Programmable microwave oven with program display

Claim 1

A programmable microwave oven including means for reviewing previously programmed cooking instructions, comprising: a keyboard data input means having function keys for inputting data representing cooking instructions defining a sequence of heating power levels and a cooking time or a cooking temperature associated with each such power level; a means for exciting a heating element at selectable power levels; a display means for displaying data previously inputted via said keyboard data input means; and a control means, including a microprocessor, coupled to said keyboard data input means, exciting means, and display means, including read only memory (ROM) means for storing a fixed program, a random access memory (RAM) means for memorizing data inputted via said keyboard data input means, and a central logic unit for (a) carrying out the fixed program of said ROM means in accordance with the data inputted via said keyboard data input means and (b) generating signals for controlling said exciting means in accordance therewith so as to obtain a combination of power levels and times or temperatures associated therewith according to the cooking instructions previously inputted via said keyboard data input means, said keyboard data input means, said RAM means and said display means being controlled according to said fixed program of said ROM such that in response to a single actuation of said reviewing means after data has been entered via said keyboard data input means and stored in said RAM means, the so stored data in said RAM means are successively read out and displayed before the cooking is carried out in accordance with data indicative of the cooking instructions, the display changing automatically at predetermined intervals of time between successive displays to display successive data, the control means inhibiting the execution of the cooking instruction unless they have been reviewed by operation of the reviewing means.