Microwave Idea – Return the Turntable to Original Position
Image (only used the LG image because I use one of their models at home): source
I’m not exactly on top of the latest microwave oven features. Don’t think I even know most of the old ones. But if this feature doesn’t already exist, it would be great to have.
I’m assuming this is how it works with most models, if not all. At home, if I keep a mug of tea in for a minute, when the turntable stops spinning, the mug is in the exact position I left it. Ready to be picked up. However, at different time settings, chances are, the mug’s facing another way when done. And then I need to hold the hot side and spin it around. Or drag it forward on the turntable before being able to hold it by the handle.
Would be great if microwave ovens returned your plate, tray or mug to the original position on completion, irrespective of exact heating time. Perfect for easy and safe retrieval. And it should be easy from a programming point of view as well. And far more useful from a user point of view.
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I believe this already exists, because I used to wonder why the microwave didn’t always stop as soon as the timer ended (the light inside would still be on and the turntable would continue turning even after the timer ended, and the fan would still be on as well), until I realized that it would bring my mug of tea back to its original placement near the microwave door.
It doesn’t seem to always work though (and won’t work if you stop the timer mid-cycle). I figure that it doesn’t use a sensor to recognize placement of the food in the microwave, but since the turntable turns at a consistent rate (which means the time it takes to do one complete revolution is a set time), based on how long the timer was set for, it simply keeps turning until the turntable is back in its original start position. I’m still trying to figure out why it doesn’t always work, though.
There’s a US patent from 2012 that is an example of one iteration of this technology:
https://www.google.com/patents/US8124920
I would add that I just found this post while doing an internet search, because I was heating a mug of tea just now and it _didn’t_ return to its original position after heating, and I was boggled because it usually does return to its original position regardless of how long I set the timer for.