With Timer Patents (Class 219/719)
  • Patent number: 11683866
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of kitchen appliances, and has disclosed a microwave oven, which comprises a cabinet and a door, a damper assembly is mounted on one side of the cabinet facing the door in a way that it produces damping force for preventing the door from closing when the door approaches to a closed position. In the present disclosure, a damper assembly is arranged on one side of the cabinet facing the door; thus, the damper assembly can effectively decrease the speed of collision of the door with the cabinet in the closing process when the door approaches to a closed position, and thereby greatly reduce the noise generated when the door is closed. In that way, not only the grade of the product is improved, but also the user experience and satisfaction is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignees: GUANGDONG MIDEA KITCHEN APPLIANCES MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Modam Joo, Li Hong
  • Patent number: 11632828
    Abstract: A cooking appliance and methods for operating the same in a crisp reheat cycle are provided. In one example aspect, the cooking appliance includes features for crisp reheating a food item that has been cooked and chilled thereafter. The cooking appliance includes a casing defining a cooking cavity configured to receive food items. The cooking appliance also includes a controller. The controller can access data that provides a plurality of crisp reheating instructions for operating the cooking appliance in a crisp reheat cycle for various food items. The controller retrieves a crisp reheating instruction associated with a food type selected by a user. The controller then commences the crisp reheat cycle by activating heating elements of the cooking appliance, such as a microwave module, an upper heater module, a lower heater module, and a convection module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew James Yuill, Judy Carol Hite, Sabrina Marie Hannah, Karen Marie Edberg, Brigid Lally Blocker
  • Patent number: 11520603
    Abstract: A method for configuring a cooking appliance by a terminal capable of exchanging data according to a communication protocol with the cooking appliance, the configuration method including creating and/or selecting a cooking program, the cooking program (prog), creating and/or selecting a desired cooking state corresponding to a state of progress of the implementation of the cooking program, determining cooking configuration data from the cooking program and/or the desired cooking state, and sending the cooking configuration data to the cooking appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventors: Laurent Blond, Sébastien Volatier, Antony Masson
  • Patent number: 11470867
    Abstract: A grain-popping machine and associated pod-based popping method is disclosed. The grain-popping is configured to receive a pod. Each pod includes a plurality of cells, with each cell preferably containing a single grain kernel or seed, flavoring, and a cooking medium such as oil or shortening. In a preferred embodiment, the pod is loaded into the grain-popping machine through a slot so that it is held in position adjacent to a heating element. The heating element is activated to begin a popping sequence. When each grain kernel or seed in the pod reaches popping temperature, it absorbs the flavoring in its cell and ejects through the bottom of the pod, which can be weakened to ease ejection, into a bowl positioned in a receiving area of the grain-popping machine. The pod is then removed and disposed of.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Opopop, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Roulier, Jonas Tempel, Gary Ashurst, Robert Clark, Tejinder Grewal
  • Patent number: 11006649
    Abstract: Structures and methods of using a microwave pasteurization device, as well as related non-linear waveguides. In some embodiments, an in-shell egg pasteurization device with a non-linear slotted waveguide. In some embodiments the non-linear slotted waveguide comprises shaped waveguide applicators. The shaped waveguide applicators may employ oval, lens, or plum shaped non-linear slots to improve efficiency and efficacy of pasteurizing in-shell eggs, live oysters, tomatoes, or blueberries while maintianly the quality and functional attributes of the raw product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Florida A&M University
    Inventors: Satyanarayan Dev, Vijaya Grama Seetharamiengar Raghavan, Yvan Gariepy, Valerie Orsat
  • Patent number: 8883234
    Abstract: A fermenter, a microwave oven including the fermenter, and a method of controlling the fermenter and microwave oven are provided. The fermenter includes a fermenter casing having one side open and defining a fermenting chamber, a fermenter door that selectively opens or closes the fermenting chamber, a thermoelectric element that applies heat to the fermenting chamber or absorbs heat from the fermenting chamber, and a current switching device that converts current supplied to the thermoelectric element such that the thermoelectric element absorbs or generates heat. The fermenter may be very conveniently employed and a microwave oven with various functions may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sung-Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 8796603
    Abstract: An appliance including a cabinet having a first PCB located therein, a door connected to the cabinet, the door being moveable between an open position and a closed position to open and close the cabinet, and a second PCB located in the door. In addition, at least one first connector is connected to the first PCB. At least one second connector is connected to the second PCB and is electronically connectable to the first connector. In particular, the second connector is electrically connected to the first connector when the door is in a substantially closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young Woo Lee, Wan Soo Kim, Hyun Jung Kim
  • Publication number: 20140076888
    Abstract: There is provided a device for curing an alignment film comprising a microwave heating chamber (1) and a microwave heating part (2) located within the microwave heating chamber (1); the microwave heating part (2) is used to perform microwave heating on the substrate (201) having alignment liquid to be cured located within the microwave heating chamber (1), until the alignment liquid to be cured is cured into an alignment film. Also, there is provided a method for curing an alignment film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Beijing BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Deqian Kong
  • Publication number: 20120234826
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for an oven timer of microwave ovens or hybrid ranges. The timer counts down to a zero time according to a programmed time entered at a control panel. The timer counts up for a cooling time that may be programmed for a precise cooling time or continue until a stop input is received when retrieving the item being cooked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Dimitrios Iordanoglou
  • Publication number: 20120138602
    Abstract: A high frequency cooking apparatus supplies electric power through a relay contact to a high frequency generator, sets cyclic ON time and OFF time of the relay contact based on set heating time and heating power, and controls the heating power of the high frequency generator. The high frequency cooking apparatus includes a means for determining whether the time corresponding to the last cycle in the heating time is more than the set ON time of the relay contact, and a means for increasing the ON time of the relay contact in a cycle just before the last cycle by the ON time of the relay contact in the last cycle and abbreviating the ON time of the relay contact in the last cycle, when the means determines that the time is not more than the set ON time of the relay contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventor: Seiichi Hirano
  • Publication number: 20120006812
    Abstract: A cooking appliance configured to perform a method for conducting at least one cooking process in a cooking chamber of the cooking appliance based on a multiple number of parameters that can be entered through an input device of the cooking appliance. Based on the parameters, at least one cooking product and/or cooking program and at least one starting and/or ending time of the cooking of at least one cooking product and/or for at least one cooking program and at least one cooking parameter can be selected. The appliance is further characterized by the fact that the cooking appliance proposes if and, if applicable, which cooking product can be cooked in addition to a cooking product already undergoing a cooking process under way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: RATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Manfred Breunig, Michael Greiner
  • Publication number: 20110284529
    Abstract: One embodiment consisting of food conservation units including cooling elements such as peltier units 30, fan 31, and vacuum 32. Embodiment also includes microwave components such as HV transformer/diode 71, capacitor 70, magnetron 25, vent hood 21, and stirrer 22 allowing food in compartment 20 to be cooked. These components are managed by front LCD head unit 10, turn click knob 13, and quick menu buttons 11-12. Embodiment is accessible through transparent microwave proof hinged door and can be made of multiple materials and in a variety of sizes and colors. Other components are described and shown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Ryan A. Karns
  • Patent number: 7863548
    Abstract: A method for preventing overheating of a microwave oven includes receiving information of a cooking condition and a cooking start command for current cooking, the cooking condition including a magnetron output level and a current cooking period, confirming pause duration from when preceding cooking was finished to when the current cooking is started, if it is determined that the magnetron output level is a preset magnetron output level or more, and determining a basic output period and a reference period for changing the magnetron output level corresponding to the confirmed pause duration, followed by operating the microwave oven at the preset magnetron output level after changing the magnetron output level to the preset magnetron output level, if it is determined that a driving period for changing the magnetron output level has passed the determined reference period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Seung Hoe Kim
  • Publication number: 20100276417
    Abstract: A cooker includes: a heating chamber on which a first object to be heated is placed; a heating plate on which a second object to be heated is placed; an upper heat source provided on an upper side of the heating chamber, and a lower heat source provided on a lower side of the heating chamber and including at least a high-frequency heat source; an operation unit configured to receive an input of information on a heating treatment; and a control unit configured to individually control the upper heat source and the lower heat source, based on the information on the heating treatment. The cooker further includes a reflecting portion provided below the heating plate and configured to reflect leftwards and rightwards high-frequency waves supplied from the high-frequency heat source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satomi Uchiyama, Fumiko Takayama, Kayoko Zougou
  • Patent number: 7501608
    Abstract: The present invention provides a microwave oven and a method of operating a microwave oven, which minimises user involvement when heating a food item to a desired target temperature. According to the invention, the initial temperature of the food item is measured prior to the heating process, and the required heating time is determined automatically based on the initial temperature, the target temperature, and the amount of food as entered by the user. In order to heat a food item to a desired target temperature, the user only needs to position a container for temperature measurement and enter the amount of food. In particular, the present invention is preferably adapted for heating of baby food, such as baby milk contained in a baby bottle, and in such case the target temperature is preferably preset to about 37° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Fredrik Hallgren, Patrik Rydin, Per Torngren
  • Publication number: 20090008385
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic cooker, and a method for a game using the same. According to the method for a game using the electronic cooker, when a cooking start command is input through a keypad, a microprocessor causes games, which have a game time equal to a cooking time among games stored in a memory, to be displayed on a display unit, and allows a user to select one of the games. The microprocessor performs control such that the cooking operation and the game can be simultaneously executed during the cooking time. When the cooking time elapses, the game is ended. Therefore, the method for a game using the electronic cooker has an advantage in that the user can play a game during a waiting time for cooking, thereby improving user's satisfaction in the cooking process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: Sung Ho Choi
  • Publication number: 20080217327
    Abstract: A portable cooking and heating device includes a housing and an inner chamber for receiving at least one of heatable products, heat, and microwave energy, such inner chamber being located within the housing at a predetermined location therein adjacent an outer periphery thereof. An access means provides access to such inner chamber. A mechanism is disposed within the housing for supplying at least one of heat and microwave energy to at least one of the inner chamber and such heatable products such that such heatable products are at least one of at least partially cooked and at least partially heated. A power source is operably connected to such mechanism for supplying at least one of heat and microwave energy for supplying power thereto. A handle member for carrying the device is operably connected to a predetermined location on an outer surface of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventor: Charles E. Herrera
  • Patent number: 7420145
    Abstract: A method for preventing overheating of a microwave oven including a controller for controlling an output level of a magnetron is disclosed. The method includes: a) receiving information of cooking conditions and a cooking start command input by a user, the cooking conditions including an output level of the magnetron for subsequent cooking, b) detecting a pausing period of time from a time of finishing preceding cooking to a time of starting the subsequent cooking if it is determined that the output level of the magnetron is greater than a preset output level thereof, and c) operating the microwave oven at the preset output level after changing the output level to the preset output level according to the detected pausing period. According to this method, components of the microwave oven are effectively prevented from being overheated while maintaining cooking efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Seung Hoe Kim
  • Patent number: 7267833
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method automatically cook food, for example, a hulled grain such as buckwheat, thereby conveniently providing the uniform and optimal cooking quality of the food to a user. The cooking apparatus includes a cooking cavity that contains food to be cooked and water therein, and a heating unit that heats the food and the water. The cooking apparatus further includes a control unit operated in such a way as to heat the food and the water at a preset initial output of the heating unit, first to reduce the output of the heating unit to a first reduced output and allow the heated high temperature water to be absorbed into the food after a first preset time has elapsed, and second, to reduce the output of the heating unit to a second reduced output and cook an inside of the food using the high temperature water absorbed into the food after the water has simmered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Chull Shon, Boris V. Rayskiy, Tai Eun Kim
  • Patent number: 7268328
    Abstract: Toaster cum microwave oven having a heater for toasting bread, including a memory for storing a voltage level to a heater according to the function of the toaster the user selects, a temperature sensor for sensing an inside temperature of the toaster, and a microcomputer for controlling a toasting time period according to a kind and a toasting level of bread the user selects, and an inside temperature of the toaster, and controlling the microwave oven according to a command received through the first key input part, thereby permitting toasting bread to a desired degree of toasting regardless of the inside temperature and continued user of the toaster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Byeong Yong Lee, Dong Hun Youn, Young Jin Oh
  • Patent number: 7202454
    Abstract: A method for the determination of a turning time of at least one cooking product, to which heat is supplied from one side during a cooking process includes a) determination of a first temperature TA in the cooking product at the beginning of the cooking process at an initial time point tA as well as of a set temperature TE of the cooking product which must exist at the end of the cooking process at the end time tE; b) acquiring of a first temperature difference between the set temperature Tset and the first temperature TA; c) determination of at least one actual temperature Tactual in the cooking product at several times during the cooking process; d) acquiring of the time of turning tT as the time at which a second temperature difference between the set temperature Tset and the actual temperature Tactual reaches a certain fraction of the first temperature difference; and e) outputting a signal when the time of turning tT is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventors: Peter Wiedemann, Klaus Altenburger, Helen Podestat
  • Patent number: 7135662
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a microwave oven, including a magnetron generating microwaves and a sensor sensing the state of air in the cooking cavity of the oven. The cooking period is determined by searching one of two data tables in accordance with a determination result after determining whether food to be cooked is included in ascending slope-type foods or descending slope-type foods. The control method and apparatus remarkably reduces a deviation in the cooking periods by distinguishing the ascending slope-type foods from the descending slope-type foods. The control method and apparatus allows the microwave oven to appropriately cook food for a period of time which substantially matches a practically required cooking period, thus providing a good cooking result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Chull Shon, Won-Woo Lee, So-Hyun Lee, Keun-Seuk Oh
  • Patent number: 7132633
    Abstract: Toaster cum microwave oven having a heater for toasting bread, including a memory for storing a voltage level to a heater according to the function of the toaster the user selects, a temperature sensor for sensing an inside temperature of the toaster, and a microcomputer for controlling a toasting time period according to a kind and a toasting level of bread the user selects, and an inside temperature of the toaster, and controlling the microwave oven according to a command received through the first key input part, thereby permitting toasting bread to a desired degree of toasting regardless of the inside temperature and continued user of the toaster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Byeong Yong Lee, Dong Hun Youn, Young Jin Oh
  • Patent number: 7117937
    Abstract: A combined refrigerator-oven (20) includes an enclosed chamber (28) having a top wall (22), a bottom wall (24), and vertical side walls (26). The refrigerator-oven (20) further includes a heating unit (50) and a refrigeration unit (70). A controller (118) is in communication with the heating unit (50) and the refrigeration unit (70). When a cooling mode is selected, the controller (118) activates the refrigeration unit (70) to deliver cool air (62) into the enclosed chamber (28). When a heating mode is selected, the controller (118) activates the heating unit (50) to produce heat (66) in the enclosed chamber (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Inventors: Ron D. Clark, Mark A. George
  • Patent number: 7067777
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined toaster and microwave oven that can obtain uniformly toasted slices of bread even when the slices of the bread are toasted successively several times. The combined toaster and microwave oven includes a key input unit for selecting user's favorite kind of the bread and baking level, a memory for storing heating time of the heaters according to the favorite kind of the bread and the favorite baking level, a temperature sensor for sensing internal temperature of the toaster, a controller for counting an elapsed time for the heaters to operate after the heaters stop and adjusting the heating time of the heaters according to the counted time and the internal temperature of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Byeong Yong Lee, Sung Un Shin, Shin Jae Jeong, Won Kyoung Park
  • Patent number: 7053347
    Abstract: A microwave oven, having a humidity sensor and a voltage detecting unit for detecting a change in an output voltage of the humidity sensor, includes: a control unit for receiving a compensated voltage according to a change in temperature supplied from the humidity sensor and a detected voltage supplied from the voltage detecting unit, and determining a cooking time based on a voltage difference between the detected voltage and the compensated voltage. With this configuration, an optimal cooking time based on a being cooked can be calculated by use of the humidity sensor, and the cooking time can be controlled in a stable manner relative to external noise or irregular changes in humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-woo Lee, Gun-su Kim, So-hyun Lee, Jong-chull Shon, Kum-chul Hwang
  • Patent number: 7009147
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a controller for establishing a plurality of operating modes for heating an oven cavity. Specifically, the controller establishes one of a pre-heat mode, a ready mode, a first low power mode and a second low power mode for controlling a temperature of the oven cavity. Upon selecting a temperature for the oven cavity, the controller operates a radiant heating device, a convection fan and a convection heating device at full power to establish the selected temperature. After the selected temperature is achieved, the controller switches to a ready mode and reduces heat output of both the radiant heating device and the convection heating device, while also reducing fan speed. After respective periods of time in which a door of the appliance is not opened, the controller switches to first and second low power modes to conserve energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Schulte
  • Patent number: 6998591
    Abstract: In a high frequency heating apparatus, a microcomputer inputs the phase signal of a commercial AC power supply and determines whether a timer switch in a mechanical timer apparatus is in ON-state to determine whether the high frequency heating apparatus is in a heating-time set state. If so, the microcomputer turns on a switch that controls the conduction between the commercial AC power supply and a high voltage transformer at such a timing that minimizes the rush current in accordance with the phase of the commercial AC power supply, thereby suppressing the rush current, allowing the user to visually confirm the remaining heating time, and realizing a cost reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohei Ito, Koji Ueda
  • Patent number: 6956190
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a water supply controlling method of a high-frequency heating apparatus and the high-frequency heating apparatus wherein water supplied to a heating chamber as steam is controlled in the quantity and the quality and power can be saved. To achieve the object, it is judged whether there is the required quantity of water supplied as steam in cooking in a water tank or not and in case it is judged that the water is short, request for replacing water in the water tank is annunciated. Elapsed time since water in the water tank was last replaced is monitored and in case the elapsed time exceeds predetermined time, request for replacing the water is annunciated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Sano, Nobuhiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6936801
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a control panel which includes a rotary dial for selecting and entering control information to the cooking appliance, and a control interface for providing a prompt to guide a user through a selection process of the control information. The control information includes at least one of a cooking mode, a food type, a food weight or size, a cooking temperature, and a degree of doneness. The cooking appliance is operatively responsive to the selection of the control information from the rotary dial before and during cooking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jesse Spalding Head
  • Patent number: 6878914
    Abstract: A timer for a microwave oven includes an actuating lever operating auxiliary power switch when pushed by a power control cam installed in a timer casing. A pushing unit is installed adjacent to the power control cam to move the power control cam up and down and pushes the power control cam so as to disconnect the actuating lever from the power control cam and hold the power switch on when a power level of the microwave oven is set to a maximum using a power control shaft. The pushing unit has a shaft part extending toward an intermediate gear disposed between the power contact shaft and the power cam. A compressing projection is provided on the intermediate gear pushing the shaft part of the pushing unit to move the power control cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Heung-Yi Kim
  • Patent number: 6878912
    Abstract: A method of controlling a microwave oven, in which the microwave oven includes a cooking chamber for containing food therein, a cooling fan which circulates air, a magnetron which generates microwaves and a humidity sensor which senses humidity of the cooking chamber. Cooking instruction(s) may be preset or set manually by a user. A first cooking operation is performed while preventing water from boiling off/to overflow by controlling an output power of the magnetron according to the set cooking instruction(s). A time required to perform a later cooking is set according to a time required to perform the first cooking operation. A second cooking operation is performed for the later cook time while controlling the output power of the magnetron to reduce the overall cook time of the food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics, Co., LTD
    Inventors: Sung-Ho Lee, Chul Kim, Young-Won Cho, Tae-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 6878913
    Abstract: A method of controlling a microwave oven, in which the microwave oven includes a cooking chamber for containing food therein, a cooling fan which circulates air, a magnetron which generates microwaves and a humidity sensor which senses humidity of the cooking chamber. Cooking instruction(s) may be preset or set manually by a user. A first cooking operation is performed according to the set cooking instruction(s). A cook time required to perform a second cooking operation is set based on a time required to perform the first cooking operation. The second cooking operation is performed for the cook time while controlling the output power of the magnetron to perform a rapid cooking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., LTD
    Inventors: Sung-Ho Lee, Chul Kim, Young-Won Cho, Tae-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 6875968
    Abstract: A method of controlling a microwave oven, in which the microwave oven includes a cooking chamber for containing food therein, a cooling fan which circulates air, a magnetron which generates microwaves and a humidity sensor which senses humidity of the cooking chamber. Cooking instruction(s) may be preset or set manually by a user. A first cooking operation is performed while preventing water from boiling off/to overflow by controlling an output power of the magnetron according to the set cooking instruction(s). A time required to perform a second cooking operation is set based on a time required to perform the first cooking operation. The second cooking operation is performed for the second cooking time while steam boiling the food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Ho Lee, Chul Kim, Young-Won Cho, Tae-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 6806449
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of controlling a microwave oven includes performing a first heating until detection values of a humidity sensor reach a reference value, wherein the humidity sensor senses humidity of water vapor discharged from a cooking chamber. A second heating is performed, lower than the first heating, after the detection values reach the reference value using an output power from a magnetron. A surrounding humidity condition of the microwave oven is determined. The reference value of the first heating is reset so as to cook food appropriately according to the determined humidity condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Ho Lee, Young-Won Cho, Han-Seong Kang, Kyung-Hoo Hahm, Too-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 6791070
    Abstract: A method of performing a simmer cooking operation in a microwave oven is based on detected levels of humidity from a sensor and an algorithm automatically calculating a cooking time such that a desired cooking operation is optimally performed. A third heating operation is performed at about 30% of the maximum power level of the microwave oven. The third heating operation is performed for an amount of time equal to a sum of an amount of time during which first and second heating operations are performed adjusted by a predetermined constant. The total heating time is calculated and controlled by adding the amount of time during which the third heating operation is performed to the time during which the first and second heating operations are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Kwang Hwa Kim
  • Patent number: 6747375
    Abstract: A time control unit having both a time base dial that allows the user to set the cycle time duration and a duty cycle dial that allows the user to set the percentage of time a load connected to the time control unit in activated during each cycle time. The time base dial includes a series of discrete time base settings that increase non-linearly from a minimum setting to a maximum setting. The duty cycle dial also includes a series of discrete duty cycle settings ranging between a maximum and a minimum duty cycle value. The amount of increase in the percentage of the cycle time between successive duty cycle settings is smaller near the minimum (0%) and maximum (100%) settings and larger near the midpoint between the minimum and the maximum settings such that the duty cycle dial has greater resolution near the maximum and minimum settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware
    Inventor: William P. Tanguay
  • Publication number: 20040104225
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus having heaters which performs cooking by taking a remaining heat of the heaters in a cooking cavity into consideration if food is cooked using a heating method through the heaters. The cooking apparatus performs cooking based on an accumulative temperature value of the cooking cavity in place of a cooking time, thereby optimally cooking foods even though cooking operations are continuously carried out. The cooking apparatus finishes the cooking if the accumulative temperature value of the cooking cavity reaches a temperature value set to correspond to a cooking level for toast, which is selected by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Won-Woo Lee
  • Publication number: 20040035862
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus having heaters and a cooking chamber defined in the cooking apparatus, the heaters are provided in the cooking chamber, and two or more buttons are provided representing different cooking temperatures. A temperature of the cooking chamber is set by pushing one of the two or more buttons. One of a plurality of cooking modes is selected depending on a kind of food, and each of the cooking temperatures is represented by one of the two or more buttons corresponds to each of the cooking modes. Therefore, setting various cooking temperatures depending on the kind of food is possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yun-Ic Hwang
  • Patent number: 6696676
    Abstract: An oven includes both radiant cooking elements and a microwave cooking element that are controlled to reduce cooking time in relation to known radiant ovens. The oven is operable in a speed cooking mode utilizing radiant and microwave cooking elements, a microwave cooking mode utilizing only the magnetron, and a radiant cooking mode utilizing only radiant lamps. In addition, and using a time adjustment algorithm, the total energy into the food is maintained constant for input voltages in a range between about 108 Volts and 132 Volts to suitably cook food even when the input voltage varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Todd Vincent Graves, Dennis Patrick Kill, Jesse Spalding Head, Charles Ray Smith
  • Patent number: 6670591
    Abstract: A microwave oven performs a cooking operation in one of several cooking modes having a first cooking time period and a second cooking time period. The first cooking time period is determined in accordance with an output value of a sensor which senses a state of air in a cooking cavity of the microwave oven. The second cooking time period is determined in accordance with the first cooking time period such that the first and second cooking time periods are expressed by a functional relation. The cooking modes include a standard mode with a standard second cooking time period, a high mode with a longer cooking time than the standard second cooking time period, and a low mode with a shorter cooking time than the standard second cooking time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Chull Shon, Won-Woo Lee, So-Hyun Lee, Keun-Seuk Oh
  • Patent number: 6657172
    Abstract: A high frequency heating apparatus equipped with the oven hood comprises a heating chamber, a power supply apparatus for controlling high frequency output power by way of a semiconductor element, ventilation, and illumination for illuminating an object to be heated by another heat-cooking apparatus. Since the high frequency output power is controlled in such a manner that an optimum heating output power is applied in a linear manner for a proper time period, the heating output power can be controlled in the linear manner and the high frequency heating apparatus can be largely reduced in weight. As a result, the highest-speed heat-cooking operation by receiving the maximum high frequency output power can be realized, and the optimum cooking performance can be realized. Both the installation performance of the appliance to the mounting wall plane and the safety performance achieved by stably fixing the appliance can also be largely improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Yamauchi, Toshiyuki Ishiguro, Hirofumi Yoshimura, Fumihiko Migaki, Ikuhiro Inada, Masato Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20030192887
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a microwave oven, including a magnetron generating microwaves and a sensor sensing the state of air in the cooking cavity of the oven. The cooking period is determined by searching one of two data tables in accordance with a determination result after determining whether food to be cooked is included in ascending slope-type foods or descending slope-type foods. The control method and apparatus remarkably reduces a deviation in the cooking periods by distinguishing the ascending slope-type foods from the descending slope-type foods. The control method and apparatus allows the microwave oven to appropriately cook food for a period of time which substantially matches a practically required cooking period, thus providing a good cooking result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Jong-Chull Shon, Won-Woo Lee, So-Hyun Lee, Keun-Seuk Oh
  • Publication number: 20030189040
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of controlling a microwave oven includes performing a first heating until detection values of a humidity sensor reach a reference value, wherein the humidity sensor senses humidity of water vapor discharged from a cooking chamber. A second heating is performed, lower than the first heating, after the detection values reach the reference value using an output power from a magnetron. A surrounding humidity condition of the microwave oven is determined. The reference value of the first heating is reset so as to cook food appropriately according to the determined humidity condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Ho Lee, Young-Won Cho, Hon-Seong Kang, Kyung-Hoo Hahm, Too-Soo Kim
  • Publication number: 20030146209
    Abstract: A method of controlling a microwave oven, in which the microwave oven includes a cooking chamber for containing food therein, a cooling fan which circulates air, a magnetron which generates microwaves and a humidity sensor which senses humidity of the cooking chamber. Cooking instruction(s) may be preset or set manually by a user. A first cooking operation is performed while preventing water from boiling off/to overflow by controlling an output power of the magnetron according to the set cooking instruction(s). A time required to perform a later cooking is set according to a time required to perform the first cooking operation. A second cooking operation is performed for the later cook time while controlling the output power of the magnetron to reduce the overall cook time of the food.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Ho Lee, Chul Kim, Young-Won Cho, Tae-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 6593556
    Abstract: A microwave oven accumulatively counts a cooking time by decreasing the cooking time where an actual cooking operation is not carried out, and various electrical parts, including a high voltage transformer, are cooled. The microwave oven increases the cooking time where a power relay of the microwave oven is actually driven and the cooking operation is carried out. Accordingly, the microwave oven counts the cooking time in consideration of cooking conditions. Additionally, the microwave oven decreases an output power level where the counted cooking time has reached a preset overheating prevention time, and compulsorily recovers the output power level to perform the remaining cooking operation where a cooling period has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun-Beom Kim
  • Publication number: 20030080116
    Abstract: The invention may be broadly conceptualized as an approach in which a microwave oven (120) receives a plurality of program recipes from a network that are executed by scanning with a scanner (1326) a symbol and associating the scanned symbol with one of the plurality of program recipes while keeping a real-time clock (1308) synchronized and correctly set by receiving period time synchronization messages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventor: Charles G. Williamson
  • Patent number: 6538240
    Abstract: A microwave oven, and method of controlling the same, including a magnetron generating high-frequency waves and a sensor detecting the environmental state of air in a cooking cavity. During a first cooking time, outputs of the sensor are sampled at predetermined periods, with the duration of first cooking period being calculated, by a controller, based on the result of the sampling. Thereafter, a second cooking time is calculated, by the controller, based on the first cooking time and the kind of food. A cooking operation is then completed for the second cooking time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Chull Shon, Keun-Seuk Oh, So-Hyun Lee, Won-Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 6532195
    Abstract: Clock saver apparatus and methods which enable the restoration of clock operations in the event that a power outage is brief and without requiring that an operator reset the clock are described. In one embodiment, the clock is restored to a time setting equal to the time at which the power outage was detected. For example, if the power outage is detected at 11:08:32 a.m., then the restored time after restoration of power is set at 11:08:32 a.m. In another embodiment, the clock is restored to a time setting equal to the time at which the power outage was detected plus the determined time duration of the power outage. For example, if the power outage is detected at 11:08:32 a.m., and if the power outage duration is 15 seconds, then the restored time after restoration of power is set at 11:08:47 a.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jesse Spalding Head
  • Patent number: 6525301
    Abstract: A speed cooking oven includes a combination of radiant cooking units and a microwave cooking unit manually controllable using a rotary dial input selector coupled to a control panel for user selection of desired oven features. An alphanumeric display displays prompts and information to guide users through a feature selection process. A microprocessor executes a cooking algorithm based upon user defined constants entered via the rotary dial according to prompts on the alphanumeric display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Todd Vincent Graves, Dennis Patrick Kill, Jesse Spalding Head, Charles Ray Smith