Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus including both an oven (i.e. a microwave oven) and a radio. In embodiments of the present invention, control circuitry is shared for both the oven and the radio. Embodiments of the present invention are advantageous, as a consumer desiring both a microwave oven and a radio need not buy these devices separately because they are combined in a single combination unit. The present invention is also advantageous, as the combination microwave oven and radio is less costly to produce than an oven and a radio that are separate devices. This is possible because many components (i.e. the casing and/or control circuitry) are shared between the two devices. Accordingly, a combination oven and radio may be more affordable to consumers.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention generally relates to microwave ovens and radios.  
           [0003]    2. Background of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Electronic devices are a part of many people&#39;s everyday lives. Examples of electronics are televisions, radios, computers, fans, telephones, lamps, and microwave ovens. As the amount of devices available to consumers increases, consumers may have difficulty accommodating many different electronic devices. However, consumers may not want to give up the benefit they receive from all the different electronic devices due to limited space in their dwellings. Accordingly, there has been a long felt need to maintain the services of the plurality of different electronic devices and at the same time minimize the amount of space these electronic devices consume. Additionally, there has been a long felt need for the price of consumer devices to be minimized.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus including both an oven (i.e. a microwave oven) and a radio. In embodiments of the present invention, control circuitry is shared for both the oven and the radio. Embodiments of the present invention are advantageous, as a consumer desiring both a microwave oven and a radio need not buy these devices separately because they are combined in a single combination unit. The present invention is also advantageous, as the combination microwave oven and radio is less costly to produce than an oven and a radio that are separate devices. This is possible because many components (i.e. the casing and/or control circuitry) are shared between the two devices. Accordingly, a combination oven and radio may be more affordable to consumers.  
           [0006]    Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating the construction of a microwave oven.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating the construction of a radio and microwave oven.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is an exemplary view illustrating various kinds of key buttons provided on a microwave oven.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating an exemplary process of storing radio frequencies in an EEPROM in a microwave oven.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating an exemplary process of receiving a radio signal using frequencies stored in an EEPROM in a microwave oven.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating an exemplary process of checking and storing a selection frequency of a selected frequency in a microwave oven.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a control process so that use information of radio frequencies is displayed on a display device of a microwave oven. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    Embodiments of the present invention relate to a microwave oven. A microwave oven is a cooking appliance that may cook in a simple and rapid manner using microwaves and heat generated from a heater.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is an exemplary block diagram illustration of a microwave oven. A microwave oven may include driving section  120 , control section  110 , signal input section  100 , display section  130 , and/or sound output section  140 . Driving section  120  may include a magnetron, a heater, and/or another component that may be for generating microwaves and heat for cooling. Control section  110  may be for controlling driving section  120 . Signal input section  100  may be for selecting or inputting a cooking mode. Display section  130  may be for displaying a cooking state and/or a user&#39;s input. Sound output section  140  may be for outputting sound that may be for sending an indication to a user.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating a radio/microwave oven according to embodiments of the present invention. In embodiments, a radio/microwave oven comprises radio modules ( 20  and  30 ) and driving module  10 . Radio modules ( 20  and  30 ) may be for a radio function of a radio/microwave oven. Driving module  10  may be a controller of a radio/microwave oven. Radio modules  20  and  30  may be controlled through driving module  10  of a microwave oven.  
         [0017]    Radio modules  20  and  30  may include antenna  21 , phase locked loop (PLL) circuit  20 , and/or radio receiving section  30 . Antenna  21  may be for receiving a radio signal. PLL circuit  20  may be for converting a signal received from antenna  21  into an intermediate frequency signal according to a PLL system. Radio receiving section  30  may be for amplifying a signal of a desired band from an intermediate frequency signal, processing, and/or outputting an amplified signal. A radio/microwave oven may also include speaker  29  for amplifying an output signal of radio receiving section  30  so that sound can be heard by a user.  
         [0018]    Driving module  10  may include relay driving section  9 , dial input circuit  3 , key input circuit  5 , display device  1 , and/or microcomputer  7 . Relay driving section  2  may be for driving a magnetron, a heater, and/or a fan motor when cooking in a microwave oven. Dial input circuit  3  and key input circuit  5  may be signal input sections that may be for inputting a user&#39;s selection signal. Display device  1  may be for displaying an operation state of a microwave oven and/or a user&#39;s input signal. Microcomputer  7 , which may be connected to radio modules  20  and  30 , may be for controlling radio modules  20  and  30  so that radio module  20  and  30  can receive a radio signal selected by a user without noise. Microcomputer  7  may be connected to driving module  10 . Microcomputer  7  may control driving module  10  in order to control menu selection (i.e. automatic cooking mode, manual cooking mode, a time period automatically or manually set according to the selected menu, a temperature, a proceeding state, etc.).  
         [0019]    Driving module  10  of a microwave oven may include a power supply circuit  4  that may be for supplying power to respective components of microwave oven driving module  10 . Dial input circuit  3  may be for inputting signals that change according to a rotating amount of a dial. Dial input circuit  3  may be used as an input of a menu program (i.e. automatic cooking, time period, temperature, etc.). Key input circuit  5  may select various kinds of key signals provided on an external case of a microwave oven and transmit corresponding codes of the selected key signals to microcomputer  7 . Dial input circuit  3  and key input circuit  5  may be used as an input interface for channel selection when a radio function of a radio/microwave oven is used. Dial input circuit  3  and key input circuit  5  may include buttons for selecting radio channels.  
         [0020]    Relay driving section  2  may include relays (not illustrated) for providing/intercepting a power supply to/from a magnetron and/or heater. A magnetron (not illustrated) may be for generating microwaves for cooking. A heater may be for generating heat for cooking. Relay driving section  2  may include relays (not illustrated) for connecting/intercepting a power supply to/from a fan motor that circulates air during a cooling and heating operation.  
         [0021]    Microcomputer  7  may control components of a microwave oven in order to control a cooking operation of the microwave oven. Microcomputer  7  may store control algorithms for cooking control. For example, microcomputer  7  may store a control algorithm according to a control process (i.e. an operating temperature, an operating time, etc.) for respective cooking menu items. Microcomputer  7  may be for control of radio functions. Microcomputer  7  may recognize a frequency of a broadcasting channel currently received by a radio receiving section  30  and/or check if the frequency of the received broadcasting channel coincides with that of the broadcasting channel selected by a user. If they do not coincide, microcomputer  7  may tune a frequency of a received broadcasting channel to that of a broadcasting channel selected by the user by repeatedly controlling PLL circuit  20 . Microcomputer  7  may include a control algorithm for radio function control.  
         [0022]    Display device  1  may receive a signal from microcomputer  7  to display information (i.e. cooking state, selected cooking mode, etc.) during performance of a function of a microwave oven. During performance of radio functions, display device  1  may display a frequency of a channel selected by a user (i.e. present input frequency according to the tuning operation, finally confirmed frequency, etc.).  
         [0023]    PLL circuit  20  may be connected to an internal serial port of microcomputer  7 . Elements of PLL circuit  20  may be implemented in a serial manner and data inputted into PLL circuit  20  is serial data. PLL circuit  20  may be an element for performing a tuning operation, receive a control signal from microcomputer  7 , and/or tune a frequency of a received channel to that of a channel selected by a user.  
         [0024]    PLL circuit  20  may include a reference frequency oscillator  9 , a divider  13 , a phase comparator  11 , a low pass filter  17 , a voltage adjustment section  19 , a universal counter  15 , and/or a mixer  23 . Reference frequency oscillator  9  may be for oscillating a reference frequency for tuning to a desired frequency under the control of microcomputer  7 . Divider  13  may be for dividing a frequency of an input signal under the control of the microcomputer  7 . Phase comparator  11  may be for comparing phases of a frequency outputted from divider  13  and a reference frequency oscillated from reference frequency oscillator  9 . Low pass filter  17  may be for outputting a DC voltage corresponding to a phase difference between two frequencies. Voltage adjustment section  19  may be for outputting an oscillation frequency f 0  according to a DC voltage output from low pass filter  17  (e.g., an oscillation frequency f 0  determined by tuning data from microcomputer  7 ). Mixer  23  may be for mixing oscillation frequency f 0  and a signal received through antenna  21 . Radio receiving section  30  may include an intermediate frequency circuit and/or a multiplexer circuit  27 . Intermediate frequency circuit  25  may be for amplifying a signal of a desired band from an output signal of mixer  23 . Multiplexer circuit  27  may be for converting an output of intermediate frequency circuit  25  into a stereo sound and outputting stereo sound to speaker  29 .  
         [0025]    Output of voltage adjustment section  19  may be repeatedly fed to divider  13 , repeatedly until oscillation frequency f 0  is accurately tuned to a frequency of a selected channel. This repeated operation may be controlled by microcomputer  7 . Microcomputer  7  may recognize and analyze input signals from intermediate frequency circuit  25  and multiplexer circuit  27 . Microcomputer  7  may apply a control signal to divider  13  and reference frequency oscillator  9  according to results of recognition and analysis. For example, microcomputer  7  may control divider  13  to divide input signals into desired frequencies or may control reference frequency oscillator  9  to oscillate at a desired frequency. Microcomputer  7  may control a start and an end of operation of divider  13  and reference frequency oscillator  9 .  
         [0026]    PLL circuit  20  may include a universal counter  15 . Universal counter  15  may count an intermediate frequency signal outputted from intermediate frequency circuit  25  and may output a result of the count to microcomputer  7 . Microcomputer  7  may control display device  1  to display an output signal of universal counter  15 .  
         [0027]    Microcomputer  7 , in driving module  10  of a microwave oven, may be connected to divider  13  and reference frequency oscillator  9  of PLL circuit  20  through an internal serial port. In order to receive an output signal of universal counter  15  in PLL circuit  20 , microcomputer  7  may be connected to universal counter  15 . Microcomputer  7  may be connected to an output terminal of intermediate frequency circuit  25  in radio receiving section  30  and to an output terminal of multiplexer circuit  27 .  
         [0028]    Power inputted to a microwave oven may be supplied to microcomputer  7  through power supply circuit  4  for a cooking operation. Power from power supply circuit  4  may be supplied to radio module  20  and  30  and driving module  10  of a microwave oven. When power is supplied inside a product, a user may select a cooking mode through dial input circuit  3  or key input circuit  5 . A selected cooking mode may be inputted to microcomputer  7 . Microcomputer  7  may control elements of driving module  10  of a microwave oven to perform a selected cooking operation.  
         [0029]    If a selected cooking operation is an automatic cooking operation, then microcomputer  7  may recognize a predetermined control algorithm corresponding to a selected cooking mode. Microcomputer  7  may apply a control signal to relay driving section  2  to drive a corresponding driving device (i.e. a magnetron or a heater). Microcomputer  7  may output a signal to display device  1  to display a cooking state that may be presently proceeding. If a selected cooking operation is manual cooking, then microcomputer  7  may output a signal to display device  1  to display a value corresponding to a signal inputted by a user, and may apply a control signal for driving corresponding driving devices to perform a selected manual cooking operation. After a start of cooking, microcomputer  7  may control display device  1  to display data according to a cooking state that may be presently proceeding.  
         [0030]    If a user intends to perform a radio function in a state that power is supplied from power supply circuit  4  to respective blocks, a user may select a desired radio channel using dial input circuit  3  or key input circuit  5 . Information on a selected radio channel may be provided to microcomputer  7 . Microcomputer  7  may recognize that a user requested a radio function and a radio channel desired by the user. According to a result of recognition, microcomputer  7  may output a control signal for listening to a radio to PLL circuit  20 .  
         [0031]    Microcomputer  7  may, when a radio microwave oven is turned on and a radio function is first selected, recognize a frequency of a radio channel to be tuned from channel information previously stored. PLL data may be for making a center frequency of a recognized radio channel output to divider  13 . An operation signal may be output to reference frequency oscillator  9 . Driving module  10  of a microwave oven may include an EEPROM for storing channel information. Divider  13  may divide a frequency fed back from voltage adjustment section  19  and may provide a divided frequency to phase comparator  11 . Phase comparator  11  may receive a frequency divided by divider  13  and a reference frequency oscillated from reference frequency oscillator  9 . Phase comparator  11  may compare the phases of the two frequencies.  
         [0032]    Low pass filter  17  may generate a DC voltage corresponding to a phase difference between a frequency divided by divider  13  and a reference frequency oscillator  9 . Low pass filter  17  may provide DC voltage to voltage adjustment section  19 . Voltage adjustment section  19  may provide to mixer  23  oscillation frequency f 0  according to a DC voltage outputted from low pass filter  17  (i.e., oscillation frequency f 0  may be determined by tuning data of microcomputer  17 ).  
         [0033]    Mixer  23  may mix a radio signal received through antenna  21  and oscillation frequency f0. Mixer  23  may output an intermediate frequency (IF) to radio receiving section  30 . Intermediate frequency (IF) circuit  25  comprised in radio receiving section  30  may amplify a signal of a desired band from an input signal. Intermediate frequency (IF) circuit  25  may output a desired band signal. A signal outputted from IF circuit  25  may be inputted to universal counter  15 . Universal counter  15  may numerate an input signal and provides a numerated signal to microcomputer  7 .  
         [0034]    Microcomputer  7  may control display device  1  to display an output signal of universal counter  15 . Accordingly, a user may confirm a frequency of a selected channel according to a signal displayed on display device  1 . An IF signal SD outputted from IF circuit  25  may be directly inputted to microcomputer  7 . Microcomputer  7  may check whether a frequency of an inputted signal is identical to a frequency of a channel selected by a user. If it is checked that a frequency of a channel selected by a user is different from a signal SD directly inputted from IF circuit  25 , microcomputer  7  may control PLL circuit  20  to repeatedly perform a tuning operation for a coincidence of two frequencies.  
         [0035]    Microcomputer  7  may perform a process of re-checking a coincidence of two signals by comparing a signal ST directly inputted from multiplexer circuit  27  and a signal directly inputted from IF circuit  25 . If a selection of a radio channel is completed through this process, display device  1  may display a user selected radio channel frequency counted by universal counter  15 . A signal outputted from IF circuit  25  may become a signal of a radio channel selected by a user. Accordingly, multiplexer circuit  27  may convert an output signal of IF circuit  25  into stereo sound. Multiplexer circuit  27  may output stereo sound through speaker  29 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 3 is an exemplary view illustrating various kinds of key buttons provided in a microwave oven according to embodiments of the present invention. A radio microwave oven may include at least one of volume key  212  for volume adjustment, tuning key  210  for fine adjustment of a frequency band, band key  204  for rough adjustment of a frequency band, memory key  208  for storing frequency selection information, preset key  206  for selecting a desired frequency with reference to a frequency selection information uploaded from the EEPROM  6 , and on/off key  202  for listening to a radio. Numeral ‘1’ denotes a display device. Frequency selection information may be a frequency list according to a number of selection, a frequency list of a specified number of frequencies predetermined by the user, and/or information on the frequency finally selected. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that various kinds of key buttons for cooking operations of a microwave oven may be provided in addition to those described above.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a process of storing radio frequencies in an EEPROM in a microwave oven according to embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 2, embodiments of the present invention may include EEPROM  6  which may store select radio frequencies. EEPROM  6  may store selected frequencies under control of microcomputer  7 . A user may select radio-on/off button  202  to listen to a radio (step S 300 ). Accordingly, a specified signal corresponding to on/off button  202  may be inputted to microcomputer  7 .  
         [0038]    Microcomputer  7  may recognize that a user selected a radio function according to a signal. A user may select a frequency of a broadcasting channel using tuning key  210  (step S 310 ). If a user selects memory key  208  after completion of a final selection (steps S 320  and S 330 ), microcomputer  7  may store a selected frequency in EEPROM  6  (step S 340 ). Microcomputer  7  may include a frequency stored in EEPROM  6  in information for preset performing. This may be for reading out a frequency stored in EEPROM  6  when preset key  206  is selected. A user may store a plurality of frequencies in EEPROM  6  according to a preset function of microcomputer  7 .  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 5 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a process of receiving a radio signal using frequencies stored in an EEPROM in a microwave oven according to embodiments of the present invention. A user may select radio-on key  202  if he/she intends to listen to a radio that is part of a microwave oven. A user may select preset key  206  (step S 400 ). If preset key  206  is selected at step S 400 , microcomputer  7  may recognize that a user intends to select a radio channel using frequencies stored in EEPROM  6 . Accordingly, microcomputer  7  may read out information on stored radio frequencies from EEPROM  6  (step S 410 ). Information on radio frequencies may be at least one of a frequency list according to the number of selection, a frequency list of a specified number of frequencies predetermined by a user, and information on a selected frequency. One of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that other applications may be also possible.  
         [0040]    Microcomputer  7  may control display device  1  to sequentially and/or simultaneously display a plurality of frequencies stored in EEPROM  6  whenever a user selects preset key  206  (step S 420 ). Microcomputer  7  may control display device  1  to display frequencies in an order of their frequency of use when a user selects a radio function. For a control operation, microcomputer  7  may store a frequency in use for each frequency in a specified region of EEPROM  6 . If preset key  206  is selected, microcomputer  7  may control display device  1  to display corresponding frequencies in an order of their frequency of use.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 6 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a process of checking and storing a selection frequency of a selected frequency in a microwave oven according to embodiments of the present invention. Microcomputer  7  may, when a user selects a radio function (step S 500 ) and/or selects a desired radio channel frequency (step S 510 ), be controlled to store a frequency of use of a selected frequency in a specified region of EEPROM  6  (step S 520 ). If frequency in use of a used frequency is stored as described above, it may be possible to control a display device to display frequencies stored in EEPROM  6  at step S 420  in an order of their frequency of use.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 7 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a control process so that use information of radio frequencies is displayed on a display device in a microwave oven according to embodiments of the present invention. Embodiments control display device  1  to display a radio frequency, whose frequency in use is largest, simultaneously with a selection of radio-on key  202 . Microcomputer  7  may use a frequency of use of frequencies used according to an exemplary process of FIG. 6. Microcomputer  7  may monitor whether radio-on key  202  is selected. If radio-on key  202  is selected (step S 600 ), microcomputer  7  may read out from EEPROM  6  a frequency whose frequency of use is largest based on frequencies in use stored in EEPROM  6  according to an exemplary process illustrated in FIG. 6 (step S 610 ). A readout frequency may be displayed on display device  1  (step S 620 ).  
         [0043]    In embodiments of the present invention, a radio module may not operate while a cooking mode of the microwave oven is in operation. During a cooking operation, a magnetron may generate microwaves. Microwaves may prevent radio reception due to a high-frequency noise generated from a magnetron. Accordingly, if any radio-related key is selected during the operation of a microwave oven, an error sign may be displayed on display device  1  and/or an alarm may be generated indicating an error. If any button for a cooking control of a microwave oven is inputted while a radio function is performed, a message or an alarm may be output indicating that a radio function should be stopped. Information relating to selected radio channel frequencies may be stored in EEPROM  6 . If preset key  206  is selected, information on channel frequencies stored in EEPROM  6  may be sequentially and/or simultaneously displayed on display device  1 . Accordingly, a user may easily select a radio channel frequency.  
         [0044]    Embodiments of the present invention enable radio listening using a microwave oven by providing a radio function in the microwave oven. A user may enjoy radio listening without separately purchasing a radio set. Various electric elements may be commonly provided in microwave oven that may be used for both control of a cooking function and a radio function. Accordingly, usability of electric elements provided in a microwave oven may be heightened. Embodiments of the present invention may provide a multi-functional electronic appliance. Accordingly, a user&#39;s satisfaction may become heightened.  
         [0045]    Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a radio microwave oven and a radio listening method using the same that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. An object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a radio microwave oven and a radio listening method using the same that enable listening of a radio signal by adding simple components. An object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a radio microwave oven and a radio listening method using the same that has a key input circuit for heightening convenience in use in the microwave oven that can receive the radio signal.  
         [0046]    In embodiments, a radio microwave oven includes a microwave oven provided with a cooking control function, an input means for inputting a radio operation signal, a display means for displaying a radio operation state according to a signal from the input means, a radio module for tuning using a phase locked loop (PLL) system so as to receive a radio channel signal selected by a user without noise, a microcomputer for controlling the microwave oven, the radio module according to the signal from the input means, and the display means so as to display a signal from the radio module on the display means, and generating frequency selection information by monitoring the signal from the input means, and an electrically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM) for storing the frequency selection information.  
         [0047]    In embodiments, a radio listening method uses a microwave oven simultaneously implementing a radio function and a cooking function, includes the steps of selecting one of the radio function and the cooking function, uploading and displaying in a specified manner the pre-stored frequency selection information if the radio function is selected, selecting one frequency from the displayed frequency information, and listening to a desired radio broadcast by tuning with the selected frequency.  
         [0048]    The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.