Microwave Appliance with Product Identification Scanner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumer microwaves have low efficiency and lack safety features to handle enclosed food packages, leading to potential rupture and food splatter during heating.
Innovation Solution
A microwave appliance with a temperature sensor, product holder, and user interface that allows for precise temperature control, along with an electric field detector and product identification scanner to adjust power levels based on food type and volume, ensuring efficient and safe heating of packaged food products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If typical microwaves are used to heat enclosed food packages, then heating function is provided, but package rupture and food splatter occur due to lack of safety features and temperature control
Solution Approach 1:
The microwave system performs preliminary scanning of the food package using RFID, barcode, or camera recognition before heating. It identifies the package type, material, and volume, then pre-configures appropriate heating parameters and safety settings to prevent rupture and splatter during the heating process
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates temperature sensors and electric field detectors that continuously monitor the heating process. Based on real-time feedback from these sensors, the controller adjusts microwave power levels dynamically to maintain safe operating conditions and prevent package rupture
2Object-affected harmful factors
If opened or vented food containers are used in typical microwaves, then food splatter is reduced, but heating efficiency decreases and energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of container state from opened/vented to enclosed by providing intelligent enclosed package heating capability. Through RFID identification and adaptive power control, the system optimizes microwave parameters for enclosed packages, achieving both splatter prevention and high heating efficiency simultaneously
3Adaptability or versatility
If consumer microwaves heat a large variety of food products, then versatility is provided, but heating efficiency drops to around 64%
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the heating process into distinct phases: identification phase (RFID/barcode/camera scanning), parameter configuration phase (setting power levels based on package type and volume), and execution phase (controlled heating with sensor feedback). This segmentation allows optimal parameters for each specific food type, maintaining high efficiency across diverse products
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts microwave heating parameters based on real-time identification of food package characteristics. The controller modifies power levels, heating duration, and frequency settings adaptively for each package type, achieving near-optimal efficiency for every product while maintaining versatility
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 achieves heating efficiency greater than 90% for packaged food products, preventing overheating and ensuring safe operation by adjusting power levels based on the detected electric field and product characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
A microwave appliance includes a plurality of microwave sources and a microwave chamber in electromagnetic communication with the plurality of microwave sources
Implementation Method 2
The controller is configured to operate the plurality of microwave sources to heat a food product in the food container
Implementation Method 3
The temperature sensor is an infrared or ultrasonic temperature sensor
Implementation Method 4
the microwave appliance further comprises an electric field detector in communication with the controller, the electric field detector configured to detect an electric field in the microwave chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A microwave appliance provides safe heating of packaged food products at an efficiency greater than 90%. A temperature sensor positioned about a product holder is configured to sense a temperature of the package. A product identification scanner identifies a type of food product, a type of packaging, and/or a size of packaging being inserted into the microwave appliance. The product identification may be used to obtain a dielectric constant and/or electrical conductivity of the product. An electric field detector verifies that a suitable product has been inserted into the microwave appliance and is used to estimate a volume of the packaged food product. Accordingly, even partially full packaged food products may be safely re-heated to a desired temperature. As opposed to a time-based operation with traditional microwave appliances, operation of the microwave appliance may be adjusted based on the product identification scanner, temperature sensor, and electric field detector.