Toaster-cum-microwave oven

Abstract

A toaster-cum-microwave oven includes a toasting chamber, a heating device, a temperature measuring device for measuring an inside temperature of the toasting chamber and producing a temperature signal indicating the measured inside temperature, a switching device for selectively cutting or allowing a power supply to the heating device, and a controlling device. The controlling device receives the temperature signal, determines an amount of heat required to cook the bread product, calculates an amount of heat supplied to the bread product by using the inside temperature of the toasting chamber, compares the supplied amount of heat with the required amount of heat, and controls the switching device to cut the power supply to the heating device if the supplied amount of heat is equal to or greater than the required amount of heat.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A toaster-cum-microwave oven, comprising: 
 a toasting chamber for accommodating a bread product;    a heating device which, when energized, supplies heat to the toasting chamber;    a temperature measuring device for measuring an inside temperature of the toasting chamber and producing a temperature signal indicating the measured inside temperature;    a switching device for selectively cutting or allowing a power supply to the heating device; and    a controlling device having a memory,    wherein the controlling device receives the temperature signal from the temperature measuring device, determines an amount of heat required to cook the bread product on a basis of data stored in the memory, calculates an amount of heat supplied to the bread product by using the inside temperature of the toasting chamber, compares the supplied amount of heat with the required amount of heat, and controls the switching device to cut the power supply to the heating device if the supplied amount of heat is equal to or greater than the required amount of heat.    
     
     
         2 . The toaster-cum-microwave oven of  claim 1 , further comprising an input device for receiving a user's selection for a degree of browning of the bread product and generating a selection signal indicating the user's selection for the degree of browning of the bread product, wherein the controlling device receives and uses the selection signal in determining the required amount of heat.  
     
     
         3 . A method for cooking a bread product in a toaster-cum-microwave oven which has a toasting chamber for accommodating the bread product and a heating device which, when energized, supplies heat to the toasting chamber, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) determining an amount of heat required to cook the bread product;    (b) measuring a starting inside temperature of the toasting chamber;    (c) allowing a power supply to the heating device;    (d) measuring an inside temperature of the toasting chamber;    (e) calculating an amount of heat supplied to the bread product by using the starting inside temperature and the inside temperature measured at the steps (b) and (d), respectively;    (f) comparing the required amount of heat with the supplied amount of heat; and    (g) if the supplied amount of heat is equal to or greater than the required amount of heat, cutting the power supply to the heating device.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , before the step (a) further comprising the step of (h) selecting a degree of browning of the bread product, wherein the required amount of heat in the step (a) is determined by using the selected degree of browning of the bread product.  
     
     
         5 . A toaster-cum-microwave oven, comprising: 
 a toasting chamber for accommodating a bread product;    a heating device which, when energized, supplies heat to the toasting chamber;    a humidity measuring device for measuring an inside humidity of the toasting chamber and producing a humidity signal indicating the measured inside humidity;    a switching device for selectively cutting or allowing a power supply to the heating device; and    a controlling device,    wherein the controlling device receives the humidity signal, calculates a rate of change of humidity using the humidity signal, compares the rate of change of humidity with a predetermined value, and controls the switching device to cut the power supply to the heating device after a remaining cooking time has lapsed if the rate of change of humidity is equal to or greater than the predetermined value.    
     
     
         6 . The toaster-cum-microwave oven of  claim 5 , further comprising an input device for receiving a user's selection for a degree of browning of the bread product and producing a selection signal indicating the user's selection for the degree of browning of the bread product, wherein the controlling device receives and uses the selection signal in determining the remaining cooking time.  
     
     
         7 . The toaster-cum-microwave oven of  claim 6 , wherein the toasting chamber includes: 
 an upper plate in which a plurality of openings are formed; and    a cover plate, disposed above the upper plate, at which the humidity measuring device is installed.    
     
     
         8 . A method for cooking a bread product in a toaster-cum-microwave oven which has a toasting chamber for accommodating the bread product and a heating device which, when energized, supplies heat to the toasting chamber, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) measuring a starring inside humidity of the toasting chamber;    (b) allowing a power supply to the heating device;    (c) measuring an inside humidity of the toasting chamber;    (d) calculating a rate of change of humidity by using the starting inside humidity and the inside humidity measured at the steps (a) and (c);    (e) comparing the rate of change of humidity with a predetermined value; and    (f) if the rate of change of humidity is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, cutting the power supply to the heating device after a remaining cooking time has lapsed.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , before the step (a), further comprising the step of (g) selecting a degree of browning of the bread product, wherein the remaining cooking time is determined by using the selected degree of browning of the bread product.