Source: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/9040883.html
Timestamp: 2017-10-22 17:37:09
Document Index: 145777679

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'Application No. 193581', 'Application No. 200780014028', 'Application No. 2008', 'Application No. 09', 'Application No. 200780014028', 'Application No. 07', 'Application No. 200780014028', 'Application No. 2008', 'Application No. 12165473', 'Application No. 07', 'Application No. 12165499', 'Application No. 2012', 'Application No. 2012', 'Application No. 96106448', 'Application No. 096106448', 'Application No. 2012', 'Application No. 228423', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'art 150']

Electromagnetic heating - GOJI LIMITED
United States Patent 9040883
An electromagnetic heater for heating an irregularly shaped object, including:
a controller that controls one or more characteristics of the cavity or energy to assure that the UHF or microwave energy is deposited uniformly in the object within ±30% over at least 80% of the volume of the object.
Ben-shmuel, Eran (Ganei Tikva, IL)
Bilchinsky, Alexander (Monosson-Yahud, IL)
12/563182
GOJI LIMITED (Hamilton, BM)
219/696, 219/697, 219/704
H05B6/68; H05B6/64; H05B6/66; H05B6/70
219/704, 219/702, 219/697, 219/696
Download PDF 9040883 PDF help
8759729 Electromagnetic heating according to an efficiency of energy transfer June, 2014 Ben-Shmuel et al.
20120267361 ELECTROMAGNETIC HEATING ACCORDING TO AN EFFICIENCY OF ENERGY TRANSFER October, 2012 Ben-Shmuel et al.
8207479 Electromagnetic heating according to an efficiency of energy transfer June, 2012 Ben-Shmuel et al.
20120067872 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR APPLYING ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY March, 2012 Libman et al.
20110031240 ELECTROMAGNETIC HEATING February, 2011 Ben-Shmuel et al.
20100252551 MICROWAVE OVEN WITH A REGULATION SYSTEM USING FIELD SENSORS October, 2010 Nordh et al.
20100237067 MICROWAVE HEATING DEVICE September, 2010 Nordh et al.
20100176121 MICROWAVE PROCESSING APPARATUS July, 2010 Nobue et al.
20100155392 MICROWAVE OVEN SWITCHING BETWEEN PREDEFINED MODES June, 2010 Nordh et al.
20100123001 COOK BOOK, FOOD INFORMATION PROVISION SYSTEM AND METHOD May, 2010 Park
20100006564 ELECTROMAGNETIC HEATING January, 2010 Ben-Shmuel et al.
7629921 Resonance confocal imaging of resonance control points December, 2009 Manry et al.
7629497 Microwave-based recovery of hydrocarbons and fossil fuels December, 2009 Pringle
7626468 Microwave generator with variable frequency emission December, 2009 Staines
20090274802 Method for the Intelligent Continuous Filling of a Cooking Device and Cooking Device Therefor November, 2009 Kling et al.
7612315 System for controlling humidity November, 2009 Corradini
20090236335 Food preparation September, 2009 Ben-Shmuel et al.
20090236334 Food preparation September, 2009 Ben-Shmuel et al.
20090236333 Food preparation September, 2009 Ben-Shmuel et al.
20090071110 MICROWAVE MODE SHIFTING ANTENNA SYSTEM FOR REGENERATING PARTICULATE FILTERS March, 2009 Gonze et al.
20090057302 Dynamic impedance matching in RF resonator cavity March, 2009 Ben-Shmuel et al.
20090045191 Electromagnetic heating February, 2009 Ben-Shmuel et al.
7490538 Weapon having lethal and non-lethal directed-energy portions February, 2009 Lowell et al.
20090014315 Apparatus for and method of producing hydrogen using microwaves January, 2009 Chen
7473869 Cooking apparatus using barcode January, 2009 Chun
20080296284 COMBINATION SPEED COOKING OVEN December, 2008 McFadden et al.
20080290178 TRANSACTION CARD WITH THERMOCHROMIC FEATURE November, 2008 Reynolds et al.
20080290087 Electromagnetic heating November, 2008 Ben-Shmuel et al.
7409311 Method for cooking a cooking load including cooking items of varying size, and cooking device for carrying out such a method August, 2008 Imgram et al.
7388180 Microwave oven having a driving unit for moving and rotating an antenna June, 2008 Kim et al.
7372209 Microwave energized plasma lamp with dielectric waveguide 2008-05-13 Espiau et al. 315/39
20080106483 ANTENNA COVER FOR MICROWAVE OVENS May, 2008 McFadden
20080105675 Cooking device May, 2008 Choi et al.
20080087662 HIGH FREQUENCY HEATING APPARATUS AND ITS CONTROL METHOD April, 2008 Takizaki et al.
7361866 Cooking apparatus using barcode April, 2008 Chun
7360533 Speed cooking oven April, 2008 McFadden
20080047959 High Frequency Heating Apparatus February, 2008 Moriya et al.
20080047948 PORTABLE FOOD HEATER February, 2008 Rosenbloom et al.
20070278218 Impingement/convection/microwave oven and method December, 2007 Claesson et al.
20070251941 Modular microwave processing system November, 2007 Givens
20070221668 System and method for food preparation September, 2007 Baarman et al.
20070215612 Apparatus and method for microwave processing of materials September, 2007 Hicks et al.
7258881 Conveyorized oven with moisture laden air impingement and method August, 2007 Jones et al.
20070137633 Conveyor oven June, 2007 McFadden
7235763 Cooking appliance including combination heating system June, 2007 Christiaansen et al.
7208710 Uniform microwave heating method and apparatus April, 2007 Gregoire et al.
7207486 Combined optical and radio frequency tag reader April, 2007 Bennett
7199341 High-frequency heating apparatus April, 2007 Kaneko et al.
20070039949 Dielectric profile controlled microwave sterilization system February, 2007 Wilson
20070039940 Heating apparatus using electromagnetic wave February, 2007 Kim et al.
20070012789 System and method for indicating validity of calibration certifications January, 2007 Hartney et al.
20070012690 Microwave cooker January, 2007 Sim et al.
20070007348 Membership cards January, 2007 Shah
20070007279 Cooking apparatus, cooking system, and cooking control method utilizing bar code January, 2007 Chun et al.
7166824 High-frequency heating apparatus and control method thereof January, 2007 Kanzaki et al.
20060289526 High-frequency heating device and method for controlling same December, 2006 Takizaki
20060289508 Microwave oven using bar code and method for controlling the same December, 2006 Kim
20060289499 Cooking apparatus using barcode December, 2006 Chun
20060278710 Apparatus and method for controlling microwave oven using bar code December, 2006 Park et al.
7145119 Microwave cooker having antenna in cooperation with movable stirrer December, 2006 Kim et al.
7109457 In situ processing of hydrocarbon-bearing formations with automatic impedance matching radio frequency dielectric heating September, 2006 Kinzer
7105789 Appliance for the equalization of heat in a dielectric load heated by an oscillating electric/electromagnetic field September, 2006 Ekemar
7105787 Reverberating adaptive microwave-stirred exposure system September, 2006 Clemen
20060186115 Microwave system and method for controling the sterlization and infestation of crop soils August, 2006 Joines et al.
7096221 Food information management system August, 2006 Nakano
7091460 In situ processing of hydrocarbon-bearing formations with variable frequency automated capacitive radio frequency dielectric heating August, 2006 Kinzer
7087872 Multi-shelved convection microwave oven August, 2006 Dobie et al.
7080593 Controlled cooking system July, 2006 Frankel
7078661 Apparatus for shielding electromagnetic wave of microwave oven door July, 2006 Kim et al.
7070595 Radio-frequency based catheter system and method for ablating biological tissues July, 2006 Ormsby et al.
7060953 Automatic cooking system and microwave oven June, 2006 Ishikawa et al.
7055518 Speed cooking oven with gas flow control June, 2006 McFadden
7053348 Microwave oven May, 2006 Terada et al.
7053346 Combined microwave/frying apparatus May, 2006 Cheng et al.
7030347 Microwave oven with mode stirrer April, 2006 Lee et al.
20060049981 Method and apparatus for processing high time-bandwidth signals using a material with inhomogeneously broadened absorption spectrum March, 2006 Merkel et al.
20060049725 Modular reconfigurable appliance March, 2006 Simon
7015443 Sheathed electric heating element support bracket for RF cooking applications March, 2006 Whipple, Jr.
6982401 Microwave oven January, 2006 Hu et al.
20050218124 Thermal flux processing by scanning a focused line beam October, 2005 Jennings et al.
6953919 RFID-controlled smart range and method of cooking and heating October, 2005 Clothier
20050178841 System and methods for product and document authentication August, 2005 Jones et al.
6927374 Door assembly of microwave oven August, 2005 Hu et al.
6917023 Reaction and temperature control for high power microwave-assisted chemistry techniques July, 2005 Hayes et al.
6914226 Oven for heating a product with RF energy July, 2005 Ottaway
20050092844 Information card with multiple storage media and a device and method for reading and writing information in said card May, 2005 Zhang et al.
20050092314 Convection oven and related cooking air flow system May, 2005 Rabas et al.
20050080373 Apparatus and a method for treating blood related illnesses April, 2005 Wang
6884979 Method and apparatus for uniform heating in a microwave oven April, 2005 Torngren et al.
6880545 Dual conveyor jet impingement oven April, 2005 Heber et al.
6874495 Speed cooking oven April, 2005 McFadden
6867402 System for sensing the presence of a load in an oven cavity of a microwave cooking appliance March, 2005 Schulte
6861632 Microwave oven March, 2005 Lee
6838648 Temperature detection unit in a high-frequency heating and cooking apparatus January, 2005 Watanabe et al.
20040216732 Speed cooking oven November, 2004 McFadden
6815644 Multirack cooking in speedcook ovens November, 2004 Muegge et al.
6812443 Microwave oven capable of changing the way to supply microwaves into heating chambers November, 2004 Noda et al.
6812442 Microwave oven door with choke structure November, 2004 Kim et al.
20040206755 Microwave heating using distributed semiconductor sources 2004-10-21 Hadinger 219/761
20040211765 Multi rack speed cooking oven October, 2004 McFadden
20040149736 RFID-controlled smart induction range and method of cooking and heating August, 2004 Clothier
6770859 Microwave oven August, 2004 Kang
20040134904 Reverberating adaptive microwave-stirred exposure system July, 2004 Clemen, Jr.
20040106917 Radio-frequency based catheter system and method for ablating biological tissues June, 2004 Ormsby et al.
20040074401 Automated production of packaged cooked meals April, 2004 McMaster et al.
6720541 High frequency heating apparatus with temperature detection means April, 2004 Watanabe et al.
6686567 Cooking apparatus having heaters February, 2004 Hwang
6680467 Microwave delivery system with multiple magnetrons for a cooking appliance January, 2004 Whipple, Jr.
6674056 Apparatus for uniforming microwave and heating system using the same January, 2004 Lee
6657173 Variable frequency automated capacitive radio frequency (RF) dielectric heating system December, 2003 Flugstad et al.
20030183972 Method and apparatus for extruding polymers employing microwave energy October, 2003 Weber
6638475 Method for inhibiting pathogenic and spoilage activity in products October, 2003 Lagunas-Solar et al.
6614011 Microwave oven including antenna for properly propagating microwaves oscillated by magnetron September, 2003 Omori et al.
6590192 Microwave oven with temperature-dependent automatic stop July, 2003 Taino et al.
6586714 Microwave oven capable of suitably controlling movement of a member mounted thereto, and control method thereof July, 2003 Kawamura et al.
20030106891 Microwave heating apparatus June, 2003 Fagrell et al.
6576879 Microwave oven with wave distributing device June, 2003 Hoh
6563097 Microwave oven with food search and localized heating May, 2003 Taino et al.
6559882 Domestic appliance May, 2003 Kerchner
20030068414 Method and equipment for treating electrostatic field and electrode used therein April, 2003 Ito
20030047599 Apparatus and method for processing coded information stored in an integrated circuit card March, 2003 Haddad et al.
20030047559 High-frequency heating apparatus March, 2003 Watanabe et al.
6537492 Method and an apparatus for surface sterilizing items and a system suitable for sterilizing bottles March, 2003 Søgaard
6487950 Method and apparatus to clear minefields December, 2002 Samland
20020175163 Microwave apparatus and methods of performing chemical reactions 2002-11-28 Fagrell 219/709
6476766 Fractal antenna ground counterpoise, ground planes, and loading elements and microstrip patch antennas with fractal structure November, 2002 Cohen
6462320 Dielectric heating device employing microwave heating for heating or cooking substances October, 2002 Fuls et al.
6444966 Microwave oven with a rotational antenna September, 2002 Mukumoto et al.
6384392 Microwave oven for uniform heating May, 2002 Lee et al.
20020018138 Image pickup device, image pickup device control method and image processing method February, 2002 Yoshiro
6320171 Microwave oven November, 2001 Kim
6320169 Method and apparatus for magnetic induction heating using radio frequency identification of object to be heated November, 2001 Clothier
6320165 Impingement oven airflow devices and methods November, 2001 Ovadia
20010020616 Method and apparatus for electromagnetic exposure of planar or other materials September, 2001 Drozd et al.
20010015353 Hybrid method for firing of ceramics August, 2001 Brennan
6274859 High frequency heating apparatus for selective heating of a desired portion of an object August, 2001 Yoshino et al.
6263830 Microwave choke for remote plasma generator July, 2001 Kamarehi et al.
6262406 Compact quick-cooking convectional oven July, 2001 McKee et al.
6252206 Method and apparatus for intelligent cooking process June, 2001 Leukhardt et al.
6249710 Method and apparatus for managing the thermal activity of a microwave oven June, 2001 Drucker et al.
6225940 Radar reflecting system and method for small water craft May, 2001 Ohlsen
6222170 Apparatus and method for microwave processing of materials using field-perturbing tool April, 2001 Tucker et al.
6191402 Apparatus for heating with a pulsating electromagnetic near field February, 2001 Ekemar
6172348 High frequency heating apparatus January, 2001 Yoshino et al.
6169277 Apparatus for the selective heating of foods disposed on a tray using a gyrotron for microwave heating of the foods January, 2001 Feher et al.
6166551 Method for monitoring the state of microcrystalline change of solid materials December, 2000 Scott et al.
6114677 Microwave heating apparatus having a metal plate rotatably disposed in a wave guide 2000-09-05 Idomoto et al.
6104018 Uniform bulk material processing using multimode microwave radiation 2000-08-15 Varma et al.
6096361 Method for non-frozen preservation of food at temperature below freezing point 2000-08-01 Yamane et al.
6060701 Compact quick-cooking convectional oven 2000-05-09 McKee et al.
5998775 Microwave oven having a cooking chamber reflecting microwaves at varying angles 1999-12-07 Sung
5986249 High frequency heating apparatus for providing a uniform heating of an object 1999-11-16 Yoshino et al.
5981928 Microwave dispersing apparatus of microwave oven 1999-11-09 Lee
5981927 High visibility microwave oven door with screen and microwave absorbing material 1999-11-09 Osepchuk et al.
5977532 Method and apparatus for using electromagnetic radiation to heat a dielectric material 1999-11-02 Ekemar
5961871 Variable frequency microwave heating apparatus 1999-10-05 Bible et al. 219/709
5958278 Microwave oven having an orthogonal electromagnetic seal 1999-09-28 Engebritson et al.
5942144 Door for microwave oven 1999-08-24 Lee
5927265 Recycling cooking oven with catalytic converter 1999-07-27 McKee et al.
5889402 Ferromagnetic resonance measuring cavity resonator and electron spin resonance measuring apparatus having same 1999-03-30 Kumatoriya et al.
5883801 Method and apparatus for managing electromagnetic radiation usage 1999-03-16 Drucker et al.
5877479 Microwave oven with a turntable and mode stirrers 1999-03-02 Yu
5837978 Radiation control system 1998-11-17 Hatzakis et al. 219/702
5834744 Tubular microwave applicator 1998-11-10 Risman
5828042 Uniform heating apparatus for microwave oven and method thereof 1998-10-27 Choi et al.
5828040 Rectangular microwave heating applicator with hybrid modes 1998-10-27 Risman
5818649 Electromagnetic energy directing method and apparatus 1998-10-06 Anderson
5812393 Interpretive BIOS machine and method of use thereof 1998-09-22 Drucker
5804801 Adhesive bonding using variable frequency microwave energy 1998-09-08 Lauf et al.
5798395 Adhesive bonding using variable frequency microwave energy 1998-08-25 Lauf et al.
5789724 Oven door choke with contamination barrier 1998-08-04 Lerssen et al.
5698128 Microwave oven with a projection for uniform heating within the cavity 1997-12-16 Sakai et al.
5648038 Systems and methods for monitoring material properties using microwave energy 1997-07-15 Fathi et al.
5632921 Cylindrical microwave heating applicator with only two modes 1997-05-27 Risman et al.
5558800 Microwave power radiator for microwave heating applications 1996-09-24 Page
5521360 Apparatus and method for microwave processing of materials 1996-05-28 Johnson et al.
5512736 Auto-load impedance matching device of a microwave oven 1996-04-30 Kang et al.
5503150 Apparatus and method for noninvasive microwave heating of tissue 1996-04-02 Evans 600/427
5468940 Microwave oven for simultaneously cooking two dishes of food 1995-11-21 Kang
5451751 High-frequency heating apparatus with wave guide switching means and selective power switching means for magnetron 1995-09-19 Takimoto
5441532 Adaptive focusing and nulling hyperthermia annular and monopole phased array applicators 1995-08-15 Fenn
5321897 Fabric dryer with arcing avoidance system 1994-06-21 Holst et al.
5321222 Variable frequency microwave furnace system 1994-06-14 Bible et al.
5293019 Automatic cooking apparatus and method for microwave oven 1994-03-08 Lee
5284144 Apparatus for hyperthermia treatment of cancer 1994-02-08 Delannoy et al. 600/412
5251645 Adaptive nulling hyperthermia array 1993-10-12 Fenn 607/154
5191182 Tuneable apparatus for microwave processing 1993-03-02 Gelorme et al.
5146059 Microwave leakage shielding device for a microwave oven door 1992-09-08 Seog Tae
5140121 Microwave food product and methods of their manufacture and heating 1992-08-18 Pesheck et al.
5074200 System for pasteurizing or sterilizing foodstuffs utilizing microwaves 1991-12-24 Ruozi
5066503 Method of pasteurizing or sterilizing foodstuffs utilizing microwaves 1991-11-19 Rouzi
5036172 Method and device for determining when a food has thawed in a microwave oven 1991-07-30 Kokkeler et al.
5036171 Electromagnetic wave energy seal arrangement 1991-07-30 Kim et al.
5008506 Radiofrequency wave treatment of a material using a selected sequence of modes 1991-04-16 Asmussen et al.
4931798 Electromagnetic anechoic chamber with an inner electromagnetic wave reflection surface and an electromagnetic wave absorption small ball disposed in the chamber 1990-06-05 Kogo
4897151 Method for fabricating a dichroic parabolic lens reflector 1990-01-30 Killackey et al.
4855555 Microwave apparatus for thawing frozen liquid and a bag holder assembly for use therein 1989-08-08 Adams et al.
4822968 Electromagnetic energy seal for a microwave oven 1989-04-18 Chin
4795871 Method and apparatus for heating and drying fabrics in a drying chamber having dryness sensing devices 1989-01-03 Strattan et al.
4794218 Door assembly for microwave heating apparatus 1988-12-27 Nakano et al.
4695694 Structure for minimizing microwave leakage 1987-09-22 Hill et al.
4602141 Device for preventing electromagnetic wave leakage for use in microwave heating apparatus 1986-07-22 Naito et al.
4596915 Microwave oven having resonant antenna 1986-06-24 Simpson
4589423 Apparatus for creating hyperthermia in tissue 1986-05-20 Turner 607/154
4568810 Oven cooking control system with scanning display 1986-02-04 Carmean
4517429 Electronic controlled heat cooking apparatus and method of controlling thereof 1985-05-14 Horinouchi
4508948 Microwave cooking method 1985-04-02 Carlson
4507530 Automatic defrost sensing arrangement for microwave oven 1985-03-26 Smith
4488027 Leakage suppression tunnel for conveyorized microwave oven 1984-12-11 Dudley et al.
4485285 Quarterwave choke for a microwave oven quartz lamp 1984-11-27 Machesne
4475024 Wireless food temperature-sensing assembly 1984-10-02 Tateda
4471194 Electromagnetic energy seal for high frequency heating apparatus 1984-09-11 Hosokawa et al.
4464554 Dynamic bottom feed for microwave ovens 1984-08-07 Bakanowski et al.
4447693 Power controlled microwave oven 1984-05-08 Buck
4441002 Cook-by-weight microwave oven 1984-04-03 Teich et al.
4434341 Selective, locally defined heating of a body 1984-02-28 Busby 219/697
4431888 Microwave oven with improved feed structure 1984-02-14 Simpson
4418262 Programmable microwave oven with program display 1983-11-29 Noda
4377733 Temperature-sensing probe structure for wireless temperature-sensing system 1983-03-22 Yamaguchi et al.
4371770 Adjustable microwave oven door seal 1983-02-01 Gilliatt
4354153 Microwave oven leakage detector and method of using same to test door seal leakage 1982-10-12 Lentz
4342896 Radiating mode stirrer heating system 1982-08-03 Teich
4342035 Frequency compensating reflector antenna 1982-07-27 Anderson et al.
4336435 Microwave apparatus for heating liquid in a closed plastic container 1982-06-22 Kashyap et al.
4271848 Apparatus for electromagnetic radiation of living tissue and the like 1981-06-09 Turner
4250628 Microwave fabric dryer method and apparatus 1981-02-17 Smith et al.
4210795 System and method for regulating power output in a microwave oven 1980-07-01 Lentz
4196332 Controlled heating microwave ovens 1980-04-01 MacKay B et al.
4165454 Microwave oven 1979-08-21 Carlsson et al.
4146768 Door for a microwave oven 1979-03-27 Orke et al.
4137441 Microwave oven door seal system 1979-01-30 Bucksbaum
4115680 Apparatus for providing temperature equalization cycles for a microwave oven 1978-09-19 Moore
4081647 Energy seal for a microwave oven 1978-03-28 Torrey
4035599 Control system for non-resonant microwave dryers 1977-07-12 Kashyap et al.
3985993 Sealing arrangement in a microwave oven 1976-10-12 Imberg et al.
3936627 Microwave oven with special rack designs 1976-02-03 Fitzmayer
3806689 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HEATING SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH MICROWAVES OF TWO WIDELY DIFFERENT FREQUENCIES 1974-04-23 Kegereis et al.
3767884 ENERGY SEAL FOR HIGH FREQUENCY ENERGY APPARATUS 1973-10-23 Osepchuk et al.
3681652 CAPACITIVE FILTER FOR SUPPRESSION OF SPURIOUS ELECTRICAL RADIATION 1972-08-01 Domenichini et al.
3633538 SPHERICAL DEVICE FOR CONDITIONING FABRICS IN DRYER 1972-01-11 Hoeflin
3231892 Antenna feed system simultaneously operable at two frequencies utilizing polarization independent frequency selective intermediate reflector 1966-01-25 Matson et al.
3151325 Artificial scattering elements for use as reflectors in space communication systems 1964-09-29 Kompfner
3019399 Circular waveguide diameter transformer 1962-01-30 Lanciani et al.
2917739 Corner reflector 1959-12-15 Halpern
2895828 Electronic heating methods and apparatus 1959-07-21 Kamide
2593067 High-frequency apparatus 1952-04-15 Spencer 219/750
2543130 Reflecting system 1951-02-27 Robertson
2489337 Aerial reflecting signal target 1949-11-29 Sperling
CN1496665 May, 2004 High frequency heating apparatus and control method thereof
CN1968609 May, 2007 Conveyor oven
DE102007025245 October, 2007 Erw?rmung eines Tankinhaltes durch Mikrowellen
DE102007025262 October, 2007 Reinigungsger?t mit Mikrowellentrocknung
DE102007025263 October, 2007 Reinigungsger?t mit Keimreduktion durch Mikrowellen
DE102007025264 October, 2007 Vorrichtung zur Reinigung durch Mikrowellen
DE102007035357 February, 2009 Antennenstruktur f?r ein Garger?t und Garger?t mit solch einer Antennenstruktur
DE102007035359 February, 2009 Kopplungsvorrichtung zur Mikrowellen?bertragung in einem Nahrungsmittelbehandlungsger?t
DE102007051638 August, 2009 Verfahren zur Erkennung des Beladungszustandes eines Gargerätes mit Mikrowellengaren und Gargerät zur Durchführung solch eines Verfahrens
EP0268379 May, 1988 Heating & drying apparatus for moist fabric
EP0296527 December, 1988 HEATING APPARATUS
EP0429822 June, 1991 Combined microwave and forced convection oven
EP0615763 September, 1994 Warming up and thawing device.
EP0752195 January, 1997 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING HEAT IN A DIELECTRIC MATERIAL
EP0934681 August, 1999 APPARATUS FOR HEATING
EP1174667 January, 2002 AUTOMATIC REFRIGERATOR SYSTEM, REFRIGERATOR, AUTOMATIC COOKING SYSTEM, AND MICROWAVE OVEN
EP1241923 September, 2002 Microwave oven
EP1349234 2003-10-01 Compensation of mutual coupling in array antenna systems
EP1515102 May, 2005 Freezer, freezing method and frozen objects
EP1708118 October, 2006 Combination RFID/image reader
EP2053315 April, 2009 Method for recognising the load state of a cooking device for microwave cooking and cooking device for carrying out such a method
EP2098788 September, 2009 Method for guiding a cooking process and cooking device
GB1465106 February, 1977 MICROWAVE HEATING APPARATUS
GB2391154 January, 2004 Dielectric resonator antennas for use as microwave heating applicators
JP52014946 February, 1977
JP5512551 January, 1978
JP57194500 November, 1982
JP58111295 July, 1983
JP60193292 October, 1985
JP63255783 October, 1988
JP1159388 November, 1989
JP04259789 September, 1992
JP04299282 October, 1992
JPHEI-04-299282 October, 1992
JP6193884 July, 1994
JP06215871 August, 1994
JP06251866 September, 1994
JPHEI-06-251866 September, 1994
JP6310268 November, 1994
JP0864359 March, 1996
JP9229372 September, 1997
JP9511355 November, 1997
JP10196966 July, 1998
JP2001086967 April, 2001 METHOD FOR FREEZING AND FREEZER USING VARIANCE OF MAGNETIC FIELD OR ELECTRIC FIELD
JP2001317741 November, 2001 FOOD AUTOMATIC COOKING SYSTEM, AND MICROWAVE OVEN
JP200237420 February, 2002
JP2002243161 August, 2002 COOKING SETTING METHOD FOR ELECTRONIC COOKING RANGE, PACKAGING CONTAINER, AND COOKING SETTING CARD AND ELECTRONIC COOKING RANGE
JP2002280159 September, 2002 HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING COOKER
JP2002532239 October, 2002
JP2004171852 June, 2004 HIGH FREQUENCY HEATING DEVICE
JP2005228604 August, 2005 PLASMA GENERATOR
JP5179382 January, 2013
WO/1991/070069 May, 1991
WO/1995/027387 October, 1995 VARIABLE FREQUENCY MICROWAVE HEATING APPARATUS
WO/1995/027388 October, 1995 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MICROWAVE PROCESSING OF MATERIALS
WO/1997/036728 October, 1997 ADHESIVE BONDING USING VARIABLE FREQUENCY MICROWAVE ENERGY
WO/1999/013688 March, 1999 APPARATUS FOR HEATING
WO/2000/036880 June, 2000 MICROWAVE APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING CHEMICAL REACTIONS
00 September, 2000
WO/2002/023953 March, 2002 MICROWAVE OVEN AND METHOD IN CONNECTION WITH THE SAME
WO/2003/056919 July, 2003 METHODS AND DEVICE FOR FREEZING AND THAWING BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES
WO/2004/059563 July, 2004 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VERIFYING OPTICAL CODE READS AND RFID READS
WO/2005/027644 March, 2005 CONVEYOR OVEN WITH IMPROVED AIR RETURN AND METHOD
WO/2005/041672 May, 2005 SPEED COOKING OVEN WITH SLOTTED MICROWAVE ANTENNA
WO/2005/073449 August, 2005 A WASHER/DRYER
WO/2008/102360 August, 2005 DRYING APPARATUS AND METHODS AND ACCESSORIES FOR USE THEREWITH
WO/2006/016372 February, 2006 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FREEZING OR THAWING OF A BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL
WO/2007/018565 February, 2007 ELECTROMAGNETIC PERSONNEL INTERDICTION CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM
WO/2007/095904 August, 2007 METHOD FOR THE INTELLIGENT CONTINUOUS FILLING OF A COOKING DEVICE AND COOKING DEVICE THEREFOR
WO/2007/096877 August, 2007 ELECTROMAGNETIC HEATING
WO/2005/106333 September, 2007 MICROWAVE HEATING METHOD AND DEVICE THEREFOR
WO/2008/048497 April, 2008 IMPINGING AIR OVENS HAVING HIGH MASS FLOW ORIFICES
WO/2008/087618 July, 2008 DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENCODING EMPLOYING REDUNDANCY AND SWITCHING CAPABILITIES
WO/2007/096878 August, 2008 ELECTROMAGNETIC HEATING
WO/2008/102334 August, 2008 RF CONTROLLED FREEZING
WO/2008/007368 October, 2008 FOOD PREPARATION
WO/2008/143942 November, 2008 HIGH-SPEED COOKING OVEN WITH OPTIMIZED COOKING EFFICIENCY
WO/2008/145213 December, 2008 SYSTEM FOR HEATING THE CONTENTS OF A TANK USING MICROWAVES
WO/2008/145214 December, 2008 CLEANING APPLIANCE COMPRISING A MICROWAVE DRYING SYSTEM
WO/2008/145216 December, 2008 DEVICE FOR CLEANING USING MICROWAVES
WO/2008/145217 December, 2008 CLEANING APPLIANCE WITH SYSTEM FOR GERM REDUCTION USING MICROWAVES
WO/2009/080344 July, 2009 IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO COOKING METHODS AND A COOKING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH SAME
WO/2009/104191 August, 2009 A METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR A MODULAR DEVICE
WO/2010/052724 May, 2010 DEVICE AND METHOD FOR HEATING USING RF ENERGY
WO/2010/052725 May, 2010 METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HEATING AND/OR THAWING BLOOD PRODUCTS
WO/2010/147439 December, 2010 COOKING APPARATUS USING MICROWAVES
IDS Done:Jun. 22, 2010.
Response to the Written Opinion, dated Feb. 23, 2010, for International Application No. PCT/IL2009/000199, from the International Searching Authority.
Kim, J. et al., “Novel Microstrip-to-Stripline Transitions for Leakage Suppression in Multilayer Microwave Circuits,” Proceedings of IEEE 7th topical Meeting on Electrical Performance of Electronic Packaging, pp. 252-255, Oct. 1998.
Kusama, Y. et al., “Size Reduction of the Door Seal Structure of a Microwave Oven by the FDTD Method,” Electronics and Communications in Japan, Part 2, vol. 86, No. 10, 2003.
Kusama, Y. et al., “A Study on the Door Seal Structure of a Microwave Oven Using the Finite-Difference Time-Domain Method,” Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, vol. 19, No. 5, Dec. 5, 1998.
Kusama, Y. et al., “Analysis of Door Seal Structure of Microwave Oven with Consideration of Higher Modes by the FDTD Method,” Electronics and Communications in Japan, Part 2, vol. 85, No. 3, 2002.
Lee, G. et al., “Suppression of the CPW Leakage in Common Millimeter-Wave Flip-Chip Structures,” IEEE Microwave and Guided Wave Letters, vol. 8, No. 11, Nov. 11, 1998.
Matsumoto, K. et al., “An Analysis of a Door Seal Structure of a Microwave Oven with an Inserted Sheet-Type Lossy Material Using FDTD Method,” Electronics and Communications in Japan, Part 1, vol. 85, No. 9, 2002.
Matsumoto, K. et al., “An efficient Analysis on Door structure of Microwave Oven Using Combined waves of High Order Modes,” 33rd European Microwave Conference, Munich, 2003.
Mett, R. R. et al., “Microwave leakage from field modulation slots in TE011 electron paramagnetic resonance cavities,” Review of Scientific Instruments 76, 014702, 2005.
Rabinovitch, J., “New Design for the MKI RF Finger Contacts in the LHC,” 2007.
Rocha, A. M. et al., “Optimization of a door seal structure of a microwave oven using a FDTD method,” International Journal of Numerical Modeling: Electronic Networks, Devices and Fields, Int. J. Numer. Model. 2008; 21:507-513, Jul. 21, 2008.
Swain et al., “What is the most energy efficient method of cooking a ‘British’ roast dinner?,” University of Bristol Fryers Research Project, Feb. 29, 2008.
Tomiyasu, K., “Minimizing Radiation Leakage from Microwave Ovens,” IEEE Microwave Magazine, Feb. 1, 2008.
Umashankar, K. et al., “A Novel Method to Analyze Electromagnetic Scattering of Complex Objects,” IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, vol. EMC-24, No. 4, Nov. 1, 1982.
Umishita, K. et al., “Absorption and Shielding Effect of Electromagnetic Wave at GHz Frequency by Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube/Polymer Composites,” Proceedings of the 9th European Conference on Wireless Technology, Sep. 1, 2006.
Collin, R.E., “Chapter 4: Circuit Theory for Waveguiding Systems,” Foundations of Microwave Engineering. 2nd ed. IEEE Press Series on electromagnetic wave theory, pp. 233-254, 2001.
Pozar, D.M., “Chapter 4: Microwave Network analysis,” Microwave Engineering, 2nd ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., pp. 190-211, 1998.
Notice of Defects issued from the Israeli Patent Office in corresponding Israeli Patent Application No. 193581, dated Sep. 26, 2011, total 5 pgs (including translation).
International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion Dated Aug. 26, 2008 From the International Preliminary Examining Authority Re.: Application No. PCT/IL2007/000235.
International Search Report and Written Opinion Dated Sep. 11, 2007 From the International Searching Authority by the Patent Cooperation Treaty Re.: Application No. PCT/IL2007/000235.
International Search Report and Written Opinion Dated Nov. 13, 2008 From the International Searching Authority Re.: Application No. PCT/IL2008/000231.
International Search Report and Written Opinion Dated May 20, 2008 From the International Searching Authority by the Patent Cooperation Treaty Re.: Application No. PCT /IL2007/001073.
International Search Report and Written Opinion Dated Aug. 31, 2007 From the International Searching Authority by the Patent Cooperation Treaty Re.: Application No. PCT/IL20007/000236.
International Search Report and Written Opinion Dated Dec. 27, 2007 From the International Searching Authority by the Patent Cooperation Treaty Re.: Application No. PCT/IL2007/000864.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion Dated Aug. 26, 2009 From the International Bureau of WIPO Re.: Application No. PCT/IL2007/001073.
International Search Report and Written Opinion Dated Mar. 3, 2010 From the International Searching Authority Re.: Application No. PCT/IL2009/001057.
Penfold et al. “Control of Thermal Runaway and Uniformity of Heating in the Electromagnetic Rewarming of a Cryopreserved Kidney Phantom”, Cryobiology, 30: 493-508, 1993.
Adams “Microwave Blood Plasma Defroster”, Journal of Microwave Power and Electromagnetic Energy, 26(3): 156-159, 1991.
Arens et al. “Danger of Over warming Blood by Microwave”, JAMA, 218(7): 1045-1046, 718, Nov. 15, 1971.
Collin “Electromagnetic Theory: Wave Equation”, Foundations for Microwave Engineering, IEEE Press Series on Electromagnetic Wave Theory, 2nd Ed., Chap.2.4: 31-32, 2001.
Collin “Transmission Lines and Waveguides”, Foundations for Microwave Engineering, IEEE Press Series on Electromagnetic Wave Theory, 2nd Ed., p. 96-99, 2001.
Geedipalli et al. “Heat Transfer in a Combination Microwave-Jet Impingement Oven”, Food and Bioproducts Processing, 86: 53-63, 2008.
Hirsch et al. “Indicators of Erythocyte Damage After Microwave Warming of Packed Red Blood Cells”, Clinical Chemistry, 49(5): 792-799, 2003.
Hirsch et al. “Temperature Course and Distribution During Plasma Heating With a Microwave Device”, Anaesthesia, 58: 444-447, 2003.
Khummongkol et al. “Heat Transfer Between Impinging Air and Impinged Surface: A Factorial Design”, The Joint International Conference on ‘Sustainable Energy and Environment (SEE)’, Hua Hin, Thailand, Dec. 1-3, 2004, 4-003(0): 431-436, 2004.
Marcroft et al. “Flow Held in a Hot Air Jet Impingement Oven—Part I: A Single Impinging Jet”, Journal of Food Processing Preservation, 23: 217-233, 1999.
Marcroft et al. “Flow Field in a Hot Air Jet Impingement Oven—Part II: Multiple Impingement Jets”, Journal of Food Processing Preservation, 23: 235-248, 1999.
Risco “Microwaves and Vascular Perfusion: Obtaining Very Rapid Organ Cooling”, Cryobiology, 49: 294, Abstract No. 11, 2004.
Robinson et al. “Electromagnetic Re-Warming of Cryopreserved Tissues: Effect of Choice of Cryoprotectant and Sample Shape on Uniformity of Heating”, Physics in Medicine and Biology. 47: 2311-2325, 2002.
Sherman et al. “A New Rapid Method for Thawing Fresh Frozen Plasma”, Transfusion, 14(6): 595-597, Nov.-Dec. 1974.
Söhngen et al “Thawing of Fresh-Frozen Plasma With a New Microwave Oven”, Transfusion, 28(6): 576-580, 1988.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion Dated Jan. 13, 2009 From the International Bureau of WIPO Re.: Application No. PCT/IL2007/000864.
Bird “Antenna Feeds”, Encyclopedia of Radiofrequency and Macrowave Engineering, p. 185-217, 2005.
Boström et al. “Rapid Thawing of Fresh-Frozen Plasma With Radio Wave-Based Thawing Technology and Effects on Coagulation Factors During Prolonged Storage at 4° C.”, Vox Sanguinis, 97: 34-35, 2009.
Evans “Electromagnetic Rewarming: The Effect of CPA Concentration and Radio Source Frequency on Uniformity and Efficiency of Heating”, Cryobiology, 40: 126-138, 2000.
Evans et al. “Design of a UHF Applicator for Rewarming of Cryopreserved Biomaterials”, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 39(3): 217-225, Mar. 1992.
Foster et al. “Biological Effects of Radiofrequency Energy As Related to Health and Safety”, Encyclopedia of Radiofrequency and Macrowave Engineering, p. 511-523, 1999.
Foster et al. “Dielectric Properties of Tissues”, Handbook of Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields, CRC Press, 2nd Ed.(Chap.I): 25-101, 1996.
Hambling “Forget Lasers, Phasers and Other Beam Weapons—Radiofrequency Devices Are Here, and They're Set to ‘Sting’”, Tech Watch: Forecasting Pain, 183(12): 32, Dec. 2006.
Herring et al. “OSU Tunes Into a Cooking Innovation”, OSU News & Communication Services, Oregon State University, 2 P., Apr. 30, 2004.
Liang et al. “Multiband Characteristics of Two Fractal Antennas”, Microwave and Oprical Technology Letters, 23(4): 242-245, Nov. 20, 1999.
Repacholi “Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure Standards”, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine, p. 18-21, Mar. 1987.
Robinson et al. “Rapid Electromagnetic Warming of Cells and Tissues”, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 46(12): 1413-1425, Dec. 1999.
Schwan et al. “RF-Field Interactions With Biological Systems: Electrical Properties and Biophysical Mechanisms”, Proceedings of the IEEE, 68(1): 104-113, Jan. 1980.
Scott “Understanding Microwaves”, A Wiley-Interscience Publication, 1: 326-331, 1993.
Shelley “Inside View on Deep Heat”, Eureka Innovative Engineering Design, 2 P., May 14, 2007.
Von Hippel “Theory: A. Macroscopic Properties of Dielectrics. Comples Permittivity and Permeability”, Dielectric Materials and Applications, 1: 3-5, 1995.
Walker et al. “Fractal Volume Antennas”, Electronics Letters, 34(16): 1536-1537, Aug. 6, 1998.
Wusteman et al. “Vitrification of Large Tissues With Dielectric Warming: Biological Problems and Some Approaches to Their Solution”, Cryobiology, 48: 179-189, 2004.
International Search Report and Written Opinion regarding International Application No. PCT/IL10100380, mailed Aug. 30, 2010, 12 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion regarding International Application No. PCT/IL10100381, mailed Sep. 1, 2010, 124 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion Dated Aug. 26, 2009 From the International Preliminary Examining Authority Re.: Application No. PCT/IL2008/000231.
Official Action Dated Nov. 10, 2011 From the US Patent and Trademark Office Re.: U.S. Appl. No. 12/899,348.
Official Action Dated Jun. 28, 2011 From the US Patent and Trademark Office Re.: U.S. Appl. No. 12/222,948.
Official Action Dated Nov. 22, 2011 From the US Patent and Trademark Office Re.: U.S. Appl. No. 12/907,663.
Official Action Dated Jul. 14, 2010 From the State IP Office, P.R. China Re.: Application No. 200780014028.9.
English Translation of Notice of Reason for Rejection, mailed on Feb. 24, 2012 Re: Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-555943, 5 pages.
Communication Pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC, dated Mar. 26, 2012 Re: European Application No. 09 793 620.7-2214, 5 pages.
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 12/309,173 dated Aug. 13, 2012, 12 pages.
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 12/899,348 dated Nov. 10, 2011, 13 pages.
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 12/899,348 dated Jul. 31, 2012, 11 pages.
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 12/899,348 dated Sep. 21, 2012, 14 pages.
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 12/907,663 dated Nov. 22, 2011 (9 pages).
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 12/907,663 dated Aug. 29, 2012 (26 pages).
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 12/457,154 dated Sep. 12, 2012, 9 pages.
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 12/906,604 dated Jun. 25, 2012, 7 pages.
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 12/906,604 dated Nov. 15, 2012, 7 pages.
Summons to attend oral proceedings pursuant to Rule 115(1) EPC issued by the European Patent Office in EP 07706172.9, dated Sep. 19, 2012, 6 pages.
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 12/899,348, mailed Jul. 10, 2013 (18 pages).
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 12/563,180, mailed Dec. 27, 2012 (18 pages).
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 12/563,180, mailed Jun. 4, 2013 (21 pages).
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 12/907,663, mailed Jun. 6, 2013 (20 pages).
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 13/464,754, mailed Jun. 6, 2013 (12 pages).
Second Office Action mailed on Jan. 5, 2012 from the Chinese State Intellectual Property Office in related Chinese Application No. 200780014028.9 (3 pages).
Communication pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC, dated Mar. 22, 2012, in related European Patent Application No. 07 706 172.9 (4 pages).
Third Office Action mailed on Aug. 8, 2012 from the Chinese State Intellectual Property Office in related Chinese Application No. 200780014028.9 (3 pages).
Notice of the Reasons for Rejection mailed on Nov. 13, 2012, in related Korean Patent Application No. 2008-7022187 (6 pages).
Invitation Pursuant to Rule 63(1) EPC dated Dec. 18, 2012, in related European Patent Application No. 12165473.5 (5 pages).
Minutes of the Oral Proceedings held on Jan. 18, 2013 and Annex, in related European Patent Application No. 07 706 172.9 (22 pages).
Invitation Pursuant to Rule 63(1) EPC dated Jan. 28, 2013, in related European Patent Application No. 12165499.0 (5 pages).
European Search Report dated Jun. 17, 2013, in related European Patent Application No. EP 12165499.0 (6 pages).
English Translation of Notice of Reason for Rejection mailed on Oct. 1, 2013 from Japanese Patent Office in related Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-179719, 5 pages.
English Translation of Notice of Reason for Rejection mailed on Aug. 27, 2013 from Japanese Patent Office in related Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-179718, 7 pages.
Official Office Action dated May 27, 2013 from Taiwan Patent Office in related Taiwanese Patent Application No. 96106448, 10 pages.
Search Report dated May 9, 2013 in related Taiwanese Patent Application No. 096106448, 1 pages.
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 12/563,180 dated Aug. 28, 2013, 23 pages.
Notice of Reason for Rejection issued by the Japanese Patent Office in Japanese Application No. 2012-179718 dated Mar. 14, 2014, 7 pages.
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 12/563,180 dated Mar. 12, 2014, 24 pages.
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 12/899,348 dated Jan. 3, 2014, 31 pages.
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 12/907,663 dated Apr. 15, 2014, 27 pages.
Notice of Allowance issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 13/464,754 dated Apr. 28, 2014, 21 pages.
Office Action issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in U.S. Appl. No. 12/899,348 dated Jun. 27, 2014, 10 pages.
Notice of Defects issued in Israeli Application No. 228423 dated Jul. 23, 2014, 4 pages.
Duniver, Diallo I.
The present application is a US Continuation Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/222,948, filed on Aug. 20, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,207,479 which is a US Continuation Patent Application of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/IL2007/000236, filed on Feb. 21, 2007, which claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/775,231, filed on Feb. 21, 2006 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/806,860, filed on Jul. 10, 2006. The contents of the above-referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference.
1. An apparatus for electromagnetically heating an object in a cavity, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of feeds configured to feed UHF (Ultra High Frequency) or microwave energy into the cavity; at least one detector configured to measure power coupled between at least two feeds from among the plurality of feeds during a sweep over a plurality of frequencies within a frequency band; and a controller configured to: determine, for each of the plurality of frequencies within the frequency band, a heating efficiency based on the measured power coupled between the at least two feeds from among the plurality of feeds; and control one or more characteristics of the heating process based on the determined heating efficiency for each of the plurality of frequencies within the frequency band.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics of the heating process comprise an amount of energy fed into the cavity.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics of the heating process comprise an input power level at each transmitted frequency.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the one or more characteristics of the heating process by choosing frequencies at which the energy is fed into the cavity.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the one or more characteristics of the heating process by causing movement of the object in the cavity.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics of the heating process comprises one or more antenna characteristics.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the heating efficiency based on return loss.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust energy application to a first feed based on power coupled between the first feed and at least one second feed.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the one or more characteristics based on changes in the object.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the heating efficiency based on S parameters indicative of the coupled power.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the one or more characteristics of the heating process one or more times during the heating process.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the one or more characteristics based on measurements of energy absorption during the heating process or during a hiatus in the heating process.
13. A method for electromagnetically heating an object in a cavity, the method comprising: feeding UHF (Ultra High Frequency) or microwave energy into the cavity through a plurality of feeds; measuring power coupled between at least two feeds from among the plurality of feeds, during a sweep over a plurality of frequencies within a frequency band; using a controller to determine, for each of the plurality of frequencies within the frequency band, a heating efficiency based on the measured power coupled between the at least two feeds from among the plurality of feeds; and controlling one or more characteristics of the heating process based on the determined heating efficiency for each of the plurality of frequencies within the frequency band.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more characteristics of the heating process comprise an amount of energy fed into the cavity.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more characteristics of the heating process comprise an input power level at each transmitted frequency.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein controlling the one or more characteristics of the heating process comprises choosing frequencies at which the energy is fed into the cavity.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein controlling the one or more characteristics of the heating process comprises moving the object in the cavity.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more characteristics of the heating process comprises one or more antenna characteristics.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the heating efficiency further comprises determining based on return loss.
20. The method of claim 13, comprising adjusting energy application to a first feed based on coupled power between the first feed and at least one second feed.
21. The method of claim 13, wherein controlling the one or more characteristics comprises controlling based on changes in the object.
22. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the heating efficiency comprises determining based on S parameters indicative of the coupled power.
23. The method of claim 13, wherein controlling the one or more characteristics of the heating process is repeated one or more times during the heating process.
24. The method of claim 13, comprising controlling the one or more characteristics of the heating process based on measurements of energy absorption during the heating process or during a hiatus in the heating process.
25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the feeds includes an antenna.
26. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the feeds includes an antenna.
27. An apparatus for electromagnetically heating an object in a cavity, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of antennas configured to feed UHF (Ultra High Frequency) or microwave energy into the cavity at a plurality of frequencies; at least one detector configured to measure power coupled between at least two antennas from among the plurality of antennas during a sweep over a plurality of frequencies within a frequency band; and a controller configured to: determine, for each of the plurality of frequencies within the frequency band, the measured power coupled between the at least two antennas from among the plurality of antennas; and control one or more characteristics of the heating process based on the measured power determined at one or more of the plurality of frequencies within the frequency band.
28. A method for electromagnetically heating an object in a cavity, the method comprising: feeding UHF (Ultra High Frequency) or microwave energy into the cavity at a plurality of frequencies through a plurality of antennas; measuring power coupled between at least two of antennas from among the plurality of antennas, during a sweep over a plurality of frequencies within a frequency band; using a controller to determine, for each of the plurality of frequencies within the frequency band, the measured power coupled between the at least two antennas from among the plurality of antennas; and controlling one or more characteristics of the heating process based on the measured power determined at one or more of the plurality of frequencies within the frequency band.
The present invention is concerned generally with heating of materials with electromagnetic energy.
The microwave oven is a ubiquitous feature in modern society. However, its limitations are well known. These include, for example uneven heating and slow absorption of heat. In fact, ordinary microwave ovens, when used for heating (e.g. defrosting), cause temperature differences as high as 100° C. between different locations in the heated object, resulting in creation of hotspots, regions of thermal runaway. Fore example, frozen foods that are thawed in a microwave oven may have one or more part (e.g. the outside) that is warm or even partly cooked before or other parts (e.g. in the interior) are even defrosted. Also known are hotspots that occur within a heated cup of liquid that may result in personal injury to a user. One common method that attempts to reduce hot-spots is to rotate the article being heated. This method does not provide uniform heating as would be desired.
S. Evans, et al., Design of a UHF applicator for rewarming of cry preserved biomaterials, IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 39 (1992) 217-225
M. P. Robinson, et al., Rapid electromagnetic warming of cells and tissues, IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 46 (1999) 1413-1425
M. P. Robinson, et al., Electromagnetic re-warming of cryopreserved tissues: effect of choice of cryoprotectant and sample shape on uniformity of heating, Phys. Med. Biol. 47 (2002) 2311-2325.
M. C. Wusteman, Martin et al., Vitrification of large tissues with dielectric warming: biological problems and some approaches to their solution, Cryobiology 48 (2004) 179-189.
A paper entitled “Control of Thermal Runaway and Uniformity of Heating in the Electromagnetic Warming of a Cryopreserved Kidney Phantom” by J. D. J. Penfold, et al., in Cryobiology 30, 493-508 (1993) describes a theoretical analysis and experimental results. While some experiments were apparently made with a kidney sized phantom, the main reported results are with a uniform spherical object.
The present inventors have realized that the measures taken by prior art investigators to provide uniform heating were inadequate and could not, by themselves, lead to a viable methodology for uniform heating (or defrosting) of irregular shaped objects such as organs, foods or the like. In particular it was discovered that the prior art suffered from many problems. As used herein, the term irregular means objects that depart from spherical or ellipsoid shape by more than 5% RMS volume.
Another problem is that at times, the absorption at a given location of an object is higher as the temperature increases. This can give rise to a “thermal runaway” problem (even in conventional microwave oven), wherein a relatively hot place absorbs more than a colder one thus continuously increasing the temperature difference. When an effort is made to tune the energy input of the device to the object's impedance, the efficiency of energy delivery into the object may be maximized, but hotspots are also generally increased.
As used herein the term “heating” means delivering electromagnetic (EM) energy into an object. At times, an object may be heated according to the present invention without temperature increase (e.g. when it is concomitantly cooled at a rate that is at least equal to the heating rate or at a phase change where the transmitted energy is taken up for the phase change). Heating includes: thawing, defrosting, heating, cooking, drying etc, utilizing electromagnetic energy.
An aspect of some embodiments of the invention deals with more uniform heating of a real life, i.e., non-uniform or irregular geometry object. As used herein the term “object” means any object, including a composition of one or more objects. In an embodiment of the invention, the hottest part of a thawed organ is 6° C. or less, when the coldest part reaches 0° C. This has been confirmed with a cow liver. In experiments with a cow liver, after thawing from −50° C., the range of temperatures in the thawed liver ranged from 8° C. to 10° C. In general, it is desirable to thaw the object such that all parts are above freezing point, to avoid recrystallization. In another embodiment objects are heated to other temperatures (e.g. serving or cooking temperatures, or a subzero temperature being above the temperature of the object before heating), while preserving a post heating uniformity of temperature within 50° C. At times, the uniformity of temperature in a heated (or thawed) object is maintained during heating such that at all times the uniformity of temperature is within 50° C. or even within 10° C. or 5° C.
An aspect of some embodiments of the invention is concerned with sweeping the frequency of the feed (or feeds) over a finite set of frequency sub-hands (i.e. feeding energy into the heater over many frequencies belonging to each sub-band). For example, the dissipation of energy is measured for a band of RF frequencies (e.g. the whole operation range of the heater), and based on the measured results, a finite set of frequency sub-bands is selected. The width of band over which the energy efficiency is measured may for example be up to 2 GHz. At times, the band may have a width between 0.5% (5/1000 [MHz]) and 25% (100/400 [MHz]) of the center frequency.
In an embodiment of the invention, the width of the efficiency “spectrum” (related to the Q factor) is desirably increased. It is known, from the general theory of RF, that bigger loss in the object (or load) matches lower Q factor. In addition, wide dissipation peak allows for sweeping the frequency about the peak of efficiency, a technique that is believed to further improve the uniformity of heating. Based on the band width, coupling between antennas and surface currents may be reduced. If dissipation is measured (even in an empty chamber) the dissipation peaks caused by antennas and/or metal components, and/or surface currents appear as narrow dissipation peaks. Thus, by avoiding transmittal in such bands (e.g. width being below 0.25% or even below 0.75%) the energy loss may be reduced. Such measurement may be carried out before and/or during heating of an object or during manufacture of a heater to prevent transmission of such wavelengths. Furthermore, coupling between inputs can be measured during manufacture and bands with high coupling avoided.
a controller that controls one or more characteristics of the cavity or energy to assure that the UHF or microwave energy is deposited uniformly in the object within ±30%, 20% or 10% over at least 80% or 90% of the volume of the object.
controlling one or more of the characteristics of the cavity or energy to assure that the UHF or microwave energy is deposited uniformly in the object within ±30%, 20% or 10% over at least 80% or 90% of the volume of the object.
On an embodiment of the invention, is frozen prior at the commencement of heating. Optionally, the object is heated until thawed. Optionally, the temperature differential in the object when thawing by said heating is complete throughout the object is less than 50° C., 20° C., 10° C., 5° C. or 2° C. In an embodiment of the invention, the frozen object is an animal or human organ.
In an embodiment of the invention, the overall efficiency of energy transfer into the object to be heated as compared to the energy fed into the feeds is eater than 40% or 50%.
at least one feed into the cavity that includes an antenna including radiating element chosen from the group consisting of a patch antenna, a fractal antenna, a helix antenna, a log-periodic antenna, a spiral antenna and a wire formed into a partial loop that does not touch a wall of the cavity.
at least one RF source having a power output of at least 50 watts and being sweepable over a frequency range of greater than 200 MHz with an of efficiency of greater than 40%
There is further provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a package suitable for use in an RF heating oven, comprising at least on indicator having a machine-readable indication of heating instructions thereon, which indication indicates uniform or controlled heating instructions.
Exemplary non-limiting embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the attached figures. The drawings are illustrative and generally not to an exact scale. The same or similar elements on different figures are referenced using the same reference numbers.
The present application describes a number of advances in the field of RF heating (e.g. microwave or UHF) heating. While, for convenience these advances are described together in the context of various apparatus and methods, each of the advances is generally independent and can be practiced with prior art apparatus or method (as applicable) or with a non-optimal version of the other advances of the present invention. Thus, for example, parts of the method of adjusting the input power can be used with the prior art apparatus of Penfold, et al., referenced above. Conversely, the inventive apparatus of the present invention (or parts thereof) can be used with the method of Penfold et al. It is expected that these combinations will not be ideal, but they are expected to give improved results over the prior art apparatus and methods.
Furthermore, advances described in the context of one embodiment of the invention can be utilized in other embodiments and should be consider as being incorporated as optional features in the descriptions of other embodiments, to the extent possible. The embodiments are presented in somewhat simplified form to emphasize certain inventive elements. Furthermore, it is noted that many features that are common to most or all embodiments of the invention are described in the Summary of the Invention and should also be considered as being part of the detailed description of the various embodiments.
1) An apparatus and method that allow for RF heating an irregular object such that the temperature of the object is uniform within 50° C. (optionally, to within 10, 6, 4 or 2° C.) when heating is completed. Exemplary embodiments provide this uniformity mainly by directly RF heating the object such that over 50% of the heating is by direct RF heating and not by conduction from other portions of the device. In some embodiments of the invention, such direct RF heating can reach 70, 80, or 90 or more percent.
3) A heating apparatus with one or more coupling antenna for coup ling energy into the cavity; a method of designing said antenna; and method of feeding energy to the heater including a method of tuning the radiated pattern of the antenna. This includes, utilizing an antenna array (with one or more feeds, having controlled phases), loop antenna, wide band antenna, fractal antenna, directional antenna, helix antenna, operating the antennas separately or coherently, designing the antenna to obtain a desired radiated pattern etc.
17) Apparatus and method of temperature information of a heated object using a TTT (a temperature sensitive, preferably passive Temperature transmitting the resonance of which changes due to temperature changes or which transmits the temperature information using a modulated response). This may be done if the TTT frequency is remote from the transmittal range of the device, or if the TTT's frequency is within the device's band width, and avoiding the specific TTT frequencies during heating. In some embodiments of the invention a tag having two resonant elements, one that is temperature sensitive and one that is not can be used since measurement of frequency difference is more accurate than measurement of absolute frequency.
FIG. 4B shows a helix antenna 41 useful for coupling energy from feeds 16, 18 and 29 into cavity 10, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As shown feed 16 include a coaxial feed 37 with its center conductor 38′ having a extension that is formed into a helix. This antenna can be designed for matching into free space over a relatively wide band of frequencies (such as that useful for the present invention) and can be made more or less directional by changing the number of turns. The free space design is then adjusted for the presence of the cavity as described below with respect to FIG. 4C. The graph of FIG. 4C shows experimental results for a helix of 7 turns, with a diameter equal to the free space wavelength and a turn pitch of less than 0.2 wavelengths. However, the present inventors have found that curves of the type shown in FIG. 4C can be found, by experimentation, for other turn characteristics as well.
Fractal antennas are known in the art. Reference is made to Xu Liang and Michael Yan Wan Chia, “Multiband Characteristics of Two Fractal Antennas,” John Wiley, MW and Optical Tech. Letters, Vol. 23, No. 4, pp 242-245, Nov. 20, 1999. Reference is also made to G. J. Walker and J. R. James, “Fractal Volume Antennas” Electronics Letters, Vol. 34, No. 16, pp 1536-1537, Aug. 6, 1998. These references are incorporated herein by reference.
FIG. 4D shows a simple bow-tie antenna 50 as known in the art, for radiation into free space. The Bandwidth of the bow-tie (in free space) is: 604 MHz@740 MHz center frequency (−3 dB points) and 1917 MHz @ 2.84 GHz center frequency. This antenna has a monopole directivity pattern but a broadband one (being an advantage over the narrow BW of a dipole antenna). However, monopole directivity does not irradiate in a direction parallel to the feed.
The size of each of these antennas is staggered in order to broaden the bandwidth of the antenna. In the example shown a first antenna 72 is scaled to 0.8 of the dimensions given in FIG. 4G. A second antenna 74 has the same dimensions as the antenna of FIG. 4G and a third antenna 76 is increased in size over antenna 74 by a factor of 1.2. The volume fractal antenna (FIG. 4G) has an overall bandwidth of 100 MHz—this is an improvement over the 70 MHz maximum BW achieved in prior single fractal antenna (FIGS. 4D-4H).
In an embodiment of the invention, RF amplifier 112 is a solid state amplifier based on the LDMOS technology. Psat=300 W, Efficiency=about 22%, Effective band—800-1000 MHz. Such amplifiers either have a relatively narrow bandwidth or a low efficiency (<25%) or both. This limits the optimal utility of the advances of the present invention. Recently, amplifiers have become available based on SiC (silicon carbide) or GaN (gallium nitride) semiconductor technology. Transistors utilizing such technologies are commercially available from companies, such as Eudyna, Nitronex and others. Amplifiers having a maximum power output of 300-600 W (can be built from low power (50-100 Watt) modules) and a bandwidth of 600 MHz (at 700 MHz center frequency) or a bandwidth of 400 MHz (at 2.5 GHz center frequency are available, for example. Such amplifiers have a much higher efficiency than prior art amplifiers (efficiency of 60% is available) and much higher tolerance to reflected signals, such that isolator 114 can often be omitted for these amplifiers. A particular configuration utilizing this type of amplifier is described below in conjunction with FIGS. 12A-D.
FIG. 6 is a simplified flow chart 150 of the operation of a heat ng system having the structure described above. FIG. 7 is a simplified flow chart of calibration 160 of the system. As will be evident, the method operation and calibration of the system is also usable with only minor changes for operating systems with lesser or greater numbers of power feeds and/or a greater or less number of matching elements.
At 152 an object, for example a frozen organ or frozen or non-frozen food object, is placed in cavity 10. A calibration or adjustment routine is then optionally performed to set the variable elements in the system. These can include power output of the amplifiers 112 in each of the power feeds to the cavity at each frequency, chosen to be transmitted, the finite set of sub-bands of frequencies of each VCO 102, the method of providing energy at the various frequencies (for example sweep or other frequency variation, or the provision of a pulsed signal embodying the desired frequency and power characteristics), positioning of the matching elements (e.g., 22, 24), position of the heated object and any other variables that affect the various characteristics of the heating process, for example—the uniformity and/or efficiency of power transfer to the object. A memory contains the criteria 156 for calibrating the system. Exemplary criteria are described below. Calibration is carried 160 out to determine the new heating variables. An exemplary calibration routine is outlined in the flow chart of FIG. 7, discussed below.
Periodically (for example a few times a second), the heating is interrupted for a short time (perhaps only a few milliseconds or tens of milliseconds) and it is determined 154, optionally based on a method described below, whether heating should be terminated. If it should, then heating ends 153. If the criterion or criteria for ending heating is not met, then a decision may be taken whether the heat variables should be changed 151. If the variables are to be changed (act 151—YES) the calibration (or re-adjustment) routine 160 is entered. If not (act 151 NO), the heating 170 is resumed. It is noted that during the measurement phase, the sweep is generally much broader than during the heating phase.
In order to perform calibration, the power is optionally set at level low enough 162 so that no substantial heating takes place, but high enough so that the signals generated can be reliably detected. Alternatively, calibration can take place at full or medium power. Calibration at near operational power levels can reduce the dynamic range of some components, such as the VCA, and reduce their cost.
In a first embodiment of the invention, the maximum net power of efficiency for each port is maximized, in the sense, that the net power efficiency at a point of maximum efficiency within the sweep range is made as high as possible. The efficiency and the frequency at which the efficiency is a maximum is noted. Optionally, the width of the efficiency peak and a Q-factor are noted as well.
When the criteria are met 168—YES, then the power is raised to a level suitable for heating. The power into the respective amplifiers is optionally normalized to provide a same net power into the cavity (and therefore, into the object) for each port at Box 174. Optionally, the least efficient port determines the power to the object.
The present inventors have discovered that each frequency has maximal absorption at a specific location within an object within a cavity, which locations may vary between different frequencies. Therefore sweeping a range of frequencies may cause movement of the peak heating region within the object, Computer stimulations have shown that, at least when the Q factor of a peak is low (i.e., a lot of energy is dissipated in the object being heated) the movement of the peak heating region can be quite substantial. Furthermore, the inventors have found that each mode (represented by a different peak of efficiency) acts differently when swept.
Comparison of Inventive Method and
Conventional Microwave- Cow Liver
Measurement Inventive Method Conventional Microwave
Initial Temperature −50° C. −50° C.
Final Temperature 8° C. to 10° C. −2° C. to 80° C.
Power 400 Watt 800 Watt
Thawing time 2 Minutes 4 Minutes
Visible damage None The texture of the thawed
sample was destroyed. There
are frozen regions along side
burned ones. No chance of
survival of living cells.
Conventional Microwave Inventive Method Measurement
−80° C. −80° C. Initial Temperature
−5° C. to 60° C. 2° C. to 6° C. Final Temperature
800 Watt 400 Watt Power
1 Minute 40 Seconds Thawing time
The thawing process cooked None Visible damage
part of the salmon, therefore
it was not Maki anymore.
The inventors believe that the methodology of the present invention is capable of thawing objects that are deep frozen to just above freezing with a temperature variation of less than 40° C., optionally less than 10° C., 5° C. and even as low a difference as 2° C. Such results have been achieved in experiments carried out by the inventors, for a cow liver, for example.
FIG. 10 shows apparatus for applying a DC or relatively low frequency (up to 100 kHz or 100 MHz) to an object in the cavity, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. This figure is similar to FIG. 1, except that the cavity includes two plates 250 and 252. A power supply (not shown) electrifies the plates with a high differential voltage at DC or relatively low frequency. The objective of this low frequency field is to reduce the rotation of the water molecules. Ice is water in a solid state therefore its rotational modes are restricted. A goal is to restrict the rotational modes of the liquid water in order to make the heating rate be determined by that of the ice. The present inventors also believe that the low frequency fields nay change the dielectric constant of the materials making up the object being heated, allowing for better match of the input to the object.
Use of high efficiency amplifiers with or without heat transfer to the cavity can result in highly efficient systems, with an overall efficiency of 40-50% or more. Since amplifiers with relatively high (40V-75V) voltages are used, the nerd for large transformers is obviated and heat sinks can be small or even no-existent with the amplifier transferring heat to the housing of the heater.
(g) Report “done” but leave at 30 degrees Celsius until removed.
Utilizing various embodiments of the invention, the UHF or microwave energy may be deposited uniformly in an object to within less than ±10%, ±20 or ±30% over 80% or 90% or more of the object.
Furthermore, the terms “comprise,” include,” and “have” or their conjugates shall mean: “including but not necessarily limited to.” The scope of the invention is limited only by the following claims.
<- Previous Patent (Electric induction h...) | Next Patent (Apparatus for fabric...) ->