Food amount detector of a microwave oven, a microwave oven employing a food amount detector and a control method thereof
US6348680B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 29, 2001 |
| Grant date | Feb 19, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 29, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02B40/00
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A food amount detector for automatically detecting the amount of a food placed in a cooking chamber of a microwave oven, a microwave oven employing the food amount detector, and control method thereof. Output voltage of a microwave generator is detected while the microwave oven is driven, and the amount of the food placed in the cooking chamber of the microwave oven is determined based on the output voltage such detected. In accordance with the amount of the food such determined, the food is cooked under the appropriate driving conditions of the microwave oven. Accordingly, the user does not need to determine the amount of the food by himself, or set the driving conditions of the microwave oven such as cooking time, level of microwave energy, etc. As a result, the user finds it convenient when using this microwave oven, and the food is cooked under the exact driving conditions set by the microwave oven. Further, since the price of the parts are inexpensive, the manufacturing cost is reduced, and manufacturing process is simplified, so that productivity is improved.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.