Microwave oven and thawing control method and device for the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microwave ovens lack an optimal temperature control method for thawing food, resulting in inefficient thawing times, temperature inconsistencies, and potential cooking or discoloration of food.
Innovation Solution
A thawing control method and device for microwave ovens that detects temperatures at multiple points on the food and adjusts microwave power to maintain a temperature range of -3°C to 0°C, ensuring uniform thawing and preserving food quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If microwave power is increased to speed up thawing, then thawing time is reduced, but temperature difference within food increases and food quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The microwave generator operates at variable power levels rather than fixed power. The control system dynamically adjusts the microwave power output based on real-time temperature feedback from multiple sensors, enabling the system to maintain optimal thawing speed while ensuring temperature uniformity across different food regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs temperature sensors distributed at multiple positions within the food to continuously monitor temperature distribution. This feedback information is processed by the control system, which then adjusts microwave power output accordingly, creating a closed-loop control mechanism that resolves the contradiction between thawing speed and temperature uniformity.
2Productivity
If microwave power is increased to reduce thawing time, then productivity improves, but food quality deteriorates due to cooking or discoloration
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple temperature sensors monitor temperature at critical locations within the food, providing real-time feedback to the control system. This enables the system to detect when any region approaches cooking temperatures and immediately reduce power output, preventing quality degradation while maintaining efficient overall thawing progress.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the microwave power parameter dynamically during the thawing process based on temperature conditions. By adjusting power levels in response to temperature feedback, the system maintains optimal thawing speed while preventing temperature excursions that would cause cooking or discoloration.
3Measurement precision
If temperature monitoring points are increased to improve temperature control precision, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The food volume is divided into multiple monitoring zones with temperature sensors strategically positioned at key locations. This segmentation approach provides comprehensive temperature coverage and accurate representation of different thermal regions without requiring excessive sensors, balancing measurement precision with system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors are positioned at specific critical locations within the food where temperature gradients are most significant. This targeted placement ensures accurate measurement of temperature distribution while minimizing the total number of sensors required, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
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 method significantly reduces thawing time, minimizes temperature differences, and maintains food quality by preventing cooking, while retaining nutrients and reducing microbial growth.
Implementation Method 1
a microwave generator, disposed in the oven body, and configured to emit microwaves to the oven chamber to thaw the food
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a microwave oven, and a thawing control method and device for the same. The method includes: detecting temperatures of a plurality of temperature detecting points on food in the microwave oven; and controlling the microwave generator to start, and thawing the food according to the temperatures of the plurality of temperature detecting points on the food. With the method, the thawed food is more nutritious, healthier, and easier to cut, and has the low temperature difference, without a cooked discoloration phenomenon.