Microwave Heating Control for Sealed Package Rupture Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Typical microwaves lack safety features to prevent the rupture of enclosed food packages during heating, leading to food splatters due to prolonged microwave operation, necessitating the use of unsealed or vented containers.

Innovation Solution

A microwave appliance with a temperature sensor, product holder, and controller that determines a target temperature for a sealed food container using a second-order polynomial equation, ensuring precise heating and preventing overheat, while considering the food product's attributes and microwave chamber temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If prolonged microwave operation is used to heat enclosed packages, then the food product reaches the desired temperature, but the enclosed package may rupture causing food splatters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood product temperatureVSAvoidpackage rupture and food splatter

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a temperature sensor to continuously monitor the temperature of the enclosed package during microwave heating. The controller receives this temperature feedback and dynamically adjusts the microwave power output to maintain the package temperature below the rupture threshold while still heating the food product to the desired temperature, thereby preventing package rupture and food splatter

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the microwave power parameter dynamically during the heating process. By adjusting the power level based on real-time temperature measurements, the system can heat the food product effectively while maintaining the package temperature within safe limits, resolving the contradiction between achieving desired food temperature and preventing package rupture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If unsealed or vented containers are used to prevent package rupture, then food splatter is reduced, but the safety features and convenience for sealed package heating are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood splatter preventionVSAvoidconvenience of sealed package heating

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The microwave system performs self-monitoring of package temperature and self-adjustment of power levels without requiring user intervention. Users can simply place sealed packages in the microwave and select a heating program, while the system automatically prevents package rupture through its temperature monitoring and control mechanisms, maintaining both safety and convenience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If temperature monitoring and control systems are added to prevent package rupture, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafe and reliable operationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical temperature control mechanisms with electronic sensing and control systems. The temperature sensor and electronic controller provide precise temperature monitoring and power adjustment with simpler, more reliable components compared to mechanical thermostats or manual power adjustment mechanisms, achieving high reliability while managing system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 appliance efficiently heats sealed food products to a desired temperature within a tolerance of +/-5% without overheat, ensuring safe and reliable operation by preventing food splatters and maintaining the integrity of enclosed packages.

Implementation Method 1

a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the food container supported within the product holder

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature sensing: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

one or more microwave sources and a microwave chamber in electromagnetic communication with the one or more microwave sources

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrowave heating: Dielectric Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20230337339A1System and method of controlling a microwave heating cycle

Publication Date: 2023.10.19 THE COCA COLA CO

AI summary

A microwave appliance provides safe heating of a food product within a food container to within a tolerance of a temperature selection despite the temperature of the food container being different than the temperature of the food product. The temperature of the food product may be higher than the temperature of the food container, particularly for higher temperature settings for the food product. A control method is provided herein to calculate a target temperature of the food container at which a heating cycle is to be stopped. The control method stops the heating cycle when the measured temperature of the food container reaches the target temperature. A temperature of the microwave cavity also affects the measured temperature of the food container. Accordingly, the temperature of the microwave cavity may be used to determine an adjustment to the target temperature of the food container.