Patent ID: 7863548
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: H05B

Abstract:
1. A method for preventing overheating of a microwave oven including a controller for controlling a magnetron output level, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving information of a cooking condition and a cooking start command for current cooking, the cooking condition comprising a magnetron output level and a current cooking period; (b) confirming pause duration from when preceding cooking was finished to when the current cooking is started, if it is determined that the magnetron output level is a preset magnetron output level or more; and (c) determining a basic output period and a reference period for changing the magnetron output level corresponding to the confirmed pause duration, followed by operating the microwave oven at the preset magnetron output level after changing the magnetron output level to the preset magnetron output level, if it is determined that a driving period for changing the magnetron output level has passed the determined reference period for changing the magnetron output level, wherein the reference period for changing the magnetron output level is determined as a value obtained by summing a preceding cooking period, an elapsed time of the current cooking period and a time-dependent weight value.