Solid-State Microwave Power Control for Defrosting and Sealed Foods

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Solution Overview

Problem

Microwave ovens lack power-adjustable heating capabilities, leading to inefficient combined heating modes and potential local overheating during defrosting due to uncontrolled microwave power.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a solid microwave source with adjustable power and a controller to manage microwave power, allowing for variable power settings and improved heating efficiency, safety, and prevention of local overheating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a magnetron is used as the microwave source, then high power and high efficiency are achieved, but the microwave power cannot be continuously adjusted and local overheating occurs during defrosting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrowave powerVSAvoidpower adjustability

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the microwave heating system into two independent parts: a magnetron for high-power heating and a solid-state microwave source for low-power precise control. This segmentation allows each component to operate in its optimal power range, resolving the contradiction between high power output and fine power adjustability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the power output parameter of the microwave source by selecting different microwave sources (magnetron or solid-state) based on the heating requirements. The controller dynamically adjusts the power parameter by controlling which microwave source operates, enabling continuous power adjustment from very low to very high levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If high power microwave is used for heating, then heating efficiency is improved, but local overheating and cooking occurs during defrosting operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidlocal overheating

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different microwave power qualities to different heating needs: low-power microwave from the solid-state source for gentle defrosting to prevent local overheating, and high-power microwave from the magnetron for efficient cooking. The controller selects the appropriate microwave source based on the operational mode, providing locally optimized heating quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If combined heating modes are implemented using multiple power components, then heating versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating mode varietyVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the microwave generation system universal by enabling both the magnetron and solid-state microwave source to operate independently and in combination. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve various heating modes (high-power heating, low-power defrosting, combined heating) without requiring completely separate systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enhances heating effectiveness for sealed foods and defrosting while preventing local cooking, improves operating efficiency, and ensures safe operation by adjusting power levels and resonance points.

Implementation Method 1

a solid microwave source disposed on the housing and used for emitting a first variable-power microwave

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric heating: Dielectric Heating

Implementation Method 2

an antenna connected to the solid microwave source and used for feeding the first variable-power microwave into the heating chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation transmission: Microwave Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS12588116B2Microwave cooking apparatus, control method and storage medium

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 GUANGDONG MIDEA KITCHEN APPLIANCES MFG CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a microwave cooking apparatus, a control method, and a storage medium. The microwave cooking apparatus comprises: a housing capable of enclosing a heating chamber therein; a solid microwave source disposed on the housing and used for emitting a first variable-power microwave; an antenna connected to the solid microwave source and used for feeding the first variable-power microwave into the heating chamber; and a controller connected to the solid microwave source and used for controlling the solid microwave source to operate and adjusting the first variable-power microwave. According to the technical solution of the present disclosure, on one hand, a better heating effect is able to be achieved for sealed foods, and on the other hand, a better unfreezing effect is also able to be achieved because the power of a solid microwave source is much lower than that of a magnetron so that during an unfreezing operation, foods to be defrosted will not be locally cooked resulting from local overheating caused when the foods to be defrosted locally absorbs too much heat due to excessive power.