole formed at one side wall of the inner case, to allow an infrared ray generated in the cooking chamber to exit outwardly from the cooking chamber, a path change unit disposed in the vicinity of the detection hole, to change a path of the infrared ray passing through the detection hole, and an infrared sensor disposed to be spaced apart from the path change unit, to receive the infrared ray, the path of which has been changed. The path change unit is rotatable to enable the infrared sensor to receive infrared rays having different paths while being generated in different regions in the cooking chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a dryer and a drying method of the same. The dryer includes a condensing unit to change water vapor evaporated from a drying object into condensate water by cooling, a condensate water storage container in which the condensate water is stored, a water level sensing device to detect a level of the stored condensate water, and a microcomputer to calculate a change rate of condensation or of the condensate water level based on the detected water level and to determine a value of dryness of the drying object. The dryer effectively performs a drying operation based on the accurately detected value of dryness of the drying object.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a washing machine that detects the weight of laundry based on the displacement of a rotary tub and a control method thereof. The washing machine includes a rotary tub displaced according to the weight of laundry, at least one sensor module to detect the displacement of the rotary tub, and a controller to calculate the weight of the laundry according to the displacement of the rotary tub. The weight of the laundry is sensed according to the displacement of the rotary tub in which the laundry is directly placed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a washing machine that amplifies the displacement of a tub according to input of laundry such that the displacement of the tub is accurately sensed by a sensor module and a laundry amount detection apparatus thereof. The washing machine includes a housing forming an external appearance thereof, a tub provided in the housing to contain water, an amplification unit to amplify displacement of the tub, and a sensor module to sense weight of laundry using the amplified displacement of the tub.