Microwave Oven Multiview Silhouette Volume Calculation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Microwave ovens often experience uneven heating distribution, leading to regions of food being under or overcooked, and existing solutions like rotating turntables increase complexity and risk of malfunction.
Innovation Solution
A microwave heating apparatus with multiple feeding ports and a control unit that adjusts microwave intensity across different zones within the cavity based on region-specific temperature patterns, eliminating the need for rotating parts and allowing simultaneous heating of multiple items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rotating turntable is used to distribute heating evenly, then heating uniformity is improved, but device complexity and risk of malfunction increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotating turntable system with a stationary cavity structure that has multiple feeding ports positioned at different locations. This mechanical substitution eliminates moving parts while achieving the same goal of distributing microwaves uniformly throughout the cavity, thereby improving heating uniformity without increasing device complexity or malfunction risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The cavity is segmented into multiple regions with feeding ports distributed at different positions (front wall, rear wall, side walls). This segmentation allows microwaves to be introduced from multiple directions simultaneously, creating a more uniform heating pattern without requiring mechanical movement or rotation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple feeding ports are used to improve heating distribution, then heating uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity is divided into multiple regions with feeding ports positioned at different locations including the front wall, rear wall, and side walls. This spatial segmentation allows microwaves to be introduced from multiple directions, improving heating uniformity while maintaining a simple stationary structure without moving parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple feeding ports serve the universal function of introducing microwaves into different regions of the cavity. Each feeding port can be controlled independently to provide microwave energy to specific zones, allowing the system to handle various heating requirements while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If extended heating time is used to ensure all parts are properly heated, then heating completeness is improved, but energy consumption and risk of burning increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity is segmented into multiple heating zones with feeding ports distributed throughout. This allows different regions to receive microwave energy simultaneously from multiple directions, ensuring that all parts of the load are heated evenly and completely within a shorter time frame, thereby reducing total energy consumption and preventing burning.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple feeding ports operate simultaneously to provide continuous microwave energy distribution throughout the cavity. This parallel heating action ensures that all regions of the load receive heat at the same time, completing the heating process faster and more efficiently, which reduces both energy consumption and the risk of overheating.
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 solution provides precise control over heating patterns, ensuring uniform cooking without overcooking, reducing cooking time, and increasing efficiency by allowing multiple items to be cooked simultaneously with reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of feeding ports (103a-d) and a control unit (105). The feeding ports are arranged to feed microwaves from a plurality of microwave generators (104a-b) to the cavity
Implementation Method 2
a microwave heating apparatus for heating a load by means of microwaves
Data Source
AI summary
A microwave heating apparatus includes a cavity arranged to receive a load. At least one microwave generator is configured to feed a plurality of microwaves into the cavity. At least one image-capturing device and a control unit is adapted to obtain load volume information of the load within the cavity based on information recorded by the image-capturing device about at least one portion of the load, obtain load density information using at least one of a user input and information recorded by the image-capturing device about at least one portion of the load, determine load mass information based upon the load volume information and the load density information, determine a heating pattern based upon the load mass information and control the at least one microwave generator to provide the heating pattern within the cavity.