Microwave oven capable of suitably controlling movement of a member mounted thereto, and control method thereof
AssigneeSanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
InventorsKazuhiko Kawamura, Hiroyuki Uehashi, Masaru Noda, Eiji Fukunaga, Kazuo Taino
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The microwave oven includes an infrared sensor for detecting the temperature of a food within a heating chamber. The infrared sensor has a field of view within the heating chamber. The infrared sensor is capable of moving the field of view. The food is often placed in the central region of the heating chamber. Therefore, when cooking is started, the field of view of the infrared sensor first scans the central region of the heating chamber.
Claims14
A microwave oven, comprising:
- a heating chamber for accommodating an object;
- an infrared sensor having a field of view within the heating chamber, for detecting a temperature of the object in the heating chamber;
- a field-of-view moving portion for moving the field of view of the infrared sensor, wherein the field-of-view moving portion moves the field of view in a central region of the heating chamber when temperature detection by the infrared sensor is started in the microwave oven;
- and
- a presence determination portion for determining whether or not the object is present within the field of view of the infrared sensor, based on a detection result of the infrared sensor, wherein
- the field-of-view moving portion extends a movement range of the field of view to a range broader than the central region of the heating chamber, if the presence determination portion determines that the object is not present in the central region of the heating chamber.
A microwave oven, comprising:
- a heating chamber for accommodating an object;
- an infrared sensor having a field of view within the heating chamber, for detecting a temperature of the object in the heating chamber;
- a field-of-view moving portion for moving the field of view of the infrared sensor, wherein the field-of-view moving portion moves the field of view in a central region of the heating chamber when temperature detection by the infrared sensor is started in the microwave oven,
- a presence determination portion for determining whether or not the object is present within the field of view of the infrared sensor, based on a detection result of the infrared sensor;
- a heating portion for heating the object in the heating chamber;
- and
- a control portion for controlling the heating operation of the heating portion, wherein, if the presence determination portion determines that the object is not present in the central region of the heating chamber, the control portion discontinues the heating operation of the heating portion right after the movement of the field of view in the central region of the heating chamber is completed, or after a predetermined time has passed since the movement of the field of view in the central region of the heating chamber is completed.
A microwave oven, comprising:
- a heating chamber for accommodating an object;
- a heating portion for heating the object in the heating chamber;
- an infrared sensor having a field of view within the heating chamber, for detecting a temperature of the object in the heating chamber;
- a field-of-view moving portion for moving the field of view of the infrared sensor;
- a demo executing portion for conducting a demonstration in which the field of view is moved and the infrared sensor is caused to conduct the temperature detection without operating the heating portion;
- a presence determination portion for determining whether or not the object is present within
- the field of view of the infrared sensor, based on a detection result of the infrared sensor, wherein
- the field-of-view moving portion fixes a position of the field of view to a position of the object as determined by the presence determination portion, and
- the temperature display portion displays a temperature detected by the infrared sensor with the position of the field of view fixed by the field-of-view moving portion.
A method for controlling a microwave oven, wherein a field of view of an infrared sensor is moved in a central region of a heating chamber when the infrared sensor is caused to start temperature detection of an object within the heating chamber;
- determining whether or not the object is present within the field of view of the infrared sensor, based on a detection result of the infrared sensor;
- and
- determining a position of the object based on both a result of the determination whether or not the object is present within the field of view of the infrared sensor and a position of the field of view of the infrared sensor, wherein
- if it is determined that the object is not present in the central region of the heating chamber, a movement range of the field of view is extended to a range broader than the central region of the heating chamber.
A method for controlling a microwave oven, wherein a field of view of an infrared sensor is moved in a central region of a heating chamber when the infrared sensor is caused to start temperature detection of an object within the heating chamber, further comprising the steps of:
- determining whether or not the object is present within the field of view of the infrared sensor, based on a detection result of the infrared sensor;
- and
- determining a position of the object based on both a result of the determination whether or not the object is present within the field of view of the infrared sensor and a position of the field of view of the infrared sensor, wherein
- if it is determined that the object is not present in the central region of the heating chamber, a heating operation of a heating portion is discontinued right after the movement of the field of view in the central region of the heating chamber is completed, or after a predetermined time has passed since the movement of the field of view in the central region of the heating chamber is completed.
A method for controlling a microwave oven in which temperature detection by an infrared sensor is conducted with a field of view of the infrared sensor being moved within a heating chamber, wherein a demonstration of the infrared sensor is conducted by causing the infrared sensor to conduct the temperature detection without conducting a heating operation of a heating portion
- determining whether or not an object is present within the field of view of the infrared sensor, based on a detection result of the infrared sensor;
- fixing a position of the field of view of the infrared sensor to a position of the object determined as being present within the field of view;
- and
- displaying a temperature detected by the infrared sensor with the position of the field of view being fixed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.