Microwave oven and controlling of the same
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsPer Åke Törngren, Birgitta Tua Kidblad, Anders Reinhold Wikstrom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for controlling a cooking operation in a microwave oven as well as a microwave oven therefor. Subsequent to a heating step at full power for bringing cooking liquid to the boil, foodstuff which is to be cooked is added, whereupon continued moisture sensor controlled heating begins, initially at full power, until boiling resumes, whereupon moisture sensor controlled simmering/boiling takes place during a cooking time. During an initial time period of the continued moisture sensor controlled heating, the moisture sensor action is inhibited.
Claims16
A process for a microwave oven for controlling an operation for cooking a foodstuff arranged in the microwave oven, said process comprising:
- supplying microwaves at essentially full power during a first heating step for quick heating to at least a boiling condition,
- detecting by means of a first sensor a parameter indicating when a boiling condition has been reached, and
- maintaining simmering or boiling controlled by means of a second, boiling-detecting sensor to the extent desired during a cooking time, wherein the first heating step is interrupted when the boiling condition is detected by the first sensor, and
- microwaves are supplied, in a second heating step subsequent such interruption, preferably at full power, until boiling resumes, said second heating step beginning with a time period without control by means of said second sensor.
A microwave oven comprising a ventilated oven cavity (1), a microwave source (2), a feeding system (3) for feeding microwaves into the oven cavity, a program-controlled microprocessor control unit (4) for controlling the power level and the feeding time for the microwaves which are fed into the oven cavity, at least one moisture sensor (5) arranged to detect the humidity of the ventilation air from the cavity and in connection with the control unit, as well as control means connected to the control unit for setting cooking data for a foodstuff, comprising a microprocessor control unit is programmed to carry out a cooking operation in several steps, comprising
- a first heating step for quickly heating a foodstuff to at least essentially a boiling condition, during which microwaves are fed into the oven cavity at full or essentially full power, the power supply being interrupted when a first moisture sensor (5) detects a predetermined moisture value, and
- a further heating step during which the microwave power supplied is controlled depending on moisture level feedback from a second moisture sensor in order to maintain a moisture value corresponding to the desired degree of simmering or boiling during a cooking time for the foodstuff,
- said further heating step beginning subsequent to a hold time and subsequent to being initiated by an oven user and comprising a second heating step at high, preferably full or essentially full power until boiling resumes, in connection with, specifically during, the beginning of which the control action of the second moisture sensor is removed for a period of time, as well as a third heating step of closed-loop-controlled simmering or boiling during said cooking time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.