Automatic cooking cycle control system for microwave ovens

Claim 2

In combination: an oven; means for introducing microwave energy into the oven; means for thermally heating the interior of the oven; control means coupled to said energy introducing means and said thermal heating means for controlling the operations thereof; means for programming said control means to operate so as to cause said energy introducing means to introduce microwave energy into the oven for one of a plurality of periods within a predetermined time cycle, and to cause said thermal heating means to be operated for one of a plurality of periods within a predetermined time cycles, said programming means including means for effecting operation of said control means to cause either or both said energy introducing means and said thermal heating means to be operated on and off a plurality of timeS within a predetermined time cycle; and means cooperatively associated with said programming means and control means for selectively establishing the duration of the time cycle over which said control means effects operations of said energy introducing means and said thermal heating means.

Claim 3

In combination: an oven; means for introducing microwave energy into the oven; means for thermally heating the interior of the oven; control means coupled to said energy introducing means and said thermal heating means for controlling the operations thereof; and said control means including selector means selectively settable for one of a plurality of on and off sequences for said energy introducing means, said control means including selector means selectively settable for one of a plurality of on and off sequences for said thermal heating means, means for programming said control means including means to simultaneously set both selector means to one of a plurality of combinations of settings thereof and effect automatic on and off sequences of said energy introducing means and thermal heating means pursuant to respective settings of the selected combination, and means cooperatively associated with said programming means and control means for selectively establishing the duration of the time cycle over which said control means effects operations of said energy introducing means and said thermal heating means at the selected combination of settings.

Claim 4

In combination: an oven; means for introducing microwave energy into the oven; means for thermally heating the interior of the oven; control means coupled to said energy introducing means and said thermal heating means for controlling the operations thereof; and said control means including selector means selectively settable for one of a plurality of on and off sequences for said energy introducing means, said control means including selector means selectively settable for one of a plurality of on and off sequences for said thermal heating means, means for programming said control means including means to simultaneously set both selector means to one of a plurality of combinations of settings thereof and effect automatic on and off sequences of said energy introducing means and thermal heating means pursuant to respective settings of the selected combination, and means cooperatively associated with said programming means and control means for selectively establishing the duration of the time cycle over which said control means effects operations of said energy introducing means and said thermal heating means at the selected combination of settings.

Claim 5

In combination: an oven; means for introducing microwave energy into the oven; means for thermally heating the interior of the oven; control means coupled to said energy introducing means for controlling operations thereof, said control means including selector means selectively settable for one of a plurality of sequences of operation of said energy introducing means wherein the level of energy introduced into said oven is varied more than twice; means for programming said control means including means to set said selector means to one of its settings and effect automatic operations of said energy introducing means to vary levels of energy introduced into the oven in the sequence corresponding to the selected setting of said selector means; and means cooperatively associated with said programming means and control means for selectively establishing the duration of the time cycle over which said control means effects energy level changing operations of said energy introducing means at the selected setting.

Claim 6

In combination: an oven; means for introducing microwave energy into the oven; means for thermally heating the interior of the oven; control means coupled to said energy introducing means for controlling operations thereof, said control means including selector means selectively settable for one of a plurality of sequences of operation of said energy introducing means wherein the level of energy introduced into said oven is varied more than twice; means for programming said control means including means to set said selector means to one of its settings and effect automatic operations of said energy introducing means to vary levels of energy introduced into the oven in the sequence corresponding to the selected setting of said selector means; and means cooperatively associated with said programming means and control means for selectively establishing the duration of the time cycle over which said control means effects energy level changing operations of said energy introducing means at the selected setting.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 2, wherein said heating means includes a pair of heater elements spaced to receive an article of food between them, and wherein said programming means and control means are cooperative to effect operation of either heater element alone or both heater elements.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 4, wherein said programming means and control means are cooperative to effect operation of both heater elements simultaneously or alternately.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 2, including means for creating a flow of cool air into the oven, said programming means and control means being cooperative to effect operation of said flow-creating means for a predetermined time after the end of a predetermined selectively established time cycle.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 4, wherein: said energy-introducing means includes a magnetron; a waveguide feed extending between said magnetron and said oven; a microwave power control network coupled between said control network and said magnetron; and said network being adapted to operate said magnetron at different power levels, and said programming means and control means being cooperative to control said network for operating said magnetron at a respective power level or at each power level within selectively established time cycles.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 7, wherein: said heater elements have intermediate portions coupled to said waveguide feed and operate aS driven antennas to radiate the microwave energy throughout the oven; a current source; and switching means coupled between said current source and both said elements, said programming means and control means being cooperative to operate said switching means to connect either or both elements to said current source.