Combination microwave and hood system

A combined ventilation and microwave oven system, comprising:

• an external enclosure including:
• a top portion having a horizontal plane and defining each of first and second recirculation vent outlets, a cooling air outlet, and an outside vent outlet through the horizontal plane, wherein the first and second recirculation vent outlets are defined adjacent to a front edge of the top portion and the outside vent outlet is defined adjacent to a rear edge of the top portion, and wherein the cooling air outlet is in fluid communication with a cooling air inlet, and further wherein at least one of the first and second recirculation vent outlets is disposed between the cooling air inlet and the cooling air outlet;
• first and second side portions coupled to opposing side edges of the top portion;
• and
• a bottom portion extending between the first and second side portions and defining first and second vent inlets, wherein the first and second vent inlets are in fluid communication with the first and second recirculation vent outlets in a recirculation mode and the outside vent outlet in an outside vent mode;
• a cooking cavity defined within the external enclosure;
• a cooking component area defined between the cooking cavity and the first side portion;
• a door operable to enclose the cooking cavity, wherein a top edge of the door is aligned with the horizontal plane;
• a cooling fan disposed between the cooking cavity and the first side portion, wherein the cooling fan is configured to direct air in a first vertical direction through the cooling air inlet, through the cooking cavity, in a second vertical direction through a top surface of the cooking cavity, and in the second vertical direction through the cooling air outlet to be expelled from the external enclosure;
• and
• a hood assembly disposed within the external enclosure, wherein the hood assembly includes:
• at least one first hood fan disposed between the cooking cavity and the first side portion;
• and
• a second hood fan disposed between the cooking cavity and the second side portion, wherein the hood assembly is configured to direct air through the first and second vent inlets and through an interior of the external enclosure, wherein each of the cooling fan, the at least one first hood fan, and the second hood fan is disposed vertically below the top surface of the cooking cavity resulting in a low profile configuration.