KR20040102843A - Microwave Oven And Method Of Controlling The Same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A microwave oven and a control method thereof are provided to stop a steaming operation when stored water in a steaming container is dried up and to alarm the dried status to a user. CONSTITUTION: A user sets a cooling condition for steaming through an input unit(101). A controller drives a magnetron by controlling a magnetron driving unit(103) and counts a cooking time by using a timer(105). The controller checks a preheating time(107). The controller drives the magnetron continuously when the preheating time is not over. Otherwise, the controller detects the humidity inside a cooking chamber through a hygrometer(109). The controller checks a finishing time. The controller stops the magnetron(113) and returns when the counted cooking time is over the finishing time. Otherwise, the humidity value is compared with a reference value(112). The controller returns the steaming operation(103) when the detected humidity value is not under the reference value. Otherwise, the steaming operation is stopped by stopping the magnetron(114). The controller displays an error message through a display element by controlling a display driving unit and outputs an alarming sound through a speaker by controlling an alarming sound output unit(116). The controller checks the input of a cooking command to continue the steaming operation(118). In inputting the cooking command, the controller returns to the steaming operation(103). Otherwise, the controller detects the opening and the closing of a door through a door switch(120). In detecting the opening and the closing of the door sequentially(122), the controller returns to the steaming operation(103). Otherwise, the controller returns to the finishing operation(111). Thereby, the steaming is performed finely.

Description

Microwave Oven and its Control Method {Microwave Oven And Method Of Controlling The Same}

The present invention relates to a microwave oven and a method of controlling the same, which can boil water stored in a steaming container to perform steamed cooking.

The microwave oven has a function of steaming and cooking food with heated steam in addition to a function of directly heating food using high frequency.

Steam cooking is to cook the food in the container by using steam generated by the driving of the heat source, using a steaming container capable of storing water. Normally, steaming containers are filled with water at the bottom of the container, the food is placed on top of the lid, and is configured to cover the lid to facilitate humidification. When using a high frequency as a heat source high frequency can pass through the steaming vessel.

When the steamed container with water is stored in the cooking chamber and the cooking conditions for the steamed cooking are set, the steamed cooking is started as the magnetron is driven by the controller.

The high frequency generated by the operation of the magnetron is sent to the cooking chamber to boil the water stored in the steaming vessel, and the humidity inside the cooking chamber gradually increases from the time the water boils, and the humidity inside the cooking chamber is saturated to a certain value after a certain time. . After that, the driving of the magnetron is stopped to end the steaming cooking.

However, if the user puts an amount of water less than the amount necessary for the steaming container due to carelessness of the user and performs the steaming cooking, the stored water is depleted before the steaming cooking is finished. If the magnetron is left unattended in the abnormal state in which the stored water is depleted, the high frequency reflected from the inside of the cooking chamber to the magnetron increases. This reflected high frequency adversely affects the life of the magnetron. In addition, since the food contains moisture, if the magnetron is driven after the stored water is depleted, the food is directly heated and cooked by high frequency. As a result, steamed cooking by heated steam cannot be faithfully performed, which causes a decrease in cooking performance.

In order to avoid problems caused by lack of water, steaming and putting too much water in the steaming container is not preferable because the cooking time may be long.

As such, there is a need for a method of eliminating inconvenience, such as supplying an appropriate amount of water to a steaming container when cooking steaming, and informing the user of water shortage so that the steaming container can be replenished with water. It is becoming.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a microwave oven and a control method thereof capable of stopping steamed cooking when water stored in the steamed container is depleted.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a microwave oven and a control method thereof, which can alert a user of an abnormal state in which water stored in a steaming container is depleted.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a microwave oven and a method of controlling the same, which can continuously perform steam cooking according to a user's request when the steam cooking is stopped.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a microwave oven and a method of controlling the same, which can automatically perform steamed cooking according to opening and closing of the door when the steamed cooking is stopped.

1 is a view installed a steaming container in the cooking chamber of the microwave oven according to the present invention.

2 is a perspective view of the steaming container of FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view of the steaming container of FIG.

4 is a perspective view of a support plate installed inside the steaming container of FIG. 1.

5 is a control block diagram of a microwave oven according to the present invention.

Figure 6 is a graph showing the humidity inside the cooking chamber during steamed cooking according to the present invention.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the microwave oven according to the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

10: main body

12: cooking chamber

20: steamed container

21: Reservoir Bowl

24: support plate

26: cover

The present invention for achieving the above object is a microwave oven having a cooking chamber, a magnetron, a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity of the cooking chamber, a steaming container for storing water; It includes a controller for controlling the operation of the magnetron in accordance with the humidity value detected by the humidity sensor during steamed cooking.

The present invention for achieving the above object is a cooking chamber, a steaming container for storing water, a heat source for boiling water stored in the steaming container, a sensor for detecting the amount of water stored in the steaming container, and using the sensor By detecting the low amount of water in the steaming container as a result of the abnormality of the water in the steaming container includes a controller to stop the operation of the heat source.

In the present invention for achieving the above object in the control method of the microwave for steam cooking food, driving a heat source to boil the water stored in the steaming vessel, the abnormal state that the water stored in the steaming vessel is depleted And determining whether or not to stop the operation of the heat source by stopping the operation of the heat source when the determination result is abnormal.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail according to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a view showing a state in which a steaming container is installed in the cooking chamber of the microwave oven according to the present invention.

In the microwave oven according to the present invention, the cooking chamber 12 for installing the steaming vessel 20 inside the main body 10 is provided and the door 14 for opening and closing the cooking chamber is rotatably installed on the front surface. An input unit 30 having a plurality of keys for setting cooking conditions and a display driver 40 for displaying information such as setting of cooking conditions and cooking conditions are provided on one side of the main body front surface.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the steaming vessel 20 is a reservoir 21 for holding water, a support plate 24 for holding the food so as not to be submerged in the water stored in the reservoir, and the reservoir It consists of a cover 26 for covering the top of the. Support plate 24 is supported on both sides of the holding jaw of the reservoir, the cover 26 is covered thereon. The reservoir 21 is made of resin to transmit high frequency, and the cover 26 and the support plate 24 are made of metal and do not transmit high frequency. The backing plate 24 is formed in a plate shape, and a plurality of through holes 25 are formed to flow the heating steam. The high frequency generated by the magnetron during steaming cooking heats the water (W) stored in the reservoir, the heating steam is passed to the upper through the through hole 25 to steam the food placed on the support plate 24. The reservoirs 21, the support plate 24 and the cover 26 are formed with handles 22, 23 and 27, respectively.

5 is a control block diagram of a microwave oven according to the present invention.

The present invention includes a controller 70 for controlling the overall operation for cooking steamed. An input unit 30 for setting cooking conditions for steaming cooking, a humidity sensor 50 for detecting humidity in the cooking chamber 12, and a door 14 for detecting opening and closing of the door 14 are provided at an input terminal of the controller 70. The door switch 60 is connected, the magnetron driver 80 for driving the magnetron 80 at the output terminal of the controller 70, and the display driver 40 for driving the display element 42 to display an error message and to alarm. And a warning sound output unit 90 for driving the speaker 92 to output a warning sound. The humidity sensor uses a semi-conductor type sensor, and the display element 42 is implemented as a seven segment or a liquid crystal element (LCD). The timer 72 cumulatively counts the cooking time under the control of the controller 70.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the beginning of the steaming cooking, the humidity in the cooking chamber gradually increases, and when the preheating time ta elapses, the humidity in the cooking chamber is saturated to maintain a constant humidity ha. However, if the water stored in the steaming vessel 20 is insufficient, the stored water is depleted before the end of the steaming cooking, that is, before the end of the cooking time (tb), and therefore the humidity inside the cooking chamber is lower than the reference value (hr). Decreases. When the water stored in the steaming container 20 is depleted, a phenomenon in which the high frequency is reflected to the magnetron 82 inside the cooking chamber occurs.

To prevent this, the controller 70 stops cooking by stopping the magnetron 82 by controlling the magnetron driver 80 when the humidity value inside the cooking chamber detected by the humidity sensor 50 is a set reference value. Here, the reference value is set to detect a state in which the stored water is depleted. The reference value is set according to the cooking conditions set through the input unit, and the cooking conditions include the type and weight of the food.

When the cooking is stopped by stopping the magnetron, the controller 70 controls the display unit 40 to warn the user of the cooking stop due to lack of water, and displays an error message through the display element 42 and a warning sound. The output unit 90 is controlled to output a warning sound through the speaker 92.

When the user confirms that the water stored by the error message or the warning sound is depleted, the user refills the steaming container 20 and inputs a cooking command for continuing the steaming cooking through the input unit 30. The controller 70 controls the magnetron driver 80 to drive the magnetron 82.

The controller 70 recognizes that it corresponds to the case where the user replenishes water in the steaming container 20 even when the opening and closing of the door 14 are sequentially detected through the door switch 60, and the magnetron driver 80 ) To drive the magnetron 82.

A control method of the microwave oven according to the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The food for steam cooking is put in the steaming container 20 with water, and this steaming container is installed inside the cooking chamber 12. The user sets cooking conditions for steamed cooking through the input unit 30 (101). The controller 70 drives the magnetron 82 by controlling the magnetron driving unit 80 to start the steamed cooking (103), and counts the cooking time cumulatively using the timer 72 (105). The high frequency generated by the driving of the magnetron is transmitted to the cooking chamber and penetrates the water storage vessel 21 of the steaming vessel 20 to boil the stored water W. The heating steam generated by boiling water flows through the through hole 25 of the support plate 24 and steams the food placed on the support plate.

The controller 70 determines whether the counted cooking time has elapsed from the set preheating time ta (17), and if the preheating time has not elapsed as a result of the determination, the controller 70 returns to operation 103 to continue driving the magnetron. As a result of the determination, when the counted cooking time passes the preheating time, the controller 70 detects the humidity inside the cooking chamber 12 through the humidity sensor 50 (109).

Subsequently, the controller 70 determines whether the steamed cooking is finished, that is, whether the counted cooking time has passed the cooking end time tb (111). As a result of the determination, when the cooking end time has elapsed, the magnetron 82 is stopped (113) and returned.

As a result of the determination of operation 111, when the cooking end time has not elapsed, it is determined whether the humidity value detected by the humidity sensor is equal to or less than the set reference value (112). If it is determined that the detected humidity value is not equal to or less than the reference value, that is, the amount of water stored in the steaming container is appropriate, the process returns to operation 103 to continuously perform steaming cooking.

As a result of the determination of operation 112, if the detected humidity value is less than or equal to the reference value, the water stored in the steaming vessel 20 is recognized as an abnormal state in which the water is depleted, and the controller 70 stops the magnetron 82 to stop steaming cooking. (114).

The controller 70 controls the display driver 40 to alarm an abnormal state in which the steamed cooking is stopped due to the depletion of the stored water, thereby displaying an error message through the display element 42 and outputting a warning sound 90. ) And outputs a warning sound through the speaker 92 (116).

In the state in which the steaming cooking is stopped, the controller 70 determines whether a cooking command for continuing the steaming cooking is input through the input unit 30 (118). If the container is replenished with water, the operation returns to operation 103 to continue steaming cooking.

When the cooking command is not input as a result of the determination of operation 18, the controller 70 detects the opening / closing operation of the door 14 through the door switch 60 (120).

The controller 70 determines whether the opening and closing of the door are detected in turn (122). If the opening and closing of the door are detected in turn, the controller 70 opens the door, refills the steaming container, and then closes the door. In other words, if the user has replenished water in the steaming container, the process returns to operation 103 to continuously perform the steaming cooking.

If it is determined in operation 122 that the opening and closing of the door are not detected in order, that is, only the opening of the door is detected or a cancel command is input, the steaming container has not been refilled with water or the user This corresponds to a case where there is no intention to continue, and the operation 111 proceeds.

Although the above-described embodiment describes a configuration in which the stored water is boiled by using the magnetron as a heat source to make heated steam, and the food is cooked using the heated steam, but the heat source is not limited to the magnetron.

In addition, it describes a configuration for detecting the humidity inside the cooking chamber using a humidity sensor to detect the amount of water stored in the steaming vessel, but is not limited to the humidity sensor to detect the amount of water stored in the steaming vessel.

As described in detail above, the present invention can perform the steaming cooking well by controlling the cooking operation according to the amount of water stored in the steaming container. The present invention recognizes the lack of water stored in the steaming container according to the humidity inside the cooking chamber, when the lack of water can be visually alerted to the user can prevent cooking failure due to lack of water. In addition, the present invention can increase the reliability of the product by increasing the convenience of use, such as to continue cooking by the user's cooking command or opening and closing operation of the door after stopping the cooking.

Claims (22)

In a microwave oven equipped with a cooking chamber, Magnetron, humidity sensor for sensing the humidity of the cooking chamber, steaming container for storing water; And a controller for controlling the operation of the magnetron according to the humidity value detected by the humidity sensor during steaming cooking. The microwave oven according to claim 1, wherein the controller stops the steaming cooking by stopping the magnetron when the humidity value detected by the humidity sensor is a set reference value. The microwave oven according to claim 2, wherein the reference value is set to detect a state in which the water stored in the steaming container is depleted. The microwave oven according to claim 2, wherein the reference value is set according to a cooking condition for cooking the steamed food. The microwave oven according to claim 2, further comprising an alarm means for alerting the user of the interruption of the steamed cooking, wherein the controller stops the magnetron and alarms through the alarm means. The electronic device of claim 2, further comprising an input unit for inputting a cooking command by a user, wherein the controller drives the magnetron when a cooking command for continuously performing the steaming cooking is input through the input unit. Microwave oven. The method of claim 2, further comprising a door switch for detecting the opening and closing operation of the door for opening and closing the cooking chamber, the controller to drive the magnetron when the opening and closing of the door is sequentially detected through the door switch Microwave oven characterized in that. The microwave oven according to claim 1, wherein the steaming container comprises a water storage bowl for holding water, a support plate for holding food, and a cover for covering an upper portion of the water storage bowl. The microwave oven according to claim 8, wherein the cover and the support plate are made of metal and the reservoir is made of resin. A cooking chamber, a steaming container for storing water, a heat source for boiling water stored in the steaming container, a sensor for detecting the amount of water stored in the steaming container, and a sensor for detecting the storage amount of the steaming container using the sensor As a result, a microwave oven comprising a controller for stopping the operation of the heat source if the steam container is depleted of water. The microwave oven according to claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises a humidity sensor for sensing humidity in the cooking chamber. 11. The microwave oven according to claim 10, wherein said heat source comprises a magnetron. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an input unit for inputting a cooking command by a user, wherein the controller drives the heat source when a cooking command for continuing the steaming cooking is input through the input unit. Microwave oven. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising a door switch for detecting the opening and closing operation of the door for opening and closing the cooking chamber, the controller for driving the heat source when the opening and closing of the door is sequentially detected through the door switch Microwave oven characterized in that. The microwave oven according to claim 10, further comprising an alarm means for visually and alarming the user of the stopping of the steamed cooking, wherein the controller stops the heat source and alarms through the alarm means. . In the method of controlling a microwave for steaming food, A heat source is driven to boil the water stored in the steaming vessel, and it is determined whether the water stored in the steaming vessel is in an abnormal state depleted. Control method of a microwave oven, comprising the operation. The method of claim 16, wherein the determining of the abnormal state comprises sensing a humidity inside the cooking chamber using a humidity sensor and comparing whether the detected humidity value is equal to or less than a set reference value. . The method of claim 16, wherein the determination of the abnormal condition is performed during the steam cooking. The method of claim 16, further comprising an operation of visually alerting the user of the interruption of the steamed cooking. The method of claim 16, further comprising driving the heat source when a cooking command for continuously performing the steaming cooking is input. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: detecting whether the door for opening and closing the cooking chamber is opened, and driving the heat source when the opening and closing of the door are sequentially detected. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the heat source comprises a magnetron.