Horizontal (e.g., Turntable, Etc.) Patents (Class 219/754)
  • Patent number: 11924952
    Abstract: A system and method for annealing a target substrate such as a semiconductor using industrial microwave heating and parallel plate reaction. Using a uniform microwave field, with the target substrate located between parallel plates controls application of eddy currents to the target substrate. The system may include a uniform microwave field generator, support elements, two plates held in parallel to each other, and a turntable device configured to rotate the two plates and the target substrate within the uniform microwave field. The rotating of the plates and target substrate in the uniform microwave field creates a periodic change in polarity of the microwaves applied to the target substrate. The eddy currents in the uniform microwave field react by flowing perpendicular to the plates, and not parallel to the surface as in traditional microwave reactions of metals. This redirection of the eddy currents provides even heating of the target substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: DSGI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Edward Kowalski
  • Patent number: 11910512
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooking cavity, a microwave module, a convection module, an upper heater module and a lower heater module. A turntable is rotatably mounted in the cooking cavity. The cooking appliance is operable for, and related methods may include, activating at least one of the microwave module, the upper heater module, the lower heater module, and the convection module, while also rotating the turntable within the cooking cavity within the cooking cavity. The cooking appliance is further operable for, and related methods may also include rotating the turntable in a back-and-forth motion during at least a portion of a cook cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Heimerdinger
  • Patent number: 11832763
    Abstract: An oven comprises a cooking cavity, a stirring member extending, in use, into foodstuff contained in a vessel disposed in the cooking cavity as well as drive means to provide, in use, relative movement between the stirring member and the vessel. The oven comprises a displacement device to move the stirring member from outside the cooking cavity through an opening in a wall bounding the cooking cavity into the cooking cavity as well as, in use, into the vessel disposed in the cooking cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: EGGCITING PRODUCTS B.V.
    Inventors: Herman Hijma, Oscar Slurink, Dennis Giezeman, Michael Kasbergen, Marcel Alexander Bivert
  • Patent number: 11815879
    Abstract: An electronic device and an operating method therefor, according to various embodiments, can be configured to: determine whether heating of the electronic device is abnormal heating, on the basis of a difference value between a first temperature at a first position in the electronic device and a second temperature at a second position in the electronic device; determine whether a user recognizes abnormal heating, on the basis of the assumption that the heating of the electronic device is determined to be abnormal heating; and control the abnormal heating on the basis of determination result of whether the user has recognized abnormal heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyunjin Noh, Sungyong Bang, Jaewook Shin, Sangmin Lee, Inhwan Hwang, Jungwoo Ye
  • Patent number: 11696373
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooking cavity, a microwave module, a convection module, an upper heater module and a lower heater module. A turntable is rotatably mounted in the cooking cavity. The cooking appliance is operable for, and related methods may include, activating at least one of the microwave module, the upper heater module, the lower heater module, and the convection module, while also rotating the turntable within the cooking cavity within the cooking cavity. The cooking appliance is further operable for, and related methods may also include rotating the turntable to a predetermined position at a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Heimerdinger
  • Patent number: 11470696
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a main body having a cooking chamber, a coupler having a pair of pressure surfaces and rotatably provided, and a tray provided-to-be withdrawn from the cooking chamber by sliding movement. The tray has a pair of seating projections each capable of being brought into contact with the pair of pressure surfaces and being rotatably pushed by the coupler. Therefore it is possible to easily switch between the rotatable state of the tray and the state of sliding movement of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyeong Jin Jang, Sang Jun Park, Woo Joo Kim, Han Jun Sung, Min Ho Yun, Kun-Woo Choi, Yu Jeub Ha
  • Patent number: 11026300
    Abstract: A telescopic slide for a microwave oven has a first slide element and a second slide element each having two running surfaces with caged rolling bodies arranged on the running surfaces. The slide elements can be moved along against each other between a retracted position and an extended position. The slide elements each have at least one electrically conductive contact element arranged on the slide elements in such a way that in the retracted position either the contact elements are directly in engagement or that the contact element of the first slide element and the contact element of the second slide element are each in engagement with an electrically conducting conductive element that is moved concomitantly with the rolling-body cage. The result is that in the retracted position there is an electrically conducting connection between the first and the second slide elements, and in at least one position other than the retracted position the electrically conducting connection is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Accuride International GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Heffel, Philipp Krebs
  • Patent number: 10390388
    Abstract: A microwave heating system comprises a bowl, dome and rotor device. The dome is fit to the bowl. The bowl and dome form a volume. The bowl is connected to a microwave source such that a microwave field is supplied to the volume. The microwave field is attenuated in a region between the rotor device and the dome compared to a region between the bowl and the rotor device. The rotor device is rotatably supported by the bowl and supports a reaction vessel. The rotor device includes a base plate with a through-hole and a tubular member that receives the reaction vessel. The base plate and tubular member are metal. The rotor device is coupled to the base plate so that a longitudinal axis of the tubular member passes through the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Anton Paar GmbH
    Inventors: Heimo Kotzian, Rainer Zentner, Johannes Zach, Elisabeth Gangl
  • Patent number: 9955534
    Abstract: The present invention relates to microwave trays and microwave accessories for use in microwave ovens. A microwave tray includes an opening located near the center of the tray. The opening in the center of the tray provides access to a rotary coupling located on a bottom surface of a microwave oven. Various microwave accessories can be mounted on the tray using corresponding mating configurations included on the tray and the accessories. The microwave accessories are configured to perform dynamic functions (e.g., stirring, mixing, rotating and flipping) when the accessories are connected to the coupling and the microwave is powered on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: CK INNOVATIVE MICROWAVE PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventor: Chad Galati
  • Patent number: 9874500
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cartridge-type apparatus for fixing a biological sample using microwaves. Particularly, the cartridge-type apparatus for fixing a biological sample using microwaves includes a resonance part having a cavity, a module for generating and amplifying microwaves configured to generate microwaves in the cavity, a cartridge which is disposed to be rotatable in the cavity and in which at least one wide-mouth bottle is placed, and a motor rotating the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Medicson Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young In Kim, Chang Wan Jeon
  • Publication number: 20150144622
    Abstract: A microwave heat treatment apparatus includes: a processing vessel configured to accommodate a substrate therein; a support member configured to rotatably support the substrate in the processing vessel; a microwave introduction device configured to generate a microwave for processing the substrate and introduce the microwave into the processing vessel; a first cooling gas introduction part installed to face a main surface of the substrate supported by the support member, the main surface being a target to be processed; a second cooling gas introduction part installed in a lateral side of the substrate supported by the support member; and a control unit configured to independently control the introduction of a cooling gas from the first cooling gas introduction part and the introduction of the cooling gas from the second cooling gas introduction part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Seokhyoung HONG, Taichi MONDEN, Yoshihiro MIYAGAWA, Masaki KOIZUMI
  • Publication number: 20150136759
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus includes a processing chamber configured to accommodate a substrate; a substrate holding unit configured to hold and rotate the substrate in the processing chamber; a microwave generating source configured to generate a microwave; and a plurality of microwave inlet ports formed at a surface of the processing chamber which faces the substrate in the processing chamber, each of the microwave inlet ports having an opening area that gradually becomes wider toward the substrate. The microwave generated by the microwave generating source is irradiated to the substrate in the processing chamber through the microwave inlet ports to heat the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Taro IKEDA, Sumi TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20150129586
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus includes a processing chamber having a top wall, a bottom wall and a sidewall, and configured to accommodate an object to be processed; a microwave introducing unit configured to generate a microwave for heating the object and introduce the microwave into the processing chamber; a plurality of supporting members configured to make contact with the object and support the object in the processing chamber. The microwave heating apparatus further includes a dielectric member provided between the object supported by the supporting members and the bottom wall while being apart from the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Taro IKEDA, Jun YAMASHITA, Seokhyoung HONG, Kouji SHIMOMURA, Hiroyuki HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20150090708
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus includes a processing chamber for accommodating a target, a support device for supporting the target in the processing chamber and a microwave introducing device for generating microwaves to introduce them into the processing chamber. The processing chamber further includes a top wall having a plurality of microwave introduction ports to introduce the microwaves generated in the microwave introducing device into the processing chamber. Each of the microwave introduction ports has a rectangular shape having long sides and short sides parallel to inner wall surfaces of four sidewalls of the processing chamber, and the support device includes a support member to support the target and a rotating mechanism for rotating the supported target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Sumi Tanaka, Taro Ikeda, Yoshiro Kabe, Kouji Shimomura, Seokhyoung Hong, Jun Yamashita, Masakazu Ban, Taichi Monden, Masayoshi Maenishi, Ryoji Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20150090710
    Abstract: A microwave heating system comprises a bowl, dome and rotor device. The dome is fit to the bowl. The bowl and dome form a volume. The bowl is connected to a microwave source such that a microwave field is supplied to the volume. The microwave field is attenuated in a region between the rotor device and the dome compared to a region between the bowl and the rotor device. The rotor device is rotatably supported by the bowl and supports a reaction vessel. The rotor device includes a base plate with a through-hole and a tubular member that receives the reaction vessel. The base plate and tubular member are metal. The rotor device is coupled to the base plate so that a longitudinal axis of the tubular member passes through the through-hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Heimo Kotzian, Rainer Zentner, Johannes Zach, Elisabeth Gangl
  • Patent number: 8766151
    Abstract: A microwave oven which accepts user-placement of a cook item on a turntable accessed through a usually front-facing door. The turntable is rotated during a preset cook-time. The turntable returns to the original user-placement situation near the door and concurrently stops at the end of the cook-time. This results in a simultaneous end of turntable rotation and an end of cooking, enabling the cook-item to be conveniently reparked adjacent with the access door thereby enabling safe and convenient removal immediately upon completion of the cook-time. The cook-time and the turntable operational and reparking parameters are factored to enable a maximum extent of turntable rotation during the cook time and still assure the return to the original starting location concurrent with cook-time completion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Savvy Stuff Property Trust
    Inventor: Harold J. Weber
  • Patent number: 8481901
    Abstract: Methods for processing sample materials. Methods of the present disclosure can include providing a device including a process chamber array, the process chamber array including a loading chamber and a process chamber; providing sample material in the process chamber array; moving the sample material within the process chamber array by rotating the device; providing paramagnetic particles within the sample material located in the process chamber array; providing a magnet proximate the device; and rotating the device such that the paramagnetic particles within the sample material are subjected to the magnetic field of the magnet during rotation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William Bedingham, Raj Rajagopal, Barry W. Robole
  • Patent number: 8384001
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a microwave oven, in which a tray within a cooking room is rectilinearly reciprocated in a lengthwise direction of the cooking room and is rotated, simultaneously, to cook food. This is achieved using a gear assembly including a main gear and a planetary gear. The gear assembly includes the main gear and the planetary gear, which are engaged with each other and are rotated. A diameter of the main gear and a diameter of the planetary gear may be equal to each other, and the main gear and the planetary gear respectively include eccentric shafts. The gear assembly effectively transmits power supplied by a motor to the tray, thereby allowing the tray to be rotated at a uniform speed and to be driven even using a motor having a small load capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Jin Jeong
  • Patent number: 8253084
    Abstract: The invention provides a drawer type microwave oven having a turntable functioning as a uniform heating mechanism with a visual effect, while maintaining the ceiling height of a heating chamber and having improved usability. A turntable drive mechanism 40 utilizing a thin deceleration mechanism and a pivot mechanism is disposed in a space 19 formed between a bottom wall 17 of the drawer body 4 and a bottom wall 12 of the heating chamber 3, and a power transmission mechanism is engaged in a detachable manner in conjunction with the movement of the drawer body 4 together with the door. Thus, a drawer type microwave oven capable of performing uniform heating by pivot rotation while maintaining the ceiling height of the heating chamber is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Toyoda, Masayuki Iwamoto
  • Publication number: 20120108080
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a processing chamber configured to process a substrate, a substrate support member provided within the processing chamber to support the substrate, a microwave generator provided outside the processing chamber, a waveguide launch port configured to supply a microwave generated by the microwave generator into the processing chamber, wherein the central position of the waveguide launch port is deviated from the central position of the substrate supported on the substrate support member and the waveguide launch port faces a portion of a front surface of the substrate supported on the substrate support member, and a control unit configured to change a relative position of the substrate support member in a horizontal direction with respect to the waveguide launch port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Tokunobu AKAO, Unryu OGAWA, Masahisa OKUNO, Shinji YASHIMA, Atsushi UMEKAWA, Kaichiro MINAMI
  • Patent number: 8124920
    Abstract: A microwave cooking oven return of a food item to an original placement parking of the oven's rotating table concurrent with the end of a selected cook-time. The cooked foodstuff ends-up parked at the same frontward facing turntable orientation that existed at the onset of the oven's overall operating cycle by synchronizing overall turntable circumrotation time with a preferred cook time. This absolute concurrency of return-parking and selected cook-time completion safely provides for unencumbered open-door access enabling immediate removal of the foodstuff from the turntable at the very moment of cooking completion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Savvy Stuff Property Trust
    Inventor: Harold J. Weber
  • Patent number: 7804050
    Abstract: A microwave oven in which a power transmission transmitting driving force of a motor moves a tray right and left without direct contact with the tray. The microwave oven includes a support disposed between a bottom plate and the tray to support the tray and the power transmission transmitting driving force of the motor to the support such that the support linearly travels. The shape of an oval guide hole formed in the support is changed to adjust the stopping time of the support at the rightmost or leftmost side. The tray linearly travels together with the support when the support linearly travels. The microwave oven further includes a tray restriction device or a tray moving device for guiding the linear movement of the tray. The tray restriction device and the tray moving device are implemented by locking steps, grooves, protrusions, or rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeon Hong Kang, Sang Jin Jeong
  • Publication number: 20090236332
    Abstract: A turntable apparatus is provided for use in a microwave oven which includes a turntable driving motor, turntable drive mechanism connected to the turntable driving motor, an oven door, and a door switch. The subject apparatus is comprised of a turntable unit which is mechanically connected to the turntable drive gearing. The turntable unit includes a plurality of article sensors which suitably may be weight sensors, photo-sensors, or the like. A turntable control microprocessor is electrically connected to the turntable driving motor, to the plurality of sensors, and to the door switch. By receiving signals from the sensors and from the door switch, and by sending signals to the turntable driving motor to rotate the turntable unit, the turntable control microprocessor is adapted to automatically adjusts the position of the turntable unit (and a sensed food container placed thereon) with respect to the oven door such that the food container is proximal to the oven door when the oven door is open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventor: Steven L. Adams
  • Patent number: 7435933
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for processing sample materials. The sample materials may be located in a plurality of process chambers in the device, which is rotated during heating of the sample materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Inventors: William Bedingham, Barry W. Robole, Raj Rajagopal
  • Publication number: 20080190915
    Abstract: A microwave oven in which a power transmission transmitting driving force of a motor moves a tray right and left without direct contact with the tray. The microwave oven includes a support disposed between a bottom plate and the tray to support the tray and the power transmission transmitting driving force of the motor to the support such that the support linearly travels. The shape of an oval guide hole formed in the support is changed to adjust the stopping time of the support at the rightmost or leftmost side. The tray linearly travels together with the support when the support linearly travels. The microwave oven further includes a tray restriction device or a tray moving device for guiding the linear movement of the tray. The tray restriction device and the tray moving device are implemented by locking steps, grooves, protrusions, or rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeon Hong KANG, Sang Jin Jeong
  • Patent number: 7361873
    Abstract: A microwave oven in which a power transmission transmitting driving force of a motor moves a tray right and left without direct contact with the tray. The microwave oven includes a support disposed between a bottom plate and the tray to support the tray and the power transmission transmitting driving force of the motor to the support such that the support linearly travels. The shape of an oval guide hole formed in the support is changed to adjust the stopping time of the support at the rightmost or leftmost side. The tray linearly travels together with the support when the support linearly travels. The microwave oven further includes a tray restriction device or a tray moving device for guiding the linear movement of the tray. The tray restriction device and the tray moving device are implemented by locking steps, grooves, protrusions, or rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeon Hong Kang, Sang Jin Jeong
  • Patent number: 7355153
    Abstract: A liner unit for a microwave oven. The liner unit has a plurality of disposable liners in a stack and which are adhered to each other to be peeled off each other. Each liner is disposable and will protect the interior surfaces of the oven against splatters and spills. After use, the liner is simply peeled off the stack of liners and discarded. Each of the liners has openings associated with a microwave oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Inventor: Pasquale J. Nuzzolillo
  • Patent number: 7351943
    Abstract: An automated microwave cooking device turntable assembly includes an anchor member nested to a bottom surface of a microwave cooking device and extending upwardly within a cavity thereof. A drive gear is journaled about the anchor member and rotatable along a counter clockwise direction, and a body is seated on the drive gear and coupled thereto. A mechanism rotates the drive gear such that the annular body terminates at a position that insures that an item placed on the body remains identically oriented at a beginning and an ending of the cooking time. The rotating mechanism includes a peg that protrudes upwardly from the drive gear and is positioned along an outer edge thereof. A motor is coupled to the drive gear, and a switch is coupled to the motor and a power supply source respectively. An actuating arm is coupled to the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Inventor: Kenneth Kubler
  • Patent number: 7342208
    Abstract: A microwave oven in which there is substantially no difference between time when a linearly traveling tray travels from the right side to the left side of a cooking chamber and time when the linearly traveling tray stays at the right side or the left side. The microwave oven includes a linearly traveling tray having a guide channel or hole guiding a linear movement and a power transmission transmitting driving power of a motor to the tray. The guide channel and the guide hole have an oval shape and adjust the staying time at the rightmost or leftmost side in the traveling region. A rotation tray having a locking step formed in the lower surface thereof is further provided. The power transmission may include a linkage, protrusion and/or a roller, and their modifications. Food is uniformly cooked at any place of the cooking chamber, and a user can easily clean and reinstall the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeon Hong Kang, Sang Jin Jeong
  • Publication number: 20080017636
    Abstract: A revolving base of microwave oven, comprising the upper chassis, the nether chassis movably locating under the upper chassis, the upper distribution box locating on the bottom of the upper chassis, the nether distribution box locating on the top side of the nether chassis, idler wheel groups cooperating between the upper chassis and the nether chassis; the upper chassis, the upper distribution box, the nether distribution box and the nether chassis axially locate through a bolt; a smaller conducting ring and a bigger conducting ring are embedded in the bottom of the upper distribution box, the smaller conducting ring and the bigger conducting ring center on the screw, the smaller conducting ring and the bigger conducting ring respectively have electrical union joints drilling through upwards the upper distribution box; a smaller conducting strip and a bigger conducting strip are embedded in the top side of the nether distribution box; the smaller conducting strip and the bigger conducting strip respectively
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventor: Aiguo Sun
  • Patent number: 7276678
    Abstract: A turntable device of a microwave oven including: a motor mounted at a lower portion of a cabinet; an arm connected with a rotational shaft of the motor so as to be rotatably moved and having first and second rollers at an end thereof; a first tray disposed to be linearly moved on the bottom of the cabinet and having a slot into which the first roller is inserted; and a second tray disposed to be rotatable on an upper surface of the first tray and having a guide rail into which the second roller is inserted. A heating target received in the cabinet can be rotatably, linearly and reciprocally moved so that the cooking target can be quickly and uniformly heated. In addition, because a relative velocity difference between the first and second rollers does not occur, the first and second trays are prevented from being released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jong-Sik Kim, Yang-Kyeong Kim
  • Patent number: 7223951
    Abstract: A method for controlling microwave output depending upon food weight and food position so as to implement optimized cooking performance in a microwave oven and an apparatus for performing the same. According to the control method for cooking food placed on a turntable in a microwave oven, the control method includes detecting a plurality of sensing values generated based on the food weight during the rotation of the turntable, detecting a food position by comparing the detected sensing values, and controlling the microwave output based on the detected food position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin Hee Jung
  • Patent number: 7214914
    Abstract: A method of operating a microwave oven to determine the correct cooking time for a food item placed within the oven. A food package having a thermochromic element which changes color over a predetermined temperature range is placed in the microwave oven. Microwave energy is supplied into the oven. The food package is rotated within the oven cavity and the color of the thermochromic element is monitored as it rotates past an opto-electronic device or detector capable of detecting the color changes of the thermochromic element such that a plurality of signal pulses are generated having a value corresponding to the color of the element. The supply of microwave energy into the oven is terminated when the rate of change between successive pulses decrease to a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas Isaksson, David Wahlander, Fredrik Hallgren, Per Torngren
  • Patent number: 7202455
    Abstract: Microwave oven including a case with a door, a cooking chamber in the case openable/closable with the door, and having a microwave applicable thereto, a first tray mounted in the cooking chamber to reciprocate therein, a second tray rotatably mounted on the first tray, and a link engaged with the motor and the first tray such that the first tray reciprocates within the cooking chamber, and further engaged with the motor and the second tray such that the second tray rotates with respect to the first tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seong Soo Choi
  • Patent number: 7193195
    Abstract: A filter system for a wall mounted type microwave oven, which has an external enclosure surrounding an oven cavity. The external enclosure includes a bottom closure wall having a suction opening. The external enclosure also includes a top vent opening. An air exhaust path is formed between the external enclosure and the oven cavity wherein air drawn into the suction opening passes through the air exhaust path and is exhausted through the top vent opening. A first filter is provided on the suction side of the air exhaust path and a second filter may be provided on the exhaust side of the air exhaust path. In particular, the first filter may be provided adjacent the suction opening and a second filter may be provided adjacent the top vent opening, such that the first filter is provided at the inlet of the air exhaust path and the second filter is provided at the outlet of the air exhaust path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Hakan Lundstrom, Per Törngren, Hans Lindgren, Alan D. Bengtson
  • Patent number: 7109456
    Abstract: A microwave oven for enabling smooth rotation and linear reciprocation of a turntable is provided with a turntable installed therein to rotate and linearly reciprocate within a cooking compartment. The microwave oven includes a reciprocation guidance member, for supporting the turntable, provided between the turntable and the bottom of the cooking compartment. The reciprocation guidance member is moveable with the turntable in a linearly reciprocating direction. Through the use of such a reciprocation guidance member, it is possible to prevent interference between the rotation and the linear reciprocation of the turntable, resulting in smooth rotation and reciprocation of the turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Jin Jeong
  • Patent number: 7081605
    Abstract: A microwave oven includes an oven cavity arranged within a housing. The oven includes a door and a motorized conveyor belt for transporting food items through the oven cavity. A microwave energy intensification system is provided below the conveyor belt to concentrate and intensify a microwave energy field directed into the oven cavity in order to minimize temperature deviations within the food item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Rex E. Fritts, Thomas Miller
  • Patent number: 7057145
    Abstract: A menu selection device for a microwave oven is provided which is constructed such that a single display device may be divided into a menu guide unit and a menu selection unit. The menu guide unit is used to display a variety of menus, whereas the menu selection unit is constructed in the form of a touch screen which allows for selection of a particular menu from among the menus displayed on the menu guide unit. Use of a menu guide unit and a menu selection unit within a single display device makes a greater variety of cooking alternatives available to a user, while decreasing the size of the touch screen portion of the menu selection device and decreasing production costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Dae-Ho Kang
  • Patent number: 7053349
    Abstract: A microwave oven according to the present invention includes a body, an inner case provided in the body and partitioning the interior of the body into an inner space defining a cooking chamber and an outer space defining an electric component chamber, and a magnetron equipped in the electric component chamber for irradiating microwaves into the cooking chamber. The microwave oven also includes a tray mounted on the bottom of the cooking chamber, and a driving apparatus for driving the tray in one mode selected from a first mode in which the tray travels only in a rotational motion, a second mode in which the tray travels only in a linearly reciprocating motion, and a third mode in which the tray travels both in the rotational motion and in the linearly reciprocating motion at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Jin Jeong
  • Patent number: 7049566
    Abstract: A cooking device includes a first waveguide portion to make a microwave emitted into a heating chamber propagate radially in the directions almost parallel with the bottom face of the heating chamber and to guide the microwave propagated in the almost parallel directions into the heating chamber, and a second waveguide portion to make the microwave guided into the heating chamber by the first waveguide portion further propagate radially in directions almost parallel with the bottom face and to guide the propagated microwave into the heating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kato, Seiji Kanbara
  • Patent number: 7022956
    Abstract: A retrospectively-fitted multi-configurable microwave oven accessory the purpose of which is to provide an automated stirring capability of foodstuffs by use of the internal rotary plate of a microwave oven to provide a relative motion of the foodstuff and which is configured from a roof rail, a series of roof fittings and a series of stirring implements and where necessary may employ a food receptacle securing method. The device is shown at FIG. 7 of the attached drawings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Inventor: David Mark Greenstreet
  • Patent number: 6982401
    Abstract: Microwave oven including a cavity for placing food therein, a magnetron for generating a microwave, a waveguide having at least two slots for guiding the microwave from the magnetron to an inside of the cavity, and a stirrer fan rotatably mounted on an inside of the cavity for varying an interfered state of the microwaves periodically, thereby heating the food more uniformly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Yul Hu, Kwong Yong Kim, Won Hui Lee, Eung Su Kim
  • Patent number: 6956191
    Abstract: A microwave oven includes a cooking chamber and a door. The cooking chamber includes a front opening and a bottom plate. The bottom plate is projected forward from the cooking chamber. The door selectively opens and closes the cooking chamber, and is projected forward to form a cooking space extending from the cooking chamber, together with the projected bottom plate of the cooking chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-Sung Han, Yong-Woon Han, Han-Seong Kang, Joo-Yong Yeo, Seong-Deog Jang
  • Patent number: 6946632
    Abstract: A weight measuring device having a lever structure, a cooking apparatus equipped with the weight measuring device, and a mounting structure of the weight measuring device. A weight sensor pushed by a lever is disposed on an outer bottom surface of a cooking cavity. The lever is extended from the weight sensor to a lever passing hole to perform a lever action with a first end of the lever protruded to an inside of the cooking cavity through the lever passing hole, and a second end of the lever inserted into a lever receiving hole of a sensor housing that accommodates the weight sensor. The lever transmits pressure, which is generated when rollers pass over the protruded first end of the lever, to the weight sensor through the lever action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Chull Shon, Young Hoon Kang, Han Jun Sung
  • Patent number: 6933484
    Abstract: A stirring device for use in combination with a microwave oven and a carousel device either integral or portable having a base member with an integral attachment device for attachment to said microwave. A shaft depends from the base member, terminating in a blade member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Lindley, Martha C. Lindley
  • Patent number: 6852962
    Abstract: A microwave oven includes a tray holding unit which stably holds both a cooking tray and a tray guide at their original positions regardless of vibration and impact applied to the cooking tray and/or tray guide. The tray holding unit includes a base part, and elastic blade parts which are formed on both sides of a lower surface of the base part and extend downward from the lower surface while being inclined outward at an angle of inclination. A stop rail is horizontally formed along an inner surface of left and right sidewalls of a cooking cavity of the microwave oven, so as to stop top edges of the base part and allows the blade parts to press down on the cooking tray. Accordingly, the cooking tray and the tray guide are stably held down by the tray holding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-Seong Kang, Dae-Sung Han, Yong-Woon Han, Kwang-Seok Kang, Seong-Deog Jang
  • Publication number: 20040173606
    Abstract: A stirring device for use in combination with a microwave oven and a carousel device either integral or portable having a base member with an integral attachment device for attachment to said microwave. A shaft depends from the base member, terminating in a blade member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Lindley, Martha C. Lindley
  • Patent number: 6770859
    Abstract: A microwave oven includes openings and microwave dispersing apparatuses which are arranged to align with a magnetron in a row below a cooking cavity so as to reduce the overall size of a waveguide and uniformly reflect high-frequency electromagnetic waves to all regions of the cooking cavity. The center of a first opening is disposed at a downstream location away from the magnetron by a distance corresponding to one of odd numbers times a half-wavelength of a standing wave in the waveguide, while the center of a second opening is disposed at an upstream location which is offset from another distance away from the magnetron corresponding to another one of the odd numbers times the half-wavelength of the standing wave in the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeon-Hong Kang
  • Patent number: 6768088
    Abstract: A cooking shelf for a microwave oven allows food placed thereon to be equally close to its upper and lower heaters to evenly cook the food. The cooking shelf includes an upper shelf part having a certain area on which food is placed, a column part, which is downwardly extended from the upper shelf part by a certain length to support the upper shelf part, and a lower support part which is connected to a lower end of the column part and radially extended to support the column part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dae-Rae Kim
  • Patent number: RE39687
    Abstract: A tray driving apparatus for a microwave oven and a microwave oven having the same including a speed changing unit for enhancing the cooking quality by periodically changing the rotational speed of the tray to more evenly radiate a microwave to food. The speed changing means includes a driving gear unit having a plurality of driving gears and mounted to the driving shaft; and a driven gear unit having a plurality of driven gears corresponding to respective driving gears of the driving gear unit, and mounted to the driven shaft. The gears of any one of the driving gear unit and the driven gear unit are portion gears which are gears having gear teeth on respective portions of outer peripheries thereof, the gear teeth of the portion gears are alternately disposed to each other one on another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Won-Woo Choi