Microwave Dome Sensor Layout to Limit Heat Loss and Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household microwave appliances face challenges in efficiently receiving measurement data from the cooking compartment while minimizing heat loss and microwave leakage, particularly when multiple sensors are required, and there is a risk of sensor contamination from vapor.
Innovation Solution
A microwave appliance design featuring a microwave dome with multiple sensor openings, where one sensor is oriented directly into the cooking compartment and another indirectly via a reflecting surface, allowing for compact and robust sensor placement, reduced heat loss, and minimized microwave leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple cooking compartment openings are provided for multiple sensors, then measurement data can be received from different sensor positions, but heat loss and microwave leakage increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensors (first sensor for visible light, second sensor for infrared radiation) are combined behind a single cooking compartment opening, allowing them to share the same opening rather than each requiring a separate opening. This merging approach maintains measurement precision while reducing heat loss and microwave leakage by minimizing the total opening area.
Solution Approach 2:
The second sensor is oriented indirectly into the cooking compartment via a reflecting surface of the microwave dome, utilizing the third dimension (spatial reflection) to achieve indirect viewing. This allows the sensor to measure infrared radiation from the cooking compartment without requiring a direct line-of-sight opening, thereby reducing the required opening size and associated energy loss.
2Measurement precision
If sensors are positioned close to the cooking compartment opening for direct measurement, then measurement accuracy improves, but sensor contamination from vapor increases
Solution Approach 1:
A reflecting surface (microwave dome interior surface) is introduced as an intermediary between the second sensor and the cooking compartment. This intermediary allows infrared radiation to reach the sensor while preventing direct contact with vapor and hot gases, thus maintaining measurement accuracy through radiation detection while protecting the sensor from contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The second sensor is positioned in a cooler region further from the opening and oriented indirectly via reflection, utilizing spatial dimensionality to achieve measurement without direct exposure to the harsh environment near the cooking compartment opening.
3Volume of moving object
If sensors are arranged in a compact configuration, then device size is reduced, but sensor positioning flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The reflecting surface enables the second sensor to be positioned in a cooler region further from the opening by utilizing indirect reflection through the third dimension. This spatial arrangement achieves compact device configuration while maintaining sensor positioning flexibility, as the sensor can be located in optimal thermal conditions without compromising measurement capability.
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 design enables efficient data measurement with reduced heat and vapor exposure to sensors, maintaining a compact and reliable sensor arrangement with minimal microwave leakage and improved thermal insulation.
Implementation Method 1
a second opening ('second sensor opening'), behind which a second sensor is arranged in a stationary manner, the second sensor being oriented indirectly into the cooking compartment via a reflecting surface of the microwave dome
Data Source
AI summary
A household microwave appliance includes a cooking compartment, a cooking compartment wall surrounding the cooking compartment and including a cooking compartment opening, and a microwave dome arranged remote from the cooking compartment and designed to cover the cooking compartment opening. The microwave dome includes a first sensor opening and a second sensor opening, with a first sensor arranged behind the first sensor opening and oriented directly into the cooking compartment, and with a second sensor arranged behind the second sensor opening and oriented indirectly into the cooking compartment via a reflecting surface of the microwave dome.