A combination microwave and refrigerator system is provided. The microwave oven is connected to a source of power and has a control circuit for controlling the operation of the microwave oven. A first power supply outlet is provided on the microwave oven. A refrigerator is connected to the source of power by connection to the first power supply outlet. The control circuit is configured to disable the cooling operation of the refrigerator, when the microwave oven demands cooking power, and enable the cooling operation of the refrigerator when the microwave oven is not drawing cooking power. A safety sensor is provided in the microwave oven, and is configured to cause cooking power to the microwave oven to be turned off upon the safety sensor sensing a level of smoke.

An apparatus includes microwave oven and refrigerator functions. The microwave oven is connected to a source of electrical power and has at least one control circuit for controlling the operation of the microwave oven. A first power supply outlet is provided on the microwave oven. A refrigerator is connected to the source of power by connection to the first power supply outlet. The at least one control circuit is configured to disable the refrigerator compressor, when the microwave oven demands cooking power, and enable the refrigerator compressor when the microwave oven is not drawing cooking power. A safety sensor is provided in the microwave oven and is configured to cause the microwave oven to cease cooking operation upon the safety sensor sensing a dangerous condition.

An electromagnetic wave shielding film having a wireless energy conversion function is disclosed, which is attached to an exterior surface of the door of a microwave oven and used to absorb electromagnetic waves released by the microwave oven during operation. The electromagnetic wave shielding film comprises: a substrate carrier; a first substrate layer, provided on one side of the substrate carrier, where a wireless energy conversion unit is provided in the first substrate layer and is used to receive the electromagnetic waves and covert the electromagnetic waves to DC electrical energy; and an optically variable assembly, provided on the other side of the substrate carrier, where the optically variable assembly comprises an electrochromic layer and an electrode layer; the electrode layer is used to receive the DC electrical energy from the wireless energy conversion unit and drive the electrochromic layer to change its light transmission property.

A combination microwave and refrigerator system is provided. The microwave oven is connected to a source of power and has a control circuit for controlling the operation of the microwave oven. A first power supply outlet is provided on the microwave oven. A refrigerator is connected to the source of power by connection to the first power supply outlet. The control circuit is configured to disable the cooling operation of the refrigerator, when the microwave oven demands cooking power, and enable the cooling operation of the refrigerator when the microwave oven is not drawing cooking power. A safety sensor is provided in the microwave oven, and is configured to cause cooking power to the microwave oven to be turned off upon the safety sensor sensing a dangerous condition.

A sound sensing module for monitoring the operation of an appliance includes a microphone for monitoring sound generated during operation of the appliance and a controller operably coupled to the microphone. The controller can obtain a sound signal generated during operation of the appliance, analyze the sound signal to identify a sound signature corresponding to an operating event, and implement a responsive action, such as providing a user notification, providing troubleshooting instructions, ordering a replacement part, scheduling a maintenance visit.

A combination microwave and refrigerator system is provided. The microwave oven is connected to a source of power and has at least one control circuit for controlling the operation of the microwave oven. A first power supply outlet is provided on the microwave oven. A refrigerator is connected to the source of power by connection to the first power supply outlet. The control circuit is configured to disable the cooling operation of the refrigerator, when the microwave oven demands cooking power, and enable the cooling operation of the refrigerator when the microwave oven is not drawing cooking power. A sensor is provided in the microwave oven, and is configured to cause cooking power to the microwave oven to be turned off upon the sensor sensing a level of smoke.

An apparatus for applying electromagnetic energy to an object in an energy application zone via at least one radiating element is disclosed. The apparatus may include at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to determine a value indicative of energy absorbable by the object at each of a plurality of frequencies and to cause the at least one radiating element to apply energy to the zone in at least a subset of the plurality of frequencies. Energy applied to the zone at each of the subset of frequencies may be a function of the absorbable energy value at each frequency.

A method of terminating power to a microwave oven having at least one surface with a transparent glass panel. The method includes emitting microwave radiation into a cooking cavity of the microwave, monitoring resistance of a conductive coating on the at least one surface of a transparent glass panel with a circuit that measures sheet resistance of the conductive coating, and terminating power to the microwave oven when a change in resistance exceeds a threshold value.

An exemplary method for protecting a microwave magnetron is disclosed provided by the steps of positioning one or more containers on a conveyer belt which passes through the microwave oven, where each container is holding a liquid. Exemplary embodiments also provide the steps of ramping up the magnetron while a container is passing through the microwave oven, positioning product for microwaving on the conveyer belt, and applying microwave energy to the product. A system for protecting a magnetron is also disclosed having a plurality of containers, each container holding a liquid and positioned atop the conveyer belt before placing a product for microwaving on the conveyer.

A cooking device safety system includes a stovetop cooking device with a first sensor to detect the presence of an object on or adjacent to a burner; a second sensor to detect a condition of the burner; a transceiver to send a signal from the first and/or the second sensor to a remote device; a microcontroller with a timer; and a signal output device. A method for providing a safe cooking device environment includes detecting a status of a cooking device and detecting the presence of an object on or in the cooking device. When the cooking device has an activated status and an object is detected, the system detects whether a threshold cooking time has been exceeded. If the threshold has been exceeded, the system produces an alert via a signal output device; and/or sends an alert to a remote device; and/or inactivates the cooking device.