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).

Abstract: A domestic appliance (1) such as a microwave oven is adapted for interaction with a communications network (75) such as the Internet by the addition of a substantially self-contained discrete communications module (12) connectable to the communications network (75), the communications module (12) including display means (20) and command entry means that optionally interact with the appliance (1). The appliance (1) is provided with mounting hardware (6) and an adaptor (7) including means for attachment to the mounting hardware (6) and means (10, 13-16) for mounting the communications module (12) to the appliance (1) via the adaptor (7). The communications module (12) is adapted for connection to broadband cable or xDSL networks. Thus equipped, the appliance (1) becomes an element of a communications system (1, 72, 73) providing multiple functionality including television and Internet browsing functions within the home.

Abstract: A transmission apparatus 151 comprises a rule generation means 101 for generating rules, and a data transmission means 102 for converting the rules generated by the rule generation means 101 into data and for transmitting the data; and a receiving apparatus 152 comprises a data receiving means 103 for receiving the data transmitted by the data transmission means 102, a rule conversion means 104 for converting the data received by the data receiving means 103 into rules, a rule storage means 105 for storing the rules converted by the rule conversion means 104, and a control means 106 for controlling a controlled apparatus, such as a microwave oven, in accordance with the rules stored in the rule storage means 105. Consequently, it is possible to reduce burdens on the chance of the received information on the information receiving terminal apparatus side.

Abstract: A microwave oven and a controlling method therefor employ a data receiving section connected to an external device which is connectable to the Internet to receive cooking data from the external device, and a driving section for performing the cooking operation by using the cooking data received from the Internet. The microwave oven also includes a memory for storing the cooking data received from the Internet. A user can select and cook his/her desired cooking menus from a wide range of cooking menus provided by the Internet, and can also adjust, replace and store the cooking data received from the Internet as he/she pleases.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed to include a transmission device 151 having a rule generation device 101 for generating rules, and a data transmission device 102 for converting rules generated by the rule generation device 101 into rule data and for transmitting the rule data. The apparatus also includes a receiving device 152 having a data receiving device 103 for receiving rule data transmitted by the data transmission device 102, a rule conversion device 104 for converting the rule data received by the data receiving device 103 into rules, a rule storage device 105 for storing rules converted by the rule conversion device 104, and a control device 106 for controlling a controlled apparatus, such as a microwave oven, in accordance with the rules stored in the rule storage device 105.

Abstract: A microwave control unit that includes an external memory storage for storing, for example, control parameters, cooking parameters, and feature data is described. In one embodiment, the control unit includes a pre-programmed microprocessor coupled to a key panel and a display. The controller also is coupled, for example, to a power supply, sensors, and power switches. The control microprocessor, as is known in the art, includes an on-board memory unit, e.g., a read only memory, for storing the control program as well as control parameters, cooking parameters, and feature data. Under the control of the control program, the microprocessor is configured to control, for example, energy output levels and cooking time based on the operator inputs. The control unit also includes an external model configuration read only memory (EMCR) coupled to the control microprocessor via an external bus. The EMCR also has control parameters, cooking parameters, and feature data stored therein.

Abstract: A domestic appliance is described having the ability to connect to the Internet. An appliance, such as a microwave oven, is equipped with a touch-screen display on its door. The display connects to a communication system, such as a miniature personal computer having a modem and a web browser. The display is mounted on the door of the appliance through mounting hardware and an adaptor.

Abstract: An interpretive system architecture for a seamless transfer of energy to a physical, chemical, or thermodynamic process stream, or microwave oven. The interpretive system architecture overlays the operational finctions of the process stream or host microwave oven to interpret, control, and implement user independent commands. The interpretive system has at least one interpretive base class for providing operational instance to the process stream or host microwave oven. The interpretive system receives an indicia, the indicia being expressive of an externally derived predetermined compiled code disposed on the surface of a specimen, or food package, or associated thereto, the indicia communicating via at least one data entry mechanism to the process stream or host microwave oven. The interpretive system interprets the data or code and transforms it into user independent commands.

Abstract: A cooking appliance performs cooking which is remotely controlled, based on information relating to the object to be heated, as the information is transmitted to the appliance's computer from a management's computer. The cooking appliance can also cook any part of food in the cooking chamber locally.

Abstract: A microwave oven that automatically reads a barcode printed on a food item package, retrieves preprogrammed cooking instructions for that particular item corresponding to the barcode and then operates the microwave over, according to the manufactures specific instructions in order to achieve optimal food quality for the particular convenience food item.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus 10 is equipped with a control means for controlling the cooking condition including time and power, and a cooking condition setting means 30 for outputting a cooking condition signal to said cooking means, wherein the food to be cooked will be heated/cooked according to the time and power set by the cooking condition setting means 30. The cooking condition signal received by the cooking condition setting means 30 is a control signal outputted from a remote controller 50 equipped with a transmission means and a memory for storing the most suitable cooking conditions corresponding to each food to be cooked.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for automatically programming and controlling an oven, such as a food oven. The oven and its controller can be remotely operated over great distances by using a personal computer having a modem, and transmitting and receiving bidirectionally over a telephone interconnection, to display the cooking progress, modify a cooking sequence or prepare a new program sequence. An ergonomically designed operating panel provides an interactive intuitive method of programming the desired cooking sequences. Switch selections are monitored by a microprocessor which branches to the various preprogrammed functions. In addition, self-analysis and self-diagnostics aid the user in displaying a walk-back of the stored times and temperatures that occurred during an operating cycle before a power outage. A novel integrated oven design conserves the floor space and exhaust fan floor installation and operating costs.

Abstract: A container sensing system for controlling the heating in a microwave oven of a container carrying control information which may be read by an optical reading device. The optical reading device includes a light transmitter and a light receiver for sensing a reflectance of a sensor. The sensor includes a first and second region. The first region is provided for establishing a start and non-start condition while the second region is provided for reading temperature information. To avoid the surface reflected portion of incident light to gain an accurate reading, the axes of transmission and reception are offset in the same angular direction to a perpendicular of a sensor surface wherein the transmitter directs an inclined reading light beam onto a region of the sensor and the receiver receives the scattered light therefrom depending on the reflection properties of the sensor region.

Abstract: A method for controlling a heating procedure in an oven by using an optically readable information carrier with or on the heating object. The oven may be provided with an optical reading device for touchless reading of the information carrier before and/or during the heating. By providing the information carrier with one or more fields that exhibit color shift at temperatures at will, a feed-back control of the procedure is made possible with simple technical solutions. The special feature of the method is the use of an additional information field for control of the start of the oven.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of controlling the cooking operation of a microwave oven using a code system, wherein a desired cooking is simply and conveniently carried out in an optimum state in accordance with a cooking code consisting of numerals or characters which are set by a simple key input manipulation of the user. Such cooking codes are indicated on packages of foods to be cooked so that the user inputs those cooking codes upon cooking the associated food items.

Abstract: The invention concerns a microwave oven having an oven cavity which is split into a movable cavity part (4) integrated into the oven door (2) and a stationary cavity part (5), sectioning the cavity when the oven door (2) is opened. The oven comprises a load carrier (6) supporting a food stuff or beverage being heated in the oven the load carrier (6) is provided in either of said cavity parts such that it protrudes from the same. Thereby access to a foodstuff or beverage in the oven is facilitated without requiring a displacement of the same.

Abstract: The control arrangement for cooking devices with an embedded control for regulating cooking process whose various parameters can be set by actuating elements at the cooking device is characterized by an external programming unit comprising a hand programming device for setting and storing, independently from the embedded control of the respective cooking devices, different cooking programs, diagnostic programs and user functions which can be called, checked and changed optionally and for transmitting such programs to every embedded control of every optional cooking device.

Abstract: Control device for controlling a heating apparatus, such as a microwave oven. The microwave oven has a housing 12, an enclosure 16 in which a drawer 14 that receives a product to be heated slides, the microwave oven being actuated by a handle 15 and has optical and/or optoelectronic devices 21, 22 to read a distinctive sign 6 on either the product or its packaging. A processing module 30 is included to compare signals generated from reading this distinctive sign 6 with predetermined reference signals memorized in a storage device, and a supply module 43 generates operational control signals for the heating apparatus 10 in response to the result of this comparison. The optical and/or optoelectronic devices 21, 22 have a receiving cell 22 situated at the inlet and on the upper surface of the enclosure 16, the optical and/or optoelectronic devices being energized when the drawer 14 is pushed into the enclosure 16 to thereby effectuate a reading of the distinctive sign 6 on the product to be heated.

Abstract: A cooking device (10), such as a microwave oven, is provided with a sensor 16) that is responsive to an indicia (18) associated with a food that is to be heated or cooked. For example, the indicia may be a bar code (UPC barcode) that is provided as a part of the packaging of the food. In one embodiment of this invention the cooking device has a controller (14) that is responsive to the indicia being detected by the sensor for looking up in a memory (26) a stored cooking program that has one or more program steps. The controller is responsive to the cooking program to activate and operate a cooking chamber, such as a microwave oven compartment, in accordance with the program steps of the cooking program that is identified by the indicia. The cooking program steps can each include a predetermined cooking time, cooking temperature, and power level setting.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus for heating food to be served and capable of being operated with utmost simplicity without using and choosing various cooking-mode selection keys so as to achieve superb ease-of-operation. The cooking apparatus includes a cooking chamber for placing and storing food to be heated by the apparatus and a detector for detecting a state of a door attached to the cooking chamber, the door being freely openable and closable against an opening portion of the cooking chamber. An optical sensor, having a plurality of light emitting portions is disposed in a side of the cooking chamber and a plurality of light receiving portions are disposed counter to the light emitting portions. A drive unit is provided for driving the optical sensor and a judgement unit verifies and determines a cooking mode suitable for the food placed in the cooking chamber responsive to a signal from the optical sensor, where the drive unit is activated when the detector detects that the door is closed.

Abstract: A programmable cooking system has a programming mode for reading an identifying code on a food product and for storing a user selected recipe as a function of the code. The system also has a cooking mode for reading an identifying code on a food product and for recalling and implementing a recipe stored for the code during the programming mode. The system includes an optical code reader for reading the code. A keypad is used by the operator to input recipes during the programming mode and to input cooking variables during the cooking mode. A microprocessor stores and recalls the identifying codes and recipes in a compressed format and controls the operation of a cooking device, such as a microwave oven.

Abstract: A microwave oven includes a cooking unit for cooking a food according to a cooking program and a memory slot to which a first type of external memory and a second type of external memory are detachably attached. These memories respectively store main cooking information and sub-cooking information. Each main cooking information is related to at least one sub-cooking information.