Cooking mode selector for continuously varying a mean output level of a magnetron in a microwave oven

A microwave oven comprising a microwave generation means and a variable cooking mode selector for varying a mean output level of said microwave generation means, said variable cooking mode selector comprising:

• a cylindrically shaped cam member having a longer radius section and a shorter radius section, the ratio of the longer radius section to the shorter radius section being gradually increased along an axis of the cylindrically shaped cam member;
• driving means for rotating said cylindrically shaped cam member about said axis;
• a contacting member;
• means for depressing said contacting member toward said cylindrically shaped cam member so that said contacting member is always brought into contact with the periphery of the cylindrically shaped cam member;
• a micro switch through which said microwave generation means is supplied with power;
• means disposed between said micro switch and said contacting member so as to close said micro switch when said contacting member is brought into contact with the longer radius section of the cylindrically shaped cam member or to open said switch when said contact member is brought into contact with the shorter radius section of the cylindrically shaped cam member;
• and
• selection means for shifting the location of the contacting member along the axis of the cylindrically shaped cam member.