Refrigerator Electromagnetic Heating Unit with Door-Interlock Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerating and freezing devices with electromagnetic wave heating units pose safety hazards due to high-voltage electromagnetic fields, which can cause harm to users and interfere with other electrical appliances, and there is a need for a design with a high safety coefficient that prevents electromagnetic wave leakage.

Innovation Solution

The device includes a cabinet door detection system that stops electromagnetic wave generation when the door is opened, and a housing design that separates the radiating antenna and signal processing circuit from the object being processed, preventing electromagnetic leakage and protecting electrical components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the electromagnetic wave heating unit is installed in the storage compartment, then the thawing function is provided, but electromagnetic waves may leak when the door is open causing safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethawing functionVSAvoidelectromagnetic wave leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit is configured to detect the door opening state and stop the electromagnetic wave generation before the door is fully opened. This preliminary action prevents electromagnetic wave leakage by anticipating the potential hazard before it occurs, resolving the contradiction between providing thawing function and preventing electromagnetic radiation exposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the electromagnetic wave heating unit operates at high power, then the heating efficiency is improved, but the risk of damaging electrical components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidelectrical component durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit detects door opening state and preemptively stops electromagnetic wave generation, preventing high-power operation when the door is open. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring high heating efficiency during closed-door operation while preventing electrical component damage through preventive shutdown when the door opens.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit continuously monitors the door opening state and adjusts the electromagnetic wave generation accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that the heating unit operates at high power only when safe (door closed), automatically reducing power or stopping when the door opens, thus balancing heating efficiency with component protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the radiating antenna and circuit are exposed for easy access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the components are vulnerable to damage from accidental touch

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent accessibilityVSAvoidcomponent protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heating unit is segmented into a heating chamber containing the radiating antenna and circuit, and an external control interface. This segmentation allows users to easily access and operate the control interface while the sensitive electrical components remain protected within the enclosed heating chamber, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 enhances user safety by preventing electromagnetic wave exposure and interference with other appliances, while also protecting electrical components from damage and ensuring uniform heating.

Implementation Method 1

an electromagnetic generating system configured to generate electromagnetic waves in the cylinder body to heat the object to be processed in the cylinder body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave heating: Dielectric Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3916326B1Refrigeration and freezing apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.04.05 QINGDAO HAIER SPECIAL REFRIGERATOR CO LTD
  • EP3916326B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3916326B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3916326B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Disclosed is a refrigerating and freezing device, including a cabinet defining at least one storage compartment, at least one cabinet door configured to respectively open and close the at least one storage compartment, a refrigerating system configured to provide cooling capacity to the at least one storage compartment, and a heating unit. The heating unit includes a cylinder body disposed in one storage compartment and provided with a pick-and-place opening, a door body configured to open and close the pick-and-place opening, and an electromagnetic generating system configured to generate electromagnetic waves in the cylinder body to heat an object to be processed. The refrigerating and freezing device further includes a cabinet door detection device, and the cabinet door detection device is configured to detect open and closed states of the cabinet door corresponding to the storage compartment provided with the cylinder body; and the electromagnetic generating system stops generating electromagnetic waves when a corresponding cabinet door is in an open state, which can prevent electromagnetic waves in the heating unit from leaking and affecting the health of a user, thereby improving the safety of the refrigerating and freezing device.