Devices and methods for RF heating of food, using techniques which allow uniformity and/or controlled non-uniformity.

A user interface for a microwave oven. The user interface including: a power input element for receiving user input to adjust a cooking power setting; a time input element for receiving user input to adjust a cooking time setting; a display element for displaying the cooking power setting and the cooking time setting; and a processor module that receives a first signal from the power input element that is indicative of an adjustment to a cooking power setting and a second signal from the time input element that is indicative of an adjustment to a cooking time setting; the processor being coupled to the display element to cause the display to present the user selected cooking power setting and the user selected cooking time setting; wherein: upon commencing a cooking cycle, user input applied to the power input module caused the user selected cooking power setting to be adjusted. The user interface can further include: a plurality of shortcut selection elements, each shortcut selection element is associated with a predetermined cooking profile having predetermined cooking settings. The user interface can further include: an “a bit more” selection element that causes calculation of a supplemental cooking setting.

Devices and methods for RF heating of food, using techniques which allow uniformity and/or controlled non-uniformity.

A heating cooker includes a heating chamber that houses food, a heating unit that heats the food, an imaging unit that acquires image data on the food after the food has been housed in the heating chamber, a setting unit that accepts a user input relating to heating control content defining a heating operation, a storage unit that stores control information in which the image data and the heating control content corresponding to the food specified from the image data are associated with each other, a heating start button that orders the start of the heating operation, and a storage update unit that associates the image data and the heating control content with each other and updates the control information within the storage unit, when the setting unit accepts the user input and then the heating start button orders the start of the heating operation.

A method for voice control on a microwave oven, and a microwave oven. The method for voice control on a microwave oven comprises a step of receiving a voice instruction input by a user (S10), a step of checking whether default menu parameters corresponding to the voice instruction are pre-stored (S20), a step of controlling the operation of a microwave oven according to the default menu parameters (S30), and a step of controlling, when receiving a parameter change instruction, the operation of the microwave oven according to changed parameters, and updating the default menu parameters (S40). The microwave oven comprises a receive module (10), a check module (20), a control module (30) and an update module (40). The parameters of the microwave oven can be changed to meet different requirements.

A cooking apparatus is provided. The cooking apparatus includes an input panel comprising a plurality of touch buttons, and a processor configured to enter a calibration mode according to a predetermined event, receive a signal corresponding to a test input for a first touch button among the plurality of touch buttons from the input panel in the calibration mode, and adjust a threshold value for identifying whether the first touch button was touched based on the strength of the received signal.

A recommendation engine generates contextually relevant media programs tailored to the specific context of the user. The recommendation engine interfaces with one or more Internet-of-Things (IoT) appliances to determine one or more food items stored within the IoT appliance(s) and/or one or more cooking capabilities associated with the IoT appliance(s). The recommendation engine also gathers profile data that reflects a set of preferences associated with the user. Based on the gathered data, the recommendation engine queries a database of cooking program data associated with various cooking programs. The recommendation engine obtains cooking program data that is contextually relevant to the user and then generates a contextual cooking program that describes how to perform a given recipe. During playback of the contextual cooking program, the recommendation engine can modify the contextual cooking program based on the progress of the user in following the recipe.

A microwave cooking appliance and method for operating the same perform an adaptive thermal sensing cycle in which a temperature sensor is used to develop a temperature profile for food being heated or cooked at an intermediate point in the cycle, such that a duration and output level for a subsequent stage of the cycle may be determined at least in part based upon the temperature profile.

A cooking appliance includes a cooking cavity, a microwave module, a convection module, an upper heater module and a lower heater module. A turntable is rotatably mounted in the cooking cavity. The cooking appliance is operable for, and related methods may include, activating at least one of the microwave module, the upper heater module, the lower heater module, and the convection module, while also rotating the turntable within the cooking cavity within the cooking cavity. The cooking appliance is further operable for, and related methods may also include rotating the turntable in a back-and-forth motion during at least a portion of a cook cycle.

A microwave cooking appliance for increasing visibility into the cooking cavity. The microwave cooking appliance may include a door. The door may include a conductive mesh layer. The door may include a frame supporting the conductive mesh layer. The door may include a conductive and/or sealing engagement between the conductive mesh layer and the frame. The door may include a leak detection device. The leak detection device may be adjacent the conductive and/or sealing engagement. The door may include a user interface display and/or a touch screen.