Pulsed Microwave Generator Timing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking appliances fail to adequately consider the microwave sensitivity of food items during cooking, leading to inefficient and uneven cooking processes, as they cannot adapt the timing of microwave pulses to changing parameters such as food type, state, and cooking environment.
Innovation Solution
The method involves independently controlling the average power and pause duration of a pulsed microwave generator based on food type, initial state, cooking chamber conditions, and process parameters, using sensors to monitor and adjust the duty cycle and pause times to optimize microwave exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If continuous wave microwave radiation is applied to food, then cooking efficiency is improved, but food quality deteriorates due to hot and cold spots and uneven heating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic pulsed microwave radiation instead of continuous wave radiation. The microwave generator operates in cycles with pulse duration Tp and pause duration Tpause, creating periodic action that allows heat distribution throughout the food during pause periods, thereby eliminating hot and cold spots while maintaining cooking efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the pulse duration Tp and pause duration Tpause based on real-time monitoring of cooking parameters such as temperature, power level, and food characteristics. This dynamic adaptation optimizes the balance between cooking efficiency and heating uniformity throughout the cooking process
2Productivity
If pulse duration is increased to improve cooking efficiency, then productivity increases, but food sensitivity to microwave radiation causes quality deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts pulse duration Tp based on monitored cooking parameters and food characteristics. For sensitive foods, the controller reduces Tp to prevent damage, while for less sensitive foods or later cooking stages, Tp is increased to improve efficiency, achieving optimal balance throughout the process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pulse duration parameter Tp and pause duration Tpause according to the specific food type, power level, and cooking stage. This parameter adaptation allows the system to optimize cooking speed while preventing microwave sensitivity damage by adjusting exposure time according to food characteristics
3Productivity
If average microwave power is increased to reduce cooking time, then productivity improves, but cooking uniformity deteriorates due to insufficient heat distribution
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing periodic pulsed radiation with controlled pause durations, the system allows heat to distribute throughout the food during Tpause while delivering high power during Tp. This periodic action maintains high average power for reduced cooking time while ensuring temperature uniformity through periodic heat redistribution
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the duty cycle (Tp/(Tp+Tpause)) based on real-time temperature monitoring and food characteristics. This dynamic control allows optimization of average power delivery to reduce cooking time while maintaining temperature distribution uniformity by adapting the pulse pattern to current cooking conditions
4Device complexity
If fixed duty cycle is used to simplify control, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different food types and cooking stages deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where sensors monitor temperature, power level, and cooking progress, and the controller adjusts pulse duration Tp and pause duration Tpause accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables high adaptability to different food types and cooking stages while maintaining manageable control system complexity through automated closed-loop control
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adapts the duty cycle and timing parameters based on monitored cooking parameters and pre-stored food characteristic data. This dynamic adjustment provides high versatility for different food types and cooking stages while keeping the control logic manageable through structured adaptation rules
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 approach ensures gentle and efficient cooking by adapting microwave power and pause times to the specific characteristics of the food and cooking environment, preventing hot and cold spots and optimizing cooking results in terms of quality and energy usage.
Implementation Method 1
a microwave generator (13) which emits the microwave radiation
Implementation Method 2
the introduction of the microwave radiation into a food to be cooked to be thawed is adjusted as a function of a measured cooking process parameter
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The method involves controlling the average power and the pulse duration independent of each other between two successive pulses of the microwave generator. The cooked degree of the cooked food such as internal cooked degree is determined particularly by a core temperature, a cook value, a pasteurization value or a reduction of weight. The external cooked degree is determined particularly by the browning and encrustation. An independent claim is included for a cooking appliance with a microwave generator, a control and regulating unit, operator controls, a storage unit and a sensor.