Intelligent extraction system, device and method

Abstract

The invention provides a household appliance for treating substances by utilizing microwaves. The household appliance comprises a temperature sensor; a microwave generator configured to generate microwaves; and a controller coupled to the temperature sensor and the microwave generator and configured to control operation of the microwave generator to process the substance based on a measurement value of the temperature sensor. The household appliance further includes a weighing sensor coupled to the controller, where the controller is further configured to control operation of the microwave generator to process the substance based on a measurement of the weighing sensor.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present disclosure claims priority to Chinese Application No. 202410373051.2 filed on March 29, 2024, Chinese Application No. 202421003123.6 filed on May 9, 2024, and Chinese Application No. 202420998073.3 filed on May 9, 2024, and U.S. Application No. 18779556 filed on July 22, 2024, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of electronic systems / devices, and more particularly, to electronic systems / devices for drying, extracting or converting materials. Background Art

[0003] Currently, household herbal extractors generally use electric heating. Generally, the container is heated to the required temperature and the container temperature is maintained for a long time to promote the extraction process. The plant components immersed in the medium are gradually released into the solution. However, the traditional method is time-consuming, usually requiring more than two hours, and cannot extract high-concentration plant components efficiently and quickly.

[0004] Due to the limitations of existing technologies, there is a need to develop more efficient extraction technologies or similar applications suitable for home use scenarios. Summary of the invention

[0005] A household appliance for treating a substance using microwaves comprises: a temperature sensor; a microwave generator configured to generate microwaves; and a controller coupled to the temperature sensor and the microwave generator and configured to control the operation of the microwave generator to treat the substance based on a measurement value of the temperature sensor.

[0006] In one embodiment, the household appliance further comprises: a weighing sensor coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is further configured to control the operation of the microwave generator to process the substance based on a measurement value of the weighing sensor.

[0007] In one embodiment, the household appliance further comprises a motor, which is coupled to the controller and configured to drive a rotor placed inside the substance, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the rotation speed of the rotor through the motor based on at least one of the measured value of the weighing sensor and the measured value of the temperature sensor.

[0008] In one embodiment, the household appliance further comprises: a body providing a chamber with a side opening, wherein the microwave generator is located below the chamber and the substance is placed in the chamber during processing; a door fixed to a first side frame of the body, wherein the door can be closed to cover the side opening of the chamber in the body; a waveguide integrated in a rear frame of the body, the waveguide connected to the microwave generator and configured to guide the microwave into the chamber through an output port located at a rear surface of the chamber; and a weighing sensor integrated in the body. Wherein the temperature sensor is detachably attached to a first side surface of the chamber, and the first side surface of the chamber is an inner surface of the first side frame of the body. And wherein the controller is integrated in the body and configured to: obtain measurement values ​​from the weighing sensor and the temperature sensor; and adjust the operation of the microwave generator based on the measurement values.

[0009] In one embodiment, the household appliance further comprises: a motor located below the chamber and close to the bottom surface of the chamber, wherein when the rotor is placed in the chamber, the motor is configured to drive the rotor, and wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the rotation speed of the rotor through the motor based on the measured value.

[0010] In one embodiment, the household appliance further comprises: one or more cooling fans adjacent to the microwave generator and configured to dissipate heat from the microwave generator.

[0011] In one embodiment, the household appliance further comprises: a two-step door locking mechanism integrated in the second side frame of the main body; wherein the second side frame and the first side frame are located at opposite sides of the main body.

[0012] In one embodiment, the weighing sensor is integrated into the top frame of the main body.

[0013] In one embodiment, wherein the controller further comprises: one or more processors; a memory storing instructions executable by the one or more processors; and a transceiver configured to receive a parameter model associated with one or more recipes. wherein the memory is configured to store the parameter model associated with the one or more recipes. and wherein the one or more processors are configured to: determine a set of parameters corresponding to the parameter model associated with the recipe in the one or more recipes for a substance, and determine, based on the measured value, an adjustment to one or more parameters in the set of parameters for processing the substance.

[0014] In an embodiment, wherein the body comprises an opening in the top frame, the opening serving as a passage allowing air communication between the interior and exterior of the chamber, and wherein the opening does not allow microwaves to pass therethrough.

[0015] In one embodiment, the household appliance further comprises: a condenser connected to the main body through the opening, wherein the condenser is configured to collect steam from the chamber.

[0016] In one embodiment, the household appliance for treating substances using microwaves includes: a main body, which provides a cavity with a side opening; a door, which is fixed to a first side frame of the main body, wherein the door can be closed to cover the side opening of the cavity in the main body; a microwave generator, which is located below the cavity and is configured to generate microwaves to heat the substance placed in the cavity; a waveguide, which is integrated in the rear frame of the main body, the waveguide is connected to the microwave generator and is configured to guide the microwaves into the cavity through an output port located on the rear surface of the cavity; a weighing sensor, which is integrated in the main body; one or more temperature sensors, which are detachably attached to the first side surface of the cavity; and a control circuit, which is integrated in the main body and configured to: obtain measurement values ​​from the weighing sensor and the one or more temperature sensors connected to the cavity; and adjust the operation of the microwave generator based on the measurement values.

[0017] A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for processing a substance using a household appliance, comprising: generating microwaves using a microwave generator to heat a substance disposed in the household appliance; receiving a temperature measurement value from a temperature sensor disposed in the household appliance; and controlling the operation of the microwave generator based in part on the temperature measurement value.

[0018] In one embodiment, the method further includes: determining a set of parameters for controlling the operation of the microwave generator based on the selected mode of the household appliance; receiving a weight measurement value from a weighing sensor disposed in the household appliance; adjusting one or more parameters in the set of parameters based on the weight measurement value; and controlling the operation of the microwave generator based on the set of parameters including the one or more adjusted parameters.

[0019] In one embodiment, wherein the set of parameters includes parameters for controlling the operation of a motor disposed within the household appliance, wherein the motor is configured to drive a rotor to stir a substance, the method further comprises controlling the operation of the motor based on the set of parameters including the one or more adjusted parameters.

[0020] In one embodiment, the method further comprises: receiving a temperature measurement from the temperature sensor; and dynamically adjusting the operation of the microwave generator or the motor.

[0021] In one embodiment, the household appliance pre-stores a plurality of preparation methods, and wherein the set of parameters is associated with a preparation method among the plurality of preparation methods.

[0022] A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a container for drying samples, comprising: a body providing a cavity with an opening; a cover configured to close the opening of the cavity of the body, the cover comprising a plurality of through holes, wherein the plurality of through holes allow steam to pass through but prevent microwaves from entering the closed cavity of the body; and a detachable sample holder placed in the cavity of the body and configured to hold the sample for drying. At least a portion of the body comprises an absorbing material that generates heat by absorbing microwave energy.

[0023] In an embodiment, wherein the body comprises a metal portion, wherein the cover comprises a metal portion and an edge made of an insulating material, and wherein the edge of the cover separates the metal portion of the cover from the metal portion of the body.

[0024] In one embodiment, at least one through-hole among the plurality of through-holes is configured to allow insertion of a temperature sensor probe.

[0025] In one embodiment, the container further includes: a removable mesh portion configured to contain the substance to be processed and separate the substance from the bottom wall or side wall of the cavity; and a rotor disposed at the bottom of the cavity and driven by a motor outside the cavity, wherein the rotor is configured to promote air circulation in the cavity. Brief Description of the Figures

[0026] The embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below based on the exemplary drawings. The present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. All features described and / or shown herein may be used alone or in different combinations in the embodiments of the present disclosure. The features and advantages of the various embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent by reading the following detailed description and referring to the drawings, which show the following:

[0027] Figure 1 is a simplified block diagram of an extraction system according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C An exemplary implementation of an extraction device according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown in front view, side view and top view, respectively;

[0029] FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C An exemplary container according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0030] Figure 4A is a schematic diagram showing another extraction device for extracting a substance according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4B yes Figure 4A An exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a fixing component shown in FIG.

[0032] Figure 4C The present invention shows one or more embodiments of the present invention. Figure 4B An alternative embodiment of the fixing component shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The present disclosure provides a compact yet powerful extractor system / device that is capable of controlling its operation based on feedback control, thereby enabling precise control and efficient operation of the device to achieve optimized performance.

[0034] In particular, exemplary aspects of the extraction system according to the present disclosure are further described below in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. The exemplary embodiments illustrate some implementations of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0035] Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals denote similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the dimensions of certain components may be exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the examples shown. In addition, the drawings provide examples and / or implementations consistent with the description; however, the description is not limited to the examples and / or implementations provided in the drawings.

[0036] Where possible, any term expressed in the singular form herein is also meant to include the plural form, and vice versa, unless expressly stated otherwise. In addition, as used herein, the terms "a" and / or "an" shall mean "one or more", even though the phrase "one or more" is also used herein. In addition, when it is said herein that something is "based on" something else, it may also be based on one or more other things. In other words, "based on" as used herein means "based at least in part on" or "based at least in part on", unless expressly stated otherwise.

[0037] Figure 1A simplified block diagram of an extraction system 100 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. Each block may include one or more appropriate hardware and / or software components to implement the functionality disclosed in the present disclosure. The term "infuse," "infusing," "infusion" refers to the process of heating, drying, extracting, and / or transforming a substance such as an herb, vegetable, or plant, as described below. According to one embodiment, the system 100 may be a household appliance, such as a stand-alone desktop unit or a wall unit installed in a home kitchen for personal or family use. According to another embodiment, the system 100 may be an industrial unit installed in a restaurant, hotel, laboratory, hospital, etc. for commercial use. Regardless of the setting, the system 100 has a compact size and is easy to move and install.

[0038] The system 100 includes various components configured to process a sample 118 placed therein. "Sample" refers to any substance to be processed by the system 100 using energy generated therein. The substance can be in any suitable form, including solid, solution, etc. Processing the sample can include, but is not limited to, drying, distillation, etc. As described below, the sample 118 can be placed directly inside the system 100 or in a container (e.g., a tank), and then the sample and the container are placed in the system 100.

[0039] refer to Figure 1 The various subsystems in the system 100 are configured to operate in coordination with other components / subsystems to perform the operations disclosed herein. The subsystems include a sample processing system 110, a control system 120, and a feedback system 130.

[0040] In the sample processing system 110, the microwave generator 112 is configured to generate waveform energy. For example, the microwave generator 112 may include a component (e.g., a magnetron) that converts electrical energy into microwaves. The waveguide 114 guides the generated microwaves into a chamber 116 in which the sample is placed. The chamber 116 confines the generated microwaves therein, resulting in a spatial distribution of the microwave energy therein. For example, when the microwaves propagate within the chamber 116, the waves bounce off the walls of the chamber 116 to form standing waves having nodes and antinodes. The chamber 116 is an interior space within a housing that integrates the components of the system 100 into its frame.

[0041] In some embodiments, the sample processing system 110 may include a condenser 134 that passes through a channel (e.g., Figure 2A The condenser 134 may be integrated into the system 100 or may be a separate component connected to the system 100.

[0042] The control system 120 includes various components for controlling the operation of the components in the sample processing system 110, for example, one or more processors 122, memory 124, and communication interface 126. The components in the control system 120 can be integrated into a control circuit. Additionally and / or alternatively, the control system 120 can include discrete components coupled to each other via wired or wireless connections.

[0043] The one or more processors 122 may include any suitable type of general or special purpose microprocessor, digital signal processor, microcontroller, etc. The one or more processors 122 are configured to generate appropriate control signals (eg, electrical signals) according to instructions stored in the memory 124 .

[0044] The memory 124 may be configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors 122, may cause the one or more processors 122 to perform various operations disclosed in the present disclosure. The memory 124 may be any non-transitory type of mass storage, such as volatile or non-volatile, magnetic, semiconductor-based, tape-based, optical, removable, non-removable, or other type of storage device or tangible computer-readable medium, including but not limited to read-only memory ("ROM"), flash memory, dynamic random access memory ("RAM"), and / or static RAM.

[0045] The communication interface 126 may be configured to transfer information between the system 100 and other devices or systems (e.g., servers or terminal devices in a connected environment). The communication interface 126 may include a local area network ("LAN") card to provide a data communication connection with a compatible LAN. As another further example, the communication interface 126 may include a high-speed network adapter, such as a fiber optic network adapter, a 10G Ethernet adapter, etc. The communication interface 126 may also implement a wireless link. In such an embodiment, the communication interface 126 may send and receive electrical signals, electromagnetic signals, or optical signals carrying digital data streams representing various types of information through a network. The network may typically include a cellular communication network, a wireless local area network ("WLAN"), a wide area network ("WAN"), Bluetooth, etc.

[0046] In some embodiments, the system 100 receives on-demand instructions or over-the-air (OTA) updates pushed by a server through the communication interface 126. The instructions may include a recipe customized for processing a specific sample. The system 100 may store the received instructions in the memory 124.

[0047] In some embodiments, the system 100 is connected to the Internet via the communication interface 126 to automatically download parameter models (including power curves, temperature, time, weight, etc.). The system 100 then stores the downloaded parameter models in the memory 124. The user can select a new model at any time to operate the system 100 to extract new samples (e.g., new plant species). The system 100 can be linked to an electronic terminal, such as a smartphone or a personal computer (PC), for data updates and / or preset modes, providing the user with greater operational flexibility.

[0048] The control system 120 generates appropriate control signals according to the instructions stored in the memory 124 to control the operation of the components in the sample processing system 110. For example, the control system 120 controls the microwave generator 112 to generate microwaves having a specific wavelength and / or a specific output power. The control system 120 can adjust the operation of the microwave generator 112 during sample processing. For example, the control system 120 can determine the change of one or more parameters of the microwave generator 112 according to the information obtained from the one or more sensors 132. The control system 120 can dynamically and / or periodically adjust the operation of the microwave generator 112 to ensure accurate control of sample processing.

[0049] In one embodiment, the control system 120 controls the operation of the motor integrated in the system 100. The motor can be included in the control system 120 or can be a separate component connected to the control system 120. The motor is used to drive the rotor to achieve the stirring function. For example, the control system 120 generates a control signal to drive the motor and rotate the rotor at a predetermined speed for stirring. The rotor can be designed into various shapes and sizes according to specific usage. The control component can adjust the corresponding rotation speed based on the structural parameters (e.g., size, shape) of the rotor.

[0050] In one embodiment, the control system 120 controls the operation of the condenser 134. For example, the control system 120 may instruct the condenser 134 to begin operation at a specified time. Additionally and / or alternatively, the control system 120 may adjust the temperature, pressure, flow rate, or other suitable parameters to adjust the operation of the condenser 134. In some examples, the control system 120 may make adjustments based on feedback from one or more sensors that monitor the status of the condenser 134 and / or the sample processing system 110.

[0051] Feedback system 130 collects relevant information through one or more sensors 132 to monitor the status of sample processing system 110. Feedback system 130 provides the collected information to control system 120 so that control system 120 can adjust the operation of system 100. In some embodiments, feedback system 130 can be part of control system 120. Alternatively, feedback system 130 can include a separate component connected to control system 120.

[0052] Feedback system 130 may include various types of sensors. A sensor refers to a device that measures a parameter related to the state of system 100. For example, a temperature sensor measures the temperature within chamber 116, the temperature of a sample 118 placed directly within chamber 116, or the temperature of a sample 118 placed within a container within chamber 116, as further described below. A weight sensor, such as a scale, may be used to measure the weight of a sample 118 to be processed by system 100, the weight of a sample 118 and its container (e.g., Figure 3A 100 ), and / or the weight of the system 100 with the sample 118 placed therein. In one embodiment, the sensor can be used to measure the speed of the rotor to monitor the stirring process. It is worth noting that other types of sensors can be used to provide relevant information to the control system 120, and this is not limited in the present disclosure.

[0053] The one or more sensors 132 may be connected to the control system 120 via a wired connection (e.g., a cable, an analog signal line, a bus, etc.). Additionally and / or alternatively, the one or more sensors 132 and the control system 120 may be communicatively connected via the communication interface 126 (e.g., using a transceiver or similar communication component in the communication interface 126).

[0054] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C An exemplary implementation of the extraction device 200 is shown from various perspectives according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C The implementation shown in provides Figure 1 The example arrangement of components depicted in , results in a device 200 that is compact in size and enables precise control of sample processing.

[0055] Figure 2A 2 is a front view of the device 200. The device 200 has a body 202, which contains a chamber 216 inside. The chamber 216 is formed by the top surface, the bottom surface and the side surfaces inside the body 202. One of the sides inside the body 202 is a door (e.g., Figure 2B and 2C 202), which can be opened and closed to allow a sample to be placed inside chamber 216.

[0056] Unlike conventional microwave devices with left-right layout, device 200 adopts an up-down layout. This up-down layout allows chamber 216 to be arranged at the approximate horizontal center of device 200, so that device 200 has a bilaterally symmetrical appearance. As will be further described in detail, in one embodiment, certain electronic components can be arranged at the bottom of device 200 below chamber 216 to ensure stability. Therefore, the vertical dimension of device 200 can be greater than the horizontal dimension. Alternatively, electronic components can also be arranged above chamber 216 in device 200. The design and / or arrangement of these components in device 200 can also take other factors into consideration, such as safety, interference, circuit layout efficiency, etc.

[0057] In one embodiment, the chamber 216 is connected to the outside world through an opening 204 disposed on the top surface of the chamber 216. The opening 204 allows excess steam to be discharged from the chamber during certain processes. In another embodiment, the device 200 may not include any openings to the outside world. In yet another embodiment, the device 200 may include multiple openings. In addition, during the sample processing process, some or all of the openings may be covered or exposed. It should be noted that the opening 204 can be various shapes, such as circular, square, etc., and can be disposed in any appropriate position and coupled to the condenser, which will be further described below.

[0058] In one embodiment, the frame of the body 202 surrounding the chamber 216 is at least 2 to 3 centimeters thick. The space created therein can prevent microwaves from leaking from the chamber 216 to the outside. Figure 2A As shown, the space between the right side of the chamber 216 and the housing of the body 202 can be slightly thicker than the space on the left side. A door locking mechanism 254 can be installed on the right side. When the door 250 is closed, the door locking mechanism 254 locks in one or more keyholes 252 located on the frame. The door locking mechanism 254 operates in two steps. For example, when opening the door 250, the motor first unlocks the door 250 through the button control, and then the door can be pulled open. The motor and the button control (and / or other suitable components) are integrated in the door locking mechanism 254. The door locking mechanism 254 can accommodate various types of locks, including electronic locks, magnetic locks, spring latches, and other suitable locking mechanisms.

[0059] Components associated with the microwave generator 112, such as the magnetron 212a, transformer 212b (e.g., for converting voltage and / or current signals), and cooling fan 212c, are generally heavier than other components in the device 200 (e.g., the control circuit 220) and are located at the bottom of the device 200 to ensure the stability of the machine. Figure 2AAs shown, the cooling fan 212c can be placed on either or both sides of the magnetron 212a and the transformer 212b. This configuration allows the magnetron 212a and / or the transformer 212b to dissipate heat effectively. In one embodiment, the cooling fan 212c can be arranged on the same side as the door locking mechanism 254 because the side has a thicker side frame, thereby providing more space due to the installation of the door locking mechanism 254.

[0060] The magnetron 212a is connected to a waveguide 214 integrated in a side frame (e.g., on the back) of the body 202. One end of the waveguide 214 is connected to the magnetron 212a, and the other end is connected to a microwave output port 214a provided on the rear wall of the chamber 216, such as Figure 2A The waveguide 214 guides the microwaves generated in the magnetron 212a to enter the chamber 216 through the microwave output port 214a. In this configuration, the generated microwaves propagate in the chamber 216 along a horizontal plane.

[0061] The motor 240 is arranged near the bottom surface of the chamber 216 to ensure that it is in contact with the rotor (e.g., Figure 3B The rotor 304, or Figure 4A The rotor is configured to rotate in a horizontal plane parallel to the microwave propagation direction in the chamber 216, thereby minimizing the interference of the microwaves.

[0062] In this way, most of the electronic components are arranged at the bottom of the device 200, thereby ensuring overall stability and efficient circuit layout design.

[0063] The control circuit 220 (eg, in a printed circuit board) is integrated into the side frame of the body 202. The control circuit 220 may be integrated as Figure 1 Components of the control system 120 are shown, such as a processor 122, a memory 124, and / or a communication interface 126. The control circuit 220 is connected to other components integrated into the device 200, such as a magnetron 212a, a transformer 212b, a cooling fan 212c, a motor 240, a door locking mechanism, one or more temperature probes 232a, a scale 234, etc.

[0064] One or more temperature probes 232a may be installed in or removed from any suitable location in the chamber 216 via corresponding connectors 232 .

[0065] In some embodiments, connector 232 is composed of metal components assembled together, and there are gaps between metal joints. Microwaves emitted directly from output port 214a have high energy density (because microwaves enter chamber 216 through port 214a), especially in the direct emission area. Direct contact with microwaves through these gaps can significantly increase the risk of sparks. Therefore, connector 232 should be placed in a position to avoid direct exposure to microwaves output by microwave output port 214a. For example, the vertical and horizontal center position in chamber 216 should be avoided.

[0066] In such FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C In the exemplary embodiment shown, the connector 232 can be arranged in the upper left portion of the interior of the chamber 216, near the upper left corner or the front, and avoid being located in the center. Figure 2A-2C An exemplary configuration for placing connector 232 is depicted. Temperature probe 232a is connected to control circuit 220 (e.g., via connector 232) to transmit measurement results. In alternative embodiments, connector 232 may also be disposed at other locations within chamber 216, such as near the upper right corner, lower right corner, or lower left corner of chamber 216, but is not limited to these locations.

[0067] In this configuration, the control circuit 220 is located on the right side of the side frame of the main body 202, as shown in FIG. Figure 2A As shown. Placing the connector 232 on the same side would increase the space required on that side. Therefore, the temperature connector 232 is located in the upper left corner of the chamber 216 to effectively utilize the available space. This also allows the temperature probe 232a to be easily removed from the chamber 216.

[0068] The scale 234 is integrated or mounted on the top of the body 202. Figure 2B and Figure 2C As shown, the scale 234 is designed with a through hole aligned with the opening 204. In addition, the scale 234 includes a scale pan 234a for placing a sample for weighing, and a panel 234b for control and display. The scale pan 234a is detachable for easy installation and maintenance.

[0069] In some variations, the scale 234 may take other forms and be positioned at other suitable locations on the body 202. For example, the scale 234 may be integrated into or attached to the top / bottom corners of the body 202.

[0070] The scale 234 is connected to the control circuit 220. The scale 234 is powered by the control circuit 220 and transmits the measurement results to the control circuit 220. After receiving the measurement results from the scale 234, the control circuit 220 determines the parameters suitable for other components in the device 200 so as to operate according to the predetermined settings (e.g., the production method). For example, before processing, the sample is weighed by the scale 234. Based on the weight measured by the scale 234, the control circuit 220 determines the parameters of the magnetron 212a according to the correspondence stored in the memory 124 to generate microwaves of the target output power. In another example, the control circuit 220 determines the parameters of the motor 240 to facilitate stirring at a specific speed. The device 200 can automatically adjust the rotor speed (via the motor 240) according to the weight of the material being processed to achieve the best sample processing (e.g., drying, extraction or decarboxylation). The amount of solution and material will affect the efficiency of the rotor. For example, too little liquid at high speed will cause splashing, and too much liquid will cause rotor displacement. The device 200 can automatically adjust to prevent these situations from occurring.

[0071] The rotor speed may be associated with various factors, such as the size and shape of the rotor, the capacity of the container, the amount of sample (or substance) to be processed, etc. In some embodiments, the control circuit 220 may store predefined ranges corresponding to these factors.

[0072] Examples of rotor speed ranges when a rotor having dimensions of 0.8 x 2.5 cm is used with a container having a capacity of 1000 ml to process a specific amount of material mixed or dissolved in a specific amount of oil are listed in Table 1. Table 1 Container capacity: 1000 ml.

[0073] Similar ranges may be defined for other conditions. The rotor speed range indicates an optimized operating condition in which the rotor speed remains relatively stable without jumping or bouncing. Below the minimum value of the range, the center of the rotor becomes unstable and swings left and right. Exceeding the maximum value of the range results in eddy currents that are higher on the sides and lower in the center, causing the rotor to become unstable and cause jumping and bouncing. The correspondence between the speed range and the relevant factors may be pre-stored in the memory of the control circuit 220. In some examples, the speed range is associated with one or more recipes pre-stored in the control circuit 220.

[0074] In some examples, under certain conditions, the rotor can be controlled to operate within a sub-range of the range shown in Table 1. For example, according to Table 1, for 30 grams of material in 500 milliliters of oil, the speed range can be between 1600 and 2000 revolutions per minute (rpm), such as from 1700 to 2000 rpm, from 1800 to 2000 rpm, from 1900 to 2000 rpm, from 1600 to 1700 rpm, from 1600 to 1800 rpm, from 1600 to 1900 rpm, etc.

[0075] In some embodiments, the material to be processed and the container containing the material are weighed together, and the device 200 determines the corresponding production method based on the total weight obtained. For example, the device 200 can be configured to use different standard containers for corresponding processing. Therefore, when a specific mode (e.g., drying, extraction or decarboxylation) is selected, the device 200 can select or adjust the production method based on the pre-stored weight of the corresponding standard container of the selected mode. In some examples, each production method (corresponding to a set of parameters with preset values) corresponds to a certain range of weights, thereby allowing a specific production method or its adjustment to be determined based on the measured weight falling within the range.

[0076] The system 100 and the device 200 can be operated in different modes to facilitate various sample processing methods, including, for example, drying, extraction, decarboxylation and / or distillation. The sample can be placed directly in the chamber (e.g., 116 or 216). In some embodiments, the sample can be placed in the chamber (e.g., 116 or 216) using a container. The container can be of various types and made of non-metallic materials, such as a drinking cup, a dining bowl, laboratory glassware, etc. In some embodiments, the sample can be placed in a specially designed container to facilitate other functions.

[0077] FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C An exemplary container 300 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. The container 300 can be used in conjunction with the system 100 or the device 200 to dry a sample. However, it should be noted that the container 300 can be placed in other suitable devices / systems that utilize microwave heating and / or drying.

[0078] like Figure 3A or Figure 3B As shown, the container 300 includes a body 10 , a cover 20 and a sample holder 302 .

[0079] The main body 10 includes a main body 11 and a container edge 13. The main body 11 is cylindrical, with one side open, and a container opening 17 is formed on the open side, and an internal cavity 15 is formed inside. Through the container opening 17, the sample holder 302 can be placed in the internal cavity 15, and then the material can be placed in the placement component 30.

[0080] The body 11 includes a bottom wall 113 , a side wall 111 and a protrusion 117 . The bottom wall 113 and the side wall 111 form a box shape with one side open. The side wall 111 is raised from the bottom wall 113 and surrounds the bottom wall 113 to form the aforementioned internal cavity 15 . The protrusion 117 is located at one end of the side wall 111 away from the bottom wall 113 .

[0081] The body 11 may be made of a microwave transmission material. However, it is worth noting that the body 11 may include a microwave transmission material or a composite material of a microwave insulating material and an absorbing material. It is worth noting that the microwave insulating material does not have to completely block microwave transmission; it may also include a low transmission material with a transmittance of 0% to 10%, such as 1% to 10%, 2% to 10%, 3% to 10%, 4% to 10%, 5% to 10%, 6% to 10%, 7% to 10%, 8% to 10%, 9% to 10%, 0% to 9%, 0% to 8%, 0% to 7%, 0% to 6%, 0% to 5%, 0% to 4%, 0% to 3%, 0% to 2%, 0% to 1%, etc. In some embodiments, the body 11 may include a non-magnetic metal or a non-metallic medium, which is a thermally conductive material with good thermal conductivity sufficient to transfer heat, such as copper, aluminum, etc. In some embodiments, the body 11 may include an absorbing material at the bottom wall 113 of the body 11. For example, the bottom wall 113 may be made of a material containing an absorbent material, or an absorbent material (e.g., Figure 3B 306) can be set on the surface of the bottom wall 113 by means of assembly, coating or fastening. In some embodiments, a portion of the side wall 111 may also include an absorbing material. The absorbing material described herein refers to any material with a high microwave absorptivity, which is sufficient to absorb microwave energy to convert it into heat, for example, graphite, silicon carbide, etc.

[0082] In one embodiment, a partition 115 is formed at the bottom of the main body 11 to prevent the bottom wall 113 from directly contacting the placement surface of the extraction system / equipment (for example, Figure 2A or Figure 2B The isolation portion 115 may be as follows: Figure 3B However, it should be noted that the shape of the partition 115 can be changed to other suitable shapes, and one or more partitions 115 can be used. The partition 115 can be made of a heat insulating material to prevent other components from melting due to contact with the bottom wall 113. In some embodiments, the container 300 (e.g., the body 11) may not include any partition 115.

[0083] The bottom wall 113 may be planar, but other configurations are also possible. For example, the bottom wall 113 may include one or more curved or irregular surfaces. The side wall 111 may extend along a straight line and connect the bottom wall 113 and the protrusion 117. However, it should be noted that other configurations are also possible. For example, the side wall 111 may extend along a curve or along a combination of a curve and a straight line. In addition, the orientation of the protrusion 117 is not limited, as long as it intersects with the side wall 111. For example, the protrusion 117 may protrude toward the internal cavity 15 of the body 10. In addition, the shape of the protrusion 117 is not limited, as long as it can be mounted in cooperation with the container edge 13. In some embodiments, the container 300 may not include the protrusion 117. In this configuration, the side wall 111 can be directly mounted in cooperation with the container edge 13. For example, the end of one side of the side wall 111 can be directly mounted in cooperation with the container edge 13.

[0084] Figure 3B and Figure 3C The container edge 13 and the protrusion 117 are shown to be mounted in cooperation at the container opening 17 . Figure 3C Zoomed in Figure 3B The container edge 13 includes a first abutting portion 131, a second abutting portion 133 and a third abutting portion 135. The first abutting portion 131 is U-shaped, with its opening facing the protrusion 117, and a groove 1311 matching the protrusion 117 is formed inside. The second abutting portion 133 extends from the first abutting portion 131 to the side wall 111 of the box-shaped main body 11 and abuts against the side wall 111. The third abutting portion 135 extends from the first abutting portion 131 to a side away from the second abutting portion 133 and abuts against the cover body 20. It is understood that in some embodiments, the second abutting portion 133 and the third abutting portion 135 can be omitted. The container edge 13 can be made of an insulating material, such as silicone, rubber, plastic, etc., to prevent sparks from being generated when the cover 20 contains non-magnetic metal and the main body 10 contains non-magnetic metal.

[0085] See also Figure 3AThe cover 20 has a cover body 21 and a handle 23. The handle 23 is used to hold the cover body 21 and is made of a heat-resistant insulating material, such as silicone, rubber, plastic, wood, etc. The handle 23 can be located at the geometric center, the center of gravity, or any point of the cover body 21. The cover body 21 is made of a microwave insulating material and has a plurality of through holes 219 to prevent microwaves from entering the internal cavity 15. The through holes 219 can be designed in various suitable ways to block microwaves. For example, the through holes 219 can be small enough so that little or no microwave energy enters the internal cavity 15. Alternatively, the through holes 219 can be tilted or bent relative to the vertical direction so that it is difficult for microwaves to pass through the through holes 219 into the internal cavity 15. The through holes 219 can be arranged in a predetermined pattern or randomly. The size of the through holes 219 can be uniform or varied. For example, in some embodiments, the area occupied by the through holes 219 on the cover 21 can be 50% or more, such as 55% to 100%, 60% to 100%, 65% to 100%, 70% to 100%, 75% to 100%, 80% to 100%, 85% to 100%, 90% to 100%, 95% to 100%, 50% to 95%, 50% to 90%, 50% to 85%, 50% to 80%, 50% to 75%, 50% to 70%, 50% to 65%, 50% to 60%, 50% to 55%, etc. The arrangement of the through holes 219 can be aligned with the position of the material, for example, overlapping with the position of the sample holder 302. In addition, the size and density of the through holes 219 can be adjusted according to the depth distribution of the sample holder 302 where the material is placed. In this regard, the liquid medium may evaporate through the through-holes 219 and be quickly discharged from the container 300 .

[0086] In some embodiments, one or more temperature probes (e.g., Figure 2A The temperature probe 232a shown can be inserted into the container 300 through one or more through holes 219 in the cover 21. In this configuration, the temperature inside the container 300 can be measured and used to adjust the processing of the sample. When the one or more temperature probes are inserted into the one or more through holes 219 in the cover 21, they are fixed in place to prevent contact with metal parts (e.g., metal parts in the cover 20 or metal parts of the body 10). For example, the temperature probe can be inserted into the fixing portion 32 (such as Figure 4C 21 ), the fixing portion 32 may include or be coupled to a protrusion that can be fixed to a portion of the cover 21. In some embodiments, the handle 23 can be configured to receive a temperature probe that extends through the handle 23 into the container 300. For example, the handle 23 may include a through hole that receives and fixes the temperature probe in place to prevent the temperature probe from contacting other metal parts. As another example, a portion of the handle 23 can be removed after the cover 20 is replaced. The remaining portion of the handle 23 on the cover 20 may include a through hole for receiving and fixing the temperature probe in place.

[0087] like Figure 3C As shown, the cover body 21 includes a covering portion 211, a connecting portion 213, and a cover abutting portion 215. The covering portion 211 is used to cover the material in the internal cavity 15. The handle 23 and part or all of the through holes 219 are arranged on the covering portion 211. One end of the connecting portion 213 is connected to the covering portion 211, and the other end is connected to the cover abutting portion 215. The connecting portion 213 can extend at a certain angle or in a curved manner, and the direction and slope of extension can be changed as needed. One end of the cover abutting portion 215 is connected to the connecting portion 213, and the other end away from the side of the handle 23 contacts the second abutting portion 133. In addition, in the present embodiment, the bottom surface of the handle 23 abuts against the first abutting portion 131. However, the bottom surface of the cover abutting portion 215 can abut against any part of the container edge 13.

[0088] In addition, in some embodiments, the connection portion 213 and the cover abutment portion 215 may be omitted. In this configuration, the cover portion 211 may extend to the second abutment portion 133 to serve as the cover abutment portion 215.

[0089] The sample rack 302 is placed in the internal cavity 15 for accommodating the material to be dried. In one embodiment, the sample rack 302 may include a grid for placing the material. The mesh portion 302 may be made of various materials, such as a non-thermal conductive material or a thermal conductive material. The mesh in the sample rack 302 may be spaced apart from the bottom wall 113 of the main body 10. This prevents the bottom of the mesh containing the material from directly contacting the bottom wall 113 of the main body 10, thereby avoiding overheating of the material at the bottom of the mesh. In one embodiment, the mesh containing the material is also spaced apart from the side wall 111 of the main body 10.

[0090] In some embodiments, the outer surface of the non-magnetic metal discussed above may include a dielectric coating. The material of the dielectric coating may be selected from one or more of glass, ceramic, Teflon, polyethylene, and / or any suitable combination thereof. The non-magnetic metal may be made of at least one of copper, aluminum, zinc, and / or any suitable combination thereof.

[0091] The container 300 can be used to dry a sample when operating with an extraction device that provides microwave energy (e.g., an extraction system / device disclosed herein). In order to use the container 300 to dry a sample, the sample is placed on a sample holder 302 located in the cavity 15 of the container 300, and then the container 300 is covered with a lid 20. Next, the container 300 containing the sample is placed in the extraction device. During operation, the microwaves generated by the extraction device are absorbed by the absorbing material contained in the bottom wall 113 (and / or the side wall 111) to generate heat. The heat is transferred to other parts of the body 11 of the container (e.g., the bottom wall 113), and part of the heat is transferred to the sample in the cavity 15. In this process, the moisture and other media contained in the sample are heated and evaporated from the sample. The evaporated medium is discharged to the outside of the container 300 through the through hole 219 on the cover 21, thereby achieving the drying of the sample.

[0092] In one embodiment, a rotor 304 may be disposed at the bottom of the cavity 15. The rotor 304 may be driven by a motor (eg Figure 2A or Figure 2B 240) shown is driven to rotate in the cavity 15, promoting air circulation in the cavity 15, thereby achieving more uniform and efficient heating of the sample.

[0093] In one embodiment, the extraction device 200 (or extraction system 100) is used to dry the sample contained in the container 300. Before placing the sample in the container 300, the sample can be first weighed by the scale 234. Based on the measured weight, the control circuit 220 can determine one or more suitable parameters to operate one or more components in the device 200 according to the corresponding relationship (e.g., the manufacturing method) pre-stored in the memory. For example, the control circuit 220 determines the output power of the magnetron 212a and / or the speed of the motor 240. One or more temperature probes 232a can be connected to the container 300 or any other location in the chamber 216. The device 200 operates according to the one or more parameters determined by the control circuit 220. During the drying process, the control circuit 220 can monitor the temperature state based on the measurement from the one or more temperature probes 232a. In addition, the control circuit 220 can adjust the operation of some of the components (e.g., the magnetron 212a and / or the motor 240) based on the measurement results from the sensor. This enables the device 200 to achieve uniform heating and efficient drying of the sample.

[0094] Figure 4A is a schematic diagram showing another extraction device 400 for substance extraction according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Device 400 may include some or all components and / or functions of extraction system 100 or extraction device 200. This example demonstrates an exemplary setting of an extraction operation performed by device 400.

[0095] like Figure 4A As shown, the apparatus 400 includes a body 80, a controller 60, and a waveguide 70 for transmitting microwaves.

[0096] A cavity 1 is disposed in the main body 80 , and a sample 90 to be processed is placed on the bottom surface 402 of the cavity 1 . In this embodiment, the sample 90 is contained in a container 10 .

[0097] In this embodiment, a magnetic field generator 52 and a motor 53 are integrated in the frame of the main body 80. The motor 53 is controlled by a motor control processor 62. The magnetic field generator 52 is used to generate two or more magnetic fields of different polarities and is connected to the output end of the motor 53. The magnetic field generator 52 is connected to a magnetic rotor 51 placed near the bottom surface 402 of the cavity 1. The magnetic rotor 51 is placed at the bottom of the container 10 and placed in the sample solution 90. The magnetic rotor 51 has two polarities. When the motor 53 is running, the magnetic field generator 52 rotates and generates an alternating magnetic field on the magnetic rotor 51. This induces a changing electromagnetic current in the magnetic rotor 51, causing it to rotate, thereby stirring the sample solution 90.

[0098] However, it should be noted that other suitable components can be used to generate the alternating magnetic field. In addition and / or alternatively, other suitable techniques can be used to stir the sample to achieve similar technical effects.

[0099] The controller 60 is integrated in the frame of the body 80 and is used to control the operation of various components of the device 400. The controller 60 includes various components such as a temperature control processor 61, a motor control processor 62, a microwave generator 63 configured to generate microwaves, and a power control unit 64.

[0100] The microwave generator 63 includes a magnetron configured to generate microwaves. The microwave generator 63 generates microwaves at a set output power.

[0101] The power control unit 64 may be configured to adjust the input voltage of the microwave generator 63. For example, the power control unit 64 includes a transformer for adjusting the input voltage of the microwave generator 63 according to one or more parameters (eg, the temperature provided by the temperature probe 410).

[0102] Therefore, the power control unit 64 can adjust the output power of the microwave generator 63 to control the heating temperature of the sample 90 .

[0103] The microwave generator 63 is connected to a waveguide 70 disposed on one surface (e.g., a side wall) of the cavity 1. The microwaves generated by the microwave generator 63 are transmitted to the waveguide 70. The waveguide 70 guides the microwaves generated by the microwave generator 63 into the cavity 1. In an embodiment, the waveguide 70 may be disposed near the back side of the cavity 1 opposite to the front door of the device 400, so that the microwaves 63 generated by the microwave generator enter the cavity 1 from the back side of the cavity 1. This design may further allow the device 400 to be compact in size in the horizontal direction.

[0104] The temperature control processor 61 is connected to one or more temperature sensors in the cavity. One or more temperature sensors (e.g., temperature probe 410) can be used to measure the temperature in the sample 90 and / or the cavity 1. The temperature control processor 61 receives the measurement results from the one or more temperature sensors. In some examples, the temperature control processor 61 can cause the temperature information to be displayed on a display (e.g., a display panel integrated in the body 80, a display of a terminal device, etc.). The device 400 can inform the user of the current heating situation. In some cases, the temperature control processor 61 can cooperate with other components in the controller 60 to change or adjust the operation of these components. For example, the temperature control processor 61 can be connected to the power control unit 64 and / or the microwave generator 63 to adjust the heating temperature of the sample 90.

[0105] In one example, the container 10 contains a mixture of a liquid medium and a material to be extracted 90. The container 10 may be made of a material that is permeable to microwaves. In addition, an opening (not shown) is provided on the side of the container 10 that is opposite to the bottom surface 402 for introducing a sample 90 (e.g., a mixture containing a processed material). The shape of the container 10 is not limited to a U-shaped cross section and may be arbitrarily set.

[0106] The fixing assembly 30 is used to fix the temperature probe 410 at a predetermined position in the container 10 so that the temperature probe 410 detects the internal temperature of the container 10. The fixing assembly 30 includes a cover 31 covering the opening side of the container 10, and a fixing portion 32 provided on an upper surface 311 of the cover 31.

[0107] In one embodiment, the heating temperature of the sample 90 can be controlled by continuously adjusting the output power of the microwave generator 63. For example, the heating temperature of the sample 90 can be set to 80 degrees Celsius according to user input. At the beginning of the heating process, the power control unit 64 can control the microwave generator 63 to generate microwaves at an output power of 100%. When the signal of the temperature probe 410 indicates that the heating temperature reaches 81 degrees Celsius, the power control unit 64 can continuously reduce the output power of the microwave generator 63 to prevent the heating temperature of the sample 90 from further rising. When the signal of the temperature probe 410 indicates that the heating temperature is reduced to 79 degrees Celsius, the power control unit 64 can continuously increase the output power of the microwave generator 63 to prevent the heating temperature of the sample 90 from further decreasing.

[0108] In another embodiment, the heating temperature of the sample 90 can be controlled by stepping the output power of the microwave generator 63. For example, the heating temperature of the sample 90 can be set to 80 degrees Celsius according to the user input. At the beginning of the heating process, the power control unit 64 can control the microwave generator 63 to generate microwaves at an output power of 100%. When the signal of the temperature probe 410 indicates that the heating temperature reaches 81 degrees Celsius, the power control unit 64 can gradually reduce the output power of the microwave generator 63 to prevent the heating temperature of the sample 90 from further rising. For example, the power control unit 64 can gradually reduce the output power of the microwave generator 63 from 100% by 10% until the heating temperature reaches the desired value. When the signal of the temperature probe 410 indicates that the heating temperature is reduced to 79 degrees Celsius, the power control unit 64 can gradually increase the output power of the microwave generator 63 to prevent the heating temperature of the sample 90 from further decreasing. For example, the power control unit 64 can gradually increase the output power of the microwave generator 63 from 30% by 10% until the heating temperature reaches the desired value.

[0109] The simplest form of the above step adjustment is binary adjustment. For example, when the signal of the temperature probe 410 indicates that the heating temperature reaches 81 degrees Celsius, the power control unit 64 can reduce the output power of the microwave generator 63 to 0% by turning off the microwave generator 63. When the signal of the temperature probe 410 indicates that the heating temperature is reduced to 79 degrees Celsius, the power control unit 64 can turn on the microwave generator 63 to its maximum output power.

[0110] Figure 4B yes Figure 4A An exploded view of an exemplary embodiment 450 of the fastening assembly 30 is shown in FIG.

[0111] like Figure 4BAs shown, the cover 31 is disc-shaped and includes a first through hole 301 passing through the center. The first through hole 301 may be circular. However, it is worth noting that the first through hole 301 is not limited to a circular shape and may be set to other appropriate structures (for example, a position other than the center of the cover 31), as long as the space of the first through hole 301 is sufficient for the temperature probe 40 to pass freely.

[0112] The edge of the cover 31 includes a retaining wall 313 that bends and extends toward the container 10. The retaining wall 313 can prevent the cover 31 from shifting due to movement, operation of the container 10, or boiling of the sample solution 90. However, it is worth noting that other appropriate structures may also be used, such as a clamping wall, a threaded mounting wall, etc.

[0113] The fixing portion 32 covers the first through hole 301 of the cover 31. The fixing portion 32 has a first surface 321, a second surface 322 and the second through hole 302. The first surface 321 abuts against the upper surface 311 of the cover 31. The second surface 322 is located away from the first surface 321 and has an area smaller than the first surface 321. The second through hole 302 runs from the first surface 321 to the second surface 322. The cross-sectional area of ​​the fixing portion 32 gradually decreases from the first surface 321 toward the second surface 322. For example, in some embodiments, the cross-sectional area of ​​the fixing portion 32 gradually decreases from the first surface 321 toward the second surface 322, forming a Figure 4A and Figure 4B The truncated pyramid or truncated cone shape shown. The side of the truncated pyramid or truncated cone can be an inclined surface, a curved surface or other suitable shapes. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area of ​​the fixing portion 32 decreases in a step-like manner from the first surface 321 to the second surface 322 to form a stepped side surface. In some embodiments, the side surface includes both a stepped portion and a gradually decreasing portion. It should be noted that the shape and size of the first surface 321 and the second surface 322 of the fixing portion 32 can be set arbitrarily, as long as the first surface 321 does not pass through the first through hole 301.

[0114] The second through hole 302 connects the first surface 321 and the second surface 322 and fits tightly with the temperature probe 410. In other words, the second through hole 302 allows the temperature probe 410 to be inserted under the action of force and holds the temperature probe 410 so that it does not move up and down in the second through hole 302. The wall of the second through hole 302, especially the interface with the temperature probe 410, includes an elastic insulating material. This design can, for example, prevent the temperature probe 410 from being damaged during the insertion and removal process, so that it is firmly held in the second through hole 302. In addition, the elastic insulating material can prevent heat accumulation from affecting the temperature detection of the temperature probe 410. In addition, the second through hole 302 can extend along an axis perpendicular to the first surface 321 and pass through the center of the second surface 322, so that even if the container 10 moves or rotates, the fixing portion 32 can stably hold the temperature probe 410.

[0115] The cover 31 and the fixing portion 32 may be made of any material that allows microwaves to penetrate, and the cover 31 and the fixing portion 32 may be integrally formed or separately formed.

[0116] By being fixed by the fixing member 30, the temperature probe 410 is fixed at a predetermined position in the container 10, one end 414 of the temperature probe 410 extends into the container 10, the middle part is located in the second through hole 302 of the fixing part 32, and the other end 412 is located above the fixing part 32. The temperature probe 410 can adopt an existing structure. For example, the temperature probe 410 can be a long tube with two opposite ends, such as a first end 414 and a second end 412. The first end 414 is placed close to the bottom surface 402, and the first end 414 contacts the sample solution 90. The second end 412 is connected to the controller 60 (e.g., the temperature control processor 61) and is configured to send the detected temperature to the controller 60. The temperature probe 410 can be perpendicular to the bottom surface 402, but can also be tilted as long as it does not contact any part of the container 10.

[0117] Figure 4C The following is a diagram showing one or more embodiments of the present invention. Figure 4B An alternative embodiment 460 of the fixing portion 32 is shown. In this embodiment, the fixing portion 32a has a first surface 321a, a second surface 322a and a second through hole 302a. Figure 4B The design of the fixing portion 32 shown is different, the first surface 321a and the second surface 322a of the fixing portion 32 have the same area, and the side wall between the two surfaces forms a 90 degree angle with the surface. Figure 4B Similar to the second through hole 302 shown, the temperature probe 410 can be inserted into the second through hole 302a in the fixing portion 32a and fixed in place for temperature measurement. In addition, the fixing portion 32a can be designed with a notch 462 to fix the connector (e.g., Figure 2A The notch 462 may have various shapes, positions, and numbers, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0118] The designs of the fixing portion (e.g., 32 or 32a) and the cover (e.g., 31) described herein are examples only. It should be noted that other shapes, sizes, and structures may also be used. The three-part design described herein includes a separate and combinable temperature probe (e.g., 410), a fixing portion (e.g., 32 or 32a), and a cover (e.g., 31), allowing these components to be configured in various combinations as needed (e.g., based on size requirements) to achieve a wider range of applications.

[0119] When the apparatus 400 is operated in the extraction mode, the microwaves generated in the chamber 1 heat the sample (e.g., the solution 90 contained in the container 10). During the heating process, the magnetic rotor 51 is continuously rotated by the motor 53 to ensure uniform heating of the solution and uniform concentration of the extracted components. The temperature probe 410 continuously monitors the temperature of the solution and provides feedback to the controller 60. When the temperature reaches a set value, the controller 60 can gradually reduce the power of the microwave generator 63 (e.g., magnetron) through the power control unit 64 to maintain the solution within a specified temperature range, as described in more detail above.

[0120] When the apparatus 200 is used for extraction, the sample 90 may be weighed by the scale 234 before being placed in the chamber 216. Based on the measured weight, the control circuit 220 may determine a set of parameters to control the extraction operation to optimize the extraction based on the weight of the sample.

[0121] In one embodiment, the extraction system / device and / or container disclosed in the present invention can be used for other sample processing.

[0122] For example, the extraction system / equipment provided herein can be operated in a decarboxylation mode, for example, for processing plant matter. Decarboxylation is intended to convert the carboxyl-containing material components in the material into carboxyl-free materials by removing the carboxyl group (-COOH). The principle is to expose the material to a specific high temperature environment for a period of time to achieve decarboxylation. This purpose can be achieved by utilizing the high temperature function provided by the extraction system / equipment provided herein.

[0123] In one example, a sample is placed in a container (e.g., FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C The container 300 shown in the figure or other suitable container) is then placed in the extraction device 200 (or extraction device 400) for decarboxylation. During the decarboxylation process, the device 200 can first operate at full power to quickly increase the temperature in the container. After a period of time, the power is gradually reduced and eventually maintained at low power until the process is completed. The power control process described in more detail above in conjunction with the microwave generator 63 and the power control unit 64 is used to prevent the temperature in the container from becoming too high, thereby maintaining it at the target temperature level. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the method can achieve, for example, optimal decarboxylation results.

[0124] In another example, the extraction system / device provided herein can be used to collect essential oils. The process involves heating the sample to generate steam and directing the generated steam to a condenser (e.g., Figure 1 The condenser 134 is shown. The condenser then cools the steam and separates the different components to obtain the essential oil product in layers. For example, the condenser can be connected to the extraction device 200 through the opening 204. In this way, the steam leaving the chamber 216 can be collected by the condenser and then condensed into oil.

[0125] In some embodiments, the extraction system / device provided by the present disclosure can be used to facilitate sample processing across different stages and through different modes. The corresponding preparation methods can be restored in the extraction system / device, allowing the user to easily access them at any time. In addition, the extraction system / device can automatically adjust the existing preparation method according to the weight of the sample to be processed, thereby achieving optimized performance.

[0126] In some embodiments, the extraction system / device can be used to extract active ingredients from plants. When preparing a sample, the pretreated plant or flower and leaf material is mixed with a suitable edible oil, such as olive oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, rapeseed oil, soybean oil, honey or butter. The mixed sample is placed in a container, and the container is placed in the extraction system / device (e.g., extraction device 200). A temperature probe (e.g., Figure 2A 232a) is inserted into the container to measure the temperature of the sample. A rotor (e.g., Figure 4A 51) is placed in the container. A condenser (e.g., Figure 1 134 shown) is connected to the extraction system / device (e.g., through opening 204). The extraction system / device can retrieve parameters according to a pre-stored production method to run the process. Alternatively, the extraction system / device can set the process according to user input. In some examples, the extraction system / device can adjust the parameters according to the measured sample weight. For example, the extraction system / device sets the output power of the microwave to 800 watts, the extraction temperature to 130 degrees Celsius, the extraction time to 30 minutes, and the rotor speed to 200 rpm or higher. The extraction system / device can obtain active ingredients through the controlled process disclosed herein. For example, a set of parameters can be stored in the extraction system / device, which corresponds to a specific sample or target final product with a reference weight (or reference weight range) under a specific mode (e.g., decarboxylation mode). It should be noted that other suitable production methods can be pre-stored in the extraction system / device. In addition, the production methods pre-stored in the extraction system / device can be deleted and / or updated.

[0127] It is noteworthy that the techniques described herein may be embodied in executable instructions stored in a computer-readable medium for use by or in conjunction with a processor-based instruction execution machine, system, device, or apparatus. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that for some embodiments, various types of computer-readable media may be included to store data. As used herein, "computer-readable media" includes one or more of any suitable media for storing executable instructions of a computer program, so that an instruction execution machine, system, device, or apparatus can read (or obtain) instructions from a computer-readable medium and execute instructions for executing the embodiments. Suitable storage formats include one or more of electronic, magnetic, optical, and electromagnetic formats. A non-exhaustive list of conventional exemplary computer-readable media includes: portable computer floppy disks; random access memory (RAM); read-only memory (ROM); erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM); flash memory devices; and optical storage devices, including, for example, portable compact disks (CDs), portable digital video disks (DVDs), and the like.

[0128] It should be understood that the arrangement of the components shown in the drawings is for illustrative purposes only, and other arrangements are also possible. For example, one or more elements described herein may be implemented in whole or in part as electronic hardware components. These elements may be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. In addition, some or all of these other elements may be combined, some may be completely omitted, and additional components may be added while still implementing the functions described herein. Therefore, the subject matter described herein may be embodied in many different variations, and all such variations are considered to be within the scope of the claims.

[0129] For ease of understanding of the subject matter described herein, many aspects are described in the form of action sequences. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various actions can be performed by special circuits or circuits, program instructions executed by one or more processors, or a combination of the two. The description of any action sequence herein is not intended to imply that the specific order described for executing the sequence must be followed. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order, unless otherwise specified herein or the context is clearly contradictory.

[0130] The terms used in the claims should be interpreted to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the preceding description. For example, the use of the article "a" or "the" when introducing an element should not be interpreted as excluding multiple elements. Similarly, the expression "or" should be interpreted as inclusive, so the expression "A or B" does not exclude "A and B" unless it is clear from the context or the preceding description that only one of A and B is meant. In addition, the expression "at least one of A, B, and C" should be interpreted as one or more of the group of elements consisting of A, B, and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of the elements listed in A, B, and C, regardless of whether A, B, and C are related as categories or otherwise. In addition, the expression "A, B and / or C" or "at least one of A, B, or C" should be interpreted to include any single entity from the listed elements, such as A, any subset of the listed elements, such as A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B, and C.

Claims

1. A household appliance for treating substances using microwaves, comprising: Temperature sensor; a microwave generator configured to generate microwaves; as well as A controller is coupled to the temperature sensor and the microwave generator and is configured to control operation of the microwave generator to process the substance based on the measurement of the temperature sensor.

2. The household appliance according to claim 1, further comprising: a load cell coupled to the controller, Wherein, the controller is further configured to control the operation of the microwave generator to process the substance based on the measurement value of the weighing sensor.

3. The household appliance according to claim 2, further comprising: a motor coupled to the controller and configured to drive a rotor disposed within the substance, The controller is further configured to adjust the rotation speed of the rotor through the motor based on at least one of the measurement value of the weighing sensor and the measurement value of the temperature sensor.

4. The household appliance according to claim 1, further comprising: a body providing a chamber with a side opening, wherein the microwave generator is located below the chamber and the substance is placed within the chamber during processing; a door secured to a first side frame of the body, wherein the door is closable to cover the side opening of the chamber in the body; a waveguide integrated in a rear frame of the body, the waveguide being connected to the microwave generator and configured to guide the microwaves into the chamber through an output port located at a rear surface of the chamber; and a weighing sensor integrated in the body; wherein the temperature sensor is detachably attached to a first side surface of the chamber, and the first side surface of the chamber is an inner surface of the first side frame of the body, and Wherein, the controller is integrated in the main body and is configured as follows: obtaining measurements from the load cell and the temperature sensor; and Operation of the microwave generator is adjusted based on the measured value.

5. The household appliance according to claim 4, further comprising: a motor located below the chamber and close to the bottom surface of the chamber, wherein, when the rotor is placed in the chamber, the motor is configured to drive the rotor, and Wherein, the controller is further configured to adjust the rotation speed of the rotor through the motor based on the measured value.

6. The household appliance according to claim 4, further comprising: One or more cooling fans are located adjacent to the microwave generator and configured to dissipate heat from the microwave generator.

7. The household appliance according to claim 4, further comprising: a two-step door locking mechanism integrated into the second side frame of the body; Wherein, the second side frame and the first side frame are located at opposite sides of the main body.

8. The household appliance according to claim 4, wherein: The weighing sensor is integrated into the top frame of the main body.

9. The household appliance according to claim 4, wherein: The controller further comprises: one or more processors; a memory storing instructions executable by the one or more processors; and a transceiver configured to receive a parameter model associated with one or more recipes; wherein the memory is configured to store a parameter model associated with the one or more production methods, and Wherein, the one or more processors are configured to: determining, for the substance, a set of parameters corresponding to a parametric model associated with a recipe of the one or more recipes; and Based on the measurements, adjustments to one or more parameters in the set of parameters for processing the substance are determined.

10. The household appliance according to claim 4, wherein: The body includes an opening in the top frame, the opening serving as a passage allowing air communication between the interior and exterior of the chamber, and wherein the opening does not allow microwaves to pass therethrough.

11. The household appliance according to claim 10, further comprising: a condenser connected to the main body through the opening, Wherein the condenser is configured to collect steam from the chamber.

12. The household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a container for drying a sample, the container comprising: a body providing a cavity having an opening; a cover configured to close the opening of the cavity of the body, the cover comprising a plurality of through holes, wherein the plurality of through holes allow steam to pass through but prevent microwaves from entering the closed cavity of the body; and a removable sample holder placed in the cavity of the body and configured to hold a sample for drying; Wherein, at least a portion of the body includes an absorbing material that generates heat by absorbing microwave energy.

13. The household appliance according to claim 12, wherein: The body comprises a metal portion, wherein the cover comprises a metal portion and a rim made of an insulating material, and The edge of the cover separates the metal portion of the cover from the metal portion of the body.

14. The household appliance according to claim 12, wherein: At least one through-hole of the plurality of through-holes is configured to allow insertion of a temperature sensor probe.

15. The household appliance according to claim 12, wherein: The container further comprises: a removable mesh portion configured to contain material to be processed and to separate the material from a bottom wall or a side wall of the chamber; and A rotor is disposed at the bottom of the cavity and driven by a motor outside the cavity, wherein the rotor is configured to promote air circulation in the cavity.

16. A method of treating a substance using a household appliance, comprising: Using a microwave generator to generate microwaves to heat a substance placed in a household appliance; receiving a temperature measurement from a temperature sensor disposed within the household appliance; as well as Operation of the microwave generator is controlled based in part on the temperature measurement.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: determining a set of parameters for controlling the operation of the microwave generator based on the selected mode of the household appliance; receiving a weight measurement from a load cell disposed within the household appliance; adjusting one or more parameters in the set of parameters based on the weight measurement; as well as Based on the set of parameters including the one or more adjusted parameters, operation of the microwave generator is controlled.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein: The set of parameters includes parameters for controlling the operation of a motor disposed in the household appliance, wherein the motor is configured to drive a rotor to agitate a substance, and the method further includes: Operation of the electric machine is controlled based on the set of parameters including the one or more adjusted parameters.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising: receiving a temperature measurement from the temperature sensor; as well as The operation of the microwave generator or the motor is dynamically adjusted.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein: The household appliance pre-stores a plurality of production methods, and wherein the set of parameters is associated with a production method among the plurality of production methods.

Images