GB2251501A

GB2251501A - Microwave oven

Info

Publication number: GB2251501A
Application number: GB9123061A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chang Woo Lee
Original assignee: Gold Star Co Ltd
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 1990-10-31
Filing date: 1991-10-30
Publication date: 1992-07-08
Anticipated expiration: 2011-10-30
Also published as: KR920009264A; KR940003013B1; GB9123061D0; TR26339A; CA2054563C; GB2251501B; BR9104793A; CA2054563A1

Abstract

A microwave oven provides an indication of then its door is open e.g. by displaying the word "DOOR". Also if a cooking program is interrupted by opening of the door, the remaining part of the program will be executed when the door is closed without any further key action by the user. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION A A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING PROGRAMMED COOKING IN MICROWAVE OVEN FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns an microwave oven, and more particularly a means for performing a programmed cooking of an microwave oven.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND In the conventional micorwave oven, the execution of a programmed cooking is interrupted by opening the door of the microwave oven. In this case, when the door is closed again in order to continue the interrupted programmed cooking, the start key signal should be necessarily inputted. Hence, if the user opens the door to observe the cooking, and then closes the door without inputting the start key signal, the programmed cooking remains interrupted. Consequently, the programmed cooking cannot be completed until the predetermined time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a means that makes it possible for an microwave oven to continue the interrupted programmed cooking without inputting an additional start key signal after opening and closing the door during the execution of the programmed cooking.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for performing a programmed cooking of an microwave oven comprises the steps of interrupting the operation of an execution means for executing the programmed cooking if the door of the microwave oven is opened during the execution of the programmed cooking, and automatically continuing the programmed cooking stored in a storage means without an additional key input when the door is closed again.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for performing a programmed cooking used in an microwave oven, comprising a key input means for selecting a cooking function, a key input analysis for analyzing the data inputted by the key input means, a storage means for storing the cooking program obtained by analyzing the data, an execution means for executing the cooking program, a clock means for timing the cooking program, a door switch sensing means for sensing the openingiclosing of the door of the microwave oven so as to make a decision upon whether executing the cooking program or no, and a display means for displaying the opening state of the door when the door is opened.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings attached only by way of example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram for illustrating the operational flow of the circuit of an microwave oven according to the present invention; Fig. 2 schematically shows a display means notifying the opening of the door during the operation of the microwave oven; Fig. 3 is a block diagram for schematically illustrating the circuit of a device for performing a programmed cooking in the inventive microwave oven; and Fig. 4 is a flow chart of performing a programmed cooking in the inventive microwave oven.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A CERTAIN PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Fig. 1, the circuit of an microwave oven according to the present invention comprises a power source 2, reset means 3, frequency generating means 4, door signal sensing means 5, key signal input means 11, which constitute an external input circuit. A microcomputer 1 is driven by the external input circuit, and has an internal program made so as to perform a programmed cooking. The microcomputer 1 controls a magnetron drive circuit 6, motor/lamp drive circuit 7, buzzer drive circuit 8, and display device 9.

Referring to Fig. 2, the display device 9 comprises a first, second, third and fourth display parts 91-94, which indicate a predetermined cooking time or the present time. Each segment a-g of the first, second, third and fourth display parts consists of a plurality of LEDs. The display device 9 also displays notifying characters for indicating the opening of the door of the microwave oven during the execution of the programmed cooking.

Referring to Fig. 3, the data inputted by the key input signal means 11 is analyzed by a key input analysis means 12. The analyzed cooking program is stored into a storage device 14, and executed by a cooking program execution means 15. The time for executing the cooking program is controlled by a clock means 13.

A door switch sensing means 16 senses the opening/closing state of the door so as to control the storage means 14 and clock means 13. The data for displaying the characters to indicate the door opening is stored into a storage means for indicating the opening state of the door.

Hereinafter, the steps for executing the programmed cooking by an micrpwave oven according to the present invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 4.

In order to do a programmed cooking, a cooking program is inputted by the key input means 11 shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Then the inputted key signal data is analyzed by the key analysis means 12, and the analyzed cooking program is stored into the storage means 14. In addition, a signal for starting the cooking program is inputted in step 101. There is made a decision in step 102 upon whether or no the programmed cooking is executed. If the programmed cooking is under execution, the cooking routine is prformed by the execution means 15 and clock means 13 after a predetermined time in step 103.However, if the programmed cooking is not under execution, a programmed bit signal for indicating the ehd of the predetermined time is set in step 105, and the opening/closing state of the door is checked by the door signal sensing means 5 and door switch sensing means 16 in step 106.

If the door is opened, the door state display routine is performed in step 121 so as to display the notifying characters door as shown in Fig. 2, and the cooking program interruption routine is performed in step 122. The display device 9 displays the notifying characters instead of the time during the door being opened by selectively lighting the segments a,b,c,e,f,g of the first, second, third and fourth display parts 91-94. Of course, if the door is closed, the display device displays the time.The characters door, , for example, are displayed by lighting the segments a,b,c,d,e,g or b,c,d,f,g of the first display part 91 to display "D" or "d", the segments c,d,f,g of the second and third display parts 92 and 93 to display "o", and the segments a,c,f or c,f of the fourth display part 94 to display r If it is checked in step 106 that the door is closed, the bit signal for indicating the end of the predetermined time is reset by means of the reset means 3 in step 107, and the cooking program is executed in step 109 or the cooking completion routine is performed in step 110 according to the decision made upon the cooking program stored in the storage means 14 in step 108.

If the door is opened before the end of the predetermined time in step 104, the next routine is performed after displaying the notifying characters door by means of the door state display storage means 17 and display device 9.

Thus, according to the inventive microwave oven, even when the door is opened in order to include an additional dish or to do other works during the execution of a programmed cooking, and closed again, the temporarily interrupted cooking program is resumed without an additional start key input.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An apparatus for performing a programmed cooking used in an microwave oven, comprising: a) a key input means for selecting a cooking function; b) a key input analysis means for analyzing the data inputted by said key input means; c) a storage means for storing the cooking program obtained by analyzing said data; d) an execution means for executing said cooking program; e) a clock means for timing said cooking program; f) a door switch sensing means for sensing the opening/ closing of the door of said microwave oven so as to make a decision upon whether executing said cooking program or not; and g) a display means for displaying the opening state of said door when the door is opened.

2. An apparatus for performing a programmed cooking in an microwave oven as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said display means comprises LEDs.

3 A method for performing a programmed cooking in an microwave oven, comprising the steps of: a) sensing the opening/closing state of the door of said microwave oven by means of a door switch sensing means during execution of said programmed cooking; b) interrupting the operation of an execution means for executing said programmed cooking when said door is opened; c) notifying the user of the opening of the door by operating a door opening display means; and d) continuing said programmed cooking stored in a storage means by means of said execution means when door is closed.

4. Means for controlling a microwave oven, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

5. A method of operating a microwave oven, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.