Patent ID: 8742304

Claim:
A system of linked appliances comprising: a microwave oven connected to a source of power and having a control processor for controlling the operation of the microwave oven; a first power supply outlet provided on the microwave oven; a refrigerator connected to the source of power by connection to the first power supply outlet; a second power supply outlet connected to the source of power through the control processor, the second power supply outlet adapted to receive an appliance having lower power requirements than power requirements of the refrigerator; sensing components connected to sense current demanded at the second power supply outlet, and generating signals indicative thereof; wherein the control processor is configured to enable or disable power to the microwave oven, the first power supply outlet and the second power supply outlet, according to an algorithm in the control processor, and wherein the algorithm causes the control processor to: disable the refrigerator and the second power supply outlet, when the microwave oven demands power; and enable the second power supply outlet when the microwave oven is off; and wherein the microwave oven includes a front portion, wherein the front portion includes a door and a front control panel, wherein the front control panel includes the first and second power supply outlets.