GB2245993A

GB2245993A - Microwave oven control system

Info

Publication number: GB2245993A
Application number: GB9101868A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nobuo Murakami
Original assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Priority date: 1990-01-29
Filing date: 1991-01-29
Publication date: 1992-01-15
Also published as: GB9101868D0; JPH03221727A

Abstract

A microwave oven is provided with a microcomputer that uses individual or total weight and the number of eg. potatoes to determine cooking time. Operating times are calculated for both a microwave generator and also a second conventional heater such as a hot air supplier and/or a direct heater, respectively. Accordingly, the microwave generator, the hot air supplier and/or the direct heater are operated during each determined time so as to make the potatoes soft inside and moderately burnt on the peels. The oven may incorporate a weighing apparatus 4 and has an input panel 5,6 which allows input of potato size (or average potato size) and number of potatoes. Total weight and number may be input in a panel of different design (Fig 5). A third embodiment (Fig 9) has a numerical keypad. Here, the weight of each successive potato is keyed in, whereupon the control system calculates total weight and number of potatoes. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION A MICROWAVE OVEN AND ITS COOKING METHODS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a microwave oven and its methods of cooking unpeeled potatoes and the like.

Many microwave cvens consist of a microwave generator which heats a material from inside, a hot air supplier which sends heated air into an oven cavity to burn the surface of the material and a direct heater such as a grill heater which cooks the material by radiant heat. In order to cook some food such as unpeeled raw potatoes, a user has to decide separate operating times for wach of the microwave generate, the hot air supplier and the direct heater. Since the preferable combination of these time periods is not known, it is difficult for the user to cook potatoes soft inside and moderately burnt on the peel as well as tasting and smelling good.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a microwave oven and its methods of cooking unpeeled potatoes and the like which can be handled easily by users.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a microwave oven and its methods of cooking unpeeled potatoes and the like which can be handled easily by users based on the number and gross weight of the potatoes to be cooked.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a microwave oven and its methods of cooking unpeeled potatoes and the like which can be handled easily by users by calculating the gross weight and number of the potatoes to be cooked at the same time based on the weights of the potatoes being input using numeral keys.

To achieve the above objects the present invention provides three embodiments; a first embodiment, a second embodiment and a third embodiment.

A microwave oven of the first embodiment comprises a weight-range input unit for inputting a weight range to which the weight of the potatoes or the like to be cooked belongs, a number input unit for inputting the number of the potatoes or the like, and a memory unit for storing each cooking time predetermined for each of a microwave generator, a hot air supplier and/or a direct heater according to the weight range of the potatoes or the like.

A microwave oven of the second embodiment comprises a gross weight input unit for inputting a gross weight of the potatoes or the like, a number input unit for inputting the number of the potatoes or the like, a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) having random access memory (hereinafter referred to as RAM) for temporarily storing data input by the gross weight input unit and the number input unit, and a read only memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) which stores various prepared data and operation programs.

A microwave oven of the third embodiment comprises a weight input unit having a set of numeral keys "0" through "9" and an enter key, a CPU having calculating means, RAM for temporarily storing data input by counting means and the weight input unit, and ROM for storing various prepared data and programs.

In the microwave oven having a control unit of the first embodiment described above, the weight of each potato or the like to be cooked is measured by some weight measuring means. When the weights of all the potatoes to be cooked at tha same time along to one of several predetermined weight ranges, the weight range is chosen. When the weights belong to different ones of the weight ranges, a weight range including the average weight of the potatoes is chosen. The chosen weight range and the number are input by the weightrange intut unit and the number input unit.

Based on the input data, the control unit automatically determines the cooking time predetermined for each of the microwave generator, the hot air supplier and/or the direct heater, according to the weight ranges. The microwave generator, the hot air supplier and/or the direct heater are actuated separately or simultaneously according to the cooking time.

In the microwave oven of the second embodiment having a control unit described above, the gross weight data of potatoes to be cooked is input using the gross weight input unit and the number of the potatoes is input using the number input unit. The CPU as the control unit separately or simultaneously actuates the microwave generator during a time period predetermined according to the gross weight of the potatoes put in the cavity and the hot air supplier and/or the direct heater such as a grill heater during a time period predetermined according to the number of the potatoes.

The microwave oven of the third embodiment having the control unit described above, is based on the individual weights of the potatoes input by the weight input unit. The CPU as the control unit calculates the gross weight of the potatoes using the calculating means and determines the number of the potatoes using the counting means. The CPU separately or simultaneously actuates the microwave generator during a time period predetermined according to the gross weight of the potatoes contained in the cavity and the hot air supplier and/or the direct heater such as a grill heater for a time period predetermined according to the number of the potatoes.

In order that the invention may more readily be understood, the following description is given, merely by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of a microwave oven of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the control circuit of the microwave oven.

Fig. 3 is a graph showing relations between gross weight of potatoes and operating time of a microwave generator according to weight ranges.

Fig. 4 is a graph showing relations between the number of potatoes and operating time of a hot air supplier and a direct heater according to weight ranges.

Fig. 5 is a front view of a microwave oven of the second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a block diagram of the control circuit of the microwave oven.

Fig. 7 is a graph showing relations between gross weight of potatoes and operating time of a microwave generator.

Fig. 8 is a graph showing relations between the number of potatoes and operating time of a hot air supplier and a direct heater.

Fig. 9 is a front view of a microwave oven of the third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a block diagram of the control circuit of the microwave oven.

Fig. 11 is a graph showing relations between gross weight of potatoes and operating time of a microwave generator.

Fig. 12 is a graph showing relations between the number of potatoes and operating time of a hot air supplier and a direct heater.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail according to the drawings.

First Embodiment As shown in Fig. 1, a microwave oven of this embodiment has a cavity 2 and a door 1 which closes at least one side, e.g., the front side, of the cavity 2. The microwave oven is provided with a microwave generator 7,a hot air supplier 8, and a direct heater 9. The microwave generator 7 includes a magnetron which supplies hot air in the cavity 2 in order to heat the material from outside. The direct heater 9, such as a grill heater, is located in the upper part of the cavity 2 and directly heats the surface of the material by radiant heat.

The microwave oven is also provided with a scale 4 on the top of the oven, and with a control panel at one side of the door 1. The scale 4 is for weighing the potatoes to be cooked. The control panel comprises a weight-range input unit 5 and a number input unit 6. The weight-range input unit 5 consists of several keys for selecting one weight range to which the potatoes 3 weighed by the scale 4 belong.

In this embodiment, each potato 3 is intended to weigh from 100g to 250g, and it is classified into the following five weight ranges: SS(lOOg-130g), S(131g-160g), M(161g-190g), L(191g-220g), and LL(221g-250g). The number input unit 6 consists of a plurality of number keys for entering the number of potatoes 3.

As shown in Fig. 2, CPU 10 including a microcomputer is connected with the weight-range input unit 5 and the number input unit 6 via an input interface, and also with the microwave generator 7, the hot air supplier 8 and the direct heater 8 via an output interface 12. The CPU 10 also includes RAM for temporarily storing weight range data and number data entered via the input interface, and ROM storing various prepared data and operation programs. The CPV 10 is further provided with a timer 11 for measuring the operating time of the microwave generator 7, the hot air supplier 8, and the direct heater 9, respectively.

A method of cooking potatoes 3 by this oven will now be described. The user weighs each potato using the scale 4, and enters the weight range using the weight-range input unit 5. More specifically, if the weighed potatoes 3 belong to more than two weight ranges among the five ranges (SS-LL), one weight range is picked by the user corresponding to the average weight. For instance, in order to cook three potatoes weighing 160g, 180g and 200g, respectively, the weight range M(161g-190g) would be selected because the average weight is iSOg. ;dd tiolzal1z, the number data for three should be entered from the number key "3" on the number input unit 6 to indicate three potatoes are to be cooked.

According to these entered data, the CPU 10 calculates a gross weight data by multiplying the mean value in the selected weight range by the number of potatoes. In case of the weight range M(161g-190g), for example, the gross weight sta is obtained by multiplying the mean value 175g by the number of potatoes. The obtained gross weight data and the number data are temporarily stored in the RAM.

The ROM in the CPU 10 has been previously stored with optimal cooking times predetermined by the following formulae for each weight range and number of potatoes. Otherwise, the ROM may store an operation program for calculating optimal cooking time, as occasion demands, by the same formulae.

Operating time TM of the microwave generator 7 is determined as follows: T=W tWA W:gross weight of potatoes to be cooked, i.e., the product of the mean value in the weight range and the number of potatoes.

twn:reference cooking time per unit weight of the standard weight range M. As for the other weight ranges, the following relations are given: weight range (SS) - (0.85-0.95)tWA weight range (S) - (0.90-1.00)tWA weight range (L) - (1.00-1.10)tWA weight range (LL) - (1.05-1.15)tWA Operating time TM of the hot air supplier 8 and/or the direct heater 9 is determined as follows: TH=tH - tH:reference cooking time per one potato in the standard weight range M.As for the other weight ranges, the following relations are given: weight range (SS) - (0.90-0.95)tH weight range (S) - (0.95-1.00)tH weight range (L) - (1.00-1.05)tH weight range (LL) - (1.05-1.10)tH N:number of potatoes K:experimentally predetermined coefficient. When the average weight per one potato is from 100g to 250g, it is between 1.05 and 1.06.

Based on these data in the ROM, the CPU 10 decides the operating time TM of the microwave generator 7 and the operating time TM of the hot air supplier 8 and/or the direct heater 9 to correspond to the gross weight data and the number data, and then sets the operating time in the timer 11. According to the timer 11, the CPU 10 then actuates the microwave generator 7, the hot air supplier 8 and/or the direct heater 9 via the output interface 12 during each operating time, and simultaneously displays a count down by the timer 11 on a time display 13 provided on the control panel in order to inform the user of the cooking progress.

Since the CPU 10 is further connected with the scale 4 via the input interface, the time display 13 indicates the weight when a material to be cooked is put on the scale 4. The time display 13 thus performs a dual function.

Fig. 3 shows the relations between gross weight of potatoes weighing over 100g and optimal operating time of the microwave generator 7, which were obtained from an experimt. The experiment used unpeeled raw potatoes ranging from SS to LL, and the optimal operating time of the microwave generator 7 was recorded when the potatoes were cooked to be good and soft inside. As apparent from- the graph, the optimal operating time is generally in linear proportion to the gross weight of the potatoes, and the gradient slightly changes according to the weight ranges. In the above experiment shown in Fig. 3, the hot air supplier 8 and the direct heater 9 were operated along with the microwave generator 7. Similar results were also obtained from another experiment which operated only the microwave generator 7 without operating the hot air supplier 8 or the direct heater 9.

Fig. 4 shows the relations between the number of potatoes and optimal operating time of the hot air supplier 8 and the direct heater 9, which were also obtained from an experiment. Similarly to the former experiment shown in Fig. 3, this experiment used unpeeled raw potatoes weighing over 100g and ranging from SS to LL and varied the number for each weight range. Optimal operating time in this case means cooking time for moderately burning peels of the potatoes in addition to making them smell good. The graph shows that the optimal operating time of the hot air supplier and the direct heater is again in linear proportion with some gradient, to the number of potatoes, and that the gradient is the same in every weight range while the time period slightly differs according to the weight ranges.In the experiment shown in Fig. 4, the hot air supplier 8 and the direct heater 9 were simultaneously operated along with the microwave generator 7.

In another experiment which operated only either the hot air supplier 8 or the direct heater 9, similar results were obtained although the operating time was longer as a whole.

In such a case, however, it is necessary to actuate the microwave generator 7 at the same time not necessarily to the full power(2,000w) but to a power strong enough to heat the inside of food well, that is, more than 1,000w.

The specification of the microwave oven used in the above experiments of Figs. 3 and 4 is as follows: (1) effective dimension of the oven cavity width...330mm depth...327mm height...200mm (2) output power of the microwave generator 7 2,000w (3) output power of a sheath heater built in the hot air supplier 8 900w (4) output power of a grill heater as the direct heater9 1,300w Second Embodiment Set forth is an explanation of a microwave oven of the second embodiment, in which like numerals denote like units.

Since a microwave oven of the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, any explanation for similar portions is omitted in the interest of simplicity.

The microwave oven comprises a cavity 102, a door 101, a microwave generator 107, a hot air supplier 108, and a direct heater 109 such as a grill heater, as shown in Fig. 5.

On a control panel 114 disposed at one side of the door 101, a gross weight input unit 116 and a number input unit 106 are provided. The gross weight input unit 116 consists of several gross weight keys for selecting a gross weight of potatoes to be cooked, for example, "-200g", "-400g", "-600g ", "-800g", and "-1000g". The number input unit 106 consists of several number keys for selecting the number of the potatoes.

As shown in Fig. 6, gross weight data and number data are input into CPU 110 from the gross weight input unit 116 and the number input unit 106, respectively, via an input interface 115.

In order to cook potatoes 103 contained in the cavity 102 of the microwave oven, gross weight data of the potatoes 103 input by the gross weight input unit 116 provided on the control panel 114 and number data input by the number input unit 106 are transmitted to the CPU 110 via the input interface 115. The data input is temporarily stored in RAM of the CPU 110. The ROM in the CPU 110 has been previously stored with an optimal cooking time predetermined by the following formulae for a gross weight range and number of potatoes.Otherwise, the ROM may store an operation program for calculating optimal cooking time, as occasion demands, by the same formulae.Operating time TM of the microwave generator 107 is determined as follows: TM=W ' wA W: gross weight of potatoes 103 contained in the cavity 102 TWA: reference cooking time per unit weight Operating time TH of a hot air supplier 108 and/or a direct heater 109 is determined as follows: TH=tH K > -1 t: reference cooking time per one potato N: number of potato K: experimentally predetermined coefficient. When the average weight per one potato is from 100g to 250g, it is between 1.05 and 1.06.

Based on these data previously stored in the ROM, the CPU 110 then determines an operating time TM of the microwave generator 107 and an operating time TH of the hot air supplier 108 and/or the direct heater 109 according to the data input by the gross weight input unit 116 and the number input unit 106, and stores the operating times TM and TM in the timer 111.

According to the timer 111, the CPU 110 then actuates the microwave generator 107, the hot air supplier 108 and/or the direct heater 109 via the output interface 112 during each operating time, and simultaneously displays a count down by the timer 111 on a time display 113 provided on the control panel in order to inform the user of the cooking progress.

Fig. 7 shows the relations between gross weight of the potatoes 103 weighing over 100g and optimal operating time of the microwave generator 107, which were obtained from an e;:peri:rent s.s apparent from the graph, the optimal operating time is generally in linear proportion to the gross weight of the potatoes 103. In the above experiment shown in Fig. 7, the hot air supplier 108 and the direct heater 109 were operated along with the microwave generator 107.

Similar results were also obtained from another experiment which operated only the microwave generator 107 without operating the hot air supplier 108 or the direct heater 109.

Fig. 8 shows the relations between the number of potatoes 103 and optimal operating time of the hot air supplier 108 and the direct heater 109, which were also obtained from an experiment. Similarly to the former experiment shown in Fig. 3, this experiment used unpeeled raw potatoes weighing over 100g. Optimal operating time in this case means cooking time for moderately burning peels of the potatoes in addition to making them smell good. The graph shows that the optimal operating time of the hot air supplier and the direct heater is again in linear proportion with some gradient to the number of potatoes 103. In the experiment shown in Fig. 8, the hot air supplier 108 and the direct heater 109 were simultaneously operated along with the microwave generator 107.In another experiment which operated only either the hot air supplier 108 or the direct heater 109, similar results were obtained although the operating time was longer as a whole. In such a case, however, it is necessary to actuate the microwave generator 107 at the same time not necessarily to the full power (2,000w) but to a power strong enough to heat the inside of food well, that is, more than 1,000w.

The specification of the microwave oven used in the above experiments shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is the same as that used in the former experiments of the first embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Third Embodiment Since a microwave oven of the third embodiment is similar to those of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, again any detailed explanation for similar portions is omitted in the interest of simplicity. The microwave oven of the third embodiment shown in Fig. 9 comprises a door 201, a cavity 202, a microwave generator 207, a hot air supplier 208, and a direct heater 209 such as a grill heater.

On a control panel provided at one side of the door 201, a weight input unit 218 consisting of a set of numeral keys "0" through "9" for inputting weight of each potatoes 203, for example, in the unit of gram, and an enter key.

As shown in Fig. 10, CPU 210 including a microcomputer is connected with an input unit 218 via an input interface, and also with a microwave generator 207, a hot air supplier 208, and a direct heater 209 via an output interface 217. The SPU 20 is further provided with a counting means 219 for counting times when weights of the potatoes 203 are input via the input interface 215, calculating means 220 for calculating gross weight based on the weights of the potatoes, RAM for temporarily storing the data input, ROM for storing various prepared data and operation programs, and a timer 211 or measuring the operating time for each of the microwave generator 207, the hot air supplier 208, and the direct heater 209.

In order to cook potatoes 203 contained in the cavity 202 with the microwave oven having the construction stated above, weight data of each potatoes 203 is input by the weight input unit 218 provided on the control panel.

More specifically, to cook potatoes of 180g, 200g, and 230g at the same time, numeral keys "1", "8" and "0", an enter key, numeral keys "2", "0" and "0", the enter key, numeral keys "2", "3" and "0", and the enter key are successively pressed. The weight data of the potatoes 203 are transmitted to the CPU 210 via the input interface 215 and are temporarily stored in the RAM in the CPU 210. Gross weight data is calculated using the calculating means 220 based on the weight data. Times when the weights of the potatoes 203 are input are counted using the counting means 219, that is to say, times when the enter key is pressed are counted.

The number of potatoes 203 to be cooked is thus determined.

The gross weight data and the number data are temporarily stored in the RAM.

The ROM of the CPU 210 has been previously stored with optimal cooking time predetermined by the following formulae for the gross weight and the number of the potatoes 203.

Otherwise, the ROM may store an operation program for calculating optimal cooking time, as occasion demands, by the same formulae.

Operating time TM of a microwave generator 207 is determined as follows: TM=W ' tWA W: gross weight of potatoes 203 contained in the cavity 202 TWA: reference cooking time per unit weight Operating time TH of a hot air supplier 208 and/or a direct heater 209 is determined as follows: TH=tH KN-1 t: reference cooking time per one potato N: number of potato K: experimentally predetermined coefficient. When the average weight per one potato is from 100g to 250g, it is between 1.05 and 1.06.

Based on these data previously stored in the ROM, the CPU 210 then determines an operating time TM of the microwave generator 207 and an operating time TH of the hot air supplier 208 and/or the direct heater 209 according to the gross weight and the number of the potatoes 203, and sets the operating times TM and TH in the timer 211. According to the timer 211, the CPU 210 then actuates the microwave generator 207, the hot air supplier 208 and/or the direct heater 209 via the output interface 212 during each operating time, a sir.ultaneously displays a count down by the timer 211 on a time display 213 provided on the control panel in order to inform the user of the cooking progress.

The time display of the control panel also indicates weights when the weights of the potatoes 203 are input using the numeral keys such that a user can confirm the weight he or she enters.

Fig. 11 shows the relations between gross weight of the potatoes 103 weighing over 100g and optimal operating time of the microwave generator 207, which were obtained from an experiment. As apparent from the graph, the optimal operating time is generally in linear proportion to the gross weight of the potatoes 203. In the experiment shown in Fig. 11, the hot air supplier 208 and the direct heater 209 were operated along with the microwave generator 207.

Similar results were also obtained from another experiment which operated only the microwave generator 207 without operating the hot air supplier 208 or the direct heater 209.

Fig. 12 shows the relations between the number of potatoes 203 and optimal operating time of the hot air supplier 208 and the direct heater 209, which were also obtained from an experiment. Similarly to the former experiment shown in Fig. 11, this experiment used unpeeled r raw potatoes weighing over 100g. Optimal operating time in this case means cooking time for moderately burning peels of the potatoes in addition to making them smell good.

The graph shows that the optimal operating time of the hot air supplier and the direct heater is again in linear proportion with some gradient to the number of potatoes 203.

In the experiment shown in Fig. 8, the hot air supplier 208 and the direct heater 209 were simultaneously operated along with the microwave generator 207. In another experiment which operated only either the hot air supplier 208 or the direct heater 209, similar results were obtained although the operating time was longer as a whole. In such a case, however, it is necessary to actuate the microwave generator 207 at the same time not necessarily to the full power (2,000w) but to a power strong enough to heat the inside of food well, that is, more than 1,000w.

The specification of the microwave oven used in the above experiments shown in Figs. 11 and 12 is the same as that used in the former experiments of the first embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and of the second embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings within the scope of the appended claims. For instance, a key may be added for selecting softer finish or half-cooked finish by altering the cooking time TM into (0.9-l.l)TM, or another key may be added for selecting a burnt condition of potatoes by altering the cooking time TH into (0.9-l.l)TH.

Wherefore, having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

Claims

1. A microwave oven comprising a weight-range input unit for inputting a weight range to which the weight of the potatoes or the like to be cooked belongs, a number input unit for inputting the number of the potatoes or the like, and a memory unit for storing each cooking time predetermined for each of a microwave generator, a hot air supplier and/or a direct heater according to the weight range of the potatoes or the like.

2. A microwave oven comprising a gross weight input unit for inputting a gross weight of the potatoes or the like, a number input unit for inputting the number of the potatoes or the like, a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) having random access memory (hereinafter referred to as RAM) for temporarily storing data input by the gross weight input unit and the number input unit, and a read only memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) which stores various prepared data and operation programs.

3. A microwave oven comprising a weight input having a set of numeral keys "O" through "9" and an enter key, a CPU having calculating means, RAM for temporarily storing data input by counting means and the weight input unit, and ROM for storing various prepared data and programs.

4. A microwave oven having a cavity for containing food to be cooked, a magnetron for transmitting microwave cooking energy into the cavity, control logic for controlling operation time of the magnetron, and for allowing the oven to more accurately cook one or more individual objects of like kind: a) number input means connected to the control logic for enabling a user of the oven to input a number of objects being cooked b) weight input means connected to the control logic for enabling a user of the oven to input an average weight of said objects being cooked; and c) calculation means included within the control logic Eol calsulatiug an optimum time for operating the magnetron so as to cook said number of said average weight of said objects to a pre-established degree.

5. A microwave oven according to claim 4 which includes a source of hot air to be conducted into the cavity to aid in cooking and the control logic is also connected to control said source of hot air and additionally comprising in said calculation means, means for calculating an optimum time for operating said source of hot air so as to cook said number of said average weight of said objects to a pre estatlished degree.

6. A microwave oven of claim 4 or 5, which includes a source of radiant energy to be conducted into the cavity to aid in cooking and the control logic is also connected to control said source of radiant energy and additionally comprising in said calculation means means for calculating an optimum time for operating said source of radiant energy so as to cook said number of said average weight of said objects to a pre-established degree.

7. A microwave oven according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the control logic includes pre-stored data of optimum cooking times based on a number of objects being cooked at a plurality of average weights.

8. A microwave oven according to any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the control logic includes a pre-stored formula for calculating optimum cooking time based on a number of objects being cooked at a plurality of average weights.

9. A microwave oven according to any one of claims 4 to 8, including weighing means preferably comprising a scale built into the oven.

10. A microwave oven according to claim 9 and additionally comprising: a) a numerical display connected to the control logic and displaying cooking time remaining; wherein additionally; b) said scale is connected to said numerical display and said numerical display indicates weight of objects on said scale when the oven is not cooking.

11. A microwave oven according to claim 4, wherein the microwave oven includes a source of hot air to be conducted into the cavity to aid in cooking and the control logic is also connected to control said source of hot air, and a source of radiant energy to be conducted into the cavity to aid in cooking with the control logic also connected to control said source of radiant energy and wherein said calculation means includes means for calculating optimum times for operating the magnetron, said source of hot air, and said source of radiant energy in combination so aC to cook said number cr said average weight of said objects to a pre-established degree.

12. A microwave oven according to any one of claims 4 tiJ 11, including first control panel means having the number input means and second control panels means having the weight input means.

13. Appal-atus for cooking one or more individual objects of like kind using microwave energy comprising: a) a cavity covered at least at one side with an openable door; b) a magnetron for transmitting microwave cooking energy into the cavity; c) a source of heat generating energy conducted into the cavity to aid in cooking; and d) a control unit connected for controlling the magnetron and the source of heat generating energy, the control unit including control logic for separately and simultaneously actuating the magnetron and the source of heat generating energy during respective time periods predetermined according to gross weight of the objects and number of the objects.

14. The cooking apparatus of claim 13, wherein the source of heat generating energy is a source of hot air.

15. The cooking apparatus of claim 13 or 14, wherein the source of heat generating energy is a source of radiant energy.

16. The cooking apparatus of claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein: operating time TM of the magnetron i-s determined as follows: TM=W # tWA W: gross weight of food objects contained in the cavity TWA: reference cooking time per unit weight; and operating time TH of the source of heat generating energy is determined as follows: TH=tH K- tn: reference cooking time per one object of food N: number of objects of food K: predetermined coefficient such that when average weight per one food object is from 100g to 250g, K is between 1.05 and 1.06.

17. The cooking apparatus of any one of claims 13 to 16, and additionally comprising: a) means for inputting gross weight of the objects to the control logic; and, b) means for inputting number of the objects to the control logic.

18. A microwave oven comprising: a) a cavity covered at least at one side with an openable door; b) a magnetron for transfli-Lting microwave cooking energy into the cavity; c) a source of heat generating energy conducted into the cavity to aid in cooking; and d) a control unit for controlling the magnetron and the source of heat generating energy, the control unit comprising: dl) gross weight input means; d2) number input means; and d3) control processing unit (CPU) having random access memory (RAM) for temporarily storing data input using the gross weight input means and the number input means, and read only memory (ROM) having been previously stored with various prepared data and operation programs; wherein, d4) the control unit further includes control logic for separately and simultaneously actuating the magnetron and the source of heat generating energy during respective time periods predetermined according to gross weight and number of food objects disposed in the cavity for cooking.

19. Apparatus for cooking one or more individual objects of like kind using microwave energy comprising: a) a cavity covered at least at one side with an openable door; b) a magnetron for transmitting microwave cooking energy into the cavity; c) a source of heat generating energy conducted into the cavity to aid in cooking; d) a control unit for controlling the magnetron and the source of hot air and/or the source of radiant energy; and e) a control unit for controlling the magnetron and the source of heat generating energy comprising an input means consisting of a set of numeral keys "0" through "9" and an enter key, a calculation means and a counting means; wherein additionally, f) the control unit includes logic means for after separate weights of the food are input using the numeral keys and the input keys, calculating gross weight of objects in the cavity for cooking based on separate weights of the objects using the calculation means, determining the number of objects using the counting means, and separately and simultaneously actuating the magnetron and the source of heat generating energy during respective time periods determined according to gross weight and number of food objects disposed in the cavity for cooking.

20. The cooking apparatus of claim 19, wherein: operating time TM of the magnetron is determined as follows: TM=W # twA W: gross weight of food objerts contained in the cavity TWA: reference cooking time per unit weight; and operating time TH of the source of heat generating energy is determined as follows: T=t. KN-1 te: reference cooking time per object of food N: number of objects of food K: a predetermined coefficient such that when the average weight per one object of food is from 100g to 250g, K is between 1.05 and 1.06.

21. A microwave oven comprising: a) a cavity covered at least at one side with an openable door; b) a magnetron for transmitting microwave cooking energy into the cavity; c) a source of heat generating energy conducted into the cavity to aid in cooking; and d) a control unit for controlling the magnetron and the source of heat generating energy, wherein the control unit comprises, dl) an input unit for inputting separate weights of food objects contained in the cavity which consists of numeral keys "0" through "9" and an enter key; d2) a counting means for counting times when separate weights are input using the input unit; d3) a calculation means for calculating gross weight of the food based on the separate weights; and d4) a CPU having RAM for temporarily storing data input using the input means, the gross weight obtained by the calculation means and the times obtained by the counting means, and ROM having been previously stored with various prepared data and programs; and wherein additionally, e) the control unit includes logic means for after separate weights of the food are. input using the numeral keys and the input keys, calculating gross weight of objects in the cavity for cooking based on separate weights of the objects using the calculation means, determining the rmber of objects using the counting means, and separately and simultaneously actuating the magnetron and the source of heat generating energy during respective time periods predetermined according to gross weight and number of food objects disposed in the cavity for cooking.

22. A microwave oven constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.