Cook-by-weight microwave oven

• US 4,441,002 A
• Filed: 03/01/1982
• Issued: 04/03/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Adamski, Joseph R., Freedman, George, Teich, Wesley W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reynolds, B. A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leung, Philip H.
• Application Number:
  US06/353,721
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 219/10.55 B, 219/10.55 R, 219/10.55 M, 219/10.55 A, 219/10.55 E, 73/15 B, 177/211, 177/25, 177/26, 177/245, 177/264, 99/325
• US Class Current: 219/708
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/414 using electronic computing means only
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/52 Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture with walking sticks A45B3/08
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6464 using weight sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/72 Radiators or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/725 Rotatable antennas

Abstract

A microprocessor controlled microwave oven having a scale for providing a signal corresponding to the weight of a food body in the cavity to the microprocessor. Through a control panel, the operator inputs a second signal corresponding to the initial temperature of the food body. From these signal inputs, the microprocessor calculates the microwave exposure time period to raise the temperature of the food body to a predetermined temperature or to cook the food body. In accordance with the time period, the microprocessor then controls the magnetron through one or more active cycles as selected.

Claims

1. A microwave oven comprising;

a conductive cavity;

a magnetron for supplying microwave energy to said cavity;

a weight sensitive device coupled to said cavity for providing a signal corresponding to the initial weight of food positioned within said cavity;

an operator actuable control for selecting frozen, refrigerator temperature, or room temperature as being indicative of the approximate initial temperature of said food;

a microprocessor for calculating a first time period for thawing said food, a second time period for raising the temperature of said food from refrigerator temperature to room temperature, and a third time period for raising the temperature of said food from room temperature to a hot temperature, said first, second, and third time periods being calculated as a function of said initial weight signal; and

said microprocessor controlling said magnetron in accordance with a selection of said first, second, and third time periods in response to said operator actuable control.

2. The oven recited in claim 1 wherein said weight sensitive device is positioned below said cavity.

3. A microwave oven comprising:

a conductive cavity;

a magnetron for supplying microwave energy to said cavity;

a microprocessor resonsive to an input derived from the initial weight of food placed within said cavity for calculating a first time period for thawing said food, a second time period for raising the temperature of said food from refrigerator temperature to room temperature, and a third time period for raising the temperature of said food from room temperature to a hot temperature;

a control panel having operator selectable means for inputting initial temperature information of said food to said microprocessor, said inputting means comprising means for the operator selecting among frozen, refrigerator temperature and room temperature as being indicative of said initial temperature;

a weight sensitive device coupled to said food within said cavity for providing said initial weight input signal to said microprocessor; and

said microprocessor controlling said magnetron in accordance with a selection of said first, second, and third time periods in response to said inputting means.

4. The oven recited in claim 3 wherein said weight sensitive device is positioned below said cavity.

5. The oven recited in claim 3 further comprising a rotating directive microwave radiator positioned within said cavity and coupled to said magnetron.

6. The method of cooking with a microwave oven comprising the steps of:

weighing a food body within the microwave cavity;

providing a first signal derived from said weighing to a microprocessor;

calculating in said microprocessor a first time period of microwave enegy exposure to thaw said food body, a second time period for raising the temperature of said food body from refrigerator temperature to room temperature, and a third time peroid for raising the temperature of said food body from room temperature to a hot temperature;

inputting a second signal corresponding to the initial temperature of said food body to said microprocessor, said second signal being in response to an operator control selection of frozen, refrigerator temperature or room temperature as being indicative of the approximate initial temperature of said food body;

controlling the magnetron in accordance with a selection of said first, second, and third time periods in response to said second signal.