Heating device and refrigerator having same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electromagnetic wave heating devices face issues with uneven heating due to differences in microwave penetration and absorption by water and ice, leading to inaccurate thawing progress judgment and difficulties in cutting heated food.

Innovation Solution

A heating device with an electromagnetic generating system and a temperature sensing device that uses signal sensing and processing parts to determine the average temperature of the object, stopping the heating when the temperature reaches a specific interval (-5°C to -1°C) to prevent bloody water and ensure easy cutting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional infrared sensor is used to sense the temperature of the food, then the heating device can detect temperature, but the judgment of thawing progress becomes inaccurate due to uneven heating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethawing progress judgment accuracyVSAvoidtemperature sensing accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional infrared sensor (optical/mechanical system) with an electromagnetic wave-based sensing system that measures reflected wave characteristics. This substitution enables more accurate temperature assessment by detecting changes in electromagnetic wave reflection properties that correlate with thawing progress, overcoming the limitations of infrared sensing in unevenly heated materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces electromagnetic wave reflection characteristics as an intermediary parameter to indirectly measure temperature and thawing progress. Instead of directly sensing temperature with an infrared sensor, the system uses the reflected wave signal characteristics (which are affected by the food's dielectric properties changing during thawing) as a mediator to infer the internal temperature distribution and thawing state more accurately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If electromagnetic wave heating is applied to thaw frozen food, then the heating process is accelerated, but uneven heating occurs due to difference in penetration and absorption by water and ice

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethawing speedVSAvoidtemperature distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control system that continuously monitors the reflected wave signal characteristics during electromagnetic wave heating. Based on the detected changes in reflection properties (which indicate temperature and phase changes in the food), the system adjusts the heating parameters in real-time to maintain uniform temperature distribution and prevent localized overheating or underheating during the accelerated thawing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes the electromagnetic wave heating parameters (such as power level, frequency, or pulse duration) based on the detected reflected wave characteristics. As the food transitions from frozen to thawed state, its dielectric properties change, and the system adjusts heating parameters accordingly to compensate for uneven absorption and penetration differences between ice and water, maintaining uniform temperature distribution throughout the thawing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides accurate judgment of thawing progress and ensures that heated food is easier to cut by maintaining a suitable temperature interval, preventing uneven heating and improving the overall heating process.

Implementation Method 1

an electromagnetic generating system, at least a part of which is disposed in the cylinder body or accessed into the cylinder body, so as to generate electromagnetic waves in the cylinder body to heat an object to be processed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDielectric heating: Dielectric Heating

Implementation Method 2

a signal sensing part, configured to sense specific parameters of an incident wave signal and a reflected wave signal in the cylinder body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3917281B1Heating device and refrigerator having same
Publication Date: 2023.10.04 QINGDAO HAIER SPECIAL REFRIGERATOR CO LTD
  • EP3917281B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3917281B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3917281B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a heating device (100), including a cylinder body (110) provided with a pick-and-place opening, a door body (120) configured to open and close the pick-and-place opening, an electromagnetic generating system, at least a part of which is disposed in the cylinder body (110) or accessed into the cylinder body (110), and a temperature sensing device. The temperature sensing device includes a signal sensing part (171) and a signal processing part (172), wherein the signal sensing part (171) is configured to sense specific parameters of an incident wave signal and a reflected wave signal in the cylinder body (110), and the signal processing part (172) is configured to judge whether an average temperature of the object to be processed is in a specific temperature interval according to the specific parameters. Compared with sensing surface temperatures of different areas of the object to be processed by a plurality of sensors in the prior art, a more accurate overall average temperature can be obtained, and then the heating progress of the object to be processed can be judged more accurately.