Abstract: A microwave oven includes a humidity sensor, a main-outlet and a sub-outlet formed at opposite sidewalls of a cooking cavity such that the cooking cavity communicates with the atmosphere through the main-outlet and the sub-outlet. The sub-outlet is installed in a machine room adjacent an air inlet side of a cooling fan. The humidity sensor is installed in the machine room at a position adjacent to the sub-outlet and senses the humidity of air inside the cooking cavity by sensing the humidity of a part of the air discharged from the cooking cavity through the sub-outlet. The surface of the humidity sensor is less likely to be easily contaminated by the air exhausted from the cooking cavity, moisture deposited on the surface of the humidity sensor 60 is quickly evaporated so that the humidity sensor performs its desired operation even when the microwave oven sequentially performs several cooking processes.

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.

Abstract: A microwave oven includes a magnetron to generate microwaves and a cooking chamber to contain food to be cooked using the generated microwaves. The microwave oven further includes a humidity detector to detect moisture formed from the food being cooked. The humidity detector is provided at air outlets of the cooking chamber, and includes first and second electrodes formed on a board to be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval to form a gap therebetween. The control unit of the microwave oven controls the cooking operation of the microwave oven according to the output of the humidity detector.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a water level sensor. The water level sensor includes a reference electrode comprised of a plurality of electrode plates to detect electric conductivity of water filling a space between the electrode plates of the reference electrode. A measuring electrode is comprised of a plurality of electrode plates, which are extended along a length of a water tub to be longer than the electrode plates of the reference electrode and spaced apart from the electrode plates of the reference electrode to detect electric conductivity of water filling a space between the electrode plates of the measuring electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a microwave oven with a magnetic field detecting device. The microwave oven includes a magnetron for generating microwaves and a wave guide for guiding the microwaves to a cooking chamber. A detection opening is formed in one side of the wave guide to allow a magnetic field generated by standing waves formed in the wave guide to be discharged from the wave guide. The magnetic field detecting device is formed on a board mounted on the wave guide to detect the magnetic field discharged through the detection opening.

Abstract: A data obtaining method for a microwave oven for processing a cooking status of food detected by a sensor into data, including the steps of: detecting data from food for a predetermined time period; calculating a summation of the detected data; and subtracting data about characteristics of the microwave oven which are prestored in the microwave oven from the detected data.

Abstract: A data obtaining method for a microwave oven for processing a cooking status of food detected by a sensor into data, including the steps of: detecting data from food for a predetermined time period; calculating a summation of the detected data; and subtracting data about characteristics of the microwave oven which are prestored in the microwave oven from the detected data.

Abstract: A microwave oven has a stationary wave magnetic field detecting device. The microwave oven includes an antenna sensor having a loop portion which is protruded into a waveguide of the microwave oven, and a wire whose one end is grounded at the waveguide, wherein the wire of the antenna sensor is grounded at an outer side of the waveguide.

Abstract: An automatic cooking control method for a microwave oven using data pattern of food, including the steps of: (a) collecting data outputted from a data detecting section for a predetermined time; (b) comparing the collected data with at least one prestored data pattern; and (c) selecting the data pattern among the prestored data pattern that is most similar with the collected data, and performing a cooking operation corresponding to the selected data pattern. When the data collected for the predetermined time corresponds to a no-load pattern, the microwave oven stops the cooking operation. Without separate external data input about weight or physical status of the food in the cooking chamber, the microwave oven automatically selects the most proper cooking process for the food in the cooking chamber by comparing the data about the food in the cooking chamber with the data patterns of the various foods prestored in the microwave oven.

Abstract: A defrosting method for a microwave oven capable of variably adjusting a level of output power of a magnetron in accordance with data detected from a sensor, comprising the steps of (a) detecting a change degree of output data from a sensor for a predetermined time period; and (b) adjusting a level of output power of a magnetron in accordance with the change degree of the output data from the sensor.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor having external and internal permanent magnets buried in rotor core in a two-tier structure to form the poles of the rotor, thereby improving efficiency of the motor and reducing vibration and noise, as well.

Abstract: A microwave oven for radiating microwaves generated from a magnetron into a cavity to heat and cook foodstuff disposed therein, the microwave oven comprising an antenna disposed between a magnetron and the cavity for converting the microwaves to circularly polarized waves to radiate same into the cavity, the microwave oven having the advantage in that the foodstuff in the cavity is heated by radiation of the circularly polarized waves, thereby enabling a uniform heating of the foodstuff and improving an absorption efficiency of microwave energy.