Tray for microwave oven
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microwave oven trays with rubber ferrite heat generators melt or are damaged at high temperatures, limiting the ability to achieve grill marks on food due to temperature restrictions.
Innovation Solution
A microwave oven tray with heat generators formed through transfer coating on a ceramic surface using materials like carbon, graphite, and ferrite, allowing for higher temperature heating and even distribution for grilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If rubber ferrite is used as the heat generator in the microwave oven tray, then the tray can be manufactured with a simple process and lower cost, but the tray cannot reach temperatures above 200°C and thus cannot form grill marks on food
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining ceramic tray body with heat generator materials (carbon, graphite, or ferrite) that are coated onto the tray surface. This composite structure enables the tray to withstand temperatures above 200°C while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through the transfer coating process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters of the heat generator from rubber-based ferrite to carbon, graphite, or ferrite materials that can withstand higher temperatures. This parameter change in material composition and thermal stability allows the tray to achieve temperatures necessary for grill mark formation (above 200°C).
2Reliability
If the tray temperature is kept below 200°C to prevent heat generator damage, then the rubber ferrite heat generator remains stable, but grill marks cannot be formed on food
Solution Approach 1:
The use of carbon, graphite, or ferrite materials as heat generators provides both the reliability needed for stable operation and the thermal capacity to reach grill-marking temperatures, resolving the contradiction between heat generator stability and grilling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat generators are selectively distributed on the tray surface with varying densities (first heat generating part at center, second heat generating part at outside with different distribution), creating local variations in heating intensity that enable grill mark formation while maintaining overall system reliability.
3Device complexity
If heat generators are uniformly distributed on the tray, then heating is simplified, but uniform heating and grill marks across the entire food surface cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements non-uniform heat generator distribution with different densities in different regions (first heat generating part at center, second heat generating part at outside), creating localized heating zones that achieve uniform overall heating and proper grill mark formation across the entire food surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat generator distribution is segmented into different regions (first heat generating part and second heat generating part) with different distribution densities, allowing each region to contribute differently to the overall heating pattern and achieve uniform heating results.
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
Enables the tray to reach temperatures necessary for forming grill marks on food while maintaining durability and uniform heating, allowing for simultaneous cooking of food with and without grill marks.
Implementation Method 1
heat generators formed of a material absorbing high frequencies to generate heat
Implementation Method 2
heat generators formed of a material absorbing high frequencies to generate heat and formed on the surface of the tray unit
Data Source
AI summary
A tray for a microwave oven and a microwave oven having the same is disclosed. Heat generators are formed on the surface of a tray unit of the tray for a microwave oven through transfer coating carried out at a high temperature, and thus the tray for a microwave oven may be heated to a high temperature, thereby being capable of effectively forming a grill mark on food to be cooked.