Dome-Shaped Microwave Shield for Multi-Sensor Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household microwave ovens face challenges in efficiently recording measurement data from the cooking chamber while maintaining thermal and microwave integrity, often requiring complex thermal insulation and microwave-tight sealing for multiple sensors, which can lead to heat loss and contamination issues.
Innovation Solution
A household microwave oven design featuring a microwave dome with a single cooking chamber opening that houses both a first sensor directed directly into the cooking chamber and a second sensor indirectly positioned via a reflective surface, allowing for compact and robust data acquisition with reduced heat and microwave leakage, using a stationary arrangement and reflective surfaces for sensor alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are arranged with individual openings in the microwave dome, then measurement data acquisition is improved, but thermal insulation complexity and microwave sealing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensors (first sensor and second sensor) share a single common opening in the microwave dome, eliminating the need for separate openings for each sensor. This merging approach reduces the number of sealing locations and simplifies the thermal insulation structure while maintaining the ability to acquire measurement data from multiple sensing directions.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are arranged with individual openings in the microwave dome, then measurement data acquisition is improved, but microwave loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
By consolidating multiple sensor openings into a single common opening, the total area of openings in the microwave dome is reduced. This minimizes the pathways through which microwave energy can escape, thereby reducing microwave loss and energy leakage while still allowing multiple sensors to function.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are arranged with individual openings in the microwave dome, then measurement data acquisition is improved, but sensor contamination by steam increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single common opening serves as an intermediary structure between the microwave dome and multiple sensors. This centralized opening can be equipped with a single protective cover or shutter mechanism that protects all sensors simultaneously, reducing the risk of steam contamination compared to multiple separate openings that would require multiple protective mechanisms.
4Volume of stationary object
If a compact microwave dome design is achieved, then device size is reduced, but sensor positioning flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The second sensor is positioned indirectly behind the common opening and directs its sensing path through a reflective surface rather than having a direct line of sight. This indirect positioning in a different spatial dimension allows the sensor to be placed in a compact location while still achieving the required sensing coverage, thereby maintaining positioning flexibility within a reduced dome volume.
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 design minimizes heat flow and microwave loss, reduces sensor contamination, and enhances flexibility in sensor positioning, providing a reliable and compact setup with improved thermal decoupling and reduced complexity in thermal and microwave sealing.
Implementation Method 1
a second sensor being directed indirectly into the cooking chamber via a reflective surface of the microwave dome
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a domestic microwave appliance (1) comprising a cooking chamber (3) and a cooking chamber wall that surrounds the cooking chamber (3) and has a cooking chamber opening (4) which is covered by a dome-shaped microwave shield (5) arranged to as to face away from the cooking chamber, wherein the dome-shaped microwave shield (5) comprises at least one first sensor opening (6), behind which a first sensor (7) is arranged, and a second sensor opening (8), behind which a second sensor (9) is arranged, the first sensor (7) points directly into the cooking chamber (3) and the second sensor (9) points indirectly into the cooking chamber (3) via a reflective surface (10) of the dome-shaped microwave shield (5).