A domestic appliance (for example, a microwave oven), comprising: a housing; a front door; a retention mechanism (for example including a latch), located within the housing and engageable with the door; wherein the retention mechanism is movable between a first configuration, in which the door is retained in a closed position, and a second configuration, in which the door is non-engaged; an electromechanical actuator (for example a relay), adapted to move the retention mechanism out of said first configuration; and a controller (for example a microprocessor coupled to the relay, the microprocessor being operable in responsive to one or more signals to activate the relay, and thereby release the door from the closed position. Under spring bias, the door thus opens to about 30-45 degrees. The microprocessor-controlled door opening may be operable in three or more modes, including: actuation of a touch switch, remote control, or a microwave end of cooking.

Systems and methods for user configurable cooking appliances include receiving system resources having associated budgets, facilitating user allocation the system resources to a plurality of heating elements without exceeding the associate budgets, applying the system resources to the heating elements to heat one or more food substances within a cooking chamber, and selectively regulating delivery of the system resources to the heating elements such that no more than the associated budget of each of the system resources is delivered to the heating elements. Computing components can execute a heating algorithm to cook at least one food substance in the cooking chamber, detect a state change of the food substance, and modify the heating algorithm to reconfigure the system resources supplied to the heating elements in response to the state change and in accordance with user configured allocation and associated budgets for the system resources.

Several embodiments include a cooking appliance/instrument (e.g., oven). The cooking appliance/instrument can include a cooking chamber, a support tray adapted to hold food in the cooking chamber; and a heating system comprised of at least a heating element. The heating system is adapted to emit waves according to a particular configuration such that the emitted waves is substantially transparent or substantially opaque to the support tray and thus enabling the cooking instrument to select what to heat.

A control method includes controlling a lever, a pusher and a motor so as to arrange the same in a correct position when electric power is supplied to the home appliance, or the user turns on the home appliance. Abnormalities involving an automatic opening of the door through changes in a return/stop switch and an opening sensing switch while the motor operates so as to open the door may be confirmed.

A locking mechanism and a door opening control method are provided for household appliances. The locking mechanism is provided on a front door panel of a door of a cooking machine and used for controlling the opening and closing of the door and includes: a lever which is mounted on the back surface of the front door panel and at least a portion of which protrudes from an opening provided on the front door panel to the front surface of the front door panel; an electromagnet which is mounted on the back surface of the front door panel and may be in a locked or unlocked state with respect to the lever. The locking of the door of the cooking machine may be realized through the cooperation between the electromagnet and the lever. Real-time control of the door may be realized to better ensure safety of the user.

Systems and methods for user configurable cooking appliances include receiving system resources having associated budgets, facilitating user allocation the system resources to a plurality of heating elements without exceeding the associate budgets, applying the system resources to the heating elements to heat one or more food substances within a cooking chamber, and selectively regulating delivery of the system resources to the heating elements such that no more than the associated budget of each of the system resources is delivered to the heating elements. Computing components can execute a heating algorithm to cook at least one food substance in the cooking chamber, detect a state change of the food substance, and modify the heating algorithm to reconfigure the system resources supplied to the heating elements in response to the state change and in accordance with user configured allocation and associated budgets for the system resources.

A heating apparatus includes a heating circuit configured to heat a product to be heated; a door; a door lock mechanism configured to lock the door with the door closed; and a processor configured to control the heating circuit and the door lock mechanism, wherein based on an indication of a heating time period and a “settling” time period, the processor causes the door lock mechanism to lock the door, with the door closed, from a beginning of the heating until an end of the “settling” time period.

A cooking apparatus is disclosed. The cooking apparatus includes: a main body forming a cooking room; a door configured to open and close the cooking room; a door latch movably installed in the door; a sensor configured to contact the door latch; a controller electrically connected with the sensor; a heating source electrically connected with the controller; and a door lock including an interfering portion configured to interfere with opening of the door and a deformable portion configured to elastically support the interfering portion such that the interfering portion is movable, and in response to the contact of the door latch with the sensor ending by opening the door, the controller may control the heating source to stop operating.

A door body structure and a cooking device are provided. The cooking device has a housing that includes a limiting portion. The door body structure has a door body, an engagement member, a switching member, and a handle. The door body is arranged on the housing. The engagement member is arranged on the door body and has a hook. The hook is configured to be engaged with or disengaged from the limiting portion. The switching member is configured to cooperate with the engagement member to drive the engagement member to move between a first position and a second position. The switching member has a connecting segment connected to the engagement member and an operating member slidingly engaged with the connecting segment. The handle is provided on the door body and has a locking groove defined therein.

A latching structure, a household appliance and a control method for the household appliance are provided. The latching structure has a snapping member, a bracket, a limiting member, and a driving assembly. The snapping member is mounted on a door body and has a hook. The bracket is mounted on a housing and has a limiting portion. The hook can penetrate the bracket. The door body is connected to the housing in an openable and closable manner. The limiting member is rotatably mounted to the bracket and can reciprocate between an unlocked position and a locked position. The driving assembly is configured to engage with or disengage from the limiting member. In the unlocked position, the limiting member avoids the hook, and in the locked position, the limiting member is suitable for fitting the hook to limit a position of the hook.