Patent ID: 6017147
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: G01K,G01R,H05B

Abstract:
A method for measuring the wattage output of a microwave oven having a cooking chamber, a timer into which a nominal radiation time may be set, a START button that activates the timer, and a microwave magnetron generator that supplies microwaves to the cooking chamber a number of seconds after the START button is pushed, using a calorimetric wattmeter having a housing defining an interior chamber, a thermometer attached to the housing and including a sensor portion which extends into the interior chamber and an indicator portion which moves in response to temperature changes sensed by the sensor portion, a scale which includes wattage indicia and is rotatably attached to the housing in a manner circumventing the indicator portion, and at least one neon gas filled enclosure attached to the housing, said method comprising the steps of:(a) filling the interior chamber of the housing with a quantity of a microwave absorbing liquid;(b) rotating the scale to set the wattage indicia thereon to zero relative to the position of the indicator portion;(c) placing the wattmeter into the cooking chamber;(d) setting a specific nominal radiation time T1 into the timer;(e) pressing the START button;(f) counting the number of seconds T2 that elapse between when the START button is pushed and when the neon gas in the enclosure illuminates;(g) obtaining a preliminary wattage reading from the scale by correlating the position of the indicator portion to the wattage indicia on the scale; and(h) determining the wattage output of the microwave oven by multiplying the preliminary wattage reading by T1/(T1-T2).