Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Kwang-seok Kang

Yong-Woon Han

Seong-Deog Jang

Han-jun Sung

Dae-Sung Han

Chul Kyu Kim

Han-Seong Kang

Jin-Ho Kim

Won-Woo Lee

Tae-soo Park

Dae-sung Han

Seok-Weon Hong

Han-sung Kang

Han-seong Yoo

Won-woo Choi

Kwang-Keun Kim

Disclosed is a circuit and a method for driving a DC microwave oven. The circuit for driving a DC microwave oven according to the present invention includes: an inverting means to convert DC into AC by a driving pulse; a high voltage transformer to transform the AC from the inverting means, and supply the transformed AC to a magnetron; a pulse driving means to generate the driving pulse; and an over-current detecting means to detect an electric current which is supplied to the inverting means from a DC power source, and output an over-current detect signal if the detected current is determined as an over-current, so as to avoid the generation of the driving pulse by the pulse driving means. According to the present invention, the driving of the magnetron could be stopped when a malfunction of an interlock switch caused by an error or the over-current from the DC power source is detected, and circuit elements can be advantageously prevented from being damaged by the over-current.

Driving circuit of DC microwave oven and method of controlling the same

A microwave oven includes a tray holding unit which stably holds both a cooking tray and a tray guide at their original positions regardless of vibration and impact applied to the cooking tray and/or tray guide. The tray holding unit includes a base part, and elastic blade parts which are formed on both sides of a lower surface of the base part and extend downward from the lower surface while being inclined outward at an angle of inclination. A stop rail is horizontally formed along an inner surface of left and right sidewalls of a cooking cavity of the microwave oven, so as to stop top edges of the base part and allows the blade parts to press down on the cooking tray. Accordingly, the cooking tray and the tray guide are stably held down by the tray holding unit.

Microwave oven

Disclosed herein is a microwave oven and method for controlling the same. The microwave oven is used to heat and cook food using high frequency waves generated by high frequency generating means provided in an oven body. The microwave oven includes body sensing means for detecting the presence of a user in a sensing area extended over a certain area in front of the oven body, first operating means for operating the high frequency generating means, and control means for controlling the first operating means to selectively start, stop and resume the operation of the high frequency wave generating means according to the presence of a user in the sensing area.

Microwave oven and method for controlling the same

A microwave oven using DC power which can endure strong vibrations and eliminate noise according to noise standards. The microwave oven includes at least one second choke coil which is arranged outside a magnetron filter box and connected in series to at least one first choke coil installed in the magnetron filter box. Each choke coil and a feed-through condenser constitute a low pass filter. The size of each of the first choke coil is reduced and the size of each of the second choke coil is increased, so as to endure the strong vibrations and eliminate the noise generated by a driving of a magnetron.

A microwave oven includes a direct current (DC) power supply unit which supplies DC power to a magnetron so as to suppress noise induced in a high voltage line. The DC power supply unit includes at least one rectifying diode and a choke coil. The rectifying diode rectifies high frequency alternating current (AC) power generated by a heater coil into the DC power to suppress noise induced in the high voltage line of a high voltage transformer. The choke coil forms ripples in the DC power and effectively prevents a moding of the magnetron, which is generated where a constant DC voltage is supplied.

A microwave oven includes a filter unit having choke coils disposed on ground lines, to which low and high voltage units are grounded, and on a power line connected to a controller so as to block high frequency noise. Impedances of the ground and power lines are greatly increased by the choke coils. Accordingly, noise is prevented from being radiated to the outside through the ground lines, and from flowing to the controller through the power line, thus allowing the controller to perform a stable operation.

Disclosed is a power connector for a DC microwave oven, suitable for connecting power cords which are led from a DC power source and have positive and negative polarities, respectively, to a component arranged in a device chamber which is defined in a body of the DC microwave oven. The power connector comprises a connector body fixedly secured to a rear plate of the body of the DC microwave oven; power terminals for positive and negative polarities, the power terminals projecting into the device chamber from a rear surface of the connector body; and power cord connecting means projecting from a front surface of the connector body, for enabling the power cords which are led from the DC power source and have positive and negative polarities, to be connected thereto, respectively.

Power connector for DC microwave oven

A food amount detector for automatically detecting the amount of a food placed in a cooking chamber of a microwave oven, a microwave oven employing the food amount detector, and control method thereof. Output voltage of a microwave generator is detected while the microwave oven is driven, and the amount of the food placed in the cooking chamber of the microwave oven is determined based on the output voltage such detected. In accordance with the amount of the food such determined, the food is cooked under the appropriate driving conditions of the microwave oven. Accordingly, the user does not need to determine the amount of the food by himself, or set the driving conditions of the microwave oven such as cooking time, level of microwave energy, etc. As a result, the user finds it convenient when using this microwave oven, and the food is cooked under the exact driving conditions set by the microwave oven. Further, since the price of the parts are inexpensive, the manufacturing cost is reduced, and manufacturing process is simplified, so that productivity is improved.

Food amount detector of a microwave oven, a microwave oven employing a food amount detector and a control method thereof

Disclosed is a parts arrangement structure for a DC microwave oven which is formed by a combination of an upper panel, a lower panel and a rear panel, a space inside the DC microwave oven being divided into a device chamber in which a magnetron and an air guide are placed and a cooking chamber in which a rotating motor for rotating rollers and a turntable is placed, the DC microwave oven having a control panel which closes a front end of the device chamber. The parts arrangement structure comprises a high voltage transformer and an inverter circuit board mounted to the lower panel inside the device chamber; and at least one high voltage capacitor mounted to the lower panel below the cooking chamber.

Parts arrangement structure for DC microwave oven

A microwave oven includes a main casing with a cooking chamber, a door for opening and closing the cooking chamber, and a magnetron in the main casing, for heating food within the cooking chamber. The microwave oven further includes a power supply part, a first door switch closed while the door is closed to supply electric power from the power supply part into the magnetron, a monitor switch connected in series to the first door switch, being operated in reverse relative to the opening and closing of the first door switch, and a control part determining that the first door switch is in trouble where the first door switch and the monitor switch are not operated in reverse to each other, and preventing the electric power from being supplied into the magnetron when the door is opened while the first door switch and the monitor switch are both closed. With this configuration, the number of necessary switches are decreased and the circuits' structure is simplified, and thereby, the cost of production can be lowered and the stability of circuits can be improved.

Microwave oven with door safety switch device

A microwave oven is conveniently used even when a vibration and/or shock are applied to a vessel containing food by preventing the vessel from falling down. The microwave oven includes a cabinet having a cooking chamber and a driving chamber, a high frequency generating section for generating high frequency waves and supplying the high frequency waves to the cooking chamber, and a vessel supporting section for supporting a vessel containing food in the cooking chamber so as to prevent the vessel from falling due to a vibration and/or shock. The vessel supporting section includes a supporting member selectively installed to be contacted with a certain inner wall of the cooking chamber, and at least a supporting ring installed at a side of the supporting member for receiving and supporting the vessel. Here, the supporting ring is separated into two members, while the two members are elastically biased in a direction wherein the leading ends of the two members face each other and are pivotally installed at the inner wall of the cooking chamber by a hinge pin.

Disclosed is a microwave oven having a tray which is arranged in a cooking chamber and on which a food to be cooked or a vessel having accommodated therein a food to be cooked is placed and a tray driving section which is disposed in a driving chamber for transferring rotating force to the tray. The microwave oven includes a tray supporting unit for preventing the tray from being released from an original installation position. The tray supporting unit includes a first coupling portion which is formed on a driving shaft of the tray driving section, a second coupling portion which is press-fitted around the first coupling portion, and supporting arm portions which extend from the second coupling portion in a radial direction so as to be respectively engaged with an edge of the tray.

Microwave oven having a rotating tray support

A non-directional frequency generator inputs direct current power and outputs alternating current power. A high voltage transformer inputs the alternating current power, and either induces a higher voltage for driving the magnetron, or induces and outputs a commonly used alternating current power. A button inputting section includes a microwave oven operating button for driving the magnetron, and a voltage supplying button for supplying the commonly used alternating current power. A microcomputer applies the higher voltage of the high voltage transformer to the magnetron when there is a button input through the microwave oven operating button, while outputting the commonly used alternating current power when there is a button input through the voltage supplying button. Further, a socket outlet is formed on the body of the microwave oven, through which the commonly used alternating power generated at the microwave oven is supplied. Accordingly, since the commonly used alternating current power is supplied from an AC/DC type microwave oven, a user can use AC type electric appliances in places where alternating current is unavailable.

Microwave oven capable of supplying AC power

A non-directional frequency generator spark prevention apparatus including a plurality of electric connections connected with a direct current power source, i.e., brushes, and a commutator for converting direct current waveform inputted through the brushes into alternating current waveform by rotational movement thereof, and for outputting the alternating current waveform. A voltage pulse controlling part is connected between the brushes of the non-directional frequency generator, while having a resistor and a transistor which are connected in series with each other, and the transistor is operated synchronously with the rotation of the commutator of the non-directional frequency generator. By controlling the electric current to flow through the transistor during the brush-off period, a spark production during the brush-off period can be prevented. Further, by controlling the transistor to be turned off during a predetermined period between a predetermined time of the brush-off period to a predetermined time of the brush-on period, the electric current does not flow through the transistor at the beginning of the brush-on period, and accordingly, the spark production at the beginning of the brush-on period is prevented. A corresponding pulse generating part includes a photo-interrupter and a photo sensor, for generating a predetermined pulse waveform corresponding to the rotation of the commutator. Based on the pulse waveform, the transistor is operated, and accordingly, the transistor precisely synchronizes with the rotation of the commutator of the non-directional frequency generator.

Growing community of inventors

Suwon, South Korea

Kwang-seok Kang