Multi-Antenna Microwave Heating With Reflected Power Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microwave heating apparatuses face challenges in efficiently heating articles of different shapes, kinds, and amounts due to difficulties in managing phase differences, reflected power changes, and oscillating frequency variations, leading to inefficient heating processes.
Innovation Solution
A microwave heating apparatus with optimally arranged feeding parts, including antennas, that perform frequency detection to minimize reflected power, allowing for the selection of the most suitable frequency and antenna configuration for efficient microwave absorption by the article, ensuring uniform and effective heating across various shapes, kinds, and amounts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple antennas are used to supply microwaves to the heating chamber, then heating coverage is improved, but reflected power management and interference control become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where power detection parts monitor the reflected power from each antenna path, and the control part adjusts the oscillating frequency based on these detections to minimize reflected power. This closed-loop control system manages the complexity of multiple antennas by automatically optimizing their operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control part dynamically changes the oscillating frequency parameter of the microwave generation part based on detected reflected power levels. By adjusting this parameter, the system optimizes microwave absorption by the article and minimizes reflected power from multiple antennas.
2Ease of operation
If phase shifters are used to control microwave phases from multiple antennas, then power distribution is improved, but interference and transmission between feeding parts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses power detection parts to monitor reflected power and the control part adjusts the oscillating frequency based on this feedback. This feedback mechanism helps minimize interference between multiple feeding parts by optimizing the operating frequency to reduce microwave transmission between antennas.
3Device complexity
If the oscillating frequency is fixed, then device simplicity is maintained, but heating efficiency for various articles of different shapes and amounts decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the oscillating frequency dynamic rather than fixed. The control part continuously or periodically adjusts the oscillating frequency of the microwave generation part based on detections from power detection parts, allowing the system to adapt to different articles while maintaining reasonable device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-optimization by automatically detecting reflected power levels and adjusting the oscillating frequency without external intervention. The control part autonomously selects the optimal frequency for heating different articles, eliminating the need for manual frequency adjustment.
4Ease of manufacture
If impedance matching is simplified using solid high-frequency oscillators, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability to different heating conditions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains simple impedance matching through solid high-frequency oscillators but adds dynamic frequency adjustment capability. The control part modifies the oscillating frequency based on detected reflected power, providing adaptability to different heating conditions without complicating the impedance matching design.
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 apparatus achieves highly efficient heating by optimizing microwave frequency and antenna configuration, reducing interference and reflected power, thereby improving heating uniformity and quality for diverse articles.
Implementation Method 1
an oscillation part for generating microwaves
Implementation Method 2
power detection parts for detecting reflected powers transmitted from the heating chamber
Implementation Method 3
the microwaves at the frequency suitable for heating the article to be heated are supplied into the heating chamber. Thus, the microwaves emitted to the heating chamber can be effectively absorbed by the article to be heated
Implementation Method 4
amplification parts for respectively amplifying the outputs of the power division part
Data Source
AI summary
In a microwave heating apparatus of the invention, microwaves from oscillation parts 1a, 1b are divided into a plurality of microwaves by power division parts 2a, 2b and inputted to amplification parts 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, and desired microwave powers from the amplification parts are supplied from feeding parts 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d to a heating chamber 8. Reflected powers reflected from the heating chamber to the amplification parts via the feeding parts are detected by power detection parts 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d. Each of the feeding parts has a plurality of antennas for supplying the microwaves having different characteristics to the heating chamber, and a control part 7 extracts an oscillating frequency with which the reflected powers detected by the power detection parts are minimum, and causes the oscillation parts to oscillate at the extracted oscillating frequency so as to supply the microwaves having the different characteristics from the plurality of antennas to the heating chamber.