Notched Helical Inductor Assembly for Stable Impedance Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional capacitive food defrosting systems face inefficiencies due to dynamic changes in food load impedance during the defrosting process, which can lead to inconsistent defrosting results, and air core inductors used in impedance matching networks have poor inductance consistency and anti-vibration performance.
Innovation Solution
An inductor assembly with a fixture element having a central core and support structures with notched profiles of indentations to securely seat a helical inductor, ensuring consistent inductance and improved anti-vibration performance by maintaining even gaps between turns, and an impedance matching network incorporating this inductor assembly to adjust impedance transformation dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If air core inductors are used in impedance matching networks, then high inductance capability with low loss is achieved, but inductance consistency and anti-vibration performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) as the substrate for the inductor structure. The FPC provides mechanical support while allowing for flexible manufacturing and integration. The thin film conductive traces on the FPC form the inductor windings, which maintain consistent geometry and spacing, thereby improving inductance consistency while keeping the structure lightweight and low-loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining the FPC substrate with conductive ink or metal traces to create the inductor. This composite structure integrates the mechanical support function of the FPC with the electrical conduction function of the trace material, achieving both structural stability for consistent inductance and low energy loss through optimized conductive paths.
2Loss of energy
If air core inductors are used in impedance matching networks, then high inductance capability with low loss is achieved, but anti-vibration performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The FPC substrate acts as a flexible yet mechanically robust platform that dampens vibrations. The layered structure of the FPC with its adhesive layers and substrate provides vibration isolation, protecting the inductor traces from mechanical stress and maintaining stable electrical performance under vibrational conditions while preserving the low-loss characteristics of the air core design.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite construction of FPC with conductive traces creates a structurally resilient inductor assembly. The combination of the flexible circuit board material and conductive ink/metals provides both mechanical strength to resist vibration and electrical conductivity with minimal energy loss, effectively addressing both requirements simultaneously.
3Measurement precision
If impedance matching network is sensitive to inductance variations, then precise impedance matching is achieved, but defrosting efficiency deteriorates due to dynamic impedance changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements this principle by making the impedance matching network dynamically adjustable. Variable capacitors or inductors are incorporated into the matching network, allowing real-time adjustment of component values to track and compensate for dynamic impedance changes in the food load during the defrosting process. This maintains precise impedance matching throughout the operation, maximizing power transfer efficiency and defrosting productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the impedance of the food load is continuously monitored during defrosting. Based on this feedback information, the impedance matching network automatically adjusts its component values to maintain optimal matching conditions. This closed-loop control ensures that despite dynamic impedance changes, the system operates at peak efficiency throughout the defrosting cycle.
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 solution ensures consistent inductance and enhanced anti-vibration performance of the inductor assembly, leading to more efficient impedance matching and improved defrosting efficiency by maintaining optimal power transfer throughout the defrosting process.
Implementation Method 1
low power electromagnetic energy is supplied to the electrodes
Implementation Method 2
The inductance is determined by its radius, wire diameter, the number of turns, and the gap or spacing between the turns
Data Source
AI summary
An inductor assembly includes a fixture element having a central core and support structures coupled to and projecting outwardly from the central core, each of the support structures having an outer edge with a notched profile of indentations extending toward the central core, and a helical inductor having multiple turns, the turns being seated in the indentations of the at least two support structures. The support structures may be equidistantly spaced apart from one another about the central core by air gaps. The inductor assembly may be incorporated in an impedance matching network, and one or more impedance matching networks may be incorporated in a defrosting system. The impedance matching network may be a single-ended network or a double-ended network.