Microwave processing device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional microwave treatment devices face challenges in achieving desired heating performance for objects of various shapes and sizes due to conflicting limitations in heater installation and microwave radiation regions, leading to inefficient or uneven heating.

Innovation Solution

The microwave treatment device incorporates a heater positioned separately from the heating chamber wall with a predetermined distance, allowing the space between the heater and the wall to act as a waveguide for microwave propagation, enabling a larger heater installation area with a smaller antenna and expanding the microwave radiation region.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the heater installation region is enlarged to improve heater heating performance, then the microwave radiation region is reduced, but this leads to decreased heating efficiency and uneven heating for objects placed in a wide range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheater heating performanceVSAvoidmicrowave radiation region
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the space dimension between the heater and heating chamber wall to enable microwave propagation. By positioning the heater at a predetermined distance from the wall surface, a waveguide path is created that allows microwaves to reach areas behind and around the heater, effectively expanding the radiation region without reducing heater installation space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the microwave radiation region is enlarged to improve microwave heating performance, then the heater installation region is reduced, but this results in insufficient heating performance by the heater

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemicrowave heating performanceVSAvoidheater installation region
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a three-dimensional microwave propagation path by utilizing the space between the heater and wall. This allows the microwave radiation region to extend beyond the two-dimensional plane occupied by the heater, enabling wide-area heating while maintaining adequate heater installation space for reliable heating performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Area of stationary object

If a small antenna is used to secure heater installation space, then the microwave radiation capability is limited, but this reduces the ability to heat objects of various shapes and sizes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheater installation regionVSAvoidheating capability for various objects
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs the spatial dimension between the heater and wall to create waveguide paths that extend microwave radiation throughout the heating chamber. This three-dimensional propagation approach enables a compact antenna configuration to achieve comprehensive heating coverage for objects of various shapes, sizes, and positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 configuration reconciles the heating performance of the heater and microwave, allowing for efficient and uniform heating of objects with diverse shapes and sizes by optimizing the use of space for both heating elements and radiation.

Implementation Method 1

oscillation unit for generating a microwave, a radiation unit, wherein the radiation unit is disposed in the heating chamber and radiates a microwave to a space between the heater and the wall surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMicrowave radiation: Microwave Radiation

Implementation Method 2

heater... disposed in the heating chamber separately from a wall surface of the heating chamber by a predetermined distance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 3

heater... include a flat surface facing the wall surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

the space between the flat surface included by the heater and the wall surface of the heating chamber can be used as a waveguide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWaveguide: Waveguide

Data Source

PatentEP3798518B1Microwave processing device
Publication Date: 2022.04.13 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3798518B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3798518B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3798518B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A microwave treatment device includes a heating chamber for accommodating a heating target object, an oscillation unit for generating a microwave, a radiation unit, and a heater. The heater is disposed in the heating chamber separately from a wall surface of the heating chamber by a predetermined distance so as to include a flat surface facing the wall surface. The radiation unit is disposed in the heating chamber, and radiates a microwave to the space between the heater and the wall surface so that the microwave propagates through the space. In the present aspect, using a small antenna, the installation region of the heater can be set large, and the radiation region of the microwave can be extended. As a result, the heating performance by the heater and the heating performance by the microwave can be reconciled.