Abstract: A locking mechanism and a door opening control method are provided for household appliances. The locking mechanism is provided on a front door panel of a door of a cooking machine and used for controlling the opening and closing of the door and includes: a lever which is mounted on the back surface of the front door panel and at least a portion of which protrudes from an opening provided on the front door panel to the front surface of the front door panel; an electromagnet which is mounted on the back surface of the front door panel and may be in a locked or unlocked state with respect to the lever. The locking of the door of the cooking machine may be realized through the cooperation between the electromagnet and the lever. Real-time control of the door may be realized to better ensure safety of the user.

Abstract: A control method includes controlling a lever, a pusher and a motor so as to arrange the same in a correct position when electric power is supplied to the home appliance, or the user turns on the home appliance. Abnormalities involving an automatic opening of the door through changes in a return/stop switch and an opening sensing switch while the motor operates so as to open the door may be confirmed.

Abstract: A domestic appliance (for example, a microwave oven), comprising: a housing; a front door; a retention mechanism (for example including a latch), located within the housing and engageable with the door; wherein the retention mechanism is movable between a first configuration, in which the door is retained in a closed position, and a second configuration, in which the door is non-engaged; an electromechanical actuator (for example a relay), adapted to move the retention mechanism out of said first configuration; and a controller (for example a microprocessor coupled to the relay, the microprocessor being operable in responsive to one or more signals to activate the relay, and thereby release the door from the closed position. Under spring bias, the door thus opens to about 30-45 degrees. The microprocessor-controlled door opening may be operable in three or more modes, including: actuation of a touch switch, remote control, or a microwave end of cooking.

Abstract: A microwave oven has an oven chamber, a door hinged to the chamber, and at least one door position switch. The switch provides a signal on door position to a central process unit of the oven. A door position switch assembly includes the switch mounted on the door and adjacent a sliding cover element that is adapted to protect the switch in an open configuration of the door and a first protruding element adapted to move the sliding cover element when the door is closed on the oven chamber in order to make the switch accessible. Additionally, a second protruding element may be included that is adapted to actuate the switch in its accessible configuration.

Abstract: A door switch apparatus for a microwave oven that disables the microwave system while not requiring any separate “fingers” or tongs on the door face to reach into the main body of the oven to activate a switch. The switch uses stackable switches activated by a single switch lever. The switch lever is preferably made from a solid piece of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMV to keep the accuracy of the angular dimensions between the surfaces contacting the door hinge arm and the arm of switch to remain fixed.

Abstract: A method of delivering energy to an object in a cavity may include transmitting electromagnetic energy to the cavity at a plurality of frequencies. At each of the plurality of frequencies, the method may also include determining an efficiency of energy transfer into the object and adjusting power transmitted at each of the plurality of frequencies such that a multiplicative product of the efficiency and the power transmitted is substantially constant across each of the plurality of frequencies.

Abstract: A microwave oven having an oven chamber, a door hinged to said chamber and at least on door position switch. The switch provides a signal on door position to a central process unit of the oven. A door position switch assembly includes a switch mounted on the door and adjacent a sliding cover element that is adapted to protect the switch in an open configuration of the door and a first protruding element adapted to move the sliding cover element when the door is closed on the oven chamber in order to make the switch accessible. Additionally, a second protruding element may be included that is adapted to actuate the switch in its accessible configuration.

Abstract: A cooking device including a cooking cavity, a fan located in the cooking device, the fan being configured to force air into the cooking cavity, and at least one optical heater to supply optical wave energy to heat the forced air provided by the fan.

Abstract: An opening/closing structure of a door of a microwave oven is disclosed. The microwave oven includes a main body having a cooking chamber, a door link-coupled to the main body to open or close the cooking chamber, at least one link member including a cam portion hingedly coupled to the main body so as to be rotated when the door is opened or closed, and a link control device to press the cam portion to control rotation of the link member. Accordingly, the door can be securely opened or closed without rattling.

Abstract: A door opening and closing system for a electric oven is provided. The system includes: at least one latch provided at one side surface of a door; a door interlocking structure having a rotary lever, a switch and an elastic spring to sense opening and closing of the door, the rotary lever being pushed by the latch to rotate about one side, the switch sequentially contacting with the rotary lever, and the elastic spring allowing the rotary lever to be supported in one direction; and a door locking structure having a motor, a rotary unit and a latch guide unit, the motor rotating after it is sensed that the door is closed by the door interlocking structure, the rotary unit engaged with and rotated about a rotary shaft of the motor, and the latch guide unit being associated with the rotary unit to change a rotation motion of the rotary unit into a straight-line motion such that the door is latched to the latch to prevent an erroneous opening of the door.

Abstract: A high frequency heating apparatus includes a switch attachment member for mounting switches, a switch operating member rotatably installed at the switch attachment member and a stopper for regulating the rotation of the switch operating member. The switch attachment member has a hole for accommodating therein a hook of a door key and a portion thereof functions to cover at least one switch.

Abstract: A microwave oven, is designed such that its switches accurately sense whether a door is open or not when opening or closing the door, thus preventing microwaves from leaking out. The microwave oven includes a hook unit, a hook locking unit, a locking step, and a sensing switch. The hook unit is mounted to the door functioning to open or close a cabinet. The hook locking unit is installed in the cabinet to engage with the hook unit. The locking step is provided in the hook locking unit to catch the hook unit when the hook unit enters the hook locking unit. The sensing switch is installed in the hook locking unit to sense whether the hook unit enters the hook locking unit. A screw holding unit is provided on a predetermined portion of the locking step to hold a setscrew which functions to mount the hook locking unit to the cabinet.

Abstract: A high frequency heating apparatus includes a switch attachment member for mounting switches, a switch operating member rotatably installed at the switch attachment member and a stopper for regulating the rotation of the switch operating member. The switch attachment member has a hole for accommodating therein a hook of a door key and a portion thereof functions to cover at least one switch.

Abstract: A normal position detecting mechanism for detecting a position of a functional component in a heating apparatus includes a drive member mounted on the functional component, a drive unit assembly mounted on the heating apparatus, and a switch for generating a detection signal. The driven unit assembly includes a switch actuating member, a bracket for supporting the switch actuating member, and a biasing member arranged between the mounting bracket and the switch. The biasing member applies a bias force for driving the switch actuating member against the direction for generating the detection signal. The drive member is positioned facing the switch actuating member when the functional component is in its normal position so that the drive member provides a force to move the switch against the biasing force to generate a detection signal.

Abstract: This invention is a thermal management method for efficient, rapid, controllable and uniform thermal management over a wide temperature range. The method integrates a thermal source, thermal sink and a thermal diffuser. According to the invention, a thermal diffuser is positioned stationary relative to the wafer surface and coupled to a thermal source and a thermal sink, which are also stationary relative to the wafer surface. The thermal sink comprises a heat-carrying media with a controllable temperature. The wafer is heated from a first processing temperature to a second processing temperature during a heating time interval and then cooled to the first processing temperature from the second processing temperature during a cooling time interval. During heating and cooling, the wafer is constantly held in a fixed position. Zonal control of the thermal source and non-uniform flow of the thermal sink enable sensitive mitigation of thermal non-uniformity on a heating surface.

Abstract: A system for uniformly and controllably heating the active surface of a semiconductor wafer or substrate during processing. The present invention may include a radiation energy source provided, which is enclosed or substantially surrounded by a reflective/absorptive surface, which both reflects and absorbs the radiation, emitted from the energy source. In accordance with the present invention, the resultant energy output as seen by the wafer is substantially free of non-uniformity.

Abstract: A safety device for a microwave oven capable of improving the assembly of the microwave oven by reducing a length of a door latch and thus securing more spacious assembly space for other parts of microwave oven. The safety device for the microwave oven includes a door key movably mounted on a door of the microwave oven and having a key switch portion protruding toward the front side of the cabinet; and a plurality of switches to be turned on/off in accordance with the reception/withdrawal of the key switch portion to selectively connect a power supply with a driving circuit, and one of the plurality of switches that is arranged in the innermost position of the device chamber is operated directly by the key switch portion.

Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus operates in either a first mode or a second mode, that allow different amounts of electric power to be supplied to a load and a control circuit for driving and controlling the load. The voltage applied to a primary coil of a transformer is lower in the second mode than in the first mode. In another apparatus, no electric power is supplied to a control circuit for driving and controlling a heating member and other circuits when the apparatus is in a standby state. However, when the user operates an operation member for opening the door of a heating chamber, electric power is supplied.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting an oven switch mounted in a retracted position that is engaged by a probe only when the oven door is closed. A post and a strap restrict access to the access entry, the strap forming a socket that receives an inserted projecting member and restricts its movement to a direction away from the direction of switch actuation. In the preferred embodiment, the strap is a resiliently five sheet metal strip mounted so that the unmounted end that is resiliently urged against the post restricting the access opening. Nevertheless, the access entry freely admits a probe, preferably carried by the door, that is resiliently biased to displacement in that direction and engages the retracted actuator arm of the retracted switch upon complete closure of the oven door.

Abstract: A microwave oven comprises a heating compartment 3, a door 4 having a door key 6 for closing the front opening of the heating compartment 3, a hook spacer 13 manipulated by the door 4, a door hook 9 to be engaged with the door key 6, and switches 10, 11, 12 turned on or off by the door key 6 and hook spacer 13, wherein the door key 6 is made of a resin filled with at least one of acicular crystals of potassium titanate, calcium metasilicate, magnesium pyroborate, barium titanate, and zinc oxide of which Mohs's hardness is lower than that of glass fiber, with the diameter of acicular crystal being 0.1 .mu.m or more and 50 .mu.m or less, and the door hook 9 to be engaged with the door key 6 is made of a resin material filled with glass fiber, with the resin surface roughness of the door key 6 being smaller than the resin surface roughness of the door hook 9, thereby not required to apply grease on the sliding parts of the door key 6 and door hook 9.

Abstract: A door lock mechanism with a duct is disclosed, which has a duct section, a first lock part, a link bar part, a link bar part guiding part, a second lock part and an engagement part. The link bar part is formed in a rectangular bar shape and has a plurality of engagement grooves. One end of the link bar part is fixedly connected to the other end of the first lock part. The link bar part guiding part is formed in a rectangular bar shape of which center portion is hollow to form an insertion groove. The upper portion of one side of the link bar part guiding part has an engagement hole, and the link bar part guiding part is long enough for the link bar part to be fully inserted thereinto. The link bar part is inserted from the other end of the link bar part guiding part and each of the plurality of engagement grooves become correspondent to the engagement hole in turn when the link bar part is inserted into the insertion groove of the link bar part guiding part.

Abstract: A microwave oven includes a cooking chamber closed by a door. The magnetron is operated by a control mechanism which includes a circuit board and safety switches which permit the magnetron to be operated only when the door is closed. The opening and closing of the door causes a switch-actuating mechanism to be operated for turning the safety switches on or off. The safety switches, together with a lamp for illuminating the cooking chamber, are mounted on the circuit board. The circuit board is arranged horizontally, with the switches and lamp being mounted on a bottom surface thereof.

Abstract: A microwave oven having a cavity and a door for closing off the cavity. The oven is fitted with a pressure actuated safety catch device which prevents opening of the door as a consequence of a sudden pressure increase in the cavity. The sudden pressure increase in the cavity is used to activate the safety catch device which catches the locking device of the door.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus, a latching construction therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the latching construction comprising a frame carrying a movable latch member and a drive unit operatively interconnected to the latch member to move the latch member between the latching and unlatching positions thereof, the drive unit comprising a cylinder having opposite ends and a movable piston extending from one of the opposite ends and being operatively interconnected to the latch member, the drive unit having an actuator to extend the piston so as to be adapted to move the latch member from its non-latching position thereof to its latching position thereof when the actuator is first actuated for a door locking operation thereof, the drive unit having a rotatable cam operatively interconnected to the piston and to the latch member so as to be adapted to permit the piston to be retracted after the latch member has been moved to the latching position thereof by the first actuation of the actuating unit while

Abstract: A cooking apparatus, a latching construction therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the latching construction comprising a frame carrying a movable latch member and a drive unit operatively interconnected to the latch member to move the latch member between the latching and unlatching positions thereof, the drive unit comprising a cylinder having opposite ends and a movable piston extending from one of the opposite ends and being operatively interconnected to the latch member, the drive unit having an actuator to extend the piston so as to be adapted to move the latch member to its latching position thereof and to retract the piston so as to be adapted to move the latch member to the non-latching position thereof.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus, a latching construction therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the latching construction comprising a frame carrying a movable latch member and a drive unit operatively interconnected to the latch member to move the latch member between the latching and unlatching positions thereof, the drive unit comprising a cylinder having opposite ends and a movable piston extending from one of the opposite ends and being operatively interconnected to the latch member, the drive unit having an actuator to extend the piston so as to be adapted to move the latch member from its non-latching position thereof to its latching position thereof when the actuator is first actuated for a door locking operation thereof, the drive unit having an additional unit adapted to cause the piston to be retracted after the latch member has been moved to the latching position thereof by the first activation of the actuating unit while maintaining the latch member in its latching position until the actuating

Abstract: Disclosed is a microwave oven with an automatic door control device. Novel door latching/opening device which uses permanent magnets and electromagnets is provided in place of hook-type door latches and slots on a oven wall. Door state detector is also provided in which the existing permanent magnets and electromagnets rather than a separate mechanical switch are utilized to discriminate the door closed state from the door open state. Further, a processing device is employed to control the operation of the door latching/opening device and microwave energy generator in response to the input signals from the door state detector and the door open switch.