System and method for controlling a microwave heating cycle

Abstract

The microwave appliance provides safe heating of food in a food container to within a selected temperature tolerance, even though the temperature of the food container may differ from the temperature of the food. The temperature of the food may be higher than the temperature of the food container, particularly due to a higher temperature setting of the food. A control method is provided herein for calculating a target temperature of the food container at which the heating cycle will be stopped. The control method stops the heating cycle when the measured temperature of the food container reaches the target temperature. The temperature of the microwave cavity also affects the measured temperature of the food container. Therefore, the temperature of the microwave cavity can be used to determine adjustment of the food container to the target temperature.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Cross-reference of related applications This application claims convenience of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 071,475, filed on 28 August 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0002] background Typical microwaves lack safety features that can prevent sealed packages from bursting while simultaneously facilitating the use of microwaves with sealed packages. Such sealed packages may burst unexpectedly as a result of prolonged microwave operation. Therefore, open, ventilated, or otherwise unsealed food containers or packaging are used with typical microwaves. Consequently, typical microwaves may be exposed to splashes of food from open food containers during use. [Overview of the project] [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] overview A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a microwave apparatus comprising one or more microwave sources and a microwave chamber electromagnetically communicating with one or more microwave sources. The microwave apparatus includes a product holder configured to support a food container in the microwave chamber and a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the food container supported within the product holder. The microwave apparatus includes a user interface configured to receive a selected temperature. The microwave apparatus includes a controller in communication with the temperature sensor and the user interface, configured to determine a target temperature for the food container based on the selected temperature. The controller is configured to operate one or more microwave sources to heat the food in the food container until the temperature of the food container equals the target temperature of the food container.

[0004] According to some implementations of the first aspect of this disclosure, the controller is configured to determine a target temperature of the food container based on an experimental model relating the temperature of the food container to the temperature of the food inside the food container.

[0005] According to some implementations of the first aspect of this disclosure, the food is sealed inside a food container.

[0006] According to some implementations of the first aspect of this disclosure, the model is a quadratic polynomial:

number

[0007] According to some implementations of the first aspect of this disclosure, the microwave apparatus further includes a product identification scanner that is in communication with a controller and configured to read an identifier on a food container. The controller is configured to determine the product attributes of the food container based on the identifier.

[0008] According to some implementations of the first aspect of this disclosure, the model includes an attribute multiplier that scales the target temperature of a food container based on product attributes.

[0009] According to some implementations of the first aspect of this disclosure, product attributes are selected from a group of product attributes consisting of food type, packaging type, packaging size, and combinations thereof.

[0010] According to some implementations of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the microwave apparatus further includes a second temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the microwave chamber, and the model includes cavity temperature control applied to a target temperature of the food container based on the temperature of the microwave chamber.

[0011] According to some implementations of the first aspect of this disclosure, cavity temperature control is 0°C when the microwave chamber temperature is 22°C, 4°C when the microwave chamber temperature is 85°C, and linear extrapolation between these values ​​for other microwave chamber temperatures.

[0012] According to some implementations of the first aspect of this disclosure, the controller is configured to operate one or more microwave sources to heat food in a food container to a selected temperature tolerance of + / - 5%.

[0013] A second aspect of this disclosure provides a method for operating a microwave apparatus. The method includes receiving a selected temperature from a user interface. The method includes determining a target temperature for a food container based on the selected temperature. The method includes powering one or more microwave sources to heat food in a food container within a microwave chamber. The method includes sensing the temperature of the food container using a temperature sensor. The method includes turning off power to one or more microwave sources when the temperature of the food container reaches the target temperature.

[0014] According to some implementations of the second aspect of this disclosure, determining the target temperature of a food container is based on a model of experimental results that relates the temperature of the food container to the temperature of the food inside the food container.

[0015] According to some implementations of the second aspect of this disclosure, the food is sealed inside a food container.

[0016] According to some implementations of the second aspect of this disclosure, the model is the following quadratic polynomial:

number

[0017] According to some implementations of the second aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes identifying a food container based on scanning an identifier on the food container by a product identification scanner. The method further includes determining product attributes of the food container based on the identifier.

[0018] According to some implementations of the second aspect of the present disclosure, the model includes an attribute multiplier that scales a target temperature of a food container based on product attributes.

[0019] According to some implementations of the second aspect of the present disclosure, the product attributes are selected from a group of product attributes including food type, packaging type, packaging size, and combinations thereof.

[0020] According to some implementations of the second aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes sensing the temperature of the microwave chamber by a second temperature sensor. The model includes a cavity temperature adjustment applied to the target temperature of the food container based on the temperature of the microwave chamber.

[0021] According to some implementations of the second aspect of the present disclosure, the cavity temperature adjustment is 0°C when the temperature of the microwave chamber is 22°C, 4°C when the temperature of the microwave chamber is 85°C, and linear extrapolation therebetween for other temperatures of the microwave chamber.

[0022] According to some implementations of the second aspect of the present disclosure, the food in the food container is heated to a temperature within a tolerance of a selected temperature, where the tolerance is + / -5%.

[0023] These and other features will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the claims.

[0024] Brief Description of the Drawings Next, to understand the present disclosure more fully, reference is made to the following brief description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals represent like parts.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] [Figure 1] This is a front view of a microwave appliance for heating food to a desired temperature. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of a microwave device with its door open. [Figure 3] This is a left-side perspective view of a microwave apparatus with the microwave access panel removed. [Figure 4] This is a right-hand perspective view of a microwave apparatus with the electronics access panel removed. [Figure 5] This is a block diagram of a microcontroller assembly for a microwave instrument. [Figure 6] This is a block diagram of the computer system for microwave equipment. [Figure 7] This is a flowchart of the control algorithm for the heating cycle performed by microwave equipment. [Figure 8A] This is a plot of experimental data and a trend line that correlates package temperature with the product temperature of various products. [Figure 8B] This is a plot of experimental data and a trend line that correlates package temperature with the product temperature of various products. [Figure 8C] This is a plot of experimental data and a trend line that correlates package temperature with the product temperature of various products. [Figure 8D] This is a plot of experimental data and a trend line that correlates package temperature with the product temperature of various products. [Figure 8E] This is a plot of experimental data and a trend line that correlates package temperature with the product temperature of various products. [Figure 9] The following are exemplary computer systems suitable for carrying out some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0026] Detailed explanation First, it should be understood that while exemplary implementations of one or more embodiments are shown below, the disclosed systems and methods can be implemented by using any number of techniques, whether currently known or existing. This disclosure is by no means limited to the exemplary implementations, drawings, and techniques shown below, but can be modified within the scope of the appended claims along the entire scope of their equivalents. The use of the phrase "and / or" indicates that any one or any combination of the list of options may be used. For example, "A, B, and / or C" means "A" or "B" or "C" or "A and B" or "A and C" or "B and C", or "A and B and C",

[0027] Microwave apparatus for facilitating reliable and efficient heating of packaged food is disclosed herein. The microwave apparatus includes a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the packaged food. In some implementations, the temperature sensor is a non-contact temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the packaged food from outside the microwave chamber. Using a non-contact temperature sensor prevents interaction between the temperature sensor used when heating the packaged food and microwave radiation. For example, the temperature sensor may be an infrared temperature sensor positioned to sense infrared radiation emitted by the packaged food. In another example, an ultrasonic sensor may be used to sense the temperature of the packaged food. Other contact-based or non-contact temperature sensors may be used.

[0028] In contrast to time-based operation associated with traditional microwave appliances, the operation of the disclosed microwave appliance may be based on the measured temperature of the packaged food determined by a temperature sensor. During use, the consumer can select the desired product temperature. The desired product temperature may be an absolute temperature input (e.g., 52°C) or a relative temperature input (e.g., ambient temperature, hot, very hot) received via an input on the user interface. The relative temperature input may be configurable by a technician to specific setpoints (e.g., ambient temperature selection corresponds to 25°C, hot selection to 55°C). Temperature-based operation of the microwave appliance can be used with a variety of packaged food sizes and types while ensuring that the product is not overheated during use. In addition, packaged food can be reheated, or partially filled packaged food can be safely heated to the desired product temperature. The maximum operating time can also be used as a fail-safe against temperature sensor failure.

[0029] However, the temperature of the food container is not an accurate measurement of the food it contains (e.g., beverage, soup, etc.). The temperature of the food may be higher than the temperature of the food container, especially due to higher temperature settings for the food. A control method for calculating the target temperature of the food container at which the heating cycle is stopped is provided herein. This control method stops the heating cycle when the measured temperature of the food container reaches the target temperature of the food container. This control method produces a final food temperature within a tolerance (e.g., within + / - 5%) of the selected temperature received from the consumer on the user interface at the start of the heating cycle.

[0030] This control method uses test data of various categories and volumes of food (e.g., beverages) heated in a microwave appliance to determine correlation values ​​specific to particular food containers placed in the microwave appliance. This control method uses a lookup table with correlation values ​​of various combinations of food attributes used to calculate the target temperature of the food container. In some implementations, this calculation is a quadratic polynomial that correlates the measured temperature of the food container with the temperature of the food contained within, based on experimental data. The temperature of the microwave cavity also affects the measured temperature of the food container. Therefore, the temperature of the microwave cavity can be used to determine the adjustment of the food container to its target temperature.

[0031] Examples of microwave appliances suitable for heating sealed food containers are described in International Publication No. 2020 / 061049 (title: “Packaged Food Product Microwave System and Method”), which is incorporated herein by reference in whole. A brief description of microwave equipment is provided below with reference to Figures 1 to 6. Other microwave equipment suitable for the systems and methods described herein is contemplated in this disclosure.

[0032] Figures 1 to 4 show various diagrams of a microwave appliance 100 suitable for heating packaged food to a desired temperature. Figure 1 is a front view of the microwave appliance 100 showing a door 102 and a user interface 104. The door 102 includes a window 112 for accessing the user interface 104 when closed.

[0033] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the microwave apparatus 100 with the door 102 open. A door switch 532 may be located on the front of the body 123 of the microwave apparatus 100 or on the door 102 and provides a signal indicating the position of the door 102 (e.g., open or closed). A holder 118 is positioned on the door and is sized and shaped to accommodate a sealed food container 120, such as a food or beverage container. In the example shown in Figure 2, the food container 120 is a beverage bottle. The food container 120 may be made of plastic (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene), glass, ceramic, non-foil-lined carton, etc. The holder 118 is positioned on the door 102 so as to place the food container 120 inside the microwave cavity 114 when the door 102 is closed. For example, when the door 102 rotates to the closed position, the holder 118 passes through an opening in the microwave cavity 114 so as to be placed inside it.

[0034] The reactive choke 116 is positioned on the door 102 around the holder 118 at the periphery of the opening in the microwave cavity 114 when the door 102 is closed. The reactive choke 116 prevents microwave radiation from penetrating the door 102 when in use. One or more product presence detectors 122 are positioned on the door 102 around the product holder 118 and are configured to check whether a food container 120 is placed inside the product holder 118. The product presence detectors 122 may be optical sensors or acoustic distance meters for detecting the presence or absence of a food container 120 inside the product holder 118. Multiple product presence detectors 122 may be used to ensure the detection of food containers 120 of various sizes. Multiple product presence detectors 122 may also be used to verify the size of the food container 120.

[0035] The user interface 104 is located on the body 123 of the microwave device 100. For example, the user interface 104 is located on the front surface of the body 123 of the microwave device 100. As shown in Figure 2, the front surface of the body of the microwave device 100 is the same surface including an opening in the microwave cavity 114. The user interface 104 may be a touchscreen user interface. The user interface 104 may include a graphics port 108, such as a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, and a data port 110, such as a universal serial bus (USB) port. The graphics port 108 may supply graphics data for display on the user interface 104. The data port 110 may transmit contact input or gesture input to be recorded on the touchscreen. Other user interface elements may be used and communicate via the data port 110 or another data port. For example, in an automated vending environment, a payment module may be additionally present to facilitate receiving payment and unlocking the door 102.

[0036] A product identification scanner 124 is positioned on the main body 123 of the microwave apparatus 100. In the example shown in Figure 2, the product identification scanner 124 is positioned below the user interface 104 and faces the product holder 118 when the door 102 is opened. The product identification scanner 124 may be an optical scanner such as a barcode reader or camera configured to read identifiers on the food container 120. In some implementations, two or more barcode readers may be configured to read identifiers at multiple locations along the food container 120. Including multiple barcode readers facilitates the identification of various food containers 120 by barcodes located at various locations on the container 120 and accommodates containers 120 of variable height.

[0037] The product holder 118 may include an opening above its base, which is sized to enhance the view of an identifier on a food container 120 when placed inside the product holder 118. For example, the identifier could be a barcode, symbol, quick response (QR) code, a universal product code (UPC), or other product identifier. The product holder 118 may be sized to allow a user to rotate the food container 120 within the product holder 118 to facilitate scanning or otherwise reading the identifier on the food container 120. For example, by moving the food container 120 within the product holder 118, the identifier can be found within the opening of the product holder 118 and within the field of view of the product identification scanner 124.

[0038] In some implementations, the product holder 118 includes a turntable on its base to facilitate easier rotation of the food containers 120 within the product holder 118. The turntable may be driven by a motor to automatically scan identifiers on the food containers 120 within the product holder 118. The turntable motor may be activated when a door switch provides a signal indicating that the door 102 has been opened, or after a predetermined delay after the door 102 has been opened.

[0039] In some implementations, an identifier on the food container 120 may be scanned by a product identification scanner 124 prior to insertion into the product holder 118. In such implementations, the product presence detector 122 can verify that the food container 120 was inserted into the product holder 118 after being scanned by the product identification scanner 124.

[0040] Although the product identification scanner 124 was described as an optical scanner in the above example, the product identification scanner 124 could be a wireless tag reader. For example, a wireless tag could be located on the food container 120 (such as on the label or fastener of the food container) and could store an identifier for the food container 120. The wireless tag could be a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) tag, a near-field communication (NFC) tag, a beacon tag, etc. The wireless tag reader of the product identification scanner 124 is configured to read the identifier for the food container 120 from the wireless tag on the food container 120.

[0041] Based on an identifier read from the food container 120 by the product identification scanner 124, the microwave appliance 100 is configured to identify the type of food to be inserted into the microwave appliance 100 (e.g., sugary carbonated drinks, diet carbonated drinks, juices, tea, coffee, smoothies, dairy drinks, yogurt products, etc.), the type of packaging (e.g., PET carbonated beverage bottles, aluminum cans, aluminum bottles, hot sake PET beverage bottles, sterile PET beverage bottles, etc.), and / or the size of the packaging (e.g., 20 fluid ounce (560cc) package, 12 fluid ounce (336cc) package, 8 fluid ounce (226cc) package, etc.). Based on the identification of the type of food to be inserted, the microwave appliance 100 can identify the dielectric constant and / or conductivity of the food and adjust the operation of the microwave appliance accordingly. For example, the power level of the microwave appliance 100 can be adjusted based on the dielectric constant and / or conductivity of the food. In response to reading an identifier, the microwave instrument 100 may access a local or network-accessible database that provides one or more tables or other logical structures relating the identifier to the type of food, the type of packaging, the size of the packaging, the dielectric constant of the food, and / or the conductivity of the food.

[0042] The body 123 of the microwave instrument 100 includes an electronics access panel 126 and a microwave access panel 132. The electronics access panel 126 is located on the right-side surface of the body 123 of the microwave instrument 100. The electronics access panel 126 includes a fan vent 128 and a duct vent 130 configured to facilitate air exchange with the ambient environment for cooling the microwave instrument 100. The microwave access panel 132 similarly includes a fan vent (not shown) and a duct vent (not shown) on the left-side surface of the body 123 opposite the microwave instrument 100.

[0043] Figure 3 is a left-side perspective view of the microwave instrument 100 with the microwave access panel 132 removed. The microwave access panel 132 provides access to the microwave compartment 133 containing the microwave components of the microwave instrument 100. Figure 4 is a right-side perspective view of the microwave instrument 100 with the electronics access panel 126 removed. The electronics access panel 126 provides access to the electronics compartment 135. The microwave compartment 133 and the electronics compartment 135 are separated by a partition wall 134.

[0044] The microwave compartment 133 includes a microwave chamber 136 that provides a sealed volume for housing the holder 118. The microwave chamber 136 includes a surface that reflects microwave radiation within the microwave chamber 136. For example, the sides of the microwave chamber 136 may be made of a metal such as aluminum or steel. The microwave chamber 136 may include a field detector 538 for measuring the electric field within the microwave chamber 136. The field detector 538 may be used to estimate the volume of the product in the food container 120.

[0045] The microwave chamber 136 receives microwave radiation from one or more waveguides (such as waveguide 138 and waveguide 144). Waveguide 144 is shown by a dotted line in Figure 4 to indicate that waveguide 144 is on the opposite side of partition 134. Waveguide 138 is offset vertically from waveguide 144 on microwave chamber 136. Magnetrons may be positioned around each of the one or more waveguides. A first magnetron (not shown) is positioned around waveguide 138 to supply microwave radiation to waveguide 138. The first magnetron includes an antenna positioned inside waveguide 138. Waveguide 138 is configured to direct the received microwave radiation into microwave chamber 136 along a first surface of microwave chamber 136. Similarly, a second magnetron (not shown) is positioned around waveguide 144 to supply microwave radiation to waveguide 144. The second magnetron includes an antenna positioned within waveguide 144. Waveguide 144 is configured to direct the received microwave radiation along the second surface of microwave chamber 136 into the second surface of microwave chamber 136.

[0046] Two magnetrons are disclosed, but more or fewer magnetrons may be used. Additional waveguides may be provided for each such additional magnetron. Providing additional magnetrons allows for the generation of more complex patterns of standing waves to ensure strong coupling to food in a wide variety of food containers 120.

[0047] In some implementations, the power level of one or more magnetrons may be adjusted or turned off during use, depending on the product identified by the product identification scanner 124. For example, since the waveguide 138 introduces microwave radiation into the microwave chamber 136 located higher than the waveguide 144, the first magnetron may be reduced or turned off during use if a short bottle or other food container 120 is placed in the product holder 118.

[0048] The example shown in Figure 3 provides waveguides 138 and 144 for supplying microwave radiation to the microwave chamber 136 from both sides, but other configurations may be used. In some implementations, a solid-state microwave source may be used in place of one or more of the magnetrons.

[0049] The microwave compartment 133 also includes a first magnetron power supply 154 and a second magnetron power supply 156 for powering magnetrons positioned around waveguides 138 and 144. The magnetron power supplies 154 and 156 may be half-wavelength voltage doubler power supplies, inverters, or switch-mode power supplies. Other power supply types may also be used.

[0050] The temperature sensor 162 is positioned around the bottom of the microwave chamber 136 and is configured to measure the temperature of the food container 120 in the product holder 118 when the door 102 is closed. In various implementations, the temperature sensor 162 may be positioned elsewhere to sense the temperature of the food container 120. The temperature sensor 162 may be a non-contact temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the packaged food from outside the microwave chamber. Using a non-contact temperature sensor prevents interaction between the temperature sensor and the microwave radiation used to heat the food in the food container 120. For example, the temperature sensor 162 may be an infrared temperature sensor positioned to sense the infrared radiation emitted by the food in the food container 120. In another example, an ultrasonic sensor may be used to sense the temperature of the packaged food. Other contact-based or non-contact temperature sensors may be used. In some implementations, an additional temperature sensor (not shown) may be positioned to measure the temperature inside the microwave cavity 114.

[0051] Food containers 120 can have a variety of shapes and sizes, and product labels may be located in various places. Product labels may or may not insulate the temperature reading of the food container 120 by the temperature sensor 162 from the food container 120. However, the base of the food container 120 usually does not have much variety or variability, especially in the central location of the base of the food container 120. For example, beverage containers usually have a flat or petal-shaped base. Even with a petal-shaped base, the central location of the base of a beverage container is generally uniform. In addition, product labels are rarely placed on the base of the food container 120.

[0052] The temperature sensor 162 is positioned to face the bottom of the product holder 118 when the door 102 is closed. The bottom of the product holder 118 may include a hole or gap (through which the temperature sensor 162 can see the base of the food container 120). Measuring the temperature from the bottom of the food container 120 allows for accurate sensing of the temperature of a wide variety of package types, without the need to consider various package sizes, shapes, and product label positions. The temperature may also be measured from other locations on the food container 120 (e.g., along the side wall, fastener, or other locations on the food container).

[0053] As best seen in Figure 4, the electronics compartment 135 contains a computer system 600 and a microcontroller assembly 500. A port access door 170 located on the rear surface of the body 123 of the microwave instrument 100 provides access to one or more input / output (I / O) ports on the computer system 600. A partition wall 134 isolates the components in the electronics compartment 135 from thermal and electromagnetic noise generated by the components in the microwave compartment 133.

[0054] Figure 5 is a block diagram of the microcontroller assembly 500 of the microwave instrument 100. The microcontroller assembly 500 includes a microcontroller 502 and an I / O interface board 504. The I / O interface board 504 is configured to receive various input signals and transmit them to the microcontroller 502. The microcontroller 502 includes firmware 506 for processing the received input signals and generating an output control signal 508. The I / O interface board 504 supplies the output control signal 508 to the control components of the microwave compartment 133.

[0055] The I / O interface board 504 also receives analog inputs from the temperature sensor 162 and the field detector 538. As noted above, the field detector 538 can be used to estimate the volume of product in the food container 120. In addition, the field detector 538 can be used to verify that the electric field in the microwave chamber 136 is within the expected range for normal operation. For example, if a metal food container 120, such as a 12-ounce (336cc) aluminum can, is inserted into the microwave apparatus 100, the field detector 538 will sense a load value below the expected load or zero load. At the same time, the product presence detector 122 will sense that the food container 120 is present in the product holder 118. Similarly, if no product is inserted into the microwave apparatus 100, the field detector 538 will sense a load value below the expected load or zero load. The product presence detector 122 will also sense that no product is present in the product holder 118. In either case, the operation of the microwave device 100 can be prevented from starting or ending when the field detector 538 detects a load value less than the minimum acceptable value indicated by the maximum acceptable field threshold.

[0056] The maximum electric field threshold may correspond to the minimum volume of a given type of food in a given food container 120. For example, the maximum threshold may be an expected electric field reading corresponding to at least 5%, 10%, or 25% of the volume of the given food container 120 for the type of food contained in the given food container 120.

[0057] Different materials have different dielectric constants and conductivity, and therefore couple to microwave radiation, absorb microwave radiation, or otherwise react to microwave radiation in different ways. For example, the dielectric constant of PET is about 1 to 3ε', while water has a dielectric constant of about 80ε'. Similarly, the conductivity of PET is about 10 -21 While the conductivity is S / m, physiological saline solution has a conductivity of approximately 1-5 S / m. Therefore, food absorbs microwave radiation much more easily than the containers that typically contain physiological saline solution.

[0058] However, different foods have different electrical properties. Based on the electrical properties of the food to be inserted into the microwave chamber 136 (e.g., dielectric constant and / or conductivity), the volume of the food can be estimated (e.g., based on readings from the product identification scanner 124 and based on the detected electric field strength measured by the field detector 538). By using the estimated volume of the food inserted into the microwave chamber 136, the operation of the first magnetron power supply 154 and / or the second magnetron power supply 156 can be modified. For example, the power levels of one or more magnetron power supplies 154, 156 can be adjusted based on the estimated volume to avoid violent boiling or to reduce the risk of pressure buildup in the food container 120. Thus, even a partially filled food container 120 can be safely heated to the target temperature in the microwave appliance 100.

[0059] The I / O interface board 556 also includes an output block 556 for supplying output control signals 508 to components in the microwave compartment 133. A first magnetron signal 554 is supplied to a first magnetron MOSFET to turn on or off a first power relay. Similarly, a second magnetron signal 556 is supplied to a second magnetron MOSFET to turn on or off a second power relay. When the first power relay is turned on, power is supplied to the first magnetron power supply 154 and the corresponding fan. When the second power relay is turned on, power is supplied to the second magnetron power supply 156 and the corresponding fan.

[0060] A first power control signal 558 is provided to the first magnetron power supply 154 to modulate the power output to the first magnetron by the first magnetron power supply 154. A second power control signal 560 is provided to the second magnetron power supply 156 to modulate the power output to the second magnetron by the second magnetron power supply 156. In some implementations, the first and second power control signals 558 and 560 are pulse width modulation control signals. The first and second power control signals 558 and 560 may be the same or different. For example, the first and second magnetron power supplies 154 and 156 may be operated to provide different power levels to their respective magnetrons.

[0061] Figure 6 is a block diagram of the computer system 600 of the microwave instrument 100. The computer system 600 includes an operating system 602 and one or more applications 604 installed on the operating system 602. The computer 600 also includes memory 606 with a file system for storing image, sound, and video data 608 for display on the user interface 104 or output from the speaker 168. One or more applications 604 control the operation of components (such as a microcontroller 502) on the communication bus 610. The I / O interface 612 provides communication between one or more applications 604 and the user interface 104, for example, supplying video or image data and receiving touch input from the touchscreen. Port 614 (which may be accessible via a port access door 170) provides technicians with access to download usage and diagnostic data as well as to upload software updates for applications 604 or firmware 506. Database 616 may locally store usage and diagnostic data of the microwave instrument 100. For example, usage data may include data on how many times door 102 was opened, which products were scanned by product identification scanner 124, which temperatures were selected on user interface 104 to heat products, and when these events occurred. Other usage data may be collected. Diagnostic data may include logs of inputs received on input block 516, analog input 544, and analog amplifier 542, as well as logs of control signals 508. Other diagnostic data may be stored in database 616. A modem 618 may also be included for uploading usage data and diagnostic data to a remote server (not shown) or for receiving software updates from a remote server. Other configurations and components are contemplated in this disclosure.

[0062] The operation of the microwave device 100 is based on the measured temperature of the food container 120, as determined by the temperature sensor 162. However, the temperature of the food container 120 is not an accurate measurement of the food contained within it (e.g., beverage, soup, etc.). The temperature of the food may be higher than the temperature of the food container 120 (especially due to higher temperature settings for the food).

[0063] This specification provides a control method for calculating a target temperature of a food container 120 at which the heating cycle is stopped (for example, for turning off the power supply to the magnetron). This control method stops the heating cycle when the measured temperature of the food container 120 reaches the target temperature of the food container 120. This control method produces a final food temperature within a tolerance (e.g., within + / - 5%) of the selected temperature received from the consumer on the user interface 104 at the start of the heating cycle.

[0064] Test data of various categories and volumes of food (e.g., beverages: water, tea, juice, cream / sugar-free coffee, cream / sugar-added coffee, etc.) heated in the microwave apparatus 100 are used to determine correlation values ​​specific to a particular food container 120 placed in the microwave apparatus 100. This control method uses a lookup table with correlation values ​​of various combinations of food attributes used to calculate the target temperature of the food container 120. In some implementations, this calculation is a quadratic polynomial that correlates the measured temperature of the food container 120 with the temperature of the food contained within it, based on experimental data. The temperature of the microwave cavity 114 also affects the measured temperature of the food container 120. Therefore, the temperature of the microwave cavity 114 can be used to determine the adjustment of the food container 120 to the target temperature.

[0065] Figure 7 is a flowchart of a control method 700 for the heating cycle performed by the microwave device 100. In various implementations, this control method 700 is performed by a microcontroller assembly 500 (e.g., microcontroller 502) and / or a computer system 600.

[0066] In 702, the control method 700 identifies the food container 120 inserted into the microwave apparatus 100. For example, the product identification scanner 124 scans for identifiers on the food container 120 as described above. Based on the identifiers read from the food container 120 by the product identification scanner 124, the microwave apparatus 100 is configured to identify the type or category of food, the type of packaging, and / or the size or volume of the packaging.

[0067] In 704, the control method 700 receives a user input of the product temperature of the food in the food container 120 to be heated via the user interface 104. The input product temperature may be an absolute temperature input (e.g., 52°C) received via the input on the user interface 104, or a relative temperature input (e.g., ambient temperature, hot, very hot) received via the input on the user interface 104. The relative temperature input may be configured in the microwave apparatus 100 to correspond to a specific absolute temperature (e.g., the hot option corresponds to 55°C, etc.).

[0068] In 706, the control method 700 determines a target temperature of the food container 120 that correlates with the input product temperature received via the user interface 104. The correlation between the temperature of the food container 120 and the temperature of the food inside the food container 120 is determined experimentally. While an example of a quadratic polynomial for modeling the relationship between the temperature of the food container 120 and the temperature of the food inside the food container 120 is provided herein, other statistical or machine learning methods may be used to model the values ​​determined in the experimental results.

[0069] Figures 8A - 8E are plots of experimental data and the determined trend lines correlating package temperature to product temperature for various products. As shown, a non - linear relationship exists between package temperature and product temperature. Specifically, it has been discovered that a small change in package temperature (IR temperature) results in a large change in product temperature (TC temperature). Such a non - linear effect is determined to be partly dependent on the pressure increase within the sealed food container 120 when heated. For example, the pressure within the food container 120 can increase to 8 - 22 psi (more typically about 14 psi) during the heating cycle. The increasing pressure leads to the non - linearity of the specific heat of water. Additionally, the insulation properties of the food container 120 weaken and delay the heat transfer from the food to the food container 120.

[0070] Based on the experimental results, a quadratic polynomial was determined to model the relationship between the temperature of the food container 120 and the temperature of the food within the tolerance of the selected temperature received from the consumer on the user interface 104 (e.g., within + / - 5%). The quadratic polynomial is as follows:

Number

[0071] In some examples, each of the constants X, Y is determined from a quadratic polynomial that characterizes one or more physical attributes of the identified food container 120 (e.g., the identified type or category of food, type of packaging, size or volume of the packaging, estimated volume of the product based on the electric field detector 538, etc.). In a specific example where the estimated volume of the product detected within the food container 120 is a primary factor, X = 6.67e -8 x 2 - 2.96e -5 x + 0.0109, Equation (2) Y = 5e -6 x 2-0.00265x+0.8117, formula (3) Z=29.6928, equation (4) Here, x is the estimated volume of the product detected by the field detector 538. In some implementations, x is a value that combines one or more of the physical attributes of the identified food container 120.

[0072] In some embodiments, the microwave apparatus 100 may maintain a model of each product expected to be heated within the microwave apparatus 100. However, such an approach requires extensive testing of each combination of product, packaging type, and package volume. Rather than testing each combination individually, the microwave apparatus 100 may maintain one or more attribute multipliers that model the effect of each attribute variation on determining the target temperature of the product container 120. In some implementations, a single attribute multiplier may be used. In some implementations, two or more attribute multipliers may be used. Each of the one or more attribute multipliers is multiplied by the value of equation (1) as follows:

number

[0073] For example, with respect to beverages and foods, category multipliers may include a coffee multiplier of 1.2, a tea multiplier of 1.1, a juice multiplier of 1.07, a water multiplier of 1.25, a dairy multiplier of 1.4, and a plant-based dairy multiplier of 1.3. Similarly, package volume multipliers may include a multiplier of 1.15 for beverage containers of 100–225 mL, a multiplier of 1.25 for beverage containers of 226–350 mL, a multiplier of 1.35 for beverage containers of 351–475 mL, and a multiplier of 1.4 for beverage containers of 476–600 mL. Other attribute multipliers and values ​​of these multipliers are contemplated in this disclosure.

[0074] Returning to Figure 7, in 708, the control method 700 optionally measures the temperature of the microwave cavity 114. The temperature of the microwave cavity 114 also affects the measured temperature of the food container 120. Therefore, the temperature of the microwave cavity 114 can be used to determine the adjustment of the food container 120 to a target temperature. As the temperature inside the microwave cavity 114 increases, the temperature of the food container 120 also increases based on the heat present inside the microwave cavity 114. Therefore, the target temperature of the food container 120 is reached faster by a lower temperature inside the microwave cavity 114 than by a lower temperature inside the microwave cavity 114. Thus, cavity temperature adjustment can be added to equation (1) or equation (5) as follows:

number

[0075] In step 710, the control method 700 starts the heating cycle by turning on power to the magnetron. In step 714, the control method 700 receives the measurement result of the temperature of the food container 120 using the temperature sensor 162. In step 716, the control method 700 determines whether the measured temperature of the food container 120 is equal to the target temperature of the food container 120. If not, the control method 700 continues the heating cycle and proceeds to step 712. If the measured temperature of the food container 120 is equal to the determined target temperature of the food container, the control method stops the heating cycle in step 716 (for example, by turning off the power to the magnetron). Thus, the product in the food container 120 is heated to the input product temperature received at the user interface 104 within tolerance (e.g., within + / - 5%).

[0076] It should be understood that the logical operations described herein with respect to various figures may be implemented as (1) a series of computer actions or program modules (i.e., software) executed on a computing device (e.g., the computing device described in Figure 9), (2) interconnected mechanical logic circuits or circuit modules (i.e., hardware) within the computing device, and / or (3) a combination of software and hardware in the computing device. Therefore, the logical operations discussed herein are not limited to any particular combination of hardware and software. This implementation is a matter of choice depending on the performance and other requirements of the computing device. Accordingly, the logical operations described herein may be referred to in various ways as operations, structural devices, actions, or modules. These operations, structural devices, actions, and modules may be implemented in software, firmware, special-purpose digital logic, and any combination thereof. It should also be understood that more or fewer operations may be performed than those shown in the accompanying drawings and described herein. These operations may also be performed in a different order than those described herein.

[0077] Referring to Figure 9, an exemplary computing device 1100 in which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented is shown. For example, the microwave instrument 100, user interface 104, microcontroller 502, and / or computer 600 described herein may each be implemented as a computing device (such as computing device 1100). It should be understood that exemplary computing device 1100 is just one example of a suitable computing environment in which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented. Optionally, computing device 1100 may be a well-known computing system including, but not limited to, a personal computer, server, handheld or laptop device, multiprocessor system, microprocessor-based system, network personal computer (PC), minicomputer, mainframe computer, embedded system, and / or a distributed computing environment including a number of any of the above systems or devices. A distributed computing environment enables remote computing devices (connected to a communication network or other data transmission medium) to perform various tasks. In a distributed computing environment, program modules, applications, and other data may be stored on local and / or remote computer storage media.

[0078] In one embodiment, the computing device 1100 may include two or more computers in a state of communication with each other, coordinating to perform tasks. For example, but not limited to, an application may be divided in a manner that allows for the simultaneous and / or parallel processing of the application's instructions. Alternatively, data processed by the application may be divided in a manner that allows for the simultaneous and / or parallel processing of different parts of a dataset by two or more computers. In one embodiment, virtualization software may be employed by the computing device 1100 to provide the functionality of many servers that are not directly coupled to many computers within the computing device 1100. For example, virtualization software may provide 20 virtual servers on four physical computers. In one embodiment, the functionality disclosed above may be provided by running applications and / or groups of applications in a cloud computing environment. Cloud computing may include providing computing services over network connectivity by using directly scalable computing resources. Cloud computing may be at least partially supported by virtualization software. Cloud computing environments may be established by enterprises and / or adopted on a need basis from third-party providers. Some cloud computing environments may include not only cloud computing resources owned and operated by companies, but also cloud computing resources adopted and / or leased from third-party providers.

[0079] In its most basic configuration, the computing device 1100 typically includes at least one processing unit 1120 and system memory 1130. Depending on the exact configuration and type of the computing device, the system memory 1130 may be volatile memory (such as random access memory (RAM)), non-volatile memory (such as read-only memory (ROM) or flash memory), or a combination of both. This most basic configuration is shown in Figure 9 by the dotted line 1110. The processing unit 1120 may be a standard programmable processor that performs the arithmetic and logical operations necessary for the operation of the computing device 1100. Although only one processing unit 1120 is shown, multiple processors may be present. Thus, while instructions may be discussed as being executed by processors, instructions may be executed simultaneously or sequentially by processors, or otherwise by one or more processors. The computing device 1100 may also include a bus or other communication mechanism for transmitting information between the various components of the computing device 1100.

[0080] The computing device 1100 may have additional features / functionalities. For example, the computing device 1100 may include additional storage such as removable storage 1140 and non-removable storage 1150, which may include, but are not limited to, magnetic or optical disks or tapes. The computing device 1100 may also include network connectivity 1180 that enables the device to communicate with other devices over communication paths, etc., as described herein. The network connection 1180 may take the form of a modem, modem bank, Ethernet card, Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface card, serial interface, Token Ring card, fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) card, wireless local area network (WLAN) card, radio transceiver card such as code division multiple access (CDMA), global system for mobile communications (GSM), long-term evolution (LTE), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), and / or other radio interface protocol transceiver card, and other well-known network devices. The computing device 1100 may also have an input device 1170 such as a keyboard, keypad, switch, dial, mouse, trackball, touchscreen, voice recognition device, card reader, paper tape reader, or other well-known input device. Output devices 1160 such as printers, video monitors, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), touchscreen displays, display arrays, and speakers may also be included. Additional devices may be connected to a bus to facilitate data communication between components of the computing device 1100. All of these devices are well known in the art and therefore do not need to be discussed at length here.

[0081] The processing unit 1120 may be configured to execute program code encoded in a tangible computer-readable medium. A tangible computer-readable medium refers to any medium capable of providing data that causes a computing device 1100 (i.e., a machine) to operate in a particular manner. Various computer-readable media may be used to provide instructions to the processing unit 1120 for execution. Exemplary tangible computer-readable media include, but are not limited to, volatile, non-volatile, removable, and non-removable media implemented in any way or technique for storing information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. System memory 1130, removable storage 1140, and non-removable storage 1150 are all examples of tangible computer storage media. Exemplary tangible computer-readable recording media include, but are not limited to, integrated circuits (e.g., field-programmable gate arrays or application-specific ICs), hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, floppy disks, magnetic tapes, holographic storage media, solid-state devices, RAM, ROM, electrically erasable program read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technologies, CD-ROMs, digital versatile disks (DVDs) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tapes, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices.

[0082] It is a fundamental principle for those skilled in electrical and software engineering that functionality implemented by loading executable software into a computer can be translated into hardware implementations according to well-known design rules. The decision of whether to implement a concept in software versus hardware typically depends more on the stability of the design and the number of units to be generated than on any issues involved in the translation from the software domain to the hardware domain. Generally, designs that are still subject to frequent changes may be preferred to be implemented in software because respinning the hardware implementation is more expensive than redesigning the software design. Generally, stable designs that are to be mass-produced may be preferred to be implemented in hardware (e.g., in application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) because, for mass production runs, the hardware implementation may be less expensive than the software implementation. Often, designs are developed and tested in software form and then translated according to well-known design rules into equivalent hardware implementations within application-specific integrated circuits, which hardwire the software instructions. In the same way that a machine controlled by a new ASIC is a specific machine or device, a computer programmed and / or loaded with executable instructions can similarly be considered a specific machine or device.

[0083] In one exemplary implementation, the processing unit 1120 can execute program code stored in the system memory 1130. For example, a bus can carry data to the system memory 1130, and the processing unit 1120 can receive and execute instructions from the system memory 1130. The data received by the system memory 1130 can optionally be stored on the removable storage 1140 or the non-removable storage 1150 before or after execution by the processing unit 1120.

[0084] It should be understood that the various technologies described herein may be implemented in relation to hardware or software, or, where appropriate, in relation to a combination thereof. Therefore, the subject matter disclosed herein, or some aspects or parts thereof, may take the form of program code (i.e., instructions) embodied in tangible media such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other machine-readable storage media, and when the program code is loaded into a machine such as a computing device and executed by the machine, the machine becomes a device for executing the subject matter disclosed herein. In the case of program code execution on a programmable computer, the computing device typically includes a processor, a storage medium (including volatile and non-volatile memory and / or storage elements) that is readable by the processor, at least one input device, and at least one output device. One or more programs may implement or utilize the processes described in relation to the subject matter disclosed herein, for example, by using an application programming interface (API), a reusable controller, etc. Such programs may be implemented in a high-level procedural or object-oriented programming language for communicating with a computer system. However, programs may be implemented in assembly or machine language as needed. In any case, a language can be a compiled or interpreted language, and it can be combined with a hardware implementation.

[0085] Some embodiments of the method and system may be described herein with reference to block diagrams and flowcharts of the method, system, apparatus and computer program product. It will be understood that each block in the block diagrams and flowcharts, and combinations of blocks within the block diagrams and flowcharts, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be loaded onto a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, such that instructions executed on the computer or other programmable data processing device generate means for performing functions defined within the flowchart blocks or sets of flowchart blocks.

[0086] These computer program instructions can also be stored in computer-readable memory, which can instruct a computer or other programmable data processing device to function in a particular way so that the instructions stored in computer-readable memory produce a product containing computer-readable instructions for performing functions defined within a flowchart block or group of flowchart blocks. Computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device to cause a series of operations performed on the computer or other programmable device to generate a computer implementation process so that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device provide steps for performing functions defined within a flowchart block or group of flowchart blocks.

[0087] Therefore, the blocks in block diagrams and flowcharts support combinations of means for performing a defined function, combinations of processes for performing a defined function, and program instruction means for performing a defined function. It is also understood that each block in block diagrams and flowcharts, as well as combinations of blocks within block diagrams and flowcharts, can be implemented by a special-purpose hardware-based computer system that performs the defined function or process, or by a combination of special-purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[0088] While several embodiments are provided in this disclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed systems and methods can be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. The examples should be considered illustrative but not restrictive, and their intent is not limited to the details given herein. For example, various elements or components may be combined or integrated into another system, and some features may be omitted or not implemented.

[0089] Furthermore, the technologies, systems, subsystems, and methods described and shown in various embodiments, either discretely or separately, may be combined or integrated with other systems, modules, technologies, or methods without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Other articles shown or discussed as being directly coupled or communicating with one another may be indirectly coupled, whether electrically, mechanically, or otherwise, or communicate through certain interfaces, devices, or intermediate components. Other examples of modifications, substitutions, and alterations are readily apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein.

Claims

1. One or more microwave sources; A microwave chamber that is in electromagnetic communication with one or more of the aforementioned microwave sources; A product holder configured to support food containers in the microwave chamber; A temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the food container supported within the product holder; A user interface configured to receive the selected temperature; A controller in communication with the temperature sensor and the user interface; A product identification scanner that is in communication with the controller and configured to read an identifier on the food container; and Includes a second temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the microwave chamber; The aforementioned controller, Based on the identifier, the product attributes of the food container are determined. The system is configured to operate the one or more microwave sources to determine the target temperature of the food container based on the selected temperature, using a nonlinear model of experimental results that relates the temperature of the food container to the temperature of the food inside the food container, and to heat the food inside the food container until the temperature of the food container equals the target temperature of the food container. The aforementioned model, A plurality of constants based on the product attributes and the estimated volume of the food in the food container detected by the field detector in the microwave chamber, An attribute multiplier for scaling the target temperature of the food container based on the aforementioned product attributes, This includes adjusting the cavity temperature applied to the food container to the target temperature based on the temperature of the microwave chamber, The aforementioned product attributes are selected from a group of product attributes consisting of food type, packaging type, packaging size, and combinations thereof, and are microwave appliances.

2. The microwave apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the food is sealed inside the food container.

3. The aforementioned model is a quadratic polynomial as follows: [Math 1] Here, T Ｃ is the target temperature of the food container, and T Ｐ The microwave apparatus according to claim 1, wherein is the selected temperature, X, Y, and Z are the plurality of constants determined based on the experimental results, a m is the attribute multiplier, n is the number of the attribute multipliers, and CT is the cavity temperature control.

4. The microwave apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cavity temperature control applied to the target temperature is set to 0°C when the temperature of the microwave chamber is 22°C, set to 4°C when the temperature of the microwave chamber is 85°C, and set to a temperature according to a linear extrapolation of these two set points when the microwave chamber is at any other temperature.

5. The microwave apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to operate the one or more microwave sources to heat the food in the food container to within a tolerance of the selected temperature, the tolerance being + / - 5%.

6. A method for operating microwave equipment, Receiving the selected temperature from the user interface; Identifying a food container by scanning an identifier on the food container with a product identification scanner; To determine the product attributes of the food container based on the aforementioned identifier; The target temperature of the food container is determined based on the selected temperature by utilizing a nonlinear model of experimental results that relates the temperature of the food container to the temperature of the food inside the food container; To power one or more microwave sources to heat the food in a food container within a microwave chamber; The temperature of the food container is detected by a temperature sensor; When the temperature of the food container reaches the target temperature, the power supply to one or more microwave sources is turned off; and This includes sensing the temperature of the microwave chamber with a second temperature sensor, The aforementioned model, A plurality of constants based on the product attributes and the estimated volume of the food in the food container detected by the field detector in the microwave chamber, An attribute multiplier for scaling the target temperature of the food container based on the aforementioned product attributes, This includes adjusting the cavity temperature applied to the food container to the target temperature based on the temperature of the microwave chamber, The method wherein the product attributes are selected from a group of product attributes consisting of food type, packaging type, packaging size, and combinations thereof.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the food is sealed inside a food container.

8. The aforementioned model is a quadratic polynomial, 【Number 2】 Here, T Ｃ is the target temperature of the food container, and T Ｐ The method according to claim 6, wherein is the selected temperature, X, Y, and Z are the plurality of constants determined based on the experimental results, a m is the attribute multiplier, n is the number of the attribute multipliers, and C T is the cavity temperature control.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the cavity temperature adjustment applied to the target temperature is defined as 0°C when the microwave chamber temperature is 22°C, as 4°C when the microwave chamber temperature is 85°C, and as a temperature according to a linear extrapolation of these two defined points when the microwave chamber is at any other temperature.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein the food in the food container is heated to a temperature within the tolerance of the selected temperature, the tolerance being + / - 5%.

Images