Control apparatus for heating appliance

A control apparatus for a heating appliance, such as a microwave oven, uses a microcomputer as its control means. A power switch for supplying power to heating means, such as a magnetron, is controlled by two switching devices, which switching devices are controlled by the microcomputer. When the user actuates a start switch, the first switching device is actuated by a control signal from the microcomputer, and thereafter, the second switching device is actuated to activate the power switch if the heating appliance is in proper operating condition. The microcomputer stops the entire heating operation whenever the heating means is not operating properly, by sensing an improper condition of the second switching device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to control apparatus for heating 
appliances, and more particularly to improved control apparatus for 
preventing erroneous heating mode operation of such heating appliances. 
Some conventional heating appliances, such as electric ovens, gas ovens and 
microwave ovens, have recently employed stored program-type controllers 
such as microcomputers for controlling various of their operating 
functions. Such heating appliances, however, are constructed so that it is 
possible for the power supply to the heating means to be initiated 
contrary to the user's intention, due to, for example, a "runaway" 
situation caused by noise-related malfunctions of the microcomputer, or 
faulty operation or breakdown of program counters contained in the 
microcomputer. 
In an attempt to eliminate such erroneous control operations, an early 
version of the present invention employs safety means which include first 
and second switch means. The first switch means is used for controlling a 
power switch for supplying power to the heating means, and the second 
switch means is used for controlling the on-and-off operation of said 
first switch means. 
When a heating start switch is actuated, the second switch means is first 
rendered conductive in response to a start signal generated from a 
microcomputer in response to the actuation of the heating start switch. 
Under this condition, if the heating start switch is still actuated, the 
first switch means is then rendered conductive to close the power switch 
to supply power to the heating means. Consequently, even if the heating 
start switch is actuated instantaneously by accident or the start signal 
is erroneously produced from the microcomputer due to, for example, 
noise-related malfunctions, the first switch means is not rendered 
conductive and erroneous heating operations are not carried out. 
Though the above-mentioned safety means eliminates some erroneous control 
operations, it is imperfect. For example, once an initial start signal is 
produced from the microcomputer, another start signal would be 
successively produced and operations other than heating operations may be 
erroneously executed. For example, in a microwave oven having a digital 
display device for displaying the preselected heating time, the heating 
time display may be decremented even though heating energy is not 
generated and no cooking is taking place. The microcomputer may operate to 
initiate the heating mode despite the fact that the appliance heating 
cavity is not being supplied with heating energy (i.e., the food is not 
heated at all). 
The preferred embodiment of the present invention is an improvement of the 
above-mentioned early version, and has as its principal object the 
provision of an improved control apparatus for a heating appliance, which 
eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved control 
apparatus for a heating appliance, which does not operate erroneously when 
the heating start switch is actuated for a very short period of time or 
when a program stored-type controller such as a microcomputer produces a 
heating start signal erroneously due to, for example, noise-related 
malfunctions. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved control 
apparatus for a heating appliance having a digital heating time display 
device, said control apparatus inhibiting decrementing said display device 
until the heating means is properly producing heating energy. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved 
control apparatus for a heating appliance having heating energy selection 
means, said control apparatus inhibiting the operation of such heating 
energy selection means until the heating mode is operating properly. 
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved 
control apparatus for a heating appliance, which includes alarm means to 
inform the user of the start of the heating operation or of an abnormal 
condition. 
These and other objects are accomplished by a control apparatus according 
to the present invention, which apparatus includes: heating means for 
producing heating energy; power control means for controlling the supply 
of power to said heating means; a start switch for starting the operation 
of said power control means; a circuit for controlling said power control 
means in response to the actuation of said start switch, said circuit 
including at least first control switch means responsive to the actuation 
of the start switch and second control switch means for causing said first 
control switch means to be in operable condition; and control means for 
controlling said circuit, said control means including first means for 
sensing whether said start switch is being actuated and for producing a 
start signal responsive to the actuation of said start switch, said start 
signal causing said second control switch means to operate, and second 
means for sensing the operation of said first control switch means in 
response to both the operation of the second control switch means and the 
actuation of the start switch, upon the lapse of a predetermined period of 
time after the generation of the start signal, and for stopping the 
generation of the start signal if said first control switch means is not 
operational. 
In a first illustrative embodiment, the heating means includes a magnetron 
for producing heating energy. The power control means includes a relay for 
closing the power supply line to said heating means. The control circuit 
includes a thyristor as the first control switch means and a transistor as 
the second control switch means, said thyristor and transistor being 
connected in series and disposed between the power control means and the 
control means. The control means is a microcomputer. 
The illustrative embodiment further includes an electronic display device 
for displaying heating time thereon, the control means further including 
third means operable in response to the sensing of the operation of said 
first control switch means by said second means and for decrementing the 
preset heating time display on the electronic display device. 
In the illustrative embodiment, the power more specifically includes at 
least a second power control switch means to be actuated continuously and 
a second power control switch means to be actuated repeatedly at an 
interval selected from a plurality of predetermined intervals. The control 
circuit includes at least a third control switch means responsive to the 
actuation of the start switch for actuating the second power control 
switch means. The control means further includes means for producing a 
power signal in response to the sensing of the operation of the first 
control switch means by said second, said power control signal causing the 
third control switch means to operate. 
In one particular embodiment, the control apparatus includes alarm means 
for producing an alarm signal which is used for informing the user of the 
start of the heating operation, or of an abnormal control condition. The 
alarm is executed by audible and/or digital display means. 
The invention as described above produces the following benefits, among 
others: 
The heating appliance does not operate erroneously when the start switch is 
actuated for a very short period of time or when the control means 
produces the start signal erroneously due to, for example, noise-related 
malfunctions; 
The decrementing operation of the display device is inhibited until the 
heating means properly produces heating energy; 
The operation of the heating energy selection means is inhibited until all 
heating mode operating conditions are satisfied; and 
The user is informed of the start of the heating operation or of an 
abnormal control condition, by means of an alarm.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a control apparatus for a 
conventional microwave oven which control apparatus employs a 
microcomputer as a controller and which embodies the early version of the 
present invention. Commercial A.C. power source 10 is supplied across 
primary winding 11 of transformer 12 via relay switches 14, 16 which coact 
as a power switch. Main secondary winding 13 of transformer 12 is 
connected at one end to the filament of magnetron 18 via capacitor 20 and 
at the other end to ground. The junction of the filament of magnetron 18 
and capacitor 20 is connected to ground via diode 22. Sub-secondary 
winding 15 of transformer 12 is connected across the filament of magnetron 
18. The anode of magnetron 18 is connected to ground. 
Relay 24 includes relay switches 14, 16 which are driven by relay coil 26. 
For example, when relay coil 26 is energized, relay switches 14, 16 are 
rendered conductive to supply A.C. voltage from A.C. power source 10 to 
magnetron 18; and when relay coil 26 is de-energized, relay switches 14, 
16 are rendered non-conductive to cut-off the supply of A.C. voltage to 
magnetron 18. Relay coil 26 is connected at one end to D.C. power supply 
terminal 28 and at the other end to ground via a series circuit consisting 
of a first control switch means, thyristor 30 and a second control switch 
means, NPN transistor 32. Relay coil 26 is connected in parallel with 
diode 34 and is used for protecting against excess current flow through 
relay coil 26. Resistor 36 is connected between the cathode and gate of 
thyristor 30. Resistor 38 is connected between the base of transistor 32 
and ground. Thyristor 30 and transistor 32 form a circuit for controlling 
the supply of power to relay coil 26. 
This circuit is controlled by microcomputer 40, for example, a TI Model 
1670. Microcomputer 40 has at least three terminals: input terminal IN, 
scanning signal output terminal SCN and cooking mode start signal output 
terminal S. Scanning signal output terminal SCN is coupled via momentary 
cooking start switch 42 to input terminal IN and via cooking start switch 
42 and delay circuit 44 to the gate of thyristor 30. Start signal output 
terminal S is coupled to the base of transistor 32 via resistor 46. 
The principal operation of the control apparatus of FIG. 1 will now be 
described, initially omitting discussion of delay circuit 44 (by assuming 
that input terminal IN is connected directly to the gate of thyristor 30) 
for ease of explanation. The scanning signal from terminal SCN comprises a 
plurality of pulses which are produced periodically at a constant period 
as shown in FIG. 3. The scanning signal is supplied to input terminal IN 
and the gate of thyristor 30 through the cooking start switch 42 while 
cooking start switch 42 is actuated. After it receives the scanning 
signal, microcomputer 40 senses whether at least two successive pulses of 
the scanning signal have been received. This sensing of the second pulse 
is done for the purpose of preventing erroneous operation. After it senses 
that two scanning signal pulses have been received, microcomputer 40 
senses certain various oven operation conditions, namely whether the oven 
door has been closed, and whether the desired heating time has been set. 
If the results of these sensings are all positive, microcomputer 40 
produces a continuous high-level start signal from the terminal S as shown 
in FIG. 3, which start signal is supplied to the base of transistor 32 via 
resistor 46 to make transistor 32 conductive. While transistor 32 is 
conductive, thyristor 30 will be rendered conductive whenever it is 
triggered by the scanning signal, so long as start switch 42 is actuated 
to supply scanning signals to the gate of thyristor 30. As a result, relay 
coil 26 is energized to make the relay switches 14, 16 conductive for 
supplying power to magnetron 18, and then magnetron 18 produces microwave 
energy for heating. 
A more detailed explanation of the above-mentioned operation will be 
detailed by reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of one of the 
sub-routines programmed into microcomputer 40. This sub-routine is used at 
an initial stage of cooking operation. Microcomputer 40 is programmed with 
a main routine and a plurality of sub-routines, each controlled by the 
main routine. The sub-routine of FIG. 2 may be executed periodically by an 
instruction from the main routine. 
At entry stage 48, the sub-routine of FIG. 2 begins. At next stage 50, 
microcomputer 40 starts to produce the scanning signal from the terminal 
SCN. At stage 52, if cooking start switch 42 is actuated, the scanning 
signal is transferred to input terminal IN of microcomputer 40 through 
cooking start switch 42. At stage 54, microcomputer 40 senses whether 
cooking start switch 42 remains actuated. If the answer is "Yes", at stage 
56, microcomputer 40 senses whether the present input pulse of the 
scanning signal is the second one in a sequence. If the present input 
pulse is the first one in a sequence, the answer is "No" and this 
condition is sensed at stage 58 and is stored in a memory circuit of 
microcomputer 40, at stage 60. 
If the present input pulse is the second in a sequence, the answer at stage 
56 is "Yes" and microcomputer 40 senses whether the desired heating time 
has been set, at stage 62. If the answer is "Yes", microcomputer 40 stops 
the scanning signal, at stage 64, and senses whether any microwave power 
select switch has been actuated, at stage 66. If the answer is "Yes", 
microcomputer 40 senses whether the over door has been closed or not, at 
stage 68. If the answer is "Yes", microcomputer 40 generates a cooking 
start signal from terminal S, at stage 70. After the cooking start signal 
is produced, microcomputer 40 starts operation of the heating mode and 
returns control to the main routine, at return stage 72. 
The transistor 32 is rendered conductive by the cooking start signal. At 
this time, if cooking start switch 42 is still actuated, thyristor 30 is 
rendered conductive and relay 24 thereby operates to supply power to 
magnetron 18 to generate microwave energy to the oven. 
If the answer is "No" at either of stages 54 or 58, the scanning signal is 
stopped, at stage 76, and after a time delay (at delay stage 74), return 
stage 72 is executed. If the answer is "No" at stage 62, the scanning 
signal is stopped, at stage 78, and return stage 72 is executed. If the 
answer is "No" at either of stages 66 or 68, return stage 72 is executed 
promptly. If only a first pulse is received by microcomputer 40, stages 
74, 76 and 72 are sequentially executed, after memory stage 60. 
The above-mentioned control apparatus, however, has some significant 
drawbacks. For example, if cooking start switch 42 is actuated for only a 
very short period of time, the cooking start signal is produced from 
terminal S of microcomputer 40, but magnetron 18 will not operate, for 
reasons which will be described below. But, as long as a continuous start 
signal is produced, microcomputer 40 operates to proceed with the heating 
mode of the oven. In this case, if the oven has a digital heating time 
display device and the heating time has been preset, the time display will 
be successively decremented, despite the fact that no heating energy has 
been generated by magnetron 18. This phenomenon gives the user erroneous 
information that the oven is carrying out its heating function properly. 
This phenomenon takes place due to the time difference between the actual 
production of the cooking start signal (at stage 70) and the time when 
microcomputer 40 senses that cooking start switch 42 is still being 
actuated (after stage 70). 
The phenomenon will be further explained by reference to FIG. 3. As stated 
above, the scanning signal from terminal SCN comprises a plurality of 
pulses which are produced periodically at a constant period. For example, 
each scanning pulse may have a width p of 1 msec and be produced 
periodically once in a period T of 10 msec. As a matter of convenience and 
for explanation purposes, these pulses are identified by the reference 
numerals 80, 82, 84, 86, 88 as shown in FIG. 3. If cooking start switch 42 
is actuated for a short period of time at time t.sub.1 and is returned to 
its initial cut-off condition at time t.sub.2, two successive scanning 
pulses 82, 84 are supplied to input terminal IN of microcomputer 40 and to 
the gate of thyristor 30. As stated earlier, microcomputer 40 does not 
carry out its sensing operation at stages 62-68 until second scanning 
pulse 84 is received. After the reception of second scanning pulse 84, 
microcomputer 40 recognizes that cooking start switch 42 has been actuated 
and senses, for example, whether the oven door has been closed and whether 
heating time has been preset, as described above. If these sensing results 
are all positive, microcomputer 40 produces the start signal from terminal 
S at time t.sub.3 (a period of t after the center of second scanning pulse 
84), which start signal makes transistor 32 immediately conductive. By 
this operation of transistor 32, thyristor 30 is brought into operable 
condition since the cathode of thyristor 30 is connected to ground. At 
this time, however, scanning pulses to actuate thyristor 30 have already 
been stopped due to cooking start switch 42 having been opened. Therefore, 
thyristor 30 is not rendered conductive, nor is relay coil 26 energized to 
close relay switches 14, 16. Microcomputer 40, however, continues 
producing the start signal and executes the oven mode heating operation 
including decrementing of the heating time display, but without the 
generation of microwave energy. 
To avoid the above-mentioned erroneous operation, the following solution 
was attempted. A delay circuit 44 is disposed between input terminal IN 
and the gate of thyristor 30 as shown in FIG. 1. Delay circuit 44 is well 
known to those skilled in the art and comprises diode 90, capacitor 92 and 
two resistors 94, 96. Delay circuit 44 is used for delaying scanning 
pulses from terminal SCN to be supplied to the gate of thyristor 30 and, 
taking the time t (FIG. 3) into consideration, has been designated to 
continue the presence of scanning pulses for a significantly long period 
of time after cooking start switch 42 has been opened. The operation of 
delay circuit 44 will be described by reference to FIG. 4. As described 
above (FIG. 3), if cooking start switch 42 is actuated for a short period 
of time, from t.sub.1 to t.sub.2, two scanning pulses 82, 84 are supplied 
to input terminal IN of microcomputer 40. The selected scanning pulses 82, 
84 are also supplied to the gate of thyristor 30 through delay circuit 44. 
Delay circuit 44 converts this pulse wave into a saw-tooth wave as shown 
in FIG. 4. During the period while the level of such saw-tooth wave 
exceeds the trigger level of thyristor 30 (the cross-hatched area of FIG. 
4), thyristor 30 is in its operative or triggered condition. When 
transistor 32 is rendered conductive at time t.sub.3, thyristor 30 is in 
its operative condition for time period A causing thyristor 30 to be 
rendered conductive and thus, relay coil 26 to be energized to supply 
power to magnetron 18. In this case, power is supplied to magnetron 18 
even if cooking start switch 42 is actuated instantaneously as shown in 
FIGS. 3 and 4. 
Though the above-described use of delay circuit 44 provides one solution to 
the above-discussed phenonmenon, it has an operational difficulty in that 
the range of the delay time period is very limited. Unless the delay time 
is substantially shorter than the period T, delay circuit 44 often will 
not produce output of a high enough level to exceed the trigger level of 
thyristor 30, due to incomplete charging of capacitor 92, and will fail to 
turn on thyristor 30 given the conductive condition of transistor 32 
created by the presence of the start signal. Optimum design of delay 
circuit 44 is difficult and troublesome adjustments must be made at the 
manufacturing stage to keep the delay time within the permissible range. 
This necessarily downgrades the reliability of the entire control 
apparatus. 
The present invention was intended to eliminate the above-mentioned 
problems and will now be described by reference to a preferred embodiment 
thereof as shown in FIGS. 5-8. These figures show a control apparatus for 
a microwave oven. The control apparatus is an improvement to the 
above-mentioned apparatus described in FIGS. 1-4 and thus, like reference 
numbers in FIGS. 5-8 denote like elements in FIGS. 1-4 and further 
explanation of such elements is omitted. The principal difference between 
the control apparatus of the preferred embodiment and the previous control 
apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-4 lies in the way of use of microcomputer 100, 
such as a TI model 1670, as shown in FIG. 5, which is used in place of 
microcomputer 40, and has at least two input terminals IN, IN'. A 
potential appearing at point Q (the anode of thyristor 30) is applied to 
input terminal IN' to be monitored by microcomputer 100. At a 
predetermined time period after the generation of the start signal from 
terminal S, microcomputer 100 senses whether the potential at point Q is 
"High" (i.e., a predetermined positive voltage) or "Low" (i.e., 
substantially ground), in other words, whether thyristor 30 is rendered 
cut-off or conductive. If microcomputer 100 recognizes that the potential 
is "High", it stops the generation of the start signal to terminate the 
entire cooking operation including, for example, decrementing the heating 
time display. At this time, microcomputer 100 produces an alarm signal 
from terminal Al and an alarm display signal (8 bit digital signal) from 
terminal D. Upon generation of the alarm signal, alarm circuit 102, which 
includes, for example, an oscillator or voice synthesizer, starts its 
operation and an alarm sound is generated from speaker 104 or a buzzer. 
Upon generation of the digital signal, heating time display device 106, 
such as a fluorescent display tube, starts its operation and, for example, 
an "FFFF" (fault) display appears on display device 106 to inform the user 
of an abnormal condition of the control apparatus. The signal from 
terminal D is applied to anode electrodes of fluorescent display tube 106, 
the gride electrodes of which are controlled by signal from terminals SCN, 
SCN1-3 of microcomputer 100. Furthermore, the microwave oven of this 
embodiment has heating energy selection means which changes heating energy 
from magnetron 18 in response to a selective actuation of power level 
selection switches (for example, high, medium and low). Thus, if a user 
wishes to heat an object using low power heating energy, a low power 
switch is actuated. Under this condition, if cooking start switch 42 is 
actuated, a low level of power is supplied to magnetron 18, and thus, 
magnetron 18 produces low power heating energy. The details of the heating 
energy selection means will be now described with reference to FIG. 5. A 
power control circuit includes relay 24 having power control or relay 
switch 16 and relay 108 including relay coil 110 and power control or 
relay switch 112, relay 108 being operated to vary the output of magnetron 
18. Relay switch 112 is connected between relay switch 16 and primary 
winding 11 of transformer 12 and is closed when relay coil 110 is 
energized. Relay coil 110 is connected at one end to D.C. power supply 
terminal 28 and at the other end to ground via third control switch means, 
NPN transistor 114. Diode 116, connected in parallel with relay coil 110, 
is used for preventing excessive current flow through coil 110. Transistor 
114 is connected at its base to a power control signal output terminal PWR 
of microcomputer 100 via resistor 118. Resistor 120 is connected between 
the base of transistor 114 and ground. The power control signal comprises 
at least three kinds of pulses which are different in frequency from one 
another. These pulses are selectively produced from microcomputer 100 in 
response to the selection of three power level selection switches (not 
shown), as stated above, which switches correspond to "HIGH", "MED" and 
"LOW" power, for producing high, medium and low power heating energy from 
magnetron 18, respectively. 
When one of the power level selection switches is actuated, a corresponding 
display output is produced from display terminal D of microcomputer 100 to 
light one of corresponding display segments 122, 124 and 126 of display 
device 106. When the normal heating mode starts, microcomputer 100 
supplies the power signal in an intermittent manner to transistor 114. 
Thus, transistor 114 is turned on and off periodically at very short time 
intervals and relay coil 110 is energized intermittently. As a result, 
magnetron 18 produces heating energy as an averaged output, which energy 
is changed in response to the selection of the power level selection 
switches. Clock pulses 128 are supplied to microcomputer 100 through clock 
terminal CLK and are used as a timing signal for timers, counters and 
other circuitry of microcomputer 100. Lamp 130 is used for lighting the 
inside of the cooking cavity (not shown) and motor 132 is used for driving 
a fan (not shown) which cools magnetron 18. 
The principal operation of the control apparatus of the present invention 
will now be described by reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 in addition to FIG. 5. 
As is apparent from the comparison of FIGS. 3 and 6, the control apparatus 
of the preferred embodiment operates in substantially the same manner as 
the one previously described. If cooking start switch 42 is actuated for a 
very short period of time, from time t.sub.1 to time t.sub.2, scanning 
pulses 82, 84 are supplied to input terminal IN of microcomputer 100 
through cooking start switch 42. After reception of the second scanning 
pulse 84, microcomputer 100 senses certain oven operating conditions, such 
as whether the oven door has been closed and whether heating time has been 
preset on display device 106. If these sensing results are all positive, 
microcomputer 100 produces the start signal from terminal S after a lapse 
of time period t at time t.sub.3. The above-described sequential 
operations are substantially the same as those of the earlier version 
control apparatus explained in FIG. 3. The principal difference is that at 
time t.sub.4 after a lapse of period B (set by a timer in microcomputer 
100), microcomputer 100 checks the level (High or Low) of input terminal 
IN' (point Q), In FIG. 6, since thyristor 30 is in its cut-off condition 
at time t.sub.4 and thus, the level of point Q is "High", microcomputer 
100 stops the generation of the start signal from terminal S, thus, 
stopping the entire heating mode operation. Depending upon the level of 
point Q at time t.sub.4, microcomputer 100 discontinues producing the 
start signal if the level of point Q still remains "High". In this case, 
clock pulses 128 (FIG. 5) at clock terminal CLK of microcomputer 100 are 
not counted in microcomputer 100, nor is the heating time display on 
digital display device 106 decremented. If the start signal stops, the 
heating time display remains unchanged. 
However, if cooking start switch 42 is pressed for a sufficient period of 
time from time t.sub.1 to t.sub.5, as shown in FIG. 7, thyristor 30 is 
rendered conductive by being triggered by pulse 86 and thus, the level at 
point Q is "Low" at time t.sub.4. Thus, the start signal is produced 
continuously even after time t.sub.4 and the entire heating mode operation 
continues without interruption. 
A power control signal is not produced before the lapse of period B. At 
time t.sub.4, if microcomputer 100 recognizes that the level of point Q is 
"Low", microcomputer 100 produces the power control signal from terminal 
PWR. If the level of point Q is still "High" at the time t.sub.4, such 
power control signal is not produced, nor is relay switch 112 closed. This 
means that even if relay switch 16 is closed erroneously, magnetron 18 
will not be activated when the level of point Q remains "High". 
Furthermore, at time t.sub.4, if microcomputer 100 recognizes that the 
level of point Q is "Low", microcomputer 100 produces a pulse signal from 
alarm terminal Al and then, an audible sound is produced from speaker 104 
as shown in FIG. 7 to inform the user that the oven has been initiated for 
cooking operation. The heating time display on digital display device 106 
is counted down. If the heating time display reaches zero, the entire 
cooking operation stops automatically by the action of microcomputer 100. 
The above-mentioned operation will be detailed by reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 
8 shows a flow chart of one of sub-routines programmed into microcomputer 
100. This subroutine is based on the sub-routine of FIG. 2. Therefore, 
like numbers denote like stages and further explanation is omitted. After 
entry stage 48, microcomputer 100 produces an 8 bit digital display signal 
from terminal D to digital display device 106, at stage 140. Then, at 
stage 50, the scanning signal is produced and, at stage 52, the scanning 
signal is applied to input terminal IN through cooking start switch 42. At 
stage 142, microcomputer 100 checks and resets a timer (not shown) 
therein, which timer counts period B (FIGS. 6 and 7) from time t.sub.3 to 
time t.sub.4. Next, stages 54-68 are executed and microcomputer 100 senses 
the oven conditions after the reception of the second scanning pulse. If 
these sensing results are all positive, microcomputer 100 checks the level 
of point Q, at stage 144. If the level is "High", the start signal is 
produced from terminal S, at stage 70. However, if the level is "Low", 
error report stage 146 is executed. The fact that the level is "Low" means 
that the control circuit of relay 24 is in an operable condition despite 
the absence of the start signal and thus, is malfunctioning. In this case, 
as stated above, the audible alarm sound is produced from speaker 104 and 
"FFFF" is displayed on display device 106. At this time, if microcomputer 
100 does not receive any input signal produced in response to an actuation 
of any external operation switch, erroneous start of the cooking operation 
is prevented completely and a high level of safety is obtained. 
If the level of point Q is "High" at stage 144, the start signal is 
produced at stage 70 and then the timer which sets period "B" starts to 
operate, at stage 148, and the program is returned to entry stage 48 
through return stage 72. 
The stages 140-52 are again executed, and thereafter, at stage 142, 
microcomputer 100 senses whether period "B" has elapsed. If the answer is 
"Yes", scanning signal stops, at stage 150, and the timer for period "B" 
is reset at stage 152. At stage 154, microcomputer 100 senses again 
whether the level of point Q is "High" or "Low". If the answer is "High", 
microcomputer 100 stops the scanning signal at stage 156, and jumps the 
program to the error report stage 146 through jump stage 158, because the 
"High" level of point Q at time t.sub.4 of FIG. 7 means that the control 
circuit of relay 24 is out of order. On the other hand, if the answer at 
stage 154 is "Low", the audible cooking start alarm is produced at stage 
160, as shown in FIG. 7 and then, microcomputer 100 produces a power 
control signal from terminal PWR to cause relay 108 to execute on-and-off 
operations at stage 162, and the heating time display on display device 
106 is decremented at stage 164. If the heating time reaches zero, the 
entire cooking operation stops, or another heating operation starts. 
While relays are used for controlling the power to be supplied to magnetron 
18 in the above-mentioned embodiment, electronic switches such as 
switching transistors could be used instead. Furthermore, the 
microcomputer as a control means could be replaced by solid state circuits 
which function in the same manner. The control apparatus can be applied to 
various heating appliances such as a gas oven, an electric oven and an 
electric furnace, instead of a microwave oven. 
While a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and 
described herein, it is realized that modifications and changes, for 
example, to use a switching transistor instead of a relay, and to 
construct a control means by solid state circuitry instead of a 
microcomputer, will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to 
be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all 
modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the 
invention.