Microwave Cavity Camera Mounting Through a Shielding Mesh
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microwave devices face challenges in safely integrating cameras for monitoring the food treatment process due to exposure to microwave radiation, which can impair or destroy the camera's functionality.
Innovation Solution
A camera is positioned and attached to a shielding plate with holes in a microwave device, ensuring precise alignment and protection from microwave radiation, allowing for effective monitoring of the food treatment room without the need for a large front glass pane, which reduces energy loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a large-area front glass pane is provided for viewing the food treatment room, then the user can observe the treatment process, but more energy is lost through the glass pane compared to better thermally insulated walls
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing direct visual access through a large glass pane, the patent uses a camera to capture images of the food treatment room and displays them on a screen. This creates a visual copy of the interior, allowing users to observe the treatment process without compromising thermal insulation. The camera system replicates the viewing function while eliminating the need for large transparent areas that would cause energy loss.
2Loss of information
If a camera is built into the microwave device for monitoring the food treatment room, then the treatment process can be observed, but the camera and electronics must not be exposed to microwave radiation as this can impair or destroy their functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the camera and electronic components from the microwave radiation environment by positioning them in a separate compartment or location outside the food treatment room. The camera observes the treatment process through openings or windows that allow optical access but block microwave radiation. This separation protects the sensitive electronics from harmful microwave exposure while maintaining monitoring functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces shielding structures, such as metal meshes or specialized windows, that act as intermediaries between the camera and the microwave radiation field. These intermediaries allow visible light to pass through for imaging purposes while blocking microwave radiation from reaching the camera and electronics. The shielding material serves as a selective barrier that transmits optical wavelengths but attenuates microwave frequencies.
3Measurement precision
If the camera is positioned without precise alignment, then the field of view is uncertain, but additional adjustment elements and markings increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pre-aligned mounting structures where the camera is factory-prepositioned at specific angles and locations that provide optimal viewing of the food treatment room. The camera holder or mounting bracket is designed with built-in alignment features that automatically position the camera correctly during installation, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms or markings. This preliminary alignment ensures consistent field of view without adding operational complexity.
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
This solution enables precise camera positioning and alignment, facilitating automatic image evaluation and user-friendly display, while minimizing thermal losses and protecting the camera from microwave radiation, thus allowing for efficient and energy-conscious monitoring of food treatment processes.
Implementation Method 1
the viewing window several holes having shielding plate (also referred to as 'perforated plate')
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising a food processing chamber (5), which has a feed opening (7) that can be closed by a door (6), and at least one camera (2) for monitoring the food processing chamber (5) through a viewing window (3), the household appliance (1) being a microwave device the food processing chamber (5) of which can be supplied with microwaves. The viewing window (3) comprises a shielding mesh (15) having a plurality of holes (16). The camera (2) is directed onto the shielding mesh (15) such that at least one hole (16) is in the field of view (S) of the camera (2) and the camera (2) is fastened to several holes (16) of the shielding mesh (15).