Applying RF energy according to time variations in EM feedback

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10670542-B2
Application number	US-201715718444-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2017
Priority date	Mar 19, 2012
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

A method includes processing an object in a cavity by applying radio frequency (RF) energy to the cavity. A first plurality of frequencies is identified, characterized in that a time derivative of a value indicative of a dielectric response of the cavity to RF energy at frequency of the first plurality of frequencies is larger than a first threshold. More energy is applied at frequencies of the first plurality of frequencies than at other frequencies.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of processing an object in a cavity by applying radio frequency (RF) energy to the cavity, the method comprising:
identifying a first plurality of frequencies, characterized in that a time derivative of a value indicative of a dielectric response of the cavity to RF energy at frequency of the first plurality of frequencies is larger than a first threshold; and
applying more energy at frequencies of the first plurality of frequencies than at other frequencies.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein less energy is applied at a second plurality of frequencies than at the first plurality of frequencies, wherein frequencies of the second plurality of frequencies being characterized in that a time derivative of the value indicative of the dielectric response of the cavity to RF energy at frequencies of the first plurality of frequencies is larger than a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is higher than the first threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying more energy than at other frequencies comprises applying energy at a higher power level than a power level at which energy is applied at any one of the other frequencies.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying more energy than at other frequencies comprises applying energy for a longer duration than a duration for which energy is applied at any one of the other frequencies.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value indicative of a dielectric response of the cavity to RF energy comprises a network parameter.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value indicative of a dielectric response of the cavity to RF energy is derivable from one or more network parameters.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying results in heating the object.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying is performed by a processor.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a processor causes the applying.

10. A method of processing an object in a cavity by applying radio frequency (RF) energy to the cavity, the method comprising:
identifying a first plurality of modulation space elements (MSEs), each MSE being a set of one or more controllable parameters that affect a field pattern excited in the cavity, characterized in that a time derivative of a value indicative of a dielectric response of the cavity to RF energy at MSE of the first plurality of MSEs is larger than a first threshold; and
applying more energy at MSEs of the first plurality of MSEs than at other MSEs.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein less energy is applied at a second plurality of MSEs than at the first plurality of MSEs, wherein MSEs of the second plurality of MSEs being characterized in that a time derivative of the value indicative of the dielectric response of the cavity to RF energy at MSEs of the first plurality of MSEs is larger than a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is higher than the first threshold.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein applying more energy than at other MSEs comprises applying energy at a higher power level than a power level at which energy is applied at any one of the other MSEs.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein applying more energy than at other MSEs comprises applying energy for a longer duration than a duration for which energy is applied at any one of the other MSEs.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the value indicative of a dielectric response of the cavity to RF energy comprises a network parameter.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the value indicative of a dielectric response of the cavity to RF energy is derivable from one or more network parameters.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the set of one or more controllable parameters comprises a phase difference, a relative amplitude, or both a phase difference and a relative amplitude.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the set of one or more controllable parameters further comprises a frequency.

Assignees

• Goji Ltd

Inventors

• Libman Avner
• Yehezkely Hertzel
• Hadad Sharon
• Elboim Ram
• Ibragimov Zalman
• Rappel Amit

Classifications

• G01N22/00 Primary

  Investigating or analysing materials by the use of microwaves or radio waves, i.e. electromagnetic waves with a wavelength of one millimetre or more (G01N3/00 - G01N17/00, G01N24/00 take precedence) · CPC title

• H05B6/686 Primary

  Circuits comprising a signal generator and power amplifier, e.g. using solid state oscillators · CPC title

• Y02B40/143

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• H05B6/705

  using microwave tuning · CPC title

• Y02B40/00

  Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers · CPC title