Bar code controlled microwave oven

In a microwave oven including a magnetron power source and a microprocessor controller for controlling said magnetron power source in response to input data modes entered by the oven user, the improvement comprising:

• an optically readable bar code associated with a respective input data mode;
• a hand-held, optical reader having a cable extendably mounted to said microwave oven,
• said optical reader including a front scanner head movable adjacent said optically readable bar code for directing light thereto and receiving reflected light therefrom;
• a light source, including means coupling said light to be directed to said bar code;
• a photodetector, including means coupling said reflected light to said photodetector for reading said bar code;
• and
• converter means converting said optically read bar code into control signals corresponding to said respective input data modes, including means coupling said control signal to said microprocessor controller.

A method of heating food in a microwave oven of the type including a magnetron power source and a control means for controlling said magnetron power source, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing at least one optical code including a series of bars and spaces having distinguishable optical characteristics, said code representing cooking instructions including time and cooking mode for heating said food;
• and
• (b) transmitting said cooking instructions represented by said optical code to said control means by scanning said code with optical reading means;
• and
• (c) thereafter heating said food by operating said magnetron power source under the control of said control means according to said cooking instructions transmitted to said control means in step (b).