Abstract: To present a heating cooker that is easy to use, not requiring cook book or instruction manual, and its operating method, relating to a heating cooker for displaying the cooking procedure, types of materials, amount of materials, heating method, heating time, etc. The constitution comprises cooking setting keys for selecting the cooking method for cooking the materials, cooking time setting keys for entering the cooking time, cooking selection keys for selecting the kind of cooking such as delicatessen as mentioned in the cook book, memory for storing the materials necessary for cooking, amount, cooking tools, all cooking methods and required time, display apparatus for displaying the cooking menu, cooking time, preparation method and cooking method, and operating method of heating cooker when cooking, and control device for controlling by identifying the necessary information for each cooking selected by the cooking selection key and showing in the display apparatus.

Abstract: An appliance is provided with a feedback system which audibly signals both the activation of user input controls and when the appliance reaches a certain operational stage. The system functions to adjust both of the feedback signals upon a single setting change made by a user, preferably at varying volume rates. In the preferred embodiment, the volume level for the operational stage signal is adjusted multiple times the volume level for the user input control signal as the setting is switched between any of low, medium and high settings.

Abstract: A microwaveable confection mold for use in a conventional microwave oven. The mold permits solid confection capable of melting when exposed to microwave energy to be introduced into the mold. The mold comprises a clear microwave transparent plastic material to facilitate observation of the confection melting process with subsequent settling in the mold sections. A pigment in the mold changes the colour to indicate to the user when the liquified confection has hardened and the mold cooled.

Abstract: A self-contained refrigerator and oven, for refrigerating and cooking food in the same enclosed chamber, which can be actuated by the operator from a variety of remote locations around the world via telephone or the internet. The heating element may be a microwave unit and the refrigerating means may be a thermoelectric heat pump.

Abstract: An electric appliance has a timer for calculating the remaining time, an operation member operated by being rotated, an adjuster for adjusting the remaining time, and a display for displaying the remaining time. When the operation member is operated while the timer is counting time, the adjuster adjusts the remaining time, and the display displays the adjusted remaining time.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus has a display and a selector for selecting an item displayed on the display. The display displays one screen after another so as to correspond to one item after another selected thereon. The cooking apparatus further has a bookmark attachment requester for requesting attachment of a bookmark to a specific screen displayed on the display unit, a storage for storing data related to the bookmarked screen, a bookmarked screen display requesting member for requesting display of the bookmarked screens and a display controller for displaying the bookmarked screen in accordance with the data stored in the storage in response to a request from the bookmarked screen display requester.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a cooking apparatus operates at least one cooking energy source with a control including switches that reduce the input manipulations required by a user and responses to component manipulations in order to operate one or more of the cooking energy sources to complete a cooking operation. The control responds to a first selection of the Sabbath operating mode and responds to a second selection for setting a first cooking source and at least one related feature function. An actuator maintains the performance status of the cooking energy source and the related feature, and disables the selectors during maintained performance.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes an external memory for storing methods of cooking various dishes, genre keys to specify one out of a plurality of large groups of cooking methods produced by specifying cooking methods stored in external memory depending upon the kind of cooking, a liquid crystal display for displaying items corresponding to the one group of cooking methods specified by the genre key, select keys for selecting one out of items corresponding to the one group of cooking methods displayed on liquid crystal display, and a microcomputer for controlling a cooking operation based on the item selected by select key.

Abstract: An oven for cooking a food product, at least partially by hot gas flow and at least partially by microwave energy, includes a housing defining a cooking chamber for receiving a food product for cooking, and a conduit for providing gaseous communication outside of the cooking chamber, between the chamber bottom and the chamber top, the conduit also serving as a hot gas plenum. Preferably the conduit has a free volume of space less than the free volume of space of the cooking chamber, and the oven has custom cooking and/or custom finishing capabilities.

Abstract: A frequency of input power is selected with a first keypad, and a weight unit is selected with a second keypad provided on a microwave oven. A displaying unit is connected with the key inputting devices and displays operating conditions of the microwave oven that are set by the first and second keypads. A controller detects the operating conditions by checking whether the displaying means and each of the first and second keypads form closed loops by applying control signals to the loops and sets the detected operating conditions as preset operating conditions of the microwave oven. Then, the controller controls the cooking operation of the microwave oven according to the preset conditions.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for eliminating the need for an operator to make multiple key entries in order to resume cooking subsequent completion of an initial cooking cycle. In connection with an oven having an electronic controller, the controller is programmed to provide a resume feature which includes the steps of determining whether certain conditions are satisfied subsequent to completion of an initial cooking cycle, and if such conditions are satisfied, then enabling the operator to continue cooking at the same temperature as the immediately previous cooking cycle for a predetermined time period, e.g., 2 minutes.

Abstract: A microwave oven includes an electric heater disposed in the cooking chamber for cooking by radiant heat. A temperature sensor senses a temperature of the heater, and a door sensor senses an open state of the oven door. If the oven door is open, and the heater temperature is at or above a reference temperature (i.e., a temperature which could burn a user), an alarm, such as an audio and/or visual alarm, is activated to warn the user.

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: An operation control method of a microwave oven by which a completion preparation sound is generated before a cooking completion time to notify a user a cooking process state and a cooking completion is notified in advance to provide an allowance time for the user to prepare the cooking completion to the benefit thereto.

Abstract: A microwave oven 10 including a main body 1 in which a heating chamber 2 is installed, a microwave supplying unit 3 installed at an inner portion of the main body 1 for heating a food incorporated in the heating chamber 2 by supplying microwave at a predetermined output, an operation panel 4 (input operating unit) for inputting cooking output information and cooking time information of the food, a control unit 6 for comparing the cooking output information inputted by the operation panel 4 with the predetermined output, correcting the inputted cooking time information in accordance with a result of the comparison and instructing to drive the microwave supplying unit 3 based on corrected cooking time obtained by the correction, wherein the control unit 6 includes buzzer 48 (information supplying means) for successively supplying the cooking time information inputted by the operation panel 4 and the corrected cooking time and supplying, after having supplied the cooking time information, information that the co

Abstract: The present invention provides an interpretive BIOS machine for controlling the cooking of food in a microwave oven or the conduct of a physical, chemical, or thermodynamic process stream wherein the microwave oven or process stream functionally operates by user independent commands. The interpretive BIOS machine is implemented by a microprocessor or computer having a memory for the storing of a program that contains the operating instruction for the present invention. Data is received into the interpretive BIOS machine from a data entry mechanism. That data is specific code that represents a plurality of desired cooking or process instructions selected by the user of the microwave oven or process stream. The present invention interprets the received data and transforms that data into time duration(s) and scaled power level(s) settings for the microwave oven or process stream. The present invention monitors and adjusts the work performed on a specimen disposed within the microwave oven or process stream.

Abstract: A convection oven includes a plurality of modular control panels which can be interchanged with one another to change the functional capability of the oven. The base unit contains the basic structural and mechanical components of the convection oven including a heating element and blower. Each of the individual control panels can control the operation of the heating element and blower in the base unit. Each control panel will include a different group of controls. All of the available control panels plug into a standard interface on the base unit. Therefore, the functional capabilities of the oven can be changed by removing the existing control panel on the base unit and reinstalling a different control panel.

Abstract: A heating apparatus such as a microwave oven includes a magnetron and a heating chamber for accommodating food to be heated by microwaves generated by the magnetron. The heating chamber has a front opening opened and closed by a door. An operation panel is mounted to be adjacent to the door. The operation panel includes a panel section and an operation section mounted on the panel section and has a function of displaying a plurality of pieces of cooking information. The operation section includes a liquid crystal element subsection including a nematic curvilinear aligned phase (NCAP) liquid crystal permitting light to pass through it when voltage is applied to it, an indicia subsection laid on the liquid crystal element subsection and having a plurality of indicias corresponding to the pieces of cooking information, respectively, and a switch subsection including a plurality of switches corresponding to the indicias of the indicia subsection, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides an interpretive BIOS machine for controlling the cooking of food in a microwave oven or the conduct of a physical, chemical, or thermodynamic process stream wherein the microwave oven or process stream functionally operates by user independent commands. The interpretive BIOS machine is implemented by a microprocessor or computer having a memory for the storing of a program that contains the operating instruction for the present invention. Data is received into the interpretive BIOS machine from a data entry mechanism. That data is specific code that represents a plurality of desired cooking or process instructions selected by the user of the microwave oven or process stream. The present invention interprets the received data and transforms that data into time duration(s) and scaled power level(s) settings for the microwave oven or process stream.

Abstract: A microwave-heatable therapeutic exercise putty mass is packaged in a microwaveable container having at least one transparent wall. The putty mass within the container is in heat transfer proximity with transparent wall of the container. A thermochromic heat sensitive semiconductor material (strip, label or coating) is affixed to the transparent wall in intimate heat transfer contact with the putty mass. The thermochromatic material provides a visual first indication through the transparent wall when the putty mass has been microwave heated to a heat exercise therapy acceptable temperature range of about 40 to about 47 degrees C. and a visual second indication through the transparent wall when the putty mass has been microwave heated to a temperature range of about 54 to about 60 degrees C. or above which is non-acceptable for heat exercise therapy.

Abstract: A method for displaying preheat or oven thermal conditioning times in a countdown timer for both thermal and thermal convection ovens is provided. The method has the steps of providing an oven having an oven cavity, a heating element, a control panel for inputting cooking parameters, and controls connected to the heating element for operating the oven; selecting a preheat temperature using the input control panel, providing a preheat time by using the control system; determining if the oven cavity is pre-conditioned; executing a preheat cycle when the oven is not pre-conditioned; displaying the preheat time in a decrementing manner using the display; and ending the preheat cycle when the decrementing preheat time equals zero. An oven having an improved preheat system is also provided.

Abstract: A cooking chamber of a microwave oven is illuminated during a given cooking operation. During that cooking operation the color of the illumination is changed in accordance with the progress of the cooking operation, such as the progress of the cooking time or the temperature of food being cooked, to enable the cooking progress to be visually monitored from a distance.

Abstract: A microwave oven includes a microwave oven chamber in which food is cooked, an input unit for selecting modes of operation and other options, a control unit for driving the microwave oven by a driving signal input from the input unit, an oscillator for generating microwave in the chamber according to the driving signal from the control unit, a sensor unit for detecting a level of vapor generated from the food being cooked and outputting a detection voltage signal corresponding to the detection, and an indicator unit for continuously indicating the cooking state of the food according to the detection voltage signal as the cooking state progresses.

Abstract: A microwave oven includes a control panel having switches enabling a user to input cooking functions, and a display for displaying data representative of input functions. A transparent display protector overlies the display and is displaceable inwardly toward the display to actuate some of the switches, including an on-off switch. Sections of the protector are movable inwardly relative to one another to actuate respective switches. Springs yieldably bias the protector away from the display.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling power of a microwave oven is disclosed in which the control thereof is easy and stable, and long-term durability is improved. The apparatus includes a control knob having a knob shaft to be inserted through a hole on a control panel, a coupler fixedly secured to the control knob shaft through the hole to be rotatably installed on the control panel together with the control knob, an annular projection integrally formed on one side of the coupler having several V-grooves formed along the peripheral surface of the annular projection, a resilient member, for instance, a wire or leaf spring, having a protrusion at a mid-position thereof, and a pair of pins for mounting the resilient member on the control panel. While controlling the power of the oven, the protrusion of the wire or leaf spring slides on the peripheral surface of the annular projection with resilient contact thereon, or remains resiliently fitted to any one of the V-grooves of the annular projection.

Abstract: This invention relates to an encoder key input device in which the number of ports of microcomputer for encoder circuit having key matrix input and encoder key input in common includes a microcomputer for generating first and second scanning signal, a key matrix circuit for outputting the key signal scanned by the first scanning signal generated from the microcomputer to the microcomputer, and an encoder circuit for outputting the encoder signal scanned by the second scanning signal to the microcomputer via key matrix circuit.

Abstract: A control system for a microwave oven having a magnetron unit and method of making the same are provided, the system being adapted to interconnect a power source to the magnetron unit to operate the same, the system comprising a display control module, a power module, and an electrical circuit interconnecting the modules together, each module comprising a microprocessor.

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 and a method of controlling the operation thereof in which an algorithm is provided to operate the microwave oven virtually. The microwave oven comprises a control unit including a microcontroller for storing a program therein, an operating panel including a plurality of keys for inputting key signals regarding various functions of a cooking operation, a display unit for displaying the contents inputted through the operating panel, and a magnetron for generating a microwave under the control of the control unit. The microwave oven further comprises a key select device for selecting a desired one of the plurality of keys on the operating panel to operate the microwave oven virtually, and a simulated operation change device for changing the operation of the microwave oven to a simulated operation in response to the key being selected by the key select device.

Abstract: A microwave oven has a switch mechanism for selecting first and second cooking functions and activating/deactivating a magnetron of the microwave oven. The switch mechanism comprises first and second rotary switches actuable by respective coaxial knobs for generating encoded signals to establish the first and second cooking functions, respectively. One of the knobs can be pushed axially to activate/deactivate the magnetron.

Abstract: During operation of a microwave oven, steps are taken to determine whether the oven is being operated in the absence of food therein and to shut down the oven if that state is found to exist. Initially, a high frequency detector disposed in the cooking chamber absorbs high frequency and produces heat in proportion to the absorbed high frequency. A temperature sensor senses the temperature of that produced heat and generates an output signal as a function thereof. After a predetermined time period, that output signal is compared to a reference value which represents a temperature expected to occur in the event that the oven is being operated in the absence of food. If it is determined from that comparison that no food is present in the oven, the oven is deactivated and an alarm is activated.

Abstract: A microwave oven may perform an induction heating mode, dielectric heating mode, and induction/dielectric switch heating mode. The invention is adapted to a microwave oven, in which an induction coil is mounted on the outer bottom wall of a heating chamber, and a heat insulation member is mounted on the induction coil. The microwave oven comprises an induction heating section including an induction coil, a dielectric heating section including a magnetron, a power supply section for generating high frequency power by switching D.C. power obtained by rectifying commercial A.C. power, the power supply section including a power transistor for switching the D.C.

Abstract: A new variable password safety interlock system for microwave ovens and other computerized or electrical appliance allows the user to dynamically and automatically generate a new password immediately prior to each use. The variable password comprises some prearranged transposition or combination of numbers of digits that were already entered into the microwave control panel by the user. The user first enters digits representing the microwave time, the target food temperature, the microwave power level, the actual time of day on display or some other required combination of digits or microwave console buttons, and then presses the "Start" button. The new value of the variable password for that use of the microwave will be some prearranged transposition or combination of the digits, numbers or buttons that had just previously been pressed by the user and that appeared on the microwave control panel at the moment the user pressed the "Start" button.

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 combined oven for cooking foodstuffs having a control panel having, on the one hand, a selection device (11) for a heating sequence to be used, of a type of foodstuff and of its weight, and, on the other hand, a control device (8) connected to data processing device (9) which includes a principal computer (10) determining a heating time as a function of the selection device. The data processing device (9), on the one hand, is connected to a display device (12) and, on the other hand, includes a slave computer (13) connected to the principal computer (10) by a bidirectional bus (14) and to which are connected the selection device (11), a storage memory (15) containing information selectable by the selection device (11) and the display device (12) to display the selectable data.

Abstract: An oven includes a chamber for locating food for heating. An indicator is provided for signalling the existence of food in the chamber. A sensor may react to the weight of the food on a support in the chamber, or a light beam directed in the chamber and interrupted by a food or receptacle for thereby indicating the existence of food. A time delay may be provided between the sensing of the existence of food and the activation of the indicator. In other situations the indicator system operates in other ovens, autoclaves, and furnaces having workpieces for science, technology, and industry.

Abstract: A process for controlling the microwave heating of a product to a temperature which is higher than or equal to a determined temperature for a period which is longer than or equal to a determined period, a marking support and a receptacle for product intended for such a control. Measurement is made of the resistivity of a thermally crosslinkable ink filled with conductive particles, with which the product or the receptacle containing the product has been previously marked and the resistivity of which is arranged to decrease in a predetermined manner in relation to the temperature and the period of microwave heating. The invention is applicable especially to the control of the sterilization of a pharmaceutical or agri-foodstuff product.

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 appliance has a heater for cooking, and a switch which generating an operational signal. The cooking appliance automatically turns off the heater a predetermined time after a last pressed switch, i.e., automatic power off function. A caution lamp indicates that the heater will automatically be turned off a minute prior to the automatic power off function.

Abstract: A cooking state displaying apparatus and method for a microwave oven combined with a television. The apparatus includes a body sensor for sensing if there is a person near the microwave oven, and in accordance with the sensed output from the body sensor during cooking, selectively displays the current cooking state and completion on an LED displayer installed on the front side of the microwave oven or on a TV screen. Also, in accordance with the sensed output from the body sensor, a cavity lamp in the microwave oven is selectively turned on/off and the loudness of a buzzer sound for indicating completion of cooking varies. Therefore, it is convenient to use and it is possible to save power consumption.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for performing a delay start regardless of the open/close state of the microwave oven door, where the present time Tp is continually counted after a warning signal telling a user to close the door is produced, even if the door is opened during the pre-cooking start time stage or the door is opened during the post-cooking time stage, whereby further cooking is interrupted after the warning signal is produced until the door is closed. Therefore, cooking can be started at a pre-determined time even if the door is opened during the execution of the delay start.

Abstract: A control control system for a heating apparatus such as a microwave oven. Manipulation, that is, selection of one of various menus and start of the operation thereof substantially completed by manipulating only one manipulating knob without using keys which are widely distributed on a manipulation panel, consequently, it is possible to simplify selection of a menu.

Abstract: Apparatus (10, 50) for removing frozen water from vehicle glass includes a cured, microwave-heatable layer (14, 64). The microwave-heatable layer (14, 64) may be formed from at least one elastomeric gum, a curing catalyst adaptable to cure the gum, and microwave-heatable particulate matter dispersed in the gum. In one embodiment, the apparatus (10) is a mitt including an insulative layer (42) which is positioned to be interposed between an inner surface (27) of the elastomeric pad (14) and the hand, such that the hand does not undergo temperature stress. The mitt (10) also preferably includes a visual marker (30) to indicate the temperature of the elastomeric pad (14).

Abstract: Apparatus for changing cooking data of an automatic cooker allowing the user to change to a desired level which is capable of serving a food tasting just right to the user. The apparatus includes a power supply, a controller for controlling its peripheral equipments according to the cooking control program, a keyboard having a plurality of cooking control keys and a pair of data up/down keys, a cooking data storage unit for storing experimentally determined cooking data, a cooking state sensing circuit for sensing a cooking state, a display unit for displaying the cooking state and the selected cooking data, an output driving circuit for driving a heating device of the cooker, and a cooking data changing section for changing the cooking data.

Abstract: An automatic cooking appliance has a magnetron to cook the food. The cooking appliance has a dial, which is rotatable and capable of being pressed, on an operation panel thereof. A cooking mode in the menu is selected due to the rotation of the dial. The cooking mode is determined by pressing of the dial. The cooking appliance controls the magnetron in accordance with the determined cooking mode. This enables the dial to be used for multiple purposes to thereby save space on a control panel.

Abstract: A heating apparatus such as microwave ovens includes a menu display for displaying a plurality of cooking menu groups each including a plurality of cooking menus, a menu selecting dial turned in one of two directions so that one of the cooking menu groups displayed on the menu display is selected, the menu selecting dial being turned in the other direction so that one cooking menu is selected from the selected cooking menu group, a heater for heating food to be cooked, and a heating control device for controlling the heater so that heating is automatically executed in accordance with the cooking menu selected by a turn of the menu selecting dial.

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.