Abstract: An improved heating time control apparatus and a method for a microwave oven capable of detecting food temperature using an infrared ray coming from food being heated, whereby better heating time control can be possible, which includes a key input circuit for inputting a cooking menu and a food kinds; an infrared sensor circuit for detecting a surface temperature of food in accordance with the amount of infrared rays coming from food being cooked and for converting the detected temperature into a predetermined electric signal; a microprocessor for outputting a first heating time previously set in accordance with a selected menu and a second heating time previously set in accordance with a food kinds and for monitoring an output signal outputted from the infrared sensor and for outputting a result obtained by multiplying an output signal difference between points of a first heating time completion and a second heating time completion by a predetermined coefficient as a third heating time; and an output control

Abstract: A control apparatus and method for a microwave oven capable of fixing an optimum thawing time, coping with unexpected voltage variation of an input AC source. According to the aforesaid apparatus and method, a weight factor corresponding to an input source voltage variation is found, a thawing time proportional to weight of a food item to be thawed is determined, and as a result a final optimum thawing time is determined by multiplying the weight factor and the thawing time together.