Electric heating – Microwave heating – With diverse-type heating
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-30
2001-08-21
Leung, Philip H. (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Microwave heating
With diverse-type heating
C219S679000, C219S757000, C126S02100R, C165S201000, C165S061000, C312S236000, C099S357000, C062S238300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278098
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to microwave ovens, and more particularly, to a microwave oven further having the function of warming and cooling food therein.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, a microwave oven heats and cooks food in a cooking compartment, using microwaves generated by a magnetron. In the microwave oven, the cooking compartment remains vacant while the magnetron is not generated.
Japanese First Publication or “Laid-Open” Number 1990-171505 discloses a microwave oven wherein a cooking compartment can serve as a cooling compartment while the microwave oven does not perform cooking or thawing. In the disclosed invention, the microwave oven is provided with a cooling device comprised of a compressor, a heat exchanger and a cooling fan. While the magnetron is not in operation, the cooking device may be operated to use the cooking compartment as the cooling compartment.
However, the conventional microwave oven having this kind of cooling device requires a space for installing the compressor, the heat exchanger and the cooling fan, and therefore, the entire volume of the microwave oven is inevitably increased. In addition, noises are generated from the compressor while the cooling operation is being operated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above shortcomings, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a microwave oven wherein a cooking compartment can be further used as a warming compartment, and further having a cooling compartment to be used as a cooler.
This and other objects of the present invention may be achieved by a provision of a microwave oven, comprising a magnetron; a body casing having a cooking compartment is receiving microwaves from the magnetron and a cooling compartment formed adjacent to the cooking compartment; a thermoelement installed between the cooking compartment and the cooling compartment, and having a radiator and a heat absorber; a hot air transmitting unit transmitting hot air generated from the radiator of the thermoelement to the cooking compartment; and a cool air transmitting unit transmitting cool air generated from the heat absorber of the thermoelement to the cooling compartment.
The hot air transmitting unit includes a hot air inlet port formed at a first position on an inner wall of the cooking compartment, for guiding the hot air from the radiator of the thermoelement into the cooking chamber.
The hot air transmitting unit further includes a hot air outlet port formed at a second position on the inner wall of the cooking compartment for discharging the hot air, and a hot air passage for transmitting the discharged hot air toward the radiator of the thermoelement.
Preferably, the hot air transmitting unit further includes a hot air blowing fan for blowing the hot air into the cooking compartment through the hot air inlet port.
More preferably, the microwave oven further comprises a hot air exhausting hole formed on an outer wall of the body casing for discharging the hot air outside, and a hot air exhausting passage for communicating the hot air exhausting hole with the hot air passage.
Still preferably, the microwave oven further comprises a hot air damper for closing the hot air exhausting passage or the hot air inlet port.
The cool air transmitting unit includes a cool air inlet port formed on a first position of an inner wall of the cooling compartment for guiding the cool air from the heat absorber of the thermoelement into the cooling compartment.
Preferably, the cool air transmitting unit further includes a cool air outlet port formed at a second position on the inner wall of the cooling compartment for discharging the cool air from the cooling compartment, and a cool air passage for transmitting the discharged cool air toward the heat absorber of the thermoelement.
The microwave oven further comprises a cool air blowing fan for blowing the cool air into the cooling compartment through the cool air inlet port.
Preferably, the microwave oven further comprises a cool air exhausting hole formed at an outer wall of the body casing for discharging the cool air outside, and a cool air exhausting passage communicating the cool air exhausting hole with the cool air passage.
Effectively, the microwave oven further comprises a cool air damper for closing the cool air exhausting passage or the cool air inlet port.
More effectively, the radiation of the thermoelement includes a plurality of radiating fins, and the heat absorber of the thermoelement includes a plurality of cooling fins.
Preferably, an insulating material is disposed inside the inner wall of the body casing.
The microwave oven further comprises a control panel for selecting the function of operating the thermoelement, and selecting at least one of a warming function or a cooling function, and a controlling unit for controlling the operation of the thermoelement, and controlling the hot air damper so that the hot air damper closes the hot air inlet port when the warming function is off.
The microwave oven further comprises a control panel for selecting the function of operating the thermoelement, and selecting at least one of a warming function or a cooling function, and a controlling unit for controlling the operation of the thermoelement, and controlling the cool air damper so that the cool air damper closes the cool air inlet port when the cooling function is off.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4355521 (1982-10-01), Tsai
patent: 4866572 (1989-09-01), Blodgett
patent: 4884626 (1989-12-01), Filipowski
patent: 5315084 (1994-05-01), Jensen
patent: 57-210278 (1982-12-01), None
patent: 2-171505 (1990-07-01), None
patent: 9-210548 (1997-08-01), None
patent: 11-14067 (1999-01-01), None
Han Yong-Woon
Kang Han-sung
Yoo Han-seong
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Leung Philip H.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
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