Patent ID: 12213236

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG.1is a schematic structural view of a heating device100according to one embodiment of the present invention.FIG.2is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heating device100as shown inFIG.1, wherein an electromagnetic generating module161and a power supply module162are omitted. Referring toFIG.1andFIG.2, the heating device100may include a cylinder body110, a door body120, an electromagnetic generating module161, a power supply module162and a radiating antenna150.

A heating chamber111having a pick-and-place opening is defined in the cylinder body110, and the heating chamber111is configured to place an object to be processed. The pick-and-place opening may be formed in the front wall or the top wall of the heating chamber111so as to pick and place the object to be processed.

The door body120may be installed together with the cylinder body110by an appropriate method, such as a sliding rail connection, a hinged connection, etc., and is configured to open and close the pick-and-place opening. In an illustrated embodiment, the heating device100also includes a drawer140for carrying the object to be processed; a front end plate of the drawer140is configured to be fixedly connected with the door body120, and two lateral side plates of the drawer are movably connected with the cylinder body110by sliding rails.

The power supply module162may be configured to be electrically connected with the electromagnetic generating module161to provide electric energy to the electromagnetic generating module161, so that the electromagnetic generating module161generates electromagnetic wave signals. The radiating antenna150may be disposed in the cylinder body110and is electrically connected with the electromagnetic generating module161to generate electromagnetic waves of corresponding frequencies according to the electromagnetic wave signals, so as to heat the object to be processed in the cylinder body110.

In some embodiments, the cylinder body110and the door body120may be respectively provided with electromagnetic shielding features, so that the door body120is conductively connected with the cylinder body110when the door body is in a closed state, so as to prevent electromagnetic leakage.

In some embodiments, the cylinder body110may be made of metals to serve as a receiving pole to receive electromagnetic waves generated by the radiating antenna150. In some other embodiments, a receiving pole plate may be disposed on the top wall of the cylinder body110to receive electromagnetic waves generated by the radiating antenna150.

FIG.4is a schematic structural view of an electrical appliance chamber112according to one embodiment of the present invention.FIG.6is a schematic structural view of the electrical appliance chamber112according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG.4andFIG.6, the peripheral edge of the radiating antenna150may be formed by smooth curves, so as to make the distribution of electromagnetic waves in the cylinder body110more uniform, thereby improving the temperature uniformity of the object to be processed. A smooth curve refers to a curve of which the first derivative of the curve equation is continuous, which means that the peripheral edge of the radiating antenna150has no sharp corner in engineering.

FIG.8is a simulated view of a three-dimensional magnetic field of the radiating antenna inFIG.4.FIG.10is a comparative view of color and electric field intensity inFIG.8andFIG.9, wherein E field refers to the electric field intensity, and the unit thereof is Volt/meter (V_per_m). It can be seen fromFIG.8andFIG.10that when the peripheral edge of the radiating antenna is formed by smooth curves, the distribution of the electromagnetic waves above the radiating antenna (in the heating chamber111) is relatively uniform; not only do the electromagnetic waves have a relatively large distribution range in the horizontal direction, but also the electromagnetic waves are uniformly distributed and have basically equal magnetic field intensity.

FIG.9is a simulated view of a two-dimensional magnetic field of the radiating antenna inFIG.8in a plane where the radiating antenna is located. It can be seen fromFIG.9andFIG.10that when the peripheral edge of the radiating antenna is formed by smooth curves, the area of the region in which electromagnetic waves are relatively concentrated in the plane where the radiating antenna is located is relatively small, and the distribution of the electromagnetic waves at the peripheral edge of the radiating antenna is relatively uniform, so that the phenomenon of local heating or even ignition is avoided.

Referring toFIG.2, the geometric center of the radiating antenna150coincides with the center of a maximum cross section113of the heating chamber111taken along an imaginary plane parallel to an installation plane of the radiating antenna150, thereby further improving the distribution uniformity of the electromagnetic waves in the heating chamber111.

In some embodiments, referring toFIG.5b, the radiating antenna150may be in the shape of a perfect circle. In the present embodiment, the radius R of the radiating antenna150is 5/13 to 13/20, such as 5/13, 16/31 or 13/20, of the shortest distance D from the peripheral edge of the above-mentioned cross section to the center thereof, so that the antenna material is saved, and meanwhile, the electromagnetic waves in the heating chamber111have a relatively large distribution area, a relatively uniform distribution and a relatively high energy density.

In some other embodiments, referring toFIG.7b, when the cross section of the heating chamber111taken along the installation plane of the radiating antenna150is rectangular or oblong, the radiating antenna150may be in the shape of an oblong. As used herein, “oblong” refers to a rectangle having rounded corners, which may be referenced interchangeably herein as a “corner-rounded rectangle.” The length direction of the radiating antenna150may be parallel to the length direction of the above-mentioned cross section, so that the distribution of the electromagnetic waves in the heating chamber111is uniform.

In an embodiment in which the radiating antenna150is in the shape of an oblong, the length L of the radiating antenna150may be 9/20 to 7/10, such as 9/20, 4/7 or 7/10 of the length L0of the above-mentioned cross section; the width W of the radiating antenna150may be 3/10 to 13/20, such as 3/10, 11/23 or 13/20, of the width W0of the above-mentioned cross section; and the size of the fillet of the radiating antenna150(represented by the radius r of the arc forming the fillet) is 2/7 to ½, such as 2/7, ⅓, ⅖ or ½, of the width of the radiating antenna150. Therefore, the antenna material is saved, and meanwhile, the electromagnetic waves in the heating chamber111have a relatively large distribution area, a relatively uniform distribution and a relatively high energy density.

Referring toFIG.2andFIG.4, the heating device100may further include an antenna housing130to separate the inner space of the cylinder body110into a heating chamber111and an electrical appliance chamber112. The object to be processed and the radiating antenna150may be respectively disposed in the heating chamber111and the electrical appliance chamber112to separate the object to be processed from the radiating antenna150, so as to prevent the radiating antenna150from being dirty or damaged by accidental touch.

In some embodiments, the antenna housing130may be made of an insulating material, so that the electromagnetic waves generated by the radiating antenna150may pass through the antenna housing130to heat the object to be processed. Further, the antenna housing130may be made of a non-transparent material to reduce the electromagnetic loss of electromagnetic waves at the antenna housing130, thereby increasing the heating rate of the object to be processed. The above-mentioned non-transparent material is a translucent material or an opaque material. The non-transparent material may be a PP material, a PC material or an ABS material.

The antenna housing130may also be configured to fix the radiating antenna150to simplify the assembly process of the heating device100and facilitate the positioning and installation of the radiating antenna150. Specifically, the antenna housing130may include a clapboard131for separating the heating chamber111and the electrical appliance chamber112, and a skirt part132fixedly connected with the inner wall of the cylinder body110, wherein the radiating antenna150may be configured to be fixedly connected with the clapboard131.

In some embodiments, the radiating antenna150may be configured to be engaged with the antenna housing130.FIG.5ais a schematic enlarged view of a region B inFIG.4. Referring toFIG.5a, the radiating antenna150may be provided with a plurality of engaging holes151; the antenna housing130may be correspondingly provided with a plurality of buckles133; and the plurality of buckles133are configured to respectively pass through the plurality of engaging holes151to be engaged with the radiating antenna150.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the buckles133may be composed of two barbs disposed at an interval and in mirror symmetry.

FIG.7ais a schematic enlarged view of a region C inFIG.6. Referring toFIG.7a, in another embodiment of the present invention, each of the buckles133may be composed of a fixing part perpendicular to the radiating antenna150and having a hollow middle part, and an elastic part extending inclining to the fixing part from the inner end edge of the fixing part and toward the antenna.

In some other embodiments, the radiating antenna150may be configured to be fixed to the antenna housing130through an electroplating process.

The antenna housing130may further include a plurality of reinforcing ribs, and the reinforcing ribs are configured to connect the clapboard131and the skirt part132so as to improve the structural strength of the antenna housing130.

In some embodiments, the antenna housing130may be disposed at the bottom of the cylinder body110to avoid the damage to the antenna housing130due to the fact that a user places an object to be processed with an excessive height. The radiating antenna150may be horizontally fixed on the lower surface of the clapboard131.

The radiating antenna150may be disposed at the height of ⅓ to ½, such as ⅓, ⅖ or ½, of the cylinder body110, so that the volume of the heating chamber111is relatively large, and meanwhile, the electromagnetic waves in the heating chamber111have a relatively high energy density so as to make the object to be processed heated quickly.

FIG.3is a schematic enlarged view of a region A inFIG.2. Referring toFIG.1toFIG.3, the heating device100may further include a signal processing and measurement and control circuit170. Specifically, the signal processing and measurement and control circuit170may include a detection unit171, a control unit172and a matching unit173.

The detection unit171may be connected in series between the electromagnetic generating module161and the radiating antenna150, and is configured to detect in real time the specific parameters of incident wave signals and reflected wave signals passing through the detection unit.

The control unit172may be configured to acquire the specific parameters from the detection unit171, and calculate the power of incident waves and reflected waves according to the specific parameters. In the present invention, the specific parameters may be voltage values and/or current values. Alternatively, the detection unit171may be a power meter to directly measure the power of incident waves and reflected waves.

The control unit172may further calculate an electromagnetic wave absorption rate of the object to be processed according to the power of incident waves and reflected waves, compare the electromagnetic wave absorption rate with a preset absorption threshold, and send an adjusting command to the matching unit173when the electromagnetic wave absorption rate is less than the preset absorption threshold. The preset absorption threshold may be 60% to 80%, such as 60%, 70% or 80%.

The matching unit173may be connected in series between the electromagnetic generating module161and the radiating antenna150, and is configured to adjust a load impedance of the electromagnetic generating module161according to an adjusting command of the control unit172, so as to improve the matching degree between the output impedance and the load impedance of the electromagnetic generating module161, so that when foods with different fixed attributes (such as type, weight and volume) are placed in the heating chamber111, or during the temperature change of the foods, relatively more electromagnetic wave energy is radiated in the heating chamber111, thereby increasing the heating rate.

In some embodiments, the heating device100may be used for thawing. The control unit172may also be configured to calculate an imaginary part change rate of a dielectric coefficient of the object to be processed according to the power of incident waves and reflected waves, compare the imaginary part change rate with a preset change threshold, and send a stop command to the electromagnetic generating module161when the imaginary part change rate of the dielectric coefficient of the object to be processed is greater than or equal to the preset change threshold, so that the electromagnetic generating module161stops working, and the thawing program is terminated.

The preset change threshold may be obtained by testing the imaginary part change rate of the dielectric coefficient of foods with different fixed attributes at −3° C. to 0° C., so that the foods have good shear strength. For example, when the object to be processed is raw beef, the preset change threshold may be set to 2.

The control unit172may also be configured to receive a user command and control the electromagnetic generating module161to start working according to the user command, wherein the control unit172is configured to be electrically connected with the power supply module162to obtain electric energy from the power supply module162and to be always in a standby state.

In some embodiments, the signal processing and measurement and control circuit170may be integrated on a circuit board and horizontally disposed in the electrical appliance chamber112to facilitate the electrical connection between the radiating antenna150and a matching module.

The antenna housing130and the cylinder body110may be provided with heat dissipation holes190respectively in positions corresponding to the matching unit173, so that the heat generated by the matching unit173during working is discharged through the heat dissipation holes190. In some embodiments, the signal processing and measurement and control circuit170may be disposed on the rear side of the radiating antenna150. The heat dissipation holes190may be formed in the rear walls of the antenna housing130and the cylinder body110.

In some embodiments, the metal cylinder body110may be configured to be grounded to discharge the electric charges thereon, thereby improving the safety of the heating device100.

The heating device100may further include a metal bracket180. The metal bracket180may be configured to connect the circuit board and the cylinder body110to support the circuit board and discharge the electric charges on the circuit board through the cylinder body110. In some embodiments, the metal bracket180may be composed of two parts perpendicular to each other.

In some embodiments, the electromagnetic generating module161and the power supply module162may be disposed on the outer side of the cylinder body110. A part of the metal bracket180may be disposed at the rear part of the circuit board and extend vertically along a lateral direction, and may be provided with two wiring ports, so that the wiring terminal of the detection unit171(or the matching unit173) extends out from one wiring port and is electrically connected with the electromagnetic generating module161, and the wiring terminal of the control unit172extends out from the other wiring port and is electrically connected with the electromagnetic generating module161and the power supply module162.

In some embodiments, the heating device100may be disposed in a storage compartment of a refrigerator to facilitate users thawing the food.

Hereto, those skilled in the art should realize that although multiple exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, many other variations or modifications that conform to the principles of the present invention may still be directly determined or deduced from the contents disclosed in the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be understood and recognized as covering all these other variations or modifications.