Microwave Oven Door Choke Frame for Cavity Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional microwave ovens with a single cooking cavity limit the simultaneous preparation of multiple food items with different cooking parameters, requiring sequential cooking rather than concurrent processing.

Innovation Solution

A microwave oven design featuring multiple cooking cavities divided by a dividing shelf and a door with a choke frame that attenuates microwave transmission between cavities, allowing independent cooking of foodstuffs with separate microwave generators and optically transparent but microwave-opaque glass panes for each cavity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single cooking cavity is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity decreases because multiple food items must be cooked sequentially rather than concurrently

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking capacityVSAvoidcavity structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooking cavity is divided into multiple sub-cavities using a dividing shelf, allowing simultaneous cooking of multiple food items with different cooking parameters. Each sub-cavity can be independently controlled while sharing common structural elements like the door and magnetron.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If multiple cooking cavities are created with a dividing shelf, then the productivity increases, but the reliability decreases due to potential microwave transmission between sub-cavities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking capacityVSAvoidmicrowave isolation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A choke frame is introduced as an intermediary structure between the door and the dividing shelf. This choke frame creates a microwave barrier that prevents transmission between sub-cavities while maintaining structural integrity and sealing, ensuring reliable isolation without compromising the productivity benefits of multiple cavities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a choke frame is added to attenuate microwave transmission, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrowave isolationVSAvoiddoor structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The choke frame is integrated with the door structure and dividing shelf assembly, combining multiple functions into a unified component. This merging approach provides microwave isolation, structural support, and sealing functions simultaneously, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables simultaneous and independent cooking of multiple food items with improved evenness and reduced cooking time by preventing microwave leakage between cavities, while maintaining thermal insulation and electrical continuity.

Implementation Method 1

a choke frame configured to communicate with the dividing shelf in the closed position so as to attenuate microwave transmission between sub-cavities

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrowave attenuation: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

optically transparent but microwave-opaque glass panes for each cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrowave opacity: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS11252793B2Multiple cavity microwave oven door

Publication Date: 2022.02.15 WHIRLPOOL CORP

AI summary

A microwave oven is provided herein having a cooking cavity, a dividing shelf for dividing the cooking cavity into at least two sub-cavities, and a door movable between an open and closed position for selectively providing and preventing access to the sub-cavities respectively. The door is provided with a choke frame configured to communicate with the dividing shelf in the closed position so as to attenuate microwave transmission between the sub-cavities.